Daily News chosen by Anchor Science

'Microrings' could nix wires for communications in homes, offices
Researchers have developed a miniature device capable of converting ultrafast laser pulses into bursts of radio-frequency signals, a step toward making wires obsolete for communications in the homes and offices of the future.

Genetic cause discovered for rare bleeding disorder
Hematologists have discovered the genetic cause of Quebec platelet disorder. They have gone on to develop a genetic test for the condition -- a major advance in diagnosing this serious and unusual bleeding problem.

LED streetlights best buy for cities, researchers report
Researchers have conducted the first cradle-to-grave assessment of light-emitting diode streetlights and determined that the increasingly popular lamps strike the best balance between brightness, affordability, and energy and environmental conservation when their life span -- from production to disposal -- is considered. LEDs consist of clusters of tiny, high-intensity bulbs and are extolled for their power efficiency and clear luminosity.

Possible early glimpse of autism's impact on older siblings
A new study suggests a trend toward developing hyperactivity among typically developing elementary-school-aged siblings of autistic preschoolers and supports the notion that mothers of young, autistic children experience more depression and stress than mothers with typically developing children.

Bacterial product isolated in soil from Easter Island rescues learning, memory in Alzheimer's mouse model
A new study offers the first evidence that the drug rapamycin -- a bacterial product first isolated in soil from Easter Island -- is able to reverse Alzheimer's disease-like deficits in an animal model.

Occupational sunlight exposure reduces kidney cancer risk in men, study suggests
Study says men employed in occupations with potential exposure to high levels of sunlight have a reduced risk of kidney cancer compared with men who were less likely to be exposed to sunlight at work.

Alternative Energy Crops in Space
What if space held the key to producing alternative energy crops on Earth? That's what researchers are hoping to find in a new experiment on the International Space Station.

New treatments and good skin care helping patients control acne and rosacea
Acne and rosacea are two seemingly different skin conditions that have one important thing in common: both are chronic and extremely common skin conditions. However, dermatologists recommend that with proper diagnosis, treatment and a healthy dose of good, old-fashioned skin care, acne and rosacea can be less of a nuisance for patients.

Breakthrough blueprint for studying differentiation and evolution with new atlas of transcription factor combinations
In a significant leap forward in the understanding of how specific types of tissue are determined to develop in mammals, an international team of scientists has succeeded in mapping the entire network of DNA-binding transcription factors and their interactions. This global network indicates which factors can combine to determine cell fate.

Vitamin D lifts mood during cold weather months, researchers say
A daily dose of vitamin D may just be what people in northern climates need to get through the long winter, according to researchers. This nutrient lifts mood during cold weather months when days are short and more time is spent indoors.

Physicists find way to see through paint, paper, and other opaque materials
New experiments show that it's possible to focus light through opaque materials and detect objects hidden behind them, provided you know enough about the material.

Bone marrow can harbor HIV-infected cells
Antiviral drugs have reduced AIDS to more of chronic disease rather than a death sentence, but why is the disease so hard to cure? New research shows that bone marrow, previously thought to be resistant to the virus, can contain latent forms of the infection. Targeting these reservoirs of latent cells may open the door to new treatments.

Biggest, deepest crater exposes hidden, ancient moon
Shortly after the Moon formed, an asteroid smacked into its southern hemisphere and gouged out a truly enormous crater, the South Pole-Aitken basin, almost 1,500 miles across and more than five miles deep.

New light shed on how retina's hardware is used in color vision
Biologists have identified, in greater detail, how the retina's cellular hardware is used in color preference. The findings enhance our understanding of how eyes and the brain process color.

Synthetic 'sea shells' made from chalk and materials used in disposable coffee cups
Scientists have made synthetic 'sea shells' from a mixture of chalk and polystyrene cups -- and produced a tough new material that could make our homes and offices more durable.

Exposure to letters A or F can affect test performance
Seeing the letter A before an exam can improve a student's exam result while exposure to the letter F may make a student more likely to fail, according to a new study.

Asexual plant reproduction may seed new approach for agriculture
A scientist has moved a step closer to turning sexually-reproducing plants into asexual reproducers, a finding that could have profound implications for agriculture.

Like little golden assassins, 'smart' nanoparticles identify, target and kill cancer cells
Another weapon in the arsenal against cancer: nanoparticles that identify, target and kill specific cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone.

Women who drink moderately appear to gain less weight than nondrinkers
Normal-weight women who drink a light to moderate amount of alcohol appear to gain less weight and have a lower risk of becoming overweight and obese than nondrinkers, according to a new article.

Dietary supplements discouraged for prostate cancer patients
Prostate-specific dietary supplements should not be taken during radiation therapy treatments because they have been shown to increase the radiosensitivity of normal prostate cell lines, leading to normal tissue complications, according to a new study.

Listening in on single cells: Novel sensor array detects single molecules produced by living cells
Chemical engineers have built a sensor array that, for the first time, can detect single molecules of hydrogen peroxide emanating from a single living cell.

Abused children more likely to suffer unexplained abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting
Children who have been abused psychologically, physically or sexually are more likely to suffer unexplained abdominal pain and nausea or vomiting than children who have not been abused, a new study concludes.

New method to grow arteries could lead to 'biological bypass' for heart disease
A new method of growing arteries could lead to a "biological bypass" -- or a noninvasive way to treat coronary artery disease.

Obesity as protection against metabolic syndrome, not its cause
The collection of symptoms that is the metabolic syndrome -- insulin resistance, high cholesterol, fatty liver, and a greater risk for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke -- are all related to obesity, but, according to a new review not in the way you probably think they are.

Is That Saturn's Moon Titan or Utah?
Planetary scientists have been puzzling for years over the honeycomb patterns and flat valleys with squiggly edges evident in radar images of Saturn's moon Titan. Now, working with a "volunteer researcher" who has put his own spin on data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, they have found some recognizable analogies to a type of spectacular terrain on Earth known as karst topography.

Shoulder function not fully restored after rotator cuff surgery, study finds
Shoulder motion after rotator cuff surgery remains significantly different when compared to the patient's opposite shoulder, according to researchers. In the study, researchers used X-rays providing a 3D view of motion of the arm bone in relation to the shoulder blade, to compared motion in the shoulders of 14 patients who had arthroscopic surgical repair of tendon tears and no symptoms in their other shoulders.

Campylobacter bacteria in cattle manure may survive composting
Contrary to popular belief, some disease causing bacteria may actually survive the composting process. Researchers report that campylobacter bacteria in cattle manure can survive composting and persist for long periods in the final product.

Unhealthy foods become less popular with increasing costs
Adults tend to eat less pizza and drink less soda as the price of these items increases, and their body weight and overall calorie intake also appear to decrease, according to a new study.

Drastic musk ox population decline 12,000 years ago due to climate, not humans, study finds
Scientists have discovered that the drastic decline in Arctic musk ox populations that began roughly 12,000 years ago was due to a warming climate rather than to human hunting. The research is the first study to use ancient musk ox DNA collected from across the animal's former geographic range to test for human impacts on musk ox populations.

New heart valve replacement technologies offer hope for high-risk patients
A significant number of people with heart disease will benefit from less invasive transcatheter heart valve replacements in future, finds a review of updated practices.