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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 6, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Bubbles of brand new starsThis region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) glows in striking colours in this image captured by the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT). The region, known as LHA 120-N 180B—N180 B for short—is a type of nebula known as an H II region (pronounced "H two"), and is a fertile source of new stars. |
 | Japan's Hayabusa2 probe to land on asteroid on Feb 22A Japanese probe sent to examine an asteroid in order to shed light on the origins of the solar system is expected to land on the rock later this month, officials said Wednesday. |
 | Cleaning up the clutter: How proto-biology arose from the prebiotic clutterJust like the mythical creation stories that depict the formation of the world as the story of order from chaos, the early Earth was home to a chaotic clutter of organic molecules from which, somehow, more complex biological structures such as RNA and DNA emerged. |
 | NASA, SpaceX aim for March test of first new astronaut capsuleNASA and SpaceX are now aiming for a March debut of the first capsule from a private company designed to fly astronauts to the International Space Station. |
 | Ariane rocket puts telecoms satellites into orbit for IndiaTwo communications satellites—for India and a consortium from Saudi Arabia, Greece and Cyprus—were successfully put into orbit by the European aerospace firm ArianeGroup, the company announced. |
Video: Jupiter odysseyESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice, is set to embark on a seven-year cruise to Jupiter starting May 2022. The mission will investigate the emergence of habitable worlds around gas giants and the Jupiter system as an archetype for the numerous giant planets now known to orbit other stars. | |
 | Team develops optocoupler for spaceflight applicationsSouthwest Research Institute has developed a high-reliability, high-voltage optocoupler for spaceflight applications. NASA has selected the device as a power interface between the Europa Clipper spacecraft and three instruments aboard, bound for Jupiter's moon Europa in the next five years. The power converter, developed with internal funding, overcomes reliability problems similar systems have had operating in space. |
 | Tour alien worlds with new multimedia treatsExplore the plethora of planets outside our solar system with new multimedia experiences from NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program (ExEP). In addition to a new Exoplanet Travel Bureau poster celebrating a molten world called 55 Cancri e, space fans can enjoy a 360-degree visualization of the surface of the same planet, a multimedia journey into the life and death of planetary systems, and a major update to the popular Eyes on Exoplanets app. |
 | First look: Chang'e lunar landing siteOn Jan. 3, 2019, the Chinese spacecraft Chang'e 4 safely landed on the floor of the Moon's Von Kármán crater (186 kilometer diameter, 116 miles). Four weeks later (Jan. 30, 2019), as NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter approached the crater from the east, it rolled 70 degrees to the west to snap this spectacular view looking across the floor toward the west wall. |
 | Keeping a crew of 500 alive for the journey to another starThere's no two-ways about it, the Universe is an extremely big place! And thanks to the limitations placed upon us by Special Relativity, traveling to even the closest star systems could take millennia. As we addressed in a previous article, the estimated travel time to the nearest star system (Alpha Centauri) could take anywhere from 19,000 to 81,000 years using conventional methods. |
 | Team puts forth ideas on the nature of dark matterDark energy and dark matter comprise 96 percent of the total mass of the universe. Two main hypotheses about the nature of dark matter are presently debated. One posits that dark matter consists of massive compact halo objects; the other ascribes this property to weakly interacting mass particles. |
Technology news
 | A new approach for low-resource machine transliteration using RNNsA team of researchers at Universite du Quebec a Montreal and Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh (VNU-HCM) have recently developed an approach for machine transliteration based on recurrent neural networks (RNNs). Transliteration entails the phonetic translation of words in a given source language (e.g. French) into equivalent words in a target language (e.g. Vietnamese). |
 | Coda 1.0: Wowza, a doc, tables, tabs, buttons, and go teamCoda has come out of beta and wants to relay its refreshed 'hello world.' Its declaration of a public debut has appeared, after months (and months) in private beta. |
 | Artificial intelligence can identify microscopic marine organismsResearchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) program that can automatically provide species-level identification of microscopic marine organisms. The next step is to incorporate the AI into a robotic system that will help advance our understanding of the world's oceans, both now and in our prehistoric past. |
 | To conserve energy, AI clears up cloudy forecastsIf the forecast calls for rain, you'll probably pack an umbrella. If it calls for cold, you may bring your mittens. That same kind of preparation happens in buildings, where sophisticated heating and cooling systems adjust themselves based on the predicted weather. |
 | Apple's top retail exec to leave amid iPhone sales slowdownApple's top retailing executive is stepping down amid a slowdown in iPhone sales that has raised doubts about the company's future growth prospects. |
Snapchat parent Snap lifted by quarterly updateSnap shares surged on Tuesday after it reported rising revenue, narrowing losses and a stable number of people using its Snapchat smartphone image-themed social network. | |
What if Apple ran social media—would it pry?The idea seemed simple enough. An app to learn more about mobile users habits, what websites they visit, what they shop for on Amazon and the like. | |
 | Researchers aim to boost digital literacy skills of populations vulnerable to scamsSenior citizens and minority communities are the most common targets for online scams such as phishing and identity theft. These groups stand to benefit the most from digital literacy, yet they often have the lowest levels of knowledge in these areas, and educational programs are rarely suited to their needs. University of Kansas researchers have tested a program to find out what these adults need in terms of digital literacy and how to teach them those skills. |
 | Researchers raise awareness about interconnectedness, privacy risks of online servicesIf you are a frequent user of technology, something like this probably happens to you every day: You search the web for articles on the nutrition needs of your new puppy and almost immediately ads from pet food companies start flooding your social accounts and web pages. |
 | Engineering researcher works to make auto seatbelts safer for obese peopleWhen a hard-hitting frontal car crash occurs, seatbelts engage and airbags deploy. It all happens in milliseconds, and the vehicle's safety features save lives. But these safety systems are not perfect, and are not optimized for every body type and size. In fact, restraint systems in automobiles are designed for the "average" adult male: five feet, nine inches, 172 pounds, with a body mass index, or BMI, of 25. This is just slightly "overweight." |
 | Ship disasters avoided with big data statistics techniquesCompanies can save millions by using advanced statistical methods to extract information from large amounts of collected data. One company that has adopted this new way of thinking is the international industrial group ABB. They work closely with statisticians at the University of Oslo in Norway to enable shipping companies to save millions on more optimal operations and improve ship safety. |
 | Analyzing patterns helps students spot deceptive mediaWith the current pervasive use of online media for personal and academic reasons, it's necessary for students to have skills to confidently filter and decipher what they're reading. |
 | Tesla knocks $1,100 off price of the Model 3Tesla is cutting $1,100 from the base price of its car designed for the mass market, the Model 3. |
 | Spotify takes a big jump into the podcasting game (Update)Spotify is making a bigger bet on podcasts as it looks to bring a Netflix-like model of original programs to the audio world. The music-streaming pioneer gobbled up two podcasting companies, Gimlet and Anchor, on Wednesday. |
 | Autonomous drones that can 'see' and fly intelligentlyDrones have been given 'eyes' and a new algorithm to help them fly intelligently, reaching their target position when GPS is not available. |
 | Building code debate heats up as Australia sweltersIn the wake of Australia sweltering through its hottest two months on record – December and January –University of South Australia academics are calling for urgent changes to the country's building codes. |
New method for high-speed synthesis of natural voicesA research team at the National Institute of Informatics (NII/Tokyo, Japan) including Xin Wang, Shinji Takaki and Junichi Yamagishi has developed a neural source-filter (NSF) model for high-speed, high-quality voice synthesis. This technique, which combines recent deep-learning algorithms and a classical speech production model dated back to the 1960s, is capable not only of generating high-quality voice waveforms closely resembling the human voice, but also of conducting stable learning via neural networks. | |
 | Lyft offers electric vehicle options for riders, driversLyft passengers will soon be able to request a ride in an electric or hybrid vehicle when they're planning a trip. |
 | Why do people still use fax machines?The fax machine is a symbol of obsolete technology long superseded by computer networks – but faxing is actually growing in popularity. |
 | Deepfake videos could destroy trust in society—here's how to restore itIt has the potential to ruin relationships, reputations and our online reality. "Deepfake" artificial intelligence technology promises to create doctored videos so realistic that they're almost impossible to tell from the real thing. So far it has mostly been used to create altered pornographic clips featuring celebrity women's faces but once the techniques are perfected, deepfake revenge porn purporting to show people cheating on their partners won't be far behind. |
 | NY Times swings to profit on subscriber, advertising gainsThe New York Times moved into the profit column in the fourth quarter, helped by gains in digital advertising and the biggest increase in online subscribers since the months after the 2016 US election. |
 | Leader of Facebook PR team leavingThe head of Facebook's public relations team announced Wednesday she is leaving her job, stepping away after the most tumultuous period in the history of the social networking giant. |
 | Diesel fallout and trade headwinds sap Daimler in 2018German car giant and Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler reported Wednesday that costly investments, fallout from the industry's diesel scandal and trade headwinds compressed its bottom line in 2018. |
 | SoftBank Group nine-month net profit soars more than 50%Japan's SoftBank Group said on Wednesday its net profit jumped more than 50 percent for the nine months to December thanks to strong returns from its high-tech investment fund. |
 | Toyota cuts full-year profit forecast, warns over BrexitJapanese car giant Toyota slashed its full-year net profit forecast Wednesday after saying its nine-month figure had tumbled nearly 30 percent as it was hit by investment losses. |
 | Edmunds compares the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4Two of the best-selling small SUVs on the market today are the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4. The CR-V is currently Edmunds' top-ranked small SUV. The Toyota RAV4, meanwhile, is redesigned for 2019 with new looks and new technology features. Both offer a comfortable ride quality, lots of available options and impressive fuel economy. But which one will be the better choice for you? We compare them to find out. |
 | What's next for Siemens and Alstom after merger veto?After Brussels on Wednesday derailed a planned Siemens-Alstom merger that was meant to create a European rail behemoth, here's a look at what's next for the German and French firms in an industry bracing for fierce Chinese competition. |
 | Weak 2018 sees Daimler boss Zetsche leave on sour noteDaimler on Wednesday reported its worst year since 2015 as trade tensions and costly investments drove a slump in profits, months before chief executive Dieter Zetsche relinquishes the wheel at the Mercedes-Benz maker. |
 | GM rebounds with $8.1B 2018 profit on strong pricingGeneral Motors posted an $8.1 billion net profit for 2018, fueled by better prices for vehicles sold in the U.S., its most lucrative market. |
 | European airport passenger number hits 2.34 bn: ACIThe number of people using European airports set a record last year but growth slowed compared with 2017, the Airports Council International Europe (ACI) said Wednesday. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Breakthrough device llures aggressive brain tumor cells out of the patientA biomedical tool that tricks aggressive brain tumors such as glioblastoma into migrating into an external container rather than throughout the brain has been designated a "Breakthrough Device" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). |
 | Marijuana smoking linked with higher sperm concentrations, study findsMen who have smoked marijuana at some point in their life had significantly higher concentrations of sperm when compared with men who have never smoked marijuana, according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study, conducted in the Fertility Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital, also found that there was no significant difference in sperm concentrations between current and former marijuana smokers. |
 | Absentmindedness points to earlier warning signs of silent strokes among people at riskAdults who notice that they frequently lose their train of thought or often become sidetracked may in fact be displaying earlier symptoms of cerebral small vessel disease, otherwise known as a "silent stroke," suggests a recent study. |
 | HIV drug could treat Alzheimer's, age-associated disordersA new study found that an HIV drug significantly reduces age-related inflammation and other signs of aging in mice. |
 | Nullifying protein YTHDF1 enhances anti-tumor responseCancer immunotherapy—an approach that removes the barriers that protect cancer cells from a patient's immune system—has revolutionized the treatment of many cancer types. About 40 percent of melanoma patients, for example, respond to immunotherapy, enabling the immune system's T cells to attack cancer cells and take control of the disease. |
 | Common opioids less effective for patients on SSRI antidepressants, study findsPatients taking the most common form of antidepressant who are given the most widely prescribed opioid experience less pain relief, Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have discovered. |
 | Effects of teenage motherhood may last multiple generationsThe grandchildren of adolescent mothers have lower school readiness scores than their peers, according to a study published February 6, 2019 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Elizabeth Wall-Wieler of Stanford University and colleagues at the University of Manitoba. |
 | Research team first to identify hearing and deaf infants process information differentlyDifferences in cognitive development between hearing and deaf children start in infancy, according to new research by The Ohio State University College of Medicine published today in the journal PLOS ONE. |
 | Why your kid's strep throat keeps coming backEach year, some 600 million people around the world come down with strep throat. But for some children (and their parents) it's more than an occasional misery. It's a recurring nightmare. Yet, it was unclear why some kids are prone to repeated bouts of strep throat while others appear to be more or less immune. The latest study by researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) provides the first clues why some children are more susceptible than others to contracting recurrent group A strep tonsillitis, better known as strep throat. |
 | Discovery may bolster chemotherapy potency while protecting the heart from side-effectsResearchers from the University of Alberta may have found a way to make chemotherapy more effective at treating cancer while blocking its harmful side-effects on the heart. |
 | Newly discovered immune cells play role in inflammatory brain diseasesA team of researchers under the direction of the Medical Center—University of Freiburg has observed in an animal model that previously unknown types of immune cells are present in the inflamed brain in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). The discovery was made through a new, high-resolution method for analyzing single cells. The method allowed the researchers from Freiburg and Munich to create a kind of immune cell atlas for the brain. They also report that these cells promote the development of the autoimmune disease MS. The study was published in the January issue of Science. |
 | Even psychological placebos have an effectPlacebo effects do not only occur in medical treatment—placebos can also work when psychological effects are attributed to them. Psychologists from the University of Basel reported these findings in the journal Scientific Reports, based on three studies with over 400 participants. |
 | The role of immune cells in the formation of metastasesTumor cells use a certain type of immune cell, so-called neutrophils, to enhance their ability to form metastases. Scientists from the University of Basel and the University Hospital of Basel have deciphered the mechanisms of this collaboration and found strategies for blocking them. The results are published in Nature. |
 | New data suggests nicotine while pregnant alters genesThe Akay Lab biomedical research team at the University of Houston is reporting in the journal Nature Scientific Reports that a possible cure for addiction may be found by following the pathways of significantly altered dopamine neurons in newborns who were chronically exposed to nicotine in utero. The findings of the altered neurons come from recordings of dopamine and non-dopamine neurons in the brain's addiction center, called the ventral tegmental area (VTA), following chronic nicotine exposure during pregnancy. |
 | Morals versus money: How we make social decisionsOur actions are guided by moral values. However, monetary incentives can get in the way of our good intentions. Neuroeconomists at the University of Zurich have now investigated which area of the brain resolves conflicts between moral and material motives. Their findings reveal that our actions are more social when these deliberations are inhibited. |
 | A hidden route for fatty acids can make cancers resistant to therapyFatty acid metabolism is an essential process in tumor growth and proliferation. Despite attempts to block fatty acid metabolism as a therapeutic strategy to reduce tumor size and growth, the outcome has not always been positive. Researchers from the lab of Prof. Sarah-Maria Fendt at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology have now demonstrated that certain tumor cells use a previously unexplored alternative pathway to produce fatty acids. This finding can explain the resistance of particular cancer types to fatty acid metabolism inhibition. It is essential to gain more insights into this process to develop novel therapeutic strategies. The results are published in the renowned journal Nature. |
 | Heavy drinking in teens causes lasting changes in emotional center of brainBinge drinking in adolescence has been shown to have lasting effects on the wiring of the brain and is associated with increased risk for psychological problems and alcohol use disorder later in life. |
 | Major tobacco companies pay almost no corporation tax despite massive profitsThe world's four major tobacco companies—two of which have HQs in the UK—are paying minimal UK corporation tax despite enormous reported profits, according to findings from new research published in the Journal of Public Health. |
 | Early parent-child conflicts predict trouble charting life pathChildren who have more conflict in relationships with their mothers during early years of elementary school may find it more difficult to find a sense of purpose in life as they reach adulthood, suggests new research from Washington University in St. Louis. |
 | Researchers find new treatment for ChlamydiaResearchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a new way to prevent and treat Chlamydia, the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection in the world. |
 | 'Doing science,' rather than 'being scientists,' more encouraging to girlsAsking young girls to "do science" leads them to show greater persistence in science activities than does asking them to "be scientists," finds a new psychology study by researchers at New York University and Princeton University. |
 | Diabetes drug impacts gut microbiomeAcarbose, a drug commonly used to treat type II diabetes, can change the gut microbiome in a reversible and diet-dependent manner, according to new research published in the journal mSphere. The findings highlight the importance of the gut microbiome in health and show that more attention should be paid to how the gut microbiome responds to medications. |
 | Education may not protect against dementia as previously thoughtPrevious studies have suggested that having a higher level of education may protect the brain to some extent against dementia, providing a "cognitive reserve" that buffers against the disease. But results have been mixed, and a new study finds that education does not play a role in when the disease starts or how fast it progresses. The study was published in the February 6, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
Improving affordability of prescription drugsOut-of-pocket expenses for prescription medications impose a heavy financial burden, especially on low- and middle-income patients with chronic diseases, often reducing adherence to medication and worsening health outcomes. House Democrats have launched an investigation on the rising prices of life-saving drugs like insulin. | |
 | Australia failing to close the gap on injuries to Indigenous children, study findsIndigenous children are almost twice as likely as non-Indigenous children to suffer unintentional injury – and the situation hasn't improved for more than 15 years, a new study shows. |
 | Bedsore prevention practices in aged care could constitute abuse, says studyResidents of aged care facilities who have been assessed as being at-risk of developing bedsores should not be repositioned every two hours, a UNSW Sydney study says. |
 | Zebrafish useful to model ALS-linked mutationsScientists from the University of Bath have shown that the zebrafish is a useful model to study a molecule called Rnasel-1, a counterpart to human Angiogenin, a molecule linked to the neurodegenerative disease ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). |
 | Side-effects not fully reported in more than 30% of healthcare reviewsThe potential side-effects of health interventions were not fully reported in more than a third of published health study reviews, research at the University of York has shown. |
 | World's largest study confirms treatment success in minimally invasive mitral valve surgeryScientists at the Center for Cardiology of the Mainz University Medical Center have examined the success of more than 13,575 minimally invasive procedures on the mitral valve in the largest study of its kind to date. Key findings: Although average patient age rose during the period from 2011 to 2015 and the number of procedures increased from year to year, mortality and complication rates remained consistently low. |
 | Innovative, simple treatment to combat the Candida Albicans fungusA study led by the UPV/EHU has developed an innovative, simple treatment based on uterine stem cells to combat the Candida albicans fungus, responsible for vaginal candidiasis. Despite not being life-threatening, this disease, which is very widespread among women, reduces patient life quality owing to its symptoms (itching and stinging). This research has been published in Frontiers in Microbiology. |
Malignant bone marrow disease: New hope for MPN patientsMyeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are still difficult to treat. A team from Vetmeduni Vienna and the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences/Medical University of Vienna has discovered a new therapeutic approach that could fundamentally change this situation, as evidenced by a study that was published recently in the academic journal Blood. | |
 | A first set of research guidelines for the field of neurofeedbackThe procedure known as neurofeedback records brain activity and presents it back to participants in real-time. With this information, individuals attempt to modulate their brain activity and, in turn, to self-regulate their mental state. There are thousands of active neurofeedback practitioners and hundreds of scientific publications are published on the topic each year. However, in recent years a controversy has erupted surrounding whether neurofeedback can be used to effectively treat patients and whether the relevant benefits stem from biomedical processes or through placebo mechanisms alone. Exacerbating the issue, there exists no commonly agreed upon research standards for the field. |
 | Fewer unintended pregnancies contribute to all-time low U.S. fertility rate, new research saysThe U.S. birth rate has been decreasing for the last decade, reaching a historic low in 2017. New research from a team of economists suggests that much of this decline is due to reductions in unintended births. |
 | Interactive websites may cause antismoking messages to backfireHealth communicators should carefully choose interactive features for their websites because tools that can make some websites more engaging for some audiences could actually discourage other users from adopting healthy behaviors, according to researchers. |
 | Dying while black: Perpetual gaps exist in health care for African-AmericansSeveral years ago, MapQuest directed me on a 10-hour drive to visit my father in a Florida hospital. Complications from diabetes, including blindness, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, and a below-the-knee amputation, had taken their toll. This time my father, 69, was hospitalized for an infection of unknown origin that physicians could not name, despite their many attempts to grow cultures. |
 | Stem cell treatments for arthritic knees are unproven, expensive and potentially dangerousTwelve patients who tried injections of stem cells were hospitalized with infections, according to a report in the New York Times that should cause patients concern. More important is that they should investigate stem cell treatments, for conditions such as cartilage injuries to their joints, before committing to one of these procedures. It's also a valuable reminder that physicians need to work closely with patients to help them understand their options and which choice may be best for them. |
 | Research links fire retardant exposure to hormone-related DNA modificationsEmory University researchers have learned that exposure to Polybrominated Biphenyl (PBB), an endocrine-disrupting fire-retardant, is associated with epigenetic marks, which affects the way genes are expressed. Their findings show that PBB exposure is consistent with hormone-related health effects reported by Michigan residents, following a 1973 food supply contamination. The results were recently published in the journal Epigenetics. |
| Exposure to chemicals before and after birth is associated with a decrease in lung functionA study co-directed by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and the French Institute for Health and Biomedical Research (INSERM), in collaboration with other European teams, concludes that early life exposure to parabens, phthalates and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is associated with reduced lung function in children. The study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, involved analysis of data from more than 1,000 mother-child pairs, and is one of the first to apply a comprehensive exposome approach. |
 | Study: Intense exercise to strengthen heart and lungs may help people live longer and betterThe goal of exercise shouldn't be to simply move. Rather, individuals should ramp up the intensity to improve heart and lung fitness and live longer, says a new Ball State University study. |
 | Considering using IVF to have a baby? Here's what you need to knowIf it's not you, perhaps it's someone you know. You don't look infertile, you don't feel infertile, but after many months (or years) of trying to start a family, followed by several months of monitoring your cycle in a fertility clinic, it's time to discuss IVF. |
 | Study reveals patterns of drug intoxication deaths, organ donors across the USDrug intoxication deaths have risen dramatically over the past several decades. From 1999 to 2016, the number of deaths due to drug intoxication more than tripled. Over the same period, the number of hearts recovered for heart transplantation has dramatically increased, with the proportion of hearts from drug-intoxication-related donors now making up 17.6 percent of available organs. |
 | Providers' concerns about behavior change don't justify withholding HIV PrEPPreexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV is an antiretroviral pill that is over 90% effective in preventing HIV acquisition when taken as prescribed. A new Perspective, published in the February 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, examines clinicians' concerns and biases toward prescribing PrEP and suggests strategies to mitigate those biases. The Perspective, "Risk Compensation and Clinical Decision Making—The Case of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis," is coauthored by scientists at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and Harvard Medical School, George Washington University, and Kaiser Permanente. |
 | Gastric bypass surgery causes type 2 diabetes to go into remission in most patientsA new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) has found that three quarters of individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who were treated with obesity surgery known as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) experienced diabetes remission within one year of treatment. |
 | The BMJ launches campaign for adequate rest breaks for doctorsToday, The BMJ launches the 'give us a break' campaign calling for doctors to be able to take the breaks that they need—for their own wellbeing and for patient safety. |
 | Young people drowning in a rising tide of perfectionismWe recently conducted one of the largest-ever studies on perfectionism. We learned that perfectionism has increased substantially over the past 25 years and that it affects men and women equally. |
 | Combination treatment, diabetes drug and immunotherapy, may help to fight breast cancerResearchers in Finland have discovered a drug combination that collaborates with the cancer cell oncoprotein MYC, which, in large quantities, causes self-destruction of the cancer cells. When this combination is enhanced with immune system-boosting anti-PD-1 therapy, a more effective and long-lasting therapeutic effect can be seen in mice. These findings pave the way for new treatment combination strategies to harness the body's natural defenses to fight cancer. |
 | Researchers factoring in how children learn mathematicsWhat is 72 multiplied by 12? While fourth-graders will focus on arriving at the correct answer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln researcher Carrie Clark wants to know what happens in the brain as they learn to solve the problem. |
 | Study finds primary school kids missing out on ADHD treatment and supportMany children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are missing out on assessment and treatment according to new research by the Murdoch Children's Research Institute. |
 | NSAID pretreatment impairs immune response in heart failure, worsens heart and kidney damageNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, are widely known as pain-killers and can relieve pain and inflammation. However, prolonged use raises the risk of heart and kidney failure events. A heart attack causes death of heart muscle cells by lack of oxygen, and it also significantly injures the kidneys. |
 | Reading, math scores no different for children with T1DM(HealthDay)—Standardized reading and mathematics scores do not differ significantly for public schoolchildren with and without type 1 diabetes, according to a study published in the Feb. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | Safe, convenient, affordable: How a pocket device is changing women's healthEngineering professor Nimmi Ramanujam describes how she came up with the idea for a device that allows for a speculum-free cervical exam, and what's next for her lab. Ramanujam's invention, the Pocket Colposcope, is a portable alternative to the traditional colposcope, a bulky machine used by doctors to examine the cervix for cancer. With the new technology, she wants to create a cervical exam that does not require a specialty clinic or hospital. |
 | USPSTF still recommends against pancreatic cancer screening(HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends against screening for pancreatic cancer in asymptomatic adults. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online Feb. 5 by the USPSTF. |
 | Strengthen your deltoids to help prevent shoulder injuries(HealthDay)—Two out of every three people will experience a shoulder injury or problem at some point in their lives. |
 | Warm up to turkey chili(HealthDay)—When cold weather hits, a hot bowl of chili is a great way to fuel up. High-protein turkey chili contains a lot less fat than traditional recipes, yet can deliver all the flavor. |
 | Excessive weight gain in early childhood affects teenage heart healthExcessive weight gain in children under two years can lead to cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in teenage years including increased cholesterol, being overweight and having fat around the middle, finds new research from the University of Sydney. |
 | California bill would tighten controls on children's genitalia surgery(HealthDay)—A bill that would place more restrictions on children's genitalia surgery in California raises serious concerns among doctors in the state. Under the bill, doctors would not be able to treat or perform surgery on children born with genitals that do not match a single gender or are otherwise atypical unless such surgery is medically necessary or the child consents, the Associated Press reported. |
 | Telemedicine's challenge: Getting patients to click the appWalmart workers can now see a doctor for only $4. The catch? It has to be a virtual visit. |
Children with diabetes perform well in schoolOn average, Danish children suffering from type 1 diabetes perform just as well in school as their classmates. This is the result of the largest study so far exploring how children with diabetes perform in school. The study was conducted at Aarhus BSS in collaboration with Danish and international researchers. | |
 | Hibernating hamsters could provide new clues to Alzheimer's diseaseSyrian hamsters are golden-haired rodents often kept as house pets. Cold and darkness can cause the animals to hibernate for 3-4 days at a time, interspersed with short periods of activity. Surprisingly, the hibernation spurts of these cute, furry creatures could hold clues to better treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a recent study in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research. |
 | Fewer deaths seen among young adults who got extra adult support as suicidal teensBuilding a circle of trusted adults around a suicidal teen, to support them during vulnerable times, may have long-term effects that reduce their risk of dying young, a new study suggests. |
 | Prisons and asylums prove architecture can build up or break down a person's mental healthAnyone who has witnessed conditions in the UK's prisons – whether on television or in person – could not fail to be alarmed by the violence, despair and mental distress experienced by staff and prisoners. In the current chaos of the prison environment, caused in part by staff recruitment and retention problems, growing numbers of prisoners are using illegal drugs to self-medicate – often with appalling consequences for their mental health. |
 | Scientists seeking to regrow kidneys make promising discoveryScientists seeking to regrow damaged kidneys have discovered that blocked kidneys in newborns have a remarkable ability to repair themselves after the obstruction is removed. The finding offers insights into how that happens and could eventually help doctors regenerate kidneys in adults. |
New therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis successfully tested on miceA team from Université Laval and the CERVO Brain Research Centre has demonstrated the efficacy in mice of a new therapy that addresses the main manifestation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The researchers developed an antibody that reduces the number of TDP-43 protein aggregates in the brains of mice with ALS, resulting in significant improvements in their cognitive and motor performance. Details of this breakthrough were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. | |
How fibrosis develops in butterfly syndrome patientsChildren with a grave skin disorder known as butterfly syndrome develop severe and chronic blisters. Fibrosis, the thickening and scarring of connective tissues, is a major complication of the disease. Not only can fibrosis lead to club-like appendages where the skin grows over the fingers or toes, but Jefferson's Andrew South, Ph.D., an associate Professor in the department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology, has shown previously that fibrosis in butterfly syndrome patients also leads to an aggressive form of skin cancer that is often fatal. Now, Dr. South and colleagues have pinpointed how fibrosis develops in butterfly syndrome patients. The discovery points to a potential treatment for the debilitating complication. | |
 | Simulating your cancer treatment on a computerIn ten years, computers will be able to propose the most suitable cancer treatment for you. The idea is to simulate how all possible combinations of existing cancer treatments will work on your particular tumour. |
 | Research brings us closer to understanding an elusive symptom of sickle cell disease—the silent strokeSickle Cell Disease (SCD) is rare but devastating. Due to a genetic mutation affecting hemoglobin, the component of the red blood cell that carries oxygen, a reduced amount of oxygen is supplied to vital tissues and organs. Blood cells also deform into a characteristic crescent shape and lodge into the smallest blood vessels, blocking blood flow and leading to excruciating pain. On top of these symptoms, patients face a high risk of stroke, the leading cause of death in SCD. |
Study links adult fibromyalgia to childhood sexual abuseA new Tel Aviv University study finds that fibromyalgia syndrome—a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue and cognitive difficulties—may be a consequence of post-traumatic physical and psychological distress associated with childhood sexual abuse. | |
Research finds shrinking population in more than a third of rural countiesNearly 35 percent of rural counties in the United States are experiencing protracted and significant population loss, according to new research released by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire. Those counties are now home to 6.2 million residents, a third fewer than lived there in 1950. | |
The good and evil of ghosts, governments, and machinesGood and evil may spring from the human mind, but new research reveals how they extend beyond humans to the artificial and supernatural. | |
 | See-through fish aid scientists in autism-related breakthroughUniversity of Miami researchers have discovered a clue in the humble zebrafish's digestive tract that, one day, could help people on the autism spectrum alleviate one of the most common yet least studied symptoms of their disorder: gastrointestinal distress. |
 | Expand the role of patients, the true experts, in neuromuscular disease researchThe old-fashioned paternalistic relationship between doctors and patients has gradually evolved into a more collaborative one in the era of patient-centered medicine. Shared decision-making (SDM), in which doctors and patients jointly decide on treatment or care, has emerged as a gold standard model of healthcare. Yet considerably less attention has been given to obtaining the patient's perspective on neuromuscular research on such matters as research objectives, study design, or even consent. A position paper in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases describes conclusions reached at an international workshop that focused on finding creative solutions to integrate and enhance the patient's point of view in neuromuscular research. |
 | High-need, high-cost patients offer solutions for improving their care and reducing costsBy many estimates, only 5% of U.S. patients are high-need, high-cost (HNHC), yet they account for about 50% of health care spending. It has become a national priority to understand the needs of this patient cohort, identify drivers of their utilization, and implement solutions to improve their clinical outcomes while reducing their costs. |
Review finds antibiotic development increased, but insufficientWhile the pipeline of new antibiotics has improved over the past six years, momentum in the development of new infection-fighting agents remains inadequate and could take a significant downturn without new incentives, a report released in Clinical Infectious Diseases shows. | |
 | Trump's goal of no new HIV cases by 2030 is possible, health officials say(HealthDay)— In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Donald Trump announced his administration's plan to rid the United States of new transmissions of HIV by 2030. |
 | Even brief EMS delay can cost lives after car crash(HealthDay)—How fast emergency medical help arrives at the scene of a car crash plays a significant role in patient survival, a new study finds. |
 | Fluctuating blood pressure after stroke could mean higher risk of deathExperts already know there's a link between high blood pressure and stroke, but a growing body of research suggests yo-yoing blood pressure also might play a role. |
 | Type 2 diabetes risk up with PCOS regardless of BMI(HealthDay)—Irrespective of age and weight, women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Jan. 31 in Diabetes Care. |
 | MRI-guided Tx strategy not superior for rheumatoid arthritis(HealthDay)—A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided treat-to-target strategy is not associated with improved disease activity remission rates for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in clinical remission, according to a study published in the Feb. 5 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | Psoriasis Tx linked to drop in noncalcified coronary plaque(HealthDay)—Treatment of psoriasis with biologic therapy is associated with a reduction in noncalcified coronary plaque and improved plaque morphology, according to a study published online Feb. 5 in Cardiovascular Research. |
 | Mental illness not to blame for gun violence study findsCounter to a lot of public opinion, having a mental illness does not necessarily make a person more likely to commit gun violence. According to a new study, a better indicator of gun violence was access to firearms. |
 | New study examines the way estrogen affects methamphetamine addictionMale rats have held steady as the focus of most addiction studies in the past. But as the field begins to take female rats into account, scientists see that drugs like methamphetamine affect the sexes differently, suggesting the basis for a change in addiction treatment. |
 | Study estimates misuse of prescribed opioids in the United StatesA new Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety study estimates the prevalence and risk factors for self-reported misuse of prescribed opioids in the general adult population. |
 | Greater efforts needed to address cancer therapies' effects on bone healthA new British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology review examines the impact of cancer therapies on the skeleton and how to limit bone loss and fractures in cancer patients treated with these therapies. |
Financial relationships and prescribing practices between physicians and drug companiesIn a study published in The Oncologist, physicians treating certain cancers who consistently received payments from a cancer drug's manufacturer were more likely to prescribe that drug over alternative treatments. | |
 | Fractures have long-term impacts on quality of life in older peopleSingle and multiple hip, vertebral, and rib fractures strongly affect the quality of life of older adults over a prolonged period of time, according to a new study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research. |
 | Do differences in gait predict the risk of developing depression in later life?Older people who were newly diagnosed with depression had a slower walking speed and a shorter step length compared with those without depression in a recent Journal of the American Geriatrics Society study. |
 | Study examines race-based differences in social support needs among breast cancer patientsIn a Psycho-Oncology study of 28 women who were being treated for breast cancer and were participating in focus groups, White participants noted that having other breast cancer survivors in their support network was essential for meeting their social support needs. Black participants did not reference other breast cancer survivors as part of their networks, however. |
 | The interplay between relationships, stress, and sleepA new Personal Relationships study documents how the quality of a person's romantic relationship and the life stress he or she experiences at two key points in early adulthood (at age 23 and 32) are related to sleep quality and quantity in middle adulthood (at age 37). |
 | Maternal depression and natural disaster-related stress may affect infants' temperamentA new Infant Mental Health Journal study demonstrates that prenatal maternal depression has important consequences for infant temperament. Furthermore, the negative impact of prenatal maternal depression appeared to be magnified when pregnant women lived through Superstorm Sandy. |
Are most patients with fibromyalgia misdiagnosed?Recent studies have suggested that most people who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia by physicians may not actually have the condition. A new Arthritis Care & Research study found that overall agreement between clinicians' diagnosis of fibromyalgia and diagnosis by published criteria is only fair. | |
 | Certain characteristics linked with depression before and after giving birthDepression during pregnancy and following childbirth (perinatal depression) is a common and potentially severe condition. In a Journal of Neuroscience Research study, researchers examined subgroups of women followed from pregnancy to six months postpartum, for example comparing those with depression only after childbirth with those experiencing depression during pregnancy. |
 | Trump launching campaign to end HIV epidemic in US by 2030President Donald Trump is launching a campaign to end the HIV epidemic in the United States by 2030, targeting areas where new infections happen and getting highly effective drugs to people at risk. |
Lack of doctors breeds deep resentment in rural FranceThe small town of Montargis is only 100 kilometres south of Paris, but for many of its inhabitants it might as well be on the dark side of the moon when it comes to seeing a doctor or a dentist. | |
 | First patient affected by a mutation in the nucleoside transporter SLC28 gene familyA research team has described the first case of a patient affected by dysfunctions in a nucleoside transporter of the SLC28 gene family, which brings into focus a set of genes which were not related to human pathologies in the scientific bibliography so far. In particular, the new study has identified mutations in the SLC28A1 gene, which could affect the synthesis of the hCNT1 protein and therefore, alter the pyrimidine metabolism (organic compounds with a key role in cell physiology). |
 | Programming white blood cells to fight pancreatic cancerPancreatic cancer is the third most lethal cancer in the United States. Patients typically don't know they have it until it's too late, making it difficult to treat. Only 9 percent survive five years after diagnosis. |
 | Smarter measure of blood pressure to cut heart riskNew blood pressure categories are helping to inform the development of more accurate measurement devices, following a discovery by Tasmanian researchers. |
 | Patient at Pennsylvania hospital is being tested for EbolaA patient is being tested for Ebola at a hospital in Philadelphia, although officials don't believe the patient has the potentially deadly illness. |
 | Dutch dash to secure 'critical' medicines after BrexitThe Netherlands is scrambling to secure 50 "critical" medicines currently supplied by Britain if London leaves the European Union without a deal next month, a minister said Wednesday. |
Impact of acne relapses on quality of life and productivityIn a study of teenagers and adults suffering from acne who consulted their dermatologist, the acne relapse rate was 44 percent (39.9 percent of ≤20-year-olds and 53.3 percent of >20-year-olds). | |
 | Actress Susan Lucci thriving after emergency heart procedureAs the saleswoman took Susan Lucci's purchases to be wrapped, the actress felt it again—a tightening in her chest that radiated around her ribcage. |
In their DNA: Rotator cuff stem cells more likely to develop into fat cellsWhy are fat deposits more likely to occur after tears of the shoulder's rotator cuff, compared to other types of muscle injuries? An increased propensity of stem cells within with rotator cuff muscles to develop into fat cells may explain the difference, reports a study in the February 6, 2019 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. | |
Biology news
 | Bees have brains for basic math, study findsResearchers have found bees can do basic mathematics, in a discovery that expands our understanding of the relationship between brain size and brain power. |
 | Species 'hotspots' created by immigrant influx or evolutionary speed depending on climateSome corners of the world teem with an extraordinary variety of life. Charles Darwin noted that: "The same spot will support more life if occupied by very diverse forms." |
 | How bees stay cool on hot summer daysIf you've ever walked past a bees nest on a hot summer day, you've probably been too focused on avoiding getting stung, rather than stopping to wonder how all those bees stay cool. Don't worry, Harvard scientists have braved the stingers to ask and answer that question for you. |
 | Black soldier fly larvae found to maximize eating by forming a fountainA team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology has found that black soldier fly larvae maximize their eating efficiency by pushing non-eaters out of the way, causing the emergence of a fountain shape made up of larvae bodies. In their paper published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the group describes their study of black fly larvae and their eating habits, and what they learned. |
 | Underwater forests threatened by future climate change, new study findsResearchers at the University of Sydney and the Sydney Institute of Marine Science have found that climate change could lead to declines of underwater kelp forests through impacts on their microbiome. |
 | Differences in water temperature can create new marine speciesWarm and cool water temperatures over a long stretch of coastline cause new species of marine fish to evolve without being isolated from similar types of fish nearby, according to a new international study. |
 | Rattlesnake venom: Mild, medium and wicked hotIn a surprising evolutionary twist, a new study suggests that while one rattlesnake may routinely feast on lizard meat, its seemingly identical neighbor snake might strike and strike and never kill its would-be reptilian prey. |
 | No fooling crafty crows on best plants for tool-makingLike master artisans selecting the finest raw materials for their showpiece designs, New Caledonian crows identify the best plants for fashioning hunting hooks from among myriad shrubs in the forest undergrowth, researchers said Wednesday. |
 | Molecular Velcro helps illuminate DNA repairUsing a piece of molecular "Velcro" to attach a light-emitting probe to a protein molecule, University of Wollongong (UOW) researchers have unlocked the mystery of how an important protein goes about repairing damaged DNA in bacteria, with implications for understanding how antibiotic resistance develops. |
 | New anti-CRISPR proteins discovered in soil and human gutScientists from the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability (DTU) have found four new anti-CRISPR proteins that are distributed across different environments. The new study published in Cell Host & Microbe suggests that some anti-CRISPR proteins are more widespread in nature than previously anticipated. These anti-CRISPRs can potentially be used to regulate the activity of CRISPR-Cas9 systems better in the future. |
 | Dying bacteria absorb antibiotic, allowing others to survive and growBacteria have multiple strategies to survive antibiotics: developing genetic resistance to the drugs; delaying their growth; or hiding in protective biofilms. New results from researchers at Princeton and California State University-Northridge (CSUN) have shed light on yet another approach: self-sacrifice. |
 | 'Twilight Zone' could help preserve shallow water reefsCorals lurking in deeper, darker waters could one day help to replenish shallow water reefs under threat from ocean warming and bleaching events, according to researchers. |
 | New computer program aims to reduce DNA contamination in microbial samplesDNA sequencing of microbial samples can give researchers and medical professionals a wealth of information about microbiomes – the communities of microorganisms that inhabit our bodies and the environments all around us. Understanding the microbiome can aid our understanding of what ails us and why. But what happens when microbial samples are contaminated with DNA from other sources? |
 | Novel enzyme discovered in intestinal bacteriaThe human intestinal system contains a complex community of microorganisms, the intestinal microbiome, which metabolizes food components that have not readily been digested. However, there are also microbial degradation processes occurring in the colon that may have negative effects on the human host. A research team headed by biologist Dr. David Schleheck reports that a key enzyme was discovered in a research collaboration with Harvard University (U.S.). This enzyme is involved in the degradation of the substrate taurine, which is abundant in the colon, by the intestinal bacterium Bilophila wadsworthia. This process generates toxic hydrogen sulphide. Increased hydrogen sulphide production is thought to be associated with higher permeability of the intestinal barrier, and higher susceptibility to infections and colon cancer. Moreover, Bilophila wadsworthia can act as a pathogen, for example, in appendicitis. The results were published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). |
 | Six new species of hideously adorable tentacle-nosed catfish discovered in AmazonNo one knows just how many species live in the Amazon rainforest—scientists estimate that it's home to one-third of the world's animal and plant species. There are still thousands out there waiting to be discovered—like these six new catfish with faces covered in tentacles. |
 | 20-million-year-old kangaroo relative found to be a hopperA team of researchers with the Swedish Natural History Museum and Uppsala University has found evidence of hopping by a 20-million-year-old kangaroo relative. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the group describes their study of fossils unearthed in northwest Queensland, Australia, and what they found. |
 | Female manakins use male mating call when implanted with male hormonesAmong the first things that stand out about golden-collared manakins, a bird found in Panama and western Colombia, are the acrobatics of male adults during breeding season. Males also emit a particular call, the 'chee-poo', to attract females. In a new paper published in Animal Behaviour, Smithsonian researchers Ioana Chiver and Barney Schlinger explore the role of androgens—male hormones—in the expression of this vocal behavior, by administering testosterone to females and juvenile males. |
 | What can worms tell us about human aging?What can worms tell us about human ageing? A lot more than you'd think; as research led by the Babraham Institute but involving researchers from multiple disciplines drawn together from across the world has shown. In a cluster of papers, the latest of which is published today in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences, the researchers describe how a collaborative effort has developed a single agreed model of metabolic flux in a tiny worm called C. elegans, and how Babraham Institute researchers have used this model to understand more about the link between metabolism and ageing. |
 | Researchers investigate a billion years of coexistence between plants and fungiWhat can a billion years of coexistence tell us about the evolution of plants and fungi? |
 | Study confirms beaked whales' incredible diving abilitiesA new Duke University-led study provides the first detailed record of the diving behavior of Cuvier's beaked whales in U.S. Atlantic waters. |
 | Monsanto versus farmer battle goes into 4th judicial roundA 12-year-old judicial battle pitting a cereal farmer against Monsanto, the biotech giant, goes to a fourth round Wednesday before the French courts. |
 | New study finds blue mussels resilient to ocean acidificationBlue mussels, the predominant species used in aquaculture in Maine, may be more resilient than other cultivated species to the increased seawater acidity and storms predicted to hit the Gulf of Maine as a consequence of climate change, according to a University of Maine research team. |
 | Aggregated social amoebae need physical contact rather than chemical signals for motivationCollective cell migration, in which groups of cells move together with a common purpose, is important for processes ranging from wound healing to tumor metastasis. Migrating cells respond to a combination of physical cues elicited by cell-to-cell contact and waves of chemical signals sent out by local cells to attract others to their location. |
 | Personal DNA tests might help research – but they put your data at riskYour DNA has become a valuable commodity. Companies such as 23andMe may charge you for an analysis of your genetic profile, but they make their real money from selling that data on to other companies. |
 | GMOs not main culprit in monarch butterfly declineTo get a better understanding of the monarch butterfly's future, Jack Boyle built a time machine. |
 | How hunting for crabs in a museum helped unlock secrets of their evolutionGames can help people engage with science outside of the traditional realm of research and academia. And using games in ecological research is on the rise, helping ecologists answer questions they'd never be able to in a laboratory experiment. This is particularly true when it comes to answering questions about evolution, such as: which traits help organisms maximise their chance of survival? |
 | Growing the tallest is not always the best optionPlants need sunlight to feed and grow. Without light, photosynthesis, the reaction by which the plant chloroplasts convert atmospheric CO2 and water into sugars and oxygen, cannot take place. In some situations, such as in forest areas or in high-density cultivated fields, plants compete with each other for sunlight. When a plant perceives the shade or the proximity of other plants, it activates a mechanism to elongate and grow more than the neighbouring plants. This mechanism is known as the shade avoidance syndrome (SAS). |
 | When is a Marine Protected Area not a Marine Protected Area?A recent paper on the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in northern Europe ("Elevated trawling inside protected areas undermines conservation outcomes in a global fishing hot spot") reveals that industrial-scale fishing – primarily the use of bottom-trawl fishing – is widespread in so-called protected areas that were established specifically to safeguard highly biodiverse marine and coastal habitats across the North Sea. We welcome this important and timely piece of research. Unfortunately, a number of the press reports that covered this paper's findings included sensationalist – and misleading – headlines that are potentially very damaging to the cause of marine conservation. |
 | Shedding light on zebrafish daily rhythms: Clock gene functions revealedAnimals have distinct behavioral patterns depending on the time of day, with diurnal animals being active during the day and sleeping at night, and vice versa in nocturnal ones. Although so-called "clock genes" are known to be involved in translating the 24-hour fluctuating rhythm of light exposure into appropriate physiological responses, much remains unclear about how this is achieved. |
 | Humans' meat consumption pushing Earth's biggest fauna toward extinctionAt least 200 species of large animals are decreasing in number and more than 150 are under threat of extinction, according to new research that suggests humans' meat consumption habits are primarily to blame. |
 | New welfare tool to help improve the lives of elephants in human careZoos and safari parks in the UK are using a special new tool to help them more successfully monitor the wellbeing of elephants in their care, thanks to a study led by The University of Nottingham. |
 | Starling murmurations: the science behind one of nature's greatest displaysWatching starling murmurations as the birds swoop, dive and wheel through the sky is one of the great pleasures of a dusky winter's evening. From Naples to Newcastle these flocks of agile birds are all doing the same incredible acrobatic display, moving in perfect synchrony. But how do they do it? Why don't they crash? And what is the point? |
 | When does noise become a message?Background noise is generally regarded as a nuisance that can mask important sounds. But noise can be beneficial too. It can convey information about important environmental conditions and allow animals to make informed decisions. When bat researchers recorded and played back rain sounds for two different species of bats, both species chose to delay emergence from their roosts. |
 | Citizen science projects have a surprising new partner—the computerFor more than a decade, citizen science projects have helped researchers use the power of thousands of volunteers who help sort through datasets that are too large for a small research team. Previously, this data generally couldn't be processed by computers because the work required skills that only humans could accomplish. |
 | How one gene in a tiny fish may alter an aquatic ecosystemIn a remote area of British Columbia's Vancouver Island, Kennedy Lake's deep blue waters stretch over 25 square miles. The lake is home to the threespine stickleback, a diminutive fish species that has provided rich fodder for evolutionary study. |
 | Study finds insects crave salt and search grasslands for the limiting nutrientA University of Oklahoma team from the Geographical Ecology Group has published a new study in the journal Ecology on the nutritional preferences of diverse insect communities from Texas to Minnesota. The OU team conducted 54 experiments in both grazed and ungrazed grasslands to determine the salt cravings of insects and the types of insects that crave salt. The OU team found that insects not only crave salt, but will search for it in their grassland habitats. |
 | A small number of crops are dominating globally. And that's bad news for sustainable agricultureA new U of T study suggests that globally we're growing more of the same kinds of crops, and this presents major challenges for agricultural sustainability on a global scale. |
Arizona facility temporarily closing after 4th dolphin deathAfter the death of a fourth dolphin, a Phoenix-area aquatic facility announced Tuesday that it will temporarily close for a reevaluation by an outside panel of experts. | |
Tree loss from bark-beetle infestation impacts elk habitatAlthough elk typically adapt to forest disturbances such as forest fires and logging, a new Journal of Wildlife Management study found that during the summer, elk avoided areas with extensive tree mortality that has occurred due to the bark-beetle epidemic in the northern portions of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. | |
 | Wild wolves in crosshairs of German politicsThe sneak attack happened at a cemetery and quickly turned into a whodunnit that fired up a heated debate about the return of wolves to the wild in Germany. |
 | New Zealand kayaker's lost pictures found sealed in poopA team of New Zealand scientists sifting through a slab of frozen leopard seal droppings have found a USB stick containing photos of frolicking sea lions. |
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