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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 2, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Researchers study kinematics of the supernova remnant G109.1-1.0(Phys.org)—A team of astronomers from Mexico has lately conducted a kinematics study of a supernova remnant in the Milky Way galaxy known as G109.1-1.0 (or CTB 109). The new research reveals crucial insights into basic properties of this remnant. The findings were presented Sept. 23 in a paper published on the arXiv preprint repository. |
 | Astronomers discover traces of methyl chloride around infant stars and nearby cometAstronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) have detected the faint molecular fingerprint of methyl chloride - a chemical commonly produced by industrial and biological processes here on Earth - around an infant star system known as IRAS 16293-2422. Traces of this organic compound were also discovered in the thin atmosphere of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (67P/C-G) by the Rosetta space probe. |
 | SpaceX: Rocket for moon, Mars and NY-to-Shanghai in 39 minsSpaceX chief Elon Musk's elaborate plan for a mega-rocket to carry astronauts to Mars may have some down-to-Earth applications. |
 | Large solar storm sparks global aurora and doubles radiation levels on the martian surfaceAn unexpectedly strong blast from the Sun hit Mars this month, observed by NASA missions in orbit and on the surface. |
 | New insights on dark energyThe universe is not only expanding - it is accelerating outward, driven by what is commonly referred to as "dark energy." The term is a poetic analogy to label for dark matter, the mysterious material that dominates the matter in the universe and that really is dark because it does not radiate light (it reveals itself via its gravitational influence on galaxies). Two explanations are commonly advanced to explain dark energy. The first, as Einstein once speculated, is that gravity itself causes objects to repel one another when they are far enough apart (he added this "cosmological constant" term to his equations). The second explanation hypothesizes (based on our current understanding of elementary particle physics) that the vacuum has properties that provide energy to the cosmos for expansion. |
 | Image: Hubble catches galaxies swarmed by star clustersIn the center of a rich cluster of galaxies located in the direction of the constellation of Coma Berenices, lies a galaxy surrounded by a swarm of star clusters. NGC 4874 is a giant elliptical galaxy, about ten times larger than the Milky Way, at the center of the Coma Galaxy Cluster. With its strong gravitational pull, it is able to hold onto more than 30,000 globular clusters of stars, more than any other galaxy that we know of, and even has a few dwarf galaxies in its grasp. |
 | New study highlights 'hidden figure' of sun-watchersFew people have heard of Hisako Koyama, but the dedicated female solar observer, born in Tokyo in 1916, created one of the most important sunspot records of the past 400 years, according to new research. |
 | Ariane 5 rocket puts satellites into orbit on second attemptAn Ariane 5 rocket put two commercial satellites into orbit after an initial attempt was aborted earlier this month, operator Arianespace said early Saturday. |
 | 95 minutes over JupiterThis sequence of color-enhanced images shows how quickly the viewing geometry changes for NASA's Juno spacecraft as it swoops by Jupiter. The images were obtained by JunoCam. |
 | Catching the shadow of a Neptunian moonResearchers on the flying observatory SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, are preparing for a two-minute opportunity to study the atmosphere of Neptune's moon Triton as it casts a faint shadow on Earth's surface. This is the first chance to investigate Triton's atmosphere in 16 years. |
 | Water can be corrosive to life, so what about alternative solvents?Life on early Earth seems to have begun with a paradox: while life needs water as a solvent, the essential chemical backbones of early life-forming molecules fall apart in water. Our universal solvent, it turns out, can be extremely corrosive. |
 | How a new orbital moon station could take us to Mars and beyondThe dream of a human habitat in orbit about the moon came a step closer on September 27, when NASA and the Russian space agency (Roscosmos) signed up to a common vision for future human exploration. The project, a follow-up to the International Space Station (ISS), involves a facility placed in orbit somewhere between the Earth and the moon – a region known as cis-lunar space. Seen as a stepping-stone on the way to deeper space exploration, it has been dubbed the Deep Space Gateway, DSG. |
 | Elon Musk's Mars plan overlooks some big nontechnical hurdlesElon Musk has a plan, and it's about as audacious as they come. Not content with living on our pale blue dot, Musk and his company SpaceX want to colonize Mars, fast. They say they'll send a duo of supply ships to the red planet within five years. By 2024, they're aiming to send the first humans. From there they have visions of building a space port, a city and, ultimately, a planet they'd like to "geoengineer" to be as welcoming as a second Earth. |
 | Hubble is paving scientific paths for James Webb Space TelescopeNASA's Hubble Space Telescope is helping identify potential celestial targets for the James Webb Space Telescope through a series of preparatory science observations to be completed before Webb is ready to make observations of its own. |
 | Small satellites offer major commercial opportunitiesSmall satellites are used mainly to monitor Norwegian territorial waters. However, the scope of applications will widen in the future, and researchers believe that Norway has the expertise to exploit the commercial opportunities these provide. |
Video: Moonrise from the space stationOn 18 September 2017, ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli shot this beautiful time-lapse showing the moon rising above the Earth's horizon together with Mercury, Mars, the star Regulus, and Venus. | |
Technology news
 | Dubai dreams of flying taxis darting among its skyscrapersWith a whirling buzz from 18 rotors, the pilotless helicopter gently lifted off the ground and soared up into the afternoon sky, the spire of the world's tallest building visible behind it. |
 | Light-harvesting smartwatch shines on Kickstarter(Tech Xplore)—LunaR is a smartwatch that is now up on Kickstarter and its key feature is a standout for those who would not like to be bothered by battery management. LunaR's team have turned to Kickstarter to get it to the next step and into people's hands. |
 | Researchers explore vehicle use of cellulose nanofiber-based parts(Tech Xplore)—The US Department of Energy says "Reducing a vehicle's weight by just 10 percent can improve the fuel economy by 6 to 8 percent." |
 | New gesture control tech turns any object into a TV remoteImagine changing the channel of your TV simply by moving your cup of tea, adjusting the volume on a music player by rolling a toy car, or rotating a spatula to pause a cookery video on your tablet. |
 | Smash hit: Ping pong robot takes on Olympian at Tokyo tech fairA ping-pong-playing robot served up a hit at a top Tokyo tech fair Monday, while a barely-moving machine in the shape of a sloth aimed to provide a relaxing change of pace. |
 | Insight into cement's microscopic properties may lead to stronger, more sustainable concreteCement materials, including cement paste, mortar, and concrete, are the most widely manufactured materials in the world. Their carbon footprint is similarly hefty: The processes involved in making cement contribute almost 6 percent of global carbon emissions. |
 | Smartphone app for migrants gets trial in Central America, MexicoA smartphone app designed to help migrants safely move through countries is being tested in Central America and Mexico from this week, ahead of a wider roll-out elsewhere in the world, the UN Migration Agency said Friday. |
 | Director turns to virtual reality to tastefully show tragedyFor 25 years filmmaker Gina Kim wanted to make a movie about the true story of a South Korean sex worker killed by an American soldier, but struggled with how to do so without feeling she was exploiting the victim. Then virtual reality arrived. |
 | Social media and democracy: optimism fades as fears riseJust a few years ago, Facebook and Twitter were hailed as tools for democracy activists, enabling movements like the Arab Spring to flourish. |
 | Retailer Noon.com opens in UAE after delays, Amazon's entryThe online retailer Noon.com has launched in the United Arab Emirates after months of delays, more than $1 billion in pledged investments and Amazon's entry into the market. |
In Appalachia, a public broadband project hits snagsKentucky's plan to build one of the country's largest publicly owned broadband networks was touted as a cornerstone of the effort to save the Appalachian economy by bringing high-speed internet to some of the poorest counties in America. | |
 | Facebook gives Russia-linked ads to CongressFacebook announced Monday that it is planning more measures to increase transparency in advertising as the company provides Congress with more than 3,000 ads linked to a Russian ad agency. |
 | Google unveils new moves to boost struggling news organizations (Update)Google announced new steps to help struggling news organizations Monday—including an end to a longstanding "first click free" policy to generate fresh revenues for publishers hurt by the shift from print to digital. |
 | Cabbies block Prague airport to protest against Uber (Update)Czech taxi drivers on Monday blocked traffic at Prague's international airport to protest what they and many of their counterparts abroad call unfair competition from the controversial ride-sharing app Uber. |
 | Overclocker uses liquid nitrogen in Intel i9-7980XE push to 6.1 GHz(Tech Xplore)—Joel Hruska in ExtremeTech notes that the all-core clock on a Core i9-7980XE drops to 3.4GHz under full load, to keep power consumption at a manageable level. But then there is liquid nitrogen and an overclocker with his own set of smarts. |
Head of Taiwan microchip giant TSMC set to retireThe man who founded Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) and made it the world's biggest microchip producer in terms of contracts announced Monday he would retire next year. | |
 | Drones controlled with brain-computer interfaceSingle unmanned autonomous vehicles (UAVs) directed by joysticks, radio controllers, and mobile phones are already accomplishing a variety of useful tasks, such as aerial photography and security patrols. But using multiple drones requires multiple human operators, and this presents a coordination problem. |
 | Using elastomer films to generate electricityWater is still the most important source of renewable energy in Bavaria, Germany, accounting for some 33 percent of all renewable energy produced in the region, as showed by the Bavarian Energy Map. But conventional hydroelectric plants, especially micro hydro generators, are a subject of controversy due to their low output volumes and their interference with the ecosystem. Fraunhofer researchers are working on an environmentally friendly alternative: in the future, innovative elastomer materials are set to convert the mechanical energy produced by flowing water in small rivers directly into electrical energy. |
 | Detecting impurities on 3-D componentsImpurities adhering to the surface of components can cause problems in later stages of the production process – or even make the entire component useless. A new fluorescence scanner developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM allows specialists to inspect metallic parts for residues of grease, machining chips and cleaning agents – for every single item in production cycle. |
 | Higher processor performance with microchannel coolerOne of the limiting factors for the computing power of processors is the operating temperature. As part of the CarriCool project under the aegis of IBM, Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new, effective cooling method: By integrating microchannels into the silicon interposer it is for the first time possible to cool high-performance processors from the underside as well. As a result, this innovation can achieve a significant increase in performance. Moreover, the scientists have integrated passive components for voltage regulators, photonic ICs and optical waveguides into the interposer. |
 | Wearable device that tracks indoor and outdoor air qualityThis past June, Grace Li '17 stepped off a plane in Paris ready to spend her summer tracking down a silent killer. Now Li, her former teammates, and the flock of trained pigeons who also contributed to the project are about to get closer to their goal. |
 | Sassy, zany and easy-going—the abundance of fun in digital helpIn the future, humans will interact more and more with automated help. Whether it's smart home hardware or chatbots, digital interfaces and virtual assistants rely on conversation for interaction and instruction. |
 | Beyond Bitcoin—The power struggle over trust-based technologyTechnology blogs and financial news networks are buzzing about blockchain, a cryptographic, distributed trust technology. The key innovation is how it reduces the need for central third-party institutions to serve as central authorities of trust—banks, courts, large corporations, stock markets and even governments, for example. |
 | Body energy as a power sourceSmartphones, MP3 players, sports electronics devices such as pulse meters or trackers, medical equipment such as tonometers, pacemakers of the heart, or insulin pumps: An increasing number of electronic companions make daily life easier for us. But as useful these smart helpers may be: Their constant hunger for electricity is a problem. The solution: power supply by means of energy produced by body movements. This is the research subject of scientists at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). |
 | Painless microneedles extract fluid for wearable sensors for soldiers, athletesThe lab is calm and quiet, clean and well organized; boxes of tiny needles and sample tubes are neatly stacked above a pristine paper-covered countertop. |
Indonesia's fuel subsidy cuts prevented even worse traffic jamsIndonesia is notorious for its traffic jams. Many people spend hours commuting each day. Jakarta and other Indonesian cities have been rated as home to some of the world's slowest traffic. | |
Roku cuts price on top streaming player to counter Apple TVEmboldened by a successful IPO, Roku is reducing the price on the next generation of its best video streaming player in an attempt to fend off competitive threats from Apple and Amazon. | |
Technology increases the sensitivity of infrastructural sensors by more than 50 timesTechnology from the Public University of Navarre monitors the structural health of infrastructure (bridges, viaducts, oil pipelines, gas pipelines, etc.) and can be used in intensity-based optical sensors that modify the amount of light in the system in the presence of physical as well as chemical changes, as explained in Sergio Rota's Ph.D. thesis read at the Public University of Navarre (NUP/UPNA). | |
 | Gulf retailer Noon.com to ignite e-commerce raceDays after Amazon announced the launch of its first Middle East centres, online retailer Noon.com has gone live in the United Arab Emirates, boosting a rapidly nascent e-commerce sector in the Gulf. |
 | GM to offer two more electric vehicles in next 18 monthsEven though gasoline-powered SUVs are what people are buying now, General Motors is betting that electric vehicles will be all the rage in the not-to-distant future. |
Securities regulator says personal info was leaked in breachThe Securities and Exchange Commission is now saying that at least two people had their personal information stolen in the breach that happened last year. | |
 | Facebook beefing up team to thwart election manipulationFacebook on Monday said it will hire more than 1,000 people to thwart deceptive ads crafted to knock elections off course. |
 | Equifax warned about vulnerability, didn't patch it: ex-CEOThe security team at Equifax failed to patch a vulnerability in March after getting a warning about the flaw, opening up the credit agency to a breach affecting 143 million people, the former chief executive said Monday. |
 | Tesla reports record 3Q deliveries, but Model 3 lagsTesla Inc. says it delivered a record number of vehicles in the third quarter even though it made fewer of its new Model 3 sedans than anticipated. |
 | Development of active-learning dialogue data-based AI technologyHitachi today announced the development of active-learning dialogue-data based AI technology to enable EMIEW3, Hitachi's human symbiotic service robot to spontaneously "learn" how to respond to questions that it could not previously answer. EMIEW3 clarifies the meaning of enquiries with related staff through dialogue interaction, and in the process, automatically increases its dialogue contents to increase "comprehension" for appropriate responses. Hitachi is currently developing EMIEW3 with view to use in customer service and guidance settings. Using this technology, EMIEW3's dialogue contents can be enhanced by staff without specialist training, simply by responding to queries posed by EMIEW3, and was found to reduce labor-hours for this process to about one-tenth the time previously needed Further, this technology allows EMIEW3 to learn more quickly about products or facilities which may change daily, as well as increase comprehension and correctly respond to customer enquiries. Hitachi is aiming to provide even higher quality dialogue-data based solutions by using this technology. |
 | JRC makes its ship-detection software open sourceThe Joint Research Centre (JRC) has released the software of its SUMO maritime surveillance tool, which is helping to protect our oceans by detecting ships engaged in illicit activities. |
Supreme Court declines to hear Megaupload caseThe Supreme Court is leaving in place lower court rulings against internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom and others associated with his now defunct file-sharing website Megaupload. | |
 | Uber northern Europe chief departs amid London rowThe head of Uber's northern Europe operations has decided to leave, the US ride-sharing company said Monday as it faces a licensing battle in London. |
Former Equifax chairman apologizes for data breachThe former chairman and CEO of Equifax says the company was entrusted with personal information of 140 million Americans and "we let them down" as human error and technology failures allowed a massive data breach. | |
 | World's most advanced shipborne radar ready to set sailIn mid-October, Steven Rutledge will sail to the intertropical convergence zone near the Equator aboard a 300-foot vessel called the R/V Roger Revelle. |
 | Insider Q&A: Uber human resources chief Liane HornseyThe revelation came just weeks after Liane Hornsey joined Uber as chief human resources officer. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Biological clock discoveries by three Americans earn Nobel prize (Update)Three Americans won a Nobel Prize on Monday for discovering key genetic "gears" of the body's 24-hour biological clock, the mechanism best known for causing jet lag when it falls out of sync. |
 | A new approach to cancer drug discoveryScientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have developed and demonstrated a promising new strategy for the discovery of novel anti-cancer therapies. |
 | Freud and the Nobel traumaSigmund Freud, a man of letters or the mind? Neither, according to the Nobel committees, which not only gave the father of psychoanalysis the cold shoulder but even criticised his work. |
 | By decoding how HPV causes cancer, researchers find a new potential treatment strategyA study that teases apart the biological mechanisms by which human papillomaviruses (HPV) cause cancer has found what researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center say is a new strategy that might provide targeted treatment for these cancers. |
 | Feeling sated can become a cue to eat moreWhen hunger pangs strike, we usually interpret them as a cue to reach for a snack; when we start to feel full, we take it as a sign that we should stop eating. But new research shows that these associations can be learned the other way around, such that satiety becomes a cue to eat more, not less. |
 | GM soybean oil causes less obesity and insulin resistance but is harmful to liver functionResearchers at the University of California, Riverside have tested a genetically-modified (GM) soybean oil used in restaurants and found that while it induces less obesity and insulin resistance than conventional soybean oil, its effects on diabetes and fatty liver are similar to those of conventional soybean oil. |
 | Our muscles measure the time of dayBiological clocks throughout the body trigger the release of the hormone melatonin during sleep, induce the secretion of digestive enzymes at lunchtime or keep us awake at the busiest moments of the day. A "master clock" in the brain synchronises all the subsidiary ones in various organs. Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, together with international colleagues, have found that such a circadian clock is at work in the muscles. Their research shows that perturbations of this machinery might be important in the development of type 2 diabetes. Their work has just been published in PNAS. |
 | Psychologists simplifying brain-imaging data analysisNeuroscience research has made incredible strides toward revealing the inner workings of our brains – how we make decisions, plan for the future or experience emotions – thanks in part to technological advances, but barriers in sharing and accessing that data stymie progress in the field. |
 | Study suggests women eating peanuts during breastfeeding could prevent child from developing allergy(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with members from several institutions in Canada has conducted a study on women eating peanuts while breastfeeding and has found evidence that suggests doing so can reduce the chances of their child developing a peanut allergy as long as they also give peanuts directly to the child. In their paper published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the group outlines their study, which assessed the habits of hundreds of mothers and their children over the course of several years, and explains what they found by doing so. |
 | Simple strategy could lead to a 'universal' flu vaccineIt's that time of year again: Temperatures drop, sleeves go up, and the needles come out. If scientists at The Rockefeller University have their way, however, the annual ritual of the flu shot could become obsolete. |
 | New insights into how sleep helps the brain to reorganise itselfA study has given new insights into how sleep contributes to brain plasticity – the ability for our brain to change and reorganise itself – and could pave the way for new ways to help people with learning and memory disorders. |
 | Mini-kidneys grown in lab reveal renal disease secretsBy creating and manipulating mini-kidney organoids that contain a realistic micro-anatomy, UW Medicine researchers can now track the early stages of polycystic kidney disease. The organoids are grown from human stem cells. |
 | New system finds and targets vulnerabilities in lung cancer cellsGenetic changes that help lung cancer thrive also make it vulnerable to a promising experimental drug, according to a study led by researchers from Perlmutter Cancer at NYU Langone Health, and published online October 2 in Nature Medicine. |
 | Unexpected findings uncover new understanding of gene expressionNorthwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that the catalytic activity of the fly enzyme Trr and mammalian MLL3/MLL4—members of the COMPASS family of proteins central to gene expression—is not required for proper development and viability in flies or gene expression in mammalian cells. |
 | Stress diminishes our capacity to sense new dangers, psychology research findsBeing under stress diminishes our abilities to predict new dangers that we face, a team of psychology researchers finds. Its work runs counter to the conventional view that stress enhances our ability to detect and adjust to these changing sources of threat. |
 | Study finds that healthy bacteria in yogurt may reduce lupus symptoms in miceResearchers at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech have released findings that explain how a type of healthy bacteria in yogurt and other dairy products might reduce disease symptoms in certain patients with lupus. |
 | Checkpoint blockade may be key for immunity to malariaA molecule that prevents the immune system from attacking cancer may play a similar role with malaria. A new study by researchers at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine shows that targeting the molecule at the right time during infection allows mice to quickly clear malaria. Importantly the treated mice also develop lasting immunity to malaria. |
| Researchers use CRISPR engineering to prevent certain glaucoma in miceA University of Iowa-led team of researchers has used the gene editing method called CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt a mutant gene that is responsible for some forms of glaucoma, one of the most common causes of irreversible blindness. |
 | Preventing autoimmune disease after a viral infectionThe key weapon against viruses and bacteria that invade the body is production of antibodies, which act like guided missiles to attack and neutralize pathogens. |
 | Law enforcement and gun retailers are resources for safe gun storageLaw enforcement agencies and gun retailers can be resources to concerned families for storing guns to prevent suicide, according to a new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. It is the first to examine the extent to which these organizations are willing to offer voluntary, temporary storage - especially when a household member is in crisis - according to surveys conducted in eight mountain west states. |
Madagascar plague kills 24, triggering WHO fearsThe World Health Organisation said Sunday it was boosting its response to a plague outbreak in Madagascar that has killed 24 people, as the government banned public meetings to reduce infections. | |
 | Overuse injuries don't impact young football players(HealthDay)—Overuse injuries do not appear to be a major problem among young football players, according to a new study. |
 | Upper abdominal cancer resections up in octogenarians(HealthDay)—Rates of major upper abdominal cancer resections in octogenarians are increasing, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in Cancer. |
 | Embezzlement widespread in medical practices(HealthDay)—Embezzlement is widespread among medical practices, and knowing the warning signs is helpful for preventing it, according to an article published in Medical Economics. |
 | Eyebank corneal tissue prep may increase infection risk(HealthDay)—Donor rim cultures are more likely to have detectable Candida growth in endothelial keratoplasty-processed eyes than for other uses, according to a study published online Sept. 28 in JAMA Ophthalmology. |
 | Nursing home use up with cognitive impairment category(HealthDay)—Nursing home (NH) use increases with increasing cognitive impairment category, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. |
 | Military-related trauma tied to eating disorder symptoms(HealthDay)—Noncombat, military-related trauma is associated with eating disorder symptom severity in male veterans, according to a study published online Sept. 23 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders. |
 | Adulteration of proprietary Chinese medicines, health products poses severe health risksTraditional Chinese medicine is widely used as a form of complementary medicine all over the world for various indications and for improving general health. Proprietary Chinese medicines (pCMs)—which are composed solely of Chinese medicines and formulated in a finished dose form—are generally believed to be natural and safe, but a new analysis in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reveals serious dangers. |
 | Physician licensing laws keep doctors from seeking careDespite growing problems with psychological distress, many physicians avoid seeking mental health treatment due to concern for their license. Mayo Clinic research shows that licensing requirements in many states include questions about past mental health treatments or diagnoses, with the implication that they may limit a doctor's right to practice medicine. The findings appear today in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. |
DNA mutations shed in blood predicts response to immunotherapy in patients with cancerIn a first-of-its-kind study, University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers report that a blood sample, or liquid biopsy, can reveal which patients will respond to checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapies. | |
 | Text messaging program may help pregnant women kick the smoking habitAn intensive text messaging program provides some pregnant women help in fighting the urge to light up a smoke, according to a study out today. |
 | If your child is bilingual, learning additional languages later might be easierIt is often claimed that people who are bilingual are better than monolinguals at learning languages. Now, the first study to examine bilingual and monolingual brains as they learn an additional language offers new evidence that supports this hypothesis, researchers say. |
Doctors define 'safe and effective' margins for 'one and done' skin removal around suspicious molesBy carefully tracing a line of at least 2 millimeters outside of and around the edges of a mole that is suspected of being a cancer, doctors can remove all of its cells and avert the need for a second surgery. | |
 | Study shows promise for children with severe form of epilepsyA new formulation of a drug that was used to treat children with a rare neurological condition in the 1980s, and later became half of a widely used diet-drug combination, may offer promise for pediatric patients with a severe seizure disorder, following a large-scale trial led by UC San Francisco. |
 | The real reason some people become addicted to drugsWhy do they do it? This is a question that friends and families often ask of those who are addicted. |
 | How investing in public health could cure many health care problemsNow that the Cassidy-Graham bill has been pulled, it's a good time to think about concrete ways to improve health and health care in our country. Despite advances in medicine, U.S. health care spending grew to US$3.2 trillion in 2015, or 17.8 percent of the nation's gross domestic product. To contain health care costs, the U.S. needs to invest in strengthening the public health system and reconsider approaches to making all Americans healthier. |
 | Warning on salmonella risk from reptile handlingIs there a salmonella infection risk for humans who come into contact with pet lizards and snakes? |
 | Engaging older adults through touch tabletsA new check-in system for elderly people, designed with their emotional needs in mind, has proved successful in early trials. |
 | Radical research raises hopes for eye disease treatment for premature babiesGround-breaking research by Monash University scientists has demonstrated the previously unknown existence of a disease-fighting immune cell in the eye and points to potential novel ways of treating eye disorders in premature babies and diabetic adults. |
 | Why we should pay people to stop smokingDespite some of the strictest tobacco control policies in the world, recent data shows the decline in smoking in Australia has stalled. |
 | Genome editing of human embryos broadens ethics discussionsFor several years, scientists have experimented on human embryos with a powerful genome editing tool called CRISPR to see if they could correct genetic errors or reduce the risk of disease. In September, Kathy Niakan at the Francis Crick Institute in London and her colleagues reported they had used this tool on human embryos for a very different purpose —to better understand human development. |
 | Drug resistance—how we keep track of whether antibiotics are being used responsiblyWhile we know increasing numbers of bacteria all over the world are becoming more resistant to existing antibiotics, we need to learn more about how antibiotics are being used in healthcare settings. |
 | Parents of newborn babies not aware of consequences of screeningA team of University of Manchester researchers have found that changes are urgently needed in how parents are informed about newborn bloodspot screening to ensure they understand it and its consequences for them and their baby. |
 | Global experts seek to end damaging dementia psychosis cycleA new research report calls for a change in approach in the treatment of psychosis in dementia, to find alternatives to highly damaging antipsychotics. |
How real-time sequencing of viruses can prevent outbreaks of infectious diseaseIt's been 10 years since bluetongue virus (BTV) arrived in Britain for the very first time. With UK conditions mirroring those in Holland where the virus was already circulating, its arrival had been widely anticipated – a case of when, not if. | |
 | World's first super-microsurgery operation with 'robot hands'Plastic surgeons at Maastricht UMC+ have used a robotic device to surgically treat lymphedema in a patient. This is the world's first super-microsurgical intervention with '"robot hands." The surgeons used the robotic device to suture vessels of 0.3 to 0.8 millimeter in the arm of the patient. The robotic device, created by Eindhoven company Microsure, enhances the surgeon's precision, making this type of procedure easier to perform. The patient is doing well and the surgeons are enthusiastic. The news of this extraordinary operation has been announced on 27 September, at the 26th World Congress of Lymphology, in Barcelona. |
Scientists support African drug resistance fightEdinburgh researchers have contributed to a Zimbabwean initiative to tackle the threat of growing resistance to antibiotics. | |
 | Researchers review risks, recommendations for weight gain management in midlife womenA review of the weight gain risks and challenges faced by women in midlife has led Mayo Clinic researchers to a series of recommendations for this patient population. The findings are published in this month's edition of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. |
Children without allergies can still be afflicted with asthma-like coughing and wheezingDoctors have long wondered why children without allergies can still be afflicted with asthma-like coughing and wheezing. In a new study, Cleveland Clinic researchers have identified a protein that may be responsible. | |
Study finds sports-related concussion symptoms linger twice as long for adolescent girlsAdolescent female athletes suffer concussion symptoms twice as long as their male counterparts, according to a new study in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Researchers found the extended recovery period may be due to underlying conditions including migraines, depression, anxiety and stress. | |
 | New drug protects heart from cardiac rupture after myocardial infarctionThere are currently many kinds of drugs for heart failure. Among them, the new drug LCZ696 is recommended by US guidelines as a first-line treatment for chronic heart failure. LCZ696 is better than conventional drugs at reducing cardiac death and hospitalization due to heart failure. Now, researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have revealed that LCZ696 can prevent cardiac rupture and heart failure following acute myocardial infarction which is one of the causes of chronic heart failure. |
 | Team reveals molecular pathway of weight-controlling hormoneScientists at NGM Bio have revealed deep insights into the role that a little-understood human hormone plays in regulating body weight. Named Growth and Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15), this hormone is typically active only when the body experiences acute or prolonged stress, including following exposure to tissue-damaging toxins, such as chemotherapy, or during chronic disease, such as obesity or cancer. As a result, the GDF15 pathway holds promise for the development of potential therapeutics for diseases of both excess and insufficient body weight. |
Did game design elements increase physical activity among adults?Physical activity increased among families in a randomized clinical trial as part of a game-based intervention where they could earn points and progress through levels based on step goal achievements, according to a new article published by JAMA Internal Medicine. | |
Pre-packaged brand version of compounded medication to prevent preterm births costs 5,000 percent morePreventing a preterm birth could cost as little as $200 or as much as $20,000, depending on which one of two medications a doctor orders, according to a new analysis from Harvard Medical School. | |
 | Skipping breakfast associated with hardening of the arteriesSkipping breakfast is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerosis, or the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to a build-up of plaque, according to research published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Gene therapy shows promise for reversing blindnessMost causes of untreatable blindness occur due to loss of the millions of light sensitive photoreceptor cells that line the retina, similar to the pixels in a digital camera. |
 | A new method for removing cells infected with the AIDS virusWith the successful suppression of the AIDS virus (HIV) through medication, the focus turns toward its eradication. Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have developed a new compound that is key to the destruction of HIV. When the compound is introduced into infected cells, viral budding (release) is suppressed thereby confining it within the host cells. The cells then die naturally through apoptosis (cell death). This treatment is believed to lead to the complete recovery from AIDS in the near future. |
 | Scientists have found another reason for children to eat their green leafy vegetablesA study of 766 otherwise healthy adolescents showed that those who consumed the least vitamin K1- found in spinach, cabbage, iceberg lettuce and olive oil - were at 3.3 times greater risk for an unhealthy enlargement of the major pumping chamber of their heart, according to the study published in The Journal of Nutrition. Vitamin K1, or phylloquinone, is the predominant form of vitamin K in the U.S. diet. |
 | Teens mixed up with the law may fall through Medicaid cracks(HealthDay)—Teens on Medicaid who have been arrested at least once are more likely to seek costly emergency room care and less apt to receive preventive primary care, a new study suggests. |
 | How much alcohol is really OK?(HealthDay)—All the good news/bad news studies about alcohol can leave you confused. But research suggests that you still need to keep moderation in mind when you raise a glass. |
 | A new model of treatment for youth with anxietyA stepped care model of treatment for youth with anxiety can be effectively delivered using at least 14% less therapist time than traditional treatment service, reports a study published in the October 2017 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP). |
 | Childhood asthma—not associated with BCG vaccinationChildhood asthma is a serious public health challenge in Québec and throughout the world. Although the immune mechanisms implicated in the development of childhood asthma are not fully understood, some studies seem to suggest that the BCG vaccine, used in tuberculosis prevention, may have a protective effect on childhood asthma. However there is no consensus and contradictory findings have been reported in other studies. |
 | Healthy lifestyle linked to lower pain in multiple sclerosis sufferersA healthy lifestyle of regular exercise, no smoking and healthy diet is associated with lower pain in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), finds a study published in open-access journal Frontiers in Neurology. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that modifiable lifestyle factors can help manage MS symptoms. |
 | Genetic test successfully detects some asymptomatic pancreatic cancersA genetic test developed at UPMC proved highly sensitive at determining which pancreatic cysts are most likely to be associated with one of the most aggressive types of pancreatic cancer, UPMC and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine scientists reported in Gut, the journal of the British Society of Gastroenterology. |
 | Transcranial direct current stimulation reduces fatigue associated with multiple sclerosisPeople with multiple sclerosis (MS) who underwent a non-invasive form of electrical brain stimulation experienced significant reductions in fatigue, a common and often debilitating symptom of the disease, according to new research from the Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center at NYU Langone Health. |
 | Online game could boost family fitness(HealthDay)—The family that plays an online game together may get more exercise together, a new study suggests. |
 | Hirsutism strongly predicts metabolic dysfunction in PCOS(HealthDay)—There is a strong correlation between hirsutism and metabolic dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), according to a study published online Sept. 21 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. |
 | Azathioprine appears to improve disease course in early Crohn's(HealthDay)—Long-term use of azathioprine (AZA) is associated with a better disease course in patients with early Crohn's disease (CD), according to a study published online Sept. 22 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | State laws can promote hepatitis C virus screening(HealthDay)—Mandating health care providers to offer hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening can increase screening rates and linkage to care among those with newly diagnosed infection, according to research published in the Sept. 29 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | As retirement age creeps up, the health of those close to retirement is getting worseTen years from now, Americans born in 1960 will be able to start collecting their full Social Security retirement check, at the age of 67. That's two years later than their parents, because of a change in the federal retirement age enacted in 1983. |
Millions of suburban residents in US lack health insuranceNearly 40% of the uninsured population in America lives in the suburbs and nearly one in seven suburban residents lacks health insurance. | |
Firearm-related injuries account for $2.8 billion on emergency room and inpatient charges each yearA new Johns Hopkins study of more than 704,000 people who arrived alive at a United States emergency room for treatment of a firearm-related injury between 2006 and 2014 finds decreasing incidence of such injury in some age groups, increasing trends in others, and affirmation of the persistently high cost of gunshot wounds in dollars and human suffering. | |
 | Many hospitals still not using digital patient health informationU.S. hospitals are making slow progress in ensuring that their providers have access to patients' complete electronic health records when those patients have also received care from outside providers, according to a new study in Health Affairs. |
 | After medical error, apology goes a long wayIn patient injury cases, revealing facts, offering apology does not lead to increase in lawsuits, study finds |
 | Hospital discharges for prescription opioids down, heroin discharges surgeHospital discharges related to prescription opioids have declined slightly in recent years, but heroin-related discharges have surged, according to a new study led by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. |
Simple tool accurately predicts 30-day mortality for patients with acute heart failure in the ERA simple tool using readily available data can accurately estimate the 30-day mortality risk for patients admitted to the emergency department with acute heart failure. Emergency department physicians may consider using this tool to inform clinical decisions. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. | |
Delayed hospital discharges could be linked to rise in population deathsGrowing numbers of adults experiencing delays from being discharged from hospital may have played a part in the sharp rise in deaths noted in England in 2015, suggests research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. | |
 | New survey finds 21 percent of Americans report personal experience with medical errorsThe vast majority of Americans are having positive experiences with the health care system, but 21 percent of adults report having personally experienced a medical error, according to a new national survey released today by the IHI/NPSF Lucian Leape Institute and NORC at the University of Chicago. The survey further finds that, when errors do occur, they often have lasting impact on the patient's physical health, emotional health, financial well-being, or family relationships. |
 | Statin use appears to reduce risk of serious bacterial bloodstream infectionUsers of statins, widely prescribed for prevention of cardiac disease, have a 27% lower risk of contracting a Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bloodstream infection outside of a hospital, according to a new study in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Researchers report that statin use, especially among elderly patients with preexisting chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney, or liver disease, may be protective against this serious bloodstream infection. As the western world's population is aging and more people live with chronic medical conditions, any potential preventive effect of statins could have important clinical implications. |
 | Breakthrough cancer treatment brings hope and challengesThe first gene therapy for cancer, approved by the Food Drug Administration in August, will transform the treatment of a particular kind of cancer in children and young adults. It's transformative because it uses a patient's own immune cells to attack the cancer cells. The hope is that this is just the first of many other drugs capable of harnessing a patient's immune system. |
Program reduces high ED use, increases primary care visits for most vulnerable patientsResearchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found that a community-based program aimed at high users of hospital emergency departments (EDs), reduced ED visits and hospital admissions, while increasing use of primary care providers. | |
 | Time out: Dangers of disrupting your body clockMessing with your body's clock is dangerous business, in fact it could make you sick—or worse. |
 | Reassuring kids after another senseless tragedy(HealthDay)—As news pours in from Las Vegas on the record level of carnage inflicted by a shooter at yet another crowded public event, psychiatrists urge young people and their parents to not give way to fear. |
Fear of epidemic disaster as disease stalks Rohingya campsRashida Begum steers clear of the water pump near the reeking latrine shared by more than 100 families in a grim corner of Bangladesh that has grown into one of the world's largest refugee settlements in just weeks. | |
 | Colorado: No edible pot shaped as people, animals or fruitA ban on gummy bears and other edible marijuana products shaped like animals, people and fruit takes effect this month in Colorado - a change aimed at decreasing the likelihood small children will mistake them for a favorite treat. |
Financial incentives for physicians did not increase follow-up of patients after dischargeA financial incentive for physicians to see patients sooner after discharge from hospital did not appear to influence physician behaviour, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
 | Communication is key to understanding female circumcisionLack of communication hampers the prevention of female genital mutilation, according to anthropologist Rachel Issa Djesa. She has observed encounters between Norwegian authorities, health personnel and Somali women in Norway. |
 | Promising Down syndrome research expands to second site in BrazilA Case Western Reserve University-led study of a promising medication for people with Down syndrome is going global. |
Study finds differences in end-of-life care for recent immigrants in CanadaAmong deceased in Ontario, Canada, recent immigrants were significantly more likely to receive aggressive care and to die in an intensive care unit compared with other residents, according to a study published by JAMA. The study is being released to coincide with its presentation at the Critical Care Canada Forum. | |
 | Shared genetics in schizophrenia and bipolar disorderA genetic variant associated with multiple psychiatric disorders drives changes in a brain network that may increase an individual's risk of developing bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, finds a study published in Journal of Neuroscience. |
Depression symptoms linked to problems with daily activities for older Japanese adultsRecently, researchers investigated whether depressive symptoms might make it harder for older adults to perform their regular daily activities. The researchers also wanted to find out whether living circumstances or marital status had any impact on whether depressive symptoms affected older adults' abilities to perform daily activities. | |
 | The Latest: Nobel winner Young: Body clocks are the futureThe Latest on the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (all times local): |
 | New study examines gender differences in obtaining first NIH research awardA study of more than 5,400 instructors and assistant professors at Harvard Medical School compared differences between males and females for receipt of their first National Institutes of Health research award. The study, which also examined gender differences in numbers of publications, h-index, size of coauthor networks, and becoming an assistant professor, is published in Journal of Women's Health. |
 | Lower education and income linked to higher suicide risks for gay and bisexual menGay and bisexual men making less than $30,000 a year and without a university degree have more than five times the odds of attempting suicide compared with their more advantaged peers, according to new research from the University of British Columbia. |
Few South Africans receiving adequate diabetes care: studyThe large number of South Africans with unmet diabetes care highlights the challenges the country faces with rising levels of chronic non-communicable diseases, says a new study led by a Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researcher. | |
Warnings on anesthesia before age 3—plastic surgeons get update on evidenceThe evidence behind the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recent drug safety warning regarding prolonged anesthesia in infants and young children is discussed in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). | |
Plastic surgeons get tips on managing opioid addiction riskOpioid medications prescribed for pain management after plastic surgery may contribute to the ongoing opioid epidemic, according to a special topic paper in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). | |
Biology news
 | Marmoset babies get a boost from attentive fathersGood fathers make for healthier kids, according to a study of some of nature's best fathers: marmosets. |
 | Understanding key enzyme's role in embryonic developmentThe catalytic activity of an enzyme called Set1A—a protein that is essential to the viability of embryonic stem cells (ESCs)—is not required for ESC self-renewal, according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in the journal Genes & Development. |
 | Tropical diversity takes root in relationships between fungi and seedsA team led by Smithsonian scientists in Panama exposed a key to understanding tropical tree diversity by studying how fungi interact with seeds that linger in the ground. Despite a smorgasbord of species available to choose from, tropical fungi and seeds are picky about associating with one another. Early pairings with a particular fungus may influence whether a seed survives and also may help explain how tropical forests remain so diverse. |
 | International competition benchmarks metagenomics softwareCommunities of bacteria live everywhere: inside our bodies, on our bodies and all around us. The human gut alone contains hundreds of species of bacteria that help digest food and provide nutrients, but can also make us sick. To learn more about these groups of bacteria and how they impact our lives, scientists need to study them. But this task poses challenges, because taking the bacteria into the laboratory is either impossible or would disrupt the biological processes the scientists wish to study. |
 | New insights into leading cause of miscarriage, birth defects discoveredTwo recent Northwestern University studies shed new light on the mystery of the leading cause of birth defects and miscarriage, laying the foundation for further research in an understudied but crucially important field of genetic study. |
 | Kinesins ignore weak forces as they carry heavy loadsIf you're the motor protein up front, be prepared to do the heavy pulling. |
 | 9/11 tribute lights could be dangerous for birds, study saysTo humans, the twin blue beams shining upward from lower Manhattan each Sept. 11 evoke solemn memories of the 2001 terrorist attacks. But to migrating birds, they're a potentially fatal attraction, according to a scientific study published Monday. |
 | Released sea turtle carries oceanographer's ashes out to seaA rescued green sea turtle named Picasso was released back into the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, carrying the ashes of a self-taught Texas oceanographer who founded the rehabilitation center that helped nurse it back to health. |
 | Bioprocessing engineers recover glucosinolate from oilseed mealThe oil extracted from ground seeds of camelina and carinata, oilseed plants from the mustard family, can be used as jet fuel. However, with oil prices at an all-time low, that is economically challenging. These promising biofuel sources may be one stop closer to reality due to extracting a substance called glucosinolate. |
 | From feral camels to 'cocaine hippos', large animals are rewilding the worldThroughout history, humans have taken plants and animals with them as they travelled the world. Those that survived the journey to establish populations in the diaspora have found new opportunities as they integrate into new ecosystems. |
 | US body clock geneticists take 2017 Nobel Medicine PrizeUS geneticists Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young were awarded the Nobel Medicine Prize Monday for shedding light on the biological clock that governs the sleep-wake cycles of most living things. |
 | Update on endangered Philippine cycad speciesWhen plant species are threatened to the point that they reach a designation of Critically Endangered, sustaining an understanding of threats requires repeated site visits by knowledgeable biologists to the various sub-populations. The Critically Endangered Cycas wadei, which is known to occur in a single location in the Philippines, was recently evaluated for the contemporary status of the population. The findings and recommendations appear in the current issue of the Journal of Biodiversity & Endangered Species. |
 | Nutrition that increases productivity in intensive livestock breedingImproving the productivity of Brazilian livestock means not only finding ways to make the cattle produce more meat or more milk, but also addressing issues such as diseases. One of those, ruminal acidosis, plays a major role in livestock breeding since it mainly strikes animals kept in intensive farming systems. It causes a high mortality rate, even in treated cases. |
 | Researchers establish basis of development of vertebrate limb muscles in cartilaginous fishesThe development of limb muscle has been well studied in most land dwelling vertebrates such as humans and modern research models. In these species, muscle precursors, or cells that will form limb muscle, travel to the limb bud, a location in the developing embryo where they multiply and form muscle tissue under the control of genes that coordinate limb-muscle formation, such as Lbx1. It has been shown that this mechanism of development is shared with bony but not with cartilaginous fish. |
 | Study highlights conservation needs of fish species recently discovered in Southwest VirginiaIn 1999, a routine study for a pipeline in Tazewell County, Virginia, led to a surprising discovery. Researchers spotted tiny minnows with a black stripe and yellow fins, similar in size and skeletal structure to the Laurel dace, a species native to Tennessee. Further sampling, however, revealed that these minnows were actually a separate species. |
 | Evolutionary crop research: Ego-plants give lower yieldSurvival of the fittest is a fundamental concept in Darwin's theory of natural selection which drives evolution. |
 | New Central Park fly species gets CCNY professor's monikerIntroducing Themira lohmanus, a fly like no other, and the most recently discovered species in the popular Manhattan urban oasis of Central Park! The immature insects subsist on duck droppings, and have a strong CCNY connection: Themira lohmanus is named after City College of New York entomologist, and Professor of Biology, David Lohman. |
 | Many veterinarians aren't comfortable talking about fat catsAs many as two-thirds of North American cats are obese, and just like in humans, obesity can shorten their lives and cause a long list of health issues including diabetes, osteoarthritis and cardiovascular problems. Yet, it can be difficult for veterinarians to talk with someone about their fat cat. |
 | Mitzi and the giant hairballMitzi is a longtime survivor of lymphoma. It's been five years since her last chemotherapy treatment, but she has been vomiting and her owners are afraid the cancer is back. Her stomach feels very weird – kind of doughy, like there is a big lump of bread in there. That's not how tumors feel; tumors are usually firm. The X-rays reveal a mass, but it looks like strange material in her stomach. We decide to go in with an endoscope. |
 | Researchers obtain chicken embryo development dataKFU Extreme Biology Lab and RIKEN have uncovered new facts about chicken embryo growth, which may lead to similar discoveries about humans. The work is published in PLOS Biology. |
 | Technology increases milk yields by 9 percentMilk yields from cows increased by 9% when they wore a new product from UCD spin-out Equilume. |
Europe to commit $1.18 billion to better protect marine lifeThe European Union and its private sector will commit about 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion) to better protect marine life during the global Our Ocean conference this week. | |
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