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Astronomy & Space news
 | Geometry transition detected in nearby active galactic nuclei jetsAn international team of astronomers has found that jets of 10 nearby active galactic nuclei (AGN) have changed their shape from parabolic to conical. The finding, reported in a paper published July 2 on the arXiv pre-print repository, could hold the key to improving our understanding about the formation, acceleration and collimation of relativistic jets in AGNs. |
 | Modeling early meteorite impacts on the moonAs our solar system was forming nearly four and a half billion years ago, a planet-sized object struck the early Earth, leading to the formation of the moon, possibly from a hot, spinning cloud of rock vapor called a synestia. But after the Earth and moon had condensed from the vapor, there was another phase of growth as meteorites crashed into both bodies. |
 | Japan's asteroid probe Hayabusa2 set for final touchdownJapan's Hayabusa2 probe began descending on Wednesday for its final touchdown on a distant asteroid, hoping to collect samples that could shed light on the evolution of the solar system. |
 | Star formation may be halted by cold ionized hydrogenFor the first time ionized hydrogen has been detected at the lowest frequency ever towards the center of our Galaxy. The findings originate from a cloud that is both very cold (around -230 degrees Celsius) and also ionized, something that has never been detected before. This discovery may help to explain why stars don't form as quickly as they theoretically could. |
 | Upside-down, 3-D-printed skin and bone for Mars explorers3-D printing human tissue could help keep astronauts healthy all the way to Mars. An ESA project has produced its first bioprinted skin and bone samples. |
 | Holes in the Universe sharpen cosmic measurementsRegions of the Universe containing very few or no galaxies—known as voids—can help measure cosmic expansion with much greater precision than before, according to new research. |
 | Pair of supermassive black holes discovered on a collision courseAstronomers have spotted a distant pair of titanic black holes headed for a collision. |
 | Exoplanet evolution: Astronomers expand cosmic 'cheat sheet'Cornell astronomers have reached into nature's color palette from early Earth to create a cosmic "cheat sheet" for looking at distant worlds. By correlating tints and hues, researchers aim to understand where discovered exoplanets may reasonably fall along their own evolutionary spectrum. |
 | Virgin Galactic seeks space tourism boost with market launchBritish billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic will merge with a US investment firm to become the world's first publicly-traded space tourism venture—with an eye on sending its first clients into space within a year, the group's chief executive said Tuesday. |
 | Hard soil, big jumps and epiphanies: what it's like on the MoonTwelve American men walked on the Moon between 1969 and 1972, with most describing in great detail their experiences on the dusty, low-gravity world lit by the blinding light of the Sun. |
 | Footprints on the Moon and cemeteries on Mars: Interview with space archaeologist Alice GormanThere is a lot of documentation about what's been left on the moon—but it's amazing how much we don't know. |
 | Image: X-ray serendipityThe purple lines and blotches scattered across this image show something incredible: all of the X-ray sources that were serendipitously detected—that is, not intentionally targeted—by ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray space observatory from 2000 to 2017. |
 | Film expert explains why Moon landing footage would have been impossible to fakeIt's been a half-century since the magnificent Apollo 11 moon landing, yet many people still don't believe it actually happened. Conspiracy theories about the event dating back to the 1970s are in fact more popular than ever. A common theory is that film director Stanley Kubrick helped NASA fake the historic footage of its six successful moon landings. |
 | Skywatcher and satellite tracker photographs US Air Force's secret space plane in orbitEver since it started taking to space, there has been a lot of mystery and controversy surrounding the USAF's X-37B space plane. Despite the fact that this militarized version of NASA's orbital vehicle has conducted several spaceflights since its first in 2010, we still have no idea what its true purpose is. But so far, the smart money believes it's an advanced spy plane. |
 | Women played crucial roles in the space program, yet we don't know much about them. Why?Edith Gustan's name appears in the fourth paragraph of a Seattle Times article from 1970, a skinny strip of text above a nearly full-page ad for Sears' Mother's Day sale that advertises, among other things, "incontestably female ... cardigans!" |
 | Apollo 11 moon mission drew space-related companies to Central FloridaOn May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced that the U.S. would land astronauts on the moon "before the decade is out." |
Virgin Orbit conducts drop-test of rocket from Boeing 747Virgin Galactic's sister company Virgin Orbit conducted a drop test of its air-launched satellite booster over California on Wednesday, a key step toward space missions. | |
 | Image: European Service Module 2 assemblyThe European Service Module-2 (ESM-2) is somewhat like the portal it appears to be in this image. By providing power and propulsion for the Orion spacecraft, it will transport humans back to the Moon, roughly fifty years after humankind first landed on its surface. |
Technology news
 | A technique to enhance physical interaction in aerial robotsIn recent years, aerial robots have become increasingly popular, with potential applications in a variety of fields. Many of these robots are primarily designed to fly around and collect visual data from their surrounding environment, yet some are also able to grasp, carry or even assemble objects. |
 | MorphoNet offers an interactive way to explore the bioimaging data revolutionOver the past two decades, research in morphology—the study of the shapes and structures of biological organisms—has exploded due to advances in imaging technologies. Researchers have generated massive amounts of visual data, such as by using CT scans to image the brain, cryogenic electron microscopy to visualize viruses and proteins at near-atomic resolution, and light-sheet microscopy to image internal organs, embryos, and various organisms. |
 | A backpack that generates electricity using side-to-side movement from walkingA pair of researchers with the Mechanical and Materials Engineering and Ingenuity Labs at Queen's University has designed a backpack that harnesses the energy from the side-to-side movement of a person walking. In their paper published in Royal Society Open Science, Jean-Paul Martin and Qingguo Li describe their design and the ways they believe it could be used. |
 | Zoom goes big on fix for conferencing vulnerabilitySettle down in a comfortable chair; breaks with cool washcloths are allowed. This is one of those Zero-Day stories with discoveries, responses, still newer discoveries and assorted updates. |
 | Can't take the heat? 'Cool walls' can reduce energy costs, pollutionIf these walls could talk, they might tell you that cutting energy costs and pollution may be as easy as giving them a fresh coat of lighter, more reflective paint. |
 | Capturing heat wasted in solar panels for use in distilling clean drinking waterA team of researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has developed a way to use waste heat from solar panels to distill clean drinking water. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers describe how they modified traditional solar panels to allow for purifying saltwater. |
 | 20 overlooked benefits of distributed solar energyA study released today provides the most complete list yet of the advantages of solar energy—from carbon sequestration to improvements for pollinator habitat. The paper offers a new framework for analyzing solar projects to better understand the full suite of benefits. |
 | Bringing the blockchain into the physical worldA kit made from everyday objects is bringing the blockchain into the physical world. |
 | Robot-ants that can jump, communicate with each other and work togetherIndividually, ants have only so much strength and intelligence, but as a colony they can use complex strategies to complete sophisticated tasks and evade larger predators. |
 | New filter enhances robot vision on 6-D pose estimationRobots are good at making identical repetitive movements, such as a simple task on an assembly line. (Pick up a cup. Turn it over. Put it down.) But they lack the ability to perceive objects as they move through an environment. (A human picks up a cup, puts it down in a random location, and the robot must retrieve it.) A recent study was conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, NVIDIA, the University of Washington, and Stanford University, on 6D object pose estimation to develop a filter to give robots greater spatial perception so they can manipulate objects and navigate through space more accurately. |
 | Cyber attacks cost $45 bn in 2018 as ransomware hits hardAn estimated two million cyber attacks in 2018 resulted in more than $45 billion in losses worldwide as local governments struggled to cope with ransomware and other malicious incidents, a study showed Tuesday. |
 | British inventor Dyson pays $54 mln for Singapore's priciest penthouseBritish billionaire inventor James Dyson has paid a reported $54 million for Singapore's biggest, most expensive penthouse: a three-floor residence with a rooftop terrace, private pool, and jacuzzi. |
 | UK plan to control online porn is watched as test caseThe global push to more tightly regulate the internet and big tech firms is spreading to one of the web's biggest and least visible corners: porn. |
 | 'Alexa, my head hurts': UK health service signs up Amazon"Alexa, what are the symptoms of flu?" |
 | Monaco rolls out Huawei-built 5G network in European firstMonaco on Tuesday became the first country in Europe to inaugurate a next-generation 5G mobile phone network based on technology from Chinese firm Huawei, which is seen by the US as a major security risk. |
 | Beyond sex robots: Erobotics explores erotic human-machine interactionsScience fiction films such as Blade Runner (1982), Lars and the Real Girl (2007) and Her (2013) explore the advent of human-machine relationships. And in recent years, reality has met fiction. |
 | Using building materials to monitor for high enriched uraniumA new paper details how small samples of ubiquitous building materials, such as tile or brick, can be used to test whether a facility has ever stored high enriched uranium (HEU), which can be used to create nuclear weapons. The technique could serve as a valuable forensic tool for national or international efforts related to nuclear nonproliferation and security. |
 | Text messaging to Whatsapp—early adopters and inertiaText messaging remains an important means of electronic communication for many people requiring only the simplest connection to the cell phone network. Nevertheless, other more sophisticated tools such as Whatsapp are increasingly prevalent given their multimedia capabilities and the near ubiquity of smartphones and almost universal wireless broadband connectivity in major towns and cities and beyond. Julian Bühler and Markus Bick Chair of Business Information Systems at the ESCP Europe Business School Berlin, Germany, ask what influences how quickly such technologies are adopted in different parts of the world and how the novel displaces the old. |
 | Choking India gets first fully-fledged electric carMotorists in India, home to some of the world's most polluted cities, can now buy a fully-fledged electric car after Hyundai unveiled a model that can travel 452 kilometres (281 miles) on one charge. |
 | Paper tsunami: How the move to digital medical records is leaving us drowning in old paper filesThe recent case of paper medical files from a Brisbane hospital found on a busy street highlights the need for secure, controlled disposal of medical records. |
 | Mazda recalls over 262K vehicles to fix engine stall problemMazda is recalling more than 262,000 SUVs and cars in the U.S. to fix a software problem that could cause the engines to stall unexpectedly. |
 | Using artificial intelligence to detect discriminationA new artificial intelligence (AI) tool for detecting unfair discrimination—such as on the basis of race or gender—has been created by researchers at Penn State and Columbia University. |
 | Study: New cars are safer, but women most likely to suffer injuryCars built in the last decade have been shown to be safer than older models, including in the most common types of crashes—frontal collisions. However, a new study conducted by researchers at the University of Virginia's Center for Applied Biomechanics shows that women wearing seat belts are significantly more likely to suffer injury than their male counterparts. |
 | Research finds thicker pavement is more cost effective down the roadAs the summer months heat up, so will the asphalt and other materials used to make roads. Pavements, which are vulnerable to increased temperatures and excessive flooding due to sea level rise, can crack and crumble. Climate change can be a major contributor and as greenhouse gas emissions continue, which scientists say have caused an increase in global temperatures since the mid-20th century, these issues are projected to accelerate. Researchers at the University of New Hampshire say because of this one of the best ways to extend the life cycle of roads, and keep future costs down, is to increase the thickness of asphalt on certain roads. |
 | US central bank to study Facebook virtual currencyThe US Federal Reserve has created a "working group" that is coordinating with government agencies and other central banks to consider the implications of Facebook's planned virtual currency Libra, chairman Jerome Powell said Wednesday. |
 | Last ever VW Beetle model rolls off Mexican production lineGerman auto giant Volkswagen launched the final edition of its iconic "Beetle" car from its Mexican factory on Wednesday at a ceremony accompanied by a Mariachi band. |
 | Trump can't block Twitter critics, appeals court affirmsA federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that US President Donald Trump cannot legally block users on Twitter based on their political differences with him, affirming a lower court decision. |
 | Navigating the winding road toward driverless mobilityAs we all watch automakers and autonomous tech companies team up in various alliances, it's natural to wonder about their significance and what the future will bring. Are we realizing that autonomous driving technology and its acceptance by society could take longer than expected? Is the cost of investing in such technology proving more than any single organization can sustain? Are these alliances driven by a need for regulation that will be accepted by governments and the public or for developing standards on which manufacturers can agree? |
 | Shared e-cargo bikes: Boom and barriers in BaselSustainable means of mobility are becoming ever more popular. In Switzerland, around 15,000 people have registered with the online platform carvelo2go, which hires out electric cargo bikes. The use of this sharing service in the Basel area is now the subject of scientific investigation. Despite strong growth in member numbers, there are still fundamental barriers. The study by the University of Basel indicates ways that sharing providers and public authorities can promote the use of environmentally friendly cargo bikes. |
 | Canada's Bombardier lays off 550 workersThe Canadian group Bombardier announced Wednesday it will lay off 550 employees from its Thunder Bay, Ontario plant, cutting the site's workforce in half. |
Medicine & Health news
 | How does playing with other children affect toddlers' language learning?Toddlers are surprisingly good at processing the speech of other young children, according to a new study. And toddlers who have more exposure to other children, such as those in daycare, may be particularly good at certain word learning skills. |
 | Addicted to ran, ovarian cancer cells stop moving when deprivedDid you know that 90% of cancer patients die from distant metastasis? The latter occurs when cancer cells have the ability to move within the patient's body and invade its healthy tissues. In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Montreal Hospital Research Centre (CRCHUM) have shown the key role that a protein called Ran plays in the mobility of ovarian cancer cells. They demonstrated these cells cannot migrate from cancerous sites without the help of Ran. |
 | Gulls could pass on drug-resistant bacteria to humans, say scientistsAustralian seagulls carry drug-resistant bacteria that could lead to serious infections in humans, researchers said Wednesday. |
 | Preeclampsia risk may be reduced by a healthy high-fibre dietA healthy diet rich in fibre is generally recommended, but new research shows it could be even more important during pregnancy to promote the wellbeing of the mother and child. |
 | Novel therapy for acute migraine shows promise in phase 3 clinical trialA drug belonging to a new generation of acute migraine headache treatments was found to eliminate pain and reduce bothersome symptoms for people with migraine in a large-scale trial reported in the July 11 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. The drug, rimegepant, is awaiting U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval and may offer advantages over currently available migraine medications. The study was led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System. |
 | Puzzling brain disease could now be better diagnosed, treatedScientists have developed an animal model that may provide a path toward improving the diagnosis and treatment of the devastating brain disease chronicled in the bestselling autobiography "Brain on Fire." The book, along with a 2017 movie by the same name, traces newspaper reporter Susannah Cahalan's harrowing descent into the throes of the disease. |
 | A moderate dose of novel form of stress promotes longevityA newly described form of stress called chromatin architectural defect, or chromatin stress, triggers in cells a response that leads to a longer life. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Houston Methodist Research Institute report in the journal Science Advances that moderate chromatin stress levels set off a stress response in yeast, the tiny laboratory worm C. elegans, the fruit fly and mouse embryonic stem cells, and in yeast and C. elegans the response promotes longevity. The findings suggest that chromatin stress response and the longevity it mediates may be conserved in other organisms, opening the possibility of new ways to intervene in human aging and promote longevity. |
 | New method helping to find deletions and duplications in the human genomeA new machine-learning method accurately identifies regions of the human genome that have been duplicated or deleted—known as copy number variants—that are often associated with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The new method, developed by researchers at Penn State, integrates data from several algorithms that attempt to identify copy number variants from exome-sequencing data—high-throughput DNA sequencing of only the protein-coding regions of the human genome. A paper describing the method, which could help clinicians provide more accurate diagnoses for genetic diseases, appears in the July issue of the journal Genome Research. |
 | Anaphylactic shock: Anti-drug IgG antibodies and neutrophils play an unexpected roleAnaphylactic shock, an exacerbated allergic reaction that can prove fatal, is sometimes caused by the use of drugs during surgery. In most of these extreme reactions, evidence can be provided that patients have anti-drug antibodies of the IgE class. In 10 to 20 percent of anaphylactic cases, evidence for the involvement of anti-drug IgE is lacking. |
 | Epic research endeavor reveals cause of deadly digestive disease in childrenNearly 10 years ago, a group of Israeli clinical researchers emailed Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) geneticist Len Pennacchio to ask for his team's help in solving the mystery of a rare inherited disease that caused extreme, and sometimes fatal, chronic diarrhea in children. Now, following an arduous investigative odyssey that expanded our understanding of regulatory sequences in the human genome, the multinational scientific group has announced the discovery of the genetic explanation for this disease. Their findings are published in Nature. |
 | Repair of aged tissue can be enhanced by inhibiting signals from neighbouring cellsResearchers at the University of Helsinki have discovered how regenerative capacity of intestinal epithelium declines when we age. Targeting of an enzyme that inhibits stem cell maintaining signaling rejuvenates the regenerative potential of an aged intestine. This finding may suggest ways to alleviate age-related gastrointestinal problems, reduce side-effects of cancer treatments, and reduce healthcare costs in the ageing society by promoting recovery. |
 | How the mosquito immune system fights off the malaria parasiteA new study from Iowa State University entomologists describes how mosquitoes fight off parasites that cause malaria, a disease that sickens millions of people every year. |
 | Scientists discover previously unknown subtypes of liver cells in health and diseaseThe liver is one of the largest and most versatile organs of the human body. It turns sugars, proteins, and fats from our food into substances useful for the body and releases them to the cells. In addition to its role in human metabolism, the liver is an immunological organ, which is indispensable for detoxifying the blood. Most strikingly, the liver is the only internal organ that can regenerate back to its full size with only 25% of its original mass. |
 | How sounds, shapes, speech and body movements convey emotion through one shared propertyDeath metal band logos often have a spiky look while romance novel titles often have a swirly script. The jaggedness or curviness of a font can be used to express an emotional tone. A Dartmouth study published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B finds that sounds, shapes, speech and body movements convey emotional arousal the same way across the senses. The findings explain why nearly anything can have an emotional tone, including art, architecture and music. |
 | Poor quality social relationships linked to bone loss in postmenopausal womenPoor quality social relationships that contribute to psychosocial stress may be associated with bone loss in postmenopausal women, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. |
 | Flu fact sheet for parents increases vaccination rate in childrenYoung children are more likely to suffer severe, even life-threatening complications from the flu, but only around half of children in the US get the flu vaccine. |
 | New blood test for human tuberculosis may also identify people at most riskA new study conducted by researchers in Leicester and Nottingham has shown the potential for a new blood test to not only diagnose human tuberculosis (TB) but also identify those at most risk of developing the disease, according to findings published in medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. |
 | New evidence shows cytotoxic T cells can identify, invade, and destroy targets of large mass like T. gondii tissue cystsCD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes can kill host cells infected with various microorganisms as well as single individual cancer cells through direct cell-to-cell contact, but their ability to destroy a target of large mass remains unexplored. A study in The American Journal of Pathology provided novel evidence on the capability of the immune system to eliminate large parasite-filled cysts associated with chronic Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection by utilizing the aggressive invader activity of cytotoxic T cells. They may also prove effective for attacking other sizable targets including solid cancers. |
 | Growth failure in preterm infants tied to altered gut bacteriaExtremely premature infants who fail to grow as expected have delayed development of their microbiome, or communities of bacteria and other micro-organisms living in the gut, according to a new study published in Scientific Reports. Analysis of these infants' metabolism revealed that their bodies are responding as if they were fasting, despite caloric intake similar to extremely premature infants with appropriate growth. The study findings also suggest that the unique makeup of the microbiome in infants with growth failure might contribute to their inability to properly metabolize nutrients. |
 | Why sex becomes less satisfying with ageThe number of women regularly having sex declines with age, and the number of women enjoying sex postmenopause is even lower. Although these facts are not surprising, the causes for these declines may be because previous research focused largely on biological causes only. However, a new UK study identifies psychosocial contributors. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). |
Bystander CPR less likely for black kids in poorest neighborhoodsAfrican American children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods are significantly less likely than their Caucasian counterparts in disadvantaged or wealthier areas to receive CPR from a bystander, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. | |
 | Scientists design protein blockers to fight obesity and heart diseaseAlmost four in 10 adult Americans are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What's more alarming is that in the past two decades alone, in states such as Texas, the share of obesity among residents has tripled. If left unchecked, obesity can even lead to more serious problems including high blood pressure and deadly strokes. |
 | From centenarians' genetic code, a potential new therapy against cardiovascular diseasesSome people live much longer than average, partly thanks to their DNA. A study, published in the European Heart Journal, shows that it could be possible to replicate this genetic gift even for those lacking it. The way is now open to an innovative therapy model capable of preventing and fighting cardiovascular diseases through a real rejuvenation of blood vessels. |
 | Study examines suicide ideation, planning and attemptsSince 1999, rates of suicide have increased in nearly every state in the United States. In 2016 alone, nearly 45,000 lives were lost to suicide. |
 | Can red cell exchange treat advanced sickle cell disease?Medical advances have dramatically increased the life expectancy of patients with sickle cell disease, but as patients are living longer, they are increasingly experiencing organ damage leading to early death. Now, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC, supported by a $19.2 million National Institutes of Health grant, will lead the largest clinical trial of its kind to test a technique called red cell exchange transfusion in prolonging life and slowing or reversing organ damage. |
 | The power of the brain to fight opioid addiction, treat chronic painThe annual cost of chronic pain in the United States is estimated to be more than $635 billion in direct medical costs, lost productivity and disability programs. One in five adults—50 million Americans—report living in chronic pain. |
 | 'Natural' and 'organic' cigarettes are just like other cigarettesDescriptors such as "natural" and "made from organic tobacco" in the marketing of Natural American Spirit cigarettes imply reduced risk of toxic exposures. Studies show that smokers perceive these cigarettes as being less harmful than other brands, which is why they choose them. |
 | Cannabis: Misinformation about CBD can be life-threateningHyperbole can be rampant in health news, particularly with respect to cannabis. One recent headline declared: "CBD is effective in treating heroin addiction." Another proclaimed: "New study finds CBD could curb heroin addiction." |
 | Have you found 'the one'? How mindsets about destiny affect our romantic relationshipsIf you listen to any number of love songs, dating "experts," or plunge head first into a romance novel, you're likely to think it's in our destiny to find that special someone—your soul-mate. |
 | More jobs might mean more fluBusinesses should take precautions in advance of the annual flu season to keep sick workers home and reduce infection rates that send people to physicians in droves, says new research from Ball State University. |
 | Using 'self-talk' as part of your endurance sport training? Here's what you need to knowYou have probably caught yourself muttering some encouragement to yourself, perhaps when you were facing a particularly difficult physical challenge, or experiencing some sort of stress; "Come on, you can do this!" or "I know I can do this!" |
 | Genetic variation linked to cognitive differences after radiation for pediatric medulloblastomaLong-term cognitive problems are a frequent side effect in children undergoing life-saving radiation therapy for medulloblastoma—the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. Medulloblastoma affects between 250 and 500 U.S. children annually, but not all children experience cognitive difficulties. |
 | Selecting groceries ahead of time helps some shoppers make healthier choicesI often toss items into my grocery cart that I have vowed to never buy again. |
 | Asbestos in schools: What you need to knowThe Department for Education referred nearly 700 schools in England to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as they did not provide evidence that they were managing asbestos in line with regulatory requirements. Of the 29,000 schools in Britain, more than 75% contain asbestos. |
 | Larger drug trials that intervene earlier needed for Alzheimer's diseaseThere are currently no drugs that stop or inhibit Alzheimer's disease. Despite drug trials showing plaque reduction in the brain, the patients' cognitive function did not improve. Would the results be different if it were possible to design studies that intervene much earlier on in the disease, before cognition is affected? This is what an international study, led by Lund University in Sweden, has attempted to facilitate. The findings have now been published in Neurology. |
 | Six-packs and bulging biceps: How appearance pressures take their toll on men's mental healthOver recent years, "body dissatisfaction"—or shame about one's appearance—has been on the rise in men. This isn't something just affecting young men either, it's extensively reported across a range of age groups. And it's harmful – research shows it can lead to depression, steroid abuse and even suicide. |
 | Researchers make recommendations to improve health of LGBTQ communitiesTrans people do not have access to adequate and inclusive medical care. Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men face discriminatory policies when donating blood. When measuring homelessness, researchers cannot determine how many LGBTQ youth and young adults are affected. |
 | Fewer new measles cases reported last week in U.S.There were just over a dozen measles cases reported last week in the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. |
 | Xpovio with dexamethasone approved for refractory multiple myelomaXpovio (selinexor) tablets have been approved for use in combination with dexamethasone to treat adults with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced last week. |
 | EHR system-generated in-basket messages linked to burnoutReceipt of more than the average number of electronic health record (EHR) system-generated in-basket messages is associated with an increased probability of physician burnout, according to a study published in the July 1 issue of Health Affairs. |
 | CDC updates data on cases meeting criterion for acute flaccid myelitisClinical and laboratory data have been updated for cases that met the clinical criterion for acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in the United States during 2018, according to a Vital Signs report published in the July 9 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Study identifies new potential target in glioblastomaResearchers are hopeful that new strategies could emerge for slowing the growth and recurrence of the most common primary brain cancer in adults, glioblastoma, based on the results of a study published today in Cancer Research. |
Yale-developed scorecard promotes better clinical trial data sharingA tool developed by researchers at Yale, Stanford, and Bioethics International can promote greater sharing of clinical trial data by pharmaceutical companies. While nearly one-third of the companies that the researchers assessed met standards for sharing data, others could be more transparent to the benefit of science and the public, the researchers said. | |
 | Jump test tool to predict athletic performanceResearchers studying the impact of fatigue on athletic performance have developed prototype software that can enable coaches to predict when elite athletes will be too fatigued to perform at their best. |
 | No link between flu vaccine in pregnancy and later health problems in childrenThere is no association between exposure to the 2009 H1N1 "swine flu" vaccine during pregnancy and health problems in early childhood, concludes a study from Canada published by The BMJ today. |
 | Patients with mental health conditions denied access to 'best available' stop smoking treatmentsA new study from researchers at the Universities of Bath and Bristol suggests that doctors should rethink which drugs they prescribe to help smokers with mental health conditions kick the habit. |
Are doctors treating more thyroid cancer patients than necessary?Nearly a million Americans live with thyroid cancer and doctors will diagnose more than 50,000 new cases this year. Fortunately, the survival rate for this kind of cancer is one of the best. Five years after diagnosis, more than 98 percent of patients are survivors. | |
 | How a popular antidepressant drug could rewire the brainProzac, the trade name for the drug fluoxetine, was introduced to the U.S. market for the treatment of depression in 1988. Thirty years later, scientists still don't know exactly how the medication exerts its mood-lifting effects. Now, researchers report that, in addition to the drug's known action on serotonin receptors, fluoxetine could rearrange nerve fibers in the hippocampus of mouse brains. They report their results in ACS Chemical Neuroscience. |
 | Maternal obesity linked to childhood cancerA new study from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center found that children born to obese mothers were more likely to develop cancer in early childhood. |
 | Researchers determine bacteria structure responsible for traveler's diarrheaFor the first time researchers have deciphered the near-atomic structure of filaments, called 'pili', that extend from the surface of bacteria that cause traveler's diarrhea. Without pili, these bacteria do not cause disease. Knowing this structural information may lead to the development of new preventive therapies for the disease. |
 | Guidance updated for managing infants at risk for group B strep(HealthDay)—Guidelines for the management and treatment of group B streptococcal (GBS) disease in infants were published online July 8 in Pediatrics. |
 | Risk for cancer higher in those with congenital heart disease(HealthDay)—Children and young adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) have an increased risk for developing cancer, according to a study published online July 5 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | About 12 percent with ankle sprain fill opioid prescriptions(HealthDay)—Overall, 11.9 percent of patients diagnosed with an ankle sprain fill an opioid prescription within seven days of diagnosis, according to a research letter published online July 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Two-dose course of vaccine after HSCT cuts incidence of zoster(HealthDay)—A two-dose course of recombinant zoster vaccine is associated with a reduction in the incidence of herpes zoster among adults who have undergone autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), according to a study published in the July 9 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | Osteoporosis undertreated in joint replacement patients(HealthDay)—Osteoporosis is common in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA), yet the condition is often undertreated, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of Arthroplasty. |
 | Study finds ACOs need a balance of PCPs and specialists to best reduce health care costsAccountable care organizations (ACOs), the health care delivery model created by the Affordable Care Act in an effort to reduce Medicare costs while improving coordination and quality of care, typically rely on primary care providers (PCPs) to steer the boat. |
 | Addicted to video games? This treatment might help(HealthDay)—Know someone who just can't put down the controller in the middle of online games like Fortnite or League of Legends? |
 | Can a budget make you happier?(HealthDay)—Clever websites and smartphone apps have made creating a household budget easier, though it's still an unappealing chore for some. But what if using a tool that makes you smarter about money could also make you happier? That would make budgeting a lot more attractive. |
 | How to help when your child weighs too much(HealthDay)—Seventeen percent of American children and teens are obese and a nearly equal number are overweight, and those who are taunted about their weight tend to gain even more in response, according to a study from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. |
 | Can you live well with type 1 diabetes for 81 years? Just ask Don Ray(HealthDay)—When he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1939, Don Ray was just 4 years old. Doctors told his parents he'd likely live well into his teens. |
 | Getting to zero malaria cases in ZanzibarNew research led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, Ifakara Health Institute and the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Program suggests that a better understanding of human behavior at night—when malaria mosquitoes are biting—could be key to preventing lingering cases. The Center for Communication Programs (CCP) is based at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. |
 | Researchers identify cancer killing capability of lesser-known immune cellsResearchers at Trinity College Dublin have identified, for the first time in oesophageal cancer, the cancer killing capability of a lesser-known type of immune cell, presenting a new potential therapeutic target. Their research has been published today Wednesday, July 10th 2019 in the international journal Frontiers in Immunology. |
 | Weight loss prior to bariatric surgery carries risksRequiring prospective bariatric surgery patients to lose weight before they can undergo the procedure may not be necessary or safe, University of Pennsylvania researchers found in a new study published recently in the journal Obesity Surgery. |
 | What is cryptosporidium? The pool parasite outbreak causing panicCryptosporidiosis, a diarrheal disease, is caused by the microscopic parasite cryptosporidium, or crypto, and it could be living in your public pool. |
 | Study finds subclinical cardiovascular disease associated with higher fall riskEach year, one out of three U.S. adults aged 65 years or older falls—and the number of deaths from falls is rising. Falls cost the U.S. health system more than $23 billion in emergency room visits each year. Worse, they frequently contribute to serious injury in older adults, often resulting in persistent disability and premature death. |
 | The Zika epidemic in Cuba, reflected by imported cases in BarcelonaTravellers returning to Barcelona mirrored the 2017 Zika outbreak in Cuba, according to a study led by the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, an institution supported by "la Caixa". |
 | Shingles vaccine safely prevents outbreaks among stem cell transplant patientsA newer form of shingles vaccine reduced outbreaks of the painful rash among patients who were transplanted with their own stem cells, according to a study led by a Duke Health researcher and published today in JAMA. |
 | In UK's third largest city intervention program helps reduce childhood obesityChildhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions, affecting children's health and wellbeing and leading to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer later in life. The number of children with obesity continues to rise globally, particularly for children living in poverty. |
 | 'Traffic light' food labels reduce calories purchased in hospital cafeteriaA new study by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators released today in JAMA Network Open, a publication of the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed that labeling food choices in a hospital cafeteria with simple "traffic-light" symbols indicating their relative health value was associated with a reduction in calories purchased by employees, and that the dietary changes were sustained over two years. |
 | Robotic pancreas transplant offers hope for obese patients with Type 1 diabetesFor patients with Type 1 diabetes who don't respond well to insulin or have other serious medical complications caused by their disease, pancreas transplantation offers hope for a cure. But obese candidates who need a pancreas transplant often are denied the procedure because of poor outcomes, including high rates of incision infections, which are linked to an increased risk for failure and loss of the implanted organ. |
 | Ped EM docs at risk for developing compassion fatigue, burnout, low compassion satisfactionPediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians are at risk for developing compassion fatigue (CF), burnout (BO), and low compassion satisfaction (CS), but proactive awareness of these phenomena and their predictors may allow providers to better manage the unique challenges and emotional stressors of the pediatric ED to enhance personal well-being and professional performance. That is the conclusion of a study to be published in the July 2019 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). |
Insulin nasal spray may boost cognitive function in obese adolescents by improving connectivityResearchers at the Modern Diet and Physiology Research Center and Department of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine are investigating whether insulin delivered directly to the brain by nasal inhalation can enhance communication between brain regions and improve cognition in adolescents with obesity and prediabetes. Led by Dr. Dana Small, preliminary findings from a two-year study suggest that intranasal insulin improves brain and cognitive function in adolescents with obesity. | |
Food and alcohol reduce activity in 'hunger neurons' via different brain pathwaysHow does the brain process rewards? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are investigating how the brain responds differently to two commonly ingested rewards—food and alcohol—to understand how they alter neural activity and behavior. Their findings were presented this week in Utrecht, Netherlands at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB), one of the leading venues for research on eating and drinking. | |
Brain stimulation enhances motivation to work for foodElectrical stimulation of the brain through the vagus nerve increases the motivations to work for food, according to recent findings of a research group at the University of Tübingen. These findings, which were presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior this week in Utrecht, Netherlands, demonstrate a novel method to alter motivation to obtain food. | |
'Hunger hormone' enhances memoryA team of neuroscience researchers at the University of Southern California have identified a surprising new role for the "hunger hormone" ghrelin. Ghrelin has previously been recognized for its unique role in sending hunger signals from the gut to the brain, but, as presented this week at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, these new findings suggest that it may also be important for memory control. | |
Intermittent fasting protects mice from type 2 diabetesEvery-other-day fasting substantially reduces the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes in mice eating a fat-rich diet, according to new research out of the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke. These findings, presented this week at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior in Utrecht, Netherlands, suggest that periodic fasting can reduce fat accumulation in the pancreas and, in turn, prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. "We observed that pancreatic fat cells directly affect islet insulin secretion and that this can be altered by eating patterns" said Dr. Mandy Stadion, a post-doctoral research fellow who led this study. | |
Exercise improves brain function in overweight and obese individualsNew findings out of the University of Tübingen show that, on top of its benefits for metabolism, mood, and general health, exercise also improves brain function. In recent studies, researchers learned that obese and overweight individuals are prone to insulin resistance in the brain, where it provides information about current nutritional status, as well as the rest of the body. So researchers wanted to know whether exercise can improve insulin sensitivity in the brain and improve cognition in overweight individuals. | |
Perception of lower socioeconomic standing stimulates appetiteRecent research suggests that the psychological consequences of being in a disadvantaged position in society may stimulate appetite and increase eating regardless of one's ability to access healthier foods. These findings, out from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, add a new dimension to previous findings suggesting that the increased risk for obesity among people who are poorer and socioeconomically disadvantaged is due primarily to economic barriers that prevent access to healthier foods and other unhealthy behaviors associated with poverty. | |
France says to halt homeopathy pay-outs from 2021The French government said Wednesday it would stop reimbursing patients for homeopathic treatment from 2021 after a major national study concluded the alternative medicine had no proven benefit. | |
 | No further Ebola cases in Uganda after June deaths: DR CongoUganda says there have been no further cases of Ebola on its territory resulting from the deaths of two Ugandans who had travelled to DR Congo, the Congolese authorities said Wednesday. |
 | Rule requiring drug prices in TV ads blocked by judgeA Trump administration rule to force pharmaceutical companies to disclose the list prices of their drugs in television ads was blocked Monday by a federal judge. |
 | Understanding NFL legend Tedy Bruschi's 'mini-stroke'It was a frighteningly familiar scenario for football legend Tedy Bruschi. "Around 10:30 a.m. on July 4th I lost use of my left arm," the former New England Patriot wrote Monday on Instagram. "I then tried to speak and realized I was slurring my speech. As I turned to my wife she noticed the left side of my face was drooping. We immediately knew what was happening. These are stroke warning signs." |
 | California becomes first state to provide health care coverage to some undocumented adultsGov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation making California the first state to provide health care coverage to young, undocumented adults, a $98 million measure targeting almost 100,000 people. |
 | New antibody treatment provides little relief for high-frequency migraine patientsAn early assessment reveals that a newly approved drug to treat migraines does not seem effective among patients who suffer from high-frequency migraines. |
Cleveland Clinic releases fourth installment of Alzheimer's Disease Drug Pipeline ReportCleveland Clinic's fourth annual analysis of Alzheimer's disease drug development found that the pipeline has grown in the number and variety of agents being tested over the past year, while highlighting several advances in the field including new clinical trial designs, more detailed criteria for making a research diagnosis, and an increased use of biological tests reflecting of the disease. | |
 | EU greenlights GSK-Pfizer joint ventureThe EU on Wednesday approved the merger of the consumer healthcare activities of pharmaceutical giants GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer that produce over-the-counter medicines. |
Court rules against Florida officials on medical marijuanaA Florida appellate court ruled that the state's approach to regulating marijuana is unconstitutional, possibly allowing more providers to jump into a market positioned to become one of the country's most lucrative. | |
Loneliness heightened among gay men in certain age group in ChinaGay men in China ages 25-29 are eight times more likely to feel criticized and rejected compared with men in that country ages 20 or younger, new University of Hawaii at Manoa research shows. | |
Biology news
 | Human pregnancy dependent on cells evolved in platypus-like animal 300 million years agoPlatelet cells, which prevent mammals from bleeding non-stop, first evolved around 300 million years ago in an egg-laying animal similar to the modern duck-billed platypus, finds joint research by UCL and Yale University. |
 | Gorillas found to live in 'complex' societies, suggesting deep roots of human social evolutionGorillas have more complex social structures than previously thought, from lifetime bonds forged between distant relations, to "social tiers" with striking parallels to traditional human societies, according to a new study. |
 | Neural sleep patterns emerged at least 450 million years ago, researchers findResearchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have found that neural signatures in sleeping zebrafish are analogous to those of humans, suggesting that the brain activity evolved at least 450 million years ago, before any creatures crawled out of the ocean. |
 | Secrets of a sex-changing fish revealedWe may take it for granted that the sex of an animal is established at birth and doesn't change. |
 | Ultra-fast communication allows aquatic cells to release toxins in unison, researchers findCrouching in the boot-sucking mud of the Baylands Nature Preserve in Palo Alto, Manu Prakash, associate professor of bioengineering at Stanford University, peered through his Foldscope—a $1.75 origami microscope of his own invention—scrutinizing the inhabitants of the marsh's brackish waters. With his eye trained on a large single-cell organism, called Spirostomum, he watched it do something that immediately made it his next research subject. |
 | Best male biathletes 'more attractive'Top male biathletes are more attractive to the opposite sex, according to a new study by scientists at the universities of Exeter and Bristol. |
 | Research team brings computation and experimentation closer togetherA bioengineering group from the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering is bringing the worlds of computational modeling and experimentation closer together by developing a methodology to help analyze the wealth of imaging data provided by advancements in imaging tools and automated microscopes. |
 | Clownfish reproduction threatened by artificial light in coral reefsThe popular story about a clownfish that got lost at sea in the movie Finding Nemo could have a much darker sequel—as artificial light in coral reefs leaves the famous fish unable to reproduce offspring, according to a new study. |
 | Caterpillars turn anti-predator defense against sticky toxic plantsA moth caterpillar has evolved to use acids, usually sprayed at predators as a deterrent, to disarm the defenses of their food plants, according to a study publishing July 10 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by David Dussourd from the University of Central Arkansas and colleagues. |
 | Unprecedented display of concern and 'consolation' toward an unknown monkey offers hope for endangered macaquesA wild group of endangered Barbary macaques have been observed, for the first time, "consoling" and adopting an injured juvenile from a neighbouring group. The observations by a scientist from Oxford University and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (ifaw) are published today in the journal Primates. |
 | Marine scientists discover an important, overlooked role sea urchins play in the kelp forest ecosystemSea urchins have gotten a bad rap on the Pacific coast. The spiky sea creatures can mow down entire swaths of kelp forest, leaving behind rocky urchin barrens. An article in the New York Times went so far as to call them "cockroaches of the ocean." But new research suggests that urchins play a more complex role in their ecosystems than previously believed. |
 | Study finds severely disturbed habitats have impacted health of Madagascar's critically endangered lemursA new study led by Mitch Irwin and Karen Samonds of Northern Illinois University finds that degraded rainforest habitats are having an unhealthy impact on at least one species of Madagascar's treasured lemurs, the most endangered mammal group in the world. |
 | Genetic breakthrough in cereal crops could help improve yields worldwideA team of Clemson University scientists has achieved a breakthrough in the genetics of senescence in cereal crops with the potential to dramatically impact the future of food security in the era of climate change. |
 | Elbows key for walkers' efficiencyWandering through the Harvard campus one day in 2015, graduate student Andrew Yegian recalls how something unusual caught his eye. "I noticed a person running with straight arms," he explains. This really stood out for Yegian, as runners usually bend the elbow, while walkers keep their arms straight, which made him wonder: "If straight arms are better for walking, why aren't they better for running, and vice versa?" he puzzled. Was there a trade-off between the cost of keeping the elbow bent and swinging the arm at the shoulder that could benefit runners? Could walkers conserve energy by keeping their swinging arms straight? Intrigued, Yegian and this thesis advisor, Dan Lieberman, decided to film athletes walking and running with straight and bent arms to find out why runners keep their arms bent while walkers let them swing loose. They publish their discovery that walking with a straight arm is much more efficient than walking with a bent arm in Journal of Experimental Biology. |
 | Sturgeon, America's forgotten dinosaurs, show signs of lifeSturgeon were America's vanishing dinosaurs, armor-plated beasts that crowded the nation's rivers until mankind's craving for caviar pushed them to the edge of extinction. |
 | Refuelling under scrutiny as S.Africa penguins hit by oil spillRangers in wet suits have been searching for oil-tarred penguins in shallow water around St Croix Island off the South African coast as a refuelling spill highlights conservationists' fears over pollution. |
 | The path to China's 'ecological civilization' starts with national parksPresident Xi Jinping staked out China's role as a committed player to tackle the climate crisis and build an "ecological civilization." In a review published July 10 in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution, researchers discuss one of the Chinese government's efforts—reforming the management of protected areas by streamlining agencies' responsibilities and reducing functional overlaps. |
 | How puffins catch food outside the breeding seasonLittle is known about how seabirds catch their food outside the breeding season but using modern technology, researchers at the University of Liverpool and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology have gained new insight into their feeding habits. |
 | Chasing the elusive Magellanic WoodpeckerUniversity of North Texas Ph.D. candidate, Amy Wynia, traveled more than 6,000 miles to Navarino Island in southern-most Chile to explore the forests in search of the Magellanic Woodpecker (Campephilus magellanicus), the largest woodpecker in South America. While Wynia went to the ends of the earth to collect information for her Ph.D. dissertation, she also went because she really loves woodpeckers. |
 | Thousands of endangered animals seized in customs operationPolice and customs officials have carried out the most widespread anti-wildlife-trafficking operation ever in a joint global operation that's led to the seizure of tens of thousands of endangered animals and the arrest of nearly 600 suspects. |
 | 'Plan Bee' gets Indian elephants to buzz off railwaysIndian Railways have come up with a novel way of getting elephants to buzz off from train tracks: speakers that play the sound of bees to scare the jumbos away. |
 | Five ways to be a responsible wildlife touristImagine walking through a lush tropical forest. You hear a rustle overhead, and a half-eaten fruit plops onto the trail. You lock eyes with a howler monkey, before he gives a soft grunt and moves higher into the trees. These magical, fleeting connections with a wild animal can be the highlight of a holiday. |
 | Unraveling the three-dimensional genomic structure of male germ cellsThe genome is not just a linear sequence of letters, but is also compartmentalized into a specifically tailored chromatin structure within cell nuclei. This three-dimensional genomic structure is fundamental, given that it determines which genes are turned on and off in each cell type. |
 | The wild relatives of livestock and crops are disappearing"Transformative change" is needed to prevent a million species going extinct, according to a new report on the world's biodiversity. Based on information gathered over three years from land, freshwater and marine ecosystems, and drawing heavily from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the report from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services warns that Earth's life-support systems may collapse if humanity doesn't change the way it values and uses nature. |
 | Chimp champ Jane Goodall enlists advanced mapping technology for nature and humanityIn groundbreaking research beginning nearly 60 years ago, Jane Goodall has devoted her life to understanding our closest relatives, chimpanzees. |
 | Heat, salt, drought: This barley can withstand the challenges of climate changeResearch for the benefit of food security: A new line of barley achieves good crop yields even under poor environmental conditions. It has been bred by a research team from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), which crossed a common variety with various types of wild barley. The researchers then planted the new lines of barley in five very different locations around the world, observed the growth of the plants and analysed their genetic make-up. As the team reports in Scientific Reports, some of the plants were not only more resistant to heat and drought, but in many cases achieve higher yields than local varieties. |
 | New research helps managers and ship crews predict locations of blue whales so ships can maintain safe distancesA new model based on daily oceanographic data and the movements of tagged whales has opened the potential for stakeholders to see where in the ocean endangered blue whales are most likely to be so that ships can avoid hitting them. |
 | Nine deer dead in Japan after eating plastic: wildlife groupNine deer have died after swallowing plastic bags in Japan's Nara Park, a wildlife group said on Wednesday, warning that a surge in tourism may be to blame. |
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