Chaos in cosmos: System of two stars with three planet-forming discs of gas
Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily - Hace 3 horas
A star with a ring of planets orbiting around it -- that is the picture we know from our own solar system and from many of the thousands of exoplanets observed in recent years. But now researchers have discovered a system consisting of two stars with three rotating planet-forming accretion discs around them. It is a binary star where each star has its own planet-forming disc and in addition, there is one large shared disc. All three planet-forming discs are misaligned in relation to one another.
Fruit fly neurons hold the key to the molecular causes of mental diseases
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New research involving the removal and analysis of single neurons from fruit fly embryos has revealed insights into the causes of mental diseases such as bipolar disease.
Astroglia zip the two halves of the brain together
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Scientists have identified the cellular origins of the corpus callosum, the 200 million nerve fibers that connect the two hemispheres of the brain. A study of mice and human brains shows that during development, astroglia, the main supporting cells of the brain, weave themselves between the right and left lobes, and form the bridge for axons to grow across the gap. Without these astroglia, the corpus callosum doesn't form correctly, causing a condition called callosal agenesis -- which affects 1 out of 4,000 people -- and a range of developmental disorders.
Why naked mole rats feel no pain
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The African naked mole rat is an odd, homely creature with the closest thing to real-life super powers on earth. These small rodents can live for 32 years, they are cancer-resistant, and they are impervious to some types of pain.
Genome of fiercely protective Fonni's dog reflects human history of Sardinia
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A genomic analysis of 28 dog breeds has traced the genetic history of the remarkable Fonni's Dog, a herd guardian endemic to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia. The results reveal that the regional variety has developed into a true breed through unregulated selection for its distinctive behavior, and that its ancestors came from the very same geographic areas as Sardinia's human migrants. Just as Sardinian people have long provided a wealth of genetic insights to scientists, the canine natives are an example of an isolated population that could prove a powerful resource for finding... más »
Genomic study of high school students from across Denmark reveals remarkable genetic homogeneity
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People from Denmark are remarkably genetically similar to each other, report researchers. The study revealed that, Denmark has a relatively genetically homogeneous population as people have mixed freely throughout the country.
Virus carrying DNA of black widow spider toxin discovered
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Biologists sequencing the genome of the WO virus, which infects the bacterial parasite Wolbachia, have discovered that the phage carries DNA that produces black widow spider toxin: the first time an animal-like DNA has been found in such a virus.
Synchronizing optical clocks to one quadrillionth of a second
Latest Science News -- ScienceDaily - Hace 3 horas
An international team of researchers has advanced their work with synchronizing a remote optical clock with a master clock by exploring what happens to time signals that need to travel through 12 kilometers (km) of turbulent air. As the team reports, they were able to demonstrate real-time, femtosecond-level clock synchronization across a low-lying, strongly turbulent, 12-km horizontal air path by optical two-way time transfer.
New approach to gallbladder surgery, smallest reported incision
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A surgical team has completed the first series of operations with a novel surgical system that can remove a diseased gallbladder through a single incision hidden in the belly button.
Childhood family environment linked with relationship quality 60 years later
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Growing up in a warm family environment in childhood is associated with feeling more secure in romantic relationships in one's 80s, according to new research. The findings show that men who grew up in caring homes were more adept at managing stressful emotions when assessed as middle-aged adults, which helps to explain why they had more secure marriages late in life.
Medieval cities not so different from modern European cities
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Modern European cities and medieval cities share a population-density-to-area relationship, a new paper concludes – the latest research to find regularities in human settlement patterns across space and time.
Study finds differences in obesity rates between children/teens with and without autism
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Children and teens with autism spectrum disorder may be more likely to be obese and stay obese during adolescence than their peers without autism spectrum disorder, research indicates.
Family stressors and traumatic childhood experiences linked to ADHD diagnoses in children
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Children who experience family and environmental stressors, and traumatic experiences, such as poverty, mental illness and exposure to violence, are more likely to be diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), say researchers.
Morel mushrooms pop up, cluster together after wildfires
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A new paper is one of only a handful of reports documenting and analyzing the patterns of morel mushroom growth following a wildfire. Within Yosemite National Park, morels were most likely to cluster in groups across burned areas.
High-protein diet curbs metabolic benefits of weight loss
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Dieters sometimes consume extra protein to stave off hunger and prevent loss of muscle tissue that often comes with weight loss. But in a study of 34 postmenopausal women with obesity, researchers found that eating too much protein eliminates an important health benefit of weight loss: improvement in insulin sensitivity, which is critical to lowering diabetes risk.
Females react differently than males to social isolation
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While male and female mice have similar responses to physical stress, research suggests females, not males, feel stressed when alone.
Encrypting medical photos with chaos
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Chaos and confusion could be used to encrypt color photos and protect them from prying eyes, according to computer scientists in Algeria. Writing in a new article, the team describes a new algorithm that generates pseudo-random sequences that change a plain image into a ciphered image in a single step leading to a file that cannot be cracked.
Research findings may lead to promising Zika virus drug targets
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Following recent outbreaks of Zika virus and the potential health dangers of infection, especially during pregnancy, scientists are striving to rapidly develop effective antiviral drugs that can halt transmission. Investigators who recently performed detailed analyses of the targets of a key enzyme of the Zika virus have uncovered peculiarities of the viral enzyme, called the NS3 protease.
New lab mimics the sound of any room
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Researchers have developed a sound laboratory that can reproduce the acoustics of any environment from cars to concert halls. One goal is better design of sound systems for cars.
The meat paradox
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When we eat beef, chicken wings, hot dogs or spaghetti bolognese, we do it in denial. Already by referring to what we eat as "beef" instead of "cow", we have created a distance between our food and an animal with abilities to think and feel. Philosophers and animal rights activists have long claimed that we avoid thinking about the animal we eat, and that this reduces the feeling of unease. This mechanism is described by the "disassociation hypothesis".
Research points to ways to improve the therapeutic potential of stem cells
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Stem cells hold great promise for transforming medical care related to a diverse range of conditions, but the cells often lose some of their therapeutic potential when scientists try to grow and expand them in the laboratory. A new study, however, provides insights on the cellular mechanisms that might be targeted to help certain stem cells-called human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs)-maintain properties needed to make them clinically useful.
Global sustainability projects offer hope for the future
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Global examples of sustainability projects, which offer a positive future for the environment, have been identified by an international group of researchers. They gathered examples of positive initiatives from communities around the world for a website they created - Good Anthropocene. These ranged from projects involving community-based radiation monitoring in Japan and ones designed to create healthier school lunches in California, to puffin patrols in Newfoundland that save baby birds from traffic.
Scientists uncover how spreading cancer adapts to its environment
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Spreading tumor cells are able to adapt their metabolism to the specific organs they are invading. Researchers examined lung cancer metastases that originated from breast tumors, discovering that the two tumors have different ways of converting nutrients into biomass building blocks. Thanks to these findings, scientists may be able to develop new therapies that target the metabolism of cancer cells, thereby halting a tumor’s growth.
Wild chimpanzee mothers teach young to use tools
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The first documented evidence of wild chimpanzee mothers teaching their offspring to use tools has been captured by video cameras set to record chimpanzee tool-using activity at termite mounds in the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park in the Republic of Congo, according to new research from anthropologists.
Major racial bias found in leading genomics databases
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Researchers have confirmed for the first time that two of the top genomic databases, which are in wide use today by clinical geneticists, reflect a measurable bias toward genetic data based on European ancestry over that of African ancestry.
New study finds 'amplifier' helps make connections in the fetal brain
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Early neural connections are sparse, weak, and unreliable. Now researchers have discovered that fetal brains use a special amplifier in order to transmit signals.
Movement of mTORC1 observed for the first time in live cells
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What do proteins and wild bears have in common? Just like tagging wild animals aims to allow researchers to observe and track their natural behavior, molecular researchers use tags to track the minute movements of proteins in cells. Despite the difference in the size of the target, the challenge remains the same: how to tag the object without changing its usual behavior.
New 3D design for mobile microbatteries
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In the race towards miniaturization, a research team has succeeded in improving the energy density of a rechargeable battery without increasing its size (limited to a few square millimeters in mobile sensors). This feat was achieved by developing a 3D structure made of microtubes, the first step towards producing a complete microbattery. The first experiments have demonstrated the excellent conductivity of the battery's solid electrolyte, report scientists.
Typing while driving could be more safe with simple text entry technique
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A combination of a head-up display and the keypad familiar to us from mobiles in the 2000s significantly improved the performance of drivers who were texting while driving.
Successful trial shows tablet lowers risk of disease returning for kidney cancer patients
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Potentially practice-changing results have come out of an international study on how clinicians can reduce the risk of disease returning for kidney cancer patients. A trial demonstrates that taking oral tablet Sunitinib for one year reduces the likelihood of cancer returning for kidney cancer patients following removal of the kidney.
Lifting the veil on Queen of Sheba's perfume
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It is one of the oldest fragrances in the world, mentioned more than twenty times in the Bible. Now researchers have discovered the components that give frankincense its distinctive odor: two molecules found for the first time in nature, named "olibanic acids" by the scientists.
Rainforest: Roads for species conservation?
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The impact of old forest roads on the species diversity in the rainforest of Central Guyana has been the focus of recent research. Investigators reached the conclusion that the established roads may be of use for amphibians and should therefore not necessarily be closed or restored to their natural state. For example, ruts in the roads filled with accumulated water can serve as spawning grounds for frogs during dry periods.
New immune cell subset associated with progression to type 1 diabetes
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A recently described T cell subset may have a central role in the development of type 1 diabetes, research suggests. These so called follicular T helper cells were found to be increased at the onset of type 1 diabetes, and the phenomenon was linked with the presence of autoantibodies commonly associated with the disease.
Healing effect of fecal microbiota transplantation lasts for long
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Researchers have studied in detail the intestinal microbiota of 14 patients treated with a fecal microbiota transplant. The patients suffered from recurrent Clostridium difficile -- infection, also known as antibiotic associated diarrhea -- and they had not responded to antibiotic treatment. After the fecal microbiota transplantation therapy, the patient's microbiota was followed for a year.
Viral particles support prophylactic vaccination against breast cancer
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Artificial structures of tumor antigens, so-called mimotopes, applied in vaccinations of cancer patients can trigger a long-term immune response. For the vaccine, however, a carrier is required that triggers an immune response itself. A team of researchers showed in laboratory tests that virus-like particles of harmless adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are particularly suitable as carriers. The scientists were able to produce mimotopes for the growth factor HER2, a tumour antigen of about 30 percent of breast tumors, without chemical after-treatment at these AAV carrier particles and ... más »
Roadmap to get new cancer scans into clinic
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Key recommendations for a global standard for scanning biomarkers in cancer have been introduced by experts to bridge the gap between research and the clinic, according to a new paper,
New molecular mechanism revealed for genetic mutations in aggressive cancer cells
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Scientists have described a previously-unknown molecular mechanism that could lead to the genetic mutations seen in certain types of aggressive cancer cells, involving a cell’s own transcription machinery.
Hydrogen-powered passenger ferry in San Francisco Bay is possible, says study
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Researchers set out to answer one not-so-simple question: Is it feasible to build and operate a high-speed passenger ferry solely powered by hydrogen fuel cells? The answer is yes.
Metamaterial uses light to control its motion
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Researchers have designed a device that uses light to manipulate its mechanical properties. The device, which was fabricated using a plasmomechanical metamaterial, operates through a unique mechanism that couples its optical and mechanical resonances, enabling it to oscillate indefinitely using energy absorbed from light.
New kind of supercapacitor made without carbon
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Energy storage devices called supercapacitors have become a hot area of research, in part because they can be charged rapidly and deliver intense bursts of power. However, all supercapacitors currently use components made of carbon, which require high temperatures and harsh chemicals to produce. Now researchers have for the first time developed a supercapacitor that uses no conductive carbon at all, and that could potentially produce more power than existing versions of this technology.