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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 20, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Neptune's newest, tiniest moon likely piece of bigger oneNeptune's newest and tiniest moon is probably an ancient piece of a much larger moon orbiting unusually close. |
 | In colliding galaxies, a pipsqueak shines brightIn the nearby Whirlpool galaxy and its companion galaxy, M51b, two supermassive black holes heat up and devour surrounding material. These two monsters should be the most luminous X-ray sources in sight, but a new study using observations from NASA's NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) mission shows that a much smaller object is competing with the two behemoths. |
 | Weather on Mars: Chilly with a chance of 'dust devils'If you're planning a trip to Elysium Planitia on Mars, pack a sweater. |
 | Cosmic dust forms in supernovae blastsScientists claim to have solved a longstanding mystery as to how cosmic dust, the building blocks of stars and planets, forms across the Universe. |
 | Earth's atmosphere stretches out to the moon – and beyondThe gaseous layer that wraps around Earth reaches up to 630,000 kilometers away, or 50 times the diameter of our planet, according to a new study based on observations by the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, SOHO, and published in AGU's Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics. |
 | Ingredients for water could be made on surface of moon, a chemical factoryWhen a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind careens onto the Moon's surface at 450 kilometers per second (or nearly 1 million miles per hour), they enrich the Moon's surface in ingredients that could make water, NASA scientists have found. |
Trump signs 'Space Force' directivePresident Donald Trump signed an order Tuesday outlining his vision for a new "Space Force" that could one day become a separate military branch on an equal footing to the Army and Navy. | |
 | Space behaviourEurope's Columbus laboratory enters its eleventh year in space with steady operations, a few upgrades and several experiments in full swing. |
 | The moon's water: Where did it come from – and where did it all go?Fragments of moon rock brought back from the lunar surface by astronauts on the Apollo space missions are providing new insights about where our planet's life-giving water came from. |
 | Close encounters: planning for extra Hera flybyESA's proposed Hera mission will already visit two asteroids: the Didymos binary pair. The Hera team hopes to boost that number by performing a flyby of another asteroid during the mission's three-year flight. |
 | Technology developed in Brazil will be part of the International Space StationA new version of equipment developed in Brazil—the Solar-T—will be sent to the International Space Station (ISS) to measure solar flares. It is estimated that the sun-THz, the new photometric telescope, will be launched in 2022 on one of the missions to the ISS and will remain there to take consistent measurements. |
Technology news
 | Researchers use computer vision to better understand optical illusionsOptical illusions, images that deceive the human eye, are a fascinating research topic, as studying them can provide valuable insight into human cognition and perception. Researchers at Flinders University, in Australia, have recently carried out a very interesting study using a computer vision model to predict the existence of optical illusions and the degree of their effect. |
 | Amazon's 'collaborative' robots offer peek into the futureHundreds of orange robots zoom and whiz back and forth like miniature bumper cars—but instead of colliding, they're following a carefully plotted path to transport thousands of items ordered from online giant Amazon. |
 | Samsung bends over backwards to rev smartphone desireSamsung on Wednesday is expected to unveil new flagship smartphones including one with a screen that can fold closed like a book as it seeks to boost the moribund market. |
 | Qualcomm brightens 5G future with modem, antenna module newsGood timing. Just ahead of Mobile World Congress (Feb. 25 to Feb. 28), Qualcomm on Tuesday announced its next gen 5G modem and a new mmwave antenna module. They said the modem "extends the company's 5G and 4G leadership with comprehensive modem-to-antenna solution. "This next-gen modem is dubbed the X55. |
 | Foldable wars? New patent filing suggests that Apple is readying a 'foldable' iPhoneIt is extremely unlikely you'll see a "foldable" iPhone anytime soon, much less in September when Apple is likely to introduce the next generation of its popular handsets. |
 | Brain-inspired artificial intelligence in robotsResearch groups at KAIST, the University of Cambridge, Japan's National Institute for Information and Communications Technology, and Google DeepMind argue that our understanding of how humans make intelligent decisions has now reached a critical point in which robot intelligence can be significantly enhanced by mimicking strategies that the human brain uses when we make decisions in our everyday lives. |
 | New segmentation tool lets medical professionals 'teach' computers to correctly annotate medical imagesPictures may be worth a thousand words but with medical images, that's an understatement. Digital images of biopsies are especially valuable in diagnosing and tracking the progression of certain diseases, such as chronic kidney disease and cancer. |
 | Physically unclonable function: Researchers unveil Internet of Things security featureRice University integrated circuit (IC) designers are at Silicon Valley's premier chip-design conference to unveil technology that is 10 times more reliable than current methods of producing unclonable digital fingerprints for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. |
 | New platform acts as a gatekeeper to ensure web services adhere to a user's custom data restrictionsA new platform developed by MIT and Harvard University researchers ensures that web services adhere to users' preferences on how their data are stored and shared in the cloud. |
 | Samsung folding phone is different—but also almost $2,000Samsung unveiled a highly anticipated smartphone with a foldable screen in an attempt to break the innovative funk that has beset the smartphones market. |
 | Fibers from old tires can improve fire resistance of concreteA new way of protecting concrete from fire damage using materials recycled from old tyres has been successfully tested by researchers at the University of Sheffield. |
 | App-based delivery men highlight India's growing gig economySuraj Nachre works long hours and regularly misses meals but he treasures his job as a driver for a food delivery startup—working in a booming industry that highlights India's expanding apps-based gig-economy. |
 | Renewable energy generation with kites and dronesAirborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES) are a new kind of technology to harvest wind energy. The expensive and heavy tower and rotor of a conventional wind turbine are replaced by a light tether and an aircraft (flexible giant kites or large drones), respectively. In the so-called ground generation scheme, AWES use the tension force of the tether to move an electrical generator on the ground whereas, in fly generation scenarios, the electrical energy is produced by wind turbines onboard the aircraft and transmitted to the ground by a conductive tether. In both cases, AWES present low installation and material costs and operate at high altitude (over 500 metres) where winds are more intense and less intermittent. They also present a low visual impact and their easier transportation make them suitable for producing energy in remote and difficult access areas. |
 | Google expected to unveil long-expected gaming project at GDC next monthGoogle could be ready to dive headlong into video games. |
 | Shutting down the internet doesn't work—but governments keep doing itAs the internet continues to gain considerable power and agency around the world, many governments have moved to regulate it. And where regulation fails, some states resort to internet shutdowns or deliberate disruptions. |
 | Airbus A380: From high-tech marvel to commercial flopThis time it really is over. Airbus chief executive, Tom Enders, recently announced the end of the A380, the largest commercial aircraft ever built. Despite reported investments of more than €14 billion, this iconic European project has not been as successful as was originally hoped. With only 234 units delivered out of 313 ordered over 13 years, it is far from the break-even point – originally estimated at 1,200 aircraft over 20 years. With orders drying up and production already running at a minimum, it was time for Airbus to stop the damage. |
 | Facebook needs regulation – here's why it should be done by algorithmsFacebook has been likened to a "digital gangster" by a critical parliamentary report into disinformation and fake news. One witness in the 18-month inquiry into the way digital platforms have transformed the flow of information describes the current use of technology as "hijacking our minds and society". |
 | Causal disentanglement is the next frontier in AIRecreating the human mind's ability to infer patterns and relationships from complex events could lead to a universal model of artificial intelligence. |
 | In new book, researchers address challenges of adopting additive manufacturingAdditive manufacturing holds promise as a speedier, less costly and more effective method to fabricate parts for a wide array of industries, from aerospace and automotive to healthcare and construction. But while the technological advances of this 3-D printing technique attract attention, executives in industry remain uncertain – even skeptical – about adopting the new technology in favor of traditional, time-tested approaches. |
 | From Echo to Ring doorbell and Fire TV, are you comfortable Amazon with controlling your smart home?Amazon acquired another startup this week, the maker of the beloved tech product Eero, a mesh router that improves dead Wi-Fi spots in the home. To that, you might have said, OK, so? |
 | Mobile video game players' mindset: They don't consider themselves "gamers," survey findsWhen you think of a "gamer," you might imagine the stereotype of teenagers or thirtysomething guys intensely playing Xbox or Playstation for hours at a time. |
 | How to see thousands of streaming movies and TV shows for freeYou don't have to pay to stream thousands of movies and TV shows online. |
 | Beauty is in the algorithm of the beholderManal El Rhazi, Arsalane Zarghili, Aicha Majda, and Anissa Bouzalmat of the Intelligent Systems and Applications Laboratory at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, in Fez, Morocco, together with Ayat Allah Oufkir of the University's Medical Center of Biomedical and Translational Research, are investigating facial beauty analysis by age and gender. |
 | Advancing additive manufacturing by slashing support3-D printing opens up design possibilities that engineers could once only dream of. |
 | Top smart cities are global cities, new research revealsAn unprecedented global study has analysed and ranked leading cities in the worldwide "smart city" phenomenon. |
 | Digital to overtake traditional advertising in US: trackerSpending on digital advertising is set to overtake that of traditional media in the United States for the first time in 2019, in a major milestone for the industry, a market tracker said Wednesday. |
 | Daimler faces mega fine in diesel probeMercedes-Benz parent company Daimler could be set for a massive fine in Germany over diesel trickery, as prosecutors confirmed Wednesday they had opened a probe similar to one that cost Volkswagen one billion euros ($1.1 billion). |
 | The Latest: Samsung's foldable phone will cost nearly $2000The Latest on Samsung's new-phone announcement (all times local): |
 | Google mistakenly forgot to tell users that Nest Secure comes with built-in microphoneGoogle's revelation earlier this month that Google Assistant could be used with its Nest home security and alarm system security was a surprise. |
 | Forget 5G and foldable. We just want it to last all day: What you want from new smartphoneFoldable phones, 5G and other hyped features aren't going to motivate most of you to buy a new smartphone. |
 | Air France-KLM more than doubles profits in 2018 despite strikesAir France-KLM, which was badly hit last year by strikes and management upheaval, reported on Wednesday that its annual net profits rose by 150 percent to 409 million euros ($463 million). |
 | Microsoft detects hacking targeting Europe democracy groupsA hacking group has targeted European democratic institutions including think tanks and non-profit groups ahead of highly anticipated EU parliamentary elections in May, Microsoft said. |
 | As US pushes to ban Huawei, UK considers softer approach (Update)Britain can handle the security risks involved with using mobile networks made by China's Huawei, the cybersecurity chief said Wednesday, adding to a growing debate among countries on whether the company should be banned, as the U.S. wants. |
 | Fabric the reinforcerScientists from the National University of Science and Technology (MISIS) have tested experimental composite materials for aircraft brakes, developed by PJSC Aviation Corporation "Rubin." New materials, reinforced by carbon "fabric," have turned out to be far more durable than the current analogues. As a result of testing, the scientists developed recommendations to improve the fracture toughness of both existing and developed composite materials for braking systems, which in the long term can improve the reliability and safety of aircraft operation and reduce maintenance costs. The article on the research is published in Engineering Fracture Mechanics. |
 | Don't be fooled by fake images and videos onlineOne month before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, an "Access Hollywood" recording of Donald Trump was released in which he was heard lewdly talking about women. The then-candidate and his campaign apologized and dismissed the remarks as harmless. |
 | Dubai budget airline flydubai loses $43.5m in 2018Dubai budget carrier flydubai chalked up a loss of $43.5 million in 2018, it said Wednesday, as airlines across the Gulf struggle with mounting costs and political tensions. |
 | UK budget airline Flybe snubs counter-bidAiling no-frills British airline Flybe on Wednesday rejected a counterbid and repeated its backing for a takeover from a consortium led by Britain's Virgin Atlantic. |
 | Nepal social media bill sparks freedom of speech concernsNepal's government on Wednesday tabled draft legislation that would impose harsh penalties for "improper" social media posts, igniting concerns it could be used to suppress freedom of speech and stifle dissent. |
 | Royale rumble: 'Apex Legends' smashing 'Fortnite' recordsFor the first time since its meteoric rise, "Fortnite" is no longer a no-doubt victory royale atop the video game industry. |
 | Driver hurt by air bag shrapnel as investigation drags onNearly four years ago, the U.S. government's highway safety agency began investigating air bag inflators made by ARC Automotive of Tennessee when two people were hit by flying shrapnel after crashes. |
 | Samsung launches folding smartphoneSeeking to rev up demand in the slumping smartphone market, Samsung on Wednesday unveiled a folding handset, becoming the first major manufacturer to offer the feature. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Fluorescing urine signals organ transplant rejection, could replace needle biopsiesToo often, it's only after a transplanted organ has sustained serious damage that a biopsy reveals the organ is in rejection. A new screening method using sensor particles and a urine test could catch rejection much earlier, more comprehensively, and without a biopsy needle. |
 | T-cell receptor diversity may be key to treatment of follicular lymphoma, study findsHealthy white blood cells, called "T-cells," play a crucial role in how the body fights follicular lymphoma. That's according to the results of a study led by Mayo Clinic hematologists Zhi Zhang Yang, M.D., and Stephen Ansell, M.D., Ph.D., that was published in Cell Reports. T-cells are a key part of the immune system and protect the body by fighting infections and cancer. |
 | New tool for tracking cholera outbreaks could make it easier to detect deadly epidemicsAlgorithms using data from antibody signatures in peoples' blood may enable scientists to assess the size of cholera outbreaks and identify hotspots of cholera transmission more accurately than ever, according to a study led by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. |
 | Scientists identify unique subtype of eczema linked to food allergyAtopic dermatitis, a common inflammatory skin condition also known as allergic eczema, affects nearly 20 percent of children, 30 percent of whom also have food allergies. Scientists have now found that children with both atopic dermatitis and food allergy have structural and molecular differences in the top layers of healthy-looking skin near the eczema lesions, whereas children with atopic dermatitis alone do not. Defining these differences may help identify children at elevated risk for developing food allergies, according to research published online today in Science Translational Medicine. The research was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. |
 | Study finds way to potentially improve immunotherapy for cancerA new study has identified a drug that potentially could make a common type of immunotherapy for cancer even more effective. The study in laboratory mice found that the drug dasatinib, which is FDA-approved to treat certain types of leukemia, greatly enhances responses to a form of immunotherapy that is used against a wide range of other cancers. |
 | Scientists create new map of brain's immune systemA team of researchers under the direction of the Medical Center—University of Freiburg has created an entirely new map of the brain's own immune system in humans and mice. The scientists demonstrated for the first time that phagocytes in the brain, the so-called microglia, all have the same core signature but adapt in different ways depending on their function. It was previously assumed that these are different types of microglia. The discovery, made by means of a new, high-resolution method for analyzing single cells, is important for the understanding of brain diseases. Furthermore, the researchers from Freiburg, Göttingen, Berlin, Bochum, Essen, and Ghent (Belgium) have demonstrated in detail how the human immune system in the brain changes in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS), which is significant for future therapeutic approaches. The study was published on 14 February 2019 in the journal Nature. |
 | Gene therapy durably reverses congenital deafness in miceIn collaboration with the universities of Miami, Columbia and San Francisco, scientists from the Institut Pasteur, Inserm, CNRS, Collège de France, Sorbonne University and the University of Clermont Auvergne have restored hearing in an adult mouse model of DFNB9 deafness—a hearing disorder that represents one of the most frequent cases of congenital genetic deafness. Individuals with DFNB9 deafness are profoundly deaf, as they are deficient in the gene coding for otoferlin, a protein essential for transmitting sound information at the auditory sensory cell synapses. By carrying out an intracochlear injection of this gene in an adult DFNB9 mouse model, the scientists successfully restored auditory synapse function and hearing thresholds to a near-normal level. These findings, published in the journal PNAS, open up new avenues for future gene therapy trials in patients with DFNB9. |
 | New 'smart drug' shows promise for metastatic triple-negative breast cancerA new "smart drug" has shown promise for women with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer, based on data from a clinical trial at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia's Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and other centers. The data from the trial were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Researchers define cells used in bone repairResearch led by Johns Hopkins investigators has uncovered the roles of two types of cells found in the vessel walls of fat tissue and described how these cells may help speed bone repair. |
 | Young bone marrow rejuvenates aging mouse brains, study findsA new study has found that transplanting the bone marrow of young laboratory mice into old mice prevented cognitive decline in the old mice, preserving their memory and learning abilities. The findings support an emerging model that attributes cognitive decline, in part, to aging of blood cells, which are produced in bone marrow. |
 | For patients with schizophrenia, some drug combinations may be more effective than othersPatients with schizophrenia are often treated with more than one type of psychiatric medication, but a new study suggests that some combinations may be more effective than others. |
 | Researchers find genetic clues to high rates of asthma in those of African ancestryIn the largest study of its kind, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have found new clues into the parts of the human genome associated with the higher rates of asthma in those of African ancestry. |
 | Vigorous exercise, fasting, hormones improve elimination of toxic, misfolded, unnecessary proteins in mouse, human cellsThe body's ability to adapt to changing conditions and shifting physiologic demands is essential to survival. To do so, each cell must be able to dispose of damaged or unnecessary proteins—a quality-control mechanism critical for cellular performance and for the health of the entire organism. |
 | Viruses that linger in the gut could trigger type 1 diabetesResearchers at the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, provide new evidence supporting an association between elevated levels of enteroviruses in the intestinal tracts of children and islet autoimmunity, a precursor to Type 1 diabetes. The paper appears in the journal Scientific Reports. |
 | New insight on potent HIV antibody could improve vaccine designIn the quest to develop an effective HIV vaccine, researchers have focused attention on identifying and targeting the region of the virus's outer envelope where a lineage of antibodies are able to dock and neutralize the virus. |
Rapid scale-up of HPV vaccine and screening could prevent up to 13 million cases of cervical cancer by 2050Cervical cancer could be eliminated as a public health problem in most countries by the end of the century by rapid expansion of existing interventions, according to a modelling study published in The Lancet Oncology journal. | |
| New method identifies which asthma patients respond to systemic corticosteroidsPhysicians will be able to predict which of their patients with severe asthma are likely to benefit from treatment with systemic corticosteroids—and which might only suffer their side effects—with help from a dozen clinical variables researchers have identified using machine learning techniques. |
 | Computer simulators show how to reduce damage to lungs of children in intensive careChanging the ventilation settings for children on life support can reduce the risk of damage to their lungs, researchers at the University of Warwick and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have found on computer simulated patients. |
When parenting teens, keep calm and don't carry onThe field of adolescent psychology is increasingly focused on parents, with researchers asking how mothers and fathers control themselves (and their rising anger) in difficult interactions with their children. As anyone who has raised a teenager knows, parental goals often don't exactly align with those of the child. Sometimes, not even close. | |
 | Research shows human trafficking screening tool effective in identifying victimsA screening tool designed specifically to assess for human trafficking was more likely to identify sexual and labor exploitation of youth, as well as the risk factors, than a commonly used psychosocial assessment, reported researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and Baylor College of Medicine. |
Cervical microbiome may promote high-grade precancerous lesionsInfections with a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) cause 99 percent of cervical cancer cases, and the disease's first sign is often the appearance of precancerous lesions on a woman's cervix. But bacteria may play an important role, too. New research suggests that the cervical microbiome may influence HPV infection more than researchers previously thought. | |
 | Exercise in morning or afternoon to shift your body clock forwardExercise can shift the human body clock, with the direction and amount of this effect depending on the time of day or night in which people exercise. That's according to new research in published in The Journal of Physiology. These findings suggest exercise could counter the effects of jet lag, shift work, and other disruptions to the body's internal clock (e.g. military deployments) helping individuals adjust to shifted schedules. |
 | American women have better control of high blood pressure but are more obese than men"The good news is that, since the Millennium, there have been reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol levels and in rates of smoking across adults in the United States. However, these rates leave much room for improvement, and the average BMI has gone up, with the greatest rise for women," said Dr. Sanne Peters, Research Fellow in Epidemiology at The George Institute, UK who led the research published in Circulation. |
 | Young children may see nationality as biological, new study suggestsYoung children see national identity, in part, as biological in nature, a perception that diminishes as they get older, finds a new study by psychology researchers. But despite changes in views of nationality as we age, the work suggests the intriguing possibility that the roots of nationalist sentiments are established early in life. |
 | Interacting with more people is shown to keep older adults more activeIt's been said that variety is the spice of life, and now scientists say variety in your social circle may help you live longer. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have found that older adults who spend more time interacting with a wide range of people were more likely to be physically active and had greater emotional well-being. |
 | Keeping active in middle age may be tied to lower risk of dementiaKeeping physically and mentally active in middle age may be tied to a lower risk of developing dementia decades later, according to a study published in the February 20, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Mental activities included reading, playing instruments, singing in a choir, visiting concerts, gardening, doing needlework or attending religious services. |
 | Untangling the where and when of walking in the brainImagine walking on two treadmills at the gym, one side moving faster than the other. Would you be able to adapt to this change and come up with a new way of walking, or would you stagger and stumble as your legs falter about, completely out of sync? |
 | The key to increased lifespan? Rubicon alters autophagy in animals during agingAutophagy is an important biological recycling mechanism that is used to maintain homeostasis (balance or equilibrium) within all types of animal tissue. Many studies have attempted to understand the relationship between the reduction of autophagy and progression of aging in animals; however, none have provided a clear explanation until now. |
 | Inflammation: Study explains loss of protective abilities of T cellsRegulatory T cells (Tregs) ensure that immune responses are not too strong and that inflammation is inhibited. This makes them highly interesting for therapies against inflammatory autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. But they are hard to use with patients, because Tregs lose their abilities in particularly inflamed tissues. A team from Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now succeeded in explaining this process in detail. |
 | Mitigating the effects of childhood traumaAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to mental health disorders in adolescence, and healthy family functioning and civic engagement can mitigate such damaging impact, according to a new Rutgers University–Camden study. |
 | Neuroscientist probes sleep's role in learning and memoryDoes "sleeping on it" help us make better decisions? Are sleep disorders just a natural part of aging? How important are naps, anyhow? Rebecca Spencer, Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and director of the UMass Amherst Sleep Monitoring Lab is finding answers to these questions. |
 | How to talk about STIsThe most common symptom is no symptom at all. That's why it's important to talk with your partners about sexual health… even if it's awkward. The good news is that talking about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and getting tested can help improve your communication and relationships in general. Here are some tips for starting a conversation. |
 | Potential link between vitamin D deficiency and loss of brain plasticityUniversity of Queensland research may explain why vitamin D is vital for brain health, and how deficiency leads to disorders including depression and schizophrenia. |
 | Exploring the relationship between sexual orientation components and health risk behaviorsIn recent studies, women who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB), or who report attraction to or sex with women indicated greater levels of substance use and risky sexual behavior. Few studies have measured associations between different components of sexual orientation (i.e., sexual identity, attraction, or behavior) and health risk behaviors, particularly over time. |
 | Is the keto diet safe? USC experts have some serious concernsThe keto diet—a high fat, moderate protein, very low carbohydrate plan—might be eclipsing paleo and Whole30 as the hot diet trend of 2019. |
 | Seven myths and truths about healthy skinSkin is our largest organ and something we may take for granted when it's healthy. As an academic dermatologist I frequently hear misleading "facts" that seem to be stubbornly enduring. Here are some of the most commonly shared myths that can be cleared up immediately, and some truths you can rely on. |
 | Child donors' psychological risk unknownIt is accepted medical practice that child siblings, even as young as six months, can be used as bone marrow or blood stem cell donors to save a brother or sister with a life-threatening illness. |
 | Hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis, prognosis and treatment may improve by identifying a proteinAnalysing the levels of a protein called TonEBP could provide valuable insight into the likelihood of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, an aggressive cancer of the liver, following its surgical removal. Drugs that target TonEBP could also be investigated for liver cancer treatment. |
 | Monthly buprenorphine injections effective for opioid use disordersA newly published study suggests the long-acting buprenorphine formulation BUP-XR is more effective than placebo in helping patients struggling with addiction to opioids. BUP-XR is a monthly extended-release injection. |
 | Everyone can be an effective advocate for vaccination: Here's howThe World Health Organisation (WHO) has named vaccine hesitancy as one of their top 10 threats to global health for 2019. |
 | Wearable sensor may cut costs and improve access to biofeedback for people with incomplete paraplegiaA new electromyography biofeedback device that is wearable and connects to novel smartphone games may offer people with incomplete paraplegia a more affordable, self-controllable therapy to enhance their recovery, according to a new study presented this week at the Association of Academic Physiatrists Annual Meeting in Puerto Rico. |
 | End-of-life care should focus on quality of life, not prolonging itTerminally ill, older adults would prefer to receive higher quality supportive care rather than aggressive end-of-life treatments to prolong their lives, a UNSW Sydney study has found. |
CASSINI Trial publishes data on preventing blood clots in cancer patientsThe first clinical study investigating the use of the direct oral anticoagulant, rivaroxaban, to prevent blood clots in patients with cancer at high-risk published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study found no significant reduction in venous thromboembolism or death in the overall 180-day trial period; however, the researchers did observe a lower incidence of these events while patients were actively on the study drug, or during the on-treatment period. | |
Risks of shoulder replacement surgery higher than previously thoughtThe risks associated with shoulder replacement surgery for arthritic conditions are higher than previously estimated, particularly for people under 60 and over 85 years old, finds a study published by The BMJ today. | |
 | Researchers report new findings on familial primary distal renal tubular acidosisIn addition to regulating the body's fluid balance by excreting greater or smaller amounts of urine, the kidneys also maintain the proper balance of electrolytes (salts) and the pH (an acid-base equilibrium) of the body. Excess acid is secreted into the urine by healthy kidneys. This process takes place in a specific part of the kidney, the distal tubules. When this excretion of acid is disturbed, the concentration of acid in the body increases, resulting in a disorder called distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). |
 | Experts discuss preventing sexual abuse and harassment in sportAn investigation by the CBC has revealed that at least 222 coaches who were involved in amateur sports in Canada have been convicted of sexual offences over the past 20 years. These cases involved more than 600 victims under the age of 18. |
 | Planes, trains and viruses: How transit air might predict the next outbreakIt's common knowledge that congested public places such as transit systems and airports harbor all kinds of potentially harmful microbes that pass easily from person to person. What's not clear is which infectious agents might be lurking among them. Duke One Health researchers are using bioaerosol sampling—that is, testing airborne particles—to start chipping away at this question. |
 | A sociable personality attenuates neuropathic pain and anxiety intensifies itCertain personality traits such as sociability, anxiety or depression influence manifestations of neuropathic pain in mice, according to a new study by the Neuropharmacology Laboratory-NeuroPhar at Pompeu Fabra University. The study, led by Rafael Maldonado, has been published in the journal Neuropharmacology. |
 | We don't yet fully understand what mindfulness is, but this is what it's notLast night's episode of ABC's Catalyst, "The Mindfulness Experiment", offered a unique glimpse into what happens to people during Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, an eight-week structured training program in mindfulness meditation. |
 | Micro-control of liver metabolismResearchers at TIFR have discovered molecular anticipation of feeding in the liver that is essential to ensure that the body, after fasting, adapts to use incoming nutrients upon re-feeding. Their findings, published in the international journal Cell Reports, show that very small RNA molecules called microRNAs control major metabolic pathways by inhibiting synthesis of proteins, and thus contribute to maintenance of blood glucose levels. |
 | Bringing delivery forward to collect the 'baby cheque' posed a risk to babiesA study by Libertad González, professor with the Department of Economics and Business at UPF, Cristina Borra (University of Seville) and Almudena Sevilla (University College, London), reports that children born prematurely due to the scrapping of the "baby cheque" weighed less at birth (between 130 and 300 grams) and had 20 percent more hospitalizations, especially due to respiratory problems, although the negative effects seem to dissipate after the second month of life. |
 | Pregnant women facing weight stigma see decreased physical and mental health, study findsIn one of the first research studies focused on the impact of weight stigma in pregnant and postpartum women, a team led by a Worcester Polytechnic Institute professor found that women who experience weight stigma during pregnancy and early postpartum often show increased depressive symptoms, greater weight gain during pregnancy, and weight retention after their baby is born. |
 | Early intensive therapy for multiple sclerosis leads to better long-term outcomes, despite being perceived as high riskNew findings by researchers at Cardiff University suggest that intensive therapy during the early stages of multiple sclerosis (MS) leads to better long-term outcomes for patients, despite it often being viewed as a riskier option than other first line treatments. |
 | FDA warns about 'miracle' young blood infusion treatments(HealthDay)—The use of plasma infusion therapies (often called "vampire" treatments, in which people undergo infusions of a young donor's blood) is on the rise across the United States, often costing thousands of dollars per treatment, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. |
 | CDC: Salmonella cases tied to raw turkey products now at 279(HealthDay)—Sixty-three more cases of illness in a Salmonella outbreak linked to raw turkey products have been reported since Dec. 21, 2018, bringing the total number to 279, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says in an update. |
 | Head off the blues when your teen heads to college(HealthDay)—As excited as you are that your teen's going to college, it's normal to have mixed emotions, such as anxiety, sadness and possibly depression. It's even normal to feel envious that his or her life is just beginning while yours is on the wane. |
 | Teenage depression linked with inability to recall specific memoriesTeenagers suffering with depression may struggle with recalling specific memories, according to new research from the University of Reading. |
 | Why US cities are becoming more dangerous for cyclists and pedestriansAs cities strive to improve the quality of life for their residents, many are working to promote walking and biking. Such policies make sense, since they can, in the long run, lead to less traffic, cleaner air and healthier people. But the results aren't all positive, especially in the short to medium term. |
 | Teens need frequent communication with parents to maintain youth resiliency after a divorce, study saysTexting, FaceTime and other popular communication methods among teens may help build supportive parent-youth relationships after a divorce, according to a Kansas State University family studies researcher. |
Steep rise in self-poisonings in children and adolescentsSelf-harm from self-poisoning in children and adolescents is not only increasing but starting at a younger age, finds new research by University of Sydney and the NSW Poisons Information Centre. | |
 | Two-thirds of Canadians who had ever attempted suicide were completely free of any suicidal thoughts in the past yearA new nationally representative study reports that approximately two-thirds (69%) of Canadians who had ever attempted suicide were completely free of any suicidal thoughts in the past year. |
 | New AI able to identify and predict the development of cancer symptom clustersCancer patients who undergo chemotherapy could soon benefit from a new AI that is able to identify and predict the development of different combinations of symptoms – helping to alleviate much of the distress caused by their occurrence and severity. |
 | Four habits that may be raising your blood pressureWith nearly half of American adults having elevated blood pressure, it's important for everyone to understand that some common habits may affect blood pressure, making the condition more difficult to control. |
 | Abnormal cellular process implicated in gut inflammation and onset of inflammatory bowel diseaseElevated levels of the key cellular process of apoptosis have been implicated in intestinal inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in a new study from the Quadram Institute. |
 | New therapeutic strategy to treat Alzheimer'sResearchers from the Institute of Neurosciences of the University of Barcelona (UBNeuro) have identified a potential therapeutic strategy to treat Alzheimer's, according to a study published in Journal of Neuroscience. In a model of the illness in mice, astrocyte cells in the brain release proteins that favour survival of neurons. According to the researchers, these results are a step forward in the understanding of the physiology of astrocytes, and represent possible future therapies for Alzheimer's. |
 | Hundreds of genes linked to blindness could lead to new therapiesInherited diseases of the eye account for at least 2 million cases of blindness worldwide. A few hundred genes that cause eye disease have been identified, but in many cases the cause is unknown because not all eye disease genes have been identified. |
What role should genetics research play in education?As researchers learn more about the genes that shape a child's development – including traits of interest to parents and educators – these discoveries must not distract from the essential need for well-crafted policy and determined teachers in the collective task of educating the next generation, Stanford scholars say. | |
 | Child's risk of obesity influenced by changes in genesA child's risk of obesity as they grow up can be influenced by modifications to their DNA prior to birth, a new University of Southampton study has shown. |
 | Health-related Google searches doubled in week before ER visitsHealth-related internet searches doubled during the week before patients visited an emergency department, according to a new study from researchers at Penn Medicine who examined consenting patients' Google search histories in relation to their electronic health records (EHRs). The study, published today in BMJ Open, is believed to be the first of its kind to link private search data to EHRs at the individual level. The study also shows that patients—roughly half—are willing to share their search histories and combine them with their personal health records. |
 | New method to detect cancer cells faster, potentially improving outcomesThe days—or even weeks—spent waiting for the results of a cancer-screening test can feel like an eternity. Especially when early diagnosis and quick action are tied to better outcomes. |
 | Can a nerve injury trigger ALS?A growing collection of anecdotal stories raises the possibility that nerve injury in an arm or a leg can act as a trigger for the development amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS—a progressive neurodegenerative disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, named after the famous New York Yankee who died of it in 1941. |
The 'blue' in blueberries can help lower blood pressureA new study published in the Journal of Gerontology Series A has found that eating 200g of blueberries every day for a month can lead to an improvement in blood vessel function and a decrease in systolic blood pressure in healthy people. | |
 | Yea, team! Winning fans see self-esteem boostFans of a college football team that wins a big game could experience a boost in self-esteem that lasts at least two days after the event, a new study suggests. |
Report says health systems are key to improving cancer outcomes in the USA new report says without a national investment and commitment to transforming health care delivery in the United States, many people will not benefit from the substantial progress in reducing the burden of cancer already made, let alone the innovations and breakthroughs that are yet to come. | |
 | Study finds melanoma brain metastases are immunosuppressive with treatment-resistant metabolismMelanoma tumors that have spread to the brain are equipped to thwart immunotherapies and targeted therapies that succeed against tumors growing in other sites. Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report in Cancer Discovery that the heavy reliance of these tumors on a specific metabolic pathway presents a potentially new therapeutic against these lethal tumors. |
 | Mandarin Chinese could help us understand how infants learn EnglishInfants may be more sensitive to non-native speech sounds than previously thought, according to a study published in the Journal of Memory and Language. The findings shed light on the way babies begin to understand language. |
 | Research team develops new AI platform for ALS careBen-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has developed a new artificial intelligence (AI) platform for monitoring and predicting progression of neurodegenerative diseases to help identify markers for personalized patient care and improve drug development. |
 | Nitisinone increases melanin in people with albinismA small pilot clinical study at the National Eye Institute (NEI) suggests that the drug nitisinone increases melanin production in some people with oculocutaneous albinism type 1B (OCA-1B), a rare genetic disease that causes pale skin and hair and poor vision. Increased melanin could help protect people with the condition against the sun's UV rays and promote the development of normal vision. Study results were published in JCI Insight. |
 | EEG helps scientists predict epileptic seizures minutes in advanceElizabeth Delacruz can't crawl or toddle around like most youngsters nearing their second birthday. |
 | Peer support, healing hands may curb prescription opioid misuseA program offering group support, acupuncture, mindfulness, massage and gentle exercise may help prevent patients on prescription opioids from spiraling down to drug misuse, overdose and death, according to a study led by researchers at UCSF. |
 | Weight-loss surgery may bring a bedroom bonusApart from the health benefits that weight-loss surgery can bring, a new study shows it could boost a patient's sex life. |
 | High-fat diets do no favors for your gut bacteria(HealthDay)—Has a high-fat meal ever left you feeling bloated and sluggish? It turns out that a heavier fat diet may keep the many bacteria that live in your digestive system from doing their best, too. |
 | Diabetes remains dangerous despite modern medicineDespite medical advances, having diabetes is still linked to a higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, new research shows. |
 | Why are black women at higher risk of dying from pregnancy complications?Serena Williams and Beyoncé are at the top of their professions. Williams is one of the best tennis players, and arguably athletes, of all time. Beyoncé is a singer who sells out arenas within hours. |
 | Altered gut microbiome seen in patients with active lupus(HealthDay)—The microbiome of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), particularly those with increased disease activity, has reduced taxonomic complexity, according to a study published online Feb. 19 in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. |
 | Deep learning-enhanced device detects diabetic retinopathy(HealthDay)—A deep learning-enhanced device can accurately detect diabetic retinopathy (DR), according to a study published online Feb. 14 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Ruthless meth networks get ill-prepared Myanmar hookedMobs of stick-wielding church-goers in Myanmar's northeast used to descend on dealers and addicts in a desperate effort to save their communities from a meth-induced health crisis sweeping the country. |
 | Ebola outbreak 'under control' in part of eastern DR CongoAn Ebola epidemic that has killed more than 500 people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has been brought under control in one major area, the health ministry said late Tuesday. |
 | Researchers suggest schoolchildren should dance more in schoolsThe latest research findings and Finland's core curriculum encourage children to stand up from their desks and learn through physical activity and movement, but the process of adopting the new methods in practice is still in the early stages at schools. |
 | Chronic wasting disease found in deer in 24 states(HealthDay)—Chronic wasting disease has been found in wild deer, elk, and moose in 24 states, and hunters should avoid handling or eating potentially infected meat, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned. |
 | Roasted root veggies make a hearty winter soup(HealthDay)—Dense root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and parsnips benefit from roasting. They sweeten as they cook, making for healthy comfort food during cold winter months. |
 | Stories of African-American women aging with HIV: 'My life wasn't what I hoped it to be'Sophia Harrison, 51, is a single mother of two, with an extended family to support. She has lived with epilepsy her entire life; she suffers from hypertension; and she is a breast cancer survivor. |
 | African-American women with HIV often overlooked, under-supportedThe face of HIV in the United States has long been white gay men, even though the epidemic has had a devastating and disproportionate impact on African-American communities. |
 | Miscarriage—why no one wants to talk about it in the workplaceFor many expectant parents, experiencing a miscarriage – whether it occurs early or late in pregnancy – can be devastating. Statistical evidence suggests that one in three or four pregnancies results in a miscarriage. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, meanwhile, recognises miscarriage as the most common type of pregnancy loss, with anywhere from 10-25% of all clinically recognised pregnancies ending in miscarriage. |
Women with a strong social support network may be at lower risk for heart diseaseHaving good friends can save your life, as a study based on data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) demonstrates how strong social support may reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). | |
Biology news
 | Darwin's finches don't tell the whole story of avian evolutionThe connection between bird diet and skull shape is surprisingly weak for most species according to a new study led by UCL and the Natural History Museum, rewriting our understanding of how ecosystems influence evolution. |
 | Scientists solve mystery of a fish called Mary's 'virgin' birthA female stickleback fish, nick-named 'Mary', has produced offspring from eggs that appear to have been fertilised while they were still inside her, according to scientists at the University of Nottingham. |
 | Researchers peer inside the mind of the worm for clues on how memories formTry as you might, some events cannot be remembered. Known in psychology as memory blocking, the phenomenon has remained elusive since first described more than half a century ago. Now Donnelly Centre researchers have found that blocking is not due to problems with forming memories, as previously thought, but with memory recall—in worms at least. |
 | Establishing the molecular blueprint of early embryo developmentA team of biologists, physicists and mathematical modellers in Cambridge have studied the genetic activity of over 100,000 embryonic cells to establish the molecular blueprint of mouse early embryo development. This new research provides fundamentally important information on how mammalian embryos develop during gastrulation, a key stage of development, and paves the way for new understanding of the earliest stages of life. |
 | Massive database traces mammal organ development, cell by single cellThe very early days of growth, long before we are born, are a time of incredible development. In a relatively short period of time, we and other mammals create our bodies' dozens of different organs from a few thin layers of cells. In mice, that period is only four days long. In humans, it's complete before the end of the first trimester of pregnancy. |
 | Research reveals why the zebra got its stripesWhy do zebras have stripes? A study published in PLOS ONE today takes us another step closer to answering this puzzling question and to understanding how stripes actually work. |
 | Mega experiment shows species interact more towards tropics and lowlandsOne of the largest field experiments ever conducted is providing the best evidence yet in support of a key Darwinian theory—that interactions between species are stronger toward the tropics and at lower elevations. |
 | Lack of sleep is not necessarily fatal for fliesMale flies kept awake do not die earlier than those allowed to sleep, leading researchers to question whether sleep, in flies at least, is essential for staying alive. |
 | Study shows foraging gene works nearly the same in humans and fruit fliesA team of researchers from Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. has found that a gene known to influence foraging in fruit flies has a similar effect on humans. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes experiments they carried out with college student volunteers and what they found. |
 | Want to learn about dinosaurs? Pick up some Louisiana roadkillFossil-hunting can be grueling, but it's usually not gross. Paleontologists typically work with things that have been dead for millions of years, mineralized into rock and no longer smelly. At the end of a day in the field, the researchers just have to dust themselves off and wash muddy boots and sweaty clothes. But for a new study delving into the ecosystems that dinosaurs lived in, a team of paleontologists found themselves scraping swamp rabbits and armadillos off the Louisiana highway. |
 | New insights into phenotypic complexity and diversity among cichlidsIs evolution predictable? What are the mechanisms that allow different fish to respond to the same environmental challenge in slightly different ways? When the same jaw bones and muscles change to produce the same feeding behaviour, are the morphologies of these fish that evolved independently from one another modified in an identical way? What is the genetic basis for this kind of convergence? These are some of the questions that Dr. C. Darrin Hulsey and Professor Axel Meyer from the Department of Biology at the University of Konstanz and their international colleagues from the University of California in Los Angeles (USA), Tel Aviv University and the Inter-University Institute for Marine Sciences in Eilat (Israel) are trying to answer. |
 | Introduced daisy changes its appearance on Australian beaches, defying evolutionary expectationsIn less than a century since it was introduced to Australia, the South African beach daisy has drastically changed its appearance – a clear and unusual example of rapid evolution in plants, a new study led by UNSW scientists has shown. |
 | Understanding the drivers of coral reef recovery: A long-term study in the PacificNew research on reef recovery shows corals need nine to 12 years to recover following large disturbance events such as mass bleaching and storm damage. |
 | Honeybees found to have rightward bias under certain circumstancesEntomologist Thomas O'Shea-Wheller with Louisiana State University has found that under certain circumstances, honeybees demonstrate a rightward bias. In his paper published in the journal Biology Letters, he describes experiments he conducted with honeybees in his lab and what he found. |
 | Plants can skip the middlemen and directly recognize disease-causing fungiFungal diseases collectively termed "powdery mildew" afflict a broad range of plant species, including agriculturally relevant cereals such as barley, and result in significant reductions in crop yield. Fungi that cause powdery mildew deliver so-called effector molecules inside plant cells, where they manipulate the host's physiology and immune system. In response, some plants have developed Resistance (R) genes, usually intracellular immune receptors, which recognize the infection by detecting the fungus' effectors, often leading to plant cell death at the site of attempted infection to limit the spread of the fungus. In the prevailing view, direct recognition of effectors by immune receptors is rather a rare event in plant-pathogen interactions, however, and it has been thought instead that in most cases recognition proceeds via other host proteins that are modified by the pathogen. |
 | Activating tooth regeneration in miceMost reptiles and fish have multiple sets of teeth during their lifetime. However, most mammals, such as humans, have only one set of replacement teeth and some mammals, like mice, have only a single set with no replacement. This diversity raises both evolutionary questions—how did different tooth replacement strategies evolve?—and developmental ones—which mechanisms prevent replacement teeth in animals that lost them? |
 | Foreign bees monopolize prize resources in biodiversity hotspotHike around the natural habitats of San Diego County and it becomes abundantly clear that honey bees, foreign to the area, are everywhere. In a study published last year, researchers at the University of California San Diego found that honey bees are the most widespread and abundant pollinators of wild plants in the world, with the San Diego region having exceptionally high honey bee visitation on native plants—roughly three-quarters of all observed pollinators. |
 | What plant proteins can tell us about Alzheimer'sAlzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia are a growing burden on society and a leading cause of death among the elderly. There is no cure. |
 | Crocodile face off: Study examines how developmental changes resulted in changes to crocodile snoutsThe story that's often told about crocodiles is that they're among the most perfectly adapted creatures on the planet—living fossils that have remained virtually unchanged for millions of years. |
 | Scientists identify genetic mechanism involved in how females inherit traitsAs many know, females have two X chromosome while males have one X and one Y chromosome. |
 | Researchers discover a flipping crab feeding on methane seepsResearchers have documented a group of tanner crabs vigorously feeding at a methane seep on the seafloor off British Columbia—one of the first times a commercially harvested species has been seen using this energy source. |
Investigators figure out how to block new antibiotic resistance geneA new antimicrobial-resistance gene, VCC-1, a ß-lactamase gene, has been discovered in benign close relatives of virulent Vibrio cholerae, which causes cholera. Now, a team of Canadian researchers has found a way to block the VCC-1 enzyme, which disables that resistance gene. The research is published February 19th in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. | |
 | Feral cat cull: Why the 2 million target is on scientifically shaky groundThe Australian government's target of killing 2 million feral cats by 2020 attracted significant public interest and media attention when it was unveiled in 2015. |
 | Genetic blueprint for extraordinary wood-munching fungusA relatively unknown fungus, accidentally found growing on an Acacia tree in the Northern Cape, has emerged as a voracious wood-munching organism with enormous potential in industries based on renewable resources. |
 | Should you feed wild birds in winter?Nothing brightens a yard like a flock of twittering birds, and nothing draws them like a free meal—but it's an open question whether bird feeders are good for them or not, says a University of Alberta expert. |
 | How to keep conservation policies from backfiring in a globally connected worldFor many years environmentalists have urged the public to "think globally, act locally" – meaning, consider the health of the planet, then take action in your own community. |
 | City bees' favourite flowers, according to our DNA tracking experimentAs cities get bigger and cover more land, the need to make space for wildlife – including insects – in urban areas has become more pressing. Research has shown that cites may not be such a bad place for pollinating insects such as bumble bees, solitary bees and hoverflies. In fact, one UK study of ten cities and two large towns found a greater variety of species in urban areas than in rural areas, while another study showed some UK urban areas hosted stronger bumble bee colonies than those in rural areas. |
 | Protecting small forests fails to protect bird biodiversitySimply protecting small forests will not maintain the diversity of the birds they support over the long run, a Rutgers-led study says. Forests need to be carefully monitored and managed to maintain their ecological integrity. |
 | Studying ant cooperation is revealing how brains work togetherAs a child, you almost certainly at one stage spent hours watching ants move about from their nest. Maybe you dropped a piece of food and watched as a group of ants came and picked it up, carrying it home in an impressive display of cooperation. |
 | Iceland sets whaling quotas despite falling profitsIceland has set new quotas for its controversial minke and fin whale hunt for the next five years despite declining profits recently, a decision bound to anger environmentalists. |
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