Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jun 18

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for June 18, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- Measuring the mass of a Mars-size exoplanet
- Saharan silver ants can control electromagnetic waves over extremely broad spectrum range
- X-ray imaging reveals secrets in battery materials
- Researchers bring to life proteins' motion
- Diet that mimics fasting appears to slow aging
- Scientists shows AIDS vaccine candidate successfully 'primes' immune system
- A single gene turns colorectal cancer cells back into normal tissue in mice
- Specific roles of adult neural stem cells may be determined before birth
- Study leads to 3-D structures of key molecule implicated in diseases of the brain
- Lefties are all right with kangaroos
- Sequential immunizations could be the key to HIV vaccine
- Research with thieving puppets demonstrates toddlers' caring sides
- New sleep genes found: Researchers discover that protein called Taranis could hold key to good night's sleep
- Study suggests active volcanism on Venus
- Titan's atmosphere even more Earth-like than previously thought

Astronomy & Space news

	Measuring the mass of a Mars-size exoplanet Determining the size of an Earth-size exoplanet by the amount of starlight it blocks hundreds of light-years away once was the realm of science fiction. Measuring the mass of such a small planet based on its gravity was another level entirely, but astronomers have done just that for an exoplanet fifty percent the size of Earth.
	VLA reveals 'bashful' black hole in neighboring galaxy Thanks to the extraordinary sensitivity of the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), astronomers have detected what they believe is the long-sought radio emission coming from a supermassive black hole at the center of one of our closest neighboring galaxies. Evidence for the black hole's existence previously came only from studies of stellar motions in the galaxy and from X-ray observations.
	ALMA weighs supermassive black hole at center of distant spiral galaxy Supermassive black holes lurk at the center of every large galaxy. These cosmic behemoths can be millions to billions of times more massive than the Sun. Determining just how massive, however, has been daunting, especially for spiral galaxies and their closely related cousins barred spirals.
	Titan's surface dissolves like sinkholes on Earth Saturn's moon Titan is home to seas and lakes filled with liquid hydrocarbons, but what makes the depressions they lie in? A new study suggests that the moon's surface dissolves in a similar process that creates sinkholes on Earth.
	Earth and Mars may have shared seeds of life Could Mars, of all places, be the place to look for early life on Earth?
	Hubble views a bizarre cosmic quartet This new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows a gathering of four cosmic companions. This quartet forms part of a group of galaxies known as the Hickson Compact Group 16, or HCG 16—a galaxy group bursting with dramatic star formation, tidal tails, galactic mergers and black holes.
	Magnetic field discovery gives clues to galaxy-formation processes Astronomers making a detailed, multi-telescope study of a nearby galaxy have discovered a magnetic field coiled around the galaxy's main spiral arm. The discovery, they said, helps explain how galactic spiral arms are formed. The same study also shows how gas can be funneled inward toward the galaxy's center, which possibly hosts a black hole.
	Titan's atmosphere even more Earth-like than previously thought Scientists at UCL have observed how a widespread polar wind is driving gas from the atmosphere of Saturn's moon Titan. The team analysed data gathered over seven years by the international Cassini probe, and found that the interactions between Titan's atmosphere, and the solar magnetic field and radiation, create a wind of hydrocarbons and nitriles being blown away from its polar regions into space. This is very similar to the wind observed coming from the Earth's polar regions.
	Study suggests active volcanism on Venus An international team of scientists has found some of the best evidence yet that Venus, Earth's nearest neighbor, is volcanically active.
	Galactic crashes fuel quasars, study finds When galaxies collide, bright things happen in the universe.
NASA: International satellite studying oceans stops working NASA says an international satellite studying the world's oceans has stopped working after four years.
	All systems go for NASA's mission to Jupiter moon Europa Beyond Earth, Jupiter's moon Europa is considered one of the most promising places in the solar system to search for signs of present-day life, and a new NASA mission to explore this potential is moving forward from concept review to development.
	Sentinel-2A in position at Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana With less than a week to liftoff, the next Sentinel satellite for the Copernicus environmental monitoring programme is now in position high up in the launch tower at Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
	Comet C/2013 US10 Catalina Live in (or planning on visiting) the southern hemisphere soon? A first time visitor to the inner solar system is ready to put on the first of a two part act starting this month, as Comet C/2013 US10 Catalina breaks +10th magnitude and crosses southern hemisphere skies.
	Looking back at the Mir space station The Mir Space Station was Russia's greatest space station, and the first modular space station to be assembled in orbit. Commissioned in 1986, the name can be translated from Russian as "peace", "world", and even "village" – alluding to the spirit of international cooperation that led to its creation. Owned and operated by the Soviet Union, it became the property of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) after 1991.
	Image: Cloud chamber at Le Bourget VIP visitors to the ESA pavilion at Le Bourget peer into a 'cloud chamber', which reveals the tracks of cosmic ray particles that continuously but invisibly pelt our planet.

Technology news

	Scientists create computational algorithm for fact-checking Network scientists at Indiana University have developed a new computational method that can leverage any body of knowledge to aid in the complex human task of fact-checking.
	Oculus out to let people touch virtual worlds Behind closed doors on the show floor of the world's premier video game show, Facebook-owned Oculus was letting people touch virtual worlds.
	Future in-flight entertainment will know when you're asleep The next generation of in-flight entertainment will include screens that know when you've fallen asleep, while new apps will very soon let you sync your personal devices with the onboard system.
	Delivery by drone in 30 minutes? Amazon says it's coming Borrowing a pizza delivery motto, online retail giant Amazon told Congress Wednesday it is developing the technology to use drones to deliver packages in 30 minutes or less, a broad expansion of unmanned flight that is raising concerns about safety, security and privacy.
	Softbank's childlike robot with 'heart' set to go on sale Technology company Softbank's Pepper robot is going on sale in Japan on Saturday, equipped with a "heart" designed to not only recognize human emotions but react with simulations of anger, joy and irritation.
	Versatile keyboard with front lighting can be app-specific Along with the arrival of touchscreens have come pundits' predictions that in time the keyboard will go away. In 2015 the keyboard is still a much-desired component, though, pain points and all. Over the years, the headaches continue as users complain: "Why do they call them shortcuts when I have to remember so many of them?"
	California reveals details of self-driving car accidents California state officials released reports Thursday detailing six accidents that involved self-driving car prototypes, reversing a policy that shielded details of how the next-generation technology is performing during testing on public roads.
	BBC explores mind control over TV program choice The world is growing increasingly digital, and so will modes of interaction. TV watchers might welcome an alternative to under-the-cushion clickers, a thought not lost on the people at BBC. What if our viewer were to control their sets with their minds? The BBC is actually testing a brainwave reading headset, which was developed by London-based technology company, This Place. The BBC has been in collaboration with This Place on this effort.
	California ruling against Uber hits at business model A California panel has ruled that a driver for cab service Uber is an employee—a decision with potentially major implications for a global startup which relies on independent contractors.
	Researchers make innovative use of LEGO With even preschoolers using computers and video games, students at all levels now expect to modify and control their own experiments and receive immediate feedback. Responding to that trend, a trio of New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering researchers has developed a wheeled mobile robot and accompanying lesson plans for middle school teachers.
	New app sheds light on phone usage A year ago, Northwestern University PhD student John Rula accidentally left his smartphone in a taxi. After exiting the car, he checked his pockets multiple times only to find them empty. That's when the anxiety set in.
	Twitter buys artificial intelligence group Whetlab Twitter on Wednesday acquired the artificial intelligence startup Whetlab, bolstering the analytics capacity which is becoming increasingly important for social networks.
	Amazon sees line-of-sight hurdle to US drone parcel delivery Amazon insisted Wednesday on a significant change to proposed US drone regulations before it introduces 30-minute Prime Air parcel delivery by unmanned aerial vehicles to its American customers.
	FCC seeks $100 mn AT&T fine over 'unlimited' data plans The US telecommunications regulator said Wednesday it plans to fine AT&T $100 million after the company sharply slowed down data speeds to customers of its unlimited mobile data plans.
	US agencies face uphill battle for tech talent The US government agencies that defend the nation are in the midst of a charm offensive—trying to win over the hearts and minds of Silicon Valley's tech workers.
No loo-sers as Japan holds toilet design contest Japan is holding its first ever toilet design contest, with organisers looking for "most comfortable", "cheapest for the developing world" and "safest for women", officials have said.
Chinese tech firm Qihoo gets $9B buyout offer from CEO (Update) China's Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd., a provider of Internet security products and popular mobile browser, has received a $9.1 billion offer from a group led by its chief executive to buy out its public shareholders.
	YouTube plays to video game loving viewers YouTube is wading confidently into turf dominated by Amazon-owned Twitch, with a service tailored for the hot trend of videogame play as a spectator sport.
	FBI: Surveillance flights by the book, rarely track phones The FBI assured Congress in an unusual, confidential briefing that its plane surveillance program is a by-the-books operation short on high-definition cameras—with some planes equipped with binoculars—and said only five times in five years has it tracked cellphones from the sky.
	US wonders: Why stolen data on federal workers not for sale? The Obama administration is increasingly confident that China's government, not criminal hackers, was responsible for the extraordinary theft of personal information about as many as 14 million current and former federal employees and others, The Associated Press has learned. One sign: None of the data has been credibly offered for sale on underground markets popular among professional identity thieves.
	Solar plane, ready to go, waiting out weather front in Japan The pilot of a solar-powered plane that made an unplanned stop in Japan says his aircraft is now ready to fly but must wait out unfavorable weather, perhaps for up to two months.
	Cisco to invest $10 billion in China US technology giant Cisco announced Thursday that it will invest more than $10 billion in China in coming years to help the country "innovate and globalise".
	How a new cloud computing system could turn anyone into a tech entrepreneur That Nest thermostat on your wall could be making you money. Not saving money, mind you. That's its day job: learning your habits so it can fine-tune your energy use and lower your power bills. But most of the time, it's just sitting there with nothing much to do. Add in some code written by a group of UAB computer researchers, however, and that Nest—along with all the other smart refrigerators, TVs, light bulbs, sensors and more that make up the Internet of Things—could be helping traveling businesspeople crunch data, tourists Photoshop their vacation snaps, and more.
	A new space race is on to bring the internet to the whole world The race is on to get billions of people connected to the internet via a global network of satellites. Europe's Airbus announced this week that it is to design and build up to 900 satellites for the privately owned OneWeb Ltd, which includes Richard Branson as a board member.
	Who really benefits from the 'internet space race'? In the film Elysium, the ultra-rich have left an apocalyptic Earth ravaged by global warming and overpopulation. Their utopian colony orbits high above Earth which festers below. Science fiction, but Silicon Valley techno-utopians also dream of rising above the planet's problems.
	Merlin – the digital lab notebook Scientists have to clearly document their experiments in a reproducible way, but depending on time pressure and the workflow in the lab, that is often adifficult task. "Merlin", a digital lab notebook developed by he Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA, aims to make scientific documentation easier in the futue.
	Solar Impulse can wait in Japan for two months: pilot The pilot of a solar-powered plane trapped in Japan by the country's rainy season said Thursday he is prepared to wait two more months for a weather window, but may eventually have to give up for the year.
	Fitbit races higher in healthy IPO surge Fitbit, the company known for wearable devices promoting healthy lifestyles, saw its shares surge Thursday following the biggest stock offering this year for the tech sector.
Illinois high court: Comcast must reveal anonymous commenter Comcast Cable Communications must identify an internet-service subscriber who posted an anonymous message suggesting a political candidate molests children, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday, affirming a lower court opinion.
	YouTube launches eyewitness video 'newswire' YouTube announced plans on Thursday for a "newswire" of eyewitness videos and a separate project on videos related to social justice and human rights.
	Ad-free social network Ello goes public Ello, the ad-free social network which gained prominence last year with an invitation-only launch, announced Thursday it was opening to the public with an application for iPhone users.
	Fitness trackers are hot, but do they really help? Sales of fitness trackers are climbing, and the biggest maker of the gadgets, Fitbit, made a splashy debut on the stock market Thursday. But will the devices really help you get healthier?
	Thousands face US travel misery after visa glitch Thousands of travellers may face frustrating delays in visiting the United States in coming weeks because of a technical failure that halted US visa processing around the world.
	FCC to phone companies: You can stop unwanted robocalls Tired of automated phone calls urging you to vote for a certain candidate or pitching you a cruise vacation? You can now tell your phone company that federal regulators say it's OK to block them.
	WikiLeaks dumps 276,000 more documents from Sony hack WikiLeaks on Thursday released 276,394 new documents from the hack of Sony Pictures in what could be a further embarrassment for the Japanese media and electronics group.
Lyft to pay $300,000 to settle New York state lawsuit Lyft, the ride-hailing service, will pay $300,000 to settle allegations that it violated New York laws.
	How do toddlers use tablets? Can babies use iPads? If you've ever viewed YouTube videos of infants and toddlers using iPads, then you know the answer is a resounding "Yes." But how are they using them?
	Hackers attack Canada government website: minister The Canadian government's public website for applying for social services and downloading official forms was briefly shut down Wednesday in a cyberattack, a senior minister said.
IPO of fitness tracker maker Fitbit prices at $20 per share Fitness-tracking device maker Fitbit on Wednesday priced its initial public offering of stock at $20 per share, slightly more than anticipated.
	E3 BUZZ: Virtual reality for the nearsighted Musings from the floor on the second day of the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo's three-day run at the Los Angeles Convention Center:
Judge: Woman in Silicon Valley gender suit liable for $276K A woman who lost a high-profile gender discrimination lawsuit against a Silicon Valley venture capital firm is liable for about a quarter of the roughly $1 million in legal costs the company is seeking, a judge said Wednesday in a tentative ruling.
Report: Agency hindering energy development on tribal lands Native American reservations could produce much more of the country's solar and wind energy, but the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs largely has hindered energy development on tribal lands, the investigative arm of Congress has found.
	Timeline: Roughly 4 weeks pass before gov't reveals hacking The White House waited roughly four weeks before telling the public that hackers had stolen the personal information of millions of people associated with the federal government, two people directly involved with the investigation tell The Associated Press.
New security technology for the 'Internet of Things' Washing machine, smoke detector, burglar alarm and refrigerator - all of those and many appliances more could in future be connected to the Internet. To ensure that the connected home does not turn into a security hazard, IT researchers at the Horst Görtz Institute at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) have developed new protection technologies for the "Internet of Things", which they are now getting ready for the market. The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy backs the start-up idea "PHYSEC" with approx. 650,000 euros under the umbrella of the programme "EXIST research transfer".
	Verification testing of quantum cryptographic communication system that theoretically cannnot be tapped Toshiba Corporation will start verification testing of the transmission of genome analysis data using quantum cryptography that is theoretically completely secure from tapping. Testing will start on August 31 and will be the first use of quantum cryptographic communication system using actual data in Japan.
	Automated ion analyzer for space missions The German Aerospace Center (DLR) is scheduled to launch its Eu:CROPIS research satellite into orbit in early 2017. Its purpose is to test a biological life-support system for future human space missions. The satellite's payload includes an ion analyzer developed by Fraunhofer. This compact device will automatically monitor all of the system's internal processes. The scientists will present the analyzer at ACHEMA 2015 from June 15 to 19 (Hall 9.2, Booth D64).
Straw-insulated houses beat petroleum-based alternatives Everybody knows one of those houses; freezing cold in winter, stiflingly hot in summer and energy guzzling all year round. Better insulation is the key to recapturing the comfort of home while cutting energy bills.
	Cuban govt is expanding Wi-Fi access, making it cheaper Cuba says it's expanding Internet access by adding Wi-Fi capacity to dozens of state-run Internet centers and more than halving the cost that users pay for an hour online.
	Research roadmap traces the path to 'smart' fire fighting When responding to the more than 1.2 million blazes reported annually, the nation's firefighters usually start with a dangerous disadvantage: They often lack critical information—even something as basic as a floor plan—that could be vitally important in mounting the most effective and safest attack.
Analysis used to set fuel economy, greenhouse gas standards for US cars was generally high quality The analysis used by federal agencies to set standards for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions for new U.S. light-duty vehicles—passenger cars and light trucks—from 2017 to 2025 was thorough and of high caliber overall, says a new report from the National Research Council. However, the agencies should re-examine certain issues - such as consumer behavior and the effectiveness of certain technologies—in an upcoming mid-term review. In addition, the report finds, evidence suggests that the standards will lead the nation's light-duty vehicle fleet to become lighter but not less safe.
	Green love-in at Paris Air Show but weaker sales It was a love-in between ministers and industry execs as the Paris Air Show focused on environmental issues Thursday, but it capped a week of lower sales for big hitters Airbus and Boeing.
	Flash audit: 'Serious concerns' about personnel computer fix The agency that failed to secure data on millions of federal workers is now being criticized by its own independent watchdog over a plan to modernize its aging computer networks.
Utah school creates 'texting lane' for phone-focused walkers One Utah university is giving students glued to their cellphones a place to call their own: a designated lane for texting while walking.

Medicine & Health news

	Humans' built-in GPS is our 3-D sense of smell Like homing pigeons, humans have a nose for navigation because our brains are wired to convert smells into spatial information, new research from the University of California, Berkeley, shows.
	Fructose powers a vicious circle ETH researchers have found a hitherto unknown molecular mechanism that is driven by fructose and can lead to cardiac enlargement and heart failure.
	Potent approach shows promise for chronic pain Non-narcotic treatments for chronic pain that work well in people, not just mice, are sorely needed. Drawing from human pain genetics, an international team led by Boston Children's Hospital demonstrates a way to break the cycle of pain hypersensitivity without the development of addiction, tolerance or side effects.
	New single-dose malaria treatment could eventually help millions A new drug that stops the malaria parasite in its tracks, and could be delivered in a single dose, has researchers excited about treatment prospects for the disease.
	Study shows how Ebola evolved during the outbreak in West Africa University of Bristol researchers have played a key role in a new multi-national Ebola study published in Nature. The Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa has been going on for over a year and there have been fears about the speed of virus evolution, and the corresponding effect on vaccines, diagnostics and treatment. The research team used blood samples taken from patients and compared changes in the genetic material of the virus from throughout the outbreak. They were able to show that the outbreak had a single point of origin and predicted that diagnostics and treatment would be effective on the current form of the virus.
	Discovery of new neural pathway may lead to preventing relapses in addicts Researchers at the University at Buffalo have discovered a previously unknown neural pathway that can regulate changes made in the brain due to cocaine use, providing new insight into the molecular basis of cocaine addiction.
	Emotional brains 'physically different' to rational ones Researchers at Monash University have found physical differences in the brains of people who respond emotionally to others' feelings, compared to those who respond more rationally, in a study published in the journal NeuroImage.
	Why we swipe right on Tinder to 'like' someone, instead of left (Medical Xpress)—Anyone who has used the dating app Tinder knows that swiping right on a photo of someone means you would consider meeting them in real life to see if there is some real chemistry—but why does swiping right mean yes, while swiping left means no, instead of the other way around. Jim Davies of the Institute of Cognitive Science in Canada has some ideas—he has posted them on Nautilus.
	Diet that mimics fasting appears to slow aging Want to lose abdominal fat, get smarter and live longer? New research led by USC's Valter Longo shows that periodically adopting a diet that mimics the effects of fasting may yield a wide range of health benefits.
	Changing faces: We can look more trustworthy, but not more competent, research finds We can alter our facial features in ways that make us look more trustworthy, but don't have the same ability to appear more competent, a team of New York University psychology researchers has found.
Specific roles of adult neural stem cells may be determined before birth Adult neural stem cells, which are commonly thought of as having the ability to develop into many type of brain cells, are in reality pre-programmed before birth to make very specific types of neurons, at least in mice, according to a study led by UC San Francisco researchers.
	Sequential immunizations could be the key to HIV vaccine The secret to preventing HIV infection lies within the human immune system, but the more-than-25-year search has so far failed to yield a vaccine capable of training the body to neutralize the ever-changing virus. New research from The Rockefeller University, and collaborating institutions, suggests no single shot will ever do the trick. Instead, the scientists find, a sequence of immunizations might be the most promising route to an HIV vaccine.
	Research with thieving puppets demonstrates toddlers' caring sides An experiment conducted by The University of Manchester has shown that three and five-year-old children will intervene to protect others from theft and distress, even when not personally affected.
	Scientists shows AIDS vaccine candidate successfully 'primes' immune system New research led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) and The Rockefeller University shows in mice that an experimental vaccine candidate designed at TSRI can stimulate the immune system activity necessary to stop HIV infection. The findings could provide key information for the development of an effective AIDS vaccine.
	A single gene turns colorectal cancer cells back into normal tissue in mice Anti-cancer strategies generally involve killing off tumor cells. However, cancer cells may instead be coaxed to turn back into normal tissue simply by reactivating a single gene, according to a study published June 18th in the journal Cell. Researchers found that restoring normal levels of a human colorectal cancer gene in mice stopped tumor growth and re-established normal intestinal function within only 4 days. Remarkably, tumors were eliminated within 2 weeks, and signs of cancer were prevented months later. The findings provide proof of principle that restoring the function of a single tumor suppressor gene can cause tumor regression and suggest future avenues for developing effective cancer treatments.
	Safeguarding against chlamydia: Vaccine generates double protection in animals Chlamydia trachomatis is a formidable foe. It's the most common sexually transmitted pathogen, infecting more than 100 million people each year. In the developing world, chlamydial infection is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Around the world, it ranks as the number one cause of infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
	Musicians don't just hear in tune, they also see in tune Musicians don't just hear in tune, they also see in tune. That is the conclusion of the latest scientific experiment designed to puzzle out how the brain creates an apparently seamless view of the external world based on the information it receives from the eyes.
Adult craze for human breast milk purchased online poses serious health risks The recent craze for human breast milk amongst certain fitness communities, fetishists and chronic disease sufferers is ill advised say the authors of an editorial published today by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. There is a lucrative online market for adult buyers of human breast milk, with websites and forums describing it as a 'clean' super food that can lead to gains in the gym, and even help with erectile dysfunction and cancer. There are claims that it is more digestible and contains positive immune building properties. The authors, led by Dr Sarah Steele, of the Global Health and Policy Unit, Queen Mary University of London, write that these purported benefits do not stand up clinically and raw human milk purchased online or in an unpasteurised state poses many risks.
	Medical resources allocated equally across groups, but more efficiently across individuals People make dramatically different decisions about who should receive hypothetical transplant organs depending on whether the potential recipients are presented as individuals or as part of a larger group, according to new research published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The findings show that when recipients are considered in groups, people tend to allocate organs equally across the groups, ignoring information about the patients' chances of success.
	Restoring natural immunity against cancers Scientists at the Institut Pasteur and Inserm have successfully increased the infiltration of immune cells into tumors, thus inducing the immune system to block tumor growth. In an article published in Nature Immunology, the scientists show that, in combination with existing immunotherapies, this process efficiently destroys cancer cells.
	Tests to gauge genetic risks for prostate cancer now are feasible Men with an elevated, genetically inherited risk for prostate cancer could be routinely identified with a simple blood or urine test, scientists at UC San Francisco and Kaiser Permanente Northern California have concluded, potentially paving the way to better or earlier diagnosis.
New biomarkers might help personalize metastatic colorectal cancer treatment Metastatic colorectal cancer patients tend to live longer when they respond to the first line of chemotherapy their doctors recommend. To better predict how patients will respond to chemotherapy drugs before they begin treatment, researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine conducted a proof-of-principle study with a small group of metastatic colorectal cancer patients. The results, published June 17 in PLOS ONE, revealed two genes that could help physicians make more informed treatment decisions for patients with this disease.
UB takes important steps toward understanding how animals make sense of the auditory world Sit down with a friend in a quiet restaurant and begin talking, just before the dinner crowd's arrival. Business is slow at first, but picks up quickly, just like the sound level. Music plays, glasses clink, servers discuss specials. Discussions are everywhere, colliding and competing with the other noises.
Better clinical management improves quality of life for neurofibromatosis patients A genetic disorder called neurofibromatosis (NF) causes benign tumors to grow on the brain, spinal cord, and other parts of the nervous system.
	Acid-reducing medications sharply raise risk of C. diff. bacteria infection in kids Infants and children who are given prescription acid-reducing medications face a substantially higher risk of developing Clostridium difficile infection, a potentially severe colonic disorder. The findings, reported by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) researchers, suggest that pediatricians may do more harm than good by prescribing these drugs for children who have non-specific gastrointestinal symptoms such as occasional vomiting. The study was published recently in the online edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Researchers identify new genetic immune disorder Researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a new immune disorder—DOCK2 deficiency—named after the mutated gene responsible for the disease. An international team of collaborators studied five children, four boys and one girl, from different ethnic backgrounds who had experienced debilitating infections early in life. The children were diagnosed with combined immunodeficiency (CID), which refers to a group of inherited disorders distinguished by defects in immune system cells called T cells. CIDs also may affect other cells of the immune system, including B cells.
	Tearing down the barriers to care transitions New research could soon automate hospital discharge communication, adding critical data and cutting the time it takes the information to reach community health care providers from weeks to hours.
	Important advance in the treatment and prevention of bacterial infection A new technology which could increase protection against antibacterial and antifungal infection for weeks, months or years has been developed by researchers at the University of Bristol.
Isolation and characterization of human hepatocytes and non-parenchymal liver cells University Medicine Berlin, Department for General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, led by Dr. Georg Damm (and Prof. Dr. Daniel Seehofer) have established a protocol for an uncomplicated isolation of primary human hepatocytes (PHH), Kupffer cells (KC), liver endothelial cells (LEC), and human Stellate cells (HSC) from human donor tissue. Liver cells were isolated from the tissue using a two-step EDTA/collagenase perfusion technique, followed by a separation of PHH and different non-parenchymal cell (NPC) fractions through Percoll density gradient centrifugation, an adherence separation step (KC) and magnetic activated cell sorting (HSC, LEC). All isolated cell fractions were identified by specific morphological and functional characteristics and were examined during a defined cultivation time.
Pulsed electrical fields may provide improved skin rejuvenation A new approach to skin rejuvenation developed at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) may be less likely to have unintended side effects such as scarring and altered pigmentation. In the online journal Scientific Reports, an MGH research team reports that treatment with pulsed electric fields - a noninvasive procedure that does not involve the generation of heat - removed skin cells in an animal model without affecting the supporting extracellular matrix, eventually leading to renewal of the skin surface.
Discovery may lead to targeted melanoma therapies Melanoma patients with high levels of a protein that controls the expression of pro-growth genes are less likely to survive, according to a study led by researchers at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published online in the journal Molecular Cell.
Researchers identify gene mutation that can trigger lymphoblastic leukemia Two medical researchers from the Children's Hospital of Michigan and the Wayne State University School of Medicine have published the results of a nearly 10-year investigation that identified a key gene mutation that can trigger acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, and several other types of cancer.
	S. Korea's MERS toll rises to 23 with three more deaths South Korea reported three more deaths from the MERS virus Thursday, bringing the number of fatalities to 23 and amplifying fears that authorities do not have the outbreak under control after the WHO criticised their response.
MERS sparks mask rush in Asia, but are they effective? As South Korea scrambles to control an outbreak of the killer MERS virus, its fearful citizens have donned surgical masks en masse—but the jury is out on whether they actually protect against the invisible enemy lurking in the air.
Eating disorders experts weigh in on Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Jessie is a five-year-old girl who doesn't like foods with much texture or flavour. She prefers to eat foods that don't require lots of chewing, like soup, pasta, or oatmeal. Jessie has difficulty eating a range of foods and her mother struggles daily with getting her to consume the nutrients she needs to grow and thrive. Jessie is the smallest child in her class and has been severely underweight for two years.
Researchers design placenta-on-a-chip to better understand pregnancy National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers and their colleagues have developed a "placenta-on-a-chip" to study the inner workings of the human placenta and its role in pregnancy. The device was designed to imitate, on a micro-level, the structure and function of the placenta and model the transfer of nutrients from mother to fetus. This prototype is one of the latest in a series of organ-on-a-chip technologies developed to accelerate biomedical advances.
	Some common anti-nausea medications used post-operatively could increase patients' arrhythmia risk Certain commonly prescribed anti-nausea medications given to patients during or after an operation could increase their risk of developing an irregular heartbeat, new research has found.
	Philippines tests health app for remote islands The Philippines is testing an app that will speed up delivery of health services to hundreds of remote island communities, the science department said Thursday.
	Link between panic attacks and heart disease discovered People who suffer from panic disorder are almost twice as likely to develop heart disease later in life than those who do not, according to new research.
Thailand confirms first MERS case as virus spreads in Asia Thailand on Thursday said a 75-year-old man from Oman was confirmed to have MERS in Southeast Asia's first case of the virus since an outbreak in South Korea that has killed 23 people.
Psychologist consults on 'Inside Out' emotions When UC Berkeley psychologist Dacher Keltner attended the Hollywood premiere of the new Pixar movie Inside Out – which opens Friday in theaters nationwide – he was thrilled to see children running around the purple (not red) carpet yelling, "I'm Fear," "I'm Sadness" or "I want to be Anger."
	New clue to how cancer causes organ failure Cancer produces a variety of collateral effects in patients beyond the malignancy itself, including threats to distal organ functions. However, the basis for such effects, associated with either primary or metastatic tumors, are generally poorly understood. New findings from a research group at Uppsala University show that the neutrophil, a type of blood cell, plays an important role in this process.
	Key gene in deadly head and neck cancers revealed Monash researchers have made the first real breakthrough in 50 years in understanding how cancers of the head and neck develop, shedding new light on one of the most deadly forms of the disease.
	After years of conflict, huge project could help scientists decipher the brain They said it was crazy – and in truth the European Commission's billion-euro plan to build a computer model of the human brain appears to have been too ambitious. But after years of controversy and dispute, many neuroscientists believe that the Human Brain Project may no longer be doomed to failure.
Warning over poor cooking skills among teenagers Young people lack confidence and skills in the kitchen, with many considering microwaving a pizza to be cooking according to a study.
	New model to study HIV latency in brain cells Over 35 million people worldwide are currently infected by HIV. Antiviral therapies can keep the virus from multiplying. However, no drug can cure infection so far, because various cell types continue to carry the virus in a latent, i.e. quiescent, state. Scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München have now established a model for latent HIV infection of brain cells. The researchers used this model to identify various compounds that affect latency of the virus in the brain. This study was published in the journal AIDS.
	Sex life wanes for more than half of new mums If you're a new mother in Australia and aren't feeling it in the bedroom, you're clearly not alone.
	Researchers identify genes linked to cataract formation When cataracts encroach on the eyes, the only effective remedy is to surgically replace the eyes' lenses with synthetic substitutes.
	What you need to know about the fatal drug fentanyl A surge in news stories about the drug fentanyl has led to increased efforts to educate students about the hazards of the drug when used recreationally. Fentanyl, a fast-acting painkiller and sedative, is typically prescribed to patients with chronic pain or end-of-life cancer patients.
Researchers discover 'real world' link between type 2 diabetes and low blood sugar risk Researchers from the University of Leicester and Leicester's Hospitals have discovered that many people suffering from type 2 diabetes also suffer from low blood sugar levels that can pose a significant risk to their health.
	More evidence for possible link between cocaine use and HIV infection New UCLA research offers further evidence that cocaine use disrupts the immune system, making people who use it more likely to become infected with HIV.
Study finds significant drop in new prostate cancer diagnoses A new study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators found new diagnoses of prostate cancer in the U.S. declined 28 percent in the year following the draft recommendation from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) against routine PSA screening for men. The new research, led by first author Daniel Barocas, M.D., MPH, assistant professor of urological surgery and medicine, was posted online in the June 15 issue of The Journal of Urology in advance of publication.
Massively parallel gene function assays aim to reduce uncertainty of genetic diagnoses Patients seeking certainty in genetic tests often receive a perplexing result. Many learn they carry a 'variant of unknown significance' of a disease-linked gene. Such variants might—or equally might not—increase disease risk.
Abdominal blood clots may indicate undiagnosed cancer New research published online today in Blood, the Journal of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), concludes that a blood clot in an abdominal vein may be an indicator of undiagnosed cancer. The study also suggests that these clots predict poorer survival in patients with liver and pancreatic cancer.
Team uses stem cell exosomes to induce damaged mouse hearts to self-repair A little more than a decade ago, researchers discovered that all cells secrete tiny communications modules jammed with an entire work crew of messages for other cells. Today, a team of researchers, led by stem cell researcher Raj Kishore, PhD, Director of the Stem Cell Therapy Program at the Center for Translational Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM), is harnessing the communications vesicles excreted by stem cells and using them to induce the damaged heart to repair itself. Their research is the June 19 cover story in the leading cardiovascular research journal, Circulation Research.
	Researchers find a potential target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes Currently, there are more than 350 million type 2 diabetics and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) by 2030 it will be the 7th leading cause of death worldwide.
Best practices highlighted to prevent infections during healthcare laundry process Proper laundering and handling are important in achieving and maintaining the hygienically-clean quality of healthcare fabrics and textiles delivered to the point of care, according to a new review that highlights evidence-based strategies to inhibit potentially serious contamination. The review, based on findings and recommendations from peer-reviewed studies, as well as current standards and guidelines, is published online in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA).
	Molecular cause of heart condition identified In 2012, researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine showed that heart muscle cells made from the skin of people with a cardiac condition called dilated cardiomyopathy beat with less force than those made from the skin of healthy people. These cells also responded less readily to the waves of calcium that control the timing and strength of each contraction.
	Genomic discovery of skin cancer subtypes provides potential 'signpost' for drug targets Cutaneous melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, is now believed to be divided into four distinct genomic subtypes, say researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, a finding that could prove valuable in the ever-increasing pursuit of personalized medicine.
	Scientists identify progenitor cells for blood and immune system University of California San Francisco scientists have identified characteristics of a family of daughter cells, called MPPs, which are the first to arise from stem cells within bone marrow that generate the entire blood system. The researchers said the discovery raises the possibility that, by manipulating the fates of MPPs or parent stem cells, medical researchers could one day help overcome imbalances and deficiencies that can arise in the blood system due to aging or in patients with specific types of leukemia.
Drug approved to treat osteoporosis shows promise in pre-clinical diabetes research American scientists have discovered that a drug commonly used to treat osteoporosis in humans also stimulates the production of cells that control insulin balance in diabetic mice. While other compounds have been shown to have this effect, the drug (Denosumab) is already FDA approved and could more quickly move to clinical trials as a diabetes treatment. The research is published June 18 in Cell Metabolism.
	Not like riding a bike: New motor memories need stabilizing Well-practiced motor skills like riding a bike are extremely stable memories that can be effortlessly recalled after years or decades. In contrast, a new study publishing in PLOS Computational Biology shows that changes to motor skill memories occurring over the course of a single practice session are not immediately stable, according to researchers Andrew Brennan and Maurice Smith of Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Science and Center for Brain Science.
	Cosmetic lip surgery may ease facial paralysis, small study suggests A cosmetic surgery that uses injections of hyaluronic acid to make lips appear fuller could also improve the lives of people with facial paralysis, according to results of a small study by researchers at Johns Hopkins and Stanford universities.
	Parkinson's disease appears associated with many cancers in Taiwan Parkinson disease (PD) appeared associated with 16 types of cancer in a study in Taiwan, an effort to explain the association in an East Asian population because most prior research has been conducted in Western populations, according to an article published online by JAMA Oncology.
	MRSA contamination found in supermarket sausages and minced pork A survey carried out earlier this year has found the first evidence of the 'superbug' bacteria Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in sausages and minced pork obtained from supermarkets in the UK. However, researchers stress that this does not pose a significant immediate risk to the public.
Researchers find link between neighborhood quality and cellular aging Regardless of chronological age, people who live in neighborhoods with high crime, noise and vandalism are biologically more than a decade older than those who do not, according to a study led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh. The findings were published online today in PLOS One.
	Viral commuters: How influenza viruses use transportation systems in the US In increasingly mobile modern societies, long-distance transmission can rapidly spread pathogens. A study published on June 18th in PLOS Pathogens suggests that both airline and commuter road travel influence flu virus distribution in the continental U.S.
International team discovers new genetic immunodeficiency An analysis of five families has revealed a previously unknown genetic immunodeficiency, says an international team led by researchers from Boston Children's Hospital. The condition, linked to mutations in a gene called DOCK2, deactivates many features of the immune system and leaves affected children open to a unique pattern of aggressive, potentially fatal infections early in life.
State stroke legislation increases US primary stroke centers Individual state stroke legislation plays a compelling role in certifying primary stroke centers and improving availability and accessibility of care to acute stroke patients, according to research in the American Heart Association journal Stroke.
Tubal ligation may improve the prognosis of endometrial cancer later in life Endometrial cancer (EC) can spread by several routes, including the lymph system, blood vessels, through the uterine wall, as well as through the fallopian tubes into the peritoneal cavity, but the association of transtubal dissemination of EC with cancer stage, histological type, and mortality is unknown. However, according to a study published June 18 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, women who have undergone a tubal ligation (TL) and develop more aggressive types of EC may have lower mortality. The authors postulate that women who have had TL have reduced passage of cancer cells through the fallopian tubes, thus lowering disease stage, which is a strong prognostic factor.
	Scientists turn white fat into obesity-fighting beige fat Washington State University scientists have shown that berries, grapes and other fruits convert excess white fat into calorie-burning "beige" fat, providing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity.
	Inclusion of experimenters in e-cigarette prevalence studies of 'questionable' value The inclusion of experimenters—who are unlikely to become habitual users—in e-cigarette prevalence studies is of 'questionable' value for monitoring population public health trends, finds research published online in the journal Tobacco Control.
Iowa high court to rule on telemedicine abortions ban The Iowa Supreme Court is expected to rule whether a state medical board overstepped its authority by requiring doctors to be in the room when a woman receives abortion-inducing medication rather than allowing it to be administered remotely via video conferencing.
Scientists identify epigenetic basis of common variable immunodeficiency through study of monozygotic twins Researchers of the Chromatin and Disease Group from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) and La Paz Hospital (IDIPAZ) have identified epigenetic alterations in Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID), the most common primary immunodeficiency, using as a starting point genetically identical monozygotic twins discordant for the disease.
On the road to needle-free medicine Needle injections have been around since 1657 and remain a key delivery method for many drugs, including vaccines that have prevented countless illnesses. But for patients that require daily pricks or for people in remote locations, the syringe model has major drawbacks. An article in Chemical & Engineering News looks at potential alternatives, their successes and their roadblocks.
Study of Ebola survivors opens in Liberia The Liberia-U.S. clinical research partnership known as PREVAIL has launched a study of people in Liberia who have survived Ebola virus disease (EVD) within the past two years. The study investigators hope to better understand the long-term health consequences of EVD, determine if survivors develop immunity that will protect them from future Ebola infection, and assess whether previously EVD-infected individuals can transmit infection to close contacts and sexual partners. The study, sponsored by the Ministry of Health of Liberia and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, will take place at various sites in Liberia and is expected to enroll approximately 7,500 people, including 1,500 people of any age who survived EVD and 6,000 of their close contacts.
MGH physicians write of their experiences in Nepal earthquake relief Two Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) physicians who participated in the international response to the major earthquakes that hit Nepal in April and May each describe their experiences in Perspectives articles receiving Online First publication today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Thousands of Liberians in 'post-Ebola syndrome' study Liberia launched a five-year study on Wednesday to unravel the mystery of the long-term health effects that plague Ebola survivors and assess how long they should go without sex.
California on cusp of offering young immigrants health care In a move that adds momentum to efforts to integrate immigrants, California is on the cusp of extending state-subsidized health care coverage to children from low-income families who are in the country illegally.
	House ready to repeal pieces of Obama health care law Despite White House veto threats, the House is ready to vote to repeal taxes on medical devices and kill a Medicare advisory board that foes say would ration health care as the chamber aims its latest whack at President Barack Obama's health care law.
	Understanding the challenges of air travel and dementia As the number of people with dementia grows it's increasingly critical to understand its impact and how to manage it in a range of circumstances including air travel where no guidelines currently exist for airlines or airports.
	New program empowers teens to make choices about ADHD meds FIU's Center for Children and Families (CCF) is offering a new program to help teens with ADHD make healthy, informed decisions about treatment.
WHO chief voices optimism over S. Korea MERS outbreak WHO chief Margaret Chan expressed guarded optimism Thursday over South Korea's ability to contain a MERS outbreak, saying it was now "on a very good footing" after an initially slow response to the virus which has killed 23 people.
	Graphic novella could help prevent hearing loss in Spanish-speaking ag workers Graphic novels usually conjure up dark images of superheroes cleaning up the mean streets of Gotham or Metropolis. Mark Guiberson may not be a superhero, but he is trying to improve life for a particular population.
	Global search for next antibiotic Australian researchers from The University of Queensland (UQ) have launched a global search to discover antibiotics capable of combating superbug bacteria that are resistant to current antibiotics.
	House votes to kill health care law's medical device tax The House defied a White House veto threat and voted Thursday to abolish a tax on medical device makers as a group of Democrats uncharacteristically joined Republicans in moving to kill part of President Barack Obama's health care law.
	Feds announce nationwide health care fraud sweeps Health care fraud sweeps across the country have led to charges against 243 people, including doctors, nurses and pharmacy owners accused of bilking Medicare and Medicaid, the government announced Thursday.
	Dengue fever outbreak infects thousands in war-torn Yemen Thousands of people have been diagnosed with dengue fever in southern Yemen, where fighting has raged for months between Shiite rebels and their opponents, international organizations and health officials said Thursday.

Biology news

	Saharan silver ants can control electromagnetic waves over extremely broad spectrum range Nanfang Yu, assistant professor of applied physics at Columbia Engineering, and colleagues from the University of Zürich and the University of Washington, have discovered two key strategies that enable Saharan silver ants to stay cool in one of the hottest terrestrial environments on Earth. Yu's team is the first to demonstrate that the ants use a coat of uniquely shaped hairs to control electromagnetic waves over an extremely broad range from the solar spectrum (visible and near-infrared) to the thermal radiation spectrum (mid-infrared), and that different physical mechanisms are used in different spectral bands to realize the same biological function of reducing body temperature. Their research, "Saharan silver ants keep cool by combining enhanced optical reflection and radiative heat dissipation," is published June 18 in Science magazine.
	Elaborate egg shells help prevent forgery There's a high-stakes arms race being waged with colors and patterns in the scrublands of southern Zambia. It's a battle that's probably being fought everywhere there are birds practicing what is known as "brood parasitism"—laying eggs in the nests of another bird species.
	Nightingales show off their fathering skills through song The song of the male nightingale tells females how good a father he will be, according to research published in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology.
	Researchers identify mechanism plant cells use to receive messages from neighbors In the age of tablet computers and smart phones, it's easy to feel inundated and overloaded by information. But on a cellular level, this bombardment is business as usual, and a team of University of Washington researchers has identified a mechanism that some plant cells use to receive complex and contradictory messages from their neighbors.
	Protein plays unexpected role in embryonic stem cells What if you found out that pieces of your front door were occasionally flying off the door frame to carry out chores around the house? That's the kind of surprise scientists at the Salk Institute experienced with their recent discovery that nucleoporins–proteins that act as cellular "doorways" to help manage what goes in and out of a cell's nucleus–are actually much bigger players in expressing genes than previously thought.
	Possible explanation for high incidence of Chagas in some Peruvian communities (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from the U.S. and Peru has found evidence that suggests the high infection rate of Chagas in some communities in Peru may be tied to the culling of guinea pigs. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes several experiments they carried out in looking for reasons for the abnormally high rates of the disease, their findings, which ruled out all but one, and changes that could be made to reduce the rates of infection.
	New sleep genes found: Researchers discover that protein called Taranis could hold key to good night's sleep Most of us need seven to eight hours of sleep a night to function well, but some people seem to need a lot less sleep. The difference is largely due to genetic variability. In research published online June 18th in Current Biology, researchers report that two genes, originally known for their regulation of cell division, are required for normal slumber in fly models of sleep: taranis and Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1).
	Protein 'comet tails' propel cell recycling process Several well-known neurodegenerative diseases, such as Lou Gehrig's (ALS), Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's disease, all result in part from a defect in autophagy - one way a cell removes and recycles misfolded proteins and pathogens. In a paper published this week in Current Biology, postdoctoral fellow David Kast, PhD, and professor Roberto Dominguez, PhD, and three other colleagues from the Department of Physiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, show for the first time that the formation of ephemeral compartments key in this process require actin polymerization by the Arp2/3 complex, a composite of seven proteins.
	Lefties are all right with kangaroos Kangaroos prefer to use one of their hands over the other for everyday tasks in much the same way that humans do, with one notable difference: generally speaking, kangaroos are lefties. The finding, reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on June 18—the first to consider handedness in wild kangaroos—challenges the notion that "true" handedness among mammals is a feature unique to primates.
	The majority rules when baboons vote with their feet Olive baboon troops decide where to move democratically, despite their hierarchical social order, according to a new report in Science magazine by Smithsonian researchers and colleagues. At the Mpala Research Centre in Kenya, the team conducted the first-ever group-level GPS tracking study of primates, finding that any individual baboon can contribute to a troop's collective movement.
	Evidence from ivory DNA identifies two main elephant poaching hotspots University of Washington biologist Samuel Wasser is a pioneer in using DNA evidence to trace the origin of illegal ivory and help police an international trade that is decimating African elephant populations.
	EU lawmakers back animal cloning ban EU lawmakers on Wednesday backed a ban on cloning farm animals and products derived from them, citing deep public unease at the prospect they could make it onto supermarket shelves.
	Unknown midge mystery solved Revisiting original types and DNA analysis exposed hidden diversity in minute non-biting midges. Two species new to science were discovered and one misapprehended species was removed by following the traces back to the source in Brussels. The study was published in the open access journal ZooKeys.
	What we can learn from primate personality Every human is different. Some are outgoing, while others are reserved and shy. Some are focused and diligent, while others are haphazard and unfussed. Some people are curious, others avoid novelty and enjoy their rut.
	Exploring head shape and aerodynamics It's a bird… it's a plane… it's a bat! All three may be soaring through the sky, but their shapes vary greatly, which affects their aerodynamics during flight. Birds typically have streamlined head profiles that strongly contrast with the appendages featured on echolocating bats. For example, birds do not rely as bats do on external pinnae, the visible part of the ear outside the head, to localize sound during echolocation, or the use of sound waves to locate objects in space. Some bat species also have a large noseleaf, or nose ornament, which allows them to vocalize through their nostrils and direct the echolocation call. While pinnae and noseleaves allow a bat to perform echolocation for hunting and foraging, they are often large in comparison to the bat's body, and this could potentially slow the bats down by creating a large amount of drag, or resistance, as the bat flies.
	Uncooperative snottygobble coughs up germination secrets The phrase might be associated with a bad cold but a mystery surrounding WA's strangely named snottygobble tree (Persoonia longifolia R.Br.) is about to be cleared up, with a study into the plant's germination triggers entering its final stage.
	Scientists propose new evolution model for tropical rainforests Scientists from Wageningen UR and other institutes are proposing a new research model - the turnover model - as a way of answering the question why there are always so many plant species in tropical rainforests. In their publication in New Phytologist magazine, the Dutch, British and Swiss scientists show that major evolutionary changes, such as the origin of large groups of species, occur with a reasonably constant frequency while the origin of new species is an explosive process.
	Microfabrication leads to a new microscopy method With the aim of providing a simple, yet versatile microscopy technique that can identify single proteins anywhere within a cell, and allow cellular organization to be assessed in 3D, researchers at the Mechanobiology Institute at the National University of Singapore, have developed an improved SPIM technique that requires only a single objective, called the soSPIM.
	Species lines blur between two sparrows in New England's tidal marshes Among birds, the line between species is often blurry. Some closely related species interbreed where their ranges overlap, producing hybrid offspring that can even backcross with either parent species, until a whole population of mixed-species birds forms in the area and creates what's known as a 'hybrid zone.' In the coastal marshes of New England, this has been happening between two sparrows—Saltmarsh Sparrow and Nelson's Sparrow. A new study published this week in The Auk: Ornithological Advances shows that appearance alone is not enough to identify these hybrid zone birds: there is no single, intermediate 'phenotype' or physical appearance common to all of the first-generation hybrids found, and birds from further backcrossed generations were often indistinguishable from the parent species. Fifty percent of birds identified as 'pure' Nelson's or Saltmarsh Sparrows in the field turned out be the descendants of hybrids when th! eir DNA was analyzed.
Origins of the Hawaiian hoary bat revealed A Grand Valley State University biology professor and her team of scientists have determined new information about an endangered species in the U.S., which could impact its protection under the Endangered Species Act.
	Sequencing Ebola's secrets Last June, in the early days of the Ebola outbreak in Western Africa, a team of researchers sequenced the genome of the deadly virus at unprecedented scale and speed. Their findings revealed a number of critical facts as the outbreak was unfolding, including that the virus was being transmitted only by person-to-person contact and that it was picking up new mutations through its many transmissions.
	Single enzyme's far-reaching influence in human biology and disease Every cell in the body uses phosphorylation, the process of adding a chemical tag to control a protein's function and fate, such as when it moves from one part of a cell to another or binds to other proteins.
	Better switchgrass, better biofuel Using switchgrass to produce biofuel is one way to decrease the United States' dependence on oil, but growing it and making it profitable can be complicated.
	Tiger-spray DNA shown as valuable conservation tool Conservation scientists have demonstrated a new technique to non-invasively survey tigers using their scent sprays, which are detected much more frequently in the wild than scat—the "breadcrumb" that researchers have traditionally used to track the endangered animals. The findings, published this week in the journal Conservation Genetics Resources, show that DNA taken from tiger spray is just as good or even better than scat DNA in identifying individual tigers and their gender, and have the potential to increase the power of conservation surveys and management. It is the first time a technique has been developed specifically for the use of sprays in genetic analysis.
	Snake fungal disease parallels white-nose syndrome in bats A deadly fungal infection afflicting snakes is eerily similar to the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome in bats, researchers report.
	Coordinating across eight agencies to count vulnerable shorebirds How do you monitor a vulnerable shorebird species when its breeding areas are scattered across lands managed by a patchwork of state agencies, federal agencies, and non-profit conservation groups? American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates) nests are sparsely distributed, time-intensive to find, and often in remote locations, all adding to the challenge of estimating the size of their breeding population. However, a new study in The Condor: Ornithological Applications demonstrates that a new, simplified survey method, coordinated across 8 agencies, has tremendous potential to provide accurate population estimates and aid in the species' conservation. Rather than searching for and counting each individual nest, researchers recorded how many oystercatchers they observed within suitable nesting habitat and then modeled the size of the breeding population from this data.
	C is for chicken (and campylobacter) The Cambridge Animal Alphabet series celebrates Cambridge's connections with animals through literature, art, science and society. Here, C is for Chicken – a popular source of protein that carries a hidden hazard in the form of Campylobacter.
How bats fly to find their prey New research, complete with night-vision video recordings, helps elucidate how bats actually fly to find their prey.
	Better understanding of the evolution of photosynthesis with cleome research In the Netherlands, the best known member of the plant family Cleomaceae (related to cabbage) is the ornamental 'spider plant', Cleome hassleriana. However, in large parts of Africa and Asia, Cleome gynandra is a popular food plant. For Wageningen Professor in Biosystematics Eric Schranz, cleome is also an ideal research tool for studying the evolution of photosynthesis and helping find solutions to the global food issue.
	Urban agriculture does not always result in better neighbourhoods While urban agriculture is often used as a tool for increasing social cohesion in neighbourhoods, Esther Veen believes that it does not always lead to better relationships between residents. This is the subject of her doctoral thesis, which she will be defending at Wageningen University on Monday 15 June 2015.
	Microalgae produced on a commercial scale Many products, including food supplements, cosmetics and biodiesel, are made from substances derived from microalgae. A fully automated pilot plant operated by Fraunhofer in Leuna is capable of producing microalgae on pilot scale. The concentration of algae in its reactors is five times higher than in conventional closed reactors. The researchers who designed the plant will be exhibiting it at the ACHEMA 2015 show in Frankfurt am Main from June 15 to 19 (Hall 9.2, Booth D64).
Scientists call for gap between genomics and invasion biology to be bridged Scientists at the University of Southampton think that Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) of invasive organisms holds the key to furthering our understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes.
	Global police in 'huge' wildlife contraband haul: Europol Global police have seized "huge amounts" of wildlife contraband, including some 12 tonnes of ivory, as well as rhino horn and whale bones, in a massive operation across 62 countries, Europol said Thursday.
	Germany turns military bases into rare-bird nature reserves Germany agreed Thursday to turn more than 60 former military bases into nature preserves, with the aim of creating vast new green oases and sanctuaries for rare species of birds.

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