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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 3, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Mineral in lunar meteorite suggests water was once on the moonA team of researchers led by Masahiro Kayama of Tohoku University has found evidence in a lunar meteorite that water once existed on the moon. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, the team describes their study of the meteorite and why they believe it offers evidence of water on the moon. |
 | Recent work challenges view of early Mars, picturing a warm desert with occasional rainThe climate of early Mars is a subject of debate. While it has been thought that Mars had a warm and wet climate like Earth, other researchers have suggested early Mars might have been largely glaciated. A recent study by Ramses Ramirez from the Earth-Life Science Institute (Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan) and Robert Craddock from the National Air and Space Museum's Center for Earth and Planetary Studies (Smithsonian Institution, U.S.) suggests that the early Martian surface may not have been dominated by ice, but might instead have been modestly warm and prone to rain, with only small patches of ice. |
 | Stellar family portrait in X-raysIn some ways, star clusters are like giant families with thousands of stellar siblings. These stars come from the same origins—a common cloud of gas and dust—and are bound to one another by gravity. Astronomers think that our Sun was born in a star cluster about 4.6 billion years ago that quickly dispersed. |
 | X-ray navigation considered for possible CubeSat missionNow that NASA has shown the viability of autonomous X-ray navigation in space, a team led by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory plans to include the technology on a proposed CubeSat mission to the Moon, and NASA engineers are now studying the possibly of adding the capability to future human-exploration spacecraft. |
 | Prototype camera set for integration into novel gamma-ray telescopeA unique high-speed camera, designed to capture the fleeting effects of gamma rays crashing into the Earth's atmosphere, will soon be on its way from the University of Wisconsin-Madison to Arizona's Mount Hopkins. |
 | Afraid of heights in space: NASA astronaut details flightWhen NASA astronaut Joseph Acaba was out doing a spacewalk during a recent trip to the International Space Station, he held on tight. That's because Acaba is afraid of heights. |
 | 'Game changing' space-mission power system passes tests with flying colorsA new nuclear power system that could enable long-duration crewed missions to the Moon, Mars and destinations beyond recently passed an extensive operating test in the Nevada desert, performing well under a variety of challenging conditions. |
 | New science from JupiterWhen NASA's Juno spacecraft recently flew over the poles of Jupiter, researchers were astonished, as if they had never seen a giant planet before. |
 | NASA's newest Mars lander to study quakes on Red Planet (Update)NASA is poised to launch its first lander to Mars since 2012, an unmanned spacecraft called InSight that aims to listen for quakes and unravel the mystery of how rocky planets like Earth form. |
Technology news
 | 3-D batteries pack power into tiny footprintsBatteries might seem like they come in every shape and size that you can imagine. But as electronic devices become tinier and skinnier without reducing their power and energy demands, they challenge engineers to design batteries that can fit into smaller and smaller spaces without compromising on performance. Researchers in the United States have used non-traditional techniques to fashion one possible solution - a powerful 3D lithium ion battery with a footprint on the order of one hundred grains of salt. Their work appears May 3 in the journal Joule. |
 | Natural gas prices, not 'war on coal,' were key to coal power decline: studyNew research from North Carolina State University and the University of Colorado Boulder finds that steep declines in the use of coal for power generation over the past decade were caused largely by less expensive natural gas and the availability of wind energy – not by environmental regulations. |
 | Could robots be counselors? Early research shows positive user experienceNew research has shown for the first time that a social robot can deliver a 'helpful' and 'enjoyable' motivational interview (MI) - a counselling technique designed to support behaviour change. |
 | Engineers upgrade ancient, sun-powered tech to purify water with near-perfect efficiencyThe idea of using energy from the sun to evaporate and purify water is ancient. The Greek philosopher Aristotle reportedly described such a process more than 2,000 years ago. |
 | For the blind, a device on car window delivers haptic experience of scenic viewSometimes the journey is worth more than the final destination. Car travel can offer the simple pleasures of looking out the window and enjoying the scenic views. Green fields. Waterfronts. Grazing animals. Mountains—all assuming you are sighted, that is. |
 | Twitter urges users to change 'unmasked' passwordsTwitter on Thursday urged its more than 300 million users to change their passwords, saying they had been unintentionally "unmasked" inside the company by a software bug. |
 | Chip Wars: Tech rivalry underlies US-China trade conflictChinese and American officials will be trying to defuse tensions pushing the world's two largest economies toward trade war in meetings beginning Thursday where analysts say chances for a breakthrough seem slim given the two sides' desperate rivalry in strategic technologies. |
 | Australia's biggest bank loses 20 million customer recordsAustralia's troubled Commonwealth Bank admitted Thursday it had lost financial records for almost 20 million customers in a major security blunder—but insisted there was no need to worry. |
 | China's Xiaomi submits HK filing, with big IPO expectedChinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has kicked off what is expected to be the world's biggest initial public offering (IPO) of shares in years after it filed documents with Hong Kong's stock exchange. |
 | News Corp leads charge against tech giants in Australia probeRupert Murdoch's News Corporation accused Facebook and Google of "anti-competitive practices" in one of dozens of submissions to a probe of the tech giants released Thursday by Australia's competition watchdog. |
 | Facebook gets into dating, but there's little scientific evidence online personality matching worksOne of the biggest reveals of Facebook's F8 developer conference so far has been that it is planning on getting into the dating game. The announcement was made during Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's keynote address on day one. |
 | Tesla's problem: overestimating automation, underestimating humansTesla was hoping to produce 5,000 new Model 3 electric cars each week in 2018. So far, it has failed to manufacture even half that number. Questioned on the matter, the company's CEO, Elon Musk, claimed that "excessive automation was a mistake" and that "humans are underrated". |
 | Future cities could be lit by algaeThe way we produce light has changed surprisingly little since Thomas Edison developed the first light bulb in 1879. |
 | Google and Facebook won't rule the world – if we don't buy their fantasies about big dataFrom micro-targeted advertisements to Russian social media sleeper agents and doorstep canvassers armed with conversation scripts based on personality profiles, data-driven tools and techniques appear to be providing increasingly intimate and aggressive ways of engaging, persuading and manipulating voters. |
 | Indonesia has far more than enough pumped hydro storage sites to support a 100% renewable electricity gridWith the support of the Australia Indonesia Centre we have identified 657 potential sites across Bali for pumped hydro energy storage (PHES), with a combined potential storage capacity of 2,300 Gigawatt-hours. |
 | How artificial intelligence can detect – and create – fake newsWhen Mark Zuckerberg told Congress Facebook would use artificial intelligence to detect fake news posted on the social media site, he wasn't particularly specific about what that meant. Given my own work using image and video analytics, I suggest the company should be careful. Despite some basic potential flaws, AI can be a useful tool for spotting online propaganda – but it can also be startlingly good at creating misleading material. |
 | Girl power: All-female teams compete at robotics eventHalf a dozen teenage girls from Canada know exactly how to narrow the skills gap. |
 | Students create exoskeleton app for patient with muscular dystrophyZach Smith has Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder marked by progressive muscle degeneration. His lack of muscle control and being in a wheelchair made him a prime candidate for a computer-controlled exoskeleton arm. |
 | Should ethics or human intuition drive the moral judgments of driverless cars?When faced with driving dilemmas, people show a high willingness to sacrifice themselves for others, make decisions based on the victim's age and swerve onto sidewalks to minimize the number of lives lost, reveals new research published in open-access journal Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience. This is at odds with ethical guidelines in these circumstances, which often dictate that no life should be valued over another. This research hopes to initiate discussions about the way self-driving vehicles should be programmed to deal with situations that endanger human life. |
 | Q&A: Cambridge Analytica's bankruptcy won't halt probesThe company at the center of the Facebook privacy scandal, political consultancy Cambridge Analytica, is going out of business. But that doesn't mean those behind the entity will escape the scrutiny of regulators. |
 | New York Times gains 139,000 subscribers in Q1The New York Times—dismissed as a "failing" newspaper by US President Donald Trump—had a net gain of 139,000 online subscribers in the first three months of 2018, the daily said Thursday. |
 | Robot fast-food chefs: Hype or a sign of industry change?Robots can't yet bake a souffle or fold a burrito, but they can cook up vegetables and grains and spout them into a bowl—and are doing just that at a new fast casual restaurant in Boston. |
 | Tesla CEO's peculiar conduct causes angst on Wall StreetElon Musk's quirky behavior has long been chalked up to that of a misunderstood genius. But never have his actions caused so much angst on Wall Street. |
 | Toyota to build test track for self-driving carsToyota is going all-in on autonomous vehicles, announcing Thursday plans to open a center this year to test driving scenarios too dangerous to perform on public roads. |
 | Currency headwinds sap Bayer in Q1German chemicals firm Bayer said Thursday exchange rate headwinds had undermined revenues and profits in the first quarter, but kept its eyes on a planned takeover of US seeds and pesticides maker Monsanto. |
 | Ferrari hails 'record' Q1 results as profits zoomItalian luxury carmaker Ferrari on Thursday said it was racing towards scoring "another great year" after profits accelerated past forecasts in the first quarter of 2018. |
 | Cryptocurrency for the rest of usThanks to a WA startup, there's now an easy way for everyone to invest in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. |
 | German authorities smash potato packers' cartelTwo German potato packing firms landed in hot water Thursday as competition authorities pounded them with a massive fine for secretly agreeing prices for their sacks of spuds. |
 | Wizz Air granted UK licence ahead of BrexitHungarian budget airline Wizz Air on Thursday said it had been granted a British air operator's licence following an application last year as it prepares for possible disruption from Brexit. |
 | Sprint's rough weekSprint is having its worst week in almost four years on Wall Street after announcing another attempt at merging with rival T-Mobile. |
 | Former Volkswagen CEO Winterkorn indicted in US over 'Dieselgate'Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has been indicted in the United States over his alleged role in the German auto giant's 'dieselgate' scandal, court papers showed Thursday. |
Backers of data privacy measure submit signatures for ballotSupporters of a California initiative aimed at giving consumers more control over their personal data say they have collected enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Scientists pinpoint neural interactions that are necessary for observational learningIt's often said that experience is the best teacher, but the experiences of other people may be even better. If you saw a friend get chased by a neighborhood dog, for instance, you would learn to stay away from the dog without having to undergo that experience yourself. |
 | How a light touch can spur severe itchingFor some people, particularly those who are elderly, even a light touch of the skin or contact with clothing can lead to unbearable itching. What's worse, anti-itch treatments, including hydrocortisone, don't provide much relief for this type of itching. |
 | Sex after 65: Poll finds links to health, gender differences, lack of communicationA new poll busts stereotypes about the sex lives of older Americans—and reveals gender and health-related divides on key aspects of sexual health, while highlighting the need for more people to talk with their health providers about sexual issues. |
 | Bacteria therapy for eczema shows promise in new studyTopical treatment with live Roseomonas mucosa—a bacterium naturally present on the skin—was safe for adults and children with atopic dermatitis (eczema) and was associated with reduced disease severity, according to initial findings from an ongoing early-phase clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health. Preclinical work in a mouse model of atopic dermatitis had suggested that R. mucosa strains collected from healthy skin can relieve disease symptoms. The new findings, published May 3 in JCI Insight, support further evaluation of this potential new therapy. |
 | Neurons use a single switch to decide whether to make or break new connectionsAs the brain grows and develops, nerve cells must make connections between one another in order to function properly. Brain cells are tightly packed together, so each cell might touch hundreds or thousands of other cells, and yet those cells only make stable and strong connections with a fraction of those neighboring cells. Researchers have long puzzled over how the probing finger-like neuronal protrusions called filopodia decide on the right place to land and make a stable link. Now researchers at Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) have shown that a single molecule makes the yes-or-no decision at each touch with a neighboring neuron. |
 | Fasting boosts stem cells' regenerative capacityAs people age, their intestinal stem cells begin to lose their ability to regenerate. These stem cells are the source for all new intestinal cells, so this decline can make it more difficult to recover from gastrointestinal infections or other conditions that affect the intestine. |
 | Study offers new approach to starve p53 deficient tumorsOne major hallmark of cancer cells is their ability to adapt to stressful conditions such as nutrient deprivation. Rapidly growing tumor cells must compete for the ever-diminishing supply of nutrients in the surrounding environment to survive and proliferate. Targeting these adaptive mechanisms represents a promising approach for cancer therapeutics. |
 | Study sheds light on genetic foundation of migrainesThe nauseating, often debilitating, headaches affect 15-20 percent of adults in developed countries, yet they remain stubbornly hard to explain. Scientists know that migraines tend to run in families but aren't sure exactly how. |
 | New study links gray hair with immune system activity and viral infectionA new study on mice offers insights into why some people's hair may turn gray in response to a serious illness or chronic stress. Publishing May 3 in the open access journal PLOS Biology, researchers at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Alabama, Birmingham have discovered a connection between the genes that contribute to hair color and the genes that notify our bodies of a pathogenic infection. |
 | Women who eat fast food take longer to become pregnantWomen who eat less fruit and more fast food take longer to get pregnant and are less likely to conceive within a year, according to a study by researchers at the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute. |
 | New study sheds light on the complex dynamics of Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease affects around 10 million people worldwide, yet exactly how the disease and treatments for its symptoms work remains a bit mysterious. Now, Stanford researchers have tested a seminal theory of Parkinson's and found it wanting, a result that could have implications well beyond Parkinson's disease itself, the team reports May 2 in Nature. |
 | Quiet rest contributes to retaining detailed memoriesA brief rest can result in the retention of more detailed memories, relative to being busy in the minutes following learning, according to new research from Heriot-Watt University. |
 | The timing of heart muscle regeneration in neonatal miceA team of researchers from several institutions in Spain has found that heart muscle regeneration in neonatal mice only occurs during the first day after birth. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, the group explains their study of regeneration of heart muscle in newborn mice and what they found. |
 | Even brief maternal deprivation early in life alters adult brain function and cognitionWhen a baby is taken from its mother for even a brief period early in life, this traumatic event significantly alters the future, adult function of the brain, according to a new animal model study from the School of Science at IUPUI. These changes in the brain are similar to disturbances in brain structure and function that are found in people at risk for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia. |
 | Decoding the brain's learning machineIn studies with monkeys, Johns Hopkins researchers report that they have uncovered significant new details about how the cerebellum—the "learning machine" of the mammalian brain—makes predictions and learns from its mistakes, helping us execute complex motor actions such as accurately shooting a basketball into a net or focusing your eyes on an object across the room. |
Harsher drug laws won't stop violence, argues former police chiefHarsher drug prohibition won't stop violence, argue Paul Whitehouse, former Chief Constable of Sussex Police, and Jason Reed at Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP UK) which supports drug policy reform, in The BMJ today. | |
No evidence of 'gaming' after death rates for bowel surgeons publishedThere is no evidence that publishing patient death rates for individual bowel surgeons in England has led to risk averse behaviour or 'gaming' of data, finds a study published by The BMJ today. | |
 | Trial finds no benefit of bath emollients beyond standard eczema care for childrenEmollient bath additives provide no meaningful benefit when used in addition to standard eczema care in children, finds a trial published by The BMJ today. |
 | Earthquake aftermath: Life-threatening blood clots in legs and lungs from sitting in cars for extended periodsJapanese physicians highlight the risks and clinical significance for individuals who remain seated and immobile in vehicles for prolonged periods. They call for preventive awareness activities and education about the risk of venous thromboembolisms (VTE) in a Letter to the Editor in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology. |
 | AI better than most human experts at detecting cause of preemie blindnessAn algorithm that uses artificial intelligence can automatically and more accurately diagnose a potentially devastating cause of childhood blindness than most expert physicians, a paper published in JAMA Ophthalmology suggests. |
 | SWAT team of immune cells found in mother's milkImmune cells that are ready to take action against invaders like bacteria have been found in women's breast milk, researchers say. |
 | Community helminth control programs may reach more children than school programsSoil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infect nearly 1.5 billion people around the world and can contribute to stunted growth and development in children. Expanding control programs to be administered at the community level may have a greater impact on STH infections in children than school-based programs, researchers now report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. |
 | Substance used in Chinese medicine can cause cardiac arrhythmiaResearchers from the Universities of Basel, Vienna and Utrecht report that a medicinal plant frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine—Evodia rutaecarpa—contains substances that can cause cardiac arrhythmia. Extracts of the plant Evodia rutaecarpa are used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of symptoms such as headaches, nausea and vomiting, as well as menstrual complaints and ulcers in the mouth area. |
 | In southern Mozambique, one out of three people diagnosed with HIV do not disclose their statusAlmost 40 percent of people previously diagnosed with HIV do not disclose their HIV status during diagnosis campaigns, leading to unnecessary retesting. In addition to wasting valuable resources, this phenomenon can distort indicators of progress toward the UNAIDS targets. These are the conclusions of a study performed in Southern Mozambique and led by ISGlobal—an institution supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation—in collaboration with the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM). |
 | Organic printing inks may restore sight to blind peopleA simple retinal prosthesis is under development by Tel Aviv University in Israel and Linköping University in Sweden. Fabricated using cheap and widely available organic pigments used in printing inks and cosmetics, it consists of tiny pixels like a digital camera sensor on a nanometric scale. The researchers hope that it can restore sight to blind people. |
Researchers partner with moms to overcome breastfeeding obstaclesThe message, "breast is best" may be familiar and powerful, but it's not enough to get some women to breastfeed. A new University of Rochester Medical Center project creates a partnership with mothers who are not likely to breastfeed exclusively, and tries to improve the rates by first understanding their perspective and obstacles. Although Rochester has various programs to promote the value of breast milk, gaps do exist among low-income women, who often face social and financial influences that work against breastfeeding, said Ann Dozier, R.N., Ph.D., principal investigator for the $2.4 million National Institutes of Health study. | |
 | New research offers clues on improving memory during sleepWhen it comes to remembering, brain-wave patterns during deep—or slow-wave—sleep could play a critical role, according to a new study by University of Alberta neuroscientists. |
 | Looking beyond the 'magic bullet' approach to drug discoveryIt's time to move beyond the traditional "magic bullet" approach for discovering new drugs and start leveraging the full complexity of Mother Nature, according to Vanderbilt Professor of Chemistry Brian Bachmann and Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology Jonathan Irish. |
 | Nursing researcher's storytelling tool brings together small stories and big dataBig data isn't just an empty buzzword getting tossed around in the realms of business, health and science. For nursing researcher Suzanne Goopy, large data sets and analysis can actually help us better understand how to create healthy and sustainable cities, but the key is giving context to numbers and examining where statistics meet stories. |
 | Colouring reduces stress and boosts creativity, study findsTaking up colouring can help reduce stress and improve creativity in adults, a study by a researcher at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) has revealed. |
 | Virtual world addresses problems of stroke-related communication conditionA study from City, University of London has found that time spent in a virtual world called EVA Park can improve the communication skills of people with aphasia, a communication condition which results in loss of speech and difficulty with communication following a stroke. |
Are you at risk for lung cancer?Every year, 1.6 million people die of lung cancer. But if you think that these are just older heavy smokers, you're wrong. | |
 | How exercise can boost your brain functionIn Canada, approximately one in five adults will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, with similar numbers reported in the United States. |
 | Carrying backpacks doesn't cause back pain in children and teenagersChildren and adolescents who carry backpacks aren't at higher risk of developing back pain, according to a study published today in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM). Researchers found no evidence to suggest a link between carrying a heavy backpack and back pain in these age groups. |
 | Looking good? Your brain might be playing tricks on youYour brain can make a psychological illusion with your body image, making you think you are a bit thinner or fatter than you really are. |
 | Cochlear implant recipients empowered through home care servicePeople with cochlear implants who receive postoperative care via a remote, telemedicine service trialled by the University of Southampton have shown a significant increase in their empowerment coupled with real improvements in their hearing tests after using the online care tools. |
 | Why children with autism may be at risk of bullyingChildren with autism may be at risk from bullying because they are more willing to accept unfair behaviour say psychologists. |
 | Noise throws the heart out of rhythmWith an increasing level of noise, the incidence of atrial fibrillation also increases dramatically. Scientists from the Department of Cardiology at the Mainz University Medical Center were able to prove this with data from the Gutenberg Health Study. They found that the incidence of atrial fibrillation in subjects with extreme noise annoyance reactions increases to 23 percent, compared to just 15 percent without this environmental impact. Looking at the proportion of sources of extreme noise pollution, aircraft noise came first with 84 percent during the day and 69 percent during sleep. These results from the Gutenberg Health Study were published recently in the renowned International Journal of Cardiology. |
 | Cutting the number of cancers diagnosed as emergencies could save 1,400 lives a yearOver 1,400 lives could be saved every year – four more every day – if more cancers were diagnosed through GP referral instead of emergency hospital admissions, according to a new study led by City, University of London and funded by Macmillan Cancer Support. |
 | As genetic testing for breast cancer gene mutation expands, questions arise about treatment decisionsThe Food and Drug Administration recently announced its authorization that permits genetics testing company 23andMe to market a test for gene mutations associated with risk of breast and ovarian cancer. |
 | Natural cures combined with biomedical devices prompt bone health, growthA WSU research team is bringing together natural medical cures with modern biomedical devices in hopes of bringing about better health outcomes for people with bone diseases. |
 | Scientists develop a new test to safely and accurately diagnose peanut allergiesMedical Research Council scientists have developed a new laboratory test to diagnose peanut allergy. The test has 98 per cent specificity and, unlike current options, it doesn't run the risk of false-positives or causing allergic reactions such as anaphylactic shock. |
 | Pioneering paper shows infection control and prevention in clinics is in everyone's handsWhen it comes to the examination room at your health care clinic, you might think that avoiding catching the flu or other more deadly viruses is out of your hands, so to speak. But infectious disease experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), who just published a practical guide for infectious disease control in clinics, reveal how we can all help make a difference in infection control. |
Childhood communication enhances brain development, protecting against harmful behaviorsChildren with greater parent communication in early adolescence have less harmful alcohol use and emotional eating in young adulthood, according to a new study in Biological Psychiatry. | |
 | Bowel disease study points to new therapies for lifelong conditionsTreatments for incurable bowel conditions may be a step closer following the discovery of a key molecule associated with disease flare-ups. |
 | Penn performs first-in-world robot-assisted spinal surgeryNoah Pernikoff is back to his life in New York City after becoming the first patient in the world to undergo a complex three-part, robotic-assisted surgery. The robotic arms made it possible for the multidisciplinary team at Penn to successfully remove a rare tumor from Noah's neck, where the skull meets the spine. The ground breaking surgery was completed by a multi-surgeon team, led by Dr. Neil Malhotra, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in August 2017 over a span of two days and more than 20 hours. |
Brain stimulation reduces suicidal thinking in people with hard-to-treat depressionA specific kind of brain stimulation is effective in reducing suicidal thinking in a significant portion of people with hard-to-treat depression, according to a new CAMH study published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Forty per cent of people in the study reported that they no longer experienced suicidal thoughts after receiving bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). | |
 | Early HIV treatment key to avoiding brain atrophyWhile the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has largely dropped from news headlines since the 1990s, at the end of 2016 there were 36.7 million people living with the infection, and of those only 53 per cent had access to treatment. A new study underscores the neurological consequences of exposure to HIV without antiretroviral therapy. |
 | Daily aspirin linked to higher risk in menMen who take once-daily aspirin have nearly double the risk of melanoma compared to men who are not exposed to daily aspirin, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. |
 | Mindfulness at work: Study first to uncover positive benefits for teamsChallenges and differences in opinion are inevitable when working in a team. But new research from the UBC Sauder School of Business suggests some of these conflicts can be reduced, or even avoided, through team mindfulness. |
Cognitive remediation can be implemented in large systems of psychiatric careCognitive remediation, an evidence-based, recovery-oriented behavioral intervention for patients with mental illness, can feasibly be implemented in large systems of care, according to researchers at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University Irving Medical Center. | |
 | Interconnected cells-in-a-dish let researchers study brain diseaseBy creating multiple types of neurons from stem cells and observing how they interact, Salk scientists have developed a new way to study the connections between brain cells in the lab. Using the technique, which generates a partial model of the brain, the team showed how communication between neurons is altered in people with schizophrenia. The work appeared in Cell Stem Cell on May 3, 2018. |
 | Maternal placenta consumption causes no harm to newborns: studyThe largest study of its kind found mothers who consumed their placenta passed on no harm to their newborn babies when compared to infants of mothers who did not consume their placenta. |
Wriggling tadpoles may hold clue to how autism developsYou could say Hollis Cline's lab at The Scripps Research Institute is building better tadpoles. | |
 | Earlier mammograms may mean less need for aggressive treatments(HealthDay)—Much of the debate over when to start having mammograms has focused on lives saved, but new research suggests that early screening might also translate into smaller tumors and less aggressive breast cancer treatments. |
 | Simple drug packaging change could save toddlers' lives(HealthDay)—As America's opioid crisis continues, too many toddlers are accidentally overdosing on narcotic medicines. But a new study suggests that better packaging might curb the problem. |
 | The cold truth about migraine headaches(HealthDay)—Early humans' ability to adapt to cold climates may have been helped by a genetic variant that's common in modern people who live in colder regions—and is linked with migraine headaches, researchers say. |
 | Device might detect breast cancer-linked swelling sooner(HealthDay)—Testing for small changes in the flow of lymph fluids after breast cancer surgery can spot the start of a painful swelling known as lymphedema before it becomes hard to treat, a new study suggests. |
 | Breast cancer prognosis may be worse if diagnosis follows 'negative' mammogram(HealthDay)—About 15 percent of breast cancers are diagnosed in the interval between regularly scheduled mammograms, where the last mammogram showed no signs of a cancer. |
 | Home gym: the benefits of a cross-country ski machine(HealthDay)—When it comes to both fun and efficiency, cross-country skiing is an exhilarating, high-calorie burner. It's a lot less expensive than downhill skiing—all you need are the skis and a flat, snowy trail. |
 | Reproductive markers associated with risk of diabetes(HealthDay)—Markers of reproductive history, including age of menarche and parity, may be tied to future diabetes risk in women with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m², according to a study published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. |
 | Cystatin C tied to cumulative hearing impairment(HealthDay)—Reduced kidney function, estimated using cystatin C, is associated with 20-year cumulative incidence of hearing impairment (HI), according to a study published online April 26 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. |
 | Unit-dose packaging cuts accidental peds opioid exposures(HealthDay)—The transition to use of buprenorphine products with unit-dose packaging (UDP) starting in 2010 correlated with a reduction in unintentional pediatric exposures to buprenorphine-naloxone, according to a study published online May 3 in Pediatrics. |
 | Gender disparity observed in cancer genetic testing in the U.S.(HealthDay)—Specific demographic groups have lower cancer genetic testing, including unaffected men compared with unaffected women, according to a research letter published online April 26 in JAMA Oncology. |
 | Researchers create heart cells to study AFibUniversity of Illinois at Chicago researchers have discovered a way turn pluripotent stem cells into atrial cells, which make up the upper chambers, or atria, of the heart. The discovery will enable them to better study atrial fibrillation, the most common heart rhythm disorder also known as AFib, which originates in the heart's atria. |
 | Anti-alcoholism drug shows promise in animal modelsScientists at The University of Texas at Austin have successfully tested in animals a drug that, they say, may one day help block the withdrawal symptoms and cravings that incessantly coax people with alcoholism to drink. If eventually brought to market, it could help the more than 15 million Americans, and many more around the world who suffer from alcoholism stay sober. |
Newly discovered anti-inflammatory substances may potentially treat variety of diseasesResearchers have discovered a new family of substances which has been found to display highly potent activity against the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the toxicity induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The novel compounds synthesized and evaluated belong to a family of low molecular weight substances named indolines. In early experiments, these compounds have shown promising activity in the treatment of acute pancreatic inflammation, acute fatty liver damage, and diabetes. | |
 | Walnuts impact gut microbiome and improve healthDiets rich in nuts, such as walnuts, have been shown to play a role in heart health and in reducing colorectal cancer. According to a new study from the University of Illinois, the way walnuts impact the gut microbiome—the collection of trillions of microbes or bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract—may be behind some of those health benefits. |
 | Increased nerve activity may raise blood pressure in anxietySympathetic nerve activity to skeletal muscle blood vessels—a function of the nervous system that helps regulate blood pressure—increases during physiological and mental stress in people with chronic anxiety, a new study finds. Over time, this response may increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease, although the study did not test this specifically. The study, published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurophysiology, was chosen as an APSselect article for May. |
132-pound tumor removed from woman's abdomenDoctors at a Connecticut hospital say they removed a 132-pound tumor from a woman's abdomen, and she is expected to recover fully. | |
Australia's oldest scientist heads to Switzerland to end lifeAustralia's oldest scientist, wearing a top labelled "ageing disgracefully", has left the country for Switzerland to end his life at the age of 104, saying he is resentful that he must go overseas to die. | |
Study points to the futility of urine tests for salbutamol dopingSalbutamol, also known as albuterol, is a medication that opens upconstrictedmedium and large airways in the lungs and is often used to treat asthma. Because high doses are suspected by some to also have an anabolic effect, its daily dosage is restricted by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which uses urine tests to determine violations. A new British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology study shows thatlarge variability in urine concentrations, however, lead toinfeasibility of determining an administered dose from a single untimed urine sample. | |
Women should have right to reject pregnancy: legal academicLaws should not force women to risk death and injury by having a baby, according to a QUT legal academic who has says abortion can be decriminalised without society and governments making a moral judgement. | |
 | PET imaging agent could provide early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritisA novel PET tracer developed by Korean researchers can visualize joint inflammation and could provide early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, a common autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of joints and can lead to deformity and dysfunction. The study is reported in the featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine's May issue. |
Study: Transgender people who are denied mental health care at higher risk of self-harmA study co-authored by Dr. Michael A. Lindsey, Executive Director of the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy & Research at the Silver of Social Work at New York University, has found that transgender people who are denied access to mental health treatment experience a higher risk of substance abuse and attempted suicide. | |
Gov't urged to invoke authority to boost OD antidote accessThe Trump administration should invoke government authority to slash prices of a life-saving overdose drug or provide funding to expand access amid the coast-to-coast opioid epidemic, Baltimore's health department and a national advocacy group said Thursday. | |
 | Paramedics break down door to save 28-year-old having strokeWhen Kevin Duane saw his wife Alyssa sprawled on the floor of their kitchen, surrounded by an EMT crew, he feared she had been attacked in a home invasion. |
Nation's first cardiac ablation with mapping system recently cleared by the FDA performed at Penn MedicineAfter eight years of failed treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), Janet Szilagyi, 78 of Clayton, New Jersey, became the first patient in the United States to undergo cardiac ablation—a procedure in which an electrophysiologist will scar or destroy tissue in the heart that's allowing incorrect electrical signals to cause an abnormal heart rhythm—using an intraoperative imaging and mapping system recently cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). | |
Biology news
 | A new model for communication in plant cellsPlant cells share a strange and surprising kinship with animal neurons: many plant cells have proteins that closely resemble glutamate receptors, which help to relay nerve signals from one neuron to another. While plants lack a true nervous system, previous studies have shown that plants need these glutamate receptor-like proteins (GLRs) to do important things such as mate, grow, and defend themselves against diseases and pests. |
 | Solar powered sea slugs shed light on search for perpetual green energyIn an amazing achievement akin to adding solar panels to your body, a Northeast sea slug sucks raw materials from algae to provide its lifetime supply of solar-powered energy, according to a study by Rutgers University-New Brunswick and other scientists. |
 | No sperm or egg required: mouse proto-embryo made in the labScientists have for the first time created embryo-like structures in the lab from stem cells, without recourse to eggs or sperm, they reported Wednesday. |
 | What gorilla poop tells us about evolution and human healthA study of the microbiomes of wild gorillas and chimpanzees offers insights into the evolution of the human microbiome and might even have implications for human health. The research project was led by scientists at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. Findings appear in the journal Nature Communications. |
 | Mistletoe has lost 'most of its respiratory capacity,' studies showMost people know mistletoe (Viscum album) primarily as a plant to hang up and kiss under at the holidays. But in its natural environment, mistletoe is a hemiparasite (a parasitic plant that is capable of some photosynthesis), latching onto trees and extracting water and nutrients from them. Now, two independent studies reported in Current Biology on May 3 show that mistletoe's parasitic lifestyle has led the species to a rather surprising evolutionary loss. Mistletoe lacks key components of the cellular machinery other organisms depend upon to convert glucose into the energy-carrying molecule ATP. |
 | Milestone research on Madagascar periwinkle uncovers pathway to cancer-fighting drugsPlant scientists have taken the crucial last steps in a 60-year quest to unravel the complex chemistry of Madagascar periwinkle in a breakthrough that opens up the potential for rapid synthesis of cancer-fighting compounds. |
 | Deadliest human malaria parasite reveals the genomic chinks in its armorFor the first time, scientists have revealed the essential genes for the most deadly human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of South Florida (USF) created new genomic techniques to analyse every gene in the parasite and determine which ones are indispensable. |
 | Why plants are so sensitive to gravity: The lowdownPlants can detect the slightest angle of inclination. Yet the mechanism by which they sense gravity relies on microscopic grains. In theory, such a system should hardly allow for precise detection of inclination. Researchers from the CNRS, the French National Institute of Agronomic Research (INRA), and Université Clermont Auvergne have now explained this curious paradox: The grains are constantly being agitated within the plant cells. |
 | Weeds take over kelp in high CO2 oceansWeedy plants will thrive and displace long-lived, ecologically valuable kelp forests under forecast ocean acidification, new research from the University of Adelaide shows. |
 | Mystery solved: The bacterial protein that kills male fruit fliesIn the fifties, geneticists were faced with a mystery: when two strains of the same fruit fly species (Drosophila) crossed, they only produced female flies instead of the expected 50:50 sex ratio. At first, scientists thought that what lay behind this was a genetic mutation, but it was later discovered that the cause was a hidden bacterium, Spiroplasma poulsonii. |
 | Cracking the RNA-binding code of a cell fate regulatorInteractions between RNA and proteins impact all aspects of RNA metabolism. These interactions are mediated by diverse RNA binding domains (RBDs), of which many remain to be discovered. One example of a recently identified RBD is the NHL domain. This domain is present in so-called TRIM-NHL proteins, like the C. elegans LIN-41 or its human homolog LIN41/TRIM71, collectively referred to as LIN41. |
 | A new giant virus found in the waters of Oahu, HawaiiResearchers at the Daniel K. Inouye Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C-MORE) at the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa have characterized a new, unusually large virus that infects common marine algae. Found in the coastal waters off Oahu, Hawai'i, it contains the biggest genome ever sequenced for a virus infecting a photosynthetic organism. |
 | World's rarest ape on the edge of extinctionIn a new research article, a team of international researchers argue that the Tapanuli Orangutan—a species discovered last year in Sumatra, Indonesia, and one of the rarest animals on the planet—could lose its battle for survival, unless decisive steps are taken to rescue it. |
 | 'Digital snapshots' reveal the protein landscape of mitochondrial quality controlAlmost every cell in the human body, from beating heart cells to bacteria-gobbling immune cells, is powered by chemical energy produced by specialized organelles called mitochondria. The process of energy generation creates waste products that can be highly toxic, so, like real power plants, these organelles require tight quality control and oversight. |
 | Bacterial toxins wreak havoc by crippling cellular infrastructureBacterial toxins can wreak mass havoc within cells by shutting down multiple essential functions at once, a new study has found. |
 | New study sheds light (and some shade) on anole diversificationThe islands of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica—collectively known as the Greater Antilles—are home to more than 100 species of Anolis lizards. The success of this colorful group of reptiles is often attributed to the evolution of distinct body shapes and behaviors that allow species to occupy different ecological niches. A new study from an international team of biologists including from the University of Missouri reports that the evolution of physiological differences that allow these lizards to take advantage of different microclimates (e.g., sun vs. shade) may have been just as important as these physical differences. The study, which was published recently in The Proceedings of the Royal Society B, has implications for predicting how well these lizards will cope with climate change. |
 | French bulldogs at risk of various health problemsFrench Bulldogs, predicted soon to become the most popular dog breed in the UK, are vulnerable to a number of health conditions, according to a new study published in the open access journal Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. |
 | Africa struggles for weapons against armyworm curseOn farms across Africa, a seemingly innocuous brown and beige caterpillar is waging a silent war, devastating rural incomes and posing a major threat to the continent's food supply. |
 | Use of genealogy site to trace Golden State Killer raises concernsThe arrest of a suspected serial killer and notorious rapist in California using DNA and a public genealogy website has been hailed as a triumph of ingenuity by law enforcement. |
 | Microbeads to combat infection show promise in burn wound simulationsComputer simulations of microscopic, protein-coated beads that block bacteria from binding to host cells suggest that the microbeads could help reduce or eliminate bacterial infections in burn wounds. Paul Roberts of the University of Birmingham, U.K., and colleagues present these new findings, funded by the BBSRC, in PLOS Computational Biology. |
 | New species in the North SeaExperts from the Alfred Wegener Institute and the Universities of Oldenburg and Potsdam, Germany, have confirmed the existence of a new cryptic amphipod species in the North Sea. For the first time for the description of a new species, they used a level of mitogenomic information, which was normally applied in other areas of genetics. The discovery of Epimeria frankei has been reported in the journal Scientific Reports. In the future, this level of molecular information could revolutionise biodiversity research. |
 | Smaller trout have growth spurts when they decide to go to seaA four-year survey of brown trout in the burns of Orkney has revealed a surprise finding about Scotland's most ubiquitous fish: smaller members of the school have growth spurts when they decide to go to sea. |
 | Meet the ocean creatures that use a mesh of mucus to catch their foodAll animals must eat to survive. If you've heard the term "grazer" before, it may bring to mind familiar farm animals, such as cows or sheep munching on pastureland. But the ocean has its own suite of grazers, with very different—even bizarre—body forms and feeding techniques. Instead of teeth, one group of these invertebrates uses sheets of mucus to consume huge quantities of tiny plant-like particles. In our new paper, my colleagues and I suggest a new categorization for this overlooked group: "mucous-mesh grazers," in recognition of their unusual feeding strategy. |
 | Migration patterns changed among threatened whale populationClimate change has potentially had a major effect on the migration of southern right whale populations, research led by the University of St Andrews has found. |
 | Crocodiles listen to classical music in MRI scannerCrocodiles count among the most ancient species of vertebrates and have barely changed over the space of more than 200 million years. Accordingly, they constitute a link between dinosaurs and bird species today. "Analyses of crocodile brains thus provide deep insights into the evolution of the nervous system in mammals and may help us understand at which point certain brain structures and behaviours associated therewith were formed," explains Felix Ströckens. |
 | Flockmate or loner? Identifying the genes behind sociality in chickensFive genes that affect sociality-related behaviour in chickens have been identified by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden. Several of the genes have been previously linked to nervous system function or behaviour. The new study, which is published in Genetics, is the first that assigns these genes a role in sociality. |
 | We reconstructed the genome of the 'first animal'The first animals emerged on Earth at least 541m years ago, according to the fossil record. What they looked like is the subject of an ongoing debate, but they're traditionally thought to have been similar to sponges. |
The true 'value' of biodiversityPutting policies in place that are designed to protect biodiversity but are based on only one key species 'value' could inadvertently put some of our best loved wildlife in jeopardy, new research has shown. | |
 | Six endangered S.African rhinos on way to ChadSix critically endangered black rhinos were en route from South Africa to Chad on Thursday in a pioneering project to re-introduce the animals to a country where they were wiped out by poaching nearly 50 years ago. |
 | 24 and me: Discovery of gene of extra chromosome boosts zebra finch biologyIn the zebra finch, an extra chromosome exists in the reproductive, or germline, cells. (Songbirds have 40 chromosomes and 41 with the extra chromosome.) Known as the germline-restricted chromosome, its sequence is largely unknown and none of its genes have been identified, until now. Using sophisticated genome-sequencing techniques, American University researchers have identified the first gene of the GRC. This finding could pave the way for further research into what makes a bird male or female. |
 | CWD prions discovered in soil near Wisconsin mineral licks for the first timeNew research out of the University of Wisconsin-Madison has, for the first time, detected prions responsible for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in samples taken from sites where deer congregate. |
 | Australian-first 'hospital' burrow a design-led solution to saving wombats from extinctionMarcus Foth, Professor of Urban Informatics at the QUT Design Lab, is leading the research and evaluation of an Australian-first quarantine hospital burrow specifically designed to treat the deadly sarcoptic mange disease threatening bare-nosed wombats with extinction. |
 | Poachers shoot dead three rhinos inside Kenyan sanctuaryPoachers have shot dead three critically endangered black rhinos in a specially-protected sanctuary in northern Kenya, the wildlife service said Thursday. |
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