ScienceDaily

 

New biomarker found for group of rare metabolic diseases

Aug 7 2017

A newly discovered biomarker associated with a rare metabolic disorder may facilitate better diagnosis and identification of new drugs for clinical trials for the disease. Development of treatments for the neurological symptoms of mucopolysaccharidoses, a family of rare genetic disorders, have been hindered by the lack of objective measures of the extent of central nervous system damage in patients.

New CubeSat propulsion system uses water as propellant

Aug 7 2017

A new type of micropropulsion system for miniature satellites called CubeSats uses an innovative design of tiny nozzles that release precise bursts of water vapor to maneuver the spacecraft.

Scientists probe the conditions of stellar interiors to measure nuclear reactions

Aug 7 2017

Most of the nuclear reactions that drive the nucleosynthesis of the elements in our universe occur in very extreme stellar plasma conditions. This intense environment found in the deep interiors of stars has made it nearly impossible for scientists to perform nuclear measurements in these conditions -- until now.

Limiting access to fast-food restaurants unlikely to reduce obesity

Aug 7 2017

Living near fast-food restaurants and supermarkets has little impact on an individual's body mass index, according to new research. The researchers used results from the largest national study ever conducted of the connection between residential environments and BMI.

New technique to suppress sound waves from disorder to improve optical fiber communication

Aug 7 2017

New research has revealed a new technique by which scattering of sound waves from disorder in a material can be suppressed on demand. All of this, can be simply achieved by illuminating with the appropriate color of laser light. The result could have a wide-ranging impact on sensors and communication systems.

Fat rats show why breast cancer may be more aggressive in patients with obesity

Aug 7 2017

In an animal model of obesity and breast cancer, tumor cells in obese animals but not lean animals had especially sensitive androgen receptors, allowing these cells to magnify growth signals from the hormone testosterone.

The good, the bad and the algae

Aug 7 2017

A new study is testing whether one of California’s largest and most polluted lakes can transform into one of its most productive and profitable. Southern California’s 350-square-mile Salton Sea has well-documented problems related to elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff. The research team intends to harness algae’s penchant for prolific growth to clean up these pollutants and stop harmful algae blooms while creating a renewable, domestic source of fuel.

Essential genes for cancer immunotherapy identified

Aug 7 2017

A new study identifies genes that are necessary in cancer cells for immunotherapy to work, addressing the problem of why some tumors don't respond to immunotherapy or respond initially but then stop as tumor cells develop resistance to immunotherapy.

New look at archaic DNA rewrites human evolution story

Aug 7 2017

A new method for analyzing DNA sequence data has been developed to reconstruct early history of archaic human populations, revealing an evolutionary story that contradicts conventional wisdom about modern humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans. They found that Neanderthal-Denisovan lineage nearly went extinct after separating from modern humans. Just 300 generations later, Neanderthals and Denisovans diverged around 744,000 years ago. The global Neanderthal population grew to tens of thousands of individuals living in fragmented, isolated populations.

How an unlikely cellular 'antenna' can impair brain development

Aug 7 2017

An antenna-like structure on cells, once considered a useless vestige, can cause defects in the brain's wiring similar to what's seen in autism, schizophrenia, and other disorders. In the lab, scientists prevented defects by restoring signaling though these structures called primary cilia.

Bilingual babies listen to language

Aug 7 2017

Scientists report that bilingual infants as young as 20 months of age efficiently and accurately process two languages.

Media portrayals of pregnant women, new moms unrealistic

Aug 7 2017

Media portrayals of pregnant, postpartum women unrealistic, women said in a new study. Exposure to unrealistic images and messages fostered a host of negative emotions, such as self-consciousness about their bodies and feelings of depression, frustration and hopelessness when they were unable to lose weight as rapidly after childbirth as celebrities purportedly do.

DNA from Viking cod bones suggests 1,000-year history of European fish trade

Aug 7 2017

New research using DNA from the fish bone remains of Viking-era meals reveals that north Norwegians have been transporting -- and possibly trading -- Arctic cod into mainland Europe for a millennium.

Scientists improve forecast of increasing hazard on Ecuadorian volcano

Aug 7 2017

Researchers have shown an increasing volcanic danger on Cotopaxi in Ecuador using a powerful technique known as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR).

Stem cell discovery refreshes the heart

Aug 7 2017

Some people are better than others at recovering from a wounded heart, according to a new study.