Science X Newsletter Friday, Jun 5

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 5, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- New microfiber emitters boost production of versatile fibers fourfold, cut energy consumption by 92 percent
- New inorganic aromatic ion
- Ocean cycling of nitrous oxide is more intense than thought, emissions are increasing
- Quanta Compute Plug—a computer the size and shape of an AC adapter
- Crawling, breathing fish on a course to invade Australia
- The most accurate quantum thermometer
- A small vortex on the wing makes the elegance of birds' flight
- Archaeologists discover evidence of prehistoric gold trade route
- Slovak makers of flying car press on after crash
- Study links delay of gratification to how brain structures are connected
- Moving sector walls on the nano scale
- A new role for zebrafish: Larger scale gene function studies
- Paleo-engineering: New study reveals complexity of Triceratops' teeth
- Diverse coral communities persist, but bioerosion escalates in Palau's low-pH waters
- Study points towards new strategies for stopping the spread of Staph and MRSA

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronauts delayed return from ISS set for June 11 Three astronauts who had their stay on the International Space Station extended by a month after a rocket failure are set to land back on Earth on June 11, the head of Russia's space agency said Friday.
	NASA 'flying saucer' launch set for Friday Bad weather led the US space agency to postpone until Friday the first test of the largest parachute ever deployed, with the view of one day using it to land on Mars.
	How do galaxies die? Everything eventually dies, even galaxies. So how does that happen?
	Bad weather delays NASA 'flying saucer' launch again The test launch of a NASA flying saucer equipped with a supersonic parachute that may one day help spacecraft land on Mars was postponed again Friday due to bad weather.
Russia's rocket launches successfully following failure A Russian Soyuz booster rocket has successfully launched a satellite for the first time since a much-publicized failure in April.

Technology news

	Rule breach gets Baidu team sidelined in AI contest A research team from Chinese search engine giant Baidu has been told to sit out an international artificial intelligence competition for sidestepping the rules.
	Microsoft PowerShell team keen on added SSH support Microsoft PowerShell is to benefit from adding OpenSSH support. Numerous tech sites ran news of the announcement from Microsoft this week. Technology Personalized told how Microsoft will now work toward better Windows SSH Support with tighter integration to control Linux machines. "With this move, Microsoft is further showing its support for open source, and this is definitely going to be appreciated by programmers and supporters of free software." The news source was the Windows Power Shell Blog, in the form of a posting by Angel Calvo, group software engineering manager, PowerShell Team. Calvo on Wednesday said that "A popular request the PowerShell team has received is to use Secure Shell protocol and Shell session (aka SSH) to interoperate between Windows and Linux – both Linux connecting to and managing Windows via SSH and, vice versa, Windows connecting to and managing Linux via SSH."
	Quanta Compute Plug—a computer the size and shape of an AC adapter One of the biggest IT trade shows in Asia is going on right now in Taipei in Taiwan and one of the products being shown is grabbing a lot of attention—the Quanta Compute Plug—a complete computer that is the size and shape of an AC adapter. Initial reports suggest its main purpose is to convert a flatscreen TV to a really "smart" TV.
	Giving hand-impaired patients a better grasp Having achieved promising results in proof-of-concept prototyping and experimental testing, a soft robotic glove under development by soft wearable robotics expert Conor Walsh, and a team of engineers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering could someday help people suffering from loss of hand motor control to regain some of their daily independence.
	Slovak makers of flying car press on after crash Slovak tech firm AeroMobil is working on a new prototype of its flying car, weeks after the vehicle of the future spread its wings and crashed during a test flight.
	Intelligent Flash pause in Chrome update will improve battery life Aw, snap. Amsterdam-based reporter Owen Williams last month wrote "Why I'm breaking up with Google Chrome," citing his reasons.
	Facebook Lite makes debut in Asia Facebook on Thursday released a 'Lite' version of its application that was tailored for people using Android smartphones in places where wireless data bandwidth is scarce.
	China suspected in massive breach of federal personnel data (Update) China-based hackers are suspected of breaking into the computer networks of the U.S. government personnel office and stealing identifying information of at least 4 million federal workers, American officials said Thursday.
	A look back at the consolidation wave sweeping TV providers Cable and satellite TV providers are joining together to get more heft as the Internet shakes up the television industry.
	Fast-fill hydrogen fueling station enabling zero emission transportation The Hawai'i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) has commissioned a "Fast-Fill" high-pressure hydrogen fueling station at the Marine Corps Base Hawai'i (MCBH), Kaneohe Bay. This state-of-the-art station was developed to support a fleet of General Motors Equinox Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) leased by the Office of Naval Research for use by Marine Corps and Navy personnel on O'ahu. Operational since November 2014, this station was recently certified for unattended operation, allowing drivers to self-fill their cars just as they would do at any gasoline fueling station. Unattended operation will serve as a model for the installation of private stations throughout the state.
Mobile phones the pathway to Internet in Africa There is abundant evidence that poorer people in Africa are now using the internet. In South Africa, most new users come from low income households, many of them living below the poverty line.
	Innovative hybrid-electric powertrain for road sweepers Empa, ETH Zürich and the road sweeper manufacturer Bucher Municipal have jointly developed a pioneering hybrid-electric powertrain for road sweepers in a CTI project. The concept is based on a gas-driven engine, which provides power to the electric motors. Compared to conventional sweepers, the energy consumption has been halved and CO2 emissions reduced by more than 60 percent. Bucher Municipal is currently working on a concept study to investigate possible commercialisation of the new technologies.
	Website that saves politicians' deleted tweets faces deletion The Politwoops website that saves tweets deleted by politicians said Friday it fears its operations may be closed down in 30 countries after Twitter switched it off in the United States.
	You've been hacked ... do this right now The entire U.S. federal workforce may be at risk after yet another intrusion from what security experts believe were hackers based in China. The Department of Homeland Security says that data from the Office of Personnel Management—the human resources department for the federal government—and the Interior Department has been infiltrated.
Yahoo to shut down maps and other sections Yahoo will close its maps page, and several other sites, as it focuses on its search business, communication tools and content.
	Safety agency admits flaws, starts reforms after GM case The U.S. government's auto safety agency acknowledged Friday that staffers' failure to understand technology and lack of skepticism prevented them from rooting out a deadly problem with General Motors ignition switches for more than a decade.
	Streaming sets the tune for French Riviera music trade show The music industry's debate about streaming—saviour or supplanter?—will be at the forefront of the annual Midem trade show starting on the French Riviera on Friday.
	Japan firm sells human pillow cellphone holder What's shaped like your friend and even sounds like your friend, but isn't actually your friend? Why, a human-shaped pillow with a slot in its head for a cellphone, of course.
	Beijing calls reports China involved in US hack 'irresponsible' Beijing on Friday labelled as "irresponsible" reports that Chinese hackers were behind a massive cyber-attack on personal data of millions of current and former US federal employees.
Computer Sciences paying $190M to settle SEC fraud charges Computer Sciences Corp. is paying a $190 million penalty and a former CEO is returning $3.7 million in compensation to resolve federal regulators' charges of accounting fraud involving an important foreign contract.
	Designing the rail track of the future Civil engineers from The University of Nottingham are helping to develop the railway track of the future which will be cheaper and quieter, last longer and be lower maintenance for rail network operators.
Silk Road mastermind appeals US life sentence The American jailed for life for masterminding the online criminal enterprise Silk Road, which sold $200 million in drugs across the world, has appealed his sentence, court papers showed Friday.

Medicine & Health news

	Study links delay of gratification to how brain structures are connected The ability to delay gratification in chimpanzees is linked to how specific structures of the brain are connected and communicate with each other, according to researchers at Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University.
	Team targeting host rather than flu virus have success with new treatment in mice The flu kills hundreds of thousands of people around the world every year, yet there is essentially only one class of drugs to fight the ever-changing virus. Cases of flu resistant to this class of drugs have already been reported and researchers worry a completely new strain of flu could evolve, leading to a pandemic like the one in 1918 that killed approximately 50 million people.
	Scientists show fMRI memory detectors can be easily fooled For the past several years, Anthony Wagner has been developing a computer program that can read a person's brain scan data and surmise, with a high degree of certainty, whether that person is experiencing a memory. The technology has great promise to influence a number of fields, including marketing, medicine and evaluation of eyewitness testimony.
	Study points towards new strategies for stopping the spread of Staph and MRSA Staphylococcus aureus—better known as Staph—is a common inhabitant of the human nose, and people who carry it are at increased risk for dangerous Staph infections.
	Black women often cope with infertility alone African-American women are equally, if not more, likely to experience infertility than their white counterparts, but they often cope with this traumatic issue in silence and isolation, according to a new University of Michigan study.
	Research offers a new approach to improving HIV vaccines In a scientific discovery that has significant implications for preventing HIV infections, researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) have identified a protein that could improve the body's immune response to HIV vaccines and prevent transmission of the virus.
	An immune system marker for therapy-resistant prostate cancer You are a patient who has just been treated for a serious illness but neither you nor your doctor knows how likely it is that you—in comparison with other patients—will actually be helped by the treatment. This is often the situation with prostate cancer, one of the deadliest and most highly prevalent cancers. While hormone therapy can help, patient responses vary widely, and it's still unclear why some types of prostate cancer seem to be resistant to the therapy.
	3-D surprise: Girl missing part of arm gifted a prosthetic When 10-year-old Annika Emmert patted Winter the dolphin's smooth back at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium on Thursday, she thought that was the best part of her morning.
S. Korea reports fourth death from MERS outbreak South Korea Friday reported its fourth death from an outbreak of the MERS virus that has infected dozens of people, seen hundreds of schools closed and caused thousands to cancel travel plans.
	FDA panel backs female libido pill, under safety conditions The drug industry's decade-spanning search for a female equivalent to Viagra took a major step forward Thursday, as government experts recommended approval for a pill to boost sexual desire in women.
	New study identifies factors that lessen 'time aversion' in charitable giving Charities have long wrestled with the issue of persuading people to donate their time to worthy causes. Many potential time-givers donate money instead due to the perceived psychological costs of giving their time – which is by definition limited.
	Treating hidden wounds – the case for putting psychologists in trauma programs Imagine this: A 17-year-old girl has been shot in an apparent mall robbery. Her parents rush to the hospital only to be told they cannot see their daughter yet – the medical team is actively working to save her life. The unknown is terrifying, the waiting torturous.
	Lipids in eggs enhance bioavailability of carotenoids in vegetables Adding eggs to a salad with a variety of raw vegetables is an effective method to improve the absorption of carotenoids, which are fat-soluble nutrients that help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, according to research from Purdue University.
	Expert argues against smokescreen on e-cigarette research A leading Australian substance abuse expert is pleading for moderation in policies on e-cigarettes.
	Mediterranean diet could reduce risks during pregnancy Women who follow a Mediterranean-style diet in the years before becoming pregnant could face a significantly reduced risk of developing hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, new research from The University of Queensland (UQ) suggests.
Powerful people are quick to notice injustice when they are victimized, research finds Powerful people respond quickly to unfair treatment when they are the victims, but they are less likely to notice injustice when they benefit or when others are victimized, according to new research published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology.
	Joint statement outlines guidance on diabetes self-management education, support A joint position statement outlining when, how and what type of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSME/S) should be delivered to patients is being released today at the American Diabetes Association's 75th Scientific Sessions. The statement is also being published online concurrently in Diabetes Care, The Diabetes Educator and the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
	Study suggests link between cholesterol drugs and lower risk of cancer death Women who take statins – drugs that lower cholesterol levels – seem to have a lower risk of dying from cancer, according to results of a large study presented at a US conference.
	Sunlight exposure and latitude linked to development of dystonia symptoms People with a genetic predisposition to dystonia living closer to the equator (and who are thus exposed to more sunlight) are more likely to develop involuntary contraction of their eye muscles (blepharospasm) than those in their necks.
When the evil assumes power: On the dominance of stem cell mutations in age Aging is characterized by a decrease in regenerative capacity and organ maintenance as well as an increasing risk of cancer which coincide with mutations in stem and progenitor cells. In a working paper, researchers of Leibniz Institute for Age Research – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena/Germany, University of Glasgow, UK, and Buck Institute for Research on Aging, USA, summarize and contrast international research results on the various cell-intrinsic mechanisms that lead to a clonal dominance of mutant stem and progenitor cells in aging tissues. The review will be published in the journal Cell Stem Cell on June 4th.
	Missing teeth predict cardiovascular events Advanced tooth loss often indicates that a person has a history of inflammatory oral diseases. In an extensive cohort study, it was shown that tooth loss associate with future cardiovascular events, diabetes and death. The study was conducted in Finland at the University of Helsinki in collaboration with The National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
	Why do healthy people have harmful mutations? "NIH researchers pilot predictive medicine by studying healthy people's DNA," read the headline of a news release yesterday.
Nutritionist looks at proposed changes to child care meal guidelines The guidelines for meal requirements in child care settings are being revised for the first time since 1968, something a Kansas State University nutritionist says is a victory for both children's nutrition and business owners.
	Memory loss among the elderly is lower than what was originally thought Research conducted by Wilma Koutstaal (University of Minnesota) and Alaitz Aizpurua (UPV/EHU), concludes that the memory of older adults is not as deficient as has been thought until now. Elderly people remember fewer specific details than younger people and, in general, both groups retain concrete information about events experienced better than abstract information. The main difference is to be found in the capacity to remember more distant facts: youngsters remember them better.
	An initiation mechanism for dendritic spines discovered Researchers from the University of Helsinki, ETH Zürich, Aix-Marseille and the German Mouse Clinic teamed up to investigate the initiation process of dendritic spines. They discovered that protein called MIM bends the plasma membrane to aid the formation of dendritic spines from the surface of the neuronal dendrite.
	Research published about unexpected complications of low-risk pregnancies When a woman becomes pregnant or is planning a pregnancy, one of her first decisions is where she will deliver her baby. With options ranging from birthing centers to small community hospitals to regional health networks to academic medical centers, the decision can be confusing.
	Personality shapes the way our brains react to eye contact Eye contact plays a crucial role when people initiate interaction with other people. If people look each other in the eye, they automatically send a signal that their attention is focused on the other person. If the other person happens to look back, the two will be in eye contact, and a channel for interaction is opened. Eye contact is thus a powerful social signal, which is known to increase our physiological arousal.
FDA weighs approval of first-in-class cholesterol drug Federal health regulators said Friday that a highly-anticipated, experimental drug from Sanofi lowers bad cholesterol more than older drugs. But officials have questions about whether to approve the drug based on that measure alone or wait for additional study results.
	Daily sugar-sweetened beverage habit linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease A daily sugar-sweetened beverage habit may increase the risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), researchers from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HRNCA) at Tufts University report today in the Journal of Hepatology.
	CDC tweaking flu vaccine for better protection (HealthDay)—Having acknowledged that the 2014-2015 flu vaccine was mismatched to the circulating influenza strains, U.S. health officials have ramped up next season's shots for broader protection.
	Pregnancy often leads to changes in migraines (HealthDay)—Women who suffer from migraines may notice changes in their headache patterns when they're pregnant, experts say. For example, many women will have fewer migraines during pregnancy.
	Potential liver recipients may have new option (HealthDay)—Livers from donors who suffered cardiac death can be safely and effectively transplanted into patients dying of liver cancer, a new study suggests.
	Gastritis linked to metformin-related GI side effects in T2DM (HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, asymptomatic gastritis is associated with metformin-related gastrointestinal side effects, according to a study published online May 29 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics.
	Intervention boosts hospital discharge communication (HealthDay)—Implementation of standardized communication processes can improve the reliability of verbal communication between hospitalists and primary care physicians (PCPs) at hospital discharge, according to a study published online May 29 in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.
	Study IDs surgical never events, contributing factors (HealthDay)—Surgical never events and contributing human factors have been identified, with individual cognitive factors contributing one half of all nano-codes, according to a study published online May 29 in Surgery.
	Obesity has negative impact on metabolic quality of muscle (HealthDay)—Among older men, obesity has a negative effect on the metabolic quality of skeletal muscle, according to a study published online May 26 in Diabetes.
	UWF retinal imaging process could reduce practice burden (HealthDay)—Real-time ultrawide field (UWF) retinal image evaluation by nonphysician imagers can accurately detect diabetic retinopathy (DR) and help reduce center image grading burden, according to a study published online June 1 in Diabetes Care.
	Most ER patients with low-risk PE eligible for outpatient Tx (HealthDay)—The majority of adults presenting to the emergency department with low-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) are eligible for outpatient treatment, but relative contraindications to outpatient management are associated with increased frequency of adverse events at 30 days, according to a study published in the May issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
	Arthritis, other chronic disease takes toll on work force (HealthDay)—Among adults with one or more chronic conditions, those with arthritis appear much more likely than those without arthritis to have work disability, according to research published in the June 5 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Review: Short vs. long duration dual antiplatelet Tx after stent (HealthDay)—Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) continued beyond six months after drug-eluting stent implantation is associated with reduced stent thrombosis and myocardial infarction but also increased bleeding and all-cause mortality as compared to shorter-term DAPT therapy, according to a review published online May 25 in Cardiovascular Therapeutics.
	Autism linked to higher smog levels, study says (HealthDay)—Air pollution exposure may be linked to a child's risk of autism, a recent study suggests.
Women's contribution to healthcare constitutes nearly five percent of global GDP, but nearly half unpaid, unrecognized A major new Commission on women and health has found that women are contributing around $3 trillion to global health care, but nearly half of this (2.35% of global GDP) is unpaid and unrecognised.
American Samoa's 1 dialysis clinic hopes to reopen Saturday (Update) A fresh supply of a dialysis product needed for the treatment of renal failure was expected to be delivered to American Samoa on Friday after a recall forced the only hospital on the island to stop treatments.
Seoul mayor declares 'war' on MERS after fourth death South Korea reported Friday a fourth death from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), as an infected doctor fuelled fears of a fresh surge in cases and prompted Seoul's mayor to declare "war" on the virus.
US research center suspends activities after 'deficiencies' found A top US federal research center has suspended some activities after the discovery of serious manufacturing problems and other issues requiring corrective actions, health officials said Thursday.
India bans Nestle instant noodles after safety scare India's food safety regulator on Friday banned the sale and production of Nestle's Maggi instant noodles over a health scare after tests found they contained excessive lead levels.
Europe court backs French decision to allow vegetative man to die (Update) Europe's rights court on Friday backed the decision of a French court to allow a man in a vegetative state to be taken off life support, in a ruling that could become a benchmark on the continent.
Opa1 overexpression ameliorates the clinical phenotype of two mitochondrial disease mouse models Mitochondrial diseases are highly heterogeneous disorders characterized by faulty oxidative phosphorylation. OPA1 is a protein of the inner mitochondrial membrane, which shapes mitochondrial cristae, the structures where the respiratory complexes are located, thus regulating the efficiency of the respiratory chain.
Breaking down communication barriers for children with cerebral palsy EU scientists with the ABC project have developed a ground breaking application that can help people with cerebral palsy to communicate and interact with others.
Babies who can resettle are more likely to 'sleep through the night' Young infants who can "resettle" themselves after waking up are more likely to sleep for prolonged periods at night, according to a video study in the June Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, the official journal of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
	More accurate continuous glucose monitoring systems can reduce frequency of hypoglycemic episodes In silico experiments demonstrate that advanced sensor and software technology that improves the accuracy of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) can enable better detection of dangerously low blood sugar and reduced frequency of hypoglycemic episodes. The significance of this direct relationship between the accuracy of CGM and a reduction in hypoglycemia is explored in a Commentary published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics (DTT).

Biology news

	Ladybird colors reveal their toxicity to predators, says new research For one of Britain's best-loved and colourful group of insects, ladybirds, the brightness of their colour reveals the extent of their toxicity to predators, according to new research undertaken at the Universities of Exeter and Cambridge. The study which is published today in the journal Scientific Reports, also found that the more conspicuous and colourful the ladybird species, the less likely it is to be attacked by birds.
	Researchers edit plant DNA using mechanism evolved in bacteria Researchers at the University of Georgia have used a gene editing tool known as CRISPR/Cas to modify the genome of a tree species for the first time. Their research, published recently in the early online edition of the journal New Phytologist, opens the door to more rapid and reliable gene editing of plants.
	New model, new choices for wound healing using electrical fields Scientists at the University of Cincinnati are working on ways to wirelessly stimulate the body's own electrical fields to improve self-healing.
	Crawling, breathing fish on a course to invade Australia Australian marine biologists are worried that a species of perch native to Southeast Asia (the climbing perch, aka Anabas testudineus), will soon make its way onto the Australian mainland in the near future, putting native species of other fish and some birds at risk.
	A small vortex on the wing makes the elegance of birds' flight One mystery of birds' flight is solved! The elegance of birds' flight, their seemingly effortless aerial turns and the softness of their landing, have been envied by many people. From countless observations, it has been known that the birds use a small group of feathers, called "the alula", a thumb-like structure that is present at the bend of the wing, in slow and steep flight such as landing. Why do they use it? How the tiny feathers can help them land softly?
	A new role for zebrafish: Larger scale gene function studies A relatively new method of targeting specific DNA sequences in zebrafish could dramatically accelerate the discovery of gene function and the identification of disease genes in humans, according to scientists at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
	Minding the gap: City bats won't fly through bright spaces Researchers at the University of Birmingham have discovered that bats living in a city are less likely to move from tree to tree in brightly lit areas, according to research published online today (5th June 2015) in the journal Global Change Biology.
	Critically endangered species should be left to breed in the wild Some near-extinct species should be encouraged to breed in the wild rather than in captivity - according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).
	Programming DNA to reverse antibiotic resistance in bacteria At its annual assembly in Geneva last week, the World Health Organization approved a radical and far-reaching plan to slow the rapid, extensive spread of antibiotic resistance around the world. The plan hopes to curb the rise caused by an unchecked use of antibiotics and lack of new antibiotics on the market.
	New website can identify birds using photos In a breakthrough for computer vision and for bird watching, researchers and bird enthusiasts have enabled computers to achieve a task that stumps most humans—identifying hundreds of bird species pictured in photos.
	Applying research agendas to sport fishing As one of the most highly prized game fish in the upper Midwest, muskellunge (also known as muskies) and northern pike help support a $20 billion sport fishing industry. Facing declines in natural reproduction, a team of scientists, including a Michigan State University inland fisheries researcher, has developed a list of research and management needs to help keep the fish—and the industry—thriving.
	The secret lives of fish revealed by the digital age "Imagine the clandestine lives of marine fishes," begins "Migration Ecology of Marine Fishes," a new book by Dr. David Secor, one of the most respected voices in marine fish migration studies. Their movements, social interactions, and favorite spots are all obscured beneath the surface. However, an explosion of technological advances in data gathering and analysis has allowed fisheries scientists to observe the secret lives of fish in a whole new way.
	Fake orca nearly drowns before it can scare Ore. sea lions (Update) An effort to use a fake, life-sized orca to scare off hundreds of sea lions crowding docks off the Oregon coast ended, at least temporarily, Thursday night with the fiberglass creature belly-up after it was swamped by a passing ship.
	Where in the UK are New Zealand flatworms and what are they up to? Members of the public are being asked to help University of Aberdeen researchers pinpoint just how far a species, that wound up in the UK unintentionally, has travelled across the country.
Climate change could wipe out Australian mammals Australian native animals could be under threat of extinction from climate change, with a unique longitudinal study by Deakin University scientists finding our small mammal populations are suffering the ravages of long-term low rainfall conditions and intense wildfires.
	A controversial theory of olfaction deemed implausible Humans can discriminate tens of thousands of odors. While we may take our sense of smell for granted, it adds immeasurably to our quality of life: the aroma of freshly brewed coffee; the invigorating smell of an ocean breeze or a field of wildflowers; the fragrance of a lover or the natural smell of a baby. Our olfactory sense also warns us when milk turns rancid, when a baby's diaper needs changing and when there's a gas leak. In animals, the sense of smell is essential for detection of predators and other dangers, food sources and mates.
	Starved-out bacteria aid in wastewater treatment Scientists have adapted a process normally used to make bioplastic, to remove carbon from wastewater, slashing the amount of energy needed for the treatment process.
Aluminium—a new factor in the decline of bee populations? A new scientific study has found very high amounts of aluminium contamination in bees, raising the question of whether aluminium-induced cognitive dysfunction is playing a role in the decline of bumblebee populations.
Study highlights benefits of combining marine reserves with rights-based fisheries management A new study published in the June 15th Oceanography journal finds that effective fisheries reform strategies are more than a pipe dream: they exist and they work. In fact, rights-based fisheries management can change the lives of small-scale fishermen and coastal communities around the world.
	Infographic: Why don't woodpeckers get headaches? Pileated woodpeckers can cause a lot of damage to trees.
	Rare black rhinos find new sanctuary in northern Kenya Nasha was first to go down, a red-feathered dart sticking out of his thick-skinned rump. Next it was Syrah's turn as Matthew Mutinda, a vet, fired his tranquillizer gun from a low-hovering helicopter.

---

This email is a free service of Phys.org
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you no longer want to receive this email use the link below to unsubscribe.
https://sciencex.com/profile/nwletter/
You are subscribed as jmabs1@gmail.com