Science news

• Clinton stands against controversial Keystone pipeline

  22-09-2015 23:48
  
  After declining for months to announce her position on a major Canada-to-US oil pipeline, Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that she is opposed to the controversial project.
  
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• What's Behind VW's Downfall and Secretive Emissions Deals

  22-09-2015 23:30 via rss.sciam.com
  
  The German carmaker’s emissions-testing cheat reveals how car companies and regulators negotiate tradeoff between fuel efficiency and performance
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• Saving Prostate Cancer Patients from Collateral Damage

  22-09-2015 23:15
  
  Dr. Edward Soffen is a board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of the Radiation Oncology Department at CentraState Medical Center's Statesir Cancer Center in Freehold, New Jersey. We are living during a remarkable age in the battle against cancer. Just a few decades ago, cancer was considered a terminal illness.
  
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• Drones Save Lives in Disasters, When They're Allowed to Fly (Op-Ed)

  22-09-2015 23:14
  
  Robin Murphy directs the Center for Robot-Assisted Search and Rescue at Texas A&M University. Hurricane Katrina saw the first deployment of drones in a disaster, setting the stage for such drone deployments worldwide — from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident to the Nepal earthquake. The last decade has seen an evolution in small unmanned aerial vehicles (or UAVs, the preferred name agencies use for civilian, as opposed to military, drones).
  
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• Hail Hydra! A Monstrous Constellation Explained

  22-09-2015 23:12
  
  Huw James is a science communicator, fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and guest lecturer at the University of South Wales. Follow James on Twitter @huwmjames and keep an eye on his website for more info on his upcoming "Constellation Series" book. Llyn y Fan Fawr is Welsh for "lake of the big peak," at the foothill of Fan Brycheiniog in Wales.
  
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• Hillary Clinton opposes Keystone XL pipeline

  22-09-2015 22:38 via cbc.ca
  
  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton announced Tuesday on a campaign stop in Iowa that she opposes the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline.
  
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• Irishman extradited to US for rhino horn trafficking

  22-09-2015 22:31
  
  An Irishman was extradited to the United States to face charges of trafficking in rhinoceros horns and faces five years in prison if guilty, US prosecutors said Tuesday.
  
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• Lawsuit filed in US on behalf of monkey who snapped selfies

  22-09-2015 22:24
  
  US animal rights activists filed an unusual lawsuit on Tuesday on behalf of a macaque monkey who snapped selfie photographs, arguing it owned the photos rather than the nature photographer involved.
  
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• Quantum choice can be counterproductive

  22-09-2015 21:29
  
  In a puzzling paradox, delivering quantum messages becomes more difficult if the intended recipient offers the sender multiple options for the time and place of delivery.
  
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• [Research Resource] Rapid multiplex analysis of lipid raft components with single-cell resolution

  22-09-2015 21:18 via stke.sciencemag.org
  The association of lipid rafts with nuclei during partial cell lysis enables their analysis by flow cytometry.
  
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• [Research Article] SOCS3 in retinal neurons and glial cells suppresses VEGF signaling to prevent pathological neovascular growth

  22-09-2015 21:18 via stke.sciencemag.org
  Enhancing SOCS3 activity in neurons and glial cells in the retina may prevent abnormal blood vessel formation in proliferative retinopathies.
  
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• [Research Article] Dichotomous roles for externalized cardiolipin in extracellular signaling: Promotion of phagocytosis and attenuation of innate immunity

  22-09-2015 21:18 via stke.sciencemag.org
  A phospholipid common to mitochondria and bacteria promotes phagocytosis and inhibits cytokine production by macrophages.
  
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• [Podcast] Science Signaling Podcast for 22 September 2015: SOCS3 prevents pathological retinal neovascularization

  22-09-2015 21:18 via stke.sciencemag.org
  SOCS3 activity in neural and glial cells of the retina prevents pathological retinal neovascularization.
  
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• [Editors' Choice] Plants kill pathogens with cyanide

  22-09-2015 21:18 via stke.sciencemag.org
  Infection triggers the synthesis of cyanogenic compounds in Arabidopsis.
  
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• [Editors' Choice] Finding a missing link in blood pressure regulation

  22-09-2015 21:18 via stke.sciencemag.org
  The protease PCSK6 cleaves the zymogen form of the protease corin, which is responsible for cleavage-mediated activation of the hormone atrial natriuretic peptide.
  
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• [Editors' Choice] Epigenetic resolution of inflammation

  22-09-2015 21:18 via stke.sciencemag.org
  A DNA demethylase recruits a histone deacetylase to turn off the expression of a cytokine in immune cells and prevent chronic inflammation.
  
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• [Editors' Choice] Adapting to the nucleus

  22-09-2015 21:18 via stke.sciencemag.org
  In addition to mediating T cell receptor signaling at the plasma membrane, the adaptor protein SLP-76 is required for optimal nuclear entry of transcription factors.
  
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• A new view of the content of Earth's core

  22-09-2015 21:16
  There is more oxygen in the core of Earth than originally thought. Geologists have discovered some new findings about Earth's core and mantle by considering their geophysical and geochemical signatures together.
  
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• Critically endangered Sumatran rhino pregnant again

  22-09-2015 21:14
  
  A rare Sumatran rhino in Indonesia is pregnant with her second baby and expected to give birth in May, raising new hope for the critically endangered species, conservationists said Tuesday.
  
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• Eating more fruits and non-starchy vegetables is associated with less weight gain

  22-09-2015 21:00
  Increased consumption of fruits and non-starchy vegetables is inversely associated with weight change, according to a new study. The longitudinal study shows differences by type of fruit or vegetable, suggesting that characteristics of these foods influence the strength of their association with weight change.
  
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• Guyana accuses Venezuela of 'aggressive behaviour' near border area

  22-09-2015 20:38
  
  Guyana's President David Granger said on Tuesday neighbouring Venezuela had launched an "extraordinary military deployment" in the east of the OPEC country, near a disputed border area. "We have noticed during the month of September an extraordinary escalation of Venezuelan military activity in eastern Venezuela," Granger said at his Georgetown office. "It is a persistence of aggressive behaviour, hostile behaviour towards Guyana," he said, adding the deployment was "mostly m
  
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• Sunday's 'Supermoon' Total Lunar Eclipse: When and Where to See It

  22-09-2015 20:11
  
  As with all lunar eclipses, the region of visibility for Sunday's blood-moon lunar eclipse will encompass more than half of our planet. The lunar eclipse will also feature the "biggest" full moon (in apparent size) of 2015, since the moon will also be at perigee on the very same day ? Almost everyone in the Americas and Western Europe will have a beautiful view of this eclipse.
  
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• 'O Columbia' Opera Explores Spaceflight in Chorus with NASA

  22-09-2015 20:11
  
  HOUSTON — It is not unusual, given NASA's presence in the community, to hear of people in Houston singing the virtues of space exploration. That will change this week, when a collaboration between the Houston Grand Opera and NASA debuts "O Columbia" at the Revention Music Center in downtown Houston. The chamber opera examines the past, present, and future of the spirit of exploration using the 2003 loss of the space shuttle Columbia as a touchstone.
  
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• Eyes in the Sky: How Satellite Images Help People on the Ground

  22-09-2015 20:11
  
  The benefits of spaceflight extend far beyond the borders of countries capable of launching satellites, NASA officials say. On Thursday (Sept. 17), officials with NASA and the U.S. Agency For International Development (USAID) showcased the ways space science connects to developing countries as well. The two organizations hosted a panel discussion in Washington, D.C. called "Connecting Space to Village: Observing Earth from Space and How This Supports USAID Development Goals," which involved astr
  
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• The Latest: Rancher: Sage grouse cooperation broke distrust

  22-09-2015 20:02
  
  BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The latest on the decision not to list the greater sage grouse as threatened or endangered (all times local):
  
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• Fossil fuel divestment movement reaches $2.6 trillion

  22-09-2015 19:58
  
  A campaign to abandon fossil fuels to boost the fight against climate change has rapidly picked up steam, with institutions worth $2.6 trillion pledging to divest, a study said Tuesday.
  
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• Zimbabwe hunter behind Cecil killing in fresh wildlife charges

  22-09-2015 19:53
  
  The professional hunter who helped an American dentist kill Zimbabwe's popular lion Cecil appeared in court Tuesday on new charges of planning to smuggle sable antelope out of the country.
  
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• New dinosaur found in Alaska, researchers say

  22-09-2015 19:36 via cbc.ca
  
  Researchers have uncovered a new species of plant-eating dinosaur in Alaska, according to a report published Tuesday.
  
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• The Martian is entertaining science fiction rooted in fact

  22-09-2015 19:30
  
  With NASA’s help, filmmakers made story of astronaut stranded on Mars believable.
  
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• The Latest: Jewell praises cooperation on sage grouse

  22-09-2015 18:48
  
  BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The latest on the decision not to list the greater sage grouse as threatened or endangered (all times local):
  
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• Why bison put their females in charge

  22-09-2015 18:45
  
  Group determines how herds make decisions
  
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• Handed-down tales tell of ancient sea-level rise

  22-09-2015 18:45
  
  Australian Aborigines tell tales of actual, ancient sea-level rises, a contested study finds.
  
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• Handed-down tales tell of ancient floods

  22-09-2015 18:45
  
  Australian Aborigines tell tales of actual, ancient sea-level rises, a contested study finds.
  
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• Iraqi Kurds reassert right to export oil to U.S. despite court ruling

  22-09-2015 18:35
  
  Kurdistan reasserted its right to export oil independently to the United States and other countries on Tuesday despite a court ruling in favour of the Iraqi federal government, which has sought to block crude sales from the autonomous region. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans on Monday dismissed the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s bid to overturn an earlier ruling against a planned sale of oil to an unidentified buyer in the U.S. Iraq's federal government filed
  
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• New duck-billed dinosaur found in Alaska, researchers say

  22-09-2015 18:05
  
  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Researchers have uncovered a new species of plant-eating dinosaur in Alaska, according to a report published Tuesday.
  
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• Determining ion beam effects to greater precision

  22-09-2015 18:03
  A precise understanding of how ion beams affect biological tissue is of great importance for both radiotherapy applications and the assessment of radioprotection risks, e.g. to astronauts on long term missions in space. Radiation biology and biophysics research groups conducted experimental high resolution analyses on the 3D lesion distribution induced by high energy ion beams in biological tissue and to compare these with theoretical model predictions.
  
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• Biodiversity and carbon co-benefits to improve sustainable palm oil production

  22-09-2015 18:03
  Important new information has been revealed to help conserve biodiversity and facilitate more sustainable palm oil production.
  
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• Research reveals complications of conservation decisions

  22-09-2015 18:00
  A Guam native insect impacts a native tree, posing a conundrum for conservationists. The tree species is particularly important to the island of Guam, where the tree is called ifit and has been designated as the official territorial tree. As in other regions where it is native, ifit wood commands reverence for its quality for construction, furniture, and artisan uses.
  
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• Atomic fractals in metallic glasses

  22-09-2015 18:00
  The atoms that make up metallic glasses lack the orderly lattice structure present in most other crystalline solids. Researchers have now shown that within randomly packed clusters of atoms, a fractal pattern emerges at the scale of two atomic diameters.
  
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• Urgent change needed to improve diagnosis in health care or diagnostic errors will likely worsen, experts say

  22-09-2015 17:58
  Most people will experience at least one diagnostic error -- an inaccurate or delayed diagnosis -- in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences, says a new report.
  
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• New study maps the progression of Parkinson's disease within the brain

  22-09-2015 17:58
  Scientists have made advances in understanding the process involved in the progression and spread of Parkinson's disease within the brain. The study focused on understanding the process that drives the disease's progression by mapping the distribution and degree of atrophy, characteristic of the disease, in certain brain regions and identify the paths leading the spread from affected to healthy tissue.
  
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• New resource will help growers manage the olive fruit fly

  22-09-2015 17:58
  New research aims to support California olive producers with an overview of the olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae), which has become the key pest of olives since its introduction in 1998.
  
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• Feeling anxious? Check your orbitofrontal cortex, cultivate your optimism

  22-09-2015 17:58
  A new study links anxiety, a brain structure called the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and optimism, finding that healthy adults who have larger OFCs tend to be more optimistic and less anxious.
  
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• Two-drug combination shows promise against one type of pancreatic cancer

  22-09-2015 17:56
  One form of pancreatic cancer has a new enemy: a two-drug combination that inhibits tumors and kills cancer cells in mouse models. For the first time, researchers have shown that a certain protein becomes overabundant in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, allowing them to thrive. They also found that pairing a synthetic compound with an existing drug provides a more effective anticancer punch than a single drug.
  
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• Superbug study reveals how E. coli strain acquired deadly powers

  22-09-2015 17:56
  A strain of E. coli became a potentially fatal infection in the UK around 30 years ago, when it acquired a powerful toxin, a gene study has revealed. Scientists say new findings show that E. coli O157 is continuing to evolve and should be monitored closely.
  
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• Researchers try to halt march of destructive pest preying on tomatoes

  22-09-2015 17:56
  A tomato pest -- established in Panama and Costa Rica -- is moving northward but has not yet arrived in the United States. Its potential arrival is a big concern among US government agricultural officials. New research is trying to stop this pest before it enters the country.
  
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• Overweight firefighters more likely to attempt weight loss if advised by doctor

  22-09-2015 17:56
  Overweight firefighters are twice as likely to attempt to lose weight if their health care provider gives them weight loss advice, according to new research. More than 75 percent of firefighters are overweight or obese and more than half do not consider themselves to be overweight, according to previous research.
  
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• New graphene oxide biosensors may accelerate research of HIV, cancer drugs

  22-09-2015 17:56
  Researchers have devised a novel type of graphene oxide-based biosensor that could potentially significantly speed up the process of drug development. The outstanding properties of this carbon allotrope help to improve significantly the biosensing sensitivity, which in future may enable the development of new drugs and vaccines against many dangerous diseases including HIV, hepatitis and cancer.
  
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• How former problem drinkers navigate social drinking situations

  22-09-2015 17:55
  A small, qualitative study highlights a wide variety of approaches that former problem drinkers take to determine how and whether to tell people in social situations that they don't drink.
  
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• Tracking down the beam

  22-09-2015 17:54
  Proton beams are new high-precision weapons in the fight against cancer. However, uncertainty with regard to the range of the beams has prevented the full exploitation of the potential of this method until now. Researchers are therefore looking for ways to measure the exact range during a course of treatment, and have developed a surprisingly simple solution. Initial preclinical tests have already gone well.
  
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