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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 12, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Glitch in neutron star reveals its hidden secretsNeutron stars are not only the most dense objects in the Universe, but they rotate very fast and regularly. Until they don't. |
 | Dense gas detected in intercore bridges in the S235 star-forming regionUsing the Nobeyama Radio Observatory (NRO), astronomers have investigated a massive star-forming region known as S235. The study resulted in detecting high-density gas in this region, which could be helpful in advancing the knowledge of star-formation mechanisms. The finding is detailed in a paper published August 2 on arXiv.org. |
 | Virtual 'universe machine' sheds light on galaxy evolutionHow do galaxies such as our Milky Way come into existence? How do they grow and change over time? The science behind galaxy formation has remained a puzzle for decades, but a University of Arizona-led team of scientists is one step closer to finding answers thanks to supercomputer simulations. |
 | Astrophysicists measure key cosmic step in formation of early starsAstrophysicists in Ireland have, for the first time, measured a crucial step in the formation and evolution of stars. |
 | A new timeline of Earth's cataclysmic pastWelcome to the early solar system. Just after the planets formed more than 4.5 billion years ago, our cosmic neighborhood was a chaotic place. Waves of comets, asteroids and even proto-planets streamed toward the inner solar system, with some crashing into Earth on their way. |
 | Amid protest, Hawaii astronomers lose observation timeAsteroids, including those that might slam into Earth. Clouds of gas and dust on the verge of forming stars. Planets orbiting stars other than our own. |
 | Modeling a core collapse supernovaStars greater than eight solar-masses end their lives spectacularly—as supernovae. These single-star supernovae are called core collapse supernovae because when their dense cores (at this stage composed primarily of iron) are no longer able to withstand the inward pressure of gravity they collapse inward before exploding. Core collapse supernovae with strong hydrogen emission lines are thought to result from the explosions of red supergiant stars, massive stars that have evolved beyond their principle hydrogen burning stage and grown in radius. Until recently, astronomers thought these stars were relatively quiescent until their final demise, but evidence has been accumulating that they actually experience strong mass loss before exploding. In some models, emission resulting when ejecta from the supernovae encounter these envelopes produces the observed variations in core collapse supernova. |
Technology news
 | An algorithm to teach robots pre-grasping manipulation strategiesWhen human beings reach out to grasp a given object, they often need to push clutter out of the way in order to isolate it and ensure that there is enough room to pick it up. Even though humans are not always fully aware that they are doing it, this strategy, known as "pre-grasping manipulation," allows them to grasp objects more efficiently. |
 | Phishing tricksters nab the warm fuzzies, smilesPhishing is the most common form of cyberattack and still growing. Yet, in a survey of Internet users, it was found that 45 percent of those surveyed did not understand what phishing was or the risk associated with it. |
 | Tape, glasses allow researchers to bypass Face IDIn September 2018, a tech watcher was admirably candid: If you are a normal person, Apple FaceID is basically safe, she said. But then this tech watcher, Rachel Kraus, wrote in Mashable that "as I sized up the arguments for and against, I've begrudgingly come to the conclusion that my fear of Face ID is just the teensiest bit irrational....But no way in hell does that mean I'm going to use it." |
 | Robots need a new philosophy to get a gripRobots need to know the reason why they are doing a job if they are to effectively and safely work alongside people in the near future. In simple terms, this means machines need to understand motive the way humans do, and not just perform tasks blindly, without context. |
 | Air Force achieves record-setting hypersonic ground test milestoneAn Air Force Research Laboratory and Air Force Test Center ground test team set a record for the highest thrust produced by an air-breathing hypersonic engine in Air Force history. |
 | We asked, you answered: you're holding onto your phone foreverWe asked consumers and they couldn't have been clearer. They will never, ever pay $1,000 for a smartphone. They'll hold onto their phones until the dial tone truly goes dead. |
 | Hit rewind: Sony Walkman triggers nostalgia on 40th birthdayMust-have 80s gadget and one-time icon of Japan electronics cool, Sony's Walkman turned 40 this year and like its now middle-aged fans, is clinging to its youth with high-tech updates. |
 | Ignore the hand-wringing headlines about the impending AI revolution, but get ready for the disruptionThe entrepreneurial spirit. Human ingenuity. The creative mind. |
 | 5 ways to shift consumers toward sustainable behaviorMost people want to be sustainable, but have a hard time taking the necessary actions. |
Chinese propaganda goes tech-savvy to reach a new generationEarlier this year, a new app was launched in China to put the patriotism of Chinese citizens to the test. | |
 | Researchers creating AI-powered chatbot to help families living with neurodevelopmental disabilitiesA research team at the University of Alberta is using artificial intelligence to build a chatbot—a computer program that can simulate a human conversation through text or voice—to help families living with neurodevelopmental disabilities find the best information and resources available online. |
 | Researchers convert used car batteries into units that could power farms in the developing worldAs part of a Circular Economy for electric vehicle battery systems, as the number of such vehicles increases rapidly, the need to find the best way to reuse and recycle vehicle batteries becomes just as intense. Now researchers at WMG, University of Warwick, have found a way not just to recycle those used batteries, but repurpose them as small energy storage systems (ESS) for off grid locations in developing countries or isolated communities. The repurposed units, each containing approximately 2kWh of energy capacity, will be able to power a small shop, a farm holding, or multiple residential homes. |
 | Smartphone apps may connect to vulnerable backend cloud serversCybersecurity researchers have discovered vulnerabilities in the backend systems that feed content and advertising to smartphone applications through a network of cloud-based servers that most users probably don't even know exists. |
 | Saudi Aramco says half-year net income slips to $46.9 bnSaudi energy giant Aramco said Monday its first half net income for 2019 slipped nearly 12 percent to $46.9 billion, a first such disclosure that still reinforces its position as the world's most profitable company. |
 | AI tool characterizes a song's genre and provides insights regarding perception musicLil Nas X's record-setting, chart-topping hit "Old Town Road" is indeed country. But it's also a little rock 'n roll. And when you analyze the lyrics and chords together, it's straight-up pop. |
 | Apple loses more ground in smartphone marketApple lost more ground in the shrinking smartphone market last quarter, with a sales tracker saying the tech giant was pushed off the top-three seller list by a Chinese rival. |
 | UK energy firm says power cut was not caused by cyberattackA power cut that affected a million people and caused travel chaos was not the result of a cyberattack, operators of Britain's electricity network said Saturday. |
 | Huawei launches first product with own operating systemChinese telecom giant Huawei, which has been caught in the crossfires of the Washington-Beijing trade war, on Saturday unveiled a new smart television, the first product to use its own operating system. |
 | French industry hits the beach to woo future recruitsA few steps from the sea in the Normandy resort of Deauville, a group of curious holidaymakers in flip-flops and beach garb pepper a technician with questions as he extols the capabilities of a cutting-edge 3-D modelling machine. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Neuroscientists make major breakthrough in 200-year-old puzzleFor centuries, the mental world of the mind and the physical world were treated as utterly distinct. While the movement of inanimate objects could be measured and ultimately predicted with the help of mathematics, the behavior of organisms appeared to be shaped by different forces under the control of the will. |
 | Aspirin may interact with cells' DNA modifications to alter breast cancer outcomesNew findings suggest that women with specific DNA characteristics in certain areas of the genome may live longer if they take aspirin before they are diagnosed with breast cancer. Published early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings point to the need for studies on the potential of aspirin to prevent or treat breast cancer in some individuals. |
 | Alzheimer's disease destroys neurons that keep us awakeResearchers and caregivers have noted that excessive daytime napping can develop long before the memory problems associated with Alzheimer's disease begin to unfold. Prior studies have considered this excessive daytime napping to be compensation for poor nighttime sleep caused by Alzheimer's-related disruptions in sleep-promoting brain regions, while others have argued that the sleep problems themselves contribute to the progression of the disease. But now UC San Francisco scientists have provided a striking new biological explanation for this phenomenon, showing instead that Alzheimer's disease directly attacks brain regions responsible for wakefulness during the day. |
Diarrhea-causing bacteria adapted to spread in hospitalsScientists have discovered that the gut-infecting bacterium Clostridium difficile is evolving into two separate species, with one group highly adapted to spread in hospitals. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and collaborators identified genetic changes in the newly-emerging species that allow it to thrive on the Western sugar-rich diet, evade common hospital disinfectants and spread easily. Able to cause debilitating diarrhoea, they estimated this emerging species started to appear thousands of years ago, and accounts for over two thirds of healthcare C. difficile infections. | |
 | Scientists identify brain region that enables young songbirds to change their tuneIn a scientific first, Columbia scientists have demonstrated how the brains of young songbirds become tuned to the songs they learn while growing up. |
 | Antiseptic resistance in bacteria could lead to next-gen plasticsThe molecular machinery used by bacteria to resist chemicals designed to kill them could also help produce precursors for a new generation of nylon and other polymers, according to new research by scientists from Australia and the UK. |
 | Pinpointing how cells regulate long-lasting memoriesThe brain has a knack for safekeeping our most treasured memories, from a first kiss to a child's birth. In a new study in mouse cells, Columbia neuroscientists have mapped some of the molecular machinery that helps the brain maintain these kinds of long-term memories. By observing the activity of nerve cells of the brain, called neurons, that were extracted from the brain's memory center, the researchers outlined how the protein CPEB3 primes neurons to store memories that stand the test of time. |
 | Key to targeting the spread of pancreatic cancerAn international team of researchers has revealed how aggressive pancreatic cancer cells change their environment to enable easy passage to other parts of the body (or metastasis) - the main cause of pancreatic cancer related death. |
 | HIV infection increases risk of other health outcomesPeople living with HIV are more likely to develop certain other health conditions over the course of their lives. A comprehensive international analysis of more than 3,000 studies on the subject of HIV, in which MedUni Vienna participated, has identified several outcomes as being HIV-related, eight of these being clearly attributable to infection with the pathogen that causes AIDS. |
 | The effect of being overweight and obese on cancer risk is at least double than previously thoughtThe effect of being overweight and obese on the risk of cancer is at least twice as large as previously thought according to new findings by an international research team which included University of Bristol academics. |
 | Scientists zero in on atomic driver of tumor formationGrowing evidence suggests that certain types of bacteria are capable of causing colorectal cancers, indicating that a sub-set of these cancers could be the result of infectious disease. |
 | Calcium is key to age-related memory lossResearch at the University of Leicester is offering new clues into how and why cognitive functions such as memory and learning become impaired with age. A paper published recently in a specialist neuroscience journal shows that a crucial factor is calcium levels in specific cells in the brain. |
 | Biologists pioneer first method to decode gene expressionGiven the recent remarkable advancements in genetics, it's easy to assume that 21st century scientists have at their disposal a clear, quick way to run a genomic sequence scan and find out which genes among thousands can be expressed and which cannot. Gene expression is the process by which information encoded within genes leads to key products, such as proteins. |
 | Inherited pancreatic cancer risk mutation identifiedScientists studying a highly cancer-prone family have identified a rare, inherited gene mutation that dramatically raises the lifetime risk of pancreatic and other cancers. |
 | Study finds way to disarm dangerous bacteriaIn Australia, more than 10,000 patients a year acquire a serious bacterial infection called Clostridioides difficile, often while in hospital, resulting in the death of up to 300 people per year. The Centers for Disease Control in the United States (US) call C. difficile a major health threat causing half a million infections and 15,000 deaths every year in the US (around 40 deaths per day). The bacterium thrives in the large intestine when the gut environment has been disrupted by antibiotics. |
 | Study eyes role of Apple smart devices to help identify early stage ADA study conducted by Evidation Health on behalf of Eli Lilly and Apple suggests that data collected from smart devices and digital apps might help speed up the diagnosis of early stages of Alzheimer's disease. |
 | Researchers first to map structure of protein aggregate that leads to Alzheimer'sA research team including faculty at Binghamton University and University of Colorado Denver are the first to map the molecular structure of an aggressive protein aggregate that causes acceleration of Alzheimer's disease. |
 | Research shows human cells assembling into fractal-like clustersTree-like branching structures are everywhere in the human body, from the bronchial system in the lungs to the spidering capillaries that supply blood to the extremities. Researchers have long worked to understand the cellular signaling needed to build these intricate structures, but new research suggests that simple physics may play an underappreciated role. |
Older adults more likely to condemn even accidental harmAs people get older, they are more likely to condemn and want to punish others for acts that cause harm, even if no harm was intended, according to research presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. | |
Low-income, black neighborhoods still hit hard by air pollutionDisease-causing air pollution remains high in pockets of America—particularly those where many low-income and African-American people live, a disparity highlighted in research presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association in New York. | |
 | High temps may up admissions, deaths in end-stage renal disease(HealthDay)—For patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), extreme heat events (EHEs) are associated with increased risk of hospital admission and mortality, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Why you should make family meals part of your busy day(HealthDay)—Family meals are a recipe for healthy eating in kids, nutritionists say. |
 | Nurse-led quality initiative cuts hypoglycemia in ICU patients(HealthDay)—Nurse-driven root cause analysis is associated with a substantial reduction in hypoglycemia in the intensive care unit, according to a study published in the August issue of in Critical Care Nurse. |
 | Psychology can help prevent deadly childhood accidentsInjuries have overtaken infectious disease as the leading cause of death for children worldwide, and psychologists have the research needed to help predict and prevent deadly childhood mishaps, according to a presentation at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. |
 | Why stress and anxiety aren't always badPeople generally think of stress and anxiety as negative concepts, but while both stress and anxiety can reach unhealthy levels, psychologists have long known that both are unavoidable—and that they often play a helpful, not harmful, role in our daily lives, according to a presentation at the annual convention of the American Psychological Association. |
 | New test enhances ability to predict risk of developing cervical cancer in HPV-positive womenNinety-nine percent of cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). More than 200 HPVs, some of which are associated with varying degrees ofcancer risk, complicate diagnosis and treatment. A report in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, published by Elsevier, describes a new "two-for-one" diagnostic approach that not only detects the type of HPV infection, but also indicates precancerous markers. This test may improve the ability to diagnose the riskiest forms of HPV infection, provide rapid results at low cost, and help avoid unnecessary diagnostic procedures. |
Managing ovarian cancer risk in women with BRCA1/2 genetic variantsBRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic variants are a clinically important risk factor for the development of ovarian and breast cancer, and women who carry these variants have a lifetime risk of ovarian cancer of 39%-44% and 11%-17%, respectively. | |
Hospital harms total $1 billion for health care system in Ontario in fiscal year 2015/16Experiencing harm in hospital significantly increases the length of stay, length of recovery after discharge and health system costs, which amounted to more than $1 billion in Ontario in fiscal year 2015/16, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
Over-55s shouldn't wait for retirement to make time for their healthPeople in middle-age need to keep up their physical activity levels if they are to enjoy a fit and healthy retirement—according to a new report from the University of East Anglia. | |
Evaluating blood flow is key to early diagnosis and treatment for people with critical limb ischemiaNon-invasive techniques and devices for assessing blood flow and other diagnostic considerations for people with critical limb ischemia are addressed in a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association, published in the Association's flagship journal Circulation. | |
 | Diabetes treatment targets have not improved in the US since 2005More than 30 million Americans are living with diabetes. Diabetes treatment is generally focused on controlling blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol level, as well as promoting smoking cessation. A new study by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) published online in JAMA Internal Medicine suggests that the achievement of these targets has not improved for U.S. adults with diabetes since 2005. |
 | Study shows pediatricians can help parents to quit smokingAn NIH-funded study published in JAMA Pediatrics has shown pediatricians can help parents quit smoking. The research, led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC), was conducted across five states—North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio and Indiana—and delivered a simple, customizable intervention: Upon check-in at their child's appointment, parents took an electronic questionnaire that asked whether any smokers in the household desired to quit and offered them prescriptions for two FDA-approved cessation products—nicotine patches and gum, as well as enrollment in the state's free quitline and the national SmokefreeTXT program. All smokers in the practice, whether or not they elected to try quitting, also received motivational messages from their child's pediatricians. |
 | Mental health specialists boost vets' access to outpatient servicesA Veterans Health Administration program that added mental health specialists, care managers or both in primary care clinics significantly improved access to mental health and primary care services to veterans with behavioral health needs. In a clinic of 100 patients, each additional patient seen by such a mental health specialist or care manager was on average associated with 11 percent more mental health visits and 40 percent more primary care visits. The practice also resulted in 9 percent higher average annual costs for each patient. |
 | Reduced carbohydrate intake improves type 2 diabetics' ability to regulate blood sugarPatients with type 2 diabetes improve their ability to regulate blood sugar levels if they eat food with a reduced carbohydrate content and an increased share of protein and fat. This is shown by a recent study conducted at Bispebjerg Hospital in collaboration with, among other partners, Aarhus University and the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports at the University of Copenhagen. The findings are contrary to the conventional dietary recommendations for type 2 diabetics. |
 | Smartphone test predicts how symptoms develop in Parkinson'sResearchers in Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences have found that a simple test carried out on a smartphone can help to predict future change in people in the early stages of Parkinson's. |
 | Fast food availability linked with more heart attacksAreas with a higher number of fast food restaurants have more heartattacks, according to research presented at CSANZ 2019. The study also found that for every additional fast food outlet, there were four additional heart attacks per 100,000 people each year. |
 | The new field of sonogenetics uses sound waves to control the behavior of brain cellsWhat if you didn't need surgery to implant a pacemaker on a faulty heart? What if you could control your blood sugar levels without an injection of insulin, or mitigate the onset of a seizure without even pushing a button? |
 | New stats show dementia causes 1 in 8 deaths in England and WalesAlzheimer's Research UK is calling on the Prime Minister to back worldwide commitments to invest in more dementia research as new data out today shows deaths due to the condition continue to rise. According to the Office of National Statistics, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias remain the leading cause of death in England and Wales and accounted for 12.8 percent of all deaths in 2018. |
 | How to manage in a crisis: Lessons from the West Africa Ebola outbreakThe Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is currently grappling with the world's second largest Ebola outbreak. More than 1,800 people have died and 2,600 infections have been confirmed since the outbreak was declared in August 2018. |
 | Why women are more likely to have dodgy hip implants or other medical devicesThe past year has seen wide concern about the safety of medical implants. Some of the worst scandals have involved devices for women, such as textured breast implants with links to cancer, and transvaginal mesh implants, which were the subject of a senate inquiry. |
 | Opinion: There should be no gestational limits for abortionFamily planning organisation and abortion provider Marie Stopes today warned that Australian women face a confusing patchwork of state-based laws and service shortages that restrict access to abortions, based on where they live. |
 | Advanced ovarian cancer drug gets initial 'no' for NHS in EnglandA targeted drug with potential to slow the progress of ovarian cancer has been rejected for use on the NHS in England. |
 | Pet-friendly aged care ticks both economic and health boxesA growing demand for pet-friendly aged care accommodation is backed by scientific evidence demonstrating the health benefits of companion animals, according to a University of South Australia researcher. |
 | Doctoral student's research brings new insight to removing breastfeeding barriersA new study from The University of Toledo suggests providing more robust support for new mothers who experience stressful life events leading up to the baby's birth, such as a lost job or a critically ill family member, could improve breastfeeding rates. |
 | Improving mental health of young people with cancerMore research is urgently needed to improve the mental health of young people during and after cancer treatment and improve their access to clinical trials, concludes a new study published in the journal BMJ Open. |
 | New study: Social media isn't causing more eating disorders in young peopleThere is ongoing debate about whether eating disorders are more common in modern society. Some say that as young people are both exposed to and share images of themselves in an unprecedented way on social media today, this affects their body image and may have an impact on their eating too. Others suggest that social media can help eating disorder recovery by providing platforms for people to talk about their experiences and treatment. So which one is correct? |
 | Building therapeutic cities to tackle mental health problemsIn all likelihood, poor mental health has blighted every age of human existence. Evolutionary psychologists suggest it may be an intrinsic, even necessary, condition for our species. But there are grounds to suppose that we are now witnessing a rise in conditions such as stress, anxiety, depression, burnout and suicide, as mental health disorders are measured to have a growing toll on the global population. |
 | A neuroscience-based action plan to deal with stress after mass shootingsAfter the mass murders in El Paso and Dayton, discussions about improving mental health and strengthening gun control laws may be comforting. |
 | Textured breast implant recall: What you need to knowEver since the Food and Drug Administration recalled textured breast implants in late July, the phone has not stopped ringing at the office of Orlando plastic surgeon Dr. Kendall Peters. |
 | What TV binge-watching does to your brainBinge-watching episodes of your favorite shows does no favors for your brain, an expert warns. |
 | How to kickstart your creativityYou don't have to have the talent of a Rembrandt or Yo-Yo Ma to express creativity and get some very special benefits from doing so. Everyday creativity boosts well-being and can give you a stronger sense of purpose and engagement, and everyone can tap into it. |
Motivations for sexting can be complicated, researcher saysAmidst a surge in research and media reports on the potentially negative consequences of "sexting," a University of Arizona researcher is exploring what motivates young people to send sexually explicit images of themselves via text message in the first place. | |
 | New solution to elderly falls: drones, smartphones and sensorsDrones, smartphones and sensors could provide a lifeline to the world's growing elderly population at risk of falls, helping to cut global hospital costs. |
Young adults in Asia get the least sleep due to cultural habitsAre you tired? A new study of young and middle-aged adults shows it could be happening because of the way society functions in your part of the world. | |
 | More than just jaundice: Mouse study shows bilirubin may protect the brainIn studies in mice, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report they have found that bilirubin, a bile pigment most commonly known for yellowing the skin of people with jaundice, may play an unexpected role in protecting brain cells from damage from oxidative stress. |
 | Mosquito 'spit glands' hold key to curbing malaria, study showsMosquitoes can harbor thousands of malaria-causing parasites in their bodies, yet while slurping blood from a victim, they transmit just a tiny fraction of them. In an effort to define precisely the location of the parasite bottleneck, Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have discovered that the parasites are stopped by a roadblock along the escape route in the insect's spit glands, a barrier that could potentially serve as a novel target for preventing or reducing malarial infection. |
 | National report card rates states' safety policies for high school athletesIn the two years since the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) first assessed all 50 states and the District of Columbia on key health and safety policies for high school athletes, 31 states have adopted new policies—16 this year alone. |
 | Walnuts show protection against ulcerative colitis in early studyWalnut consumption may offer protection against ulcerative colitis, according to a new study by researchers at UConn Health and Texas A&M University. |
 | New target found for disease of the heart's smallest blood vesselsWhen we race walk, for example, part of our healthy heart muscle may want a little more blood and oxygen, so our tiniest blood vessels send a message upstream to the larger vessels to send more. |
 | Hearing loss may be preventable with development of new drugThe first ever medication to treat age-related hearing loss could potentially receive FDA approval through a comprehensive study being conducted at the University of South Florida. |
 | Study finds racial disparities in pregnancy rates for kidney transplant recipientsAmong women who are kidney transplant recipients, Hispanic women have a higher likelihood of pregnancy than white women, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC). The study, published in the PLOS ONE journal, demonstrates the importance of understanding the factors responsible for these disparities in pregnancy rates. |
 | Of mice and babies: New animal model links blood transfusions to dangerous digestive disease in premature babiesPhysicians have long suspected that red blood cell transfusions given to premature infants with anemia may put them in danger of developing necrotizing enterocolitis, a potentially lethal inflammatory disease of the intestines. However, solid evidence for the connection has been difficult to obtain in part because of the lack of a practical animal model able to accurately represent what physically occurs when a baby gets NEC. |
 | Leishmania virulence strategy unveiledA team from the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) has made a scientific breakthrough regarding the virulence strategy employed by the Leishmania parasite to infect cells of the immune system. This microorganism is responsible for Leishmaniasis, a chronic parasitic disease that affects more than 12 million people worldwide. |
 | Adults who mix cannabis with opioids for pain report higher anxiety, depressionA researcher from the University of Houston has found that adults who take prescription opioids for severe pain are more likely to have increased anxiety, depression and substance abuse issues if they also use marijuana. |
 | Bacterial resistance to two critical antibiotics widespread in Southeast AsiaResistance to two critical antibiotic types, one a "drug of last resort" when all others fail against some "superbugs," are widely distributed in Southeast Asia, raising the risk of untreatable infections, say a team of investigators led by Georgetown University Medical Center. |
Study finds older adults less distracted by negative informationA new study shows that compared to younger adults, older adults are less distracted by negative information—even in the earliest stages of attention. | |
 | Women and elderly at higher risk of dangerous drug interactionsA new study led by researchers at Indiana University has found that women and older adults who use multiple prescription drugs are significantly more likely to be prescribed pills whose combination produces dangerous side effects. |
 | Tissue model reveals role of blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer'sBeta-amyloid plaques, the protein aggregates that form in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, disrupt many brain functions and can kill neurons. They can also damage the blood-brain barrier—the normally tight border that prevents harmful molecules in the bloodstream from entering the brain. |
 | Launch of standardised tool to assess cognitive and language development in two year oldsA new paper published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health co-authored by a University of Warwick researcher provides standardised scores for The Parent Report of Children's Abilities Revised (PARCA-R) questionnaire. The PARCA-R is recommended for routine use in the UK to screen for cognitive and language developmental delay in children born preterm and can be completed by parents in 10 to 15 minutes. A new website has also been launched (http://www.parca-r.info) with an online version of the questionnaire and a pre-programmed calculator for deriving the standardised scores. |
 | Industrial designers and biomedical engineers address needs of wounded veteransGetting treatment for a serious injury or ailment isn't simply a matter of taking prescribed medication or showing up for appointments on time. It's also about the little things in between—dealing with complicated billing or insurance processes, for example, or navigating the mental toll of a physical disability that affects quality of life. |
 | In search of clues to fight antibiotic resistanceTo combat the rise of drug-resistant bacteria, researchers are examining how one superbug adapts to fight an antibiotic of last resort, hoping to find clues that can prolong the drug's effectiveness. |
 | Robotic neck brace dramatically improves functions of ALS patientsA novel neck brace, which supports the neck during its natural motion, was designed by Columbia engineers. This is the first device shown to dramatically assist patients suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in holding their heads and actively supporting them during range of motion. This advance would result in improved quality of life for patients, not only in improving eye contact during conversation, but also in facilitating the use of eyes as a joystick to control movements on a computer, much as scientist Stephen Hawkins famously did. |
California fix for surprise doctor bills works, but drives physician consolidationA California law that limits the size of bills from out-of-network physicians for care delivered in hospitals appears to be protecting patients' financial liability, but has shifted bargaining leverage in favor of insurance plans and had potential unintended consequences such as encouraging more consolidation among physician practice groups, according to a new RAND Corporation study. | |
 | Hearing loss increases risk for dementia in taiwanese individuals(HealthDay)—Taiwanese individuals between the ages of 45 and 64 years old diagnosed with hearing loss are at a greater risk for developing dementia than those without hearing loss, according to a study published online July 31 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Unused pharmaceuticals common after cataract surgery(HealthDay)—Unused pharmaceutical products during phacoemulsification result in relatively high financial and environmental costs, according to a study published online Aug. 1 in JAMA Ophthalmology. |
 | Few at risk for diabetes report being informed by provider(HealthDay)—Few patients with undiagnosed prediabetes are told that they are at high risk for diabetes, according to a study published in the July issue of Clinical Diabetes. |
 | Obesity plagues Hispanics and Blacks in Colorado, nation's 'healthiest' stateColorado stands out on the map of U.S. obesity rates, a cool green rectangle surrounded by more alarming shades of yellow, orange and red. |
 | Prescription drug misuse common in high schoolers(HealthDay)—Misuse of prescription drugs is common among high school students, and those misusing prescription drugs frequently obtain them from multiple sources, according to two studies published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. |
 | Protein made during long workouts may warn of heart problemDoctors diagnose heart attacks by looking for a specific protein the heart releases when damaged. Now, researchers have found higher levels of the same protein among some long-distance walkers – and they were more likely to die or to have a heart attack or stroke within the next few years. |
 | Daughter makes lifesaving plea to 911 'coach me through CPR?'In March 2017, Mary Smith took an afternoon off work to visit her daughter and 2-week-old grandson Brody at their Minneapolis suburb home. |
 | E-cig use triples odds that teens will smoke pot: Study(HealthDay)—Taking up vaping in adolescence or early adulthood is tied to a more than threefold hike in the odds of becoming a marijuana user, researchers report. |
 | August is deadliest month for young football players(HealthDay)—It is an annual rite of summer: sending young men out on football fields across America in the sweltering August heat for grueling practice sessions designed to prepare them for the coming season. |
Researchers identify key mechanism linked to neuropsychiatric lupusA breakthrough study by a SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University research team has identified a specific antibody target implicated in neuropsychiatric symptoms of lupus. These symptoms, including cognitive impairment, mood disorders, seizures, headaches and psychosis, are among the most prevalent manifestations of the disease and occur in as many as 80% of adults and 95% of children with lupus. The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that more than 1.5 million Americans and 5 million people worldwide suffer from some form of lupus, with 90% of cases affecting women. | |
 | Smoldering spots in the brain may signal severe MSAided by a high-powered brain scanner and a 3-D printer, NIH researchers peered inside the brains of hundreds of multiple sclerosis patients and found that dark rimmed spots representing ongoing, "smoldering" inflammation, called chronic active lesions, may be a hallmark of more aggressive and disabling forms of the disease. |
 | Estrogen improves Parkinson's disease symptomsBrain-selective estrogen treatment improves the symptoms of Parkinson's disease in male mice, according to new research published in JNeurosci. These findings may help explain the sex differences in Parkinson's disease and could lead to estrogen-based treatments. |
 | Negative memory storage affects depression symptomsPhysical manifestations of negative memories in the hippocampus could underlie cognitive symptoms of depression, according to research in mice published in JNeurosci. Inhibiting these manifestations could be a future treatment route. |
 | An alternate theory for what causes Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia among the elderly, is characterized by plaques and tangles in the brain, with most efforts at finding a cure focused on these abnormal structures. But a University of California, Riverside, research team has identified alternate chemistry that could account for the various pathologies associated with the disease. |
In first-of-its-kind study, researchers highlight hookah health hazardsHookah waterpipe use has grown in popularity in recent years—1 in 5 college students in the U.S. and Europe have tried it—but the practice could be more dangerous than other forms of smoking, according to a first-of-its-kind study by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, published recently in Aerosol Science and Technology. | |
Poor fit between job demands, reasoning abilities associated with health conditionsOlder workers whose reasoning abilities no longer allow them to meet the demands of their jobs may be more likely to develop chronic health conditions and retire early, which may not be ideal for the employee or employer, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. | |
Osteoporosis drugs linked to reduced risk of premature deathTwo studies led by the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have revealed that nitrogen-bisphosphonates, drugs commonly prescribed for osteoporosis, reduced the risk of premature mortality by 34% in a cohort of over 6,000 individuals. This reduction in early mortality risk was significantly associated with a reduction in bone loss compared with no treatment. | |
 | Gut-brain connection helps explain how overeating leads to obesityEating extra servings typically shows up on the scale later, but how this happens has not been clear. A new study published today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation by a multi-institutional team led by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine reveals a previously unknown gut-brain connection that helps explain how those extra servings lead to weight gain. |
Cultural factors affect Chinese Americans' healthSince 2011, the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago (PINE), the most extensive epidemiological cohort study of Chinese older adults in the United States, has revealed critical health disparities among the growing Chinese American population. | |
Separated Bangladeshi twins stable: doctorsConjoined Bangladeshi twins who were separated last week are in a stable condition, the team of Hungarian and Bangladeshi doctors who carried out the marathon operation said Saturday. | |
 | Medical skin creams could be a lethal fire risk when soaked into fabricCare providers were alerted to a house fire involving one of their patients at 4am on May 30, 2015. The fire and rescue services discovered a 74-year-old lady who had succumbed to a blaze that developed rapidly while she was still lying in bed. She had been bed bound, known to smoke in bed and was being treated for a skin condition. |
 | Early study results suggest 2 Ebola treatments saving livesTwo of four experimental Ebola drugs being tested in Congo seem to be saving lives, international health authorities announced Monday. |
 | Two Ebola drugs found to increase survival rates: health officialsScientists were a step closer to a cure for Ebola on Monday after two of four drugs in a clinical trial were found to significantly increase survival rates, the US health authority co-funding the research said. |
Biology news
 | Ancient pigs endured a complete genomic turnover after they arrived in EuropeNew research led by Oxford University and Queen Mary University of London has resolved a pig paradox. Archaeological evidence has shown that pigs were domesticated in the Near East and as such, modern pigs should resemble Near Eastern wild boar. They do not. Instead, the genetic signatures of modern European domestic pigs resemble European wild boar. |
 | Researchers grow Lokiarchaea in special tank over 12-year studyA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in Japan has succeeded in cultivating samples of Lokiarchaea in a special tank in their lab. They have published a paper describing their work on the bioRxiv preprint server as they await publication. |
 | Bacteria made to mimic cells, form communitiesRice University scientists have found a way to engineer a new kind of cell differentiation in bacteria, inspired by a naturally occurring process in stem cells. |
 | An emerging view of RNA transcription and splicingCells often create compartments to control important biological functions. The nucleus is a prime example; surrounded by a membrane, it houses the genome. Yet cells also harbor enclosures that are not membrane-bound and more transient, like oil droplets in water. Over the past two years, these droplets (called "condensates") have become increasingly recognized as major players in controlling genes. Now, a team led by Whitehead Institute scientists helps expand this emerging picture with the discovery that condensates play a role in splicing, an essential activity that ensures the genetic code is prepared to be translated into protein. The researchers also reveal how a critical piece of cellular machinery moves between different condensates. The team's findings appear in the Aug. 7 online issue of Nature. |
 | A novel method to characterize genes with high-precision in single cellsThe analysis of gene products in cells is an important tool for diagnosing disease and the design of new active substances in biological and medical research. At Helmholtz Zentrum München, a method of targeted RNA sequencing (transcriptome analysis) has now been developed, which precisely detects the smallest amounts of gene transcripts in single cells. The method enables the identification and enrichment of individual selected molecules in a sample in order to investigate their cellular function. This makes it possible to selectively characterize genes in each cell with high precision. Their work has been published in Genome Biology. |
 | Scientists warn of too many pink salmon in North PacificBiological oceanographer Sonia Batten experienced her lightbulb moment on the perils of too many salmon three years ago as she prepared a talk on the most important North Pacific seafood you'll never see on a plate—zooplankton. |
 | A probiotic treatment for obesity?Alterations in the gut microbiota—the microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract—have been implicated in the development of obesity and other chronic diseases. |
 | Maggots as recyclers and protein sourcesBlack soldier fly maggots provide a zero waste option for organic recycling, according to Jeff Tomberlin, Ph.D., professor in the department of entomology at Texas A&M University and director of EVO Conversion Systems, LLC. |
 | Know garden pests before deciding on a path to controlYou look around the garden and see aphids suck the life out of your rose buds, flea beetles chomp on the cauliflower and cabbage butterflies lay eggs that will turn into voracious caterpillars. What to do? |
 | When naproxen breaks down, toads croakA new study in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry takes a harder look at the effects a common anti-inflammatory medication and its degradation products have on amphibians. There have been many studies that review the toxicity of naproxen, a common over-the-counter pain reliever, but none until now that have reviewed the effects it or its degradation products might have on amphibians. |
 | Genomic research unravels mystery of invasive apple snailsBiologists from Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) have led a study to sequence and analyse the genomes of four apple snail species in the family Ampullariidae. The researchers discovered that the apple snails have evolved to become highly sensitive to environmental stimuli, digest cellulose (a major component of the plant cell wall), form hard calcareous eggshells and pack neurotoxins in eggs. The findings could facilitate the development of effective genetic control measures for these destructive crop-eating snails. |
 | Scent brings all the songbirds to the yardChickadees can smell! That is the news from a study out of Lehigh University, the first to document naturally hybridizing songbirds' preference for the scent of their own species. |
 | Artificial intelligence helps banana growers protect the world's favorite fruitArtificial intelligence-powered tools are rapidly becoming more accessible, including for people in the more remote corners of the globe. This is good news for smallholder farmers, who can use handheld technologies to run their farms more efficiently, linking them to markets, extension workers, satellite images, and climate information. The technology is also becoming a first line of defense against crop diseases and pests that can potentially destroy their harvests. |
 | Singapore to ban sale of elephant ivory from 2021Singapore said Monday it will impose a blanket ban on the domestic sale of elephant ivory and products from 2021 as the government tightens its campaign against illegal wildlife trade. |
 | Trump overhauls endangered species protectionsThe Trump administration on Monday rolled out some of the broadest changes in decades to enforcement of the landmark Endangered Species Act, allowing the government to put an economic cost on saving a species and other changes critics contend could speed extinction for some struggling plants and animals. |
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