Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 2, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Brown dwarf in a dynamical-tide regime detected by WASP surveyEuropean astronomers have discovered a new transiting brown dwarf in a dynamical-tide regime as part of the Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) survey. The newly found object, designated WASP-128b, orbits its host on a close orbit—the measured stellar rotation rate places it in a regime where tidal interaction is dominated by dynamical tides. The finding is detailed in a paper published July 19 on arXiv.org. |
 | Astronomers blown away by historic stellar blastImagine traveling to the Moon in just 20 seconds! That's how fast material from a 170 year old stellar eruption sped away from the unstable, eruptive, and extremely massive star Eta Carinae. |
 | Researchers uncover remnants of early solar systemScientists believe the solar system was formed some 4.6 billion years ago when a cloud of gas and dust collapsed under gravity possibly triggered by a cataclysmic explosion from a nearby massive star or supernova. As this cloud collapsed, it formed a spinning disk with the sun in the center. |
 | Astronomers uncover new clues to the star that wouldn't dieWhat happens when a star behaves like it exploded, but it's still there? |
 | Engine flaw delays Boeing test of crew capsule to 2019An engine flaw discovered during a launchpad test of Boeing's Starliner spaceship, designed to carry humans to the International Space Station, has delayed its first crew test flight until next year. |
 | The fading ghost of a long-dead starThin, red veins of energized gas mark the location of one of the larger supernova remnants in the Milky Way galaxy in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. |
 | Gold lunar module replica stolen from museum still missingIt's been just over a year since a thief broke into the Armstrong Air and Space Museum in Ohio and stole an 18-karat gold replica of the Apollo 11 lunar module and other artifacts that have yet to be recovered or suspects arrested. |
 | New facility to simulate conditions on VenusThe German Space Agency (DLR) has opened a new simulation facility at its Planetary Spectroscopy Laboratory (PSL) in Berlin. The facility could help researchers better understand the surface of Venus hidden behind the planet's dense atmosphere. |
 | Sorry, Elon Musk, but it's now clear that colonising Mars is unlikely – and a bad ideaSpace X and Tesla founder Elon Musk has a vision for colonising Mars, based on a big rocket, nuclear explosions and an infrastructure to transport millions of people there. This was seen as highly ambitious but technically challenging in several ways. Planetary protection rules and the difficulties of terraforming (making the planet hospitable by, for example, warming it up) and dealing with the harsh radiation were quoted as severe obstacles. |
 | Exoplanets: how we used chemistry to identify the worlds most likely to host lifeAre we alone in the universe? This question has been with us for thousands of years, but it is only now that science is on the cusp of providing a real answer. We now know of dozens of rocky planets orbiting stars other than our sun where, for all we know, life might exist. And soon, with the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, we will have the first chance to peer into the atmospheres of some of these worlds. |
 | New Horizons team prepares for stellar occultation ahead of Ultima Thule flybySuccessfully observing an object from more than four billion miles away is difficult, yet NASA's New Horizons mission team is banking that they can do that—again. |
 | If intelligent aliens exist, why haven't we seen them?Thousands of planets have been discovered in the last few decades, although astronomers tell us there are probably billions. In such a large and diverse set of solar systems, it seems impossible that humans could be the only intelligent life. |
Technology news
 | Insight into loss processes in perovskite solar cells enables efficiency improvementsIn perovskite solar cells, charge carriers are mainly lost through recombination occurring at interface defect sites. In contrast, recombination at defect sites within the perovskite layer does not limit the performance of the solar cells at present. Teams from the University of Potsdam and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) were able to reach this interesting conclusion through extremely accurate quantitative measurements on 1 cm2 perovskite cells using photoluminescence. Their results contribute to improving perovskite solar cells and have now been published in Nature Energy. |
 | Neato robot vacuum will not tread on dog's bowlWant to bring personalized robot cleaning to the next level? The promotional message from California-based Neato Robotics believes it has the answer. Neato has announced that its robot vacuum has some updates. |
 | New tool helps users decide which countries their internet traffic transitsThe internet gives people worldwide access to applications and services, but in many cases, internet traffic passes through a few dominant countries, according to new research from Princeton University. |
 | Financial fruit: Apple becomes 1st trillion-dollar companyApple has become the world's first publicly traded company to be valued at $1 trillion, the financial fruit of stylish technology that has redefined what we expect from our gadgets. |
 | Electronic skin allows amputees to 'feel' pain and touchWhen Gyorgy Levay lost parts of all four extremities, including most of his left arm, to meningitis in 2010, he resolved to make the best of a bad situation. |
 | Google developing censor-friendly search engine for China: sourceGoogle is crafting a search engine that would meet China's draconian censorship rules, a company employee told AFP on Thursday, in a move decried by human rights activists. |
 | Samsung's new Galaxy Tab S4 hopes to take on the iPad Pro and Windows laptopsAugust was always expected to be a busy month for Samsung. And Samsung wasted little time in unpacking its latest updates. |
Tankee, a free safe-space video network for kid gamers, launching this fallParents who feel a cold chill up their back whenever their kids venture into the world of online gaming have a new resource. This week, an Austin-based video service aimed at 6- to 12-year-olds called Tankee came out of stealth mode with plans to launch officially in the fall. | |
DreamBox Learning gets $130 million for math education softwareBellevue, Wash., education-software company DreamBox Learning has received a $130 million investment from private equity firm TPG. The money, more than triple what the company has previously raised in its 12-year life span, is intended to bring accessible math education to more schools across the world. | |
Preview: 'Marvel Powers United VR' lets players be the superheroesAfter watching "Spider-Man" cartoons or reading "X-Men" comic books, nearly everyone—at one point or another—imagines that they had superpowers. They run through the house pretending to swing around Manhattan like a favorite web slinger or they play-act as Wolverine cutting through Sentinels. | |
 | Q&A: How Facebook regulates the wild west of political adsWith less than three months to go before the midterm elections, Facebook is enforcing strict new requirements on digital political ads. Among other things, they force political ad buyers to verify their identities by receiving mail at a known U.S. address. |
 | How origami might reshape the future of everythingThe next generation of solar panels and air bags will be shaped by the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. |
 | Grab raises $2 billion to fight ride-hailing competitionRide-hailing firm Grab said on Thursday it has raised $2 billion from investors to expand its offerings including electronic payments, food delivery and courier services as it fights fierce competition in the fast-growing sector. |
 | What is a blockchain token?People are just becoming acquainted with the idea of digital money in the form of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, where transactions are recorded on a secure distributed database called a blockchain. And now along comes a new concept: the blockchain-based token, which I've been following as a blockchain researcher and teacher of courses about cryptocurrency and blockchain tokens. |
 | Ditch the joystick? Swiss develop jacket that pilots dronesEver dreamt of flying without flapping wings, airplanes, hand-gliders or wing suits—just soaring free over the landscape with arms outstretched like Superman? |
 | The high-tech evolution of scientific computingScience has always relied on a combination of approaches to derive an answer or develop a theory. The seeds for Darwin's theory of natural selection grew under a Herculean aggregation of observation, data, and experiment. The more recent confirmation of gravitational waves by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) was a decades-long interplay of theory, experiment, and computation. |
 | A kernel of promise in popcorn-powered robotsCornell researchers have discovered how to power simple robots with a novel substance that, when heated, can expand more than 10 times in size, change its viscosity by a factor of 10 and transition from regular to highly irregular granules with surprising force. |
 | Music streaming giant Deezer raises 160 million eurosGlobal music streaming platform Deezer said Thursday it had raised 160 million euros ($186 million) in fresh funds from investors, including the Saudi sovereign fund Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), and French telecoms giant Orange. |
 | Teaching old tech new tricksUsing century-old minerals processing methods, chemical engineering students have found a solution to a looming 21st-century problem: how to economically recycle lithium ion batteries. |
 | US 'crypto-anarchist' sees 3D-printed guns as fundamental rightThe US "crypto-anarchist" who caused panic this week by publishing online blueprints for 3D-printed firearms said Wednesday that whatever the outcome of a legal battle, he has already succeeded in his political goal of spreading the designs far and wide. |
Cupertino shelves proposed 'head tax' on Apple employees for nowThe Cupertino City Council on Tuesday night put the brakes on a controversial plan to impose an employee "head tax" on Apple and other businesses. | |
 | Siemens shares nosedive on overhaul plan, energy woesShares in Siemens plummeted Thursday after falling demand for gas turbines weighed on quarterly earnings, and the German conglomerate announced a major revamp of its industrial units. |
 | BMW profits dip on investments in e-carsGerman high-end carmaker BMW on Thursday reported a dip in quarterly profits after ramping up spending on electric and self-driving cars. |
 | Rolls-Royce flies into loss on Trent engine troubleBritain's Rolls-Royce sank into the red in the first half after taking another big hit from expensive repairs to its Trent 1000 engine, it said Thursday. |
 | Starbucks and Alibaba join forces as China coffee war brewsStarbucks coffees will be delivered to Chinese consumers with the help of e-commerce giant Alibaba, the companies said Thursday, as two of the world's biggest names in retail join forces in a China coffee war that is rapidly heating up. |
 | Chinese-American engineer charged with stealing GE technologyA Chinese-American engineer faces charges of stealing valuable technology from General Electric, sneaking it out hidden in a picture of the sunset to take to China, the US Justice Department said. |
Ex-Tesla worker accused of hacking seeks $1M in counterclaimA former Tesla Inc. employee at the electric car maker's battery plant in Nevada is seeking at least $1 million in defamation damages after it accused him of hacking into computers and stealing confidential information leaked to the media. | |
 | USGA launches eSport virtual US Amateur using Pebble BeachThe first Virtual US Amateur competition on the eSports World Golf Tour was launched Thursday by the US Golf Association using iconic Pebble Beach as the venue. |
Medicine & Health news
 | New anti-cancer drugs put cancers to sleep—permanentlyIn a world first, Melbourne scientists have discovered a new type of anti-cancer drug that can put cancer cells into a permanent sleep, without the harmful side-effects caused by conventional cancer therapies. |
 | Muscle 'switch' may control the benefits of exerciseSome people respond well to both aerobic exercise and strength training, while others don't. And some of us respond well to only one of those things, but not both. Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center now have uncovered a surprising molecular "switch" that may help to explain why this happens. |
 | Maternal dengue immunity protects against fetal damage in mice following Zika infectionDengue and Zika viruses are closely related and carried by mosquitos. In infested subtropical and tropical areas, dengue transmission often precedes Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, suggesting that women who previously acquired dengue immunity may be bitten by ZIKV-carrying mosquitoes during pregnancy. Whether that mother's prior dengue immunity would protect her unborn baby from devastating brain defects such as microencephaly associated with ZIKV is unknown. |
 | Google Glass helps kids with autism read facial expressions, study findsChildren with autism were able to improve their social skills by using a smartphone app paired with Google Glass to help them understand the emotions conveyed in people's facial expressions, according to a pilot study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. |
 | Map of a billion brain links reveals clues about how we thinkScientists have created an elaborate map of more than a billion brain cell connections, helping to shed light on how memories are formed and recalled. |
 | Hearing class: Researchers identify molecularly distinct subtypes of neurons that encode soundA new study by Harvard Medical School researchers sheds light on the molecular repertoire of neurons responsible for encoding sound in the inner ear, which could inform efforts to develop therapeutic strategies to treat or protect against hearing loss. |
 | New stem cell model can be used to test treatments for a rare nervous system disorderA City of Hope researcher has developed a stem cell model to assess possible treatments for a rare nervous system disorder that is in the same disease group as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). |
 | Why weight loss produces remission of type 2 diabetes in some patientsA clinical trial recently showed that nearly half of individuals with type 2 diabetes achieved remission to a non-diabetic state after a weight-loss intervention delivered within 6 years of diagnosis. Now a study published August 2nd in the journal Cell Metabolism reveals that this successful response to weight loss is associated with the early and sustained improvement in the functioning of pancreatic beta cells. This finding challenges the previous paradigm that beta-cell function is irreversibly lost in patients with type 2 diabetes. |
 | Study challenges evolution of FOXP2 as human-specific language geneFOXP2, a gene implicated in affecting speech and language, is held up as a textbook example of positive selection on a human-specific trait. But in a paper published August 2 in the journal Cell, researchers challenge this finding. Their analysis of genetic data from a diverse sample of modern people and Neanderthals saw no evidence for recent, human-specific selection of FOXP2 and revises the history of how we think humans acquired language. |
 | Cellular communication system in mice helps control female fertilityWhen Joan Jorgensen was an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, her roommate confided that she had just one period before going through menopause in high school. Doctors told Jorgensen's roommate that she would never have biological children. |
 | Researchers study how cues drive our behaviorDo dopamine neurons have a role in causing cues in our environment to acquire value? And, if so, do different groups of dopamine neurons serve different functions within this process? |
 | Machine learning links dimensions of mental illness to abnormalities of brain networksA new study using machine learning has identified brain-based dimensions of mental health disorders, an advance towards much-needed biomarkers to more accurately diagnose and treat patients. A team at Penn Medicine led by Theodore D. Satterthwaite, MD, an assistant professor in the department of Psychiatry, mapped abnormalities in brain networks to four dimensions of psychopathology: mood, psychosis, fear, and disruptive externalizing behavior. The research is published in Nature Communications this week. |
 | pH imbalance in brain cells may contribute to Alzheimer's diseaseJohns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have found new evidence in lab-grown mouse brain cells, called astrocytes, that one root of Alzheimer's disease may be a simple imbalance in acid-alkaline—or pH—chemistry inside endosomes, the nutrient and chemical cargo shuttles in cells. |
 | Big-data study pinpoints more than 150 genes associated with atrial fibrillationDrawing on genomic data from more than one million individuals, researchers from the University of Michigan have led a large collaborative effort to discover as-yet unknown genetic risk factors for atrial fibrillation: an irregular, often rapid heart rate affecting millions of Americans and more than 30 million people worldwide. Atrial fibrillation increases one's risk for blood clots, stroke, heart failure, and death. |
 | Nurse navigators can help to improve oncology care(HealthDay)—Nurse navigators are playing an important role in oncology care at the Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y., according to a report published in Managed Healthcare Executive. |
 | US opioid use not declined, despite focus on abuse and awareness of riskUse of prescription opioids in the United States has not substantially declined over the last decade, despite increased attention to opioid abuse and awareness of their risks, finds a study published by The BMJ today. |
 | New study shows smoking can affect breastfeeding habitsResearchers have determined that new mothers exposed to cigarette smoke in their homes, stop breastfeeding sooner than women not exposed to second-hand smoke. |
 | Study suggests obesity may also impact flu transmission, not just severity of illnessObesity increases a person's risk for severe complications from influenza, including hospitalization and even death. It may also play a role in how flu spreads, according to a new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The findings suggest that obese adults infected with flu shed the virus for a longer time than adults who are not obese, potentially increasing the opportunity for the infection to spread to others. |
 | The case for greater focus on mosquitoes, ticks in epidemiologyThe textbook approach to managing disease outbreaks focuses on three factors—pathogen, host, and environment—but it leaves out one critical component in the case of afflictions such as Zika, malaria, and Lyme: the insect or arthropod responsible for transmission to humans. |
 | A new reality for beauty standards: How selfies and filters affect body imageWith the spread of photo-editing technology through applications like Snapchat and Facetune, the level of physical "perfection" previously seen only on celebrity or beauty magazines is now all over social media. As these images become the norm, people's perceptions of beauty worldwide are changing, which can take a toll on a person's self-esteem and can trigger body dysmorphic disorder , argue Boston Medical Center (BMC) researchers in a JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery Viewpoint. |
 | Death toll from Hurricane Maria estimated to be larger than previously thoughtThe number of people who died as a result of Hurricane Maria—which hit Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017—may be as high as 1,139, surpassing the official death count of 64, according to researchers. |
 | Alcohol increases tuberculosis-related deaths in young miceAlcohol increases the mortality of young but not old mice infected with the tuberculosis-causing bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), and this effect is mediated by the production of a protein called interferon-alpha (IFN-α). The study, led by Deepak Tripathi of the University of Texas Health Science Center, will be published August 2 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens. |
 | Field test for dog Leishmania exposure evaluatedDogs infected with Leishmania infantum, a parasite transmitted by the sand fly Phlebotomus perniciosus, are at risk for spreading leishmaniasis infections to humans. A new test, described and evaluated this week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, provides an easier-than-ever way to test dogs for exposure to P. perniciosus sand flies, and could be used in monitoring the effectiveness of sand fly control efforts. |
 | Ebola outbreak has lasting impact on Liberian agriculture, food securityThere is unequivocal evidence that disease epidemics adversely affect the livelihoods of individuals, households and communities in affected areas. The ebola outbreak in Liberia, researchers have now shown, had lasting impacts on crop production, income, and food security. The new results are published this week in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. |
 | Individual training of parents is best for small children with ADHDA major research project from a collaborative of university researchers finds that individual behavioural treatment and support for parents of preschool children with ADHD is significantly better than what is currently routinely offered in Danish Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. The results are published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. |
India needs 'giant leap' to meet 2030 targets in reducing child mortality ratesIIASA researchers have found that almost half of the districts in India are not on track to reduce the mortality rates of newborns and meet the target set out under Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) for 2030, while a third will not meet the target for under-five mortality rates. | |
Test enables quick diagnosis of rare hormone disorder associated with excessive fluid intakeDrinking excessive amounts of fluids can be a medically unremarkable habit, but it could also signify a rare hormone disorder. A new procedure now enables a fast and reliable diagnosis. Researchers from the University of Basel and University Hospital Basel reported these findings in the New England Journal of Medicine. | |
Key piece identified for slowing a colorectal cancer subtypeInhibiting the Jagged 1 protein in mice prevents the proliferation and growth of colon and rectal tumours. What is more, this approach to the disease permits the removal of existing tumours. This is the conclusion of a study led by the Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer and Stem Cells research group from the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), directed by Dr. Lluís Espinosa, who is also a member of CIBERONC (the Network Centre for Biomedical Research into Cancer), in collaboration with the Pathological Anatomy and Medical Oncology Units at Hospital del Mar, and the IDIBELL-Catalan Oncology Institute. The work has been published in Nature Communications. | |
 | Stem cell research for cystic fibrosis leaps forwardThe fight against cystic fibrosis (CF) has taken a major step forward, with pioneering research by University of Adelaide scientists showing that cells causing the debilitating genetic disorder could be successfully replaced with healthy ones. |
 | Bans on gluten-free prescribing save the NHS money in the short-term but the impact on patients is unclearFull or partial bans on GPs prescribing gluten-free (GF) foods to people with coeliac disease save the NHS money in the short-term. But the impact on patients, especially those from deprived areas, is unknown, NIHR-funded researchers at the University of Bristol have warned. |
 | Turning up the temperature on indoor comfortIndoor temperatures in aged care homes could have a dramatic impact on the wellbeing of residents, particularly those living with dementia. |
 | Health officials: Condoms are not meant to be reusedHealth officials are reminding people that condoms are not reusable. |
 | Genetic testing—should you be tested for Alzheimer's risk?Thanks to advances in genetic testing, there is now a way for consumers to test for the greatest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease. |
 | Prescribing aspirin in early pregnancy could be key in battle against pre-eclampsiaThe current approach in Ireland of screening expectant mothers for pre-eclampsia after they show early signs of the condition may not offer the best outcome for mothers and babies. |
 | World experts target guidance on managing dementia symptomsNew research which brings together the views of the world's leading experts has concluded that non-drug approaches should be prioritised in treating agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease. |
 | How does attention impact false memory susceptibility?How we remember things, and how we falter in those memories, is a process that has been studied for decades, but human episodic memory is still poorly understood. |
 | Ground-breaking study tests whether rejected livers can be made viable for transplantationA ground-breaking study is underway at the University of Birmingham and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham to establish if livers that have been rejected for transplantation can be made viable by using a liver perfusion machine. |
 | Wisconsin man contracts rare blood infection from dog (Update)A Wisconsin man was preparing for additional surgeries after having part of his legs and forearms amputated because of a dog lick that led to a rare blood infection, his wife said Thursday. |
 | National Guideline Clearinghouse offline due to funding cuts(HealthDay)—The National Guideline Clearinghouse (NGC) and National Quality Measures Clearinghouse (NQMC) websites were taken down on July 16 when funding for these federal databases ended, according to an announcement by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). |
 | Summer sounds can cause hearing damage(HealthDay)—The sounds of summer can cause hearing damage, warn experts from Penn State University. |
 | Real or crocodile tears? Psychopaths may not know the differenceNew research from The Australian National University (ANU) has found people with high levels of psychopathic traits have difficulty telling when someone is genuinely afraid or upset, based on people's facial expressions. |
 | Children should spend more time barefoot to encourage a healthier foot structureHumans have gone unshod for millions of years; it is only in the last few centuries that people have started wearing shoes. However, a recent survey shows that shoe wearing among young boys isn't universal. German children and teenagers spend most of their day in shoes, while about 90% of their South African counterparts go barefoot. |
 | A dietitian on what you need to know about the keto dietA diet developed in the 1920s to treat children with epilepsy is suddenly all the rage. The ketogenic diet, or "keto diet", has reportedly been endorsed by celebrities and even athletes are giving it a go. |
 | Researchers examining Parkinson's resilienceDiseases have a spectrum of risk, even those partially embedded in genes such as Parkinson's disease. |
 | Which colic treatments work and which don't?Everyone has an opinion on infant colic. But what new parents really need is reassurance and facts. |
 | Misleading claims on sugar-rich cerealsThe BDA has called for sweeping changes to food marketing and product formulation, as new research by Cardiff University reveals the extent of misleading claims on sugar-rich cereals aimed at children. |
 | Antidepressant efficacy is the new fake newsAre antidepressants an effective treatment for major depression? According to Professor Gordon Parker AO, a professor of psychiatry at UNSW and the founder of the Black Dog Institute, the answer is irrelevant—because we're asking the wrong question. |
Fetal DNA sequencing potentially could reduce need for invasive prenatal diagnostic proceduresSequencing the fetal DNA that circulates in a pregnant woman's blood holds promise for modern genomic medicine, according to a review article by Diana W. Bianchi, M.D., a senior researcher and institute director at the National Institutes of Health, and her colleague. Fetal DNA sequencing improves the accuracy of prenatal screening tests for genetic conditions and at times has led to the diagnosis of maternal conditions that may have otherwise gone undetected. The article appears in the New England Journal of Medicine. | |
Study reveals early warning signs of heart problems in patients with newly diagnosed lupusCardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in patients with lupus, a systemic autoimmune disease. In a new study in Arthritis & Rheumatology—a journal published by Wiley on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology—imaging tests revealed signs of cardiac impairment in patients newly diagnosed with lupus, even before any symptoms of chest discomfort. | |
 | A breakthrough for understanding glioblastoma—origin cells for deadly brain tumors identifiedA new study by KAIST researchers identified where the mutation causing glioblastoma starts. According to the study, neural stem cells away from the tumor mass are the cells of origin that contain mutation drivers for glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive brain tumor. This breakthrough research, reported in Nature on August 1, gives insights for understanding why glioblastomas almost always grow back, even after surgery, and suggests novel ways to treat glioblastoma, which was previously thought to be incurable. |
 | Mother's teenage smoking habit is key risk factor for low-birth-weight baby, study findsOf all the risk factors associated with low birth weight, a mother's teenage smoking habit is by far the strongest observed, according to a recent study led by Jennifer B. Kane, assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Irvine. Babies born weighing less than five pounds, eight ounces are more susceptible to physical and cognitive difficulties later in life, resulting in socioeconomic disadvantages that can be transmitted across generations. |
 | What are wisdom teeth, and should you have them removed?Unfortunately, oral and dental pain is something everyone can relate to. One of the most common reasons people visit the dentist is for pain related to their "wisdom teeth", or the third set of molar (grinding) teeth to erupt from the gums. |
Researchers find greater rates of obesity, diabetes in the U.S. countrysideLife outside the city may once have been thought to be a ticket to good health with plenty of exercise and fresh food. But recent Brock University research has shown that in modern times, the opposite might be true. | |
Proposed farm bill would put nutritious food further out of reach for vulnerable Americans, advocates sayThe House of Representative's proposed farm bill could have far-reaching effects on Americans living with chronic diseases like heart disease and stroke, advocacy groups say. | |
 | Health research discovers new link between hypoxia and blood clot riskResearch led by Rinku Majumder, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biochemistry at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, has found how hypoxia (a low concentration of oxygen) decreases Protein S, a natural anticoagulant, resulting in an increased risk for the development of potentially life-threatening blood clots (thrombosis). Although hypoxia has been associated with an increased risk for thrombosis, this research showed for the first time a molecular cause. The work is published in the current issue of Blood. |
 | Wearable devices: Useful medical insights or just more data?Wearable devices are increasingly bought to track and measure health and sports performance: from the number of steps walked each day to a person's metabolic efficiency, from the quality of brain function to the quantity of oxygen inhaled while asleep. But the truth is we know very little about how well these sensors and machines work—let alone whether they deliver useful information, according to a new review published in Frontiers in Physiology. |
 | Psychologists show that acting is the key to remembering tasksHave you ever been shopping and returned home to find that you have forgotten to buy the very item you went shopping for? Have you known it was going to rain yet left your umbrella at home? Have you gone out and left the television on? |
Aortic atherosclerotic plaque inflammation may contribute to the progression of fatty liver disease to liver fibrosisThe world's rising obesity epidemic is associated with a broad spectrum of ailments including atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) disease. Each condition can progress from small fatty deposits to localized tissue inflammation that is potentially dangerous. For example, in arterial vessel walls inflamed atherosclerotic plaques are prone to rupture (thrombosis) to form blood clots that may cause life-threatening strokes or heart attacks. | |
Obamacare relieved financial strain of those closest to the federal poverty lineThe Affordable Care Act—or Obamacare—most benefitted those closest to the federal poverty line, a study led by Drexel University researchers shows. | |
 | New lung cell type discoveredIn separate studies published online in Nature on Aug. 1, two independent research teams report the discovery of a new, rare type of cell in the human airway. These cells appear to be the primary source of activity of the CFTR gene, mutations to which cause cystic fibrosis, a multiorgan disease that affects more than 70,000 people worldwide. |
Routine screening of relatives of aortic disease patients could save livesRoutine screening and genetic testing of the relatives of patients suffering from aortic diseases could save lives, new research has shown. | |
Team defines the mechanisms of action of key genetic abnormality in Ewing sarcomaA Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team has used epigenome editing tools to investigate how the genetic abnormality that drives Ewing sarcoma—the second most common bone cancer in children and young adults—unleashes tumor growth. In their paper in the journal Genes & Development the researchers show that blocking the fusion protein EWS-FLI1 from binding and activating specific 'enhancer' sites in the genome prevents the expression of genes that promote tumor growth. | |
 | Newly characterized molecule offers possibilities for novel Alzheimer's treatmentsAlzheimer's disease is an increasingly prevalent, neurodegenerative condition that erodes memory and other cognitive functions. Treatments for this complex disease have been elusive, although researchers have previously uncovered its main biological features: amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles. |
 | Moral decision making is rife with internal conflict, say developmental psychologistsA new in-depth study of moral reasoning challenges the popular notion that people are unable to think through difficult moral problems and rely primarily on automatic "gut" reactions to make tough decisions. |
European regulator launches review of recalled heart drugThe European Medicines Agency (EMA) said Thursday it is conducting a review of the health effects on patients of a widely used blood pressure medication recalled around the world last month. | |
 | Lung cancer screening guidelines inadequate for high-risk minoritiesData from a lung cancer screening program at the University of Illinois at Chicago provides evidence that national lung cancer screening guidelines, which were developed based on the National Lung Screening Trial, or NLST, in 2011 and recommend screening based on age and smoking history, may be insufficient for individuals in underrepresented communities. |
 | New light shed on relationship between calorie-burning fat and muscle functionAbundant in human babies and small mammals, brown adipose tissue (BAT), or brown fat, was only recently discovered in human adults, and its role remains unclear. Known to play an integral part in generating body heat and burning stored energy, its presence is linked to lower body weight and improved blood sugar levels, making it an attractive research target for potential treatments for diabetes, obesity and other metabolic diseases. |
Insulin resistance under-diagnosed in non-diabetics with Parkinson's diseaseAlmost two-thirds of non-diabetic patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may be insulin resistant, despite having normal blood sugar, report scientists in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease. Their findings suggest that insulin resistance in PD is a common and largely undetected problem, especially in patients who are overweight. | |
 | Novel PET imaging method could track and guide therapy for type 1 diabetesResearchers have discovered a new nuclear medicine test that could improve care of patients with type 1 diabetes. The new positron emission tomography (PET) imaging method could measure beta-cell mass, which would greatly enhance the ability to monitor and guide diabetes therapies. This study is reported in the featured article of the month in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine's August issue. |
 | How to get your kids to eat better(HealthDay)—If you want to keep your kids at a healthy weight, show them, don't tell them. |
 | Common virus causes heart defects in miceA virus that infects millions of Americans every year may on occasion cause heart defects during the early stages of pregnancy, a new study in mice suggests. The findings may give researchers further insights into the causes of congenital heart disease. |
 | How much daily exercise do you really need?(HealthDay)—Hopefully, you enjoy exercising and don't watch the clock, impatient for it to be over. |
 | Can arthritic dogs (and their owners) benefit from stem cell injections?(HealthDay)—If dogs with arthritis can gain benefit from stem cell injections, maybe people can, too. |
 | Moon dust a health hazard?(HealthDay)—Dust could pose a health hazard if astronauts start spending extended periods of time on the Moon, Mars or other airless planets, researchers say. |
 | Heart problem forced her baby to be delivered early. Then came a steeper challengeOne night after work, on her way up three flights of stairs to her apartment, Kayde Wolf paused on every landing to catch her breath. In her 20s, fit and healthy, she didn't understand what was happening. |
 | How doctors receive feedback is key for antimicrobial programs(HealthDay)—Anticipation of how providers will receive feedback is important for antimicrobial stewardship programs to consider in informing educational messaging, according to a study published online June 7 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. |
 | Single threshold may not be feasible for gestational diabetes(HealthDay)—Uniform application of gestational diabetes mellitus diagnostic thresholds may not be appropriate in populations across the world, according to a study published in the July issue of Diabetes Care. |
 | Obesity worsens skilled nursing facility outcomes after hip Fx(HealthDay)—Obesity is associated with worse outcomes in skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents receiving post-acute care for hip fracture, according to a study published in the June issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. |
 | AHA introduces heart failure certification program(HealthDay)—A hospital certification program offered by the American Heart Association (AHA) and The Joint Commission will be made available to hospitals seeking to implement exceptional efforts to foster better quality of care and outcomes for patients with advanced heart failure, according to a AHA July 19 news release. |
 | TGFB1 mutation ups radiation-induced breast fibrosis risk(HealthDay)—The C-509T allele in the promoter region of transforming growth factor β (TGFB1) is associated with radiation-induced breast fibrosis risk among patients with early-stage breast cancer, according to study published online July 19 in JAMA Oncology. |
 | E-cigarettes don't seem to aid smoking cessation efforts(HealthDay)—Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is most common among current smokers, according to a study published online July 20 in JAMA Network Open. |
Blocking digestive hormone may prevent diet-induced pancreatic cancerA high-fat diet may promote the growth of pancreatic cancer independent of obesity because of the interaction between dietary fat and cholecystokinin (CCK), a digestive hormone. In addition, blocking CCK may help prevent the spread of pancreatic tumors to other areas of the body (metastases). The new findings are published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology. The research was chosen as an APSselect article for August. | |
 | Medical researchers suggest a new approach of targeted cancer therapyDuring carcinogenesis, malignant cells undergo uncontrolled division, causing tumor dissemination. Target therapy is an actively developing area of cancer treatment that includes blocking the action of certain proteins that are essential for controlling tumor growth or activating non-functional proteins that control cell division. One of these proteins is tumor suppressor protein p53, which is mutated in about 50 percent of all tumors. Using several new compounds, it is possible to increase the activity of wild type p53. Some other compounds are able to reactivate mutated p53, making it more active and able to participate in cancer cell apoptosis. This approach is expected to be more efficient and less harmful for healthy cells. |
 | Australian law erases decades of anonymity for sperm donorsFor Peter Peacock, fate arrived in the form of a registered letter. |
 | Update on Salmonella outbreak tied to Hy-Vee spring pasta salad(HealthDay)—A Salmonella outbreak linked to Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad has now sickened 79 people in nine states. Eighteen people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. |
DR Congo rushes team to Ebola zoneDR Congo on Thursday flew a team led by Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga to an eastern region hit by Ebola, the country's second outbreak in less than three months, a local official said. | |
 | A study proposes applying neuromarketing to cognitive archaeologyThe Paleoneurobiology group of the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) has published a methodological study in the journal Progress in Brain Research in which neuromarketing techniques were used for the first time to analyze the relationship between the hand and the use of stone tools, and the cognitive functions associated to the sensory and exploratory process of manipulation, in addition to the spatial relationship between hand and object. |
Climate change can be deadly if you live aloneCities around the globe felt record-breaking, red-hot temperatures this July: In the United States, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Algeria, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Oman and China, the thermostat reached all-time highs. | |
Study confirms lower rate of repeat surgery when hip implants use 'cross-linked' polyethyleneA long-term follow-up study from Australia confirms that hip implants with components made of cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) substantially lower the risk of revision surgery after total hip replacement, reports a study in the August 1, 2018 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. | |
 | Metabolomics applications for precision nutrition, formula, and neurodegenerative disordersMetabolomics is the latest omics systems science technology with emerging applications towards psychiatry, personalized medicine, and most recently, precision nutrition research. Infant formula, for example, is manufactured to match the molecular composition of human milk. A new study reporting on the comparative lipid profiles of infant formulas and human milk using metabolomics is published in OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology. |
New research identifies priorities in identifying pain in nonverbal children with medical complexityPain is a frequent problem for children with complex medical conditions -but many of them are unable to communicate their pain verbally. For these children, nurses face a challenging task in assessing and determining the cause of pain, according to a study in the August issue of the American Journal of Nursing. | |
 | Measles infects more than 1,000 in Brazil; 5 reported deathsBrazil's Health Ministry says more than 1,000 people have been infected and five have died in a measles outbreak linked to cases imported from neighboring Venezuela. |
 | Carnegie Mellon's Aryn Gittis named finalist for Science & PINS PrizeCarnegie Mellon University neuroscientist Aryn Gittis was named a finalist for the Science & PINS Prize for Neuromodulation for her discovery of new therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease. |
Response to Congo's new Ebola outbreak 'highly complex'The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says the response to the new Ebola virus outbreak in Congo's North Kivu province will be "highly complex" given the armed unrest in the region. | |
 | AMA calls for alleviating racial housing segregation(HealthDay)—The American Medical Association (AMA) opposes policies that enable racial housing segregation, according to an article published in the association's AMA Wire. |
 | New research shows Juvenile diversion programs work, also curb reoffending tendenciesJuveniles who complete diversion programs for their crimes are less likely to continue their criminal activity as adults, according to new research from Case Western Reserve University. |
Biology news
 | Naked mole-rats defy conventions of aging and reproductionNaked mole-rats live in colonies of two breeders and around 300 non-breeding workers. Although the breeding pair carries the metabolic cost of reproduction and, in the queen's case, lactation, they live longer than non-breeders and remain fertile throughout their lives. Researchers at the Leibniz Institute on Aging in Germany investigated the genetic mechanisms beneath this apparent paradox. Their findings are published in the open access journal BMC Biology. |
 | Mysterious DNA modification important for fly brainEmory scientists have identified a function for a mysterious DNA modification in fruit flies' brain development, which may provide hints to its role in humans. |
 | Microbes go dark to stay warm in cooler climatesMicroorganisms in colder climates darken themselves to capture more heat from the sun and improve their ability to survive, according to a study from scientists at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. |
 | Plants can tell the time using sugarsA new study by an international team of scientists, including the University of Bristol, has discovered that plants adjust their daily circadian rhythm to the cycle of day and night by measuring the amount of sugars in their cells. |
 | How to make the gene-editing tool CRISPR work even betterAmong the most significant scientific advances in recent years are the discovery and development of new ways to genetically modify living things using a fast and affordable technology called CRISPR. Now scientists at The University of Texas at Austin say they've identified an easy upgrade for the technology that would lead to more accurate gene editing with increased safety that could open the door for gene editing safe enough for use in humans. |
 | Fairy-wrens learn alarm calls of other species just by listeningBirds often eavesdrop on the alarm calls of other species, making it possible for them to take advantage of many eyes looking out for danger. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on August 2 have found that fairy-wrens can learn those unfamiliar calls—which they liken to a foreign language—even without ever seeing the bird that made the call or the predator that provoked it. Instead, the birds in their study learned to recognize new alarm calls by listening for unfamiliar sounds within a chorus of familiar alarm calls. |
 | CRISPR diversifies: Cut, paste, on, off, and now—evolveLife is astoundingly diverse. By taking antibiotics to stop infections or using yeast to brew beer, we are co-opting useful products and processes that evolved naturally. But what happens when the trait we want can't be found in nature? |
 | Fecal deposits reveal the fruit fly's pheromone flagFruit flies have a rich language of smell messages that they exchange, but now their secret is out. In a report published August 2 in Current Biology, scientists were able to tap into the communications among freely interacting flies using a bioluminescent technology to monitor their brain activity. They discovered that males signal their presence by placing droppings that act as a calling card for flies to find each other and even lure females to designated locations. |
 | When the seed becomes a plant, it has 48 hours to surviveDuring germination, the embryo within a seed must develop into a young seedling capable of photosynthesis in less than 48 hours. During this time, it relies solely on its internal reserves, which are quickly consumed. It must therefore rapidly create functional chloroplasts, cellular organelles that will enable it to produce sugars to ensure its survival. Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University of Neuchâtel (UniNE), Switzerland, have revealed in the journal Current Biology the key elements that control the formation of chloroplasts from proplastids, hitherto poorly studied organelles. Such a mechanism ensures a rapid transition to autonomous growth, as soon as the seed decides to germinate. |
 | Research on pine sawflies sheds light on the evolution of cooperationPine sawflies terrify forest owners, but they help researchers understand the evolution of cooperation. |
 | Queen bees and the microbial fountain of youthTo the untrained eye beholding a beehive, all animals seem equal, but new research reveals that some are more equal than others. |
 | Widespread giant African cobra revealed to be five distinct speciesCobras are among the most widely known venomous snakes, and yet a new research paper has revealed that what was thought to be a single widespread cobra species, the forest cobra, is, in fact, made up of five separate species. Two of these species, the Black Forest Cobra and the West African Banded Cobra, are new to science and are first named in this paper. |
 | Genomic study ties insect evolution to the ability to detect airborne odorsA new study reveals that all insects use specialized odorant receptors that enable them to detect and pursue mates, identify enemies, find food and—unfortunately for humans—spread disease. This puts to rest a recent hypothesis that only some insects evolved the ability to detect airborne odors as an adaptation to flight, the researchers said. |
 | Genome regulation of cell type cataloged in mouse at single-cell levelScientists have completed a major effort to map the regulatory landscape of the mouse genome at a single-cell resolution. |
 | Study sheds light on stem cell proliferation that may one day boost crop yieldsA Purdue University study has uncovered mechanisms that lead to stem cell formation and maintenance in plants. The findings may one day allow scientists to manipulate stem cell production to increase biomass that can be used for biofuels or grain yield in plants like corn and soybeans. |
 | Scientists discover genomic key to plateau adaptationChinese scientists studying genomic data of hot-spring snakes have discovered the genetic mechanism for ectothermic animals' adaptation to extreme, high-elevation environments. The study, titled "Comparative genomic investigation of high-elevation adaptation in ectothermic snakes," was published in PNAS on July 31. |
 | Animals and fungi enhance the performance of forestsA new study shows that in addition to the diversity of tree species, the variety of animal and fungus species also has a decisive influence on the performance of forests. Besides timber production, forest performance contributes to carbon storage and climate regulation. The study is based on 10 years of research in species-rich subtropical forests. A team of researchers led by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) and the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg has published the results in the new issue of Nature Communications. They illustrate that biodiversity must be viewed as a whole in order to maintain the performance of forests. |
 | Bird DNA helps explain Amazonian rivers' role in evolutionWhen the young naturalist Alfred R. Wallace left England to explore the New World in 1848, one of his key observations in the Amazon region was that large rivers were unsurpassable barriers for some species of animals, particularly primates and birds. Even more interesting, he noticed that closely related species often occupied forests on opposite sides of a river, but they were never found together. |
 | Fishing bans protect fish and don't harm fishing communitiesFishing bans don't have to hurt fishing communities, according to a new study led by Stanford researchers. The group tracked vessels during a short-lived trawling moratorium in the Adriatic Sea and found that fishers maintained their catch levels by fishing elsewhere. The findings suggest that such bans can protect overfished regions without hurting people's livelihoods and could influence efforts to protect other sensitive regions. |
 | New publication about bees and their New England habitats availableResearchers in the Maine Agricultural and Forest Experiment Station and their colleagues from neighboring institutions published a report called "Bees and Their Habitats in Four New England States" this summer. |
 | With fewer types of fish to catch, Maine fishermen may be losing their knowledge of the seaMaine fishermen have a long history of being involved in fisheries management. Communication between harvesters and policymakers has been instrumental in the development of rules and regulations that have helped to sustain the region's coastal fisheries—from clams to alewives to lobsters. |
 | Clonal reproduction assured by sister chromosome pairing in dojo loach fishHokkaido University researchers have developed a technique that allows them to track chromosomes during egg production in dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. The study uncovered how female clones double their chromosomes twice to assure clonal reproduction. |
 | How plant-rotting bacteria steal iron to surviveIn a new study, researchers identify important new insights into a survival mechanism of the bacteria that cause rotting in certain plants, including some highly invasive weeds. The study, publishing on August 2 in the Open-Access journal PLOS Biology, demonstrates for the first time exactly how the bacterium Pectobacterium obtains the iron vital to its survival and replication: by pirating it from iron-bearing proteins in the host plants. The study was led by Dr. Rhys Grinter and Prof. Trevor Lithgow at the Biomedicine Discovery Institute of Monash University. The team used comparative genomics to forensically track the origins of an enzyme, called FusC, that turned out to be the key factor for the import and acquisition of iron. |
 | Australia to 'vehemently' oppose Japan push to ease whaling banAustralia Thursday vowed to "vehemently" oppose a new push by Japan to undermine a global moratorium on commercial whaling, and urged like-minded nations to stand firm against Tokyo. |
Iceland stops hunting minke whales but only for this seasonOne of Iceland's top whaling companies says it has stopped hunting minke whales this year, in response to a new government regulation that enlarged the protected area for baleen whales. | |
Conservation groups sue Oregon to help protect tiny seabirdConservation groups sued the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission on Thursday for failing to strengthen protections for the marbled murrelet, tiny seabirds that venture inland to raise their young and depend on old-growth forests for nesting. | |
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