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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 27, 2017:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers identify dozens of new OB-type stars in the Cygnus OB2 stellar association(Phys.org)—European astronomers have identified 42 new massive members of the Cygnus OB2 stellar association. The discovery increases the young massive population known in this association. The findings were presented November 19 in a paper published online on the arXiv pre-print repository. |
 | Newly discovered twin planets could solve puffy planet mysterySince astronomers first measured the size of an extrasolar planet seventeen years ago, they have struggled to answer the question: how did the largest planets get to be so large? Thanks to the recent discovery of twin planets by a University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy team lead by graduate student Samuel Grunblatt, we are getting closer to an answer. |
 | Astronomers measure 3-D stellar motion with record-breaking precision (Update)A team of astronomers used data from both the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and ESA's Gaia satellite to directly measure the 3D motions of individual stars in a nearby galaxy. The achieved accuracy is better than anything previously measured for a galaxy beyond the Milky Way. The motions provide a field test of the currently-accepted cosmological model and also measure the trajectory of the galaxy through space. The results are published in Nature Astronomy. |
 | All missions on board for NASA heliophysics researchScientists have been studying the near-Earth environment for the better part of a century, but many mysteries—like where the energetic particles that pervade the area originate and become energized—still remain. In a new type of collaborative study, scientists combined data from 16 separate NASA and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) spacecraft to understand how a particle phenomenon in the magnetic environment around Earth occurs. These events, called substorms, can cause auroras, disrupt GPS communications and, at their most intense, damage power grids. |
 | The next Mars rover's wheels won't get torn apartThe Curiosity rover has made some incredible discoveries during the five years it has been operating on the surface of Mars. And in the course of conducting its research, the rover has also accrued some serious mileage. However, it certainly came as a surprise when during a routine examinations in 2013, members of the Curiosity science team noted that its wheels had suffered rips in their treads (followed by breaks reported in 2017). |
 | You don't need to build a rocket to prove the Earth isn't flat – here's the simple scienceCould 2,000 years of belief be wrong? Are we in fact living on a disc rather than a globe? One believer from the Flat Earth Society is determined to find out. "Mad" Mike Hughes is all set to build his own rocket to see for himself that the Earth is flat. |
 | New method to measure neutron star size uses modeling based on thermonuclear explosionsNeutron stars are made out of cold, ultra-dense matter. How this matter behaves is one of the biggest mysteries in modern nuclear physics. Researchers have developed a new method for measuring the radius of neutron stars to understand what happens to the matter inside the star under extreme pressure. |
 | Image: Star formation in the ChamaeleonA dark cloud when observed with optical telescopes, the Chamaeleon I region reveals itself as an active hub of star formation in this far-infrared image from ESA's Herschel space observatory. Only around 550 light-years away in the southern constellation of Chamaeleon, it is one of the closest areas where stars are bursting into life. |
 | Image: Star wanders too close to a black holeThis artist's rendering shows the tidal disruption event named ASASSN-14li, where a star wandering too close to a 3-million-solar-mass black hole was torn apart. |
Technology news
 | An easy-to-make, double-duty curved image sensorThese days, we increasingly rely on our cell phone cameras to capture virtually every aspect of our lives. Far too often, however, we end up with photos that are a sub-par reproduction of reality. |
 | Artificial muscles give soft robots superpowersSoft robotics has made leaps and bounds over the last decade as researchers around the world have experimented with different materials and designs to allow once rigid, jerky machines to bend and flex in ways that mimic and can interact more naturally with living organisms. However, increased flexibility and dexterity has a trade-off of reduced strength, as softer materials are generally not as strong or resilient as inflexible ones, which limits their use. |
 | Mobility concept puts electric two-wheel vehicles on elevated road(Tech Xplore)—Cyclists and cars caught up in traffic snarls make for unhappy commuting. Some auto enthusiasts mutter bikes have no business on the street and cyclists mutter back that gas-guzzling cars have no business there either. |
 | Florida research team examines how use of sonar can thwart voice spoofing(Tech Xplore)—Face recognition. Fingerprints. Now there is also talk about voice recognition but thieves may come up with ways to spoof voice authentication. |
 | Russia opens commission into 'nuclear incident' reportA Russian scientific commission will investigate reports of radioactive pollution almost 1,000 times above normal levels in the southern Urals, state nuclear company Rosatom said Friday. |
 | Belarus nuclear power plant stirs fears in LithuaniaThirty years after the Chernobyl disaster spewed radioactive clouds into the sky and sent shockwaves across Europe, Belarus is building a nuclear reactor on the doorstep of the EU despite fears in neighbouring Lithuania. |
 | China's tech giants reach global elite with gamers, shoppersPowered by Chinese smartphone users splurging billions on mobile games and online shopping, China's tech giants Tencent and Alibaba are racing up the elite league of the world's most valuable companies. |
Shoppers take to their phones for Cyber Monday dealsWeeks of deals didn't stop people from heading online to shop on the Monday after Thanksgiving. | |
 | Different strokes: Taiwan's creative campaign for traditional charactersAs a growing number of people around the world learn simplified Chinese instead of the more complicated traditional characters, young creatives in Taiwan are fighting to promote what they fear will become a dying art. |
 | Justices ponder need for warrant for cellphone tower dataLike almost everyone else in America, thieves tend to carry their cellphones with them to work. |
 | Bringing social media to unconnected areasThe number of connected devices may be on the rise, but large swaths of the global population still live in areas without telecom infrastructure or a reliable internet connection. A group of EPFL researchers, working with the Pennsylvania State University and Médecins Sans Frontières, have developed a number of solutions to connect these areas. |
 | We need robots that can improvise, but it's not easy to teach them right from wrongIndustrial robots have existed since the 1960s, when the first Unimate robotic arm was installed at a General Motors plant in the United States. Nearly six decades on, why don't we have capable robots in our homes, beyond a few simple domestic gadgets? |
 | Fighting online abuse shouldn't be up to the victimsThe fight against online abuse has put increasing pressure on social media corporations to take responsibility for the content that appears on their platforms. As a result, Twitter, Facebook and other sites have created buttons for reporting harassment and blocking unwanted contact – and they occasionally ban particularly egregious offenders. Facebook's latest effort has the company asking its users in Australia to send in nude photographs of themselves. |
 | What the latest FBI data do and do not tell us about hate crimes in the USThis November, the FBI released its annual report of hate crimes for 2016, showing that in Trump's America, Muslims experience a greater risk of violence. |
 | Australia can meet carbon emissions target at zero net costA new study by ANU has found Australia can easily meet its 2030 carbon emissions target by replacing coal-fired power stations with renewables at zero net cost. |
 | How websites watch your every move and ignore privacy settingsHundreds of the world's top websites routinely track a user's every keystroke, mouse movement and input into a web form – even before it's submitted or later abandoned, according to the results of a study from researchers at Princeton University. |
 | Start-up aims at producing sodium-ion batteriesTwo years after the first battery prototype using sodium ions in a standard industrial format was designed, the start-up Tiamat has been created to design, develop and produce this promising technology. This could counter some of the limits of lithium-ion batteries that dominate the market today, including recharge rate, lifetime and production cost. Specifically, sodium-ion batteries might allow mass storage of intermittent renewable energies or power electric vehicles |
Turning photos into an interactive experienceHuman facial expressions, big and small, have the ability to convey what a person is feeling. Imagine being able to bring out a wide range of human emotions in any still photo, and to do so, automatically. | |
 | Meredith buying Time Inc. for about $1.8 billion (Update)Magazine and broadcasting company Meredith is buying magazine publisher Time for about $1.8 billion, with help from the billionaire Koch brothers, to bulk up on readers as the publishing industry navigates the difficult transition to digital from print. |
Infosys plans new hub with 500 design jobs in Rhode Island (Update)Information technology outsourcing firm Infosys is opening a design and innovation hub in Rhode Island and plans to add 500 jobs in the state in the next five years, company and state officials announced on Monday. | |
 | Facebook turns to AI to help prevent suicidesFacebook is turning to artificial intelligence to detect if someone might be contemplating suicide. |
 | Reporter's Notebook: Fukushima face-lift masks morass insideAbove ground, the tsunami-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant has had a major face-lift since the 2011 disaster. Inside and underground remains largely a morass. |
 | Navy wants small warships that pack a bigger punchThe Navy's fast-and-maneuverable littoral combat ship was criticized for lacking enough firepower and armor to survive a maritime battle. The Navy is addressing those concerns with a new class of small-but-powerful frigates that will pack a bigger punch. |
 | Online dating might save the worldIf you're an old fart like me, you'll remember the days when the internet had magical powers—when it had the potential to save humanity and solve all the world's problems. |
 | Invention detects black ice in trafficA new Finnish invention by EEE Innovations Ltd and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland revolutionizes the way black ice is detected and provides several other improvements in traffic safety as well. The software installed in vehicles can also guide drivers to drive more economically. Software-based, the invention can be installed into a majority of heavy vehicles in particular with no additional equipment. |
Prosecutors say Chinese cyber firm was front for hackersThree Chinese nationals are accused of operating a cybersecurity firm that used phishing scams and malware to steal data from international corporations. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Second 'don't eat me' signal found on cancer cellsA second biological pathway that signals immune cells not to engulf and kill cancer cells has been identified by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. |
 | Pickled in 'cognac', Chopin's heart gives up its secretsThe heart of Frederic Chopin, among the world's most cherished musical virtuosos, may finally have given up the cause of his untimely death. |
 | High levels of natural immune suppressor correlate with poor survival in the most common leukemiaPatients diagnosed with the most common form of leukemia who also have high levels of an enzyme known to suppress the immune system are most likely to die early, researchers say. |
 | Changes in bacterial mix linked to antibiotics increase risk for inflammatory bowel diseaseExposure to antibiotics in mothers may increase risk for inflammatory bowel diseases in their offspring. This is the finding of a study in mice led by researchers from NYU School of Medicine and published Nov. 27 in the journal Nature Microbiology. |
Researchers first to unlock key molecular mystery of premature aging syndromesNew research from Florida State University is beginning to piece together the stubborn puzzle posed by a family of rare and debilitating premature aging disorders. | |
 | Price changes for seven foods could save thousands of lives per year, study saysChanging the prices of seven foods, including fruits, vegetables and sugar-sweetened beverages, could reduce deaths due to stroke, diabetes and cardiovascular disease and address health disparities in the United States, finds a study led by researchers from Tufts University. |
 | Odors that carry social cues seem to affect volunteers on the autism spectrum differentlyAutism typically involves the inability to read social cues. We most often associate this with visual difficulty in interpreting facial expression, but new research at the Weizmann Institute of Science suggests that the sense of smell may also play a central role in autism. As reported today in Nature Neuroscience, Weizmann Institute of Science researchers show that people on the autism spectrum have different - and even opposite - reactions to odors produced by the human body. These odors are ones that we are unaware of smelling, but which are, nonetheless, a part of the nonverbal communication that takes place between people, and which have been shown to affect our moods and behavior. Their findings may provide a unique window on autism, including, possibly, on the underlying developmental malfunctions in the disorder. |
 | Cell death linked to tumor growth in prostate cancer patientsThe goal of any cancer treatment is to kill tumor cells. Yet, one little understood paradox of certain cancers is that the body's natural process for removing dead and dying cells can actually fuel tumor growth. |
 | Unforeseen new drug target discovered for acute myeloid leukemiaA study has found an unexpected new drug target for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) that could open new avenues to develop effective treatments against this potentially lethal disease. Researchers from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, the Gurdon Institute and their collaborators show that inhibiting the METTL3 gene destroys human and mouse AML cells without harming non-leukaemic blood cells. |
 | Amputees can learn to control a robotic arm with their mindsA new study by neuroscientists at the University of Chicago shows how amputees can learn to control a robotic arm through electrodes implanted in the brain. |
 | 'Mind's eye blink' proves 'paying attention' is not just a figure of speechWhen your attention shifts from one place to another, your brain blinks. The blinks are momentary unconscious gaps in visual perception and came as a surprise to the team of Vanderbilt psychologists who discovered the phenomenon while studying the benefits of attention. |
 | Stem cells in intestinal lining may shed light on behavior of cancer cellsThe lining of the intestines - the epithelium - does more than absorb nutrients from your lunch. It grows, shrinks, and adjusts the very makeup of its cells in response to whatever you just ate. And understanding that process might just give scientists new insights into the behavior of cancer cells. |
 | Trigger for most common form of vision loss discoveredIn a major step forward in the battle against macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly, researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have discovered a critical trigger for the damaging inflammation that ultimately robs millions of their sight. The finding may allow doctors to halt the inflammation early on, potentially saving patients from blindness. |
Artist donates faeces to gut-busting researchFaeces appears to be as unique as fingerprints, according to New Zealand research released Sunday which could impact on the growing push towards personalised medicine and tailored treatments. | |
 | US arthritis prevalence is much higher than current estimatesNew research indicates that the prevalence of arthritis in the United States has been substantially underestimated, especially among adults |
 | Blood lead levels lower, but tooth decay higher in children who do not drink tap waterAmerican children and adolescents who do not drink tap water, which is typically fluoridated, are much more likely to have tooth decay, according to a new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. However, the study confirms that those who drink tap water are more likely to have elevated levels of lead in their blood. |
New HIV guideline outlines cost-effective prevention strategies for high-risk peopleA new Canadian guideline outlines how new biomedical strategies to prevent HIV infection can best be used in high-risk populations both before and after exposure to the virus. The guideline, published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal), applies to adults at risk of HIV infection through sexual activity or injection drug use. | |
White male gun owners with money stress more likely to be morally attached to their gunsWhite male gun owners who have lost, or fear losing, their economic footing tend to feel morally and emotionally attached to their guns, according to a Baylor University study. | |
 | Replacing lymph nodes to ease painful legacy of cancer careBreast cancer treatment left Susan Wolfe-Tank with an arm too painfully swollen to lift anything heavy or even fit into her usual clothing—a debilitating condition that gets little attention and has no cure. |
 | 'Smoking kills,' US tobacco firms say in court-ordered adsSmoking kills an average 1,200 Americans daily, US tobacco companies admitted Sunday in court-ordered "corrective statements" published in newspapers. |
Big tobacco wins in smoke-friendly SE Asia: watchdogA global treaty to fight the health impact of tobacco has suffered substantial setbacks in Southeast Asia, home to some of the world's highest concentrations of smokers, a watchdog group said Monday. | |
 | People in high-deductible plans aren't acting like consumers, may need more helpMore and more Americans have health insurance that requires them to open their wallets for the first few thousand dollars' worth of care they receive every year, before the insurance coverage kicks in. |
 | New studies show brain impact of youth footballSchool-age football players with a history of concussion and high impact exposure undergo brain changes after one season of play, according to two new studies conducted at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem and presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). |
 | Radiologists detect injury patterns of intimate partner violenceRadiology images can reveal critical clues not only about a patient's current injuries, but also about patterns of violence a person may be experiencing. Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital present data today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) from a study that reveals new ways that radiologists can be involved in the care of victims of intimate partner violence (IPV). The team found common clinical and radiologic patterns that could alert radiologists of potential IPV, to spark a conversation with the referring physician and multi-disciplinary care team to get patients the help they need. |
 | Radiology offers clues in cases of domestic abuse and sexual assaultRadiologic signs of injury could help identify victims of intimate partner violence, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). |
 | Neurofeedback shows promise in treating tinnitusResearchers using functional MRI (fMRI) have found that neurofeedback training has the potential to reduce the severity of tinnitus or even eliminate it, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). |
 | Preventing HIV at the initial stages of infectionIn a project funded by the Austrian Science Fund FWF, Doris Wilflingseder investigates the initial stages of HIV infection, a period when the immune system might still stop the virus. |
 | Five questions to ask a doctor about your hip fractureAs winter approaches, bringing icy sidewalks and stairways, the risk increases for falls that can cause hip fractures. |
 | New strategy for multiple myeloma immunotherapyIn recent decades monoclonal antibody-based treatment of cancer has been established as one of the most successful therapeutic strategies for both solid tumors and blood cancers. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb), as the name implies, are antibodies that are made by clonal cells derived from a single parent cells and therefore share the identical amino acid sequences. |
 | Will horseradish and garlic really ease a cold?Some of us may have heard that horseradish and garlic supplements help ease cold and flu. Blooms High Strength Horseradish and Garlic Complex claims it has |
 | We don't need to change how we subsidise 'breakthrough' cancer treatmentsNew therapies that arm the immune system to fight cancer, such as Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab), have offered patients with advanced melanoma real hope of effective treatment. |
How to reduce medications in older generationsNew research published today in the Journal of Gerontology has developed new ways to characterise older people who take multiple medicines and those who are open to "deprescribing", a process where medicines are reviewed in order to reduce or stop less effective medicines. | |
 | Parental diet affects offspring immunityA review of studies about parents' diet and the immunity of animal offspring has found a close relationship exists, with implications for wildlife conservation and livestock rearing as well as human health. |
Rods in the retina contribute to daylight visionAn international research team headed by Thomas Münch from Tübingen University found the contribution of rod photoreceptors in mouse retinas to be much greater than previously assumed. Rods cannot distinguish between colours and were thought to become useless as light levels increase, while vision in daylight conditions is based on cone photoreceptors. The new study – published in Nature Communications – shows that rod function can even increase in bright light. | |
Tracking down genetic influences on brain disordersNew findings will help to identify the genetic causes of brain disorders: researchers at the Universities of Basel, Bonn and Cologne have presented a systematic catalog of specific variable locations in the genome that influence gene activity in the human hippocampus, as they report in the journal Nature Communications. | |
 | UK announces pharma investment, aims to boost productivityTwo major drugs companies will set up new research facilities in Britain that will bring 1,750 jobs, the government said Monday as it unveiled plans to boost the country's sagging productivity after Brexit. |
 | Worried about holiday weight gain? Your scale isn't giving you the whole pictureA new, long-term diet study published in the high impact American Heart Association journal, Circulation, used MRI imaging technology for the first time to plot the diverse changes in an array of body organ fat storage pools during 18 months of Mediterranean/low-carb (Med/LC) and low-fat diets, with and without moderate physical exercise. |
 | Holding infants—or not—can leave traces on their genesThe amount of close and comforting contact between infants and their caregivers can affect children at the molecular level, an effect detectable four years later, according to new research from the University of British Columbia and BC Children's Hospital Research Institute. |
Under Affordable Care Act, Americans have had more preventive care for heart healthBy reducing out-of-pocket costs for preventive treatment, the Affordable Care Act appears to have encouraged more people to have health screenings related to their cardiovascular health, a UCLA study found. Comparing figures from 2006 through 2013, researchers found that more people were screened for diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette use and high blood pressure—all risk factors for heart disease—after the ACA was implemented than before. | |
Immune deficiency explains rampant caries in some childrenResearchers at Umeå University in Sweden have made a novel discovery connecting genetic innate immunity deficiencies to rampant caries and increased risk of dental caries affecting about one in five children. The results could lead to a better way of identifying high-risk patients and treat their caries. The study has been published in the journal EBioMedicine. | |
 | Self-help book works to combat burnout and stress—without a therapistAround a third of all employees find their work stressful. Interventions for stress and burnout are available, but often not accessible for many employees. A self-help book based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has the potential to reduce burnout, stress and symptoms of depression - without any therapist contact. Researchers from the University of Basel have reported these findings in the scientific journal Work & Stress. |
 | Removing chemical used to make Teflon-like coatings has led to fewer low birth weights and less brain damageGovernment and industry efforts since 2003 to phase out chemicals used to make non-stick coatings, such as Teflon, have prevented more than 118,000 low-weight births and related brain damage in the United States. |
 | 'Negative emotions' linked to higher rates of opioid use in sickle cell diseaseIn a small study using data from daily electronic patient diaries, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have found a link between negative emotions, such as sadness and anxiety, and higher opioid use in people with sickle cell disease whose pain levels were self-reported as relatively low. |
 | Bullied teens more likely to take weapons to school(HealthDay)—Bullied teens are twice as likely to take weapons such as guns or knives to school, a new study reveals. |
 | Memo to doctors: spit out the bad news(HealthDay)—Doctors, don't be afraid to deliver bad news. |
 | A pantry makeover for a healthier diet(HealthDay)—You know about buying no- and low-fat dairy and lean cuts of meat. But your pantry might also need a makeover to help you get the most nutrients from your foods and stick with a healthy diet plan. |
 | Genetic variants tied to type 1 diabetes heterogeneity(HealthDay)—Transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) genetic variants contribute to phenotypic heterogeneity of type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online Oct. 12 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Seeking better sleep? here's one simple step to help(HealthDay)—Getting a better night's shut-eye may be as easy as cracking open a bedroom window or door, a small new study suggests. |
 | Vitamin E in early childhood tied to lower ALT levels later(HealthDay)—Higher early childhood intake of alpha-tocopherol is associated with lower odds of elevated mid-childhood alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, according to a study published online Nov. 9 in Hepatology. |
 | Longer follow-up bodes well for filler in periorbital hollows(HealthDay)—Hyaluronic acid gel fillers of the periorbital region are well tolerated over five years of follow-up, according to a study published online Nov. 11 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. |
 | Clinician suspicion minimally accurate for Lyme disease(HealthDay)—Clinician suspicion has minimal accuracy for the diagnosis of Lyme disease, according to a study published online Nov. 24 in Pediatrics. |
 | Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty ineffective in MS(HealthDay)—Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) seems to be safe but ineffective for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI), according to a study published online Nov. 18 in JAMA Neurology. |
 | Recommendations developed for addressing child trafficking(HealthDay)—In a policy statement published online Nov. 27 in Pediatrics, recommendations are presented for health care professionals to help prevent child trafficking, recognize victims, and intervene appropriately. |
 | Cinnamon shows potential as tool in fight against obesity(HealthDay)—The compound cinnamaldehyde (CA), found in cinnamon, activates fat cells to start burning energy in both mice and humans, according to a study published in the December issue of Metabolism. |
Researchers identify information gaps about opioid antidote naloxoneThe nation's opioid epidemic kills 91 people a day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death toll would be even higher, were it not for emergency responders' heavy reliance on naloxone as an antidote that rapidly reverses the effects of overdose. | |
 | UK obesity levels among the worst in Europe—heart disease statistics from more than 45 countriesA decline in deaths from heart attack and stroke in high income countries could be threatened by rising rates of obesity and diabetes, according to a study from the European Society of Cardiology with a leading contribution from Barts Heart Centre, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). |
 | Experts urge Europe to start planning for lung cancer screeningLeading lung cancer specialists are urging EU countries to take action to initiate life-saving lung cancer screening programmes as soon as possible. |
 | Some men confuse sexual interest with consent regardless of the situation, new study showsSome men tend to confuse sexual interest with consent, regardless of the situation, according to a new paper co-written by faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York. |
MS patients who adhere to treatment have higher health costs-and better outcomesResearchers examined the insurance claims and medical records of 681 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and found those who adhered to medication schedules had significantly better physical outcomes than patients who did not, although the total overall costs for their care were higher. | |
 | Cancer drug starts clinical trials in human brain-cancer patientsA drug that spurs cancer cells to self-destruct has been cleared for use in a clinical trial of patients with anaplastic astrocytoma, a rare malignant brain tumor, and glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive late-stage cancer of the brain. This phase Ib trial will determine if the experimental drug PAC-1 can be used safely in combination with a standard brain-cancer chemotherapy drug, temozolomide. |
 | New study links proposed changes in US tax laws to rich-poor gap and mortality ratesThe income gap between the rich and poor in the United States has reached its highest levels since the Great Depression. Given past evidence that a wider rich-poor gap can be harmful to a population's health, tax policies that widen or narrow this gap may influence the overall health of a society. In a new study published in Preventive Medicine, Daniel Kim, MD, DrPH, examined actual and recently proposed tax policies and projected how these policies could affect the total number of deaths in the United States. He determined that only policies that considerably raise top federal income tax rates and that redistribute tax revenue to lower-income households are likely to bring large reductions in the total number of Americans that die annually. |
Patients diagnosed with AF who seek cardiologist care more likely to survive first yearAtrial fibrillation (AF) is growing to epidemic proportions worldwide. Investigators, hypothesizing that patients who received comprehensive cardiovascular care had a greater likelihood of survival during the first year following their initial diagnosis, found that cardiologist care was associated with a 32% lower death rate. However, views differ regarding whether this is a real effect requiring all AF patients to see a cardiologist, or an artifact of the study population. The study results are reported alongside an editorial in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. | |
 | Scientists identify novel therapeutic targets for metastatic melanomaMount Sinai researchers have identified novel therapeutic targets for metastatic melanoma, according to a study published in Molecular Cell. |
 | Asthma in infant boys may eventually be preventableA new University of Alberta study shows that the family risk for asthma—typically passed from moms to babies—may not be a result of genetics alone: it may also involve the microbes found in a baby's digestive tract. |
Increased oral pathogens, decreased bacterial diversity predict precancerous stomach cancer lesionsElevated pathogen colonization and a lack of bacterial diversity in the mouth were identified in people with precancerous lesions that could precede stomach cancer, finds a new study led by New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) and New York University School of Medicine. | |
Genetic predisposition to later puberty causes lower bone density in children and adultsPeople whose genetic makeup triggers a later-than-average start to puberty have lower bone mineral density, especially in their lower spine. Because adolescence is a critical period for accruing bone, this effect may increase a person's risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures later in life. | |
Flip side of innovation: What causes doctors to scale back on the use of medical practicesAll countries face the challenge of funding ever-new and expensive treatments, with increasing pressure on budgets, harmful deficit spending, and ever-higher health insurance premiums. One solution to these concerns is to scale back on outdated or low-value procedures; not unlike clearing out one's clothing closet to make room for more contemporary wear. | |
Mothers of teens with autism report higher levels of stress, but optimism can be a bufferAnyone who has ever survived being a teenager should be well aware that parenting a teenager can be no easy feat. But factor in a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or intellectual disability (ID), and you'll likely have the recipe for a unique set of challenges to the entire family unit. | |
Researchers develop a molecular taxonomy for hair disordersTwo decades ago, oncologists realized that molecular biologists could see medically important differences between tumors that looked identical to pathologists. Molecular biologists could read information in the genome to improve the precision of diagnoses, guide treatment strategies, and improve health outcomes. | |
 | As access to legal marijuana increases, researchers explore patient useAbout 1 in 7 adult primary care patients visiting medical offices reported having used marijuana at least once in the past year, according to a study conducted by Kaiser Permanente researchers since Washington state legalized nonmedical cannabis use in 2014. |
Novice pilots improve visual responses to simulation by watching experts' eye movementsNovice military pilots can improve their visual responses to a simulated emergency procedure by observing the eye movements of expert pilots, according to new research from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. The findings were presented recently at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, recognized as the world's leading source of emerging news about brain science and health. | |
Researchers uncover link between immune function and osteoarthritic pain and progressionThe immune system plays a pivotal role in the amount of pain and disease progression experienced by patients with osteoarthritis (OA), McMaster University researchers have found. | |
 | Women may be more vulnerable to concussions because of 'leaner' nerve fibersWomen have smaller, more breakable nerve fibers in the brain compared to men that may make them more susceptible to concussions, suggests a new study from Penn Medicine neuroscientists published online today in the journal Experimental Neurology. |
Venezuela government distributes medicine amid shortageVenezuela launched a program Saturday to hand out medicine to 35,651 patients, blaming US sanctions for a shortage, even as doctors say 95 percent of all drugs are missing. | |
New pain treatment tested in humansNerve growth factor signals through receptors of the tropomyosin-related kinase (Trk) family, and research in animals has shown that inhibitors of Trks A, B, and C can reduce pain. Now a new study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology provides the first demonstration of pain relief in humans using a Trk inhibitor. | |
Fertility clinics treat abnormal vaginal bacteria aiming to improve reproductive outcomeIn women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment, pregnancy rates are much lower when women have an imbalance in their vaginal bacteria. Is it possible to correct this problem and increase the pregnancy rate of these women? To find out, five Danish fertility clinics, in collaboration with Statens Serum Institute and Osel Inc., are now conducting a joint clinical research project to improve IVF outcomes by altering the vaginal bacteria. | |
 | As private funding of biomedical research soars, new risks ariseAcademic medical centers (AMCs) in the U.S. are navigating an increasing shift in research funding from historic public funding (e.g., NIH) to private sources such as pharma and biotech companies, foundations, and charities, raising a host of new issues related to collaborative research models, intellectual property rights, and scientific and ethical oversight. The potential risks of the new Innovation Network model, supported by private funds and led by an innovation benefactor who also orchestrates the network, are presented in an article published in the peer-reviewed open access journal Healthcare Transformation. |
Biology news
 | Cells bulge to squeeze through barriersInvasive cells deploy a trick to break through tissues and spread to other parts of the body, researchers report. |
 | Bacterial viruses found to interact with human cells, study findsInternational research co-authored by a Monash biologist has shown for the first time that bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) directly interact with the cells of the human body. |
 | All-in-one repair kit makes CRISPR gene editing more preciseFor the past five years, CRISPR-Cas9 technology has revolutionized the field of gene editing due to its ease and low cost. But although this technology reliably finds and cuts the targeted stretch of DNA sequence, fixing that cut as desired has been something of a hit-or-miss process. Error rates as high as 50 percent are a particular problem when the goal is to correct typos in the DNA that cause genetic disease. |
 | As climate warms, mice morphNew research by McGill University biologists shows that milder winters have led to physical alterations in two species of mice in southern Quebec in the past 50 years – providing a textbook example of the consequences of climate change for small mammals. |
 | New butterfly species discovered in Russia with an unusual set of 46 chromosomesWhat looked like a population of a common butterfly species turned out to be a whole new organism, and, moreover - one with a very peculiar genome organisation. |
 | Laws of attraction: Pollinators use multiple cues to identify flowers across continentsAlthough at least 75% of our crop species depend on the activities of wild pollinators, little is known about their flower preferences. As global populations of domestic bee pollinators decline, it is of utmost importance for us to understand what factors attract wild pollinators such as hoverflies to flowers, and how these preferences differ in the face of environmental change. Now, a team of scientists from Uppsala and Flinders University and the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) have discovered that hoverflies, a group of generalist pollinators, use a combination of cues such as color, shape and scent to identify flowers. |
 | Scientists identify key factors that help microbes thrive in harsh environmentsThree new studies by University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) scientists have identified key factors that help microbes survive in harsh environments. |
 | 'Dark matter' discoveries could shine light on new treatments for diseasesSoils from one of the highest, driest places on earth harbour microorganisms with the potential to treat HIV and tackle the world's antibiotic time bomb, research from Newcastle University, UK, has revealed. |
 | What can zebrafish teach us about our survival in the face of mutations?Not too long ago, biologists would induce mutations in an entire genome, isolate an organism that displayed a resulting disease or abnormality that they wanted to study, and then work backward to determine which gene was responsible for the defect. This process often took years to yield definitive results. |
 | Large-scale approach reveals imperfect actor in plant biotechnologyA research team led by Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research has harnessed metabolomic technologies to unravel the molecular activities of a key protein that can enable plants to withstand a common herbicide. Their findings reveal how the protein—a kind of catalyst or enzyme, first isolated in bacteria and introduced into plants, including crops such as corn and soybeans, in the 1990's— can sometimes act imprecisely, and how it can be successfully re-engineered to be more precise. The new study, which appears online in the journal Nature Plants, raises the standards for bioengineering in the 21st century. |
 | Sharks evolved aircraft-like attributes to suit habitatsIn a paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, researchers report that shark species have evolved diverse physical attributes to help them thrive in different ocean ecosystems. |
 | Long-haired microbes named after Canadian band RushThree new species of microbe found in the guts of termites have been named after members of the Canadian prog-rock band Rush, owing to the microbes' long hair and rhythmic wriggling under the microscope. |
 | New study finds mycobacteria can sense presence of proteins that cause diseaseTuberculosis-causing mycobacteria use a select group of proteins known as virulence factors to transmit the disease, which infects roughly one third of the world's population and causes 1.7 million deaths annually. Those proteins are cargo transported by molecular machinery, a microscopic gateway that promotes the survival of bacteria in the host. |
 | Thousands of carob trees planted as Cyprus revives 'black gold'Nearly 6,000 carob trees were planted on Sunday in Cyprus as the Mediterranean island seeks to revive its tradition of producing "black gold". |
 | EU deadlock over weedkiller goes to appealThe European Union will on Monday attempt to determine the future of glyphosate, a controversial weedkiller hugely relied on by farmers but which critics say causes cancer and whose use has been thrown into doubt. |
 | Horror as Norway freight trains mow down over 100 reindeerMore than 100 reindeer have been mowed down by freight trains in northern Norway in recent days in what has been called a "bloodbath" during their winter migration, said the nation's public broadcaster. |
First comprehensive inventory of Neotropical snakesAn international team made up of scientists from Brazil, Australia, the U.S., Ecuador, Germany and Sweden has published the results of an extensive database of snakes of the American tropics. This database is made up of museum collections from the past 150 years and demonstrates that some Neotropical regions, such as the Cerrado in the central Brazil, contain a disproportionately high diversity. Furthermore, some other diverse regions are disproportionately under-sampled, such as the Amazon. For the first time, distribution patterns, collection records and frequency of occurrence are recorded from a total of 147,515 contributions to 886 snake species. Thus, the database covers 74 percent of all snake species from 27 countries. The database will serve as a solid basis for conservation concepts, and biodiversity and evolution models in the future. The study was recently published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography. | |
 | Dogs used to sniff out rare speciesA new study has found that dogs can greatly aid conservation efforts in finding rare species by smelling out their poo. |
 | Earthworms can reproduce in Mars soil simulantTwo young worms are the first offspring in a Mars soil experiment at Wageningen University & Research. Biologist Wieger Wamelink found them in a Mars soil simulant that he obtained from NASA. At the start he only added adult worms. The experiments are crucial in the study that aims to determine whether people can keep themselves alive at the red planet by growing their own crops on Mars soils. |
 | Studying circadian rhythms in plants and their pathogens might lead to precision medicine for peopleAt dusk, the leaves of the tamarind tree close, waiting for another dawn. Androsthenes, a ship captain serving under Alexander the Great, made the first written account of these leaf movements in the fourth century B.C. |
 | Return of the native wild turkey—setting sustainable harvest targets when information is limitedAs American families sit down for the traditional turkey dinner this Thanksgiving, some will be giving thanks for a wild bird that is truly free range. Meleagris gallopavo, the wild turkey, has steadily gained in popularity with hunters since successful restoration efforts put it back on the table in the around the new millenium, bucking the trend of declining participation in hunting throughout the United States. The distinguished native bird is now second in popularity only to white tailed deer. |
Common cold viruses reveal one of their strengthsCommon cold season is back, which has people wondering why we catch the same virus, year after year. Why don't we ever develop immunity against the common cold? Professor Pierre Talbot at INRS has known about the incredible variability of coronaviruses for some time. They're responsible for the common cold as well as many other infections, including neurological diseases. Along with his research associate Marc Desforges, Professor Talbot worked on a study recently published in Nature Communications about the ways in which coronaviruses adapt and evolve, becoming ever more effective at infecting hosts without being defeated by the immune system. | |
Researchers conduct novel wheat microbiome analysis under four management strategiesDifferent crop management strategies can produce various and noticeable effects on a crop and its yield. But what are the effects at the microbial level...not just in the roots but the entire plant? | |
 | Study finds family-friendly overpasses are needed to help grizzly bearsResearchers have determined how female grizzly bears keep their cubs safe while crossing the Trans-Canada Highway. |
Quest for new medicines could be helped by cell discoveryScientists have made a key discovery that could speed up the production of cells in the lab for studying diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. | |
 | EU breaks stalemate to renew licence on controversial weedkiller (Update 3)EU countries broke months of deadlock on Monday when they voted to renew the licence for the controversial weedkiller glyphosate for five years after heavyweight Germany surprisingly voted in favour despite health concerns. |
 | Neural recordings of wild bats reveal unique organization of midbrain region for tracking and capturing preyThe bat midbrain is uniquely organized to facilitate rapid integration of sensory and motor information required for tracking prey using biological sonar, according to neural recordings of wild bats obtained during laboratory experiments described in The Journal of Neuroscience. |
 | Ryk needs a chaperoneRyk has made the headlines by requiring a chaperone. But don't assume that Ryk is a badly behaved celebrity—it's actually a protein featured in a new study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences (PNAS). |
 | Maize pest exploits plant defense compounds to protect itselfThe western corn rootworm continues to be on the rise in Europe. Why attempts to biologically target this crop pest by applying entomopathogenic nematodes have failed, can now be explained by the amazing defense strategy of this insect. In their new study, scientists from the University of Bern, Switzerland, and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany, show that the rootworm larvae are able to sequester plant defense compounds from maize roots in a non-toxic form and can activate the toxins whenever they need them to protect themselves against their own enemies. |
 | Barley is flavor of the month as new study settles centuries-old brewing debateWhat makes a perfectly flavoured pint? It's been the obsession of brewers big and small for centuries. |
 | Garlic can fight chronic infectionsAn active sulphurous compound found in garlic can be used to fight robust bacteria in patients with chronic infections, a new study from the University of Copenhagen indicates. Here the researchers show that the garlic compound is able to destroy important components in the bacteria's communication systems, which involve regulatory RNA molecules. |
 | Fear of sharks influences seaweed growth on Fijian coral reefsFishes' fear of sharks helps shape shallow reef habitats in the Pacific, according to new research by a scientist at Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences. |
 | Fighting plant disease at warm temperatures keeps food on the tableAn issue of global concern is the anticipated shortage of agricultural output to meet the steady rise in human population. Michigan State University scientists understand that overcoming crop loss due to disease and adverse weather will be key in achieving this goal. |
Spain reports case of 'mad cow disease'A case of "mad cow disease" has been discovered in northwestern Spain, the Paris-based World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Monday. | |
 | Photographer captures human face of endangered speciesCan you love an animal to death? |
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