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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for July 16, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | New Hubble constant measurement adds to mystery of universe's expansion rateAstronomers have made a new measurement of how fast the universe is expanding, using an entirely different kind of star than previous endeavors. The revised measurement, which comes from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, falls in the center of a hotly debated question in astrophysics that may lead to a new interpretation of the universe's fundamental properties. |
 | Small fragments of carbon-rich asteroids too fragile to survive atmospheric entryRyugu and other asteroids of the common "C-class" consist of more porous material than was previously thought. Small fragments of their material are therefore too fragile to survive entry into the atmosphere in the event of a collision with Earth. This has revealed the long-suspected cause of the deficit of this meteorite type in finds on Earth. Researchers at the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) have come to this conclusion in a scientific paper published in the journal Nature Astronomy. The results are based on high-resolution measurements of the surface temperature with the DLR radiometer MARA on board the German-French Mobile Asteroid Surface Scout (MASCOT) lander. On 3 October 2018, as part of the Japanese Hayabusa2 mission, MASCOT descended onto the almost one-kilometre-diameter asteroid Ryugu and sent spectacular images and physical measurements from the surface back to Earth. |
 | Gaia starts mapping the galactic bar in the Milky WayThe second release of data from the Gaia star-mapping satellite, published in 2018, has been revolutionising many fields of astronomy. The unprecedented catalogue contains the brightness, positions, distance indicators and motions across the sky for more than one billion stars in our Milky Way galaxy, along with information about other celestial bodies. |
 | Supernova observation first of its kind using NASA satelliteWhen NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite launched into space in April 2018, it did so with a specific goal: to search the universe for new planets. |
 | Fuel leak halted blastoff for Indian rocket: reportsA fuel leak in the rocket engine forced India to abort the launch of its landmark Moon mission less than one hour before liftoff, media reports said Tuesday. |
 | A layer of 'aerogel' could make Mars habitable and even enable life to develop thereTransforming the red planet to support life has long been a dream of science fiction. Mars is now too cold to support life. Its atmosphere is also too thin to protect any living organisms from harmful radiation. But a new study suggests that local conditions could be changed using an inch of "aerogel"—a synthetic and ultralight material made by taking a gel and replacing the liquid component with a gas. |
 | Partial lunar eclipse to grace U.K. evening skyTuesday, 16 July, will see a partial eclipse of the moon, visible in the U.K. after sunset. The eclipse, 50 years to the day after the launch of Apollo 11, will also be seen across a large part of Asia, the whole of Africa, the eastern part of South America, and the western part of Australia. |
 | Gaia's biggest operation since launchOn Tuesday 16 July, teams at ESA's mission control will perform an "orbit change maneuver" on the Gaia space observatory—the biggest operation since the spacecraft was launched in 2013. |
 | At 82, NASA pioneer Sue Finley still reaching for the starsSue Finley began work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as the US prepared to launch its first satellite into orbit in 1958, racing to match the Soviet Union, which had accomplished the feat months earlier. |
 | Why hunting for fast radio bursts is an 'exploding field' in astronomyLittle more than a decade ago, two astronomers discovered mysterious bursts of radio waves that seem to take place all over the sky, often outshining all the stars in a galaxy. Since then, the study of these fast radio bursts, or FRBs, has taken off, and while we still don't know what exactly they are or what causes them, scientists are now edging closer to some answers. |
 | Speeding up science on near-earth asteroidsModeling the shape and movement of near-Earth asteroids is now up to 25 times faster thanks to new Washington State University research. |
 | Could the Apollo 11 moon landing be duplicated today? 'Lots of luck with that'The passage of half a century has blurred many of the reasons that the United States was able to accomplish what seemed like science fiction: the July 20, 1969, landing of Apollo 11 on the moon. |
 | Apollo 11 astronaut returns to launch pad 50 years laterApollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins returned Tuesday to the exact spot where he flew to the moon 50 years ago with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. |
 | Europe's GPS rival Galileo suffers outageEurope's Galileo satellite position system, a future rival of the American GPS network, has been out of service since Friday, its oversight agency said. |
Technology news
 | DeepEyedentification: identifying people based on micro eye movementsPast cognitive psychology research suggests that eye movements can differ substantially from one individual to another. Interestingly, these individual characteristics in eye movements have been found to be relatively stable over time and largely independent of what one is looking at. In other words, people present different patterns in the way they move their eyes and these unique 'eye movements' could be used as a means for identification. |
 | New safer, inexpensive way to propel small satellitesFinding inexpensive solutions for propelling CubeSats is one of the most critical components of the rapidly growing industry of commercial launches of satellites the size of a loaf of bread. The small size and relatively low cost have made CubeSats popular choices for commercial launches in recent years. |
 | Electrical engineering team develops 'beyond 5G' wireless transceiverA new wireless transceiver invented by electrical engineers at the University of California, Irvine boosts radio frequencies into 100-gigahertz territory, quadruple the speed of the upcoming 5G, or fifth-generation, wireless communications standard. |
 | A new tool for data scientists and biologists and moreThe social network Linkedin will tell a user how he/she is connected to another. In real life, points of connection are not always that evident. However, identifying patterns or relationships and commonalities among entities is a task that is critically important advantage for businesses, biologists, doctors, patients and more. |
 | Intel's neuromorphic system surfs next wave in brain-inspired researchA neuromorphic computer that can simulate 8 million neurons is in the news. The term "neuromorphic" suggests a design that can mimic the human brain. And neuromorphic computing? It is described as using very large scale integration systems with electric analog circuits imitating neuro-biological architectures in our system. |
 | Training journalists in the era of fake newsAs uncannily realistic "deep fake" videos proliferate online, including one recently retweeted by Donald Trump, journalism schools are scrambling to adapt to an era of misinformation—or fake news. |
 | Air quality app influences behavior by linking health to environmentNine out of 10 people worldwide breathe polluted air and 7 million die every year from air pollution, according to the World Health Organization. Air quality mobile applications could mitigate these health risks by educating people and promoting preventive behavioral changes, a UCLA study found. |
 | How tech firms make us feel like we own their apps—and how that benefits themPossessions are going out of fashion. An endless stream of media reports claim millennials – that amorphous mass of people born in the 1980s and 1990s who have grown up with the internet and digital technology—are in favour of accessing rather than owning stuff. |
 | Drone expert is developing drone technology to measure the size of small, underwater sedimentsA Loughborough University academic is developing drone technology to measure the size of small, underwater sediments in a bid to understand how rivers are responding to environmental drivers such as climate change. |
 | Using geothermal to cool your homeGeothermal energy can be used to sustainably keep a house cool in notoriously hot parts of the world, thanks to the design of a new cooling system by researchers in Italy and Turkey. Writing in the International Journal of Exergy, the team explains how their vapour absorption chiller (VAC) was designed to meet the cooling demands of a 140 square metre, detached family home in Izmir, Turkey. |
 | Brazil's vice president says no restrictions on HuaweiChina's Huawei will not be restricted in Brazil where plans are under way to launch a 5G network, the country's vice president said Monday, defying US pressure to shun the firm. |
 | Amazon workers strike as Prime shopping frenzy hitsAmazon workers walked out of a main distribution center in Minnesota on Monday, protesting for improved working conditions during the e-commerce titan's major "Prime" shopping event. |
 | Get up and go bots getting closer, study saysRobotics researchers at the University of California San Diego have for the first time used a commercial 3-D printer to embed complex sensors inside robotic limbs and grippers. But they found that materials commercially available for 3-D printing still need to be improved before the robots can be fully functional. |
 | An AI technology to reveal the characteristics of animal behaviorRecording the movements of people and animals (including birds and insects) has become very easy because of the development of small and inexpensive GPS devices and video cameras. However, it is still difficult to infer what triggers such movements (for example, external stimuli and/or their mental processes) from the behavioral records. |
 | Technology beating romanticism at Tour de FranceWith all the technology stacked against them, the six breakaway riders at the Tour de France had no hope of making it to the finish without being caught. |
 | Robot control system for grasping and releasing objects under both dry and wet conditionsIndustrial robots are now widely used and are indispensable in car manufacturing and in other fields. Conventional robot hands are suitable for grasping hard objects of fixed form, whereas it is not easy to grasp complicated objects or to gently grasp soft objects. It is also necessary, under various conditions, to respond to physical characteristics of objects such as surface characteristics: dry, wet, etc. |
 | Facebook's new currency plan is under scrutiny in CongressFacebook's ambitious plan to create a financial eco-system based on a digital currency faces questions from lawmakers, as it's shadowed by negative comments from President Donald Trump, his treasury secretary and the head of the Federal Reserve. |
 | Automating complex design of universal controller for hybrid dronesHybrid unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are drones that combine the advantages of multi-copters and fixed-wing planes. These drones are equipped to vertically take off and land like multi-copters, yet also have the strong aerodynamic performance and energy-saving capabilities of traditional planes. As hybrid UAVs continue to evolve, however, controlling them remotely still remains a challenge. |
 | France urges G7 to find 'international solution' on digital taxesFrench Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Tuesday urged the G7 club of top world economic powers to find an international solution to taxing digital giants at their meeting outside Paris this week. |
 | Renault sales fall in weakening auto marketFrench auto giant Renault said Tuesday its first half sales were hit by a slowdown in several emerging countries but overall it managed to hold its own in a weakening global market . |
 | US manufacturing sinks into recession amid trade warsUS manufacturing sunk into recession in June after two consecutive quarters of declines amid President Donald Trump's bitter trade wars and a slowdown in China and other trading partners. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Study identifies potential markers of lung cancerBy examining both blood samples and tumor tissues from patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have identified markers that can distinguish between major subtypes of lung cancer and can accurately identify lung cancer stage. Their proof-of-concept test accurately predicted whether the blood samples they examined came from patients with shorter or longer survival following lung cancer surgery, including patients with early-stage disease. |
 | New technique uses microcurrent to exercise heart muscleIn a study conducted by MedUni Vienna/Vienna General Hospital, a new type of device has been successfully used for the very first time to strengthen the weakened heart muscle in cardiomyopathy patients. An implanted pulse generator exercises the heart muscle using a microcurrent, thus stimulating the damaged heart muscle to regenerate. Ideally, this can save the patient from a heart transplant operation or at least delay the need for one. |
 | Study suggests vaping can reduce cigarette smoking, but also leads to higher relapseA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in France has found evidence that suggests vaping can be used as a way to reduce cigarette smoking, but it can also lead to relapse. In their paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the group describes their study involving thousands of volunteers over a nearly two-year period. |
 | Higher risk of pediatric multiple sclerosis in obese children, poorer response to treatmentsA team of researchers with University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University Göttingen, has found that overweight and obese children are at higher risk of developing the relapsing form of multiple sclerosis (MS)—and they are also less receptive to medications meant to treat the disease. In their paper published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the group describes their study of the medical records of 453 children diagnosed with MS before the age of 18 and what they learned. |
 | Heart drug could significantly increase survival rates for children with an aggressive form of brain tumourResearchers at the University of Nottingham have discovered that repurposing a heart drug could significantly increase the survival rate for children with ependymoma—a type of brain tumor. |
 | Slug, a stem cell regulator, keeps breast cells healthy by promoting repair of DNA damageA new study published in Cell Reports found that a transcription factor called Slug serves as "command central" for determining breast stem cell health, regulating both stem cell activity and repair of DNA damage. The research team also discovered that Slug likely functions as a safeguard against age-related decline of breast stem cell function. |
 | Formation of new blood vessels in tumors regulated by p38 proteinA study performed at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine(IRB Barcelona) and published in the journal Nature Communications demonstrates that inhibition of the p38 protein boosts the formation of blood vessels in human and mice colon cancers. Known as angiogenesis, this process is critical in fueling cancer cells, allowing them to grow and to eventually develop metastases. |
 | Scientists uncover mechanism behind development of viral infectionsA team of researchers from the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medicine Centre's Viral Research and Experimental Medicine Centre (ViREMiCS) found that immune cells undergoing stress and an altered metabolism are the reasons why some individuals become sick from viral infections while others do not, when exposed to the same virus. |
 | Scientists identify metabolic features specific to the autistic brainSkoltech scientists looked into the differences in the concentrations of multiple metabolites in healthy humans and individuals suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), gaining a deeper insight into the molecular processes that take place in the brain of autistic individuals. The results of the study were published in Nature's Communications Biology journal. |
 | New biomarker-guided strategy has potential for liver cancer treatmentA study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discovered a cellular pathway tied to cancer that may be beneficial in reducing side effects and extending duration of immunotherapy in some patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common form of liver cancer. |
 | Dietary quality influences microbiome composition in human colonic mucosaIt is well established that diet influences health and disease, but the mechanisms underlying this effect are not fully understood. Shedding light on the diet-health connection, a team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine reports today in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition an association between diet quality and microbiome composition in human colonic mucosa. The researchers found that a high-quality diet is linked to more potentially beneficial bacteria; while a low-quality diet is associated with an increase in potentially harmful bacteria. They propose that modifying the microbiome through diet may be a part of a strategy to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. |
 | Study asked people with mental health disorders to recommend changes to international diagnostic guidelinesA Rutgers University researcher contributed to the first study to seek input from people with common mental health issues on how their disorders are described in diagnostic guidelines. |
 | Hurricane disasters associated with poorer outcomes for radiotherapy patientsLung cancer patients who had a hurricane disaster declared during radiotherapy had worse overall survival than those who completed treatment in normal circumstances, with longer disaster declarations associated with increasingly worse survival. The finding comes from a report by American Cancer Society investigators published in JAMA, which suggests several mitigation strategies, including arranging for transferring treatment and eliminating patient out-of-network insurance charges during disasters. |
 | A genomic barcode tracker for immune cellsResearchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have developed a new method to spot rare immune cells that are reactive against cancer cells, from within a patient's own immune system. |
 | Organoids grown in microfluidic device may help cf patients with diabetesScientists created human pancreas on a chip that allowed them to identify the possible cause of a frequent and deadly complication of cystic fibrosis (CF) called CF-Related Diabetes, or CFRD. |
 | Wearing hearing aid may help protect brain in later lifeA new study has concluded that people who wear a hearing aid for age-related hearing problems maintain better brain function over time than those who do not. It builds on important research in recent years pulled together by the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care, through which hearing loss emerged as an important risk factor for dementia. This research suggests that wearing a hearing aid may mitigate that risk. |
 | Are fertility apps useful?For many women of reproductive age, the most common way of assessing their menstrual health and fertility means regular visits to a gynecologist or another clinician. When it comes to evaluating changes in fertility, menstrual health and quality of life, these visits typically rely on memory, which can lead to significant inaccuracies in evaluation. |
 | Scientists shift goals in Alzheimer's research to focus on preventionAfter more than 100 years of research on Alzheimer's disease, scientists are beginning to believe that a cure is not achievable. |
 | Study finds keys to music in exerciseIf you want people to exercise, it has gotta be fun. And if you want people to turn fitness into a habit, you tap into something that keeps them coming back for more. |
 | Study dispels myth of exercise damage in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the kneeA study by scientists has discovered that therapeutic exercise does not harm articular cartilage of the knee in people with osteoarthritis, a leading cause of disability worldwide associated with pain, impaired mobility and quality of life. It may, in fact, benefit articular cartilage. |
 | Study examines impact of institutional portraiture on medical studentsA new research report published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine examines the significance of portraits displayed in the School of Medicine. The study, titled ""This institution was never meant for me': the Impact of Institutional Historical Portraiture on Medical Students," was co-authored by Elizabeth Fitzsousa, a third-year medical student, Nientara Anderson, a fourth-year medical student, and Anna Reisman, MD, associate professor of medicine (general medicine). |
 | Hand sanitisers in public won't wipe out the flu but they might reduce its spreadThis year's flu season is off to an early start, with 144,000 confirmed cases so far in 2019. That's more than twice as many confirmed cases of the flu than for all of 2018 (58,000), and almost as many as the 2017 horror flu season (251,000). |
 | Making youth soccer less competitive: Better skills or a sign of coddled kids?With summer ablaze and recent World Cup fever stoking inspiration, soccer fields are sites of athleticism, friendships and fun. But for some parents, soccer has also become a source of tension. |
 | Stop worrying about screen time: It's your child's screen experience that mattersMost (80%) Australian parents worry children spend too much time with screens. |
 | Partnering with a pharmacist may decrease burnout among primary care providersMore than 50 percent of physicians experience burnout, which can lead to increased depression and higher rates of suicide; poor patient outcomes; and increases in medical errors. One suggested path toward reducing the rate of burnout has been to examine how teamwork can improve satisfaction on primary care teams. |
 | Apathy: The forgotten symptom of dementiaApathy is the most common neuropsychiatric symptom of dementia, with a bigger impact on function than memory loss—yet it is under-researched and often forgotten in care. |
 | Researcher identifies differences in genes that impact response to cryptococcus infectionCryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that infects people with weakened immune systems, particularly those with advanced HIV/AIDS. New University of Minnesota Medical Research could mean a better understanding of this infection and potentially better treatments for patients. |
 | The survival strategies of a bacterium that causes hospital infectionsA group in the Department of Immunology, Microbiology and Parasitology at the UPV/EHU has conducted an in-depth study into the survival of the Acinetobacter baumannii bacterium, as well as the strategies it uses to survive. This bacterium is responsible for many outbreaks of hospital or nosocomial infections that arise in intensive care units. It is capable of surviving long periods of time in liquid media as well as on solid surfaces, even when up against the action of disinfectants. |
 | Scientists link frequent use of sleep medication with changes to risk of developing dementiaMany older adults who have trouble sleeping take medication to help them sleep. New research, presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2019, suggests certain groups of people who take sleep medication may be at a higher risk of developing dementia. |
 | Study turns trauma treatment on headThe device, which looks like a tiny umbrella frame, is used to stop blood clots in the legs traveling to the lungs, causing potentially fatal pulmonary embolism. |
 | Osteoarthritis linked to higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseaseResearchers at Lund University in Sweden have investigated the link between osteoarthritis and mortality in an epidemiological study. It was shown that the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease was higher for people with osteoarthritis than for the rest of the population. |
 | Record drug deaths in Scotland are a national scandalEvery early death, like that of Karen McDade who died in Dundee aged 43, is a tragedy for that person and their family. Sadly, an increasing number of families in Scotland are affected by these tragedies. |
 | Will sports help young offenders turn their lives around?Young offenders locked in a secure unit are to be offered sports including orienteering and bushcraft as part of a research project to see if challenging, fun activity can help turn lives around. |
 | Why two out of three babies are cradled on the leftOver two thirds of all people prefer to carry a baby in their left arm. The figure is as high as three quarters for women, and the same also applies to right-handed people. This is the result of an analysis of 40 studies from the past 60 years carried out by a team from the Department of Biopsychology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB). The experts assume that one reason for this preference is that emotions are primarily processed in the right hemisphere of the brain, which is linked to the left side of the body. The team led by lead author Julian Packheiser reports in the journal Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews on 26 June 2019. |
 | Keck School of Medicine promotes patient diversity in cardiac surgery clinical trialsA highly competitive $4.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will support Keck School of Medicine of USC efforts to recruit patients from underrepresented populations into cardiac surgery clinical trials. The seven-year grant funds the Keck School's ongoing research contributions to the Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network (CTSN), the formal NIH infrastructure for conducting major clinical trials in cardiac surgery. The grant also establishes an implementation science training program to address the critical need to develop methods to translate clinical research findings into clinical practice. |
 | Australian bee sting vaccine trial holds promise against allergic reactionsMost people have probably been stung by a bee and while it can be painful, it's especially dangerous for the many that are at risk of suffering a life threatening allergic reaction. |
Study finds transgender, non-binary autism linkNew research indicates that transgender and non-binary individuals are significantly more likely to have autism or display autistic traits than the wider population—a finding that has important implications for gender confirmation treatments. | |
 | Hit it where it hurts—scientists reveal how mirrors cure phantom painEasing phantom limb pain can be as simple as looking in the mirror. |
 | Women's stronger immune response to flu vaccination diminishes with ageWomen tend to have a greater immune response to a flu vaccination compared to men, but their advantage largely disappears as they age and their estrogen levels decline, suggests a study from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. |
| Study finds age, race disparities in hospital patient portal useRemoving the barriers of access to technology does not close the digital divide for African American and older patients, according to new research from The Ohio State University College of Medicine. |
Antioxidant precursor molecule could improve Parkinson'sN-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a naturally occurring molecule that replenishes one of the body's antioxidants and now shows potential benefit as part of a standard course of treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease, according to a study published in the journal, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. The study found improvements in dopamine levels, the primary neurotransmitter that is specifically decreased in Parkinson's disease, as well as improvements in clinical evaluations of the patients' mental and physical abilities. The study was performed by the Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, as well as the Departments of Neurology and Radiology, at Thomas Jefferson University. | |
 | Poor sleep quality and fatigue plague women with premature ovarian insufficiencySleep disturbances are a frequent complaint of women in the menopause transition and postmenopause. A new study demonstrates that women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) who are receiving hormone therapy have poorer sleep quality and greater fatigue than women of the same age with preserved ovarian function. Study results are published online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). |
 | VR lullaby machine shown to induce tranquil pre-sleep statesDesigned by PluginHUMAN art duo, Dr. Betty Sargeant and Justin Dwyer, the system involves an interactive bed and ambient music controlled by the artists, and kaleidoscopic visuals controlled by the user with their own brainwaves, via EEG. |
 | Gut microbes protect against neurologic damage from viral infectionsGut microbes produce compounds that prime immune cells to destroy harmful viruses in the brain and nervous system, according to a mouse study published today in eLife. |
 | Dementia and transitional care: Gaps in research and practicePatients with dementia are hospitalized at higher rates and involved in transitional care more frequently than those who are cognitively unimpaired. Yet, current practices for managing transitional care—and the research informing them—have overlooked the needs of patients with dementia and their caregivers. |
 | Perinatal depression screenings may not detect women having suicidal thoughts, study findsA new study of 736 low-income pregnant women in Illinois found that more than one-third of those who reported thoughts of self-harm did not have elevated levels of depression, according to a commonly used health questionnaire. |
 | CDC is on alert for the rare, paralyzing condition known as AFMMinnesota, which found itself at the center of a national mystery over the rare polio-like disorder known as AFM last year, has reported no cases so far in 2019. |
 | Plant protection products: More clarity about residues in foodThis indicator should give information on total intake of plant protection product residues from food. The three categories of low, moderate and high intake to which the active substances in the plant protection products can then be allocated are essential here. "Consumer safety is strengthened by these valuable indicators for risk identification," says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. "Politics benefits from this too, because it is then easier to take specific measures to protect the population". |
 | Antibiotics at the limit? Bacteria defending themselves against reserve drugsAntibiotics combat bacterial infections, but the battle is becoming increasingly more difficult. The use of antibiotics in hospitals, in plant protection products or in livestock farming has the result that bacteria begin to defend themselves and build up more and more resistance - even to reserve drugs. "Just like other germs, antimicrobial resistant bacteria can also be transferred via food," explains the President of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. "Through the global interlinking of goods exchange, this is becoming more and more of a challenge to consumer protection. Together with our international partners, we are strengthening interdisciplinary research and assessment work in this area." The struggle against antimicrobial resistant bacteria is the main topic in the latest issue of the science magazine BfR2GO. |
 | Micro-ribonucleic acid in milk: Health risk very unlikelyRibonucleic acid (RNA) occurs in animal and plant cells and has many biological functions. RNA plays a central role in the reading of genetic material, thereby ensuring that important substances are produced for the cells. Among other things, it also ensures the formation of the proteins needed by the cells. There are different types of RNA with different functions |
 | Researchers wirelessly hack 'boss' gene, a step toward reprogramming the human genomeIt seems like everything is going wireless these days. That now includes efforts to reprogram the human genome. |
 | Increase seen in foster care entries due to parental drug use(HealthDay)—The number of foster care entries attributable to parental drug use increased considerably from 2000 to 2017, according to a research letter published online July 15 in JAMA Pediatrics. |
 | Obesity linked to increased risk for pediatric multiple sclerosis(HealthDay)—Obesity seems to be associated with increased odds of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a study published online July 15 in JAMA Neurology. |
 | How to protect your DNA for big health benefits(HealthDay)—You might think that stress affects you only emotionally or that a lack of sleep simply leaves you feeling cranky. But these are among the many lifestyle factors that can lead to health problems because of changes that they cause within your body's cells. |
 | Healthy, delicious cooking with summer's peaches, plums(HealthDay)—Sweet plums and peaches are great on their own, a good source of potassium and a sweet low-cal snack with only 40 calories each. But you can also use them as the foundation of dishes perfect for summer entertaining. |
 | HIV lurking in spinal fluid linked to thinking problemsTUESDAY, July 16, 2019—(HealthDay News) Even with long-term treatment, HIV can still be found in the cerebrospinal fluid of some people with the AIDS-causing virus, a new study reports. |
 | Would you like a lizard with that salad?(HealthDay)—Imagine this: You open a bag of fresh salad greens and out pops a lizard. Or worse. |
 | HIV-infected cells persist in CSF in individuals on long-term ART(HealthDay)—About half of HIV-positive individuals on long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) have HIV-infected cells in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), according to a study published online July 15 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation. |
 | Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants may be best for early-stage CKD(HealthDay)—Non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have a superior benefit-risk profile to that of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a review published online July 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | MS relapse risk not increased in postoperative period(HealthDay)—Exposure to a surgical procedure requiring anesthesia does not seem to increase the risk for postoperative multiple sclerosis (MS) relapse, according to a study published online June 25 in the Multiple Sclerosis Journal. |
 | AIDS deaths down a third since 2010: UNHIV-related deaths last year fell to around 770,000—some 33 percent lower than in 2010—the United Nations said Tuesday, but warned that global efforts to eradicate the disease were stalling as funding dries up. |
 | Evolution could explain why staying slim is so tough(HealthDay)—It's not easy maintaining a healthy weight. Even when you manage to drop a few pounds, they often return. |
First ever state sepsis regulation in US tied to lower death ratesDeath rates from sepsis fell faster in New York than expected—and faster than in peer states—following the introduction of the nation's first state-mandated sepsis regulation, according to an analysis led by University of Pittsburgh researchers and published today in JAMA. The policy requires all New York hospitals to quickly implement certain protocols when the deadly condition is suspected. | |
Risk and progression of Alzheimer's disease differ by sexThe abnormal accumulation of proteins in the brain is a biological marker for Alzheimer's disease, but the ways in which these proteins spread may help explain why the prevalence of Alzheimer's is higher in women than in men. | |
 | Prescribed opioids associated with overdose risk for family members without prescriptionsAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioid overdoses were responsible for more than 42,000 deaths in 2016. Access to family members' drugs may be a strong risk factor for overdose in individuals without their own prescriptions, according to a new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital. Their findings were published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine. |
 | Researchers ID mechanism that may drive obesity epidemicA molecular "trick" that kept our ancient ancestors from starving may now be contributing to the obesity epidemic, a new study finds. |
New cell discovered that can heal heartsUniversity of Calgary researchers are the first to discover a previously unidentified cell population in the pericardial fluid found inside the sac around the heart. The discovery could lead to new treatments for patients with injured hearts. The study led by Drs. Paul Kubes, Ph.D., Justin Deniset, Ph.D. and Paul Fedak, MD, Ph.D. is published in the internationally recognized journal Immunity. | |
Judge overseeing opioid lawsuits orders release of some dataA look at how the opioid crisis grew and spread may be much clearer soon after a federal judge overseeing nearly 2,000 lawsuits filed against manufacturers, distributors and retailers of prescription painkillers ordered the release of data showing where those drugs were distributed nationally before 2013. | |
 | Treating stroke patients just 15 minutes earlier can save livesInitiating stroke treatment just 15 minutes faster can save lives and prevent disability, according to a new UCLA-led study, published today in JAMA. The research also determined that busier hospitals—those that treat more than 450 people for stroke each year—have better outcomes than those that treat fewer than 400 stroke patients per year. |
 | Cancer device created at rutgers to see if targeted chemotherapy is workingRutgers researchers have created a device that can determine whether targeted chemotherapy drugs are working on individual cancer patients. |
What to call someone who uses heroin?First-ever study to ask people who use heroin what they want to be called finds "people first" language often best, and language suggesting misuse or dependence generally worst. | |
 | Intranasal sufentanil as good as IV morphine for emergency pain relief, study findsIn patients presenting to an emergency department with severe traumatic pain, intranasal sufentanil was as good as standard-of-care intravenous morphine for pain relief, according to a new study published this week in PLOS Medicine by Marc Blancher of Grenoble Alpes University Hospital, France, and colleagues. |
Insurance linked to hospitals' decision to transfer kids with mental health emergenciesA national study finds children without insurance who seek treatment for a mental health disorder in the emergency department (ED) are more likely than those with private insurance to be transferred to another hospital. | |
 | Intake of phosphates: Babies, infants and children can exceed the health guidance valuesPhosphates are essential substances that occur naturally in the human body and make up a considerable portion of our nutrition. They occur in almost all foods, especially those high in protein, such as cheese, cold cuts and meat. A certain group of phosphates is authorised as food additives in the European Union. They are added to a large number of foods to perform various technological functions, e.g. as acidity regulators. These include soft drinks, especially cola beverages, whipped cream and cream products, milk drinks, milk powder and coffee whitener, as well as meat products. |
 | Health impairment through carbofuran in red chili unlikelyCarbofuran is a plant protection product which can be used against certain insects, mites, ticks and nematodes. On the basis of the amount of the carbofuran residues and estimated dietary intake of red chilies, exceeding the acute reference dose (ARfD) is not to be expected for children or adults. The ARfD describes the quantity of a substance per kilogram of body weight that consumers can ingest with their food in one meal or in several meals spread over one day without any recognisable effect on health. The ARfD is therefore a limit value for risk assessment in relation to short-term intake. |
 | New clues on why women's Alzheimer's risk differs from men'sNew research gives some biological clues to why women may be more likely than men to develop Alzheimer's disease and how this most common form of dementia varies by sex. |
Trump abortion rule prompts exit at family planning programThe Trump administration's ban on taxpayer-funded family planning clinics referring women for abortions prompted a major provider in Maine to announce Tuesday it is dropping out of the program after nearly 50 years. Others may follow. | |
Ebola patient in DR Congo city of Goma has died: governorThe first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola in the eastern DR Congo city of Goma has died, the governor of North Kivu province said on Tuesday. | |
Biology news
 | Birds of a feather flock together to keep their options open, say scientistsWhy did you choose your job? Or where you live? Scientists at the University of Warwick have discovered that it was probably to keep your options as open as possible—and the more we co-operate together, the more opportunities are available to us. |
 | Effectiveness of using natural enemies to combat pests depends on surroundingsWhen cabbage looper moth larvae infest a field, sustainable growers will often try to control the pests by releasing large numbers of predators, such as ladybugs. That way they can avoid spraying expensive and environmentally harmful insecticides. |
 | Stripping down bacterial armor: A new way to fight anthraxA new study led by Dr. Antonella Fioravanti in the lab of Prof. Han Remaut (VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology) has shown that removing the armor of the bacterium that causes anthrax slows its growth and negatively affects its ability to cause disease. This work will be published in the prestigious journal Nature Microbiology can lead the way to new, effective ways of fighting anthrax and various other diseases. |
 | A new way to stop insect pests in their tracksSpotted lanternfly, emerald ash borer, hemlock woolly adelgid, Asian longhorned beetle. These are but a few of the hundreds of exotic insect pests that have been accidentally introduced to North America, causing millions of dollars in damage, not to mention ecological havoc, across agricultural fields and forests. |
 | The protein that gives identical cells individualityNew insight into a protein's role in regulating tight DNA packing could have implications for combating tumor cell resistance to anti-cancer treatments. |
 | Better genome editing for bioenergyCRISPR-Cas9 is a powerful, high-throughput gene-editing tool that can help scientists engineer organisms for bioenergy applications. Cas9 needs guide RNA to lead it to the correct sequence to snip—but not all guides are effective. To ensure the gene editing tool will make the right cut, researchers created a set of guide RNAs that were effective against 94 percent of the genes in a lipid-prolific yeast. |
 | New species of tree discovered in Tanzania mountainsResearchers have discovered a new species of tree in the Usambara Mountains in Tanzania, part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, and a globally important region for species in need of conservation. |
 | Australian ants prepared for 'Insect Armageddon'Researchers studied ants in the Simpson Desert for 22 years and found that local changes in climate, such as long-term increases in rainfall, combined with human efforts to restore ecosystems, may have led to increased numbers of species—rather than the declines which might be expected in such unpredictable conditions. |
 | What can researchers learn by eavesdropping on fish?Oyster reef restoration provides important benefits, such as stabilizing shorelines, filtering water, and providing habitat for estuarine fish. However, quantifying fish use of restored oyster reefs can be difficult. Traditional sampling methods do not record all fish species and are often conducted only intermittently. As a result, fish diversity and resulting conservation and restoration decisions often rely on incomplete "snapshots" in time. |
 | Australian plants extracting high-value metals from mining wastesIncreasingly scarce metals are being recovered from mining waste by University of Queensland researchers, who are making the most of native plants' metal-absorbing nature. |
 | When and where Nile crocodiles attackThe Nile crocodile is Africa's largest, and most widely distributed, crocodile. It can be found in Egypt in the North, through Central and East Africa, down to South Africa. The largest specimens and concentrations of these crocodiles are in the lakes and rivers of Central and East Africa. |
 | Private land conservation research underrepresents geographical regions and stakeholdersBiodiversity loss is one of the most prominent global issues, also affecting human well-being. With privately owned land covering large areas of the world, private land conservation is an increasingly recognized strategy to address the biodiversity crisis and support human well-being. |
 | Man's best friend: The dogs who sniff out explosives in KabulNaya, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois, focuses intently as she leaps over hurdles and zooms through tunnels on an obstacle course at a training center on a hill overlooking Kabul. |
 | Tending the future of data analysis with MVAppThe vast datasets generated by modern plant-science technologies require clever data-mining methods to extract useful information. Now, KAUST researchers have developed MVApp—an open-source, online statistics platform for conducting multivariate analyses of these intricate data. |
 | Long live the long-limbed African chickenPick your chicken wisely. The choice could make or break your marriage. |
 | Flies may also spread disease among monkeys and apesPeople the world over have a good sense that flies are filthy and that we do not want them landing on our food during our summer picnics. Research has justified that disgust, showing that flies associated with humans and their livestock spread a diversity of pathogens. In a collaboration with Roman Wittig of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and the Taï Chimpanzee Project, a research team led by Fabian Leendertz at the Robert Koch Institute in Germany has now shown that such fly associations also exist in highly mobile non-human primate groups as they move kilometers every day through the rainforest. |
 | Should we resurrect the American chestnut tree with genetic engineering?The wild chestnuts around this leafy college town used to grow in such great numbers that locals collected the nuts by the bushel and shipped them off to New York City for a small fortune. |
 | Italians cheer on wild bear's 'Great Escape'Italian animal lovers cheered on a wild bear Tuesday after a daring escape from an electrified holding pen sparked a bear-hunt and a furore over its fate. |
New model illuminates why some greater sage grouse males 'strut' better than othersWhen it comes to mating displays, a little persistence can go a long way, at least for the greater sage grouse. In "Hidden Markov Models Reveal Tactical Adjustment of Temporally Clustered Courtship Displays in Response to the Behaviors of a Robotic Female," published in The American Naturalist, Anna C. Perry and her colleagues at the University of California in Davis (USA), the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig (Germany) and the University of Florida (USA) use a custom-built statistical model to understand an under-explored dimension of greater sage grouse mating display behavior. The authors report that males that show greater display persistence, even in the face of seemingly uninterested females, have a competitive advantage over their peers. | |
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