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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 12, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | VLBA measurement promises complete picture of Milky WayAstronomers using the National Science Foundation's Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) have directly measured the distance to a star-forming region on the opposite side of our Milky Way Galaxy from the Sun. Their achievement nearly doubles the previous record for distance measurement within our Galaxy. |
 | Asteroid grazes past Earth in 'critical' rehearsalA house-sized asteroid grazed past Earth Thursday, passing harmlessly inside the Moon's orbit, as predicted, to give experts a rare opportunity to rehearse for a real strike threat in future. |
 | Reconstructing Cassini's plunge into SaturnAs NASA's Cassini spacecraft made its fateful dive into the upper atmosphere of Saturn on Sept. 15, the spacecraft was live-streaming data from eight of its science instruments, along with readings from a variety of engineering systems. While analysis of science data from the final plunge will take some time, Cassini engineers already have a pretty clear understanding of how the spacecraft itself behaved as it went in. The data are useful for evaluating models of Saturn's atmosphere the team used to predict the spacecraft's behavior at mission's end, and they help provide a baseline for planning future missions to Saturn. |
 | Devourer of planets? Researchers dub star 'Kronos'In mythology, the Titan Kronos devoured his children, including Poseidon (better known as the planet Neptune), Hades (Pluto) and three daughters. |
 | A better understanding of space—via helicopterAn algorithm that helps engineers design better helicopters may help astronomers more precisely envision the formation of planets and galaxies. |
 | Astronomers discover unusual spindle-like galaxiesGalaxies are majestic, rotating wheels of stars? Not in the case of the spindle-like galaxies studied by Athanasia Tsatsi (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy) and her colleagues. Using the CALIFA survey, the astronomers found that these slender galaxies, which rotate along their longest axis, are much more common than previously thought. The new data allowed the astronomers to create a model for how these unusual galaxies probably formed, namely out of a special kind of merger of two spiral galaxies. The results have been published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. |
SpaceX launches, lands recycled rocketSpaceX on Wednesday launched a rocket that had already flown to space and landed it successfully on an ocean platform, as part of its ongoing effort to recycle costly rocket components. | |
 | Rare photos by early NASA astronauts being auctioned offA Massachusetts auction house is selling vintage photographs taken by American astronauts. |
Russia postpones launch of cargo ship to space stationRussia's Mission Control says the launch of an unmanned Russian cargo ship to the International Space Station has been postponed. | |
 | Researcher crashes into moon mystery solutionWestern researcher Philip Stooke may soon get his own television series – CSI: The Moon – if he keeps uncovering mysterious crash sites on the omnipresent astronomical body. |
 | What NASA's simulated missions tell us about the need for Martian lawSix people recently returned from an eight-month long isolation experiment to test human endurance for long-term space missions. Their "journey to Mars" involved being isolated below the summit of the world's largest active volcano in Hawaii (Mauna Loa), and was designed to better understand the psychological impacts of manned missions. |
Technology news
 | Top touch functionality removed on Google Home Mini(Tech Xplore)—Uh oh. The Reviews Editor at Ars Technica, Ron Amadeo, who specializes in Android OS and Google products, joined a list of other Google watchers to discuss a Google Home Mini pre-release going "rogue" and starting to record 24 x 7. |
 | Flying Dutch win world solar car race in AustraliaDominant Dutch team "Nuon" Thursday won an epic 3,000-kilometre (1,860-mile) solar car race across Australia's outback for the third-straight year in an innovative contest showcasing new vehicle technology. |
 | Researchers develop earthquake-resistant concreteA new seismic-resistant, fibre-reinforced concrete developed at the University of British Columbia will see its first real-life application this fall as part of the seismic retrofit of a Vancouver elementary school. |
 | Electric cars can become more eco-friendly through life cycle assessmentIt is time to stop discussing whether electric cars are good or bad. Instead industry, authorities and policy-makers need to work together to make them as eco-friendly as possible. This is the view taken by Anders Nordelöf, a researcher at Chalmers University of Technology. In a recent thesis, he provides concrete advice and tools showing how life cycle assessment can assist in the development of electric cars. |
 | Kaspersky in focus as US-Russia cyber-tensions riseThe security software firm Kaspersky has become the focal point in an escalating conflict in cyberspace between the United States and Russia. |
 | F-35 stealth fighter data stolen in Australia defence hackSensitive data about Australia's F-35 stealth fighter and P-8 surveillance aircraft programmes were stolen when a defence subcontractor was hacked using a tool widely used by Chinese cyber criminals, officials said Thursday. |
 | Qualcomm slapped with record antitrust fine in TaiwanTaiwanese authorities have imposed a record fine of nearly $800 million on Qualcomm for antitrust violations in the latest of a string of setbacks for the US computer chip giant. |
 | Lawyers, prosecutors face off at Samsung heir's appeal caseProsecutors cited a past ruling on a North Korean spy case as one reason why Samsung's billionaire heir deserved a lengthy prison term after being convicted of offering bribes to the country's then-president and one of her associates. |
 | Timber bridges viable option for local roadsGlulam timber bridges are viable and cost-effective options for replacing bridges on low-traffic county and township roads. That's what researchers at the J. Lohr Structures Lab concluded after testing a full-scale glulam timber girder bridge. Glulam, short for glued laminated, means the structural members are made of layers of wood strips bonded with glue. |
 | Construction prototype for ultra-thin concrete roofResearchers from ETH Zurich have built a prototype of an ultra-thin, curved concrete roof using innovative digital design and fabrication methods. The tested novel formwork system will be used in an actual construction project for the first time next year. |
 | Looking into their computer-generated eyes—dating in virtual realityOnline dating has been around for more than 20 years, but for the most part, the goal has been to eventually meet your new paramour face to face. Virtual reality (VR) could change that. |
 | Using maths to map mines deep undergroundThe wires of a tiny microchip may seem a world away from a huge underground mine full of complex tunnels, but for a team of University of Melbourne researchers, the design principles are very similar. |
 | Can you be hacked by the world around you?You've probably been told it's dangerous to open unexpected attachment files in your email – just like you shouldn't open suspicious packages in your mailbox. But have you been warned against scanning unknown QR codes or just taking a picture with your phone? New research suggests that cyberattackers could exploit cameras and sensors in phones and other devices. |
 | Cool flames for better enginesA "cool flame" may sound contradictory, but it's an important element of diesel combustion—one that, once properly understood, could enable better engine designs with higher efficiency and fewer emissions. |
 | Ground-floor insulation can reduce floor heat loss by up to 92 percentAdding insulation to suspended timber ground floors commonly found in homes built before the Second World War can reduce heat-loss by up to 92 percent, according to research from UCL and the University of Sheffield. |
 | Ireland approves massive Apple data centreIreland on Thursday gave the green light for tech giant Apple to build an 850-million-euro ($1.0-billion) data centre following a battle with conservationists who were seeking to preserve a forest. |
Shell to buy electric vehicle charging providersOil company Shell has signed an agreement to buy electric vehicle charging firm NewMotion. It did not disclose terms. | |
 | Norway seeks 'Tesla tax' on electric carsNorway, a world leader of zero-emission vehicles, on Thursday proposed a "Tesla tax" aimed at cutting a tax advantage granted to large electric cars in a heavily criticised move. |
India's TCS profits fall amid weak growth in retail, bankingIndia's largest IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services blamed a two percent fall in quarterly earnings Thursday on muted growth in the retail and banking sectors, two of its largest revenue drivers. | |
 | Using Facebook data as a real-time censusDetermining how many people live in Seattle, perhaps of a certain age, perhaps from a specific country, is the sort of question that finds its answer in the census, a massive data dump for places across the country. |
 | JPMorgan open to digital money if regulatedJPMorgan Chase is "very open minded" on the future potential use of digital currencies if they are properly regulated, the bank's chief financial officer said Thursday. |
 | Slovenia sets tough emissions limits for carsSlovenia announced Thursday tough new rules for new petrol and diesel cars, saying that only those with much lower emissions than now can be registered from 2030. |
 | Overcoming roadblocks, bitcoin takes flight againBitcoin may be in for a sustained record run as it overcomes key obstacles, experts said Thursday after the cryptocurrency set a new record high. |
 | Taming the hairy ball: Scientists use mixed reality to explore complex biological networksThey call it the "hairy ball." It's an unflattering name for two-dimensional representations of a complex biological network, a depiction of a system of linkages and connections so complex and dense that "it looks like a big mess," said Dmitry Korkin, PhD, associate professor of computer science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and director of the university's bioinformatics and computational biology program. |
 | Equifax takes down web page after new security scareEquifax said Thursday it took down a web page and began investigating a possible cyber incident, weeks after disclosing a breach of personal data at the credit agency that affected some 145 million people. |
 | Border Patrol tests camera-toting balloonThe U.S. Border Patrol is considering another type of surveillance balloon that can be quickly moved to spot illegal activity, part of an effort to see if more eyes in the sky translate to fewer illegal crossings. |
 | Google to give $1 billion to nonprofits and help Americans get jobs in the new economyGoogle will invest $1 billion over the next five years in nonprofit organizations helping people adjust to the changing nature of work, the largest philanthropic pledge to date from the Internet giant. |
 | Amazon will let parents hand over shopping keys to the kidsAmazon says parents can hand over the shopping keys to the kids, though they'll still have the power to put up a red light. |
Microsoft sets up $3.5 million competition for artificial-intelligence startupsMicrosoft is looking for a few good artificial-intelligence startups. | |
 | Amazon's high-end Kindle gets a recharge as e-reader marks 10th yearFor its 10th birthday, Amazon's Kindle is getting a new suit. |
Artificial intelligence comes to the real estate marketWhile providing services to real estate agents, EnterUp Tecnologia, a startup based in São José do Rio Preto city, Brazil, identified a problematic gap between demand and supply in the online real estate market. Search tools offered by websites and apps cannot yet meet consumers' expectations with satisfactory speed, and users are often confused by the myriad of options when looking for a property. | |
 | Greenpeace fireworks shine light on French nuclear safety concernsGreenpeace activists set off fireworks inside a nuclear plant in eastern France early Thursday after breaking into the facility to underline its vulnerability to attack. |
 | Autonomous driving at the bus depotAutonomous driving is an important element of new mobility concepts, not only in the private car sector. A study of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), KIT's Research Center for Information Technology (FZI), and Stuttgarter Straßenbahnen AG (Stuttgart Trams, SSB) now reveals how autonomous driving at bus depots can work and reduce costs. The project partners will present their model of a semi-autonomous bus depot at the EVS30 – The Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exhibition on October 09 – 11, 2017 in Stuttgart. |
 | Facebook supports full disclosure on Russia-backed ads: SandbergFacebook's number two executive Sheryl Sandberg said Thursday the company supports the decision to release the contents and targets of Russia-backed political ads on the social network in the 2016 election. |
 | Target joins other retailers in offering voice shoppingTarget is jumping into voice-activated shopping as it deepens its relationship with Google, offering thousands of items found in the store except for perishables like fruit and milk. |
 | Shares of TV providers drop as AT&T warns of video lossesSigns that more people are dropping their traditional TV subscriptions weighed on TV providers' stocks Thursday. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Brain imaging results skewed by biased study samplesAny scientist who studies groups of people knows that the characteristics of the "sample"—the group of people selected for the study—can profoundly impact the study's findings. To produce the most accurate findings, a study group ought to be as similar as possible to the people in the larger population you want to say something about. |
New drug hope for rare bone cancer patientsPatients with a rare bone cancer of the skull and spine - chordoma - could be helped by existing drugs, suggest scientists from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, University College London Cancer Institute and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust. In the largest genomics study of chordoma to date, published today (12th October) in Nature Communications, scientists show that a group of chordoma patients have mutations in genes that are the target of existing drugs, known as PI3K inhibitors. | |
 | Genes critical for hearing identifiedFifty-two previously unidentified genes that are critical for hearing have been found by testing over 3,000 mouse genes. The newly discovered genes will provide insights into the causes of hearing loss in humans, say scientists from Medical Research Council (MRC) Harwell, who led the analysis by the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC). |
 | Study identifies genes responsible for diversity of human skin colorsHuman populations feature a broad palette of skin tones. But until now, few genes have been shown to contribute to normal variation in skin color, and these had primarily been discovered through studies of European populations. |
 | Scientists reveal how astrocytes help neurons form successful connectionsTo have a good phone conversation, you need a good cellular connection. What's true for mobile phones also turns out to be true for neurons. |
 | Researchers identify neural signatures of explicit and implicit learningFiguring out how to pedal a bike and memorizing the rules of chess require two different types of learning, and now for the first time, researchers have been able to distinguish each type of learning by the brain-wave patterns it produces. |
 | Scientists researching drugs that could improve brain function in people with schizophreniaVirginia Commonwealth University researchers are testing if drugs known as HDAC inhibitors improve cognition in patients with schizophrenia who have been treated with the antipsychotic drug clozapine. |
 | Largest study yet of malaria in Africa shows historical rates of infection(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with members from the Kenya Medical Research Institute, the University of Oxford and the University of KwaZulu-Natal has conducted the largest-ever study of the history of malaria in Africa. In their paper published as a letter article in the journal Nature, the group outlines the methods they used to gather their data, how it was analyzed and what they learned. |
 | A portable tiny brain scanner for studying brain disorders in infants(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in France has developed a new type of brain scanner that is small enough for use on infants. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group describes the new device, how it was tested and its effectiveness in initial trials. |
 | Enzyme behind immune cell response revealedMonash University researchers have revealed the role played by an enzyme that is pivotal to the process of clearing infection in the body. Moreover, they suggest that the enzyme may be a potential target for drug development to block the types of inappropriate or excessive cell behaviour that occur in cancer and autoimmunity. |
 | Whole genome sequencing identifies new genetic signature for autismAutism has genetic roots, but most cases can't be explained by current genetic tests. |
 | Cholesterol byproduct hijacks immune cells, lets breast cancer spreadHigh cholesterol levels have been associated with breast cancer spreading to other sites in the body, but doctors and researchers don't know the cause for the link. A new study by University of Illinois researchers found that the culprit is a byproduct of cholesterol metabolism that acts on specific immune cells so that they facilitate the cancer's spread instead of stopping it. |
New study mapping pandemic potential could help prevent future disease outbreaksA new scientific study provides the first evidence-based assessment of pandemic potential in Africa prior to outbreaks and identifies ways to prevent them. | |
 | Studies advance methods to avert toxicity that can accompany immunotherapyTwo new papers from researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center provide the most comprehensive data yet reported on side effects of the emerging cancer immunotherapy strategy known as CAR T-cell therapy. |
 | Virtual humans work better than current ways to identify post-traumatic stress in soldiersSoldiers are more likely to open up about post-traumatic stress when interviewed by a virtual interviewer than by taking a survey, finds a study published today in open-access journal Frontiers in Robotics and AI. A computer-generated 'human' interviewer combines the advantages of anonymity with social connection and rapport, which could help soldiers to reveal more about their mental health symptoms. |
 | Immune response to ovarian cancer may predict survival, study findsA group of international cancer researchers led by investigators from Mayo Clinic and University of New South Wales Sydney has found that the level of a type of white blood cell, called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, present in the tumors of patients with high-grade ovarian cancer may predict a patient's survival. Results of the study by the Ovarian Tumor Tissue Analysis Consortium were published today in JAMA Oncology. |
Study indicates proof of concept for using a surrogate liquid biopsy to provide genetic profile of retinoblastoma tumorsRetinoblastoma is a tumor of the retina that generally affects children under 5 years of age. If not diagnosed early, retinoblastoma may result in loss of one or both eyes and can be fatal. Unlike most cancers that are diagnosed using a biopsy, retinoblastoma tumors cannot be directly biopsied. Although it is one of the first cancers to have its genetic origin identified, ocular oncologists have not been able to use this information to optimize treatment since they can only access the tumor if the affected eye is removed (called enucleation) in the course of treatment. A recent study by a team of investigators at the Vision Center of Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California (USC) Roski Eye Institute, part of Keck Medicine of USC, provides proof of concept for a safe and effective way to derive genetic information from the tumor without removing the eye. | |
 | Researchers reveal biomarker for guiding prostate cancer treatmentBack-to-back discoveries from Cleveland Clinic demonstrate for the first time how a testosterone-related genetic abnormality can help predict individual patient responses to specific prostate cancer therapies. |
Halting liver cancer with a sugar look-a-likeResearchers at the RIKEN Global Research Cluster in Japan have discovered a way to prevent the spread of cancer in the liver. Published in the journal Cell Chemical Biology, the study details how treatment with a modified fucose sugar can disrupt a biological pathway, which in turn blocks hepatoma—cancer cells in the liver—from invading healthy liver cells. | |
 | Reengineered immune system cells show early promise against HIVImproving on a previous attempt, scientists have developed a new strategy that could potentially be used to reengineer a patient's own immune system cells to fight HIV. The approach, described in PLOS Pathogens, shows benefit in human cell cultures and in mice. |
 | Immune reaction to sandfly saliva varies between individuals living in endemic areasThe Phlebotomus papatasi sandfly is responsible for spreading Leishmania throughout the tropics and subtropics. How individuals in areas endemic for Leishmania infection react to sandfly saliva depends on their long-term exposure to the flies, researchers now report PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases TK. |
Few patients hospitalized with acute kidney injury receive recommended follow-up careA new study indicates that after hospitalization with acute kidney injury (AKI), most patients are not receiving the follow-up care that kidney specialists recommend. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). | |
 | A novel drug delivery system for controlled release of aspirinAn interdisciplinary team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Science has designed a novel chemical compound that can be tailored to release aspirin over a desired duration inside the body. It also has several advantages over existing mechanisms: It is harmless to living cells, can carry a large amount of the drug, and can easily be injected. |
 | Scientists pinpoint surprising origin of melanomaLed by Jean-Christophe Marine (VIB-KU Leuven), a team of researchers has tracked down the cellular origin of cutaneous melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The team was surprised to observe that these very aggressive tumors arise from mature, pigment-producing cells called melanocytes. As melanoma develops, these cells are eventually reprogrammed, lose their differentiated features and become invasive, migratory cancer cells. This knowledge reveals how these melanoma lesions are formed, and could facilitate their early detection and provide preventive treatment avenues. The results of the study are published in the academic journal Cell Stem Cell. |
Seychelles reports plague case linked to Madagascar outbreakAuthorities in Seychelles say a man was diagnosed with pneumonic plague after returning from Madagascar, where a plague outbreak has killed dozens of people. | |
 | Does drinking alcohol kill the germs it comes into contact with?Alcohol is a well-known disinfectant and some have speculated it may be useful for treating gut infections. Could alcohol be a useful agent to treat tummy bugs and throat infections? |
 | Study provides insights into how amygdala regulates emotions and social behaviorUCLA researchers have shown for the first time a comprehensive picture of cell diversity in the amygdala, a vital brain region involved in the regulation of emotions and social behavior, as well as in autism spectrum disorders, depression and other mental disorders. As part of the study, the team also reported on a new method for systematically linking the distinct types of brain cells to specific behavioral functions. |
 | Walkable neighborhoods linked with more active older adultsOlder adults who lived in neighborhoods where it was easy to walk to daily destinations were more physically active than those in less walkable neighborhoods, a study in Barcelona, Spain, showed. The results have implications for efforts to allow older adults to remain healthy and independent while they "age in place" in urban neighborhoods. |
 | Young men are getting more out of 'bromances' than romancesYoung men's 'bromances,' close friendships with other men, are more emotionally satisfying than their romantic relationships with women, finds a study out today in Men and Masculinities. |
 | Severe shortage of radiologists risks delays to cancer diagnosis, says reportThe UK does not have enough radiologists to meet demand, according to a new report. |
 | Researchers find a fine timeline between delusion and realityThe line between reality and delusion may be just a matter of time, a new Yale study suggests. |
 | 16 things experts wish you knew about breast cancer and screeningWhat these doctors say about breast cancer screening and treatment may surprise you. |
Study reveals potential new treatment for postpartum smokersWomen who took replacement progesterone after giving birth had decreased cravings to smoke and were more likely to stay off cigarettes, according to a new Yale study that assessed the use of progesterone as a treatment for postpartum smoking relapse. | |
Psychologists give new insight into the nature of psychosisA week after the government announced its review of mental health legislation, an expert report published by the British Psychological Society's Division of Clinical Psychology on Friday 13 October challenges received wisdom about the nature of mental illness. | |
 | Treacherous correlation in the brain from smokingOut with the cigarette pack, put a cigarette in the mouth and light up. That is a well-known action for a smoker and, at the same time, behavior which has a stronger connection to actual drug dependency than was previously believed, research at the Sahlgrenska Academy has revealed. |
 | Eight simple changes to neighbourhoods can help seniors age wellWhere we live can play a big part in ageing well, largely because of the links between physical activity and wellbeing. Research shows that two-thirds of Australians prefer to age in place. That is, we want to live independently in our homes for as long as we can. Our neighbourhoods and their design can then improve or hinder our ability to get out of the house and be physically active. |
 | Sleeping on your back increases risks of stillbirthPregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness day on Oct. 15, 2017 draws our attention to a bleak statistic—an estimated one in four pregnancies end in a loss. Many of these are early miscarriages. But in Canada about one in 125 pregnancies end in a stillbirth —that is, the death of a fetus in utero after 20 weeks gestation. |
 | Toddlers' language development can predict later abilityA team of researchers, led by Professor James Law from the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, looked at the existing evidence to find out which interventions have the greatest potential for boosting toddlers' language skills and reducing inequalities in outcomes. They also summarised the existing literature on language development. |
 | Sleep and mood in bipolar disorderSleep loss can trigger relapse, particularly in the form of mania, in people with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, finds a study by Cardiff University. |
Calcium in the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosisA new clinical guide summarizes the evidence regarding the effects of calcium in reducing the risk of osteoporosis after the menopause. | |
New type of diabetes caused by a genetic mutationScientists from the ULB Center for Diabetes Research and the Erasmus Hospital of the ULB, together with colleagues at the University of Exeter (UK), University of Helsinki (Finland) and Kyoto University (Japan), have identified a new type of diabetes caused by a mutation in the gene RFX6. | |
Scientists discover novel mechanism that protects mitochondrial DNAResearchers at the University of Eastern Finland have discovered a novel mechanism safeguarding mitochondrial DNA. The study, published in PNAS earlier this week, was carried out in close collaboration with research groups from CBMSO in Madrid, Spain, and Umeå University in Sweden. A central part of the protective mechanism is an unusual enzyme, PrimPol, which can re-initiate mitochondrial DNA replication after damage. | |
 | New research reveals impact of rheumatoid arthritis in the workplaceThe National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society has announced findings from a study conducted in partnership with The University of Manchester that investigates the impact of rheumatoid arthritis and adult juvenile idiopathic arthritis in the workplace. |
 | Sleep on your side, not your back in late pregnancyA pregnant mother sleeping on her back during late pregnancy may cause problems for the fetus, according to new research published in The Journal of Physiology. This is the first study to monitor unborn babies overnight and at the same time record the mother's position during sleep. |
 | Don't dispense of cannabis dispensaries, caution researchersUBC researchers are cautioning policy makers not to alter a cannabis distribution system that—while not legal yet—works well. |
Promising new leprosy vaccine moves into human trialsToday marks a significant step forward in the prevention and treatment of leprosy as the Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI) and American Leprosy Missions announce the start of a Phase 1 clinical trial in humans for a promising leprosy vaccine candidate—the first vaccine developed specifically for leprosy. | |
 | Scientists develop experimental 'nano-chemo' particle to treat bladder cancerWorking with mice and rats, Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a way to successfully deliver nano-sized, platinum-based chemotherapy drugs to treat a form of bladder cancer called nonmuscle-invasive that is found in the lining of the organ and has not invaded deeper into bladder tissue. The tiny drug-infused particles, they say, potentially offer a less toxic clinical alternative to standard chemotherapy delivered intravenously or through a catheter inserted into the bladder. |
 | Uncovering origins of developmental brain disorders could eventually help treat seizuresRecent research discoveries in the development of brain disorders could pave the way to new therapies for treating seizures, and even some children with autism, says a leading oncologist and researcher at the University of Alberta. |
 | FDA panel mulls gene therapy for kids with rare eye disease (Update)(HealthDay)—A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel was poised on Thursday to recommend approval for a gene therapy that could grant the gift of sight to young people with a rare type of inherited vision loss. |
Study finds cold therapy may be effective at controlling cancer treatment side effectsA new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds that cryotherapy, specifically having chemotherapy patients wear frozen gloves and socks for 90-minute periods, is useful for preventing symptoms of neuropathy. | |
 | Brain stimulation can improve athletic performanceResearch by the University of Kent into the effects of brain stimulation on athletes' performance has demonstrated that it is an effective way to improve endurance. |
 | Cause of cancer form in the liver identifiedIn a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have identified the two genes whose mutation cause a serious cancer form found in the liver. The result sets concrete goals for future treatment of the otherwise incurable disease. |
 | Your robot masseuse will see you now(HealthDay)—The backaches of the future may have a new remedy—developers say a robot masseuse is now treating patients in Singapore. |
 | Breast cancer screenings still best for early detection(HealthDay)—Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States, and routine screenings remain the most reliable way to detect the disease early, a breast cancer expert says. |
 | The body benefits of pilates(HealthDay)—If you're looking for an exercise that's gentle yet challenging and works your core like no other, consider Pilates. |
 | Primary, pulmonary providers endorse lung CA screening(HealthDay)—Primary care clinicians and pulmonologists endorse lung cancer screening (LCS), but there are limitations in their knowledge of screening components, according to a study published online Sept. 21 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. |
 | High sustained response rate for glecaprevir, pibrentasvir in HCV(HealthDay)—For patients with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, 12 weeks of treatment with glecaprevir and pibrentasvir results in a high rate of sustained virologic response, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Six-month tai chi program improves physical activity in CHD(HealthDay)—A six-month tai chi program is safe and improves physical activity (PA), weight, and quality of life for patients with coronary heart disease who decline to enroll in cardiac rehabilitation, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in the Journal of the American Heart Association. |
 | New system streamlines CME credit approval process(HealthDay)—The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) have launched a new performance improvement activity credit reporting process called the AAFP Credit System, according to an article published by the AAFP. |
 | Risk conferred by T2D modified by HbA1c in heart failure(HealthDay)—For patients with heart failure, the risks conferred by type 2 diabetes (T2D) can be stratified by glycemic control and drug treatments, according to a study published online Oct. 11 in JACC: Heart Failure. |
 | Neurotoxicity characterized after infusion of CD19 CAR-T cells(HealthDay)—Patients with severe neurotoxicity after infusion of CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cells have evidence of endothelial activation, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in Cancer Discovery. |
 | Florida confirms first Zika infection from mosquito for 2017Florida health officials are reporting the state's first case this year of the Zika virus transmitted by a mosquito. |
 | High-tech mannequin lets students practice end-of-life talksIt's the conversation no one wants to have, but talking to patients and their families about death is inevitable for health care professionals. To address the limited clinical opportunities nursing students have to experience palliative care and end-of-life conversations, the University of Houston College of Nursing is now using a high-fidelity mannequin to simulate these challenging interactions. |
 | Team finds a potentially better way to treat liver cancerA Keck School of Medicine of USC research team has identified how cancer stem cells survive. This finding may one day lead to new therapies for liver cancer, one of the few cancers in the United States with an incidence rate that continues to balloon. |
 | Like it or not: Broccoli may be good for the gutFor the broccoli haters of the world, researchers may have more bad news: the vegetable may also help promote a healthy gut. |
 | Women on temporary visas vulnerable to family violenceOnly a fraction of women on temporary migrant visas who are at risk of family violence are accessing the services available to protect them, a new report suggests. |
'Drink medicine' works as well as injection to treat skin soresWhen a child is sick, they are never happy to have a painful needle injection. So being able to take a drink medicine instead is definitely a good thing. | |
Officials: Two sold drugs that caused pregnant woman's deathThe daughter of a Wisconsin legislator who has worked to stem the opioid epidemic provided the drugs that caused the death of a pregnant woman, investigators said Thursday. | |
Workers at smaller companies less likely to be screened for cancerA new study by American Cancer Society investigators finds workers at organizations with fewer than 25 employees are less likely to have been screened for three cancers, as were people working in certain occupations. The study appears in Preventive Medicine. | |
 | Calling it a beginning, Trump signs health care orderFrustrated by health care failures in Congress, President Donald Trump directed his administration Thursday to rewrite some federal insurance rules as a beginning of renewed efforts to undermine "Obamacare," the program he's promised to kill. |
Largest-ever study to look at maternal nitrate consumption and birth outcomesNitrate is the most common contaminant in aquifers and tap water throughout the world, but its effects on human health remain largely unknown. | |
Biology news
New study suggests that last common ancestor of humans and apes was smaller than thoughtNew research suggests that the last common ancestor of apes—including great apes and humans—was much smaller than previously thought, about the size of a gibbon. The findings, published today in the journal Nature Communications, are fundamental to understanding the evolution of the human family tree. | |
 | New way to prevent genetically engineered and unaltered organisms from producing offspringA major obstacle to applying genetic engineering to benefit humans and the environment is the risk that organisms whose genes have been altered might produce offspring with their natural counterparts, releasing the novel genes into the wild. Now, researchers from the University of Minnesota's BioTechnology Institute have developed a promising way to prevent such interbreeding. The approach, called "synthetic incompatibility," effectively makes engineered organisms a separate species unable to produce viable offspring with their wild or domesticated relatives. |
 | The sea cucumber genome points to genes for tissue regenerationA new high-definition genome sequence of the sea cucumber provides molecular insights into its ability to regenerate, according to a new study publishing 12 October in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Xiaojun Zhang, Lina Sun, Hongsheng Yang and Jianhai Xiang, of the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and colleagues. The genome sequence also helps explain why the sea cucumber has such a radically different skeletal structure from other members of the echinoderm phylum, and may be useful for understanding evolution of the animal kingdom. |
 | Pumas are more social than previously thoughtPumas, long known as solitary carnivores, are more social than previously thought, according to a study led by conservation organization Panthera and co-authored by UC Davis and the American Museum of Natural History. |
 | New technique scours the genome for genes that combat diseaseUsing a modified version of the CRISPR genome-editing system, MIT researchers have developed a new way to screen for genes that protect against specific diseases. |
 | Comb jellies possibly first lineage to branch off evolutionary treeA researcher at The University of Alabama was part of a new study that provides further evidence in support of a controversial hypothesis that a group of marine animals commonly called comb jellies were the first to break away from all other animals, making it the oldest surviving animal lineage. |
 | Scientists find scorpions target their venomDr Jamie Seymour from JCU's Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) said a typical scorpion predator would be a small mammal, while its prey was usually an insect. He said varieties of scorpion toxin worked better depending on whether they were used to protect themselves from predators or kill prey. |
 | An evolving sticky situationWhile many animals try to avoid sticky situations, lizards evolved to seek them out. |
 | The ghosts of HeLa: How cell line misidentification contaminates the scientific literatureFor decades, immortal cells such as the famous HeLa cells have been contaminating other cell cultures in the lab. As a result, scientific studies about certain cells are actually discussing other cells. Willem Halffman and Serge Horbach, researchers at Radboud University, found more than 30,000 publications on the wrong cells. Scientific journal PLOS ONE will publish the results on 12 October. |
 | Biology study suggests father's nutrition before sex could contribute to health of babyDoctors long have stressed the importance of good nutrition for expectant mothers. |
 | Luring hornets: Scientists unlock sex pheromone of notorious honey bee predatorOver the past decade, Asian hornets, predatory insects with a widespread and expanding population, have invaded parts of Europe and Korea. Vespa velutina has a growing reputation as a species that proliferates rapidly, preys on honey bees and poses risks to humans. |
 | 3-D packaging of DNA regulates cell identityThe fundamental mechanisms governing how cells form an identity such as becoming a muscle cell or a nerve cell are not fully understood. Multiple diseases, including cancer, have been linked to cells going down the wrong developmental path during maturation. A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania suggests that the ability of a stem cell to differentiate into cardiac muscle (and by extension other cell types) depends on what portions of the genome are available for activation, which is controlled by the location of DNA in a cell's nucleus. |
 | 'Killer' toothaches likely cause misery for captive orcaAn international research team has undertaken the first in-depth investigation of the teeth of captive orca (killer whales) and have found them a sorry state, which raises serious concerns for these majestic mammals' overall health and welfare. |
 | Pangolin trade forces Ghana to look at new wildlife lawsGhana is facing calls to update its laws on wildlife crime after fears the country has become a transit route for the illegal trade in pangolin scales. |
 | Apple trees bear more fruit when surrounded by good neighborsApple growers want to get the most out of their high-value cultivars, and a Purdue University study shows they might want to focus on the types of apples they plant near those cash crops. |
 | Using penguins to monitor ocean health may be ineffectivePenguins are noisy, as any visitor to an aquarium knows. Penguins may be noisy in others ways too, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. Scientists have long used Adélie penguin populations to monitor the health of the Southern Ocean and to understand how major factors such as fishing and climate change impact the oceans and the animals that rely on them. Now an extensive analysis of all known data on Adélie penguin populations over the last 35 years has found that only a small fraction of year-to-year changes in Adélie penguin populations can be attributed to measureable factors such as changes in sea ice. |
 | Cell contacts in embryonic development determine cellular fateThe average human has about 37.2 trillion cells. But cells are differentiated for thousands of different functions. How does a cell 'know' which function to fulfill? In a paper published today in Developmental Cell, the group of Carl-Philipp Heisenberg at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), including first author and Ph.D. student Vanessa Barone, sheds light on how a cell's fate is determined. Ffor the first time, they report a positive feedback loop between the duration of cell-cell contacts and the specification of a cell's function. |
 | Reading the genetic signature of the sea scallopScallops are one of the most profitable fisheries in Maine, with a statewide value of nearly $7 million in 2016. The scallop fishery is also one of the most local, with small "day boats" staying close to shore. |
 | Opinion: Weighing up lab-grown steak—the problems with eating meat are not Silicon Valley's to solveA new techno bubble is inflating above the meadows of Silicon Valley: lab-grown meat, which plays a major part in what's being called cellular agriculture (CA). |
 | Australia's species need an independent championFurore erupted last week among many Australians who care for our native species. |
 | Researchers observe enzymes breaking down cellulose to aid the production of biofuelsBiofuels obtained from biomass are becoming increasingly important. Apart from biomethane, however, they cannot be produced efficiently, cheaply and sustainably since the current technological complexity and costs are still too high. Partly to blame is cellulose, a polysaccharide and plant constituent which is not water soluble and thus difficult to process. |
 | Pioneering discovery of an odor-detecting receptor enhancerEach odor-detecting neuron (referred to as olfactory sensory neuron from here on), chooses a single odorant receptor gene from a fairly large number of options that are split into class I (fish-like) and class II (terrestrial-specific) odorant receptors. This strict selectiveness of sensory neurons is in part due to enhancers (DNA sequences that enhance transcription of a gene when bound by specific protein), which remain poorly understood. Understanding enhancer functions is of great interest due to their importance in gene expression as well as evolution and disease. However, they have not been sufficiently studied because they cannot be easily predicted from DNA sequences or chromosome modifications nor can they be easily identified. |
 | Vermont sees modern-day record for bald eagle reproductionThe number of bald eagles that successfully nested in Vermont and raised young set a modern-day record this year, advancing the state's years long effort to restore the bird, according to state biologists. |
 | Baby rhino gallops into public view at Singapore ZooA baby white rhino has made his first foray into the spotlight, galloping into a public enclosure at Singapore Zoo after being given a name—Oban, which means "King" in the African Yoruba language. |
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