Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 19, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Samples brought back from asteroid reveal 'rubble pile' had a violent pastCurtin University planetary scientists have shed some light on the evolution of asteroids, which may help prevent future collisions of an incoming 'rubble pile' asteroid with Earth. |
 | Deep space communications via faraway photonsA spacecraft destined to explore a unique asteroid will also test new communication hardware that uses lasers instead of radio waves. |
 | Self-portrait of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope marks critical testWhat appears to be a unique selfie opportunity was actually a critical photo for the cryogenic testing of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope in Chamber A at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The photo was used to verify the line of sight (or path light will travel) for the testing configuration. |
 | Number of undiscovered near-Earth asteroids revised downwardFewer large near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) remain to be discovered than astronomers thought, according to a new analysis by planetary scientist Alan W. Harris of MoreData! in La Canada, California. Harris is presenting his results this week at the 49th annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences in Provo, Utah. |
 | Scientists question assumptions about planet formationA paper published this week in Astrophysical Journal, led by Open University academics, has examined the exact structure and behaviour of the icy particles that collide and grow at the onset of planet-formation, in a series of revealing experiments at the UK's world-leading neutron source, ISIS. |
 | A solar flare recorded from Spain in 1886Satellites have detected powerful solar flares in the last two months, but this phenomenon has been recorded for over a century. On 10 September 1886, at the age of just 17, a young amateur astronomer from Madrid, using a modest telescope, observed one of these sudden flashes in a sunspot. He wrote about what he saw, drew a picture of it, and published the data in a French scientific journal. This is what researchers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias and the Universidad de Extremadura have recently found. |
 | What is space? The 300-year-old philosophical battle that is still raging todayMountains. Whales. The distant stars. All these things exist in space, and so do we. Our bodies take up a certain amount of space. When we walk to work, we are moving through space. But what is space? Is it even an actual, physical entity? In 1717, a battle was waged over this question. Exactly 300 years later, it continues. |
 | Image: What lurks below NASA's Chamber A?Hidden beneath Chamber A at the Johnson Space Center is an area engineers used to test critical contamination control technology that has helped keep our James Webb Space Telescope clean during cryogenic testing. |
Iridium to rely on used SpaceX boosters for next two launchesIridium Communications says its next two launches of new-generation satellites will use refurbished SpaceX Falcon 9 first-stage boosters that have flown previously. | |
Technology news
 | Computer scientist demonstrates 30-year-old theorem still best to reduce data and speed up algorithmsWhen we think about digital information, we often think about size. A daily email newsletter, for example, may be 75 to 100 kilobytes in size. But data also has dimensions, based on the numbers of variables in a piece of data. An email, for example, can be viewed as a high-dimensional vector where there's one coordinate for each word in the dictionary and the value in that coordinate is the number of times that word is used in the email. So, a 75 Kb email that is 1,000 words long would result in a vector in the millions. |
 | Researchers developing autonomous snake-like robots to support search-and-rescue teamsA team of researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has received a three-year, $400,000 award from the National Science Foundation to create autonomous snake-like robots that can navigate more naturally and easily through the rubble, confined spaces, and rough terrain left in the aftermath of a disaster and send images and information to search-and-rescue teams. |
 | New technology to dramatically speed up home broadbandSlow internet speeds and the Internet 'rush hour' - the peak time when data speeds drop by up to 30% - could be history with new hardware designed and demonstrated by UCL researchers that provides consistently high-speed broadband connectivity. |
 | Patent talk: Amazon looks at drones juicing up electric vehicles(Tech Xplore)—Electric vehicles inspire a key question for a prospective buyer, and that is, what's the deal with battery life? Range? How far do I sit back in the car without leaning forward to fret over where and how to juice it up before I can say 'Honey I'm home'? |
 | Gimmick or game-changer: Is Virtual Reality the future of film?Virtual Reality will change the face of cinema in the next decade—but only if content keeps up with the advances in technology, industry experts at the Busan International Film Festival predict. |
LG, Qualcomm join hands for autonomous drivingLG Electronics said Thursday that it will work with Qualcomm to jointly research and develop autonomous driving technologies. | |
 | You decide the plot: Social media shows shake TV dramaCliffhanger endings where television audiences are left holding their breath for the next episode may never be the same again. |
 | Solar panels offer a lifeline in Rohingya refugee campsThe squalid camps in Bangladesh that are now home to nearly 600,000 newly arrived Rohingya have no running water and barely any toilets, but they do have power—thanks to a proliferation of solar panels. |
 | Scientists develop robot with learned motor controlThe two main pitfalls of robots that imitate the human body are control and cost. Researchers from the MoCoTi European project have designed a prototype of a robot that learns how to actuate its own limbs, and that can be easily duplicated. The device, consisting of a control system and a tendon-driven robotic arm, might be the first step toward low-cost humanoid robotics. |
Robot wars: US smashes Japan in giant days-long duelIn scenes reminiscent of films like "Transformers", a giant US robot fighting machine swung a "chainsaw sword" to chop a Japanese opponent into submission in a battle watched by tens of thousands online. | |
 | Hydroelectric power plants have to be adapted for climate changeOf all the electricity produced in Switzerland, 56 percent comes from hydropower. The life span of hydroelectric plants, which are massive and expensive to build and maintain, is measured in decades, yet the rivers and streams they depend on and the surrounding environment are ever-changing. These changes affect the machinery and thus the amount of electricity that can be revised. EPFL's Laboratory for Hydraulic Machines (LMH) is working on an issue that will be very important in the coming years: the impact of sediment erosion on turbines, which are the main component of this machinery. The laboratory's work could help prolong these plants' ability to produce electricity for Switzerland's more than eight million residents. |
A simple technique using common materials could lead to significantly cheaper solar cellsIn the search for alternatives to silicon-based solar cells, A*STAR researchers are investigating a new material that is cheaper and easier to make, and could lead to better performing solar cells. | |
 | The difference between cybersecurity and cybercrime, and why it mattersA Texas woman in her 50s, let's call her "Amy," met a man online calling himself "Charlie." Amy, who lived in Texas, was in a bad marriage. Charlie said he was a businessman and a Christian, and wooed her. "He was saying all the right things," Amy later told the FBI. "He was interested in me. He was interested in getting to know me better. He was very positive, and I felt like there was a real connection there." Early on, Charlie told her he was having some problems with his business and needed money. She wanted to help. |
 | Capturing CO2 from the air for accelerating growth of algaeA new air capture technology, developed by the University of Twente, captures CO2 from atmospheric air in a cheap and efficient way. The CO2, in turn, is used for growing algae, as a promising feedstock in the bio based economy. Another application is a closed cycle for storing solar and wind energy. |
Advertising startup gives college students gigs as human billboardsJonah Friedl was trying to persuade his fellow Washington State University students to come eat at the hotel where he worked and felt like Facebook and social-media ads were his only option. | |
 | Apps for surviving disastersWhen the next big earthquake strikes the Bay Area, millions will likely be stranded without the high-tech comforts provided by Silicon Valley. |
 | Amazon is growing faster than any big company in the US these days—and maybe everHow can Amazon - or any company - fill a second headquarters with 50,000 people? |
 | Microsoft's Windows 10 update bets on a bigger virtual-reality role for PCMicrosoft is trying to nudge laptop and deskbound computers to interact with the three-dimensional world. |
 | Google's new super-secure email is crazy strong but not for the forgetfulGoogle on Tuesday rolled out a nasty-complicated but insanely secure version of its Google accounts aimed at "those who need it most," such as journalists, politicians and activists. It's not pretty but stands a good chance of keeping the bad guys out. |
3M Co. launches new Combat II Ballistic Helmet3M Co. has introduced a new combat helmet designed to help soldiers survive an expanded number of ballistic threats during combat. | |
The future is here: Augmented reality apps to use on your iPhone or iPadWith the release of an updated mobile operating system earlier this month, Apple's new augmented reality platform is ready for take-off. | |
 | Toyota tops Consumer Reports' auto reliability rankingsToyota Motor Co. is continuing its reign at the top of Consumer Reports' reliability rankings, a reward for its conservative approach to new technology. |
 | Coming soon: a selfie with your credit card applicationThe selfie is everywhere—Facebook, Instagram, Twitter—and soon your bank could be asking for one in order to approve your purchase or credit card application. |
 | Workers at iPhone supplier in China protest unpaid bonusesHundreds of workers streamed through dark streets, blocking an entrance to an Apple iPhone supplier's factory in eastern China to protest unpaid bonuses and factory reassignments, two witnesses and China Labor Watch, a New York based non-profit group, said Thursday. |
 | US lawmakers unveil bill to regulate online political adsUS lawmakers Thursday unveiled legislation to require disclosure of the source of many online political ads, a move aimed at preventing a recurrence of Russian manipulation of social media in the 2016 election. |
 | Dutch family sells everything to bet on bitcoinsA Dutch family has sold virtually all they own, including a business, their home, two cars and a motorbike and invested the takings in bitcoin just as the virtual currency is soaring to new heights. |
Lyft gets $1 bn from Google parent to rev up challenge to UberUS ridesharing giant Lyft announced Thursday it has received a $1 billion investment led by the venture arm of Google parent Alphabet, to help ramp up its challenge to market leader Uber. | |
House, Senate intel committees receive briefing from GoogleGoogle has briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees ahead of two Nov. 1 hearings that will examine Russian efforts to influence U.S. elections through social media. | |
 | China mobile users tap phones to 'applaud' president's speechMissed out on the orchestrated applause at China's Communist Party Congress? Cheer up: this being China, you can join the praise through your mobile phone. |
 | Opinion: Passengers have a lot to say about self-driving cars – industry should listenSociety's fear of driverless cars is somewhat baffling to me. Given that car crashes attributable to human error cause more than 1 million vehicle deaths every year1, it's those human-driven cars people should be afraid of. Yet all of us today get behind the wheel and simply trust that the cars coming toward them in the opposite lane will stay where they're supposed to. From my point of view, unless those are self-driving cars, we should all be terrified. |
 | Facebook bug puts Pittsburgh users in Philadelphia for a dayFacebook users in Pittsburgh and other western and central Pennsylvania locations have found themselves transplanted to Philadelphia for a day. |
California education firm Chegg buys Berlin math app startupTwo Berlin math wizards have solved a problem that confounds many a startup company in the German capital: how to build a popular product and sell it for profit within a few years. | |
Review: Need to scan your old photos? Epson FastFoto will make it fast and easyI would bet good money that everyone reading this has a box (or album) of old photos in their closet or attic. | |
Computer tutor gives students the skills to dream biggerDelray Beach resident Falon Velez would like to see more little girls dreaming of designing cars instead of playing dress-up with Barbies. The 34-year-old computer whiz is the creator of TeachGeek, a tech support and teaching company that sets everything up from Alexa systems in homes to offering 3-D printing tech classes at schools throughout South Florida, including Grandview Preparatory School and St. Paul Lutheran School in Boca Raton. | |
 | G7 to put squeeze on internet giants at terror talksTech giants including Google, Facebook and Twitter will come under pressure in Italy this week to go further and faster in helping G7 powers tackle the ever-greater threat of extremists online. |
Missouri proposes innovation corridor for Amazon's 2nd homeMissouri officials were submitting a bid Thursday for Amazon's second headquarters that would involve an innovation corridor between Kansas City and St. Louis rather than a single location in one of the state's major metropolitan areas. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | New study reveals breast cancer cells recycle their own ammonia waste as fuelBreast cancer cells recycle ammonia, a waste byproduct of cell metabolism, and use it as a source of nitrogen to fuel tumor growth, report scientists from Harvard Medical School in the journal Science. |
 | Investigating the most common genetic contributor to Parkinson's diseaseLRRK2 gene mutations are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease (PD), but the normal physiological role of this gene in the brain remains unclear. In a paper published in Neuron, Brigham and Women's Hospital principal investigator, Jie Shen, PhD, of the Department of Neurology, and her team describe an essential role of LRRK in the brain during aging that may help to shed light on the causes of PD in human patients. Their results appear this week in Neuron. |
 | One to 10 mutations are needed to drive cancer, scientists findFor the first time, scientists have provided unbiased estimates of the number of mutations needed for cancers to develop, in a study of more than 7,500 tumours across 29 cancer types. Researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and their collaborators adapted a technique from the field of evolution to confirm that, on average, one to ten driver mutations are needed for cancer to emerge. |
 | Gene circuit switches on inside cancer cells, triggers immune attackResearchers at MIT have developed a synthetic gene circuit that triggers the body's immune system to attack cancers when it detects signs of the disease. |
 | Brain takes seconds to switch modes during tasksThe brain rapidly switches between operational modes in response to tasks and what is replayed can predict how well a task will be completed, according to a new UCL study in rats. |
 | H7N9 influenza is both lethal and transmissible in animal model for fluIn 2013, an influenza virus that had never before been detected began circulating among poultry in China. It caused several waves of human infection and in late 2016, the number of people to become sick from the H7N9 virus suddenly started to rise. As of late July 2017, nearly 1,600 people had tested positive for avian H7N9. Nearly 40 percent of those infected had died. |
 | Brain training can improve our understanding of speech in noisy placesFor many people with hearing challenges, trying to follow a conversation in a crowded restaurant or other noisy venue is a major struggle, even with hearing aids. Now researchers reporting in Current Biology on October 19th have some good news: time spent playing a specially designed, brain-training audiogame could help. |
 | Want to control your dreams? Here's howNew research at the University of Adelaide has found that a specific combination of techniques will increase people's chances of having lucid dreams, in which the dreamer is aware they're dreaming while it's still happening and can control the experience. |
 | Migraines may be the brain's way of dealing with oxidative stressA new perspective article highlights a compelling theory about migraine attacks: that they are an integrated mechanism by which the brain protects and repairs itself. Recent insightful findings and potential ways to use them to help migraine sufferers are published in Headache. |
 | Study shows how nerves drive prostate cancerIn a study in today's issue of Science, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, part of Montefiore Medicine, report that certain nerves sustain prostate cancer growth by triggering a switch that causes tumor vessels to proliferate. Their earlier research—which first implicated nerves in fueling prostate cancer—has prompted Montefiore-Einstein to conduct a pilot study testing whether beta blockers (commonly used for treating hypertension) can kill cancer cells in tumors of men diagnosed with prostate cancer. |
 | Three million Americans carry loaded handguns daily, study findsAn estimated 3 million adult American handgun owners carry a firearm loaded and on their person on a daily basis, and 9 million do so on a monthly basis, new research indicates. The vast majority cited protection as their primary reason for carrying a firearm. |
 | New procedure enables cultivation of human brain sections in the petri dishResearchers at the University of Tübingen have become the first to keep human brain tissue alive outside the body for several weeks. The researchers, headed by Dr. Niklas Schwarz, Dr. Henner Koch and Dr. Thomas Wuttke at the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, published their findings in the latest edition of Scientific Reports. |
 | Engineered protein treatment found to reduce obesity in mice, rats and primates(Medical Xpress)—A team of researchers with pharmaceutical company Amgen Inc. report that an engineered version of a protein naturally found in the body caused test mice, rats and cynomolgus monkeys to lose weight. In their paper published in Science Translational Medicine, the group describes how they altered the protein, how it was tested, and the results they found. |
 | Cancer drug found to offer promising results in treating sepsis in test mice(Medical Xpress)—A combined team of researchers from China and the U.S. has found that a drug commonly used to treat lung cancer in humans offers a degree of protection against sepsis in test mice. In their paper published in Science Translational Medicine, the team describes their study of the cause of sepsis, their search for a therapy to decrease its occurrence, and the results of testing ceritinib as as a therapy in mice. |
 | Researchers find shifting relationship between flexibility, modularity in the brainA new study by Rice University researchers takes a step toward what they see as key to the advance of neuroscience: a better understanding of the relationship between the brain's flexibility and its modularity. |
 | Researchers target undruggable cancersA new approach to targeting key cancer-linked proteins, thought to be 'undruggable," has been discovered through an alliance between industry and academia. |
 | Researchers drill down into gene behind frontotemporal lobar degenerationSeven years ago, Penn Medicine researchers showed that mutations in the TMEM106B gene significantly increased a person's risk of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), the second most common cause of dementia in those under 65. While the data confirmed the gene's clinical relevance, it didn't tell researchers how it caused the disease - which is vital to developing new therapeutics. |
 | First time mums with an epidural who lie down more likely to have a normal birthAdopting a lying down position rather than being upright in the later stages of labour for first-time mothers who have had a low dose epidural leads to a higher chance of them delivering their baby without any medical intervention, a study has found. |
 | Eating better throughout adult years improves physical fitness in old age, suggests studyPeople who have a healthier diet throughout their adult lives are more likely to be stronger and fitter in older age than those who don't, according to a new study led by the University of Southampton. |
Indoor tanning dependency common in young women, especially in those with depressionA survey of young, white women who have used indoor tanning at least once in the past year showed that more than one in five of them have signs of being addicted to the high dose of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from tanning beds. In addition, women with symptoms of depression were three times more likely to meet the criteria for having a tanning dependence. | |
 | Walking below minimum recommended levels linked to lower mortality risk compared to inactivityA new study concludes that walking has the potential to significantly improve the public's health. It finds regular walking, even if not meeting the minimum recommended levels, is associated with lower mortality compared to inactivity. The study appears early online in American Journal of Preventive Medicine. |
 | When new players learn slot-machine tricks, they avoid gambling addictionNovice gamblers who watched a short video about how slot machines disguise losses as wins have a better chance of avoiding gambling problems, according to new research. |
Heart attack patients may use inefficient coping methods for stressPatients with a history of heart attack were more likely to use emotion-focused coping strategies for stress such as eating more or drinking alcohol, while patients without a history of heart attack or heart disease used problem-focused coping strategies, according to research to be presented at the 8th Emirates Cardiac Society Congress in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology Middle East Conference October 19-21, 2017 in Dubai. | |
 | Yoga and aerobic exercise together may improve heart disease risk factorsHeart disease patients who practice yoga in addition to aerobic exercise saw twice the reduction in blood pressure, body mass index and cholesterol levels when compared to patients who practiced either Indian yoga or aerobic exercise alone, according to research to be presented at the 8th Emirates Cardiac Society Congress in collaboration with the American College of Cardiology Middle East Conference October 19-21, 2017 in Dubai. |
People with and without mental health conditions receive preventive care at similar ratesPeople with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder received preventive health screenings at rates similar to or higher than people without mental illnesses, according to a study of more than 800,000 patients published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. | |
 | US regulators approve 2nd gene therapy for blood cancerU.S. regulators on Wednesday approved a second gene therapy for a blood cancer, a one-time, custom-made treatment for aggressive lymphoma in adults. |
 | Study: Lower-income kids give more time to TV, digital mediaChildren in lower-income families spend more time watching TV and using electronic devices than kids in more affluent homes, according to a survey released Thursday. |
 | 15,000 under fives die from preventable illnesses each day: UNDespite a dramatic fall in the infant mortality rate, 15,000 children aged under five still die each day around the world from preventable diseases, a UN report said Thursday. |
 | The best hedge fund managers are not psychopaths or narcissists, according to new studyWhen it comes to financial investments, hedge fund managers higher in "dark triad" personality traits - psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism - perform more poorly than their peers, according to new personality psychology research. The difference is a little less than 1% annually compared to their peers, but with large investments over several years that slight underperformance can add up. The results appear in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, published by the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. |
 | The upsides and downsides of telecommuting(HealthDay)—Workers who "telecommute" appear to have a lot more job satisfaction than folks who report to an office every day. |
 | Higher doses of vitamin D may boost preemies' bone health(HealthDay)—Higher doses of vitamin D can improve the bone health of premature babies, new research suggests. |
 | Avoiding alcohol helps the heart beat better(HealthDay)—The longer you refrain from drinking, the lower your risk of a common heart rhythm disorder. |
 | Sharing passwords is widespread among medical staff(HealthDay)—Sharing of passwords to access electronic medical records is common among medical staff members, according to a study published in the July issue of Healthcare Informatics Research. |
 | Many dermatology guideline authors get industry payments(HealthDay)—Many authors of dermatology clinical practice guidelines receive industry payments, and these payments are often not accurately disclosed, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JAMA Dermatology. |
 | New expert consensus pathway for mitral regurgitation(HealthDay)—Identification of mitral regurgitation (MR) should prompt evaluation of its etiology, mechanism, severity, and indications for treatment, according to an expert consensus decision pathway published online Oct. 18 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Extended-release naltrexone promising for opioid dependence(HealthDay)—Extended-release naltrexone is noninferior to buprenorphine-naloxone for maintaining short-term abstinence from heroin and other illicit substances, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JAMA Psychiatry. |
 | Oral antibiotics cut risk of SSI in colorectal CA resection(HealthDay)—For patients undergoing left colon and rectal cancer resections, the addition of oral antibiotics to mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) is associated with a reduced rate of surgical site infections (SSIs), according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JAMA Surgery. |
New study finds childhood cancer survivors commonly stay at jobs to keep health insuranceThe results of a national cancer survey find a significant number of childhood cancer survivors are worried about keeping their health insurance, to the point of letting it affect their career decisions. The findings were published today in JAMA Oncology. | |
Number of newly diagnosed cancer patients without insurance drops in first year of ACAThe number of newly diagnosed cancer patients who were uninsured fell by one-third in the first year of the Affordable Care Act's implementation, according to research from Indiana University. | |
A country's prevalence of visual impairment, blindness associated w level of socioeconomic developIn an analysis of data for 190 countries and territories, those with higher levels of socioeconomic development had a lower prevalence of visual impairment and blindness, according to a study published by JAMA Ophthalmology. | |
Does rhinoplasty change perceptions of attractiveness, success, health?Participants in a web-based survey who viewed pictures of patients before and after rhinoplasty rated patients after surgery as more attractive, successful and overall healthier, in an article published by JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery. | |
 | Tracing cell death pathway points to drug targets for brain damage, kidney injury, asthmaUniversity of Pittsburgh scientists are unlocking the complexities of a recently discovered cell death process that plays a key role in health and disease, and new findings link their discovery to asthma, kidney injury and brain trauma. |
 | Cocaine use during adolescence is even more harmful than during adulthoodPeople who begin using cocaine during adolescence exhibit more significant cognitive deficits than people who begin using the drug in adulthood. Long suspected by experts in neuroscience, the hypothesis received objective confirmation by researchers working at the University of São Paulo's Medical School (FM-USP) in Brazil. |
 | Elucidating the role of circulating nutrients that fuel tumor growthTumors acquire nutrition necessary for generating energy and building blocks for growth and survival from the body of the patient in which they reside. Although these nutrients are predominantly provided by the circulating blood supply, our understanding of what these nutrients are and how they are used by tumors is incomplete. Identifying tumor nutrients and how they are used may reveal novel approaches to cancer therapy. Research from investigators at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Princeton University surprisingly finds that circulating lactate rather than glucose is the prominent metabolic fuel source for tumors and most normal tissues. Circulating lactate is used to produce energy, freeing up glucose to support other metabolic functions important for tumor growth. |
 | Breast cancer researchers find bacteria imbalance linkResearchers in the United States have uncovered differences in the bacterial composition of breast tissue of healthy women versus those with breast cancer. |
International patients increasingly seek in vitro fertilization treatment in U.S.A new study from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds that the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in the U.S. by non-U.S. residents is growing. These "reproductive tourists" are more likely, compared to Americans, to use egg donors and carriers and genetically screen early embryos. | |
 | Fathers with learning disabilities 'left out of support,' study findsFathers with learning disabilities are often let down by statutory services, which neglect to support them around parenting or focus only on mothers, a study has found. |
 | Why is there so little research on guns in the US? Five questions answeredWhen Stephen Pollock opened fire Oct. 1 on concertgoers in Las Vegas, killing 59, the city became the unfortunate host of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Investigators are still trying to piece together the events that took place that evening, and why. |
Phenogenetic map created for stem cells models of neurological diseasesIn an effort to better understand neurological diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and ALS - and develop new ways to treat them - researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have performed the first meta-analysis of all induced pluripotent stem cell models for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, and created an atlas of how cell characteristics are linked to their genotype. | |
 | Flu simulations suggest pandemics more likely in spring, early summerNew statistical simulations suggest that Northern Hemisphere flu pandemics are most likely to emerge in late spring or early summer at the tail end of the normal flu season, according to a new study published in PLOS Computational Biology by Spencer Fox of The University of Texas at Austin and his colleagues, Lauren Ancel Meyers (also at UT Austin) and Joel C. Miller at the Institute for Disease Modeling in Bellevue, WA. |
New study shows TBI laws effective at reducing rate of recurrent concussionsSince 2014, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have enacted one or more traumatic brain injury (TBI) laws, more commonly known as concussion laws. These laws often include mandates to remove athletes from play following an actual or suspected concussion, requirements to be cleared to return to play, and annual education of coaches, parents, and/or athletes regarding concussion signs or symptoms. A recent study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital done in conjunction with researchers from Colorado School of Public Health at the University at Colorado and Temple University used data from a large, national sports injury surveillance system to determine the effect of state-level TBI laws on trends of new and recurrent concussions among US high school athletes. | |
 | Parents' alcohol use can set the stage for teenage dating violence, study findsHaving a parent with an alcohol use disorder increases the risk for dating violence among teenagers, according to a study from the University at Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions. |
Calcium intake and colorectal cancerCalcium plays key roles in cellular signaling, proliferation and death. Previous studies exploring the relationship between dietary calcium intake and colorectal cancer have had contradictory results, perhaps due to no consideration of variation in calcium reabsorption by the kidney. | |
 | Reducing salt in restaurant food—some progress made but more neededRestaurants are reducing sodium in some newer items on their menus, but when it comes to existing fare and use of sodium overall there has been little change, according to research led by the University of Michigan. |
 | Clinical study success for novel contact lens device aimed to improve glaucoma treatmentA novel contact lens device developed by University of Liverpool engineers to improve the treatment of glaucoma has been found to reliably track pressure changes in the eye and be wearable by people who took part in its first clinical study. |
 | Researchers find common mutation in the genetics behind eczemaEveryone who has ever had to endure eczema knows just how irritating the symptoms are. Now A*STAR researchers have pinpointed a genetic predisposition to the condition, opening possibilities for new treatments. |
Alterations in gene regulation make gastric cancer cells less visible to the immune systemGastric cancer cells are helped to evade the immune system by alterations in gene regulation, according to new work by A*STAR researchers. This mechanism might apply to a wide range of cancers, and could be exploited to improve cancer treatments. | |
Genetic mutation associated with a developmental disorder could be a treatment targetThe discovery of a rare genetic mutation associated with a devastating developmental disorder called arthrogryposis multiplex congenita could also provide researchers with a new treatment target for a group of related neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, in adults. | |
 | Mutant zebrafish help explain the cause of a rare muscle-degenerating disorderAn immobile mutant zebrafish first described by scientists more than 20 years ago turns out to have defects in the same gene as people with a rare muscle-degenerating disorder called nemaline myopathy, an A*STAR study has found. |
Exercise nerve response in type 1 diabetes worsens over timeA new study finds that late-stage type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) weakens the autonomic reflex that regulates blood pressure during exercise, impairing circulation, nerve function and exercise tolerance. The study is published in the American Journal of Physiology—Heart and Circulatory Physiology. | |
 | Serotonin promote liver regeneration following liver cancer treatment—but also supports early tumour regrowthBlood platelets and serotonin – a molecule with growth promoting properties – stored in them play a significant role in the recurrence of cancer following partial hepatectomy. For the first time, a research group from MedUni Vienna has now proven these effects on tumour growth in humans. The results have recently been published in the Journal of Hepatology. |
WhatsApp use by Argentina ambulances associated with faster heart attack treatmentWhatsApp use by ambulance doctors in Argentina was associated with faster treatment of heart attack and lower mortality in an observational study presented today at the Argentine Congress of Cardiology (SAC 2017). The free messaging application was used to send diagnostic electrocardiograms (ECGs) directly to hospital catheterisation (cath) laboratories, enabling patients to bypass the emergency department. | |
Keeping people out of poverty—do health insurance benefits make a difference?Do Medicaid and other health insurance programs help keep families out of poverty? | |
 | The hidden connection between obesity, heart disease and tradeThis week, representatives from most of the world's governments are meeting at a World Health Organization global conference in Uruguay to tackle the global pandemic of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). |
 | Childhood heart disease has a profound impact and is under-recognisedWe are all aware of heart disease in men and women. But childhood heart disease, and its often profound impact on the health and wellbeing of children and their families, is almost invisible. |
 | Expert says mindfulness activities can help breast cancer survivors with post-treatment symptomsThe American Cancer Society estimates that about 250,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. They will join the approximately 3.1 million breast-cancer survivors who have completed treatment or are still undergoing it. Thanks to early detection and improved treatment options, the survival rate continues to increase year after year. |
 | Experiences of adoptive families inform policy recommendationsNew research from the University of East Anglia (UEA) recommends increased support for adoptive families and early intervention for those at risk of breaking down. |
 | Vibration therapy trialled in young childrenThe Torrens Kelly family were "somewhat sceptical" when son Luke, then 12, joined a clinical trial of a new vibration therapy for cerebral palsy at the Liggins Institute. "Luke has had many therapies in the past and it is often hard to judge whether or not they have any effect," says his mother, Tracey Torrens. |
 | PET scans for Alzheimer's could bring benefit to more patientsAn imaging tool honed to spot rogue proteins in the brain could benefit some patients with suspected Alzheimer's, according to a new study. |
 | More teens than ever aren't getting enough sleepIf you're a young person who can't seem to get enough sleep, you're not alone: A new study led by San Diego State University Professor of Psychology Jean Twenge finds that adolescents today are sleeping fewer hours per night than older generations. One possible reason? Young people are trading their sleep for smartphone time. |
 | Lower brain glucose levels found in people with obesity, type 2 diabetesGlucose levels are reduced in the brains of individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes compared to lean individuals, according to a new Yale study. The finding might explain disordered eating behavior—and even a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease—among obese and diabetic individuals, the researchers said. |
 | Mutant gene found to fuel cancer-promoting effects of inflammationA human gene called p53, which is commonly known as the "guardian of the genome," is widely known to combat the formation and progression of tumors. Yet, mutant forms of p53 have been linked to more cases of human cancer than any other gene. |
Ebola-like Marburg virus kills two in Uganda: officialTwo people have died from the Marburg virus in eastern Uganda, in the country's first outbreak of the deadly Ebola-like pathogen in three years, the health ministry said Thursday. | |
 | Scientists find where HIV 'hides' to evade detection by the immune systemIn a decades-long game of hide and seek, scientists from Sydney's Westmead Institute for Medical Research have confirmed for the very first time the specific immune memory T-cells where infectious HIV 'hides' in the human body to evade detection by the immune system. |
What characteristics do school shooters share?Boys involved in school shootings often struggle to live up to what they perceive as their school's ideals surrounding masculinity. When socially shunned at school, they develop deep-set grudges against their classmates and teachers. The shooters become increasingly angry, depressed, and more violent in their gendered practice. A shooting rampage is their ultimate performance, says Kathryn Farr of Portland State University in the US. In a study published in Springer's journal Gender Issues, she investigated the characteristics shared by 31 school boys involved in 29 mass shootings at American schools between 1995 and 2015. | |
 | Gung ho for green tea(HealthDay)—Whether to relax, warm up or even curb your appetite, there's nothing quite like sipping a soothing cup of tea. |
Sickle cell anemia treatment does not increase malaria risk in AfricaThe drug hydroxyurea does not appear to increase the risk of malaria infection in patients with sickle cell anemia who live in malaria-endemic regions, according to a study published online today in Blood, a Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). | |
 | Teens' views vary on pediatric genetic testing for adult-onset conditionsAdolescents display a complex and nuanced understanding of the issues around pediatric genetic testing for conditions that do not appear until adulthood, according to findings presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2017 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. |
Study reveals key molecular link in major cell growth pathwayA team of scientists led by Whitehead Institute has uncovered a surprising molecular link that connects how cells regulate growth with how they sense and make available the nutrients required for growth. Their work, which involves a critical cellular growth pathway known as mTOR, sheds light on a key aspect of cells' metabolism that involves tiny cellular compartments, called lysosomes, and harnesses a sophisticated technology for probing their biochemical content. The researchers' findings also implicate a new protein, SLC38A9, as a potential drug target in pancreatic cancer. Their study appears in the October 19th issue of the journal Cell. | |
 | Fundamental research enhances understanding of major cancer geneNew research represents a promising step towards better understanding of a key cancer gene. A long-running collaboration between researchers at the Babraham Institute, Cambridge and the AstraZeneca IMED Biotech Unit reveals new insights into how the PTEN gene may control cell growth and behaviour and how its loss contributes to the development and advancement of certain cancers. |
 | Itsy bitsy spider: Fear of spiders and snakes is deeply embedded in usSnakes and spiders evoke fear and disgust in many people, even in developed countries where hardly anybody comes into contact with them. Until now, there has been debate about whether this aversion is innate or learnt. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig have recently discovered that it is hereditary: Even babies feel stressed when seeing these creatures - long before they could have learnt this reaction. |
 | Suicide molecules kill any cancer cellSmall RNA molecules originally developed as a tool to study gene function trigger a mechanism hidden in every cell that forces the cell to commit suicide, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study, the first to identify molecules to trigger a fail-safe mechanism that may protect us from cancer. |
 | Psychologists develop new model that links emotions and mental healthFor decades psychologists have studied how people regulate emotions using a multitude of ways to conceptualize and assess emotion regulation. Now a recent study published this week in the journal PLOS ONE by Elliot Jurist and David M. Greenberg of The City College of New York, shows how a new assessment model can give clinicians an exciting new way to think about clinical diagnoses including anxiety, mood, and developmental disorders. |
Specialized communication narratives help couples deal with miscarriage, study findsAnywhere from 10 to 25 percent of clinically recognized pregnancies end in loss, according to the American Pregnancy Association, making miscarriage a socially significant health issue. Often, women experience profound grief, guilt and depression straining a committed relationship. A recent University of Missouri study examined how men also have to cope with their partner's miscarriage and how married couples can use "communicated perspective-taking" to cope. The findings could help couples cope with miscarriage while also informing practitioners who treat anxiety and stress. | |
 | How genes and environment interact to raise risk of congenital heart defectsInfants of mothers with diabetes have a three- to five-fold increased risk of congenital heart defects. Such developmental defects are likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. However, the molecular mechanisms by which maternal diabetes disrupts normal heart development in genetically susceptible individuals remain unclear. |
 | Insulin signaling molecule in liver controls levels of triglyceride in bloodA new animal study shows how insulin controls the movement and storage of fat molecules in the liver and how a breakdown in this system could lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and changes in circulating lipid levels associated with cardiovascular disease. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania published their findings this week in the Journal of Clinical Investigation (JCI). |
 | Backyard chicken trend leads to more disease infectionsLuke Gabriele was a healthy 14-year-old football player in Pennsylvania when he began to feel soreness in his chest that grew increasingly painful. After his breathing became difficult, doctors detected a mass that appeared to be a tumor. |
 | MicroRNA-708 overexpression suppresses beta-cell proliferation(HealthDay)—Researchers have identified a novel mechanism of glucose regulation of β-cell function and growth by repressing stress-induced microRNA-708 (miR-708), according to a study published online Oct. 2 in Diabetes. |
 | Key stakeholders discuss how to make EHRs more usable(HealthDay)—Key stakeholders and physicians discussed electronic health record (EHR) usability and optimization in the American Medical Association Running Your Practice Community. |
 | Most barbers can identify pseudofolliculitis barbae(HealthDay)—Barbers can identify pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) and advise patients on management, according to a research letter published online Oct. 18 in JAMA Dermatology. |
 | MACE risk similar for white men, women, minorities after PCI(HealthDay)—Women and minorities undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with everolimus-eluting stents have a risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) that is similar to that of white men, according to a study published online Oct. 18 in JAMA Cardiology. |
 | Researchers find evidence of DNA damage in veterans with Gulf War illnessResearchers say they have found the "first direct biological evidence" of damage in veterans with Gulf War illness to DNA within cellular structures that produce energy in the body. |
Leading medical organizations issue recommendations regarding hepatitis C in pregnancyHepatitis C (HCV) during pregnancy is associated with serious, adverse outcomes. Infants born to women with HCV are more likely to experience fetal growth restriction and low birth weight. For women, chronic HCV is associated with progressive liver damage and, during pregnancy, can be transmitted from the mother to the fetus (called vertical transmission). | |
 | New study discovers mushrooms can be as satiating as meat when protein levels are matchedIf breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then mushrooms may be one of the most imperative ingredients. A new study on satiety published in the October issue of the journal Appetite indicates that eating a mushroom-rich breakfast may result in less hunger and a greater feeling of fullness after the mushroom breakfast compared to the meat breakfast. |
IDSA Infectious Diarrhea guidelines recommend when to test, when to treatNew culture-independent tests are much more sensitive than traditional diagnostic methods in detecting the cause of infectious diarrhea, a significant problem that leads to nearly 500,000 hospitalizations and more than 5,000 deaths in the United States every year. But because these tests are so sensitive and may detect multiple organisms, infectious disease expertise may be necessary to interpret the clinical significance and facilitate appropriate public health surveillance, according to new infectious diarrhea guidelines released by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. | |
 | The U.S. health care system—a patchwork that no one likesAlmost all parties agree that the health care system in the U.S., which is responsible for about 17 percent of our GDP, is badly broken. Soaring costs, low quality, insurance reimbursements and co-payments confusing even to experts, and an ever-growing gap between rich and poor are just some of the problems. |
 | Boy or girl? Law, gender and being born intersexBoy or girl? This is one of the first questions all new parents are asked. In a small percentage of cases, the answer isn't straightforward: the child is intersex. In a highly gendered society, how does the law apply to people whose physiology doesn't fit the binary categories of male and female? |
The collision of civil war and threat of global pandemicsThere are 30 civil wars underway around the globe, where civilians are dealing with death and destruction as well as public health emergencies exacerbated by the deadly march of conflict. | |
 | 'Steep rise' in self-harm among teenage girlsUniversity of Manchester researchers have found that reports of self-harm in girls aged between 13 and 16 rose by 68 percent between 2011 and 2014. Overall, girls had much higher rates than boys. |
Kidney failure's effects on the psychosocial health and lifestyle of young adultsKidney failure is associated with lower quality of life in young people and limited employment, independence, and relationships compared with healthy peers, according to an analysis appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). | |
 | Study reveals high healthcare costs linked with acute kidney injuryAcute kidney injury (AKI), an abrupt or rapid decline in kidney function, is a serious and increasingly common condition that can occur after major infections, major surgery, or exposure to certain medications. A new study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) reveals the extensive healthcare costs that result from AKI and highlights the need for improved strategies to identify and prevent the condition. |
 | Treating osteoarthritis using artificial cartilage tissueA Norwegian-Swiss research team has succeeded in growing cartilage tissue cells using algae. Moreover, the new cells can reduce joint inflammation. This news gives hope for people suffering from arthrosis, also known as osteoarthritis. |
Report: Medicaid enrollments, costs begin to stabilizeStates are seeing more stability in their Medicaid programs after experiencing a surge in enrollment and costs associated with the Affordable Care Act, suggesting that one of the major pillars of former President Barack Obama's health overhaul may be nearing its peak. | |
Rheumatoid arthritis linked to an increased risk of COPDNew research suggests that rheumatoid arthritis may increase the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The findings, which appear in Arthritis Care & Research, indicate that greater vigilance may be needed to protect the respiratory health of individuals with chronic inflammatory conditions. | |
 | Veterans study reports reduction in suicide ideation after HBOTA pilot case control study of veterans of the US armed forces with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) or persistent post-concussion syndrome (PPCS), with or without post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), has found significant improvements in persistent post-concussion syndrome and PTSD symptoms, neurological exam, memory, intelligence quotient, attention, cognition, depression, anxiety, quality of life, and brain blood flow following hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). Compared to controls, the patients' brain scans were significantly abnormal before treatment and became statistically indistinguishable from controls in 75% of abnormal areas after treatment. |
Survey results: Genetics specialists' views on genome editingGenetics professionals around the globe hold varying views on genome editing in humans, agreeing with the general public on some aspects and differing in others, according to survey results presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2017 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. | |
 | Rapid whole-genome sequencing of neonatal ICU patients is useful and cost-effectiveRapid whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of acutely ill neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients in the first few days of life yields clinically useful diagnoses in many cases, and results in lower aggregate costs than the current standard of care, according to findings presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2017 Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla. |
 | Regenstrief study to determine whether health information exchange improves emergency careAre patients less likely to be hospitalized if emergency departments have access to their complete medical record via health information exchange? |
Biology news
 | Study shows how female immune cells keep their second X chromosome shut offAutoimmune diseases tend to strike women more than men and having multiple X chromosomes could be the main reason why. While a process called X chromosome inactivation serves to balance out gene dosage between males and females, some genes on the "inactive X" chromosome in immune cells can sometimes escape this process, giving women an extra dose of immunity-related gene expression. |
 | Gene editing in the brain gets a major upgradeGenome editing technologies have revolutionized biomedical science, providing a fast and easy way to modify genes. However, the technique allowing scientists to carryout the most precise edits, doesn't work in cells that are no longer dividing - which includes most neurons in the brain. This technology had limited use in brain research, until now. Research Fellow Jun Nishiyama, M.D., Ph.D., Research Scientist, Takayasu Mikuni, M.D., Ph.D., and Scientific Director, Ryohei Yasuda, Ph.D. at the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) have developed a new tool that, for the first time, allows precise genome editing in mature neurons, opening up vast new possibilities in neuroscience research. |
 | Gut bacteria from wild mice boost health in lab miceLaboratory mice that are given the gut bacteria of wild mice can survive a deadly flu virus infection and fight colorectal cancer dramatically better than laboratory mice with their own gut bacteria, researchers report October 19 in the journal Cell. |
 | Shining light on the social lives of virusesScientists know viruses are contagious and can spread quickly, but how do they interact with each other? |
 | Evolution in your back garden—great tits may be adapting their beaks to birdfeedersA British enthusiasm for feeding birds may have caused UK great tits to have evolved longer beaks than their European counterparts, according to new research. |
 | Ants in the Amazon rainforest canopy have vastly more bacteria in their guts than ground dwellersUC San Diego Center for Microbiome Innovation (CMI) researchers and colleagues on the East Coast have for the first time quantified the number of bacteria in the guts of a broad range of ant species in the Amazon rainforest. They found that the primarily herbivorous ants that live in the canopy have orders of magnitude more bacteria than those that live on the ground. The work has implications for the way microbiome studies are conducted. The authors published the study July 27 in Integrative and Comparative Biology. |
 | New discovery challenges long-held evolutionary theoryMonash scientists involved in one of the world's longest evolution experiments have debunked an established theory with a study that provides a 'high-resolution' view of the molecular details of adaptation. |
 | Water striders illustrate evolutionary processesHow do new species arise and diversify in nature? Natural selection offers an explanation, but the genetic and environmental conditions behind this mechanism are still poorly understood. A team led by Abderrahman Khila at CNRS has just figured out how water striders (family Veliidae) of the genus Rhagovelia developed fan-like structures at the tips of their legs. |
 | Dogs are more expressive when someone is lookingDogs produce more facial expressions when humans are looking at them, according to new research from the University of Portsmouth. |
 | Newly developed switch activates genes thousands of times better than natureIf scientists could precisely regulate gene expression, they could turn off the genes responsible for illness and disease and turn on those that enhance health and the immune system. |
 | Declining baby songbirds need forests to survive droughtBefore cutting down forest, land managers in drought prone areas might first consider the birds in the trees. |
 | Researcher links salmon sex to geological changeIt turns out that sex can move mountains. |
Skinned sea otter carcass found on California beachThe skinned carcass of a sea otter was found on a California beach, and investigators are trying to determine how it died and who took the pelt. | |
 | Record number of whales counted in Argentina's PatagoniaConservation groups say a record number of Southern right whales were counted this year in Argentina's Patagonia region. |
 | Scientists pinpoint jealousy in the monogamous mindJealousy leads to increased brain activity in areas associated with social pain and pair bonding in monogamous monkeys, finds a study published today in open-access journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. The study is the first monogamous primate model for the neurobiology of jealousy, a powerful emotion that is difficult to study in humans and not typically studied in animals. |
 | New machine learning system can automatically identify shapes of red blood cellsUsing a computational approach known as deep learning, scientists have developed a new system to classify the shapes of red blood cells in a patient's blood. The findings, published in PLOS Computational Biology, could potentially help doctors monitor people with sickle cell disease. |
 | Gut bacterium indirectly causes symptoms by altering fruit fly microbiomeCagA, a protein produced by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori, can alter the population of microbes living in the fruit fly gut, leading to disease symptoms, according to new research published in PLOS Pathogens by Tiffani Jones and Karen Guillemin of the University of Oregon. |
 | Studying insect behavior? Make yourself an ethoscopeFruit flies are a common research animal in neuroscience and behavioral studies because of their surprising similarities to humans. The mysteries of a broad range of human conditions can be studied in detail in these organisms, however this often requires the use of expensive custom equipment. In a Community Page publishing 19 October in the open access journal PLOS Biology, Dr Giorgio Gilestro from Imperial College London and colleagues present the ethoscope—a cheap, easy-to-use and self-made customisable piece of equipment of their invention that can be used to study flies' behavior. |
 | Scientists reveal 'superbug's' artilleryMonash University's Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) researchers have created the first high-resolution structure depicting a crucial part of the 'superbug' Pseudomonas aeruginosa, classified by the WHO as having the highest level threat to human health. The image identifies the 'nanomachine' used by the highly virulent bacteria to secrete toxins, pointing the way for drug design targeting this. |
 | Flowers' secret signal to bees and other amazing nanotechnologies hidden in plantsFlowers have a secret signal that's specially tailored for bees so they know where to collect nectar. And new research has just given us a greater insight into how this signal works. Nanoscale patterns on the petals reflect light in a way that effectively creates a "blue halo" around the flower that helps attract the bees and encourages pollination. |
 | The international Human Cell Atlas publishes strategic blueprint, announces data from first one million cellsThe Human Cell Atlas (HCA) Consortium has released a blueprint for the international initiative's efforts to create a comprehensive reference map of all human cells, a project that will form the basis for a deeper understanding of human health and for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating disease. |
Stem cell platform sheds new light on beginnings of human developmentResearchers at University of Toronto's Medicine By Design have engineered a new platform to study the earliest stages of human development in the lab, pulling back the curtain on key biological processes that until now have taken place inside the uterus, beyond the gaze of scientists. | |
 | Monster discovered in Canadian ArcticA University of Manitoba graduate student discovered Canada's first, genuine, scientifically sound monster lurking under our Arctic sea ice. |
 | Research yields test to predict bitter pit disorder in Honeycrisp applesA test to determine whether bitter pit—a disorder that blindsides apple growers by showing up weeks or months after picking—will develop in stored Honeycrisp apples was developed by a team of Penn State researchers, promising to potentially save millions of dollars annually in wasted fruit. |
Squash variety once thought extinct thrives at organic farmAll summer long, at Dartmouth's organic farm, Poli Sierra-Long '19 has been nurturing what she thinks of as a miracle of nature. Happen upon her watering or weeding her huge, rainbow-colored squash nestled in a robust web of vines, and you'll hear a remarkable story of botanical survival. | |
 | Phages an effective alternative to the use of antibiotics in aquacultureResearchers from AZTI, Biopolis S.L. (Spain), University of Aveiro (Portugal) and the Aguacircia Aquaculture company (Portugal) have evaluated the impact of the use of bacteriophages that fight the pathogens responsible for diseases that affect species bred in fish farms. |
 | A big step towards reducing strep in farm-raised tilapiaThe United States annually imports nearly $1 billion worth of tilapia while producing another 30 million pounds ourselves. This makes tilapia the U.S.'s fourth most consumed fish. Worldwide, farmed-raised tilapia is nearly an $8 billion yearly industry. Those same tilapia farmers lose about $1 billion annually due to streptococcosis. The main culprits are two bacteria, Streptococcus agalactiae and S. iniae. |
 | A surprise new butterflyfish is described from the Philippine 'twilight zone' and exhibitA newly described species of brown-and-white Philippine butterflyfish—the charismatic Roa rumsfeldi—made a fantastic, 7,000-mile journey before surprising scientists with its unknown status. Live specimens collected from 360 feet beneath the ocean's surface in the Philippine's Verde Island Passage escaped special notice until a single black fin spine tipped off aquarium biologists back in San Francisco. Deep-diving researchers from the California Academy of Sciences' Hope for Reefs team—with genetic sequencing help from a parent-son team—share their discovery of a fifth species of Roa this week in ZooKeys. |
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