SETI Has Already Tried Listening to TRAPPIST-1 for Aliens

Matt Williams द्वारा The Trappist-1 system has been featured in the news quite a bit lately. In May of 2016, it appeared in the headlines after researchers announced the discovery of three exoplanets orbiting around the red dwarf star. And then there was the news earlier this week of how follow-up examinations from ground-based telescopes and the Spitzer Space Telescope revealed that there were actually seven planets in this system. And now it seems that there is more news to be had from this star system. As it turns out, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute was already monitoring this system with their Allen Telescope Array (ATA), looking for signs of life even before the multi-planet system was announced. And while the survey did not detect any telltale signs of radio traffic, further surveys are expected. Given its proximity to our own Solar System, and the fact that this system contains seven planets that are similar in size and mass to Earth, it is both tempting and plausible to think that life could be flourishing in the TRAPPIST-1 system. As Seth Shostak, a Senior Astronomer at SETI, explained: "[T]he opportunities for life in the Trappist 1 system make our own solar system look fourth-rate.  And if even a single planet eventually produced technically competent beings, that species could quickly disperse its kind to all the rest... Typical travel time between worlds in the Trappist 1 system, even assuming rockets no speedier than those built by NASA, would be pleasantly short.  Our best spacecraft could take you to Mars in 6 months.  To shuttle between neighboring Trappist planets would be a weekend junket." Illustration showing the possible surface of TRAPPIST-1f, one of the newly discovered planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech Little wonder then why SETI has been using their Allen Telescope Array to monitor the system ever since exoplanets were first announced there. Located at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory in northern California (northeast of San Francisco), the ATA is what is known as a “Large Number of Small Dishes” (LNSD) array - which is a new trend in radio astronomy. Like other LNSD arrays - such as the proposed Square Kilometer Array currently being built in Australia and South Africa - the concept calls for the deployment of many smaller dishes over a large surface area, rather than a single large dish. Plans for the array began back in 1997, when the SETI Institute convened a workshop to discuss the future of the Institute and its search strategies. The final report of the workshop, titled "SETI 2020", laid out a plan for the creation of a new telescope array. This array was referred to as the One Hectare Telescope at the time, since the plan called for a LNSD encompassing an area measuring 10,000 m² (one hectare). The SETI Institute began developing the project in conjunction with the Radio Astronomy Laboratory (RAL) at the UC Berkeley. In 2001, they secured a $11.5 million donation from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which was established by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. In 2007, the first phase of construction was completed and the ATA finally became operational on October 11th, 2007, with 42 antennas (ATA-42). Since that time, Allen has committed to an additional $13.5 million in funding for a second phase of expansion (hence why it bears his name). A portion of the Allen Telescope Array. (Credit: Seth Shostak/The SETI Institute. Used with permission) Compared to large, single dish-arrays, smaller dish-arrays are more cost-effective because they can be upgraded simply by adding more dishes. The ATA is also less expensive since it relies on commercial technology originally developed for the television market, as well as receiver and cryogenic technologies developed for radio communication and cell phones. It also uses programmable chips and software for signal processing, which allows for rapid integration whenever new technology becomes available. As such, the array is well suited to running simultaneous surveys at centimeter wavelengths. As of 2016, the SETI Institute has performed observations with the ATA for 12 hour periods (from 6 pm and 6 am), seven days a week. And last year, the array was aimed towards TRAPPIST-1, where it conducted a survey scanning ten billion radio channels in search of signals. Naturally, the idea that a radio signal would be emanating from this system, and one which the ATA could pick up, might seem like a bit of a longshot. But in fact, both the infrastructure and energy requirements would not be beyond a species who's technical advancement is commensurate with our own. "Assuming that the putative inhabitants of this solar system can use a transmitting antenna as large as the 500 meter FAST radio telescope in China to beam their messages our way, then the Allen Array could have found a signal if the aliens use a transmitter with 100 kilowatts of power or more," said Shostak. "This is only about ten times as energetic as the radar down at your local airport." A plot of diameter versus the amount of sunlight hitting the planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system, scaled by the size of the Earth and the amount of sunlight hitting the Earth. Credit: F. Marchis/H. Marchis So far, nothing has been picked up from this crowded system. But the SETI Institute is not finished and future surveys are already in the works. If there is a thriving, technologically-advanced civilization in this system (and they know their way around a radio antenna), surely there will be signs soon enough. And regardless, the discovery of seven planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system is very exciting because it demonstrates just how plentiful systems that could support life are in our Universe. Not only does this system have three planets orbiting within its habitable zone (all of which are similar in size and mass to Earth), but the fact that they orbit a red dwarf star is very encouraging. These stars are the most common in our Universe, making up 70% of stars in our galaxy, and up to 90% in elliptical galaxies. They are also very stable, remaining in their Main Sequence phase for up to 10 trillion years. Last, but not least, astronomers believe that 20 out of 30 nearest stars to our Solar System are red dwarfs. Lots of opportunities to find life within a few dozen light years! "[W]hether or not Trappist 1 has inhabitants, its discovery has underlined the growing conviction that the Universe is replete with real estate on which biology could both arise and flourish,' says Shostak. "If you still think the rest of the universe is sterile, you are surely singular, and probably wrong." Further Reading: SETI

Wow, Mars Sure Can Be Pretty

Evan Gough द्वारा For a supposedly dead world, Mars sure provides a lot of eye candy. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRise) aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is our candy store for stunning images of Mars. Recently, HiRise gave us this stunning image (above) of colorful, layered bedrock on the surface of Mars. Notice the dunes in the center. The colors are enhanced, which makes the images more useful scientifically, but it's still amazing. HiRise has done it before, of course. It's keen vision has fed us a steady stream of downright jaw-dropping images of Elon Musk's favorite planet. Check out this image of Gale Crater taken by HiRise to celebrate its 10 year anniversary orbiting Mars. This image was captured in March 2016. HiRise captured this image of unusual textures on the floor of the Gale Crater, the same crater where the Curiosity rover is working. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona The MRO is approaching its 11 year anniversary around Mars. It has completed over 45,000 orbits and has taken over 216,000 images. The next image is of a fresh impact crater on the Martian surface that struck the planet sometime between July 2010 and May 2012. The impact was in a dusty area, and in this color-enhanced image the fresh crater looks blue because the impact removed the red dust. This color-enhanced image of a fresh Martian crater was captured by the HiRise camera. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona These landforms on the surface of Mars are still a bit of a mystery. It's possible that they formed in the presence of an ancient Martian ocean, or perhaps glaciers. Whatever the case, they are mesmerizing to look at. These odd ridges are still a mystery. Were they formed by glaciers? Oceans? Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona Many images of the Martian surface have confounded scientists, and some of them still do. But some, though they look puzzling and difficult to explain, have more prosaic explanations. The image below is a large area of intersecting sand dunes. What is this? A vast area of Martian rice paddies? Lizard skin? Nope, just an area of intersecting sand dunes. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona The surface of Mars is peppered with craters, and HiRise has imaged many of them. This double crater was caused by a meteorite that split in two before hitting the surface. This double impact crater was caused by a meteorite that split into two before hitting Mars. Notice how the eroding force of the wind has shaped each crater the same, smoothing one edge and creating dunes in the same place. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona The image below shows gullies and dunes at the Russell Crater. In this image, the field of dunes is about 30 km long. This image was taken during the southern winter, when the carbon dioxide is frozen. You can see the frozen CO2 as white on the shaded side of the ridges. Scientists think that the gullies are formed when the CO2 melts in the summer. These gullies are on the dunes of Russell Crater on Mars. This image was taken during winter, and the frozen carbon dioxide on the shaded slopes. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona The next image is also the Russell Crater. It's an area of study for the HiRise team, which means more Russell eye candy for us. This images shows the dunes, CO2 frost, and dust devil tracks that punctuate the area. This image of the Russell Crater, an area of study for HiRise, shows the area covered in dunes, with some frost visible in the lower left. The larger, darker markings are dust devil tracks. Image: By NASA/JPL/University of Arizona - HiRISE, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12015650 One of the main geological features on Mars is the Valles Marineris, the massive canyon system that dwarfs the Grand Canyon here on Earth. HiRise captured this image of delicate dune features inside Valles Marineris. These delicate dune features formed inside the Valles Mariners, the massive canyon system on Mars. Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is still going strong. In fact, it continues to act as a communications relay for surface rovers. The HiRise camera is along for the ride, and if the past is any indication, it will continue to provide astounding images of Mars. And we can't seem to get enough of them.

ScienceDaily:

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• Who sweats more: Men or women?
• SARS and MERS: What’s Next?
• Desks join the internet of things
• Researchers develop model for studying rare polio-like illness
• Understanding the impact of delays in high-speed networks
• Computer bots are more like humans than you might think, having fights lasting years
• Ball-rolling bees reveal complex learning
• Melting sea ice may be speeding nature's clock in the Arctic
• Values gap in workplace can lead millennials to look elsewhere
• Global vaccine injury system needed to improve public health
• Nematode resistance in soybeans beneficial even at low rates of infestation
• Gene mutations cause leukemia, but which ones?
• Contact tracing and targeted insecticide spraying can curb dengue outbreaks
• Air pollution may have masked mid-20th Century sea ice loss
• Vast luminous nebula poses a cosmic mystery
• New link found between sex and viruses
• Almost 4 decades later, mini eyeless catfish gets a name
• Why is pancreatic cancer so hard to treat? Stroma provides new clues
• Fructose is generated in the human brain
• Removing barriers to early intervention for autistic children: A new model shows promise
• Tumor protein could hold key to pancreatic cancer survival
• Patients registered in a heart failure registry lived longer
• Sons of cocaine-using fathers have profound memory impairments
• Trilobite eggs in New York
• Last year's El Niño waves battered California shore to unprecedented degree
• Anti-aging gene identified as a promising therapeutic target for older melanoma patients
• Researchers use laser-generated bubbles to create 3-D images in liquid
• Direct-to-consumer genomics: Harmful or empowering?
• Researchers teach drones to land themselves on moving targets
• English learners treated differently depending on where they go to school
• In rare disorder, novel agent stops swelling before it starts
• Early birds may make healthier food choices than night owls
• New laser spectroscopy technique to understand atomic and nuclear structure of radioactive atoms
• The body does not absorb genetic material from our food
• Top professional performance through psychopathy
• Viruses support photosynthesis in bacteria
• Space dust deploy bubble parachutes on their fiery descent, scientists discover
• The oldest fossilized giant penguin
• Compounds that show potent anti-cancer activity in breast and colon tumor cell lines
• Mathematics supports a new way to classify viruses based on structure
• Stingless bees have their nests protected by soldiers
• How blood can be rejuvenated
• Warming temperatures could trigger starvation, extinctions in deep oceans
• Study targets warm water rings that fuel hurricane intensification in the Caribbean Sea
• Sorting out risk genes for brain development disorders
• Long-term stress linked to higher levels of obesity, hair samples show
• Scientists close in on cracking 'Enigma Code' of common cold
• The role of weight in postmenopausal women's longevity
• PI3K/mTOR inhibitors may be effective against some uterine sarcomas
• Nursing home residents need more activities to help them thrive
• Study finds resistant infections rising, with longer hospital stays for US children
• Researchers ponder the shape of birds' eggs
• Link between aging, devastating lung disease discovered
• Tired teens 4.5 times more likely to commit crimes as adults
• Is back pain killing us?
• A prescription with legs
• Sum of their parts: Researchers use math to foster environmental restoration
• The value of nutrition and exercise, according to a moth
• Organ-on-a-chip mimics heart's biomechanical properties
• OCD-like behavior linked to genetic mutation

Who sweats more: Men or women? Posted: 23 Feb 2017 05:20 PM PST Sex differences in heat loss responses are dependent on body size and not sex, meaning that larger individuals sweat more than smaller ones during cycle exercise in warm and tolerable conditions.

SARS and MERS: What’s Next? Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:47 AM PST It may be difficult to remember now, but when SARS was first recognized in February 2003, people were scared. This heretofore unknown disease was killing people—nearly 10 percent of those infected with what came to be recognized as the SARS-associated coronavirus. Before the end of the year, cases were reported in 29 countries.

Desks join the internet of things Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:47 AM PST The internet of things promises to revolutionize the way we live, connecting the objects in our homes to one another and to the vast array of information available online. The possibilities are enormous, and one benefit may be improving our health.

Researchers develop model for studying rare polio-like illness Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:21 AM PST Scientists have developed the first animal model for studying paralysis caused by virus linked to a polio-like illness that paralyzed 120 children in 2014.

Understanding the impact of delays in high-speed networks Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:21 AM PST In a world increasingly reliant on high-speed networks, introducing microsecond delays into such systems can have profound effects.

Computer bots are more like humans than you might think, having fights lasting years Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:21 AM PST Bots appear to behave differently in culturally distinct online environments. A new paper says the findings are a warning to those using artificial intelligence for building autonomous vehicles, cyber security systems or for managing social media.

Ball-rolling bees reveal complex learning Posted: 23 Feb 2017 11:21 AM PST Bumblebees can be trained to score goals using a mini-ball, revealing unprecedented learning abilities.

Melting sea ice may be speeding nature's clock in the Arctic Posted: 23 Feb 2017 10:44 AM PST Spring is coming sooner to some plant species in the low Arctic of Greenland, while other species are delaying their emergence amid warming winters. The changes are associated with diminishing sea ice cover, according to a study.

Values gap in workplace can lead millennials to look elsewhere Posted: 23 Feb 2017 10:44 AM PST Much has been made in popular culture about millennials as they join the working world, including their tendency to job hop. Although this behavior often is explained as a loyalty issue, new research reveals one reason young workers choose to leave a firm is because they find a disconnect between their beliefs and the culture they observe in the workplace.

Global vaccine injury system needed to improve public health Posted: 23 Feb 2017 10:44 AM PST A global vaccine injury compensation system administered through the World Health Organization would address the global public health issue of vaccine injuries, experts argue.

Nematode resistance in soybeans beneficial even at low rates of infestation Posted: 23 Feb 2017 09:43 AM PST Soybeans with resistance to soybean cyst nematodes seem to have a yield advantage compared to susceptible varieties when SCN is present. Until now, scientists did not know what level of SCN infestation is needed to achieve the yield advantage. A new study shows that SCN resistance from the soybean accession PI 88788 offers yield advantages even at very low infestation rates.

Gene mutations cause leukemia, but which ones? Posted: 23 Feb 2017 09:43 AM PST New research sought to better understand one 'typo' in a standard leukemia assay, or test. The study, however, encountered a new problem: an issue with the model system itself.

Contact tracing and targeted insecticide spraying can curb dengue outbreaks Posted: 23 Feb 2017 09:43 AM PST Contact tracing -- a process of identifying everyone who has come into contact with those infected by a particular disease -- combined with targeted, indoor spraying of insecticide can greatly reduce the spread of the mosquito-borne dengue virus, finds a study.

Air pollution may have masked mid-20th Century sea ice loss Posted: 23 Feb 2017 09:43 AM PST Humans may have been altering Arctic sea ice longer than previously thought, according to researchers studying the effects of air pollution on sea ice growth in the mid-20th Century.

Vast luminous nebula poses a cosmic mystery Posted: 23 Feb 2017 09:43 AM PST Astronomers have found an enormous, glowing blob of gas in the distant universe, with no obvious source of power for the light it is emitting. Called an 'enormous Lyman-alpha nebula' (ELAN), it is the brightest and among the largest of these rare objects, only a handful of which have been observed.

New link found between sex and viruses Posted: 23 Feb 2017 09:43 AM PST Sexual reproduction and viral infections both rely on a functionally identical protein, according to new research. The protein enables the fusion of two cells, such as a sperm cell and egg cell, or the fusion of a virus with a cell membrane. The discovery suggests that the protein evolved early in the history of life on Earth, and new details about the protein's function could help fight parasitic diseases such as malaria.

Almost 4 decades later, mini eyeless catfish gets a name Posted: 23 Feb 2017 09:42 AM PST Discovered in a 1978-79 expedition, a pale, eyeless catfish that doesn't even measure an inch long is now known as Micromyzon orinoco, for the South American river in which it was discovered.

Why is pancreatic cancer so hard to treat? Stroma provides new clues Posted: 23 Feb 2017 09:42 AM PST Why are pancreatic tumors so resistant to treatment? One reason is that the 'wound'-like tissue that surrounds the tumors, called stroma, is so dense, likely preventing cancer-killing drugs from reaching the tumor. A team has now discovered heterogeneity in the fibroblast portion of the stroma, opening up the possibility of targeted treatment.

Fructose is generated in the human brain Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:48 AM PST Fructose, a form of sugar linked to obesity and diabetes, is converted in the human brain from glucose, according to a new study. The finding raises questions about fructose's effects on the brain and eating behavior.

Removing barriers to early intervention for autistic children: A new model shows promise Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:48 AM PST Acting on recommendations from the South Carolina Act Early Team, South Carolina changed its policies to pay for early intensive behavioral intervention in children under three revealed to be at high risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by a two-stage screening process. Previously, a formal diagnosis of ASD had been required. As a result, the number of children under three receiving early intervention grew five-fold.

Tumor protein could hold key to pancreatic cancer survival Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:48 AM PST A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is often a death sentence because current chemotherapies have little impact on the disease. In a new study, researchers were able to slow down growth and spread of tumors by targeting this protein in stellate cells in animal models, in combination with current chemotherapies.

Patients registered in a heart failure registry lived longer Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:48 AM PST Heart failure patients registered in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry receive better medication and have a 35 percent lower risk of death than unregistered patients, according to a new study.

Sons of cocaine-using fathers have profound memory impairments Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:48 AM PST Fathers who use cocaine at the time of conceiving a child may be putting their sons at risk of learning disabilities and memory loss. The researchers say the findings reveal that drug abuse by fathers -- separate from the well-established effects of cocaine use in mothers -- may negatively impact cognitive development in their male offspring.

Trilobite eggs in New York Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:47 AM PST Despite a plethora of exceptionally preserved trilobites, trilobite reproduction has remained a mystery. No previously described trilobite has had unambiguous eggs or genitalia preserved. A new study reports the first occurrence of in situ preserved trilobite eggs from the Lorraine Group in upstate New York, USA.

Last year's El Niño waves battered California shore to unprecedented degree Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:47 AM PST Last winter's El Niño may have felt weak to residents of Southern California, but it was one of the most powerful weather events of the last 145 years, scientists say.

Anti-aging gene identified as a promising therapeutic target for older melanoma patients Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:47 AM PST An anti-diabetic drug can inhibit the growth of melanoma in older patients by activating an anti-aging gene that in turn inhibits a protein involved in metastatic progression and resistance to targeted therapies for the disease, new research indicates.

Researchers use laser-generated bubbles to create 3-D images in liquid Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:47 AM PST Researchers have developed a completely new type of display that creates 3-D images by using a laser to form tiny bubbles inside a liquid 'screen.' Instead of rendering a 3-D scene on a flat surface, the display itself is three-dimensional, a property known as volumetric. This allows viewers to see a 3-D image in the columnar display from all angles without any 3-D glasses or headsets.

Direct-to-consumer genomics: Harmful or empowering? Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:47 AM PST In a new study, a research explores questions that stem from new advances in direct-to-consumer DNA tests, which have the effect of separating the physician-patient relationship from access to new personal health data.

Researchers teach drones to land themselves on moving targets Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:47 AM PST Researchers are using artificial intelligence called fuzzy logic to get drones to navigate and land themselves on moving platforms. This holds promise for commercial uses such as delivering packages from moving vehicles.

English learners treated differently depending on where they go to school Posted: 23 Feb 2017 08:47 AM PST As the number of English learners continues to grow across the nation, new research indicates these students are being treated differently depending on where they go to school.

In rare disorder, novel agent stops swelling before it starts Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:28 AM PST A researcher who treats hereditary angioedema says a new drug, a potential game changer, is being studied in larger clinical trial.

Early birds may make healthier food choices than night owls Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:27 AM PST Researchers looked at data from nearly 2,000 randomly chosen people to determine if their circadian or biological clock rhythm (chronotype) affected what they ate and at what time. Clear differences in both energy and macronutrients between the two chronotypes abound, with morning people making healthier choices throughout the day. Evening types ate less protein overall and ate more sucrose in the morning. In the evening, they ate more sucrose, fat and saturated fatty acids.

New laser spectroscopy technique to understand atomic and nuclear structure of radioactive atoms Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:21 AM PST An international collaboration with research groups from five countries – Belgium, Finland, France, Germany and Russia – have applyied high-resolution laser ionization of radioactive atoms in a supersonic gas jet to probe the properties of heavy elements.

The body does not absorb genetic material from our food Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:21 AM PST A study finds no evidence that genetic material from food is absorbed in the human body where it would, for example, be able to change the body’s ability to regulate the cholesterol metabolism or influence the immune system.

Top professional performance through psychopathy Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:20 AM PST The term “psychopath” is not flattering: such people are considered cold, manipulative, do not feel any remorse and seek thrills without any fear – and all that at other’s expense. A study is now shattering this image. They claim that a certain form of psychopathy can lead to top professional performance, without harming others or the company.

Viruses support photosynthesis in bacteria Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:20 AM PST Viruses propagate by infecting a host cell and reproducing inside. This not only affects humans and animals, but bacteria as well. This type of virus is called bacteriophage. They carry so called auxiliary metabolic genes in their genome, which are responsible for producing certain proteins that give the virus an advantage. Researchers have analyzed the structure of such a protein more closely. It appears to stimulate the photosynthesis of host bacteria.

Space dust deploy bubble parachutes on their fiery descent, scientists discover Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:20 AM PST Bubbles acting like parachutes are deployed by some cosmic dust particles on their entry into Earth’s atmosphere, preventing them from burning up.

The oldest fossilized giant penguin Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:20 AM PST A recently discovered fossil of a giant penguin with a body length of around 150 centimeters has been described in a new article. The new find dates back to the Paleocene era and, with an age of approximately 61 million years, counts among the oldest penguin fossils in the world. The bones differ significantly from those of other discoveries of the same age and indicate that the diversity of Paleocene penguins was higher than previously assumed. The team of scientists therefore postulates that the evolution of penguins started much earlier than previously thought, probably already during the age of dinosaurs.

Compounds that show potent anti-cancer activity in breast and colon tumor cell lines Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:20 AM PST Potential drugs have shown low toxicity in non-tumor cell lines, which could decrease side effects during chemotherapy, researchers suggest.

Mathematics supports a new way to classify viruses based on structure Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:18 AM PST Scientists have found new evidence to support a classification system for viruses based on viral structure.

Stingless bees have their nests protected by soldiers Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:18 AM PST Although stingless bees do not have a sting to fend off enemies, they are nonetheless able to defend their hives against attacks. Only four years ago it was discovered that a Brazilian bee species, the Jatai bee, has a soldier caste. The slightly larger fighters guard the entrance to the nest and grip intruders with their powerful mandibles in the event of an attack. Now researchers have identified four further species which produce a special soldier caste to defend their nests.

How blood can be rejuvenated Posted: 23 Feb 2017 07:18 AM PST Our blood stem cells generate around a thousand billion new blood cells every day. But the blood stem cells’ capacity to produce blood changes as we age. This leads to older people being more susceptible to anemia, lowered immunity and a greater risk of developing certain kinds of blood cancer. Now for the first time, a research team has succeeded in rejuvenating blood stem cells with established reduced function in aging mice.

Warming temperatures could trigger starvation, extinctions in deep oceans Posted: 23 Feb 2017 06:24 AM PST Researchers from 20 of the world's leading oceanographic research centers today warned that the world's largest habitat -- the deep ocean floor -- may face starvation and sweeping ecological change by the year 2100.

Study targets warm water rings that fuel hurricane intensification in the Caribbean Sea Posted: 23 Feb 2017 06:24 AM PST A new study deployed 55 aircraft ocean instruments from the National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration's WP-3D aircraft. The purpose of the scientific mission was to measure ocean temperature, salinity, and currents to understand the structure of these warm-water eddies.

Sorting out risk genes for brain development disorders Posted: 23 Feb 2017 06:24 AM PST Gene discovery research is uncovering similarities and differences underlying a variety of disorders affecting the developing brain, including autism, attention deficits, tics, intellectual impairments, developmental delays and language difficulties. Researchers found some genes are more closely associated with autism and others with intellectual impairments, but many times there is overlap, indicating some genes pose broader risks. Certain genes were detected only in males with high-functioning autism.

Long-term stress linked to higher levels of obesity, hair samples show Posted: 23 Feb 2017 06:23 AM PST People who suffer long-term stress may also be more prone to obesity, according to research that involved examining hair samples for levels of cortisol, a hormone which regulates the body's response to stress.

Scientists close in on cracking 'Enigma Code' of common cold Posted: 23 Feb 2017 06:23 AM PST Scientists say they are a step closer to cracking, what researchers have dubbed, the 'enigma code' of the common cold virus.

The role of weight in postmenopausal women's longevity Posted: 23 Feb 2017 06:22 AM PST In a large multiethnic study, being underweight was linked with an increased risk of early death among postmenopausal women, report researchers.

PI3K/mTOR inhibitors may be effective against some uterine sarcomas Posted: 23 Feb 2017 06:22 AM PST The protein P-S6S240 may serve as an indicator of poor prognosis for patients with a hard-to-treat type of uterine sarcoma called leiomyosarcoma, and preclinical data suggest that patients whose tumors have this protein may respond to PI3K/mTOR inhibitors.