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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 1, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomy from 40,000 feet and 43.5 degrees southThe Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA, completed its fourth set of observations from Christchurch, New Zealand. The team spent seven weeks operating from the U.S. Antarctic Program facility at Christchurch International Airport, enabling researchers onboard to observe celestial objects that are best studied from the Southern Hemisphere. |
 | Image: NASA concludes summer of testing with fifth flight controller hot fireNASA engineers closed a summer of successful hot fire testing Aug. 30 for flight controllers on RS-25 engines that will help power the new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, being built to carry astronauts to deep-space destinations, including Mars. The space agency capped off summer testing with a 500-second hot fire of a fifth RS-25 engine flight controller unit on the A-1 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The controller serves as the "brain" of the engine, communicating with SLS flight computers to ensure engines are performing at needed levels. The test marked another step toward the nation's return to human deep-space exploration missions. |
 | Tracking debris in the Earth's orbit with centimeter precision using efficient laser technologyUncontrollable flying objects in orbit are a massive risk for modern space travel, and, due to our dependence on satellites today, it is also a risk to global economy. A research team at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena, Germany, has now especially developed a fiber laser that reliably determines the position and direction of the space debris' movement to mitigate these risks. |
 | Equatorial jet in Venusian atmosphere discovered by climate orbiter AkatsukiObservations by Japan's Venus climate orbiter Akatsuki have revealed an equatorial jet in the lower to middle cloud layer of the planet's atmosphere, a finding that could be pivotal to unraveling a phenomenon called superrotation. |
 | Space superwoman returning to Earth with records galoreAstronaut Peggy Whitson is closing out a space streak unmatched by any other American. |
 | 'Mitaka' now delivers more realistic universe in more languagesNow you can witness the final mission of Cassini and enjoy the beauty of Saturn's rings and the moon in your own room. NAOJ has released the latest version (1.4) of the astronomical software Mitaka with many new features. Mitaka version 1.4 can reproduce Cassini's Grand Finale mission. Also, the moon and Saturn's rings are displayed based on more realistic physical models for light scattering. Moreover, Chinese has been added to the available languages. |
 | ESO's La Silla Observatory will host new planet hunterDeveloped and built by the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, and the University of Montreal, NIRPS (Near Infra Red Planet Searcher) is an infrared spectrograph designed to detect Earth-like rocky planets around the coolest stars. The formal agreement to add NIRPS to the suite of instruments on ESO telescopes was signed on June 7th, 2017 by ESO's Director General Tim de Zeeuw, Michel Oris, Vice-rector at the UNIGE .Marie-Josée Hébert, Vice-rector for Research, Discovery, Creation and Innovation at the University of Montreal and by both co-directors of the project, Professor François Bouchy from UNIGE and Professor René Doyon from the University of Montreal. |
Technology news
 | Ask and you shall receive in world of voice shoppingOrdering pizza from the sofa without lifting a finger has joined the list of modern-day conveniences thanks to a hot trend in voice-commanded smart speakers. |
 | Abbott: New pacemaker firmware update addresses vulnerabilities(Tech Xplore)—Regarding cybersecurity vulnerabilities identified in Abbott's (formerly St. Jude Medical's) implantable cardiac pacemakers, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a firmware update dated August 29. |
 | 'Simple' chess puzzle holds key to $1m prizeResearchers at the University of St Andrews have thrown down the gauntlet to computer programmers to find a solution to a "simple" chess puzzle which could, in fact, take thousands of years to solve and net a $1m prize. |
 | Computers able to mimic unique movements, finds studyA team of researchers has today published the first study to show that each one of us has a unique 'control profile' that can be extracted by computer. |
 | Top trends at IFA 2017With just a few months to go until the high-tech spending bonanza of the Christmas season, Berlin's IFA trade fair is the place to spot the trends that will mark high streets this year. |
 | Samsung okay to test self-driving cars in CaliforniaSamsung Electronics has joined the self-driving car race in California with a permit from the state to test the technology on the home turf of Tesla, Google, and Apple. |
 | High-def TVs rule the roost at Berlin's IFANo-one wants to watch Game of Thrones' bloody fantasy battles on a tiny tablet screen, which is just one reason why cheaper, bigger, higher-definition televisions are the stars of this year's IFA electronics fair in Berlin. |
 | At TEDGlobal: Somali start-ups and a new kind of mapFrom fostering innovation in one of the world's harshest environments to novel ways to repel mosquitoes and map the world, here are some highlights from the TEDGlobal conference in Arusha, Tanzania. |
 | Mug shots: facial recognition nabs crooks at China beer festCriminals looking for a quiet pint suddenly found themselves collared when cops used facial recognition technology to catch thirsty crooks at a Chinese beer festival. |
 | Not droids: "Star Wars" fighting drones hitting the airAre these the drones you're looking for? Three "Star Wars" devices are combining drones and online games. |
 | China fast-food operator pilots face-recognition paymentsThe operator of KFC in China is rolling out a futuristic system of paying at a fast-food counter via facial recognition, as the country embraces the technology for everything from toilet paper to travel. |
Apprenticeships give workers of color a leg up on clean-energy careers, says studyA new study from UC Berkeley's Green Economy Program shows that joint union-employer apprenticeship programs have helped people of color get training and career-track jobs building California's clean energy infrastructure. | |
 | How algorithms and human journalists will need to work togetherEver since the Associated Press automated the production and publication of quarterly earnings reports in 2014, algorithms that automatically generate news stories from structured, machine-readable data have been shaking up the news industry. The promises of this technology – often referred to as automated (or robot) journalism – are enticing: Once developed, such algorithms could create an unlimited number of news stories on a specific topic at little cost. And they could do it faster, cheaper, with fewer errors and in more languages than any human journalist ever could. |
 | Machinery that repairs itselfIn the EU-funded project SelSus, Fraunhofer scientists are collaborating in a consortium with partners from research and industry to develop maintenance technology capable of forecasting machine downtimes in production before they occur. This allows plant managers to rectify faults before the machine breaks down. The system even corrects some defects automatically. |
 | What language tells us about changing attitudes to extremismThe words "extreme","extremist" and "extremism" carry so many connotations these days – far more than a basic dictionary definition could ever cover. Most would agree that Islamic State, the London Bridge and Manchester Arena attackers, as well as certain "hate preachers" are extremists. But what about Darren Osbourne who attacked the Finsbury Park Mosque? Or Thomas Mair who murdered Labour MP Jo Cox? Or even certain media outlets and public figures who thrive on stirring up hatred between people? Their acts are hateful and ideologically-driven, but calls for them to be described in the same terms as Islamic extremists are more open to debate. |
 | Source code of award-winning knowledge base is now available for everyoneAlmost every word has more than one meaning. Modern search engines solve this problem using knowledge bases. Yago was one of the first knowledge bases, developed by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Informatics in Saarbrücken and the Télécom ParisTech in Paris. Last week, the researchers received an award for their work on Yago from the most important scientific journal in the field of artificial intelligence. Today, they are releasing Yago's source code. |
Google effect unleashes downtown San Jose property boomGoogle's effort to acquire a broad swath of downtown San Jose properties for a massive new tech campus is triggering a sharp jump in selling prices for commercial real estate in the area. | |
 | Your smartphone got wet. Here's what not to do firstSmart phones and water just don't mix, as thousands of people in Texas are learning to their distress during the flooding there. |
 | British ban on cabin laptops to be lifted: EgyptAirPassengers flying with EgyptAir from Cairo to Britain will again be allowed to carry personal electronic devices in aircraft cabins, the North African country's national carrier said on Friday. |
Scientists propose new area of study in energy generationThe growth of humanity is limited by our tools. Each era of human development, from caves to the Industrial Revolution to sending Curiosity to Mars, is marked by technological evolution. A collaborative team of scientists believe the next era of advancement will be defined by energy production and consumption and their related social costs. They have published their proposed methodology of establishing and investigating "social energy" in IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica , a joint publication of the IEEE and the Chinese Association of Automation. | |
Scientists clear the chatter of buck convertersBuck converters, also known as step down converters, are chatty Cathys. The systems produce less power than they receive, and the tracking signals in the output can get stuck—the result is a small but harmful frequency fluctuation. | |
Scientists propose method to improve microgrid stability and reliabilityThe power it takes to bring a Boeing 747 from a resting state on the airport tarmac to speeding across the sky is enormous. The jet can continue in its active state for as long as its fuel lasts. A Frisbee, by contrast, takes far less energy to go airborne, but with no energy supply, it falls almost immediately. | |
How to better track the movement of robotsPop culture predicts a wide array of robots to aid humans, from the Jetsons' housekeeper, Rosie to the adorable (and helpful) R2-D2 and BB-8 in the Star Wars universe. They may not yet be capable of washing dishes or smuggling holograms, but the robots of our time are getting better at moving. | |
 | A new mobile application helps scientists map the sound environmentAnyone who owns an Android smartphone will soon be able to contribute to a research project simply by recording surrounding noise. The purpose is to establish a participatory map of the sound environment. The NoiseCapture application, which was developed by researchers from the CNRS and IFSTTAR, uses signal processing algorithms to calculate acoustic indicators during the user's trips. These geolocated indicators are then anonymously stored in a database to develop noise maps that reflect reality as closely as possible, with extremely dense connections. These noise maps obtained via smartphone data could be used by local governments to implement more targeted plans of action for preserving or improving the quality of urban sound environments. |
Video: Researchers use sound to warn internet users of possible security threatsWhile some cybersecurity threats are easy to spot, others can be more challenging. Now, consider identifying those same threats with a visual impairment. It's the vulnerability of that population that inspired a team of Texas Tech researchers to find a better way. With funding from the National Science Foundation, the group has focused its efforts on translating visual security warnings into sounds that best represent the threat. | |
South Carolina couple sues Amazon over eclipse glassesA South Carolina couple is suing online retailer Amazon over what they claim were faulty pairs of eclipse glasses that resulted in eye injuries, headaches and blurry vision. | |
Delivery wars are getting hotter as retailers compete with AmazonThe delivery wars keep getting hotter. | |
Review: Attention, cord cutters: Tablo Dual brings DVR to your screensRecording TV shows for later viewing is something almost everyone who subscribes to pay TV can do. | |
Girls in Tech founder embraces challenging missionThe way Girls in Tech founder Adriana Gascoigne sees it, revelations about sexual harassment in Silicon Valley technology firms are a double-edged sword: They shine a light on a serious problem but depict an environment that can deter women from careers in tech. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Study identifies new genetic risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorderAutism spectrum disorder affects approximately one out of every 68 children in the United States. Despite expansive study, the origin and risk factors of the complex condition are not fully understood. |
 | Researchers find new sleep-promoting brain cellsJohns Hopkins researchers report the unexpected presence of a type of neuron in the brains of mice that appears to play a central role in promoting sleep by turning 'off' wake-promoting neurons. The newly identified brain cells, located in a part of the hypothalamus called the zona incerta, they say, could offer novel drug targets to treat sleep disorders, such as insomnia and narcolepsy, caused by the dysfunction of sleep-regulating neurons. |
 | Immune system changes during pregnancy are precisely timedScientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have completed the first-ever characterization of the meticulously timed immune system changes in women that occur during pregnancy. |
 | Drug may curb female infertility from cancer treatmentsAn existing drug may one day protect premenopausal women from life-altering infertility that commonly follows cancer treatments, according to a new study. |
 | Staying in education linked to lower risk of heart diseaseStaying in education is associated with a lower risk of developing heart disease, finds a study published by The BMJ today. |
 | Inflammation may precede sleep apnea, could be treatment targetInflammation is traditionally thought of as a symptom of sleep apnea, but it might actually precede the disorder, potentially opening the door for new ways to treat and predict sleep apnea, according to researchers. |
 | Brief primary care intervention cut risky drug use among Latinos by 40 percentNew research finds that brief interventions in a primary care clinic can reduce patients' risky substance use by 4.5 days per month—a 40 percent decline among the Latino patients surveyed—compared with people who did not receive the brief intervention. This corresponds to two fewer weekends of drug use per month, or one less day of use per weekend, or a shorter monthly binge period. |
 | Fetal genes can increase the risk of illness during pregnancyA mother's risk of preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening illness associated with pregnancy, can be linked in some cases to genes from her fetus. For the first time, a relationship has been found between fetal genes and the risk of preeclampsia in the mother. An international research collaborative has presented this finding in Nature Genetics, first published online earlier this summer. |
Discovery leads to development of new drug for inflammatory diseasesA lipid (fat) whose anti-inflammatory activities were discovered by Cardiff University, with colleagues from Universities of Pittsburgh, Oregon and Michigan, is being developed into a new drug for the treatment of diseases that currently have limited therapeutic options. | |
Dealing with the psychological aftermath of Hurricane HarveyFlood water eventually will recede from Houston and its surrounding areas, but the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey will remain fresh for those impacted by the storm. While moving forward after a disaster like Harvey is difficult, one Baylor College of Medicine expert has offered his advice on how to cope with these challenges. | |
 | New insights in the fight against antibiotic resistanceA looming antibiotic resistance crisis, which could turn even cuts and scrapes into life-threatening events, has put the pressure on scientists around the world to come up with solutions. |
 | How can job loss be bad for health, and recession be good for it?There's no better time than Labor Day to think about the critical role that work – both our own jobs and the labor of others – plays in all of our lives. But this role is surprisingly complex: While job loss and unemployment can cause individuals' own health to suffer, studies have shown that mortality rates go down during a recession. |
End-stage kidney disease study seeks to delay dialysisVanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is studying the safety of a possible treatment for diabetic kidney disease that would delay or prevent the need for kidney replacement such as dialysis. | |
Pancreatic cancer developmentPancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal types of cancer, with new therapeutic options needed. | |
 | Scientists are diving deep into the structure and function of ion channels to inform new therapiesA growing cohort of talented Northwestern Medicine scientists is working to unlock the secrets of ion channels and discover how these tiny molecular machines contribute to an array of diseases, from brain tumors and epilepsy to kidney disease and devastating immune deficiencies. |
 | High-impact pain does not impact all Americans the sameA large number of Americans live with chronic pain, which can limit their quality of life and leads some to seek relief from potentially dangerous opioid medications. |
 | Single or deprived bowel cancer patients have double the chance of 'struggling to cope' with the diseaseBowel cancer patients who are single or live in deprived areas are twice as likely to struggle to cope with their disease compared to those in a relationship or from wealthy areas, according to new research by the University of Southampton and Macmillan Cancer Support. |
 | New blood test reveals risk of coronary artery diseaseA study led by researchers at Uppsala University, which included more than 13,000 patients, has resulted in a new tool that will facilitate the treatment of patients with stable coronary artery disease. |
 | New method could facilitate child interrogationsIn many different contexts, adults may want to know more about children's experiences, such as in healthcare, the social services or the legal system. It is therefore important that there are good and reliable interview methods. In a new study, researchers tested a new method with computer assistance where simplified images of emotions and people were used. |
 | Back-to-school anxiety? Here are seven simple solutionsSchool start-up is just around the corner. For most children and adolescents, September is an exciting time of year, with its promise of new friends, new clothes, new teachers and new things to learn and experience. |
 | Anthropologist explores facial feminization surgery, trans- medicineRachel is about to spend a considerable amount of money on plastic surgery. Her objective is not to resemble a Kardashian or to look 10 years younger. She fantasizes about walking into a store in jeans and a T-shirt and having the clerk ask, "Can I help you, Miss?" |
 | A cancer therapy that inhibits the Notch signaling pathwayEPFL spin-off Cellestia Biotech has just been given the regulatory go-ahead to start clinical testing a molecule it has developed to treat cancers involving mutations of the Notch gene. The molecule is a ray of hope for the 250,000 patients diagnosed every year with this mutation, which sharply reduces their chances of recovery. |
 | Anger, aggression and violence—it matters that we know the differenceFrom domestic violence to public rallies and terrorist acts, it's clear that anger, aggression and violence are widespread in society. |
 | New ultrasound technology could save lives of women with dense breast tissueA new research project at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center is recruiting women with dense breast tissue to examine the effectiveness of a novel breast ultrasound device. SoftVue is the world's first 3-D, whole-breast ultrasound system that might better assist physicians in distinguishing normal breast tissue from cancers. |
 | Virus hijacks cell's transportation systemA deadly tick-borne virus uses the host neuron's transportation system to move their RNA, resulting in the local reproduction of the virus and severe neurological symptoms. |
 | Scientists take step forward in understanding of oesophageal cancerScientists at The University of Manchester have identified some key factors that establish oesophageal cancer cells. |
 | Rush testing if genetic clues identify best candidates for Parkinson's surgeryIn the first ever clinical investigation involving genetic screening for Parkinson's disease, researchers are testing whether the presence of a specific genetic mutation identifies which patients are the best candidates for deep brain stimulation surgery, and whether neurologists should perform that procedure differently based on that genetic information. |
 | Pediatricians sound alarm on rapid weight changes in young athletes(HealthDay)—Young gymnasts, figure skaters and wrestlers who try to quickly shed pounds by fasting or restricting fluids may be endangering their health, pediatricians warn. |
 | Will climate change bring more highway deaths?(HealthDay)—America's roads may become more dangerous as an unexpected consequence of climate change, a new study suggests. |
 | Harvey's health hazards will continue during cleanup(HealthDay)—Hurricane Harvey is finally winding down, but residents and volunteers in the Houston area must remain on guard against health hazards that will continue during the cleanup effort, public health officials say. |
 | Stem cell factor tied to reduced risk of cardiac events, death(HealthDay)—High levels of stem cell factor (SCF) are associated with reduced risk of mortality and cardiovascular events, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in the Journal of Internal Medicine. |
 | Minimal evidence for electronic communication guidelines(HealthDay)—Minimal evidence is available for guidelines for electronic communication between patients and providers, according to research published online Aug. 28 in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association. |
 | Vaccines save 20 million lives, $350 billion in poor countries since 2001Vaccination efforts made in the world's poorest countries since 2001 will have prevented 20 million deaths and saved $350 billion in health-care costs by 2020, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In addition, the researchers put the broader economic and social value of saving these lives and preventing disabilities at $820 billion. |
 | Etosis phenomenon discovered in human blood monocytesA recent study published online in the Journal of Leukocyte Biology found the first clear demonstration of etosis in human blood monocytes, a type of immune cell. Etosis, a phenomenon previously presumed to be due to neutrophils (another type of immune cell) occurs when bloods cells cast a "DNA net" outside of the cell. This net, called the "extracellular trap," allows cells to trap and kill pathogens that would otherwise be too large to engulf. In addition to discovering the existence of etosis in human blood monocytes, the study also found that the extracellular traps could activate coagulation, which could have implications for how the coagulation process is triggered under inflammatory conditions. |
Musculoskeletal extremity imaging use among Medicare population climbs sharplyUtilization rates among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries for the four most common musculoskeletal extremity imaging modalities - radiography, ultrasound, MRI, and CT - increased significantly between 1994 and 2013, according to an article published ahead of print in the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR). | |
New app ships affordable birth control to women, no doctor's visit requiredWhether it's a 30-year-old woman who has no time for doctor's visits, or an embarrassed teen who doesn't want to tell her parents she wants to use birth control, Nurx brings the doctor's visit to their palms and eliminates a trip to the pharmacy. | |
 | Scientists identify climatic risks for dengue disease outbreaksThe University of Liverpool is part of an international team of scientists that have identified the climatic risks for dengue disease outbreaks, with a new study undertaken in India. |
Breast cancer patients on opioids less likely to stick to vital treatmentA new study has found a troubling lack of adherence to a potentially lifesaving treatment regimen among breast cancer patients who take opioids to manage their pain. | |
 | Researchers correlate cognitive fatigue after TBI with activation of the caudateKessler Foundation researchers have authored a new article that further elucidates the mechanisms for cognitive fatigue, a disabling symptom that affects many individuals after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The article, "Cognitive fatigue in individuals with traumatic brain injury is associated with caudate activation," was published online on August 21, 2017, in Scientific Reports. |
 | Multi-mechanism approach to treating neonatal hypoxic ischemiaHypothermia alone, the current standard of care, neuroprotects roughly 50 percent of newborns with moderate to severe hypoxic ischemia. Therefore, half of all affected newborns are left with developmental, cognitive and motor delays including cerebral palsy following injury. Clearly, newer therapies are needed that can be given in combination with hypothermia to improve outcomes. |
Adipose tissue may affect cancer development in multiple waysAdipose tissue, or fat, may influence the development of cancer in diverse ways, depending on the type of fat and the location in the body. | |
20,000 international voices share how they want their DNA information usedThe Wellcome Genome Campus and Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) have gone global with a project to explore public attitudes and beliefs on the sharing of genetic information. Now available in English, Russian, German, Portuguese and Polish, with French, Icelandic, Arabic, Japanese, Italian, Swedish, Hindustani and Mandarin translations on the way, the film-based survey, called Your DNA Your Say, is on track to gather feedback from more than 20,000 people around the world. | |
Flu outbreak kills 7 residents in Australian aged care homeAn influenza outbreak has killed seven residents of a care home for the elderly in Australia and sickened 116 other residents and staff, an official said Friday. | |
 | Childhood dementia at forefront of rare brain disease battleResearchers are working hard to fight childhood dementia and hope a new enzyme replacement therapy can help those unlucky enough to have such a debilitating disease. |
 | Trial of shoe insoles to improve balance in diabetic patientsShoe insoles are being trialled to improve balance, walking and physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes and associated foot nerve damage. |
Breastfeeding may help prevent children's asthma exacerbations later in lifeIn a Pediatric Allergy and Immunology analysis of children with asthma, those who had been breastfed had a 45 percent lower risk of asthma exacerbations later in life compared with children who had not been breastfed. | |
Updated ESMO Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale set to evaluate single-arm studiesAn updated version of the European Society for Medical Oncology Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS) will enable users to evaluate single-arm studies for the first time. The ESMO-MCBS version 1.1 is set to be published online in the Annals of Oncology on 5 September 2017. | |
 | Getting fit as a family(HealthDay)—Getting the entire family involved in fitness is a great way to enjoy quality time and instill a love for exercise in kids at an early age. |
Melatonin may help treat blood cancersResearchers have examined the potential benefits of melatonin, a hormone made by a small gland in the brain, for treating blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. They point to evidence that melatonin boosts the immune response against cancer cells, inhibits cancer cell growth, and protects healthy cells from the toxic effects of chemotherapy. | |
Behavioral treatment can help control incontinenceDear Mayo Clinic: For the past few years, I've noticed that, when I cough or sneeze, I sometimes leak a small amount of urine. Twice in the past month, I had this happen without warning. And, instead of it being a small leak, it was like I had wet my pants. Is this a normal part of aging, or should I see my doctor? Can it be prevented? I am an otherwise healthy 57-year-old woman. | |
Lifestyle factors may affect how long individuals live free of disabilityNew research published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society indicates that a healthy lifestyle may help reduce the duration of an individual's disabled period near the end of life. | |
Biology news
 | New way to test antibiotics could lead to better drugsMIT and Harvard University researchers have engineered E. coli cells that can be used to study how bacteria at an infection site respond to antibiotic treatment, allowing scientists to learn more about how existing antibiotics work and potentially help them to develop new drugs. |
 | Gauging evolutionary adaptation- are our models right?One challenge facing scientists is to estimate how our environment and the complex web of creatures within it, will respond to changes in their environment due to climate change or other human influences. |
 | Bacteria act as aphrodisiac for the closest relatives of animalsTo the surprise of scientists, bacteria can act as an aphrodisiac for one-celled marine organisms notable for being the closest living relative of all animals. |
 | Cleanliness is next to sexiness for golden-collared manakins in PanamaFew of us would find a marriage proposal made amidst dirty dishes and messy clutter particularly romantic, but we are not the only creatures who realize that cleaning up your act may improve your chances of attracting a mate. Juvenile male golden-collared manakins who received extra testosterone were stimulated to clean up their display area before performing for females, according to research at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama. The research team's results, published in the journal Animal Behavior, showed that tidiness during courtship is influenced, but not determined exclusively, by hormones. |
 | Stressed lemurs have worse chances of survivalHigh levels of hair cortisol—a sign of long-term stress—are associated with reduced survival in wild grey mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus), according to a study published in the open access journal BMC Ecology. |
 | Panama's native tree species excel in infertile tropical soilsTeak, the most valuable species for tropical reforestation, often performs poorly in the acid soils of steeply sloping land in the tropics. As human population skyrockets and land becomes a scarce resource, balancing tradeoffs between reforestation, conservation, water availability and carbon storage becomes paramount. In a recent publication from the Smart Reforestation Program, Smithsonian scientists and collaborators including the Panama Canal Authority confirm that native tree species performed very well in field trials and would be preferable to teak in this situation. |
 | Parasites inside your body could be protecting you from diseaseIt's fair to say parasites are generally bad for their hosts. Many cause disease and death so, like most species, we humans usually try to avoid infection at all costs. But it turns out that some parasites, although potentially harmful in isolation, can in fact help hosts to cope with more deadly infections. |
A monkey named Spiderman dies in New York at age 43A monkey named Spiderman has died at a New York zoo after an unusually long life. | |
 | New research unlocks the mystery of leaf sizeWhy is a banana leaf a million times bigger than a common heather leaf? Why are leaves generally much larger in tropical jungles than in temperate forests and deserts? The textbooks say it's a balance between water availability and overheating. |
 | Day of reckoning for marine invadersFor centuries, marine species have moved around either by hitching ride on the hulls of ships or as stowaways in ballast water. In many instances, species have been deliberately introduced for aquaculture or other commercial purposes. |
 | 93-year-old American woman donates $22 mn to Cologne ZooA 93-year-old widow from the United States has donated $22 million to the zoo in Cologne, Germany, saying she wanted to give back to the city where she and her husband met during World War II, German media reported Friday. |
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