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Science News Archive 2013 - Page 51


Page 51 of 352

A fish that pushes in the wrong direction solves a mystery of animal locomotion

Researchers discovered that fish use a counterintuitive fin arrangement to increase both stability and maneuverability. By analyzing slow-motion videos and mathematical models, the team found that the opposing forces generated by the fin movements create stabilizing forces while improving velocity change.

SourceNew Jersey Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 7, 2013

When is a comet not a comet?

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have observed a unique asteroid with six comet-like tails, challenging current understanding of asteroids and comets. The asteroid's rotation rate may have caused its surface to fly apart, ejecting dust into space.

SourceESA/Hubble Information Centre·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 7, 2013

A bio patch that can regrow bone

Researchers at the University of Iowa have created a bio patch that can regrow bone by delivering DNA instructions to cells. The patch successfully regenerated bone in test animals and stimulated new growth in human bone marrow stromal cells. This breakthrough technology has potential uses in dentistry, including rebuilding bone for de...

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalBiomaterials·DateNov 7, 2013

For young baseball players, light bats don't hit too fast

A study by Brown University researchers found that lighter non-wood bats did not launch the ball at significantly higher speeds than wood bats, particularly for younger players. The study's results suggest that coordinated rules for bat performance in youth baseball are needed to ensure player safety and enjoyment.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Applied Biomechanics·DateNov 6, 2013

Nuclear medicine therapy increases survival for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases

New research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine found that radioembolization therapy can extend survival for patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases by approximately 50 percent. This treatment option has shown promise as a life-extending treatment for salvage patients who have failed current treatments.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateNov 6, 2013

Comprehending comprehension

Northwestern University researchers found that brain activity can predict individual differences in reading comprehension, with nearly 90% accuracy. They used EEG to measure brainwaves and compared the results between ordered and scrambled story texts.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateNov 6, 2013

Pitt Public Health analysis challenges assumptions about bisexual men and HIV transmission

A U.S.-based analysis by University of Pittsburgh researchers suggests that bisexual men may not be responsible for significant HIV transmission to their female partners. The study found that bisexually behaving men were only 40% as likely to be infected with HIV as homosexually behaving men, primarily due to lower rates of unprotected...

Monkeys use minds to move 2 virtual arms

Researchers at Duke University have enabled monkeys to control two virtual arms using their brain activity. The study advances efforts to develop bilateral movement in brain-controlled prosthetic devices, aiming to restore mobility and sense of touch in severely paralyzed patients.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 6, 2013

Lawrence Livermore researchers unveil carbon nanotube jungles to better detect molecules

Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and ETH Zurich develop a new method of using carbon nanotubes to detect molecules, enabling trace detection of biological threats, explosives and drugs. The use of metal-coated nanotubes creates a 'jungle canopy' that amplifies the detection capabilities in surface-enhanced Raman ...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 6, 2013

Long term results of EORTC trial for patients with resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer

The EORTC trial found that perioperative chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 increases progression-free survival compared to surgery alone, but no significant difference in overall survival was observed. The study concludes that perioperative chemotherapy should remain the reference treatment for patients with resectable liver metastases from co...

Stress makes snails forgetful

Researchers trained pond snails to forget how to breathe air and found that single stressful events impaired memory, but multiple stresses blocked all learning and memory. The study published in PLOS ONE reveals that stress affects animals' ability to form long-term memories.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 6, 2013

Movin' on out

A new study from Concordia University reveals that parents and peers are vital for millennials leaving home, providing both practical and emotional support. The research, conducted with 32 emerging adults, found that peers were a key source of information about moving out and adopting strategies for autonomous living.

SourceConcordia University·JournalCanadian Journal of Family and Youth / Le Journal Canadien de Famille et de la Jeunesse·DateNov 6, 2013

Earliest record of copulating insects discovered

Scientists have uncovered a 165-million-year-old fossil of copulating froghoppers, providing insight into the earliest record of insect mating. The discovery suggests that froghopper genital symmetry and mating position remained static for over 165 million years.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 6, 2013