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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 16, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Cassini begins epic final year at SaturnAfter more than 12 years studying Saturn, its rings and moons, NASA's Cassini spacecraft has entered the final year of its epic voyage. The conclusion of the historic scientific odyssey is planned for September 2017, but not before the spacecraft completes a daring two-part endgame. |
 | Hebridean rock provides clue to life on MarsAnalysis of rocks in the Outer Hebrides has provided a tantalising clue that Mars may contain habitats which can potentially support life. |
 | Changes in a distant quasarYale astronomers Grant Tremblay and Meredith Powell are part of the first research team to document a "changing look" quasar through a full cycle from dim to bright to dim again. |
 | Kitchen mission controlClusterweb is a software package developed by the Cluster Flight Control Team at ESA's mission control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, and has become an essential part of the team's daily activities. |
 | Vega releases five satellites in complex missionArianespace launched a Vega rocket on a complex mission early this morning that demonstrated the flexibility of its upper stage and multisatellite carrier. |
 | Origin of minor planets' rings revealedA team of researchers has clarified the origin of the rings recently discovered around two minor planets known as centaurs, and their results suggest the existence of rings around other centaurs. These findings were published on August 29 in Astrophysical Journal Letters, and introduced in AAS Nova, a website for research highlights from the journals of the American Astronomical Society. |
 | NASA astronaut wears spacesuit painted by kids with cancerSome childhood cancer patients will chat Friday with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station wearing a hand-painted spacesuit they helped decorate. |
 | China eyes year-long stays for space station astronautsChina could send astronauts to its space station for more than a year at a time once it goes operational in 2022, a senior project designer told state media. |
 | To Bennu and backNASA is launching a spacecraft to visit an asteroid… and return to tell the tale. |
Sequencing DNA in spaceEver since the first strands of DNA were sequenced in the 1970s, researchers understood the profound significance of analyzing genetics for a wide range of medical and biological research. | |
 | Have we really just seen the birth of a black hole?For almost half a century, scientists have subscribed to the theory that when a star comes to the end of its life-cycle, it will undergo a gravitational collapse. At this point, assuming enough mass is present, this collapse will trigger the formation of a black hole. Knowing when and how a black hole will form has long been something astronomers have sought out. |
Technology news
 | AI software found able to identify people in blurred images(Tech Xplore)—A trio of researchers has found off-the-shelf AI software can be used to identify people in blurred or pixilated images. Reza Shokri and Vitaly Shmatikov with Cornell University and Richard McPherson with the University of Texas have uploaded a paper to the arXiv preprint server describing the experiments they carried out with AI software identification of people or other items in blurred out images, what they found and reveal just how accurate they found it could be. |
 | Comma.ai kit: Wow, Mountain View to SF without touching the wheel?(Tech Xplore)—Comma.ai is not a thesis paper editing service—in case you tried to guess. This is a business focused on self-driving. |
 | One year on, can Volkswagen leave 'dieselgate' behind?One year ago, Volkswagen's cheating on emissions tests for millions of its diesel cars erupted into public view, leaving the mammoth carmaker battling an unprecedented crisis. |
 | Apple iPhone 7 launches; sold-out models leave some disappointedApple's iPhone 7 launch generated trademark queues and brisk sales Friday that defied gloomy expectations, with some enthusiasts left empty-handed after lining up for hours as the company announced some models had sold out. |
 | False clues make it tough to find WADA hackersMedical data from some of the world's leading athletes has been posted to the web and the World Anti-Doping Agency says Russians are to blame. Even the hackers seem to agree, adopting the name "Fancy Bears"—a moniker long associated with the Kremlin's electronic espionage operations. |
 | iPhone hack attack shows why we need to rein in the trade in spywareDownloading security updates for computers and mobile devices is a regular routine for most of us. |
When hackers turn out the lightsThe development of the smart power grid and the smart meter in our homes to accompany it brings several benefits, such as improved delivery and more efficient billing. Conversely, any digital, connected technology also represents a security risk. Writing in the International Journal of Smart Grid and Green Communications, UK researchers explain how a malicious third party that hacked into the metering system could manipulate en masse the data being sent back to the smart grid and perhaps trigger a power generation shortfall. | |
 | Single-photon detector for potential encryption and sensing appsIndividual photons of light now can be detected far more efficiently using a device patented by a team including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), whose scientists have overcome longstanding limitations with one of the most commonly used type of single-photon detectors. Their invention could allow higher rates of transmission of encrypted electronic information and improved detection of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. |
 | Amazon Echo will bring genuinely helpful AI into our homes much sooner than expectedWhat's all the fuss about the voice-activated home speaker that Amazon is due to release in the UK and Germany in late September? This gadget has been available in the US for over a year and has proven a minor hit, with sales estimates between 1.6m and 3m. But these figures belie the potential impact this kind of artificial intelligence device could have on our lives in the near future. |
iPhone launch generates excitement, frustration (Update)Apple delivered its new iPhones on Friday in a global launch marked by long queues at its retail stores but also frustration over the sellout of some models. | |
AP, other media sue FBI for details on iPhone hacking toolThe Associated Press and two other news organizations sued the FBI on Friday to learn who the government paid and how much it spent to hack into an iPhone in its investigation into last year's San Bernardino, California, massacre. | |
 | Software co.: We warned Tesla about hands-free Autopilot useThe company that made the camera and computer system for Tesla Motors' semi-autonomous Autopilot says the electric car maker ignored its warnings of safety problems. |
 | Five things to know about VW's 'dieselgate' scandalIt has been a year since Volkswagen admitted to fitting millions of cars with cheating software to dupe emissions tests, plunging the German auto giant into one of the biggest scandals ever to hit the industry. |
 | FAA contemplating whether millions of drones will fill skiesSo many people are registering drones and applying for drone pilot licenses that federal aviation officials said Friday they are contemplating the possibility of millions of unmanned aircraft crowding the nation's skies in the not-too-distant future. |
US confident in election security despite threatsThe US homeland security chief said Friday authorities have confidence in the integrity of electoral systems despite growing cybersecurity threats. | |
 | Tesla to build California utility battery storage projectTesla announced Thursday that it will build a battery storage system at a California utility substation that will have the largest output of any existing lithium-ion storage facility. |
 | Meet AISOY1 the robot, autism therapy assistantResearchers at the Universidad Miguel Hernández (UMH) and AISOY Robotics are collaborating to expand the potential of their robot assistant for the treatment of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Specifically, the goal is to explore the ways in which the AISOY robot can enhance therapy sessions at the UMH University Clinic. |
 | Judge OKs extradition of British man on US hacking chargesA British man accused of hacking into U.S. military and government computer systems and stealing confidential information should be extradited to the United States to face trial, a judge ruled Friday. |
Agency says driverless cars will need OK once Uber chargesThe state agency that regulates taxicabs and transportation businesses in Pennsylvania says it doesn't have jurisdiction over free trips in self-driving cars being offered by Uber, but it will once the company starts charging money. | |
 | High-tech and low-cost solutions to handle urban wasteLow-cost interventions, big data analysis and new regulations on landfills are key factors for the smart management of waste in cities. There are several ongoing studies and trials underway across Europe, with both researchers and city planners looking for efficient solutions. |
 | Johnson & Johnson to buy Abbott's vision unit for $4.33BJohnson & Johnson said Friday that it is paying more than $4.3 billion in cash to buy the eye health unit of Abbott Laboratories as it seeks to boost its vision business. |
Medicine & Health news
World must ready for global microcephaly 'epidemic': studyThe world should prepare for a "global epidemic" of microcephaly, a condition which restricts head growth in foetuses, as the Zika virus takes root in new countries, researchers said Friday. | |
 | Simple compound could provide first new therapy for myeloid leukemia in four decadesResearchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) have identified a drug compound that arrests in mice the progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a bone marrow cancer that has not seen a new therapy in four decades. |
 | New research offers 'critical insights' for treating, preventing Alzheimer's diseaseNew research led by Northeastern University suggests that Alzheimer's disease may not progress like falling dominoes, as conventional wisdom holds, with one molecular event sparking the formation of plaques throughout the brain. Instead, it may progress like a fireworks display, with a unique flare launching each plaque, one by one. |
 | Zika found in eye fluid in studyZika can be detected in fluid inside the eyelid and in the eye's outermost layer, a new study shows. |
 | Protein may be crucial in many lung ailmentsThe more proteins that prove essential in the pathways of disease, the more targets drug makers and doctors have for intervention. That's why its potentially important that a new study reports a key role for the protein TMEM219 in pathways that appear to be central to a variety of diseases in the lung. |
 | Looking into the brains of habitual short sleepersMost people could benefit from a few extra hours of sleep every night. But some people habitually sleep much less than the recommended amount, yet report feeling no ill effects. A new University of Utah study, published Sept. 15 in Brain and Behavior, finds that patterns of neural connections in the brains of so-called "habitual short sleepers" suggest that some of these people may be efficient sleepers, but may also be more tired than they realize. |
 | 'Heart repair' research boosted by new findingsScientists trying to find ways to regenerate a damaged heart have shed more light on the molecular mechanisms that could one day make this a reality. |
 | Brain benefits of aerobic exercise lost to mercury exposureCognitive function improves with aerobic exercise, but not for people exposed to high levels of mercury before birth, according to research funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health. Adults with high prenatal exposure to methylmercury, which mainly comes from maternal consumption of fish with high mercury levels, did not experience the faster cognitive processing and better short term memory benefits of exercise that were seen in those with low prenatal methylmercury exposures. |
 | Gut pathogens thrive on body's tissue-repair mechanismWhy do some foodborne bacteria make us sick? A paper published Sept. 16 in the journal Science has found that pathogens in the intestinal tract cause harm because they benefit from immune system responses designed to repair the very damage to the intestinal lining caused by the bacteria in the first place. |
 | Researchers say to conquer cancer you need to stop it before it becomes cancerIn a Perspective piece published this week in PNAS, cancer researchers from across the country, including faculty at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center, write that a greater emphasis on immune-based prevention should be central to new efforts like the federal Cancer Moonshot program, headed by Vice President Joe Biden. |
Occupational therapy reduces hospital readmissionsAn independent study published in Medical Care Research and Review found that "occupational therapy is the only spending category where additional hospital spending has a statistically significant association with lower readmission rates" for the three health conditions studied: heart failure, pneumonia, and acute myocardial infarction. | |
 | Precision medicine breakthrough for chronic myeloid leukaemiaScientists at the University of Glasgow have made a second significant breakthrough in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia – using precision medicine to kill more than 90% of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) stem cells. The results are published today in the high impact journal Cancer Discovery. |
 | Increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria hinders treatment of kidney infectionsThe increase in illnesses and deaths linked to medication-resistant bacteria has been well-documented by researchers and received extensive public attention in recent years. Now, UCLA-led research shows how these bacteria are making it more difficult to treat a common but severe kidney infection. |
 | What do my gene variants mean? Study finds conflicting interpretations in cancer risk screeningWith surprising frequency, clinical laboratories that test people's blood samples for genes and genetic mutations that increase cancer risk provide conflicting interpretations of the risks associated with particular gene variants. The finding comes from an analysis of gene-testing data in a new online registry, which determined that 26 percent of the gene variants identified in patient samples came with interpretations that differed among participating laboratories. In some cases, for example, genetic mutations were deemed "likely" or "definitely cancer-promoting" by some labs, and "of unknown significance" by others. The study, led in part by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, is published this week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. |
 | Sad music moves those who are empathetic(HealthDay)—Many people find sad music relaxing but to those who are very empathetic, exposure to melancholic melodies is an intense but positive and deeply moving experience, according to a new study. |
 | CDC may lift Zika travel advisory for Miami neighborhood(HealthDay)—America's top public health agency could lift its Zika virus travel advisory for the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami as early as Monday, officials said Thursday afternoon. |
 | Extreme preemies may be at risk for high blood pressure as adults(HealthDay)—Very preterm infants—those born before 29 weeks of pregnancy—appear to have a bigger risk of high blood pressure in young adulthood, two small, preliminary Canadian studies suggest. |
 | More evidence that Zika causes microcephaly(HealthDay)—A rigorous new study of 91 Brazilian babies strongly supports the point that the mosquito-borne Zika virus can cause the devastating birth defect microcephaly. |
 | A protein in mosquito spit can keep Dengue virus in checkMosquito saliva influences transmission of viruses to a bitten mammalian host. For example, it contains factors that dampen the host immune response and so facilitate infection. A study published in PLOS NTDs reports on a saliva protein with the opposite effect: D7, a protein present in Aedes aegypti saliva, binds to Dengue virus (DENV) and inhibits its transmission to human cells and mice. Antibodies against D7, which are present in humans exposed to mosquito bites, might therefore facilitate virus transmission and enhance disease severity. |
Determining risk factors for preventable pediatric hospital admissionsA preventable hospital admission is defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as one that might have been prevented with timely access to primary care or improvements to social determinants of health. Using this definition, a study by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine was published today in Hospital Pediatrics examining the specific characteristics associated with potentially preventable pediatric admissions to Texas hospitals. | |
 | Sound therapy may balance brain signals to reduce blood pressure, migrainesA noninvasive neurotechnology, which uses sound to balance right- and left-side brain frequencies was associated with lowered blood pressure, improved heart rate variability, and reduced symptoms of migraine headaches, according to two small studies presented at the American Heart Association's Council on Hypertension 2016 Scientific Sessions. |
 | Online anxiety therapy helps patients and researchersThe University of Virginia is offering a new, free online tool to help people ease their anxiety from the comfort of their own homes, while at the same time helping researchers continue to refine the program for optimal results. |
 | Genetically-modified probiotic may one day treat pulmonary hypertensionAn oral, genetically-modified strain of the probiotic Lactobacillus was used to treat rats with high blood pressure in the lungs, which resulted in reduced blood pressure, improved heart contractility, and reduced heart wall thickness, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association's Council on Hypertension 2016 Scientific Sessions. |
Thailand to crack down on Zika breeding spotsAuthorities in Thailand seeking to curb the growing number of Zika cases say they will criminally charge homeowners who fail to remove mosquito breeding grounds on their property. | |
Up to 16 million Americans have uncorrected vision impairmentDespite the importance of eyesight, millions of people grapple with undiagnosed or untreated vision impairments—ranging from mild conditions to total blindness—and eye and vision health remain relatively absent from national health priority lists, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report calls for transforming vision impairments from common to rare and eliminating correctable and avoidable vision impairments in the U.S. by 2030. | |
 | Laughter-based exercise program for older adults has health benefits, researchers findIncorporating laughter into a physical activity program that is focused on strength, balance and flexibility could improve older adults' mental health, aerobic endurance and confidence in their ability to exercise, according to a study led by Georgia State University. |
 | The memory of a heart attack is stored in our genesBoth heredity and environmental factors influence our risk of cardiovascular disease. A new study, by researches at Uppsala University, shows now that the memory of a heart attack can be stored in our genes through epigenetic changes. The results have been published in the journal Human Molecular Genetics. |
Healthy fat stem cells can protect against obesity-associated type 2 diabetesObesity is responsible for the deaths of over three million people a year worldwide due to its associated diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. | |
Retinoic acid may significantly prevent lymphedema developmentA study conducted at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) showed that 9-cis retinoic acid (alitretinoin) could significantly prevent postsurgical lymphedema. Furthermore, the experiments were conducted with updated, easily reproducible mouse models that more accurately simulated lymphedema development in humans. The National Institutes of Health-funded study was published in the Annals of Surgery. | |
 | Researchers map links between salmonella and sepsisResearch by industrial engineering and biology researchers at Kansas State University marks a significant milestone in the battle against sepsis, the second highest cause of death in intensive care units in the U.S. |
 | Discussion with a nurse can persuade hospital patients to quit smokingA short talk with a knowledgeable nurse could be the difference between a smoker stopping for cigarettes or stopping for nicotine gum on her way home from the hospital. |
Experts show diagnostic impact from shortage of radioactive stress test tracerNearly 15 million times a year, Americans with heart trouble climb onto a treadmill to take a stress test that can reveal blockages in their heart's blood vessels. It's a major factor in deciding what doctors should do next for them. | |
 | Serendipitous discovery points to possible treatment for C. difficile epidemicScientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have discovered a potential new weapon against Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that causes hundreds of thousands of severe intestinal infections in the U.S. every year and is frequently fatal. |
Study uncovers new molecular signaling mechanism for correcting childhood visual disordersNeuroscientists at University of California, Irvine have discovered a molecular signaling mechanism that translates visual impairments into functional changes in brain circuit connections. The discovery may help to develop novel therapeutic drugs to treat the childhood visual disorder amblyopia and other neurodevelopment disorders. Xiangmin Xu, Todd Holmes and Sunil Gandhi conducted the study, which appears online Sept. 15 in Neuron. | |
Researchers conducting world-first study on fecal transplants for inflammatory bowel disease in childrenHamilton researchers are conducting a ground-breaking new trial looking at fecal transplants to help treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children. | |
 | Are energy drinks safe?Despite reported health concerns, the popularity of energy drinks is steadily climbing. Between 2008 and 2012, for example, energy drink sales jumped by 60% in the United States. By 2017, annual energy drink sales in the U.S. are expected to exceed $21 billion. |
Can diet improve cognitive function or ward off dementia?With the aging of the population, the incidence of dementia is increasing. The most common type of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, accounts for more than 60% of all dementia cases. According to current estimates, nearly 36 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease, with evidence suggesting that more than 115 million people will be affected with Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050, unless there are medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the disease. | |
Brain cancer now leading childhood cancer killerBrain cancer is now the deadliest childhood cancer in the U.S., now ahead of leukemia, a result of improved leukemia treatment and a frustrating lack of progress on brain cancer. | |
Dehydration can lead to serious complicationsDehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated. | |
Autism biobank aims to help researchEver since their two children were diagnosed with autism, San Jose mother Renee Trevino and her husband, Michael, have done whatever it takes to help Isaiah, 7, and Ava, 4, function at higher levels. | |
New rules to help public learn results of medical researchThe Obama administration is publishing new rules that promise to help doctors and patients learn if clinical trials of treatments worked or not. | |
In Zika-stricken Miami, aerial pesticide spray adds to fearsIn the only U.S. city confirmed to have mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus, some residents say they'd rather be bitten than be exposed to droplets of chemicals sprayed from planes to kill the bugs. | |
New study may lead to better understanding, treatment for common autoinflammatory diseaseA team of scientists led by Stony Brook University researchers have discovered a new mechanism for a bacterial toxin to inhibit inflammation. Their research shows that a toxin in Yersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of plague, targets and inhibits the protein pyrin. The inherited autoinflammatory disease Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is caused by mutations that lead to continuous activation of pyrin. | |
Incisionless robotic surgery offers promising outcomes for oropharyngeal cancer patientsA new study from researchers at Henry Ford Hospital finds an incisionless robotic surgery – done alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy or radiation – may offer oropharyngeal cancer patients good outcomes and survival, without significant pain and disfigurement. | |
 | A new roadway danger: Drivers chasing 'Pokemon Go'(HealthDay)—Pokemon Go is becoming a dangerous distraction for drivers who are using their cars to catch the battling critters in real-world locations, researchers report. |
 | For kids playing Pokemon Go, catch these safety tips(HealthDay)—It seems as if every kid in America is caught up in the Pokemon Go craze. But in the quest to "catch 'em all," don't leave common sense and safety behind, the American Academy of Pediatrics urges. |
 | Marriage may help diabetics keep weight off(HealthDay)—Spouses may be good for more than just love and companionship: A new study suggests married people with type 2 diabetes are less likely to be overweight than single people with the blood sugar disease. |
 | Nifedipine not superior to placebo for chronic chilblains(HealthDay)—For patients with chronic chilblains, nifedipine is not superior to placebo, according to a study published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. |
 | Recommending oral probiotics doesn't cut antibiotic use(HealthDay)—Advising patients with asthma to take probiotics does not reduce antibiotic use, according to a study published in the September/October issue of the Annals of Family Medicine. |
 | Early Rx with losartan doesn't slow kidney disease progression(HealthDay)—For American-Indians with type 2 diabetes, early administration of losartan does not slow progression of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline, according to a study published online Sept. 9 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Anticoagulation cuts TEC rate in adults after fontan surgery(HealthDay)—For adults with atrial arrhythmia after Fontan operation, the risk of thrombotic and embolic complications (TEC) is reduced with anticoagulation therapy, according to research published in the Sept. 20 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Study supports minimal residual disease as end point in myeloma(HealthDay)—For patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), minimal residual disease (MRD)-negative status is associated with improved survival, according to a meta-analysis published online Sept. 15 in JAMA Oncology. |
 | Evolocumab safe, effective for those with dysglycemia, MetS(HealthDay)—For patients with or without dysglycemia or metabolic syndrome (MetS), evolocumab is safe and efficacious for reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol at 52 weeks, according to research published online Sept. 13 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. |
 | Tension-free vaginal tape-obturator has lasting benefit(HealthDay)—The tension-free vaginal tape-obturator procedure is usually still effective at 10 years after the procedure, according to a study published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology. |
 | Testosterone seems safe for hypogonadal prostate CA patients(HealthDay)—For hypogonadal men with prostate cancer, testosterone treatment seems oncologically safe, according to a study published in the October issue of The Journal of Urology. |
Researchers seek better patient adherence recommendations for diabetic retinopathyThe prevalence of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in the United States is 9.3 percent and expected to increase, along with complications associated with diabetes that include diabetic retinopathy, the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults ages 20 to 74 in the United States. | |
Language barriers impede treatment of children with special health care needsLanguage barriers can have dangerous consequences for children with special health care needs, according to a paper by authors including pediatric specialists at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). | |
 | Specialized test detects bacterial infections in youngest infants with feverPhysicians from Children's Hospital of Michigan, Wayne State University, UC Davis Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital, in collaboration with 19 other pediatric emergency departments around the country, have established a "proof of principle" for measuring patterns of ribonucleic acid (RNA) expression in the bloodstream that can enable clinicians to distinguish bacterial infections from other causes of fever in infants up to two months old. |
High-calcium, low-lactose diet may reduce risk of ovarian cancer in African-American womenResearch from Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and and other U.S. health and academic institutions shows a diet high in calcium and low in lactose may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer in African-American women. The work, which appears in the latest edition of the British Journal of Cancer, also found sun exposure in the summer months may reduce the risk of developing the disease in this population. | |
Balloon device approved for Eustachian tube problems(HealthDay)—A small device inflated inside the tube that helps regulate pressure inside the ear has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. | |
 | Severe obesity and heart failure(HealthDay)—Severe obesity appears to be an independent risk factor for heart failure, a new study suggests. |
 | Kids with bipolar disorder more likely to abuse drugs, alcohol: study(HealthDay)—For some teens with bipolar disorder, the risk that they will abuse alcohol and drugs may increase as they get older, a new study suggests. |
 | Nanoparticle drug cocktail could help treat lethal cancersCancer treatments that mobilize the body's immune system to fight the disease have generated a lot of excitement in the past few years. One form of immunotherapy called checkpoint blockade is especially promising. But while checkpoint blockade has had some striking successes, the therapy has almost no effect on some of the most lethal kinds of tumors. |
Washington state to increase testing pot for pesticidesMore than two years after Washington state launched legal marijuana sales, it's planning to test pot for banned pesticides more regularly. | |
Link discovered between preterm birth and risk of heart diseaseAbnormalities in a type of cell involved in blood vessel development and healing may explain why adults who were born prematurely are at increased risk of high blood pressure and other heart alterations, according to new research presented at the American Heart Association's Council on Hypertension 2016 Scientific Sessions. | |
Money for bone-marrow donors? Company says yes; feds say noDoug Grant says his new company, Hemeos, can save lives. But a proposed change in federal regulations could make his business a criminal enterprise. | |
Cryostorage and thawing temperatures critical to survival of bioengineered liver tissueA new study determined the optimal temperatures for cryostorage and thawing of bioengineered liver tissue to maximize its viability for use in a bioartificial liver device. The availability of on-demand liver samples for tissue engineering applications will require proven methods for cryopreservation of the engineered liver tissue for storage and transport and an effective thawing strategy, as described in an article published in BioResearch Open Access. | |
What you need to know about hand, foot and mouth diseaseA recent outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease among college students in Florida has surprised many people, since it typically affects small children. However, a Baylor College of Medicine expert says anyone – even adults – can get the disease and that it's most common at this time of year. | |
Montreal meet seeks billions to boost AIDS, malaria, TB fightsAn international donors conference kicked off in Montreal Friday with a goal of raising another US$13 billion for the fight to eradicate AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria—by 2030. | |
Unequal access and low quality of maternal health care hampering progress towards SDGsProgress has been patchy and authors warn against poor quality care with rising rates of over-medicalisation, too few trained staff or basic resources in many regions. | |
Biology news
 | How rattlesnakes got, and lost, their venomMillions of years ago, as the snake family tree grew new branches, the ancestor of modern rattlesnakes was endowed with a genetic arsenal of toxic weaponry, including genes for toxins that poison the blood, toxins that damage muscle and toxins that affect the nervous system, a research team headed by Sean B. Carroll at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has learned. |
 | For ants, 'elite' individuals are not always so effectiveWe all know that social insects, such as ants, often work together to achieve effective responses to environmental challenges. |
 | Mystery of colourful giant plants of the subantarctic solvedThe mystery of why so many plants on New Zealand's otherwise bleak subantarctic islands have very large deeply coloured flowers and giant leaves has been solved by new University of Otago research. |
 | Russian geneticist repeats dog domestication with foxes in just fifty years(Phys.org)—A Russian geneticist, the BBC is reporting, replicated the process that led to the domestication of the dog, with foxes, over the course of just fifty years. Curious about the means by which dogs became domesticated, Dmitry Belyaev began a breeding program in the late 1950's aimed at replicating the process using foxes. |
 | Hidden green skillsWhat have plant scientists learned in the laboratory in the past three to five years that could be used to reduce inputs of water, chemical fertilizers and herbicides to agricultural fields? |
 | Simulation posits why legendary leapers have different 'spring' stiffnessA new research paper tells a story of the grasshopper and the bullfrog, but it's no children's tale. Instead, it describes biomechanical simulations that help to explain why the two jumping animals have very different stiffnesses in the springs—tendons in the frogs and tendon counterparts called apodemes in the grasshoppers—that store energy for their leaps. The difference, the science suggests, is the time they typically take before they take off. |
 | Largest-ever study reveals environmental impact of genetically modified cropsAccording to new research from University of Virginia economist Federico Ciliberto, widespread adoption of genetically modified crops has decreased the use of insecticides, but increased the use of weed-killing herbicides as weeds become more resistant. |
 | High number of pesticides within colonies linked to honey bee deathsHoney bee colonies in the United States have been dying at high rates for over a decade, and agricultural pesticides—including fungicides, herbicides and insecticides—are often implicated as major culprits. Until now, most scientific studies have looked at pesticides one at a time, rather than investigating the effects of multiple real-world pesticide exposures within a colony. |
 | Why are there so many species of bugs, but so few species of human?Looking around at the natural world, have you ever wondered why some groups of organisms contain huge numbers of species while others are seemingly barren? |
 | Researcher behind seagrass biodiversity analysis cites key role in food chainA new analysis of a key contributor to the marine food web has turned up a surprising twist: more unique species in cooler waters than in the tropics, a reversal of the situation on land. |
 | Bringing people together as scientists to save a zebra speciesFor 30 long minutes, the two safari buses trundled across the dry bushland of northern Kenya. Rocks and a haze of red dust kicked up from the rough and pitted road. The sun seared through the cloudless sky and thin air of the high escarpment, illuminating the leaves and long blanched thorns of the acacia trees. |
 | Lifting ivory ban won't solve elephant poaching problemNew research from the Universities of Aberdeen and Stirling suggests that lifting the ivory trade ban will not protect elephants from poachers. |
 | New software helps to find out why 'jumping genes' are activatedThe genome is not a fixed code but flexible. It allows changes in the genes. Transposons, however, so-called jumping genes, interpret this flexibility in a much freer way than "normal" genes. They reproduce in the genome and chose their position themselves. Transposons can also jump into a gene and render it inoperative. Thus, they are an important distinguishing mark for the development of different organisms. |
 | Vietnam investigating new fish deathsVietnam is investigating new mass fish deaths along its central coast, an official said Friday, months after a major steel plant was blamed for a toxic leak that wiped out tonnes of marine life in the fishing hub. |
 | Light causes drosophila to take longer midday napFruit flies' activity peaks in the morning and late afternoon. The insects extend their midday siesta on long summer days. Researchers from the University of Würzburg have now discovered what triggers this behaviour. A miniature pair of eyelets also discovered in Würzburg in the late 1980s plays a crucial role in this context. |
 | NIST releases new 'family' of standardized genomesWith the addition of four new reference materials (RMs) to a growing collection of "measuring sticks" for gene sequencing, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) can now provide laboratories with even more capability to accurately "map" DNA for genetic testing, medical diagnoses and future customized drug therapies. The new tools feature sequenced genes from individuals in two genetically diverse groups, Asians and Ashkenazic Jews; a father-mother-child trio set from Ashkenazic Jews; and four microbes commonly used in research. |
 | Protest targets rail line over Kenya's oldest wildlife parkAngry protesters marched in Kenya's capital on Friday against plans to build an elevated railway line over the country's oldest national park, saying the project will threaten wildlife that includes lions, leopards and giraffes. |
 | Angering activists, Norway says to kill wolvesNorway was accused of authorising the "mass slaughter" of its endangered wolf population on Friday after announcing that 47 of the predators would be killed by hunters. |
Illinois, China study nutritional value of wheat bran for pigsResearch conducted by the University of Illinois is helping determine the nutritional value of wheat bran in diets fed to pigs. | |
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