Science X Newsletter Sunday, Sep 21

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for September 21, 2014:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Smallest possible diamonds form ultra-thin nanothreads
- Theorists find a new way to improve efficiency of solar cells by overcoming exciton 'traps'
- A nanosized hydrogen generator
- Scientists create 'evolved' protein that may stop cancer from spreading
- Engineered proteins stick like glue—even in water
- Battling superbugs with gene-editing system
- Uncovering the forbidden side of molecules
- Program predicts placement of chemical tags that control gene activity
- World greenhouse emissions threaten warming goal
- Longer distance quantum teleportation achieved
- Immune system of newborn babies is stronger than previously thought
- Cancer cells adapt energy needs to spread illness to other organs
- New cancer drug target involving lipid chemical messengers
- MAVEN Mars spacecraft to begin orbit of Red Planet
- SpaceX launches 3-D printer, other station gear

Astronomy & Space news

	SpaceX launches 3-D printer, other station gear A SpaceX cargo ship rocketed toward the International Space Station on Sunday, carrying the first 3-D printer for astronauts in orbit.
	MAVEN Mars spacecraft to begin orbit of Red Planet A NASA spacecraft that aims to study the upper atmosphere of Mars and reveal how its climate changed over time is poised to begin orbiting the Red Planet on Sunday.
	Internet moguls Musk, Bezos shake up US space race The space race to end America's reliance on Russia escalated this week with a multibillion dollar NASA award for SpaceX's Elon Musk and an unexpected joint venture for Blue Origin's Jeff Bezos.
	Bad weather delays SpaceX launch with 3-D printer Rainy weather has forced SpaceX to delay its latest supply run to the International Space Station.

Technology news

	Intel wireless charging in a bowl coming sooner than later When vendors send out announcements of long battery life and juicing strategies for electronic gadgets, interest is assured; the bad news is that interest is assured because consumers are still eagerly looking for less bother and less time needed to keep their smartphones and other mobile gadgets up and running. Intel is aware of the challenge, what with wearables on tap in an assortment of form factors. To be sure, Intel would like to be in the frontlines of technology giants providing the buying public with finer solutions.
	Wireless sensor transmits tumor pressure The interstitial pressure inside a tumor is often remarkably high compared to normal tissues and is thought to impede the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents as well as decrease the effectiveness of radiation therapy. While medications exist that temporarily decrease tumor pressure, identifying the optimal window to initiate treatment—when tumor pressure is lowest—remains a challenge. With support from NIBIB, researchers at Purdue University have developed a novel sensor that can wirelessly relay pressure readings from inside a tumor.
	Oculus unveils new prototype VR headset Oculus has unveiled a new prototype of its virtual reality headset. However, the VR company still isn't ready to release a consumer edition.
	Robot works controls of simulated cockpit: Introducing PIBOT How close are we to a day when robots will fly airplanes? A presentation of a takeoff and landing simulation at the IROS (International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems) in Chicago this month, "A Robot-Machine Interface for Full-functionality Automation using a Humanoid," by Heejin Jeong, David Hyunchul Shim and Sungwook Cho, may help you to come up with answers. A small robot worked the controls of a simulated cockpit. PIBOT, as the robot was called, was able to work the controls, to the extent that it was able to identify and use the buttons and switches found in a real cockpit of a normal light aircraft designed for humans, reported Evan Ackerman in IEEE Spectrum. PIBOT as shown in the video prepares for flight by turning on the switches in the order of power, battery, altimeter etc. The engine starts and PIBO accelerates on the runway while following the center line of the runway. After climbing it takes turns, app! roaches the runway, aligns with the runway and makes a safe landing on the ground.
	Tim Cook puts personal touch on iPhone 6 launch Apple chief Tim Cook personally kicked off sales of the iPhone 6, joining in "selfies" and shaking hands with customers Friday outside the company's store near his Silicon Valley home.
	Second apparent leak of hacked celebrity nude pictures: US media More nude celebrity photos, purportedly including reality star Kim Kardashian, circulated social media Saturday, in what appeared to be the second massive hacking-related leak in less than a month, US media reported.
	Study: Apple's new iPhones score big in durability Apple's new and bigger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are more durable than last year's model and a leading Android phone, a study says.

Medicine & Health news

	New cancer drug target involving lipid chemical messengers More than half of human cancers have abnormally upregulated chemical signals related to lipid metabolism, yet how these signals are controlled during tumor formation is not fully understood.
	Scientists discover an on/off switch for aging cells (Medical Xpress)—Scientists at the Salk Institute have discovered an on-and-off "switch" in cells that may hold the key to healthy aging. This switch points to a way to encourage healthy cells to keep dividing and generating, for example, new lung or liver tissue, even in old age.
	Immune system of newborn babies is stronger than previously thought Contrary to what was previously thought, newborn immune T cells may have the ability to trigger an inflammatory response to bacteria, according to a new study led by King's College London. Although their immune system works very differently to that of adults, babies may still be able to mount a strong immune defense, finds the study published in the journal Nature Medicine.
	Cancer cells adapt energy needs to spread illness to other organs Want to understand why cancer cells metastasize? Think of Sparta. Ancient Greek warriors were fed a special diet that better prepared them for the demands of battle on distant fields. Cancer cells that metastasize may do the same thing according to a new study revealing previously unknown differences between cancer cells that continue to grow at the original tumor site, and those that travel to other organs.
	Ultrasound enhancement provides clarity to damaged tendons, ligaments The potential was hidden in plain sight, pretty much since the beginning of medical ultrasound. But it took an expert in earthquake waves to unearth the idea that sound waves reflected from human bodies could reveal not only their internal shape, but also their condition.
Sierra Leone faces criticism over Ebola shutdown Sierra Leone began the second day of a 72-hour nationwide shutdown aimed at containing the spread of the deadly Ebola virus on Saturday amid criticism that the action was a poorly planned publicity stunt.
	Sierra Leone reaches final day of Ebola lockdown Frustrated residents complained of food shortages in some neighborhoods of Sierra Leone's capital on Sunday as the country reached the third and final day of a sweeping, unprecedented lockdown designed to combat the deadly Ebola disease, volunteers said.
Liberia to provide 1,000 Ebola beds in overwhelmed capital Liberia announced plans Sunday for a four-fold increase in beds for Ebola patients in its overwhelmed capital Monrovia, as US troops arrived to help tackle the deadly epidemic.
Jobless and poor, Ghana's youth turn to selling blood To Ghana's legions of jobless young men, Eric Bimpong has a money-making proposition: sell your blood.
Overwhelmed west Africa ramps up Ebola response West Africa intensified its response to the deadly Ebola epidemic on Sunday, with Sierra Leone uncovering scores of dead bodies during a 72-hour shutdown and Liberia announcing hundreds of new hospital beds.

Biology news

Battling superbugs with gene-editing system In recent years, new strains of bacteria have emerged that resist even the most powerful antibiotics. Each year, these superbugs, including drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis and staphylococcus, infect more than 2 million people nationwide, and kill at least 23,000. Despite the urgent need for new treatments, scientists have discovered very few new classes of antibiotics in the past decade.

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