Lignin-feasting microbe holds promise for biofuels Nature designed lignin, the tough woody polymer in the walls of plant cells, to bind and protect the cellulose sugars that plants use for energy. For this reason, lignin is a major challenge for those ...

Northeastern researchers have discovered a new treatment to cure MRSA infection Recent work from University Distinguished Professor of Biology Kim Lewis promises to overcome one of the leading public health threats of our time. In a groundbreaking study published ...

Snow melts faster under trees than in open areas in mild climates It's a foggy fall morning, and University of Washington researcher Susan Dickerson-Lange pokes her index finger into the damp soil beneath a canopy of second-growth conifers. The tree cover is dense here, ...

Impulsivity, rewards and Ritalin: Monkey study shows tighter link MADISON – Even as the rate of diagnosis has reached 11 percent among American children aged 4 to 17, neuroscientists are still trying to understand attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ...

ORNL study uses neutron scattering, supercomputing to demystify forces at play in biofuel production OAK RIDGE, Tenn., Nov. 13, 2013 — Researchers studying more effective ways to convert woody plant matter into biofuels at the Department of Energy's ...

Stingray movement could inspire the next generation of submarines The fish's unique way of swimming could improve deep-sea vehicles' agility and fuel efficiency BUFFALO, N.Y. ─ Stingrays swim through water with such ease that researchers from the University ...

Sobriety, spirituality linked for teens in treatment Study finds increased spirituality in teens associated with abstinence, increased positive social behaviors and reduced narcissism Akron, Ohio, Nov. 13, 2013 — If the spirit is truly willing, perhaps the flesh is not so ...

Nature's glowing slime: Scientists peek into hidden sea worm's light Clouds of bioluminescent mucus -- emitted by a marine worm that lives in a cocoon-like habitat -- is linked to a common vitamin Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography ...

Gut microbes in healthy kids carry antibiotic resistance genes Friendly microbes in the intestinal tracts (guts) of healthy American children have numerous antibiotic resistance genes, according to results of a pilot study by scientists at Washington ...

Geranylgeraniol suppresses the viability of human prostate cancer cells and HMG CoA reductase Researchers at Texas Woman's University have shown that a diterpene geranylgeraniol found in linseed oil, Cedrela toona wood oil, sucupira branca fruit oil and more ...

Automated test construction can better assess student mastery of common core state standards Issue also looks at how principals' leadership can affect student learning, challenges of outcome-reporting bias in education research, and principles for stronger ...

Study: Your brain sees things you don't Our brains perceive objects in everyday life of which we may never be aware, a study finds, challenging currently accepted models about how the brain processes visual information University of Arizona doctoral degree candidate ...

Deletion of any single gene provokes mutations elsewhere in the genome Findings call for a rethinking of cancer genetics Johns Hopkins researchers report that the deletion of any single gene in yeast cells puts pressure on the organism's genome to compensate, ...

Gene linked to common intellectual disability University of Adelaide researchers have taken a step forward in unravelling the causes of a commonly inherited intellectual disability, finding that a genetic mutation leads to a reduction in certain ...

Fossil of new big cat species discovered; oldest ever found 4-million-year-old skull of relative of snow leopard fleshes out fossil record of big cats and challenges suppositions about how and where they evolved The oldest big cat fossil ever found – ...

Rapid testing to diagnose influenza leads to more appropriate care in the ED When patients in the emergency department (ED) are diagnosed with influenza by means of a rapid test, they get fewer unnecessary antibiotics, are prescribed antiviral ...

Molecule common in some cancers, rheumatoid arthritis leads to potential therapy for both WASHINGTON — A molecule that helps cells stick together is significantly over-produced in two very different diseases — rheumatoid arthritis and a variety of cancers, including ...

Primary care key to management of patients with HIV infection Updated HIVMA Guidelines indicate doctors should focus on common health conditions [EMBARGOED FOR NOV. 14, 2013, ARLINGTON, Va.] – The HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) of the Infectious Diseases ...

Accidental discovery dramatically improves electrical conductivity Crystal could improve performance of electronic devices PULLMAN, Wash.—Quite by accident, Washington State University researchers have achieved a 400-fold increase in the electrical conductivity ...

Using airport screening technology to visualize waves in fusion plasma Millimeter-wave imaging helps scientists better understand and manage plasma instabilities Millimeter-wave imaging technology is widely used in airborne radar, automotive sensors and full-body ...

New links between social status and brain activity Social stability affects the production of new brain cells; ability of brain to adapt is key to coping with hierarchies and stress SAN DIEGO — New studies released today reveal links between social status and specific ...

Can the eyes help diagnose Alzheimer's disease? VIDEO: Scott Turner, M.D., Ph.D., discusses research to be presented at the Neuroscience 2013 meeting. He and an ...

Breathalyzer technology detects acetone levels to monitor blood glucose in diabetics Groundbreaking research to be featured at 2013 AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition Arlington, Va. — A novel hand-held, noninvasive monitoring device that uses ...

New compound inhibits cognitive impairment in animal models of Alzheimer's disease Promising research to be featured at 2013 AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition Arlington, Va. — The novel compound IRL-1620 may be useful in treating Alzheimer's ...

Study finds context is key in helping us to recognize a face Why does it take longer to recognise a familiar face when seen in an unfamiliar setting, like seeing a work colleague when on holiday? A new study published today in Nature Communications has found that part ...