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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 15, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Study finds open cluster NGC 2682 at least two times larger than previously thoughtBased on new data from ESA's Gaia satellite, astronomers have provided more insights into properties of the nearby open cluster NGC 2682, revealing that its size is at least two times greater than previously believed. The findings are detailed in a paper published May 6 on the arXiv pre-print repository. |
 | Japanese space startup aims to compete with US rivalsA Japanese startup that launched a rocket into space earlier this month plans to provide low-cost rocket services and compete with American rivals such as SpaceX, its founder said Wednesday. |
 | Maunakea observatories shed new light on obscured infant solar systemAstronomers using the combined power of two Hawaii telescopes have taken groundbreaking, sharp new images of a distant planetary system that likely resembles a baby version of our solar system. |
 | China's Chang'E 4 mission discovers new 'secrets' from the far side of the moonA lunar lander named for the Chinese goddess of the moon may have lessened the mystery of the far side of the moon. The fourth Chang'E probe (CE-4) was the first mission to land on the far side of the moon, and it has collected new evidence from the largest crater in the solar system, clarifying how the moon may have evolved. The results were published on May 16, 2019, in Nature. |
 | Analyze this: Space station facility enables rapid biomedical analysisIn its role as a unique orbiting laboratory, the International Space Station provides a broad range of equipment for conducting health and life sciences research. However, the equipment available for cellular and molecular biology is limited compared to capabilities found in laboratories on Earth. To address this limitation, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) commissioned an innovative biomedical device for an upcoming space station expedition. The videogame console-sized Bio-Analyzer enables near real time, onboard analysis using freshly collected biological samples such as blood, urine, saliva, sweat, and cell cultures. |
 | The northern lights, aka 'aurora borealis,' could be coming to a sky near you this weekThanks to a geomagnetic storm from the sun, skywatchers across the far northern U.S. and most of Canada later this week could see the aurora borealis, aka the northern lights. |
 | First-ever constructed image of a terrestrial gamma-ray flashTerrestrial gamma-ray flashes occur above some thunderstorms and propagate out into space. These high-energy discharges of photons were only discovered less than 25 years ago when a NASA spacecraft designed to observe cosmic gamma-ray bursts from outer space detected flashes that seemed to come from Earth itself. |
 | Video: Fly over Mount Sharp on MarsEver wanted to visit Mars? A new animated video shows what it would be like to soar over Mount Sharp, which NASA's Curiosity rover has been climbing since 2014. |
Technology news
 | Experimental brain-controlled hearing aid decodes, identifies who you want to hearOur brains have a remarkable knack for picking out individual voices in a noisy environment, like a crowded coffee shop or a busy city street. This is something that even the most advanced hearing aids struggle to do. But now Columbia engineers are announcing an experimental technology that mimics the brain's natural aptitude for detecting and amplifying any one voice from many. Powered by artificial intelligence, this brain-controlled hearing aid acts as an automatic filter, monitoring wearers' brain waves and boosting the voice they want to focus on. |
 | New AI sees like a human, filling in the blanksComputer scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have taught an artificial intelligence agent how to do something that usually only humans can do—take a few quick glimpses around and infer its whole environment, a skill necessary for the development of effective search-and-rescue robots that one day can improve the effectiveness of dangerous missions. The team, led by professor Kristen Grauman, Ph.D. candidate Santhosh Ramakrishnan and former Ph.D. candidate Dinesh Jayaraman (now at the University of California, Berkeley) published their results today in the journal Science Robotics. |
 | Augmented reality affects people's behavior in the real worldAs major technology firms race to roll out augmented reality products, Stanford researchers are learning how it affects people's behavior – in both the physical world and a digitally enhanced one. |
 | Machine learning reduces language barriers in global trade, research showsMachine learning and artificial intelligence have exploded onto the scene in recent years, offering the hope of greater business efficiency. At the same time, researchers have found virtually no empirical evidence supporting the promised strides in labor productivity and economic activity. |
 | Framework improves 'continual learning' for artificial intelligenceResearchers have developed a new framework for deep neural networks that allows artificial intelligence (AI) systems to better learn new tasks while "forgetting" less of what it has learned regarding previous tasks. The researchers have also demonstrated that using the framework to learn a new task can make the AI better at performing previous tasks, a phenomenon called backward transfer. |
 | Toy transformers and real-life whales inspire biohybrid robotDrawing inspiration from biology and the toy shelf, researchers at Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College and City University of Hong Kong have developed a swimming robot with a light-controlled cellular engine that can perform highly-targeted drug delivery. |
 | Pilots pushed Boeing to act after Lion Air crash: reportsAfter a deadly crash in Indonesia, American Airlines pilots called a meeting to press Boeing executives for safety changes to the 737 MAX aircraft, US media reported Tuesday. |
San Francisco bans facial recognition use by police and govtSan Francisco has banned the use of facial recognition by police and government agencies, the first US city to take such a step as privacy fears mount in the country's technology capital. | |
 | Facebook to curb livestreaming amid pressure over Christchurch massacreFacebook announced Wednesday it would tighten access to its livestreaming feature as New Zealand's premier Jacinda Ardern and French leader Emmanuel Macron prepared to launch the global "Christchurch Call" initiative to tackle the spread of extremism online. |
 | Online complaint system used by Google and Twitter is like the 'Wild West'The online complaint system used by web giants like Google and Twitter is a 'Wild West' with evidence of abuse by complainants, according to a new study from Queen Mary University of London. |
 | Imagine Apple's App Store with no walled gardenGregg Spiridellis isn't shy when it comes to his feelings about the Apple iOS App Store. |
 | Can you own an electric car without a home charger?A popular selling point for electric vehicles is the notion that you never have to stop for gas. Your "gas station" is in your garage—simply plug in your vehicle to charge it overnight. |
 | Cars will change more in the next decade than they have in the past centuryDan Lewis, Staffordshire University; Claude C. Chibelushi, Staffordshire University, and Debi Roberts, Staffordshire University |
 | Researchers discover new security flaws in Intel processorsZombieLoad and Store-to-Leak Forwarding are two new exploits that have just been announced by TU Graz security researchers Daniel Gruss, Moritz Lipp, Michael Schwarz and an international team. |
 | Your internet data is rottingMany MySpace users were dismayed to discover earlier this year that the social media platform lost 50 million files uploaded between 2003 and 2015. |
 | Facebook's 'transparency' efforts hide key reasons for showing adsFacebook's advertising platform was not built to help social media users understand who was targeting them with messages, or why. It is an extremely powerful system, which lets advertisers target specific users according to a detailed range of attributes. For example, in 2017, there were 3,100 people in Facebook's database who lived in Idaho, were in long-distance relationships and were thinking about buying a minivan. |
 | Insect behavior, miniature blimps may unlock the key to military swarming technologyResearchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory flew a fleet of 30 miniature autonomous blimps in unison to test the swarming behavior of autonomous systems. The blimps responded to each other while in flight and responded to changing conditions. |
 | Clean and effective electronic waste recyclingAs the number of electronics devices increases around the world, finding effective methods of recycling electronic waste (e-waste) is a growing concern. About 50 million tons of e-waste is generated each year and only 20% of that is recycled. Most of the remaining 80% ends up in a landfill where it can become an environmental problem. Currently, e-waste recycling involves mechanical crushers and chemical baths, which are expensive, and manual labor, which can cause significant health and environmental problems when not performed properly. Thus, researchers from Kumamoto University, Japan have been using pulsed power (pulsed electric discharges) to develop a cleaner and more efficient recycling method. |
 | Alibaba results beat analyst estimatesChinese e-commerce leader Alibaba on Wednesday announced revenue for the latest quarter that beat analyst estimates, indicating that the Sino-US trade tiff and a slowing domestic economy were having little impact on the bottom line. |
 | Same computer password for the last 10 years? You might need a vibrating cybernudgeTechnology used in exercise and lifestyle apps may hold the key to answering that most difficult of challenges—getting people to change their passwords and better protect their online privacy and data. |
 | Researchers teach robots handwriting and drawingAn algorithm developed by Brown University computer scientists enables robots to put pen to paper, writing words using stroke patterns similar to human handwriting. It's a step, the researchers say, toward robots that are able to communicate more fluently with human co-workers and collaborators. |
 | Flying cars mooted for Paris' public transport networkEuropean aerospace giant Airbus and Paris underground operator RATP will study the viability of adding flying vehicles to the city's urban transport network, the companies said Wednesday. |
 | FAA chief defends handling of Boeing Max safety approvalThe acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that Boeing should have done more to explain an automated flight-control system on its 737 Max aircraft before two deadly crashes, but he defended his agency's safety certification of the plane and its decision not to ground the jet until other regulators around the world had already done so. |
 | China blocks all language editions of WikipediaBeijing has broadened its block of online encyclopedia Wikipedia to include all language editions, an internet censorship research group reported just weeks ahead of China's most politically explosive anniversary. |
Best Buy extends reach into booming health care market with GreatCallThe man at the other end of the phone line was confused. But Daina Blackmon, with the same certification as a 911 dispatcher, calmly probed for signs of trouble. | |
 | Review: Edifier headphones and earbuds give you great sound, no wiresThere are times when we all would like to tune out the outside world and just relax in peace and quiet. |
 | Researchers demystify centralization in cryptocurrency miningBlockchain technology has been considered as the most revolutionizing invention since the internet. Due to its immutable nature and the associated security and privacy benefits, it has attracted the attention of banks, governments, technology corporations, as well as venture capital. |
 | American Express buys restaurant reservation service ResyAmerican Express is buying the online reservation startup Resy, the companies announced Wednesday, the latest move by AmEx to establish and maintain a foothold for its card members in some of the world's most desired restaurants. |
 | Tech giants vow to double number of women managers by 2022Forty-five tech giants committed Wednesday to doubling the number of women on their management boards to 30 percent by 2022, the French presidency said. |
 | Tencent profit climbs as it emerges from gaming quagmireChinese internet giant Tencent said Wednesday net profit soared nearly 17 percent in the first quarter as the company appeared set to emerge from the battering it received from Beijing's crackdown on gaming. |
 | Help coming on blocking scam calls for robocall-plagued USNew measures by U.S. regulators could help thwart some of the billions of robocalls received in the U.S. |
 | San Francisco ban highlights facial recognition fearsA ban on facial recognition for law enforcement in San Francisco highlights growing public concerns about technology which is seeing stunning growth for an array of applications while provoking worries over privacy. |
 | Tech giants vow to step up fight against online extremismMajor tech firms on Wednesday pledged to come up with new measures for stamping out violent extremist content on the internet, amid growing pressure from governments pushing for action in the wake of the massacres at two New Zealand mosques in March. |
Medicine & Health news
 | First smartphone app that can hear ear infections in childrenEar infections are the most common reason that parents bring their children to a pediatrician, according to the National Institutes of Health. |
 | Glucosamine supplements may be linked to lower risk of cardiovascular diseaseRegular use of glucosamine supplements may be related to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, suggests an analysis of data from the UK Biobank study, published in The BMJ today. |
 | 'Zombie cells' buildup in your body may play role in agingCall them zombie cells—they refuse to die. |
 | Artificial intelligence tool vastly scales up Alzheimer's researchResearchers at UC Davis and UC San Francisco have found a way to teach a computer to precisely detect one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease in human brain tissue, delivering a proof of concept for a machine-learning approach to distinguishing critical markers of the disease. |
 | Big data helps identify better way to research breast cancer's spreadScientists are using a lot of genomic data to identify medical issues sooner in patients, but they're also using it to assist their scientific counterparts in researching diseases better. |
 | New strategy of reprogramming regulatory T cells may improve cancer therapiesWhile therapies that harness the power of the immune system against cancer have made remarkable progress against certain types of tumors, they still remain ineffective in most cancer patients. A new study from the Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID) at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) describes a method of reprogramming the regulatory T cells that usually suppress immune responses into inflammatory cells that not only permit but also intensify an antitumor immune response. Their paper is receiving advance online release in Nature. |
 | 'Striking' differences in rates of HIV/AIDS within African nationsDespite the rapid scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) since 2000, HIV/AIDS is still the most common cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa, according to data from the Global Burden of Disease. |
 | 3-D images reveal how infants' heads change shape during birthUsing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), scientists have captured 3-D images that show how infants' brains and skulls change shape as they move through the birth canal just before delivery. Olivier Ami of Auvergne University in Clermont Ferrand, France, and colleagues present these findings in the open access journal PLOS ONE on May 15, 2019. |
 | Jawless fish take a bite out of the blood-brain barrierA jawless parasitic fish could help lead the way to more effective treatments for multiple brain ailments, including cancer, trauma and stroke. |
 | Study identifies how cancer drug inhibits DNA repair in cancer cellsAccording to researchers at Yale Cancer Center, a cancer drug thought to be of limited use possesses a superpower of sorts: It is able to stop certain cancer cells from repairing their DNA in order to survive. The study, published today in the journal Science Translational Medicine, suggests that combining this drug, cediranib, with other agents could potentially deliver a lethal blow in cancer that uses a specific pathway—or process—to create DNA repair cells. |
 | Brain-controlled, non-invasive muscle stimulation allows chronic paraplegics to walkIn another major clinical breakthrough of the Walk Again Project, a nonprofit international consortium aimed at developing new neurorehabilitation protocols, technologies, and therapies for spinal cord injury, two patients with paraplegia regained the ability to walk with minimal assistance, via a fully non-invasive brain-machine interface that does not require the use of any invasive spinal cord surgical procedure. The results of this study appeared in the May 1 issue of Scientific Reports. |
 | Researchers find protein marker for the effectiveness of malaria antibodiesThe quantity and quality of antibodies that recognize the end region of the malaria parasite's CSP protein is a good marker of protection by the RTS,S/AS01E vaccine, according to a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and institutional collaborators. The study, published in Nature Communications, provides valuable information for guiding the design of more effective vaccines. |
 | A new way to wind the development clock of cardiac muscle cellsThese days, scientists can collect a few skin or blood cells, wipe out their identities, and reprogram them to become virtually any other kind of cell in the human body, from neurons to heart cells. |
 | Decoy antibiotics could get around bacteria's defencesImperial medical students have helped to devise a new type of 'decoy' drug to tackle infections that are resistant to antibiotics. |
 | Relay station in the brain controls our movementsThe relay station of the brain, the substantia nigra, consists of different types of nerve cells and is responsible for controlling the execution of movements. Researchers at the University of Basel's Biozentrum have now characterized two of these cell populations more precisely and assigned an exact function to each of them. The results of the study have now been published in Cell Reports. |
 | Potential drug targets for ALS and FTD identified in two studiesA pair of collaborative studies led by Fen-Biao Gao, Ph.D., have identified two potential drug targets for the diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The studies, which appear in Nature Neuroscience and PNAS, provide a new layer of detail about how hexanucleotide repeat expansions in the C9ORF72 gene, the most common genetic mutation responsible for both ALS and FTD, causes neuron cell death. The Nature Neuroscience study also describes a new mouse model that more closely mimics the gradual build-up of toxins in patients with the diseases. |
 | Fighting staph infections with the body's immune systemResearchers have gained a greater understanding of the biology of staphylococcus skin infections in mice and how the mouse immune system mobilizes to fight them. A study appears this week in the PNAS. Community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) typically causes skin infections but can spread throughout the body to cause invasive infections such as sepsis, and possibly death. |
 | Mindfulness smoking-cessation app can change the brainResearchers have found that a mindfulness-based smartphone app designed to help people stop smoking was effective at reducing study participants' self-reported daily cigarette consumption. And those who reduced their cigarette consumption the most also showed decreased reactivity to smoking-related images in a brain region known to be activated when someone experiences a craving. |
 | Blood biopsy: New technique enables detailed genetic analysis of cancer cellsA new way to cleanly separate out cancer cells from a blood sample enables comprehensive genetic profiling of the cancer cells, which could help doctors target tumors and monitor treatments more effectively. |
 | A new way of diagnosing and treating disease—without cutting skinUniversity of British Columbia researchers have developed a specialized microscope that has the potential ability to both diagnose diseases that include skin cancer and perform incredibly precise surgery—all without cutting skin. |
 | Study shows increased risk of breast cancer in transgender womenTransgender women (male sex assigned at birth, female gender identity) using hormone treatment show an increased risk of breast cancer compared with the general male population, finds a large Dutch study published by The BMJ today. |
China unlikely to curb fentanyl exports in short-termStrict policies traditionally embraced by Asian nations to discourage illicit drug use are beginning to change, with a few nations adopting alternative approaches while other nations are taking an even harder line against drugs, according to a new RAND Corporation report. | |
 | Being wise is good for your health—review looks at emerging science of wisdomCan science measure what it means to be wise? A growing body of evidence suggests that wisdom is a complex concept that contributes to mental health and happiness, according to a review in the May/June issue of Harvard Review of Psychiatry. |
Postpartum depression: For impoverished mothers of color, it takes a communityTreating postpartum depression (PPD) in low-income mothers of color requires an understanding of each person's lived experience, and practitioners should consider interventions that develop broadly from a community level in order to improve outcomes for their clients, according to a University at Buffalo social work researcher. | |
 | Novel scale correlates children's snacking behaviors with external food cuesOne in four preschool-age children in the U.S. have overweight or obesity, putting them at risk for multiple chronic health problems including cancer. Early and consistent exposure to such food cues may promote conditioned eating, where the cue itself becomes a signal to eat. Children may then learn to eat by exposure to external cues rather than listing to their internal, biological signals of hunger. |
 | Industry self-regulation of food advertising doesn't work, worldwide study showsChildren in countries with industry self-regulation are exposed to more unhealthy food and drink advertising on television than children in countries with no regulation at all, a global study led by a University of Wollongong (UOW) researcher has found. |
Inflammation induces anhedonia in women but not menInflammation reduces the brain's response to rewards in women, but not in men, according to a new study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, published by Elsevier. Reduced activity in the brain's reward center is the signature of anhedonia, a core feature of depression that reflects a loss of enjoyment in things or activities. Women are two-to-three times more likely to be diagnosed with depression, and the new findings pinpoint a key difference in men and women that could contribute to the lopsided rates of the disorder. | |
 | Researchers identify new therapeutic target for metastatic prostate cancerResearchers in New York have found that treating human prostate cancer cells with a drug that targets a protein called PHLPP2 may prevent the cancer cells from spreading to other organs in the body. The study, which will be published May 15 in the Journal of Cell Biology, reveals that inhibiting PHLPP2 lowered the levels of MYC, an oncogenic protein that causes many different types of cancer that cannot be targeted by conventional drug therapies. |
What's causing your vertigo? Goggles may help with diagnosisVertigo is a form of severe dizziness that can result in a loss of balance, a feeling of falling, trouble walking or standing, or nausea. There is more than one type of vertigo, each with a different cause, and sometimes requiring different treatment. Now a proof-of-concept study has found that special goggles that measure eye movements during an episode of vertigo may help more accurately diagnose which type of vertigo a person has. The study is published in the May 15, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
 | Genomic collision may explain why many kidney transplants failA genomic collision could explain why many kidney transplants fail, even when donors and recipients are thought to be well-matched, according to a new study from researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. This genomic collision is a genetic incompatibility between kidney donor and recipient, causing the recipient to mount an immune attack against the donor protein. |
 | Blood flow command centre discovered in the brainA team of scientists from Australia, France, New Zealand and the UK has discovered a group of brain cells that function as a 'master-controller' for the cardiovascular system by orchestrating the control of blood flow to different parts of the body. |
 | Menopause 'not the cause of midlife weight gain' in womenFat-mass continues to increase in middle-age women but menopause isn't to blame, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU). |
 | Little proof that doping really worksThe list of substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is huge. Ph.D. candidate Jules Heuberger looked at many of these, as well as at the methods used to detect them. He concluded that for very few of these substances is there is evidence that they actually do enhance performance. Ph.D. defence on 16 May. |
 | Ketamine: The illicit party psychedelic that promises to heal depressionIt's been 50 years in the making, but the anaesthetic and illicit party drug ketamine is now having a clinical comeback. New studies show that this commonly used anaesthetic can provide quick relief of core symptoms associated with severe depression, including suicidal ideation. |
 | Negative personal experiences add meaning to lifeWhile many people say they appreciate positive experiences more than negative ones, there is a hidden benefit of negative experiences. While someone involved in a negative situation might not enjoy it, a recent study from the University of Minnesota and Stanford University indicates that a negative experience can provide meaning for the individual. |
 | 50 percent of people do not know they have high blood pressureA study involving scientists from The University of Western Australia and the Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation has revealed 50 per cent of Australians living with high blood pressure do not realise they have it. |
 | Healthy habits could prevent 27% of cancer cases in BrazilLifestyle risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, overweight and obesity, unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are associated with a third of all deaths caused by 20 types of cancer in Brazil, according to a new epidemiological study. Published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, the study shows that lifestyle risk factors account for 114,497 annual cases of cancer in Brazil, which represents 27 percent of all cancer cases, and 63,000 deaths, or 34 percent of cancer mortality. |
 | A nerve cell serves as a "single" for studiesNerve cells derived from human stem cells often serve as the basis for research into brain diseases. However, these cells differ considerably in their quality and produce varying results. Scientists around the world are therefore looking for simple cell models that lead to consistent results when an experiment is repeated. Research teams from the University of Bonn, the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Göttingen describe a model derived from stem cells that consists of only one human nerve cell. It was obtained from pluripotent stem cells through a fast forward programming method and provides highly standardized conditions for investigating nerve cell functions. The two studies have now been published in the international journal Cell Reports. |
 | Lowering blood pressure reduces brain bleeding in strokesThe search for treatments for spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, the most devastating type of stroke, which carries a 40% mortality rate, has been rife with disappointments. But a new study suggests that intensive blood pressure lowering may reduce the amount of bleeding in deep areas of the brain in patients with the condition, a team of Yale researchers report May 13 in the journal JAMA Neurology. |
 | Mothers with higher quality diets have slimmer, leaner babiesObesity is a growing problem among toddlers, children and adolescents in the United States. Gaining weight and fat mass rapidly during the first six months of life is one risk factor that can lead to obesity in children. |
 | These 5 foods are claimed to improve our health. But the amount we'd need to consume to benefit is... a lotFood gives us the nutrients we need to survive, and we know a balanced diet contributes to good health. |
 | Children near lead smelters exposed to lead in the wombThe environmental tragedy in Flint, Michigan, in which drinking water contaminated with lead raised fears of potential health effects for exposed children, revealed the failure of a regulatory system to protect residents from lead exposure. |
 | New cortisol study shows significant differences between police, civiliansNew research from U of T Mississauga reveals significant differences between police officers and civilians in a study that analyzed saliva samples for levels of the stress hormone cortisol. |
 | How traumatic injury has become a health care crisisTraumatic injury, or sudden physical injury requiring immediate medical attention, is an epidemic in the United States. It affects individuals of all ages, races and societal classes and accounts for over 41 million emergency department visits and 2.3 million hospital admissions each year. |
 | Researchers block protein that plays a key role in Alzheimer's diseaseIn recent years, it has become increasingly clear to researchers that the protein galectin-3 is involved in inflammatory diseases in the brain. A study led by researchers at Lund University in Sweden now shows the de facto key role played by the protein in Alzheimer's disease. When the researchers shut off the gene that produces this protein in mice, the amount of Alzheimer's plaque and the inflammatory load both decreased. |
Awareness is first step in helping stop ageism, say researchersEver cracked a joke about old people? It might seem funny, but in a world where the population aged 60 or over is growing faster than all younger age groups, ageism is no laughing matter, says a University of Alberta researcher. | |
 | How to tackle India's sexual violence epidemic – it starts with sex education"Do you masturbate?", "When did you first have sexual intercourse?", "Did you ask for consent?" These are just some of the taboo-breaking questions I asked convicted rapists in a Delhi prison during interviews for my research. |
 | Psychologists discover enhanced language learning in synesthetes"When I see equations, I see the letters in colors. I don't know why," wrote Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. "I see vague pictures of Bessel functions with light-tan j's, slightly violet-bluish n's, and dark brown x's flying around." |
 | Myofascial therapies help treat gastroesophageal refluxResearchers from the Departments of Physical Therapy, Medicine and Surgery of the Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera of Valencia (Spain), have developed and successfully tested a pioneering myofascial therapy for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux. Their study has shown that the manual therapy, which is designed to relax the fascia in the area of the diaphragm, decreases the symptoms of gastric reflux and the use of medicine to alleviate them, thus improving the quality of life of the patients who took part in the clinical trial up to a month after applying the therapy. |
Clinicians could prescribe fitness apps to help cancer survivor's exerciseFitness apps could be prescribed by clinicians to help patients recovering from cancer increase their physical activity levels, new research in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship reports. | |
 | Older adults expect to lose brainpower, but most don't ask doctors how to prevent dementiaMany Americans in their 50s and early 60s are worried about declining brain health, especially if they have loved ones with memory loss and dementia, a new national poll finds. |
 | Like a lot of things, women's gut microbiomes appear to mature earlier than men'sThe human gut microbiome is a complex microbial ecosystem that plays an important role in our health. For example, these microbes—bacteria, viruses, fungi—help regulate metabolism, fend off infections, produce essential vitamins and break down dietary fiber. They may also be biomarkers of health and disease. |
 | LED light can damage eyes, health authority warnsThe "blue light" in LED lighting can damage the eye's retina and disturb natural sleep rhythms, France's government-run health watchdog said this week. |
 | A substantial benefit from replacing steak with fishThe average Dane will gain a health benefit from substituting part of the red and processed meat in their diet with fish, according to calculations from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark. Men over 50 and women of childbearing age in particular would benefit from such a change in diet. |
 | Researchers find widely 'inconsistent' use of antibodies in lab experimentsScientists at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Center say they have affirmed widespread inconsistencies in the use of a common laboratory procedure called immunohistochemical staining, and say the variations are making many laboratory experiments unreliable. |
 | Pelvic exercises may beat bedroom bluesPhysiotherapists from James Cook University in Australia say simple pelvic floor exercises may be a cure for some common problems men experience in the bedroom. |
Weight loss medicines underutilized by veteransDespite the availability of new weight management medications and several clinical guidelines recommending their use as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for obesity, a new study has found that their use is extremely low (about one percent) among eligible Veterans. | |
 | Feeling healthy: A good start, but not always a good indicator of heart disease riskMost people feel they have a general idea of how healthy they are based on their diet and exercise regimen and how often they get sick. But a new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers adds to evidence that how healthy people think they are isn't always an accurate indicator of their risk for cardiovascular disease. |
 | Molecular basis of brain dysfunction and embryo malformation associated with thalidomideIn the late 1950s, thalidomide was prescribed as a treatment for afflictions ranging from anxiety to morning sickness. In the early 1960s, research indicated that the drug was the primary cause of numerous in utero birth defects, ranging from limb malformation to deafness and/or blindness. |
 | Robot therapists need rulesInteractions with artificial intelligence (AI) will become an increasingly common aspect of our lives. A team at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has now completed the first study of how "embodied AI" can help treat mental illness. Their conclusion: Important ethical questions of this technology remain unanswered. There is urgent need for action on the part of governments, professional associations and researchers. |
 | Combination therapy advisable for IBSThe more abnormalities in intestinal and brain function that IBS sufferers have, the more severe their symptoms of this functional bowel disorder, and the more adversely their everyday life is affected. This is shown by a Sahlgrenska Academy study indicating that patients with IBS should get treatments for different abnormalities simultaneously, to improve both bowel function and signaling from the brain to the gut. |
Tracking symptoms: New tool helps providers identify underlying causesAn easy to use, brief, inexpensive new tool developed and validated by researchers at the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University will help healthcare providers track and potentially identify early onset of more complex, serious underlying issues that could otherwise go undetected. | |
 | Researchers pinpoint why lymphoma patients may become resistant to specific therapyWith more targeted therapies being approved each year for cancer, the development of drug resistance to these agents is a growing concern. It has often been assumed that drug resistance is due to the presence or development of additional genetic alterations; however, it is now clear that resistance mechanisms are more complicated. Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have discovered a mechanism of drug resistance to Venetoclax, also known as ABT-199, a BCL-2 targeting drug commonly used to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. Their findings, published in the journal Cancer Cell, also suggest a possible co-treatment strategy to overcome this resistance. |
 | Opioid-exposed newborns may react to pain differently after birthBabies exposed to opioids while their mothers were pregnant with them may need special care even before they start to experience withdrawal symptoms, according to Penn State research. |
 | Twitter image colors and content could help identify users with depression, anxietyTwitter users with depression and anxiety were found to be more likely to post pictures with lower aesthetic values and less vivid colors, particularly images in grayscale, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn Medicine. Additionally, they found that users tended to suppress positive emotions rather than outwardly display more negative emotions, such as keeping a straight face instead of outright frowning, in their profile pictures. The study sought to utilize computer vision and artificial intelligence to determine what qualities of photos posted to and set as profile images on Twitter could be associated with depression and anxiety, with an eye toward using the platform as a method of screening for both. The research will be presented at the International AAAI Conference on Web and Social Media June 11-14 in Munich. |
 | Optimizing device implantation in patients with atrial fibrillation and risk of strokeAccording to clinical studies, about a third of patients with atrial fibrillation will suffer a stroke during their lifetime. Between 70 and 90% of these strokes are caused by a thrombus formed in the left atrial appendage. |
 | Thriving in a multi-generational home(HealthDay)—If you're part of a multi-generational home, you're in good company. The number of Americans living with two or more adult generations of one family rose during the last recession and has grown to an all-time high during the recovery. |
 | Quitting smoking while pregnant tied to reduced risk for preterm birth(HealthDay)—Quitting smoking, especially early in pregnancy, is associated with a reduced risk for preterm birth, even for high-frequency cigarette smokers, according to a study published online April 19 in JAMA Network Open. |
 | Anxiety meds like Valium, Xanax could raise miscarriage risk(HealthDay)—Pregnancy is often a time of heightened worry. But researchers warn that taking anti-anxiety drugs like Valium and Xanax may increase the risk of miscarriage. |
 | More clues to the genetics behind an inherited cholesterol disorderHigh cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease, but not all forms of it are the same. An underdiagnosed genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia can cause dangerously high levels of cholesterol at an early age. |
 | Computer-based training studied in children with fragile X syndrome(HealthDay)—No significant difference in outcomes was observed in children and adolescents with fragile X syndrome (FXS) receiving adaptive versus nonadaptive in-home cognitive training, according to a study published online April 15 in the Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. |
 | Faster walkers more likely to live longerPeople who report that they have a slower walking pace have a lower life expectancy than fast walkers, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Leicester Biomedical Research Centre—a partnership between Leicester's Hospitals, the University of Leicester and Loughborough University. |
 | Risk for repeat concussion quantified for pediatric patients(HealthDay)—A total of 16.2 percent of children with an index concussion experience at least one repeat concussion within two years, according to a study published online May 14 in The Journal of Pediatrics. |
 | CDC: Racial disparity seen with lupus-related deaths(HealthDay)—Mortality from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is significantly higher among blacks, according to research published in the May 10 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. |
 | Worldwide prevalence of eating disorders increased since 2000(HealthDay)—Eating disorders are highly prevalent worldwide, especially among women, according to research published in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. |
 | Tool predicts quality measures after ventral hernia repair(HealthDay)—The Outcomes Reporting App for Clinical and Patient Engagement (ORACLE) tool can predict quality measures following ventral hernia repair (VHR) and facilitate preoperative surgeon-patient discussions, according to a study published online May 2 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. |
 | Scientists suss out the secrets of human screamsHumans may be the only species on Earth to build a whole industry off well-timed cinematic screams, but the act of screaming itself is common in many animals ranging from frogs and foxes, to birds, rabbits, goats, and nonhuman primates. |
 | Legal marijuana reduces chronic pain, but increases injuries and car accidentsThe legalization of recreational marijuana is associated with an increase in its abuse, injury due to overdoses, and car accidents, but does not significantly change health care use overall, according to a study by researchers at UC San Francisco. |
 | Chronic insomnia and memory problems: A direct link is establishedChronic insomnia disorder, which affects approximately 10 percent of adults, has a direct negative impact on cognitive function of people aged 45 and over, independent of the effect of other health issues. |
'Smart' molecules that selectively target abnormal cell growth in blood vessels may reduce reoccurring blockageArtificial "smart" molecules selectively targeted certain blood-vessel cells and prevented abnormal growth while allowing others to heal. This could lead to new stent treatments, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Vascular Discovery Scientific Sessions 2019, a premier global exchange of the latest advances in new and emerging scientific research in arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, vascular biology, peripheral vascular disease, vascular surgery and functional genomics. | |
 | Single-chain insulin would change dosage, productionA researcher from the University of Houston has created a form of recombinant insulin that could potentially address some of the biggest concerns about the lifesaving drug, including its price. |
 | What are the neurological side effects of CAR T-cell therapy?The recent advent of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized the clinical treatment of cancer. Under the umbrella of immunotherapy, CAR T-cell treatment trains and strengthens a patient's own immune system to attack tumors. Early successes in clinical trials have led to approval of the treatment for recurrent blood cancers, including leukemia and lymphoma. |
 | Coherent? Voice disorders significantly affect listeners, too"Fly heading two three zero, runway two seven left, cleared for takeoff." Air traffic controllers are among the 25 to 45 percent of the workforce in the United States who use their voices professionally. It is imperative for their listeners to understand what they are communicating. Air traffic controllers, teachers and university professors have a high prevalence of voice disorders referred to as "dysphonia." Other professions also are at risk including clergy, attorneys, counselors and performers. |
 | Study identifies factors associated with farmer suicideGeorgia farmers are champions at tackling challenges they can see—bad weather, insects and livestock disease, to name a few. Their higher-than-average suicide rate, however, indicates they may need some support in addressing stress and depression. |
 | Enhanced anticancer compound may allow precise activation and tracking of treatmentResearchers at The Wistar Institute and the University of South Florida have advanced a novel compound that specifically targets the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response that is frequently hyperactivated in cancer and promotes survival of cancer cells during stressful conditions. The new compound has unique chemical properties that allow for precise activation and can be used for tracking its activity in vivo thanks to the emission of fluorescence. Research was published online in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. |
 | rTMS improves memory in younger and older adultsMagnetic stimulation of the brain improves working memory, offering a new potential avenue of therapy for individuals living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, according to new research from the Duke University School of Medicine. |
 | New drug could help treat neonatal seizuresA new drug that inhibits neonatal seizures in rodent models could open up new avenues for the treatment of epilepsy in human newborns. Researchers have identified that gluconate—a small organic compound found in fruit and honey—acts as an anticonvulsant, inhibiting seizures by targeting the activity of channels that control the flow of chloride ions in and out of neonatal neurons. A paper describing the research, from an international team of scientists led by Penn State researchers, appears May 15, 2019 in the journal Molecular Brain. |
New clinical pathway for cancer patients leads to better outcomes, lower health care costsA new clinical pathway for cancer patients at Christiana Care Health System's Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is improving their quality of life, providing better health outcomes and delivering lower heath care costs, according to a study published in the May 2019 issue of the Journal of Clinical Pathways. | |
 | How a new father views his relationship with his partnerA new father's views on his changing relationship with his wife or partner may depend in part on how much support he feels from her when he is caring for their baby, a new study suggests. |
 | Curbing a skin oil might help curb acne, study suggestsAcne is the bane of many teens, and even some adults. Now, researchers say they might have hit on a new approach to easing the condition. |
 | Lyme disease now a threat in city parks(HealthDay)—As deer populations have exploded across America, moving from forests to suburbs to urban parks, they have brought the threat of Lyme disease to millions of city dwellers, a new study finds. |
Women's wellness: Mammogram guidelines at Mayo ClinicAt Mayo Clinic, mammograms are offered to women beginning at 40 and continuing annually. When to begin mammogram screening and how often to repeat it is a personal decision based on your preferences. | |
 | Chemical mixtures pose 'underestimated' risk to human health say scientistsEach of us harbours hundreds of man-made chemicals inside our bodies because we are exposed to them in our daily lives. While individual chemicals may not be of immediate concern to public health, scientists now worry that certain mixtures of them may pose previously underestimated risks to health. |
 | Mortality and climateClimate variability, which might arise through global warming or other factors has been shown to have an impact on mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa, according to research published in the International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development. |
 | Differences between skeletal and heart muscle ion channel lends insight into inherited heart diseaseJohns Hopkins Medicine researchers recently found a key structural differences in channels that regulate how and when heart and skeletal muscles contract. Identifying the differences between the two, say researchers, provides scientists with new potential drug targets to treat inherited heart disease. |
 | The handy tool for healthy chips(HealthDay)—Want chips that deliver great taste without the typical additives in most packaged varieties? Then a food dehydrator is the kitchen appliance for you. |
 | Once-per-month HIV drugs on the horizonAn HIV diagnosis was once a death sentence, but now people who receive treatment survive for decades with the disease. Keeping the virus at bay usually requires taking a pill every day, which aside from being inconvenient for some, is an unwelcome daily reminder of the disease. That's why drug companies are developing longer-acting, injectable HIV treatments, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society. |
Some LGBT employees feel less supported at federal agenciesWorkplace inequality is visible when it involves gender and race, but less so with sexual identity and gender expression. | |
Louisiana 'heartbeat' abortion ban nearing final passageA proposal to ban abortions in Louisiana as early as the sixth week of pregnancy continued to speed through the state legislature Wednesday, a day after Alabama lawmakers voted for what could become the nation's most restrictive law against the procedure. | |
Biology news
 | How egg cells choose their best powerhouses to pass onDeveloping egg cells conduct tests to select the healthiest of their energy-making machines to be passed to the next generation. A new study in fruit flies, published online May 15 in Nature, shows how the testing is done. |
 | Bumps on peacock spider make dark spots super-darkA team of researchers with members from Harvard University, the University of Bonn, the University of Denmark and Yale University has identified bumps on the abdomens of male peacock spiders that make their dark-colored patches look even darker. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study of the bumps and what they learned about them. |
 | In guppy courtship, the unusual male winsWhen it comes to choosing a mate, female guppies often go for the mates with the flashiest, most interesting color patterns. |
 | Dolphin ancestor's hearing was more like hoofed mammals than today's sea creaturesVanderbilt University paleontologists are looking into the evolutionary origins of the whistles and squeaks that dolphins and porpoises make—part of the rare echolocation ability that allows them to effectively navigate their dark environment. |
 | Captive chimpanzees spontaneously use tools to excavate underground foodChimpanzees in captivity can successfully work out how to use tools to excavate underground food, even if they've never been presented with an underground food scenario before, according to a study published May 15, 2019 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Alba Motes-Rodrigo and colleagues and directed by Adriana Hernandez-Aguilar from the University of Oslo. |
 | Predator exposure can help vulnerable species survive in the wildBilbies vs. feral cats—a Hunger Games-style experiment conducted in a South Australian desert has produced fascinating results with important implications for the conservation of our endangered species. |
 | Researching the kingfisher's hydrodynamic designRenowned for their noiseless dive, the kingfisher's iconic beak-shape has inspired the design of high speed bullet trains. Now scientists have tested beak-shape among some of the birds' 114 species found world-wide, to assess which shape is the most hydrodynamic. |
 | Cellular rivalry promotes healthy skin developmentNot all cells are destined for greatness. Deemed unfit to serve in the body, some are killed off during early development through a process called cell competition. This phenomenon has previously been documented in flies and is now turning out to occur in mammals as well. |
 | As bumblebee diets narrow, ours could tooThere has been a lot of buzz about honeybees' failing health because they pollinate our produce. Less well known is how critical bumblebees are for some of our favorite foods. And their numbers are also rapidly declining. |
 | Species facing climate change could find help in odd place: Urban environmentsWhen it comes to wildlife conservation efforts, urban environments could be far more helpful than we think, according to new research. A study published today in Ecology shows that animals move faster through 'low quality' habitats—evidence that could change the way conservationists think about managing landscapes to help species move in response to climate change. In light of the recent UN report indicating that 1 million species are threatened with extinction, the study provides a framework for definitive action to help preserve many species at risk. The work was carried out by researchers at Tufts University, University of Liverpool, Washington State University and the University of Ottawa. |
 | Five rules to tackle antibiotic resistanceCurrent efforts to tackle antibiotic resistance are "not nearly radical enough", a leading scientist says. |
 | A combination of two bacteria genera improves plants' healthFor the first time researchers of BacBio Laboratory of the University of Malaga have evidenced that the combination of Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas bacteria can improve plant health. |
 | Symbionts as lifesaversWhen people fall ill from bacterial infection, the first priority is to treat the disease. But where do these pathogens come from, and how do they thrive in the environment before the infection occurs? An international team led by Matthias Horn from the Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science at the University of Vienna has tackled this question using an important bacterial pathogen that causes lung disease. The results of their study have been published recently in the scientific journal mBio. |
 | How potatoes could become sun worshippersIf there's one thing potato plants don't like, it's heat. If the temperature is too high, potato plants form significantly lower numbers of tubers, or sometimes none at all. Biochemists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) have now discovered the reason why. If the temperature rises, a so-called "small RNA" blocks the formation of tubers. The scientists have now successfully switched off this small RNA and have produced potato plants that are more resistant to high temperatures, which is an important contribution to securing crop yields in the future in view of climate change. They have now presented their results in the journal Current Biology published by Cell Press. |
 | Tiger sharks revealed as lazy predatorsOne of the ocean's most feared predators – the tiger shark—has been revealed as a relaxed and sometimes lazy hunter by scientists studying their behaviour. |
 | Biodiversity is key to kelp forest healthAn ecosystem is made up of species, populations, communities, and a network of communities across a region. |
 | Many species could be even more likely to go extinct than we realiseMore than a million species are at risk of extinction according to a new report on biodiversity. But even some species that aren't considered endangered may be less safe than people think. A new study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology found that some methods for measuring a species' generation time might underestimate the likelihood that some species will die out. |
New whistle alerts bats to steer clear of wind turbinesWind turbines are a critical component in the strategy for energy independence, but these massive structures are also killing bats. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the more than 52,000 wind turbines operating in the United States kill tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of bats in North America annually. | |
 | The contrasting fortunes of the planet's greatest apesMany eloquent commentators have waxed lyrical about their first encounter with mountain gorillas—most notably Sir David Attenborough, vice-president of Fauna & Flora International (FFI) since 1979, the same year that those iconic scenes from Life on Earth were first broadcast. |
 | Overfed bacteria make people sickSince the end of the Second World War, along with the growing prosperity and the associated changes in lifestyle, numerous new and civilisation-related disease patterns have developed in today's industrialised nations. Examples of the so-called "environmental diseases" are different bowel diseases like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Common causes include disruptions to the human microbiome, i.e. the natural microbial colonisation of the body, and in particular of the intestine. To date, scientists have explained this disrupted cooperation between host body and microbes with different hypotheses: for example, they postulated that excessive hygiene, the intensive use of antibiotics, or certain genetic factors permanently disrupt the microbiome, thus making people vulnerable to illnesses. However, these explanatory attempts have so far been incomplete. |
 | New insights on the control of dicamba-resistant kochiaKochia is a highly invasive weed that is common in the Great Plains, where it has developed resistance to multiple herbicides. Now new dicamba-resistant strains are adding to grower worries. |
 | Software locates sugarcane genes of interestPlants have larger and more complex genomes than all animals, be they mammals, birds, reptiles or amphibians. Fish are the exception to the rule. |
 | What artificial intelligence can teach us about proteinsProteins are vital parts of all living organisms and perform essential tasks in our bodies. They build and repair tissues, supply components of the immune and hormone systems, regulate metabolism, and transmit signals. Researchers in Berlin and Heidelberg have now developed an intelligent neural network that can predict the functions of proteins in the human body. The team used a "trick" to observe how the network makes it predictions. The insights gained from this research could help in the search for new targeted drugs. |
 | New study shows climate change, maternal care, parasitic infection all connected in South American fur sealsSouth American fur seal pups with high levels of hookworm infection spend more time in the water, but that's not necessarily a good thing, report Morris Animal Foundation-funded researchers at the University of Georgia. |
 | Can sound protect eagles from wind turbine collisions?Every year, bald and golden eagles are killed when they inadvertently fly into wind turbine blades. One possible way to prevent these deaths is to chase the birds away with acoustic signals—sound. To determine what types of sounds are most effective in deterring the birds, researchers at the University of Minnesota and their colleagues tested the behavioral responses of bald eagles to a battery of both natural and synthetic acoustic stimuli. |
Critically endangered Hawaiian crows build first nest in the wild in decadesTwo Hawaiian crows, or alala, have done something momentous in the struggle to save the critically endangered species. | |
With drought over, Dallas Zoo helps release flamingo chicks back into wild in South AfricaAfter months of helping rehabilitate a group of lesser flamingo chicks abandoned in South Africa, the Dallas Zoo has released dozens of the birds back into the wild. | |
 | Producing food while preserving biodiversityIn nature conservation and agriculture, there are two opposing views of how to combine high biodiversity and sustainable food production: Nature conservation should either be integrated into agricultural land, or segregated into protected areas in order to enable maximum yields in the food production areas. Researchers at the University of Göttingen advocate coordinated approaches that combine nature conservation and agricultural production in sustainably managed landscapes. The results have been published in the journal People and Nature. |
 | Not just activists, 9 out of 10 people are concerned about animal welfare in Australian farmingRecent protests by animal welfare activists on Australian abattoirs and farms and city streets triggered a backlash from meat-lovers and MPs. The activists were labelled "un-Australian" by the Prime Minister and others, and the protests prompted calls for tougher trespass laws and penalties. |
 | Russia to release killer whales in new habitat, despite expert adviceRussia is to free captured killer whales over the next month, but will not return them to their original habitat despite expert advice, a scientist said Wednesday. |
 | Transfer of EU powers leads to silent erosion of UK pesticide regulationNew analysis by the UK Trade Policy Observatory is warning that what should have been the technical formality of transferring EU powers into national law when the UK leaves the European Union, could instead open the gates for the widespread use of outlawed carcinogenic pesticides that have been shown to alter human reproductive, neurological, and immune systems. |
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