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Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Powerful particles and tugging tides may affect extraterrestrial lifeSince its discovery in 2016, planetary scientists have been excited about TRAPPIST-1, a system where seven Earth-sized rocky planets orbit a cool star. Three of the planets are in the habitable zone, the region of space where liquid water can flow on the planets' surfaces. But two new studies by scientists in the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory may lead astronomers to redefine the habitable zone for TRAPPIST-1. |
 | A closer look at Mercury's spin and gravity reveals the planet's inner solid coreHow do you explore the interior of a planet without ever touching down on it? Start by watching the way the planet spins, then measure how your spacecraft orbits it—very, very carefully. This is exactly what NASA planetary scientists did, using data from the agency's former mission to Mercury. |
 | Elusive molecule, first in Universe, detected in spaceIn the beginning, more than 13 billion years ago, the Universe was an undifferentiated soup of three simple, single-atom elements. |
 | A small step for China: Mars base for teens opens in desertIn the middle of China's Gobi desert sits a Mars base simulator, but instead of housing astronauts training to live on the Red Planet, the facility is full of teenagers on a school trip. |
 | Evidence of another possible planet orbiting Proxima CentauriA team of researchers studying the nearest star to our solar system, Proxima Centauri, has found possible evidence of a second planet in its system. Team members Fabio Del Sordo with the University of Crete and Mario Damasso with the Observatory of Turin gave a presentation of their findings at this year's Breakthrough Discuss conference held at the University of California, Berkeley campus. |
 | Possible evidence of an extrasolar object striking the Earth in 2014A pair of researchers has found possible evidence of an extrasolar object striking the Earth back in 2014. In their paper uploaded to the arXiv preprint server, Amir Siraj and Abraham Loeb describe their study of data in the Center for Near-Earth Object studies database and what they found. |
 | Explosion on Jupiter-sized star 10 times more powerful than ever seen on the sunA stellar flare ten times more powerful than anything seen on our sun has burst from an ultracool star almost the same size as Jupiter. |
 | NASA wants to send a low-cost mission to explore Neptune's moon TritonIn the coming years, NASA has some bold plans to build on the success of the New Horizons mission. Not only did this spacecraft make history by conducting the first-ever flyby of Pluto in 2015, it has since followed up on that by making the first encounter in history with a Kuiper Belt object (KBO) – 2014 MU69 (aka Ultima Thule). |
 | Image: Mirror array for LSSThe giant 121-segment mirror array used to reflect simulated sunlight into the largest vacuum chamber in Europe seen being hoisted into position within ESA's technical heart back in 1986. |
 | Drop test proves technologies for reusable microlauncherSpain's PLD Space, supported by ESA, has demonstrated the technologies for a reusable first stage of their orbital microlauncher, Miura 5. |
 | US astronaut to spend 11 months in space, set female recordA NASA astronaut will spend nearly a year at the International Space Station, setting a record for women. |
 | Space station shipment launched from Virginia seashoreA fresh grocery shipment is on its way to the International Space Station after launching from Virginia. |
 | Image: Partial Gravity Simulator practiceIn preparation for his Beyond mission, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano was at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA, in March 2019. Here he is strapped to the Partial Gravity Simulator to practice repairing the dark-matter hunter AMS-02. |
Meteor seen blazing through skies over East CoastResidents along the East Coast have reported seeing a meteor blazing across the nighttime sky. | |
Technology news
 | A sliding mode control scheme for nonlinear positive Markov jumping systemsResearchers at Anhui University in China have recently developed a new method to enable sliding mode control in a class of nonlinear positive Markov jumping systems (MJSs) with uncertain parameters. Their approach is outlined in a paper published in Springer's International Journal of Control, Automation and Systems. |
 | Giving robots a better feel for object manipulationA new learning system developed by MIT researchers improves robots' abilities to mold materials into target shapes and make predictions about interacting with solid objects and liquids. The system, known as a learning-based particle simulator, could give industrial robots a more refined touch—and it may have fun applications in personal robotics, such as modelling clay shapes or rolling sticky rice for sushi. |
 | Vehicle-to-vehicle Volvo style to swing big in EuropeVehicle to vehicle communication is on auto industry minds as an important technology piece determining our safe driving future. Discussions around vehicle to vehicle "connected cars" are all about cars communicating with each other and the surroundings. |
 | Team of SpotMini robots pull a box truck up a hillRobot company Boston Dynamics has made a statement just prior to putting its SpotMini on the market, releasing a video showing a team of 10 SpotMinis pulling a box truck slightly uphill in a parking lot. The SpotMini, dog-like robot, will be available for sale in the coming months. |
 | 'Induced' driving miles could overwhelm potential energy-saving benefits of self-drivingThe benefits of self-driving cars will likely induce vehicle owners to drive more, and those extra miles could partially or completely offset the potential energy-saving benefits that automation may provide, according to a new University of Michigan study. |
 | BMW to recall 360,000 China cars over Takata airbagsGermany's BMW will recall 360,000 vehicles in China as part of the worldwide effort to root out defective airbags made by now-defunct Japanese supplier Takata, regulators in Beijing said. |
 | Boeing 737 MAX changes deemed 'operationally suitable': FAAThe changes US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has proposed in the wake of two deadly accidents of its top-selling 737 MAX aircraft were deemed "operationally suitable," according to a draft report released by US regulators Tuesday. |
 | Intel withdraws from 5G smartphone modem businessUS electronics giant Intel said Tuesday it was withdrawing from the 5G smartphone modem business, hours after Apple and American microchip manufacturer Qualcomm announced they had clinched an agreement to end a battle over royalty payments. |
 | Ericsson, Swisscom launch Europe's first large scale 5G networkTelecom equipment manufacturer Ericsson said Wednesday it had launched the first European large scale commercial 5G network together with Swiss operator Swisscom, as Ericsson posted a first quarter profit boosted by sales in North America. |
 | Transparent architectureETH spin-off Archilyse promises nothing less than the "world's most comprehensive architecture analysis" on its website. The young entrepreneurs are attracting a lot of interest in the real estate sector. |
 | Electric cars can clean up the mining industry – here's howGrowing demand for electric vehicles is important to help cut transport emissions, but it will also lead to new mining. Without a careful approach, we could create new environmental damage while trying to solve an environmental problem. |
 | Study: Health care industry worst at protecting consumer data, federal government is bestThe federal government is best at protecting consumer data and the health care sector is the worst, according to a new study by the not-for-profit Internet Society's Online Trust Alliance. |
 | Facial recognition may help you get on a plane or cruise ship faster. Should you worry about your privacy?Say goodbye to standing in long lines clutching boarding passes and other travel documents. |
 | Scientists improve sensitivity and stretchability of room-temperature liquid metal-based sensorScientists have developed a room-temperature, liquid metal-based, super-stretchable sensor with the advantages of easy fabrication, low cost, high repeatability and a gauge factor as great as 4.95. The new device potentially takes liquid metal-based sensors to the next stage. The findings were published in Scientific Reports. |
 | The new digital divide is between people who opt out of algorithms and people who don'tEvery aspect of life can be guided by artificial intelligence algorithms – from choosing what route to take for your morning commute, to deciding whom to take on a date, to complex legal and judicial matters such as predictive policing. |
 | Army researchers identify new way to improve cybersecurityWith cybersecurity one of the nation's top security concerns and billions of people affected by breaches last year, government and businesses are spending more time and money defending against it. Researchers at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command's Army Research Laboratory, the Army's corporate research laboratory also known as ARL, and Towson University may have identified a new way to improve network security. |
Solar car startup Sono to build in Sweden, starting in 2020Munich-based startup Sono Motors plans to build the first mass produced solar electric vehicle in Sweden, starting next year. | |
 | Solar panel demand causing spike in worldwide silver pricesRising demand for solar panels is having a major effect on the worldwide price of silver, which could lead to solar panel production costs becoming far higher in the future, new research from the University of Kent has demonstrated. |
 | Scientists advance a way to track changes in a person's cardiovascular systemEvery heart beat sends blood flowing throughout the human body. While an electrocardiogram uses a contact approach to measure the electrical activity of the heart, a ballistocardiogram is a non-contact way of measuring the mechanical effect of the blood flow through the cardiovascular system. |
 | Shared electric scooters surge, overtaking docked bikesElectric scooters are overtaking station-based bicycles as the most popular form of shared transportation outside transit and cars. |
FedEx Office's new bots can deliver pizza, groceries or even bring chicken noodle soup to the sickFedEx Office is adding a new kind of worker in North Texas: A robot that can deliver a hot pepperoni pizza, a bag of groceries or a prescription to a customer's home. The bot could bring a swab for a strep test to a sick person's door and return hours later with medication, cough drops and a cup of chicken noodle soup. | |
 | Analysts: Latest wave of processors should keep AMD riding highAs Advanced Micro Devices releases its latest wave of mobile processors, analysts say the chipmaker has a chance to gain a competitive edge over the industry's leading players. |
 | Apple and Qualcomm legal settlement might pave way for first 5G iPhoneApple and Qualcomm have settled their longstanding royalty and patent disputes, helping potentially pave the way for the first 5G-capable iPhone as soon as this year, though 2020 still seems more likely. |
 | Is the iPhone as private as Apple says? Mozilla says it can beAs the tech industry faces criticism and regulatory pressure over its handling of user data, Apple has positioned itself as a champion for privacy. |
 | Galaxy Fold first look: We go hands-on with Samsung's nearly $2,000 foldable phoneSamsung is about to fold, but don't take that the wrong way. It wants you to buy into the new Galaxy Fold that goes on sale next Friday and that will cost you nearly $2,000. |
 | Some of Samsung's new folding phones are already breakingSome of Samsung's new, almost $2,000 folding phones appear to be breaking after just a couple of days. |
 | Forecasting contagious ideas: 'Infectivity' models accurately predict tweet lifespanEstimating tweet infectivity from the first 50 retweets is the key to predicting whether a tweet will go viral, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE on April 17, 2019 by Li Weihua from Beihang University, China and colleagues. |
 | European car sales stay in reverseEuropean car sales fell 3.9 percent in March compared to the same month last year, marking the seventh-straight monthly drop, an industry body said Wednesday. |
 | Can artificial intelligence help end fake news?Fake news has already fanned the flames of distrust towards media, politics and established institutions around the world. And while new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) might make things even worse, it can also be used to combat misinformation. |
 | Robots that can sort recyclingEvery year trash companies sift through an estimated 68 million tons of recycling, which is the weight equivalent of more than 30 million cars. |
 | Predicting electricity demandsResearch published in the International Journal of Energy Technology and Policy shows how a neural network can be trained with a genetic algorithm to forecasting short-term demands on electricity load. Chawalit Jeenanunta and Darshana Abeyrathna of Thammasat University, in Thani, Thailand, explain that it is critical for electricity producers to be able to estimate how much demand there will be on their systems in the next 48 hours. Without such predictions, there will inevitably be shortfalls in power generation when demand is higher than estimated or energy and resources wasted if demand is lower than expected. |
 | Scientists developing technology for water purification by electric dischargesThe environment around us is becoming increasingly polluted. This includes one of our most precious natural resources—water. Clean water is essential to human survival. Due to increased pollution, water treatment methods are becoming increasingly important as well. |
 | India's stricken Jet Airways suspends all operationsIndia's debt-stricken Jet Airways halted all of its operations Wednesday after failing to secure emergency funding from lenders, leaving it teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. |
 | Despite grounding, United Airlines still expects new 737 MAX planes in 2019United Continental still expects to receive new Boeing 737 MAX planes in 2019 and does not expect a fight with the manufacturer over recovering costs from the planes' grounding, United executives said Wednesday. |
 | As Disney+ enters the streaming landscape, here's a guide for where to find your favorite movies and showsHave fun remembering all of your passwords. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Scientists restore some functions in a pig's brain hours after deathCirculation and cellular activity were restored in a pig's brain four hours after its death, a finding that challenges long-held assumptions about the timing and irreversible nature of the cessation of some brain functions after death, Yale scientists report April 18 in the journal Nature. |
 | The Leukemia Atlas: researchers unveil proteins that signal diseaseOnly about one in four people diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) survive five years after the initial diagnosis. To improve that survival rate, researchers at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center created an online atlas to identify and classify protein signatures present at AML diagnosis. |
 | Boosting muscle stem cells to treat muscular dystrophy and aging musclesLying within our muscles are stem cells, invisible engines that drive the tissue's growth and repair. Understanding the signal(s) that direct muscle stem cells to spring into action could uncover new ways to promote muscle growth. However, these mechanisms are poorly understood. |
 | New study targets Achilles' heel of pancreatic cancer, with promising resultsAdvanced pancreatic cancer is often symptomless, leading to late diagnosis only after metastases have spread throughout the body. Additionally, tumor cells are encased in a "protective shield," a microenvironment conferring resistance to many cancer treatment drugs. Now, Salk Institute researchers, along with an international team of collaborators, have uncovered the role of a signaling protein that may be the Achilles' heel of pancreatic cancer. |
 | Researchers pinpoint tumor-related protein, slow progression of cancersLocking a biochemical gate that admits fuel into immune-suppressing cells could slow tumor progression and assist the treatment of multiple cancers, says new research from the Wistar Institute, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and others. |
 | Screen time associated with behavioral problems in preschoolersA new Canadian study of more than 2,400 families suggests that among preschoolers, spending two hours or more of screen time per day is linked to clinically significant behavioural problems. |
 | Fundamentally new MRI method developed to measure brain function in millisecondsThe speed of the human brain is remarkable—in a fraction of a second, neurons are activated, propagating thoughts and reactions to stimuli. But the speed at which we can noninvasively follow brain function using an MRI is not as impressive. Functional MRI (fMRI), which measures changes in blood oxygen levels, has revolutionized the field of neuroscience by revealing functional aspects of the brain. But the changes that fMRI is sensitive to can take up to six seconds in humans—a veritable eon in brain time. Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, in collaboration with colleagues at King's College London and INSERM-Paris, have discovered a fundamentally new way to measure brain function using a technology known as magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), an approach that creates maps of tissue stiffness using an MRI scanner. In a paper published in Science Advances, the team presents data from preclinical studies indicating that the technique can track brain function activity on a time scale of 100 milliseconds. Studies of the technique in human participants are now underway. |
 | Some viruses help protect harmful bacteria in CF patients, study findsChronic bacterial infections in the lungs of cystic fibrosis patients are worsened by a previously unappreciated biological agent: a group of viruses that infect the bacteria. |
 | Researchers use gene editing with CRISPR to treat lethal lung diseases before birthUsing CRISPR gene editing, a team from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Penn Medicine have thwarted a lethal lung disease in an animal model in which a harmful mutation causes death within hours after birth. This proof-of-concept study, published today in Science Translational Medicine, showed that in utero editing could be a promising new approach for treating lung diseases before birth. |
 | Brain stimulation reverses age-related memory lossStimulating a precise location of the brain's memory center with electromagnetic pulses improves the memory of older adults with age-related memory loss to the level of young adults, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. |
 | Media exposure to mass violence can fuel cycle of distress, three-year longitudinal study showsRepeated exposure to media coverage of collective traumas, such as mass shootings or natural disasters, can fuel a cycle of distress, according to a University of California, Irvine study. Researchers found that individuals can become more emotionally responsive to news reports of subsequent incidents, resulting in heightened anxiety and worry about future occurrences. |
 | Diet high in leucine may fuel breast cancer's drug resistanceAbout one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. The vast majority of these cancers rely on the hormone estrogen to grow. Estrogen-receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer tumors are frequently treated with the drug tamoxifen, which blocks the hormone's effect on the tumor. However, many tumors eventually become resistant to tamoxifen, allowing cancer to recur or metastasize. |
 | Study reveals factors behind embryonic stem cell stateEmbryonic stem cells (ESC) have the ability to self-renew, and, being pluripotent have the potential to create almost any cell type in the body. The embryonic stem cell state is established and maintained by multiple regulatory networks that include epigenetic regulators; the function of these epigenetic regulators though has not been well-defined. |
 | 3-D modelling identifies nutrient exchange in the human placentaNew three-dimensional imaging of the human placenta has been developed to help understand the reasons for fetal growth restriction—a condition which affects thousands in the UK alone. |
 | Gene therapy restores immunity in infants with rare immunodeficiency diseaseA small clinical trial has shown that gene therapy can safely correct the immune systems of infants newly diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening inherited disorder in which infection-fighting immune cells do not develop or function normally. Eight infants with the disorder, called X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID), received an experimental gene therapy co-developed by National Institutes of Health scientists. They experienced substantial improvements in immune system function and were growing normally up to two years after treatment. The new approach appears safer and more effective than previously tested gene-therapy strategies for X-SCID. |
 | Heart patch could limit muscle damage in heart attack aftermathResearchers have designed a new type of adhesive patch that can be placed directly on the heart and may one day help to reduce the stretching of heart muscle that often occurs after a heart attack. |
 | Pediatric endocrinologist gives iconic 'Mona Lisa' a second medical opinionLeonardo da Vinci's world-renowned "Mona Lisa" painting of Lisa Gherardini has captivated millions since it was created in the early 1500s, including experts in the medical community. For years, scientists and physicians have studied the discoloration of Gherardini's skin, the thickness of her neck, and her enigmatic smile to hypothesize about her health during the Renaissance time period. |
 | Investigators explore temperature-triggered devices for gastrointestinal therapiesGastrointestinal devices such as stents, endoscopic tubes, balloons and drug delivery systems can help clinicians treat patients with a range of conditions. But currently available methods for triggering where and when drugs are released or when a device is triggered to disassemble or change shape are often slow, which can restrict the utility of such tools. Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital and MIT are designing devices that can be triggered by the ingestion of a warm liquid to break down into smaller segments that can be excreted. In proof-of-concept experiments in preclinical models, the team tested two devices—one that could be induced to change conformation in the esophagus to exit following the delivery of a drug, and the other that could reside unperturbed in the stomach until intentionally triggered. The team's results are published in Science Translational Medicine. |
 | Diabetic drug shown to reduce the risk of heart disease in non-diabetic patientsThe commonly used diabetes drug metformin could reverse the harmful thickening of heart muscle that leads to cardiovascular disease, according to a study at the University of Dundee. |
Partner status influences sexual problems and self-efficacy in survivors of breast cancerVaginal dryness and painful intercourse are some of the more common adverse events of post-breast cancer treatment therapies and often lead to sexual dissatisfaction and an overall lower quality of life (QOL). However, a new study finds that partnered women may fare better than those without a partner. Study results are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS). | |
 | Microbiome science may help doctors deliver more effective, personalized treatment to children with IBSTo improve the treatment of children with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), investigators have developed a sophisticated way to analyze the microbial and metabolic contents of the gut. A report in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, published by Elsevier, describes how a new battery of tests enables researchers to distinguish patients with IBS from healthy children and identifies correlations between certain microbes and metabolites with abdominal pain. With this information, doctors envision tailoring nutritional and targeted therapies that address a child's specific gastrointestinal problems. |
Non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation shows promise for treatment of rheumatoid arthritisBioelectronic medicine scientists at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research collaborated with counterparts from Academic Medical Center at University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands to carry out a series of pilot clinical studies to assess the effect of a novel bioelectronic stimulation. These studies show that non-invasive stimulation at the external ear improves disease symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These findings were first published today in Bioelectronic Medicine. An emerging field of science, bioelectronic medicine draws on neuroscience, focuses on molecular targets, and deploys bioengineering to tap into the nervous system to treat disease and injury without the use of pharmaceuticals. | |
 | Three studies show how tumors hijack the immune system to resist radiation therapyMore than a decade ago, radiation oncologists noticed a nifty phenomenon: Sometimes radiation used locally against a tumor could excite the immune system to attack cancer systemically throughout the body. It was as if the use of radiation had somehow awoken the immune system to the presence of cancer. Since then, a massive effort has been underway to harness this effect, hoping to create this systemic anti-cancer activity with combinations of radiotherapy and immunotherapy. |
 | Even moderate red and processed meat eaters at risk of bowel cancerPeople who eat red and processed meat within department of health guidelines are still at increased risk of bowel cancer, according to a study jointly funded by Cancer Research U.K. and published today (Wednesday 17 April) in the International Journal of Epidemiology. |
 | Link found between delivery method and asthma, allergiesBabies born via cesarean delivery may have an increased risk of developing asthma and food allergies, according to research out of the School of Public Health. |
 | The adolescent brain isn't so bad, reallyMore often than not, teenagers are portrayed in the media as troublesome, emotionally reactive, and difficult to deal with. They are widely considered to be risk-takers, and prone to making poor choices. |
 | Healthy meal kits can boost children's long-term healthA scheme that helped parents plan well-balanced family dinners for three months kept their children healthier for years after, a study has found. |
 | 2017 pneumonic plague outbreak in Madagascar characterized by scientistsPlague is an endemic disease in Madagascar. Each year, there is a seasonal upsurge between September and April, especially in the Central Highlands, which stand at an elevation of more than 800m. In 2017, an unprecedented pneumonic plague outbreak hit the main island, primarily affecting the capital Antananarivo and the main port city of Toamasina. |
 | Surgery may lead to opioid dependency for more than 13,000 Australians each yearWorldwide, warnings are growing about the widespread misuse of prescription opioids, as the use of this powerful class of painkillers has grown markedly over the past two decades. |
 | Five tips to get through the day without caffeineWhether you prefer a double shot latté in the morning or a cup of black tea in the afternoon, caffeine is a part of the daily routine for many of us. It's not necessarily a bad thing, either. A Starbucks run can be part of self-care or a way to catch up with friends, but if you're looking to cut back on your coffee budget or caffeine dependence, here are a few tips that may help. |
 | Tight household finances nurture fussy eatingThrifty parents in low-income households could be inadvertently encouraging unhealthy fussy eating habits in their children. |
 | Intensive blood pressure lowering may up cognitive decline in elderly(HealthDay)—Older adults (aged ≥75 years) undergoing antihypertensive treatment with systolic blood pressure (SBP) >150 mm Hg have less cognitive decline than those with SBP |
 | New drug mimics benefits of ketamine for depressionA new small-molecule drug produced a rapid antidepressant response similar to that of ketamine when tested in mice, a new Yale-led study published April 16 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation shows. |
| New test could lead to personalized treatments for cystic fibrosisCystic fibrosis is a devastating disease caused by mutations in a specific gene, known as the CFTR gene. But not everyone with cystic fibrosis has the same symptoms or responds to drug treatments in the same way. In a new pilot study, researchers from the University of Cambridge and Yale University developed a novel, straightforward way to test multiple drugs on cells obtained from individual patients with cystic fibrosis, raising the possibility of highly personalized drug treatment. |
 | Researchers identify a new biomarker for personalised treatments against cancerCancer cells are characterised by the ability to evade apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death that allows the organism to remove damaged cells. Many studies devoted to new chemotherapy treatments aim to induce apoptosis and thus remove cancer cells or reduce the size of the tumour. Scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine(IRB Barcelona) have demonstrated that the protein TP53INP2 plays an important role in the induction of cell death. This finding could be relevant in the treatment of certain types of cancer. |
 | Study finds pregnant women feel pushed out of their jobsMany working women feel like they are being pushed out of their jobs when they become pregnant while new fathers often get a boost in their careers, according to research from Florida State University. |
 | How your smartphone can encourage active livingPhysical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for death globally and has reached the status of a global pandemic —a definition that is usually associated with infectious diseases like influenza. |
 | When it comes to learning, what's better—the carrot or the stick?Does the potential to win or lose money influence confidence in decisions? Does either of them help to learn more quickly? Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, in collaboration with the University of Amsterdam and ENS Paris, investigated confidence bias in a learning context through a system of monetary punishment and reward. |
 | This oral appliance could help you (and your partner) sleep betterResearchers measured a novel treatment for sleep apnea developed at Hiroshima University Hospital with positive results. By measuring patients lying down flat, the researchers simulated sleep conditions and measured the patient's airways using 3-D imaging. The study confirmed that the treatment is effective at opening the airways and warrants further collaboration between dentists and doctors in treatment of sleep apnea. |
 | Why comic-style information is better at preparing patients for cardiac catheterizationBefore undergoing surgery, patients must be fully informed about what the procedure entails. The complex nature of the information involved means that patients often feel overwhelmed rather than well informed. Researchers from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have shown that patients scheduled to undergo cardiac catheterization may find comic-style information helpful. The researchers' comic-style booklet was shown to enhance patient comprehension and reduce anxiety. Results from this study have been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | New study explains how inflammation causes gastric cancerIn 1982, researchers reported a link between chronic gastritis and stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori, triggering a flurry of research into this newly identified pathogen. These studies made it clear that in addition to its involvement in gastritis, H. pylori was a significant factor in the development of both peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. But while the link between the bacterium and disease was clear-cut, exactly how H. pylori caused gastric tumors remained the subject of much debate. |
 | Social support key to remission from suicidal thoughts for disabling chronic pain sufferersThere has been little research on factors associated with resilience and recovery among those in chronic and disabling pain who have had suicidal thoughts. A new nationally representative study from the University of Toronto found that almost two-thirds of formerly suicidal Canadians (63%) with chronic pain were free from suicidal thoughts in the past year. |
 | Florida measles threat grows as more young children go unvaccinatedAs measles outbreaks are popping up across the country and the number of unvaccinated children in Florida is climbing, state health officials and parents worry that one of the most infectious diseases that was practically eliminated in the United States two decades ago could have a resurgence. |
 | Gender identity leaves imprint on human brains, neuroscience researchers findSociety's expectations about gender roles alter the human brain at the cellular level, according to a paper published by a group of neuroscience researchers at Georgia State University. |
 | Interviews with STI patients provide guidance for point-of care testingA study of patient opinions and expectations about the potential use of point of care tests (POCTs) has found there is broad support for the introduction of these in sexually transmitted infection clinics, but that patients' willingness to wait for results can be more complex. |
 | Q&A: High energy, lack of focus don't necessarily mean your child has ADHDDear Mayo Clinic: As the mom of an elementary schoolboy, I hear a lot of talk about ADHD. But what is it exactly? How do you tell the difference between a kid who just has a ton of energy and one who has a problem that needs to be addressed? Are there things that put a child at risk for ADHD? |
 | Can games and apps help your kids learn?(HealthDay)—Leading health organizations are warning about the possibility of video game addiction. |
 | Four superfoods to put on your menu today(HealthDay)—Science continues to discover healthy substances in foods beyond vitamins and minerals. Though no one food provides everything you need, here are four trending superfoods—all high in antioxidants—that belong in your kitchen. |
 | New cholesterol study may lead you to ask: Pass the eggs, or pass on the eggs?The recent news that eating three to four eggs a week is linked to a slight increase in risk for developing heart disease was a bummer for egg lovers. Should you stop eating eggs because of this new finding? |
 | Researchers build 'mirror therapy' VR game to improve NHS patient experienceA virtual reality therapy game (iVRT) which could provide relief for patients suffering from chronic pain and mobility issues has been developed by a team of UK researchers. |
 | Oral immunotherapy safe for preschool-aged children with peanut allergiesNew data published this week in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice suggests that oral immunotherapy is safe for preschool-aged children with peanut allergies. |
 | Technology automatically senses how Parkinson's patients respond to medicationParkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive neurological disorder affecting approximately 6 million people globally and is expected to double by 2040. PD leads to disabling motor features including tremor, reduced speed, and gait/balance impairment leading to falls, as well as non-motor symptoms such as cognitive impairment and sleep and speech disorders. |
 | Cannabidiol could help deliver medications to the brainCannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound in cannabis, is being touted as beneficial for many health conditions, ranging from anxiety to epilepsy. Although much more research is needed to verify these claims, scientists have now shown that CBD could have a different use as a "Trojan horse": helping slip medications across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and into mouse brains. The researchers report their results in the ACS journal Molecular Pharmaceutics. |
 | Heavy drinkers consuming more than half of all alcoholLa Trobe University researchers have found the heaviest drinking 10 per cent of Australians drink over half the alcohol consumed in Australia, downing an average of six standard drinks per day. |
 | Do American adults drink too much? Study says yes(HealthDay)—Middle-aged Americans are hitting the sauce too hard and too often, a new poll shows. |
 | Breast cancer blood test could help to spot relapse earlierA simple blood test could help to detect breast cancer relapse up to two years earlier than imaging in patients with early-stage breast cancer. |
Taking care of people with TBI: New tool could speed caregiver researchA traumatic brain injury happens in an instant: a battlefield blast, a car crash, a bad fall. But the effects can last a lifetime—and can leave the survivor dependent on daily care from their loved ones for decades. | |
 | Study compares colonoscopy polyp detection rates and endoscopist characteristicsPrevious research has suggested that specific factors about the doctor performing colonoscopy—for example, a gastroenterologist versus a surgeon, female versus male—were associated with different rates of detection of precancerous polyps. |
71-year-old heart study gets $38M grant for another 6 yearsThe nation's longest-running multigenerational study of cardiovascular disease has received a $38 million grant that will help researchers explore the biology of aging. | |
 | Two lives saved in rare 'paired' liver donation(HealthDay)—In a North American first, an anonymous living liver donation led to a rare paired living liver donor exchange in Canada last summer that saved the lives of two people with failing livers. |
 | Parenteral antimicrobial tx at home burdens children's caregivers(HealthDay)—The overall burden of outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is substantially higher than that of oral therapy for caregivers of children on prolonged antimicrobial therapy after hospital discharge, according to a study published in the April issue of Hospital Pediatrics. |
 | About one-quarter of seniors store firearms unlocked, loaded(HealthDay)—The prevalence of mental health or memory loss indicators does not vary by household firearm ownership or storage practices among older adults, according to a research letter published online April 16 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Stroke hospitalizations down in black, white medicare enrollees(HealthDay)—Rates of hospitalization for stroke have fallen since 1988 for both black and white Medicare enrollees, while black men and women have had greater improvements in 30-day mortality after stroke, according to a study published in the April issue of Medical Care. |
 | Here's how middle-aged people—especially women—can avoid a heart attackPhysical fitness is good for the heart, brain and overall health. But a specific type called cardiorespiratory fitness may help predict the odds of having a heart attack, especially for women, new research shows. |
 | School bullying increases chances of mental health issues and unemployment in later lifeVictims of bullying in secondary school have dramatically increased chances of mental health problems and unemployment in later life. |
 | Novel antibody may suppress HIV for up to four monthsRegular infusions of an antibody that blocks the HIV binding site on human immune cells may have suppressed levels of HIV for up to four months in people undergoing a short-term pause in their antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimens, according to a report published online today in The New England Journal of Medicine. Results of the Phase 2, open-label study indicate the antibody, known as UB-421, was safe and did not induce the production of antibody-resistant HIV. The study was supported in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a component of the National Institutes of Health, and United Biopharma, Inc. |
 | National effort urged to overhaul 'broken' health data systemOur system for protecting health data in the United States is fundamentally broken and we need a national effort to rethink how we safeguard this information, say three experts in data privacy. |
 | Achieving sugar reduction targets could cut child obesity and healthcare costsReducing the sugar content of certain foods by 2020, in line with UK government policy targets, could cut child obesity and related illness, and save the NHS in England £286 million over 10 years, suggests a study published by The BMJ today. |
 | Fragments of cellular machinery reveal unexpected variability among cancersCancer is a disease of dysregulated gene expression. Now, researchers from Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas Jefferson University) find that a new, large category of molecules called transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived fragments have extensive interconnections to gene templates and gene products that differ by cancer type. Moreover, these interconnections can be impacted by the sex of the cancer patient. The findings could provide new angles of attack that are specific to each cancer and also be tuned to the sex of the patient, the researchers say. |
Cervical cancer subtype rising in some sub-populationsA new study reports that a type of cervical cancer that is less amenable to Pap testing is increasing in several subpopulations of women, pointing to the growing importance of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and vaccination. The study appears early online in Preventive Medicine. | |
 | France to ban food additive E171 from next yearFrance will ban the use of a widely used food additive from 2020, its economy and environment ministries said Wednesday, after studies pointed to potential health risks for consumers. |
 | Men's beards carry more germs than dog fur, according to scienceA new Swiss study has found that men with beards carry more germs than dogs. Sorry, hipsters. |
New software aims to reduce variability in ELISA biomarker testsA new computational approach has been developed to reduce variability in common research biomarker tests, a promising step in improving the ability of biomedical researchers and basic scientists to reproduce data and facilitate more consistent results across laboratories and long-term projects. Researchers from Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), developed a new software program, called ELISAtools, which provides a stable platform to compare data from research-use-only assay kits and minimize variability over months or even years. The results were published online in PLOS One. | |
 | Major study finds one in five children have mental health problemsOne in five Ontario children and youth suffer from a mental disorder, but less than one-third have had contact with a mental health care provider, says the Ontario Child Health Study (OCHS). |
 | Critical errors in inhaler technique common in children with asthmaIn the first study to evaluate inhaler technique in children hospitalized for asthma—the group at highest risk for complications and death from asthma—researchers found that nearly half of participants demonstrated improper inhaler use, which means they routinely were not taking in the full dose of medication. Adolescents most commonly displayed critical errors in inhaler technique. They also often skipped using a spacer, which is a device that is recommended for use with an inhaler to help the right amount of asthma medication reach the lungs. Findings were published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine. |
Preventing triple negative breast cancer from spreadingA breast cancer cell is like a house with three locks on the front door. Keys, or receptors, allow drugs to unlock the door and kill the cell. However, in triple-negative breast cancer, these keys are absent, thereby resulting in few options for drug therapy, until now. | |
 | Triple negative breast cancers can adopt reversible state that is resistant to chemotherapyResearchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells can develop resistance to frontline, or neoadjuvant, chemotherapy not by acquiring permanent adaptations, but rather transiently turning on molecular pathways that protect the cells. |
 | Comparing the benefits of Tai Chi and meditation on multiple sclerosis symptomsKinesiology researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have received funding to compare the effects of tai chi and mindfulness meditation on both the physical balance and psychosocial well-being of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). |
 | Can gut microbes and genes do the job of weight loss surgery?Mice that have undergone weight loss surgery experience a change in the composition of their gut bacteria and the functioning of their genes, leading scientists to explore the possibility of mimicking these changes to develop a non-surgical treatment for obesity and liver disease in humans. |
 | Better healing for eardrum injuries? Researchers testing new adhesive structures for medical applicationsMore than 30 million people worldwide suffer from eardrum injuries every year. If inadequately treated, the resulting hearing loss can severely restrict the patients' quality of life. Smaller injuries can be treated by applying silicone or paper strips—larger cracks even require tissue transplantation. However, the tissues can slip. Inflammation can lead to premature dissolution of the transplants or permanently impair the auditory canal as a result of scarring. Then, subsequent surgery becomes necessary, which puts the patient under renewed strain. In cooperation with the Saarland University Hospital, the INM has developed bioinspired adhesive structures for the treatment of eardrum injuries. The adhesive structures are now to be transferred into a biomedical product. |
Tracking global trends in the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy using the Drug Resistance IndexAntibiotic resistance poses an increasing threat to global health, development, and food security. Resistance has been driven, in part, by antibiotic use, which has grown 66 percent since the year 2000. Despite global commitments to address antimicrobial resistance, there remains no effective system to track progress at a global scale. Evaluating and communicating the problem of antibiotic resistance to a lay audience is challenging because of the large number of bacterial species and antibiotics involved. Furthermore, single bacterial species can be resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics, and thus the potential threat to patient health, varies based on a pathogen's genetic makeup and background. | |
Ribociclib in advanced breast cancer: Survival advantages, but also severe side effectsIn 2017, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) already examined the advantages and disadvantages of ribociclib in combination with an aromatase inhibitor versus the appropriate comparator therapy in patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. At that time, the examination concentrated on the application as initial endocrine-based therapy in postmenopausal women. The study data expressed no statistically significant advantage, but strong side effects of the new combination, resulting in the following conclusion: Ribociclib in combination with an aromatase inhibitor provides lesser benefit than the appropriate comparator therapy. | |
 | Hospital deaths after surgery fall after launch of surgical safety checklists in ScotlandThe World Health Organization (WHO) created the Surgical Safety Checklist over a decade ago, in an effort to reduce mortality after surgery. The BJS (British Journal of Surgery) has published a study that used a national database to look at the records of over 12 million patients. The authors were interested in the numbers of deaths before and after the launch of the checklist in Scotland. They found that there were a third fewer deaths in patients who had undergone operations after the checklist was launched. The fall in death rates was seen only in patients who had surgery, not in patients treated for medical conditions during the same interval. |
 | Stanford clears faculty members in gene-edited baby inquiryStanford University has cleared three faculty members of any wrongdoing in dealings with a Chinese scientist who claims to have helped make the world's first gene-edited babies. |
Biology news
 | Fish that outlived dinosaurs reveals secrets of ancient skull evolutionA new study into one of the world's oldest types of fish, Coelacanth, provides fresh insights into the development of the skull and brain of vertebrates and the evolution of lobe-finned fishes and land animals, as published in Nature. |
 | CRISPR base editors can induce wide-ranging off-target RNA editsA Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) research team reports that several of the recently developed CRISPR base editors, which create targeted changes in a single DNA base, can induce widespread off-target effects in RNA, extending beyond the targeted DNA. Their report receiving advance online publication in Nature also describes engineering variant base editors that significantly reduced the incidence of RNA edits while also increasing the precision of on-target DNA editing. |
 | These beetles have successfully freeloaded for 100 million yearsAlmost 100 million years ago, a tiny and misfortunate beetle died after wandering into a sticky glob of resin leaking from a tree in a region near present-day Southeast Asia. Fossilized in amber, this beetle eventually made its way to the desk of entomologist Joe Parker, assistant professor of biology and biological engineering at Caltech. Parker and his colleagues have now determined that the perfectly preserved beetle fossil is the oldest-known example of an animal in a behaviorally symbiotic relationship. |
 | Catfish use complex coordination to suck in preyCatfish do not have arms or tongues to help them catch and swallow their prey—instead, a catfish ready to strike moves its head. |
 | Researchers measure puncture performance of viper fangsA team that studies how biological structures such as cactus spines and mantis shrimp appendages puncture living tissue has turned its attention to viper fangs. Specifically, the scientists wanted to know, what physical characteristics contribute to fangs' sharpness and ability to puncture? |
 | For its health and yours, keep the cat indoorsAt least one running argument among cat lovers is now over: Whiskers, Lucy and Tigger are definitely better off staying indoors, scientists reported Wednesday. |
 | Life-threatening foot disease found in endangered huemul deer in ChileScientists report the first cases of foot disease for endangered huemul deer in Chilean Patagonia in a study led by the Wildlife Conservation Society and the University of California, Davis' One Health Institute, with partnering institutions in Chile and the United States. |
 | Features that make lizards sexy are resilient to stressPhysical traits and behaviors that make a lizard sexy—features used to attract potential mates and fend off competitors—may be important enough that they do not change in the face of stress. A new study by researchers at Penn State reveals that the blue and black badges on the throats and abdomens of male fence lizards—and signaling behaviors used to show them off—are not affected by low levels of stress-associated hormones, unlike many other traits. A paper describing the results appears in the journal Scientific Reports. |
 | Is one toe really better than three? How horse' legs evolved for travel rather than speedPalaeobiologists from the University of Bristol and Howard University have uncovered new evidence that suggests that horses' legs have adapted over time to be optimised for endurance travel, rather than speed. |
 | Plants and microbes shape global biomes through local underground alliancesDense rainforests, maple-blanketed mountains and sweeping coniferous forests demonstrate the growth and proliferation of trees adapted to specific conditions. The regional dominance of tree species we see on the surface, however, might actually have been determined underground long ago. |
 | New software tool could provide answers to some of life's most intriguing questionsA University of Waterloo researcher has spearheaded the development of a software tool that can provide conclusive answers to some of the world's most fascinating questions. |
 | Scientists crack the code to regenerate plant tissuesPlant regeneration can occur via formation of a mass of pluripotent cells. The process of acquisition of pluripotency involves silencing of genes to remove original tissue memory and priming for activation by external input. Led by Professor Sachihiro Matsunaga from Tokyo University of Science, a team of scientists have shown that plant regenerative capacity requires a certain demethylase that can prime gene expression in response to regenerative cues. |
 | Bacterial mix helps predict future changeA controlled, laboratory approach, along with computer simulations, has helped KAUST researchers to show that bacterial communities can homogenously disperse within aquatic ecosystems, even with slow-flowing water and the persistence of their preferred localized conditions. |
 | Researchers look to extend shelf life of nutritious vegetablesWhile helping small farms in Alabama, researchers at The University of Alabama and the University of West Alabama hope to provide agricultural solutions that assist a class of nutritious vegetables to last longer in supermarkets and kitchens. |
 | Mild equine asthma can distinguish winners from losers on the racetrackFrom chariot racing in ancient Rome to the modern Kentucky Derby, horse racing has been celebrated in some form for more than a thousand years. Whether the horses' hooves were pounding around in a dirt-filled coliseum or a racetrack surrounded by spectators in wide-brimmed hats, they probably had one thing in common: asthma. |
 | Invasive plant found in California threatens to spread across SouthwestA new invasive weed that can grow into a dense mat, choking off most other plants, has gained its first North American foothold in Carlsbad and is threatening to spread across the Southwest with seeds that can travel on clothes, boots and tires. |
 | How the social lives of animals should form part of our conservation cultureShared knowledge is an important currency for humans. It shapes everything from what we eat and how we dress, to how we raise our children. Some things we learn individually, some things we learn socially – from our parents, peers, teachers and the media. But how is shared information important for other species? |
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