Science X Newsletter Friday, Mar 3

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 3, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Researchers create new form of matter—supersolid is crystalline and superfluid at the same time

New type of opioid targets pain areas directly avoiding negative side effects

3-D printing with cellulose: World's most abundant polymer could rival petroleum-based plastics

OLYMPUS experiment sheds light on structure of protons

Volkswagen's excess emissions will lead to 1,200 premature deaths in Europe, study says

Researchers measure Big Ben's bong

NASA, satellite company team up to explore unique asteroid

Zika may be spread by 35 species of mosquitoes, researchers say

Study shows link between microbiome in the gut and Parkinson's

Scientists discover magnetic 'persuasion' in neighboring metals

Remnants of a mega-flood on Mars

Changes in precipitation patterns influence natural selection at global scale

New sensor could reveal dopamine's role in learning and habit formation

Making math more Lego-like—3-D picture language has far-reaching potential, including in physics

Unique photo-catalyst material turns CO2 emissions into renewable hydrocarbon fuels

Astronomy & Space news

	NASA, satellite company team up to explore unique asteroid Mention the word "asteroid" and you'll probably think about the downfall of the dinosaurs, or perhaps Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck duking it out in the movie "Armageddon."
	Remnants of a mega-flood on Mars ESA's Mars Express has captured images of one of the largest outflow channel networks on the Red Planet.
	Hubble showcases a remarkable galactic hybrid This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image showcases the remarkable galaxy UGC 12591. UGC 12591 sits somewhere between a lenticular and a spiral. It lies just under 400 million light-years away from us in the westernmost region of the Pisces-Perseus Supercluster, a long chain of galaxy clusters that stretches out for hundreds of light-years—one of the largest known structures in the cosmos.
	Sentinel-2B poised for liftoff With liftoff just few days away, the next Sentinel satellite for the Copernicus environmental monitoring programme is positioned in the launch tower at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
	Image: Juno captures Jupiter cloudscape in high resolution This close-up view of Jupiter captures the turbulent region just west of the Great Red Spot in the South Equatorial Belt, with resolution better than any previous pictures from Earth or other spacecraft.
	How low can you go? New project to bring satellites nearer to Earth The University of Manchester is leading a multi-million pound project to develop satellites which will orbit much closer to the Earth – making them smaller, cheaper, helping to dodge space debris and improving the quality of images they can send back.
	NASA proposes a magnetic shield to protect Mars' atmosphere NASA proposes a magnetic shield to protect Mars' atmosphere
	Some active process is cracking open these faults on Mars—but what is it? Mars has many characteristics that put one in mind of Earth. Consider its polar ice caps, which are quite similar to the ones in the Arctic and Antarctic circle. But upon closer examination, Mars' icy polar regions have numerous features that hint at some unusual processes. Consider the northern polar ice cap, which consists predominantly of frozen water ice, but also a seasonal veneer of frozen carbon dioxide ("dry ice").
	Solar storms trigger surprising phenomena close to Earth Eruptions on the Sun's surface send clouds of electrically charged particles towards Earth, producing solar storms that—among other things—can trigger the beautiful Northern Lights over the Arctic regions.
	Another satellite launch for Europe's Earth monitoring system Europe is set to launch a fourth satellite next Tuesday for its ambitious Copernicus Earth monitoring project to track changing land cover and pollution, launch firm Arianespace said.
After 44 days, hearings end for giant telescope in Hawaii Long-running hearings for whether a giant telescope can be built atop a Hawaii mountain have wrapped up.

Technology news

	Researchers measure Big Ben's bong A team from the University of Leicester's Department of Engineering has, for the first time ever, vibration-mapped the famous London bell Big Ben in order to reveal why it produces its distinct harmonious tone.
	Biomedical researchers suggest using robots to grow human tissue (Tech Xplore)—A pair of biomedical researchers with Oxford University is suggesting that human-like robots might provide the best platform for growing tissue to be transplanted into human patients. In a recent issue of Science Robots, Pierre-Alexis Mouthuy and Andrew Carr offer a Focus piece outlining the way that human tissue is now grown and explain why they think moving the process to a robot would provide a better product.
	Spotify extends streaming lead with 50 million subscribers Spotify has extended its lead as the world's largest streaming company as it announced Thursday that it had 50 million paying subscribers.
Big leap for Snap as messaging app debuts on Wall Street Snapchat owner Snap Inc rode a wave of euphoria in its Wall Street debut Thursday as investors sent shares of the popular messaging app soaring.
	Smartphones have you pegged, and for better or worse they'll soon ID you The things that make human beings unique - fingerprints, irises, facial features - have become the preferred way to sign onto banking accounts online or other sensitive websites, the newest solution to the problem of hackable and forgettable passwords.
A techie takeover in an old-school industry Think about the last time your air conditioner failed you. You didn't go to Home Depot and walk out with a compressor on your cart. The heart of the AC business is the contractor, waiting for your call, serving people all day who might melt if their unit is not fixed - or at least feel like they will.
	Can Snapchat visionary keep the app cool? Four years ago, Evan Spiegel made the bet of his life, rejecting Facebook's $3 billion offer for his fledgling video messaging app, Snapchat.
When tech companies go public, employees can strike it rich—or not Five years ago when Facebook went public, employees of the social network were glued to office televisions airing CNBC, waiting for the company's trading price.
	Review: Drobo can store all your data and keep it safe Data. We all create it every day, and there is likely a decent amount of it you'd like to store long-term.
	Gizmo Guy: Alexa does makes us happy ... some of the time How much excitement can one tech product - the voice-activated Amazon Echo and its smaller siblings Echo Dot and Tap - generate before the "don't-believe-the-hype" syndrome also sets in?
	Ditch computers to save democracy: ethical hacker In an age of superfast computers and interconnected everything, the only sure way to protect the integrity of election results is to return to paper and pen.
	A survival guide for the coming AI revolution If the popular media are to be believed, artificial intelligence (AI) is coming to steal your job and threaten life as we know it. If we do not prepare now, we may face a future where AI runs free and dominates humans in society.
	Silicon Valley high school makes $24 million from Snap IPO It's an only in Silicon Valley kind of story: A well-to-do private Catholic high school makes a $15,000 investment five years ago in the company developing the Snapchat app, holds onto it for years and ends up with a windfall of $24 million.
Europeans get more digital but continent divided The European Union says Europeans' online connections and skills are improving but there's still too large a gap between the Nordic front-runners and laggards in the continent's south and east.
	35 percent of UK jobs may be at risk from automation Fear of losing our jobs to those who can perform tasks faster, cheaper and perhaps with more creativity, has been longstanding. Equally, the introduction of a new leisure class with more free-time to spend once liberated from mundane, repetitive and boring tasks has also long been promised. With some forecasts indicating that within 20 years, 35 % of UK jobs are at risk from automation, it might be time to sort the job terminators out from the tumble dryers.
	Nintendo Switch's big challenge: luring casual gamers With three kids and constant travel for work, John Hussey jumped at the chance to play an open-world adventure game like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" anywhere, anytime.
	Comcast's NBCU discloses $500 mn stake in Snap Comcast Corp's NBCUniversal on Friday disclosed it has taken a $500 million stake in Snap, the messaging service which launched its big public offering this week.
Want the yachting life, even for a day? Miami startup will hook you up Nicholas Cardoza, co-founder and designer of YachtLife, is vice president of the luxury yacht company VanDutch and has been involved in yachting his entire life. In 2008, Cardoza got his start working in the yachting industry as a personal chef and deckhand on mega- and super-yachts, and later obtained his captain's license and began delivering yachts during the off-season. In 2012, Cardoza joined VanDutch and has since helped build the company's presence as a major luxury brand.
Post-election business is booming for these startups Many Silicon Valley tech leaders continue to challenge the man they never wanted to see in the White House, labeling his ideas - particularly last month's travel ban - as bad for the industry and their bottom line.
	Virtual simulation will test new transport services As part of the Mobility on Demand Laboratory Environment (MODLE) project, Transport Systems Catapult, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) and Esoterix Systems are developing a micro-simulation platform. The MODLE Simulation Platform gives new, dynamic insight into where people are moving to, from, how and why in much greater detail than previous transport modelling systems.
	Continuous-flow, electrically-triggered, single cell-level electroporation Graduate students Mingde 'Jack' Zheng and Joseph Sherba have developed a novel, microfluidic platform for monitoring electroporation and molecular delivery at the single cell-level as part of a collaborative re-search team led by Professors Jeffrey Zahn and David Shreiber in the Department of Biomedical Engineer-ing and Professors Hao Lin and Jerry Shan in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in Piscataway, NJ.

Medicine & Health news

	New type of opioid targets pain areas directly avoiding negative side effects (Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with the Free University of Berlin and Zuse-Institut Berlin has developed a type of opioid that was shown to target pain in rats without causing negative side effects. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes the new opioid, how well it worked in rats and the side effects that were eliminated.
	Study shows link between microbiome in the gut and Parkinson's There is growing evidence showing a connection between Parkinson's disease—a neurodegenerative condition—and the composition of the microbiome of the gut. A new study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that Parkinson's disease, and medications to treat Parkinson's, have distinct effects on the composition of the trillions of bacteria that make up the gut microbiome.
	New sensor could reveal dopamine's role in learning and habit formation MIT researchers have devised a way to measure dopamine in the brain much more precisely than previously possible, which should allow scientists to gain insight into dopamine's roles in learning, memory, and emotion.
Researchers find key to 'tired' blood and immune systems A molecular key to aging of the blood and immune system has been discovered in new research conducted at UC San Francisco, raising hope that it may be possible to find a way to slow or reverse the growing risk for aging-associated chronic inflammatory diseases, anemia, blood cancers, and life-threatening infections.
	Epigenetic enzyme found to be lacking in some patients with Crohn's disease A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team has found how a variant in an important epigenetic enzyme—previously associated by population-based genetic studies with Crohn's disease and other immune disorders—interferes with the action of the innate immune system, potentially upsetting the healthy balance between the microbial population of the gastrointestinal tract and the immune response. In their paper published in Science Immunology the team reports findings that SP140—an epigenetic reader protein that plays a critical role in determining whether or not target genes are expressed—is essential to suppressing inappropriate gene expression in macrophages, innate immune cells that are critical to maintaining intestinal balance.
	Latest genomic technology uncovers secrets of immune system's response to malaria Scientists have revealed for the first time how immature mouse immune cells, called T cells, choose which type of skills they will develop to fight malaria infection. Reported today in Science Immunology, researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, European Bioinformatics Institute and QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Australia, tracked individual T cells during infection with malaria parasites. They discovered a whole network of chemical conversations between different types of cells that influenced T cell specialisation.
	Drug used to treat weak bones associated with micro-cracks A type of drug used to treat weak bones is associated with an increased risk of 'micro-cracks' in bone, according to new research.
	City noise linked to hearing loss: study Urban noise pollution and hearing loss are closely linked, according to rankings of 50 large cities in both categories released on Friday.
	Sprint to find Zika vaccine could hinge on summer outbreaks As warmer temperatures herald the arrival of pesky mosquitoes, researchers are feverishly working on several promising vaccines against Zika, a virus notorious for infecting humans through this insect's bite.
Geriatricians can help aging patients navigate multiple ailments For months, Teresa Christensen's 87-year-old mother, Genevieve, complained of pain from a nasty sore on her right foot. She stopped going to church. She couldn't sleep at night. Eventually, she stopped walking except when absolutely necessary.
Florida reports 3 Zika cases in Miami as CDC says virus increased birth defects On the heels of a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that Zika has increased the rate of birth defects in the United States, Florida health officials on Thursday reported three more cases of the virus that were locally acquired in Miami-Dade - two infections dating to October 2016 and the first one of 2017.
Is it heartburn or a heart attack? Dear Mayo Clinic: My dad recently went to the emergency room with terrible chest pain and sweating, and was concerned he was having a heart attack. He was kept overnight for monitoring, but doctors said his heart was fine and that his symptoms were probably due to heartburn. Should I suggest he have more tests to determine if it's something more serious? Are there things he can do to avoid having another episode like this?
A new diagnosis: 'post-election stress disorder' Wally Pfingsten has always been a news junkie. But since President Donald Trump was elected, he's been so anxious about the political tumult that even just having the TV news on in the background at home is unbearable.
	Birth defects jump twentyfold in Zika-hit mothers: study Pregnant women infected with the Zika virus last year were 20 times more likely to bear children with birth defects than those who gave birth prior to the epidemic, US health officials said Thursday.
	DIY teeth-straightening: don't try this at home (HealthDay)—An orthodontist recalled a patient who devised her own means of straightening two wayward teeth.
	Keep an eye out for eating disorders in loved ones (HealthDay)—Millions of Americans have eating disorders, but it can be difficult for family and friends to detect these problems in loved ones, a doctor warns.
	Rising number of kids ill from drinking hand sanitizers: CDC (HealthDay)—Gel hand sanitizer dispensers are ubiquitous now in American homes and schools, but a new government report suggests a rise in kids getting sick after ingesting the products.
	Overall, 8.8 percent of U.S. population uninsured in 2016 (HealthDay)—Overall, 8.8 percent of individuals of all ages were uninsured in the first nine months of 2016, which marked a nonsignificant reduction from 2015, according to a Feb. 14 report from the National Center for Health Statistics.
	Tips for a good night's sleep: Focus on good times, breathe deeply, get a foot massage Tony Reed believes in the power of sleep. He cherishes his nightly eight hours; hardly ever has trouble achieving them.
Scientists create model to inform treatment decisions for esophageal cancer Cancer of the esophagus, the hollow tube connecting the oral cavity to the stomach, is more often diagnosed in men than in women and is usually treated surgically. Roswell Park Cancer Institute researchers have created a novel calculator that more readily identifies patients who may benefit from therapy that reduces the extent of the disease prior to surgery. The study has been published online ahead of print by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
	New tool to evaluate the impact of spending on preventive interventions Convincing policymakers to make meaningful investments in children and families may become less arduous for researchers with a new framework that considers the value of prevention across multiple public systems that currently offer support.
	Reducing frustration with health care is key for those with chronic medical conditions Navigating the U.S. health care system can be frustrating for anyone, but for adults with chronic medical conditions, the frustration can become overwhelming as they juggle multiple providers, medications and treatments.
Some physical sports can lead to heroin use, prescription drug abuse among teens High school athletes who play high-contact sports like hockey are at greater risk for heroin use and nonmedical use of prescription opioids, a new University of Michigan study found.
	Mayo, wings, butter: 'Fake milk' is the latest food fight Is "fake milk" spoiling the dairy industry's image?
Hormone could predict those at risk of hospital readmission or death after cardiac event Accurately predicting the likelihood of readmission or even death following a heart attack is now more possible, according to recently published findings by the Christchurch Heart Institute (CHI).
	Treatments better than antibiotics needed now New Zealanders should not be complacent because we have fewer antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens than elsewhere in the world, a University of Otago expert says.
	Treat synthetic cannabinoids as public health issue, report says A rise in the use of synthetic cannabinoids (syncans) in Houston has prompted law enforcement officials to target sellers and users of the drug. However, taking a public-health-based approach toward curbing the use of syncans, which have caused dangerous and sometimes fatal side effects in extreme cases, may be a more effective use of city resources, according to a new report from a drug policy expert at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.
	Flexible sigmoidoscopy test just once greatly reduces life-time risk of bowel cancer A world expert in cancer screening based at the University of Otago says new evidence from the United Kingdom strongly supports the introduction of flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for bowel cancer in New Zealand rather than the currently planned screening approach.
	A new way to teach children about eating disorders An estimated 1.6m people in the UK have experienced an eating disorder. In the US, these figures are as high as 20m women and 10m men. With numbers like these, and rising levels of body disaffection among young people, tackling eating disorders is an increasingly urgent task.
	Often the villain, fructose may play hero's role in muscular dystrophy treatment A substance widely known as a villain for its role in causing obesity-related health problems has emerged as a possible hero in the fight against a debilitating genetic disorder.
	'Smart' genetic library makes disease diagnosis easier Researchers at Hiroshima University have developed a smart genetic reference library for locating and weeding out disease-causing mutations in populations.
	New technique removes the cause of allergic asthma Allergies are the commonest cause of asthma. The immune system over-reacts to harmless substances such as birch or grass pollen, for example, forming immunoglobulin E antibodies (IgE). Together with the inflammatory cells in the skin and mucous membranes, the "mast cells", IgE antibodies are responsible for certain allergic diseases, such as asthma and hay fever, for example, and are also partly responsible for the development of neurodermatitis. Scientists from MedUni Vienna have now successfully developed a technique for suctioning the IgE antibodies out of the blood, thereby significantly improving the quality of life for people who suffer from severe allergic asthma.
	Overheating in UK homes is a public health disaster waiting to happen A Loughborough academic has warned the UK is facing a public health disaster if the issue of overheating in homes is not tackled.
	Mimicking evolution to treat cancer Research led by Associate Professor David Ackerley, director of Victoria's Biotechnology programme, has underpinned the development of a new form of chemotherapy that exclusively targets cancer cells.
	Highly effective cervical cancer screening for low income countries Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women in developing countries, and globally some quarter of a million women die from the disease each year - most of them from low and middle income countries (LMICs).
	New technology keeps parents connected with their newborn's neonatal care Over the past 30 years, Dr. Marsha Campbell-Yeo has seen incredible advancements in neonatal care—developments in technology and practice that have improved outcomes for vulnerable newborns across North America and around the world.
	Deafness carries a huge cost burden—economic as well as personal Deafness often remains invisible, especially in contexts of constrained resources and poverty. It can exact a high cost for both developed and developing countries because it has a significant impact on the lives of those affected, and the economies of the countries in which they live. Also, the services for people who are deaf can be very expensive.
Effects of teen prescription stimulant misuse linger into adulthood Teens should think twice if they believe the negative effects from misusing medication to treat ADHD are short-term. In fact, problems associated with prescription stimulant misuse can last through age 35, according to a new University of Michigan study.
Physiotherapist can relieve chronic cancer-related fatigue online A large proportion of patients who have undergone cancer treatment go on to suffer from chronic fatigue. A new online intervention, which uses an activity tracker and a standard smartphone, has brought significant improvement in 66% of cases, while 21% of patients report a complete recovery. Marije Wolvers of Roessingh Research and Development will receive her doctorate for her research from the University of Twente on 3 March.
	Researchers increase HIV treatment success rates by almost 18 percent Researchers have been successful in increasing HIV treatment success rates by almost 18 percent.
New insights on how pathogens escape the immune system The bacterium Salmonella enterica causes gastroenteritis in humans and is one of the leading causes of food-borne infectious diseases. During the infection, the germ is able to trick the immune system. Researchers led by Nirmal Robinson from the Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research CECAD found a mechanism the pathogen uses. They hope to use the gained knowledge in the fight against cancer and other aging-associated diseases. The results are published in the journal PLoS Pathogens.
Reprogrammed blood vessels promote cancer spread Blood vessels play a critical role in the growth and spread of cancer. The cells lining the inner wall of blood vessels (endothelial cells) and cancer cells are in close contact to each other and mutually influence each other. Andreas Fischer and his colleagues are studying these interactions. Fischer, a medical researcher, leads a Helmholtz University Junior Research Group at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and the Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University.
	Twice weekly yoga classes plus home practice effective in reducing symptoms of depression People who suffer from depression should participate in yoga and deep (coherent) breathing classes at least twice weekly plus practice at home to receive a significant reduction in their symptoms.
	How to solve a problem like antibiotic resistance There has been much recent talk about how to target the rising tide of antibiotic resistance across the world, one of the biggest threats to global health today.
	Doctoral student's research looks at cause of neurodegenerative disease A Kansas State University student hopes her research on a currently untreatable and progressive neurodegenerative disease will one day lead to treatment options.
Tool helps evaluate likely outcomes for elderly patients with traumatic brain injury Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death for people age 45 and younger in the United States, but, as people live longer, this type of injury is becoming more prevalent in those 75 and older. Treatment and recovery of the elderly population is even more challenging for physicians and other caregivers because these patients are more likely to have other health issues that can complicate their recovery and rehabilitation.
	Functional brain training alleviates chemotherapy-induced peripheral nerve damage in cancer survivor A type of functional brain training known as neurofeedback shows promise in reducing symptoms of chemotherapy-induced nerve damage, or neuropathy, in cancer survivors, according to a study by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The pilot study, published in the journal Cancer, is the largest, to date, to determine the benefits of neurofeedback in cancer survivors.
	Physicians analyze food trends and publish dietary prescription for optimal heart health Nutrition researcher Neal Barnard, M.D., F.A.C.C., president and founder of the nonprofit Physicians Committee, is one of 12 authors of "Trending Cardiovascular Nutrition Controversies" in the March 7, 2017 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which recommends whole food, plant-based eating patterns for optimal heart health.
	Should we commit to eradicate malaria worldwide? For Bruno Moonen, Deputy Director for malaria at the Global Health Program, eradication is the only equitable and sustainable solution.
Exercise-induced hormone irisin linked to new mechanisms for bone metabolism Two weeks of voluntary wheel running induces higher expression of irisin—a fat-burning hormone that is released during exercise—in bone tissue in mice. In addition, systemic administration of irisin increased bone formation and thickness, mimicking the effects of exercise on the mouse skeletal system. The findings demonstrate a potential new mechanism for the regulation of bone metabolism.
Canada recalls too strong 81% alcohol vodka Canadian authorities on Friday recalled hundreds of bottles of Georgia Bay Vodka after inspectors found that the alcohol level was a whopping 81 percent, twice the amount stated on the label.
Widespread conflicts of interest among patient-advocacy organizations uncovered in study Over the past few decades, hundreds of patient-advocacy organizations have emerged in the United States, promoting disease research and influencing FDA and health insurer policies. Now, a new study reveals a large proportion of these organizations have funding or other connections with drug or medical device makers, yet do not adequately disclose the details of these connections or have publicly accessible policies in place describing how they manage them. The study, led by medical ethicists at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggests that patient advocacy organizations should at least do more to acknowledge their industry connections.
	Daffodils, margaritas and other surprise skin dangers (HealthDay)—You probably know to steer clear of poison ivy. But did you know that sipping a Margarita or eating an orange in the sunshine can cause a similar skin rash?
	Itching for a solution to that rash? (HealthDay)—Maybe it's a new soap or the dry, cold weather that has turned your hands red and itchy.
	FDA throws cold water on whole body cryotherapy (HealthDay)—There's no evidence that a growing trend called whole body cryotherapy is effective, but it does pose a number of risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.
	Hispanics should be wary of the sun's rays, too (HealthDay)—Many Latinos think they're safe from sun damage, even though advanced skin cancer is increasingly common in this group, a New York skin specialist warns.
	Don't believe everything you read on skin-care product labels (HealthDay)— Some terms on skin-care product labels may mislead consumers, so people can't always rely on what they read on the package, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Ten million lives saved by 1962 breakthrough, study says Nearly 200 million cases of polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, adenovirus, rabies and hepatitis A—and approximately 450,000 deaths from these diseases—were prevented in the U.S. alone between 1963 and 2015 by vaccination, researchers estimate. The study is published in AIMS Public Health.
Cleveland takes new steps to tackle 'superbugs' Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics have made the world a much safer and healthier place. But Shakespeare was onto something when he asked if it's possible to have too much of a good thing. In the case of antibiotics, the answer is increasingly "yes."
	Is transgender identity inherited? The recent return of the "which bathroom?" issue regarding transgender individuals' use of public restrooms has made me think about how I've handled sex and gender in my human genetics textbook. Over the editions, the two topics have diverged. And that's at the crux of misunderstanding.
	Trolleys scientifically proven to be more beneficial than backpacks for the back of the children Researchers at the University of Granada (UGR) belonging to the Joint University Institute for Sports and Health (Instituto Mixto Universitario Deporte y Salud, iMUDS), have scientifically proven that trolleys are more beneficial than backpacks for children's gait, and it does less damage to their backs.
EU, US to recognize each other's medical site inspections The European Union and the United States have agreed to recognize each other's inspections of facilities where medicines are made.
	Making metabolically active brown fat from white fat-derived stem cells Researchers have demonstrated the potential to engineer brown adipose tissue, which has therapeutic promise to treat metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, from white adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). The study describes a method to produce brown fat tissue, which exists in only small amounts in adults, and is published in Tissue Engineering, Part A.
Biosimilar of costly inflammatory bowel disease therapy found safe and effective Treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis has been greatly improved by the introduction of biologic therapies such as infliximab (which targets tumour necrosis factor alpha), but at considerable cost. A recent analysis of results from 11 published studies including 829 patients shows that a new and lower-cost biosimilar for infliximab—called CT-P13 (Remsima/Inflectra)—has excellent clinical efficacy and safety.
Assessing the impact of stress in age-related macular degeneration Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss among older adults in the United States, is often associated with psychological stress. A simple stress rating scale (the Perceived Stress Scale) is a valid and useful way to evaluate the connection between stress and progressive vision loss from AMD, according to a study in the March issue of Optometry and Vision Science, the official journal of the American Academy of Optometry.
Germany expects cannabis-growing program to be going in 2019 German authorities say they expect to have a cannabis-growing program up and running in 2019 after the country approved legislation allowing some patients to get the drug as a prescription medication.
Sanford Health, hospital partner on gene sequencing project Sanford Health, one of the largest health systems in the country, is partnering with the flagship hospital of the Miami Children's Health System to sequence the genes of nearly 1,000 Latinos and Hispanics in order to better understand the health needs of the populations.
Indoor tanning, sun safety articles published by JAMA Dermatology Two original investigations on indoor tanning and sun safety by authors from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, are being published online to coincide with their presentation at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting.

Biology news

	Zika may be spread by 35 species of mosquitoes, researchers say Zika may be spread by as many as 35 species of mosquitoes, including seven found in the United States, according to a predictive model created by University of Georgia ecologists and published Tuesday in the journal, eLife.
	Study sheds new light on how species extinction affects complex ecosystems Research by the University of Southampton has found that methods used to predict the effect of species extinction on ecosystems could be producing inaccurate results. This is because current thinking assumes that when a species vanishes, its role within an environment is lost too.
	Scientists who answered why zebras have black and white stripes pose the question to pandas The scientists who uncovered why zebras have black and white stripes (to repel biting flies), took the coloration question to giant pandas in a study published this week in the journal Behavioral Ecology.
	Can math help explain our bodies—and our diseases? What makes a cluster of cells become a liver, or a muscle? How do our genes give rise to proteins, proteins to cells, and cells to tissues and organs?
	Microbiome diversity is influenced by chance encounters Within the human digestive tract, there are trillions of bacteria, and these communities contain hundreds or even thousands of species. The makeup of those populations can vary greatly from one person to another, depending on factors such as diet, environmental exposure, and health history.
Mako shark makes a 5,000-mile sprint to South Florida in just 142 days Nova Southeastern University shark scientists are marveling at the stamina of a mako named Hypower making a sprint from Maryland to South Florida - a 5,000-mile journey - in just 142 days.
Egg mythbuster—why some eggs are pear shaped Guillemot eggs are widely considered as one of the most beautiful and extraordinary eggs in the bird world and now scientists have debunked a centuries-old myth about why they have such a peculiar shape.
	Switchgrass may unlock the future of biofuel If you live east of the Rocky Mountains, you've probably encountered switchgrass, perhaps without even realizing it. A hardy perennial, the roadside and prairie grass is as ubiquitous as it is unassuming.
	First genetic radiography of the wheat from 21 Mediterranean countries used to make pasta A team of Spanish scientists, with the participation of the University of Granada, has carried out the first durum wheat genetic, phenotypic and geographic adaptation study to date. Durum wheat is mostly used for the production of pasta and semolina in the Mediterranean area.
Importance of rare microbial species is much greater than you think The rare bacterial species in a microbial community—species that each make up rarely more than one tenth of one percent of the entire population—play a very important role in ecosystem health and stability. The research is published March 3 in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	More funding for long-term studies necessary for best science, environmental policy Environmental scientists and policymakers value long-term research to an extent that far outstrips the amount of funding awarded for it, according to a study published today.
Group reports new Ethiopian wolf pups after years of losses A wildlife charity says rare Ethiopian wolves are making a comeback after losses from disease and drought.
New online tool allows consumers to assess the health benefits and risks of seafood FishChoice, a new online tool to help consumers and professionals efficiently and effectively balance the benefits and risks of eating seafood, has been launched by the EU-funded ECsafeSEAFOOD project at www.fishchoice.eu .
Denver giraffe born while millions await New York giraffe While millions of people await the livestreamed birth of a giraffe at a zoo in upstate New York, a giraffe was born at the Denver Zoo this week with little fanfare.
	Uproar as Norway paves way for hunting wolves Norway's government on Friday paved the way for recreational hunting of wolves, a policy reversal that incensed green campaigners seeking to protect the endangered species.

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