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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 3, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Alien megastructure not the cause of dimming of the 'most mysterious star in the universe'A team of more than 200 researchers, including Penn State Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics Assistant Professor Jason Wright and led by Louisiana State University's Tabetha Boyajian, is one step closer to solving the mystery behind the "most mysterious star in the universe." KIC 8462852, or "Tabby's Star," nicknamed after Boyajian, is otherwise an ordinary star, about 50 percent bigger and 1,000 degrees hotter than the Sun, and about than 1,000 light years away. However, it has been inexplicably dimming and brightening sporadically like no other. Several theories abound to explain the star's unusual light patterns, including that an alien megastructure is orbiting the star. |
 | Magnetic fields discovered in two hot evolved starsAstronomers have presented the initial results of the Large Impact of Magnetic Fields on the Evolution of Hot Stars (LIFE) project. Among determining fundamental parameters of 15 stars, they found that two of them have magnetic fields. The finding is detailed in a paper published December 20 on arXiv.org. |
 | the geometry of nuclear black hole accretion disksSupermassive black holes with millions or even billions of solar-masses of material are found at the nuclei of most galaxies, including our Milky Way. A torus of dust and gas orbits around the black hole (at least according to most theories) and radiates in ultraviolet light when material falling toward the black hole heats the disk to millions of degrees. The accretion process can also power the ejection of jets of rapidly moving charged particles. Such actively accreting supermassive black holes in galaxies are called active galactic nuclei (AGN). |
 | Researchers measure the inner structure of distant suns from their pulsationsAt first glance, it would seem to be impossible to look inside a star. An international team of astronomers, under the leadership of Earl Bellinger and Saskia Hekker of the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research in Göttingen, has, for the first time, determined the deep inner structure of two stars based on their oscillations. |
 | Image: From the Earth, moon and beyondThe purpose of NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft—Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security–Regolith Explorer—is to map and return samples from asteroid Bennu, a carbon-rich hunk of rock that might contain organic materials or molecular precursors to life. It is also an asteroid that could someday make a close pass or even a collision with Earth, though not for several centuries. The OSIRIS-Rex spacecraft is expected to reach its asteroid destination, Bennu, in August 2018. |
 | NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission locates elusive electron actThe space high above Earth may seem empty, but it's a carnival packed with magnetic field lines and high-energy particles. This region is known as the magnetosphere and, every day, charged particles put on a show as they dart and dive through it. Like tiny tightrope walkers, the high-energy electrons follow the magnetic field lines. Sometimes, such as during an event called magnetic reconnection where the lines explosively collide, the particles are shot off their trajectories, as if they were fired from a cannon. |
 | The moon is about to do something it hasn't done in more than 150 yearsCall it whatever you like—a blue red moon, a purple moon, a blood moon—but the moon will be a special sight on Jan. 31. |
 | Image: Dwarf galaxy Kiso 5639In this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image, a firestorm of star birth is lighting up one end of the dwarf galaxy Kiso 5639. |
 | NASA's flying observatory SOFIA to explore magnetic universe and beyondNASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, SOFIA, is preparing for its 2018 observing campaign, which will include observations of celestial magnetic fields, star-forming regions, comets, Saturn's giant moon Titan and more. |
 | Flight testing validates waveform capabilityThe Air Force is moving forward to demonstrate the capabilities of the protected tactical waveform through recent flight tests. |
 | Imaging engineers improve accuracy of satellite imagesScientists use satellite images to monitor the conditions of forests, crops and the environment, but their research relies on those images accurately measuring the light being reflected from Earth. |
 | Image: ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst in the ISS European Columbus laboratoryESA astronaut Alexander Gerst floats inside the International Space Station's European Columbus laboratory. The image was taken during his first flight in 2014. |
Technology news
 | Race for 'smart' hits fever pitch at electronics showGiving gadgets brains will be a hot theme at the Consumer Electronics Show set to open in Las Vegas, with device makers big and small touting hardware with "smarts." |
 | Researchers: Login managers abused by third-party scripts for tracking purposesAd targeters who are keenly after you and your browsing habits have a way of pulling data from your browser's password manager. |
 | New desalination method offers low energy alternative to purify salty waterProviding safer drinking water to those in need may be a little easier. According to Penn State researchers, a new desalination technique is able to remove salt from water using less energy than previous methods. |
 | Battery leverages both iron and oxygen to drive more lithium ionsOn paper, it doesn't seem like Christopher Wolverton's super lithium-rich battery should work. For one, the novel battery uses iron, an inexpensive metal that has notoriously failed in batteries. And in another difficult feat, the battery leverages oxygen to help drive the chemical reaction, which researchers previously believed would cause the battery to become unstable. |
 | Intel says it's fixing security vulnerability in its chipsIntel says it's working to patch a security vulnerability in its products but says the average computer user won't experience significant slowdowns as the problem is fixed. |
 | US bars $1.2B Chinese acquisition of MoneyGramChinese billionaire Jack Ma has dropped his bid to buy U.S. money transfer company MoneyGram after Washington rejected the $1.2 billion deal in a fresh example of heightened American scrutiny of Chinese investment. |
 | Fitness system creates virtual avatars in 10 minutesAvatars—virtual persons—are a core element of ICSpace, a virtual fitness and movement environment at Bielefeld University's Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC). The system makes it possible to practice and improve motion sequences by providing individualised feedback in real time. The system consists of a virtual person acting as a coach. |
 | Flexible bonding—hard and soft at the same timeTo connect components with each other, gluing is preferred today instead of welding, riveting or using screws. That makes cars, planes and agricultural machines lighter. The requirements placed on the adhesive are high, though: it has to be flexible enough to compensate for stress peaks in the joint zone while still providing a rigid connection in the surface. Fraunhofer researchers have now developed the adhesive "MetAK", which can be hard and soft at the same time. |
 | Digitization in motor vehicle manufacturingPressure to optimize is intense on the floors of motor vehicle manufacturers' factories: Variance is steadily increasing. Costs have to be contained. Fraunhofer researchers are now using RFID technology to introduce more transparency in motor vehicle manufacturers' supply chains and manufacturing operations. This reduces time and labor, thus boosting cost effectiveness. |
 | One bad apple can spoil a robot swarmCoordinated robot swarms can achieve amazing feats, but even a single faulty unit can have serious consequences. |
 | Virtual reality has added a new dimension to theme park rides—so what's next for thrill-seekers?Roller coasters have come a long way since the theme park rides of old, as thrill-seekers and park operators look for the next big thing. |
 | Killer robots, free will and the illusion of controlControl. We all like to think we have it, but is it all just an illusion? It might seem like a very existential question but it plays an important part in our acceptance of new technologies, especially when it comes to robots. |
 | Driverless cars are ready to hit the road—but are we ready for driverless cars?We may continue to wait for those flying cars promised in science fiction, but who needs them when the car can drive itself? |
 | A high price for policy failure: the 10-year story of spiralling electricity billsPoliticians are told never to waste a good crisis. Australia's electricity sector is in crisis, or something close to it. The nation's first-ever statewide blackout, in South Australia in September 2016, was followed by electricity shortages in several states last summer. More shortages are anticipated over coming summers. |
 | Driverless cars could be better or worse for our health – it's up to usDriverless cars – autonomous vehicles – are coming. The topic is a constant presence in media; The New York Times Magazine recently devoted most of an issue to it. |
 | Overreliance on air conditioning is driving up power prices in AustraliaA UniSA researcher has called for a change in Australia's building codes in the wake of a study which shows new homes can be less resistant to heat than older, double-brick houses. |
Studies investigate effectiveness of booster seatsBooster seats, car seats and seat belts are equally effective at saving the lives of children, while booster seats top the others at reducing minor injuries specifically among children ages 8-12, according to Montana State University economist D. Mark Anderson. | |
 | To get the most out of self-driving cars, tap the brakes on their rolloutEvery day about 100 people die in car crashes on U.S. roads. That death toll is a major reason why both Congress and the Trump administration are backing automotive efforts to develop and deploy self-driving cars as quickly as possible. |
 | Our cities are hidden power stationsWaste heat and locally-produced renewable energy can be generated by compact, "urban power plants" that are efficient enough to supply heat to entire housing estates. |
 | Pioneering smart grid technology solves decades old problematic power grid phenomenonPicture a teeter-totter gently rocking back and forth, one side going up while the other goes down. When electricity travels long distances, it starts to behave in a similar fashion: the standard frequency of 60 cycles per second increases on the utility side of the transmission line while the frequency on the customer side decreases, switching back and forth every second or two. |
 | Supercomputers help researchers design cancer models and predict treatments outcomes based on patient-specific conditionAttempts to eradicate cancer are often compared to a "moonshot"—the successful effort that sent the first astronauts to the moon. |
 | Revised suit faults Google for asking hires about prior payA revised gender-pay lawsuit seeking class-action status against Google faults the search giant for asking new hires about their prior salary, a practice now banned in California. |
Ford to fix coolant leaks in vehicles recalled for fire riskFord says it will repair any coolant leaks that might be found in more than 200,000 recalled vehicles that are at risk of catching fire. | |
Amazon muscles in on Google's and Facebook's advertising turfAs Amazon.com keeps growing and expands into new lines of business, the company is turning its sights on the golden goose of two Silicon Valley rivals: digital advertising. | |
After a breakthrough 2017, the race for augmented reality headset heats up in Silicon ValleyAugmented reality is roaring back to prominence as one of Silicon Valley's favorite frontier technologies, nearly three years after Google's brief, unsuccessful run at the market with its infamous smart glasses. | |
 | Roku to chime in with voice-controlled assistantRoku plans to add a voice-controlled digital assistant to its streaming TV players in an attempt to catch up with Google, Apple and Amazon. |
Apps to help you keep your New Year's resolutionsMaking New Year's resolutions is as old as time. Making New Year's resolutions and using technology to help you create new habits, well, that's much more modern. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | That's sick! Humans identify infected peers from a photoHuman beings can spot a sick person, on a photo, a mere two hours after he or she was infected by a germ, researchers said Wednesday. |
 | Researchers find clues to AIDS resistance in sooty mangabey genomePeaceful co-existence, rather than war: that's how sooty mangabeys, a monkey species found in West Africa, handle infection by SIV, a relative of HIV, and avoid developing AIDS-like disease. |
 | Virus could treat brain tumours by boosting immune systemA virus injected directly into the bloodstream could be used to treat people with aggressive brain tumours, a major new study reports. |
 | Specially timed signals ease tinnitus symptoms in first test aimed at condition's root causeMillions of Americans hear ringing in their ears—a condition called tinnitus—but a new study shows an experimental device could help quiet the phantom sounds by targeting unruly nerve activity in the brain. |
 | New research shows how alcohol damages DNA and increases cancer riskScientists have shown how alcohol damages DNA in stem cells, helping to explain why drinking increases your risk of cancer, according to research part-funded by Cancer Research UK and published in Nature today. |
 | Gene fusion shifts cell activity into high gear, causing some cancerThe fusion of two adjacent genes can cause cancer by kicking mitochondria into overdrive and increasing the amount of fuel available for rampant cell growth, researchers at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) have discovered. They also found that drugs that target this newly identified cancer pathway can prevent tumor growth, both in human cancer cells and mice with a form of brain cancer. |
 | Could viruses take cancer immunotherapy to the next level?Immunotherapy, which helps the body's immune system attack cancer, has revolutionized treatment for cancers such as melanoma and leukemia. However, many other kinds of cancer remain resistant. A new study led by researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa suggests that a combination of two immunotherapies (oncolytic viruses and checkpoint inhibitors) could be much more successful in treating breast cancer and possibly other cancers. Their study, which uses mouse models, is published in Science Translational Medicine. |
 | Researchers develop sperm-sorting device that could improve IVF successWomen undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) may become pregnant with fewer treatment cycles, thanks to a new device developed by a team of researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and Stanford University that uses an "obstacle course" to sort and select faster and healthier sperm cells for use in IVF treatment. |
 | Dietary sugar linked to increasing bacterial epidemicsThe increasing frequency and severity of healthcare-associated outbreaks caused by bacterium Clostridium difficile have been linked to the widely used food additive trehalose. A team of researchers discovered that in laboratory tests and animal models, trehalose enhances the virulence of epidemic C. difficile lineages that predominate in patient infections. The study appears in the journal Nature. |
In clinical trial, cream reduces squamous cell carcinoma riskNew results from a clinical trial involving more than 900 military veterans at high risk for keratinocyte carcinoma skin cancer provides evidence that using the generic skin cream fluorouacil 5 percent for two to four weeks may reduce the risk of a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) needing surgery by 75 percent within a year. | |
 | The sixth taste: Biologists enhance the scientific understanding of calcium tasteCalcium is something of a double-edged sword. Too much of the essential element is as dangerous as too little, either case adversely affecting health in animals from humans to mice to fruit flies. |
 | Cellular barcoding helps scientists understand the behavior of stem cellsBy tagging bone marrow cells of mice with a genetic label, or barcode, researchers were able to track and describe the family tree of individual blood cells as they form in their natural environment. The scientists discovered that these cells regenerate differently than their counterparts do after a blood cell transplant, according to a study published Jan. 3 in Nature and funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health. |
 | Rare forms of 'thunder' protein may be linked to schizophreniaResearchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine report they have identified rare genetic variations in a protein called Thorase, which is responsible for breaking down receptors at the connections between neurons in the brain. By targeting Thorase's function, the scientists say they have successfully reversed anti-social behavior in mice genetically modified to carry the variants by using the anti-epilepsy drug perampanel. |
Egg-preserving hysterectomy raises heart risks later: studyWomen who undergo hysterectomy before age 35 may face significantly higher long-term heart risks, even if their ovaries are preserved, a study found Wednesday. | |
 | State-of-the-art MRI technology bypasses need for biopsyThe most common type of tumor found in the kidney is generally quite small (less than 1.5 in). These tumors are usually found by accident when CAT scans are performed for other reasons and the serendipitous finding poses a problem for doctors. Are these tumors malignant and do they need to be surgically removed because they may threaten the patient's life? Or are they benign and can be left alone? |
 | Nursing homes should require flu shots for all staff and patients, most older adults sayAs flu season swings into high gear, a new poll suggests that nursing homes and other long-term care facilities should be doing more to get their staff and patients vaccinated before it's too late. |
 | Tuberculosis drugs work better with vitamin CStudies in mice and in tissue cultures suggest that giving vitamin C with tuberculosis drugs could reduce the unusually long time it takes these drugs to eradicate this pathogen. The research is published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. |
 | Caffeine level in blood may help diagnose people with Parkinson's diseaseTesting the level of caffeine in the blood may provide a simple way to aid the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in the January 3, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
Stem cell transplant for severe scleroderma improves survival, quality of lifeNew clinical trial findings show that a therapeutic regimen involving transplantation of a person's own blood-forming stem cells can improve survival and quality of life for people with severe scleroderma, a life-threatening autoimmune Adisease. The regimen, known as myeloablative autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), includes chemotherapy and total body radiation to destroy the bone marrow followed by transplantation of the person's own blood-forming stem cells to reconstitute the marrow and immune system. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, found myeloablative HSCT to be superior to treatment with the immune-suppressing drug cyclophosphamide. | |
 | Food cues undermine healthy eating choicesObesity has become a major health issue due to the current 'obesogenic' environment in which unhealthy food is both easy and cheap to purchase. As a result, many (government) organisations encourage healthy eating habits among the general public by providing information on healthy diets. Nevertheless, when people encounter stimuli that they have learned to associate with certain snacks, they tend to choose those products, even when they know these are unhealthy. This is the finding of research carried out by psychologists Aukje Verhoeven, Poppy Watson and Sanne de Wit from the University of Amsterdam (UvA). |
Medication to prevent osteoporotic fractures may hinder the repair of damaged tissueA study at Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden, has found that one of the most common medications to prevent osteoporitic fractures gives rise to previously unknown mineralization of bone cells. The discovery may be important for understanding the effect of medication on bone quality. | |
 | Researchers identify a crucial protein that commands a key communications hub determining cell growthNational University of Singapore biologists have identified a crucial protein that commands a key communications hub which determines cell growth. |
Repurposing anticonvulsants for treatment of injury-induced osteoarthritisDrugs designed for the treatment of central nervous system diseases could also be used to prevent the development of injury-induced arthritis, potentially saving the NHS around half a billion pounds a year. | |
 | Targeting cancer by sabotaging the DNA repair seesawA protein that cancer cells rely on to stave off cell death also helps them regulate DNA repair, researchers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University (Winship) have discovered. |
 | Portable 3-D brain scanner set to save livesA new portable, non-invasive brain scanner is set to speed-up the diagnosis of brain injuries and stroke types by creating an immediate 3-D image of the brain. |
 | Can 'sleeping' while you're awake boost brain function?Mimicking sleep processes in the awake brain of elderly people could prevent age-related decline in brain function. |
 | Aspiration-based thrombectomy works as well as thrombectomy with stent retriever for large vessel occlusionA research team at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo has found that in stroke patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO), the removal of the clot occurs as efficiently after aspiration-based clot removal alone as it does after aspiration-based clot removal performed with a stent retriever. The safety measures and good clinical outcomes produced by both methods, including the incidence of serious, device-related adverse events, were also comparable. |
 | The keys to a long and healthy lifeEven as infectious illnesses such as smallpox and polio have receded into the past, many chronic diseases have flourished. |
 | Diabetic blindness caused and reversed "trapped" immune cells in rodent retinasJohns Hopkins researchers have discovered a cell signaling pathway in mice that triggers vision loss in patients with diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion – diseases characterized by the closure of blood vessels in the retina, leading to blindness. In experiments that suppressed vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the eye, researchers were able to re-establish normal blood flow in the retina, offering a potential means of stalling or even reversing diabetes-related blindness. |
 | A new mathematical model streamlines hospital OR schedulingThe scheduling of surgeries in a hospital operating room is a process fraught with uncertainty. The most carefully planned day can be upended by the unexpected arrival of a patient requiring an emergency operation. If a surgeon needs more time than expected to complete a procedure, if a patient shows up late or if a nurse has to call out sick, an entire day's procedures can be delayed. |
One type of heart disease requires special testingToday's technology has made tremendous strides in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease but until recently it was tricky to diagnose a heart condition called Microvascular Coronary Dysfunction (MCD). | |
A new look at the placebo effectA new conceptualization of the placebo effects is presented in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. | |
Self-help is a key component of inpatients psychotherapyA randomized controlled trial published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics discloses new insights into the role of self-help in inpatient psychotherapy. Depression is one of the most frequent and costly mental disorders. While there is increasing evidence for the efficacy of online self-help to improve depression or prevent relapse, there is little evidence in blended care settings, especially combined with inpatient face-to-face psychotherapy. | |
Mindfulness—a new treatment for tinnitusA randomized controlled trial published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics discloses the effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy as a treatment for chronic tinnitus. Tinnitus is experienced by up to 15% of the population and can lead to significant disability and distress. There is rarely a medical or surgical target and psychological therapies are recommended. | |
Do antidepressants lead to chronic use?Data from Netherlands point to the chronic use of antidepressant drugs in general practice in a study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. Antidepressant use is highly prevalent. Research has mainly focused on efficacy during short periods of use for depression and anxiety. There is a relative paucity of data regarding the frequency of long-term use. | |
Opioid use may lead to suicide in elderlyA new study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics suggests that suicidal ideations and suicide attempts are linked to opioid use and pain sensitivity in the elderly. The recent dramatic increase in opioid prescribing and their inappropriate use has led to an epidemic of opioid addictions, often generalizing to other substance use disorders and overdose deaths. In the US, the suicide death rate with opioid overdose increased from 2.2 percent in 1999 to 4.4 percent in 2010. | |
The role of sexuality in eating disordersA new study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics explores the role of sexuality in the long-term outcome of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. As with other psychiatric disorders, anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) are often comorbid with sexual dysfunctions. Different studies suggest that a relevant percentage of persons with EDs continue to display ED psychopathology for protracted periods of time. | |
A new treatment for trauma is effective in children and adolescentsA new study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics indicates the long-term positive effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy for trauma in children and adolescents. Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy is an evidence-based treatment for pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder. Trauma-focused-CBT is not only associated with a significant reduction of posttraumatic stress symptoms, depressive and anxiety symptoms, behavioral problems, and dysfunctional trauma-related cognitions, but also with improvement of psychosocial functioning. So far, only one study has demonstrated the long-term effectiveness of Trauma-focused -CBT in real-world clinical settings, with youth who had been exposed to different traumatic events. | |
 | Research on self-control could help you stick with New Year's resolutionsMany of us have already decided that things will be different in 2018. We'll eat better, get more exercise, save more money or finally get around to decluttering those closets. |
 | Exercise more in 2018—it really is good for your heartWith 2018 stretching out before us, shining with promise, many of us have made resolutions to be more active. |
Nature play builds resilient, curious kidsWith the launch of Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park, Perth kids can problem solve, build resilience and practise enquiry-based learning through nature play. | |
Quickly spotting rare side effects from immunotherapyImmunotherapy, which uses the body's own immune system to fight disease, is transforming the treatment of several types of cancers. Severe adverse effects can result from these groundbreaking cancer treatments, however, and when they do, it's important to recognize and quickly address them, researchers write in the New England Journal of Medicine. | |
 | Alcohol acts as igniter of hate crimesPrejudice is often only expressed when people are intoxicated, suggests a study by Cardiff University. |
 | New algorithm predicts treatment targets for cancer using 'wisdom of the crowd'Scientists in Singapore have made a unique discovery about how to treat cancers – when it comes to pinpointing cancer treatment targets, it is better to listen to many computer programmes rather than just one. Researchers have developed an advanced system that integrates this 'wisdom of the crowd' through a powerful consensus algorithm to isolate the Achilles heel of each individual cancer tumour, helping scientists to better study different cancers and identify targeted treatments. |
 | To explore cures for diseases like Alzheimer's, researchers massage brain cellsSome researchers at Montana State University have a light touch when it comes to unraveling the mysteries of the brain and exploring new ways to treat diseases like Alzheimer's. |
Is a cold water swim good for you, or more likely to send you to the bottom?There are people who will tell you that a dip in cold water is not just exhilarating and enlivening, but good for you. They have not, they will tell you, had a cold for years. In many nations there is a cultural tradition of cold water dips – whether that's a swim on special occasions such as Boxing Day or New Year's Day as in the UK, or as part of a routine of alternating hot saunas and cold baths perceived to have health benefits, such as in Japan, Germany, Russia and Scandinavia. | |
 | Study uncovers potential key to preventing back pain in runnersA new study from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center examines what may cause chronic back pain in runners and the exercises to help prevent it. |
 | How perfectionism became a hidden epidemic among young peopleThomas Curran, University of Bath and Andrew Hill, York St John University |
 | Five reasons why we overeatWe tend to think that we stop eating when our stomachs are full. Science shows otherwise. Here are five reasons we often overeat without realising it. |
 | Men's experiences of unwanted sexual advances and sexual assaultsTime Magazine recently featured "The Silence Breakers" as its 2017 "Person of the Year," a nod to the countless women who have come forward with stories of unwanted sexual advances and sexual assaults. |
 | How our minds construct the past, present and future depends on our relationship with timeNew Year has arrived, or have we arrived at New Year? While both statements convey the same idea, they are viewed from two different perspectives on time. |
 | Pocket devices a big help to ADHD kidsFor children who need help from so-called welfare technology in order to manage their day-to-day lives, it is important that the assistance they get is invisible to others. Many obtain effective help from an app installed on their phones. |
 | The secret to creativity – according to scienceWhether you get mesmerised by Vincent van Gogh's painting The Starry Night or Albert Einstein's theories about spacetime, you'll probably agree that both pieces of work are products of mindblowing creativity. Imagination is what propels us forward as a species – it expands our worlds and brings us new ideas, inventions and discoveries. |
Scientists to prevent the global spread of new diseasesA ground-breaking new research hub has been set up to help halt future outbreaks of killer diseases like Ebola and Zika. | |
Researchers identify genetic factors that contribute to Alzheimer's diseaseResearchers have identified several new genes responsible for Alzheimer's disease (AD) including those leading to functional and structural changes in the brain and elevated levels of AD proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). | |
 | Total-body PET: Maximizing sensitivity for clinical research and patient careThe new total-body PET/CT scanner could revolutionize our understanding and treatment of disease through analysis of better imaging data from the whole body. In The Journal of Nuclear Medicine (JNM) featured January article, scientists at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), outline the development and benefits of this innovative diagnostic tool and explain how maximizing PET sensitivity will advance clinical research and patient care. |
Pong paddles and perception: Our actions influence what we seeMost people think of vision as simply a function of information the eye gathers - what the eye alone sees. | |
 | Price tag on gene therapy for rare form of blindness: $850K (Update)A first-of-its kind genetic treatment for blindness will cost $850,000 per patient, making it one of the most expensive medicines in the world and raising questions about the affordability of a coming wave of similar gene-targeting therapies. |
 | Could gene therapy someday eliminate HIV?(HealthDay)—Gene therapy may have the potential to eradicate HIV in people infected with the virus, new animal research suggests. |
 | Don't let baby weight linger between pregnancies(HealthDay)—Gaining too much baby weight is an issue for many pregnant women. What's more, if you don't lose those pounds, they could pose a problem during your next pregnancy, according to a study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Layer up when temperatures plummet(HealthDay)—Two-thirds of the United States is grappling with bitterly cold temperatures as an Arctic front slides across the country, so one emergency doctor offers practical advice for those caught in the frigid weather. |
 | What's your best diet for 2018? Experts rate them(HealthDay)—Your New Year's resolution diet should be based on a well-balanced eating plan that fits your lifestyle, rather than a weird fad replete with food restrictions. |
 | Improvement needed in ob-gyn opioid prescribing practices(HealthDay)—Improvement in obstetrician-gynecologists' knowledge and prescribing practices regarding opioids is needed, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Dasiglucagon well tolerated for severe hypoglycemia(HealthDay)—Dasiglucagon is well tolerated and is associated with an early pharmacodynamic response similar to that of GlucaGen for severe hypoglycemia, according to a study published online Dec. 22 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Predictors of infliximab response in ulcerative colitis identified(HealthDay)—For patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC), the baseline Mayo Endoscopic Score and the C-reactive protein (CRP)/albumin ratio predict treatment response to infliximab, according to research published online Dec. 21 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | Silent myocardial infarction linked to heart failure risk(HealthDay)—Silent myocardial infarction (SMI) is associated with an increased long-term risk of heart failure, according to a study published in the Jan. 2 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Higher risk of musculoskeletal disorders in some physicians(HealthDay)—The prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) appears to be high for at-risk physicians, according to a review published online Dec. 27 in JAMA Surgery. |
 | Uterine leiomyomas, centrifugal cicatricial alopecia may be linked(HealthDay)—Black women with central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) have increased likelihood of uterine leiomyomas (ULs), according to a research letter published online Dec. 27 in JAMA Dermatology. |
 | Direct, indirect voice Tx both aid children with vocal fold nodules(HealthDay)—For children with vocal fold nodules, both direct and indirect voice therapy approaches improve voice-related quality of life, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. |
 | Few immuno-oncology agents reach ASCO efficacy thresholds(HealthDay)—Few modern, U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved immuno-oncology agents have durable survival and response rates that are deemed significant by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) value framework, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in JAMA Oncology. |
 | HSPC-derived CAR T-cells capable of lasting engraftment(HealthDay)—Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell (HSPC)-derived chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells are capable of long-term engraftment in a model of HIV/AIDS, according to a study published online Dec. 28 in PLOS Pathogens. |
 | Facial exercises help middle-aged women appear more youthful: studyA 30-minute daily or alternate-day facial exercise program sustained over 20 weeks improved the facial appearance of middle-aged women, resulting in a younger appearance with fuller upper and lower cheeks, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. This is the first scientific study to test the premise of facial exercise improving appearance. |
 | Prenatal vitamins tied to lower autism risk in kids, study finds(HealthDay)—Taking folic acid and multivitamins during pregnancy could reduce your child's risk of autism, a new study suggests. |
Researchers offer new evidence on four-year-old children's knowledge about ecologyWhat do young children from diverse cultural communities think about the natural world? How does a child's existing knowledge and beliefs influence their subsequent learning? Questions like these have remained unanswered, largely because research in this area has focused almost exclusively on urban and suburban children living in majority-culture communities. | |
 | Pediatricians screen more kids for mental health issues if they receive hands-on supportA new study suggests many more pediatricians would make mental health screenings an integral part of a child's annual checkup if they received training and support through a proven and powerful method used to improve health care processes and outcomes. |
New glaucoma drug from a Duke University spinoff has an edge over other treatmentsA 12-year-old Duke University spinoff founded by two Duke professors has received regulatory approval for its first drug: once-a-day eye drops for glaucoma patients. | |
Woman diagnosed with Crohn's Disease actually had ketchup packet in her intestine for six yearsA woman believed she was suffering from Crohn's disease for six years until doctors performed surgery and discovered a ketchup packet in the lining of her intestine. | |
 | Want smarter kids who sleep through the night? Feed them fish, a new study saysA new University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing study found that children who ate fish regularly scored nearly five points higher on a standard IQ test that measures cognitive function in children. The kids who favored fish over traditionally kid-friendly items like, say, chicken fingers and fries, also slept better and had fewer sleep interruptions. |
French inspectors 'missed salmonella at baby milk plant' (Update)French food safety inspectors failed to detect salmonella contamination at a plant belonging to dairy giant Lactalis, three months before the company carried out a major recall of baby milk, a report said Wednesday. | |
Trastuzumab: No negative impact on cardiac functionLong-term follow-up results of the NRG Oncology trial NSABP B-31 have shown that the addition of trastuzumab to adjuvant chemotherapy does not negatively affect cardiac function in women with node-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive, early-stage breast cancer who survive without cancer recurrence. Both patients who received trastuzumab in addition to chemotherapy and patients who received chemotherapy only maintained good cardiac function. Results of this follow-up analysis were published online in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. | |
Past falls can help predict an individual's risk of bone fracture independent of other factorsResults from a new study in Journal of Bone and Mineral Research indicate that an individual's history of past falls can help predict their risk of bone fractures, independent of bone mineral density and other clinical factors. | |
Biology news
 | Scientists design bacteria to reflect 'sonar' signals for ultrasound imagingIn the 1966 science fiction film Fantastic Voyage, a submarine is shrunken down and injected into a scientist's body to repair a blood clot in his brain. While the movie may be still be fiction, researchers at Caltech are making strides in this direction: they have, for the first time, created bacterial cells with the ability to reflect sound waves, reminiscent of how submarines reflect sonar to reveal their locations. |
 | Agricultural parasite takes control of host plant's genesDodder, a parasitic plant that causes major damage to crops in the U.S. and worldwide every year, can silence the expression of genes in the host plants from which it obtains water and nutrients. This cross-species gene regulation, which includes genes that contribute to the host plant's defense against parasites, has never before been seen from a parasitic plant. Understanding this system could provide researchers with a method to engineer plants to be resistant to the parasite. A paper describing the research by a team that includes scientists at Penn State and Virginia Tech appears January 4, 2018 in the journal Nature. |
 | Little wasp bodies means little wasp brain regions, study showsA new Drexel University study comparing brain size to body size shows that just because you've evolved to have a big brain, some regions of your brain may not have kept up. |
 | An adaptation 150 million years in the makingJust how do snapping shrimp snap? This was the question plaguing scientists who set out to uncover the mysterious mechanisms producing big biology in tiny crustaceans. |
 | Scientists explore mysteries behind diversity of DNA composition among speciesTo make the iconic, twisted double helix that accounts for the diversity of life, DNA rules specify that G always pairs with C, and A with T. |
 | Study investigates impact of lions living alongside giraffe populationsIt is commonly accepted that lions are the only predators to pose a risk to giraffes on an individual basis but there has never been a study to investigate how the presence of lions impacts on the population as a whole. |
 | 'Silent code' of nucleotides, not amino acids, determines functions of vital proteinsHumans possess six forms of the protein actin, which perform essential functions in the body. Two in particular, β-actin and γ-actin, are nearly identical, only differing by four amino acids. Yet these near-twin proteins carry out distinct roles. A long standing question for biologists has been, how is this possible? |
 | Unlocking the mystery of pollen tube guidanceFertilization in flowering plants occurs by the delivery of sperm cells to the ovule by the precise growth of pollen tubes from pollen. Pollen tube guidance plays a crucial role in controlling the growth of pollen tubes and a pollen tube attractant peptide LURE is secreted from the synergid cells next to the egg cell within the ovule to lead to successful fertilization. LURE is specific to each plant species and is therefore responsible for the fertilization between the same species. |
 | Selenium protects specific interneurons in the brainExactly 200 years ago, the Swedish scientist Jöns Jacob Berzelius discovered the trace element selenium, which he named after the goddess of the moon, Selene. Besides its industrial applications, selenium is an essential trace element and indispensable for humans, many animals and some bacteria. A team led by Dr. Marcus Conrad, research group leader at the Institute of Developmental Genetics (IDG) at Helmholtz Zentrum München, showed for the first time why selenium is a limiting factor for mammals. |
 | Multidrug resistant genetic factors in malaria parasitesNUS scientists in collaboration with researchers from Norvatis have discovered two genetic markers in Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite that can cause it to develop resistance against a new antimalarial drug. |
 | Off-road vehicle restriction benefits outweigh costs for national seashoreAn economic analysis by North Carolina State University, Oregon State University and RTI International finds that the economic benefits of biodiversity and habitat preservation significantly outweigh the costs of off-road vehicle (ORV) restrictions at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The study sheds light on the relative economic value of efforts to balance environmental protection with human access to public lands. |
 | Unraveling the mechanisms that control cell growth and sizeAll living cells, from simple yeasts to human brain cells, regulate their rate of growth and their ultimate size and shape. How they do this, however, is one of the fundamental mysteries of biology. |
 | If your New Year's resolution is to get fit, your dog may be your perfect training partnerJanuary is the month of ambitious resolutions – and getting fit and losing weight tend to top the list. But how many people manage to maintain their exercise goals? Gyms are filled with enthusiastic people at the start of the month, but the numbers soon start to dwindle. |
 | Why we shouldn't be too quick to blame migratory animals for global diseaseHave you ever got on a flight and the person next to you started sneezing? With 37 million scheduled flights transporting people around the world each year, you might think that the viruses and other germs carried by travellers would be getting a free ride to new pastures, infecting people as they go. |
Bird recognitionBirds play an important role in a wide variety of ecosystems as both predator and prey, in controlling insect populations, pollinating and seed dispersal for many plants, and in releasing nutrients on to land and sea in the form of guano. From a scientific perspective it is therefore crucial to monitor bird populations. Now, research published in the International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology could pave the way to an automated bird identification system based on bird calls and song. | |
Using rank order to identify complex genetic interactionsGenome sequencing has revolutionized genetics. It also requires new mathematical tools to help life scientists make sense of enormous amounts of data. Applying new math, Kristina Crona, an American University assistant professor who researches in the area of mathematical biology, and her colleagues show how ranking pathogen mutants can help scientists understand how mutants evolve to resist drug treatments. This line of research could have implications for the treatment of diseases that can resist drug treatments, such as HIV and malaria. | |
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