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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 11, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Martian methane mystery: First results from the ExoMars Trace Gas OrbiterNew evidence of the impact of the recent planet-encompassing dust storm on water in the atmosphere, and a surprising lack of methane, are among the scientific highlights of the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter's first year in orbit. |
 | MAXI J1957+032 contains a neutron star, Swift observations suggestObservations conducted with NASA's Swift space telescope have provided more insights about the nature of a compact component of the transient low-mass X-ray binary named MAXI J1957+032. Results of these observations, available in a paper published April 1 on arXiv.org, suggest that the system hosts a neutron star. |
 | Astronaut has no lingering, major epigenetic differences from earthbound twin brotherIn a landmark study, a group of U.S. scientists from Johns Hopkins, Stanford University and other institutions has found no long-lasting, major differences between the epigenomes of astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a year in space aboard the International Space Station, and his twin brother, Mark, who remained on Earth. |
 | Researchers observe formation of a magnetar 6.5 billion light years awayA University of Arkansas researcher is part of a team of astronomers who have identified an outburst of X-ray emission from a galaxy approximately 6.5 billion light years away, which is consistent with the merger of two neutron stars to form a magnetar—a large neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field. Based on this observation, the researchers were able to calculate that mergers like this happen roughly 20 times per year in each region of a billion light years cubed. |
 | To get to the Moon in 2024, the rocket is just NASA's first headacheIn the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, Alan Campbell, a project manager for space systems at the famed Draper Laboratory that built the computer which took astronauts to the Moon 50 years ago, is waiting for news from NASA. |
 | Scientist superstar Katie Bouman designed algorithm for black hole imageAnonymous to the public just days ago, a US computer scientist named Katie Bouman has become an overnight sensation due to her role in developing a computer algorithm that allowed researchers to take the world's first image of a black hole. |
 | SpaceX postpones first commercial launch due to strong windSpaceX postponed Wednesday what would have been its first commercial launch with the Falcon Heavy rocket, citing strong wind in the upper atmosphere. |
 | No nausea for Beth Moses, Virgin's space tourist trainerBeth Moses was in the cabin of a Virgin Galactic spaceship when it climbed to 56 miles above California's Mojave Desert on February 22, crossing the boundary of the atmosphere into space and becoming one of the few non-astronauts to achieve the feat. |
 | Working together as a 'virtual telescope,' observatories around the world produce first direct images of a black holeAn international team of over 200 astronomers, including scientists from MIT's Haystack Observatory, has captured the first direct images of a black hole. They accomplished this remarkable feat by coordinating the power of eight major radio observatories on four continents, to work together as a virtual, Earth-sized telescope. |
 | Greenland Telescope to image black holes by moving onto the Greenland ice sheetScientists from the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, will soon be able to participate in the "Event Horizon Telescope" (EHT) with the Greenland Telescope (GLT). The GLT will become part of a global network of radio telescopes designed to get the first images of black holes. |
 | Observing the invisible: The long journey to the first image of a black holeThe first picture of a supermassive black hole at the centre of a galaxy shows how we have, in a sense, observed the invisible. |
 | First black hole photo confirms Einstein's theory of relativityBlack holes are long-time superstars of science fiction. But their Hollywood fame is a little strange given that no-one has ever actually seen one – at least, until now. If you needed to see to believe, then thank the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), which has just produced the first ever direct image of a black hole. This amazing feat required global collaboration to turn the Earth into one giant telescope and image an object thousands of trillions of kilometres away. |
 | Exoplanet detectorsThe first batch of charge-coupled devices, or CCDs, to be flown on ESA's PLATO space observatory was accepted by ESA last month. This is an important milestone on the road to creating a groundbreaking spacecraft that will detect Earth-sized exoplanets in orbit around nearby stars. |
 | Public invited to help name the largest unnamed world in the solar systemMore than 10 years since its discovery, (225088) 2007 OR10 is the largest minor planet in our solar system without a name, and the 3 astronomers who discovered it want the public's help to change that. In an article published by The Planetary Society today, Meg Schwamb, Mike Brown, and David Rabinowitz, the astronomers who helped discover 2007 OR10, announced a campaign inviting the public to pick the best name to submit to the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for official recognition. |
 | Israel set to land spacecraft on the moon in firstIsrael's first spacecraft to the moon was expected to make its historic landing there Thursday, making the Jewish state the fourth and smallest country to complete the trip. |
 | Israeli spacecraft crashes during moon landing: mission controlIsrael's attempt at a moon landing failed at the last minute Thursday when the craft suffered an engine failure as it prepared to land and apparently crashed onto the lunar surface. |
Technology news
 | Exploring open-ended evolution in web servicesJust like living ecosystems, web services form a complex artificial system consisting of tags and the user-generated media associated with them, such as photographs, movies and web pages. When drawing an analogy between biological and artificial ecosystems, tags could be regarded as species and human users as hidden environmental resources. |
 | Engineers tap DNA to create 'lifelike' machinesAs a genetic material, DNA is responsible for all known life. But DNA is also a polymer. Tapping into the unique nature of the molecule, Cornell engineers have created simple machines constructed of biomaterials with properties of living things. |
 | Facebook's mapping team aims to help aid workers know where help is neededArtificial intelligence researchers and data scientists at Facebook have created population density maps. What's so special is that they are more accurate and with higher resolution than any of their predecessors. Derrick Bonak, Derrick Bonafilia, James Gill, Danil Kirsanov and Jason Sundram turned to the Facebook blog on Tuesday to write about their work. |
 | Google enables use of Android phones as a physical security keyGoogle has announced that it has made software updates to Chrome and Android that make it possible to use an Android phone (7+) as a physical security key. In their announcement, Google once again claimed that using physical keys is the best way to counter phishing attacks, far better than messaging, for example. |
 | New computer model automatically, aesthetically crops photosComputers can now automatically crop photos to capture the most interesting part in an aesthetically pleasing manner, thanks to researchers at Penn State. |
 | No Uber, no problem: Brazil app drives into Sao Paulo's no-go zonesWhen Alvimar da Silva realized Uber did not reach some of the more dangerous, far-flung areas of Brazil's biggest city Sao Paulo, he saw an opportunity: if the popular ride-sharing service did not go there, he would. |
 | Live online TV, once a bargain, is getting more expensiveIf you signed up to stream live TV in hopes of saving money over traditional cable, you may be in for a rude surprise. |
 | US social media users sticking with services: surveyUS adults appear to be sticking with Facebook, Twitter and other online platforms despite controversies over privacy and misinformation, according to a study released Wednesday by the Pew Research Center. |
 | Researchers charge ahead on battery storageQUT researchers will lead key research projects in expanding Australia's battery industry from mining to manufacturing, with the announcement of the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre. |
 | Machine learning algorithm predicts who will be left standing in 'Game of Thrones'Shortly before the curtain drops on the hit HBO show Game of Thrones (GoT), students attending a computer science seminar at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) embarked on an unusual scientific mission: predicting which character has the best chance to sit the coveted Iron Throne. |
 | Enhanced robot 'vision' enables more natural interaction with humansA wide-eyed, soft-spoken robot named Pepper motors around the Intelligent Systems Lab at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. One of the researchers tests Pepper, making various gestures as the robot accurately describes what he's doing. When he crosses his arms, the robot identifies from his body language that something is off. |
How flying cars could help in the fight against climate changeHave you ever been stuck in traffic and wished you could zoom above the gridlock in a flying car? A new study predicts these futuristic vehicles could be good for your commute and good for the environment—as long as they're used on long-distance trips with several carpool buddies. | |
 | Amazon Go stores to accept cash under growing pressure to serve low-income shoppersAmazon Go, the app-enabled stores that enable customers to simply walk out with their purchases—no checkout clerk needed—plans to begin accepting cash amid growing criticism that the process discriminates against low-income shoppers. |
 | Tesla shares fall on report plant expansion has been icedShares of Tesla fell Thursday following a report the electric car company and Panasonic are suspending plans to expand a battery plant due to weak demand for the vehicles. |
Walmart buys ad tech startupWalmart says it's buying San Francisco-based ad tech startup Polymorph Labs as it looks to better compete with online rival juggernaut Amazon in targeting shoppers online. | |
 | Video evidence: Masters works to catch every shot on cameraStaid and tradition-driven Augusta National is suddenly on the cutting edge of technology. |
 | How designing an AV safety model enabled better safety solutions for human driversWhen Mobileye set out to design a safety concept for autonomous vehicles (AVs), we first had to examine the concepts and mechanisms that humans use to maintain road safety. We needed a framework fully compliant with the human road safety system so that AVs could share the same roads. We also needed something demonstrably safer, by design, for society to accept them on the roads. |
Is Hemp the key to a sustainable future?Hemp is one of the most versatile and sustainable plants on the planet—and with Mirreco's new harvesting machine, its many uses could go mainstream. | |
 | Bezos, hunting for big wins, is comfortable with big fails (Update)Amazon's Jeff Bezos challenged other retailers to raise wages and improve benefits for their employees, saying the competition will help everyone. |
 | Singapore airport nature dome unveiled in fight for flightsA 40-metre indoor waterfall cascading through a steel and glass dome is at the heart of a vast complex in Singapore's main airport unveiled Thursday, part of the city-state's fight for global flights. |
A 3-year-old disabled his family's iPad for 25 million minutes. His dad went to Twitter for helpA 3-year-old boy tried to unlock his family's iPad this weekend. He ended up disabling it for nearly 50 years. | |
 | Bezos upbeat on Amazon Go physical storesAmazon chief executive Jeff Bezos said Thursday he sees a bright future in the company's cashierless retail stores and that many consumers see the experience as "magical." |
Boeing makes 96 flights to test software on troubled Max jetBoeing has made 96 flights to test a software update for its troubled 737 Max jet, according to the company's CEO. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | 'Mindreading' neurons simulate decisions of social partnersScientists have identified special types of brain cells that may allow us to simulate the decision-making processes of others, thereby reconstructing their state of mind and predicting their intentions. Dysfunction in these 'simulation neurons' may help explain difficulties with social interactions in conditions such as autism and social anxiety. |
 | Chinese researchers add human brain-related gene to monkey genome in controversial experimentA team of researchers working in China has created several transgenic rhesus monkeys by adding a human gene involved in brain growth to the monkey's genome. In their paper published in the National Science Review, the group describes their work and the testing they conducted on the monkeys after they were born. |
 | Genome analysis shows the combined effect of many genes on cognitive traitsIndividual differences in cognitive abilities in children and adolescents are partly reflected in variations in their DNA sequence, according to a study published in Molecular Psychiatry. These tiny differences in the human genome can be used together to create so-called polygenic scores; the sum of a number of genetic variants an individual carries reflecting the genetic predisposition to a particular trait. This includes differences in educational achievement (how well pupils do in English, maths, and science), how many years of education they complete, and their IQ at age 16. |
 | AI identifies risk of cholesterol-raising genetic disease, study findsA new algorithm can determine whether a patient is likely to have a cholesterol-raising genetic disease that can cause early, and sometimes fatal, heart problems, reports a new study conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and their collaborators. |
 | Discovery of 'kingpin' stem cell may help in the understanding of cancerous tumorsA team of McMaster University researchers has discovered a unique subset of cells within human stem cells that appear to signal how the surrounding cells will develop and grow. |
 | Shutting down deadly pediatric brain cancer at its earliest momentsCell-by-cell genetic analyses of developing brain tissues in neonatal mice and laboratory models of brain cancer allowed scientists to discover a molecular driver of the highly aggressive, deadly, and treatment-resistant brain cancer, glioblastoma. |
 | Scientists discover new role for sensory signals in the brainLearning how to tie a shoe or shoot a basketball isn't easy, but the brain somehow integrates sensory signals that are critical to coordinating movements so you can get it right. |
 | Mice reveal 38 new genes involved in hearing lossMultiple new genes involved in hearing loss have been revealed in a large study of mouse mutants by researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and King's College London, and colleagues. The new genes identified reveal the metabolic pathways and regulatory processes involved in hearing. |
 | Scientists use CRISPR for possible 'bubble boy' therapyIn preclinical trials, Stanford scientists and their collaborators harnessed the gene-editing system CRISPR-Cas9 to replace the mutated gene underpinning the devastating immune disease. |
 | Loss of a DNA repair system creates a unique vulnerability in many cancer typesCancer cells adapt to potentially fatal mutations and other molecular malfunctions by adjusting one or more other genes' activity, in the process becoming dependent on those genes for their survival and growth. The resulting genetic dependencies may provide targets for developing new precision-guided drugs or other cancer treatment strategies. |
 | Scientists find another way HIV can hide from vaccinesA Yale-led team has discovered yet another molecular trick HIV uses to survive immune system attacks, a finding that may influence efforts to develop an effective vaccine against HIV/AIDS. |
 | I feel you: Emotional mirror neurons found in ratsResearchers from the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience have found that the rat brain activates the same cells when they observe the pain of others as when they experience pain themselves. In addition, without the activity of these mirror neurons, the animals no longer share the pain of others. Finding the neural basis for sharing the emotions of others is an exciting step toward understanding empathy. |
 | Researchers uncover how innocuous gut bacteria mutated to become deadly blood infectorsA team of researchers from several institutions in the U.S. has unveiled the evolutionary process that transformed a common type of human gut bacteria into a deadly infectious agent. In their paper published in Science Translational Medicine, the group describes their study of Enterococcus faecalis and its recent evolutionary history. |
 | Crucial 'electrical switch' in brain revealedScientists have revealed the structure of a critical receptor in the brain associated with learning, memory, behavior and mood. |
 | Three-person baby born in medical 'revolution'A team of Greek and Spanish doctors announced Thursday the birth of a baby using DNA from three people after a controversial fertility treatment that has provoked intense ethical debate. |
 | Near-atomic map of parathyroid hormone complex points toward new therapies for osteoporosisAn international team of scientists has mapped a molecular complex that could aid in the development of better medications with fewer side effects for osteoporosis and cancer. |
 | Ketamine reverses neural changes underlying depression-related behaviors in miceResearchers have identified ketamine-induced brain-related changes that are responsible for maintaining the remission of behaviors related to depression in mice—findings that may help researchers develop interventions that promote lasting remission of depression in humans. The study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, appears in the journal Science. |
CBT can provide better long-term relief for IBS symptomsIrritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder affecting 10-20 per cent of people. Abdominal pain, bloating and altered bowel habit significantly affect patients' quality of life and can force them to take days off work. | |
 | Same services more expensive in outpatient than office settings(HealthDay)—The same services are more expensive when performed in outpatient versus office settings, according to a blog post from the Health Care Cost Institute. |
 | Peripheral nerve block may cut opioid use after amputation(HealthDay)—Peripheral nerve blockade with regular local anesthetic and liposomal bupivacaine is associated with lower oral morphine equivalent (OME) use at 72 hours after major lower extremity amputation (MLEA), according to a study being presented at the Annual Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Meeting, held from April 11 to 13 in Las Vegas. |
 | Doctors' long-running advice: Get checked before a marathonIt was the death heard 'round the running world. |
 | Push to cure hepatitis B, a neglected diseaseA coalition of researchers, health organisations and patient groups on Wednesday launched an ambitious campaign to cure hepatitis B, a disease that kills twice as many people as malaria but gets far less attention. |
 | New technology to empower Parkinson's patientsPeople with Parkinson's could see their care transformed thanks to a new service involving wearable technology. |
 | Getting back to work after a heart attackHeart attack patients with the desire to return to work can do it. That's the main message of a paper published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). |
 | Experimental PET scan detects abnormal tau protein in brains of living former NFL playersUsing an experimental positron emission tomography (PET) scan, researchers have found elevated amounts of abnormal tau protein in brain regions affected by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a small group of living former National Football League (NFL) players with cognitive, mood and behavior symptoms. The study was published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Case of tick-borne relapsing fever in MexicoTick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) is a recurring fever caused by exposure to infected Borrelia bacteria. Several cases have been reported in Mexico, but the disease gets little attention. Now, researchers reporting in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases describe the details of an additional case of TBRF in Sonora, Mexico in 2012. |
 | Longer neutrophil lifespan may contribute to HIV-associated intestinal inflammationThe increased survival of white blood cells called neutrophils is associated with alterations in the intestinal microbiome of HIV-infected individuals, according to a study published April 11 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Nichole Klatt of the University of Miami, and colleagues. Moreover, the findings suggest that Lactobacillus bacteria, which are commonly in probiotics, may reduce neutrophil lifespan, and could be an effective therapeutic strategy to reduce intestinal inflammation in HIV-infected individuals. |
 | Human iPSC-derived MSCs from aged individuals acquire a rejuvenation signatureThe use of primary mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is fraught with aging-related shortfalls such as limited expansion and early senescence. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived MSCs (iMSCs) comprise a useful, clinically relevant source of MSCs that circumvent these aging-associated drawbacks. The importance of this concept is manifested by the successful phase 1 clinical trial for the treatment of GvHD by Cynata Therapeutics and the National Health Service of the U.K. A phase 2 trial is planned for 2019. This trial is independent of the work carried out by Spitzhorn et al.-described below. |
 | Brain-like model provides hope for millions with Alzheimer's, other neurological disordersUp to 1 billion people, nearly one in six of the world's population, suffer from neurological disorders. The number of people with those disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, has been steadily increasing in recent decades. |
 | Why Australians are using painkillers for social and emotional sufferingGeorge (Kev) Dertadian has always been interested in challenging the stigmatisation of drug users. |
 | HPV rates for women under 40 increasing, putting them at higher risk of related cancers, study showsHuman papillomavirus infection rates are increasing in women born after 1980 who did not receive the HPV vaccine—putting them at higher risk for HPV-related cancers, according to a University of Michigan study. |
 | Long-term treatment with antidepressants may not be justified by available studiesA new study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics sheds new light on long-term studies with antidepressant drugs. The higher occurrence of relapse in the groups assigned to placebo instead of drug continuation may be due to the studies not considering the potential occurrence of withdrawal syndromes. |
 | Investigating police decision-making under stress using EEG in virtual reality scenariosAn investigation into how authorised firearms police officers (AFOs) make decisions in high stress situations is being carried out by researchers from Aston University and University of Nottingham in partnership with Durham Constabulary and Cleveland Police. |
 | Unpacking the mysteries of beatboxing—linguists and engineers team upOn the screen, a grainy MRI scan of a human mouth shows a tongue, leaping and curling as a sound like a snare drum rings out. This is a beatboxer in action—viewed from a new perspective: inside her mouth. |
 | New research could prevent jaw damage in patients being treated for cancer or osteoporosisUSC researchers and collaborators report a breakthrough to prevent damage to the jaw, a side effect suffered by some people undergoing treatment for cancer or osteoporosis. |
 | New strategy to reduce cancer drug's cardiotoxic effectsDoxorubicin (Doxo) is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug for cancer, though it can have toxic effects on the heart. A recent animal study published in The FASEB Journal investigated whether the cardioregulatory protein chromogranin A (CgA) contributes to the regulation of the cardiotoxic and antitumor activities of Doxo. |
 | NASA Twins Study finds spaceflight affects gut bacteriaResearch from NASA's landmark Twins Study found that extended spaceflight affects the human gut microbiome. |
 | Identification of lymph node cells that may play important roles in immune toleranceAire expression in the thymus contributes to immune tolerance by eliminating auto-reactive T cells; insufficient elimination causes autoimmune disorders. The Aire gene was thought to be expressed only in the thymus, but recently, researchers reported Aire expression in peripheral lymph nodes. Researchers have now identified the cells expressing Aire in 0.01 percent of lymph node cells to be ILC3-like cells using Aire-reporter mice and flow cytometry. The results may lead to elucidation of the causes of autoimmune disorders and treatments. |
 | Healthy diet in pregnancy significantly reduces risk of having a small babyA healthy diet in pregnancy significantly lowers the risk of giving birth to a small baby, finds a new study carried out in South Wales. |
 | FDA warns of consumer devices that claim to diagnose concussion(HealthDay)—Consumer devices that claim to help assess, diagnose, or manage concussion and other head injuries are unproven and illegal, and using them could pose serious health risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns. |
 | Cancer sufferers' hair loss misery during chemo could be overScientists at the University of Huddersfield aim to minimise, or eliminate completely, the hair loss that is one of the most distressing side-effects of cancer treatment. They aim to achieve this by combining scalp cooling – already shown to be effective in half of all cases – with a specially formulated shampoo or lotion that could be applied to the scalp. |
 | Study reports emerging triggers of rare food allergy in infantsA study led by the section of immunology, allergy and rheumatology in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine researches an uncommon food allergy known as 'food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome' (FPIES) that occurs mostly in infants. The findings of the study determine the responsible foods triggers, as well as the characteristics and management of FPIES. |
 | How grief affects the immune systemLosing a loved one is one of the most stressful life experiences a person will endure, and its toll can be physical as well as emotional. Science has shown, for example, that widows and widowers have a 41 percent higher risk of early death, compared to their still-married peers. |
 | How our sense of taste changes as we ageTaste is a complex phenomenon. We do not experience the sensation through a single sense (as we would when we see something using our sense of sight, for example) but rather it is made up of the five senses working together to allow us to appreciate and enjoy food and drink. Initial visual inspection of food indicates if we would consider consuming it. Then, when eating, smell and flavour combine to allow us to perceive a taste. Meanwhile, the mix of ingredients, texture and temperature can further impact how we experience it. |
Philadelphia hospitals responded to equivalent of 54 mass shooting-type events in 11 yearsHigh-profile mass shootings involving three, four or more victims killed in a single incident receive extensive attention from media, policy makers and the general public. However, these traditionally defined mass shootings make up a small fraction of gun deaths in the United States. More commonly, firearm-injured patients (FIPs) present to trauma centers as a single victim or in clusters of multiple casualties, which do not achieve the definition of a mass shooting or a mass casualty incident (MCI). An MCI involves a high number of injured patients and overwhelms the resources of the local trauma center and/or regional trauma system. The impact of clusters of patients from multiple shooting incidents arriving to the same hospital can be significant, even though they are not regarded as "mass shooting" events. | |
 | Researchers create novel cell model of aging-related colon cancer riskJohns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center researchers say a new study of clusters of mouse cells known as "organoids" has significantly strengthened evidence that epigenetic changes, common to aging, play a essential role in colon cancer initiation. The findings show that epigenetic changes are the spark that pushes colon-cancer driving gene mutations into action, the researchers say. |
 | People with a sense of oneness experience greater life satisfactionPeople who believe in oneness—the idea that everything in the world is connected and interdependent—appear to have greater life satisfaction than those who don't, regardless of whether they belong to a religion or don't, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. |
 | Pathway contributing to fatty liver disease discoveredResearchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have found a protein that is a critical regulator in the development of fatty liver disease in mice, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications. |
 | Child vaccination levels falling short in large parts of AfricaA study by the University of Southampton shows that several low-and middle-income countries, especially in Africa, need more effective child vaccination strategies to eliminate the threat from vaccine-preventable diseases. |
 | Elite hospitals plunge into unproven stem cell treatmentsThe online video seems to promise everything an arthritis patient could want. |
Q&A: PET scans important in assessing some forms of lymphomaDear Mayo Clinic: My father just started chemotherapy for lymphoma, and he is scheduled for a positron emission tomography or PET scan after his first three treatments. How do doctors decide when to perform a PET scan, and what's the purpose of doing that scan during the treatment? Why wouldn't the test be done before treatment started? | |
 | Can changing the microbiome reverse lactose intolerance?After childhood, about two-thirds of the world's human population loses the ability to digest milk. As far as we know, 100 percent of nonhuman mammals also lose this ability after weaning. The ongoing ability to digest lactose, the main sugar in milk, into adulthood is a biological abnormality. |
 | Researchers say eggs for breakfast benefits those with diabetesWhile some cereals may be the breakfast of champions, a UBC professor suggests people with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) should be reaching for something else. |
 | Prostate medicines linked to type 2 diabetes risk, study suggestsResearchers say patients should continue to take the drugs, which are commonly prescribed to older men, but warn they may need additional health checks. |
 | Opioid epidemic may have cost US governments $37.8 billion in tax revenueThe opioid epidemic may have cost U.S. state and federal governments up to $37.8 billion in lost tax revenue due to opioid-related employment loss, according to Penn State researchers. |
 | B cells gone bad could be the culprit in rheumatoid arthritisBiomolecular researcher Navin Varadarajan has published in Arthritis & Rheumatology journal a first-of-its-kind study—a comprehensive profile of B cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). B cells are lymphocytes, or white blood cells, that make protein antibodies that attack a patient's healthy proteins in patients with RA. |
 | Body mass index may play a significant role in the progression of multiple sclerosisA newly published paper in the Lancet journal EBioMedicine identifies a link between high levels of blood lipids and worsening of disease in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who are overweight or obese. |
 | Rare gut condition a model for study of genetic diseasesHirschsprung disease—a rare condition where the failure of gut nerves to develop before birth leads to impaired bowel contractions that prevent infants from passing stool—is more predictable from an individual's genetic makeup than previously envisioned. |
 | New study advances treatment options for PTSDStephen Maren, University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, recently published significant research on the psychological and neural basis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). |
 | Herbal supplement kratom is tied to more US deathsU.S. health officials say overdose deaths involving the herbal supplement kratom are more common than previously reported. |
 | Autism rate rises 43 percent in New Jersey, study findsA new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which uses research by Rutgers University, shows a significant increase in the percentage of 4-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder in New Jersey. |
 | Many cancer patients take alternative meds but don't tell their doctors(HealthDay)—One out of every three U.S. cancer patients uses alternative or complementary therapies, but many keep that info from their doctors, a new study finds. |
 | Medical school project pushes healthy habits 'beyond hospital walls'During her third year of medical school, Terry Gao learned how classroom training doesn't always answer real-world questions—like how to get people to eat better. |
 | DLQI with 'not relevant' answers may underrate psoriasis severity(HealthDay)—The Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) may underestimate disease severity in patients with psoriasis who respond "not relevant" to one or more items, according to a research letter published online April 10 in JAMA Dermatology. |
 | Domestic responsibilities tied to physician mothers' satisfaction(HealthDay)—For physician mothers in procedural specialties, being responsible for five or more domestic tasks is associated with an increased likelihood of career dissatisfaction, according to a study published online April 10 in JAMA Surgery. |
 | Presence of leukemia cutis tied to worse survival in AML(HealthDay)—For patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the presence of leukemia cutis (LC) is associated with decreased overall and leukemia-specific survival, according to a study published online April 10 in JAMA Dermatology. |
 | Psychologists find smiling really can make people happierSmiling really can make people feel happier, according to a new paper published in Psychological Bulletin. |
 | Increased tax on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary beverages to save millions of livesLow-and-middle income countries continue to face a growing burden of morbidity and mortality attributable to the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB). In 2017, tobacco and alcohol use were responsible for 175 million and 88 million years of life lost (YLL), respectively. While taxation has been shown to decrease consumption of tobacco, alcohol, and SSBs, rates of taxation vary by country and are low in parts of the world that would benefit most. |
 | One-two punch helps solve greatest unmet need in cardiologyNearly half of current hospital admissions for heart failure are caused by a type of the disease with no treatment options. Cardiology researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center are changing that reality with a fresh approach, recently published in Nature. |
 | Gender gap in spatial reasoning starts in elementary school, meta-analysis findsIt is well-established that, on average, men outperform women on a spatial reasoning task known as mental rotation—imagining multi-dimensional objects from different points of view. Men are not, however, born with this advantage, suggests a major meta-analysis by psychologists at Emory University. Instead, males gain a slight advantage in mental-rotation performance during the first years of formal schooling, and this advantage slowly grows with age, tripling in size by the end of adolescence. |
South Korean constitutional court orders abortion ban be lifted (Update)South Korea's constitutional court on Thursday ordered the country's decades-old abortion ban to be lifted in a landmark ruling over a law that campaigners say puts women at risk. | |
Eye'll bee damned: woman finds insects in eyeFour "sweat bees" that had been living in a Taiwanese woman's eye were removed by a doctor who described his surprise at finding a "leg with hair, protruding from the eyelid". | |
On the Sahara's edge, the fight to protect children against measlesDinar Tchere is fighting time and the sun, and he fears he may be losing. | |
High rates of liver disease progression and mortality observed in patients with NAFLD/NASHTwo independent national studies have reported high rates of liver disease progression and mortality among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH). The studies reported today at The International Liver Congress 2019 in Vienna, Austria, found that within 10 years of diagnosis, up to 11% of patients with NAFLD/NASH had progressed to advanced liver diseases (defined as NAFLD/NASH patients with compensated cirrhosis [CC], decompensated cirrhosis [DCC], liver transplant [LT] or hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]), and up to 27% of patients with NAFLD/NASH and CC had developed liver decompensation. | |
Autoimmune diseases of the liver may be triggered by exposure to an environmental factorInvestigators from a large population-based study conducted in northern England have suggested that exposure to a persistent, low-level environmental trigger may have played a role in the development of autoimmune diseases of the liver within that population. The study, which was discussed today at The International Liver Congress 2019 in Vienna, Austria, found a significant clustering of cases of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in well-defined regions of north-east England and North Cumbria, suggesting an environmental agent (or agents) may have been involved. | |
 | HIV-infected individuals at high risk of NAFLD and progressive liver diseaseThe increasing burden and risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with HIV infection have today been highlighted in two studies presented at The International Liver Congress 2019 in Vienna, Austria. These studies found that, whilst prevalence and mortality rates associated with viral hepatitis in HIV-infected individuals have been declining, rates associated with NAFLD are increasing, leading to a risk of progressive liver disease. |
 | Obeticholic acid improves liver fibrosis and other histological features of NASHA prespecified interim analysis of the ongoing Phase 3 REGENERATE study has confirmed that obeticholic acid (OCA) is effective in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with liver fibrosis. The 18-month analysis, which was reported today at The International Liver Congress 2019 in Vienna, Austria, demonstrated that the 25 mg dose of OCA studied improved fibrosis in almost one-quarter of recipients, with significant improvements also reported in other histological markers of NASH. |
 | Fathers are vitally important to their kids' health and to public health researchHelping our children to develop healthy eating, exercise and screen-time behaviours is an important public health goal globally. |
 | A case against vaccine religious exemptionsAs of April 4, the U.S. has confirmed 465 cases of measles in 2019. This is the second-largest outbreak since health officials declared measles eliminated in 2000—a milestone that was largely due to widespread vaccination. |
 | Itchy skin affects the health and quality of life of many patients with kidney diseaseNew research reveals that pruritus, or itchy skin, affects a substantial percentage of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study, which appears in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), also indicates which patients are more likely to experience pruritus, and demonstrates that pruritus may affect quality of life and sleep. |
 | Study reveals new genetic factors linked to kidney stonesResearchers have discovered new genetic factors that likely contribute to the development of kidney stones. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), may be useful for predicting individuals' risk of developing kidney stones and for identifying new targets for prevention and treatment. |
 | CDC: still no source as E. coli outbreak grows to 96 cases(HealthDay)—U.S. health officials say an outbreak of Escherichia coli illness from an unknown source has risen to 96 cases across five Eastern states, up from the 72 cases reported last Friday. |
 | Tanzania's government announces outbreak of dengue feverTanzanian authorities have announced an outbreak of the mosquito-borne dengue fever in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam and Tanga region along the coast. |
 | Easy, delicious recipes from your blender(HealthDay)—Blenders aren't just for whipping up fruity drinks. You can also use them to make delicious savory recipes such as dressings, spreads and soups, all in seconds. |
 | Step-by-step exercises for a stronger back(HealthDay)—Are you neglecting or even unaware of the muscles in your back? If so, you're putting yourself at risk. |
 | Q&A: Preventing colon cancer with screening, early detectionDear Mayo Clinic: Are there ways to prevent colon cancer? What about early symptoms to watch for? I just turned 50, and I've heard colon cancer is more common as you get older. I'd like to lower my risk of getting this disease as much as possible. |
 | NEJM Perspective: 'Shifting the Paradigm—Applying Universal Standards of Care to Ebola Virus Disease'LSTM's Senior Clinical Lecturer, Dr. Shevin Jacob is corresponding author on a perspective piece published in the New England Journal of Medicine calling for universal standards of care to be applied in relation to Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). |
Ebola in DRC 'spreading faster': Red CrossThe Red Cross on Thursday sounded the alarm Thursday over Ebola's increasingly rapid spread in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the latest outbreak of the virus has killed more than 700 people. | |
Medicaid reimbursement to treat cancer patients with radiation therapy varies widelyA new study finds wide state-by-state variations in Medicaid reimbursements to physicians who treat cancer patients with radiation therapies. These differences could compound existing disparities in access to health care in rural communities, which tend to have higher Medicaid coverage rates than metropolitan areas. The study is available for free access through April 24 in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics (Red Journal), the flagship scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). | |
Biology news
 | Microbes in the human body swap genes, even across tissue boundaries: studyBacteria in the human body are sharing genes with one another at a higher rate than is typically seen in nature, and some of those genes appear to be traveling—independent of their microbial hosts—from one part of the body to another, researchers report in the journal Scientific Reports. |
 | Team uncovers new rules for cellular decision-making in geneticsA team of biologists has uncovered new rules that cells use in making decisions about which genes they activate and under what conditions, findings that add to our understanding of how gene variants affect human traits. |
 | Broken mitochondria use 'eat me' proteins to summon their executionersWhen mitochondria become damaged, they avoid causing further problems by signaling cellular proteins to degrade them. In a paper publishing April 11, 2019, in the journal Developmental Cell, scientists in Norway report that they have discovered how the cells trigger this process, which is called mitophagy. In cells with broken mitochondria, two proteins—NIPSNAP 1 and NIPSNAP 2—accumulate on the mitochondrial surface, functioning as "eat me" signals, recruiting the cellular machinery that will destroy them. |
 | Attention skills in a nonhuman cooperative breeding speciesCooperative breeding may facilitate the development of sophisticated communicative abilities such as intentionality and joint attention skills. Two new studies of researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen, the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig and the University of Osnabrück provide the first evidence that a cooperatively breeding bird species (Arabian babblers) demonstrates distinct hallmarks of joint-attentional skills, which have been traditionally ascribed to humans only. This result also shows that an ape-like cognitive system is not a necessary pre-condition for joint-attention skills. |
 | U.S. forests changes are double-edged sword for environmentClimate change, nitrogen deposition and fire suppression are leading to shifts in the types of trees that dominate American forests. These changes will have environmental consequences, potentially positive and negative, according to a Purdue University study. |
 | Time for a new global protected area targetThe world needs a new international protected area target based on scientific evidence, according to a team including University of Queensland scientists. |
 | Conservationists discover hidden diversity in ancient frog familyResearch scientists led by the University of Kent have uncovered hidden diversity within a type of frog found only in the Seychelles, showing that those on each island have their own distinct lineage. |
 | New imaging technique reveals 'burst' of activity before cell deathStudying the movement of tiny cells is no small task. For chromatin, the group of DNA, RNA, and protein macromolecules packed within our genome, motion is an integral part of its active role as a regulator of how our genes get expressed or repressed. |
 | In mice, eliminating damaged mitochondria alleviates chronic inflammatory diseaseInflammation is a balanced physiological response—the body needs it to eliminate invasive organisms and foreign irritants, but excessive inflammation can harm healthy cells, contributing to aging and chronic diseases. To help keep tabs on inflammation, immune cells employ a molecular machine called the NLRP3 inflammasome. NLRP3 is inactive in a healthy cell, but is switched "on" when the cell's mitochondria (energy-generating organelles) are damaged by stress or exposure to bacterial toxins. |
 | Scientists capture a 'snapshot' of bacterial stress-response regulator's 'recycling truck'Scientists have captured the first "snapshot" of two proteins involved in delivering a bacterial stress-response master regulator to the cell's recycling machinery. |
 | The emergence of male and female traits in the development of beetle hornsThe male Japanese rhinoceros beetle, Trypoxylus dichotomus, which lives on Japan's main island, has big horns that are used as weapons to fight other males for females. Scientists have sought the developmental mechanism that creates these horns, and to this end, a research team at the National Institute for Basic Biology in Japan has identified sex-determining genes for the rhinoceros beetle, and has succeeded in identifying the timing of sex differences that appear in horn primordia. |
 | Protein complex may help prevent neurodegenerative diseasesResearchers from the Universities of Konstanz (Germany), Leeds (U.K.) and Stanford (U.S.) have discovered that the nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) prevents the aggregation of proteins associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. The study, "Dual role of ribosome-binding domain of NAC as a potent suppressor of protein aggregation and aging-related proteinopathies," is published in the journal Molecular Cell |
 | A sex-determining gene might help guarantee better papaya productionA gene that dictates which of three sexes a papaya tree will become, before seed germination, could spur a leap in the ultra-nutritious crop's production. |
 | How much nature is lost due to higher yields?The exploitation of farmland is being intensified with a focus on raising yields. The degree to which yields actually increase as a result, and the extent of the simultaneous loss of biological diversity have to date been under-researched factors. An international team of scientists led by the UFZ has now evaluated data from worldwide research in which both yield and biodiversity were examined before and after intensification measures. |
 | New species of deep-sea corals discovered in Atlantic marine monumentDNA analysis recently confirmed that Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) scientists and their collaborators at OceanX, the University of Connecticut (UConn), and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) discovered two new species of deep-sea corals during a September 2018 expedition in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument, located about 100 miles from the Northeast U.S. coast. |
 | Killer tadpoles threaten Andaman archipelago's native frog speciesThe Indian bullfrog, which is native to the Indian sub-continent, has recently invaded the Andaman archipelago. This group of islands lies about 1200 km east of the Indian mainland. The bullfrog was probably introduced to the archipelago in the early 2000s – either as adults released for human consumption, as tadpoles that contaminated aqua-cultural stocks, or both. |
 | Study: How will tropical mammals react to rising temperatures?How wildlife will react to climate change is an open question, but one of the first studies to compare the responses of tropical mammals to warmer habitats suggests the answer won't be as simple as "move to a cooler place." |
 | The truth about a true frog: Unknown Costa Rican frog hidden amongst a widespread speciesKnown to science since 1857, a common species of true frog (a "true frog" is one assigned to the family Ranidae), found from north-eastern Honduras, through Nicaragua and Costa Rica to central Panama, turns out to have been keeping its "multiple identities" a secret all along. |
 | Pre-crop values from satellite images to support diversification of agriculturePre-crop values for a high number of previous and following crop combinations originating from farmers' fields are, for the first time, available to support diversification of currently monotonous crop sequencing patterns in agriculture. The groundbreaking method utilizing satellite images was developed by Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) in collaboration with Finnish Geospatial Research Institute (FGI). |
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