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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 9, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | New clues about how ancient galaxies lit up the universeNASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed that some of the universe's earliest galaxies were brighter than expected. The excess light is a byproduct of the galaxies releasing incredibly high amounts of ionizing radiation. The finding offers clues to the cause of the Epoch of Reionization, a major cosmic event that transformed the universe from being mostly opaque to the brilliant starscape seen today. |
 | Evolution of magnetic field in the star-forming complex G9.62+0.19 revealed by ALMAUsing the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), European astronomers have investigated the magnetic field of the high-mass star-forming region known as G9.62+0.19. Results of these observations, presented in a paper published May 1 on arXiv.org, provide insights into the evolution of this magnetic field, which could help astronomers better understand the role of magnetic fields in the formation of massive stars. |
 | Gravitational waves leave a detectable mark, physicists sayGravitational waves, first detected in 2016, offer a new window on the universe, with the potential to tell us about everything from the time following the Big Bang to more recent events in galaxy centers. |
 | Star formation burst in the Milky Way 2–3 billion years ago (Update)A team led by researchers of the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB, UB-IEEC) and the Besançon Astronomical Observatory have analyzed data from the Gaia satellite and found that a heavy star formation burst occurred in the Milky Way about 3,000 million years ago. During this process, more than 50 percent of the stars that created the galactic disc may have been born. These results are derived from the combination of the distances, colors and magnitude of the stars that were measured by Gaia with models that predict their distribution in our galaxy. The study has been published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. |
 | Researchers suggest collapsar accretion disks might be source of heaviest elementsA trio of researchers at Columbia University is suggesting that collapsar accretion disks might be the major source of the heaviest elements. In their paper published in the journal Nature, Daniel Siegel, Jennifer Barnes and Brian Metzger describe their study of the accretion disks that form as neutron stars collapse into black holes, and what they found. |
 | Gravitational forces in protoplanetary disks may push super-Earths close to their starsThe galaxy is littered with planetary systems vastly different from ours. In the solar system, the planet closest to the Sun—Mercury, with an orbit of 88 days—is also the smallest. But NASA's Kepler spacecraft has discovered thousands of systems full of very large planets—called super-Earths—in very small orbits that zip around their host star several times every 10 days. |
 | Design work on 'brain' of world's largest radio telescope completedAn international group of scientists led by the University of Cambridge has finished designing the 'brain' of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), the world's largest radio telescope. When complete, the SKA will enable astronomers to monitor the sky in unprecedented detail and survey the entire sky much faster than any system currently in existence. |
 | Studying DNA breaks to protect future space travelersEarth's atmosphere shields life on the ground from cosmic radiation that can damage DNA. Astronauts in space have no such protection, and that puts them at risk. An investigation on the International Space Station examines DNA damage and repair in space in order to help protect the long-term health of space travelers. |
 | Amazon's Bezos unveils lunar lander project 'Blue Moon'Jeff Bezos, who heads both Amazon and space company Blue Origin, unveiled on Thursday a lunar lander that he said would be used to transport equipment, and possibly human beings, to the south pole of the Moon by 2024. |
Technology news
 | A friction reduction system for deformable robotic fingertipsResearchers at Kanazawa University have recently developed a friction reduction system based on a lubricating effect, which could have interesting soft robotics applications. Their system, presented in a paper published in Taylor & Francis' Advanced Robotics journal, could aid the development of robots that can efficiently manipulate objects under both dry and wet conditions. |
 | UK reaches jolly good milestone in days without coalThe UK has gone more than five days without burning coal, the longest streak without burning the fuel since the Industrial Revolution, said Bloomberg. It breaks the previous record from earlier this year, a total of 90 hours. |
 | Secrets of fluorescent microalgae could lead to super-efficient solar cellsTiny light-emitting microalgae, found in the ocean, could hold the secret to the next generation of organic solar cells, according to new research carried out at the Universities of Birmingham and Utrecht. |
 | Just add water: Salt battery could help renewable energy useAmid the hum and heat of Berlin's Reuter thermal power station stands a shining contraption that looks out of place in the decades-old machine hall. |
 | Smart software tool could pave the way for changing how things get designed, made, and suppliedIf you don't like wandering through big-box stores trying to find the furniture you need, and then struggle to assemble it, researchers have proposed a solution: Smart software that helps you design your own furniture, 3-D print the joints and assemble the whole structure at home. |
 | Hummingbird robot uses AI to soon go where drones can'tWhat can fly like a bird and hover like an insect? |
 | Scientists introduce novel perspective in robotic capabilityUniversity of Illinois researcher Amy LaViers has introduced a new point of view from which to observe robotic capabilities in her paper, "Counts of Mechanical, External Configurations Compared to Computational, Internal Configurations in Natural and Artificial Systems," published today in PLOS ONE, a leading interdisciplinary research journal. |
 | Toyota, Panasonic form joint venture in housing for JapanJapanese automaker Toyota and electronics giant Panasonic are forming a joint venture combining their housing businesses in Japan to showcase technologies such as connected cars and the internet of things. |
 | Typo on Aussie $50 brings blushes for central bankRed-faced bank bosses in Australia admitted to an embarrassing error Thursday, revealing their state-of-the-art $50 note had a typo. |
 | FTC urged by child advocates to investigate Amazon's AlexaConsumer advocates say the kids' version of Amazon's Alexa won't forget what children tell it, even after parents try to delete the conversations. |
 | Rideshare drivers strike as Uber poised to go publicThousands of Uber and Lyft drivers turned off their apps in a US-wide strike Wednesday over pay and working conditions, casting a shadow over this week's keenly anticipated Wall Street debut of ride-hailing leader Uber. |
 | Boeing struggling with Mt. Everest PR challengeNo amount of public relations spin can repair the reputational hit from two deadly plane crashes. But Boeing may have further damaged itself with muddled communications that downplayed its responsibility in the disasters. |
 | Three Mile Island nuclear plant to close by September 30The Three Mile Island nuclear plant, site 40 years ago of the worst ever US nuclear accident, is to shut down in September, its owner announced on Wednesday. |
 | Amazon says small business owners earn $90,000 a year from selling in its storesWhile it's often blamed for the fall of brick-and-mortar stores nationwide, Amazon also helps millions of small businesses thrive in the digital era. |
 | Pixel 3a vs. Pixel 3: Great camera for the price makes Google's $399 phone the better buyGoogle's launch Tuesday of the $399 Pixel 3a and $479 Pixel 3a XL smartphones only seven months after the release of the pricier Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL handsets likely has you asking: "Why would I want to spend at least $400 more for Google's premium flagships, when these latest mid-priced devices offer so many overlapping features?" |
 | Google I/O: Cheaper Pixel 3a, Android Q, smartphone addiction tools, Nest Hub MaxEven after all these years, the first thing that likely comes to mind when you think Google is search. Google has long been about way more than that, of course, and the annual Google I/O developer conference, now underway in Mountain View, California, is where the Alphabet-subsidiary previews new hardware, software and other products. |
 | Singapore 'fake news' law could hurt innovation: GoogleTechnology giant Google said Thursday Singapore's new law against "fake news" could hurt innovation, a crucial element in the high-tech sector which the government is developing as an economic growth driver. |
 | Researchers investigate airplane seat accommodationWhether for business or personal travel, now, more than ever, thousands of Americans spend their days in the air. While most airplane passengers are hoping for maximum comfort during their flights, airline companies look to maximize their profits—sometimes at the expense of passengers' space. |
 | Believing machines can out-do people may fuel acceptance of self-driving carsIn order for self-driving cars to hit the streets, more people may need to concede that machines can outperform humans, at least in some tasks, according to Penn State researchers. |
 | Probing battery hotspots for safer energy storageResearchers are striving to make tomorrow's batteries charge faster and store more energy. But these conveniences come with safety challenges, like more heat produced in a battery. For the first time, a team of researchers has studied the effects of tiny areas within lithium metal batteries that are much hotter than their surroundings. These hotspots, the researchers find, can make batteries grow spiky tumors of metal called dendrites that could cause short circuits, and potentially lead to fires. |
 | Building-integrated photovoltaics—aesthetic, efficient and widely acceptedPhotovoltaic systems installed on roofs and façades could produce more than 50% of the present-day electricity demand. To accomplish this, however, use would also have to be made of existing buildings, especially residential dwellings in towns and cities. But some property owners and architects continue to doubt whether the integration of photovoltaic systems into buildings is economically viable and meets the aesthetic requirements of the surroundings. |
 | How to prepare students for the rise of artificial intelligence in the workforceThe future impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on society and the labour force have been studied and reported extensively. In a recent book, AI Superpowers, Kai-Fu Lee, former president of Google China, wrote that 40 to 50 per cent of current jobs will be technically and economically viable with AI and automation over the next 15 years. |
 | Parents can't delete what kids tell Amazon voice assistantAmazon met with skepticism from some privacy advocates and members of Congress last year when it introduced its first kid-oriented voice assistant , along with brightly colored models of its Echo Dot speaker designed for children. |
 | Germany's Bosch aims to go carbon-neutral from 2020Car parts supplier Bosch said Thursday it plans to produce zero net carbon emissions "from 2020" and to spend two billion euros ($2.2 billion) on renewable electricity over the next decade. |
 | Dyson driving towards all-terrain electric carJames Dyson, famed for his vacuum cleaners, hinted Thursday that his electric car would be more energy efficient than rivals—and with "very large wheels" for city and rough-terrain driving. |
 | In Wall Street debut, Uber set to turn a cornerUber geared up Thursday for a massive share offering that is a milestone for the ride-hailing industry and the so-called "sharing economy," but which comes amid simmering concerns about its business model. |
 | A growing number of states call porn a public health crisisMore than a dozen states have moved to declare pornography a public health crisis, raising concerns among some experts who say the label goes too far and carries its own risks. |
 | Break up Facebook, says company's co-founderOne of the co-founders of Facebook called on Thursday for the social media behemoth to be broken up, warning that the company's head, Mark Zuckerberg, had become far too powerful. |
 | An electric tongue can handle more spicy foods than you canThousands of new spicy products hit supermarket shelves every year. Some people crave the heat, some fear the burn. But if you enjoy it, spicy food wears out taste buds quickly. |
 | Uber to price IPO at $45, valuing company at $82 bn: sourceUber was preparing a share offering that values the global ridesharing giant at up to $82 billion, a source familiar with the deal said Thursday. |
 | Apple's 'most ambitious' retail store set for US capitalHalf store, half museum, Apple's new location in the US capital within a historic landmark is being described as the "most ambitious" project for its retail operations. |
 | Video games a hobby for majority of Americans, study saysVideo games are enormously popular in the United States, with 164 million people—or 65 percent of adults—playing regularly, according to a study released on Thursday. |
 | Tech fund drives SoftBank Group profit up 36 percentJapan's SoftBank Group on Thursday reported annual net profit jumped more than a third, helped by gains from its investment fund which has ploughed billions into some of the hottest names in the tech sector. |
 | Investments weigh on Deutsche Telekom bottom lineGerman network operator Deutsche Telekom said Thursday it was confident of hitting its financial targets for 2019, although it reported falling profits in the first quarter as costly infrastructure investments hit. |
 | Disney profit up as Fox joins the foldDisney on Wednesday reported that its profit soared in the recently-ended quarter as it merged with 21st Century Fox. |
 | Facebook auto-generates videos celebrating extremist imagesThe animated video begins with a photo of the black flags of jihad. Seconds later, it flashes highlights of a year of social media posts: plaques of anti-Semitic verses, talk of retribution and a photo of two men carrying more jihadi flags while they burn the stars and stripes. |
 | Emirates Airline profit dives 69 percent in 'tough' yearEmirates Airline reported a 69 percent drop in net profits Thursday on high fuel prices and a strong dollar in what it described as a "tough" year. |
These robocalls don't want to talk to you, they just want you to call back, FCC saysThat late-night telephone call you just got that amounted to one ring—don't call back. | |
 | Here's why the Uber, Lyft protests might not even workA loose network of ride-hailing drivers took to the streets without their cars from San Diego to Atlanta on Wednesday as they protested ahead of Uber's highly anticipated initial public offering, which is scheduled for Friday. |
 | Training AI to win a dogfightArtificial intelligence has defeated chess grandmasters, Go champions, professional poker players, and, now, world-class human experts in the online strategy games Dota 2 and StarCraft II. No AI currently exists, however, that can outduel a human strapped into a fighter jet in a high-speed, high-G dogfight. As modern warfare evolves to incorporate more human-machine teaming, DARPA seeks to automate air-to-air combat, enabling reaction times at machine speeds and freeing pilots to concentrate on the larger air battle. |
 | Transparent and flexible battery for power generation and storageVarious uses of electronics and skin-attachable devices are expected with the development of a transparent battery that can both generate and store power. DGIST announced on Tuesday, April 23 that Senior Researcher Changsoon Choi's team in the Smart Textile Research Group have developed film-type, graphene-based multifunctional transparent energy devices. |
 | Legal ramifications of anti-hacker honeypotsIn the context of information technology, IT, a "honeypot" is an attractive online destination usually established to attract malicious third parties who then, assuming they have reached a valuable resource unwittingly reveal details about themselves in order to access what they perceive is within the honeypot. A honeypot might also be referred to as a honeytrap. |
 | Drone sighting briefly grounds flights at Frankfurt airportFrankfurt airport was shut down for nearly an hour on Thursday morning as operators halted flights over a drone sighting, in the latest such incident affecting a busy European hub. |
 | High-tech sex toy for women wins back a rescinded awardA trade group has reinstated an award to the makers of a robotic sex toy for women that it had taken away four months ago for not keeping with its image. |
 | Movies are as popular as ever, but rising ticket prices may be shutting many people out of the cinemaThe UK cinema association announced late in 2018 that movie admissions were on course to hit 176m for the year, 6m more than in 2017 and the highest since the 1970s when blockbusters such as Star Wars and Jaws had people queuing round the block. This in an era of streaming, online sharing platforms and on-demand, on-the-go access to virtually any film, anywhere. |
 | Does artificial intelligence deserve the same ethical protections we give to animals?In the HBO show Westworld, robots designed to display emotion, feel pain, and die like humans populate a sprawling western-style theme park for wealthy guests who pay to act out their fantasies. As the show progresses, and the robots learn more about the world in which they live, they begin to realize that they are the playthings of the person who programmed them. |
 | Nike's plan for better-fitting kicks: Show us your feetNike wants to meet your feet. |
 | China Mobile blocked from offering phone service in USU.S. communications regulators on Thursday rejected a Chinese telecom company's application to provide service in the U.S. due to national security risks amid an escalation in tensions between the two countries. |
 | Free video streaming offers some gems - if you can find themFree services let you watch thousands of movies and TV shows online, but using them feels like wandering through a low-rent, digital version of Blockbuster (RIP). |
 | Uber's rocky road to global powerhouseUber, set to make its stock market debut in one of the largest technology share offerings, has become a disruptive force in local transportation and generated its share of controversies. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Scientists locate brain area where value decisions are madeNeurobiologists at the University of California San Diego have pinpointed the brain area responsible for value decisions that are made based on past experiences. |
 | New HIV vaccine strategy 'pumps' the immune systemA new HIV vaccine delivery strategy appears to enhance the protective immune response in a preclinical model. Scientists at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have discovered that delivering an HIV vaccine in small doses over a series of days leads to a stronger immune response than when the same vaccine is given all at once. |
 | Neurodevelopmental disorders may be rooted in genetics and mitochondrial deficitsUnder-connectivity, or too few connections in the brain, is the underlying cause of brain disorders like autism and schizophrenia, according to a recent study from investigators at the George Washington University (GW) Institute for Neuroscience. The study, published in Neuron, provides the first evidence showing that individual nerve cells fail to make the right number of connections. The reason for this deficit is limited growth of key nerve cells in the cerebral cortex during early development, due to both genetics and mitochondrial dysfunction. |
 | Stem cell scientists clear another hurdle in creating transplant arteriesCardiovascular disease is a major cause of death worldwide, and treating it isn't easy. The disease wreaks havoc on patients' blood vessels and can require complex bypass surgery. |
 | New model of measles-elimination progress may help target vaccination effortsA country's progress towards measles elimination can be mapped on a "canonical path" that in turn can guide vaccination strategies, according to a study from scientists at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. |
 | Researchers advance understandings of the cellular mechanisms driving rheumatoid arthritisNewly identified subsets of cell types present in joint tissue in people with rheumatoid arthritis and how they interact may explain why only some people respond to existing medications, according to two studies by co-senior author Laura Donlin, Ph.D., Co-Director of the Derfner Foundation Precision Medicine Laboratory at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and collaborating colleagues. The findings suggest exciting new targets for developing precision medicine strategies in the future. |
 | 'Number sense' arises from the recognition of visible objectsHumans and animals have a "number sense," an inborn ability to register the number of objects in a scene. The neural basis of this ability is believed to be what are called the number neurons, which respond to certain numbers and have been found in both human and animal brains. Researchers have long wondered whether these number neurons are formed in the brain merely by the ability to see—and if so, how. Now, a team of researchers headed by Professor Andreas Nieder at the University of Tübingen's Institute of Neurobiology has investigated the origins of number sense using an artificial neural network. The results indicate that it is created spontaneously by the visual system, without any experience in counting. The study has just been published in the latest edition of Science Advances. |
 | 'Bad guy' fibrocytes could help rebuild damaged tissueCould a blood cell type responsible for scarring and diseases such as pulmonary fibrosis be repurposed to help engineer healthy tissue? |
 | How to generate a brain of correct size and compositionTo build the neocortex, a brain area involved in higher cognitive functions, stem cells produce billions of neurons of various types. In a Science study, neuroscientists from Switzerland, Belgium, and the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) have now shown that, over time, the neocortical stem cells go through various maturation states, each of them leading to a distinct neuron type. Production of the correct neuron type is bound to a specific protein complex. |
 | The heart 'talks' to fat cells, scientists discoverLike sending a letter through the mail or a text over a cellular network, the heart can generate messages that travel long distances through the body. Those messages ultimately reach fat cells, new research by scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) shows. |
 | In lab, researchers flip pain switch in spinal cord cellsFacing an urgent need for safer and more effective therapies for those suffering from debilitating pain in the midst of an opioid crisis, Saint Louis University researchers are on a mission to find a non-narcotic off-switch for pain. |
 | A link between mitochondrial damage and osteoporosisSome risk factors for osteoporosis such as being older and female or having a family history of the condition cannot be avoided. But others can, like smoking cigarettes, consuming alcohol, taking certain medications, or being exposed to environmental pollutants. But until now researchers haven't gained a firm picture of how these exposures link up with bone loss. |
 | Biomarker may help identify men with prostate cancer at greater risk of tumor metastasisFor about 90 percent of men with prostate cancer, the cancer remains localized to the primary site, resulting in a five-year survival rate of almost 100 percent. Unfortunately, the remaining 10 percent of patients develop locally invasive and metastatic disease, which increases the severity of the disease and likelihood of death and limits treatment options. A report in The American Journal of Pathology indicates that a significantly lower presence of syntaphilin (SNPH)—a mitochondrial protein—within the tumor's central core versus at the tumor's invasive outer edge, may identify patients at increased risk of metastasis. These patients may require more rigorous testing, surveillance, and treatment. |
 | 'Robopets' can benefit health and wellbeing of older care home residentsResearchers found evidence that 'robopets' can provide comfort and pleasure and reduce agitation and loneliness. Funded by NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula PenCLAHRC), the study also found that robopets increase social interaction with other residents, family members and staff, often through acting as a stimulus for conversation. |
First randomized controlled trial of FMT for obesity shows potential progressUsing capsules filled with fecal matter from a lean donor, researchers successfully changed some of the composition of the gut microbiota of patients with obesity, a possible step toward a new treatment for weight loss. In the first randomized controlled trial of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in metabolically healthy people with obesity, researchers presenting at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2019 said they were encouraged they could induce changes among the trillions of microorganisms and their genetic material within the intestinal tract. | |
 | Does removing your appendix put you at risk for Parkinson's?(HealthDay)—It's a connection few have probably considered, but new research suggests that having your appendix removed may up your risk for Parkinson's disease down the road. |
 | Diabetes linked to numerous cancers in large Chinese studyA new Journal of Diabetes study from China, which has the highest number of people with diabetes among all countries, found that type 2 diabetes was linked with an elevated risk of 11 types of cancer in men and 13 types of cancer in women. |
 | Adverse childhood experiences negatively impact adults with lupusAdults with lupus who report having had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect and household challenges, report higher disease activity, depression and poorer overall health compared to those without such experiences, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco. |
 | Global study predicts more than 50 percent rise in chemotherapy demand by 2040To deliver optimal treatment by 2040, a significant expansion of the chemotherapy workforce is needed. |
 | Opposites attract and, together, they can make surprisingly gratifying decisionsOpposites may attract and drive each other a little crazy, but, together, they can make satisfactory decisions despite their divergent attitudes, according to a Boston College researcher who led a study that explored how selfish and altruistic consumers join in decision making. |
 | Denver first US city to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms'Denver on Wednesday became the first US city to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms, as voters approved a ballot initiative by a razor thin margin. |
 | Opioids: Leading cause of pregnancy-related death in new Utah momsAs the opioid epidemic rages on, one vulnerable group—new moms—have often been overlooked. A new study at the University of Utah Health found that drug-induced death is the most common cause of pregnancy-associated death in Utah. Postpartum women who have previously or currently struggle with substance abuse are at greater risk of overdosing. |
New treatment could become first targeted therapy designed for 'untreatable' childhood brain cancerA new type of drug that targets a genetic weakness in an untreatable childhood brain cancer could become the first ever treatment designed to target the disease. | |
 | VR can improve quality of life for people with dementiaVirtual reality (VR) technology could vastly improve the quality of life for people with dementia by helping to recall past memories, reduce aggression and improve interactions with caregivers, new research by the University of Kent has discovered. |
 | Deep kissing may be important and neglected route for passing on throat gonorrheaDeep (tongue) kissing may be an important and neglected route for passing on throat (oropharyngeal) gonorrhoea among gay and bisexual men, suggests Australian research, published online in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. |
A deep-dive into the impact of arthritis drugs on gene expressionA new computational framework has revealed key differences between four rheumatoid arthritis medications and their impact on biological pathways in mice. Niki Karagianni of Biomedcode Hellas SA, Greece, and colleagues present their new approach and findings in PLOS Computational Biology. | |
 | Meditation needs more research: Study finds 25 percent suffer unpleasant experiencesMore than a quarter of people who regularly meditate have had a 'particularly unpleasant' psychological experience related to the practice, including feelings of fear and distorted emotions, a UCL-led study has found. |
 | How the dengue virus replicates in infected cellsThe nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) of the dengue virus interacts with another viral protein called NS4A-2K-4B to enable viral replication, according to a study published May 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Ralf Bartenschlager of the University of Heidelberg, and colleagues. As noted by the authors, the genetic map presented in the study offers a starting point for the design of antiviral agents targeting NS1, with the goal of suppressing viral replication as well as severe disease manifestations. |
 | U.K. police—almost one in five suffer with a form of PTSDClose to one in five police officers and staff in the U.K. have symptoms consistent with either post-traumatic stress disorder or what's known as "complex PTSD"—yet over two-thirds of those suffering are unaware. |
 | Asthma answer may not be steroids for womenFor women depending on steroids to treat severe asthma, their body's estrogen may not only be preventing the treatment from working effectively, but making the asthma worse, according to a recent Western study. |
 | Mind mom's mental health after child's diagnosisDoctors should consider a "family diagnosis" when it comes to treating children with epilepsy, as recent research has uncovered the potential for long-term mental-health challenges impacting the mothers of diagnosed children. |
 | Women perceive the potential benefits of mammograms to be more important than the potential harmsIn 2009, disagreement in the health community arose following a recommendation from the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) against routine mammogram screening for women ages 40-49 who are at average risk for breast cancer. Then, in 2015, the American Cancer Society (ACS) updated its 2003 breast cancer screening guidelines, changing the recommended starting age of routine screening from 40 to 45. These new recommendations all emphasized the importance of younger women weighing the potential benefits of mammograms against the possible harms to make an informed decision about when to begin routine screenings. |
 | Specific identification of chronic lung disease in premature babiesInfants born prematurely frequently develop a form of chronic lung disease known as Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. Previously, this disease could only be diagnosed clinically and with a low degree of differentiation. Researchers at the Helmholtz Zentrum München and the University Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians University – partner in the German Center for Lung Research (DZL) – have now successfully developed a new protocol for identifying neonatal patients with the disease by the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Their findings have now been published in Thorax. |
 | Scientists find link between digital media use and depression in Chinese adolescentsAdolescents in China who either spend more time on screen activities, such as watching TV or surfing the Web, or less time on non-screen activities, including physical activity, are at risk and significantly more likely to experience depression, according to a new study in the journal Heliyon. A greater association with depression in girls over boys was also found as the use of new digital media grows across the country. |
 | The Medical Minute: Hold the added sugarThe sugar in fruit is different from the sugar in a doughnut, according to Kara Shifler Bowers, a registered dietitian and project manager at Penn State PRO Wellness. |
 | Too much love: helicopter parents could be raising anxious, narcissistic childrenThe Age newspaper recently highlighted the issue of so-called "helicopter parenting" at universities. The report talked of parents contacting lecturers to ask about their adult children's grades, sitting in on meetings with course coordinators and repeatedly phoning academics to inquire about students' progress. |
 | A lack of facial recognition leads to loneliness for peopleAn inability to recognise faces is causing loneliness for people living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), research from The Australian National University (ANU) shows. |
 | Gold makes invisible surfaces visible in CTToday, the three-dimensional visualization and analysis of biological samples using computer tomography (CT) is a routine procedure. However, in the past, it was very difficult to visualize the fine surface details of many organisms. Scientists at the Universities of Cologne and Bonn and the Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig—Leibniz Institute for Animal Biodiversity in Bonn have now developed a new method to digitally capture and display even the finest surface structures. To achieve this, they coated the samples with a thin layer of gold, a technique that has previously only been used in scanning electron microscopy. Besides the implementation in biological sciences, the new method also holds promise for more practical areas of application such as material sciences or quality control in manufacturing companies. The research results have now been published in the Journal of Anatomy. |
 | Why suburban parks offer an antidote to helicopter parentingWell-designed suburban parks could be an antidote to helicopter parenting. As well as giving kids much-needed time outdoors being active, suburban parks offer kids opportunities to decide what activities they do, new research shows. It's an ideal opportunity for parents to let go of their task-focused daily agendas, even if just for a little while. |
 | Researchers find genetic link to tuberculosisAbout one in five people are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the microbe that causes tuberculosis. Most, however, will never develop symptoms; and for decades researchers have been stumped as to why some people are more vulnerable to the bacterium than others. Now, Rockefeller scientist Jean-Laurent Casanova has identified a genetic condition that makes the immune system susceptible to mycobacterial attack. |
Days at home after surgery reveal long-term outcomeThe number of days at home within 30 days after surgery (DAH30) is a patient-centred outcome metric that integrates length of hospital stay and any readmission or death within 30 days after a surgical procedure. A group of clinical scientists at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and Monash University Melbourne, Australia, have now comprehensively evaluated DAH30 as a novel perioperative outcome metric by combining unique information from an array of national health registries and databases across Sweden. | |
 | Older adults with obesity may have fewer years of healthy lifeA team of researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School found that older adults with obesity could expect fewer years of remaining life, at age 60, 70 and 80, with no limitation in physical function and no limitation in activities of daily living compared to individuals of normal weight. The results of this study are published in the International Journal of Obesity. |
 | Scientists grow precursors for human pigment cellsOur hair, skin and eyes are colored by a pigment called melanin, which is produced by pigment cells called melanocytes. Scientists have used stem cell technology to successfully create melanocyte precursor cells. These cells can be used in research on melanoma and other pigment cell-related illnesses. The findings were published on March 6 in the online edition of Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research. |
Academics call for radical overhaul of UK gambling lawsAcademics are calling for a radical overhaul of the UK gambling laws including a tax on the industry to prevent gambling harms and support those with gambling problems, in a paper published today. | |
 | Patient registries could help control spread of antibiotic bacteriaA new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds that the spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)—bacteria that have high levels of resistance to most antibiotics—could be reduced if only 25 percent of the largest health care facilities in a region used a patient registry, a database that can track which patients are carrying CRE. |
 | Anger more harmful to health of older adults than sadnessAnger may be more harmful to an older person's physical health than sadness, potentially increasing inflammation, which is associated with such chronic illnesses as heart disease, arthritis and cancer, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. |
 | How humans interact with the changing environment is affecting the spread of infectious diseaseSome of the world's most notorious infections – including Lyme disease, rabies, and Ebola come from zoonotic diseases. These illnesses are caused by pathogens (bacteria, viruses, or other parasitic organisms) which can be passed from animals to humans. But, even though they can lead to serious health problems, there is a gap in our knowledge when it comes to these diseases. We don't yet fully understand how pathogens "shift" between different host species and cause epidemics – and research is starting to show that the changing environment could be a factor. |
 | Antibiotic cocktail stops cancer cells from motoringScientists in Salford, UK have found a way to make cancer stem cells reproduce defectively "like cars without engines". |
 | Detection of unusual hybrid schistosomes in MalawiLSTM's Professor Russell Stothard is senior author on a new paper in which researchers from the UK and Malawi have described the unusual occurrence of novel schistosome hybrids infecting children along the Shire River Valley. |
 | Creative arts therapies can help people with dementia socialise and express their griefPeople with dementia can flourish and show creativity in ways they, their caregivers and loved ones never thought possible. Under the guidance of a trained therapist, creative arts therapies use painting, drama, dance and music to help improve quality of life for people with dementia. |
 | Numbing a body part can boost sensory powers elsewhere—here's what that tells us about the brainWhen you wake up in the middle of the night in total darkness, it can feel as if you have auditory superpowers. Suddenly, you can hear floorboards creak storeys below and the softest rustle of foxes destroying the bins outside, once again. Indeed, it is common wisdom that when you lose one sense, the remaining senses heighten. |
 | What do parents of children with cancer search for online?When a child has cancer, what kind of information do parents seek out? Analyzing their online searches to obtain health-related information offers one window into their concerns, and provides insight into how healthcare providers may offer family education and support. Oncology researchers who investigated parents' online Google searches found that, among other things, parents frequently focus on ways to best support their child and on logistical issues, such as directions to medical centers and appropriate pharmacies. |
 | The art of the circus: Cartwheeling kids to better mental healthFrom tightrope to trapeze, circus arts have long fascinated and inspired people of all ages. Now, research from the University of South Australia is revealing the true value of circus skills and their unique ability to deliver significant mental health benefits for Australian children. |
Athletes with sickle cell traits are at more risk to collapse: here's whyA recent study published in Southern Medical Journal, led by researchers from the University of South Florida identifies a genetic variation known to affect sickle cell disease symptomology. This finding may explain why some collegiate football players with sickle cell trait (SCT) experience adverse clinical outcomes during periods of extreme physical exertion and others do not. | |
 | North York General study shows safest method for prostate cancer biopsiesThe Gale and Graham Wright Prostate Centre at North York General Hospital (NYGH) is advancing prostate cancer care with a new study that shows the benefits of transperineal prostate biopsies (TPBx) under local anesthetic. |
 | Personalized 'Eye-in-a-Dish' models reveal genetic underpinnings of macular degenerationAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the most common causes of vision loss in people over age 65. The exact cause is unknown, but the fact that a family history of AMD increases a person's risk for the condition suggests genetics play an important role. Using stem cells derived from six people, University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers recapitulated retinal cells in the lab. This "eye-in-a-dish" model allowed them to look for genetic variants that might contribute to AMD. |
 | 'Zap' ear clip may ease A-fib(HealthDay)—Imagine if all it took to treat the heart condition atrial fibrillation was clipping a small device to your ear for an hour a day? That futuristic scenario could soon be a reality, according to a new study. |
 | How to soothe baby's teething pain safely(HealthDay)—Few things are as distressing as baby's cries when his or her first teeth are coming in, but it's important to know what not to use to soothe that pain. |
 | Drinking and your health: A reality check(HealthDay)—The Mediterranean diet consistently tops the list of food plans that convey health benefits, and one reason many people like it is that it allows moderate amounts of red wine. But there's no definitive proof that wine or any form of alcohol should be on everyone's menu. |
 | Weight-loss procedure works long-term, without surgeryCould people struggling with obesity make headway in their efforts to shed pounds without having to go under the knife? |
 | Longer duration of statin use linked to lower risk for glaucoma(HealthDay)—Statin use may lower the risk for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), according to a study published online May 2 in JAMA Ophthalmology. |
 | Alteplase seems beneficial at 4.5 to 9.0 hours after stroke(HealthDay)—The use of alteplase between 4.5 and 9.0 hours after stroke onset results in a higher number of patients with no or minor neurological deficits, according to a study published in the May 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | Biomarker test predicts mild, serious IBD in newly diagnosed(HealthDay)—A new test can predict the course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients, according to a study published online April 27 in Gut. |
 | Higher risk for mental disorders seen in patients with psoriasis(HealthDay)—Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk for mental disorders, with time to onset starting within two to three months after diagnosis, according to two research letters published online May 8 in JAMA Dermatology. |
 | CDC: Uninsurance levels did not change significantly in 2018(HealthDay)—In 2018, the percentage of U.S. individuals who were uninsured was not significantly different from the numbers in 2017, although uninsurance increased among adults aged 45 to 64 years, according to a report published online May 9 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics. |
 | Fooling nerve cells into acting normalNerve cells, or neurons—specifically the "workhorse cells" involved in walking, breathing and chewing—can adjust to changes in the body, but they never stop working unless there is an fatal injury. What exactly signals neurons to keep acting and operating normally has not been known until now. In a new study, scientists at the University of Missouri have discovered that a neuron's own electrical signal, or voltage, can indicate whether the neuron is functioning normally. If that voltage is absent, scientists say everything is "out of whack." |
 | How genomics profiling can help identify the best treatment for bladder cancerWhen it comes to cancer, one-size-does-not-fit-all. |
Routine sickle cell disease screening among migrants may help save livesHematologists are zeroing in on the escalating humanitarian crisis in southern Europe by assessing the burden of blood disorders among refugees and identifying strategies to facilitate more timely identification and treatment of refugees with sickle cell disease (SCD). A study from an Italian research team published today in Blood suggests SCD is common among refugees and screening efforts should be increased. | |
Team finds tight pants and pubic-hair removal increase risk of vulvodyniaRisk of chronic vulva discomfort and pain nearly doubled by removing hair from mons pubis, or wearing tight-fitting jeans or pants four or more times a week. | |
 | Coca-Cola spent 8 mn euros to influence research in France: reportUS beverage giant Coca-Cola paid more than eight million euros in France to health professionals and researchers in a bid to influence research, according to an investigation by French newspaper Le Monde published on Thursday. |
Nurse care coordinators are key to success of patient-centered medical home programsPatient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) programs include a team of primary care providers that manage patient care and oversee individual care plans. Their goals are to improve health outcomes, enhance quality, and reduce costs. Medicare and private payers have adopted these programs to improve primary care delivery. | |
 | Study finds high levels of abnormally fast brain waves in mild brain injuryA new study funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Navy finds that veterans and service members with a history of combat-related mild traumatic brain injury—compared with those in a control group—have much higher levels of abnormally fast brain waves in a region that plays a key role in consciousness. |
 | New brain tumor imaging technique uses protein found in scorpion venomA novel imaging technique that uses a synthesized form of scorpion venom to light up brain tumors has shown promise in a clinical trial. The imaging system enables neurosurgeons to better see malignant growths that often are difficult to fully eliminate. |
 | For teens, online bullying worsens sleep and depressionTeens who experience cyberbullying are more likely to suffer from poor sleep, which in turn raises levels of depression, found a University at Buffalo study. |
 | Study shows one third of statin patients don't reach healthy levels of 'bad' cholesterolA new study shows more aggressive treatment may be needed for a large number of patients taking statin medications, and that treatment could help reduce cases of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. |
Researchers create standardized measurement for pediatric facial palsyAn international team of researchers, including a psychologist at Oregon State University, has developed a standardized measurement for pediatric facial palsy that will improve the care for current and future patients with the condition. | |
 | Hope on the horizon for treating strokeA stroke treatment developed by researcher Byron Ford at the University of California, Riverside, has moved toward clinical trials. |
 | Statins linked to lower risk of early death in patients with colorectal cancerUse of statins before or after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer was linked with a lower risk of premature death, both from cancer and from other causes, in a Cancer Medicine analysis of published studies. |
Minimally invasive procedure shows promise in combatting obesityEndoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), a relatively new, minimally invasive weight-loss procedure, resulted in significant total body weight loss in the first long-term study to follow patients' progress over five years, according to research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2019. Researchers hope these results will help solve a serious "treatment gap" for more than 100 million Americans with obesity who are unwilling or ineligible for traditional bariatric surgery. | |
 | New connection found between NAFLD and rare pregnancy complicationA new link has been found between a rare and serious condition that typically presents as itchy palms during pregnancy and the world's most common chronic liver disease, according to research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2019. Researchers found that intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), a bile acid disorder in adults that affects roughly one of every 300 pregnancies, may be associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). |
 | Bullying linked to student's pain medication useIn a school-based survey study of all students in grades 6, 8, and 10 in Iceland, the use of pain medications was significantly higher among bullied students even when controlling for the amount of pain they felt, as well as age, gender, and socioeconomic status. The findings are published in Acta Paediatrica. |
 | Migraines may increase risk of pregnancy complicationsIn a study of women in Denmark with and without migraines who became pregnant, migraines were associated with an increased risk of pregnancy-associated hypertension disorders in the mother. Also, in newborns, maternal migraine was associated with an increased risk of a variety of adverse outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth, cesarean delivery, respiratory distress syndrome, and febrile seizures. |
Inflammatory bowel disease during childhood linked to higher cancer rates and early deathA new study revealed an increased risk of cancer and early death in individuals who developed inflammatory bowel disease-including ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD)—during childhood. | |
Fracture risk tool useful in women with breast cancer initiating aromatase inhibitor therapyThe FRAX tool takes into account certain factors to determine the risk of bone fracture in the general population. In a Journal of Bone and Mineral Research study, the tool was effective at determining fracture risk for women with breast cancer who were treated with aromatase inhibitors, which cause accelerated bone loss, when combined with bone mineral density measurements. | |
Childhood maltreatment linked to e-cigarette use during young adulthoodYoung adults who experienced maltreatment during childhood are more prone to use e-cigarettes, according to a study published in The American Journal on Addictions. | |
 | Obesity in early pregnancy linked to pregnancy complicationsIn a prospective study of 18,481 pregnant women in China who had never given birth before, obesity in early pregnancy was linked to higher risks of spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, and large birth weight in newborns. |
 | The enduring effects of mother-child interactions as children become adultsInteractions between a mother and her child have been linked to cognitive outcomes in childhood, but little work has looked at farther-reaching effects. |
 | Expert Reaction: Meghan Markle and pregnancy body imageAn expert in body image at the University of York comments on the pressures and anxiety that pregnant women and new mothers can experience, following the first interview with the Duchess of Sussex since giving birth. |
 | The fight for the right to be a mother: 9 ways racism impacts maternal healthAs we celebrate our moms and mommies this Mother's Day, let us not forget that for some, motherhood is not an enjoyed privilege. For many Black, Indigenous and racialized women in Turtle Island (North America) and globally —motherhood is a fight for life. |
 | Breaking down the anti-vaccine echo chamberThe rhetoric around vaccination is generally black and white: vaccines are good or vaccines are bad. In these days of Facebook and Twitter, it is easy enough to block out the opinions of those you disagree with, and only associate with people whose voices reinforce your own opinions. These echo chambers have real-world implications; currently, the U.S. is in the midst of its largest measles outbreak in decades. That's why it's important to find ways to communicate across the divide. |
 | Students are increasingly turning to religious leaders for mental health supportHigh rates of mental ill health among students, including some tragic cases of suicide, have highlighted the vulnerability of many young people facing the pressures of higher education while away from home for the first time. |
 | Does sunscreen compromise vitamin D levels?Sunscreen can reduce the sun's adverse effects, but there are concerns that it might inhibit the body's production of vitamin D. In a newBritish Journal of Dermatologystudy, however, investigators recorded an increase of vitamin D in participants during a week of cloudless weather, with very high UV index, even when sunscreens were usedproperly and prevented sunburn. |
Increased risk of post-traumatic stress disorder among children with immigrant fathersChildren born in Finland who had an immigrant father were two times more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than those with two Finnish parents, discovered researchers from the Research Centre for Child Psychiatry at the University of Turku in Finland. Researchers stress that schools and clinicians should become more aware of intergenerational transmission of trauma. | |
AMP recommends minimum set of alleles for all clinical CYP2C9 genotyping testingThe Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP), the premier global, molecular diagnostic professional society, today published consensus, evidence-based recommendations to aid in the design and validation of clinical CYP2C9 assays, promote standardization of testing across different laboratories and improve patient care. The report, "Recommendations for Clinical CYP2C9 Genotyping Allele Selection: A Joint Recommendation of the Association for Molecular Pathology and College of American Pathologists," was released online ahead of publication in The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics. | |
 | She asked Google for story about coast guard stroke survivor and found her soulmateTara MacInnes sat at her dining room table, flipped open her laptop and asked Google for help. |
 | Private health plans pay hospitals 2.4 times what Medicare would payAn examination of U.S. hospital prices covering 25 states shows that in 2017, the prices paid to hospitals for privately insured patients averaged 241% of what Medicare would have paid, with wide variation in prices among states, according to a new RAND Corporation study. |
Radio-frequency heating of hip arthroplasty implants during metal artifact reductionClinical metal artifact reduction sequence (MARS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols at 3 Tesla (3T) on hip arthroplasty implants pose minimal risk of thermal injury, according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2019 Annual Meeting, set for May 5-10 in Honolulu, HI. | |
MR imaging evaluation of hepatocellular carcinoma treated with SBRTAlthough arterial phase hyperenhancement (APHE) is a key feature of untreated or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), standard response assessment such as modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) should be used with caution, particularly in the early phases after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) therapy, so as not to misinterpret treatment response, according to a study to be presented at the ARRS 2019 Annual Meeting, set for May 5-10 in Honolulu, HI. | |
 | Will MSC micropellets outperform single cells for cartilage regeneration?Repair of cartilage injuries or defects is aided by the introduction of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which can be incorporated into hydrogels to amplify their effects. In a new report, researchers directly compared chondrogenic induction by hydrogels that were prepared using MSCs either as single cell suspensions or as 100-500-cell micropellets. The study is published in Tissue Engineering. |
 | Juul's 'switch' campaign for smokers draws new scrutinyThe young models and the candy-colored graphics that helped propel Juul to the top of the e-cigarette market are gone. In their place are people like Carolyn, a 54-year-old former smoker featured in new TV commercials touting Juul as an alternative for middle-age smokers. |
Milk expression within eight hours associated with lactation success for VLBW infants in NICUA study led by physician researchers at Boston Medical Center has shown that first milk expression within eight hours of giving birth is associated with the highest probability of mothers of very low-birth-weight infants being able to provide milk throughout hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit. The study results, published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, help better inform perinatal providers and new mothers how to prioritize the many aspects of perinatal care after delivery of a very low-birth-weight infant. | |
Biology news
 | Peering into the past, scientists discover bacteria transformed a viral threat to surviveResearchers at Indiana University are reporting a previously unknown way that bacteria can develop new genes to evolve and adapt to threats, an insight that might advance efforts against "superbugs." |
 | Color vision found in fish that live in near darknessAn international team of researchers discovered a previously unknown visual system that may allow color vision in deep, dark waters where animals were presumed to be colorblind. The research appears on the cover of the May 10, 2019, issue of the journal Science. |
 | Plants and the art of microbial maintenanceIt's been known for centuries that plants produce a diverse array of medically-valuable chemicals in their roots. |
 | Low oxygen levels could temporarily blind marine invertebratesScientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego have found that low oxygen levels in seawater could blind some marine invertebrates. |
 | Machine learning reveals metabolic pathways disrupted by the drugs, offering new targets to combat resistanceMost antibiotics work by interfering with critical functions such as DNA replication or construction of the bacterial cell wall. However, these mechanisms represent only part of the full picture of how antibiotics act. |
 | Researchers discover 'daywake,' a siesta-suppressing geneRutgers researchers have identified a siesta-suppressing gene in fruit flies, which sheds light on the biology that helps many creatures, including humans, balance the benefits of a good nap against those of getting important activities done during the day. |
 | Antarctic biodiversity hotspots exist wherever penguins and seals poopScientists have found that on the desolate Antarctic peninsula, nitrogen-rich poop from colonies of penguins and seals enriches the soil so well that it helps create biodiversity hotspots throughout the region. Their work, appearing May 9 in the journal Current Biology, finds that the influence of this excrement can extend more than 1,000 meters beyond the colony. |
 | Egg yolk precursor protein regulates mosquitoes' attraction to humansFeeding mosquitoes sugar makes them less attracted to humans, a response that is regulated by the protein vitellogenin, according to a study publishing May 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Jessica Dittmer, Paolo Gabrieli and colleagues at the Università degli Studi di Pavia in Italy. |
 | How sea level rise affects birds in coastal forestsWhen saltwater inundates coastal forests as sea levels rise, it kills salt-sensitive trees, leaving "ghost forests" of bare snags behind. A new study from North Carolina State University explores how changes in vegetation affect coastal bird species. |
 | A way to minimize unexpected base edits to cellular RNAA team of researchers with the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT has found evidence showing that using base editors can lead to unexpected RNA cellular edits. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their study of the CRISPR type of adenine base editor (ABE), and what they found. |
 | Revealing branching time in single-cell omics dataNew single-cell omics technology allows scientists to analyse cell development in ways that were not previously possible. Researchers can now identify never-before-seen patterns and phenomena across large quantities of cells—receiving information about genomes, gene expression, and cell heterogeneity for thousands of cells from a single organism simultaneously. This new technology has been named 2018 Breakthrough of the Year by the prestigious journal Science. |
 | Innovative mechanobiology research expands understanding of cellsResearchers have developed a new technology that allows them to probe cell changes without disturbing the cell's physiology—a major advancement that helps scientists look more closely at cell changes to solve human health problems, according to a new paper in Cell Reports. |
 | Birds outside their comfort zone are more vulnerable to deforestationMembers of the same bird species can have dramatically different responses to deforestation depending on where they live, finds a new study. |
 | The bird that came back from the deadNew research has shown that the last surviving flightless species of bird, a type of rail, in the Indian Ocean had previously gone extinct but rose from the dead thanks to a rare process called 'iterative evolution'. |
 | Researchers break down DNA of world's largest mammals to discover how whales defy the cancer oddsScientists know that age and weight are risk factors in the development of cancer. That should mean that whales, which include some of the largest and longest-lived animals on Earth, have an outsized risk of developing cancer. |
 | Are otters threatening amphibian populations?The Eurasian otter typically eats fish, but amphibians, which are in global decline, are also part of its diet, especially when fish are scarce. In a Mammal Review study, researchers identified bones of amphibians in otter faeces from southern Italy to determine which types of amphibians are typically eaten. They also reviewed 64 studies of otter diet. |
 | Baby penguins hatched at San Diego ZooThe San Diego Zoo has two new arrivals: a pair of endangered African penguin chicks. |
 | Exploiting parasitic yeast to kill yeast pathogensInsights into the genes and proteins involved in the predatory behavior of a parasitic yeast species could lead to new strategies for controlling yeast pathogens, according to a study published May 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Jürgen Wendland of the Carlsberg Research Laboratory in Denmark and Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium, and colleagues. |
 | First brown bear sighting in Portugal in over a centuryThe first brown bear sighting in Portugal in more than a century was confirmed by wildlife experts on Thursday, after reports of an animal in the northeast of the country. |
 | Genome of the endangered pygmy hog reveals interbreeding with several pig speciesThe little pygmy hog turns out to be a big piece in resolving the complex evolutionary puzzle of wild boar speciation. Researchers from Wageningen University & Research found the common wild boar interbred with other wild boar subspecies during their expansion from South East Asia to the Indonesian isles, Europe and North Africa, just like human ancestors 'interbred' with Neanderthals. Their findings are reported in Nature Communications. |
 | Water flea can smell fish and dive into the dark for protectionWater fleas, or Daphnia, ensure their survival by reacting to a signal substance of their predators (fish) with flight. The zoologist Meike Anika Hahn from Professor Dr. Eric von Elert's research group at the University of Cologne's Institute of Zoology has identified this chemical messenger substance, which the fish releases into the water of lakes. When the water flea detects the substance 5α-cyprinol sulfate—a bile salt from the fish—it leaves the upper water layers and descends vertically into darker regions. The fish are unable to visually detect their prey there during daytime. This connection between the signal of the predator and the behaviour of its prey has now been published in the scientific journal eLife under the title '5α-cyprinol sulfate, a bile salt from fish, induces diel vertical migration in Daphnia." |
 | Location is everything for plant cell differentiationWhile the fate of most human cells is determined by their lineage—for example, renal stem cells go on to form the kidney while cardiac progenitor cells form the heart—plant cells are a little more flexible. Research shows that although they undergo orderly division during growth, the fate of plant cells is often determined by their location in the growing plant rather than how they started out. Intriguingly, this suggests that plant cells recognize where they are and can alter gene activity in response to their location. |
 | Dexterous herring gulls learn new tricks to adapt their feeding habitsObservations of Herring Gulls by scientists from the University of Southampton have shown how the coastal birds have developed complicated behaviour to 'skin' sea creatures to make them safe to eat. Researchers think this feeding habit may be a response to urbanisation and changes in food availability. |
 | Mathematical framework explores how the brain keeps a beatA new mathematical model demonstrates how neurons in the brain could work together to learn and keep a musical beat. The framework, developed by Amitabha Bose of New Jersey Institute of Technology and Aine Byrne and John Rinzel of New York University, is described in PLOS Computational Biology. |
 | Cyprus's emblematic wild sheep lock horns with mountain farmersSurveying his orchard in the Troodos Mountains, Cypriot farmer John Papadouris is convinced the island's treasured wild sheep would have destroyed his crop without action. |
 | Opinion: Why Australia needs to kill catsIntroduced cats are a key threat to 123 of Australia's threatened species. |
 | Researchers discover a new moth familyIn a recently completed study, researchers of the Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus and their collaborators have described two moth species new to science. In addition, the Ustyurtia zygophyllivora and Ustyurtia charynica species belong to a newly-described Lepidoptera genus and family. Discovering a new family of moths is comparable to researchers specialised in mammals finding entirely new species not belonging to any known mammal family, such as cats (Felidae) or bears (Ursidae), but rather representing an unambiguously new and distinct family. |
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