Science X Newsletter Monday, Feb 18

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 18, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Implementing a practical quantum secure direct communication system

First evidence discovered of a gigantic remnant around an exploding star

Diagnosing 'art acne' in Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings

Meteorite source in asteroid belt not a single debris field

Multiple stellar populations detected in the cluster Hodge 6

A call for a theoretical framework to address replication crisis facing the psychological sciences

Best of Last Week – NASA heading back to moon, climate shift in North America and impact of processed food on health

Sound waves let quantum systems 'talk' to one another

Design principles for peroxidase-mimicking nanozymes

Engineered metasurfaces reflect waves in unusual directions

Solid-state catalysis: Fluctuations clear the way

Light-based production of drug-discovery molecules

Diversity on land is not higher today than in the past, study shows

Scientists reveal how 3-D arrangement of DNA helps perpetuate the species

Exotic spiraling electrons discovered by physicists

Astronomy & Space news

	First evidence discovered of a gigantic remnant around an exploding star A San Diego State University astrophysicist has helped discover evidence of a gigantic remnant surrounding an exploding star—a shell of material so huge, it must have been erupting on a regular basis for millions of years.
	Meteorite source in asteroid belt not a single debris field A new study published online in Meteoritics and Planetary Science finds that our most common meteorites, those known as L chondrites, come from at least two different debris fields in the asteroid belt. The belt contains many debris fields created from former dwarf planets, or dwarf planets in the making, that collided long ago. These fragments, called asteroids, continue to collide, producing the meteorites that fall to Earth today.
	Multiple stellar populations detected in the cluster Hodge 6 Using ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have found that the cluster Hodge 6 hosts multiple stellar populations. The detection could provide important hints on the formation and evolution of Hodge 6 and star clusters in general. The finding is detailed in a paper published February 7 on arXiv.org.
	Study of analog crews in isolation reveals weak spots for Mission to Mars Northwestern University researchers are developing a predictive model to help NASA anticipate conflicts and communication breakdowns among crew members and head off problems that could make or break the Mission to Mars.
	Energetic particles can bombard exoplanets TRAPPIST-1 is a system of seven Earth-sized worlds orbiting an ultra-cool dwarf star about 120 light-years away. The star, and hence its system of planets, is thought to be between five-to-ten billion years old, up to twice as old as our own solar system. For scientists seeking evidence for life elsewhere, the advanced age provides more time for chemistry and evolution to operate than the Earth had. On the other hand, the planets are all close to the star (in fact they are probably tidally locked to the star with one side always facing it), and consequently would have soaked up billions more year's-worth of high energy radiation from the star's winds, adversely affecting any atmospheres they host.
Video: Big questions about small worlds Scientists who study the solar system tend to ask big questions: How was our solar system formed? Where did the building blocks of life come from? What hazards from above threaten life on our planet? To find answers, they're looking more and more at small worlds.
	Self-driving rovers explore Moroccan desert, shooting for Mars Ever since the first successful landing on Mars in the 1970s, scientists have striven to deepen their knowledge of the red planet's surface. The first successful rover, the Sojourner, was deployed on Mars's surface in July 1997. Since then, there have been another three successful robotically operated rovers on the planet, collecting information on water, rocks, soils and minerals, and the presence of organic material.
	Israel's first lunar mission to launch this week Israel is to launch its first moon mission this week, sending an unmanned spacecraft to collect data to be shared with NASA, organisers said Monday.

Technology news

	OpenAI's GPT-2 algorithm is good in knitting fake news Fake. Dangerous. Scary. Too good. When headlines swim with verdicts like those then you suspect, correctly, that you're in the land of artificial intelligence, where someone has come up with yet another AI model.
	The highly realistic nobody: Researchers take fake images to another level We are being fed an ample amount of information about artificial intelligence and the webs it can weave for delivering fake news. Leave some room for more news, this time for NVIDIA's feat in delivering fake images. Wait, we are seeing photos of a man and a woman and they both look totally genuine—yet they are computer generated.
	Flexible display talk: Smartphone might fold around your wrist A phone that folds? Smartphone vendors think it can capture imaginations as they work to come up with newer gee-whiz designs to sell phones. This month, there is one foldable phone in the wings that is capturing special attention because it can transform into a smartwatch.
US seeks ways to recycle lithium batteries in cars, phones The U.S. government will lead an ambitious effort to develop technologies to recycle lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles, cellphones and other sources to ensure a reliable and affordable supply of metals crucial to battery production in anticipation of soaring global demand and potential shortages, Department of Energy officials said Friday.
	Researchers keeps wraps on automatic text generator to prevent misuse Researchers this week announced they had developed an automatic text generator using artificial intelligence which is very good—so good, it is keeping details private for now.
	Samsung to launch US retail stores in smartphone push Samsung announced Friday it will open three US retail stores to promote its Galaxy line of smartphones as the South Korean giant sets to launch an updated flagship handset.
Altered data sets can still provide statistical integrity and preserve privacy Synthetic networks may increase the availability of some data while still protecting individual or institutional privacy, according to a Penn State statistician.
	Potential privacy lapse found in Americans' 2010 census data An internal team at the Census Bureau found that basic personal information collected from more than 100 million Americans during the 2010 head count could be reconstructed from obscured data, but with lots of mistakes, a top agency official disclosed Saturday.
	Saudi defends app allowing men to monitor women relatives Saudi Arabia on Saturday defended a mobile app that allows men in the kingdom to track female relatives after rights groups and a US lawmaker criticised tech giants for offering it.
	To fight off unemployment, Iraqi youth plant start-up seeds Stuck between an endless waitlist for a government job and a frail private sector, Iraqi entrepreneurs are taking on staggering unemployment by establishing their own start-ups.
	Digitalized infinity: Engineers present blockchain technology to verify natural diamonds Members of the Russian startup Bitcarat.com, graduates of the National University of Science and Technology, have commercialized a unique technology aimed at verifying and tracing natural diamonds. The method is based on blockchain technology. In a situation where natural, synthetic and fake stones exist in the diamond market, the system could protect the financial assets of market participants and fully guarantee the authenticity of diamonds. Participants plan to launch a security token offering within one year.
	Damsel in distress or sexy sidekick? The representation of women in video games has changed A slender woman draws her sword and confronts Surt, the God of fire. Compared to the terrifying God, the woman appears small and fragile. Nevertheless, she throws herself into the battle without hesitation.
	Tweaking tools to track tweets over time Your social media posts reveal a lot about you. KAUST researchers have developed a dynamic computational model that can analyze tweets to identify Twitter users' interests and track changes over time. "Understanding the evolution of users' interests means we can group them accordingly and recommend friends, news, events and other services," says Xiangliang Zhang who led the research at KAUST.
	In Indonesia, young and old share fake news on social media Recent research from the US shows that baby boomers or people over 65 years old with conservative political views are more likely than other age groups to share fake news through social media.
	Just like HAL, your voice assistant isn't working for you even if it feels like it is Of all the fictional virtual assistants we know from pop culture, few stand up to the original and perhaps most famous: the HAL 9000 from the 1968 Stanley Kubrick film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
	Lithium-air batteries can store energy for cars, houses and industry Current lithium ion battery technology will probably not be able to handle the coming decades' huge demand for energy. It is estimated that by 2050, electricity will make up 50 percent of the world's energy mix. Today, that rate is 18 percent. But installed capacity for renewable energy production is expected to increase fourfold. This will require batteries that are more efficient, cheaper and environmentally friendly.
	Berlin to get single travel app for public, private services Travelers in Berlin will soon be able to use a single app to switch seamlessly between public transport, rental bikes, car-sharing and taxis without signing up for each service individually, officials said Monday.
	Facebook 'digital gangsters' who spread fake news: British MPs A scathing British parliamentary report on Monday branded Facebook "digital gangsters" who failed to fight the spread of fake news and violated data privacy.
	Japan upgrades downpour forecasts before Tokyo 2020 With an eye on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Japanese researchers are developing a new system to accurately forecast torrential downpours—known in Japan as 'guerilla rainstorms'—30 minutes before they strike.
Facebook may hide anti-vaxx posts after it's accused of spreading fake health news Facebook says it has 'taken steps' to reduce fake health news, anti-vaxx posts amid measles outbreak
	Porsche risks fine in new legal tussle over diesel cheating German prosecutors on Monday said they have launched fresh legal proceedings over Porsche's role in the diesel emissions cheating scandal that erupted in 2015, which could leave the luxury carmaker facing a hefty fine.
Diversifying tech: Black professionals are finding success in spite of the odds Tech is an industry that's known for moving fast.
	Can artificial intelligence prevent the next Parkland shooting? Schools are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence-backed solutions to stop tragic acts of student violence such as the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, a year ago.
	China accuses US of trying to block its tech development China's government on Monday accused the United States of trying to block its industrial development by alleging that Chinese mobile network gear poses a cybersecurity threat to countries rolling out new internet systems.
	Porsche warns of Brexit price hike on UK cars Porsche customers in the UK should brace for a price hike of up to 10 percent in case of a hard Brexit, the luxury German carmaker warned Monday.
	Australia blames 'state actor' for hacking political parties A "sophisticated state actor" was behind a cyberattack on the Australian Parliament's computing network that also affected the network used by major political parties, the prime minister said Monday.
	White House gets report that could trigger auto tariffs The White House received Monday a Commerce Department report on the auto industry that could trigger tariffs against imported cars and intensify tensions with Europe.
	Russia's RT fumes after Facebook blocks 'wildly popular' page Facebook has blocked a popular page run by Russian state TV channel RT, the channel's editor said Monday, criticising the move as an attack on media rights.
	British intelligence says Huawei risk manageable: FT British intelligence has concluded that security risks posed by using equipment made by Chinese telecom giant Huawei can be managed, the Financial Times reported on Monday.
	EU vows 'swift' riposte to threatened US auto tariffs The EU promised a quick and effective response if the United States imposes import duties on European autos, a spokesman for the European Commission said on Monday.
Amazon pays no federal income tax for 2018, despite soaring profits, report says Profits for online retail behemoth Amazon soared in 2018, but it paid no federal income tax for the second consecutive year, according to a report published Wednesday.
Amazon aims to cut its carbon footprint Amazon, which ships millions of packages a year to shopper's doorsteps, says it wants to be greener.
	Honda to close UK plant in 2022, risking 3,500 jobs: reports Japanese car giant Honda is expected to announce the shutdown of its plant in south west England in 2022, putting 3,500 jobs at risk, media reports said Monday.

Medicine & Health news

	Drug combination may become new standard treatment for advanced kidney cancer A combination of two drugs—one of them an immunotherapy agent—could become a new standard, first-line treatment for patients with metastatic kidney cancer, says an investigator from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, reporting results from a phase 3 clinical trial.
	Depression reversed in male mice by activating gene that helps excite neurons Directly activating a gene important to exciting our excitatory neurons and associated with major depression may help turn around classic symptoms like social isolation and loss of interest, at least for males, scientists report.
	Looking behind a rare brain disease for clues to treat more common mental disorders Researchers have reported for the first time the mechanism behind a very rare brain syndrome called disproportionate pontine and cerebellar hypoplasia (MICPCH), which causes microcephaly. Information gleaned from this animal study could also inform research into other, more common neurological diseases such as mental retardation, epilepsy and autism.
	CRISPR gene editing makes stem cells 'invisible' to immune system UC San Francisco scientists have used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system to create the first pluripotent stem cells that are functionally "invisible" to the immune system, a feat of biological engineering that, in laboratory studies, prevented rejection of stem cell transplants. Because these "universal" stem cells can be manufactured more efficiently than stem cells tailor-made for each patient—the individualized approach that dominated earlier efforts—they bring the promise of regenerative medicine a step closer to reality.
	Advancing therapy by measuring the 'games' cancer cells play Despite rapid advances in targeted therapies for cancer, tumors commonly develop resistance to treatment. When resistance emerges, tumor cells continue to grow unchecked, despite all attempts to slow cancer progression. While mutations in cancer cells significantly affect drug sensitivity, it is increasingly recognized that ecological interactions between cells can also play a role.
	Researchers find trigger that turns strep infections into flesh-eating disease Houston Methodist infectious disease scientists have discovered a previously unknown trigger that turns a relatively run-of-the-mill infection into a devastatingly ravenous, flesh-eating disease.
	Researchers discover DNA variants significantly influence body fat distribution A new breakthrough from the Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits consortium, which includes many public health researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, identifies multiple genetic variants associated with how the body regulates and distributes body-fat tissue. The new findings broaden the understanding of how genes can predispose certain individuals to obesity.
	Single CRISPR treatment provides long-term benefits in mice Researchers at Duke University have shown that a single systemic treatment using CRISPR genome editing technology can safely and stably correct a genetic disease—Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)—for more than a year in mice, despite observed immune responses and alternative gene editing outcomes.
	Fetal signaling pathways may offer future targets for treating lung injury Specialized lung cells appear in the developing fetus much earlier than scientists previously thought. A new animal study published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reports how cells that become alveoli, the tiny compartments in which gas exchange occurs in the lung, begin their specialized roles very early in prenatal life. The researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) say that investigating the fetal signaling pathways active in this biological event may offer future opportunities to treat lung damage caused by prematurity and other lung injuries.
	Mapping brain circuits in newborns may aid early detection of autism A new map of newborn babies' brains offers details of structure that will provide a new reference for researchers studying both typical brain development and neurological disorders. Using noninvasive, 20-minute magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, researchers have revealed some of the complex and precisely organized brain architecture that emerges as the brain reshapes itself during the third trimester of pregnancy.
	A shared past for East Africa's hunter-gatherers Languages that involve "clicks" are relatively rare worldwide but are spoken by several groups in Africa. The Khoisan language family includes a handful of these click languages, spoken by hunter-gatherer groups in southern and eastern Africa. But the grouping of these populations into a single language family has been controversial, with some linguists convinced that a few of the languages are too different to be classified together.
	Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI identified as a potential biomarker for psychosis Researchers have shown that a type of magnetic resonance imaging—called neuromelanin-sensitive MRI (NM-MRI)—is a potential biomarker for psychosis. NM-MRI signal was found to be a marker of dopamine function in people with schizophrenia and an indicator of the severity of psychotic symptoms in people with this mental illness. The study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
	'Apple-shaped' body? 'Pear-shaped'? Your genes may tell (HealthDay)—A large, new study has uncovered 24 genetic variations that help separate the apple-shaped people from the pear-shaped ones.
	Children carry evidence of toxins from home flooring and furniture Children living in homes with all vinyl flooring or flame-retardant chemicals in the sofa have significantly higher concentrations of potentially harmful semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in their blood or urine than children from homes where these materials are not present, according to a new Duke University-led study.
	PET/CT imaging agent shows promise for better diagnosis of acute venous thromboembolism A first-in-human study featured in the February issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine reports that the novel positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) tracer 18F-GP1 showed excellent image quality and a high detection rate for the diagnosis of acute venous thromboembolism (VTE). Well-tolerated in patients, 18F-GP1 PET/CT also identified blood clots in distal veins of the leg below the knee, where conventional imaging has limitations.
Drinking contexts associated with early onset of alcohol intoxication among adolescents Early onset drinking, drinking and intoxication at an early age among adolescents, has been identified as a primary risk for later heavy drinking, alcohol problems, and alcohol dependence among youth and young adults. To prevent or delay early onset drinking, we must know more about the modifiable circumstances that enable these behaviors.
	Sepsis common in terminal hospitalizations, discharges (HealthDay)—More than half of hospitalized patients who die or are terminally discharged have sepsis, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in JAMA Network Open.
	Parents: Keep medical marijuana dispensaries away from children With medical marijuana now legal in about two-thirds of U.S. states, there's growing concern about how dispensaries may impact surrounding neighborhoods and communities.
	Smoking may limit body's ability to fight dangerous form of skin cancer Melanoma patients with a history of smoking cigarettes are 40 per cent less likely to survive their skin cancer than people who have never smoked, according to a new report funded by Cancer Research UK.
	Preclinical research finds new approach to treating aggressive cancer Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that a combination of immune checkpoint blockade and targeted therapies that block normal DNA damage repair (DDR) achieved significant tumor regression in mouse models of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), suggesting a promising new approach for treating patients with this aggressive cancer.
	Heavy smoking can damage vision, Rutgers researcher finds Smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day can damage your vision, a study co-authored by a Rutgers researcher finds.
Japan trial to treat spinal cord injuries with stem cells A team of Japanese researchers will carry out an unprecedented trial using a kind of stem cell to try to treat debilitating spinal cord injuries, the specialists said on Monday.
	The Lypla1 gene impacts obesity in a sex-specific manner Susceptibility to obesity, insulin resistance and other cardio-metabolic traits may also be dependent on a person's sex. An international research team of the University of California (UCLA), Helmholtz Zentrum München, a partner of the DZD, and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München studied sex differences and sex-specific interaction with the genetic background in cardio-metabolic phenotypes. The researchers discovered, among other things, a sex-specific obesity locus of the Lypla1 gene, which is associated with human obesity. The results of the study have now been published in Cell Metabolism.
Live better with attainable goals Those who set realistic goals can hope for a higher level of well-being. The key for later satisfaction is whether their life goals are seen as attainable and what they mean to the person, as psychologists from the University of Basel report in a study with over 970 participants.
Probing H. pylori cancer protein Infection with the stomach-dwelling bacterium Helicobacter pylori— particularly strains producing the oncoprotein CagA—is a strong risk factor for gastric cancer.
	Adhesion protein optimizes border The epithelial cells that line the intestines build a specialized cell surface—the "brush border"—that processes and absorbs nutrients, and defends against pathogens. The brush border consists of thousands of finger-like membrane protrusions (microvilli) on each cell.
	Versatile drug may protect baby from hazards of intraamniotic infections Dangerous to both mom and baby, infections or inflammations of the tissue or fluids that surround the fetus often result in preterm delivery with a high risk of serious complications for the infant. A prescription drug used to treat conditions as varied as acetaminophen overdose and cystic fibrosis, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), has shown promise in protecting infants from the worst consequences of these infections or inflammation when affected women take it during their pregnancy, according to an initial trial by researchers at Yale and the University of Illinois.
	New pathway for cell communication discovered Small lipid vesicles known as extracellular vesicles are of great interest to cell scientists since it has been discovered that they mediate intercellular communication.
	Health check: will eating nuts make you gain weight? The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend we eat 30g of nuts – a small handful – each day. But many of us know nuts are high in calories and fat.
	Colorectal cancer cells killed by assassin antibody, team finds Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in North America and is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, after it has spread to other parts of the body. Patients with advanced colorectal cancer generally have a life expectancy of around 24 to 30 months.
	Researchers identify protein that contributes to racial disparities in prostate cancer Cancer researchers have long known that prostate cancer tends to be more common, more aggressive and more resistant to existing treatments in African-Americans than in Caucasian-Americans, but they're only beginning to understand why. A Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center study published today points to cellular factors that appear to be driving these disparities—mitochondrial differences that prevent formation of the cancer-killing "death wheel" apoptosome protein complex—and proposes a strategy for overcoming these factors with new therapeutic targets.
Influenza and the common cold – two different diseases There is a lack of information about the difference between influenza and the common cold. Most people struggle to distinguish between these two conditions, and this often leads to irritation and the perpetuation of myths. Similar misconceptions were found in all three countries. This was the finding from a recent international study conducted in Belgium, Croatia and Austria under the supervision of Kathryn Hoffmann from MedUni Vienna's Division of General and Family Medicine.
	Study shows that glioblastoma patients survive significantly longer with combination chemotherapy Cancer researchers at the University of Bonn have reported significant progress in the treatment of glioblastoma. About one third of all patients suffer from a particular variant of this most common and aggressive brain tumor. Survival of these patients treated with the new combination therapy increased on average by nearly half compared to patients who received the standard therapy. The study has now been published in the journal The Lancet.
	Hormone therapy may increase cardiovascular risk during gender transition Patients receiving hormone therapy as part of their gender-transition treatment had an elevated risk for cardiovascular events, including strokes, heart attacks and blood clots, according to a study published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
	New nanomedicines for a more efficient and less aggressive treatment of prostate cancer In Europe, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men with an incidence greater than 100 cases per 100,000 individuals. Furthermore, it is currently the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among men.
	Social media can improve lives post-disaster, according to research Newly published research has shown the important role social media can play supporting health and wellbeing following a disaster.
	Raising awareness of lung cancer risk in people with COPD People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) need more support when understanding and acting on new chest symptoms, a study in the journal Psycho-Oncology reports.
	Putting babies under general anaesthetic won't affect their development, new research shows Making the decision to operate on a baby or toddler can be complex and confronting for parents. It involves weighing the risks versus the expected benefits for the child.
	Modulating stress circuits Stress contributes to psychiatric diseases including depression, eating disorders and addiction. Neurons that express the stress signal corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) in a brain region called the BNST are thought to promote negative responses to stress.
	When to see someone for your neck or back pain After extended periods of research and computer work, you may be no stranger to neck and back pain. The daily wear and tear of graduate student life can often take its toll on your joints and muscles. But how do you know when your pain is manageable and when it's time to see a professional?
	More primary care physicians leads to longer life spans, Stanford researcher says New research shows us just how important primary care physicians are in prolonging our lives.
	Researchers find febrile infants may not need painful tests, antibiotics, hospitalizations A national research team led by UC Davis Health clinicians and researchers from the University of Michigan, Nationwide Children's Hospital and Columbia University, has derived and validated a new protocol for emergency departments that can determine which infant patients with fevers, age 60 days or younger, are at low risk of significant bacterial infections.
	AASM publishes clinical practice guideline on use of PAP therapy for sleep apnea A new clinical practice guideline from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) provides guidance to clinicians on the use of positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults.
	Will sugar substitutes help you lose weight? (HealthDay)—The term "sugar substitutes" is a catch-all that covers a wide range of alternatives, starting with those little pink, blue and yellow packets. But their value as a health or diet aid is still uncertain.
A 9-year-old's brain tumor left her paralyzed. After a Hopkins trial, doctors are using the word 'cure.' Eight years ago, Kaitlyn Dorman was so sick with cancer she was paralyzed and her vision blurred. Dependent on a wheelchair, the little girl was confined to living on the first floor of her family's home.
	'Killer' cells raise hope of universal flu vaccine Scientists said Monday they had discovered immune cells that can fight all known flu viruses in what was hailed as an "extraordinary breakthrough" that could lead to a universal, one-shot vaccine against the killer disease.
	New protocol could ease diagnosis of bacterial infections in infants A new protocol could help emergency room physicians to rule out life-threatening bacterial infections among infants up to 2 months of age who have fevers, potentially eliminating the need for spinal taps, unnecessary antibiotic treatments or expensive hospital stays. Researchers from the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) developed the protocol from a study of more than 1,800 infants seen at 26 emergency departments around the country. Their study was funded by two agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, part of the Health Resources & Services Administration. PECARN, a research network of 18 pediatric emergency departments and 9 emergency medical services agencies, is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The findings appear in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Bacteria keep us healthy – but could they keep us young? A study in mice has indicated that the make-up of bacteria in the gut is linked with learning abilities and memory, providing a potential avenue of research into how to maintain cognitive functioning as we age.
	Helping patients breathe during dangerous procedure prevents complications Thousands of Americans die each year during a dangerous two-minute procedure to insert a breathing tube.
	So close, rats can almost taste it A subset of neurons in the hippocampus respond to both place and taste, according to research in male rats published in JNeurosci. The study shows how animals may remember and find their way back to locations where they previously found nourishment.
	Brain represents optical illusion as delayed reality A study of humans and monkeys published in JNeurosci has found the same subset of neurons encode actual and illusory complex flow motion. This finding supports, at the level of single neurons, what the Czech scientist Jan Purkinje surmised 150 years ago: "Illusions contain visual truth."
	Evers wants to decriminalize marijuana, legalize medical use Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced Monday that his budget will include proposals to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use and legalize medical marijuana.
Germany seeks ban on gay conversion therapies German Health Minister Jens Spahn said Friday he will seek to ban conversion therapies that claim to change sexual orientation.
	No smoke without fire: Tobacco companies in quiet return to Formula One Tobacco giants Philip Morris and British American Tobacco have formed partnerships with their scientific research subsidiaries and Formula 1 teams Ferrari and McLaren more than a decade after cigarette advertising was banned from the sport.
	Chinese food producer says swine fever found in dumplings A major Chinese food producer said Monday that traces of the African swine fever virus had been found in its frozen dumplings.
Desperate measures: Pakistani women seek abortions as birth control Pregnant, desperate, and poor, Pakistani mother Zameena faced a stark choice: risk her life by having a secret abortion, or risk her life bearing her husband a sixth child.
	Philippines says 136 people have died in measles outbreak The Philippine health secretary said Monday that 136 people, mostly children, have died of measles and 8,400 others have fallen ill in an outbreak blamed partly on vaccination fears.

Biology news

	Diversity on land is not higher today than in the past, study shows The rich levels of biodiversity on land seen across the globe today are not a recent phenomenon: diversity on land has been similar for at least the last 60 million years, since soon after the extinction of the dinosaurs.
	Scientists reveal how 3-D arrangement of DNA helps perpetuate the species From fathers to children, the delivery of hereditary information requires the careful packing of DNA in sperm. But just how nature packages this DNA to prepare offspring isn't clear. Using new technology to reveal the 3-D organization of DNA in maturing male reproductive cells, scientists revealed a crucial period in development that helps explain how fathers pass on genetic information to future generations.
	Indigenous hunters have positive impacts on food webs in desert Australia Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction in the world. Resettlement of indigenous communities resulted in the spread of invasive species, the absence of human-set fires, and a general cascade in the interconnected food web that led to the largest mammalian extinction event ever recorded. In this case, the absence of direct human activity on the landscape may be the cause of the extinctions, according to a Penn State anthropologist.
	Physicists pinpoint a simple mechanism that makes bacteria resistant to antibiotics Physicists at McMaster University have for the first time identified a simple mechanism used by potentially deadly bacteria to fend off antibiotics, a discovery which is providing new insights into how germs adapt and behave at a level of detail never seen before.
	Linking sensing to signaling during plant immunity Plant defense against invading pathogens relies upon effective recognition of non-self organisms and a subsequent signaling response characterized by reprogramming of host gene expression and localized cell death to combat infection and provide resistance. At a molecular level, plant responses are initiated by the recognition of so-called effectors by intracellular receptors in a process known as effector-triggered immunity (ETI). While the importance of the recognition itself and the transcriptional reprogramming are well accepted, less is known about how the two are linked, i.e., how recognition is translated into resistance?
	Antibiotic resistances spread faster than so far thought By studying fish raised in aquaculture, researchers from the Helmholtz Zentrum München, the University of Copenhagen and the University of Campinas in Brazil have shed new light on the mechanisms by which antibiotic resistance genes are transferred between bacteria. According to the study published in the journal 'Microbiome', those mechanisms are more varied than previously thought.
	Desert ants' survival strategy emerges from millions of simple interactions Ants' frenzied movements may seem aimless and erratic to a casual observer, but closer study reveals that an ant colony's collective behavior can help it thrive in a harsh environment and may also yield inspiration for robotic systems.
	Great white shark genome decoded The great white shark is one of the most recognized marine creatures on Earth, generating widespread public fascination and media attention, including spawning one of the most successful movies in Hollywood history. This shark possesses notable characteristics, including its massive size (up to 20 feet and 7,000 pounds) and diving to nearly 4,000 foot depths. Great whites are also a big conservation concern given their relatively low numbers in the world's oceans.
	How our plants have turned into thieves to survive Scientists have discovered that grasses are able to short cut evolution by taking genes from their neighbours. The findings suggest wild grasses are naturally genetically modifying themselves to gain a competitive advantage.
	Suicide system in tuberculosis bacteria might hold key to treatment Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. In 2017, 10 million people around the world fell ill with TB and 1.3 million died. The genome of the bacterium that causes TB holds a special toxin-antitoxin system with spectacular action: once the toxin is activated, all bacterial cells die, stopping the disease. An international research team co-led by the Wilmanns group at EMBL in Hamburg investigated this promising feature for therapeutic targets. They now share the first high-resolution details of the system in Molecular Cell.
	Virus-infected bacteria could provide help in the fight against climate change Viruses don't always kill their microbial hosts. In many cases, they develop a mutually beneficial relationship: the virus establishes itself inside the microbe and, in return, grants its host with immunity against attack by similar viruses.
Researchers first to show hinge morphology of click beetle's latch mechanism Aimy Wissa, assistant professor of mechanical science and engineering (MechSE) at Illinois, leads an interdisciplinary research team to study click beetles to inspire more agile robots. The team, which includes MechSE Assistant Professor Alison Dunn and Dr. Marianne Alleyne, a research scientist in the Department of Entomology, recently presented their ongoing and novel work on the quick release mechanism of click beetles at the 2019 Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) Annual Meeting.
	New research reveals humanity's roles in ecosystems In two back-to-back symposia at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Feb. 17, a cross-disciplinary cohort of scientists presented the first comprehensive investigations of how humans interacted with plant and animal species in different cultures worldwide through time. By compiling and comparing detailed data from pre-industrial and modern societies, the researchers are sketching a picture of humans' roles and impacts in sustainable and unsustainable socio-ecological systems.
	Istanbul vets make city's stray animals feel at home Concerned for the health of a black cat roaming around the university campus where she works, Mevlude dropped off the feline at the veterinary clinic for street animals run by the Istanbul municipality.
	Genetics efforts enriching nutrition of popcorn, sorghum Two kernels of the same idea—cultivating protein quality in cereal grains—are reaching maturity at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
	Technology is useful, but drones alone won't save Africa's elephants Technology has made a tremendous difference in the world, in areas as diverse as health and education, and pretty much everything in between.
	The battle against bugs: it's time to end chemical warfare Insects are important wildlife often overlooked in urban habitats. What we do notice are the cockroaches, ants and mosquitoes in and around our homes. All too often we reach for the insect spray.
Returning lost eagle species to Wales Research taking place in Wales could see the return of lost eagle species to our countryside, bringing both conservation and economic benefits.
	What happens to the natural world if all the insects disappear? There are an awful lot of insects. It's hard to say exactly how many because 80% haven't yet been described by taxonomists, but there are probably about 5.5m species. Put that number together with other kinds of animals with exoskeletons and jointed legs, known collectively as arthropods – this includes mites, spiders and woodlice – and there are probably about 7m species in all.
	Researchers create the conditions for growing plants in the Arctic Researchers at the TSU Siberian Botanical Garden (SibBG), the Institute of High Current Electronics SB RAS (IHCE), and Tomsk Polytechnic University have implemented an interdisciplinary project to study the optimal parameters of UV radiation for pre-seed treatment and photosynthetically active radiation for growing economically valuable plants. The proposed approach will permit growing different crops under artificial lighting conditions, including in closed life support systems and critical farming areas, including the Arctic.
The yin and yang of cell signaling Lysophospholipids (LysoPLs) are potent cellular signaling biomolecules that also maintain the structure, shape and fluidity of cell membranes.
	Beloved rhinoceros dies at age 49 in North Carolina zoo The North Carolina Zoo says that a beloved rhinoceros named Stanley has died.
	Runner recalls desperate fight with thrashing mountain lion Fear washed over Travis Kauffman as he wrestled with a thrashing mountain lion that attacked him on a Colorado mountain trail, but then his fighting instinct took over as he found its neck with his foot and suffocated the young cat.

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