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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 13, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Fermi mission reveals its highest-energy gamma-ray burstsFor 10 years, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has scanned the sky for gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), the universe's most luminous explosions. A new catalog of the highest-energy blasts provides scientists with fresh insights into how they work. |
 | Earth's heavy metals result of supernova explosionThat gold on your ring finger is stellar—and not just in a complimentary way. |
 | Hubble observes tiny galaxy with big heartNestled within this field of bright foreground stars lies ESO 495-21, a tiny galaxy with a big heart. ESO 495-21 may be just 3000 light-years across, but that is not stopping the galaxy from furiously forming huge numbers of stars. It may also host a supermassive black hole; this is unusual for a galaxy of its size, and may provide intriguing hints as to how galaxies form and evolve. |
 | NASA renames street for 'hidden' black women mathematiciansNASA has renamed the street outside its Washington headquarters to honor three black female mathematicians whose pioneering work on the agency's early space program was chronicled in the film "Hidden Figures". |
 | The entire sky in X-raysThe small fleet of X-ray space scouts will soon be expanded to include a flagship. On 21 June 2019, the German telescope eRosita will launch from the Russian Baikonur space-port into space. On a platform on board the Proton M launcher, there is a Russian telescope called Art-XC alongside eRosita. The main goal of the eRosita mission—developed and built by a consortium of German institutes led by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching—is the first complete sky survey in the medium X-ray range up to an energy of ten keV. |
 | Moon maps, lunar origins and everything betweenThe moon's consistent appearance in the sky each night may lull earthlings into a sense of familiarity, but the moon is actually a puzzling place. It lacks an atmosphere and is bone-dry; it can hardly claim a central iron core; and it has a lightweight crust that is chemically similar to Earth. |
 | NASA's Mars 2020 will blaze a trail for humansWhen a female astronaut first sets foot on the moon in 2024, the historic moment will represent a step toward another NASA first: eventually putting humans on Mars. NASA's latest robotic mission to the Red Planet, Mars 2020, aims to help future astronauts brave that inhospitable landscape. |
 | Why do massive (and not-so-massive) stars form?The Milky Way Project: Probing Star Formation with a New Yellowball Catalog presents a study of 518 infant star-forming regions known as "Yellowballs," drawn from a catalog made possible by the efforts of citizen scientists. The Milky Way Project is one of roughly 100 research initiatives in Zooniverse, the world's largest online platform for citizen science. During 2016-2017, citizen scientists identified more than 6,000 Yellowballs (YBs), which were named for their appearance in Spitzer Space Telescope images. A major result of the new study is that YBs provide snapshots in time of nascent star-forming regions spanning an enormous range of mass and luminosity. |
 | Solar activity forecast for next decade favorable for explorationThe last astronauts of the Apollo program were lucky. Not just because they were chosen to fly to the moon, but because they missed some really bad weather en route. This wasn't a hurricane or heat wave, but space weather—the term for radiation in the solar system, much of which is released by the sun. In August 1972, right in between the Apollo 16 and Apollo 17 missions, a solar storm occurred sending out dangerous bursts of radiation. On Earth, we're protected by our magnetic field, but out in space, this would have been hazardous for the astronauts. |
 | India plans 'very small' space station after 2022India plans to establish its own "very small" space station in the next decade as the country gears up for a first manned mission beyond earth. |
 | How NASA's Spitzer has stayed alive for so longAfter nearly 16 years of exploring the cosmos in infrared light, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope will be switched off permanently on Jan. 30, 2020. By then, the spacecraft will have operated for more than 11 years beyond its prime mission, thanks to the Spitzer engineering team's ability to address unique challenges as the telescope slips farther and farther from Earth. |
Technology news
 | Skinflow: A soft robotic skin based on liquid transmissionResearchers at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and the University of Bristol have recently developed a new soft robotic skin-like sensor that is based on fluidic transmission. This sensor, presented at the second IEEE International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft), could have interesting applications in a variety of fields, ranging from robotics to virtual reality (VR). |
 | Connecting the dots between voice and a human faceOnce again, artificial intelligence teams tease the realm of the impossible and deliver surprising results. This team in the news figured out what a person's face may look like just based on voice. Welcome to Speech2Face. The research team found a way to reconstruct some people's very rough likeness based on short audio clips. |
 | The whisper of schizophrenia: Machine learning finds 'sound' words predict psychosisA machine-learning method discovered a hidden clue in people's language predictive of the later emergence of psychosis—the frequent use of words associated with sound. A paper published by the journal npj Schizophrenia published the findings by scientists at Emory University and Harvard University. |
 | High-speed network for first responders raises concernsThe police chief of Alaska's largest city hurried out of the department's glass building after the ground began to shake. Phone lines jammed and even police radios were spotty after a major earthquake, but his cellphone was recently equipped with a national wireless network dedicated to first responders. |
 | Telegram traces cyber-attack during HK protests to ChinaEncrypted messaging service Telegram suffered a major cyber-attack that originated from China, the company's CEO said Thursday, linking it to the ongoing political unrest in Hong Kong. |
 | Soon, air pollution could be measured on every street cornerAir pollution is responsible for 550,000 premature deaths a year in Europe and 7 million worldwide, according to the WHO. Measuring it can be a challenge, however, as the equipment tends to be large and expensive. But soon, this may change, thanks to a small, optical nanosensor developed at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, which can be mounted onto an ordinary streetlight. |
 | Online gambling: Children among easy prey for advertisers who face few sanctionsWith concerns growing that children and vulnerable people are being targeted by rogue online gambling advertising, my new research suggests the current sanctions aren't enough to change the practices of online advertisers. |
 | Research examines intent behind Facebook postsWhy do we share posts on Facebook? |
 | New application can detect Twitter bots in any languageThanks to fruitful collaboration between language scholars and machine learning specialists, a new application developed by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland and Linnaeus University in Sweden can detect Twitter bots independent of the language used. |
 | Using AI technology to prevent cyberbullyingOn Sept. 9, 2013, after enduring years of horrific cyberbullying at the hands of her Lakeland, Fla., classmates, 12-year-old Rebecca Sedwick climbed to the top of a water tower and leapt to her death. |
 | How trustworthy is that website?The internet is ubiquitous and for many people it is part of every aspect of their everyday lives from news and information to finding their way around a new city and from emailing close friends to finding a partner. But, how do we know which websites on the internet are trustworthy in so many different contexts? |
 | Carbon-neutral fuel made from sunlight and airResearchers from ETH Zurich have developed a novel technology that produces liquid hydrocarbon fuels exclusively from sunlight and air. For the first time worldwide they demonstrate the entire thermochemical process chain under real field conditions. The new solar mini-refinery is located on the roof of ETH's Machine Laboratory building in Zurich. |
 | Experts: Spy used AI-generated face to connect with targetsKatie Jones sure seemed plugged into Washington's political scene. The 30-something redhead boasted a job at a top think tank and a who's-who network of pundits and experts, from the centrist Brookings Institution to the right-wing Heritage Foundation. She was connected to a deputy assistant secretary of state, a senior aide to a senator and the economist Paul Winfree, who is being considered for a seat on the Federal Reserve. |
Nation's first hydrogen fuel cell ferry to transport commuters across San Francisco Bay in early 2020Creators of the nation's first hydrogen fuel cell ferry always dreamed that if they built the zero-emission vessel, commercial interest would soon follow. It didn't take long. | |
 | Florida law to allow autonomous cars—when they're readySelf-driving vehicles with no humans on board will be able to operate in Florida—once they're finally ready for prime time—under a bill signed Thursday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. |
 | 'Don't drink and drone,' say Japanese MPsPeople in Japan operating drones under the influence could face up to a year in prison under new laws passed Thursday that aim to control the increasingly popular devices. |
 | VW says cooperation talks with Ford 'close to completion'Car giant Volkswagen's talks on co-operation with US-based Ford concerning electric vehicles and automated driving are "close to completion", the German company's chief executive Herbert Diess said Thursday. |
Hillwood wants to turn AllianceTexas into 'mobility innovation zone' for drones, autonomous vehiclesWhen Uber announced it would develop and test an urban air taxi service in Dallas, the Perot family's Hillwood was among the first companies to sign on as one of the ride-hailing company's business partners. | |
 | Suit alleges Amazon's Alexa violates laws by recording children's voices without consentA lawsuit filed in Seattle Tuesday alleges Amazon is recording children who use its Alexa devices without their consent, in violation of laws governing recordings in at least eight states, including Washington. |
 | Twitter releases new trove of banned state propagandaSocial media giant Twitter on Thursday released a new archive of state-backed propaganda from accounts it has banned based in Iran, Russia, Spain and Venezuela. |
 | Expansion microscopy and virtual reality illuminate new ways to prevent and treat diseaseA combined research team from Carnegie Mellon University and Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason is pairing a nanoscale imaging technique with virtual reality (VR) technology to create a method that allows researchers to "step inside" their biological data. |
 | German state to shut Facebook page over data privacy worriesA German state government announced plans Thursday to shut down the region's Facebook page because of concerns over the company's handling of data protection issues. |
Southwest pushes back expected return of troubled Boeing jetSouthwest Airlines is delaying expectations for return of the Boeing 737 Max, which remains grounded after two deadly crashes. | |
Ford opens Israel tech lab in move toward driverless carsFord has opened a research center in Israel, joining a legion of major automakers racing to develop new technologies for the world of driverless cars. | |
Medicine & Health news
 | Study shows 'safety bubble' expands during third trimesterNew research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, shows that women undergo a significant mental as well as physical change during the late stages of pregnancy. |
 | Two hours a week is key dose of nature for health and wellbeingSpending at least two hours a week in nature may be a crucial threshold for promoting health and wellbeing, according to a new large-scale study. |
 | Lower risk of type 1 diabetes seen in children vaccinated against 'stomach flu' virusVaccinating babies against a virus that causes childhood "stomach flu" greatly reduces their chance of getting so sick that they need hospital care, a new study shows. |
 | Sickle cell disease needs more attentionThe promise of new treatments for sickle cell disease, a group of inherited red blood cell disorders, has never been so great, but it will only be realized if there is constant investment in health policies such as programs for screening newborns, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where most cases occur. |
 | Noninvasive Cytophone device detects melanoma in earliest stages, could prevent fatal disease spreadA University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) research team led by Vladimir Zharov, Ph.D., D.Sc., has demonstrated the ability to detect and kill circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood using a noninvasive device called Cytophone that integrates a laser, ultrasound and phone technologies. |
 | Clues to building a better herpes vaccineEfforts to develop an effective vaccine for genital herpes, a common sexually transmitted disease, have largely failed. In a new study published in Nature, Yale researchers explore why, and their findings could lead to a better vaccine. |
 | Prostate cancer researchers find molecular switch to prolong survivalWilmot Cancer Institute scientists believe they have figured out why a commonly used drug to treat late-stage prostate cancer often stops working after four or five months and appears to have a dual function that later turns the cancer into a relentless aggressor. |
 | Breaking the code: How is a mother's immunity transferred to her baby?One of the most successful interventions in reducing infectious disease worldwide, vaccination still has limited effectiveness in protecting one group of patients—newborn infants. Now a study based at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard has determined how a pregnant woman's vaccine-induced immunity is transferred to her child, which has implications for the development of more effective maternal vaccines. The report will be published in the June 27 issue of Cell and is receiving early online release. |
 | Identification of protective antibodies may be key to effective malaria vaccineResearchers from the University of Oxford, along with partners from five institutions around the world, have identified the human antibodies that prevent the malaria parasite from entering blood cells, which may be key to creating a highly effective malaria vaccination. The results of the study were published today in the journal Cell. |
 | Aging delayed in older mice given blood component from young miceNew research has identified a novel approach to staving off the detrimental effects of aging, according to a study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. |
 | Antibody treatment allows transplant of mismatched stem cells, tissues in miceA combination of six antibodies can successfully prepare mice to accept blood and immune stem cells from an immunologically mismatched donor, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. |
 | Half of Ebola outbreaks go undetected, study findsHalf of Ebola outbreaks have gone undetected since the virus was discovered in 1976, scientists at the University of Cambridge estimate. The new findings come amid rising concern about Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and highlight the need for improved detection and rapid response to avoid future epidemics. |
 | Deadly tick-borne virus cured with experimental flu drug, in miceOnly a few cases of the newly discovered Bourbon virus have been reported, and two of them ended in death, partly because no specific treatments are available for the tick-borne illness. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified an experimental antiviral drug that cures mice infected with the potentially lethal virus. The drug, favipiravir, is approved in Japan but not the U.S. for treatment of influenza, a related virus. |
 | Gut microbes eat our medicationThe first time Vayu Maini Rekdal manipulated microbes, he made a decent sourdough bread. At the time, young Maini Rekdal, and most people who head to the kitchen to whip up a salad dressing, pop popcorn, ferment vegetables, or caramelize onions, did not consider the crucial chemical reactions behind these concoctions. |
 | Researchers identify hidden brain signals behind working memoryMaking a specific type of brain pattern last longer improves short-term memory in rats, a new study finds. |
 | If asked the right way, toddlers will choose broccoli over cake, study finds"Would you like cake or broccoli?" If you ask a child under the age of 3, the answer—eight times out of 10—will be broccoli. |
 | Scientists reveal DNA packaging mechanism of HSV-1, the virus that causes cold soresA new technique developed by researchers from the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA has allowed them to become the first scientists to clearly see the intricate machinery responsible for compressing DNA into the small interior shell, or capsid, of herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1, the virus responsible for causing cold sores. |
 | An extra burger meal a day eats the brain awayThe average person eats many more calories than they did 50 years ago—equivalent to an extra fast-food burger meal every day—which is having devastating results for our brains and waistlines, an ANU health expert warns. |
 | Genes and cellular processes that contribute to the pathogenesis of RVVC foundAn international team of researchers has identified some of the genes and cellular processes that contribute to the pathogenesis of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC)—a Candida albicans fungal infection. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group describes their study of the infection in women and what they learned about it. |
 | Salmonella resistant to antibiotics of last resort found in USResearchers from North Carolina State University have found a gene that gives Salmonella resistance to antibiotics of last resort in a sample taken from a human patient in the U.S. The find is the first evidence that the gene mcr-3.1 has made its way into the U.S. from Asia. |
 | Increasing red meat intake linked with heightened risk of deathIncreasing red meat intake, particularly processed red meat, is associated with a heightened risk of death, suggests a large US study published in The BMJ today. |
Early release rules for prisoners at end of life may be 'discriminatory,' say doctorsDoctors are calling for reform to rules governing when terminally ill prisoners are suitable for early release on compassionate grounds (ERCG) amid concerns that the current approach is discriminatory. | |
 | New assay detects patients' resistance to antimalarial drugs from a drop of bloodAntimalarial drugs appear to follow a typical pattern, with early effectiveness eventually limited by the emergence of drug resistance. A report in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics describes a new assay using whole blood that simplifies the genetic analysis of malarial parasites by completely eliminating processing steps. This provides rapid access to critical information associated with resistance to antimalarials at the point of care, avoiding the time, expense, and effort of having the sample sent to a central laboratory and allowing clinicians to quickly re-evaluate treatment options. |
Triple-negative breast cancer among black women in the US varies by birthplaceA new study finds substantial variation in the prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer among black women with breast cancer by birthplace in the United States. The prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer was highest among U.S.-born and Western-African-born black women, followed by Caribbean-born, and Eastern-African-born black women. The study is published in the journal Cancer and its findings suggests that the typical notion of higher proportional burden of triple-negative breast cancer among black women is not generalizable to all women of African descent. | |
 | Are we using biologic therapy properly?The introduction of infliximab (Remicade), the first biologic therapy approved for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), did not result in lower rates of hospitalizations or intestinal surgeries among patients living with IBD in Ontario, according to a study published by authors from several Canadian hospitals and ICES in the journal Gut. |
 | The app teaching anorexics to eat againSwedish scientists say that eating disorders should be considered just that—eating disorders, rather than mental disorders. The proof, they say, is in the eating. |
 | Low vitamin K levels linked to mobility limitation and disability in older adultsLow levels of circulating vitamin K are linked to increased risk of mobility limitation and disability in older adults, identifying a new factor to consider for maintaining mobility and independence in older age, according to a study led by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University. |
 | Researchers conduct new diet study using MRI to map internal fatA research team led by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) Prof. Iris Shai has published a significant long-term study on the impact of Mediterranean and low-carb diets and exercise, measuring their impact with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology to map body fat. |
 | Using data to decide when to transfer patients by medical helicopterThe increased use of medical helicopters over the last half-century has saved countless lives by quickly getting patients from trauma to the emergency room (ER) within the so-called "golden hour." |
 | Formation of habitual use drives cannabis addictionA shift from brain systems controlling reward-driven use to habit-driven use differentiates heavy cannabis users who are addicted to the drug from users who aren't, according to a study in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging. The findings help explain how the brain becomes dependent on cannabis, and why not all cannabis users develop an addiction, even with long-term regular use. |
 | Even in young children: Higher weight = higher blood pressureOverweight four-year-olds have a doubled risk of high blood pressure by age six, raising the hazard of future heart attack and stroke. That's the finding of a study published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). |
 | Chronic diseases monitored in primary care could lead to unnecessary testingGuidelines used by GPs to monitor chronic diseases are based on expert opinion rather than evidence, according to a review of the guidelines by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) researchers at the University of Bristol. The review, published today [Thursday 13 June] in the British Medical Journal, looked at guidelines for chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, which are monitored through a range of tests in GP surgeries. |
 | Orthodontics not correlated with future happiness in studyAustralian researchers have found that having braces doesn't equate to happiness later in life, which may lead parents to question if orthodontics are worth the pain. |
 | Recession-related suicide on the rise in male mental health patientsRecession-related increases in suicide have previously been reported globally. New research has shown an equivalent rise in suicide by mental health patients, particularly men aged 45-54. |
 | 'Selfie mode' for heart imaging could help doctors spot heart disease earlierOne of the reasons cardiovascular disease kills 610,000 Americans each year is that it's hard to see it coming before it's too late. By the time someone is experiencing chest pain, irreversible damage has likely been done. Despite advancements in medical imaging technology for the rest of the body, it's still quite difficult to get a clear look at the heart. And the procedures for doing it are so invasive and physically taxing that doctors must limit how often they're performed. Drexel University researchers are trying to make the images sharper and the process easier by developing a heart-activated contrast dye made from the same materials as cell membranes. |
 | Food label nutrition facts matter to you, but don't tell you much about your gut microbesIt seems like every day a new study is published that links the bacteria in the gut to a specific disease or health condition. The allure of research like ours and that of other groups is that it might eventually be possible to give personalized recommendations for what specific foods to eat to shift your bacteria in a direction that improves your health. |
 | Rapid DNA analysis helps diagnose mystery diseasesAs doctors, we deal with a lot of uncertainty. Often, it is difficult to diagnose what is making a patient sick because symptoms from both infectious and non-infectious diseases can be indistinguishable from each other. |
 | Genes for Good project harnesses Facebook to reach larger, more diverse groups of peopleIn 2015, a group of researchers hypothesized that our collective love of Facebook surveys could be harnessed for serious genetic studies. Today, the Genes for Good project (@genesforgood) has engaged more than 80,000 Facebook users, collected 27,000 DNA spit-kits, and amassed a trove of health survey data on a more diverse group of participants than has previously been possible. Researchers say their app could work as a model for studies on an even larger scale. Their work appears June 13 in The American Journal of Human Genetics. |
 | Special fibroblasts help pancreatic cancer cells evade immune detectionPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Mostly chemoresistant, PDAC so far has no effective treatment. Understanding the connective tissue, called stroma, that surrounds, nurtures, and even protects PDAC tumors, is key to developing effective therapeutics. |
 | New insight could improve maternal vaccines that also protect newbornsA team led by Duke Health scientists has identified a cellular process that could lead to the development of safer and more effective vaccines that protect pregnant women as well as their newborns from dangerous infections. |
 | 'Locking' an arthritis drug may be key to improving itAttaching a removable lock to an arthritis drug can make it safer and more effective, according to a new study publishing June 13 in the open-access journal PLOS Biology led by Wen-Wei Lin of Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan. The findings suggest a new way to improve the efficacy of a drug taken by millions of patients throughout the world. |
 | Fetal genome involved in triggering premature birthMutations in the gene that codes for SLIT2, a protein expressed in fetal cells in placentas and involved in directing the growth of the fetal nervous system, may contribute to premature births, possibly by activating the mother's immune system. Mika Rämet of the University of Oulu and colleagues report these findings in a new study published 13th June in PLOS Genetics. |
 | Taking the 'killer' out of natural killer cellsThe virus responsible for chickenpox and shingles employs a powerful strategy of immune evasion, inhibiting the ability of natural killer cells to destroy infected cells and produce molecules that help control viral infection, according to a study published June 13 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Allison Abendroth of the Discipline of Infectious Diseases and Immunology in the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney, and colleagues. As the authors noted, future studies that elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms may allow exploitation of this knowledge in therapeutic settings in which aberrant natural killer cell activation can cause immunopathology, such as in certain autoimmune diseases, graft-versus-host-disease, and transplant rejection. |
 | First randomised trial finds no substantial difference in risk of acquiring HIV for 3 different forms of contraceptionPrevious research has suggested that some contraceptive methods may increase women's susceptibility to HIV. However, all three forms of contraception trialled were safe and highly effective, supporting their continued and increased access alongside high quality HIV prevention services. |
 | How an ancient fireside gathering could tackle HIV stigma in UgandaFor 25 years, northern Uganda was devastated by civil war. During this time the area's residents, many of whom belong to the Acholi people, were forced from their homes. They ended up living in internally displaced camps, relying on the World Food Programme and battling a severe shortage of clean water. Hunger, malnutrition and a lack of adequate sanitation facilities took a dreadful toll. |
 | Genetic inequity towards endocrine disruptorsPhthalates, one of the most common endocrine disruptors, are commonly used by industry in many plastic products—toys, clothing, baby bottles or even medical equipment—as well as in cosmetics. If guidelines are beginning to be imposed to limit their use, their toxic effect on the endocrine system is worrying. Indeed, the exposure of male fetuses to phthalates can have devastating consequences for the fertility of future individuals by modifying the regulatory elements of the expression of genes responsible for spermatogenesis. However, we are not all equal: researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), Switzerland, show that phthalate susceptibility depends largely on the genetic heritage of each individual. These results, to be discovered in PLOS One magazine, raise the question of individual vulnerability as well as that of the possible transmission to future generations of epigenetic changes that should normally be erased during fetal development. |
 | Clear link between press releases and news stories on medical researchNews stories on medical research are affected by the quality of university press releases, but both sources often omit important information about the actual scientific study described, researchers from Karolinska Institutet report in the journal PLOS ONE. |
 | Researchers developing biomaterial to treat spinal disc degenerationTU/e spin-off NC Biomatrix BV is developing a biomaterial that will help to treat intervertebral disc degeneration in a non-invasive way. The new biomaterial (a cell-derived matrix gel) can be injected directly into the spinal disc. Matrix gel will restore disc volume and height thus easing the intense pain experienced by the patients with degenerative disc disease. In addition, it will provide an optimal scaffold for autologous cellular regeneration of the disc core. |
 | Researchers find effective drug combinations for glioblastoma in miceUsually, scientists study the molecular biology of cancer to find new treatments, but sometimes, it is the other way around: When seeking new treatments, scientists find key information on cancer biology. The researchers from the Telomeres and Telomerase Group at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) have identified new drug combinations that prevent the development of therapy resistance in mice with glioblastoma, the most malignant brain tumor. They also found an unexpected link between the RAS pathway, which is involved in numerous types of cancer, and telomere maintenance. This finding, which could be used in new lines of research, will be published in the medical journal EMBO Molecular Medicine. |
 | Immunotherapy drug shows potential to cure advanced lung cancerIn a new study including Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital researchers, the cancer immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda), increased survival for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a disease once considered an aggressive, and uniformly fatal cancer. The findings were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago. |
 | New poll shows rural health may be powerful issue in 2020 electionA vast majority of Americans, both Democrats and Republicans, consider access to health care in rural communities an important issue. Additionally, three in five voters think it is so important, they would vote for a candidate in the 2020 election who prioritized rural health in the campaign. These are encouraging findings from a new poll released by the Bipartisan Policy Center and the American Heart Association. |
 | Vegetables' health benefits increase when cooked with extra virgin olive oilCooking vegetables in sofrito (sauté) with extra virgin olive oil favours the absorption and release of bioactive compounds of its traditional ingredients (garlic, onion and tomato), according to the study conducted by a research team of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences at the University of Barcelona (UB), from the Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERobn) and the Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Diseases Networking Biomedical Research (CIBERDEM), led by the tenure lecturer Rosa M. Lamuela. These results, published in the science journal Molecules, allow an insight on the mechanisms with which gastronomy could play a relevant role in the health-improving effects of the Mediterranean Diet. |
 | Early autism screening has limited effectScreening for autism at three years of age only identifies those with significant developmental delay, and not those with less severe autism. Early screening may therefore not be as beneficial as previously thought, according to data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. |
 | The three big studies pushing at the frontiers of HIV preventionThere are an estimated 5000 new HIV transmissions every day. Around 70% of the 37 million people living with HIV globally are in sub-Saharan Africa. Of the 1.8 million new HIV transmissions worldwide in 2017, 800 000 occurred in eastern and southern Africa. New, effective prevention strategies are essential to reducing HIV transmission. |
 | Study disproves accusations of ghost patient fraud by GPsA research paper published last year has put paid to claims that GPs in England are cheating the system by claiming for non-existent patients. |
 | People with HIV are growing old—and society isn't ready for itThe good news is that people with HIV are living much longer than they used to; it's estimated that by 2020, 70 percent of people living with HIV in the United States will be age 50 and older, compared to 10 percent during the first 20 years of the epidemic. The bad news? With this longevity come challenges that our healthcare system isn't prepared to address. |
 | Researcher identifies adjuvant that prevents vaccine-enhanced respiratory disease in RSV, study findsA unique adjuvant, a substance that enhances the body's immune response to toxins and foreign matter, can prevent vaccine-enhanced respiratory disease, a sickness that has posed a major hurdle in vaccine development for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), according to a study led by the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. |
 | We're not just living for longer: We're staying healthier for longer, tooIn the 12 years to 2015, life expectancy in Australia increased by 2.3 years for men (to 80.4) and 1.6 years for women (to 84.6). Our health-adjusted life expectancy increased along with it—by two years for men (to 71.5) and 1.3 years for women (to 74.4). |
 | Financial vulnerability may discourage positive negotiation strategiesPeople who feel financially vulnerable may be prone to believing incorrectly their success in negotiations must come at the expense of the other party, leading them to ignore the potential for more cooperative and mutually beneficial options, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. |
 | Neuroscience research suggests support-dependent modulation of responses to social exclusionSocial support can change the way we perceive an unpleasant situation, but some types of support seem more effective than others. An international team of researchers led by Giorgia Silani from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Vienna, has shown that negative feelings and brain responses are modulated by the type of social support we receive after being socially excluded. The results of the study were recently published in the scientific journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (SCAN). |
 | The first tomography map for diagnosing glaucomaPablo Amil, a researcher from the research group in Nonlinear Dynamics, Nonlinear Optics and Lasers (DNOLL) at the ESEIAAT, has created an objective model that classifies the degrees of the iridocorneal angle, a key element for assessing the severity of glaucoma. Wit this model, ophthalmologists will have a tool to help patients make a decision when considering surgery. The method has been developed in the framework of the European project Be-Optical and published this year in the journal Scientific Reports, from the publishers of Nature. |
 | Determining risk of recurrence in triple-negative breast cancerA personalized prognosis for patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer was the goal of a new study by Katherine Varley, Ph.D., researcher at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) and assistant professor of oncological sciences at the University of Utah. |
 | Implanted drug 'reservoir' safely reduces injections for people with macular degenerationIn a clinical trial of 220 people with "wet" age-related macular degeneration, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers, collaborators from many sites across the country, and Genentech in South San Francisco have added to evidence that using a new implant technology that continuously delivers medication into the eyes is safe and effective in helping maintain vision and reduces the need for injections in the eyes. |
 | Smoking may impair body's blood pressure autocorrect systemSmokers may be at a higher risk for developing hypertension, and an overactive response to normal drops in blood pressure may help explain why, according to researchers. |
 | Bacterial chemical 'signatures' a sign of damaged gut microbiome in critical illnessChemicals produced by healthy bacteria could be used to assess the health of the gut microbiome and help identify critically-ill children at greatest risk of organ failure, a study published in Critical Care Medicine has found. |
 | Study finds over a quarter of adults aged 50+ are deficient in vitamin DOver a quarter of adults aged 50+ are deficient in vitamin D according to researchers from Trinity College Dublin who announced their findings today (Thursday, June 13th). Over half (57%) had inadequate serum vitamin D levels, of which 26% were classed as vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D has a known role in bone health, with growing evidence for beneficial effects on muscle strength and other non-skeletal outcomes. The study was recently published in the international, peer-reviewed journal Nutrients. |
 | Researchers learned how to better combat muscle loss during space flightsA new study from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has further documented how muscles are affected by reduced gravity conditions during space flight missions and uncovered how exercise and hormone treatments can be tailored to minimize muscle loss for individual space travelers. The findings are available in PLOS One. |
 | Study confirms teratogenicity of valproic acid, topiramate(HealthDay)—Valproic acid and topiramate are confirmed teratogens, according to a study published online June 12 in Neurology. |
 | Workouts: A prescription to ease severe chronic anxiety?(HealthDay)—Everyone experiences anxious moments now and then. But for those with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), the worry is frequent and overwhelming, often interfering with everyday activities. |
 | Growing life expectancy inequality in US cannot be blamed on opioids aloneA new University of Michigan study challenges a popularized view about what's causing the growing gap between the lifespans of more- and less-educated Americans—finding shortcomings in the widespread narrative that the United States is facing an epidemic of "despair." |
 | Scientists create 'virtual biopsy' device to detect skin tumorsUsing sound vibrations and pulses of near-infrared light, a Rutgers University scientist has developed a new "virtual biopsy" device that can quickly determine a skin lesion's depth and potential malignancy without using a scalpel. |
Cardiac toxicity risk factors identified with relapsed multiple myeloma therapyMore than half of patients with relapsed multiple myeloma treated with carfilzomib experienced cardiac issues during treatment, according to a multi-institutional study published June 12 in Journal of Clinical Oncology. The study recommends that patients undergo a detailed cardiovascular history before being prescribed carfilzomib and then be monitored with natriuretic peptide testing, an indicator for heart failure. | |
 | Common conditions keep many patients out of knee cartilage research studiesSome of the most common traits among patients with cartilage issues in the knee are excluding them from participating in clinical trials because the trial outcomes might not yield the optimum results for new methods of cartilage regeneration, according to a Penn Medicine study published in Regenerative Medicine. Researchers testing the new methods tend to only include the patients most likely to succeed with the fewest complications, but if some of these trials could be safely opened up to different kinds of patients—such as those older than 55 or younger than 18, or those who knee joints don't align perfectly—the results could be much more robust and reflective of the patient population being treated. In the team's paper, they also highlighted therapies that hold special promise for the excluded populations, such as the use of "scaffolding" to promote cartilage growth. |
 | Research finds pre-pregnancy weight affects infant growth response to breast milkIn the first study of its kind, LSU Health New Orleans researchers report that women's pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity produces changes in breast milk, which can affect infant growth. The research findings are published in PLOS ONE, available online here. |
 | Early-season hurricanes result in greater transmission of mosquito-borne infectious diseaseThe timing of a hurricane is one of the primary factors influencing its impact on the spread of mosquito-borne infectious diseases such as West Nile Virus, dengue, chikungunya and Zika, according to a study led by Georgia State University. |
 | Downward head tilt can make people seem more dominantWe often look to people's faces for signs of how they're thinking or feeling, trying to gauge whether their eyes are narrowed or widened, whether the mouth is turned up or down. But findings published in the June 2019 issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, show that facial features aren't the only source of this information—we also draw social inferences from the head itself. |
 | One-fifth of US surgeons still overusing riskier procedure to create kidney dialysis accessLong-term hemodialysis is a lifesaver for approximately half a million patients in the United States with kidney failure (also known as end-stage renal disease, or ESRD) who are either waiting on or unsuitable for a kidney transplant. But before the external machinery can take over the function of the kidneys—filtering and cleansing wastes from the blood—a minor surgical procedure is needed to create a stable, functional and reusable access to the circulatory system, usually through blood vessels in the arm. |
 | Study: Many choices seems promising until you actually have to choosePeople faced with more options than they can effectively consider want to make a good decision, but feel they're unable to do so, according to the results of a novel study from the University at Buffalo that used cardiovascular measures and fictional dating profiles to reach its conclusions. |
 | People using third-party apps to analyze personal genetic dataThe burgeoning field of personal genetics appeals to people who want to learn more about themselves, their family and their propensity for diseases. More and more consumers are using services like 23andMe to learn about their genetic blueprint. |
War, depression, suicide: American veterans are finding helpRoger King was 19 when he enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2005. He left four years later after two deployments in Iraq, where a sniper's bullet nearly cost him his life. | |
Study supports bisphosphonate use prior to denosumab to prevent loss of bone mineral density in post-menopausal womenThe results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019) finds the risk of bone mineral density (BMD) loss after denosumab discontinuation is associated with younger age, high bone turnover markers, and not receiving the bisphosphonate, zoledronate, prior to initiation of denosumab. | |
No link between cancer and tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) use in psoriatic arthritisThe results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019) suggest that overall cancer risk is not linked to tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) use in psoriatic arthritis. | |
Verinurad with febuxostat significantly reduces albuminuria and hyperuricaemia in patients with type 2 diabetesThe results of a phase IIa clinical trial presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019) demonstrate a rapid reduction in albuminuria and hyperuricaemia in patients with type II diabetes with combined treatment of verinurad and febuxostat. | |
Patients at a reduced risk of venous thromboembolism and persistent pain after partial versus total knee replacementThe results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019) demonstrate reduced risk of venous thromboembolism and persistent pain, but increased risk of revision in partial versus total knee replacement in patients with osteoarthritis. | |
New study debunks theoretical risks of live-attenuated vaccines in children with rheumatic diseasesThe results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019), jointly organised with the Paediatric Rheumatology Society (PReS), demonstrate no vaccine infections, and no disease flare, in the 234 rheumatic patients who received live-attenuated booster vaccination while taking immune suppressing therapies. | |
New biomarkers for cardiovascular risk in patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE)The results of a study presented today at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019) identify ApoB:A1 ratio and metabolomic lipoprotein signatures as potential biomarkers for cardiovascular risk in patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). | |
 | Second patient dies of Ebola in Uganda, as death toll climbs in DRCUganda on Thursday recorded its second Ebola fatality after a family contaminated with the virus crossed from neighbouring DR Congo, prompting World Health Organization officials to prepare an emergency meeting over the spread of the outbreak. |
 | Looming crisis for family carersaging parents providing informal care for older children living with conditions such as Down syndrome must be better supported if we are to avoid a looming crisis in social care, according to the findings of an interim findings released this week. |
 | Researchers prove correlation between the use of mobile phones and the development of new thumb pathologiesA study on the pain at the base of the thumb conducted in the University of Malaga has evidenced that a continuous use of the mobile phone, especially among young people, goes hand in hand with new pathologies of this finger. |
 | Expert discusses the U.S. food safety systemContaminated food causes 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths each year in the United States. In his new book, "Outbreak: Foodborne Illness and the Struggle for Food Safety," published by the University of Chicago Press, Distinguished University Professor Timothy Lytton examines the history and complex workings of the country's food safety system. |
 | On your bike?A James Cook University researcher says a lack of suitable roads is a big reason why cycling participation rates in Australia and Queensland are so low. |
 | Why you should try rhubarb(HealthDay)—Despite its vibrant green and red stalks, rhubarb might be one of the most overlooked plants in the garden. |
 | How to get the jiggle out: 3 exercises to tone your upper arms(HealthDay)—Getting your upper arms in shape is a worthy ambition in any season, and the triceps are the muscles to target for a sleek look. |
Q&A: How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?Dear Mayo Clinic: Is there a specific test to definitively diagnose fibromyalgia? If not, how do doctors confidently diagnose this disorder? | |
MRI plays a role in diagnosis of cocaine-related damage to the heartCardiac MRI has a pivotal role to play in the diagnosis of cocaine-induced cardiovascular diseases, according to an article published in the journal Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging. | |
 | Handgun licensing more effective at reducing gun deaths than background checks aloneA new white paper from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health concludes that of the approaches used by states to screen out prohibited individuals from owning firearms, only purchaser licensing has been shown to reduce gun homicides and suicides. Purchaser licensing is currently used by nine states and Washington, D.C. |
 | Spain urges youth to always carry condoms amid STI riseSpain will launch a campaign to urge young people to "always carry a condom on them" as the number of sexually transmitted infections (STI) surges, the government said Thursday. |
Trial reaffirms carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy alone should remain standard treatment for endometrial cancerThe New England Journal of Medicine recently published the primary endpoint of the NRG Oncology clinical trial NRG-GOG 0258, which showed that carboplatin and paclitaxel chemotherapy preceded by radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin, or combined modality therapy, did not significantly increase recurrence-free survival for women with stage 3-4A endometrial cancer when compared to chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel alone. These results were also presented in abstract form at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. | |
 | Congo pastor likely sparked Ebola outbreak spread to UgandaThe Congolese pastor who is thought to have caused the Ebola outbreak's spread into Uganda was unknown to health officials before he died of the disease, the World Health Organization's emergencies chief said Thursday. That underlines the problems in tracking the virus as a WHO expert panel on Friday discusses whether to declare a global health emergency. |
Biology news
 | Honeybee mite raises bumblebee virus riskA mite that spreads a dangerous virus among honeybees also plays an indirect role in infecting wild bumblebees, new research shows. |
 | A microscopic topographic map of cellular functionThe flow of traffic through our nation's highways and byways is meticulously mapped and studied, but less is known about how materials in cells travel. Now, a team of researchers at the University of Missouri is challenging prior theories about how material leaves the inside of an E.coli cell. This discovery could have important implications for how we treat diseases. |
 | Environmental oxygen triggers loss of webbed digitsFree fingers have many obvious advantages on land, such as in locomotion and grasping, while webbed fingers are typical of aquatic or gliding animals. But both amphibians and amniotes—which include mammals, reptiles, and birds—can have webbed digits. In new research from Japan, scientists show for the first time that during embryo development, some animal species detect the presence of atmospheric oxygen, which triggers removal of interdigital webbing. Their research appears June 13 in the journal Developmental Cell. |
 | Those who live longer have fewer childrenA long life and lots of children—that was quite a common aspiration until not so long ago. But the world of animals reveals that high fertility and longevity are often mutually exclusive: Particularly animals with shorter lifespans are often very fertile while animals that live longer frequently produce fewer offspring. It seems that organisms with limited resources can be either long-lived or very fertile—but they can't be both at the same time. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön have now discovered how the trade-off between survival and fertility works. They have found that the average age at reproduction is a measure for the loss of fertility as life expectancy increases. |
 | Viruses found to use intricate 'treadmill' to move cargo across bacterial cellsCountless textbooks have characterized bacteria as simple, disorganized blobs of molecules. |
 | Migratory hoverflies 'key' as many insects declineMigratory hoverflies are "key" to pollination and controlling crop pests amid the decline of many other insect species, new research shows. |
 | Flies go all-in to overcome mitochondrial genetic mutation, reach adulthoodNew research from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has revealed how fruit fly larvae with a seemingly fatal flaw can survive and advance to adulthood. |
 | Organisms aim to maximize inclusive fitness in order to pass genes to the next generationNew research might change our answer to the question: what goal are plants and animals adapted to achieve? Natural history documentaries marvel at the design-like features of animals: perfect camouflage, stunning speed, incredibly mimicry. The goal is surely survival, but "survival of the fittest" runs into problems for animals who sacrifice their own reproduction, and even lives, to help others. A study of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, and Australian National University was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B on June 12th, 2019. |
 | The power of a love song: Dopamine affects seasonal hearing in fish and facilitates matingMany people associate dopamine with reward or attention. Some might think of the part it plays in addiction, or Parkinson's disease, which kills off dopamine-making neurons. |
 | Once thought to be asexual, single-celled parasites caught in the actEven single-celled organisms desire partners every now and then. |
 | New model more accurately predicts choices in classic decision-making taskA new mathematical model that predicts which choices people will make in the Iowa Gambling Task, a task used for the past 25 years to study decision-making, outperforms previously developed models. Romain Ligneul of the Champalimaud Center for the Unknown in Portugal presents this research in PLOS Computational Biology. |
 | The surprising reason why some lemurs may be more sensitive to forest lossDuke University scientists have given us another way to tell which endangered lemur species are most at risk from deforestation—based on the trillions of bacteria that inhabit their guts. |
 | Parrot world's endangered heavyweight faces new threatAn unprecedented disease outbreak has pushed the critically endangered kakapo, the world's fattest parrot, closer to extinction, New Zealand scientists said Thursday. |
 | Zebras' stripes could be used to control their temperature, reveals new studyNew research published in the Journal of Natural History indicates that zebras' stripes are used to control body temperature after all—and reveals for the first time a new mechanism for how this may be achieved. |
 | Elephants walk more direct paths under risk of poachingElephants move faster and straighter when moving through risky areas, researchers have discovered, meandering more when safer. |
 | Mutant bacterial receptor could point to new therapies against opportunistic pathogenResearchers have developed a new mutant version of a receptor used by a bacterial pathogen for a chemical communication process called quorum sensing, according to a study published June 13 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by Bonnie Bassler of Princeton University, and colleagues. As the authors note, the mutant receptor could be used to identify therapeutic compounds that inhibit quorum sensing, fulfilling an urgent medical need. |
See how humans have redrawn Earth's biological mapHumans are rapidly changing the distinctive biodiversity that evolved in regions of the Earth over millions of years by introducing new species and wiping out others, a new study has shown. | |
 | Undocumented plant extinctions are a big problem in AustraliaA recent survey on the world's plants found a shocking number have gone extinct—571 since 1750. And this is likely to be a stark underestimate. Not all plants have been discovered, so it's likely other plants have gone extinct before researchers know they're at risk, or even know they exist. |
 | Softening the blow for hammerhead sharks and tropical hardwoodsWhat do spectacular sharks and a priceless tropical timber have in common? The answer is that they are in equally urgent need of conservation attention, and both stand to benefit from the intervention of the latest Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) award winners. |
 | Researchers discover interactions between plant and insect-infecting virusesAphids and the plant viruses they transmit cause billions of dollars in crop damage around the world every year. Researchers in Michelle Heck's lab at the USDA Agricultural Research Service and Boyce Thompson Institute are examining the relationship at the molecular level, which could lead to new methods for controlling the pests. |
 | Research identifies key driver for infanticide among chimpanzeesResearch conducted by the University of Kent has suggested that the sexual selection hypothesis for infanticide may be the key driver for the high rate of infant killings among a community of chimpanzees in Uganda. |
 | Research shows temperature, glyphosate increase probability for dicamba volatilityHigher temperatures and mixing glyphosate with dicamba lead to increased atmospheric concentrations of dicamba, according to scientists with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. |
 | More research labs are retiring monkeys when studies finishIzzle, Timon, Batman, River and Mars spent years confined inside a lab, their lives devoted to being tested for the benefit of human health. |
 | Harvesters of lightThey fan out into lily-pad-shaped disks, branch haphazardly like the antlers of deer, and hold fast to the sea floor in squat little spheres. Corals come in many shapes and sizes—and this diversity in form is driven by sunlight. |
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