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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 26, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Elusive origin of stellar geysers revealed by 3-D simulationsAstrophysicists finally have an explanation for the violent mood swings of some of the biggest, brightest and rarest stars in the universe. |
 | Hyper Suprime-Cam survey maps dark matter in the universeToday, an international group of researchers, including Carnegie Mellon University's Rachel Mandelbaum, released the deepest wide field map of the three-dimensional distribution of matter in the universe ever made and increased the precision of constraints for dark energy with the Hyper Suprime-Cam survey (HSC). |
 | Japan firm signs with SpaceX for lunar missionsA Japanese start-up is to send spacecraft to the moon in a deal signed with Elon Musk's SpaceX, the Tokyo-based firm said Wednesday. |
 | Neutron star jets shoot down theoryAstronomers have detected radio jets emitted by a neutron star with a strong magnetic field—something not predicted by current theory, according to a new study published in Nature today. |
 | Software finds the best way to stick a Mars landingSelecting a landing site for a rover headed to Mars is a lengthy process that normally involves large committees of scientists and engineers. These committees typically spend several years weighing a mission's science objectives against a vehicle's engineering constraints, to identify sites that are both scientifically interesting and safe to land on. |
 | Long lost Galileo letter found at Royal Society libraryNature journalist Alison Abbott has published a News and Comment piece in the journal detailing the finding of a letter in a Royal Society library purported to have been written by famed early scientist Galileo Galilei. The letter is significant because it offers proof of an attempt by the scientist to play down his arguments regarding controversial astronomy ideas. |
 | How a tiny Curiosity motor identified a massive Martian dust stormThere is no shortage of eyeballs, human and robotic, pointed at Mars. Scientists are constantly exploring the Red Planet from telescopes on Earth, plus the six spacecraft circling the planet from its orbit, and two roving its surface. So when dust filled the atmosphere during the recent planet-wide dust storm, observations were plentiful. |
 | Europe's Ariane 5 rocket blasts off for 100th timeA European-made rocket has blasted off from French Guiana for the 100th time, in a symbolic landmark for its manufacturer as it comes under increasing pressure from Elon Musk's SpaceX programme. |
 | Refining intergalactic measurements could alter our whole understanding of physicsNew efforts to figure out just how fast the universe has expanded since the Big Bang, a speed known as the Hubble constant, could upend current theories of physics, according to some scientists. |
 | Three Earth Explorer ideas selectedAs part of ESA's continuing commitment to realise cutting-edge satellite missions to advance scientific understanding of our planet and to show how new technologies can be used in space, three new ideas have been chosen to compete as the tenth Earth Explorer mission. |
 | Image: The sun—two wavelengths, two different imagesNASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory views our sun in 10 different wavelengths because each wavelength reveals different solar features. This Sept. 21, 2018, view of the sun uses two selected images taken at virtually the same time but in different wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light. |
 | Both halves of NASA's Webb Telescope successfully communicateFor the first time, the two halves of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope—the spacecraft and the telescope—were connected together using temporary ground wiring that enabled them to "speak" to each other like they will in flight. |
 | New tools to boost access to NASA Earth science dataNASA has funded five new projects to develop tools and technology to make the agency's massive Earth science datasets more accessible and user-friendly. |
 | Interpreting new findings of methane on MarsNew data from the Mars Science Laboratory demonstrating the presence of methane presents novel challenges to explain how it was formed and what it suggests about the potential for life to exist or be supported on Mars. A comprehensive overview of these new findings, their implications, and recommendations for future studies to help interpret the data is published in Astrobiology. |
Technology news
 | Analyzing book reading behavior on Goodreads to predict Amazon BestsellersResearchers at Northwestern University, Microsoft Research India, and the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur have recently developed a model to predict whether a book will become a bestseller on Amazon within 15 days of its publication. Their model, outlined in a study pre-published on arXiv, works by analyzing reading behavior on the online platform Goodreads. |
 | Engineers study hovering bats and hummingbirds in Costa RicaEach sunrise in Las Cruces, Costa Rica, River Ingersoll's field team trekked into the jungle to put the finishing touches on nearly invisible nets. A graduate student in the lab of David Lentink, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford University, Ingersoll needed these delicate nets to catch, study and release the region's abundant hummingbirds and bats—the only two vertebrates with the ability to hover in place. |
 | Robots may need lizard-like tails for 'off-road' travelRobots may one day tackle obstacles and traverse uneven terrains thanks to collaborative research analysing the motion of lizards. |
 | Study shows smart controller for home heating and cooling system can clean pollution with little energy costsAir conditioning and heating systems are not only great for keeping a home cool or warm, but they also help clean the air of harmful pollutants. |
 | Shove it, poke it, ANYmal will pick up your trash no matter whatRobotic animal-like machines have a rough deal in image making. They are either too puppy-like cute for words that want to make you cry or too scary that want to make you scream. So what does one say about ETH Zurich's Articulated Locomotion and Manipulation tech for its ANYmal robot? Natural? Naturally creepy? In short, this is ALMA—Articulated Locomotion and Manipulation for a Torque-Controllable Robot. |
 | Tiny soft robot with multilegs paves way for drugs delivery in human bodyResearchers at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have developed a tiny, soft robot with caterpillar-like legs capable of carrying heavy loads and adaptable to adverse environments. This mini delivery robot could pave way for medical technology advancements such as drug delivery in the human body. |
 | Zinc-air batteries provide power in remote areasRemote villages in Africa and Asia are receiving electricity using a little-known type of technology: zinc-air batteries. |
 | Facebook unveils Quest, its new virtual-reality headsetFacebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is off to a slow start in his mission to bring virtual reality to the masses, so perhaps it's appropriate his company's next VR headset will be called Quest. |
 | Into the fold? What's next for Instagram as founders leaveWhen Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger sold Instagram to Facebook in 2012, the photo-sharing startup's fiercely loyal fans worried about what would happen to their beloved app under the social media giant's wings. |
 | In Paris, Airbnb blamed for all kinds of illsThe first paying guests to the ground-floor studio flat newly posted on Airbnb were innocuous enough: A family, come to experience the joys of Paris, like many millions of others. |
 | Startups shook up the sleepy razor market. What's next?What do you hate shopping for? Toothpaste? Diaper rash cream? Sunscreen? The guys who founded Harry's shaving club spend a lot time thinking about this question. |
 | How to shop for an electric carEven though electric vehicles account for just a fraction of overall car sales, they are slowly gaining favor with buyers, particularly as second cars for daily commuting. |
Daimler CEO Dieter Zetsche to leave in 2019German high-end carmaker Daimler said Wednesday that it plans to replace long-serving chief executive Dieter Zetsche next year, setting up a Swedish successor to take the helm of the Mercedes-Benz parent company. | |
 | India's billion-strong biometric databaseMore than a billion Indians have uploaded their biometric details to a national database in exchange for a unique 12-digit ID that authorities say will transform how citizens interact with government and propel the world's second-most populous country into the digital age. |
 | How to make computers faster and climate friendlyYour smartphone is far more powerful than the NASA computers that put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon in 1969, but it is also an energy hog. In computing, energy use is often considered a secondary problem to speed and storage, but with the rate and direction of technological advancement, it is becoming a growing environmental concern. |
 | Is your refrigerator spying on you?Millions of American homes contain devices connected to the internet that aren't computers. Yours is likely one of them. |
 | One reason people install smart home tech is to show off to their friendsEver wondered what all the fuss is about when it comes to smart homes? You're not alone. |
 | Why trackless trams are ready to replace light railI began my life as an activist academic in 1979 when the Western Australian government closed the Fremantle railway, saying buses would be better. Patronage immediately fell by 30% and I ran a four-year campaign to save the railway. We won. I have been writing books and running campaigns ever since on why trains and trams are better than buses. But I have changed my mind. The technology has changed, and I think it will end the need for new light rail. |
 | Leica revives iconic Soviet Zenit cameraGerman camera manufacturer Leica is reviving the legendary Soviet Zenit camera more than 30 years after its mass production ended, with a new digital model unveiled on Wednesday. |
 | How humans fit into Google's machine futureIn 1998, Google began humbly, formally incorporated in a Menlo Park garage, providing search results from a server housed in Lego bricks. It had a straightforward goal: make the poorly indexed World Wide Web accessible to humans. Its success was based on an algorithm that analyzed the linking structure of the internet itself to evaluate what web pages are most reputable and useful. But founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page had a much more ambitious goal: They wanted to organize the world's information. |
 | The dangers of biohacking 'experiments'– and how it could harm your healthBiohacking or "do it yourself" biology has been on the rise in recent years – it now even has various organised conferences. Following a recent VICE news documentary about a start-up company called Ascendance Biomedical – who are self-testing drugs – biohacking has had further exposure outside of its circle of devout followers. |
 | Senate panel opens hearing on crafting US privacy lawThe Trump administration is hoping Congress can come up with a new set of national rules governing how companies can use consumers' data that finds a balance between "privacy and prosperity." |
 | New Army technology guides soldiers in complete darknessResearchers at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory have developed a new type of thermal imaging camera that allows soldiers to see hidden objects that were previously undetectable. |
 | Uber pays $148 mn over data breach in latest image-boosting moveUber agreed Wednesday to pay a $148 million penalty over a massive 2016 data breach which the company concealed for a year, in the latest effort by the global ridesharing giant to improve its image and move past its missteps from its early years. |
 | Google, Facebook agree EU 'fake news' code of conductMajor tech companies including Facebook and Google agreed Wednesday on a code of conduct to combat online disinformation in the European Union, although critics said the commitments were too weak. |
 | Facebook boosts 'stories' format, now open to adsFacebook said Wednesday it now has 300 million daily users of "stories," a format inspired by Snapchat, and would now begin delivering ads with these visual messages. |
 | Apple-1 computer fetches $375,000 at auctionAn Apple-1, a rare model of the first computer produced by the now-iconic tech firm, fetched $375,000 in an auction this week, according to Boston-based RR Auction. |
 | World Bank bets big on batteries for solar energy boostSolar energy could be a huge source of power in Africa, but its potential has been stymied by storage batteries that are too expensive and inadequate for use in poor countries. |
 | EU launches Asia strategy to rival China's 'new Silk Road'As doubts grow over China's vast "Belt and Road" trade infrastructure project, the EU is launching an alternative plan for Asia that it says will not saddle countries with debt they cannot repay. |
 | Nike touts edgy ads but shares fall on mixed earningsNike's CEO said Tuesday a controversial ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick was connecting with consumers worldwide but shares fell after the sports giant reported slowing growth in China. |
 | A US privacy law could be good for Google—but bad for you (Update)Congress is taking the first steps toward setting national rules governing how companies use consumers data—although one of its goals might be to prevent states from enacting stronger privacy protections of their own. |
 | Mobile phone ban for Dutch cyclistsThe sight of cyclists hurtling along while glued to their smartphones is a common one in the bike-mad Netherlands, but it will soon be illegal. |
 | Airlines angry over 'risky' Brexit deadlockThe impasse between Britain and the EU in Brexit negotiations is "crazy" and "risky" for airlines with time running out to ensure cross-Channel flights can continue unimpeded, the world's airline body has warned. |
 | 21st Century Fox to sell its 39% stake in Sky to ComcastRupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox said Wednesday it had agreed to sell its 39 percent stake in Sky to Comcast, giving the US cable and media giant full control of the British television giant. |
WikiLeaks names one-time spokesman as editor-in-chiefWikiLeaks on Wednesday named one-time spokesman Kristinn Hrafnsson as its new editor-in-chief. The ramifications of the move are unclear. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Cell biology: The role of the alkaline phosphatase (Alpl) gene in preventing premature bone ageingMutations of the alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) gene in the liver, bone and kidney can cause hypophosphatasia (HPP) and early-onset bone dysplasia, asserting its key role in human bone development. Despite its importance, its mechanism of action during bone ageing is largely unknown. In a recent study published in Bone Research, Wenjia Liu and co-workers at the Xi'an Institute of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine demonstrated that the knockdown of ALPL gene induced premature bone ageing characteristics, including bone mass loss and marrow fat gain. The phenomenon was coupled with impaired mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation. The scientists then reactivated the pathway using the diabetes drug metformin to restore the ability of stem cells to grow and differentiate into bone-producing osteoblasts and prevent bone ageing. |
 | Researchers identify marker in brain associated with aggression in childrenImagine a situation where one child is teasing another. While the child doing the teasing means it playfully, the other child views it as hostile and responds aggressively. |
 | Motor learning for precise motor executionScientists at Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, RIKEN, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Nozomi Hospital and Tokyo Medical and Dental University have identified acquisition of two types of internal models for motor control that are likely to be stored in the cerebellum. They show that motor control in hand-reaching movements relies on two types of motor learning: (i) acquisition of explicit motor control and (ii) acquisition of implicit motor control. |
 | Diversity in the brain—how millions of neurons become uniqueHow is it possible that so many different and highly specific neuron types arise in the brain? A mathematical model developed by researchers from the University of Basel's Biozentrum demonstrates that different variants of genes enable such a random diversity. The scientists describe in Cell Reports that despite countless numbers of newly formed neurons, the genetic variants equip neurons individually and precisely for their specific function. |
 | Rare genetic disorders more complex than thoughtResearchers have found that the genetic causes of rare neurodevelopmental disorders vary more than previously thought. The study from Wellcome Sanger Institute scientists and their collaborators discovered that serious rare disorders can be affected by combinations of common genetic variants, rather than solely individual rare variants that damage single genes. |
 | Scientists unlock secret of how the brain encodes speechPeople like the late Stephen Hawking can think about what they want to say, but are unable to speak because their muscles are paralyzed. In order to communicate, they can use devices that sense a person's eye or cheek movements to spell out words one letter at a time. However, this process is slow and unnatural. |
 | In clinical trials, new antibody therapy controls HIV for months after treatmentThanks to improvements in antiretroviral therapy, HIV is now a manageable condition. Yet even the best drugs do not entirely eliminate the virus, which latently lingers in the body, threatening to rise to dangerous levels should a patient forget or forgo treatment. To remain healthy, people infected with HIV must therefore adhere to strict medication regimens, which typically involve ingesting pills every day for the rest of their lives. |
 | The soothing effects of strangersIs pain treatment more helpful if it is provided by a friend, or is the help of a stranger better? A study conducted by researchers from the Universities of Wuerzburg, Amsterdam and Zurich investigated this question and found that people experience stronger pain relief if they are treated by a person from a different social group. |
 | For CF lung infections, how well antibiotics work may be affected by pH, oxygenPeople living with cystic fibrosis (CF) spend their entire lives battling chronic lung infections that are notoriously resistant to antibiotic therapy. Yet a one-size-fits all approach to wiping out the offending bacterium may not be the best approach for all patients with the disease, according to a new study by researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. |
 | Hit 'em where they eat: Stealth drug fights resistant bacteriaThe lack of new antibiotics is among the most critical challenges facing medicine. Researchers have been on the hunt for new drugs to combat "superbugs" that cannot be penetrated by current antibiotics. |
 | To be or not to be a white blood cell, that is the questionJapanese scientists have revealed a biological "switch" that influences whether an immature blood cell would develop into a red blood cell or a subtype of white blood cell called myeloid cells in response to infection or inflammation within the body. |
 | Team discovers link between cold severity, bacteria living in your noseIn news with several layers of weird, researchers have determined that the mix of bacteria that live inside your nose—yes, there are organisms living inside your nose—correlates with the type and severity of cold symptoms you develop. |
 | Elusive stem cells could help repair damaged blood vesselsA unique source of stem cells in blood helps to build blood vessels in the growing embryo according to new research published in Nature and part-funded by the British Heart Foundation. |
 | Fecal microbiota transplantation helps restore beneficial bacteria in cancer patientsResearchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have shown that autologous fecal microbiota transplantation (auto-FMT) is a safe and effective way to help replenish beneficial gut bacteria in cancer patients who require intense antibiotics during allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In their study, patients who underwent the procedure were randomly assigned into two groups: one group received standard care and the other received auto-FMT. The researchers found that auto-FMT resulted in the recovery of beneficial gut bacteria to near baseline levels within days, thus restoring patients' digestive, immune and other essential functions. With standard care, beneficial bacteria typically take many weeks to recover from antibiotic treatment, leaving patients at risk of other infectious diseases, including Clostridium difficile. |
 | Evidence that increased BMI causes lower mental wellbeingThere is an increasing need to prevent obesity because of the consequences for mental as well as physical health, new research by academics at the University of Bristol has found. |
New developments in EEG brain scans could help spot mental disorders earlyPatients suffering from mental and neurological disorders, including autism, ADHD and dementia, could benefit from new developments in brain scanning technology, according to a new study published in The Neurodiagnostic Journal. | |
 | Governments to discuss tackling tuberculosis at UN summitGovernments from around the world will gather Wednesday to discuss the persistent scourge of tuberculosis, which last year claimed more lives than any other communicable disease. |
 | Experimental bone can help osteoarthritis patientsResearchers from the Faculty of Chemical Technology, Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania are developing an artificial bone that can be used to treat osteoarthritis. The bi-functional composite imitates the complex osteochondral structure of a joint, i.e. both cartilage and bone tissues. |
 | Dental research shows that smoking weakens immune systemsAs if lung cancer, emphysema and heart disease weren't enough, there's more bad news for cigarette smokers. |
 | Baltimore liquor stores linked more to violent crime than bars and restaurantsA new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) found that alcohol outlets in Baltimore that sell alcohol for off-premise consumption (such as liquor stores and beer and wine stores) have a stronger association with incidences of violent crimes, including homicides, aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, and robbery, than alcohol outlets in Baltimore where alcohol is bought and consumed on-site, such as bars and restaurants. |
 | Research could help conception in IVF patientsA study of the way mouse embryos attach to the womb may one day lead to an improvement in the conception rates of women having IVF. |
 | Can't keep a secret? There may be a reason for that"Don't tell anyone" is likely a phrase you have heard before or after someone tells you a secret. But why is it so hard to not spill the beans? One Baylor College of Medicine expert explains why this is a challenge. |
 | New inflammatory biomarker predicts elevated thrombosis risk in cancer patientsCancer patients are known to have an increased risk of thrombosis. As part of the CATS study, MedUni Vienna researchers have now investigated a correlation between an activated immune system in cancer patients and their risk of thrombosis. It was found that citrullinated histone 3, known as "H3Cit", a protein released into the blood by specialised immune cells, correlates with an elevated risk of thrombosis. The results of the study have been published in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. |
 | Aspirin could play valuable role as additional treatment for cancerRegular use of aspirin could help in the treatment of some cancers, finds a new review of 71 medical studies. |
 | Cocoa: A tasty source of vitamin D?Many people do not get enough vitamin D. Brittle bones and an increased risk of respiratory diseases can be the result of a vitamin D deficiency. A research group at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and the Max Rubner-Institut has now identified a new, previously unknown source of vitamin D2: cocoa and foods containing cocoa have significant amounts of this important nutrient. According to the researchers, cocoa butter and dark chocolate have the highest amount of vitamin D2. They recently published their results in the journal Food Chemistry. |
 | Lack of CHD4 leads to abnormal myofibrils, heart defects(HealthDay)—The absence of CHD4 in heart cells results in inappropriate production of non-cardiac muscle proteins, which subsequently leads to heart defects, according to an animal study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Critics demand stop to 'Guinea pig' sepsis clinical trial(HealthDay)—A major non-profit advocacy group is asking that a large government trial comparing treatments for sepsis be shut down. |
 | Beer's bitter delight is tasted in the gutHoppy beers are famous as a driver of craft brewing. But the challenging taste of hops goes far beyond the palate. According to a new study from Scripps Research scientists, the bitter flavor literally reaches into your gut. |
 | Researchers connect lower antibiotic resistance with higher levels of bifidobacteria in infant gutA study published this week in mSphere suggests that infants, who are vulnerable to an array of infectious diseases, may have a microbial ally in keeping antibiotic-resistant infections at bay. Researchers found that children with higher gut levels of Bifidobacterium, a common commensal, had reduced abundance and lower frequency of the genes associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). |
Childhood poverty may have lasting effects on cognitive skills in old ageChildren who grow up in poverty or who are otherwise socially and economically disadvantaged may be more likely in old age to score lower than others on tests of cognitive skills, according to a study published in the September 26, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
 | Proud of yourself for taking home leftovers? Think againAs portion sizes have grown larger and larger in the U.S., lots of restaurantgoers have taken it upon themselves to consume less, boxing up half and taking the leftovers home. |
 | Increased physical activity improves IBS symptomsIncreased physical activity is now being emphasized as a treatment option for the gastric intestinal disease known as IBS. Research at Sahlgrenska Academy, Sweden, indicates improvements in both intestinal function and self-esteem of patients who exercise more. |
 | Don't turn a blind eye to vision problems(HealthDay)—Your eyes are subject to a wide variety of health conditions, from minor annoyances to serious chronic diseases and even cancer. |
 | Practicing mindfulness benefits parents and children, study saysParents, picture the situation: Your child is misbehaving. You've had a hard day, and one more outburst sends you over the edge. |
 | New drug candidate makes cancer cells more sensitive to radiotherapyResearchers from Karolinska Institutet and Kancera AB have developed a molecule that makes cancer cells sensitive to radiotherapy. In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers describe a new way to block cancer cells' ability to repair their DNA and thus stop the survival of cancer cells. |
 | People with fibromyalgia have inflammation of the brainThe causes of the difficult-to-treat pain syndrome fibromyalgia are largely unknown. Using PET brain imaging, researchers at Karolinska Institutet and Massachusetts General Hospital have now shown that glial cells – the central nervous system's immune cells – are activated in the brains of patients with fibromyalgia. The finding has been published in the scientific journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity and may open the way for new therapies. |
 | Sidestepping the pitfalls of overconfidence with plausible deniabilityA fine line exists between confidence and arrogance, and many in positions of power —such as politicians and CEOs—often are labeled arrogant. Although confidence can serve as both a blessing and a curse, new research from the University of Notre Dame shows how people can reap the rewards without risking the social penalties for overconfidence. |
 | Bid to expand country cancer treatmentA new initiative is working to bring access to expanded cancer therapy options to regional South Australia. |
 | Reducing HIV risk in young transgender womenA behavioral intervention program significantly reduced the sexual risk for HIV infection among young transgender women, according to the results of a Northwestern Medicine clinical trial. |
 | New colour change wristbands help you balance too much sun vs not enoughThe sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiations have both harmful and beneficial effects for our health. Too much exposure can lead to sunburn, skin ageing, eye damage or even skin cancer. With too little UV we may become vitamin D deficient. |
 | What causes schizophrenia? What we know, don't know and suspectSchizophrenia is one of the world's top 10 causes of disability. It develops between the ages of 16 and 30 and often persists for life. It affects between 100,000 and 200,000 Australians. |
 | How to comfort a child whose sibling has diedIn 1971, when I was four years old, my brother died of a congenital heart condition. Writing about this experience has prompted more responses than anything else I've ever written or spoken about. Untold and unheard stories appear in comments sections, strangers tell me cross-culturally consistent tales in the soft corners of conference rooms and speak about the siblings they've lost and how present the memories of them still are in their minds and hearts. |
 | Why malnutrition is an issue for more than half of patients in intensive careWe've known for a long time that certain patients in the intensive care unit recover faster and have better clinical outcomes if they receive enough nutrition. |
 | Lowlanders are no match for Nepal's SherpaThe Sherpa people of the Himalayas have long been recognized for their unique ability to excel physically in the thin air of higher altitudes. But new research from UBC's Okanagan campus, published last week in the Journal of Physiology, now suggests that their specially adapted muscles give them up to twice the resistance to muscle fatigue of lowlanders. |
 | Reclassification recommendations for drug in 'magic mushrooms'In an evaluation of the safety and abuse research on the drug in hallucinogenic mushrooms, Johns Hopkins researchers suggest that if it clears phase III clinical trials, psilocybin should be re-categorized from a schedule I drug—one with no known medical potential—to a schedule IV drug such as prescription sleep aids, but with tighter control. |
 | Common heart condition linked to sudden deathA University of Adelaide-led team of researchers has found a link between sudden cardiac death (when the heart suddenly stops beating) and a common heart condition known as mitral valve prolapse that affects around 12 in every 1000 people worldwide. |
 | Milk protein that alleviates chemotherapy side effects could enhance patients' recoveryPatients undergoing cancer treatment confront a number of well-documented side effects. |
 | Bacteria-fighting viruses could provide new approach to promoting gut healthIntentionally putting viruses into one's body might seem like a bad idea, but a study conducted at Colorado State University has demonstrated that a combination of bacteria-killing viruses is not only safe for humans, but seems to reduce gastrointestinal inflammation and combat E. coli. |
 | New 20-minute test diagnoses hidden heart conditionNew tests can diagnose 'hidden' heart diseases caused by problems with the small blood vessels supplying the heart, according to research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) conference today in San Diego. |
Urine liquid biopsies could help monitor bladder cancer treatmentScientists have shown for the first time that immune cells in the urine of bladder cancer patients accurately reflect those in the tumour environment, according to research published today (Wednesday) in the Journal of Experimental Medicine. | |
Researchers glimpse into 'real world' of cancer and financial hardshipNearly one in five older patients with advanced cancer have financial problems that may cause them to delay treatment to cover food and housing costs, which leads to stress and poor quality of life, according to new Wilmot Cancer Institute research. | |
 | E-cigarettes may be safer, but that doesn't mean they're safeE-cigarettes have been marketed as the new, safer way to smoke. But scientists say they don't know enough about the long-term health hazards. E-cigarettes may not be as safe as we've been led to believe. |
| To fight lung cancer, researchers think smallIn a study published in the Journal of Controlled Release, University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researchers used nanoparticles to deliver powerful chemotherapy drugs directly to lungs affected by metastatic disease while avoiding toxicity elsewhere in the body. |
 | A study using Drosophila sheds light on the metastatic behaviour of human tumoursMetastatic tumours are characterised by a high degree of chromosomal instability—that is to say a constant change in the number and structure of chromosomes they hold. In spite of this observation, it is unknown whether chromosomal instability contributes to the metastatic process. A study at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) using Drosophila melanogaster has demonstrated that chromosomal instability itself can induce invasive behaviour in epithelial cells and has identified the underlying molecular mechanisms involved. |
 | Changes in older people's central nervous system lead to compromised ability to sense movementThe central nervous system of older individuals responds to movement and initiates muscular contraction differently compared to young individuals. This is the result of a study led by researcher Simon Walker at the University of Jyväskylä with Postdoctoral Researcher funding from the Academy of Finland. Walker's team also found links between the ability to sense movement and balance control. |
 | Child protection investigations can silence children and offer impunity to abusersThe child protection investigation system in the UK is not fit for purpose. Despite high profile child abuse cases in Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford, lessons are not being learned and the failings of those investigations are being repeated. |
 | Plant-rich diets may prevent depression – new evidenceBeing depressed can negatively affect your appetite and what you eat, but can bad eating habits bring your mood down? Our latest study, a systematic review of the best available evidence, found a clear link between the quality of a person's diet and their risk of depression. And it goes beyond the effect of diet on body size or other aspects of health that can affect mental health. |
Obesity and economic status—what we found in Kenya's slumsAfrica is experiencing a demographic and nutrition transition. More and more people are moving to urban areas. Slum communities currently constitute about 56% of the urban population in sub-Saharan Africa. That's more than 200 million people, more than the entire population of Nigeria. | |
 | Older adults being overprescribed sedativesOlder adults in Canada are being overprescribed benzodiazepines and other sedative-hypnotic drugs with brand names such as Ativan, Valium and Xanax, according to University of Alberta experts. |
Poor diabetes control can lead to increased risk of serious infections, study showsA new study has shown that diabetes patients with the poorest control of their blood sugars face the highest risks of hospitalisation and death due to infections. | |
 | Compound improves social interaction in autism mouse modelChildren with autism often find social interactions awkward, leaving them isolated. Now in a study appearing in ACS' Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, scientists report that they have discovered a first-of-its-kind compound that promotes social interaction among laboratory mice that display autistic traits. The finding could lead to the development of drugs capable of improving social behaviors in those who have autism. |
 | Ebola and Lassa fever targeted by new vaccine trial and improved surveillanceScientists hope that a new approach to vaccine development, combined with improved surveillance of potential future threats of outbreak, could help to massively reduce the impact of deadly diseases such as Ebola, Marburg and Lassa fever. |
 | Breastfeeding changes gene activity that may make babies less reactive to stressIt has long been known that there are many physical and mental health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies. But can these benefits be due to genetic changes induced by breastfeeding? New research suggests that connection. |
 | NIAID releases strategic plan to address tuberculosis researchTuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious cause of death worldwide, killing roughly 1.6 million people in 2017. In the past 200 years, TB claimed the lives of more than one billion people—more deaths than from malaria, influenza, smallpox, HIV/AIDS, cholera and plague combined. |
 | Study shows importance of personal social networks on neurological outcomesAre healthy and unhealthy habits contagious? Can a person's social network influence their risk of disease? It's a contentious idea but one that researchers want to explore in the future and better understand. A new study by investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital helps lay important groundwork for such studies by developing and making accessible scalable tools to allow clinical researchers to assess social networks in a robust and quantifiable way. In addition, using data from a cohort of participants in the federally funded Genes and Environment in Multiple Sclerosis (GEMS) Project, the team reports finding an association between the habits of people connected to a participant and that person's level of self-reported neurological disability. The team's results are published online today in Nature Communications. |
 | Beyond skin deep—understanding disparities in dermatology servicesThe odds of a black or Hispanic patient visiting an outpatient dermatologist are about half that of a white patient with the same skin condition, according to a new study in JAMA Dermatology. Patients most likely to receive outpatient dermatologic services in the study were white, educated women. The findings are among several that describe disparities in the use of outpatient dermatology services. |
 | Is that selfie edited? Why it may matter for women viewersThere's a surprising upside to the fact that many people edit their selfies on Instagram and other social media sites to enhance their appearance. |
 | Olfactory cells may act as 'Trojan horse,' carry anticancer therapy to deadly brain tumorsA special type of cell essential to the ability of olfactory neurons to regenerate may be genetically engineered to deliver anticancer therapy to the dangerous brain tumors called glioblastomas. In their report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers describe using olfactory ensheathing cells to deliver an anticancer agent only to tumor cells and how the treatment reduced tumor size and prolonged survival in a mouse model. |
 | Alcohol use in patients with chronic liver diseaseA review article published in the New England Journal of Medicine discusses the effects of alcohol use on various forms of liver disease, as well as the assessment and treatment of alcohol use in patients with chronic liver disease. |
 | Wearable defibrillator lowers sudden cardiac death, but only when you wear itAn international clinical trial that studied wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCDs) found that the devices did not significantly reduce sudden cardiac death—the primary goal of the device—among patients assigned to the device in the first 90 days after a heart attack, but did lower mortality among those who wore it as prescribed, according to a study led by researchers at UC San Francisco. |
 | Researchers discover possible cause for Alzheimer's and traumatic brain injuryRutgers researchers have discovered a new mechanism that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury. They now hope to launch a clinical trial to test the treatment in humans. |
 | 80,000 people died of flu last winter in USAn estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last winter—the disease's highest death toll in at least four decades. |
 | Neuroscientists see clues to brain maturation in adolescent ratsOne of the outstanding questions in neurodevelopment research has been identifying how connections in the brain change to improve neural function during childhood and adolescence. Now, results from a study in rats just reported by neuroscientists Heather Richardson, Geng-Lin Li and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Amherst suggest that as animals transition into adolescence, specific physical changes to axons speed up neural transmission, which may lead to higher cognitive abilities. |
 | Understanding antibiotic resistance in patients with cystic fibrosisA defective gene causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). There, it traps bacteria, causing patients to develop frequent lung infections that progressively damage these vital organs and impair patients' ability to breathe. |
Researchers evaluate controversial treatment for Parkinson's disease psychosisIn the wake of media and public reports about increased mortality linked to a new drug for treating Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP)—a symptom of the progressive nervous system disorder in which patients experience hallucinations and delusions—researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine conducted a retrospective study of qualifying patients in the UC San Diego Health system, concluding that the new drug, pimavanserin (marketed as Nuplazid), did not pose a statistically significant greater risk of death. | |
Countries pledge billions to fight tuberculosis worldwideThe World Health Organization says governments have agreed to contribute $13 billion a year by 2022 to prevent and treat tuberculosis, a communicable disease that claimed at least 1.3 million lives last year. | |
 | Rat poison in synthetic pot can kill users: report(HealthDay)—Synthetic marijuana laced with rat poison has caused hundreds of hospitalizations in the United States this year, and a new study details just how serious the poisonings can be. |
 | Years after pregnancy, heart risks track from mother to childA mother can pass down a lot of physical traits to her child, such as her smile, eye color, or the shape of her nose. According to new research, she may also be passing along something not as obvious—a vulnerability for developing heart disease. |
 | 8-year-old beats the odds against heart and brain birth defectsThe day after Maggie Maine was born, doctors told her parents there was a 70 percent chance she'd never walk, talk or be able to feed or bathe herself. |
 | Policies should encourage healthy food consumption(HealthDay)—Diet is an important component that impacts cardiovascular risk, and policies should be implemented to improve dietary composition, according to an article published in the Aug. 21 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. |
 | Combo therapy not needed if low RA disease activity achieved(HealthDay)—Once low rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity is achieved with tocilizumab (TCZ) plus methotrexate (MTX), patients can discontinue MTX without significant disease worsening, according to a study published in the August issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology. |
 | Surgeon experience aids assessment of futility(HealthDay)—More experienced surgeons are more confident in their assessments of perceived futility, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. |
 | Persistent post-op opioid use in young cancer patients explored(HealthDay)—Higher inpatient pain scores and postoperative opioid consumption are associated with persistent opioid use of up to six months among children and adolescents who have undergone cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, according to a study published in a recent issue of Pediatric Anesthesia. |
 | Evaluating quality of protein supplements for athletesProtein powders are among the most commonly consumed nutritional supplements by professional athletes and amateurs, and even by those who use them for aesthetic purposes instead of sporting ones. This study, led by a researcher from the Area of Human Motility and Sporting Performance at the University of Seville, has analysed the quality of these products in function of their source, treatment and storage. |
 | New study reveals potential therapeutic approach to enhance keratinocyte migration in cutaneous wound healingResearchers have identified a new mechanism involving ginsenoside Rb1, which has the ability to stimulate keratinocyte migration and promote cutaneous wound healing. They report the results of a study showing that Rb1 enhances keratinocyte migration in an article published in Journal of Medicinal Food, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The researchers demonstrated that Rb1 significantly increases the production of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which is a signaling factor in keratinocytes known to stimulate wound repair through greater keratinocyte migration. |
New Zealand children's medicine prescriptions examined for first timeA study into the pharmaceutical use of 1.4 million New Zealand children has revealed some significant increases in the use of certain prescription medicines, as well as the positive impact of practitioner education. | |
Connection between 'chalky teeth' in children and the uptake of Bisphenol A not likelyDepending on symptomatic and phenotypic severity the condition of chalky teeth is categorised into three levels. The symptoms of chalky teeth were first described in 1978, with the term molar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) introduced in 2001. The condition is the consequence of a deline-ated defect in tooth enamel development which affects at least one of the permanent back teeth (molars) and, under certain circumstances, will also comprise the incisors. According to recent media coverage such tooth defects are claimed to be attributable to the uptake of Bisphenol A (BPA). | |
AI could be used to predict outcomes for people at risk of psychosis and depressionMachine learning, also known as artificial intelligence, could be a useful tool for predicting how well people at high risk of psychosis or with recent onset depression will function socially in the future, an international research study has found. | |
 | Researchers discover molecule involved in the repair of liver woundsA new study from researchers of CEDOC-NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas and Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, led by Maria Paula Macedo and Carlos Penha-Gonçalves, respectively, showed that a molecule CD26/DPP-4 is involved in the regeneration of acute liver wounds and is a promising biomarker for hepatic disease. The results are published in Hepatology Communications |
Predictable, preventable and deadly: Carbon monoxide poisonings after stormsSevere weather events, such as summer hurricanes, tornadoes, and winter snow storms often result in widespread and prolonged power outages, interrupting essential household functions, including home heating. Power losses may also compromise food storage and home cooling devices. In such a scenario, people may turn to dangerous remedies to compensate for lost electrical power. | |
Biology news
 | What's behind the color and pattern of bird feathers?While it may be true, as the old adage goes, that 'birds of a feather flock together,' what is less certain is how the feathers on those birds come to have their distinct patterns and colorations. Current data suggest that patterns of stripes and spots on animals' fur or feathers are formed through an open-ended or stochastic process during the embryonic formation of skin, at which time a dynamic—such as Turing's reaction-diffusion—is at play. On the other hand, owing to their specific orientation and periodictity, and the highly reproducible nature of these patterns within species, it is thought that other factors may also be at work in the development of patterning and coloration. |
 | Scientists investigate how DEET confuses countless crittersDEET, thought to be the most effective insect repellent available, may not be an insect repellent at all. |
 | Team names world's largest ever bird—Vorombe titanAfter decades of conflicting evidence and numerous publications, scientists at international conservation charity ZSL's (Zoological Society of London) Institute of Zoology, have finally put the 'world's largest bird' debate to rest. Published today (26 September 2018) in Royal Society Open Science—Vorombe titan (meaning 'big bird' in Malagasy and Greek), has taken the title reaching weights of up to 800 kg and three metres tall, with the research also discovering unexpected diversity in these Madagascan creatures. |
 | Microbial dark matter dominates Earth's environmentsUncultured microbes—those whose characteristics have never been described because they have not yet been grown in a lab culture—could be dominating nearly all the environments on Earth except for the human body, according to a new study published in mSystems. |
 | Sunflower pollen has medicinal, protective effects on beesWith bee populations in decline, a new study offers hope for a relatively simple mechanism to promote bee health and well-being: providing bees access to sunflowers. |
 | How leaves talk to rootsNew findings show that a micro RNA from the shoot keeps legume roots susceptible to symbiotic infection by downregulating a gene that would otherwise hinder root responses to symbiotic bacteria. These findings reveal what it takes to make nitrogen-fixing symbiosis efficient, and how to exploit it agronomically. |
 | Manta rays' food-capturing mechanism may hold key to better filtration systemsManta rays strain their tiny food from mouthfuls of seawater in a novel way that could hold the key to better filtration in a variety of commercial applications, new research by Oregon State University shows. |
 | Zika and yellow fever—vaccines without eggsA team led by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems in Magdeburg is developing methods with which viruses for vaccines can be replicated in significantly higher concentrations than before. The researchers produce the pathogens in cell cultures in small bioreactors. The production of vaccines currently requires about half a billion chicken eggs per annum, which causes some problems. |
 | A mechanism of color pattern formation in ladybird beetlesMany ladybirds have attractive color patterns consisting of black and red. This prominent color pattern is thought to function as a warning that indicates to predators that they are very bitter and unpalatable. A research team led by Professor Teruyuki Niimi at the National Institute for Basic Biology in Japan focused on the multicolored Asian ladybird beetle Harmonia axyridis (also known as the harlequin ladybird), which lives mainly in Siberia and East Asia, and shows >200 color patterns within a species. The team has identified a single gene that regulates such highly diverse ladybird color patterns. |
 | Damaged liver cells undergo reprogramming to regenerateIn Greek mythology, Zeus punishes the trickster Prometheus by chaining him to a rock and sending an eagle to eat a portion of his liver every day, in perpetuity. It was the right organ to target – the liver has the ability to regenerate itself, though not overnight nor for eternity. |
 | Taking out the (life-threatening) garbage: Bacteria eject trash to surviveScientists have known for decades that certain bacteria produce small spherical versions of themselves. Although they lack basic materials to reproduce or function like normal cells, recent interest in such "minicells" has spiked due to their proficiency as nano-sized delivery tools for drugs and vaccines to targeted cells and tissues. |
 | Plant genetic resources ensure ag's futureImagine a gardener, plant explorer, geneticist, and computer specialist all rolled into one job. You might call that person a steward of plant genetic resources. |
 | Fad for 'lucky' tail hair threatens Vietnam elephantsIn a village in Vietnam's "elephant kingdom", a vendor holds up a severed, dried tail dotted with coarse hairs she promises will bring good luck -– a grim new trade that is endangering the country's few remaining elephants. |
Big changes about small fish are in store for fishermenFisheries managers are adopting a host of potentially major changes for Atlantic herring, an economically important fish that serves as a key part of the ocean ecosystem in New England. | |
 | Concerns grow for Arctic beluga whale in Thames estuaryConcerns were growing Wednesday for a beluga whale spotted in the River Thames estuary outside London, thousands of kilometres (miles) from the cherished white species' natural home in Arctic waters. |
 | Newly discovered hummingbird species already critically endangeredIn 2017, researchers working in the Ecuadorian Andes stumbled across a previously unknown species of hummingbird—but as documented in a new study published in The Auk: Ornithological Advances, its small range, specialized habitat, and threats from human activity mean the newly described Blue-throated Hillstar is likely already critically endangered. |
 | Millions of birds die in collisions each year, but lights could change thatMillions of birds die each year in collisions with planes, and airports have used everything from fireworks to herding dogs to scare them away. Some methods have been relatively successful, but they're useless after the plane takes off. Researchers at Purdue University may have just found a solution. |
 | Invasive snakes 'hitchhiking' on planesA team of international scientists has discovered why brown tree snakes have become one of the most successful invasive species. |
 | Rare Sumatran tiger found dead in IndonesiaA critically endangered Sumatran tiger has died after being caught in a hunter's trap on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, an official said Wednesday. |
 | Giddy up—help for plump ponies is fast on its wayQUT Professor Martin Sillence, from QUT's School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, said a new veterinary drug related to one used to treat human metabolic syndrome has been found to prevent laminitis in ponies with the equine version of metabolic syndrome. |
 | Unprecedented experiment with Canadian military provides new insights on right whalesNorth Atlantic right whales began making headlines the summer of 2017 when a record number of the whales died after getting tangled in fishing gear or hit by ships. |
 | Novel method produces highest-ever signals for human embryonic stem cell detectionA new method developed by researchers at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) can potentially ensure patient safety for future stem cell-based therapies by enhancing native stem cell bioelectric signals. |
 | Omnivore sharks and cannibal hippos – the strange truth about dinnertime in the animal kingdomAnimals don't always stick to traditional menus, and they certainly don't read the descriptions of their diets we include in textbooks. When it recently emerged that a notorious carnivore (a shark) was actually selecting the vegetarian option, scientists were intrigued. |
Report says fishing rule might put whales at greater riskA report by federal scientists about a critically endangered whale says some regulations intended to protect them aren't working and might have unintended consequences for the animals. | |
 | Another reason for the western swamp tortoise to smileThere were smiles all round, from people and tortoises alike, at the release of 12 western swamp tortoises into Ellenbrook Nature Reserve. |
 | Protecting vulnerable speciesSabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and Cardiff University's Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) have launched new state action plans to protect vulnerable and endangered species in Sabah, Borneo. |
 | Conservation biologist goes to ends of the earth to save little-known speciesColorado State University Professor Joel Berger chases winter, year-round. Unlike the surfers in the 1966 movie, "The Endless Summer," he isn't in pursuit of the perfect wave around the world. He's tracking disappearing species in remote and often icy locations. |
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