Dear Reader ,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 27, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Cosmic waves discovery could unlock mysteries of intergalactic spaceScientists were celebrating a groundbreaking astronomical discovery Thursday that they say could pave the way for mapping the outer reaches of the universe. |
 | Ultra-short period brown dwarf discoveredAn international team of astronomers has detected a new brown dwarf with an ultra-short orbital period that transits an active M-dwarf star. The newfound object, designated NGTS-7Ab, turns out to be the shortest period transiting brown dwarf around a main or pre-main sequence star discovered to date. The finding is detailed in a paper published June 19 on the arXiv pre-print server. |
 | A whirlpool 'Warhol' from NASA's Spitzer telescopeUnlike Andy Warhol's famous silkscreen grids of repeating images rendered in different colors, the varying hues of this galaxy represent how its appearance changes in different wavelengths of light—from visible light to the infrared light seen by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. |
 | Plant seeding and panspermiaThe first detection of an interstellar asteroid/comet-like object visiting the Solar system two years ago has sparked ideas about the possibility of interstellar travel. New research from the Technion–Israel Institute of Technology suggests that such objects also raise far reaching implications about the origins of planets across the galaxy, and possibly even the initial formation of the Solar system itself. |
 | Tunguska revisited: 111-year-old mystery impact inspires new, more optimistic asteroid predictionsEvery single day, many tons of tiny rocks—smaller than pebbles—hit the Earth's atmosphere and disintegrate. Between frequent shooting stars we wish on in the night sky and the massive extinction-level asteroids that we hope we never see, there is a middle ground of rocks sized to make it through the atmosphere and do serious damage to a limited area. Now, new research from NASA indicates that the impacts of these mid-size rocks may be less frequent than previously thought. |
 | Old at heart: A solution to red giants' age paradoxFour years ago, several red giant stars were discovered to pose a paradox: even though they are built from very old stellar material, their large masses indicate a clearly younger age. Scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (Germany), Aarhus University (Denmark), and The Ohio State University (U.S.) have now solved the apparent contradiction. For the first time, they investigated the abundances of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen swirled from the nuclei of these stars to their surfaces. This allows for an indirect look at processes deep within. Several of the investigated red giants must have merged with others during an advanced stage of stellar evolution, the researchers conclude. In these cases, mass is not a suitable criterion for age determination; the stars are indeed old. |
 | NASA's TESS mission finds its smallest planet yetNASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has discovered a world between the sizes of Mars and Earth orbiting a bright, cool, nearby star. The planet, called L 98-59b, marks the tiniest discovered by TESS to date. |
 | Space station mold survives high doses of ionizing radiationThe International Space Station, like all human habitats in space, has a nagging mold problem. Astronauts on the ISS spend hours every week cleaning the inside of the station's walls to prevent mold from becoming a health problem. |
 | The extreme technology transforming space engineeringThis year marks the 50th anniversary of the first Apollo moon landing. This was possible thanks to an extraordinary acceleration of space technology. Within a remarkably short period of time leading up to the event, engineers had mastered rocket propulsion, on-board computing and space operations, partially thanks to an essentially unlimited budget. |
 | Main instrument for NASA's WFIRST mission completes milestone reviewIn order to know how the universe will end, we must know what has happened to it so far. This is just one mystery NASA's forthcoming Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission will tackle as it explores the distant cosmos. The spacecraft's giant camera, the Wide Field Instrument (WFI), will be fundamental to this exploration. |
 | Maps and images at the start of the space race opened the door for lunar and planetary explorationThe maps and images created by a small UA team at the start of the space race opened the door for lunar and planetary exploration 50 years ago. |
 | Team successfully locates incoming asteroidFor the first time, astronomers at the University of Hawaiʻi have demonstrated that their ATLAS and Pan-STARRS survey telescopes can provide sufficient warning to move people away from the impact site of an incoming asteroid. They detected a small asteroid prior to its entering the Earth's atmosphere near Puerto Rico on the morning of June 22, 2019. |
 | Astronomers discover eight buried dual AGN candidatesAstronomers discovered eight buried dual AGN candidates, the largest sample of hidden accreting supermassive black holes in late stage galaxy mergers, selected using NASA's Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) space telescope. This result will be presented by graduate student Ryan Pfeifle of George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.) at the annual meeting of the European Astronomical Society (EWASS2019) in Lyon, France, on Friday, 28 June. |
 | A chaos found only on MarsThe cracked, uneven, jumbled landscape seen in this image from ESA's Mars Express forms an intriguing type of terrain that cannot be found on Earth: chaotic terrain. |
 | First taste of space for Spacebus Neo satelliteThe thermal vacuum test campaign of the first Spacebus Neo satellite was completed on 25 June. Less than 100 metres from the Mediterranean Sea, the Konnect satellite has spent the past six weeks being exposed to the cold emptiness of space. |
Technology news
 | Enhancing the vertical mobility of six-legged robot RHex using microspinesA team of researchers at Carnagie Mellon University has recently proposed a method to improve the vertical mobility of a renowned hexapod robot. Their approach, presented in a paper pre-published on arXiv, entails the addition of microspines to RHex, an existing cockroach-inspired robotic platform designed to navigate unstructured environments at relatively high speed. |
 | Artificial intelligence controls robotic arm to pack boxes and cut costsRutgers computer scientists used artificial intelligence to control a robotic arm that provides a more efficient way to pack boxes, saving businesses time and money. |
 | Solar energy could turn the Belt and Road Initiative greenThe region covered by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has significant potential to be powered by solar energy, researchers report June 27 in the journal Joule. Less than 4 percent of the maximum solar potential of the region could meet the BRI's electricity demand for 2030. The research suggests a possible solution to reduce BRI countries' need for fossil fuels as they develop. This is the first time the renewable energy potential of the region is quantified. |
 | Drag-and-drop data analyticsIn the Iron Man movies, Tony Stark uses a holographic computer to project 3-D data into thin air, manipulate them with his hands, and find fixes to his superhero troubles. In the same vein, researchers from MIT and Brown University have now developed a system for interactive data analytics that runs on touchscreens and lets everyone—not just genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropists—tackle real-world issues. |
 | 3-D printed prosthetic hand can guess how people play 'rock, paper, scissors'A new 3-D-printed prosthetic hand can learn the wearers' movement patterns to help amputee patients perform daily tasks, reports a study published this week in Science Robotics. |
 | BMW puts traffic light recognition to the testThe BMW Group is investing in the future of self-driving vehicles. Getting people to adopt self-driving cars will require lots of attention to how these cars can behave safely not just on highways but in urban settings. |
 | Huawei warns US patent curbs would hurt global techChinese tech giant Huawei warned Thursday a U.S. senator's proposal to block the company from pursuing damages in patent courts would be a "catastrophe for global innovation." |
 | 'Deepfakes' pose conundrum for Facebook, Zuckerberg saysFacebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday the leading social network is struggling to find ways to deal with "deepfake" videos which have the potential to deceive and manipulate users on a massive scale. |
 | Five things to know about the selfie economyLong dismissed as a symptom of narcissistic youth culture, the not-so-humble selfie has become big business. |
 | Selfies: five times more deadly than shark attacksSelfies, which have become a global sensation in the last decade or so, have remarkably killed five times more people than shark attacks. |
 | US FAA: Boeing must address new issue on 737 MAXUS regulators said Wednesday Boeing must address a new "potential risk" in the Boeing 737 MAX, further clouding the timeframe for resuming service on the planes after two deadly crashes. |
 | Canada, Netherlands to pilot test epassports for transatlantic flightsCanada and the Netherlands announced Wednesday the launch of a pilot project for paperless travel between the two countries. |
EA's Origin had security flaws that could have put up to 300M at risk for identity theftVideo game publisher Electronic Arts has tightened some openings cybersleuths found in its Origin online network that could have exposed more than 300 million video game players to identity theft and account losses. | |
 | Zuckerberg says US govt inaction allowed fake news to spreadFacebook boss Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday that a lack of action by US authorities on fake political content on the platform after the 2016 US election helped pave the way for a subsequent avalanche of online disinformation. |
 | The lowdown on Libra: what consumers need to know about Facebook's new cryptocurrencyCryptocurrencies have become a global phenomenon in the past few years. Now Facebook is launching it's own cryptocurrency, in association with Visa, MasterCard, Uber and others. The stated aim of Libra is to "enable a simple global currency and financial infrastructure that empowers billions of people". |
 | Amazon is watching, listening and tracking you. Here's how to stop itAmazon is not only watching over your shopping, TV viewing, music listening and book reading histories, it's also listening to you at home or in the car. |
 | Safe, low-cost, modular, self-programming robotsMany work processes would be almost unthinkable today without robots. But robots operating in manufacturing facilities have often posed risks to workers because they are not responsive enough to their surroundings. To make it easier for people and robots to work in close proximity in the future, Prof. Matthias Althoff of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has developed a new system: IMPROV. |
 | Study: Tesla Autopilot misleading, overestimated more than similar technologyMore than any other driver-assist system out there today, people overestimate what Tesla's Autopilot can do, according to a new study. |
 | Solar farm in Kings Park to power 1,000 homesA 27-acre Kings Park property that started as a landfill during the 1940s and then became a golf driving range in the '80s is now home to a solar farm. |
 | Facebook starting nominations 'soon' for content oversight panelFacebook said Thursday it would soon open up nominations for a new 40-member oversight panel to make tough decisions on content moderation, saying it would be independent of governments and management of the social networking giant. |
 | EU okays IBM's $34 bn buyout of Red HatThe EU's powerful anti-trust authority on Thursday cleared the buyout by IBM of open source software company Red Hat, one of the biggest tech mergers in history which the computing giant said would enhance its cloud offerings. |
 | Apple recalls some MacBook Pro laptops due to fire hazardApple is recalling some MacBook Pro laptops due to a fire hazard. |
 | Facebook enlists plain English to clarify how it makes moneyFacebook is updating its terms and services guidelines to clarify how it makes money from the personal information of its users. The changes reflect its ongoing attempts to satisfy regulators in the U.S. and Europe, which have urged the company to make sure users know what they are signing up for. |
 | Police cam maker nixes facial recognition deploymentPolice equipment manufacturer Axon said Thursday it decided against deploying facial recognition on its body cameras after an ethics review found the technology "is not yet reliable enough." |
 | Airline group advocates more training for Boeing 737 MaxA trade group representing hundreds of airlines is renewing its push for additional pilot training and coordination among global aviation regulators to ensure that the Boeing 737 Max is safe before it is allowed to fly again after two deadly crashes. |
 | Game console makers oppose China tariffsGame console makers Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have joined forces in opposing expanded tariffs on China, saying the plan would make their products unaffordable for the coming holiday season. |
 | Facebook's Libra might be the best bet for cryptocurrencyFacebook's recent announcement of plans to launch a new digital currency called Libra was met with a skeptical or even alarmed response from lawmakers, regulators and leaders of foreign governments concerned about the impact on the global financial system. After all, the social media behemoth has been widely criticized in recent years for privacy violations and facilitating hate speech. Is Facebook the right entity to usher in the "internet of money?" |
 | Ford to cut 12,000 jobs in Europe as part of restructuringCarmaker Ford said Thursday it is shedding 12,000 jobs in Europe to increase profitability, part of a global trend of cost cuts by automakers facing shifting consumer tastes and heavy investments in electric cars. |
 | Amazon adds new option: Buy on Amazon, pick up at Rite AidAmazon is adding a new way to get your packages: head over to another store's sales counter to pick it up. |
 | Huawei staff pair up with Chinese military on researchHuawei employees have teamed up with Chinese military scientists to carry out research, a collaboration that challenges the telecom giant's assertion that it has no ties to the country's government or armed forces. |
 | German chemical giant BASF says to slash 6,000 jobsMassive German chemical company BASF said Thursday it would slash 6,000 jobs worldwide by 2021, as the company slims down its organisation in pursuit of fatter margins. |
 | Air Canada to buy tour operator Transat for Can$520 millionCanada's flagship airline Air Canada announced Thursday it has reached a deal to buy tour operator Transat for Can$520 million (US$396 million) in cash or Can$13 per share. |
 | Delaware insurer says 95K people's data could've been takenDelaware's insurance department says social security numbers and other personal data of almost 100,000 people may have been comprised over nearly a decade due to a breach at a large vision and dental insurer. |
 | SimBlock: A simulator for testing improvements to real-world blockchain networksKazuyuki Shudo, his colleagues, and the Cybersecurity Research Center at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) developed a public blockchain simulator called "SimBlock" for use in testing blockchain performance and security. The software can run on a single PC. It is now publicly available as open source. |
 | Spanish court rules Deliveroo riders are employeesA Spanish court ruled Thursday that online food delivery group Deliveroo wrongly hired 97 riders as self-employed contractors instead of as regular workers, which costs less for the firm. |
 | Mark Zuckerberg to regulators: We need your help to protect electionsAs public trust in Facebook's ability to wield its power responsibly has fractured in the face of a series of privacy breaches and other scandals, the company has been facing fresh calls for regulation from numerous quarters of the federal government. |
 | Is Facebook listening to me? Why those ads appear after you talk about thingsMy editor, Michelle, was at a birthday party for her son's friend recently, when the mom mentioned a company she liked called Joymode. Minutes later, an ad for Joymode appeared on Michelle's Facebook news feed. |
 | Twitter adds warnings to rule-breaking tweets from public figuresTwitter announced Thursday it would add warning labels to tweets from officials and politicians that violate its rules—a move potentially affecting the prodigious output of US President Donald Trump. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Heart-healthy effects of soy consistent over time, meta-study findsResearchers at the University of Toronto have found a consistent cholesterol-lowering effect for soy protein, with pooled data from dozens of clinical trials that span the last two decades. |
 | 'Mystical' psychedelic compound found in normal brainsIn the past few years, thrill-seekers from Hollywood, Silicon Valley and beyond have been travelling to South America to take part in so-called Ayahuasca retreats. Their goal: to partake in a brewed concoction made from a vine plant Banisteriopsis caapi, traditionally used by indigenous people for sacred religious ceremonies. Drinkers of Ayahuasca experience short-term hallucinogenic episodes many describe as life-changing. |
 | Genetically modified virus combats prostate cancerResearchers at the São Paulo State Cancer Institute (ICESP) in Brazil have used a genetically manipulated virus to destroy tumor cells upon injection into mice with prostate cancer. The virus also made tumor cells more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs, halting tumor progression and almost eliminating tumors in some cases. |
 | Why do beta cells stop releasing insulin in type 2 diabetes?Due to the increasing insulin resistance of cells, patients with type 2 diabetes suffer from increased blood sugar levels with far-reaching consequences. After many years of illness, insulin production dries up and patients have to inject insulin. |
 | Unexpected mechanism allows a protein kinase to decode calcium signaling in the brainA new study from researchers at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience (MPFI) has shed light on the unexpected mechanism that allows calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, or CaMKII, to decode and translate calcium signaling in the brain. Using advanced imaging techniques and novel biosensors, Ryohei Yasuda, Ph.D. and his team have revealed new insights into CaMKII's activity at the single-synapse level. |
 | Too many antioxidants may cause lung cancer spreadA new study explains why lung cancer spreads faster in patients with certain genetic changes, and suggests that taking vitamin E, long thought of as preventive, may cause the same spread. |
 | Pathway discovered that prevents buildup of Alzheimer's proteinSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered a pathway that functions like a car wash to prevent the buildup of a toxic protein associated with Alzheimer's disease. The report appeared online today in the journal Cell. |
 | Nutritional cues regulate pancreatic tumor's 'cell drinking'Desperate for nutrients, rapidly growing pancreatic tumors resort to scavenging "fuel" through an alternative supply route, called macropinocytosis. Scientists are hopeful that blocking this process, often described as "cellular drinking," could lead to tumor-starving drugs. First, however, fundamental information is needed—such as the invisible molecular signals that drive the process. |
 | Researchers grow active mini-brain-networksCerebral organoids are artificially grown, 3-D tissue cultures that resemble the human brain. Now, researchers from Japan report functional neural networks derived from these organoids in a study publishing June 27 in the journal Stem Cell Reports. Although the organoids aren't actually "thinking," the researchers' new tool—which detects neural activity using organoids—could provide a method for understanding human brain function. |
 | A Trojan horse? Immune cells ferry deadly fungus from mouse lung into the bloodA report today in PLOS Pathogens shows how inhaled fungal spores exit the lung and trigger a fatal infection in mice. |
 | New basic understanding of how lung cancer spreadsLung cancer cells use antioxidants, endogenous or dietary, to spread in the body by activating a protein called BACH1 and increasing the uptake and use of sugar, Swedish and American researchers report in two independent studies. The studies, which are published in the eminent scientific journal Cell, pave the way for new therapeutic strategies for lung cancer. |
 | A snapshot in time: Study captures fleeting cell differences that can alter disease riskIn cinema and science fiction, one small change in the past can have major, sometimes life-changing effects in the future. Using a series of snapshots, researchers recently captured such so-called "butterfly effects" in heart muscle cell development, and say this new view into the sequence of gene expression activity may lead to better understanding disease risk. |
 | Mutational 'hotspots' in cancer genomes may not necessarily drive cancer growthA study by investigators from the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Cancer Center has found that, contrary to common assumptions, the fact that a specific genetic mutation frequently arises in particular tumors may not signify that the mutation drives cancer development and progression. Their article published in Science describes how DNA single strands that fold back on themselves in what is called a "hairpin" structure appear highly sensitive to mutation by a gene-editing enzyme expressed in many cancers. But many of these mutation "hotspots" occur in genes that are totally unrelated to cancers, including many in noncoding areas of the genome. |
 | New method reveals how well tuberculosis antibiotics reach their targetsScientists have developed a new technique that enables them to visualise how well antibiotics against tuberculosis (TB) reach their pathogenic targets inside human hosts. The findings, published in the journal Science, boost our understanding of how antibiotics work and could help guide the development of new antibiotics, which are much-needed in the battle against drug-resistance. |
 | Functional hair follicles grown from stem cellsScientists from Sanford Burnham Prebys have created natural-looking hair that grows through the skin using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), a major scientific achievement that could revolutionize the hair growth industry. The findings were presented today at the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) and received a Merit Award. A newly formed company, Stemson Therapeutics, has licensed the technology. |
 | Researching the successes and challenges of digital medical devicesEric Topol, a cardiologist and digital medical researcher, and also director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, has published a Focus piece in the journal Science Translational Medicine discussing the short history of digital medical devices, covering both success stories and current challenges. |
 | Deciphering how the brain encodes color and shapeThere are hundreds of thousands of distinct colors and shapes that a person can distinguish visually, but how does the brain process all of this information? Scientists previously believed that the visual system initially encodes shape and color with different sets of neurons and then combines them much later. But a new study from Salk researchers, published in Science on June 27, 2019, shows that there are neurons that respond selectively to particular combinations of color and shape. |
 | New research raises prospect of better anti-obesity drugsEffective weight-loss strategies call for eating less food, burning more calories—or ideally, both. But for the more than 90 million Americans who suffer from obesity, a disease that contributes to conditions ranging from cancer to heart disease, behavioral change is hard to accomplish or not effective enough—which is why scientists have long sought drugs that would help people shed pounds. Yet effective, long-lasting treatments have thus far eluded them. |
 | Keeping active or becoming more active in middle and older age linked to longer lifeKeeping physically active or becoming more active during middle and older age is associated with a lower risk of death, regardless of past activity levels or existing health conditions, suggests a large UK study published by The BMJ today. |
Mental health stigma reduction campaign increased use of services, study findsAn unprecedented social marketing campaign in California intended to reduce stigma about mental health issues appears to have encouraged more people to seek care for their symptoms of mental distress, according to a new RAND Corporation study. | |
 | Vaccination programs substantially reduce HPV infections and precancerous cervical lesionsHuman papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programs have substantially reduced the number of infections and precancerous cervical lesions caused by the virus, according to a study published today in The Lancet by researchers from Université Laval and the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Centre. Results are so promising that it has now become possible to envision eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem in the coming decades. |
 | Blood supply therapy bid boosted by fresh insights into key cellsTherapies to improve recovery after a heart attack could be developed following fresh insights into how key cells are formed. |
 | New, noninvasive test for bowel diseasesGut diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are increasingly prevalent worldwide, especially in industrialised countries. In 2015 alone, 250,000 people in the UK were diagnosed with IBD, and 3 million in the United States (1, 2). Symptoms can include pain and swelling of the stomach, bloody diarrhoea, weight loss and extreme tiredness. |
 | ALS patients may benefit from more glucoseIncreased glucose, transformed into energy, could give people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, improved mobility and a longer life, according to new findings by a University of Arizona-led research team. |
 | New Australian-Pacific scabies treatment has lasting results, study findsResults of a two-year update of the world's first comparative trial of mass drug administration against scabies, show that the infection rate is still significantly down. The latest findings are published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. |
 | A hidden truth: Hospital faucets are often home to slime and biofilmHand hygiene is a critical component of infection prevention in hospitals, but the unintended consequences include water splashing out of a sink to spread contaminants from dirty faucets according to new research presented last week in Philadelphia at the 46th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). |
 | Interdisciplinary approach decreases broad spectrum antibiotic usageAn interdisciplinary approach to antimicrobial stewardship involving comprehensive blood culture identification (BCID) testing decreased broad spectrum antibiotic use, according to new research presented last week in Philadelphia at the 46th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). |
 | Selfies and the self: what they say about us and societyThe selfie craze speaks volumes about the era in which we live: how images race around the globe and can dominate public discourse, eliciting strong emotions and even blurring the lines of reality. |
Urinary tract and other infections may trigger different kinds of strokeSeveral infections have been identified as possible stroke triggers, with urinary tract infections showing the strongest link with ischemic stroke, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke. | |
 | Italy's 'cannabis light' creates buzz even if the pot won'tIt's been called the Italian "green gold rush." Mild, barely there marijuana dubbed "cannabis light" has put Italy on the international weed map, producing hundreds of stores that sell pot by the pouch and attention from investors banking the legalization of stronger stuff will follow. |
 | New knowledge on the development of asthmaResearchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have studied which genes are expressed in overactive immune cells in mice with asthma-like inflammation of the airways. Their results, which are published in the journal Immunity, suggest that the synthesis and breakdown of fats plays an important part in the process. |
 | One simple change cut unnecessary imaging for cancer patients in halfSimply introducing a default physician order—a "nudge"—into electronic health records (EHRs) cut the use of unnecessary daily imaging in half during palliative radiation therapy sessions for patients with advanced cancer, according to a Penn Medicine study published today in JAMA Oncology. While daily imaging is typically used in curative cancer treatment, national guidelines recommend providers transition to weekly imaging for palliative radiotherapy sessions. Daily imaging unnecessarily extends the duration of each radiation therapy session for palliative care patients who are often in pain or discomfort from the progression of cancer. |
 | Model predicts bat species with the potential to spread deadly Nipah virus in IndiaSince its discovery in 1999, Nipah virus has been reported almost yearly in Southeast Asia, with Bangladesh and India being the hardest hit. In a new study, published today in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, scientists used machine learning to identify bat species with the potential to host Nipah virus, with a focus on India—the site of a 2018 outbreak. Four new bat species were flagged as surveillance priorities. |
Reducing delays in identifying visceral leishmaniasisWomen in Indian states with endemic visceral leishmaniasis—also known as Kala Azar—should be encouraged to seek care for persistent fever without delay. Raised awareness about the disease and its symptoms, and the prioritization of women's care-seeking over household work could help reduce fatalities and potentially reduce overall transmission, according to research by independent consultant Beulah Jayakumar and colleagues, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. | |
 | Researchers criticize study calling for expansion of genetic testing for breast cancerResearchers at the University of Cambridge have criticised a recent study calling into question guidelines on genetic testing for hereditary breast cancer. |
 | Researchers explore perceptions of touch in people with autismFor many people, simple sensations such as the gentle caress of a loved one or walking barefoot through the grass feel pleasant. For individuals with autism, the feeling of light pressure on the skin may be perceived as aversive or even cringe-inducing. |
 | Early detection of schizophreniaDetecting and treating schizophrenia early, perhaps even before symptoms arise, could lead to better therapeutic outcomes. Studies have demonstrated differences in social function and cognition among people who later develop symptoms of schizophrenia, but less is known about pre-morbid temperament and personality. |
 | Study explores treatment options for babies with cataractsCataracts are uncommon in babies, but when they occur, the cloudy lenses must be removed without delay or blindness may result. |
 | Target found to arrest cancer growthAdelaide researchers are homing in on a new treatment target for the aggressive blood cancer multiple myeloma. |
 | Ebola in Uganda, and the dynamics of a new and different outbreakThe 2018 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC), has been a very different kind of outbreak than the massive West African outbreak that occurred in 2014 and 2015. For starters, it is much smaller, with just over 2,000 cases compared to the more than 28,000 cases of the West African outbreak. Because of that, many Western news organizations have devoted much less attention to the current epidemic. |
 | Crosstalk between cells allows Listeria bacteria to hijack immune systemListeria bacteria in food, water, or soil can cause food poisoning and even life-threatening infections in vulnerable people. In a study, Yale investigators have described how the pathogen manipulates the immune system to promote its own survival. |
 | Biomarkers of DNA methylation can be a predictor of breast cancer riskBiomarkers of DNA methylation, which regulate gene expression, can be a predictor of breast cancer risk, according to a study published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute. |
 | Health disparity for blacks exists within lung screening guidelinesThe U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines that determine which smokers qualify for CT scans exclude significant numbers of African Americans who develop lung cancer, a health disparity that merits modifications to lung cancer screening criteria, according to a study from Vanderbilt researchers. |
 | Blow your diet? Admitting it to someone might help you do better next timeWe've all slipped up when we're trying to improve ourselves, perhaps by eating better or spending more wisely, and sometimes when we do, we tell someone. But little is known about what we actually do next: Does admitting our loss of self-control help us resist temptation in the future, or could it make us more likely to give in again? |
 | Hydrogel offers real promise in treating diabetesResearchers at EPFL have developed a hydrogel that offers unrivaled protection against transplanted cell rejection. The School's Technology Transfer Office has licensed the new product to Cell-Caps, a Geneva-based startup specialized in cell encapsulation for treating diabetes. |
 | Migraine increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirthDespite the fact that many women who suffer migraines find that the number and severity of these severe headaches decrease during pregnancy, migraines are now being linked to elevated blood pressure, abortions, caesareans, preterm births and babies with low birth weight. |
 | Rapid spread of a meningitis bacteria linked to hypermutable sequences helping avoidance of the immune systemAn enhanced potential to avoid the human immune system has been found in recent serogroup W isolates of Neisseria meningitidis by University of Leicester researchers, which may explain in part why the strain spread so rapidly among young people in 2013. |
 | New technologies for the brain require ethical approaches to innovationBrain technologies are all the rage these days. Entrepreneurs are selling wearable devices in the open marketplace with claims of benefits to memory, attention and concentration. Neurosurgeons and psychiatrists are exploring new ways and further developing old invasive ones to intervene in the brains of people with major mental illnesses whose conditions are resistant to conventional drug therapy. |
 | Bipolar treatment can be improved – by focusing less on antidepressants and more on lithiumBipolar disorder is a serious condition of mood and behaviour that affects one in 50 people globally. Sufferers swing between episodes of mania (feeling high and overactive) and depression (feeling low, lethargic and hopeless). Sadly, it is estimated that as many as one in ten people with bipolar disorder will die by suicide. |
 | How to help patients recover after a strokeThe existing approach to brain stimulation for rehabilitation after a stroke does not take into account the diversity of lesions and the individual characteristics of patients' brains. This was the conclusion made by researchers of the Higher School of Economics (HSE University) and the Max Planck Institute of Cognitive Sciences in their article, "Predicting the Response to Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation in Stroke." |
 | One in five hematological cancer patients suffer blood clots or bleedingNew Danish research may direct focus toward the serious complications that every fifth hematological cancer patient suffers, according to medical doctor and Ph.D. Kasper Adelborg from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, who has studied the cases of 32,000 hematological cancer patients between the years 2000-2013. hematological cancer includes leukaemia, bone marrow cancer and cancers of the lymph nodes. |
 | Researchers identify a key regulatory mechanism in the development of normal pluripotent embryonic cellsThe early development of embryos is not well understood. One necessary stage is the formation of the blastocyst, a collection of cells present by about 4 days after fertilization of the egg, before implantation in the uterus. From that tiny collection of cells, all the different cells in the body must be created. Accordingly, there need to be mechanisms in the blastocyst to ensure normal gene expression and cell differentiation; those regulatory mechanisms are still largely unknown. |
 | Combination therapy for rosacea shows improved response ratesCombining ivermectin cream (IVM) and doxycycline modified-release capsules (DMR) can improve response rates for patients with severe rosacea, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. |
 | You are what you eat – why the future of nutrition is personalHumans are complicated, and there are many things that influence our health. There are things we can't change, like our age or genetic makeup, and the things we can, such as our choice of food and drink. There are also the trillions of bacteria that live in our guts—collectively known as the microbiome—that have a significant impact on our health and digestion. |
 | Diving into cold water can be deadly – here's how to survive itMany will have read the news story about the sad death of Cameron Gosling who died from cold water shock after jumping into the River Wear on a hot summer's day. Sadly, Cameron's death is not an isolated case. About 400 people die annually in the UK as a result of being immersed in cold water—more than die from cycling accidents or fire. Most of the casualties are males under 30 years of age, and most are reported to be good swimmers. |
Diets of nearly half of South Asian immigrants are unhealthy, study suggestsA significant percentage of new immigrants to Alberta from some South Asian countries are struggling with unhealthy eating habits, according to new research from the University of Alberta. | |
 | Dupixent approved for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polypsDupixent (dupilumab) has been approved to treat nasal polyps in adults with chronic rhinosinusitis, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today. |
 | Could heavier folks be at lower risk for ALS?It's not often that anything good is associated with obesity. Yet heavy folks and those who bulk up as they age may have less risk for the deadly disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a new study finds. |
 | What are the most dangerous food groups?Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds—we hear a lot about the "best" food groups for health. But what about the worst ones? What foods should you be eliminating or at least cutting back on? |
 | How to move past life's inevitable speed bumpsSetbacks are a part of life for everyone, but these stumbling blocks can be extremely difficult, even debilitating, to navigate. |
 | Even slightly elevated blood pressure early in pregnancy a bad signEven a small increase in blood pressure during your first trimester could spell bigger trouble later in your pregnancy, new research suggests. |
 | Alzheimer's genes might show effects in your 20sEvery college student misplaces keys or forgets an appointment from time to time. Usually it's no big deal. But a new study warns that when young people with a family history of Alzheimer's disease have memory lapses, it could be an early sign of something serious. |
 | Too little UVB exposure in pregnancy linked with a higher risk of learning disabilitiesToo little sunlight—and specifically UVB exposure—in pregnancy has been linked with a higher risk of learning disabilities. |
Psychiatry profession 'must make itself more appealing to state educated non-whites,' new study suggestsDoctors are more likely to apply for psychiatry training if they are older, white and privately educated, with below average performance at medical school, according to a new study. | |
 | Dementia gene linked to connections in brainInsights into how a gene that increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease disrupts brain cells have been revealed by scientists. |
 | Disrupted sleep in one's 50s, 60s raises risk of Alzheimer's diseasePeople who report a declining quality of sleep as they age from their 50s to their 60s have more protein tangles in their brain, putting them at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease later in life, according to a new study by psychologists at the University of California, Berkeley. |
 | Breakthrough in how cells link together has implications in the proliferation of cancerFor cancer to be successful—from its point of view, anyway—the disease has to find a way to break out beyond its initial foothold and spread throughout the body. Newly published research from The University of Toledo could bring fresh insight into one of the first ways cancers proliferate. |
 | Goat milk formula could benefit infant gut health: studyThe laboratory study by RMIT, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, analysed two types of commercial goat milk formula. |
 | Low-carb 'keto' diet ('Atkins-style') may modestly improve cognition in older adultsIn a pilot study of 14 older adults with mild cognitive problems suggestive of early Alzheimer's disease, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers report that a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may improve brain function and memory. |
 | Infant mortality is higher for low-skilled parentsInfants of women with a short-term education are more likely to die within the first year of life. In more than half of cases, the cause of death is premature childbirth and low foetal weight. This is shown by research from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital. |
Many older patients initiating dialysis experience functional declineA new study published in CJASN found that functional decline within the first 6 months after initiating dialysis was highly prevalent in older adults at 17 centers in Netherlands, and the risk was higher in those with advanced age and frailty. The study also revealed an increased burden for caregivers after their loved ones started dialysis. | |
 | Mum's workplace exposure to solvents may heighten child's autism riskA mother's workplace exposure to solvents may heighten her child's risk of autism, suggests research published online in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine. |
 | Protein offers protection against nerve degeneration in ALS modelIncreasing the levels of the anti-aging protein hormone Klotho improves the neurological deficits and prolongs life span in an experimental model with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). In addition, brain immune cells called microglia play an important role in protecting the brain against inflammation and, likely, motor neuron loss in this model. |
 | Patients see multiple clinicians on one visit, thanks to new scheduling protocolA new patient-centered scheduling protocol is improving the quality, efficiency and convenience of multiprovider health care, according to a recently published paper from The University of Texas at Austin. |
 | Meals on Wheels drivers good early warning system for senior's health and safety issuesMeal delivery drivers bringing food to homebound seniors can be an effective early-warning system for health and safety problems, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society by researchers at the West Health Institute, Brown University and Meals on Wheels America. |
 | Do you feel the other closer to you when she/he contingently responds to your action?Professor Atsushi Sato of the University of Toyama and Ai Matsuo, a researcher at The Open University of Japan, in cooperation with Professor Michiteru Kitazaki of Toyohashi University of Technology have found that social contingency modulates one's perceptual representation of the environment. Volunteer participants who were given the ability to display an image of a smiling person with the press of a button were found to perceive an afterimage of the same person, but with a neutral expression, to be smaller than participants who were unable to display the image of a smiling person with the press of a button. Thus, when the participant's intentional action affects the other's reaction, the perceptual distance between self and other will shorten. |
 | Reducing overtesting in the emergency department could save millionsAn emergency department is sometimes the first place a person thinks to go for health care. |
 | High BMI, weight gain linked to lasting decrease in ALS risk(HealthDay)—High body mass index (BMI) and weight gain are associated with a reduced long-term risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), according to a study published online June 26 in Neurology. |
 | Outcomes improved after ACL repair with three tendon graft types(HealthDay)—Patients who received patellar tendon, hamstring tendon, or "double-bundle" hamstring tendon grafts for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair had no significant difference in quality of life at five years postsurgery, according to a study published in the June 5 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery. |
 | Researchers find fecal marker could help diagnose early signs of chronic gut conditionsSmall molecules found in fecal matter could provide clues to the early inflammation found in chronic gut conditions, such as intestinal bowel disease (IBD), and serve as new biomarkers for diagnosis, according to a study led by the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. |
 | Even the threat of homelessness may bring higher stroke riskPeople who are homeless or who live in marginal housing where they are vulnerable to homelessness are at higher risk for strokes, even at younger ages, according to a new study. |
 | In US, relaxed IVF laws help would-be parents realize dreamsFreezing your eggs, getting pregnant after the age of 50, choosing the baby's sex: when it comes to in-vitro fertilization and other assisted reproduction procedures in the United States, would-be parents are spoilt for choice. |
 | Higher salt intake can cause gastrointestinal bloatingA study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that individuals reported more gastrointestinal bloating when they ate a diet high in salt. |
 | Home remedies: Can fish oil supplements treat depression?Fish oil supplements may ease depression in some people. Some studies in adults suggest that omega-3 fatty acids may help treat mild to moderate depression, but more research is needed. |
 | A new strategy 'raises the volume' of gut-body communicationThroughout the gastrointestinal tract there are specialized hormone-producing cells called enteroendocrine cells and, although they comprise only a small population of the total cells, they are one of the most important moderators of communication between the gut and the rest of the body. Studying these cells, however, has been difficult. |
 | Brain structure determines individual differences regarding music sensitivityThe white matter structure in the brain reflects music sensitivity, according to a study by the research group on Cognition and Brain Plasticity of the Institute of Neurosciences of the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (UB-IDIBELL). |
 | Society pays heavy price for failure to diagnose and treat conduct disorderMuch greater awareness, improved diagnosis and enhanced treatment are all required in order to reduce the burden on society of the severe behavioural condition conduct disorder, according to a new expert review led by the University of Bath (UK). |
 | Autism health challenges could be explained by problem behaviorsFor years, researchers have documented both gastrointestinal issues and problematic behaviors, such as aggression, in many children with autism spectrum disorder. |
 | Extreme exercise can strain the heart without causing permanent damageResearchers have found no evidence of elevated cardiac risk in runners who completed a 24-hour ultramarathon (24UM), despite the transient elevation of blood biomarkers that measure cardiac health. According to the study in the journal Heliyon, published by Elsevier, trained runners were more likely than their novice counterparts to experience raised levels, reflecting the greater cardiac load and pituitary-adrenocortical response to extremely strenuous exercise. |
 | Researchers unlock mysteries of complex microRNA oncogenesMicroRNAs are tiny molecules of nucleic acid that control gene expression, acting like a dimmer switch to tone down gene output at key positions in the network of information that governs a cell's function. MicroRNAs are important for the day-to-day inner working of cells and especially important during development. They also become profoundly defective in diseases such as cancer. Unlike most other human or animal genes, microRNAs are often encoded in genomes and expressed as beads-on-a-string groupings, known as polycistrons. The purpose for this organisation has, until now, been a mystery. |
Study examines association of naloxone coprescription laws on naloxone Rx dispensingIn a new study published in JAMA Network Open, University of Kentucky researchers, in collaboration with researchers from Ferris State University, examined whether legal mandates on naloxone coprescription in certain states increased naloxone dispensing. | |
Risk prediction model may help determine if a lung nodule will progress to cancerA risk prediction model developed using clinical and radiological features could stratify individuals presenting with a lung nodule as having high or low risk for lung cancer. | |
Tool dearches EHR data to find child leukemia patients for clinical studiesResearchers who analyzed data in the electronic health records (EHR) of children seen by hematology/oncology specialists at three large medical centers have developed an algorithm to accurately identify appropriate pediatric oncology patients for future clinical studies. By expediting and refining the selection of patients for research, the researchers aim to ultimately improve outcomes for a variety of pediatric cancers. | |
Every penny counts: Reducing infections improves care, cuts costsPatient safety is the primary objective of infection prevention but infection preventionists in a Syracuse healthcare system demonstrate how to make the business case for investing in protocols that save both money and lives, according to intervention outcomes presented at the 46th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) last week in Philadelphia. | |
New female external catheter technology reduces CAUTI by 50%Hospital-wide introduction of new female external catheter technology halved the number of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) according to new research presented last week in Philadelphia at the 46th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). | |
 | Fish oil and cancer preventionIncreased dietary intake of fish oil, with its "healthy" omega-3 fatty acids, has been proposed to reduce risk of colorectal cancer. How it works is unclear, but it is thought to modify lipid signaling molecules associated with inflammation and carcinogenesis. |
 | Study of sexual orientation and mental health in New Zealand LGBTQ adultsGay, lesbian and bisexual New Zealanders are on average more than twice as likely to experience depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts as heterosexuals, new research shows. |
 | Infecting healthy people in vaccine research can be ethical and necessaryMedical experiments involving intentionally infecting people with bacteria, viruses, and parasites are surprisingly common. And they are becoming more common worldwide, particularly in developing countries. |
 | Playing at physiotherapyGaming technology can assist with physical therapy and rehabilitation, according to a team from Brazil. Writing in the International Journal of Auditing Technology, the team discusses the potential for the Microsoft Xbox games console and its motion sensor system, Kinect. The team has reviewed the use of this technology in the rehabilitation arena and concludes from their analysis, that the system has a positive role to play. |
 | Changing norms for better patient interactionsCan the patient journey through healthcare be changed? How are patients treated and why? In a new doctoral thesis, Josina Vink has studied the patient journey and how it can be redesigned. She believes it is not only the physical details that are important when changing the patient journey, but also the whole structure of healthcare, the norms, behaviors and rules. |
How the Flint water crisis set students backWhen the Flint water crisis took place in 2014 and 2015, one of my graduate nursing students decided to get involved. | |
UK newspapers not adhering to reporting guidelines following suicides of transgender peopleA new study suggests that UK newspapers are not adhering to guidelines when they report on suicides involving people who are transgender. | |
 | Music develops the spoken language of the hearing-impairedFinnish researchers have compiled guidelines for international use for utilising music to support the development of spoken language. The guidelines are suitable for the parents of children with hearing impairments, early childhood education providers, teachers, speech therapists and other rehabilitators of children with hearing disabilities, as well as the hearing-impaired themselves. |
 | Game app provides knowledge of person-centered careClick, swipe, listen to patients and follow the talk among the healthcare staff. Now, another step in the work towards a more person-centred care is being taken as the PCC Game app is being launched. A virtual journey for greater knowledge and with tricky questions along the way. |
 | Children living in countryside outperform children living in metropolitan areas in motor skillsIn a recent study, 3 to 7-year-old children provided an example of how children's daily living environment and motor skills are closely related in the Finnish context. The main finding revealed that residential density is related to children's motor skills, engagement in outdoor play and organised sports. It was found that Finnish children living in the countryside spent more time outdoors and had better motor skills than their age-matched peers in the metropolitan area. On the other hand, children living in the metropolitan area participated the most in organised sports. |
Nuclear stress test helps identify heart attack risk in people with diabetesAbnormal results on a nuclear stress test are associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiac-related deaths, especially among people with diabetes, according to a multi-center study published in the journal Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging. | |
 | Health panel: Millions of US kids should get hepatitis shotA scientific panel is recommending that more than 2 million U.S. kids get vaccinated against hepatitis A. |
Biology news
 | Corals can survive in acidified ocean conditions, but have lower density skeletonsCoral reefs face many challenges to their survival, including the global acidification of seawater as a result of rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. A new study led by scientists at UC Santa Cruz shows that at least three Caribbean coral species can survive and grow under conditions of ocean acidification more severe than those expected to occur during this century, although the density of their skeletons was lower than normal. |
 | Climate warming could increase malaria risk in cooler regionsMalaria parasites develop faster in mosquitoes at lower temperatures than previously thought, according to researchers at Penn State and the University of Exeter. The findings suggest that even slight climate warming could increase malaria risk to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people—including travelers—in areas that are currently too cold for malaria parasites to complete their development. |
 | Researchers find that probiotic bacteria reduces the impact of white-nose syndrome in batsIt is widely accepted that probiotic bacteria are beneficial to human health, but what if they could also be used to reduce wildlife disease and conserve biodiversity? |
 | Fruit bats can transform echoes into imagesBats are creatures of the night and are accustomed to complete darkness. They harness their hypersensitive hearing to feed, to fend off prey and to mate. |
 | Why your foot calluses might be good for youBefore you take a pumice stone to your foot calluses just because they're unsightly, you might want to consider the idea that they are actually nature's shoes. |
 | Scientists discover how plants breathe—and how humans shaped their 'lungs'Scientists have discovered how plants create networks of air channels—the lungs of the leaf—to transport carbon dioxide (CO2) to their cells. |
 | Scientists successfully transfer first test tube rhino embryoScientists in Europe said Tuesday they've successfully transferred a test tube rhino embryo back into a female whose eggs were fertilized in vitro, as part of an effort to save another nearly extinct sub-species of the giant horned mammal. |
 | Turtle study shows hearts can be programmed to survive without oxygenUniversity of Manchester and University of North Texas scientists are the first to show that an embryonic living heart can be programmed to survive the effects of a low oxygen environment in later life. |
 | The world needs a global system to detect and halt the spread of emerging crop diseasesMore than 20 percent of the five staple crops that provide half the globe's caloric intake are lost to pests each year. Climate change and global trade drive the spread, emergence, and re-emergence of crop disease, and containment action is often inefficient, especially in low-income countries. A Global Surveillance System (GSS) to strengthen and interconnect crop biosecurity systems could go a long way to improving global food security, argues a team of experts in the June 28 issue of Science. |
 | Coral found to prefer eating microplastic to natural foodA team of researchers from Boston University, Roger Williams University, the New England Aquarium, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School and UMass Boston, reports that one type of coral prefers to eat microplastics over natural food. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes experiments they conducted with Astrangia poculata, a type of coral, and what they found. |
 | To build a goldfish, start with a blueprintScientists drafted the blueprint for how to build a common goldfish. Now they'll use it to find out what gives ornamental goldfish their nuanced features, gaining insight into human health. |
 | Aussie birds turn down their thermostat to save energy in winterResearch published in Biology Letters by scientists at Western Sydney University provides the first clear evidence that a species of perching bird (the passerines) can employ torpor—an energy-saving mechanism whereby the body temperature of an animal is temporarily reduced in a controlled way during resting. |
 | Immediate, science-based community action can stop insect declineThis year, German environmentalists collected 1.75 million signatures for a 'save the bees' law requiring an immediate transition toward organic farming. But to create healthy ecosystems worldwide, people in communities across the globe will need to take similar action based on empathy for insects—and not only for bees and butterflies—according to entomologists Yves Basset from the Smith-sonian Tropical Research Institute and Greg Lamarre from the University of South Bohemia, writing in Science. The authors present immediate, science-based actions to mitigate insect decline. |
 | Growing embryonic tissues on a chipIt's no surprise that using human embryos for biological and medical research comes with many ethical concerns. Correct though it is to proceed with caution in these matters, the fact is that much science would benefit from being able to study human biology more accurately. |
 | Found: A sweet way to make everyday things almost indestructibleThe secret to making clothing practically indestructible could be the same thing that makes us grow out of it: sugar. |
 | New AI tool captures top players' strategies in RNA video gameA new artificial-intelligence tool captures strategies used by top players of an internet-based videogame to design new RNA molecules. Rohan Koodli and colleagues at the Eterna massive open laboratory present the tool, called EternaBrain, in PLOS Computational Biology. Eterna is directed by the lab of Prof. Rhiju Das at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California. |
Reining in the ecological effects of free-roaming horsesFree-roaming horses are an icon of the American West, frequently appearing in art and media as exemplars of the spirited freedom that underlies the region's folklore. Viewed through an ecological lens, however, these animals may present a different picture—one of degraded landscapes and shrinking biodiversity. | |
 | Computational tool predicts how gut microbiome changes over timeA new computational modeling method uses snapshots of which types of microbes are found in a person's gut to predict how the microbial community will change over time. The tool, developed by Liat Shenhav, Leah Briscoe and Mike Thompson from the Halperin lab, University of California Los Angeles, and colleagues at the Mizrahi lab at Ben-Gurion University, Israel, is presented in PLOS Computational Biology. |
 | Pesticides found in monarchs' milkweed near farm fieldsConservation organizations across the United States plant milkweed to combat the loss of monarch butterflies, whose populations have declined around 90 percent in the last two decades. Where they plant may be important, according to a Purdue University study that finds evidence of agricultural pesticides on milkweed near farm fields. |
 | Record-breaking DNA comparisons drive fast forensicsForensic investigators arrive at the scene of a crime to search for clues. There are no known suspects, and every second that passes means more time for the trail to run cold. A DNA sample is discovered, collected, and then sent to a nearby forensics laboratory. There, it is sequenced and fed into a program that compares its genetic contents to DNA profiles stored in the FBI's National DNA Index System (NDIS)—a database containing profiles of 18 million people who have passed through the criminal justice system. The hope is that the crime scene sample will match a profile from the database, pointing the way to a suspect. The sample can also be used for kinship analysis through which the sample is linked to blood relatives, as was done last April to catch the infamous Golden State Killer. |
 | Australian plant 'kangaroo paw' may hold clues to understanding biodiversity down underA new study on kangaroo paws by The University of Western Australia and researchers at Kings Park and Botanic Gardens has challenged existing views that plants favour long distance rather than short distance pollination to reproduce. |
 | The two faces of the Jekyll geneGenes specific to a species or group of species can reflect important genetic changes within lineages. Often, such lineage-specific genes are found to play a role within sexual reproduction, thus promoting reproductive isolation and, consequently, speciation. Whilst investigating the Jekyll gene which is essential for the procreation of barley, researchers from the IPK in Gatersleben have discovered that Jekyll occurs in form of two highly divergent allelic variants. |
 | Towards a worldwide inventory of all plantsDeclining biodiversity due to man-made habitat destruction and climate change means that information about plant diversity and its distribution across the planet is now crucial for biodiversity conservation. With the Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT), a team of researchers from the Department of Biodiversity, Macroecology and Biogeography at the University of Göttingen has taken an important step forward in documenting and understanding global plant diversity. The results appear in the Journal of Biogeography. |
 | Highway medians are a food source for wildlife, study showsSmall animals such as weasels, mink and chipmunks are using highway medians as food sources, according to new research by University of Alberta biologists. |
 | New species of loquat-killing beetle identifiedIf you live in an area where winter temperatures routinely drop below freezing, you may have never even heard of the evergreen loquat tree and its delicious fruit. But it may be troubling to hear that a new bark beetle pest of loquats has been identified in China by the University of Florida's Forest Entomology Lab. A new paper describing the beetle has just been published in the journal Insects. |
 | How did elephants evolve such a large brain? Climate change is part of the answerElephants have long captivated our attention, partly because of their sheer size and majesty. But we're also struck by their complex behaviour. In some ways, we're fascinated because this behaviour echoes our most humane feelings. For instance, elephants have repeatedly been observed using tools and grieving their dead. |
 | New insights into membrane trafficking regulated by ER fusion proteinProf. Hu Junjie from the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and his collaborators reported that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) fusogen atlastin (ATL) was involved in regulating cargo mobility and COPII formation in the ER. Their finding, published in PNAS on June 25, provides important insight into the physiological role of the tubular ER network. |
 | Protein scissors for cellular transportIn many ways, a cell is like a city. Proteins or people do daily work to keep the economy going, and items are imported and exported for trade. Imports are shipped into cells by way of endocytosis. Before reaching their final destination, they are kept at the early endosome, a structure that determines whether the material will be disposed, recycled or delivered to a specific region in the cell. A new study in iScience by researchers at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan, demonstrates how ankyrin repeat and KH domain-containing protein 1 (ANKHD1) are instrumental in forming the early endosome. |
 | Cryo-electron microscopy reveals structures of protein that maintains cell membranesUsing cutting-edge electron microscopy, researchers from Aarhus University have determined the first structures of a lipid-flippase. The discoveries provide a better understanding of the basics of how cells work and stay healthy, and can eventually increase our knowledge of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. |
 | Natural biodiversity protects rural farmers' incomes from tropical weather shocksA big data study covering more than 7,500 households across 23 tropical countries shows that natural biodiversity could be effective insurance for rural farmers against drought and other weather-related shocks. |
 | LSU veterinarians get Pedro the turtle movingPedro the turtle has learned to roll with it, thanks to the zoological medicine service at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine's Veterinary Teaching Hospital. When Pedro, an adult male box turtle, was adopted by his owners, he was missing one of his back legs. But after recently escaping from his outdoor enclosure, he was missing the other rear leg. |
 | Why meerkats and mongooses have a cooperative approach to raising their pupsRaising children can be a tough job, especially when doing it alone, but some animals like meerkats and mongooses work together to raise their young. Studies of these cooperative creatures are revealing how this highly social behaviour evolved and is shedding light on the roots of our own species' collaborative abilities. |
 | Greenpeace sounds alarm about North Atlantic shark fishingGreenpeace is warning about overfishing of endangered sharks in the North Atlantic, often by Spanish and Portuguese boats. |
 | Iceland will skip whaling this year: companyNo whales will be harpooned off the waters around Iceland this year, as the island nation's two whaling companies have decided to abandon the summer whaling season for the first time in 17 years. |
 | Five dead endangered right whales found in Canadian watersFive critically endangered North Atlantic right whales have been found dead in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence this month, Canadian officials said Thursday. |
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