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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 6, 2020:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Astronomy & Space news
 | Scientists develop new method to detect oxygen on exoplanetsScientists have developed a new method for detecting oxygen in exoplanet atmospheres that may accelerate the search for life. |
 | Glitch detected in the pulsar PSR J0908−4913Using the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST), astronomers have detected a glitch in the radio pulsar PSR J0908−4913. The finding, detailed in a paper published December 18 on the arXiv preprint server, could be helpful in shedding more light on the properties and nature of this pulsar. |
 | In a nearby galaxy, a fast radio burst unravels more questions than answersFor more than a decade, astronomers across the globe have wrestled with the perplexities of fast radio bursts—intense, unexplained cosmic flashes of energy, light years away, that pop for mere milliseconds. |
 | Astronomers find wandering massive black holes in dwarf galaxiesAstronomers seeking to learn about the mechanisms that formed massive black holes in the early history of the Universe have gained important new clues with the discovery of 13 such black holes in dwarf galaxies less than a billion light-years from Earth. |
 | Simulated image demonstrates the power of NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey TelescopeImagine a fleet of 100 Hubble Space Telescopes, deployed in a strategic space-invader-shaped array a million miles from Earth, scanning the universe at warp speed. |
 | NASA's Great Observatories help astronomers build a 3-D visualization of exploded starIn the year 1054 AD, Chinese sky watchers witnessed the sudden appearance of a "new star" in the heavens, which they recorded as six times brighter than Venus, making it the brightest observed stellar event in recorded history. This "guest star," as they described it, was so bright that people saw it in the sky during the day for almost a month. Native Americans also recorded its mysterious appearance in petroglyphs. |
 | Astronomers detect first stars 'bubbling out' from the cosmic Dark AgesAstronomers using the Mayall telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory, a program of NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory, have identified several overlapping bubbles of hydrogen gas ionized by the stars in early galaxies, a mere 680 million years after the Big Bang. This is the earliest direct evidence from the period when the first generation of stars formed and began reionizing the hydrogen gas that permeated the universe. |
 | NASA's Hubble surveys gigantic galaxyGalaxies are like snowflakes. Though the universe contains innumerable galaxies flung across time and space, no two ever look alike. One of the most photogenic is the huge spiral galaxy UGC 2885, located 232 million light-years away in the northern constellation, Perseus. It's a whopper even by galactic standards. The galaxy is 2.5 times wider than our Milky Way and contains 10 times as many stars, about 1 trillion. This galaxy has lived a quiescent life by not colliding with other large galaxies. It has gradually bulked up on intergalactic hydrogen to make new stars at a slow and steady pace over many billions of years. The galaxy has been nicknamed "Rubin's galaxy," after astronomer Vera Rubin (1928—2016). Rubin used the galaxy to look for invisible dark matter. The galaxy is embedded inside a vast halo of dark matter. The amount of dark matter can be estimated by measuring its gravitational influence on the galaxy's rotation rate. |
 | The turbulent life of two supermassive black holes caught in a galaxy crashAn international team of astronomers used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to create the most detailed image yet of the gas surrounding two supermassive black holes in a merging galaxy. |
 | New evidence shows that the key assumption made in the discovery of dark energy is in errorThe most direct and strongest evidence for the accelerating universe with dark energy is provided by the distance measurements using type Ia supernovae (SN Ia) for the galaxies at high redshift. This result is based on the assumption that the corrected luminosity of SN Ia through the empirical standardization would not evolve with redshift. |
 | Astronomers spot distant galaxy group driving ancient cosmic makeoverAn international team of astronomers funded in part by NASA has found the farthest galaxy group identified to date. Called EGS77, the trio of galaxies dates to a time when the universe was only 680 million years old, or less than 5% of its current age of 13.8 billion years. |
 | Flying observatory maps the Milky WayA new panoramic image based on data captured by NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) shows the bustling center of our galaxy like it has never been seen before. |
 | New research looks at neutron star blastsX-ray bursts are highly energetic releases of radiation from the surfaces of neutron stars, triggered by the explosive burning of material accumulated on the surface. It's the same type of burning that happens in the cores of ordinary stars like the sun, but in this case, happening on the surface. Thus, unlike the sun, where it takes hundreds of thousands of years for this radiation to escape—and in a much weaker form—it happens almost instantly in an X-ray burst. This means that anything surrounding the neutron star is going to get blasted with radiation. |
 | Expert discusses clearest image known of a cluster of galaxies from 10 billion years agoUsing high-powered telescopes including NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, scientists from Canada, the United States and Denmark have captured the clearest image known of a cluster of galaxies from 10 billion years ago in a discovery that provides clues the universe was more evolved than previously thought. |
 | Image: Hubble sights galaxy's celestial sequinsThis smattering of celestial sequins is a spiral galaxy named NGC 4455, located in the northern constellation of Coma Berenices (Berenice's Hair). This might sound like an odd name for a constellation—and in fact it is somewhat unusual. It's the only modern constellation to be named in honor of a real person from history: Queen Berenice II of Egypt. |
 | NASA's SLS moon rocket readies for next pit stop on way to Kennedy Space CenterThe next rocket NASA wants to send to the moon is about to leave the house it was built in for a new home, but isn't quite ready for Kennedy Space Center. |
Technology news
 | Robotic architecture inspired by pelican eel: Origami unfolding and skin stretching mechanismsArtificial intelligence and robotics architectures are often inspired by patterns occurring in nature, both in humans and animals. Patterns of movement observed in animals have been replicated in robots via a number of shape-changing mechanisms such as chemical swelling, skin stretching or origami morphing. |
 | Research continues showing gains in DNA computingFor the uninitiated in biological computing, the ZDNet headline may have suggested a language processing experiment gone haywire: "Test tube DNA computer calculates the square root of 900." |
 | Robotic trunk support assists those with spinal cord injurySpinal cord injuries (SCI) can cause devastating damage, including loss of mobility and sensation. Every year, there are an estimated 17,000 new SCIs in the US alone, a rate higher than in most regions of the world. In addition, the rate of SCIs in people 65-years or older is expected to rise in the US, from 13.0% in 2010 to 16.1% by 2020. Data also shows a high survival rate for these patients, who need to function in everyday life but find sitting to be a major challenge. |
 | Bosch unveils smart virtual sun visor for cars at tech showBosch Sunday unveiled a virtual visor inspired by LCD televisions which uses AI to block the glare of the sun from a driver's eyes, a major cause of road accidents. |
 | Superfast 5G on the slow road at gadget galaIt will be revolutionary when superfast 5G mobile networks come to our gadgets, cars and digital lives. |
 | Tool predicts how fast code will run on a chipMIT researchers have invented a machine-learning tool that predicts how fast computer chips will execute code from various applications. |
 | CES Gadget Show: Toilet paper robot and tracking the elderlyA robot that can fetch toilet paper when you're stranded on the loo and services to keep track of the elderly from afar were among the technologies showcased this week at the annual CES gadget show in Las Vegas. |
 | Engineers design on-skin electronic device providing a personal air conditioner without needing electricityOne day, soldiers could cool down on the military battlefield—preventing heat stroke or exhaustion—by using "wearable air conditioning," an on-skin device designed by engineers at the University of Missouri. The device includes numerous human health care applications such as the ability to monitor blood pressure, electrical activity of the heart and the level of skin hydration. |
 | CEO Tim Cook sees pay ebb along with Apple performanceApple chief Tim Cook saw his annual pay slip to $11.6 million in 2019 after the company registered a weaker financial performance compared with the previous year, according to documents filed Friday. |
 | Hey Google, do you really record everything I say? Yes.Google says it only records interactions with connected devices like the Google Home speaker when we use the "wake word," of "Hey, Google," or "OK, Google." |
What to expect at CES 2020: Ivanka Trump, flying cars, sex toys and 8K TVs—oh my!Flying cars, sex toys, 8K TV, even Ivanka Trump. That's some of what to expect from the tech industry's annual pilgrimage to the desert. | |
 | Popular Mideast app accused of spying back on Google PlayThe popular UAE-developed mobile application ToTok has returned to the Google Play Store after it was removed on claims it was being used for government spying, the company said Saturday. |
 | Tesla aims to build 500,000 vehicles per year near BerlinTesla plans to build half a million electric vehicles a year at its future factory outside Berlin. |
Gym class without the gym? With technology, it's catching onGrace Brown's schedule at West Potomac High School in northern Virginia is filled with all the usual academics, and she's packed in Latin, chorus and piano as extras. | |
 | Austria's foreign ministry says facing 'serious cyber attack'Austria's foreign ministry is facing a "serious cyber attack", it said late Saturday, warning another country could be responsible. |
 | Insider Q&A: How YouTube decides what to banMatt Halprin, the global head of trust and safety for YouTube, has a tough job: He oversees the teams that decide what is allowed and what should be prohibited on YouTube. |
Amid tech turmoil, celebration at global electronics showThe Consumer Electronics Show opening Tuesday offers a chance to showcase the newest and shiniest gadgetry, looking past the turmoil engulfing the global technology industry. | |
 | CES gadget show: How watching TV will change in the 2020sWhat will watching TV be like in the 2020s? Amid new gadgets and glitz, the CES tech show in Las Vegas aims to offer some answers, many of which boil down to more streaming and more efforts to glue you to your phone. |
 | Record tech spending expected in US, show organizers sayConsumer technology spending is getting a boost from wearables, smart devices and streaming media services and should hit record levels in the United States this year, organizers of a major tech gathering said Sunday. |
 | Fully exploiting the potential of supercomputersAn EU initiative has designed and developed a computing platform based on a new memory technology. It will help improve the input/output (I/O) performance of high-performance computing (HPC) systems. |
 | Ontario can phase out nuclear and avoid increased carbon emissionsAs wind and solar energy have become cheaper, they've become a more prominent and important way to generate clean electricity in most parts of the world. |
 | As Digital Earth gains momentum, China is setting the paceAl Gore's 1992 forecast of a Digital Earth—where satellites beam data to reveal all the planet's environmental dynamics—has gained momentum with the publication of the Manual of Digital Earth last month. The major anthology is sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It's a mark of the importance China attaches to what is now a United Nations-led project named the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). |
 | UK car sales hit six-year low in 2019: industry bodyNew UK car sales sank in 2019 to a six-year low on weak demand for high-polluting diesels and amid Brexit uncertainty, an industry body said Monday. |
 | Plunging German car production heralds year of 'transformation'Carmakers built just 4.7 million cars in Germany in 2019, industry data showed Monday, squeezing production to its lowest level since 1997 as US-China trade tensions sapped vital foreign markets. |
 | Digitized faces reduce shoplifting risk at self-service checkoutsDigitised human-like faces at supermarket self-service checkouts may reduce the risk of shoplifting, according to an Abertay University study. |
 | Bitcoin's threat to the global financial system is probably at an end2020 could well be the year that the cryptocurrency dream dies. This is not to say that cryptocurrencies will die altogether—far from it. But to all the financial romantics who have cheered the rise of bitcoin and other digital currencies over the past decade, there is a reckoning coming. Like it or not, the vision of a world in which these currencies liberate money from the clutches of central banks and other corporate giants is fading rapidly. |
| Why Amazon, Google and Apple want to record youEvery person who brings a new Echo speaker from Amazon into their home gets automatically recorded every time they utter the "Alexa" wake word. |
 | Building a digital archive for decaying paper documentsPaper documents are still priceless records of the past, even in a digital world. Primary sources stored in local archives throughout Latin America, for example, describe a centuries-old multiethnic society grappling with questions of race, class and religion. |
Fisker's Ocean electric SUV will sell for $37,499, include Karaoke modeAmerican automaker Fisker provided more details on the price of its upcoming Ocean electric SUV, and unveiled new features such as a karaoke mode. | |
 | CES Gadget Show: Surveillance is in—and in a big wayFrom the face scanner that will check in some attendees to the cameras-everywhere array of digital products, the CES gadget show is all-in on surveillance technology—whether it calls it that or not. |
 | Amazon revs up auto ambitions with in-car TV, Alexa integrationAmazon unveiled plans Monday to be a bigger player in the auto sector, announcing partnerships that will put its Fire TV platform in vehicles and offer more services through its Alexa digital assistant. |
 | Ring-shaped container for better canned foodCanning is a sustainable way of storing food, but the method requires a lot of energy and water and can affect food quality. A newly developed can with a different shape may be the solution that makes canned food of the future more attractive. |
 | How to exploit the potential of a meshed offshore grid through harmonized regulationOffshore wind power's expansion is expected to continue, boosting efforts to decarbonize energy systems as it becomes a growing part of electricity supply. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global offshore wind market grew about 30 percent per year between 2010 and 2018. The IEA predicts that "global offshore wind capacity may increase 15-fold and attract around $1 trillion of cumulative investment by 2040," as stated in a news release. The IEA notes that "Europe has pioneered offshore wind technology, and the region is positioned to be the powerhouse of its future development." In its key findings from Offshore Wind Outlook 2019, the IEA states: "The growth of the offshore wind industry has been fostered in European countries bordering the North Seas, where high quality wind resources and relatively shallow water have provided exceptionally good conditions in which to develop offshore wind technologies and bring them to market." Parallel to this growth, an offshore power grid is also developing in the North Sea. |
 | Solid 2019 US auto sales underscore consumer strengthUS auto sales in 2019 dipped slightly from the prior year, but still demonstrated an underlying resilience as large vehicles strengthened their stranglehold over the market. |
Medicine & Health news
 | Music evokes 13 key emotions. Scientists have mapped themThe "Star-Spangled Banner" stirs pride. Ed Sheeran's "The Shape of You" sparks joy. And "ooh là là!" best sums up the seductive power of George Michael's "Careless Whispers." |
 | Some genetic sequencing fail to analyze large segments of DNAChildren who undergo expansive genetic sequencing may not be getting the thorough DNA analysis their parents were expecting, say experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center. |
 | New imaging system and artificial intelligence algorithm accurately identify brain tumorsA novel method of combining advanced optical imaging with an artificial intelligence algorithm produces accurate, real-time intraoperative diagnosis of brain tumors, a new study finds. |
 | New marathon runners reduced blood pressure, arterial stiffness equivalent to a 4-year reduction in vascular ageThe new year means it's time to set resolutions for 2020 and new research from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests running a marathon for the first time could have several health benefits. The study found that for first-time marathon runners, training and completion of the marathon was associated with reductions in blood pressure and aortic stiffening in healthy participants that were equivalent to a four-year reduction in vascular age, with the greatest benefits seen in older, slower male marathon runners with higher baseline blood pressure. |
 | Severe childhood deprivation has longstanding impacts on brain size in adulthoodResearchers from King's College London have shown that the brains of young adult Romanian adoptees who were institutionalised as children are around 8.6% smaller than the brains of English adoptees who have not suffered this form of deprivation. |
 | Adolescents' view of family social standing correlates with mental health, life outcomesYoung people's view of their family's social status was more strongly associated with their mental health and readiness for future education and work than how much money, education or occupational prestige their parents have, according to new research led by the University of California, Irvine. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that by age 18, youths who rated their family as having a higher place in society had fewer difficulties negotiating the transition to adulthood, independent of the objective position of the family. |
 | Therapy at home helping people with dementiaReceiving occupational therapy at home has been found to be effective for people living with dementia, according to a University of Queensland-led study. |
 | The pursuit of happiness can end up leading to depression—if you're from the UK or USAFocusing too much on the need to enjoy experiences may be contributing to depressive symptoms according to a new study. |
 | Two genes slow down the development of intestinal tumorsBenign intestinal tumors with mutations that delete or inactivate two particular tumor-suppressing genes develop more quickly towards cancerous forms, according to new research from the Crick. |
 | Scientists map cancer-related proteins in unprecedented detailResearchers have gained new understandings of two key complexes of cancer-related proteins by producing the most detailed ever maps of the structures they form when they come together. |
 | Removing body clock gene protects mice against pneumoniaRemoving the clock gene BMAL1 makes bacteria-engulfing defense cells in the body more effective, a University of Manchester and University of Oxford study published in the journal PNAS has found. |
 | Researchers suggest a pathway to reverse the genetic defect of Friedreich's ataxiaScientists at Tufts University have identified a molecular mechanism that could reverse the genetic defect responsible for Friedreich's ataxia, a neurodegenerative disease that leaves its victims with difficulty walking, a loss of sensation in the arms and legs and impaired speech caused by degeneration of nerve tissue in the spinal cord. The researchers report today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that the genetic anomaly that causes the disease—the multiple repetition of a three letter DNA sequence—could potentially be reversed by enhancing a natural process that contracts the repetitive sequences in living tissue. |
 | Epilepsy study shows link between brain activity and memoryA new Cedars-Sinai study reveals how memory and abnormal brain activity are linked in patients with epilepsy who often report problems with memory. The data show that abnormal electrical pulses from specific brain cells in these patients are associated with a temporary kind of memory disruption called transient cognitive impairment. |
 | Step toward 'ink' development for 3-D printing a bioprosthetic ovaryFor the first time, scientists identified and mapped the location of structural proteins in a pig ovary. Ongoing development of an "ink" with these proteins will be used for 3-D printing an artificial (or bio-prosthetic) ovary that could be implanted and allow a woman to have a child. Findings were recently published in Scientific Reports. |
 | Hong Kong steps up response to mystery disease from ChinaHong Kong authorities activated a newly created "serious response" level Saturday as fears spread about a mysterious infectious disease that may have been brought back by visitors to a mainland Chinese city. |
 | 3-D tattoo device aids with nipple reconstruction(HealthDay)—A new device allows plastic surgeons to perform three-dimensional nipple tattoos as part of breast reconstruction, according to a study published in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. |
 | U.S. saw big rise in meth, fentanyl use in 2019(HealthDay)—A study of over 1 million urine drug tests from across the United States shows soaring rates of use of methamphetamines and fentanyl, often used together in potentially lethal ways. |
 | Severe hypoglycemia in seniors with T1DM may worsen cognition(HealthDay)—Both recent severe hypoglycemia (SH) and lifetime SH are associated with worse cognition among older adults with type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online Dec. 27 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Peripheral nervous system events not common in lupus(HealthDay)—Peripheral nervous system (PNS) disease is a component of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity and has a significant negative impact on health-related quality of life, according to a study published in the January issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology. |
 | New continuous glucose monitor may cut hypoglycemia in T1DM(HealthDay)—Intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) results in higher treatment satisfaction among adults with type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online Dec. 24 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Treating oral disease could yield T2DM-related cost savings(HealthDay)—Providing nonsurgical periodontal treatment to patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and periodontitis may significantly reduce tooth loss and diabetes-related microvascular diseases via improved glycemic control, according to a study published online Dec. 27 in Diabetes Care. |
 | Coffee consumption does not affect insulin sensitivity(HealthDay)—Consumption of four cups of coffee daily does not impact insulin sensitivity, according to a study published online Dec. 31 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. |
 | Routine HPV testing may be warranted for sinonasal cancers(HealthDay)—Only one in four patients with sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma (SNSCC) is tested for human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Cancer. |
 | Donor heart acceptance practices vary across transplant centers(HealthDay)—There is great variability in donor heart acceptance decisions among U.S. transplant centers, according to a study published online Dec. 27 in the American Journal of Transplantation. |
 | In a 24/7 food culture, periodic fasting gains followersOn low-carb diets, meat and cheese are OK. |
 | China rules out SARS in mystery viral pneumonia outbreakChina on Sunday said a mysterious viral pneumonia outbreak that has affected 59 people was not the flu-like virus SARS that killed hundreds more than a decade ago. |
 | A new link between fear, imitation, and antisocial behavior in childrenWhy do some children have more difficulties understanding others' emotions or feeling sorry after misbehaving? Why do some act out in certain situations and behave in others? How should adults respond in these circumstances? |
 | Cannabis edibles present novel health risksWith the recent legalization of cannabis edibles in Canada, physicians and the public must be aware of the novel risks of cannabis edibles, argue authors in a commentary in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). |
New frailty index may help determine adverse outcomes in older patients after hospital dischargeA new frailty index shows promise in determining how acute illness affects functional ability in older patients admitted to hospital, according to a new study in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) co-led by researchers from Dalhousie University, Canada, and University College London (UCL), United Kingdom. | |
 | Complex Innovative Trials: New guideline adoption could get medicines to patients fasterComplex Innovative Design (CID) trials could be transformed for the better, following the publication of recommendations, published today in the British Journal of Cancer (Monday). |
 | Insufficient home care the biggest challenge to overcome after release from hospitalPatients and caregivers from diverse backgrounds across Ontario consistently prioritized insufficient publicly-funded home care services as the gap in the health system that most needed to be addressed to improve their experience going home from hospital, according to research led by St. Michael's Hospital of Unity Health Toronto. |
 | Families of children with autism face physical, mental and social burdensFamilies of children with autism face high physical, mental and emotional burdens, are sometimes ridiculed and even accused of child abuse, according to a Rutgers study. |
 | Fast action and the right resources are key to treating fulminant myocarditisThe resources needed to treat fulminant myocarditis—severe, inflammation of the heart that develops rapidly—are outlined in a new Scientific Statement (Statement) from the American Heart Association on how best to reduce fatalities from this rare condition. The Statement is published today in the Association's premier cardiovascular journal Circulation. |
Young women still may be getting unnecessary pelvic examsPelvic examinations and cervical cancer screenings are no longer recommended for most females under age 21 during routine health visits, but a new study has found that millions of young women are unnecessarily undergoing the tests, which can lead to false-positive testing, over-treatment, anxiety and needless cost. | |
 | Don't wait to get concussion care; early treatment may mean faster recoveryEarly clinical treatment may significantly reduce recovery time following a concussion, according to new research led by the University of Pittsburgh Sports Medicine Concussion Program. |
 | False negatives: Delayed Zika effects in babies who appeared normal at birthColombian infants exposed to Zika virus in the womb showed neurodevelopmental delays as toddlers, despite having "normal" brain imaging and head circumference at birth, a finding that underscores the importance of long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up for Zika-exposed infants, according to a study published online Jan. 6, 2020, in JAMA Pediatrics. |
 | Having a baby may cost some families $4,500 out-of-pocketOne of the most expensive parts of having a baby may involve the birth itself, a new Michigan Medicine study suggests. |
 | Older adults use online physician ratings, but view them cautiously, poll showsFind a restaurant. Book a hotel. Choose a product to buy. Online ratings and reviews from other customers can help with making decisions on all of these, and their use has exploded in the past decade. |
 | Cancer drugs could potentially treat the lung inflammation causing COPDNew research has shown the potential for clinically available cancer treatments to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). |
 | What is CBD and what are its health benefits?Increasingly, products containing cannabidiol, or CBD, a chemical component of cannabis, are popping up at grocery stores, gas stations, drugstores, and internet marketplaces. Celebrated for its purported therapeutic effects and legal when derived from hemp—a form of the cannabis plant—CBD can be found in shampoos, hand lotions, skin creams, and even dog treats. Far-reaching medical claims tout its success at treating various conditions such as anxiety, acne, insomnia, addiction, inflammation, and Parkinson's disease. |
 | Prison sentence for creator of first CRISPR babies reignites ethical debateA month ago, there were countless commentaries on the one-year anniversary of the news that Chinese researcher He Jiankui had created the world's first genome-edited twins. |
 | 4-and-a-half myths about sunscreen and why they're wrongMany Australians are reluctant to use sunscreen, even though it's an important element in preventing the skin cancers that affect about two in three of us at some time in our lives. |
 | Sights set on solving problem smokingA new approach to support long-term smokers to quit will be trialled in South Australia this year, building on a decade of research into finding solutions to tobacco addiction. |
 | 2017 San Diego wildfire increased pediatric ER visits for breathing problemsA small wildfire in San Diego County in 2017 resulted in a big uptick in children visiting the emergency room for breathing problems, according to new research published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society. |
 | Six things you can do to keep safe from bushfire smokeFor the second time this week, Canberra is the world's worst city for air pollution as it is blanketed by smoke and hazardous haze from the ongoing bushfire crisis. |
 | Bioethics expert calls for research into genetically modified babiesThe creation of genetically modified babies is not only ethically justifiable but "highly desirable," according to academic research from a leading UK bioethicist. |
 | Exercising in very cold weather could harm lungs over time, researcher cautionsPeople who enjoy exercising outside during winter need to be wary of the effects plunging temperatures can have on their lungs, according to a University of Alberta cold-weather exercise physiologist. |
 | The mental health crisis on campus and how colleges can fix itWhen college students seek help for a mental health issue on campus—something they are doing more often—the place they usually go is the college counseling center. |
 | Half of women with heart failure get the wrong treatmentMore women than men die of heart failure. The reason is that only 50 percent of the heart failure cases among women are caused by having a heart attack, which can be treated with modern methods. |
 | Commercial weight management groups could support women to manage their weight after giving birthWomen who were overweight at the start of their pregnancy would welcome support after they have given birth in the form of commercial weight management groups, University of Warwick-led research has found. |
 | Boys who are bullied online may have more risky sexA collaboration of researchers at Louisiana State University, University of Missouri, and University of Tennessee found that peer victimization is associated with adverse psychological and behavioral problems, including depression and risky health behaviors such as substance use and unprotected sex with multiple partners. In 2015, approximately one-third of high school students in the US reported having sex recently. Of these, 43 percent had not used a condom, 21 percent had drunk alcohol or used drugs before sexual intercourse, and 14 percent had not used any contraception. |
 | How employers can help cancer survivors return to workWhen I lost a relative to cancer in the late 1970s, people usually viewed a cancer diagnosis with horror. At the time, many treatments were both brutal and unsuccessful. Only 24% of patients survived ten years after treatment. But when I received my own cancer diagnosis over 40 years later, it felt rather different. Now, with screenings, early diagnosis, and better surgery techniques, survival rates have improved significantly. |
 | Aspirin appears to curb colorectal cancer recurrence and tumor growth, study findsThe benefits of a daily aspirin may extend beyond heart health to colorectal cancer treatment, say City of Hope researchers who have found aspirin appears to reduce tumor growth and inhibit recurrence of the disease. |
 | Sleep difficulties in children with autism caused by shallower brain wavesChildren with autism have more significant sleep difficulties caused by shallower brain waves than typically developing children, according to researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU). The study was reported in Sleep, the premier journal in the field. |
 | Millennials have worse health than Generation X, and they'll pay more for care, too, report saysMillennials are on track to be in poorer health than the previous generation, and Ohio medical experts warn that the trend could translate into higher health care costs and shorter lives. |
 | Priceless cure for baby cost $2.1 million, but insurer paid and now she's expected to liveFour-month-old Ainsley Cardente smiles, enjoys "helicopter" rides from her mom and protests when lunch is late. Perfectly ordinary, all of it. And her life is expected to remain that way thanks to a $2.1 million drug recently infused into her little body by doctors from Johns Hopkins Hospital. |
 | Home remedies: high blood pressure and cold remediesOver-the-counter cold remedies aren't off-limits if you have high blood pressure, but it's important to make careful choices. |
 | Mindfulness makes it easier to forget your fearsMindfulness has previously been shown to help people handle negative emotions and is used as a treatment for anxiety related psychological disorders, but the underlying biological mechanisms are not fully understood. In a new study, published in Scientific Reports, researchers at University of Southern Denmark, among other universities, show that brief daily mindfulness training delivered through the HEADSPACE mindfulness app makes it easier to achieve lasting extinction of fear reactions. |
 | Processed foods highly correlated with obesity epidemic in the USAs food consumed in the U.S. becomes more and more processed, obesity may become more prevalent. Through reviewing overall trends in food, George Washington University (GW) researcher Leigh A. Frame, Ph.D., MHS, concluded that detailed recommendations to improve diet quality and overall nutrition are needed for consumers, who are prioritizing food that is cheaper and more convenient, but also highly processed. Her conclusions are published in a review article in Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology. |
 | One-cycle cisplatin seems safe for high-risk early testicular cancer(HealthDay)—For high-risk stage 1 nonseminoma germ cell tumors of the testis (NSGCTT), one cycle of adjuvant bleomycin, etoposide (500 mg/m²), and cisplatin (BE500P) is safe, resulting in a two-year malignant recurrence (MR) rate of 1.3 percent, similar to that reported for two cycles of BE360P, according to a study published online Jan. 1 in European Urology. |
 | Twelfth-grade binge drinking linked to risky driving practices(HealthDay)—Twelfth-grade binge drinking predicts early adulthood risky driving practices and high-risk drinking in early adulthood, according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Pediatrics. |
 | Statins may do double duty on heart disease and cancerAbout 40 million adults in the U.S. take a statin to lower their cholesterol and reduce the risk for heart disease. They might also be getting an added anti-cancer benefit, a growing body of evidence suggests. |
 | Opioid use by teens a red flag for other dangers(HealthDay)—Teenagers who've experimented with opioid painkillers are likely to be taking other health risks, a new study finds. |
 | Study explores factors affecting glycemic control in T1DM(HealthDay)—Patients with type 1 diabetes with optimal and suboptimal glycemic control differ with respect to clinical and health care utilization factors, according to a study published online Dec. 2 in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism. |
 | Plasticizers may contribute to motor control problems in girlsScientists at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health (CCCEH) have uncovered a link between prenatal exposure to phthalates—a ubiquitous group of plasticizers and odor-enhancing chemicals—and deficits in motor function in girls. Phthalates are widely used in consumer products from plastic toys to household building materials to shampoos and are thought to disrupt endocrine function, and possibly interfere with brain development in utero. |
 | Gene therapy shown to offer long-term benefits for people with Haemophilia AA breakthrough gene therapy treatment for Haemophilia A has been shown to offer long-term benefits that have already transformed the lives of 13 men in the UK. |
Study finds 80% of medical students feel low sense of personal achievementDespite the prestige of becoming a physician, 80 percent of medical students report a low sense of personal achievement, according to a new study in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. | |
 | Progesterone from an unexpected source may affect miscarriage riskAbout twenty percent of confirmed pregnancies end in miscarriage, most often in the first trimester, for reasons ranging from infection to chromosomal abnormality. But some women have recurrent miscarriages, a painful process that points to underlying issues. Clinical studies have been uneven, but some evidence shows that for women with a history of recurrent miscarriage, taking progesterone early in a pregnancy might moderately improve these women's chances of carrying a pregnancy to term. |
New research may lead to increased use of available hearts for transplantA new study provides hope that the number of children dying on the transplantation list while waiting for a new heart could potentially be reduced dramatically. | |
 | JUUL delivers substantially more nicotine than previous generation e-cigs and cigarettes: studyJUUL delivers substantially more nicotine to the blood per puff than cigarettes or previous-generation e-cigarettes (e-cigs) and impairs blood vessel function comparable to cigarette smoke, according to a new study by researchers at UC San Francisco. |
 | Technique is almost 86 percent effective in preventing maternal death from hemorrhagingAccording to the World Health Organization's latest statistics, from 2017, more than 800 women around the world die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth—the vast majority of them in resource-poor areas. The leading reason is postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which accounts for 27 percent of maternal mortality and occurs to some degree in five to seven percent of all deliveries. |
 | New study unravels the complexity of childhood obesityThe World Health Organization has estimated more than 340 million children and adolescents ages 5-19 are overweight or obese, and the epidemic has been linked to more deaths worldwide than those caused by being underweight. |
 | Vaping lung injury symptoms have been reported online for at least seven yearsA team of researchers at the University of California, Riverside, used automated computer methods to mine a large online discussion forum for electronic cigarette users and found this group reported numerous adverse health effects for at least seven years. |
| Blood pressure control for people aged 80 and older: What's the right target?The number of people who are 80-years-old and older is on the rise, and will account for nearly 10 percent of the whole U.S. population by 2050. Since the lifetime chance for developing high blood pressure is at least 70 percent by age 80, more and more people will be at risk for the health problems that high blood pressure can cause. |
Patients with VA coverage less likely than other insured Americans to skip medicationThe rising price of prescription drugs has led to a slew of proposals to lower costs and expand access to medications. However, a new study from researchers at Harvard Medical School and the City University of New York at Hunter College suggests that an effective reform model already exists: the pharmacy benefit of the Veterans Health Administration, commonly known as the VA. Researchers found that VA patients are significantly less likely than other insured Americans to go without needed medications, skip doses, or delay filling prescriptions because they are unable to afford them. The study found that VA coverage also reduced racial and economic disparities in prescription drug access. | |
New study suggests cautions about antipsychotic medications for hospitalized older adultsDelirium (sudden confusion or a rapid change in mental state) remains a serious challenge for our health care system. Delirium affects 15 to 26 percent of hospitalized older adults and can be particularly problematic because those experiencing the condition may interfere with medical care or directly harm themselves or others. Besides behavioral therapy and physical restraints, antipsychotic medicines are among the few therapeutic options healthcare providers can use to ease delirium and protect patients and caregivers—but antipsychotics also come with risks of their own. | |
 | Free handouts of cannabis oil at Bangkok medical marijuana clinicA medical clinic in Bangkok opened Monday offering free cannabis oil to hundreds of Thais seeking relief from cancer, insomnia and muscle pain as the government drives home the economic and health benefits of their gamble of marijuana. |
 | Researcher discovers peanut allergy mechanism in the intestinesPeanut allergens cross a model of the gut lining, causing it to leak, new research by Dr. Dwan Price from Deakin University in Victoria has revealed. |
 | Antibodies gather and form a circle for defensive attackAntibodies play a crucial role in our immune system by linking antigen recognition with complement activation for attacking foreign cells. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy, collaborative groups, including researchers at National Institutes of Natural Sciences and Nagoya City University, have successfully visualized the dynamic process of antigen-mediated interplay between antibodies and a complement component on membranes. Their findings provide mechanistic insights into the molecular processes behind Guillain-Barré syndrome. |
 | Cumulative overweight pregnancies increase risk of maternal midlife obesityNot only is excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) associated with increased long-term maternal weight, but a new study has shown that there is a cumulative effect of excessive GWG over multiple pregnancies. The study, which analyzed the effect of the number of excessive GWG pregnancies on body mass index (BMI) at midlife, is published in Journal of Women's Health. |
Nerve stimulation may benefit women with fibromyalgiaA treatment involving electrical nerve stimulation helped women with fibromyalgia in a recent clinical trial. The findings are published in Arthritis & Rheumatology. | |
Biology news
 | Collaborative conservation approach for endangered reef fish yields dramatic resultsA new study from researchers at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego has documented a successful recovery effort among Nassau Grouper populations in the Cayman Islands thanks to an approach involving government agencies, academic researchers, and nonprofit organizations. |
 | New metabolic pathway discovered in rumen microbiomeCows can adapt themselves to a fluctuating sodium content in their feed. How they do that was so far a secret. Researchers from Goethe University have now discovered a bacterium in the microbiome of the rumen which has a new type of cell respiration. |
 | Researchers united on international road map to insect recoveryIt's no secret that many insects are struggling worldwide. But we could fix these insects' problems, according to more than 70 scientists from 21 countries. Their road map to insect conservation and recovery is published in Nature Ecology & Evolution this week. From urgent 'no-regret' solutions to long-term global comparisons. |
 | Dogs and wolves are both good at cooperatingA team of researchers have found that dogs and wolves are equally good at cooperating with partners to obtain a reward. When tested in same-species pairs, dogs and wolves proved equally successful and efficient at solving a given problem. This finding suggests that basic cooperation abilities were present in a common ancestor of dogs and wolves, and have not been lost in the domestication process. |
 | Study shows animal life thriving around FukushimaNearly a decade after the nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, researchers from the University of Georgia have found that wildlife populations are abundant in areas void of human life. |
 | Genes controlling mycorrhizal colonization discovered in soybeanLike most plants, soybeans pair up with soil fungi in a symbiotic mycorrhizal relationship. In exchange for a bit of sugar, the fungus acts as an extension of the root system to pull in more phosphorus, nitrogen, micronutrients, and water than the plant could on its own. |
 | Illegal hunting and bushmeat trade threatens biodiversity and wildlife of AngolaHunting wild animals has been practised by humans for millions of years; however, the extraction of wildlife for subsistence and commercialisation has become a major biodiversity threat in recent decades. Meanwhile, over-exploitation is reported to be the second most important driver of change and biodiversity loss globally. |
 | Counting whales from space pitched as key to saving themAn aquarium and an engineering firm in Massachusetts are partnering on a project to better protect whales by monitoring them from space. |
 | Bushfires have reshaped life on Earth before—they could do it againThe catastrophic bushfires raging across much of Australia have not only taken a huge human and economic toll, but also delivered heavy blows to biodiversity and ecosystem function. |
 | Before you hit 'share' on that cute animal photo, consider the harm it can causeLimbani the chimpanzee has about 650,000 Instagram followers. In recent months the account has featured viral photos and videos of the captive young ape playing the guitar, bouncing on a trampoline and wearing a giant banana costume. |
 | Drones effective tools for fruit farmersPeople have used the phrase "drone on and on" for a long time. Webster's dictionary defines this figure of speech as "to speak for a long time in a dull voice without saying anything interesting." |
Eggs from endangered sea turtle stolen from Thai beachA community in southern Thailand has offered a reward for catching whoever stole dozens of unhatched eggs of an endangered turtle species. | |
 | LD Motif Finder locates ancient hidden protein patternsAn iterative machine learning approach has identified elusive 800 million-year-old amino acid patterns that are responsible for facilitating protein interactions. |
 | Protecting two key regions in Belize could save threatened jaguar, say scientistsScientists studying one of the largest populations of jaguars in Central Belize have identified several wildlife corridors that should be protected to help the species survival. The study, led by the American Museum of Natural History and the University of Bristol and published in BMC Genetics, provide a new insight into where conservation efforts should be concentrated. |
 | Indonesian arrested selling Sumatran tiger skinAn Indonesian caught trying to sell the skin of a critically endangered Sumatran tiger has been arrested, police said Monday, highlighting the problem of animal trafficking in the Southeast Asian country. |
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