Science X Newsletter Mon, Oct 2

Dear ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 2, 2023:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Nobel in medicine goes to two scientists whose work enabled creation of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19

New tests of a recently approved RSV vaccine show potent antibody response to current and past variants

Renaissance for magnetotactic bacteria in astrobiology

Stonehenge study upends a 100-year-old theory and suggests further discoveries to come

Observations explore the properties of Type Ic supernova SN 2022jli

Post-vaccine vaginal bleeding rates associated with all COVID-19 vaccine types across reproductive ages

Is explosive growth ahead for AI?

Separating molecules requires a lot of energy. This nanoporous, heat-resistant membrane could change that

Researchers study nearly 1,000 fertility attempts hoping to improve IVF

Saturday Citations: Volcano vs. asteroid; NASA's supernova time lapse; immortal chemicals

Timing plant evolution with a fast-ticking epigenetic clock

Neural activity associated with motor commands changes depending on context

New study offers hope for pulmonary fibrosis patients

Striking rare gold: Researchers unveil new material infused with gold in an exotic chemical state

Reducing fishing gear could save whales with low impacts to California's crab fishermen

Nanotechnology news

	Separating molecules requires a lot of energy. This nanoporous, heat-resistant membrane could change that Industry has long relied upon energy-intensive processes, such as distillation and crystallization, to separate molecules that ultimately serve as ingredients in medicine, chemicals and other products.
	Using DNA as glue to hold nanostructures together and build ultra-strong colloidal crystal metamaterials A team of chemical and biological engineers working with a group of nanotechnologists at Northwestern University in Illinois has developed a type of super-strong colloidal crystal metamaterial by gluing together metal nanostructures using strands of DNA.

Physics news

	Scientists discover a durable but sensitive material for high energy X-ray detection X-ray technology plays a vital role in medicine and scientific research, providing non-invasive medical imaging and insight into materials. Recent advancements in X-ray technology enable brighter, more intense beams and imaging of increasingly intricate systems in real-world conditions, like the insides of operating batteries.
	Researchers advance effort to turn diamonds into a quantum simulator Diamonds are often prized for their flawless shine, but Chong Zu, an assistant professor of physics in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, sees a deeper value in these natural crystals. As reported in Physical Review Letters, Zu and his team have taken a major step forward in a quest to turn diamonds into a quantum simulator.
	Next-generation printing: Precise and direct, using optical vortices Will printed photographs ever match the precision of a mirror's reflection? Even though the answer may still be no for a while, Osaka Metropolitan University scientists have made significant strides in precision printing with their innovative optical vortex laser-based technique that allows for the precise placement of minuscule droplets with micrometer-scale accuracy.
	Examining the superconducting diode effect A collaboration of FLEET researchers from the University of Wollongong and Monash University have reviewed the superconducting diode effect, one of the most fascinating phenomena recently discovered in quantum condensed-matter physics.
	Study employs deep learning to explain extreme events Identifying the underlying cause of extreme events such as floods, heavy downpours or tornados is immensely difficult and can take a concerted effort by scientists over several decades to arrive at feasible physical explanations.
	Simulations reveal the atomic-scale story of qubits Researchers led by Giulia Galli at University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering report a computational study that predicts the conditions to create specific spin defects in silicon carbide. Their findings, published online in Nature Communications, represent an important step towards identifying fabrication parameters for spin defects useful for quantum technologies.
	Mysterious antimatter observed falling down for first time For the first time, scientists have observed antimatter particles—the mysterious twins of the visible matter all around us—falling downwards due to the effect of gravity, Europe's physics lab CERN announced on Wednesday.
	Antimatter: We cracked how gravity affects it. What it means for our understanding of the universe A substance called antimatter is at the heart of one of the greatest mysteries of the universe. We know that every particle has an antimatter companion that is virtually identical to itself, but with the opposite charge. When a particle and its antiparticle meet, they annihilate each other—disappearing in a burst of light.
	Research: Electrons in a strange metal world Imagine a flock of birds as they wheel across the sky: surging into a mass, flowing into ribbons that twist and turn again into fantastic shapes. If you follow one bird within the flock, you can describe its actions, the way it flaps its wings or uses its tail to brake. Yet, even if you could minutely account for the behavior of each individual bird, the shapes and patterns of their collective flight would still evade understanding.

Earth news

	Boreal and temperate forests now main global carbon sinks, satellite image analysis finds Using a new analysis method for satellite images, an international research team, coordinated by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) and INRAE, mapped for the first time annual changes in global forest biomass between 2010 and 2019.
	Thunderstorms clumping together: How understanding water vapor helps scientists predict future climate change A team of international scientists from the U.S., France, Germany, and Ethiopia recently published cutting-edge climate research on how thunderstorms can "clump" together and how that influences the Earth's climate. This led to the discovery that this clumping, or aggregation, of clouds can affect the Earth's climate in multiple ways that were not previously understood.
	Climate and human land use both play roles in Pacific island wildfires past and present: Study It's long been understood that human settlement contributes to conditions that make Pacific Islands more susceptible to wildfires, such as the devastating Aug. 8 event that destroyed the Maui community of Lahaina. But a new study from SMU fire scientist Christopher Roos published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution shows that climate is an undervalued part of the equation.
	Drier savannas, grasslands store more climate-buffering carbon than previously believed Savannas and grasslands in drier climates around the world store more heat-trapping carbon than scientists thought they did and are helping to slow the rate of climate warming, according to a new study.
	Scientists investigate Grand Canyon's ancient past to predict future climate impacts The Grand Canyon's valleys and millions of years of rock layers spanning Earth's history have earned it a designation as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. But, according to a new UNLV study, its marvels extend to vast cave systems that lie beneath the surface, which just might hold clues to better understand the future of climate change—by studying nature's past.
	Japanese scientists find microplastics are present in clouds Researchers in Japan have confirmed microplastics are present in clouds, where they are likely affecting the climate in ways that aren't yet fully understood.
	A double earthquake threat? Study finds 2 Seattle-area faults ripped about the same time With the Cascadia Subduction Zone parked off the coast and shallow faults lurking under most major cities, the Puget Sound area already faces a daunting array of seismic scenarios. A new study adds another: the possibility of a one-two earthquake punch.
	Drought drains Brazilian Amazon residents reliant on waterways Not far from the emblematic site where the black waters of the Rio Negro join the brown currents of the Solimoes, two chief tributaries of the Amazon, what once was a lake has given way to a vast stretch of cracked mud.
	How women's environmental action across the Global South can create a better planet Climate change has different impacts on men and women, especially in the Global South.
	How the age of mammals could end Throughout the past 500 million years, our planet has experienced a total of five mass extinctions. One of these—the Permo-Triassic mass extinction event—led to the demise of roughly 90% of Earth's species.
	Dense measurement network reveals high level of PM2.5 in Punjab due to crop residue burning A group of international collaborators led by the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) team performed the first quantitative study of air pollution in the north-western India region using 29 low-cost and reliable instruments, demonstrating the advantages of source region observations to link crop residue burning (CRB) and air pollution at local to regional scales. The group published their findings in Scientific Reports.
	How to slow climate change: Three wide-scale efforts could make the difference With the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference just nine weeks away, countries will soon take stock of their progress in the worldwide effort to slow and adapt to global warming. Better known as COP28, the conference offers the chance for countries to meet and coordinate their climate-mitigating pledges, like achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 or peak emissions by 2030.
	Q&A: New tool supports private industry in minimizing impacts to nature's services Companies and investors are increasingly considering, and measuring, the impacts of their business activities on nature, or "natural capital" (the world's stock of natural assets like air, water, soil, and biodiversity). This includes how impacts to ecosystem services, the benefits nature provides to people, create risks—and opportunities—for their businesses and clients.
	Data-driven regional ocean models essential for planning, shows Red Sea study By incorporating fine-grained regional data with a high-resolution ocean model, KAUST researchers have developed the first precise historical reconstruction of the Red Sea circulation. The resulting reanalysis reveals new characteristics of current circulation, temperature, salinity and oceanic behavior that are not evident in the coarser standard global ocean analyses.
	Q&A: Seeing coastal storm impacts in advance can help communities prepare Knowing the potential dangers posed by storm surge and high winds before a storm hits can help coastal communities and emergency responders prepare. Visualizations showing projected storm impacts can make the complex science behind the projections easy to understand and immediately available to individuals in the storm's path, according to Peter Stempel, associate professor of landscape architecture.
	As rain vanishes, Guatemalans learn to use every drop of water As rain becomes ever scarcer in northern Guatemala, communities are learning how to carve out makeshift irrigation canals and purify their water to conserve every last precious drop.
	Netherlands halts extraction from Europe's biggest gas field The Netherlands halted extraction from Europe's biggest gas field on Sunday, which was resulting in earthquakes that have shaken local residents for decades and threaten to persist.
	Canada left battered by 'never before seen' wildfire season When scientists started pouring over data to assess Canada's fire season this year, they struggled to find the right superlatives.
	Wildfires upend Indigenous Canadians' balance with nature Adrienne Jerome is heartbroken. Her house survived Canada's record wildfires this year, but everything that made her and many other Indigenous people in the area feel at home—the spruce forests that enveloped her town, providing not just food but protection, everything from game to medicinal plants—is gone.

Astronomy and Space news

	Renaissance for magnetotactic bacteria in astrobiology Magnetotactic bacteria can form magnetofossils like magnetic nanocrystals as observed in the Martian meteorite ALH84001, which held a special place in the field of astrobiology primarily in the early 90s. While the flourishing of interest in magnetotactic bacteria has waned over time, a resurgence of magnetosome formation has led to a renaissance of magnetotactic bacteria (abbreviated as MTB) in astrobiology.
	Observations explore the properties of Type Ic supernova SN 2022jli An international team of astronomers has performed multi-wavelength photometric and spectroscopic observations of a recently discovered Type Ic supernova known as SN 2022jli. Results of the observational campaign, published September 22 on the pre-print server arXiv, indicate that the supernova has unusual properties.
	Indian spacecraft heads towards center of solar system India's sun-monitoring spacecraft has crossed a landmark point on its journey to escape "the sphere of Earth's influence", its space agency said, days after the disappointment of its moon rover failing to awaken.
	Massive low-Earth orbit communications satellites could disrupt astronomy Observations of the BlueWalker 3 prototype satellite show it is one of the brightest objects in the night sky, outshining all but the brightest stars.
	Growing in molasses: Cosmic large-scale structure caught growing slower than expected The large-scale structure of the universe—the gigantic, hierarchical cosmic web of structures bound by gravity—is mostly made up of dark matter. The growth of the large-scale structure, from individual galaxies to galaxy clusters, cosmic voids and filaments (Fig. 1), revolves around a competition: Gravity pulls matter together while dark energy pushes space apart. The distribution and evolution history of matter and large-scale structure therefore provide an avenue to study the properties and nature of dark matter, gravity and dark energy.
	Colliding neutron stars provide a new way to measure the expansion of the universe In recent years, astronomy has seen itself in a bit of crisis: Although we know that the universe expands, and although we know approximately how fast, the two primary ways to measure this expansion do not agree. Now astrophysicists from the Niels Bohr Institute suggest a novel method which may help resolve this tension.
	Does lightning strike on Venus? Maybe not, study suggests Venus may be a (slightly) gentler place than some scientists give it credit for.
	Scientists use Webb, SOFIA telescopes to observe metallic asteroid Southwest Research Institute scientists are using telescopes to observe the asteroid Psyche in the infrared, providing context for NASA's upcoming Psyche mission. Dr. Stephanie Jarmak is using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to look for water signatures on the metallic surface of Psyche, while Dr. Anicia Arredondo is using some of the last data collected by the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, to study differences in Psyche's composition at different points on its surface.
	India's private space sector skyrockets When Indian entrepreneur Awais Ahmed founded his satellite startup in Bangalore in 2019, his country was still a year away from opening the space industry to the private sector.
	Q&A: Asteroid rocks may hold secrets to the origin of the solar system Early Sunday morning, NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft released a container that subsequently landed in Utah containing material from Bennu, a carbon-rich asteroid in the solar system.
	What's the link between gamma ray bursts and supernovae? It might be binary stars Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are some of the most violent events in the universe. Some have a power output equivalent to all of the other stars in the observable universe, at least in the spectrum of gamma rays. But we know very little about them. A new paper published in The Astrophysical Journal from researchers on an interdisciplinary team from seven countries puts forth a new theory about how at least one type of GRB happens—when a binary of two specific types of stars collapses and forms a black hole.
	Ascertaining distances for supernovae that struck the Earth 3 million and 7 million years ago A study, released on the pre-print server arXiv, examines how the Earth was hit by blasts from supernovae (plural form of supernova (SN)) that occurred 3 million years ago (Mya) and 7 Mya with the goal of ascertaining the distances of where these blasts originated.
	The world's largest radio telescope has scanned Barnard's star for extraterrestrial signals Barnard's Star is a small red dwarf just six light-years from Earth. Despite its proximity, it was only noticed in 1916 when E. E. Barnard found it had a particularly high proper motion. It had appeared in photographic plates taken by Harvard Observatory in the late 1800s, but as a small dim star, no one took notice of it. Since its discovery, Barnard's Star has been one of the most studied red dwarfs.
	Let the robot take the wheel: Autonomous navigation in space Tracking spacecraft as they traverse deep space isn't easy. So far, it's been done manually, with operators of NASA's Deep Space Network, one of the most capable communication arrays for contacting probes on interplanetary journeys, checking data from each spacecraft to determine where it is in the solar system.
	Dark matter could be annihilating inside white dwarfs As the search for dark matter particles continues to yield nothing, astronomers continue to look at ways these elusive particles might be found. One general method is to look for evidence of dark matter particle decay. Although dark matter doesn't interact strongly with regular matter, some dark matter models predict that dark matter particles can interact with each other, causing them to decay into regular particles.
	A new planet-hunting instrument has been installed on the Very Large Telescope Exoplanet studies have come a long way in a short time. To date, 5,523 exoplanets have been confirmed in 4,117 systems, with another 9,867 candidates awaiting confirmation. With all these planets available for study, exoplanet researchers have been shifting their focus from detection to characterization—i.e., looking for potential signs of life and biological activity (biosignatures).
	To study atmosphere, NASA rockets will fly into October eclipse's shadow A NASA sounding rocket mission will launch three rockets during the 2023 annular eclipse in October to study how the sudden drop in sunlight affects our upper atmosphere.
	Hubble views a glistening red nebula Westerhout 5 Just in time for the fall foliage season, this image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope features a glistening scene in red. It reveals a small region of the nebula Westerhout 5, which lies about 7,000 light-years from Earth. Suffused with bright red light, this luminous image hosts a variety of interesting features, including a free-floating Evaporating Gaseous Globule (frEGG).
	NASA's New Horizons to continue exploring outer solar system NASA has announced an updated plan to continue New Horizons' mission of exploration of the outer solar system.
	SpaceX launches 69th orbital flight of the year with Canaveral liftoff A SpaceX Falcon 9 took off for the 39th time from Cape Canaveral this year, marking the 49th SpaceX flight from the Space Coast and 69th orbital mission among all of its launch sites.

Technology news

	Is explosive growth ahead for AI? As we plunge head-on into the game-changing dynamic of general artificial intelligence, observers are weighing in on just how huge an impact it will have on global societies. Will it drive explosive economic growth as some economists project, or are such claims unrealistically optimistic?
	Can a roof's material cool the outside air and lower energy demand? Concrete sidewalks, black asphalt streets, traffic, brick and steel buildings. These common city elements can retain heat and increase temperatures in a phenomenon called the urban heat island effect.
	Study shows users can be primed to believe certain things about an AI chatbot's motives, influencing their interactions Someone's prior beliefs about an artificial intelligence agent, like a chatbot, have a significant effect on their interactions with that agent and their perception of its trustworthiness, empathy, and effectiveness, according to a new study.
	'Impossible' millimeter wave sensor has wide potential Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have developed a proof-of-concept sensor that may usher in a new era for millimeter wave radars. In fact, they call its design a "mission impossible" made possible.
	Instant evolution: AI designs new robot from scratch in seconds A team led by Northwestern University researchers has developed the first artificial intelligence (AI) to date that can intelligently design robots from scratch.
	Apple says it will fix software problems blamed for making iPhone 15 models too hot to handle Apple is blaming a software bug and other issues tied to popular apps such as Instagram and Uber for causing its recently released iPhone 15 models to heat up and spark complaints about becoming too hot to handle.
	Meta technology chief defends tech titan's AI strategy Meta's chief technology officer is quick to push back on assertions that the company has fallen behind rivals like ChatGPT in the explosive surge across the tech industry in generative AI.
	AI Vincent Van Gogh says you're wrong about his ear AI Vincent Van Gogh is patient but unimpressed by yet another question about his chopped-off ear.
	Researchers develop novel liquid metal circuits for flexible, self-healing wearables Imagine a stretchable and durable sensor patch for monitoring the rehabilitation of patients with elbow or knee injuries, or an unbreakable and reliable wearable device that measures a runner's cardiac activities during training to prevent life-threatening injuries. Innovations in wearable technology are often limited by the electronic circuits—which are usually made of conductive metals that are either stiff or prone to damage—that power these smart devices.
	Scientists film sound waves in a crystal To predict how materials behave, one must first know their characteristics. Further, suppose you want to manipulate or design new materials and have them serve some technological purpose in, for example, electronic or photonic circuits. In that case, you need to understand the structural dynamics very, very well.
	European telecom firms urge EU to make big tech pay The heads of European telecoms firms, including Orange and Vodafone, on Monday urged the EU to make tech and streaming giants pay for the massive amounts of bandwidth they use.
	Replacing gas heating with reverse-cycle aircon leaves some people feeling cold. Why? And what's the solution? Researchers and policymakers are advocating all-electric housing to reduce energy bills and emissions. Using energy-efficient reverse-cycle air conditioners is a core element of the shift from gas.
	Are NFTs really dead and buried? All signs point to 'yes' Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are in dire straits. With the market in a severe downturn, it's safe to assume the NFT bubble has well and truly burst.
	Researchers are tapping into psychology to improve AI to help robots interact more like humans A robot rushes down a busy hospital corridor dodging random foot traffic. With a subtle gesture from a care provider, the robot enters a room and hands over drugs to a waiting bedside nurse.
	Google monopoly trial shows appetite for enforcement on Big Tech, antitrust experts say It's so associated with web searching that it's become a verb.
	Is it really sustainable for everyone to own an electric car? Norway is often seen as a shining example of how a country can make its transportation greener by encouraging consumers to purchase electric cars. But Norway's approach isn't for everyone—and it may be hampering the country's efforts to make its transport solutions truly climate friendly.
	Study introduces new internet addiction spectrum. Where are you on the scale? Young people (24 years and younger) spend an average of six hours a day online, primarily using their smartphones, according to research from the University of Surrey. Older people (those 24 years and older) spend 4.6 hours online.
	At the end of the road, EV batteries have no particular place to go Transport is at a crossroads as we move away from filling our tanks with liquid fossil fuels and powering them up from battery charging points. However, the lithium-ion batteries that displaced those tanks have a finite lifespan and must be replaced when their recharge capacity falls below a usable level. With millions of electric vehicles set to be driving our roads in the coming decades, the shift to a promised greener, cleaner future for transport is well underway…but only if we can manage the battery waste and ensure that their batteries don't end up in a pile-up of electrical waste.
	A novel framework for smooth avatar-user synchronization in the metaverse Mobile phones, smartwatches and earbuds are some gadgets that we carry around without much thought. The increasingly digitized world sees a shrinking gap between human and technology, and many researchers and companies are interested in how technology can be further integrated into our lives.
	Researcher focuses on improving accessibility of online graphics for blind users The beauty of a nice infographic published alongside a news or magazine story is that it makes numeric data more accessible to the average reader. But for blind and visually impaired users, such graphics often have the opposite effect.
	Apple working on fix for iPhone 15 models running hot Apple on Monday said it is working to fix a "bug" it said was among reasons some newly released iPhone 15 smartphones are heating up.
	Microsoft CEO hits out at 'dominant' Google in US trial Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told a US court on Monday that Google's dominance of the search engine market made it very hard for rivals to emerge, hitting out sharply at the business practices of his company's archrival.
	Austria rail operator OeBB unveils new night trains Austrian rail operator OeBB on Saturday unveiled its new generation of sleeper trains—a response to demands from travelers for less pollutant alternatives to planes and petrol or diesel cars.
	Crypto industry grapples with FTX fallout as trial looms The collapse of cryptocurrency platform FTX, whose disgraced former boss goes on trial this week, sparked shock waves worldwide, with regulators still seeking to get to grips with the sector.
	Facing increasing pressure from customers, some miners are switching to renewable energy Red hot sparks fly through the air as a worker in a heat-resistant suit pokes a long metal rod into a nickel smelter, coaxing the molten metal from a crucible at a processing facility on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.

Chemistry news

	Striking rare gold: Researchers unveil new material infused with gold in an exotic chemical state For the first time, Stanford researchers have found a way to create and stabilize an extremely rare form of gold that has lost two negatively charged electrons, denoted Au2+. The material stabilizing this elusive version of the valued element is a halide perovskite—a class of crystalline materials that holds great promise for various applications including more-efficient solar cells, light sources, and electronics components.
	New material discovery could revolutionize roll-out of global vaccinations New raw vaccine materials that could make vaccines more accessible, sustainable, and ethical have been discovered. The results of the research have been published in Polymers.
	Immune cell map reveals origin of subcellular response to microbes The first line of defense in our immune systems are white blood cells, 40% to 70% of which are neutrophils. These cells rush to sites of injury or infection, producing proteins to promote inflammation and attack invading microbes. At the time of response, the proteins are decorated with carbohydrate molecules—called glycoproteins—yet scientists do not know when or how these complex molecules appear.
	Ancient architecture inspires a new way to work with metal-organic frameworks A centuries-old technique for constructing arched stone windows has inspired a new way to form tailored nanoscale windows in porous functional materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs).
	Study suggests the introduction of multi-cations contributes to the performance of anion exchange membranes Anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) have gained attention in the process of fuel cell development because they operate in alkaline environments, the redox reaction rate at the electrodes is faster, and non-precious metal catalysts such as Ni, Co, and Ag can be used, which reduces the cost of fuel cells.

Biology news

	Timing plant evolution with a fast-ticking epigenetic clock Recent discoveries in the field of epigenetics, the study of inheritance of traits that occur without changing the DNA sequence, have shown that chronological age in mammals correlates with epigenetic changes that accumulate during the lifetime of an individual.
	Reducing fishing gear could save whales with low impacts to California's crab fishermen Sometimes simple solutions are better. It all depends on the nature of the problem. For humpback whales, the problem is the rope connecting a crab trap on the seafloor to the buoy on the surface. And for fishermen, it's fishery closures caused by whale entanglements.
	Endangered red wolf can make it in the wild, but not without 'significant' help, study says The endangered red wolf can survive in the wild, but only with "significant additional management intervention," according to a long-awaited population viability analysis released Friday.
	Study pinpoints cold adaptations in nervous system of Antarctic octopus Laden with dissolved salt, Antarctic waters can hover just above freezing and even dip below it. Temperatures this low would likely kill the animals that prosper in warmer waters further north. Yet, some creatures have found ways to live in this inhospitable cold.
	Scientists identify evolutionary gateway helping pneumonia bacteria become resistant to antibiotics An evolutionary gateway which helps pneumonia cells become resistant to antibiotics has been discovered by scientists at the University of Sheffield.
	Plant chloroplasts promise potential therapy for Huntington's disease Researchers at the University of Cologne's CECAD Cluster of Excellence for Aging Research and the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences have found a promising synthetic plant biology approach for the development of a therapy to treat human neurodegenerative diseases, especially Huntington's disease.
	Genetics of attraction: Mate choice in fruit flies Genetic quality or genetic compatibility? What do female fruit flies prioritize when mating? Researchers at the University of Zurich show that both factors are important at different stages of the reproductive process and that females use targeted strategies to optimize the fitness of their offspring.
	Cell biologists identify new organelle present in mammalian cells made of rings of DNA Researchers at ETH Zurich recently identified a previously unknown compartment in mammalian cells. They have named it the exclusome. It is made up of DNA rings known as plasmids. The researchers have published details of their discovery in the journal Molecular Biology of the Cell.
	Researchers investigate role of water molecules in formation of condensates in cells In order to fulfill their function, biological cells need to be divided into separate reaction compartments. This is sometimes done with membranes, and sometimes without them: the spontaneous segregation of certain types of biomolecules leads to the formation of so-called condensates. Why and under which circumstances they form is currently being researched.
	Scientists discover a new enzyme that helps cells fight genomic parasites The research teams of Professor René Ketting at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz, Germany, and Dr. Sebastian Falk at the Max Perutz Labs in Vienna, Austria, have identified a new enzyme called PUCH, which plays a key role in preventing the spread of parasitic DNA in our genomes. These findings may reveal new insights into how our bodies detect and fight bacteria and viruses to prevent infections.
	Give abandoned croplands a second chance to boost climate mitigation and food security, urges new study The reuse of abandoned croplands should be considered by governments as a way to tackle climate change and reduce the environmental impacts of agricultural expansion. This was a key takeaway from a new study led by the National University of Singapore's Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions under the Faculty of Science, which was published recently in Nature Communications.
	Metal-loving microbes offer a green way to refine rare earth elements Rare earth elements are essential components of electric cars, wind turbines and smartphones. Retrieving these metals from raw ore requires processing with acids and solvents.
	How new plant cell walls change their mechanical properties after cell division Scientists have revealed new plant cell walls can have significantly different mechanical properties compared to surrounding parental cell walls, enabling cells to change their local shape and influence the growth of plant organs.
	Research reveals overlooked parts of proteins as critical to fundamental functions of life According to textbooks, proteins work by folding into stable 3D shapes that, like Lego blocks, precisely fit with other biomolecules.
	A more effective experimental design for engineering a cell into a new state A strategy for cellular reprogramming involves using targeted genetic interventions to engineer a cell into a new state. The technique holds great promise in immunotherapy, for instance, where researchers could reprogram a patient's T-cells so they are more potent cancer killers. Someday, the approach could also help identify life-saving cancer treatments or regenerative therapies that repair disease-ravaged organs.
	Researchers discover promising treatment to combat hospital superbug Cal State Fullerton antibiotic-resistance researcher María Soledad Ramírez and her students have discovered a promising new therapeutic to treat Acinetobacter baumannii, a superbug commonly found in hospitals and resistant to many antibiotics.
	Study sheds new light on how soil viruses behave and interact with bacteria Viruses in soil may not be as destructive to bacteria as once thought and could instead act like lawnmowers, culling older cells and giving space for new growth, according to research out of the University of California, Davis, published Sept. 28 in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.
	DNA from discarded whale bones suggests loss of genetic diversity due to commercial whaling Commercial whaling in the 20th century decimated populations of large whales but also appears to have had a lasting impact on the genetic diversity of today's surviving whales, new research from Oregon State University shows.
	International study characterizes diversity of bees in apple orchards across the globe By carrying pollen from flower to flower, pollinator insects play an essential role in the reproductive cycle of flowering plants. Bees do more of it than any other, both here in Canada and around the world.
	Earthworms contribute to 6.5% of world grain production: study Most gardeners know that earthworms help keep soils healthy, now scientists have assessed just how important their underground activities are to global food production—and how to protect them.
	World's biggest bat colony gathers in Zambia every year. Researchers used artificial intelligence to count them Everybody who visits Kasanka National Park in Zambia during "bat season" agrees that the evening emergence of African straw-colored fruit bats from their roost site is one of the wildlife wonders of the world. The bats (Eidolon helvum) arrive at Kasanka every year around October. The numbers swell rapidly until they peak in November. By January they are gone again.
	Crossing glaciers and fjords: Norwegian reindeer migrate for winter A herd of reindeer with white, brown or gray coats climb mountains and swim between glaciers on their great migration to their winter pasture in Norway's far north.
	France to vaccinate millions of ducks against bird flu France on Monday began Europe's only vaccination campaign against bird flu in ducks, hoping to avoid mass culls of millions of birds that have dearly cost the industry in recent years.
	Wheat's long non-coding RNAs unveiled: A leap in understanding grain development Wheat is a global staple food and plays a pivotal role in the livelihoods of billions of people. Although long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been recognized as crucial regulators of numerous biological processes, our knowledge of lncRNAs associated with wheat (Triticum aestivum) grain development remains minimal.
	Organisms without brains can learn, too. So what does it mean to be a thinking creature? The brain is an evolutionary marvel. By shifting the control of sensing and behavior to this central organ, animals (including us) are able to flexibly respond and flourish in unpredictable environments. One skill above all—learning—has proven key to the good life.
	Emperor penguins face a bleak future, but some colonies will do better than others in diverse sea-ice conditions The long-term future looks bleak for Emperor penguins, but our new research shows some birds may be able to survive in certain conditions, depending on where they live, at least for the next few decades.
	Jellyfish: Our complex relationship with the oceans' anti-heroes Ding! The courier hands me an unassuming brown box with "live animals" plastered on the side. I begin carefully unboxing. The cardboard exterior gives way to a white polystyrene clamshell, cloistering a pearly sphere-shaped, water-filled bag. Lightly pulsing, I spot them: three cannonball jellyfish (Stomolophus meleagris). Each the size of a 50-pence coin.
	How plants survive droughts and extreme rainfall Tropical ecosystems are constantly navigating between prolonged drought and extreme rainfall, but little research has been done to understand why some plants are able to survive these swings in climate.
	Bushfire tweets reveal role of social media in emergencies A study on social media activity during the Black Summer bushfires has revealed how the discussions changed through the phases of the disaster, and how critical social media is in disseminating information during natural disasters. The study was published in Forest Ecology and Management.
	Research reveals how a single enzyme can boost soybean oil production As a potent source of protein and oil, soybeans are a vital global crop for food, animal feed, industrial applications, and biofuel production. Even minor improvements in soybean seed content can therefore have far-reaching implications for agricultural productivity and global economies.
	Pheromones found to influence death feigning behavior in beetles Predation is a driving force in the evolution of anti-predator strategies, and death feigning, characterized by immobility in response to threats, is a common defensive mechanism across various animal species. While this behavior can enhance an individual's survival prospects by reducing a predator's interest, it also carries costs, such as limited opportunities for feeding and reproduction.
	Study on mysterious Amazon porcupine can help its protection Porcupines of the genus Coendou are arboreal, herbivorous, nocturnal rodents distributed in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. Most of what we currently know on them is restricted to species that occur near urban areas, and we still have a lot to learn about these fascinating animals.
	Desperate to rid California of invasive deer, officials propose bold helicopter hunt A plan to use helicopter-mounted sharpshooters to kill nearly 2,000 invasive mule deer roaming the mountains of Santa Catalina Island has ignited a storm of protest among residents of the popular resort destination and prompted calls for state wildlife officials to block the hunt.
	'The boss of Country,' not wild dogs to kill: How living with dingoes can unite communities Aside from humans, dingoes are Australia's largest land-based predator. They are arguably our most maligned, misunderstood, and mismanaged native species.

Medicine and Health news

	New tests of a recently approved RSV vaccine show potent antibody response to current and past variants New tests of a recently approved vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus—RSV—show the shot remains effective against a range of variants producing potent antibody responses against current and past strains, and may even bode well against future viral offshoots.
	Post-vaccine vaginal bleeding rates associated with all COVID-19 vaccine types across reproductive ages Research by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway, suggests that COVID-19 vaccines or the body's response to them can lead to unexpected vaginal bleeding in women. This phenomenon was observed in women across different reproductive stages.
	Researchers study nearly 1,000 fertility attempts hoping to improve IVF By genetically testing nearly 1,000 embryos, scientists have provided the most detailed analysis of embryo fate following human in vitro fertilization.
	Neural activity associated with motor commands changes depending on context Standing at a crosswalk, the signal changes from "don't walk," to "walk." You might step out into the street straight away, or you might look both ways before you cross.
	New study offers hope for pulmonary fibrosis patients Using a new recipe for growing blood vessels from living lung tissue in the lab, a University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science research team has developed an analytical tool that could lead to a cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or IPF, a lung-destroying disease.
	Tablet-based AI app measures multiple behavioral indicators to screen for autism Researchers at Duke University have demonstrated an app driven by AI that can run on a tablet to accurately screen for autism in children by measuring and weighing a variety of distinct behavioral indicators.
	Liquid biopsy may help identify which patients with non-small cell lung cancer will benefit most from radiation A novel liquid biopsy test may help determine which patients with non-small cell lung cancer that has spread beyond the lungs are most likely to benefit from targeted, high-dose radiation, rather than drug-based therapy, a new study suggests. Findings were presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting and published in npj Precision Oncology.
	Contagious cancers in cockles sequenced, showing unexpected instability Transmissible cancers in cockles—marine cancers that can spread through the water—have been sequenced for the first time, unearthing new insight into how these cancers have spread across animal populations for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years.
	Nerve cells can detect small numbers of things better than large numbers of things, study shows When two, three or four apples are placed in front of us, we are able to recognize the number of apples very quickly. However, we need significantly more time if there are five or more apples and we often also guess the wrong number. In fact, the brain does actually register smaller numbers of things differently than larger ones. This has been demonstrated in a recent study by the University of Tübingen, University of Bonn and the University Hospital Bonn. The results were published in Nature Human Behaviour.
	Vascular cells found to be crucial in forming long-term memories Research on long-term memories has largely focused on the role of neurons—the brain's nerve cells. However, in recent years, scientists are discovering that other cell types are also vital in memory formation and storage.
	Discrimination alters brain-gut 'crosstalk,' prompting poor food choices and increased health risks, research shows People frequently exposed to racial or ethnic discrimination may be more susceptible to obesity and related health risks in part because of a stress response that changes biological processes and how we process food cues. These are findings from UCLA researchers conducting what is believed to be the first study directly examining effects of discrimination on responses to different types of food as influenced by the brain-gut-microbiome (BGM) system.
	Largest-ever genetic study of suicide finds new risk factors The reasons why people attempt suicide are complex and include external triggers like trauma and stress, as well as inherited genetic factors. A new study published online on October 1 in the American Journal of Psychiatry has identified 12 DNA variants, or variations in the human genetic code, that are associated with risk of attempting suicide.
	Targeting autophagy to enhance memory immune responses Memory B cells depend on autophagy for their survival, but the protein Rubicon is thought to hinder this process. Researchers from Osaka University have discovered a shorter isoform of Rubicon called RUBCN100, which enhances autophagy in B cells. Mice that lacked the longer isoform, RUBCN130, produced more memory B cells in a way that relied on autophagy. These findings provide further insight into the role of Rubicon in autophagy.
	Researchers identify structure in circadian mRNA that affects the sleep-wake cycle Circadian rhythms, the internal biological clocks that regulate our daily activities, are essential for maintaining health and well-being. While the role of transcription in these rhythms is well-established, a new study sheds light on the critical importance of post-transcriptional processes.
	How the hippocampus distinguishes true and false memories Let's say you typically eat eggs for breakfast but were running late and ate cereal. As you crunched on a spoonful of Raisin Bran, other contextual similarities remained: You ate at the same table, at the same time, preparing to go to the same job. When someone asks later what you had for breakfast, you incorrectly remember eating eggs.
	Heavily mutated SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86 not as resistant to antibodies as first feared Researchers at Karolinska Institutet who studied SARS-CoV-2 variant BA.2.86, found that the new variant was not significantly more resistant to antibodies than several other variants that are circulating. The study also showed that antibody levels to BA.2.86 were significantly higher after a wave of XBB infections compared to before, suggesting that the vaccines based on XBB should provide some cross-protection to BA.2.86.
	Mobile DNA elements can boost the development of malignant tumors Nearly half of the human genome is composed of transposable elements, which are sequences of DNA that are able to replicate and relocate in the genome. Previously, transposable elements have been considered "junk" DNA in the human genome. However, research has shown that the ability to replicate and move has enabled these sequences to develop into new regulatory regions during evolution, particularly in early stages of development.
	Researchers find mitochondrial DNA damage triggers spread of Parkinson's disease-like pathology Until recently, our understanding of Parkinson's disease has been quite limited, which has been apparent in the limited treatment options for management of this debilitating condition.
	New tool reveals how drugs affect men, women differently, and could lead to safer medications UVA Health researchers have developed a powerful new tool to understand how medications affect men and women differently, and that will help lead to safer, more effective drugs in the future.
	Rh sensitization treatment may be unnecessary in first trimester pregnancies A special immune treatment may not be necessary until after the first trimester of pregnancy, according to a new Penn State and University of Pennsylvania study. The researchers said their results could change pregnancy care guidelines and possibly close global health equity gaps.
	A possible new treatment for acute myeloid leukemia New research has identified a novel immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. The study, published in Nature Cancer, describes a T-cell receptor that recognizes a mutation shared between a subgroup of patients with the disease. The results provide hope for new and effective treatment using T cells equipped with the therapeutic T cell receptor, "programmed" to kill the leukemia cells.
	DeepMB: A deep learning framework for high-quality optoacoustic imaging in real-time In order to understand and detect diseases scientists and medical staff often rely on imaging methods such as ultrasound or X-ray. However, depending on the tissue the resolution and depth of the resulting image is limited or insufficient.
	New insights into the developmental trajectory of autism In a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital shed new light on the evolving nature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnoses in early childhood. Diagnosing ASD at a young age is important for early intervention and treatment, but this new study suggests that not all kids continue to meet the criteria for ASD as they get older.
	Self-sampling proves effective in diagnosing asymptomatic mpox An article published in Nature Communications on the pilot study carried out in Catalonia to evaluate the self-collection of biological samples reveals the high acceptability of the proposal and the key role of diagnosis in people without symptoms of mpox.
	Exploring distributed workload in the fly brain Recognizing motion requires an enormous amount of computing power from the brain. A new study from Alexander Borst's department at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence shows how the fly brain masters this task: By performing a neuronal computation on three network levels, it distributes the workload over several steps.
	MDMA increases feelings of connection during conversation, showing promise for therapy MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, is a recreational psychedelic drug often used at parties and dance clubs because it creates feelings of closeness and social connection with others. Because of this "empathogenic" effect, researchers are also interested in its potential use as a complement to traditional talk therapy. In fact, two recent successful clinical trials support the use of MDMA-assisted therapy as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
	Host genetics helps explain childhood cancer survivors' mortality risk from second cancers The population of childhood cancer survivors in the U.S. is increasing, with an overall childhood cancer survival rate greater than 85% five years after diagnosis. However, survivors can still be at increased risk of various health conditions, including second cancers.
	How floods kill, long after the water has gone: Sobering data from a global decade-long study With New York's declared state of emergency following flash flooding, there is increasing concern such events will become more common globally.
	Researchers find potential target for prompting fat cells to expend energy A research team led by Emma Robinson, Ph.D., and Timothy McKinsey, Ph.D., at the University of Colorado School of Medicine has identified a potential target for treating obesity and metabolic disease that could enhance the effectiveness of existing anti-obesity drugs.
	Making immunotherapy safe for AML Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the second most common leukemia in children, is hard to treat and has a five-year survival rate of just 65 to 70%, according to the American Cancer Society. While immunotherapies like monoclonal antibodies or CAR T-cell therapy are effective for certain blood cancers, they have not been possible in AML because of toxicity concerns. It's been hard to find targets on leukemia cells that normal blood stem cells don't share, so immunotherapy runs the risk of harming normal cells.
	Blood tests for long COVID could lead to better treatments People who develop long COVID have distinct abnormalities in their immune and hormonal function that can be picked up with blood tests, researchers have found.
	Teen boys with high blood pressure face danger decades later Teenage boys who have high blood pressure may find themselves on the road to serious heart problems in adulthood.
	Reduced mortality risk seen for patients with vitiligo Patients with vitiligo may have a reduced risk for mortality, according to a study published online Sept. 14 in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
	Flu vaccine uptake varies by sociodemographic factors in chronic kidney disease patients Among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), younger adults, Black individuals, and those with adverse social determinants of health are less likely to receive a flu vaccine, according to a study published online Sept. 15 in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
	Stem cell treatment halts MS for some patients A new study is strengthening the evidence that stem cell transplants can be highly effective for some people with multiple sclerosis—sending the disease into remission for years, and sometimes reversing disability.
	Study suggests threshold for type 2 diabetes diagnosis in women under 50 years should be lowered New research presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Hamburg, Germany (2–6 October) and published in the journal Diabetes Therapy suggests that the diagnosis threshold for type 2 diabetes (T2D) should be lowered in women aged under 50 years, since natural blood loss through menstruation could be affecting their blood sugar management. The study is by Dr. Adrian Heald, Salford Royal Hospital, UK, and colleagues.
	Food insecurity doubles rate of severe hypoglycemia in adults with diabetes, research shows Research presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Hamburg, Germany (2–6 Oct) has found that severe hypoglycemia is more than twice as common among adults with diabetes who struggle to afford food.
	Daylight rather than artificial light improves blood sugar control and nutrient use in type 2 diabetes, study finds Exposure to natural light could help treat and prevent type 2 diabetes, new research presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Hamburg, Germany (2–6 Oct), suggests.
	Breastfeeding is associated with lower levels of body fat at the age of nine New research presented at the Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Hamburg, Germany (2–6 Oct) has linked infant formula and the early introduction of fizzy drinks with higher levels of body fat later in childhood.
	Sexual activity and vaginal dilation associated with fewer side effects after cervical cancer treatment People who engage in sexual activity or vaginal dilation after chemoradiation treatment for cervical cancer are at lower risk for long-term side effects, according to a new study from researchers in Austria. Findings of the EMBRACE study will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
	Shorter course of radiation therapy is safe for patients with early-stage breast cancer after mastectomy, reconstruction Researchers at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center have found that a shorter course of radiation therapy after mastectomy and breast reconstruction surgery provides the same protection against breast cancer recurrence and equivalent physical side-effects but substantially reduces life disruption and financial burden for patients.
	High-dose radiation offers new treatment option for older patients with inoperable kidney tumors Older adults diagnosed with kidney tumors that are not suitable for surgery may benefit from targeted, high-dose radiation, a new study from Australian and Dutch researchers suggests.
	Liquid biopsies can rapidly detect residual disease following cervical chemoradiation, study finds Two liquid biopsy tests that look for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in the blood accurately identified patients with a high risk of cervical cancer recurrence after the completion of chemoradiation, a new study confirms. Findings will be presented today at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting.
	Short-course radiation as effective for patients who opt for breast reconstruction after mastectomy In a first-of-its-kind study, people with breast cancer who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction immediately following a mastectomy reported that getting fewer, higher doses of radiation was just as effective as standard radiation, did not increase side effects and saved them time and money. There also was a small improvement in quality of life for women under 45 who received the shortened treatment regimen.
	Bangladesh dengue deaths top 1,000 in worst outbreak on record More than 1,000 people in Bangladesh have died of dengue fever this year, the country's worst recorded outbreak of the mosquito-borne disease, which is increasing in frequency due to climate change.
	Narcolepsy, cancer tipped as Medicine Prize opens Nobel week Narcolepsy, cancer or mRNA vaccine research could win the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday when a week of announcements kick off, but experts see no clear frontrunner for the Peace Prize.
	Novartis says positive interim results on rare kidney disease drug Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis on Monday reported positive interim Phase III results for a new drug being studied to treat a rare kidney disease.
	Precision medicine navigators increase genomic testing rates for Black patients with prostate cancer The presence of a clinical navigator to act as a liaison between people with prostate cancer and the health care system greatly increases the likelihood that patients, especially Black patients, will receive advanced testing that can help predict the severity of their disease and guide treatment, a new study suggests.
	Pharmacists can improve access to life-saving vaccines with available technology HPV, or human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is also the leading cause of cervical cancer. Over 1,400 Canadian women are affected yearly, with almost 400 deaths, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. It is completely preventable with the HPV vaccine, and yet, unfortunately, many people are unvaccinated.
	Kariko calls Nobel win 'unbelievable' Katalin Kariko, who won the Nobel Medicine Prize for work on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, paving the way for COVID-19 vaccines, told Swedish media on Monday winning felt "unbelievable".
	Advanced bladder cancer patients could keep their bladder under new treatment regime, clinical trial shows Mount Sinai investigators have developed a new approach for treating invasive bladder cancer without the need for surgical removal of the bladder, according to a study published in Nature Medicine in September. Removing the bladder is currently a standard approach when cancer has invaded the muscle layer of the bladder.
	Study suggests drinking dark tea every day may help control blood sugar to reduce diabetes risk Drinking dark tea every day may help to mitigate type 2 diabetes risk and progression in adults through better blood sugar control, suggests new research presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Hamburg (2–6 Oct).
	Hairy polymer balls help get genetic blueprints inside T-cells for blood cancer therapy Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have realized a new polymer that can effectively transport plasmid DNA into T-cells during chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, a key treatment for blood cancer. Importantly, it can get genes into floating T-cells, not only ones fixed to surfaces. It is stable, non-toxic, and doesn't use viruses. It outperforms polyion compounds considered a gold standard in the field, paving the way for new therapies.
	US health officials propose using a cheap antibiotic as a 'morning-after pill' against STDs U.S. health officials plan to endorse a common antibiotic as a morning-after pill that gay and bisexual men can use to try to avoid some increasingly common sexually transmitted diseases.
	Food insecurity for children in Indigenous communities is a crisis that needs to be addressed, researchers say Dr. Anna Banerji's ties to the Arctic run deep. She visited for the first time in 1995 to research respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Inuit babies. In 2004, she adopted an Inuit son and developed a close relationship with his foster and biological families. As a tropical disease specialist, infectious disease physician and pediatrician, she was originally looking into RSV vaccine access, but over time and more than 50 visits, another glaring issue in Northern communities became obvious: the lack of food security so many families—and particularly children—face.
	Study from Fukushima shows even low doses of radiation may contribute to diabetes New research presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Hamburg (2–6 Oct), suggests that exposure to low doses of radiation may contribute to an increased risk of diabetes.
	Worldwide audit finds testosterone replacement improves blood sugar control in men with type 2 diabetes Real-world data from an ongoing international audit of testosterone deficiency in men with type 2 diabetes, presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Hamburg (2–6 Oct), suggests that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) improves glycemic control for up to two years.
	Real-world study supports use of semaglutide for long-term management of type 2 diabetes New research presented at the Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Hamburg (2–6 Oct), shows that treatment with the drug semaglutide significantly improves blood sugar control and weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes for up to three years.
	Study evaluates protein that regulates pigment cell development for role in skin cancer The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is the master regulator of pigment cell development and, as a lineage survival oncogene, plays a crucial role in the skin cancer melanoma and its resistance to therapy. How MITF distinguishes between its seemingly incompatible differentiation and proliferation-associated targets in the genome has been a bit of a puzzle.
	UN authorizes a second malaria vaccine. Experts warn it's not enough to stop the disease spreading The World Health Organization authorized a second malaria vaccine on Monday, a decision that could offer countries a cheaper and a more readily available option than the world's first shot against the parasitic disease.
	Should I be getting my vitamin D levels checked? Australia has seen a surge in vitamin D testing of children, with similar trends reported for adults around the world. GPs are now being urged not to test for vitamin D unnecessarily.
	We got the beat: How we perceive rhythm involves neurological processes that control movement When you hear a song playing somewhere, you might find yourself tapping your fingers or moving your head to the rhythm. If you're walking, your footsteps may fall in line with the beat. Whether or not you're a musician, somehow you know intuitively when to speed up or slow down to stay in time.
	Family doctor shortage: Medical education reform can help address critical gaps, starting with a specialized program Recent reports indicate that more than 6 million Canadians are without a family doctor. This not only has a massive impact for those individuals, but also for the entire health-care system. Given current caseloads, about 4,000 family doctors would be required to address the current shortfall.
	Our mood usually lifts in spring. But after early heat waves and bushfires, this year may be different When we think of spring, we might imagine rebirth and renewal that comes with the warmer weather and longer days. It's usually a time to celebrate, flock to spring flower festivals and spend more time in nature.
	Early indicators of dementia: Five behavior changes to look for after age 50 Dementia is often thought of as a memory problem, like when an elderly person asks the same questions or misplaces things. In reality, individuals with dementia will not only experience issues in other areas of cognition like learning, thinking, comprehension and judgment, but they may also experience changes in behavior.
	Three rules for adding weight to your backpack that will boost the benefits of exercise Walking is a great exercise for keeping your physical and mental health in check. But if you're looking to give your daily walks a boost, you might want to give "rucking" a try.
	Canned fish can still trigger allergic reactions, says study Scientists say the assumption that it's ok for people with a fish allergy to eat canned fish (without first undergoing a thorough assessment) can be wrong and dangerous.
	Research indicates some people may be physically unable to use police breathalyzers Some people may be physically unable to use the current evidential breath analysis machines, relied upon by police to gather proof of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, new research published in the Medico-Legal Journal from the University of Sheffield indicates.
	Single set of criteria to assess progression in glioma aims to speed discovery of new medicines In order to accurately assess the efficacy of novel therapies for brain tumors it is necessary to have reliable criteria to determine response or progression. Response assessment in brain tumors is difficult because of the irregular shapes of the tumors and the fact that many therapies used to treat these tumors can also produce imaging changes that resemble tumor growth.
	Rapid telehealth consults found to improve care for rural patients with stroke Minutes matter when a patient may have had a stroke, but being far from a physician with advanced training in neurology no longer needs to be a barrier to rapid diagnosis and intervention.
	Men with metastatic prostate cancer live longer thanks to new drugs, study finds Survival rates for men with metastatic prostate cancer have increased by an average of six months, something which coincides with the gradual introduction of "dual treatment" since 2016. This is according to a register study of all Swedish men diagnosed between 2008 and 2020. The results are published in JAMA Network open.
	Examining differences in mortality rates for dangerous cerebral hemorrhage among Finnish university hospitals Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is one of the most dangerous cerebrovascular disorders, with as many as 40% of patients dying within one month of the event.
	Gulf War illness may increase risk for heart disease or stroke Military veterans with Gulf War illness may face a higher risk for heart disease, stroke and several risk factors, a new study suggests.
	Joint injections ineffective for hand osteoarthritis symptoms, finds evidence review Joint injections to relieve the symptoms of hand osteoarthritis are no better than placebo, while the effectiveness of topical creams and gels is uncertain, finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence, published in the open access journal RMD Open.
	Researchers find education and occupation influence cardiovascular health and mortality Cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes are the most common cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), they account for about 18 million deaths each year. The causes of cardiovascular disease are diverse and complex. International studies suggest that socioeconomic status (SES), among other factors, may have an impact on cardiovascular health. SES is defined by the educational attainment, employment status as well as income.
	Study indicates possible link between chronic stress and Alzheimer's disease Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have published a study in Alzheimer's Research & Therapy that addresses possible associations between chronic stress, mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. The study shows how people aged between 18 and 65 with a previous diagnosis of chronic stress and depression were more likely than other people to be diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.
	Calls for verbal abuse of children by adults to be formally recognized as form of child maltreatment A new systematic review by researchers at UCL and Wingate University has highlighted the importance of identifying childhood verbal abuse by adults as a standalone subtype of child maltreatment, to ensure targeted prevention and address the lasting harm it can inflict.
	Progress in the fight against resistance in metastatic breast cancer A team of researchers at the Medical University of Vienna has discovered that dormant tumor cells surviving chemotherapy can be targeted through the inhibition of a specific protein called P-glycoprotein (P-gp). This discovery opens up new possibilities for delaying relapse and is particularly relevant for aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), for which there are currently few effective treatments.
	Study shows how 'superbacteria' were prevented from spreading in a large tertiary hospital Rapid identification of patients contaminated by "superbacteria" known as "carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae" (CRE), with early isolation of these patients, reduces transmission in hospital emergency departments. However, keeping them in the emergency room (ER) for more than two days undermines containment because it increases the risk of infection via colonization.
	A quarter of teens with autism go undiagnosed, researchers find About a quarter of 16-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have yet to receive a formal diagnosis, according to research from Rutgers.
	Researchers develop mixture of compounds to help preserve organs before transplantation Using zebrafish as a model, investigators have determined a suitable combination of chemical compounds in which to store hearts, and potentially other organs, when frozen for extended periods of time before transplantation.
	A possible contribution of the locus coeruleus to arousal enhancement upon mild exercise Mild exercise results in a feeling of mental clarity and enhances cognition and memory. A possible mechanism behind such effects is the activation of the arousal center in the brainstem, thereby elevating the arousal level of the entire brain. However, it has been difficult to accurately measure the brainstem during exercise.
	Breathing memory depends heavily on time of day for hypoxia: Study Neurochemical mechanisms that enable breathing memory—a form of neuroplasticity (the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to injuries) known as phrenic long-term facilitation—are very dependent on the time of day in which acute intermittent hypoxia treatment is delivered, according to researchers from the McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Florida.
	Developing the first drug for a deadly bone disease The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved palovarotene (Sohonos) as the first treatment for fibrodysplasia ossifcans progressiva (FOP), a severely disabling condition that causes abnormal bone formation in place of soft and connective tissues. The approval was based on research conducted through a multicenter clinical trial, including patients being treated with the drug at UC San Francisco's Metabolic Bone Clinic.
	Study highlights correlation between symptoms of insomnia and hypertension in women Getting enough sleep has never been more difficult in today's fast-paced environment. Yet new research from investigators in the Channing Division of Network Medicine of Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham health care system, highlights why getting a good night's sleep is critical to staying healthy.
	Mini livers recreate real environment for drug discovery Fatty liver disease is exploding globally, affecting as many as 30% of people in Western countries. Apart from alcohol, obesity and diabetes are among the most dominant risk factors.
	Pelvic floor muscle training no better than bladder training for overactive bladder: Study For women with overactive bladder symptoms, supervised pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) does not provide additional improvement over bladder training, according to a study published online Sept. 18 in Neurourology Urodynamics.
	New study explains why people with obesity are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease Obesity is a public health problem worldwide that currently affects more than 40% of adults in the U.S. Alarmingly, more than 9% of the U.S. population had severe (Class 3) obesity in 2020, the highest designation with a weight of 271 pounds or more for a person 5'9" and body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater. Obesity is on the rise and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and certain cancers.
	Evaluating neural activity and exercise capacity in patients with heart failure secondary to antineoplastic therapy A study, published in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, has analyzed the relationship between sympathetic neural overload and exercise capacity in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) related to anthracycline chemotherapy.
	Accelerated radiation treatment could reduce head and neck cancer patient burden in low- and middle-income countries A type of head and neck cancer predominantly diagnosed in people who reside in low- and middle-income countries may be treated effectively with fewer but higher doses of radiation, a large new international study suggests.
	CDC aims to recommend an antibiotic after sex to help prevent sexually transmitted infections The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is poised to recommend use of a powerful antibiotic to prevent sexually transmitted infections.
	Neighborhoods with greater structural disadvantage linked to extremes in newborn birthweight, study finds A baby born too big or too small is at risk of adverse outcomes from birth throughout their lifetime, including problems with neurological development and behavior, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Pregnancy is a window for intervention, with the goal of having a healthy, normal birthweight baby to decrease these serious health risks.
	Study reveals high accuracy of MR-guided radiotherapy for intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery A new study, led by radiation oncology physicists at Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida, has displayed positive results using intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery, also known as SRS, for an MR-guided radiotherapy system.
	Playing it safe: Why parents need to let children take risks when they play New research reveals that parents' tolerance of risk and injury is a determining factor in how physically active their children are.
	Study: Gene expression signatures of human senescent corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells A new research paper titled "Gene expression signatures of human senescent corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells" has been published in Aging.
	FDA will begin to regulate thousands of lab tests Faced with growing reports of inaccurate clinical lab tests, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced that it will for the first time regulate these vital diagnostic tools.
	Exercise can preserve astronauts' heart health on long space flights Extensive exercise regimens are keeping astronauts healthy and protecting their hearts during extended space missions, new research finds.
	Play in early childhood helps build a better brain, says leading expert Dr. Jacqueline Harding, director of Tomorrow's Child and an early childhood expert at Middlesex University, argues that the young child's brain is inherently designed to be playful and this is crucial for its development.
	Parents in Pakistan could face prison time for not vaccinating their kids against polio Authorities in one Pakistan province are turning to a controversial new tactic in the decades-long initiative to wipe out polio: prison.
	Tips to protect long-term brain health There is a growing understanding of the role lifestyle choices play in preventing and slowing the progression of cognitive decline. While we await new treatments for Alzheimer's disease and other age-related dementias, emerging research can offer some advice for keeping our brains healthy and sharp.
	Is your thumb pain de Quervain's tenosynovitis? De Quervain's tenosynovitis (pronounced da-KWUHR-vanes teena-sine-ah-VITE-us) is a complicated name for a condition that's been referred to as "mother's thumb," "mommy wrist" and "gamer's thumb"—all associated with repetitive use of the hands and wrist. It is a condition that causes extreme pain in the wrist and thumb area. While the exact cause is not known, Dr. Sanjeev Kakar, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon, says that there are specific treatment options that can help.
	New parents who express breast milk can feel marginalized by health advice, study says The well-being of new parents is potentially being threatened due to the emphasis placed on direct breastfeeding, a study shows.
	Take these steps to 'fall-proof' your home The risk of falls increases in older age, and along with it, the risk for serious physical or psychological damage, but there are steps people can take to help prevent these accidents.
	Joint replacement surgery and arthritis are not inevitable, expert says Don't worry about your hips or knees as you age. Arthritis in those joints isn't inevitable. Keep doing the activities you enjoy. Those hopeful words come from Rafael Sierra, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Mayo Clinic specializing in hip and knee reconstruction. Dr. Sierra says there is no need to curtail your activities out of fear that you'll wear out those joints as you age and need joint replacement.
	Treating thyroid cancer Nearly 44,000 new cases of thyroid cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, and more than 2,000 people will die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
	Q&A: Why women should start getting mammograms at age 40 The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued new draft guidelines this year recommending that women start breast cancer screening at a younger age. Leading breast cancer screening expert Elizabeth Morris, chair of the UC Davis Department of Radiology and a breast cancer survivor, answers questions that are on the minds of many women.
	Ten Halloween pedestrian safety tips With Halloween around the corner, it's a good time to consider ways to improve the safety of trick-or-treaters planning to roam neighborhoods and communities. The holiday brings delight to many but also heightens the risk of pedestrian injuries, as costumed characters dart from house to house or are distracted by scary sights and sounds, especially after nightfall.

Other Sciences news

	Stonehenge study upends a 100-year-old theory and suggests further discoveries to come A team led by researchers at the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, UK, has discovered a secret about Stonehenge stone 80, also known as the "Altar Stone," suggesting it did not come from the same source as other stones used in the construction. Many of the smaller stones are believed to be derived from a source 140 miles away from Stonehenge, but the Altar Stone is different and may be from a quarry much further away.
	Saturday Citations: Volcano vs. asteroid; NASA's supernova time lapse; immortal chemicals This week, we're highlighting a study involving toxic chemical contaminants, and just for fun, a second study involving other toxic chemical contaminants. But NASA made a cool time-lapse video using the good old Hubble space telescope, and a group of Italian demographers have a lot to say about the population-level consequences of lying.
	Best of Last Week—new quiescent galaxy discovered, training a third robot arm, a drug to mimic exercise It was a good week for space exploration, as a team of astronomers led by Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University discovered a new galaxy using data from the James Webb Space Telescope. The quiescent galaxy has been named JWST-ER1. Another team of astronomers from Canada and the U.S. using data from the JWST identified the first spectrum of a TRAPPIST-1 planet—seven Earth-sized stars were seen revolving around a cold star. And India's space chief Sreedhara Panicker Somanath told the press that he was unfazed by the end of his country's moon mission. The rover Pragyan ceased communicating with the ISRO reportedly after being put to sleep for the lunar night. Somanath suggested it had accomplished everything it was expected to do.
	End of stop-and-frisk practice in Chicago led to increase in minority traffic stops, research suggests A pair of civil rights researchers with the University of California has found evidence suggesting that ceasing one practice that violated citizen rights in Chicago may have led to the initiation of another. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, David Hausman and Dorothy Kronick describe how they analyzed traffic and pedestrian stops in Chicago following new rules that made it much more difficult for police officers to conduct stop-and-frisk searches in the city.
	Social media fatigue and narcissism linked to believing and sharing misinformation, finds 8-country study A study by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) found that those who say they are tired or overwhelmed by social media are likelier to believe in misinformation and share it online.
	Not the usual suspects: New interactive lineup boosts eyewitness accuracy Allowing eyewitnesses to dynamically explore digital faces using a new interactive procedure can significantly improve identification accuracy compared to the video lineup and photo array procedures used by police worldwide, a new study reveals.
	Faith primary schools admitting fewer children with special educational needs, study finds Faith primary schools are admitting fewer children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) than local authority community primaries, according to new research from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
	Video provides first clear views of WWII aircraft carriers lost in the pivotal Battle of Midway Footage from deep in the Pacific Ocean has given the first detailed look at three World War II aircraft carriers that sank in the pivotal Battle of Midway and could help solve mysteries about the days-long barrage that marked a shift in control of the Pacific theater from Japanese to U.S. forces.
	Things to know about the Nobel Prizes Fall has arrived in Scandinavia, which means Nobel Prize season is here.
	Metaphors for human fertilization are evolving, study shows In a common metaphor used to describe human fertilization, sperm cells are competitors racing to penetrate a passive egg. But as critics have noted, the description is also a "fairy tale," rooted in cultural beliefs about masculinity and femininity.
	Nobel Prize announcements are getting underway with the unveiling of the medicine prize Six days of Nobel Prize announcements begin Monday with the unveiling of the winner of the medicine award.
	Nobel prize goes to mRNA COVID vaccine researchers Researchers Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman won the Nobel Medicine Prize on Monday for work on messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that paved the way for groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccines.
	Avoid cramming and don't just highlight bits of text: How to help your memory when preparing for exams With school and university exams looming, students will be thinking about how they can maximize their learning.
	Lost in the coffee aisle? Navigating complex buzzwords behind an 'ethical' bag of beans is easier said than done You're shopping for a bag of coffee beans at the grocery store. After reading about the effects of climate change and how little farmers make—typically $0.40 per cup—you figure it might be time to change your usual beans and buy something more ethical. Perusing the shelves in the coffee aisle, though, you see too many choices.
	Safety on the line: Drivers who juggle multiple jobs are more likely to take risks on the road The driving profession is unsafe. Taxi drivers and ride-hail drivers, who drive for apps like Uber and Lyft, face many safety risks on the road, from accidents and injuries to harassment and violence.
	How often do you think about the Roman empire? TikTok trend exposes the way we gender history How often do you think about the Roman empire? This question, posed to men by their partners on social media app TikTok, has led to a storm of viral videos. Women are amused to discover the answer is often "every day," or at least "several times a week."
	What happens when we assign human qualities to companies? Understanding how people judge organizations, especially after organizational wrongdoing, is a complex puzzle—but a consequential one. New research from the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business sheds light on the intriguing ways that people do so.
	Mismatch between expected and actual nutritional value is key driver behind negative reviews of online grocery sites Online grocery shopping has become more popular since the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales from online food retail in the United States are projected to grow from 9.5% of total food commerce in 2020 to 20.5% in 2026. Given this, consumer reviews of grocery products have also become more important in shaping buying behavior.
	Q&A: Teaching in the age of artificial intelligence and content-generation software In late August, KPMG published a survey of 5,141 Canadian adult students, just over half of whom (52%) admitted to using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in their work, even when taking tests.
	Researchers: Forensic science method for firearm identification is flawed Like fingerprints, a firearm's discarded shell casings have unique markings. This allows forensic experts to compare casings from a crime scene with those from a suspect's gun. Finding and reporting a mismatch can help free the innocent, just as a match can incriminate the guilty.
	Organizing can give tenants power to effect change A renter doesn't generally hold much sway with a landlord or management company, but when tenants organize, their power can be formidable.
	Moving toward fair and sustainable futures beyond mining Mining brings huge social and environmental change to communities: landscapes, livelihoods and social fabric evolve alongside the industry. But what happens when the mines close? What problems face communities that lose their main employer and the very core of their identity and social networks?
	Lobbying or green innovation? Which protects firms from climate change risk? Innovation of green technology to meet climate challenges mitigates companies' environmental political risk in the long-term as compared with intensive government lobbying designed to dilute or stymie emission reduction policies, a QUT study has found.
	Australia's disability royal commissioners disagree over phasing out 'special schools,' leaving segregation on the table The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability delivered 222 recommendations on Friday after four and a half years of investigation and deliberation. In its 32 hearings and nearly 8,000 submissions, people with disability shared difficult stories of personal and systemic violence. The commission's final report showed Australians of all ages with disability continue to experience injustice that must be addressed.

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