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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 19, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Looking back in time to watch for a different kind of black holeBlack holes form when stars die, allowing the matter in them to collapse into an extremely dense object from which not even light can escape. Astronomers theorize that massive black holes could also form at the birth of a galaxy, but so far nobody has been able to look far enough back in time to observe the conditions creating these direct collapse black holes (DCBH). |
 | Newly discovered planet could be Spock's home world, astronomers sayAmong the TV series Star Trek's many charms are its rich universe of characters and planets. Now, the Dharma Planet Survey, in a new study led by University of Florida (UF) astronomer Jian Ge and team including Tennessee State University (TSU) astronomers Matthew Muterspaugh and Gregory Henry, has shown that science fiction may be a little less so; the Dharma project has discovered what may be Star Trek's famed planet Vulcan. |
 | Video: Net successfully snares space debrisThe RemoveDEBRIS satellite has successfully used its on-board net technology in orbit – the first demonstration in human history of active debris removal (ADR) technology. |
 | Mercury studies reveal an intriguing target for BepiColomboA month before the planned launch of the joint ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury, two new studies shed light on when the innermost planet formed and the puzzle of its chemical composition. The findings will be presented by Bastien Brugger and Thomas Ronnet at the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2018 in Berlin. |
 | ExoMars highlights radiation risk for Mars astronauts, and watches as dust storm subsidesAstronauts on a mission to Mars would be exposed to at least 60% of the total radiation dose limit recommended for their career during the journey itself to and from the Red Planet, according to data from the ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter being presented at the European Planetary Science Congress, EPSC, in Berlin, Germany, this week. |
 | Orion's first Service Module integration completeLast week at the Airbus integration hall in Bremen, Germany, technicians installed the last radiator on the European Service Module for NASA's Orion spacecraft marking the module's finished integration. |
 | Halfway mark for NOEMA constructionThe completion of NOEMA phase 1, the first phase of the NOEMA project will be officially celebrated this Wednesday, September 19th. IRAM and its partner institutes have completed the first, decisive step towards one of the most important German-French-Spanish initiatives in astronomy: developing the most powerful and most sensitive telescope at millimetre wavelengths in the Northern hemisphere. Four years after the inauguration of the first NOEMA antenna, 10 15-meter dishes currently constitute the observatory and have provided groundbreaking scientific results. |
 | Hit-and-run heist of water by terrestrial planets in the early solar systemA study simulating the final stages of terrestrial planet formation shows that 'hit-and-run' encounters play a significant role in the acquisition of water by large protoplanets, like those that grew into Mars and Earth. The results will be presented by Christoph Burger at the European Planetary Science Congress (EPSC) 2018 in Berlin. |
 | Space telescope to test Einstein's theories about gravityA new space telescope designed to peer into some of the farthest regions of the universe could finally answer one of the most puzzling questions surrounding Albert Einstein's general theory of relativity. |
 | Mercury and its depressionsOne of the most surprising discoveries of the NASA's Messenger mission was the presence of unusual, bright, irregular and rimless flat-floored depressions on the surface of Mercury. These depressions, called hollows, are usually found on crater walls, rims, floors and central peaks. |
 | Going off-road in the search for dark skiesAn out-of-this-world mobile observatory, developed in collaboration with Nissan Design Europe in London, UK, was unveiled at the 2018 Hannover Motor Show this week, proving that the sky is never the limit. |
 | Advancing local terahertz oscillators to enable cosmic observationsNASA is developing a new type of detector that will provide insight into the formation and structure of the universe. Many of the radiative and mechanical interactions that shape the interstellar medium of galaxies and drive galactic evolution (e.g., shock waves from stellar winds and jets, supernova explosions, etc.) are best observed in the 4.744 terahertz (THz) spectral region for the oxygen line. Observations of this spectral line have rarely been performed, however, because the 4.744-THz frequency is beyond the reach of most existing local oscillators that operate in heterodyne receivers sensitive enough to make such observations. A NASA-sponsored team at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is working to advance technologies that will enable upcoming NASA missions to include receivers that observe this important spectral line. |
 | To avoid vision problems in space, astronauts will need some kind of artificial gravityEver since astronauts began going to space for extended periods of time, it has been known that long-term exposure to zero-gravity or microgravity comes with its share of health effects. These include muscle atrophy and loss of bone density, but also extend to other areas of the body leading to diminished organ function, circulation, and even genetic changes. |
 | Image: Astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor examines her eyesAstronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor, a member of the Expedition 56 crew currently aboard the International Space Station, examined her eye with a Funduscope with remote support from doctors on the ground. |
Technology news
 | Fast object detection in videos using region-of-interest packingResearchers at the Robert Bosch Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Center for Computational Brain Research, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, and Purdue University have recently developed a new method of reducing computational requirements for object detection in videos using neural networks. Their technique, called Pack and Detect (PaD), was outlined in a paper pre-published on arXiv. |
 | Creating 3-D printed 'motion sculptures' from 2-D videosPatriots quarterback Tom Brady has often credited his success to spending countless hours studying his opponent's movements on film. This understanding of movement is necessary for all living species, whether it's figuring out what angle to throw a ball at, or perceiving the motion of predators and prey. But simple videos can't actually give us the full picture. |
 | Tenable Research discloses Peekaboo vulnerability affecting video surveillanceHackers have proven capable of staging a hijack of surveillance camera footage. Security hounds are calling the zero day vulnerability Peekaboo. In brief, certain internet-connected surveillance cameras, could be vulnerable to remote takeover. "Once exploited, Peekaboo would give cybercriminals access to the control management system (CMS), exposing the credentials for all connected video surveillance cameras," said Tenable Research. |
 | Transparent loudspeakers and mics that let your skin play musicAn international team of researchers affiliated with UNIST has presented an innovative wearable technology that turns the user's skin into a loudspeaker. This breakthrough was led by Professor Hyunhyub Ko in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST. Created in part to help the hearing and speech impaired, the new technology can be further explored for applications such as wearable IoT sensors and conformal health care devices. |
 | NSA leak fuels rise in hacking for crypto mining: reportIllicit cryptocurrency mining has been surging over the past year, in part due to a leaked software tool from the US National Security Agency, researchers said Wednesday. |
 | 'Robotic skins' turn everyday objects into robotsWhen you think of robotics, you likely think of something rigid, heavy, and built for a specific purpose. New "Robotic Skins" technology developed by Yale researchers flips that notion on its head, allowing users to animate the inanimate and turn everyday objects into robots. |
 | Self-flying glider 'learns' to soar like a birdScientists have created a self-flying glider that uses machine learning to navigate rising air currents, in an experiment that could help our understanding of how birds migrate. |
 | Super cheap earth element to advance new battery tech to the industryMost of today's batteries are made up of rare lithium mined from the mountains of South America. If the world depletes this source, then battery production could stagnate. |
 | Increased performance and lifetime of lithium batteries in renewable energy facilitiesIn his Ph.D. thesis, Alberto Berrueta has investigated the physical mechanisms that govern the functioning of lithium batteries and their influence on a battery that functions when connected to a renewable facility. He also explored the way in which these batteries degrade, and has proposed a new management system. |
 | Researchers work to add function to 3-D-printed objectsIn the movie Terminator 2, the T-1000 robot pours itself through the ceiling of an elevator. That scene started a flow of ideas for Purdue Polytechnic Institute professor Richard Voyles. |
 | New Apple Watch adds heart tracking—here's why we should welcome ECG for everyoneLeaked details of the new iPhone models were quickly relegated to second tier headlines after Apple's latest product announcement. More people seem to be excited about the fact that the new Apple Watch will come with a built-in heart monitoring electrocardiogram (ECG) function. |
 | New method to estimate the energy efficiency of entire neighborhoodsResearchers from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) have developed a precision tool to assess the potential for improving energy efficiency in the urban fabric from collected data of each building by using big data. |
 | Helping to improve medical image analysis with deep learningMedical imaging creates tremendous amounts of data: many emergency room radiologists must examine as many as 200 cases each day, and some medical studies contain up to 3,000 images. Each patient's image collection can contain 250GB of data, ultimately creating collections across organizations that are petabytes in size. Within IBM Research, we see potential in applying AI to help radiologists sift through this information, including imaging analysis from breast, liver, and lung exams. |
 | Three things we can all learn from people who don't use smartphones or social mediaMany of us spend hours every day tethered to our devices, pawing at the screen to see if it will deliver a few more likes or emails, monitoring the world and honing our online presence. Social networking platforms such as Whatsapp, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter are supposed to make us feel more connected. Yet our reliance on technology to "see" the social world around us can be a heavy burden. |
 | AI could help to manage natural disasters – but only to an extentResidents are struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, a record-breaking storm that has hit the US east coast and led to at least 32 deaths, floods and damaged homes. Meanwhile, Typhoon Mangkhut has been ravaging southern China. More than three million people were evacuated. |
 | Germany to have 1 million electric cars by 2022Germans are beginning to embrace electric cars, with experts predicting the country will have a million hybrid or battery-electric vehicles on the road by 2022. |
 | UK lawmakers: 'Wild West' cryptocurrencies need regulationBritish lawmakers have backed calls for greater regulation of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin in order to bring an element of control to a market that more resembles the "Wild West." |
 | Back to the future: Sony to release 'classic' PlayStationSony announced Wednesday it plans to launch a miniature games console designed like the original PlayStation pre-loaded with 20 vintage games as it joins the retro gaming craze just in time for Christmas. |
 | INL's TREAT reactor successfully completes first fueled experimentToday at 5:05 p.m., the Transient Reactor Test (TREAT) Facility at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) pulsed for a few seconds, subjecting a small capsule of light water reactor fuel to radiation and heat. The test marked the return of a capability that is critical to the United States' role in the development of nuclear fuels, for both the existing fleet and a new generation of advanced reactors under design. |
 | EU opens investigation into how Amazon uses dataEuropean authorities said Wednesday they have opened a preliminary antitrust investigation into Amazon over the e-commerce giant's treatment of smaller merchants on its website. |
 | Mathematicians propose to improve cellular network coverage by using UAVsRUDN University mathematicians have simulated the work of a cellular network and modeled the use of unmanned aerial vehicles as additional transmitters. Most of the available communication systems have flat coverage and do not take into account the difference in altitude, which results in the appearance of the so-called "blind" zones. Flying drones could solve this issue. The work is published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology. |
 | Body support device helps people learn to walk again after a stroke, traumaA Purdue University researcher with a passion to use engineering technology to improve health care has created a weight support system to help people suffering from walking disabilities after a stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year, and it is the leading cause of disability in older adults. |
 | Novel technology will massively boost optical data transfer throughput using existing equipmentFujitsu Laboratories Ltd. has developed an ultra-high capacity wavelength-division multiplexing system that considerably expands the transmission capacity of optical fibers in optical networks connecting datacenters. The new technology achieves this without the deployment of new transceivers dedicated to new wavelength. Previously, in order to expand transmission capacity between datacenters, operators had to either increase the number of optical fibers being used, or they needed receivers supporting each band of wavelengths. Now, Fujitsu Laboratories has developed the world's first broadband wavelength conversion technology that can batch convert C-band optical signals to new wavelength bands, including L-band and S-band, reconverting them back to the original C-band when received. Upon development of a system that converts optical signals in C-band to L- and S-bands before multiplexing and transmitting them utilizing this innovative technology, Fujitsu Laboratories successfully demonstrated in principle that transmission capacity could be tripled. This allows datacenter operators to use existing equipment as-is to raise the efficiency of optical fiber utilization and thereby expand transmission capacity. This promises to eliminate the kind of network bottlenecks that could pose challenges for high-volume users that need to store, back up, or perform parallel analysis on large volumes of data distributed between multiple datacenters. This includes cases that many expect to increase dramatically in the near future, such as transfers of unstructured data including 8K video material and device log information connected through 5G networks. |
 | Putting underused smart devices to workThere are currently millions of heavily underutilized devices in the world. The storage, networking, sensing and computational power of laptops, smartphones, routers and base stations grows with each new version and product release. Why not put all those extra gigabytes of memory and those powerful processing units to work collaboratively and expand the services available to all of us? |
 | Printed solar cell set to transform electronics manufacturingResearchers have achieved a new efficiency record in organic photovoltaic cells. The process could improve the production of new devices for energy harvesting and lighting. |
 | Edmunds highlights newest safety and technology trendsHistorically, the latest innovations in vehicle technology debut on high-end luxury vehicles. Developing new features is an expensive endeavor, and usually only wealthy shoppers are willing to pay for them. Features such as a navigation system, stability control and even traffic-adaptive cruise control were once the domain of high-priced cars, but now they are commonplace on even budget models. |
 | Supporting brace for historical steel bridgesEmpa scientists are saving iron bridges from the 19th century from collapse. Carbon fiber plasters are strengthening the crumbling structures. A railway bridge in Switzerland and a road bridge in Australia have already been reinforced successfully. Many historical bridges could follow. "Partners in crime" are specialists for steel fatigue at EPFL. |
 | Former exec sues Spotify over boys-only events and payA former sales executive is suing Spotify for gender discrimination and equal pay violations, saying executives organized "boys' trips" that excluded women and that the company paid men more for the same work. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Synthetic sandalwood found to prolong human hair growthA team of researchers led by Ralf Paus of the University of Manchester has found that applying sandalwood to the scalp can prolong human hair growth. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the group describes experiments they conducted with the synthetic material and human skin samples, and what they found. |
 | Young children's oral bacteria may predict obesityWeight gain trajectories in early childhood are related to the composition of oral bacteria of two-year-old children, suggesting that this understudied aspect of a child's microbiota—the collection of microorganisms, including beneficial bacteria, residing in the mouth—could serve as an early indicator for childhood obesity. A study describing the results appears September 19 in the journal Scientific Reports. |
 | Colon cancer is caused by bacteria and cell stressResearchers at Technical University Munich have reported findings related to the development of colon cancer. "We originally wanted to study the role of bacteria in the intestines in the development of intestinal inflammation," explains Professor Dirk Haller from the Department of Nutrition and Immunology at the Weihenstephan Science Centre of the TUM. "However, the surprising result for us was the discovery that bacteria, together with stress in cells, caused tumours (exclusively in the colon) and without the involvement of inflammation." |
 | Neuroscience of envy: Activated brain region when others are rewarded revealedHow we feel about our own material wellbeing and status in society is largely determined by our evaluation of others. However, the neurological underpinnings of how we monitor the complex social environments under conditions of limited access to resources and whether we feel happy or disappointed with our lot have remained unclear. |
 | Researchers find adult stem cell characteristics in aggressive cancers from different tissuesUCLA researchers have discovered genetic similarities between the adult stem cells responsible for maintaining and repairing epithelial tissues—which line all of the organs and cavities inside the body—and the cells that drive aggressive epithelial cancers. Their findings could bring about a better understanding of how aggressive, treatment-resistant cancers develop and progress, and could eventually lead to new drugs for a range of advanced epithelial cancers such as lung, prostate and bladder cancers. |
 | Inflammation critical for preventing heart attacks and strokes, study revealsInflammation, long considered a dangerous contributor to atherosclerosis, actually plays an important role in preventing heart attacks and strokes, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals. |
 | Machine learning IDs markers to help predict Alzheimer'sNearly 50 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. These irreversible brain disorders slowly cause memory loss and destroy thinking skills, eventually to such an extent that self-care becomes very difficult or impossible. |
 | What your cell phone camera tells you about your brainDriving down a dark country road at night, you see a shape ahead on the roadside. Is it a deer or a mailbox? Your brain is structured to make the best possible decision given its limited resources, according to new research that unites cognitive science and information theory—the branch of mathematics that underlies modern communications technology. |
 | New insights into the way the brain combines memories to solve problemsHumans have the ability to creatively combine their memories to solve problems and draw new insights, a process that depends on memories for specific events known as episodic memory. But although episodic memory has been extensively studied in the past, current theories do not easily explain how people can use their episodic memories to arrive at these novel insights. |
 | Zombie cells found in brains of mice prior to cognitive lossZombie cells are the ones that can't die but are equally unable to perform the functions of a normal cell. These zombie, or senescent, cells are implicated in a number of age-related diseases. And with a new letter in Nature, Mayo Clinic researchers have expanded that list. |
 | Researchers discover influenza virus doesn't replicate equally in all cellsThe seasonal flu is caused by different subtypes of Influenza A virus and typically leads to the death of half a million people each year. In order to better understand this virus and how it spreads, University of Minnesota Medical School researchers took a closer look at the cells inside the lungs. What they discovered is not only is the immune system response tuned to the amount of virus replication, it's also tuned to the viral spread. This deeper and more accurate understanding of the influenza virus and how it spreads could be the building blocks to better protective therapies for patients in the future. |
 | Sugar content of most supermarket yogurts well above recommended thresholdA comprehensive survey of ingredients in yogurts highlights high sugar levels in many—particularly organic yogurts and those marketed towards children. |
 | For-profit hospitals correlated with higher readmission ratesPatients who receive care in a for-profit hospital are more likely to be readmitted than those who receive care in nonprofit or public hospitals, according to a new study published by University of Illinois at Chicago researchers. |
Strength-based exercises could help child obesity fight, study findsEncouraging young people to do strength-based exercises—such as squats, push ups and lunges—could play a key role in tackling child obesity, research suggests. | |
Obesity and vitamin D deficiency may indicate greater risk for breast cancerVitamin D is already well known for its benefits in building healthy bones. A new study supports the idea that it also may reduce cancer risk as well as breast cancer mortality, especially in women with a lower body mass index. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). | |
 | Researchers show Speed of Processing Training effective in multiple sclerosisA recent article by Kessler Foundation researchers underscores the importance of processing speed in overall cognitive function in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their performance of everyday life activities. The article, "A pilot study examining speed of processing training (SPT) to improve processing speed in persons with multiple sclerosis", was published August 27, 2018 in Frontiers in Neurology. |
Cardiovascular-related deaths higher for US Hispanics who live in counties with higher Hispanic populationsHispanics living in the U.S. face more cardiovascular-related death in counties heavily populated by Hispanics than those living in more diverse areas, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. | |
 | Researchers investigate correlation between blood flow and body positionFor the first time ever, an international research group has detected alterations in capillary blood flow around the face caused by body position change. This was achieved with the use of imaging photoplethysmography. Using this method, scientists can examine blood vessels located in the carotid system in order to, for example, investigate the cerebral blood flow response to stimuli caused by disease. The results of the research were published in Scientific Reports. |
 | 3-D-printed tracheal splints used in groundbreaking pediatric surgeryChildren's Healthcare of Atlanta has performed Georgia's first-ever procedure to place 3-D-printed tracheal splints in a pediatric patient. A cross-functional team of Children's surgeons used three custom-made splints, which biomedical engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology helped create using an innovative and experimental 3-D-printing technology, to assist the breathing of a 7-month-old patient battling life-threatening airway obstruction. |
 | Engineered cell therapy rejected for aggressive adult lymphoma on NHS in EnglandA cancer immunotherapy has been provisionally rejected as a treatment for some adults with an aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma on the NHS in England. |
 | I can't sleep. What drugs can I (safely) take?If you're having trouble sleeping, medicines shouldn't be your first option. Exercise regularly, cut back on coffee (and other caffeinated drinks) after midday, eat less in the evening, ease up on "screen time" before, and in, bed, practise meditation and try to have a quiet, dark bedroom dedicated mostly to sleep. |
 | How our residential aged-care system doesn't care about older people's emotional needsAll humans have fundamental needs. These are physiological (food, drink, clothing, sleep), safety (emotional security, physical safety, health), love and belonging (friendships, community), esteem (respect, dignity) and self-actualisation (accomplishment, personal development). |
 | Mindfulness meditation: 10 minutes a day improves cognitive functionPractising mindfulness meditation for 10 minutes a day improves concentration and the ability to keep information active in one's mind, a function known as "working memory". The brain achieves this by becoming more efficient, literally requiring fewer brain resources to do these tasks. |
 | 'Legal highs' may be more dangerous than traditional drugs of abuseNovel psychoactive substances (NPS), or "legal highs," have had various definitions but can simply be thought of as new drugs of abuse. Some may be entirely new, some may be designed to mimic existing drugs, some are based on psychoactive plants and some are medicines. |
 | How often do people forget things about one another? We decided to find outA new acquaintance needs to be reminded of your name while you are having a conversation. A colleague forgets your plan to meet for coffee and schedules a conflicting meeting. A friend books a table for the two of you at a restaurant but it slips her mind that you don't like sushi. |
 | New research helps to instill persistence in childrenEncouraging children "to help," rather than asking them to "be helpers," can instill persistence as they work to fulfill daily tasks that are difficult to complete, finds a new psychology study. |
 | Binge drinking and blackouts: Sobering truths about lost learning for college studentsTens of thousands of college students nationwide will cheer for their football teams this weekend. Some of those who show up for the game after tailgate drinking may not remember the highlight touchdowns that they cheered so loudly for. Others may have trouble remembering even a rousing celebration of victory. Binge drinking, the leading type of alcohol misuse for college students, is the culprit. Drinking too much too fast can cause memory loss, sometimes called a blackout, erasing any recollection of an enjoyable life event. |
 | New micro-platform reveals cancer cells' natural behaviorA new cell culture platform allows researchers to observe never-before-seen behaviors of live cancer cells under the microscope, leading to explanations of long-known cancer characteristics. |
 | New method enables accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's diseaseDiagnosing Alzheimer's disease can be difficult, as several other conditions can cause similar symptoms. Now a new brain imaging method can show the spread of specific tau protein depositions, which are unique to cases with Alzheimer's. |
 | The 'real you' is a myth – we constantly create false memories to achieve the identity we wantWe all want other people to "get us" and appreciate us for who we really are. In striving to achieve such relationships, we typically assume that there is a "real me". But how do we actually know who we are? It may seem simple – we are a product of our life experiences, which we can be easily accessed through our memories of the past. |
 | Five psychological reasons why people fall for scams – and how to avoid themCon artists, fraudsters and their hapless victims are a staple of the news cycle and hardly a week seems to pass without a story about an e-mail lottery scam or a telephone fraud. Many reading these stories perhaps just raise their eyebrows and shake their heads, wondering how people can be so gullible. |
 | Ketogenic diet reduces body fat in women with ovarian or endometrial cancerWomen with ovarian or endometrial cancer who followed the ketogenic diet for 12 weeks lost more body fat and had lower insulin levels compared to those who followed the low-fat diet recommended by the American Cancer Society, according to a new study published by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. |
 | New study looks at how educational culture impacts emotional stabilityHomicide and suicide are among the leading causes of death among youth in the United States. Research has shown that school-based social and emotional learning interventions improve students' emotional and behavioral outcomes, including violence and suicide attempts. |
 | Close intercultural romantic relationships and friendships can boost creativityYou've worked abroad. You've lived abroad. But have you had a close friendship or romantic relationship with a person from a culture drastically different from your own? |
 | No increased risk of lung infections among infants using popular anti-reflux medicinesNew University of Otago research shows infants using popular anti-reflux medicines like omeprazole are not at increased risk of pneumonia or other lower respiratory tract infections, contrary to findings from other international studies. |
Premature brains develop differently in boys and girlsBrains of baby boys born prematurely are affected differently and more severely than premature infant girls' brains. This is according to a study published in the Springer Nature-branded journal Pediatric Research. Lead authors Amanda Benavides and Peg Nopoulos of the University of Iowa in the US used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans as part of an ongoing study on premature babies to examine how the brains of baby boys and girls changed and developed. | |
 | Study reveals cannabinoid drugs make pain feel 'less unpleasant, more tolerable'Researchers in the College of Arts and Sciences have determined that cannabinoid drugs do not appear to reduce the intensity of experimental pain, but, instead, may make pain feel less unpleasant and more tolerable. |
 | Can video game exercises help chronic low back pain?New research from University of Sydney has found home-based video-game exercises can reduce chronic low back pain in older people by 27 percent, which is comparable to benefits gained under programs supervised by a physiotherapist. |
 | Difficult people have most to gain from practicing compassion, study findsThe most disagreeable individuals, who are also the least likely to be kind, can benefit most from behaving more compassionately, a York University study has found. |
 | Getting help with parenting makes a difference—at any ageNew Oxford University study finds that parenting interventions for helping children with behaviour problems are just as effective in school age, as in younger children. |
 | Flu shots: A pinch in the arm, but not always in your walletIt's flu shot season, but the pinch of a shot doesn't have to also hurt your wallet. |
 | Anti-inflammatory protein promotes healthy gut bacteria to curb obesityScientists from the UNC School of Medicine discovered that the anti-inflammatory protein NLRP12 normally helps protect mice against obesity and insulin resistance when they are fed a high-fat diet. The researchers also reported that the NLRP12 gene is underactive in people who are obese, making it a potential therapeutic target for treating obesity and diabetes, both of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other serious conditions. |
More doctor visits lead to less suicide attempts for fibromyalgia patientsFibromyalgia patients who regularly visit their physicians are much less likely to attempt suicide than those who do not, according to a new Vanderbilt University Medical Center study published in Arthritis Care & Research. | |
 | Plasticity is enhanced but dysregulated in the aging brainThey say you can't teach old dogs new tricks, but new research shows you can teach an old rat new sounds, even if the lesson doesn't stick very long. |
 | People who walk just 35 minutes a day may have less severe strokesPeople who participate in light to moderate physical activity, such as walking at least four hours a week or swimming two to three hours a week, may have less severe strokes than people who are physically inactive, according to a study published in the September 19, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
Discomfort or death? New study maps hot spots of child mortality from diarrhea in AfricaNew high-resolution maps pinpoint areas across Africa with concentrations of child deaths from diarrhea and show uneven progress over 15 years to mitigate the problem. | |
 | Ovary removal may increase risk of chronic kidney diseasePremenopausal women who have their ovaries surgically removed face an increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, according to a Mayo Clinic study published on Wednesday, Sept. 19, in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. |
 | Time to ban the sale of energy drinks to children, says senior doctorIt's time to bring in laws to ban the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to children and young people in England to tackle the twin epidemics of obesity and mental health problems, argues Professor Russell Viner, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in The BMJ today. |
 | People can handle the truth (more than you think)Most people value the moral principle of honesty. At the same time, they frequently avoid being honest with people in their everyday lives. Who hasn't told a fib or half-truth to get through an awkward social situation or to keep the peace? |
 | Women who breastfeed for at least five months have more kidsWomen who breastfeed their first child for five months or longer are more likely to have three or more children, and less likely to have only one child, than women who breastfeed for shorter durations or not at all. |
 | Infants can use a few labeled examples to spark the acquisition of object categoriesEven before infants begin to speak, hearing language promotes object categorization. Hearing the same label, "That's a dog!" applied to a diverse set of objects—a collie, a terrier, a pug—promotes infants' acquisition of object categories (e.g., the category "dog"). But in infants' daily lives, most objects go unlabeled. Infants are constantly seeing new things, and even the most determined caregivers cannot label each one. |
 | Acupuncture: A new look at an ancient remedy(HealthDay)—Widely practiced in Asia for thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine. Yet it's still viewed with some skepticism in the Western world. |
 | Reports warn of growing opioid crisis among seniors(HealthDay)—Against the backdrop of an unrelenting opioid crisis, two new government reports warn that America's seniors are succumbing to the pitfalls of prescription painkillers. |
 | Opioid deaths 1999 to 2015 may be dramatically underestimated(HealthDay)—States may be greatly underestimating the effect of opioid-related overdose deaths because of incomplete cause-of-death reporting, according to a study recently published in Public Health Reports. |
 | 20% of children, adolescents use prescription medications(HealthDay)—Almost 20 percent of children and adolescents used prescription medications in 2013 to 2014, and 8.2 percent of concurrent users of prescription medications in 2009 to 2014 were at risk for a potentially major drug-drug interactions (DDIs), according to a study published in the September issue of Pediatrics. |
 | Patient health information often shared electronically(HealthDay)—The most common electronically sent and received types of patient health information (PHI) include laboratory results and medication lists, according to a report published Aug. 15 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. |
 | USPSTF recommends intensive behavioral change for obesity(HealthDay)—Primary care physicians should offer or refer obese patients to intensive behavioral interventions, according to a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) final recommendation statement published in the Sept. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | Second HPV-related primary cancers common in survivors(HealthDay)—The risk of human papillomavirus-associated second primary cancers (HPV-SPCs) among survivors of HPV-associated cancers is significant, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Flu season forecasts could be more accurate with access to health care companies' dataIn an era when for-profit companies collect a wealth of data about us, new research from The University of Texas at Austin shows that data collected by health care companies could—if made available to researchers and public health agencies—enable more accurate forecasts of when the next flu season will peak, how long it will last and how many people will get sick. |
 | Simulations of every woman's breast tissue address delay on enhanced MRI cancer detectionNo woman's breast tissue is the same, so MRIs detecting and monitoring cancer shouldn't treat them all the same. |
 | Analysis finds HPV vaccine safeInfection with human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause certain cancers in women and men, but HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing infection with oncogenic HPV types. A new British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology review of post-licensure data did not identify any new or unexpected safety concerns of the bivalent HPV vaccine. |
 | Overweight and obesity linked to higher risk of urinary incontinence for womenBeing overweight or obese is linked with an increased risk of developing urinary incontinence for young to mid-aged women, according to an Obesity Reviews analysis of all relevant published studies. |
 | Research examines mechanisms behind cognitive decline in type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes has been linked with an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction and dementia, but the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. In a new Diabetic Medicine study, imaging tests revealed that changes in white matter regions of the brain that are indicative of small vessel disease are associated with decreased processing speed (the the time it takes a person to do a mental task) in people with Type 2 diabetes. Also, higher blood pressure and worse kidney function were related to worse cognition. |
 | Arthritis and depression often occur together in older adultsArthritis is common in individuals with varying degrees of depression, according to a new International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry study. |
 | What treatable traits predict future asthma attacks?Investigators have assessed the prevalence of treatable traits in severe asthma and have determined which specific traits are predictive of future asthma attacks. Their findings, which are published in Respirology, are the result of an extensive national collaborative study in Australia. |
 | Study examines how heartfelt guilt affects individualsFor thousands of years, people have closely associated moral cleanliness with acts of physical cleanliness. A recent study published in the Australian Journal of Psychology explored this association by eliciting guilt, a threat to one's moral purity. |
 | Allergies, mental health problems and accident injuries: New data on child healthThe Robert Koch Institute has published new data from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS) on allergies, mental health problems and accident injuries. KiGGS is the only comprehensive study on the health of children and adolescents in Germany and an important database for evidence-based policy decisions. The 'data for action' of the current KiGGS wave were collected between 2014 and 2017 by physical examinations and interviews. The data can also be used for trend analyses by comparing them with data from the KiGGS baseline study, which was conducted between 2003 and 2006. The latest results are published in issue 3/2018 of the Journal of Health Monitoring. |
Toll from cholera outbreak in Lake Chad region now more than 500More than 500 people have died from cholera in the Lake Chad region since the start of the year, representing the worst outbreak to hit the area in four years, the UN said on Wednesday. | |
CTLA4 targeted therapy plus PD-1 targeted therapy could benefit women with ovarian cancerAn analysis of the NRG Oncology clinical trial NRG-GY003 suggests that adding ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets the protein receptor CTLA-4, to a regimen with the checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab could improve the proportion with tumor response and progression-free survival hazard rates for women with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. These results were presented as a late-breaking abstract oral presentation at the 17th Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecological Cancer Society (IGCS) in Kyoto, Japan. This trial was sponsored by the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the agents were provided to NCI by Bristol Myers Squibb under the cooperative research and development agreements between Bristol Myers Squibb and NCI for the development of nivolumab and ipilimumab. | |
 | Rumors, conflict challenge Ebola response in eastern CongoThe latest Ebola outbreak in Congo presents complex challenges as the virus spreads for the first time in an area where long-running conflict is hampering aid efforts, the regional Africa chief for the International Federation of the Red Cross said Wednesday. |
 | Bascom Palmer treats first US patient in Nightstar gene therapyA Puerto Rican patient with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is hoping to save his vision after an innovative gene therapy procedure at Bascom Palmer Eye Institute at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. On August 23, Julio Adorno Nieves, 23, became the first U.S. patient to be given new genes for his inherited blinding condition in a worldwide Nightstar Therapeutics clinical trial. |
 | Characterization of pregnancy microbiome reveals variations in bacterial diversityThe collection of an estimated 100 trillion resident microorganisms of the human body, termed the human microbiome, contributes to the physiology of human health and disease including nutrition, immune function, metabolism, and development. Recent studies suggest that the maternal microbiome changes composition during gestation and may be associated with pre-term birth. Yet, there remains a lack of detailed analyses regarding the structure, function, and temporal dynamics of the maternal microbiome and how it contributes to gestational outcome and fetal development. |
 | Strategies to protect bone health in hematologic stem cell transplant recipientsHematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the treatment of choice for many patients with malignant and non-malignant hematological diseases, such as leukemia and multiple myeloma. The success of recent advances in such transplantation techniques and supportive care measures, has led to greater numbers of long-term HSCT survivors. |
Newborn opioid withdrawal requires a 'cascade of care,' study suggestsEffective management of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) - withdrawal symptoms occurring in infants exposed to opioids in utero - requires a coordinated "cascade of care" from prevention through long-term follow-up, reports a study in Advances in Neonatal Care. | |
 | Administration sends states $1B in grants to battle opioidsThe Trump administration is awarding more than $1 billion in grants to help states confront the opioid epidemic, with most of the money going expand access to treatment and recovery services. |
Study reveals Arizona EMTs face 39-percent greater risk of suicideArizona emergency medical technicians' risk for suicide is 39-percent higher than the general public, according to a new study conducted by University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix researchers. | |
 | Researchers find well-being differs with age in multiple sclerosisA recent brief report by MS researchers provides preliminary evidence that older individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) report lower levels of depression and higher quality of life than their younger counterparts. These findings are consistent with the trend toward improvement in well-being with age in the general population. The article, "Subjective well-being differs with age in multiple sclerosis: A brief reports", was published in Rehabilitation Psychology. |
 | Is the end of the recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) a good thing?Recently, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called for the eliminating involvement of the Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) in human gene therapy experiments, marking the end of an era of federal government oversight. While the RAC played an essential role in helping human gene therapy research evolve to where it is today, James M. Wilson, MD, Ph.D., Editor, Human Gene Therapy Clinical Development, believes this is the right moment for it to exit the stage, as he explains in his Editorial "The RAC Retires After a Job Well Done," Human Gene Therapy Clinical Development. |
Biology news
 | Why do we love bees but hate wasps?A lack of understanding of the important role of wasps in the ecosystem and economy is a fundamental reason why they are universally despised whereas bees are much loved, according to UCL-led research. |
 | Social animals have tipping points, tooIn relatively cool temperatures, Anelosimus studiosus spiders lay their eggs and spin their webs and share their prey in cooperative colonies from Massachusetts to Argentina. Temperatures may vary, but the colonies continue to work together. That is, until 31 degrees C; then the spiders start to attack each other. |
 | In a tiny worm, a close-up view of where genes are workingScientists have long prized the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for studying the biology of multicellular organisms. The millimeter-long worms are easy to grow in the lab and manipulate genetically, and have only around 1,000 cells, making them a powerful system for probing intricacies of development, behavior and metabolism. |
 | Tweaking cells' gatekeepers could lead to new way to fight cancerIf the cell nucleus is like a bank for DNA, nuclear pores are the security doors around its perimeter. Yet more security doors aren't necessarily better: some cancer cells contain a dramatic excess of nuclear pores. |
 | Microplastics may enter foodchain through mosquitoesMosquito larvae have been observed ingesting microplastics that can be passed up the food chain, researchers said Wednesday, potentially uncovering a new way that the polluting particles could damage the environment. |
 | Researchers study DNA polymerases at the molecular levelComplex biological systems can be described as a network of chemical processes that take place in molecules. The scientists of the "ChemLife" research initiative at the University of Konstanz are working together in an equally active network with dynamic interconnections—both subject-specific and interdisciplinary. Recent insights into DNA polymerases acquired through interdisciplinary cooperation between organic chemistry, biochemistry, structural biology and theoretical chemistry show just how productive and mutually inspiring the interaction of biological and chemical know-how can be. These new findings at the molecular level of polymerases can be used for genome sequencing and other areas of molecular biology-based diagnostics. The research results were published on 17 September 2018 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). |
 | How dolphins learn to work together for rewardsCooperation can be found across the animal kingdom, in behaviours such as group hunting, raising of young, and driving away predators. |
 | Study shows bacteria change their surfaces to increase antibiotic resistanceA recent study by a team of researchers at the University of Georgia provides insight into how and why bacteria become resistant to commonly used antibiotics over time. |
 | Why some animals still have a penis boneA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.K. has found a possible explanation for why some animals still have a penis bone—"prolonged intromission." In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their work studying the penis bone in a wide variety of animals and what the found. |
 | Male dance flies found to favor females with bigger abdominal air sacsA team of researchers with the University of Toronto and the University of Stirling has found that male dance flies prefer to mate with females that have larger abdominal sacs. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study of the insects and what they found out about their mating habits. |
 | Surprise finding uncovers balancing act between birth defects and cancerWalter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have made a surprise discovery about how subtle changes in the way cell survival is regulated during embryonic development can have drastic health implications. |
 | Scientists crack genetic code of cane toadA group of scientists from UNSW Sydney, the University of Sydney, Deakin University, Portugal and Brazil have unlocked the DNA of the cane toad, a poisonous amphibian that is a threat to many native Australian species. The findings were published in academic journal GigaScience today. |
 | Scientists examine variations in a cell's protein factoryYou can think of a cell in your body like a miniature factory, creating a final product called proteins, which carry out various tasks and functions. In this cellular factory, genes control the series of sequential steps needed to create proteins, much like an assembly line moving a product along to completion. This process is known as gene expression. |
 | DNA tests of illegal ivory link multiple ivory shipments to same dealersThe international trade in elephant ivory has been illegal since 1989, yet African elephant numbers continue to decline. In 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature cited ivory poaching as a primary reason for a staggering loss of about 111,000 elephants between 2005 and 2015—leaving their total numbers at an estimated 415,000. |
 | New fungus found to cause cankers and declines in pistachio trees in Sicily, ItalyStarting in the spring of 2010, farmers from Sicily—the major pistachio production area of Italy—have been reporting a previously unknown disease on the trees. Characterised by cankers and declines, it sometimes leads to the collapse of the entire plant. |
 | Canadian crabs with bad attitude threaten coastal ecosystemCanadians are known as friendly folks, but these crabby brutes migrating from Canadian waters are better suited for the hockey rink. |
 | Hotspots, not trouble spots: Africa seeks tourism boomAfrica draws just five percent of the world's tourists despite boasting attractions ranging from the Pyramids and Victoria Falls to wildlife safaris and endless strips of pristine beach. |
 | New insights into DNA phase separationA new study by Professor Hajin Kim in the School of Life Sciences at UNIST presents the notion of DNA Phase Separation, which suggests that the DNA within the nucleus may trigger phase separation, like oil in water. Unlike existing biological methods, Professor Kim explains how DNA works through a basic principle of physics: "Each human cell contains approximately two meters of DNA, that are too small to be visible to the unaided eye. Amazingly, all of that DNA is tightly packaged into a tiny little nucleus. There, we were able to observe the most basic separation principle of oil and water phases." |
 | Roadkill report: A roadmap to avoiding wildlife collisionsCollisions with wildlife continue to cost up to half a billion dollars each year in California, primarily within the central Sierra Nevada and San Francisco Bay Area. But certain highways have especially high numbers of wildlife collisions, according to the annual roadkill report from the UC Davis Road Ecology Center. |
 | Study on jararaca pit vipers links 'giant' specimens proliferation to predatorsIn São Paulo, Brazil's largest city, it is easier to find giant jararaca pit vipers (Bothrops jararaca) in a small fragment of Atlantic Rainforest surrounded by urban sprawl than in a nature reserve that is 16 times larger, even though more food is available for snakes in the latter. A new study suggests that the difference may be due to the number of predators in each habitat and not to the availability of food, as the researchers supposed at the outset. |
 | Seeing pesticides spread through insect bodiesPesticides have been linked with declining honey bee numbers, raising questions about how we might replace the many essential uses of these chemicals in agriculture and for control of insect-borne diseases. As many governments seek to restrict uses of pesticides, more information on how pesticides affect different insects is increasingly beneficial. Greater insight into how these chemicals interact with insects could help develop new and safer pesticides and offer better guidance on their application. |
 | Eulogy for a seastar, Australia's first recorded marine extinctionWe see the surface of the sea: the rock pools, the waves, the horizon. But there is so much more going on underneath, hidden from view. |
 | Cell mechanism regulating protein synthesis in stress conditions discoveredGenes must be expressed in precise levels and at the exact moment if the complex balance regulating cell activity is to be maintained. Messenger RNA (mRNA) conveys genetic information from DNA to ribosomes, where proteins are synthesised through the union of amino acids. These amino acids are supplied by fragments of transfer RNA (tRNA), which decode the information contained within the mRNA codons (group of three bases sequencing each amino acid) in order to chain them correctly and synthesise each protein. |
 | Improving 'silvopastures' for bird conservationThe adoption of "silvopastures"—incorporating trees into pastureland—can provide habitat for forest bird species and improve connectivity in landscapes fragmented by agriculture. But how do silvopastures measure up to natural forest habitat? New research from The Condor: Ornithological Applications shows that birds in silvopasture forage less efficiently than those in forest fragments but offers suggestions for how silvopasture habitat could be improved. |
 | Newly identified African bird species already in troubleCentral Africa's Albertine Rift region is a biodiversity hotspot consisting of a system of highlands that spans six countries. Recent studies have shown that the population of sooty bush-shrikes occupying the region's mid-elevation forests is a distinct species, and new research from The Condor: Ornithological Applications reveals that this newly discovered species may already be endangered due to pressure from agricultural development. |
 | Deadly plant disease threatens $250M rose businessThe outlook for American-grown roses is becoming a bit less rosy, with the spread of an incurable virus that's causing major damage to the nation's $250-million-a-year rose business. |
 | Mexico ranch helps American bison make a comebackHundreds of years ago, the American bison roamed freely across the widest natural range of any herbivore on the continent—a vast habitat extending from northern Mexico across the United States to Alaska, and Canada. |
 | Chemicals linked to endocrine disorder in older pet catsNew research suggests that there may be a link between higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment and higher levels of hyperthyroidism in pet cats as they age. The findings are published in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. |
 | Study examines foraging of mountain gorillas for sodium-rich foodsA new Biotropica study examines mountain gorillas in Rwanda and their foraging for sodium-rich food in both national park areas and lands managed by local communities. |
 | Life-threatening bacteria thrives in pets' water bowls, experts discoverDogs' water bowls are a breeding ground for dangerous germs that could put animal and human health at risk, a new study at Hartpury University has revealed. |
 | The wider impact of illegal wildlife tradeNext month, world leaders will gather in London at the 2018 Illegal Wildlife Trade conference with the aim of stimulating the greater political commitment needed to stamp out wildlife crime. |
 | Monsanto asks judge to throw out $289M award in cancer suitAgribusiness company Monsanto has asked a San Francisco judge to throw out a jury's $289 million award to a former school groundskeeper who said the company's Roundup weed killer left him dying of cancer. |
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