ScienceDaily: Top News

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• For the first time, researchers identify key proteins that may make Zika so deadly
• How long did it take to hatch a dinosaur egg? 3-6 months
• Evolution of brain and tooth size were not linked in humans
• Parental obesity linked to delays in child development
• Nanohyperthermia softens tumors to improve treatment
• Babies exposed to stimulation get brain boost
• How can I help my child to fall asleep and stay asleep?

For the first time, researchers identify key proteins that may make Zika so deadly Posted: 02 Jan 2017 12:50 PM PST Now, a new study has for the first time identified seven key proteins in the virus that may be the culprits behind this damage. The study is the first comprehensive description of the Zika virus genome.

How long did it take to hatch a dinosaur egg? 3-6 months Posted: 02 Jan 2017 12:50 PM PST Researchers have set the timeline it took dinosaurs to incubate at three to six months, depending on the dinosaur.

Evolution of brain and tooth size were not linked in humans Posted: 02 Jan 2017 12:50 PM PST A new study found that whereas brain size evolved at different rates for different species, especially during the evolution of Homo, the genus that includes humans, chewing teeth tended to evolve at more similar rates. The finding suggests that our brains and teeth did not evolve in lock step and were likely influenced by different ecological and behavioral factors.

Parental obesity linked to delays in child development Posted: 02 Jan 2017 11:36 AM PST Children of obese parents may be at risk for developmental delays, according to a new study. Children of obese mothers were more likely to fail tests of fine motor skill. Children of obese fathers were more likely to fail measures of social competence, and those born to extremely obese couples also were more likely to fail tests of problem solving ability.

Nanohyperthermia softens tumors to improve treatment Posted: 02 Jan 2017 11:35 AM PST The mechanical resistance of tumors and collateral damage of standard treatments often hinder efforts to defeat cancers. However, a team of researchers has successfully softened malignant tumors by heating them. This method, called nanohyperthermia, makes the tumors more vulnerable to therapeutic agents. First, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are directly injected into the tumors. Then, laser irradiation activates the nanotubes, while the surrounding healthy tissue remains intact.

Babies exposed to stimulation get brain boost Posted: 02 Jan 2017 11:34 AM PST Many new parents still think that babies should develop at their own pace, and that they shouldn’t be challenged to do things that they’re not yet ready for. Infants should learn to roll around under their own power, without any “helpful” nudges, and they shouldn’t support their weight before they can stand or walk on their own. They mustn’t be potty trained before they are ready for it.

How can I help my child to fall asleep and stay asleep? Posted: 30 Dec 2016 09:30 AM PST Overall, studies indicate that 15 to 20 percent of one to three year olds continue to have nightwakings. According to an expert, "Inappropriate sleep associations are the primary cause of frequent nightwakings. Sleep associations are those conditions that are habitually present at the time of sleep onset and in the presence of which the infant or child has learned to fall asleep. These same conditions are then required in order for the infant or child to fall back to sleep following periodic normal nighttime arousals."