e! Science News - Popular science news

Human-like opponents lead to more aggression in video game players, UConn study finds

Tue, 21 May 2013 08:04:20 -0400

Video games that pit players against human-looking characters may be more likely to provoke violent thoughts and words than games where monstrous creatures are the enemy, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Connecticut and Wake Forest University.

Going green: Nation equipped to grow serious amounts of pond scum for fuel

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:02:59 -0400

A new analysis shows that the nation's land and water resources could likely support the growth of enough algae to produce up to 25 billion gallons of algae-based fuel a year in the United States, one-twelfth of the country's yearly needs.

Reducing caloric intake delays nerve cell loss

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:04:35 -0400

Activating an enzyme known to play a role in the anti-aging benefits of calorie restriction delays the loss of brain cells and preserves cognitive function in mice, according to a study published in the May 22 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. The findings could one day guide researchers to discover drug alternatives that slow the progress of age-associated impairments in the brain.

Minus environment, patterns still emerge

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:33:13 -0400

Environment is not the only factor in shaping regulatory patterns -- and it might not even be the primary factor, according to a new Rice University study that looks at how cells' protein networks relate to a bacteria's genome.

Keeping stem cells strong

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:04:19 -0400

When infections occur in the body, stem cells in the blood often jump into action by multiplying and differentiating into mature immune cells that can fight off illness. But repeated infections and inflammation can deplete these cell populations, potentially leading to the development of serious blood conditions such as cancer. Now, a team of researchers led by biologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has found that, in mouse models, the molecule microRNA-146a (miR-146a) acts as a critical regulator and protector of blood-forming stem cells (called hematopoietic stem cells, or HSCs) during chronic inflammation, suggesting that a deficiency of miR-146a may be one important cause of blood cancers and bone marrow failure.

Study led by GW professor provides better understanding of water's freezing behavior at nanoscale

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:04:17 -0400

The results of a new study led by George Washington University Professor Tianshu Li provide direct computational evidence that nucleation of ice in small droplets is strongly size-dependent, an important conclusion in understanding water's behavior at the nanoscale. The formation of ice at the nanoscale is a challenging, basic scientific research question whose answer also has important implications for climate research and other fields.

14 closely related crocodiles existed around 5 million years ago

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:05:09 -0400

Today, the most diverse species of crocodile are found in northern South America and Southeast Asia: As many as six species of alligator and four true crocodiles exist, although no more than two or three ever live alongside one another at the same time. It was a different story nine to about five million years ago, however, when a total of 14 different crocodile species existed and at least seven of them occupied the same area at the same time, as an international team headed by paleontologists Marcelo Sánchez and Torsten Scheyer from the University of Zurich is now able to reveal.

Origins of human culture linked to rapid climate change

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:05:29 -0400

Rapid climate change during the Middle Stone Age, between 80,000 and 40,000 years ago, during the Middle Stone Age, sparked surges in cultural innovation in early modern human populations, according to new research.

Allosaurus fed more like a falcon than a crocodile, new study finds

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:36:15 -0400

The mighty T. rex may have thrashed its massive head from side to side to dismember prey, but a new study shows that its smaller cousin Allosaurus was a more dexterous hunter and tugged at prey more like a modern-day falcon.

Study finds vitamin C can kill drug-resistant TB

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:04:07 -0400

In a striking, unexpected discovery, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have determined that vitamin C kills drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria in laboratory culture. The finding suggests that vitamin C added to existing TB drugs could shorten TB therapy, and it highlights a new area for drug design.

Bird's playlist could signal mental strengths and weaknesses

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:33:47 -0400

Having the biggest playlist doesn't make a male songbird the brainiest of the bunch, a new study shows.

Bacterial spare parts filter antibiotic residue from groundwater

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:33:42 -0400

Researchers at University of Cincinnati have developed and tested a solar-powered nano filter that is able to remove harmful carcinogens and antibiotics from water sources -- lakes and rivers -- at a significantly higher rate than the currently used filtering technology made of activated carbon.

Combined wood and tobacco smoke exposure increases risk and symptoms of COPD

Tue, 21 May 2013 22:31:39 -0400

People who are consistently exposed to both wood smoke and tobacco smoke are at a greater risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and for experiencing more frequent and severe symptoms of the disease, as well as more severe airflow obstruction, than those who are exposed to only one type of smoke, according to the results of a new population-based study conducted by researchers in Colombia.

Soft matter offers new ways to study how ordered materials arrange themselves

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:42:47 -0400

A fried breakfast food popular in Spain provided the inspiration for the development of doughnut-shaped droplets that may provide scientists with a new approach for studying fundamental issues in physics, mathematics and materials.

Climate change and wildfire

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:04:27 -0400

Concerns continue to grow about the effects of climate change on fire. Wildfires are expected to increase 50 percent across the United States under a changing climate, over 100 percent in areas of the West by 2050 as projected by some studies. Of equal concern to scientists and policymakers alike are the atmospheric effects of wildfire emissions on climate.