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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 14, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations detected in the X-ray binary EXO 0748−676By analyzing data from NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) satellite, astronomers have detected millihertz quasi-periodic oscillations from a low-mass neutron star X-ray binary designated EXO 0748−676. The finding is detailed in a paper published May 6 on the arXiv pre-print server. |
 | NASA dubs 2024 Moon mission 'Artemis,' asks for $1.6 billionNASA's next mission to the Moon will be called Artemis, the US space agency announced Monday, though it's still looking for the money to make the journey happen by its accelerated 2024 deadline. |
 | Small, hardy planets most likely to survive death of their starsSmall, hardy planets packed with dense elements have the best chance of avoiding being crushed and swallowed up when their host star dies, new research from the University of Warwick has found. The new research is published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. |
 | Spring on Pluto: An analysis over 30 yearsWhenever it passes in front of a star, Pluto provides precious information about its atmosphere, precious because occultations by Pluto are rare. The survey achieved by researchers from Paris Observatory over several decades of observations appears in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics of May 10, 2019. Interpreted in the light of data collected in 2015 by the probe New Horizons, it allows them to refine physical parameters that are essential for a better understanding of Pluto's climate and to predicting future stellar occultations by the dwarf planet. |
 | Pale blue dot – or not?Appearances can be deceiving. This thick, cloud-rich atmosphere rains sulphuric acid and below lie not oceans but a baked and barren lava-strewn surface. Welcome to Venus. |
 | The moon is still geologically active, study suggestsWe tend to think of the moon as the archetypal "dead" world. Not only is there no life, almost all its volcanic activity died out billions of years ago. Even the youngest lunar lava is old enough to have become scarred by numerous impact craters that have been collected over the aeons as cosmic debris crashed into the ground. |
 | How Venus and Mars can teach us about EarthOne has a thick poisonous atmosphere, one has hardly any atmosphere at all, and one is just right for life to flourish – but it wasn't always that way. The atmospheres of our two neighbours Venus and Mars can teach us a lot about the past and future scenarios for our own planet. |
 | LightSail 2 set to launch next month aboard SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocketThe Planetary Society's LightSail 2 spacecraft is ready to embark on a challenging mission to demonstrate the power of sunlight for propulsion. |
 | ASTRI-Horn is first Cherenkov telescope in dual-mirror configuration to detect the Crab Nebula at TeV energiesExactly 30 years after the first historical observation of Crab nebula at TeV energies, which opened the era of TeV astronomy with the Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Technique (IACT), another advancement in IACT technology has been achieved. The ASTRI-Horn Cherenkov Telescope, based on the innovative Schwarzschild-Couder dual-mirror configuration and equipped with an innovative camera, has detected the Crab Nebula at TeV energies for the first time, proving the viability of this technology. |
 | NASA: Budget boost 'good start' to put astronauts on moonNASA's chief says the Trump administration's proposed $1.6 billion budget boost is a "good start" for putting astronauts back on the moon. |
Technology news
 | Exploring people's perception of geometric features, personalities and emotions in videos with virtual humansResearchers at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul have recently carried out a study aimed at evaluating people's perceptions of geometric features, personalities and emotions presented in video sequences with virtual humans. Their study, outlined in a paper pre-published on arXiv, merges computer science tools with psychology research practices. |
 | WhatsApp flaw let spies take control with calls alone (Update)Spyware crafted by a sophisticated group of hackers-for-hire took advantage of a flaw in the popular WhatsApp communications program to remotely hijack dozens of targeted phones without any user interaction. |
 | Bullet train champion in Japan will debut in 2030, now being testedTesting for a train capable of 249mph (400 kph) speeds is to happen about twice a week at night. Bloomberg said ALFA-X is the world's fastest bullet train— well, for now, it is holding that title. Japan has also been working on a maglev train. |
 | Artificial intelligence shines light on the dark webBeneath the surface web, the public form of the internet you use daily to check email or read news articles, exists a concealed "dark web." Host to anonymous, password-protected sites, the dark web is where criminal marketplaces thrive in the advertising and selling of weapons, drugs, and trafficked persons. Law enforcement agencies work continuously to stop these activities, but the challenges they face in investigating and prosecuting the real-world people behind the users who post on these sites are tremendous. |
 | Just like toothpaste: Fluoride radically improves the stability of perovskite solar cellsSolar cells made of perovskite hold much promise for the future of solar energy. The material is cheap, easy to produce and almost as efficient as silicon, the material traditionally used in solar cells. However, perovskite degrades quickly, severely limiting its efficiency and stability over time. Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology, energy research institute DIFFER, Peking University and University of Twente have discovered that adding a small amount of fluoride to the perovskite leaves a protective layer, increasing stability of the materials and the solar cells significantly. The solar cells retain 90 percent of their efficiency after 1000 hours operation at various extreme testing conditions. The findings are published today in the leading scientific journal Nature Energy. |
 | 'Foldable' PC? Lenovo ThinkPad laptop screen bends in half like a bookSamsung has gained a lot attention lately for its Galaxy Fold hybrid smartphone/tablet, though given the recent display snags that have prompted a delay in the product's release, not necessarily for all the right reasons. |
 | Stop gambling with black box and explainable models on high-stakes decisionsAs the buzzwords "machine learning" continue to grow in popularity, more industries are turning to computer algorithms to answer important questions, including high-stakes fields such as healthcare, finance and criminal justice. While this trend can lead to major improvements in these realms, it can also lead to major problems when the machine learning algorithm is a so-called "black box." |
Silicon Valley 'Hackathon': Coders target deadly California wildfiresSilicon Valley is not going to stop the next California inferno with computer code, but a small army of software developers got together in Fremont, Calif., recently to brainstorm new technology to cut the losses. | |
 | In robotics classes, Armenian teens dream of high-tech futureIn a sleek classroom in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, one of the poorest post-Soviet republics, 14-year-old Nazeli Ter-Petrosyan peers at the screen of her Apple Mac. |
 | San Francisco to vote on banning face recognition technologySan Francisco supervisors will vote on surveillance oversight legislation Tuesday that includes a ban on the use of facial recognition technology by police and other city departments. |
 | Uber hits fresh headwinds as shares extend lossesUber shares went into a fresh skid Monday—more bad news for the global ride-hailing giant, which endured steep declines in its hotly anticipated market debut last week. |
 | Groundbreaking driverless car project showcases vision for a connected transport futureThe multi-organisational team behind the £5.5 million FLOURISH connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) project is today [Monday 13 May] celebrating the completion of three years of collaborative research and development with the launch of its latest findings. |
 | WhatsApp patches security flaw after spyware injection revealedWhatsApp on Tuesday urged users to upgrade the application to plug a security hole that allowed for the injection of sophisticated malware that could be used to spy on journalists, activists and others. |
 | Alexa can now listen for alarms—or, perhaps, a cheating spouse?Alexa's got a new gig: home safety. |
 | Researchers solve scientific puzzle that could improve solar panel efficiencyA Loughborough University Ph.D. student has helped shed light on a solar panel puzzle that could lead to more efficient devices being developed. |
 | Blood and sweat take training app to the next levelLast year about 1,000 runners were forced to quit the Stockholm Marathon due to extreme hot temperatures and the difficulty in staying hydrated. Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have developed a multifaceted measuring technology that is able to detect a number of conditions in the human body, from dehydration to renal failure. Future applications include both training apps and watches as tools to monitor health. |
 | The electric vehicle revolution will come from China, not the USThe electric vehicle revolution is coming, but it won't be driven by the U.S. Instead, China will be at the forefront. |
 | Research team introduces wearable audio datasetResearchers studying wearable listening technology now have a new data set to use, thanks to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign graduate student Ryan Corey and his team. |
 | FAA deferred to Boeing on key 737 MAX assessments: sourceThe US Federal Aviation Administration did not independently evaluate the safety of a Boeing 737 MAX system implicated in two deadly crashes, a person familiar with the matter said Tuesday. |
 | Walmart speeds up delivery in race with AmazonRetail colossus Walmart on Tuesday began offering free next-day deliveries of online purchases, aiming to counter rival Amazon in the race to get orders to consumer doorsteps. |
 | New security flaw in Intel chips could affect millionsIntel has revealed another hardware security flaw that could affects millions of machines around the world. |
 | Vodafone sells New Zealand arm for $2.2bnBritish telecoms giant Vodafone announced the sale of its wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary to an investment consortium Tuesday in a deal worth NZ$3.4 billion (US$2.2 billion). |
 | Vodafone slashes dividend after vast annual lossBritish telecoms giant Vodafone announced Tuesday that it recorded a vast annual net loss of 7.6 billion euros ($8.5 billion), hit partly by the sale of its Indian assets. |
 | Disney takes over Hulu from Comcast as stream wars heat upDisney is taking full control of Hulu from Comcast, as both companies prepare to launch their own streaming services in response to declining audiences for traditional TV. |
 | Huawei chairman says ready to sign 'no-spy' deal with UKChinese telecom giant Huawei is willing to sign a "no-spy" agreement with countries including Britain, the firm's chairman said on Tuesday, as the head of NATO said Britain must preserve secure mobile networks. |
Airline technology supplier says outage has been fixedTravel-technology provider Sabre says the problem that prevented some airline travelers from checking in for flights has been fixed. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Biomarker reveals PTSD sufferers at risk of suicideThe risk of suicide among individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is much higher than the general population, but identifying those individuals at greatest risk has been difficult. However, a team at Yale has discovered a biological marker linked to individuals with PTSD who are most likely to think about suicide, the researchers report May 13 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
 | Coffee addicts really do wake up and smell the coffeeRegular coffee drinkers can sniff out even tiny amounts of coffee and are faster at recognising the aroma, compared to non-coffee drinkers, new research has found. |
 | Preclinical study: Probiotic-derived molecule may suppress fatal brain inflammationThe existence of certain microorganisms in your gut may bolster the immune system's ability to fend off a herpes viral attack that can cause fatal brain inflammation, reports a new City of Hope-led study. |
 | Philadelphia's sweetened drink sales drop 38 percent after beverage taxOne year after Philadelphia passed its beverage tax, sales of sugary and artificially sweetened beverages dropped by 38 percent in chain food retailers, according to Penn Medicine researchers who conducted one of the largest studies examining the impacts of a beverage tax. The results, published this week in JAMA, translate to almost one billion fewer ounces of sugary or artificially sweetened beverages—about 83 million cans of soda—purchased in the Philadelphia area. The findings provide more evidence to suggest beverage taxes can help reduce consumption of sugary drinks, which are linked to the rise in obesity and its related non-communicable diseases, such as type II diabetes. |
 | Study finds direct oxidative stress damage shortens telomeresThe same sources thought to inflict oxidative stress on cells—pollution, diesel exhaust, smoking and obesity—also are associated with shorter telomeres, the protective tips on the ends of the chromosomal shoelace. |
 | Blocking protein curbs memory loss in old miceImpeding VCAM1, a protein that tethers circulating immune cells to blood vessel walls, enabled old mice to perform as well on memory and learning tests as young mice, a Stanford study found. |
 | Researchers identify faster, more effective drug combinations for tuberculosisTuberculosis is a potentially deadly though curable disease. Each year about 10 million people develop active cases, and 1.6 million people die. In addition, about 1.7 billion people around the world are infected with TB bacteria, which can lie dormant for weeks to years, then become active and cause disease in up to 10 percent of those who are infected. |
 | Preventing cell death as novel therapeutic strategy for rheumatoid arthritisA collaborative study has identified a new molecular mechanism causing rheumatoid arthritis. The researchers found that death of macrophages, an immune cell type, can trigger the disease. Moreover, they discovered how the protein A20 prevents macrophage death and protects against arthritis. These findings open up new possibilities for the treatment of this debilitating disease. |
 | Biochemical compound responsible for blood pressure drop in sepsis is discoveredA study conducted by an international group of researchers has overturned the understanding of life-threatening inflammatory diseases such as sepsis, pointing to a biochemical agent that may be involved in the rapid decline in blood pressure that occurs in the advanced stage of sepsis and usually causes the patient's death. This discovery could pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches. |
 | Bladder drug linked to atherosclerosis in miceA drug used in the treatment of overactive bladder can accelerate atherosclerosis in mice, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden report in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). According to the researchers, the results suggest that in some cases, the drug might potentially increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in humans. |
 | Study touts new method to reduce cognitive side effects of brain cancer radiation treatmentIn hopeful news for brain cancer patients, researchers from the University of California, Irvine and the University of Lausanne in Switzerland have discovered how an experimental technology called FLASH radiotherapy dramatically reduces the adverse cognitive side effects unleashed by traditional radiation treatments. |
 | Does a bigger brain make you smarter?Increasing the size of neural circuits in the brain can boost learning performance, but this increased connectivity also has the potential to impede learning, new research has revealed. |
 | New doctors' DNA ages six times faster than normal in first yearIn just a few short weeks, tens of thousands of newly minted doctors will start the most intense year of their training: the first year of residency, also called the intern year. |
 | Q&A: Malaria continues to be a significant travel-related diseaseDear Mayo Clinic: I'm planning a three-week trip to Tanzania. My doctor recommends that I take medication to prevent malaria. Is this really necessary? I thought malaria wasn't common anymore. Are there other things that I can do to protect myself? Is effective treatment available for malaria? |
 | Prior eating disorders linked to long-term depression risk for mothersA history of eating disorders and body image concerns before or during pregnancy are associated with future depressive symptoms among mothers, finds a new UCL-led study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. |
 | Preventative antibiotics after assisted childbirth almost halve maternal infection rate and reduce overall antibiotic usGiving a single dose of preventative antibiotics to all women after childbirth involving forceps or vacuum extraction could prevent almost half of maternal infections including sepsis—equivalent to over 7,000 maternal infections every year in the UK, and around 5,000 in the USA. |
 | Why Hodgkin's lymphoma cells grow uncontrollablyAlthough classical Hodgkin's lymphoma is generally easily treatable today, many aspects of the disease still remain a mystery. A team at the Max Delbrück Center led by Professor Claus Scheidereit has now identified an important signaling molecule in the biology of this lymphoma: lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA). It helps the cancer to grow unimpeded—for example, by activating genes for immune checkpoint ligands that protect tumor cells from the body's built-in defense system. |
 | For-profit dialysis provider charges private insurers four times more than government payersPrivate insurers covering people receiving treatment for dialysis paid four times more than government insurance programs such as Medicare paid for the same service. The study found that government programs paid, on average, $248 per dialysis session, compared with $1,041 per session for people with private insurance. |
 | Book examines the circuitous history behind the investigation of cancer as a contagious illnessIn 1961, people in the suburb of Niles, Illinois, experienced what they termed a "cancer epidemic." Over a dozen children in the town were diagnosed with leukemia within a short time. Fears quickly spread that the illness could be contagious, carried by some type of "cancer virus." News coverage soon identified several other towns with apparent "cancer clusters," as well. Belief that cancer was a simple contagion, like polio or the flu, kept bubbling up. |
 | What happens when your picky toddler becomes a teen?Toddlers who are picky about their food are not deficient in essential nutrients compared to their peers when they are teenagers. |
 | Scientists create building blocks for anti-cancer medicineKaunas Technology University (KTU), Lithuania scientists are working on a method to create building blocks which could be the basis for future anti-cancer medicine. |
 | Protect protruding teeth from damage and long-term consequencesChildren with their first or early adult set of teeth that stick out have an increased chance of damaging them, but the risk can be easily reduced without being prohibitively costly. |
 | Do interventions to decrease emergency care use among 'super-utilizers' work?Research shows that 50 percent of health care expenditures are attributable to 5 percent of the population—individuals commonly referred to as "super-utilizers" of care. They are often the sickest patients, many of whom have three or more chronic conditions, and they visit the emergency department multiple times during a year. |
 | There's almost always a better way to care for nursing home residents than restraining themAs Australia's aged care royal commission hears testimony about the treatment of people with dementia in residential aged care, the use of restraints is front and centre. |
 | Conquering cancer's infamous KRAS mutationKRAS is one of the most challenging targets in cancer. Despite its discovery more than 60 years, researchers still struggle to inhibit its mutated form—earning its reputation as "undruggable." Yet, the hunt for an Achilles' heel continues, as cancers driven by KRAS mutations are both common and deadly. |
 | The rich are outliving the poor in both Norway and the U.S.Inequalities in life expectancy by income in Norway were substantial, and increased between 2005 and 2015, according to a study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in collaboration with the Institute For Health Metrics And Evaluation (IHME). Although considerable differences in life expectancy by income levels were found in both Norway and the U.S., the shape of the association differed. |
 | Psychological abuse is most common form of maltreatment experienced by national team athletes, study findsThe most common form of maltreatment experienced by athletes is psychological abuse, followed by neglect, a new study from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education has found. |
 | Seniors' health improving, but rates of depression, anxiety risingManitoba seniors are staying physically healthy longer, but their mental health may be worsening, a massive study of health data by the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (MCHP) at the University of Manitoba has found. |
 | Smoking risk in children has fallen since tobacco display banThe risk of 11 to 16-year-olds taking up smoking has reduced following the introduction of a ban on the open display of tobacco products in the UK, according to a new University of Stirling study. |
 | Pressure from advertisers and self-help gurus contribute to mid-life crisesMid-life crises are caused by people feeling pressured by advertisers and self-help gurus to live a better life after they pass the age of 40, according to new research. |
 | Measles outbreak: Why are anti-vaxxers risking a public health crisis?The current outbreak of measles has startled public health practitioners, who declared measles controlled over two decades ago. We are now grappling with a low-level epidemic that may become endemic. Health professionals, armed with the science to back up vaccination, strongly disapprove of parents who do not vaccinate their children. They characterise objections to vaccines as ignorant and irresponsible. |
 | 'Reporter islets' in the eye may predict autoimmunity in type 1 diabetesIdentifying a reliable biomarker to predict the onset of autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes (T1D) has eluded scientists. As a result, T1D is typically diagnosed long after the majority of insulin-producing cells have been irreversibly destroyed. Unlike the onset of other autoimmune diseases which can be seen on the body or felt through symptoms, the attack on the islets cannot be observed because they reside deep within the pancreas. |
Experts advise against hormone treatment in adults with mild thyroid problemsThyroid hormones should not be routinely offered to adults with a mildly underactive thyroid gland (known as subclinical hypothyroidism) say a panel of international experts in The BMJ today. | |
 | What helps prevent dementia? Try exercise, not vitamin pillsIf you want to save your brain, focus on keeping the rest of your body well with exercise and healthy habits rather than popping vitamin pills, new guidelines for preventing dementia advise. |
 | Antibiotic use can increase nerve damage riskResearch from the University of Dundee has shown that a commonly used class of antibiotics may increase a patient's risk of suffering a serious and potentially permanent form of nerve damage by almost 50 percent. |
Examining the ethical landscape and user expectations of mobile oncology trial recruitment applicationsHealthcare mobile applications (apps) have been growing in prevalence in recent years, with the promise of tracking things such as diet, fitness levels and sleep cycles in order to improve our health. Another way in which healthcare apps are being used is in the oncology trial recruitment space, a tactic that raises many ethical red flags. In a new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Baylor College of Medicine ethics scholar Dr. Stephanie Morain explores this phenomenon and what these app companies and consumers need to consider in terms of privacy and data protection. | |
Families with a higher socioeconomic position have a greater risk of exposure to chemicalsA higher socioeconomic position is associated with greater exposure to several environmental chemical contaminants such as various per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), mercury and arsenic during pregnancy and childhood. This is the conclusion of a new European study carried out by the Barcelona Institute of Global Heath (ISGlobal), which describes the relationship between the socioeconomic position of 1,300 pregnant women and their children of aged six to 12 years and exposure to 41 environmental contaminants. | |
 | Historically 'safer' tramadol more likely than other opioids to result in prolonged useSurgical patients receiving the opioid tramadol have a somewhat higher risk of prolonged use than those receiving other common opioids, new Mayo Clinic research finds. However, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies tramadol as a Schedule IV controlled substance, meaning it's considered to have a lower risk of addiction and abuse than Schedule II opioids, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. The study was published on Tuesday, May 14 in The BMJ. |
Humanwide program uses data-driven, integrated team approach to predict, prevent diseaseProactive, personalized care detected overlooked health conditions and risks | |
 | Cofilin may be early culprit in tauopathy process leading to brain cell deathThe two primary hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease are clumps of sticky amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein fragments known as amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles of a protein called tau. Abnormal accumulations of both proteins are needed to drive the death of brain cells, or neurons. But scientists still have a lot to learn about how amyloid impacts tau to promote widespread neurotoxicity, which destroys cognitive abilities like thinking, remembering and reasoning in patients with Alzheimer's. |
Incarceration for low-level drug crimes rapidly spreading TB in BrazilIncreasing rates of drug-related incarcerations are perpetuating tuberculosis (TB) infection among Brazil's general population, a new report, Reservoirs of Injustice, from the Yale Global Health Justice Partnership (GHJP) at the Yale School of Public Health and Yale Law School finds. | |
 | Sunscreen wouldn't have saved Bob Marley from melanoma, and it won't help other dark-skinned peopleMelanoma is a potentially deadly form of skin cancer linked to overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Sunscreen can block UV rays and therefore reduce the risk of sun burns, which ultimately reduces the risk of developing melanoma. Thus, the promotion of sunscreen as an effective melanoma prevention strategy is a reasonable public health message. |
 | IL-1 inhibitors may reduce radiation-induced vascular damageRadiation therapy against cancer can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease much later in life, as the radiation causes chronic inflammation of the exposed blood vessels. In a new study published in the European Heart Journal, researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have shown that these inflammations can be treated with IL-1 inhibitors. |
 | Appendix removal: does it really increase your risk of getting Parkinson's disease?Recent scary press reports suggest that having your appendix out could triple your risk of getting Parkinson's disease. Given that there is currently no cure for this neurodegenerative condition, people who have had their appendix out might be quite worried. But worrying, at this point, would be premature. The science is far from settled. |
 | Plaque in arteries may not all be the sameA specific type of immune cell is more commonly found in arterial plaque from patients suffering from a recent stroke or mini-stroke, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Vascular Discovery Scientific Sessions 2019. |
Injections of a novel protein reduced artery blockage by enhancing lymphatic vascular function in miceInjections of a protein associated with healthy lymphatic vessel function reduced artery blockage known as atherosclerosis in mice. This finding could one day provide a new way to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke through targeting the lymphatic system, according to the preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Vascular Discovery Scientific Sessions 2019. | |
 | Brain changes linked with Alzheimer's years before symptoms appearIn a records review of 290 people at risk for Alzheimer's disease, scientists at Johns Hopkins say they have identified an average level of biological and anatomical brain changes linked to Alzheimer's disease that occur three to 10 years—some even more than 30 years—before the disease's first recognizable symptoms appear. |
 | Preschoolers who watch TV sleep less: studyPreschoolers who watch TV sleep significantly less than those who don't, according to new research by University of Massachusetts Amherst neuroscientist Rebecca Spencer and developmental science graduate student Abigail Helm. |
 | Risk of cardiovascular complications post-surgery doubles for patients with sleep apneaAccording to a new study published today in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), patients who have severe obstructive sleep apnea have a significantly higher risk of complications related to their heart in the first 30 days after major surgery. |
 | When does clean eating become an unhealthy obsession? New findings on who is at riskResearchers at York University's Faculty of Health say those who have a history of an eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive traits, dieting, poor body image, and a drive for thinness are more likely to develop a pathological obsession with healthy eating or consuming only healthy food, known as orthorexia nervosa (ON). Although eating healthy is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, for some people this preoccupation with healthy eating can become physically and socially impairing. |
Progress against child mortality lags in many Indian statesIndia in 2015 had more deaths among children under five than any other country and had large disparities in the under-five mortality rate between richer and poorer states, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. | |
 | It's in the weeds: Herbicide linked to human liver diseaseGlyphosate, the primary ingredient in Monsanto's popular weed killer Roundup, has been linked to liver disease in animal models. In a new study, the first of its kind, researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine report an association between the herbicide and negative effects upon the human liver. |
 | Unexplored neural circuit modulates memory strengthLearning to avoid negative experiences requires an interplay of two distinct brain circuits, one to interpret "Yikes!" and drive learning, and the other, unexpectedly, to dial in the strength of that memory, a new fruit fly study shows. |
 | More than 600,000 opioid abusers raising kids in U.S.(HealthDay)—They might be too young to abuse opioids themselves, but America's kids are suffering nonetheless because of their drug-dependent parents. |
 | Dangerous blood clots may be the latest risk from 'bad' cholesterolLDL cholesterol – the so-called "bad" cholesterol – is known to narrow arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. It's also now suspected of contributing to venous thromboembolism, new research suggests. |
 | Brain bleed risk puts safety of low-dose aspirin in doubt(HealthDay)—Let's say you're one of the millions of older adults who takes a low-dose aspirin religiously, in the belief that it will guard against heart disease and heart attacks. |
 | Are you running short on iron?(HealthDay)—Could you—or your teenage daughter—have an iron deficiency and not know it? If you're getting enough sleep, but still feel tired, running low on iron could be the problem. |
 | Quantity, not type of opioid matters for post-op dependency(HealthDay)—As the United States struggles with a painkiller-abuse epidemic, researchers have found that it's the quantity of opioids prescribed after orthopedic surgery, not the type of opioid, that corresponds with long-term use. |
 | Young, and learning too late that sun safety matters(HealthDay)—The pain Sara Langill felt in her right hip didn't concern her much, until she felt a lump as she massaged tendons near her hip flexors following a soccer game. |
 | AAN: Oral BTK inhibitor superior to placebo in multiple sclerosis(HealthDay)—The selective Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor evobrutinib at a dose of 75 mg once daily is associated with fewer enhancing lesions during weeks 12 through 24 among patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, according to a study published May 10 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, held from May 4 to 10 in Philadelphia. |
 | U.S. parents worried about child's communication skills(HealthDay)—One-quarter of parents with children younger than age 8 years are concerned about their child's ability to communicate, according to poll results released by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). |
 | Light, incremental physical activity can help reduce brain aging(HealthDay)—Incremental physical activity (PA), even of light intensity, is associated with larger brain volume and healthy brain aging, according to a study published online April 19 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Some cervical cancer screening strategies more cost-effective(HealthDay)—A cervical cancer screening strategy that involves cytologic testing every three years from ages 21 to 29 years and then continuing cytologic testing or switching to low-cost high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing every five years is reasonable, according to a study published online May 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine. |
 | Maker of OxyContin gets hit with another state lawsuitPennsylvania's state attorney general filed a lawsuit Tuesday accusing the company that makes OxyContin of fueling the opioid epidemic, making it at least the 39th state to make such a claim against Purdue Pharma. |
 | New liver transplant rules begin amid fight over fairnessWilnelia Cruz-Ulloa spent the last months of her life in a New York City hospital, waiting for a donated liver that never came. Doctors had urged the 38-year-old to move to another state that has more organs to go around. But she couldn't afford to. |
 | How much language are unborn children exposed to in the womb?Premature infants spend a considerable amount of time growing in neonatal intensive care units instead of in the womb. The different soundscapes of NICUs has recently attracted interest in how changes in what we hear in our earliest days might affect language development in the brain. One ongoing study is hoping to better understand these differences by painting a clearer picture of what kinds of sounds full-term infants are exposed to in the womb. |
 | New study shows toddlers are great at getting the conversation startedConversation is an important part of what makes us human. Previous research has shown that children begin to develop this skill at a young age. While many assume that mothers instigate communication with their children, new research suggests that children are the ones who get the conversation started. |
Rates of long-term opiate use rises in Medicare cancer survivors each year after diagnosisUsing Medicare data, new findings from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston show for the first time that the rates of long term opiate therapy—a 90-day or more supply of opioids per year—for older cancer survivors remain high for at least five years in cancer survivors. The study also showed that cancer survivors diagnosed after 2004 had higher rates of opioid prescribing compared with those diagnosed earlier than 2004. These finding were recently published in The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. | |
 | For people with strong life purpose, making healthier choices may be less effortful, new study showsEver wonder how some people seem to meet their fitness goals with ease and love eating healthy foods while others constantly struggle to do either? According to a new study from the Communication Neuroscience Lab at the Annenberg School, people with stronger life purpose are more likely to accept messages promoting health behavior change than those with a weaker sense of purpose. And this might be because they experience less decisional conflict while considering health advice. |
 | Immune find could aid stem cell therapy questA discovery of how stem cells are protected from viruses could inform the development of therapies for use in medicine, research suggests. |
 | Children in Quebec are not diagnosed early enough with type 1 diabetesElwyn was a healthy 13 month-old toddler when she started drinking water from the bathtub. Over time, she became increasingly thirsty and demanded more and more breast milk. For her parents, this seemed like typical behaviour related to a growth spurt. One day, however, they noticed that she was abnormally weak and rushed her to the emergency department. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and had already developed a life-threatening complication of the disease known as diabetic ketoacidosis. She was immediately transferred to the intensive care unit, where she was treated for several days. Now two years old, Elwyn is still recovering, but doing better. |
 | Novel study discovers 'metabolic fingerprint' to help treat, diagnosis and prevent cervical cancerResearchers at the University of Arizona have completed the first-of-its-kind study that could aid in the treatment, diagnosis and prevention of cervical cancer by identifying cervicovaginal metabolic signatures, or "fingerprints" that distinguish patients with HPV, pre-cancerous cervical conditions and cancer. |
How stressed-out bacteria may trigger autoimmune responseStressful life events most likely contribute to autoimmune diseases, but scientists don't have a deep understanding of the underlying chain of events. A study on mice published this week in mSystems suggests that the gut microbiota may play a significant role in that connection. Researchers found that the onset of stress caused changes in the intestinal bacteria that, in turn, stimulated the activity of immune cells in a way that increased the likelihood that the body would attack itself. | |
 | Czech teacher survives 34 years with heart transplantA Czech teacher survived more than 34 years with a heart transplant, making him one of the longest living transplant patients, Czech media and a hospital said Tuesday. |
 | T2Bacteria Panel rapidly and accurately diagnoses common bloodstream infectionsIn a clinical trial, the T2Bacteria Panel showed promise for rapidly and accurately diagnosing bloodstream infections or sepsis caused by five common bacteria. The test could be used in a clinical setting in place of blood cultures, which are insensitive and can take a long time to show results. How these findings will affect clinical practice is not yet determined. Findings from a diagnostic accuracy study are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Low back pain is prevalent among workers and may be underreportedLow back pain affects more than a quarter of working adults, often affecting their ability to work. However, these estimates may be underreported. Survey findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Sniffing out disease with smartphonesGastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Europe. Because of the lack of early signs specifically related to the disease, it's usually only detected at an advanced stage—when treatment is for the most part ineffective. |
 | Daily doses of vitamin D are unreachable during Swiss winterA study funded by the SNSF shows that in winter, weak sunlight prevents the Swiss population from producing sufficient levels of vitamin D. |
 | Why a 'sex strike' is unlikely to improve access to abortionLast week the US state of Georgia passed abortion laws that wind back some of the hard-fought reproductive rights won through America's landmark abortion case Roe v Wade. |
 | CDC: U.S. measles cases in 2019 reach 839(HealthDay)—The number of reported measles cases in the United States climbed to 839 as of last week, the highest yearly total in 25 years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. |
 | With measles cases still rising, what religion has to say about vaccinationEach new update in the nationwide surge of measles cases takes Dr. Paul Offit back to the battlefield that was Children's Hospital of Philadelphia during a regional outbreak that began in 1990. By the time it ended the following year, more than 1,400 city and suburban residents had contracted the disease and nine children were dead. |
 | Workplace interventions may improve sleep habits and duration for employeesSimple workplace interventions, like educating employees about the importance of sleep and providing behavioral sleep strategies, may produce beneficial results, according to a new review. |
Acceptance and family support, key factors for living well with advanced cancerA qualitative study of 22 cancer patients shows how acceptance is key to living as well as possible, although it requires time and is a process with ups and downs. Led by the University of Navarre, this research emphasizes the importance of focusing on life rather than on the disease. | |
Hard-hit Pennsylvania to sue drugmaker over opioid epidemicThe attorney general of Pennsylvania says he's filing a lawsuit accusing a pharmaceutical giant of fueling the opioid epidemic. | |
 | Brighten your breakfast with a lighter blueberry muffin(HealthDay)— There's nothing quite like the smell and taste of warm blueberry muffins. But when you buy them from a local bakery or your favorite coffee shop, they can clock in at 500 calories or more. |
 | Early term infants less likely to breastfeedA new, prospective study provides evidence that "early term" infants (those born at 37-38 weeks) are less likely than full-term infants to be breastfeed within the first hour and at one month after birth. The early-term infants also had lower exclusive breastfeeding and lower breastfeeding intensity during the first 72 hours in the hospital and at one month, according to the study published in Breastfeeding Medicine. |
 | Is a broadly effective dengue vaccine even possible?Dengue is on the rise, with about 20,000 patients dying each year from this mosquito-borne disease, yet despite ongoing efforts a broadly effective dengue vaccine is not available. The complex challenges, current status of dengue vaccine development, and whether an effective vaccine is even possible are the focus of a thought-provoking article published in Viral Immunology. |
 | Implementing a care pathway for spatial neglect to improve stroke outcomesSpatial neglect remains a hidden disability despite the availability of effective tools for the diagnosis and treatment for this common complication of stroke. Addressing this implementation gap is critical to reducing disability, improving outcomes and controlling costs of stroke care, according to an article in Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, "Update on the Clinical Approach to Spatial Neglect" published online on April 4, 2019. The authors are A.M. Barrett, MD, of the Center for Stroke Rehabilitation Research at Kessler Foundation, and K.E. Houston, OD, MSc, of Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. |
Biology news
 | It's not just fish, plastic pollution harms the bacteria that help us breatheTen per cent of the oxygen we breathe comes from just one kind of bacteria in the ocean. Now laboratory tests have shown that these bacteria are susceptible to plastic pollution, according to a study published in Communications Biology. |
 | Hunting responsible for mammal declines in half of intact tropical forestsDefaunation—the loss of species or decline of animal populations—is reaching even the most remote and pristine tropical forests. Within the tropics, only 20% of the remaining area is considered intact, where no logging or deforestation has been detected by remote sensing. However, a new study publishing May 14 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, led by Ana Benítez-López from Radboud University, the Netherlands, predicts that even under the seemingly undisturbed canopy, hunting is reducing populations of large mammals by 40% on average, largely due to increased human accessibility to these remote areas. |
 | Reading the dark heart of chromosomesAlthough the genomes of thousands of plant and animal species have been sequenced, for most of these genomes a significant portion is missing—the highly repetitive DNA. In the midst of these mysterious genome compartments are the centromeres—essential chromosomal regions that allow cells to accurately pass on chromosomes when the cells divide. A new study publishing May 14 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by the Mellone lab at the University of Connecticut and the Larracuente lab at the University of Rochester combine cutting-edge sequencing technology with molecular and high-resolution microscopy methods to discover the sequences of all centromeres in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, a powerful model organism widely used in biomedical research. |
 | The superheroes of nutrient detection living in our oceansy and large, marine bacteria have a fairly simple existence – eat, divide, repeat. But the first step isn't always straightforward. There are lots of nutrients in the ocean, but there's no Uber Eats for microscopic organisms. They must find their food, and it's not always at arm's reach. |
 | How a declining environment affects populationsStable ecosystems occasionally experience events that cause widespread death—for example, bacteria in the human gut may be wiped out by antibiotics, or ocean life may be depleted by overfishing. A new study from MIT physicists reveals how these events affect dynamics between different species within a community. |
 | Researchers find bone resorption and body reorganization result in transfer of toxic metals in anguillid eelsA team of researchers from several institutions in Germany and one in Belgium has found that as female anguillid eels undergo body reorganization prior to spawning, they transfer toxic metals to their ovaries. In their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their study of the eels and what they found. |
 | Having an STI could benefit male animalsHaving a sexually transmitted infection and passing it on to a mate could benefit male animals, research from The Australian National University (ANU) has found. |
 | Parents unknown—Mysterious larvae found in Panama's two oceansUnder the microscope, sea water reveals the larval stages of little-known marine creatures called phoronids (horseshoe worms), but finding their parents is another story. Although such fanciful larvae caught the eye of scientists studying plankton—the tiny, drifting plants and animals in the world's oceans—as long ago as the 1800s, there are only about 15 species of phoronids known worldwide, based on adult specimens. A study of phoronid larvae published this week by scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama has detected eight potentially new species. |
 | Study: Treats might mask animal intelligenceRewards are necessary for learning, but may actually mask true knowledge, finds a new Johns Hopkins University study with rodents and ferrets. |
 | You are what you eat: How the pursuit of carbs changed mammals' genes and salivaStarch, a complex carbohydrate, is a vital source of nutrition for many mammals. Humans farm it in the form of rice, wheat, corn, potatoes and oats. Rats comb our garbage piles for scraps of pizza and bread. Wild boars root for tubers. |
 | Study unlocks secrets of an elusive genome compartmentAlthough much of the human genome has been sequenced and assembled, scientists have hit roadblocks trying to map unassembled regions of DNA that consist mostly of repetitive sequences, including the centromere. |
 | How proteins help influenza A bind and slice its way to cellsResearchers have provided new insight on how two proteins help influenza A virus particles fight their way to human cells. |
 | Newly identified bacteria-killing protein needs vitamin A to workPeople who have inadequate vitamin A in their diets are more susceptible to skin infection, yet how that vitamin affects skin immunity has been unclear. In a study published today, UT Southwestern researchers shed some light on that mystery by identifying a previously unknown bacteria-killing protein on the epidermis that requires the vitamin to work. |
15-foot great white shark is being tracked off the Carolinas. It weighs 2,137 poundsShark trackers say a 15-foot, 2,137-pound great white shark is traveling up the Carolinas coast on a path toward the Outer Banks. | |
They call it a 'bat apocalypse.' The fungus causing it is spreading across TexasThe fungus that kills bats showed up in Texas only two years ago, but now it is marching across the state | |
 | 3-D printing to save dogs' day3-D printed models of dog skulls are helping University of Queensland vets to save animals and educate tomorrow's veterinary students. |
 | Imported spices and frozen vegetables tested for 'superbugs'A University of Saskatchewan research team has found that some food imported to Saskatoon from certain Asian countries has tested positive for "superbugs"—strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria—but immediate health concerns are likely low. |
 | How the snail's shell got its coilIf you look at a snail's shell, the chances are it will coil to the right. But, occasionally, you might find an unlucky one that twists in the opposite direction—as fans of Jeremy thelefty snail will remember, these snails struggle to mate with the more common rightward-coiling individuals. |
 | Underwater Arctic forests are expanding with rapid warmingDid you know that there are forests in the Arctic? |
 | How is climate change affecting fishes? There are clues inside their earsClimate change affects all life on Earth, but it poses unique challenges for aquatic species. For example, as water warms it holds less dissolved oxygen than cooler water. As a result, the world's oceans, coastal seas, estuaries, rivers and lakes are undergoing a process known as "deoxygenation." |
 | Turning off growth to make flowers growThe beautiful colors and smells of flowers serve a much greater purpose than just decoration. Flowers contain the plant's reproductive organs, and those same colors and smells that make a room beautiful also attract bees and other animals for pollination. Floral stem cells are crucial for the growth of the flower and its organs. That growth must eventually terminate for the flower to fully develop and set seeds. A new study led by scientists at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) and seen in The Plant Cell shows that the transcription factor KNUCKLES is a key regulator of this stem cell arrest by initiating a serious of epigenetic events to repress the stem cell determinant WUSCHEL. |
 | New threat revealed for baby turtlesNew research has revealed that marine turtle hatchlings entering the ocean close to jetties have a high likelihood of being eaten. |
 | Student creates model to predict hotspots of reptile, amphibian road mortalityOne of the leading causes of death for frogs, turtles and snakes is road mortality. A study in Denmark found that amphibians have a 34 to 61 percent chance of being struck when crossing a roadway, and slow-moving turtles in Florida had less than a 2 percent chance of surviving a road crossing. |
Complete removal of tumor reduces risk of recurrence of cancer in dogsThe relative risk of a recurrence of cancer is reduced by 60% in dogs whose tumors are completely removed, a new analysis by Oregon State University researchers has found. | |
 | Rice blast fungus study sheds new light on virulence mechanisms of plant pathogenic fungiRice blast fungus (Magnaporthe oryzae) is a global food security threat due to its destruction of cultivated rice, the most widely consumed staple food in the world. Disease containment efforts using traditional breeding or chemical approaches have been unsuccessful as the fungus can rapidly adapt and mutate to develop resistance. Because of this, it is necessary to understand fungal infection-related development to formulate new, effective methods of blast control. |
 | Escaped pet parrots are now naturalized in 23 US states, study findsWhen Stephen Pruett-Jones, Ph.D., an ecologist at the University of Chicago, first came to Chicago in 1988, he stumbled on a unique piece of the city's history: the monk parakeets of Hyde Park. |
 | Nuclear membrane Lem2 necessary for nuclear scalingA study led by Hiroshima University finds that nuclear membrane protein Lem2 acts as a valve to control the size of the nucleus, keeping it in proportion to the size of the cell |
 | Majestic wild horses are being chased, bitten by unleashed dogs roaming Outer BanksFree roaming dogs have become the latest threat facing the wild horses living on North Carolina's Outer Banks, according to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund. |
 | Expert explains how breathing problems can quash a racehorse's chance at goldThe Kentucky Derby has come and gone, but there are still two races left in the fight for the Triple Crown. The horse favored to win the Derby, Omaha Beach, dropped out last-minute due to a breathing complication known as entrapped epiglottis. And Country House, the horse that won the Derby, won't run in the Preakness. He's developed a cough, according to his trainer. |
 | Homegrown hydroponics project spreads around the worldThe idea began when UConn junior Christian Heiden '20 (ENG) was working on his Eagle Scout project in high school. It has developed into a non-profit organization that is helping the poor of Haiti and inspiring the curiosity of students in the UConn Child Development Labs. |
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