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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 19, 2020:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Various variability phenomena observed in the binary star DQ TauHungarian astronomers have observed a pre-main sequence (PMS) binary star known as DQ Tau using a set of space telescopes and ground-based facilities, finding numerous variability phenomena in this system, including energetic stellar flares. The findings are detailed in a paper published February 11 on arXiv.org. |
 | Findings from NASA's Juno update Jupiter water mysteryNASA's Juno mission has provided its first science results on the amount of water in Jupiter's atmosphere. Published recently in the journal Nature Astronomy, the Juno results estimate that at the equator, water makes up about 0.25% of the molecules in Jupiter's atmosphere—almost three times that of the Sun. These are also the first findings on the gas giant's abundance of water since the agency's 1995 Galileo mission suggested Jupiter might be extremely dry compared to the Sun (the comparison is based not on liquid water but on the presence of its components, oxygen and hydrogen, present in the Sun). |
 | Engineers devise a decision map to identify the best mission type to deflect an incoming asteroidOn April 13, 2029, an icy chunk of space rock, wider than the Eiffel Tower is tall, will streak by Earth at 30 kilometers per second, grazing the planet's sphere of geostationary satellites. It will be the closest approach by one of the largest asteroids crossing Earth's orbit in the next decade. |
 | Image: International Space Station transits the moonSay cheese. |
 | Tombaugh's discovery of Pluto revolutionized knowledge of our solar systemNinety years ago today, Clyde Tombaugh, a young astronomer working at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, discovered Pluto. In doing so he unknowingly opened the door to the vast "third zone" of the solar system we now know as the Kuiper Belt, containing countless planetesimals and dwarf planets—the third class of planets in our solar system. |
 | There could be meteors traveling at close to the speed of light when they hit the atmosphereIt's no secret that planet Earth is occasionally greeted by rocks from space that either explode in the atmosphere or impact on the surface. In addition, Earth regularly experiences meteor showers whenever it passes through clouds of debris in the solar system. However, it has also been determined that Earth is regularly bombarded by objects that are small enough to go unnoticed—about 1 mm or so in size. |
 | Russia will replace 2 cosmonauts set for launch to spaceRussia's space agency said Wednesday that two cosmonauts scheduled to launch to the International Space Station will be replaced with alternates for medical reasons. |
 | BECEP array installed at South PoleProfessor Clem Pryke and his group are on their way back to Minnesota from the South Pole in Antarctica after completing installation of the new BICEP Array Telescope. Over the next few years this specialized radio telescope will study the Cosmic Microwave Background—an afterglow from the Big Bang—looking for the imprint of gravitational waves from the beginning of time. The project, which has been several years in the making, is a collaboration between the University of Minnesota, Caltech, Harvard and Stanford. |
 | Galaxy Cruise—Your galactic journey as a citizen scientistThe Universe is full of galaxies of various shapes; some galaxies have spiral arms and others don't. Why do galaxies show such diversity? Galaxies are thought to grow by interacting and merging with other galaxies; and the galaxy mergers may be the key process creating the variety. Why don't you explore the Universe as a citizen scientist to help unlock the secrets of galaxies? |
Technology news
 | A terahertz wave radar based on leaky-wave coherence tomographyResearchers at Keio University and the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in Japan have recently introduced a new design for a terahertz wave radar based on a technique known as leaky-wave coherence tomography. Their paper, published in Nature Electronics, could help to solve some of the limitations of existing wave radar. |
 | New machine learning method could supercharge battery development for electric vehiclesBattery performance can make or break the electric vehicle experience, from driving range to charging time to the lifetime of the car. Now, artificial intelligence has made dreams like recharging an EV in the time it takes to stop at a gas station a more likely reality, and could help improve other aspects of battery technology. |
 | Scientists develop safer lead-based perovskite solar cellResearchers at Northern Illinois University and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, are reporting today (Feb. 19) in the journal Nature on a potential breakthrough in the development of hybrid perovskite solar cells. |
 | Snakes help engineers design search and rescue robotsSnakes live in diverse environments ranging from unbearably hot deserts to lush tropical forests, where they slither up trees, rocks and shrubbery every day. By studying how these serpents move, Johns Hopkins engineers have created a snake robot that can nimbly and stably climb large steps. |
 | Mixed-signal hardware security thwarts powerful electromagnetic attacksSecurity of embedded devices is essential in today's internet-connected world. Security is typically guaranteed mathematically using a small secret key to encrypt the private messages. |
 | Engineers' custom circuits would make IoT systems 14,000 times harder to crack than current techRice University engineers have one-upped their own technique to increase security for the "internet of things." |
 | Team develops bracelet that jams microphonesThe very topic of digital assistants and home smart devices sporting microphones and the potential for the outside world to listen in on recordings is not a comfortable one, to say the least. It's no longer a simple case of who is listening, but what is listening in the connected world of devices in the home and beyond. |
 | Research identifies barriers to development of seawater electrolysis technologiesResearchers at the University Of Liverpool, in collaboration with NUI Galway and TU Berlin, have identified the key technological and scientific challenges of producing hydrogen through seawater electrolysis. |
 | New infrastructure will enhance privacy in today's Internet of ThingsPeople navigating through the digital landscape of the Internet today are bombarded with notices about how their data is being collected. But in the physical world where Internet of Things technologies increasingly track our activities—few, if any, notices are provided. |
 | EU seeks AI champions: Five things to knowFrom translation apps to facial recognition, artificial intelligence is becoming a major part of everyday life and the European Union is eager to bring order to this digital "wild west" where the US and China dominate. |
 | Facebook faces off with IRS in big-ticket tax caseA multi-billion dollar dispute between Facebook and US tax authorities over profits shifted to an Irish subsidiary began playing out in front of a judge on Tuesday. |
 | Dell sells RSA cyber-security unit for $2 bnDell Technologies on Tuesday announced a $2.08 billion cash deal to sell cyber-security unit RSA to a consortium led by Symphony Technology Group. |
 | Cobalt supply can meet demand for electric vehicle and electronics batteries: studyGreater use of electric vehicles might be good for the environment, but further growth hinges on continued availability of critical battery components such as cobalt. Cell phones and other electronics also depend on the element's availability. Supplies of the metal are adequate in the short term, but shortages could develop down the road if refining and recycling aren't ramped up or made more efficient, according to research published in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology. |
 | EU seeks 'responsible' AI to dispel Big Brother fearsThe EU unveiled its strategy for artificial intelligence on Wednesday as it seeks to catch up with China and the US and dispel fears of Big Brother-like control. |
 | E-scooters: The impact legalization would have in the UKIt is currently illegal to ride e-scooters in public spaces in the UK, but this has not stopped riders appearing on roads and pavements. An upcoming national consultation means it is a good time to consider the implications of e-scooters coming to UK streets. |
 | Ring doorbell camera users required to use two-factor authentication to protect accountsUsers of Ring doorbell security cameras must improve their own security measures to boost privacy and prevent unauthorized access to the home safety systems. |
 | Uber's new On-Trip Reporting tool lets you report uncomfortable rides in real-timeUber just added a new tool for riders who find themselves in uncomfortable situations during a trip. |
 | Standalone system produces water from the air, even in desert regionsResearchers at the Technion have developed a standalone system that produces water from the air, even in desert regions. The innovative system is capable of providing water to small and isolated communities, without the need to transport water for long distances. |
 | Could water solve the renewable energy storage challenge?Seasonal pumped hydropower storage (SPHS), an already established yet infrequently used technology, could be an affordable and sustainable solution to store energy and water on an annual scale, according to new IIASA research published in the journal Nature Communications. Compared with other mature storage solutions, such as natural gas, the study shows that there is considerable potential for SPHS to provide highly competitive energy storage costs. |
 | EU proposes rules for artificial intelligence to limit risksThe European Union unveiled proposals Wednesday to regulate artificial intelligence that call for strict rules and safeguards on risky applications of the rapidly developing technology. |
 | Qualcomm introduces third-generation 5G chips to boost speeds and performance of mobile devicesContinuing its efforts to drive 5G technology, Qualcomm on Tuesday introduced its third generation 5G mobile chip aimed at improving performance for smartphones and other gadgets. |
 | Huawei loses legal challenge against US federal purchase banWashington has the right to block US federal agencies from buying products by Huawei on cybersecurity grounds, a judge has ruled, dismissing the Chinese telecom giant's legal challenge to a purchase ban. |
 | Deutsche Telekom rings in record profits thanks to USGerman telecom operator Deutsche Telekom on Wednesday reported record profits for 2019, with US unit T-Mobile gleaning millions more customers ahead of a merger with competitor Sprint. |
 | Germany to tighten screws on online hate speechWith the danger growing from far-right extremists and torrents of threats against politicians, Germany plans to toughen online speech laws and tighten the screws on social networks. |
 | Renault risks 'junk' credit rating, S&P warnsFrench automaker Renault could see its main long-term credit rating cut to below investment grade by Standard and Poor's, the agency said Wednesday, just days after Moody's lowered its own rating to "junk" status. |
 | Virus-hit Jaguar rushes car parts to UK in suitcases: reportsIndian-owned Jaguar Land Rover is rushing through deliveries of small car parts to Britain from China, where supply chains are hit by the deadly coronavirus, the Financial Times said Wednesday. |
Sorting the social network fakers from the movers and shakersHow can we detect fake profiles to preclude their disruptive and deleterious effects on social media and social networks? Writing in the International Journal of Information and Computer Security, Somya Ranjan Sahoo and B.B. Gupta of the National Institute of Technology at Kurukshetra in Haryana, India, discuss the issues and possible solutions. | |
 | First millimeter-scale wireless transceiver for electronic pillsThis week, at ISSCC 2020 (Feb 16-20, San Francisco), imec, a world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, presents the first mm-scale wireless transceiver for smart insertable pills. It is a first breakthrough in imec's aspiration to realize autonomous ingestible sensors that can measure health parameters such as gut health and transmit in real time the data outside the body. |
 | Airbus Defence and Space to cut over 2,300 jobsEuropean plane-maker Airbus said Wednesday it planned to cut 2,362 jobs in its Defence and Space division over the next two years. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Cancer researchers identify new areas in human genomes linked to skin cancer riskAn Indiana University cancer researcher has identified eight new genomic regions that increase a person's risk for skin cancer. |
 | What birdsong tells us about brain cells and learningMost scientists who study the brain believe that memories are stored through networks of synapses, or connections that form between neurons. Learning takes place as neurons form new connections and strengthen or weaken existing ones, giving the brain its so-called synaptic plasticity. There is growing evidence, however, that the intrinsic, built-in properties of the cells themselves, not just the connections between them, also play a role in this process. |
 | New mechanism involved in senescence modulates inflammation, response to immunotherapyScientists at The Wistar Institute discovered a novel pathway that enables detection of DNA in the cytoplasm and triggers inflammation and cellular senescence. This pathway may be modulated during senescence-inducing chemotherapy to affect cancer cell response to checkpoint inhibitors. Results were published online in Nature Communications. |
 | Targeting turncoat immune cells to treat cancerA Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a mechanism by which regulatory T cells, which suppress immune responses, adapt their metabolism to thrive in the harsh microenvironment of the tumor. This mechanism, the study finds, is exclusively engaged by regulatory T cells (Tregs) that reside in tumors and could be disrupted to selectively target such Tregs and boost the effects of cancer immunotherapy. |
 | Offspring sex ratio is not a heritable trait, study findsCentury-old theories that having girls or boys 'runs in families' have been upended by a University of Queensland study, proving parents' genes do not determine their child's gender. |
 | Study: Bmal1 gene might not be an essential regulator of circadian rhythmsThe Bmal1 gene, found throughout the human body, is believed to be a critical part of the body's main molecular timekeeper, but after deleting it in animal models, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that tissues continued to follow a 24-hour rhythm. The team also found these tissues could follow that circadian rhythm—the 24-hour molecular clock that influences a variety of daily functions from sleep to metabolism—even in the absence of outside stimulus that can influence the cycle, like light or temperature changes. These results indicate that, while the Bmal1 gene may heavily influence some circadian rhythm, the process is controlled by a more complex system, and that other drivers of the biological clock exist. The research published this month in the journal Science. |
 | To predict flu's spread, modelers turn to weather forecastsAre influenza outbreaks and weather patterns connected? Researchers have long known that flu season occurs in the colder months, and that infection rates drop dramatically as the weather warms. But why? And could weather forecasting help predict where and when the flu will surge or fall off? |
 | How the brain and its arteries communicate to supply blood to areas of heightened neural activityThe brain is a ravenous organ. A three-pound adult human brain consumes about a fifth of the body's energy, yet it cannot store energy on its own and requires constant nourishment from the cardiovascular system. The organ's energy needs fluctuate greatly depending on neural activity, and sufficient blood must be delivered to the right place at precisely the right time to ensure healthy brain function. |
 | Machine learning identifies personalized brain networks in childrenMachine learning is helping Penn Medicine researchers identify the size and shape of brain networks in individual children, which may be useful for understanding psychiatric disorders. In a new study published today in the journal Neuron, a multidisciplinary team showed how brain networks unique to each child can predict cognition. The study—which used machine learning techniques to analyze the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of nearly 700 children, adolescents, and young adults—is the first to show that functional neuroanatomy can vary greatly among kids, and is refined during development. |
 | Controlling CAR T cells with light selectively destroys skin tumors in miceBioengineers at the University of California San Diego have developed a control system that could make CAR T-cell therapy safer and more powerful when treating cancer. By programming CAR T cells to switch on when exposed to blue light, the researchers controlled the cells to destroy skin tumors in mice without harming healthy tissue. |
 | Eating junk food found to impair the role of the hippocampus in regulating gorgingA team of researchers from Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. has found that eating junk food can alter the ability of the hippocampus to constrain junk food intake. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, the group describes experiments they conducted with volunteers and their eating habits, and what they learned from them. |
 | Breakthrough in coronavirus research results in new map to support vaccine designResearchers from The University of Texas at Austin and the National Institutes of Health have made a critical breakthrough toward developing a vaccine for the 2019 novel coronavirus by creating the first 3-D atomic scale map of the part of the virus that attaches to and infects human cells. |
 | Researchers discover new compound that promotes lung healthA molecule identified by UCLA researchers helps maintain a healthy balance of cells in airway and lung tissue. If the compound, so far only studied in isolated human and mouse cells, has the same effect in people, it may lead to new drugs to treat or prevent lung cancer. |
 | Discovery may illuminate a missing link between atherosclerosis and agingInvestigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital have made a potentially exciting discovery by jumping into the abyss of the dark side of the genome. Once dismissed as "junk DNA," roughly 75 percent of the human genome do not code for proteins. But these dark regions of the genome are far from junk—instead, they may hold tantalizing clues about disease states. A team of Brigham investigators led by Mark Feinberg, MD, of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, and an associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, recently plunged into these regions in search of clues about atherosclerosis—a disease in which the arteries become increasingly hardened and narrow, obstructing blood flow and leading to heart disease. Using a preclinical model of atherosclerosis, Feinberg and colleagues have uncovered a long, noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that may point the way toward new therapies for atherosclerosis and shed light on why the likelihood of the disease increases with age. Results are published in Science Translational Medicine. |
 | New type of heart valve may be the only replacement a child needsCurrent prosthetic heart valves for children with congenital heart disease are fixed in size, requiring repeated open-heart surgeries during childhood to replace the valve with a larger version. But a surprising new design created at Boston Children's Hospital could allow children to keep the same prosthetic valve until adulthood, and could also benefit adults with heart valve defects. The new device is described in Science Translational Medicine, published online February 19. |
 | Researchers discover receptor chain involved in atopic dermatitisAtopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory disorder, affects some 30 million Americans every year. It is the most common cause of eczema, a condition marked by unbearably itchy, flaky patches of skin. |
 | Altered potassium levels in neurons may cause mood swings in bipolar disorderPeople with bipolar disorder experience dramatic shifts in mood, oscillating between often debilitating periods of mania and depression. While a third of people with bipolar disorder can be successfully treated with the drug lithium, the majority of patients struggle to find treatment options that work. |
 | World first: Infertile cancer patient has baby using frozen eggIn a world first, a woman rendered infertile by cancer treatment gave birth after one of her immature eggs was matured, frozen, and then—five years later—thawed and fertilised, researchers in France reported. |
 | More time between prostate cancer screenings could improve outcomesA new study in JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, published by Oxford University Press, finds significant benefits to lengthening the amount of time between prostate cancer screenings for men. |
 | Declines in heart attacks greater among men than womenIn a study published in the American Heart Association scientific journal Circulation, Kaiser Permanente research scientists report a steady decline in heart attacks for both men and women enrolled in the health system from 2000 to 2014, although that rate of decline slowed among women in the last 5 years of the study. |
 | Why Zika virus caused most harmful brain damage to Brazilian newbornsDue to Zika virus, more than 1,600 babies were born in Brazil with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, from September 2015 through April 2016. The epidemic took health professionals by surprise because the virus had been known since 1947 and was not linked to birth defects. |
 | Pounded by critics, Japan defends handling of virus outbreakJapan faces mounting criticism for its handling of a coronavirus-afflicted cruise ship, with questions over a patchy quarantine, incremental testing and the decision to let people walk away after 14 days. |
 | Hong Kong reports second coronavirus fatalityAn elderly Hong Kong man who contracted the new coronavirus died on Wednesday, authorities announced, the second fatality from the outbreak in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. |
 | How a Canadian start-up used AI to track China virusOn the shores of Lake Ontario, a Canadian start-up raised one of the earliest alarms about the risk posed by the mystery virus that emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan. How did it do it? Artificial intelligence. |
 | South Korea coronavirus cases jump by two-thirds in one daySouth Korea reported 20 new confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus on Wednesday—increasing its total by nearly two-thirds—including a cluster of at least 16 centred on the southern city of Daegu. |
 | China's virus center vows no patient unchecked as cases fallProtective suit-clad inspectors in the epicenter of China's viral outbreak went door-to-door Wednesday to find every infected person in the central city suffering most from an epidemic that is showing signs of waning as new cases fell for a second day. |
Passengers leave Japan virus ship, but new infections detectedHundreds of relieved passengers disembarked Wednesday from a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan after being given the all-clear, but health officials said 79 new cases had been detected. | |
 | New cholesterol-lowering guidelines would increase cost of treatmentThe financial burden on health systems would drastically increase if new European expert guidelines for cholesterol-lowering treatment were implemented, according to a new simulation study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, published in the European Heart Journal. The findings highlight an urgent need for cost-effectiveness analysis given the current cost of the proposed treatment for very high-risk patients, the researchers say. |
 | Virologist: Tokyo Olympics probably couldn't be held nowA respected Japanese virologist on Wednesday said if the Tokyo Olympics were tomorrow, the games probably couldn't be held because of the fast-spreading virus from Wuhan, China. |
 | Violinist plays during brain op as surgeons test her dexterityA violinist helped surgeons avoid damage to her brain during surgery to remove a tumour by playing her instrument, the UK hospital where she underwent the innovative procedure said. |
 | Spillover: Why germs jump species from animals to peopleWhen a disease spreads from one species to another it is known as a "spillover event." Although not yet confirmed, preliminary evidence suggests that the virus that causes COVID-19, the 2019 coronavirus disease, may have originated in horseshoe bats in China. It may have spread to another species which in turn infected humans at a Wuhan live animal market, or "wet market." |
 | Patients seeking assisted dying confront a range of barriersOne in every five Americans now lives in a state with legal access to a medically assisted death. In theory, assisted dying laws allow patients with a terminal prognosis to hasten the end of their life, once their suffering has overcome any desire to live. While these laws may make the process of dying less painful for some, they don't make it easier. Of the countries that have aid-in-dying laws, the U.S. has the most restrictive. Intended to reduce unnecessary suffering, the laws can sometimes have the opposite effect. |
 | Diabetes patients who use online tools manage disease betterIn a study published in JAMA Network Open today, Kaiser Permanente scientists report that diabetes patients who used the Kaiser Permanente patient portal and mobile phone app improved their diabetes management outcomes. The large study, involving more than 111,000 patients, was unique in assessing the relationship between the use of online tools and medication adherence and blood glucose levels. |
 | Improved access to midwifery units in England is urgently neededA high number of pregnant women in England cannot access the maternity care most appropriate for them, according to a new study, which could be costing the NHS millions of pounds a year. |
 | From obesity to liver cancer: Preventing the worstBy identifying the role of a specific protein in the development of obesity-related liver diseases, UNIGE researchers pave the way for better diagnosis, and potentially better treatment. |
 | Demise of dental amalgam outlined in new studyFillings in your teeth? If both local and global trends are anything to go by, soon they won't have anything to do with mercury. |
 | Virologist offers scientific context for ongoing coronavirus outbreakKurt Williamson is a virologist, an associate professor in William & Mary's Department of Biology who specializes in the study of viruses. He offers some scientific context for the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. |
 | Report highlights impact of poor indoor air quality on children's healthThere is growing evidence that respiratory problems among children may be exacerbated by indoor air pollution in homes, schools and nurseries, according to a report which involved a University of York academic. |
 | Using performance modeling for brain tissue simulationsScientists at the EPFL Blue Brain Project have extended performance modeling techniques to the field of computational brain science. In a paper published in Neuroinformatics, they provide a quantitative appraisal of the performance landscape of brain tissue simulations, and analyze in detail the relationship between an in silico experiment, the underlying neuron and connectivity model, the simulation algorithm and the hardware platform being used. Thereby deriving the first analytical performance models of detailed brain tissue simulations, which is a concrete step to enable the next generation of brain tissue simulations. |
 | Roll up your sleeve and donate blood for cancer patientsMany people don't realize that cancer patients are in constant need of blood supplies. |
 | Robot-assisted surgery: Hospital-level policies key to maximizing benefits, managing costsHospital-level operational policies regarding the most effective way to deploy a surgical robot are necessary in order to maximize clinical outcomes and minimize the costs associated with its use, says a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign expert who studies innovation in health care. |
 | Resources help parents have conversations about ending teen e-cigarette useToday, the American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, Hopelab and All Mental Health launched research-backed tools to help parents navigate nuanced and often difficult conversations about the youth vaping epidemic. |
 | Can new Snapchat features help troubled teens?Snapchat has announced a new feature called "Here For You" that promises to "provide proactive in-app support to Snapchatters who may be experiencing a mental health or emotional crisis." |
 | Smart software detects early-stage esophageal cancerThanks to smart software doctors will soon be able to detect early signs of esophageal cancer in patients with so-called Barrett's esophagus. This is the result of research conducted by Amsterdam UMC, the Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). The results were published in the leading medical journals Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. |
 | New tool to study how neuronal networks recover their function after neuron lossA multidisciplinary study led by UB researchers has developed a new experimental tool that enables the application of focalized damage on an in vitro neuronal network of only a few millimetres and record the evolution of the whole network. The objective is to understand the response mechanisms that take place in the brain neuronal circuits, and which prevent a total propagation of the damage while they recover the functionality of the affected circuits. One of the main conclusions is that the network quickly activates self-regulation mechanisms that reinforce the existing connections and restore the functionality of the circuit. |
 | Naming the new coronavirus: Why taking Wuhan out of the picture mattersStop calling the novel coronavirus outbreak the "Wuhan coronavirus," and start getting comfortable with "COVID-19." That's the World Health Organization's recommended name for the disease. |
 | Using Google Street View to analyze food retail in the BronxCities like New York have implemented varied supermarket incentive programs, from low-cost financing to zoning bonuses, to increase access to healthy food and reduce diet-related chronic diseases in underserved communities. The impacts of these programs are often hard to measure due to a lack of accurate, reliable data on current food retailers and historical data on food environments. |
 | The risks of algorithmic (il)literacy on healthcare platformsThe use of wearable technologies, mobile health applications and online health platforms is on the rise, allowing us to track and share our health data, and engage in online discussion forums to ask about health-related questions. The wealth of data in theory allows us to manage our health more effectively and be better equipped when we visit the doctor. Such tools can also act as a new source of knowledge legitimacy, integrating "layman" input and enabling patient access to and control of information. While patient access to secrecy of the healthcare system and its proprietary power on patient data, is increasing and demonstrating the potential to have healing powers for patients despite privacy and security concerns. |
 | Why it's important to study coronaviruses in African batsThe current outbreak of a new coronavirus disease, named COVID-19, raises the question of where diseases like this come from and where the risks lie. By the middle of February almost 2000 people had died in this outbreak, which has also had a global economic impact. |
 | Thousands of uninsured kidney disease patients strain Texas emergency departmentsMore than 10,000 uninsured patients sought care at Texas emergency departments for lifesaving kidney dialysis in 2017, incurring more than $21.8 million in hospital costs, according to researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). |
 | Vision for primate neuroimaging to accelerate scientific and medical breakthroughsA global community of over 150 scientists studying the primate brain has released a blueprint for developing more complete "wiring diagrams" of how the brain works that may ultimately improve understanding of many brain disorders. |
 | Study finds disparities in timing and type of treatment in colorectal cancer patientsIn a new study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Associate Professor Dr. Cara Frankenfeld of the George Mason College of Health and Human Services found racial disparities in how the presence of cancer-related diagnostic and treatment technology is related to colorectal cancer (CRC) patient outcomes in Georgia. The findings suggest that the hospital capacity and availability of advanced technologies may benefit white patients, but not black patients, in terms of time-to-treatment and overall survival. |
 | Researchers uncover potential new therapy for concussion-related headachesAs she jumped to head a soccer ball during her junior year of college, Kelly Farrell collided skulls with a teammate. She later was diagnosed with a concussion, which proved to be severely debilitating. |
Race and gender may tip the scales on traditional stroke risk factorsTraditional stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, smoking and diabetes, impact people of various races and genders differently, new research shows. | |
 | Science communicators get access to real data for 3-D modellingFree, open-source software created by a U of T Mississauga professor is giving science communicators access to real data for science illustrations and animations. |
 | How our 'birth environment' can influence our healthSome links between our environment and our health are well known; air-quality alerts, for instance, are a regular part of the daily news. But few of us are aware that some of our major health risks were actually predicted by environmental factors our mothers experienced while we were still in the womb. Perhaps more surprising, some environmental conditions, including temperature and humidity, can even affect the number of grandchildren we will have. This bigger picture is known as the "birth environment"—and its influence on health has long fascinated Mary Regina Boland, Ph.D. Her work on the theme—conducted using data from around the world, on a myriad of health conditions and diseases—has yielded a series of scientific insights that has colored her thinking about which things we can change in our environment and our lives to achieve better health outcomes. |
 | Smoking rates in Japan blamed on lack of images on cigarette pack warnings and partial smoke-free lawsThe tobacco control policies of Japan, the world's ninth largest cigarette market and host of the 2020 Olympics, are not working, according to new studies from researchers at the University of Waterloo. |
 | Researchers find new method for measuring treatment of rare liver disease in childrenUCLA researchers who previously found that intravenous administration of fish oil can treat a rare but potentially deadly form of liver disease in children have now monitored levels of a small molecule at the center of the disorder to track treatment results. In a new study, they also have identified the way specific genes change after fish oil treatment is started. |
 | Changes to Title X mean contraception access for teens could worsen nationwide, study showsMany teens lost access to confidential family planning services in Texas due to family planning budget cuts and loss of Title X funds, says a new study led by the University of Colorado College of Nursing just published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Lack of clarity around parental consent laws, confusion among staff, and funding uncertainty made it more difficult for organizations to provide confidential, low-cost, and quality services to teens. This research suggests that contraception access for teens throughout the nation could worsen as new changes to Title X are implemented. |
 | Smart contact lens sensor developed for point-of-care eye health monitoringA research group led by Prof. Du Xuemin from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a "smart" contact lens that can show real-time changes in moisture and pressure by altering colors. The "smart" contact lens can potentially be used for point-of-care (POC) diagnosis of xerophthalmia and high intraocular pressure disease. |
 | Enriching newborns' environment in the right way helps heal young, injured brainsAn enriched environment—with increased opportunities for physical activity, socialization and exploring novel stimuli—helped lessen functional, anatomical and cellular deficits in an experimental model of brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation at birth. What's more, recovery of the brain's white matter required a combination of all experimental interventions, not just a single intervention, suggests a new study led by researchers at Children's National Hospital. Their findings, published online Feb. 19, 2020, in Nature Communications, could lead to new treatments for children affected by this condition. |
 | Tumor blood vessel detection by a gripping force feedback systemDuring neuroendoscopic surgery of, for example, brain tumors, the characteristics of the operating space, usually narrower than that of other endoscopic surgeries, are determined by visual inspection through the endoscope. However, when bleeding occurs, the surgical site is covered in blood, disrupting visualization. The surgeon may intend to resect a tumor with minimal hemorrhage but can unintentionally cut a blood vessel in the tumor that could not be confirmed visually. Therefore, identification of the presence of blood vessels during brain tumor resection is critical. So far, a number of studies have developed methods to detect invisible blood vessels. Nonetheless, further development of such methods is crucial. |
 | Parenting elective lets physicians spend more time with their babiesA novel, four-week parenting rotation designed for pediatric residents has dramatically increased the amount of time resident parents can spend at home with their babies, according to a study by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. |
 | Rhodium virtually screens drugs for coronavirus researchDrug discovery software at Southwest Research Institute is expanding the capacity to virtually screen drug compounds for possible treatment of coronavirus and other infectious diseases. |
As out-of-pocket costs for neurologic medications rise, people less likely to take themAs out-of-pocket costs go up for drugs for the neurologic disorders Alzheimer's disease, peripheral neuropathy and Parkinson's disease, people are less likely to take the drugs as often as their doctors prescribed, according to a study funded by the American Academy of Neurology and published in the February 19, 2020, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
 | Boys with inattention-hyperactivity face increased risk for traumatic brain injuriesMcGill-led research shows that boys exhibiting inattention-hyperactivity at age 10 have a higher risk for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in adolescence and adulthood. Treatments to reduce these behaviours may decrease the risk for TBIs. |
 | WHO declares 'progress' in fight against coronavirusThe World Health Organization on Wednesday hailed "tremendous progress" in the fight against the deadly new coronavirus since it emerged in China in December. |
 | Carrots plus sticks: Study looks at what works to reduce low-value careThe old story of a farmer trying to get a stubborn mule to pull a wagon by dangling a carrot in front of its nose, or hitting its rump with a stick, may not seem to have much to do with the practice of medicine. |
 | Neighborhood features and one's genetic makeup interact to affect cognitive functionThe neighborhood environment may positively or negatively influence one's ability to maintain cognitive function with age. Since older adults spend less time outside, the neighborhood environment increases in importance with age. Studies suggest physical aspects of the neighborhood such as the availability of sidewalks and parks, and more social and walking destinations, may be associated with better cognitive functioning. Beneficial neighborhood environments can provide spaces for exercise, mental stimulation, socializing and reducing stress. To date, few studies have examined how the neighborhood's physical environment relates to cognition in older adults. |
 | People who eat a big breakfast may burn twice as many caloriesEating a big breakfast rather than a large dinner may prevent obesity and high blood sugar, according to new research published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. |
 | The potentially deadly paradox of diabetes managementDiabetes affects nearly 1 in 10 adults in the U.S., of these millions, more than 90% have Type 2 diabetes. Controlling blood sugar and glycosylated hemoglobin levels—or HbA1c, which is sometimes referred to as A1C—is key to diabetes management and necessary to prevent its immediate and long-term complications. However, new Mayo Clinic research shows that diabetes management may be dangerously misaligned. |
 | Prenatal phthalate exposure associated with autistic traits in young boysExposure in the womb to phthalates, a group of endocrine-disrupting chemicals present in cosmetics and other common household products, was associated with autistic traits in boys, ages 3 and 4, but not in girls, according to a new study led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst environmental epidemiologist. |
 | Fetal balloon treatment for lung-damaging birth defect works best when fetal and maternal care are highly coordinatedResearchers from The Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy report new evidence that fetuses with severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a rare but life-threatening, lung-damaging condition, experience a significantly high rate of success for the fetal treatment known as FETO, if they and their mothers receive coordinated and highly experienced care in the same expert setting. |
 | MRI findings predict shoulder stiffness for rotator cuff tearsTwo MRI findings—joint capsule edema and thickness at the axillary recess, specifically—proved useful in predicting stiff shoulder in patients with rotator cuff tears, according to an ahead-of-print article in the May issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR). |
 | Claws of health? Lobster blood could play role in new drugsMaine lobsters have long delighted tourists as the state's most beloved seafood. But one company thinks the crustaceans can save human lives by providing their blood for use in new drugs. |
 | Community health worker-led care meaningfully improves blood pressure control in hypertensive patientsPublishing in the New England Journal of Medicine today, an international research collaboration led by Professor Tazeen H. Jafar from the Health Services and Systems Research Programme at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, has found that a low-cost, multi-component intervention comprising home visits by community healthcare workers to monitor blood pressure (BP) and provide lifestyle coaching, coupled with physician training and coordination with the public health care infrastructure, led to clinically meaningful reductions in BP as well better BP control in the intervention group. |
 | Functional outcomes similar across localized prostate cancer treatments(HealthDay)—Most functional differences associated with contemporary management of localized prostate cancer attenuate by five years, according to a study published in the Jan. 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
 | Risk of major heart complications up shortly following stroke(HealthDay)—Ischemic stroke is independently associated with increased risk of incident poststroke major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in both men and women, according to a study published in the February issue of Stroke. |
 | Study suggests overtreatment in end-of-life care despite POLST(HealthDay)—Patients with treatment-limiting Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) are less likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) but may not always receive treatment that is consistent with their wishes, according to a study published online Feb. 16 in the Journal of the American Medical Association to coincide with the Society of Critical Care Medicine annual Critical Care Congress, held from Feb. 16 to 19 in Orlando, Florida. |
 | Swings in daily temperature may affect stroke severityThe highs and lows of the daily weather could signal something more important than which outfit to wear: A study from South Korea suggests the more temperatures fluctuate during the summer, the more severe strokes become. |
 | Study of civilians with conflict-related wounds helps improve the care in conflict zonesResearchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have carried out the first randomised trial of civilians with acute conflict-related wounds at two hospitals in areas affected by armed conflict. The study, which is published in The Lancet Global Health, shows that a new, more costly method of wound treatment is not more effective than standard treatment. The researchers hope to inspire new research projects in conflict zones that could improve the care for these vulnerable patients. |
 | Can magic mushrooms and LSD treat depression and anxiety? Scientists are optimistic.When Marc Morgan tried lysergic acid diethylamide, better known as acid or LSD, for the first time as a teenager, he noticed that he could emotionally disconnect from traumatic memories of the sexual abuse he had suffered as a child. |
 | Women's wellness: What pregnant women need to know about heart healthPregnancy is a great time to talk about heart health. Dr. Sharonne N. Hayes, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says that women should know that they are at risk for heart disease and that pregnancy is a time of increased risk. |
 | Q&A: Panic attack isn't life-threatening, but can be frightening experienceDEAR MAYO CLINIC: After going to the emergency department for what I thought was a heart attack, the doctor told me there were no issues with my heart and that my symptoms were likely from a panic attack. How can I tell the difference, and how can I prevent future panic attacks? |
 | Offering mindfulness training in high-demand settings bolsters attention and resilienceUsing mindfulness training as a cognitive enhancement tool, two new studies from University of Miami researchers show that firefighters and soldiers who participated in short-form mindfulness training programs tailored for their respective professional contexts, benefited from improved attention and resilience. These benefits, the researchers argue, better equip these professionals to manage stressors on the frontlines of their high-demand occupations. |
 | When parents should worry about teen girls' selfiesA study of teenage girls' selfie-taking behaviors found that taking and sharing selfies on social media is not linked to poor body image or appearance concerns. |
 | An apple a day might help keep bothersome menopause symptoms awayA healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables is known to benefit the human body in so many ways. Now a new study suggests that it may also play a role in lessening various menopause symptoms. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). |
 | Antidote to pain and negativity? Let it beMerely a brief introduction to mindfulness helps people deal with physical pain and negative emotions, a new study by researchers at Yale, Columbia, and Dartmouth shows. |
New study finds cellular immunotherapy treatment associated with improved quality of lifeAdult lymphoma patients whose disease was effectively treated with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy showed marked improvement on a variety of self-reported quality of life measures, according to a study published today in Blood Advances. The study offers evidence that CAR-T may not only extend cancer patients' survival, but also improve their quality of life after treatment. | |
 | Maternal obesity linked to ADHD and behavioral problems in children, study suggestsMaternal obesity may increase a child's risk for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to an analysis by researchers from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), part of the National Institutes of Health. The researchers found that mothers—but not fathers—who were overweight or obese before pregnancy were more likely to report that their children had been diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or to have symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness or impulsiveness at ages 7 to 8 years old. Their study appears in The Journal of Pediatrics. |
 | Receiving the news of Down syndrome in the era of prenatal testingWith recent developments in prenatal screening, more parents are expected to receive a Down syndrome diagnosis before the birth of their child, which can involve complex decision-making for many. To understand what such a diagnosis means for parents who decide to continue their pregnancy and prepare for a child with Down syndrome (DS), the Dutch Down Syndrome Foundation surveyed 212 parents of children with DS born between 2010 and 2016. |
World failing to provide children with a healthy life and a climate fit for their future: WHO-UNICEF-LancetA landmark Commission report convened by WHO, UNICEF and The Lancet has found the health and future of every child and adolescent worldwide is under immediate threat from ecological degradation, climate change and exploitative marketing practices that push fast food, sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco at children. | |
 | Can metformin reduce obesity in children and adolescents?A new study has shown metformin—a glucose-lowering drug commonly used to treat diabetes—to be effective at lowering some measures of obesity in children and adolescents. The results of a systematic review and meta-analysis are published in Childhood Obesity. |
 | Bangladesh kicks off vaccination blitz to eliminate choleraBangladesh on Wednesday kicked off a drive to vaccinate more than a million people against cholera, which infects tens of thousands a year, as part of an international campaign to eliminate transmission by 2030. |
 | China, Southeast Asia hold emergency meet on viral outbreakChina's top diplomat arrived Wednesday in Laos for an emergency meeting with counterparts from Southeast Asian countries, which have expressed alarm over a viral outbreak that started in China. |
 | Coronavirus kills two Iranians, first Mideast deaths (Update)Two people have died in Iran after testing positive on Wednesday for the new coronavirus, the health ministry said, in the Islamic republic's first cases of the disease. |
 | Breast cancer survivors create own products to help othersWomen fighting breast cancer are increasingly seeing more options for bras as well as clean beauty treatments and other products that help them look and feel better. |
 | Breast cancer surgery: Better results with higher case numbersIn complex surgery, does a correlation exist between the volume of services provided per hospital or per surgeon and the quality of the treatment results? This is the question addressed in eight commissions on minimum volumes awarded in Germany by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) to the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). The IQWiG report is now available for the fourth indication investigated, the surgical treatment of breast cancer. |
 | Egypt, Algeria and South Africa estimated to be at highest risk of new coronavirus cases in AfricaIncreased resources, surveillance, and capacity building should be urgently prioritised in African countries with moderate risk of importing cases of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as these countries are estimated to be ill-prepared to detect cases and limit transmission. |
 | Certain factors linked with discontinuing breast cancer therapyFor women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, long-term endocrine therapy can greatly reduce the risk of recurrence. Many women, especially those in underserved populations, do not continue treatment, however. A new Psycho-Oncology study uncovers some of the factors that may be involved. |
 | Controversy swirls around adipose-derived cell therapies for reparative medicineChallenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's current approach to evaluating and approving adipose-based cell therapies used in reparative medicine, a group of researchers proposes a new path forward that focuses on patient safety and includes evidence-based medical practice. Details of this new path forward and a response from the FDA are both published in Stem Cells and Development. |
Biology news
 | Researchers discover new mechanism for the coexistence of speciesResearchers from the AMOLF institute in Amsterdam and Harvard have shown that the ability of organisms to move around plays a role in stabilizing ecosystems. In their paper published 19 February 2020 in Nature, they describe how the competition between 'movers' and 'growers' leads to a balance in which both types of bacteria can continue to exist alongside each other. |
 | Ancient gut microbiomes shed light on human evolutionThe microbiome of our ancestors might have been more important for human evolution than previously thought, according to a new study published in Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. An adaptive gut microbiome could have been critical for human dispersal, allowing our ancestors to survive in new geographic areas. |
 | Biologists develop new defense in fight against crop infectionsA team of researchers at the University of Toronto has successfully tested a new strategy for identifying genetic resources critical for the ongoing battle against plant pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses that infect and destroy food crops worldwide. |
 | Random gene pulsing generates patterns of lifeA team of Cambridge scientists working on the intersection between biology and computation has found that random gene activity helps patterns form during development of a model multicellular system. |
 | New class of enzymes could lead to bespoke diets, therapeuticsEveryone seems to have an opinion about which foods to eat or avoid, how to lose weight (and keep it off!), and which superfood to horde. But there's a better place to search for health secrets than in a tropical berry: the human gut. |
 | Chlamydia's covert reproductionUF researchers have resolved a two-decade old mystery centered upon how the bacteria chlamydia divide and reproduce. Newly published results from the lab of Anthony Maurelli, a microbiologist in UF's College of Public Health and Health Professions and the EPI, reveal that how these parasitic pathogens replicate diverges from a nearly universal norm. |
 | Sweet beaks: What Galapagos finches and marine bacteria have in commonEcological niches are a concept well known from higher animals. Apparently, bacteria act accordingly. Researchers from the Max-Planck-Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen have found that marine Polaribacter bacteria find their ecological niche by specializing on their favorite sugar. They now present their results in ISME Journal. |
 | Predicting 50,000 years of bird migrationsNeither wind, nor rain—nor massive sheets of ice—have kept Earth's birds from their appointed rounds of migrating to better climes, according to a new study. |
 | Scientists develop more accurate stem-cell model of early developing mouse embryoScientists from the Hubrecht Institute (KNAW) and the University of Cambridge (UK) have managed to generate complex embryo-like structures from mouse embryonic stem cells. These structures, called gastruloids, can now for the first time grow somites, the blocks of tissue that later develop into the vertebrae and muscles of the embryo. It is the first time that scientists managed to generate such advanced embryo-like structures that represent this stage of embryonic development, which occurs after implantation in the uterus. This model system allows these later stages of embryonic development to be studied in a dish. The results of their study were published in Nature on the 19th of February. |
 | Global relationships that determine bird diversity on islands uncoveredIt is known that biodiversity is unevenly distributed across the planet. But why do some islands such as the Galápagos and Hawaii harbour so many unique species of birds? In the 1960's, Robert MacArthur & Edward Wilson proposed what was to become a highly influential theory in biology: the Theory of Island Biogeography. This theory predicts the number of species expected on any given island as a function of the area (size) of the island and its isolation (distance) from the mainland. |
 | Researchers uncover the genetics of how corn can adapt faster to new climatesMaize is a staple food all over the world. In the United States, where it's better known as corn, nearly 90 million acres were planted in 2018, earning $47.2 billion in crop cash receipts. |
 | New mathematical model reveals how major groups arise in evolutionResearchers at Uppsala University and the University of Leeds presents a new mathematical model of patterns of diversity in the fossil record, which offers a solution to Darwin's "abominable mystery" and strengthens our understanding of how modern groups originate. The research is published in the journal Science Advances. |
 | Veggie-loving fish could be the new white meatA secret to survival amid rising global temperatures could be dwelling in the tidepools of the U.S. West Coast. Findings by University of California, Irvine biologists studying the genome of an unusual fish residing in those waters offer new possibilities for humans to obtain dietary protein as climate change imperils traditional sources. Their paper appears in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. |
 | Bacteria on the International Space Station no more dangerous than earthbound strainsTwo particularly tenacious species of bacteria have colonized the potable water dispenser aboard the International Space Station (ISS), but a new study suggests that they are no more dangerous than closely related strains on Earth. Aubrie O'Rourke of the J. Craig Venter Institute and colleagues report these findings in a new paper published February 19, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. |
 | Count me out of counting seedsOne, two, three, four, five. One, two, three, four, five. Over and over and over. That's the dull routine of any researcher or student tasked with counting weed seeds. But just like technology has made many things in life faster and easier, relief may be coming for seed counters as well. |
 | Mussels 'cooked alive' in balmy New Zealand oceanUp to half a million mussels were effectively cooked in the wild in unusually balmy waters on the New Zealand coast in a massive "die-off" that marine experts have linked to climate change. |
 | Emergency Recovery Plan could halt catastrophic collapse in world's freshwater biodiversityWith biodiversity vanishing from rivers, lakes and wetlands at alarming speed, a new scientific paper outlines an Emergency Recovery Plan to reverse the rapid decline in the world's freshwater species and habitats—and safeguard our life support systems. |
 | Fungal pathogens tap human iron stores to survive immunityCandida species, the most prevalent opportunistic human fungal pathogens, affect severely immunocompromized individuals, and can cause severe invasive infections. The steep increase in infections by multidrug-resistant Candida glabrata pathogens has been posing serious therapeutic challenges. The prime risk factor for Candida infections is a severe immunosuppression, as often seen in the aging population, microbial super-infections, organ transplantation patients, HIV cohorts as well as neonates. |
 | How genetic testing is helping scientists save animals from disease and illegal huntingDNA testing kits for humans and their pets are a growing business. The draw for consumers ranges from understanding why their dog looks like a Labrador but acts like a German Shepherd, or what diseases they might be prone to. |
 | Improving assessments of an endangered lion population in IndiaAn alternative method for monitoring endangered lions in India could improve estimates of their abundance and help inform conservation policy and management decisions. Keshab Gogoi and colleagues at the Wildlife Institute of India present their findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on February 19, 2020. |
 | Whale cams track swimming efficiency of ocean giantsThe relatively squat and gangly humpback whale moves more efficiently through the water than its sleeker, larger cousin, the blue whale, according to new research that used devices attached to the animals to collect information about these large creatures. |
Research shows the way to more efficient EPO productionTo many people, EPO rhymes with doping and cycling. But in fact, EPO is an important medical drug. This hormone works naturally in the body by stimulating red blood cell production. Patients suffering from anemia caused by for instance chronic kidney disease, AIDS or hematologic disorders can benefit immensely from EPO therapy. Furthermore, many cancer patients who are anemic from receiving chemotherapy are also in great need of EPO therapy. It is estimated that the market for EPO therapy is around 11 billion dollars annually. | |
 | Eliminating viruses in our food with cranberries and citrus fruitFresh produce is a major vehicle for noroviruses, a group of viruses that are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in developed countries. However, the viruses are quite resistant to cold pasteurization treatments such as irradiation, which are used to destroy bacteria, moulds, parasites, and insects. The irradiation process uses gamma rays or X-rays to destroy these viruses but at the dose needed to eliminate them, it can affect the physicochemical properties of fresh produce. |
 | Improving innovation: Assessing the environmental impacts of emerging technologyAlthough many new technologies offer the promise to improve human welfare, they can also produce unintended environmental consequences. And while applying the principles of life cycle assessment (LCA) early in technology development can provide important insights about how to avoid damage to the environment, existing methods focus on products or processes that are already commercially established. |
 | Uganda army fights voracious desert locustsUnder a warm morning sun scores of weary soldiers stare as millions of yellow locusts rise into the northern Ugandan sky, despite hours spent spraying vegetation with chemicals in an attempt to kill them. |
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