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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for August 14, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | James Webb Space Telescope could begin learning about TRAPPIST-1 atmospheres in a single year, study indicatesNew research from astronomers at the University of Washington uses the intriguing TRAPPIST-1 planetary system as a kind of laboratory to model not the planets themselves, but how the coming James Webb Space Telescope might detect and study their atmospheres, on the path toward looking for life beyond Earth. |
 | How many Earth-like planets are around sun-like stars?A new study provides the most accurate estimate of the frequency that planets that are similar to Earth in size and in distance from their host star occur around stars similar to our Sun. Knowing the rate that these potentially habitable planets occur will be important for designing future astronomical missions to characterize nearby rocky planets around sun-like stars that could support life. A paper describing the model appears August 14, 2019 in The Astronomical Journal. |
 | Young Jupiter was smacked head-on by massive newborn planetA colossal, head-on collision between Jupiter and a still-forming planet in the early solar system, about 4.5 billion years ago, could explain surprising readings from NASA's Juno spacecraft, according to a study this week in the journal Nature. |
 | NASA descends on Icelandic lava field to prepare for MarsTo prepare for the next mission to Mars in 2020, NASA has taken to the lava fields of Iceland to get its new robotic space explorer ready for the job. |
 | Milky Way's black hole just flared, growing 75 times as bright for a few hoursEven though the black hole at the center of the Milky Way is a monster, it's still rather quiet. Called Sagittarius A*, it's about 4.6 million times more massive than the sun. Usually, it's a brooding behemoth. But scientists observing Sgr. A* with the Keck Telescope just observed its brightness blooming to over 75 times normal for a few hours. |
 | NASA selects proposals to further study the fundamental nature of spaceNASA has selected two proposals for concept studies that could help us better understand the fundamental nature of space and how it changes in response to planetary atmospheres, radiation from the Sun, and interstellar particles. The proposals will advance NASA's heliophysics program and could lead to better protection for both technology and humans as we travel farther from home. |
 | Shedding light on black holes"Black holes" is one of the most highly searched terms about our universe. There's a fascination with the idea of a region of space having a gravitational pull so strong, nothing can escape its deadly grasp, not even a sliver of light. Well, not quite. In fact, much of what we think we know about black holes turn out to be myths. |
 | Automated observing network inaugurated at SOAR telescopeSupernovae, neutron star mergers, black holes at the center of galaxies, erupting young stars—these are all examples of objects in the night sky that change their brightness over time. In the coming years, astronomers expect to discover millions of these variable astronomical events with new sensitive telescopes like the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST). But to characterize these objects and to understand them better, they need to be observed with other, different telescopes soon after they are discovered. |
Technology news
 | Monitoring human physiological responses to improve interactions with robotsResearchers from the Century Mold Collaborative Robotics Laboratory (CMCRL) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in New York have recently developed a new framework for monitoring human physiological responses while users are collaborating with a robot to complete a task. Under the supervision of Prof. Ferat Sahin, director of the Multi Agent Bio-Robotics Laboratory, CMCRL researchers are working to develop systems, frameworks and software tools to study human-robot collaboration in an industrial setting. Their new approach, outlined in a paper pre-published on arXiv and set to be presented at the IEEE Systems, Man & Cybernetics conference in Bari (Italy), enables continuously collecting physiological data during human-robot interactions, while changing a robot's movements to trigger a response in the human with whom it's interacting. |
 | Facebook listened to users' conversations: reportFacebook has paid hundreds of contractors to listen to and transcribe snippets of users' conversations, US media reported on Tuesday, amid heightened scrutiny of the social network's data collection practices. |
 | Europe has the untapped onshore capacity to meet global energy demandEurope has the capacity to produce more than 100 times the amount of energy it currently produces through onshore windfarms, new analysis from the University of Sussex and Aarhus University has revealed. |
 | App allows inspectors to find gas pump skimmers fasterA team of computer scientists at UC San Diego and the University of Illinois has developed an app that allows state and federal inspectors to detect devices that steal consumer credit and debit card data at gas pumps. The devices, known as skimmers, use Bluetooth to transmit the data they steal. |
 | A miniature stretchable pump for the next generation of soft robotsSoft robots have a distinct advantage over their rigid forebears: they can adapt to complex environments, handle fragile objects and interact safely with humans. Made from silicone, rubber or other stretchable polymers, they are ideal for use in rehabilitation exoskeletons and robotic clothing. Soft bio-inspired robots could one day be deployed to explore remote or dangerous environments. |
 | More chat, less duh, on the way thanks to Nvidia AI leaps with BERTIn the future are chatbots that are even more chatty and less dim-witted. Yes, the day will come when you can easily reflect on how far AI's language skills have come. And upon that reflection, do not ignore Nvidia's contributions in their work with BERT. |
 | Playing god: Japan temple puts faith in robot priestA 400-year-old temple in Japan is attempting to hot-wire interest in Buddhism with a robotic priest it believes will change the face of the religion—despite critics comparing the android to "Frankenstein's monster." |
 | Deliveroo food deliveries hit European roadblocksStriking French couriers. Spanish court setbacks. The white flag of surrender raised over Germany. |
 | New tools to detect digital domestic abuseCarol is locked in a custody battle with her abusive ex-husband. She has an order of protection against him, but he's somehow able to access her private photos and post them on Facebook. |
 | Regulating Facebook, Google and Amazon is hard given their bewildering complexityBack in the 1990s—a lifetime ago in internet terms—the Spanish sociologist Manuel Castells published several books charting the rise of information networks. He predicted that in the networked age, more value would accrue in controlling flows of information than in controlling the content itself. |
 | Artificial intelligence to predict protein structureProteins are biological high-performance machines. They can be found in every cell and play an important role in human blood coagulation or as main constituents of hairs or muscles. The function of these molecular tools is obvious from their structure. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now developed a new method to predict this protein structure with the help of artificial intelligence. |
 | Research: AI is in danger of becoming too maleArtificial Intelligence (AI) systems are becoming smarter every day, beating world champions in games like Go, identifying tumors in medical scans better than human radiologists, and increasing the efficiency of electricity-hungry data centers. Some economists are comparing the transformative potential of AI with other "general purpose technologies" such as the steam engine, electricity or the transistor. |
 | Researchers find a new way to snoop with smartphones. But should you be worried?Smartphones are like living things. With their cameras and microphones, they can see and hear. They can detect the amount of ambient lighting, the air pressure and the temperature—among a host of other aspects about the environment they're in. |
 | Influencer, celebrity, journalist? Teens are turning to YouTube for news, survey showsThe results are in: Teens turn to YouTube to keep up with current events instead of established news organizations. |
 | Tech-oriented office company WeWork files to go publicOffice sharing startup WeWork will be going public after its parent company filed papers Wednesday for a stock sale, despite losing money amid rapid expansion. |
 | Tesla Model 3 owner implants key card chip into her arm to unlock and start her vehicleWhen smartphones and keyfobs are impossible to keep up with, some say you could just implant them into your body so you can always unlock your car. |
 | Doctors say most metrics provided by your Apple Watch, Fitbit aren't helpful to themWe use wearables to count calories, measure heart rates and even rate our quality of sleep. |
 | Electric scooters: Love or hate them? Here's what you need to knowScooters used to be toys only for children. Their motorized descendants, however, are now popular among adults. |
 | Researchers use blockchain to drive electric-vehicle infrastructureResearchers at the University of Waterloo have integrated the use of blockchain into energy systems, a development that could result in expanded charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. |
 | Some Apple laptops banned from airline flights for fire riskFederal safety officials have banned some Apple laptops from airline flights after Apple recalled the batteries because they could catch fire. |
 | Privacy questions as humans reviewed user audio at FacebookFacebook has paid contractors to transcribe audio clips from users of its Messenger service, raising privacy concerns for a company with a history of privacy lapses. |
 | Samsung embroiled in 'One China' row after K-pop star pulls outThe world's number one smartphone maker Samsung Electronics became the latest global brand to face criticism Wednesday for damaging China's "territorial integrity", with a Chinese K-pop star ending an endorsement contract. |
 | Notre-Dame cathedral 'still at risk of collapse' after fireNotre-Dame cathedral in Paris is still at risk of collapse after being gutted by a fire in April, with more stonework falling during the recent heatwave in the French capital, the government said on Wednesday. |
 | Tencent Q2 earnings beat estimates on gaming growthChinese internet giant Tencent said Wednesday its net profit jumped 35 percent in the second quarter, as the company continued to wriggle out of Beijing's crackdown on online gaming and build mobile game growth. |
Doodle for Google winner: Georgia teen dedicates heartwarming portrait to her motherEvery year, Google hosts a competition to encourage students in the U.S. to dream up and create their own interpretation of the company's search page logo. | |
Video game accessories let you fine tune the feel, sound and seat of your gameMore Americans are playing video games than ever, and more are tuning in to watch live esports competitions, too. While you may not be a pro, you can certainly step up your game accessory-wise. | |
 | Feds: Capital One suspect may have hacked 30-plus companiesFederal prosecutors say a woman charged in a massive data breach at Capital One may have hacked more than 30 other organizations. |
 | Irish Ryanair pilots announce 48-hour strikeIrish Ryanair pilots are to strike for two days next week, their union said Wednesday, escalating an internal pay row at the budget airline. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Scientists reverse aging process in rat brain stem cellsNew research, published today in Nature, reveals how increasing brain stiffness as we age causes brain stem cell dysfunction, and demonstrates new ways to reverse older stem cells to a younger, healthier state. |
 | Study reveals the emotional journey of a digital detox while travellingNew research reveals the emotional journey that tourists go on when they disconnect from technology and social media while travelling. |
 | In a first, scientists map the genetic diversity of microbes residing in the human gut and mouthHow many stars are there in the observable universe? It was once deemed an impossible question, but astronomers have gleaned an answer—about one billion trillion of them. |
 | Genes linked to Alzheimer's risk, resilience identifiedAn international team of researchers led by scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has identified a pair of genes that influence risk for both late-onset and early-onset Alzheimer's disease. |
 | First clinical trial of drug-inducible gene therapy yields encouraging preliminary resultsImmunotherapeutic drugs are a potent way of transforming the immune system into a ferocious guard dog that can sniff out and destroy tumor cells. But for some therapies, it helps to have a leash. Without one, immunotherapies can do their job too well, stimulating the immune system to overreact, causing systemic toxicity. |
 | GP model used to calculate risk of cardiovascular disease could be misleading patientsA new study by researchers at The University of Manchester suggests that the current statistical model used by GPs to predict a patient's risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) could be producing misleading results. |
 | Scientists untangle links between our genes and intake of alcohol and of saltScientists have shed light on the complicated relationship between the makeup of our DNA and how much alcohol we drink. |
 | Sequential, concurrent multitasking is equally hard for men, womenWomen and men perform equally when required to switch attention between tasks or perform two tasks simultaneously, according to a new study in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Patricia Hirsch of Aachen University in Germany and colleagues. The finding adds to a growing literature that contradicts the widely held belief that women multitask better than men. |
 | Brain molecule identified as key in anxiety modelBoosting a single molecule in the brain can change "dispositional anxiety," the tendency to perceive many situations as threatening, in nonhuman primates, researchers from the University of California, Davis, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found. The molecule, neurotrophin-3, stimulates neurons to grow and make new connections. |
 | Study predicts modest impact from additional dose of rotavirus vaccineGiving children an additional dose of rotavirus vaccine when they are nine months old would provide only a modest improvement in the vaccine's effectiveness in low-income countries concerned about waning protection against the highly contagious disease, according to a new study led by the Yale School of Public Health and the Institute of Infection and Global Health at the University of Liverpool. |
 | Charcoal-based drug delivery system improves efficacy of common herpes drugA study led by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago has found that combining acyclovir—a commonly prescribed topical herpes medication—with particles of activated carbon improves efficacy of the drug. This new approach allows for less frequent dosing and overall course of treatment while providing some protection from infection by the virus as well, opening up the possibility of using the combination in prophylactic products. |
 | Testosterone has a complicated relationship with moral reasoning, study findsAlthough some studies have linked high levels of testosterone to immoral behavior, a new study published in Nature Human Behaviour finds testosterone supplements actually made people more sensitive to moral norms, suggesting that testosterone's influence on behavior is more complicated than previously thought. |
 | RTS,S vaccine could favor the acquisition of natural immunity against malariaThe RTS,S malaria vaccine could enhance the production of protective antibodies upon subsequent parasite infection, according to a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by "la Caixa." The results, published in BMC Medicine, identify the antigens (or protein fragments) that could be included in future, more effective multivalent vaccines. |
 | Early education setback for summer premature birthsChildren born as little as three weeks premature, who consequently fall into an earlier school year are more likely to experience significant setbacks in their education after their first year of school, according to new research published today in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood. |
 | Why young men aren't eating their five-a-dayFrom not being able to cook to not liking the taste of vegetables—a new study from the University of East Anglia reveals why young men are not eating their 'five-a-day'. |
 | Social media mental health harms might be due to exposure to cyberbullying, loss of sleep or reduced physical activityFirst study to examine three mechanisms by which very frequent use of social media may harm mental health suggests efforts should be made to reduce young people's exposure to harmful content, and the impact it has on healthy activities (such as sleep and exercise). Authors suggest that direct effects, such as on brain development, are unlikely and so interventions to simply reduce social media use might be misplaced. |
 | Optimal vitamin D levels may vary for different ethnic and racial groupsWhen recommending vitamin D supplements, doctors should look at each individual patient as having different requirements and not rely on "one-size-fits-all" guidelines, according to a study by researchers at Rutgers and the University of California, San Francisco. |
 | Is diabetes keeping you up at night?Hormone changes are known to alter insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, as well as interfere with women's sleep patterns. But little was known about the association between diabetes and sleep disturbances during the menopause transition until now, as a new study concludes that women with diabetes are at greater risk for sleep disturbances. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). |
 | Aerobic exercise programs may improve endurance, walking after strokeStroke survivors who completed group-based aerobic exercise programs similar in design and duration to cardiac rehabilitation programs significantly improved their aerobic endurance and walking ability, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association. |
 | Birth defects associated with Zika virus infection may depend on mother's immune responseNew research led by scientists at The Rockefeller University in New York may help explain why Zika virus infection causes birth defects in some children but not others. The study, which will be published August 14 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, suggests that the risk of developing an abnormally small head (microcephaly) depends on the types of antibody produced by pregnant mothers in response to Zika infection. |
 | Up to half of patients withhold life-threatening issues from doctorsFacing the threat of domestic violence, being a survivor of sexual assault, struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide are four topics that are difficult to broach with anyone. Including those who can help you. |
 | Meet the alpacas that could cure autism, Alzheimer's and cancerAlpacas aren't the typical animals that drivers spot as they wind their way through rural Tennessee, but there's a happy herd of them outside Waverly, where they eat the finest pellets, walk up and down a scenic hill and potentially save lives. |
 | Study shows surprising trends for a serious lung conditionPulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening condition, in which blood clots migrate to arteries in the lungs, with the risk for increased pressure on the right side of the heart, impaired breathing, and even death. Yale researchers recently studied trends in hospitalization and mortality rates for people with pulmonary embolism, and their findings could help improve care for these patients. |
 | Virtual reality experiences may help treat severe painTherapeutic virtual reality can be used to reduce severe pain in hospitalized patients, according to a study published August 14, 2019 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Brennan Spiegel of Cedars-Sinai Health System, USA, and colleagues. |
Early exposure to manganese could affect teens' cognitive ability and motor controlEarly-life exposure to the mineral manganese disrupts the way different areas of the brain involved in cognitive ability and motor control connect in teenagers, Mount Sinai researchers report in a study published in PLOS ONE in August. | |
 | Husbands benefit from mutual caregiving, wives feel more distressed, study findsSpouses in older marriages are increasingly taking on the role of their partner's caregiver in dealing with chronic conditions like heart disease, memory loss, and cancer. In a growing number of instances, both spouses care for each other as they struggle with any one of a variety of health issues such as arthritis, diabetes, and respiratory problems. |
 | Leave your phone at home this holiday and you'll feel better (after you feel worse)What did we do before smartphones? Our devices have become an essential tool for modern life, even when we're on holiday. In fact, technology is revolutionizing tourism. We navigate with Google Maps, we use TripAdvisor to find good restaurants, we share our travel experiences on Instagram, and we instantly message people back home. Imagine if all of these things were taken away from you. |
 | Surgeons report success in reducing opioid prescribing without increasing patients' painHaving a hernia repaired, or an appendix or gallbladder removed, hurts. And for the past two decades, patients having these common operations in the U.S. have gone home from the hospital with prescriptions for dozens of opioid pills to ease that pain. |
 | Hospital ratings systems get low grades from expertsExperts have turned the tables on hospital rating systems and graded the rating systems on their strengths and weaknesses. Most only got "C's" and "D's." The highest grade received was a "B" by U.S. News & World Report, according to a new study. |
 | The sex gene SRY and Parkinson's disease: How genes act differently in male and female brainsParkinson's disease, a debilitating neurodegenerative disease common in elderly people, is twice as prevalent in men than in women. |
 | Rethinking the approach to fighting Alzheimer's diseaseThe idea of seeing a loved one decline and lose their ability to recall their most treasured memories is devastating. However, it is a fact of life for an increasing number of Canadians. A group of experts on population health convened by the Alzheimer Society of Canada in 2015 estimated that nearly one million Canadians will have Alzheimer's disease in 2031. |
 | Unwanted sexual attention plagues young women going out at nightA disturbingly high proportion of young people, particularly women, experience unwanted sexual attention in entertainment districts across Queensland. |
 | Patients have rights. Here's how to use yoursWorking your way around the health-care system can be overwhelming. This is especially hard when care takes place in health systems under stress. |
 | Ebola expert weighs in on news of a potential cureScientists recently reported that two treatments saved the lives of people infected with the Ebola virus—with the New York Times reporting that roughly 90% of newly infected patients were saved—suggesting we are ever so close to a cure. |
 | A wearable new technology moves brain monitoring from the lab to the real worldImagine if a coach could know which moments of competition a certain player might peak, or if a truck driver had objective data telling him his body and mind were too tired to continue driving. |
 | Precision medicine: Advanced data analysis enhances prenatal genetic testingScientists have published a novel computational framework for highly accurate and targeted Non-Invasive Prenatal genetic Testing (NIPT) assay, which enables the application of cost-effective TAC-seq laboratory method in clinical practice. The developed computational workflow allows for the detection of frequent fetal trisomies and the parental origin of trisomic chromosomes from the mother's blood cell-free DNA sample in the early stages of pregnancy. |
 | Policy, public input must guide human embryo research, expert saysThe National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has decided it needs to revisit its stance on embryo editing and today held a public meeting on the topic together with the International Commission on the Clinical Use of Human Germline Genome Editing. |
 | Artificial intelligence in the fight against river blindnessMore than 21 million people in Africa are infected with the nematode Onchocerca volvulus, the cause of river blindness. Around one in ten of those affected goes blind. Parasitologists at the University Hospital Bonn are looking for new, more effective weapons against the insidious parasite. The evaluation of the success of treatment is important. They now want to develop a method in which artificial intelligence (AI) automatically evaluates tissue samples from patients under the microscope. The aim is to reduce the time required and to establish an objective standard for analysis. The project is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. |
 | Nerve stimulation and repetitive sounds help improve hearingCombining seizure-preventing electrical stimulation with repetitive musical tones improves processing of sounds in the brain, according to new research. The discovery may provide relief for chronic ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and aid communication skills in people with autism. The first-of-its-kind study, published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurophysiology (JNP), was chosen as an APS select article for August. |
 | Abnormal blood pressure in middle and late life influences dementia riskIn a study that spanned two and a half decades and looked at data from more than 4,700 participants, Johns Hopkins researchers have added to evidence that abnormal blood pressure in midlife persisting into late life increases the likelihood of developing dementia. Although not designed to show cause and effect, the study suggests that maintaining a healthy blood pressure throughout life may be one way to help decrease one's risk of losing brain function. |
 | Walking before dinner doesn't lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetesA brisk evening walk before dinner does not affect glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes, according to University of Alberta research that contradicts previous findings. |
 | 'It's a national crisis': UK's birth rate is falling dramaticallyThe birth rate in England and Wales is now the lowest it has ever been since records began. Only 11 babies were born for every 1,000 people in 2018, with 657,076 born overall. To put this in perspective, 957,782 babies were born in 1920 despite the overall population being 22m fewer than it is today. |
 | 'Miracle mineral solution' is no miracle cure, FDA warnsMiracle Mineral Solution, which is sold online as a medical treatment, can cause serious and potentially life-threatening health problems and should not be bought or used by consumers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says. |
 | How many fruits and veggies do you really need?Many Americans still don't get enough fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods. |
 | New link between endocannabinoids and exercise may help in treatment of depressionResearchers know exercise improves mood for people with depression, but there are still questions about exactly how it makes people feel better. |
 | How the brain remembers the order of eventsFor centuries understanding how the order of events is stored in memory has been a mystery. However, researchers from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Warwick have worked out how the order of events in memory could be stored and later recalled in the hippocampal memory system in the brain. |
 | Multi-modal analysis platform for capturing tumor-derived extracellular vesiclesExtracellular vesicles are arguably the next big thing in cancer diagnostics. They are membrane-bound particles shed by any cell in the body, and involved in intercellular communication. Analyzing these biomarkers seems worthwhile, as they contain a tremendous amount of information on their tissue of origin. Researchers at the University of Twente, in collaboration with colleagues from Wageningen University, are working on a multi-modal analysis platform for the specific capture of tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (tdEVs). |
 | The return of a training classic for runnersWith running, proper form is essential for everything from desired speed to injury prevention. But for many people, muscle memory has locked in less-than-perfect form. |
 | Less screen time, more sleep, better-behaved kids(HealthDay)—School kids who get to bed early rather than staring at their devices at night may be better equipped to control their behavior, a new study suggests. |
 | New insights into the mechanism of vaccine-induced T cell immunityA team led by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research has gained new insights into the mechanism of vaccine-induced T cell immunity utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing and metabolic profiling techniques. Though numerous vaccines induce and amplify T cells, a critical part of the body's adaptive immune system, there is still an information gap regarding what determines the magnitude, diversity and persistence of that response. |
Migraine diagnoses positively associated with all-cause dementiaSeveral studies have recently focused on the association between migraine headaches and other headaches and dementia and found a positive migraine-dementia relationship. However, most of these studies have failed to simultaneously adjust for several common comorbidities, thus potentially introducing bias into their findings. | |
 | Moles on the body largely influenced by genetics, finds new studyA study published this week in the journal Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research has found that genes have a greater influence than previously thought not only on the number of moles you have but also where they are on your body. |
Joint lubricating fluid plays key role in osteoarthritic pain, study findsA team at the University of Cambridge has shown how, in osteoarthritis patients, the viscous lubricant that ordinarily allows our joints to move smoothly triggers a pain response from nerve cells similar that caused by chilli peppers. | |
 | Accurate detection of low-level somatic mutation in intractable epilepsyKAIST medical scientists have developed an advanced method for perfectly detecting low-level somatic mutation in patients with intractable epilepsy. Their study showed that deep sequencing replicates of major focal epilepsy genes accurately and efficiently identified low-level somatic mutations in intractable epilepsy. |
 | Dementia care program improves mental health of patients, caregiversUCLA-led research finds that a comprehensive dementia care program staffed by nurse practitioners working within a health system improves the mental and emotional health of patients and their caregivers. |
 | Association between coeliac disease risk and gluten intake confirmedAn extensive study has confirmed that the risk of developing coeliac disease is connected to the amount of gluten children consume. The new study is observational and therefore does not prove causation; however, it is the most comprehensive of its kind to date. The results are presented in the prestigious journal JAMA. |
 | Exercise associated with benefit to patients with advanced colorectal cancerPatients with metastatic colorectal cancer who engaged in moderate exercise while undergoing chemotherapy tended to have delayed progression of their disease and fewer severe side effects from treatment, according to the results of a new study. |
| With opioid abuse surging, expert panel recommends drug screening for all US adultsIt's time for doctors to start asking every patient, every time: Have you engaged in any illicit drug use? |
 | New drug shows encouraging survival in pancreatic cancerA clinical trial testing a new drug in pancreatic cancer had promising initial results, report researchers from the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center. |
 | AAN issues guidelines for treatment of migraine in children and teensFor children and teens with migraine, the pain and symptoms that accompany migraine attacks can be debilitating, resulting in missed school days, absence from social or sporting events, and affected home activities. Now the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and the American Headache Society have developed two guidelines that include recommendations for preventing and treating migraine in children and teens. The guidelines are published in the August 14, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the AAN, and are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Child Neurology Society as well as the American Headache Society. The guidelines update the 2004 AAN guideline on drug treatment of migraine in children and teens. |
 | CDC: Prescription drug use similar in united states, canada(HealthDay)—Use of prescription drugs is similar in the United States and Canada, with almost 70 percent of adults aged 40 to 79 years using at least one prescription drug, according to an August data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. |
 | Adult weight gain likely explains link between parity, T2DM risk(HealthDay)—The seeming association between parity and risk for type 2 diabetes among postmenopausal women is likely explained by adult weight gain, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Tiring easily may warn of future heart troubleFatigue is universal, a feeling that becomes increasingly familiar as people get older. But when you fatigue too easily, it may not just be related to age but a reflection of your chance of having a stroke or heart attack in the near future. |
 | America's obesity epidemic may mean some cancers are striking sooner(HealthDay)—Since the turn of the century, American obesity rates have skyrocketed. And now a new study indicates that as the nation's waistlines expand, cancers long linked to obesity are striking the middle-aged more than ever before. |
 | Physical and mental exercise lower chances for developing delirium after surgeryAfter having surgery, many older adults develop delirium, the medical term for sudden and severe confusion. In fact, between 10 and 67 percent of older adults experience delirium after surgery for non-heart-related issues, while 5 to 61 percent experience delirium after orthopedic surgery (surgery dealing with the bones and muscles). |
 | The risk of death from yellow fever can be detected soonerApproximately ten out of every 100 people who are bitten by mosquitos infected by the yellow fever virus develop symptoms of the disease. Although most infected people do not develop the disease, it is lethal to approximately 40% of those who do. |
 | New drug targets early instigator of Alzheimer's diseaseOver a hundred years after they were first identified, two ominous signposts of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remain central topics of research—both formed by sticky accumulations of protein in the brain. Amyloid beta solidifies into senile plaques, which congregate in the extracellular spaces of nerve tissue, while tau protein creates tangled forms crowding the bodies of neurons. |
Early-career female physicians experience obstacles to professional and academic successIndividual and systemic challenges specific to female family physicians in their first five years of practice create obstacles that can result in disproportionate rates of burnout and negative impacts on career trajectories, according to a new paper co-authored by Dr. Tali Bogler of St. Michael's Hospital's Academic Family Health Team. | |
 | In South Africa, newly approved TB regimen drastically cuts treatment timeFour years ago, South African fashion designer Innocent Molefe, 38, was diagnosed with tuberculosis. A year ago, it developed into multi-drug resistant strain requiring painful injections and heaps of pills. |
 | Vaping companies sue to delay US e-cigarette reviewA vaping industry group sued the U.S. government on Wednesday to delay an upcoming review of thousands of e-cigarettes on the market. |
 | FDA approves TB pill that cures more hard-to treat patientsU.S. regulators Wednesday approved a new tuberculosis medicine that shortens and improves treatment for the hardest-to-treat cases, a worsening problem in many poor countries. |
 | Lavender oil may contribute to abnormal breast growth in young girlsAbnormal breast growth in young girls is linked to lavender oil exposure, according to a recent study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. |
 | How to tackle gender violence among teensIt's estimated that one in three women worldwide has experienced physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime, mostly by an intimate partner. According to a survey by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 1 in 5 women in the 28 Member States has experienced physical and/or sexual violence from either a current or previous partner. Moreover, a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime revealed that over a third (30 000) of the women intentionally killed in 2017 were killed by their current or former intimate partner. |
NIH's All of Us Research Program recaps progress and next stepsThe All of Us Research Program at the National Institutes of Health has made strong progress in its efforts to advance precision medicine, according to program leadership in a forthcoming paper in the New England Journal of Medicine. | |
Montenegro bans indoor smoking in public placesSmoking indoors in public places was banned from Wednesday in Montenegro, a major challenge in the tobacco-mad Balkan country with some of the highest smoking rates in Europe. | |
 | Simple protocol for assessing maturation of HPCs from induced pluripotent stem cellsResearchers have developed a guide to help labs standardize the production of mature hepatic-like cells (HPCs) from stem cells and easily compare gene expression of HPCs to actual human liver tissue. This moderately high throughput protocol can enable a relatively quick assessment of the efficacy of stem cell differentiation and help guide the optimization of differentiation conditions in regenerative medicine applications. The protocol and its implications are published in Stem Cells and Development. |
 | Experts call for steps to stem increases in Legionnaires'Top U.S. science experts are calling for stronger policies to combat the growing Legionnaires' disease problem. |
 | Burundi starts vaccinating health workers against Ebola: WHOThe World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that Burundi had begun vaccinating frontline workers against Ebola at its border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, where an outbreak of the virus has killed close to 1,900 people. |
 | Israeli dies after contracting measles on flight from New YorkAn Israeli flight attendant has died months after contracting measles on a flight from New York to Tel Aviv, Israel's health ministry and local media said Wednesday. |
 | Attacking asthma in kidsAccording to the World Health Organization, asthma is the most prevalent chronic childhood disease worldwide. That's why researchers are working on developing technology that could predict when a child will have an asthma attack and provide prevention and treatment suggestions, according to an article in Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly news magazine of the American Chemical Society. |
 | Do financial incentives change length-of-stay performance in ED? Study results are mixedThe results of a retrospective study on a pay-for-performance (P4P) program implemented in Vancouver, British Columbia suggest mixed consequences—it can reduce access block for admitted patients but may also lead to discharges associated with return visits and admissions. The study is published in the August 2019 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM). |
 | Judge waits to rule on letting unvaccinated go to schoolA judge declined to immediately rule on whether to let unvaccinated children go back to school in New York after a hearing Wednesday in a lawsuit challenging a new state law eliminating religious exemptions to vaccines. |
Biology news
 | AI used to test evolution's oldest mathematical modelResearchers have used artificial intelligence to make new discoveries, and confirm old ones, about one of nature's best-known mimics, opening up whole new directions of research in evolutionary biology. |
 | Scientists make first observation of fish schooling using bioluminescent flashesA new study is the first to demonstrate that schooling in fishes can be facilitated by bioluminescent flashes in the absence of ambient light. Led by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History, the research raises the possibility that fish schooling may occur in the deep sea, where it was previously assumed to be too dark for fish to coordinate their movements with each other. The study is published today in the journal PLOS ONE. |
 | Helping threatened coho salmon could generate hundreds of millions in non-market economic benefitsA new study provides evidence that increasing the abundance of a threatened or endangered species can deliver large benefits to the citizens of the Pacific Northwest. |
 | Study shows birdsong loses complexity as population numbers declineA team of researchers with members from several institutions in Hawaii and one in Spain has found that as a type of songbird in Hawaii drops in population, the songs they sing lose complexity. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the group describes their study of three species of honeycreeper birds and what they found. |
 | What a group of bizarre-looking bats can tell us about the evolution of mammalsBats with skulls and teeth adapted to a wide range of diets are helping scientists understand how major groups of mammals first evolved. |
 | Revolutionising the CRISPR methodEveryone's talking about CRISPR-Cas. This biotechnological method offers a relatively quick and easy way to manipulate single genes in cells, meaning they can be precisely deleted, replaced or modified. Furthermore, in recent years, researchers have also been using technologies based on CRISPR-Cas to systematically increase or decrease the activity of individual genes. The corresponding methods have become the worldwide standard within a very short time, both in basic biological research and in applied fields such as plant breeding. |
 | Sticky proteins help plants know when—and where—to growDepending on the temperature, a plant may synthesize the hormone auxin. Depending on the pathogens present, a plant may synthesize auxin. Depending on the available nutrients, water, stressors or development cues: auxin. |
 | Pinpointing the molecular mechanisms of ageingAlthough each and every one of us goes through it, ageing is a poorly understood process. Researchers have used a biomarker called the epigenetic clock to identify a gene that is closely linked to ageing in humans. The study, published in Genome Biology, shows that the epigenetic clock could be a good tool for improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind ageing. |
 | 'The Nemo effect' is untrue: Animal movies promote awareness, not harm, say researchersContrary to what was widely communicated in media by high-profile figures, the movie 'Finding Dory' had no impact on increasing demand for blue tang fish, the species of the main protagonist. There was, however, an increase in online searches for that species, showing that blockbusters can drive information-seeking behavior about nature. |
 | Hard-working termites crucial to forest, wetland ecosystemsTermites are unwelcome in your home. They can cause structural damage to the wood in frames, floors and other materials. It's nothing personal, though. They are really just looking for food sources. |
 | High hopes that Berlin zoo's panda is expectingExperts say they're pretty sure Berlin zoo's 6-year-old panda Meng Meng is pregnant. |
 | The demand for luxury shellfish is polluting the ocean with plasticThe federal government has taken action recently to reduce the amount of plastic waste found on land and in oceans, rivers and lakes. |
 | Researcher seeks to make trees more resilient amid a changing climateKatharina Braeutigam, a plant epigeneticist at the University of Toronto, wants to grow trees fit for a future climate. |
 | Rare antelopes and black catsTanzania is home to an elusive antelope species that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. According to the Red List, it can be classified as endangered. The first photograph of one of these antelopes was taken by researchers as recently as the year 2003. So far, the distribution of this species on Mt. Kilimanjaro has not been documented. Its scientific name: Abbott's duiker (Cephalophus spadix). |
 | Plan B for cholesterol transportCholesterol is a vital cell building block in humans and animals, and an integral part of the so-called cell membrane. This boundary layer separates the interior of the cell from the neighboring cells and the surrounding environment. By means of certain proteins, it ensures that various chemical messengers can enter or exit the cell. In addition, cholesterol is the precursor of various hormones and bile acids. The level of cholesterol in the blood is also associated with numerous diseases, in particular of the cardiovascular system, but also with the very rare but particularly serious so-called lysosomal storage disorders. |
 | Behavioral scientists test biological principle on free-living Assamese macaques"Birds of a feather flock together," or rather "opposites attract"? A recently published study on male macaques in Thailand speaks for the former: Behavioral biologists from the German Primate Centre—Leibniz Institute for Primate Research and psychologists from the University of Göttingen have observed that the more similar male Assamese macaques are in their personality, the closer they get and the stronger their social bonds. |
 | Research bias may leave some primates at riskRecent primate research has had a heavy focus on a few charismatic species and nationally protected parks and forests, leaving some lesser known primates and their habitats at risk, according researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and Santa Clara University. |
 | New study reveals unique dietary strategy of a tropical marine spongeResearch conducted at the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) on a marine sponge in Kāneʻohe Bay, O'ahu revealed a unique feeding strategy, wherein the sponge animal acquires important components of its diet from symbiotic bacteria living within the sponge. |
 | Rapid evolution: New findings on its molecular mechanismsThe mechanisms by which new species arise are still not fully understood. What are the evolutionary processes that drive the evolution of new species? Evolutionary biologists traditionally assumed that geographical barriers between animal populations play a decisive role (allopatric speciation): a species is physically separated into two or more isolated populations, thereby preventing gene flow between these groups. The subpopulations adapt to their respective habitats and evolve into independent species with different characteristics. In recent years, however, the evolutionary biologist Professor Axel Meyer from the University of Konstanz has not only been able to show that new species can evolve from a source population within a shared habitat and in the presence of gene flow (sympatric speciation), but that this type of speciation might be much more common than previously thought. His laboratory is investigating both the ecological and genetic mechanisms that facilitate sympatric speciation. In a recent publication in the scientific journal Molecular Biology and Evolution, Axel Meyer and his colleagues Paolo Franchini, Peiwen Xiong, Carmelo Fruciano, Ralf Schneider, Joost Woltering and Darrin Hulsey identify the decisive role that a kind of genetic switch, microRNAs, play in sympatric speciation. |
 | New information on tropical parasitoid insects revealedThe diversity and ecology of African parasitoid wasps was studied for over a year during a project run by the Biodiversity Unit of the University of Turku in Finland. Parasitoid wasps are one of the animal groups that are the most rich in species. However, the tropical species are still very poorly known. Understanding the diversity of parasitoid wasps inhabiting rainforests is important, because tropical biodiversity is dwindling at an accelerating rate. |
 | Engineering multiple bacterial strains reverses antagonistic interactions and results in more balanced consortiaBacteria, like people, have complicated relationships: they can either be friendly, neutral, or antagonistic toward each other, and those relationships can change depending on the situations in which they find themselves. As interest in identifying the bacterial species present in the human microbiome that contribute to health and disease has exploded in recent years, so too have efforts to understand how different species of bacteria interact. This knowledge could enable the creation of bacteria-based therapies and tools that could be used to improve human health, produce valuable substances, or repair microbial ecosystems. However, teasing out the relationships that occur simultaneously between multiple species within a consortium of bacteria in a complex environment like the human gut has proven to be a herculean challenge. |
 | Rare Amur leopard cubs go on view at zoo; no names yetVisitors may now get a look at two rare leopard cubs at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, New York. |
 | Songbirds silenced as Colombia fights wildlife traffickingThe metal doors of a shoebox-sized cage open up and a bird tagged #811 launches into a giant aviary. The palm-sized finch performs a midair pirouette, lands on a willow branch and curiously twitches its saffron-colored head sideways, as if surprised by its good fortune. |
 | Federal agency to consider protections for lake sturgeonThe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it will consider whether to list the lake sturgeon as an endangered or threatened species. |
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