Monday, June 12, 2017

Science X Newsletter Monday, Jun 12

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 12, 2017:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Physicists use quantum memory to demonstrate quantum secure direct communication

Project Wing sets gaze on managing traffic in the skies

Two new massive planets detected around the star HD 27894

Best of Last Week – Possible phenomenon beyond Standard Model, Wow! mystery signal solved and alcohol impact on brain

Fungus uses zombie female beetles to infect males

Not your uncle's helicopter: SureFly will be at Paris Air Show

Floating solar farm reflects China's clean energy ambitions

European mobile operators brace for end of roaming charges

Study: Underweight female runners more likely to get stress fractures

Chemists bring mixed folded proteins to life

Extended hard X-ray emission from a galactic nucleus

Socioeconomic background linked to reading improvement

NASA finds evidence of diverse environments in curiosity samples

NASA data suggest future may be rainier than expected

Group's measuring tool probes solar-cell materials

Astronomy & Space news

Two new massive planets detected around the star HD 27894

Gas giant planet HD 27894 b appears to have at least two massive companions, according to a new study published June 1 in a paper on arXiv.org. One of the newly discovered alien worlds is a Saturn-mass planet, while the other one is a cold exoworld several times more massive than Jupiter.

Extended hard X-ray emission from a galactic nucleus

Supermassive black holes containing millions or even billions of solar masses of material are found at the nuclei of almost all galaxies. The Milky Way, for example, has a nuclear black hole with about 4 million solar masses of material. Around the black hole is a torus of dust and gas, and when material falls toward the black hole the inner edge of this disk can be heated to millions of degrees, and emit in X-rays.

NASA finds evidence of diverse environments in curiosity samples

NASA scientists have found a wide diversity of minerals in the initial samples of rocks collected by the Curiosity rover in the lowermost layers of Mount Sharp on Mars, suggesting that conditions changed in the water environments on the planet over time.

The seven most extreme planets ever discovered

Scientists recently discovered the hottest planet ever found – with a surface temperature greater than some stars. As the hunt for planets outside our own solar system continues, we have discovered many other worlds with extreme features. And the ongoing exploration of our own solar system has revealed some pretty weird contenders, too. Here are seven of the most extreme.

Detecting water in space and why it matters

Miguel Pereira Santaella, Research Associate at the Oxford University Department of Physics, discusses his newly published work observing never before seen water transitions in space. He breaks down how the discovery will help scientists to answer big planetary questions and build a more accurate understanding of the universe.

ALMA hears birth cry of a massive baby star

Stars form from gas and dust floating in interstellar space. But, astronomers do not yet fully understand how it is possible to form the massive stars seen in space. One key issue is gas rotation. The parent cloud rotates slowly in the initial stage and the rotation becomes faster as the cloud shrinks due to self-gravity. Stars formed in such a process should have very rapid rotation, but this is not the case. The stars observed in the Universe rotate more slowly.

Mercury Transfer Module solar wing deployment

Spanning 14 m from the spacecraft body, this impressive solar wing is one of two attached to ESA's BepiColombo Mercury Transfer Module.

Technology news

Project Wing sets gaze on managing traffic in the skies

Project Wing, under Google parent Alphabet, has passed a crucial multi-drone test, crucial because with drones in the skies one needs to track and manage a wide range of drones simultaneously.

Not your uncle's helicopter: SureFly will be at Paris Air Show

(Tech Xplore)—Workhorse, the people behind SureFly, have a dramatic opener on their company site. "After 78 years, the helicopter has been reinvented." It will be available for viewing at the Paris Air Show this month.

Floating solar farm reflects China's clean energy ambitions

As the United States was withdrawing from the Paris climate pact, China's clean energy ambitions were being reflected in the launch of the world's largest floating solar farm.

European mobile operators brace for end of roaming charges

Long an important source of revenue for telecom companies, roaming charges will be lifted in Europe starting June 15, raising pressure on operators in a tight market.

Novel techniques examine solar cells with nanoscale precision

Using two novel techniques, researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have for the first time examined, with nanometer-scale precision, the variations in chemical composition and defects of widely used solar cells. The new techniques, which investigated a common type of solar cell made of the semiconductor material cadmium telluride, promise to aid scientists in better understanding the microscopic structure of solar cells and may ultimately suggest ways to boost the efficiency at which they convert sunlight to electricity.

Securing the world's longest floating bridge against strong wind

The Norwegian Public Roads Administration's (NPRA) giant project Coastal Highway Route E39 (Ferjefri E39) includes finding solutions for seven fjord crossings along the 1100 kilometre coastline between Kristiansand and Bergen.

Interdisciplinary team to construct computer program to identify fake news

A University of Texas at Arlington-led team is building computer tools to detect social bots within the worldwide web that create and spread fake news.

Buffett charity lunch sold to highest bidder for over $2.6M

An anonymous bidder has agreed to pay more than $2.6 million for a private lunch with billionaire Warren Buffett, with the auction proceeds going to a California homeless charity.

Germany to test face recognition software in terror fight

Germany will start testing facial recognition software at a Berlin train station this summer which could help police identify and locate terror suspects more quickly, a minister said Saturday.

Competition for offshore wind ramps up in Massachusetts

Massachusetts' bid to become the nation's leader in offshore wind power is ramping up.

Fans in focus at major E3 video game trade show

Video game giant Electronic Arts on Saturday courted fans with titles such as "Star Wars Battlefront" and snatched the spotlight ahead of a major industry trade show in Los Angeles.

EU's border dwellers cheer loudest as roaming charges end

The end of roaming fees in the EU is drawing loud cheers from mobile phone users, and nowhere more so than in borderlands where residents are always just a step away from involuntarily incurring hefty surcharges.

Scientists propose method to help keep new grid components operational and safe

The power grid's physical components are continuously improving, with the integration of renewable power sources and advances in physical technology. The software underlying the safe function of the upgraded grid, however, isn't keeping up.

Marissa Mayer fades out as Yahoo ends its run

Marissa Mayer was hailed as Yahoo's savior when she took charge of the pioneering internet firm five years ago.

Microsoft challenges Sony with powerful new Xbox One X

Microsoft on Sunday unveiled Xbox One X—billing it as the most powerful video console ever made, and escalating a battle with market king PlayStation.

Investigating battery failure

From mobile phones to electric vehicles, Li-ion batteries are ubiquitous in today's society. However these devices have been known to fail, sometimes in spectacular fashion, as seen recently in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone recall. Now in a paper published in Energy and Environmental Science a team of researchers have investigated the nature of this failure in an effort to improve safety and reliability of Li-ion batteries.

Smarter use of mobile data

The data constantly collected and reported by smartphones can find numerous applications. An SNSF-funded project devoted to crowdsensing has found ways to improve privacy and localisation accuracy as well as reduce the impact on hardware.

Finnish demo plant produces renewable fuel from carbon dioxide captured from the air

The unique Soletair demo plant developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) uses carbon dioxide to produce renewable fuels and chemicals. The pilot plant is coupled to LUT's solar power plant in Lappeenranta.

Small-scale Doppler effect to help cyclists stay safe

An extremely sensitive radar that can detect when different parts of people's bodies are moving at different speeds could help drivers avoid collisions with vulnerable road users such as cyclists.

Potent malware targets electricity systems

Hackers have developed powerful malware that can shut down electricity distribution systems and possibly other critical infrastructure, two cyber security firms announced Monday, with one report linking it to Russia.

A fall left a man paralyzed. Now a robotic 'exoskeleton' lets him walk again.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Five years after he fell while building a treehouse, paralyzing him from the waist down, Scot Mills stood from his chair at Carolinas Rehabilitation last Monday and took a stroll outdoors.

Lyft joining forces with Jaguar Land Rover in tech venture

The next Lyft car you book may soon be a Jaguar or a Land Rover.

Uber weighs shake-up as inquiry report looms

Uber on Monday was mulling a shake-up of top management, including a possible leave of absence for its chief executive, as the ridesharing giant prepares to release results of an independent inquiry into misconduct and ethical practices, reports said.

Medicine & Health news

Study: Underweight female runners more likely to get stress fractures

Carrying less weight may make female runners faster, but a new study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center shows it may also put them at a higher risk for injuries.

Socioeconomic background linked to reading improvement

About 20 percent of children in the United States have difficulty learning to read, and educators have devised a variety of interventions to try to help them. Not every program helps every student, however, in part because the origins of their struggles are not identical.

Exploring high cholesterol's link with psoriasis

A new Northwestern Medicine study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation has demonstrated how a specific class of immune cells represent a previously unknown link between high cholesterol and the development of symptoms characteristic of psoriasis.

'Indoor GPS' could stop you getting lost – or going hungry – ever again

Gatwick Airport is hoping you'll never get lost on the way to catch a flight again. The London airport has recently installed a wayfinding system that works like a kind of indoor GPS to direct customers around the building using their smartphones. We could soon see this "blue dot" technology being used in more and more large commercial buildings, such as shopping malls and conference centres, to help us find the quickest route to a destination – but also to steer us into spending more money.

Vitamin C and antibiotics—a new one-two punch for knocking-out cancer stem cells.

Cancer stem cells, which fuel the growth of fatal tumours, can be knocked out by a one-two combination of antibiotics and Vitamin C in a new experimental strategy, published by researchers at the University of Salford, UK.

Blue Brain team discovers a multi-dimensional universe in brain networks

For most people, it is a stretch of the imagination to understand the world in four dimensions but a new study has discovered structures in the brain with up to eleven dimensions - ground-breaking work that is beginning to reveal the brain's deepest architectural secrets.

Use of prefabricated blood vessels may revolutionize root canals

While root canals are effective in saving a tooth that has become infected or decayed, this age-old procedure may cause teeth to become brittle and susceptible to fracture over time. Now researchers at OHSU in Portland, Oregon, have developed a process by which they can engineer new blood vessels in teeth, creating better long-term outcomes for patients and clinicians.

PET imaging of atherosclerosis reveals risk of plaque rupture

A new study shows that a hybrid molecular imaging system unites three imaging modalities to map the composition of dangerous arterial plaques before they rupture and induce a major cardiac event. The research was presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Insomnia genes found

An international team of researchers has found, for the first time, seven risk genes for insomnia. With this finding the researchers have taken an important step towards the unravelling of the biological mechanisms that cause insomnia. In addition, the finding proves that insomnia is not, as is often claimed, a purely psychological condition. Today, Nature Genetics publishes the results of this research.

Genetic testing can pick out men at increased risk of testicular cancer

Testing for large numbers of genetic changes can identify men with over a 10-fold increased risk of testicular cancer, a new study shows.

Mysterious gene transcripts after cancer therapy

Tumor suppressor genes protect cells from malignant transformation. If they are turned off as a result of chemical modifications in DNA, called epigenetic labels, this contributes to the development of cancer. As opposed to gene mutations, these epigenetic changes are reversible and it is possible to use specific drugs to erase them.

Inflammatory molecule essential to muscle regeneration in mice, researchers find

A molecule released as part of an inflammatory response after muscle injury or rigorous exercise activates muscle stem cells responsible for repairing the damage, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Regenerating damaged nerves with 'Pac-Man' cells

Biomedical engineers have found an unlikely ally in the struggle to regrow damaged nerves—the foot soldiers of the body's immune system.

Study sheds new light on inherited testicular cancer risk

An analysis of data from five major studies of testicular cancer has identified new genetic locations that could be susceptible to inherited testicular germ cell tumors. The findings, which researchers call a success story for genome mapping, could help doctors understand which men are at the highest risk of developing the disease and signal them to screen those patients.

Where cigarette smoking's damage is done... down to your DNA

Scientists have known for decades that smoking cigarettes causes DNA damage, which leads to lung cancer. Now, for the first time, UNC School of Medicine scientists created a method for effectively mapping that DNA damage at high resolution across the genome.

Worldwide consensus on the terminology that supports research into sedentary behavior

A worldwide network of scientists examining the links between sedentary lifestyles and health problems such as obesity and cardiovascular disease today announced a new dictionary of terms to support research into sedentary behaviour.

Is the finger-stick blood test necessary for type 2 diabetes treatment?

In a landmark study, UNC School of Medicine researchers have shown that blood glucose testing does not offer a significant advantage in blood sugar control or quality of life for type 2 diabetes patients who are not treated with insulin. The paper, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, details findings from a randomized trial called "The MONITOR Trial." This study is the first large pragmatic study examining glucose monitoring in the United States.

Home monitoring of blood sugar did not improve glycemic control after one year

Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes who are not treated with insulin did not improve glycemic control or health-related quality of life after one year in a randomized trial, results that suggest self-monitoring should not be routine in these patients, according to a new study published by JAMA Internal Medicine. The study is being presented at the American Diabetes Association 77th Scientific Sessions.

Study finds potential mechanism for BCG vaccine reversal of type 1 diabetes

Interim results from a FDA-approved clinical trial testing the generic vaccine bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) to reverse advanced type 1 diabetes are being presented at the 75th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. The data demonstrate a potential new mechanism by which the BCG vaccine may restore the proper immune response to the insulin-secreting islet cells of the pancreas. Presented by Denise Faustman, MD, PhD, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Immunobiology Laboratory and principal investigator of the trial, the findings suggest that BCG may induce a permanent increase in expression of genes that restore the beneficial regulatory T cells (Tregs) that prevent the immune system from attacking the body's own tissue.

Fasting plasma glucose and insulin are determinants of dietary weight loss success

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen, together with colleagues from the University of Colorado, Tufts University, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBER OBN) and Gelesis, Inc., presented new data demonstrating that blood sugar (glucose) and/or fasting insulin should be used to select the right diet, particularly for people with prediabetes and diabetes. Evaluated across six major interventional diet studies utilizing a variety of nutrition strategies, these biomarkers were repeatedly proven as predictors of weight loss and maintenance success.

E-cigarettes potentially as harmful as tobacco cigarettes, study shows

A study by chemists at the University of Connecticut offers new evidence that electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes are potentially as harmful as tobacco cigarettes.

Drug costs vary by more than 600% in study of 10 high-income countries

In a study of 10 high-income countries with universal health care, costs for prescription drugs in 6 of the largest categories of primary care medicines varied by more than 600%, according to research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Oral communication provides better outcomes for children with cochlear implants

In a new, multisite study of deaf children with cochlear implants, UT Dallas researchers have found that children with either no exposure or limited exposure to sign language end up with better auditory, speaking and reading skills later. The paper is one of the first nationwide longitudinal studies of how sign language exposure affects young cochlear implant recipients.

Burden of physical health conditions linked to increased risk of suicide

Suicide continues to be a major driver of mortality in the United States. Each year, more than 45,000 people die by suicide and in the past 15 years, the suicide mortality rate has risen by an alarming 24%. A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine examines how illness plays a role in suicide risk. Researchers found that 17 physical health conditions, ailments such as back pain, diabetes, and heart disease, were associated with an increased risk of suicide. Two of the conditions—sleep disorders and HIV/AIDS—represented a greater than twofold increase, while traumatic brain injury made individuals nine times more likely to die by suicide.

Ontarians still skeptical of flu shot

Half of all people who avoid the flu shot do so because they question its importance and effectiveness, a new study from the University of Waterloo reports.

Epigenetic changes at birth could explain later behavior problems

Epigenetic changes present at birth - in genes related to addiction and aggression - could be linked to conduct problems in children, according to a new study by King's College London and the University of Bristol.

Short duration of breastfeeding and maternal obesity linked to fatty liver in adolescents

Infants who were breastfed for less than six months before starting infant formula milk and infants who had mothers who were obese at the start of pregnancy, were much more likely to develop nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as adolescents, according to a novel study in the Journal of Hepatology.

Research suggests Asian women less likely to receive timely follow-up after abnormal mammogram

Women with an abnormal mammogram result need follow-up tests to check whether the finding indicates breast cancer, which should be treated at the earliest possible stage. In a recent study, Asian women were less likely to receive appropriate follow-up treatment after an abnormal mammogram compared with White women. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings point to the need to investigate and address barriers to effective cancer prevention in Asian women.

Investigators examine the relationship between pain and opioid abuse

The drug overdose epidemic is largely driven by opioids, which continue to be prescribed for chronic pain despite recommendations to use non-opioids for most cases. A new review published in the British Journal of Pharmacology examines the interaction between pain and the abuse of opioids, and investigates the circuits in the brain that may be behind this link. The review is part of a special theme issue on Emergent Areas of Opioid Pharmacology.

Risk, benefit or cost: What stops patients from receiving a diagnostic test?

Diagnostic tests can help identify disease and disease probability in patients.

Spouses' daily responses to partners' pain linked with later functioning

The dynamics of spouses' daily interactions may influence whether an ill partner's physical functioning improves over time, according to new findings published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

New frontier in cancer care: Turning blood into living drugs

Ken Shefveland's body was swollen with cancer, treatment after treatment failing until doctors gambled on a radical approach: They removed some of his immune cells, engineered them into cancer assassins and unleashed them into his bloodstream.

Vegetarian diets almost twice as effective in reducing body weight, study finds

Dieters who go vegetarian not only lose weight more effectively than those on conventional low-calorie diets but also improve their metabolism by reducing muscle fat, a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition has found.

The dorsal frontoparietal network as a core system for emulated action

Our brain's fronto-parietal network is responsible for a range of highly diverse functions, from planning and executing movements to mental rotation, and from spatial attention to working memory. But how can a single network participate in such a wide variety of functions? Neuroscientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland, have recently put forward an original hypothesis—all these cognitive functions rely on one central function: emulation. This function creates an abstract dynamic 'image' of movements, thereby enabling the brain to strengthen its motor skills and construct a precise and lasting representation of them. The fronto-parietal network, it is argued, has evolved from a network that only controlled motor skills to a much more generalised system. This hypothesis, which is set out in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences, would explain why patients who have suffered an injury in this specific part in the brain have sequelae that affect a number of functions which, at first glance, do not necessarily appear to be linked. This research could open the door to more effective multi-modal therapies for individuals with cerebral lesions.

Lithium protects against suicide

Suicidal behaviour decreases among individuals with bipolar disorder during periods of lithium medication, according to an extensive register-based study conducted at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. The results are published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Heavy video gaming can be part of a healthy social life, research shows

Michelle Colder Carras was concerned about her teenage sons playing video games for at least an hour or two each day, more on weekends. But then she tried playing Dance Dance Revolution, a musical game that challenges players to match dance step instructions scrolling up the screen while standing on a foot-controlled pad, and she found herself getting in better shape the more she played. Colder Carras, a postdoctoral fellow in the Bloomberg School of Public Health's Department of Mental Health, had also witnessed her oldest son, diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, connect with others through video games, and even learn to program his own. She asked herself a question: "How can we figure out how to make use of games but also make sure we're not causing problems related to too much gaming?"

New process may lead to vaccine for schistosomiasis

Cornell and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research scientists have developed a way to produce a protein antigen that may be useful as vaccine for schistosomiasis – a parasitic disease that infects millions of people, mostly in tropical and subtropical climates – according to new research in the journal Protein Expression and Purification, June 2017.

Two proteins produced by a single gene interact to keep the genome in check

An epigenetic mechanism regulating gene activity has been revealed by a KAUST-led international team of researchers investigating interactions between the human genome and its environment in adult tissues.

Treatment gap in patients suffering from irregular heartbeat resulting in heightened risk of stroke

A study by the University of Birmingham has revealed a treatment gap in patients suffering from a heart condition that causes an irregular or abnormally fast heartbeat.

Anorexia nervosa has a genetic basis

A large-scale, international whole-genome analysis has now revealed for the first time that anorexia nervosa is associated with genetic anomalies on chromosome 12. This finding might lead to new, interdisciplinary approaches to its treatment. The study was led by the University of North Carolina and has been published in the prestigious American Journal of Psychiatry. Child and adolescent psychiatrist Andreas Karwautz from MedUni Vienna's Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry was responsible for the Austrian contribution.

Recognizing the risks of serious complications before discharge from hospital

The University of Tampere and TAYS (Tampere University Hospital) Heart Hospital use artificial intelligence (A.I.) technologies developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in the home care of heart patients. The objective is to recognize serious difficult-to-predict complications as early as possible using the latest methods.

Examining elderly bullying

Men and women who were once mobile, busy and hard-working often find themselves contained by the physical limitations of their aging bodies, a consequence of growing old.

Choosing healthy food—surroundings can help or hinder dining choices

Most of us know what sort of food we should eat to optimise our health and help avoid lifestyle diseases like obesity and heart disease. But we don't stick to our ideal diets.

An inexpensive first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes may also reduce heart disease in those with type 1 diabetes

An inexpensive first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes may also reduce heart disease in those with type 1 diabetes, according to a new global trial led by the University of Glasgow.

Motion-assist devices for sensorimotor learning using a rat experimental model

Researchers have demonstrated that learning effectiveness can be improved by assisting stimulus-response motion in a timely manner. Rats learned more rapidly when an external force was applied to cause an incorrect response motion, than when such a force was applied to cause a correct response motion.

The benefits that a digital healthcare system could bring aren't out of reach

Imagine a day where you don't have to wait weeks to see your GP, followed by a further wait for medical test results and then still more waiting before being seen by a specialist. We know that changing demographic trends, an ageing population and rising rates of chronic illnesses are creating huge demand for health care and social care services. Given the sophistication of 21st-century technology, how could our health care system be changed to better cope with the population it serves?

Traffic-light-controlled intersections found to attract fatal accidents

Traffic accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists have increased both in Houston and nationally in recent years, and a new report from Rice University's Kinder Institute for Urban Research found that intersections with traffic lights are nine times more likely to see fatal car crashes with pedestrians and bicyclists.

Uncovering the biology of a painful and disfiguring pediatric disease

Hyaline Fibromatosis Syndrome (HFS) is a rare but severe genetic disease that affects babies, children, and adults. A glassy substance called hyaline accumulates in the skin and various organs of patients, causing painful deformities and may lead to early death. The disease is caused by gene mutations that destroy the function of a protein whose physiological function is little understood. EPFL scientists have now studied and characterized its function for the first time, showing that it binds and controls the body levels of an important type of collagen. The work is published in Nature Communications.

Research finds care home design isn't depressing – providing you can actually get outside

With around 40% of residents in UK care homes having significant depressive symptoms, researchers have questioned whether the design of the physical environment of homes could be contributing to the problem, and how this could be addressed. New research led by the University of Warwick has found that although the physical environment alone is unlikely to negatively affect the mood of residents, poor access to gardens and outdoor spaces could. Procedural, staffing and physical barriers can prevent older people using outdoor spaces and the researchers at Warwick Medical School and WMG at the University of Warwick have found that access to the outdoors is significantly associated with depressive symptoms.

Harnessing computational intelligence to improve the management of health emergencies

Hospitals and healthcare facilities use numerous databases containing the records of a whole host of physiological variables of the patients they treat. The processing and analysis of these data can enable healthcare staff to anticipate and spot those patients at greater risk of deterioration. Asier Garmendia, a researcher in the GIC (Computational Intelligence Group) at the UPV/EHU, has developed a system based on computational intelligence for this purpose.

Neuro-receptor PET could provide an early warning for alcoholic relapse

Alcohol abuse disorder is a devastating and complicated disease affecting millions of people worldwide. A study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) reveals how brain receptors involved in the compulsion to drink, adapt to alcohol-dependency by reducing their bioavailability, but return to their normal availability after a modest period of detoxification. Receptor availability at the outset of sobriety could also serve as a predictor of long-term success.

Targeted photodynamic therapy shown highly effective against prostate cancer

Researchers presenting a preclinical study at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) demonstrated the efficacy and optimal dose for targeted photodynamic therapy (tPDT) to treat prostate cancer before and during surgery. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) was targeted with an anti-PSMA antibody radiolabeled with the tracer indium-111 (111In) and coupled with specialized photosensitizers that cause cell destruction upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR). The combined formula is 111In-DTPA-D2B-IRDye700DX.

Older adults are good Samaritans to strangers

People tend to become more generous as they age. This certainly holds true when it comes to helping strangers, according to a recent study by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS). Findings from the study showed that while the older adults treat their kin and friends the same as younger adults do, the elderly donate more to strangers than younger adults, even when their generosity is unlikely to be reciprocated.

Structural analysis of relevant drug targets for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is classified as a neurodegenerative non-curable disease that affects millions worldwide. Current drugs have side effects that are significant. In AD, the beta-amyloid precursor protein (β-APP) that is critical for normal neuronal growth, survival and repair, is improperly cleaved by specific aspartic proteases, which create fragments that form plaques of amyloid beta. These fragments aggregate outside neurons and create plaques which lead to destruction of neural signaling. The pathophysiology of AD is complex, although there are many approaches to combat the disease. Many studies target PTB domain-containing proteins in order to inhibit binding to β-APP preventing amyloid formation; whereas others target inhibition of specific aspartate proteases required for amyloid plaque formation. The role of GSK-3 is actively being studied in addition to specific inhibitors to this target for AD. Structural examples analyzed include Presenilin Homologue (PSH) protein and Mint1 which are important for the regulation of β-APP.

ASTRO issues guideline for use of stereotactic radiation in early-stage lung cancer

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) issued a new clinical guideline for the use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in early-stage lung cancer today. While SBRT is the current standard of care for peripherally located tumors in patients who cannot undergo surgery, the new guideline addresses the appropriateness of SBRT for medically inoperable patients with high-risk clinical scenarios requiring curative focused therapy. The guideline also reviews the role of SBRT for centrally located tumors because of their unique risks compared to peripheral tumors. The guideline is available as a free access article in Practical Radiation Oncology, ASTRO's clinical practice journal.

Status epilepticus: An overview

Seizures can be divided into three major groups: focal, generalised and unknown. Among all form of seizures, status epilepticus (SE) is a serious neurological condition affecting 50 million people around the world. SE is a neurologic emergency wherein an individual suffers from continuous or repetitive seizures in the brain, each lasting five minutes or more without regaining consciousness between seizures. In these conditions, immediate and effective treatment is required in the least possible time as it is associated with neuronal damage, systemic complications, substantial morbidity and mortality depending on status type, duration, age and etiology.

New study finds more than 2 billion people overweight or obese

Globally, more than 2 billion children and adults suffer from health problems related to being overweight or obese, and an increasing percentage of people die from these health conditions, according to a new study.

Chemical composition and microhardness of human enamel treated with fluoridated whintening agents

Aesthetic treatments are always widely sought by dental patients, especially dental whitening, in order to get whiter smiles. The big demand for this type of procedure raises the concern in the dental research community that this type of treatment has the potential to make dental alterations that cause damage to the dental structure and if there are suitable components that can be added to dental bleaching agents to reduce such effects.

How blows to the head cause numerous small swellings along the length of neuronal axons

Researchers from The Ohio State University have discovered how blows to the head cause numerous small swellings along the length of neuronal axons. The study, "Polarity of varicosity initiation in central neuron mechanosensation," which will be published June 12 in The Journal of Cell Biology, observes the swelling process in live cultured neurons and could lead to new ways of limiting the symptoms associated with concussive brain injuries.

Bats are the major reservoir of coronaviruses worldwide

Results of a five-year study in 20 countries on three continents have found that bats harbor a large diversity of coronaviruses (CoV), the family of viruses that cause Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS). Findings from the study—led by scientists in the USAID-funded PREDICT project at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and the University of California, Davis' One Health Institute in the School of Veterinary Medicine—are published in the journal Virus Evolution. PREDICT is a globally coordinated effort to detect and discover viruses of pandemic potential and reduce risk for future epidemics.

Concentration spans drop when online ads pop up

Two Polish researchers have shown that measurements of the brain's electrical activity can be used to test the influence of intrusive online advertisements on internet users' concentration and emotions. The exploratory study was conducted by Izabela Rejer and Jaroslaw Jankowski of the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Poland, and is published in Springer's journal Cognitive Processing.

Obesity rising in nations rich and poor, especially in kids

The world's weight problem is growing in countries rich and poor, and in many of them obesity is increasing faster in children than adults.

Study identifies potential biomarker for Alzheimer's disease

In one of the largest studies to date to use metabolomics, the study of compounds that are created through various chemical reactions in the body, researchers have been able to identify new circulating compounds associated with the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Better outcome measures needed for clinical trials for Fragile X Syndrome

A group of researchers from several institutions in the USA, including Johns Hopkins Medicine, reports that its review of 22 clinical trials of fragile X syndrome (FXS) suggests the need for a wider use of newer and improved treatment outcome measurement tools for this and other several neurodevelopmental disorders. FXS is the most common inherited form of intellectual disability and the most common form of autism associated with a single gene mutation.

Previously unpublished trial data explain effects and side effects of key MS drug

Alemtuzumab is a highly effective drug for multiple sclerosis, approved in more than 60 countries and used by more than 12,000 patients worldwide. However, there is an almost 50 per cent risk of secondary autoimmune diseases, some of which are life-threatening, such as platelet and kidney diseases.

Licensing, motor vehicle crash risk among teens with ADHD

Adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are licensed to drive less often and, when this group is licensed, they have a greater risk of crashing, according to a new study published by JAMA Pediatrics.

Is educational attainment associated with lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease?

Men and women with the lowest education level had higher lifetime risks of cardiovascular disease than those with the highest education level, according to a new study published by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Do mast cells contribute to more severe disease in dengue infection?

Why mosquito-borne dengue virus causes more severe disease in some individuals, including hemorrhagic fever with or without shock, remains controversial and researchers are focusing on the factors related to the interaction between the virus and the host immune system, including the role of mast cells. An in-depth review of the latest research showing how mast cells can be both protective and can contribute to the most severe forms of dengue is presented in the article "Role of Mast Cells in Dengue Virus Pathogenesis," published in DNA and Cell Biology, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

How do preemies perform in school?

Parents of prematurely born babies often fear their children may go on to struggle in school, but findings from a new large-scale study from the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University and Northwestern Medicine should reassure parents.

AI that can shoot down fighter planes helps treat bipolar disorder

The artificial intelligence that can blow human pilots out of the sky in air-to-air combat accurately predicted treatment outcomes for bipolar disorder, according to a new medical study by the University of Cincinnati.

Study discovers proteins which suppress the growth of breast cancer tumors

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have found that a type of protein could hold the secret to suppressing the growth of breast cancer tumours.

Vaping cannabis may expose users to carcinogenic compounds

New research shows that the agents commonly mixed with cannabis oil for vaping can also produce cancer-causing compounds when heated. The effect is similar to the potential health risks linked to cigarette smoke and agents used in e-cigarettes. The new study demonstrates that exposure to harmful levels of formaldehyde can come with a single inhalation of vaporized cannabis oil. The research is published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM), a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

Study shows drug lowers levels of biomarker linked to ALS

A new study finds that a decades-old drug used to treat malaria lowers levels of a biomarker linked to the inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig's Disease. The research, conducted by investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and other centers, was published online in the Annals of Neurology, in advance of the June print edition of the journal.

Can a single exercise session benefit your brain?

In a new review of the effects of acute exercise published in Brain Plasticity, researchers not only summarize the behavioral and cognitive effects of a single bout of exercise, but also summarize data from a large number of neurophysiological and neurochemical studies in both humans and animals showing the wide range of brain changes that result from a single session of physical exercise (i.e., acute exercise).

A way to objectively measure residents' surgical skills? No sweat

Post-graduate physician training, known as residency, develops skills and expertise within a medical specialty. During five to seven years of surgical training, medical school professors determine the level of clinical competency, confidence and decision-making skills of each resident physician through personal observations. However, a recent study at the University of Missouri School of Medicine has shown that levels of perspiration can provide an objective evaluation of the surgical skills of resident physicians.

Immune profiling leads to implications for immunotherapy for NF1-associated tumors

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)—an autosomal dominant disorder affecting approximately one in every 3,500 people—results in dysfunctional neurofibromin, a protein expressed throughout the body and involved in the RAS signaling pathway. Virtually all patients with NF1 develop benign peripheral nerve sheath neurofibromas, which are believed to arise from aberrant Schwann cells. Additionally, some tumors undergo malignant transformation.

Metastatic breast cancer cells use hedgehog to 'evilize' docile neighbors

A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published today in Nature Communications shows that metastatic breast cancer cells signal neighboring cells in ways that allow otherwise anchored cells to metastasize. The work pinpoints a promising link in the chain of signaling that, when broken, could reduce the metastatic potential of the disease.

Long after 1980s farm crisis, farmers still take own lives at a high rate

The number of suicides among farmers and farmworkers in the United States has remained stubbornly high since the end of the 1980s farm crisis, much higher than workers in many other industries, according to a new study from the University of Iowa.

Sexual stereotypes can lead to unhealthy sexual relationships

Female college students who believe women are subservient and who endorse music media's degradation of women are more likely to be involved in an unhealthy sexual relationship, according to research from WSU's Murrow Center for Media & Health Promotion Research.

Can't shake old ideas? Wash them off, suggests new study

Handwipes aren't just for germs anymore. Their uses may extend to more flexible thinking and reorienting one's priorities.

High court ruling speeds up generic biotech drug approval

The Supreme Court is speeding up the time for generic biotech drugs to become available to the public. The court's unanimous ruling Monday means a loss of billions in sales to makers of original versions.

Sweet sizzlin' beans! Fancy names may boost healthy dining

Researchers tried a big serving of food psychology and a dollop of trickery to get diners to eat their vegetables. And it worked.

Living drugs new frontier for cancer patients out of options

Ken Shefveland's body was swollen with cancer, treatment after treatment failing until doctors gambled on a radical approach: They removed some of his immune cells, engineered them into cancer assassins and unleashed them into his bloodstream.

Researchers find cellular sweet spot in skin-cancer battle

A team of researchers has pinpointed a sugar modification in cells that spurs the spread of skin cancer. Its findings, which appear in the latest issue of the journal Cancer Cell, spotlight a target in the battle against melanoma.

How bile duct cancer develops and how it can be prevented

Two different types of cancer can develop in the liver. The more common malignant tumors are hepatocellular carcinomas, which arise from liver cells. Less common in the liver is bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma), which originates from bile duct cells or undifferentiated liver cells. Both types of cancer are difficult to treat - and the number of newly diagnosed cases has been on the rise in recent years. In the U.S.A., they are the second most frequent cause of death from cancer today and the cancer type with the fastest growth rate of new cases.

New report outlines strategies to address racial, ethnic health care disparities

An analysis of survey data from participants in the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)-based Disparities Leadership Program - a yearlong executive education initiative designed to help health care leaders address racial and ethnic disparities in health care services - has identified five important strategies that helped participants implement successful projects for their institutions. The report from members of the MGH Disparities Solutions Center, which conducts the program, appears in the June issue of Health Affairs, which focuses on issues of health equity.

A Cuban vaccine might some day turn lung cancer into a chronic disease

The first patients in a clinical trial at Roswell Park Cancer Institute have begun receiving monthly doses of CIMAvax-EGF, a Cuban lung cancer vaccine that U.S. researchers say shows promise in preventing the recurrence of lung cancer - the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

Florida researchers develop cheap, fast test for Zika, but widespread use may be years away

Florida researchers have developed a new device for detecting the Zika virus quickly and cheaply - although it might take years for it to come to market.

Research offers mixed messages on the impact of social media on adolescent emotional health

When adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Drew Pate counsels patients or speaks to parenting groups, questions about social media use inevitably arise.

Vitamin B6 linked to increased risk of hip fracture

(HealthDay)—Vitamin B6, but not vitamin B12, is associated with increased risk of hip fracture during extended follow-up, according to a study published online June 2 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

Intra-op liberal fluid therapy effectively cuts post-op nausea

(HealthDay)—For children undergoing lower abdominal surgery, intraoperative liberal fluid therapy is effective for reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), according to a study published online June 6 in Pediatric Anesthesia.

Reduced corneal nerve fiber density in patients with HIV

(HealthDay)—Patients with HIV and HIV-associated sensory neuropathy (HIV-SN) have reduced corneal nerve fiber density, which can be identified using in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCCM), according to a study published online June 8 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Study suggests hyaluronic acid filler remnants safe to reuse

(HealthDay)—Remnants of hyaluronic acid fillers that have been opened and stored can be reused safely, with no signs of aerobic or anaerobic bacterial or fungal growth in non-aseptic conditions, according to a study published online June 2 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

Lumacaftor, ivacaftor linked to improved lung function in CF

(HealthDay)—For patients aged 6 to 11 years with cystic fibrosis homozygous for F508del-cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), lumacaftor and ivacaftor treatment is associated with significant improvement in lung function, according to a study published online June 9 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

Animal models can't 'tune out' stimuli, mimicking sensory hypersensitivity in humans

By tickling the whiskers of mice, and recording how they respond, UCLA researchers may be closer to understanding why many children with autism cover their ears when they hear loud sounds or can't tolerate scratchy wool sweaters.

Western diet increases Alzheimer's pathology in genetically predisposed mice

Obese mice with a particular version of a gene strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) in humans show increased Alzheimer's pathology, according to new research published in eNeuro. The study suggests lifestyle changes could reduce the likelihood of developing AD in individuals with this genetic predisposition.

Low levels of vitamin A may fuel TB risk

People with low levels of vitamin A living with individuals sick with tuberculosis may be 10 times more likely to develop the disease than people with high levels of the nutrient, according to research led by investigators at Harvard Medical School.

E-cigarettes less addictive than cigarettes, PATH study shows

People who regularly use electronic cigarettes are less dependent on their product than those who regularly use traditional cigarettes, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

Identifying underlying causes of immune deficiencies that increase shingles risk

Early life infections with varicella zoster virus cause chickenpox, but the virus can remain dormant in the nervous system for decades and reactivate to cause herpes zoster, commonly known as shingles. Shingles is characterized by a painful skin rash and blisters, and it predominantly affects the elderly. Shingles also occurs at a higher rate in people diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD), which affects immune system function in part through changes in infection-responsive immune cells called macrophages. The specific immune mechanisms underlying age- and CAD-related viral reactivation are not well understood.

Drug developed for arthritis could be first to stop heart valve calcification

The first drug to treat calcification of heart valves may be one originally designed for rheumatoid arthritis.

Traditional Chinese medicine may benefit some heart disease patients

Traditional Chinese medicine might be effective as a complement or alternative to traditional Western medicine for primary and secondary prevention of heart disease, according to a state of the art review paper published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Bilingual children are better at recognizing voices

Bilingual children are better than their monolingual peers at perceiving information about who is talking, including recognizing voices, according to a study by NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

Common periodontal pathogen may interfere with conception in women

According to a study carried out at the University of Helsinki, Finland, a common periodontal pathogen may delay conception in young women. This finding is novel: previous studies have shown that periodontal diseases may be a risk for general health, but no data on the influence of periodontal bacteria on conception or becoming pregnant have been available.

Mixing booze and pot is a serious threat to traffic safety

June 12, 2017Use of marijuana in combination with alcohol by drivers is especially dangerous, according to a latest study conducted at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Drivers who used alcohol, marijuana, or both were significantly more likely to be responsible for causing fatal two-vehicle crashes compared to drivers who were involved in the same crashes but used neither of the substances. The findings are published in the journal, Annals of Epidemiology.

Personalized PRRT improves radiation delivery to neuroendocrine tumors

Neuroendocrine cancer is exceedingly difficult to manage and unlikely to be cured, but researchers intend to slow progression of these tumors and aid survival by personalizing patient dose of peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), according to research presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI).

Targeted radionuclide treatment for neuroendocrine tumors improves quality of life

Malignant neuroendocrine tumors, commonly called NETs, are easy to miss and associated with discouraging survival rates and poor quality of life. A study presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) shows how a novel peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is significantly improving patient wellbeing.

New models in largest breast cancer clinical trial in Oklahoma

A University of Oklahoma and Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City research team is set to begin the largest breast cancer clinical trial ever performed in Oklahoma. The team has developed new breast cancer risk prediction models based on a computer-aided image feature analysis scheme to identify patients who might have cancers that are not visible on mammography. After review of 2,000 imaging studies performed at Mercy over the past two years and refinement of the image analysis system, the clinical trial begins July 1, 2017, at the Mercy Breast Center.

Backyard poultry present salmonella risk

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this spring reports that there are eight ongoing outbreaks of salmonella in 47 states linked to backyard poultry in the United States. As of May 13, 71 people had been hospitalized—36 percent of those infected are children under the age of 5. Fortunately, no deaths have been reported.

Slum children face high risk of diarrhoea in Nepal

Diarrhoea is one of the leading causes of child mortality in developing countries. Two million children die of diarrhoea in the world every year. Research published recently in the Journal of Lumbini Medical College has found that children living in the slums of Nepal's small hill towns are at significant risk of diarrhoea.

Balance and movement improved in animal model of Parkinson's disease

Researchers at UCLA have developed a molecular compound that improves balance and coordination in mice with early stage Parkinson's disease. Further, the drug, called CLR01, reduced the amount of a toxic protein in the brain that is thought to be one of the prime culprits in the development of the disorder.

Missouri lawmakers return for special session on abortion

Missouri lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Monday after Republican Gov. Eric Greitens called for a special session aimed at imposing more abortion restrictions and undoing a St. Louis ordinance that bans discrimination over abortion and pregnancies.

Smeal research helps assess humanitarian response capacity in disasters

Immediately following a natural disaster that outpaces a community's ability to respond, various outside organizations rush to provide life-saving commodities to meet health, water, food, shelter or other needs. That response is expedited by inventory prepositioned independently by governmental and non-governmental organizations.

HealthCare.gov dropout trend continues under Trump

Continuing a dropout trend seen in the Obama years, about 16 percent of consumers who signed up for coverage this year through public health insurance markets had canceled their plans by early spring, the government said Monday.

Biology news

Fungus uses zombie female beetles to infect males

A combined team of researchers from the University of Arkansas and Cornell University has found that a type of fungus kills female goldenrod soldier beetles in a unique way—by causing them to attract males, which assists in spreading spores. In their paper published in the Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, the group describes observations they made of the beetle, experiments they conducted in their lab, and the peculiar way the fungus spread itself to new hosts.

Chip captures individual cells in minuscule gels

Researchers at the University of Twente's MIRA research institute have developed a chip that can capture and hold individual cells in the exact centre of a minuscule hydrogel droplet. Their novel method keeps cells alive for multiple weeks, which makes it easier to study them.

Microbes give meerkat gangs their signature scents

Body odor. To some it's an embarrassing nuisance. But to meerkats, it's a calling card.

Islands and coastal regions are threatened the most

Humans are responsible for the movement of an increasing number of species into new territories which they previously never inhabited. The number of established alien species varies according to world region. What was previously unclear is where the most established alien species could be found and which factors characterise their distribution.

Technology unlocks mold genomes for new drugs

Fungi are rich sources of natural molecules for drug discovery, but numerous challenges have pushed pharmaceutical companies away from tapping into this bounty. Now scientists at Northwestern University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the biotech company Intact Genomics have developed technology that uses genomics and data analytics to efficiently screen for molecules produced by molds to find new drug leads—maybe even the next penicillin.

Detailed new genome for maize shows the plant has deep resources for continued adaptation

A new, much more detailed reference genome for maize, or corn, as it is called in the U.S., will be published in Nature today. In its accounting of the sequence of DNA letters in the plant's 10 chromosomes, the new version helps us understand as never before why maize, and not some other plant, is today the most productive and widely grown crop in the world.

Uncovered: 1,000 new microbial genomes

The number of microbes in a handful of soil exceeds the number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy, but researchers know less about what's on Earth because they have only recently had the tools to deeply explore what is just underfoot. Now scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI), a DOE Office of Science User Facility, have taken a decisive step forward in uncovering the planet's microbial diversity. In a paper published online June 12, 2017 in Nature Biotechnology, DOE JGI's Prokaryotic Super Program head Nikos Kyrpides and his team of researchers report the release of 1,003 phylogenetically diverse bacterial and archaeal reference genomes—the single largest release to date.

Genetic differences across species guide vocal learning in juvenile songbirds

Juvenile birds discriminate and selectively learn their own species' songs even when primarily exposed to the songs of other species, but the underlying mechanism has remained unknown. A new study, by researchers at Uppsala University, shows that song discrimination arises due to genetic differences between species, rather than early learning or other mechanisms. The results are published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.

A single molecule is missing and the cell world is empty

Cells multiply by duplicating themselves: they grow, replicate their components, and finally split into two. Many diseases are related to defective cell division; cancer is one of them. Understanding mechanisms conducting this division is therefore essential in the search for cancer treatments. Researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, in collaboration with the IMBA- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology at the Vienna BioCenter (VBC) and the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, have turned their attention in particular to the role of ESCRT proteins, which are responsible for severing cell membranes. These proteins assemble in spirals that gradually bring about cleavage of the membrane, spirals that are constantly renewing themselves with the help of the Vps4 molecule. Without this molecule the renewal stops, eventually preventing the membrane from being severed. This research, reported in the journal Nature Cell Biology, sheds new light on the fight against cancer and HIV, both of which depend on cell division.

Promiscuous salamander found to use genes from three partners equally

A promiscuous salamander has found a simple genetic formula for success: Mate with multiple males and use equal parts of each partner's genetic material in her offspring.

Rattling DNA hustles transcribers to targets

Imagine if a dense thicket didn't obstruct your path but instead picked you up and shuttled you through the forest. That's what tightly packed DNA might be doing with important life molecules to get them where they're needed on time.

Tracking invasive species? Follow the people

Islands and populated coastal areas are the world's "hotspots" for invasive species, which can upend entire ecosystems and drive local animals and plants to extinction, a study reported Monday.

Researchers find glass eels use internal compass to find their way home

Scientists are closer to unraveling the long-standing mystery of how tiny glass eel larvae, which begin their lives as hatchlings in the Sargasso Sea, know when and where to "hop off" the Gulf Stream toward European coastlines to live out their adult lives in coastal estuaries.

Australian bodyboarder survives bump from shark

A bodyboarder swimming close to shore survived a close encounter with a large shark Sunday after being bumped by the marine predator off Western Australia.

Fighting fire blight and detecting salmonella

ETH researchers have created an effective weapon against the plant disease fire blight and a new method for detection of Salmonella. Both are based on particular viruses that attack only one species of bacteria.

Genomic sequencing could become household term with new hand-held device

Within five years, consumers may begin using a device smaller than a flip phone to monitor the air, test their food or diagnose what germ caused an upset stomach. And the root of this capability points to what now is only for scientists—genome sequencing.

Subsea pipelines make fish safe havens

A first-of-its-kind study led by The University of Western Australia into the ecological value of offshore infrastructure has revealed that subsea pipelines in north-west Australia provide safe havens for commercially important fish.

Sowing the seeds of hope for critically endangered magnolia tree

In the limestone hills of northern Vietnam, villagers have been busy planting one of the world's rarest magnolias back into its natural habitat.

Flower power: gardening as therapy in Poland

An elderly woman leans over to smell a lush flowerbed of lavender in sprawling gardens surrounding an imposing early 20th-century palace in a pastoral corner of eastern Poland.

Japan zoo celebrates birth of panda cub

A Japanese zoo celebrated the first birth of a baby panda in five years Monday, with the tiny cub small enough to fit in the palm of a human hand.

Late-nesting birds and bees face habitat threat

Bird and bumblebee species that nest late in the year are suffering more from the destruction of habitats, new research suggests.


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