Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 30, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers detect hydrogen corona of Jupiter's moon Europa(Phys.org)—Using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), astronomers have spotted an atomic hydrogen corona around Jupiter's icy moon Europa. The discovery which could improve our understanding of Europa's tenuous atmosphere was published Jan. 13 in the Astronomical Journal. |
 | Fermi sees gamma rays from 'hidden' solar flaresAn international science team says NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has observed high-energy light from solar eruptions located on the far side of the sun, which should block direct light from these events. This apparent paradox is providing solar scientists with a unique tool for exploring how charged particles are accelerated to nearly the speed of light and move across the sun during solar flares. |
 | Radio weak blazarsA blazar is a galaxy whose central nucleus is bright at wavelengths from the low energy radio band to high energy gamma rays (each gamma ray photon is over a hundred million times more energetic than the X-rays seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory). Astronomers think that the blazar nucleus contains a supermassive black hole, similar to a quasar nucleus. The emission results when matter falls onto the vicinity of the black hole and erupts into powerful, narrow jets of radiating charged particles moving close to the speed of light. Two defining characteristics of blazars, strong radio emission and high variability, are results of the accretion and jets. |
 | Both push and pull drive our galaxy's race through spaceAlthough we can't feel it, we're in constant motion: the earth spins on its axis at about 1,600 km/h; it orbits around the sun at about 100,000 km/h; the sun orbits our Milky Way galaxy at about 850,000 km/h; and the Milky Way galaxy and its companion galaxy Andromeda are moving with respect to the expanding universe at roughly 2 million km/h (630 km per second). But what is propelling the Milky Way's race through space? |
Cosmic dust that formed our planets traced to giant starsScientists have identified the origin of key stardust grains present in the dust cloud from which the planets in our Solar System formed, a study suggests. | |
 | Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope discovers the most extreme blazars yetNASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has identified the farthest gamma-ray blazars, a type of galaxy whose intense emissions are powered by supersized black holes. Light from the most distant object began its journey to us when the universe was 1.4 billion years old, or nearly 10 percent of its present age. |
 | Close views show Saturn's rings in unprecedented detailNewly released images showcase the incredible closeness with which NASA's Cassini spacecraft, now in its "Ring-Grazing" orbits phase, is observing Saturn's dazzling rings of icy debris. |
 | Russia to check space flight engines over faulty partsRussia on Saturday said it had ordered a full check of engines used on its key Proton rocket after a cargo ship crashed last month due to engine disintegration and an inspection revealed factory violations. |
 | SmallGEO's first flight reaches orbitESA's new small telecom platform was launched on its first mission in the early hours of this morning. |
 | LunaH-map cubeSat to map the moon's water depositsArizona State University (ASU) is developing a small satellite that will search hydrogen in lunar craters with the ultimate goal of creating the most detailed map of the moon's water deposits. The spacecraft, named Lunar Polar Hydrogen Mapper (LunaH-Map), is expected to shed new light on the depth and distribution of water ice on the moon. |
 | NASA sounding rocket successfully launches into alaskan nightAn experiment to measure nitric oxide in the polar sky was successfully launched on a NASA sounding rocket at 8:45 a.m. EST, Jan. 27, 2017, from the Poker Flat Research Range in Alaska. |
 | The Outer Space Treaty has been remarkably successful – but is it fit for the modern age?Space exploration is governed by a complex series of international treaties and agreements which have been in place for years. The first and probably most important of them celebrates its 50th anniversary on January 27 – The Outer Space Treaty. This treaty, which was signed in 1967, was agreed through the United Nations, and today it remain as the "constitution" of outer space. It has been signed and made official, or ratified, by 105 countries across the world. |
 | A proposal for Juno to observe the volcanoes of IoJupiter may be the largest planet in the solar system with a diameter 11 times that of Earth, but it pales in comparison to its own magnetosphere. The planet's magnetic domain extends sunward at least 3 million miles (5 million km) and on the back side all the way to Saturn for a total of 407 million miles or more than 400 times the size of the sun. |
 | Four-planet system directly imaged in motionLocated about 129 light years from Earth in the direction of the Pegasus constellation is the relatively young star system of HR 8799. Beginning in 2008, four orbiting exoplanets were discovered in this system which – alongside the exoplanet Formalhaut b – were the very first to be confirmed using the direct imaging technique. And over time, astronomer have come to believe that these four planets are in resonance with each other. |
 | Boeing unveils blue spacesuits for Starliner crew capsuleBoeing has unveiled the advanced new lightweight spacesuits that astronauts will sport as passengers aboard the company's CST-100 Starliner space taxi during commercial taxi journey's to and from and the International Space Station (ISS) and other low Earth orbit destinations. |
 | Wind satellite heads for final testingThe road to realising ESA's Aeolus mission may have been long and bumpy, but developing novel space technology is, by its very nature, challenging. With the satellite now equipped with its revolutionary instrument, the path ahead is much smoother as it heads to France to begin the last round of tests before being shipped to the launch site at the end of the year. |
 | Image: Cheops solar cellsESA's CHaracterising ExOPlanet Satellite mission – Cheops – underwent important testing last year to be ready for launch by the end of 2018. |
 | First-ever GPS data release to boost space-weather scienceToday, more than 16 years of space-weather data is publicly available for the first time in history. The data comes from space-weather sensors developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory on board the nation's Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. The newly available data gives researchers a treasure trove of measurements they can use to better understand how space weather works and how best to protect critical infrastructure, such as the nation's satellites, aircraft, communications networks, navigation systems, and electric power grid. |
Technology news
 | Engineers create artificial skin that 'feels' temperature changesA team of engineers and scientists at Caltech and ETH Zurich have developed an artificial skin capable of detecting temperature changes using a mechanism similar to the one used by the organ that allows pit vipers to sense their prey. |
 | Solowheel Iota wants to go places with wheels between your feet(Tech Xplore)—A self balancing scooter has turned to crowdfunding on Kickstarter. The rideable is called the Solowheel Iota. |
 | Intentionally or not, big brands help fund fake newsWittingly or not, major global corporations are helping fund sites that traffic in fake news by advertising on them. |
 | New wave of robots set to deliver the goodsThe robots of the future will be coming soon, rolling along at a lumbering pace with those goods you just ordered. |
 | A commuter's dream: Entrepreneurs race to develop flying carEven before George Jetson entranced kids with his cartoon flying car, people dreamed of soaring above traffic congestion. Inventors and entrepreneurs have long tried and failed to make the dream a reality, but that may be changing. |
 | Can AI love advice help Harry go out with Sally?(Tech Xplore)—How do I tell her I like her? Should I tell her I love her? What if he is not interested in me? |
 | Modifying the 'middle end' of a popular compiler yields more-efficient parallel programsCompilers are programs that convert computer code written in high-level languages intelligible to humans into low-level instructions executable by machines. |
 | Researchers develop wearable, low-cost sensor to measure skin hydrationResearchers from North Carolina State University have developed a wearable, wireless sensor that can monitor a person's skin hydration for use in applications that need to detect dehydration before it poses a health problem. The device is lightweight, flexible and stretchable and has already been incorporated into prototype devices that can be worn on the wrist or as a chest patch. |
 | Academics build ultimate solar-powered water purifierYou've seen Bear Grylls turn foul water into drinking water with little more than sunlight and plastic. |
 | New smartwatch software may now verify your signaturesThe handwritten signature is still the most widely accepted biometric used to verify a person's identity. Banks, corporations, and government bodies rely on the human eye and digital devices such as tablets or smart pens to capture, analyse, and verify people's autographs. |
 | Storing solar power increases energy consumption and emissions, study findsHomes with solar panels do not require on-site storage to reap the biggest economic and environmental benefits of solar energy, according to research from the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. In fact, storing solar energy for nighttime use actually increases both energy consumption and emissions compared with sending excess solar energy directly to the utility grid. |
 | US no longer has geography as defense, ally in cybercombatThe United States has long relied on its borders and superior military might to protect against and deter foreign aggressors. But a lack of boundaries and any rulebook in cyberspace has increased the threat and leveled the playing field today. |
 | US 'resistance' movement coalesces... on TwitterA social media "resistance" movement is taking shape against the Trump administration, inspired by the new president's efforts to control information. |
An uneasy Silicon Valley denounces Trump immigration banSilicon Valley heads have slammed US President Donald Trump's temporary ban on refugees and many Muslims from entering the United States, fearing it could prevent them from accessing a global reservoir of talent. | |
Smaller states rejoice as Amazon finally collects sales taxMany online shoppers in the United States have for years had to pay state sales taxes whenever they buy goods from Amazon. But the Seattle e-commerce giant has dragged its feet on collecting sales taxes in small and sparsely populated states where it doesn't have any distribution centers or corporate offices. | |
With or without a driver, vehicles are able to cooperateEPFL researchers have developed an algorithm for automated vehicles to operate in traffic alongside manually-driven vehicles. This is a key step in the shift towards autonomous driving expected to be achieved by 2030. | |
 | Facebook's support for USB security keys is a good move and one others should followIn an attempt to increase the security of online accounts, Facebook has added support for 2 factor authentication using USB security keys. |
It's pedal to the metal for driverless carsWhen a May 2016 crash killed the person operating a Tesla Model S driving in Autopilot mode, advocates of autonomous vehicles feared a slowdown in development of self-driving cars. | |
 | Designing the best car antennaThe global car fleet is rapidly becoming increasingly connected – which puts high demands on stable, robust communication. This will mainly be ensured by the antennas of tomorrow. |
 | Placing buildings in a landscape with computational mathematicsA research project within the Building Futures Area of Advance at Chalmers is investigating how to model and compute wind and view by using computational mathematics in order to find suitable sites on which to position buildings. |
 | Wearable 'watches' to monitor your blood pressureWhat if there were a wearable fitness device that could monitor your blood pressure continuously, 24 hours a day? |
 | Starbucks launches voice ordering via app, Amazon's AlexaAmazon's Alexa is now able to order up a latte. |
GM, Honda team up to develop advanced hydrogen fuel cellsGeneral Motors Co. and Honda Motor Co. took a big step toward putting out vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells by forming a joint venture to produce the systems for both companies' vehicles. | |
 | 'Trump & Dump' program aims to profit off Trump tweetsTechies have devised a program to execute quickfire stock trades to take advantage of President Donald Trump's Twitter habit of blackballing individual companies. |
 | New York Times launches daily podcast showBest known for its print coverage, The New York Times is this week broadening into the realm of daily audio news by launching a brand new podcast. |
Snapchat parent to offer shares on NYSE: reportsThe parent company of hit mobile-messaging service Snapchat is expected to make its debut as a public company on the New York Stock Exchange, according to reports. | |
 | NIST partners 'cutting the cord' (and wires) from factory communication networksProviding wireless communications in a factory, plant or other industrial environment these days means more than just helping employees talk with each other while they work. By eliminating physical connections such as wires and cables from a facility's communication network, wireless technology offers many manufacturing, chemical processing and municipal (such as water treatment) organizations a means to run their entire operation more efficiently, more productively and at less cost. However, a perceived lack of reliability, integrity and security has hampered the adoption and use of industrial wireless, especially when wireless communication can often be corrupted or disrupted in harsh industrial settings. |
 | Porn 'tube' sites threaten children and actors, critics sayA new documentary claims that pornography has got "uglier and nastier", with actors forced to shoot more hardcore films for less since the explosion of free-to-view internet sites like Youporn and Pornhub. |
 | Syrian IT expert extends web lifeline to fellow migrantsMigrants navigating a new language, unfamiliar cultural conventions and Germany's multitude of rules and regulations are finding help online in their adoptive country courtesy of one of their own. |
Keeping antennas at peak performanceAdvanced statistical techniques developed by KAUST researchers have enabled an efficient method for detecting the partial antenna failures that can inconspicuously degrade mobile communications1. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Practice makes perfect, and 'overlearning' locks it inWant to learn something and then quickly make that mastery stick? A new Brown University study in which people learned visual perception tasks suggests that you should keep practicing for a little while even after you think you can't get any better. Such "overlearning" locked in performance gains, according to the Nature Neuroscience paper that describes the effect and its underlying neurophysiology. |
 | Certain heart fat associated with higher risk of heart disease in postmenopausal womenA higher volume of a certain type of fat that surrounds the heart is significantly associated with a higher risk of heart disease in women after menopause and women with lower levels of estrogen at midlife, according to new research led by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. |
 | Early-stage drug trials often launched without solid evidence of clinical promise, researchers sayStandards for authorizing first-time trials of drugs in humans are lax, and should be strengthened in several ways, McGill University researchers argue in a paper published today in Nature. |
 | Deciphering the emergence of neuronal diversityThe development of the cerebral cortex played a major role in the evolution of mankind. Scientists are now studying the emergence of its cellular microstructure with high resolution methods. Neuroscientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, have analysed the diversity of cortical neurons—more precisely, inhibitory interneurons—during the developmental period before birth. They have discovered the emergence of three main sub-groups of interneurons by decoding the expression of cell-type specific genes as well as their exact location in the cortex. These results, which were published in Nature Communications, will open the door to a more accurate understanding of the complex cell-type specific mechanisms underlying neuro-developmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. This should help researchers to discover how psychiatric-related genetic disturbances impact the emergence of neuronal sub-types and how to design novel cell-type specific interventions. |
Researchers identify drug that alleviates opioid withdrawalOpioid use and abuse is a significant social, health and economic issue in Canada. Researchers at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) and Hotchkiss Brain Institute (HBI) have discovered that an existing anti-gout medication is effective in reducing the severity of withdrawal symptoms in opioid-dependent rodents. Their work is leading to the development of a clinical trial at the Calgary Pain Clinic. | |
 | Scientists illuminate the neurons of social attractionThe ancient impulse to procreate is necessary for survival and must be hardwired into our brains. Now scientists from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have discovered an important clue about the neurons involved in that wiring. |
 | Unraveling the mystery of why cancer cells survive and thriveSome cancer cells have a trick up their sleeve to avoid cell death: boosting maintenance of telomeres, the protective "end caps" on chromosomes, and a research team led by Jackson Laboratory (JAX) Professor Roel Verhaak reports in Nature Genetics on a newly discovered telomere maintenance mechanism. |
 | Online database aims to collect, organize research on cancer mutationsThe body of knowledge on cancer genomics is massive and ever-expanding. But this wealth of potentially critical information is far less likely to be of help to patients if it is inaccessible to the doctors who treat them. |
 | Over 100 new blood pressure genes could provide new targets for treating hypertensionScientists have found 107 new gene regions associated with high blood pressure, potentially enabling doctors to identify at-risk patients and target treatments. |
 | A glitch in 'gatekeeper cells' slowly suffocates the brainAbnormality with special cells that wrap around blood vessels in the brain leads to neuron deterioration, possibly affecting the development of Alzheimer's disease, a USC-led study reveals. |
 | Patient with unique antibodies helps researchers develop strongest HIV-attacking antibody to date(Medical Xpress)—A large international team of researchers has created what they are describing as the most powerful HIV-attacking antibody ever made. In their paper published in the journal Science Immunology, the team describes how they were able to use naturally occurring antibodies with unique HIV fighting abilities to create the new antibodies and what it means for the development of a vaccine. |
 | Largest genetic study of inflammatory bowel disease provides clues on new drug targetsIn two studies published today (30 January) in Nature Genetics, researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their collaborators have identified a genetic variant that doubles an individual's risk of developing ulcerative colitis, one of the subtypes of a chronic disorder known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). |
 | Scientists uncover possible therapeutic targets for rare autism spectrum disorderResearchers have uncovered 30 genes that could, one day, serve as therapeutic targets to reverse Rett syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that affects only girls and is a severe form of an autism spectrum disorder. |
 | Researchers identify mechanism in chikungunya virus that controls infection and severityResearchers led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have identified a mechanism by which the chikungunya virus infects healthy cells and controls how severe the disease it causes will be, a mechanism they believe can be found in a number of other related viruses for which there are no treatments or licensed vaccines. |
 | 'Mini-guts' offer clues to pediatric GI illnessUsing immature stem cells to create a miniature model of the gut in the laboratory, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of Pittsburgh have determined how infection-causing enteroviruses enter the intestine. |
 | Hormone may offer new contraceptive that protects ovaries from chemotherapyA naturally occurring hormone that plays an important role in fetal development may be the basis for a new type of reversible contraceptive that can protect ovaries from the damage caused by chemotherapy drugs. In their report receiving online publication in PNAS, a team from the Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories in the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Surgery describes using Mullerian Inhibiting Substance (MIS) to halt, in a mouse model, the early development of the ovarian follicles in which oocytes mature, an accomplishment that protects these primordial follicles from chemotherapy-induced damage. |
 | High altitude living decreases the risk of heart diseaseCould something as simple as the geographic area in which you live contribute to your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, or suffering a stroke? A new study, published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Physiology, has revealed that the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome could be linked to the altitude of where a person lives. Metabolic syndrome is the medical term for the combination of high blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol levels, as well as excess body fat around the waist, and contributes to serious health problems. |
 | Study of mice shows protein in womb plays lifelong role in bone healthOsteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic disorder that causes bones to break easily. Severe cases of the disease can result in hundreds of fractures during a person's lifetime or even death. Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have shown that limiting a specific maternal protein in pregnant mice with osteogenesis imperfecta resulted in offspring with stronger, denser bones. The finding might one day provide a new therapeutic approach to treating brittle bone disease. |
 | Games, crafts, other activities may safeguard aging brainEven in your 70s and beyond, simple activities including web-surfing, playing bridge and socializing can stave off mental decline, new research says. |
Researchers decode rare form of adrenal gland genetic disorder linked to gender ambiguityA complete clinical and genetic profile of a rare inherited disorder, steroid 11-hydroxylase deficiency, which can cause genital masculinization in females, is being reported by an international group of researchers led by investigators at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. This is the first time that the complete genetic profile has been identified. | |
 | Bilingual people may have an edge against Alzheimer'sPeople who speak two or more languages appear to weather the ravages of Alzheimer's disease better than people who have only mastered one language, a new Italian study suggests. |
 | Multi-drug resistant bacteria in ChinaThe mcr-1 gene—a gene that makes bacteria resistant to colistin, an antibiotic of last resort, and that is transferrable between bacteria—has been found in a wide variety of strains of Escherichia coli in China following widespread use of colistin in agriculture. |
The immunotherapy, pembrolizumab, is active against mucosal melanoma tumorsClinical trials of a new immunotherapy, pembrolizumab, have shown that it prolongs life significantly for patients with bladder cancer and is active against a rare sub-type of melanoma, called mucosal melanoma. The findings were presented in two presentations at the European Cancer Congress 2017 today (Sunday). | |
Experts predict melanoma death rates will fall by 2050By 2050 the death rates from malignant melanoma will have decreased from their current levels but the numbers of people dying from the disease will have increased due to the aging of populations. | |
Delays in access to cancer medicines and unjustifiable price rises disadvantage patientsAmsterdam, The Netherlands: Cancer patients are living longer and in many cases the disease is becoming chronic rather than acute. Access to drugs that help extend life and improve quality of life, and fair prices for those drugs are therefore essential for more and more people. But patients are badly served in this respect, with delays in the availability of new treatments and incomprehensible price rises for well-established therapies, including generics, researchers will tell the European Cancer Congress 2017 today (Saturday). | |
 | Get fit on the cheap? No sweatYou swore this would be the year you'd get fit, but you don't want to bust your budget doing it. No sweat. We asked a few experts to weigh in with their tips: |
Prior DUIs predict future criminal activity among firearm ownersAmong individuals who legally purchased handguns in California, prior convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) and other alcohol-related crimes were associated with a substantial increase in risk for subsequent violent or firearm-related crime, according to a study published Jan. 30 in Injury Prevention by the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program. | |
Breath test could help detect stomach and oesophageal cancersA test that measures the levels of five chemicals in the breath has shown promising results for the detection of cancers of the oesophagus and stomach in a large patient trial presented at the European Cancer Congress 2017. | |
 | Diabetes or its rapid deterioration can be an early warning sign for pancreatic cancerPatients and their doctors should be aware that the onset of diabetes, or a rapid deterioration in existing diabetes that requires more aggressive treatment, could be a sign of early, hidden pancreatic cancer, according to research presented at the European Cancer Congress 2017 today (Monday). |
Trials examine immune drug's potential to treat different forms of vasculitisTwo new studies provide valuable insights into the treatment of different types of vasculitis, which are conditions that cause blood vessels to become inflamed. In the studies, which appear in Arthritis & Rheumatology, investigators examine whether a medication that interferes with the activity of certain immune cells may help treat the most common form of vasculitis, as well as one of the rarest forms, both of which affect the large blood vessels. | |
Some early breast cancer patients benefit more from breast conservation than from mastectomyBreast conserving therapy (BCT, breast conserving surgery combined with radiation therapy) is superior to mastectomy in certain types of breast cancer patients, according to results from the largest study to date, to be presented to the European Cancer Congress 2017 today (Monday). | |
 | We dislike hypocrites because they deceive us: studyWe're averse to hypocrites because their disavowal of bad behavior sends a false signal, misleading us into thinking they're virtuous when they're not, according to new findings in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The research shows that people dislike hypocrites more than those who openly admit to engaging in a behavior that they disapprove of. |
 | Smoke 'em if ya got 'em, as legalized marijuana takes holdIt was a green Monday in Maine. |
Zambian women's day off for periods stokes debateA Zambian law that entitles women to take one day off work a month when they have their period is stirring increasingly fierce debate in a country reluctant to discuss sexual health. | |
 | Review: intentional weight loss improves daytime sleepiness(HealthDay)—For overweight or obese adults, intentional weight loss is associated with improvement in daytime sleepiness, according to a review published online Jan. 24 in Obesity Reviews. |
 | For ice skating, sharpen up on safety(HealthDay)—Ice skating is a great source of exercise for the whole family, but injuries could take the fun out of this winter activity. |
Want more face time with your doctor? Arrive early for your appointmentClinicians spend more time face-to-face with their patients when the clinic operates on schedule compared to when the clinic is running late, a study from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has found. | |
 | Living without lungs for six days saves a mom's lifeIn a bold and very challenging move, thoracic surgeons at Toronto General Hospital (TGH) removed severely infected lungs from a dying mom, keeping her alive without them for six days, so that she could recover enough to receive a life-saving lung transplant. |
 | Researchers find Zika virus replicates in placental trophoblasts, could have implications for early prenatal diagnosisWhy is there a delay between when a pregnant woman is infected with Zika virus and when her fetus shows signs of brain malformations or microcephaly? Why do only a small minority of infants born to infected women appear to be affected by Zika virus infection? Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine may have found answers to these important questions through their discovery that the trophoblast cells of the placenta may serve as a potential reservoir, or portal, of fetal transmission of the virus. The trophoblasts are a self-renewing population of cells that support the developing fetus. The findings, appearing today in the journal Scientific Reports, lend hope to the possibility that in the future care providers could use existing prenatal diagnostic techniques to detect the virus in the placental cells and someday find a way to stop its spread to the fetus. |
Study shows clinical and community-based linkages in Mexican primary care settings can increase physical activity levelsIntegrating physical activity counseling in Mexico's primary care settings and providing referrals to community-based programming appear to be effective strategies to help patients increase their physical activity levels, according to a study by researchers at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health and the Mexico Social Security Institute. The study was recently published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. | |
 | Singing can provide understanding of relationship between perceiving and doing, psychologist saysA University at Buffalo psychologist is part of a team of researchers and educators behind a new online test that quickly measures singing accuracy. |
Responding to terror: Health care systems around the globe need to prepare for the futureRecent attacks in Nice, Bangladesh, Baghdad, Istanbul and Orlando highlight the need for health care professionals to gather and share lessons learned, international physicians and public health experts say in a JAMA Surgery Viewpoint published online Jan. 25, 2017. | |
 | Medicaid enrollment growth higher in urban areas, new study findsEnrollment in Medicaid grew more rapidly in metropolitan areas than in rural areas in states that did not expand the program under the Affordable Care Act, according to new research from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. |
 | Infant lung function a predictor of adult asthmaA new study by The University of Western Australia has found that reduced lung function in infants is an accurate predictor of persistent asthma in young adults. |
 | Let's face it, first impressions count onlineWe live in an age where most of us have an online presence. Many of us have numerous accounts on social and professional networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. And singles among us are increasingly turning online to find love. |
Soldiering on with PTSDIt was late 2012 and I was commanding an infantry company in Kandahar. At night, when we came back from foot patrols, five of us would build a small fire in the corner of the outpost. We'd light scraps of wood inside half of a rusty metal drum and line rickety benches around the braids of flame. Sometimes we talked about missions, smoked cigars and laughed with each other to the point of tears. Other times we quietly listened to the crackle of the wood, each man consumed in his thoughts, hoping the fire would never go out. In those times, I thought of the men who weren't there. | |
Report describes VHA clinical demonstration project for lung cancer screeningImplementing a comprehensive lung cancer screening program was challenging and complex according to a new article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine that describes a lung cancer demonstration project conducted at eight academic Veterans Health Administration hospitals. | |
Can mentally stimulating activities reduce the risk of MCI in older adults?Engaging in some brain-stimulating activities was associated with a lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment in a study of cognitively normal adults 70 and older, according to a new article published online by JAMA Neurology. | |
Low back pain in school-aged children a common occurrenceLow back pain in school-aged children is a common occurrence, and the prevalence of low back pain increases once children reach school age - one percent at age seven years; six percent at age 10 years; and 18 percent at ages 14-16 years. Yet only seven percent of adolescents with lower back pain will seek medical care. Diagnosis, pathophysiological findings, evaluation, treatment and prevention are outlined in a recent review of the literature published online today by the JAMA Pediatrics. | |
 | Rule could take one-third of chest pain patients off emergency department heart monitorsOttawa researchers have validated a rule that could safely take a third of chest pain patients in the emergency department off of heart monitors, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Implementing this made-in-Ottawa rule could free up these monitored beds for sicker patients and reduce wait times. |
 | New bone conduction hearing aid passed long term endurance testFor how long time can an implant function inside the body without losing performance? That is one of many questions researchers want to have answers to when new implants are developed, before they eventually can be approved for general use in healthcare. |
 | Fear of exams can be overcome, psychologist saysWhat lies at the origin of the fear of examinations, and what can students and lecturers do to allay it? In the following interview, LMU Professor Anne Frenzel (Chair of Psychology in the Learning Sciences) answers both questions. |
 | Study finds 31 per cent concussion drop with Shield-X decal useEight high-school football teams from across Canada and the U.S. whose players used Shield-X, a helmet decal designed to reduce sharp twisting during impact, collectively reported 31 per cent fewer concussions. They were part of a new pilot study that tracked more than 300 young football players using decals made of Shield-X membrane during the 2016 football season. |
 | Is human capital healthcare's biggest asset?National healthcare spending increased 5.8 percent in 2015, reaching a total of 3.2 trillion, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you're doing the math, that's an average of $9,990 per person. And while the exact numbers haven't been released yet, the nation's 2016 healthcare tab is expected to hit $3.35 trillion, surpassing $10,000 for every man, woman, and child for the first time in history. |
78 percent of hospital workers in Houston are overweight or obeseSeventy-eight percent of employees at Houston hospitals are overweight or obese, according to a study by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. The research results were published recently in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. | |
 | URMC drug extends effectiveness of HIV therapyA drug developed at the University of Rochester Medical Center extends the effectiveness of multiple HIV therapies by unleashing a cell's own protective machinery on the virus. The finding, published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, is an important step towards the creation of long-acting HIV drugs that could be administered once or twice per year, in contrast to current HIV treatments that must be taken daily. |
Meal planning, timing, may impact heart healthPlanning when to eat meals and snacks and not skipping breakfast, are patterns associated with healthier diets, which could reduce cardiovascular disease risk, according to a new scientific statement published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation. | |
 | New genome-mapping technique opens new avenues for precision medicineOHSU scientists have uncovered a method for quickly and efficiently mapping the genome of single cells within the body. Their findings, to be published Jan. 30 in the journal Nature Methods, clears the way for a significant advance in precision medicine, including cancer, and many other disease areas. |
 | Bone markers as screening strategy for patient adherence to osteoporosis medicationsOral bisphosphonates are common first line treatments for osteoporosis. However, approximately half of patients who begin osteoporosis treatment do not follow their prescribed treatment and/or discontinue treatment within a year. Identifying low adherence to medication - a problem commonly seen with many chronic diseases - is a critical issue as it jeopardizes the efficacy of treatment, leaving osteoporosis patients unprotected against fractures. |
 | School bullying linked to lower academic achievement, research findsA study that tracked hundreds of children from kindergarten through high school found that chronic or increasing levels of bullying were related to lower academic achievement, a dislike of school and low confidence by students in their own academic abilities, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. |
 | The attraction effect: How our brains can be influencedThe decisions we make are influenced by other possibilities that we did not choose. At the same time, the options we missed out on determine our satisfaction with the outcomes of situations we were unable to control. Psychologists from the University of Basel conducted two experiments: first, they studied the decision-making behavior of students and, second, they measured brain activity and satisfaction when a set of possibilities is supplemented with another alternative. The Journal of Neuroscience has published the results. |
New research may pave the way for peripheral nerve damage repairResearch published today, 30th January 2017 online in the Journal of Cell Biology, has for the first time identified how a bodily protein allows nerves of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) to repair following injury. | |
Heart failure survival rates show no improvementSurvival rates for people suffering from heart failure have not improved since 1998, according to a study led by University of Oxford researchers. | |
 | Fighting age-related fibrosis to keep organs youngThe wear and tear of life takes a cumulative toll on our bodies. Our organs gradually stiffen through fibrosis, which is a process that deposits tough collagen in our body tissue. Fibrosis happens little by little, each time we experience illness or injury. Eventually, this causes our health to decline. |
 | Kids should pay more attention to mistakes, study suggestsChildren who believe intelligence can grow pay more attention to and bounce back from their mistakes more effectively than kids who think intelligence is fixed, indicates a new study that measured the young participants' brain waves. |
Unique mapping of methylome in insulin-producing isletsThroughout our lives, our genes are affected by the way we live. Diet, exercise, age and diseases create imprints that are stored in something called methylome. Now, for the first time, researchers at the Lund University Diabetes Centre in Sweden have been able to map the entire methylome in the pancreatic islets which produce insulin, and the researchers have made several important discoveries. | |
 | New study shows mindfulness motivates people to make healthier choices"Smoking causes wrinkles that age you prematurely. What are cigarettes costing you?" |
 | Could the 'Mediterranean' diet help prevent ADHD?(HealthDay)—Kids who follow a Mediterranean diet—high in fruits, vegetables and "good" fats—may be less likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a small study suggests. |
 | Teach your kids to use media in healthy ways(HealthDay)—Some pediatric health experts may have loosened the reins a bit on "screen time" for the youngest of children, but that doesn't mean parents should rely on electronic devices as babysitters, one pediatrician says. |
 | Stress-busting tips(HealthDay)—Lying around your home watching TV isn't always the best way to unwind. Police dramas, the news—even sports programming—can be stress-inducing. Plus, it's a passive activity, and mildly addictive, and nowhere near as relaxing as many other options you can choose. |
Very low levels of bad cholesterol well-tolerated in heart disease patientsHeart disease patients taking PCSK9 inhibitors to achieve very low levels of cholesterol do not experience an increase in adverse events, including memory impairment or nervous system disorders, but may have an increased risk of cataracts, according to a study today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. | |
Regular exercise may reduce high blood pressure risk in African-AmericansRegular swimming, biking or even brisk walks can help African Americans lower their chance of developing high blood pressure, according to new research published in the American Heart Association's journal Hypertension. | |
 | Smoking gobbles up almost six percent of global health spend and nearly two percent of world's GDPSmoking consumes almost 6 per cent of the world's total spend on healthcare and nearly 2 per cent of global GDP, reveals the first study of its kind, published in the journal Tobacco Control. |
 | Brain potassium channels may unlock future precision medicine approaches for alcoholismA handful of FDA-approved drugs exist for treating individuals with alcohol use disorder but they have been largely ineffective at reducing the high rates of relapse. As such, there remains a critical need to identify and develop alternative pharmacological treatment options. |
 | Study tallies extra calories Americans consume in their coffee, teaMore than 160 million people in the U.S. drink coffee or tea on a regular basis, and many of them use sugar, cream, flavored syrups or other calorie-laden additives in their drinks of choice. A new analysis reveals just how much Americans are adding to their caloric intake by spicing up or sweetening their coffee or tea. |
 | Epigenetic diversity in childhood cancerTumors of the elderly, such as breast cancer and colon cancer, accumulate thousands of DNA mutations. These genetic defects contribute to cancer-specific properties including uncontrolled growth, invasion in neighboring tissues, and evasion from the immune system. Similar properties are also found in childhood cancers, although those tumors carry much fewer genetic defects, making it difficult to explain their clinical heterogeneity. |
Misdiagnosed foot, ankle injuries may result in arthritis, chronic pain and disabilityFront-line physicians are advised to err on the side of caution and opt for additional imaging and second opinions when diagnosing six common foot and ankle injuries. A new study by orthopedic surgeons finds misdiagnosis often results in poor long-term patient outcomes, including arthritis and disability. | |
 | Popping balloons can be louder than shotgun blasts—and can lead to permanent hearing loss, study saysA common birthday party favour can blow up into a problem for children—but also a bigger conversation about hearing loss, say University of Alberta researchers. |
 | Preventing blood clots with a new metric for heart functionThe heart is a wonder of design - a pump that can function for 80 years, and billions of heartbeats, without breaking down. But when it does malfunction, the results can be dire. |
 | What primary care providers should know about diabetic neuropathyAn estimated 60 to 70 percent of people with diabetes develop some form of diabetic neuropathy, or the chronic nerve damage diabetes causes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. |
Shift to tighter physician-hospital integration is more complex than expectedMore physicians are contracting with hospitals through different types of agreements, but the shift to tighter physician-hospital integration is more complex than expected, according to new research from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. | |
 | Using fruit flies to study cancer: Scientists investigate childhood tumorsA team of Florida State University researchers has discovered that a common household pest can tell us a lot about an aggressive tumor that attacks young children. |
 | Kidney function in stroke patients associated with short-term outcomesA routine blood test that measures kidney function can be a valuable predictor of short-term outcomes for stroke patients, according to a study led by a neurologist at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.The study team analyzed data on more than 232,000 ischemic stroke patients age 65 and older who were admitted to 1,581 U.S. hospitals over a three-year period. The researchers found that those patients with renal dysfunction upon admission, as indicated by the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated from a blood creatinine test and basic demographic information such as age, race and sex, were significantly more likely to die while hospitalized and far less likely to be discharged home. |
Cardiovascular disease-related hospital admissions jump on second day after major snowfallHospital admissions for cardiovascular diseases decline on days with major snowfalls compared to days with no snowfall, but they jump by 23% two days later, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. | |
Acupuncture boosts effectiveness of standard medical care for chronic pain and depressionHealth specialists at the University of York have found than acupuncture treatment can boost the effectiveness of standard medical care, lessening the severity of chronic pain and depression. | |
 | ER doctor offers tips for safer snow shoveling(HealthDay)—If you're a middle-aged couch potato, shoveling snow could put you at risk for a heart attack. |
 | Pre-transplant depression may impair post-HCT outcomes(HealthDay)—For adult patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), pre-transplant depression is associated with worse post-transplantation outcomes, according to a study published online Jan. 19 in Cancer. |
 | Hypoglycemia induces pro-inflammatory functional changes(HealthDay)—Hypoglycemia can promote mobilization of specific subsets of leukocytes and induce pro-inflammatory functional changes in immune cells, according to a study published online Jan. 23 in Diabetes. |
 | Father involvement lacking in pediatric obesity programs(HealthDay)—Fathers are not adequately engaged in pediatric obesity treatment or prevention programs with parent involvement, according to a review published online Jan. 27 in Pediatrics. |
 | Thulium fiber laser rejuvenates male scalp with photodamage(HealthDay)—For men with extensive photodamage of the scalp, one session of fractionated 1,927 nm thulium fiber laser can achieve rejuvenation, according to a study published online Jan. 24 in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. |
 | NATA issues clinical guidance on acute skin trauma in sports(HealthDay)—Clinical decisions and intervention protocols after acute skin trauma during participation in athletic and recreational activities vary among athletic trainers and are often based on ritualistic practices, according to a National Athletic Trainers' Association position statement published in the December issue of the Journal of Athletic Training. |
 | Quenched activity-based probe imaging beneficial in NMSC(HealthDay)—Quenched activity-based probe imaging can discriminate cancer from normal appearing skin tissue, according to a study published in the February issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. |
 | Dietary factors linked to risk of acute pancreatitis(HealthDay)—Dietary factors are associated with pancreatitis, with saturated fat and cholesterol positively linked to gallstone-related acute pancreatitis (AP), according to a study published in the February issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | ACOG: interventions can be limited during labor, birth(HealthDay)—Women can meet their labor and birth goals with minimal intervention, according to an American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee Opinion published in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
Patient study suggests broader genetic testing for colorectal cancer riskA new study among more than 1000 colorectal cancer patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has revealed that a surprising number of patients, about 10% in total, show mutations in genes thought to increase the susceptibility to cancers. The research suggests an expanded role for genetic testing of inherited risk, both to help in treating people with the disease and in preventing their at-risk family members from developing it. | |
Posttraumatic stress and alcohol use disorders hit American-Indian and Alaskan-Native men the hardestPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a traumatic event or events. Although it is most often associated with military personnel exposed to the trauma of combat, it can also disproportionately affect vulnerable American Indian and Alaskan-Native (AI/AN) populations. Because alcohol use disorders (AUDs) also have a disproportionate impact on AI/ANs, this study compared both lifetime PTSD and past-year AUD among AI/ANs and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). | |
 | Exploring the Victorian fear of catsThe EU-funded DISEASES project has been exploring how the Victorians diagnosed, understood and dealt with many of the phenomena related to stress and overload that characterise today's modern globalised society. One intriguing discovery has been on the Victorian emphasis on phobias, particularly ailurophobia – the fear of cats. |
Newborn screening for severe immunodeficiency: Advantage in the case of early treatmentThe German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) assessed the benefit of newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Without treatment most young children with SCID die within 1 to 2 years, as their immune response fails. | |
 | Recent upsurge of A(H7N9) cases in China, updated ECDC rapid risk assessmentA steep increase of human cases of avian influenza A(H7N9) has been reported since the beginning of December 2016 from China. During this wave, the number of human cases is already higher than during the last two waves in 2014-15 and 2015-16. The majority of recently reported human cases are associated with exposure to infected live poultry or contaminated environments, including markets where live poultry are sold. Influenza A(H7N9) viruses continue to be detected in poultry and their environments in the areas where human cases are occurring. In addition, the human cases are more geographically widespread and cases are also reported from rural areas, unlike in previous epidemics. |
Silencing cancer cell communication may reduce the growth of tumorsIn several types of cancer, elevated expression of the chemokine receptor CCR4 in tumors is associated with poor patient outcomes. Communication through CCR4 may be one mechanism that cancer cells use to create a pro-tumor environment that protects tumors from immune system attacks. Antibodies that block CCR4 are currently in clinical trials for treating blood and lymphatic cancers, but these approaches may also effectively target cancers that produce solid tumors. | |
Time-pressed physicians spend significantly more time on computer than on direct patient interactionInternal medicine physicians at a Swiss teaching hospital frequently worked overtime and spent about 3 times as much time using a computer as they did on patients. Most of their time at work was spent on activities indirectly related to patient care. Results of the time and motion study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. | |
 | Smoke-free policy cuts nicotine detected in Philadelphia public housing in half: studyPhiladelphia's public housing residents are breathing in less secondhand smoke since a 2015 comprehensive smoke-free policy went into place, a new study indicates. |
 | Penn/CHOP study helps inform interventions for global road traffic injury crisisRoad traffic injuries are a major cause of disability and are responsible for more than one million deaths each year throughout the world. A disproportionate number of road traffic injuries occur in countries with rapidly developing economies where increases in mobility and motor vehicle use are not often matched with safety-focused infrastructure and road safety policy enforcement. This constitutes a global public health crisis that requires a multisector and dynamic response strategy. An important, though nontraditional, public health partner may be multinational corporations that strive to protect and promote health in their global workforces. |
 | New study looks at LGBT allies in college sportsThe sports world has not always been considered the most inviting place for those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Yet, college athletes can make powerful allies for the LGBT community, given their visibility and status on campus, says University of Arizona researcher Russell Toomey. |
Minnesota's medical marijuana program needs more moneyMinnesota's medical marijuana program needs extra state funding to cover the costs of its patient database and inspections of drug manufacturers, just a few of the regulations that make it one of the most restrictive such laws in the country. | |
Biology news
 | Microbes may encourage altruistic behavior(Phys.org)—Why do people commonly go out of their way to do something nice for another person, even when it comes at a cost to themselves—and how could such altruistic behavior have evolved? The answer may not just be in our genes, but also in our microbes. |
 | Sharks show novel changes in their immune cancer-related genesA new genomics study of shark DNA, including from great white and great hammerhead sharks, reveals unique modifications in their immunity genes that may underlie the rapid wound healing and possibly higher resistance to cancers in these ocean predators. This research brings us a few steps closer to understanding, from a genetic sense, why sharks exhibit some characteristics that are highly desirable by humans. |
 | Researchers on fast track to combat antibiotic resistanceThe marriage of two innovative technologies—one developed by Northeastern's Slava Epstein, the other by the Broad Institute's Paul Blainey—could accelerate both the discovery of new antibiotics that kill pathogens without encountering resistance and the diagnosis of specific pathogens causing disease, enabling fast, targeted treatments. |
 | A better way to farm algaeScientists have long known of the potential of microalgae to aid in the production of biofuels and other valuable chemicals. However, the difficulty and significant cost of growing microalgae have in some ways stalled further development of this promising technology. Bendy Estime, a biomedical and chemical engineering Ph.D. candidate, has devoted his research to this area, and developed a new technology for energy efficient cultivation and harvesting of microalgae. |
 | Antibiotics can boost bacterial reproductionThe growth of bacteria can be stimulated by antibiotics, scientists at the University of Exeter have discovered. |
 | Researchers identify earliest known protein needed for cell divisionResearchers from three U.S. universities have identified, using roundworms, the earliest-acting protein known to duplicate the centriole, a tiny cylinder-shaped structure that is a key component of the machinery that organizes cell division in animals. |
 | Team reports new role for enzyme involved in bacterial metabolismA team of researchers at the University of Delaware has discovered a new function for an enzyme that has long been known to have a central role in bacterial metabolism. |
 | New study shows how plants fight off diseaseA University of Queensland-led study has highlighted the minute details of how the plant¹s immune system leads to its ability to resist disease. |
 | Gulf shrimp prices reveal hidden economic impact of dead zonesHypoxic dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico drive up the price of large shrimp relative to smaller sizes, causing economic ripples that can affect consumers, fishermen and seafood markets alike, a new Duke-led analysis reveals. |
 | Super-sizing world's nature havens would add people to valued species listA group of scientists are recommending giving the world's nature reserves a makeover to defend not only flora and fauna, but people, too. |
Genomic tools for species discovery inflate estimates of species numbers, biologists contendIncreasingly popular techniques that infer species boundaries in animals and plants solely by analyzing genetic differences are flawed and can lead to inflated diversity estimates, according to a new study from two University of Michigan evolutionary biologists. | |
 | Model shows female beauty isn't just sex appealFemale beauty may have less to do with attracting the opposite sex than previously thought, at least in the animal world, researchers say. |
 | Biologists study how songbirds in remote areas of Costa Rica learn new duets when paired with a new mateKarla Rivera-Cáceres, a University of Miami biology graduate student, plays a harmonious duet of singing wrens from a recording she captured out in the field during a recent trip to Costa Rica. |
 | Plant regulatory proteins 'tagged' with sugarNew work from Carnegie's Shouling Xu and Zhiyong Wang reveals that the process of synthesizing many important master proteins in plants involves extensive modification, or "tagging" by sugars after the protein is assembled. Their work uncovers both similarity and distinction between plants and animals in their use of this protein modification. It is published by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Blocking critical enzyme helps to mitigate diseases associated with protein folding and lipid stressIn the ancient Japanese art of origami, paper must be folded precisely and following a specific order to create the desired result—say, a crane or lotus flower. It's a complex pursuit that requires keen attention to detail and utmost accuracy. |
 | Viral protein transforms as it measures out DNATo generate swarms of new viral particles, a virus hijacks a cell into producing masses of self-assembling cages that are then loaded with the genetic blueprint for the next infection. But the picture of how that DNA is loaded into those viral cages, or capsids, was blurry, especially for two of the most common types of DNA virus on earth, bacterial viruses and human herpesvirus. Jefferson researchers pieced together the three-dimensional atomic structure of a doughnut-shaped protein that acts like a door or 'portal' for the DNA to get in and out of the capsid, and have now discovered that this protein begins to transform its structure when it comes into contact with DNA. Their work published today in Nature Communications. |
Study says grass carp have invaded three of the Great LakesInvasive grass carp have reached three of the Great Lakes and pose a significant environmental risk there, but time remains to prevent them from getting out of hand, according to a scientific analysis released Friday. | |
 | Researchers study wolf parasitesSince the year 2000, the Eurasian grey wolf, Canis lupus lupus, has spread across Germany. Ines Lesniak, doctoral student at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), and her colleagues, have taken a closer look at the parasites of this returnee to determine whether the number and species of parasites change with an increasing wolf population. This was the case, because the number of parasite species per individual wolf increased as the wolf population expanded. Furthermore, cubs had a higher diversity of parasite species than older animals. The good news: wolf parasites do not pose a threat to human health. The results of this study were published in the scientific online journal Scientific Reports. |
 | Researcher says endangered bumblebee populations will rise againThe rusty patched bumblebee, Bombus affinis, recently became the first U.S. bumblebee species to be placed on the endangered species list, but a Kansas State University entomologist says bumblebee endangerment is nothing to be bugged about. |
New translation opens a window into the world of the 'father of genetics'For decades the "father of genetics" Gregor Mendel has been portrayed as living an isolated, monk-like existence, cut off from society. | |
 | Tagged mako shark takes amazing 13,000 mile journeyA male mako shark named Hell's Bay has broken a record, traveling more than 13,000 miles, equal to over half-way around the planet, in 600 days. It is the longest track ever in the Atlantic Ocean by a mako shark tagged by researchers in Nova Southeastern University's (NSU) Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) |
 | 44 invading species 'loose' in North Atlantic, study showsAccidental introductions of non-native species has been of increasing concern since the 1980s when human-mediated transportation, mainly related to ships' ballast water, was recognised as a major route by which species are transported and spread. |
 | Searching for young lake sturgeon near Detroit-area spawning reefsConstruction crews recently deposited 25,000 tons of limestone blocks on the bottom of the Detroit River in the latest phase of a decade-plus effort to lure lake sturgeon to rock spawning reefs and help restore severely depleted populations of the once-common Great Lakes giants. |
 | Fish show cheating can be better than playing by the rules in the mating gameThe males of some species go to extraordinary lengths to attract females – but some simply cheat. Take African cichlid fish. Many males build underwater "sandcastle" structures that the females use to judge the quality of their potential mates. But, as my colleagues and I found out during a recent study, some males don't bother with this show of construction prowess, and instead are able to father offspring by engaging in "sneaky mating". |
 | DNA analysis of seawater detects 80% of fish species in just one dayA Japanese research group has used a new technology that identifies multiple fish species populating local areas by analyzing DNA samples from seawater, and proved that this method is accurate and more effective than visual observation. |
A new path to fixing genes in living organismsA unique gene-editing method that efficiently inserts DNA into genes located in dividing and non-dividing cells of living rats has been developed by a team of international researchers, including scientists from KAUST. | |
 | Radio devices to save rare species from poachersA joint project between conservationists and electronics experts at the University of Kent has developed miniature radio devices in tamper-proof casings to protect rare species from poachers. |
 | The bovine heritage of the yakThough placid enough to be managed by humans, yaks are robust enough to survive at 4000 meters altitude. Genomic analyses by researchers of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich show that yak domestication began several millennia ago and was promoted by repeated crosses with cattle. |
 | Too many Bambi are bad for the forestOverabundant deer can spell trouble for people, including frequent car collisions and the spread of zoonotic diseases. But deer can also disrupt wildlife communities—such as forest songbirds—by eating away their habitat. In a new study published in Landscape and Urban Planning, researchers show that areas in the eastern U.S. with high deer numbers tend to have fewer birds that need forest shrubs. These species use low-lying foliage to hide their nests from predators and to hunt for insect prey. Unfortunately, these plants are also on the menu of the white-tailed deer. |
 | Los Angeles freeway claims 3rd mountain lion in 2 monthsA vehicle struck and killed an orphaned mountain lion on the same stretch of Los Angeles-area freeway where her mother and one of her two siblings died separately in December, wildlife authorities said Friday. |
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