Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for July 3, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | New faint dwarf galaxy discovered(Phys.org)—Astronomers have detected a new faint dwarf spheroidal galaxy using Japan's Subaru Telescope located in Hawaii. The newly found dwarf, designated d1005+68, belongs to a nearby galaxy group known as the M81 Group. The new findings were presented June 22 in a paper published on the arXiv pre-print repository. |
 | Juno spacecraft to fly over Jupiter's Great Red Spot July 10Just days after celebrating its first anniversary in Jupiter orbit, NASA's Juno spacecraft will fly directly over Jupiter's Great Red Spot, the gas giant's iconic, 10,000-mile-wide (16,000-kilometer-wide) storm. This will be humanity's first up-close and personal view of the gigantic feature—a storm monitored since 1830 and possibly existing for more than 350 years. |
 | Under pressure: Extreme atmosphere stripping may limit exoplanets' habitabilityNew models of massive stellar eruptions hint at an extra layer of complexity when considering whether an exoplanet may be habitable or not. Models developed for our own Sun have now been applied to cool stars favoured by exoplanet hunters, in research presented by Dr Christina Kay, of the NASA Goddard Flight Center, on Monday 3rd July at the National Astronomy Meeting at the University of Hull. |
 | SpaceX craft returns to Earth after second space station tripA SpaceX Dragon capsule that brought supplies to the International Space Station has splashed down as planned in the Pacific Ocean. |
 | Striking Gemini images point Juno spacecraft toward discoveryVery detailed Gemini Observatory images peel back Jupiter's atmospheric layers to support the NASA/JPL Juno spacecraft in its quest to understand the giant planet's atmosphere. |
China prepares to launch second heavy-lift carrier rocketChina is preparing to launch a powerful rocket on Sunday as the country presses on with its ambitious space program. | |
 | Earth-based views of Jupiter to enhance Juno flybyTelescopes in Hawaii have obtained new images of Jupiter and its Great Red Spot, which will assist the first-ever close-up study of the Great Red Spot, planned for July 10. On that date, NASA's Juno spacecraft will fly directly over the giant planet's most famous feature at an altitude of only about 5,600 miles (9,000 kilometers). |
China heavy-lift carrier rocket launch fails: state mediaChina on Sunday announced the launch of a powerful rocket designed to carry communication satellites into orbit had been "unsuccessful", in a glitch for the country's ambitious space programme. | |
 | Richard Branson dishes on Virgin, space and the ObamasBritish billionaire Richard Branson's prolific Virgin brand has spanned a broad range of businesses, including record stores, banks, phones, airlines and spaceships. |
 | NASA FDL developing new approaches to asteroid, comet and solar threats using AIWhat do astrophysicist Steven Hawking, Queen guitarist Brian May and the country of Luxembourg have in common? They're all key figures in Asteroid Day - a UN sanctioned day of education to raise awareness about protecting our planet from dangerous impacts from space. |
 | Veteran ocean satellite to assume added roleA venerable U.S./European oceanography satellite mission with NASA participation that has expanded our knowledge of global sea level change, ocean currents and climate phenomena like El Niño and La Niña will take on an additional role next month: improving maps of Earth's sea floor. |
 | The 'face' of JupiterJunoCam images aren't just for art and science – sometimes they are processed to bring a chuckle. This image, processed by citizen scientist Jason Major, is titled "Jovey McJupiterface." By rotating the image 180 degrees and orienting it from south up, two white oval storms turn into eyeballs, and the "face" of Jupiter is revealed. |
 | Researchers find out how bromine fits into Venusian chemistryBromine species, and hydrogen bromide (HBr) in particular, could play an important part in the photochemistry of the lower atmosphere of Venus. This conclusion was made by researchers from MIPT and the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences after comparing the data of Earth-based observations of Venus with the predictions of a photochemical model. The paper detailing their study was published in the journal Icarus. |
 | Europe's Galileo satnav identifies problems behind failing clocksInvestigators have uncovered the problems behind the failure of atomic clocks onboard satellites belonging to the beleaguered Galileo satnav system, The European Commission Monday. |
 | Image: Saturn and rings, 7 June 2017The international Cassini spacecraft has completed half of the 22 dives between Saturn and its rings before concluding its mission on 15 September. Cassini has been exploring the Saturnian system for 13 years, and has been making a series of 'grand finale' orbits since 22 April, taking the spacecraft into previously unexplored territory. |
Technology news
 | Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 16232 set to fight ransomware(Tech Xplore)—Something called the Windows 10 Insider Build is offering a peek at what is in store, and the message is clear that Microsoft is fighting the good fight against malware havoc. |
 | Californians take a shine to solar powerJacquie Barnbrook had grown tired of the high electricity bills and her gas-guzzling luxury car when she finally decided to take the plunge last year. |
 | Tesla: 1st Model 3 to be built Friday, sales start July 28 (Update)The first Tesla Model 3 electric car for the masses should come off the assembly line on Friday with the first deliveries in late July, the company's CEO says. |
 | 'Near-zero-power' temperature sensor could make wearables, smart home devices less power-hungryElectrical engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a temperature sensor that runs on only 113 picowatts of power—628 times lower power than the state of the art and about 10 billion times smaller than a watt. This "near-zero-power" temperature sensor could extend the battery life of wearable or implantable devices that monitor body temperature, smart home monitoring systems, Internet of Things devices and environmental monitoring systems. |
 | New system greatly speeds common parallel-computing algorithmsThe chips in most modern desktop computers have four "cores," or processing units, which can run different computational tasks in parallel. But the chips of the future could have dozens or even hundreds of cores, and taking advantage of all that parallelism is a stiff challenge. |
 | Lightyear is set for 2019 debut of its solar-powered car(Tech Xplore)—A company called Lightyear aims to make a big difference in pushing electric cars into greener pastures. |
 | Companies still hobbled from fearsome cyberattackMany businesses still struggled Friday to recover hopelessly scrambled computer networks, collateral damage from a massive cyberattack that targeted Ukraine three days ago. |
 | Apple opens first store in TaiwanApple opened its first store in Taiwan on Saturday with more than a thousand shoppers flocking to the site located in the island's landmark skyscraper and tallest building, Taipei 101. |
 | US antitrust crackdown on Amazon? Not so farUS antitrust regulators have shown little sympathy thus far for the plight of brick-and-mortar retailers attempting to merge as a way to survive, as Amazon and e-commerce roils the world of shopping. |
Samsung to sell recycled Note 7 phone in South Korea at $611Samsung Electronics plans to recycle and sell its recalled Galaxy Note 7 phones starting week in South Korea, salvaging their unused parts. | |
 | Reach of search warrant for emails at issue in appeals case (Update)On the surface, the investigation was routine. |
 | Abu Dhabi airport now exempt from US laptop banThe capital of the United Arab Emirates became the first city to be exempt from a U.S. ban on laptop computers being in the cabins of airplanes coming from the Mideast, the country's flag carrier said Sunday. |
 | Russian anti-virus CEO offers up code for US govt scrutinyThe chief executive of Russia's Kaspersky Lab says he's ready to have his company's source code examined by U.S. government officials to help dispel long-lingering suspicions about his company's ties to the Kremlin. |
Silicon Valley investors taking heat over sexual harassmentSexism in Silicon Valley may be coming in for a reckoning, prompted by women coming forward with stories of sexual harassment by industry bigshots. Apologies, resignations and self-reflection have followed, although it's too soon to tell if they will produce meaningful change. | |
 | 'Biometric' security for smart devices could stop cyber-attacksNew security technology that could stop cyber-attacks and protect the privacy of billions of smart device users worldwide could soon be available as a result of a partnership between the University of Kent and University of Essex. |
 | A robot to help visually impaired schoolchildren find their wayAlexandre Foucqueteau has taught Cellulo, a little hand-sized robot, how to help visually impaired children find their bearings and avoid obstacles in the classroom. |
 | How internet routers work, and why you should keep them secureMost of us would be bereft without Wi-Fi but give a little thought to the technology that beams us the internet. |
UK student, 18, arrested in international cyberattackAn 18-year-old student in northwestern England has been charged in a series of cyberattacks on the websites of nearly a dozen multinational firms. | |
 | Computer scientists use wave packet theory to develop realistic, detailed water wave simulations in real timeThink about the last time you were at a lake, river, or the ocean. Remember the ripples of the water, the waves crashing against the rocks, the wake following a boat, the sun reflecting off the crests? Amazingly, the mathematical equations describing many of these phenomena have been known for over a hundred years. The trouble is, actually solving them is extremely difficult and costly, making accurate, realistic simulations a significant problem for computer scientists, visual artists, and others. Now, computer scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) and Nvidia have introduced a novel representation of waves that improves computational efficiency by at least an order of magnitude. Based on principles of theoretical physics, their method allows for significantly more visual detail as well as a greater degree of user control. |
 | Microsoft plans layoffs in sales force shake-up: reportsMicrosoft is planning layoffs as it refocuses its sales force on making the software colossus a pivotal part of businesses relying on cloud computing, according to media reports. |
UK pilots warn of disaster, seek tougher rules for dronesThe British Airline Pilots Association is warning of a looming catastrophe unless drones are subject to tougher regulations. | |
 | Jay-Z album boosts his Tidal streaming siteJay-Z's upstart Tidal streaming service has enjoyed a surge of interest after the rap mogul released his latest album exclusively on the platform. |
'Crackas' hacker sentenced to 2 years in prisonA North Carolina man has been sentenced to two years in prison in connection with a series of computer hacks that targeted former CIA Director John Brennan and other government officials. | |
Law firm DLA Piper says its email is back after cyberattackLaw firm DLA Piper says it has restored its email service five days after it was knocked out in a worldwide cyberattack. | |
Dubai online retailer Souq.com says sale to Amazon completedDubai-based Souq.com, the Middle East's biggest online retailer, says its sale to Amazon has been completed. | |
 | Bridges in Austria often exceed expectationsAssessing old bridges using modern standards is no mean feat. Studies conducted by TU Wien show that many bridges are actually significantly more stable than might be expected, often rendering costly restoration work unnecessary. |
 | Silicon Valley's sexism problem: Could the tide be turning?Sexism in Silicon Valley has been an open secret for years. What's changing: A growing number of women are coming forward with personal stories of sexual harassment and discrimination, prompting apologies, resignations and plenty of hand-wringing. |
Medicine & Health news
 | New study links antibiotic resistance to common household disinfectant triclosanScientists from the University of Birmingham and Norwich Research Park have discovered a link between a major mechanism of antibiotic resistance and resistance to the disinfectant triclosan which is commonly found in domestic products. |
 | Drug discovery: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's spurred by same enzymeAlzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease are not the same. They affect different regions of the brain and have distinct genetic and environmental risk factors. |
 | Artificial bile ducts grown in lab, transplanted into mice could help treat liver diseaseCambridge scientists have developed a new method for growing and transplanting artificial bile ducts that could in future be used to help treat liver disease in children, reducing the need for liver transplantation. |
 | First large-scale genomic analysis of key acute leukemia will likely yield new therapiesA consortium including St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Children's Oncology Group has performed an unprecedented genomic sequencing analysis of hundreds of patients with T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The results provide a detailed genomic landscape that will inform treatment strategies and aid efforts to develop drugs to target newly discovered mutations. |
 | Decreasing height, increasing arthritis risk evolutionarily advantageous for humansA single genetic change linked both to a reduction in human height and an increase in osteoarthritis risk might seem like it would quickly be kicked to the evolutionary curb. After all, how could it be an advantage to be both shorter and less mobile in the cutthroat competition for scarce resources and fickle mates? Darwin's finches would be appalled. |
 | Freeze-frames of enzymes in action have implications for a new cancer treatment conceptOver millions of years of evolution, cells have developed myriad ways of regulating the processes that enable them to thrive. Especially useful tools have been saved, or "conserved," over the eons, so that today we can find them in a broad spectrum of life forms, from the very primitive to the most complex. |
 | 3-D printed models could improve patient outcomes in heart valve replacementsHeart valve models created with advanced 3-D printers could soon assist cardiologists in preparing to perform life-saving heart valve replacements. |
 | How babies' environments lead to poor health laterNew Northwestern University research underscores how environmental conditions early in development can cause inflammation in adulthood—an important risk factor for a wide range of diseases of aging, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, autoimmune diseases and dementia. |
 | Researchers identify novel mechanism underlying efficacy of common heart failure drugBeta-blocker drugs serve a key role in the treatment of heart failure, preventing bombardment of the heart by catecholamines - substances like epinephrine and norepinephrine - which overexcite and stress the heart. But not all heart failure patients respond to beta-blockers, for reasons that have been unclear. Now, in new work, researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) show that dysfunction of beta-adrenergic receptor 3 (β3AR) - a novel beta-blocker target - and consequent decreases in a critical cardioprotective phospholipid may be to blame. |
Right-sided colorectal tumors: An internal radiation advantageFor patients with colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver, having a primary tumour on the left side, as opposed to the right side of the colon, is known to be a significant advantage in terms of treatment response. | |
Researchers develop technique to monitor laryngeal and vagus nerves in surgeryIn a first-of-its-kind study, Mount Sinai researchers have discovered a novel technique to monitor laryngeal and vagus nerve function while patients are under anesthesia during otolaryngology and neurosurgery procedures. The findings, published in the July 2017 issue of Clinical Neurophysiology and featured on the cover, could save patients from vocal paralysis, maintain their swallowing function, and transform the way doctors perform surgeries. | |
Radiosurgery reduces depression and improves quality of life for patients with facial painDoctors should consider radiosurgery earlier for patients with severe facial pain, according to a new study in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics (the "Red Journal") - the official journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
 | 'Brain training' app found to improve memory in people with mild cognitive impairmentA 'brain training' game developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge could help improve the memory of patients in the very earliest stages of dementia, suggests a study published today in The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. |
Delivery rates in IVF are affected by the age of the male partnerMen, unlike women, do not have a menopause or a predictable and detectable decline in their fertility. Female age is thus the dominant factor in predicting (or explaining) a couple's chance of conception, whether natural or assisted. | |
Study shows childhood psychiatric disorders increase risk for later adult addictionChildren's health and well-being while growing up can be indicators of the potential health issues they may encounter years later. A study published in the July 2017 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) suggests that a childhood psychiatric disorder increases the risk of developing addiction later in life. Based on a large amount of data from previous studies on these participants, the researchers identified a correlation between various psychiatric disorders among children and later risk of developing addictions. | |
Back to the future: The most efficient option for treating unexplained infertilityAn inexpensive fertility drug, which has been available for more than 50 years and can be taken orally, has proved as effective as other more costly hormones when used for ovarian stimulation before intrauterine stimulation (IUI). Investigator Dr Noor Danhof from the AMC Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Amsterdam says the results of the study, a large randomised trial performed in the Netherlands, now make this "least expensive and least invasive stimulation agent" the drug of choice in IUI. | |
 | The secret connection between anxiety and sleepYou may have experienced sleepless nights when you were anxious, stressed or too excited. Such emotions are well-known to affect wakefulness and can even cause insomnia, though the underlying mechanisms in our brain have still been unclear. Scientists in the Sleep Institute in Japan spotted neurons that play crucial roles in connecting emotions and sleep, shedding light on the future discovery of drug targets for anxiety disorder and/or sleep disorders. |
Communication gap puts Indigenous health at riskThe need for health professionals to have a stronger focus on communication with Indigenous people has been highlighted by the University of Adelaide's Head of Linguistics, who says some lives are being put at risk because of a lack of patient-doctor understanding. | |
 | Keep your guard up against West Nile virusUse insect repellent and wear protective clothing when you're outside in the evening— even when it doesn't feel like mosquitoes are biting. |
 | More than a quarter of women missing smear tests are unaware they existMore than a quarter (28 per cent) of women who are overdue for a smear test don't know about the cervical screening programme, according to a Cancer Research UK survey published in the July Edition of the European Journal of Cancer. |
Finnish mothers discovered to have gene variants that protect them from pre-eclampsiaResearchers at the University of Helsinki, in cooperation with two research groups in the United States, have discovered that some Finnish mothers carry rare gene variants that protect them from pre-eclampsia, also known as toxaemia of pregnancy. | |
 | Long ignored, adolescent family violence needs our attentionFamily violence and youth justice have been subjected to an intense focus in Australia in the past year. Reviews have revealed the failure to provide effective responses to these issues. Government responses to family violence have emphasised the importance of perpetrator accountability, while in the youth justice field recent reforms have seen a toughening of legal responses. |
 | Cause of spontaneous hives pinpointed by clinical studyMelbourne researchers have solved a longstanding mystery about why some people develop recurring, itchy hives without an apparent allergic trigger, a condition known as chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). |
High-prevalence mental health disorders cost society billionsNew research puts a price on high-prevalence mental health conditions. | |
Certain OTC, less expensive hearing aids provide benefit similar to conventional hearing aidA comparison between less-expensive, over-the-counter hearing assistance devices and a conventional hearing aid found that some of these devices were associated with improvements in hearing similar to the hearing aid, according to a study published by JAMA. | |
 | Applying electric current to nerve for chronic low back pain does not provide clinically important improvementIn three randomized trials, treatment of chronic low back pain with radiofrequency denervation, a procedure that can be performed with different techniques including the application of an electric current to the pain-conducting nerve, resulted in either no improvement or no clinically important improvement in chronic low back pain, according to a study published by JAMA. |
Studies compare types of insulin for reducing episodes of low blood sugar for patients with Type 1 or 2 diabetesTreatment with the insulin degludec compared to glargine U100 for 32 weeks resulted in a reduced rate of hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes among patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes and at least one risk factor for hypoglycemia, according to two studies published by JAMA. | |
What are outcomes later in life for high school football players?In a study of men who graduated from Wisconsin high schools in 1957, playing high school football was not adversely associated with cognitive impairment or depression later in life, according to an article published by JAMA Neurology. | |
 | Is concussion associated with abnormal menstrual patterns in young women?A study of nearly 130 girls and young women suggests concussion was associated with increased risk of having two or more abnormal menstrual bleeding patterns, according to an article published by JAMA Pediatrics. |
Differences in US infant mortality rates among black and white babiesA new research letter published by JAMA Pediatrics examined trends in overall and cause-specific infant mortality rates between non-Hispanic black and white infants because infant mortality is an important indicator of population health. | |
Shingles increases risk of heart attack, strokeContracting shingles, a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, increases a person's risk of stroke and heart attack, according to a research letter published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. | |
 | Blood of SIDS infants contains high levels of serotoninBlood samples from infants who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) had high levels of serotonin, a chemical that carries signals along and between nerves, according to a study funded in part by the National Institutes of Health. The finding raises the possibility that a test could be developed to distinguish SIDS cases from other causes of sleep-related, unexpected infant death. |
 | Cases of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection are soaringIntestinal infection with the bacterium Clostridium difficile is the most frequent healthcare-linked infection in the United States. Each year it afflicts about half a million Americans, causes tens of thousands of deaths, and costs the nation's healthcare system an estimated $5 billion. Now researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found evidence that the most difficult C. difficile cases, known as multiple recurring C. difficile infections (mrCDI), are rapidly becoming more common. |
 | Generic drug prices increase when market competition decreasesDecreased market competition causes generic drug prices to rise significantly, according to an article published in Annals of Internal Medicine. This trend appears likely to continue unless policies are enacted to stabilize generic drug markets in response to a decrease in competition. |
 | What is best practice in school sex education?Sex and relationship education (SRE) is regarded as vital for improving young people's sexual health but a third of schools in England lacks good SRE and government guidance is outdated. New research led by the University of Bristol has found clear evidence that school-based SRE and school-linked sexual health services can be effective at improving sexual health. |
 | Is your child's 'penicillin allergy' real?(HealthDay)—Many children suspected of being allergic to the inexpensive, first-line antibiotic penicillin actually aren't, new research indicates. |
 | Probiotic supplements failed to prevent babies' infections(HealthDay)—Probiotic supplements may not protect babies from catching colds or stomach bugs in day care, a new clinical trial suggests. |
Female cancer survivors are one-third less likely to achieve pregnancy than women in general populatFor the first time, a large population study has quantified the chance of pregnancy after treatment for cancer diagnosed in girls and women aged 39 or under. This landmark study, which linked all cancers diagnosed in Scotland between 1981 and 2012 to subsequent pregnancy, found that the cancer survivors were 38% less likely to achieve a pregnancy than women in the general population. This detrimental effect on fertility was evident in almost all types of cancer diagnosed. | |
New data on the protective effects of Alzheimer's on cancerPatients with Alzheimer's disease have a higher risk of developing glioblastoma and a lower risk of lung cancer. A paper published in Scientific Reports by researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), headed by Alfonso Valencia, a researcher affiliated to the CNIO and to the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC), describes the biological processes that underlie this comorbidity. | |
The more eggs the better in IVF?A higher number of eggs retrieved in an IVF treatment cycle is independently associated with more chromosomally normal embryos available for transfer, according to a new Australian study. However, the benefit of a greater oocyte yield decreases significantly with advancing female age. | |
Overdose just by touching fentanyl? Highly unlikely, experts sayExperts agree that the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl and its even deadlier relatives pose potential hazards to police and emergency responders who come in contact with the drugs. | |
 | As opioid addiction skyrockets, treatment for addicts lags far behind, insurance data showsA new report on opioid use among privately insured Americans has found that diagnoses of opioid addiction increased almost fivefold between 2010 and 2015, ticking up dramatically in 2014. |
A clinic mix-up leaves pregnant woman in dark about Zika riskHospital officials in Washington state have apologized after failing for months to inform a pregnant woman she was likely infected with the Zika virus that can cause devastating birth defects. | |
Research describes the differences between mice and humansResearch from King's College in London, UK, and Lund University in Sweden could explain why diabetes drugs which have worked in animal experiments are not equally successful in humans. The researchers discovered differences - but also unknown similarities - in the function of insulin-producing beta cells. | |
 | High-fat diet in pregnancy increases breast cancer risk over generations in animal studyFeeding pregnant female mice a diet high in fat derived from common corn oil resulted in genetic changes that substantially increased breast cancer susceptibility in three generations of female offspring, reports a team of researchers led by scientists at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. |
 | School's in for asthma medication adherenceDoctors and researchers have long known that the level of stress patients experience is inversely linked to how adherent they are with taking medications: The higher the stress, the less likely patients are to take doses of their medication correctly, on time or at all. For families of school-aged children, there are few times more stressful than mornings, when parents or caregivers need to get kids ready for their school day, pack everything they need and get them out the door on time. |
CF patients and physicians use shared decision-making tool to determine regimensPhysician-researchers at the University of Cincinnati have developed a computerized decision-making model to promote shared decision-making with cystic fibrosis patients. The tool takes into account patients' preferences for measures of lung function and health along with the latest medical evidence for effective treatment to help patients prioritize home treatments. | |
New WHO director from Ethiopia begins workThe new director general of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom, took over managing the UN health agency on Saturday, the WHO said. | |
DR Congo declares end of Ebola outbreakThe Congolese health minister on Saturday declared the end of an Ebola outbreak in a remote northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo which caused four deaths in the area. | |
 | Sudanese doctors urge measures against cholera outbreakSudanese doctors and aid workers urged the government to declare a state of emergency over a cholera outbreak and delay the start of the school year, which began on Sunday, although authorities say the situation is under control. |
 | Computer-aided detection of cancerous lung nodulesLung cancer is among the most deadly cancers. In contrast to the steady increase in survival for most cancers, advances have been slow for lung cancer. Typically, the five-year survival rate for lung cancer patients is 16 percent, which rises to 52 percent if lung cancer is diagnosed at early stages. However, it decreases to below 4 percent if metastasis occurs. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to detect lung cancer at early stages in order to prolong the patient's life. Liu et al. from Beihang University have proposed an artificial neural network system for lung cancer detection, set to be published in the seventh issue of Science China Information Sciences in 2017. |
 | Man who inspired ice bucket challenge is back in hospitalThe man who inspired people around the world to dump buckets of ice water over their heads to raise millions of dollars for Lou Gehrig's disease research is back in the hospital and is keeping his sense of humor. |
Tips and techniques for reducing muscle sorenessWhen you try a new exercise, lift heavier weights or run steeper hills, muscles experience strain and micro-tearing at the cellular level. This leaves your muscles sore. Foam rolling, stretching and foods with anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce soreness, alleviate discomfort and get you back to your favorite exercise. | |
 | Clinical trial acupuncture proves effectiveness for weight controlThe School of Chinese Medicine (SCM) of Hong Kong Baptist University recently completed a clinical trial on the use of acupuncture for weight control. After an eight-week treatment, the participants' average body weight decreased by 2.47 kg, with a weight loss of 7.2 kg for the most successful participant, whose Body Mass Index (BMI) dropped by 3.2 kg/m2. The trial was initial testimony to the effectiveness of acupuncture for controlling the weight of adults. |
Regional disparity in way local authorities and family courts deal with childrenA North-South divide in the way children are dealt with by local authorities and the Family Courts has been uncovered by researchers from the Centre for Child and Family Justice Research at Lancaster University. | |
More than 1,370 counties may only have one health insurer serving themMore than 1,370 counties now have only one insurer that will sell on the Affordable Care Act exchanges next year, while about 40 have none, an analysis of the latest data by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and USA TODAY shows. | |
Biology news
 | Extinction event that wiped out dinosaurs cleared way for frogsThe mass extinction that obliterated three-fourths of life on Earth, including non-avian dinosaurs, set the stage for the swift rise of frogs, a new study shows. |
 | Freshwater male fish exposed to chemicals in water becoming more feminine(Phys.org)—Professor Charles Tyler of the University of Exeter in Britain (and colleagues) has conducted a study of the impact of chemicals from human waste treatment plants in rivers and streams on the fish that live in them. He has told the press before presenting the findings formally that they have found a very large number of male fish exhibiting female characteristics. |
 | Greater understanding of plant hormone results in stem cells that grow shootsResearchers at Dartmouth College have identified how a well-known plant hormone targets genes to regulate plant growth and development. The finding could allow scientists to establish organ-growing stem cells for grains like rice and corn, and may ultimately lead to solutions to stubborn agricultural problems. |
 | Seeing the colored light: Bee brains open way for better camerasNew research into the way that honeybees see colour could pave the way for more accurate cameras in phones, drones and robots. |
 | Utah is home to earliest use of a wild potato in North AmericaThe town of Escalante in southern Utah is no small potatoes when it comes to scientific discovery; a new archaeological finding within its borders may rewrite the story of tuber domestication. |
 | Study sheds new light on extinction risk in mammalsResearchers have long assumed that habitat fragmentation contributes to extinction risk for animals, but until now, they have not been able to measure it for a major group of animals on a global scale. In a first-of-its-kind study, an international research team led by Colorado State University successfully measured habitat fragmentation for over 4,000 species of land-dwelling mammals. Among the findings, researchers discovered that species with more habitat fragmentation are at greater risk of extinction. |
 | Tilted microscopy technique better reveals protein structuresThe conventional way of placing protein samples under an electron microscope during cryo-EM experiments may fall flat when it comes to getting the best picture of a protein's structure. In some cases, tilting a sheet of frozen proteins—by anywhere from 10 to 50 degrees—as it lies under the microscope, gives higher quality data and could lead to a better understanding of a variety of diseases, according to new research led by Salk scientist Dmitry Lyumkis. |
 | Mexico to use dolphins to save endangered vaquita porpoiseMexico announced plans Friday to use trained dolphins to corral the last remaining vaquita marina porpoises into a protected breeding ground, a last-ditch bid to save the critically endangered species. |
 | Can California fish catch break with giant tunnels? DependsGov. Jerry Brown's plan to route much of California's mightiest river into two massive tunnels poses new perils for salmon and other struggling native species, but could give them a couple of breaks as well, experts and project supporters and opponents say in the wake of two newly issued wildlife rulings on the $16 billion project. |
 | Rare butterfly thrives on, and because of, US military basesIn the shadow of giant war machines, a tiny rare butterfly is flourishing. Oddly, experts say, the U.S. military gets the credit. |
Harsh winter took heavy toll on wildlife across western USWildlife managers in seven states in the western U.S. report this past winter was rough on wildlife. | |
Two knees or not two knees: The curious case of the ostrich's double kneecapOstriches are the only animals in the world to have a double-kneecap, but its purpose remains an evolutionary mystery. PhD student, Ms Sophie Regnault, from the Royal Veterinary College, UK says "understanding more about different kneecap configurations in different animals could help to inform prosthesis design, surgical interventions, and even robots with better joints." | |
Milking it: A new robot to extract scorpion venomA new scorpion-milking robot designed to extract venom could replace the traditional manual method. Scorpion venom is used in medical applications such as immunosuppressants, anti-malarial drugs and cancer research, but the extraction process can be potentially life-threatening. "This robot makes venom recovery fast and safe", says Mr Mouad Mkamel who designed the robot with a team of researchers from Ben M'sik Hassan II University, Morocco. | |
 | Dynamite fishing, drugs, threaten Myanmar's 'sea gypsies'With a swift breath the teenage boy dives into the turquoise waters of southern Myanmar, a spear clutched in his hand, but below him lies nothing but a graveyard of broken, grey coral. |
 | Baker's yeast can help plants cope with soil contaminationFew plant species can tolerate the toxic effects of soil pollutants. In a study published in Scientific Reports, a research team led by Paula Duque from the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC; Portugal) reports that two genes from baker's yeast can increase plant resistance to a broad range of toxic substances, enabling their growth in contaminated soils. |
 | Purple gallinule sighted for first time on Oak Ridge ReservationIt is a bright, hot morning in mid-May on the Oak Ridge Reservation. A wildlife camera trap is hidden in the tall grass, passively waiting for a passerby, when a thin, exotic-looking bird walks into the frame. |
 | 'Eelevator' project gives American eels a liftGoing up? |
'Cellular mosh pit' helps researchers understand tissue formationResearchers led by the University of Dundee have developed a way of exploring a 'cellular mosh pit' that may shed light on processes such as embryo development, wound healing and cancer growth. | |
How proteins bring together membrane blebsResearchers have gained new insights into the mechanisms with which certain proteins help the immune defence mechanism in the human body. Pathogens such as viruses or bacteria are wrapped in membrane blebs and rendered harmless there. What are known as guanylate-binding proteins are crucial in this. How they contribute to the process that was investigated by researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut and the University of Cologne, together with other partners from Erlangen and Geneva. | |
 | Do cats purr when humans aren't around?Why do cats purr? Humans tend to think that purring is a sign of happiness in a cat – and indeed it can be – but there are other reasons why our feline friends produce this particular vocalisation. |
 | Is it a rhino? New DNA test identifies horns quicker to catch poachersKyle Ewart has developed a test that can identify whether a horn is rhino or not – fast enough to allow police to prosecute poachers, traders and customers. |
 | Angola slowly opens to conservationists after long civil warHippos, malaria and capsized canoes were among the hazards for National Geographic researchers paddling along an Angolan river that had been barely studied. On a separate survey in Angola, a conservationist drove on remote tracks where wrecked tanks and other remnants of decades of civil war are still visible. |
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