Science X Newsletter Monday, Jul 8

Dear Reader ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for July 8, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new method to study polarons in insulators and semiconductors

Antigravity water transport system inspired by trees

A multi-representational convolutional neural network architecture for text classification

Lead pollution in Arctic ice show economic impact of wars and plagues for past 1,500 years

Instability in Antarctic ice projected to make sea level rise rapidly

Rising tundra temperatures create worrying changes in microbial communities

'Digital alchemy' to reverse-engineer new materials

Indian Ocean causes drought and heatwaves in South America

Live fast and die young, or play the long game? Scientists map 121 animal life cycles

Supercomputer shows 'Chameleon Theory' could change how we think about gravity

Ancient molar points to interbreeding between archaic humans and Homo sapiens in Asia

Breaching a 'carbon threshold' could lead to mass extinction

Research yields new clues to the origin of Tamu Massif

New method may resolve difficulty in measuring universe's expansion

Toyota to test solar panels for electric cars

Astronomy & Space news

	Supercomputer shows 'Chameleon Theory' could change how we think about gravity Supercomputer simulations of galaxies have shown that Einstein's theory of General Relativity might not be the only way to explain how gravity works or how galaxies form.
	New method may resolve difficulty in measuring universe's expansion Astronomers using National Science Foundation (NSF) radio telescopes have demonstrated how a combination of gravitational-wave and radio observations, along with theoretical modeling, can turn the mergers of pairs of neutron stars into a "cosmic ruler" capable of measuring the expansion of the Universe and resolving an outstanding question over its rate.
	Study suggests space travelers are not yet at greater risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease A team of researchers with Mortality Research & Consulting, Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health and the Russian State Research Center has found that thus far, astronauts and cosmonauts are not at increased risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to radiation exposure during their space adventures.
	Dust storms swirl at the north pole of Mars ESA's Mars Express has been keeping an eye on local and regional dust storms brewing at the north pole of the Red Planet over the last month, watching as they disperse towards the equator.
	Three runaway stars believed to be survivors of thermonuclear explosions A team of researchers with members from Germany, the U.K. and the U.S. has found what they describe as three stars that are example remnants of thermonuclear explosions. They have written a paper describing their findings and have uploaded it to the arXiv preprint server and onto Oxford's Monthly Notices of the Royal Academic Astronomical Society.
	Massive stars grow same way as light stars, just bigger Astronomers obtained the first detailed face-on view of a gaseous disk feeding the growth of a massive baby star. They found that it shares many common features with lighter baby stars. This implies that the process of star formation is the same, regardless of the final mass of the resulting star. This finding paves the way for a more complete understanding of star formation.
	Key early steps for origin of life occur under a variety of conditions Potential precursors to life on Earth form from a variety of complex mixtures, according to a team of scientists who say this could point to the development of building blocks crucial to forming genetic molecules for the origins of life on Earth.
	Small step, giant memories: Neil Armstrong's moonwalk remembered Half a century has passed—but the moment Moon pioneer Neil Armstrong took his historic first step on the lunar surface is etched in the memories of those who tuned in.
	How visions of the Moon inspired centuries of storytellers By landing on the Moon in 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin arrived at a place which, up until that point, had been the stuff of fantasy.
	How conspiracy theories followed man to the Moon It was the biggest piece of supposed fake news before the term "fake news" was even invented.
	Five reasons future space travel should explore asteroids On the same day that the Earth survived an expected near-miss with asteroid 367943 Duende, Russian dashcams unexpectedly captured footage of a different asteroid as it slammed into the atmosphere, exploded, and injured more than 1,000 people. That day in Chelyabinsk in February 2013 reminded the world that the Earth does not exist in a bubble.
	5 moon landing innovations that changed life on Earth Much of the technology common in daily life today originates from the drive to put a human being on the moon. This effort reached its pinnacle when Neil Armstrong stepped off the Eagle landing module onto the lunar surface 50 years ago.
	Two tiny supercomputing Pioneer nanosatellites launched The latest ESA Partnership Projects mission has launched two tiny supercomputing nanosatellites aboard a Soyuz rocket from Vostochny in Russia.
	Before moon landing, astronauts learned geology in Arizona Before Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin knew they would be the first to walk on the moon, they took crash courses in geology at the Grand Canyon and a nearby impact crater that is the most well-preserved on Earth.
	Quantum satellite combines art with science A satellite built by the National University of Singapore (NUS) entered orbit in June carrying both a high-tech quantum device from the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) and a quotation from a play written for the NUS Arts Festival.
DJ set to be first black African in space killed in bike crash A South African man who won the chance to be the first black African in space has died in a motorbike crash before turning his dream into reality, his family announced Sunday.

Technology news

	A multi-representational convolutional neural network architecture for text classification Over the past decade or so, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have proven to be very effective in tackling a variety of tasks, including natural language processing (NLP) tasks. NLP entails the use of computational techniques to analyze or synthesize language, both in written and spoken form. Researchers have successfully applied CNNs to several NLP tasks, including semantic parsing, search query retrieval and text classification.
	Toyota to test solar panels for electric cars What's not to like about this concept: high-efficiency solar cells gifting electric cars with mileage.
	Robots step up to ace those big bad cinder blocks Well, each to his own taste. Kittens making friends with balls of yarn are absolute magnets for video surfers but a rival army of video clicksters can never max out staring at humanoids navigating where they want to go.
	Robot uses machine learning to harvest lettuce A vegetable-picking robot that uses machine learning to identify and harvest a commonplace, but challenging, agricultural crop has been developed by engineers.
	Bitcoin compared to what? New index shows energy consumption Bitcoin has landed front and center in the ongoing debate over benefits of cryptocurrencies and impact on the environment.
	Jumping space robot 'flies' like a spacecraft Astronauts on the Moon found themselves hopping around, rather than simply walking. Switzerland's SpaceBok planetary exploration robot has followed their example, launching all four legs off the ground during tests at ESA's technical heart.
	Microrobots to change the way we work with cellular material In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from University of Toronto have demonstrated a novel and non-invasive way to manipulate cells through microrobotics.
	Hate spoilers? This AI tool spots them for you Did social media spoil the Avengers' Endgame movie for you? Or maybe one of the Game of Thrones books? A team of researchers from the University of California San Diego is working to make sure that doesn't happen again. They have developed an AI-based system that can flag spoilers in online reviews of books and TV shows.
	Electric scooters: not so eco-friendly after all? E-scooters touted as zero-carbon urban transport are flooding city streets worldwide, but just how green they are remains an open question.
	Mystery of NSA leak lingers as stolen document case winds up Federal agents descended on the suburban Maryland house with the flash and bang of a stun grenade, blocked off the street and spent hours questioning the homeowner about a theft of government documents that prosecutors would later describe as "breathtaking" in its scale.
	BA fined £183m over computer theft of passenger data The UK's data privacy watchdog has fined British Airways more than £183 million after computer hackers last year stole bank details from hundreds of thousands of passengers, the pair said on Monday.
	Accelerating the grapevine effect Gossip is an efficient way to share information across large networks and has unexpected applications in solving other mathematical and machine-learning problems.
	Window film could even out the indoor temperature using solar energy A window film with a specially designed molecule could be capable of taking the edge off the worst midday heat and instead distributing it evenly from morning to evening. The molecule has the unique ability to capture energy from the sun's rays and release it later as heat. This is shown by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, in the scientific journal Advanced Science.
	Blockchain benefits sustainable food production Adapting new data technologies may lead to fairer food prices for consumers and producers, by increasing transparency.
	How Ghana is acing its transition to mobile financial services In the past few years, the unprecedented growth of mobile financial services in sub-Saharan Africa has defied all expectations. While Kenya is often cited as a leading example of digital transformation, Ghana has recently become the fastest-growing mobile money market in Africa, with registered accounts increasing six-fold between 2012 and 2017. The country's experience provides a fresh perspective on its digital transformation and demonstrates that technology can help modernise the financial system as well as also support greater financial inclusion.
	New study shows public wants renewables—but the government is not listening Subsidies for onshore wind power were cut by the UK government in 2015. Then the main reasons given were that it was too expensive and that the public didn't support it. Amber Rudd MP, then head of what was the Department of Energy and Climate Change, said in a statement to parliament: "We are reaching the limits of what is affordable and what the public is prepared to accept."
	Researchers mine cache of Intel processors to speed up data packet processing Developed with Ericsson Research, the slice-aware memory-management scheme allows frequently used data to be accessed more quickly via the last-level cache of memory (LLC) of an Intel Xeon CPU. By establishing a key-value store and allocating memory in a way that it maps to the most appropriate LLC slice, they demonstrated both high-speed packet processing and improved performance of a key-value store. The team used the proposed scheme to implement a tool called CacheDirector, which makes Data Direct I/O (DDIO) slice-aware and published a conference paper, Make the Most out of Last Level Cache in Intel Processors, which was presented at EuroSys 2019 in the spring.
	Can Switzerland succeed without fossil fuels? If we want to get rid of fossil fuels nationwide, there is a lot to do. It will be a generation project, that much is clear. Empa researchers Martin Rüdisüli, Sinan Teske and Urs Elber have now calculated how long and steep the road to a sustainable energy system might be; their study was published at the end of June in the journal Energies.
	Team programs a humanoid robot to communicate in sign language For a robot to be able to "learn" sign language, it is necessary to combine different areas of engineering such as artificial intelligence, neural networks and artificial vision, as well as underactuated robotic hands. "One of the main new developments of this research is that we united two major areas of Robotics: complex systems (such as robotic hands) and social interaction and communication," explains Juan Víctores, one of the researchers from the Robotics Lab in the Department of Systems Engineering and Automation of the UC3M.
	Flying blind: Apps help visually impaired navigate airport Navigating airports can be tricky. They're loud, crowded and not always laid out intuitively. They're even more challenging for visually impaired people.
	Ridehailing services may be driving up traffic deaths While the era of app-based ridehailing services, such as Uber and Lyft, has been credited with keeping more impaired drivers off the road, increasing job opportunities and offering new levels of convenience, it is also linked with more congestion and traffic deaths.
	How T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon and Sprint fight robocalls on their network Answering the phone nowadays can be like playing Russian roulette—eventually, you're going to answer a robocall, and that's a game nobody wants to play.
	Walmart uses virtual reality to test new store managers Walmart Inc, the country's largest private employer, is using virtual reality headsets to test which employees have the aptitude for middle management positions.
	Amazon's Bezos finalizes divorce with $38 bn settlement: report Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Bezos finalized their divorce Friday to the tune of a $38-billion settlement, Bloomberg News reported.
	Saudi carrier cancels troubled Boeing 737 order for Airbus Boeing's campaign to restore the reputation of its best-selling plane after two deadly crashes suffered a blow with a Saudi airline canceling an order worth up to $5.9 billion in favor of a European rival of the U.S. manufacturer.
	Brunel fine-tunes next-generation digital engine Brunel University London is the first UK university to start researching car engines of the future using new single cylinder intelligent valve technology.
	Secure data protection in the new internet of things The core idea of the team headed by Magdeburg project leader, Professor Dr. Mesut Güne is to develop the self-organizing migration of services. This means that the services—such as home automation, data management, and business logic—no longer operate, as they have until now, centrally in a cloud, but instead can also act independently within a local infrastructure ecosystem. This local server infrastructure, which can also operate in small companies, or even on the computers of the user—or herself, guarantees full sovereignty over proprietary data. This allows companies to be independent of the server infrastructures of external service providers such as Google, Microsoft or Amazon, which are subject to constant changes and even may not be accessible.
	First all-digital nuclear reactor system in the US installed at Purdue University Nuclear power plants generate 20% of the nation's electricity and are the largest clean energy source in the U.S. But to further offset climate change, the nuclear energy sector needs to extend the lifetime of existing facilities as well as build new ones.

Medicine & Health news

	Yearlong birth control supply would cut unintended pregnancies, costs New research from the University of Pittsburgh and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shows that dispensing a year's supply of birth control pills up front would support women's reproductive autonomy while also being cost effective.
	Why marijuana affects different people differently For some people, marijuana causes a rewarding high. For others, it produces serious psychiatric side effects.
	Uncovering possible role of polyphosphate in dialysis-related amyloidosis Long-term dialysis treatment is tough on the body in many ways, but one of the most serious complications is dialysis-related amyloidosis, a disease characterized by abnormal buildup of protein aggregates—called amyloid fibrils—in joints, tissues and organs.
	Human brains reorganise experiences while resting to find new solutions Humans are particularly good at using generalizations from past experiences to make broad assumptions when they are faced with little information about new experiences.
	Gadolinium deposition occurs in early multiple sclerosis A comprehensive, longitudinal study of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that followed patients from the time of their diagnosis for an average of five years, has found that while a commonly used imaging linear contrast agent, gadodiamide, does accumulate in the brain early in the disease, there is no discernible clinical impact.
	Infection-fighting protein also senses protein misfolding in non-infected cells Researchers at the University of Toronto have uncovered an immune mechanism by which host cells combat bacterial infection, and at the same time found that a protein crucial to that process can sense and respond to misfolded proteins in all mammalian cells.
	Researchers identify effective drug combination against uveal melanoma Uveal melanoma is a very aggressive type of melanoma that affects the eye. It is a rare disorder, affecting an estimated 2,500 people in the United States each year. However, nearly half of uveal melanoma patients will develop metastatic disease that migrates to other part of the body, primarily the liver. The prognosis for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma is very poor, with median survival of only 17 to 20 months. Researchers in Moffitt Cancer Center's Donald A. Adam Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center of Excellence are working to change that. They have identified a new drug combination that is effective against metastatic uveal melanoma cells in preclinical studies. Their findings were published in Clinical Cancer Research.
	Natural antioxidant helps improve immune-based therapies by modulating T-cells Shikhar Mehrotra, Ph.D. and Xue-Zhong Yu, M.D., National Institutes of Health-funded researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), have discovered a way to improve immune-based treatments, such as adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), by modulating T-cells with thioredoxin, a powerful, naturally occurring antioxidant molecule.
	Blood test may predict risk of recurrence for breast cancer patients A special blood test may one day predict if a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient will likely relapse years later, a City of Hope study suggests.
	Structure of brain networks is not fixed, study finds The shape and connectivity of brain networks—discrete areas of the brain that work together to perform complex cognitive tasks—can change in fundamental and recurring ways over time, according to a study led by Georgia State University.
	Looking at how the brain reacts to boredom could help people cope Boredom is a common human experience. But how people cope with or handle being bored is important for mental health.
	Triplet-targeted therapy improves survival for patients with advanced colorectal cancer and BRAF mutations The three-drug combination of encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab significantly improved overall survival (OS) in patients with BRAF-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), according to results of the BEACON CRC Phase III clinical trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	Targeted therapy combination improves survival in patients with advanced bowel cancer New data have shown for the first time that a combination of targeted therapies can improve survival in patients with advanced bowel cancer. Results of the BEACON CRC Phase III trial have shown that triple therapy targeting BRAF mutations in progressive metastatic colorectal tumours significantly improved overall survival and objective response compared to standard care.
	Data demonstrate efficacy of more flexible dose of regorafenib to relieve side-effects in mCRC patients Medical oncologists administer anticancer drug regorafenib to try to improve overall survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have ceased to respond to standard therapy (known as refractory mCRC). However, some of the adverse events related to the use of this drug often limits its use in clinical practice. A study reported at the ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2019 suggests the usefulness of a more flexible dosing, which improves patients' quality of life without jeopardising efficacy. (1,2)
	Malaria surges back in crisis-hit Venezuela The sweltering heat of the Venezuelan forest makes no difference to Jose Gregorio, who trembles with a cold chill. "I have pain everywhere, fever," he stammers.
	Keep unused meds out of the hands of addicts (HealthDay)—As America grapples with an opioid epidemic, it has become even more important to dispose of your leftover prescription medications properly, one pharmacist says.
	Study confirms disparities in triple-negative breast cancer diagnoses A new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, shows that women of color and young women may face elevated risks of developing triple-negative breast cancers, which are often aggressive and do not respond to hormone therapy or targeted therapy.
Becoming new parents increases produce purchases In the United States, both children and adults eat too few fruits and vegetables, which puts them at risk for poor diet quality and adverse health consequences. A new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found new parents increased their spending on produce in middle- and high-income households.
	Quitting alcohol may improve mental well-being, health-related quality of life Quitting alcohol may improve health-related quality of life for women, especially their mental well-being, according to a study from Hong Kong published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Microvascular disease anywhere in the body may be linked to higher risk of leg amputations Microvascular disease is independently associated with a higher risk of leg amputation compared to people without the disease, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation.
	Pneumonia patients get too many antibiotics—especially as they leave the hospital A million times a year, pneumonia sends American adults to the hospital. And while antibiotics help save lives, a new study shows two-thirds receive more antibiotics than they probably need.
	Where pharma spends, docs prescribe more gabapentin, a potential drug of abuse Pharmaceutical companies' payments to doctors may be influencing them to prescribe more expensive, brand-name versions of the pain drug gabapentin, a team of researchers report in the July 8 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine, and the increasing use of the drug suggests it may be being abused.
	Teens abusing painkillers are more likely to later use heroin It's an unforeseen side effect of the nation's opioid epidemic: Adolescent heroin users.
	Latin America faces obesity-food insecurity paradox: report Latin America and the Caribbean is facing an obesity epidemic while paradoxically the number of people facing food insecurity in the region continues to rise, the OECD and FAO warned in a report on Monday.
	Rear-facing safety seats still best protection for youngest passengers Using rear-facing safety seats for small children in vehicles is still the "best and safest" practice for parents and other caregivers, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service program manager based in College Station.
	One lung cancer drug receives NHS England approval, while another is rejected A targeted drug has been accepted for routine use on the NHS in England for some adults with untreated, advanced lung cancer. But another precision drug, for the same group of patients, has been rejected due to questions over its cost-effectiveness.
	Important results for brain machine interfaces Data from Mental Work project, conducted as an experimental artwork at EPFL's Artlab, indicates that BMI is robust and accessible to the general public, spurring new research collaborations in Switzerland on user experience.
	Sharing fitness data with insurance companies From the Fitbit to Apple's smartwatch, wearable tech is becoming increasingly popular across the globe. Compared to other nations like US, which has seen higher adoption of fitness trackers, uptake in Australia is still less than 10% in 2019. But news reports indicate that Australians are taking to fitness monitoring more than ever before.
	Study ties fire station proximity firmly to prevention of injuries Does living closer to a fire station equate to a higher level of safety? It's a commonly held belief, and now Dr. Dohyeong Kim at The University of Texas at Dallas has gathered empirical evidence that does indeed support that assertion.
	Confused about what to eat? Science can help Do you feel like nutritionists are always changing their minds? Do you want science-based information about diet but don't know whom or what to believe?
	Neuroplasticity: Why is the visual cortex involved in language processing in blind individuals? People who are blind use part of their visual cortex for language and semantic processing. The visual cortex is the paradigm case of a "modality-specific" brain region, being devoted exclusively to visual perceptual processes in healthy and undeprived sighted individuals. Why should it shift its function in the blind toward higher cognition, in particular language and meaning? Researchers from the Brain Language Laboratory of the Freie Universität Berlin were able to demonstrate, using computer simulations of large-scale brain systems, how a set of biological mechanisms acting within specific neuroanatomical structures are sufficient to provide a direct and straightforward explanation for the cortical reorganization of language caused by visual deprivation. The findings were published in a recent issue of the journal Scientific Reports.
	Snapshot looks at health as a family affair A parent's lung, heart and bone health all have an impact on their child by the age of 11 or 12, according to a snapshot of pre-teen health.
	Problematic smartphone use linked to poorer grades, alcohol misuse and more sexual partners A survey of more than 3,400 university students in the U.S. has found that one in five respondents reported problematic smartphone use. Female students were more likely be affected and problematic smartphone use was associated with lower grade averages, mental health problems and higher numbers of sexual partners.
	Autistic adults experience high rates of negative life events Autistic adults are vulnerable to many types of negative life experience, including employment difficulties, financial hardship, domestic abuse and "mate-crime," according to new research published today in the journal Autism Research.
	Children are not destined to inherit their parents' weight problems The children of overweight parents are not destined to inherit their parents' weight problems, according to a new study from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.
Problematic sexual behaviour among young children raises concerns for educators A national survey by University of South Australia researchers has exposed serious gaps in the ability of early childhood teachers, primary educators and carers to identify and respond to young children displaying "problematic sexual behaviours".
	Aussie pre-teens spend most of their day sitting still, study shows Long, unbroken stretches of sitting time are common among Australian 11-12 year olds, according to a national snapshot of pre-teen health and disease development.
	Size does matter when it comes to telomeres One of the more novel studies from the Child Health CheckPoint was the measurement of 'telomeres' – the tiny caps on each strand of our DNA, which serve to protect the ends of our chromosomes.
	Children's snacking habits mirror their parents' New research into children's snacking habits has found that big snacking parents may inadvertently influence their children to eat more. The researchers behind the study believe that encouraging parents to snack less could improve children's diets.
	Increasing physical activity does not improve the function of brown adipose tissue A study conducted by researchers from the University of Granada (UGR) has found that, contrary to prevailing belief, higher levels of physical activity are not linked to a greater volume or activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT). BAT is a thermogenic organ that burns glucose and fats, releasing the energy in the form of heat.
	Discovery of mechanism behind precision cancer drug opens door for more targeted treatment New research that uncovers the mechanism behind the newest generation of cancer drugs is opening the door for better targeted therapy.
	Almost a third of Scots are now obese – and at risk of more cancers than smokers Once smoking was the killer health problem in Scotland. Now comes the news from Cancer Research that around 29% of adults in Scotland are obese whereas 18% of the population continues to smoke. In the early 1980s the figures were markedly different, at around 6% and 40% respectively. That means in just four decades the country has gone from one in 16 of the population being obese to a staggering almost one in three.
	Sedentary time increases after retirement—especially in women The FIREA study, conducted at the University of Turku, has revealed that the amount of sitting time increases in women after the transition to retirement. A similar change was not discovered in men. However, men did spend significantly more time sitting down than women, both during working life and retirement. Spending prolonged time periods sedentary, i.e. sitting down, lying or reclining during waking hours, is harmful to health.
	The nasal ecosystem, viral infection, and a bacterium that causes pneumonia Researchers at LSTM, along with colleagues at the University of Edinburgh and the University Medical Center Utrecht, have looked at the impact of the natural microbial flora or microbiota in the nose and viral co-infection on pneumococcal acquisition in healthy adults.
	Cartoons are appropriate for developing children's narrative skills and values A study by the UPV/EHU's Department of Evolutionary Psychology and Education has explored the validity of narrative and non-narrative cartoons for developing narrative skills, moral reasoning, and values and countervalues in children in mainstream and non-mainstream education. The researchers were particularly interested in the effects of the structure of the cartoons on these aspects when the children process the information.
	CheckPoint study shows Aussie families get enough rest, but don't always sleep soundly Despite fears that Australian children are not getting enough sleep, it turns out we can rest easy.
	Prostate cancer treatment linked to dementia risk New research has highlighted a possible link between a prostate cancer treatment called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and the risk of dementia. The findings are published today (Wednesday 3 July) in the Journal JAMA Network Open.
	Do vitamin drips really work? The evidence says 'no', so save your money and eat real food Want to boost your immune system, reduce your physical signs of ageing, or cleanse your blood to get rid of toxins? Intravenous (IV) vitamin therapy, or vitamin drips, promise to help. Some claim they can even benefit serious conditions like cancer, Parkinson's disease, the eye condition macular degeneration, the pain of fibromyalgia and depression.
	Research into cannabis dosage for reducing seizures in children with severe epilepsy Medicinal cannabis oil containing both cannabidiol (CBD) and a small amount of THC (the drug that can cause intoxication) can reduce or end seizures in children with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy, a study by the University of Saskatchewan (USask) has found.
	Children from deprived areas exposed to six times more tobacco retailing Children from the most income deprived areas experienced similar exposure to tobacco retailing in one day as children from the least deprived areas experienced in one week.
Billie Eilish and Tourette's: new study reveals what it's really like to live with the condition The American singer Billie Eilish recently spoke to her fans about having struggled with Tourette's syndrome since she was a child. She'd previously avoided going public about her diagnosis as she said she didn't want to be characterised by her condition.
	High rates of opioid prescriptions for osteoarthritis Opioids work against severe pain but the risks of side effects and addiction are high. In the U.S. alone, 26 people die every day from overdoses. Now researchers in an international collaboration have investigated how common opioid prescriptions are for osteoarthritis patients in Sweden. It emerged that every fourth patient was prescribed opioids at some point between November 2014 and October 2015.
	Novel method identifies patients at risk for HIV who may benefit from prevention strategies Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of using algorithms that analyze electronic health records (EHRs) to help physicians identify patients at risk for HIV who may benefit from preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which significantly reduces the risk of getting HIV . The studies, which were supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, advance a novel method that can help clinicians identify individuals most in need of PrEP. The two studies were published in The Lancet HIV.
	Counterfeit alcohol, sometimes containing jet fuel or embalming fluid, is a growing concern for tourists abroad The news about the tragic deaths of several American tourists in the Dominican Republic in May 2019 has created an outcry and a media frenzy. As of June 30, there were at least nine deaths with similar circumstances in the past few months. The FBI and Dominican authorities are investigating, and one theory is that alcohol was the cause of these deaths.
	A tale of two proteins: The best and worst of metabolic adaptation The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis is supported by multiple human epidemiological studies and animal studies. It states that the nutritional environment in early life makes people susceptible to lifestyle-related diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and heart attack, as adults. Many of those diseases exhibit reduced mitochondrial metabolism in the tissues of the body. Now, researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan reveal that two metabolic pathways involved in energy metabolism may play a role in the DOHaD hypothesis.
	Do you need vitamin-enhanced foods? (HealthDay)—Many packaged foods have the potential to give you vitamin overload, especially if you're already taking a daily multivitamin. Here's what you need to know.
	Teens risk seizures, coma when they use 'synthetic pot' (HealthDay)—Teens who use Spice, K2 or other synthetic marijuana products may risk medical harm, including coma and seizures, researchers report.
	The best mental health treatments for youth are slow to catch on in Philadelphia, study finds Not all therapy is created equal.
	Scientists find urine test could offer a non-invasive approach for diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Scientists at McMaster University have identified new biomarkers for Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in urine, which could lead to better treatments and reduce the need for costly and invasive colonoscopy procedures currently used for diagnosis.
	Scientists identify an essential protein for correct heart contraction and survival A team of scientists led by Dr. Enrique Lara Pezzi at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) has identified the RNA-binding protein SRSF3 as an essential factor for proper heart contraction and survival. In a study published in Circulation Research, the researchers found that loss of cardiac expression of SRSF3 leads to a critical reduction in the expression of genes involved in contraction. Knowledge of the mechanism of action of SRSF3 in the heart could open the way to the design of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of heart disease.
	The declining impact of federal funding on cancer innovation Cancer research is a field that has been especially dependent on public funding. The National Cancer Institute (NCI), an independent institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was established in 1937 to provide for, foster and coordinate research relating to cancer. As the largest funder of cancer research in the world, it has spent what is estimated at more than USD 100 billion on research and treatment. New screening, diagnosis, and treatment methods in consonance with groundbreaking pathogenetic discoveries in the oncologic field, mainly in the form of oncogene and cancer metabolism research, have led to an overall decrease of the cancer death rate by a quarter since 1975. Concerns have come to light in the past ten years surrounding the current funding system of the NIH. Criticisms encompass systematic disincentivizing of funding for transformative research, the grant mechanism's lack of predictive ability, and gender and racial biases.
	Childhood vaccines: Tough questions, straight answers Do vaccines cause autism? Is it OK to skip certain vaccines? Get the facts on these and other common questions.
	Blood flow monitor could save lives A tiny fibre-optic sensor has the potential to save lives in open heart surgery, and even during surgery on pre-term babies.
	New research shows only half of countries globally have cardiac rehab programs More than 20 million people develop heart disease globally each year, but there is only one cardiac rehab spot for every 12 of those patients to prevent another heart event, according to new research from York University. A global audit and survey of cardiac rehab conducted in York University's Faculty of Health showed that cardiac rehab is available in only half of the world's countries, and the programs that do exist can only serve 1.65 million patients, leaving a gap of over 18 million patients in need.
	Patients with an 'empathic' GP at reduced risk of early death Patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes are at a lower risk of early death if they have a doctor who they describe as showing empathy towards them, a new study from the University of Cambridge has found.
	Killing the seeds of cancer: A new finding shows potential in destroying cancer stem cells Scientists at The University of Toledo investigating improvements to a commonly used chemotherapy drug have discovered an entirely new class of cancer-killing agents that show promise in eradicating cancer stem cells.
	Researchers show that the composition of human skin microbiome can be modulated Scientists at UPF and the company S-Biomedic have demonstrated the use of living bacteria to modulate skin microbiome composition. In the study, published in Microbiome, mixtures of different skin microbial components have been used to temporarily modulate the composition of recipient skin bacteria for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes.
	Review of impact of drug holidays on bone health The impact of interruption of anti-osteoporosis treatment in patients on therapy with bisphosphonates or denosumab is reviewed in a new International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) working group paper 'Fracture risk following intermission of osteoporosis therapy' published in the journal Osteoporosis International.
	Genomic 'map' reveals not all fat is equal It's not just about how much—the location of where fat is stored in the body can have significant implications for human health.
	Cancer genes and the tumor milieu The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a mix of fluids, immune cells and blood vessels which envelops the tumors. Interactions between tumor cells and the TME determine the progression and fate of tumors. Therefore, understanding the composition and functions of the TME is thus very important for keeping cancer in check. Although several genetic mutations can result in the incidence of cancer, not much is known about their effects on the TME. A research team led by Chiaki Takahashi at Kanazawa University has recently reported the role of one such cancer gene, RB, in this regard.
	Immunotherapy could work against bowel cancers resistant to important targeted treatment Patients with bowel cancer who have stopped responding to a widely used targeted drug could benefit from immunotherapy, a major new study reveals.
Pilot study finds collagen to be effective in wound closure Collagen powder is just as effective in managing skin biopsy wounds as primary closure with non-absorbable sutures, according to a first-of-its-kind study published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology by a team of physician researchers at the George Washington University.
	Knowing BRCA status associated with better breast cancer outcomes even without surgery Ashkenazi Jewish women have a 1-in-40 chance of carrying the BRCA mutation and these BRCA-positive women have an 80 percent lifetime risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. A study by University of Colorado Cancer Center and Shaarei Zedek Medical Center, Israel presented at the European Society of Human Genetics Annual Meeting 2019 shows the importance of healthy women knowing their BRCA status, even when these women choose not to undergo prophylactic mastectomy: Of 63 Ashkenazi Jewish women unaware of their BRCA+ status at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, and 42 women who were aware they were BRCA+ prior to their breast cancer diagnosis (but had decided against surgical prevention), the women who knew their BRCA+ status were diagnosed with earlier stage breast cancer, needed less chemotherapy, less extensive axillary surgery, and had greater overall 5-year survival (98 percent vs. 74 percent).
	Study finds psychiatric diagnosis to be 'scientifically meaningless' A new study, published in Psychiatry Research, has concluded that psychiatric diagnoses are scientifically worthless as tools to identify discrete mental health disorders.
	New review highlights evidence on how to increase physical activity in everyday life Physical activity is important for physical and mental wellbeing and keeping socially connected. This themed review, Moving Matters, brings together more than 50 published and ongoing studies funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on ways to increase physical activity in everyday life. This review considers the changing needs and opportunities of different age groups from infancy onwards, as well as considering interventions in the workplace and in the built and natural environments.
Allowing the sale of buprenorphine without a prescription could save lives In an effort to address the opioid epidemic in new, safe and effective ways, increasing access to buprenorphine, without a prescription, could prove helpful for treating persons with opioid use disorder (OUD), according to a Viewpoint in this week's JAMA.
	Researchers: Eggshells can help grow, heal bones Eggshells can enhance the growth of new, strong bones needed in medical procedures, a team of UMass Lowell researchers has discovered.
	Too much screen time for the kids? Grandparents may also be complicit Grandparents have long been associated with letting their grandchildren do things their parents would never permit. Candy. Extended bedtime. Too much television. Carefree fun. They like to spoil their grandchildren.
Does genetic testing pose psychosocial risks? For the last quarter century, researchers have been asking whether genetic information might have negative psychosocial effects. Anxiety, depression, disrupted relationships, and heightened stigmatization have all been posited as possible outcomes—but not consistently found. What accounts for the discrepancy?
	Team pioneers cancer treatment that targets bone metastases while sparing bone University of California, Irvine researchers have developed and tested on mice a therapeutic treatment that uses engineered stem cells to target and kill cancer bone metastases while preserving the bone.
How do older adults fare after hip fracture? Hip fractures in older adults can be extremely serious, and often result in chronic illness, death, and increased health care costs. Experts estimate that some 18 to 33 percent of all older adults who have suffered hip fractures will die within a year, with even higher rates of death among people who have dementia or who live in a nursing home.
	Want to boost creativity? Try playing Minecraft The next time you need to get the creative juices flowing, playing some types of video games may help.
Team finds police shooting racial disparities reflect segregation Racial residential segregation is the predominant factor that explains why some cities have greater racial disparities in fatal police shootings than others, according to a new study by Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) researchers published in the Journal of the National Medical Association.
	Teen odds of using marijuana dip with recreational use laws New research suggests legalizing recreational marijuana for U.S. adults in some states may have slightly reduced teens' odds of using pot.
	'Surprising' lack of progress on heart disease in younger adults After years of declining rates of coronary artery disease, new research shows the trend is reversing among younger people, especially women.
	Nutritional supplements and diets not always protective, research suggests Do the nutritional supplements people take or the diets they adhere to actually protect them against cardiovascular problems and death?
	Trump promises to reduce US drug prices to world's lowest US President Donald Trump on Friday said his administration is working on an executive order to reduce US drug prices to match the lowest in the world.
	Congress has ambitious agenda tackling health care costs Lawmakers are trying to set aside their irreconcilable differences over the Obama-era Affordable Care Act and work to reach bipartisan agreement on a more immediate health care issue, lowering costs for people who already have coverage.
	How noise and age affect brain's sound processing The most common causes of hearing loss—age and excessive noise—have different effects on sound processing in the brain, reports a new study in JNeurosci. This finding suggests each type of hearing loss should have its own unique treatment.
	Retina restructures itself after cell death Following gene therapy, the retina can restructure itself and regain normal light responses, according to research in mice published in JNeurosci. These results emphasize the plasticity of the retina and support ongoing development of treatments designed to save dying cells.
Landmark study reveals mental health toll for Aboriginal mothers A landmark study has revealed an increase in the prevalence of mental health related issues among mothers of Aboriginal children in Western Australia.
	The quest for the holy grail of healthy arteries Heart and kidney failure, aneurysms and strokes—these are the complications that can result from atherosclerosis, a condition in which arteries narrow due to plaque build-up on the artery walls. Severe cases of atherosclerosis are treated with procedures such as bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty that involves widening narrowed or blocked arteries. However, although effective, these procedures have a significant drawback. As Dr. Davide De Lucrezia, coordinator of the EU-funded project THE GRAIL, explains in a news item posted on the 'News Medical' site, "they are mostly short-term solutions, failing to restore vessel integrity in the long term."
	Dengue infection: A shield against Zika-related birth defects The Zika virus outbreak in Latin America less than 5 years ago had severe consequences for expectant mothers. Many who were infected with the Zika virus gave birth to children with microcephaly and other birth defects, collectively referred to as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). For some reason, the incidence of CZS was highest in north-east Brazil.
	Kitchen essentials: mastering fresh tomato sauce (HealthDay)—High in lycopene, low in calories, and rich in vitamins A and C, tomatoes are delicious fruits that can be turned into savory dishes. Try this simple fresh tomato sauce to make good use of this summer favorite.
	A mom said her son was infected with Vibrio bacteria. Here's how to avoid the same fate. A Maryland woman's social media post went viral after she shared photos of her son's bacterial skin infection, which she said appeared after he swam on the bayside of Ocean City.
	'You all look alike to me' is hard-wired in us, research finds You often hear it framed in a comic sense, though it's a form of stereotyping, and even prejudice. "You all look alike to me."
	Bacteria associated with hospital infections are found in raw meat Bacteria of the Acinetobacter ACB complex, which are frequently acquired in hospital settings, can also be found in beef, according to a study led by ISGlobal, an institution supported by "la Caixa," and performed with meat samples from markets in Lima, Peru. Although the isolates were susceptible to most antibiotics, these results suggest that raw meat can act as a reservoir for these pathogenic bacteria.
	Uranium toxicity may be causing high rates of obesity and diabetes in Kuwait Kuwait has some of the highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the world, and scientists don't know why. This question was addressed by Dr. Max Goodson, Emeritus Professor at the Forsyth Institute.

Biology news

	Live fast and die young, or play the long game? Scientists map 121 animal life cycles Scientists have pinpointed the "pace" and "shape" of life as the two key elements in animal life cycles that affect how different species get by in the world. Their findings, which come from a detailed assessment of 121 species ranging from humans to sponges, may have important implications for conservation strategies and for predicting which species will be the winners and losers from the global environment crisis.
	Snowball the dancing cockatoo has many moves A sulphur-crested cockatoo named Snowball garnered YouTube fame and headlines a decade ago for his uncanny ability to dance to the beat of the Backstreet Boys. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on July 8 are back with new evidence that Snowball isn't limited in his dance moves. Despite a lack of dance training, new videos show that Snowball responds to music with diverse and spontaneous movements using various parts of his body.
	Transformed tobacco fields could cuts costs for medical proteins A new Cornell University-led study describes the first successful rearing of engineered tobacco plants in order to produce medical and industrial proteins outdoors in the field, a necessity for economic viability, so they can be grown at large scales.
	Grazing animals drove domestication of grain crops Many familiar grains today, like quinoa, amaranth, millets, hemp and buckwheat, have traits that indicate that they co-evolved for dispersion by large grazing mammals. During the Pleistocene, massive herds directed the ecology around much of the globe and caused evolutionary changes in plants. Studies of the ecology and growing habits of certain ancient crop relatives indicate that megafaunal herds were necessary for the dispersal of their seeds prior to human intervention. Understanding this process is providing scientists with insights into the early domestication of these plants.
	Young Asian elephants form all-male groups to survive A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in India has found evidence of young Asian elephants forming all-male groups as a way to survive. In their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group describes their study of the elephants in different parts of India, and what they found.
	Researchers can finally modify plant mitochondrial DNA Researchers in Japan have edited plant mitochondrial DNA for the first time, which could lead to a more secure food supply. Nuclear DNA was first edited in the early 1970s, chloroplast DNA was first edited in 1988, and animal mitochondrial DNA was edited in 2008. However, no tool previously successfully edited plant mitochondrial DNA.
	A common gut virus that maps our travels Travelling abroad for the summer can change a person's perspective—and it can also change the makeup of his gut.
	Scientists capture images of gene-editing enzymes in action For the first time, scientists have captured high-resolution, three-dimensional images of an enzyme in the process of precisely cutting DNA strands.
	Researchers discover that the rate of telomere shortening predicts species lifespan A flamingo lives 40 years and a human being lives 90 years; a mouse lives two years and an elephant lives 60. Why? What determines the lifespan of a species? After analyzing nine species of mammals and birds, researchers at the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) found a very clear relationship between the lifespan of these species and the shortening rate of their telomeres, the structures that protect the chromosomes and the genes they contain. The relationship is expressed as a mathematical equation, a formula that can accurately predict the longevity of the species. The study was done in collaboration with the Madrid Zoo Aquarium and the University of Barcelona.
	Tracing the roots: Mapping a vegetable family tree for better food Human genetic testing has evolved over the recent decades, allowing people to find their ancestors and even determine specific percentages of their heritage. Much like the advances in human genetic testing recently popularized by commercial organizations have allowed people to gain a better understanding of their ancestry, scientists are now a step closer to determining a genetic family tree for vegetables by linking biology with computer science.
	Scientists find high mutation rates within huge, old-growth trees The towering, hundred-year-old Sitka spruce trees growing in the heart of Vancouver Island's Carmanah Valley appear placid and unchanging.
	Sneaky mating may be in female damselfies' interest During the mating season, male damselflies battle fiercely for control of prime territories containing resources—typically patches of floating leaves used for egg deposition in wetlands—that are key to attracting females. To the victors go the spoils: though a dominant male must then diligently guard his hard-won territory against interlopers, ownership of a territory gives him exclusive access to the females that congregate within his domain.
	Researchers identify genetic pathway that could enhance survival of coral Three researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington have made a groundbreaking discovery that could enhance the ability of reef-building corals to survive a rapidly warming and disease-filled ocean.
	Life is tough but so are worms—thanks to mom Numerous studies show that the legacy of hardship can be passed from one generation to the next. The good news is that resilience can cross generations too.
	The Dugong Show: 24-hour webcast shows star Thai sea cows A round-the-clock webcast starring two beloved baby dugongs in Thailand named Mariam and Jamil went live Sunday, allowing a more in-depth look at the celebrity sea cows.
	The meat planter: An ecological case for 'planted meat' To meet the soaring demand for sustainable protein, Lukas Böni and his start-up company Planted are developing a plant-based meat substitute. Their first product is "chicken" made from peas—with both the texture and taste of poultry.
	Researcher tests the lifespan of C. elegans to understand how the brain dictates age The key to living a long life is a lot less glamorous than sipping from the Fountain of Youth. Stress, starvation, and other hostile living conditions are actually the secret ingredients for longer lifespans—at least when it comes to worms.
	Loggerhead turtles headed for record-breaking season This summer is shaping up to be a banner year for sea turtles, according to data collected by University of Georgia researchers.
	Solving a molecular scissors mystery A Netherlands Cancer Institute team, co-led by Thijn Brummelkamp and Anastassis (Tassos) Perrakis, reported independently, but almost simultaneously with three more groups from all over the world, on the crystal structure and mechanism of a peculiar molecular end-tail of the microtubules that constitute the cell skeleton.
	Using an embryonic pause to save the date A date palm seedling can pause its development to boost its resilience before emerging into the harsh desert environment.
	Humans 'must be better neighbours' to save elephants Habitat loss as a result of a human population boom in Africa could threaten the very existence of elephants there, according to a new study.
Wimbledon: lawns look lovely, but time to keep off the grass The 133rd Wimbledon tennis championships are in full swing and, in time-honoured British tradition, the nation is fixated on seedings, scorelines, and strawberries and cream. While The Championships have been modernised with the introduction of Hawk-eye line-calling technology and the installation of retractable roofs on Centre Court and No. 1 Court, they remain firmly traditional with the grass playing surface.
	With cultured meat burgers on the menu, the next big challenge is animal-free steaks The meat you eat, if you're a carnivore, comes from animal muscles. But animals are composed of a lot more than just muscle. They have organs and bones that most Americans do not consume. They require food, water, space and social connections. They produce waste.
	Spreading the load on fisheries through balanced harvesting A more balanced approach to harvesting fish could slow down fisheries-induced evolution and result in other conservation benefits, according to collaborative research from UC's School of Mathematics and Statistics.
	'Curvy bacteria' weigh the benefits of different shapes Research by scientists into why some bacteria have different shapes has found that a curved shape can make it easier to find food.
Declining fire threatens Serengeti ecosystem A study of the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem led by University of Liverpool researchers has found that an increase in livestock numbers is threatening the ecology of the region due to a decline in both the number and area of land burnt by fires,
	Armyworms are devastating Asia's crops, but researchers have a plan to save them A very hungry caterpillar is rampaging through crops across the world, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The fall armyworm, also known as Spodoptera frugiperda (fruit destroyer), loves to eat maize (corn) but also plagues many other crops vital to human food security, such as rice and sorghum.
	Global animal tracking system Icarus is switched on The German-Russian observation system for animal movements, Icarus, will go into operation on 10 July 2019. In the subsequent test phase, the Icarus engineers and scientists will check the system components on the ground, on board the International Space Station (ISS) and the transmitters that collect the animals' data. After completion of all tests, Icarus is expected to be available to the scientific community in autumn or winter 2019.
	Southern resident orcas spotted in home waters off San Juan Island after unusual absence Breaking an unprecedented run of days this summer without frequenting their home waters, J, K and even possibly L pod southern resident orcas were all seen Friday morning on the west side of San Juan Island.
	Wind, warmth boost insect migration, study reveals Wind and warmth can improve travel time for the billions of insects worldwide that migrate each year, according to a first-ever radio-tracking study by University of Guelph biologists.
	As deaths mount, have right whales reached a 'tipping point'? In February 2016, East Central Florida animal lovers were riveted by an endangered right whale nicknamed Clipper and her baby. Clipper gave birth to the calf off Florida's east coast, then found her way into Sebastian Inlet, giving many people their first look at two of the massive, endangered whales.
	Bioaccumulation of methylmercury in wood frogs and spotted salamanders in Vermont vernal pools Mercury (Hg), and its more biologically available form, methylmercury (MeHg), are powerful neurotoxins that impact development and function of the central nervous system. The Northeast is considered a mercury "hotspot," due largely to airborne mercury emissions originating in the industrialized Midwest. Few studies have examined mercury in northeastern vernal pools, even though these ephemeral wetlands provide critical breeding habitat for several species of amphibians and a diverse assemblage of invertebrates. A recent paper published in Ecotoxicology describes a groundbreaking investigation of mercury levels in vernal pool foodwebs in coniferous and deciduous forests, and reveals that biota from the pools may be vectors of MeHg to the terrestrial ecosystem.
	Exploiting green tides thanks to a marine bacterium Ulvan is the principal component of Ulva or "sea lettuce" which causes algal blooms (green tides). Scientists at the Station Biologique de Roscoff (CNRS/Sorbonne Université) and their German and Austrian colleagues have identified a marine bacterium whose enzymatic system can break down ulvan into an energy source, or molecules of interest for use by the agrifood or cosmetics industries. Twelve enzymes have thus been discovered and they constitute as many tools that could transform this under-exploited polysaccharide into a renewable resource. This work is published on July 8 in Nature Chemical Biology.
	A study in scarlet Japanese macaques From peacocks to butterflies and betta fish, mother nature never disappoints when it colors the males of a species. Which makes sense, in species with traditional sex roles, males are more involved in competing for mates, leading females to be choosier in their selection. As a result, males evolve to display even flashier and attractive ornaments.
	Plant nutrient detector breakthrough Findings from La Trobe University-led research could lead to less fertiliser wastage, saving millions of dollars for Australian farmers.
Combining antibiotics, researchers deliver one-two punch against ubiquitous bacterium By combining two well-established antibiotics for the first time, a scientific team led by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center has delivered a "double whammy" against the pervasive Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a potentially deadly form of bacteria that is a major source of hospital-based infections.
	The parallel ecomorph evolution of scorpionflies: The evidence is in the DNA With only a few cases of ethanol to preserve tissue samples for total genomic DNA analysis, a trio covered much ground in the mountains of Japan and Korea to elucidate the evolution of the scorpionfly. The rugged scientists set out to use molecular phylogenetic analysis to show that the "alpine" type of scorpionfly and "general" type must be different species. After all, the alpine type exhibit shorter wings than the general type, and alpine type females also have very dark and distinct markings on their wings.
	Proper handling of fresh produce can reduce risk of foodborne illness Fresh produce is plentiful right now, but it's important to follow some safe-handling tips to help protect yourself and your family, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
	Camera traps reveal Romania's incredible wildlife Grey wolves, brown bears and Eurasian lynx have all been captured on film by camera traps in Romania. The camera traps were carefully positioned to monitor the distribution of bears and wolves, but Fauna & Flora International's (FFI) team in Romania was delighted by the diversity of species recorded in the area, which also included European wildcat, wild boar and red deer.
	Overfishing plus climate change equals threat to fisheries Overfishing plus climate change equals threat to fisheries
	2 rare Barbary lion cubs born in Czech zoo Two Barbary lion cubs have been born in a Czech zoo, a welcome addition to a small surviving population of a rare lion subspecies that has been extinct in the wild.

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