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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for September 29, 2023:
Spotlight Stories Headlines
Physics news
A new highly precise measurement of the hypertriton lifetimeA hypertriton is a tritium nucleus in which a neutron is replaced by a so-called Lambda hyperon. This type of hypernucleus was first discovered in the 1950s has since been the key focus of numerous studies. | |
Physicists coax superconductivity and more from quasicrystalsIn research that could jumpstart interest into an enigmatic class of materials known as quasicrystals, MIT scientists and colleagues have discovered a relatively simple, flexible way to create new atomically thin versions that can be tuned for important phenomena. In work reported in Nature they describe doing just that to make the materials exhibit superconductivity and more. | |
Ultrafast quantum simulation of large-scale quantum entanglementA research group led by Professor Kenji Ohmori at the Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences are using an artificial crystal of 30,000 atoms aligned in a cubic array with a spacing of 0.5 micron, cooled to near absolute zero temperature. By manipulating the atoms with a special laser light that blinks for 10 picoseconds, they succeeded in executing quantum simulation of a model of magnetic materials. | |
Recombination dipole prototype successfully tested for the LHC's high-luminosity upgradeThe LHC requires a variety of different types of magnets to direct the beams around its circular shape. Currently installed in the LHC's interaction regions are 9.45-m-long double-aperture magnets of 2.8 T, manufactured by BNL for the RHIC. | |
Scientists observe interaction of components in tire rubber at the atomic scaleScientists have observed the molecular motion of rubber components typically used in automobile tires—polybutadiene and carbon black—with the world's fastest time resolution. |
Earth news
Climate model provides data-driven answer to major goal of climate researchA new research study from The University of Alabama in Huntsville, a part of the University of Alabama System, addresses a central question of climate change research: how much warming can be expected from adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere through fossil fuel burning and other activities as standards of living increase around the world? | |
Ancient plant wax reveals how global warming affects methane in Arctic lakesBy studying fossils from ancient aquatic plants, Northwestern University and University of Wyoming (UW) researchers are gaining a better understanding of how methane produced in Arctic lakes might affect—and be affected by—climate change. | |
US adopts plan to phase out single-use plastics at national parksThe US government on Thursday announced plans to phase out single-use plastics on public lands, including the country's famous national parks, by 2032. | |
Q&A: Searching for life where it shouldn't existA team of Penn State scientists is working to solve one of the world's greatest unsolved mysteries: how life originated on Earth—and how it might have evolved on other planets. | |
First of its kind dataset shows future flooding risk at neighborhood levelIf you've lived in the same geographic location for several years, you've probably noticed the seasons changing. And no, not from spring to summer and fall to winter. | |
Kaolinite clay makes a great face mask, but it may hold key to location of gold and critical mineralsClay. It's been used for centuries to make pottery, decorative beads, and earthen houses. And it has a firm spot in many beauty regimes. | |
Is California's wildfire season finally over? Don't bet on it, experts sayCalifornia has entered fall amid notably moist conditions that have left some wondering whether this year's fire season has officially fizzled. | |
Dangerous chemicals found in South Carolina's fish, crabs and oysters. Here's what we knowChemicals that can make people sick have recently been found in fish, crabs and oysters in South Carolina as concerns grow about the threat the toxins pose to food and water across the Palmetto State. | |
European countries smash September temperature recordsAustria, France, Germany, Poland and Switzerland announced their hottest Septembers on record on Friday, in a year expected to be the warmest in human history as climate change accelerates. | |
Politicians failing to grasp 'scientific reality' of climate: expertWavering ambition by governments and a growing belief that science is politically subjective are great causes for concern in a rapidly escalating climate crisis, an expert told AFP. | |
Here's how to fix Australia's approach to soil carbon credits so they really count towards our climate goalsAustralia's plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 relies heavily on carbon credits. | |
New York flooded by heavy rains, subway partly paralyzedHeavy rains overnight in the northeastern United States left parts of New York City under water on Friday, partially paralyzing subways and airports in the country's financial capital. |
Astronomy and Space news
India space chief unfazed by Moon mission's apparent endAs hopes dim of further contact with India's moon rover, the country's space chief has said he was satisfied with the prospect of calling its successful lunar mission to an end. | |
A search for links between two of the universe's most spectacular phenomena has come up empty—for nowEvery so often, astronomers glimpse an intense flash of radio waves from space—a flash that lasts only instants but puts out as much energy in a millisecond as the sun does in a few years. The origin of these "fast radio bursts" is one of the greatest mysteries in astronomy today. | |
NASA's Perseverance captures dust-filled Martian whirlwindThe lower portion of a Martian dust devil was captured moving along the western rim of Mars' Jezero Crater by NASA's Perseverance rover on Aug. 30, 2023, the 899th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. The video, which was sped up 20 times, is composed of 21 frames taken four seconds apart by one of the rover's Navcams. | |
Is it life, or is it volcanoes?Astronomers are working hard to understand biosignatures and how they indicate life's presence on an exoplanet. But each planet we encounter is a unique puzzle. When it comes to planetary atmospheres, carbon is a big piece of the puzzle because it has a powerful effect on climate and biogeochemistry. If scientists can figure out how and where a planet's carbon comes from and how it behaves in the atmosphere, they've made progress in solving the puzzle. | |
We should find extraterrestrial life within 60 light-years if Earth is average, professor claimsIn 1960, while preparing for the first meeting on the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), legendary astronomer and SETI pioneer Dr. Frank Drake unveiled his probabilistic equation for estimating the number of possible civilizations in our galaxy—aka The Drake Equation. A key parameter in this equation was ne, the number of planets in our galaxy capable of supporting life—aka "habitable." At the time, astronomers were not yet certain other stars had systems of planets. But thanks to missions like Kepler, 5,523 exoplanets have been confirmed, and another 9,867 await confirmation. | |
Testing, testing, testing: How researchers make sure the LSST Camera is the best it can beBuilding the world's largest digital camera ever made for astronomy, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time Camera, is no simple task—that much is obvious. |
Technology news
New multi-purpose robot changes shape for different usesResearchers have designed a robot which can change form to tackle varying scenarios. | |
Replacing tape used to make lithium-ion batteries could slow battery degradation and reduce self-dischargeA team of chemists and physicists at Dalhousie University in Canada has found that replacing the type of tape used to make lithium-ion batteries could slow battery degradation and reduce the amount of self-discharge in smartphones and other personal devices. In their project, reported in the journal Nature Materials, the group studied the behavior over time of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tape used to make lithium-ion batteries in smartphones. | |
Ball milling provides high pressure benefits to battery materialsCheaper, more efficient lithium-ion batteries could be produced by harnessing previously overlooked high pressures generated during the manufacturing process. | |
Germany bets on hydrogen to help cut trucking emissionsApplause rings out as Daimler Truck's hydrogen-powered, zero-emission lorry crosses the finish line in Berlin after completing a record-breaking 1,047-kilometer (650 mile) journey on a single tank. | |
NY judge says pay raise for delivery workers can go aheadThree big companies in the gig economy—Uber, Doordash and Grubhub—lost a court battle Thursday in New York after a judge upheld a new minimum wage for app-based food delivery workers who became essential during the pandemic. | |
IEA, ECB urge Europe to move faster on energy transitionEurope must invest more quickly and massively in its energy transition if it wants to remain a global industrial power, top policymakers warned on Friday. | |
Researchers find 'dark patterns' in Japanese mobile appsPopular Japanese mobile apps have malicious design elements called dark patterns or deceptive user interface designs, researchers from Tokyo Tech have found. A new class of dark patterns, called "Linguistic Dead-Ends," of types "Untranslation" and "Alphabet Soup," was also discovered. | |
Virtual reality can help emergency services navigate the complexities of real-life crisesThe UK has experienced several terrorist attacks, from the 2005 London bombings, to the devastating events at Manchester Arena and London Bridge in 2017. These tragic incidents not only resulted in the loss of innocent lives but were also immensely challenging for emergency response teams. | |
Dynamic BLOB adjustment gives cloud computing a 96% efficiency boostResearch in the International Journal of Grid and Utility Computing has shown how an adaptive approach to the size of data "chunks" in cloud computing storage systems can improve efficiency considerably. | |
Thousands of pirated Australian books—in the age of AI, is copyright law still fit for purpose?Thousands of Australian books have been found on a pirated dataset of ebooks, known as Books3, used to train generative AI. Richard Flanagan, Helen Garner, Tim Winton and Tim Flannery are among the leading local authors affected—along, of course, with writers from around the world. | |
Addressing copyright, compensation issues in generative AIRecent work by Carnegie Mellon University researchers tackles the thorny issues of copyright and compensation for generative AI models that create new images. | |
Disney Plus announces crackdown on password sharing in CanadaPassword-sharing crackdowns are becoming more and more common in the streaming world today. And Disney Plus is following suit. | |
US Supreme Court to hear major social media caseThe US Supreme Court on Friday said it would consider the constitutionality of two state laws that restrict social media platforms from taking action against political misinformation, just as the 2024 US election looms. | |
Gamers help highlight disparities in algorithm dataIs The Witcher immersive? Is The Sims a role-playing game? | |
An intelligent control method reduces carbon emissions in energy-intensive equipmentA research team led by Professor Tianyou Chai from Northeastern University, China, has developed an innovative intelligent control method for the low-carbon operation of energy-intensive equipment. This research, published in the journal Engineering, presents a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in the process industry. | |
Former crypto star Sam Bankman-Fried faces US trialSam Bankman-Fried, once the most respected face of crypto currency, goes on trial Tuesday in federal court facing seven counts of fraud that could see him spend decades in prison. | |
Video games give sports stars second lifeThe post-retirement careers of the biggest sports stars can be fascinating to watch—Viagra ads, property ventures, crypto projects—but one option is becoming a sure-fire winner: put your face on the cover of a video game. | |
Sam Bankman-Fried, the fallen wunderkind of cryptocurrencyHe was the face of cryptocurrency, and a young one at that—a media darling seemingly destined to unite the sector. | |
US anti-discrimination agency sues Tesla over 'pervasive' racismA federal anti-discrimination agency filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing Elon Musk's Tesla of allowing "pervasive" racism at its Silicon Valley car plant and retaliating against Black workers who opposed such abuse. | |
Italy court condemns Uber Eats over 4,000 layoffsA Milan tribunal ordered Uber Eats Italy Thursday reverse this summer's lay-off of 4,000 riders, condemning the platform for failing to properly consult trade unions, the unions said. | |
Frenchman charged with cybercrimes pleads guilty in US courtA 22-year-old Frenchman who was extradited to the United States from Morocco and charged with cybercrimes has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and identity theft, officials said. | |
VinFast boss insists share volatility 'normal'The dramatic fluctuation in shares of Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast is "normal", its chief executive told AFP on Friday, insisting the company was on sound footing despite racking up huge losses. | |
Biden announces more offshore drilling, angering environmentalistsPresident Joe Biden's administration on Friday announced it would auction three new oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, triggering a furious reaction from environmental groups who said the move would accelerate climate change. | |
US auto strike expands with 7,000 more workers joiningAnother 7,000 members of the biggest US automobile workers' union, UAW, joined an already major strike against the top three Detroit car manufacturers Friday. | |
South Korean gamer 'Faker' gets rock-star treatment at Asian GamesWearing shirts adorned with his name and waving banners displaying his face, the frenzied crowd in Hangzhou was not waiting to catch a glimpse of a pop star—but rather a video gamer. | |
New method reduces carbon emissions from zinc oxide rotary kilns, boosting profits for zinc smelting industryThe zinc smelting industry is facing new challenges in meeting China's carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets. To address these challenges, researchers from Central South University in China have developed a control method that reduces carbon emissions from zinc oxide rotary kilns while maintaining high profits. Their findings have been published in the journal Engineering. | |
Microsoft-Google peace deal broke down over search on DuoA five-year truce between rivals Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp. came crashing down in 2020 when the tech giants found themselves at odds over their competing web-search businesses, according to testimony at the U.S. government's antitrust trial against Google. |
Chemistry news
Self-healing of synthetic diamonds observed at room temperatureA team of chemists, materials scientists and aeronautical engineers at Beihang University, working with one colleague from Yanshan University and another from the University of Chicago, reports evidence of self-healing in a sample of synthetic diamond at room temperature. | |
Concave, umbrella-like metal complexes provide space for giant molecular rotors to operate in solid stateSolid materials are generally known to be rigid and unmoving, but scientists are turning this idea on its head by exploring ways to incorporate moving parts into solids. This can enable the development of exotic new materials such as amphidynamic crystals—crystals which contain both rigid and mobile components—whose properties can be altered by controlling molecular rotation within the material. | |
Machine learning helps predict drugs' favorite subcellular hauntsMost drugs are small molecules that bind firmly to a specific target—some molecule in human cells that is involved in a disease—in order to work. For example, a cancer drug's target might be a molecule that is abundant inside of cancer cells. The drug should hypothetically travel freely throughout the cell until it comes to its target and then lock onto it, leading to a therapeutic action. | |
Researchers invent a new metallization method of modified tannic acid photoresist patterningThe micro/nano metal pattern formation is a key step in the assembly of various devices. However, ex situ approaches of metal patterning limited their industrial applications due to the poor stability and dispersion of metal nanoparticles. The in situ electroless deposition after lithography patterning may be a better choice for avoiding the growth and aggregation of metal particles in the polymers. | |
Insights into ethylene copolymerization with linear and end-cyclized olefins using a metallocene catalystA research team led by Changjiang Wu at SINOPEC (Beijing) Research Institute of Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. in China has made important progress in understanding the polymerization behavior and thermal properties of copolymers formed through ethylene copolymerization with linear and end-cyclized olefins. The findings, published in the journal Engineering, shed light on the potential of utilizing different comonomers in olefin solution polymerization to obtain high-performance polyolefin materials. | |
Research team envisions a bright future with active machine learning in chemical engineeringChemical engineering researchers have a powerful new tool at their disposal: active machine learning. In a recent perspective article published in Engineering, Kevin M. Van Geem's research team at Ghent University explores the potential of active machine learning in revolutionizing the field of chemical engineering. By combining machine learning with the design of experiments, active machine learning promises to enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of research, spanning all length scales of chemical engineering. | |
Using nickel foam to enhance the performance of lithium-sulfur batteriesLithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered important devices for powering movable equipment, but there are still some challenges that limit their application, such as how to obtain a cathode for high sulfides absorption and rapidly conversion. |
Biology news
Mouthwash for dogs: Water additive with pomegranate helps to keep canine teeth healthyPeriodontal disease is one of the most common canine diseases, affecting at least 80% of dogs aged three and over. Periodontal disease begins as gingivitis, where gums become red and inflamed, and may bleed. Untreated, the disease can progress to periodontitis, where the alveolar bone is progressively damaged so that teeth may loosen or fall out. In turn, periodontitis is a risk factor for other diseases like cardiovascular and lung disease. | |
Scientists zero in on the life-threatening fungus, Candida auris' ability to stickIn 2009, a mysterious fungus emerged seemingly from out of thin air, targeting the most vulnerable among us. It sounds like Hollywood, but the fungus in question poses a very real threat. Scientists are scrambling to figure out what makes the life-threatening fungus Candida auris tick—and why even the best infection control protocols in hospitals and other care settings often fail to get rid of it. | |
Genetic research is identifying disease-resistant super corals in the CaribbeanWitnessing disease outbreaks that have nearly annihilated staghorn coral colonies in the Caribbean, Northeastern scientist Steven Vollmer wondered what lessons a few lone survivors might offer for the future of coral reefs. Would it be possible to identify disease-resistant corals by their genetic makeup? And if the hardier types were specially selected for underwater coral nurseries, would the result be healthier reef systems? | |
Protein may hold key to preventing a tick-borne diseaseA study led by researchers at Washington State University has pinpointed a protein that appears to play a pivotal role in how a harmful bacteria that causes the disease anaplasmosis establishes itself in ticks before being transmitted to unwitting human hosts. | |
Infecting non-immune cells: Finding defies textbook understanding of leishmaniasis infectionThe organisms that cause visceral leishmaniasis, a potentially deadly version of the parasitic disease that most often affects the skin to cause disfiguring disease, appear to have a secret weapon, new research suggests: They can infect non-immune cells and persist in those uncommon environments. | |
Newly engineered CRISPR enzyme for editing DNA could improve patient treatmentA new CRISPR-based gene-editing tool has been developed which could lead to better treatments for patients with genetic disorders. The tool is an enzyme, AsCas12f, which has been modified to offer the same effectiveness but at one-third the size of the Cas9 enzyme commonly used for gene editing. The compact size means that more of it can be packed into carrier viruses and delivered into living cells, making it more efficient. | |
How disordered proteins contribute to the properties of the rabies virusA large team of international researchers have used techniques at ANSTO's Australian Synchrotron to understand how key proteins contribute to the virulence of the rabies virus, sometimes called the "zombie virus." | |
Study shows bacteria in the soil can defy periods of droughtWhile many bacteria become inactive during dry spells, specific groups persist and even thrive. A new study, published in Nature Communications and conducted by the Center for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS) at the University of Vienna, offers ground-breaking insights into bacterial activity during drought periods, with implications for agriculture and our understanding of climate change impacts. | |
Using a cutting enzyme and an RNA repair enzyme to modify RNA virus genomesA team of microbiologists at Montana State University has developed a way to use a cutting enzyme and an RNA repair enzyme to modify the genome of an RNA virus. They describe their technique in Science Advances. | |
Explosion in fish biodiversity due to genetic recycling, study showsScientists show that the extraordinary diversity of cichlid fish in Africa's Lake Victoria was made possible by "genetic recycling"—repeated cycles of new species appearing and rapidly adapting to different roles in the ecosystem. An evolutionary case study that has fascinated researchers for decades, the new study sheds light on how 500 species of fish were able to emerge and thrive in just 16,000 years. | |
Widespread antibiotic resistance among cholera-causing bacteria explained by gene mixingScientists have identified the source of antibiotic resistance that emerged within bacteria driving the ongoing Yemen cholera epidemic. | |
Did animal evolution begin with a predatory lifestyle?Were the first animals predators or filter feeders like the sponges living in today's oceans? And what role did symbiosis with algae play, as with reef-building corals? Surprising findings by a research group led by Prof. Dr. Thomas W. Holstein of Heidelberg University on the development of sea anemones suggest that a predatory lifestyle molded their evolution and had a significant impact on the origin of their nervous system. | |
Genome study reveals 30 years of Darwin's finch evolutionAn international team of researchers has released a study on contemporary evolutionary change in natural populations. Their study uses one of the largest genomic datasets ever produced for animals in their natural environment, comprising nearly 4,000 Darwin's finches. The study has revealed the genetic basis of adaptation in this iconic group. The results are published in the journal Science. | |
Redesigning hydrogels to shine a new light on cell responses in the bodyOur cells have a complex relationship with the body's microenvironment. It has been studied in the lab, but, to date, most studies leave out dynamic changes to the microenvironment. In other words, they look at cell life in a static world. | |
New model describes synchronized cilia movement driven by border regionsWhat do the crowd at a football stadium, the feet of a centipede, and the inside of your lungs have in common? All of these systems show the same specific kind of organization, as recently discovered by a group of scientists from MPI-DS. | |
Bird flu kills 400 seals, sea lions in UruguayAn estimated 400 seals and sea lions have turned up dead on the coast of Uruguay in recent weeks, blamed by authorities on bird flu. | |
Australia may swelter, but researchers predict blue whales will get some reliefWhile Australia is forecast to swelter under El Niño climate conditions this year, Charles Darwin University (CDU) researchers say it's good news for blue whales after they suffered through three consecutive years of difficult La Niña conditions. | |
Researchers reveal genetic and evolutionary characteristics of tricotyledony in sand riceKnown as a pioneer herb on the moving sand dunes of Central Asia, sand rice has been recommended as a potential future crop due to its excellent drought tolerance and rich nutritional value. | |
Monocyte-derived macrophages could be central to liver regenerationThe liver is a vital organ that plays a role in many essential functions, including digestion, detoxification, and metabolism. When the liver is damaged, it has the remarkable ability to regenerate itself. However, the process of liver regeneration is not fully understood. | |
Climate change and carnivores: Shifts in the distribution and effectiveness of protected areas in the AmazonA new article published in PeerJ, authored by Camila Ferreira Leão at Universidade Federal do Pará sheds light on the effects of climate change on carnivorous mammals in the Amazon and their representation within Protected Areas (PAs). "Climate change and carnivores: shifts in the distribution and effectiveness of protected areas in the Amazon," reveals alarming findings about the vulnerable status of these animals and the effectiveness of conservation measures. | |
'New way of looking at nature': These naturalists explore queer ecology with geese, owls and moreAs Raquel García-Álvarez guides hikers on a trail surrounding the Sand Ridge Nature Center, her remarks on flora and fauna are interrupted by geese honking. She explains, as curious onlookers admire the birds skirting the water, that there's more to them than meets the eye. | |
In Shawnee National Forest, a debate swirls around how to best protect trees amid climate change and wildfiresThe Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois is a mosaic of towering trees, lush wetlands and commanding rock formations that are the native habitat for a wealth of plants and animals, including 19 species of oaks. | |
Facilitating a new nucleic acid detection platformDNA phosphorothioate (PT)-modification, with a non-bridging oxygen in the phosphodiester backbone substituted by sulfur, is an epigenetic marker in prokaryotes and is involved in the bacterial defense system, anti-oxidative stress, and gene regulation. PT-modification is specifically recognized by sulfur binding domains (SBDs) of PT-dependent restriction endonucleases, making it a potential tool for enabling biotechnology development. However, the unclear recognition sequence-range of SBDs limits the application. |
Medicine and Health news
Prostate cancer—a notable killer of Black men—can be made less deadly by modifying key risks, new study findsProstate cancer has long held an infamous reputation as a notable killer of Black men—a malignant stalker that has caused one of the deepest disparities in survival among all cancers affecting males. | |
A deep look into the progression of Parkinson's diseaseParkinson's disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that leads to the deterioration of specific types of neurons in the brain, resulting in a number of motor and non-motor symptoms. It is currently estimated that more than 10 million people in the world are living with Parkinson's disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's. That number is expected to swell up to 14 million by 2040 in what is being referred to as the Parkinson's pandemic. | |
Researchers find a cancer enhancer in the genome that drives tumor cell growthUniversity of Toronto (U of T) researchers have found that cancer cells can enhance tumor growth by hijacking enhancer DNA normally used when tissues and organs are formed. The mechanism, called enhancer reprogramming, occurs in bladder, uterine, breast and lung cancer, and could cause these types of tumors to grow faster in patients. | |
Researchers discover molecular signature for aggressive thyroid cancerA molecular signature that predicts aggressive thyroid cancer could help guide treatment approaches for patients, according to a study published in the journal Cell Genomics. | |
Scientists reveal cellular changes unique to early Alzheimer's diseaseMost Alzheimer's disease research on human brain tissue has studied postmortem samples, making it difficult for scientists to discern the earliest events in the brain that might have triggered the buildup of plaques and the death of neurons. Knowing the molecular changes in neurons, glia, and other brain cells around plaques during the early phases of the disease could help scientists design treatments that work best when given early. | |
Study identifies new pathway to suppressing autoimmunityResearchers at Stanford University School of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, and the Hospital for Special Surgery Research Institute have uncovered new details about how the immune system prevents the production of antibodies that can recognize and damage the body's own, healthy tissues. | |
New research reveals link between childhood mental health problems and quality of life for young adultsChildren with mental health issues are more likely to have poor mental and physical health in their late teens and early 20s, and are at greater risk of social isolation, low educational attainment, financial difficulties and heavy substance use. | |
Circadian therapy can optimize glymphatic clearance of concussion neurotoxins, accelerating recoveryThe glymphatic system is the brain's self-cleaning mechanism. If you haven't heard of the glymphatic system, it's probably because it wasn't discovered until 2012. Since then, there's been a surge of research investigating the role of glymphatic system dysfunction in various brain pathologies. | |
Study finds SARS-CoV-2-associated sepsis was more common, deadly than previously thoughtNew research suggests that the virus responsible for COVID-19 was a more common and deadly cause of sepsis during the initial period of the pandemic than previously assumed. | |
Allergy study on 'dirty' mice challenges the hygiene hypothesisThe notion that some level of microbial exposure might reduce our risk of developing allergies has arisen over the last few decades and has been termed the hygiene hypothesis. | |
Researchers take steps toward stopping the 'conversation' between cancerous tumors and nervesCancer tumors hijack the genetic program used by developing nerves. This is shown in a study published in the journal Frontiers in Genetics by researchers at Umeå University. In the long term, the results may open up new ways of treating cancer by limiting the tumor's interaction with the nerves. | |
A new bioinformatics pipeline solves a 50-year-old blood group puzzleCurrently, a lot is known about which genes are responsible for our individual blood groups; however, not much is understood about how and why the levels of the blood group molecules differ between one person and another. This knowledge can be important for blood transfusion safety. Now a research group at Lund University in Sweden has developed a toolbox that finds the answer—and in doing so, has solved a 50-year-old mystery. | |
A new perspective on myositis subgrouping using geneticsIn a new study from Karolinska Institutet, the researchers found that combining information from blood markers and genetics reveals distinct subgroups of patients with myositis, which may help to improve disease classification and treatment. The study was published in eBioMedicine. | |
Preparing for the next pandemic: Study offers improved method for tackling bird fluResearchers from the University of Pittsburgh and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Vaccine Research Center have developed an improved way to test potential vaccines against bird flu. The report was published this week in the journal iScience. | |
Research shows PFAS exposure may delay girls' pubertyResearch from the University of Cincinnati shows that exposure to PFAS may delay the onset of puberty in girls. The research was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. | |
Atopic dermatitis: Viruses discovered as new therapy optionUp to 15% of children and 5% of adults are affected by the chronic inflammatory skin disease atopic dermatitis. Despite advanced therapy measures, the severe itching and eczema, especially on the elbows or knees, cause great distress to the patients. | |
Palliative care in breast cancer treatment may be less likely for racial/ethnic minority patients than white patientsDespite a steady increase in palliative care utilization from 2004 to 2020, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Asian or Pacific Islander patients with metastatic breast cancer were less likely to receive palliative care than non-Hispanic white patients, according to results presented at the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held September 29–October 2, 2023. | |
Diabetes may accelerate blood cancer growth, yet survival outcomes differ by racePatients with multiple myeloma (a blood cancer of plasma cells in the bone marrow) who also have diabetes have a reduced overall survival when compared to those without diabetes. But in a subgroup analysis, this difference in survival due to diabetes was seen in white patients but not in Black patients, according to a study published today in Blood Advances. | |
Spanish-speaking men in sexual minority groups may lack knowledge about cancers linked to HPVA study found multiple gaps in awareness and knowledge about the connection between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and several types of cancer among Hispanic and Latino men who identified as sexual minorities, according to results presented at the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held September 29–October 2, 2023. | |
Structural racism may play a role in increased cancer mortality rates among racial minoritiesStructural racism was associated with increased county-level cancer mortality rates among minority populations compared with whites, according to results presented at the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held September 29–October 2, 2023. | |
Research finds cancer clinical trials have become more diverse over past two decadesCompared to the year 2000, a greater proportion of NCI-sponsored early-phase clinical trial participants in 2022 were older, from minority racial/ethnic groups, and lived in historically underrepresented regions of the U.S., according to a study presented at the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held September 29-October 2, 2023. | |
Racial and ethnic minorities may be less willing than others to participate in clinical trialsA survey conducted in one cancer center's catchment area found that while a majority of respondents would be willing to participate in a clinical trial, members of racial and ethnic minority groups were significantly less likely to participate than non-Hispanic whites, according to results presented at the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held September 29–October 2, 2023. Reasons to participate or not participate varied across the groups, suggesting that tailored approaches to enrolling patients in clinical trials could lead to more diverse patient populations. | |
TikTok videos promoting steroid use have millions of views, says report criticized by the companyTikTok has become a key marketing channel for vendors promoting steroids and other bodybuilding drugs to millions of the app's users, according to a report released Thursday that the social media company disputes. | |
In US, this year's back-to-school supplies include NarcanBefore Jackson Danzig leaves the house each morning, he makes sure his backpack is filled with the usual high school necessities: books, homework, lunch—and the Narcan sitting on his bedside table. | |
S.Africa to roll out vaginal rings to fight HIV scourgeA "revolutionary" vaginal ring to prevent HIV is soon to be rolled out in South Africa—which has the largest epidemic of the virus in the world, a global financing partnership said on Friday. | |
'Side-by-side' utility terrain vehicles linked to high rates of hand injuriesRecently popularized utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) with "side-by-side" passenger seating are associated with higher rates of severe hand injuries when compared to traditional all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), reports a study in the October issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. | |
Learning critical Black history can change white perspectives on racism in health care, study suggestsBeing exposed to some of the many historical incidences of anti-Black racism in American health care can contribute to white peoples' recognition of health disparities currently faced by Black Americans and lead to their support for policies that aim to create more equitable health outcomes, according to UCLA psychologists. | |
Texas medical schools increasingly use unclaimed bodiesIn a new research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a professor and an undergraduate student from The University of Texas at Arlington found that the use of unclaimed bodies in Texas medical schools is on the rise. | |
Prostate cancer can be treated as effectively using fewer and higher doses of radiation therapy, finds phase III trialPeople with intermediate risk, localized prostate cancer can be treated as effectively using fewer and higher doses of radiation therapy delivered over five treatment sessions as they can with lower doses delivered over several weeks, a new phase III randomized trial suggests. | |
True progression or pseudoprogression in glioblastoma patients?Is it true progression or pseudoprogression in tumor growth? | |
Researchers develop new model for prioritizing lung transplant candidatesA team from Cleveland Clinic has developed a new model for prioritizing patients waiting for a lung transplant, aimed at improving outcomes and reducing deaths among those in need of donor lungs. The new method offers an improved strategy for organ allocation by taking into account how the time a patient has spent on the waiting list could impact the severity of their disease and the urgency of their need for a transplant. | |
How community gardening could ease your climate concernsEvery day, we are bombarded with messages about a world in crisis. Alongside the ongoing reminders of wars, economic recessions and social unrest is news about natural disasters and extreme weather—be that prolonged droughts, freak heat waves and wildfires or devastating floods and landslides. | |
I'm a microbiologist and here's what (and where) I never eatEvery year, around 2.4 million people in the UK get food poisoning—mostly from viral or bacterial contamination. Most people recover within a few days without treatment, but not all are that lucky. | |
South African men are much more likely to die from TB than women—here's whyAround the world, men are more likely to get TB and to die from it than women. | |
Can ChatGPT help us form personal narratives?Research has shown that personal narratives—the stories we tell ourselves about our lives—can play a critical role in identity and help us make sense of the past and present. Research has also shown that by helping people reinterpret narratives, therapists can guide patients toward healthier thoughts and behaviors. | |
Scientists focus on glymphatic system and its role in sleep, memory consolidation, degenerative illnessesWhen we think of brains, we tend to think of neurons. It's right there in our word for the study of the brain: neuroscience. But when it comes to certain mysteries of the brain—for example, the role of sleep in memory consolidation, or the genesis of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and degenerative neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease—the answers we seek may lie elsewhere: the glymphatic system. | |
Genetic ancestry and social environment may influence how aggressive breast cancer is in Black womenFor Black women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer, and as of 2019 it has surpassed lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer death in this population, according to the American Cancer Society. Additionally, studies have shown a high prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype of breast cancer among younger Black women and those of African descent. | |
New mechanism behind multiple myeloma cancer cell growth revealedResearchers from Uppsala University have revealed one of the mechanisms behind the growth of cancer cells in the blood cancer multiple myeloma. The study shows that the protein EZH2 interacts with a specific RNA molecule to block genes that are important for tumor growth. The findings might contribute to the development of new treatments for multiple myeloma patients. The study has been published in the journal Haematologica. | |
Interleukin-22 study provides better understanding of immune responses in inflammatory bowel and lung diseaseAn immune factor released by white blood cells during infection or inflammation works to suppress the body's immune response instead of enhancing it, according to Mater researchers. | |
Study shows that the Basophil Activation Test is best biomarker for predicting allergic reactionsNew research published in the journal Allergy has found that Basophil Activation Test (BAT) can be used to better detect allergies and predict the severity of allergic reactions than traditional predictions made via clinical criteria. | |
Handkerchief or tissue? Which one's better for our health and the planet?Maybe you have hay fever, COVID, a cold or the flu, and are reaching for a tissue or handkerchief. | |
'You're constantly worrying': Pregnant women, bushfire smoke and the impossibility of safetySmoke covered large swathes of Australia during the catastrophic summer fires of 2019-2020. You could see the plumes from space. Over 20% of Australia's forests went up in smoke and flame. | |
Distractor objects can help the visual system develop more effective search strategiesPeople are continuously provided with an overwhelming stream of events flooding the sensory organs. However, while the brain has impressive processing capabilities, its capacity is strongly limited. Thus, an observer cannot consciously experience all the events and information available at any one time, but has to focus on some limited subset of the whole. | |
Face pareidolia: How pregnant women could help us understand why we see faces in inanimate objectsSometimes we see faces that aren't really there. You may be looking at the front of a car or a burnt piece of toast when you notice a face-like pattern. This is called face pareidolia and is a mistake made by the brain's face detection system. | |
Mother's stress during pregnancy can impact children's sleep in childhoodStress at the beginning of human life seems to be strongly associated with poor sleep from childhood to adulthood, with a high probability that the earliest determinants of child sleep disturbance can be found in utero. Several studies associate maternal symptoms of mental disorders during pregnancy, and in particular depressive and anxiety symptoms, with poorer sleep in children up to three years. | |
New insights into how the human brain organizes languageA new study has provided the first clear picture of where language processes are located in the brain. The findings may be useful in clinical trials involving language recovery after brain injury. | |
Study finds low income and education level were risk factors for mental ill-health during the pandemicSwedes with lower income and education level were at greater risk of deteriorating mental health during the pandemic. This is shown in a study conducted by researchers from the University of Gothenburg in collaboration with Professor Mats Lekander at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience. The findings are published in Psychology & Health. | |
Discussions should start earlier to increase pediatric organ donations, expert saysAbout 1,900 U.S. children are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. A University of Texas at Arlington expert said that number can be lowered though more patient education—starting in the pediatrician's office. | |
Swap red meat for Quorn protein to improve heart health and reduce waist circumference, study findsPeople looking to reduce their cholesterol and trim fat from around their waist could try swapping meat for Quorn protein, according to the findings from a new study by Northumbria University, Newcastle, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, which saw positive effects in both areas in just two weeks. | |
From pests to pollutants, keeping schools healthy and clean is no simple taskParents send their children to school to learn, and they don't want to worry about whether the air is clean, whether there are insect problems or whether the school's cleaning supplies could cause an asthma attack. | |
New drug could be breakthrough for brain tumor that strikes young people, says expertA top UVA Health cancer expert is highlighting how a new drug could transform how doctors treat a brain tumor that typically strikes younger people. | |
FDA wants to regulate thousands of lab tests that have long skirted oversightThe Food and Drug Administration on Friday laid out a proposal to begin regulating laboratory medical tests, a multibillion-dollar industry that the agency says poses a growing risk to patients because of potentially inaccurate results. | |
Gut inflammation found to be caused by substance secreted by microbeThe human gut—or gastrointestinal system—where food is broken down into nutrients for the body, is an ecosystem that harbors thousands of bacteria species. While some microorganisms are harmful, many are beneficial and help keep the human body in good health. Besides bacteria, the gut microbiota also consists of other types of microorganisms, including protists, yeasts, and viruses. | |
Kids with eczema may need further allergy testsSome children who have a common form of eczema should also be tested for allergic reactions because they may have a second allergic-type eczema, a new study suggests. | |
Common myths about epilepsy and kidsEpilepsy is one of the more common neurologic disorders in children. About 1 in 26 people have epilepsy, and 1 in 10 people will have at least one seizure in their lifetime. | |
Alcohol use not tied to sustained virologic response with hepatitis C treatmentAlcohol use is not associated with lower odds of sustained virologic response (SVR) among patients initiating direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in JAMA Network Open. | |
Tezepelumab reduces mucus plugs in adults with uncontrolled asthmaTezepelumab is associated with a reduction in occlusive mucus plugs versus placebo in adults with uncontrolled asthma, according to a study published in the October issue of NEJM Evidence. | |
Sociodemographic factors before MS diagnosis tied to disease severityEducation, income, and marital status prior to multiple sclerosis (MS) onset are associated with future symptom and disability severity, according to a study published online Sept. 26 in JAMA Network Open. | |
Women found to have higher risk for solicited reactions after flu shotThe risk for solicited reactions following influenza vaccine is higher for women than men, according to research published online Sept. 28 in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health. | |
Florida foster kids are given powerful medications, but state oversight lackingThe powerful anti-seizure drug the 5-year-old boy had been taking for more than a year made him "almost catatonic," his new foster mom from Florida's Pinellas County worried. | |
Study suggests measurement bias in common child behavior assessment toolScores from a commonly used measure of behavior problems in young children may be skewed depending on the primary language, education, and sex of the caregiver who fills out the survey, as well as the child's age and race, according to new research from the NIH's Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. | |
Larger lymph node threshold found to optimize nasopharyngeal carcinoma outcomesAccording to the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR), using a 6-mm threshold, rather than a 5-mm threshold, helps facilitate better risk stratification and treatment decisions in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). | |
What to expect for the flu, RSV and COVID-19 respiratory seasonInfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 are all part of the seasonal respiratory virus lineup. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the upcoming fall and winter are expected to have a similar number of hospitalizations for respiratory diseases as last year. However, they say it's important to note that these hospitalization numbers are higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic when the leading causes were the flu and RSV. | |
A decades-long drop in teen births is slowing, and advocates worry a reversal is comingCicely Wilson's work doesn't end when she leaves her day job as a lactation consultant, doula and child care expert. | |
Officials agree: Use settlement funds to curb youth addiction. But the 'how' gets hairyWhen three teenagers died of fentanyl overdoses last year in Larimer County, Colorado, it shocked the community and "flipped families upside down," said Tom Gonzales, the county's public health director. | |
Massive Kaiser Permanente strike looms as talks head to the wireKaiser Permanente and union representatives pledged to continue negotiating a new contract up until the last minute as the threat of the nation's latest large-scale strike looms next month. | |
What happens to health programs if the federal government shuts down?For the first time since 2019, congressional gridlock is poised to at least temporarily shut down big parts of the federal government—including many health programs. | |
An artificial muscle to study Duchenne muscular dystrophyDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscular dystrophy diagnosed in childhood, with approximately 20,000 new cases reported each year. It is a progressive muscle disorder that results in the loss of muscle function, ultimately leading those affected to lose their independence and experience severe medical issues. The average life expectancy for individuals with DMD is around 30 years. | |
Alcohol 'promotion' detracted from success of Women's World Cup, says new commentaryBroadcasters should avoid focusing on alcohol in crowd shots during major sporting events, such as this summer's Women's World Cup final, say researchers. | |
Recommendations announced for performing pediatric heart surgery in the USA set of recommendations to address the known variation in outcomes at US congenital heart surgery centers has been endorsed by 15 collaborating societies led by the Congenital Heart Surgeons' Society (CHSS). The guidelines will appear in "Recommendations for Centers Performing Pediatric Heart Surgery in the United States," co-published in the World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery, Annals of Thoracic Surgery, and Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. | |
France launches battle plan against bedbug invasionThe French government said Friday it was launching a concerted effort to fight bedbugs that have appeared in numbers in public transport, cinemas and hospitals. | |
50 years after being outlawed, redlining still drives neighborhood health inequitiesDecades of redlining—a longstanding banking practice that blocked people of color from getting mortgages—continue to perpetuate racial and socioeconomic inequality in the San Francisco Bay Area and across the country, according to ongoing research from UC Berkeley School of Public Health. | |
Hepatitis C: Britons getting tattoos and cosmetic procedures abroad may be at risk—here's how to avoid itA growing number of people living in the UK are going abroad to have tattoos, piercings and cosmetic surgeries. Any procedure, no matter where it's performed, can carry the risk of injury and infection. | |
New frontier in biomedical engineering: Protein coacervates engineered into adhesive for unprecedented skin repair speedA team of researchers from China has made a significant breakthrough in biomedical engineering by developing a novel adhesive that promises to revolutionize wound management and tissue repair. The research, published in Engineering, unveils a biocomposite adhesive that exhibits robust adhesion and real-time skin healing properties. | |
Researchers want to speak with Central Floridians affected by dioxane contaminationCentral Florida's 1-4 dioxane contamination has caught the attention of Yale University researchers. | |
How to get hay fever relief from fall allergiesAutumn is the season of change, with green leaves turning color and temperatures cooling. It's also the season of hay fever, or allergic rhinitis. | |
The importance of supplemental screenings for dense breastsYou might need supplemental screenings if you've been diagnosed with dense breast tissue. Women with dense breast tissue have less fat and more glandular and connective tissue. They are also at a higher risk of developing cancer. |
Other Sciences news
Hermit 'scribblings' of eccentric French math genius unveiledTens of thousands of handwritten pages by one of the 20th century's greatest mathematicians, Alexander Grothendieck, many of which the eccentric genius penned while living as a hermit, were unveiled in France on Friday. | |
Examining ethical considerations for human remainsIn 2022, the Penn Museum announced that it would rebury the skulls of dozens of Black Philadelphian individuals whose remains were unethically obtained in the mid-1800s. Some in the community of the individuals' descendants, who felt they were not consulted, filed a formal opposition to Penn Museum's plan. In 2023, a judge ruled that the community had no legal standing to decide how their dead are treated. | |
Research finds diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives during certain presidencies can affect bottom lineCorporate initiatives focused on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) for vulnerable social groups can change a company in many ways. According to researchers at the University of New Hampshire, how DEI affects a business' bottom line may depend on the presidential administration and the general public's perception at the time. | |
FIFA could make the Women's World Cup more competitiveWhile the FIFA Women's World Cup is supposed to be a competition between the best soccer teams in the world, some matches are closer than others. For instance, in the most recent World Cup, the Netherlands team left Vietnam scoreless after seven goals. Even worse, in the 2015 World Cup, Germany—Ivory Coast (10–0) and Switzerland—Ecuador (10–1) were clear blowouts. | |
Value of experienced CEO fades when working in regions vulnerable to corruption, political instabilityApparently, experience is not always a good thing. In fact, for CEOs of small and medium-sized enterprises, it can eventually prove to be a liability. | |
Researcher: Just 3 Nobel Prizes cover all of science—how research is done today poses a challenge for these awardsI've been primarily an experimental chemist—the kind of person who goes into the laboratory and mixes and stirs chemicals—since the beginning of my career in 1965. Today, and for the past 15 years, I'm a full-time historian of chemistry. | |
The UK has relatively few armed police—but their specialist squads are hotbeds of 'warrior culture'When unarmed black Briton Chris Kaba was killed by a single shot from a London Metropolitan police officer in September 2022, his family and communities of color demanded answers. A year later, they have the beginnings of one—the Crown Prosecution Service announced it was charging an officer with murder. In response, over 100 armed Met officers voluntarily stood down from firearms duties, suggesting they were alarmed by the decision to prosecute one of their own. | |
Want young drivers to slow down? Technology isn't the answer, says researcherIn 2021, young drivers under 26 made up just 14% of total drivers on NSW roads, but sadly represented almost a quarter of the state's road fatalities, according to Transport for NSW. | |
Residential school deaths in Canada are significantly higher than previously reported, researcher saysOver the past year I have worked at University nuhelot'įne thaiyots'į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills (UnBQ) as the Indian Residential School Coordinator. There, I spent time speaking with survivors of Indian Residential Schools and I also helped conduct a search for grave sites of missing children. | |
Soccer kiss scandal exposes how structural sexism in Spain can be a laughing matterAmid expressions of outrage and disgust over a nonconsensual kiss between the male head of Spanish soccer and a Women's World Cup-winning player, there was also laughter. | |
The 'Barbie' and 'Star Wars' universes are entertaining, but they can also help people understand why revolutions happenBarbie dolls and "Star Wars" movies and toys have entertained generations of American children—in many cases, well into adulthood. But these brands' influence stretches beyond a penchant for hot pink and lightsaber battles. | |
Sci-fi books are rare in school even though they help kids better understand scienceScience fiction can lead people to be more cautious about the potential consequences of innovations. It can help people think critically about the ethics of science. Researchers have also found that sci-fi serves as a positive influence on how people view science. Science fiction scholar Istvan Csicsery-Ronay calls this "science-fictional habits of mind." | |
The delicate balance of setting central bank interest ratesAs the Bank of Canada prepared to announce its decision on interest rates in early September, Tiff Macklem, the bank's governor, received imploring letters from premiers spanning both the country and the political spectrum. | |
New UK report shows voters prioritize respectAuthored by Professor Marc Stears (UCL Political Science) and Luke Tryl, Director of More in Common, The Respect Agenda finds that much of the public feel their concerns are overlooked. Many are frustrated by how those in power seem indifferent to workers' views—particularly those without degrees. It finds also that these issues have been building for some time and are a barrier to tackling the challenges facing the country. | |
Shaping positive STEM identity for student successData show that students who have a strong science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) identity are more likely to take STEM courses and persist to the academic finish line––graduation. Positive STEM identity is multifaceted, but at the core, it is the sense that one "belongs" in STEM and can succeed in STEM. A person with strong STEM identity tends to feel confident of the following: | |
Do you criticize or celebrate your colleagues? It may depend on your social positionOnline technology is fundamentally reshaping employee evaluations. In the last decade or so, companies such as IBM, Amazon, and General Electric have adopted performance feedback apps that allow employees to "review" one another in real time. These apps take the 360-degree paradigm to its logical extreme by removing temporal, hierarchical, and geographical barriers to feedback. |
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