Science X Newsletter Wed, Oct 18

Dear ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for October 18, 2023:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Study predicts potential for 110% electricity increases in US urban buildings

Bursting activity of magnetar SGR J1830–0645 observed with AstroSat

Hidden information extraction from layered structures through terahertz imaging

Chatbots reveal troubling ability to infer private data

California supervolcano is cooling off but may still cause quakes

Do humans get lazier when robots help with tasks?

Marine mammal longevity study reveals remarkable advances in animal welfare

Superlensing without a super lens: Physicists boost microscopes beyond limits

Collaborative study focuses on using computer algorithms to find molecular adaptations to improve COVID-19 drugs

Reef-devouring predator survives coral bleaching and feasts on the survivors

Scientists find a stem-cell derived mechanism that could lead to regenerative therapies for heart damage

Baby birds hatch with ability to mimic mom

Founder personality could predict start-up success, study suggests

Researchers measure magnetic field in eclipse medium of a spider pulsar PSR J2051-0827

How decision-making mechanisms go awry in OCD brains

Nanotechnology news

	From a five-layer graphene sandwich, a rare electronic state emerges Ordinary pencil lead holds extraordinary properties when shaved down to layers as thin as an atom. A single, atom-thin sheet of graphite, known as graphene, is just a tiny fraction of the width of a human hair. Under a microscope, the material resembles a chicken-wire of carbon atoms linked in a hexagonal lattice.
	Nanoparticle vaccine could curb cancer metastasis to lungs by targeting a protein Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an experimental vaccine that could prevent the spread of metastatic cancers to the lungs. The key ingredients of the vaccine are nanoparticles—fashioned from bacterial viruses—that have been engineered to target a protein known to play a central role in cancer growth and spread.
	A physics milestone: Miniature particle accelerator works Particle accelerators are crucial tools in a wide variety of areas in industry, research and the medical sector. The space these machines require ranges from a few square meters to large research centers. Using lasers to accelerate electrons within a photonic nanostructure constitutes a microscopic alternative with the potential of generating significantly lower costs and making devices considerably less bulky.
	Going rogue: Scientists apply giant wave mechanics on a nanometric scale Researchers have shown how the principles of rogue waves—huge 30-meter waves that arise unexpectedly in the ocean—can be applied on a nano scale, with dozens of applications from medicine to manufacturing.
	Mechanical engineering professor uses coal to create graphene Since its initial discovery in 2004 by two professors at the University of Manchester, graphene has made a big splash in the scientific community. Its discoverers won a Nobel Prize in 2010 for developing the idea—then the race was on to find ways to produce and apply it. Roop Mahajan, the Lewis A. Hester Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, has contributed a significant step forward in that race.
	Scientists develop thin film phototransistor for bioinspired visual adaptation A research team led by Prof. Cao Hongtao at the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with Prof. Zhang Haizhong's group from Fuzhou University, has developed a novel bioinspired vision sensor based on InP quantum dots (QDs)/oxide thin-film phototransistors.
	Scientists develop novel nanoparticles that could serve as contrast agents Special nanoparticles could one day improve modern imaging techniques. Developed by researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the properties of these unique nanoparticles change in reaction to heat. When combined with an integrated dye, the particles may be used in photoacoustic imaging to produce high-resolution, three-dimensional internal images of the human body, the team reports in the journal Chemical Communications.

Physics news

	Hidden information extraction from layered structures through terahertz imaging Noninvasive inspection of layered structures is challenging for time-resolved imaging methods, where the resolution and contrast can be compromised by prominent signal attenuation with interlayer reflections and dispersions.
	Superlensing without a super lens: Physicists boost microscopes beyond limits Ever since Antonie van Leeuwenhoek discovered the world of bacteria through a microscope in the late seventeenth century, humans have tried to look deeper into the world of the infinitesimally small.
	Physicists create new form of antenna for radio waves University of Otago physicists have used a small glass bulb containing an atomic vapor to demonstrate a new form of antenna for radio waves. The bulb was "wired up" with laser beams and could therefore be placed far from any receiver electronics.
	New technique uses near-miss particle physics to measure wobbling tau particles One way physicists seek clues to unravel the mysteries of the universe is by smashing matter together and inspecting the debris. But these types of destructive experiments, while incredibly informative, have limits.
	New technique accomplishes precise control of photonic angular momentum Rotating objects carry angular momentum; this fact extends even to the tiniest of particles, such as photons. Photons possess not one but two distinct forms of angular momentum: spin angular momentum (SAM) and orbital angular momentum (OAM).
	Researchers use measurements to generate quantum entanglement and teleportation Quantum mechanics is full of weird phenomena, but perhaps none as weird as the role measurement plays in the theory. Since a measurement tends to destroy the "quantumness" of a system, it seems to be the mysterious link between the quantum and classical world. And in a large system of quantum bits of information, known as "qubits," the effect of measurements can induce dramatically new behavior, even driving the emergence of entirely new phases of quantum information.
	A new view of all objects in the universe The most comprehensive view of the history of the universe ever created has been produced by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU). The study also offers new ideas about how our universe may have started.
	Nondestructive measurement realized in ytterbium qubits, aiding scalable neutral atom quantum computing Atoms of the metal ytterbium-171 may be the closest things in nature to perfect qubits. A recent study shows how to use them for repeated quantum measurements and qubit rotations, which may aid in the development of scalable quantum computing.
	Simplifying the generation of three-dimensional holographic displays Holograms that offer a three-dimensional (3D) view of objects provide a level of detail that is unattainable by regular two-dimensional (2D) images. Due to their ability to offer a realistic and immersive experience of 3D objects, holograms hold enormous potential for use in various fields, including medical imaging, manufacturing, and virtual reality.
	Vectorial spin-orbital Hall effect of light upon tight focusing and experimental observation in azopolymer films A soccer player can kick a static ball on its side, forcing the ball to rotate and travel in an arc trajectory, left or right curved, depending on the ball's rotation sense. This requires skill/experience. And if the ball is not static but approaches the player already spinning—the control of the ball demands knowledge on how to manipulate/kick it depending on its characteristics and the intended trajectory.
	High-quality diamonds empower narrowband deep ultraviolet photodetection A new publication in Opto-Electronic Science reports how high-quality diamonds empower narrowband deep ultraviolet photodetection.
	3D isotropic microfabrication in glass using spatiotemporal focusing of femtosecond laser pulses Femtosecond (fs) laser direct writing (FLDW) is a laser micro/nano manufacturing technology that can focus the laser pulses on the surface or inside the material, causing local changes in material properties through nonlinear laser-material interactions, which has been widely used in many fields such as micro/nano photonics, integrated optics, microfluidics. Conventional FLDW has the problem of asymmetric lateral and axial fabrication resolution, the axial resolution is significantly elongated, which limit the application of femtosecond lasers in 3D processing.
	Widely tunable and high resolution mid-infrared laser based on optical parametric oscillator A widely tunable and high resolution mid-infrared radiation source operating in the 3–5 µm region has been applied to numerous frontier applications, including remote sensing, molecular spectroscopy, and atmosphere environmental monitoring.
	Exceptional-point-enhanced sensitivity: A new paradigm for high-sensitivity fiber sensors The sensitivity of a fiber sensor can be enhanced severalfold using an exceptional point (EP), according to a recent paper published in Opto-Electronic Advances. The technique has the potential to transform fiber sensing technology toward a new era of precision and accuracy. While the researchers demonstrated this remarkable capability using a bending sensor, the true power of EP-enhanced sensitivity extends far beyond, with potential applications across various existing fiber sensors.

Earth news

	California supervolcano is cooling off but may still cause quakes Since the 1980s, researchers have observed significant periods of unrest in a region of California's Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains characterized by swarms of earthquakes as well as the ground inflating and rising by almost half an inch per year during these periods. The activity is concerning because the area, called the Long Valley Caldera, sits atop a massive dormant supervolcano.
	The dark side of the American lawn The American residential lawn is, for many, an iconic landscape and about half of homeowners in the U.S. use fertilizer to keep their yards green and lush. Some proportion of the nitrogen in this fertilizer enters the broader environment, with negative consequences including algal blooms and deoxygenated waters.
	Drought imperils carbon sequestration in European forests Forests play a critical part in mitigating climate change due to their ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. However, many European forests removed less CO2 from the atmosphere during the extremely hot and dry summer of 2022, according to a new European study. The findings suggest that plans to compensate for CO2 emissions through forests may have to be amended.
	Deforestation caused by rubber vastly underestimated: study Deforestation for rubber cultivation has been "substantially underestimated", and is two to three times higher than generally assumed, a new study said Wednesday.
	Climate research: How the Greenland ice sheet can still be saved Greenland is the second largest permanently ice-covered surface on the Earth; only Antarctica is larger. The Greenland ice sheet is drastically impacted by the effects of climate change. If the ice sheet melts completely it would cause a sea level rise of more than seven meters—a catastrophe for coastal regions worldwide and for the people who live there.
	Researchers discover one of the world's darkest rivers When the researchers came upon the Ruki River, they were quite taken aback. The water in this river, a tributary of the mighty Congo River, is so dark that you literally can't see your hand in front of your face. "We were struck by the color of the river," says ETH Zurich researcher Travis Drake, who has just published a study in the journal Limnology and Oceanography on the Ruki together with colleagues from the Sustainable Agroecosystems Group, led by Johan Six, as well as from other universities.
	Ancient diamonds shine light on the evolution of Earth The analysis of ancient, superdeep diamonds dug up from mines in Brazil and Western Africa, has exposed new processes of how continents evolved and moved during the early evolution of complex life on Earth.
	Research tracking map shows wildlife polluted by flame retardants on massive scale More than 150 species of wild animals across every continent are contaminated with flame retardant chemicals, according to a new map tracking peer-reviewed research worldwide.
	Drought in the Amazon: Understanding the causes and the need for an immediate action plan to save the biome The drought plaguing the Amazon is a worrying portrait of the climate challenges facing the world. The combination of the El Niño phenomenon and anthropogenic climate change has played a significant role in accentuating this extreme weather event. The Amazon region, known for its lush rainforest and flowing rivers, is facing a critical situation due to a lack of rainfall and rising temperatures.
	Researchers: Slow solutions to fast-moving ecological crises won't work—changing basic human behaviors must come first As the world grapples with multiple ecological crises, it's clear the various responses over the past half century have largely failed. Our new research argues the priority now should be addressing the real driver of these crises—our own maladaptive behaviors.
	Enhancing the safety and efficacy of drone flights in polar regions Collecting accurate weather data in remote and challenging environments like the polar regions and mountains can be extremely difficult. These areas often lack the infrastructure and resources needed for traditional weather stations, and the harsh weather conditions can make it dangerous for humans to access and maintain these stations.
	Sea change: New blueprint for Southern Ocean survival More than 200 scientists from 19 countries will release the first comprehensive assessment of trends in Southern Ocean ecosystems on 18 October, in a reportmade available on Zenodo and written specifically for policy makers.
	Explaining the geological history of Indonesia using beetle evolution A new study on weevils led by biologists Harald Letsch from the University of Vienna and Alexander Riedel from the State Natural History Museum in Karlsruhe brings new cross-disciplinary findings. Based on the evolution of the weevils there, conclusions can be drawn about the geological development of Indonesia and the Western Pacific.
	Drought conditions expose rivers to hotter water temperatures As climate change warms the planet and droughts are anticipated to become more frequent and extreme, a new study reveals how reduced water flows and rising atmospheric temperatures are set to heat our rivers—creating major challenges for aquatic life, ecosystems, and society.
	Hong Kong sticks a fork in disposable plastic products Need a plastic fork at a Hong Kong restaurant? Come April 22, Earth Day, customers will have to start reaching for more eco-friendly cutlery, according to a bill passed Wednesday by the city's legislature.
	International ocean satellite monitors how El Niño is shaping up Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich is the latest satellite contributing to a 30-year sea level record that researchers are using to compare this year's El Niño with those of the past.

Astronomy and Space news

	Bursting activity of magnetar SGR J1830–0645 observed with AstroSat Using India's AstroSat spacecraft, astronomers have observed a magnetar known as SGR J1830–0645 during its recent bursting activity. Results of the observational campaign, published October 6 on the preprint server arXiv and accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, shed more light on the properties and behavior of this object.
	Researchers measure magnetic field in eclipse medium of a spider pulsar PSR J2051-0827 Spider pulsars are a subclass of millisecond pulsar binary systems with low mass companions in short-period orbits. In spider pulsars, the pulsar wind and electromagnetic emission ablate and may destroy the companion.
	Searching for concentrated biosignatures in an ancient Mars mud lake A landmark discovery by a collaborative team led by the Planetary Science Institute's Alexis Rodriguez has unveiled evidence of sedimentary plains created by aquifer drainage within Martian collapse formations termed chaotic terrains.
	Study shows need for ITU to tighten regulations for low orbit satellites as filing numbers grow A small team of political scientists and astronomers at the University of British Columbia has conducted a study of the number of filings to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) by entities wishing to send satellites into low orbit and has found the numbers growing so fast that soon there will not be room for new satellite deployments. In their paper is published in the journal Science.
	Study suggests gas giants may be more common than thought in some parts of the galaxy A team of astronomers and astrophysicists from INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5, Universidad Diego Portales, the University of Exeter and Sorbonne Université has found evidence that gas giants may be more common than thought in some parts of the galaxy. In their study, reported in the journal Nature Communications, the group analyzed the mass and movement of 30 stars in the Beta Pictoris Moving Group.
	New patterns in sun's layers could help scientists solve solar mystery Astronomers are one step closer to understanding one of the most enduring solar mysteries, having captured unprecedented data from the sun's magnetic field.
	Simulating the three-dimensional morphology of kilonovae An advanced new three-dimensional (3D) computer simulation of the light emitted following a merger of two neutron stars has produced a similar sequence of spectroscopic features to an observed kilonova.
	New map of space precisely measures nearly 400,000 nearby galaxies Astronomers have created a detailed atlas of almost 400,000 galaxies in our cosmic neighborhood. The Siena Galaxy Atlas was compiled using data from NSF's NOIRLab telescopes, and is designed to be the preeminent digital galaxy atlas for large galaxies. It's a treasure trove of information for researchers investigating everything from galaxy formation and evolution to dark matter and gravitational waves. It's also freely available online for the public to explore.
	India plans manned Moon mission, space station India plans to send a man to the moon and set up a space station by 2040, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, as the country ramps up its space program.
	NASA's Psyche asteroid mission: A 3.6 billion kilometer 'journey to the center of the Earth' Psyche was the Greek goddess of the soul, born a mere mortal and later married to Eros, the God of love. Who knows why the Italian astronomer Annibale de Gasparis gave her name to a celestial object he observed one night in 1852?
	How NASA's Europa Clipper will survive its trip to Jupiter's hostile moon If life exists elsewhere in the solar system, it may well reside in the ocean of Jupiter's icy moon Europa.
	Comet Encke and the Halloween Fireballs of 2023 October and November are always great months to watch for meteors, and 2023 is no exception. This year provides a special reason to be vigilant, as the source of the November Taurid Fireballs Comet 2P Encke reaches perihelion for 2023 on October 22nd, at 0.34 Astronomical Units (AU) from the sun.
	SpaceX launch equals Space Coast record for the year A SpaceX launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday night marked the Space Coast's 57th launch of the year, equaling the record total seen in 2022.

Technology news

	Study predicts potential for 110% electricity increases in US urban buildings A research study led by University of Oklahoma assistant professor Chenghao Wang and published in the journal Nature Communications tackled the critical issue of how city-scale building energy consumption in urban environments will evolve under the influence of climate change.
	Chatbots reveal troubling ability to infer private data The ability of chatbots to infer private details about users from otherwise innocuous texts is a cause for concern, say Swiss university researchers at ETH Zurich.
	Do humans get lazier when robots help with tasks? Now that improvements in technology mean that some robots work alongside humans, there is evidence that those humans have learned to see them as team-mates—and teamwork can have negative as well as positive effects on people's performance.
	How to build greener data centers: Scientists say crank up the heat Colder is not always better for energy-hungry data centers, especially when it comes to their power bills. A new analysis says that keeping the centers at 41°C, or around 106°F, could save up to 56% in cooling costs worldwide. The study, published October 10 in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, proposes new temperature guidelines that may help develop and manage more efficient data centers and IT servers in the future.
	As surging threats teeter electrical power grids, scientists offer insights to make them more resilient Power grids—the web of electrical networks that sprawl across countries and continents—are under stress. Extreme weather events and volatile energy demands often push the system to the brink. Although these high-impact events can be very damaging, often overlooked is the impact of minor disruptions that trigger a domino effect throughout the system, according to a study analyzing European power blackouts.
	Robotic prosthetic ankles improve 'natural' movement, stability Robotic prosthetic ankles that are controlled by nerve impulses allow amputees to move more "naturally," improving their stability, according to a new study from North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
	Choosing exoskeleton settings like a Pandora radio station Taking inspiration from music streaming services, a team of engineers at the University of Michigan, Google and Georgia Tech has designed the simplest way for users to program their own exoskeleton assistance settings.
	Wearable device makes memories and powers up with the flex of a finger Researchers have invented an experimental wearable device that generates power from a user's bending finger and can create and store memories, in a promising step towards health monitoring and other technologies.
	Researchers hope to prevent catastrophes with next-generation sensors As the wind and rain pound the blades of a wind turbine, UBC Okanagan researchers carefully monitor screens hundreds of kilometers away, analyzing whether the blades' coatings can withstand the onslaught. While this was only a test in a lab, the researchers are working to improve the way structures such as turbines, helicopter propellers and even bridges are monitored for wear and tear from the weather.
	Europe is looking to fight the flood of Chinese electric vehicles. But Europeans love them When Laima Springe-Janssen was looking to replace her French-made gasoline-powered SUV with an electric car, she considered models from Volvo and Nissan.
	Tech giants Foxconn, Nvidia announce they are building 'AI factories' Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn and US hardware leader Nvidia said Wednesday they would team up to create "AI factories", powerful data processing centers that would drive the manufacturing of next-generation products such as electric cars.
	Vietnam's VinFast struggles to sell electric cars at home Vietnam's VinFast has grand ambitions of selling its electric vehicles in the United States and Europe to compete with the likes of Elon Musk's Tesla, but it is struggling to find buyers for its cars at home.
	ASML stock tanks after posting drop in sales, orders Shares in ASML plunged Wednesday after the Dutch tech giant posted a decline in third-quarter sales and orders, as the semiconductor industry battles headwinds from a trade spat between the West and China.
	Transition trouble: German car suppliers struggle with electric shift After years earning bumper profits by producing parts for fossil fuel-powered cars, German suppliers to the crucial auto industry are struggling as the transition to electric mobility gathers pace.
	Musk's X starts charging new users for basic features in two countries The social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, said Tuesday it has started charging new users in New Zealand and the Philippines for basic features such as posting messages in a trial aimed at reducing spam.
	'Pokemon Go' new Party Play feature adds another reason to team up in real life Niantic has always been big on bringing players together when it comes to their games. It's a key pillar in the design of "Pokemon Go" and "Monster Hunter Now." Players gather around events such as Raid Hour or hunt boosted spawns of a rare pink Rathian. They make friends face to face while accomplishing the goal of defeating a legendary Pokemon or carving parts from a rare creature.
	Amazon will start testing drones that will drop prescriptions on your doorstep, literally Amazon will soon make prescription drugs fall from the sky when the e-commerce giant becomes the latest company to test drone deliveries for medications.
	Is someone using your pictures to catfish? Your rights when it comes to fake profiles and social media stalking If you've ever used a dating app, you've probably experienced the disappointment of meeting someone who doesn't look quite like their photos. You may have even been a victim of catfishing, where someone creates a fake identity to deceive or scam others online. But what if someone uses your photos to catfish someone else?
	Five things we learned at the US Google antitrust trial US government lawyers rested their case on Tuesday in the landmark antitrust trial against Google after five weeks of testimony that saw some of big tech's most senior executives take the stand.
	Warmer climate may impact reliability of solar farms, modeling study shows Australia's renewable energy transition is well underway, but an impending shift in the reliability of solar due to climate change could impact generation capacity and the management of the electricity grid.
	Researchers realize continuous-control-set model-free predictive control for synchronous motors Permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) are widely used in high-end equipment manufacturing, and model-free predictive control (MFPC) is applied to essentially enhance robustness.
	Simulating cold sensation without actual cooling Our skin plays a key role in perceiving temperature and the surroundings. For instance, we perceive the chill of the outdoors when our cheeks blush with cold, and we sense the onset of spring when our skin warms up gradually.
	Seeing the invisible: Revealing hidden damage with cameras to improve aircraft safety Every day, there are more than 45,000 flights carrying 2.9 million airline passengers in the United States alone. While supporting this endeavor, aircraft are subjected to a variety of operational conditions from environmental and human-introduced factors. For example, impacts from hail or tools dropped during repair can weaken the aircraft's structure. Over time, wear and tear from flights can cause damaged areas to expand and threaten aircraft safety if not monitored.
	Renewable energy battery systems could harness eggshell proteins for electricity conduction Chicken eggshells may be the answer to developing safer, sustainable and cost-effective rechargeable battery storage systems, according to new research.
	The soft power of nature-based robotics: Working towards a future artificial heart Implantation of a total artificial heart offers a solution for patients with severe heart failure, but existing artificial hearts have major limitations, which means there is a need for a better alternative. Through his doctoral research, Luuk van Laake has contributed to the development of a future artificial heart based on soft robotics.
	Satnav test on remote island lab ESA's navigation testbed vehicle participated in a campaign organized by Norwegian governmental authorities to assess the impact of jamming and spoofing on satnav systems and test innovative technologies for detection and mitigation.
	A new way to integrate data with physical objects To get a sense of what StructCode is all about, says Mustafa Doğa Doğan, think of Superman. Not the "faster than a speeding bullet" and "more powerful than a locomotive" version, but a Superman, or Superwoman, who sees the world differently from ordinary mortals—someone who can look around a room and glean all kinds of information about ordinary objects that is not apparent to people with less penetrating faculties.
	Tesla disappoints in quarterly results as discounts bite Tesla's results for the third quarter missed analyst estimates on Wednesday, as the Elon Musk-run company was hit by higher costs and the fallout from price discounts.
	Netflix's password-sharing crackdown reels in subscribers as it raises prices for its premium plan Netflix on Wednesday disclosed summertime subscriber gains that surpassed industry analysts' projections, signaling the video streaming service's crackdown on password sharing is converting former freeloaders into paying customers.
	A busy summer pushes United Airlines to a $1.14 billion profit, but fuel cost will hurt 4Q results United Airlines said Tuesday that it earned $1.14 billion in the vacation-heavy third quarter, but the airline forecast weaker profit the rest of the year due to surging jet fuel prices and the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv during the Israel-Hamas war.
	Swedish Tesla workers to strike over union demands Tesla mechanics in Sweden will walk off the job on October 27 unless the electric carmaker agrees to sign a collective wage agreement, the metalworkers union IF Metall said Wednesday.
	ECB greenlights next stage of digital euro project The European Central Bank moved closer to creating a "digital euro" Wednesday by greenlighting the next stage in the project, even as questions persist about the potential benefits and risks.
	Research on e-scooter accidents: More helmets and less speed reduce the injury risk The use of e-scooters has increased significantly in recent years, but so has the number of accidents involving this relatively new form of transport. At the same time, knowledge about injury mechanisms in this area was still very limited.
	Why heating a home in the UK this winter may be even harder than last year Domestic energy prices more than doubled during 2022 compared with the year before. This meant that the number of UK households in fuel poverty who could not afford to heat their homes to a safe level rose from 4.5 million to 7.3 million.
	Big federal dollars for small state projects aim to get more cars off the roads A 60-mile pedestrian and cycling trail in Arkansas, an electric street sweeper in Oregon and truck parking facilities in Florida don't appear to have much in common—let alone any similarity with a conversion of California highways to toll roads or a roundabout in Michigan.

Chemistry news

	Collaborative study focuses on using computer algorithms to find molecular adaptations to improve COVID-19 drugs As the COVID-19 pandemic scattered and isolated people, researchers across Virginia Tech connected for a data-driven collaboration seeking improved drugs to fight the disease and potentially many other illnesses.
	Researchers reveal possible treatment for sulfur mustard poisoning During the Battle of Flanders in July 1917, German soldiers deployed sulfur mustard-containing artillery shells on unsuspecting British and Canadian troops, marking the first time "mustard gas" had been used as a chemical warfare agent in war. Since then, sulfur mustard has been used repeatedly in battle—with no known antidote available for treatment.
	Yeast speeds discovery of medicinal compounds in plants Cornell researchers have harnessed the power of baker's yeast to create a cost-effective and highly efficient approach for unraveling how plants synthesize medicinal compounds, and used the new method to identify key enzymes in a kratom tree.
	Using AI to develop hydrogen fuel cell catalysts more efficiently and economically Proton exchange membrane hydrogen fuel cells (PEMFCs) used in hydrogen vehicles use expensive platinum catalysts to facilitate the oxygen reduction reaction at the anode. There are a vast number of elemental combinations and compositions that need to be explored to develop more efficient and cost-effective catalyst materials than platinum, and researchers are still experiencing much trial and error in the lab.
	Only 1% of chemical compounds have been discovered—here's how we search for others that could change the world The universe is flooded with billions of chemicals, each a tiny pinprick of potential. And we've only identified 1% of them. Scientists believe undiscovered chemical compounds could help remove greenhouse gases, or trigger a medical breakthrough much like penicillin did.

Biology news

	Marine mammal longevity study reveals remarkable advances in animal welfare A new study provides compelling evidence that animal care and management practices at zoos and aquariums have significantly improved over time. The study, led by Species360 and University of Southern Denmark Research Scientist Dr. Morgane Tidière in collaboration with 41 co-authors from academic, governmental, and zoological institutions around the world, is the first to examine life expectancy and lifespan equality together as a proxy of population welfare in marine mammal species.
	Reef-devouring predator survives coral bleaching and feasts on the survivors Research conducted by marine biologists from the University of Sydney has found juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish can withstand tremendous heat waves well above levels that kill coral. These starfish then develop into carnivorous predators that devour reefs just as they begin to regrow.
	Baby birds hatch with ability to mimic mom Singing a gentle lullaby can help put a human baby to sleep but its usefulness in the low grassland swaying nests of Australian songbirds takes maternal 'singing' to even greater heights.
	Examining the bio-impact of toxic chemical cocktails in the environment Purdue University scientists are unraveling the complicated toxicity of a mixture of what are often called "forever chemicals" found in many consumer products.
	Do adult periodical cicadas actually feed on anything? Every so often, cicadas emerge above ground and blanket the Earth with their exoskeletons while emitting a high-pitched chirp from sunrise to sunset. The periodical cicadas in the genus Magicicada come every 13 or 17 years, though other types of cicadas emerge much more frequently in our neighborhoods.
	Unlocking the secrets of cell behavior on soft substrates: A paradigm shift in mechanobiology A research group from the University of Turku and Turku Bioscience Center together with Misvik Biology Ltd in Finland have developed a new method for studying how cancer cells function in softer and stiffer tissue environments. This insight challenges the existing paradigm, opening up new possibilities for research in cancer biology and tissue engineering. The results of the study have been published in PNAS.
	New look at a Lorrainosaurus in a museum finds plesiosaurs evolved earlier than thought A team of paleontologists from Naturkunde-Museum Bielefeld, Adenauerplatz, the Polish Academy of Sciences, Natural History Museum Luxembourg and The Museum of Evolution at Uppsala University has found through study of a Lorrainosaurus fossil residing at Luxembourg's National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) that the clade it belonged to, Plesiosauria, evolved earlier than previously thought. Their paper is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
	Lysosomal protein driver of neurodegenerative diseases revealed Lysosomes, tiny compartments within cells known as the garbage disposals for molecules that need to be degraded, are critical to cell function and a person's health; disruption of lysosomal protein function is linked to a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Identifying how mutations in the genes coding for these proteins lead to disorders could provide scientists not only a better understanding of disease, but also a path to new treatments.
	Delineating the dynamic transcriptional and epigenetic landscape regulating hematopoiesis A research team led by Professor Megumu K. Saito (Department of Clinical Application) examined the dynamic transcriptional and epigenetic landscape during definitive hematopoiesis and revealed the non-redundant roles of ZEB2 and MEIS1 vital to producing hematopoietic stem cells from the hemogenic endothelium. The study is published in the journal iScience.
	The encounter between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens as told by their genomes About 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals, who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years in the western part of the Eurasian continent, gave way to Homo sapiens, who had arrived from Africa. This replacement was not sudden, and the two species coexisted for a few millennia, resulting in the integration of Neanderthal DNA into the genome of Homo sapiens.
	Scientists uncover new way viruses fight back against bacteria A microscopic discovery will not only enable scientists to understand the microbial world around us but could also provide a new way to control CRISPR-Cas biotechnologies.
	Greener neighborhoods can protect us—at the cellular level A new study finds that greenspace—the vegetation in a neighborhood's yards, parks and public spaces—has a positive impact on a key genetic marker associated with exposure to stress. However, the study also finds that the positive impact of greenspace isn't enough to compensate for other environmental challenges, such as air pollution.
	Revealing structural secrets of a key cancer protein Scientists have breathed new life into the study of a protein with an outsized link to human cancers because of its dangerous mutations, using advanced research techniques to detect its hidden regions.
	How animal traits have shaped the journey of species across the globe The devastating tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011 set off a series of events which have long fascinated scientists like me. It was so powerful that it caused 5 million tons of debris to wash into the Pacific—1.5 million tons remained afloat and started drifting with the currents.
	Study elucidates evolution of mosquitoes and their hosts Researchers at North Carolina State University and global collaborators have mapped the mosquito's tree of life, a major step toward understanding important traits, such as how the insects choose their hosts, feed on blood and spread disease. The findings will help researchers make better predictions to model disease transmission and understand what makes some mosquitoes better disease carriers than others.
	Study of modern salamanders provides clues to the feeding behavior of early terrestrial vertebrates Since the work of Charles Darwin, it is relatively clear from an evolutionary perspective where we come from: aquatic ancestors gave rise to terrestrial vertebrates, from among which humans developed.
	New insights into the genetics of the common octopus: Genome at the chromosome level decoded Octopuses are fascinating animals—and serve as important model organisms in neuroscience, cognition research and developmental biology.
	10% of dolphins killed as Amazon drought hits lake: study An estimated 10 percent of the dolphins in a picturesque lake in the Brazilian Amazon were killed in a week as a record drought and searing temperatures devastate the region, researchers said Tuesday.
	Three endangered species tied to Georgia are now extinct, feds say Bachman's warbler, the southern acornshell and the upland combshell. Not long ago, those creatures called the rivers of Georgia and the skies above them home. But now, the federal government has confirmed a grim fact that scientists had long suspected: The songbird and two species of freshwater mussels will never be seen again.
	Researchers reveal a unique, hitherto-unknown bacterial transcriptional promoter recognition mode Researchers led by Prof. Zhu Ping from the Institute of Biophysics and Prof. Feng Yingang at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, both under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have revealed a unique, hitherto-unknown bacterial transcriptional promoter recognition mode by distinct σI factors in Clostridium thermocellum, both with respect to domain organization and binding mode to promoter DNA.
	Have we reached the end of nature? Our relationship with the environment is in crisis Recently, I encountered the thought-provoking expression "God is dead, Marx is dead and I don't feel so well myself." I wonder if it is now the time to update this by adding "Nature is dead."
	The impact of man-made noise on magpie behavior Human noise pollution is taking its toll on the iconic Australian magpie, affecting the songbirds' ability to forage for food, communicate and respond to alarm calls—but smart birds are less affected than others.
	Scientists discover how low phosphorus regulates rice architecture and nutrient uptake Researchers led by Dr. Wang Bing and Li Jiayang from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have shown that low phosphorus activates the biosynthesis and signaling of strigoalactones to regulate plant architecture and nitrogen and phosphate uptake in rice.
	Surprise delivery: Three endangered sawfish born at SeaWorld Orlando An unexpected pregnancy is making history at SeaWorld Orlando. Three smalltooth sawfish pups, born this summer at the theme park, are now living backstage and providing data and mystery.
	Protecting polar bears is the aim of new and improved radar technology Research testing new technology to more effectively locate polar bear dens across the Arctic is showing promising results. Researchers from Simon Fraser University and Brigham Young University (BYU), collaborating with Polar Bears International, hope that improving detection tools to locate dens—which are nearly invisible and buried under snow—will help efforts to protect mother polar bears and their cubs.
	Exploring the limits of marine burrow cohabitation Good real estate is not easy to find, even for sea creatures. Sometimes, push comes to shove, and species resort to competition or conquering before weighing the benefits of sharing an ecosystem like housemates.
	Insect researcher: Non-destructive methods are needed New research has shed light on the importance of revolutionizing methods in entomology. A publication titled "The need for a (non-destructive) method revolution in entomology" has highlighted how to improve our understanding of insects without harming them.
	Researchers: There is a need for more accurate accounting of nitrous oxide from agricultural crop residues There is a need for changing the way of accounting greenhouse gases from agriculture. The current inventory of nitrous oxide from plant residues relies solely on the amount of nitrogen in the residues, while crucial factors such as the degradability of plant residues are not included. According to the researchers, this leads to misleading inventories, which also misrepresents possible mitigation measures.
	Invasive plant species threaten 66% of India's natural areas Invasive plant species management in India has historically been constrained by a lack of information regarding the spread of invasions. So to combat this, scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India were forced to come up with a unique solution.
	Glacial rock flour creates new opportunities for Greenlandic agriculture New research indicates that the use of glacial rock flour could enhance water absorption in cultivated fields in Greenland. This could be groundbreaking for Greenlandic agriculture as the use of glacial rock flour may reduce the risk of water erosion and improve plant growth conditions.
	Can planting multiple crops in the same plot improve agricultural production and sustainability? Agricultural management has typically focused on increasing yields, but there is an increasing need for sustainable food production that limits negative impacts on the environment. A new study published in Grassland Research provides insights into the potential benefits of diversifying agricultural practices, revealing how different mixtures of plant species can improve production, quality, and conservation.
	New method may accurately identify body fluids at crime scenes Identifying different types of body fluids can help forensic experts reconstruct a crime scene, but it's difficult to do so. In a study published in Electrophoresis, researchers developed a method using two different types of RNA—called microRNA (miRNA) and messenger RNA (mRNA)—to determine five common body fluids.
	What killed Lolita? Necropsy findings released for the Seaquarium's beloved orca The Seaquarium's beloved performing killer whale, Lolita, appears to have died of old age and multiple chronic illnesses, according to the executive summary of her necropsy released Tuesday afternoon to the Miami Herald.

Medicine and Health news

	Scientists find a stem-cell derived mechanism that could lead to regenerative therapies for heart damage A UCLA-led team has identified an essential internal control mechanism that can promote the maturation of human stem cell-derived heart muscle cells, offering a deeper understanding of how heart muscle cells develop from their immature fetal stage to their mature adult form.
	How decision-making mechanisms go awry in OCD brains A new study from UNSW Sydney shows that teenagers with OCD experience deficits in decision making and behavioral control. This is linked to abnormal activity in an area of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC). The research is published this week in Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science.
	Researchers design gene therapy that can effectively target glioblastoma Glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive brain cancer, is notoriously resistant to treatment, with recurrent GBM associated with survival of less than 10 months. Immunotherapies, which mobilize the body's immune defenses against a cancer, have not been effective for GBM, in part because the tumor's surrounding environment is largely impenetrable to assaults from the body's immune system.
	New research suggests why males and females respond differently to social stress Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, but among boys and girls the likelihood is the same. New University of California, Davis, research has identified changes in the brain during puberty that may account for differences in how women and men respond to stress.
	AI identifies antimalarial drug as possible osteoporosis treatment Artificial intelligence has exploded in popularity and is being harnessed by some scientists to predict which molecules could treat illnesses, or to quickly screen existing medicines for new applications.
	AI and 10 seconds of voice can screen for diabetes, new study reveals Determining whether a person is diabetic could be as easy as having them speak a few sentences into their smartphone, according to a groundbreaking study from Klick Labs that combines voice technology with artificial intelligence in a major step forward in diabetes detection.
	Scientists develop a skin patch that painlessly delivers drugs into the body An affordable microneedle skin patch that delivers a controlled dosage of medicine directly into the body, eliminating the need for injections or oral medication, has been developed by a team led by scientists at the University of Bath.
	Single vaccine protects against three deadly strains of coronavirus A vaccine designed to protect against three different deadly coronaviruses shows success in mouse studies, demonstrating the viability of a pan-coronavirus vaccine developed by researchers at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute.
	iPSC-derived kidney organoids to model a lifelong renal disease Researchers have generated induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived kidney organoids to model Alport syndrome caused by a mutation in the COL4A5 gene and have demonstrated the utility of a chemical chaperone to rescue the protein misfolding and collagen misassembling caused by the mutation. The research is published in the journal Communications Biology.
	More is not better: Trial finds giving more antibiotics to prevent joint replacement infections doesn't help Knee and hip replacements are increasing globally due to an aging population. In the United States, the number of patients needing a joint replacement will exceed 2.7 million in the next seven years. Post-surgery infections, while rare at 1–5% of patients, result in high patient morbidity and mortality.
	Promising new options for treating aggressive prostate cancer Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators have identified two promising new treatment options for men with recurrent prostate cancer—both of which helped patients live longer without their disease progressing than the current standard treatment. The results of their international Phase III clinical trial were published today in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	New study identifies cells that drive pancreatic cancer spread while discovering their weakness A new study carried out in mice, led by Queen Mary University of London, has identified cells that drive the spread of pancreatic cancer and discovered a weakness in these cells that could be targeted using existing drugs. This offers a promising new approach for treating pancreatic cancer.
	Investigators use AI to identify people with abnormal heart rhythms Investigators from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai found that an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm can detect an abnormal heart rhythm in people not yet showing symptoms.
	Telehealth supports retention in treatment for opioid use disorder, Medicaid data study finds Starting buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder through telehealth was associated with an increased likelihood of staying in treatment longer compared to starting treatment in a non-telehealth setting, according to a new study analyzing Medicaid data from 2019–2020 in Kentucky and Ohio.
	Stretching and stimulating engineered heart tissues to accurately portray hypertrophic cardiomyopathy A joint effort by a team of academic and industrial researchers led by Associate Professor Yoshinori Yoshida (Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation) created a new modeling system, combining mechanical stretching and chemical stimulation, to generate mature engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs) and employed them to better model hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
	Research discovers the morning-after pill is more effective when taken with an anti-inflammatory painkiller A collaborative research team, including members of LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), as well as The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong (FPAHK) and Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, recently published its findings on adding an anti-inflammatory painkiller used for arthritis pain to an oral emergency contraceptive pill (also known as the morning-after pill) to increase the effectiveness of pregnancy prevention.
	Breakthrough drug helps children with new-onset type 1 diabetes: Phase 3 trial Children who were recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes need less supplemental insulin to keep their blood sugar in a healthy range if they use the immunotherapy drug teplizumab, a new study reports.
	Women are turning to cannabis to treat menopause symptoms, study suggests A new University of Alberta study published in BMJ Open suggests many women in Alberta use cannabis to treat symptoms of menopause despite a lack of evidence that it is effective for menopause symptoms.
	Visual abstracts in journal articles found to increase social media engagement, readership Social media posts with visual abstracts—images with text and icons that convey a study's methods and findings—of clinical trials published online in peer-reviewed academic journals increased social media engagement compared to social media posts with article figures, according to a recent research letter published in JAMA.
	Eye implant may be used to treat diabetes and other diseases Researchers in Sweden have developed a microscale device for implantation in the eye, which presents new opportunities for cell-based treatment of diabetes and other diseases.
	AI predicts blood clot risk in hospitalized children An artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center accurately identified pediatric patients at high risk for blood clots in a clinical trial. However, there was no difference in outcomes compared to a control group, the researchers reported in JAMA Network Open.
	Researchers uncover mechanism that links NAD+ to fertility problems A woman's fertility normally decreases by her late 30s with reproductive function eventually ceasing at menopause. It is known that a small molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays a critical role in this decline, and Buck scientists have revealed how this happens and have identified potential new approaches to enhance reproductive longevity.
	New model leverages stem cells to provide window into Alzheimer's disease development A new model developed by Van Andel Institute, Lund University and University of Florence scientists will enable researchers to better understand how Alzheimer's disease progresses in the brain.
	Converting brain immune cells into neurons helps mice recover after stroke Researchers at Kyushu University have discovered that turning brain immune cells into neurons successfully restores brain function after stroke-like injury in mice. These findings, published in PNAS, suggest that replenishing neurons from immune cells could be a promising avenue for treating stroke in humans.
	Scientists discover links between Alzheimer's disease and gut microbiota Researchers have discovered the link between the gut microbiota and Alzheimer's disease. For the first time, researchers have found that Alzheimer's symptoms can be transferred to a healthy young organism via the gut microbiota, confirming its role in the disease.
	Prenatal exposure to environmental chemicals linked to childhood growth changes A new study led by researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) has shed light on the influence that Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) can have on children's growth during their early years. The results, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, show that prenatal exposure to some of these environmental chemicals and their mixtures is linked to accelerated Body Mass Index (BMI) gain from birth to nine years old.
	Is it okay to press the snooze button? It is often claimed that using the snooze button can have negative effects on sleep and cognitive processes, but there has been no direct evidence to this effect. New research from the Department of Psychology at Stockholm University shows that snoozing may actually support the waking process for regular snoozers.
	Fake bus stop calms Swedish dementia sufferers who want to go home In a Swedish nursing home, residents wait for a bus that never comes.
	FDA approves velsipity for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis in adults The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Velsipity (etrasimod) for adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC).
	New specimen collection system enhances assisted reproductive technologies Considered an experimental procedure during the late 1970s when it made headlines with each birth it produced, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has helped many couples overcome infertility issues for more than four decades. In several nations, IVF is responsible for up to 3% of the babies born.
	Nearly half of oncology drugs approved since 1998 are precision therapies Of the 198 new oncology drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 1998 and 2022, approximately 43% were precision oncology therapies, the use of which is guided by biomarker testing.
	Five things to know about toxic 'forever chemicals' now limited by California law A growing body of research is drawing attention to health threats posed by human-made chemicals called "forever chemicals," which are targeted by a new California law requiring manufacturers to reduce their use in food packaging and cookware.
	People of African ancestry are poorly represented in genetic studies. A new effort would change that Scientists are setting out to collect genetic material from 500,000 people of African ancestry to create what they believe will be the world's largest database of genomic information from the population.
	Setting trans fat limits in Kenya could save thousands of lives and cut costs Thousands of deaths and heart attacks could be prevented—and billions of Kenyan shillings saved—if the country restricted trans fat in food to World Health Organization (WHO) limits, according to research by the George Institute for Global Health. Findings were published today in BMJ Global Health.
	Untreated mental illness costs Indiana more than $4 billion each year, study reveals A new study from the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health reveals the economic burden of untreated mental illness in Indiana, which results in $4.2 billion spent annually.
	Study finds increased risk of Guillain-Barré after COVID-19 infection Having a COVID-19 infection is associated with an increased risk of developing the rare disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome within the next six weeks, according to a study published in the October 18, 2023, online issue of Neurology. The study also found that people who received the mRNA vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech were less likely to develop the disorder in the next six weeks than people who did not receive the mRNA vaccine.
	From one nightmare to another: Anthony Fauci's new concern "What keeps you up at night?" It's a question Anthony Fauci, MD, heard repeatedly over the course of his nearly four decades as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.
	Large Danish study shows migrants face disparities in care for type 2 diabetes A large, population-wide study of Denmark residents with type 2 diabetes shows that migrants typically face a greater risk of inferior care for their disease than native Danes, particularly when it comes to monitoring their disease and controlling biomarkers—managing blood levels of key substances that are associated with diabetes.
	Directing vaccines to dendritic cells in preclinical cancer treatment regimen Vaccines work by giving our immune system a 'heads up' about a known threat. They are traditionally given before we encounter a pathogen (such as the influenza virus), allowing our bodies to mount a better immune response if that pathogen is seen again. But vaccines can also be given as a treatment, after a patient has been diagnosed with a specific type of cancer.
	Remote consultations improve access to health care in Nigeria and Tanzania A new report published in The Lancet Global Health finds that, with appropriate training and funding, remote consultations can improve access to health care in low- and middle-income countries.
	'I'm not going to be cured'. How breast cancer awareness and support sidelines people with metastatic disease There have been incredible advances in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in recent years. And stories about celebrities who have "beaten" breast cancer continue to be a source of inspiration for many people.
	Beyond COVID vaccines: What else could mRNA technology do for our health? Many people first became familiar with the term "mRNA" when Pfizer's and Moderna's COVID vaccines were rolled out. In the simplest terms, mRNA, which stands for messenger ribonucleic acid, is a type of genetic material that gives cells in our bodies instructions to make specific proteins.
	Q&A: Validating an MRI biomarker for early onset Alzheimer's disease Alexandra Touroutoglou, Ph.D., and Bradford Dickerson, MD, neuroscientists in the department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, are the lead authors of a new study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, The Sporadic Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease Signature Of Atrophy: Preliminary Findings From The Longitudinal Early-onset Alzheimer's Disease Study (LEADS) Cohort.
	Readmissions more likely for wheelchair users after shoulder replacement Wheelchair users are nearly three times more likely to experience hospital readmission following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), according to UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers. The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, highlight the importance of comprehensive preoperative counseling and risk assessment for patients who use wheelchairs.
	Study suggests mental health nurses and clinicians key to reducing recreational cannabis harm Harm caused by recreational cannabis could be reduced if mental health nurses are better equipped with information on the risks and benefits of the substance, according to a joint study with Charles Darwin University (CDU).
	Bat genes found to be key against COVID, cancer Bats have acquired remarkable traits throughout their evolution. They're the only mammals that can fly, and they live much longer than other animals their size. But perhaps most impressive is their robust immune system. It protects bats from viruses that wreak havoc in humans, like COVID-19 or Ebola. It also keeps bats relatively cancer-free. How?
	Telehealth audiology services need to be dialed up, shows study Despite a surge during COVID-19, the use of telehealth-supported access to audiologists is not being used to its full potential according to new research from Flinders University.
	Study finds connection between air pollution exposure and puberty onset of girls in the US A newly published study by researchers from Emory University and Harvard University found a connection between childhood exposure to air pollution and the age at which U.S. girls experienced their first periods.
	Anxiety may be contagious, mouse study suggests Severe instances of stress experienced early in life (ELS) are a risk factor for developing neuropsychiatric diseases, such as anxiety, later in life.
	Research identifies four eating behavior patterns in children Children fall broadly into four eating categories, according to new research at Aston University, and parents feed their children differently depending on those categories.
	Q&A: Hot flashes, vaginal dryness: Is endocrine therapy worth it for breast cancer? Cancer treatment is riddled with pros and cons, trade-offs. During October, breast cancer awareness month, the spotlight shines on endocrine therapy or "hormonal therapy." The drug, Tamoxifen, and others like it that shut down estrogen, are well-known in this category among breast cancer survivors.
	People with intellectual disability are often diagnosed with cancer when it is already well advanced Many people with intellectual disability are diagnosed with cancer when it has already spread (metastasized) and the odds of survival are lower.
	COVID-19 vaccine mandates have come and mostly gone in the US—an ethicist discusses the implications Ending pandemics is a social decision, not scientific. Governments and organizations rely on social, cultural and political considerations to decide when to officially declare the end of a pandemic. Ideally, leaders try to minimize the social, economic and public health burden of removing emergency restrictions while maximizing potential benefits.
	FDA proposes ban on formaldehyde in hair straighteners over health dangers The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed a ban on the use of formaldehyde in hair relaxers over concerns about its link to respiratory problems and certain cancers.
	Obesity raises odds for recurrence in breast cancer survivors, finds study Many breast cancer survivors take a hormonal drug after cancer treatment to stave off a recurrence, but new research suggests thesedrugs may be less effective in women who are obese.
	Report: US injuries from e-bikes, e-scooters jumped 21% in one year E-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards are everywhere—and injuries related to their use are soaring.
	Gay and bisexual adolescents found to have twice the risk of binge-eating disorder A new national study, published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, finds that lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents in the United States are more than twice as likely to report binge eating than their heterosexual peers.
	Strength training may reduce health risks of a high-protein diet Progressive strength training using resistance can protect against the detrimental effects of a high-protein diet, according to new research in mice.
	Point-of-care ultrasonography offers clear benefits, multiple applications in critical care Recent advances in ultrasonography technology have led to increased usage at the point-of-care, with handheld devices offering both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
	Study: Older kidney transplant patients metabolize immunosuppressive drugs slower than younger people At one time, individuals over age 65 typically did not qualify for a kidney transplant. Now, due to advances in medicine and longer life expectancies, these patients represent approximately 15% of all kidney transplants, according to researchers at the University at Buffalo. Meanwhile, transplants that were performed in younger patients decades ago last longer, and these recipients are now aging.
	New molecule to fight against transthyretin amyloidosis Researchers from IBB-UAB have developed a second-generation molecule that significantly improves the stabilization and inhibition of the aggregation of proteins involved in Transthyretin Amyloidosis (ATTR), a group of minority degenerative diseases.
	Surgery is more effective than nasal sprays for symptoms of a crooked septum, trial finds Surgery to straighten a crooked septum (the thin wall of bone and cartilage dividing the space between the two nostrils) is more effective than nasal sprays, and should be offered to adults with at least moderate symptoms such as breathing disruption, suggests a UK trial published by The BMJ today.
	New study sheds light on long term effectiveness and safety of two widely used statins Two widely used statins, rosuvastatin and atorvastatin, are equally effective at preventing heart attacks, strokes and death in people with coronary artery disease. But while rosuvastatin treatment is associated with lower cholesterol levels, it also carries a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than atorvastatin, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
	Immunogenicity and safety of an E. coli-produced human papillomavirus vaccine: A phase 2 controlled trial Premalignant and malignant lesions of the cervix and other sites related to the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection pose a significant health burden worldwide, especially in developing countries. Although prophylactic HPV vaccination is considered one of the most effective measures to prevent cervical cancer and other related diseases, accessibility to HPV vaccines, particularly the 9-valent HPV vaccine, remains a considerable challenge.
	SARS-CoV-2: Alert immune system in the respiratory tract protects children from severe courses of the disease Why are severe courses of SARS-CoV-2 infection much less common in children and adolescents than in adults? Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) have now discovered that the immune system in the upper respiratory tract is much more alert and active in children before infection than in adults and is therefore better equipped to fight the virus.
	Reducing double-strand DNA break repair exacerbates vascular aging, study finds A new research paper was published in Aging, titled "Reduction of double-strand DNA break repair exacerbates vascular aging."
	New York City's tobacco retailer density policy mitigates longstanding neighborhood inequities in tobacco access: Study Tobacco retail licenses in New York City decreased by over 30 percent since 2018, when the City established a policy to cap the number of licenses in each of its 59 community districts, according to a study just released by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
	Study finds men's antidepressant use doesn't negatively impact IVF success In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a time-intensive and often stress-inducing fertility procedure. Yet how does that stress impact its success? Investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham health care system, assessed the effects of anxiety and depression in men on fertility and IVF outcomes. Their findings reveal no correlation between anxiety, regardless of antidepressant use, on IVF outcomes or live birth rate. Results are published in Human Reproduction.
	Selenium not linked to recurrence of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer For patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), selenium supplementation does not reduce the risk for recurrence, while vitamin E is associated with an increased risk for recurrence, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in JAMA Network Open.
	An uncomfortable truth: How stigma and a lack of funding has set back research and treatments for vulvovaginal disorders The world of medicine has made remarkable strides in diagnosing and treating various health conditions, but when it comes to many women's health issues, progress is lacking.
	New research finds adult vaccination rates increase when out-of-pocket costs decrease Adults are more likely to follow government vaccination recommendations when they do not have to pay out of pocket for the vaccine, according to a new study by a University of Massachusetts Amherst researcher. The findings provide important insights into vaccine uptake, as public health officials have experimented with everything from free concert tickets to lotteries with cash prizes to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates.
	Tick-borne diseases: Racing to defuse a 'ticking' public health time bomb The explosive rise in tick-borne diseases in many parts of the United States over the last five decades represents a major public health threat that demands innovative solutions, warns a group of Yale scientists. In a new review article, they outline why the stakes are so high and describe some potential solutions.
	Simple MRI scan could predict radiation side effects for prostate cancer A new Corewell Health study suggests that men who have longer prostatic urethras, the part of the urethra that travels through the prostate, may be at a higher risk of experiencing moderate, often chronic urinary side effects after receiving radiation for prostate cancer.
	Increase in discipline referrals for substance use in Oregon middle schools after recreational marijuana legalized A recent study has found that Oregon middle school students received office discipline referrals (ODRs) for substance use offenses 30% more often after legalization of recreational marijuana relative to comparison schools in other states over the same period (school years 2012/2013–2018/2019). There were no statistically discernable changes in high school ODRs. Recreational use by adults was legalized in Oregon in 2015.
	Study focusing on Black cancer survivors documents how exposure to racial discrimination impacts care The medical community has understood for some time that experiences with discrimination are bad for the health of people from underserved racial or ethnic groups—populations burdened with worse health outcomes than white patients for conditions including many cancers. The effects of chronic stress on the body have been considered one chief culprit.
	Study finds substantial increases in psychological distress during the initial COVID-19 wave in the UK New research published in Economic Inquiry reports substantial increases in psychological distress in the UK during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
	Does SARS-CoV-2 infection have urological effects? Research published in the Journal of Internal Medicine indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection may worsen lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men.
	Study highlight potential links between COVID-19 and Alzheimer's disease The various neurological symptoms that patients with COVID-19 have experienced suggest that viral infections may increase the risk of neurodegeneration, which could in turn contribute to the development of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). A review in the Journal of Neurochemistry highlights the potential mechanistic links between COVID-19 and AD.
	TikTok moms nurture 'detox for kids' misinformation A TikTok army of American moms claiming to be "detox" specialists is pushing unproven treatments for childhood behavioral disorders -– while hiding that their misinformation is actually a marketing campaign aimed at making money.
	Post-pandemic Europe must invest more in health care: WHO Europe must continue to invest in health care after the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization's European region chief said Wednesday, denouncing the "deafening silence" on the subject.
	Nasvay: The chewing tobacco poisoning Kyrgyzstan Farmer Askarbek Duisheyev pours a small plastic bottle into the palm of his hand and tips some green balls under his tongue.
	Advances in gynecological cancer research could change the treatment landscape Results from highly anticipated phase 3 clinical trials in gynecological cancers with, among others, new data that cover the entire spectrum of managing patients with cervical cancer, will be presented at the ESMO Congress 2023 in Madrid, Spain. The late-breaking studies will be featured in Presidential and Proffered Paper Sessions, and could change the treatment landscape for women with these cancers. The new therapies tested delayed the time to relapse and, in some cases, lengthened survival.
	Experimental drugs could help lung cancer treatment research enter a new era More people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are likely to benefit from new drugs that target molecular alterations in tumor cells, with less need for chemotherapy, following results of multiple clinical trials reported for the first time in late-breaking presentations at the ESMO Congress 2023.
	For LGBTQ people, friendly health care is important but can be hard to find When Lindsey Huie arrived at the hospital that day in 2019, she had already hit peak stress.
	Get on your feet and keep them healthy, says podiatric specialist The average person spends more than half their day standing. By taking special care of your feet, you can minimize the stress placed on them. A podiatric specialist from Baylor College of Medicine provides simple tips to keep your feet healthy.
	Study sheds light on critical areas for improvement in the delivery of palliative care, particularly among rural nurses A study published in Collegian has shed light on critical areas for improvement in the delivery of palliative care, particularly among rural nurses.
	Experts publish consensus statement on new approach to identifying kidney disorder Forty-eight international experts on membranous nephropathy have co-authored a consensus report that calls for a new method of classifying diagnoses of the syndrome. They say the change would result in greater accuracy in diagnoses, which would open the door to improved patient care and targeted treatment. To call attention to the report, Kidney International and Mayo Clinic Proceedings have published the report simultaneously.
	Report reveals urgent mental health needs after Australia's Black Summer Bushfires The final Curtin University-led After the Fires report has highlighted the mental health struggles of first responders in the aftermath of the devastating Black Summer Bushfires. The study found that reducing stigma associated with accessing mental health services, creating opportunities for time out and scaling up support services are key.
	Aged care could be beneficial for people with dementia: Australian report Australians living with dementia who move into residential aged care after a hospital stay are less likely to be readmitted to hospital within one year than those who return to living in the community, according to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
	BabySeq 2.0: Bringing equity to genomic sequencing in newborns Today, nearly 900 disorders caused by a single gene are known to be treatable. Yet the recommended "heel stick" testing for newborns only covers about 60 inherited, treatable disorders, and many individual states screen for fewer. What if newborns could instead have their entire genome sequenced at birth, with the results shared and acted on as appropriate?
	Researchers: One in five Norwegians has tinnitus, but treatment provision is poor Researchers at SINTEF have been looking into the extent to which previous medical recommendations on the treatment of tinnitus are being followed up by the Norwegian public authorities and health trusts. Their work has been commissioned by the Norwegian Association for the Hard of Hearing.
	New study uncovers profound impact of diet and genetically induced obesity on ovarian microenvironment In a new study on the ovarian microenvironment, led by Prof. Zi-Jiang Chen's team from the Center for Reproductive Medicine of Shandong University, in collaboration with Prof. Fei Gao from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, researchers have employed two types of mice with obesity induced by environmental and genetic factors as their experimental subjects.
	The top 10 recommendations to reduce the global burden of fragility fractures National health care landscapes vary worldwide, but most share one common failing: Osteoporosis and fracture prevention are under-prioritized within the health care system.
	National ICU registries as enablers of clinical research and quality improvement Clinical quality registries (CQRs) have been implemented worldwide by several medical specialties aiming to generate a better characterization of epidemiology, treatments, and outcomes of patients. National ICU registries were created almost three decades ago to improve the understanding of case-mix, resource use, and outcomes of critically ill patients.
	The nuclear envelope and breast cancer metastasis A new editorial paper titled "The nuclear envelope and metastasis" has been published in Oncotarget.

Other Sciences news

	Founder personality could predict start-up success, study suggests The stats don't lie—the overwhelming majority of start-up companies fail. So, what makes the seemingly lucky few not only survive, but thrive?
	A 15th century French painting depicts an ancient stone tool More than 500,000 years ago, our human ancestors used large, stone tools known as "Acheulean handaxes," to cut meat and wood, and dig for tubers. Often made from flint, these prehistoric oval and pear-shaped tools are flaked on both sides and have a pointed end.
	Green vote fades where import competition scares people, research suggests New research by Valentina Bosetti (Department of Economics) and Italo Colantone (Department of Social and Political Sciences) suggests that Western policymakers wanting to make progress on climate action should address the distributional consequences of international trade.
	Make new friends and become a role model: Why you should consider volunteering if you're in your 20s or 30s If you're aged between 25 and 34, you're part of the age group least likely to take part in volunteering.
	Test of police implicit bias training shows modest improvements A two-part training designed to help police officers recognize their implicit bias, revealed some behavior improvement and lowered citizen discrimination complaints in a controlled study. While a small study involving one police department, it is the first-known research to provide evidence that this type of training can produce positive behavioral effects.
	Humor isn't a deal-breaker when finding 'the one,' says study University of Queensland research has found being funny or having a good sense of humor doesn't necessarily make you more attractive to potential partners.
	Traditional shopping center experience transformed by COVID-19 A researcher has found that—in the post-COVID era—shoppers now seek functional and transactional value, rather than fun and social interactions when visiting a shopping center.
	Sports coaches make these seven kinds of decisions The recent AFL Grand Final was a great spectacle. It was also a welcome distraction from the woeful performance of the Wallabies in the rugby union World Cup.
	From the skies to your roof, what does a raindrop pick up along the way? As clean water access becomes more difficult in the American Southwest, more people are turning to harvesting rainwater as a solution, especially in Arizona. But with little data on contaminants in harvested rainwater, communities are wondering how clean it really is.
	Nonprofits can become more resilient by spending more on fundraising and admin, according to new research Most food banks, homeless shelters and other social services nonprofits constantly face hard decisions about how to use their limited funds. Should they spend as much as possible on meeting the immediate needs of people who need help? How much of their budget is appropriate to spend on new equipment, skilled managers and everything else required for an organization to thrive and endure?
	Gaza conflict: How children's lives are affected on every level Children living in Gaza have never known anything but overcrowding, shortages, conflict and danger.
	Building economic resilience in the face of crises and climate Research published in the International Journal of Sustainable Economy has looked at the interplay between climate variability and the financial health of listed companies in Vietnam with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
	New report shows the impact of long-term sentencing in California's women's prisons More than 4,100 people are currently serving time behind the walls of California's prisons for women. Activist Jayda Rasberry was once one of them.
	For relationship maintenance, accurate perception of partner's behavior could be key Married couples and long-term romantic partners typically engage in a variety of behaviors that sustain and nourish the relationship. These actions promote higher levels of commitment, which benefits couples' physical and psychological health. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign looks at how such relationship maintenance behaviors interact with satisfaction and commitment.
	A new method will allow people to learn programming by playing The changing information technology industry, latest artificial intelligence applications, high demand for IT professionals, and evolving need for learning are leading to the search for innovations in education that will allow current and future employees to acquire knowledge in a contemporary and accessible way.
	Sexual harassment victims in Nigerian universities are being blamed—cyberspace study Sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of inappropriate behavior, from ogling, touching and commenting about body parts, to sexual proposition, coercion, assault and rape. In other words, it is any form of unsolicited and unwanted sexual attention.
	What do a Black scientist, nonprofit executive and filmmaker have in common? They all face racism in workplace culture American workplaces talk a lot about diversity these days. In fact, you'd have a hard time finding a company that says it doesn't value the principle. But despite this—and despite the multibillion-dollar diversity industry—Black workers continue to face significant hiring discrimination, stall out at middle management levels and remain underrepresented in leadership roles.
	Refugee legal reforms will have a disproportionate impact on sexually diverse asylum claimants, UK study warns Refugee legal reforms will have a disproportionate impact on sexually diverse claimants, academics have warned.
	Emotional expression is about fostering connections, not asserting individuality When someone expresses their emotions, they show their passion and authentic individuality. As self-evident as it might seem, this may reflect a cultural bias, says a University of Michigan researcher.

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