Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Jan 15

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 15, 2020:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Precise measurements find a crack in universal physics

Shrinking dinosaurs and the evolution of endothermy in birds

Building materials come alive with help from bacteria

Researchers demonstrate first stable semiconductor neutron detector

Transparency discovered in crystals with ultrahigh piezoelectricity

Astronomers discover class of strange objects near our galaxy's enormous black hole

Researchers gain control over internal structure of self-assembled composite materials

Beach-combing Neanderthals dove for shells

V473 Lyr has a low-mass companion, study suggests

Analyzing DNA in soil could be an effective way of tracking animals

Having less sex linked to earlier menopause

Animals reduce the symmetry of their markings to improve camouflage

What keeps couples together

Researchers use game theory to help policy makers create liability rules for accidents involving self-driving cars

In mice, alcohol dependence results in brain-wide remodeling of functional architecture

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers discover class of strange objects near our galaxy's enormous black hole Astronomers from UCLA's Galactic Center Orbits Initiative have discovered a new class of bizarre objects at the center of our galaxy, not far from the supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A*. They published their research today in the journal Nature.
	V473 Lyr has a low-mass companion, study suggests Using ESA's XMM-Newton spacecraft, astronomers have conducted X-ray observations of a peculiar Cepheid variable star known as V473 Lyr. Results of the study suggest that this star has a young, low-mass companion. The finding is detailed in a paper published January 7 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
	Astronomers reveal interstellar thread of one of life's building blocks Phosphorus, present in our DNA and cell membranes, is an essential element for life as we know it. But how it arrived on the early Earth is something of a mystery. Astronomers have now traced the journey of phosphorus from star-forming regions to comets using the combined powers of ALMA and the European Space Agency's probe Rosetta. Their research shows, for the first time, where molecules containing phosphorus form, how this element is carried in comets, and how a particular molecule may have played a crucial role in starting life on our planet.
	Huygens landing spin mystery solved Fifteen years ago today, ESA's Huygens probe made history when it descended to the surface of Saturn's moon Titan and became the first probe to successfully land on another world in the outer solar system. However, during its descent, the probe began spinning the wrong way—and recent tests now reveal why.
	Active asteroid unveils fireball identity At around 1 a.m. local standard time on April 29, 2017, a fireball flew over Kyoto, Japan. Compared to other fireballs spotted from Earth, it was relatively bright and slow. Now, scientists have determined not only what the fireball was, but also where it came from.
	Astronaut completes spacewalk without helmet camera, lights (Update) Spacewalking astronauts had to make do with fewer lights and camera views from one helmet Wednesday while performing critical battery work outside the International Space Station.
	Taking the temperature of dark matter Warm, cold, just right? Physicists at the University of California, Davis are taking the temperature of dark matter, the mysterious substance that makes up about a quarter of our universe.
	Plant-powered sensor sends signal to space A device that uses electricity generated by plants as its power source has communicated via satellite—a world first.
	Putting the universe under the telescope We humans are a curious, questing lot, and the 2020s will see us continue to observe the universe around us, trying to understand more about fundamental particles, forces, objects and relationships from both ground and space-based instruments.
	X-60A program conducts integrated vehicle propulsion system verification test The Air Force Research Laboratory's X-60A program recently achieved a key developmental milestone with the completion of integrated vehicle propulsion system verification ground testing.

Technology news

	Researchers use game theory to help policy makers create liability rules for accidents involving self-driving cars A recent decision by the National Transpiration Safety Board (NTSB) on the March 2018 Uber crash that killed a pedestrian in Arizona split the blame among Uber, the company's autonomous vehicle (AV), the safety driver in the vehicle, the victim, and the state of Arizona. With the advent of self-driving cars, the NTSB findings raise a number of questions about the uncertainty in today's legal liability system. In an accident involving an AV and a human driver, who is liable? If both are liable, how should the accident loss be apportioned between them?
	Carriers' insecure procedures make life easy for SIM swap tricksters So, you have confidence that you are safe from attackers who wreak havoc with authentication weaknesses? Think again or at least consider recent research findings. Five carriers used insecure authentication challenges—insecurity that attackers could leverage in mischievous SIM swap attempts.
	Google claims its 'nowcast' short-term weather predictions are more accurate than advanced models A team of researchers working at Google's Mountain View research center has developed a deep-learning-based weather forecasting tool for predicting short-term weather events. They have written a paper describing their "nowcasting tool," and have uploaded it to the arXiv preprint server. They have also published a news piece describing their work on the Google AI Blog.
	Pinterest pops past Snapchat in US Shares in Pinterest popped on Tuesday after a market tracker reported that the online bulletin board surpassed Snapchat to become the third most used social media platform in the US.
	Resale ticket markets benefit sports teams and fans New research co-authored by Yanwen Wang, an assistant professor in the UBC Sauder School of Business, reveals that the resale ticket market also appeals to sports fans who normally buy season tickets.
	London heads European investment in tech sector: study Investment in tech across Europe reached a record level in 2019, according to a study published on Wednesday, with London maintaining the number one spot despite Brexit uncertainties.
	Amazon reinstates FedEx for some Prime deliveries Amazon said Tuesday it was bringing back FedEx for deliveries of some of its Prime orders sold through third parties after banning the freight service during the holiday period.
	Five noteworthy electric vehicles to buy in 2020 Your options for a new electric vehicle in 2020 are more diverse than ever. There will be an EV for nearly every vehicle type. But increased choice also makes it harder to choose. Edmunds has selected five top EVs that you'll want to consider.
	Tech firms are winning the AI race because they understand data better than other sectors Artificial intelligence is already powering much of the technology helping to drive the modern economy. AI is now an essential part of how we use the internet but can also be found in stock exchanges, advanced factories and automated warehouses. It is starting to drive our cars and even vacuum our floors. And yet only a fraction of companies which stand to significantly benefit from AI are exploiting this approach to help deliver their products and services.
	How we consume electricity has changed dramatically in the past 20 years It's been more than two decades since Britain's retail electricity market was opened to full competition in 1999. Before that, retail supply was provided by state-owned entities with regional monopolies. Today, all consumers, including households and businesses, are able to "shop around" for their electricity, switching to a different supplier or tariff to take advantage of better prices and services.
	Bike share programs are on the rise, yet the gender gap persists It's no secret that there is a significant gender gap in cycling in North American cities. According to the American Community Survey, women make up less than one-third (28 percent) of commuters who regularly bicycle to work in the United States.
	EU legal opinion: mass data retention at odds with EU law A legal adviser at the European Union's highest court said Wednesday that the bloc's data protection rules should prevent member states from indiscriminately holding personal data seized from Internet and phone companies, even when intelligence agencies claim that national security is at stake.
	Who is taking and selling your personal data? Washington state lawmakers work to give people more of a say Washington lawmakers are making another push to pass privacy regulations that govern companies' collection and sale of people's private digital information.
	Software detects backdoor attacks on facial recognition As the U.S. Army increasingly uses facial and object recognition to train artificial intelligent systems to identify threats, the need to protect its systems from cyberattacks becomes essential.
	Does the naked body belong on Facebook? It's complicated When is a photograph of nude bodies artistic or titillating? A woman's exposed nipple a political statement or erotica?
	Amazon tycoon Bezos flies into internet trading storm in India Angry Indian street traders vowed Wednesday to stage protests against the world's richest man Jeff Bezos as the Amazon tycoon started a visit just as authorities launched an anti-trust investigation into e-commerce giants.
	To stop sign stealing, MLB could fight tech with more tech If Major League Baseball really wants to stop its teams from electronically stealing signs, it might consider fighting technology with more technology.
	Bezos promises $1 billion in bid to see off Indian e-commerce storm Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos promised Wednesday a new billion-dollar investment in India, just two days after authorities launched an anti-trust investigation into the e-commerce giant.
	Breakthrough results with high-power laser technology to transform electric vehicles The northern lights are shining extra-bright in Tampere Finland this month as a major step forward in amplifying the power of lasers was achieved.
	British Airways owner files EU complaint over Flybe rescue British Airways-parent IAG on Wednesday filed a formal complaint to Brussels over the British government's last-minute financial rescue of struggling no-frills carrier Flybe.
	Turkey lifts ban on Wikipedia A Turkish court on Wednesday lifted a ban on Wikipedia after almost three years.
	A smart way to predict building energy consumption In a time of aging infrastructure and increasingly smart control of buildings, the ability to predict how buildings use energy—and how much energy they use—has remained elusive, until now.
	Designing better nursing care with robots Robots are becoming an increasingly important part of human care, according to researchers based in Japan. To help improve the safety and efficacy of robotic care, the scientists have developed a control method that could help robots better replicate human movement when lifting and moving a patient. They published their results in IEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica.
	Ahead in the clouds: Alibaba plans to change the Olympics Alibaba's promise to the Olympic family is to bring its technological might to help organizers, broadcasters and fans.

Medicine & Health news

	Having less sex linked to earlier menopause Women who engage in sexual activity weekly or monthly have a lower risk of entering menopause early relative to those who report having some form of sex less than monthly, according to a new UCL study.
	In mice, alcohol dependence results in brain-wide remodeling of functional architecture Employing advanced technologies that allow whole brain imaging at single-cell resolution, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that in an alcohol-dependent mouse model, the rodent brain's functional architecture is substantially remodeled. But when deprived of alcohol, the mice displayed increased coordinated brain activity and reduced modularity compared to nondrinker or casual drinker mice.
	Heterogeneity of liver cancer cells helps explain tumor progression in patients Many liver cancer tumors contain a highly diverse set of cells, a phenomenon known as intra-tumor heterogeneity that can significantly affect the rate at which the cancer grows, Mount Sinai researchers report. The immune system's contribution to this heterogeneity can have major clinical implications.
	Fat accumulation in the liver can affect the heart in otherwise healthy adults Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) often develops silently without any symptoms. It is usually detected incidentally on a routine abdominal exam like ultrasounds or similar tests administered for unrelated reasons. It may have life-threatening consequences if not controlled in a timely manner. Unfortunately, many people around the globe have never even heard of the disease.
	B-cell enrichment predictive of immunotherapy response in melanoma, sarcoma and kidney cancer The likelihood of a patient responding to immune checkpoint blockade may depend on B cells in the tumor, located within specialized immune-cell clusters known as tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS), according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	Scientists breach brain barriers to attack tumors The brain is a sort of fortress, equipped with barriers designed to keep out dangerous pathogens. But protection comes at a cost: These barriers interfere with the immune system when faced with dire threats such glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumor for which there are few effective treatments.
	Gut bacteria hold clues to improving mental health after spinal injury Could feces offer hope to survivors of spinal cord injuries?
	Mutations in donors' stem cells may cause problems for cancer patients A stem cell transplant—also called a bone marrow transplant—is a common treatment for blood cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Such treatment can cure blood cancers but also can lead to life-threatening complications, including heart problems and graft-versus-host disease, in which new immune cells from the donor attack a patient's healthy tissues.
	Pathogenic Alzheimer's disease cascade is activated by faulty norepinephrine signaling In preclinical experiments, University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have revealed a key missing piece of the Alzheimer's disease puzzle. That allowed proof-of-concept experiments—using an existing drug—that dramatically reduced Alzheimer's pathology and symptoms in two mouse models, potentially offering an immediate treatment for this devastating disease.
	New nanoparticle therapy offers potential new treatment for aggressive breast cancer Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) developed a new nanoparticle drug formulation that targets a specific receptor on cancer cells, and appears to be more effective than a standard nanoparticle therapy currently on the market to treat metastatic breast cancer. The study, published today in the journal Science Advances, found that the new 'DART' nanoparticles bypass healthy cells and tissues and bind to tumor cells, dispersing evenly throughout the tumor while releasing the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel.
	New study shines light on genetic risk factors for high alcohol intake A new study, published in Science Advances, identifies genes associated with high alcohol intake.
	What puts women off bearded men? Women who find bearded men less attractive may be deterred due to their potential risk for carrying ticks, bugs and lice, according to a University of Queensland study published today.
	Beauty sleep could be real, say body clock biologists Biologists from The University of Manchester have explained for the first time why having a good night's sleep really could prepare us for the rigors of the day ahead.
	Multimodal genomic analyses predict response to immunotherapy in lung cancer patients Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have developed an integrated genomic approach that potentially could help physicians predict which patients with nonsmall cell lung cancer will respond to therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
	Evidence of previously unknown electrical property in human cortical dendrites A team of researchers from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (IMBB-FORTH) has found evidence of previously unknown electrical properties in human cortical dendrites. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their study of human cortical dendrites and what they found.
	Inflammation 'game changer' as cellular death dance discovered Inflammation in the human body has been revealed to be managed through a unique, highly-organised shape of receptors that 'dance' across a cell surface, according to new research.
	New tool devoted to simplifying complex neuron models Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the EPFL Blue Brain Project have developed Neuron_Reduce, a new computational tool that provides the scientific community with a straightforward capability to simplify complex neuron models of any cell type and still faithfully preserve its input-output properties while significantly reducing simulation run-time.
	Research uncovers mechanism behind epilepsy in Angelman syndrome A key mechanism underlying neuronal dysfunction in Angelman syndrome (AS), a syndromic form of autism spectrum disorder, has—for the first time—been revealed through innovative research led by Duke-NUS Medical School and the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) under the National Neuroscience Research Institute Singapore (NNRIS)—a joint venture combining neuroscience research expertise from both organisations. The finding may bring researchers closer to developing treatment options for this rare genetic condition which occurs in about 1 in 15,000 live births in Singapore.
	Drinking 1% rather than 2% milk accounts for 4.5 years of less aging in adults A new study shows drinking low-fat milk—both nonfat and 1% milk—is significantly associated with less aging in adults.
	Scientists find powerhouses that fight tumours from within Lurking deep inside some tumours are "factories" full of immune cells that help the body fight a rearguard action against cancer and are key to helping some patients recover, new research shows.
	Overactive brain waves trigger essential tremor The source of essential tremor—a movement disorder that causes involuntary trembling of the hands, arms, and head—has been enigmatic, impeding the development of effective treatments for a condition that affects 4% of people over 40.
	Antibiotics often sold without prescription in retail pharmacies in China It is easy to obtain antibiotics without prescription in retail pharmacies in China, even though selling antibiotics without a prescription conflicts with regulations, a study published in the open access journal Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control suggests. More work needs to be done to ensure that antibiotics are obtainable by subscription only, according to researchers at Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
	Be wary of online probiotic health-benefit claims The public should be wary of searching for probiotic information online as most webpages originate from unreliable sources and the health-benefit claims are often not supported by robust scientific evidence.
	It's 2020: Time to teach teens 'safe' sexting Preaching sexual abstinence to youth was popular for a number of decades, but research repeatedly found that such educational messages fell short in their intended goals. Simply telling youth not to have sex failed to delay the initiation of sex, prevent pregnancies, or stop the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases. Since the advent of photo- and video-sharing via phones, children have received similar fear-based messages to discourage sexting—the sending or receiving of sexually explicit or sexually suggestive images (photos or video) usually via mobile devices. Unfortunately, messages of sexting abstinence don't seem to be reducing the prevalence of adolescents sharing nudes.
	Sticky situation inside blood vessels can worsen stroke damage A stroke appears to create a sticky situation inside the blood vessels of the brain that can worsen damage days, even months later, scientists report.
	Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy may trigger long-term post-traumatic stress One in six women experience long-term post-traumatic stress following miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
	China: Possible that new virus could spread between humans The possibility that a new virus in central China could spread between humans cannot be ruled out, though the risk of transmission at the moment appears to be low, Chinese officials said Wednesday.
	Researchers identify new mechanism involved in promoting breast cancer A new approach to studying the effects of two common chemicals used in cosmetics and sunscreens found they can cause DNA damage in breast cells at surprisingly low concentrations, while the same dose did not harm cells without estrogen receptors.
	Women's blood vessels age faster than men's, study finds New research from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai showed for the first time that women's blood vessels—including both large and small arteries—age at a faster rate than men's. The findings, published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Cardiology, could help to explain why women tend to develop different types of cardiovascular disease and with different timing than men.
	Study of patients on heart pumps debunks myths about categories and outcomes A new analysis provides evidence that may change the current thinking around categorizing patients with heart failure prior to implanting a left-ventricular assist device (LVAD). Currently, clinicians and regulatory agencies divide patients who receive LVADs into two distinct categories: those receiving a device as a bridge to transplant (BTT) and those for whom the device is considered a destination therapy (DT). For BTT patients, the device is intended to extend survival until they can receive a heart transplant. For DT patients, the device is intended for long-term use. Not all patients fit neatly into these categories—many are stuck in a gray zone known as bridge to transplant candidacy (BTC). But regardless of category and the intended goal of therapy, patients who received an LVAD known as the HeartMate 3 had a similarly low rate of disabling stroke of reoperations and their outcomes were significantly better compared to patients who received an older generation LVAD. These findings, led by investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital, call into question the current practice of dividing patients into categories, suggesting that a single treatment goal may suffice: to extend survival and improve quality of life for patients with heart failure who haven't responded to therapy. The team's findings are published in JAMA Cardiology.
	More interventions follow gastric bypass than gastric sleeve, large study shows A study involving tens of thousands of bariatric surgery patients found that gastric bypass patients were significantly more likely than gastric sleeve patients to end up back in the hospital in the years following surgery.
	Single payer systems likely to save money in US, analysis finds A single payer healthcare system would save money over time, likely even during the first year of operation, according to nearly two dozen analyses of national and statewide single payer proposals made over the past 30 years.
	Drug epidemic likely 'killing more Americans than we think' As the drug epidemic began to unfold in the United States, deaths classified as drug-related for 15- to 64-year-olds hit 9% in 2016, up from about 4% seven years prior. But new research published in PLOS ONE from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University suggests that drug-associated mortality in this country is actually more than double that.
	Probiotic drink could offer new way to combat antibiotic resistance, mouse study finds A probiotic drink could become a promising new weapon in the battle against antibiotic resistant bacteria, after a team of scientists at the University of Birmingham engineered and patented a key genetic element that can tackle the genetic basis of resistance.
	Harmful effects of ageism on older persons' health found in 45 countries In the largest examination to date of the health consequences of ageism, or age-based bias, researchers at the Yale School of Public Health have found evidence that it harms the health of older people in 45 countries and across 5 continents. The study included over 7 million participants.
	MS drug costs nearly triple over 7 years, even with introduction of generic, study finds The cost of prescriptions for multiple sclerosis (MS) drugs nearly tripled over seven years, and the introduction of a generic version of one of the most common drugs had little overall effect on prices, according to a study published in the January 15, 2020, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Global team enables child with a fatal genetic disease to recover A young boy with a rare genetic disease that typically kills within weeks of birth is now 3 years old and in remission thanks to a collaborative effort that included physicians at King Saud University Department of Pediatrics in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and immunologists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
	Memory boost with just one look HRL Laboratories, LLC, researchers have published results showing that targeted transcranial electrical stimulation during slow-wave sleep can improve metamemories of specific episodes by nearly 20 percent after only one viewing of the episode, compared to controls. Metamemory describes the sensitivity of whether memories are recalled accurately, such as during eyewitness testimony.
	New technology helps reduce injection pain, swelling from some best-selling drugs Eight of the top 10 selling drugs in the United States are biologics, which are produced from living organisms or certain components of living organisms. Subcutaneous injection—where the drug is injected into the tissue layer between the skin and the muscle—is emerging as an effective delivery route alternative to intravenous infusion and allows a user to take the drug at home.
	Cost of care biggest barrier for previously uninsured Medicaid recipients, study finds A team of Virginia Commonwealth University researchers, led by the VCU School of Medicine's Department of Health Behavior and Policy, conducted a baseline survey among 1,500 newly eligible Medicaid members in Virginia. Released today, it is the first study in the U.S. capturing health care experiences in the year prior to obtaining coverage among newly eligible members in states with recent Medicaid expansion.
	Expert: Bushfire smoke dangerous for those with undiagnosed asthma As bushfire smoke continues to pollute the air of large parts of Australia's eastern states, some people have experienced throat irritation, coughing and breathing difficulties.
	Genome editing at the crossroads of scandal and cure Genetic modification of babies in China one year ago was universally condemned. At the same time, CRISPR treatments are on their way into our clinics. Jacob Corn explains the difference.
	The breast milk market is booming online: unregulated, risky, and entirely legal For parents who want their child to have breast milk, but are unable produce it themselves, being able to buy it on the internet might seem like a hopeful solution. Many families might want to feed their infant breast milk for a number of reasons, such as improving their child's immune system. This might lead families to turn to online forums or Facebook groups to find women selling their breast milk.
	You're not the only one feeling helpless: Eco-anxiety reaches far and wide You're scrolling through your phone and transfixed by yet more images of streets reduced to burnt debris, injured wildlife, and maps showing the scale of the fires continuing to burn. On the television in the background, a woman who has lost her home breaks down, while news of another life lost flashes across the screen.
	Faster, cheaper tests for myopia in sight The world's most common vision problem myopia or short/near sightedness, which causes damage to the eye and even blindness, just got easier to assess.
	Falling risk of heart disease among survivors of child cancer since the 1970s There has been a measurable decline in serious heart conditions among adult survivors of childhood cancer since the 1970s, finds a study in The BMJ today.
	Specialist technique used to study drugs completed for first time during Ebola outbreak A specialist technique used to study drugs has been completed for the first time during an outbreak of Ebola virus disease.
	Moderate to vigorous physical activity important in early weeks of pregnancy Researchers at the University of Granada (UGR) have analyzed for the first time the link between sedentary time vs. objectively measured physical activity levels and systemic concentrations of glycemic, lipid, and inflammatory markers among pregnant women
	Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis will pose clinical, economic burden Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is expected to pose a significant clinical and economic burden during the next 20 years for U.S. patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), according to a study published online Jan. 6 in Diabetes Care.
	Experts call for pediatric consideration in EMS planning Ill and injured children and their families have unique needs that should be considered in emergency medical services (EMS) protocols and operations, according to a new joint policy statement published in the January issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
	Can this San Diego startup mimic exercise and fasting with a pill? Epirium raises $85M to find out A biotech startup in La Jolla has raised $85 million from notable science investors to investigate its idea for treating age-related diseases: a pill that mimics the effects of exercise and fasting.
	Why fitness trackers may not give you all the 'credit' you hoped for January is a time when many people make resolutions—and then break them. Almost 60% of Americans will resolve to exercise more, but fewer than 10% will stick with their resolution. A key to keeping resolutions is ensuring they are measurable, and a simple way to track activity is through a wearable smartwatch or fitness tracker. Indeed, almost one in five adults has used a fitness tracker.
	Outsourcing is a matter of time Immune cells found in the mouse kidney at various stages of development are morphologically virtually indistinguishable. It now turns out that these cells are derived from different tissue sources at different stages in the animal's life.
	New study may lead to fewer hysterectomies in women with uterine fibroid tumors Uterine fibroid tumors are the leading cause of hysterectomies in the U.S., yet little is known about what causes them. A new study, however, has taken researchers one step closer to understanding how these tumors develop and grow.
Exposure to chemicals in drinking water associated with 5% of annual bladder cancer burden in Europe Each year, more than 6,500 cases of bladder cancer—nearly 5 percent of all cases in Europe— can be attributed to exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) in drinking water. This is one of the conclusions of a large-scale study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), which analysed for the first time the presence of these chemical compounds in the tap water of 26 European Union countries.
	Achieving equity in preventive health services Six in every 10 Americans have a chronic health condition. These conditions, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes or stroke, are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and contribute greatly to the nation's annual health care costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	Alcohol tax reform needed La Trobe University researchers have found introducing a minimum unit price (MUP) of $1.30 per standard drink across Australia could dramatically reduce alcohol consumption.
	Involving family in bipolar care helps children and teens stay healthier, longer In a UCLA-led study, children and adolescents with a high risk for developing bipolar disorder stayed healthier for longer periods when their family members participated in their psychotherapy sessions.
	Using voice analysis to track the wellness of patients with mental illness A new study finds that an interactive voice application using artificial intelligence is an effective way to monitor the wellbeing of patients being treated for serious mental illness.Researchers from UCLA followed 47 patients for up to 14 months using an application called MyCoachConnect. All of the patients were being treated by physicians for serious mental illnesses, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.
	Study shows lactate may prompt cancer formation A byproduct of glucose called lactate, used by every cell in the body, may also prompt a mutated cell to become cancerous, according to new research from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
	Q&A: Dietary supplements useful in some situations, but also can be harmful Dear Mayo Clinic: Why does my doctor want to know what supplements I'm taking, even if I don't have any health problems and don't take more than the recommended amounts?
	Review shows 2% of providers account for 25% of pediatric antibiotic prescriptions Fewer than 2 percent of providers accounted for 25 percent of antibiotic prescriptions for children in Tennessee, with the highest number of prescriptions coming from general pediatricians and those who graduated prior to 2000, according to a study published today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.
	Certified nurse-midwives lead collaborative care model as solution to obstetrician shortage Fewer physicians are pursuing careers in obstetrics, in part because of the intense, round-the-clock demands of the job and a high burnout rate. An unusually large number of practicing obstetricians are expected to retire within the next decade, which will add to an already acute physician shortage.
	Bisphenol A activates immune response in mice that passes down through generations Some plastic food and beverage containers still contain bisphenol A (BPA), which can mimic the hormone estrogen. Although experts say that small amounts of BPA detected in foods are unlikely to cause problems, some people worry that constant low-level exposures could have health effects, especially for developing fetuses, infants and children. Now, researchers report in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research that in mice, BPA activates an immune response that persists for at least three generations.
	BP measures progress more rapidly in women than men (HealthDay)—Blood pressure (BP) measures progress more rapidly in women than in men, starting in the third decade and continuing through the life course, according to a study published online Jan. 15 in JAMA Cardiology.
	Evolution of approval, regulation processes for drugs explored (HealthDay)—The U.S. approval and regulation processes for pharmaceutical agents have evolved during the last four decades, according to a study published in the Jan. 14 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Care management for complex needs may not cut readmissions (HealthDay)—Among patients with very high use of health care services, readmission rates were not lower for those assigned to a care-transition program compared with usual care, according to a study published in the Jan. 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Why tidying up is sometimes harder than expected (HealthDay)—If you can't quite bring yourself to declutter your home and toss out unneeded possessions, one reason why might surprise you.
	First randomized clinical trial found no harms from dementia screening in primary care Research scientists at Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine have conducted the first randomized controlled trial to evaluate the pros and cons of population screening for dementia. The researchers found no harm, as measured by patient reported depressive and anxiety symptoms, from screening for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia in diverse rural, suburban and urban primary care clinics in Indiana.
	Study challenges concerns over hospital readmission reduction practices A UT Southwestern study is challenging concerns that a federal health policy enacted in 2012 to reduce hospital readmissions leaves patients more vulnerable.
	Study answers when moderate to late preterm babies go home "When is my baby going home?" is one of the first questions asked by families of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Now clinicians have a data-based answer. Moderate to late preterm babies (born at gestational age of 32 to 36 weeks) who have no significant medical problems on admission are likely to be discharged at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age (gestational age plus age since birth), according to a study published in the American Journal of Perinatology. Small for gestational age infants and those with specific diagnoses may stay longer.
	Researchers discover novel potential target for drug addiction treatment New University of Minnesota Medical School research discovers a novel potential target for treating drug addiction through "the hidden stars of the brain."
	Researchers identify gene with functional role in aging of eye A lengthy-named gene called Elongation of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids Protein 2 or ELOVL2 is an established biomarker of age. In a new paper, published online January 14, 2020 in the journal Aging Cell, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine say the gene appears to play a key role in age-associated functional and anatomical aging in vivo in mouse retinas, a finding that has direct relevance to age-related eye diseases.
	Chemicals between us: Surprising effects of oxytocin on cocaine addiction A team of addiction researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) report in Psychopharmacology that oxytocin, a hormone produced naturally in the hypothalamus, has significant gender differences when used as a treatment for cocaine-addicted individuals with a history of childhood trauma.
	Plant pigment can significantly reduce blood pressure A new paper in Nutrition Reviews finds that intake of the flavonoid quercetin can greatly reduce high blood pressure in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease.
American cancer survivors face substantial financial hardship and financial sacrifices American cancer survivors, particularly those 64 years or younger, faced substantial medical financial hardship and sacrifices in spending, savings, or living situation, according to data from a survey.
	Africa struggles to stem deadly flood of fake medicine After he was struck down by malaria and typhoid, Togolese tailor Ayawo Hievi thought he was set to recover when he started taking drugs prescribed by his doctor.
	N.J. lawmakers pass bill to ban flavored vaping products A bill that would ban the sale of flavored vaping products was passed Monday by New Jersey lawmakers.
	Immigration and transition: emerging trends in spina bifida care In a collection of articles in the Journal of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine (JPRM), experts highlight emerging trends in spina bifida care in response to challenges faced by spina bifida patients and their physicians due to demographic shifts in age, ethnicity and other societal factors.
	Daily users account for over 80% of all cannabis consumed in Australia A new study published in the scientific journal Addiction estimates that in Australia between 2007 and 2016, 81% to 85% of all cannabis was consumed by the 16% of all Australian cannabis users who used daily. Weekly users and daily users together accounted for an estimated 98% of all cannabis consumed in Australia between 2007 and 2016.
	Mom and pop grocery shops get fresh help in the name of nutrition When Luz Arango was thinking of ways to refresh Lupita's Corner Market, the shop her mother opened in 1993, the plans involved mostly painting, tidying up and rearranging.
	Black patients have worse outcomes of lower spinal fusion surgery Black patients undergoing lumbar (lower) spinal fusion surgery have worse outcomes - including higher complication rates, more hospital days, and higher costs—compared to white patients, suggests a study in Spine.
	Voluntary limit-setting can keep intense online gamblers in check A new study has shown that, among online gamblers, setting voluntary monetary limits can help players stay in control of their gambling and the most significant effects were seen among intense gamblers. The study, which comprised more than 49,500 online gamblers, is published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.
	Managing cannabis use in breastfeeding women As more states legalize medicinal and recreational cannabis use and increasingly decriminalize cannabis, the risk to the growth and development of breastfeeding infants whose mothers use cannabis becomes a growing public health concern. The critical role that certified lactation consultants (CLCs) could play in postpartum management of cannabis use and a Call to Action to expand the role of CLCs is published in Breastfeeding Medicine.
	Researchers find strengths and gaps in Thailand diabetes care As Thailand transitions to a high-middle-income country, noncommunicable chronic diseases such as diabetes are on the rise.

Biology news

	Analyzing DNA in soil could be an effective way of tracking animals It's hard to protect something you can't find. A new Stanford study reveals sampling soil for animals' left-behind DNA can provide valuable information for conservation efforts—with significantly less cost and time—than currently used methods, such as camera traps.
	Animals reduce the symmetry of their markings to improve camouflage Some forms of camouflage have evolved in animals to exploit a loophole in the way predators perceive their symmetrical markings. The University of Bristol findings, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B today, describe how animals have evolved to mitigate this defensive disadvantage in their colouration.
	What keeps couples together In mammals, pair bonds are very rare, one of the few exceptions being the red titi monkeys of South America. These relatively small tree dwellers live in pairs or small family groups and are characterized by the fact that the males take intensive care of their offspring. A team of researchers from the German Primate Center—Leibniz Institute for Primate Research has now investigated how pair relationships work in titi monkeys. Their results support the so-called "male-services hypothesis": Males provide a useful service by taking more care of the offspring and defending the territory against intruders, while the females are more involved in relationship management and, for example, seek the proximity of their partner more often. The findings are published in Royal Society Open Science.
	Researchers unlock secrets of cell division, define role for protein elevated in cancer Researchers at Princeton University have successfully recreated a key process involved in cell division in a test tube, uncovering the vital role played by a protein that is elevated in over 25% of all cancers. The researchers' findings, described in a pair of papers published in the journals eLife and Nature Communications, are a key step toward recreating the entire cell division machinery and could lead to new therapies aimed at preventing the growth of cancer cells.
	Infectious disease defenses among ancient hominid contributions to adaptation of modern humans During the past decade, our human evolutionary tree has turned into something more resembling an unwieldy bush. Scientists have discovered swapped segments of DNA that we shared from mating between two other hominids, Neanderthals and Denisovans, which were first sequenced in 2010 and 2014, respectively.
	'Amazing': New embryo made of nearly extinct rhino species Researchers say they have successfully created another embryo of the nearly extinct northern white rhino in a global effort to keep the species alive. Just two animals remain, and both are female.
	'The blob,' food supply squeeze to blame for largest seabird die-off The common murre is a self-sufficient, resilient bird.
	Lame sheep adjust their behavior to cope with their condition, study finds Using novel sensing technology, experts from the University of Nottingham have found that lame sheep adjust how they carry out certain actives, such as walking, standing or lying down, rather than simply reducing the amount they do.
	How zebra finches learn to sing Complex learning processes like speaking or singing follow similar patterns. Using the example of zebra finches, researchers at UZH and ETH Zurich have investigated how young birds imitate the courtship songs of their fathers and practice them thousands of times. The study has revealed what aspects of the song are remembered overnight, and that sleep allows the bird to optimally build upon the progress made on the previous day.
	Newly discovered genetic element adjusts coat color in dogs Why are Irish Setters so red? Geneticists at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine now have an answer for why some dogs have more intense coat colors than others.
	Nitrogen-fixing genes could help grow more food using fewer resources Scientists have transferred a collection of genes into plant-colonizing bacteria that let them draw nitrogen from the air and turn it into ammonia, a natural fertilizer.
	Animals should use short, fast movements to avoid being located Most animals need to move, whether this is to seek out food, shelter or a mate. New research has shown that movement doesn't always break camouflage and if an animal needs to move, animals that are unpatterned and use short, fast movements are less likely to be located by predators.
	Glimpses of fatherhood found in non-pair-bonding chimps Although they have no way of identifying their biological fathers, male chimpanzees form intimate bonds with them, a finding that questions the idea of fatherhood in some of humanity's closest relatives, according to a study of wild chimpanzees in Uganda.
	Scientists provide novel strategies for parasitic weed control Parasitic weeds are among the world's most economically damaging agricultural pests. They use an organ called the haustorium to build connections with host plants and draw nutrients from them.
	Including irregular time intervals improves animal movement studies Studies of animal movement and behavior—including those addressing disease spread and animal conservation—should monitor animals at both regular and irregular time points to improve understanding of animal movement behavior, according to a new study by Penn State statisticians. The study, which appears online this month in the journal Environmetrics, is the first to provide guidance about sampling regimes for these types of biological studies.
	Super-fast beer fermentation from ancient Norwegian yeast The distinctly Norwegian beer-brewing yeast kveik reduces fermentation time drastically. That's a huge advantage, according to NTNU Ph.D. candidate Christian Schulz.
	Why we don't know how many mountain gorillas live in the wild A new census—carried out by the Greater Virunga Transboundary Collaboration (a coalition of governments, non-profits and conservationists) in 2018—shows that the population of mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is now at 459, up from 400 in 2011. This could bring the total number count for the subspecies to 1,069 gorillas. Katerina Guschanski explains that while this is great news, these figures may still not be accurate.
	TESSA: A practical tool to measure the impact of protecting biodiversity Researchers, public officials and NGOs often ask, "Can we put a price on forests?". The question may sound absurd or even cynical, but as an expert in environmental-conservation practices, I believe that measuring biodiversity value could help us better preserve it. Evaluating the "price" of a forest, a lake or a hill for a village, a city or even a country would ensure better conservation practices.
	Debunking the viral tales of wombat 'heroes' If you've been following the bushfire crisis on social media and elsewhere, you may have seen reports of benevolent wombats herding other animals to shelter into their fire-proof burrows.
	Príncipe's Obô snail population declined by more than 75% in the last 20 years On the island of Príncipe a forest giant, known locally as the Obô snail, has undergone a population decline of more than 75 percent within the last 20 years and its range has decreased by approximately 40 percent, according to a recent report.
	Old fishing hooks are severe hazards for sharks Startling data fresh off an eight-year tiger shark study in French Polynesia shows severe impacts the creatures of the sea face long after they are cut loose from fishing lines.
	The heat is on for Australia's beloved marsupials As Australia's weather heats up, it could have serious consequences for some of our country's most iconic animals, according to new research from The Australian National University (ANU).
	Bushfire crisis spells trouble for Aussie insects Australia's current bushfire crisis could wipe out some of our rarer insect species, according to a group of experts.
	Scientists highlight effects of climate change on UK's plankton Marine scientists in Plymouth have led a major study highlighting the effects of climate change on the plankton populations in UK seas.
	Meet the narwhal, 'unicorn of the sea' Narwhals are often called the unicorns of the sea. The long tusk of the male narwhal sets these whales apart, but it's not the only thing that makes Monodon monoceros among the most intriguing and mysterious marine mammals.
	Biologists make living sperm glow How do female insects manage to keep sperm fresh for months after mating? This has been a central question for the sperm biologists of the Chair of Applied Zoology headed by Prof. Dr. Klaus Reinhardt. Now the scientists have presented their first promising results in the journal Scientific Reports.
	Study: Pig virus is easily transmitted among chickens and turkeys The first animal study of a pig virus' potential to jump to another species shows that the virus, once introduced to a select group of birds, is easily transmitted to healthy chickens and turkeys.

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