ScienceDaily: Top News

---

• Gene found to cause sudden death in young people
• Brain is ten times more active than previously measured
• Chemical that detects plaques in Alzheimer's brains extends lifespan of roundworms
• Keeping liquids off the wall
• First global maps of volcanic emissions use NASA satellite data
• Unhealthy diets linked to more than 400,000 cardiovascular deaths
• How big brains evolved could be revealed by new mathematical model
• Five new synthetic yeast chromosomes assembled
• Marijuana use associated with increased risk of stroke, heart failure
• Researchers identify a new way to promote tissue regeneration
• Molecules form gels to help cells sense and respond to stress
• Brain hardwired to respond to others' itching
• Why guillemot chicks leap from the nest before they can fly
• Potential drug candidates halt prostate and breast cancer growth
• Flame retardant chemicals may affect social behavior in young children
• Hubble dates black hole's last big meal
• Research may provide solutions for the future treatment of diabetes
• The intestine has a reservoir of stem cells that are resistant to chemotherapy
• Optimized sensors to study learning and memory
• Conformity is not a universal indicator of intelligence in children
• Harnessing ADHD for business success
• Convergent con artists: How rove beetles keep evolving into army ant parasites
• Ammonia's surprising role in cardiovascular health tracked in mice, human cells
• Discovery of widespread platinum may help solve Clovis people mystery
• Rabbits' detached retina 'glued' with new hydrogel
• Machine learning writes songs that elicits emotions from its listeners
• Unexpected link between cancer and autism
• Social phobia: Indication of a genetic cause
• Low gluten diets linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes
• How your neighborhood may impact your health
• Long-term results of Gleevec® published
• Therapeutic target for diabetes-related blindness
• Nurses central to getting diabetes care off to a better start
• Beyond a reasonable doubt? Study reveals how eyewitness testimonies go wrong
• Researcher calls on the scientific community to defend individuals with disabilities
• Neuroscientists pinpoint key gene controlling tumor growth in brain cancers
• Immunotherapy trial cures Tasmanian devils of DFTD
• Cannabis use in people with epilepsy revealed: Australian survey
• Single atom memory: The world's smallest storage medium
• 'Blurred times' in a quantum world
• The prototype of a chemical computer detects a sphere
• Asthmatics less able to fight off flu
• Surprise: Transport proteins evolved long before their compounds emerged
• Studying magnetic space explosions with NASA missions
• Children’s daily life highly regulated: US and Swedish differences
• Physics: To buckle or not to buckle
• Environmental researchers are developing new biosensors for testing water
• Massive drop in mortality from breast cancer
• Additional Arctic weather data raises forecast accuracy of cold snaps in Japan
• By boosting innate immunity, researchers eradicate aggressive prostate cancer in mice
• Researchers take big step forward in nanotech-based drugs

Gene found to cause sudden death in young people Posted: 09 Mar 2017 12:06 PM PST A new gene that can lead to sudden death among young people and athletes has now been identified by an international team of researchers. The gene, called CDH2, causes arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy (ARVC), which is a genetic disorder that predisposes patients to cardiac arrest and is a major cause of unexpected death in seemingly healthy young people.

Brain is ten times more active than previously measured Posted: 09 Mar 2017 12:06 PM PST A new study could change scientists' understanding of how the brain works -- and could lead to new approaches for treating neurological disorders and for developing computers that 'think' more like humans.

Chemical that detects plaques in Alzheimer's brains extends lifespan of roundworms Posted: 09 Mar 2017 12:06 PM PST While many anti-aging drugs don't live up to their claim, a tightly replicated study has discovered that a chemical used to detect amyloid plaques found in the brains of those with Alzheimer's extended the lifespan of thousands of roundworms similar in molecular form, function and genetics to humans.

Keeping liquids off the wall Posted: 09 Mar 2017 12:06 PM PST On Earth, liquid flows downhill thanks to gravity. Creating an effective liquid fuel tank involves little more than putting a hole at the bottom of a container. That won't work in space, though. In microgravity, with no gravity to force liquids to the bottom of a container, they cling to its surfaces instead. The Slosh Coating investigation tests using a liquid-repellant coating inside a container to control the movement of liquids in microgravity.

First global maps of volcanic emissions use NASA satellite data Posted: 09 Mar 2017 12:06 PM PST A number of volcanoes around the world continuously exhale water vapor laced with heavy metals, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, among many other gases. Of these, sulfur dioxide is the easiest to detect from space.

Unhealthy diets linked to more than 400,000 cardiovascular deaths Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:23 AM PST Eating a diet lacking in healthy foods and/or high in unhealthy foods was estimated to contribute to more than 400,000 deaths from heart and blood vessel diseases in the United States in 2015. Eating more nuts, vegetables, and whole grains, and less salt and trans fats, could save tens of thousands of lives in the US each year.

How big brains evolved could be revealed by new mathematical model Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:23 AM PST A new mathematical model could help clarify what drove the evolution of large brains in humans and other animals, according to a study.

Five new synthetic yeast chromosomes assembled Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:23 AM PST A global research team has built five new synthetic yeast chromosomes, meaning that 30 percent of a key organism's genetic material has now been swapped out for engineered replacements. Like computer programmers, scientists add swaths of synthetic DNA to -- or remove stretches from -- human, plant, bacterial or yeast chromosomes in hopes of averting disease, manufacturing medicines, or making food more nutritious.

Marijuana use associated with increased risk of stroke, heart failure Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:23 AM PST Using marijuana raises the risk of stroke and heart failure even after accounting for demographic factors, other health conditions and lifestyle risk factors such as smoking and alcohol use, according to new research.

Researchers identify a new way to promote tissue regeneration Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:23 AM PST Researchers have identified an immune pathway that promotes the formation of a cell that can develop into new tissues and organs.

Molecules form gels to help cells sense and respond to stress Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:23 AM PST A specific protein inside cells senses threatening changes in its environment, such as heat or starvation, and triggers an adaptive response to help the cell continue to function and grow under stressful conditions, according to a new study.

Brain hardwired to respond to others' itching Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:22 AM PST Itching is a highly contagious behavior. When we see someone scratch, we're likely to feel itchy, too. New research shows contagious itching is hardwired in the brain.

Why guillemot chicks leap from the nest before they can fly Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:13 AM PST Before they have the wing span to actually permit them to fly, young guillemots (also known as murres) leap hundreds of meters off towering cliffs and flutter down towards the sea, guided by their fathers. Scientists have long wondered why these tiny chicks make this remarkable leap, hoping to avoid the rocks below them, in what seems an unlikely survival strategy for a species

Potential drug candidates halt prostate and breast cancer growth Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:13 AM PST Two new drug candidates have now been designed to target prostate and triple negative breast cancers. The new research demonstrates that a new class of drugs called small molecule RNA inhibitors can successfully target and kill specific types of cancer.

Flame retardant chemicals may affect social behavior in young children Posted: 09 Mar 2017 11:13 AM PST Some chemicals added to furniture, electronics and numerous other goods to prevent fires may have unintended developmental consequences for young children, according to a pilot study.

Hubble dates black hole's last big meal Posted: 09 Mar 2017 10:27 AM PST NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has found that the black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy ate its last big meal about 6 million years ago, when it consumed a large clump of infalling gas. After the meal, the engorged black hole burped out a colossal bubble of gas weighing the equivalent of millions of suns, which now billows above and below our galaxy's center.

Research may provide solutions for the future treatment of diabetes Posted: 09 Mar 2017 10:23 AM PST Researchers found that feeding resveratrol to obese mice over a period of 6 weeks altered the makeup of the bacteria in their intestines, improving glucose tolerance. A second experiment, involving fecal transplant from resveratrol fed mice to obese mice with insulin resistance, led to much more dramatic and rapid effects.

The intestine has a reservoir of stem cells that are resistant to chemotherapy Posted: 09 Mar 2017 10:23 AM PST Researchers have discovered a new group of intestinal stem cells with very different characteristics to those of the abundant and active stem cells already known in this organ. This new group of stem cells is quiescent, that is to say, the cells do not proliferate and are apparently dormant.

Optimized sensors to study learning and memory Posted: 09 Mar 2017 10:23 AM PST Scientists are working to understand how molecules send messages throughout the neuron, constantly working to develop high-resolution imaging techniques to visualize the activity and location of the molecules involved in the process. This team has developed new molecular biosensors, which helped them to visualize the activity of two signaling proteins crucial to synaptic plasticity. The results revealed signal spreading during structural plasticity of dendritic spines.

Conformity is not a universal indicator of intelligence in children Posted: 09 Mar 2017 10:23 AM PST Because innovation is part of the American culture, adults in the United States may be less likely to associate children's conformity with intelligence than adults from other populations, according to research from developmental psychologists.

Harnessing ADHD for business success Posted: 09 Mar 2017 10:23 AM PST The symptoms of ADHD foster important traits associated with entrepreneurship. That conclusion was reached in a study conducted by an international team of economists, who found that entrepreneurs with ADHD embrace new experiences and demonstrate passion and persistence. Their intuitive decision making in situations involving uncertainty was seen by the researchers as a reason for reassessing existing economic models.

Convergent con artists: How rove beetles keep evolving into army ant parasites Posted: 09 Mar 2017 10:22 AM PST Marauding across the forest floor, aggressive army ant colonies harbor hidden enemies in their ranks -- parasitic beetles. Through dramatic changes in body shape, behavior, and pheromone chemistry, the beetles gain their hosts' acceptance, so they can feast on their brood. These beetles arose at least a dozen separate times from non-ant-like ancestors. This discovery provides evidence that evolution has the capacity to repeat itself in an astonishingly predictable way.

Ammonia's surprising role in cardiovascular health tracked in mice, human cells Posted: 09 Mar 2017 10:22 AM PST Coronary artery disease is caused by plaque buildup in the vessels that deliver blood to the heart. Narrowed or blocked coronary arteries can result in a heart attack or sudden cardiac death. A study has now revealed that ammonia plays an important role in maintaining cardiovascular health. Researchers say that non-toxic amounts of the gas could help prevent coronary artery disease.

Discovery of widespread platinum may help solve Clovis people mystery Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST No one knows for certain why the Clovis people and iconic beasts -- mastodon, mammoth and saber-toothed tiger -- living some 12,800 years ago suddenly disappeared. However, a discovery of widespread platinum at archaeological sites across the US has provided an important clue in solving this enduring mystery.

Rabbits' detached retina 'glued' with new hydrogel Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST A newly developed elastic gel administered in liquid form and shown to turn jellylike within minutes after injection into rabbits' eyes to replace the clear gelatinous fluid inside their eyeballs, may help pave the way for new eye surgery techniques, say scientists.

Machine learning writes songs that elicits emotions from its listeners Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST Music, more than any art, is a beautiful mix of science and emotion. It follows a set of patterns almost mathematically to extract feelings from its audience. Machines that make music focus on these patterns, but give little consideration to the emotional response of their audience. Scientists have developed a new machine-learning device that detects the emotional state of its listeners to produce new songs that elicit new feelings.

Unexpected link between cancer and autism Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST Researchers have observed that a protein called SHANK prevents the spread of breast cancer cells to the surrounding tissue. The SHANK protein has been previously studied only in the central nervous system, and it is known that its absence or gene mutations are related to autism.

Social phobia: Indication of a genetic cause Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST People with social anxiety avoid situations in which they are exposed to judgment by others. Those affected also lead a withdrawn life. Researchers have now found evidence for a gene that is believed to be linked to the illness. It encodes a serotonin transporter in the brain. Interestingly, this messenger suppresses feelings of anxiety and depressiveness.

Low gluten diets linked to higher risk of type 2 diabetes Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST Diets higher in gluten were associated with a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Study participants who ate less gluten tended to eat less cereal fiber, a known protective factor for developing type 2 diabetes.

How your neighborhood may impact your health Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST A researcher analyzed how four common neighborhood designs influence residents' physical activity and well-being. Residents of traditional neighborhoods walk the most, and residents of suburban neighborhoods report the highest levels of mental well-being.

Long-term results of Gleevec® published Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST Results from a nearly 11-year follow-up study, that showed an estimated overall survival rate of 83.3 percent, have now been published by investigators. According to the National Cancer Institute, prior to Gleevec's 2001 FDA approval, fewer than one in three CML patients survived five years past diagnosis.

Therapeutic target for diabetes-related blindness Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST Specific cells in the retina trigger inflammation and vision impairment associated with diabetes, according to new research.

Nurses central to getting diabetes care off to a better start Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:06 AM PST Giving primary health care nurses a greater role in managing Type 2 Diabetes can significantly reduce delays in starting insulin treatment, a team of researchers has found.

Beyond a reasonable doubt? Study reveals how eyewitness testimonies go wrong Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:05 AM PST Eyewitnesses testimonies are extremely compelling forms of evidence. But, it's not foolproof -- just ask the 242 people mistakenly identified by eyewitnesses who served years in prison for crimes they did not commit until they were exonerated thanks to the introduction of DNA testing. A study gives new meaning to the notion of 'guilt by association' and shows how memory in humans as well as police use of mugshots and subtle innuendo can contaminate eyewitness testimonies.

Researcher calls on the scientific community to defend individuals with disabilities Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:05 AM PST The potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) threatens to eliminate critical mental and behavioral health services for people living with autism and other disabilities.

Neuroscientists pinpoint key gene controlling tumor growth in brain cancers Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:05 AM PST Investigators have identified a stem cell-regulating gene that affects tumor growth in patients with brain cancer and can strongly influence survival rates of patients. The findings could move physicians closer to their goal of better predicting the prognosis of patients with brain tumors and developing more personalized treatments for them.

Immunotherapy trial cures Tasmanian devils of DFTD Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:05 AM PST Immunotherapy can cure Tasmanian devils of the deadly devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), an international study involving multiple institutions over six years has shown.

Cannabis use in people with epilepsy revealed: Australian survey Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:05 AM PST The first Australian nationwide survey on the experiences and opinions of medicinal cannabis use in people with epilepsy has revealed that 14 per cent of people with epilepsy have used cannabis products as a way to manage seizures. The study showed that of those with a history of cannabis product use, 90 per cent of adults and 71 per cent of parents of children with epilepsy reported success in managing seizures after commencing using cannabis products.

Single atom memory: The world's smallest storage medium Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:05 AM PST One bit of digital information can now be successfully stored in an individual atom. This result is a breakthrough in the miniaturization of storage media and has the potential to serve as a basis for quantum computing.

'Blurred times' in a quantum world Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:05 AM PST When measuring time, we normally assume that clocks do not affect space and time, and that time can be measured with infinite accuracy at nearby points in space. Combining quantum mechanics and Einstein's theory of general relativity theoretical physicists have demonstrated a fundamental limitation for our ability to measure time. The more precise a given clock is, the more it 'blurs' the flow of time measured by neighboring clocks.

The prototype of a chemical computer detects a sphere Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:05 AM PST Chemical computers are becoming ever more of a reality. It turns out that after an appropriate teaching procedure even a relatively simple chemical system can perform non-trivial operations. In their most recent computer simulations researchers have shown that correctly programmed chemical matrices of oscillating droplets can recognize the shape of a sphere with great accuracy.

Asthmatics less able to fight off flu Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:04 AM PST People with asthma are likely to have worse symptoms when they get the flu because they have weaker immune systems, new research has shown.

Surprise: Transport proteins evolved long before their compounds emerged Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:04 AM PST Scientists bridge an important gap that changes our understanding of the evolution of plant transport proteins.

Studying magnetic space explosions with NASA missions Posted: 09 Mar 2017 09:04 AM PST Magnetic explosions happen constantly all across the universe, and new results with NASA's ARTEMIS mission help explain how near-Earth explosions convert energy into heat and propel particles toward Earth.

Children’s daily life highly regulated: US and Swedish differences Posted: 09 Mar 2017 06:23 AM PST Children in Sweden and the US experience their daily life as highly structured and regulated. But while US children state that homework and long schooldays are what makes everyday life difficult, Swedish children point to the continuous nagging and stress that occur in relation to daily routines.

Physics: To buckle or not to buckle Posted: 09 Mar 2017 06:06 AM PST Magnetic balls provide exciting avenues for exploring many fundamental phenomena in physics. They can be assembled by hand into chains and more complex structures and used to model the properties of unstretchable materials that, like paper, crumple under certain loading conditions.

Environmental researchers are developing new biosensors for testing water Posted: 09 Mar 2017 06:06 AM PST Biologists are part of an interdisciplinary team which has developed novel biosensors that enable pharmaceutical products to be detected more effectively in water. These sensors can measure two types of pharmaceutical substances – beta-blockers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – in real-time and in low concentrations.

Massive drop in mortality from breast cancer Posted: 09 Mar 2017 06:06 AM PST The rate of mortality from breast cancer has fallen by one third over the last 30 years. This is due to improvements in early detection, the refinement of treatment concepts and the development of new ones. Today, an important issue for breast cancer experts is also how they can improve the quality of life of their patients.

Additional Arctic weather data raises forecast accuracy of cold snaps in Japan Posted: 09 Mar 2017 05:48 AM PST Increased observation of meteorological conditions in the Arctic's upper atmosphe