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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 26, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | 'Lucky' observation: Scientists watch a black hole shredding a starA NASA satellite searching space for new planets gave astronomers an unexpected glimpse at a black hole ripping a star to shreds. |
 | Milky Way's satellite globular cluster studied in detailUsing the Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) and Keck Observatory, an international group of astronomers has performed a photometric and spectroscopic study of Laevens 3—a satellite globular cluster in the Milky Way galaxy. The research, detailed in a paper published September 18 on the arXiv pre-print repository, provides insights into the properties of this cluster. |
 | Galaxy found to float in a tranquil sea of halo gasUsing one cosmic mystery to probe another, astronomers have analyzed the signal from a fast radio burst, an enigmatic blast of cosmic radio waves lasting less than a millisecond, to characterize the diffuse gas in the halo of a massive galaxy. |
 | Get ready for more interstellar objects, astronomers sayGregory Laughlin and Malena Rice weren't exactly surprised a few weeks ago when they learned that a second interstellar object had made its way into our solar system. |
 | Big world around tiny star puts new spin on planet formationA giant world discovered around a tiny star is putting a new spin on how planets form. |
 | The next generation: mice can reproduce after space stints, study findsMale mice that spent more than a month in space were able to successfully reproduce back on Earth, a study has found, the first evidence of how space travel affects reproduction in mammals. |
 | A different kind of gravitational wave detectorHidden deep in a basement at Stanford stands a 10-meter-tall tube, wrapped in a metal cage and draped in wires. A barrier separates it from the main room, beyond which the cylinder spans three stories to an apparatus holding ultra-cold atoms ready to shoot upward. Tables stocked with lasers to fire at the atoms—and analyze how they respond to forces such as gravity—fill the rest of the laboratory. |
 | NASA designing shapeshifting robots for Saturn's moonsMini robots that can roll, fly, float and swim, then morph into a single machine? Together they form Shapeshifter, a developing concept for a transformational vehicle to explore treacherous, distant worlds. |
 | Emirati becomes first Arab to reach ISSAn Emirati has made history as the first Arab to reach the International Space Station, after blasting off from Kazakhstan. |
 | PUNCH mission to image Sun's outer corona enters Phase BThe Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) mission has entered Phase B, which marks the transition from concept study to preliminary flight design. The mission, led by Southwest Research Institute, is set to launch in early 2023 and will image the Sun's outer corona and beyond. |
 | Fly your experiment to the space station with Bioreactor Express ServiceESA is partnering with Kayser Italia to offer the Kubik facility on the International Space Station to commercial customers. The new Bioreactor Express Service allows users to conduct experiments in weightlessness. |
 | Far out: Bosnian village tickled to share name with Mars craterThe tiny village of Jezero in western Bosnia is "too happy" to share its name with a crater on planet Mars that will be the landing site for NASA's 2020 Mars rover, its mayor said Thursday. |
 | A radio that searches for dark matterA team of Stanford University researchers are on a mission to identify dark matter once and for all. But first, they'll need to build the world's most sensitive radio. |
Technology news
 | FoodTracker: An AI-powered food detection mobile applicationA research team at McGill University in Canada has developed a mobile application that can recognize food items inside an overall meal in real-time, providing useful nutrition-related information. The team outlined the new mobile application, called FoodTracker, in a recent paper pre-published on arXiv and presented at the 16th International Conference on Machine Vision Applications in Tokyo. |
 | Amazon digital assistant Alexa gets into your headAmazon on Wednesday unveiled a cornucopia of new gadgets as it extended the reach of Alexa from automobiles and homes essentially into people's heads. |
 | Researchers uncover privacy flaw in e-passportsResearchers at the University of Luxembourg have discovered a flaw in the security standard of biometric e-passports that has been used worldwide since 2004. This standard, ICAO 9303, allows e-passport readers at airports to scan the chip inside a passport and identify the holder. |
 | First fully rechargeable carbon dioxide battery with carbon neutralityLithium-carbon dioxide batteries are attractive energy storage systems because they have a specific energy density that is more than seven times greater than commonly used lithium-ion batteries. However, until now, scientists have not been able to develop a fully rechargeable prototype, despite their potential to store more energy. |
 | EV watchers turn poetic over Canoo set for 2021One word to describe a potentially hot talking point in the electric vehicle marketplace: Canoo. It's a small-sized van from the company of the same name and the vehicle will launch in 2021. It will be on a subscription-based service model. |
 | More chores for Amazon's Alexa, and a new (celebrity) voiceAmazon unveiled a lineup of new Alexa-powered products on Wednesday extending from homes and cars to wearable devices, and a celebrity voice option for the popular digital assistant. |
 | Facebook unveils virtual social space for its Oculus usersFacebook said Wednesday it will launch a virtual social community where users of its Oculus headgear can "explore new places" and "create their own new experiences." |
 | Google steps up battle on 'deepfakes' with data releaseGoogle said Wednesday it was stepping up efforts to battle "deepfakes" by releasing new data to help researchers detect videos manipulated by artificial intelligence. |
 | Tractor overturn prediction using a bouncing ball model could save the lives of farmersIn 2016, 417 farmers and farm workers died from a work-related injury in the United States, and 312 in Japan, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2018 agricultural safety report. Overturning tractors are the leading cause of death for farmers around the world. |
 | Want to keep a cow happy? AI, robotics could hold the answerEven cows have emotions and a happy cow is a better milk producer than one under stress. But how do dairy farmers read an individual bovine animal not known for its facial expression amongst a herd of up to 10,000? |
 | Croc-spotting drone patrol takes off Down UnderAustralia's rugged crocodile country could become safer thanks to world-first drones which were given a test flight Thursday. |
 | Hackers target Airbus suppliers in quest for commercial secretsEuropean aerospace giant Airbus has been hit by a series of attacks by hackers targeting its suppliers in search of commercial secrets, sources told AFP, adding they suspected a Chinese link. |
 | Teletext was slow but it paved the way for the super-fast world of the internetThe BBC has announced that 2020 will mark the end of the Red Button text service—the final incarnation of what was originally known as CEEFAX and Oracle. Those old text-based TV services would seem ridiculously clunky and old-fashioned to an internet generation used to instant streaming and apps for everything. But—as slow and frustrating as that old text system was—it paved the way for the World Wide Web and helped prepare us for the world of social media. |
 | Facial recognition's arrival at airports ushers in the biometric eraThe kind of face-scanning technology seen in science fiction films is now in use at airports across the country, with a goal of increasing security and saving time for travelers. |
 | Development of highly sensitive diode, converts microwaves to electricityThe Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Fujitsu Limited, and the Tokyo Metropolitan University announced that they developed a highly sensitive rectifying element in the form of a nanowire backward diode, which can convert low-power microwaves into electricity. Through JST's Strategic Basic Research Programs, the technology was developed by researchers led by Kenichi Kawaguchi of Fujitsu Limited and Professor Michihiko Suhara of the Tokyo Metropolitan University. The new technology is expected to play a role in harvesting energy from radio waves in the environment, in which electricity is generated from ambient radio waves, such as those emitted from mobile phone base stations. |
 | Virtual airport to improve accessibility for passengers with additional mobility needsResearchers at Cranfield University have created a virtual airport environment to study and improve the air travel experience for passengers with additional mobility needs. |
 | Engineers produce water-saving crop irrigation sensorA team of University of Connecticut researchers engineered a soil moisture sensor that is more cost effective than anything currently available and responds to the global need to regulate water consumption in agriculture. |
 | Facebook-backed Libra group pledges to 'reassure' regulatorsThe head of the Libra Association, created by Facebook to launch its new cryptocurrency, said Thursday the project's leaders would aim to "reassure" regulators who have voiced mounting concern over the virtual money. |
 | Boeing, FAA misjudged pilot response to 737 MAX trouble: government reportBoeing and the Federal Aviation Administration misjudged how pilots would respond to multiple alerts and alarms as they encountered trouble when flying the 737 MAX, according to a government report released Thursday. |
 | Drones a game changer for emergency respondersDrones are proving to be a game changer for US emergency responders who are increasingly using the technology to spot fires, detect toxic gas or to locate missing people or suspects, experts say. |
 | Project brings quantum internet closer to realityA U.S. Army research result brings the quantum internet a step closer. Such an internet could offer the military security, sensing and timekeeping capabilities not possible with traditional networking approaches. |
 | Revamped Uber app adds transit options, passenger safety featuresUber on Thursday unveiled a revamped version of its smartphone app that weaves together services from shared rides to public transit schedules while adding more security features. |
 | Virtual human hand simulation holds promise for prostheticsWhatever our hands do—reaching, grabbing or manipulating objects—it always appears simple. Yet your hands are one of the most complicated, and important, parts of the body. |
 | Ring offers its lowest-priced video doorbell camera yetRing, the company best known for its video doorbells, is unveiling its lowest-priced and first indoor security camera, Ring Indoor Cam, for $59.99. |
You can finally play Mario Kart on your smartphoneFans of Mario Kart finally get their wish: a version of the popular racing series on their smartphone. | |
 | As attack drones multiply, Israeli firms develop defensesIsrael, one of the pioneers of drone warfare, is now on the front lines of an arms race to protect against attacks by the unmanned aircraft. |
 | South Sudan launches mobile money to boost recovery from warAngelo Adud needed some persuading to leave his job as a shopkeeper and become a mobile money agent in South Sudan. Yet one week into his new role, the 29-year-old already saw a return on his investment. |
 | Researchers design a virtual assistant with advanced geolocation for guided tours in museumsA research team from the Geospatial Technologies Research Group of the Universitat Jaume I has designed a virtual assistant based on advanced geolocation for guided tours in museums. AVIMUS is a platform for the management of museum spaces that includes an ecosystem of applications with a high degree of interoperability at different user levels. It has been developed with the most modern technologies available, including a positioning system based on signals emitted by Wi-Fi devices (antennas, repeaters and routers), BLE beacons and GPS signal. This positioning system aims to locate the user of the application with respect to the elements shown in the museum and is essential for the guided tour. |
 | Luxury carmaker Maserati focuses production on ItalyLuxury carmaker Maserati said Thursday it would invest 1.6 billion euros ($1.8 billion) as it boosts Italian production with a new super-sports car and a utility vehicle as well as the launch of a hybrid version of the successful Ghibli sedan. |
 | Jaguar Land Rover to shut UK units for a week after BrexitBritish carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said Thursday it would suspend production for a week after the planned Brexit date of October 31 as a "prudent" measure. |
 | LinkedIn asks users to think beyond professional networksLinkedIn wants users to step outside their professional silos to boost someone else's career. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Technique can image individual proteins within synapsesOur brains contain millions of synapses—the connections that transmit messages from neuron to neuron. Within these synapses are hundreds of different proteins, and dysfunction of these proteins can lead to conditions such as schizophrenia and autism. |
 | Positive relationships boost self-esteem, and vice versaDoes having close friends boost your self-esteem, or does having high self-esteem influence the quality of your friendships? |
 | Predicting cancer versus autism risk in PTEN patientsIn a new study published in American Journal of Human Genetics, a team of researchers led by Charis Eng, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of Cleveland Clinic's Genomic Medicine Institute, identified a metabolite that may predict whether individuals with PTEN mutations will develop cancer or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). |
 | Cellular aging is linked to structural changes in the brainTelomeres are the protective caps of our chromosomes and play a central role in the aging process. Shorter telomeres are associated with chronic diseases and high stress levels can contribute to their shortening. A new study now shows that if telomeres change in their length, that change is also reflected in our brain structure. This association was identified by a team of scientists including Lara Puhlmann and Pascal Vrtička from the Max Planck Institute for Cognitive Brain Sciences in Leipzig together with Elissa Epel from the University of California and Tania Singer from the Social Neuroscience Lab in Berlin as part of Singer's ReSource Project. |
 | How neural circuits form in a developing embryoNeurons, take your places. |
 | Scientists find potential diagnostic tool, treatment for Parkinson's diseaseInvestigators at the Stanford University School of Medicine have pinpointed a molecular defect that seems almost universal among patients with Parkinson's disease and those at a high risk of acquiring it. |
 | Can excessive athletic training make your brain tired? New study says yesYou'd expect excessive athletic training to make the body tired, but can it make the brain tired too? A new study reported in the journal Current Biology on September 26 suggests that the answer is "yes." |
 | Teenage acne may be a natural, transient inflammatory stateAdolescent acne does not always result in a pathological condition; rather, it may be a natural, transient inflammatory state occurring when the maturing facial skin is exposed to new microbes and enhanced production of an oily substance called sebum, according to a Forum article published on September 26 in the journal Trends in Immunology. The authors argue that their novel framework suggests that the development of new treatments should focus on promoting mechanisms that restore homeostasis between facial skin and its microbial and chemical milieu. |
 | Antibody's hidden impact in combating malaria revealedA major collaborative study led by Burnet Institute researchers has revealed a particular antibody to be far more influential in combating malaria than previously understood, with important implications for the development of an effective vaccine. |
 | Researchers move closer to 'magic' cancer treatmentImagine cancer treatment without chemotherapy, radiation or surgery. Just a small aspirin-like pill. |
 | The Zika virus discovered on the African continentResearchers from the University of Oxford teamed up with the Angolan Ministry of Health to study the introduction and circulation of the Asian genotype of Zika virus in Angola, southwestern Africa. The Asian genotype caused the 2015-16 epidemic of microcephaly and other birth defects in the Americas. |
 | Human kidney map charts our growing immune defenseThe first cell atlas of the human kidney's immune system has been created after scientists mapped nearly 70,000 individual kidney cells from early life and adults. Researchers at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, University of Cambridge, Newcastle University and their collaborators have generated the atlas and used it to map the communities of immune cells in the kidney. This shows for the first time how the immune system in our kidneys develops during early life in the womb, and strengthens after birth and as we mature into adults. |
 | Tracking Alzheimer's disease pathology in single neuronal cellsUniversity of Warwick researchers have developed a superior method to describe the very earliest effects that Alzheimer's Disease proteins have on the properties of brain cells. |
 | Fathering children by assisted reproduction linked to increased risk of prostate cancerMen who became fathers through assisted reproduction techniques seem to be at higher risk for prostate cancer and early onset prostate cancer compared with men achieving fatherhood naturally, concludes a study published by The BMJ today. |
 | AI identifies genes linked to heart failureGenetic research led by Queen Mary University of London could open the way to earlier identification of people at risk of heart failure and to the development of new treatments. |
 | Minimum pricing policy appears to have cut spending on alcohol in ScotlandThe introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Scotland appears to have been successful in reducing the amount of alcohol purchased and, by inference, consumption by households, finds a study published by The BMJ today. |
 | Drug with immunotherapy may provide therapeutic opportunity for patients previously treated for kidney and lung cancerPegilodecakin, a first-in-class drug currently in clinical trials, has shown positive safety results and may offer a potential new treatment avenue for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and kidney cancer. The study, led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, demonstrated that the drug, in combination with two leading anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies, pembrolizumab and nivolumab, achieved measurable responses for these patients. |
 | Teens share stories to deter other students from using tobaccoAn innovative strategy called Teens Against Tobacco Use showed promise as an effective strategy to deter tobacco use in middle and high school students, according to a research study by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. |
 | Lung illnesses send chill through US marijuana vape marketVaping products, one of the fastest-growing segments of the legal marijuana industry, have taken a hit from consumers as public health experts scramble to determine what's causing a mysterious and sometimes fatal lung disease among people who use e-cigarettes. |
 | Researchers identify metabolic cycles in baby teeth linked to ADHD and autism in childrenMount Sinai researchers have identified elemental signatures in baby teeth that are unique to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, and cases when both neurodevelopment conditions are present, which suggests that the metabolic regulation of nutrients and toxins play a role in these diseases, according to a study published in Translational Psychiatry in September. |
 | Walking speed may predict return to work in young stroke survivorsA simple walking speed test may help predict whether young adult stroke survivors are ready to return to work, according to new research published in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association. |
 | New genes identified in hearing loss, providing treatment hopeA new study published today in The American Journal of Human Genetics has identified 44 genes linked to age-related hearing loss giving a much clearer understanding of how the condition develops and potential treatments. |
 | New fungus-derived antibiotic: Relief in sight for immunocompromised peopleImmunodeficiency occurs when the capability of the immune system to fight against diseases has been compromised. Immunocompromised people have a higher chance of contracting diseases compared to people with healthy immune systems. Immunodeficiency usually occurs as a consequence of several factors, such as diseases like AIDS and diabetes, chemotherapy, and organ transplants. Recently, doctors have noted an increased trend in the occurrence of life-threatening fungal infections—also called mycoses—in immunocompromised patients. In such cases, treatment requires the use of some special compounds with antifungal properties. Unfortunately, antifungal drugs currently available are very limited. |
 | New veterans suicide data shows work still needs to be doneThe U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently released the 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Report, which showed an increase in the number of veterans who died by suicide in 2017, the latest year with data available. |
 | Medical management vs. mechanical thrombectomy for mild strokes: Same safety and effectivenessThe use of clot retrieval devices to treat patients with ischemic stroke has risen steadily since the technology was first approved by the FDA nearly eight years ago. The minimally invasive procedure, known as mechanical thrombectomy, uses an X-ray guided device to physically remove a blood clot blocking a large vessel in the brain, thus restoring blood flow to the brain. |
 | Virtual reality eases leg muscle pain during cyclingHigh-intensity interval training is a popular workout that often results in faster fitness and health gains than other types of exercise. However, the intense workout is fatiguing and painful. |
 | Psychologists examine mental toll of passive social media useUT Dallas doctoral student Kaitlyn Burnell and postdoctoral research associate Justin Vollet studied Instagram and three other social platforms as they traced the pathway from passive social media use to depressive symptoms. |
 | Can CBD help lupus and other diseases?A lupus diagnosis can be devastating. The disease causes the body's immune system to attack its own tissues and can affect internal organs—including the brain, heart, and lungs—which can start to deteriorate. Lupus flare-ups can leave patients so fatigued and in pain that they're unable to do the simplest of things, such as walk, cook, or read. Many can't go outdoors without layers of sunscreen, because the disease can make them extremely susceptible to sunburn. |
 | Researchers identify rare inherited immune diseaseWhen a 9-year-old girl with anemia, breathing problems, and recurrent infections sought help for her mysterious ailments, Yale researchers and their collaborators at the National Institutes of Health sequenced her genes to pinpoint a cause. What they discovered was not only a new disease but unexpected new roles for a gene that affects the immune system. |
 | Scientists identify potential way to prevent type 1 diabetesResearchers believe they have identified a way to prevent type 1 diabetes by restoring the immune system's natural balance. The approach may also prove effective for battling other autoimmune diseases such as lupus and eczema, they hope. |
 | What is the ideal age to have a child?Despite increases in age at first birth over the past several decades in the United States, there is little research into how individuals conceptualize the ideal age to have a child. |
 | Exploring the dietary drivers of asthmaAsthma is a relatively common condition which is not completely understood and remains difficult to comprehensively prevent and treat. |
 | Researchers discover new, treatable pathway known to cause hypertension in obese peopleThere's no question that as body weight increases, so too does blood pressure. Now, in a study of mice, Johns Hopkins researchers have revealed exactly which molecules are likely responsible for the link between obesity and blood pressure. Blocking one of these molecules—a signaling channel that's found in a tiny organ on the side of your neck—effectively lowers blood pressure in obese mice, the researchers reported recently in the journal Circulation Research. |
 | PML as potential treatment for pancreatic cancerA recent study in The FASEB Journal identifies a new mechanism of pancreatic tumors' resistance to chemotherapeutic treatment. The mechanism involves the loss of function of promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML), which operates like a tumor suppressor. Surprisingly, researchers found that the PML dysfunction was due not to a genetic mutation or altered gene expression, but rather to an alteration of a specific type of protein modification. |
 | Tasmanian devil research could help tackle immunotherapy resistanceA cluster of interacting proteins that are active in both human cancers and Tasmanian devil facial tumours, may give clues to how cancers evade the immune system, according to a study part-funded by Cancer Research UK and published in Cancer Cell today. |
 | Urban beaches are environmental hotspots for antibiotic resistance after rainfallA two year study into the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in urban coastal environments shows that some beaches around Sydney have elevated levels of antibiotic resistant (AbR) bacteria following rainfall. |
 | ACOG recommends expanding OTC contraception accessIn a Committee Opinion published in the October issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) presents recommendations for expanding over-the-counter access to hormonal contraception. |
 | Incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma up in least deprived areasIndividuals living in the most affluent areas of the United Kingdom seem to have an increased incidence of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), according to a study published in the August issue of BMJ Open. |
 | CDC: US infant outcomes worst for those born in the Delta regionInfants born in the Delta have the worst outcomes, according to the Sept. 25 National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. |
 | Research key to reversing rising dementia death rateDementia is Australia's second leading overall cause of death for the fourth year in a row, and the leading cause of death for women, according to the Causes of Death 2018 Report released yesterday by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. |
 | Study: Active voice conveys a sense of immediacy and increases the chance people will believe youThe way we interpret a message changes depending on whether it's framed in the active or the passive voice, University of Toronto researchers have found—even if the content is exactly the same. |
 | Risk for developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis up in IBDPatients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), especially male patients, have an increased risk for development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), according to a study published online Aug. 16 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. |
 | The dangers of vapingIt's an increasingly common sight around the nation: A person lifts a device to their mouth, and suddenly their head appears engulfed in a vapor cloud. |
 | FDA approves vaccine for prevention of smallpox, monkeypoxJynneos Smallpox and Monkeypox Vaccine, Live, Non-Replicating, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for prevention of smallpox and monkeypox disease in adults 18 years or older who are considered at high risk for infection, the agency announced this week. |
 | Making lifestyle changes you can live withResearch published in the Journal of Nutrition and Dietetics highlights two important steps for improving diet and exercise habits. The first is getting practical and personalized tips for making changes that you'll permanently adopt. The second is developing the inner motivation needed to help make the first step stick. |
 | Beating opioid addiction can be tough: Here's what helpsA constant barrage of news on America's opioid epidemic stokes feelings of hopelessness, and with good reason: Every day, more than 130 people are dying from overdoses, according to government statistics. |
 | Meat alternatives have gone mainstream, but how can they fit in your diet?By almost any measure, meat alternatives are rapidly gaining in popularity. |
 | Health insurance costs surpass $20,000 per year, hitting a recordThe cost of family health coverage in the U.S. now tops $20,000, an annual survey of employers found, a record high that has pushed an increasing number of American workers into plans that cover less or cost more, or force them out of the insurance market entirely. |
 | What is trauma therapy, and could it help me?Elise Wakeland works with trauma survivors every day. The therapist's work is difficult, she said, but it's rewarding, too. |
 | Arthritis treatment could provide relief for lichen planus skin rashIt's often difficult to manage patients with this skin inflammation, but new research identifies a target that existing medications are able to address. |
 | Researchers study how personal care products affect healthEmily Barrett and Adana Llanos, researchers in the Rutgers School of Public Health, have teamed up to find out how chemicals in products used every day—from soap and shampoo to perfume and body lotions—may adversely affect our health. The two discuss why more information and further research is needed to reduce exposure to harmful products and how choosing greener and safer options may be the answer to better health. |
 | New findings enable more heart donationsThere is a risk of every fourth heart examined for possible donation being dismissed as unusable due to stress-induced heart failure. But this condition, according to new research, has no bearing on the outcome of a transplant. These results open the way for up to 30 percent more heart transplant. |
 | A comprehensive atlas of genetic regulation of lipid metabolism publishedAn international research team has identified several novel genetic variants associated with plasma levels of lipid species and cardiovascular disease risk in humans. The study demonstrates that genetic studies focusing on circulating molecular lipid levels over traditional lipid measures can help improve cardiovascular risk prediction and treatment. |
 | Molecular link between chronic pain and depression revealedResearchers at Hokkaido University have identified the brain mechanism linking chronic pain and depression in rats. Their research, which was recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience, could lead to the development of new treatments for chronic pain and depression. |
 | Neurons' response to seizure-induced stress reduces seizure severityIn response to seizures, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a network of flattened tubes in the cell that packages and transports proteins, triggers a stress response that reduces brain activity and seizure severity. The new findings, reported by Nien-Pei Tsai and colleagues at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on 26th September in PLOS Genetics, may have important implications for the development of new epilepsy therapies. |
 | Anxiety disorders linked to disturbances in the cells' powerhousesThe powerhouse of the cell, the mitochondria, provides energy for cellular functions. But those activities can become disturbed when chronic stress leads to anxiety symptoms in mice and humans. Iiris Hovatta of the University of Helsinki and colleagues report these findings in a new study published 26th September in PLOS Genetics. |
 | Researchers uncover molecular changes associated with treating lymphatic filariasisThe Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis delivers mass drug administration to 500 million people each year, and adverse events are common following treatment. Now, researchers have reported in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases that certain changes in gene expression are associated with these adverse events. |
Immune response against Toxocara roundworms helps explain diseaseNeurotoxocarosis (NT) occurs in humans when larvae of the Toxocara roundworm migrate into the central nervous system. That infection is accompanied by a complex molecular signaling cascade, including changes to anti-inflammatory lipid molecules, researchers now report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. | |
 | Dog rabies vaccination programs affect human exposure, prophylaxis useThe World Health Organization has made it a goal to eliminate human rabies deaths due to dog bites by the year 2030. An increase in dog rabies vaccination rates decreases dog rabies cases, human exposure, and human deaths, researchers now report in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. |
 | Disparities persist in early kidney transplantation despite policy changesA recent analysis reveals persistent disparities in preemptive transplantation, when a patient receives a kidney transplant before ever starting dialysis, despite efforts to correct inequalities in transplantation. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN. |
 | International study finds similar results from total or partial hip replacementTo do a total or partial hip replacement for older adults who have a hip fracture has been the question. |
 | Oral health plays increasing role in overall health during agingOral health is a critical component to overall health for all ages, but according to dental and medical experts from UConn Health, vigilance is especially critical for the elderly. |
 | People living near green spaces are at lower risk of metabolic syndromeMiddle-aged and older adults that live in greener neighbourhoods are at lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome than those living in areas with less green spaces. This is the main conclusion of a new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by "la Caixa," which provides further evidence on the health benefits of green spaces. |
 | The secret of motivation—How neural circuits drive hungry individuals to peak performanceSuccess is no accident: To reach your goal you need perseverance. But where does the motivation come from? An international team of researchers led by scientists from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now identified the neural circuit in the brain of fruit flies which makes them perform at their best when searching for food. |
 | Semen miRNAs could be non-invasive biomarkers for prostate cancerResearchers of the Human Molecular Genetics group at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), led by Dr. Sara Larriba, in collaboration with Dr. Francesc Vigués and Dr. Manel Castells of the Urology Service of Bellvitge University Hospital (HUB), show the usefulness of certain molecules—miRNAs in semen—as non-invasive biomarkers for prostate cancer. The results of this study were protected by a patent and are published in Scientific Reports this week. |
 | Health officials: It's time to give flu vaccine another shotThe flu forecast is cloudy and it's too soon to know if the U.S. is in for a third miserable season in a row, but health officials said Thursday not to delay vaccination. |
 | Primary care use aids patients with diabetes and coexisting psych disorders(HealthDay)—For patients with mental health (MH) or substance use (SU) disorders with newly diagnosed diabetes, primary care engagement may offer moderate health benefits, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Mohs micrographic surgery may up survival in stage I melanoma(HealthDay)—Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is associated with improved survival compared with traditional surgery with wide margin excision (WME) for stage I melanoma, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in JAMA Dermatology. |
 | Blast count prognostic for CML presenting in advanced phase(HealthDay)—Blast count seems to be the main prognostic count for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) presenting in an advanced phase, according to a study published online Aug. 27 in the American Journal of Hematology. |
 | Why aren't more stroke survivors getting statins?People with a history of stroke are less likely than those with heart disease to get cholesterol-lowering statin drugs despite the benefits, a new study has found. |
 | More U.S. kids being diagnosed with autism, ADHD(HealthDay)—More U.S. children today have developmental disabilities like autism and ADHD than a decade ago, though improved recognition may be a major reason, according to a government study. |
 | Pancreatic cancer discovery reveals how the aggressive cancer fuels its growthA new discovery about pancreatic cancer sheds light on how the cancer fuels its growth and may help explain how promising cancer drugs work—and for whom they will fail. |
 | Study suggests French ban on food additive may be prematureMichigan State University and University of Nebraska Medical Center researchers are refuting an earlier French government-funded study that claims titanium dioxide, a common food additive used worldwide, causes digestive inflammation and lesions in rats. |
Artificial intelligence predicts radiation therapy side effects for patients with head and neck cancersFor the first time, a sophisticated computer model has been shown to accurately predict two of the most challenging side effects associated with radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. This precision oncology approach has the potential to better identify patients who might benefit from early interventions that may help to prevent significant weight loss after treatment or reduce the need for feeding tube placement. Findings were presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
 | Testing effectiveness of a mobile app for assessment of dementia symptomsA Regenstrief Institute research scientist is testing a novel mobile app designed to improve care for people with Alzheimer's disease. Daniel Bateman, M.D., has received a career development award from the National Institute on Aging to test the feasibility and usability of the revised Brain CareNotes app. |
 | Severe silicosis found among fabricators of engineered quartz stoneEngineered stone, made of ground quartz and resin, has become a tremendously popular material for kitchen countertops due to its durability, low maintenance and customizable colors and patterns. Workers who form, shape, cut and polish the material, however, appear to be at significant risk of severe and potentially deadly lung disease. In this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers from California, Colorado, Texas and Washington report 18 cases of severe silicosis, and two fatalities, among young, mostly Hispanic men, who worked at engineered stone fabrication plants. |
 | Research discovers link between stress and circadian clock healthThe human body has an internal biological clock that is constantly running. Our well-being is dependent on the function of that clock. New research from the University of Minnesota Medical School found a little stress can make the circadian clock run better and faster. |
 | US vaping illness count jumps to 805, deaths rise to 12Hundreds more Americans have been reported to have a vaping-related breathing illness, and the death toll has risen to 12, health officials said Thursday. |
 | Genomic map implicates broad immune cell involvement in multiple sclerosisThe International Multiple Sclerosis Genetic Consortium (IMSGC) reports the results of its latest study, "Multiple sclerosis genomic map implicates peripheral immune cells and microglia in susceptibility", in the journal Science today: the highly productive collaborative group presents a new milestone in its efforts to understand the genetic basis of multiple sclerosis (MS). In a study of 115,803 individuals, the authors have identified 233 sites or loci in the human genome that contribute to the onset of MS. This is the largest study to date in MS and is based on the generous contribution of genetic material from 47,429 MS patients and 68,374 healthy individuals. The study's results confirm earlier results and offer a rich new perspective on the molecular events that lead some individuals to develop MS: it appears that dysfunction of many different immune cell types, both in the peripheral blood and the brain, contribute to triggering a cascade of events that ultimately leads to brain inflammation and neurodegeneration. |
Research shows racial disparities in pregnant women on dialysisPregnancy is not common in women on dialysis due to impaired fertility. New research from the University of Cincinnati finds that among patients with certain kidney disease there is a racial disparity as to who is more likely to become pregnant. Native American, Hispanic and black women have a higher likelihood of pregnancy than white women. | |
 | Nearly one in three patients with lupus use prescription opioids for painAlthough there is little evidence that opioids effectively reduce pain from rheumatic diseases, a new study finds nearly one in three patients with lupus uses prescription opioids, often lasting longer than a year. |
 | Inflammation amps up neurite growth, gene expression involved in heat, cold sensitivityResearchers from North Carolina State University have found that inflammation increases neuronal activity, gene expression and sensory nerve (neurite) outgrowth in neurons involved in thermal—but not physical- sensations in mice. The work sheds light on the role that inflammation-induced overexpression of calcium channel genes may play in pain hypersensitivity. |
Last Australian state decriminalises abortionAbortion was decriminalised in Australia's state of New South Wales on Thursday after weeks of contentious debate, bringing its laws into line with the rest of the country. | |
 | US vaping backlash sparks profit warning at ImperialShares in British tobacco giant Imperial Brands slumped Thursday after it issued a profit-warning linked to a backlash against vaping in the United States. |
 | Cholera outbreak leaves eight dead in Sudan: WHOEight people have died from cholera in Sudan including six in the war-torn state of Blue Nile, according to the World Health Organisation, amid a surge in the number of reported cases. |
 | Chemist discovers promising compound for a future drug against Alzheimer's diseaseBiochemists from RUDN University (Russia) and the University of Bari (Italy) report a group of compounds that can become a molecular scaffold for new drugs for Alzheimer's disease. They have demonstrated that derivatives of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexahydroazepino[4,3-b]indole, or HHAI, are effective inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase—enzymes whose increased activity can worsen the condition in this disease. The article is published in the European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. |
 | High drug costs despite public R&D funding in the millionsEUR 165 million in public and private R&D grants for the discovery and development of a drug that generates millions in revenue per patient (!) for a pharmaceutical company. Numerous public research grants were also identified for the development of two other high-priced drugs. This was possible thanks to a search strategy developed by LBI-HTA, intending to create more transparency about the societal value of public investments in the health care system and therefore supports the demand for a "public return on public investment." |
 | Designer type 2 diabetes drug comes with added benefitsA potential new treatment for type 2 diabetes has multiple, positive effects on health and metabolism in mice, reports a study in Nature. The new drug might have potential for treating a variety of disorders in addition to type 2 diabetes, such as muscle atrophy, although clinical trials in humans are needed. |
 | Obesity epidemic results in NAFLD becoming most common cause of liver disease in EuropeNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease prevalence in Europe is a preventable epidemic, leading researchers will report at the EASL Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Summit 2019 taking place this week in Seville, Spain. |
 | At tobacco industry forum, panic over possible e-cigarette banWhile most of Washington is gripped by the impeachment storm swirling around Donald Trump, a few blocks up Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, hundreds of executives are pondering another potential presidential upheaval. |
 | Johnson & Johnson appeals Oklahoma's $572M opioid rulingConsumer products giant Johnson & Johnson is appealing an Oklahoma judge's $572 million order against the company and its subsidiaries for helping fuel the state's opioid crisis. |
 | Trial finds high-dose radiation effective for men whose prostate cancer has spreadA randomized clinical trial of targeted, high-dose radiation for men with oligometastatic prostate cancer has shown the treatment to be an effective and safe option for patients who wish to delay hormone-suppression therapy. The phase II trial found that radiation therapy can generate an immune system response not previously believed possible in this type of cancer. Findings will be presented today at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Chicago. |
 | Interactive avatar boosts performance of children with ADHDA new study has shown that an interactive avatar, which gives both instructions and feedback on the attention of the learner, can improve the performance of ADHD children on a complex problem-solving task. Researchers concluded that the presence of a virtual avatar providing instruction and feedback can enhance the attention of ADHD children and boost their performance on dynamic measures of intelligence, as reported in an article published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. |
Long-term hormone Tx increases mortality risk for men with low PSA after prostate surgeryA secondary analysis of a recent clinical trial that changed the standard of care for men with recurring prostate cancer finds long-term hormone therapy does more harm than good for many men and calls for rethinking treatment guidelines based on a patient's post-operative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Findings were presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
Women's clinic closures associated with higher cervical cancer mortality, lower screeningFollowing the closure of nearly 100 women's health clinics across the United States from 2010 to 2013, fewer women were screened for cervical cancer, more women were diagnosed with advanced stages of the disease and mortality rates rose. Findings from a new analysis combining several nationwide datasets were presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
Noninvasive radiation therapy offers long-term benefits to patients with high-risk heart arrhythmiaTreating high-risk heart patients with a single, high dose of radiation therapy can dramatically reduce episodes of rapid, abnormal heartbeats for more than two years, offering hope to patients who have exhausted other treatment options. Findings were presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
 | Vaping industry seeks to block New York ban on e-cig flavorsThe vaping industry is suing to nullify New York state's ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. |
Adding radiation after immunotherapy improves PFS for some pts with metastatic NSCLCAdding precisely aimed, escalated doses of radiation after patients no longer respond to immunotherapy reinvigorates the immune system in some patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), increasing progression-free survival (PFS). Findings of the phase II randomized trial were presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
PACIFIC survival explained: Cancer spread reduced, new distant growth most often in the brainA new analysis of survival data for the randomized, phase III PACIFIC trial finds adding the immunotherapy cancer drug durvalumab to radiation and chemotherapy significantly decreased the recurrence of lung cancer both in the chest area and in distant sites outside the chest. The update of the landmark study that changed the standard of care for patients with stage 3 unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), was presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
Women equally satisfied with cosmetic results of partial, whole breast radiation after lumpectomyWhole breast radiation and partial breast radiation following a lumpectomy yield similar cosmetic outcomes for women diagnosed with early stages of cancer who wish to preserve their breasts. Findings of the new analysis from a phase III clinical trial were presented at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
NY could add menthol to flavor ban as vaping groups sueNew York officials want to add menthol to the state's first-in-the-nation ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes as the vaping industry seeks to block it, according to the governor's office. | |
Biology news
 | Scientists connected fragments of pine savanna and new species keep showing upBefore Europeans arrived in America, longleaf pine savannas sprawled across 90 million acres from present-day Florida to Texas and Virginia. Today, thanks to human impacts, less than 3 percent of that acreage remains and what's left exists in fragmented patches largely isolated from one another. |
 | Otherworldly worms with three sexes discovered in Mono LakeCaltech scientists have discovered a new species of worm thriving in the extreme environment of Mono Lake. This new species, temporarily dubbed Auanema sp., has three different sexes, can survive 500 times the lethal human dose of arsenic, and carries its young inside its body like a kangaroo. |
 | Crypt-keeper wasp found to parasitize multiple species of gall waspA team of researchers from the University of Iowa and Rice University has found that crypt-keeper wasps parasitize multiple species of gall wasp. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the group describes how they studied oak tree galls and wasps and what they found. |
 | Natural selection alters genes that control roundworms' sense of smellCharles Darwin was right. |
 | Cause of antibiotic resistance identifiedScientists have confirmed for the first time that bacteria can change form to avoid being detected by antibiotics in the human body. |
 | Bacteria make pearl chainsFor the first time, scientists in Bremen were able to observe bacteria forming pearl chains that protrude from the cell surface. These pearl chains serve to better absorb and store substances from the environment. The researchers now present their results in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. |
 | Less genes for a life in waterWhile whales and dolphins spend their entire life in the ocean, these air-breathing mammals actually evolved from terrestrial species. The transition from land to water in the ancestors of modern whales and dolphins about 50 million years ago was accompanied by profound anatomical, physiological, and behavioral adaptations that facilitated life in water. However, which changes in the DNA underlie these adaptations remains incompletely understood. To reveal them, researchers at the Max Planck Institutes of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics and for the Physics of Complex Systems as well as the Center for Systems Biology Dresden systematically searched for genes that were lost in the ancestor of today's whales and dolphins. The research team discovered 85 gene losses, some of which likely helped whales to thrive in their new habitat. |
 | The dark giraffe, the new dark horseDarker male giraffes have been found to be more solitary and less social than their lighter-colored counterparts, according to new research from The University of Queensland. |
 | Signaling factor seeking geneDuring embryonic development, stem cells begin to take on specific identities, becoming distinct cell types with specialized characteristics and functions, in order to form the diverse organs and systems in our bodies. Cells rely on two main classes of regulators to define and maintain their identities; the first of these are master transcription factors, keystone proteins in each cell's regulatory network, which keep the DNA sequences associated with crucial cell identity genes accessible for transcription—the process by which DNA is "read" into RNA. The other main regulators are signaling factors, which transmit information from the environment to the nucleus through a chain of proteins like a game of cellular telephone. Signaling factors can prompt changes in gene transcription as the cells react to that information. |
 | How fungus-farming ants could help solve our antibiotic resistance problemFor the last 60 million years, fungus-growing ants have farmed fungi for food. In their cultivation of those fungi, they've successfully relied on bacteria-produced antimicrobial ingredients to protect their crops from other species of parasitic fungi. Now, researchers reporting in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution say they are looking to these ants to find new ways to stop or slow the evolution of antibiotic resistance that now presents a major threat to modern medicine. |
 | Scientists first to analyze proteins in squid skeletal structureWriters know the power of the pen, but scientists are just discovering its secrets. |
 | How time affects the fate of stem cellsHow do temporal variations in protein concentrations affect biology? It's a question that biologists have only recently begun to address, and the findings are increasingly showing that random temporal changes in the amount of certain proteins play a direct and significant role on biological processes. |
 | Study: Large-scale genomics will improve the yield, climate resilience and quality of wheatUsing the full wheat genome map published in 2018, combined with data from field testing of wheat breeding lines in multiple countries, an international team of scientists has identified significant new chromosomal regions for wheat yield and disease resistance and created a freely-available collection of genetic information and markers for more than 40,000 wheat lines. |
 | Volunteers conserve vulnerable sea turtles in remote PanamaIver Valencia goes out at dusk each evening during nesting season with a group of lantern-wielding villagers to walk a stretch of Panamanian beach. Their mission: to find nests where olive ridley sea turtles lay their eggs and take them to a hatchery safe from predators. |
 | Tourism or permanent settling: Study shows different consequences for coastal faunaCoasts are habitats for many endangered species and are therefore of great ecological value. They are also of great economic value, as humans use them in very different ways: for instance as areas of permanent settling or as tourist destinations. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have now for the first time been able to demonstrate in a study on the Maldives that these two forms of coastal land use lead to different ecological consequences shown in the model system hermit crabs. The scientists presented their findings in the journal Scientific Reports. |
 | Unique footage of trypanosome creates new opportunities to fight sleeping sicknessThe parasite trypanosome does not swim through a blood vessel as has always been assumed, it can simply be carried along with the flow. The parasite responsible for tens of thousands of deaths can, however, clings to the wall of a blood vessel. The single-celled organism can also enter the body of a human or animal through this wall. These are the most important results of a study by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) published on eLife. |
 | Insects might soon be trained to protect cropsOne of the biggest contemporary challenges for humanity is to safeguard food security for current and future generations. A growing demand and a steady increase of the world population—nearly 10 billion people are expected to inhabit Earth by 2050—requires that food production per area of cultivated land will have to increase drastically. Expanding into land that is currently uncultivated is not feasible, especially considering the pressures of climate change. |
 | How do piranhas replace their sharp teeth?Piranhas and their herbivorous cousins pacus have distinctive teeth used to tear through tough food. A recent paper by Matthew Kolmann, a postdoctoral fellow in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Department of Biological Sciences, suggests that how these fish lose their teeth—all at once on one side of their head—be considered a characteristic of the piranha's family, Serrasalmidae. |
 | Almond and peach tree genomes shed light on their differencesHumans have been eating peaches and almonds for thousands of years. Although at first sight the products of these trees may seem to be very different, both species are part of the Prunus genus, and are genetically very similar—so much so that they can be cross-bred, and fertile hybrids can be obtained from them. Now, an international team led by researchers of the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) has sequenced the genome of one almond tree variety and compared it to the peach tree genome. The detailed comparison of both genomes provides insights into their evolutionary history, and reveals the key role played by genomic mobile elements, also known as transposable elements, or transposons, in the diversification of both species. According to the authors of the paper, the movement of the transposons could lie at the origin of the differences between the fruit of both species or the flavour of the almond. |
 | Farmed oysters able to protect themselves from acidificationOysters bred for fast growth and disease resistance are able to adapt their shell growth to protect themselves from environmental acidification, according to new research. |
 | Basking sharks exhibit different diving behaviour depending on the season, a new study showsTracking the world's second-largest shark species has revealed that it moves to different depths depending on the time of year. |
 | Orangutans can play the kazoo – here's what this tells us about the evolution of speechA kazoo might seem a world away from the spoken word. But our ability to produce its buzzing, Donald Duck-like sound at will was key in us ever developing the ability to speak at all. And while our capacity for speech is unique, my colleague Robert Shumaker and I have used the novelty instrument to show that great apes aren't far behind. |
 | Study champions inland fisheries as rural nutrition heroA synthesis of new data and assessment methods is showing how freshwater fish are an invisible superhero in the global challenge to feed poor rural populations in many areas of the world. But there's a problem: Invisibility is the wrong superpower. |
 | Viruses as modulators of interactions in marine ecosystemsThe Oceans not only host large predators such as sharks or orcas. Even in the realm of the microscopic, some unicellular species consume others. Choanoflagellates belong to these unicellular predators. They are widespread in the ocean and eat bacteria and small algae. Choanoflagellates are considered among the closest living unicellular relatives of animals and can transition to a multicellular state. For that reason they are often studied for understanding how multicellular organisms like us came to be. |
 | How a protein connecting calcium and plant hormone regulates plant growthPlant growth is strongly shaped by environmental conditions like light, humidity, drought and salinity, among other factors. But how plants integrate environmental signals and the developmental processes encoded in their genes remains a mystery. |
 | Mosquitoes more likely to lay eggs in closely spaced habitatsPatches of standing water that are close together are more likely to be used by mosquitoes to lay eggs in than patches that are farther apart, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. The findings, recently published in Oecologia, have implications for human and animal health. |
 | How neuronal recognition of songbird calls unfolds over timeA novel computational approach sheds new light on the response of neurons in the brain of a songbird when it hears and interprets the meaning of another bird's call. Julie Elie and Frédéric Theunissen of University of California, Berkeley, present the new method and findings in PLOS Computational Biology. |
New California lab seeks cure to deadly citrus diseaseIn a lab southeast of Los Angeles, researchers are opening a new front in the yearslong battle against a tiny pest that has wreaked havoc on citrus groves around the world. | |
 | ISSF releases new non-entangling and biodegradable FADs guideThe International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published a best-practices guide—based on years of ISSF scientific research and fleet collaboration worldwide, including at skippers workshops—to help tuna fishers accelerate their use of fish aggregating device (FAD) designs with the least possible impact on the marine ecosystem. |
 | California, 16 states sue Trump administration over rollback of Endangered Species ActCalifornia and 16 other states on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's weakening of the Endangered Species Act, a landmark law that has ensured the survival of the California condor, the grizzly bear and other animals close to extinction. |
 | New function in a protein of plants essential to developing drought-tolerant cropsResearchers at the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and the University of Málaga (UMA) have discovered a new function in the BAG4 plant protein. In the study, they prove that this protein takes part in the regulation of plant transpiration, the transport of potassium in occlusive cells and thus, the opening of the stomas—the pores located on leaves, from where the plant transpires. This finding is particularly significant for developing crops that are more resistant to drought conditions. Their work has been published in the Plant Physiology journal. |
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