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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 22, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Ultra-luminous X-ray pulsar NGC 300 ULX1 experienced unprecedented spin evolution, study findsUsing NASA's Swift space telescope and NICER instrument aboard the International Space Station (ISS), astronomers have investigated the properties of an ultra-luminous X-ray pulsar known as NGC 300 ULX1. Results of this study, presented in a paper published May 9 on the arXiv preprint server, indicate that this object experienced an unprecedented spin evolution as its spin period decreased significantly during a timespan of four years. |
 | Massive Martian ice discovery opens a window into red planet's historyNewly discovered layers of ice buried a mile beneath Mars' north pole are the remnants of ancient polar ice sheets and could be one of the largest water reservoirs on the planet, according to scientists at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Arizona. |
 | Space travel and your jointsA novel Henry Ford Hospital study of mice aboard a Russian spaceflight may raise an intriguing question for the astronauts of tomorrow: Could traveling in space be bad for your joints? |
 | Three exocomets discovered around the star Beta PictorisJust about a year after the launch of the NASA mission TESS, the first three comets orbiting the nearby star Beta Pictoris outside our solar system were discovered with data from the space telescope. The main goal of TESS is to search for exoplanets—planets orbiting other stars. The recognition of signals from much smaller exocomets compared to planets requires the analysis of a precise light curve, which can now be obtained using the technical sophistication of the new space telescope. |
 | Eighteen Earth-sized exoplanets discoveredScientists at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS), the Georg August University of Göttingen, and the Sonneberg Observatory have discovered 18 Earth-sized planets beyond the solar system. The worlds are so small that previous surveys had overlooked them. One of them is one of the smallest known so far; another one could offer conditions friendly to life. The researchers re-analyzed a part of the data from NASA's Kepler Space Telescope with a new and more sensitive method that they developed. The team estimates that their new method has the potential of finding more than 100 additional exoplanets in the Kepler mission's entire data set. The scientists describe their results in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. |
 | Neptune's moon Triton fosters rare icy unionAstronomers using the Gemini Observatory explore Neptune's largest moon Triton and observe, for the first time beyond the lab, an extraordinary union between carbon monoxide and nitrogen ices. The discovery offers insights into how this volatile mixture can transport material across the moon's surface via geysers, trigger seasonal atmospheric changes, and provide a context for conditions on other distant, icy worlds. |
 | Strange Martian mineral deposit likely sourced from volcanic explosionsAshfall from ancient volcanic explosions is the likely source of a strange mineral deposit near the landing site for NASA's next Mars rover, a new study finds. The research, published in the journal Geology, could help scientists assemble a timeline of volcanic activity and environmental conditions on early Mars. |
 | Image: ESA's Large Diameter Centrifuge at full speedESA's Large Diameter Centrifuge at the Agency's technical heart in the Netherlands is seen running here at full speed. The 8-m diameter four-arm centrifuge gives researchers access to a range of hypergravity environments up to 20 times Earth's gravity for weeks or months at a time. |
 | New research sheds light on the possibility of past life on VenusWhile today Venus is a very inhospitable place with surface temperatures hot enough to melt lead, geological evidence, supported by computer model simulations, indicate it may have been much cooler billions of years ago and had an ocean, and so have been very similar to Earth. |
 | How plans to live on Mars could reshape our homes on EarthSpace missions demand we make the best use of our resources—and that's something we could learn from at home. |
Technology news
 | PixelGreen: A hybrid, green media wall for existing high-rise buildingsResearchers at Deakin University and the University of Hong Kong have recently designed a hybrid green architectural wall system for high-rise buildings that integrates a vertical micro-farm and a media screen. They presented this wall, called PixelGreen, in a paper published on Research Gate. PIXEL GREEN is designed for integration into the wall surfaces of existing buildings, turning them into analogue media screens. |
 | Google Glass struck out for masses but enterprise class has takersMy, have we grown. All eyes are on the Glass Enterprise Edition 2. with its hardware update and new frames. Google Glass has come a long way since its debut in 2013. As Scott Stein in CNET quipped, "You might remember Glass as a strange 2013 footnote." |
 | Production of more than 250,000 chips embedded within fibers in less than a yearIn the summer of 2018, a team led by MIT researchers reported in the journal Nature that they had successfully embedded electronic devices into fibers that could be used in fabrics or composite products like clothing, airplane wings, or even wound dressings. The advance could allow fabrics or composites to sense their environment, communicate, store and convert energy, and more. |
 | Soft, social robot brings coziness to home roboticsA few years ago, when social robots began appearing in stores and homes, Guy Hoffman wondered why they all looked so much alike. |
 | China's big three airlines seek 737 MAX payouts from Boeing: reportsChina's three biggest airlines have filed claims seeking compensation from Boeing over the grounding and delayed delivery of 737 MAX 8 aircraft following two deadly crashes, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday. |
 | World nations failing the poorest on energy goals: studyMore than 150 million people are gaining access to electricity every year, reducing the ranks of those who live without power, but this is not enough to meet global development goals, according to a report released Wednesday. |
 | Two Japanese carriers postpone release of Huawei phonesTwo of Japan's top mobile phone carriers said Wednesday they will delay releasing new handsets made by Huawei after a US ban on American companies selling technology to the Chinese tech giant. |
 | Fears rise China could weaponise rare earths in US tech warThe US has hit China where it hurts by going after its telecom champion Huawei, but Beijing's control of the global supply of rare earths used in smartphones and electric cars gives it a powerful weapon in their escalating tech war. |
 | How to explore inaccessible places by swarms of sensorsSince the dawn of humankind, exploration of certain places, ranging from the depths of the oceans to the edges of the universe, has led to numerous discoveries. However, there are also several environments that need to be examined but can't be directly observed, like chemical or nuclear reactors, underground water or oil distribution pipes, space and inside of the body. The EU-funded Phoenix project has been addressing this challenge by developing a new line of technology that will offer the opportunity to get to unreachable places. |
 | Data shows buckling up saves lives in auto crashesNearly half of the people killed in auto crashes in Alabama last year were not wearing a seat belt, according to an analysis of state crash records. |
 | Judge rules Qualcomm violated antitrust law in chip marketA federal judge has ruled that Qualcomm unlawfully squeezed out cellphone chip rivals and charged excessive royalties to manufacturers such as Apple in a decision that undercuts a key part of its business. |
 | Threat or promise? E-auto boom could cost industry jobsOver 115 years the auto industry in the east German town of Zwickau has lived through wrenching upheavals including World War II and the collapse of communism. Now the city's 90,000 people are plunging headlong into another era of change: top employer Volkswagen's total shift into electric cars at the local plant. |
 | Japanese, UK carriers delay release of Huawei phonesFour major Japanese and British mobile carriers said Wednesday they will delay releasing new 5G handsets made by Huawei amid a US-led crackdown on the Chinese tech firm over security concerns. |
 | How to 3-D-print a bathroom in one dayResearchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed the capability to 3-D print an unfurnished bathroom in less than a day. |
 | Analytics technology for your waste containersFinnish SME Enevo is taking over the European market with a technology able to reduce the cost and environmental impact of waste collection, providing a highly welcome solution that could go a long way towards keeping our cities cleaner and healthier. |
Orlando company turns learning the elements into virtual reality gameA Central Florida company behind a virtual reality game that teaches students about the elements is in line for a $225,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. | |
 | Would you eat lab-created fish? This startup is carving new path in 'alt-meat' industryIt's official: alternative meat has gone mainstream. |
 | Revolt on the horizon? How young people really feel about digital technologyAs digital technologies facilitate the growth of both new and incumbent organisations, we have started to see the darker sides of the digital economy unravel. In recent years, many unethical business practices have been exposed, including the capture and use of consumers' data, anticompetitive activities and covert social experiments. |
 | Zero-carbon electric transport is already in reach for small islandsAt a recent talk on the UK's energy sector, the head of an electric utility company claimed that "the problem of decarbonising our electricity sector is fixed". Eyebrows were raised at this, but his point quickly became clear. The technologies needed to decarbonise the UK's electricity system now exist, he explained. Indeed, grid operators in the UK expect a zero carbon electricity system by 2025. |
 | Pilot study opens new possibilities for AI to enhance cognitive performanceIn a recent pilot study, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have shown that a powerful artificial intelligence (AI) platform known as CURATE.AI could potentially be used to customise training regimens for individuals to personalise learning and improve cognitive performance. Using performance data from a given person, CURATE.AI creates an individualised profile that enables cognitive training to be tailored to the individual's learning habits and competencies so as to enhance training effectiveness. |
 | Mobile chip titan Qualcomm hit by US antitrust rulingSmartphone chip giant Qualcomm suffered a fresh blow in its antitrust battle as a US federal judge ruled that it "strangled competition" for years at the expense of consumers and device makers. |
 | One year on, EU has 145,000 data law complaintsOne year after the entry into force of landmark EU rules to better protect personal data, nearly 145,000 complaints have been registered, an initial assessment revealed on Wednesday. |
 | Council of Europe explores AI to reshape prisonsFrom monitoring inmates on suicide watch to detecting cryptic messages in phone calls, artificial intelligence is reshaping the way prisons are run, a Council of Europe director said Wednesday. |
 | Consumer Reports: Tesla automated lane changes are riskyA new automatic lane-change feature of Tesla's Autopilot system doesn't work well and could be a safety risk to drivers, according to tests performed by Consumer Reports. |
 | Will FAA's plan for 737 MAX fly outside US?Getting Boeing's top-selling 737 MAX back in the skies faces a critical test this week as the company and US regulators each seek to restore their reputations after two deadly crashes. |
 | US sanctions on Huawei bite, but who gets hurt?Trump administration sanctions against Huawei have begun to bite even though their dimensions remain unclear. U.S. companies that supply the Chinese tech powerhouse with computer chips face a drop in sales, and Huawei's smartphone sales could get decimated with the anticipated loss of Google's popular software and services. |
 | Daimler offers wheel to new CEO amid tricky gear changeFlamboyant Daimler boss Dieter Zetsche was set bow out after 13 years on Wednesday, leaving successor Ola Kallenius to tackle problems brewing under the bonnet of the Mercedes-Benz maker. |
 | Fake news changes shape as EU heads into electionsFake news has evolved beyond the playbook used by Russian trolls in the U.S. election. As the European Union gears up for a crucial election, it is mostly homegrown groups rather than foreign powers that are taking to social media to push false information and extremist messages, experts say. |
Seeking energy independence, Palestinians open solar plantPalestinian officials say they have inaugurated their first solar panel plant as part of a plan to reduce their dependence on Israeli power sources. | |
 | A step closer to decarbonising long-haul road transportationThanks to the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, efforts to promote the deployment of low-carbon alternative fuels (AFs) in transport have intensified in recent years. However, these technologies haven't yet become mainstream, particularly in the heavy-duty road vehicles sector that predominantly relies on diesel engines. |
 | 'There's a huge shortage of lab space in Chicago': Sterling Bay to back life sciences startupsChicago real estate developer Sterling Bay aims to make Lincoln Park on the city's North Side a center for life sciences research, an industry that the firm hopes will fill a lot of space in its $6 billion Lincoln Yards megadevelopment. |
 | TACC Ranch technology upgrade improves valuable data storageThere's a joke by comedian Steven Wright that goes, "You can't have everything. Where would you put it?" |
Medicine & Health news
 | Massive sequencing study links rare DNA alterations to type 2 diabetesAn international consortium of scientists has analyzed protein-coding genes from nearly 46,000 people, linking rare DNA alterations to type 2 diabetes. The study, one of the largest known of its type, includes data from people of European, African American, Hispanic/Latino, East Asian, and South Asian ancestries. |
 | Early life exposure to nicotine alters neurons, predisposes brain to addiction laterNeonatal exposure to nicotine alters the reward circuity in the brains of newborn mice, increasing their preference for the drug in later adulthood, report researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine in a study published "in press" April 24, 2019 in Biological Psychiatry. |
 | Exercise may help teens sleep longer, more efficientlyGetting more exercise than normal—or being more sedentary than usual—for one day may be enough to affect sleep later that night, according to a new study led by Penn State. |
 | Examining ethical issues surrounding wearable brain devices marketed to consumersWearable brain devices are now being marketed directly to consumers and often claim to confer benefits like boosting memory and modulating symptoms of depression. But despite the size of this market, little is known about the validity of these claims and, substantiated or not, the related ethical consequences or repercussions. |
 | Healthy brain development is a human right, researcher arguesWe know that the environment in which children and young adults are raised influences healthy brain development. Now, a psychologist at Yale is taking a stance against the negative effects of a particularly harrowing environment in her own backyard: the U.S. prison system. In a paper published May 22 in the journal Neuron, the author declares that everybody, including young offenders, deserves healthy brain development—a right she says U.S. jails often infringe upon. |
 | A road map to stem cell developmentJohns Hopkins Medicine researchers report they have created a method of mapping how the central nervous system develops by tracking the genes expressed in cells. The technique, demonstrated in mouse retinas for this study, follows the activity of the genes used by individual cells during development, allowing researchers to identify patterns in unprecedented detail. This precise kind of road map, say the researchers, could be used to develop future regenerative treatments for blinding and other neurological diseases. |
 | Early antiretroviral treatment may preserve key immune responses to HIVInstituting combination antiretroviral (ART) treatment at the earliest stages of HIV infection may allow the generation of functional CD8 "killer" T cells and preservation of the CD4 helper T cells that are the virus's primary target. Investigators from the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard describe the results of their study, conducted among South African women at risk for contracting the virus, in Science Translational Medicine. |
 | New role in spatial chromosome organization identified for often mutated cancer proteinNew research from The Wistar Institute sheds light on the function of the ARID1A protein, encoded by a gene that is among the most frequently mutated across human cancers. According to the study, published online in Science Advances, ARID1A plays a role in the spatial organization of the genome; therefore, its loss has broad effects on global gene expression. This finding adds critical information towards deciphering the molecular alterations associated with several cancer types and especially with ovarian cancer. |
 | New study investigates how exposure to certain triggers can increase the risk of type 1 diabetesA new study has investigated how exposure to certain triggers can increase the risk of type 1 diabetes. |
 | Monkey-infecting virus may provide part of future HIV vaccineA protein from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), which can infect monkeys and apes, has shown promise as a potential component of a vaccine against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), in a new study from scientists at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California. |
 | Canadian researchers on promising path towards developing flu treatment using lipid targetFor most people, the influenza A virus (IAV), commonly known as the flu, is cleared from the body by our own immune system. In some cases, however, the immune response becomes dysregulated and if left uncontrolled, the inflammation caused by our own immune cells can lead to extensive lung tissue damage and enhanced morbidity and mortality. |
 | Defects in heart valve cilia during fetal development cause mitral valve prolapseGenetic variation in heart valve cells of the developing fetus create the blueprint for the later development of mitral valve prolapse, according to the cover story of today's Science Translational Medicine. |
 | Experimental noninvasive tool monitors effectiveness of stem cell transplantationStem-cell based therapies to strengthen the heart muscle and treat other diseases are beginning to show promise in human clinical trials. However, other than observing clinical outcomes, lack of a repeatable, time-sensitive and noninvasive tool to assess the effectiveness of the transplanted cells within the target organ has slowed progress in the stem cell field. |
 | Scientists discover novel genes responsible for regulating muscle cellsYork University scientists have uncovered a unique set of genes that play a role in muscle cellular gene expression and differentiation which could lead to new therapeutic targets to prevent the spread of muscle cancer. |
 | Boy or girl? Hong Kong at centre of banned China gender testShady middle-men are openly advertising on Chinese social media to smuggle blood samples of pregnant women to Hong Kong to skirt the mainland's ban on gender testing, an AFP investigation has found. |
Women are less likely to be resuscitated and survive a cardiac arrest than menWomen who have a cardiac arrest outside the hospital setting are less likely to receive resuscitation from bystanders and more likely to die than men, according to new research published in the European Heart Journal today. | |
 | US states which took Obamacare funding saw more cancer screeningUS states which expanded Medicaid insurance coverage to low-income adults as part of Barack Obama's signature healthcare law saw a marked increase in colorectal cancer screening, a new study said Wednesday. |
 | The top 25 medical lab tests around the worldA recent study can help governments understand which diagnostic laboratory tests are most important when developing universal health coverage systems. |
 | Firearm mortality highest in young men, and is associated with race and educationFirearms are a leading contributor to mortality in men aged 15-34 years in the USA, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia, according to an observational study using national data for 106.3 million deaths, including 2.5 million firearm deaths in these 4 countries, published in The Lancet Public Health journal. |
 | Veterans with depression and/or PTSD more likely to seek cardiac rehabVeterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression were more likely to use cardiac rehabilitation services after an episode of ischemic heart disease than those who didn't have PTSD or depression, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. |
 | Hispanic and black children more likely to miss school due to eczema than white childrenIn a study that highlights racial disparities in the everyday impact of eczema, new research shows Hispanic and black children are more likely than white children to miss school due to the chronic skin disease. Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania examined more than a decade's-worth of data among children enrolled in a national eczema registry and found Hispanic children were most likely to have missed at least six days of school over six-month period due to their condition. Black children also saw higher probabilities of missed school days compared to white children. JAMA Dermatology published the findings today. |
 | Risk of suicide attempt by children doubles if parent uses opioidsThe suicide rate among young people in the U.S. has risen dramatically in the past 15 years. Over the same time period, opioid use and abuse in adults also has increased considerably. |
 | Bipolar disorder may be linked to Parkinson's diseasePeople who have bipolar disorder may be more likely to later develop Parkinson's disease than people who do not have bipolar disorder, according at a study published in the May 22, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. |
Black men less likely than nonblack men to adopt active surveillanceAt a time when a growing number of men with prostate cancer considered "low risk" are opting for active surveillance or watchful waiting rather than immediate treatment with surgery or radiation, a new study reveals that black men are less likely than white men to adopt an active surveillance strategy for their disease. | |
 | Global burden of serious health-related suffering due to almost double by 2060New research findings published today in The Lancet Global Health show that the number of people dying with palliative care needs is set to almost double over the next four decades. By 2060, an estimated 48 million people each year (47% of all deaths globally) will die with serious health-related suffering, an 87% increase compared to 2016. 83% of these people will be in low and middle-income countries. |
 | Aspirin green light for brain bleed stroke patients, study findsPeople who suffer a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain—known as brain haemorrhage—can take common medicines without raising their risk of another stroke, a major clinical trial has found. |
Lilly selling half-price version of popular Humalog insulinA half-price version of Eli Lilly's popular Humalog insulin is now available, following the company's promise in March to offer diabetics a more affordable option amid fierce criticism of soaring insulin prices. | |
 | Probe detects the mechanism for spread of metastatic cancer cellsA new fluorescent sensor developed by researchers from the University of Adelaide can detect migrating cancer cells and could be used to target medication to stop metastasis in aggressive cancers. |
 | A new genetic tool to modify and understand gene functionScientists of the National Center for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) led by Rui Benedito have developed a new genetic tool called iSuRe-Cre that provides certainty in Cre-inducible genetic modifications, a key technique for understanding gene function. |
 | New therapeutic target for depression identifiedDepression is one of the most widespread disorders, and it is estimated that 4 million people are affected in Spain. |
 | Fainting during the first trimester of pregnancy may raise risk of problems for mom and babyPregnant women who faint (syncope) during pregnancy, especially in their first trimester, may have a higher risk of health problems for themselves and their babies according to new research published in Journal of the American Heart Association, the open access journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. |
 | Revolutionising care for prostate cancer patientsAn innovative new digital model of follow-up care for prostate cancer allows patients to see test results online as soon as they become available, after a report was published in BMC Cancer. |
 | Research provides insight into genetic link to potential treatment response among BRCA1/2 breast cancer patientsNew findings from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania provide clues about immune response of tumors in patients with BRCA 1/2-related breast cancers. The research, published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, could shape treatment strategies and clinical trial design for these patients, who make up about two percent of newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer. |
 | Exploring the science of decision-makingIn a world that offers a seemingly unending number of options and opportunities, people may rely on the overall complexity of alternative options to help them make choices in uncertain environments, according to researchers. |
 | Device continuously monitors the symptoms of patients with Parkinson'sUntil now, the lack of precise, continuous data on the clinical status of individuals affected by Parkinson's disease throughout the day was one of the main difficulties faced by neurologists in charge of adapting treatment. Now, this obstacle has been overcome with a new device called STAT-ON. It is a small sensor held in place with a specially designed belt that constantly monitors patients' motor status in everyday settings. |
 | Long-lived roundworms help identify new anti-aging compounds among the FDA approved drugsResearchers from Gero, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have collaborated to derive a transcriptomic signature of aging, which they confirmed using large transcriptomic databases. They discovered that aging in nematodes is partially programmed and can be therapeutically reversed by a number of FDA-approved drugs. The study is published in Scientific Reports. |
 | New cognitive training game to improve driving skills among the elderlyThe number of older car drivers worldwide is increasing, leading to accidents caused by age-related cognitive decline among drivers. Researchers at Tohoku University have developed a new cognitive training game aimed at improving road safety among elderly drivers. The game, Cognitive Training for Car Driving (CTCD), requires only a set-top box and a TV, and for users to play it regularly. |
 | Assessing attitudes and readiness for a sugar sweetened beverage-free healthcare centerIn a study published in the multi-disciplinary peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, CUNY SPH Associate Professor Chris Palmedo and co-author Lauren Gordon, Research Project Manager at the Mount Sinai Health System, assess the readiness for a sugar sweetened beverage-free zone at a community health clinic in the Bronx, NY. |
 | Poor semen quality in SwitzerlandOver the last 50 years, a marked decrease in sperm count has been observed in the western world. But what about the situation in Switzerland? Up until now, no study had evaluated the reproductive health of Swiss young men. Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, working in collaboration with other institutions and with logistical support from the Swiss army, have undertaken the first nationwide assessment of the semen quality of men between the age of 18 and 22. |
 | Contact with nature during childhood could lead to better mental health in adulthoodAdults who had close contact with natural spaces during their childhood could have a better mental health than those who had less contact, according to a new study by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) involving four European cities. |
 | Training may help patients challenged by high drug costsDo you think your doctor knows—or cares—what it cost you to get a prescription filled? Even though out-of-pocket costs for medications can be a significant burden, asking patients if they're concerned about it isn't typically part of most office visits. |
 | Study identifies dog breeds, physical traits that pose highest risk of biting childrenNew research at The Ohio State University College of Medicine and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center identifies dog breeds and physical traits that pose the highest risk of biting with severe injury. Doctors want parents of young children to use this information when deciding which dog to own. |
 | New research could lead to TB drug breakthroughResearchers have made a breakthrough that could eventually lead to a more effective treatment for tuberculosis. |
 | A big neck may mean you need to improve your healthNeck circumference predicts a deadly cluster of cardiovascular risk factors, according to research presented at the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology Congress (APSC) 2019. |
 | Positive aspects of masculinity helps improve boys' attitudes toward relationship violenceA program aimed at reducing violence against women and girls by focusing on positive expressions of masculinity changed the attitudes of middle school boys who may have been prone to harassment and dating violence as they got older, according to a Rutgers University-New Brunswick and University of New Hampshire led study that was done in partnership with prevention practitioners in New England. |
Why are those born in the rural South less healthy and prone to die sooner?People born in rural communities in the South, especially in southern Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta, may live shorter and less healthy lives than their counterparts elsewhere in the country, in part due to a high burden of heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders (HLBS). Within the same Southern regions, however, there are counties with very low risk of disease that have profiles of economic disadvantages, race/ethnicity, and rurality similar to those considered high risk. | |
 | African Americans more likely to use aspirin to prevent heart attacks if peers support itCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and disproportionately affects African Americans. For some people, taking a daily dose of aspirin is an effective, low cost option for preventing heart attacks and strokes. |
 | Exposing vaccine hesitant to real-life pain of diseases makes them more pro-vaccineThe re-introduction of measles, mumps and other previously eradicated diseases to the United States is nothing short of a public health crisis. Since Jan. 1, a staggering 880 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 24 states—the greatest number of cases since 1994. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. |
 | Small shrew could make a big difference in dry eye researchBreakthroughs in health care can come from unusual places. Jianzhong Chen, Ph.D., assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham's School of Optometry, and his colleagues may have discovered a new one for dry eyes, a disease that is estimated to affect 26 million Americans. |
 | Smokin' hut: Singapore's solution for cigarette puffersSmokers in Singapore will no longer have to sneak a drag on the street, with the launch of the city-state's first air-conditioned "smoking cabin", but the experience won few fans among cigarette puffers on Wednesday. |
 | Where's the best place for your child's sports physical exam?(HealthDay)—Student athletes usually need a sports physical. And the best place for that exam is at their primary care doctor's office, according to updated guidelines from leading U.S. medical experts. |
 | Poor broadband penetration in rural areas limits telemedicine(HealthDay)—Broadband penetration rates are considerably lower in the most rural counties, especially where access to primary care physicians and psychiatrists is inadequate, according to a study published online May 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. |
 | Infants later diagnosed with autism follow adults' gaze, but seldom initiate joint attention themselvesIn typical development, both infants and their parents flexibly use verbal and non-verbal behaviors to establish frequent episodes of joint attention, such as when a child follows her parent's gaze to look at an airplane in the sky. A new study published in Biological Psychiatry shows that infants who are later diagnosed with autism react adequately when others initiate joint attention, but seldom actively seek to establish such episodes themselves. This finding provides support for the view that children with autism have reduced social motivation already as infants. |
 | Bill would raise U.S. legal age to buy tobacco to 21(HealthDay)—A bill to raise the minimum age for buying any type of tobacco product, including electronic cigarettes, from 18 to 21 years was introduced Monday by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. |
 | Take a new view of aging(HealthDay)—The way you view aging can affect how well you manage stress. |
 | Hidden reports masked the scope of widespread harm from faulty heart deviceFaced with the possibility that a bout of abnormal heartbeats could end his life, in 2006, Dr. Marc Sicklick had a small device implanted in his chest that would shock it back into rhythm. Soon he would struggle with another life-or-death choice: whether to remove the Sprint Fidelis, which was deemed dangerous and recalled in 2007 after it had been implanted in hundreds of thousands of patients. |
 | Q fever? A bigger threat to humans than thought(HealthDay)—You've probably never heard of Q fever, but the bacterial disease may be sickening—and killing—more Americans than once believed, a new study suggests. |
Help for youth who have experienced sexual or physical abuseThere have not been many scientifically evaluated therapies for teens and young adults who have suffered physical or sexual abuse until now. Psychologists at Goethe University have closed the gap by developing a psychotherapeutic approach designed specifically for this age group. Its effectiveness has now been proved in a nationwide study lasting four years. | |
 | Study finds lower ER triage scores associated with delayed antibiotics delivery for sepsis patientsProviding early, appropriate antibiotic treatment for patients with sepsis—a serious complication of infection that can lead to organ failure and death—is crucial for their survival. |
 | Social networks and suicide preventionDepression and mental health problems are increasing—and suicide and drug overdose rates are rising dramatically in the USA. |
 | An app to look at that mole? Dermatologists advise cautionWhile snapping a photo of a suspicious mole with a phone and uploading it to an app might seem like the swiftest way to a diagnosis, dermatologists say users should be wary of such technology, especially when it comes to screening for skin cancer. |
 | What you need to know about jellyfish stingsJellyfish have a mighty sting as hundreds of beachgoers in Florida have discovered. More than 800 people were reported to have been stung recently at Central Florida beaches. |
 | New biomarker in blood can diagnose Alzheimer's in its earliest stagesAlzheimer's disease (AD) is the primary cause of dementia, and so far, no effective treatment can prevent, delay or stop its progression. Researchers know that AD has an extensive prodromal stage (with initial symptoms preceding the disease) that lasts 15 to 20 years before clinical signs are evident. To envision an effective future treatment for AD, clinicians need to be able to diagnose AD at its earliest (prodromal) stages accurately. At present, no biomarker can be used for prodromal AD diagnosis on a routine clinical screening base. Amyloid-β or tau detection by positron emission tomography (PET) or in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) have emerged as biomarkers for the progression of AD. However, all these biomarkers have a high cost and are invasive, making them unsuitable for routine screening. |
 | Proton therapy for cancer lowers risk of side effectsProton therapy results in fewer side effects than traditional X-ray radiation therapy for many cancer patients, according to a new study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania. Even with reduced side effects, proton therapy resulted in cure rates similar to those of X-ray radiation therapy. |
 | Pain management protocol sends 92 percent of cancer surgery patients home without opioidsA specialized pain management program for patients who underwent robotic surgery for urologic cancers resulted in just eight percent going home with narcotics after discharge, compared to 100 percent who would have received them without this enhanced recovery protocol. What's more, the group of patients who did receive narcotics went home with fewer pills than they would have under regular guidelines. Researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania will present their findings at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago (Abstract #6502). |
 | New study shows crowdsourced traffic data could save livesA new University of California, Irvine-led pilot study finds, on average, Waze "crash alerts" occur two minutes and 41 seconds prior to their corresponding California Highway Patrol (CHP)-reported crash. These minutes could mean the difference between life and death. |
 | New study estimates preventable cancer burden linked to poor diet in the USA new modeling study estimates the number, proportion, and type of specific cancers associated with the under or overconsumption of foods and sugar-sweetened beverages among American adults. The analysis is one of the few to focus on the modifiable risk factors for cancer connected to food intake in the United States. |
 | Rising prescription drug costs continue to create tough choices for seniors(HealthDay)—A solid minority of senior citizens still struggles to afford their prescription medications, a new government report shows. |
 | Blood banks could help screen for hereditary high cholesterol(HealthDay)—More than 1 million Americans have a genetic condition that pushes their cholesterol to dangerously high levels, but many don't know it. |
 | COPD may strike women harder than men(HealthDay)—Women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appear to have a harder time than men with the progressive lung disorder, a new study suggests. |
 | Vitamin D deficiency tied to gestational diabetes risk(HealthDay)—Maternal vitamin D deficiency, as early as the first trimester of pregnancy, is associated with an increased risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), according to a study recently published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. |
 | Florida's seniors are increasingly depressed and drinking moreAlthough Florida seniors are living longer, they are smoking, drinking and experiencing depression more than the older population of other states, according to a new national health report. |
Residential child care project addresses emotional pain without causing itA model of care for children's residential agencies takes children's emotional pain into account and emphasizes the bond between the children and their caregivers. | |
 | Eating healthily at work mattersA new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, demonstrated that employees at a large urban hospital who purchased the least healthy food in its cafeteria were more likely to have an unhealthy diet outside of work, be overweight and/or obese, and have risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, compared to employees who made healthier purchases. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the relationship of eating behaviors at work with overall diet and health and can help to shape worksite wellness programs that both improve long-term health outcomes and reduce costs. |
 | Historically redlined communities face higher asthma ratesRedlining, which for decades was used to justify discriminatory mortgage lending practices, may be impacting the current health of affected communities, suggests new research from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of California, San Francisco. |
 | As more veterans die of opioid overdoses, study shows need to focus beyond prescriptionsA dramatic rise in opioid overdose deaths among American veterans in recent years has happened mainly among veterans dying from heroin and synthetic opioids, a new study shows. |
 | Surgery patients are getting older every yearA new BJS (British Journal of Surgery) analysis reveals that people undergoing surgery in England are getting older at a faster rate than the general population. |
Largest report of its kind reveals the issues affecting adolescents todaySchools and society as a whole have a role to play in helping young people tackle numerous challenges around their health and wellbeing, researchers say. | |
 | Kwik Trip veggie trays again linked to salmonellaWisconsin-based convenience store chain Kwik Trip has removed some vegetable trays from its stores after several reported illnesses in Wisconsin and Minnesota. |
 | Only 11 Americans are known to have received a 3rd double-lung transplant; this woman is preparing for the rare surgeryAfter her second double-lung transplant in 2012, Cassie Stanley was able to travel to Miami, Mexico and Las Vegas, root for her beloved Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, work as a nanny and land a job as a paraprofessional at her local elementary school. |
 | What's wrong with those anti-vaxxers? They're just like the rest of usWhenever I talk about my research on how parents come to decide to reject vaccines for their children, my explanations are met with a range of reactions, but I almost always hear the same questions. |
 | Q&A: treating vocal cord cancerDEAR MAYO CLINIC: My brother was diagnosed with stage 0 squamous cell carcinoma in situ in one of his vocal cords. He has been through several endoscopic surgeries, but the carcinoma keeps coming back. His doctors do not recommend radiation therapy. Are more surgeries the answer, or are other treatments available? |
Reductions in PM over decade has improved health; ozone pollution remains little changedFewer deaths and serious illnesses have occurred in the U.S. over the past decade as a result of cleaner air, according to a new report focusing on the two most potent air pollutants: fine particle (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone (O3). However, these improvements are almost entirely due to reductions in PM2.5 pollution. | |
Lupus characteristics and progression differ among racial/ethnic groupsIn the first epidemiologic study comparing lupus among four major racial/ethnic groups, researchers found that, following a lupus diagnosis, Blacks, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics are at increased risk of developing problems related to the kidneys, the neurological system, and the blood. The findings are published in Arthritis Care & Research. | |
Biology news
 | One billion year old fungi found is Earth's oldestScientists have unearthed fossilised fungi dating back up to one billion years, in a discovery that could reshape our understanding of how life on land evolved, research showed Wednesday. |
 | Civil War plant medicines blast drug-resistant bacteria in lab testsDuring the height of the Civil War, the Confederate Surgeon General commissioned a guide to traditional plant remedies of the South, as battlefield physicians faced high rates of infections among the wounded and shortages of conventional medicines. A new study of three of the plants from this guide—the white oak, the tulip poplar and the devil's walking stick—finds that they have antiseptic properties. |
 | Parasites dampen beetle's fight or flight responseBeetles infected with parasitic worms put up less of a fight against simulated attacks from predators and rival males, according to a study by Felicia Ebot-Ojong, Andrew Davis and Elizabeth Jurado at the University of Georgia, USA, publishing May 22 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. |
 | Researcher connects the dots in fin-to-limb evolutionAbout 400 million years ago, vertebrates first began to crawl from the primordial seas onto land. Last week, thanks to a cutting-edge mathematical-analysis technique, a global research team uncovered how a crucial stage in evolution made that advance possible. Published May 8 in Science Advances, the paper deciphers crucial information about how those sea-dwelling creatures' fins became the specialized limbs that made life on dry land feasible. |
 | Cells develop a 'thicker skin' under extreme gravityA high-gravity experiment has revealed how cells keep their shape under pressure. |
 | Natural environments favor 'good' bacteriaA new study has shown that restoring environments to include a wider range of species can promote "good" bacteria over "bad"—with potential benefits for human health. |
 | Scientists reveal details of how flu and bacteria work together to promote infectionSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have evidence the influenza virus functions like Velcro to help common respiratory bacteria gain a foothold in the airways. The research appears today as an advance online publication in the journal Nature Microbiology. |
 | Discovery may explain mystery of long-term parasitesAs hosting gigs go, it's a tough crowd. |
 | Researchers find oil does not damage or clog whale baleen, but plastic doesA trio of researchers with Hampden-Sydney College has found that exposure to oil does not damage or clog whale baleen. In their paper published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, Alexander Werth, Shemar Blakeney and Adrian Cothren describe their study of baleen exposure to several types of oils and what they found. |
 | Chimpanzees at the crossroads: adapt to living outside protected areasResearch carried out into the impact of changes to chimpanzee habitats found they have adapted to human developments in a number of ways—including learning how to cross roads safely and the best times to visit human habitats—but their survival is still threatened. |
 | Cell division requires a balanced level of non-coding RNA for chromosome stabilityOur genetic code is stored in chromosomes that are composed of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). To make sure the genetic code is maintained accurately in all the cells, our cells must replicate precisely and distribute its chromosomes equally to its two daughter cells during every cell cycle. Errors in chromosome separation result in cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes, which may cause spontaneous abortion, genetic diseases or cancers. One chromosomal element that is important for proper chromosome segregation is the centromere, a unique region of DNA on the chromosome that directs chromosome movement during cell division. |
 | Ancient toy inspires tool for state-of-the-art scienceA 5,000-year-old toy still enjoyed by kids today has inspired an inexpensive, hand-powered scientific tool that could not only impact how field biologists conduct their research but also allow high-school students and others with limited resources to realize their own state-of-the-art experiments. |
 | Genetic discovery may improve corn quality, yieldsResearchers may be able to improve corn yields and nutritional value after discovering genetic regulators that synthesize starch and protein in the widely eaten grain, according to a Rutgers-led study. |
 | Researchers debut first comprehensive view of human cell divisionThe Allen Institute today released the Integrated Mitotic Stem Cell, a data-driven model and visualization tool that captures—for the first time—a holistic view of human cell division. By enabling a deeper understanding of how healthy human cells divide, a process known as mitosis, the model will further basic biology research as well as studies of cancer, a disease that often results from cell division gone awry. |
'Out of this world': Sea dragon exhibit opens in CaliforniaAt first glance, it looks like a branch of kelp, but then an eye moves among its leafy appendages, and ridges of tiny, translucent fins start to flutter, sending the creature gliding through the water like something from a fairy tale. | |
River valleys helped shape current genetic landscape of Han ChineseThe Han Chinese are the world's largest ethnic group, making up 91.6% of modern-day China. As DNA sequencing tools and statistical analyses software have advanced, scientists have been exploring the forces that helped shape the current genetic landscape of Han Chinese. | |
 | Endangered bird returned to S. Korean wild 40 years after extinctionAn endangered bird was reintroduced to the wild by South Korean authorities Wednesday, four decades after it went extinct on the peninsula. |
 | The extinction crisis is 'unprecedented in human history'A recent landmark United Nations report delivered an alarming assessment of the fate of animal life and biodiversity on Earth. According to the authors—145 experts from fifty countries—up to 1 million species are threatened with extinction, many within decades. They report how natural habitats are declining in rates "unprecedented in human history," as species extinction is accelerating "with grave impacts on people around the world now likely." |
 | From sharks in seagrass to manatees in mangroves, we've found large marine species in some surprising placesWhen we think of mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes, we don't immediately think of shark habitats. But the first global review of links between large marine animals (megafauna) and coastal wetlands is challenging this view—and how we might respond to the biodiversity crisis. |
 | Flux Puppy: Ecological app for measuring carbon dioxide"Today I am talking the Flux Puppy for a walk at @HarvardForest to measure stem respiration," NAU postdoctoral researcher Tim Rademacher recently tweeted. With it, a photo of a small white chamber fastened to a tree trunk (think half Dixie cup, half electrode) and hooked at the other end to a handheld tablet sporting a clear, clean graph of CO2 in parts per million. The wire between seems charged with symbolic heft: tying paper to its replacement, or connecting old methods to new. The question Rademacher's tweet triggers—what's a flux puppy?—arrives simultaneous to that desire all good marketing teams trade in: I don't know what it is, but I want one. |
 | Spatial DNA organization forms first, then the restThe fundamental organization of the DNA in active and inactive compartments arises immediately after fertilization of the oocyte, even before genes are activated. This was discovered by researchers from the Hubrecht Institute and the Helmholtz Center Munich and will lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms behind the development of a single fertilized oocyte into a complete organism that consists of many different cell types. The results were published in the scientific journal Nature on the 22nd of May. |
 | Birds outfitted with 'backpacks' to research environmental changeAs a child visiting his grandmother's farm in Illinois, Alex Jahn used to gaze up into the evening sky and watch Canada geese on their long flight home for summer. |
 | Small-scale fisheries have unintended consequences on tropical marine ecosystemsHundreds of millions of people in some of the world's poorest countries are supported by small scale fisheries. These are usually self-employed fishers who use relatively simple methods, primarily to feed the local community and generate income. Though the impact of one small fishery may seem negligible, collectively they catch millions of tonnes per year, from some of the most biodiverse and threatened ecosystems on the planet. |
 | How can spiders locate their prey?A study published today by Dr. Beth Mortimer and colleagues at the Department of Zoology and University Carlos III of Madrid reveals that orb weaving spiders can compare 3-D vibrational inputs into their 8 legs from the web to locate prey. |
Fishing hotspots show where sub-Antarctic seabirds at riskA new study highlights that sub-Antarctic seabirds are most at risk from unsustainable fishing during the southern hemisphere winter and in the south Atlantic and Southwest Indian Oceans. The link between fishing and the steep decline in seabird populations is well established, but the identification of problem 'hotspots' will better help agencies to conserve a number of threatened species. The study is published in the Journal of Applied Ecology this week (22 May). | |
 | Bangladesh tiger population rises after poaching crackdownThe number of wild tigers in Bangladesh's Sundarbans area has increased for the first time in 15 years after a major crackdown against poachers in the world's largest mangrove forest, officials said Wednesday. |
 | How DNA is read and copiedTwo scientists at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have unraveled aspects of how DNA organizes and preserves genetic information. Newly published research by Cynthia Wolberger, Ph.D., and James Berger, Ph.D., whose labs sit side by side, takes a closer look at how the puzzle pieces of DNA machinery fit together. |
 | New approach for determining conservation threat for species with little dataUniversity of British Columbia researchers have found a new way to identify which marine species are threatened and what is threatening them, even if these species lack data, a new study published in the journal Conservation Biology shows. |
 | The neural mechanisms that inhibit slow muscle activity during fast swimming in fishIn vertebrate muscles, there are slow and fast muscle fibers. Fast muscle fibers contract rapidly, but are prone to fatigue. Slow muscle fibers have the property of slow contraction, but resist fatigue. Vertebrates use fast and slow muscles properly depending on the situation. |
 | Detecting bacteria in spaceScientists at Université de Montréal and McGill University have pioneered and tested a new genomic methodology which reveals a complex bacterial ecosystem at work on the International Space Station. |
 | Germany relaxes rules on wolf cullsThe German government on Wednesday relaxed rules on culling wolves, as the population of the predator has grown since its return to the country two decades ago. |
Norway salmon farms ravaged by algae bloom: authorityMillions of farmed salmon have died in northern Norway due to an algae bloom that the authorities are struggling to bring under control, the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate has said. | |
 | Two rare mammals, Chacoan peccaries, born in Prague zooPrague's zoo says two Chacoan peccaries have been born there for the first time, a vital step in efforts to save an endangered species that was once considered extinct. |
 | Researchers seek answers to gray whale deaths after 57 are stranded this yearGray whales are dying at twice the usual rate as a brutal migration unfolds, with whales washing up on Washington state beaches, apparently starved to death. |
| TGen-Ethos underscore need for setting high standards in veterinary cancer diagnosticsEthos Veterinary Health, Ethos Discovery, and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), an affiliate of City of Hope, announced today that they have developed a highly accurate test for the diagnosis of canine lymphoma. |
 | Botswana lifts ban on elephant huntingBotswana on Wednesday lifted its ban on elephant hunting, saying the population had increased and farmers' livelihoods were being impacted, in a move set to trigger outrage from conservationists. |
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