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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 30, 2016:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Curiosity finds evidence of Mars crust contributing to atmosphereNASA's Curiosity rover has found evidence that chemistry in the surface material on Mars contributed dynamically to the makeup of its atmosphere over time. It's another clue that the history of the Red Planet's atmosphere is more complex and interesting than a simple legacy of loss. |
 | Mission complete—Rosetta's journey ends in daring descent to cometESA's historic Rosetta mission has concluded as planned, with the controlled impact onto the comet it had been investigating for more than two years. |
 | Final descent image from Rosetta spacecraftA new image of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko was taken by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta spacecraft shortly before its controlled impact into the comet's surface on Sept. 30, 2016. Confirmation of the end of the mission arrived at ESA's European Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany, at 4:19 a.m. PDT (7:19 a.m. EDT / 1:19 p.m. CEST) with the loss of signal upon impact. |
 | SpaceX's Elon Musk turns to science fiction for Mars shipIf SpaceX founder Elon Musk's plan to establish a city on Mars sounds like science fiction, then consider the name of his first passenger ship. |
 | Rosetta spacecraft headed for comet suicide crashEurope's pioneering spacecraft Rosetta headed for a suicide crash Friday with the comet it has stalked for two years, nearing the end of an audacious quest to unravel the Solar System's mysteries. |
 | Europe's comet chaser gets final commands to end its missionEurope's comet-chasing space probe Rosetta has received its last commands putting it on course to crash-land on the icy surface of the alien world it's been following for more than a decade. |
 | A timeline of comet probe's 12-year space odysseyThe European Space Agency's comet-chasing probe Rosetta is performing a final maneuver Friday that will end its 12-year mission with a crash-landing on the surface of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. |
 | Image: Testing the James Webb Space Telescope PathfinderIn this photograph taken on Sept. 1, 2016, the James Webb Space Telescope Pathfinder structure has been configured for the Thermal Pathfinder Test at NASA Johnson Space Center's giant thermal vacuum chamber, called Chamber A. The Pathfinder is a test version of the structure that supports the telescope. This is where end-to-end testing of the actual telescope will occur in 2017. |
 | Europe's comet probe Rosetta ends 12-year mission with crashAfter 12 years of hurtling through space in pursuit of a comet, the Rosetta probe ended its mission Friday with a slow-motion crash onto the icy surface of the alien world it was sent out to study. |
 | By the numbers: 12 years chasing a cometIt's been 4,595 days since the Rosetta space probe was lifted into orbit on the first stage of its 12-year mission to chase down comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. |
 | Europe's comet chaser Rosetta concludes 12-year-missionThe European Space Agency says it has lost contact with its Rosetta probe after it hit the surface of a comet, marking the planned end of a 12-year mission. |
Technology news
 | Who's afraid of the big bad typhoon? Engineer works on typhoon turbine(Tech Xplore)—Talk about making lemons into lemonade. Translate into talk about turning nature's cruel storms into alternative sources of green energy. We are looking at a turbine that loves typhoons. In typhoon winds, the amount of energy that it can generate and store is enormous. Matthew Humphries, senior editor, Geek.com, was one of a number of tech watchers reporting on the turbine this week. |
 | Rubidium pushes perovskite solar cells to 21.6 percent efficiencyEPFL scientists have stabilized perovskite solar cells by integrating rubidium into them. The innovation pushes power-conversion efficiency to 21.6%, ushering a new generation of perovskite solar cells. |
 | Using Big Data to monitor societal events shows promise, but the coding tech needs workIn the age of Big Data, automated systems can track societal events on a global scale. These systems code and collect vast stores of real-time "event data"—happenings gleaned from news articles covering everything from political protests to ecological shifts around the world. |
 | China investing heavily in two types of solar power(Tech Xplore)—China has made it known to the world that it plans to move from coal-fired powered plants to those based on renewable resources as quickly as possible—the smog from coal plants and the huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions the country produces have generated bad press for the country over the past several years. Now, there is new evidence that the country's leaders plan to make good on those pledges. |
 | Google asks for airspace access for internet balloonsGoogle, which is hoping to beam the internet to remote areas of the world via balloon, went before the UN's aviation agency to ask member states to let it ply their airspace. |
 | Beijing's latest answer to pollution: the Smog Free TowerIn a city where smog routinely blankets the streets, a Dutch artist has offered an eccentric solution: a 7-meter (23-foot) metal structure that takes in smog and expels cleaner air. |
Amy Schumer most dangerous celebrity onlineAmy Schumer is the most dangerous celebrity on the internet - and not just because of her no-holds-barred personality. | |
 | Panasonic develops bendable, twistable, flexible lithium-ion batteryPanasonic Corporation announced today that it has developed a Flexible Lithium-ion Battery with a thickness of only 0.55mm, or about 0.022 inches. Suitable for use in card-type and wearable devices, this rechargeable battery can retain its characteristics even after repeatedly bent into a radius of 25mm or twisted to an angle of 25 degrees. |
 | From Ferraris to SUVs: Five cars that shone at the Paris showAn obscenely powerful hybrid sports car, a family-friendly SUV with enough space for seven adults, and an electric vehicle that promises to keep going for over 300 miles (500 kilometers) on a single charge—those are some of the notable vehicles shining on the display stands under bright overhead lights at the Paris auto show. |
 | Malls, stores consider new ways to protect shoppersMore sophisticated cameras. Security robots. Customers feeling shaken by recent attacks at U.S. malls may not notice huge changes—but mall operators are testing and putting in place new technologies and other measures to offer people more protection without intruding too much on their shopping time. |
American hopes IT switch doesn't snag flights this weekendAmerican Airlines will make a big technology change this weekend involving planes and pilots, but passengers won't notice a thing if all goes well. | |
 | For phone time, what's normal?It's come to this. Almost every night, the same fight about my significant other's persistent smartphone use. |
 | Review: TiVo's latest model makes it easier to bolt from cableThe first thing you'll notice about the TiVo Bolt is its odd shape - it looks like someone bent the case in an industrial press. |
Why restaurants want you to order food on your phoneSwipe, click, food. The ability to order food with the click of a few buttons on a smartphone is becoming widespread - even fast-food companies are getting in on the action. But the technology - which in some cases tracks a customer's location and times food preparation accordingly - can vary widely. And restaurants admit that some customers are still wary about the freshness of their food when ordering ahead. | |
 | Encryption method takes authentication to a new levelVTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed new kinds of encryption methods for improving the privacy protection of consumers to enable safer, more reliable and easier-to-use user authentication than current systems allow. |
 | Technique for secure processing of patient dataThanks to a technique developed by Radboud University large-scale research involving patient data can be done without threat to either the security of the information or the privacy of the patients. This technique will be used for a new, large-scale study of Parkinson's disease. |
 | Directional water transport tester for fabricsThis Directional Water Transport Tester(DWTT) is a sensitive, accurate and reliable instrument for fabrics' water absorption and transport measurements developed by researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. DWTT's measurements are based on gravimetric and image analysis of water absorbed by a fabric. Then it can trace the direction of water spread and measure the amount of water transported on the skin. The DWTT can release water continuously and controllably to simulate different sweating levels. The DWTT measurement is fast and cost-effective. With this instrument, textile industry can characterize fabrics efficiently. It helps product developers to select suitable fabrics for different garments. |
 | What are all these Russian hackers up to?Russia has been implicated in many breaches of U.S. networks in recent months, most notably the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee hacks, whose data were subsequently dumped to the whistleblowing site WikiLeaks. On Sept. 28, FBI Director James Comey told a congressional hearing that Russian hackers have been testing cyberdefenses of voter registration databases in more than a dozen states. |
Ex-AT&T worker accused of selling customers' phone recordsA former AT&T retail sales worker is accused of obtaining customers' cellphone records and selling them to a private investigator—the second such case in Alabama in recent days, federal prosecutors said. | |
US official: Hackers targeted election systems of 20 statesA Homeland Security Department official says hackers have targeted the voter registration systems of more than 20 states in recent months. | |
How this karaoke company survived the digital darlings and made lots of moneyFor a while, it looked like the beat wouldn't go on for the Singing Machine Co. The largest manufacturer of home karaoke machines in North America, founded in 1982, was being crowded out of retail store shelves by newer, cooler products such as portable DVD machines, MP3 players, digital picture frames and GPS tracking devices. | |
Opinion: Tech industry should lead Snowden pardon chargeThere's a debate raging right now over whether President Barack Obama, before he leaves office, should grant Edward Snowden a pardon. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Scientists identify neurons devoted to social memoryMice have brain cells that are dedicated to storing memories of other mice, according to a new study from MIT neuroscientists. These cells, found in a region of the hippocampus known as the ventral CA1, store "social memories" that help shape the mice's behavior toward each other. |
 | With worrisome animal research, more focus needed on effects of cannabis on human developmentIn this new era of legalized marijuana, far too little research has been conducted on the effect of cannabis on the development of human embryos, say researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center who scoured medical literature on the topic and found what they say is worrisome animal research. |
 | Caffeine-based compounds show promise against Parkinson's diseaseA team of researchers from the University of Saskatchewan has developed two caffeine-based chemical compounds that show promise in preventing the ravages of Parkinson's disease. |
 | Scientists find lethal vulnerability in treatment-resistant lung cancerResearchers working in four labs at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found a chink in a so-called "undruggable" lung cancer's armor – and located an existing drug that might provide a treatment. |
 | Study finds link between fecal bacteria and body fatResearchers at King's College London have found a new link between the diversity of bacteria in human poo – known as the human fecal microbiome - and levels of abdominal body fat. |
 | Having a happy spouse could be good for your healthHaving a happy spouse may be related to better health, at least among middle-aged and older adults, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association. |
 | Scientists uncover how a fluctuating brain network may make us better thinkersFor the past 100 years, scientists have understood that different areas of the brain serve unique purposes. Only recently have they realized that the organization isn't static. Rather than having strictly defined routes of communication between different areas, the level of coordination between different parts of the brain seems to ebb and flow. |
 | Programmable T cells chase down cancer, deliver drugs directly to tumorsUC San Francisco scientists have engineered human immune cells that can precisely locate diseased cells anywhere in the body and execute a wide range of customizable responses, including the delivery of drugs or other therapeutic payloads directly to tumors or other unhealthy tissues. In experiments with mice, these immune cells, called synNotch T cells, efficiently homed in on tumors and released a specialized antibody therapy, eradicating the cancer without attacking normal cells. |
 | Noncoding mutations disrupt cooperative function of 'gene families' in rare genetic disorderScientists at Johns Hopkins say they are one step closer to understanding the genetic mechanism of a rare, complex, multiple-gene disorder called Hirschsprung's disease. The results of their latest study suggest that many patients develop the disease when multiple mutations in gene regulatory sequences of a specific gene combine to destroy the normal cooperative function of a whole network of genes. |
 | Fat cells that amplify nerve signals in response to cold also affect blood sugar metabolismWhen exposed to cold, clusters of cells within the body's white fat become beige – a color change that reflects the creation of more energy-producing mitochondria, cellular components that enable cells to burn calories and give off heat. But since white fat cells have very few nerves, how do beige fat cells get the message that it's cold outside? |
 | Abnormal brain protein may contribute to Alzheimer's disease developmentA recently-recognized pathologic protein in the brain may play a larger role in the development of clinical Alzheimer's disease dementia than previously recognized, according to a study by researchers at Rush University Medical Center. The findings of the study of nearly 1,000 older adults were published in the Sept. 30 issue of the journal, Brain. |
 | As the thermostat goes up, COPD symptoms may worsenHigh indoor temperatures appear to worsen symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, particularly in homes that also have high levels of air pollutants, according to new research published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. |
 | Where you are born can predict how long you liveThere's a growing understanding of what's causing big differences in people's health—and it's far more than having access to a doctor. The Virginia Commonwealth University Center on Society and Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently concluded a 21-part series with the release a life expectancy map of the Washington, D.C. region showing an eight-year gap between just a few stops along Metro's Blue and Orange Lines. |
 | Throwing light on the brain's perception of transparencyResearchers have created a new optical illusion that helps reveal how our brains determine the material properties of objects – such as whether they are transparent, shiny, matte or translucent – just from looking at them. |
 | The curious origin of the double-conk theory for curing amnesiaYou're probably familiar with the TV or movie plot device where a character is conked on the head, loses memory or identity and then gets conked again and memory is restored. Classic examples are in the 1951 Tom and Jerry Cartoon Nit-Witty Kitty and the movie "Clean Slate." |
Severe burns, injuries from e-cigarette explosions go under-reported across the countryIn the first six months of 2016, doctors at the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals treated 10 inpatients with severe burns and facial fractures from e-cigarette explosions. Almost all of them required surgery, and one patient lost his eye when an e-cigarette exploded while he puffed on it. | |
Healthy lifestyle in old age shortens end-of-life disabilityLeading a healthy lifestyle not only extends one's lifespan, but it also shortens the time that is spent disabled—a finding that had previously eluded public health scientists and demonstrates the value of investing in healthy lifestyle promotion, even among the elderly. | |
 | 20-year study seeks to understand how we age and why we age differentlyIs 80 the new 60? It will be if Parminder Raina has his way. |
 | One-third of emergency patients need help with drug and alcohol problemsMore than a third of people presenting to NSW hospital emergency departments have an underlying drug and alcohol problem requiring intervention, a study led by researchers at UNSW's National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) has found. |
 | What parts of the brain make our personalities so unique?The brain is key to our existence, but there's a long way to go before neuroscience can truly capture its staggering capacity. For now though, our Brain Control series explores what we do know about the brain's command of six central functions: language, mood, memory, vision, motor skills and personality – and what happens when things go wrong. |
Drug to treat alcohol use disorder shows promise among drinkers with high stressA new medication that targets part of the brain's stress system may help reduce alcohol use in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD), according to a new study by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), part of the National Institutes of Health. | |
 | Putting the balance back into aging livesIncreased frailty in the elderly means a higher risk of falls, fractures, lack of independence and an overall decreased quality of life. Now a new study from Massey University's School of Sport and Exercise has highlighted the benefits of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) therapy for the frail elderly. |
 | Universal flu vaccine designed by scientistsAn international team of scientists have designed a new generation of universal flu vaccines to protect against future global pandemics that could kill millions. |
Why aren't some dogs walked regularly?A new study from the University of Liverpool in collaboration with The University of Western Australia has examined why some people feel motivated to walk their dogs regularly and others don't. | |
Adaptation to food deprivation as a clue for treating metabolic diseasesWhen people are deprived of food, a number of biological mechanisms are set in motion to adapt the body's metabolism to the conditions of scarcity. One of these processes has been revealed by a team of Belgian researchers, led by professor Karolien De Bosscher (VIB-Ghent University). The scientists discovered how three important proteins collaborate on a genetic level to provide a response to long-term fasting. The insights are published in the leading scientific journal Nucleic Acids Research, and could ultimately be put to use in clinical environments to treat metabolic diseases more efficiently. | |
Many doctors not using site for keeping painkillers in checkOhio doctors are supposed check patients' prescription histories against a state website before recommending prescription painkillers, but an audit has found that some 12,000 physicians appear to be violating the policy aimed at stemming the opioid epidemic. | |
 | 'Mindfulness'-based approach could help you stay slim(HealthDay)—A weight-loss therapy that focuses on personal values and "mindful" decision-making may help people shed more pounds, a new clinical trial suggests. |
 | More health care workers need flu shots: CDC(HealthDay)—More U.S. health care workers need to get their annual flu shots, a new government report shows. |
 | Encouraging surgical ICU patients to get moving pays off(HealthDay)—Getting out of bed and moving around as soon as possible benefits surgical intensive care unit patients, a new study shows. |
 | A doctor's words key to whether child gets HPV vaccine(HealthDay)—The language doctors use when recommending the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine can influence whether parents will have their children immunized, a new study finds. |
One size should not fit all when it comes to our out-of-pocket health care costs, experts sayIf you've tried to see a doctor, fill a prescription or get a diagnostic test lately, you've probably had to pay more out of your own pocket than you would have even a few years ago. Most insurance plans have increased their co-pays and deductibles, to keep monthly premiums from rising even faster. | |
 | Big data brings big gains in surgical qualityOnce upon a time, Dr. Darrell Campbell would get Christmas cards from the patients whose lives he'd saved by transplanting a new kidney, liver or pancreas into them. He'd get hugs and high fives when they came in for appointments. |
 | Officials: Zika caused only mild illness in US kidsA first look at U.S. teens and young children who were infected with Zika suggests the virus typically causes at worst only a mild illness. |
US extends 6-month warning to men over Zika riskUS health authorities on Friday extended to six months a warning to men about the risky time period for sexually spreading Zika virus, which often carries no symptoms but can cause devastating birth defects. | |
 | CDC: pregnant women should avoid Southeast Asia due to Zika(HealthDay)—Zika continues to extend its reach around the globe, with U.S. health officials now urging women to delay travel to 11 countries in Southeast Asia where the virus is circulating. |
 | It may be time to punt on your favorite football fare(HealthDay)—Fried foods and free-flowing beer may be the norm at many football or tailgate parties, but the American Heart Association (AHA) says there are many healthier options. |
 | Smoking bans may keep young men from heavy smoking(HealthDay)—Smoking bans may help reduce smoking among young American men, a new study finds. |
 | Meditation recommended for helping attendees 'attend'(HealthDay)—Meditation can allow attending physicians to be "in attendance" in order to heal and maintain personal well-being, according to the American Medical Association. |
 | AbobotulinumtoxinA effective for face-lifting(HealthDay)—AbobotulinumtoxinA (ABO) is efficacious for face-lifting, with better response for patients with oval-face shape and those aged younger than 32 years, according to a study published online Sept. 19 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. |
 | Shorter duration of feeding tube placement with IMRT(HealthDay)—For patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), the duration of feeding tube placement is shorter for those who receive definitive intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) compared with those who receive three-dimensional radiation therapy (3DRT), according to a study published online Sept. 23 in Cancer. |
 | Lung cancer decision aids are helpful for patients(HealthDay)—Outpatients find lung cancer screening decision aids helpful, according to a study published online Sept. 21 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. |
 | Upper functional GI disorders often overlap with IBS(HealthDay)—Factors associated with the overlap of upper functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have been identified, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | Retrieved lymph node number affects prognosis in gastric CA(HealthDay)—In patients with pathological stage (pStage) II or III gastric cancer, the number of retrieved lymph nodes (RLNs) is an independent poor prognostic factor, according to a study published in the September issue of the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | Rapid, successful response to ART for many patients with HIV(HealthDay)—Many HIV-infected patients have rapid and successful immune and virological response to antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to a study published online Sept. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. |
 | One in five with non-valvular A-fib receiving digoxin(HealthDay)—About one in five patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) receives digoxin, with the indication for use considered inappropriate in nearly 60 percent, according to a study published online Sept. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics. |
Self-adhesive dressing generates electrical current that promotes healing, reduces infection riskGood news for the millions of people who suffer from skin wounds that won't heal. A team of researchers at The Ohio State University has brought a potentially transformative solution to the problem by creating a portable adhesive patch that drives a continuous, small electrical current to stimulate healing and reduce the risk of infection. | |
You'll feel the pinch this year: Get the flu shotThis year, everyone will have to roll up their sleeves and receive the flu shot via injection, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommends the nasal flu mist vaccine due to ineffectiveness. | |
 | City skyline blinks in nightly ritual to cheer up sick kidsFor one sparkling minute each night, skyscrapers, tugboats, hotels, a yacht club and police cruisers send a blinking goodnight message to sick kids inside a children's hospital. |
First Thai babies diagnosed with Zika-linked microcephaly (Update)Thai health authorities on Friday said microcephaly in two babies was caused by the Zika virus, in what is believed to be Southeast Asia's first confirmed cases linking the sickness and the birth defect. | |
Kidney damage associated with imaging agent may be over-estimatedA new analysis indicates that radiocontrast, which is commonly used during selected imaging tests may be less hazardous than previously thought. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), suggest that imaging studies that might help save or improve lives are being unnecessarily withheld from patients owing to exaggerated fears. | |
 | Colorado gives marijuana candy a new look to avoid confusionWondering if that brownie contains pot? Colorado has you covered. |
 | Opinion: Why I hate the term '3-parent baby'A healthy baby boy has been born following mitochondrial manipulation technology (MMT). It was bound to happen, and might offer an alternative for some women who carry a mitochondrial disease. |
Recorded deaths from dementia more than double in 13 yearsNew figures released today show the proportion of people dying with a diagnosis of dementia more than doubled in 13 years. According to reports published by Public Health England, 15.8% of all deaths recorded in 2014 had a mention of dementia, up from 6.6% in 2001. In 2014 there were a total of 73,189 deaths with a recorded mention of the condition. | |
 | Queen Latifah puts heart failure center stage(HealthDay)—When her mother was diagnosed with heart failure, the award-winning singer and actress Queen Latifah was shocked. |
Researchers conduct study with innovative tools to help early identification and treatment of lymphedemaEach year, about 1.38 million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer. Advances in diagnosis and treatment have facilitated a 90 percent, five-year survival rate, among those treated. Given the increased rate and length of survival following breast cancer, more and more survivors are facing a life-time risk of developing breast cancer-related lymphedema; one of the most distressing and feared late onset effects. | |
Biology news
 | Reading the rules of gene regulation with CRISPRWe have barely begun to crack open the rulebook for the vast noncoding regions of the genome. Two new methods, building on CRISPR advances, may help reveal some of the pages. |
 | Tropics found to harbor higher degree of intraspecific diversity than other parts of the world(Phys.org)—A team of researchers with the University of Copenhagen's Natural History Museum of Denmark has found that the degree of intraspecific diversity is higher in the tropics than in other parts of the world. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes how they used information from public databases to gather information about diversity around the world and how they used it to map global diversity patterns. Henrique Pereira with the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research offers a broader view on the work done by the team in a Perspectives piece in the same journal issue. |
 | Hearing the same sound twice in each ear helps insects locate their mates, new research revealsAn incredibly advanced hearing system which enables a group of insects to listen to the same sound twice with each ear, helping them to locate the sound's origin with pinpoint accuracy, has been discovered by scientists at the University of Lincoln, UK. |
 | Giant thai insect reveals clues to human heart diseaseWhat can a Thai water bug teach us about our muscles, especially the heart? A lot, says Professor of Biological Science Kenneth Taylor. New research by Taylor published today in Science Advances gives scientists better insight into how the heart muscle works and how sometimes it fails. |
 | Nairobi's famed National Park threatened by railwayMunching, the giraffe looks up towards the skyscrapers looming in the distance. |
 | Saving two endangered adult Bonelli's eagles per year could prevent species lossDying from electrocution at power lines is the most common death for Bonelli's eagles (Aquila fasciata), a threatened species in Europe. This is the case of a baby bird that died at Montserrat Mountain (Barcelona, Spain) in 2014 in a place with a high density of power lines. Another ringed eagle was electrocuted in Vallès mountains in 2015 at the bottom of an electric tower in Empordà (Girona, Spain). |
 | Mating season key as endangered turtles recover from mystery virusFor the Bellingen River Snapping Turtle, the mating season has never been so important. After a mystery virus wiped out the local population in record numbers last year, researchers from Western Sydney University were forced to relocate healthy turtles to Sydney in a bid to preserve the remnants of the species. This small population, currently at Taronga Zoo, is now the last hope for the species, and conservationists are crossing their fingers as they wait in hope for the females to start laying eggs. |
 | The first genome of a coral reef fishSequencing the genome of an organism allows scientists to investigate its unique genetic make-up, its evolutionary links to other creatures, and how it has adapted to its environment. Researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia, have sequenced the first reef fish genome, the blacktail butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus), an iconic Red Sea species considered to be an 'indicator' species for coral health. |
 | How to be a male without the Y chromosomeHokkaido University researchers have revealed that key sex-determining genes continue to operate in a mammalian species that lacks the Y chromosome, taking us a step further toward understanding sex differentiation. |
 | Ethics review identifies top two challenges for genome editingPreventing the transmission of inherited genetic diseases, and increasing food production rates in farmed animals are two potential applications of genome editing technologies that require urgent ethical scrutiny, according to a new report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. |
 | Scientists show cities can serve as a refuge for insect pollinatorsResidents living in towns and cities can play a major role in ensuring insect pollinators survive and thrive around them, a team of international scientists has said. |
 | Feral chickens spread light on evolutionDifferent genes are involved during the adaptation of a domestic animal to life in the wild than when a wild animal becomes domesticated. This is the conclusion of a study led by a researcher at Linköping University in Sweden and published in the journal Nature Communications. The results increase our understanding of what happens as a species evolves. |
 | Coffee farm thriving in the Rio Grande ValleyA South Texas scientist is amazed that coffee plants from all over the world are growing so well in the subtropical conditions of the Rio Grande Valley. |
Getting the collar: Researchers tracking Florida black bearsState researchers are using radio collars to track the movement of 16 female black bears living in or near a state forest in the Florida Panhandle. | |
 | US cities increasingly dealing with messy goose poop problemCanada geese are loud, aggressive and annoying, but worst of all they poop everywhere—a messy problem vexing cities across the country trying to keep their parks clean and safe. |
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