Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 14, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Giant flare detected on an L dwarfEuropean astronomers have spotted a giant white-light flare on the ultracool L dwarf designated ULAS J224940.13-011236.9. The newly detected flare is one of the largest flares ever observed from an ultracool dwarf. The discovery is detailed in a paper published February 3 on the arXiv.org pre-print server. |
 | Spacecraft measurements reveal mechanism of solar wind heatingQueen Mary University of London has led a study which describes the first direct measurement of how energy is transferred from the chaotic electromagnetic fields in space to the particles that make up the solar wind, leading to the heating of interplanetary space. |
 | What exactly is a black hole?What is a black hole? In an article that has just appeared in the journal Nature Astronomy, LMU philosopher Erik Curiel shows that physicists use different definitions of the concept, depending on their own particular fields of interest. |
 | NASA selects new mission to explore origins of universeNASA has selected a new space mission that will help astronomers understand both how our universe evolved and how common are the ingredients for life in our galaxy's planetary systems. |
 | Six things to know about NASA's Opportunity Mars roverAfter 15 years, the mission of NASA's Opportunity rover has come to an end, but its successes on Mars have earned it a spot in the robot hall of fame. Here's what you need to know about our intrepid Martian overachiever: |
 | New NASA research consortium to tackle life's originsDid life on Earth originate in Darwin's warm little pond, on a sunbaked shore, or where hot waters vent into the deep ocean? And could a similar emergence have played out on other bodies in our solar system or planets far beyond? These questions lie at the center of research in NASA's new Prebiotic Chemistry and Early Earth Environments (PCE3) Consortium. |
 | Image: Visualization of orbital space debrisThis Valentine's Day, look to the skies at night and you'll see stars twinkling, a glistening Moon and perhaps even an orbiting science lab passing by, the International Space Station. |
Technology news
 | A model for posture adaptation of legged robots while navigating confined spacesMulti-legged robots are capable of navigating a variety of complex and unstructured terrains. Their many degrees of freedom allow them to adapt their walking posture to navigate several challenging environments, including confined spaces. |
 | Giving keener 'electric eyesight' to autonomous vehiclesAutonomous vehicles relying on light-based image sensors often struggle to see through blinding conditions, such as fog. But MIT researchers have developed a sub-terahertz-radiation receiving system that could help steer driverless cars when traditional methods fail. |
 | Airbus pulls plug on costly A380 superjumbo as sales plummetEuropean aerospace giant Airbus said Thursday that it would stop building its A380 superjumbo, the double-decker jet which earned plaudits from passengers but failed to win over enough airlines to justify its massive costs. |
 | Robots may run future farms, researchers sayAgriculture, one of the world's oldest vocations, is also one that continues to reinvent itself with new technology. From the introduction of the steel plow to automated tractors to modern fertilizer applications, technology has improved effectiveness and increased efficiency. |
 | Flexible, solar-powered supercapacitors could underpin new generation of wearable electronicsA breakthrough in energy storage technology could bring a new generation of flexible electronic devices to life, including solar-powered prosthetics for amputees. |
 | Global energy demand to soar one third by 2040: BPGlobal energy demand will surge by a third over the next two decades on advancing prosperity, but Indian demand growth will eclipse that of flagging giant China, Britain's BP forecast Thursday. |
 | EU reaches provisional deal on online copyright reformThe European Union reached a provisional deal Wednesday to overhaul the bloc's online copyright law, a top official said, after a tense battle that has pitted media firms against internet giants like Google. |
 | Robot lifts bits of melted fuel at Japan's Fukushima plantA robot arm has successfully picked up pebble-sized pieces of radioactive fuel at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant in a complex operation seen as key to clean-up efforts after the 2011 meltdown, officials said Thursday. |
 | Austria probes Amazon over alleged unfair trade practicesAustria's competition authorities said Thursday it was launching a probe into whether US online retail giant Amazon was abusing its dominant position to favour its own products against those of Austrian retailers selling on its market place. |
 | Expert discusses machine learning and climate modelingToday, predicting what the future has in store for Earth's climate means dealing in uncertainties. For example, the core climate projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has put the global temperature bump from a doubling of atmospheric CO2 levels—referred to as "climate sensitivity"—anywhere between 1.5 degrees C and 4.5 C. That gap, which has not budged since the first IPCC report in 1990, has profound implications for the type of environmental events humanity may want to prepare for. |
 | Social media doesn't need new regulations to make the internet safer – General Data Protection Regulation can do the jobFrom concerns about data sharing to the hosting of harmful content, every week seems to bring more clamour for new laws to regulate the technology giants and make the internet "safer". But what if our existing data protection laws, at least in Europe, could achieve most of the job? |
 | Fairy-tale social media fantasies can demolish your confidence, but it's not all badIf social media was a person, you'd probably avoid them. |
 | Face recognition technology in classrooms is here – and that's OKRecently, the Victorian Government brought in new rules stating Victorian state schools will be banned from using facial recognition technology in classrooms unless they have the approval of parents, students and the Department of Education. |
 | New heated jacket keeps police, military and others warm in harsh winter temperaturesA new line of heated jackets powered by a mobile USB battery bank will protect police officers, military personnel and others while working in harsh winter conditions. |
 | Biomedical engineers develop wearable respiration monitor with children's toyResearchers at the University of California, Irvine have developed a wearable, disposable respiration monitor that provides high-fidelity readings on a continuous basis. It's designed to help children with asthma and cystic fibrosis and others with chronic pulmonary conditions. |
 | Solar jobs are up in Minnesota, but down nationallyMinnesota posted an eight percent increase in solar industry jobs last year, bucking a national solar employment decline of 3.2 percent, said an annual report released Tuesday by The Solar Foundation. |
 | Robot mail delivery trucks developed in Detroit ready for China, USLooking like a delegation of toasters from space, a generation of electrically powered, self-driving mail trucks will roll out of a suburban Detroit industrial park later this year. Their mission: revolutionize mail and package delivery. |
 | A380 aimed high, but never hit cruising speedNearly 30 years ago Airbus began charting a new course for air travel with a mammoth jet that would shuttle hundreds of people to far-flung cities worldwide, but harsh economic realities eventually got the better of the A380 superjumbo. |
 | A secure relationship with passwords means not being attached to how you pick themWhen you are asked to create a password – either for a new online account or resetting login information for an existing account – you're likely to choose a password you know you can remember. Many people use extremely basic passwords, or a more obscure one they reuse across many sites. Our research has found that others – even ones who use different passwords for each site – have a method of devising them, for instance basing them all on a familiar phrase and making site-specific tweaks. |
 | How energy efficiency delivers green dividends in red and blue statesThe Green New Deal, a bundle of proposed policies that would combat climate change, create green jobs and address economic inequities, is eliciting the usual partisan debate over what to do about global warming. |
 | Blockchain can strengthen the credibility of meta-analysesWhen it comes to accumulating and assessing research evidence, meta-analyses are considered the gold standard as they allow researchers to analyze results from many studies on the same question. It is sometimes the case, however, that two meta-analyses on the same question, both pointing to hundreds of studies to back them up, draw completely opposite conclusions. The debates on whether or not video games cause violent behavior is one prominent example. |
 | JPMorgan Chase unveils cryptocurrency prototypeJPMorgan Chase on Thursday unveiled a prototype for a digital coin system using blockchain, a first among major banks as disruption accelerates change in financial services. |
 | Amazon drops New York headquarters plan amid protestsAmazon abandoned plans for a new headquarters in New York City on Thursday, blaming opposition from community leaders angry at the huge subsidies being offered to one of the world's most successful companies. |
Swiss allege woman sweet talked her way to $2M bank scamSwiss authorities said Thursday they have indicted a woman who allegedly persuaded dozens of people to provide their online banking details over the phone from the Netherlands. | |
 | Apple eyes starpower for launch of new streaming serviceIs it Hollywood time for Apple? |
 | North Korea exploring sanctions-proof energy technologiesPower-strapped North Korea is exploring two ambitious alternative energy sources—tidal power and coal-based synthetic fuels—that could greatly improve living standards and reduce its reliance on oil imports and vulnerability to sanctions. |
 | Renault ends Ghosn era with Nissan-induced profits plungeFrench automaker Renault unveiled Thursday a sharp drop in earnings as profit plunged at its Japanese partner Nissan, posing a fresh challenge for their alliance after the shock arrest of former chief Carlos Ghosn last November. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Nano-painkiller lasts longer and is less addictive than opioidsA team of researchers from Université Paris-Saclay and Université Paris Descartes has developed a nano-drug that has been found to reduce pain in rodents. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group reports that the nano-drug also lasts longer and is less addictive than opioids. |
 | Study provides new insight into use of cell replacement therapies to treat muscular dystrophiesThe University of Minnesota Medical School continues its legacy of advancing cell replacement therapies with a scientific breakthrough that highlights the promise of cell therapies for muscular dystrophy. |
 | The ways of wisdom in schizophreniaWhile wisdom is closely linked to improved health and well-being, its role and impact among persons with schizophrenia, possibly the most devastating of mental illnesses, is not known. |
 | Making better embryosOne out of every six Canadian couples experiences infertility. Some resort to in vitro fertilization. But the embryos obtained through this technique often have defects. In a study published today in the journal Current Biology, researchers from the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) succeeded in reducing the number of defects in mouse embryos in the laboratory. In the medium term, this unprecedented discovery could improve infertile couples' chances of giving birth. |
 | Uncovering a 'smoking gun' of biological aging clocksA newly discovered ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clock can be used to accurately determine an individual's chronological and biological age, according to research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The ribosomal clock is a novel biomarker of aging based on the rDNA, a segment of the genome that has previously been mechanistically linked to aging. The ribosomal clock has potentially wide applications, including measuring how exposures to certain pollutants or dietary interventions accelerate or slow aging in a diversity of species, including mice and humans. |
 | What makes some people creative thinkers and others analytical?Are you a more creative or analytical thinker? |
 | Neural circuits underlying a psychotherapeutic regimen for fear disordersWhile visually tracking a moving light swinging side to side, a person's attention is naturally diverted to that movement, and what was previously in their mind is placed to the side. This alternating bilateral sensory stimulation (ABS) as part of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is assumed to support the neural integration of new perspectives and healing of negatively charged memories. |
 | OCD medication could also stop deadly sepsis, study suggestsAn antidepressant drug used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder could save people from deadly sepsis, new research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests. |
 | Social threat learning influences our decisionsLearning what is dangerous by watching a video or being told (known as social learning) has just as strong an effect on our decision-making as first-hand experience of danger, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden report. The results of the study, which is published in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), can help to explain why we take irrational decisions. |
 | Researchers characterize mechanism of action of CAR T cellsThe scientific community has made great strides over the past decade in the development of a new class of cancer therapy called immunotherapy, a treatment that activates a patient's own immune system to target cancer cells. One type of immunotherapy called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has shown pronounced activity in certain cancers, and two CAR T therapies, Kymriah and Yescarta, have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia and large B-cell lymphoma. However, despite the progress being made, scientists have not been completely certain of how CAR T cells function mechanistically. A team of Moffitt Cancer Center researchers addressed this uncertainty and characterized the mechanism of action of these new agents in a new article published this week in Science Signaling. |
 | Researchers find clues that depression may speed brain agingMemory and thinking skills naturally slow with age but now scientists are peeking inside living brains to tell if depression might worsen that decline—and finding some worrisome clues. |
 | Researchers discover a weakness in a rare cancer that could be exploited with drugsCancer cells are, in some respects, impressive: They can grow relentlessly, sidestep the aging process by becoming immortal, and evade the immune system's persistent attacks. But in the process of acquiring such superpowers, the cells must occasionally relinquish other, more mundane skills—including the ability to produce certain nutrients. |
 | Should we screen people for irregular heartbeat?Should we screen people for irregular heartbeat (known as atrial fibrillation, or AF for short) in an effort to prevent strokes? Experts debate the issue in The BMJ today. |
 | Your exercise performance is a better predictor of longevity than your chronological ageSophia Antipolis, 14 February 2019: It's often said: It's not how old you are, it's how old you feel. New research shows that physiological age is a better predictor of survival than chronological age. The study is published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). |
 | Novel software offers possible reduction in arrhythmic heart diseasePotentially lethal heart conditions may become easier to spot and may lead to improvements in prevention and treatment thanks to innovative new software that measures electrical activity in the organ. |
 | UK sales of Xanax and other prescription psychiatric drugs increasing via the darknetSales of prescription psychiatric drugs such as Xanax and diazepam via darknet online drug markets have increased in the UK at an alarming rate, according to new research by the University of Kent and King's College London. |
 | Women more likely to have poorer outcomes following aortic surgeryNew research says women fare worse than men following aortic heart surgery. |
 | 'Mexican oxy' pills in US Southwest lift fentanyl death tollAaron Francisco Chavez swallowed at least one of the sky blue pills at a Halloween party before falling asleep forever. He became yet another victim killed by a flood of illicit fentanyl smuggled from Mexico by the Sinaloa cartel into the Southwest—a profitable new business for the drug gang that has made the synthetic opioid responsible for the most fatal overdoses in the U.S. |
Blindfolded training could help doctors save young livesIn a simulation training study, pediatric team leaders who wore a blindfold improved their leadership skills ratings by 11% over the course of 3 resuscitation scenarios, versus 5% for non-blindfolded leaders. Published in Frontiers in Pediatrics, the findings demonstrate a promising tool for improving training and outcomes in pediatric resuscitation. | |
 | Diet drinks may be associated with strokes among post-menopausal womenAmong post-menopausal women, drinking multiple diet drinks daily was associated with an increase in the risk of having a stroke caused by a blocked artery, especially small arteries, according to research published in Stroke, a journal of the American Heart Association. |
 | Electronic tool has potential to improve asthma care, study findsA new electronic decision support tool for managing asthma has the potential to improve the quality of asthma care in primary care settings, suggests a study led by St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada. |
 | New molecules reverse memory loss linked to depression, agingNew therapeutic molecules developed at Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) show promise in reversing the memory loss linked to depression and aging. |
 | Finding suggests ways to promote adult heart tissue regenerationInjured hearts do not heal themselves. Heart muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, do not proliferate as much as necessary to replace dead tissue with new, pumping cells. Consequently, most people who had a severe heart attack or other injury to the heart, will develop heart failure, which remains the leading cause of mortality from heart disease. In this study published in the journal Developmental Cell, an international team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute reports that they have been able to remove the 'breaks' that hold back cardiomyocyte proliferation, opening the possibility for treating heart disease by reprogramming adult cardiomyocytes to a more fetal cell state. |
Magnetic fields enhance bone remodelingSince the creation of 3-D-printed (3DP) porous titanium scaffolds in 2016, the scientific community has been exploring ways to improve their ability to stimulate osteogenesis, or bone remodeling. A recent study published in The FASEB Journal revealed the osteogenic potential of Static Magnetic Field (SMF) treatment for human bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) using 3DP scaffolds in vitro and in vivo. | |
 | Kidney failure patients face higher risk of cancer deathA new study indicates that individuals with kidney failure, such as those undergoing dialysis and those who have received kidney transplants, experience higher risks of dying from cancer than people in the general population. The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) findings point to the need for additional research to clarify the mechanisms involved in the development of cancer in kidney failure patients, and to improve cancer care in this at-risk population. |
 | Global study finds high success rate for hip and knee replacementsAfter reviewing thousands of case studies going back 25 years across six countries, generalisable survival data is now available for the first time to estimate how long hip and knee replacements are likely to last. |
 | How to mend broken heartsDr. Richard Jabbour's mission is to fix broken hearts. |
 | More older people with depression could benefit from non-drug treatmentsDepression is common in older age and with an ageing population how late-life depression is managed will become increasingly important. Researchers from the University of Bristol and University College London (UCL) suggest mental health in later life should be given greater priority by healthcare professionals. |
 | Researchers gains new insights into development of the human immune systemCell biologists from the University of Konstanz have shed light on a recent evolutionary process in the human immune system. Facilitated by public genome data, this work provides evidence that genetic alterations in the receptor molecule CEACAM3 are linked to the ability to defend against particular pathogenic microbes. They have reported their findings in the scientific journal Current Biology. |
 | Removing the stigma surrounding the sex lives of the over 60s will help improve sexual healthThe stigma surrounding the sex lives of older adults is being tackled with a pioneering website which aims to improve sexual health in the over 60s. |
 | Two decades of data reveal overall increase in pain, opioid use among U.S. adultsPrompted by a call from the National Academy of Medicine, then the Institute of Medicine, for improved national data on pain, a recent study provides new insights concerning pain trends and opioid use for pain management. Researchers used data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) to examine the impact of pain-related interference, a measure of pain's impact on normal work activities, on people's health status and health care use. MEPS is a nationally representative survey of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population. |
 | A lesson for the U.S. measles outbreak—vaccines don't just protect you, they protect everyone around youWashington is in the midst of the worst measles outbreak in the state in more than 20 years, the disease spreading quickly among growing ranks of people who chose not to vaccinate themselves or their children. But Brandon Dionne, who studies infectious diseases at Northeastern University, says the choice not to vaccinate affects another population, too: People whose immune systems prevent them from receiving immunizations altogether. |
 | Back pain? A physiotherapist may offer the most effective treatment, if you can afford itBack pain is a common and costly health problem. It is the leading cause of disability worldwide and a "call to action" recently published in The Lancet highlights the risks of over-medicalization of back pain globally. |
 | What is mastitis?It's the middle of the night. Your newborn baby is awake. Again. She wants to feed. You lift her to your breast and brace for the pain. |
 | C-sections by trained health officers are a safe alternativeSierra Leone has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world—for every 100,000 live births, 1360 women will die. In Norway, that number is just 5 women per 100,000 live births; in the US, it's 14, according to the United Nations Population Fund. |
 | Here's what you need to know about melioidosis, the deadly infection that can spread after floodsThe devastating Townsville floods have receded but the clean up is being complicated by the appearance of a serious bacterial infection known as melioidosis. One person has died from melioidosis and nine others have been diagnosed with the disease over the past week. |
 | Autologous stem cell transplant may aid some with nodal PTCL(HealthDay)—Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) may be beneficial for some patients with nodal peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) in the first complete remission (CR1), according to a study published online Jan. 29 in Cancer. |
 | Improved outcomes seen with liver grafts from older donors(HealthDay)—From 2003 to 2016, liver graft loss and mortality improved among recipients of liver grafts from older donors, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in JAMA Surgery. |
 | FDA panel backs ketamine-like drug for depression(HealthDay)—An expert panel for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has endorsed a drug for major depressive disorder that is a close relative to ketamine. |
| Coeliac disease can cause irreversible changes to immune cellsImmune cells in the bowel of people who suffer with coeliac disease are permanently replaced by a new subset of cells that promote inflammation, suggests a new study involving researchers at Cardiff University. |
 | Researchers find silicone wristbands to be an effective way to measure children's nicotine exposureYoung children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of tobacco smoke and other environmental toxins, but their exposure is often difficult and expensive to measure. The results of those measurements, however, can be crucial for research on the success of preventative measures. |
 | Don't wake up on the wrong side of the bed: How light may impact your sleepFor most of us the blaring sound of our alarm clock is a signal to wake up, but often this noise can be too jarring in the morning. So is there a better way to wake up? One Baylor College of Medicine expert explains how light impacts our circadian rhythm and whether wake-up light alarm clocks are beneficial. |
 | Elements of gameplay are potential new tools in surgical resident educationResearchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have published a study in the peer-reviewed medical journal Laryngoscope exploring the merits of integrating gamification into the graduate medical education curriculum. |
New guidelines outline new treatment management for psoriasisTwo new guidelines about the treatment and management of psoriasis have been released by the American Academy of Dermatology, providing physicians with new evidence-based standards of how to treat the disease through the use of biologic medications and in recognizing the subsequent physical and mental comorbidities that occur with many patients. | |
 | Cleaning routine shows promise in curbing superbug infectionThink of it as decontaminating yourself. Hospitalized patients who harbor certain superbugs can cut their risk of developing full-blown infections if they swab medicated goo in their nose and use special soap and mouthwash for six months after going home, a study found. |
 | Neuroendocrine tumors: Choosing the best treatmentAn increasing number of new anti-cancer drugs are approved each year. During the authorization process, such new drugs usually undergo comparisons to other single drugs, but only rarely to multiple established drugs. This practice leads to a lack of comparisons between therapies, and makes it increasingly difficult for physicians to choose the best treatment for their patients. To address this, researchers at the Universities of Basel, Bern and Geneva and at the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) and Bern (Inselspital) have conducted an extensive comparison of all drugs used in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours. Their study, published in JAMA Oncology, aims to guide physicians through all available treatment options. |
 | Romance: Deal makers and breakers(HealthDay)—A global study about what men and women want in a mate seems to confirm—to a point—long-established stereotypes. |
 | Playing to your strengths(HealthDay)—Everyone has certain personality strengths that make them unique. For instance, you might be the type of person who loves to nurture others or who always tells it like it is and is known for your honesty. |
 | Swelling and painful feet: how to solve the most common foot problems when you're pregnantAlong with the rest of the body, being pregnant can have a huge impact on feet. More than half of expectant mothers experience some form of foot problem during pregnancy. But foot issues are often neglected, with other medical aspects of pregnancy given more attention. The good news is, however, that many of these conditions can be effectively and safely treated without medication. |
 | This trait could be key to a lasting romancePassion and commitment are widely believed to be the foundation of strong romantic relationships. |
 | Who's stronger? An immunological battle of the sexesIs there anything more exciting than a battle of the sexes? In popular culture, this usually focuses on societal gender roles. But, there's another battle of the sexes, a biological war waged by the body's immune system. Can this conflict finally tell us who is stronger – men or women? |
Neural processing during trauma and lifetime adversity interact to increase core symptom of PTSDLifetime adversity and increased neural processing during a traumatic event combine to increase the frequency of intrusive traumatic memories and the distress they cause, according to a new study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. The increased neural processing was found in brain regions important for emotion and memory. The involuntary recollection of traumatic events is a core symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the findings could help explain why some people are susceptible to the effects of traumatic experiences and others are resilient. | |
 | Statins could protect against motor neurone diseaseHigh cholesterol has been found to be a possible risk factor for the development of motor neurone disease (MND), according to a large study of genetic data led in the UK by Queen Mary University of London, in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health in the USA. |
Study sheds light on damage linked to agingSome of the damaging cell effects linked to ageing could be prevented by manipulating tiny parts of cells, a study shows. | |
 | There's more to oxytocin, the so-called love hormoneA new study published in Nature Communications reveals that the role of the hormone oxytocin may extend beyond childbirth and social behaviour. By analysing gene expression maps and brain activation patterns, researchers from the University of Oslo discovered that oxytocin is involved in a variety of complex mental states, such as learning and reward. |
 | Exposure to chemical in Roundup increases risk for cancer: studyExposure to glyphosate—the world's most widely used, broad-spectrum herbicide and the primary ingredient in the weedkiller Roundup—increases the risk of some cancers by more than 40 percent, according to new research from the University of Washington. |
 | Genetic variations in a fourth gene linked to elevated leukemia risk in Hispanic childrenSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have identified genetic variations in a fourth gene that are associated with an increased risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Hispanic children. The research appears today in the journal Blood. |
 | Study affirms self-reported sleep duration as a useful health measure in childrenWhile sleep questionnaires are commonly completed by children and their parents, there has been a lack of data comparing the validity of these self-reported sleep parameters. A new study indicates that these sleep characteristics are relatively accurate compared to one another, and they vary only slightly from objective sleep measures. |
Black-white cancer mortality gap nearly eliminated in some age groupsAlthough African Americans still bear a disproportionate share of the cancer burden, a new report finds the black-white gap has closed considerably over the past several decades. Cancer Statistics for African Americans and its companion publication Cancer Facts & Figures for African Americans, published every three years by American Cancer Society investigators, reports that the overall cancer death rate is dropping faster in blacks than in whites, largely driven by greater declines for three of the four most common cancers. | |
 | Why it's so difficult for scientists to predict the next outbreak of a dangerous diseaseA two-year-old boy in rural Guinea died of Ebola in December 2014. Over the next two years, almost 30,000 people in West Africa would be infected with the Ebola virus. |
 | To end the HIV epidemic, addressing poverty and inequities one of most important treatmentsIn his State of the Union speech, President Trump called for ending the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and senior public health officials stated that the government plans to focus on highly impacted areas and getting drugs to people at risk. |
Use of gastric acid suppressants may negatively impact survival outcomes in sarcoma patients treated with pazopanibIn patients with soft tissue sarcoma, the concomitant use of gastric acid suppressant (GAS) therapy and the anticancer therapeutic pazopanib (Votrient) was associated with significantly reduced progression-free survival and overall survival, according to results published in Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. | |
 | Decolonization protocol can prevent dangerous infections among discharged hospital patientsHospital patients who have methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can prevent future MRSA infections by following a standard bathing protocol after discharge, according to research results published in the February 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Diet could help runners beat stomach issuesResearch indicates that cutting out specific foods can alleviate the gastrointestinal issues some people experience when they exercise, with over two-thirds of people involved in a new study reporting an improvement. |
 | Combo T cell and targeted therapy strategy for resistant melanoma with BRAF mutationCollaborative research by The Wistar Institute and Moffitt Cancer Center has demonstrated that BRAF targeted therapies render resistant melanoma more sensitive to the attack of killer T cells. This result, published online in Clinical Cancer Research, suggests that adoptive T cell therapy may benefit patients that have become resistant to BRAF inhibitors. |
 | Effective self-control strategies involve much more than willpower, research showsIt's mid-February, around the time that most people waver in their commitment to the resolutions they've made for the new year. Many of these resolutions—whether it's to spend less time looking at screens, eat more vegetables, or save money for retirement—require us to forego a behavior we want to engage in for the one we think we should engage in. In a new report, leading researchers in behavioral science propose a new framework that outlines different types of self-control strategies and emphasizes that self-control entails more than sheer willpower to be effective. |
 | New study shows more protein and fewer calories help older people lose weight safelyA high-protein, low-calorie diet helps older adults with obesity lose more weight, maintain more muscle mass, improve bone quality and lose "bad" fat, according to results from a new randomized controlled trial led by Wake Forest University researcher Kristen Beavers. |
Providing follow-up care after heart attack helps reduce readmissions, deathsA program designed to help heart attack patients with the transition from hospital to outpatient care can reduce readmissions and deaths and increase the number of patients keeping follow-up appointments, a new study suggests. Findings from the Sanger Heart & Vascular Heart Care Navigation Team study were presented at the American College of Cardiology's Cardiovascular Summit in Orlando. The conference brings together top experts to discuss and review innovative, relevant cardiovascular management and leadership strategies. | |
 | Philip Morris eyes tech gadgets for 'smoke-free' marketGadgets that monitor health, from wearable step-counters to apps tracking sleep and diet, have exploded in popularity in recent years, and now even the tobacco industry is trying to jump into the fray. |
 | Most triggers for irregular heartbeat can be easily modifiedA personal survey of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most important causes of irregular heartbeats, has found that the majority of triggers for the condition are easily modifiable lifestyle choices, including alcohol, caffeine, exercise and lack of sleep. |
 | WHO warns of 'backsliding' in measles fight as cases soarThe World Health Organization warned Thursday that efforts to halt the spread of measles were "backsliding", with case numbers worldwide surging around 50 percent last year. |
 | Can we repair the brain? The promise of stem cell technologies for treating Parkinson's diseaseCell replacement may play an increasing role in alleviating the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD) in future. Writing in a special supplement to the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, experts describe how newly developed stem cell technologies could be used to treat the disease and discuss the great promise, as well as the significant challenges, of stem cell treatment. |
Role of interventional inflammatory bowel disease in the era of biologic therapyAccording to a new statement from a panel of national and international experts in gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other areas, interventional (or therapeutic) IBD endoscopy has an expanding role in the treatment of disease and of adverse events from surgery. The report from the panel, Role of interventional inflammatory bowel disease in the era of biologic therapy; a position statement for the Global Interventional IBD Group, is published in the February issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). | |
Results of early endoscopic exam critical for assessment of Barrett's patientsA new study indicates that both high-grade abnormal cellular changes (dysplasia) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (a form of cancer) have increased in the last 25 years among people with a digestive condition known as Barrett's esophagus. The study report, Increasing prevalence of high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma on index endoscopy in Barrett's esophagus over the past 2 decades, is published in the February issue of GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the peer-reviewed journal of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). | |
When research participation pays, some people lie, study suggestsOffering compensation can be an important tactic to attract potential participants for enrollment in research studies, but it might come at a cost. A new study conducted by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that up to 23 percent of respondents lied about their eligibility to participate in a survey when offered payment, even small amounts. | |
 | New tool for documenting injuries may provide better evidence for elder abuse casesAn estimated 10 percent of older adults experience some form of abuse each year. However, the link between injuries and possible elder abuse may take months or years to establish and is often difficult to investigate due to poor documentation during prior medical visits. |
 | Single word most associated with negative hospital reviews on yelp is 'told'When analyzing reviews of hospitals on Yelp, Penn Medicine researchers found that the word most associated with negative reviews, including those rated at one-star, was "told," which appeared almost 20 percent of the posts. Published today in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the study points to the value patients and their loved ones' place on communication in health care settings. |
 | Men's porn habits could fuel partners' eating disorders, study suggestsA woman whose boyfriend or husband regularly watches pornography is more likely to report symptoms of an eating disorder, new research suggests. |
| UN: Experts to develop oversight standards for gene editingThe World Health Organization is convening an expert meeting next month to develop global standards for the governance and oversight of human gene editing, months after a Chinese researcher rocked the scientific community with his announcement that he had created the world's first gene-edited babies. |
 | Flu shot much more effective this year, CDC saysThis year's flu shot is already outperforming the vaccine issued during the tough 2017-2018 influenza season, federal health officials reported Thursday. |
 | Meth abuse driving big spike in syphilis cases(HealthDay)—A startling increase in syphilis cases among Americans may be linked to addiction to methamphetamine and other drugs, federal health officials said Thursday. |
 | High rates of MenB vaccination advised in university outbreaks(HealthDay)—Achieving high serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccination coverage is recommended following university-based outbreaks of meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B, according to a study published online Feb. 13 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emerging Infectious Diseases. |
 | It doesn't take much for soldiers to feel cared forA soldier named Jerome Motto received caring letters from home in World War II. They helped boost his spirits and later led to one of the nation's first successful suicide interventions. |
 | Elephant genes suppress tumours. Could studying this help us prevent cancer?The genetics and ageing rate of elephants could hold clues to helping us find better ways to fight cancer and lead healthier, longer lives. |
 | Fingertip-sized sensors to prevent skin cancerBetween your morning commute, coffee break, playing with the kids, or mowing the lawn—how do you know when you've had too much sun? |
 | Growing tumours on brain-like tissue for better therapiesA new brain tumour model to provide more realistic test responses to chemo and radiotherapy is being developed by NSW scientists. |
What you need to know about wet macular degenerationMillions of people deal with age-related macular degeneration as they get older, but many don't understand the difference between types of the condition or what they can do to lessen the effects. Dr. Sophie Bakri, a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist and retina specialist, explains the differences between wet macular degeneration and dry macular degeneration. | |
 | Efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance must take account of fourfold difference in use across Europe, report saysGlobal efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance will be more effective if they focus on the cultural context behind the fourfold difference in total antibiotic use and consumption across Europe, according to a new report. |
 | NIH trial to track outcomes of liver transplantation from HIV+ donors to HIV+ recipientsThe first large-scale clinical trial to study liver transplantation between people with HIV has begun at clinical centers across the United States. The HOPE in Action Multicenter Liver Study will determine the safety of this practice by evaluating liver recipients for potential transplant-related and HIV-related complications following surgery. The study is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and follows the 2018 launch of a similar study evaluating kidney transplantation between people with HIV. |
Biology news
 | Darwin's rabbit helps to explain the fightback against myxomatosisNearly seventy years after myxomatosis decimated the rabbit populations of Australia, Britain and France, a new study reveals how the species has evolved genetic resistance to the disease through natural selection. |
 | 'Old' sperm produces healthier offspringSperm that live for longer before fertilising an egg produce healthier offspring—according to new research from the University of East Anglia and Uppsala University in Sweden. |
 | Stress in crops points to surprising benefitsStress is known as the "killer disease" and in humans it can lead to an increased risk of terminal issues such as heart attack or stroke. But now research conducted at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and published in the latest issue of Plants indicates that stress in the plant kingdom is far less destructive to plants than it is to humans. |
 | From vibrations alone, acacia ants can tell nibbles from the windAcacia trees are a prominent feature of the East African savannah. They're also a classic example of the long-standing and complex relationships between plants and insects, in this case acacia ants. The acacias provide food in the form of nectar and accommodation in hollow thorns for the ants. In return, the ants defend the acacias against nibbling elephants, giraffes, or other animals that would eat them. |
 | New live-imaging technique reveals cellular repair crew plugging leaky biological barrierSuppose you live in a brick house and notice cracks in the mortar that let in cold air, rain and insect pests. You might call a brick mason to repair those leaks and to restore the barrier that keeps the great outdoors from getting inside. |
 | Penis development needs more than just testes and testosteroneProper development of the fetal penis requires not just testosterone from the testes, but a second hormone produced by other tissues, including the placenta, according to a new study publishing February 14 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology from Paul Fowler of the University of Aberdeen, Michelle Bellingham of the University of Glasgow, and colleagues in the UK, France and Sweden. The results reveal a previously unknown pathway of masculinization of the external genitals, and may explain why placental dysfunction is associated with disorders of male genital development. |
 | Delays in banning wildlife trade put hundreds of species at riskFrom parrots to lizards, hundreds of animal species could be at risk of extinction because of a policy process that responds slowly to scientific knowledge, according to a new study in Science. |
 | Native turtles face extinction in South Australia, according to reportWestern Sydney University has contributed to new Australian research into native turtle populations in the Murray River and some of its associated waterways. The study finds that species are in decline in the lower Murray River region, and some were undetected in many locations in South Australia. |
 | Fate of meerkats tied to seasonal climate effectsThe effects of climate change are especially obvious in arid environments where resources are scarce and subject to seasonal availability. However, the demographic mechanisms through which seasonal climate affects population persistence remains mostly unknown. Using detailed monthly life-history data collected by the Kalahari Meerkat Project between 1997 and 2016, scientists at the Universities of Zurich and Cambridge have now assessed how meerkats (Suricata suricatta) will fare in response to future changes in seasonal rainfall and temperature. |
 | Orangutans make complex economic decisions about tool use depending on the current 'market' situationFlexible tool use is closely associated with higher mental processes such as the ability to plan actions. Now a group of cognitive biologists and comparative psychologists from the University of Vienna, the University of St Andrews and the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna that included Isabelle Laumer and Josep Call, has studied tool related decision-making in a non-human primate species – the orangutan. They found that the apes carefully weighed their options: eat an immediately available food reward or wait and use a tool to obtain a better reward instead? To do so the apes considered the details such as differences in quality between the two food rewards and the functionality of the available tools in order to obtain a high quality food reward, even when multidimensional task components had to be assessed simultaneously. |
 | Machine learning unlocks plants' secretsPlants are master chemists, and Michigan State University researchers have unlocked their secret of producing specialized metabolites. |
 | On the origin of B1 cellsA new MDC study may resolve a decades-old debate in immunology. A team led by Professor Klaus Rajewsky reports in Science that distinct progenitor cells are not required for the development of B1 cells. Instead, the team's experiments show that B1-typical B-cell receptor can reprogram B2 cells into B1 cells, suggesting that B1 cells emerge as a consequence of their special B-cell receptors. |
 | Study suggests female reproductive tract may have evolved to favor faster swimming spermA trio of researchers with Cornell University and Weill Cornell Medicine has found evidence that the female reproductive tract may have evolved to favor faster-swimming sperm. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, Meisam Zaferani, Gianpiero Palermo and Alireza Abbaspourrad describe their study of human and bull sperm swimming in artificial devices and what they found. |
 | Biologist's research could lead to more resilient cropsUCLA biologist Steve Jacobsen's research has the potential to have a significant impact on the improvement of crops. |
 | Parents don't pick favorites, at least if you're a Magellanic penguinParenthood can be a struggle, particularly for families with multiple children in need of care, nurturing, protection and attention. But a weary mom or dad may find solace in the reassurance that all parents with several offspring face a similar challenge—even the non-human variety. |
 | Improved RNA data visualization method gets to the bigger picture fasterLike going from a pinhole camera to a Polaroid, a significant mathematical update to the formula for a popular bioinformatics data visualization method will allow researchers to develop snapshots of single-cell gene expression not only several times faster but also at much higher-resolution. Published in Nature Methods, this innovation by Yale mathematicians will reduce the rendering time of a million-point single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data set from over three hours down to just fifteen minutes. |
 | Trees remember heatwavesAn Aussie eucalypt can 'remember' past exposure to extreme heat, which makes the tree and its offspring better able to cope with future heatwaves, according to new research from Macquarie University. |
 | From fear of spiders to fascinationIt's early in the morning. The buzzer goes off, you switch on the light and immediately panic: a large spider sits on your bedroom wall! |
 | Less nutritious diet on offer for Southern Ocean fishA changing, less nutritious menu for Southern Ocean marine life could reduce the seafood appearing on the dinner plates of people around the world, according to Tasmanian scientists. |
 | South Africa's rhino poaching sees 'significant' decline, minister saysSouth Africa has made "significant progress" in decreasing rhino poaching, the environmental affairs ministry said Wednesday. |
 | Tracking pollen with quantum dotsA pollination biologist from Stellenbosch University in South Africa is using quantum dots to track the fate of individual pollen grains. This is breaking new ground in a field of research that has been hampered by the lack of a universal method to track pollen for over a century. |
 | A deeper look inside the sleeping bird brainBirds have good memories, but in contrast to mammals, little is known about how they consolidate memories during sleep. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology and Utrecht University recorded waves of slow activity traveling through the brain of sleeping pigeons that are very similar to those observed in mammals. However, they could not detect other brain rhythms known to be important for certain types of memory consolidation in mammals. They therefore suggest that birds may process some memories in a different manner from mammals. |
 | Activists file suit to stop dolphin hunting in JapanEnvironmental campaigners have filed an unprecedented lawsuit in a bid to halt the so-called "drive hunting" of dolphins in Japan, arguing the practice is cruel and illegal. |
 | Preventing animal cruelty is physically and emotionally risky for front-line workersThe content you're about to read is not graphic. But it is troubling, because the realities of animal cruelty are troubling. This article is not intended to make you recoil, but rather to encourage you to understand and care. |
 | In an Australian first, the ACT may legally recognise animals' feelingsHave you ever wondered what's going through your dog's mind when you say the word "walk"? And does your pup seem to show guilt when you ask them sternly "what have you done?" Their tail might drop between their legs, their ears droop down, and their eyes turn away. |
 | 400,000 African pangolins are hunted for meat every year—why it's time to actPangolins, a group of unique African and Asian scaly mammals, are considered to be one of the most heavily trafficked wild mammals in the world. They are hunted and traded for their meat, scales, and other body parts, and used as traditional medicines in parts of Africa and Asia. |
 | Polar bear 'invasion': how climate change is making human-wildlife conflicts worseThe ten hottest years on record were all during the past two decades and the hottest global ocean temperatures ever were recorded in 2018 – a heat increase from 2017 equivalent to 100 million times that of the Hiroshima bomb. Climate change is here and it's already wreaking havoc. |
 | Aloe sanguinalis, a new red Aloe from SomalilandAloe sanguinalis, or Somali Red Aloe, forms large, conspicuous clumps and has blood red sap. Its can easily be spotted from the road, but the species has only just been named and described in the open access journal PhytoKeys. |
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