ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines -- for Thursday, March 8, 2012

ScienceDaily Top Science Headlines

for Thursday, March 8, 2012

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NASA sees second biggest flare of the solar cycle (March 7, 2012) -- The leading edge of the first of two major coronal mass ejections will reach Earth at about 1:25 AM EST on the morning of March 8 (plus or minus 7 hours). Such a CME could result in a severe geomagnetic storm, causing aurora at low latitudes, with possible disruption to high frequency radio communication, global positioning systems (GPS), and power grids. ... > full story

Chimpanzees have police officers, too (March 7, 2012) -- Chimpanzees are interested in social cohesion and have various strategies to guarantee the stability of their group. Anthropologists now reveal that chimpanzees mediate conflicts between other group members, not for their own direct benefit, but rather to preserve the peace within the group. Their impartial intervention in a conflict -- so-called "policing" -- can be regarded as an early evolutionary form of moral behavior. ... > full story

Genetic survey of endangered Antarctic blue whales shows surprising diversity (March 7, 2012) -- More than 99 percent of Antarctic blue whales were killed by commercial whalers during the 20th century, but the first circumpolar genetic study of these critically endangered whales has found a surprisingly high level of diversity among the surviving population of some 2,200 individuals. That may bode well for their future recovery. ... > full story

Teaching fat cells to burn calories: New target against obesity involves brown fat (March 7, 2012) -- In the war against obesity, one’s own fat cells may seem an unlikely ally, but new research suggests ordinary fat cells can be reengineered to burn calories. ... > full story

Communication technologies including smartphones and laptops could now be 1,000 times faster, new study suggests (March 7, 2012) -- Many of the communication tools of today rely on the function of light or, more specifically, on applying information to a light wave. Thanks to research, a physical basis for terahertz bandwidth (THz, or 1 trillion cycles per second) -- the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum between infrared and microwave light -- has now been demonstrated. ... > full story

Heart attacks rise following daylight saving time (March 7, 2012) -- The Monday and Tuesday after moving the clocks ahead one hour in March is associated with a 10 percent increase in the risk of having a heart attack. Learn what you can do to mitigate your risk. ... > full story

Eating berries benefits the brain (March 7, 2012) -- Strong scientific evidence exists that eating blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and other berry fruits has beneficial effects on the brain and may help prevent age-related memory loss and other changes, scientists report. ... > full story

That caffeine in your drink -- is it really 'natural?' (March 7, 2012) -- That caffeine in your tea, energy drink or other beverage -- is it really natural? Scientists are reporting successful use for the first time of a simpler and faster method for answering that question. ... > full story

Upper class people more likely to behave unethically (March 7, 2012) -- New studies reveal something the well off may not want to hear. Individuals who are relatively high in social class are more likely to engage in a variety of unethical behaviors. ... > full story

Nasty people in the media prime the brain for aggression (March 7, 2012) -- Research over the past few decades has shown that viewing physical violence in the media can increase aggression in adults and children. But a new study has also found that onscreen relational aggression -- including social exclusion, gossip and emotional bullying -- may prime the brain for aggression. ... > full story

First spectroscopic measurement of an anti-atom (March 7, 2012) -- Scientists have captured and held atoms of antihydrogen, a single antiproton orbited by a single positron. Now, by measuring antihydrogen's hyperfine structure, they have achieved another first in antimatter science with the very first measurements of the energy spectrum of an anti-atom. ... > full story

New species of deep-sea catshark described from the Galapagos (March 7, 2012) -- Scientists conducting deep-sea research in the Galapagos have described a new species of catshark, Bythaelurus giddingsi. The new shark is approximately a foot long and has a chocolate-brown coloration with pale, irregularly distributed spots on its body. The spotted patterns appear to be unique to each individual. ... > full story

Researchers capture first-ever image of two atoms forming a molecule (March 7, 2012) -- Using a new ultrafast camera, researchers have recorded the first real-time image of two atoms vibrating in a molecule. Key to the experiment is the researchers' use of the energy of a molecule's own electron as a kind of "flash bulb" to illuminate the molecular motion. ... > full story

What have we got in common with a gorilla? Insight into human evolution from gorilla genome sequence (March 7, 2012) -- Scientists have sequenced the genome of the last great ape to have its genome decoded, the gorilla. This study provides a unique perspective on our own origins and is an important resource for research into human evolution and biology, as well as for gorilla biology and conservation. ... > full story

Self-centered kids? Blame their immature brains (March 7, 2012) -- A new study suggests that age-associated improvements in the ability to consider the preferences of others are linked with maturation of a brain region involved in self control. The findings may help to explain why young children often struggle to control selfish impulses, even when they know better, and could impact educational strategies designed to promote successful social behavior. ... > full story

Deafening affects vocal nerve cells within hours (March 7, 2012) -- Portions of a songbird's brain that control how it sings have been shown to decay within 24 hours of the animal losing its hearing. ... > full story

How repeated stress impairs memory (March 7, 2012) -- Anyone who has ever been subject to chronic stress knows that it can take a toll on emotions and the ability to think clearly. Now, new research uncovers a neural mechanism that directly links repeated stress with impaired memory. The study also provides critical insight into why stress responses can act as a trigger for many mental illnesses. ... > full story

Players get more pleasure from motion-based video games (March 7, 2012) -- The newest motion-based video games — which are more interactive than standard video game systems with gamepads — are more realistic, give a greater sense of “being there” and are more enjoyable, according to findings by communications studies researchers. ... > full story

Stumped by a problem? This technique unsticks you (March 7, 2012) -- Stuck solving a problem? Seek the obscure, says a psychologist. "There's a classic obstacle to innovation called 'functional fixedness,' which is the tendency to fixate on the common use of an object or its parts. It hinders people from solving problems." Researchers have developed a systematic way of overcoming that obstacle: the "generic parts technique." ... > full story

Nanomanufacturing using DNA origami (March 7, 2012) -- In recent years, scientists have begun to harness DNA's powerful molecular machinery to build artificial structures at the nanoscale using the natural ability of pairs of DNA molecules to assemble into complex structures. While most researchers of "DNA origami" are working to demonstrate what's possible, scientists are now seeking to determine what's practical. ... > full story

'Star comb' to aid quest for Earth-like planets (March 7, 2012) -- If there is life on other planets, a laser frequency comb may help find it. Such a comb -- a tool for precisely measuring frequencies, or colors, of light -- has for the first time been used to calibrate measurements of starlight from stars other than the Sun. The good results suggest combs will eventually fulfill their potential to boost the search for Earth-like planets to a new level. ... > full story

The right type of words: Words spelled on right side of keyboards lead to more positive emotions (March 7, 2012) -- Words spelled with more letters on the right of the keyboard are associated with more positive emotions than words spelled with more letters on the left, according to new research by cognitive scientists. Their work shows, for the first time, that there is a link between the meaning of words and the way they are typed -- a relationship they call the QWERTY effect. ... > full story

Switch to daylight saving time leads to cyberloafing at the office (March 7, 2012) -- The annual shift to daylight saving time and its accompanying loss of sleep cause employees to spend more time than normal surfing the Web for content unrelated to their work, resulting in potentially massive productivity losses, according to researchers. ... > full story

Market exchange rules responsible for wealth concentration, physicists say (March 7, 2012) -- Physicists have shown that wealth concentration invariably stems from a particular type of market exchange rules -- where agents cannot receive more income than their own capital. The authors concluded that maximum inequalities ensue from free markets, which are governed by such seemingly fair rules. ... > full story

New immune-system sensor may speed up, slash cost of detecting disease (March 7, 2012) -- An inexpensive new medical sensor has the potential to simplify the diagnosis of diseases ranging from life-threatening immune deficiencies to the common cold, according to its inventors. ... > full story

Oxide thin films to create new field of oxide electronics (March 7, 2012) -- Researchers have developed the first functional oxide thin films that can be used efficiently in electronics, making new high-power devices and sensors possible. This is the first time researchers have been able to produce positively-charged and negatively-charged conduction in a single oxide material, launching a new era in oxide electronics. ... > full story

Nanotrees harvest the sun's energy to turn water into hydrogen fuel (March 7, 2012) -- Electrical engineers are building a forest of tiny nanowire trees in order to cleanly capture solar energy without using fossil fuels and harvest it for hydrogen fuel generation. The team said nanowires, which are made from abundant natural materials like silicon and zinc oxide, also offer a cheap way to deliver hydrogen fuel on a mass scale. ... > full story

Galaxies get up close and personal: Collisions in young galaxy cluster (March 7, 2012) -- The VLT Survey Telescope (VST) at the European Southern Observatory's Paranal Observatory in Chile has imaged a fascinating collection of interacting galaxies in the Hercules galaxy cluster. The sharpness of the new picture, and the hundreds of galaxies captured in great detail in less than three hours of observations, attest to the great power of the VST and its huge camera OmegaCAM to explore the nearby Universe. ... > full story

Sperm can do 'calculus' to calculate calcium dynamics and react accordingly (March 7, 2012) -- Sperm have only one aim: to find the egg. The egg supports the sperm in their quest by emitting attractants. Calcium ions determine the beating pattern of the sperm tail which enables the sperm to move. Scientists have discovered that sperm only react to changes in calcium concentration but not to the calcium concentration itself. Probably sperm make this calculation so that they remain capable of maneuvering even in the presence of high calcium concentrations. ... > full story

Cloud computing: The trustworthy cloud (March 7, 2012) -- Not a week goes by without reports on security gaps, data theft or hacker attacks. Both businesses and private users are becoming increasingly uneasy. However, when it comes to technologies like cloud computing, trust and security are essential if we intend to use data and applications that are flexible, cost-effective and above all, mobile. ... > full story

Internet-based therapy relieves persistent tinnitus, study suggests (March 7, 2012) -- Those suffering from nagging tinnitus can benefit from internet-based therapy just as much as patients who take part in group therapy sessions. These are the findings of a German-Swedish study in which patients with moderate to severe tinnitus tried out various forms of therapy over a ten-week period. The outcome of both the internet-based therapy and group therapy sessions was significantly better than that of a control group that only participated in an online discussion forum and thus demonstrated both the former to be effective methods of managing the symptoms of irritating ringing in the ears. ... > full story

Autism: Don't look now -- I'm trying to think (March 7, 2012) -- Children with autism look away from faces when thinking, especially about challenging material, according to new research. ... > full story

Archaea: Crystal structure of archael chromatin clarified (March 7, 2012) -- Researchers have clarified for the first time how chromatin in archaea, one of the three evolutionary branches of organisms in nature, binds to DNA. The results offer valuable clues into the evolution of chromatin structure in multi-cellular organisms and promise insights into how abnormalities in such structure can contribute to cancers and gene disorders. ... > full story

Newly approved drug for infant respiratory distress syndrome (March 7, 2012) -- Scientific advances have led to a new drug Surfaxin® (lucinactant), just approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat infant respiratory distress syndrome. ... > full story

When it comes to creating wetlands, Mother Nature is in charge (March 7, 2012) -- Fifteen years of studying two experimental wetlands has convinced experts that turning the reins over to Mother Nature makes the most sense when it comes to this area of ecological restoration. ... > full story

Elusive Higgs boson may nearly be cornered (March 7, 2012) -- New measurements announced by scientists from the CDF and DZero collaborations at the U.S. Department of Energy's Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory indicate that the elusive Higgs boson may nearly be cornered. After analyzing the full data set from the Tevatron accelerator, which completed its last run in September 2011, the two independent experiments see hints of a Higgs boson. ... > full story

Running hot and cold in the deep sea: Scientists explore rare environment (March 6, 2012) -- It's extremely rare to find hot hydrothermal vents and cold methane seeps intersecting in one place, but that's what researchers found and explored during an expedition in 2010. A description of the scientists' findings, including a large number of mysterious, undescribed species, has just been published. ... > full story

The cutting edge: Exploring the efficiency of bladed tooth shape (March 6, 2012) -- Using a combination of guillotine-based experiments and cutting-edge computer modeling, researchers have explored the most efficient ways for teeth to slice food. Their results show just how precisely the shape of an animal's teeth is optimized to suit the type of food it eats. ... > full story

New approach for treating genetic muscle wasting disease shows promise in mice (March 6, 2012) -- Scientists have discovered that a drug called fasudil can extend the average lifespan of mice with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) from 30.5 days to more than 300 days, and increase the size of muscle fibers. SMA is the leading inherited cause of death in infants and toddlers, affecting approximately 25,000 people in Canada and the United States. ... > full story

Responding to the radiation threat (March 6, 2012) -- Researchers are developing a promising treatment for safely decontaminating humans exposed to radioactive actinides from a major radiation exposure event, such as a nuclear reactor accident or a "dirty bomb" terrorist attack. The treatment, which can be administered as a pill that can result in the excretion of approximately 90-percent of the actinide contaminants within 24 hours, has been advanced through the initial pre-clinical phases. ... > full story

Basque roots revealed through DNA analysis (March 6, 2012) -- The Genographic Project has announced the most comprehensive analysis to date of Basque genetic patterns, showing that Basque genetic uniqueness predates the arrival of agriculture in the Iberian Peninsula some 7,000 years ago. Through detailed DNA analysis of samples from the French and Spanish Basque regions, the team found that Basques share unique genetic patterns that distinguish them from the surrounding non-Basque populations. ... > full story

Density stratification on microorganisms in aquatic ecosystems (March 6, 2012) -- Scientists have shown that density stratification, a frequent feature of aquatic environments, has important ecological consequences on these small organisms. ... > full story

Specific antibodies halt Alzheimer's disease in mice (March 6, 2012) -- Antibodies that block the process of synapse disintegration in Alzheimer's disease have been identified, raising hopes for a treatment to combat early cognitive decline in the disease. ... > full story

New advances in science of carbon accounting (March 6, 2012) -- Determining with precision the carbon balance of North America is complicated, but researchers have devised a method that considerably advances the science. ... > full story

With the right photo, your Facebook text profile hardly matters (March 6, 2012) -- In most cases, your profile photo on Facebook tells viewers what they need to know to form an impression of you -- no words are necessary, new research suggests. College students who viewed a Facebook photo of a fellow student having fun with friends rated that person as extraverted -- even if his profile said he was "not a big people-person." ... > full story

Listening to the 9. 0-magnitude Japanese earthquake: Seismic waves converted to audio to study quake's traits (March 6, 2012) -- A professor has converted the seismic waves from last year's historic Japanese earthquake into audio files. The results allow experts and general audiences to “hear” what the quake sounded like as it moved through the earth and around the globe. ... > full story

Potentially game-changing advances in energy materials (March 6, 2012) -- Specific advances in materials and manufacturing can deliver significant energy, environmental, and economic impacts to U.S. businesses in as soon as two to ten years, according to a new study. ... > full story

Using a gun in bear encounters doesn't make you safer (March 6, 2012) -- Carrying a gun in bear country doesn't mean you're more protected in the event of a bear encounter, according to new research. Firing a gun is no more effective in keeping people from injury or death during bear attacks than not using a firearm, new research shows. ... > full story