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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 22, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Spacewalking astronauts swap out space station's batteries (Update)Changing batteries in orbit took some huffing and puffing and some intricate maneuvering by two spacewalkers Friday. But in the end, it went almost as smoothly as doing the chore back on Earth. |
 | Volunteers wanted to help unlock the secrets of the universeScientists are appealing for public help on one of the biggest astronomy projects of the next ten years. |
 | ExoMars landing platform arrives in Europe with a nameThe platform destined to land on the Red Planet as part of the next ExoMars mission has arrived in Europe for final assembly and testing – and been given a name. |
 | Why dangerous asteroids heading to Earth are so hard to detectEarth is often in the firing line of fragments of asteroids and comets, most of which burn up tens of kilometres above our heads. But occasionally, something larger gets through. |
 | Small solar storm coming to Earth but no big light showA small solar storm is heading toward Earth, but don't expect a big light show. |
Technology news
 | WayPtNav: A new approach for robot navigation in novel environmentsResearchers at UC Berkeley and Facebook AI Research have recently developed a new approach for robot navigation in unknown environments. Their approach, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, combines model-based control techniques with learning-based perception. |
 | AI hardware news: Nvidia has dev kit for tinkerers while module to ship in JuneTo say that Nvidia is interested about artificial intelligence is an understatement. It's like saying Nvidia finds technology interesting. The company's AI platform, it said, is a decade-long, multibillion-dollar investment that it made to advance the science of AI computing. |
 | Sensor can monitor wiring in a building or ship, and signal when repairs are neededA new system devised by researchers at MIT can monitor the behavior of all electric devices within a building, ship, or factory, determining which ones are in use at any given time and whether any are showing signs of an imminent failure. When tested on a Coast Guard cutter, the system pinpointed a motor with burnt-out wiring that could have led to a serious onboard fire. |
 | Researchers suggest medical AI systems could be vulnerable to adversarial attacksA small team of medical researchers from Harvard University and MIT has published a Policy Forum piece in the journal Science suggesting that future medical AI systems could be vulnerable to adversarial attacks. They point out that prior research has shown that virtually all AI systems are vulnerable in some way to such attacks. |
 | First reputation-based blockchain guarantees security against 51 percent attacksResearchers at the University of Luxembourg are part of an international team that has proposed the first blockchain system to guarantee proper performance even when more than 51 percent of the system's computing power is controlled by an attacker. |
 | New low-profile ankle exoskeleton fits under clothes for potential broad adoptionA new lightweight, low-profile and inexpensive ankle exoskeleton could be widely used among elderly people, those with impaired lower-leg muscle strength and workers whose jobs require substantial walking or running. |
 | Boeing to make safety feature standard on troubled Max jetsBoeing will make standard on its troubled new airliner a safety feature that might have helped the crew of a jet that crashed shortly after takeoff last year in Indonesia, killing everyone on board. |
 | Tesla chief Musk calls on workers to help deliver carsTesla chief Elon Musk on Thursday urged workers to make helping with the "biggest wave" of deliveries in the electric car maker's history their top priority, Business Insider reported. |
 | Motorless pumps and self-regulating valves made from ultrathin filmThe valves and pumps being developed by the research group led by Professor Stefan Seelecke at Saarland University are made from electroactive silicone film and offer a lot more than just the typical 'open/close' or 'on/off' functionality. The researchers control the film electrically and can make it execute precise vibrations or pulses on demand, while also monitoring its exact position or shape. This responsiveness makes it possible to continuously vary the flow rate through a valve or continuously regulate the performance of a pump. Another feature of these film-based devices is that they can indicate if they have become blocked by a foreign body. As the researchers can shape the films to fit into almost any casing, the films can be used in a broad range of practical applications. |
 | Hydrogen mobility from clean energy gaining momentum in EuropeAlthough the mass roll-out of fuel cell electric vehicles is still years away, efforts to make hydrogen-powered cars mainstream have intensified in recent years. With Europe's ambitions to become a leader in zero-emission mobility in the transition to a clean, low-carbon energy system, several countries are setting up hydrogen refuelling stations (HRSs). |
 | Lightweight tool boxes clever with heavyweight dataA free, open-source toolkit to help researchers deal with data management overload has been devised by the John Innes Centre Informatics team. |
 | First textbook in marine renewable energy explores harnessing ocean powerOffshore renewable energy is an emerging and rapidly growing industry in the United States and around the world. With projects in motion to install approximately 24 gigawatts of proposed capacity for offshore wind energy in the U.S., the ocean presents the next vast and largely untapped renewable energy resource that could be harnessed to help meet the world's growing demand for electricity. |
 | Skip this chore: Cleaning your air conditioner condenser probably won't make it work betterI asked my neighbor who hoses off his air conditioner condenser every spring why he does it. "Because my dad always told me I had to," he said. |
 | Cars are regulated for safety – why not information technology?As the computing industry grapples with its role in society, many people, both in the field and outside it, are talking about a crisis of ethics. |
 | Boeing 737 Max: The FAA wanted a safe plane – but didn't want to hurt America's biggest exporter eitherRecent incidents aside, air travel is incredibly safe these days. |
 | Make deep learning faster and simplerArtificial intelligence systems based on deep learning are changing the electronic devices that surround us. |
 | IPad mini review: In an age of larger iPhones, does Apple's small tablet still make sense?Apple hasn't abandoned the iPad mini after all. |
Are these tiny, 'inherently safe' nuclear reactors the path to a carbon-free future?In the six decades since the Shippingport Atomic Power Station near Pittsburgh began operating as the nation's first commercial nuclear reactor, the industry has built ever larger plants to improve the economies of scale. A typical commercial reactor now produces about 20 times as much electricity as the first Shippingport unit in 1958. | |
 | US corporations advertise on hookup sites—unwittinglyAds for major US corporations like General Electric and home improvement retail chain Lowe's are appearing, often without their knowledge, on internet hookup sites, underscoring advertisers' difficulty in controlling their digital communications. |
Digital scrapbooking site Pinterest files for IPODigital scrapbooking site Pinterest on Friday filed for an initial public offering of stock. | |
 | WOW Air back in talks with Icelandair after Indigo goesUS private equity firm Indigo Partners has withdrawn its offer to buy a stake in Iceland's loss-making carrier WOW Air, and Icelandair is now back in talks to buy the no-frills airline, the carriers said. |
 | GM announces jobs, electric vehicle after Trump criticismLess than a week after a series of critical tweets from the president over an Ohio plant closure, General Motors is announcing plans to add 400 jobs and build a new electric vehicle at a factory north of Detroit. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Researchers get humans to think like computersComputers, like those that power self-driving cars, can be tricked into mistaking random scribbles for trains, fences and even school busses. People aren't supposed to be able to see how those images trip up computers but in a new study, Johns Hopkins University researchers show most people actually can. |
 | When neurons are out of shape, antidepressants may not workSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed medication for major depressive disorder (MDD), yet scientists still do not understand why the treatment does not work in nearly thirty percent of patients with MDD. Now, Salk Institute researchers have discovered differences in growth patterns of neurons of SSRI-resistant patients. The work, published in Molecular Psychiatry on March 22, 2019, has implications for depression as well as other psychiatric conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia that likely also involve abnormalities of the serotonin system in the brain. |
 | Blue Brain solves a century-old neuroscience problemA team led by Lida Kanari now reports a new system for distinguishing cell types in the brain, an algorithmic classification method that the researchers say will benefit the entire field of neuroscience. Blue Brain founder Professor Henry Markram says, "For nearly 100 years, scientists have been trying to name cells. They have been describing them in the same way that Darwin described animals and trees. Now, the Blue Brain Project has developed a mathematical algorithm to objectively classify the shapes of the neurons in the brain. This will allow the development of a standardized taxonomy [classification of cells into distinct groups] of all cells in the brain, which will help researchers compare their data in a more reliable manner." |
 | New brain research challenges our understanding of sleepAn international study headed by researchers from Aarhus University has for the first time uncovered the large-scale brain patterns and networks in the brain which control sleep, providing knowledge which in the future may help the large proportion of people who experience problems sleeping. |
 | New technique shows promise for heart muscle regenerationResearchers at Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, have developed an approach to regenerate heart muscle using stem cells. Their method for priming stem cells to become heart tissues could potentially enable heart regeneration stem cell therapies, according to their study published in the journal Cell Reports. |
 | Research links development of childhood leukaemia to mistakes by the immune systemGenetic mutations that drive the development of a common type of childhood leukaemia can be traced back to errors by the immune system during the production of antibodies. |
 | Researchers identify new mechanism to reduce inflammationUT Southwestern researchers have identified two proteins that act as gatekeepers to dampen a potentially life-threatening immune response to chronic infection. |
 | A protein's surprising role offers clues to limit graft-vs.-host diseaseA protein that protects people with inflammatory bowel disease has quite a different effect in graft-vs.-host disease, a common and challenging side effect of bone marrow transplants. |
 | Obese mouse mothers trigger heart problems in offspringA diet high in fats and sugars is known for its unhealthy effects on the heart. Scientists now have found that a high-fat, high-sugar diet in mouse mothers before and during pregnancy causes problems in the hearts of their offspring, and that such problems are passed down at least three generations, even if the younger generations only eat a standard mouse chow diet. |
 | Anti-TB drugs can increase risk of TB re-infectionCurrent treatments for tuberculosis (TB) are very effective in controlling TB infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). They don't, however, always prevent reinfection. Why this happens is one of the long-standing questions in TB research. |
 | Like mountaineers, nerves need expert guidance to find their waySimilar to the dozens of Sherpas that guide hikers up treacherous Himalayan mountains to reach a summit, the nervous system relies on elaborate timing and location of guidance cues for neuronal axons—threadlike projections—to successfully reach their destinations in the body. Now, Salk Institute researchers discover how neurons navigate a tricky cellular environment by listening for directions, while simultaneously filtering out inappropriate instructions to avoid getting lost. The findings appeared in Neuron on March 19, 2019. |
Unequal pain relief at home for dying patientsPain relief and end of life care is not being provided equally to people with advanced progressive diseases who were at home during their last three months of life, according to a study of 43,000 people who died across England. | |
 | New drug combination shows promise for common pediatric brain tumorA new combination treatment aimed at resistant and recurrent low-grade gliomas slowed tumor growth and killed tumor cells in laboratory and mouse models. |
 | Automated detection of eye surface cancerResearchers have developed a new automated non-invasive technique for diagnosing eye surface cancer (ocular surface squamous neoplasia or OSSN). The technique has the potential to reduce the need for biopsies, prevent therapy delays and make treatment far more effective for patients. |
 | Mailing colorectal cancer screening kit found effective, regardless of financial incentiveColorectal cancer is the second deadliest cancer in the United States, and just six out of 10 adults in the age range recommended for routine screening—50 to 75—reported having it done in 2015. When patients do not keep up with screening, the risk of death is substantially higher, so Penn Medicine researchers, investigating a new way to boost screening among those who were overdue, found a high number of patients completed at-home screening tests when they were mailed directly to them, regardless of whether they were provided a financial incentive. The results of the study are detailed in a paper published today in JAMA Network Open. |
 | New model found effective in predicting risk of opioid overdoseCurrent approaches to identifying people who are at high risk for overdosing on opioids target many who are not truly at high risk. A new study sought to develop and validate a way to predict the risk of opioid overdose among Medicare beneficiaries with at least one opioid prescription. The model the researchers developed was more effective in predicting risk of overdose than traditional statistical models. |
| Understanding how people respond to symptoms of a brain tumorA recent study from King's College London and Cambridge University highlighted that people may experience multiple subtle changes before being diagnosed with a brain tumour. |
 | Phase III aducanumab trials for Alzheimer's disease stopped earlyPharmaceutical companies Biogen and Eisai today (Thursday 21 March) announced they are to discontinue two phase III trials of the Alzheimer's drug aducanumab. The ENGAGE and EMERGE trials were designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aducanumab in people with a confirmed diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild Alzheimer's disease. |
 | Why pregnant women with depression often slip through the cracksJudy's first pregnancy was planned, and she was looking forward to having a baby. Yet, halfway through the pregnancy, something changed. She began to feel down and bad about herself. She had less energy and struggled to concentrate. Thinking this was a normal part of pregnancy, she ignored it. |
 | Dental enamel can't regenerate, right? Think againDental enamel is tricky stuff. Even though it's the body's hardest material, if it wears away from cavities, acidic food or drinks or overbrushing, it doesn't regenerate. |
 | A billion years of evolution suggests a new approach for Alzheimer's disease treatmentNew research by academics at Royal Holloway, University of London, urges scientists that are looking to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease to focus on the role of proteins in the brain that cause Alzheimer's disease. This change in focus could enable the development of new treatments. |
 | Memory like a sieve – or notHumans are not only capable of forming memories but also recalling these memories years later. However, with advancing age many of us face difficulties with forming new memories, a process usually referred to as age-induced memory impairment. Developing an elaborate understanding of this process is a precondition for preventing age-related pathologies at neuronal level. In a recent publication, the team of Stephan Sigrist at Freie Universität Berlin and the NeuroCure Cluster of Excellence shows that autophagy, a cellular self-clearing program, has to be kept efficient specifically within the memory forming neurons in order to keep the whole brain in a protected state. Stephan Sigrist holds an Einstein Professorship supported by the Einstein Foundation. NeuroCure is a Cluster of Excellence based at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, the medical school operated jointly by Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Since 2007, NeuroCure has been funded through the German government's Excellence Initiative, and in 2018 it won funding in the follow-up competition, the German Excellence Strategy. The findings were published in the latest issue of the prestigious science journal Nature Communications. |
 | New study finds very high rate of unnecessary antibiotic prescribing in SAA study by researchers at Wits and the London School of Economics has revealed very high rates of antibiotic prescribing in South Africa. |
 | Further evidence of the dangers of smoking in pregnancySmoking during pregnancy is understood to pose risks to both baby and mother. Now, new research led by the University of Glasgow has found further evidence that maternal smoking poses a risk to baby and child health. |
 | Burden of myeloproliferative neoplasms in Australia revealedNew research led by Cancer Council Queensland and Curtin University has investigated the patterns and trends of a rare group of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) for the first time in Australia. |
 | How discrimination, PTSD may lead to high rates of preterm birth among African-American womenAfrican-American women are nearly twice as likely to give birth prematurely as white women. Such births often coincide with low birth weight, and together are linked to other developmental delays and health effects believed responsible for almost one-fifth of infant deaths nationwide. |
 | Parental leave, childcare and lactation policies: How schools of public health in the United States stack upFamily leave policies at public health institutions in the United States largely fall short of national public health recommendations for new parents, despite widespread recognition of the health importance of dedicated parental care for children in their earliest months of life. A new study by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and other institutions in the American Journal of Public Health faces this issue head on, examining the parental leave, childcare and breastfeeding policies for faculty and staff at the top 25 schools of public health across the country. |
 | Two studies describe disruptive and abusive behavior among clinicians in operating roomsAssessments of the number of disruptive and abusive behaviors occurring in operating rooms in the USA, Canada and elsewhere is reported in two studies in the Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, which is published by Springer. Efforts are needed to eliminate these behaviors, as they may pose risks to clinician well-being and patient safety, suggests a research team from the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, University of Manitoba Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Winnipeg, Canada. |
 | A human-rights approach is essential to end the global TB epidemic"Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, and dies," wrote John Keats, in his acclaimed "Ode to a Nightingale." His words probably summarized his struggle against tuberculosis (TB), an ancient disease that killed millions in his time. Sadly, Keats lost his fight against TB in 1821, and died at the age of 25. |
 | More than half of Aussie men report experiencing sexual difficultiesOne in two Australian men aged 18 to 55 have experienced sexual difficulty in the past 12 months, according to data released this week. |
 | Neglected diseases continue to require attention despite progressAlthough neglected diseases account for 11 percent of the global disease burden, they are targeted by only a small proportion of the new drugs developed every year. |
 | This is what postnatal depression really feels likeMotherhood can be a source of joy, but it can also pose difficulties and challenges – particularly, in the postnatal period. It is a time when some mothers' emotional and physical endurance is pushed to the limit. |
 | Sleep problems, Alzheimer's disease are linked, but which comes first?A new article explores the pathophysiological factors that link sleep disturbances and Alzheimer's disease. Better understanding of this connection may lead to potential diagnostics and therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases and dementia. The article is published ahead of print in the Journal of Neurophysiology. |
 | 'It's real to them, so adults should listen': What children want you to know to help them feel safeIn recent months, we have been confronted by events that make the world seem unsafe. Among these are the horrific stories of child sexual abuse, the rise in Aboriginal youth suicide and the tragedy of mass killings at the hands of an Australian terrorist in Christchurch. |
 | Neuroscience proves Nietzsche right: some people are wired to be more spontaneous than others"Why can't you just relax into it?" is a question many of us have asked in frustration with ourselves or others – be it on the dance floor, the sporting field or in rather more private circumstances. The task typically requires us to respond spontaneously to external events, without any deliberation whatsoever. It ought to be easy – all you have to do is let go – yet it can be infuriatingly difficult. |
 | Could the bacteria in our gut help treat cancer?"The microbiome is a huge part of who we are," says Dr. Marios Giannakis. |
 | Raising tobacco purchase age to 21 would prevent thousands of premature deaths in MichiganRestricting sales of tobacco products to people 21 and older could keep 11,000 Michiganders from starting to smoke, potentially avoiding premature deaths in two-thirds of that population, according to a University of Michigan study. |
 | Working to change the future of prostheticsRobots powered by human-like artificial muscles are still in the research and development stage, but Taylor Henderson is certain that they'll change the future of prosthetics. |
 | To address the opioid crisis we need to do more to support people suffering from opioid use disorderIn 2017 alone, 47,600 Americans died from opioid overdoses. That's 130 people every day. |
 | Space technology can help patients walk around their neighborhoodThe countdown and final checklist review happen every morning for Stephen Scott. |
 | Is there a safer choice than opioids after a C-section?(HealthDay)—Expectant moms often try to plan as many aspects of their upcoming delivery as they can. But one thing they might not consider is what type of pain relief they will choose if they need to have a C-section. |
 | Easy eggs for a nutritious breakfast(HealthDay)—Recent research shows that eggs can be part of a healthful diet. |
 | How to raise global citizens of tomorrow(HealthDay)—It's never too soon to teach kids to be culturally competent—to learn about, respect and accept people whose culture is different from their own. |
 | DG/health NATURALS Cough Syrup + Mucus for infants recalled(HealthDay)—One lot of DG/health NATURALS baby Cough Syrup + Mucus is being recalled due to possible contamination with potentially harmful bacteria, says maker Kingston Pharma, LLC. |
 | Targeted lymphoma drug gets green light for NHS in EnglandPeople with a certain type of lymphoma will now have access to a targeted cancer drug on the NHS in England. |
 | Electronic health records cannot replace a doctor who knows youThe introduction of electronic health records (EHRs) was accompanied by a great deal of fanfare. Such systems, which replace old paper-based charts in doctor's offices and hospitals, were designed to make patient data more accurate, safer and more accessible. It was also claimed that they would make it easier for doctors and other health professionals to monitor medical care and ensure that guidelines were followed. The federal government was so keen on EHRs that it provided financial incentives to doctors and hospitals to adopt them, totaling US$25 billion by 2016. |
 | Researchers discover a common link among diverse cancer typesCancer, in all its forms, seems to always involve uncontrolled cell growth; but there are thousands of ways in which cells can lose control of their proliferation in the first place. Among a huge variety of proteins known to be altered in tumors are histones, whose normal function is to package DNA and help regulate genes. And according to a new study by Rockefeller scientists, published in Nature, these so-called 'oncohistones' are a far more common in cancer than previously thought. |
 | Introduce peanut products as early as 4 months to prevent allergies, report saysPediatricians now recommend introducing peanut-based foods to infants before their first birthday to prevent peanut allergies, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. |
Fentanyl-linked deaths: The opioid epidemic's third waveMen are dying after opioid overdoses at nearly three times the rate of women in the United States. Overdose deaths are increasing faster among black and Latino Americans than among whites. And there's an especially steep rise in the number of young adults ages 25 to 34 whose death certificates include some version of the drug fentanyl. | |
Recent superbug cases linked to weight-loss surgeries in Tijuana prompt fresh warningWith several patients in local hospitals struggling to recover, public health officials are warning San Diego doctors to be on the lookout for signs of a deadly infection linked to weight-loss surgeries performed in Tijuana. | |
 | Generic weight-loss drug may be safe and effective for long-term treatmentAn inexpensive weight-loss drug approved 60 years ago for only short-term use also may be safe and effective for longer-term treatment, according to a study conducted by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Health and the Patient Outcomes Research to Advance Learning (PORTAL) network. The study is published in today's issue of the journal Obesity. |
 | Study reveals impact of plain cigarette packaging warningsHealth warnings on plain-packaged cigarettes have more of an impact on smokers than those on branded packs, according to new research from the University of Stirling. |
 | JAMA viewpoint: Physicians' trust in one another is a care safety and quality issueWhile the importance of trusted relationships between patients and their physicians is taken for granted, little attention has been given to the relationships among physicians themselves. Yet the interactions between, for example, a patient's primary care physician and cardiologist or between a patient's pediatrician and an oncology team, are essential to the safety and quality of care for patients and the resilience of physicians and other healthcare professionals. |
 | Researchers find method to prioritize treatment strategies in hepatitis C in US prisonsThere are currently more than three million people in the United States with hepatitis C, a condition that can lead to serious and even deadly liver complications. In the U.S. prison system, the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is currently 10 times higher than the national average. And while new HCV treatment drugs are very effective, their high cost along with very limited healthcare budget in prisons impedes universal treatment in prisons. However, new research in the INFORMS journal Operations Research, has identified new protocols that could substantially decrease HCV infection in the U.S. prison system. |
 | Researchers identify potential new therapy for liver diseasesDrug therapy may effectively treat a potentially life-threatening condition associated with cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases, according to a new study by Mayo Clinic researchers. The study was posted in March on Gastroenterology, the online journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. Print publication is scheduled for July. |
 | Special evaluations can help seniors cope with cancer careBefore she could start breast cancer treatment, Nancy Simpson had to walk in a straight line, count backward from 20 and repeat a silly phrase. |
 | Teens who seek solitude may know what's best for them, research suggestsTeens who choose to spend time alone may know what's best for them, according to new research that suggests solitude isn't a red flag for isolation or depression. |
 | Niraparib extends time without symptoms in ovarian cancer(HealthDay)—Women with recurrent ovarian cancer who receive the poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor niraparib as maintenance therapy after treatment have both more time without side effects and significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those on placebo, according to a study presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women's Cancer, held from March 16 to 19 in Honolulu. |
 | Many patients still employ strategies to reduce prescription drug costs(HealthDay)—The number of adults reporting the use of strategies, such as requesting a lower-cost medication or not using medication as prescribed, to reduce prescription drug costs remained stable in 2015 to 2017, according to a March data brief published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. |
 | Low, high levels of physical activity tied to reduced mortality(HealthDay)—Both low and high levels of physical activity (PA) are associated with reduced all-cause mortality, according to a study published online March 19 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. |
 | Critical care nurses' work environments improving(HealthDay)—Work environments for critical care nurses have improved since 2013, though there are still several areas of concern, according to survey results recently published in Critical Care Nurse. |
 | Is the new 'fasting' diet trend healthy?Tipping the scales at 233 pounds, Charles Joy realized he needed to make some changes. |
 | Cannabidiol products now available at hundreds of CVS stores(HealthDay)—Creams, sprays, and lotions infused with the nonintoxicating hemp component cannabidiol (CBD) are now being sold at more than 800 CVS stores in eight states. |
 | Tyson recalls chicken strips due to metal fearsArkansas-based Tyson Foods is recalling more than 69,000 pounds (31,297 kilograms) of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strips because they may be contaminated with pieces of metal. |
Biology news
 | Not all stem cells are created equal, study revealsResearchers from the University of Toronto's Institute for Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (IBBME) and the Donnelly Centre have discovered a population of cells – dubbed to be "elite" – that play a key role in the process of transforming differentiated cells into stem cells. The finding has important implications for regenerative medicine. |
 | X-rays reveal termites' self-cooling, self-ventilating, self-draining skyscrapersMany species of termites, whose societies are built on hierarchies of kings, queens, workers, and soldiers, live in towering nests that are ventilated by a complex system of tunnels. |
 | Male fish can thank genes for colourful looksStriking traits seen only in males of some species – such as colourful peacock feathers or butterfly wings – are partly explained by gene behaviour, research suggests. |
 | A social bacterium with versatile habitsRelated individuals of a soil bacterial species live in cooperative groups and exhibit astonishing genetic and behavioural diversity. ETH researchers recently published these findings in Science . |
 | Many sharks closer to extinction than feared: Red ListHuman appetites are pushing makos and other iconic sharks to the brink of extinction, scientists warned in a new assessment of the apex predator's conservation status. |
 | New computational tool could change how we study pathogensA sophisticated new analysis tool developed by Florida State University scientists may signal a new era in the study of population genetics. |
 | Mexico launches plan to mark vaquita porpoise reserveThe Mexican government said Thursday it will use buoys to mark the reserve of the world's most endangered marine mammal, in a bid to save the last remaining 10 or so vaquita marina porpoises. |
 | Cannibalism helps fire ants invade new territoryTropical fire ants (Solenopsis geminata), originally from central and South America, are a highly aggressive, invasive ecological pest. Our new research has shed light on how they successfully establish new colonies. |
 | Climate change and drought threaten small mountain streams in the Sierra NevadaSmall mountain streams and the vibrant ecosystems they support were hit hard by the historic California drought of 2012 to 2015. Researchers monitoring aquatic life in Sierra Nevada streams observed significant declines in the numbers of aquatic insects and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates during the drought. |
 | Salamanders chew with their palateThe Italian Crested Newt – Triturus carnifex – eats anything and everything it can overpower. Earthworms, mosquito larvae and water fleas are on its menu, but also snails, small fish and even its own offspring. A research team led by Dr. Egon Heiss of Friedrich Schiller University in Jena (Germany) has studied the newt's chewing behaviour and has made an astounding discovery. |
 | Rare albino penguin makes debut at Polish zooA rare three-month-old albino penguin made its first public appearance at a zoo in the Polish Baltic port city of Gdansk, where its keepers claim it is the only one of its kind in captivity. |
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