Science X Newsletter Thursday, Feb 18

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for February 18, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- How many holes need to be drilled to collapse a wooden cube?
- Five-dimensional black hole could 'break' general relativity
- An idea for allowing the human eye to observe an instance of entanglement
- New clues in the hunt for the sources of cosmic neutrinos
- Longest-lasting stellar eclipse discovered
- Neuroscientists reverse autism symptoms
- Hubble directly measures rotation of cloudy 'super-Jupiter'
- Biofuel tech straight from the farm: Team harnesses promising fungi found in manure
- Scientists unveil a key mechanism that could improve brain function
- What makes a bacterial species able to cause human disease?
- Scientists blueprint antimicrobial candidate that may stem post-antibiotic tide
- New research shows young muscle stem cells can improve adult muscle regeneration
- B-cell diversity in immune system's germinal centers may be key to broad-spectrum vaccines
- Ebola crisis provides framework for responding to outbreaks like Zika virus
- Rapidly building arteries that produce biochemical signals

Astronomy & Space news

	Longest-lasting stellar eclipse discovered Imagine living on a world where, every 69 years, the sun disappears in a near-total eclipse that lasts for three and a half years.
	Hubble directly measures rotation of cloudy 'super-Jupiter' Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have measured the rotation rate of an extreme exoplanet by observing the varied brightness in its atmosphere. This is the first measurement of the rotation of a massive exoplanet using direct imaging.
	Gravitational waves offer glimpse into the past – but will we ever catch ripples from the Big Bang? Einstein was right – changes in gravity do spread as waves through space. The LIGO experiment detected such waves from a collision between two black holes with masses of about 36 and 29 times that of the sun (described as 36 and 29 "solar masses"). But the merger of these 65 solar masses in total created a remnant of just 62 – so what happened to the other three? These were used to power the burst of gravitational waves, in a spectacular demonstration of Einstein's famous formula, E=Mc2, where mass and energy are equivalent.
	Astronomer detects a new source of intense gamma radiation Analyzing the data collected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, Maxim Pshirkov of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute discovered a new source confirming that binary systems with strong colliding stellar winds comprise a new population of high-energy gamma-ray sources.His article was published in the latest issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters.
	Eying exomoons in the search for E.T. When I was young, the only planets we knew about were the ones in our own solar system.
	Footprints of a martian flood Water has left its mark in a variety of ways in this martian scene captured by ESA's Mars Express.
	WFIRST: NASA introduces new, wider set of eyes on the universe After years of preparatory studies, NASA is formally starting an astrophysics mission designed to help unlock the secrets of the universe—the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST).
	NASA engineer awaits launch of CubeSat mission demonstrating virtual-telescope tech NASA engineers Neerav Shah and Phil Calhoun will realize a long-held ambition later this year when a Space-X launch vehicle deploys two tiny satellites that will fly in a precise formation to create, in effect, a single or "virtual" telescope benefitting a range of scientific disciplines.

Technology news

	Silk Labs makes Sense with monitoring, automation actions Electronic devices in our homes are becoming smart but technology leaves a lot to be desired. Steven Shankland in CNET looked ahead to what might be a day in the life of a smart home: "Once it [our electronic world] matures, your music could pause when mom calls, your garage door could open when you pull into the driveway, and your door could unlock for an authorized package and delivery man."
	Rasa hydrogen-powered car will take on sale of service model As if this was not interesting enough—Rasa, a very cute little city car you can buy on contract like your mobile phone—comes the real news, the car is fuel cell-powered. The BBC's TopGear site reported on the startup that wants to relieve hydrogen fuel cell cars from their reputation as too expensive to take seriously.
	Bat-flight inspires unique design for micro air vehicles Researchers from the University of Southampton have designed innovative membrane wings inspired by bats, paving the way for a new breed of unmanned Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) that have improved aerodynamic properties, can fly over long distances and are more economical to run.
	Algorithm makes hyperspectral imaging faster Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of Delaware have developed an algorithm that can quickly and accurately reconstruct hyperspectral images using less data. The images are created using instruments that capture hyperspectral information succinctly, and the combination of algorithm and hardware makes it possible to acquire hyperspectral images in less time and to store those images using less memory.
Record-breaking signal transmission capacity paves the way for faster Internet The amount of data traffic on the internet and between servers in datacenters has exploded in the past few decades and shows no signs of slowing down. For example, Ethernet technology, used in small to medium-sized networks, has evolved from an original speed of 2.94 megabits per second to 100 gigabits per second, an increase of more than 3,000-fold. An IEEE 400 Gb/s Ethernet Task Force has been formed to take the standard up to 400 gigabits per second in the next year or so, and even this may not be enough for some especially data-heavy companies.
	Real or virtual: Scientists ask—can we tell the difference? A Dartmouth College-led study shows that people find it increasingly difficult to distinguish between computer-generated images and real photos, but that a small amount of training greatly improves their accuracy.
	US fight over gunman's locked iPhone could have big impact A U.S. magistrate's order for Apple Inc. to help the FBI hack into an iPhone used by the gunman in the mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, sets up an extraordinary legal fight with implications for ordinary consumers and digital privacy.
	Apple could bypass iPhone security, experts say—but won't Faced with a federal judge's order to help investigators break into an iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino, California, shooters, Apple may well argue that the request places an unreasonable burden on the company.
	Hollywood studios in Australia take action against pirate site Leading Hollywood movie studios joined forces Thursday to launch legal action in an Australian court against a piracy website, as they flagged future moves against others that give access to infringing content.
	Olympus settles with Japan whistleblower after 8-year battle A corporate whistleblower's eight-year courtroom battle against Japanese medical device maker Olympus Corp. ended Thursday with a financial settlement and a promise from the company to stop harassing him.
	TED crowd gets taste of virtual reality future Clad in virtual reality headgear and computerized vests, intrepid explorers at the annual TED event headed Wednesday into a temple adventure reminiscent of a scene from "Indiana Jones"—and billed as a major entertainment breakthrough.
China's HNA snaps up US tech firm for $6.0 bn A Chinese firm has splashed out $6 billion for a US tech firm that distributes products for Apple and Microsoft, the latest eye-popping acquisition by a Chinese company seeking greater profits abroad as the economy slows down at home.
	Apple's Cook in biggest policy challenge yet, on encryption Apple chief Tim Cook is taking on the US government on encryption, in the latest and biggest challenge for the CEO who is no stranger to corporate activism.
Hospital paid 17K ransom to hackers of its computer network A Los Angeles hospital paid a ransom of about $17,000 to hackers who infiltrated and disabled its computer network because paying was in the best interest of the hospital and the most efficient way to solve the problem, the medical center's chief executive said Wednesday.
	Apple Pay launches in China where e-payments widely used Apple Inc. on Thursday launched its smartphone-based payment system in China, where the electronic payments market is already dominated by an arm of e-commerce giant Alibaba.
	Fuel cells powering inner-city vehicles Inner-city deliveries in Austria may soon be powered by pollution-free fuel cell technology that is also being explored by ESA for satellites and robotic missions to Mars.
	Modern tablets with pens may save handwriting from certain death by computer Of all of the manual skills that computers are in the process of replacing, handwriting is taking its time to fade completely. Despite the fact that a great deal of written work is now done on a computer, universities for example, still expect students to do their exams using pen and paper. This is despite the fact that students will write at an average speed of around 70 letters per minute compared to average typing speeds of 190 characters per minute. Not only that, but marking of handwritten tests become more biased and students lose marks based on a range of factors like illegibility, and the simple perception that better handwriting is associated with greater intelligence.
	How online advertising can work in a world of ad blockers Ask online advertisers what their biggest headache is today, and they will probably say ad blockers, which are browser extensions and add-ons that can remove adverts from websites.
	What is ransomware and how to protect your precious files from it What would it mean if you lost all of your personal documents, such as your family photos, research or business records? How much would you pay to get them back? There's a burgeoning form of cybercrime that hinges on the answers to these questions.
	Don't be alarmed: AI won't leave half the world unemployed Recent alarmist headlines this week claim artificial intelligence (AI) will put half of us out of work.
	Thousands of laser strikes on aircraft each year are a danger to pilots – and their passengers For anyone working in the aviation industry or who has travelled on a plane, the news that a Virgin Atlantic flight had to turn back to London Heathrow after one of the pilots suffered an eye injury due to a laser pointer aimed at the cockpit is distressing – but certainly not surprising. This has become a growing problem, and is especially worrying now that the lasers used vary from harmless presentation laser pointers to laboratory-strength lasers that can blind. In the US alone, there are now more than 5,000 reported incidents a year, and more than 1,400 incidents in the UK. Virtually all professional pilots have either experienced it themselves, or know someone who has.
	How private is your browser's privacy mode? A forensic analysis of the so-called "private" browsing modes of the most popular web browsers, Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera, reveals that the Microsoft product tested in this research leaves traces on the user system that could betray browsing details; the other browsers maintain much better privacy, according to a report published in the International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics.
	Researchers examine combinations of lamps, dimmer switches for poultry houses When it comes to broiler chicken houses, one of the most important parts of the operation is the lighting in the house, which can prove to be a sizeable investment.
	Smart physical training in virtual reality A new system in a virtual training room is helping users practice and improve sports exercises and other motor activities: six research groups from the Cluster of Excellence Cognitive Interaction Technology (CITEC) at Bielefeld University are working on the ICSPACE project to develop this virtual coaching space. CITEC is funding this large-scale research project with 1.6 million Euro and it will run until 2017. During a project presentation the researchers showcased what their system is capable of. Using the example of a squat exercise, they presented the new technology, which will help not only athletes, but also physical rehabilitation patients learn movement exercises and correct their mistakes. In a new "research_TV" report from Bielefeld University, the coordinators of the project also explain how their new system works.
	Google's Internet balloon 'crashes' in Sri Lanka test flight A Google balloon, part of the company's high-speed Internet service known as "Project Loon", crashed in a Sri Lankan tea plantation during its maiden test flight, local police said Thursday.
	Yahoo begins shuttering some digital services Yahoo has begun shutting down some of its digital magazines as the struggling online pioneer's latest reorganization plan.
	IBM buys Truven Health Analytics for $2.6 bn IBM announced Thursday a deal to buy Truven Health Analytics for $2.6 billion as the US tech giant builds its business in cloud computing and data management for the health industry.
	How Apple ended up in the government's encryption crosshairs As the maker of trend-setting gadgets like the iPhone and iPad, Apple has changed the way people use technology in their daily lives. Now, after positioning itself as a champion of privacy, the tech giant has sparked a potentially momentous conflict with the federal government over encryption.
	Border checkpoint scans eyes, faces of departing foreigners (Update) The federal government is using eye scans and facial recognition technology for the first time to verify the identities of foreigners leaving the United States on foot—a trial move aimed at closing a longstanding security gap, officials announced Thursday.
	Yahoo CEO tries to reassure mobile partners amid turmoil Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer found herself in an awkward situation Thursday at the struggling Internet company's annual conference for the makers of mobile apps.
NYC police: Criminals say Apple encryption a 'gift from God' Police and prosecutors in New York City said Thursday that the top-notch encryption technology on Apple mobile phones is now routinely hindering criminal investigations. And they predicted the problem could grow worse as more criminals figure out how good the devices are at keeping secrets.
	Apple challenges government encryption demands alone for now Although many leading tech companies have long voiced concerns over assisting in government surveillance, Apple—for now—is facing the latest battle alone.
	Profit or patriotism? What's driving fight between US, Apple Battling in intense public broadsides, Apple Inc. and the government are making their cases before anyone steps into a courtroom over a judge's order forcing Apple to help the FBI hack into an iPhone in a sensational terrorism case.
	Engineering to the rescue: Fighting kidney disease in rural Sri Lanka Backed by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), an interdisciplinary, student-led team from New Jersey Institute of Technology is building a low-cost water filter for villagers in the north central farming region of Sri Lanka who are suffering from high rates of chronic kidney disease. The heavy metal-laden fertilizer they apply to their fields is considered a likely cause, and their drinking water a possible vehicle for the contamination.
What We Know about talks on car automatic braking systems Records of closed-door meetings show the government is considering significant concessions as it tries to work out a voluntary agreement with automakers to implement automatic braking systems for passenger cars.
	Paris attacks linked to encryption: NSA chief Last year's deadly attacks in Paris "would not have happened" without the use of encrypted communications to enable the perpetrators to avoid detection, the NSA chief said in an interview.
Novel online platform to substantially improve energy efficiency in both buildings and wider urban areas The platform, designed for city planners, industry and energy stakeholders, assesses and maps buildings' energy behaviour, and can also remotely control public street lighting. The platform has already succeeded in cutting energy use in several cities across Europe where it has been tested.

Medicine & Health news

	Neuroscientists reverse autism symptoms Autism has diverse genetic causes, most of which are still unknown. About 1 percent of people with autism are missing a gene called Shank3, which is critical for brain development. Without this gene, individuals develop typical autism symptoms including repetitive behavior and avoidance of social interactions.
	New evidence suggests Zika virus can cross placental barrier, but link with microcephaly remains unclear Zika virus has been detected in the amniotic fluid of two pregnant women whose foetuses had been diagnosed with microcephaly, according to a study published today in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The report suggests that Zika virus can cross the placental barrier, but does not prove that the virus causes microcephaly, as more research is needed to understand the link.
	A deeper take on our sexual nature The organs in our body may have a sexual identity of their own, new research suggests. The idea that our organs could be "male" or "female" raises the possibility that women and men may need different treatments as a result. The findings could also shed light on why it is that some cancers are more common in women, and others in men.
	Dramatic remissions seen in immunotherapy trial of blood cancer patients Twenty-seven out of 29 patients with an advanced blood cancer who received an experimental, "living" immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial experienced sustained remissions, according to preliminary results of the ongoing study at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
	New research shows young muscle stem cells can improve adult muscle regeneration Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have found a key to enhancing repair of damaged muscle. In work published today in Cell Reports, scientists describe why fetal muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are better at regenerating muscle compared to adult MuSCs. The research opens the door for new approaches to treat muscle diseases including muscular dystrophies, which affect approximately 50,000 people in the U.S., and muscle wasting associated with cancer and aging.
	Scientists question a popular theory about how the nervous system trims its branches As tiny embryos in the womb, we start out with a lot more neuronal material than we actually need. During development, the body drastically prunes back the excess—cutting the branches from nerve cell bodies, known as axons, as well as entire neurons.
	Breast milk sugars promote healthy infant growth through gut microbiome Bacteria that live in the gut interact with dietary components to affect health and wellness. In a study published February 18 in Cell, a team led by Jeffrey Gordon at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis now finds key components in breast milk that promote healthy infant growth and how interactions with the gut bacteria drive this process.
	Engineered mini-stomachs produce insulin in mice Researchers have spent decades trying to replace the insulin-producing pancreatic cells, called beta cells, that are lost in diabetes. Now a team of researchers, reporting Feb. 18, 2016 in Cell Stem Cell, have discovered that tissue from the lower stomach has the greatest potential to be reprogrammed into a beta-cell state. The researchers took samples of this tissue from mice and grew them into "mini-organs" that produced insulin when transplanted back into the animals. The mini-organs' stem cells also continued to replenish the insulin-producing cell population, giving the tissue a sustainable regenerative boost.
	Scientists eliminate core symptom of schizophrenia in mice Researchers have successfully disrupted a genetic chain of events in a mouse model of schizophrenia and reversed memory deficits, one of the disorder's most difficult-to-treat symptoms. This discovery—which builds upon decades of early-stage research—could lead to more effective therapies for the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia, a psychiatric disorder that affects more than 21 million people worldwide.
	It's easy to get people to do bad things—this might be why In the 1960s, psychologist Stanley Milgram famously conducted experiments in a Yale University basement showing that people will apparently inflict pain on another person simply because someone in a position of authority told them to. Now, researchers reporting in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on Feb. 18, 2016 have taken those classic experiments one step further, providing new evidence that might help to explain why people are so easily coerced.
	Scientists unveil a key mechanism that could improve brain function A research team, led by the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) in Montreal, has broken new ground in our understanding of the complex functioning of the brain. The research, which is published in the current issue of the journal Science, demonstrates that brain cells, known as astrocytes, which play fundamental roles in nearly all aspects of brain function, could be adjusted by neurons in response to injury and disease. The discovery, which shows that the brain has a far greater ability to adapt and respond to changes than previously believed, could have significant implications on epilepsy, movement disorders, and psychiatric and neurodegenerative disease.
	Ebola crisis provides framework for responding to outbreaks like Zika virus As world leaders grapple with containing the Zika virus, the Ebola epidemic in West Africa provides valuable lessons for how to respond to infectious disease epidemics, according to a policy report published by researchers at Princeton University and the Wellcome Trust.
B-cell diversity in immune system's germinal centers may be key to broad-spectrum vaccines When it comes to selecting for B cells that produce antibodies to hostile viruses and bacteria, the immune system hedges its bets. Within the germinal centers that form in the body's lymph nodes during an immune response are B cells that produce antibodies with a range of affinities to an invading pathogen. Darwinian-like cycles of mutation and selection of the fittest lead to an increase in the average affinity across the B cell population.
	Study: Right gut bacteria may protect against malnutrition Manipulating what kinds of bacteria live in the gut might lead to a new way to treat millions of children suffering chronic malnutrition, says new research that suggests the right microbes can help get the most out of a poor diet.
	The alcohol harm paradox explained New research from a collaboration including Bangor University, Liverpool John Moores University and Alcohol Research UK explains why people in deprived communities have higher levels of alcohol-related ill health than people in non-deprived communities, despite drinking the same amounts of alcohol - the alcohol harm paradox.
	Science on salt is polarized, study finds An analysis of scientific reports and comments on the health effects of a salty diet reveals a polarization between those supportive of the hypothesis that population-wide reduction of salt intake is associated with better health and those that were not. In all, 54 percent were supportive of the hypothesis; 33 percent, not supportive; and 13 percent inconclusive.
	Smokers with depression try to quit more often but find it harder People diagnosed with depression are about twice as likely to smoke as the general population. A survey of 6811 participants from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the USA, published today in the scientific journal Addiction, found that although depressed smokers tried to quit smoking more often than other smokers, they were more likely to return to smoking within a month. This tendency seemed to be stronger for women than men.
Periodontitis linked to a higher mortality rate in patients with kidney disease New findings from the University of Birmingham show that patients with chronic kidney disease patients and periodontitis (severe gum disease) have a higher mortality rate than those with chronic kidney disease alone.
	New insights into epilepsy drug Retigabine A study published ahead of print in the The Journal of General Physiology has revealed new insights into Retigabine, a known pharmacological treatment for epilepsy.
	New cause of diabetes Although insulin-producing cells are found in the endocrine tissue of the pancreas, a new mouse study suggests that abnormalities in the exocrine tissue could cause cell non-autonomous effects that promotes diabetes-like symptoms. These findings argue the existence of an unknown factor from the exocrine tissue that promotes proper endocrine development and suggest new therapeutic strategy for pancreas-related diseases.
	Cancer study is 'paradigm shift' in cause of tumor formation In a new study published in the American Association of Cancer Research's journal Cancer Research, a pair of investigators at Rutgers and Columbia universities has identified a gene that may provide a new source of potential drug targets for tumors that arise in pulmonary tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). The discovery may change what is known about tumor formation and help to slow or halt tumor growth, therefore having broader implications in cancer research.
	Innovative oxygen therapy saves unborn baby with deadly heart defect Prenatal oxygen treatment plus fast and aggressive action after birth helped a San Jose baby born at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford survive until he could undergo surgical repair of his heart at 11 days old.
	Low-risk prostate cancer best managed with active surveillance, according to new recommendations For most men with low-risk prostate cancer, the recommended strategy is active surveillance with regular testing to check for cancer growth rather than immediate treatment, according to guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
	Big data model improves prediction of key hospital outcome More than half of hospital deaths in the United States are related to severe infections, or sepsis. Yale researchers developed a prediction model, drawing on "big data" about local patients and using machine-learning methods, that proved better at identifying at-risk patients than existing clinical practices.
	GPs call for more specialist knowledge to manage suicide risk in young people Suicide is the second leading cause of death in young people aged between 15 and 29 worldwide – in the UK alone, 3,156 in this age group died by suicide in 2011-2013.
	New invention set to protect hamstrings around the world A new invention being manufactured in Brisbane by a QUT spin-off company is set to change the face of elite sports science and save professional sports clubs hundreds of millions of dollars in lost player time in the process.
	Hair sampling shows unintended 'bath salt' use Ecstasy—or MDMA, the active chemical ingredient—is one of the most prevalent party drugs; it is estimated to be used by at least one out of ten young adults in the United States.
	Why do women go through menopause? Science offers new solution to old puzzle Passing on our genes to the next generation is the key process in evolution that happens through natural selection. So why do women suddenly stop having periods when they have at least a third of their lives left to live? It makes no sense, which is why it has been called a "Darwinian puzzle" – an aspect of biology that appears to be at odds with natural selection.
What's love got to do with it? Drinking, smoking and teen romance Research published in the International Journal of Adolescence and Youth has examined whether the desire for romance leads to increased substance alcohol or tobacco use in adolescents. Wura Jacobs, Kwon Chan Jeon, Patricia Goodson & Thomas W. Valente studied over 1,100 Grade 10 pupils in Los Angeles, USA examining whether an association could be drawn between romantic ambition and the interaction with tobacco and alcohol. The research, published in December 2015, adds to the ongoing inquiries around how romantic relationships can affect adolescents in social development, academia, health and general well-being.
	Controlling the transmission of Zika and other mosquitoe-borne diseases by using genetically engineered mosquitoes In the past few weeks, Zika virus infection has become headline news and on February 1st, it was declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organisation, this was due primarily due to the yet to be confirmed link with abnormal births (microcephaly) and neurological (Guillain Barre Syndrome) disorders.
	If general practice fails, the whole NHS fails, argue healthcare experts The current focus on financial crises in hospitals diverts attention from the crisis in general practice, argue Professor Martin Roland from the University of Cambridge and GP Sir Sam Everington in an editorial published in the BMJ today.
	How likely are you to take a bullet? How likely are you to take a bullet for somebody? University of Queensland researchers have helped develop a way of predicting the strength of your convictions.
Providing psychiatric treatment in the young person's own environment leads to better results than conventional care Young people with mental problems – especially those with psychotic-like symptoms – should receive help as early as possible and in their own environment. This was the conclusion of a joint study of the University of Helsinki, the Helsinki University Hospital Department of Psychiatry and the National Institute for Health and Welfare.
	Light-to-moderate drinking good for your heart, researchers say People who drink wine, liquor or beer regularly are less prone to heart failure and heart attacks than those who rarely or never drink. Three to five drinks a week can be good for your heart.
	Prescription sleep medicine linked to motor vehicle collisions in older adults and women A recent study by University of Alabama at Birmingham student assistant John Booth, III, and UAB Department of Epidemiology Professor and Vice Chair Gerald McGwin, Ph.D., published in Sleep Medicine linked the use of prescription sleep medicines containing zolpidem among aged drivers and the incidence of motor vehicle collisions.
	Health provider awareness can curb prescription drug abuse, public health study shows Increasing health care providers' level of concern about prescription drug abuse in their communities may be an effective public health tool in fighting America's prescription drug abuse epidemic, according to a study by researchers from the School of Public Health and the Department of Sociology at Georgia State University.
	How to sleep like a pro athlete Do you want an easy way to improve your game? Get a bit more sleep, and the results could surprise you.
Eye movement affected in former childhood cancer patients A study from Lund University in Sweden shows that commonly used chemo toxins impair the eyesight in childhood cancer survivors in a way that indicates an impact on the central nervous system.
Red meat metabolite levels high in acute heart failure patients, research shows Patients with acute heart failure often have high levels of the metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) – of which red meat is a major dietary source - according to researchers from the University of Leicester.
	Exercise to control gestational hypertension Researchers at UPM and UWO have shown that performing supervised moderate-intensity exercise during pregnancy can prevent gestational hypertension in pregnant women and overweight in newborns.
African Americans, Hispanics face greater risk of heart failure More than 915,000 Americans will be diagnosed with heart failure this year, according to the recently published American Heart Association 2016 Statistical Update.
Cancer-causing gene found in plasma may help predict outcomes for patients Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have discovered that a human cancer-causing gene, called DEK, can be detected in the plasma of head and neck cancer patients. DEK may help doctors understand how a person's immune system could be used to treat cancer or predict outcomes for patients.
Why statin users should still get the flu shot, even if cholesterol drugs make it less effective Every year in the United States, about 226,000 people are hospitalized because of the flu, and 23,000 die. And about 80-90 percent of flu-related deaths occur in people over 65 years old.
Sensory loss affects 94 percent of older adults The first study to measure the full spectrum of age-related damage to all five senses found that 94 percent of older adults in the United States have at least one sensory deficit, 38 percent have two, and 28 percent have three, four or five.
	3-D mammography improves cancer detection and cuts 'call backs' over three years The increased cancer detection and reduced call backs associated with 3D mammography, also known as Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT), can be maintained years after a patient's first DBT screening with regularly scheduled DBT imaging, according to a JAMA Oncology study published online today from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Untreated high blood pressure significantly increases risk of bleeding stroke Left untreated, high blood pressure may significantly increase your risk of developing a brain bleed, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.
	Novel combination of ingredients may offer greater support for infant brain development Research has shown that nutrition plays an important role in the rapid structural development of the brain during the first few months of life. Scientists at the University of Illinois interested in this connection have studied the neonatal piglet as a model of human brain and cognitive development for nearly a decade.
	Researchers develop way to better predict disease-causing mutations in human genes Two researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, have developed a method that could help clinicians and scientists better predict which mutations in people's genes could cause a disease and which would remain dormant.
	Study pinpoints driver, potential target in aggressive pediatric leukemia subtype A University of Colorado Cancer Center study scheduled for Feb. 18, 2016 online publication in the journal Cell Reports models Early T-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ETP-ALL), discovering inactivation of the gene EZH2 as a driver and inroad to a potential therapeutic target in the disease.
	Stemming the flow: Stem cell study reveals how Parkinson's spreads Stem cell research published today offers up new clues as to how Parkinson's spreads from cell to cell, a process which has evaded researchers for decades.
Commercial weight loss system expands diabetes prevention access A new randomized controlled study conducted by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers and published online today in the American Journal of Public Health found that adults with prediabetes who followed a nationally-available weight management program with a prediabetes-specific component, Weight Watchers, lost significantly more weight and experienced better blood glucose control than those following a self- initiated program using supplemental counseling materials. With 86 million Americans estimated to have prediabetes, these study findings suggest that nationally available weight loss programs with a specific prediabetes module can be a powerful tool in preventing prediabetes from becoming type 2 diabetes, and have the potential to offer an immediate and important impact on public health.
Industry initiatives to prevent drinking and driving lack evidence of effectiveness The majority of the alcohol industry's actions around the world to reduce drinking and driving either lack evidence of effectiveness or haven't been studied, new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health research suggests.
	Wolbachia parasite superinfection: A new tool to fight mosquito arbovirus transmission Aedes aegypti mosquitoes transmit a number of pathogens, including the Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Wolbachia, a bacterium that naturally infects many insect species but not Aedes aegypti, can nonetheless be introduced into the Aedes aegypti population and then block virus replication in the infected mosquito host. As with any antiviral strategy, the potential development of resistance by the virus is a concern. A study published on Feb. 18, in PLOS Pathogens reports on a strategy to make it harder for Dengue (and possibly other viruses) to develop Wolbachia resistance.
	Memories and sensations: Synchrony is the secret for working together Regions of the brain can "dance" on their own but when they work together they fall in step to a well-timed choreography: according to a study just published in PLOS Biology, when a rat is engaged in a sensory recognition task and needs to make a spatial choice based on previous knowledge, the sensory, motor, and memory regions of the animal's brain (but similar mechanisms are also likely to exist in the human brain), make the rhythms of electrical activity coherent with each other. The study's co-first authors are Natalia Grion and Athena Akrami, research scientists at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) of Trieste, and the study leader is Mathew Diamond, professor of cognitive neuroscience and deputy director of SISSA.
	Highly potent anti-Ebola virus antibodies from recent Zaire outbreak isolated Adimab, LLC today reported the isolation of a broad panel of neutralizing anti-Ebola virus antibodies from a survivor of the recent Zaire outbreak. The work, published online today in the journal Science, highlights the remarkable speed of Adimab's recently launched single B cell isolation platform, and constitutes the largest panel of functional anti-Ebola antibodies reported in the scientific literature to date. The sequences of all antibodies isolated in this study will be made freely available to the research community through the GenBank database.
	Teething makes babies cranky, but not sick: review (HealthDay)—Teething can make babies miserable, but it rarely causes fevers above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, or any other signs of illness, a new review finds.
	Study: Getting patients out of bed soon after stroke is good medicine (HealthDay)—It may be good for hospitalized stroke patients to be taken out of bed for frequent but short periods of movement, researchers report.
	Smoking's grip adds to misery of the homeless (HealthDay)—Smoking is common among the homeless, and it's costing them a large share of what little money they have, a new study finds.
	Pulse photodynamic therapy for AK cuts side effects (HealthDay)—Pulse photodynamic therapy (pulse-PDT) and corticosteroid pulse-PDT reduce treatment-induced erythema in patients treated for actinic keratoses (AK), according to a study published online Feb. 8 in the British Journal of Dermatology.
	Psoriasis does not worsen total hip arthroplasty outcomes (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), neither psoriatic arthritis (PsA) nor cutaneous psoriasis (PsC) are risk factors for poor outcomes, according to a study published in the February issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.
	Ferritin, transferrin positively linked to type 2 diabetes (HealthDay)—Higher levels of ferritin and transferrin correlate with increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among men and women, according to a study published online Feb. 9 in Diabetes Care.
	Obesity ups mortality risk in critically ill children (HealthDay)—Being overweight or obese is linked to increased mortality in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), according to research published online Feb. 16 in Pediatrics.
	Delivery of preventive services to infants can be improved (HealthDay)—The reliability of delivering a bundle of preventive services to patients aged 0 to 14 months can be improved with innovative redesign, according to a study published online Feb. 17 in Pediatrics.
	Interstitial lung abnormalities linked to increased mortality (HealthDay)—Interstitial lung abnormalities correlate with increased risk of all-cause mortality, according to research published in the Feb. 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Over 250 swine flu deaths in Ukraine since September: official More than 250 people have died of swine flu in Ukraine since late September, a health official said Thursday, with the toll rising by almost 70 people in the past two weeks.
	Diabetes expert warns Paleo Diet is dangerous and increases weight gain A new study has revealed following a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet for just eight weeks can lead to rapid weight gain and health complications.
Overdose deaths from common sedatives have surged, new study finds Headlines about America's worsening drug epidemic have focused on deaths from opioids—heroin and prescription painkillers such as OxyContin. But overdose deaths have also soared among the millions of Americans using benzodiazepine drugs, a class of sedatives that includes Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin, according to a study led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Health System and the Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania. Their findings appear online today in the American Journal of Public Health.
	Children breastfeeding after first birthday should take vitamin D supplements, study says Children who are breastfeeding after their first birthday should take a vitamin D supplement to prevent health problems such as rickets, new research suggests.
	Motion-controlled video games may improve real world skills Motion-controlled video games, such as those played on the Wii, may help boost skills when players compete in the real world, according to a team of researchers.
Key hurdle overcome in the development of a drug against cystic fibrosis Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and McGill University in Montreal (Canada) have taken an important step towards developing a drug against cystic fibrosis. In people suffering from this illness the CFTR protein is not located in the right place in mucus-producing cells: it remains inside the cell while it should be in the cell wall. Those cells secrete a tough mucus with serious consequences. However, the researchers have succeeded in conducting the CFTR to the cell walls. Their findings are published this week in the leading science journal PNAS.
	New image analytics may offer quick guidance for breast cancer treatment For women with the most common type of breast cancer, a new way to analyze magnetic resonance images (MRI) data appears to reliably distinguish between patients who would need only hormonal treatment and those who also need chemotherapy, researchers from Case Western Reserve University report.
Some aging treatments shown to have opposite effects on males and females What helps her live longer might be harmful to him, according to a new study that may shed light on how and why organisms age.
Chemoradiation may increase survival for a subset of elderly head and neck cancer patients The addition of chemotherapy (CT) to radiation therapy (RT) improves survival rates among a subset of elderly head and neck cancer patients, specifically those ages 71 to 79 with low comorbidity scores and advanced disease stage, according to University of Colorado Cancer Center research presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. While previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of combining CT with RT to improve survival for HNSCC patients, this improvement had not been shown in patients older than 70 years.
	One in three Americans gets too little sleep: study One in three Americans does not get enough sleep on a regular basis, raising their risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke, US health authorities said Thursday.
Study finds 50 percent of teens visiting emergency department report peer violence, cyberbullying A study from Hasbro Children's Hospital has found that nearly 50 percent of teens seen in the emergency department for any reason report peer violence and nearly 50 percent also report being the victims of cyberbullying. Almost one-quarter of teens in the emergency department also report symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study, led by Megan Ranney, MD, MPH, shows that cyberbullying, physical peer violence and PTSD are common and inter-related, and that early identification and treatment are crucial.
	Link between intensive post-stroke rehabilitation and recovery demonstrated in rats Each year millions of people worldwide suffer from stroke, which can occur to anyone at any time. While some may recover completely, the majority of survivors will experience some form of impairment that requires a lengthy process toward partial or full recovery of functioning. Therefore, continuous improvement of rehabilitation methods is needed to ensure more positive long-term outcomes among survivors.
	When the immune system promotes tumor growth The immune system protects the body against cancer cells. The Elimination of cancer cells is an important task of NK cells. For NK cells to function properly, they require the activator STAT5.
	Clot-busting therapy reduces mortality in deadliest form of stroke The use of clot-busting drugs to clear blood from the brain's ventricles may be the first effective strategy to decrease mortality for a type of catastrophic bleeding stroke, according to phase-3 clinical trial results announced Thursday at the International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles. The treatment also significantly reduced post-stroke disability in a subset of patients, according to data presented by trial leaders from Johns Hopkins University and the University of Chicago.
Surgery and stenting safe, effective lowering long-term risk of stroke Stenting and surgery are equally effective at lowering the long-term risk of stroke from a narrowed carotid artery, according to results of CREST—a 10-year, federally funded clinical trial led by researchers at Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida. The results are being published today online in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Heart Association's International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles.
	An FDA-approved Alzheimer's drug could help smokers quit Despite several safe drug therapies available to help smokers quit, three-quarters report relapsing within six months of a quit attempt. University of Pennsylvania researchers Rebecca Ashare and Heath Schmidt saw potential for a permanent cessation solution in a class of FDA-approved medications used to improve cognitive impairments from Alzheimer's disease.
Experimental drug may limit harmful effects of traumatic brain injury A new report by University of Kentucky researcher Linda Van Eldik, PhD, describes an experimental drug candidate that may aid patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Zika outbreak spreads in Panama The mosquito-borne Zika virus has spread in Panama beyond a remote coastal area it was previously confined to, with a new case detected in the capital, the health ministry said Thursday.
	Study unveils new therapeutic target for spinal muscular atrophy Neuroscientists have discovered a specific enzyme that plays a critical role in spinal muscular atrophy, and that suppressing this enzyme's activity, could markedly reduce the disease's severity and improve patients' lifestyles.
	Study maps molecular signatures of HPV-positive throat cancer patients by smoking status Throat cancer patients exposed to both human papillomavirus (HPV) and tobacco smoke demonstrate a pattern of mutations along several key cancer genes, according to research presented today at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. These distinct molecular profiles of heavy and light smokers who develop HPV-positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) may inform decisions related to treatment intensity by establishing additional prognostic criteria for this subset of patients.
	Stroke's aftermath often worse for women, minorities: study (HealthDay)—Anyone can be laid low by stroke, but a new study finds that the road back to health may be tougher for female and minority patients.
	Post-stroke caregiving at home tops $11,000 a year: study (HealthDay)— The time spent caring for an older stroke survivor in the home totals about 22 hours a week, or more than $11,000 a year, a new study finds.
	Stroke survivors develop seizures, study confirms (HealthDay)—Seizures are common in the years following a stroke, a new study found, with nearly one in six survivors requiring hospital care after a seizure.
	Black women have worse IVF outcomes versus white women (HealthDay)—Black women have worse in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes than white women, according to a review published in the February issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
	Letrozole tied to ovarian function recovery in chemo (HealthDay)—Some women aged 40 to 49 years with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer who undergo chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea regain ovarian function with letrozole, according to a study published online Feb. 16 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Intensive diabetes therapy cuts CVD incidence by 30 percent (HealthDay)—Participants who were taught intensive therapy for type 1 diabetes during the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) experienced clinically beneficial effects on cardiovascular outcomes at 30 years of follow-up, according to research published online Feb. 9 in Diabetes Care.
Clot-busting drug reduces death risk in hemorrhagic stroke patients Reporting on the results of a phase III international clinical trial, Johns Hopkins Medicine physicians say use of a cardiac clot-busting drug to treat strokes that cause brain bleeding safely decreased the death rate in patients by 10 percent, compared to a control group receiving saline.
Survey examines Americans' use of and satisfaction with homeopathic medicines A new survey finds that homeopathic medicines are primarily used by a small segment of the U.S. population for common, self-limited conditions such as the common cold or back pain. The report published in the American Journal of Public Health also finds that homeopathy users, particularly those who also report visiting homeopathic practitioners, find the use of these products helpful and that they tend to use a greater variety of complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) modalities than do users of supplements and other CIMs. This is the first detailed report on the use of homeopathy in this country.
Bariatric surgery before knee replacement cost-effective in improving outcomes in obese patients Obesity is not only a risk factor for developing knee arthritis. It is also linked to less favorable outcomes after joint replacement surgery. A study at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City finds that bariatric surgery prior to total knee replacement (TKR) is a cost-effective option to improve outcomes. The research appeared in the January issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
California considers condoms for porn actors Condoms could be coming to porn studios across California if the state agency in charge of enforcing workplace safety adopts proposed new regulations aimed at protecting actors who make adult films.
	Report: Hawaii leads nation in getting too little sleep Tired of hearing that more than a third of U.S. adults don't get enough sleep? Here's something new: a government report about which states get the most sack time.
How trade deals affect the public's access to affordable medicines and healthcare At the end of 2015, ASEAN countries became closer to one another as part of the new ASEAN Economic Community. Under the trade bloc's economic integration arrangements, their citizens will find it easier to do business in other ASEAN countries, import and export goods, and find jobs in the region.
Breakthrough leads to a potential drug for a rare disease for a treatment for primary mitochondrial myopathy A drug candidate discovered by Peter W. Schiller, Director of the Chemical Biology and Peptide Research unit at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) and Research Professor in the Department of Pharmacology of the Université de Montréal, has been granted Fast Track designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of primary mitochondrial myopathy. The candidate, elamipretide (formerly known as Bendavia), is being developed by Stealth BioTherapeutics Inc.
Masked hypertension in kidney disease patients may affect kidney and cardiovascular health Many patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have hypertension that is not detected in the clinic, and such 'masked' hypertension is linked with increased risks of kidney, heart, and vascular damage. The findings come from a large study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).
	Video: Can contact lenses make you blind? Ninety-nine percent of adults who wear contacts admit to breaking some cardinal lens rules: sleeping in them, washing them in water and so on. Many contact-wearers may brush off these accidents, but improper lens care can have gross—and sometimes serious —consequences.
Chemotherapy before chemoradiation shows no survival advantage in head and neck cancer Head and neck cancer patients who receive chemotherapy prior to radiation therapy (induction chemotherapy or IC) rather than the standard treatment that combines chemotherapy with radiation (chemoradiation or CRT) show no survival benefit and are less likely to receive a full course of radiation, according to research from the University of Colorado Cancer Center presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. The study, which examined more than 8,000 patient records in the National Cancer Data Base, represents the largest comparative analysis of IC and CRT to date.
Study finds areas of excellence, need for improvement in quality of mental health care The care provided by the U.S. military health care system to service members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression is good in some areas, but needs improvement in other realms, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	Majority of LAHNC patients use life-altering strategies to cope with costs of treatment The majority of patients with locally advanced head and neck cancers (LAHNC) rely on cost-coping strategies that alter their lifestyle in order to manage the financial burden of their care, according to research presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. Researchers also identified perceived social isolation, or a lack of social support coupled with increased loneliness, as a risk factor for sub-optimal medication adherence and health care utilization during treatment for LAHNC.
Chile reports 10 news cases of dengue on Easter Island Chile's health ministry is reporting 10 new cases of dengue on Easter Island.
	No survival advantage of induction chemo over CRT for locally advanced head and neck cancer Head and neck cancer patients who receive induction chemotherapy (IC; chemotherapy administered prior to radiation therapy) rather than the standard treatment of concurrent chemoradiation (CRT) do not benefit from increased survival rates and are less likely to receive a full course of radiation, according to research presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. The study, which examined more than 8,000 patient records in the National Cancer Data Base, represents the largest comparative analysis of IC and CRT in head and neck cancer to date.
	Study links health insurance status and head and neck cancer diagnoses, outcomes Compared to patients with non-Medicaid insurance, uninsured patients and patients with Medicaid are more likely to present with advanced stages of head and neck cancer and have higher overall and cancer-specific mortality rates, according to research presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium. The study of patients in a large, national cancer registry also found less use radiation therapy (RT) for uninsured and Medicaid patients and less use of cancer-related surgery for uninsured patients.
	Study determines key recurrence detection time for oropharyngeal cancer For patients treated with definitive radiation therapy (RT) for oropharyngeal cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), the majority of recurrences can be detected by post-treatment imaging at three months and physical exams during the six months following treatment, according to research presented at the 2016 Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Symposium.
Porn industry asks health officials not to require condoms Scores of porn actors, writers, directors and producers pleaded with state officials Thursday not to make them use condoms in films, saying such a move would criminalize and perhaps destroy their multibillion-dollar industry.
Aruba, Bonaire islands added to Zika travel alert U.S. health officials have added two more Caribbean islands to a Zika travel alert for pregnant women.

Biology news

	Researchers discover previously unknown bacterial species in dolphins School of Medicine researchers working with the U.S. Navy's Marine Mammal Program in San Diego have discovered a startling variety of newly-recognized bacteria living inside the trained dolphins that the Navy uses to find submerged sea mines and detect underwater intruders. They found similar types of bacteria in wild dolphins as well.
	Study reveals how fish control microbes through their gills Oriol Sunyer, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, has described fish as "an open gut swimming." Their mucosal surfaces—their skin, digestive tract and gills—are in constant contact with water, including any pathogens that the water may contain.
	Stressed mouse dads give their offspring high blood sugar Mouse fathers under psychological stress were more likely to have offspring with high blood sugar compared to their unstressed counterparts. In a study appearing February 18 in Cell Metabolism, researchers link this difference to an epigenetic change in the stressed dad's sperm—a change that they could prevent by blocking the father's stress hormones. The study adds to growing evidence that a male's life experience can be passed down through more than his genetic code alone.
	Biofuel tech straight from the farm: Team harnesses promising fungi found in manure Nature's figured it out already, how to best break down food into fuel. Now scientists have caught up, showing that fungi found in the guts of goats, horses and sheep could help fill up your gas tank too.
	What makes a bacterial species able to cause human disease? An international team of scientists, led by researchers at University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI), have created the first comprehensive, cross-species genomic comparison of all 20 known species of Leptospira, a bacterial genus that can cause disease and death in livestock and other domesticated mammals, wildlife and humans.
	Why do we still have mitochondrial DNA? The mitochondrion isn't the bacterium it was in its prime, say two billion years ago. Since getting consumed by our common single-celled ancestor the "energy powerhouse" organelle has lost most of its 2,000+ genes, likely to the nucleus. There are still a handful left—depending on the organism—but the question is why. One explanation, say a mathematician and biologist who analyzed gene loss in mitochondria over evolutionary time, is that mitochondrial DNA is too important to encode inside the nucleus and has thus evolved to resist the damaging environment inside of the mitochondrion. Their study appears February 18 in Cell Systems.
	Dangerous fishing may be endangered Catch shares, a form of "rights-based" fisheries management adopted for several fisheries in the Pacific Northwest, may put an end to the kind of daring exploits chronicled in the Deadliest Catch.
	Pesticide mixtures may increase health risks but are still unregulated by California, report says A UCLA study has found that the state agency responsible for protecting Californians from the dangers of pesticides is failing to assess the health risks likely posed by pesticide mixtures, which are believed to be more harmful than individual pesticides.
	Blood reveals Great Barrier Reef sharks as homebodies Small Australian sharks have been exposed as bigger homebodies than previously thought, in a study that took an existing chemical tracking technique and made it work for Great Barrier Reef sharks.
	Cheating is more society's problem than an affair of the heart When it comes to love, cheating and divorce, matters are never just of the heart. In a bid to understand the love lives of humans, scientists have turned to the romantic relations of birds since the family life of many birds is reminiscent of those exhibited by humans.
	Doughnut-shaped holes of killer proteins observed for the first time Spanish and German researchers have successfully observed pores shaped like rings and crescent moons that the Bax protein perforates in mitochondrial membranes. This advance has been achieved thanks to super-resolution microscopy and may help find the "holy grail" of cell suicide, a crucial process in preventing cancer.
	Researchers highlight the cruelty of amputating sawfish rostra The cruel act of amputating distinctive sawfish rostra for trophies should be afforded the same attention as the poaching of body parts from other endangered species like rhinos, a Murdoch University researcher has said.
	Can ecotourism save endangered species? Ecotourism can provide the critical difference between survival and extinction for endangered animals, according to new research from Australia's Griffith University.
	Conservation hopes up for the endangered banana frog restricted to Southwest Ethiopia As the natural forest cover in Ethiopia is already less than 3% of what it once has been, the banana frog species, dwelling exclusively in the remnants of the country's southwestern forests in only two populations, is exposed to a great risk of extinction.
	Scientists discover way to potentially track and stop human and agricultural viruses Viruses are molecular thieves that take from their hosts under the cloak of darkness. But now a Virginia Tech scientist has found a way to not only track viral hijackers, but also potentially stop them from replicating.
	Study confirms only site in SE Asia showing tiger recovery A new study by a team of Thai and international scientists finds that a depleted tiger population in Thailand is rebounding thanks to enhanced protection measures. This is the only site in Southeast Asia where tigers are confirmed to be increasing in population. It is also the first-ever long-term study of tiger population dynamics in Southeast Asia.
	Engineered gene drives and the future Engineered gene drives, which have the potential to spread desirable genes throughout wild populations or to suppress harmful species, have received a lot of recent attention because of their potential to control organisms, such as mosquitoes that carry diseases such as Zika virus, malaria and dengue fever.
	Saving the wildlife 'miracle' of Congo's Garamba park Chronic insecurity, regional conflict, tough terrain and isolation make Africa's Garamba park perhaps the most difficult place on the continent to practice conservation.
Rite of spring: Canada's 'ice seals' return to Massachusetts Never mind the robins. The real harbingers of spring, Canada's "ice seals," are returning to the Massachusetts coastline.
	California's ecological abundance With forests and farmland, mountains and desert and almost 900 miles of scenic coastline, California's vast terrain is both dramatic and varied.

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