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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 19, 2019:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Observations reveal gas stripping and enhanced star formation in the galaxy JO206Using the Very Large Array (VLA), astronomers have conducted observations of neutral gas in the galaxy JO206. Results of these observations provide important information regarding gas stripping and enhanced star formation in this galaxy. The findings are detailed in a paper published June 9 on arXiv.org. |
 | Astronomers make first detection of polarised radio waves in Gamma Ray Burst jetsGood fortune and cutting-edge scientific equipment have allowed scientists to observe a Gamma Ray Burst jet with a radio telescope and detect the polarisation of radio waves within it for the first time—moving us closer to an understanding of what causes the universe's most powerful explosions. |
 | Cool halo gas caught spinning like galactic disksA group of astronomers led by Crystal Martin and Stephanie Ho of the University of California, Santa Barbara, has discovered a dizzying cosmic choreography among typical star-forming galaxies; their cool halo gas appears to be in step with the galactic disks, spinning in the same direction. |
 | The satellite with X-ray visionIn the early hours of October 23, 2011, ROSAT was engulfed in the waves of the Indian Ocean. This was the end of a success story that is unparalleled in German space exploration research. The satellite, developed and built by a team led by Joachim Trümper from the Garchingbased Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics, not only found more than 150,000 new cosmic X-ray sources, it also revolutionized astronomy. |
 | Arianespace and ESA announce Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer launch contractJUICE is the first large-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 programme. Its mission is devoted to complete a unique tour of the Jupiter system. |
 | Largest data set in SETI history released to the publicBreakthrough Listen—the astronomical program searching for signs of intelligent life in the Universe—has submitted two publications to leading astrophysics journals, describing the analysis of its first three years of radio observations and the availability of a petabyte of radio and optical telescope data. This represents the largest release of SETI data in the history of its field. |
 | Ion beams and atom smashers: secrets of moon rocksMoon samples collected by the Apollo astronauts a half-century ago hold answers to questions that weren't even on scientists' minds at the time, as new technological tools provide insight into some of the oldest mysteries about the moon, the earth and the solar system. |
 | Watchdog criticizes rising costs, delays of NASA's next Moon rocketThe giant rocket NASA plans to use to return to the Moon by 2024 has been beset by delays and spending has overrun by almost 30 percent, an official audit said Wednesday. |
 | NEEMO: Testing space gear under the seaNASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations takes place more than 18 meters below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. For nine days, astronauts, engineers, and scientists live and work underwater, testing new technologies for space. |
Technology news
 | SPFCNN-Miner: A new classifier to tackle class-unbalanced dataResearchers at Chongqing University in China have recently developed a cost-sensitive meta-learning classifier that can be used when the training data available is high-dimensional or limited. Their classifier, called SPFCNN-Miner, was presented in a paper published in Elsevier's Future Generation Computer Systems. |
 | Researchers see around corners to detect object shapesComputer vision researchers have demonstrated they can use special light sources and sensors to see around corners or through gauzy filters, enabling them to reconstruct the shapes of unseen objects. |
 | A miniature robot that could check colons for early signs of diseaseEngineers have shown it is technically possible to guide a tiny robotic capsule inside the colon to take micro-ultrasound images. |
 | First-ever successful mind-controlled robotic arm without brain implantsA team of researchers from Carnegie Mellon University, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota, has made a breakthrough in the field of noninvasive robotic device control. Using a noninvasive brain-computer interface (BCI), researchers have developed the first-ever successful mind-controlled robotic arm exhibiting the ability to continuously track and follow a computer cursor. |
 | Researchers use facial quirks to unmask 'deepfakes'After watching hours of video footage of former President Barack Obama delivering his weekly address, Shruti Agarwal began to notice a few quirks about the way Obama speaks. |
 | Creating 3-D images with regular inkThis month, 5,000 distinctive cans of Fuzzy Logic beer will appear on local shelves as part of Massachusetts-based Portico Brewing's attempt to stand out in the aesthetically competitive world of craft beer. |
 | Compact, low-cost fingerprint reader could reduce infant mortality around the worldA team of Michigan State University researchers have created Infant-Prints—a low-cost, high-resolution and portable solution to accurately identify infants in an effort to help reduce infant mortality around the world. |
 | From one brain scan, more information for medical artificial intelligenceMIT researchers have devised a novel method to glean more information from images used to train machine-learning models, including those that can analyze medical scans to help diagnose and treat brain conditions. |
 | Facebook's currency Libra faces financial, privacy pushbackFacebook is getting a taste of the regulatory pushback it will face as it creates a new digital currency with corporate partners. |
 | Twice burned: Winklevii overshadowed by Zuckerberg yet againCan a Libra and two Geminis get along? How about Facebook and the Winklevoss twins? |
 | Lawmakers will hear from pilots who have criticized BoeingThe president of the pilots' union at American Airlines says Boeing made mistakes in its design of the 737 Max and not telling pilots about new flight-control software on the plane. |
 | Tiny houses entice budget-conscious AmericansIn a country that nearly always believes bigger is better—think supersize fries, giant cars and 10-gallon hats—more and more Americans are downsizing their living quarters. |
 | Slack primed as latest unicorn to make market debutThe 2019 parade of big new Wall Street entrants continues this week with the debut of Slack Technologies, underscoring investor hunger for new companies in spite of some high-profile stumbles. |
 | Facebook's new cryptocurrency won't protect user privacy from the company, expert saysFacebook announced Tuesday (June 18) it will launch a global cryptocurrency called Libra in 2020, alongside the underlying blockchain-based network—a secure, transparent and decentralized digital lender—that will support it. |
 | Advancing AI for video: Startup launches powerful video processing platformVoxel51, a University of Michigan startup, today launched its flagship product—a software platform designed to make it easier, faster and more affordable to access the untapped potential of video data. |
 | Making flying actually sustainableCO2 -neutral synthetic fuels are technically feasible today and the best promise for decarbonizing aviation. The right policy instruments could turn promise into reality, writes Anthony Patt. |
 | Playing games? It's a serious way to win community backing for changeHow would you and your neighbours triple the number of households in your street block in order to keep your cherished suburb thriving and do your bit to tackle urban sprawl? You have a number of choices to make. Where do the new homes go? How big should they be? What do you do with the old houses on your street? How do you maintain the leafy, open qualities you all love? How can you build an even better community and help the environment? |
 | Opinion: With cryptocurrency launch, Facebook sets its path toward becoming an independent nationFacebook has announced a plan to launch a new cryptocurrency named the Libra, adding another layer to its efforts to dominate global communications and business. Backed by huge finance and technology companies including Visa, Spotify, eBay, PayPal and Uber—plus a ready-made user base of 2 billion people around the world—Facebook is positioned to pressure countries and central banks to cooperate with its reinvention of the global financial system. |
 | Game of drones: Airports rally firms to battle threat from aboveA quadcopter drone appears on the radar screen and makes a beeline for the control tower at Paris' Le Bourget airport. |
 | How humans and robots work side-by-side in Amazon fulfillment centersAmazon employees start their shifts passing through turnstiles and a sign reminding them what they can't bring with them as they report for work alongside robots. |
 | Pilots criticize Boeing for mistakes on its grounded jetAirline union leaders and a famed former airline pilot said Wednesday that Boeing made mistakes while developing the 737 Max, and the biggest was not telling anybody about new flight-control software so that pilots could train for it. |
New platform flips traditional on-demand supply chain approach on its headImagine you are heading to the grocery store and receive a phone alert asking if you'd also be willing to bring your neighbor's groceries home. Or you are on your way to a concert and see you could fill the seats of your car—and your wallet—if you picked up a few other music fans along the way. As the supplier in these scenarios, you have the choice of which services you provide and when. This may very well be the way commerce is headed. | |
 | Florida city pays $600,000 ransom to save computer recordsA Florida city agreed to pay $600,000 in ransom to hackers who took over its computer system, the latest in thousands of attacks worldwide aimed at extorting money from governments and businesses. |
 | Does greater immersion in virtual reality lead to a better experience?Contrary to current industry trends to develop more immersive virtual reality systems, a new study found that a more immersive environment or the presence of real-world distractions could have surprising effects on a participant's recall, description of the virtual encounter, and how positive they feel about the experience. The design, results, and implications of this timely study are published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking. |
 | Senegal shines in showcase for female tech innovationBarcode health cards, mobile apps for victims of violence and an online legal platform are just some of the ideas showing the direction of female digital pioneers in Africa, with Senegalese innovators in the spotlight. |
 | In his remit: African fintech entrepreneur helps migrants move moneyThe money transfer business is personal for Ismail Ahmed. It was cash wired by his family that allowed him to make the final leg of his journey from escaping fighting in his native Somaliland to London in 1988 to take up a university scholarship. |
 | Kinshasa: Commuting hell in DR Congo's capitalCities almost everywhere have transport problems—just ask people stuck in traffic jams or overcrowded trains for their opinion. |
 | AI, robots, data software helping create new approach for planning cities of the futureArtificial intelligence and robots are playing significant roles as planners develop the cities of the future. The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry is facing a major shift in balancing the massive amounts of data available through advanced technologies. |
 | Adidas loses EU court battle over 'three stripe' designGerman sportswear giant Adidas on Wednesday lost a legal battle to trademark its "three stripe" motif in the EU, as a court ruled the design was not distinctive enough to deserve protection. |
 | US CEO hands Oxford University $189 million for AI studiesAn American billionaire has given Oxford University 150 million pounds ($188.6 million) for a new institute that will study the ethical implications of artificial intelligence and its vast potential to change society as we know it. |
 | Get your fax right: Bungling officials spark Japan nuclear scareBungling Japanese officials sparked a nuclear scare after a violent, late-night earthquake by ticking the wrong box on a fax form—inadvertently alerting authorities to a potential accident. |
 | Image: Metal bracket in Ariane 5 is 3-D-printed in titaniumThis organically-styled bracket, designed for the interior of an Ariane 5 launcher, was 3-D printed in space-worthy titanium alloy for an R&D project. |
 | Researchers enhance security in proof of stake blockchain protocolsBlockchain Technology is known to be one of the top disruptive technologies of today that is driving the fourth industrial revolution. A blockchain, designed to be resistant to the modification of its data, offers security and privacy benefits that are well appreciated particularly by banks, governments and techno-corporations. |
 | UK makes 'first' conviction over 3-D printed gunA student was convicted on Wednesday of manufacturing a firearm using a 3D printer, in what London's police said they believed was the first such successful prosecution in Britain. |
 | This software titan proposes a computer museum to mark Philly's role in starting the digital worldComputers didn't start in Silicon Valley. They started here," in Philadelphia, says Jim Scherrer. |
 | What's the future for cash? Target register outages prove physical loot still has its placeDoes the use of cash have an expiration date? |
Delayed Kentucky internet project faces new squirrel setbackA project that would bring high-speed internet across Kentucky will be delayed because company representatives say an "abundance" of squirrels have chewed through wiring. | |
 | The intersection of vision and languageNine thousand two hundred artificial intelligence researchers. Five thousand one hundred sixty-five research papers submitted, of which only 1,300 were accepted. One Best Student Paper. |
Medicine & Health news
 | One day of employment a week is all we need for mental health benefits: studyAs automation advances, predictions of a jobless future have some fearing unrest from mass unemployment, while others imagine a more contented work-free society. |
 | 'Alexa, monitor my heart': Researchers develop first contactless cardiac arrest AI system for smart speakersAlmost 500,000 Americans die each year from cardiac arrest, when the heart suddenly stops beating. |
 | New study highlights need for ethnic and ancestral diversity in genomic researchA new multicenter analysis led by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and other institutions found the inclusion of diverse, multiethnic populations in large-scale genomic studies is critical for reducing health disparities and accurately representing genetics-related disease risks in all populations. The results appear in the June 19 issue of the journal Nature. |
 | Brain anatomy links cognitive and perceptual symptoms in autismNeuroscientists at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) and University College London have found an anatomical link between cognitive and perceptual symptoms in autism. Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the study identified a posterior region of the brain whose amount of gray matter is related to both cognitive rigidity and overly stable visual perception, two symptoms of autism that until now were only conceptually related. |
 | Your nose knows when it comes to stronger memoriesMemories are stronger when the original experiences are accompanied by unpleasant odors, a team of researchers has found. The study broadens our understanding of what can drive Pavlovian responses and points to how negative experiences influence our ability to recall past events. |
 | How common gut bacteria trigger a lethal autoimmune diseaseWhat causes the immune system, designed to protect us, to turn on the body and attack healthy cells? Common bacteria that reside in the human gut may be partly to blame, say Yale researchers, who studied the origins of a serious autoimmune disease that frequently affects young women. |
 | Human-on-a-chip model tests cancer drug efficacy and toxicity for therapeutic indexA reconfigurable "body-on-a-chip" model could transform drug development by simultaneously measuring compound efficacy and toxicity, for both target cells and other organs, such as the heart and liver. These findings, published in Science Translational Medicine, demonstrate the ability of a body-on-a-chip model to truly revolutionize biomedical research and personalized medicine through more accurate and efficient preclinical testing without the use of animal studies. |
 | Study: How arousal impacts physiological synchrony in relationshipsA team of researchers led by a member of the Colorado School of Public Health faculty at the Anschutz Medical Campus examined what type of social interaction is required for people to display physiological synchrony—mutual changes in autonomic nervous system activity. The study also looked at whether the levels of autonomic arousal people share predicts affiliation and friendship interest between people. |
 | Inattentive children will earn less money at 35Five- and six-year-old boys and girls who are inattentive in kindergarten are more likely to report lower incomes than other children when they reach 33 to 35 years of age, a new Université de Montréal study has found. |
 | Distinguishing helpful and harmful gut immune cells offers new view on inflammatory diseasesA type of immune cell that contributes to inflammatory bowel disease exists in two forms, 'good' and 'bad'. A new Crick-led study in Immunity has characterised these distinct populations, which could help scientists to develop treatments targeting inflammation while preserving healthy gut function. |
 | Overcoming PTSD: Study reveals memory disruption drug targetFight or flight, panic, trembling: Our brains are wired to ensure we respond instantly to fear. While that fear response may save our lives in the dangerous moment, at times people stay on high alert long after the threat has passed, and develop post-traumatic stress disorder. |
 | Vitamin D may not help your heartWhile previous research has suggested a link between low levels of vitamin D in the blood and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, a new Michigan State University study has found that taking vitamin D supplements did not reduce that risk. |
 | Synthetic joint lubricant holds promise for osteoarthritisA new type of treatment for osteoarthritis, currently in canine clinical trials, shows promise for eventual use in humans. |
 | How information is like snacks, money, and drugs—to your brainCan't stop checking your phone, even when you're not expecting any important messages? Blame your brain. |
 | Scaffold helps cells repair torn meniscus in lab testsAbout a million times a year, Americans with a torn meniscus in their knee undergo surgery in hopes of a repair. Certain tears can't be fixed or won't heal well, and many patients later suffer osteoarthritis from the injury. |
 | Researchers learn dangerous brain parasite 'orders in' for dinnerResearchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered how a dangerous parasite maintains a steady supply of nutrients while replicating inside of its host cell: it calls for delivery. |
 | Yogurt may help to lower pre-cancerous bowel growth risk in menEating two or more weekly servings of yogurt may help to lower the risk of developing the abnormal growths (adenomas) which precede the development of bowel cancer—at least in men—finds research published online in the journal Gut. |
 | Good physical fitness in middle age linked to lower chronic lung disease riskGood heart and lung (cardiorespiratory) fitness in middle age is associated with a lower long term risk of chronic lung disease (COPD), suggests Danish research published online in the journal Thorax. |
 | Atrial fibrillation linked to increased risk of dementia, even in stroke-free patientsAtrial fibrillation (AF) is linked to an increased risk of dementia, even in people who have not suffered a stroke, according to the largest study to investigate the association in an elderly population. |
Many parents struggle for years to adjust after learning a child's sexual orientationTwo years after their child "comes out" as lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB), many parents still say that it is moderately or very hard for them to adjust to the news, according to a study published today. Those responses are the same, on average, as parents who have recently learned about their child's sexual orientation, a finding that suggests most parents struggle with such news for several years. | |
 | Researchers find cause of rare, fatal disease that turns babies' lips and skin blueScientists used a gene editing method called CRISPR/Cas9 to generate mice that faithfully mimic a fatal respiratory disorder in newborn infants that turns their lips and skin blue. The new laboratory model allowed researchers to pinpoint the ailment's cause and develop a potential and desperately needed nanoparticle-based treatment. |
 | Sedation method does not affect colonoscopy detection rateColon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States and colonoscopy is the most-used screening tool to detect it. In a recently published study, researchers from the University of Missouri School of Medicine determined deep sedation does not improve the colonoscopy quality compared to moderate sedation when it comes to the polyp detection rate or adenoma detection rate, the type of polyp that can eventually become cancerous. |
 | New clues on tissue damage identified in rheumatoid arthritis and lupusResearch supported by the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP) on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (RA/SLE) provides new insights into tissue damage for these autoimmune conditions. Findings include the identification of novel molecular signatures related to immune system signaling in kidney cells that may reflect their active role in disease process; molecular targets, including specific white blood cells, for potential treatment in lupus nephritis; and specific types of fibroblasts and white blood cells that are involved in rheumatoid arthritis. These discoveries set the stage for uncovering potential drug target candidates that could advance to experimental treatments. Results of the studies were published today in three papers in Nature Immunology. |
 | Lower trust in vaccines among people in richer countries: surveyPeople in Europe have the lowest levels of trust in vaccines, according to a global survey of public attitudes toward health and science published Wednesday. |
 | Electronic portals may help patients with multiple complex conditionsAccess to a patient portal can increase engagement in outpatient visits and reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations in patients with multiple chronic diseases, according to a study published June 19, 2019 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Mary Reed (DrPH) of Kaiser Permanente and colleagues. |
 | Statin therapy reduced the risk of stroke and possibly other complications in cancer patients following radiationCancer patients taking cholesterol-lowering statin medication following radiation therapy of the chest, neck or head had significantly reduced risk of suffering a stroke, and possibly other cardiovascular complications, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association. |
 | Cleveland Clinic performs its first in utero fetal surgeryCleveland Clinic has successfully performed its first in utero fetal surgery to repair a spina bifida birth defect in a nearly 23-week-old fetus. |
 | Gut bacteria from breastfeeding linked to improved infant response to vaccinesHigher levels of a customary gut bacteria enhanced by breastfeeding in early infancy were found to be coupled with an improved response to vaccines in infants through two years of age, according to a first-of-its-kind study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their colleagues. |
Even people with well-controlled epilepsy may be at risk for sudden deathPeople with epilepsy have a rare risk of sudden death. A new study shows that risk may apply even to people whose epilepsy is well-controlled, which is contrary to previous, smaller studies that showed the risk was highest among those with severe, difficult-to-treat epilepsy. The new study is published in the June 19, 2019, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. | |
 | Scientists identify genes associated with biliary atresia survivalScientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have identified an expression pattern of 14 genes at the time of diagnosis that predicts two year, transplant-free survival in children with biliary atresia—the most common diagnosis leading to liver transplants in children. |
 | Family, community bonds help decrease mental health problems of former child soldiersAcceptance and support from communities and families appear to lessen the toll of mental health conditions experienced by former child soldiers transitioning to early adulthood, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions. The study appears in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. |
 | Sleep training for your kids: Why and how it worksFor thousands of years, mothers have sung lullabies to help their babies and children fall asleep. In more recent times, gadgets and devices have been invented and marketed to help the tired child—and weary parent. |
 | Researchers identify three kinds of helicopter parentsThere are certain things individuals should handle without their parents' total control, especially as they emerge into adulthood, such as contacting professors about grades, resolving roommate conflicts or lining up job interviews. |
 | Medicare program aimed at lowering costs, improving care may not be working as well as thoughtAs the Medicare system seeks to improve the care of older adults while also keeping costs from growing too fast, a new University of Michigan study suggests that one major effort may not be having as much of an impact as hoped. |
 | Those with elevated risk of Alzheimer's may show memory changes up to 40 years before onsetResults from a study of nearly 60,000 individuals suggest those at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease due to family history may demonstrate changes in memory performance as early as their 20s. |
 | Surgery to straighten a deviated septum improves quality of lifeSurgery to straighten a deviated nasal septum, also known as septoplasty, is worthwhile. Patients with a deviated (crooked) septum breathe more easily after this operation and their quality of life improves. The effects of this procedure have never been systematically investigated. Specialists have long debated its benefits. But now, researchers at Radboud University medical center have ended the controversy on June 18 with a publication in The Lancet. |
 | We know contact with nature makes you feel better. Can virtual contact do the same?You might have noticed that being in nature can improve your mood. Whether it's walking in a beautiful rainforest, swimming in the ocean or a moment of wonder at the plants and animals around you, nature offers a respite from daily routines and demands. |
 | Summer is coming! Here's why you need to protect your children's eyesShould we buy sunglasses for children? And if so, how do we choose a quality product? |
 | Cannabis quality involves careful science and carefree highsCanada's legal cannabis industry continues to make progress. Product shortages are decreasing. Store numbers are increasing. And edible cannabis regulations have just been finalized. |
 | Narcissists and psychopaths: how some societies ensure these dangerous people never wield powerThroughout history, people who have gained positions of power tend to be precisely the kind of people who should not be entrusted with it. A desire for power often correlates with negative personality traits: selfishness, greed and a lack of empathy. And the people who have the strongest desire for power tend to be the most ruthless and lacking in compassion. |
 | Scientists identify novel protrusions in blood vessels of the brainScientists from the University of Sheffield have discovered a novel behaviour of the blood vessels of the brain in zebrafish that may explain some forms of stroke in humans. |
 | 3-D technology might improve body appreciation for young women3-D technology has transformed movies and medical imaging, and now it might be able to help young women better appreciate their bodies. |
 | Want to be healthy and happy? Choose a conscientious partnerYour partner's personality can influence your life in all sorts of ways. For example, studies have shown that a conscientious partner is good for your health. Our latest study shows that they are also good for your quality of life. |
 | Fatty fish without environmental pollutants protect against type 2 diabetesIf the fatty fish we eat were free of environmental pollutants, it would reduce our risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, the pollutants in the fish have the opposite effect and appears to eliminate the protective effect from fatty fish intake. This has been shown by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, using innovative methods that could be used to address several questions about food and health in future studies. |
 | Early research shows a way to develop effective therapies against pancreatic cancerPancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common form of pancreatic cancer, is the fifth most common cause of death from cancer in the UK and the third in the United States. Deaths from PDAC outnumber those from breast cancer despite the significant difference in incidence rates. |
 | Online brain game reduces meat consumptionIf you want to live a healthier life and help save the planet then the science points to eating less meat. To help make this change, psychologists at the University of Exeter have developed an online game and phone App that helps people reduce their meat intake by an average of 22 percent after just four days training. This is great news for the one third of UK adults who say they are trying to eat less meat. |
Chaos and tragedy in Indian 'brain fever' outbreakThe stench of urine, chlorine, vomit and death fills the main hospital in Muzaffarpur, the epicentre of a brain fever outbreak in India that has killed over 100 children since June 1. | |
 | Long hours at the office could be killing youUK employees have the longest working week compared to other workers in the European Union. But, despite the long hours, recent studies have shown this does not make the UK a more productive nation. |
 | Time to cook is a luxury many families don't haveHave Americans forgotten how to cook? Many lament the fact that Americans spend less time cooking than they did in previous generations. Whereas women spent nearly two hours a day in the kitchen in 1965, they spent a little less than an hour preparing meals in 2016. Men are cooking more than they used to, but still only cook 20 minutes a day. |
 | First step toward a better prosthetic leg? Trip people over and overAndrés Martínez strode briskly on the treadmill, staring straight ahead and counting backwards by seven from 898, a trick to keep his brain from anticipating the literal stumbling block heading his way: a compact 35 pounds of steel specifically designed to make him fall. |
 | Study: Yoga breathing and relaxation lower blood pressureYoga practice that emphasizes mental relaxation and breathing techniques can have as much of a beneficial impact on high blood pressure as aerobic exercise, according to research by a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Kinesiology. |
 | Memories form 'barrier' to letting go of objects for people who hoardNew research conducted at the University of Bath has demonstrated important differences in how people with and without hoarding problems discard objects and the role their memories play. |
 | High postural sway doubles older women's fracture riskPostural sway is an independent risk factor for bone fractures in postmenopausal women, according to a new study from the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital. Women with the highest postural sway had a two times higher fracture risk compared to women with the lowest postural sway. |
 | Recommendations issued for imaging use in multiple myeloma(HealthDay)—In a review published in the June 1 issue of The Lancet Oncology, recommendations are presented for use of newer imaging techniques for the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. |
 | Motherhood can deliver body image boost—new studyNew research indicates that perfectionism is related to breast size dissatisfaction, but only in non-mothers—suggesting that mothers are more comfortable with their bodies. |
 | USPSTF addresses screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm(HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) vary with sex, age, smoking status, and family history. These recommendations form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online June 18 by the USPSTF. |
 | How to head off a pain in the neck(HealthDay)—Neck pain can sneak up on you over time. While it can be caused by an accident or injury, your everyday posture and body mechanics can also be to blame, from the way you carry a shoulder bag, cradle your phone while multitasking or sit at your desk. These tips will help you better protect your neck. |
 | Most US pot users think they can get away with driving high(HealthDay)—Most Americans think they won't get caught driving while high on marijuana, a new AAA Foundation survey finds. |
 | Many asylum seekers suffer from depression and anxiety symptomsUp to 40% of the adults who have sought asylum in Finland are told that they are suffering from major depression and anxiety symptoms. More than half of both the adults and children reported having experienced at least one shocking, possibly traumatic event, such as being subjected to violence. |
 | Mobile crisis service reduces youth ER visits for behavioral health needs, says studyChildren and youth with acute behavioral health needs who are seen through Connecticut's Mobile Crisis Intervention Service—a community-based program that provides mental health interventions and services to patients 18 years and younger—have a lower risk of experiencing a follow-up episode and are less likely to show up in an emergency room if and when another episode occurs. |
 | 'Goldilocks' neurons promote REM sleepEvery night while sleeping, we cycle between two very different states of sleep. Upon falling asleep, we enter non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep where our breathing is slow and regular and movement of our limbs or eyes are minimal. Approximately 90 minutes later, how-ever, we enter rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This is a paradoxical state where our breathing becomes fast and irregular, our limbs twitch, and our eyes move rapidly. In REM sleep, our brain is highly active, but we also become paralyzed and we lose the ability to thermoregulate or maintain our constant body temperature. "This loss of thermoregulation in REM sleep is one of the most peculiar aspects of sleep, particularly since we have finely-tuned mechanisms that control our body temperature while awake or in non-REM sleep," says Markus Schmidt of the Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR) of the University of Bern, and the Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital. On the one hand, the findings confirm a hypothesis proposed earlier by Schmidt, senior author of the study, and on the other hand represent a breakthrough for sleep medicine. The paper was published in Current Biology and highlighted by the editors with a comment. |
 | Researchers develop new method to evaluate artificial heart valvesResearchers at Concordia have devised a technique to detect obstructions in a type of mechanical heart valve they believe will contribute to safer follow-up methods for cardiologists and their patients. |
 | Serotonin linked to somatic awareness, a condition long thought to be imaginaryAn international team spearheaded by researchers at McGill University has discovered a biological mechanism that could explain heightened somatic awareness, a condition where patients experience physical discomforts for which there is no physiological explanation. |
 | Researchers find potential way to prevent most common pregnancy-related conditionsAbout 1 in 10 pregnant women experience placenta abnormalities that lead to life-threatening preeclampsia (hypertension), preterm labor and fetal growth problems, but finding effective treatments to effectively prevent or reverse these conditions has so far been elusive. |
 | Late-life diabetes status tied to new cognitive impairment(HealthDay)—Having diabetes, poor glycemic control, and longer diabetes duration are associated with worse cognitive outcomes in older adults during a median follow-up of five years, according to a study recently published in Diabetes Care. |
Coverage losses in Arkansas following implementation of Medicaid work requirementsThousands of adults in Arkansas lost insurance coverage in the first six months after Medicaid work requirements were implemented, with no change in employment, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study is the first quantitative evidence on the nation's first-ever work requirements in Medicaid, which started in Arkansas in June 2018. | |
 | Study reveals roots of Parkinson's in the brainResearchers from King's College London have uncovered the earliest signs of Parkinson's disease in the brain, many years before patients show any symptoms. The results, published in The Lancet Neurology, challenge the traditional view of the disease and could potentially lead to screening tools for identifying people at greatest risk. |
Simple scan could direct treatments for anginaA 40 minute test for angina could help patients avoid an overnight stay in hospital, according to research funded by the NIHR Guy's and St Thomas' Biomedical Research Centre. | |
 | Patients of surgeons with unprofessional behavior more likely to suffer complicationsPatients of surgeons with higher numbers of reports from co-workers about unprofessional behavior are significantly more likely to experience complications during or after their operations, researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) reported today in JAMA Surgery. |
 | New approaches cut inappropriate antibiotic use by over 30%A UC Davis study of nine emergency departments and urgent care centers in California and Colorado found educating physicians and patients about safe antibiotic use can cut overuse by one-third. |
 | State initiative to address disparities in mother's milk for very low birth weight infantsResearchers at Boston Medical Center initiated a statewide quality improvement imitative to increase mothers' ability to produce and provide milk for very low birth weight infants at their discharge, as well reduce the racial/ethnic disparities in milk production and provision to these infants. A new study, published June 18th in Pediatrics, indicates that the initiative yielded positive results on improving rates of prenatal human milk education, early milk expression and skin to skin care among mothers of very low birth weight infants during initial hospitalization, but did not lead to sustained improvement in mother's milk provision at hospital discharge. |
 | People with multiple physical conditions have faster brain decline, higher suicide riskHaving arthritis, or diabetes, or heart disease can change a person's life, getting in the way of daily activities and requiring special diets and medicines. |
Study finds similar cardiovascular outcomes for generic, brand-name drugs for hypothyroidismA new study by Mayo Clinic researchers may have broad implications for treatment of patients with predominantly benign thyroid disease and newly treated hypothyroidism. | |
 | Sickle cell drug showing promise in clinical trialAn investigational drug for the treatment of sickle cell disease is showing early promise in clinical trials for impacting biomarkers of the disease in patients, reported UConn School of Medicine researchers at the European Hematology Association Congress in Amsterdam this week. |
 | Boomers back on the dating scene seek cosmetic procedures to put their best face forwardThe rise of dating websites and apps have changed the dating scene, leading singles to make judgments on potential dates as fast as they can swipe their screen. With about 20 million baby boomers actively using at least one of these dating services, they want to look their best and feel confident in the modern dating world. New statistics released by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons finds more Americans age 55 and older are seeking out cosmetic procedures, with nearly 50,000 more procedures performed on patients in this age group in 2018 than the previous year. |
 | How France is persuading its citizens to get vaccinatedIn February this year, a holiday in paradise turned into a nightmare for one French family. Soon after their arrival in Costa Rica, their unvaccinated five-year-old son developed measles, the country's first case since 2014. The parents, also unvaccinated, tested positive for the virus too. They were believed to have brought it from France. |
 | Research demonstrating the importance of exercise in cancer careResearch at Northumbria University, Newcastle is investigating the important role that structured exercise programmes can play in living with and beyond cancer. |
 | Does more rain mean more risk of mosquito-borne diseases?Experts have ranked May 2019 as one of the wettest Mays on record in central Illinois. Is it possible that the incidence of mosquito-borne illnesses increases with the amount of rainfall? To find out, News Bureau science writer Ananya Sen asked Brian F. Allan, an entomology professor at the University of Illinois. |
 | What do Aboriginal Australians want from their aged care system? Community connection is number oneThe Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is ageing at a much faster rate than the non-Indigenous population. |
 | Study explores extent of state legal protections for provider conscience rights for reproductive health servicesNew data published today to LawAtlas.org explores the complexities of state laws that protect health care providers who refuse to provide reproductive health services, including abortion, sterilization, contraception, and emergency contraception because the service goes against their conscientious beliefs. |
Study reveals global disparities in cervical cancer rates among women with HIVA new International Journal of Cancer study indicates that rates of invasive cervical cancer (ICC) are particularly high in women living with HIV in South Africa or Latin America. | |
 | Device to improve walking in neuropathy patients hits marketAfter years of development, a Minnesota-designed sensory prosthesis intended to improve walking abilities in patients with little to no feeling in their legs is hitting the commercial market, starting with patients who are veterans. |
 | New laser therapy seeks to halt the progression of age-related vision lossThere are 200 million people in the world living with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and in approximately a fifth of these cases, the disease progresses to an advanced stage, leading to visual impairment. Advanced AMD is divided into wet and dry forms. While wet AMD can be treated with medical injections, approximately four fifths of advanced AMD cases are of the dry form, for which there is currently no medical treatment. |
 | Summer suppers fresh from the farmers' market(HealthDay)—Summer is the perfect time to give your stove a rest and kick back with some fast, no-cook meals made with veggies you can grab at your farmers' market. |
New research finds increased CT use for suspected urolithiasis patients in EDA new study performed in conjunction with the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute examines changing characteristics of utilization and potential disparities in US emergency department (ED) patients undergoing CT of the abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) for suspected urolithiasis. The study is published online in the Journal of American College of Radiology (JACR). | |
Biology news
 | Successful 'alien' bird invasions are location dependentPublished today in Nature, researchers show that alien bird introductions are most successful in locations and climates similar to their native habitats and in places where other alien species are already established. |
 | Shipworm that eats rock instead of wood found in river in the PhilippinesA team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. has found and identified a species of shipworm that eats rock instead of wood. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes their study of the bivalve and what they found. |
 | Frog protein may mitigate dangers posed by toxic marine microbesA new study from UC San Francisco suggests that a protein found in the common bullfrog may one day be used to detect and neutralize a poisonous compound produced by red tides and other harmful algal blooms. The discovery comes as these waterborne toxic events are becoming increasingly common, a consequence of climate change making the world's oceans more hospitable to the microbes responsible for these formerly infrequent flare-ups. |
 | Corsica's 'cat-fox': On the trail of what may be a new speciesIn the forest undergrowth of northern Corsica, two wildlife rangers open a cage to reveal a striped, tawny-coated animal, one of 16 felines known as "cat-foxes" in the area and thought to be a new species. |
 | Human migration in Oceania recreated through paper mulberry geneticsThe migration and interaction routes of prehistoric humans throughout the islands of Oceania can be retraced using genetic differences between paper mulberry plants, a tree native to Asia cultivated for fibers to make paper and introduced into the Pacific in prehistoric times to make barkcloth. Daniela Seelenfreund of the University of Chile and Andrea Seelenfreund of the Academia de Humanismo Cristiano University, Chile report on prehistoric human movements based on the genetic analysis of this plant in a new paper published June 19 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE. |
 | Making systems robustThe human body keeps the calcium concentration in the blood constant, similarly to an aircraft's autopilot keeping the plane at a constant altitude. What they have in common is that both the body and the autopilot employ sophisticated integral feedback control mechanisms. |
 | Dew drops spontaneously flinging themselves into the wind may spread wheat infectionsA team of researchers with members from Virginia Tech, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women and Cornell University has found that dew drops on wheat leaves can catapult themselves into the air. In their paper published in Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the group describes their study of dew drop behavior on wheat plants and why they believe it might be a means of dispersing fungal infections. |
 | 56 new species of arachnids found in Western AustraliaResearchers at The University of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum have discovered 56 new species of arachnids, known as schizomids, in Western Australia's Pilbara region. |
 | How bacteria protect themselves from plasma treatmentPlasmas are created from gas that is pumped with energy. Today, plasmas are already used against multi-resistant pathogens in clinical applications, for example to treat chronic wounds. "Plasmas provide a complex cocktail of components, many of which act as disinfectants in their own right," explains Professor Julia Bandow, head of the RUB research group Applied Microbiology. UV radiation, electric fields, atomic oxygen, superoxide, nitric oxides, ozone, and excited oxygen or nitrogen affect the pathogens simultaneously, generating considerable stress. Typically, the pathogens survive merely several seconds or minutes. |
 | Learning constrains further learning, neuroscientists findWhy is it that a master musician can learn a new score in no time, yet encounter difficulty learning something else, like skateboarding tricks? Could there is any truth to the myth that you use only 10 percent of your brain? A recent neuroscience study at KTH Royal Institute of Technology offers some answers about the limits of new learning and how the brain adapts to developing new skills and knowledge. |
 | Aggressive, non-native wetland plants squelch species richness more than dominant natives doDominant, non-native plants reduce wetland biodiversity and abundance more than native plants do, researchers report in the journal Ecology Letters. Even native plants that dominate wetland landscapes play better with others, the team found. |
 | Survey sees biggest US honeybee winter die-off yetWinter hit U.S. honeybees hard with the highest loss rate yet, an annual survey of beekeepers showed. |
 | Scientists chart course toward a new world of synthetic biologyGenetically engineered trees that provide fire-resistant lumber for homes. Modified organs that won't be rejected. Synthetic microbes that monitor your gut to detect invading disease organisms and kill them before you get sick. |
 | Study reveals key locations for declining songbirdMany of North America's migratory songbirds, which undertake awe-inspiring journeys twice a year, are declining at alarming rates. For conservation efforts to succeed, wildlife managers need to know where they go and what challenges they face during their annual migration to Latin America and back. For a new study published by The Condor: Ornithological Applications, researchers in six states assembled an unprecedented effort to track where Prothonotary Warblers that breed across the eastern U.S. go in winter—their "migratory connectivity"—and found that nearly the entire species depends on a relatively small area in Colombia threatened by deforestation and sociopolitical changes. |
 | Pup fostering gives genetic boost to wild Mexican wolvesIt's a carefully planned mission that involves coordination across state lines—from Mexican gray wolf dens hidden deep in the woods of New Mexico and Arizona to breeding facilities at zoos and special conservation centers around the U.S. |
 | New environmental DNA program makes conservation research faster, more efficientIt's estimated that a person sheds between 30,000 to 40,000 skin cells per day. These cells and their associated DNA leave genetic traces of ourselves in showers, dust—pretty much everywhere we go. |
 | How personalities of wild small mammals affect forest structureA mouse scampers through the forest, stopping suddenly at the sight of a tree seed on the ground. A potential meal. And a dilemma. |
 | Predictive AI is the newest weapon in the battle to protect endangered animalsSothear Chheng has one of the toughest jobs anywhere. |
 | Electrons take alternative route to prevent plant stressPlants are susceptible to stress, and with the global impact of climate change and humanity's growing demand for food, it's crucial to understand what causes plant stress and stress tolerance. When plants absorb excess light energy during photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species are produced, potentially causing oxidative stress that damages important structures. Plants can suppress the production of reactive oxygen species by oxidizing P700 (the reaction center chlorophyll in photosystem I). A new study has revealed more about this vital process: the cyclic electron flow induced by P700 oxidation is an electric charge recombination occurring in photosystem I. These findings were published on June 5 in Plants. |
 | New study to examine feeding habits of Cape Cod great whitesResearchers on Cape Cod are launching a new study focused on the hunting and feeding habits of the region's great white sharks following last year's two attacks on humans, including the state's first fatal one in more than 80 years. |
 | Directed evolution comes to plantsA new platform for speeding up and controlling the evolution of proteins inside living plants has been developed by a KAUST-led team. |
 | Good viruses and bad bacteria: A world-first green sea turtle trialResearchers at the JCU Turtle Health Research Facility have conducted a first-of-its-kind study using what's known as phage therapy as an option for bacterial infections in green sea turtles. |
 | Efficiently producing fatty acids and biofuels from glucoseResearchers have presented a new strategy for efficiently producing fatty acids and biofuels that can transform glucose and oleaginous microorganisms into microbial diesel fuel, with one-step direct fermentative production. |
 | Research shows wind can prevent seabirds accessing their most important habitatWe marvel at flying animals because it seems like they can access anywhere, but a first study of its kind has revealed that wind can prevent seabirds from accessing the most important of habitats: their nests. |
 | Joint hypermobility related to anxiety, also in animalsThe relation between collagen laxity and anxiety in humans is widely known, but this relation has never been observed before in other species. A team of researchers led by professors Jaume Fatjó and Antoni Bulbena from the Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine at the UAB, the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM) and the UAB Affinity Foundation Chair in Animals and Health, analysed a set of 13 animal behaviour characteristics and hip joint mobility in a total of 5,575 domestic dogs. The results point to an association between hip joint hypermobility and a brain activation linked to emotions in dogs, with similar results as to those observed in people. |
 | Finding 'Nemo's' family tree of anemonesThanks in part to the popular film Finding Nemo, clownfishes are well known to the public and well represented in scientific literature. But the same can't be said for the equally colorful sea anemones—venomous, tentacled animals—that protect clownfishes and that the fish nourish and protect in return. A new study published online this month in the journal Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution takes a step to change that, presenting a new tree of life for clownfish-hosting sea anemones along with some surprises about their taxonomy and origins. |
 | Scientists record singing by rare right whale for first timeFederal marine biologists have recorded singing by one of the rarest whales on the planet. |
 | First book published on fishes of the Salish SeaThe first book documenting all of the known species of fishes that live in the Salish Sea is now available. |
 | Indonesia pet orangutans released back into the wildThe young orangutan looks back at her rescuers before clambering over her steel cage and into the trees, swinging from hand to hand and hanging upside down. |
 | Cat muzzles: cruel or useful?It's not unusual to slap a muzzle on a dog if it's being aggressive or not keen on being given an injection, but a muzzle is not part of your average cat's wardrobe. Yet there they are online, by the dozen, in a wide range of styles and colours. |
 | Owner training key to reducing risk of dog bite injuriesDog attacks have been on the rise and it may the owners who need to go back to school. A new study published in Risk Analysis: An International Journal investigated what leads dog owners to train their pets using positive reinforcement methods. |
 | Got noxious weeds? In Seattle metro, there's an app for thatThe small, white flower clusters can reach up to 10 feet and, to the unaware landscaper, would look pretty in a garden. Its leaves are bright green and the root looks like a carrot or parsnip. But the plant is also an invader that can wreak havoc if it's not contained. |
 | Phage display for engineering blood-contacting surfacesSurfaces that enable endothelial cell attachment without causing blood clotting are needed for various tissue engineering efforts. A new approach involving phage display has been used to identify unique peptides with these typically divergent characteristics. The work is published in Tissue Engineering. |
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