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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 14, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Astronomers investigate a recently reactivated radio magnetarA UK-German team of astronomers has conducted observations of a peculiar radio magnetar known as XTE J1810–197, which turned on in December 2018 after an almost decade-long period of quiescence. Results of these observations provide more information about the magnetar properties, and were presented in a paper published March 6 on arXiv.org. |
 | ESO's Cosmic Gems Programme captures the Cosmic Bat's dusty cloudsHidden in one of the darkest corners of the Orion constellation, this Cosmic Bat is spreading its hazy wings through interstellar space two thousand light-years away. It is illuminated by the young stars nestled in its core — despite being shrouded by opaque clouds of dust, their bright rays still illuminate the nebula. Too dim to be discerned by the naked eye, NGC 1788 reveals its soft colours to ESO's Very Large Telescope in this image—the most detailed to date. |
 | ALMA observes the formation sites of solar-system-like planetsResearchers have spotted the formation sites of planets around a young star resembling the sun. Two rings of dust around the star, at distances comparable to the asteroid belt and the orbit of Neptune in the solar system, suggest that we are witnessing the formation of a planetary system similar to our own. |
 | Strong planetary magnetic fields like Earth's may protect oceans from stellar stormsA study by scientists at ANU on the magnetic fields of planets has found that most planets discovered in other solar systems are unlikely to be as hospitable to life as Earth. |
 | US-Russian crew blasts off to International Space StationA Russian-American crew of three blasted off to the International Space Station early Friday, making a second attempt to reach the outpost after October's aborted launch. |
 | NASA chief acknowledges more trouble with SLS rocketThe US space agency NASA on Wednesday cast a shadow on the future of its new heavy-lift rocket, the SLS—acknowledging development delays on a project that is already years behind. |
 | Floating ideas for an airlock near the MoonAssembly of a new habitable structure near the moon, known as the Gateway, is scheduled to begin in 2023. The international project will allow humans to explore farther than ever before and it brings new opportunities for European design in space. |
 | Quasar jets confuse orbital telescopeAstrophysicists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, the Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (LPI RAS), and NASA have found an error in the coordinates of active galactic nuclei measured by the Gaia space telescope, and helped correct it. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal, also serve as an independent confirmation of the astrophysical model of these objects. |
 | Australia's small satellite revolutionA little piece of technology is making a big splash in Australia's space industry. So what on (and off) Earth is a CubeSat? |
 | Astronauts on aborted Soyuz launch to blast off again for ISSNASA astronaut Nick Hague and his Russian colleague Alexey Ovchinin, who survived a dramatically aborted Soyuz launch last year, were due to blast off again to the International Space Station on Thursday. |
 | Gravity influences how we make decisions – new researchReturning to Earth from the International Space Station, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield remarked how making the right decision is vital in high pressure environments, saying: "Most of the time, you only really get one try to do most of the critical stuff and the consequences are life or death." |
 | Greener fuels to propel rocket launches into spaceTurns out, green fuels are rocket science. |
 | Using black holes to conquer space: The halo driveThe idea of traveling to another star system has been the dream of people long before the first rockets and astronauts were sent to space. But despite all the progress we have made since the beginning of the Space Age, interstellar travel remains just that – a dream. While theoretical concepts have been proposed, the issues of cost, travel time and fuel remain highly problematic. |
Technology news
 | Giving drones better feet so they can 'rest' atop nearby structuresA team of researchers with members from the U.S., China and Sweden has developed a new kind of foot landing structure for drones to allow them to perch on nearby structures. In their paper published in the journal Science Robotics, the group describes their new landing gear and why it could be useful. |
 | Cities of the future could be built by robots mimicking natureDrones and robots could build and repair future cities, but only if they can work together – by copying the tactics of nature. |
 | Renewable energy won't make Bitcoin 'green,' but tweaking its mining mechanism mightThe cryptocurrency Bitcoin is known for its massive energy footprint. Now, researcher Alex de Vries, from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the Netherlands, suggests that renewable hydropower production cannot supply the large quantities of energy needed to power machinery used to validate Bitcoin transactions. In a Commentary publishing March 14 in the journal Joule, he also highlights the vast quantities of electronic waste produced by the Bitcoin network and calls for alternative strategies to curb the cryptocurrency's environmental impact. |
 | France probes Boeing black boxes as jets grounded worldwide (Update)French investigators were examining the black boxes from the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that crashed in Ethiopia on Thursday, as the ban on the model went worldwide after President Donald Trump added the US to countries that have grounded the aircraft. |
 | Investors could pump $1 bn into Uber self-driving cars: reportA group of investors including SoftBank Group is in talks to invest $1 billion or more into Uber's self-driving car unit, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. |
 | A day not to 'like' for Facebook, hit by outage, criminal probeFacebook grappled with challenges on two fronts Wednesday, an hours-long outage and intensified scrutiny from investigators reportedly probing data deals struck by the world's largest social network. |
 | Space tech poised to make air travel greener and more efficientPassengers travelling through busy airports should soon face fewer delays and have a lower environmental impact, thanks to efforts to use airspace more efficiently. |
 | Cities rethink parking as ride-hailing grows and parking revenue declinesAs Lyft and Uber race toward IPOs this spring, Americans are relying on the ride-hailing services more than ever, and as a result, city parking garages and airport parking lots are a bit emptier. A new study published in the Journal of Transportation and Land Use aims to understand how parking demand is changing as people opt to hitch a ride and leave their cars at home. |
 | Want to turn off the internet? It could happen if a solar storm hits the EarthIt's happened before and it could happen again. |
 | Black boxes: Crucial to air crash probesA top priority for air crash investigators is to locate and analyse a plane's two black boxes which hold vital clues to what caused it to go down, including cockpit conversations. |
 | Renewable energy solution for industrial heat applicationsResearchers at the University of South Australia have developed a new technique that may greatly reduce industry's dependence on natural gas, combining renewable energy and low-cost thermal storage to deliver heat for high-temperature industrial processes. |
 | What to do if your identity was stolen in mass identity breachNews recently that a malware attack at Detroit-based Wolverine Solutions Group, which handles mailing and other services for hundreds of health care companies, potentially exposed the personal information of hundreds of thousands of medical care patients, has many Michiganders concerned about whether their identities are at risk. |
Renewable energy reduces the highest electric rates in the nationCoal is the primary fuel source for Midwest electric utilities. Michigan Technological University researchers found that increasing renewable and distributed generation energy sources can save Michigan electric consumers money. | |
 | Rise and fall of the landline: 143 years of telephones becoming more accessible – and smartThe global economy has changed dramatically over the past century and a half. |
 | Massive outage adds to growing Facebook woesFacebook appeared to be back in operation Thursday after a massive outage affecting its applications around the world, creating fresh woes for the social network leader under fire for its handling of sensitive user data. |
 | Researchers reverse the flow of time on IBM's quantum computerWe all mark days with clocks and calendars, but perhaps no timepiece is more immediate than a mirror. The changes we notice over the years vividly illustrate science's "arrow of time"—the likely progression from order to disorder. We cannot reverse this arrow any more than we can erase all our wrinkles or restore a shattered teacup to its original form. |
 | Facebook blames server problem for massive outageFacebook blamed a "server configuration change" Thursday for a massive outage affecting its applications around the world and brought fresh attention to the embattled social networking leader. |
 | Boeing, airlines face tough path after 737 MAX groundingDays after the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 that killed 157 people and led to the plane being grounded worldwide, Boeing and commercial airlines are trying to get a handle on the fallout. |
 | Lufthansa warns airport capacity to squeeze growthLufthansa, Europe's largest airline group, said Thursday that capacity bumping up against limits at overcrowded airports would hem in growth this year as it reported that its bottom line fell in 2018. |
 | US ups pressure on Europe over 5G infrastructure from China's HuaweiThe US upped pressure on Europe Wednesday to avoid turning to Huawei for 5G telecom infrastructure, with a top commander saying NATO forces would cease communicating with their German colleagues if Berlin teams up with the Chinese firm. |
 | Opel plans Russia comeback as PSA seeks out new marketsGerman carmaker Opel on Thursday said it would return to Russia after a more than three-year absence as new French owner PSA branches out in a bid to reduce the group's reliance on the European market. |
 | Touchscreens go 3-D with buttons that pulsate and vibrate under your fingertipsBy pulsing or vibrating on demand, smartphone screens can help users navigate through a menu or can guide a user's finger to virtual on-screen buttons that can be created or removed wherever and whenever needed. Professor Stefan Seelecke and his team at Saarland University have developed a film that gives touchscreens a third dimension. The thin and extremely lightweight silicone film can adopt a variety of positions and shapes and can be made to execute a single pulse, a pushing motion, a sudden jolt or a prolonged vibration at a specific location on the screen. The polymer film also exhibits sensor properties and can therefore provide the device with an added sense organ. |
Facebook's 'pivot' is less about privacy and more about profitsFacebook's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg's latest promise is that his social media conglomerate will become a "privacy-focused" one. By turns lauded and lambasted, this move does not quite address users' primary problems with the company. | |
 | Brazil's Embraer posts net loss for 2018Brazilian airplane manufacturer Embraer, in the process of a partial takeover by US giant Boeing, announced a net loss of 669 million reais ($183 million) for 2018. |
Two top Facebook executives depart the companyTwo top Facebook executives are leaving the company, including product chief Chris Cox, who was long one of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's top deputies. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | The inferotemporal cortex is key to differentiating between objectsAs visual information flows into the brain through the retina, the visual cortex transforms the sensory input into coherent perceptions. Neuroscientists have long hypothesized that a part of the visual cortex called the inferotemporal (IT) cortex is necessary for the key task of recognizing individual objects, but the evidence has been inconclusive. |
 | Brain wave stimulation may improve Alzheimer's symptomsBy exposing mice to a unique combination of light and sound, MIT neuroscientists have shown that they can improve cognitive and memory impairments similar to those seen in Alzheimer's patients. |
 | Report examines origins and nature of 'math anxiety'A report out today examines the factors that influence 'maths anxiety' among primary and secondary school students, showing that teachers and parents may inadvertently play a role in a child's development of the condition, and that girls tend to be more affected than boys. |
 | Making drugs more effective in the fight against cancer, genetic disorders, and viral infectionsMany of our most difficult-to-treat diseases have a genetic basis: viral infections, hereditary disorders, cancer. While scientists have begun to design drugs that can target and disrupt the activity of problematic genes, these therapeutics are difficult to deliver effectively. Very few have made it to the market. |
 | Inside a tumor: Purple bacteria visualize 'big eaters'Cancer presents an ongoing challenge for physicians, particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. This is due to tumor heterogeneity, among other things. A team of scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, the Juelich Research Center, the Technical University of Munich and the Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf has now shown that harmless purple bacteria of the genus Rhodobacter are capable of visualizing aspects of this heterogeneity in the tumors. With the aid of optoacoustic imaging, the researchers used these microorganisms to visualize cells of the immune system, so-called macrophages (Greek for "big eaters"), that also play a role in tumor development. Their research findings have now been published in Nature Communications. |
 | Stress hormones promote breast cancer metastasisIt has long been thought that stress contributes to cancer progression. Scientists from the University of Basel and the University Hospital of Basel have deciphered the molecular mechanisms linking breast cancer metastasis with increased stress hormones. In addition, they found that synthetic derivatives of stress hormones, which are frequently used as anti-inflammatory in cancer therapy, decrease the efficacy of chemotherapy. These results come from patient-derived models of breast cancer in mice and may have implications for the treatment of patients with breast cancer, as the researchers report in the scientific journal Nature. |
 | Researchers find breathing-in before doing a task might make you better at doing itA team of researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, has found that people sometimes do better on tasks if they inhale first. In their paper published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, the group describes experiments they carried out with volunteers and what they found. |
 | Guardians of the synapse: Scientists identify a new role for nerve-supporting cellsSalk researchers have found, for the first time, that a blood-clotting protein can, unexpectedly, degrade nerves—and how nerve-supporting glial cells, including Schwann cells, provide protection. The findings, published March 14, 2019, in the journal PLOS Genetics, show that Schwann cells protect nerves by blocking this blood-clotting protein as well as other potentially destructive enzymes released by muscle cells. The work could have implications for diseases as diverse as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease or schizophrenia. |
 | Using an anti-smoking drug to control neuronsAn anti-smoking drug now has a new job—as a chemical switch to turn select neurons on or off. |
 | The sweet spot: Scientists discover taste center of human brainResearchers long ago mapped sight, hearing and other human sensory systems in the brain. But for taste, which could be considered our most pleasurable sense, precisely where the "gustatory" cortex is and how it works has been a mystery. |
 | Democracy linked to global health gains in low-, middle-income countriesMost studies that look at whether democracy improves global health rely on measurements of life expectancy at birth and infant mortality rates. Yet those measures disproportionately reflect progress on infectious diseases—such as malaria, diarrheal illnesses and pneumonia—which relies heavily on foreign aid. |
 | Non-invasive imaging technique valid for identifying small airway disease in lungChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an inflammatory disease of the small airways in the lungs, affects 16 million Americans and is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Identifying small airway disease in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable, could potentially lead to new drug therapies for those with COPD, researchers say. |
 | New food guide will save Canadians money but few are following it, study findsThe good news is the new Canada's Food Guide will save a family of four $475 annually on grocery bills, according to a new University of Guelph study. |
 | Free fatty acids appear to rewire cells to promote obesity-related breast cancerScientists at the University of Illinois have found that free fatty acids in the blood appear to boost proliferation and growth of breast cancer cells. The finding could help explain obese women's elevated risk of developing breast cancer after menopause. |
 | Expectant mothers can prevent fetal brain problems caused by the flu, study findsCholine, an essential B vitamin nutrient, can prevent fetal brain developmental problems that often occur after prenatal maternal infections such as colds and influenza (flu). |
 | Green tea cuts obesity, health risks in miceGreen tea cut obesity and a number of inflammatory biomarkers linked with poor health in a new study. |
 | Mosquito-killing drug reduced malaria episodes by a fifth among children, according to randomised trialFirst evidence that repeated mass administration of ivermectin can reduce malaria incidence in children aged five or younger without an increase in adverse events for the wider population given the drug. |
 | Mentally tiring work may increase diabetes risk in womenWomen who find their jobs mentally tiring are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in the European Journal of Endocrinology. The study findings suggest that mentally draining work, such as teaching, may increase the risk of diabetes in women. This suggests that employers and women should be more aware of the potential health risks associated with mentally tiring work. |
 | 'Short' drug-resistant TB regimen could cut treatment time by more than halfA new drug cocktail reduces the length of treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis from nearly two years to nine to 11 months with a similar effectiveness, according to a large clinical trial whose results were published in a US journal Wednesday. |
 | Drug could alleviate side effects of chemo for breast cancer patientsResearchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have demonstrated a method of forecasting which breast cancer patients will suffer heart problems from a commonly used chemotherapy drug. |
 | Eliminating smoking and obesity could affect racial health disparitiesObesity and smoking are the two leading causes of preventable deaths in the U.S., yet their full impact on health disparities is still being uncovered. |
 | Vaccine developed to treat osteoarthritic pain by blocking nerve growth factorIn a collaborative effort between the Jenner Institute and the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology at the University of Oxford, with colleagues in the University of Bern, and the Latvian Biomedical Research & Study Centre, scientists have developed and tested a vaccine that could be used to treat chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis, by blocking the cause of the pain – NGF. |
 | Teen suicide risk greatest in developing countries, study saysAdolescents in developing countries are more likely to make suicide attempts or have suicidal thoughts than those living in high-income countries, a University of Queensland-led study has found. |
 | What 5G means for our healthMuch to the excitement of Australians, solid plans to roll out fast 5G mobile communication technology were announced in 2018. Behind the scenes, studies modelling the absorption patterns of 5G electromagnetic energy in human tissue authored by Professor Andrew Wood's Swinburne team has helped form the basis for international discussions on safety regulation and design. |
 | Hepatitis B vaccination in preadolescents lowers disease incidence rate in studyIntroducing hepatitis B vaccine in preadolescents meant a decline in the disease incidence rate by 52 percent, according to a study in which the University of Barcelona (UB) took part. The study analysed the efficiency and impact of the vaccination program in Catalonia (Spain) 21 years ago. The results show that after introducing the program, the incidence rate in general population went from 2.5 per 100,000 people in 1991 to 1.2 per 100,000 people in 2014. |
 | How organs form helps stem cell researchers in their quest to develop future treatments of diabetes and cancerIn a new study, researchers at the University of Copenhagen show that the development of a certain type of immature stem cells—also known as progenitor cells—depends on the quantity of a special protein and interaction with other cells in the body. The new study has just been published in the scientific journal Developmental Cell. |
 | Skin repair eliminates 'inflamm-aging' linked to chronic diseaseSkin is the body's largest organ, and scientists at UC San Francisco and the San Francisco Veterans Administration (VA) Health Care System think it may be to blame for body-wide inflammation linked to numerous chronic diseases of aging. The good news is that properly caring for the skin with a moisturizing cream may lower inflammation levels and potentially prevent age-related diseases, according to a new clinical pilot study. |
 | FDA restrictions don't go far enough to address the E-cigarette epidemicEarlier today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a draft guidance that seeks to limit youth access to some flavored e-cigarettes and cigars. |
 | An impaired sense of smell can signal cognitive decline, but 'smell training' could helpAs we age, we often have problems with our ability to smell (called olfactory dysfunction). Older people might not be able to identify an odour or differentiate one odour from another. In some cases they might not be able to detect an odour at all. |
 | Osteoarthritis assessment to go hi-techScientists have reported an advanced imaging technique that allows the condition of joint cartilage to be examined—right down to the molecular level. The technique has potential for diagnostics and treatment-planning of cartilage disease and impairment, including for osteoarthritis. |
 | Research team discovers link between sodium and migraines before pain occursA Florida State University engineer and a team of researchers have found a link between migraines and how sodium is distributed through the brain, a finding that could be a key to future research on treatments for migraine sufferers. |
 | Experts call for halt to CRISPR editing that allows gene changes to pass on to childrenRemember the global outrage four months ago at world-first claims a researcher had used the gene editing tool CRISPR to edit the genomes of twin girls? |
 | New method makes the experience of sleeplessness more visibleSome people with chronic insomnia think that they do not sleep during certain periods, whereas sleep measurements show that they do. Up till now, scientists have not been able to pinpoint the exact causes of so-called 'sleep misperception'. However, new research from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), Kempenhaeghe Center for Sleep Medicine, Philips and Maastricht University shows that it is the period after falling asleep that determines whether or not people experience sleep. The results underline that sleep misperception is a real problem for insomnia patients, which should be taken seriously. |
 | A peek into lymph nodesThe vast majority of cancer deaths occur due to the spread of cancer from one organ to another, which can happen either through the blood or the lymphatic system. However, it can be tricky to detect this early enough. Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a new method that would allow doctors to detect cancers in the lymph nodes while they are still small, before they travel to other parts of the body. This can greatly increase the chances of a successful treatment. |
 | Antimicrobial film could revolutionize common dental proceduresThree million people in the United States currently have dental implants, and every year that number increases by about 500,000. |
 | Analyzing data from more than 1 million teenagers sheds new light on how teens learn to driveIn a paper recently published in Transportation Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers found that a conventional "learning curve" process may not be an accurate way to characterize how newly licensed teenaged drivers reduce their crash risk. |
 | Busy doctors can miss mental health crises. Can this San Diego startup help?People with mental illness swing in and out of doctors offices every day, but their ailments often go unnoticed and untreated. Bogged down by busy work schedules, general physicians don't have the time—or the expertise—to dig into mental illness. |
 | Bronchi-on-a-chip technology reveals why it is difficult for asthma patients to find reliefThe bronchial airways, a network of tubes that delivers air to the lungs, are enwrapped by strings of muscle called the airway smooth muscle. Nobody knows what physiological function these muscles serve, but the general consensus is that they are vestigial leftovers from the evolutionary past. That's why airway smooth muscle is sometimes referred to as "the appendix of the lungs." Like the appendix, it can also be a source of serious medical problems. As with any muscle in the body, airway smooth muscle can suddenly contract. Similar to hundreds of little hands squeezing and choking the airways, this can lead to difficulties in breathing, or in the worst cases, to death by asphyxiation. |
 | Shorter treatment for Chagas disease could be just as effective, and significantly saferA two-week treatment course for adult patients with chronic Chagas disease showed similar efficacy and significantly fewer side effects than the standard treatment duration of eight weeks when compared to placebo, according to the results of a clinical trial in Bolivia led by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). |
 | For an energizing workout, take it outside(HealthDay)—As the weather starts to warm up, you might be excited to restart a swimming routine, but swimming isn't the only water sport that's also fun exercise. Many activities that used to be vacation-only pastimes are more accessible than you might realize. |
 | Spring ahead with spring vegetables(HealthDay)—Celebrate spring with farm-fresh foods that usher in the season—asparagus, peas and watercress. They're low in calories, have fresh flavor and are the perfect way to energize for warmer weather. |
 | Rate of U.S. deaths tied to dementia has more than doubled(HealthDay)—Dementia is now one of the leading killers in the United States, with the rate of deaths linked to the disease more than doubling over the past two decades. |
 | How much difference will Eli Lilly's half-price insulin make?When Erin Gilmer filled her insulin prescription at a Denver-area Walgreens in January, she paid $8.50. U.S. taxpayers paid another $280.51. |
 | New approach to stroke treatment could minimize brain damageA new treatment for a common type of stroke may soon be possible, thanks to a discovery by an international team of researchers led by the University of British Columbia. |
 | When is best time to get flu shot? Analysis compares scenariosWhen flu season peaks after mid-winter, tens of thousands of influenza cases and hundreds of deaths can likely be avoided if older adults wait until October to get their flu immunization, a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine analysis reveals in the April issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. |
Blood diseases cured with bone marrow transplantDoubling the low amount of total body radiation delivered to patients undergoing bone marrow transplants with donor cells that are only "half-matched" increased the rate of engraftment from only about 50 percent to nearly 100 percent, according to a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers. The findings, published online Mar. 13 in The Lancet Haematology, could offer a significantly higher chance of a cure for patients with severe and deadly inherited blood disorders including sickle cell anemia and beta thalassemia. | |
 | More vitamin D may improve memory but too much may slow reaction timeHow much vitamin D can boost memory, learning and decision-making in older adults, and how much is too much? |
 | Mental health issues increased significantly in young adults over last decadeThe percentage of young Americans experiencing certain types of mental health disorders has risen significantly over the past decade, with no corresponding increase in older adults, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. |
 | Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa not on track for under-5 mortality reduction goalThe relatively slow pace of neonatal and under-5 mortality reduction could prevent most countries in sub-Saharan Africa from achieving targets set in Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG-3) by 2030, according to a study published March 12 in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Iván Mejía-Guevara of Stanford University, USA and colleagues. |
What can we learn from the ways people use metaphor to talk about pregnancy loss?It is estimated that approximately one in five known pregnancies end in miscarriage, 1 in every 200 births is a stillbirth, and 2,000 terminations for reasons of foetal anomaly are performed in the UK each year. Often unexpected and unexplained, pregnancy loss engenders complex emotions that are difficult to articulate. A powerful way of exploring such experiences is to consider how bereaved parents use metaphor to communicate and make sense of what are extremely challenging situations and feelings. | |
'Highly significant' results of HIV transmission study releasedPositive results from a University of Liverpool led research project that aims to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV have been presented at the Annual international Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). | |
 | Oral bacteria in pancreas linked to more aggressive tumoursThe presence of oral bacteria in so-called cystic pancreatic tumours is associated with the severity of the tumour, a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal Gut reports. It is hoped that the results can help to improve diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. |
 | Study finds no link between midlife diet and dementia riskResearchers in France studying UK civil servants have suggested that people with a healthier midlife diet are as likely to develop dementia 20 years later. The findings are published today (Tuesday 12 March) in the scientific journal, JAMA. |
 | Family history linked to increased Alzheimer's riskResearchers in Utah have found that people who have relatives who died of Alzheimer's are more likely to develop the disease. The findings are published today (Wednesday 13 March) in the scientific journal, Neurology. |
 | Antibiotics: we've found faster, better way to identify the right one to useBacterial infections are best dealt with rapidly, but lab tests to determine the type of infection a patient has are slow. So if a doctor suspects a bacterial infection, she will probably prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic. In other words, an antibiotic that kills a wide range of disease-causing bacteria. It's a buckshot approach rather than a sniper's bullet and, as such, has its disadvantages. Not only might the drug not work for the patient's specific bacterial infection, it might also add to the problem of antibiotic resistance. |
 | Baby boomers are increasingly more likely to risk drink-driving than millennials"Baby boomers," all now over the age of 50, have shown the fastest rise in rates of alcohol and drug misuse over the past 15 years – and this is playing out on Britain's roads. |
A genetic component in some women breaks down contraceptive hormonesWomen who get pregnant while using birth control may carry a gene that breaks down the hormones common in contraceptives, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. | |
 | People are happier in more beautiful surroundings—evidence from first large-scale studyScientists have provided the first large-scale quantitative evidence that people are happier in more beautiful surroundings. |
 | IVF birth weights increased over 25 yearsA new study led by University of Manchester scientists has revealed that babies born by In Vitro Fertilisation at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester have increased in birth weight by nearly 200g over the past 25 years. |
Surgery for herniated discs in neck can be safely performed in outpatient settingSurgery to remove multiple herniated or degenerated discs in the neck, a procedure known as anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), can be safely performed in an outpatient setting in select patients, according to a study at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City. | |
 | Traffic accidents involving moose are 13 times more likely to result in human deathMore than 500 traffic crashes involving moose occur in northern New England each year, and the injuries sustained by a vehicle's occupants—because of the height and weight of the animal—can be far more serious and more likely to result in fatalities than collisions with deer, researchers report in a study published as an "article in press" on the website of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons ahead of print. Treating these injuries can pose unique challenges for trauma centers in areas with high moose populations. |
S.Africa medics use 3-D printer for middle ear transplantSouth African surgeons have successfully performed the world's first transplant of middle-ear bones that uses 3-D printed components, a research university said. | |
 | New study underscores significant benefit of conversations between clinicians and patientsAcross the United States, millions of individuals face serious, life-limiting illness like cancer, heart disease and stroke, respiratory disease and diabetes. The final year of life with serious illness can be filled with emotional distress and uncertainty about treatment options. |
 | Vaccine study confirms sensitivity of cholera testRecently, the sensitivity of fecal microbiological cultures for detecting cholera has come under question. Researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases investigated this claim using a 'vaccine probe' analysis of a completed cholera vaccine cluster randomized trial to support the sensitivity of conventional microbiological culture for cholera. |
 | Engineering treatments for the opioid epidemicThe U.S. is reeling from a public health crisis driven by the misuse of prescription and illicit opioids with nearly 12 million people abusing the drugs annually. The Midwest saw opioid overdoses increase 70 percent from July 2016 to September 2017, and every 15 minutes a baby is born suffering from opioid withdrawal as a result of maternal opioid abuse. |
 | Research demonstrates how immunotherapy may be effective for fighting TBIn part because of its resistance to many antibiotics, tuberculosis kills approximately 1.7 million people worldwide each year. But new research from the University of Notre Dame suggests that structures released by the infected cells may be used in tandem with antibiotics to boost the body's immune system, helping fight off the disease. |
 | Cell therapy could replace need for kidney transplantsWake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) scientists are working on a promising approach for treatment of chronic kidney disease—regeneration of damaged tissues using therapeutic cells. |
 | Antiviral therapy improves survival rates for kidney transplant recipients with hepatitis B or CPrior to the development of antiviral therapy, kidney transplant recipients infected with either hepatitis B (HBV) or hepatitis C (HCV) experienced poor outcomes. In a new study in the Journal of Hepatology, researchers report favorable 10-year survival rates for patients with HBV and/or HCV treated with antiviral agents and advise that antiviral therapy should be systematically offered to all HBV and HCV patients in line with international recommendations. |
 | Simple directions from parents can guide children's discoveryWhether it's probing a child's understanding of a topic through questions or engaging in hands-on activities alongside them, parents can guide their children to learn in new ways through simple directions, according to a study by psychology researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. |
 | College drinking intervention strategies need a refreshPeer approval is the best indicator of the tendency for new college students to drink or smoke, even if the students don't want to admit it, according to new research from Michigan State University. |
 | Thanking and apologizing: Talk that isn't cheapWe place a high value on teaching children to say "thank you" and "I'm sorry." As adults, these simple words are central to many social interactions. Uttering the words is easy, so why do people often hold back? And why does the failure to confer thanks or to apologize so often lead to bad feelings or even conflict? |
 | Poor pitch singing could be a matter of the tune in your headThough it's easy to hear a singer hit a bad note, what's contributing to that inaccuracy might actually be inaudible. |
Central American kidney disease epidemic linked to occupational heat exposureChronic kidney disease, common in agricultural workers in El Salvador and Nicaragua, was also found in 12 percent of sample of brick makers. | |
 | 'Home' is where success—or failure—rests: Personal context directly affects CPAP useCPAP, short for continuous positive airway pressure, is the most commonly used therapy for obstructive sleep apnea and is prescribed to millions. It is estimated that half of those prescribed CPAP find treatment adherence difficult despite untreated sleep apnea's association with daytime sleepiness, motor vehicle accidents and increased risk for cardiovascular diseases including stroke. |
 | Black woman in their 50s face especially high stroke riskBlack women in their 50s may have more than triple the risk of stroke compared to white women of the same age, according to a new study that also found a healthy lifestyle could help curb much of that risk. |
 | New drug could help those with tough-to-treat cholesterolPeople whose high cholesterol is resistant to treatment with statin drugs may soon have a new treatment option. |
 | Fewer boys are suffering head injuries, but rate rises for girls(HealthDay)—There's good news and bad news from a new study of children visiting U.S. emergency departments for head injuries: The rate of these potentially serious events has fallen among boys, but risen for girls. |
 | Poor kidney function linked to higher cancer riskA new study has uncovered a modestly higher cancer risk in individuals with mild to severe chronic kidney disease, driven primarily by skin (non-melanoma) and urogenital cancers. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), do not prove a causal link between kidney dysfunction and cancer but might be used to increase awareness among healthcare professional and patients, motivate lifestyle modifications if other cancer risk factors or family history are present, and justify more vigilant monitoring. |
 | New evidence proves the work of UN agencies is effectiveAcademics led by Professor Lucie Cluver at Oxford University have shown how key services in lower and middle-income countries can contribute to multiple sustainable development goals (SDGs), even for the highest-risk children and adolescents. |
California jury awards $29M in baby powder cancer caseJohnson & Johnson must pay $29 million to a woman who claimed its baby powder gave her terminal cancer, a California jury ruled Wednesday. | |
Death of loved ones is hard on undocumented immigrantsThe death of a loved one is never easy to endure, but for undocumented immigrants, the psychological toll is particularly rough, according to new research from Rice University. | |
 | Attacks could reverse gains in Congo's Ebola fight, WHO saysAttacks on Ebola treatment centers in eastern Congo threaten to reverse the gains being made against the current outbreak of the deadly virus, the World Health Organization's director-general said Thursday as a fourth attack on a health center was reported. |
 | SPIT lab leading the effort to analyze hair, expand research on pubertyPuberty is something we all go through and yet there is limited science to explain what is happening inside our bodies during this transition, and how it affects our physical and mental health. |
 | Doctors need to talk through treatment options better for black men with prostate cancerAfrican-American men have the highest risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer as well as dying from it compared to any other ethnic group in the U.S. This trend has remained unchanged for over four decades. |
The facts about driving after marijuana useAs the national debate on marijuana legalization continues, we asked Dr. Yifrah Kaminer, a professor of psychiatry and pediatrics in the Department of Psychiatry and Alcohol Research Center at UConn Health, to share his assessment of the impacts of marijuana use – particularly related to driving. | |
CAR T cell immunotherapy for lymphoma rejected in ScotlandPatients living with an aggressive form of lymphoma in Scotland will not get routine access to a new immunotherapy treatment after it was rejected for use on the NHS. | |
Study shows vision is not always the cause for learning disordersLearning difficulties in schoolchildren are not always associated with visual problems, since they may be neurobiological or derived from other alterations such as dyslexia or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is the result of scientific work carried out by the University of Alicante Research Group in Optics and Visual Perception and a multidisciplinary team (optician-optometrists, ophthalmologists, psychologists, a speech therapist and a psychiatrist) from the Alto Aragón Polyclinicin Huesca. | |
 | Tobacco control policies linked to reduced smokingIncreases in tobacco taxes and smoke-free policies in European countries were significantly related with a reduction in smoking among older adults, according to a new Addiction study. |
No increased risk of complications for joint replacement in ambulatory surgery settingThe typical length of stay in hospital after hip replacement and knee replacement procedures has decreased over the last decade from about four days to under two days. | |
'Tingle' wearable device improves position tracking accuracy utilizing thermal sensorsIn a new study published in npj Digital Medicine, a team led by Child Mind Institute researchers report that a wearable tracking device they developed achieves higher accuracy in position tracking using thermal sensors in addition to inertial measurement and proximity sensors. The wrist-worn device, called Tingle, was also able to distinguish between behaviors directed toward six different locations on the head. The paper, "Thermal Sensors Improve Wrist-worn Position Tracking," provides preliminary evidence of the device's potential use in the diagnosis and management of excoriation disorder (chronic skin-picking), nail-biting, trichotillomania (chronic hair-pulling), and other body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). | |
AGS releases new action steps to guide care for older adults with multiple chronic illnessesCaring for older adults with multiple chronic conditions can create challenging situations. For example, some treatments may be harmful to older adults who live with and manage several chronic conditions. In some cases, several treatments might be available but healthcare providers may not know which are best for a particular individual. In other cases, older adults and caregivers could even receive different treatment recommendations depending on the healthcare providers who offer guidance. Most important of all, managing care for multiple chronic conditions can make it difficult to focus on what matters most to us as individual—a key priority when we think about the high-quality, person-centered care we all want and need as we age. | |
 | Doctor video visits increase access to healthcare but could risk fragmentationIn today's fast-paced digital society, virtual doctor visits are on the rise and offer patients a more convenient way to receive medical care from anywhere. If you can't leave work or don't have childcare, for example, online video visits can provide live, face-to-face physician consultations from the comfort of your home or office. |
 | Social risk factors and readmission penaltiesNew research shows that U.S. safety net hospitals could benefit substantially from a new model that accounts for social risk factors like poverty and living in a disadvantaged neighborhood in determining how the federal government penalizes hospitals financially for their readmission rates. |
WHO says aiming to halt DRC Ebola outbreak within six monthsThe deadly Ebola outbreak raging in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo should be over within six months, the head of the World Health Organization said Thursday. | |
 | WHO urges enforcement of tobacco ad bans at sporting eventsThe World Health Organization called Thursday for better enforcement of bans on tobacco advertising at sporting events, after tobacco companies discretely reentered sponsorship deals with Formula 1 teams. |
 | Two young moms bond over heart failure, transplant experiencesSarah Bradley's second pregnancy was uneventful until 30 weeks, when she found herself swollen, breathless and unusually fatigued. |
Study provides new insights on common post-transplant conditionNew research may help clinicians determine which patients with a condition that commonly arises after kidney transplantation are at high risk of transplant failure. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). | |
Biology news
 | Pests and the plant defenses against them drive diversity in tropical rainforestsResearchers have been baffled by tropical rainforest diversity for over a century; 650 different tree species can exist in an area covering two football fields, yet similar species never grow next to each other. It seems like it's good to be different than your neighbors, but why? |
 | Study uncovers genetic switches that control process of whole-body regenerationWhen it comes to regeneration, some animals are capable of amazing feats—if you cut the leg off a salamander, it will grow back. When threatened, some geckos drop their tails as a distraction, and regrow them later. |
 | Speed limit on DNA-making sets pace for life's first stepsFruit flies make for stingy mothers, imparting only a portion of the genetic building blocks their offspring need to survive. The rest must be produced by the fertilized egg in its first few steps of growth. |
 | Trade-offs in adaptive anatomy: Vinegar fly species have good vision or olfaction, but not bothA team of scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology has systematically studied and compared the eyes and antennae and the associated brain structures of more than 60 species of the genus Drosophila. They found a large variation, but at the same time a close correlation between the two sensory features. The size of the sensory organs is related to the behavior of the mate and host selection. |
 | Research finds some shark deterrents don't work as wellShark researchers from The University of Western Australia have found that one of the personal shark deterrents commercially available in WA is not effective in deterring sharks. |
 | Sea otters' tool use leaves behind distinctive archaeological evidenceAn international team of researchers has analyzed the use by sea otters of large, shoreline rocks as "anvils" to break open shells, as well as the resulting shell middens. The researchers used ecological and archaeological approaches to identify patterns that are characteristic of sea otter use of such locations. By looking at evidence of past anvil stone use, scientists could better understand sea otter habitat use. |
 | Researchers make important cell division discoveryResearchers at the University of Dundee have provided important new insights into the regulation of cell division, which may ultimately lead to a better understanding of cancer progression. |
 | Scientists crack genome of superfood seaweed, ito-mozukuAlong the tropical coastline of Okinawa, Japan, farmers raise rows of delectable seaweed and harvest thousands of tons of the crop each year. Unfortunately, scientists predict that pollution and rising ocean temperatures will blunt this impressive yield, forcing farmers to adopt new cultivation techniques. Recently, scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) decoded the genome of the popular brown seaweed ito-mozuku (Nemacystus decipiens), providing data that could someday be critical to local farmers. |
 | In this nematode species, males are needed for reproduction—but not their genesIn 1949, the young biologist Victor Nigon described the reproduction of various species of nematodes, small roundworms that live in the soil in its doctoral thesis. These include Mesorhabditis belari, whose rare male specimens are required for reproduction, even though the genetic material found in sperm is rarely used by eggs. The resulting embryo produces a female, who is a clone of its mother. |
 | Minor genetic change creates unattractive female mothsSex pheromones are chemical compounds released by an organism to attract potential mates. For moths in particular these sex pheromones are very important for mate recognition, as they rely completely on scent signal rather than visual signals in mate attraction. However, there is still little known about the genes underlying sex pheromone variation. Information that is crucial for understanding how sexual communication evolves. |
 | Scientists left camera traps to record wild apes—watch what happensResearchers analyzed video from remote camera-trap devices placed in ape-populated forests throughout Africa to see how wild apes would react to these unfamiliar objects. Responses varied by species and even among individuals within the same species, but one thing was consistent throughout: the apes definitely noticed the cameras—they poked them, stared at them, and occasionally tried to bite them. The study appears March 14 in the journal Current Biology. |
 | Why fly the coop? With shortage of mates, some birds choose to help others raise offspringIt's not uncommon for young adults to pitch in and help out with the care of younger siblings. But it turns out that sometimes birds choose to become avian au pairs rather than raise their own brood. |
New study examines role of sea urchins on California kelpCalifornia sheephead and spiny lobsters may be helping control sea urchin populations in Southern California kelp forests, where sea otters—a top urchin predator—have long been missing, according to a new San Diego State University (SDSU) study published in the journal Ecology. The research provides new insight into the complex predator-prey relationships in kelp forests that can be seen in the absence of sea otters. | |
 | Designer babies: Moratorium on genome editing needed, say expertsExperts from seven countries called Wednesday for a moratorium on the kind of genetic manipulation—known as germline editing—used last year to permanently modify the genome of twin girls in Shenzhen, China. |
 | Researchers develop method to dramatically reduce error rate in next-generation sequencingSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have developed software to shrink the error rate in next-generation sequencing data by as much as 100-fold, which would likely speed early detection of relapse and other threats. The findings appear March 14 in the journal Genome Biology. |
 | Study highlights ways to improve fishing practicesResearchers from The University of Western Australia and Stanford University have confirmed eco-labels on seafood are a trusted way for consumers to ensure they are buying sustainable seafood products and also encourage the seafood industry to be more sustainable. |
 | The impact of extreme weather on biodiversity and pollinating insectsMarkus Franzén, doctor in ecology at the department of biology and environmental science at Linnaeus University, has been granted SEK 3 million by Formas for his research project, "Cascading effects of drought on farming/grazing and farmland biodiversity." |
 | California experiencing burst of butterfliesThey've been spotted on La Cienega, flitting north by the thousands near the Westfield mall. |
 | Researchers uncover new clues to surviving extinctionScientists are peeking into ancient oceans to unravel the complexities of mass extinctions, past and future. A new examination of Earth's largest extinction by scientists at the California Academy of Sciences and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee sheds light on how ecosystems are changed by such transformative events. The study, published today in Biology Letters, suggests that the extinction survivors shared many of the same ecological roles as their predecessors, with one catch—there was a surge in the number of individuals with modern traits like greater mobility, higher metabolism, and more diverse feeding habits. These hardy stand-outs did a better job of driving recovery, making ecological interactions more intense in the process: fish were more agile, diverse predators and marine invertebrates like mussels became more defensive. Insights into this system and its occupants can help guide modern conservation in identifying Earth's most resilient and best equipped species in the face of environmental stress. |
 | From busking pigeons to head banging sea lions – can animals feel the beat?A pigeon bopping along to a busker playing "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams set Twitter abuzz in 2013. It's certainly a catchy tune that I can't help but tap my foot along to, but is that really what the pigeon is doing? |
 | As uniform as cloned soldiers, new spiders were named after the Stormtroopers in Star WarsDespite being widely distributed across north and central South America, bald-legged spiders had never been confirmed in Colombia until the recent study by the team of Drs Carlos Perafan and Fernando Perez-Miles (Universidad de la Republica, Uruguay) and William Galvis (Universidad Nacional de Colombia). Published in the open-access journal ZooKeys, their research paper describes a total of six previously unknown species inhabiting the country. |
 | Machine learning sheds light on the biology of toxin exposureExposure to potentially harmful chemicals is a reality of life. Our ancestors, faced with naturally occurring toxins, evolved mechanisms to detoxify and expel damaging substances. In the modern world, our bodies regularly process chemicals, from medicines and food additives to agricultural and industrial chemicals, to protect our tissues from harm. |
 | Narwhals spend at least half time diving for food, can fast for several days after mealNarwhals—enigmatic arctic whales known for their sword-like tusk—spend over half their time diving to find food but are also able to last up to three days without a meal, according to a study by Manh Cuong Ngô and colleagues from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, published in PLOS Computational Biology. |
Tracking turtles with telemetryA new model has been created that can forecast the location of Eastern Pacific leatherback turtles along the coast of Central and South America in an effort to decrease bycatch mortality of this critically endangered and ecologically important species. | |
 | Significant milestone in whooping crane recoveryThis week marks a significant milestone in the conservation and recovery of the endangered whooping crane. On March 11 and 13, the U.S. Geological Survey's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center transferred its last two cranes of the approximately 75 that were in its flock to other institutions, closing out more than 50 years of the center's whooping crane research and captive breeding success. |
 | Activists report probable dead vaquita porpoise in MexicoThe environmentalist group Sea Shepherd said Thursday that it found the body of what appeared to be a vaquita porpoise, one of perhaps only 10 that remain in the world. |
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