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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 1, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Researchers find water in samples from asteroid ItokawaTwo cosmochemists at Arizona State University have made the first-ever measurements of water contained in samples from the surface of an asteroid. The samples came from asteroid Itokawa and were collected by the Japanese space probe Hayabusa. |
 | Image: Opportunity's final traverse mapThis final traverse map for NASA's Opportunity rover shows where the rover was located within Perseverance Valley on June 10, 2018, the last date it made contact with its engineering team. |
 | Hera's CubeSat to perform first radar probe of an asteroidSmall enough to be an aircraft carry-on, the Juventas spacecraft nevertheless has big mission goals. Once in orbit around its target body, Juventas will unfurl an antenna larger than itself, to perform the very first subsurface radar survey of an asteroid. |
 | Smithsonian launches 'Journey through an Exploded Star' 3D interactive experienceThe Smithsonian today made available a new online interactive experience that allows users to explore a three-dimensional (3-D) visualization of the remnants of a supernova, or exploded star. |
Technology news
 | Valve Index will be going high-end in the VR headset worldPre-orders hovering in the wings will be the icing on the cake—the cake being a high-end VR headset called the Valve Index, from Valve. TechCrunch said pre-orders will kick in and the ship date is June 28. Preorders are for users in the contiguous US and most of Western Europe (the UK is left out for now), said Ars Technica. |
 | Researchers achieve 100 percent recognition rates for half and three-quarter facesFacial recognition technology works even when only half a face is visible, researchers from the University of Bradford have found. |
 | Data privacy research front and center at human computer interaction eventShortcomings of security breach notifications, best practices for phishing warnings and lessons learned from the use of analytics to improve student performance are among several studies University of Michigan researchers will present beginning this weekend in the United Kingdom. |
 | From catfish to romance fraud, how to avoid getting caught in any online scamAustralian singer-songwriter Casey Donovan opened up again last night about the six years she thought she was involved in a relationship with a man she never met, someone called "Campbell". |
 | Qualcomm shows off 5G tech at China Unicom eventQualcomm this week joined Chinese smartphone makers including OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi and ZTE to demonstrate new, faster 5G handsets and mobile networks targeting the China market. |
 | US, Russia, China race to develop hypersonic weaponsRussia and China have recently touted their progress in developing hypersonic vehicles, which fly much faster than the speed of sound, which is 767 mph. Hypersonic missiles are rocket-boosted to high altitude and may be launched from land, sea or air. They fly far faster than any other weapons – more than 3,000 mph and potentially up to 10,000 mph – which makes them difficult to identify, avoid or shoot down. After leading the development of this technology area for decades, the U.S. finds itself behind and investing heavily in the technology to try to keep up. |
 | A 'coup des gens' is underway – and we're increasingly living under the regime of the algorithmI recently attended a large meeting of faculty to discuss graduate students' evaluation, recruitment and retention. |
 | New inspection process freezes parts in ice"How on Earth did they make that?" asks Francesco Simonetti, commenting on an ice sculpture of a swan. |
 | AI research offers more eyes and ears to search and rescue missionsRescue teams descended on the destruction left by Hurricane Michael in October, frantically searching for survivors. But a week later, more than 1,000 people were still accounted for, leaving families to wait and hope. |
 | How diaper sensors can better detect urinary tract infections, reduce more severe diseasesA urinary tract infection can be painful at any age, with the burning sensations, frequent urges and pressure. It can be even worse and more dangerous for those who may not be able to communicate clearly what is happening to their bodies, such as the elderly and babies. |
 | Like Uber, but for organs: first kidney delivered by droneA kidney needed for transplantation has been delivered by a drone for the first time ever, the University of Maryland Medical Center said, a development that could herald faster and safer organ transport. |
 | Talks resume between SAS and pilots as more flights cancelledNegotiations have resumed between Scandinavian airline SAS and its striking pilots, a mediator said Wednesday, as hundreds more flights were cancelled due to the strike action which has affected nearly 350,000 passengers. |
 | Team using drones with machine learning to automate methane leak detectionA Southwest Research Institute methane leak detection system is taking flight as part of a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) project to develop automated inspections of oil and gas facilities. |
 | Putin signs controversial internet lawPresident Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed into law a "sovereign internet" bill which will allow Russian authorities to isolate the country's internet, a move decried by rights groups. |
Medicine & Health news
 | How live recordings of neural electricity could revolutionize how we see the brainRed and blue lights flash. A machine whirs like a distant swarm of bees. In a cubicle-sized room, Yoav Adam, a microscope, and a video projector capture something no one has ever seen before: neurons flashing in real time, in a walking, living creature. |
 | Sex drug 'effective' as heart failure treatmentA drug used to treat erectile dysfunction has been found by University of Manchester scientists to slow or even reverse the progression of heart failure in sheep. |
 | The GPS of neurons now better understoodOur nerves consist of small cables responsible for circulating information to every part of our body, allowing us, for instance, to move. These cables are actually cells called neurons with long extensions named axons. |
 | Changes in the metabolism of normal cells promotes the metastasis of ovarian cancer cellsA systematic examination of the tumor and the tissue surrounding it—particularly normal cells in that tissue, called fibroblasts—has revealed a new treatment target that could potentially prevent the rapid dissemination and poor prognosis associated with high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), a tumor type that primarily originates in the fallopian tubes or ovaries and spreads throughout the abdominal cavity. |
 | A comprehensive map of how Alzheimer's affects the brainMIT researchers have performed the first comprehensive analysis of the genes that are expressed in individual brain cells of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The results allowed the team to identify distinctive cellular pathways that are affected in neurons and other types of brain cells. |
 | Researchers find new target to improve response to cancer immunotherapyNew findings suggest an unexpected path to killing cancer cells could make the hottest cancer treatment, immunotherapy, more effective. |
 | Mental disorders more common in people who live aloneLiving alone is positively associated with common mental disorders, regardless of age and sex, according to a study published May 1, 2019 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Louis Jacob from University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, and colleagues. |
 | The mystery behind cleft palate and lips: Study shines a light on genetic factorsCleft lip and palate (CL/P) is the second most common birth defect in the world, affecting 1 in 700 live born babies. While the exact cause of CL/P is not well understood, investigators think it could be the result of a combination of genetics and environment. Cleft lip and palate are splits in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth, or both. This happens when cells in a baby's face and mouth don't fuse properly during early development. The result of a partial fusion, or no fusion at all, leaves a cleft. |
 | Alzheimer's disease is a 'double-prion disorder,' study showsTwo proteins central to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease act as prions—misshapen proteins that spread through tissue like an infection by forcing normal proteins to adopt the same misfolded shape—according to new UC San Francisco research. |
 | Right combination of diet and bacteria limits cancer progressionDiet can have significant effects on the gut microbiome, the populations of microorganisms such as bacteria that live in the human gut. It is well recognised that through complex metabolic interactions, dietary habits contribute to cancer prevention. More specifically, diets rich in fibre reduce the risk of developing specific cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC). Although such diets are an effective means of cancer prevention, their possible roles in cancer progression and treatment remains poorly understood. |
 | A newly identified mechanism can be targeted to boost angiogenesisScientists of the National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) led by Rui Benedito have discovered a cellular and molecular mechanism that can be exploited to induce productive and sustained angiogenesis in tissues that have become ischemic due to reduced blood supply. |
 | Researchers look back in time to prevent future brain injuriesUniversity of Toronto researchers used a novel data-mining approach to uncover the most common medical problems affecting people in the time before they suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The results can be used to better predict and prevent these life-altering incidents. |
 | Researchers solve a mystery regarding how cell division gets dialed upA team of international researchers has identified a process that functions like a rheostat to dial up cell division by dislodging a tumor suppressor protein that serves as an off switch. The mechanism offers insight into missteps that lead to the cell proliferation that is a hallmark of cancer. |
 | Team describes the 'energy engine' of a protein that mediates key processes in cancer cellsProteins are sometimes described as the building blocks of life; inside cells, proteins associate into large macromolecular complexes, consortia of proteins that cooperate to perform specific functions. A large number of cancer research studies focus on finding inhibitors for some of these protein complexes. Kinases like mTOR and ATR, and enzymes like telomerase, which are overexpressed in tumours, are among such complexes. |
 | Brain mapping: New technique reveals how information is processedScientists have discovered a new method for quickly and efficiently mapping the vast network of connections among neurons in the brain. |
 | Restoring brain function in mice with symptoms of Alzheimer's diseaseA study in mice shows that selectively removing cells that are no longer dividing from the brains of mice with a form of Alzheimer's disease can reduce brain damage and inflammation, and slow the pace of cognitive decline. These findings, say researchers, add to evidence that such senescent cells contribute to the damage caused by Alzheimer's disease in people. |
 | How both mother and baby genes affect birth weightThe largest study of its kind has led to new insights into the complex relationships surrounding how mothers' and babies' genes influence birth weight. |
 | The unanticipated early origins of childhood brain cancerBrain tumours are the leading cause of non-accidental death in children in Canada, but little is known about when these tumours form or how they develop. Researchers have recently identified the cells that are thought to give rise to certain brain tumours in children and discovered that these cells first appear in the embryonic stage of a mammal's development—far earlier than they had expected. |
 | Treatments targeting social behavior hormone show promise with autismHormone-based treatment might improve social function in people with autism, a pair of new clinical trials suggests. |
 | Suicide attempts by self-poisoning have more than doubled in teens, young adultsA new study from Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center found rates of suicide attempts by self-poisoning among adolescents have more than doubled in the last decade in the U.S., and more than tripled for girls and young women. |
 | Study shows that controlling or 'wiping out' obesity, excess weight could avoid substantial numbers of premature deathsNew research presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Glasgow, UK (28 April-1 May) shows that controlling or wiping out obesity and overweight would have a substantial impact in reducing premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, which is also a key target outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. The study is by Niels Lund, Novo Nordisk, Denmark and Associate Professor Laurie Twells, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, Canada, and colleagues. |
Rheumatoid arthritis patients affected by disabilities well in advance of diagnosisPatients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis often are affected by functional disability a year or two before the disease is diagnosed, according to new Mayo Clinic research. | |
 | International study suggests that eating more rice could be protective against obesityObesity levels are substantially lower in countries that consume high amounts of rice (average 150g/day/person), while counties with lower average rice intake (average 14g/day/person) have higher obesity levels, according to an international study of 136 countries, being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Glasgow, UK (28 April-1 May). |
 | Experimental drug shows promise for genetic form of ALSAn early stage trial of an investigational therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) suggests that people could tolerate the experimental drug and, in exploratory results, the experimental drug was linked to possible slower progression in people with a genetic form of the disease caused by mutations in a gene called superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). The preliminary study released today will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 71st Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, May 4 to 10, 2019. |
Out-of-pocket costs for neurologic medications rise sharply over 12 yearsThe amount of money people pay out-of-pocket for drugs to treat neurologic conditions like multiple sclerosis, dementia and Parkinson's disease has risen sharply over 12 years, with the most dramatic increase for multiple sclerosis (MS) medications, according to a study published in the May 1, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study, funded by the American Academy of Neurology, found that average out-of-pocket costs for people taking MS drugs were 20 times higher in 2016 than they were in 2004. | |
 | Chloride channel in muscle cells provides new insights for muscle diseasesResearchers from the University of Copenhagen have mapped the structure of an important channel in human muscle cells. The new insights about the chloride channel can contribute to greater understanding of muscle diseases such as ALS, and the findings may enhance drug development at NMD Pharma. |
Acidic blood not cause of rare disease pRTA, new study revealsA University at Buffalo researcher studying a very rare disease characterized by acidic blood has found that most of the symptoms of the condition are caused by something other than low blood pH. | |
 | Changing climate may affect animal–to–human disease transferClimate change could affect occurrences of diseases like bird-flu and Ebola, with environmental factors playing a larger role than previously understood in animal-to-human disease transfer. |
 | Daily folic acid supplement may reduce risk of gestational diabetesTaking a folic acid supplement daily before pregnancy may reduce the risk of gestational, or pregnancy-related, diabetes, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions. The findings appear in Diabetes Care. |
 | The impact of exercise and sleep on depression varies by genderFor some people, getting enough exercise and quality sleep can alleviate depressive symptoms almost as effectively as antidepressants alone, research has shown. |
 | Atherosclerosis: Induced cell death destabilizes plaquesMany chronic disorders arise from misdirected immune responses. A Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) team led by Oliver Söhnlein now shows that neutrophils exacerbate atherosclerosis by inducing smooth muscle-cell death and that a tailored peptide inhibits the process. |
 | Injectable 'chemo gel' is possible alternative to abdominal rinses in abdominal cancerA gel that can be injected into the abdominal cavity to deliver very local chemotherapy for weeks, could be a better alternative to the chemo abdominal rinses that are common today. Professor Patricia Dankers of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), who led the development of this hydrogel, will now test it in a four-year preclinical study together with researchers from Maastricht UMC+ and Catharina Hospital. The Dutch KWF Cancer Society is backing this research to the tune of almost €600,000. |
 | Here's how cancer hijacks wound healing to create its own blood supplyResearchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have shed light on how cancers hijack the body's natural wound-healing response to grow and spread. |
 | The body according to Leonardo da VinciIn an age of modern anatomy atlases and freely available online body-browsers, Leonardo da Vinci's drawings of organs and body parts done with quill, ink and red chalk may strike us as aesthetically pleasing, yet antiquated. Nevertheless, almost everyone in Germany carries a reproduction of his famous Vitruvian Man with them – on their health insurance card. Alessandro Nova, Director at the Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz, on the other hand, explores Leonardo's work in the light of the scientific knowledge it generates. |
 | Researchers publish study on the flexibility of sensory perceptionHearing, sight, touch – our brain captures a wide range of distinct sensory stimuli and links them together. The brain has a kind of built-in filter function for this: sensory impressions are only integrated if it is necessary and useful for the task at hand. Researchers from Bielefeld University, Oxford University (Great Britain), and Aix-Marseille University (France) investigated this phenomenon of flexibility in perception, and have now published a study on their findings that appears in the scientific journal Neuron. In their publication, the researchers reveal where sensory stimuli are integrated in the brain, and in which area of the brain this flexibility can be located. From Bielefeld University, Professor Dr. Christoph Kayser and Dr. Hame Park from the Cluster of Excellence CITEC were involved in the study. |
 | Have you gone vegan? Keep an eye on these 4 nutrientsThere are many reasons people go vegan, from wanting to be healthier, to reducing their environmental footprint, to concerns about animal welfare. |
 | Research suggests mild traumatic brain injury common in veterans with mental health needsNew research conducted by the University, the veterans' mental health charity Combat Stress, and East Kent NHS Neuro-Rehabilitation Unit suggests that up to three-quarters of UK military veterans who seek help for long-term mental distress have experienced repeated mild brain injury. This figure is far higher than previous UK estimates but is very similar to that reported in US combat veterans. |
 | Poll: Americans among most stressed people in the world(HealthDay)—Americans are more likely to be stressed and worried than people living in poorer parts of the world, and Americans' concerns are increasing, according to the Gallup 2019 Global Emotions Report. |
 | The answer to opioid crisis? Researcher will soon test his non-addictive pain drugUniversity of California, Davis professor Bruce Hammock has spent a 50-year career studying insects. He probably wouldn't be the Ph.D. considered most likely to shake up the multibillion-dollar prescription painkiller market. |
 | Researchers study sexual objectification in brain processesWhat happens in the human brain when a woman is put on a par with an object? A study addressing this question was conducted at the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science and the Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CiMEC) of the University of Trento and was published today in Scientific Reports. The results could provide new insights into the study of gender and racial violence |
 | Do microglia hold the key to stop Alzheimer's disease?A Leuven research team led by Prof. Bart De Strooper (VIB-KU Leuven, UK DRI) studied how specialized brain cells called microglia respond to the accumulation of toxic proteins in the brain, a feature typical of Alzheimer's. The three major disease risk factors for Alzheimer's—age, sex and genetics—all affect microglia response, raising the possibility that drugs that modulate this response could be useful for treatment. |
 | Clowning around is good for brain healthTrinity College and the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) are broadening the discussion on the importance of art for brain health which gives space for perspectives that may help change the narrative on how we view older adults and promote their active participation in life. |
 | Can you wake up after decades in a coma? The story behind the headlinesIn 1991, a car crash left Munira Abdulla, a 32-year-old woman from the United Arab Emirates, with devastating brain injuries. Doctors reportedly thought she might never regain full consciousness. However, in late 2018, almost three decades after her initial injury, Abdulla showed signs of recovery – including calling out her son's name. |
 | Why some doctors are prescribing a day in the park or a walk on the beach for good healthTaking a walk on a wooded path, spending an afternoon in a public park, harvesting your backyard garden and even looking at beautiful pictures of Hawaii can all make us feel good. Certainly, for many of us, it's beneficial to have time outside in natural environments. Being cooped up inside can feel unnatural and increase our desire to get outside. The renowned biologist E.O. Wilson created a theory called the biophilia hypothesis, where he stated that people have an innate relationship to nature. |
 | Brain over body: Hacking the stress system to let your psychology influence your physiologyThere are people who show incredible resistance to extremes of temperature. Think of Buddhist monks who can calmly withstand being draped in freezing towels or the so-called "Iceman" Wim Hof, who can remain submerged in ice water for long periods of time without trouble. |
 | Lure of the 'loot box' looks a lot like gamblingAn increasingly popular feature of modern video games is attracting gamers who share the beliefs and behaviours of problem gamblers, new UBC research has found. |
 | Patients with diabetes are 40 percent more likely to be readmitted to the hospitalPatients with diabetes and low blood glucose have higher rates of death following hospital discharge, according to a study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. |
Poor, crowded cities lack access to opioid reversal drug, study findsPeople living in the most populous, low-income areas in New Jersey with the highest risk for opioid overdoses have less access to the potentially life-saving opioid reversal drug naloxone, Rutgers researchers find. | |
Risk of metastatic cancer increases in those who have diabetesAs if people living with diabetes didn't have enough health concerns, here's another: increased risk of metastatic cancer. New Cornell University research points to a possible explanation for this health double whammy. | |
 | Researchers identify 20 novel gene associations with bipolar disorderIn the largest study of its kind, involving more than 50,000 subjects in 14 countries, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and more than 200 collaborating institutions have identified 20 new genetic associations with one of the most prevalent and elusive mental illnesses of our time—bipolar disorder. The study is reported in the May 2019 issue of Nature Genetics. |
 | Adverse events during first years of life may have greatest effect on future mental healthA Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) study has found evidence that children under 3 years old are most the vulnerable to the effects of adversity—experiences including poverty, family and financial instability, and abuse—on their epigenetic profiles, chemical tags that alter gene expression and may have consequences for future mental health. Their report appearing in the May 15 issue of Biological Psychiatry, which has been published online, finds that the timing of adverse experiences has more powerful effects than the number of such experiences or whether they took place recently. |
 | Researchers discover genetic defect causing intellectual disabilityResearchers at the University of Sussex have discovered a new genetic defect which causes a form of intellectual disability; a finding that will improve screening programmes and help to end a 'diagnostic odyssey' for families across the globe. |
 | New noninvasive ventilation strategy allows preterm infants to breathe freelyPreterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) face heightened risks of death, critical illness, and prolonged hospitalization, particularly if they progress to develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A new study appearing in the journal Chest, published by Elsevier, suggests that treatment with nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV) is a beneficial management strategy in this population, and is superior to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preventing reintubation. |
 | Dogs reduce distress of patients waiting for emergency hospital careA visit from a dog can reduce the distress of patients waiting for emergency treatment in hospital, a study by the University of Saskatchewan (USask) shows. |
 | Study of teens with eating disorders compares substance users and non-usersAdolescence can be a minefield for those going through it. Along with natural bodily changes, teens also have to grapple with social pressures emphasizing thinness and other arbitrary standards of desirability. |
 | Researchers discover novel cancer pathway, opening new treatment optionsMount Sinai researchers have broken new ground in the understanding of the MDM2 gene—which is often overexpressed in cancer—finding that when it acts with a specific protein, it can lead to cancer cell death. The study appears in the May 2, 2019, print edition of Molecular Cell. |
 | Scientists identify genes tied to increased risk of ovarian cancerA team of researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer, Cedars-Sinai Cancer and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have newly identified 34 genes that are associated with an increased risk for developing the earliest stages of ovarian cancer. The findings, published today in the journal Nature Genetics, will both help identify women who are at highest risk of developing ovarian cancer and pave the way for identifying new therapies that can target these specific genes. |
 | Mental health treatment, diagnoses up in military children(HealthDay)—Diagnosed mental health conditions, pharmaceutical treatment, and outpatient visits for mental health all increased among U.S. pediatric military dependents from 2003 to 2015, according to a study published online April 10 in Psychiatric Services. |
 | FDA approves mavyret for children, adolescents with hep C(HealthDay)—Mavyret (glecaprevir and pibrentasvir) tablets are now approved to treat all six genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in children ages 12 to 17 years, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced yesterday. |
 | Mouse studies show minimally invasive route can accurately administer drugs to brainIn experiments in mice, Johns Hopkins researchers say they have developed a technique that facilitates the precise placement of cancer drugs at their intended targets in the brain. This approach pairs a technique that guides a catheter through the brain's arteries with positron emission technology (PET) scans to precisely place cancer drugs at their intended targets in the brain. If future studies show this image-guided drug delivery method is safe and effective in humans, the researchers say it could improve outcomes for historically difficult-to-treat and often lethal brain cancers, such as glioblastoma. |
 | Walnuts may help lower blood pressure for those at risk of heart diseaseWhen combined with a diet low in saturated fats, eating walnuts may help lower blood pressure in people at risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a new Penn State study. |
 | Researchers examine how our brain generates consciousness—and loses itMedically-induced loss of consciousness (mLOC) during anesthesia is associated with a break-down of brain connectivity at the anatomical macro scale—across cortical areas—yet what role brain micro circuitry plays in LOC remains unclear. |
 | What couples considering IVF need to know(HealthDay)—In vitro fertilization (IVF) is widely used in the United States to help infertile couples have children. But there are a number of things people should know when considering it, an infertility specialist says. |
 | 'Buzzing' in ear alerted boy to very unwelcome visitor(HealthDay)—The Connecticut 9-year-old knew something was wrong. Three days after a routine day in the school playground, he felt something "foreign" in his right ear and persistent buzzing noises. |
 | New urine tests for bladder cancer may improve patient outcomes; reduce procedures, costsTwo new urine tests appear to accurately detect bladder cancer, determine its severity and detect its recurrence, investigators report. |
 | Quitting smoking is associated with reduced risk of bladder cancer in postmenopausal womenA large study of postmenopausal women indicated that quitting cigarette smoking was associated with significantly reduced risk of bladder cancer. The most significant reduction in risk occurred in the first 10 years after quitting, with a modest but continued decline in later years. |
Children with high BMI who don't become obese adults do not appear to be at increased risk of type 2 diabetesNew research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Glasgow, UK (28 April-1 May) suggests that having a high BMI in childhood coupled with obesity in adulthood may contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes. However, children with a high BMI who did not have obesity as adults do not appear to be at greater risk of type 2 diabetes when they grow up. | |
Hospital study shows in just a decade, proportion of pregnant women with obesity has doubledThe proportion of pregnant women with obesity (body mass index [BMI] above 30 kg/m2) has doubled over the past decade, from around 22% in 2010 to 44% in 2018, according to new research being presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Glasgow, UK (28 April-1 May). | |
Study shows high phenolic acid intake—associated with a healthy diet—is associated with reduced breast cancer riskNew research presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Glasgow, Scotland (28 April—1 May) shows that a high intake of phenolic acids—associated with a healthy diet—is associated with a decreased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. The study is by Andrea Romanos Nanclares, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain, and colleagues. | |
Obese children over a third more likely to require a hospital emergency department visitNew research presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Glasgow, Scotland (28 April—1 May) reveals that obese children are over a third more likely to require a hospital emergency department visit than their normal weight counterparts. The research was conducted by Taimoor Hasan of the Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, UK, and colleagues. | |
 | HER2 positive breast cancer: Treatment de-escalation needs to be personalizedDe-escalation approaches in the treatment of women with HER2 positive breast cancer need to be personalised, according to Dr. Carmen Criscitiello, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy. Her comments come on the occasion of the presentation of updated research results at the inaugural ESMO Breast Cancer Congress 2019, 2-4 May, in Berlin, Germany. |
 | Talking postpartum depression and exercise with kinesiology expertMay is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that one in nine mothers in the U.S. will experience symptoms of postpartum depression. |
 | Returning to intimacy after childbirth(HealthDay)—"No sex for six weeks" used to be the standard advice following childbirth and, according to many doctors, it is still a good practice to allow healing. But it's not a hard-and-fast rule. |
 | A celebration salad fit for a queen or king(HealthDay)—When you want to create a festive celebration without a fat and calorie overload, a seafood-based salad is the perfect choice. To step up the extravagance, make it with crabmeat. |
 | US $244 billion lost annually because people don't have spectacles to correct myopiaVision impairment caused by uncorrected myopia cost the global economy an estimated US$244 billion in lost productivity in 2015, according to a new study published in the March print issue of the scientific journal Ophthalmology. |
ASTRO and AUA update joint clinical guidance for radiation therapy after prostatectomyThe American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Urological Association (AUA) today announced updates to their joint clinical guideline on adjuvant and salvage radiotherapy after prostatectomy in patients with and without evidence of prostate cancer recurrence to include new published research related to adjuvant radiotherapy. | |
Final report confirms Coldwater Creek cancer riskA federal agency has issued a final report confirming its earlier finding that people who lived near a St. Louis County creek contaminated with nuclear waste could face a higher risk of developing certain types of cancer. | |
A stroke slowed olympic legend michael johnson, but F.A.S.T. response sped his recoveryThere he was, Michael Johnson, once the fastest person ever to run 200 meters, the man who'd been so confident of setting the world record that he stepped onto the Centennial Olympic Stadium track wearing spikes painted gold. | |
 | Declining births fuel record low growth rate in CaliforniaNew population estimates show California's births fell by 18,000 last year, prompting the slowest recorded growth rate in the country's most populous state. |
Biology news
 | Narwhals have endured a million years with low genetic diversity, and they're thrivingDanish researchers have sequenced the genome of a narwhal, the Arctic whale famous for the horn-like tusk protruding from its forehead. Their work, appearing May 1 in the journal iScience, finds that compared to other Arctic marine mammals, narwhals have low genetic diversity, which typically indicates a species is struggling. However, narwhal populations number in the hundreds of thousands—but researchers warn they are still vulnerable to climate change and human activities in the Arctic. |
 | Wolves more prosocial than pack dogs in touchscreen experimentIn a touchscreen-based task that allowed individual animals to provide food to others, wolves behaved more prosocially toward their fellow pack members than did pack dogs. Rachel Dale of the Wolf Science Center in Vienna, Austria, and colleagues present these findings in the open access journal PLOS ONE on May 1, 2019. |
 | New giant virus may help scientists better understand the emergence of complex lifeThe discovery of the Medusavirus holds clues to the evolution of more complex life. A paper published in the Journal of Virology earlier this year has been creating waves because of the ability of the Medusavirus to turn amoeba into "stone." However, the bigger discovery is the possible relationship between the Medusavirus and the evolution of complex life. Tokyo University of Science has released a video and an infographic to explain this phenomenon. |
 | Deciphering seed dispersal decisions of agouti rodentsMuch like the squirrels and chipmunks in deciduous climates, there is a cat-sized creature in tropical regions that practices scatter hoarding – burying the seeds they find if they don't eat them right away. |
 | Scientists reveal the relationship between root microbiome and nitrogen use efficiency in riceA collaborative team led by Prof. Bai Yang and Prof. Chu Chengcai from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), recently examined the variation in root microbiota within 68 indica and 27 japonica rice varieties grown in field conditions. They revealed that the indica and japonica varieties recruited distinct root microbiota. |
 | Blue whale fossil provides evidence that baleens grew large earlier than thoughtA team of researchers with members from Italy, Australia, and Belgium has found evidence that suggests baleen whales grew large earlier than has been thought. In their paper published in the journal Biology Letters, the group describes their study of a whale fossil that was found in 2006 and how old it was. |
 | Hippos, the animal silicon pumpsThe excrement of hippos plays an important role in the ecosystem of African lakes and rivers. Because there are fewer and fewer hippos, this ecosystem is in danger. In the long term, this could lead to food shortages at Lake Victoria, for example. These are some of the results of a new study by an international team of researchers published in the journal Science Advances. Patrick Frings from the German Research Centre for Geosciences GFZ is part of the research team behind it. |
 | Forget sperm and eggs, researchers have created embryo stem cells from skin cellsA new, groundbreaking study by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) found a way to transform skin cells into the three major stem cell types that comprise early-stage embryos. This work has significant implications for modelling embryonic disease and placental dysfunctions, as well as paving the way to create whole embryos from skin cells. |
 | Parasites help beetle hosts function more effectivelyA common woodland beetle that plays an important role in the decomposition of fallen trees may be getting a boost from a surprising source: parasites. |
 | Peanut genome sequenced with unprecedented accuracyImproved pest resistance and drought tolerance are among potential benefits of an international effort in which Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their collaborators have produced the clearest picture yet of the complex genomic history of the cultivated peanut. |
 | Chemical records in teeth confirm elusive Alaska lake seals are one of a kindHundreds of harbor seals live in Iliamna Lake, the largest body of freshwater in Alaska and one of the most productive systems for sockeye salmon in the Bristol Bay region. |
 | 'Exotic' genes may improve cotton yield and qualityCotton breeders face a "Catch-22." Yield from cotton crops is inversely related to fiber quality. In general, as yield improves, fiber quality decreases, and vice-versa. "This is one of the most significant challenges for cotton breeders," says Peng Chee, a researcher at the University of Georgia. |
 | Declining insects? Bring back set-asideWhat if there were no more insects? Recent media headlines all over the world have raised this question, often using apocalyptic terms. Remarkably, on 20 March 2019, the U.K. Parliament even took a few minutes off discussing Brexit to take note of the issue. Is all this entomological fuss justified? |
 | Brain, shape and fossilsEmiliano Bruner, a paleoneurologist at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), has just published an overview article in the Journal of Comparative Neurology on studies of changes in brain shape over the course of human evolution, which considers the evolutionary relationship between humans and other primates. |
 | Not so sexy salmonNew research reveals that farmed salmon have smaller 'jaw hooks' or 'kype'- a secondary sexual trait, likened to the antlers of a stag, making them less attractive to females than their wild salmon cousins. |
 | Tourists and fishers key to future of rare manta nurseryTwo manta ray hotspots in waters near Bali identified in new research as vital habitats for the threatened species, could be at risk from unregulated tourism and small scale/ artisanal fishing. |
 | As monarchs migrate northward, experts ask Iowans to keep habitat in mindMonarch butterflies are fluttering this way, and, with some luck, they'll be more plentiful than in previous years when they reach Iowa later this spring. |
The hunger gaps: how flowering times affect farmland beesFor the very first time, researchers from the University of Bristol have measured farmland nectar supplies throughout the whole year and revealed hungry gaps when food supply is not meeting pollinator demand. This novel finding reveals new ways of making farmland better for pollinators, benefitting the many crop plants and wildflowers that depend on them. | |
 | Why do birds typically live longer than mammals?Why do birds typically live longer than mammals? A new paper offers a hint, albeit not a conclusive answer. Assistant Professors of Biology Cynthia Downs and Ana Jimenez at Hamilton College and Colgate University respectively have co-authored a paper with nine students, "Does cellular metabolism from primary fibroblasts and oxidative stress in blood differ between mammals and birds? The (lack-thereof) scaling of oxidative stress" in press with Integrative and Comparative Biology. |
 | New scat study provides clues to puzzling existence of Humboldt martens in Oregon DunesWith a new scat study, researchers are chipping away at solving a biological mystery on the central Oregon coast: the existence of an isolated population of a small but fierce forest predator that makes its home in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. |
 | Curtin researchers find new critically endangered carnivorous plantsCurtin University researchers have discovered a new population of a critically endangered aquatic carnivorous plant in Western Australia's remote Kimberley, following a 10-year search of the region. |
 | Top ocelot researcher calls conservation strategy 'ecological fairy tale'In the early 1980s, many scientists believed the endangered ocelot, a spotted wildcat that once roamed as far north as Arkansas and Louisiana, had died out in Texas. Then, on a late winter day in 1982 on a remote Willacy County ranch, a young biologist named Michael Tewes trapped the first Texas ocelot of the modern era. |
 | Why abusive husbands kick dogs but angry neighbors poison themVolunteering with animal rescue and shelter organizations in Detroit brought me face to face with many manifestations of animal cruelty: dogs left outside and frozen in their yards; dogs with chain link collars embedded in their necks; cats that had gaping wounds full of maggots as the result of being doused with acid; and dogs used for dog fighting. |
Bald eagle died of lead poisoning in Montana's Glacier ParkA bald eagle found dead in Montana's Glacier National Park died of lead poisoning. | |
US wildlife officials propose downlisting endangered beetleU.S. wildlife officials say an endangered carnivorous beetle is making a comeback and should be downlisted to threatened. | |
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