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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 17, 2020:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Globular cluster system of NGC 4546 studied in detailUsing the Gemini-South telescope, astronomers have performed a photometric study of the lenticular galaxy NGC 4546. Results of the new research provide more clues about the structure and nature of the galaxy's globular cluster system. The study was published February 7 on arXiv.org. |
 | A submillimeter survey of protostarsThe formation of stars involves the complex interactions of many phenomena, including gravitational collapse, magnetic fields, turbulence, stellar feedback, and cloud rotation. The balance between these effects varies significantly between sources, and astronomers have adopted a statistical approach to understand the typical, early-stage star formation sequence. The earliest stage is called the protostellar stage. For low-mass stars (those with masses about that of the sun) this stage is usually separated into two subclasses as the star grows by accreting material from a massive envelope whose size can extend between five hundred and ten thousand astronomical units (AU) in a process that can last roughly half a million years. There are considerable uncertainties, however: some gas is ejected back into the medium in strong outflows, for example. |
 | Earth climate models and the search for life on other planetsIn a generic brick building on the northwestern edge of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center campus in Greenbelt, Maryland, thousands of computers packed in racks the size of vending machines hum in a deafening chorus of data crunching. Day and night, they spit out 7 quadrillion calculations per second. These machines collectively are known as NASA's Discover supercomputer and they are tasked with running sophisticated climate models to predict Earth's future climate. |
 | SpaceX re-useable rocket misses landing shipSpaceX successfully launched its latest cluster of high-speed internet satellites into orbit Monday but was unable to land its rocket booster on an autonomous ship, missing a key milestone. |
 | Image: Hubble embraces spiral with open armsThe spiral galaxy NGC 2008 sits center stage, its ghostly spiral arms spreading out toward us, in this image captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. |
Technology news
 | An approach to fabricate stable perovskite quantum dot solar cells with high power conversion efficienciesPast research studies have highlighted the potential of perovskite materials for the development of several technological tools, including photovoltaics (PVs) and optoelectronics. Solution-processed organic-inorganic lead halide perovskite materials have been found to be particularly promising, especially those with a common ABX formulation, where A is an organic cation, B is lead (Pb) or tin (Sn) and X is a halide. |
 | Fast-charging, long-running, bendy energy storage breakthroughWhile at the proof-of-concept stage, it shows enormous potential as a portable power supply in several practical applications including electric vehicles, phones and wearable technology. |
 | Study suggests the manosphere is becoming more toxicA team of researchers from EPFL, Binghamton University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University College London, Boston University and the Max Planck Institute for Informatics has found evidence showing that the "manosphere" is becoming more misogynistic and toxic. They have written a paper describing their findings and have uploaded it to the arXiv preprint server. |
 | Las Vegas excavation gives new meaning to Tunnel VisionStress balls and sneakers have been valuable assets for any suitcase traveler going to Las Vegas on assignment. Nobody needs a reminder who has travelled to Vegas for work purposes that getting from place A to place B requires leg work or a lot of patience sitting in traffic. But then there is Elon Musk. |
 | Using a shape memory polymer as a robot gripperA team of researchers at Zhejiang University has created a new robot gripper using a shape memory polymer. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes the material, its use as a gripper, and how well it worked. |
 | UAE issues licence for first Arab nuclear power plantThe United Arab Emirates said Monday it has issued an operating licence for a reactor at its Barakah nuclear power plant, the first in the Arab world, hailing it as a "new chapter". |
 | German court halts site preparation for Tesla factoryA German court has temporarily halted the site preparation for Tesla Inc.'s first electric car factory in Europe. |
 | Death in the 21st century: Our digital afterlifeSocial media pages and accounts often turn into memorials when someone dies, giving people a chance to still feel connected to those they've lost. But after we're gone, who owns the information on our pages? Who can access them? |
 | LTE vulnerability: Attackers can impersonate other mobile phone usersExploiting a vulnerability in the mobile communication standard LTE, also known as 4G, researchers at Ruhr-Universität Bochum can impersonate mobile phone users. Consequently, they can book fee-based services in their name that are paid for via the mobile phone bill—for example, a subscription to streaming services. |
 | Fear of Big Brother guides EU rules on AIAmid fears of a Big Brother-style society ruled by machines, the EU will urge authorities and companies to think hard before rolling out facial recognition technology. |
 | Zuckerberg meets EU officials as bloc's new tech rules loomFacebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg met top European Union officials on a visit to Brussels on Monday, days before the bloc is expected to release new proposals on regulating artificial intelligence. |
 | Facebook's Zuckerberg calls for new-style regulator for EUFacebook head Mark Zuckerberg called for a new type of big tech regulator as he lobbied the EU officials who have become the world's top enforcers on Silicon Valley. |
 | EU threatens tougher rules on hate speech after Facebook meetingA top EU official for digital policy warned Monday that big tech companies could face tougher rules and penalties in Europe if they failed to adequately curb hate speech and disinformation. |
 | Automakers in China gradually reopen after virus shutdownAutomakers are reopening factories in China that were idled by anti-virus controls as they try to reverse a sales slump in their biggest market. |
 | Federal judge rips Bay Area delivery firm DoorDash: 'This hypocrisy will not be blessed'A Bay Area federal judge has mocked and slammed gig-economy meal-delivery firm DoorDash, after thousands of its workers joined together to weaponize a controversial labor-control tactic used by the company and many Silicon Valley technology businesses. |
 | Amazon flies Pan-African flag as signal of support, commitment to improve diversityAn enormous red, black and green Pan-African flag billowed in the breezeway between two Amazon Seattle headquarters buildings Thursday, a signal, company leaders said, of the commerce giant's recognition of diversity and commitment to improvement. |
 | Alstom agrees to buy Bombardier's rail divisionFrench company Alstom said on Monday it had agreed to buy the rail division of Bombardier, speeding up the Canadian firm's fire sale. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Exploring why mindfulness meditation has positive mental health outcomesOver the past few decades, mindfulness meditation has become increasingly popular, particularly as a tool to reduce stress or anxiety and gain a greater sense of wellbeing. While many empirical studies have confirmed that regular meditation, especially mindfulness meditation, can have beneficial effects on people's mental health, so far very little is known about the mechanisms underpinning these effects. |
 | Test measures immune response to improve ovarian cancer diagnosisResearchers have developed a simple blood test that measures the body's own immune response to improve diagnosis of ovarian cancer. |
 | Cutting off kidney cancer at its rootsScientists at the MDC have discovered stem cells responsible for the most common form of kidney cancer. The team of Walter Birchmeier has found a way to block the growth of these tumors in three models of the disease. |
 | Recommended diuretic causes more side effects than similar hypertension drugChlorthalidone, the guideline-recommended diuretic for lowering blood pressure, causes more serious side effects than hydrochlorothiazide, a similarly effective diuretic, according to a new study led by researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The findings, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, contrast with current treatment guidelines recommending chlorthalidone over hydrochlorothiazide. |
 | Disease-causing repeats help human neurons function, study findsOver half of our genomes are made of repeating elements within DNA. In rare cases, these repeats can become unstable and grow in size. These repeat "expansions" cause neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and dementia as well as learning disorders and autism in Fragile X syndrome. |
 | Zooming in on breast cancer reveals how mutations shape the tumour landscapeScientists have created one of the most detailed maps of breast cancer ever achieved, revealing how genetic changes shape the physical tumour landscape, according to research funded by Cancer Research UK and published in Nature Cancer today. |
 | Intratumoral heterogeneity may be responsible for chemotherapy resistance in patients with small cell lung cancerSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for 14% of all lung cancers and is often rapidly resistant to chemotherapy, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. Treatment has changed little for decades, but a study at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that chemotherapy results in increased heterogeneity within the tumor, leading to the evolution of multiple resistance mechanisms. |
 | New technique allows scientists to 'listen in' on cancer cellsScientists have a developed a new technique to decipher how millions of individual cells are communicating with each other in miniature tumours grown in the lab, known as organoids, according to new research published in Nature Methods today. |
 | New computational tools identify alternative splicing changes in aggressive cancersA multi-institutional group of researchers led by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has linked a strong cancer driver gene to changes in proteins that regulate alternative splicing. The researchers created new computational tools and biological model systems for the study. This collaborative research, led by Yi Xing, Ph.D., at CHOP and Owen Witte, MD, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), was published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Beta-arrestin-2 increases neurotoxic tau driving frontotemporal dementiaThe protein β-arrestin-2 increases the accumulation of neurotoxic tau tangles, a cause several forms of dementia, by interfering with removal of excess tau from the brain, a new study by the University of South Florida Health (USF Health) Morsani College of Medicine found. |
 | Machine learning study: At least nine gender expressions exist in the brainThe terminology humans have conceived to explain and study our own brain may be mis-aligned with how these constructs are actually represented in nature. For example, in many human societies, when a baby is born either a "male" or a "female" box is checked on the birth certificate. Reality, however, may be less black and white. In fact, the assumption of dichotomic differences between only two sex/gender categories may be at odds with our endeavors that try to carve nature at its joints. Such is the case with a new paper, published recently in the journal Cerebral Cortex, where researchers argue that there are at least nine directions of brain-gender variation. |
 | Study examines impact of B cells on stroke recoveryNew University of Kentucky research shows that the immune system may target other remote areas of the brain to improve recovery after a stroke. |
 | Study identifies states with highest rates of melanoma due to ultraviolet radiationA new study finds a wide state-by-state variation in rates of melanoma caused by ultraviolet (UV) exposure with highest rates in several states on the East and West Coast including Hawaii, but also a few landlocked states, including Utah, Vermont, and Minnesota. The report, appearing in the International Journal of Cancer, finds state-level incidence rates for UV-attributable melanoma ranged from 15 cases per 100,000 in Alaska to 65 cases per 100,000 in Hawaii. The authors say variations between states likely reflect a combination of the strength the sun's rays, participation in outdoor activities, sun protection, indoor tanning, and early detection. |
 | Parents from lower-income families less likely to say child's water supply is safeParents from lower-income families are less likely to describe their home tap water as safe, say their water has been tested or feel confident in the quality of drinking fountain water at their child's school compared with higher income peers, a new national poll suggests. |
14 test positive among US plane evacuees from Japan virus shipFourteen people who had tested positive for the new coronavirus were among more than 300 US citizens and family members evacuated by plane from a quarantined ship in Japan, the US State Department said Monday. | |
 | China virus toll jumps to 1,770: govtThe death toll from China's new coronavirus epidemic jumped to 1,770 after 105 more people died, the National Health Commission said Monday. |
 | Mortality from all causes over 40% higher in female domestic abuse survivorsWomen who have experienced domestic abuse appear to be more than 40 per cent more likely to die from any cause compared to the general population, a study led by the Universities of Warwick and Birmingham suggests. |
 | The skinny on why poor sleep may increase heart risk in womenWomen who sleep poorly tend to overeat and consume a lower-quality diet, according to a new study from researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. The findings provide new insight into how poor sleep quality can increase the risk of heart disease and obesity and points to possible interventions for improving women's heart health. |
 | Sitting more is associated with higher heart disease risk in older womenLonger sitting times were associated with higher levels of heart disease risk among overweight and obese post-menopausal women overall, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the open access journal of the American Heart Association. |
 | Trust your gut on plant-based diets for heart healthReducing animal product intake and following a primarily plant-based diet can decrease your risk of heart disease by minimizing the adverse effects of a gut-microbiome associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease, according to research published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | New VA/DoD guidelines address sleep-related issues in military personnel, veteransRecognizing and addressing the widespread problem of sleep disorders in military personnel and veterans, the U.S. Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense (VA/DoD) jointly have issued new guidelines for assessment and treatment of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. |
 | Study investigates rates of adverse events for common rheumatoid arthritis drugMethotrexate is a common drug with a long history; for the past 40 years, it's been used to treat a range of diseases. Today it is the most commonly used drug for systemic rheumatic diseases worldwide and is the first drug a physician will prescribe for a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. But despite its use by millions of people, there is not robust data on the rates of the side effects of the drug. Observational studies have suggested that methotrexate may elevate a person's risk of a variety of adverse events, including liver toxicity, anemia and difficulty in breathing, but the magnitude of risk was unknown. Taking advantage of data from the Cardiovascular Inflammation Reduction Trial (CIRT), a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital have been able to far more accurately determine rates of adverse events for people taking methotrexate, finding small-to-moderate elevations in risks for skin cancer, gastrointestinal, infectious, lung, and blood adverse events. Results are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | China asks recovered patients to donate plasma for virus treatmentChinese health officials Monday urged patients who have recovered from the coronavirus to donate blood so that plasma can be extracted to treat others who are critically ill. |
 | Combination drug therapy for childhood brain tumors shows promise in laboratory modelsIn experiments with human cells and mice, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center report evidence that combining the experimental cancer medication TAK228 (also called sapanisertib) with an existing anti-cancer drug called trametinib may be more effective than either drug alone in decreasing the growth of pediatric low-grade gliomas. These cancers are the most common childhood brain cancer, accounting for up to one-third of all cases. Low grade pediatric gliomas arise in brain cells (glia) that support and nourish neurons, and current standard chemotherapies with decades-old drugs, while generally effective in lengthening life, often carry side effects or are not tolerated. Approximately 50% of children treated with traditional therapy have their tumors regrow, underscoring the need for better, targeted treatments. |
 | Don't try to kick the smoking habit aloneGoing solo when trying to quit smoking isn't enough, one lung health expert says. |
 | Incomplete and inadequate: Information lacking for seniors looking for assisted livingAs of today, the youngest of the nearly 70 million baby boomers is 55; the oldest is 74. Within the next decade, millions of them will need long-term care. Many will remain in their homes, with family or "drop-in" caregiver services lending a hand. Some will move in with relatives. Those who are most dependent on care might choose nursing homes. A diverse and expanding older population is looking for help. |
 | Natural supplements can be dangerously contaminated, or not even have the specified ingredientsMore than two-thirds of Americans take dietary supplements. The vast majority of consumers—84% – are confident the products are safe and effective. |
 | Immunity key to motor neurone disease treatmentCustomized immune-blocking medication may be the key to treating patients with motor neurone disease (MND), which currently has no cure and limited therapeutic options. |
 | For older adults, hope may be key to improving psychological and social well-beingOlder adults with a greater sense of hope are more likely to experience better physical health outcomes and better psychological and social well-being, according to a new study co-authored by a Virginia Commonwealth University professor emeritus. |
 | Breastfeeding may reduce diabetes risk for women with gestational diabetesThe longer a woman with gestational, or pregnancy-related, diabetes breastfeeds her infant, the lower her risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life, suggests an analysis by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions. The study was conducted by Cuilin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., of NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and colleagues. It appears in Diabetes Care. |
 | Prevention vs. overreaction: Finding balance in meeting coronavirus threatSo far, the international spread of a novel coronavirus originating in China has been limited. But World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it could only be a matter of time before additional cases flare up abroad. In response to the outbreak, countries around the world are imposing tight international travel restrictions, including the United States where the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its first federal quarantine order in more than 50 years. |
 | When life-saving drugs are scarce, how do clinicians allocate them?A devastating shortage of the pediatric cancer drug vincristine that began late last summer has forced pediatric oncologists across the country to make heart-wrenching decisions about allocation and treatment. |
 | Out-of-context photos are a powerful low-tech form of misinformationWhen you think of visual misinformation, maybe you think of deepfakes—videos that appear real but have actually been created using powerful video editing algorithms. The creators edit celebrities into pornographic movies, and they can put words into the mouths of people who never said them. |
 | Kinesiology and medicine researchers examine how diabetes affects bone strengthResearchers at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) are hoping to find the answer. |
 | Childhood cancer rates increase with no change in sightThe overall incidence rate of childhood cancer in Australia increased by 1.2% per year between 2005 and 2015, and is expected to rise a further 7% over the next 20 years, according to the authors of research published in the Medical Journal of Australia. |
 | Insufficient evidence backing herbal medicines for weight lossResearchers from the University of Sydney have conducted the first global review of herbal medicines for weight loss in 19 years, finding insufficient evidence to recommend any current treatments. |
 | Coronavirus detection using CRISPR-Cas13: Open-access SHERLOCK research protocolThe recent coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak presents enormous challenges for global health. To aid the global effort, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT, and our partner institutions have committed to freely providing information that may be helpful, including by sharing information that may be able to support the development of potential diagnostics. |
 | Looking for clues to improve the life of a transplanted organThe Transplant Research Program (TxRP) at Boston Children's Hospital is the only pediatric transplantation research program in the U.S committed to better understanding the molecular basis for organ rejection after transplantation in children. Within the last year, members of the TxRP have initiated a new initiative to extend the longevity of transplanted organs and to develop and use biomarkers for monitoring patients. |
 | Study sheds light on regulation of breast cancer initiationTumor cells are characterized by high degree of heterogeneity and among them, tumor-initiating cells (TICs), sometimes also called cancer stem-like cells, are considered as the culprits of cancer development and progression, due to their enhanced tumorigenic capacity as compared to the non-TICs within tumors. Although targeted elimination of TICs is an appealing strategy in cancer therapeutics, current understanding of TIC regulation is largely incomplete, hindering the rational designing of TIC-targeting approaches. |
 | Researchers develop new tool to help detect hidden signs of autism in adultsResearchers have developed a potential new tool to help clinicians detect hidden signs of autism in adults. |
 | New guide helps children be emotionally prepared for schoolSome children enter school ready to learn. Others arrive with behavioral issues that limit their ability to succeed. |
New paediatric care model produces positive resultsAn Australian pilot study involving 896 families has found that paediatricians embedded into GP clinics reduced emergency department referrals and unnecessary prescriptions. The program, run in north west Melbourne, also boosted GP's confidence in treating common childhood conditions. | |
 | Moderate intensity exercise can benefit memory performanceKent research has found that moderate intensity exercise such as brisk walking, water aerobics or cycling can have the most beneficial effect on memory performance. |
 | Clinical trials: how to make informed consent more ethicalIt has been illegal to treat humans like guinea pigs since the Nuremberg trials, in which Nazi doctors were punished for doing unspeakable things to prisoners. These days, we have to explain the experiment to the people taking part in trials for new treatments and get their permission (their "informed consent"). |
 | What I've learnt about drug testing in Nigeria over the last 20 yearsPoor quality medicine is one of the obstacles to improving health in developing countries. One in 10 medicines may not meet acceptable standards, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). |
 | Outbreaks like coronavirus start in and spread from the edges of citiesEmerging infectious disease has much to do with how and where we live. The ongoing coronavirus is an example of the close relationships between urban development and new or re-emerging infectious diseases. |
 | Almost one-third of school students bulliedAdolescent boys from lower socio-economic backgrounds are most likely to be the victims of bullying, according to the first comprehensive study of school bullying around the world. |
 | Eating meat: links to chronic disease might be related to amino acids – new findingsPlant-based diets have been popular in the media recently, but research shows that going vegetarian or vegan isn't only good for the environment, but for our health, too. Meat-rich diets are linked to a range of health problems, from heart disease and strokes to type two diabetes and some cancers. People who eat diets high in meat have also been found to live shorter lives. |
 | When should you worry about your memory?Have you ever been ready to head out the door but can't seem to remember where you put your keys? Or have you been standing in the grocery store trying to remember what else you need? |
 | Vaccine misinformation and social mediaPeople who rely on social media for information were more likely to be misinformed about vaccines than those who rely on traditional media, according to a study of vaccine knowledge and media use by researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. |
 | Researchers challenge new guidelines on aspirin in primary preventionThe most recent guidelines for primary prevention recommend aspirin use for individuals ages 40 to 70 years who are at higher risk of a first cardiovascular event, but not for those over 70. Yet, people over 70 are at increasingly higher risks of cardiovascular events than those under 70. There has been considerable confusion from recently reported results of three large-scale randomized trials of aspirin in high risk primary prevention subjects, one of which showed a significant result, but the other two, based possibly on poor adherence and follow up, did not. As a result, health care providers are understandably confused about whether or not to prescribe aspirin for primary prevention of heart attacks or strokes, and if so, to whom. |
 | Complications of measles can include hepatitis, appendicitis, and viral meningitis, doctors warnThe complications of measles can be many and varied, and more serious than people might realise, doctors have warned in the journal BMJ Case Reports after treating a series of adults with the infection. |
 | Researchers discover the link between ribs and lung function in patients with brittle bone diseaseA multidisciplinary team headed by Valencia University (UV) professor Juan Alberto Sanchis Gimeno reports on the link between the shape of the ribs and lung function in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare disease that affects one of every 18,000 newborns. Their study has been published in the Journal of Advanced Research. |
 | Diabetes, Alzheimer's together might increase stroke severityBleeding strokes are the deadliest type of stroke and the hardest to treat. What might make matters worse is having both diabetes and Alzheimer's disease versus either condition alone, new research shows. |
 | Kids raised by grandparents more likely to pile on pounds: Study(HealthDay)—Grandparents can be a bad influence on kids' weight, researchers say. |
 | One in four opioid ODs involves kids and teens(HealthDay)—More than a quarter of all opioid overdoses in the United States involve teenagers, and a full fifth of those cases were likely suicide attempts, new research shows. |
 | WHO warns against novel coronavirus 'blanket measures'The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned against "blanket measures" over the novel coronavirus outbreak, pointing out the epidemic outside of China was only affecting a "tiny" proportion of the population. |
 | 13 US citizens at 'high risk' of coronavirus being treated in NebraskaThirteen US citizens deemed "high risk" for the deadly new coronavirus are being treated at a federally designated facility in the University of Nebraska following their evacuation from a cruise ship in Japan, officials said Monday. |
 | Infected passengers aboard US evacuation flights as China virus toll mountsMore than a dozen infected Americans from a coronavirus-riddled cruise ship off Japan flew on evacuation flights to the US with other passengers on Monday, as the epidemic claimed more lives in China to take the death toll above 1,700. |
 | Binaural beats synchronize brain activity, don't affect moodAn auditory illusion thought to synchronize brain waves and alter mood is no more effective than other sounds, according to research in adults recently published in eNeuro. The effect reported in other studies might be a placebo but could still have helpful effects for some people. |
 | First Russian citizen is diagnosed with COVID-19A Russian woman aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan has become the first Russian citizen to be diagnosed with COVID-19, Russia said Monday. |
 | Indigenous status going under-reported in Aussie hospitalsInaccurate recording of Indigenous status in hospital administrative datasets can influence health service decision-making and adversely affect outcomes for patients, according to the authors of a research letter published online by the Medical Journal of Australia. |
 | Setting the records straight on Aboriginal STI ratesThe automatic assumption that sexually transmissible infections in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are a result of sexual abuse further stigmatises them and discourages them from presenting to health services, according to the authors of a Perspective published online by the Medical Journal of Australia. |
 | HPV vaccine hesitancy in Japan could result in 5,000 additional deathsThe precipitous drop in HPV vaccination rates after suspension of proactive recommendations by the government in 2013 could result in an additional 25,000 cervical cancer cases and more than 5,000 additional deaths among females born between 1994 to 2007 in Japan. However, swift action by the government could mitigate much of this damage according to a study in Lancet Public Health. |
 | The global spread of the new coronavirus: Where is it?The new coronavirus that emerged in central China at the end of last year has now killed nearly 1,800 people and spread around the world. |
Biology news
 | Atomic structures mapped in measles, mumps, flu and RSVNorthwestern University researchers have, for the first time, determined the 3-D atomic structure of a key complex in paramyxoviruses, a family of viruses that includes measles, mumps, human parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). |
 | The paradox of dormancy: Why sleep when you can eat?Why do predators sometimes lay dormant eggs, which are hardy, but take a long time to hatch and are expensive to produce? That is the question that researchers from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) set out to answer in a recent paper published in Advanced Science. |
 | Freshwater insects recover while spiders decline in UKMany insects, mosses and lichens in the UK are bucking the trend of biodiversity loss, according to a comprehensive analysis of over 5,000 species led by UCL and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). |
 | Climate change is not the only threat for plantsTo maintain plant and animal species on earth, we need not only to consider the direct effects of climate change, but we must also take other equally important environmental issues into consideration—such as changes in agricultural and forestry practices and indirect effects of climate such as increased frequencies of fires. |
 | Origin of life: A Darwinian machine for non-living objectsLife is usefully defined on the basis of process: Any set of entities that participates in the process of evolution by natural selection is alive. But how does evolution by natural selection—and thus life—get started? The answer is far from obvious. Lack of insight haunts origins of life research and plagues understanding of the major evolutionary transitions, including the transition from cells to multicellular life. |
 | De novo genes far more common and important than scientists thoughtScientists from Trinity and the University of Pittsburgh have discovered that de novo genes—genes that have evolved from scratch—are both more common and more important than previously believed. |
 | Protein function maintains the balance between protrusive and contractile cell machineriesTropomodulin maintains the fine balance between the protein machineries responsible for cell movement and morphogenesis. Disturbances in this balance are common in many diseases, for example, invasive cancers. |
 | Reproductive genome from the laboratoryThe field of synthetic biology does not only observe and describe processes of life but also mimics them. A key characteristic of life is the ability for replication, which means the maintenance of a chemical system. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried generated a system, which is able to regenerate parts of its own DNA and protein building blocks. |
 | How learning about fish can help us save the Amazon rainforestThink of the Amazon, and you probably think of jaguars, monkeys, or parrots. But many of the rainforest's secrets can be found hidden in its watery depths, from the fish swimming around its rivers and lakes And because these animals live in a river network that spans the South American continent, studying them helps conservationists understand why connected ecosystems are healthy ecosystems. Scientists from the Field Museum investigated fish populations in the South American country of Guyana, which helped to show why aquatic corridors matter in conservation.Their study, which they published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, makes an important case that protecting one tiny corner of the Guiana Shield can help protect rivers and biodiversity across the Amazon. |
 | US peach farmer wins $265 mln damages over Bayer, BASF herbicideA US jury has awarded $265 million to a Missouri farmer who blamed herbicide from chemical giants Bayer AG and German rival BASF for destroying his peach orchards, in a case set to bolster 140 other lawsuits. |
 | Fieldwork on remote islands for evolutionary study finds rare bats in declineA study led by Susan Tsang, a former Fulbright Research Fellow from the City College of New York, reveals dwindling populations and widespread hunting throughout Indonesia and the Philippines of the world's largest bats known as flying foxes. |
 | Holstein steers given hormone implants grow as well as beef steersHolstein steers that get hormone implants grow faster than those that do not receive the implants, and they get as big as beef cattle breeds, according to Penn State researchers, who say that's good news for dairy farmers struggling to keep their operations financially viable. |
 | Bioengineers developing organisms without biological parentsBioengineers are on the brink of developing artificial organisms that will open up new applications in medicine and industry. Beat Christen discusses their risks and benefits. |
 | Trial finds benefits to people and wildlife from beavers living wild in English countrysideA major five-year study into the impacts of beavers on the English countryside has concluded that the water-living mammals can bring measurable benefits to people and wildlife. |
 | Edaphic factors are important to explain and predict impact of climate change on species distributionThe climate change crisis has resulted in an emphasis on the role of broad-scale climate in controlling species distributions. A key metric for predicting the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems is the local velocity of climate change: how fast a species must move across the landscape to track its preferred climate in space. However, other ecologically important environmental variables will move much more slowly (e.g., some soil properties) or not at all (e.g., underlying geology). |
 | Plastic pollution poses new threat to a turtle paradiseThese are turbulent times for turtles. |
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