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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 10, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Iron-rich stars host shorter-period planetsAstronomers with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) have learned that the chemical composition of a star can exert unexpected influence on its planetary system—a discovery made possible by an ongoing SDSS survey of stars seen by NASA's Kepler spacecraft, and one that promises to expand our understanding of how extrasolar planets form and evolve. |
 | Fast radio bursts 'twists and shouts' help scientists determine source of cosmic blastsAn international group of astronomers has found that the Cornell University-discovered fast radio burst FRB 121102 - a brief, gigantic pulse of radio waves from 3 billion light years away - passes through a veil of magnetized plasma. This causes the cosmic blasts to "shout and twist," which will help the scientists determine the source. |
 | Astronomers detect 'whirlpool' movement in earliest galaxiesAstronomers have looked back to a time soon after the Big Bang, and have discovered swirling gas in some of the earliest galaxies to have formed in the Universe. These 'newborns' - observed as they appeared nearly 13 billion years ago - spun like a whirlpool, similar to our own Milky Way. This is the first time that it has been possible to detect movement in galaxies at such an early point in the Universe's history. |
 | Ingredients for life revealed in meteorites that fell to EarthTwo wayward space rocks, which separately crashed to Earth in 1998 after circulating in our solar system's asteroid belt for billions of years, share something else in common: the ingredients for life. They are the first meteorites found to contain both liquid water and a mix of complex organic compounds such as hydrocarbons and amino acids. |
 | Black hole breakthrough: New insight into mysterious jetsThrough first-of-their-kind supercomputer simulations, researchers, including a Northwestern University professor, have gained new insight into one of the most mysterious phenomena in modern astronomy: the behavior of relativistic jets that shoot from black holes, extending outward across millions of light years. |
 | How massive is Supermassive? Astronomers measure more black holes, farther awayToday, astronomers from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) announced new measurements of the masses of a large sample of supermassive black holes far beyond the local Universe. |
 | Meteorites reveal story of Martian climateLiquid water is not stable on Mars' surface because the planet's atmosphere is too thin and temperatures are too cold. However, at one time Mars hosted a warm and wet surface environment that may have been conducive to life. A significant unanswered question in planetary science is when Mars underwent this dramatic change in climate conditions. |
 | New stellar streams confirm 'melting pot' history of the galaxyWhere do the stars in our Galaxy come from? All the stars we see in the night-time sky belong to our Milky Way galaxy, and while most stars were likely born here, in the Milky Way, many appear to have originated in other galaxies and migrated to our shores. Tell-tale evidence comes from streams of stars created when small galaxies interact with the Milky Way. Eleven new stellar streams, discovered in data from the Dark Energy Survey, currently in progress at the NSF's Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), provide new evidence for this picture. |
 | NASA's newly renamed Swift Mission spies a comet slowdownObservations by NASA's Swift spacecraft, now renamed the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory after the mission's late principal investigator, have captured an unprecedented change in the rotation of a comet. Images taken in May 2017 reveal that comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák—41P for short—was spinning three times slower than it was in March, when it was observed by the Discovery Channel Telescope at Lowell Observatory in Arizona. |
 | Swarm of hydrogen clouds flying away from center of our galaxyA team of astronomers has discovered what appears to be a grand exodus of more than 100 hydrogen clouds streaming away from the center of the Milky Way and heading into intergalactic space. This observation, made with the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Telescope (GBT), may give astronomers a clearer picture of the so-called Fermi Bubbles, giant balloons of superheated gas billowing out above and below the disk of our galaxy. |
 | Scientists take viewers to the center of the Milky WayA new visualization provides an exceptional virtual trip—complete with a 360-degree view—to the center of our home galaxy, the Milky Way. This project, made using data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and other telescopes, allows viewers to control their own exploration of the fascinating environment of volatile massive stars and powerful gravity around the monster black hole that lies in the center of the Milky Way. |
'To boldly grow': Japan astronaut worried by space growth spurtA Japanese astronaut has sparked hilarity back on Earth after he claimed to have grown nine centimetres in space, making him worried he would not squeeze into the capsule home. | |
 | Using ALMA to solve the sun's coronal heating mysteryFew would be surprised to learn that the sun is very, very hot. At its surface, the temperature is several thousand degrees Celsius. |
 | Image: High above Jupiter's cloudsNASA's Juno spacecraft was a little more than one Earth diameter from Jupiter when it captured this mind-bending, color-enhanced view of the planet's tumultuous atmosphere. |
 | Two astronomers, a hundred years apart, use stars to measure the universeOur entire understanding of the universe is based on knowing the distances to other galaxies, yet this seemingly-simple question turns out to be fiendishly difficult to answer. The best answer came more than 100 years ago from an astronomer who was mostly unrecognized in her time—and today, another astronomer has used Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) data to make those distance measurements more precise than ever. |
 | Image: Columbus module strippedInside the cylindrical modules of the International Space Station is the standard stuff of technology. Wires, cables and pumps form the framework of the one-of-a-kind European Columbus laboratory, seen here in its early days of assembly. |
 | Aerospace engineers developing drone for NASA concept mission to TitanResearchers from the Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering are part of a team led by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) whose proposal for a revolutionary rotorcraft to investigate Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has been selected by NASA as one of two finalists for the agency's next New Frontiers mission. |
 | Improving upon the sun—LED lights fuel plant growth in spaceIf you've ever seen the film The Martian, you're familiar with "plants in space." The protagonist in the film, played by Matt Damon, successfully harvests potatoes on Mars to feed himself when he's stranded on the planet. |
 | Exploring alien worlds with lasersIn everyday life we look and touch things to find out what they are made of. A powerful scientific technique does the same using lasers – and in two years' time it will fly in space for the first time. |
 | Webb Telescope's Houston highlightsWith NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's approximately nine-month stay in Texas coming to an end, now is a good time to reflect on the memories it made in the Lone Star State. NASA has created a timelapse video that chronicles Webb's time at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. |
 | Dark Energy Survey publicly releases first three years of dataAt a special session held during the American Astronomical Society meeting in Washington, D.C., scientists on the Dark Energy Survey (DES) announced today the public release of their first three years of data. This first major release of data from the Survey includes information on about 400 million astronomical objects, including distant galaxies billions of light-years away as well as stars in our own galaxy. |
Technology news
 | Robotic implants spur tissue regeneration inside the bodyAn implanted, programmable medical robot can gradually lengthen tubular organs by applying traction forces—stimulating tissue growth in stunted organs without interfering with organ function or causing apparent discomfort, report researchers at Boston Children's Hospital. |
 | Travis the translator aims to make people understoodNetherlands-based startup Travis is out to make people understood no matter what language they speak. |
 | With pricey electric car, Fisker eyes comebackHenrik Fisker unveiled his $129,000 electric luxury car Tuesday, in a rebooted effort by the renowned auto designer to take on Tesla and other luxury automakers. |
 | Ten year runtime from coin cell battery is CES talking point in smart home chipAhead of CES in Las Vegas, it had not been difficult to predict that components and gadgets in the smart home category would be part of the mix. |
 | Researchers identify concepts to measure battery performanceHow do we know if a new battery is good? Batteries that perform well are invaluable to a number of resources that we use daily, such as cell phones and laptops, but also those that we are utilizing more frequently than ever before, such as drones and electric vehicles. Researchers in the Texas A&M University College of Engineering have identified two factors that can be used to measure the performance of batteries. |
 | Organic solar cells as an alternative to conventional solar cellsOrganic solar cells could be an inexpensive and versatile alternative to inorganic solar cells. However, their low efficiencies and limited lifetimes currently render them impractical for commercial use. |
 | Shifting temperatures to alter household electricity expenses, researchers findIn a study involving 19 European Union nations, researchers have found that future climate change will make power outages more costly for European households. |
 | Harnessing the power of algae—new, greener fuel cells move step closer to realityA new design of algae-powered fuel cells that is five times more efficient than existing plant and algal models, as well as being potentially more cost-effective to produce and practical to use, has been developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge. |
Microsoft stops fixing security flaw on PCs with AMD chipsMicrosoft has temporarily stopped fixing a serious security flaw on personal computers powered by certain chips from Advanced Micro Devices because the repair is crippling the affected machines. | |
 | Reports: AT&T drops plan to sell Huawei smartphone in USU.S. telecoms carrier AT&T has dropped plans to sell Chinese brand Huawei's smartphones in the United States, dealing a setback to the No. 3 global phone maker's expansion plans, according to news reports. |
Lawmakers demand probe into Intel CEO's stock salesTwo U.S. lawmakers are asking federal regulators to open an investigation into stock sales that reaped a $25 million profit for Intel's CEO several weeks before the company disclosed a serious security flaw threatening millions of computers, phones and other devices. | |
 | Source: $1.6 billion Toyota-Mazda plant planned for AlabamaJapanese automakers Toyota and Mazda are expected to announce Wednesday that they have chosen Alabama as the site of a coveted $1.6 billion joint-venture auto plant that will employ about 4,000 people, a person briefed on the decision said. |
 | Foreo launches 'UFO' for easy beauty face masksBeauty startup Foreo is launching a "UFO" to make salon-style face mask treatments as much a part of people's days as brushing teeth. |
 | CES tech show stuffed with gadgets we don't need - or do we?Today's vision of a smart home has more to do with what's technologically possible than what people really need. |
 | Diverse causes behind frequency fluctuations in power gridsThe use of renewables like the sun and wind can cause fluctuations in power grids. But what impact do these fluctuations have on security of supply? To answer this question, scientists from Juelich and Goettingen worked together with colleagues in London and Tokyo to analyse different types of fluctuations in several power grids in Europe, Japan, and the U.S., and came to surprising conclusions. Their study was published today in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Energy. |
 | Eco espresso and upcycled inks set to make coffee greenerAn environmentally friendly coffee machine and a way to turn used coffee grounds into a new type of ink are helping to increase the green credentials of one of the most popular beverages in the world. |
 | Top car tech trends from CES 2018Artificial intelligence that controls your infotainment screen. A vehicle that can read your brain. Cars that can see around blind corners. |
 | Intel advances quantum and neuromorphic computing researchToday at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Intel announced two major milestones in its efforts to research and develop future computing technologies including quantum and neuromorphic computing, which have the potential to help industries, research institutions and society solve problems that currently overwhelm today's classical computers. |
 | New-wave connector buoys off-shore energy sectorA new multi-material connector predicted to rinse running costs for the renewables industry launches at Brunel University London in front of experts in wind, wave and tidal energy. |
 | People don't trust AI—here's how we can change thatArtificial intelligence can already predict the future. Police forces are using it to map when and where crime is likely to occur. Doctors can use it to predict when a patient is most likely to have a heart attack or stroke. Researchers are even trying to give AI imagination so it can plan for unexpected consequences. |
 | Defanged regulations have big media licking their chopsThe year 2017 ended with a flurry of news affecting all aspects of the media industry. A shift in net neutrality policy and Disney's planned purchase of several Fox assets capped a year that also witnessed the pending merger between Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media. |
 | Las Vegas hotels bet on technology to attract, dazzle guestsIt takes just minutes for a room service attendant to respond to a text message asking for a soda, bringing the Diet Coke on a tray with a glass of ice and lime wedges, no need for the modern hassle of placing a phone call. |
 | Forget the self-driving car, meet the self-driving suitcaseSelf-driving cars may take a while to arrive, but the self-driving suitcase is here now. |
 | Researchers use Titan to accelerate design, training of deep learning networksA team of researchers from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has married artificial intelligence and high-performance computing to achieve a peak speed of 20 petaflops in the generation and training of deep learning networks on the laboratory's Titan supercomputer. |
 | Behind the smart gadgets, Amazon and Google are waging warThe flash of the CES technology show in Las Vegas is all about robots, drones and smart gadgets. But its subtext is all about Google versus Amazon. |
Senate commerce leader confronts Apple about iPhone slowdownThe chairman of the U.S. Senate's commerce committee wants Apple to lift the veil on its once-secret slowdown of older iPhones. | |
 | Malaysia to pay firm up to $70M if it finds missing planeMalaysia's government said Wednesday it will pay U.S. company Ocean Infinity up to $70 million if it can find the wreckage or black boxes of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 within three months, in a renewed bid to solve the plane's disappearance nearly four years ago. |
New materials being developed to prevent wind turbine damageResearchers of Spain's Universitat Jaume I of Castellón are developing new materials that will make wind turbines more resistant to the extreme climate conditions they have to withstand. | |
 | Blue Brain Nexus: An open-source knowledge graph for data-driven scienceKnowledge sharing is an important driving force behind scientific progress. In an open-science approach, EPFL's Blue Brain Project has created and open sourced Blue Brain Nexus that allows the building of data integration platforms. Blue Brain Nexus enables data-driven science through searching, integrating and tracking large-scale data and models. |
 | Got batteries? Outage stalls giant tech show in Las VegasWhat happens to all those internet-connected refrigerators, robots and other devices when the power goes out? |
Medicine & Health news
 | Large-scale study to pinpoint genes linked to obesityIt's not just diet and physical activity; your genes also determine how easily you lose or gain weight. In a study published in the January issue of Nature Genetics, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and other institutions of the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) consortium found 13 genes that carry variations associated with body mass index (BMI). This was the first large-scale study to pinpoint genetic variations that may directly impact the function of the genes. |
 | Our brains can trick us into thinking we are thinner than we areResearchers at The University of Western Australia have discovered that a psychological illusion could be making people think they are thinner than they actually are. |
 | Scientists discover workings of first promising Marburg virus treatmentWith a mortality rate of up to 88 percent, Marburg virus can rip through a community in days. In 2005, an outbreak of Marburg virus struck a pediatric ward in the country of Angola. With no treatment available, doctors struggled to help as the virus killed 329 of 374 infected patients. |
 | Scientists curb growth of cancer cells by blocking access to key nutrientsSalk researchers have discovered how to curb the growth of cancer cells by blocking the cells' access to certain nutrients. The approach, detailed in a new paper published today in Nature, took advantage of knowledge on how healthy cells use a 24-hour cycle to regulate the production of nutrients and was tested on glioblastoma brain tumors in mice. |
 | 'Decorated' stem cells could offer targeted heart repairAlthough cardiac stem cell therapy is a promising treatment for heart attack patients, directing the cells to the site of an injury - and getting them to stay there - remains challenging. In a new pilot study using an animal model, North Carolina State University researcher Ke Cheng and his team show that "decorating" cardiac stem cells with platelet nanovesicles can increase the stem cells' ability to find and remain at the site of heart attack injury and enhance their effectiveness in treatment. |
New study finds hope in understanding and better treating sclerodermaScleroderma is a terribly debilitating disease with no effective treatments and the mortality rates are still upwards of 20%-50%, the highest of any rheumatic disease. | |
 | Transgenic cows produce 'safe' trial therapy for MERSAn experimental treatment for deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has been manufactured in cattle carrying human DNA, and proved "safe" when injected into human guinea pigs, scientists reported Wednesday. |
 | At least three out of five people who try a cigarette become daily smokersAt least 61 per cent of people who try their first cigarette become, at least temporarily, daily smokers, suggests an analysis of survey data by Queen Mary University of London. |
 | Sleeping for longer leads to a healthier dietSleeping for longer each night is a simple lifestyle intervention that could help reduce intake of sugary foods and lead to a generally healthier diet, according to a King's College London study. |
 | Gene/cell connection provides new insight into how our gut microbiome stays healthyPaneth cells are like an internal antibiotic that eliminates unwanted microbes that make their way into our small intestine and helps us maintain a healthy gut microbiome. |
Transitional care nurses in the geriatric emergency department reduce risk of inpatient admissionsGeriatric patients seen by transitional care nurses in the emergency department (ED) are less likely to be admitted to the hospital, according to a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published today in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. These findings show that interventions initiated during an older patient's arrival through the ED can have a significant impact on care. | |
 | Acetaminophen use during pregnancy associated with elevated rate of language delay in girlsIn the first study of its kind, researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found an elevated rate of language delay in girls at 30 months old born to mothers who used acetaminophen during pregnancy, but not in boys. |
 | Metabolic pathway involved in immune response to Zika also participates in neurogenesisResearchers at the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in São Paulo State, Brazil, have identified molecules that serve as markers of Zika in blood serum taken from patients with this viral infection. |
 | Osteoarthritis could be treated as two diseases, scientists revealScientists at The University of Manchester have discovered that most people with osteoarthritis can be subdivided into two distinct disease groups, with implications for diagnosis and drug development. |
Young doctors struggle to learn robotic surgery – so they are practicing in the shadowsArtificial intelligence and robotics spell massive changes to the world of work. These technologies can automate new tasks, and we are making more of them, faster, better and cheaper than ever before. | |
The presence of sexual violence in neighborhoods erodes feelings of safety for women—but not menFeelings about the frequency of rape or other forms of sexual assault in a neighborhood are significantly tied to women's—but not men's—perceptions of its safety, according to new research. | |
 | Research suggests ways to help mentally ill in Ghana's prayer campsMany people with schizophrenia in Ghana spend their days chained to walls in prayer camps where they are ministered to by spiritual healers and forced to fast and pray. A new study, based on a partnership between researchers at the University of Ghana and Yale University, shows that modern medications can improve symptoms of camp residents. |
 | Study finds teen stress may have health consequences later in lifeTeen drama is all-consuming; jealousy and conflicts with friends can make adolescents feel the whole world is against them. |
 | Do girls have stronger teeth than boys?What if you hardly ever consume soft drinks or eat anything acidic, but still have dental erosion on your teeth? Do genes play a role? And does it matter if you are a boy or a girl? |
 | Exercise is good for the heart, high blood pressure is bad—researchers find out whyWhen the heart is put under stress during exercise, it is considered healthy. Yet stress due to high blood pressure is bad for the heart. Why? And is this always the case? Researchers of the German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) and of Heidelberg University Hospital have obtained new findings which indicate that a previously undetected signal pathway causes or protects from heart failure – depending on the type of stress. They report their findings in the current issue of Nature Medicine. |
 | You are more likely to deny the truth in your second languageWhether you're speaking in your native tongue, or in another language, being understood and believed is fundamental to good communication. After all, a fact is a fact in any language, and a statement that is objectively true should just be considered true, whether presented to you in English, Chinese or Arabic. |
 | If you want to lose weight, ask yourself if it's really self-improvementAfter the feasting of Christmas, January is a time of detox and self-denial. It's when people start new diets, begin new exercise regimes and make new year's resolutions. We promise ourselves that we will do better – that we will better ourselves. But all too often – at least in the West – this means improving our bodies. |
Immune response to bacteria—distinguishing helpers from harmersSome staphylococcus bacteria live peacefully on human skin and membranes in a mutually beneficial relationship with their host, while others are able to exist far from a human host in soil or in water. When we come into contact with bacteria, the activation of our immune system is the first step to fighting off any imminent infection. Just how the immune system distinguishes between potential pathogens and harmless commensal bacteria is the focus of a study by a University of Tübingen team of microbiologists headed by Professor Friedrich Götz. | |
Cancer patients given fluids live longerDying cancer patients given fluids will generally live longer, a new study led by researchers from Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Surrey has found. | |
 | Health Department IDs 10 outbreaks of foodborne illness using Yelp reviews since 2012A computer system developed by Columbia University with Health Department epidemiologists detects foodborne illness and outbreaks in NYC restaurants based on keywords in Yelp reviews |
Are there signs of CTE in the brain tissue of younger people with epilepsy?Younger adults with difficult-to-treat epilepsy may have early signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in their brain tissue, but it appears to be uncommon, according to a small, preliminary study published in the January 10, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
Junk food tax is legally and administratively viable, finds new analysisAn original analysis by researchers at New York University College of Global Public Health and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University finds that a federal tax on junk food is both legally and administratively feasible. | |
 | True happiness isn't about being happy all the timeOver the past two decades, the positive psychology movement has brightened up psychological research with its science of happiness, human potential and flourishing. It argues that psychologists should not only investigate mental illness but also what makes life worth living. |
 | Want to get fit in 2018? Then follow these tipsGetting healthy and staying fit are traditionally among the most popular New Year's resolutions. But statistics show that it can be pretty hard for people to stick to their diet and exercise goals for 365 consecutive days. |
 | Patients react better when doctors imply uncertainty, rather than state it directlyChoice of words might matter when doctors communicate uncertainty of diagnosis to their patients. A paper published in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care shows that the parents of pediatric patients may react more negatively to doctors who communicate uncertainty of diagnosis explicitly, such as directly stating they are unsure, as compared to doctors who use implicit language, such as discussing "most likely" diagnosis or providing several possible diagnoses under consideration. |
 | Sex education doesn't reflect real-life realities of lesbian and bisexual girlsMost lesbian and bisexual girls don't know they can get sexually transmitted infections (STIs) from other girls, because sex education is mostly designed for their straight peers. This knowledge gap could be placing them at increased risk for getting STIs. |
Family study emphasizes distinct origins for bipolar disorder subtypesThe most common subtypes of bipolar disorder, bipolar I and bipolar II, stem—at least in part—from different biological causes, according to a new study published in Biological Psychiatry. Despite genetic overlap between the two subtypes, each subtype tended to cluster within families, suggesting a distinction between bipolar disorders I and II. | |
 | Frozen embryos result in just as many live births in IVFFreezing and subsequent transfer of embryos gives infertile couples just as much of a chance of having a child as using fresh embryos for in vitro fertilization (IVF), research from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Adelaide, Australia has found. |
Investigation raises concerns over poor quality, lack of regulation, and misrepresentation of animal researchAn investigation published by The BMJ today has unearthed concerns about how researchers misrepresented the results of animal studies to gain funding and approval for human trials to test a new tuberculosis vaccine. | |
 | Research shows biological clocks could improve brain cancer treatmentBiological clocks throughout the body play a major role in human health and performance, from sleep and energy use to how food is metabolized and even stroke severity. Now, Texas A&M University researchers found that circadian rhythms could hold the key to novel therapies for glioblastoma, the most prevalent type of brain cancer in adults—and one with a grim prognosis. |
New research improves our understanding of cancer cell regulationA team of cancer researchers from the University of Liverpool, has made an important contribution to our understanding of cancer cell regulation which could better inform future cancer treatments. | |
 | Epileptic seizures and depression may share a common genetic cause, study suggestsFrom the time of Hippocrates, physicians have suspected a link between epilepsy and depression. Now, for the first time, scientists at Rutgers University-New Brunswick and Columbia University have found evidence that seizures and mood disorders such as depression may share the same genetic cause in some people with epilepsy, which may lead to better screening and treatment to improve patients' quality of life. |
Can vitamins and dietary supplements benefit patients with mitochondrial disease?Defects in mitochondria, the tiny structures that power our cells by functioning as biological batteries, cause an array of complex, often life-threatening disorders that can affect any and all organs and systems. In the absence of validated, effective drug treatments, patients with mitochondrial disease often take a variety of vitamins and supplements, substances that are largely unstandardized, unregulated, and unproven. | |
Pancreatic cancer accelerated by stress, finds studyA new study shows that stress accelerates the development of pancreatic cancer by triggering the release of "fight-or-flight" hormones. Beta-blockers—commonly used medications that inhibit these hormones—were found to increase survival in a mouse model of the disease. | |
New app motivates type 2 diabetes patients to be more activeAs the holidays draw to a close, 29 million Americans with type 2 diabetes had to navigate the minefield of treats, drinks, and dinners. Many patients have stepped up to meet the challenge of moderating their diet, but fewer embrace the benefits of physical activity in controlling their blood sugar. | |
 | A more complete Mediterranean diet may protect against aggressive prostate cancerIn a new study published in The Journal of Urology, researchers determined that men who followed a Mediterranean diet, rich in fish, boiled potatoes, whole fruits, vegetables, legumes, and olive oil, and low consumption of juices had lower risk of aggressive prostate cancer (PC) than those who followed other dietary patterns like Prudent or Western diets. |
Stigma continues to hamper response to opioid epidemicEfforts to reverse the nation's opioid epidemic remain beset by the stigma associated with drug use, a group of OHSU researchers write in a year-end review. | |
 | Humanitarian intervention reduces 'stress hormone' in war-affected youthA new study shows that a humanitarian program to improve the mental health of adolescents affected by the Syrian war has a biological benefit: For participants in the program, it decreased levels of cortisol (a hormone associated with stress) by a third. |
More dentists to discuss risks of HPV-related cancers with their patientsThe human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease. While vaccines are helping stop its spread, HPV is still the cause of 72 percent of oropharyngeal cancers, which impact the base of the tongue, tonsils and walls of the pharynx. | |
 | Biomarkers may help predict outcomes in gastric cancer patients who abuse alcoholAlcohol consumption has been identified as a modifiable risk factor for cancers such as gastric cancer. A new report in the The American Journal of Pathology sheds light on how specific proteins interact with alcohol, and how that interplay impacts survival and response to platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with gastric cancer who may or may not still be drinking. It is the first time that a correlation between a key microRNA-processing modulator, transcription factor IIB-related factor 1 (BRF1), and prognosis of gastric cancer patients has been demonstrated. Investigators also determined that breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1/2, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) are more frequent in gastric cancer patients who engage in hazardous or harmful alcohol consumption. |
 | Reduced sunlight may contribute to winter weight gainWe may have a new reason, in addition to vitamin D generation, to bask in a little sunshine. |
 | Florida wants to remove virus-excreting wild monkeysWildlife managers in Florida say they want to remove roaming monkeys from the state in light of a new study published Wednesday that finds some of the animals are excreting a virus that can be dangerous to humans. |
 | Smarter, slimmer alcoholic drinks(HealthDay)—Wine and spirits are tallied in the "empty calories" column because they lack any nutritional benefits. Add cream or soda to make a mixed drink and you can more than double the caloric damage. |
 | Is surgery riskier for black children?(HealthDay)—Black children are more than twice as likely as white kids to die from surgery complications in the United States, a new study suggests. |
 | Hormone therapy may ease depression linked to menopause(HealthDay)— A year of hormone therapy cut the risk of depression symptoms in women going through menopause and early postmenopause, new research shows. |
 | Surgery or antibiotics for appendicitis? Here's what patients chose(HealthDay)—Even though appendicitis often resolves with the use of antibiotics, the overwhelming majority of Americans would opt for surgery instead, a new survey finds. |
 | AICDs effective for symptoms, lethal arrhythmia in Brugada(HealthDay)—Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are effective in young patients with symptomatic Brugada syndrome, according to a study published in the Jan. 16 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Provider counseling of exercise for arthritis patients improved(HealthDay)—For adults with arthritis, there was an increase in the age-adjusted prevalence of reporting health care provider counseling for exercise from 2002 to 2014, according to research published in the Jan. 5 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Complete handover of anesthesia care may up complications(HealthDay)—Complete handover of intraoperative anesthesia care is associated with an increased risk of adverse postoperative outcomes among adults undergoing major surgery, according to a study published in the Jan. 9 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | Unstable housing tied to more diabetes-related ER visits(HealthDay)—Unstable housing is associated with an increased likelihood of diabetes-related emergency department visits and hospitalization, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in Diabetes Care. |
Light activity measured with fitness tracker linked to lower mortality in older womenExperts say that a lack of physical activity leads to age-related weakness and poor health in older adults. Official guidelines suggest that healthy older adults spend at least 2.5 hours every week doing moderate activity (such as brisk walking), or at least 1.25 hours per week doing vigorous exercise (such as jogging or running). | |
 | Heart-muscle patches made with human cells improve heart attack recoveryLarge, human cardiac-muscle patches created in the lab have been tested, for the first time, on large animals in a heart attack model. This clinically relevant approach showed that the patches significantly improved recovery from heart attack injury. |
 | Here's how stress may be making you sickA Michigan State University researcher is providing new insight into how certain types of stress interact with immune cells and can regulate how these cells respond to allergens, ultimately causing physical symptoms and disease. |
 | Mexican migrant health access lower after U.S. border crossing—and even when they return to MexicoHealth care access nosedives for Mexican immigrants and migrants once they cross into the United States—and stays that way even if they return to Mexico—a Drexel University public health study found. |
Young adults report differing sexual effects from alcohol, marijuana, and ecstasyAlcohol, marijuana, and ecstasy each have very different sexual effects, from attraction and desire to sensitivity to sexual dysfunction, finds a study by the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at NYU Meyers College of Nursing. | |
 | Astronauts may get space fever(HealthDay)—Weightlessness apparently causes astronauts' body temperatures to run a little hot while in space, a new study reports. |
Could melatonin be the key to healthy aging?A new British Journal of Pharmacology review highlights the role of melatonin—a hormone that is produced at night—in regulating sleep and the body's biological, or circadian, clock. Research suggests that melatonin treatments may even help to improve the restorative value of sleep and to promote healthy physical and mental aging. | |
 | Study provides insights on links between childhood abuse and later depressionResults from an International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry study suggest that smaller social networks and feelings of loneliness might be important risk factors for late-life depression in older adults with a history of childhood abuse as well as with an earlier onset of depression. |
Review reveals potential predictors of long-term distress after cancer diagnosisA new review of published studies indicates that distress and neuroticism at or within 3 months of cancer diagnosis may predict emotional distress at least 12 months later. In the Psycho-Oncology analysis, there was no consistent evidence that demographic, clinical, or social factors reliably predict long-term distress. | |
Study examines urinary tract infections and antibiotic use in nursing homesIn a Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study of nursing homes in the tropics, one in five residents had received antibiotics within the last 30 days. Also, urinary tract infection (UTI) accounted for 40 percent of all infections treated with antibiotics within the last 30 days. | |
Ethical issues are important in 'standard-of-care' clinical trialsA Learning healthcare system (LHS) aligns science, informatics, incentives, and culture for continuous improvement and innovation, with a delivery process that is based on best practices while also capturing new knowledge. Integral to LHSs are clinical trials that compare interventions that are already commonly in use (as "accepted" or "standard-of-care"). | |
Endometriosis may increase the risk of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitisA new Neurology & Urodynamics study has demonstrated a link between endometriosis and a subsequent diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). | |
Analysis examines link between bone turnover markers and fracture risk in osteoporosis trialsPooled data from 14 osteoporosis clinical trials of anti-resorptive drugs indicate that patients who have reduced levels of two bone turnover markers during treatment have lower risks of later experiencing vertebral fractures. | |
Lifestyle choices can affect how we store information in the brainA team of researchers has carried out the first study that establishes a link between a person's working memory and their physical health and lifestyle choices. | |
Chemoradiation in elderly patients with stage III NSCLC improves overall survivalElderly patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed improved overall survival (OS) when treated with chemoradiation (CRT) compared to definitive radiation (RT) alone. | |
British PM faces pressure over healthcare crisisA healthcare crisis put British Prime Minister Theresa May on the defensive at her first weekly parliamentary questions of 2018 on Wednesday following a report about cuts in cancer care. | |
Poland's abortion debate back in parliamentPoland's abortion debate was back on the agenda on Wednesday, more than a year after tens of thousands of black-clad women successfully took to the streets in the Catholic country to stop the tightening of a law that is already one of the most restrictive in Europe. | |
Ohio imposes strict rule on workers' back surgery, opioidsOhio residents with work-related back injuries in most cases must try remedies like rest, physical therapy and chiropractic care before turning to spinal fusion surgery and prescription painkillers under a groundbreaking new guideline that is partly meant to reduce the overprescribing of opioids but isn't sitting well with everyone. | |
 | Medical credit cards can mean aches and pains for patientsFew people look forward to a trip to the doctor or dentist, especially if they're not sure how they will pay for it. |
 | Personal growth often coexists with post-traumatic stress following natural disastersThe 2011 tornado in Joplin, Missouri, was one of the most destructive in U.S. history—killing 161 people, injuring 1,150 and destroying approximately one-third of the city's homes. Individuals who experience such disasters can exhibit a range of mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress. Now, researchers from the Disaster and Community Crisis Center at the University of Missouri have found that survivors of natural disasters have the potential to experience positive changes or growth in addition to the stress they experience. Researchers say this finding can help those working in communities after a disaster. |
JOT releases orthopaedic residency program rankings by research outputWhat's the best way to rate the quality and quantity of research produced by orthopaedic surgery residency programs? A new "research impact ranking" provides a more objective approach to assessing and comparing research productivity at US orthopaedic departments, according to a study in the November Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma (JOT). | |
Older adults with metabolic syndrome may be more resistant to depression treatmentsResearchers suspect that having Metabolic Syndrome makes it harder for older adults to respond to therapies for depression. (Metabolic Syndrome is a mix of conditions like increased blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels). In a new, first of its kind study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers examined whether Metabolic Syndrome in depressed older adults affects their response to antidepressant treatment. | |
 | Lifestyle biomarkers investigated in prostate cancer survivorsAdvanced glycation end products (AGEs), which have been linked to many chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer, build up in the body from birth due to normal metabolism but are often higher in those eating the high-fat, high-sugar, highly processed foods characteristic of the Western diet. AGE levels have been linked to lifestyle, such as diet and exercise, and lifestyle changes were shown in previous studies at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to drive a reduction in AGEs in breast cancer patients. AGEs may also yield insight into health care disparities. For example, black men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men and may have higher AGE levels due to low income, poor diet and obesity. |
Biology news
 | Mother-child left-side face-to-face preference found to extend to walruses and Indian flying foxesA team of researchers with Saint Petersburg State University and the Institute of Experimental Medicine, both in Russia, has found that a left-side face-to-face preference seen in primates also extends to non-primate marine and terrestrial mammals, specifically walruses and Indian flying foxes. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the group describes their study of the two species and the interactions they witnessed between mothers and their offspring and what they learned by doing so. |
 | In 'pond scum,' scientists find answers to one evolution's which-came-first casesVisiting a colleague in Germany in 2012, Boston College Research Professor Paul K. Strother was examining soil samples for pollen, spores, pieces of plants and insect legs - organic debris that might otherwise have been considered "pond scum" when it was trapped in sediment during cataclysmic earth events 200 million years ago. |
 | Scouting the eagles: Proof that protecting nests aids reproductionReproduction among bald eagles in a remote national park in Minnesota was aided when their nests were protected from human disturbance, according to a study published today (Jan. 9, 2018) in the Journal of Applied Ecology. |
 | Parasites and hosts may respond differently to a warmer worldOrganisms infected by parasites may respond differently to changes in temperature than their uninfected counterparts, according to new research from the University of Georgia. The study of a host-parasite system in coastal waters of the southeastern U.S. found that a rise of just 2 degrees Celsius could be enough to cause the parasite to die out locally, as infected hosts are not able to survive at the higher temperature. |
 | Seeing in the dark—how plant roots perceive water through growthWithout eyes, ears, or a central nervous system, plants can perceive the direction of environmental cues and respond to ensure their survival. |
 | Ship noise affects ability of marine species to communicateUniversity of Auckland scientists have carried out the first-ever large scale investigation into the effects of ship noise in the waters of the Hauraki Gulf. |
 | The ecological costs of war: Conflict a consistent killer of African megafaunaWhen Joshua Daskin traveled to Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park in 2012, the park and the iconic large animals that roamed it were returning from the brink of extinction. Gorongosa, among Africa's most spectacular wildlife preserves until the 1970s, had been devastated by an anti-colonial war of liberation followed by a ghastly 15-year civil war - a one-two punch that exterminated more than 90 percent of the park's wildlife. |
 | Researchers chart dramatic decline in genetic diversity of Northwest salmonColumbia River Chinook salmon have lost as much as two-thirds of their genetic diversity, Washington State University researchers have found. The researchers reached this conclusion after extracting DNA from scores of bone samples—some harvested as many as 7,000 years ago—and comparing them to the DNA of Chinook currently swimming in the Snake and Columbia rivers. |
 | Worldwide importance of honey bees for natural habitats captured in new reportAn unprecedented study integrating data from around the globe has shown that honey bees are the world's most important single species of pollinator in natural ecosystems and a key contributor to natural ecosystem functions. The first quantitative analysis of its kind, led by biologists at the University of California San Diego, is published Jan. 10 in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. |
 | New tipping point prediction model offers insights to diminishing bee coloniesA new method to predict tipping points - the moment at which sudden change occurs in complex networked systems - may offer insights that prevent colony collapse disorder (CCD), a phenomenon in which the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear, threatening the agricultural economy at a global level. |
 | A simple cell holds 42 million protein molecules, scientists revealIt's official—there are some 42 million protein molecules in a simple cell, revealed a team of researchers led by Grant Brown, a biochemistry professor in the University of Toronto's Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research. Analyzing data from almost two dozen large studies of protein abundance in yeast cells, the team was able to produce for the first time reliable estimates for the number of molecules for each protein, as revealed in a study published this week in the journal Cell Systems. |
Exposure to trees, the sky and birdsong in cities beneficial for mental wellbeingResearchers at King's College London, landscape architects J & L Gibbons and art foundation Nomad Projects have used smartphone-based technology to assess the relationship between nature in cities and momentary mental wellbeing in real time. They found that (i) being outdoors, seeing trees, hearing birdsong, seeing the sky, and feeling in contact with nature were associated with higher levels of mental wellbeing, and that (ii) the beneficial effects of nature were especially evident in those individuals with greater levels of impulsivity who are at greater risk of mental health issues. The researchers developed a smartphone-based app, Urban Mind, to examine how exposure to natural features in cities affects a person's mental wellbeing. | |
 | Engineered sandbars don't measure up for nesting ploversDams alter rivers in ways that reduce the creation of natural sandbars, which is bad news for threatened Piping Plovers that depend on them for nesting habitat. Between 2004 and 2009, more than 200 hectares of engineered sandbars were built along the Missouri River to address the problem—but how does this engineered habitat compare to the real thing? A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications takes advantage of a natural experiment created by the region's 2011 floods, demonstrating that the engineered habitat doesn't provide the benefits of sandbars created by nature. |
 | Dead trees are alive with fungiLittle research has been conducted to date on fungi that live on dead trees, although they are vital to forest ecology, breaking down dead wood and completing the elemental cycle between plants and soil. Soil biologists from the UFZ have now discovered that the number of fungus species inhabiting dead trees is 12 times higher than previously thought. Once trees die, they are also colonized by different fungal communities depending on their species. |
 | Orangutans, like people, use medicinal plants to treat joint and muscle inflammationScientists have discovered that the same plant used by indigenous people on Borneo is also used by wild orangutans to treat joint and muscle inflammation. |
 | Healing burned paws with fish skinIn the wake of massive wildfires that burned through the Sonoma and Napa areas last fall, Deana Clifford had a bad feeling. |
 | Why did the elephant cross the road? In Malaysia, they are trying to find the answerThe body of an elephant calf lies on the side of a remote highway in the north of Peninsular Malaysia – the East-West Highway is flanked by two wildlife refuges, Royal Belum State Park and the Temengor Forest Reserve. It is stories like this in the Malaysian media that are of increasing concern to wildlife experts. They highlight the growing difficulty of human-elephant coexistence. As economic development forges ahead in Peninsular Malaysia so do the dangers to the country's wildlife. |
 | Without culling, Victoria's feral horse plan looks set to failVictoria's new draft feral horse management plan, released on the last working day before Christmas, will be open for comment until February 2. But will it protect the Alpine National Park? The answers are yes on the Bogong High Plains, and no in the eastern Alps. |
 | How to stop the humble hedgehog disappearing from British gardens and countryside foreverWhen the humble hedgehog was crowned "Britain's national species" in a BBC Wildlife Magazine poll and "Britain's favourite mammal" in a Royal Society of Biology poll, no doubt, sentimentalised memories of Beatrix Potter's The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, played a role in swaying public opinion. |
 | Study examines obesity and reproductive status of zoo elephantsWith low birth rates, the sustainability of a zoo African elephant population is in question. A new study from University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers reveals that there is no relationship between how fat a zoo African elephant is and her reproductive cycling status. |
 | A signaling pathway that restricts cleavage furrow formation to the mid-plane of the cellCell division is a fundamental biological process which ensures that, following the replication of the mother cell's genome, the two sets of chromosomes are equally distributed between two daughter cells. Chromosomes are segregated by the spindle apparatus, which is made up of fibrous protein structures called microtubules. The spindle apparatus is anchored to the opposite poles of the cell and determines the position of the future cleavage site in the middle of the cell, where a contractile protein ring is assembled. LMU researchers led by cell biologist Dr. Esther Zanin, who heads an Emmy Noether Research Group at the LMU Biocenter, have identified a molecular signaling pathway that restricts formation of the contractile ring to the mid-plane of the mother cell. |
 | Crying elephants and giggling rats – animals have feelings, tooYears ago, we believed that we weren't animals and that animals were here solely for our use. Indeed, a cow was just a walking burger, steak of Sunday roast, keeping itself fresh and tasty ready for when we were hungry. |
 | Seven new spider species from Brazil named after seven famous fictional spider charactersSeveral literary classics from the fantasy genre are further immortalised and linked together thanks to a Brazilian research team who named seven new spiders after them. |
 | Dolphins beat humans, chimps at early signs of self-awarenessMirror, mirror on the wall, who's the brightest mammal of them all? |
 | For a banded mongoose in northern Botswana, communicating with family can be deadlyA novel tuberculosis pathogen, Mycobacterium mungi, closely related to human TB, infects and kills banded mongooses through a surprising route—olfactory communication. Now, a detailed investigation published in the journal Veterinary Pathology provides a window into how this deadly disease moves between mongooses and within the mongoose host. |
 | Factors affecting the success of grizzly bear translocationsThe number of grizzly bear translocations has increased in recent years to protect the bears and reduce conflicts with humans. In a recent Journal of Wildlife Management analysis of translocations in Alberta, Canada, researchers found that the most important factors for translocation success were the level of human-caused mortality risk at the release site and the time of year when the translocation occurred. |
Leopards kill at least 3 children in rural IndiaAt least three children have been killed by leopards in a series of recent attacks in rural India, according to media reports and wildlife experts. | |
 | Expedition to 'health-check' southern right whales around South GeorgiaAn international team of researchers, led by British Antarctic Survey (BAS), travels to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia this month (January) to carry out the first scientific whale survey since whaling stopped in the 1970s. |
Company-sponsored CRISPR clinical trials set to start in 2018This year could be a defining one for CRISPR, the gene editing technique, which has been hailed as an important breakthrough in laboratory research. That's because the first company-sponsored clinical studies will be conducted to see if it can help treat diseases in humans, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society. | |
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