Monday, February 11, 2019

Science X Newsletter Monday, Feb 11

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 11, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict bus arrival times

Anti-fatigue-fracture hydrogels

Rats in augmented reality help show how the brain determines location

Injectable sponge-like gel enhances the quantity and quality of T-cells

Researchers home in on genes linked to age-related macular degeneration

Many Arctic lakes give off less carbon than expected

Engineered miniature kidneys come of age

Acoustic waves can monitor stiffness of living cells

Cell component breakdown suggests possible treatment for multiple neural disorders

Spinal cord is 'smarter' than previously thought

Sand from glacial melt could be Greenland's economic salvation

Termites shape and are shaped by their mounds

Diverse scents of woodland star wildflowers driven by coevolution with pollinators

Multiwavelength observations of star-forming region uncover dozens of new celestial objects

Machine learning reveals hidden turtle pattern in quantum fireworks

Astronomy & Space news

Multiwavelength observations of star-forming region uncover dozens of new celestial objects

An international team of astronomers has conducted multiwavelength observations of the star-forming region G345.5+1.5. The observational campaign discovered dozens of massive stars as well as protostellar and bound starless clumps in the region. The study is presented in a paper published January 30 on arXiv.org.

Do you like Earth's solid surface and life-inclined climate? Thank your lucky (massive) star

Earth's solid surface and moderate climate may be due, in part, to a massive star in the birth environment of the Sun, according to new computer simulations of planet formation.

Chang'e 4 Rover comes into view

On Jan. 30 2019, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) acquired a spectacular limb shot centered on the Chang'e 4 landing site, looking across the floor of Von Kármán crater. At the time, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) was more than 200 kilometers from the landing site so Chang'e 4 was only a few pixels across and the rover was not discernable. The following day LRO was closer to the site and again slewed (59 degrees this time) to capture another view. This time the small Yutu-2 rover shows up (two pixels) just north of the lander. Also, shadows cast by the lander and rover are now visible.

New Horizons' evocative farewell glance at Ultima Thule

An evocative new image sequence from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft offers a departing view of the Kuiper Belt object (KBO) nicknamed Ultima Thule—the target of its New Year's 2019 flyby and the most distant world ever explored.

MAVEN spacecraft shrinking its Mars orbit to prepare for Mars 2020 rover

NASA's 4-year-old atmosphere-sniffing Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) mission is embarking on a new campaign today to tighten its orbit around Mars. The operation will reduce the highest point of the MAVEN spacecraft's elliptical orbit from 3,850 to 2,800 miles (6,200 to 4,500 kilometers) above the surface and prepare it to take on additional responsibility as a data-relay satellite for NASA's Mars 2020 rover, which launches next year.

Developing a flight strategy to land heavier vehicles on Mars

The heaviest vehicle to successfully land on Mars is the Curiosity Rover at 1 metric ton, about 2,200 pounds. Sending more ambitious robotic missions to the surface of Mars, and eventually humans, will require landed payload masses in the 5- to 20-ton range. To do that, we need to figure out how to land more mass. That was the goal of a recent study.

Shedding light on the science of auroral breakups

Auroras, also known as Northern or Southern lights depending on where they occur, are natural displays of light in the Earth's sky. Typically, these lights are dimly present at night. However, sometimes, these otherwise faint features explode in brightness and can even break up into separate glowing hallmarks, appearing as spectacular bursts of luminous manifestations. This striking and picturesque phenomenon is known as an auroral breakup.

Science on a plane – ESA's next parabolic flight campaign

In May, engineers, pilots, researchers and scientists will convene in Bordeaux, France, for ESA's 71st parabolic flight campaign. Over the course of three days they will fly on a specially-fitted commercial aircraft, testing equipment and running research as the pilots put the plane through repeated parabolas, giving the passengers and their experiments brief bouts of microgravity.

Norway: GPS jamming during NATO drills in 2018 a big concern

The Norwegian Intelligence Service says GPS signal disruption as seen during major NATO drills in Norway last year "is of particular concern" for the military and "is also a threat to civil aviation in peacetime."

Technology news

Using artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict bus arrival times

Accurately predicting the arrival times of buses is of key importance, particularly in hectic urban environments. Providing people with efficient and timely transportation can discourage them from using private vehicles, consequently reducing both fuel consumption and traffic congestion.

Using artificial intelligence to engineer materials' properties

Applying just a bit of strain to a piece of semiconductor or other crystalline material can deform the orderly arrangement of atoms in its structure enough to cause dramatic changes in its properties, such as the way it conducts electricity, transmits light, or conducts heat.

A new-day stethoscope joins fight against toll of childhood pneumonia

French physician René Laennec envisioned in 1816 rolled sheets of paper into a tube that amplified sounds. He went on to invent the stethoscope and is considered the father of auscultation.

Augmented wheelchair effort shows admirable regard for independence

Real life in the public space is not exactly an elegant straight line. Ramps. Boxes. "Floor is Wet" signs. Store aisles calling for multiple right and left turns to reach shelves in pursuit. No small challenge for a person with disabilities and wheelchair-bound.

Cascade effects, not mechanical failures, more often responsible for poor performance in London commuter trains

A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.K. has found that cascade effects are more to blame for poor performance by London's commuter train system than are mechanical failures. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the team describes their analysis of London's commuter train network and what they found.

Paper-based multi target diagnostic test enables new applications

Diagnosing a disease is a crucial first step in providing care. However, many regions around the world lack the centralized infrastructure and trained personnel to perform these tests. This leads to the need for low-cost test alternatives, which can be administered at the point of care. To meet this demand, easy-to-read diagnostic tests constructed from paper have been developed and implemented to combat a number of diseases across the world creating nearly a $6 billion market. These paper-based tests, commonly referred to as Lateral Flow Assays, detect the presence of specific molecules in a sample such as blood or urine by inducing a color change along a 'test line' contained on the paper strip, functioning similarly to the well-known pregnancy tests.

Researchers develop flags that generate energy from wind and sun

Scientists have created flags that can generate electrical energy using wind and solar power.

Programming autonomous machines ahead of time promotes selfless decision-making

A new study suggests the use of autonomous machines increases cooperation among individuals.

For Amazon, it's business as usual despite CEO drama

First it was a heart-wrenching tweet that he and his wife were getting a divorce after 25 years. Then a tabloid revealed that he'd been having an affair, releasing texts and photos of him and his mistress.

NY gov raps Amazon critics amid report company's rethinking

Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned Friday about what he called "political pandering" to critics of Amazon's proposed secondary headquarters amid a report that the company is reconsidering its planned New York City headquarters.

Modest praise for US reform of visa program for skilled workers

The Trump administration's new rules for a US visa program widely used for technology workers are getting cautious praise from Silicon Valley amid surging demand for high-skill employees.

Bezos case exposes billionaires' vulnerability to hackers

The stunning revelation that a tabloid obtained below-the-belt selfies of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—the world's richest man—suggests that even billionaires are not out of the reach of hackers.

Australia watchdog tips tough rules to curb power of Google, Facebook

The head of Australia's competition watchdog warned Monday that tough new regulation of tech giants like Google and Facebook was needed to protect the future of independent journalism.

Don't click that link! How criminals access your digital devices and what happens when they do

Every day, often multiple times a day, you are invited to click on links sent to you by brands, politicians, friends and strangers. You download apps on your devices. Maybe you use QR codes.

Study finds users who leave Facebook are happier, but less informed

Critics say that Facebook's controversies and criticisms in 2018 alone, from privacy concerns to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, should be enough to get people to stop using it. However, over two billion of us around the world continue to spend about an hour a day on the social networking platform. Now a new study suggests there's an even better reason to log off: it's bad for your mental health.

System will help planners identify, prioritize highway projects

A new prototype system that monitors the number and type of tractor-trailers moving through a region could help transportation planners identify and prioritize infrastructure projects and increase operational efficiency.

Robust approach for minimizing costs in power-distribution networks

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a new method for scheduling the activation and deactivation of power generators that minimizes costs and ensures reliability while addressing the issues prevalent in previous methods.

Pushing the bounds of vision could reveal hidden worlds

Nature is complex – often too complex for humans to see. But squint-controlled glasses that let people see 3-D thermal images and a camera that can capture the inner workings of high-speed chemical reactions are helping to push the limits of human perception.

Most Americans don't realize what companies can predict from their data

Sixty-seven percent of smartphone users rely on Google Maps to help them get to where they are going quickly and efficiently.

What does it take to make a better battery?

Cambridge researchers are working to solve one of technology's biggest puzzles: how to build next-generation batteries that could power a green revolution.

Explainer: The promise of 5G wireless - speed, hype, risk

A much-hyped network upgrade called "5G" means different things to different people.

NIST: Blockchain provides security, traceability for smart manufacturing

Engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) needed a way to secure smart manufacturing systems using the digital thread , so they turned to the new kid on the block ... blockchain, that is.

SoftBank fund invests big in self-driving deliveries

A Silicon Valley startup working on self-driving delivery vehicles on Monday announced nearly a billion dollars in fresh funding from the SoftBank Vision Fund.

Scientists use smartphones to improve dismal rating of nation's civil infrastructure

In the United States, aging civil infrastructure systems are deteriorating on a massive scale. A recent report by the American Society of Civil Engineers gave these systems a D+ rating nationwide on an A—F scale. Now scientists at the University of Missouri have developed smartphone-based technologies that can monitor civil infrastructure systems such as crumbing roads and aging bridges, potentially saving millions of lives.

The giant Chinese companies shaping the world's industries

It was fear of being dominated by a Chinese behemoth that sparked an attempt by large French and German rail companies to join forces to create an European industrial champion.

Renault denounces Nissan over Ghosn investigation: report

Lawyers for French carmaker Renault have criticised their Japanese alliance partner Nissan for its handling of an internal probe into the Carlos Ghosn scandal, a Sunday newspaper has reported.

Lawyer denies tabloid blackmailed Amazon boss Bezos

A lawyer denied Sunday allegations by Jeff Bezos that the National Enquirer tabloid had tried to extort and blackmail him, insisting that embarrassing photographs were obtained from a "reliable" source.

Euronext tops Nasdaq bid for Oslo stock exchange 

European exchange operator Euronext on Monday raised its offer for the Oslo stock exchange to $783 million (691 million euros), besting an offer from US rival Nasdaq.

Cutting-edge underwater mining system can give flooded mines a new lease of life

Europe has an estimated EUR 100 billion worth of unexploited mineral resources lying at depths of 500-1,000 m. Following centuries of active mining, the continent's more accessible mineral deposits are mostly depleted. However, there are still deep-lying resources in abandoned flooded mines and in unmined underwater deposits that can't be exploited using conventional dry mining techniques.

Hotel groups hail new offensive on Airbnb in Paris

Hotel groups in Paris on Monday hailed a new legal offensive by city authorities against home-sharing group Airbnb which is being taken to court over illegal rentals.

Dutch staff warn Air France-KLM of strikes over chief

Dutch airline managers have warned Air France-KLM of possible strikes if KLM chief executive Pieter Elbers is not reappointed, reports said on Monday.

NYC mayor defends Amazon deal at state budget hearing

It was "mission critical" for New York City to land one of Amazon's second headquarters and the tens of thousands of jobs the company promises to create, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Monday, just days after a report said the company was having second thoughts because of opposition from some influential local politicians.

Trump calls for investment in artificial intelligence

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing federal agencies to prioritize research and development in artificial intelligence.

Medicine & Health news

Rats in augmented reality help show how the brain determines location

Before the age of GPS, humans had to orient themselves without on-screen arrows pointing down an exact street, but rather, by memorizing landmarks and using learned relationships among time, speed and distance. They had to know, for instance, that 10 minutes of brisk walking might equate to half a mile traveled.

Researchers home in on genes linked to age-related macular degeneration

National Eye Institute scientists led a collaborative study and zeroed in on genes associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss and blindness among people age 65 and older. These findings provide a more expanded and in-depth picture of the genetic contributions to AMD, and they present new pathways for treatment development. The study was published Feb. 11 in Nature Genetics.

Engineered miniature kidneys come of age

In recent years, researchers have created mini-organs known as organoids in the culture dish that contain many of the cell types and complex microarchitectures found in human organs, such as the kidney, liver, intestine, and even the brain. However, most organoids grown in vitro lack the vasculature required to provide oxygen and nutrients, remove metabolic waste, and facilitate communication between different cell types that drives their maturation into truly functional tissue building blocks.

Cell component breakdown suggests possible treatment for multiple neural disorders

Research published today (Feb. 11, 2019) reveals how one mutation causes fragile X, the most common inherited intellectual disability.

Spinal cord is 'smarter' than previously thought

We often think of our brains as being at the centre of complex motor function and control, but how 'smart' is your spinal cord?

How exercise may protect against Alzheimer's

Athletes know a vigorous workout can release a flood of endorphins: "feel-good" hormones that boost mood. Now there's evidence that exercise produces another hormone that may improve memory and protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to a study co-led by Ottavio Arancio, MD, Ph.D., a researcher at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain.

Women's hormones play role in drug addiction, higher relapse rates

Women's hormonal cycles may not only make them more prone to drug addiction but also more affected by triggers that lead to relapse, a new Vanderbilt University study revealed. The findings are especially significant since there are virtually no addiction studies in women that account for these cycles.

Your genes could impact the quality of your marriage

The quality of your marriage could be affected by your genes, according to new research conducted at Binghamton University, State University of New York.

Antibody could increase cure rate for blood, immune disorders

An antibody-based treatment can gently and effectively eliminate diseased blood-forming stem cells in the bone marrow to prepare for the transplantation of healthy stem cells, according to a study in mice by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Shameful secrets bother us more than guilty secrets

Everyone has secrets, but what causes someone to think about them over and over again? People who feel shame about a secret, as opposed to guilt, are more likely to be consumed by thoughts of what they are hiding, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

Immunotherapy can be effective in treating people with recurrent glioblastoma

A UCLA-led study suggests that for people with recurrent glioblastoma, administering an immunotherapy drug before surgery is more effective than using the drug afterward.

Sophisticated blood analysis provides new clues about Ebola, treatment avenues

A detailed analysis of blood samples from Ebola patients in Sierra Leone is providing clues about the progression of the effects of the Ebola virus in patients and potential treatment pathways. A manuscript discussing the work, led by scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, was published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Geneticists identify molecular pathway for autism-related disorder

Geneticists discovered a molecular trigger for a severe autism-related disorder that has enabled them to start testing a potential therapy targeting a specific protein in the brain.

Smartphone-based mindfulness training reduces loneliness, increases social contact

Used in the right way, smartphones may not be as isolating as some would think. A new Carnegie Mellon University study suggests smartphone-based mindfulness training may help individuals feel less lonely and motivate them to interact with more people.

Insulin signaling failures in the brain linked to Alzheimer's disease

Scientists continue to find evidence linking Type 2 diabetes with Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia and the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. However, little is understood about the mechanism by which the two are connected.

Scientists stumble upon a model to study a lethal complication

More and more hospitalized patients with sepsis are being diagnosed with a deadly complication characterized by high levels of inflammation. A team of Yale researchers has uncovered clues to the cause of this complication—which kills up to 80% of patients—and a potential new strategy for treating it.

New role for death molecule

Cellular death is vital for health. Without it, we could develop autoimmune diseases or cancers. But a cell's decision to self-destruct is tightly regulated, so that it only happens to serve the best interests of the body. Now researchers have discovered a novel role for a signaling molecule that was once considered a dispensable player, a discovery that could inform fields of research as diverse as cancer, autoimmunity, and in-utero development. The research was published in Nature Communications, February 11th.

Study identifies brain cells that modulate behavioral response to threats

A team of investigators from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Regenerative Medicine has identified a population of brain cells that appears to play a role in calibrating behavioral responses to potentially threatening situations. In their report published in Nature Neuroscience, the researchers describe finding how activation of a specific group of cells in a deep-seated brain structure, the dorsolateral septum, regulates fearful behavior in mice placed in a context they have learned to associate with an unpleasant sensation or contexts that are similar but not associated with the unpleasant sensation.

Researchers 3-D bio-print a model that could lead to improved anticancer drugs and treatments

University of Minnesota researchers have developed a way to study cancer cells which could lead to new and improved treatment. They have developed a new way to study these cells in a 3-D in vitro model (i.e. in a culture dish rather than in a human or animal).

Interaction between immune factors triggers cancer-promoting chronic inflammation

A Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team has identified interaction between two elements of the immune system as critical for the transformation of a protective immune response into chronic, cancer-promoting inflammation. In their report published in PNAS, the investigators demonstrate that elevated levels of the immune factor IL-33 and regulatory T cells (Tregs), which suppress the action of tumor-fighting immune cells, set the stage for the development of skin cancer associated with chronic dermatitis and colorectal cancer in patients with colitis.

Human brain protein associated with autism confers abnormal behavior in fruit flies

A mutant gene that encodes a brain protein in a child with autism has been placed into the brains of fruit flies. Fruit flies hosting that gene produce the variant human brain protein and show abnormal behaviors of fear, repetitive activity and altered social interaction, reminiscent of autism impairments.

Western diet may increase risk of severe sepsis, death, study finds

A Western diet high in fat and sugar can pack on the pounds. But it can also put someone at greater risk of developing severe sepsis, according to a study by a Portland State University researcher.

New French study explores risks of ultra-processed food

A major French study published Monday has found for the first time a link between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and a higher risk of death, but researchers warned more work was needed to determine which mechanisms were at play.

Researchers closer to new Alzheimer's therapy with brain blood flow discovery

By discovering the culprit behind decreased blood flow in the brain of people with Alzheimer's, biomedical engineers at Cornell University have made possible promising new therapies for the disease.

Researchers identify brain protein crucial to recovery from stroke

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States suffers a stroke and available therapies, such as clot busting drugs or clot removal devices, are focused on limiting the extent of brain damage. Now, research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System shows that a brain protein called UCHL1 may be critical to how nerve cells repair themselves after stroke damage. The research, conducted in animal models, could aid in the development of therapies that enhance stroke recovery by improving the underlying biological repair process.

AI system spots childhood disease like a doctor

An artificial intelligence (AI) programme developed in China that combs through test results, health records and even handwritten notes diagnosed childhood diseases as accurately as doctors, researchers said Monday.

Depression 101: Dallas schoolkids learn about mental health

In a scenario playing out in more and more classrooms around the world, a Dallas teenager recently asked her classmate if anything was wrong, noting that she hadn't been acting like herself. The brusque reply: "Just leave me alone."

Fury at HIV data leak in conservative Singapore

Rico has lived with HIV for almost a decade, confiding in only a small number of people in socially conservative Singapore, fearful of the reaction. Last month, he got a phone call saying information about his condition had been published online.

Women less likely to receive geriatric care for emergency hip surgery

More than 70% of patients receiving surgery for hip fracture are women, yet they are less likely than men to receive geriatric care during hospitalization, or an anesthesiology consultation before surgery, found a study published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

LGBTQ youths are over-represented, have poorer outcomes in child welfare system

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youths are more likely to end up in foster care or unstable housing and suffer negative outcomes, such as substance abuse or mental health issues, while living in the child welfare system, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin.

More than half a million breast cancer deaths averted in the US over three decades

Latest U.S. estimates indicate that since 1989, hundreds of thousands of women's lives have been saved by mammography and improvements in breast cancer treatment. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings point to progress made in early detection and management of breast cancer.

New target could help protect vision following optic nerve trauma

When a car crash or explosion results in an optic nerve injury, eliminating an enzyme known to promote inflammation appears to aid recovery, scientists report.

New heated tobacco device causes same damage to lung cells as e-cigs and smoking

A new study that directly compares new heated tobacco devices with vaping and traditional cigarettes shows that all three are toxic to human lung cells.

Potent marijuana edibles can pose a major unrecognized risk to patients with cardiovascular disease

As marijuana legalization sweeps North America, use of the substance has been on the rise, and the public's attitude is shifting. An increasing number of people believe that "weed" is the safest recreational drug, one that carries health benefits that outweigh its risks. Those assumptions are challenged in an article and editorial published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology that examine the story of a patient who developed crushing chest pain and myocardial ischemia after consuming most of a marijuana lollipop.

Facial trauma malpractice lawsuits favor physicians, study finds

Southern courts favor physicians in malpractice lawsuits over facial trauma treatment, while courts in the Midwest favor patients, according to a Rutgers study.

Managing young women at high risk of heart disease

Deaths from heart disease have decreased in recent decades, but these decreases have not occurred in women younger than 50. A new review in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) provides guidance for physicians to identify and manage premenopausal women at high risk of heart disease.

Oral contraceptives could impair women's recognition of complex emotions

The pill could be blurring your social judgement—but perhaps not enough so you'd notice. By challenging women to identify complex emotional expressions like pride or contempt, rather than basic ones like happiness or fear, scientists have revealed subtle changes in emotion recognition associated with oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use. Published in Frontiers in Neuroscience, their study found that OCP users were nearly 10% worse on average than non-users in deciphering the most enigmatic emotional expressions, raising questions over the possible impact of OCPs on social interactions in intimate relationships.

Stress-free training may enhance surgical skill

University of Houston and Methodist Hospital researchers are reporting in Scientific Reports that the best way to train surgeons is to remove the stress of residency programs and make surgery a hobby. Under relaxed conditions outside a formal educational setting, 15 first-year medical students, who aspired one day to become surgeons, mastered microsurgical suturing and cutting skills in as little as five hour-long sessions.

Medical bills financially burden almost half of cardiovascular disease patients

Over 45 percent of adult atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) patients suffer financial hardship related to their medical bills, including many who cannot pay their medical bills at all, according to a cardiovascular medicine and society paper published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Your relationship may be better than you think – find the knot

There's an old saying, "When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on." In other words, before you give up, take matters into your own hands and try a little harder.

A rational checklist is no match for emotions in matters of the heart

For many people, there are few things more rewarding than crossing an item off a checklist. But what if the checklist is about your dream partner? And what if the checklist is wrong?

The science of parkour, the sport that seems reckless but takes poise and skill

People climbing up walls and jumping off buildings in films such as Brick Mansions, Assassin's Creed, and Casino Royal aren't tricks of cinema.

Researchers speed up detection of blood infection

Researchers from The University of Western Australia have developed a new method of detecting blood infection that they hope will dramatically speed up diagnosis and treatment of severe infection.

How Big Pharma's free samples encourage your doctor to prescribe more expensive drugs

One of the main calling cards used by drug company salespeople, or detailers as they're commonly called, to get into doctors' offices is the offer of free drug samples.

Affectionate touch contributes to stress and conflict management

For most people, receiving affectionate touch from a romantic partner just feels good. What people may not know is that receiving hugs, kisses, and back rubs may contribute to long-term health and well-being and the maintenance of relationship satisfaction over time, says Syracuse University's Brittany Jakubiak, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology.

Physical restraint doesn't protect patients – there are better alternatives

It's an uncomfortable image to consider: an elderly person – perhaps somebody you know – physically restrained. Maybe an aged care resident deemed likely to fall has been bound to his chair using wrist restraints; or someone with dementia acting aggressively has been confined to her bed by straps and rails. These scenarios remain a reality in Australia.

Say 'no' to that golden glow: Social media helps stop unhealthy tanning

There's no such thing as a healthy tan. Yet despite the known risks of skin cancer, summer always sees thousands of sun lovers heading to the beach in the search of that perfect golden glow and challenging the 'tanned ideal' is an uphill battle.

Scientists believe it may be possible to reverse the heart damage caused by aging

New research, which has been published today in the EMBO Journal, could suggest a new way of preventing heart failure in older patients.

Seven tips to protect your child from burns

Burns are among the leading causes of deaths and injuries in the United States, and children are especially vulnerable.

Who does (and doesn't) want a DNA ancestry test?

At-home DNA testing kits may be the latest fad, but according to new research by Stanford sociologists, not everyone is keen to find out whether they are related to the British royal family or a Neanderthal.

Better architectural design could prevent youth suicide

Suicide among younger people is often so spontaneous that it can be prevented if they do not encounter a potentially dangerous place outdoors. Getting the form of the built environment correct is therefore a very important factor in stopping suicide among young people. This is the finding of Charlotta Thodelius, a researcher at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden.

New research challenges medical consensus that adenoids and tonsils significantly shrink during teenage years

In the most thorough longitudinal study performed to date, X-ray images of children at five developmental stages between the ages of eight and 19 were carefully measured (Fig. 1 A,B). The researchers report that the adenoids and tonsils do not shrink significantly during the teenage years, which may reshape the guidelines for when an adenotonsillectomy should be performed to treat respiratory complications, e.g., obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Country-specific norms created for cancer-related quality of life

(HealthDay)—Country-specific norms have been established for the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) questionnaire to measure the self-reported quality of life of cancer patients, according to a study published in the January issue of the European Journal of Cancer.

Vaccine-preventable infections common after peds transplant

(HealthDay)—Hospitalization for vaccine-preventable infections occurs in more than 15 percent of pediatric solid organ transplant recipients in the first five years after surgery, according to a study recently published in JAMA Pediatrics.

Walgreens worst violator in tobacco sales to minors, FDA says

(HealthDay)—Walgreens' high rate of violations for selling tobacco products to minors has led U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., to ask for a meeting with the company to discuss the issue.

Patient, doctor communication priorities differ in ulcerative colitis

(HealthDay)—There is discordance in communication priorities for patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and their gastroenterology physicians (GIs), and the emotional impact of UC should not be underestimated, according to two studies presented at the 2019 Crohn's & Colitis Congress, held from Feb. 7 to 9 in Las Vegas.

Diagnostic delays common in inflammatory bowel disease

(HealthDay)—Diagnostic delays are common in inflammatory bowel disease, with 68 percent of patients reporting a delay in diagnosis, according to a study presented at the 2019 Crohn's & Colitis Congress, held from Feb. 7 to 9 in Las Vegas.

CDC: Heart attack awareness improved since 2008

(HealthDay)—Since 2008, there has been an increase in the number of U.S. adults with awareness of heart attack symptoms and knowledge of the appropriate response to a heart attack, according to research published in the Feb. 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Mixed results on early human testing of iron chelation after brain bleed

A drug that removes excess iron and toxins from the body after a brain bleed did not show significant improvement in recovery or neurological function at three months after intracerebral hemorrhage (stroke), but showed some benefits at six months, according to late breaking science presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2019, a world premier meeting for researchers and clinicians dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease.

Nerve transfer surgery gives hope to children with rare paralyzing illness

At Brandon Noblitt's first appointment with Washington University surgeon Amy Moore, MD, a year ago, he was barely able to walk, mostly using a wheelchair to get around. Only 6 years old at the time, Brandon had come down with a cold. A week later, he was unable to move his right arm and leg.

Acyclovir labeling now includes details for treating premature infants infected with herpes virus

Newborns infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) can be appropriately treated with acyclovir, a drug typically prescribed to adults for the treatment of HSV infections. Acyclovir's drug label now includes information for healthcare providers on recommended usage and dosage in newborns up to 3 months of age. The data that informed this label change came from a study funded by the National Institutes of Health's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Reliance on tech, daily strain are causing 'professional loneliness' in health care

Rushed clinical visits and an increased reliance on technology in medicine that replaces in-person communication between doctor and patient have led to "a kind of professional loneliness" and "a crisis in job satisfaction" among physicians, writes Richard Wenzel, M.D., in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Wenzel's essay, "RVU Medicine, Technology, and Physician Loneliness" describes competing factors that contribute to the sense of loneliness many health care professionals feel.

Testosterone limits for female athletes based on flawed science

Should high testosterone levels disqualify elite female athletes from competing among women?

New insight into cell receptors opens the way for tailored cancer drugs

New research on how cancer mutations influence a certain type of receptor on the cell membrane opens the way for the development of tailored drugs for certain cancers, such as rectal cancer and lung cancer. This, according to researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet and Uppsala University, who have been collaborating with researchers in the U.K. and U.S. The results of their work, which concerns a group of G protein-coupled receptors called Class Frizzled (Class F), are published in the journal Nature Communications.

Why static stretching may not be as effective as you think

The thing about professional football that renowned health-fad skeptic Timothy Caulfield finds most incredible isn't the feats of athleticism, the big hits or even the moments of grace that emerge from the chaos—it's the pre-game stretching.

Could energy overload drive cancer risk?

It's well-known that obesity, diabetes, and chronic inflammation are major risk factors for cancer. But just how cancer evolves in people with these diseases—and why a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help prevent it—is poorly understood. New research published in Evolution, Medicine and Public Health offers an intriguing theory: By providing an over-abundance of energy to cells, these diseases might super-charge their growth and cause them to become cancerous.

Getting the most benefit from ab exercises

(HealthDay)—Men and women alike want defined abs. But you don't have to achieve a "six-pack"—the nickname for the three most visible pairs of abdominal muscles—to get the benefits of a stronger middle, needed to support your back.

How color can help you de-stress

(HealthDay)—Many studies have shown that color affects both mood and behavior. Color can help you go from sad to happy or angry to calm.

Poor sleep plagues many kids with autism

(HealthDay)—Young children with autism are more than twice as likely to have sleep problems than typical kids or those with other developmental delays, a new study reports.

Even in best-case scenario, opioid overdose deaths will keep rising until 2022

In the nation's opioid epidemic, the carnage is far from over.

Survey: OB-GYNs remain conflicted about abortion, but pills may be changing attitudes

With the national abortion debate entering a new stage, a survey of U.S. obstetricians and gynecologists has found that while nearly 3 out of 4 had a patient who wanted to end a pregnancy in the past year, fewer than 1 in 4 were willing and able to perform one themselves.

Five ways to develop children's talents

Some people think talent is born. The often-told story of Mozart playing piano at 3 and composing at 5 reinforces such beliefs.

Ebola vaccine is key in ongoing efforts to contain the DRC outbreak

Vaccines are recognised as one of the most powerful tools in controlling and preventing infectious diseases. This despite strong anti-vaccination movements around the globe.

New research insights hold promise for kids with DMD

Prednisone, the current standard of care used to treat kids with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), reduces chronic inflammation but has harsh side effects. Eplerenone, a heart failure drug, is used in older patients to treat cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of mortality for people with DMD. A new medicine under development appears to combine the beneficial effects of these drugs for the heart and muscle while also showing improved safety in experimental models. This drug, vamorolone, does so by simultaneously targeting two nuclear receptors important in regulating inflammation and cardiomyopathy, indicates a small study published online Feb. 11, 2019, in Life Science Alliance.

Inexpensive supplement for women increases infant birth size

For women in resource-poor settings, taking a certain daily nutritional supplement before conception or in early pregnancy may provide enough of a boost to improve growth of the fetus, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The inexpensive supplement consists of dried skimmed milk, soybean and peanut extract blended into a peanut butter-like consistency. Weighing less than an ounce, the supplement is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals and provides protein and fatty acids often lacking in the women's diets.

DNA puzzle uncovers rare chromosome defects

Using puzzle pieces from four different DNA analyses, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have been able to map three extremely complex chromosome aberrations. This has given families answers about the cause of their children's serious symptoms. The study was published in the scientific journal PLOS Genetics and the goal is to produce a test to be used in the clinic.

Happiness research: the long-term effects of life events are overestimated

People are evidently no good at predicting their own happiness or unhappiness: key life events such as marriage, invalidity or the death of a partner affect well-being for less time than those affected think. Two economists from the University of Basel came to this conclusion in the Journal of the European Economic Association.

Interventions to reduce antibiotics use require tailored approach in developing countries

Fears around leaving infectious diseases untreated and poorly enforced antibiotic supply controls could hamper efforts to reduce the use of antibiotics in low to middle income countries, according to a new study from the University of Warwick.

Targeting epilepsy with cranial electrodes

Stimulating the brain with implanted electrodes is a successful, but very drastic measure. Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology, Kempenhaeghe, Philips Neuro and Gent University will therefore be working on a method to stimulate the brain using electrodes that are placed on the head rather than inside it. Their goal is to customize treatment for patients with severe epilepsy. Incidentally, they will also settle the scientific discussion about the efficacy of non-invasive electrical neurostimulation.

Our artificial cornea breakthrough could lead to self-assembling organs

For every person in the world who receives a cornea transplant, there are 69 others who still need one. That leaves about 12.5m people with limited sight because there aren't enough eye donors. But what if we could grow new corneas in the lab?

Study shows benefits of delayed cord clamping in healthy babies

A five-minute delay in the clamping of healthy infants' umbilical cords results in increased iron stores and brain myelin in areas important for early-life functional development, a new University of Rhode Island nursing study has found.

Bias may affect providers' knowledge of transgender health

People who are transgender face many barriers in the health care system—from intake forms that use non-inclusive language, to challenges finding providers who are knowledgeable about their health care needs.

Grocery-store based nutrition education improves eating habits

Hypertension affects over 60 million adults in the United States and less than half have their condition under control. A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that grocery store?based nutrition counseling was effective in changing dietary habits of patients being treated for hypertension.

Connection between home energy efficiency and respiratory health in low-income homes

A team of investigators from the Colorado School of Public Health at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus and the University of Colorado Boulder has identified that people living in homes with high ventilation are more likely to suffer from respiratory health issues such as asthma.

New therapeutic target found for aggressive pediatric cancers with few treatment options

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that malignant rhabdoid tumors (MRT), a rare pediatric cancer without effective treatments, may be sensitive to drugs that block the cancer cell's ability to dispose of misfolded proteins. The findings provide a much-needed therapeutic target for these and other cancers caused by mutations in the SMARCB1 gene.

New tuberculosis drug may shorten treatment time for patients

A new experimental antibiotic for tuberculosis has been shown to be more effective against TB than isoniazid, a decades-old drug which is currently one of the standard treatments. In mouse studies, the new drug showed a much lower tendency to develop resistance, and it remains in the tissues where the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria reside for longer, killing them more effectively. The research is published February 11 in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.

How your smartphone is affecting your relationship

Smartphones have become a constant companion for many of us. In a recent study by the Pew Research Center, nearly 50 percent of adults reported they "couldn't live without" their phones.

Youth smoking decline stalls, and vaping may be to blame

Cigarette smoking rates have stopped falling among U.S. kids, and health officials believe youth vaping is responsible.

Changes in lung cells seen almost immediately after contact with low-molecular weight PAHs

It is well known that exposure to high-molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) increases cancer risk, leading to regulation of compounds like benzo(a)pyrene (BAP). However, less is known about the health effects of low molecular weight PAHs. Now, a University of Colorado Cancer Center study shows cancer-promoting changes in lung cells as soon as 30 minutes after exposure to low-molecular weight PAHs, adding further evidence that regulators may be underestimating the risk of these compounds commonly found in secondhand cigarette and marijuana smoke, as well as other environmental and occupational exposures.

New study shows HPV not likely transmittable through the hand

Commonly known as HPV, Human papillomavirus is a virus that infects the skin and genital area, in many cases leading to a variety of genital, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers in men and women. Strong evidence exists showing that penetrative genital sex and oral sex can transmit HPV. However, while HPV is also often detected in the hands, the question of whether hand-genital contacts can transmit HPV has long been a source of debate among researchers.

Low-income boys' inattention in kindergarten associated with lower earnings 30 years later

Disruptive behaviors in childhood are among the most prevalent and costly mental health problems in industrialized countries and are associated with significant negative long-term outcomes for individuals and society. Recent evidence suggests that disruptive behavioral problems in the first years of life are an important early predictor of lower employment earnings in adulthood. A new longitudinal study examined boys from low-income backgrounds to determine which behaviors in kindergarten are associated with earnings in adulthood. The study concluded that inattention was associated with lower earnings and prosocial behavior with higher earnings.

Why Mr. Nice could be Mr. Right

The key to relationship happiness could be as simple as finding a nice person.

What the FDA's actions mean for dietary supplements

The Food and Drug Administration announced plans Monday to step up its policing of dietary supplements, which it said has mushroomed into a $40 billion industry with more than 50,000 products. The agency warned 17 companies for illegally making claims about their products' ability to treat diseases.

Researchers identify novel molecular mechanism involved in Alzheimer's

Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Health have identified a novel mechanism and potential new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

He ate a 'pot lollipop'—and a heart attack soon followed

(HealthDay)—If you're an aging baby boomer who thinks you can handle today's potent marijuana "edibles," the case of a man who had a heart attack after eating a pot lollipop should give you pause.

Half of U.S. kids with a mental health disorder don't get treatment

(HealthDay)—If you're worried that your child may suffer from a mental health condition, such as anxiety, depression or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you have plenty of company.

Poor whites bear the brunt of U.S. opioid crisis, studies find

(HealthDay)—America's ongoing opioid epidemic has struck poor whites harder than any other group, and a new study argues that racism likely played a role in that.

Higher optimism tied to lower odds of pain after deployment

(HealthDay)—For U.S. soldiers, higher levels of optimism are associated with lower odds of reporting new pain after deployment, according to a study published online Feb. 8 in JAMA Network Open.

Reproductive health counseling inadequate in IBD

(HealthDay)—Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) report low rates of IBD-reproductive health counseling (RHC), according to a study presented at the 2019 Crohn's & Colitis Congress, held from Feb. 7 to 9 in Las Vegas.

Rates of diabetes screening high among adults age <45

(HealthDay)—Rates of diabetes screening are high, with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) used less but more likely to result in clinical diagnosis, according to a study published online Feb. 6 in Diabetes Care.

Masterswitch discovered in body's immune system

Scientists have discovered a critical part of the body's immune system with potentially major implications for the treatment of some of the most devastating diseases affecting humans.

Scientists use machine learning to identify source of Salmonella outbreaks

A team of scientists led by researchers at the University of Georgia Center for Food Safety in Griffin has developed a machine-learning approach that could lead to quicker identification of the animal source of certain Salmonella outbreaks.

Study finds upsurge in 'active surveillance' for low-risk prostate cancer

Many men with low-risk prostate cancer who most likely previously would have undergone immediate surgery or radiation are now adopting a more conservative "active surveillance" strategy, according to an analysis of a new federal database by scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Researchers turn to newlywed couples to unravel questions about the chemistry of empathy and bonding

Love can make us do crazy things. It often prompts us to behave in counterintuitive ways, like, for example, placing the wellbeing of our loved ones above our own.

Protein released from fat after exercise improves glucose

It's well-known that exercise improves health, but understanding how it makes you healthier on a molecular level is the question researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center are answering.

Tracking HIV's ever-evolving genome in effort to prioritize public health resources

Every county in the United States tracks HIV cases, sequencing the virus' genome to see if it is resistant to current medications and looking for trends. More recently, local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have begun using those HIV genetic sequences to trace the virus' transmission history.

DR Congo Ebola death toll passes 500: health ministry

More than 500 people have died from the latest outbreak of Ebola in DR Congo, but a vaccination programme has prevented thousands more deaths, the country's health minister told AFP.

Poverty not an obstacle to excellent healthcare in Africa: Gates

Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates said Sunday that excellent basic healthcare that would prevent easily treatable but deadly conditions was achievable even in Africa's poorest nations.

How to talk to anti-vaxxers

When Rachel Alter started off as a graduate student, she expected to investigate epidemics, bioterrorism and disease eradication. But her focus started to shift after she began chatting with anti-vaxxers—people opposed to vaccination—on Facebook. Now, as a research assistant at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia's Earth Institute, she wants to find ways to better communicate about vaccine safety.

At-home rehab comparable to clinic-based therapy to improve mobility

Home-based telerehabilitation is just as effective as clinic-based therapy at restoring arm function among stroke survivors, according to late-breaking science presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2019.

Neurologists speak out about gender disparity at global stroke gathering

The International Stroke Conference (ISC) attracts thousands of neurologists each year to network with fellow experts and watch compelling presentations on the very latest advances in clinical care, science, and education. Joining those presentations for the first time was a rather provocative topic—gender disparities among the very presenters themselves.

Do we have an epidemic? Enhancing disease surveillance using a health information exchange

How do public health officials know if there is a disease outbreak and where that outbreak has occurred?

Researchers identify early home and family factors that contribute to obesity

A new 21-year longitudinal study identified multiple risk factors related to the family and home environment associated with the timing and faster increase in body mass increase (BMI), ultimately leading to overweight or obesity in adulthood. The effects of the home and family characteristics on BMI can emerge as early as age 5, according to the study published in Childhood Obesity.

Access to federally qualified health centers does not translate into lower rates of ED use

There is no association between access to federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and emergency department visits for either uninsured or Medicaid-insured patients. That is the conclusion of a study to be published in the February 2019 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).

Why children struggle with the 'cocktail party effect'

Researchers have clarified the development of the ability to attend to a speaker in a noisy environment—a phenomenon known as the "cocktail party effect." Published in JNeurosci, the study could have implications for helping children navigate the often-noisy surroundings in which they grow and learn.

Pitch perfect: Brain differences behind a rare musical ability

New research published in JNeurosci reports features of the brain in musicians with absolute, or perfect, pitch (AP) that likely enable individuals with this rare ability—shared by Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven—to precisely identify musical notes.

Learning a second alphabet for a first language

A part of the brain that maps letters to sounds can acquire a second, visually distinct alphabet for the same language, according to a study of English speakers published in eNeuro. The research challenges theoretical constraints on the range of visual forms available to represent written language.

Scientists to test light therapy as relief from painful side effect of cancer treatment

University at Buffalo researchers have received part of a $1.5 million grant to investigate light therapy as a replacement for prescription opioids in treating oral mucositis, painful ulcers and swelling in the mouth that result from chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer.

Researchers examine postpartum hospital readmissions for women with psychiatric conditions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gestational diabetes affects an estimated 2—10% of pregnancies in the United States. If left untreated, gestational diabetes (GDM) can lead to pregnancy complications, including preterm birth, caesarean delivery and more.

PET imaging agent may allow early measurement of efficacy of breast cancer therapy

Physicians may soon have a new way to measure the efficacy or failure of hormone therapy for breast cancer patients, according to new research published in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine. Researchers report that positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with 18F-fluorofuranylnorprogesterone (18F-FFNP) has been found to successfully measure changes in progesterone receptor (PR) levels resulting from a short-course estrogen treatment, also known as an estradiol challenge.

Biology news

Injectable sponge-like gel enhances the quantity and quality of T-cells

Bone marrow transplants, also known as hematopoietic stem cell transplants, are life-saving treatments for aggressive diseases, such as leukemia and multiple myeloma, and infections such as HIV. The procedure entails infusion of blood stem cells from a matched donor into the patient to 'reset' the blood and immune system.

Acoustic waves can monitor stiffness of living cells

MIT engineers have devised a new, noninvasive way to measure the stiffness of living cells using acoustic waves. Their technique allows them to monitor single cells over several generations and investigate how stiffness changes as cells go through the cell division cycle.

Termites shape and are shaped by their mounds

Termite construction projects have no architects, engineers or foremen, and yet these centimeter-sized insects build complex, long-standing, meter-sized structures all over the world. How they do it has long puzzled scientists.

Diverse scents of woodland star wildflowers driven by coevolution with pollinators

A study of woodland star wildflowers in the western United States has found remarkable diversity in the scent compounds produced by their flowers. Every species of woodland star, and even different populations within a species, may produce a unique floral bouquet, sometimes composed of dozens of scent compounds, to attract specialized insect pollinators.

Study of Arctic fishes reveals the birth of a gene—from 'junk'

Though separated by a world of ocean, and unrelated to each other, two fish groups—one in the Arctic, the other in the Antarctic—share a surprising survival strategy: They both have evolved the ability to produce the same special brand of antifreeze protein in their tissues. A new study describes in molecular detail how the Arctic fishes built the gene for their antifreeze from tiny fragments of noncoding DNA, regions once considered "junk DNA."

Rating riverside corridors—the 'escape routes' for animals under climate change

Under climate change, plants and animals will shift their habitats to track the conditions they are adapted for. As they do, the lands surrounding rivers and streams offer natural migration routes that will take on a new importance as temperatures rise.

For the first time, scientists 'see' dual-layered scaffolding of cellular nuclei

Our cells sometimes have to squeeze through pretty tight spaces. And when they do, the nuclei inside must go along for the ride. Using super-sensitive microscopic imaging, a team of scientists from the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University have made a fundamental biological discovery that explains the structure of the nuclear envelope and gives tantalizing clues as to how cells squish through narrow openings without springing a leak.

Redox traits characterize the organization of global microbial communities

To a great extent, living organisms control the flows of matter and energy through the planet, and the study of their interactions is the goal of ecology. While the roles or functions of multicellular organisms, such as trees or animals, are known or can be predicted from their taxonomy, this is not always possible in the case of microbes. Which are the attributes that best characterize the microbial communities that inhabit ecosystems and the ecological roles they perform?

Hard-to-detect antibiotic resistance an underestimated clinical problem

Even when antibiotics are used to treat bacteria susceptible to them, sometimes the antibiotic chosen is ineffective. One of the reasons for this is heteroresistance, a phenomenon explored in depth by Uppsala and Emory University researchers in a new study.

How poppy flowers get those vibrant colours that entice insects

With bright reds and yellows—and even the occasional white—poppies are very bright and colorful. Their petals, however, are also very thin; they are made up of just three layers of cells. University of Groningen scientists Casper van der Kooi and Doekele Stavenga used microscopy and mathematical models describing how light interacts with petals to find out how the vibrant colors are created. The results will be included in a special edition of the Journal of Comparative Physiology A, which focuses on the relationship between insects and flowers.

Almost 2,000 unknown bacteria discovered in the human gut

Researchers at EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute and the Wellcome Sanger Institute have identified almost 2000 bacterial species living in the human gut. These species are yet to be cultured in the lab. The team used a range of computational methods to analyse samples from individuals worldwide.

Research characterizes evolution of pathway for reproductive fitness in flowering plants

Small RNAs (sRNAs) are key regulators involved in plant growth and development. Two groups of sRNAs are abundant during development of pollen in the anthers—a critical process for reproductive success. One of these pathways for sRNA production, previously believed present in grasses and related monocots, has now been demonstrated to be present widely in the flowering plants, evolved over 200 million years ago, and is arguably one of the evolutionary innovations that made them so successful.

Re-establishing oyster beds to maximize their ecological benefits

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a mapping tool that identifies sites for re-establishing oyster reefs that maximize their ecological benefits—such as water filtration. This Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based tool could inform restoration of other vital, sensitive coastal habitats.

World seeing 'catastrophic collapse' of insects: study

Nearly half of all insect species worldwide are in rapid decline and a third could disappear altogether, according to a study warning of dire consequences for crop pollination and natural food chains.

Mosquitoes that carry malaria may have been doing so 100 million years ago

The anopheline mosquitoes that carry malaria were present 100 million years ago, new research shows, potentially shedding fresh light on the history of a disease that continues to kill more than 400,000 people annually.

Rats! Los Angeles City Hall battles rodent infestation

Los Angeles officials are ripping out carpets, setting traps and fumigating as they battle a rat infestation at City Hall that one attorney says left her battling a bout of typhus.

Russian Arctic archipelago sounds alarm over aggressive polar bears

A Russian Arctic archipelago on Saturday declared an emergency situation over an "invasion" of dozens of aggressive polar bears that have entered homes and public buildings.

No hooks, lines or sinkers: Cambodians go traditional in fishing ceremony

Wielding handmade bamboo baskets and nylon nets, hundreds of people waded thigh-deep into a muddy lake in eastern Cambodia on Sunday for an annual fish-catching ceremony where only traditional tools are used.

Skyglow over key wildlife areas

Light pollution affects the skies over most of the world's key wildlife areas, new research shows.

Dog DNA testing takes off, and generates debate

As people peer into DNA for clues to health and heritage, man's best friend is under the microscope, too.

On the land, one-quarter of vertebrates die because of humans

Humans have a "disproportionately huge effect" on the other species of vertebrates that share Earth's surface with us, causing more than 25 percent of the deaths among an array of species all over the globe, according to a recently published study.

Motor enzyme protects genome through several mechanisms

A helicase, Pfh1, can thanks to several different mechanisms protect the genome from DNA obstacles and damages associated with cancer. This is shown in a new doctoral thesis at Umeå University, Sweden.

Totally cool turtles may help save species

A trial of ways to cool turtle nests is underway in Queensland's Far North as global warming threatens turtle populations throughout the tropics.

Cricket females choose male losers

According to popular belief, females prefer males with high social status (alpha males) when as partners to continue the race. However, as recent studies have shown, males losing fights have equal or even greater chances of success among females. The study was published in Frontiers of Ecology and Evolution.

Fried, steamed or toasted: Here are the best ways to cook insects

For thousands of years people from all over the world have eaten insects. Today about 2.5 billion people – many of whom live in Africa – eat insects. To date, 470 African edible insects have been scientifically recorded, with grasshoppers and termites among some of the favourites.

Venomous yellow scorpions are moving into Brazil's big cities – and the infestation may be unstoppable

I live in São Paulo, the biggest city in Brazil, home to some 12 million people – 20 million if you count the outskirts, which have been sprawling for three decades.

DNA-methods reveal the web of life

Modern DNA-based methods provide entirely new insight into the interaction between different species in nature. Researchers can finally reveal the details of who is eating whom, who pollinates what flower and who lives on whose skin or feathers. A special issue of the scientific top journal Molecular Ecology now provides an overview of the state of the art in this field.

Aquaculture does little to conserve wild fisheries, according to study

New research finds that aquaculture, or fish farming, does not help conserve wild fisheries.

Climate change may destroy tiger's home

A James Cook University scientist says the last coastal stronghold of an iconic predator, the endangered Bengal tiger, could be destroyed by climate change and rising sea levels over the next 50 years.

Brazil-endemic plant genus Mcvaughia highlights diversity in a unique biome

A new species of the Brazil-endemic small genus Mcvaughia is described as part of a extended revision of this unique group. The study was published in the open access journal PhytoKeys.

The widow next door: Where is the globally invasive noble false widow settling next?

Spiders are one of the most successful groups of 'invaders' on the planet. Out of over 47,000 species of spiders known today, there are some that tend to follow humans across the globe and settle in habitats far away from their native homelands. A particularly notorious example is the species Steatoda nobilis, the Noble False Widow spider.

Anther rubbing, a new movement discovered in plants, promotes prior selfing

Most plants have developed mechanisms to prevent self-fertilization and its detrimental effects of inbreeding depression. Traits promoting selfing in plants have been approached mainly from the perspective of a loss of function, or even only considered as a by-product of non-adaptive evolutionary processes. However, the shift from cross-fertilization to selfing has been identified as one of the most frequent evolutionary transitions. Therefore, adaptive mechanisms actively promoting selfing should be usual in the plant kingdom, but, remarkably, they have not been frequently found.

Modern mahouts taking care of elephants in Myanmar are younger and less experienced

Traditional elephant handling worldwide is rapidly changing. Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland and Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE) veterinarians found mahouts in Myanmar are only 22 years old on average, with an average experience of three years working with elephants, and they are changing elephants yearly preventing the development of long-term bonds between elephants and mahouts. These shifts contrast the traditional elephant-keeping system of skills being accumulated over a lifetime of working with the same elephant before being taught to the younger generation.

Halting biodiversity loss in Madagascar requires greater collaboration between researchers and managers

Madagascar has been repeatedly identified as a top priority for biodiversity conservation globally and merits attention for its high levels of endemic species. Yet, the country struggles with high poverty levels and an unstable political environment, putting high pressures on the remaining forests and the island´s biodiversity.

London Zoo not to blame for death of Sumatran tiger: manager

London Zoo on Monday denied it was responsible for the death of an endangered Sumatran tiger mauled by a potential mate brought in as part of a breeding programme.


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