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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 21, 2019:
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Astronomy & Space news
 | Water formation on the moonFor the first time, a cross-disciplinary study has shown chemical, physical, and material evidence for water formation on the moon. Two teams from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa collaborated on the project: physical chemists at the UH Mānoa Department of Chemistry's W.M. Keck Research Laboratory in Astrochemistry and planetary scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP). |
 | Stellar waltz with dramatic endingAstronomers at the University of Bonn and their colleagues from Moscow have identified an unusual celestial object. It is most likely the product of the fusion of two stars that died a long time ago. After billions of years circling around each other these so-called white dwarfs merged and rose from the dead. In the near future, their lives could finally end—with a huge bang. The researchers are now presenting their findings in the journal Nature. |
 | Formation of the moon brought water to EarthThe Earth is unique in our solar system: It is the only terrestrial planet with a large amount of water and a relatively large moon, which stabilizes the Earth's axis. Both were essential for Earth to develop life. Planetologists at the University of Münster (Germany) have now been able to show, for the first time, that water came to Earth with the formation of the Moon some 4.4 billion years ago. The Moon was formed when Earth was hit by a body about the size of Mars, also called Theia. Until now, scientists had assumed that Theia originated in the inner solar system near the Earth. However, researchers from Münster can now show that Theia comes from the outer solar system, and it delivered large quantities of water to Earth. The results are published in the current issue of Nature Astronomy. |
 | Seven things we've learned about Ultima Thule, the farthest place visited by humansAbout a billion miles more distant than Pluto is Ultima Thule, a peanut-shaped object in the outer solar system that's the farthest place ever visited by humans. |
 | The first extraterrestrial mud ball in 50 yearsOn April 23 at 9:09 p.m. local time, residents of Aguas Zarcas, a small town in Costa Rica, saw a large "fireball" in the sky. |
 | Brown dwarfs are formed in the same way as sun-like starsAstronomers have discovered a so-called proto-disc around the proto-brown dwarf Mayrit. With this discovery, they were able to confirm for the first time that this celestial body was formed in the same way as sun-like stars. |
 | Astrobee's first robot completes initial hardware checks in spaceNASA astronaut Anne McClain performs the first series of tests of an Astrobee robot, Bumble, during a hardware checkout. To her right is the docking station that was installed in the Kibo module on the International Space Station on Feb. 15. Bumble, and another robot named Honey, launched to the space station on Apr. 17, aboard Northrop Grumman's eleventh commercial resupply services mission from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. When needed the robots will be able to return to their docking station on their own and recharge their battery power. |
 | Novespace microgravity experiment to make Zero-G Spider-ManGravity: We can live with it, and it turns out we can live without it, for a little while anyway. |
 | Rocket man: LSU Mechanical Engineering alumnus Max Faget remembered 50 years after moon landingApollo 11 Astronaut Neil Armstrong is rightfully remembered for taking man's first steps on the moon nearly 50 years ago on June 20, 1969. Less well known, perhaps, is LSU Mechanical Engineering alumnus Maxime "Max" Faget, who designed the spacecraft responsible for that "giant leap for mankind." |
Technology news
 | CycleMatch: a new approach for matching images and textResearchers at Leiden University and the National University of Defense Technology (NUDT), in China, have recently developed a new approach for image-text matching, called CycleMatch. Their approach, presented in a paper published in Elsevier's Pattern Recognition journal, is based on cycle-consistent learning, a technique that is sometimes used to train artificial neural networks on image-to-image translation tasks. The general idea behind cycle-consistency is that when transforming source data into target data and then vice versa, one should finally obtain the original source samples. |
 | LG will smarten home appliances with eyes and earsLG has made news headlines recently because now it has its own artificial intelligence chip. LG is out to impress with its own chip for smart home products—to make them even smarter. |
 | New framework improves performance of deep neural networksNorth Carolina State University researchers have developed a new framework for building deep neural networks via grammar-guided network generators. In experimental testing, the new networks—called AOGNets—have outperformed existing state-of-the-art frameworks, including the widely-used ResNet and DenseNet systems, in visual recognition tasks. |
 | With a hop, a skip and a jump, high-flying robot leaps over obstacles with easeTopping out at less than a foot, Salto the robot looks like a Star Wars imperial walker in miniature. But don't be fooled by its size—this little robot has a mighty spring in its step. Salto can vault over three times its height in a single bound. |
 | Samsung shares rise as Huawei strugglesShares in Samsung Electronics climbed nearly three percent Tuesday on the back of its chief rival Huawei's mounting problems, including a decision by Google to sever ties with the Chinese mobile phone maker. |
 | '.Amazon' gives e-commerce giant its own internet domainE-commerce giant Amazon was on its way to running its own online neighborhood Monday after the internet's address keeper granted the ".amazon" domain to the company. |
 | Online trove of Instagram influencer info unguardedInstagram on Monday was trying to figure out how private contact information for millions of influential users of the service was amassed in an unguarded online database. |
 | UK warns over online trading scamsThe number of cryptocurrency and foreign exchange-based "get rich quick" scams is booming in Britain, authorities warned on Tuesday. |
US delays Huawei ban for 90 daysUS officials have issued a 90-day reprieve on their ban on dealing with Chinese tech giant Huawei, saying breathing space was needed to avoid huge disruption. | |
 | Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Could turning it into CO2 fight climate change?Usually, choosing between the lesser of two evils is a dismal decision. But sometimes, it's an opportunity. |
 | 'Plan B': Huawei's operating system headache after Android banGoogle's decision to partially cut off Huawei devices from its Android operating system has presented the Chinese tech titan with one of its most dramatic challenges yet: how to keep up with the competition if it cannot use the platform that powers nearly every other smartphone in the world? |
 | Huawei: US controls have 'no impact,' talking to GoogleThe founder of Huawei expressed confidence Washington's curbs on sales to the Chinese tech giant will have little impact and said Tuesday it is discussing "emergency relief" from Google for possible loss of services for its smartphone business. |
 | How 'doping' boosts next-gen solar cells towards commercialisationAn international team of researchers has brought a new generation of solar cells a step closer to commercialisation, by showing how sunlight can trigger a 'healing process' in the cells to improve their efficiency and stability. |
 | Teenagers need our support, not criticism, as they navigate life onlineImagine you're a 14-year-old girl on the train on your way home from school, when out of nowhere a "dick pic" appears on your phone. Surprise! You've been cyber flashed. |
 | Engineers design solutions to tackle low-frequency noiseLow frequency noise (500 Hertz and lower), which could stem from various sources such as construction machineries and aircrafts, is a form of environmental noise problem in urban environments. Such noise transmits over long distances and cause disturbance to wide area. It is also known to trigger a number of negative physiological reactions such as changes to blood pressure, vertigo and breathing difficulties even when the noise is not audible. |
 | Lessons from the Moscow airport crash: leave your luggage behindOn May 5, 2019, an Aeroflot airliner crashed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport, killing 41 of the 73 passengers. The plane, a Sukhoi Superjet-100, was bound for the northern city of Murmansk, but turned around after reportedly being struck lightning and losing their autopilot and radio-communications channel. Back in Moscow the aircraft landed hard and burst into flames, and more than half the passengers lost their lives. The causes of the crash are still under investigation, and in addition to the lightning strike, authorities have stated that a pilot error or technical malfunction may have occurred. |
 | Low-speed electric vehicles could affect Chinese demand for gasoline and disrupt oil prices worldwide, says expertLow-speed electric vehicles could reduce China's demand for gasoline and, in turn, impact global oil prices, according to a new issue brief by an expert in the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. |
 | Cooking, cleaning and personal hygiene: Why video games make you feel right at homeVideo games are often seen as immersive fantasies, which offer a means of escape from the humdrum chores and duties of everyday life. Games studies scholars speak of players entering a "magic circle", forged by programmers—an act apart", with its own unique rules and rituals. But this way of thinking about games—as simple escapes, stress releases and magic circle worlds—has started to lose its validity. |
 | 10 questions about blockchainWhat is blockchain, where is it used, and will it become mainstream? |
 | Guiding vibration simulations for turbinesIf you've ever felt frustrated while staring at a little spinning pinwheel while a computer finishes a task, try waiting for six weeks. |
 | US Postal Service to launch test of self-driving trucksThe US Postal Service said Tuesday it would begin its first tests of self-driving trucks to deliver mail between two distribution centers in the southwest. |
 | Stop it! Japan anti-groper app becomes smash hitA Tokyo police smartphone app to scare off molesters has become a smash hit in Japan, where women have long run the gauntlet of groping on packed rush-hour trains. |
 | US fires arrow into Huawei's Achilles heelThe Trump administration's move to block US technology sales to Huawei shoots an arrow deep into the Chinese tech giant's Achilles heel—its over-reliance on American components—and threatens the company's very survival, analysts said. |
 | Six paths to the nonsurgical future of brain-machine interfacesDARPA has awarded funding to six organizations to support the Next-Generation Nonsurgical Neurotechnology (N3) program, first announced in March 2018. Battelle Memorial Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), Rice University, and Teledyne Scientific are leading multidisciplinary teams to develop high-resolution, bidirectional brain-machine interfaces for use by able-bodied service members. These wearable interfaces could ultimately enable diverse national security applications such as control of active cyber defense systems and swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles, or teaming with computer systems to multitask during complex missions. |
 | Wanted: Digital whizzes to work in agricultureTo the uninitiated, it can be hard to imagine. |
 | Huawei will make do without Google, but how well?Life without Google is normal in China. About 1.4 billion Chinese people wake up each day to check WeChat instead of Gmail, navigate with Baidu instead of Google Maps, and watch videos on Youku instead of YouTube. |
 | Facial recognition bans: What's next in Oakland, at Amazon and moreEfforts to rein in government use of facial recognition have a big couple of weeks ahead, days after San Francisco approved a first-of-its-kind ban on use of the technology by police and other city agencies. |
 | Employees are pressuring Amazon to become a leader on climate. Here's how that could workAmazon is preparing to do something it's never done before: disclose its companywide greenhouse gas emissions. |
 | How usable is virtual reality?Virtual Reality and the virtual world are taking over more and more areas of our lives. This means that it is really important that virtual worlds are user-friendly and offer a high usability. Up until now, the only way to check this was to conduct manual tests with volunteers. This can be both time-consuming and cost-intensive. Dr. Patrick Harms from the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Göttingen has developed a technology that automatically detects many problems with user-friendliness and usability in the virtual environment. The results appeared in the scientific journal "ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction". |
 | US delay to Huawei ban gives tech sector time to adjustThe United States is delaying some restrictions on U.S. technology sales to Chinese tech powerhouse Huawei in what it calls an effort to ease the blow on Huawei smartphone owners and smaller U.S. telecoms providers that rely on its networking equipment. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Study supports effectiveness of new fast-acting antidepressant, esketamine nasal sprayNew research supports the effectiveness and safety of esketamine nasal spray in treating depression in people who have not responded to previous treatment. The research will be published online today in the American Journal of Psychiatry. This study is one of the key studies that led to the recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of esketamine nasal spray, in conjunction with an oral antidepressant, for use in people with treatment-resistant depression. |
 | Potential new therapy takes aim at a lethal esophageal cancer's glutamine addictionResearchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) have found a way to target drug-resistant esophageal cancer cells by exploiting the different energy needs of cancerous versus healthy cells. This breakthrough is now opening the doorway to new treatments for an otherwise lethal cancer. The findings of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded study are reported in Nature Communications. |
 | Research rules out executive function advantage for some bilingual childrenBilingual children are on equal footing with monolingual children when it comes to regulating their behavior, planning and problem-solving, according to a new Florida International University study. |
 | Head injury effects halted by xenon gas, finds first ever life-long study in miceTBI is the leading cause of death and disability in people under 45 in developed countries. The primary injury, caused by the initial force from a fall or car accident for example, is followed by a secondary injury which develops in the minutes, hours and days afterwards. |
 | Study identifies our 'inner pickpocket'Researchers have identified how the human brain is able to determine the properties of a particular object using purely statistical information: a result which suggests there is an 'inner pickpocket' in all of us. |
 | Road to cell death mapped in the Alzheimer's brainScientists have identified a new mechanism that accelerates aging in the brain and gives rise to the most devastating biological features of Alzheimer's disease. |
 | Researchers create a better way to transport life-saving vaccinesResearchers at McMaster University have invented a stable, affordable way to store fragile vaccines for weeks at a time at temperatures up to 40C, opening the way for life-saving anti-viral vaccines to reach remote and impoverished regions of the world. |
 | Study reveals breakthrough in understanding long-term memory retrievalThere have been many famous duos throughout history: Sonny and Cher. Batman and Robin. Penn and Teller. |
 | Improved air quality in Los Angeles region leads to fewer new asthma cases in kidsImproved air quality in the Los Angeles region is linked to roughly 20 percent fewer new asthma cases in children, according to a USC study that tracked Southern California children over a 20-year period. |
 | Withering away: How viral infection leads to cachexiaMany patients with chronic illnesses such as AIDS, cancer and autoimmune diseases suffer from an additional disease called cachexia. The complex, still poorly understood syndrome, with uncontrollable weight loss and shrinkage of both fat reserves and muscle tissue, is thought to contribute to premature death. Researchers at CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences have described the molecular mechanisms of cachexia during viral infection and identify a surprising role for immune cells. |
 | Insulin under the influence of lightThe disruption of internal clocks seems to play a significant role in the explosion of metabolic diseases observed in recent decades, particularly diabetes. Scientists have improved understanding of the importance of day-night alternation on the effect of insulin and the body's glycemic management, but what about the mechanisms involved? How does the organism synchronize its clocks? |
 | Tool helps kids with autism improve socialization skillsA team of NIH-funded researchers at Stanford University Medical School has found that children with autism improved measurably on a test of socialization and learning when their therapy included an at-home intervention with Google Glass. Google Glass is a headset worn like eyeglasses that provides augmented reality on a miniature screen, with sound. The smart system of eye wear and mobile-phone-based games helped the children with autism understand emotions conveyed in facial expressions. |
 | 'Implicit measures' better assess vocabulary for those with autism than standard testsTests that assess vocabulary among individuals with the severest forms of autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, are notoriously inaccurate. Conventional language assessments, which commonly ask them to match a spoken word with an illustration, measure their ability to understand and perform the task as much as their word knowledge. |
 | Team investigates links to traffic-related air pollution and symptoms of childhood anxiety, through neuroimagingExposure to air pollution is a well-established global health problem associated with complications for people with asthma and respiratory disease, as well as heart conditions and an increased risk of stroke, and according to the World Health Organization, is responsible for millions of deaths annually. Emerging evidence now suggests that air pollution may also impact the metabolic and neurological development of children. |
 | Flamingoes, elephants and sharks: How do blind adults learn about animal appearance?They've never seen animals like hippos and sharks but adults born blind have rich insight into what they look like, a new Johns Hopkins University study found. |
 | Weight gain and loss may worsen dementia risk in older peopleOlder people who experience significant weight gain or weight loss could be raising their risk of developing dementia, suggests a study from Korea published today in the online journal BMJ Open. |
CBD reduces craving and anxiety in people with heroin use disorderCannabidiol (CBD) reduced cue-induced craving and anxiety in individuals with a history of heroin abuse, suggesting a potential role for it in helping to break the cycle of addiction, according to research conducted at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and published May 21 in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The study also revealed that CBD tended to reduce physiological measures of stress reactivity, such as increased heart rate and cortisol levels, that are induced by drug cues. | |
 | Women with sleep apnea are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than menA study of more than 19,000 people has found that women with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than men with the condition, according to research published in the European Respiratory Journal. |
 | Soy foods linked to fewer fractures in younger breast cancer survivorsA new paper in JNCI Cancer Spectrum, published by Oxford University Press, is the first study to find that diets high in soy foods are associated with a decreased risk of osteoporotic bone fractures in pre-menopausal breast cancer survivors. |
 | Rocky mountain spotted fever risks examinedIn Mexicali, Mexico, an uncontrolled epidemic of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, one of the deadliest tickborne diseases in the Americas, has affected more than 1,000 people since 2008. |
 | Free-standing emergency departments in Texas' big cities are not reducing congestion at hospitalsFree-standing emergency departments (EDs) in Texas' largest cities have not alleviated emergency room congestion or improved patient wait times in nearby hospitals, according to a new paper by experts at Rice University. |
 | Heart failure patients in UK do not receive the long-term care they needManagement of people with heart failure in the UK has shortcomings in screening, continuity of care, and medication doses, which disproportionally impact women and older people, according to a study led by Nathalie Conrad and Kazem Rahimi of The George Institute for Global Health at the University of Oxford, UK, published May 21 in PLOS Medicine. Findings suggest that screening and follow-up are sub-optimal, and these problems could be due, at least in part, to poor record-keeping in primary care and inadequate information exchange between hospitals and primary care. |
 | Where best to provide patient-centered HIV care: In the community or the clinic?Delivery of antiretroviral HIV treatment via community-based clubs can reduce retention of patients in care, according to a new research study published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Colleen Hanrahan of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland and colleagues. |
 | Only half of US kids and teens have ideal cholesterol levelsCholesterol levels in U.S. youth have improved from 1999 to 2016, but only half of children and adolescents are in the ideal range and 25 percent are in the clinically high range, according to a study published in JAMA, led by Amanda Marma Perak, MD MS, cardiologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. The study is the first to report estimated prevalence of high cholesterol in youth in recent years, analyzing nationally representative data from more than 26,000 children and adolescents (ages 6-19 years). |
 | Seasonal clock changing helps to synchronize human sleep/wake cycle across latitudeScientific Reports released this month a paper by prof. José María Martín-Olalla (Universidad de Sevilla) analyzing seasonal similarities between the sleep/wake cycle in subtropical, pre-industrial and extratropical industrial societies. |
 | Scientists report new endometriosis findingsEndometriosis is a disease that affects 10 to 15 percent of all reproductive-aged women. Although no cure has been found, researchers seek to determine why some women develop endometriosis and in order to develop effective treatments. Researchers from Tartu have completed a study toward explaining the causes of endometriosis. |
 | Call for greater transparency in gluten-free testingA celiac disease expert from the University of Western Australia is calling for greater transparency in the testing of gluten free foods. It comes after reports that some gluten free products contain traces of gluten, potentially dangerous to sufferers of celiac disease. |
 | Overweight adolescents are as likely to develop heart disorders as obese adolescentsA study performed in Brazil by researchers from São Paulo State University (UNESP) suggests that overweight and obese adolescents have similar increased risks of developing heart disorders. The results of cardiovascular fitness tests with volunteers aged 10 to 17 were similar in both groups. |
 | For moms, working multiple jobs can be depressingWorking mothers who have more than one job have a higher risk of depression than those who don't, say University of Michigan researchers. |
 | Optical illusions reveal that regular waves of brain activity enable visual feature integrationRhythmic waves of brain activity cause people to see or not see complex images that flash before our eyes. An image can become practically invisible if it flashes before our eyes at the same time as a low point of those brain waves. We can reset that brain wave rhythm with a simple voluntary action, like choosing to push a button. |
 | New report spotlights poor health of global labour migrants for the first timeThe health of labour migrants, who form the largest migrant group globally, is critically overlooked in the countries where they are employed, according to a new study of the last ten years of data and research. Labour migrants may work in hazardous and exploitative environments where they might be at considerable risk of injury and ill health, say the authors. |
 | Improving the use of methadone for drug users with tuberculosis to prevent withdrawalDrug users on methadone programmes who contract tuberculosis (TB) should receive effective treatment while maintaining the correct level of methadone in their bodies, following a virtual clinical trial by pharmacy researchers at Aston University in partnership with drugs charity Addaction. |
 | Millions of Europeans at risk of chronic digestive diseases, new report revealsPoor nutritional choices, including a high intake of ultra-processed foods and trans-fats, are putting millions of Europeans at an increased risk of a range of chronic digestive diseases, including digestive cancers, wheat related disorders and functional GI disorders, as well as obesity, a new report shows. |
 | Estrogen receptors might hold key in obesity preventionDespite countless fad diets, both obesity and metabolic diseases continue to plague communities across the U.S. Now, researchers from the University of Missouri believe that the clue to treatment might be related to estrogen—for both men and women. |
 | About half of workers are concerned about discussing mental health issues in the workplaceRoughly half of American workers say they are comfortable talking about their mental health in the workplace and more than one-third are worried about job consequences if they seek mental health care, according to a new poll released here today by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). |
 | How universities can help scale back the 'Freshman 15'Students typically gain weight in their first year of university. There are expressions to reflect this knowledge, such as the "freshman 15" in North America (which assumes students gain 15 pounds, or around 8kg) and "freshman fatties" or "fresher five" in Australia and New Zealand. |
 | Mindfulness helps mothers with opioid use disorder combat depressionMothers with opioid use disorder face many challenges as they work towards a more stable life for themselves and their children, depression not least among them. But medical interventions for depression can interfere with treatments for opioid addiction. |
 | People born very preterm or with very low birthweight have high risk of lung diseaseA global study shows people born very preterm or with very low birthweight have a high risk of lung disease and are not reaching their full airway capacity by early adulthood. |
 | What's the right amount of 'zapping' in epilepsy laser surgery?There is an estimated 2.4 million people diagnosed with epilepsy each year, according to the World Health Organization. Some types of epileptic seizure can be essentially cured by open surgery for patients who don't respond to medical therapy, but it comes with risks and a longer recovery. In the largest study of its kind to date, researchers across 11 centers analyzed data on a relatively new minimally invasive alternative surgery for epilepsy, and discovered changes that could make the procedure more effective in both laser ablation and standard surgery. |
 | Americans' overall level of anxiety about health, safety and finances remain highFor the second year in a row, about two in three Americans say they are extremely or somewhat anxious about keeping themselves and their family safe, paying bills and their health, according to a new poll released here today by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). |
 | The man who is aging too fastNobuaki Nagashima was in his mid-20s when he began to feel like his body was breaking down. He was based in Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture of Japan, where for 12 years he had been a member of the military, vigorously practicing training drills out in the snow. It happened bit by bit—cataracts at the age of 25, pains in his hips at 28, skin problems on his leg at 30. |
 | Using 3-D to test personalised treatments in five daysWhy doesn't the same treatment work in the same way for every patient? How can a drug's performance be optimised without causing side effects due to an excessive dosage? In an attempt to answer these questions, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, have devised a cell co-culture platform that reproduces a patient's tumour structure in 3-D. The scientists can use it to test several drugs or their combinations at different stages of the tumour's development. They now need only five days to identify which treatment will be most effective for a particular case, and the combination can then be translated for clinical practice. These results are highly promising for the future of personalised medicine, and you can read all about the outcomes in the journal Scientific Reports. |
 | The scandal that should force us to reconsider wellness advice from influencersFormer social media influencer and "wellness guru" Belle Gibson first caught public attention after claiming she cured herself of terminal cancer by rejecting conventional medicine in favour of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Her story was documented on a blog and social media, which became the basis for a successful book and app, featuring lifestyle advice and healthy recipes. |
 | Immunity boost for preterm babiesNew Murdoch University-led research has revealed a potential way to better preserve the biological activity of bovine colostrum—the first milk from cows—so it can be used as a supplement for vulnerable preterm infants in their first few days of life. |
 | GPs report large numbers of patients suffering mental health issues linked to povertyGPs in some surgeries estimate that up to half of their patients are seeking help for mental health issues caused or exacerbated by poverty, according to a new study. |
 | A global survey sheds new light on how bad events affect young peopleThe percentage of the world's population that's aged between 10 and 24 is growing exponentially. It currently makes up a quarter of the world's population: that's 1.8 billion people. So it's increasingly important to understand how people in this age group are affected by events. |
 | Difficulties with reading and narration in children with autismChildren with autism may be good at reading a text one word at a time, but simultaneously have problems in understanding and retelling the content of what they read. Research now shows the importance, for these children, of extensive language assessment and follow-up over time. |
 | The relationship between human self-domestication and brain evolutionEmiliano Bruner, a paleoneurologist at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) has just published an opinion paper about self-domestication and visuospatial cognition in the humans, which speculates on whether the two traits might have had reciprocal influences or shared mechanisms. |
 | Exercise: Psych patients' new primary prescriptionWhen it comes to inpatient treatment of a range of mental health and mood disorders—from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia, suicidality and acute psychotic episodes—a new study advocates for exercise, rather than psychotropic medications, as the primary prescription and method of intervention. Findings from the study reveal that physical exercise is so effective at alleviating patient symptoms that it could reduce patients' time admitted to acute facilities and reliance on psychotropic medications. |
 | Algorithm steers catheters to the right spot to treat atrial fibrillationPatients with atrial fibrillation or AFib experience chaotic electrical signals in the upper chamber of their heart (atria), which cause an irregular or quivering heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots and heart failure. AFib also is a major cause of stroke and affects 33 million people worldwide. |
 | A better understanding of the von Willebrand Factor's A2 domainUnder normal, healthy circulatory conditions, the von Willebrand Factor (vWF) keeps to itself. The large and mysterious multimeric glycoprotein moves through the blood, balled up tightly, its reaction sites unexposed. But when significant bleeding occurs, it springs into action, initiating the clotting process. |
 | Mustaches are more than just manly, they guard against sun's rays(HealthDay)— For all of those men who view a mustache as a largely ornamental addition to their masculine appearance, a new study reveals it can also guard against lip cancer. |
 | Earlier bedtimes help kids fight obesity(HealthDay)—With childhood obesity rates high, many studies have investigated lifestyle factors that can make a difference—which ones increase the risk and which ones reduce it. |
 | Readmission rates vary little among primary care doctors(HealthDay)—There is minimal variation in readmission rates among primary care providers (PCPs), according to a study published online May 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Postoperative infection rate similar across biologics in RA(HealthDay)—For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing arthroplasty, the risk for postoperative infection is similar across biologics but is increased with glucocorticoid use, according to a study published online May 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Why lack of sleep is bad for your heartIn recent years, numerous studies have shown that people who don't get enough sleep are at greater risk of stroke and heart attack. |
 | Statin use reduces dementia risk after concussion in seniors(HealthDay)—Older adults have an increased risk for dementia after concussion, which is modestly reduced among patients using a statin, according to a study published online May 20 in JAMA Neurology. |
 | Johns Hopkins researchers publish digital health roadmapIn the dizzying swirl of health-related websites, social media and smartphone apps, finding a reliable source of health information can be a challenge. A group of researchers from the Johns Hopkins University schools of medicine and public health, as well as the university's Applied Physics Laboratory, have mapped out a course to navigate that complicated landscape. |
 | Home remedies: Self-care measures to relieve tension-type headachesFrequent headaches can interfere with your daily life. But healthy lifestyle choices can help you head off the pain. Start with the basics, including diet, exercise and relaxation. |
 | A considerable percentage of deaths in HIV patients are due to cryptococcal infectionsCryptococcal meningitis causes about one in ten HIV-related deaths, according to a study of autopsies performed in Mozambique and Brazil and coordinated by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), an institution supported by "la Caixa." |
 | Patients who lose significant weight before a transplant are at higher risk of dyingUnexpected weight loss can be the sign of a serious health problem, especially in kidney transplant patients whose body systems are already under duress. But a new study out of Drexel University suggests that even planned and advised weight loss could also be dangerous for kidney transplant candidates if it's not closely monitored. |
 | What happens to young adults after a first heart attack?Heart attacks among adults younger than 50 years of age are on the rise. In fact, the proportion of very young people has been increasing, rising by 2 percent each year for the last 10 years, according to a team of investigators a Brigham and Women's Hospital who are focused on studying heart attacks among young adults. The research team is now investigating why, by evaluating both risk factors and outcomes for this population in order to help prevent heart attacks in the first place. In a paper published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the team reports on the prevalence of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic disorder that results in high cholesterol, and outcomes for patients. Investigators have found that nearly one in 10 patients who suffer a first heart attack before age 50 had FH, and many continued having elevated cholesterol levels a year after their first heart attack. Many were not on a statin therapy before their first heart attack, highlighting opportunities for prevention and more aggressive treatment for those at risk. |
 | Stem cell differences could explain why women are more likely to develop adrenal cancerScientists have discovered a potential biological reason why women are more likely to develop adrenal disorders, including cancer. According to the researchers, the answer could lie in the increased turnover of hormone-producing cells found in the adrenal glands of females. |
 | Inhibition of protein phosphorylation promotes optic nerve regeneration after injuryA new study by Professor Toshio Ohshima of Waseda University has found that the inhibition of phosphorylation of collapsing response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2), a microtubule-binding protein, suppresses degeneration of nerve fibers and promotes its regeneration after optic nerve injury. |
 | Most e-cigarette users want to quit, study findsMost people who smoke e-cigarettes want to quit and many have tried to reduce their use, according to Rutgers researchers. |
 | How molecular escorts help prevent cancerThe anti-tumor protein p53 can decide on the life or death of a cell: If it detects damage in the cell's genome, the protein pushes the cell to suicide. New research conducted at Technical University of Munich (TUM) shows that this inborn cancer prevention only works when special proteins, known as chaperones, allow it to take place. |
 | Blood proteins help predict risk of developing heart failureCardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of pain, suffering and death in the United States, and despite tremendous advances in knowledge on prevention, treatment of risk factors such as cholesterol, blood pressure and obesity is not optimal. |
 | Fight vaccine hesitancy as 'contagious disease', UN meeting toldFaced with a global resurgence of measles, health experts called Tuesday for countries to step up the fight against vaccine resistance, warning the movement was spreading like a contagious disease. |
 | Clinical drug diversion costly to health care organizations(HealthDay)—U.S. health care organizations lost nearly $454 million due to clinical drug diversion in 2018, according to the 2019 Drug Diversion Digest, released by Protenus Inc. |
 | Octogenarians with acute myeloid leukemia have poor survival(HealthDay)—Octogenarians with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have a one-month mortality rate of 41 percent and overall survival (OS) of 1.5 months, according to a research letter published in the June issue of the American Journal of Hematology. |
 | Dupilumab cuts exacerbations in late-onset asthma(HealthDay)—Dupilumab is associated with significantly reduced severe exacerbation rates in patients with late-onset asthma with or without fixed airway obstruction, according to a study presented at the American Thoracic Society 2019 International Conference, held from May 17 to 22 in Dallas. |
 | Non-Rx fentanyl up in urine tests positive for other drugs(HealthDay)—An increasing number of urine drug test (UDT) results positive for cocaine or methamphetamine are also positive for nonprescribed fentanyl, according to a study recently published in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Rates of depression up in U.S. women at hospital to give birth(HealthDay)—From 2000 to 2015, the rates of depressive disorders recorded for women during delivery hospitalization increased nationally, according to a study published online May 9 in Obstetrics & Gynecology. |
 | Insights into brigatinib's rare side effects may help more lung cancer patients benefit from the drugBrigatinib is a next-generation ALK inhibitor that earned FDA approval in 2017 as a second-line therapy after treatment with crizotinib for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Recently, clinical trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the 2018 World Conference on Lung Cancer show its promise as a first-line therapy. However, while brigatinib is commonly well-tolerated, in about 3% of cases, patients report experiencing shortness of breath within hours of starting treatment. With severe symptoms or if even mild symptoms occur after stopping and then restarting the drug, the manufacturer's guidelines suggest permanently ceasing use. Now a study by researchers at Columbia University, University of California San Diego, and University of Colorado Cancer Center, published this morning in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, offers insight into the seriousness and duration of these symptoms, and suggests an alternative treatment strategy that could allow more patients to benefit from this drug. |
 | Children of both young and old parents share risk for certain neurodevelopmental disordersResults of a new study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP), published by Elsevier, reports that parental age is linked to the risk for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders in children, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD); attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); and Tourette's disorder/chronic tic disorder (TD/CT). |
 | Successful HIV effort prompts call for clinics to expand mental health services on siteIncreasing access to mental health services improves HIV outcomes among vulnerable patients, a new study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine suggests. Based on their findings, the researchers are urging HIV clinics to expand their on-site mental health services. |
 | Widespread testing, treatment of Hepatitis C in U.S. prisons improves outcomesAt current drug prices, testing all persons entering prison for Hepatitis C, treating those who have at least 12 months remaining in their sentence, and linking individuals with less than 12 months in their sentence to care upon their release would result in improved health outcomes. Published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, researchers found that these approaches provide the best value-for-money compared to not testing or treating any prisoners, or only testing and treating prisoners at high risk of Hepatitis C (HCV). While cost-effective, however, the data also show that these approaches would place a large cost burden on the correctional system. |
 | After GWAS studies, how to narrow the search for genes?Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) look at large populations to find genes that contribute to common, multi-gene traits like height or obesity. These comprehensive investigations frequently turn up large numbers of tiny genetic variations that show up more often in people who are tall, obese, etc. But this association doesn't mean the variant actually helps cause the trait; it could just be going along for the ride. |
 | New opioid speeds up recovery without increasing pain sensitivity or risk of chronic painMorphine and other opioid-based painkillers are very effective at treating pain initially, but studies have shown that the drugs can make patients more pain-sensitive, prolonging their discomfort and increasing their risks of developing chronic pain. |
Nerve fibers in skin are involved in initiating neurofibromas in patients with disfiguring Neurofibromatosis 1A study published today in PLOS ONE discovered the origin of severely disfiguring masses of cells, called neurofibromas, that gradually develop throughout the skin of patients afflicted with Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1). The discovery consisted of micro-lesions that contained small pathological clusters of nerve fibers and associated Schwann cells that proliferate to form the bulk of the disfiguring neurofibromas. | |
 | Doctors can estimate patient adherence by simply asking about medication routineA visit to the doctor's office typically begins with a series of questions, including one about medications. An Iowa State University researcher recommends doctors ask a follow up to that question to make sure patients are taking their medications as prescribed. |
 | Potentially fatal buildup of proteins in the heart often goes undiagnosedA potentially fatal buildup of abnormal proteins in the heart and other organs is being delayed in its diagnosis and undertreated—despite new drugs that can combat it, a new study suggests. |
 | Multiple brain regions moderate and link depressive mood and painDepression is linked to diminished activity in parts of the brain believed to regulate mood, which previous research suggests may explain why depressed persons display an lessened ability to govern their ruminative thought process. |
 | Children with cancer wait an average of 6.5 years longer than adults to access new drugsCancer drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a median of 6.5 years to go from the first clinical trial in adults to the first trial in children, according to a study at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. The study was published in the May issue of the European Journal of Cancer. |
 | Female firefighters more likely to suffer PTSD, contemplate suicideIn the heavily male-dominated firefighting profession, females seem to take on a majority of stress. Consuelo Arbona, UH professor of counseling psychology reports in the journal Occupational Medicine that one-fifth of female firefighters in a large, urban fire department experience post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and are at higher risk of contemplating suicide than their male colleagues. |
 | High-security Ebola burials spark dismay, anger in DR CongoPeople in Ebola-hit eastern DR Congo are struggling to come to terms with high-security burials that are part of a hard-pressed strategy to roll back the disease. |
 | Scientists explore connection between aging fat and Alzheimer'sScientists want to know whether our aging fat cells are important to the onset and progression of Alzheimer's. |
Food insecurity in Nunavut increased after Nutrition North Canada introducedFood insecurity, meaning inadequate or insecure access to food because of a lack of money, has worsened in Nunavut communities since the introduction of the federal government's Nutrition North Canada program in 2011, found research published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). | |
Global agreement reached on standards for clinical trials in children with multiple sclerosisThe International Pediatric MS Study Group (IPMSSG) has released updated standards for clinical trials involving children and teens with multiple sclerosis (MS). The new recommendations were published in the May 1, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
Setting fair regulations for top female athletes that have naturally higher testosterone levelsTop performing female athletes are more likely to have naturally occurring higher testosterone levels, which sporting regulations should take into account, according to findings to be presented in Lyon, at the European Society of Endocrinology annual meeting, ECE 2019. The researchers show that top female athletes are more likely to have higher testosterone levels and mild disorders, as well as more severe and rarer conditions that increase testosterone levels. These findings suggest that higher testosterone levels can enhance physical performance in women, to levels more comparable to male physiology, and raises questions on how to ensure fairness of competition in women's sport. | |
'Medicare for All's' rich benefits 'leapfrog' other nationsThe "Medicare for All" plan embraced by leading 2020 Democrats appears more lavish than what other advanced countries offer, compounding the cost but also potentially broadening its popular appeal. | |
Obesity risk may be increased by exposure to common environmental chemicalsExposure to common every day chemicals, called phthalates, may increase the risk of metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes, according to findings to be presented in Lyon, at the European Society of Endocrinology annual meeting, ECE 2019. The study found a correlation between levels of phthalate exposure and markers of impaired liver function, which are indicators of increased risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. These findings suggest that more actions may need to be taken to reduce people's exposure to these potentially harmful, yet commonly used chemicals. | |
 | New stimulant formulations emerging to better treat ADHDA comprehensive new review of the expanding scope of stimulants available to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) serves as a valuable guide to clinicians as they choose from among the many new drug formulations and technologies available to treat this complex disorder. The wide-ranging review is published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology. |
 | Melons are powerhouses in taste, nutrition(HealthDay)—If you're looking for a tasty way to hydrate in warm weather, a juicy melon is the ticket. Melons are low-calorie, high-water content foods that also provide high doses of certain vitamins, minerals and important phyto-nutrients. |
 | Doctors in Michigan city are treating patients by sending them to local parksNature is becoming a form of medicine in west Michigan. |
 | Women's wellness: Menopause misconceptionsMenopause marks the end of a woman's fertility. By definition, it occurs one year after a woman's last menstrual period. While menopausecan happen in a woman's 40s or 50s, the average age is 51 in the U.S. Jacqueline Thielen, M.D., a women's health expert from Mayo Clinic, says menopause is a journey that occurs over many years. |
 | Smartphone app can help diagnose a rare diseaseA team of researchers at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), Lithuania have created a mobile application, which helps recognise early symptoms of rare Huntington's disease. Designed in cooperation with physicians and the Huntington Disease Association, the app provides its user with a series of tests in order to check the presence of the symptoms. If the probability of symptoms is detected, the user is informed and encouraged to contact medical professionals for further advice. |
 | At abortion clinics, new laws sow confusion, uncertaintyAbortion clinics are facing protesters emboldened by a flurry of restrictive new state laws as they reassure confused patients that the laws have yet to take effect, abortion providers said. |
Bravo-3 clinical trial shows strong safety profile for Proglide suture deviceResults from an analysis of a large randomized trial shows ProGlide vascular closure device (VCD) was associated with lower rates of vascular complications, lower rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) and shorter hospitalizations after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) when compared with Prostar XL. Both ProGlide and Prostar XL are leading VCDs in interventional cardiology, and the study examined the impact of these devices on vascular bleeding complications after TAVR. The study is scheduled to be presented on Wednesday, May 22 at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2019 Scientific Sessions. | |
First-of-its-kind study finds positive outcomes for chronic kidney disease patientsA new study exams the effects of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guided drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation on patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Results showed that CKD patients treated with IVUS-guided DES implantation had better outcomes compared to those who received the traditional angiography guidance DES implantation at the 12-month mark. The prespecific subgroup analysis of the prospective, multicenter, randomized ULTIMATE trial is scheduled to be presented on Wednesday, May 22 as late-breaking clinical research at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2019 Scientific Sessions. | |
Novel therapeutic approach effective at reducing pressure for heart failure patientsResults from a first-in-man proof of concept study found occlusion of the superior vena cava (SVC) rapidly and effectively reduces pressure and volume in the heart. This is the first study targeting the SVC as a therapeutic area for heart failure patients to reduce cardiac filling pressures without reducing cardiac output or systemic blood pressure. Data is being presented as late-breaking clinical research at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2019 Scientific Sessions. | |
First-of-its-kind clinical trial shows improvement of outcomes in cardiogenic shock patientsA new study is the first to establish a nationwide treatment protocol that can save lives of patients with cardiogenic shock (CS), a deadly heart attack complication. Findings show 72 percent of patients with CS survived their heart attack when treated with the shock protocol. The study was conducted by The National Cardiogenic Shock Initiative Investigators and is the second iteration of a pilot study conducted in southeast Michigan. It was presented today at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2019 Scientific Sessions. | |
Innovative treatment option rapidly reduces harmful cholesterol levels after heart attackResults from the multi-center, randomized PREMIER clinical trial show a new treatment option dramatically lowers rates of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) for heart attack patients following an interventional cardiology procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The minimally invasive, one-time treatment decreases LDL levels by 50 to 80 percent in two to three hours. The study was funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and presented today as late-breaking clinical research at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2019 Scientific Sessions. | |
Novel index accurately predicts PCI success post procedure compared to standard measurement metricsResults from a comprehensive analysis demonstrate the effectiveness of measuring a non-hyperemic pressure ratio (NHPR), pressure distal/pressure aortic (Pd/Pa) alongside fractional flow reserve (FFR) post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This prospective study validates the diagnostic accuracy of Pd/Pa in identifying residual ischemia post intervention against the reference standard, FFR. The study is scheduled to be presented on Wednesday, May 22 at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2019 Scientific Sessions. | |
First prospective registry confirms FFR impact treatment plans for patients with CADA prospective, multicenter, multinational study examines how fractional flow reserve (FFR) can impact treatment plans and outcomes in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Results showed more than one-third of the patients' initial treatment plans changed after FFR. The findings from the global registry are scheduled to be presented on Wednesday, May 22 as late-breaking clinical research at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2019 Scientific Sessions. | |
First in human results show early bird device effective in early detection of internal bleedingNew study results validate the effectiveness of the Saranas Early Bird Bleed Monitoring System to sense bleeding events during endovascular related procedures by using sensors to detect relative changes in tissue bioimpedance. The study enrolled 60 patients from five sites who underwent an endovascular procedure and detected bleeding in more than half of patients. The results of this study are being presented as late-breaking clinical research on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography Interventions (SCAI) 2019 Scientific Sessions. | |
Dawn-to-sunset fasting suggests potential new treatment for obesity-related conditionsFasting from dawn to sunset for 30 days increased levels of proteins that play a crucial role in improving insulin resistance and protecting against the risks from a high-fat, high-sugar diet, according to research presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2019. The study, which was based on the fasting practices of Ramadan, a spiritual practice for Muslims, offers a potential new treatment approach for obesity-related conditions, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). | |
Global AFIB patient registry shows new tools needed to assess patient riskInitial results from the AVIATOR 2 international registry are being presented as late-breaking clinical science at the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) 2019 Scientific Sessions. The AVIATOR 2 is a multicenter prospective observational study of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in 11 international sites. The use of a novel smartphone-based survey shows potential to improve outcomes by accessing the patient need for new tools to quantify risk. | |
Expert consensus published on use of imaging to guide heart attack treatmentImaging provides a more precise diagnosis of a heart attack that can be used to individualise treatment. That's the main message of an expert consensus paper published today in European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), and presented at EuroPCR in Paris, France. | |
 | Young athletes who require ACL reconstruction may benefit from additional procedureAn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, an injury of the knee, can be devastating to a young athlete. While the ACL can be reconstructed through surgery, there is a high risk of re-injury in patients under the age of 25. In the largest clinical trial of its kind, researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute have shown that performing an additional surgical procedure called lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET) may reduce the risk of ACL re-injury in young athletes. |
Cells from Purdue super fan being used for cancer researchCells from Tyler Trent, the Purdue University super fan and cancer activist who died in January, are being used by cancer researchers to study the disease. | |
Experts urge stronger emphasis on cancer prevention in older populationCancer prevention efforts rarely focus on the distinct needs and circumstances of older people, who are at greatest risk for developing cancer, but society can do more to reduce cancer risk and preserve health as adults enter their 60s, 70s, and beyond—according to a new supplement to the journal The Gerontologist from The Gerontological Society of America. | |
Biology news
 | A 'biomultimeter' to measure RNA and protein production in real-timeBuilders of genetic circuits face the same quandary as builders of digital circuits: testing their designs. Yet unlike bioengineers, engineers have a simple and universal testing tool—the multimeter—that they can touch to their circuit to measure its performance. "There's nothing remotely like this in bio," says Peter Carr, a synthetic biologist in MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Bioengineering Systems and Technologies Group. |
 | Researchers find evidence of negative emotional contagion in lab ravensA team of researchers affiliated with institutions in Austria, the U.S. and Switzerland has found evidence of negative emotional contagion in lab ravens. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes their experiments with lab ravens and what they learned. |
 | Life in evolution's fast laneMost living things have a suite of genes dedicated to repairing their DNA, limiting the rate at which their genomes change through time. But scientists at Vanderbilt and University of Wisconsin-Madison have discovered an ancient lineage of budding yeasts that appears to have accumulated a remarkably high load of mutations due to the unprecedented loss of dozens of genes involved in repairing errors in DNA and cell division, previously thought to be essential. |
 | Staying in shape: MBL microscopy helps reveal how bacteria grow long, not wideThe slender, rod-shaped Bacillus subtilis is one of the best-studied bacteria in the world, a go-to system for exploring and understanding how bacteria grow, replicate and divide. One of its outstanding mysteries has been how it manages to keep its precise diameter while growing and and getting bigger end-to-end. |
 | Plant discovery opens frontiersUniversity of Adelaide researchers have discovered a biochemical mechanism fundamental to plant life that could have far-reaching implications for the multibillion dollar biomedical, pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnology industries. |
 | DNA analysis of shark barf tells scientists what kinds of birds the sharks scavengeTiger sharks have a reputation for being the "garbage cans of the sea"—they'll eat just about anything, from dolphins and sea turtles to rubber tires. But before these top predators grow to their adult size of 15 feet, young tiger sharks have an even more unusual diet. Scientists have just announced in a new paper in Ecology that baby tiger sharks eat birds. And not seabirds like gulls or pelicans—familiar backyard birds like sparrows, woodpeckers, and doves. |
 | Fish fences across the tropical seas having large-scale devastating effectsHuge fish fences which are commonly used in tropical seas are causing extensive social, ecological and economic damage and are threatening marine biodiversity and human livelihoods, according to a new study. |
 | Statistical model could predict future disease outbreaksSeveral University of Georgia researchers teamed up to create a statistical method that may allow public health and infectious disease forecasters to better predict disease reemergence, especially for preventable childhood infections such as measles and pertussis. |
 | Researchers create most complete model of complex protein machineryEnvironmental conditions, lifestyle choices, chemical exposure, and foodborne and airborne pathogens are among the external factors that can cause disease. In contrast, internal genetic factors can be responsible for the onset and progression of diseases ranging from degenerative neurological disorders to some cancers. |
 | Penguins and their chicks' responses to local fish numbers informs marine conservationHow adult penguins fish and the body condition of their chicks are directly linked to local fish abundance, and could potentially inform fishery management, a new study has found. |
 | Study reveals link between sheep reproduction and infectionSheep living in the remote outpost of St Kilda are more susceptible to infection if they have recently given birth to lambs, according to new research involving the University of Stirling. |
 | Life and death in bacterial communitiesThe coastal waters of the Red Sea have enough resources to support bacterial growth, but predation by protistan grazers limits the population, according to new research from KAUST. Since bacteria are vital players in the marine food web, determining the factors that affect their growth and abundance is critical to understanding marine ecosystems and how they will respond to climate change. |
 | CBD clinical trial results on seizure frequency in dogs 'encouraging'Promising and exciting. Those are the words used by Dr. Stephanie McGrath to describe findings from a pilot study to assess the use of cannabidiol, or CBD, for dogs with epilepsy. |
 | Extreme draining of reservoir aids young salmon and eliminates invasive fishA new study finds that the low-cost, extreme draining of a reservoir in Oregon aided downstream migration of juvenile chinook salmon—and led to the gradual disappearance of two species of predatory invasive fish in the artificial lake. |
 | What makes a place a home?Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) are now ubiquitous throughout the Caribbean and Western Atlantic on both shallow and deep reefs. While many invasive species disrupt natural ecosystems by spreading disease or competing for food and habitat, lionfish are particularly problematic owing to their voracious appetites and high reproductive capacities. |
 | Chemical engineers develop biosecurity tool to detect genetically engineered organisms in the wildIf a genetically or synthetically engineered organism is released into the environment, how will we know? How can we tell it apart from the millions of microorganisms that exist naturally in the wild? That's the challenge being taken on by a multi-institution research team, including Eric Young, assistant professor of chemical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), that is developing a biosecurity tool that can detect engineered microorganisms based on their unique DNA signatures. |
 | Rhinoceros at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo gives birth to calfChicago's Lincoln Park Zoo says an eastern black rhinoceros named Kapuki has given birth to a calf. |
 | Bonobo mothers meddle in their sons' sex lives, making them three times more likely to father childrenDating is never easy, for any of us. Scenarios play over in our heads, classic questions and worries bombard us. Will she like me? Does he share the same interests? Will my mum be watching us have sex? Thankfully, that last question isn't actually one us humans have to deal with. But new research shows that for bonobos, sex really is often a family affair. What's more, rather than being an embarrassing hindrance, motherly presence greatly benefits bonobo sons during the deed. |
 | Protests as Bangladesh slaps two-month ban on shallow-water fishingBangladesh has banned fishing in the Bay of Bengal for the next two months in an effort to replenish stocks, a minister said Tuesday, triggering protests by hundreds of fishermen. |
Studies find no yield benefit to higher plant populationsAs seed prices rise, growers must be increasingly mindful of the density and configuration of cotton in their fields. However, current cotton plant population recommendations aren't always helpful or based on the latest research. Experts often offer guidance, rather than direct answers, and discuss both seeding rates and plant population, which can be confusing. Experts also recommend seeding in excess to account for inevitable seed loss. The most common plant population recommendation is 33,000 plants per acre. | |
First report of powdery mildew on phasey bean in Florida could spell trouble for papayaPhasey bean, also known as wild bush bean, is an invasive species native to the tropical Americas and the Caribbean. In 2017, the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) listed phasey bean under Category II on the invasive species list, indicating that the species has increased in abundance, especially in south Florida and the Keys, but not yet altered Florida plant communities. | |
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