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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 18, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers catch red dwarf star in a superflare outburstNew observations by two Arizona State University astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have caught a red dwarf star in a violent outburst, or superflare. The blast of radiation was more powerful than any such outburst ever detected from the Sun, and would likely affect the habiltability of any planets orbitiing it. |
 | Blazar's brightness cycle confirmed by NASA's Fermi missionA two-year cycle in the gamma-ray brightness of a blazar, a galaxy powered by a supermassive black hole, has been confirmed by 10 years of observations from NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. The findings were announced today at the Eighth International Fermi Symposium meeting this week in Baltimore. |
 | Astrophysicist contributed into international-team efforts on study Comet 29PEvgenij Zubko of Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), in collaboration with international team members, has developed a comprehensive model to explain the results of the recent photometric study of the comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 (29P). The surprising findings revealed that the dust environment of 29P predominantly consists of only one type of material—magnesium-rich silicate particles with presumably a small amount of iron (Fe-Mg silicates). |
 | Superflares from young red dwarf stars imperil planetsThe word "HAZMAT" describes substances that pose a risk to the environment, or even to life itself. Imagine the term being applied to entire planets, where violent flares from the host star may make worlds uninhabitable by affecting their atmospheres. |
 | Mission control ready for MercuryTeams responsible for flying the bold BepiColombo mission to Mercury today completed the last major step in preparation for Saturday's liftoff—the final pre-launch 'dress rehearsal' at ESA's ESOC control centre in Darmstadt, Germany. |
 | VIDEO: 5,000 robots merge to map the universe in 3-DHow do you create the largest 3-D map of the universe? It's as easy as teaching 5,000 robots how to "dance." DESI, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument, is an experiment that will target millions of distant galaxies by automatically swiveling fiber-optic positioners (the robots) to point at them and gather their light. In creating this detailed map, scientists hope to learn more about dark energy, which is driving the accelerating expansion of the universe. |
 | How a group of school students discovered the sounds of solar storms,We are now truly living in the era of big data. And it's not just companies like Facebook and YouTube that are reaping the benefits, big data is transforming science too. In the space sciences, we have an unprecedented number of satellites and ground-based instruments that monitor Earth's space environment – routinely producing tonnes of data. But how do you process it all? While you may have heard about algorithms and artificial intelligence, there are some decidedly more human approaches too. |
 | BepiColombo: Two orbiters head to mercuryKnown since antiquity, Mercury has not yet delivered all its secrets. The international mission BepiColombo, scheduled to launch in the coming days, will study the planet's surface and compare its magnetic field with that of the Earth. |
 | Would a Space Force mean the end of NASA?Space, that final frontier, is something that catches the attention of a country naturally inclined to believe in ideas like "Manifest Destiny" and American exceptionalism. But how well does a Space Force fit that bill? And would a Space Force reignite a military space race and fuel diplomatic tensions with China and Russia? |
Technology news
 | SLAP: Simultaneous Localization and Planning for autonomous robotsResearchers at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Texas A&M University, and Carnegie Mellon University recently carried out a research project aimed at enabling simultaneous localization and planning (SLAP) capabilities in autonomous robots. Their paper, published in IEEE Transactions on Robotics, presents a dynamic replanning scheme in belief space, which could be particularly useful for robots operating under uncertainty, such as in changing environments. |
 | Researchers show what can happen when a drone collides with an airplaneA team at the University of Dayton Research Institute has created a video showing what can happen to an airplane when it collides with a drone. They have presented their findings along with the video at this year's Unmanned Systems Academic Summit. |
 | 'DAWG' system aims to prevent attacks made possible by Meltdown and SpectreIn January the technology world was rattled by the discovery of Meltdown and Spectre, two major security vulnerabilities in the processors that can be found in virtually every computer on the planet. |
 | Carbon fiber can store energy in the body of a vehicleA study led by Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, has shown that carbon fibres can work as battery electrodes, storing energy directly. This opens up new opportunities for structural batteries, where the carbon fibre becomes part of the energy system. The use of this type of multifunctional material can contribute to a significant weight-reduction in the aircraft and vehicles of the future—a key challenge for electrification. |
 | Qualcomm unwraps chipsets, talks up 60GHz WiFi solutionsQualcomm is talking up their new chipsets; the company has announced its 60GHz Wi-Fi chipsets. |
 | 3D-printed supercapacitor electrode breaks records in lab testsScientists at UC Santa Cruz and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have reported unprecedented performance results for a supercapacitor electrode. The researchers fabricated electrodes using a printable graphene aerogel to build a porous three-dimensional scaffold loaded with pseudocapacitive material. |
 | Neural network that securely finds potential drugs could encourage large-scale pooling of sensitive dataMIT researchers have developed a cryptographic system that could help neural networks identify promising drug candidates in massive pharmacological datasets, while keeping the data private. Secure computation done at such a massive scale could enable broad pooling of sensitive pharmacological data for predictive drug discovery. |
 | First proof of quantum computer advantageFor many years, quantum computers were not much more than an idea. Today, companies, governments and intelligence agencies are investing in the development of quantum technology. Robert König, professor for the theory of complex quantum systems at the TUM, in collaboration with David Gosset from the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo and Sergey Bravyi from IBM, has now placed a cornerstone in this promising field. |
 | Researchers put forward a roadmap for quantum internet developmentA quantum internet may very well be the first quantum information technology to become reality. Researchers at QuTech in Delft, the Netherlands, today published a comprehensive guide toward this goal in Science. It describes six phases, starting with simple networks of qubits that could already enable secure quantum communications—a phase that could be reality in the near future. The development ends with networks of fully quantum-connected quantum computers. In each phase, new applications become available such as extremely accurate clock synchronization or integrating different telescopes on Earth in one virtual super-telescope. This work creates a common language that unites the highly interdisciplinary field of quantum networking toward achieving the dream of a world-wide quantum internet. |
 | Hong Kong mega bridge launch announcement sparks backlashAn opening ceremony has finally been announced for the world's longest sea bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China, but critics hit back Thursday over the secrecy surrounding the launch. |
 | MELT 3-D printer designed for use in microgravityEurope's first 3D printer designed for use in weightlessness, printing aerospace-quality plastics, has won the prestigious Aerospace Applications Award from design-to-manufacturing specialist TCT Magazine. |
 | Heart pump from a 3-D printerETH doctoral student Kai von Petersdorff-Campen has developed a method to create products containing magnets using 3-D printing. He used an artificial heart pump to demonstrate the operating principle – and won an international prototype competition. |
 | NADINE: Power-plant-scale energy storageOn the way toward a CO2-neutral energy system, storage of large amounts of energy is still an unsolved problem. In the future, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and Stuttgart University plan to jointly develop appropriate energy storage systems. For this purpose, the research institutions have now agreed on the establishment of a research infrastructure, the National Demonstrator for Isentropic Energy Storage (NADINE). The test facility for the development of power-plant-scale energy storage systems will be built in Karlsruhe and Stuttgart. |
 | True blue picks: A snapshot of Australia's favourite porn(This article contains explicit terms which some readers and workplaces may find offensive.) |
 | Portable "tricorder" scans life signsScientists from the School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow have developed a handheld device for taking medical readings from patients, and transferring the data to a smartphone. |
 | Blockchains won't fix internet voting security – and could make it worseLooking to modernize voting practices, speed waiting times at the polls, increase voter turnout and generally make voting more convenient, many government officials – and some companies hawking voting systems – are looking to an emerging technology called a "blockchain." That's what's behind a West Virginia program in which some voters serving abroad in the military will be able to cast their votes from their mobile devices. Similar voting schemes have been tried elsewhere in various places around the world. |
 | Why health apps are like the Wild West, with Apple just riding into townThe heart rate monitor built into the new Apple Watch has sparked sharp debate over its risks and benefits, even though the feature was cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. |
 | Facebook's election 'war room' takes aim at fake informationIn an otherwise innocuous part of Facebook's expansive Silicon Valley campus, a locked door bears a taped-on sign that reads "War Room." Behind the door lies a nerve center the social network has set up to combat fake accounts and bogus news stories ahead of upcoming elections. |
 | Iron Man-like exoskeletons studied to improve productivity, safety, and well-beingOver the next decade, American manufacturers are facing an industrial skills gap with projections of 2 million manufacturing jobs going unfilled due to a lack of qualified and skilled applicants. A large portion of the current manufacturing workforce is nearing retirement age and younger generations often lack the interest to learn the technical skills associated with jobs in manufacturing. Furthermore, occupational injuries cost U.S. companies more than $13 billion annually, with overexertion injuries accounting for the majority of injuries. |
 | Researchers develop AI-powered system to automate quality control process in textile industryThe Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) recently developed an intelligent fabric defect detection system, called "WiseEye", which leverages advanced technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning in the process of quality control (QC) in textile industry. The system effectively minimises the chance of producing substandard fabric by 90%, thus substantially reducing loss and wastage in the production. It helps to save manpower as well as enhance the automation management in the textile manufacturing. |
 | Researches to develop vehicular communications for multi-modal mobility solutionsNanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) today announced that it will be working with industry partners to integrate cellular communication into vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies, as part of NTU's upcoming research in the smart mobility sector. |
 | New data science method makes charts easier to read at a glanceDoctors reading EEGs in emergency rooms, first responders looking at multiple screens showing live data feeds from sensors in a disaster zone, brokers buying and selling financial instruments all need to make informed decisions very quickly. Visualization complexity can complicate decision-making when one is looking at data on a chart. When timing is critical, it is essential that a chart be easy to read and interpret. |
 | Warsaw taxis hold anti-Uber go slowHundreds of taxis on Thursday drove at a snail's pace across the Polish capital Warsaw in protest at the ride-sharing app Uber and other unlicenced competitors. |
First look: RED Hydrogen One hopes holographic screen can lure people from Apple, SamsungThe arrow flying off the screen was coming straight for us, and had we not known better we might have ducked. We were watching a scene from Disney Pixar's "Brave" in 3-D, or something very much like it, and we were doing so without wearing any funky glasses. And the display in front of us wasn't at the neighborhood multiplex but rather on an oversized smartphone. | |
Facebook lured advertisers by inflating ad-watch times up to 900 percent: lawsuitNot only did Facebook inflate ad-watching metrics by up to 900 percent, it knew for more than a year that its average-viewership estimates were wrong and kept quiet about it, a new legal filing claims. | |
Manufacturers adopt robots that help human workers, not replace them. For nowDuring more than 25 years as a factory worker, David Young has seen a parade of robots take over tasks he and his colleagues used to do by hand. | |
 | China not manipulating currency but lacks transparency, US saysWashington on Wednesday again declined to call China a currency manipulator but said the yuan's fall and Beijing's exchange practices were of "particular concern." |
 | Global trade wars risk 'millions of jobs': WTO chiefEscalating trade wars "pose real risks" to the global economy, potentially threatening millions of jobs, head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Roberto Azevedo warned in a London speech on Wednesday. |
 | Mass tax trickery cost Europe 55 bln euros: reportTwo closely-related tax schemes have helped banks and investors avoid tax or even syphon cash directly out of European treasuries totalling billions more than previously thought, an investigation by 19 media revealed Thursday. |
 | US authorities reel in StarKist in canned tuna scandalThe US crackdown on price fixing has netted another big fish in canned tuna, the Justice Department announced Thursday. |
 | EU leaders vow tough action on cyber attacksEU leaders on Thursday condemned the attempted hack on the global chemical weapons watchdog and vowed to step up the bloc's efforts to tackle cyber attacks. |
 | MoviePass operations under investigation by New York AGThe company that runs the beleaguered MoviePass discount service for movie tickets is being investigated by the New York Attorney General on allegations that it misled investors. |
States and feds unite on election security after '16 clashesElection officials and federal cybersecurity agents are touting improved collaboration aimed at confronting and deterring efforts to tamper with elections. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Brain cells called astrocytes have unexpected role in brain 'plasticity'When we're born, our brains have a great deal of flexibility. Having this flexibility to grow and change gives the immature brain the ability to adapt to new experiences and organize its interconnecting web of neural circuits. As we age, this quality, called "plasticity," lessens. |
 | Electrical properties of dendrites help explain our brain's unique computing powerNeurons in the human brain receive electrical signals from thousands of other cells, and long neural extensions called dendrites play a critical role in incorporating all of that information so the cells can respond appropriately. |
 | Mutant cells colonize our tissues over our lifetimeBy the time we reach middle age, more than half of the oesophagus in healthy people has been taken over by cells carrying mutations in cancer genes, scientists have uncovered. By studying normal oesophagus tissue, scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, MRC Cancer Unit, University of Cambridge and their collaborators uncovered a hidden world of mutations and evolution in our tissues as we age. |
 | Breastfeeding protects infants from antibiotic-resistant bacteriaA recent study completed at the University of Helsinki investigated the amount and quality of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in breast milk and gut of mother-infant pairs. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications. |
 | Functional engineered oesophagus could pave way for clinical trialsThe world's first functional oesophagus engineered from stem cells has been grown and successfully transplanted into mice, as part of a pioneering new study led by UCL. |
 | Rapid genomic sequencing of Lassa virus in Nigeria enabled real-time response to 2018 outbreakMounting a collaborative, real-time response to a Lassa fever outbreak in early 2018, doctors and scientists in Nigeria teamed up with researchers at Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and colleagues to rapidly sequence the genome of the deadly virus. Genomic information about the virus's properties was crucial to helping local public health officials make management decisions during the outbreak. |
 | A new mechanism in the control of inflammationAfter infection or tissue injury, the inflammatory immune response attacks the infection and repairs the damaged tissue. However, sometimes excess inflammation can have the opposite effect, increasing injury in a process known as immunopathology. Now, researchers at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) have discovered a new inflammation control mechanism that shows how the damage caused by the immune response can be controlled. The study is published today in Science. |
 | Accurate evaluation of chondral injuries by near infrared spectroscopyOsteoarthritis is a disabling disease characterised by joint pain and restricted mobility, affecting especially the elderly. The disease generally progresses slowly, even over decades. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis, however, affects people of all ages and is initiated by joint trauma, for example, as a result of falling. The disease is most prevalent in articulating joints, such as the knee. |
 | Scientists uncover how rare gene mutation affects brain development and memoryResearchers from the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, have found that a rare gene mutation alters brain development in mice, impairing memory and disrupting the communication between nerve cells. They also show memory problems could be improved by transplanting a specific type of nerve cell into the brain. The findings were published today in Neuron. |
 | Scientists grow functioning human neural networks in 3-D from stem cellsA team of Tufts University-led researchers has developed three-dimensional (3-D) human tissue culture models for the central nervous system that mimic structural and functional features of the brain and demonstrate neural activity sustained over a period of many months. With the ability to populate a 3-D matrix of silk protein and collagen with cells from patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other conditions, the tissue models allow for the exploration of cell interactions, disease progression and response to treatment. The development and characterization of the models are reported today in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, a journal of the American Chemical Society. |
 | Outbreak of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis undetected by standard testsOn 26 September, the United Nations announced a plan to raise $13 billion annually for the fight to eradicate tuberculosis by 2030. With 10 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths in 2017, it is the most common infectious disease in the world, ahead of HIV. In over 450,000 new cases of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis that likely appeared, only 25% were detected. A study by an international research team co-directed by Philip Supply, a CNRS researcher at the Center of Infection and Immunity of Lille (CNRS/Inserm/Institut Pasteur de Lille/Université de Lille), has underlined this serious problem of under-detection, in South Africa in particular. |
 | Experts raise safety concerns about cardboard baby boxesCardboard baby boxes are being promoted for infant sleep as a safe alternative to more traditional cots, bassinets, or Moses baskets, without any evidence in place, warn experts in The BMJ today. |
 | Pre-eclampsia linked to an increased risk of dementia later in lifePre-eclampsia is associated with an increased risk of later dementia, particularly vascular dementia, caused by reduced blood supply to the brain due to diseased blood vessels, finds a large study published by The BMJ today. |
Genome sequencing found feasible and informative for pediatric cancer treatmentComprehensive genetic testing of tumors and non-cancerous tissue from pediatric cancer patients is a feasible and clinically useful approach that can guide patient care, according to findings presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2018 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif. | |
 | Children with autism, developmental delays nearly 50 percent more likely to be overweight, obeseA new study by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the University of Pennsylvania and six other centers reveals that children with developmental delays, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are up to 50 percent more likely to be overweight or obese compared with the general population. |
Distinguishing fatal prostate cancer from 'manageable' cancer now possibleScientists at the University of York have found a way of distinguishing between fatal prostate cancer and manageable cancer, which could reduce unnecessary surgeries and radiotherapy. | |
 | Hormone alters male brain networks to enhance sexual and emotional functionScientists have gained new insights into how the 'master regulator' of reproduction affects men's brains. |
 | Fentanyl test strips prove useful in preventing overdosesAmong more than 72,000 deaths in the U.S. last year, fentanyl—a highly potent prescription opioid often used to lace other heroin or cocaine, but hard for drug users to detect—factored into many of cases. |
 | Adding flavors to e-cigarette liquids changes chemistry, creates irritantsAs e-cigarette use expands among teens in the U.S., so have vaping menus, with manufacturers marketing nicotine-infused liquids that taste like crème brûlée, cotton candy and mango smoothies. |
 | Researchers describe novel immune syndromeResearchers from Australia and Japan have discovered a new human immunodeficiency syndrome in two patients on separate continents. The study, which will be published October 18 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, reveals that a mutation in a gene called IKBKB disrupts the immune system, leading to excessive inflammation and the loss of both T and B white blood cells. |
 | Why does diabetes cause heart failure?Men with diabetes are 2.4 times more likely than non-diabetics to suffer heart failure and women are five times more likely. |
 | Anti-inflammatory drug effective for treating lymphedema symptomsFor more than three decades, Lisa Hanson did her best to hide the unsightly fluid retention in her left leg that caused uncomfortable swelling and made her skin taut and thickened. At 17, when she was first diagnosed with lymphedema, she threw out her shorts and dresses and began a lifelong journey of wearing compression hose up to her thigh and using an electric sleevelike pump every night to control the swelling. |
 | Surgery technique reduces strokes in atherosclerosis patientsA surgical technique called EDAS (encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis) significantly decreases the rate of stroke recurrence and death for patients with severe atherosclerosis of the brain arteries, according to findings of a Phase IIa clinical trial presented today at the World Stroke Congress in Montreal. Atherosclerotic disease, in which plaque buildup narrows the brain arteries, is one of the most common causes of strokes. |
 | Making gene therapy delivery safer and more efficientViral vectors used to deliver gene therapies undergo spontaneous changes during manufacturing which affects their structure and function, found researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in a study published in Molecular Therapy. As gene therapy approaches become more common for treating disease, managing consistency of the molecular makeup of the virus particles that deliver genes is a key concern in manufacturing on a larger scale. The team also describes ways to make viral vectors more efficient and safer for patients. |
 | Scientists find missing-in-action MS genesAn international collaboration led by scientists at Yale has cracked a tough nut in multiple sclerosis: Where are all the genes? |
 | E-cigarette vaping negatively impacts wound healingA new study shows that e-cigarette vaping negatively affects skin wound healing, causing damage similar to that of traditional cigarette smoking. Researchers, led by a team from Boston Medical Center (BMC), found exposure to both e-cigarette vaping and traditional cigarettes in experimental models resulted in increased tissue death, which delays wound healing. These findings, published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, provide important information for providers on how to counsel their patients considering surgery on the negative impacts of both traditional and e-cigarettes on their wound healing progress and safety. |
 | Cancer patients can now use skin creams during radiation therapyContrary to the advice most cancer patients receive when they go through radiation treatment, topical skin treatments, unless applied very heavily, do not increase the radiation dose to the skin and can be used in moderation before daily radiation treatments. A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that while 91 percent of clinicians surveyed said they advised patients to avoid these skin treatments and 83 percent of patients surveyed said they'd received this guidance from their doctors, testing showed there was no difference in the radiation skin dose with or without these creams. They published their findings in JAMA Oncology today. |
 | New causative gene found in severe childhood epilepsyA large international research team has discovered a new genetic cause for a severe, difficult-to-treat childhood epilepsy syndrome. Spontaneous mutations in one gene disrupt the flow of calcium in brain cells, resulting in epileptic overactivity. The team's research in patients also found clues to potential medical treatments for the rare condition. |
 | Study pinpoints what makes human neurons uniqueHuman neurons are much larger than those of model organisms mice and rats, so it's been unclear whether it's size that makes a difference in our brain's computational power. Now, in a study appearing October 18 in the journal Cell, researchers show that unlike those of other animals, human neurons employ highly compartmentalized signaling. Human dendrites—the tree-like branching structures that function as neurons' antennas—process electrical signals differently than dendrites in rodents, the most common model systems for studying neuronal properties. |
 | Weight loss success linked with active self-control regions of the brainNew research suggests that higher-level brain functions have a major role in losing weight. In a study among 24 participants at a weight-loss clinic, those who achieved greatest success in terms of weight loss demonstrated more activity in the brain regions of the lateral prefrontal cortex associated with self-control. The results of the study were published in Cell Metabolism on October 18. |
 | Not all prion strains interfere with each otherThe first example of prion strains that replicate independently in vitro and in vivo suggests that strain diversity may be greater than previously thought, according to a study published October 18 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Jason Bartz of Creighton University, and colleagues. |
 | Bug guts shed light on Central America Chagas diseaseIn Central America, Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is spread by the "kissing bug" Triatoma dimidiata. By collecting DNA from the guts of these bugs, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases have described patterns in the behavior of the bugs, the strain of parasite, and the communities of microbes that interact with the parasite. |
 | Wheel running measures mouse distress betterThe amount of time a mouse spends running on the wheel provides an accurate and objective measure of the discomfort induced by research procedures, according to a new study publishing October 18 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by André Bleich and colleagues from the Hannover Medical School in Germany. The finding may improve care and reduce suffering for animal subjects, a key goal of statutory guidelines governing animal welfare in biomedical research. |
 | Selfish people have fewer children and earn less moneyWhat happens to those who behave unselfishly and make sacrifices for the sake of others? According to an interdisciplinary study by researchers from Stockholm University, the Institute for Futures Studies and the University of South Carolina, unselfish people tend to have more children and to receive higher salaries, in comparison to more selfish people. The results have now been published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. |
 | Adolescent THC exposure alters neurons/gene networks associated with psychosis riskYoung adults with exposure to THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis) during adolescence have alterations in the structure of neurons and gene expression within these brain cells, which are critical for maintaining synaptic plasticity, in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region that mediates decision-making and other cognitive functions. |
 | History shows abuse of children in custody will remain an 'inherent risk' – reportNew research conducted for the current independent inquiry suggests that – despite recent policy improvements – cultures of child abuse are liable to emerge while youth custody exists, and keeping children in secure institutions should be limited as far as possible. |
 | How an idea from a lab may change cancer treatmentsIn recent years, researchers have begun to fight cancer by genetically engineering a patient's own immune system to target the disease. Quad Technologies, a company that grew out of a Northeastern research lab, has been developing technology to facilitate this process. This summer, Quad Technologies was acquired by a global life sciences company that will help move its prototypes closer to being able to assist in manufacturing cancer treatments. |
 | With dangers of everyday concussions revealed, scientists race to find solutionsA bump to the head from slipping on the stairs, falling off a skateboard, or running into an open cupboard door has long been seen as a temporary injury, something resolved with a little rest. |
| New approach to understanding cancers will speed treatmentsA new innovation in cancer research will enable scientists to understand the complex causes of the disease with unprecedented speed and sophistication. This will accelerate the development of new and better treatments, and it will help researchers find ways around roadblocks that now stand in their path. |
 | Researcher finds Latino men in the U.S. more susceptible to obesityMoving to the United States could be taking a toll on the health of Latino men. A new study from Florida State University found Latino men who are born or live in the United States for more than five years are more susceptible to obesity. |
 | Planning for death must happen long before the last few days of lifeOur experience of death obviously shapes the final moments of our own life. It also shapes the experience and remains in the memories of those around us. |
 | How long does cannabis impairment last? Researchers are starting to find outIf rules about cannabis consumption for Canadian police are any measure, we know precious little about how long cannabis impairment lasts. The wait time for police to show up for work after consumption ranges anywhere from the next day to 28 days, with some forces prohibiting members from using the drug altogether. |
 | Cannabis and driving: Why you shouldn't do it and what research is still neededA variety of conditions affect our ability to drive, including poor sleep, some prescription medications and alcohol. Cannabis is another. |
 | Sick of googling symptoms and getting bad information? Here's a second opinionIf you're an American with Internet access, you've probably done it. You get a headache, a sniffle or a mystery bruise, and instead of seeing your doctor, you consult "Dr. Google." |
 | We're doing drug trials wrong – here's how to fix itBy the age of 65, at least half of us will suffer from two or more long-term diseases. And the chance of having multi-morbidity, as it is known, increases with age. |
 | Sleep helps people predict regular sequences of eventsSleep stabilizes previously gained knowledge, and by doing so, helps to develop long-term memory. In a new study, Tübingen researchers Nicolas Lutz, Ines Wolf and Stefanie Hübner investigated whether sleep also improves learning performance in predictable processes. Their research was supervised by Professor Jan Born and Dr. Karsten Rauss of the University of Tübingen's Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology. |
 | The problem with using 'super recognisers' to spot criminals in a crowdPeople often say that they never forget a face, but for some people, this claim might actually be true. So-called super recognisers are said to possess exceptional face recognition abilities, often remembering the faces of those they have only briefly encountered or haven't seen for many years. Their unique skills have even caught the attention of policing and security organisations, who have begun using super recognisers to match photographs of suspects or missing persons to blurry CCTV footage. |
 | CDC warns of Salmonella illnesses linked to raw chicken(HealthDay)—The number of people sickened in a Salmonella outbreak linked to raw chicken products now stands at 92 people in 29 states, U.S. health officials said today. |
 | Protein-packed foods that should be part of your diet(HealthDay)—Protein is key to your well-being and deserves a significant place in every diet. Knowing the best sources can boost your health as well as help you feel more satisfied on fewer calories. |
 | Preeclampsia tied to tripling of dementia in later life(HealthDay)—High blood pressure during pregnancy can be a sign of preeclampsia—a potentially life-threatening complication. Now, new research suggests preeclampsia might also make women more vulnerable to a specific type of dementia. |
Polluted city neighborhoods are bad news for asthmatic childrenChildren with asthma who grow up in a New York City neighborhood where air pollution is prevalent need emergency medical treatment more often than asthmatics in less polluted areas. This is according to researchers from Columbia University in the US in a new study published in the Springer Nature-branded journal Pediatric Research. Lead author, Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir, warns however that neighborhoods where asthma cases in children are less common should not be excluded from efforts to improve air quality. This is because children that live in neighborhoods where asthma is less common may be more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. | |
Independence tests should ask more of seniorsUCR psychology researcher says the bar is too low for "functional independence" in older adults, and should be aligned with skills younger adults must conquer. | |
 | Researchers find new genetic diseaseResearchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have discovered a new genetic disease and a method for detecting more unexplained medical conditions. |
 | New finding could unmask blood doping in athletesA Duke University research team has found a way to help sporting officials detect whether an athlete's blood has been doped by an infusion of their own stored blood. |
 | Medicating distress: Risky sedative prescriptions for older adults vary widelyDespite years of warnings that older adults shouldn't take sedative drugs that put them at risk of injury and death, a new study reveals how many primary care doctors are still prescribing them, how often, and exactly where. |
 | Communism continues to cause heavy drinking in Eastern European countriesResearchers from the School of Economics set out to establish to what extent living under communism, both in terms of the numbers of years spent under communist regimes and specifically during formative adult years of 18-25, influenced alcoholic intake in the future. |
Neo-colonial attitudes to security in war-torn nations out-of-date and unhelpfulDeveloped countries imposing their own Security Sector Reform (SSR) processes onto nations recovering from war often rely on entrenched colonial attitudes with no guarantee of success. | |
High stakes decision-making causes a little more cheating, a lot less charityThe age old adage of virtue being its own reward may not hold true in the corporate world—in fact, honourable acts could lead workers to behave more selfishly later on, new research has shown. | |
| How the brain makes rapid, fine adjustments in motor activityShort-term motor learning appears not to require physical change in the brain Brain's premotor cortex may use a 'neural scratch pad' to calculate fine adjustments Brain can try different things in simulation without 'screwing up what it's already doing' |
 | Novel DNA vaccine design offers broad protection against influenza-A H3N2Researchers developed a novel DNA influenza vaccine based on four micro-consensus antigenic regions selected to represent the diversity of seasonal H3N2 viruses across decades. The DNA vaccine protected mice against a lethal challenge with more than one influenza-A H3N2 virus and protected them from severe H3N2-related illness despite the lack of an exact sequence match between the vaccine immunogen and H3 immunogen. The findings are reported in a new Special Issue on DNA Vaccines in Human Gene Therapy," a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. |
 | Researchers detail how middlemen suppliers can increase hospital bills and drug pricesHospitals should be cautious of group purchasing organizations, or entities that act as middlemen between health care providers and manufacturers, says Martin Makary, M.D., M.P.H., a professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. |
 | Physical activity lowers risk of death from heart diseaseFrailty is a health condition that increases risks of poor health, falls, disability, and death in older adults. Signs of frailty include weakness, weight loss, slow walking speed, exhaustion, and low levels of activity. As our population ages, scientists expect that more and more of us will need to address frailty and its associated health concerns. |
Aerobic exercise has antidepressant treatment effectsAn analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials indicates that supervised aerobic exercise has large antidepressant treatment effects for patients with major depression. The systematic review and meta-analysis is published in Depression and Anxiety. | |
 | Colored filter improves dyslexic children's reading speedReading, one of the most difficult activities for children with dyslexia, can be improved by the use of green filters. |
 | Kids health outcomes have more to do with parents level of education than incomeParents educated beyond high school invest more in family health care, reducing the likelihood of adverse medical conditions despite differences in family income and health insurance, according to a recent Rutgers study that appeared in the Southern Economic Journal. |
Study points to new method to deliver drugs to the brainResearchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) have discovered a potentially new approach to deliver therapeutics more effectively to the brain. The research could have implications for the treatment of a wide range of diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and brain cancer. | |
 | 3-drug therapy might be cystic fibrosis 'Breakthrough'(HealthDay)—In what researchers are calling a "breakthrough," two preliminary trials have found that either of two triple-drug regimens could potentially benefit 90 percent of people with cystic fibrosis. |
 | AHA: ozone pollution may be linked to a type of bleeding strokeExposure to the main ingredient in smog may be linked to a type of bleeding stroke, according to new research. |
 | Maternal trauma associated with low male infant birthweight(HealthDay)—Higher lifetime trauma among women is associated with decreased birthweight among male offspring, according to a study published Sept. 6 in The Journal of Pediatrics. |
 | Environmental associations with genes may yield opportunities for precision medicineA new approach to genetic analysis finds associations between environmental factors and pharmacogenes—genes associated with a person's response to drugs—sparking ideas for new research at the interface of population genetics and medicine. Findings were presented at the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) 2018 Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif. |
 | Suicide risk in abused teen girls linked to mother-daughter conflictTeenage girls who were maltreated as children are more likely to entertain suicidal thoughts if the relationship with their mother is poor and the degree of conflict between the two of them high. |
 | Cytokine mediates obesity-related factors linked to colorectal cancerA new study describes the mechanistic relationship between the cytokine interleukin-1ß, (IL-1ß) and obesity, showing that when IL-1ß levels are increased in obesity, IL-1 receptor signaling activates multiple pathways leading to colon cancer. The study shows that obesity is linked with systemic increases in IL-1ß, activation of Wnt, and proliferation of mouse colon cells, as reported in an article published in Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research (JICR) from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. |
 | Managing the complexities and risks of HIV and tuberculosis coinfectionA new study identified a significant association between HIV infection and complexities of treating patients with tuberculosis coinfection. Patients with HIV were more likely to have more tuberculosis drug-related adverse events, more hospital readmissions, and longer tuberculosis treatment duration, as reported in AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. |
 | To track how students ace the LSAT, watch their eyesA half-decade ago, UC Berkeley neuroscientists discovered that training for law school admission exams boosted brain connections that sharpen reasoning skills. |
For preterm infants, skin-to-skin contact affectsFor premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), skin-to-skin contact with parents influences levels of hormones related to mother-infant attachment (oxytocin) and stress (cortisol) - and may increase parents' level of engagement with their infants, reports a study in Advances in Neonatal Care, official journal of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. | |
 | 'Mad cow disease' found on Scottish farm: govtA case of BSE—commonly dubbed "mad cow disease"—has been found on a Scottish farm, though the isolated case posed no risk to human health, the devolved government in Edinburgh said Thursday. |
Diagnosis of ovarian cancer delayed by woeful lack of awarenessA global study of women with ovarian cancer has found that two thirds of women had never heard of the disease, or did not know anything about it before their diagnosis. Although nine out of ten had experienced symptoms prior to diagnosis, fewer than half of those women visited a doctor within a month of noticing symptoms. | |
 | Gene-edited zebrafish models take disease research to the next levelAdvances in optimisation of the gene-editing technique CRISPR/Cas9 in zebrafish disease models offer a new level of accuracy and specificity previously out of reach for research into human genetic disorders. |
 | Scientists develop DNA molecule that may one day be used as 'vaccine' for prostate cancerResearchers from City of Hope, a world-renowned comprehensive cancer center and independent biomedical research institution, have developed a synthetic DNA molecule that is programmed to jump-start the immune system to eradicate genetically distinct types of prostate cancer. |
Pop Warner implements concussion-awareness program for kidsPop Warner, the country's largest youth football program, is implementing a concussion-awareness initiative aimed at educating young athletes about how to recognize symptoms of a head injury. | |
Biology news
 | New cell movement process key to understanding and repairing facial malformationsThe embryonic stem cells that form facial features, called neural crest cells, use an unexpected mechanism of moving from the back of the head to the front to populate the face, finds a new UCL-led study. |
 | Expanding the optogenetics toolkitControlling individual brain cells using light-sensitive proteins has proven to be a powerful tool for probing the brain's complexities. As this branch of neuroscience has expanded, so has the demand for a diverse palette of protein tools. |
 | Bioceramics power the mantis shrimp's famous punchResearchers in Singapore can now explain what gives the mantis shrimp, a marine crustacean that hunts by battering its prey with its club-like appendages, the most powerful punch in the animal kingdom. In a paper publishing October 19 in the journal iScience, they show that a saddle-shaped structure in the mantis shrimp's limbs, which acts like a spring to store and then release energy, is composed of two layers made of different materials. Measuring the composition and the micro-mechanical properties of the layers—which are mostly bioceramic and mostly biopolymeric, respectively—allowed the researchers to simulate how the saddle stores such large amounts of elastic energy without breaking. |
 | Smallest life forms have smallest working CRISPR systemAn ancient group of microbes that contains some of the smallest life forms on Earth also has the smallest CRISPR gene-editing machinery discovered to date. |
 | Working lands play a key role in protecting biodiversityWith a body the size of a fist and wings that span more than a foot, the big brown bat must gorge on 6,000 to 8,000 bugs a night to maintain its stature. This mighty appetite can be a boon to farmers battling crop-eating pests. |
 | New tool helps align investment with objectives in biodiversity conservationOne of the balancing acts faced by conservation agencies is how to conserve and protect as many species as possible from extinction with limited funding and finite resources. In the U.S., conservation agencies are supported and guided by the Endangered Species Act, the seminal wildlife conservation tool signed by President Nixon in 1973, but which is currently being reviewed by Congress. |
 | Biodiversity can also destabilize ecosystemsEcosystems have a variety of benefits to humans, including food, water and other resources, as well as recreational space. It is therefore important that these systems remain functional and stable—especially in view of climate change and environmental pollution. Ecologists at the University of Zurich and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) have now examined the factors that influence this stability in a unique and comprehensive experiment. |
 | Elucidating cuttlefish camouflageThe unique ability of cuttlefish, squid and octopuses to hide by imitating the colors and texture of their environment has fascinated natural scientists since the time of Aristotle. Uniquely among all animals, these mollusks control their appearance by the direct action of neurons onto expandable pixels, numbered in millions, located in their skin. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research and the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies/Goethe University used this neuron-pixel correspondence to peer into the brain of cuttlefish, inferring the putative structure of control networks through analysis of skin pattern dynamics. |
 | Staying a step ahead of the gameTrypanosoma brucei, which causes sleeping sickness, evades the immune system by repeatedly altering the structure of its surface coat. Sequencing of its genome and studies of its 3-D genome architecture have now revealed crucial molecular aspects of this strategy. |
 | Female chimpanzees know which males are most likely to kill their babiesResearch carried out by the University of Kent sheds light on the infanticidal behaviour of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and demonstrates that females are highly sensitive to the relative risks posed to their babies by different males. |
 | Study links genes to social behaviors, including autismThose pesky bees that come buzzing around on a muggy summer day are helping researchers reveal the genes responsible for social behaviors. A new study published this week found that the social lives of sweat bees—named for their attraction to perspiration—are linked to patterns of activity in specific genes, including ones linked to autism. |
 | Researchers propose CRISPR as influencer of low genetic diversity in deadly bacteriaScientists at Oregon State University have shed light on the evolutionary history of a soil-borne bacteria that is so dangerous to grazing animals it is kept behind lock-and-key to prevent its spread. |
 | Letting the sunshine in may kill dust-dwelling bacteriaAllowing sunlight in through windows can kill bacteria that live in dust, according to a study published in the open access journal Microbiome. |
 | Plant hormone makes space farming a possibilityWith scarce nutrients and weak gravity, growing potatoes on the moon or on other planets seems unimaginable. But the plant hormone strigolactone could make it possible, plant biologists from the University of Zurich have shown. The hormone supports the symbiosis between fungi and plant roots, thus encouraging plants' growth—even under the challenging conditions found in space. |
 | Distribution of bumblebees across EuropeScientists have mapped the distribution of bumblebees in Europe and created a predictive map that can be used to monitor and mitigate bumblebee decline. |
 | Plants emit greenhouse gas nitrous oxide at substantial amountsNitrous oxide, or N2O, is a greenhouse gas that affects the ozone layer and the earth's climate. Until now, experts believed that microbes in the soil were largely responsible for its formation. Now an interdisciplinary research team from the University of Applied Sciences Bingen and Heidelberg University have looked more closely at plants as the source. The result of the study: The earth's flora emits considerable amounts of nitrous oxide that contributes to the greenhouse gas effect. Unlike human-induced global warming, however, this process is part of a natural effect. |
 | Did eating starchy foods give humans an evolutionary advantage?Gene AMY1, which kickstarts digestion of starch in the mouth, is associated with blood glucose levels and digestion of carbohydrates, with implications for understanding human evolutionary biology and the gut microbiome. |
 | Spider swarm cloaks Greek lake in 1,000-metre webLake Vistonida in northern Greece has become an arachnophobe's worst nightmare after it was cloaked recently by massive webs spun by hundreds of thousands of small spiders. |
 | Video: How to catch fruit fliesYou can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar—or can you? In this video, Reactions explains the chemistry behind why fruit flies love vinegar so much that some entomologists call them "vinegar flies": |
 | South American marsupials discovered to reach new heightsIn the Andean forests along the border of Chile and Argentina, there have long been speculations that the mouse-sized marsupial monito del monte (Dromiciops gliroides) climbs to lofty heights in the trees. Yet, due to the lack of knowledge about the region's biodiversity in the forest canopies, no previous records exist documenting such arboreal habits for this creature. |
 | Estimating the feeding habits of corals may offer new insights on resilient reefsResearchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego and colleagues have found that corals living in more productive waters take advantage of the increased food availability. The findings, published in the journal Current Biology on October 18, reevaluate scientific understanding of how corals survive and could aid predictions on coral recovery in the face of climate change. |
 | Genetic breakthrough will aid whitebark pine conservation effortsA University of Colorado Denver-led research team for the first time developed reliable genetic markers known as nuclear microsatellites for the whitebark pine, a discovery that could improve the tree's prospects for survival. Whitebark pine, which is declining rapidly nearly range-wide, is currently being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. |
 | Epidemic in turf management: Herbicide resistance in annual bluegrassAnnual bluegrass is one of the most common weeds of turfgrass on golf courses, sports fields and sod farms, not to mention residential and commercial lawns. Unfortunately this nemesis of pristine landscapes has also developed resistance to many common herbicides. Researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture are participating in a national effort to address what many landscape managers call an epidemic of herbicide resistance in annual bluegrass plaguing managed turf systems. |
 | New fly species found in Indiana may indicate changing climate, says researcherA new type of blow fly spotted in Indiana points to shifting species populations due to climate change. Researchers at IUPUI have observed the first evidence of Lucilia cuprina in Indiana, an insect previously known to populate southern states from Virginia to California. |
 | Imec's elPrep software significantly speeds up genome sequencing analysisThis week at ITF Health 2018, imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, showcases elPrep 4.0, a powerful software tool to speed up human DNA sequencing analysis. elPrep accelerates whole genome and exome processing pipelines up to an order of magnitude, saving a typical lab hundreds of hours of computer processing and allowing more and faster DNA tests. elPrep 4.0 is designed as a drop-in replacement for preparation steps defined by the GATK (Genome Analysis Toolkit) Best Practices pipelines for variant calling, while delivering identical results. |
 | 'Malnourished' animals report prompts Albania zoo closureA report claiming lions and other animals were left malnourished at a private zoo in Albania has prompted Albanian authorities to order the zoo's temporary closure. |
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