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Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for December 24, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Researchers take 'first baby step' toward anti-aging drug
- Researchers propose ballistic capture as cheaper path to Mars
- Optogenetics captures neuronal transmission in live mammalian brain
- Egg and sperm race: Scientists create precursors to human egg and sperm in the lab
- World's most complex crystal simulated
- Project pinpoints 12 new genetic causes of developmental disorders
- Ants show left bias when exploring new spaces
- America's place in the sun: Energy report sets goal
- Researchers find incest in one mammal species appears to be the safest approach
- Scientists identify rare cancer's genetic pathways
- Ionic liquids open door to better rare-earth materials processing
- High-fat diet, obesity during pregnancy harms stem cells in developing fetus
- Scientists zero in on how lung cancer spreads
- Locking mechanism found for 'scissors' that cut DNA
- Research sheds light on what causes cells to divide

Astronomy & Space news

	Researchers propose ballistic capture as cheaper path to Mars (Phys.org)—Space scientists Francesco Topputo and Edward Belbruno are proposing in a paper they have written and uploaded to the preprint server arXiv, the idea of using ballistic capture as a means of getting to Mars, rather than the traditional Hohmann transfer approach. They suggest such an approach would be much cheaper and would allow for sidestepping the need for scheduling launch windows.
	Hubbles spies the beautiful galaxy IC 335 This new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows the galaxy IC 335 in front of a backdrop of distant galaxies. IC 335 is part of a galaxy group containing three other galaxies, and located in the Fornax Galaxy Cluster 60 million light-years away.
	Opportunity rover struggles with flash memory problems NASA's Opportunity Mars rover, also known as "Oppy", is continuing its traverse southward on the western rim of Endeavour Crater despite computer resets and "amnesia" that have occurred after reformatting the rover's flash memory. The problems have forced the controllers to switch the robot to a working mode that avoids use of the flash data-storage system. In the no-flash mode, the rover can continue normal operations of science observations and driving, though it cannot store data during the overnight sleep. The good news is, the restoring of the rover's flash memory will begin soon. "Testing of a work-around to mask the faulty bank of flash will begin shortly after the Christmas-New-Year break," Guy Webster, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) spokesman told astrowatch.net.
	Can astronomy explain the biblical Star of Bethlehem? Bright stars top Christmas trees in Christian homes around much of the world. The faithful sing about the Star of Wonder that guided the wise men to a manger in the little town of Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. They're commemorating the Star of Bethlehem described by the Evangelist Matthew in the New Testament. Is the star's biblical description a pious fiction or does it contain some astronomical truth?
	Dr. Chris Okubo discusses the most detailed geologic map of Mars Earlier this month, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released its highest-resolution geologic map of Mars. The new geologic and structural map uses the highest-resolution, orbiter-based images currently available for Mars – data from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on board NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) – to illuminate past geological processes in a portion of "Grand Canyon of Mars" - Valles Marineris. The area analyzed, called western Candor Chasma, is one of the largest canyons in the Valles Marineris canyon system. In an interview with astrowatch.net, USGS scientist and map author Dr. Chris Okubo, describes his latest creation and the importance of map-making for future Mars missions.
	NASA image: Frosty slopes on Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater.
	The top 101 astronomical events to watch for in 2015 Now in its seventh year of compilation and the second year running on Universe Today, we're proud to feature our list of astronomical happenings for the coming year. Print it, bookmark it, hang it on your fridge or observatory wall. Not only is this the yearly article that we jokingly refer to as the "blog post it takes us six months to write," but we like to think of it as unique, a mix of the mandatory, the predictable and the bizarre. It's not a 10 ten listicle, and not a full-fledged almanac, but something in between.
	Successful engine test enables SpaceX Falcon 9 soar to space station in Jan. 2015 To ensure the highest possibility of success for the launch of a critical resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), SpaceX has announced the successful completion of a second static fire test of the first stage propulsion system of the firms commercial Falcon 9 rocket on Dec. 19.
NASA selects commercial space partners for collaborative partnerships NASA announced Tuesday the selection of four U.S. companies to collaborate with NASA through unfunded partnerships to develop new space capabilities available to the government and other customers. The partnerships build on the success of NASA's commercial spaceflight initiatives to leverage NASA experience and expertise into new capabilities.

Technology news

	Japan gets Fx0—Mozilla Firefox OS-powered transparent smartphone Japan has its first Firefox OS Smartphone. Mozilla Firefox and Tokyo-based telecommunications carrier, KDDI, issued the announcement earlier this week, with a posting appearing on the Mozilla blog and with a press conference announcement from KDDI.
	America's place in the sun: Energy report sets goal A recent energy report said that America should build on the recent growth in solar energy by setting a goal of obtaining at least 10 percent of its electricity from solar power by 2030. "Star Power: The Growing Role of Solar Energy in America" from the Environment America Research & Policy Center said that the federal government should commit to a baseline goal of obtaining at least 10 percent of the nation's electricity from solar energy by that time.
Web outage hardly stirs Internet-free N. Korea: experts North Korea's Internet went down this week after an apparent attack but most of its citizens will not have noticed the difference in a country that does its level best to seal off foreign influence, experts say.
	Sony tries to save face with 'Interview' flip-flop Sony's flip-flop on releasing "The Interview" shows the studio is working furiously to try to chart the right course through political and public-opinion minefields.
	Auto industry acts globally—except on recalls When it comes to making and selling cars, the auto industry thinks and acts globally: There is near-seamless coordination between parts suppliers, factories and dealerships.
	NKorea outage a case study in online uncertainties North Korea's microscopic corner of the Internet has had a rough couple of days, suffering seven outages in the last 48 hours, according to one Web traffic monitor.
	S. Korea hacking suspect used China IP addresses: investigators A suspect in the hacking attack on South Korean nuclear reactors has used multiple Internet protocol (IP) addresses based in China, investigators said Wednesday.
	Uber hits roadblock as CEO charged in S. Korea South Korean prosecutors brought charges on Wednesday against the founder and CEO of controversial smartphone taxi app Uber for operating an illegal cab service, the latest roadblock for the California-based firm.
	Spanish scientists create algorithms to measure sentiment on social networks Computer languages and systems researchers at the Autonomous University of Madrid have developed an application called SentBuk, which is capable of deducing the emotional states of Facebook users by analysing their messages using algorithms. The authors believe that this tool could be useful to online educators, as it would furnish them with similar information to that obtained by in-person teachers when they look at their students' faces.
	World's first successful use of an electric circuit to compensate for distortions in electric signals due to heat As circuits become smaller and more densely populated with circuit elements, electrical characteristics of the components become more prone to the influence of the heat generated. "The interaction between thermal and electrical phenomena is one of the most troublesome problems in analog and digital integrated circuits," explain Ryo Ishikawa, Junichi Kimura and Kazuhiko Honjo from the University of Electro-communications in Chofu-shi, Japan.
	Analyzing the propulsion of a soft robotic fish In the world of underwater robotics, fish-like structures are able to accelerate and maneuver better than most other artificial underwater vehicles. For these reasons, fish-like robots are well suited for submarine exploration tasks. However, a complete understanding of mechanisms governing the swimming movements of fish-like robots remains elusive, limiting the performance of such underwater robot.
	Brain-training for baseball robot The human brain continually monitors and influences all bodily movements, helping the body adapt to different circumstances in order to maintain fine motor control. The part of the brain responsible for fine motor control, including precision co-ordination and accurate timing, is called the cerebellum. In the field of robotics, developing an artificial cerebellum capable of 'teaching' a robot to move with accurate timing is a key goal.
	How 'Christmas trees' can help improve hydrogen refuelling technologies How can we ensure safe, fast and efficient refuelling of hydrogen-powered cars, all at the same time? This brain teaser, key to the successful deployment of hydrogen technology in our future green economies, is being mulled over thanks to sensor technologies and a prediction model developed under the HYTRANSFER project.
	New app helps utility customers save energy with real-time data The holidays are an energy-intensive time of year. Whether you hang just a few lights or illuminate the entire neighborhood with a winter wonderland display, chances are your carbon footprint will be just a little higher for the month of December. Scheduling your appliance-related chores for off-peak hours can help ease strain on the local power grid, and could even save you money in lower electric rates down the line. A new app developed by San Diego State University computer engineering professor Yusuf Ozturk makes it easy to know the best time to plug in.
	Who hacked Sony becomes Internet's new mystery Everyone has a theory about who really hacked Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.
Sony statement on the on-demand release of 'The Interview' Sony Pictures Entertainment issued the following statement Wednesday on the on-demand release of "The Interview":
Honda recalls 1,252 Crosstours over side air bags Honda is recalling 1,252 Crosstour vehicles due to a faulty side air bag made by troubled air bag supplier Takata.
Last-minute shopping made a bit saner with new apps It's getting easier to be a procrastinator during the holidays.
Renewable energy companies use new clout in statehouses Earlier this year, Ohio became the first state to freeze a scheduled increase in the amount of electricity that must be generated by wind, solar and other renewable sources. The move gave advocates of repealing states' mandatory green energy standards a rare victory after defeats the last two years.
	E Ink isn't just for e-readers any more E-readers may be passe, but you could soon see the black-and-white, easy-to-read screens that helped make them a big hit in a lot more places and products.
LivingSocial's new CEO eyes an experience-oriented future Some big challenges lie ahead for LivingSocial, the online marketplace known for its daily deals and discounted prices on restaurants, spas and local activities. But that's where the company's new chief executive, Gautam Thakar, comes in.
College students use 'smart' technology in football helmets to detect injuries Imagine a football helmet with brain wave probes and a device that measures acceleration forces to detect concussions on the field and directly communicate the information to medical staff.
Madison, Wis., becoming a force in video game industry In the 20-plus years that Tim Gerritsen has been creating video games, working in the realm of imaginary battlefields and mythical kingdoms, the Wisconsin native has found himself in many of the real world's most innovative game development centers: Boston, Seattle, Tokyo, London.
	Where to watch 'The Interview' online You don't need to leave your house to watch "The Interview." Sony Pictures released the comedy on digital platforms Wednesday.
	Facebook teams with NFL to score with online video Facebook said Thursday it had teamed with the National Football League to show ad-sponsored video clips at the leading social network.
	GPS used to track some immigrants caught at border The Homeland Security Department is experimenting with a new way to track immigrant families caught crossing the border illegally and then released into the U.S.: GPS-enabled ankle bracelets.
	Young entrepreneurs innovate in green energy with an in situ organic waste digester Young Mexican entrepreneurs have developed a bio-digestion plant capable of generating electricity from organic waste in the market of the Nopal Collection Center in Mexico City.
Review: Wink hub can help bring your house under control It seems like everyone wants to control your house. Well, they want to help you control your house using their home automation ecosystem. What do I mean by home automation?
J2 Global CEO Hemi Zucker says LA tech scene is heating up Hemi Zucker may be the most important LA tech executive you've never heard of.

Medicine & Health news

	Researchers take 'first baby step' toward anti-aging drug Researchers could be closing in on a "fountain of youth" drug that can delay the effects of aging and improve the health of older adults, a new study suggests.
	Optogenetics captures neuronal transmission in live mammalian brain Swiss scientists have used a cutting-edge method to stimulate neurons with light. They have successfully recorded synaptic transmission between neurons in a live animal for the first time.
	Project pinpoints 12 new genetic causes of developmental disorders The first results to emerge from a nationwide project to study the genetic causes of rare developmental disorders have revealed 12 causative genes that have never been identified before. The Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) project, the world's largest, nationwide genome-wide diagnostic sequencing programme, sequenced DNA and compared the clinical characteristics of over a thousand children to find the genes responsible for conditions that include intellectual disabilities and congenital heart defects, among others.
	Scientists zero in on how lung cancer spreads Cancer Research UK scientists have taken microscopic images revealing that the protein ties tethering cells together are severed in lung cancer cells - meaning they can break loose and spread, according to research published in Cell Reports today.
Scientists identify rare cancer's genetic pathways An international research team, including four Simon Fraser University scientists, has identified the "mutational landscape" of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), a rare, highly fatal form of liver cancer that disproportionately affects people in Asian countries.
	High-fat diet, obesity during pregnancy harms stem cells in developing fetus Physician-scientists at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital reveal a high-fat diet and obesity during pregnancy compromise the blood-forming, or hematopoietic, stem cell system in the fetal liver responsible for creating and sustaining lifelong blood and immune system function.
	Tackling Parkinson's with targeted therapeutic vaccines Clinical trials are about to begin on a new Parkinson's disease vaccine that could offer patients significant improvements over current treatments. The vaccine, developed through the FP7-funded SYMPATH project, may actually be able to modify disease progression, rather than simply providing symptomatic improvement.
Officials cite progress on health care enrollment The second sign-up season under President Barack Obama's health care law is off to a good start but has a way to go to make it a success, administration officials said Tuesday.
	Longer cooling, lower temperature no improvement for infant oxygen deprivation The standard treatment for newborns whose brains were deprived of oxygen appears to work better than proposed alternatives, according to a study from a National Institutes of Health research network. The standard treatment involves lowering an infant 's body temperature by about 6 degrees Fahrenheit for 72 hours. Attempts to improve on this treatment by further lowering body temperature or increasing the duration of cooling were of no additional benefit, the researchers concluded.
	Biomedical team creates 'nerve on a chip' Michael J. Moore and J. Lowry Curley first met in the laboratory as professor and student. Now the two Tulane University researchers have started a new biomedical company that's winning praise and awards.
Food safety expert shares tips on how a home kitchen can pass a restaurant inspection With the holidays in full swing and family feasts being enjoyed, a Kansas State University food safety expert has cleaning tips on how your home kitchen could pass a restaurant inspection.
	Culture influences incidence of depression Culture influences the link between emotion and depression, according to new research into depression in developing countries.
	No increased risk of second cancers with radiotx in pelvic CA (HealthDay)—For patients with pelvic cancers, the risk of developing a second cancer is not increased with radiotherapy (RT), according to a study published online Dec. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Expert offers tips for preventing holiday migraines (HealthDay)—The holidays can be a challenge for people who suffer migraines, which can be set off by certain foods and drinks.
	BP-lowering therapy reduces stroke, death in grade 1 HTN (HealthDay)—For patients with grade 1 hypertension, blood pressure-lowering therapy is associated with a reduction in blood pressure and a lower likelihood of stroke and death, according to research published online Dec. 23 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	ACOG issues recs to improve access to contraception (HealthDay)—All women should have unhindered and affordable access to contraceptives, although there are many barriers to access, according to a Committee Opinion published in the January issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Abuse in childhood tied to migraines in adulthood (HealthDay)—Adults who experienced childhood abuse or neglect have a higher risk of migraine headaches, suggests a study published online Dec. 24 in the journal Neurology.
	Irish court mulls rights of dead woman vs. fetus A lawyer representing a 17-week-old fetus living inside the clinically dead body of its mother told a Dublin court Wednesday that the unborn child's right to life trumps the woman's right to a dignified death.
	Development of software that "predicts" sudden cardiac death At Galway Hospital in Ireland, a new device is used to "predict" cardiac events in people at risk of sudden cardiac death. This technology was developed by a Mexican researcher, and the city's university patented it, looking to sell it to specialized companies.
Fourth UN staff contracts Ebola in Liberia A fourth member of the UN mission in Liberia, the country hardest-hit by the Ebola epidemic, has been hospitalised after testing positive for the virus.
Sierra Leone bans Christmas parties amid Ebola Alice Marke and her family aren't celebrating Christmas the way they used to: The deadly Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone means no festive parties at the beach, no carolers singing at night.
Sierra Leone declares five-day Ebola lockdown in north The Sierra Leone government on Wednesday declared a five-day lockdown in the country's north to step up efforts to contain the Ebola epidemic, while making an exception for Christmas.

Biology news

	Ants show left bias when exploring new spaces Unlike Derek Zoolander, ants don't have any difficulty turning left. New research from the University of Bristol, UK published today in Biology Letters, has found that the majority of rock ants instinctively go left when entering unknown spaces.
	Egg and sperm race: Scientists create precursors to human egg and sperm in the lab Scientists at the University of Cambridge working with the Weizmann Institute have created primordial germ cells - cells that will go on to become egg and sperm - using human embryonic stem cells. Although this had already been done using rodent stem cells, the study, published today in the journal Cell, is the first time this has been achieved efficiently using human stem cells.
	Christmas colors disguise gliding lizards in the rainforest By mimicking the red and green colours of falling leaves, Bornean lizards avoid falling prey to birds whilst gliding, new research has found.
	European fire ant impacts forest ecosystems by helping alien plants spread An invasive ant species that has become increasingly abundant in eastern North America not only takes over yards and delivers a nasty sting, it's helping the spread of an invasive plant species. The ants are very effective dispersers of invasive plant seeds and new research suggests that together they could wreak havoc on native ecosystems.
	Climate change threat to mussels' shells The world's mussel population could be under threat as climate change causes oceans to become increasingly acidic, scientists have discovered.
	Research sheds light on what causes cells to divide When a rapidly-growing cell divides into two smaller cells, what triggers the split? Is it the size the growing cell eventually reaches? Or is the real trigger the time period over which the cell keeps growing ever larger?
	Locking mechanism found for 'scissors' that cut DNA Researchers at Johns Hopkins have discovered what keeps an enzyme from becoming overzealous in its clipping of DNA. Since controlled clipping is required for the production of specialized immune system proteins, an understanding of what keeps the enzyme in check should help explain why its mutant forms can lead to immunodeficiency and cancer. A summary of the results will be published online in the journal Cell Reports on Dec. 24.
	What the 'fecal prints' of microbes can tell us about Earth's evolution The distinctive "fecal prints" of microbes potentially provide a record of how Earth and life have co-evolved over the past 3.5 billion years as the planet's temperature, oxygen levels, and greenhouse gases have changed. But, despite more than 60 years of study, it has proved difficult, until now, to "read" much of the information contained in this record. Research from McGill University and Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), sheds light on the mysterious digestive processes of microbes, opening the way towards a better understanding of how life and the planet have changed over time.
	Researchers find incest in one mammal species appears to be the safest approach (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with members from the U.K. and Germany has found an example of a mammal that practices frequent incest. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the team describes their study of banded mongoose in their native environment in Uganda and how they found an unusually high degree of incest and offer some suggestions as to why it occurs with them.
	Study suggests virus impacts caterpillar's phototactic response causing them to climb (Phys.org) —A small team of researchers with Wageningen University in The Netherlands has found evidence that suggests that a type of virus that causes a species of caterpillar to climb higher up a plant, does so by causing a change to the victim's phototactic response. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the team describes how they studied baculovirus infections in caterpillars and the experiments they conducted in attempting to show that changes in behavior attributed to the viral infection were likely due to changes in how light was perceived.
	Wildlife groups seek help for California owl Loggers cutting down forests burned in wildfires could bring about the extinction of California spotted owls, wildlife advocates said Tuesday as they sought protection for the birds under the federal Endangered Species Act.
	The ants that conquered the world About one tenth of the world's ants are close relatives; they all belong to just one genus out of 323, called Pheidole. "If you go into any tropical forest and take a stroll, you will step on one of these ants," says Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University's Professor Evan Economo.Pheidole fill niches in ecosystems ranging from rainforests to deserts. Yet until now, researchers have never had a global perspective of how the many species of Pheidole evolved and spread across the Earth.
	Fall pest has many South Central Texans seeing spots before their eyes If you think you're seeing spots before your eyes around the holidays, it may just be a tiny gnat-like insect "getting up in your grill," according to entomologists with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
	Scrapie could breach the species barrier INRA scientists have shown for the first time that the pathogens responsible for scrapie in small ruminants (prions) have the potential to convert the human prion protein from a healthy state to a pathological state. In mice models reproducing the human species barrier, this prion induces a disease similar to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. These primary results published in Nature Communications on 16 December 2014, stress the necessity to reassess the transmission of this disease to humans.
	Zimbabwe to export elephants in population curb Wildlife authorities in Zimbabwe on Wednesday announced plans to export at least 62 elephants to top up scant state funding and curb a ballooning pachyderm population.
	The economics of newly graduated veterinarians Animals can teach us more about the human body than we might realize. Crack open New York Times bestseller "Zoobiquity," and you'll learn about a human cardiologist's experiences at the Los Angeles Zoo that allowed her to more closely connect human and animal medicine. Even in the first chapter—Dr. House, Meet Doctor Dolittle—author Barbara Natterson-Horowitz reveals how doctors and veterinarians could learn from each other to effectively diagnose and treat all species.
	Extracting bioactive compounds from marine microalgae Microalgae can produce high value health compounds like omega-3s , traditionally sourced from fish. With declining fish stocks, an alternative source is imperative. Published in the Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, researchers evaluated various methods for extracting fatty acids and carotenoids from two microalgae species.
	Feline fame in cyberspace gives species a boost Cats these days aren't associated with deities the way they were in ancient Egypt, but the Internet has gotten them a little closer.

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