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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 18, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Parkes radio telescope observations shed more light on the mode switching phenomenon in PSR J0614+2229Using Parkes radio telescope in Australia, Chinese astronomers have conducted a multifrequency study of the pulsar PSR J0614+2229 (also known as B0611+22). The new research, presented in a paper published December 9 on arXiv.org, provides insight into the mode switching phenomenon occurring in this pulsar. |
 | Why some planets eat their own skiesFor many years, for all we knew, our solar system was alone in the universe. Then better telescopes began to reveal a treasure trove of planets circling distant stars. |
 | GISMO instrument maps inner Milky Way, sees cosmic 'candy cane'A feature resembling a candy cane appears at the center of this colorful composite image of our Milky Way galaxy's central zone. But this is no cosmic confection. It spans 190 light-years and is one of a set of long, thin strands of ionized gas called filaments that emit radio waves. |
 | Boeing sends first crew capsule to ISS this weekBoeing is all set to launch its Starliner spacecraft for the first time to the International Space Station at the end of this week, a key mission as NASA looks to resume crewed flight by 2020. |
 | European planet-studying mission launches from South AmericaA European spacecraft launched from South America Wednesday on a three-year mission to study planets in other solar systems. |
 | NASA's Webb telescope to search for young brown dwarfs and rogue planetsHow small are the smallest celestial objects that form like stars, but don't produce their own light? How common are they compared to full-fledged stars? How about "rogue planets," which formed around stars before being tossed into interstellar space? When NASA's James Webb Space Telescope launches in 2021, it will shed light on these questions. |
 | NASA's Mars 2020 rover completes its first driveNASA's next Mars rover has passed its first driving test. A preliminary assessment of its activities on Dec. 17, 2019, found that the rover checked all the necessary boxes as it rolled forward and backward and pirouetted in a clean room at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. The next time the Mars 2020 rover drives, it will be rolling over Martian soil. |
 | Europe's exoplanet hunter blasts off from Earth (Update)Europe's CHEOPS planet-hunting satellite left Earth on Wednesday a day after its lift-off was delayed by a technical rocket glitch during the final countdown. |
 | Europe powers up for third and fourth Orion spacecraftEurope will power the NASA spacecraft that take astronauts to a new international outpost and forward to the moon, following decisions made by ESA Member States at Space19+ in Seville, Spain. |
 | A warm space station welcome for cool new hardwareAstronaut Christina Koch recently gave a warm welcome to a very cool arrival to the International Space Station: a new piece of hardware for the Cold Atom Lab, an experimental physics facility that chills atoms to almost absolute zero, or minus 459 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 273 degrees Celsius). That's colder than any known place in the universe. |
 | Europe's exoplanet hunter reaches orbit around EarthEurope's CHEOPS planet-hunting space telescope left Earth on Wednesday and moved into orbit, a day after its lift-off was delayed by a technical rocket glitch during the final countdown. |
 | New clues on dark matter from the darkest galaxiesThey are called low-surface-brightness galaxies and it is thanks to them that important confirmations and new information have been obtained on one of the largest mysteries of the cosmos: dark matter. "We have found that disc galaxies can be represented by a universal relationship. In particular, in this study we analysed the so-called Low-Surface-Brightness (LSB) galaxies, a particular type of galaxy with a rotating disc so called because they have a low-density brightness," says Chiara di Paolo, astrophysicist at SISSA and lead author of a study recently published in MNRAS together with Paolo Salucci (astrophysicist at SISSA) and Erkurt Adnan (Istanbul University). |
 | New NASA-funded CubeSat poised to take Earth's temperature from spaceAll of a sudden, a tiny NASA-funded satellite, one of many passengers aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, shot into the sky on a mission to prove its new technology could change the way we measure Earth, and eventually, the Moon. |
 | Boeing's Starliner crew capsule makes space debut this weekBoeing's shiny new Starliner crew capsule makes its debut this week with a launch to the International Space Station, the company's last hurdle before flying astronauts for NASA next year. |
Technology news
 | Study highlights the potential of nanotube digital electronicsSome experts in the field of electronics engineering have suggested that the use of silicon complementary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS) will start declining rapidly by the end of 2020. Despite their predictions, a class of alternative materials that can effectively sustain the computational power of new devices, while maintaining good energy efficiencies is yet to be clearly established. |
 | Online hate speech could be contained like a computer virus, researchers sayThe spread of hate speech via social media could be tackled using the same "quarantine" approach deployed to combat malicious software, according to University of Cambridge researchers. |
 | House size a factor in tackling global climate emergencyNew research led by the University of St Andrews reveals that in order to achieve ambitious global climate change targets, energy policy must factor in that average space per person is increasing in homes. |
 | A soft robotic insect that survives being flattened by a fly swatterImagine swarms of robotic insects moving around as they perform tasks. It might sound like science fiction, but it's actually more plausible than you might think. Researchers at EPFL's School of Engineering have developed a soft robotic insect propelled at 3 cm per second by artificial muscles. |
 | Apple, Google, Amazon eye common standard for smart home devicesWill Amazon's Alexa, Apple's Siri and Google Assistant finally get along? |
 | Commuting in the sky: Flight system tech in demo debutNo potholes, no fender-benders, no middle-finger greetings when you try to pass, no lane closings, no long delays....just travel between cities quickly if done skyward, and for the tired commuters (cut to mighty violins) a welcomed future of transport. |
 | Solar power from 'the dark side' unlocked by a new formulaMost of today's solar panels capture sunlight and convert it to electricity only from the side facing the sky. If the dark underside of a solar panel could also convert sunlight reflected off the ground, even more electricity might be generated. |
 | German crossbow YouTuber fights video giant for rightsAt his out-of-the-way house in the forested German hills, Joerg Sprave spends his time building mutant crossbows and powerful slingshots—and hounding one of the world's biggest technology companies. |
Lab results of 15 million Canadians hackedPrivacy watchdogs have launched an investigation into a hack of health records, which a laboratory said Tuesday may have compromised data on up to 15 million Canadians or nearly half the population. | |
 | Facebook says it can locate users who opt out of trackingFacebook can determine where users are even if they opt out of having their whereabouts tracked, the company revealed in a letter sent to US senators. |
 | PSA, Fiat Chrysler join to create world's fourth-largest carmakerFrench carmaker PSA and US-Italian rival Fiat Chrysler said Wednesday they had agreed on the terms of a merger to create the world's fourth-largest automaker as the industry grapples with the costly and complicated transition to cleaner and more sustainable mobility. |
 | Edmunds picks top fuel-sipping SUVsHybrids have evolved in recent years, moving on from the original Toyota Prius to a new crop of efficient crossover SUVs. These larger utility-focused vehicles combine green technology with the space and capability that today's buyers want. The resulting fuel economy can be eye-opening as well, with 40 mpg or more becoming commonplace. |
 | Sanctions-hit Huawei plans components plant in EuropeChinese telecommunications group Huawei is working on a plan to build its own components at a site in Europe, its chairman told AFP, as the 5G leader strives to overcome US sanctions. |
 | AI-powered astronaut assistant returns to space with 'emotional intelligence'CIMON, the world's first AI-powered astronaut assistant, returned to the International Space Station—this time with a heightened ability to analyze human emotion. |
 | Apple Watch shopper's guide: What you need to know before buyingThe Apple Watch is far and away the best-selling watch in the world, at least according to Apple, and many are looking to put a new Watch under a certain tree this holiday season. |
 | How the price of bandwidth can be cut in African countriesAll over the world, the internet has provided extraordinary socioeconomic opportunities to businesses, governments, and individuals. But less developed countries still face numerous obstacles to maximise its potential. The problems range from obsolete infrastructure, the nonavailability, non-accessibility, cost, power fluctuations, policies and regulation. |
 | Email users should have 'more control' over post-mortem message transmissionEmail users should have far more control over the transmission of their messages upon death, a new study suggests. |
 | A self-healing sweat sensorWearable sensors that track heart rate or steps are popular fitness products. But in the future, working up a good sweat could provide useful information about a person's health. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed a headband that measures electrolyte levels in sweat. And unlike many previous sweat sensors, the device can heal itself when cut or scratched during exercise. |
 | Efficient methods to simulate how electromagnetic waves interact with devicesIt takes a tremendous amount of computer simulations to create a device like an MRI scanner that can image your brain by detecting electromagnetic waves propagating through tissue. The tricky part is figuring out how electromagnetic waves will react when they come in contact with the materials in the device. |
 | UK watchdog set to challenge Google, Facebook ad dominanceBritain's competition watchdog on Wednesday signaled its willingness to push for stricter rules to counter Google and Facebook 's dominance of online advertising. |
 | Chicago to Cleveland in 32 minutes? A hyperloop system could make that possible. But first, the technology has to work.A hyperloop, a high-tech, high-speed transportation system, could take you from Chicago to Cleveland in 32 minutes, or less time than it takes to watch two "Hot in Cleveland" episodes on your phone. |
 | New coating hides temperature change from infrared camerasAn ultrathin coating developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison engineers upends a ubiquitous physics phenomenon of materials related to thermal radiation: The hotter an object gets, the brighter it glows. |
 | A new smart-facade lift for older buildingsCan a smart new facade improve air quality in older buildings, cut energy demands on heating and cooling systems, and perhaps mitigate carbon emissions to some extent? A detailed answer might lie in research published in the World Review of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development. |
 | A more intuitive online banking service would reinforce its use among the over-55sExperts from the MAD (Analytical and Digital Marketing) Research Group from the University of Seville have drawn attention to the fact that the very nature of online banking, according to the data analysed, is the cause of the reticence of the over-55s to use it as they do not feel comfortable navigating the 'digital world.' To combat this situation, the experts recommend developing more intuitive applications with appropriate signposting and instructions to help avoid errors. This would make it possible for them to know that they were doing the right thing, so reinforcing their confidence. |
 | Calif consumer privacy law can affect businesses across U.S.If the thousands of Californians who use Josh Simons' app for musicians demand next month that Vampr delete their personal information, Simons will be ready to comply. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Specialized dye, delivered along with a vaccine, could enable 'on-patient' storage of vaccination historyEvery year, a lack of vaccination leads to about 1.5 million preventable deaths, primarily in developing nations. One factor that makes vaccination campaigns in those nations more difficult is that there is little infrastructure for storing medical records, so there's often no easy way to determine who needs a particular vaccine. |
 | Can good sleep patterns offset genetic susceptibility to heart disease and stroke?For the first time researchers have assessed the impact on the risk of heart or blood vessel problems from the combination of sleep patterns and genetic susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. |
 | Vaping of marijuana on the rise among teensFindings from the 2019 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey demonstrate the appeal of vaping to teens, as seen in the increased prevalence of marijuana use as well as nicotine vaping. Results from the 45th annual MTF survey, a nationally representative sample of eighth, 10th and 12th graders in hundreds of U.S. schools, were announced today by the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, along with the University of Michigan scientist who leads the research team. The self-report survey is given annually to students who respond to questions about their drug use and attitudes. |
 | When cells cycle fast, cancer gets a jumpstartThe progression of cancer has been studied extensively, and the key steps in this journey have been well mapped, at least in some solid tumors: Lesions to genes that confer risk of cancer accumulate and alter normal cell behaviors, giving rise, scientists believe, to early stage cancer cells that eventually swamp normal cells and become deadly. |
 | Forgetfulness might depend on time of dayCan't remember something? Try waiting until later in the day. Researchers have identified a gene in mice that seems to influence memory recall at different times of day and tracked how it causes mice to be more forgetful just before they normally wake up. |
 | Artificial intelligence identifies previously unknown features associated with cancer recurrenceArtificial intelligence (AI) technology developed by the RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP) in Japan has successfully found features in pathology images from human cancer patients, without annotation, that could be understood by human doctors. Further, the AI identified features relevant to cancer prognosis that were not previously noted by pathologists, leading to a higher accuracy of prostate cancer recurrence compared to pathologist-based diagnosis. Combining the predictions made by the AI with predictions by human pathologists led to an even greater accuracy. |
 | Researchers identify possible link between cannabis use and structural changes to heartResearchers identify possible link between cannabis use and structural changes to heart. |
 | Eating too much—not exercising too little—may be at core of weight gain, study findsForager-horticulturalist children in the Amazon rainforest do not spend more calories in their everyday lives than children in the United States, but they do spend calories differently. That finding provides clues for understanding and reversing global trends in obesity and poor metabolic health, according to a Baylor University researcher in a study published in Science Advances. |
 | Antibody therapeutic candidate reduces immune complexes involved in autoimmune diseasesA broad variety of autoimmune diseases involve the development of pathogenic immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies which can attack cells and tissues and form immune complexes with the antigen to which they are directed. Immune complexes are particularly problematic as they can deposit in tissues and promote the further development of autoantibodies yet can only be removed or inhibited by invasive methods. |
 | Zika vaccine protects fetus in pregnant monkeysAn experimental vaccine against the Zika virus reduced the amount of virus in pregnant rhesus macaques and improved fetal outcomes. The work could help support development and approval of the experimental Zika DNA vaccine VRC5283, which is currently in early stage trials in humans. The results are published Dec. 18 in Science Translational Medicine. |
 | Structural analysis reveals an unexpected mechanism for a cancer drugPalbociclib is clinically approved for use in treating breast cancer, but according to a new study, the molecular mechanism behind the drug's effectiveness is not what scientists had thought it was. |
 | Zika epidemic likely suppressed dengue in Latin AmericaWhen the Zika epidemic burned through the Americas in 2015, it was transmitted in the same areas where dengue virus was already endemic. This was not unexpected, as both viruses are genetically and antigenically similar, and they also share the same mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. |
 | Close to half of US population projected to have obesity by 2030About half of the adult U.S. population will have obesity and about a quarter will have severe obesity by 2030, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. |
 | Researchers support new strategies for HIV controlThe search for an AIDS cure has partly focused on ways to eradicate infected cells. Now, new research from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and the University of Pennsylvania in the U.S. shows that this approach may not be necessary for a functional cure. In a study focusing on a subset of HIV-positive individuals who can live with the virus without treatment, the researchers found that these people's lymphocytes suppress the virus but do not kill off infected cells. |
 | Motor neurone disease linked to cholesterol imbalance in cellsScientists have developed a new theory on the underlying cause of motor neurone disease, which could lead to more accurate diagnosis for patients and new treatments. |
 | Alzheimer's study shows promise in protecting brain from tauIn the wake of recent disappointments over clinical trials targeting amyloid plaque build-up in Alzheimer's disease, researchers are focusing more attention on misfolded tau protein, another culprit in brain diseases that cause dementia. |
 | Study: Obesity could affect brain development in childrenPublished studies have long found a correlation between obesity in children and decreased executive function. New research published in JAMA Pediatrics, based on data mined from a massive national research study, suggests that a change in brain structure—a thinner prefrontal cortex—may help explain that interrelationship. |
 | Study suggests early-life exposure to dogs may lessen risk of developing schizophreniaEver since humans domesticated the dog, the faithful, obedient and protective animal has provided its owner with companionship and emotional well-being. Now, a study from Johns Hopkins Medicine suggests that being around "man's best friend" from an early age may have a health benefit as well—lessening the chance of developing schizophrenia as an adult. |
 | Different mutations in a single gene can wreak many types of havoc in brain cellsMount Sinai researchers have found that different mutations in a single gene can have myriad effects on a person's health, suggesting that gene therapies may need to do more than just replenish the missing or dysfunctional protein the gene is supposed to encode, according to a study published in Nature Genetics in November. |
 | Are herpes virus infections linked to Alzheimer's disease?Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine report today in the journal Neuron evidence that refutes the link between increased levels of herpes virus and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the researchers provide a new statistical and computational framework for the analysis of large-scale sequencing data. |
 | Scientists discover a new mechanism in childhood kidney cancerAs an embryo develops, its cells must learn what to do with the thousands of genes they've been equipped with. That's why each cell comes with a detailed gene-expression manual outlining exactly which genes should be switched on, to what extent, and when. |
 | Caring for a grandchild linked to lower risk of loneliness and social isolationCaring for a grandchild may be linked to a lower risk of loneliness and social isolation, suggests research published in the online journal BMJ Open. |
 | Vaping may have similar effects to smoking on harmful lung bacteriaE-cigarette vapor may have similar effects to cigarette smoke on bacteria associated with smoking-related illness such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, according to a study published in Respiratory Research. |
 | Even with early treatment, HIV still attacks young brains, study saysThe vast majority of children living with HIV today are in sub-Saharan Africa. While early antiretroviral therapy, or ART, has ensured less deadly outcomes for children living with and exposed to HIV, studies show the virus still may affect the brain. HIV may disrupt neurodevelopment, affecting how children learn, reason and function. |
 | Children with HIV score below HIV-negative peers in cognitive, motor function testsChildren who acquired HIV in utero or during birth or breastfeeding did not perform as well as their peers who do not have HIV on tests measuring cognitive ability, motor function and attention, according to a report published online today in Clinical Infectious Diseases. The observational study included neuropsychological evaluations of 611 children in sub-Saharan Africa. It was conducted by the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Network (IMPAACT), supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the National Institute of Mental Health, all components of the National Institutes of Health. |
Getting a good night's sleep complicated by menopauseThe value of a good night's sleep can't be underestimated. Unfortunately, sleep complaints are common during the menopause transition. A new study from Canada compared sleep quality, sleep duration, and sleep disorders between postmenopausal and pre/perimenopausal women and documented increased sleep problems postmenopause. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). | |
 | Genetic test could aid quest to reveal causes of rare diseasesThe causes of rare diseases could be uncovered using an approach created to identify genetic mutations that trigger a muscle-wasting condition, a study suggests. |
 | Focus on teenage anxiety may aid early identification of those at risk of eating disordersTeenage girls who experience clinical levels of anxiety could be at greater risk of eating disorders, according to associations identified in a study completed by researchers at the University of Bristol with UCL. |
 | Pattern of heavy alcohol drinking may damage heart tissueA pattern of harmful alcohol consumption, or heavy drinking, increases level of blood biomarkers indicating heart tissue damage, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the open access journal of the American Heart Association. |
 | Depression and suicide risk linked to air pollutionPeople exposed to higher levels of air pollution are more likely to experience depression or die by suicide, finds a new analysis led by UCL. |
 | Concussions common among college students, more prevalent off the field than onConcussions are more than twice as prevalent among college students than previously believed and significantly more likely to occur off the playing field than on, according to a three-year study published Dec. 18 in the journal JAMA Network Open. |
Study shows risks for additional procedures after bariatric surgeryWhich of the two most common bariatric surgeries—gastric sleeve or gastric bypass—has the highest subsequent risk of additional operations or procedures? | |
 | Pregnant women with HIV often not given recommended treatmentWomen living with HIV who are also pregnant don't always receive recommended antiretroviral medications, according to a recent study of prescribing patterns carried out by a MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) researcher in collaboration with other members of the Surveillance Monitoring for ART Toxicities (SMARTT) study of the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS) network. Few studies, if any, have compared actual prescribing patterns of HIV medications for pregnant women to national treatment guidelines. This study suggests that physicians may be prescribing ahead of the published recommendations, and using drugs or drug combinations they have seen work in the adult population in general. |
 | Obesity, but not poor diet and inactivity, linked to higher risk of dementiaA large study that followed more than one million women for nearly two decades has found that obesity in midlife is linked to a greater risk of dementia later in life; however, poor diet and lack of exercise are not. The study is published in the December 18, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
 | USPSTF recommends behavioral counseling for STI preventionThe U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends behavioral counseling for sexually active adolescents and for adults with increased sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk. These recommendations form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online Dec. 17 by the USPSTF. |
 | Deprivation strongly linked to hospital admissionsPeople who live in areas of higher than average deprivation are more likely to be admitted to hospital and to spend longer in hospital, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. The difference was particularly pronounced among manual workers and those with lower education level. |
 | Diabetes and pregnancy can be a tricky (but achievable) mixThe number of people with diabetes is expected to increase from 463 million in 2019 to 700 million by 2045 globally. So more women with diabetes will be having babies in the future. |
 | Just had a baby? A new app helps keep them safeRutgers scientists and Microsoft volunteers have created a new free mobile app that provides lifesaving tips for safe sleeping practices during an infant's first year of life when the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is at its highest. |
 | Battery-free pacemaker reduces equipment to size of a dimeResearchers have developed and tested for the first time in vivo a miniaturized, battery-free pacemaker that supports optical and electrical multisite stimulation. The new device is powered wirelessly, omitting the weight and bulk associated with battery power, along with the need to replace or recharge, thereby allowing for indefinite operation. |
 | Research finds that cash can help stressed-out people eat more fruits and veggiesAt the end of a long day, it's tempting to order a large pizza or grab a drive-through cheeseburger for dinner. But, if offered cash, you might be persuaded to eat fruits and vegetables instead (or at least add them as a side dish). |
 | Protein dynamics in the beating heartThe protein titin is a large structural component of the sarcomere—the machinery that mediates contraction of cardiac muscle cells. Despite its importance to the beating heart, little is known about titin turnover. |
 | Cell fate signaling: Research reveals an attractive target for cancer therapyThe protein kinase MELK is thought to affect cell cycle regulation, proliferation and mitosis. Overexpression of MELK impacts survival and proliferation of multiple cancer types, including glioblastomas and breast cancer, but its molecular functions in cancer development are unclear. |
 | Congress could raise age to buy tobacco products to 21A provision to raise the U.S. minimum age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21 years has been inserted into the end-of-year spending bill in Congress. |
 | Drug could reduce frequency of seizures for children with Dravet SyndromeChildren with Dravet Syndrome given fenfluramine experienced a greater reduction in convulsive seizures, compared to patients given a placebo for a 14-week treatment period, according to a randomized controlled trial published in The Lancet. |
 | CHER study assesses umbilical cord blood banking by American Indian parentsSince the first cord blood transfusion was performed in 1988, doctors have performed more than 40,000 cord blood transplants worldwide to treat more than 80 life-threatening illnesses, including leukemia, lymphoma, blood cancers and sickle cell disease. Despite the need, about 96 percent of cord blood is discarded from the nearly four million births in the United States each year, according to data from the Save the Cord Foundation. |
 | World-first treatment with 'acoustic cluster therapy' to improve chemotherapy deliveryThe first patient has been treated with an innovative new technology that uses microscopic clusters of bubbles and liquid droplets to enhance the delivery of chemotherapy drugs to tumors. |
 | Your first point of contact and your partner in recovery: The GP's role in mental healthcareAround 70% of people who sought treatment for their mental health in Australia in 2015-16 saw a general practitioner. This amounts to 18 million dedicated mental health consultations. |
 | Not all antipsychotics increase the risk of diabetes and raise cholesterol—some may be protectiveMillions of people worldwide are prescribed antipsychotics every year. While these drugs are effective in treating the symptoms of schizophrenia, they can also have significant side-effects, causing weight gain, diabetes and raised cholesterol. These are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease—the biggest killer of people with schizophrenia. |
 | Cities increase your risk of depression, anxiety and psychosis—but bring mental health benefits, tooOver half of the world's population—4.2 billion people – live in cities. This number is expected to rise, with 68% of the global population estimated to live in urban areas by 2050. |
Bilingual children equally adept at telling stories in either languageBilingual children use as many words as monolingual children when telling a story, and show high levels of cognitive flexibility as storytellers, according to new research by University of Alberta scientists. | |
 | Shigella strain resistant to all oral antibiotics circulating in VictoriaResearchers have reported an extremely drug-resistant strain of Shigella circulating in Victoria with the vast majority of cases occurring in men who have sex with men. |
 | Breakthrough science provides hope for lupus patientsToday the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) publishes research led by Monash University Professor Eric Morand that offers the first real hope for the treatment of lupus, a disease which affects 1.5 million people in the US and more than 5 million globally, 90% women and for which there is no cure. |
 | Stem cell technology offers new insight into motor neuron diseaseScientists at the University of St Andrews and the University of Edinburgh have identified a specific type of cell in the human body which can cause motor neurons to fail using stem cell technology. |
| Rates of child allergy to antibiotics lower than believedEight in 10 children who reported being allergic to common classes of antibiotics used to treat respiratory, skin and intestinal infections were not truly allergic to it, a new study shows. |
 | Multiple sclerosis: New standards required for planning clinical trialsHow can the perspectives of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) be given more consideration in clinical trials? This question was investigated and corresponding recommendations were developed by a working group of the Drug Commission of the German Medical Association (AkdÄ), the Charité University Hospital Berlin, and the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). The analysis has now been published in the EPMA Journal. |
 | Novel genetic signature that can predict some kinds of breast cancer is identifiedResearchers have identified a genetic signature with prognostic value for certain kinds of breast cancer. The discovery also contributes to a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pathological angiogenesis, the aberrant proliferation of blood vessels that occurs during cancer and other diseases. |
 | Disruption of glycine receptors to study embryonic development and brain functionGlycine receptors are among the most widely distributed inhibitory receptors in the central nervous system and have important roles in a variety of physiological processes. Researchers from Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI), University of Toyama, Yamagata University, Cairo University, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences and Setsunan University collaborated to study glycine receptors, particularly glycine receptor alpha-4 (Glra4), during development. In a recent publication in the journal Reproduction, they demonstrated that Glra4 is not a brain-exclusive gene, as was believed, but actually facilitates early embryonic development in mice. |
 | Tackling the global challenge of physical inactivity takes all disciplinesDo not underestimate the dangers of physical inactivity, warns University of Canterbury (UC) sports expert Professor Nick Draper, who has edited a new book to examine the causes of, and solutions to, physical inactivity. |
 | Your personality determines how you experience pain – and it's the same with your petWould you brush off a serious injury as "just a scratch"? Perhaps you're the opposite and a stubbed toe is unbearable. Anyone who follows sports will be used to seeing rugby players spending 90 minutes pretending they're unhurt while the footballer writhes in apparent agony (though that usually happens in the penalty area, strangely enough). People often find it difficult to understand others who are more or less stoic than themselves—but personality often has a great deal to do with why some people are better at tolerating pain than others. |
 | Tracking your heart rate? 5 questions answered about what that number really meansThe rise of wearable fitness trackers has increased the number of people monitoring their heart rate, both throughout the day and during exercise. |
 | Alcoholic? Me? How to tell if your holiday drinking is becoming a problemIt's the most wonderful time of the year, when holiday parties collide with collegiate and professional athletics events. What do they all have in common? Booze, lots of it, and often free. It's no wonder the lead reindeer has a red nose. |
 | The holidays remind us that grief cannot be wished awayThe year-end holidays are a time of social gatherings, traditions and celebrations. They can also be a time of revisiting and reflection. |
 | Trump unveils plan to import cheaper foreign drugsDonald Trump's administration unveiled a plan Wednesday to allow imports of lower-price prescription drugs from Canada and other countries, a top priority for the president ahead of next year's election. |
| Season of birth may be linked to risk of heart deathThe time of the year you are born may be linked to your risk of dying from heart disease in later life, suggests a large US study in the Christmas issue of The BMJ. |
 | Study reveals molecular features of anxiety in the brainNearly 40 million people in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder. While treatment options exist, treatment success varies, and many people do not respond to treatment until weeks or months after they begin anti-depressants. Other medications, such as benzodiazepines, can relieve symptoms quickly but can have side effects and risks, especially if taken over a longer term. Better treatment is needed but the search for new therapies has lagged over the decades, in part because of the limitations of preclinical models. Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital have taken a new approach to the search, developing a rational, computationally inspired method for the preclinical study of anxiety. The team's efforts have been fruitful, uncovering more than 209 genes, whose activity change across anxiety categories, as well as new targets for drug development. Results are published in Translational Psychiatry. |
 | Animal-assisted interventions positive for people's health but more research is neededThe impact of animal-assisted interventions for both patients and health services could be substantial, but more rigorous research is needed, says Dr. Elena Ratschen and Professor Trevor Sheldon from the University of York. |
 | Rates of depression and substance use higher for pregnant teens, study findsResearchers from Lawson Health Research Institute and Brescia University College found that teenage pregnant women are more likely to live in poverty, have poorer mental health and have higher rates of substance use. |
 | Parkinson's symptoms improve with weekly regimens of both physical and cognitive exercisesParkinson's patients' motor and non-motor symptoms were improved with a weekly exercise regimen that included physical and cognitive tasks, according to new research presented today (18 December) at The Physiological Society early career conference, Future Physiology 2019: Translating Cellular Mechanisms into Lifelong Health Strategies. |
 | Chemical compound found in essential oils improves wound healing, study findsIndiana University researchers have discovered that a chemical compound found in essential oils improves the healing process in mice when it is topically applied to a skin wound—a finding that could lead to improved treatments for skin injuries in humans. |
 | Comparing heirloom and modern wheat effects on gut healthAmid concerns about gluten sensitivity, increasing numbers of people are avoiding wheat. Most have not been diagnosed with a wheat-related medical condition, yet they seem to feel better when they don't eat gluten-containing foods. A possible explanation is that modern varieties of wheat are responsible. But now, researchers reporting in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry have shown that a popular modern variety does not impair gastrointestinal health in mice compared with heirloom wheat. |
 | Saccharin derivatives give cancer cells a not-so-sweet surpriseSaccharin received a bad rap after studies in the 1970s linked consumption of large amounts of the artificial sweetener to bladder cancer in laboratory rats. Later, research revealed that these findings were not relevant to people. And in a complete turnabout, recent studies indicate that saccharin can actually kill human cancer cells. Now, researchers reporting in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry have made artificial sweetener derivatives that show improved activity against two tumor-associated enzymes. |
 | Recent screening rose among people under 50 after release of new colorectal guidelinesRecent colorectal cancer screening rates more than doubled among people ages 45 to 49 in the months after the release of updated American Cancer Society guidelines recommending screening in that age group, according to a new study. The increase in was unique to the 45 to 49 year-old age group according to the study, which is published in the journal Cancer. |
 | Chemicals in vaping flavors cause widespread damage to lung tissueNew research appearing in the journal Scientific Reports unpacks the list of chemicals that comprise flavored e-liquids and pods used in vaping and details their harmful effects to lung tissue, including inflammation and genetic damage that could indicate long-term risk for respiratory disease and even cancer. |
 | Working women healthier even after retirement ageIn a new study, Jennifer Caputo, research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, found that women who worked consistently during their prime midlife working years had better physical health than non-working women later in life. Working women were also less depressed over the next decades as they entered old age, and even lived longer shows the study recently published in the journal Demography. |
 | Pregnancy hypertension risk increased by traffic-related air pollutionA new report from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) suggests that traffic-related air pollution increases a pregnant woman's risk for dangerous increases in blood pressure, known as hypertension. |
 | Why is drinking in moderation so difficult for some people?Compulsive drinking may be due to dysfunction in a specific brain pathway that normally helps keep drinking in check. The results are reported in the journal Biological Psychiatry. |
 | Pregnancy-related heart failure tied to higher cancer risk(HealthDay)—Patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) are more likely to have cancer before PPCM diagnosis and more likely to develop cancer after PPCM, according to a study published in the December issue of the JACC: CardioOncology. |
 | Obesity, smoking do not impact long-term healing of wrist fractures(HealthDay)—Excellent clinical and radiographic outcomes can be achieved with surgery for displaced wrist fractures in patients who are obese and in those who smoke, according to a study published in the December issue of the Journal of Hand Surgery. |
 | Puppies: They're cute, cuddly and making people ill, CDC says(HealthDay)—Puppies in pet stores appear to have transmitted a dangerous, antibiotic-resistant germ that's sickened 30 people across 13 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Tuesday. |
 | Q&A: Lasik eye surgery understanding the risks and complicationsDear Mayo Clinic: What are the risks of LASIK surgery, and will my vision deteriorate again over time, even after surgery? |
 | Solving the puzzle of IgG4-related disease, the elusive autoimmune disorderAutoimmune diseases are a medical conundrum. In people with these conditions, the immune system of the body, the designated defense system, starts attacking the cells or organs of its own body, mistaking internal cells for invading disease-causing cells. Often, the cause for this spontaneous dysfunction is not clear, and hence, treatment of these diseases presents a major and ongoing challenge. |
 | High lipoprotein(a) levels in type 1 diabetes linked to cardiovascular diseaseHigh blood levels of the lipid lipoprotein(a) in people with type 1 diabetes add to the already elevated risk of developing cardiovascular disease, researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden report in a paper published in the prestigious journal Diabetes Care. Lipoprotein(a) levels should therefore be measured in patients with type 1 diabetes and form part of the total risk assessment, say the researchers. |
 | Forty percent of people with peanut allergies can eat tree nuts but choose not toA new article in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) shows most people allergic to peanuts can safely eat tree nuts. Nevertheless, nearly 40 percent choose voluntary avoidance of all tree nuts for a variety of reasons, the most common being the potential risk of cross contact |
 | Parental coaching adolescents through peer stressDuring early adolescence, especially the transition to middle school, kids face a number of challenges both socially and academically. Peer rejection, bullying, and conflict with friends are common social stressors. These challenges can affect adolescents' ability to form positive peer relationships, a key developmental task for this age group. |
 | A new way to optimize sleep and light exposure can reduce jet lag and improve alertnessWhether you're traveling for work or for fun, nothing ruins the start of a trip quite like jet lag. Engineers affiliated with the Lighting Enabled Systems & Applications (LESA) Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a way to deliver personalized advice using smart wearable technology that would help travelers adjust more quickly. |
 | Cancer therapy may be aided by induced macropinocytosis, a rare form of cell deathIn laboratory experiments, a metabolic inhibitor was able to kill a variety of human cancer cells of the skin, breast, lung, cervix and soft tissues through a non-apoptotic route—catastrophic macropinocytosis. |
Study uses genetics and menthol to examine how the skin senses irritationA new University of Oklahoma study could have implications on our understanding of how certain sensory signals are transmitted through the body. An OU experiment led by neuroscientist Christian Lemon, Ph.D., Department of Biology, set out to discover how menthol's irritant sensation is transmitted by the nervous system. | |
 | WHO moves step closer to cheaper breast cancer treatmentThe World Health Organization (WHO) announced Wednesday that it had for the first time approved a "biosimilar" medicine—one derived from living sources rather than chemicals—to make breast cancer treatment affordable to women globally. |
 | Bill to raise tobacco age has unlikely allies: Altria, JuulCongress is moving to pass the biggest new sales restrictions on tobacco products in more than a decade, with support from two unlikely backers: Marlboro-cigarette maker Altria and vaping giant Juul Labs. |
 | Is targeting aging the future of medicine? Researchers make the caseHuman life expectancy worldwide rose dramatically over the past century, but people's health spans—the period of life spent free from chronic, age-related disease or disability—have not increased accordingly. |
 | Sisters bound by deadly family legacy—and by lifesaving transplantsJane Herndon and her family share an unusually close bond, forged through tragedy and triumphs. Their difficult journey began when Jane and her three sisters were in their teens and early 20s. |
Biology news
 | First images of an 'upgraded' CRISPR toolColumbia scientists have captured the first images of a new gene editing tool that could improve upon existing CRISPR-based tools. The team developed the tool, called INTEGRATE, after discovering a unique "jumping gene" in Vibrio cholerae bacteria that could insert large genetic payloads in the genome without introducing DNA breaks. |
 | Grain traits traced to 'dark matter' of rice genomeDomesticated rice has fatter seed grains with higher starch content than its wild rice relatives—the result of many generations of preferential seed sorting and sowing. But even though rice was the first crop to be fully sequenced, scientists have only documented a few of the genetic changes that made rice into a staple food for more than half the world's population. |
 | Nanopores can identify the amino acids in proteins, the first step to sequencingWhile DNA sequencing is a useful tool for determining what's going on in a cell or a person's body, it only tells part of the story. Protein sequencing could soon give researchers a wider window into a cell's workings. A new study demonstrates that nanopores can be used to identify all 20 amino acids in proteins, a major step toward protein sequencing. |
 | Meerkat mobs do 'war dance' to protect territoryMeerkat clans perform a 'war dance' to frighten opponents and protect their territory, according to a new UCL and University of Cambridge study. |
 | Dogs process numerical quantities in similar brain region as humans, study findsDogs spontaneously process basic numerical quantities, using a distinct part of their brains that corresponds closely to number-responsive neural regions in humans, finds a study at Emory University. |
 | Suction cups that don't fall offThe aquatic larvae of the net-winged midge have the unique ability to move around at ease on rocks in torrential rivers using super-strong suction organs. Powerful modern imaging techniques have now revealed the structure of these organs in intricate detail, providing an insight into how they work so reliably. The findings, reported in the journal BMC Zoology, may inform the development of better man-made suction cups that perform well on a variety of surfaces. |
 | New tool reveals DNA structures that influence diseaseDisruption of certain DNA structures—called topologically associating domains, or TADs—is linked with the development of disease, including some cancers. With its newly created algorithm that quickly locates and helps elucidate the complex functions of TADs, an international team of researchers is making it easier to study these important structures and help prevent disease. |
 | Shifting the balance of growth vs. defense boosts crop yieldCold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) scientists are figuring out how to pack more kernels onto a corn cob. One way to boost the productivity of a plant, they say, is to redirect some of its resources away from maintaining an overprepared immune system and into enhanced seed production. Now, a team led by CSHL Professor David Jackson has found a gene that could help them tweak that balance. |
 | Genomic insights: How female butterflies alter investment in attractiveness vs. fecundityHave you ever wondered why and how butterflies exhibit such beautiful and diverse colors? Scientists have, particularly butterflies in the genus Colias. In most Colias butterflies, all males and most females are an orange or yellow color, but some females are white. These white forms, called Alba, are commonly found in every generation, making up 5 percent to 30 percent of females. This is unexpected because orange/yellow wing color is an important signal for mate recognition, thus Alba females should be at a disadvantage. For nearly a century, scientists have been working to understand why and how Alba females arise and are maintained within butterfly populations. |
 | Avian Catch 22: The more hosts defend their nests, the higher the chance of it being parasitized by cuckoosThe common cuckoo deploys a wide range of tricks to deceive smaller birds into raising cuckoo chicks instead of their own progeny. This is a form of parasitism: The brood parasite hijacks the parental care of the host species to maximize the number of its own offspring on the cost of the host's own brood. Female cuckoo form different maternal linages, each of which mimics the egg of only one or a few host species. Once hatched from the egg, the cuckoo fledgling ejects the foster parents' eggs from the nest, ensuring itself the whole attention of its foster parents. |
 | New turtle genus and species that sheds light on the evolution of its modern relativesPaleontologists in Alabama have announced the discovery of a new genus and species of fossil sea turtle that may fill an important gap in the evolution of sea turtles. |
 | Chemicals produced by soil microbes hold promise as drugs and research toolsCharles Boone first set foot in Japan fresh out of undergrad in 1983 when he lived and worked with a local family on a rice farm in Chiba prefecture, just outside Tokyo. There he fell in love with many things Japanese, not least its cuisine which owes much of its flavors to fermenting microorganisms. |
 | Google launches Wildlife Insights to help manage the world's wildlifeGoogle Inc. has launched a beta version of an online portal called Wildlife Insights—its purpose is to help wildlife managers around the globe manage the wildlife in their part of the planet. The AI-based application lets researchers upload pictures of wildlife captured in their native habitats using camera traps and have them automatically labeled and entered into a global database that anyone can freely access. |
 | Stone throwing chimps appear to like the sound when it hits a treeA team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology and Aix-Marseille University has found evidence that suggests a group of chimpanzees who throw stones at trees appear to do so for the acoustical effect. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the group describes experiments they carried out with stone throwing and trees and what they learned from them. |
 | Synchro swimmers under the microscopeNot only birds, fish and even crowds of people show collective movement patterns, motile bacteria also form currents and vortices when their cell density exceeds a certain size. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg have now been able to show how swarm behaviour affects navigation in the environment. |
 | Researchers move one step further towards understanding how life evolvedA fundamental problem for biology is explaining how life evolved. How did we get from simple chemical reactions in the prebiotic soup, to animals and plants? |
 | Scientists find way to supercharge protein productionMedicines such as insulin for diabetes and clotting factors for hemophilia are hard to synthesize in the lab. Such drugs are based on therapeutic proteins, so scientists have engineered bacteria into tiny protein-making factories. But even with the help of bacteria or other cells, the process of producing proteins for medical or commercial applications is laborious and costly. |
 | Pair living as stepping stone from solitary life to complex societies: studyAlone, as a pair or in groups—the diversity in social systems of primates is interesting because it may also provide insights into human social life. An evolutionary biologist from the German Primate Center—Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, together with a colleague from the University of Texas at San Antonio, investigated how different primate societies evolved and which factors may be responsible for transitions among them. The reconstructions showed that the evolution from a solitary way of life to group living usually occurred via pair living. Pair living thus served as a stepping stone for group living and therefore plays a key role in the evolution of social systems. The study is published in Science Advances. |
 | Perpetual predator-prey population cyclesHow can predators coexist with their prey over long periods without the predators completely depleting the resource that keeps them alive? Experiments performed over a period of 10 years by researchers from McGill University and the Universities of Oldenburg and Potsdam have now confirmed that regular oscillations in predator-prey populations can persist over very long periods |
 | 'Like a video game with health points,' energy budgets explain evolutionary body sizeBudgeting resources isn't just a problem for humans preparing a holiday dinner, or squirrels storing up nuts for the winter. |
 | The delicate water lily: A rose by another name?A new study published in Nature reports the 409-megabase genome sequence of the blue-petal water lily (Nymphaea colorata). The conclusion of the 47 coauthors is that although a rose is a rose, most flowering plants may owe their success, including employing floral scent for attracting pollinators, in part to the genetic innovations observed in the delicate water lily. |
 | Researchers say may have found cause of mad cow diseaseResearchers said Wednesday they believe they may have found the cause of mad cow disease, while stressing the need to maintain precautionary measures to avoid a potential re-emergence of the illness. |
 | Star fruit could be the new 'star' of Florida agricultureIt's not just oranges that grow in Florida. Carambola, or star fruit as most in the United States call it, is gaining popularity. One researcher from Florida International University is researching how cover crops can help the sustainability of star fruit farms. |
 | Researchers create functional mini-liver by 3-D bioprintingUsing human blood cells, Brazilian researchers have obtained hepatic organoids ("mini-livers") that perform all of the liver's typical functions, such as producing vital proteins, storing vitamins and secreting bile, among many others. The innovation permits the production of hepatic tissue in the laboratory in only 90 days and may in the future become an alternative to organ transplantation. The study was conducted at the Human Genome and Stem Cell Research Center (HUG-CELL). |
 | Stand out from the herd: How cows communicate through their livesFarmers might finally be able to answer the question: How now brown cow? |
 | Clues of tuberculosis spread between cows and badgersTuberculosis in cattle and badgers passes between members of the same species at least twice as often than between cow and badger, a study has found. |
 | How gardeners are reclaiming agriculture from industry, one seed at a timeAgriculture has changed significantly in the past century. Bigger machines, bigger farms and bigger budgets allow fewer farmers to produce more food. Changes in science and policy have also resulted in an industry in which power over what we grow and eat is increasingly held by very few. |
 | Climate change is hurting farmers – even seeds are under threatClimate change is already affecting the amount of food that farmers can produce. For example, crop sowing in the UK was delayed in autumn 2019 and some emerging crops were damaged because of wet weather. Meanwhile in Australia, considerable drought has been immensely damaging. |
 | Solving a combinatorial quandaryWhy do certain proteins in the body bind with some substances, but not with others? |
 | Mangroves on the run find a more northern homeThe north might no longer be as inhospitable to mangroves as it once was. |
 | Researchers discover how ant species uses abdomen for extra power during jumpsResearchers in the department of entomology at the University of Illinois have shown how a species of ant uses its abdomen to add speed to its jump, in a recent study published in Integrative Organismal Biology. With a name like Gigantiops destructor, one might expect this ant species to be large or aggressive, but these relatively shy ants common to South America are anything but. Compared to other notable Amazonian ants such as bullet, army and leafcutter ants, Gigantiops are smaller, less confrontational, and often overlooked as one walks through the rainforest. However, these ants are capable of a rather unique behavior—they travel through their leaf litter habitats by jumping—and rotating their abdomens to power part of that process. |
 | Study: Human management helps rare plants, butterflies survive hurricaneA new study from North Carolina State University shows that ongoing habitat management could help prevent hurricane-driven extinctions. The study found that a rare Florida plant, the pineland croton, weathered the damage from Hurricane Irma better in plots that were under human management than those left alone. The work could have implications for management of rare species in the face of extreme conditions. |
 | Study finds widespread misinterpretation of gene expression dataReproducibility of research data is a major challenge in experimental biology. As data generated by genomic-scale techniques increases in complexity, this concern is becoming more and more worrisome. |
 | Kenyan wildlife policies must extend beyond protected areasAt least 15% of the world's surface is governed by laws to protect its living species, including plants, animals and fungi. But this is not enough. The most recent estimates suggest that an additional 30% of the planet's surface needs further conservation attention. Without this additional protection the world will continue to lose large numbers of species. |
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