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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 14, 2018:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers discover super-Earth around Barnard's starAstronomers have discovered a planet in orbit around one of the closest stars to the Sun, Barnard's star. |
 | Gravitational waves from a merged hyper-massive neutron starFor the first time astronomers have detected gravitational waves from a merged, hyper-massive neutron star. The scientists, Maurice van Putten of Sejong University in South Korea, and Massimo della Valle of the Osservatorio Astronomico de Capodimonte in Italy, publish their results in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. |
 | The dance of the small galaxies that surround the Milky WayAn international team led by researchers from the IAC used data from the ESA satellite Gaia to measure the motion of 39 dwarf galaxies. This data gives information on the dynamics of these galaxies, their histories and their interactions with the Milky Way. |
 | Astronomers detect once-in-a-lifetime gamma raysScientists have discovered something amazing. |
 | NASA Learns More About Interstellar Visitor 'OumuamuaIn November 2017, scientists pointed NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope toward the object known as 'Oumuamua—the first known interstellar object to visit our solar system. The infrared Spitzer was one of many telescopes pointed at 'Oumuamua in the weeks after its discovery that October. |
 | Image: Mapping the nightImaging Earth from space is a favourite pastime for astronauts on the International space Station. They can set their cameras to automatically snap photos while they work, but often make time to Earth-gaze and take photos of their own. |
 | Image: Hubble spots a lonely blue dwarfThis captivating image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 shows a lonely dwarf galaxy 100 million light-years away from Earth. This image depicts the blue compact dwarf galaxy ESO 338-4, which can be found in the constellation of Corona Australis (the Southern Crown). |
Extended life for ESA's science missionsAfter a comprehensive review of their scientific merits and technical status, the SPC has decided to extend the operation of the five missions led by ESA's Science Programme: Cluster, Gaia, INTEGRAL, Mars Express, and XMM-Newton. The SPC also confirmed the Agency's contributions to the extended operations of Hinode, Hubble, IRIS, SOHO, and ExoMars TGO. | |
 | Jodrell Bank Observatory release 50 year-old audio archive of Soviet Zond 6 lunar missionJodrell Bank is releasing audio recordings of a Soviet space mission from fifty years ago, just as the race to the moon was approaching the finish line. |
 | Direct observations of a planet orbiting a star 63 light-years awayIn the past 30 years, the number of planets discovered beyond our solar system has grown exponentially. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of our technology, the vast majority of these exoplanets have been discovered by indirect means, often by detecting the transits of planets in front of their stars (the Transit Method) or by the gravitational influence they exert on their star (the Radial Velocity Method). |
 | Catching asteroid 3 Juno at its bestNot all oppositions are created equal. This week's sky target offers a good case in point, as asteroid 3 Juno reaches its most favorable viewing position for the decade. |
Technology news
 | End-to-end learning of co-speech gesture generation for humanoid robotsResearchers at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in South Korea have recently developed a neural network model that can generate sequences of co-speech gestures. Their model, trained on 52 hours of TED talks, successfully produced human-like gestures that matched speech content. |
 | Researchers discover how routers may be recruited into botnet armyThis is one November headline that made a lot of readers nervous: A reporter gave reasons for why you should change your Internet password now. Kari Paul in MarketWatch was one of several sites reporting on a botnet army out there, using malware to infect computers and turn them into bots. |
 | Simple, scalable wireless system uses the RFID tags on billions of products to sense contaminationMIT Media Lab researchers have developed a wireless system that leverages the cheap RFID tags already on hundreds of billions of products to sense potential food contamination—with no hardware modifications needed. With the simple, scalable system, the researchers hope to bring food-safety detection to the general public. |
 | Cathay apologises over data breach but denies cover-upThe top two executives at Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific on Wednesday apologised for the firm's handling of the world's biggest airline hack that saw millions of customers' data breached but denied trying to cover it up. |
 | 'Robocop' on patrol at Singapore summitHi-tech Singapore has deployed an autonomous robot with a swivelling camera for a head and flashing lights to patrol a summit venue—arresting the attention of amused passers-by who stopped to snap selfies. |
 | Photo recognition that keeps personal interests privateFrom just a quick snapshot on a smartphone, image recognition technology can provide a wealth of information to help shoppers find in-store bargains and inform tourists of the name of a landmark. But these photos may be giving away more information about users' preferences and tendencies than they want to share. |
 | Robots in sewers will save society millionsIn the future the country's sewer systems will be inhabited by surveillance robots. Using robots, big data and artificial intelligence (AI), a new Danish research project will save hundreds of millions of kroner on maintaining sewers. |
 | Putting the squeeze on sootRunning diesel engines and gas turbines at high pressure to boost power output and efficiency is harmful for the environment. Burning fuel at high pressure can significantly change the soot particles that are produced, William Roberts from the KAUST Clean Combustion Research Center and his team have shown. Studying the factors affecting soot formation should lead to new ways to curb soot emissions, says Hafiz Amin, first author of the paper. |
 | Concrete printing in 3-D will put an end to boring buildingsConstruction is one of the largest industries in the world economy – worth A$10 trillion globally (equivalent to 13% of GDP). |
 | New anisotropic conductive film for ultra-fine pitch assembly applicationsHigh-resolution display devices increasingly need ultra-fine pitch assemblies. On that account, display driver interconnection technology has become a major challenge for upscaling display electronics. |
 | Ringling train chugs into digital worldThe century-old train car known to be the site of business transactions for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has long been too fragile for visitors to step inside. The Wisconsin has faced conservation issues due to the discontinuation of spare train parts. Through a project led by the University of South Florida, it will no longer be limited to glancing through a window. |
 | Volkswagen to devote 3 German plants to electric car pushGerman automaker Volkswagen will convert three factories in Germany to manufacture electric cars, ramping up production of zero-local emission cars ahead of tougher European emissions standards, the company said Wednesday. |
 | Spanish Amazon workers plan 'Black Friday' strike: unionWorkers at Amazon's biggest logistics centre in Spain are planning to strike for eight days in November, December and January, including on the online retailer's "Black Friday" sales bonanza, a union said Wednesday. |
 | EU to curb phone costs, set up emergency alert systemThe European Parliament voted Wednesday to limit prices for phone calls and text messages between EU countries and to set up an alert system during natural disasters or terror attacks. |
 | Amazon ends suspense over HQ by picking New York, DC suburbFor more than a year, cities around the country waited in suspense over whether they'd be chosen as Amazon's second home. |
 | Vietnam's top telecom bosses face arrest over loss-making TV dealVietnam on Wednesday issued arrest warrants and placed two top telecom bosses under investigation for suspected involvement in a loss-making private TV deal, authorities said, as a crackdown on graft gathers pace. |
 | Jet Airways shares rise on Tata investment speculationShares in India's second-largest airline Jet Airways jumped almost three percent Wednesday following reports that salt-to-steel conglomerate Tata Group might invest in it. |
 | UK budget carrier FlyBe says for saleStruggling British no-frills airline FlyBe on Wednesday put itself up for sale, adding it was in talks with potential buyers in the face of a challenging market. |
 | Pressure helps to make better Li-ion batteriesLithium titanium oxide (Li4Ti5O12, LTO), a "zero-strain" anode material for Li-ion batteries (LIBs), exhibits excellent cycling performance. However, it shows poor conductivity, which is the major drawback and limits its applications. In a recent paper published in National Science Review, it is reported that static compression can highly improve the conductivity of LTO by pressure-induced amorphization and promoting ion migration defects for Li+. The results suggest amorphous LTO is a better anode material for LIBs. |
 | Snapchat parent hands over data for US inquirySnapchat's parent company Snap said Wednesday US officials are looking into how forthright the company was with aspiring investors prior to its stock market debut last year. |
 | Scores protest against new Amazon HQ in Queens, NYAround 100 people on Wednesday protested against Amazon's impending arrival in New York's borough of Queens, condemning $3 billion in tax breaks and incentives, and worried ordinary families will be pushed out by gentrification. |
Medicine & Health news
 | New research has revealed we are actually better at remembering names than facesWith the Christmas party season fast approaching, there will be plenty of opportunity to re-live the familiar, and excruciatingly-awkward, social situation of not being able to remember an acquaintance's name. |
 | Researchers find inhibiting one protein destroys toxic clumps seen in Parkinson's diseaseA defining feature of Parkinson's disease is the clumps of alpha-synuclein protein that accumulate in the brain's motor control area, destroying dopamine-producing neurons. Natural processes can't clear these clusters, known as Lewy bodies, and no one has demonstrated how to stop the build up as well as breakdown of the clumps—until perhaps now. |
 | New brain imaging research shows that when we expect something to hurt it does, even if the stimulus isn't so painfulExpect a shot to hurt and it probably will, even if the needle poke isn't really so painful. Brace for a second shot and you'll likely flinch again, even though—second time around—you should know better. |
 | Scientists combine technologies to view the retina in unprecedented detailBy combining two imaging modalities—adaptive optics and angiography—investigators at the National Eye Institute (NEI) can see live neurons, epithelial cells, and blood vessels deep in the eye's light-sensing retina. Resolving these tissues and cells in the outermost region of the retina in such unprecedented detail promises to transform the detection and treatment of diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness among the elderly. NEI is part of the National Institutes of Health, and the paper was published online in Communications Biology. |
 | Zika may hijack mother-fetus immunity routeTo cross the placenta, Zika virus may hijack the route by which acquired immunity is transferred from mother to fetus, new research suggests. |
 | Maternally acquired Zika immunity can increase dengue disease severity in mouse pupsTo say that the immune system is complex is an understatement: an immune response protective in one context can turn deadly over time, as evidenced by numerous epidemiological studies on dengue infection, spanning multiple decades and countries worldwide. These studies showed that infants born to mothers who had become immune to dengue virus can develop a severe form of dengue in infancy, at a time when their maternally-acquired antibody levels begin to drop. |
 | Low-carb diets cause people to burn more caloriesMost people regain the weight they lose from dieting within one or two years, in part because the body adapts by slowing metabolism and burning fewer calories. A meticulous study led by Boston Children's Hospital, in partnership with Framingham State University, now finds that eating fewer carbohydrates increases the number of calories burned. The findings, published November 14 in the BMJ, suggest that low-carb diets can help people maintain weight loss, making obesity treatment more effective. |
 | Human Cell Atlas study reveals maternal immune system modifications in early pregnancyThe first Human Cell Atlas study of early pregnancy in humans has shown how the function of the maternal immune system is affected by cells from the developing placenta. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, Newcastle University and University of Cambridge used genomics and bioinformatics approaches to map over 70,000 single cells at the junction of the uterus and placenta. This revealed how the cells talk to each other to modify the immune response and enable the pregnancy. |
 | A new approach to detecting cancer earlier from blood tests: studyCancer scientists led by principal investigator Dr. Daniel De Carvalho at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have combined "liquid biopsy", epigenetic alterations and machine learning to develop a blood test to detect and classify cancer at its earliest stages. |
 | Discovery suggests new route to fight infection, diseaseNew research reveals how a single protein interferes with the immune system when exposed to the bacterium that causes Legionnaires' disease, findings that could have broad implications for development of medicines to fight disease and infection. |
 | New research aims to help improve uptake of hepatitis C testingNew research published in Scientific Reports shows persisting fears about HIV infection may impact testing uptake for the hepatitis C Virus (HCV). |
 | Precision neuroengineering enables reproduction of complex brain-like functions in vitroOne of the most important and surprising traits of the brain is its ability to dynamically reconfigure the connections to process and respond properly to stimuli. Researchers from Tohoku University (Sendai, Japan) and the University of Barcelona, using neuroengineering tools, have created in vitro neural circuits that reproduce the capacity of segregation and integration of brain circuits and which allow researchers to understand the keys of dynamic reconfiguration. The study has been published in Science Advances. |
 | Researchers identify a mechanism that fuels cancer cells' growthScientists at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified sodium glucose transporter 2, or SGLT2, as a mechanism that lung cancer cells can utilize to obtain glucose, which is key to their survival and promotes tumor growth. The finding provides evidence that SGLT2 may be a novel biomarker that scientists can use to help diagnose precancerous lung lesions and early-stage lung cancers. |
 | Vapers do not undermine desire to quit smokingSmokers who regularly spend time with vapers (people who use e-cigarettes) are more likely to try quitting smoking, according to a new study carried out by UCL. |
More adults using complementary and alternative medicine in England but access is unequalUse of practitioner-led complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), such as acupuncture, massage, osteopathy and chiropractic treatment, rose from 12 per cent of the population in 2005 to 16 per cent of the population in 2015, according to a survey led by researchers at the University of Bristol's Centre for Academic Primary Care. However, access to these treatments was unequal, with women, those who are better off and those in the south of England more likely to use CAM. | |
 | If your diet fails, try again; your heart will thank youDuring the holiday season, it can be difficult for even the most determined of us to stick to a healthy diet. A piece of Halloween candy here, a pumpkin spice latte there, and suddenly we're left feeling like we forgot what vegetables taste like. |
 | Affordable health care means better access to diabetes prevention, managementAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 100 million Americans are either living with diabetes or have higher than average blood sugar levels consistent with prediabetes. |
 | Alcohol ads with pro-drinking comments on Facebook boost desire to drinkAlcohol advertisements on social media sites such as Facebook can increase young adults' desire to drink if the ads contain pro-drinking comments from users. That's according to new research in the current issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. |
Youth-oriented mental health campaign shows evidence of successA community engagement campaign launched by Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to address mental health barriers had an impressive reach with the younger audience it targeted and showed signs of changing attitudes, according to a new RAND Corporation evaluation. | |
 | Surgery, not antibiotics, should remain first-line treatment for appendicitis: studyTreating appendicitis with antibiotics as an alternative to surgical removal of the inflamed organ was found to be more costly in the long term and result in higher rates of hospital readmissions, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. |
 | Survey reveals how we use music as a possible sleep aidMany individuals use music in the hope that it fights sleep difficulties, according to a study published November 14 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Tabitha Trahan of the University of Sheffield, UK, and colleagues. As described by the authors, this is the first online survey on the use of music as a sleep aid in the general population. |
 | Migraines that affect vision may increase risk of irregular heartbeatPeople who experience migraine with visual aura may have an increased risk of an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation, according to a study published in the November 14, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Migraine with visual aura is when disturbances in vision occur right before head pain begins. Those disturbances may include seeing wavy lines or flashes of light, or having blurry vision or blind spots. |
 | Regular checks of very preterm babies' head size can help identify long-term IQ problemsRegular early head circumference assessments add valuable information when screening for long-term neurocognitive risk – according to new research by an international research collaboration, including the University of Warwick, UK and the University of Tennessee Knoxville, US. |
 | People recently released from prison face challenges in accessing medical carePeople who disclose that they have recently been released from prison are significantly less likely to be offered an appointment when seeking care from a family doctor compared to other patients, suggests new research from the University of British Columbia. |
 | New antibody breakthrough to lead the fight against cancerScientists at the University of Southampton have developed a new antibody that could hold the key to unlocking cancer's defence against the body's immune system. |
 | Can't exercise? A hot bath may help improve inflammation, metabolism, study suggestsHot water treatment may help improve inflammation and blood sugar (glucose) levels in people who are unable to exercise, according to a new study. The findings are published ahead of print in the Journal of Applied Physiology. |
 | Photoacoustic imaging may help doctors detect ovarian tumors earlierOvarian cancer claims the lives of more than 14,000 in the U.S. each year, ranking fifth among cancer deaths in women. A multidisciplinary team at Washington University in St. Louis has found an innovative way to use sound and light, or photoacoustic, imaging to diagnose ovarian tumors, which may lead to a promising new diagnostic imaging technique to improve current standard of care for patients with ovarian cancer. |
 | Adults on the autism spectrum prescribed mental health drugs without diagnosesAdults on the autism spectrum are being prescribed mental health drugs in instances where there is limited supporting evidence to do so. |
 | Why natural depression therapies are better than pillsWinter is upon us. And with it comes the annual worsening of depressive symptoms. Sadly, in the United States, suicide continues to claim more lives than firearms, and suicide rates are increasing in nearly all states. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that death by suicide has increased by 30 per cent since 1999 and a similar trend is observed in Canada. |
 | The video games that improve kids' social skillsVideo games that are specifically designed to test and improve children's social and emotional skills could enable parents and teachers to spot issues and help children improve their behaviour and performance at school as well as in later life. |
 | Here's why you dread brainstorming at workThe nature of work is changing. In today's fast changing and interconnected world many companies operate in highly competitive international environments. |
 | Even brief abstinence from social media causes withdrawal symptomsIn many cases, just a seven-day break from social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp is sufficient to induce withdrawal symptoms like those caused by addictive substances. This is the conclusion of a study by Austrian scientists, which was published today in an international journal. The study identified classic withdrawal symptoms, including significantly increased urges, boredom, and an influence on whether the subjects were in a good or bad mood. Most surprisingly, 90 of the 152 participants were unable to do without social media for seven days without "relapsing." |
 | First blood-based biomarker in response to the treatment of the most aggressive prostate cancerThe most aggressive type of prostate cancer, castration-resistant prostate cancer, can be treated via two therapies: taxanes or hormone treatment. Until recently, there were no comparative studies between the two, and the decision on which treatment to use was done empirically and based on the patient's preferences. Now, a study co-led by the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) and researchers from Italy and the United Kingdom, and published in European Urology has identified a biomarker that, via liquid biopsy, can determine which of the two treatments would extend the life expectancy of each patient. |
 | Dementia patients are often both the perpetrators and victims of abuse, research showsEvery week in my neurology clinic, I see patients and their families who are dealing with the realities of dementia. Of the many people I encounter, these three stories highlight a growing health issue that I feel is neglected—the complex relationship between dementia and domestic violence. |
 | Want to cut down on your meds? Your pharmacist can help.Pharmacists are pivotal in the process of deprescribing risky medications in seniors, leading many to stop taking unnecessary sleeping pills, anti-inflammatories and other drugs, a new Canadian study has found. |
 | Osteopontin: An emerging role in HCV-related hepatocellular carcinomaA research team based in Japan led by Kanazawa University has demonstrated the effect of osteopontin on hepatitis C virus replication and interferon signaling in cancer stem cells. Their research sheds light on a novel therapeutic target for treating hepatocellular carcinoma. |
 | Emotional intelligence: A new criterion for hiring?The cognitive skills and personality of a future employee are examined during a job interview: Does the candidate have the right training? The right career history? Does he present himself well? And is he affable? However, qualifications and a pleasant character don't necessarily mean that the interviewee will be a good boss or a competent colleague, especially in professions where social interactions play a pivotal role. The individual's emotional intelligence has to be factored in—that is, his or her capacity to understand, regulate, recognise and manage emotions in the specific context of the work environment. Researchers at the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Berne (UNIBE), Switzerland, have devised an emotional intelligence test that measures emotional competencies at work. Known as the Geneva Emotional Competence Test (GECO), it is now available for research purposes and commercial use. Its results are reported in the Journal of Applied Psychology. |
 | Football coaches between victories, defeats and emotionsFootball coaches who have their emotions under control are more successful. This has now been reported in the Sports journal by scientists from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Goethe University in Frankfurt am Main. Emotions and how they are dealt with have a great impact on the performance of coaches and therefore also the team as a whole. Emotional processes in coaches are cyclic and can become stronger in a crisis. Trainers with great emotional competence, on the other hand, can break through a vicious circle easier. |
 | Selecting the right style of yoga for you(HealthDay)—Yoga has many benefits, from increasing flexibility to reducing stress. |
 | Study evaluates effect of heading a ball in soccerThe soccer ball is racing at a speed of 80 km/hr when the player uses their head to redirect it and score. Their team wins the game—but at what cost? UBC Okanagan research suggests the price is high. |
 | Colder, darker climates increase alcohol consumption and liver diseaseWhere you live could influence how much you drink. According to new research from the University of Pittsburgh Division of Gastroenterology, people living in colder regions with less sunlight drink more alcohol than their warm-weather counterparts. |
 | Pins and needles are usually harmless, but it's best not to ignore themEveryone has experienced it: that tingling, prickling feeling you get in your limbs when you've been sitting or lying in one position for too long. Medical people call it parathesia, but to the rest of us, it's "pins and needles". And here's how it works. |
 | How humour can change your relationshipA sense of humour is an attractive trait. There is abundant cross cultural evidence that shows that being funny makes you more desirable as a mate, especially if you are a man. But once the initial flirting is over, and you are in a romantic relationship, how large a role does humour play? |
 | Why some people overeat when they're upsetThe idea of eating a tub of ice cream to cope with being upset has become a bit cliche. Though some might not need a tub of chocolate swirl to help perk themselves up again, there do seem to be systematic differences in the way that people cope with upsetting events, with some more likely to find solace in food than others. |
 | Can artisanal weed compete with 'Big Marijuana'?You've heard of Big Pharma and Big Tobacco. How about Big Marijuana? |
 | An underused strategy for surge in STDs: Treat patients' partners without a doctor visitIf patients return to Dr. Crystal Bowe soon after taking medication for a sexually transmitted infection, she usually knows the reason: Their partners have re-infected them. |
 | Bias-based bullying does more harm, is harder to protect againstA new study finds that bias-based bullying does more harm to students than generalized bullying, particularly for students who are targeted because of multiple identities, such as race and gender. What's more, the study finds that efforts to mitigate these harms are less effective against bias-based bullying. |
 | USPSTF recommends screening adults for unhealthy alcohol use(HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that primary care clinicians screen all adults, including pregnant women, for unhealthy alcohol use and provide brief behavioral counseling to reduce unhealthy alcohol use. These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Nov. 13 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. |
Cardiogenic shock ups mortality in takotsubo syndrome(HealthDay)—For patients with takotsubo syndrome (TTS), those with cardiogenic shock (CS) have an increased risk for mortality, according to a research letter published online Nov. 10 in Circulation to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, held from Nov. 10 to 12 in Chicago. | |
 | New way to study swallowing could one day lead to improved treatments for ALSThere is no cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, but new findings from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine are deepening researchers' understanding of a common ALS symptom: swallowing problems. Researchers have discovered how to mimic human swallowing problems in a rodent model of ALS, which will allow more targeted study on how to preserve and restore swallowing function—a major factor in quality of life. The research could one day lead to new treatments to slow the disease and improve the well-being of individuals with ALS. |
 | Older adults' abstract reasoning ability predicts depressive symptoms over timeAge-related declines in abstract reasoning ability predict increasing depressive symptoms in subsequent years, according to data from a longitudinal study of older adults in Scotland. The research is published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. |
 | Patient engagement as a new blockbuster drug, not quite yet, study findsIf patient engagement is the new 'blockbuster drug,' why are we not seeing spectacular effects? A team of researchers from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice and the Berkeley School of Public Health at UC Berkeley recently conducted a study designed to help answer that question and to better understand how patient engagement and activation (PAE) practices —like goal-setting, motivational interviewing, and shared decision making—are being integrated into clinical practice. What they found was a great deal of positive sentiment about PAE among the healthcare professionals surveyed, but much less understanding and implementation of patient engagement and activation tools and approaches. |
 | US officials report a record number of tick diseasesU.S. health officials say a record number of tick-borne diseases were reported last year. |
 | Spain declares war on alternative medicineThe Spanish government declared war on alternative medicine like acupuncture or homeopathy Wednesday, announcing it plans to eliminate from health centres what it considers a health risk. |
Researchers identify factors behind inflammation in immunodeficiency patientsOregon State University researchers have discovered two key factors behind the intestinal inflammation that plagues people suffering from a disorder that affects their immune system. | |
 | Study of two tribes sheds light on role of Western-influenced diet in blood pressureA South American tribe living in near-total isolation with no Western dietary influences showed no increase in average blood pressure from age one to age 60, according to a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In comparison, a nearby tribe whose diet includes some processed foods and salt did show higher blood pressure into late middle age. |
 | Half of older patients exposed to potentially inappropriate prescribingAround half of older patients are exposed to potentially inappropriate prescribing, each year, and hospitalisation is independently associated with an increased risk, finds a study in Ireland published by The BMJ today. |
Drug designed to boost radiotherapy for hard-to-treat cancers taken safely by patientsA new drug designed to make radiotherapy more effective in treating cancer has been given to patients while they are receiving radiation and shown to be safe, according to research presented today (Wednesday) at the 30th EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Dublin, Ireland. | |
Surgical menopause leads to increased sleep issuesInsomnia is one of the most common symptoms of menopause, with nearly 20% of postmenopausal women reporting sleep disturbances. A new study from Korea demonstrates that sleep quality is often worse for women who undergo surgical menopause compared with those who transition through menopause naturally. The study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). | |
Vaginal problems diminish quality of life but often go unreportedWith symptoms such as dryness, burning, or itching of the vagina, vulvovaginal atrophy is estimated to affect up to 98% of postmenopausal women, many of whom will fail to report symptoms to their healthcare providers or seek help. A new survey demonstrates the negative effect of these symptoms on quality of life. The study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). | |
Patients with cancers of the gullet, stomach and bowel respond well to new anti-HER2 drugDublin, Ireland: An antibody that binds simultaneously to two distinct regions of the HER2 receptor to block the growth of cancer cells has shown promising signs of anti-tumour activity in a number of cancers including those of the gullet (oesophagus), stomach and bowel. | |
Recommendations to reduce recidivism in transgender womenPreviously incarcerated transgender women can find themselves caught in a cycle that leads to repeat jail time. A new analysis of Allegheny County by University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health researchers identifies potential solutions that could lead to transgender women being more successfully reintegrated into society. | |
 | Researchers test a web-based tool to encourage good nutrition among urban youthChildhood obesity is a serious public health challenge in the United States, especially among black and Latino adolescents. The pervasive use of technology and new media among this population creates a unique opportunity for a targeted health intervention through these avenues. |
 | Death doulas can fill care gaps at the end of lifeWith continual advances in modern medicine, we're enjoying longer lives. As the population ages, and particularly as many people are living longer with cancers and chronic diseases, end-of-life care is adapting and changing. |
 | Clinical algorithm to help Singaporeans with type 2 diabetes fast effectively and safely during RamadanNUS researchers have developed a clinical algorithm (flowchart) for individuals in Singapore with type 2 diabetes to manage their diabetic condition when they fast during Ramadan. |
 | Chemists prove chromones are effective against Alzheimer's diseaseRUDN chemists synthesized a range of biologically active molecules called chromones and demonstrated their use in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The results of the work were published in the Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry journal. |
 | More children are becoming suddenly paralyzed. Health officials still don't know whyNinety people have been diagnosed in the U.S. this year with the sudden paralysis known as acute flaccid myelitis, and 252 additional cases are being investigated, federal health officials said Tuesday. |
Two genomic tests identify groups of patients most likely to benefit from new drugsNew results from a long-running trial to identify which new drugs or combinations of drugs are most effective in which types of breast cancer, show that two genomic tests are bringing the era of truly personalised medicine ever nearer. | |
 | New advanced biomaterial to repair damaged nervous tissueA team of researchers from the Centre for Biomedical Technology (CTB) at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) in collaboration with the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), the Instituto Cajal and the Hospital Clínico San Carlos has developed an innovative treatment to repair damaged brain tissues. Thanks to the implantation of encapsulated stem cells in an innocuous biomaterial and fully biocompatible (silk fibroin), researchers have achieved the functional recovery of mice after suffering an induced brain stroke. |
Insomniac prisoners sleep better after one-hour therapy sessionThree-quarters of prisoners struggling to sleep have reported major improvements to their sleep and wellbeing after receiving cognitive behavioural therapy to treat their insomnia. | |
Patient-oriented research: A collection featuring benefits, challenges and experiencesDoes engaging patients in research projects improve health? A comprehensive collection of 17 innovative demonstration projects—from youth involvement in mental health services to suicide prevention, Indigenous health, children with complex medical needs and more—highlights the value of patient engagement in research. | |
Drug shows promising results in Phase II study of aggressive, often fatal blood disorder with no approved therapiesA Phase I/II study, led by investigators at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, reports an investigational drug called tagraxofusp has demonstrated high response rates in patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), a rare but highly aggressive—and often fatal bone marrow and blood disorder—for which there are no existing approved therapies. | |
Screening for hepatitis B and C: Benefit unclear due to a lack of suitable studiesHepatitis B and hepatitis C are viral infections, which are mostly transmitted by blood. Often unnoticed, they can become chronic, causing irreversible damage to the liver. There is a discussion whether regular screening of the general population or of particular risk groups could contain these diseases, for example by early detection and treatment or by a changed risk behaviour of people with detected infection. Screening can also have disadvantages, however, such as triggering anxieties. | |
 | Urocortin 3 gene therapy increases systolic and diastolic function in heart failureMice with heart failure that were treated with AAV8-based gene therapy to deliver the protein urocortin 3 (UCn3) had increased blood levels of UCn3 over a 5-week period and improved heart function. The mice received a single injection of AAV8.UCn3 after cryoinjury to induce left ventricular heart failure and showed significant improvements in both systolic and diastolic heart function, as re-ported in an article published in Human Gene Therapy. |
Victims of gun violence tell their stories: Everyday violence, 'feelings of hopelessness'Invited to share their personal stories, victims of urban gun violence describe living with violence as a "common everyday experience" and feeling abandoned by police and other societal institutions, reports a study in the November/December Journal of Trauma Nursing, official publication of the Society of Trauma Nurses. | |
 | Pancreatic cancer death rates rising across Europe, report revealsPancreatic cancer death rates in the European Union (EU) have increased by 5% between 1990 and 2016, a report launched today reveals. This is the highest increase in any of the EU's top five cancer killers which, as well as pancreatic cancer, includes lung, colorectal, breast and prostate cancer. |
Biology news
 | Mosquito genome opens new avenues for reducing bug-borne diseaseThe mosquito Aedes aegypti is a powerful, plentiful species: It populates six continents, can carry deadly viruses, and bites with abandon. But until recently, its genome was in tatters. |
 | How birds and insects reacted to the solar eclipseA team of researchers with Cornell University and the University of Oxford has found that birds and insects reacted in some surprising ways to the 2017 U.S. total solar eclipse. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the group describes their study of birds and insects during the solar eclipse using Doppler radar data and what they found. |
 | Gene-edited food is coming, but will shoppers buy?The next generation of biotech food is headed for the grocery aisles, and first up may be salad dressings or granola bars made with soybean oil genetically tweaked to be good for your heart. |
 | Venom shape untangles scorpion family treeAs a child growing up in Mexico, Carlos Santibanez-Lopez feared the scorpions that would often decorate the walls and ceilings of his home in search of a warm place with plenty of food. |
 | Researchers develop tool that analyzes biomedical data within minutesResearchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a tool that speeds up the analysis and publication of biomedical data from many months or years to mere minutes, transforming the way researchers communicate results of their studies. Until now, the primary method available to share biomedical research data has been through print publication in scientific journals. The new tool, BioJupies, relies on cloud technologies to analyze and visualize large amounts of data, such as that acquired by genome sequencing, as described in the November 2018 issue of Cell Systems. |
 | New research offers detail and insight into deep-time evolution of animal life on islandsIslands have been vital laboratories for advancing evolutionary theory since the pioneering work of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace in the 19th century. |
 | Stress in early life has a lasting impact on male birds' songMale songbirds that had better early life conditions as nestlings sing more often and produce more complex songs as adults, according to a study by Lucy Magoolagan from Lancaster University, publishing November 14 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. |
 | Zoologist outlines how humans have altered evolution over past centuryZoologist Sarah Otto, with the University of British Columbia, has published a report in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B regarding human influence on evolution over the past century. She notes that the number of changes that have occurred over such a short span of time is unprecedented. |
 | Electro-sensing ability of African elephantnose fish shows acuteness of visionThe African elephantnose fish generates weak electrical pulses to navigate its environment. This localization sense bears an astonishing similarity to vision, as a study by the University of Bonn now shows. The study demonstrates that different objects have different electrical "colors." Fish use these colors to distinguish such things as their favorite food, mosquito larvae, from other small animals or plants. The study is published in the renowned journal Current Biology. |
 | 'Humongous fungus': 25 years later, this Armillaria gallica is bigger than first thought, says researcherA giant individual of the fungus, Armillaria gallica, or honey mushroom, first studied 25 years ago by James B. Anderson, a professor emeritus of biology at the University of Toronto Mississauga, is not only alive and well but is older and larger than Anderson originally estimated. |
 | Studying Komodo dragons to better understand reduced dispersal in island speciesA team of researchers from Australia, Indonesia, Italy and Denmark has learned more about Komodo dragons in their search to better understand reduced island dispersal in island species. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study of the world's largest lizard and what they found. |
 | When boy fish build castles to impress girls, boy genes get 'turned on' and 'tuned in'Call it instinct, but something compels some animals to behave in certain ways, perhaps programs in their genes. Researchers have directly connected activities of genes with instinctive behavior in little male fish that make patterns in the sand to attract their mates. |
 | Symbiosis a driver of truffle diversityWhile the sight of black or white truffle being shaved over on pasta is generally considered a sign of dining extravagance, they play an important role in soil ecosystem services. Truffles are the fruiting bodies of the ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal symbionts residing on host plant roots. In many Ascomycota and Basidiomycota lineages, truffle-forming species have evolved independently in nearly every major group. This suggests that symbiosis drives evolution of truffle diversity and selects for specific traits. |
 | First tally of US-Russia polar bears finds a healthy populationNot all polar bears are in the same dire situation due to retreating sea ice, at least not right now. Off the western coast of Alaska, the Chukchi Sea is rich in marine life, but the number of polar bears in the area had never been counted. The first formal study of this population suggests that it's been healthy and relatively abundant in recent years, numbering about 3,000 animals. |
Captive-breeding will not save wild Asian Houbara without regulation of huntingThe survival of the heavily exploited Asian Houbara depends on the regulation of trapping and hunting, according to research led by the University of East Anglia (UEA). | |
 | Wolves at the door, Alpine shepherd can't imagine any other lifeHe sleeps fully dressed, dreading a midnight wolf attack on the flock of sheep penned in close by his hut, high up in the French Alps. |
 | Migration critical to survival of dolphin populations, genetic study showsAn analysis of dolphin genes has revealed information about their past migrations, showing just how crucial migrants might be for other populations. |
 | Team determines how cholesterol moves inside cellsResearchers have found that high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, sometimes referred to as "good" cholesterol, is transported from the outer wall to the interior of cells by a protein that helps create a "bridge" between the two areas. |
 | Open database encapsulates worldwide knowledge of human metabolismAn international research consortium, spearheaded by the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) of the University of Luxembourg, has developed a database that is unique in the world: the Virtual Metabolic Human Database (VMH). VMH is a collection of knowledge that researchers from all around the world have generated about human metabolism in the last 60 years. |
 | Plankton communities' warm response to nutrient availabilityMicrobial plankton communities will be boosted in productivity and biomass from warmer water temperatures provided sufficient nutrients are also readily available, suggest KAUST researchers. |
 | Sticker shock: Conservation costs and policy complicationsEarlier this year, a heartbreaking drama played out near Vancouver Island. An endangered orca named J35 carried her dead calf for weeks in an apparent mourning ritual captivating onlookers around the world. |
 | Identification of mechanisms of pesticide resistance in cattle ticksThe cattle tick is controlled by pesticides, invariably leading to the selection of resistant strains. In Brazil, this parasite is currently resistant to a greater or lesser extent to all the commercial pesticides used by cattle farmers. The antiparasitic drug most widely used to control cattle tick populations (as well as human parasites) is ivermectin, a broad-spectrum anthelmintic, acaricide, and insecticide. |
 | The dawn of a new era for genebanksBiodiversity goes beyond species diversity. Another important aspect of biodiversity is genetic variation within species. A notable example is the immense variety of cultivars and landraces of crop plants and their wild progenitors. An international research consortium led by the of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben) and supported by the iDiv research centre has now characterised at the molecular level a world collection comprising seed samples from a total of more than 22,000 barley varieties. In a study published in the journal Nature Genetics, the scientists usher in a new era for gene banks that transform from museums of past crop diversity into bio-digital resource centres. |
 | Popular science helps to discover the abundance of this jellyfishWhen the Rhizostoma luteum jellyfish was discovered at the beginning of the 19th century in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, only nine specimens were identified. For years, it was so inconspicuous that in the 20th century, it failed to turn up for six decades. A team of scientists with the help of a citizen initiative has now confirmed that it is not really as difficult to find as previously believed. |
 | Fin whale, mountain gorilla populations rise amid conservation actionThe fin whale and mountain gorilla populations grew significantly due to efforts by conservationists to halt their descent towards extinction, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said Wednesday. |
 | Rare conservation win: Mountain gorilla population ticks upThere are more gorillas in the mist—a rare conservation success story, scientists say. |
 | Skipping a few thousand years: Rapid domestication of the groundcherry using gene editingShopping in your supermarket's produce section is like strolling through a museum of humanity's greatest inventions. Perfect ears of golden sweet corn; tomatoes of different sizes, shapes and colors; and spicy jalapeño peppers are all a testament to human ingenuity. You may not consider food an invention, but nearly all foods we eat are the product of thousands of years of constant breeding and selection. |
 | Partial mycoheterotrophs: The green plants that feed on fungiYou probably learned this basic lesson of biology in elementary school: Plants are self-feeders. These so-called autotrophs use the sun's energy and water to turn carbon dioxide from the air into food through the process known as photosynthesis. Autotrophic organisms sit at the base of every food chain on Earth and sustain all levels of life as we know it. |
Salmon are shrinking, and it shows in their genesMale salmon are maturing earlier and becoming smaller, and it shows in their genes. This was the discovery of a study that examined scale samples from salmon in the River Teno in Northern Finland over a 40-year period, and looked at the population genetic profile of a gene that determines salmon's age of maturity and size. The results show that the 'big salmon gene version' has become rarer in the population over time, and has been replaced by the 'small salmon gene version'. | |
 | Human evolution is still happening – possibly faster than everModern medicine's ability to keep us alive makes it tempting to think human evolution may have stopped. Better healthcare disrupts a key driving force of evolution by keeping some people alive longer, making them more likely to pass on their genes. But if we look at the rate of our DNA's evolution, we can see that human evolution hasn't stopped – it may even be happening faster than before. |
 | Breeding corn for water-use efficiency may have just gotten easierWith approximately 80 percent of our nation's water supply going towards agriculture, it's fair to say it takes a lot of water to grow crops. In a climate with less predictable rainfall patterns and more intense droughts, scientists at the University of Illinois are working to reduce water consumption by developing more efficient crops. |
 | Improved method to identify salt tolerant cropsSoil salinity is affecting large areas in the world and millions of farmers are faced with decreasing yields and many are even forced to migrate. Dutch scientists (Prof Dr. Gerrit van Straten (Wageningen University), Prof. Dr. Peter van Bodegom (Leiden University), Prof. Dr. Jelte Rozema (VU University Amsterdam), Dr. Arjen de Vos (Salt Farm Texel) and Dr. Bas Bruning (Salt Farm Texel, Salt Farm Foundation)) introduce an improved methodology to evaluate crop salt tolerance, that can alleviate and overcome many of the causes of the inconsistent data. |
 | Advanced computer technology and software turn species identification interactiveRepresenting a group of successful biocontrol agents for various pest fruit flies, a parasitic wasp genus remains largely overlooked. While its most recent identification key dates back to 1969, many new species have been added since then. As if to make matters worse, this group of visually identical species most likely contains many species yet to be described as new to science. |
Recommending plants to benefit and attract pollinatorsA survey was conducted by the University of Nebraska to unveil the extent to which horticultural employees are knowledgeable about pollinators. Carter Westerhold, Samuel Wortman, Kim Todd, and Douglas Golick sought to determine what plant and management recommendations these employees were passing along to customers regarding pollinator conservation and to assess what other advice could be added to their repertoire of recommendations to augment their general benefit. | |
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