Science X Newsletter Monday, Mar 4

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 4, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new robot for artistic grayscale painting

Asteroids are stronger, harder to destroy than previously thought

Green water supplies and global limits

The case of the over-tilting exoplanets

Due to humans, extinction risk for 1,700 animal species to increase by 2070

Right electrolyte doubles novel two-dimensional material's ability to store energy

When it comes to hearing words, it's a division of labor between our brain's two hemispheres

Protocells use DNA logic to communicate and compute

How do we follow the rhythm of language? The answer depends on our brain's path

New shapes of laser beam 'sneak' through opaque media

Assembly in the air: Using sound to defy gravity

Quasiparticles experimentally shown to interfere for first time

FIRST J141918.9+394036 is an 'orphan' long gamma-ray burst, study finds

Securing the 'internet of things' in the quantum age

Conducting research: Exploring charge flow through proteins

Astronomy & Space news

	Asteroids are stronger, harder to destroy than previously thought A popular theme in the movies is that of an incoming asteroid that could extinguish life on the planet, and our heroes are launched into space to blow it up. But incoming asteroids may be harder to break than scientists previously thought, finds a Johns Hopkins study that used a new understanding of rock fracture and a new computer modeling method to simulate asteroid collisions.
	The case of the over-tilting exoplanets For almost a decade, astronomers have tried to explain why so many pairs of planets outside our solar system have an odd configuration—their orbits seem to have been pushed apart by a powerful unknown mechanism. Yale researchers say they've found a possible answer, and it implies that the planets' poles are majorly tilted.
	FIRST J141918.9+394036 is an 'orphan' long gamma-ray burst, study finds Using a network of radio telescopes, European astronomers have investigated a decade-long transient known as FIRST J141918.9+394036. Results of this study, presented in a paper published February 18 on arXiv.org, provide important insights into the nature of this mysterious source, confirming that it is an "orphan" long gamma-ray burst.
	America's newest crew capsule rockets toward space station America's newest capsule for astronauts rocketed Saturday toward the International Space Station on a high-stakes test flight by SpaceX.
	Milestone: Capsule with dummy aboard docks at space station (Update) A sleek new American-built capsule with just a test dummy aboard docked smoothly with the International Space Station on Sunday, bringing the U.S. a big step closer to getting back in the business of launching astronauts.
	Discovering a brown dwarf binary star with microlensing Brown dwarfs are stars less massive than the sun and unable to burn hydrogen. They comprise (at least in mass) a bridge between planets and stars, and astronomers think that they form and evolve in ways different from either planets or stars. Gravitational microlensing is an excellent method for detecting them because it does not depend on their light, which is dim, but rather their mass. When the path of light from a star passes by a brown dwarf acting as a lens, it is magnified into a distorted image, like an object seen through the stem of a wineglass, allowing the detection and characterization of the lensing object. Thirty-two brown dwarfs have been detected by microlensing so far. Five are in isolation, but most are in binary systems, companions to faint M-dwarf stars. They provide important constraints on brown dwarf formation scenarios.
	Scientists track deep history of planets' motions, and effects on Earth's climate Scientists have long posited that periodic swings in Earth's climate are driven by cyclic changes in the distribution of sunlight reaching our surface. This is due to cyclic changes in how our planet spins on its axis, the ellipticity of its orbit, and its orientation toward the sun—overlapping cycles caused by subtle gravitational interplays with other planets, as the bodies whirl around the sun and by each other like gyrating hula-hoops.
	Discovery of many new ultra-diffuse galaxies in galaxy clusters In preparation for the new multi-object survey spectrograph, WEAVE, on the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope, the astronomical community is working on deep imaging surveys to identify the astronomical objects that will be studied later in more detail with WEAVE.
	Research laying groundwork for off-world colonies Before civilization can move off world it must make sure its structures work on the extraterrestrial foundations upon which they will be built.
	Dragon capsule successfully separates from rocket: SpaceX SpaceX's new Crew Dragon astronaut capsule was on its way to the International Space Station Saturday after it successfully launched from Florida on board a Falcon 9 rocket.
	SpaceX Dragon capsule successfully docks with ISS The demonstration mission of SpaceX's new Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked Sunday on the International Space Station, passing a key test before it can begin taking US astronauts into space.
	Image: Antennas and auroras This photograph, taken a short hike from the Geographic South Pole in Antarctica, shows some of the antennas comprising the Super Dual Auroral Radar Network (SuperDARN) array. They are visible here as the chain of antennas and wiring stretching away into the distance. The red lights along the horizon in the background are lights marking the entrances to the Amundsen-Scott research station, which lies a good kilometre distant.
	Modeling the origin story of the elements More than 1800 years ago, Chinese astronomers puzzled over the sudden appearance of a bright "guest star" in the sky, unaware that they were witnessing the cosmic forge of a supernova, an event repeated countless times scattered across the universe.
	Complex life might require a very narrow habitable zone Since the Kepler Space Telescope was launched into space, the number of known planets beyond the solar system (exoplanets) has grown exponentially. At present, 3,917 planets have been confirmed in 2,918 star systems, while 3,368 await confirmation. Of these, about 50 orbit within their star's circumstellar habitable zone (aka the "Goldilocks Zone"), the distance at which liquid water can exist on a planet's surface.
	Good luck 'Mole'—experiment starts hammering into the Martian soil On 28 February 2019, 'Mole' fully automatically hammered its way into the Martian subsurface for the first time. In a first step, it penetrated to a depth between 18 and 50 centimetres into the Martian soil with 4000 hammer blows over a period of four hours. "On its way into the depths, the mole seems to have hit a stone, tilted about 15 degrees and pushed it aside or passed it," reports Tilman Spohn, Principal Investigator of the HP3 experiment. "The Mole then worked its way up against another stone at an advanced depth until the planned four-hour operating time of the first sequence expired. Tests on Earth showed that the rod-shaped penetrometer is able to push smaller stones to the side, which is very time-consuming.

Technology news

	A new robot for artistic grayscale painting A team of researchers at St. Petersburg Electrotechnical University (ETU-LETI) and Ural Federal University (URFU) has recently created a new robotic setup for realistic grayscale painting. The project's lead developer, Dr. Artur Karimov, is a professional artist fascinated by the possibility of exploring new frontiers in art using technology.
	Securing the 'internet of things' in the quantum age MIT researchers have developed a novel cryptography circuit that can be used to protect low-power "internet of things" (IoT) devices in the coming age of quantum computing.
	With IPO due, Uber aims to be 'Amazon of transportation' Uber, the ridesharing behemoth set to launch a stock offering soon, is aiming beyond sharing car rides to becoming the "Amazon of transportation" in a future where people share instead of owning vehicles.
	Quantum computing: Testing qubits has been put in a faster lane A way to speed up quantum computer tech progress has arrived from Intel. If you are interested in following the waves and advances in quantum computing, then get familiar with this word trio: Cryogenic Wafer Prober. Before their design, the electrical characterization of qubits was slower than with traditional transistors. Even small subsets of data might take days to collect.
	As the web turns 30, is it an 'out-of-control monster'? Thirty years ago this month, a young British software engineer working at a lab near Geneva invented a system for scientists to share information that would ultimately change humanity.
	Limber mini cheetah robot delivers impressive backflip performance The MIT Biomimetic Robotics Laboratory has been getting its share of "seriously cute" with the most recent video of its Mini Cheetah, but the truth is that this four-legged robot is also seriously agile. Team members Ben Katz, Jared Di Carlo and Sangbae Kim have been working on this MIT wonder.
	The first look at how hacked self-driving cars would affect New York City traffic As automated cars become more commonplace, it is increasingly likely that internet-connected vehicles could be simultaneously disabled. Currently, regulators tend to focus on preventing individual incidents, like the pedestrian who was struck and killed by a self-driving Uber in Arizona last year. However, they fall short of addressing the effects of a large-scale hack in an urban setting.
	Researchers 3-D print ultra-strong steel parts from powder Soldiers needing replacement parts may turn to 3-D printers in the future to rapidly deliver reliable and ultra-strong metal parts. Army researchers are looking at new technologies to create steel alloy parts from powder using a laser.
	3-D bioprinted, vascularized proximal tubules mimic the human kidney's reabsorption functions Every day our kidneys tackle the daunting task of continuously cleaning our blood to prevent waste, salt and excess fluid from building up inside our bodies. To achieve this, the kidneys' approximately one million filtration units (glomeruli) first remove both waste products and precious nutrients from the blood stream, then specialized structures known as the proximal tubules reabsorb the "good" molecules returning them to our bloodstream. While the reabsorptive functions of the proximal tubule can be compromised by drugs, chemicals, or genetic and blood-borne diseases, our understanding of how these effects occur is still limited.
	Automakers seek to electrify Geneva car show, fight off gloom The Geneva Motor Show kicks off this week with automakers eager to show off new electric models, even as they nervously eye a horizon coloured by trade wars and Brexit uncertainty.
	Rising star palladium shines brightly Palladium is blazing a record-breaking trail on supply deficit fears, fuelled by strong demand from carmakers as more and more consumers switch from high-polluting diesel to cleaner vehicles, experts say.
	Peugeot plans US return 30 years after exit Some 30 years after exiting the United States due to plunging sales, Peugeot is preparing a return to a market where it previously knew glory at the famed Indianapolis 500.
	Fit to drive? The car will judge When you're sleepy, stressed or have had a few drinks, you're not in the best position to drive – or even make that decision. But automated cars could soon make that call for you.
	Regulations needed after cryptocurrency CEO takes passwords to his grave A high-stakes legal drama featuring cryptocurrencies has been unfolding in a Canadian court recently.
	Print your city? 3-D printing is revolutionizing urban futures The Fabrication City concept puts manufacturing back in the hands of communities—using 3-D printers. It could have far-reaching implications for economic development, environmental sustainability, inclusion and other benefits. The use of 3-D printing provides cities with opportunities through their local innovators and entrepreneurs.
	Tesla sets March 14 'Model Y' unveiling Tesla is planning to unveil a new electric "crossover" vehicle March 14 which is slightly bigger and more expensive than its most affordable model, according to chief executive Elon Musk.
	Titanium pressure vessel for space exploration built successfully using the Wire + Arc additive manufacturing process A team comprising of Thales Alenia Space, Cranfield University and Glenalmond Technologies have successfully produced a first full-scale prototype of a titanium pressure vessel to be used in future manned missions for space exploration.
	Style recommendations from data scientists At the intersection of social psychology, data science and fashion is Amy Winecoff.
	Electric Jaguar wins Car of the Year in Europe The electric Jaguar I-Pace won the Car of the Year award in Europe on Monday, the first time the storied British brand has been bestowed the prize just as Brexit looms over the continent's auto industry.
	Google fights European copyright overhaul Internet giant Google on Monday urged the European Parliament to resist approving a planned overhaul of the bloc's online copyright law that the company said would hurt Europe for "decades to come".
	Stricter emissions limits jolt Europe's auto industry Electric vehicles will take centre stage at this year's Geneva Motor Show, as automakers scramble to bring their fleets into line with strict CO2 emissions standards set to kick in next year.
Walz sets goal: 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2050 Gov. Tim Walz set an ambitious goal Monday for Minnesota to get 100 percent of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050, though his plan was short on specifics of how to meet that target.
Autonomous car testing plan aims to boost public confidence Companies testing autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh will have to immediately report crashes resulting in any injuries as part of new guidelines announced Monday intended to boost public confidence in the testing after a deadly accident in Arizona last year.
	Contest winners: Apple chooses the best pictures shot on the iPhone The iPhone has become the powerful go-to camera for so many of us. To market just how stunning some of those images can look, Apple invited iPhone users around the world last month to submit the best photos they've captured with the handsets, part of a "Shot on iPhone Challenge" contest.
	Malaysia open to proposals to revive MH370 hunt Malaysia is open to restarting the hunt for Flight MH370 if firms come forward with credible leads and concrete proposals, the transport minister said Sunday, five years on from the plane's disappearance.
Spark joy: Use Marie Kondo-inspired method to declutter your smartphone, tablet and laptop Whether you're an app collector, picture hoarder or any other obsessive keeper of digital things, sometimes it feels good just to let go.
	What YouTube needs to do to clean up its thorny kid issues For years, YouTube, the world's most popular video network, has been battling issues with "bad actors" wreaking havoc with the system.
	AT&T shakes up WarnerMedia to emphasize streaming Now that AT&T's $81 billion takeover of Time Warner is a done deal , the company is reorganizing its TV and movie businesses to emphasize streaming rather than cable TV networks.
	UK budget airline Flybe says investors back takeover Britain's troubled no-frills airline Flybe announced Monday that its shareholders have overwhelmingly approved a takeover from a consortium led by Virgin Atlantic.
	Bringing more human intelligence to AI, data science and digital automation The advent of data science, wireless connectivity and sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) has raised the prospects for digital automation, smart hospital design and the home health care industry for an aging population.
First female gamers qualify for NBA 2K League draft pool Two female gamers have been invited to attend this year's NBA 2K League draft, the first time women will be included in the draft pool.
	Office Depot and Alibaba opening online store Office Depot and Alibaba.com are creating a co-branded online store to expand the reach of both companies with small and medium size businesses.

Medicine & Health news

	When it comes to hearing words, it's a division of labor between our brain's two hemispheres Scientists have uncovered a new "division of labor" between our brain's two hemispheres in how we comprehend the words and other sounds we hear—a finding that offers new insights into the processing of speech and points to ways to address auditory disorders.
	How do we follow the rhythm of language? The answer depends on our brain's path How is our speech shaped by what we hear? The answer varies, depending on the make-up of our brain's pathways, a team of neuroscientists has found. The research, which maps how we synchronize our words with the rhythm of the sounds we hear, offers potential methods for diagnosing speech-related afflictions and evaluating cognitive-linguistic development in children.
	Study examines how sensitivity to emotions changes across the lifespan Why do we become more positive as we grow older? Why are adolescents so sensitive to negative social cues?
	Chemical pollutants in the home degrade fertility in both men and dogs, study finds New research by scientists at the University of Nottingham suggests that environmental contaminants found in the home and diet have the same adverse effects on male fertility in both humans and in domestic dogs.
	A new machine learning model can classify lung cancer slides at the pathologist level Machine learning has improved dramatically in recent years and shown great promise in the field of medical image analysis. A team of research specialists at Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center have utilized machine learning capabilities to assist with the challenging task of grading tumor patterns and subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common form of the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
	Psychedelic microdosing in rats shows beneficial effects The growing popularity of microdosing—taking tiny amounts of psychedelic drugs to boost mood and mental acuity—is based on anecdotal reports of its benefits. Now, a study in rats by researchers at the University of California, Davis suggests microdosing can provide relief for symptoms of depression and anxiety, but also found potential negative effects. The work is published March 4 in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.
	Novel treatments offer new hope for patients with autoimmune disease Autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis, arise when the body's immune cells attack itself. Current treatments eliminate these misfunctioning immune cells, but also destroy normal, protective immune cells, leaving patients susceptible to immune deficiency and opportunistic infections. Researchers at University of Utah Health have developed a new approach that targets the misfunctioning immune cells while leaving normal immune cells in place. The results of their study are available online in the March 4 issue of Nature Biomedical Engineering.
	Potential treatment strategy uncovered for pancreatic cancer Scientists at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center discovered a technique to make pancreatic cancer cells reliant on one energy source and then starve them of it—a finding that has led to clinical studies of a novel treatment strategy for one of the deadliest cancers.
	Scientists expose hidden risks of diarrhoeal disease A rapidly evolving new subspecies of the cryptosporidium parasite—a leading cause of diarrhoeal disease in children worldwide—has been revealed by scientists at the University of East Anglia.
	Forecasting mosquitoes' global spread Outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses like yellow fever, dengue, Zika and chikungunya are rising around the world. Climate change has created conditions favorable to mosquitoes' spread, but so have human travel and migration and accelerating urbanization, creating new mini-habitats for mosquitoes.
	Chandelier neuron requires 'Velcro-like' molecule to form connections As a brain grows, the neurons within it establish themselves, forming lasting connections with their neighbors. They're creating the vast cell networks that ensure a mind and body run smoothly. Now, researchers have determined how a crucial kind of neuron called a chandelier cell (ChC) forms connections with other neurons, opening new avenues for understanding mental illness.
	Fruit fly tissues communicate in ways once thought to be unique to nervous system While virtually all cells in an animal's body communicate with their neighbors in one way or another, many scientists thought that only neurons—the specialized cells that comprise much of the brain and nervous system—produce structures that allow signals to be delivered to specific locations over long distances.
	Bioluminescence sensors make new approaches to drug discovery possible Canadian researchers, working in partnership with Brazilian colleagues, have developed 13 bioluminescence sensors for use in testing the effectiveness of new medical drugs in the laboratory. The study, published in the journal Science Signaling, paves the way for characterizing and testing new drugs. The biosensors are based on the action of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are membrane-bound proteins involved in communication between cells.
	Researchers systematically track protein interactions in defense against viruses The body's defense strategies against viral infections are as diverse as the attacks themselves. A team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry has conducted a systematic investigation into a key feature of the antiviral innate immune response, namely into interferon-stimulated genes, or ISGs. The group succeeded in documenting the strategies deployed by ISGs to strengthen the body's own defense against viruses for the first time.
	Researchers uncover new facets of HIV's 'arms race' with human defense system A new study reveals details about the evolutionary contest between HIV and the human immune system that could one day improve treatment.
	Gut immune cells play by their own rules Only a few vaccines—for example, against polio and rotavirus—can be given orally. Most must be delivered by injection. Weizmann Institute of Science researchers suggest this may be, in part, because the training program of the immune cells in the gut takes place under harsh conditions. Dr. Ziv Shulman and research student Adi Biram investigated this process for the gut-based cells involved in long-term immunity using a novel imaging method that captures all of the immune cells' niches within a single organ. Their findings provide new insights that may, in the future, lead to the design of more effective oral vaccines.
	Promising new pancreatic cancer treatment moves forward Even among cancers, pancreatic cancer is an especially sinister form of disease. The one-year survival rate is extremely low, and treatment progress has lagged behind that of many other malignancies.
	Genomic testing of a single patient reveals a gene commonly mutated in pediatric melanoma Comprehensive clinical genomic testing of an adolescent patient, including whole genome sequencing, helped researchers identify mutations in a single gene that drive the most common childhood melanoma. The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital study appears as an advance online publication today in the journal Nature Medicine.
	Survivor antibody clears path for new Ebola vaccine An antibody taken from an Ebola survivor has been found to target all three human strains of the virus and could eventually lead to an all-purpose vaccine against the killer disease, scientists said Monday.
	How celastrol sensitizes brains to leptin, curbing hunger and obesity Celastrol's potent anti-obesity effects were widely reported in 2015. Derived from the roots of the thunder god vine, the drug curbed food intake in obese mice by nearly 80 percent, producing up to a 45 percent weight loss. Celastrol increases the brain's sensitivity to leptin, the hormone that signals we've had enough to eat, but until now, no one knew how. In today's Nature Medicine, a study led by Umut Ozcan, MD, at Boston Children's Hospital finally solves the mystery.
	Don't ignore heart attack symptoms, especially while traveling Don't ignore heart attack symptoms while travelling, keep emergency numbers at hand. That's the main message of a study presented today at Acute Cardiovascular Care 2019 a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of natural death among people who are travelling, yet, so far, the long-term outlook for those who have a heart attack while on a trip is unknown.
Traumatic brain injury and kids: New treatment guidelines issued Each year in the United States, more than 600,000 children are seen in emergency rooms due to traumatic brain injury, a disruption to the normal function of the brain caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head. Severe TBI results in approximately 7,000 childhood deaths annually, while survivors of the condition may suffer from long-term health conditions such as seizures, learning difficulty and communication disorders.
	Canada appeals court upholds landmark tobacco ruling Quebec's appeals court on Friday upheld a historic ruling ordering three tobacco firms to pay Can$15.5 billion (US$11.6 billion) to smokers in the Canadian province who claimed they were never warned about the health risks associated with smoking.
	FDA warns Americans not to buy drugs from Canadian company (HealthDay)—A large Canadian drug distributor sells unapproved and mislabeled medicines to Americans, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday. The distributor disputes the claim, however.
	New York City measles outbreak cases reach 121 (HealthDay)—The number of measles cases in the New York City outbreak that began last October in the Orthodox Jewish community has reached 121, the city's health department said Thursday.
	Age, race impact atherosclerotic risk with psoriasis (HealthDay)—Some subgroups of patients with psoriasis are at greater risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), according to a research letter published online Feb. 20 in JAMA Dermatology.
	Heart attack patients taken directly to heart centers have better long-term survival Heart attack patients taken directly to heart centres for lifesaving treatment have better long-term survival than those transferred from another hospital, reports a large observational study presented today at Acute Cardiovascular Care 20191 a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress. Directly admitted patients were older, suggesting that heart attacks in young adults, and particularly women, go unrecognised by paramedics and patients.
	Sleep apnea may be linked to higher levels of Alzheimer's biomarker in brain People who are witnessed by a bed partner to have stopped breathing during sleep may have higher accumulations of an Alzheimer's disease biomarker called tau in an area of the brain that helps with memory, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 71st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, May 4 to 10, 2019.
	New study highlights the influence social media has on children's food intake New University of Liverpool research, published in Pediatrics, highlights the negative influence that social media has on children's food intake.
Smokers often misunderstand health risks of smokeless tobacco product, study finds American smokers mistakenly think that using snus, a type of moist snuff smokeless tobacco product, is as dangerous as smoking tobacco, according to a Rutgers study.
	Want to save the planet? Stop trying to be its friend A new theory suggests that we think of our relationship with the environment like a social exchange, leading to the belief that 'environmentally friendly' behavior can compensate for 'harmful' behavior.
	Reevaluating pneumococcal vaccine guidance: An analysis If mitigating racial disparities in those who contract pneumococcal diseases, such as meningitis and pneumonia, is a top public health priority, then recommending that all adults get a pneumococcal vaccine at age 50 would likely be effective guidance, according to a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine analysis published today in the journal Vaccine.
	New scientific statement on blood pressure measurement in people The accurate measurement of blood pressure is essential for the diagnosis and management of hypertension, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, according to an updated American Heart Association scientific statement on blood pressure measurement in humans, published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.
Promising strategy to fight the most deadly brain tumor in children A study published in Nature Communications found that an inhibitor of an enzyme called ACVR1 slows tumor growth and increases survival in an animal model of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - the most deadly brain tumor in children. Currently, there are no approved drugs for treating DIPG. This research opens the door to a promising new treatment strategy.
	Poll shows many older adults, especially those with health issues, feel isolated One in four older adults say they feel isolated from other people at least some of the time, and one in three say they lack regular companionship, according to a new national poll.
	How a common oral bacteria makes colon cancer more deadly Researchers at the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine have determined how F. nucleatum—a common oral bacteria often implicated in tooth decay—accelerates the growth of colon cancer. The study was published online in the journal EMBO Reports.
	Genomics could better match treatments to pancreatic cancer patients Pancreatic cancer is a grim diagnosis, with a five-year survival rate of less than 9 percent. To improve those odds, researchers at UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine sought genetic signatures in the largest study of its kind that could be used to better match drugs to patients and for early detection.
	Japan okays research using human cells in animals Japan has given the green light to a controversial research process involving implanting animals with human stem cells that could eventually help grow human organs for transplant inside animal hosts.
	Being overweight may be linked to better survival from stroke It may seem counterintuitive, but having some extra body fat may be linked to an increased chance of surviving a stroke, according to a preliminary study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 71st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, May 4 to 10, 2019.
	The gendered brain: Pink and blue or fifty shades of grey matter? The age-old concept that brains, like bodies, are either female or male is inaccurate and misleading Professor Gina Rippon argues in her book, The Gendered Brain, published by Bodley Head. She points out that we live in a gendered world, bombarded 24/7 with gender stereotypes, arising from deeply ingrained beliefs that our brains and our behaviours are determined by our sex, determining our skills and preferences and everything from toy choice to career choice. It is this, not a fixed biological blueprint, which shapes our brains.
	We talk about artistic inspiration all the time – but scientific inspiration is a thing too I don't know why it took so long to dawn on me – after 20 years of a scientific career – that what we call the "scientific method" really only refers to the second half of any scientific story. It describes how we test and refine the ideas and hypotheses we have about nature through the engagement of experiment or observation and theoretical ideas and models.
	Pumping iron could save your life As far back as Ancient Greece, a sculptured physique has been heralded as the pinnacle of physical perfection. But now, researchers from Japan have found that increased muscle mass doesn't just make you look good, it could literally save your life.
	Sensory stimuli improves brain damage in mouse models of preterm birth Perinatal brain injuries hinder neurological capabilities throughout life, causing fine motor problems and severe cognitive limitations, and therapies currently available are very limited. Researchers are seeking other types of interventions to counter these effects.
	New hope for treating reduced exercise capacity caused by heart failure A group of Hokkaido University scientists and collaborators have developed a method that could be used to treat heart failure patients whose exercise capacity has been impaired.
	Clinical trial test new treatment for Parkinson's disease dementia After Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia and related Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) are some of the most common types of dementia affecting older adults, but they are severely understudied. While PDD patients are often prescribed medications that treat psychosis and Alzheimer's disease, there are no medications designed specifically to treat these illnesses.
	Dementia's gender differences revealed Dementia is one of the leading causes of death in Australia, but University of Queensland research has found the disease affects men and women differently.
	Physical combination multiplies melanoma risk The risk of developing melanoma is significantly multiplied for people who have red hair and more than 20 large moles, University of Queensland researchers have found.
	Stress management: Virtual support by "human" avatars works just as well as face-to-face support If people facing an acute stress situation receive social support from a "human" avatar, behind which there is (or is at least perceived to be) a real person, this works just as well as social support from a real person. Such is the main finding of a study led by Anna Felnhofer and Oswald Kothgassner from MedUni Vienna's Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
	Children conceived through assisted reproduction face no greater risks of emotional or behavioural problems Children conceived through medically assisted reproduction (MAR), such as IVF, are at no more risk of developing emotional or behavioural problems than those conceived naturally according to new research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
	Young people at risk of addiction show differences in key brain region Young adults at risk of developing problems with addiction show key differences in an important region of the brain, according to an international team led by researchers at the University of Cambridge.
	Cleaning up tuberculosis and salmonella infections The cellular recycling system in zebrafish is capable of eating harmful bacteria and thus resist infections such as tuberculosis and salmonellosis. That is written by Leiden biologists from the group of Annemarie Meijer. Stimulating this form of defence could be used in new treatment methods against infectious diseases. The researchers publish their results in two leading journals, Autophagy and PLOS Pathogens.
	Fitness trackers keep cancer survivors on the move A new study shows that activity trackers such as pedometers and smartphone apps are linked to improved step counts and exercise engagement for cancer survivors. The devices have the appeal of being convenient, home-based, and unsupervised, and they may help with accuracy of exercise logs and in some cases can serve as a communications tool for healthcare teams.
	Linking bacterial populations with health We are all teeming with bacteria that help us digest food or fight disease, but two people might play host to a very different array of bacteria due to diet, where they live, hobbies or even medical histories.
	Benefits of informal health expertise A helpful reminder – something as simple as "Are you taking your medications?" – could conceivably prolong a life.
Patients who stay in hospital less than three days after TAVR fare better Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) patients who are required to stay in the hospital more than three days after the procedure are at a significantly greater risk of heart attack, stroke or death after one year, compared to patients discharged in less than 72 hours, according to a study published today in JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions.
	Gene study shows couples have similar lifespan People tend to unwittingly choose a life partner who is likely to have a comparable life expectancy, research suggests.
	Smartphones could help detect heart conditions A smartphone-based heart monitor could be up to five times more effective at diagnosing heart rhythm problems than standard tests, research suggests.
	Doctors may be prescribing antibotics for longer than needed For most infections, the long-standing advice is to take a full course of antibiotics.
	Lilly to sell cheaper version of top-selling insulin Humalog Eli Lilly is offering a half-price version of a top-selling insulin to ease the financial strain for some patients, but an advocacy group says much bigger changes are needed.
	Easy ways to rev up your metabolism and burn calories (HealthDay)—Your metabolism rate determines how fast you burn calories, and that can influence how fast you lose weight—and how easily you can gain it.
	Get in shape for tennis and other racquet sports (HealthDay)—Playing singles tennis is a great way to have fun and exercise, and if you have access to an indoor court, it can be a year-round workout option that builds camaraderie along with muscle tone.
	Addiction counselor creates smartphone app to thwart overdoses In his dozen years using heroin, Lucien Izraylov took pains to avoid detection. He was ashamed of what he was doing, so he almost always shot up alone.
	Exercising helps seniors stay independent after discharge from hospital Seniors make up 18 per cent of Canada's population yet account for 42 per cent of hospitalizations. Hospital stays can have serious impacts, such as decreased mobility, a greater risk of falling, and readmission to hospital, which become obstacles to seniors remaining independent and staying at home. To reduce these risks, a team of researchers has come up with a simple approach: to prescribe daily exercises that patients can do at home once they get out of the hospital.
	Positivity can transform the healthcare workplace Positivity can transform the healthcare workplace, according to a professor at Binghamton University, State University of New York.
	Exercise can improve non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease Exercise has potential to improve non-motor as well as motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), including cognitive function, report investigators in a review published in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease.
	Researcher develops advanced lung cancer prediction model A Brock University epidemiologist has produced a more powerful version of a tool used to predict a person's likelihood of developing lung cancer.
	Truth telling about tobacco and nicotine Debate among public health professionals over approaches to tobacco and nicotine regulation has intensified with the rise of vaping in the form of electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes) and tobacco heat-not-burn products.
	Home births are three times more dangerous than hospital deliveries: study Women who give birth in non-hospital settings are three times more likely to encounter complications and perinatal mortality compared with hospital births, according to a new study presented by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and its affiliated Soroka University Medical Center.
	Tech tips: Four top health systems share novel approaches to improve patient engagement Hospitals and health systems across the United States are seeking ways to better engage patients with a variety of handheld and home-based technologies to improve patient experience and health outcomes. How do you use technology to transform the hospital bedside? Increase medication adherence for hypertension? Control diabetes? Reduce distress in patients with cancer?
	Paying patients to use lower-priced health providers can reduce health spending Paying people to use lower-price medical providers can help reduce health care spending, according to a new study.
	Cocoa may help curb fatigue typically associated with multiple sclerosis Cocoa may help curb the fatigue that is typically associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggest the results of a small feasibility trial, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Well-being and the rise of psychotherapy in Uganda Perspectives on happiness and mental health differ across the world. While some cultures view suffering and unhappiness as inherent, circumstantial aspects of existence, others view any degree of unhappiness as a personal deficiency and an indication of poor health. Westernized perspectives present happiness as an individualized state of being that can be cultivated and sustained through continuous effort. In areas where these western beliefs are prominent, happiness is established as the norm, and as a result, a global trend has emerged where the absence of happiness is increasingly medicalized and pathologized. When deviation from the norm occurs, it spurs individuals to search out medical and psychological interventions.
	Exposure to trauma impacts ability to squash bad memories People exposed to trauma are less able to suppress unwanted emotional memories due to neural and behavioral disruptions in their brain that may contribute to the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
	Using sleep disorder to predict Parkinson's disease A large multi-centre study of more than 1,200 patients provides important predictors of Parkinson's disease progression, which will allow better candidate selection for clinical trials and more effective therapy development.
Study aims to reduce sexually transmitted infections in men Researchers at the University of Southampton are set to launch a new study to help improve condom use and tackle sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young men (16-25 years) in the UK.
	Experts tackle major cardiovascular issues in treating patients with HIV Since the advent of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has become more like a chronic illness. Now that patients are able to live longer and remain free of developing AIDS, they have begun to encounter new risks from age-related disorders common in the general population, including cardiovascular disease (CVD).
New study calls for supervision orders to have 'more teeth' 20% of all children in England who return home after care proceedings and are placed on a supervision order are back in the family court within 5 years because of further significant harm, new research led by Lancaster University has found.
Neurodegenerative diseases identified using artificial intelligence Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence platform to detect a range of neurodegenerative disease in human brain tissue samples, including Alzheimer's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, according to a study conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published in the Nature medical journal Laboratory Investigation. Their discovery will help scientists develop targeted biomarkers and therapeutics, resulting in a more accurate diagnosis of complex brain diseases that improve patient outcomes.
	Putting the break on our immune system's response Researchers have discovered how a tiny molecule known as miR-132 acts as a "handbrake" on our immune system—helping us fight infection.
	Radiation after surgery triples survival for a type of pediatric brain tumor Radiation immediately following surgery in children with ependymoma, the third most common pediatric brain tumor, can nearly triple survival. The results are part of a Children's Oncology Group (COG) clinical trial led by Thomas E. Merchant, D.O., Ph.D., of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The findings appear as an advance online publication this week in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Big US chains called out for selling tobacco to kids US health authorities on Monday announced new steps to pressure 15 leading retail chains that regularly sell tobacco products to underage consumers.
	New material could mean fewer trips to the dentist's office A compound used to make car bumpers strong and protect wood decks could prevent return visits to the dentist's office.
	Scientists developing new vaccine strategy for tuberculosis For years, scientists have been trying to come up with a better way to protect people against tuberculosis, the disease caused by infection with the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) bacteria. Texas Biomedical Research Institute Professor Jordi Torrelles, Ph.D., says new hope is on the horizon after a recent experiment performed in mice showed great promise. The study was published in the journal Mucosal Immunology.
	More than one-third of patients risk major bleeding by doubling up on blood thinners A daily aspirin is a commonly used, generally safe therapy for people who need help preventing heart attacks or stroke.
	First genetic clue for elusive pediatric liver disease A nationwide consortium of researchers has identified the first genetic defect linked to biliary atresia, a mysterious liver disease that is the leading cause for liver transplantation in children.
	Are mosaic embryos the 'dark horse' of IVF? Not every embryo contains 46 perfect chromosomes. Some have more, others have fewer. The result is a common abnormality known as aneuploidy, which occurs in as many as 80 percent of human embryos.
	Should patients be considered consumers? There is broad support for building health care systems that are patient centered, seen as a means of improving health outcomes and as morally worthy in itself. But the concept of patient-centered care has increasingly merged with the concept of patients as consumers, which "is conceptually confused and potentially harmful," write Michael K. Gusmano, a Hastings Center research scholar and an associate professor at Rutgers University; Karen J. Maschke, a Hastings Center research scholar; and Hastings Center president Mildred Z. Solomon in an article in the March 2019 issue of Health Affairs.
Bundle payment model analysis of emerging breast cancer screening Bundled payments have been touted as mechanisms to optimize quality and costs. A prior feasibility study evaluating bundled payments for screening mammography episodes predated widespread adoption of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT). A new study, published online in the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR), explores an episodic bundled payment model for breast cancer screening that reflects the emerging widespread adoption of DBT.
	Are thrill-seekers with heart conditions courting danger? The fastest roller coasters exceed 100 mph. A race car driver can double that speed within seconds.
	Daily aspirin might ease COPD flare-ups (HealthDay)—Many Americans take a daily low-dose aspirin to protect their hearts. Now it appears aspirin may also reduce flare-ups of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
	High deductibles may threaten breast cancer patients' survival (HealthDay)—Even when women have health insurance, high deductibles may delay them from having breast cancer diagnosed and treated, researchers say.
	Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy tied to stroke risk (HealthDay)—Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have a greater long-term risk for stroke that is reduced by aspirin use, according to a study recently published in Neurology.
	COPD, ILD patients may not benefit from bilateral lung transplant listing (HealthDay)—While an unrestricted listing strategy does not seem to impact overall survival among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial lung disease (ILD) awaiting lung transplant, it may increase the number of transplants performed, according to a study published in the February issue of the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
	Higher intake of whole grains may lower risk for liver cancer (HealthDay)—Higher intake of whole grains may be associated with a lower risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among U.S. adults, according to a study published online Feb. 21 in JAMA Oncology.
	Readmission for patients with sepsis common and costly (HealthDay)—Readmission after sepsis hospitalization is common and is associated with considerable costs, according to a study published in the March issue of CHEST.
	Women call ambulance for husbands with heart attacks but not for themselves Women call an ambulance for husbands, fathers and brothers with heart attack symptoms but not for themselves. "It's time for women take care of themselves too" is the main message of two studies from the Polish Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes (PL-ACS) presented today at Acute Cardiovascular Care 2019, a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) congress.
Caregivers in Canada need more support It's time to strengthen support for the 28% of people who provide care for an ageing family member, friend or neighbour in Canada, argues an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
Steroid use during cardiac bypass surgery did not reduce risk of severe kidney injury Using steroids during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery did not reduce the risk of acute kidney injury in people at increased risk of death, according to a study conducted in 18 countries published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Genetic factors influence human brain expansion An analysis published in JNeurosci of brain scans from more than 600 children and adolescents reveals genetically-mediated associations between the size of evolutionarily novel brain regions and intelligence test scores. Genetic influences on the brain follow the patterns of evolutionary expansion of the human brain relative to nonhuman primates.
	Mathematicians develop model of spatial distribution of HIV and other viruses in the body for the first time RUDN mathematicians created a mathematical model to describe spatial distribution of viruses in the body. It analyzes the growth of a virus population in space and time and evaluates the influence of their reaction with the immune system on the course of the disease. The results may be useful for the diagnostics and control of HIV, herpes, myxovirus, measles and other viral diseases. The article was published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology.
	Chicago has one female, African-American organ transplant surgeon. She fights disease and distrust of doctors When transplant surgeon Dinee Simpson sits in a consultation room with a patient, often they're joined by the patient's spouse or children or both.
	Researchers pursue blood test for colorectal cancer Researchers at the West Virginia University Cancer Institute are evaluating a first-of-its-kind blood test for detecting colorectal cancer. Their findings may help propel the test toward inclusion in the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's recommendations for colorectal cancer screening.
	Why home cooking isn't possible for everyone – and what we can do about it Many people have fond memories of home-cooked meals, and aspire to an ideal of preparing delicious, healthy food that can be shared around the table with family. But that ideal is out of reach for many Americans – and reality leaves many people feeling inadequate or even guilty. What can we do about it?
Teen who defied parents to get vaccinated heads to US Congress A US high school student who had himself vaccinated despite his parents' objections is set to testify Tuesday before the US Congress about a surge in outbreaks of preventable diseases.
	How to train like Captain Marvel, physically and mentally Brie Larson was hanging upside down and suspended by her legs when she was about to attempt one of her most challenging "Captain Marvel" stunts for the first time on set.
U-M researchers, students take sexual assault prevention program to Ghana Blaming the victim, usually a female, is common in sexual assault cases, but in some places it's more prevalent than others.

Biology news

	Due to humans, extinction risk for 1,700 animal species to increase by 2070 As humans continue to expand our use of land across the planet, we leave other species little ground to stand on. By 2070, increased human land-use is expected to put 1,700 species of amphibians, birds, and mammals at greater extinction risk by shrinking their natural habitats, according to a study by Yale ecologists published in Nature Climate Change.
	Luminescent bacteria in squid light organ drive systemic changes in host A new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by researchers at the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), revealed that luminescent bacteria, which live harmoniously inside the Hawaiian bobtail squid's light organ, change the gene expression in other organs of their squid host.
	New techniques let scientists zero in on individual cells Did you hear what happened when Bill Gates walked into a bar? Everybody there immediately became millionaires—on average.
	Alien species are primary cause of recent global extinctions: study Alien species are the main driver of recent extinctions in both animals and plants, according to a new study by UCL researchers.
	Long-lived parents produce better quality offspring Genetic manipulation that more than doubles lifespan also leads to better offspring—according to new collaborative research from the University of East Anglia and Uppsala University.
	Researchers discover sustainable and natural alternative to man-made chemical pesticides Repurposing a strain of beneficial bacteria could offer a safe, sustainable and natural alternative to man-made chemical pesticides, according to research from Cardiff University.
	Two genomes can be better than one for evolutionary adaptation, study finds Scientists have revealed how certain wild plants with naturally doubled 'supergenomes' can stay ahead of the game when it comes to adapting to climate volatility and hostile environments.
	New key players in the methane cycle Methane is not only a powerful greenhouse gas, but also a source of energy. Microorganisms therefore use it for their metabolism. They do so much more frequently and in more ways than was previously assumed, as revealed by a study now published in Nature Microbiology by researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology and Jiao Tong University in Shanghai.
	Open-source application creates super-resolution images of cell development in living animals A new tool may allow researchers to see more of the physiological state of living organisms at the cellular level, according to a study by the University of Notre Dame.
	Researchers find features that shape mechanical force during protein synthesis Like any assembly line, the body's protein-building process generates a mechanical force as it produces these important cellular building blocks. Now, a team of researchers suggest they are one step closer to understanding that force. They also built a mathematical model to help guide scientists with future investigations into how the body creates proteins.
	World-first program uncovers errors in biomedical research results Just like the wrong ingredients can spoil a cake, so too can the wrong ingredients spoil the results in biomedical research. The difference is that the latter involves years of work, financial and personal investment and promise.
	Engineers develop fast method to convert algae to biocrude Biofuel experts have long sought a more economically-viable way to turn algae into biocrude oil to power vehicles, ships and even jets. University of Utah researchers believe they have found an answer. They have developed an unusually rapid method to deliver cost-effective algal biocrude in large quantities using a specially-designed jet mixer.
	Drying without dying: How resurrection plants survive without water A small group of plants known as "resurrection plants" can survive months or even years without water. The research team of Kobe University's Graduate School of Agricultural Science, led by Professor Dr. Roumiana Tsenkova, in collaboration with a research group from Agrobioinstitute in Sofia, Bulgaria led by Professor Dr. Dimitar Djilianov, made a significant step forward in understanding how they do it.
	Scientists provide first evidence of diphtheria-like infectious agent in hedgehogs As cultural successors, hedgehogs reside in close proximity to humans. Close contacts, however, can bear risks for animals and humans. Road traffic, lawn mowers and infectious agents threaten the prickly insect eaters. Some infectious agents can be transmitted to humans. Considerate treatment of wildlife and appropriate hygiene measures minimize the risk of infection. A recent study has identified Corynebacterium ulcerans—a close relative of the diphtheria causing bacterium—in hedgehogs. The study is published in Emerging Microbes & Infections.
	Reaching peak whale Research has revealed some large whale populations have defied over-exploitation and near-extinction to reach 'peak' abundance – or will do so early in the next decade.
	'A gift from the city to itself' Coastal cities are among the fastest growing population centres on the planet and half of the global population now lives within 100km of the coast.
	Sonar disturbs blue whales feeding No one really knows why pods of whales spontaneously drive themselves aground. Military sonar may be one culprit, and the need to train and test submarine tracking technology in open water could put the US Navy in conflict with the gentle cetaceans that feed and pass through military ranges. Although solitary endangered blue whales are rarely victims of sonar stranding, this does not mean that they are unaffected by high intensity sonar. 'We wanted to understand better what the common behavioural responses are in blue whales when they are exposed to [sonar]', says Brandon Southall from the University of California, Santa Cruz, USA. So, he and a team of 14 colleagues embarked on a marathon tracking program to investigate the reactions of blue whales to sonar. The team publish their discovery that blue whales stop feeding on deep patches of krill when they encounter sonar in Journal of Experimental Biology.
	Boyce Thompson Institute launches new Plant Genome Editing Database Recently developed gene editing tools like CRISPR/Cas enable plant scientists to figure out the functions of myriad plant genes. While these studies could eventually lead to the creation of crops with improved traits like increased disease resistance or higher yield, researchers first need a good way to keep track of the increasingly large amounts of resulting data.
	Research provides insight on survivability of rare Wyoming plant A rare plant found only at two sites in central Wyoming has persisted, in part, because it can recover from relatively low densities and grows at different rates within each location, according to new research led by a University of Wyoming scientist.
Indonesia court allows dam in orangutan habitat to proceed Environmentalists lost a court challenge Monday to a Chinese-backed dam in Indonesia that will rip through the habitat of the most critically endangered orangutan species.
	Philippines seizes 1,500 rare turtles in luggage Some 1,500 live exotic turtles—some restrained with duct-tape—have been found inside an airline passenger's luggage, Philippines authorities said Monday, as they vowed a crackdown on the lucrative wildlife trade.
	Diabetes impairs multipotent stromal cell antibacterial activity A new study reveals that the multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) of persons with diabetes have diminished capacity to fight off bacterial infection, providing new understanding into the basis of diabetes-associated immune dysfunction. The research is published in Stem Cells and Development.

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