Monday, October 14, 2019

Science X Newsletter Monday, Oct 14

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 14, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

3-D integrated metasurfaces stacking up for impressive holography

Black holes stunt growth of dwarf galaxies

Lakes worldwide are experiencing more severe algal blooms

Scientists reveal mechanism of electron charge exchange in molecules

Astronomers use giant galaxy cluster as X-ray magnifying lens

Reading the past like an open book: Researchers use text to measure 200 years of happiness

Unique sticky particles formed by harnessing chaos

Unlocking the biochemical treasure chest within microbes

Study reveals how mucus tames microbes

Study shows a much cheaper catalyst can generate hydrogen in a commercial device

Scientists pinpoint cause of harmful dendrites and whiskers in lithium batteries

The nano-guitar string that plays itself

Open cluster ASCC 123 investigated in detail

Investing in love and affection pays off for species that mate for life

How preprocessing methods affect the conversion efficiency of biomass energy production

Astronomy & Space news

Black holes stunt growth of dwarf galaxies

Astronomers at the University of California, Riverside, have discovered that powerful winds driven by supermassive black holes in the centers of dwarf galaxies have a significant impact on the evolution of these galaxies by suppressing star formation.

Astronomers use giant galaxy cluster as X-ray magnifying lens

Astronomers at MIT and elsewhere have used a massive cluster of galaxies as an X-ray magnifying glass to peer back in time, to nearly 9.4 billion years ago. In the process, they spotted a tiny dwarf galaxy in its very first, high-energy stages of star formation.

Open cluster ASCC 123 investigated in detail

Using the Galileo National Telescope, astronomers have conducted a high-resolution spectroscopic study of the open cluster ASCC 123 as part of the Stellar Population Astrophysics (SPA) project. Results of the new research, presented in a paper published October 4 on arXiv.org, provide important information about fundamental parameters of 17 candidate members of ASCC 123, shedding more light on the properties of this little-studied cluster.

2I/Borisov: Interstellar comet with a familiar look

A new comet discovered by amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov is an outcast from another star system, yet its properties are surprisingly familiar, a new study led by Jagiellonian University researchers shows. The team's findings are being published in Nature Astronomy on 14 October 2019.

The nature of obscured active galactic nuclei

Most galaxies host a supermassive black hole (SMBH) at their nucleus, one whose mass exceeds a million solar-masses. When material actively accretes onto the SMBH, associated processes can produce an active galactic nucleus (AGN) with a hot torus and dramatic bipolar jets of rapidly moving charged particles. The most luminous known AGN emit over ten trillion solar-luminosities. Astronomers are trying to understand what powers AGN, how they evolve, and how their jets and radiation affect their environments, and these extreme cases are expected to provide key insights.

Astrophysicist suggests light might be a problem for life on a planet orbiting a black hole

Jeremy Schnittman, an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has taken what he describes as a tongue-in-cheek look at the issues that might stand in the way of life existing on a planet orbiting a black hole. He has written a paper outlining his thoughts on the idea posted on the arXiv preprint server.

Emirati astronaut returns home to hero's welcome

An Emirati astronaut who became the first Arab to reach the International Space Station received a hero's welcome home on Saturday.

Hubble snaps spiral's profile

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope sees galaxies of all shapes, sizes, luminosities and orientations in the cosmos. Sometimes, the telescope gazes at a galaxy oriented sideways—as shown here. The spiral galaxy featured in this Hubble image is called NGC 3717, and it is located about 60 million light-years away in the constellation of Hydra (the Sea Serpent).

Extending the life of geosynchronous satellites

Space Logistics LLC, a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman, has launched a satellite that can extend the life of other satellites. The satellite is called MEV-1, or Mission Extension Vehicle-1. MEV-1 is the first of its kind.

Technology news

How preprocessing methods affect the conversion efficiency of biomass energy production

Research on energy production from biomass usually focuses on the amount of energy generated. But it is also important to consider how much energy goes into the process, a component that is often neglected, says Tony Grift, professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and the Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois.

Stadia's negative latency talk: Gamers say wait and see

Google Stadia is a game streaming platform with a launch date in November. So it's only human that Google is talking about how special Stadia is for gaming as the countdown begins.

Facebook researchers use maths for better translations

Designers of machine translation tools still mostly rely on dictionaries to make a foreign language understandable. But now there is a new way: numbers.

Faster video recognition for the smartphone era

A branch of machine learning called deep learning has helped computers surpass humans at well-defined visual tasks like reading medical scans, but as the technology expands into interpreting videos and real-world events, the models are getting larger and more computationally intensive.

Protecting smart machines from smart attacks

Machines' ability to learn by processing data gleaned from sensors underlies automated vehicles, medical devices and a host of other emerging technologies. But that learning ability leaves systems vulnerable to hackers in unexpected ways, researchers at Princeton University have found.

Renewables overtake hydrocarbons in UK electricity generation: study

Renewable sources generated more of Britain's electricity than fossil fuels for the first time last quarter, according to analysis by specialist website "Carbon Brief" published Monday.

Contextual engineering improves success of projects in non-industrial societies

Humanitarian engineering projects often focus on bringing western technologies to non-industrialized societies. But environmental and cultural factors in these locations may be very different from conditions in the West, and the projects may not meet client needs if engineers do not fully understand the context in which they are operating.

Boeing splits CEO, chairman role amid MAX crisis

Boeing unveiled a shift to its leadership structure on Friday as it manages the 737 MAX crisis, announcing that Dennis Muilenburg will remain chief executive but step down as chairman.

More companies back away from Facebook's Libra coin

Facebook's digital currency alliance lost more companies on Friday amid heavy criticism from regulators around the world on the planned Libra global cryptocurrency.

US regulators block Telegram from raising funds through cryptocurrency

US securities regulators won an emergency court order Friday to block the messaging application Telegram Group from raising funds by selling unregistered cryptocurrency to investors.

50 years after internet conception, dark side stirs fear

On October 29, 1969, professor Leonard Kleinrock and a team at the University of California at Los Angeles got a computer to "talk" to a machine in what is now known as Silicon Valley.

The high-tech start-up tackling online extremism

Vidhya Ramalingam believes it's always possible to change, even for people deeply involved in the murky online world of jihadist and far-right extremism.

Locally sourced power may be the answer for vulnerable energy grid

This week, the Pacific Gas and Electric Company took the unprecedented step of cutting power to nearly 750,000 Northern California customers, including much of the UC Berkeley campus, in an effort to mitigate the risk that active transmission lines could spark a wildfire during dry and windy conditions.

Group behind Facebook's Libra coin push meet in Geneva

The Libra Association, created by Facebook to launch its new cryptocurrency, kicked off its first council meeting in Geneva on Monday, despite defections by previous supporters like Visa and Mastercard.

Ethical algorithms

Nearly forty thousand people lost their lives in car crashes last year in the U.S. alone. We can only presume that many of those fatalities were owed to our uniquely human frailties: distracted driving, driving under the influence, or plain inexperience. It makes sense to get human drivers off the roads as quickly as possible, and let machines do the driving.

Accounting for variability in vascular models

Scientists at Duke University are working to accurately model the uncertainties in the mechanical behavior of human arterial walls. By supporting theoretical developments for tissue engineering, the research could eventually underpin patient-specific simulations to help physicians develop non-invasive techniques for early diagnosis and identify potential pitfalls before performing medical procedures.

Streamer Tubi says the future is free as it moves into Europe

US streaming giant Tubi—which has been dubbed "the free Netflix"—is to launch a children's network next week and expand its main service into Europe next year, it announced Monday.

Say thank you and please: Should you be polite with Alexa and the Google Assistant?

Jeremy Bloom has a polite family. But after a few frustratingly failed attempts in which Bloom politely asked Alexa to turn down the volume at dinner time, he shouted instead, "Alexa, zip it."

Wrangling big data into real-time, actionable intelligence

Social media, cameras, sensors and more generate huge amounts of data that can overwhelm analysts sifting through it all for meaningful, actionable information to provide decision-makers such as political leaders and field commanders responding to security threats.

AI could be a force for positive social change – but we're currently heading for a darker future

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already re-configuring the world in conspicuous ways. Data drives our global digital ecosystem, and AI technologies reveal patterns in data. Smartphones, smart homes, and smart cities influence how we live and interact, and AI systems are increasingly involved in recruitment decisions, medical diagnoses, and judicial verdicts. Whether this scenario is utopian or dystopian depends on your perspective.

SoftBank bailout would give it control of WeWork: sources

Japan's SoftBank Group has prepared a financing plan that would give it control of WeWork as the office sharing startup seeks badly- needed financing, sources told AFP Monday.

Liz Weston: In 'SIM swap,' criminals really have your number

If you're not familiar with SIM swap fraud, prepare to be terrified.

Fortnite goes offline after asteroid blows up virtual world

Internet gaming phenomenon Fortnite has temporarily gone offline, leaving millions of addicted gamers wondering what to do with themselves, after a massive asteroid brought the latest season to an end.

Sophos antivirus software maker agrees to £3.1bn takeover

Britain's Sophos Group, known worldwide for its antivirus and encryption software, said Monday that it has agreed to a £3.1-billion takeover from US private equity firm Thoma Bravo.

Texting or e-mail: Which gives you more secure communication?

WhatsApp, text or email—which is the most secure option when your conversation really has to be locked down?

Uber lays off 350 employees in Eats, autonomous vehicles

Uber is laying off 350 employees from its food delivery, autonomous vehicles, safety, insurance and other teams.

GM workers struggle with daily expenses as long strike continues

Betty Johnson, who has worked on General Motors assembly lines in Michigan and Tennessee for more than 34 years, said she knew a strike by the United Auto Workers would mean personal sacrifice.

The future of cities—opportunities, challenges and the way forward

While urban population is expected to continue growing around most of the globe, this is less so in Europe.

Medicine & Health news

Reading the past like an open book: Researchers use text to measure 200 years of happiness

Was there such a thing as 'the good old days' when people were happier? Are current Government policies more or less likely to increase their citizens' feelings of wellbeing?

Researchers identify brain protein that promotes maintenance of chronic pain

A protein called RGS4 (Regulator of G protein signaling 4) plays a prominent role in the maintenance of long-term pain states and may serve as a promising new target for the treatment of chronic pain conditions, according to research conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published in print October 16, in The Journal of Neuroscience.

Antibody-based eye drops show promise for treating dry eye disease

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago are the first to identify the presence of a specific type of antibody, called anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies, or ACPAs, in human tear fluid. They are also the first to demonstrate that patients with dry eye disease experienced reduced signs and symptoms of the condition in response to a new eye drop treatment —- made from pooled human antibodies—that targets ACPAs.

New brain research could change how concussions are treated

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including concussions, can be caused by anything from sports injuries to battlefield trauma. And they can have fatal or lasting effects. The results of a severe concussion—problems with thinking, memory, movement, emotions—are clear. The causes, or underlying pathological mechanisms, were not.

Research team develops new genetic-based epilepsy risk scores

An international team of researchers led by Cleveland Clinic has developed new genetic-based epilepsy risk scores which may lay the foundation for a more personalized method of epilepsy diagnosis and treatment. This analysis is the largest study of epilepsy genetics to date, as well as the largest study of epilepsy using human samples.

Researchers explore spinal discs' early response to injury and ways to improve it

Researchers may have found a way to press pause on spinal disc injuries, giving doctors more time to treat them before worse issues develop. The Penn Medicine-led team discovered that cells in the outer region of spinal discs become stressed and kick off a subpar healing process after injuries, which researchers then found can temporarily be blocked with drugs that calm the cells down. This study, conducted using specially engineered biomaterials and small animal models, was published today in Nature Biomedical Engineering.

Scientists help immune system find hidden cancer cells

Cancer cells are masters at avoiding detection, but a new system developed by Yale scientists can make them stand out from the crowd and help the immune system spot and eliminate tumors that other forms of immunotherapies might miss, the researchers report Oct. 14 in the journal Nature Immunology.

Dementia spreads via connected brain networks

In a new study, UC San Francisco scientists used maps of brain connections to predict how brain atrophy would spread in individual patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), adding to growing evidence that the loss of brain cells associated with dementia spreads via the synaptic connections between established brain networks. The results advance scientists' knowledge of how neurodegeneration spreads and could lead to new clinical tools to evaluate how well novel treatments slow or block the predicted trajectory of these diseases.

Order found in circular molecule suggests deeper importance to brain function

Scientists are rethinking the importance of an enigmatic molecule after finding intricate processes at play in its formation.

Stress during pregnancy may affect baby's sex, risk of preterm birth

It's becoming well established that maternal stress during pregnancy can affect fetal and child development as well as birth outcomes, and a new study from researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and NewYork-Presbyterian now identifies the types of physical and psychological stress that may matter most.

Estuarine waters hold promise in global pain-relief hunt

The worldwide search for an opioid alternative has made a leap forward—with a scientific discovery in an Australian fungus indicating effective pain relief and the potential for a safer less addictive drug, helping address the opioid epidemic of deaths by overdose.

Non-pharmacologic treatments may be more effective for psychiatric symptoms of dementia

For patients with dementia who have symptoms of aggression and agitation, interventions such as outdoor activities, massage and touch therapy may be more effective treatments than medication in some cases, suggests a study publishing Oct. 14 in Annals of Internal Medicine.

National focus on overdose prevention should include alcohol too, study suggests

For several years, the national spotlight has shone on the need to prevent and rapidly treat opioid overdoses. But a new study suggests a need for more focus on the risk of alcohol overdoses among people who use opioids of all kinds, as well as cocaine, marijuana and certain prescription drugs.

Food-insecure Canadian households may have trouble affording prescription medication

Food insecurity is linked to higher disease rates but not much is known about the reasons for this. A new study of more than 10,000 Canadian households shows that this connection may be at least partially attributed to lack of access to prescription medication.

California to ban smoking on state parks, beaches

California will ban smoking on state parks and beaches starting next year under legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Another reason to get cataract surgery: It can make you 48% safer on the road

The ability of cataract surgery to restore sight is well known. People say they're stunned by the vibrancy of color after surgery and the improvement in night vision. Some can even reduce their reliance on glasses. But can you quantify that improved quality of vision? To find out, researchers in Australia used a driving simulator to test patients' vision before and after cataract surgery. They found that near misses and crashes decreased by 48 percent after surgery. The researchers present their study today at AAO 2019, the 123rd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

More evidence linking common bladder medication to a vision-threatening eye condition

A drug widely prescribed for a bladder condition for decades, now appears to be toxic to the retina, the light sensing tissue at the back of the eye that allows us to see. After an initial report last year that Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) may be associated with retinal damage, three ophthalmologists conducted a review of patients at Kaiser Permanente in Northern California. They found that about one-quarter of patients with significant exposure to Elmiron showed definite signs of eye damage, and that this medication toxicity could masquerade as other known retinal conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration or pattern dystrophy. The research will be presented today at AAO 2019, the 123nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Second Ebola vaccine to be used in DR Congo next month (Update)

Doctors will use a second Ebola vaccine from November in three eastern provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo to fight the deadly virus, medical officials said Sunday.

Self-reported suicide attempts rising in black teens as other groups decline

Adding to what is known about the growing crisis of suicide among American teens, a team led by researchers at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University have uncovered several troubling trends during the period of 1991-2017, among Black high school students in particular.

Pioneering clinical trial to treat psychosis in Parkinson's patients using cannabidiol

A pioneering clinical trial will investigate the use of cannabidiol (CBD) - a compound found in the cannabis plant—in people with Parkinson's-related psychosis.

For low-risk thyroid cancer patients, less may be more for post-surgery surveillance

Not all patients feel the same way about medical treatment.

US 'medical tourists' seek cheap health care abroad

When Veronica Merrill decided to undergo stomach surgery for weight loss, she found two options: pay $12,000 at home in the United States, or have it done in Mexico for $4,000.

Women have substantially less influence on Twitter than men in academic medicine: study

Women who are health policy or health services researchers face a significant disparity in social media influence compared to their male peers, according to a new study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Although the average number of tweets among all researchers tend to be consistent, women trail behind men in follower counts, regardless of how active they are on Twitter. The findings, which hold implications for larger questions around gender disparities in academic medicine, are published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Birth weight linked to childhood allergies

The more a baby weighs at birth relative to its gestational age the greater the risk of childhood food allergies and eczema, according to South Australian researchers.

Activity trackers can be useful tools in managing diabetes

Researchers at The University of Manchester have conducted the largest ever review of the effect of movement-monitoring devices, such as pedometers, on the activity of individuals with diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Blue light isn't the main source of eye fatigue and sleep loss—it's your computer

Blue light has gotten a bad rap, getting blamed for loss of sleep and eye damage. Personal electronic devices emit more blue light than any other color. Blue light has a short wavelength, which means that it is high-energy and can damage the delicate tissues of the eye. It can also pass through the eye to the retina, the collection of neurons that converts light into the signals that are the foundation of sight.

Philippines begins mass vaccinations after polio returns

Parents lined up from sunrise holding sleeping infants as the Philippines launched a campaign on Monday to vaccinate millions of children against polio, which has re-emerged nearly two decades after the nation's last cases.

Fast food leads to slow testosterone

Obese men hoping to sire children—beware. Obesity is known to be associated with impaired testicular function, potentially resulting in androgen deficiency and sub-fertility. Now it is clear that fast food meals consumed by obese or overweight men have an immediate negative impact on testicular performance and testosterone production.

Advanced ovarian cancer treatment approved

A targeted treatment for advanced ovarian cancer has been approved for use on the NHS in England and will be paid for by the Cancer Drugs Fund.

Introduce standard units for cannabis to improve mental health

New findings suggest that introducing 'standard units' for cannabis could improve people's mental health.

New study deepens understanding of effects of media exposure to collective trauma

According to a new UCI-led study, it's not just how much media exposure an individual has to collective trauma, but also the graphic quality of what one sees, that may make them more vulnerable to trauma-related mental and physical health problems over time. Published online in the current issue of the journal Clinical Psychological Science, the study suggests that greater frequency of viewing bloody images in the week following the bombings is associated with higher acute stress, post-traumatic stress, and other mental health issues linked to impaired functioning six months later.

There's a binge drinking boom among older people: What that could be doing

Although enjoying a glass of red wine now and again may be healthy for your heart and gut, drinking too much alcohol can put you at higher risk of developing many serious health conditions. Heavy alcohol consumption has been linked to a number of health issues, including developing certain types of cancer, stroke, heart and liver disease, and brain damage. In older people, drinking unhealthy levels of alcohol can be even more damaging to health, and may cause memory loss, high blood pressure, balance problems, and worsen mental health.

Organs 'too risky' to donate may be safe for transplantation

Organs from potential donors once rejected as being unsafe to transplant may not be as risky as once thought, new Australian research shows.

'I wish you were murdered': Some students don't know the difference between bullying and banter

Many Australian students don't know the difference between banter and bullying, with some saying they joke about wishing their friend would "drown" or "die in a car crash."

Vaping: Crisis or lost opportunity?

Whether you're doing vape tricks for YouTube views or kicking yourself for not realizing that "USB" was actually your teenager's Juul, you know vaping is all the rage right now. You probably also know that President Trump has called on the FDA to ban all flavored e-cigarettes to combat youth vaping. This comes in reaction to the mysterious lung illness that has affected 1,080 people to date. 18 of them have died.

A quarter of Aussie 'transplant tourists' get infections

Over a quarter of patients returning to Australia after receiving an organ transplantation overseas will experience complications, including bacterial and viral infections, according to research published online today by the Medical Journal of Australia.

Aussie doctors urged to continue to fight mandatory detention of immigrants

Australian doctors must continue a campaign of "civil disobedience" and "non-violent direct action" against the Federal Government's policies on mandatory immigration detention, according to the authors of a Perspective published online today by the Medical Journal of Australia.

Neuroscientists call for an ethical framework for transplanting human 'mini-brains' into animals

As research involving the transplantation of human "mini-brains"—known as brain organoids—into animals to study disease continues to expand, so do the ethical debates around the practice. One concern is the possibility, however minute, that the grafted organoids may one day induce a level of consciousness in host animals, as models evolve to resemble the human brain more closely.

Women and men tolerate heart transplants equally well, but men may get better hearts

Women are just as likely as men to survive after a heart transplant despite often getting poorer-quality donor hearts, according to new research.

Patients with type 2 diabetes who have flu more likely to be hospitalized

The risk for hospitalization with pandemic influenza is higher for patients with type 2 diabetes than for those without type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Oct. 6 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Global prevalence of pediatric hypertension about 4 percent

The estimated pooled prevalence of hypertension in children is 4 percent, according to a review published online Oct. 7 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Caution urged when taking patients off opioid painkillers

Doctors should be more cautious when taking chronic pain patients off opioid painkillers, according to a new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidance released Thursday.

Study: If you have heart disease, here's how much you should sleep to prevent early death

If you've been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes or heart disease, getting enough sleep at night is imperative, according to a new report.

New blood test diagnoses more women with heart attack but gender gap in treatment remains

Women receive poorer heart attack treatment than men, even when rates of diagnosis are the same, according to new research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Researchers discover a new way to improve the assessment of prostate cancer aggressiveness

Researchers from Queen's University Belfast have discovered a new way to predict the aggressiveness and future behavior of prostate cancers.

Is scurvy really making a comeback in the UK?

Scurvy is on the rise in the U.K. and picky eating might be the cause, a recent report in Metro suggests. But is this something we should worry about? As with most things, it's not as clear cut as it might seem.

Changes associated with Alzheimer's disease detectable in blood samples

Researchers have discovered changes in blood samples associated with Alzheimer's disease. A new international study examined disease-discordant twin pairs: one sibling who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and one who was cognitively healthy. The researchers used the latest genome-wide methods to find out whether the twins' blood samples had any disease-related differences in epigenetic marks, which are sensitive to changes in environmental and lifestyle factors. Differences in epigenetic marks between the sibling who suffered from Alzheimer's disease and the healthy sibling were discovered in multiple genomic regions.

Highest mortality risks for poor and unemployed

How do socioeconomic factors influence the mortality risk of employees in Germany? Pavel Grigoriev, Rembrandt Scholz and Vladimir M. Shkolnikov, researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, have calculated this reliably for the first time, using a public dataset from Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the German mandatory state pension insurance, which includes information from several million insured persons. Their study shows the role of good education, work status and above all of income—especially for men.

More aggressive blood pressure control benefits brains of older adults

A major UConn School of Medicine study published in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation shows that more aggressively controlling daily blood pressure in older adults can improve brain health.

Frequent male pot use linked to early miscarriages

(HealthDay)—Men who use marijuana at least once a week are twice as likely to see their partner's pregnancy end in miscarriage, compared to those who use no pot, new research suggests.

Suicide attempts rising among black teens

(HealthDay)—Historically, black teenagers in the United States have had lower suicide rates than whites. But a new study finds that more black teens have been attempting suicide in recent years—and experts are not sure why.

Where you die can affect your chance of being an organ donor

If Roland Henry had died in a different part of the country, his organs might have been recovered. And lives could have been saved.

Sensory and motor brain plasticity is not limited by location

The new function of unused cortical regions is not necessarily determined by the function of nearby cortical regions, according to new research in adults born without one hand, published in JNeurosci.

Researchers analyze the role of kinesiophobia in individuals with chronic pain

Finding out how kinesiophobia –unreasonable fear of movement– may affect individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain is the aim of a research group of the University of Malaga (UMA), which recent studies have been published in the scientific journal British Journal of Sports Medicine, the world's number 1 publication in the locomotor system field.

Put safety first when planning to pack food-to-go

(HealthDay)—Whether you're tailgating, cooking for a potluck or bringing in a treat for co-workers, keep safety in mind to avoid food-borne illnesses.

How to spice up everyday oatmeal

(HealthDay)—Want to add pizzazz to your morning bowl of oats? Here's how to spice things up and boost the nutrition.

Biology news

Unlocking the biochemical treasure chest within microbes

Secondary metabolites—the compounds produced by microbes to mediate internal and external messaging, self-defense, and chemical warfare—are the basis for hundreds of invaluable agricultural, industrial, and medical products. And given the increasing pace of discovery of new, potentially valuable secondary metabolites, it's clear that microbes have a great deal more to offer.

Study reveals how mucus tames microbes

More than 200 square meters of our bodies—including the digestive tract, lungs, and urinary tract—are lined with mucus. In recent years, scientists have found some evidence that mucus is not just a physical barrier that traps bacteria and viruses, but it can also disarm pathogens and prevent them from causing infections.

Investing in love and affection pays off for species that mate for life

The males of species that form long-lasting pair-bonds, like many birds, often continue to make elaborate displays of plumage, colors and dances after they mate with a female. While their time and energy might be better spent taking care of their offspring, these displays also encourage the female to invest more of their energy into the brood.

Best way to protect ocean fisheries? Let nations profit from them

Overfishing is a major problem for the world's oceans, but a strategy adopted nearly 50 years ago has helped protect fisheries: giving nations exclusive rights to waters 200 miles offshore and letting them police their own fish stocks.

Under the sea: Study reveals secret building blocks of northern algae

New research from U of T 's Mississauga and Scarborough campuses reveals fascinating secrets about the complex structure of a marine organism found around the globe. The data provides important new insights about a molecular mineralization process creates the unique structure of a marine plant.

Shipment tracking for 'fat parcels' in the body

Without fat, nothing works in the body: Fats serve as energy suppliers and important building blocks, including for the envelopes of living cells. Numerous diseases are related to disorders in fat metabolism such as obesity and cancer. Researchers from the LIMES Institute at the University of Bonn are now demonstrating how fat metabolism can be monitored down to the individual liver cell of a mouse with high sensitivity. This opens up clinical possibilities, such as minimizing the side effects of new drugs on fat metabolism. The scientists now present their study in the journal Nature Methods.

High-stakes conflict threatens DR Congo gorillas

Aged almost 17 years, Bonane is an eastern lowland gorilla, a survivor in a critically endangered species reduced to about 250 members in DR Congo's Kahuzi-Biega National Park.

Video captures whale bubble-net feeding

University of Hawai'i at Mānoa's Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) researchers and key collaborators captured amazing whale's-point-of-view and aerial drone video of humpback whale bubble-net feeding. It's one component of a project investigating causes of a possible decline in humpback whale numbers

Loons likely to disappear from Minnesota due to climate change, new report warns

Minnesota could lose its beloved state bird in coming decades if humans don't stall climate change and prevent the common loon from shifting north.

Alfalfa and potassium: It's complicated

Has anyone ever told you to eat a banana when you have a muscle cramp or eye twitch? That's because bananas have potassium. Potassium is an important nutrient for humans, and an even more important nutrient when it comes to alfalfa.

Researchers map the evolutionary history of oaks

How oaks are related has long posed a challenge to scientists. Dr. Andrew Hipp, senior scientist at The Morton Arboretum, led an international team of 24 scientists to unravel the history of global oak diversity for the first time using DNA sequencing of 260 oak species, combined with genomic mapping and fossil data.

Seven stranded whales found dead in Indonesia

Seven pilot whales were found dead on an eastern Indonesian beach, an official said Saturday, after 17 were stranded in the remote area.

Indianapolis Zoo receives $4M to open a conservation center

The Indianapolis Zoo plans to open an international center devoted to saving threatened species, an effort that zoo officials call a natural extension of their biennial Indianapolis Prize honoring animal conservation leaders.

Commentary: As a birder, I see the effects of climate change every day. Now, Audubon has quantified the threat

For serious birders who regularly observe birds in the wild, ignoring climate change isn't possible. We have been seeing and documenting the effects of a warming climate since at least the 1950s.

Veterinarians—beset by stress, death and debt—are dying by suicide at high rates

Even after 16 years as a veterinarian, 13 of them as a veterinary oncologist, there are cases that still haunt Jennifer Kim.


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