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Science News for May 19, 2014


Does birth control impact women's choice of sexual partners?

A new study found a link between birth control and women's preferences for certain characteristics of an ideal sexual partner. Research participants from Central Italy reported considering indicators of masculinity more attractive during the fertile phase of their menstrual cycle, regardless of whether they took the pill.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Sexual Medicine·DateMay 19, 2014

Is duloxetine more or less effective than fluoxetine in children and teens with MDD?

Recent studies found that duloxetine and fluoxetine showed no significant difference in response rates when treating major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and teens. The authors suggest that complexity of the studies may be a factor, but also offer valuable insights for designing future investigations.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalJournal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology·DateMay 19, 2014

Low-income Latino children show benefits from Montessori pre-kindergartern programs study finds

A recent study found that low-income Latino children who attended Montessori pre-K programs showed dramatic improvements in early achievement and behavior. In contrast, low-income black children made similar gains in school readiness when enrolled in Montessori classrooms, but slightly greater gains were seen when they attended more co...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Educational Psychology·DateMay 19, 2014

Antarctica's ice losses on the rise

Scientists have observed a significant increase in ice losses from Antarctica, with the Antarctic ice sheet now losing twice as much ice as it did when last surveyed. The study uses measurements collected by the European Space Agency's CryoSat-2 satellite mission to reveal the extent of this loss.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 19, 2014

Sunday school teachers as 'culture warriors': Lay leaders wield political clout, Baylor

A Baylor University study found that volunteer lay leaders serve as powerful cultural opinion leaders within churches, shaping congregation attitudes on politics and religion. Lay leaders in Evangelical traditions exhibit more moral conservatism and party affiliation than their counterparts in Mainline Protestant and Catholic traditions.

SourceBaylor University·JournalSocial Science Quarterly·DateMay 19, 2014

Mars mineral could be linked to microbes

Researchers have found microbes create an environment that allows stevensite to form, raising new questions about the Martian deposits and their possible links to life on Mars. Microbialites are the earliest large-scale evidence of life on Earth, demonstrating how microscopic organisms join together to build enormous structures.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalGeology·DateMay 19, 2014

Making better medicines with a handful of chemical building blocks

Researchers at the University of Illinois have found that thousands of polyene compounds can be built from just 12 different chemical building blocks. This breakthrough could accelerate the discovery and development of new medicines by making synthesis more efficient and cost-effective. The team's findings, published in Nature Chemistr...

Brain steroids make good dads

A recent study by Georgia State University researchers found that brain androgens promote good parenting in male fish. By altering their brain chemistry, scientists discovered that testosterone-like steroids enhance paternal care and protect developing eggs.

Teens who participate in sports show lower levels of hazardous drinking

A new study reveals that adolescents who participate in sports exhibit significantly lower rates of hazardous drinking compared to their non-athletic peers. This finding contradicts earlier research, suggesting that organized sports participation may have a protective effect against alcohol misuse among young offenders.

SourceWiley·JournalCriminal Behaviour and Mental Health·DateMay 19, 2014

Dyspnea increases long-term mortality risk

A new study of nearly 12,000 individuals found that those with dyspnea at baseline had a greater risk of dying, even after adjusting for other risk factors. Dyspnea was associated with a significant increased risk of death in rural Bangladesh, and identifying underlying causes may offer an opportunity to reduce mortality risk.

Power plant emissions verified remotely at Four Corners sites

A Los Alamos National Laboratory team verified air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from two coal-fired power plants in the Four Corners area using space-based techniques. The study found that emissions from the San Juan Generating Station are less polluting than those from the nearby Four Corners Generating Station.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

Climate change, forest fires drove widespread surface melting of Greenland ice sheet

A Dartmouth-led study reveals that climate change and Northern Hemisphere forest fires combined to drive large-scale surface melting of the Greenland ice sheet in 1889 and 2012. The research suggests nearly annual widespread melting of the ice sheet's surface by 2100, with a positive feedback mechanism set in motion.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

The young sperm, poised for greatness

Scientists at the University of Utah have uncovered the early steps of totipotency in sperm precursors, revealing a four-gene code that enables these cells to become stem cells and mature into various cell types. The discovery sheds light on the process of fertilization and provides insights into cancer and epigenetic regulation.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateMay 19, 2014

People more likely to choose a spouse with similar DNA, finds CU-Boulder study

A new CU-Boulder study reveals that individuals are more genetically similar to their spouses than to randomly selected individuals from the same population. The researchers found a preference for genetic similarity in mates, known as genetic assortative mating, which is about a third of the strength of educational assortative mating.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

Liberating devices from their power cords

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have developed new structural 'supercaps' that can store and discharge significant amounts of electricity while withstanding realistic static loads and dynamic forces. The device operates flawlessly in storing and releasing electrical charge, even under intense dynamic and static forces.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNano Letters·DateMay 19, 2014

UT Dallas study sheds light on how infants understand speech

A new UT Dallas study explores how infants process degraded speech with cochlear implants, revealing they need more complete speech information to maximize communication outcomes. Infants can distinguish between familiar and new sounds, but require less distortion and more frequency information than older children and adults.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateMay 19, 2014

Racing the clock to help young patients with old hearts

A study by University of Maryland researchers has identified a toxic protein that damages muscle cells inside the arteries of children with progeria, a rare genetic disorder. The discovery may help explain how cardiovascular disease develops in people aging normally and could lead to new treatments for the condition.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

Your high school GPA could affect your income

Researchers at the University of Miami found that a one-point increase in high school GPA raises annual earnings by around 12% for men and 14% for women. The study also shows that African-Americans with high GPAs are more likely to graduate from college than their white counterparts.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalEastern Economic Journal·DateMay 19, 2014

Chemists challenge conventional understanding of how photocatalysis works

A team of chemists at UC Riverside proposes a new model explaining the promoting effect in photocatalysis, suggesting that excited electrons promote hydrogen reduction on the semiconductor surface rather than transferring to metals. This radical approach could lead to the development of more economical and efficient photocatalysts.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

Scientists develop new approach for sampling gut bacteria

Researchers have developed a protocol for collecting saliva and stool samples for genomic and transcriptomic analyses, eliminating the need for specialized personnel and facilities. This method provides critical insight into the genetic makeup of the microbiome and its association with diseases such as celiac disease, oral cancer, and ...

SourceForsyth Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

Why you need olive oil on your salad

A study by King's College London found that combining unsaturated fats with vegetables rich in nitrites and nitrates can protect against hypertension. The Mediterranean diet, which includes olive oil and nuts, was shown to inhibit the enzyme responsible for blood pressure regulation.

SourceKing's College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014