For most terrestrial life on Earth, oxygen is necessary for survival. But the planet's atmosphere did not always contain this life-sustaining substance, and one of science's greatest mysteries is how and when oxygenic photosynthesis—the process responsible for producing oxygen on Earth through the splitting of water molecules—first began. Now, a team led by geobiologists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) has found evidence of a precursor photosystem involving manganese that predates cyanobacteria, the first group of organisms to release oxygen into the ...

CAMBRIDGE, Mass- Most efforts at improving solar cells have focused on increasing the efficiency of their energy conversion, or on lowering the cost of manufacturing. But now MIT researchers are opening another avenue for improvement, aiming to produce the thinnest and most lightweight solar panels possible. Such panels, which have the potential to surpass any substance other than reactor-grade uranium in terms of energy produced per pound of material, could be made from stacked sheets of one-molecule-thick materials such as graphene or molybdenum disulfide. Jeffrey ...

You say tomato, I say comparative transcriptomics. Researchers in the U.S., Europe and Japan have produced the first comparison of both the DNA sequences and which genes are active, or being transcribed, between the domestic tomato and its wild cousins. The results give insight into the genetic changes involved in domestication and may help with future efforts to breed new traits into tomato or other crops, said Julin Maloof, professor of plant biology in the College of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Davis. Maloof is senior author on the study, published ...

All stars begin their lives in groups. Most stars, including our Sun, are born in small, benign groups that quickly fall apart. Others form in huge, dense swarms that survive for billions of years as stellar clusters. Within such rich and dense clusters, stars jostle for room with thousands of neighbors while strong radiation and harsh stellar winds scour interstellar space, stripping planet-forming materials from nearby stars. It would thus seem an unlikely place to find alien worlds. Yet 3,000 light-years from Earth, in the star cluster NGC 6811, astronomers have found ...

New research suggests that the rapid rise of antibiotic resistance correlates with oral ingestion of antibiotics, raising the possibility that other routes of administration could reduce the spread of resistance. The manuscript appears online ahead of print in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. "For more than 40 years, a few doses of penicillin were enough to take care of deadly bacterial infections," says Hua Wang of the Ohio State University, Columbus, a researcher on the study. But since the 1980s, antibiotic resistance has been spreading rapidly, ...

A business may build a better reputation as a good corporate citizen by donating $100,000 to ten charities, as opposed to $1million to one charity, suggested University of Missouri anthropologist Shane Macfarlan. Contrary to earlier assumptions in theoretical biology, Macfarlan's research found that helping a greater number of people builds a positive reputation more than helping a few people many times. The results of this research can offer guidance to businesses and politicians on how to improve their public images. "Good reputations are good business. For example, ...

WOODS HOLE, Mass.– A new study helps explain how parts of the brain maintain their delicate balance of zinc, an element required in minute but crucial doses, particularly during embryonic development. The study, led at the MBL by Dr. Mark Messerli in collaboration with scientists from the University of California, Davis, shows that neural cells require zinc uptake through a membrane transporter referred to as ZIP12.. If that route is closed, neuronal sprouting and growth are significantly impaired and is fatal for a developing embryo. Their discovery was published in ...

U.S. residents today are living longer than previous generations, thanks to improved public health and medical treatment. But they're also living longer with chronic geriatric health conditions like dementia, urinary incontinence, depression and debilitating falls, which often require complex medical care. Doctors spend significant time and resources treating individuals with chronic conditions, and the average family physician can become severely overtaxed managing care for such patients. The picture becomes even worse with chronic geriatric conditions. Several ...

HOUSTON – (June 26, 2013) – Adults with a disability are more likely to be obese or extremely obese than those without a disability according to a study led by researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health, which is part of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). There are approximately 54 million Americans living with a disability and according to the latest research, nearly 42 percent of American adults with a disability were reported as obese and 9 percent as extremely obese. Participants were identified as having a disability ...

DURHAM, N.C. -- Imagine downloading a NetFlix app to your phone so that you can watch movies on the go. You would expect the app to request your account's username and password the first time it runs. Most apps do. But, not all apps are what they appear to be. They can steal log-in and password information. In 2011, researchers at North Carolina State University discovered a convincing imitation of the real Netflix app that forwarded users' login details to an untrusted server. And, in June, the security firm F-Secure discovered a malicious, fake version of the popular ...

Hispanic cancer patients rarely participate in clinical trials, but researchers want to tailor a Spanish DVD to help change this. To create a relevant educational tool, Moffitt Cancer Center researchers investigated why awareness of and participation in trials are so low in this population. Using focus groups with 36 Spanish-speaking cancer survivors from Tampa and Puerto Rico, researchers found that a language barrier, as well as a cultural idea that only doctors, not patients, guide treatment decisions, may help account for low participation rates. Looking for ways ...

Easily forgotten, digital assets are an important part of estate planning Article provided by Louis Pacella Law Offices Visit us at http://www.athomeplanning.com/ As you create a will or engage in estate planning, when you think of property that you need to distribute, you may think of your home, personal effects and other real estate. However, as technological advances have changed the world, many people neglect to address important electronic assets. These types of assets are collectively known as digital assets. They include property such as digital photos, ...

Tampa shooting suspect charged with hate crimes Article provided by Jaime J. Garcia Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.jaimegarcialaw.com Most people in Florida understand that robbing, assaulting or otherwise harming another person is a serious crime that can carry significant penalties. However, not everyone realizes that the penalties for these crimes can be even higher if prosecutors can show that perpetrator was motivated by prejudice against a class of people to which the victim belongs. These offenses are called "hate crimes." An example ...

Workers' compensation in Illinois Article provided by Short & Smith PC Visit us at http://www.shortandsmith.com The Chicago Tribune recently reported sad news, the tragic death of a worker at a construction site. Incidents like this are a reminder of the importance of workplace safety precautions and the need for workers' compensation coverage. Accident under investigation The construction accident happened at Northwestern University, where a Schaumburg construction company is under contract to build a $108 million structure to house the school of music. ...

Seeking custody of a grandchild in Texas Article provided by Connolly & Shireman, L.L.P. Visit us at http://www.connollyshireman.com It is a longstanding principle under both federal and Texas state law that parents have a fundamental right to make decisions about the care and custody of their children. Part of this includes the right to make decisions about which family members get to spend time with the child. As such, grandparents have no automatic rights to custody of their grandchildren, or even to visit with them occasionally. However, in situations ...

Before Indie Game: The Movie, before BioShock2, before Left 4 Dead, before Halo 3, and before Little BIG Planet was even announced, brothers Damon and Anatole Branch begin working together on Organic Panic [www.lastlimb.com]. Both brothers have extensive experience in the console and mobile video game space and their combined resume includes work with EA, HBO, Ford, Take 2 and the MLB as well as independent titles including GBA Thunderbirds and Xbox 360 Wing Commander Arena. Damon, who initiated the project in 2008, developed many of the game's core elements, including ...

Francisco Orchilles, founder of the Orchilles Realty Group with Keller Williams Classic Realty, helped the first time buyers find a house for sale in the 32835 zipcode. The property is a 3 bedroom/ 2 bathroom home and the transaction closed within 45 days of a contract being accepted. The Orlando home was for sale for about 40 days before Orchilles showed it to his clients. The 32835 real estate market was experiencing an uptick in prices like most of the Orlando real estate market. The Orlando home was originally listed for $169,000 when the Orchilles Realty Group first ...

The Global Art League announces it has opened submissions for the annual International Winter Exhibition of Emerging Artists. The exhibition will be held in the galleries of the Montreal Art Centre from 1st to 21st December 2013. Open to Global Art League members over the age of 18 from around the world, the exhibition will feature over 100 selected entrants who will be eligible to be judged among the three best in the exhibition and share a prize of $1000. With the aim of supporting and highlighting emerging visual artists, the inaugural exhibition will feature work ...

D&J Sports is pleased to announce they now carry the Speedo LZR Elite swimwear for men and women in three new colors. In the past, this swimwear was only available in black, giving swimmers few choices in their competitive swimwear. Today, the suits are also available in combinations of black and sapphire, black and green and navy and raspberry. These brilliant colors allow swimmers to choose something that reflects their personality and helps them stand out from the other swimmers in the pool. The LZR Elite can be found in the jammer style for men and the recordbreaker ...

To promote Ventura County's role in film and strengthen the local economy, the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County, which oversees the county's film commission and the online directory venturacountyfilm411.org, recently contracted with Karen Kelley to fill the newly created film liaison position. Kelley gained valuable experience and contacts through her recent work as the film liaison for the city of Ventura and the Ventura Visitors & Convention Bureau. EDC-VC collaborated with both organizations to expand the position's focus countywide. In this ...

Residence Inn San Diego North/San Marcos today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveler reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award. To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed ...

Having the charm and sophistication of Grace Kelly, with the style and charisma of a young Janet Jackson- Katja Glieson- the first Australian pop princess is on the brink of making her breakthrough in the United States. The highly anticipated single is expected to release this summer. Her single "Peek A Boo" explores the taboo, yet tantalizing topic of voyeurism. The catchy, pop melody and potentially controversial lyrics strike a chord that not even Katy Perry hit when she did 'I Kissed a Girl.' "I feel like I was a sheltered conservative girl next ...

In recent years, craft beer has made a serious statement at favored drinking holes around the nation. Fortunately for Chicagoland, the Midwest is known for the vast selection of specialized beers from local craft brewers. Bar1 Events has gathered six national craft beer heroes and teamed them up with six bar locations to showcase crafts selected by the brewers themselves. The First Annual Great American Craft Beer Pub Crawl was developed with the help of Lagunitas Brewing Co., Brewery Ommegang, Oskar Blues Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, and hometown heroes, Two Brothers ...

Last week, nine previously homeless and unemployed individuals graduated from the Illumination Foundation's Workforce Development Program. The Illumination Foundation is an Orange County-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to better the lives of Orange County's homeless. The recent graduation ceremony marks the third ceremony since the program began last year. Since its inception, The Illumination Foundation's Workforce Development Program has placed 407 individuals in jobs ranging from medical assistant to construction worker. "We want to help people get off ...

An experienced team of finance, legal and commercial real estate industry executives has been named to the Trigild Fall Lender Conference Advisory Committee. According to Judy Hoffman, chief of corporate operations for Trigild, the advisory committee for the Fall 2013 event in San Diego includes William O'Connor, partner, Thompson & Knight; Kevin Donahue, senior managing director, C-III Asset Management; Sam Chandan, president, Chandan Economics; Clark Rogers, senior vice president, KeyBank Real Estate Capital; Stacy Berger, executive vice president, PNC/Midland; ...