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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 2, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Pulsations detected in a hot, helium-atmosphere white dwarf(Phys.org)—Astronomers have recently discovered non-radial oscillations in a hot, helium-atmosphere white dwarf designated PG 0112+104. The newly detected 11 independent pulsation modes in this white dwarf could be essential for researchers testing the radial differential rotation and internal compositional stratification of highly evolved stellar remnants. The findings were presented in a paper published Dec. 22 on the arXiv pre-print server. |
 | Opportunity celebrates Christmas/New Year on Mars marching to ancient, water-carved gullyOn the brink of 4600 Sols of a profoundly impactful life, NASA's long lived Opportunity rover celebrates the Christmas/New Year's holiday season on Mars marching relentlessly towards an ancient water carved gully along the eroded rim of vast Endeavour crater – the next science target on her incredible journey traversing across never before seen Red Planet terrains. |
 | NASA might build an ice house on MarsAt first glance, a new concept for a NASA habitat on Mars looks like a cross between Mark Watney's inflatable potato farm from "The Martian" and the home of Luke's Uncle Owen on Tatooine from "Star Wars." |
 | Image: Small satellite deployed from the Space StationA satellite is ejected from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Small Satellite Orbital Deployer on the International Space Station on Dec. 19, 2016. The satellite is actually two small satellites that, once at a safe distance from the station, separated from each other, but were still connected by a 100-meter-long Kevlar tether. NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson helped the JAXA ground team to deploy the satellite, called Space Tethered Autonomous Robotic Satellite (STARS-C). Once deployed, STARS-C will point toward Earth and use a spring system and gravitational forces to separate, pushing one satellite closer to the planet. Besides being a technology demonstration, the investigation will also collect electrons from the plasma environment in space to analyze the creation of an electrical current. |
Technology news
 | Amazon looks at airships as fulfillment idea in patent filing(Tech Xplore)—Amazon has come up with a neat idea. Whether the idea will ever come to pass as a real move is not certain. However, CB Insights noticed a patent filing where Amazon was suggesting the AFC approach to deliver items ordered. AFC, or airborne fulfillment center, goes into its patent filing title. |
Tech show looks beyond 'smart,' to new 'realities'The mega-extravaganza of the tech world in Las Vegas is showcasing an array of new devices that get smarts from computer chips, sensors and artificial intelligence, but go further by opening doors to augmented or virtual realities. | |
 | Surging Bitcoin breaks through $1,000 barrierThe value of Bitcoin surged above $1,000 on Monday as the digital unit continues a dizzying rise that made it the best-performing currency of 2016. |
 | New wood technology may offer hope for struggling timberJohn Redfield watches with pride as his son moves a laser-guided precision saw the size of a semi-truck wheel into place over a massive panel of wood. |
Intel experts share insights on tech trends for 2017 and beyondIntel is inventing foundational technologies for amazing new experiences from merged reality to 5G communications and from autonomous driving to artificial intelligence. As 2016 draws to a close, we asked five Intel leaders, many new to the company, for their thoughts on these tech trends that will shape the future of Intel and our industry. Here are some of their insights: | |
 | Foxconn to invest $8 bn in China LCD plantTaiwan tech-giant Foxconn plans to build an $8.8-billion factory in China, state media said Saturday, amid reports its billionaire boss is cooling off on future US investments. |
French workers win 'right to disconnect'French companies will be required to guarantee a "right to disconnect" to their employees from Sunday as the country seeks to tackle the modern-day scourge of compulsive out-of-hours email checking. | |
Finding trust and understanding in autonomous technologiesIn 2016, self-driving cars went mainstream. Uber's autonomous vehicles became ubiquitous in neighborhoods where I live in Pittsburgh, and briefly in San Francisco. The U.S. Department of Transportation issued new regulatory guidance for them. Countless papers and columns discussed how self-driving cars should solve ethical quandaries when things go wrong. And, unfortunately, 2016 also saw the first fatality involving an autonomous vehicle. | |
US gives detailed look at Russia's alleged election hackingThe U.S. has released its most detailed report yet on accusations that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Child asthma emergency visits drop after indoor smoking bansA new study helps to answer the burning question of whether recently enacted indoor smoking bans in public areas have improved health. The research finds the bans are associated with a 17 percent overall reduction in the number of children visiting emergency departments with asthma complaints. |
 | Mysteries of pregnancy revealed in 3-D imaging by UCSF research teamA team of University of California, San Francisco scientists has turned the mysteries of embryonic development into colorful Disney-like videos, portraying for the first time in detail the precarious journey of the earliest days of life. |
 | For the first time, researchers identify key proteins that may make Zika so deadlyUntil it burst onto the scene earlier this year, Zika was an obscure, little-known virus. As a result, scientists know little about how it works. Over the past year, they have learned that it can cause a range of dangerous health problems, including birth defects such as microcephaly and neurological problems such as Guillain-Barré syndrome. But they don't know which Zika protein or proteins are causing harm, or exactly how these proteins cause damage. |
 | Parental obesity linked to delays in child development, study suggestsChildren of obese parents may be at risk for developmental delays, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health. The investigators found that children of obese mothers were more likely to fail tests of fine motor skill—the ability to control movement of small muscles, such as those in the fingers and hands. Children of obese fathers were more likely to fail measures of social competence, and those born to extremely obese couples also were more likely to fail tests of problem solving ability. |
 | How many women can have baby in your city? SKorea shuts siteSouth Korea's government closed its website that drew fury for showing the number of women in childbearing age by each city district and region. |
Hong Kong reports second human case of bird fluHong Kong on Friday confirmed its second human case of bird flu this season, days after an elderly man died of the virus. | |
Opinion: Heart disease and stroke continue to take a toll on livesReports of sudden, unexpected deaths linked to heart disease and stroke command our daily news headlines, but seemingly even more so in these past few weeks. The untimely loss of so many deeply saddens us. And it's troubling to know that even though we have made massive strides in research toward treatment and cure, needless suffering and death from heart disease and stroke persist. | |
 | Ustekinumab tolerated in severe atopic dermatitis(HealthDay)—Ustekinumab is tolerated for treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in certain patients, according to a research letter published online Dec. 22 in the British Journal of Dermatology. |
 | Female gender predictor of all-cause mortality after PCI(HealthDay)—Female gender is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), according to a study published in the Jan. 15 issue of The American Journal of Cardiology. |
 | Survey shows lower rate of impaired driving in U.S. for 2014(HealthDay)—The prevalence of driving under the influence of alcohol and illicit drugs has been quantified in a report published Dec. 28 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. |
 | Pot may restrict blood flow to brain: study(HealthDay)—Marijuana appears to hamper blood flow to the brain, which theoretically could affect your memory and ability to reason, a new study suggests. |
 | Making New Year's resolutions that last(HealthDay)—Though made with the best of intentions, most New Year's resolutions last about as long as the bubbles in leftover champagne. |
 | Is it a cold or the flu? Here's how to tell(HealthDay)—It's a miserable feeling—you're exhausted, your throat hurts, and you're achy and feverish. But is it a cold or the flu? |
| Obesity and sedentary behavior: Which is chicken, which is egg?If you dread the prospect of hauling your lazy rear end to the gym more often in 2017, new research suggests the extra weight you've been carrying around may be to blame. |
Researchers urge caution around psilocybin useIn a survey of almost 2,000 people who said they had had a past negative experience when taking psilocybin-containing "magic mushrooms," Johns Hopkins researchers say that more than 10 percent believed their worst "bad trip" had put themselves or others in harm's way, and a substantial majority called their most distressing episode one of the top 10 biggest challenges of their lives. Despite the difficulty, however, most of the respondents still reported the experience to be "meaningful" or "worthwhile," with half of these positive responses claiming it as one of the top most valuable experiences in their life. | |
 | Medicare launches revamp for heart attacks, hip fracturesHeart attacks and broken hips cause much suffering and worry as people grow older. This year, Medicare wants to start changing how it pays for treatment of these life-threatening conditions, to promote quality and contain costs. Beneficiaries and family members may notice a new approach. |
 | Babies exposed to stimulation get brain boostMany new parents still think that babies should develop at their own pace, and that they shouldn't be challenged to do things that they're not yet ready for. Infants should learn to roll around under their own power, without any "helpful" nudges, and they shouldn't support their weight before they can stand or walk on their own. They mustn't be potty trained before they are ready for it. |
The throwaway scope: A way to ditch superbugs?In response to a series of superbug outbreaks around the country, some doctors and hospitals are trying out disposable scopes to combat the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. | |
American College of Physicians updates recommendations for treatment of type 2 diabetesPhysicians should prescribe metformin to patients with type 2 diabetes when medication is needed to improve high blood sugar, the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends in an evidence-based clinical practice guideline published today in Annals of Internal Medicine. | |
10-month-old revived twice after being exposed to fentanylAuthorities in Massachusetts say a 10-month-old baby had to be revived twice after she was exposed to fentanyl. | |
 | Alcohol abuse increases risk of heart conditions as much as other risk factorsAlcohol abuse increases the risk of atrial fibrillation, heart attack and congestive heart failure as much as other well-established risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and obesity, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Hybridized mosquitos advance malaria researchIn December 2016, the American Journal of Vector Ecology published two articles by Yuri Novikov, a scientist at the TSU Biological Institute devoted to the ecology, distribution and laboratory cultivation of maculipennis complex, a species of malaria mosquito. Hybridization has advanced the study of malaria mosquitoes, allowing more accurate investigation of their physiology and their ability to transfer malaria plasmodium. |
Understanding tears and regulation of lacrimal gland secretionsThe lacrimal gland of the eye secretes a major component of tears, yet surprisingly little is still understood about the signaling pathways that activate lacrimal gland secretions. The most current knowledge of how purinergic receptors affect the function of the lacrimal gland and interact with neurotransmitters is presented in a review article published in the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. | |
Opinion: As Republicans ready to dismantle ACA, insurers likely to boltThere's a joke among insurers that there are two things that health insurance companies hate to do – take risks and pay claims. But, of course, these are the essence of their business! | |
Home remedies: Dealing with dry skinDry skin is often a temporary or seasonal problem - one that you experience only in winter or summer, for example - but the problem may remain a lifelong concern. Although your skin is often driest on your hands, arms, lower legs and sides of your abdomen, the locations where these dry patches form can vary considerably from one person to the next. | |
 | Gene therapy for liver disease advancing with the help of adeno-associated viral vectorsLiver-directed gene therapy delivered using adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors to treat diseases such as hemophilia have advanced into human testing. The potential for continued technological improvements to expand the therapeutic applications of gene therapy to treat liver disorders and the remaining clinical challenges are examined in a comprehensive review article published in Human Gene Therapy. |
Fighting Haiti's cholera outbreak requires more funds: UNThe cholera outbreak that hit Haiti after Hurricane Matthew slammed the island has been contained but persists due to lack of funding, according to the United Nations. | |
Colombia's war traumas leave deep mental scarsColombian rebels may be preparing to lay down their guns, but the nation faces a deeper challenge to heal itself: treating mental illnesses stemming from the trauma of a half-century war. | |
Special anti-polio drive kicks off in southwestern PakistanA Pakistani health official says a special five-day anti-polio drive is being launched in the capital of southwestern Baluchistan province after traces of polio virus were found in the sewer system. | |
New consensus on neuromodulation therapy by International Neuromodulation Society expertsThe International Neuromodulation Society (INS) journal Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface is publishing expert, evidence-based guidance on the safe and efficient use of neuromodulation implants in patient-centered therapy. | |
Infectious diseases A-Z: kitchen sponge shelf lifeSafe food handling and clean hands are important ways to avoid the spread of germs and bacteria this holiday season, and so is replacing your kitchen sponge. | |
Biology news
 | New study finds evolution of brain and tooth size were not linked in humansA new study from the George Washington University's Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology (CASHP) found that whereas brain size evolved at different rates for different species, especially during the evolution of Homo, the genus that includes humans, chewing teeth tended to evolve at more similar rates. The finding suggests that our brains and teeth did not evolve in lock step and were likely influenced by different ecological and behavioral factors. |
 | Study could pave way for greater understanding of how plants and animals grow and developDr. Zhi-Liang Zheng, a biology professor and plant scientist in the Department of Biological Science, published a paper last month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that demonstrates a connection between Rho GTPase and RNA polymerase II (Pol II), two key molecules involved in cellular signaling and transcription in eukaryotes. Eukaryotes are organisms whose cell contains a nucleus and other organelles and animals and plants are both eukaryotic organisms. Zheng and his colleagues have provided genetic and biochemical evidence that links these two molecules in an intracellular signaling pathway. |
 | New study shows cognitive decline may be influenced by interaction of genetics and... wormsYou've likely heard about being in the right place at the wrong time, but what about having the right genes in the wrong environment? In other words, could a genetic mutation (or allele) that puts populations at risk for illnesses in one environmental setting manifest itself in positive ways in a different setting? |
 | Using 'fire to fight fire' to combat disease could make it worse, tests showA treatment billed as a potential breakthrough in the fight against disease, including cancer, could back-fire and make the disease fitter and more damaging, new research has found. |
 | Race to save the cheetah as study reveals extinction threatLounging in the shade of a tree, Heathcliff the cheetah oozes sleek grace and power, but he is captive behind a wire fence—perhaps the only way that cheetahs will exist in a few decades' time. |
 | New software makes CRISPR-methodology easierScientists at Karolinska Institutet and the University of Gothenburg have generated a web-based software, Green Listed, which can facilitate the use of the CRISPR methodology. The software is published in the journal Bioinformatics and is freely available through greenlisted.cmm.ki.se where also information texts and films are available. |
 | Social groups key to preserving natural resourcesCooperation may be the key to successful sustainability, says Timothy Waring, an associate professor in the School of Economics and the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. |
 | Sweden allows wolf hunt despite outcryA top Swedish court on Friday allowed the hunting of 24 wolves early next year in a decision slammed by environmental campaigners who fear a shooting spree could put the species at risk. |
Selling shark fins now banned in Rhode IslandSelling shark fins is now banned in Rhode Island. | |
 | Post-hunting season management can help deer herdsThe end of deer season marks the beginning of winter management for landowners who monitor deer populations and want to maximize their potential, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. |
Croatia reports bird flu in farm poultryCroatia on Friday announced the discovery of a highly contagious strain of bird flu in poultry at a small family farm on the country's northern border with Hungary. | |
 | China to ban ivory trade by end of 2017China will ban all domestic ivory trade and processing by the end of 2017, state media reported Friday, a move hailed by activists as a "game changer" for African elephants. |
 | Environmentalists protest hunting bison plan in PolandEnvironmentalists are protesting Poland's plan to allow hunters to shoot bison, while authorities say it is necessary for the well-being of the oversized herd and will earn money for its upkeep. |
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