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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 1, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Silicon carbide 'stardust' in meteorites leads to understanding of erupting starsWhat do tiny specks of silicon carbide stardust, found in meteorites and older than the solar system, have in common with pairs of aging stars prone to eruptions? |
 | First evidence of planet-wide groundwater system on MarsMars Express has revealed the first geological evidence of a system of ancient interconnected lakes that once lay deep beneath the Red Planet's surface, five of which may contain minerals crucial to life. |
 | Hiding black hole foundAstronomers have detected a stealthy black hole from its effects on an interstellar gas cloud. This intermediate-mass black hole is one of over 100 million quiet black holes expected to be lurking in the galaxy. These results provide a new method to search for other hidden black holes and help us understand the growth and evolution of black holes. |
 | Countdown as SpaceX, NASA prepare to test new astronaut capsuleEight years after the last manned US space flight, NASA and SpaceX are preparing to test a new space capsule for astronauts on Saturday—although for now the only occupant will be a dummy named Ripley. |
 | Fit for MarsRovers are versatile explorers on the surface of other planets, but they do need some training before setting off. A model of Rosalind Franklin rover that will be sent to Mars in 2021 is scouting the Atacama Desert, in Chile, following commands from mission control in the United Kingdom, over 11 000 km away. |
 | Pentagon submits Space Force proposal to CongressThe Pentagon has submitted a proposal to Congress that, if approved, would see the creation of a new "Space Force," officials said Friday. |
Technology news
 | When Concorde first took to the sky 50 years agoWhen the misty skies cleared over southern France on the afternoon of Sunday March 2, 1969, the green light was signalled for the highly anticipated first ever flight of the Concorde. |
 | Mozilla initiative helps voice technology players via multi-language datasetThis may sound like a mouthful but it really means much. Mozilla is talking about the "largest to-date public domain transcribed voice dataset." Translation: Over 14,000 people. In 18 languages. Of almost 1,400 hours (1,368 to be exact) of recorded voice. Welcome to an initiative dubbed Common Voice. |
 | Researchers create fireproof, self powered sensorMcMaster researchers, working with partners at other universities, have created a motion-powered, fireproof sensor that can track the movements of firefighters, steelworkers, miners and others who work in high-risk environments where they cannot always be seen. |
 | Tesla to close stores to reduce costs for $35,000 Model 3Tesla will only sell its electric cars online as it accelerates its cost cutting so it can realize its long-running goal of selling a mass-market sedan for $35,000. |
 | Concorde: technical feat, financial fiascoThe Concorde airliner first took to the skies 50 years ago promising a revolution in air travel with its technical prowess and supersonic speed. |
 | Team develops thermoelectric device that generates electricity using human body heatThe Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) in South Korea developed a thermoelectric module that generates electricity using human body heat. The module, which is 5 cm in width and 11 cm in length, can convert body heat energy into electricity and amplify it to power wearable devices. |
 | Data transfer by controlled noiseIn information technology, multiplexing schemes are used to transmit more signals than the number of available transmission channels. Researchers at ETH in Zurich have invented a novel method whereby information is encoded in the correlated noise between spatially separated light waves. |
 | Your car is more likely to be hacked by your mechanic than a terroristWhen it comes to car hacking, you should be more worried about dodgy dealers than one-off hackers with criminal intent. |
 | India's WhatsApp election: Political parties risk undermining democracy with technologyIndia's 2019 national elections are widely anticipated to be the "WhatsApp elections". Against a backdrop of rapidly improving internet connectivity and rising smartphone use, the number of people using private messaging service WhatsApp has soared since its India launch in mid-2010 to more than 200m – more users than in any other democracy. And now the country's political parties are moving to capitalise on this mass communication channel. |
 | EBay rethinking future of StubHub and classified businessEBay said Friday that it is considering the sale or spin-off its ticket-reselling site StubHub and its classified ads business after a push from an activist investor. |
 | Should online users be bound by their privacy agreements?The political economy of digital capitalism is largely premised on a new exchange: individuals enjoy cheap or free services and goods in exchange for their personal information. |
 | What makes natural gas bottlenecks happen during extreme cold snapsWhen temperatures in Minneapolis fell to 27 below zero during the January 2019 polar vortex, the Xcel Energy utility urged all Minnesota customers to lower their thermostats to conserve natural gas needed for power generation. In Michigan, where it was also colder than the North Pole, General Motors even shut several factories as a precaution against outages. |
 | Go-anywhere cleanroomCAPE is a transportable, tent-like cleanroom facility developed by researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA. It can be installed both indoors and in unexposed outdoor locations, and takes less than an hour to set up. The inspiration for this innovative new development came from a project with OHB System AG, one of the key players in the European space industry. CAPE helps to protect delicate parts during the manufacturing process as well as to avoid any cross-contamination. It also provides a controlled environment in which to sterilize equipment and components. Serving as a "cleanroom on demand", CAPE is the ideal solution for any industry needing to keep the production process free of contamination and yet not requiring any permanent sterilized cleanroom facility. Fraunhofer IPA will be showcasing the system at this year's Hannover Messe, April 1 to 5, 2019 (Hall 17, Booth C83). |
 | Robotic solutions aim to improve rail bridge safety and carriage cleanlinessScientists at Heriot-Watt University, in partnership with rail industry body RSSB, are developing robotic solutions to improve rail carriage cleanliness in hard to reach places and to facilitate closer inspection of railway bridge arches. |
 | High-speed 3-D printer for high-performance plasticsThe additive manufacture of large-volume plastic components is a time-consuming undertaking. Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU have now developed Screw Extrusion Additive Manufacturing (SEAM), a system and process that is eight times faster than conventional 3-D printing. Visitors will be able to see the ultrafast 3-D printer in action at the Fraunhofer Booth C22 in Hall 2 during the Hannover Messe from April 1 through 5, 2019. |
 | Sophisticated 3-D measurement technology permits gesture-based human-machine interaction in real timeHumans and machines will increasingly support each other in the workplace. For processes to be efficient, the machine must respond to the human worker without any time delay. Thanks to sophisticated high-speed 3-D measurement and sensor technology, researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF are making this real-time interaction possible. They will be demonstrating how this works in practice at the Hannover Messe trade show from April 1 to 5, 2019 using the example of an interactive wall of spheres that reacts immediately, contact-free and in three dimensions to every movement of a person standing in front of it (Hall 2, Booth C22). |
 | Supercomputing enables sound prediction model for controlling noiseCombining principles from computational fluid dynamics and acoustics, researchers at the TU Berlin have developed an analytical model that could simplify the process of designing Helmholtz resonators, a type of noise cancelling structure used in airplanes, ships, and ventilation systems. The model can predict a potential Helmholtz cavity's sound spectrum as turbulent air flows over it, and could potentially be used to tune Helmholtz resonators to cancel or avoid any frequency of interest. |
 | Lyft reveals big growth but no profits as it readies for IPOLyft revealed that it is growing quickly ahead of its initial public offering but continues to bleed money and may struggle to turn a profit, according to a federal filing. |
 | Robots may soon make your FedEx delivery from Walmart, Target and Pizza HutThe robotic contraption rolling down the street just might be delivering a FedEx package to your home or office. |
 | TikTok better positions itself as a Facebook rivalWatch out, Facebook. The social video app TikTok just hit a major milestone as it sets its sights on global teen domination. |
Has 'Fortnite' peaked? As season 8 arrives, research suggests revenue dipped in JanuaryCould "Fortnite" be losing its mojo? | |
 | 5G can make digital humans look real and turn real people into hologramsHolograms. Emotive, life-like digital human beings. Washing machine repairs directed from miles away. |
 | Your smartphone is 7 times dirtier than your toilet. Here's how to clean it.What's the one item that never leaves your side? |
 | T-Mobile delays 5G network launch until the second half of the year, reportT-Mobile users may need to wait a little longer for 5G than those on AT&T, Sprint or Verizon. |
 | Say goodbye to Facebook Moments: You don't have long to save your photosRemember Moments? |
OnePlus will launch its first 5G phone in the second quarter, but it won't start in the USChinese smartphone maker OnePlus has built its brand on offering powerful phones at cheaper costs than comparable rivals from Apple, Google or Samsung. | |
 | 'Don't call me before you text': The new rules of communicating in the digital eraConnecting with people has become so much easier with advancing technology. Tasks that once required an operator, postage stamp or carrier pigeon are now as simple as tapping a name or even a face on your screen, and, voila, you're connected. |
 | Business leaders, lawmakers to Amazon: please come back to NYTop business leaders, lawmakers and others are urging Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos to reconsider his decision not to move forward with plans for a new headquarters in New York, to build an "exciting future" for the city. |
 | Huawei invites foreign media to see for itself on spy claimsChinese telecom giant Huawei has issued an unusual invitation to foreign media outlets to visit its facilities and meet staff as the company pushes back against global pressure arising from US accusations that it spies for Beijing. |
 | China touts engineering feats of new international airportConstruction of a new airport in China's capital that promises to be one of the largest in the world is speeding toward completion. |
 | Smart voice assistant answers your questionsVoice assistants are becoming more and more prevalent in every area of our lives. At this year's Hannover Messe, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems IAIS are teaming up with au-tomaker Volkswagen to showcase a new voice interaction system that caters to domain-specific knowledge. Drawing on the techniques of "informed" machine learning, the system goes far beyond the capabilities of most Alexa, Siri & co. skills – and has been specifically designed for use in industry. The smart vehicle voice assistant is an example of how companies can use dialog systems to enable users to interact intuitively with technology and to develop new busi-ness models. The system will be on display – in a VW Tiguan – from April 1 to 5 at the Fraunhofer Booth C22 in Hall 2. |
 | Smart solutions to join carbon fiber reinforced plastics and metalThe engineering of lightweight vehicles requires manufacturers to combine functional metal components with lightweight, highly durable carbon fiber reinforced plastics. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a variety of solutions for joining such disparate materials – and will be showcasing their technology at this year's Hannover Messe on April 1-5, 2019 using an e-scooter demonstrator (Hall 17, Booth C24). |
 | A smart soft orthosis for a stronger backWhen workers in Germany call in sick, back pain is often to blame. It frequently affects employees in logistics, manufacturing and services where physically strenuous patterns of movement are part of the daily job routine. In a bid to prevent back problems, Fraunhofer researchers have come up with ErgoJack to offer a smart soft orthosis that supports workers with real-time motion detection. A prototype of this smart vest will be presented live at Hannover Messe from April 1 through 5, 2019, at Booth C24 in Hall 17. |
 | Tesla defies convention and pays for it as shares slideTesla is suffering one of its worst sell-offs of the year after announcing it would begin closing all of its stores in favor of selling its electric cars exclusively online. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Tool reveals molecular causes of disease, including infant cancerPrinceton University researchers are gaining new insights into the causes and characteristics of diseases by harnessing machine learning to analyze molecular patterns across hundreds of diseases simultaneously. Demonstrating a new tool now available to researchers worldwide, the team of computer scientists and biologists has already uncovered and experimentally confirmed previously unknown contributions of four genes to a rare form of cancer that primarily affects babies and young children. |
 | Researchers measure readiness potential outside a laboratory for the first timeImmediately before a person decides to launch themselves off a bridge for a bungee jump, there is a measurable increase in their brain activity. This can be recorded nearly one second before the person makes the conscious decision to jump. Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have, for the first time, succeeded in measuring this "bereitschaftspotential" (readiness potential) outside a laboratory and under extreme conditions. Their findings will advance the development of brain-computer interfaces, devices that can help quadriplegics control neuroprosthetics which allow them to regain the use of their hands. Results from this research have been published in Scientific Reports. |
 | Brain study shows coupled ripples in brain areas as part of memory recallA team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Duke University has found that parts of the brain experience coupled rippled high-frequency oscillations as part of the process of recalling a memory. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes experiments they conducted with epilepsy patients and what they found. Jennifer Gelinas with Columbia University Irving Medical Center has published a Perspective piece regarding work by the team in the same journal issue. |
 | Pumping up red blood cell productionRed blood cells are the most plentiful cell type in our blood and play a vital role transporting oxygen around our body and waste carbon dioxide to the lungs. Injuries that cause significant blood loss prod the body to secrete a one-two punch of signals – stress steroids and erythropoietin (EPO) – that stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow. These signals help immature cells along the path to becoming mature red blood cells. In a healthy individual, as much as half of their blood volume can be replenished within a week. Despite its importance, scientists are still working to unravel many aspects of red blood cell production. In a paper published online February 28 in the journal Developmental Cell, Whitehead Institute researchers describe work that refines our understanding of how stress steroids, in particular glucocorticoids, increase red blood cell production and how early red blood cell progenitors progress to the next stage of maturation toward mature red blood cells. |
 | Study finds that in mice, lycopene in tomatoes reduced fatty liver disease, inflammation and liver cancerIn the fight against cancer, there is a surprising tool in the arsenal: the food we eat. That's because some nutrients in food have been found to play a role in preventing cancer, and it's relevant because the World Cancer Research Fund reports that 30 to 50 percent of cancer cases are preventable, putting a focus on stopping cancer from developing in the first place. |
 | Mother's dengue immunity worsens baby's response to ZikaResearchers at Duke-NUS Medical School and their colleagues have identified a surprising interaction between dengue and Zika viruses that sheds lights on the significant fetal brain abnormalities linked to Zika virus. |
 | Researchers discover clues to brain differences between males and femalesResearchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have discovered a mechanism for how androgens—male sex steroids—sculpt brain development. The research, conducted by Margaret M. McCarthy, Ph.D., who Chairs the Department of Pharmacology, could ultimately help researchers understand behavioral development differences between males and females. |
 | Detailed new primate brain atlas could lead to disease insightsThe ability to comprehensively map the architecture of connections between neurons in primate brains has long proven elusive for scientists. But a new study, conducted in Japan with contributing neuroscientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), has resulted in a 3-D reconstruction of a marmoset brain, as well as information about neuronal connectivity across the entire brain, that offers an unprecedented level of detail. |
 | Blood test could give two month warning of kidney transplant rejectionNew research from the NIHR Guy's and St Thomas' Biomedical Research Centre has found a way to predict rejection of a kidney transplant before it happens, by monitoring the immune system of transplant patients. |
Researchers develop genetic test to detect antimicrobial resistanceResearchers at American University have developed a new, highly sensitive rapid genetic test that can determine whether bacteria carries a gene that causes resistance to two common antibiotics used to treat strep throat and other respiratory illnesses. The scientists show that the new method works as accurately as culture-based methods but gives results in minutes, not hours or days. The research has been published in BMC Infectious Diseases. | |
 | Novel sleep index, wakefulness may predict if patients able to breathe on their ownCritically ill patients are more likely to be successfully weaned from a mechanical ventilator, or breathing machine, if they have higher levels of wakefulness and both their right and left brains experience the same depth of sleep, according to new research published online in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. |
 | Major genetic study confirms that many genes contribute to risk for Tourette's syndromeA meta-analysis of multiple studies into the genetic background of Tourette's syndrome (TS)—a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by chronic involuntary motor and vocal tics—finds that variants in hundreds of genes, working in combination, contribute to the development of the syndrome and suggests that Tourette's is part of a continuous spectrum of tic disorders, ranging from mild, sometimes transient tics to severe cases that can include psychiatric symptoms. |
Conceiving within a year of stillbirth does not increase risks for next pregnancyConceiving within a year of stillbirth is common and is not associated with increased risk of stillbirth, preterm birth, or small-for-gestational-age birth in the following pregnancy, compared with an interpregnancy interval of at least two years. | |
 | Measles cases soar worldwide, UN warns of 'complacency'Just 10 countries were responsible for three-quarters of a global surge in measles cases last year, the UN children's agency said Friday, including one of the world's richest nations, France. |
 | Philippines to charge Sanofi officials over dengue vaccination deathsThe Philippine government said Friday it would file criminal charges against six officials of the French pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur over the deaths of children injected with its Dengvaxia anti-dengue vaccine. |
 | New research suggests earlier emergence of malaria in AfricaMalaria claims hundreds of thousands of lives each year—mainly children, and especially in Africa. It is one of the leading causes of death by an infectious agent, the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. In research on malaria, the genetic mutation that causes sickle cell anemia (also known as drepanocytosis), a chronic disease that is often fatal in children under five, caught the attention of the scientific community very early on because it also provides protection against malaria. |
 | Zika: Silent long-term circulation in ThailandThe circulation of the dengue virus for the past sixty years in South-East Asia is relatively well known. For Zika, the situation is much less clear. In an attempt to shed light on Zika circulation, scientists from the Institut Pasteur and the CNRS, in collaboration with US teams and the Thai National Institute of Health, decided to investigate the history of the Zika virus in Thailand. They made the surprising discovery that it has been circulating in the country for at least 16 years and probably longer. Their findings were published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases on February 27, 2019. |
 | New study identifies factors that could promote resilience in children facing extreme adversityPreschoolers' ability to regulate their attention, behavior and emotions has been linked with their capacity to cope with difficult situations and thrive in the classroom. But most research into how children develop these skills—known as "executive functions"—has taken place in high-income countries like the United States. |
 | Scientists are researching a new method for developing artificial ovariesAn interdisciplinary team of researchers at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) led by Prof. Aldo R. Boccaccini from the Chair of Materials Science (biomaterials) and Prof. Dr. Ralf Dittrich from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen have taken an important step towards developing artificial ovaries for patients suffering from cancer. Together, they have been researching innovative techniques for restoring the fertility of cancer patients and have published their innovative results in Scientific Reports, the open access magazine published by Springer Nature. |
 | All exercise intensities benefit older brainsOlder adults who engage in short bursts of physical activity can experience a boost in brain health even if the activity is carried out at a reasonably low intensity, according to a new Western study. |
 | Investigators map genomic landscape of very rare cancerA team of Vanderbilt researchers mapped out the genomic landscape of a metastatic malignant proliferating tricholemmal tumor and identified a targeted treatment for this very rare cancer. |
 | Gene identified that increases risk of antibiotic reactionResearchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and colleagues have identified a gene that increases the risk for a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction to the commonly prescribed antibiotic vancomycin. |
 | Protein loss promotes cell migrationThe protein STK17A (serine threonine kinase 17A) appears to play roles in various cancer types. It can be oncogenic or tumor suppressive, depending on the cancer, but its role in colorectal cancer has not been established. |
 | Personalized pain managementThere is an urgent need to identify reliable predictors of opioid responses to develop personalized opioid therapy for chronic pain management. A goal is to target opioid therapy to patients most likely to benefit from treatment with few side effects and low risk of opioid misuse. |
 | Brits risk unhealthy lifestyle as half the population walk less than an hour a dayAlmost half (45 percent) of GB adults sit for six hours or more every day and might not be getting enough exercise, according to new research by Cancer Research UK's Walk All Over Cancer campaign published today. Almost half (46 percent) of GB adults in employment walk for less than an hour every work day. |
 | Toward a blood test for early-stage liver diseaseOne in four people in Western and Asian societies develop a build-up of fat in the liver as a result of an unhealthy diet. This disease – referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – causes no symptoms initially but can develop into end-stage liver cirrhosis with limited treatment options. A discovery, published today in Molecular Systems Biology, paves the way for a simple blood test to detect early stages of NAFLD, opening up the possibility of preventing the development of liver cirrhosis through lifestyle changes or pharmaceutical intervention. |
 | Researchers develop techniques to track the activity of a potent cancer geneMYC is one of the most potent cancer genes, contributing to almost every kind of cancer—yet it is still not known how it causes tumors to form. Though higher levels of MYC are present in a wide range of tumor types, MYC alone does not usually lead to tumors. Simona Patange, a Ph.D. candidate in biophysics with the UMD-NCI Partnership for Integrative Cancer Research in Daniel Larson's lab at the National Cancer Institute, is using novel tools to track MYC and its activity in individual cells. Patange will present their latest developments at the 63rd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, to be held March 2—6, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. |
 | High-fat diet causes thickening of arteries down to the cellular levelAtherosclerosis is a tough problem—arteries get thicker and stiffer, which can lead to heart disease and stroke, but it is not known precisely how cholesterol causes this thickening. Cholesterol is a tiny fat molecule that circulates in our blood stream with the help of lipoproteins. High levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) in the blood is a key risk factor for atherosclerosis. And a variant of LDLs, called oxidized LDLs, may also be contributing to arterial plaques. Manuela Ayee, who worked with Irena Levitan at the University of Illinois, will present their research on how those two LDLs cause thickening at the cellular level at the 63rd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, to be held March 2—6, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. |
 | New device mimics beating heart with tiny pieces of heart tissueIt is difficult to study hearts in the laboratory because of their incredible ability to change in response to their environment. Hearts in healthy athletes enlarge to support the increased demands on the body, hearts in those with chronic hypertension get thicker and less elastic and can eventually fail. Heart tissue in labs undergoes remodeling, making it difficult to understand heart physiology and to develop new medicines for heart disease. Graduate student Fotios Pitoulis, working in Cesare Terracciano's lab at Imperial College London, in collaboration with Pieter de Tombe, created a new system to study heart tissue within a physiological environment. They will present their work at the 63rd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, to be held March 2—6, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. |
 | An inner ear protein speaks volumes about how sound is converted to a brain signalThe inner ear cells are exquisitely arranged to transmit sound to the brain, but just slight defects in these patterns can lead to deafness. Over 100 mutations in proteins involved in this intricate system have been associated with hearing loss. Tobias Bartsch, a postdoctoral associate in A. J. Hudspeth's lab, and colleagues at Rockefeller University reveal how one of these proteins acts as a molecular spring that helps convert sound waves into an electrical signal that the brain can recognize. They will present their research at the 63rd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, to be held March 2—6, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. |
 | Sex and aggression in mice controlled by cold-sensor in brainTestosterone is blamed for sex drive and aggression, but it also appears to be critical for telling the brain "enough!" when it comes to those behaviors. A molecule called TRPM8 (pronounced trip-M-8) embedded in the surface of some cells seems to be responsible for sending these cues in response to testosterone. Without these cues, male mice become dangerously aggressive and have an insatiable appetite for sex. This research, by Eleonora Zakharian and colleagues at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, will be presented at the 63rd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, to be held March 2—6, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. |
 | Python hearts reveal mechanisms relevant to human heart health and diseaseBurmese pythons have an amazing response to fasting and feeding. They can go without eating for months, and when they do eat, they can consume twice their body mass or more. Their hearts then nearly double in size in response to such a feeding, and after digestion most of that new tissue is broken down in a short amount of time. Leslie Leinwand's lab at the University of Colorado Boulder is working to better understand these dramatic changes in python hearts, which are relevant to enlargement of the human heart. Claudia Crocini, a postdoctoral fellow in the Leinwand lab, will present their latest research at the 63rd Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, to be held March 2—6, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. |
 | Breast milk microbiome contains yeast and fungi: Do these benefit the infant?Investigators have now shown that the breast milk microbiome contains fungi. Multiple previous studies had found bacteria in breast milk. Certain fungi and bacteria have been shown to be important probiotics for infant health. The research is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology. |
 | How paid family leave is an investment in public healthMost Americans – on both sides of the political aisle – say they support paid parental leave. However, we haven't yet found the political will to make it happen. In part, that's because the discussion always seems to start with the question, "How do we pay for it?" |
 | Should we be screening future parents for genetic disorders?Should public health-care systems provide couples with expanded screening for genetic disorders before they decide to become pregnant? Screening programmes could increase our reproductive choices and autonomy. But there are ethical issues at stake. |
 | How a new breast cancer biomarker could help patients identify best treatment optionsAccording to the latest GLOBOCAN cancer database, New Zealand's breast cancer incidence rate is among the highest in the world. It affects one in nine women in their lifetime and accounts for almost half of all cancers for women in New Zealand. |
 | Protein content as a marker for response to therapy in brain cancerBrain tumors vary widely in how they respond to treatment. However, early assessment of therapy response is essential in order to choose the best possible treatment for the patient. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now been able to show in a study using non-invasive high-resolution 7-Tesla MRI scans that the protein content of tumors correlates with response to treatment and survival. |
 | New sanitation system halves healthcare associated infections and cuts costs by 75 percentThe spread of antimicrobial resistance in hospitals can be limited by sanitation methods that remodulate the hospital microbiota, leading to lower antimicrobial consumption and costs. These findings are published in a paper in Infection and Drug Resistance co-authored by two Bocconi University scholars (for the part related to costs) with University of Ferrara and colleagues from University of Udine. |
 | What do normal labia look like? Sometimes doctors are the wrong people to askWomen's genitals are as diverse as our faces, as you can see in the Labia Library photo gallery. We are accustomed to some faces being accepted as "beautiful", and know that the standard varies across time and culture. We may be less familiar with the idea that similar judgements are made about the vulva. |
 | Dry eye disease and diabetes: New study reveals scale of issue and need for screeningDiabetes is a debilitating health condition which is expected to reach epidemic proportions in the next 20 years. According to the World Health Organisation, 108m people around the world had diabetes in 1980; by 2014 that figure was 422m. Three years later in 2017, 425m people worldwide were living with the disease and this figure is expected to exceed a staggering 629m by 2045. |
 | Vaccines work – for superbugs tooThere's a vital set of tools to help us tackle the threat of superbugs that we're not using to their full potential. Vaccines. |
 | Quinn on Nutrition: Vitamins—what men and women needWhat's the difference between men's and women's multivitamins? If a woman takes a formulation designated for men, will her voice lower an octave? Will a young man's hair turn gray if he ingests a supplement for men over 50? |
 | Avoiding overuse wrist injuriesIt may seem hard to believe, considering that you use your hands and wrists to do almost everything, but some of the most common wrist injuries are caused by overuse and repetitive motion. Dr. Sanj Kakar, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic hand and wrist surgeon, says you have to get creative to avoid overuse injuries from activities that are hard to avoid. |
 | University of Minnesota tests 'smart' pills to give cancer patients a nudgePharmacists at University of Minnesota Health are attaching digital sensors to chemotherapy pills to detect when cancer patients are forgetting or falling behind on tumor-killing medications. |
 | Cancer's complications: Confusing bills, maddening errors and endless phone callsCarol Marley wants everyone to know what a life-threatening cancer diagnosis looks like in America today. |
 | Miners, fearing retaliation, may skip black lung screeningsFederal officials are examining potential barriers, such as a fear of retaliation from employers, that may explain why only about one-third of coal miners participate in a program to screen for black lung disease even as the number of workers suffering from the deadly condition is rising. |
 | Robotically assisted devices not approved for cancer surgery(HealthDay)—The use of robotically assisted surgical devices for breast removal and other cancer-related surgeries is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration because there is no proof of its safety or effectiveness in such cases, the agency says in a warning to doctors and patients. |
 | Flu vaccination during pregnancy does not cause miscarriage(HealthDay)—An influenza vaccine cannot cause a pregnant woman to miscarry, researchers say. |
 | FDA: Pulmonary embolism risk up with tofacitinib 10 mg for RA(HealthDay)—A safety clinical trial has revealed that tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR) 10 mg twice daily is associated with an increased risk for pulmonary embolism (PE) and death among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned in a safety alert this week. |
 | Mental health disorders up after head and neck cancer diagnosis(HealthDay)—In patients with head and neck cancer (HNC), the prevalence of mental health disorders (MHDs) is significantly higher after cancer diagnosis, according to a study published online Feb. 28 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. |
 | Is your hand pain arthritis, carpal tunnel or something else?(HealthDay)—You use your hands nearly every minute of the day, so any time they hurt it's important to find out why. |
 | Lifestyle changes can lower your breast cancer risk(HealthDay)—While genetics, such as carrying BRCA gene mutations, play a role in who is more likely to get breast cancer, everyday lifestyle factors are involved, too. |
 | Bad reaction from a new tattoo? Here's what to do(HealthDay)—The biggest worry a person usually has when they're getting a tattoo is how it will look. But sometimes, getting inked can lead to something worse than bad body art, an expert warns. |
 | Coping with diabetes is a family affair(HealthDay)—When Giuseppina Miller's 8-year-old son, Peter, was first diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, he necessarily got a lot of his parents' attention. |
 | Want to fight heart disease? Stand up.Too much sitting has long been criticized for contributing to premature mortality, Type 2 diabetes, and a host of other illnesses. In a new study of 5,638 women, we looked at how sedentary behavior was related to future cardiovascular disease (CVD). |
 | High-fat diet and age alter gut microbes and immune response, causing inflamed state in heart failureGrowing older and a high-fat diet enriched with omega 6 fatty acids are major contributors to health risks ranging from diabetes to heart failure. How these two factors regulate the immune response is not well-understood. |
 | An antiviral gel may prevent genital herpes in womenIn a paper recently published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers examined the effect of vaginal tenofovir 1 percent gel use on the risk of acquiring herpes simplex virus type 2, or HSV-2. The study was conducted through a secondary analysis of data from the VOICE study, the primary results of which were published in 2015. |
 | Technology could improve therapeutic strategies for fibrotic disordersResearchers at the University of Arizona have invented the first highly selective Nox4 small molecule inhibitors for the treatment of fibrotic disorders. |
 | Immigrant Asian American women may be at higher risk for breast cancerOverall, breast cancer rates in the United States have stabilized since the 2000s. But according to the results of a new study led by a researcher from the University of California, Riverside, a subset of women living in the U.S. may be at higher risk for breast cancer than previously observed. |
Polypharmacy decreases quality of life for palliative care patientsFifteen percent of adults in the United States take more than five prescription drugs each day and 39 percent of older adults are prescribed five or more daily medications. | |
Blood test developed to predict spontaneous preterm birthPregnancy can be a time of uncertainty for expecting mothers and their clinical care teams. Nearly 10 percent of births are preterm, taking place before 37 weeks gestation. Preterm birth can result from several conditions, including preterm labor, preterm rupture of the placental membrane, or preeclampsia. Mothers who have previously had preterm deliveries are considered at increased risk, but predicting spontaneous preterm birth is challenging, particularly in the cases of first-time mothers, which account for about one-third of the nearly 4 million births nationally each year. Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital have been developing a blood test to help predict who may be at increased risk and who may be at lower-than-average risk for spontaneous preterm delivery. In a paper published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the team presents results from a multicenter study showing that five circulating microparticle proteins found in first-trimester blood samples may provide important clues about risk of spontaneous preterm birth. | |
 | We know lungs are necessary, but did you know they also are beautiful? An anatomy professor explainsLungs are remarkable organs that continuously achieve amazing feats, which they do so well that we take them for granted, except when their function is diminished. It all happens in a space inside your chest, divided in two and reduced by the presence of the heart, the great vessels and the esophagus. |
 | Drinking in pregnancy could affect children's mental healthNew research led by the University of Bristol has found children whose mothers drink during pregnancy could be at greater risk of mental health problems, particularly anxiety, depression and conduct disorder. |
New app designed to 'hook' together users' digital livesSFU adjunct professor Luc Beaudoin has created strategies for better sleep and improving memory function. His latest venture tackles another cognitive efficiency of sorts—connecting everything we do online. He has launched a new app—aptly called Hook—designed to give users the ability to more rapidly store, link and access information. | |
Frailty may be a new screening criterion for fitness for an operationFrailty, a decline in function and resistance to short-term stress that typically occurs in old age, is linked to more complications after an operation among adults of all ages, according to researchers of a large new study published as an "article in press" on the Journal of the American College of Surgeons website in advance of print. The researchers suggest that a brief measure of frailty can help determine a patient's physical fitness for a nonurgent operation. | |
 | Research shows link between rise of European populism and vaccine hesitancyThere is a significant association between the rise of populism across Europe and the level of mistrust around vaccines, according to a study by Queen Mary University of London. |
 | Researchers search for solutions to 'invisible threat' that affects cancer care workersChemotherapy drugs are lifesaving to cancer patients, but these toxic drugs are hazardous to the health care workers who come into contact with them. Despite the risks, many health care workers do not use recommended personal protective equipment such as gloves or gowns when handling chemotherapy. |
 | The sneaky way estrogen drives brain metastasis in non-estrogen-dependent breast cancersTriple-negative breast cancers are more likely than other breast cancer types to metastasize and are especially likely to go the brain in younger women. Researchers have tested various hypotheses to explain this danger. One idea that has gotten little attention is the thought that estrogen might be to blame. After all, triple negative breast cancers lack estrogen receptors (along with progesterone receptors and HER2, thus the name triple negative), and so these cancers can't possibly be influenced by estrogen. Right? |
 | Major flooding can bring skin infection dangers(HealthDay)—Flooding from hurricanes and other natural disasters increases the risk of skin infections among victims and relief workers, a skin expert warns. |
 | Is long-distance running good for the heart?As you can tell by all those 26.2-mile bumper stickers popping up around the country, the popularity of marathons and long-distance running continues to grow. But so has the number of studies examining whether consistent endurance racing is healthy. |
 | Long-term cardiomyopathy risk varies by chemo agent(HealthDay)—Long-term cardiomyopathy risk varies by chemotherapy agent for childhood cancer survivors, with a decreased risk for daunorubicin versus doxorubicin, according to a study recently published in JAMA Oncology. |
 | AAD: isotretinoin exposure for acne not linked to depression risk(HealthDay)—For patients with acne, exposure to isotretinoin is not associated with an increased risk for being diagnosed with depression, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held from March 1 to 5 in Washington, D.C. |
 | Automated insulin system improves glycemic control(HealthDay)—The combination of an automated guidance system for insulin titration and support from health care professionals is safe and is associated with significant improvements in glycemic control among patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Feb. 23 in The Lancet. |
 | Autoimmune disorders may up risk for carpal tunnel syndrome(HealthDay)—Common autoimmune disorders are associated with an increased risk for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Academic Physiatrists, held from Feb. 19 to 23 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. |
 | Science Says: People tend to believe informants like CohenWe tend to believe informants like Michael Cohen, studies show and psychologists say. |
 | Increased independence and integrity with an intelligent showerThe feeling of being more independent. More time to support and encourage the residents to manage on their own. These are some reflections from residents and staff at Resurscentrum in Karlstad Municipality, who tested a so called intelligent shower for one year. Researchers at CTF, Service Research Center at Karlstad University, have studied their experiences and what value is added from the new technology. |
 | Liberal Hawaii decides again not to legalize marijuanaOn the political spectrum, Hawaii is among the bluest of states. Democrats control all the levers of power at the state and federal levels, and voters back Democratic presidential candidates over Republicans by some of the widest margins in the U.S. |
 | Don't Panic: How parents can deal with internet hoaxesThe latest parental panic on social media—over a purported challenge for kids to complete harmful tasks—elevates the importance of establishing an open dialogue with children and taking advantage of online parental controls. |
Biology news
 | Embryos' signaling proteins go with the flowHow cells in developing embryos communicate depends a great deal on context, according to scientists at Rice University. |
 | Gene transcription machinery constrains DNA movements, study suggestsResearchers in Japan have discovered that the DNA inside human cells moves around less when its genes are active. The study, which will be published March 1 in the Journal of Cell Biology, suggests that RNA polymerase II (RNAPII)—the key enzyme required to produce messenger RNA molecules from active genes—restricts the movement of DNA by organizing it into a network of interconnected domains. |
 | How the humble marigold outsmarts a devastating tomato pestScientists have revealed for the first time the natural weapon used by marigolds to protect tomato plants against destructive whiteflies. |
 | Novel DNA repair mechanism preserves genome integrityAs David Cortez, Ph.D., tells the story of his research team's latest discovery, he shakes his head in disbelief. |
 | Study first to show processes determining fate of new RNA pesticides in soilsA new generation of pesticides can be used to control pest insects by compromising the bug's ability to create essential proteins. These gene-silencing pesticides can be genetically engineered into agricultural crops such that these crops can literally grow their own defense. |
 | Cell editors correct genetic errorsAlmost all land plants employ an army of cellular editors who correct errors in their genetic information. Researchers at the University of Bonn have now transferred parts of this machinery into a bacterium. Their results confirm a controversial thesis on the functioning of this widespread mechanism. They have now been published in the journal Communications Biology of the Nature Publishing Group. |
 | Koala-spotting drones proves a flying successQUT researchers have developed an innovative method for detecting koala populations using drones and infrared imaging that is more reliable and less invasive than traditional animal population monitoring techniques. |
 | Catastrophic outlook for African savannahs due to rise in CO2 levelsA ground-breaking research study looking at modern and ancient landscapes has discovered African plants could be facing mass extinction faster than once thought. |
 | Two genes explain variation in color and behavior in the wall lizardHow are reptiles capable of generating such a diversity of bright colors? And how is it possible that within a single population of the same species, different individuals exhibit strikingly different coloration patterns? In a new paper published in the journal PNAS an international team of scientists, led by researchers from CIBIO/InBIO (University of Porto) and Uppsala University, reveal two genes implicated in yellow to red pigmentation in reptiles, and demonstrate that these pigmentation genes also affect behavior and other traits. |
 | Bacteria in frog skin may help fight fungal infections in humansIn the past few decades, a lethal disease has decimated populations of frogs and other amphibians worldwide, even driving some species to extinction. Yet other amphibians resisted the epidemic. Based on previous research, scientists at the INDICASAT AIP, Smithsonian and collaborating institutions knew that skin bacteria could be protecting the animals by producing fungi-fighting compounds. However, this time they decided to explore these as potential novel antifungal sources for the benefit of humans and amphibians. |
 | Cells use sugars to communicate at the molecular levelThe human body is made up of 30 to 40 million cells, a large and complex network of blood cells, neurons, and specialized cells that make up organs and tissues. Until now, figuring out which mechanisms control communication between them has proven a significant challenge for the field of cell biology. |
 | Endangered eel located using DNA from one litre of waterResearchers have shed light on the distribution of Japanese eel by analyzing environmental DNA (eDNA) from small samples of river water. This could enable faster and more effective surveys of Japanese eel populations, and help to conserve this endangered species. The finding was published on February 27 in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. |
 | Living together: How legume roots accommodate two distinct microbial partnersLegumes such as peas and beans form intimate and mutually beneficial partnerships (symbioses) with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, rhizobia. The plant benefits from an enhanced supply of nitrogen, 'fixed' from the air by the rhizobia, while the bacteria benefit from protective accommodation inside special structures, called root nodules, that supply nutrients from the host plant. A different type of symbiosis is formed between the roots of many plant species and soil fungi, called mycorrhizal fungi. Both types of complex plant-microbe interactions are crucial for supplying plants with nutrients, but many details of how these symbioses develop remain unclear. |
 | 'Micro snails' scraped from sidewalk cracks help unlock details of ancient Earth's biological evolutionEvery step you take, you're likely walking on a world of unseen and undescribed microbial diversity. And you don't need to head out into nature to find these usually unnoticed microscopic organisms. |
 | A new approach to keeping crops, people safeWeeds cause tremendous damage in yield and productivity of crop plants. Losses from weeds account for more than $40 billion in annual revenue for corn and soybean crops alone in North America, according to the Weed Science Society of America. |
 | Clover improves soil quality, feeds biofuels cropA four-leaf clover might bring good luck, but a stand of Kura clover can produce healthier soil—in the long run, according to a South Dakota State University study. |
 | An abundance of beneficial mutationsDespite its importance, the genetic architecture of adaptive processes remains largely unresolved. Now, a team of researchers from Vetmeduni Vienna, experimenting with fruit flies, has succeeded in solving at least a part of this puzzle. They were able to show that many genes can contribute to adaptation even though only some of them are actually being used (genetic redundancy). |
 | More humans always mean fewer African carnivores, right? NopeAfrican carnivores face numerous threats from humans. So, it's a fair assumption that the presence of more humans automatically equates to decreases across the board for carnivores. |
Rare sea creature washes ashore in Southern CaliforniaA big sea creature that washed ashore in Southern California has been identified as a hoodwinker sunfish, a recently identified rare species thought to live in the Southern Hemisphere. | |
'Equine strep throat' kills 4,000 donkeys in NigerA contagious bacterial infection known as "equine strep throat" has killed more than 4,000 donkeys in northern Niger since early December, local officials said Friday. | |
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