ScienceDaily: Top News

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• Scientists uncover how Zika virus causes microcephaly
• Climate-driven permafrost thaw
• From mice, clues to microbiome's influence on metabolic disease
• 'Complexity' of exports is a good predictor of income inequality
• Congo River fish evolution shaped by intense rapids
• Looking for the next leap in rechargeable batteries
• Team tracks rare T cells in blood to better understand annual flu vaccine
• Researchers use big-brother tech to spy on bumblebees
• Avalanches: A force more deadly than polar bears
• Personalized physical therapy brings relief for lower back pain
• Local weather impacts melting of one of Antarctica's fastest-retreating glaciers
• Discovery of genetic 'switch' could help to prevent symptoms of Parkinson's disease
• Researchers design facial recognition system as less invasive way to track lemurs in wild
• Study examines life history of imperiled rattlesnake
• Six-legged robots faster than nature-inspired gait
• In-mouse catalysis
• Biocompatible 3-D tracking system has potential to improve robot-assisted surgery
• Stem cells collected from fat may have use in anti-aging treatments
• Big improvement to brain-computer interface
• Robbed of royalty: Mutilation and social determination of female Diacamma ants
• New research examines gun use, injury and fear in domestic violence
• How Dads bond with toddlers: Brain scans link oxytocin to paternal nurturing
• DNA computer brings 'intelligent drugs' a step closer
• Minor planet named Bernard
• Right-handed or left-handed: Why?
• Breakthrough with a chain of gold atoms in understanding heat transport
• Researchers replicate nature's ability to reflect light to develop innovative materials
• Scarcity of resources led to violence in prehistoric central California
• Protein structure solved from smallest crystals yet
• People far from urban lights, bright screens still skimp on sleep
• Spider web of cancer proteins reveals new drug possibilities
• Research sheds light on mechanisms underlying aging
• Radial acceleration relation found in all common types of galaxies
• Roads are driving rapid evolutionary change in our environment
• Mothers and infants connect through song
• Method developed by biomedical scientists could help in treatment of several diseases
• What the ability to 'get the gist' says about your brain
• Zero tolerance policies unfairly punish black girls
• Glowing mice suggest new gene therapy technique
• International students' concept of 'home' shapes post-graduation plans
• HIV hijacks common cells to spread infection
• Scientists create novel model that shows progression from normal blood cells to leukemia
• Rainbow dyes add greater precision to fight against 'superbugs'
• Moths' sweet way of compensating for lack of antioxidants
• Preferential trade agreements enhance global trade at the expense of its resilience
• Real-time MRI analysis powered by supercomputers

Scientists uncover how Zika virus causes microcephaly Posted: 17 Feb 2017 01:10 PM PST A multidisciplinary team has uncovered the mechanisms that the Zika virus uses to alter brain development, outlines a new report.

Climate-driven permafrost thaw Posted: 17 Feb 2017 01:10 PM PST In bitter cold regions like northwestern Canada, permafrost has preserved relict ground-ice and vast glacial sedimentary stores in a quasi-stable state. These landscapes therefore retain a high potential for climate-driven transformation, say researchers.

From mice, clues to microbiome's influence on metabolic disease Posted: 17 Feb 2017 01:10 PM PST The community of microorganisms that resides in the gut, known as the microbiome, has been shown to work in tandem with the genes of a host organism to regulate insulin secretion, a key variable in the onset of the metabolic disease diabetes, new research has found.

'Complexity' of exports is a good predictor of income inequality Posted: 17 Feb 2017 01:10 PM PST A new paper argues that everything else being equal, the complexity of a country's exports also correlates with its degree of economic equality: The more complex a country's products, the greater equality it enjoys relative to similar-sized countries with similar-sized economies.

Congo River fish evolution shaped by intense rapids Posted: 17 Feb 2017 01:10 PM PST New research provides compelling evidence that a group of strange-looking fish living near the mouth of the Congo River are evolving due to the intense hydraulics of the river's rapids and deep canyons. The study reveals that fishes in this part of the river live in 'neighborhoods' that are separated from one another by the waters' turbulent flow.

Looking for the next leap in rechargeable batteries Posted: 17 Feb 2017 01:09 PM PST Researchers may have just found a solution for one of the biggest stumbling blocks to the next wave of rechargeable batteries -- small enough for cellphones and powerful enough for cars.

Team tracks rare T cells in blood to better understand annual flu vaccine Posted: 17 Feb 2017 01:09 PM PST A team has found a way to identify the small population of circulating helper T cells present in the blood after an annual flu vaccine to monitor their contribution to antibody strength. A technique that identifies these helper immune cells could inform future vaccine design, especially for vulnerable populations.

Researchers use big-brother tech to spy on bumblebees Posted: 17 Feb 2017 01:09 PM PST RFID chips like the ones used to protect merchandise from shoplifting reveal surprising clues about life in a bumblebee colony, say investigators.

Avalanches: A force more deadly than polar bears Posted: 17 Feb 2017 07:01 AM PST You might think that polar bears — and the potential for attack — are the biggest danger the Norwegian arctic island archipelago of Svalbard. But avalanches kill far more people on Svalbard than polar bears ever have. Researchers are working on ways to improve avalanche prediction and protection in the Arctic.

Personalized physical therapy brings relief for lower back pain Posted: 17 Feb 2017 07:00 AM PST Impaired movement control may result in chronic lower back pain. A new study shows that the combination of manual therapy and exercise is an excellent way to combat movement control impairment in the lower back. This combination reduced the disability experienced by patients and significantly improved their functional ability. A personally tailored exercise program was more beneficial for patients than a generic one, and the treatment results also persisted at a 12-month follow-up.

Local weather impacts melting of one of Antarctica's fastest-retreating glaciers Posted: 17 Feb 2017 07:00 AM PST Local weather plays an important part in the retreat of the ice shelves in West Antarctica, according to new research.

Discovery of genetic 'switch' could help to prevent symptoms of Parkinson's disease Posted: 17 Feb 2017 07:00 AM PST A genetic 'switch' has been discovered, which could help to prevent or delay the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, report scientists.

Researchers design facial recognition system as less invasive way to track lemurs in wild Posted: 17 Feb 2017 07:00 AM PST A team of researchers has developed a new computer-assisted recognition system that can identify individual lemurs in the wild by their facial characteristics and ultimately help to build a database for long-term research on lemur species.

Study examines life history of imperiled rattlesnake Posted: 17 Feb 2017 07:00 AM PST Researchers examine the life history of the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake, revealing important local climate impacts on the snake that should be carefully weighed when developing conservation strategies. The Eastern Massasauga is a small North American rattler with a distribution centered around the Great Lakes. In 2016, the snake was listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act.

Six-legged robots faster than nature-inspired gait Posted: 17 Feb 2017 07:00 AM PST Researchers have discovered a faster and more efficient gait, never observed in nature, for six-legged robots walking on flat ground. Bio-inspired gaits -- less efficient for robots -- are used by real insects since they have adhesive pads to walk in three dimensions. The results provide novel approaches for roboticists and new information to biologists.

In-mouse catalysis Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST A gold catalyst can be delivered to a target organ in a higher organism where it performs a chemical transformation visualized by bioimaging. This intriguing approach could make organometallic catalysis applicable for therapy or diagnostics.

Biocompatible 3-D tracking system has potential to improve robot-assisted surgery Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST The cutting-edge biocompatible near-infrared 3-D tracking system used to guide the suturing in the first smart tissue autonomous robot (STAR) surgery has the potential to improve manual and robot-assisted surgery and interventions through unobstructed 3-D visibility and enhanced accuracy, according to a new study.

Stem cells collected from fat may have use in anti-aging treatments Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST Adult stem cells collected directly from human fat are more stable than other cells -- such as fibroblasts from the skin -- and have the potential for use in anti-aging treatments, according to researchers.

Big improvement to brain-computer interface Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST Researchers have developed an improved type of electrode that is more durable, lasts longer in the body and transmits a clearer, more robust signal than electrodes made from current state-of-the-art materials. This could allow for improved restoration of mobility after spinal cord accidents, as well as improved powered prosthetic limbs.

Robbed of royalty: Mutilation and social determination of female Diacamma ants Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST Triggered by mutilation, expression of select genes determines social castes in Diacamma ants, outlines a new report.

New research examines gun use, injury and fear in domestic violence Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST About 2 percent of domestic-violence incidents involve guns, according to new research. Victims of these crimes typically have fewer injuries but more fear. These findings come as part of her latest work, which looks at how frequently guns and other weapon types appear in domestic-violence incidents.

How Dads bond with toddlers: Brain scans link oxytocin to paternal nurturing Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST Fathers given boosts of the hormone oxytocin show increased activity in brain regions associated with reward and empathy when viewing photos of their toddlers, a new study finds.

DNA computer brings 'intelligent drugs' a step closer Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST Researchers present a new method that should enable controlled drug delivery into the bloodstream using DNA computers. The team developed the first DNA computer capable of detecting several antibodies in the blood and performing subsequent calculations based on this input. This is an important step towards the development of smart, 'intelligent' drugs that may allow better control of medication with fewer side-effects and at lower cost.

Minor planet named Bernard Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST A minor planet in the Solar System will officially be known as Bernardbowen from today after Australian citizen science project theSkyNet won a competition to name the celestial body.

Right-handed or left-handed: Why? Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:59 AM PST It is not the brain that determines if people are right or left-handed, but the spinal cord, new research indicates. The biopsychologists have demonstrated that gene activity in the spinal cord is asymmetrical already in the womb.

Breakthrough with a chain of gold atoms in understanding heat transport Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:58 AM PST The precise control of electron transport in microelectronics makes complex logic circuits possible that are in daily use in smartphones and laptops.

Researchers replicate nature's ability to reflect light to develop innovative materials Posted: 17 Feb 2017 06:58 AM PST An innovative new technique has been developed to mimic one of nature's greatest achievements -- natural structural color.

Scarcity of resources led to violence in prehistoric central California Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:30 PM PST A longtime anthropology professor who studies violence among prehistoric people in California has published his work, outlining that there are two views related to the origins of violence and warfare in humans. One view suggests that humans in earlier times were peaceful and lived in harmony, and a second view that there has always been competition for resources, war and violence.

Protein structure solved from smallest crystals yet Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:30 PM PST An international team of scientists used an X-ray laser to determine the structure of an insect virus’s crystalline protein “cocoon.”

People far from urban lights, bright screens still skimp on sleep Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:25 PM PST Screen time before bed can mess with your sleep. But people without TV and laptops skimp on sleep too, researchers say. A study of people living without electricity or artificial light in a remote farming village in Madagascar finds they get shorter, poorer sleep than people in the US or Europe. But they seem to make up for lost shuteye with a more regular sleep routine, the researchers report.

Spider web of cancer proteins reveals new drug possibilities Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:25 PM PST Scientists have mapped a vast spider web of interactions between proteins in lung cancer cells, as part of an effort to reach what was considered 'undruggable.' This approach revealed new ways to target cells carrying mutations in cancer-causing genes.

Research sheds light on mechanisms underlying aging Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:25 PM PST Scientists have known for decades that drastically restricting certain nutrients without causing malnutrition prolongs health and lifespan in a wide range of species, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect have remained a mystery. Now new research sheds light on an important genetic pathway underlying this effect, raising the possibility that therapies can be developed to prolong healthy human lifespan.

Radial acceleration relation found in all common types of galaxies Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:25 PM PST The distribution of normal matter precisely determines gravitational acceleration in all common types of galaxies, a team of researchers reports. This provides further support that the relation is tantamount to a new natural law, the researchers say.

Roads are driving rapid evolutionary change in our environment Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:24 PM PST Roads are causing rapid evolutionary change in wild populations of plants and animals according to a new paper. The study looks at the evolutionary changes that are being caused by the way roads slice and dice our planet.

Mothers and infants connect through song Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:24 PM PST New research provides insight into the importance of song for infants and mothers. The work explored the role of infant-directed singing in relation to intricate bond between mother and infant.

Method developed by biomedical scientists could help in treatment of several diseases Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:24 PM PST Nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) is a processing pathway in cells that, like a broom, cleans up erroneous RNA. Biomedical scientists report that they have come up with a method in the lab that detects NMD efficiency inside the cell.

What the ability to 'get the gist' says about your brain Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:24 PM PST Many who have a chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI) report struggling to solve problems, understand complex information and maintain friendships, despite scoring normally on cognitive tests. New research finds that a gist reasoning test, developed by clinicians and cognitive neuroscientists, is more sensitive than other traditional tests at identifying certain cognitive deficits.

Zero tolerance policies unfairly punish black girls Posted: 16 Feb 2017 11:40 AM PST Black girls are disproportionately punished in American schools -- an 'overlooked crisis' that is populating the school-to-prison pipeline at rising rates, two education scholars argue in a new paper.

Glowing mice suggest new gene therapy technique Posted: 16 Feb 2017 11:40 AM PST A collaboration between chemists and gene therapy experts produced a new way of inserting the code for modified proteins into the cells of mice. If successful in humans, the technique could be useful for vaccines or cancer therapies.

International students' concept of 'home' shapes post-graduation plans Posted: 16 Feb 2017 11:40 AM PST How international university students think about home significantly influences their migration plans upon graduation, according to a new study.

HIV hijacks common cells to spread infection Posted: 16 Feb 2017 11:40 AM PST Scientists have discovered that a common type of cell within the human reproductive and intestinal tracts assists HIV in infecting immune cells. Understanding how these cells aid HIV could lead to new methods that prevent HIV transmission.

Scientists create novel model that shows progression from normal blood cells to leukemia Posted: 16 Feb 2017 11:39 AM PST Researchers have created a novel model that shows the step-by-step progression from normal blood cells to leukemia and its precursor diseases, creating replicas of the stages of the disease to test the efficacy of therapeutic interventions at each stage, according to a study. This research marked the first time scientists have been able to transplant leukemia from humans to a test tube and then into mice for study.

Rainbow dyes add greater precision to fight against 'superbugs' Posted: 16 Feb 2017 11:39 AM PST A study reveals the operation of the biochemical clockwork that drives cellular division in bacteria in extreme detail. It is s an important step forward in research on bacterial growth and could inform efforts to develop drugs that combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Moths' sweet way of compensating for lack of antioxidants Posted: 16 Feb 2017 11:39 AM PST Animals that feed almost solely on nectar, which doesn't produce protective antioxidants, are still able to avoid experiencing oxidative damage to their muscles through a clever adaption that involves converting carbohydrates into antioxidants, a new study reveals.

Preferential trade agreements enhance global trade at the expense of its resilience Posted: 16 Feb 2017 11:39 AM PST The global commodity trade is a complex system where its network structure, which may arise from bilateral and multilateral agreements, affects its growth and resilience. At time of economic shocks, redundancy in this system is vital to the resilience of growth.

Real-time MRI analysis powered by supercomputers Posted: 16 Feb 2017 10:03 AM PST Researchers have developed a new, automated platform capable of returning in-depth analyses of MRI scans in a matter of minutes, rather than hours or days. The system has the potential to minimize patient callbacks, save millions annually, and advance precision medicine.