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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 20, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Spitzer studies a stellar playground with a long historyThis image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Perseus Molecular Cloud, a massive collection of gas and dust that stretches over 500 light-years across. Home to an abundance of young stars, it has drawn the attention of astronomers for decades. |
 | Beleaguered Boeing's Starliner returns early from failed mission (Update)Boeing's Starliner spacecraft won't achieve its mission objective of docking with the International Space Station, NASA said Friday, dealing a blow to the agency's plans to end US dependence on Russian rockets for astronaut taxi rides. |
 | Nightside barrier gently brakes 'bursty' plasma bubblesThe solar wind that pummels the Earth's dayside magnetosphere causes turbulence, like air over a wing. Physicists at Rice University have developed new methods to characterize how that influences space weather on the nightside. |
 | Boeing sends 'Rosie' dummy to space in key crewless missionBoeing is set to launch its Starliner capsule Friday on a crewless eight-day journey to the International Space Station and back, a dry run for NASA's plans to end US dependence on Russia for space rides. |
Ethiopia celebrates launch of first satelliteEthiopia's first satellite was sent into space on Friday, a landmark achievement for the ambitious country that also caps a banner year for Africa's involvement in space. | |
 | Boeing's Starliner capsule makes launch debut, but hits snag (Update)Boeing's new Starliner capsule ran into trouble in orbit Friday minutes after blasting off on its first test flight, a crucial dress rehearsal for next year's inaugural launch with astronauts. |
 | International Space Station computer gets a heart transplantThe Space Station has grown to the size of a football field and space agencies are looking to extend its lifetime until 2030. European-built computers have quietly been keeping this orbital outpost on track and in the right position, running in the background since 2000. |
 | Early trouble for Boeing Starliner on key space missionBoeing launched its Starliner capsule Friday on a crewless eight-day journey to the International Space Station and back, but the mission ran into early trouble with its orbit procedure. |
 | Capturing alien comets: Simulating rogue bodies on their journey through the solar systemThere should be interstellar comets hiding in our solar system after making a journey of many light-years. Maybe we have already seen one but believed it was a "normal" comet formed in the solar system, according to Tom Hands, astrophysicist at the University of Zürich and member of the NCCR PlanetS. |
 | Image: Hubble's close-up of spiral's disk, bulgeThis image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows IC 2051, a galaxy in the southern constellation of Mensa (the Table Mountain) lying about 85 million light-years away. It is a spiral galaxy, as evidenced by its characteristic whirling, pinwheeling arms, and it has a bar of stars slicing through its center. |
Video: ExoMars parachute extraction testsA series of clips from different angles and at different speeds showing parachute extraction tests using a NASA/JPL test rig powered by compressed air. The lid of the parachute assembly is pulled along a suspended cable at high speed while the end of the assembly is fixed to a wall. | |
Technology news
 | An interactive drone to assist humans in office environmentsResearchers at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany have recently developed an interactive drone designed to assist humans in indoor environments such offices or laboratories. In a paper prepublished on arXiv, the researchers presented the results achieved by their drone when completing simple tasks in the laboratory. |
 | 'Grow and prune' AI mimics brain development, slashes energy useIt may come as a shock to parents facing the daily chaos of toddler life, but the brain's complexity peaks around age three. |
 | New security system to revolutionize communications privacyA new, uncrackable security system created by researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the University of St Andrews and the Center for Unconventional Processes of Sciences (CUP Sciences) is set to revolutionize communications privacy. |
 | Massive errors found in facial recognition tech: US studyFacial recognition systems can produce wildly inaccurate results, especially for non-whites, according to a US government study released Thursday that is likely to raise fresh doubts on deployment of the artificial intelligence technology. |
 | China names and shames tech giants for app privacy violationsChinese tech giants Tencent and Xiaomi have been reprimanded by Beijing for designing apps that infringe on users' privacy, even as the Communist regime amasses its own collection of personal data. |
 | In first, Switzerland shuts down ageing nuclear power stationOne of four Swiss nuclear power stations was permanently disconnected Friday after 47 years of service, marking a first in Switzerland, as the country begins to gradually phase out atomic energy. |
 | France fines Google $166 million for abusing ad dominanceFrance's competition authority fined Google 150 million euros ($166 million) on Friday for "abusing its dominant position" in the online ad market. |
 | Flickr is losing money, and CEO Don MacAskill is asking users of the photo sharing website for financial helpIt's rare for a tech company to let people in on a dirty little secret. Many of them lose lots of money in their pursuit of customers. |
 | New liquid metal wearable pressure sensor for health monitoring applicationsSoft pressure sensors have received significant research attention in a variety of fields, including soft robotics, electronic skin, and wearable electronics. Wearable soft pressure sensors have great potential for real-time health monitoring and for the early diagnosis of diseases. |
 | Advances in the characterization of high dynamic range imagesIn image processing, computer graphics and photography, high dynamic range (or HDR) images are a set of techniques that allow a better dynamic range of luminance between lighter and darker areas in an image than can be achieved by standard digital imaging techniques or other photographic methods. |
 | Just Eat confirms taste for Takeaway.com bidBritish online takeaway delivery service Just Eat, the target of competing takeover bids, on Friday confirmed its appetite for a tie-up with Dutch peer Takeaway.com over a hostile offer by consumer-tech company Prosus. |
 | New Alphabet chief Pichai sees big pay boostGoogle parent Alphabet boosted the salary of newly anointed chief Sundar Pichai and promised more than $200 million in shares if the company hits performance goals, a regulatory filing Friday said. |
 | Researcher: Data on 267 million Facebook users exposedA Ukrainian security researcher reported finding a database with the names, phone numbers and unique user IDs of more than 267 million Facebook users—nearly all U.S.-based—on the open internet. That data was likely harvested by criminals, said researcher Bob Diachenko, an independent security consultant in Kyiv. |
 | United again delays return of Boeing's 737 MAXFor the second time in about a month, United Airlines on Friday pushed back the date for its grounded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to return to service. |
 | GE-Safran venture to buid more Airbus engines: reportA General Electric-Safran aviation joint-venture plans to manufacture more engines for Airbus planes amid the travails of the Boeing 737 MAX, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday. |
 | Wawa says data breach affected thousands over 10 monthsThe Wawa convenience store chain says a data breach may have collected debit and credit card information from thousands of customers. |
 | French telecom company Orange convicted over suicidesFrance's leading phone and internet provider Orange was found guilty Friday of a string of employee suicides and its former CEO was sentenced to prison, in a landmark ruling against a major European telecommunications player. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Scientists link common immune cell to failure of checkpoint inhibitors in lung cancerFor many lung cancer patients, the best treatment options involve checkpoint inhibitors. These drugs unleash a patient's immune system against their disease and can yield dramatic results, even in advanced cancers. |
 | One-off genetic score can detect stroke risk from birthA group of investigators from Australia, Germany, and the UK have shown that genetic data obtained from a single blood draw or saliva sample can be used to identify individuals at a 3-fold increased risk of developing ischaemic stroke, a devastating condition and one of the leading causes of disability and death world-wide. The scientists developed a genetic risk score that is similarly or more predictive than commonly known risk factors for stroke. Their work further suggests that individuals with high genetic risk may require more intensive preventive measures to mitigate stroke risk than is recommended by current guidelines. |
 | CRISPR-Cas9 datasets analysis leads to largest genetic screen resource for cancer researchA comprehensive map of genes necessary for cancer survival is one step closer, following the validation of the two largest CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screens in 725 cancer models, across 25 different cancer types. Scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard compared the consistency of the two datasets, independently verifying the methodology and findings. |
 | Finding familiar pathways in kidney cancerp53 is the most famous cancer gene, not least because it's involved in causing over 50% of all cancers. When a cell loses its p53 gene—when the gene becomes mutated—it unleashes many processes that lead to the uncontrolled cell growth and refusal to die, which are hallmarks of cancer growth. But there are some cancers, like kidney cancer, that that had few p53 mutations. In order to understand whether the inactivation of the p53 pathway might contribute to kidney cancer development, Haifang Yang, Ph.D., a researcher with the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center—Jefferson Health probed kidney cancer's genes for interactions with p53. |
 | Targeted screening could prevent one in six prostate cancer deathsNearly one in six deaths from prostate cancer could be prevented if targeted screening was introduced for men at a higher genetic risk of the disease, according to a new UCL-led computer modelling study. |
 | Flu antiviral has bigger benefits for sicker, older patientsA Europe-wide study conducted over three flu seasons finds that the antiviral drug, oseltamivir (Tamiflu), can help people recover from flu-like illness about one-day sooner on average, with older, sicker patients who have been unwell for longer recovering two-to-three days sooner. |
 | Researchers discover process that may explain how type 2 diabetes developsA new study helps to explain the mechanism by which pancreatic cells secrete high levels of insulin during the early stages of diabetes. |
 | New clues about why a universal flu vaccine is so elusiveEvery year, we're reminded to return to the pharmacy for a flu shot. Why can't we have a flu vaccine that offers long-term protection, like those for measles or polio? That's because the influenza virus continuously evolves, so the immune response we build up one year might not work the next year—or even on the version of the flu you catch the same year. As a result, the virus remains dangerous: last year, it caused more than 60,000 deaths in the United States alone. |
 | Tailored light improves quality of life for older adults with Alzheimer's diseaseMost people associate Alzheimer's disease with profound memory loss, but it is often the symptoms—sleep disturbances, depression, and agitation—that are a challenge to treat, and can significantly reduce the quality of life for both the affected individual and their family members and caregivers. |
 | Overspill of fat shown to cause Type 2 diabetesFor the first time, scientists have been able to observe people developing Type 2 diabetes—and confirmed that fat over-spills from the liver into the pancreas, triggering the chronic condition. |
 | Men think they're better liarsMen are twice as likely as women to consider themselves to be good at lying and at getting away with it, new research has found. |
 | Strong change of course for muscle researchAnyone who climbs the 285 steps to the viewing platform of Berlin's Siegessäule, or Victory Column, will probably have quite a few sore muscles the next day. Out-of-the-ordinary activities such as climbing lots of steps or even normal exercise can put significant strain on muscles. Such activities cause tiny tears in the muscle fibers, which the body then repairs on its own. |
 | Immune mystery solved in mice points to better protection from rotavirus in humansResearchers at the University of Toronto have discovered how a brief disruption to a molecular pathway in the guts of mice before they are born can compromise adult immunity to a common and often deadly intestinal virus. |
 | Research team identifies potential target for restoring movement after spinal cord injuryResearchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have made several novel discoveries in the field of spinal cord injuries (SCI). Most recently, the team led by Xiao-Ming Xu, Ph.D., has been working to determine how to activate movement after a spinal cord injury at the ninth thoracic level, where nerve fibers from the brain down to the spinal cord are interrupted. Instead of focusing on the injury site, researcher Qi Han and his colleagues modulated the spared lumbar circuits below the injury to improve recovery from SCI, using animal models. |
 | Rise in serious harm to children caused by powerful painkillers, says studyThe proportion of high-strength painkiller poisonings among children which result in emergency hospital admissions has increased, according to research published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Toxicology. |
 | Antioxidant use during chemotherapy risky for breast cancer patientsBreast cancer patients who take the dietary supplements known as antioxidants, as well as iron, vitamin B12, and omega-3 fatty acids, during chemotherapy may be at increased risk of disease recurrence and death, according to new study results appearing in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. |
 | An atomic view of the trigger for the heartbeatAtomic-level studies of the architecture of tiny sodium channel proteins, critical to generating electrical signals that start off each beat of the heart, are imparting striking details about their function, malfunctions, disruption by many disease mutations, and response to medication. |
Trust and social support important to heart health among Canadian First NationsA major study has found that Canadian First Nations communities with greater socio-economic advantages, educational opportunities, social support of family members and greater trust between community members, have lower cardiac risk factors. | |
 | How can healthcare achieve real technology driven transformation?Real transformation in healthcare through the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, telecommunications, and other advanced technologies could provide significant improvements in healthcare quality, productivity, and access. The current status and future challenges and opportunities for integrating technology into consumer healthcare are discussed in a series of research and opinion articles published in a preview issue of Healthcare Transformation: Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Robotics, a new peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. |
 | Caffeine may offset some health risks of diets high in fat, sugarA new study in rats suggests that caffeine may offset some of the negative effects of an obesogenic diet by reducing the storage of lipids in fat cells and limiting weight gain and the production of triglycerides. |
Employers key to addressing lung cancer disparity in rural KentuckyLung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among all Kentuckians. Male Kentuckians have higher rates than females, with a disproportionate number residing in rural and medically underserved parts of the state. | |
 | New therapeutic strategy for chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancerA study from The Wistar Institute demonstrated that NAMPT, an enzyme critical for NAD+ biosynthesis, mediates selection of stem-like chemoresistant cells following cisplatin treatment. Researchers showed that a combination of cisplatin treatment with pharmacological inhibition of NAMPT suppresses the outgrowth of resistant cancer cells in vitro and prolongs survival in a preclinical model. These findings were published online in Cancer Research. |
 | Pakistan study blames HIV outbreak in kids on bad healthcareA group of Pakistani doctors blames a recent outbreak of HIV among children in a southern city on poor healthcare practices such as using dirty needles and contaminated blood, according to a statement released Friday. |
 | Study suggests obesity associated with greater greenhouse gas emissionsA new analysis suggests that the increasing average body size of people on Earth, in addition to the growing world population may further challenge attempts to reduce man-made carbon dioxide emissions, according to a paper published online in Obesity, the flagship journal of The Obesity Society. |
 | Canada to ban vaping ads aimed at youthConcerned by a sudden rise in youth vaping, Canada's health minister on Thursday announced a ban on advertising for vaping products targeting young people. |
 | Study links longer exposure to obesity and earlier development of obesity to increased risk of type 2 diabetesCumulative exposure to obesity could be at least as important as actually being obese in terms of risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), concludes new research published in Diabetologia. The study is by Dr. Juhua Luo, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA, and colleagues. |
 | Jaw-strengthening teether designed for children with Down syndromeA new product may assist infants with Down syndrome to eat and speak sooner by strengthening their jaw and tongue muscles. |
 | Cochlear implants: Putting technological interventions in context for disabled people in poor nationsFor families with deaf children, a cochlear implant can feel like a miracle: An electronic device weighing less than an ounce, seemingly capable of opening a world of sound. |
 | Newly developed mathematical model could be used to predict cancer drug side effects in individualsA research team at Kobe University Hospital have further illuminated the likelihood of cancer drug side effects that can occur due to genetic mutations in the drug-metabolizing enzyme. The team led by Dr. TAKAOKA Yutaka also developed a mathematical model by using the results of molecular simulation analyses to predict the possibility of side effects. |
 | How a rethink of emergency care is closing the gap, one person at a timeYou can see the gap driving through the main street of Katherine in the Northern Territory. |
 | MDMA-assisted couples therapy: How a psychedelic is enhancing intimacy and healing PTSDPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition, triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying or threatening event. Symptoms can include re-experiencing the trauma, avoidance, nightmares and severe anxiety. Living with PTSD can feel devastating, permanent and life-defining. |
 | Reanalysis confirms findings of the famous marshmallow testVery few experiments in psychology have had such a broad impact as the marshmallow test developed by Walter Mischel at Stanford University in the 1960s. The test appeared to show that the degree to which young children are capable of exercising self-control is significantly correlated with their subsequent level of educational achievement and professional success. In the test, each child is given a treat—the eponymous marshmallow—and told that if she leaves it on the table until the experimenter returns, she will receive a second marshmallow as a reward. The ability to delay gratification of the desire to enjoy the treat serves as a measure of the child's level of self-control. |
 | Africa's genetic material is still being misusedBiodiversity—the variation in all living organisms—is one of Africa's richest assets. As a result, its genetic material is coveted by scientists, biotechnology companies and research institutes globally. For decades, there has been a flow of data and biosamples from the African continent to the global north. This has often been in the absence of legitimate participant consent, community engagement or data or material transfer agreements. |
 | Inhibition of a single enzyme could reduce risk of heparin-induced thrombocytopeniaHeparin is frequently employed to mitigate the risk of clot formation in the leg veins following surgery, to treat venous thromboses and to prevent thrombotic occlusions of arteries in patients at risk for heart attacks. However, the agent can also lead to a reduction in the numbers of thrombocytes (otherwise known as platelets) in the bloodstream—an effect known as heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Up to 3% of patients who are treated with heparin develop an immunologically triggered subtype of HIT (called type II HIT), which is surprisingly associated with an increase in the incidence of thromboses (clots) in the blood vessels that are potentially life-threatening. |
 | Engineering the immune system to tackle glioblastomaEach year, roughly 15,000 Americans are diagnosed with Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), the most common malignant primary brain tumor in adults, and also the most lethal. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can help slow the tumor's growth, but the disease remains incurable. Recurrence occurs in almost every case. |
 | Hospital action to reduce length of ward stay can be effectiveHospital-led efforts to reduce the amount of time older people spend on wards before being allowed home can be effective, reducing length of stay in hospital by more than three days in some areas. |
 | Study: Surgery patients overwhelmingly prefer presurgical safety checklists to be completed in front of themNew research suggests surgery patients overwhelmingly prefer presurgical safety checklists to be completed in front of them, contrary to what was believed by doctors. The study, published in the European Journal of Anaesthesiology, is by Dr. Sabine Nabecker, Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Switzerland, and colleagues. |
 | Caring for transgender persons: What clinicians should knowOne of the biggest barriers to care for transgender individuals is a lack of knowledgeable providers. In a move that reflects a growing recognition of transgender care needs within established medicine in the United States, The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) published a new review on the topic authored by experts from the Mount Sinai Health System. |
 | Diagnostic test helps find bloodstream infections before they appearA test called microbial cell-free DNA identified potentially lethal bloodstream infections in children with relapsed leukemia days before symptoms appeared, according to investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The work appears as an advance online publication today in JAMA Oncology. |
 | Altitude sickness drug doesn't impair exercise performance above sea level, study findsA new study finds that a medication commonly prescribed to prevent and combat symptoms of acute mountain sickness does not reduce exercise performance at high altitudes. This may be especially important for military personnel and first responders not accustomed to working above sea level. The study is published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology. |
 | Study identifies 'triggers' that shape stroke survivors' emotional adaptabilityParticipation in an online community can help stroke survivors move forward and adapt to their new circumstances, research led by a Queen Mary lecturer suggests. |
 | New PACK training tackles common diseases in developing countriesAn educational outreach training package has shown to be effective for improving management of respiratory diseases in Brazil, raising hopes it could be rolled out to treat other common, severe diseases in low- and middle-income countries. |
 | What to know if you're trying cannabis edibles this holiday seasonIn the era of cannabis legalization, the psychoactive ingredient THC could find its way into all manner of Christmas baking and stocking stuffers this holiday season, and that has medical experts advising caution. |
 | Chronobiologists advise flexible school starts for studentsThey fall asleep too late at night, and are rudely expelled from dreamland by the shrill tones of the alarm clock in the morning. Classes begin early and they must be prepared to show their mettle. Adolescents are constantly sleep deprived, a phenomenon that can be observed worldwide. In addition, the problem is no longer confined to certain personality types and therefore of individual concern, it has become a public health issue. Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US have officially designated the matter as a public health concern. The consequences of chronic sleep deficit include not only a reduced ability to concentrate but also an increased accident risk to and from school. Studies have also detected higher risks for depression, obesity, diabetes and other chronic metabolic diseases. In light of these findings, it is hardly surprising that calls for school classes to begin later in the morning are becoming louder. |
 | New study shows how patients' health values can impact vital pelvic floor treatmentNew research from psychologists and health professionals in Swansea has found that the types of life values that patients hold affect their attendance at medical treatment for pelvic-floor dysfunction, a condition affecting over 25 percent of all women in the UK. |
 | Hangovers: This is what happens to your body when you've had one too manyHaving a few drinks at Christmas is, for some people, as much a part of the festive tradition as presents, decorations or carols. So if you find yourself nursing a hangover on Boxing Day, you might be interested to know what's actually going on inside your body and why you feel so bad. |
First step taken to find causes of muscle wasting diseaseResearchers have gained new insight into the mechanisms involved in how skeletal muscles lose their mass and strength as people age, called sarcopenia. | |
 | Private care program for U.S. vets gets $8.9 billion in budget dealA controversial program meant to get more U.S. veterans to use private health care received $8.9 billion as part of a government spending bill approved by the House. |
 | Brain biomarkers for detecting Alzheimer's disease locatedFrom the detection of functional brain changes that occur during Alzheimer's disease (AD), a research team from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) has located a set of biomarkers that could predict which patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) have a higher risk of developing dementia. |
 | Artificial intelligence tracks down leukemiaArtificial intelligence can detect one of the most common forms of blood cancer—acute myeloid leukemia (AML)—with high reliability. Researchers at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the University of Bonn have now shown this in a proof-of-concept study. Their approach is based on the analysis of the gene activity of cells found in the blood. Used in practice, this approach could support conventional diagnostics and possibly accelerate the beginning of therapy. The research results have been published in the journal iScience. |
 | What if you knew a cookie would take 20 minutes to run off?Would you put down that bag of chips if you saw it had 170 calories? What if the label said it would take 16 minutes of running to burn off those calories? |
 | New research uncovers improvements in vaccines against meningitisNew research from experts at the University of Nottingham could lead to an improved vaccine to protect against the bacterium, Neisseria meningitides that causes sepsis and meningitis. |
 | Untangling APOE ε4's association to tau tanglesFor years, physicians have been aware that patients carrying the apolipoprotein E4 (APOEε4) gene are at a greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. New research from McGill University has now found the gene plays an even greater role in dementia. |
 | Longevity protein SIRT6 also protects against fatty liver and fatty liver diseaseFatty liver, or hepatic steatosis, which develops when the body produces too much fat or doesn't metabolize fat efficiently enough, affects around 25% of the global population. Excess fat is stored in liver cells, where it accumulates and can cause fatty liver and other diseases. |
 | HbA1c minimally adds to CVD risk prediction in prediabetes(HealthDay)—For individuals with prediabetes, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) minimally adds to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Some U.S. adults unaware of any myocardial infarction symptoms(HealthDay)—A considerable proportion of U.S. adults are unaware of some or all of the symptoms of myocardial infarction (MI), according to a study published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Radiotherapy for ductal in situ carcinoma ups mortality risk in invasive second breast cancer(HealthDay)—For women with primary ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), use of radiotherapy (RT) is associated with increased rates of breast cancer-specific mortality for those women who subsequently develop an invasive second breast cancer (SBC), according to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. |
 | Prospective memory key to performance of everyday life activities in multiple sclerosisKessler Foundation researchers reported results of a study of deficits in prospective memory in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) that may contribute to difficulties with everyday life activities. The article, "Time-based prospective memory is associated with functional performance in persons with MS," was epublished on September 23, 2019 by the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. |
 | Popular gyms undermining health with tanning beds, researcher saysThe end of 2019 brings with it holiday gatherings, school vacations, and the annual tradition of New Year's resolutions—with some of the most common resolutions being to exercise more and lose weight. Popular gym chains across the country capitalize on the broad desire to get healthy in the New Year with persuasive post-holiday marketing campaigns, but they're also undermining public health warnings about the dangers of indoor tanning, according to a new study from UConn researchers published today by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Network Open. |
 | Obesity in pregnant moms linked to lag in their sons' development and IQA mother's obesity in pregnancy can affect her child's development years down the road, according to researchers who found impaired motor skills in preschoolers and lower IQ in middle childhood for boys whose mothers were severely overweight while expecting them. A team of nutrition and environmental health researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and Columbia University found that the differences are comparable to the impact of lead exposure in early childhood. |
 | Hepatitis C-positive donors a viable option to expand heart donor poolPatients who were transplanted with hearts from hepatitis C-positive donors had comparable outcomes after one year to patients who received hearts from donors that didn't have the disease, according to a Vanderbilt University Medical Center study published in JAMA Cardiology. |
 | Understanding the adolescent brainNew research from University of Alberta neuroscientists shows that the brains of adolescents struggling with mental-health issues may be wired differently from those of their healthy peers. |
 | 'Vast majority' of vaping illnesses blamed on vitamin EHealth officials now blame vitamin E acetate for the "vast majority" of cases in the U.S. outbreak of vaping illnesses and they say doctors should monitor patients more closely after they go home from the hospital. |
Novartis eyes give-away of costly therapy for babiesSwiss pharmaceutical company Novartis is preparing to give away 100 doses of the world's most expensive drug, which treats a rare childhood disorder, but its recipient selection process has drawn criticism. | |
| Gender-tailored treatment could ease opioid epidemicGender-tailored methods to address the harmful mental health effects of childhood adversity may help alleviate the current opioid crisis and make treatment more effective, concludes University of Massachusetts Amherst epidemiology researcher Elizabeth Evans in her latest research about opioid use disorder (OUD). |
 | Freestanding emergency departments may increase out-of-pocket spending for patientsWith emergency department visits spiking around the holidays, patients may be inclined to seek care at freestanding emergency departments in an urgent situation. |
Californians can now check legal pot dealers using QR codesCalifornia marijuana users can now turn to their smartphones to find out if a dispensary is legit. | |
 | E-cigarette influencers to be banned from Instagram, FacebookSocial media influencers who market electronic cigarette products will be banned from Facebook and Instagram, the companies say. |
 | Own a nutcracker? Turn pecans into a festive treatWant a holiday snack that's packed with nutrition? Pick up some pecans. |
 | Researchers identify neurons responsible for rapid eye movements/REM during sleepRapid Eye Movement—not only the name of a successful American rock band, but also and not least a characteristic eye movement in paradoxical sleep, the stage with high dream activity. This sleep phase has a peculiarity: Although the muscle tone of the sleeping person is completely relaxed, the eyes suddenly move back and forth. The name "paradoxical sleep" is well deserved. Characteristic of these are signs of deep sleep (muscle atony) in connection with brain activity, which is very similar to those in the waking state and its eye movements. This sleep phase was discovered in the 1950s by French and American researchers and consequently called rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep), i.e. sleep with rapid eye movements. Why can this strange phenomenon be useful? For 70 years, scientists have been dreaming of getting to the bottom of the mystery. Thanks to the productive cooperation between the universities of Bern and Fribourg, this dream could now come true. |
 | Does Medicaid managed care impact obstetrical care and birth outcomes?A new study shows that among a set of disadvantaged women, Medicaid managed care reduces the women's access to high-quality hospital services during pregnancy and delivery and was associated with worse birth outcomes, worse prenatal care, and a higher risk of inappropriate gestational weight gain. The specific results and their implications are reported in a study published in Journal of Women's Health. |
Biology news
 | Genetic variation gives mussels a chance to adapt to climate changeExisting genetic variation in natural populations of Mediterranean mussels allows them to adapt to declining pH levels in seawater caused by carbon emissions. A new study by biologists from the University of Chicago shows that mussels raised in a low pH experimental environment grew smaller shells than those grown at normal pH levels, but the overall survival rate of mussels grown under both conditions was the same. |
 | Quorum sensing molecules: How the body cells spy out bacteriaBacterial infection does not automatically lead to illness; many germs only become dangerous when they occur in large numbers. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in Berlin have discovered that the body has a receptor, which doesn't recognize bacteria themselves, but spies out their communication. The body uses this to register when so many bacteria are present that they secrete illness-inducing substances known as virulence factors. |
 | Evolution tunes birds to fit the billFrom toucans to hummingbirds, the varying shapes and sizes of bird beaks show evolution in action. |
 | Scientists study manta rays' impressive ability to heal"Whoopi' the manta ray—a regular visitor to Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef—has helped University of Queensland and Murdoch University scientists study rays' impressive ability to heal. |
 | Biomedical law experts suggest it's time to expand the legal term for 'human'A pair of biomedical law experts, one with McGill University the other Stanford University, are suggesting in a Policy Forum piece in the journal Science that it might be time to expand the legal term for "human." In their paper, Bartha Knoppers and Henry Greely argue that recent technological advances have come to blur the line between what is human and what is not, and thus, new terminology is needed. |
 | The 'airbag' that protects cells against stressScientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) have identified the molecular mechanisms that allow cells to survive mechanical stress. The results, published today in Nature Communications, show that cells produce molecules that act as a type of "airbag" in response to mechanical stress. Without this protective and adaptive system, the heart, which is subject to continuous mechanical forces,"would be unable to correctly perform its blood-pumping role," explained lead author Miguel Ángel del Pozo. First author Asier Echarri added that the findings "show the importance of identifying the molecular mechanisms that protect cells against mechanical stress." |
 | Artificial intelligence as behavioral analystWhat is the common ground between making a cup of tea and putting on your shoes? Both actions consist of several movements in a row. "Just like language, which is composed of syllables arranged into sentences, many behaviors are comprised of several, sequential movements," explains Duncan Mearns. "To understand how the brain generates behavior, we need to know the "syllables," the building blocks of the behavior." Aided by artificial intelligence, Mearns and his colleagues from the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology have broken down the hunting behavior of larval zebrafish into its basic building blocks. They show how these building blocks combine to form longer sequences. |
 | A step closer to understanding evolution: Mitochondrial division conserved across speciesCellular origin is well explained by the "endosymbiotic theory," which famously states that higher organisms called "eukaryotes" have evolved from more primitive single-celled organisms called "prokaryotes." This theory also explains that mitochondria—energy-producing factories of the cell—are actually derived from prokaryotic bacteria, as part of a process called "endosymbiosis." Biologists believe that their common ancestry is why the structure of mitochondria is "conserved" in eukaryotes, meaning that it is very similar across different species—from the simplest to most complex organisms. |
 | Hepatitis D: The mystery of the virus' life cycle revealedA team led by Professor Patrick Labonté at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) in Montreal, Canada, has identified the role of a key process in the replication cycle of the hepatitis D virus, an infection that is still very difficult to cure and affects 15 to 20 million people worldwide. |
 | Revealing the structure of axonsRecent studies have shown that under the axonal membrane, rings composed of actin filaments give the structure its flexibility. But those studies had not been able to define the precise architecture of these rings. By combining two microscopy techniques, optical and electronic, French researchers have now managed to observe these rings at the molecular scale. They are formed of long braided actin filaments, braided like a Christmas wreath. |
 | Falcons see prey at speed of Formula 1 carExtremely acute vision and the ability to rapidly process different visual impressions—these two factors are crucial when a peregrine falcon bears down on its prey at a speed that easily matches that of a Formula 1 racing car: over 350 kilometers per hour. |
 | Bark beetles control pathogenic fungiAnts and honeybees share nests of hundreds or thousands of individuals in a very small space. Hence the risk is high that infectious diseases may spread rapidly. In order to reduce this risk, the animals have developed special social behaviors that are referred to as "social immune defense." |
 | Milestone in the elucidation of the phenomenon of long-lived corpus lutea in lynxesThe reproduction of lynxes is highly mysterious. Unlike other wild cats, most lynxes are only receptive for a few days once a year. As scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) have already shown in the past, this is a consequence of the long life of corpus lutea in the ovaries which prevents further ovulation during the course of the year. The Berlin team has now achieved another breakthrough in solving the puzzle: They were able to isolate several cell types of corpus luteum from domestic cat tissue and characterize their function in detail with the help of cell cultures. The new method can also be applied to endangered felids such as the Iberian lynx and could advance our understanding of the causes and mechanisms of the longevity of corpus lutea in lynxes. The ultimate goal in practical terms is to induce ovulation with the help of corpus luteum hormones. This would enhance the support for the reproduction of the highly endangered Iberian lynx in breeding programs. |
 | Berlin's bright sky isn't great for batsPeople can hardly imagine a city without night-time street lighting. But how do nocturnal animals such as bats respond to the illuminated urban landscape? In a recent study, scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW), together with German and international colleagues, equipped common noctule bats (Nyctalus noctula) with mini GPS transmitters and recorded their trajectories in the sky above Berlin. They show that common noctules avoid brightly lit, built-up areas. The metropolitan area of Berlin is therefore mostly unsuitable as a habitat for bats. Dark corridors such as city forests, parks or watercourses, on the other hand, are of great importance for commuting and foraging. The results are published in the journal Landscape Ecology. |
 | Kenya backs farming of Monsanto-created GM cropKenya has approved the cultivation a GM variety strand created by Monsanto, the president's office said, the first time such crops have been allowed in the dynamic East African economy. |
 | The connection between ribosomes and telomeres in plantsFindings from a recent research project, conducted by a Marshall University scientist and assistant professor in the Marshall University College of Science, with researchers in Texas, was recently published in the December issue of the prestigious online journal, Nature Communications. |
 | SHAPEIT4: An algorithm for large-scale genomic analysisHaplotypes are a set of genetic variations that, located side by side on the same chromosome, are transmitted in a single group to the next generation. Their examination makes it possible to understand the heritability of certain complex traits, such as the risk of developing a disease. However, to carry out this analysis, genome analysis of family members (parents and their child) is usually necessary, a tedious and expensive process. |
 | Organic crop practices affect long-term soil healthPrior organic farming practices and plantings can have lasting outcomes for future soil health, weeds and crop yields, according to new Cornell University research. |
 | Plant scientists identify new strategy to enhance rice grain yieldRice provides daily subsistence for about three billion people worldwide and its output must keep pace with a growing global population. In light of this, the identification of genes that enhance grain yield and composition is much desired. Findings from a research project led by Professor Mee-Len Chye, Wilson and Amelia Wong Professor in Plant Biotechnology from the School of Biological Sciences of The University of Hong Kong (HKU), with postdoctoral fellows Dr. Guo Zehua and Dr. Shiu-Cheung Lung, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Calgary and Rothamsted Research (UK), have provided a new strategy to enhance grain yield in rice by increasing grain size and weight. The research results have been published in The Plant Journal and an international patent has been filed. |
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