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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 23, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers study peculiar kinematics of multiple stellar populations in Messier 80Using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), astronomers have investigated one of the Milky Way's globular clusters, Messier 80. The new study concentrated on peculiar kinematics of Messier 80's multiple stellar population and provides important information about the cluster's formation and evolution. The research was published December 12 on arXiv.org. |
 | Europe marks 40th anniversary of first Ariane rocket launchThe first Ariane space rocket lifted off over the forests of French Guiana 40 years ago, enabling Europe to at last take its place as an independent player in the international race for space. |
 | Boeing capsule returns to Earth after aborted space mission (Update)Boeing safely landed its crew capsule in the New Mexico desert Sunday after an aborted flight to the International Space Station that could hold up the company's effort to launch astronauts for NASA next year. |
 | Massive gas disk raises questions about planet formation theoryAstronomers using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) found a young star surrounded by an astonishing mass of gas. The star, called 49 Ceti, is 40 million years old and conventional theories of planet formation predict that the gas should have disappeared by that age. The enigmatically large amount of gas requests a reconsideration of our current understanding of planet formation. |
 | Astronomer probes 'DNA' of twin stars to reveal family history of the Milky WayTwin stars appear to share chemical "DNA" that could help scientists map the history of the Milky Way galaxy, according to new research by astronomer Keith Hawkins of The University of Texas at Austin accepted for publication in The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. |
 | After mission failure, Boeing Starliner returning to Earth earlyBoeing's new Starliner spacecraft will return to Earth on Sunday, six days early, after a clock problem prevented a rendezvous with the International Space Station, NASA and the aerospace giant confirmed Saturday. |
 | Supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy may have a friendDo supermassive black holes have friends? The nature of galaxy formation suggests that the answer is yes, and in fact, pairs of supermassive black holes should be common in the universe. |
 | Deaf people at risk of being 'excluded from astronomy'The deaf community risks being excluded from aspects of modern science because the number of new advances is outpacing the development of sign language to explain them, a leading researcher says. |
Technology news
 | A new deep learning model for EEG-based emotion recognitionRecent advances in machine learning have enabled the development of techniques to detect and recognize human emotions. Some of these techniques work by analyzing electroencephalography (EEG) signals, which are essentially recordings of the electrical activity of the brain collected from a person's scalp. |
 | FDA breakthrough status for screening algorithm is encouraging hopes to flag heart failure risksHeart failure is most commonly detected by echocardiogram imaging tests, but these tests are not normally part of a routine physical exam. Access to echocardiography is in this instance limited, and yet a late diagnosis makes life-prolonging treatment more challenging. |
 | Honda self-driving concept offers on and off modesNervous about the self driving future? You are not alone. The AAA newsroom in March reported on the AAA's annual automated vehicle survey which found that 71 percent of people were afraid to ride in fully self-driving vehicles. |
 | Rolls-Royce: Zero emissions bird set for 2020Rolls-Royce has taken the wraps off its one-seater electric plane. This was a first look that drew global interest from news sites last week, as the big date is set for Spring next year to fly. The plane could become the world's fastest all-electric aircraft; the plane will target a speed of over 300 miles per hour. |
 | As natural language processing techniques improve, suggestions are getting speedier and more relevantWith billions of books, news stories, and documents online, there's never been a better time to be reading—if you have time to sift through all the options. "There's a ton of text on the internet," says Justin Solomon, an assistant professor at MIT. "Anything to help cut through all that material is extremely useful." |
 | Engineers show how an autonomous, drifting DeLorean can improve driver safetyAs the DeLorean rolled to a stop and the cloud of tire smoke cleared, Jon Goh peeked out the sliver of the passenger-side window to see dozens of gathered spectators cheering and high-fiving the successful test. |
 | Twitter, Facebook ban fake users; some had AI-created photosTwitter has identified and removed nearly 6,000 accounts that it said were part of a coordinated effort by Saudi government agencies and individuals to advance the country's geopolitical interests. |
 | As US Congress delays on privacy, California law in focusAs US lawmakers head home without agreeing on consumer privacy legislation, a new California law is set to become the de facto national standard, potentially leaving consumers and businesses confused over rules for personal data collection and protection. |
 | Mock skyscrapers, simulated rain at Singapore self-driving test centreThe road sweeper and a golf buggy move around the track with ease, jamming their brakes on when a pedestrian steps out and negotiating sharp turns. |
 | Robots, AI and drones: When did toys turn into rocket science?I'm a geek. And as a geek, I love my tech toys. But over time I've noticed toys are becoming harder to understand. |
 | Flexible thinking on silicon solar cellsCrystalline silicon solar panels could be just as effective when incorporated into stretchy wearable electronics or flexible robot skin as they are when used as rigid rooftop panels. KAUST researchers have devised a way to turn rigid silicon into solar cells that can be stretched by a record-breaking 95 percent, while retaining high solar energy capture efficiency of 19 percent. |
 | Personal information on more than 3,000 Ring owners reportedly compromisedThe personal data for thousands of owners of the Ring camera was reportedly compromised this week, exposing information such as login names and passwords. |
 | Smart home guide: What you need to know to get plugged in to the connected lifeIf the idea of asking Alexa or Google to turn on and off your lights appeals to you, and you're not doing it already, the holidays could be a great time to finally get to it. |
 | Apple reportedly has a team to create satellitesApple has reportedly assembled a secret team of engineers across industries to create satellites. |
 | Video games in 2030: Will I still need a console game system? That dependsThere's a cloud hovering over the future of video games. Not a cloud of impending doom, but more of uncertainty. |
 | Want to get better iPhone 11 pics? Here are a few tips from the prosThis year the revamped iPhone 11 Pro was one of the most acclaimed upgrades of the year, most notably for the improved camera. Apple added a third lens, to allow for ultra-wide, GoPro like shots, and the ability to shoot in super low light. |
 | Russia tests 'sovereign' internet amid fears of online isolationRussia carried out tests Monday to ensure the "security" of its internet infrastructure in case of a foreign cyberattack as part of measures that rights activists worry could also tighten censorship and lead to online isolation. |
 | Government proposes release of Fukushima water to sea or airJapan's economy and industry ministry proposed on Monday the gradual release or evaporation of massive amounts of treated but still radioactive water being stored at the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant. |
 | Major step toward producing carbon-neutral steel with green hydrogenA crucial part of modern life, steel is indispensable for construction, infrastructure, machinery and household goods, but it also has a massive carbon footprint. According to a position paper by the World Steel Association, 1.83 t of CO2 on average were emitted for every t of steel produced in 2017. "The steel industry generates between 7 and 9 percent of direct emissions from the global use of fossil fuel." |
 | Is seaweed the solution to sustainable biofuel?Produced from organic matter or waste, biofuels play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are one of the largest sources of renewable energy in use today. Most of Europe's renewable transport target is currently met with land-based biofuels. However, many of the feedstocks like corn and alfalfa used to produce such biofuels aren't economically and environmentally sustainable. Compared with fossil fuels, they do provide energy security and reduce air pollution. But the fact remains that they lead to more intensive use of resources, reduced biodiversity and even higher GHG emissions through land use change. |
 | Detecting backdoor attacks on artificial neural networksTo the casual observer, the photos above show a man in a black-and-white ball cap. |
 | Facebook is building an operating system for future devicesFacebook Inc. is building its own operating-system software to decrease its future dependence on rivals like Apple Inc. and Google, owners of the world's most popular mobile operating systems. |
 | Amazon's van-buying spree delivers a gift to auto industryThe Amazon.com Inc. vans parked outside apartment buildings and along suburban cul de sacs aren't just bearing gifts to online shoppers this holiday season. The e-commerce giant's home-delivery push has been a boon to automakers, too. |
 | Capturing carbon dioxide from trucks and reducing their emissions by 90%In Europe, transport is responsible for nearly 30% of the total CO2 emissions, of which 72% comes from road transportation. While the use of electric vehicles for personal transportation could help lower that number, reducing emissions from commercial transport—such as trucks or buses—is a much greater challenge. |
 | Report: Popular UAE chat app ToTok a government spy toolA chat app that quickly became popular in the United Arab Emirates for communicating with friends and family is actually a spying tool used by the government to track its users, according to a newspaper report. |
 | The U.S. Navy banned TikTok from government-issued smartphones over cybersecurity concernsThe U.S. Navy thinks TikTok is a threat to national cybersecurity. |
 | Colombia orders Uber to suspend app servicesUber has been told to immediately suspend its ride-sharing services in Colombia, the industry and commerce authority announced Friday, citing unfair competition laws. |
Cyber attack forces airline to cancel flights in AlaskaRavnAir canceled at least a half-dozen flights in Alaska on Saturday—at the peak of holiday travel—following what the company described as "a malicious cyber attack" on its computer network. | |
Facing industrial decline, Wales dreams of Silicon ValleyWales is better known for its factory closures than high-tech achievements. But in Newport, a former bastion of the coal industry, a handful of semiconductor manufacturers dream of a new Silicon Valley. | |
 | German union threatens Lufthansa strikes after ChristmasA German cabin crew union on Sunday threatened Lufthansa with fresh walkouts after Christmas as discussions to resolve a bitter dispute over pay and conditions failed to make progress. |
 | A look back: Here are Google's top searched people from every year over the past decadeToward the end of each year, Google releases data on the most-searched-for people of the past 12 months. |
 | 3 internet language trends from 2019, explainedSocial media has created an entirely new linguistic ecosystem, with new words, phrases and features for expressing ourselves cropping up all the time. |
 | Boeing ousts Muilenburg, names David Calhoun as CEO amid MAX crisisBoeing on Monday pushed out its embattled chief executive, Dennis Muilenburg, as it attempts to pivot from a protracted crisis surrounding the grounding of its top-selling 737 MAX after two deadly crashes. |
 | New Boeing CEO is corporate veteran who will be testedThroughout a storied career in corporate America, David Calhoun has risen through the ranks at General Electric, taken Nielsen Holdings public and helped manage private equity giant Blackstone. |
Medicine & Health news
 | New Insights: Armies of strategically stationed T cells fight viral infections, cancerThe immune system mounts robust responses to infections, vaccines and cancer, but only now have scientists fully begun to unravel how non-circulating populations of T cells that reside in the body's "mucosal barrier tissues" keeps threats at bay. |
 | Vitamin D alone doesn't prevent fractures, new study findsTaking calcium and vitamin D might help older adults curb the risk of a bone fracture, but vitamin D alone does not do the job, a new research review concludes. |
 | Hair growth finding could make baldness 'optional'The best way to avoid baldness is to stop hair from falling out in the first place. Now, researchers say a new hair growth discovery might help men keep their locks for a lifetime. |
 | Researchers identify immune-suppressing target in glioblastomaResearchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a tenacious subset of immune macrophages that thwart treatment of glioblastoma with anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade, elevating a new potential target for treating the almost uniformly lethal brain tumor. |
 | Injection of virus-delivered gene silencer blocks ALS degeneration, saves motor functionWriting in Nature Medicine, an international team headed by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine describe a new way to effectively deliver a gene-silencing vector to adult amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice, resulting in long-term suppression of the degenerative motor neuron disorder if treatment vector is delivered prior to disease onset, and blockage of disease progression in adult animals if treatment is initiated when symptoms have already appeared. |
 | Measuring mutations in sperm may reveal risk for autism in future childrenThe causes of autism spectrum disorder or ASD are not fully understood; researchers believe both genetics and environment play a role. In some cases, the disorder is linked to de novo mutations that appear only in the child and are not inherited from either parent's DNA. |
 | Calcium channels play a key role in the development of diabetesResearchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have deciphered the diabetogenic role of a certain type of calcium channel in insulin-secreting beta cells. The researchers believe that blockade of these channels could be a potential new treatment strategy for diabetes. The study is published in the scientific journal PNAS. |
 | Protein signposts guide formation of neural connectionsThe brain's complex tangle of interconnected nerve cells processes visual images, recalls memories, controls motor function, and coordinates countless other functions. A major goal of neuroscience is understanding how the brain is "wired"—in other words, how do all of its neurons know how they should connect to each other to achieve optimum function? |
 | Gene regulation linked to energy productionResearchers at The University of Western Australia, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Curtin University have made a fundamental discovery about of the regulation of genes in mitochondria, providing a new insight into potential drug targets for diseases that involve energy loss. |
 | Tuberculosis vaccine lowers rates of Alzheimer's disease in cancer patientsHolidays are a time for family. Festive gatherings with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles create memories that last a lifetime. But when a loved one has Alzheimer's disease (AD), holidays often become painful reminders of loss and deterioration. Currently, Alzheimer's affects one-in-ten adults over the age of 65—a number that is expected to triple by 2030. The need to find a cure is great. |
 | Plant-rich diet protects mice against foodborne infection, researchers findMice fed a plant-rich diet are less susceptible to gastrointestinal (GI) infection from a pathogen such as the one currently under investigation for a widespread E. coli outbreak tied to romaine lettuce, UT Southwestern researchers report. A strain of E. coli known as EHEC, which causes debilitating and potentially deadly inflammation in the colon with symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and vomiting, is implicated in several foodborne outbreaks worldwide each year. |
 | New treatment strategy may thwart deadly brain tumorsImmune checkpoint inhibitors are important medications that boost the immune system's response against certain cancers; however, they tend to be ineffective against glioblastoma, the most deadly primary brain tumor in adults. New research in mice led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Florida reveals a promising strategy that makes glioblastoma susceptible to these medications. The findings, which are published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicate that such combination therapy should be tested in clinical trials of patients with glioblastoma, for whom there is no known cure. |
 | Nanoparticle therapeutic restores tumor suppressor, sensitizes cancer cells to treatmentLeveraging advancements in nanotechnology, investigators from the Brigham have found that restoring p53 not only delays the growth of p53-deficient liver and lung cancer cells but may also make tumors more vulnerable to cancer drugs known as mTOR inhibitors. |
 | Breaking the dogma: Key cell death regulator has more than one way to get the job doneScientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have discovered a new way that the molecule RIPK1 leads to cell death in infected, damaged or unwanted cells showing that more than one mechanism can trigger the process. The findings appeared online today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. |
 | CDC study breaks down diabetes risk for hispanic, asian subgroups(HealthDay)—There are significant differences in rates of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes between subgroups of Hispanic and Asian Americans, a federal government study finds. |
 | FDA gives first Ebola vaccine for adults the green light(HealthDay)—The first Ebola vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a single-dose injection called Ervebo. The vaccine from Merck & Co. is approved to protect against the Zaire ebolavirus in people ages 18 years and older. |
 | New studies show vaping illnesses tapering off(HealthDay)—Even as the number of Americans hospitalized with a lung injury tied to vaping passed the 2,500 mark this week, new research confirms case counts are finally declining and vitamin E acetate remains the most likely culprit in the outbreak. |
 | Parents: Turkey makes great leftovers—opioids do notLeftover prescription opioids pose big risks to kids, yet most parents keep their own and their child's unused painkillers even after they're no longer medically necessary for pain. |
 | When does your child's flu merit an ER visit?(HealthDay)—It's hard not to worry when your child suffers from the flu, but pediatricians say too many parents are taking their sick kids to the emergency room when a doctor's visit would suffice. |
 | Unique cancer drug discovered with help from Advanced Light Source begins historical clinical trialAn investigational cancer drug that targets tumors caused by mutations in the KRAS gene will be evaluated in phase 2 clinical trials, following promising safety and efficacy results in preliminary human studies and excellent results in animal studies. The drug, developed by Amgen and currently referred to as AMG 510, is the first therapy to reach clinical trials that inhibits a mutant KRAS protein. Errors in the KRAS gene, which encodes a crucial cell signaling protein, are one of the most common causes of cancer. |
 | Video: How to make your New Year's resolutions workWhy do New Year's resolution notoriously fail and how do we make sure we stick to them? |
 | No difference in results when surgeries are performed by US- or foreign-trained surgeonsA UCLA-led research team analyzed the outcomes of nearly 634,000 common surgical procedures performed in the U.S. between 2011 and 2014 and found that there were no differences in the results of those surgeries based on whether the surgeons had been trained at U.S. medical schools or medical schools outside of the U.S. |
 | How undoing Obamacare would harm more than the health of AmericansThe Affordable Care Act remains on life support after a panel of federal judges ruled on Dec. 18, 2019 that the law's individual mandate requiring people to buy health insurance is unconstitutional. |
 | To battle opioid crisis, some track overdoses in real timeDrug overdose patients rushed to some emergency rooms in New York's Hudson Valley are asked a series of questions: Do you have stable housing? Do you have food? Times and location of overdoses are noted, too. |
 | Scientists find easier way to harvest healing factors from adult stem cells in the labA research team at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has found an easier way to harvest healing factors—molecules that promote tissue growth and regeneration—from adult stem cells. |
 | Hangovers happen as your body tries to protect itself from alcohol's toxic effectsDebaucherous evening last night? You're probably dealing with veisalgia right now. |
 | Fewer fats over the festive season may be the perfect formula for men's fertilityA diet low in fat and high in egg whites could be the key to boosting male fertility according to a new pilot study. |
 | Tourism may lead to health risk for industry workers, new study findsTouristic escapism is a term FIU researchers have developed to refer to the time when tourists—away from their homes, cultural norms and daily life –take a break from their reality, which may lead to behaviors beyond their daily routines or lives. This could be anything from windsurfing, hiking or skydiving for the first time to engaging in risky behaviors like taking drugs or having unsafe sex. |
 | DNA database sold to help law-enforcement crack cold casesDuring the Christmas season, genetic genealogy companies offer discounts on testing kits. We should be increasingly concerned not only about the accuracy of the tests but also about giving the gift that gives away all the family DNA. |
 | New research uncovers the downside of ridesharing and alcohol consumptionRidesharing services like Uber and Lyft, which keep drunk drivers off the road, are also likely to increase excessive levels of alcohol consumption according to new research by economists at the University of Louisville and Georgia State University. |
 | Caring for mates, not number of beers, is responsible drinkingAs the festive season gears up, new research from The Australian National University has found Australians don't know, and 'wildly underestimate' guidelines for responsible drinking. |
 | Why purple sweet potatoes belong on your holiday tableYou may be busting out your holiday cookbook over the next couple days—it's that time of year. Cookies, ham, turkey, all the favorites. There's much to be said for the familiar spread, but we have a suggestion to brighten up your table this year—the purple sweet potato. |
 | Barring nonmedical exemptions increases vaccination rates, study findsThe first rigorously controlled study of a 2016 California law that aimed to increase childhood vaccination rates by eliminating nonmedical exemptions has found the law worked as intended, although the researchers noted a small increase in the number of medical exemptions. |
 | Obesity is a risk factor for cardiotoxicity in chemotherapy-treated patients with breast cancerAnthracyclines remain a cornerstone of breast cancer therapy in combination with new-generation targeted drugs such as trastuzumab. Both types of drugs are major culprits in chemotherapy-induced heart disease. A recent study showed that being overweight or obese was a risk factor for cardiotoxicity in chemotherapy-treated patients with breast cancer, but it did not take into account related cardiac risk factors or other classic risk factors of cardiotoxicity produced by anthracycline and trastuzumab (e.g., older age, concomitant chemotherapy or previous radiation therapy, smoking, high blood pressure, or diabetes). |
 | Study finds connection between cardiac blood test before surgery and adverse outcomesA common cardiac blood test done before surgery can predict who will experience adverse outcomes after most types of surgery, says an international study led by Hamilton researchers. |
 | Poorest patients most at risk from emergency surgeryThe risk of dying as a result of emergency surgery is significantly higher for patients living in the most deprived areas, a new UCL-led study finds. |
 | Ketogenic diet protects fruit fly brains from concussionsA high-fat diet reduces male fruit fly aggression after concussions, UConn researchers report in the 30 October issue of Frontiers in Neuroscience. The findings hint at potential treatments to prevent brain damage after head impacts. |
 | Can you die from a common cold?Most people know that the flu can kill. Indeed, the so-called Spanish flu killed 50 million people in 1918—more than were killed in the first world war. But what about the common cold? Can you really catch your death? |
 | 'Cure or nothing' doesn't capture the realities of modern cancer research and treatmentCancer was in the past, and among many people still is, something of a taboo. |
 | The hidden psychology of the Christmas 'poker face'Imagine the scene—gleeful children ripping open presents, harassed parents surveying the carnage of once-tidy homes, disgruntled relatives muttering disapproval into their third glass of sherry. All familiar sights around Christmas, when the social obligations of the festive season draw people together with their kith and kin. |
 | What is love, actually? The world's languages describe emotions very differentlyIs the meaning of love truly universal? It might depend on the language you speak, a new study finds. |
 | How does your choice of birth control affect sexual desire?(HealthDay)—Many women use birth control pills or other hormone-based contraceptives to enjoy sex without fear of an unplanned pregnancy. But could they kill your mojo? |
 | Can apps make your kids smarter?(HealthDay)—Smartphones, tablets and laptops are everywhere, and young children are fascinated by them. Now, new research suggests that parents might be able to harness that curiosity and use apps on the devices to boost early learning. |
 | How to tell if a brain is awakeRemarkably, scientists are still debating just how to reliably determine whether someone is conscious. This question is of great practical importance when making medical decisions about anesthesia or treating patients in vegetative state or coma. |
 | People think marketing and political campaigns use psychology to influence their behaviorsA new study has shown that whilst people think advertising and political campaigns exploit psychological research to control their unconscious behaviours, ultimately they feel the choices they make are still their own. |
 | Delivery of healthy donor cells key to correcting bone disorder, researchers findOsteogensis imperfecta (OI) is a group of genetic disorders that mainly affect the bone. Patients with OI have bones that break easily, sometimes with no apparent cause. |
 | Can brain injury from boxing, MMA be measured?For boxers and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters, is there a safe level of exposure to head trauma? A new study shows different effects in the brain for younger, current fighters compared to older, retired fighters. The study is published in the December 23, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
 | Standardized screening for ASD recommended at 18, 24 months(HealthDay)—Standardized screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is recommended at ages 18 and 24 months in primary care, according to a clinical report published online Dec. 16 in Pediatrics. |
 | A puppy in Santa's sack? Probably not, say parents(HealthDay)—Pets may be on your child's holiday wish list, but if you've nixed the idea, you're not alone. |
 | Study: Light alcohol consumption linked to cancerBad news for folks looking to continue indulging this holiday season. |
 | Scientists learn what women know—and don't know—about breast density and cancer riskBreast density is an important risk factor for breast cancer but no study had asked women what they know or think about breast density in relation to screening they have had. A number of states do have notification laws about breast density, but these laws vary. In a new qualitative study, a team of scientists at Dartmouth and Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center and the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium led by Karen Schifferdecker, Ph.D., MPH, and Anna Tosteson, ScD, sought to explore women's knowledge and perceptions of breast density and experiences of breast cancer screening across three states with and without notification laws. |
For restricted eaters, a place at the table but not the mealHoliday celebrations often revolve around eating, but for those with food restrictions, that can produce an incongruous feeling when dining with friends and loved ones: loneliness. | |
 | The link between drawing and seeing in the brainDrawing an object and naming it engages the brain in similar ways, according to research recently published in JNeurosci. The finding demonstrates the importance of the visual processing system for producing drawings of an object. |
 | High fat diet impairs new neuron creation in female miceA high fat diet limits the birth and growth of new neurons in adult female, but not male, mice, according to new research published in eNeuro. Further research could inspire metabolism-based preventions and treatments for brain disorders. |
 | Researchers turn to Yelp reviews to learn how patients with addiction rate their treatmentAs the opioid crisis has worsened, addiction treatment programs have proliferated—but there's no standardized way to rate those programs, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania note in a new study. |
 | Compliance with ID rules in recreational cannabis storesA new study by collaborators at Klein Buendel, Inc. and the Prevention Research Center finds that recreational cannabis stores in Colorado and Washington state, both of which legalized adult recreational use in 2012, show high levels of compliance with rules preventing underage purchase of cannabis. The study also shows that there is more than can be done to reach full compliance. |
 | Recipes for a festive holiday feast(HealthDay)—Elegant holiday dishes are surprisingly easy to pull off when you stick to only a few ingredients. Try this delicious pork loin roast flavored with fragrant dried herbs and the perfect accompaniment—apples and sweet potatoes. |
 | Socioeconomic inequalities are decisive in the health of the elderlyThe Social Determinants of Health and Demographic Change (OPIK) research group of the UPV/EHU is a multidisciplinary team in the field of social and health sciences and is devoted, among other things, to research into the social factors influencing health and disease in the population, social inequalities in health, and the policies having the potential to modify these social determinants to improve the health of the population. The study of socioeconomic inequalities in the Spanish sphere is a subject of growing interest, but most of the studies deal with the general population. Despite the existence of reviews on an international level and European studies that point to these inequalities in the elderly population in a range of health indicators, there are very few reviews about this population group in Spain. |
 | Could higher magnesium intake reduce fatal coronary heart disease risk in women?A new prospective study based on data from the Women's Health Initiative found a potential inverse association between dietary magnesium and fatal coronary heart disease in postmenopausal women. The study, which also showed a trend between magnesium and sudden cardiac death in this population, is published in Journal of Women's Health. |
 | Mayo will test robotic heart procedure for rural patientsMayo Clinic researchers are poised this spring to test a remote cardiac procedure that could be a major breakthrough for rural hospital care—a procedure in which a patient's clogged artery is propped open by robotic tools controlled by an off-site doctor. |
Biology news
 | Chimpanzees more likely to share tools, teach skills when task is complexTeach a chimpanzee to fish for insects to eat, and you feed her for a lifetime. Teach her a better way to use tools in gathering prey, and you may change the course of evolution. |
 | Study reveals a role for jumping genes during times of stressOnly percent of human DNA codes for proteins, and approximately half of the rest of the genome is made up of what used to be called "junk" sequences that can copy themselves into RNA or DNA and jump from one location to another. Previous research led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) had revealed a critical role for one of these jumping genes during times of stress. In new research published by the same group in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the investigators report a surprising new property of this jumping RNA. |
 | Study finds whales use stealth to feed on fishSmall fish are speedy and easy to scare. So how is it that a giant humpback whale, attacking at speeds about as fast as a person jogs, is able to eat enough fish to sustain itself? Combining field studies, laboratory experiments and mathematical modeling, researchers at Stanford University have found a surprising answer to this seemingly paradoxical feat: Whales capture fish using stealth and deception. |
 | Researchers discover how Zika virus remodels its host cell to boost viral productionResearchers in China have discovered how a Zika virus protein reshapes its host cell to aid viral replication. The study, which will be published December 23 in the Journal of Cell Biology, reveals that the viral protein NS1 converts an interior cellular compartment called the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) into a protective region where the virus can survive and replicate. Blocking this process could be a novel therapeutic strategy to treat patients infected with Zika or similar viral pathogens, such as the yellow fever and dengue viruses. |
 | A new tomato ideal for urban gardens and even outer spaceFarmers could soon be growing tomatoes bunched like grapes in a storage unit, on the roof of a skyscraper, or even in space. That's if a clutch of new gene-edited crops prove as fruitful as the first batch. |
 | Gone fishin'—for proteinsUsing a new microscopic "fishing" technique, scientists at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) and Université de Montréal have successfully snagged thousands of proteins key to the formation of the cell skeleton. |
 | Researchers develop new method that could facilitate cancer diagnosisResearchers led by the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg and the Center for Bioinformatics at Saarland University in Saarbrücken, Germany, have developed a cheaper and faster method to check for genetic differences in individual cells. It outperforms existing techniques with respect to the information received. This new method could become a new standard in single-cell research, and potentially for clinical diagnosis in disease genetics, including cancer. The results have been published in Nature Biotechnology. |
 | Resurrected protein reveals structure of important enzymeTo disarm toxic substances, many organisms including humans possess enzymes called flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs). Despite their importance, the structure of the enzymes has not been resolved, as the protein is too unstable to study in detail. University of Groningen enzyme engineer Marco Fraaije and colleagues from Italy and Argentina reconstructed the ancestral genetic sequences for three FMO genes and subsequently studied the enzymes. The ancestral enzymes proved to be stable enough to study and revealed how FMOs metabolize toxic substances. The results were published on 23 December in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. |
 | Looking at the good vibes of moleculesMetabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity are ever more common globally. In addition to genetic disposition, lifestyle contributes strongly to the prevalence of these metabolic diseases. Precise monitoring methods are needed in order to, for example, evaluate how a change in diet or exercise affects disease and its metabolic characteristics. Now, a team from the Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging at Helmholtz Zentrum München and at the Chair of Biological Imaging at TranslaTUM at the Technical University of Munich has developed a technique that provides real-time images of biomolecules in living cells—without the need for labels or contrast agents. The evaluation of the imaging system was performed in collaboration with the Institute for Diabetes and Cancer at Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Heidelberg University Hospital. |
 | Innovative method delivers new insights into the stem cell microenvironmentResearchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, Germany, have developed new methods to reveal the three-dimensional organization of bone marrow at a single-cell level. Since bone marrow harbors blood stem cells responsible for lifelong blood generation, these results and the new method provide a novel scientific basis to study blood cancer. The results have been published in Nature Cell Biology. |
 | Foreseeing a network's future beyond collapseWe live in a world of networks, perhaps even more so than most people realize. Obvious examples of complex networks found in our daily lives are the network of computer systems known as the internet, railway networks and power grids. As individuals, we form part of social networks of friends and family, and as biological systems, we depend on biochemical networks controlling the expression of genes to stay healthy. Networks of interactions between customers, companies and financial institutions form the economy; complex interactions through ocean and atmospheric circulation determine the climate; networks of interactions between species constitute ecosystems. |
 | Researchers uncover how fish get their shapeThe diverse colours, shapes and patterns of fish are captivating. Despite such diversity, a general feature that we can observe in fish such as salmon or tuna once they are served in a dish like sushi, is the distinct V patterns in their meat. While this appears to be genetically observed in the muscle arrangement of most fish species, how such a generic V pattern arises is puzzling. |
 | Endangered rays may have secret nursery in Mexican watersThe discovery of dozens of pregnant giant devil rays entangled in fishing nets along Mexico's Gulf of California could mean the endangered species has a previously unknown birthing zone in nearby waters. |
 | Identifying a plant cell barrier to breeding more nutritious cropsWhat if we could grow plants that are larger and also have higher nutritional content? Michigan State University scientists have identified a protein that could be a major roadblock to growing such plants. |
 | Overuse of herbicides costing UK economy GBP400 million per yearScientists from international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London) have for the first time put an economic figure on the herbicidal resistance of a major agricultural weed that is decimating winter-wheat farms across the UK. |
 | 'Lost crops' could have fed as many as maizeMake some room in the garden, you storied three sisters: the winter squash, climbing beans and the vegetable we know as corn. Grown together, newly examined "lost crops" could have produced enough seed to feed as many indigenous people as traditionally grown maize, according to new research from Washington University in St. Louis. |
 | Camera traps show coyotes on the doorstep of South AmericaOnce again, Panama, home of the narrow land bridge that connects North and South America, could play an outsized role in mammal history. |
 | Evolutionary changes in brain potentially make us more prone to anxietyNeurochemicals such as serotonin and dopamine play crucial roles in cognitive and emotional functions of our brain. Vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1) is one of the genes responsible for transporting neurotransmitters and regulating neuronal signaling. A research team led by Tohoku University has reconstructed ancestral VMAT1 proteins, revealing the functional changes in neurotransmitter uptake of VMAT1 throughout the course of human evolution. |
 | Weatherproof sheep? How to enhance animal resilience to climate changeAdverse impacts of climate change are increasingly felt across the world, with weather variability posing a serious threat to both crop and livestock production. Recognising the urgent need to address these challenges, the EU-funded iSAGE project continues developing strategies to enhance animal resilience and adaptability. |
 | Fishing for novel cellulose degradersOne of the most vital pieces of equipment for fly fishing is a boxful of lures. Designed with feathers or wires to mimic an insect or a particular movement, each of these lures are the bait designed to attract specific catches. A similar technique has been developed by researchers led by Tanja Woyke at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute (JGI), a DOE Office of Science User Facility located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). Using a single-cell screen, they can now identify microbes with specific functional characteristics. When they tested the screen method on a microbial community from geothermal hot springs, they uncovered a novel cellulose-degrading bacterium typically found in low abundances. |
 | The birds and the bees and the bearded dragons: Evolution of a sex determination systemSex is an ancient and widespread phenomenon, with over 99 percent of eukaryotes (cells with nuclei) partaking in some form of sexual reproduction, at least occasionally. Given the relative ubiquity and presumed importance of sex, it is perhaps surprising that the mechanisms that determine an individual's sex vary so spectacularly across organisms. Mechanisms for sex determination can depend on environmental signals, such as temperature, or can be genetically based, with one sex carrying different alleles, genes, or chromosomes—or even different numbers of each of these—from the other. The most well-studied system for sex determination is the XY system, which can be found in most mammals. In this system, females have two of the same type of sex chromosomes (XX) and males have two different types of sex chromosomes (XY). |
 | Florida boaters killed a record number of manatees in 2019, report saysDespite an ongoing campaign to protect the gentle manatee—which has included a 38-years-long Save the Manatee Club effort from popular singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett—Florida boaters killed a record number of manatees in 2019. |
 | Where do baby sea turtles go? New research technique may provide answersA team of Florida researchers and their collaborators created a first-of-its-kind computer model that tracks where sea turtle hatchlings go after they leave Florida's shores, giving scientists a new tool to figure out where young turtles spend their "lost years." |
 | Asian black bears' smart strategy for seasonal energy balanceA collaboration led by scientists at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT), Japan, has discovered that daily energy balance of Asian black bears (Ursus thibetanus) exhibited seasonal change with a twin-peak pattern: up in spring, down to the lowest point in summer, and up again in autumn. From spring to summer, the energy balance is surprisingly negative. Interestingly, bears obtain about 80% of the energy they need in a year by eating acorns in autumn. |
 | Chesapeake Bay oysters get more attention at pivotal timeRobert T. Brown pulled an oyster shell from a pile freshly harvested by a dredger from the Chesapeake Bay and talked enthusiastically about the larvae attached—a sign of a future generation critical to the health of the nation's largest estuary. |
 | Super Bowl python hunt 'glorifies' slaughter of snakes, should be canceled, PETA saysPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wants the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee to cancel the 2020 Python Bowl, saying the hunt glorifies "the slaughter of snakes." |
 | Rhino poaching rises in Botswana despite government crackdownThirteen rhinos have been poached in Botswana in the last two months, the tourism ministry said, as the government tries to crackdown on hunting of the endangered species. |
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