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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 8, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Short orbital-period binary star detected at the heart of the planetary nebula M 3-1European astronomers have discovered a new binary star at the center of the planetary nebula M 3-1. The newly found binary has an extraordinary short orbital period of slightly more than three hours, which makes it one of the shortest orbital-period binary central stars known to date. The detection is detailed in a paper published July 30 on arXiv.org. |
 | Elliptical eleganceA glittering host of galaxies populate this rich image taken with ESO's VLT Survey Telescope, a state-of-the-art 2.6-m telescope designed for surveying the sky in visible light. The features of the multitude of galaxies strewn across the image allow astronomers to uncover the most delicate details of galactic structure. |
 | Largest haul of extrasolar planets for JapanForty-four planets in solar systems beyond our own have been discovered in one go, dwarfing the usual number of confirmations from extrasolar surveys, which is typically a dozen or less. The findings will improve existing models of solar systems, and may help researchers investigate exoplanet atmospheres. Novel techniques developed to validate the find could accelerate the confirmation of more extrasolar planet candidates. |
 | Red-hot voyage to sun will bring us closer to our starA red-hot voyage to the sun is going to bring us closer to our star than ever before. |
 | Astronomers report the most distant radio galaxy ever discoveredAfter nearly 20 years, the record of the most distant radio galaxy ever discovered has been broken. A team led by Ph.D. student Aayush Saxena (Leiden Observatory, the Netherlands) has found a radio galaxy from a time when the universe was only 7 percent of its current age, at a distance of 12 billion light-years. |
 | NASA poised to launch first Sun-skimming spaceshipNASA is poised to launch a $1.5 billion spacecraft on a brutally hot journey toward the Sun, offering scientists the closest-ever view of our strange and mysterious star. |
 | Ready for its day in the sun—the SWEAP investigationWhen NASA's Parker Solar Probe launches into space from the Kennedy Space Center, it will begin its journey to the Sun, our nearest star. The Parker Solar Probe will travel almost 90 million miles and eventually enter through the Sun's outer atmosphere to encounter a dangerous environment of intense heat and solar radiation. During this harrowing journey, it will fly closer to the Sun than any other human-made object. |
 | Getting more out of microbes—studying Shewanella in microgravityWhile cities, towns, and spaceships operated entirely from energy generated by microbial sources are still the stuff of science fiction, scientific knowledge needed for such a future can build from studies like the latest microbial investigation to arrive at the International Space Station. An experiment called Investigating the Physiology and Fitness of an Exoelectrogenic Organism under Microgravity Conditions (Micro-12) was delivered to the orbiting laboratory by SpaceX CRS-15. This study advances research for fundamental science and biotechnology applications by testing the performance of an unusual bacterial microorganism known as Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (Shewanella) in microgravity conditions. |
 | Balloon-borne telescope looks for cosmic gamma raysCosmic gamma rays can provide us with important insights into high-energy phenomena in our universe. The GRAINE (Gamma-Ray Astro-Imager with Nuclear Emulsion) collaboration aims to record high-energy cosmic gamma rays at a high-resolution using a balloon-borne nuclear emulsion telescope. In April 2018 the team successfully completed another balloon flight test. |
 | New Canadian radio telescope is detecting fast radio burstsSince they were first detected in 2007, fast radio bursts (FRBs) have been a source of mystery to astronomers. In radio astronomy, this phenomenon refers to transient radio pulses coming from distant sources that typically last a few milliseconds on average. Despite the detection of dozens of events since 2007, scientists are still not sure what causes them – though theories range from exploding stars, black holes, and magnetars to alien civilizations. |
Technology news
 | Evaluating creativity in computational co-creative systemsComputer programs assist humans in a variety of ways, including in their creative endeavors. Researchers at UNC Charlotte and the University of Sydney have recently developed a new framework for evaluating creativity in co-creative systems in which humans and computers collaborate on creative tasks. |
 | Researchers incorporate optoelectronic diodes into fibers and weave them into washable fabricsThe latest development in textiles and fibers is a kind of soft hardware that you can wear: cloth that has electronic devices built right into it. |
 | Holding law enforcement accountable for electronic surveillanceWhen the FBI filed a court order in 2016 commanding Apple to unlock the San Bernandino shooter's iPhone, the news made headlines across the globe. Yet every day there are tens tens of thousands of of other court orders asking tech companies to turn over Americans' private data. Many of these orders never see the light of day, leaving a whole privacy-sensitive aspect of government power immune to judicial oversight and lacking in public accountability. |
 | Sono Motors to put its electric car in production mode 2019Here is a business venture, spawned off a garaged project, that is every bit in the feel-good tech story genre and they are for real. Three friends with a vision built a community to start a movement, says their promotional video. Now more than 5,000 people believe in their idea. That idea is an all electric car that can charge while it is driving. The car is called the Sion. |
 | Researchers find flaw in WhatsAppResearchers at Israeli cybersecurity firm said Wednesday they had found a flaw in WhatsApp that could allow hackers to modify and send fake messages in the popular social messaging app. |
 | New modeling mechanism could change the way we view social networksRecent high profile attempts to manipulate public perception and sentiment via social media have demonstrated that we may not know as much about the formulation and evolution of social networks as we think. |
 | Can a computer write a sonnet as well as Shakespeare?AI or not AI: that is the question. |
 | Scientists create biodegradable, paper-based biobatteriesThe batteries of the future may be made out of paper. Researchers at Binghamton University, State University at New York have created a biodegradable, paper-based battery that is more efficient than previously possible. |
 | Robots are getting more social. Are humans ready?Personal home robots that can socialize with people are starting to roll out of the laboratory and into our living rooms and kitchens. But are humans ready to invite them into their lives? |
 | Samsung plans $22 billion for artificial intelligence, autosSamsung Electronics plans to spend $22 billion over the next three years on artificial intelligence, auto components and other future businesses as the company maps out its strategy under the restored leadership of Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong after he was freed from prison. |
 | Tesla CEO drops latest bombshell with $72B buyout proposalTesla CEO Elon Musk is gearing up to lead a buyout of the electric car maker in a stunning move that would end the maverick company's eight-year history trading on the stock market. |
 | Ford celebrates 10 millionth Mustang while banking on car's drawThe Ford Mustang—an iconic American brand and a symbol of cool—reached a major milestone Wednesday as the 10 millionth vehicle rolls off an assembly line at a Detroit-area plant. |
 | State-owned China Tower trades flat on Hong Kong debutState-owned China Tower—the world's largest operator of telecommunications towers—made its trading debut in Hong Kong Wednesday in the latest high-profile listing in the city. |
 | Twitter chief defends not booting InfowarsTwitter chief Jack Dorsey defended Tuesday his company's decision to allow far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to use the platform to spread his message, saying he hasn't broken user rules. |
Canadian start-up seeks French testing ground for hyperloop trainA Canadian company hoping to build what it bills as the future of public transportation will seek permits this week to set up a testing centre in central France for developing super-fast "hyperloop" trains. | |
 | Army's new 3-D printed shape-shifting soft robots crawl, jump, grabNew 3-D printed robotic structures can squeeze in tight spaces like a crack in the wall of a cave, jump over trip wire or crawl under a vehicle—all complex Army-relevant functions impossible for humans to perform safely. |
 | Humanity confronts a defining question: How will AI change us?What will happen when we've built machines as intelligent as us? According to the experts this incredible feat will be achieved in the year 2062 – a mere 44 years away – which certainly begs the question: what will the world, our jobs, the economy, politics, war, and everyday life and death, look like then? |
 | Turning your health data into a "wellness score" might not be good for youCameras watch us almost everywhere we go. We know the internet tracks our searches and purchases, and our smartphones can be used to monitor our activities too. As sociologist David Lyon points out, "this is a culture of surveillance." |
 | Improvements in offshore wind turbine support structures to help tackle climate change impactScientists are conducting large-scale hydraulic experiments to better adapt to consequences of global warming. |
Automated vehicles will create a shift in workforce demandsDespite concerns that a rise in automated vehicles, or AVs, will displace significant numbers of truck drivers in the United States, only a modest number of truck driver jobs, if any, will be affected, according to a new report commissioned by the American Center for Mobility, led by Michigan State University and supported by Texas A&M Transportation Institute. | |
 | We researched Russian trolls and figured out exactly how they neutralise certain newsRussian "troll factories" have been making headlines for some time. First, as the Kremlin's digital guardians in the Russian blogosphere. Then, as subversive cyber-squads meddling with US elections. |
 | Tesla board weighs CEO's buyout bid as questions swirlBoard members at Tesla are evaluating CEO and Chairman Elon Musk's $72 billion proposal to take the electric car maker while government regulators look into whether the announcement of the potential deal meet legal requirements. |
 | Print and probe—how 3-D printers could improve access to technologies essential for scientific discovery3-D printers can make just about anything these days, from a pair of running shoes to chocolate, wood, and aircraft parts. And it turns out—even complex scientific gadgets used in cancer research. |
 | New law may force small businesses to reveal data practicesA Rhode Island software company that sells primarily to businesses is nonetheless making sure it complies with a strict California law about consumers' privacy. |
 | Volatile visionary: Tesla's Musk divides Wall Street"Boring bonehead questions are not cool. Next?" Tesla chief Elon Musk complained in May, shortly before shutting down questions from Wall Street. |
 | By turning its back on Wall Street, Tesla could avoid market pressuresExiting US stock markets, a possibility raised Tuesday by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, could ease some of the pressure on the electric automaker but will come at a hefty cost. |
 | New York moves to cap Uber, app-ride vehiclesNew York's city council on Wednesday dealt a blow to Uber and other car-for-hire companies, passing a bill to cap the number of vehicles they operate and impose minimum pay standards on drivers. |
 | Twitter CEO defends decision not to ban Alex Jones, InfowarsTwitter CEO Jack Dorsey defended his company's decision not to ban right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and his "Infowars" show, as many other social media platforms have done, saying he did not break any rules. |
 | German Ryanair pilots to join European strikes on FridayGermany's Ryanair pilots will join an unprecedented wave of strikes against the no-frills carrier across Europe on Friday, escalating a row over pay and conditions at the height of the summer season. |
 | Portable solar energy system powers rural developmentPhotovoltaic energy is a clean, renewable and economical source of energy that can help reduce consumption of fossil fuels to mitigate global warming. It provides energy off-grid to remote communities with no electricity or as part of a hybrid energy generation system. |
 | New York Times to pass 4 million subscribers 'soon'The New York Times, the most prestigious newspaper in the United States, announced Wednesday that it expects to "soon" cross the threshold of four million subscribers, even if growth is slowing. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Altered images: New research shows that what we see is distorted by what we expect to seeNew research shows that humans "see" the actions of others not quite as they really are, but slightly distorted by their expectations. |
 | Cancer cells send out 'drones' to battle immune system from afarCancer cells are more than a lump of cells growing out of control; they participate in active combat with the immune system for their own survival. Being able to evade the immune system is a hallmark of cancer. Cancer cells release biological "drones" to assist in that fight—small vesicles called exosomes circulating in the blood and armed with proteins called PD-L1 that cause T cells to tire before they have a chance to reach the tumor and do battle, according to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. |
 | Scientists tie specific brain circuit to sociability in miceSocial behavior in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder normalized when investigators triggered the release of a specific signaling substance, serotonin, in a single part of the animals' brains, according to a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine. |
 | Older adults who get physical can lower their heart disease riskAdults in their early 60s, who spend less time sitting and more time engaged in light to vigorous physical activity, benefit with healthier levels of heart and vessel disease markers, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. |
 | Carbon dioxide levels on flight deck affect airline pilot performanceCommercial airline pilots were significantly better at performing advanced maneuvers in a flight simulator when carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on the flight deck (cockpit) were 700 parts per million (ppm) and 1500 ppm than when they were 2,500 ppm, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. School of Public Health. The study indicates that CO2 levels directly affect pilots' flight performance. |
 | Researchers discover highly infectious vehicle for virus transmission among humansResearchers have found that a group of viruses that cause severe stomach illness—including the one famous for widespread outbreaks on cruise ships— get transmitted to humans through membrane-cloaked "virus clusters" that exacerbate the spread and severity of disease. Previously, it was believed that these viruses only spread through individual virus particles. The discovery of these clusters, the scientists say, marks a turning point in the understanding of how these viruses spread and why they are so infectious. This preliminary work could lead to the development of more effective antiviral agents than existing treatments that mainly target individual particles. |
 | Human microbiome influences rotavirus vaccine responseIn a proof-of-concept study in healthy adult men, scientists in the Netherlands found that microbiome manipulation with antibiotics influenced the response to oral rotavirus vaccine. Specifically, they found higher levels of viral shedding in those receiving antibiotic treatment prior to vaccination compared with controls receiving no antibiotic treatment prior to vaccination. The study is a human demonstration that altering the bacterial intestinal microbiome can affect a vaccine's immunogenicity. The results appear August 8 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe. |
 | Mom still matters—In study, young adults tended to prioritize parents over friendsIf you're a parent who feels your college-age children would choose their friends over you, a new UCLA psychology study has a reassuring message: You're probably underestimating their loyalty to you. |
 | To understand working memory, scientists must resolve this debateIn a debate where the stakes are nothing short of understanding how the brain maintains its "sketchpad of conscious thought," researchers argue over exactly what makes working memory work in dueling papers in the Aug. 8 edition of the Journal of Neuroscience. |
 | Discovery of a new tumor suppressor previously thought to be an oncogeneThe PLK1 gene, which has for decades been considered a tumor promoter, can also halt the development of cancer. This finding was made by researchers from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) and Germany's Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), who have published their results in the journal Nature Communications. The role of PLK1 as a target for powerful drugs must now be reviewed, since the value of inhibition depends on the tumor type. For the time being, the scientists have discovered that the expression of PLK1 in breast tumors can determine a different prognosis, depending on the tumor subtype. |
 | Giving kids plates with segments and pictures caused them to eat more vegetablesA pair of researchers at the University of Colorado has found that preschool kids ate more vegetables when presented with segmented plates with pictures of fruits and vegetables on them. In their paper published in JAMA Pediatrics, Emily Melnick and Meng Li describe their study, which involved observing preschool children having lunch and changing the type of plates that were involved. |
 | Broad genetic testing for advanced lung cancer may not improve survivalTesting for dozens of genetic mutations in tumors of patients with a common form of advanced lung cancer did not appear to improve survival compared to routine genetic testing, a study led by Yale Cancer Center (YCC) scientists has found. The research was published in JAMA. |
 | A video game can change the brain, may improve empathy in middle schoolersA space-exploring robot crashes on a distant planet. In order to gather the pieces of its damaged spaceship, it needs to build emotional rapport with the local alien inhabitants. The aliens speak a different language but their facial expressions are remarkably humanlike. |
 | Early sensory stimulation is critical for the development of sensory networksSensory stimulation during a critical period soon after birth is essential for establishing networks in the brain that "map" sensations and enable the development of normal behaviors, according to a new study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. |
 | New antibody analysis accelerates rational vaccine designA team at Scripps Research has come up with a faster way to analyze the outcome of experimental vaccines against HIV and other pathogens. Their new system lets scientists quickly assess the full spectrum of antibodies produced in an individual in response to a pathogen or vaccine and determine if these antibodies are likely to be effective against the pathogen. |
New discovery sheds light on proteins critical in mood and behavior disordersResearchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) have found new evidence of how certain transport proteins are working at the molecular level, paving the way for new, improved drugs to treat psychiatric disorders. | |
Likelihood of dementia higher among black ethnic groupsRates of dementia diagnosis are higher among black ethnic groups compared to white and Asian groups in the UK, a new UCL-led study has found. | |
 | Eye conditions provide new lens screening for Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease is difficult to diagnose as well as treat, but researchers now have a promising new screening tool using the window to the brain: the eye. |
 | New research pinpoints pathways Ebola virus uses to enter cellsA new study at Texas Biomedical Research Institute is shedding light on the role of specific proteins that trigger a mechanism allowing Ebola virus to enter cells to establish replication. The work, published in a supplement to The Journal of Infectious Diseases, was led by Staff Scientist Olena Shtanko, Ph.D., in Texas Biomed's Biosafety Level 4 laboratory. The BSL4 is a high-containment facility that houses research on diseases for which there are no approved vaccines or cures. |
 | Catch-up HPV vaccine effective for women aged up to 20 years, US study suggestsUS study confirms effectiveness of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in women aged up to 20 years who receive all three doses, but more research is needed in women aged 21-26 years. |
 | Do mothers' parenting attitudes and behaviors change with their first- and second-born?New research reveals that mothers hold similar views and attitudes when parenting their first and second children, but their parenting behaviors with their two children differ. |
ADHD medications: Of all available drugs, methylphenidate should be first option for short-term treatment in childrenOf the drugs available for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the most effective and safe for short-term treatment is methylphenidate for children, and amphetamines for adults, according to the most comprehensive evidence yet from a network meta-analysis and systematic review comparing the effectiveness and safety of seven ADHD drugs against placebo, published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal. | |
Dental care may benefit patients scheduled for cancer surgeryPreoperative oral care by a dentist may help reduce postoperative complications in patients who undergo cancer surgery, according to a new BJS (British Journal of Surgery) study. | |
 | Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes—hope for inhibitors against amyloid plaquesEffective therapeutics to counteract the formation of amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes are not yet available. Scientists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now come a little bit closer to a solution: They have described a new class of designed macrocyclic peptides that are highly potent inhibitors of amyloid formation. |
 | New guideline released for managing vegetative and minimally conscious statesFor people in a vegetative or minimally conscious state caused by brain injury, an accurate diagnosis and ongoing medical and rehabilitative care based on the latest scientific evidence could mean a better chance for recovery, according to a new guideline by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. |
 | How axons change chemical cues to mechanical forceWhile today's technology is growing increasingly wireless, the human brain still depends on neurons being directly connected to one another. Two neurons are connected when one extends its axon to the other. This extension is activated by chemical cues that cause the axon to exert a directional force. While scientists have long known of molecules that can act as cues, the molecules that initiate the force have remained a mystery. In a new study published in eLife, a team of Japanese and American scientists report that the molecule shootin1 is essential for guiding the axon to its final destination. |
 | Anticancer drugs delivered by a new drug delivery system reduce tumor sizeCancer tissue cells are divided into two major groups: cancer cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are related to cancer progression and dissemination, so it's necessary to eradicate CSCs in order to cure cancer. However, because CSCs are resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, cancer is refractory. |
 | Advocates condemn psych techniques used to keep kids onlineChildren's advocates want the American Psychological Association to condemn the tech industry's practice of using persuasive psychological techniques to keep kids glued to their screens. |
 | New tick species spreading in the US(HealthDay)—The first new tick species to appear in the United States in 50 years is spreading rapidly in the east and has been confirmed in seven states and the suburbs of New York City. |
 | AMA proposes policy opposing medicaid 'lockout' provisions(HealthDay)—A new policy opposing lockout provisions that block Medicaid patients from the program for lengthy periods and instead supporting allowing patients to reapply immediately for redetermination was adopted by the American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates during the AMA's annual meeting in Chicago, according to an article published in the association's AMA Wire. |
 | HIV, syphilis screening low with ED-diagnosed PID in adolescents(HealthDay)—HIV and syphilis screening rates are low among adolescents who are diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in the emergency department, according to a study published in the August issue of Pediatrics. |
 | Adolescent abortion-fund patients face more barriers than adultsAdolescents who received funding to help pay for an abortion experienced greater hardships that affected abortion access compared to adult abortion-fund patients, according to the results of a new study by a University at Buffalo social work researcher. |
 | Mice with access to soil have greater resistance to allergiesWhen mice live in cages with an added earthen floor, it increases their resistance towards allergic inflammations. Close contact with micro-organisms in the soil triggers anti-inflammatory genes in the mice and stimulates their gut microbiota. Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have performed the study, which was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. |
 | Study paves way for new approach to cancer diagnosticsRadiotherapy is an important form of treatment for cancer patients but, currently, treatment is largely "one size fits all." However, a new study points to the potential for treatment to become more tailored to the tumour. |
 | A sterile line of Aedes aegypti is developed to fight off arbovirosisTransgenic males of Aedes aegypti with defective sperm have been created at the University of São Paulo's Biomedical Science Institute (ICB-USP) in Brazil and may be produced on a pilot scale next year. Alongside the development of vaccines, the production of genetically modified mosquitoes could become one of the most effective means of combating epidemics of dengue, chikungunya, Zika and yellow fever. |
 | First language study using new generation of wearable brain scannerScientists have carried out the first study of human cognition using a new generation of brain scanner that can be worn like a helmet. This marks an important step forward in the translation of their new technique from the laboratory bench to a genuinely useful tool for cognitive neuroscience and clinical application. |
 | A component of green tea can help deliver drugs to tumors in the bodyWrapping an anticancer drug in a nanoscale case made of a polymer and a component of green tea is an extremely effective way to deliver high doses of the drug to tumors, an A*STAR team has shown. They demonstrated the system's potential by using it to inhibit the growth of liver tumors in mice. |
 | Keeping tabs on hypertensionDuring his cardiovascular surgery training at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami in 2004, Mohan Thanikachalam recalls that at least once a week in the emergency room, he would see a patient in his early thirties or even late twenties with aortic destruction from undiagnosed high blood pressure. |
Machine learning could predict medication response in patients with complex mood disordersMood disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder are often complex and hard to diagnose, especially among youth when the illness is just evolving. This can make decisions about medication difficult. In a collaborative study by Lawson Health Research Institute, The Mind Research Network and Brainnetome Center, researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that analyzes brain scans to better classify illness in patients with a complex mood disorder and help predict their response to medication. | |
 | Cancer drug earns FDA nod after decadesDuncan Hunter chokes up a little when it is suggested that work he began at Western three decades ago will now, finally, be applied to saving hundreds of lives. "It's a good thing," said the Chemistry professor emeritus after a long pause. "It took 30 years and had its ups and downs. So, yes, it's emotional." |
Scientist seeks solutions for cancer patients with dry mouthFor several years, Wilmot Cancer Institute scientist Catherine Ovitt, Ph.D., has been investigating ways to protect and regenerate the salivary gland, which can be damaged during radiation treatment for head and neck cancer. Her lab's latest study focuses on the cells that secrete saliva—discovering the ways in which several different cell populations have the potential to restore salivary gland function. | |
 | Avoiding the lifelong psychological damage of childhood bullyingChildhood bullying is so common that it may not seem like a big deal. Up to 35% per cent of people are estimated to have experienced it at some point. By adulthood, we are generally expected to have "got over" it. But the mental health effects of being bullied can be serious and last a lifetime. One study has even suggested that, when it comes to mental health, bullying is as harmful as child abuse, if not worse. |
 | Six 'psychological' terms that psychologists never usePsychology is the scientific study of human thought and behaviour, and hence of everyday life, which means that many people consider themselves experts on the topic, even if they've never cracked the spine of a psychology textbook. |
 | Egg freezing—the reality of putting your fertility on iceWhen people think of women freezing their eggs, it's often seen as something to do if you want to get ahead in your career – a way of delaying motherhood. Some companies have even offered funding for the procedure for their female staff. |
 | Volatile substance abuse – a problem that never went awayDrug related deaths are now at their highest levels since records began in England and Wales. In 2017, there were 56 ecstasy deaths, each new tragedy generating headlines and leading to calls for action, such as the introduction of drug checking in nightclubs and festivals. But others are abusing a different range of substances, a problem that many people think largely disappeared in the 1980s and has been ignored in all the headlines. |
 | Can food have negative calories? Nutritionist debunks the ideaDiets are everywhere, but could eating "negative calorie" foods, such as celery and grapefruit, help to boost weight loss? |
 | Researchers find estrogen receptor gene fusions are a cause of breast cancer metastasis and lethal drug resistanceEstrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer is the most common type of breast cancer, but resistance to therapy is common and eventual development of metastatic disease is a leading cause of death. In new research published in Cell Reports, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Washington University in St. Louis identify estrogen receptor alpha gene (ESR1) translocation events that drive not only therapeutic resistance, but also trigger ER+ breast cancer cells to metastasize. |
 | Have you had your diphtheria vaccines? Here's why it mattersAn adult from the north coast of New South Wales is the latest Australian to be diagnosed with the deadly infectious disease, diphtheria. The patient, who was diagnosed on Monday, is being treated with antibiotics and health authorities have followed up all contacts. |
 | Stroke, cancer and other chronic diseases more likely for those with poor mental healthFour million Australians, including our friends, family members, co-workers and neighbours, are living with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. |
 | Smartphones act as digital security blankets in stressful social situationsNot only can your smartphone serve as your wallet, watch and map, it can also be your digital security blanket. In a new study led by the University of California, Irvine, researchers found that when people are in awkward social situations, having their phones with them offers comfort and helps relieve feelings of isolation. |
Including Indigenous youth helps guide better sport and recreation opportunitiesIncorporating Indigenous cultures, traditions and connections to the land is one of four key recommendations policy makers and program planners should consider when developing sport and recreation opportunities for Indigenous youth, according to a University of Alberta study. | |
 | How safe is vaping?A survey of adolescents carried out by researchers at Coventry University has shown that than less than half of e-cigarette users knew that vape products contain nicotine or that they are addictive, raising the possibility that they could be a gateway to smoking normal cigarettes. Nicotine addiction is a real problem but the health issues posed by e-cigarettes are potentially greater than just addiction. |
 | Researchers using big data to predict immunotherapy responsesIn the age of Big Data, cancer researchers are discovering new ways to monitor the effectiveness of immunotherapy treatments. |
Screening women veterans with fibromyalgia for childhood abuse may improve treatmentA new study has shown that women Veterans being treated for fibromyalgia exhibit high rates of childhood abuse. | |
 | Learning to ask older adults better questions about their memoryHealthcare providers and researchers rely on screening questions to detect patients who may be at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and other aging-related problems, but how these questions are worded may be confusing or trigger emotional responses. According to Penn State researchers, this may result in patients who answer the same questions differently, and for different reasons. |
Is your lung cancer really ROS1-negative? Study shows it may be worth testing againDrugs like crizotinib are used to treat patients with ROS1-positive lung cancer. But which patients are ROS1-positive? A University of Colorado Cancer Center study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology shows that common laboratory tests used to determine ROS1 status all have inherent limitations that can lead to false-negative results. Some samples that were determined to be ROS1-negative by one test were shown to be ROS1-positive by another, meaning that some patients who could benefit from ROS1-directed therapy may be slipping through the cracks. | |
 | Pennsylvania's youth more accepting of marijuana, but not using it more, report showsWith Pennsylvania now among the majority of states in legalizing medical marijuana, a new report shows that young people's attitudes toward pot have become more positive in recent years. |
 | Parents' religious beliefs may affect kids' suicide risk: study(HealthDay)—Teens, especially girls, whose parents are religious may be less likely to die by suicide, no matter how they feel about religion themselves, new research suggests. |
 | Five special splurges that don't break the calorie bank(HealthDay)—You can splurge from time to time and still lose weight when you choose foods that are lavish but also low-calorie. |
 | School prep includes planning allergy, asthma management(HealthDay)—Allergies and asthma can make the start of the new school year a challenge for kids who aren't prepared to deal with flare-ups, an allergist warns. |
 | Steps taken to increase use of electronic tools in medicine(HealthDay)—Additional codes have been approved by the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel for chronic care remote physiologic monitoring and internet consultations, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA). |
 | Gender gap for first authors of perspectives in peds journals(HealthDay)—Women are underrepresented among physician first authors of perspective-type articles in prominent pediatric journals, according to a study published online July 20 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Walking tied to better QoL in those with/at risk for CVD(HealthDay)—Walking is associated with improved quality of life (QoL) among those at risk for or living with cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published in PLoS One. |
 | Unsheltered homeless have high mortality rates(HealthDay)—Mortality rates for unsheltered homeless adults are higher than those for the general adult population and sheltered homeless adults, according to a study published online July 30 in JAMA Internal Medicine. |
 | Resource use greater for more severe pediatric appendicitis(HealthDay)—More severe presentations of complicated appendicitis are associated with worse outcomes and greater resource use among pediatric patients, according to a study published online July 25 in JAMA Surgery. |
 | Preschooler's perfectionism may predict OCD in adolescence(HealthDay)—Tendencies toward perfectionism and excessive self-control in children are associated with the onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and smaller dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) volumes in later childhood and adolescence, according to a study published online July 18 in JAMA Psychiatry. |
 | Responsive parent intervention in infancy can reduce BMI z score(HealthDay)—A responsive parenting intervention initiated in early infancy can reduce body mass index (BMI) z score; however, a 36-month multicomponent behavioral intervention does not change BMI trajectory, according to two studies published in the Aug. 7 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | One-third of Canadian patients get hip fx repair within 24 hoursWEDNESDAY, Aug. 8, 2018 (HealthDay News)— Only one-third of Canadian patients received hip fracture repair surgery within the desired 24 hours, according to a Canadian study published in the June 11 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association. |
 | Elevated late mortality persists after blood or marrow transplant(HealthDay)—Individuals who underwent allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) in childhood have elevated risk of late mortality 25 years or more after transplantation, according to a study published online July 26 in JAMA Oncology. |
Could edible chemotherapy attached to milk particles someday end infusions?Generally, you can't eat chemotherapy. That's because your digestive system breaks down the molecules you eat into smaller pieces that can be absorbed through the gut into the bloodstream. | |
New RNA and DNA-sequencing platform matches thousands of drugs to late-stage cancer patientsA comprehensive RNA and DNA sequencing platform benefits late-stage and drug-resistant multiple myeloma patients by determining which drugs would work best for them, according to results from a clinical trial published in JCO Precision Oncology in August. | |
Support increases when opioid 'safe consumption sites' called 'overdose prevention sites'"Safe consumption sites," where people can use pre-obtained drugs with medically trained personnel on hand to treat overdoses, garner higher public support when they are called "overdose prevention sites," according to a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. | |
 | Genetic mutations of appendix cancer identified, may impact treatmentThe rarity of appendix cancer, accounting for less than 1 percent of tumors that originate in the gastrointestinal tract, and the lack of scientific data for this disease means that current treatment guidelines recommend applying therapies to people with appendix cancer that are intended for those with colon cancer. |
 | As Medicaid work requirements gain traction, experts propose ways to reduce potential harmNew Medicaid rules in several states mean low-income people will have to work, or prove they're too unhealthy to work, to receive health coverage. Other states want permission to require the same, which could affect millions of Americans living in or near poverty. |
 | Inducing labor at 39 weeks reduces likelihood of C-sectionsInducing labor in healthy first-time mothers in the 39th week of pregnancy results in lower rates of cesarean sections compared with waiting for labor to begin naturally at full term, according to a multicenter study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). |
 | Exercise can help beat cocaine addiction, study findsExercise can help prevent relapses into cocaine addiction, according to new research led by the University at Buffalo's Panayotis (Peter) Thanos, Ph.D. |
 | No easy answers on best heart check-up for young athletesWhat kind of heart check-up do young athletes need to make the team? A large study of teenage soccer players in England found in-depth screening didn't detect signs of trouble in some athletes who later died—yet allowed others at risk to get treated and back in the game. |
 | Boxers or briefs? Loose-fitting underwear may benefit sperm productionMen who most frequently wore boxers had significantly higher sperm concentrations and total sperm counts when compared with men who did not usually wear boxers, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The findings of this study, conducted in the Fertility Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital, suggest that certain styles of men's underwear may inhibit production of sperm. |
Can medical marijuana help treat intractable epilepsy?A new British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology review examines the potential of medicinal cannabis—or medical marijuana—for helping patients with intractable epilepsy, in which seizures fail to come under control with standard anticonvulsant treatment. | |
Parents' smoking and depression linked to increased ADHD risk in childrenA new study has identified adults' smoking and depression as family environmental factors associated with the development of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. | |
 | Women and men experience different benefits from low-calorie dietsA low-calorie diet causes different metabolic effects in women than in men, a new Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism study suggests. |
 | Can manipulating gut microbes improve cardiac function in patients with heart failure?A clinical study called the GutHeart Trial is poised to examine the potential relationship between the bacterial composition of the gut and inflammatory and metabolic pathways in the cardiovascular system. |
Study examines for risk factors associated with initiation of substance useNot all individuals who initiate use of a substance such as nicotine, alcohol, cannabis, and cocaine eventually develop a substance use disorder, indicating that the risk factors for substance use and for substance use disorder (SUD) differ to some extent. A new study has evaluated the overlap in risk factors for substance initiation and SUD, which may be useful for developing interventions to reduce both initiation and SUD. The findings are published in the American Journal on Addictions. | |
 | Can community exercise prevent bone loss from weight loss in older adults?In a Journal of Bone and Mineral Research study of older adults with obesity who were cutting calories, an intervention that incorporated resistance training, aerobic training, or neither did not prevent bone loss associated with active weight loss. The study's results suggested that resistance training may help minimize long-term hip bone loss, however. |
 | Military sexual assault linked to PTSD and depression in LGB veteransIn a Journal of Traumatic Stress study of military veterans, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) veterans were twice as likely to have experienced sexual assault while in the military compared with non-LGB veterans. In addition, the experience of military sexual assault was directly linked to the presence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among LGB veterans. |
 | Nine confirmed dead in DR Congo's Ebola outbreak: ministryNine confirmed Ebola victims have died since the virus resurfaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo this month, the country's health ministry said Tuesday. |
Immigrants use little health care, subsidize care of non-immigrants: studyA study published today in the International Journal of Health Services finds that immigrants use far less health care than non-immigrants, and may actually subsidize the care of U.S. citizens. The findings by researchers at Harvard Medical School and Tufts University School of Medicine contradict recent claims by Pres. Trump and other political leaders that immigrants drive up U.S. medical costs. | |
 | Ebola returns to the DRC for the 10th time: here's what we knowBarely a week after declaring the end of the ninth Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), officials announced another in the North Kivu and Ituri Provinces, in the eastern part of the country. The Conversation Africa's Ozayr Patel spoke to Jacqueline Weyer to found out more about the 10th Ebola outbreak in the country. |
 | A breath of fresh air for hospitalsIndoor air quality is important for everyone's health but perhaps no more so than in different kinds of medical centre. A team from India has investigated hospital waiting room air quality in terms of patient comfort with respect to ambient temperature. |
 | The cloud facilitates independent living for the elderlyAging can be accompanied by cognitive deterioration that may affect life quality and possibly safety. EU research has developed a range of ICT solutions to support seniors with cognitive impairment who prefer to live as independently as possible. |
Drug identified that could reverse pulmonary arterial hypertensionScientists at Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago took a major step toward developing a new treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a severe lung disease with a five-year survival rate of 50 percent. They identified a drug with a positive safety profile that inhibits a gene called HIF-2α, which they discovered earlier promotes the progressive thickening of the lung artery walls—a key feature of PAH called "vascular remodeling," which leads to right-sided heart failure, the main cause of death in PAH patients. Recently, they demonstrated in three clinically-relevant animal models that inhibiting HIF-2α with a compound results in reversal of established PAH, suppression of vascular remodeling and right heart failure, and increased survival. These findings were published in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine. | |
 | Ebola vaccinations begin in Congo's latest deadly outbreakEbola vaccinations began Wednesday in Congo's latest outbreak of the deadly virus that has already claimed at least nine lives. |
 | Preschoolers' parents may be unprepared to treat asthma(HealthDay)— Only about half the parents of asthmatic preschoolers had the right knowledge and medicines on hand to treat their child's breathing condition at home, a new study found. |
Researchers link residential characteristics with productivity one year after brain injuryModel system researchers have examined the factors that influence productive activity one year after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Their article, Lequerica AH,Botticello A, O"Neill J, Lengenfelder J, Krch D, Chiaravalloti ND, et al. "Relationship between Hispanic nativity, residential environment and productive activity among individuals with traumatic brain injury: A TBI Model Systems Study," was published ahead of print by the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation on May 31. | |
Biology news
 | Lost Norse of Greenland fueled the medieval ivory trade, ancient walrus DNA suggestsThe Icelandic Sagas tell of Erik the Red: exiled for murder in the late 10th century he fled to southwest Greenland, establishing its first Norse settlement. |
 | Scientists develop a way to monitor cellular decision makingThe healthy function, or disease-fueling dysfunction, of any given organ stems from the behavior, or misbehavior, of the individual cells that make up that organ. |
 | Models may help reduce bycatch from longline fishingHundreds of thousands of sharks, sea birds and other marine species are accidentally killed each year after they become snagged or entangled in longline fishing gear. |
 | Study illuminates genes behind beautiful 'glow' of Bermuda firewormsA new study led by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History looks at the genes behind an incredible, luminous seasonal mating display produced by swarms of bioluminescent marine Bermuda fireworms. The new research, published today in the journal PLOS ONE, confirms that the enzymes responsible for the fireworms' glow are unique among bioluminescent animals and entirely unlike those seen in fireflies. The study also examines genes associated with some of the dramatic—and reversible—changes that happen to the fireworms during reproduction. |
 | 'Citizen science' yields updated predicted distributions for rare speciesOnline "citizen science" data initiatives may be able to help map the distribution of rare species in the wild, according to a study published August 8 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Yifu Wang of McGill University and colleagues. |
 | Cows found to be willing to work hard to gain access to a grooming brushA team of researchers from the University of British Columbia and Warsaw University of Life Sciences has found that dairy cows are willing to expend energy to gain access to a grooming brush. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the group describes experiments they carried out with dairy cows and a large grooming brush and what they found. |
 | World's fastest creature may also be one of the smallestAsk most people to identify the fastest animal on Earth and they'll suggest a cheetah, falcon or even a sailfish. To that list of speedy animals, Georgia Institute of Technology assistant professor Saad Bhamla would like to add the Spirostomum ambiguum, a tiny single-celled protozoan that achieves blazing-fast acceleration while contracting its worm-like body. |
 | Surviving large carnivores have far-reaching impactAnywhere large-bodied mammalian carnivore species are present, other, smaller carnivores are less likely to occur, according to an international team of researchers that conducted the first global assessment of carnivore interactions using camera trap data. |
 | Scientists map a complicated ballet performed in our cellsFor years, scientists have looked at human chromosomes, and the DNA they carried, poring over the genetic code that makes up every cell for clues about everything from our eye color to congenital diseases. In a new study, however, scientists have demonstrated the movement of chromosomes within cells also may play a role in human traits and health. |
 | Researchers say high seas fisheries play limited role in feeding the worldAccording to a recent study undertaken by a team of fisheries and social scientists from Dalhousie University, New York University, and National Geographic, fishing fleets operating outside of national waters contribute less than 3% to the world's seafood supply. This finding goes against the common assertion that high seas fisheries are important for food security. |
 | Jurors mull 'day of reckoning' in Roundup cancer trialThe lawyer for a California groundskeeper dying of cancer urged jurors Tuesday to make Monsanto pay hundreds of millions of dollars for failing to warn about the health risks of weed killer Roundup. |
 | Where do crows go in winter?"Partial migration"—where some individuals within a population migrate and some don't—is common among birds and is speculated to be a step on the evolutionary path to complete, long-distance migration, but scientists know very little about how it actually works. A new study from The Auk: Ornithological Advances tracks where American Crows go during the winter and shows that while individuals are consistent in whether they migrate or stay put, partial migration might give them enough flexibility to adapt to changing environmental conditions. |
 | Why the summer sound of noisy crickets is growing fainterChirp, chirp! |
 | Scientists tag bass in bid to explain falling stock numbersMarine scientists at the University of Plymouth have embarked on an ambitious project to tag juvenile bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in a bid to explain why populations are dwindling. |
 | Site-specific technology aids nematode control when cotton fields turn to soybeansThousands of acres of soybeans in eastern Arkansas are under attack from a tiny pest against which they have little or no natural defenses, said John Rupe, professor of plant pathology for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. |
 | Digestibility of grain milling and oilseed co-products determined in young pigsCo-products from the grain milling and oilseed industries are sometimes included in diets for pigs, but limited data exist on the digestibility of protein in these ingredients when fed to younger pigs. Research at the University of Illinois is giving producers more information about the feeding value of grain and oilseed co-products fed to young growing pigs. |
 | What elephants' unique brain structures suggest about their mental abilitiesConservationists have designated August 12 as World Elephant Day to raise awareness about conserving these majestic animals. Elephants have many engaging features, from their incredibly dexterous trunks to their memory abilities and complex social lives. |
 | For songbird conservation, it's not the size that mattersUniversity of Manitoba researchers have published new findings that can help us save grassland birds, whose populations have declined more severely than species of any other Canadian ecosystem. |
 | Unique pollen signatures in Australian honey could help tackle a counterfeit industryAustralian honey, produced from domesticated European honey bees mostly foraging in native vegetation, is unique. Under the microscope, most Australian honey samples can be distinguished from honey produced in other countries. |
 | A new earless pygmy toad discovered on one of Angola's most underexplored mountainsA new species of African pygmy toad was discovered during an expedition in 2016 to Angola's second highest peak, the Serra da Neve Inselberg. |
 | My host is my castle—bats as hostsDespite researchers having little fondness for them, a large fraction of the world's biodiversity consists of parasites. Natural populations of organisms are often strongly affected by factors of their environment, most notably the effect of predators. Yet, the most outstanding arms race, produced by millions of years of coevolution, is seen between parasites and their hosts. Bats, the second-most diverse mammal order worldwide, are parasitized by numerous lineages of arthropods; bat flies are the most conspicuous. In turn, bat flies themselves can be parasitized by Laboulbeniales, fungal biotrophs of arthropods. This example of hyperparasitism—a condition where a secondary parasite develops within or on another parasite—of bats, bat flies and fungi, is a severely understudied phenomenon. |
 | Dying groundskeeper battles chemical giant MonsantoCancer-stricken Dewayne Johnson vowed to fight to his death in a David versus Goliath court battle against agrochemical giant Monsanto, whose weed killer he blames for robbing him of his future. |
 | Hijacking hormones for plant growthHormones designed in the lab through a technique combining chemistry, biology, and engineering might be used to manipulate plant growth in numerous ways, according to a New Phytologist study. |
 | Shock treatment as Sri Lanka battles wild elephantsSri Lanka Wednesday announced plans to substantially extend electric fencing after marauding elephants killed 375 people in the past five years and villagers retaliated by slaughtering nearly 1,200 of the beasts. |
Vermont city employs goats to get rid of poison ivyVermont's capital city is trying a natural way to get rid of poison ivy—grazing goats. | |
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