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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 16, 2023:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

COVID-related loss of taste and smell reversible over time, finds study

Peculiar nova eruption inspected by astronomers

ALMA observation of young star reveals details of dust grains

Three-pronged approach discerns qualities of quantum spin liquids

Seven countries, 1.3 million lives lost every year: The devastating impact of tobacco revealed

New studies of brain activity explain benefits of electroconvulsive therapy

Wearable devices detect circadian disturbances that predict frailty risk in older adults

AI model can help predict survival outcomes for patients with cancer

SpaceX will try again to launch its mega rocket into orbit after first attempt ended in an explosion

Bear genes show circadian rhythms even during hibernation

Australian astronomy center achieves gender parity in astronomy in just five years

Hospitals serving large Black, Hispanic populations have fewer resources for cancer care: Study

3D folding of the genome: Theoretical model helps explain how cell identity is preserved when cells divide

Two new species of worms discovered off Japan's Ryukyu Islands

Study shows how drug manufacturers use FDA, patent strategies to keep insulin prices high

Nanotechnology news

Novel nanoprobe helps realize in vivo real-time detection of sentinel lymph node metastases in breast cancer Sentinel lymph node (SLN) is the first lymph node draining from a tumor, and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for breast cancer is the standard procedure for clinically node-negative (cN0) early-stage breast cancer. Currently, the commonly used tracers in clinical practice can only trace SLNs without evaluating their metastatic status.

Physics news

	Three-pronged approach discerns qualities of quantum spin liquids In 1973, physicist Phil Anderson hypothesized that the quantum spin liquid, or QSL, state existed on some triangular lattices, but he lacked the tools to delve deeper. Fifty years later, a team led by researchers associated with the Quantum Science Center headquartered at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory has confirmed the presence of QSL behavior in a new material with this structure, KYbSe2.
	Novel measurement technique for fluid-mixing phenomena using selective color imaging method A novel measurement technique has been developed to visualize the fluid flow and distribution within two droplets levitated and coalesced in space using fluorescence-emitting particles. This technique enabled the estimation of fluid motion within each droplet, thereby revealing the internal flow caused by surface vibration when the droplet merging promotes fluid mixing. Details have been published in Scientific Reports.
	Reactor physics research: Advanced neural networks reveal new potential in solving K-eigenvalue problems In a new study of reactor physics published in the journal Nuclear Science and Techniques, researchers from Sichuan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, have introduced two innovative neural networks to address the longstanding challenges associated with K-eigenvalue problems in neutron diffusion theory. These problems, which are fundamental in the nuclear engineering realm, are pivotal for the simulation and analysis of nuclear reactors.

Earth news

	Scientists combine climate models for more accurate projections Researchers from institutions including the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have created a new method for statistically analyzing climate models that projects future conditions with more fidelity.
	Microplastics in soil: Tomography with neutrons and X-rays shows where particles are deposited It is a real problem: Microplastic particles are everywhere. Now a team from the University of Potsdam and HZB has developed a method that allows it for the first time to precisely localize microplastic particles in the soil. The 3D tomographies show where the particles are deposited and how structures in the soil are changed.
	Researchers help reduce lead levels in Madagascar drinking water A team of engineers and public health experts from the University of South Florida is helping Toamasina, Madagascar, residents reduce their exposure to lead—a major global environmental pollutant that causes more than 1 million premature deaths each year. By combining efforts to replace water pumps and educate city technicians, USF researchers helped decrease the blood lead levels of 87 percent of the children tested during their study.
	Research in Lake Superior reveals how sulfur might have cycled in Earth's ancient oceans Geochemist Alexandra Phillips has sulfur on her mind. The yellow element is a vital macronutrient, and she's trying to understand how it cycles through the environment. Specifically, she's curious about the sulfur cycle in Earth's ancient ocean, some 3 billion years ago.
	Inequality hotspot map shows where women in agriculture are hit the hardest by the climate crisis Threats posed by the climate crisis disproportionally affect certain communities and social groups that are more exposed. People living in low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries are at heightened risk. Within these countries, women typically face higher climate risk than men.
	Frozen library of ancient ice tells tales of climate's past How was the air breathed by Caesar, the Prophet Mohammed or Christopher Columbus? A giant freezer in Copenhagen holds the answers, storing blocks of ice with atmospheric tales thousands of years old.
	Deep-sea coral evidence found for enhanced subglacial discharge from Antarctica during meltwater pulse 1A Subglacial discharge from the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) likely played a crucial role in the loss of ice sheet and the subsequent rise in sea level during the last deglaciation. However, no direct proxy is currently available to document subglacial discharge from the AIS, which leaves significant gaps in our understanding of the complex interactions between subglacial discharge and ice sheet stability.
	How much damage could possible Iceland volcano eruption cause? A town has been evacuated in southwestern Iceland after hundreds of earthquakes caused by shifting underground magma sparked fears of a full-blown volcanic eruption.
	Why the Pyrenees' mountain lakes are turning green I first set foot in the Pyrenees in 2006. Two years later, I began a large-scale survey of mountain lakes and amphibian populations: from east to west, I covered more than 100 mountain lakes located in the eastern Pyrenees to the Béarn region (Pyrénées-Atlantiques).
	Volcanic Iceland is rumbling again as magma rises. A geologist explains eruptions in the land of fire and ice Thousands of earthquakes in recent weeks have shaken the Icelandic fishing town of Grindavík, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southwest of the capital Reykjavik. They have triggered evacuations and warnings that a volcanic eruption may be imminent.
	Opinion: We're burning too much fossil fuel to fix by planting trees—making 'net zero' emissions impossible with offsets The idea that we can mitigate current carbon emissions by "offsetting" them with carbon reduction initiatives elsewhere has become central to government and business responses to climate change. But it's an idea we need to seriously question.
	Listen to Iceland's recent seismic activity As seismic activity intensifies ahead of an impending eruption of a fissure near Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcano, the island's Reykjanes Peninsula is experiencing hundreds of earthquakes per day.
	Report: Climate change impacts on water are profound and unequal Climate change is intensifying rainfall and floods, deepening droughts, and shifting weather patterns across the globe, threatening terrestrial freshwater supplies and water quality, according to the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5), released Nov. 14. These impacts are unequal, disproportionately affecting the most frontline populations in the United States.
	UK research finds public is climate complacent The UK public is complacent when it comes to personal action on climate change and, without intervention, meaningful changes to lifestyles and consumption behaviors will not happen, according to new research by the University of Southampton.
	Satellite data can help limit the dangers of windblown dust Interstate 10, an artery that cuts through the rural drylands of southern New Mexico, is one of the country's deadliest roadways. On one stretch of the highway, just north of a dry lakebed called Lordsburg Playa, fatal collisions occur with such regularity that officials often call it the "dust trap." It's a fitting name. Since 1967, at least 55 deaths in the area have been linked to dust storms.
	Data centers 'straining water resources' as AI swells For the past 19 years, Felix Adebayo has called Balarabe Musa Crescent in Victoria Island, an affluent area within Nigeria's bustling Lagos city, his home.
	Enabling climate change adaptation in coastal systems In recent years, there has been a proliferation of scientific publications on how coasts can adapt to the impacts of climate change. However, a study led by marine biologist Dr. David Cabana of the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon has revealed a significant gap: few of these research findings translate into actionable recommendations.
	The planet just had its warmest October on record The planet added another record-breaking month to 2023, with October ranking as the warmest October in the 174-year global climate record.
	Relying too much on carbon dioxide removal is 'likely inconsistent with international law,' say researchers Governments that over-rely on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) to meet their climate targets may be breaching international law, says a new study.
	To meet climate goals, Gulf countries will have to overhaul everything In Dubai, it's normal to leave your air conditioning running at all times, even if you go away for weeks. Qatar has the largest air-conditioned outdoor jogging tracks in the world. Across the United Arab Emirates, water is so cheap that some people run the shower just to listen to it.
	Flash floods kill 100 in Horn of Africa: charity More than 100 people, including 16 children, have died and over 700,000 been forced out of their homes in the Horn of Africa due to flash flooding, the British charity Save the Children said Thursday.
	Oil, gas giants could pay climate damage and still profit: research Major oil and gas companies such as Aramco, ExxonMobil and Shell could have paid for their share of the damage caused by climate change and still earned trillions of dollars in profit, researchers said on Thursday.
	Poverty is killing the Amazon rainforest. Treating soil and farmers better can help save what's left At dawn in this small Amazonian village in Brazil's Para state, flocks of noisy green parrots soar overhead as children run and play between wooden homes, kicking up sandy soil—in places white and bare as a beach.
	How to make flood-prone areas in New Jersey more resilient to climate change For years, Rutgers ecologist Brooke Maslo has studied how to redesign flood-prone landscapes so they can best protect the communities they border from the ravages of swollen brooks and rivers and rising seas.
	Image: Italy's Mount Etna spews lava One of the world's most active volcanoes, Mount Etna, erupted on Sunday—spewing lava and clouds of ash high over the Mediterranean island of Sicily. This image, captured on 13 November by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission, has been processed using the mission's shortwave-infrared bands to show the lava flow at the time of acquisition.
	Asia Pacific's waste disposal a burning question As waste-to-energy incinerators—a mainstay of garbage disposal in economically advanced countries—find their way into the developing countries of the Asia Pacific, questions are being asked about their suitability for the region.

Astronomy and Space news

	Peculiar nova eruption inspected by astronomers An international team of astronomers has employed NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to observe the eruption of Nova Vulpeculae 2021. Results of the observational campaign, published November 8 on the pre-print server arXiv, provide important insights into the peculiar nature of this classical nova, unveiling its complex variability behavior.
	ALMA observation of young star reveals details of dust grains One of the primary goals of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is to study the formation and evolution of planetary systems. Young stars are often surrounded by a disk of gas and dust, out of which planets can form.
	SpaceX will try again to launch its mega rocket into orbit after first attempt ended in an explosion SpaceX is aiming for another test flight of its mega rocket on Friday after getting final approval from federal regulators.
	Gamma-rays with energies of up to 13 teraelectronvolts measured for brightest burst of all time Astronomers with The LHAASO Collaboration have found that last year's GRB 221009A gamma-ray burst, subsequently nicknamed the Brightest of All Time (BOAT), carried with it 13 teraelectronvolts of energy. In their study, reported in the journal Science Advances, the group analyzed data from the LHAASO-KM2A detector located in in Sichuan, China, to learn more about the burst.
	NASA's Hubble measures the size of the nearest transiting Earth-sized planet NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has measured the size of the nearest Earth-sized exoplanet that passes across the face of a neighboring star. This alignment, called a transit, opens the door to follow-on studies to see what kind of atmosphere, if any, the rocky world might have.
	Earth's past and future habitability depends on our protection from space weather A bewildering number of factors and variables led up to the planet we occupy today, where life finds a way to survive and even thrive in the most marginal conditions. The sun is the catalyst for it all, propelling life on its journey to greater complexity with its steady fusion.
	Amateur astronomer discovers one-of-a-kind supernova remnant In 2023, amateur astronomer Dana Patchick was looking through images from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer archive and discovered a diffuse, circular object in the constellation of Cassiopeia.
	NASA telescope data becomes music you can play For millennia, musicians have looked to the heavens for inspiration. Now a new collaboration is enabling actual data from NASA telescopes to be used as the basis for original music that can be played by humans.
	How black holes consume entropy Entropy is one of those fearsomely deep concepts that form the core of entire fields of physics (in this case, thermodynamics) that is unfortunately so mathematical that it's difficult to explain in plain language. But we will give it a try. Whenever I see the word entropy, I like to replace it with the phrase "counting the number of ways that I can rearrange a scenario while leaving it largely the same." That's a bit of a mouthful, I agree, and so entropy will have to do.
	The origins of the black hole information paradox While physics tells us that information can neither be created nor destroyed (if information could be created or destroyed, then the entire raison d'etre of physics, that is to predict future events or identify the causes of existing situations, would be impossible), it does not demand that the information be accessible. For decades physicists assumed that the information that fell into a black hole is still there, still existing, just locked away from view.

Technology news

	Technique enables AI on edge devices to keep learning over time Personalized deep-learning models can enable artificial intelligence chatbots that adapt to understand a user's accent or smart keyboards that continuously update to better predict the next word based on someone's typing history. This customization requires constant fine-tuning of a machine-learning model with new data.
	Altering our language can help us deal with the intelligence of chatbots New research suggests reframing how we talk about and interact with large language models may help us adapt to their intelligence.
	Enhancing hydrogen fuel cell durability via tungsten oxide coating When purchasing a smartphone, one of your primary considerations is typically finding a durable case and a screen protector to safeguard the device from external harm. Similarly, a group of researchers from POSTECH has recently garnered attention in the academic world by introducing a tungsten coating that functions as a shield, much like these protective cases and films, for eco-friendly hydrogen fuel cell electrodes.
	Examining the mind's eye of a neural network system In the background of image recognition software that can ID our friends on social media and wildflowers in our yard are neural networks, a type of artificial intelligence inspired by how own our brains process data.
	Creating realistic 'talking heads' with an AI-powered program A team of researchers led by Assoc Prof Lu Shijian from the NTU School of Computer Science and Engineering has developed a computer program that creates realistic videos that reflect the facial expressions and head movements of the person speaking, only requiring an audio clip and a face photo.
	Deep Mind's Student of Games AI system can beat humans at a variety of games A team of AI researchers from EquiLibre Technologies, Sony AI, Amii and Midjourney, working with Google's DeepMind project, has developed an AI system called Student of Games (SoG) that is capable of both beating humans at a variety of games and learning to play new ones. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes the new system and its capabilities.
	Research proposes night-time radiative warming using the atmosphere Warming has played a crucial role in various industrial and agricultural processes throughout history. Night-time warming, however, presents a distinct challenge due to the absence of solar radiation. During the night, direct radiative heat loss to outer space through the atmospheric transparent window (8–14 μm) can cause temperature to drop below freezing, posing significant threats to agriculture (crops), transportation (outdoor cables), and more.
	Reclaiming carbon fibers from discarded composite materials Minimizing energy consumption is a fundamental element in our journey towards sustainable societies, and advanced materials play a key role in this regard. Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) and carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) are two prominent examples of composite materials that can significantly improve energy efficiency in various fields of application.
	Using virtual reality to research phantom sensations Virtual reality (VR) is not only a technology for games and entertainment, but also has potential in science and medicine. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have now gained new insights into human perception with the help of VR. They used virtual reality scenarios in which subjects touched their own bodies with a virtual object.
	Alibaba cancels cloud service spinoff over US chip restrictions Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba said Thursday it was cancelling a planned cloud service spinoff announced this year over US chip restrictions, as it reported results for the third quarter of 2023 that were in line with market expectations.
	TikTok and Meta challenge Europe's new rules that crack down on digital giants TikTok and Facebook owner Meta are filing legal challenges against new European Union rules designed to counter the dominance of digital giants and make online competition fairer by giving consumers more choice.
	EU agrees data-sharing scheme for Airbnb-style rentals An EU-wide data-sharing scheme for Airbnb and similar rentals to help crack down on illegal short-term lets is a step closer after negotiators struck agreement Thursday.
	Morphing cones under compression: New research uncovers surprises for soft robotic actuators Cambridge engineers investigating the load-bearing capacity of conical shells, made from soft materials, have discovered performance-limiting weaknesses that could have implications for soft robotics—affecting the ability of morphing cones to perform fundamental mechanical tasks.
	The AI of war: Computers and autonomous killing Like gunpowder and the atomic bomb, artificial intelligence (AI) has the capacity to revolutionize warfare, analysts say, making human disputes unimaginably different—and a lot more deadly.
	No, you're not that good at detecting fake videos—two misinformation experts explain how to recognize them Someone tracking the conflict raging in the Middle East could have seen the following two videos on social media. The first shows a little boy hovering over his father's dead body, whimpering in Arabic, "Don't leave me." The second purports to show a pregnant woman with her stomach slashed open and claims to document the testimony of a paramedic who handled victims' bodies after Hamas' attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
	AI is already being melded with robotics—one outcome could be powerful new weapons Interest in the incorporation of robots into security, policing and military operations has been steadily increasing over the last few years. It's an avenue already being explored in both North America and Europe.
	Long hours and low wages: The human labor powering AI's development The Finnish tech firm Metroc recently began using prison labor to train a large language model to improve artificial intelligence (AI) technology. For 1.54 euros an hour prisoners answer simple questions about snippets of text in a process known as data labeling.
	What designers can do to make textiles healthier for people and the planet The pollution caused by the textile industry is often discussed, but its impact on health is less emphasized. Nevertheless, the petrochemical compounds used in the manufacturing of our clothes have harmful effects on workers, surrounding communities, and consumers. This issue has a global impact, but its assessment is complex due to our low chronic exposure to a "cocktail" of synthetic substances whose cause-and-effect relationships are difficult to identify.
	A nanosatellite and a hot air balloon for emergency broadband anywhere It is estimated that 95% of the planet's population has access to broadband internet, via cable or a mobile network. However, there are still some places and situations in which staying connected can be very difficult. Quick responses are necessary in emergency situations, such as after an earthquake or during a conflict. So too are reliable telecommunications networks that are not susceptible to outages and damage to infrastructure, networks can be used to share data that is vital for people's well-being.
	Video: Modeling turbofan engines to understand aircraft noise Airplane engines are loud—just ask anyone who lives near an airport. Increased air traffic from next-generation aircraft has the potential for even more disruptive noise. Researchers and engineers at NASA are working to reduce noise generated by turbofan engines, but each new design requires certification and testing to understand how much noise it will generate during takeoff and approach.
	Five ways to cool cities as temperatures soar As Australia heads into an El Niño summer, UNSW's Dr. Negin Nazarian, an expert in urban climate, explains five crucial strategies to keep cities—and people—cooler.
	Real-time measurement error assessment for intelligent energy meters A study aimed at improving the accuracy and reliability of grid electricity meters, particularly under challenging on-site conditions is published in the International Journal of Information and Communication Technology. The research offers practical suggestions for assessing and optimizing measurement performance.
	No one-size-fits-all solution for the net-zero grid, researchers say As power generation from sources like solar and wind increases, along with the introduction of devices such as heat pumps and batteries, a new optimization tool created at the University of Surrey will help the UK plan for a greener electricity network.
	UAE inaugurates giant solar plant, two weeks before climate talks The United Arab Emirates inaugurated on Thursday one of the world's biggest solar plants, two weeks before the oil-rich Gulf state hosts UN climate talks.
	Amazon will allow US customers to buy cars on its site from local car dealers starting next year Want to buy a car on Amazon? Well, now you might get your chance.
	L.A. asks how to equitably achieve 100% clean energy by 2035 In 2021, after the LA100 analysis laid out pathways for the city of Los Angeles to produce 100% renewable electricity, the City Council and Los Angeles Department of Water and Power committed to pursuing the most ambitious—and expensive—scenario: achieving the goal by 2035 at a cost of nearly $40 billion.
	Boosting thermal energy storage with polyelectrolytes Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers have demonstrated that an additive made from polymers and electrolytes improves the thermal performance and stability of salt hydrate phase change materials, or PCMs, a finding that could advance their integration into carbon-reducing heat pumps.
	Q&A: What impact will the Biden administration's executive order have on AI development? Robert Brunner is the associate dean for innovation and chief disruption officer at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Brunner spoke with News Bureau business and law editor Phil Ciciora about the Biden administration's executive order on artificial intelligence systems.
	Researchers develop device that can switch between photodetector and neuromorphic vision sensor Photodetectors and neuromorphic vision sensors are two typical optoelectronic devices that play important roles in sensing and processing optical information. Photodetectors have fast light response and high sensitivity, making them suitable for optical sensing, communication, and imaging systems. Neuromorphic vision sensors can perceive, store, and process light signals.
	Q&A: How an assistive-feeding robot went from picking up fruit salads to whole meals According to data from 2010, around 1.8 million people in the U.S. can't eat on their own. Yet training a robot to feed people presents an array of challenges for researchers. Foods come in a nearly endless variety of shapes and states (liquid, solid, gelatinous), and each person has a unique set of needs and preferences.
	Lithium-ion batteries are no longer the gold standard in battery tech, researchers say The use of lithium metal as the anode for batteries is one of the smarter options with better energy density than other materials. However, the interface between the electrode and electrolyte has quite a few issues that can be addressed for a safer and more functional outcome in the future.
	When sticking with old technology can be a strategic move Technological innovation—especially disruptive innovation—is often heralded as the best strategy for a company. But new research published in Strategic Management Journal found that as competitors adopt new technology in some markets, firms that stick with the old technology may experience an initial decline before actually rebounding and even reaching new heights.
	AI threatens millions of South Korean jobs, central bank says Nearly four million jobs in South Korea are at risk of being replaced by artificial intelligence technology over the next two decades, a central bank study released on Thursday said.
	Musk's X launches court fight with Australian watchdog Australia's online safety watchdog said Thursday it was being taken to court by Elon Musk's X in a fight over the platform's failure to outline how it combats child sexual abuse content.
	In Mexico, building a rail rival to the Panama Canal At Mexico's narrowest point, linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the government is building a railway rival to the Panama Canal with promises of economic bounty but amid fears of environmental and social harm.
	Long-haul carrier Emirates orders 15 Airbus A350 after engine dispute during Dubai Air Show Long-haul carrier Emirates said Thursday it will purchase 15 additional Airbus A350-900s worth $6 billion after a spat between the airline and the European manufacturer went unusually public during this week's Dubai Air Show.
	Siemens nets record profits, but outlook cautious German industrial giant Siemens on Thursday gave a cautious sales forecast for 2024, after netting a record profit in the previous financial year driven by its digital division.
	How to prepare your home for extreme cold As night falls earlier and temperatures drop, it's time to get cozy under a blanket and brew your favorite tea.
	New shipping report highlights benefits of reducing underwater radiated noise A new report by the University of Southampton has been launched to assess the relationship between measures aimed at enhancing ship energy efficiency and underwater radiated noise emissions.
	Invention reduces cost of manufacturing quick-charging devices In the course of the transition to e-mobility, range and charging times are becoming increasingly important for more and more people. That's why possibilities for faster charging are of ever-greater interest. Quick charging and charging large batteries require a lot of power. However, manufacturing costs for these high-powered devices remain very high today.

Chemistry news

	Researchers tune the speed of chirality switching Chiral molecules can have dramatically different functional properties while sharing identical chemical formulae and almost identical structures. The molecular structure of two types of a chiral molecule—so-called enantiomers—are mirror images of each other where one cannot be superposed on the other any more than your right hand can fit front-to-back on the left. While a lot of chiral molecules are traditionally considered fixed as left- or right-handed, chiral molecules based on helices are known to be able to switch in response to changes in their environment.
	Researchers develop self-sorting coacervates for high-order protocell networks Protocell networks assembled by artificial cell-like compartments have been developed for the expansion of cell-mimicking functionalities, such as signal processing, protein expression, morphological differentiation, and energy harvesting.
	A novel machine learning model for molecular simulation under an external field Prof. Jiang Bin's research team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) have developed a universal field-induced recursively embedded atom neural network (FIREANN) model, which can accurately simulate system-field interactions with high efficiency. Their research was published in Nature Communications on October 12.
	Researchers establish green pharmaceutical production from wood waste Sustainable and environmentally friendly production processes are playing an increasingly important role in almost all branches of industry. The production of active pharmaceutical ingredients in particular involves the use of various materials and reagents, many of which have environmentally harmful properties and therefore require costly processing and disposal.
	Pushing the boundaries of eco-friendly chemical production with azaarenes A team of pioneering researchers from the Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI) has made a significant leap forward in the complex world of molecular chemistry.
	Chemists tackle formation of natural aerosols City dwellers have long had to contend with smog—that ugly haze that hangs over urban areas—as a result of emissions-producing human activities as diverse as manufacturing, mowing the lawn, driving cars, and even cooking.
	Vinigrol targets protein disulfide isomerase to block inflammatory response, shows study Researchers led by Prof. Wang Lei from the Institute of Biophysics of the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) and their collaborators have identified the direct target of vinigrol as protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) on the cell membrane. Vinigrol activates ADAM17 protease by inhibiting PDI, and then leads to the shedding of immune receptors TNFR1, thereby antagonizing the TNF-α signaling.
	How to develop bio-inspired catalysts Victor Mougel is an absolute fan of nature, not only because he grew up on a farm, spends a lot of time outdoors with his wife and children, and sometimes rides up and down Swiss mountains on his road bike. He also believes that no chemist can hold a candle to nature.
	Machine learning techniques improve X-ray materials analysis Researchers of RIKEN at Japan's synchrotron radiation facility, SPring-8 and their collaborators have developed a faster and simpler way to carry out segmentation analysis, a vital process in materials science. The new method was published in the journal Science and Technology of Advanced Materials: Methods.
	Removing cesium: Solutions to a chemically complex problem Fifty-six million gallons. That is the amount of radioactive tank waste left behind at the Hanford Site as a result of the secret government mission to provide the plutonium for the world's first atomic weapons and the Cold War that followed. Today, the Hanford Site is known as one of the world's most technically complex environmental challenges.

Biology news

	Bear genes show circadian rhythms even during hibernation The internal clocks of grizzly bears appear to keep ticking through hibernation, according to a genetic study. This persistence highlights the strong role of circadian rhythms in the metabolism of many organisms including humans.
	3D folding of the genome: Theoretical model helps explain how cell identity is preserved when cells divide Every cell in the human body contains the same genetic instructions, encoded in its DNA. However, out of about 30,000 genes, each cell expresses only those genes that it needs to become a nerve cell, immune cell, or any of the other hundreds of cell types in the body.
	Two new species of worms discovered off Japan's Ryukyu Islands A team of marine scientists and zoologists from Japan, Malaysia, the U.S. and Russia has discovered two new species of Hesionidae—a type of segmented worm. In their paper published in the journal PeerJ, the group describes how they found the worms living off the cost of Japan's Ryukyu Islands (part of Okinawa's tidal flats) in sandy burrows created by ghost shrimp. They also describe them and outline where the worms fit on the Hesionidae family tree.
	Love thy neighbor: Cooperation extends beyond one's own group in wild bonobos A study published in Science challenges the notion that only humans are capable of forming strong and strategic cooperative relationships and sharing resources across non-family groups.
	Plants that survived dinosaur extinction pulled nitrogen from air, study concludes Once a favored food of grazing dinosaurs, an ancient lineage of plants called cycads helped sustain these and other prehistoric animals during the Mesozoic Era, starting 252 million years ago, by being plentiful in the forest understory. Today, just a few species of the palm-like plants survive in tropical and subtropical habitats.
	Introducing EUGENe: An easy-to-use deep learning genomics software Deep learning—a form of artificial intelligence capable of improving itself with limited user input—has radically reshaped the landscape of biomedical research since its emergence in the early 2010s. It's been particularly impactful in genomics, a field of biology that examines how our DNA is organized into genes and how these genes are activated or deactivated in individual cells.
	Research quantifies how millions of cells in zebrafish embryos are affected by key gene alterations Seattle researchers have developed a technique to quantify the changes in gene activity that occur throughout zebrafish embryos in response to specific edits to key genes. The approach makes it possible to quantify gene activity and the effect of genetic variations in millions of cells in thousands of embryos during their development.
	Study suggests brain regulatory program predates central nervous system evolution New research from the Layden Lab at Lehigh has demonstrated that the gene mechanisms at work during neurogenesis in the brain actually predate the evolutionary development of the central nervous system. In other words, to build our brains, nature is borrowing the blueprints from much simpler creatures that predate us and other animals on the evolutionary timeline.
	New study reveals that bees cannot taste even lethal levels of pesticides New research from the University of Oxford has revealed that bumblebees cannot taste pesticides present in nectar, even at lethal concentrations. This means bumblebees are not able to avoid contaminated nectar, putting them at high risk of pesticide exposure and posing a threat to crop pollination.
	Research dives into the social network of proteins Stanley Milgram's groundbreaking "Six Degrees of Separation" experiment demonstrated the surprisingly close connections among humans back in the 1960s. Now the research team led by Professor Matthias Mann at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) of Biochemistry has shown that the proteins in our cells are equally well connected.
	Study shows temperature variability reduces songbird nesting success Many songbirds are nesting earlier in spring because of warmer temperatures brought about by climate change. But the shift brings another danger that is especially deadly for nestlings: greater exposure to temperature variability in the form of cold snaps and heat waves. Such extremes result in more nest failures. These findings come from a Cornell Lab of Ornithology study just published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Study proposes new framework to identify keystone microbial species Microbial communities are thought to contain keystone species, which can disproportionately affect the stability of the communities, even if only present in low abundances. Identifying these keystone species can be challenging, especially in the human gut, since it is not feasible to isolate them through systematic elimination.
	New study finds burning by humans and warming altered Andean ecosystems Humans moved into the Andes about 15,000 years ago and their introduction of regular fire to the landscape created a new ecosystem, research published in Nature Communications finds.
	'King of Lake Ohrid': the fight to save a Balkan trout Along the picturesque shores of Lake Ohrid, things have taken on a frantic pace at the Lin Hatchery in Albania's Pogradec, as a team of specialists races to release the final batch of newly spawned trout this season.
	Research reveals molecular mechanism of asymmetric calcium-sensitive receptor activation Calcium-sensing receptors (CaSRs), widely distributed in tissues and organs such as parathyroid glands, intestines, bones and kidneys, sense the concentration of calcium ions in the blood and maintain the calcium balance in the human body. CaSR is so essential for maintaining blood calcium stability that its abnormal function will lead to various diseases.
	Meat made from cells, not livestock, is here. But will it ever replace traditional meat? A familiar aroma wafted through the Believer Meats test kitchen earlier this year as Research and Development Chef Andres Voloschin flipped sizzling strips of chicken conjured from cells.
	Climate change is hastening the demise of Pacific Northwest forests Deep inside a forest in Oregon's Willamette Valley stands a dead "Tree of Life."
	Over half of seabirds in UK and Ireland 'in decline': survey Almost half of the breeding seabird species in the UK and Ireland have declined in the past 20 years, with climate change one of the possible causes, according to a new survey released on Thursday.
	Video: Genetically improving sorghum for biofuels Bioscientist Anne Villacastin is using genetics to supercharge the growing power of sorghum, a cereal plant that humans have been cultivating for millennia. By adding genes from wheat, Villacastin and her colleagues at the Joint BioEnergy Institute are making sorghum strains that grow tall and robust with very little water, so farmers can produce large quantities of the crop at low cost and low environmental impact.
	Rediscovery of rare marine amoeba Rhabdamoeba marina Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have rediscovered and successfully cultivated Rhabdamoeba marina—a rare marine amoeba that has only been reported in two cases in the past century. Using this culture strain, the team performed a comprehensive analysis of its genetic sequence, revealing for the first time the phylogenetic position of this enigmatic amoeba, and proposed a novel taxonomic classification based on their research findings.
	Wildlife-vehicle collisions study delves into factors that impact detecting animals after dark According to a 2008 study, wildlife-vehicle collisions cost an estimated $8.4 billion in damages, with more than 58,000 people injured and 440 deaths occurring annually. These numbers continue to increase as urban sprawl expands and human–wildlife interactions increase. For many folks, wildlife-vehicle collisions are becoming a part of life. This is especially dangerous with days getting darker earlier.
	Veterinarians use 3D printing technology to assist in double hip replacement surgery for a dog A Labrador retriever named Ava is back to running and playing with her family after her second double hip replacement, courtesy of Texas A&M University veterinarians, computerized tomography (CT)-guided planning, and 3D-printing technology.
	Insects are spreading a devastating plant disease in Italy—Britain must keep it out, say researchers Since 2013, over 20 million olive trees in Italy have succumbed to a devastating plant disease. The same disease now threatens many more plant species, across several countries, with the same fate.
	Modeling shows how wolves recolonized Germany and where they could live in the future The return of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) to Germany, which began 23 years ago in the region of Lusatia in Eastern Germany, is a process of great ecological and social significance. Therefore, a precise understanding of the recolonization of the original habitat by the gray wolf and a reliable prediction of its future potential distribution are highly valuable. A detailed comparison of different approaches to spatial modeling using 20 years of distribution data has now unraveled the complexity of the recolonization process.
	Protecting native fauna from housecats Fans of the musical "Cats" will know that the naming of cats is a difficult matter, and that cats have three different names. The same is true of cats in New Zealand—there are three types: companion or pet cats that live with people and rely on them for their welfare, stray cats that may rely only partly on people for food and shelter and live around centers of human habitation, and feral cats that have minimal or no reliance on people, and that survive independently of the companion cat population.
	Japanese scientists find a simple method for cultivating an edible, highly nutritious microalgae Euglena (Euglena gracilis) is a microalga containing chloroplasts and producing organic matter through photosynthesis in a well-lit environment, while taking in organic matter from outside in an unlit environment. It is known to be rich in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and essential fatty acids, such as DHA and EPA. Owing to the lack of cell walls, Euglena has a high digestion and absorption rate, making it attractive as a new source of nutritious and health enhancing food.
	Study predicts to what extinct invasive quagga mussel will spread in affected lakes The invasive quagga mussel has already gained a foothold in numerous bodies of water in Switzerland. For three affected Swiss lakes, a prediction of the extent to which the quagga mussel will continue to spread has now been made for the first time as part of the SeeWandel project, as a collaboration between researchers from the aquatic research institute Eawag, the universities of Geneva and Constance and others.
	Like the phoenix, Australia's giant birds of prey rise again from limestone caves Australia's only vulture, and a fearsome extinct eagle, are among the earliest recorded birds of prey from the Pleistocene period more than 50,000 years ago—and now Flinders University researchers are bringing them to life again.
	Non-native diversity mirrors Earth's biodiversity: Study highlights potential for future waves of invasive species Human trade and transport have led to the intentional and accidental introductions of non-native species outside of their natural range globally. These biological invasions can cause extinctions, cost trillions, and spread diseases. A study from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, now published in Global Ecology and Biogeography, has investigated how many of these non-native species already exist worldwide and which species groups are particularly prone to become non-native.
	Heat-tolerant coral may trade fast growth for resilience Algae living within the soft tissue of coral supply much of the energy needed by their hosts, and some symbiotic algae help coral withstand warmer water better than others. In a recently published study led by the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, researchers have found that there was a tradeoff for corals dominated by the thermally sensitive algae—they have higher growth, but only in cooler water.
	'Fire is living': How this nature preserve uses cultural burning for regrowth Diana Almendariz often uses tule for basket weaving, but on this day she uses the dried bulrush wrapped around a cattail to carry fire across a narrow trail to a small field. She sets the tufted bundle down with intention to start the first of three new fires within a two-acre garden.
	Demand for seafood is soaring, but oceans are giving up all they can. Can we farm fish in new ways? If it still seems strange to think of fish growing on farms, it shouldn't.
	Brussels extends use of controversial herbicide The European Commission said Thursday it will allow the use of the controversial herbicide glyphosate for another 10 years, breaking a stalemate between EU states divided over its safety.
	Pastoralists have raised livestock in harsh climates for millennia. What can they teach us today? The half-crescent moon glowed in the predawn Mongolia sky as Agvaantogtokh and his family began preparing for yet another big move with their animals.
	NOAA unveils new tool for exploring coral reef data NOAA's National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) launched a new data visualization tool today, which will provide free and easy-to-access information on the status of U.S. coral reefs. It is the first tool focusing on shallow tropical coral reef data to be hosted on the NOAA GeoPlatform, which is NOAA's central hub for geospatial data and tools.
	Stone reefs in Denmark show promise in promoting marine biodiversity Just six months after DTU Aqua and local organizations established new reefs at Bredgrund near Sønderborg, researchers recorded 100 times as many cod as usual. That was good news.

Medicine and Health news

	COVID-related loss of taste and smell reversible over time, finds study Great news for those who lost some or all of their sense of smell or taste due to COVID-19: The effect, while persistent, does not appear to be permanent. A study led by the University of Trieste, Italy, has found that despite the loss of taste and smell associated with COVID-19, progressive recovery and restoration of the senses occurs slowly over time.
	Seven countries, 1.3 million lives lost every year: The devastating impact of tobacco revealed Every year 1.3 million lives are lost to cancers caused by smoking tobacco across the UK, US and BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), according to a new study.
	New studies of brain activity explain benefits of electroconvulsive therapy Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as electroshock therapy, involves inducing a brief seizure in the brain using controlled doses of electricity. While ECT is highly effective for certain mental illnesses, particularly depression, the reasons for its efficacy have long puzzled the fields of psychiatry and neuroscience.
	Wearable devices detect circadian disturbances that predict frailty risk in older adults Wearable devices can be used to measure a variety of signs and signals related to our health. A new study by researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital suggests that such devices may also be able to help predict older adults at risk of health complications related to frailty.
	AI model can help predict survival outcomes for patients with cancer Investigators from the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model based on epigenetic factors that is able to predict patient outcomes successfully across multiple cancer types.
	Hospitals serving large Black, Hispanic populations have fewer resources for cancer care: Study Among the nation's hospitals, those that serve high numbers of Black and Hispanic patients are far less likely to have advanced medical equipment and critical services that have been shown to boost the quality and effectiveness of cancer care, according to a study led by investigators at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
	Study shows how drug manufacturers use FDA, patent strategies to keep insulin prices high Over the last four decades, insulin manufacturers have extended their periods of market exclusivity on brand-name insulin products by employing several strategies, including filing additional patents on their products after FDA approval and obtaining many patents on delivery devices for their insulin products. That is the conclusion of a new analysis of FDA and patent records carried out by William Feldman of Brigham and Women's Hospital, U.S., and colleagues, and published Nov. 16 in the open access journal PLOS Medicine.
	Lab-grown 'small blood vessels' point to potential treatment for major cause of stroke and vascular dementia Cambridge scientists have grown small blood vessel-like models in the lab and used them to show how damage to the scaffolding that supports these vessels can cause them to leak, leading to conditions such as vascular dementia and stroke.
	Hunger hormones impact decision-making brain area to drive behavior, study finds A hunger hormone produced in the gut can directly impact a decision-making part of the brain in order to drive an animal's behavior, finds a new study by UCL (University College London) researchers.
	First-of-their-kind wearables capture body sounds to continuously monitor health During even the most routine visits, physicians listen to sounds inside their patients' bodies—air moving in and out of the lungs, heart beats and even digested food progressing through the long gastrointestinal tract. These sounds provide valuable information about a person's health. And when these sounds subtly change or downright stop, it can signal a serious problem that warrants time-sensitive intervention.
	Gene finding provides new insights into pancreas development and helps search for type 1 diabetes cure Understanding how the human pancreas develops is crucial to allow scientists to make insulin producing–beta cells in the quest to cure type 1 diabetes. Now, scientists have made a unique and surprising discovery—a gene that is essential for making the pancreas in humans is not present in almost all other animals.
	New ultrasound patch can measure how full your bladder is, could be adapted for earlier diagnosis of cancers MIT researchers have designed a wearable ultrasound monitor, in the form of a patch, that can image organs within the body without the need for an ultrasound operator or application of gel.
	A better way to study Parkinson's disease in the lab could lead to earlier diagnosis A study published in Progress in Neurobiology and led by researchers at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, has developed an improved method to study Parkinson's disease in the lab. Along the way, researchers also uncovered clues that may help scientists figure out how to detect Parkinson's earlier and point the way toward better treatments.
	Microbubble gene therapy may protect against heart disease Gene therapy has great promise for treating genetic diseases, and even for more common diseases such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Over the past decade, the gene-editing technology CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)—a family of DNA sequences found in the genomes of certain bacteria—has allowed scientists to fix individual errors in the genetic code that cause disease.
	Investigating the pathogenesis of rare congenital nerve disorder A new Northwestern Medicine study has uncovered previously unidentified intracellular mechanisms in the peripheral nervous system that cause Charcot–Marie–Tooth Type 2B disease, a rare congenital disorder that causes sensory deficits and muscle atrophy and weakness.
	Expanding malaria treatment could help accelerate elimination A clinical trial by Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) published in The Lancet has revealed promising results to reduce malaria relapses, through the broader use of primaquine.
	When cells touch, their genetics change: A new front in understanding cancer The cells that make up our bodies are constantly communicating with each other, sometimes directly by physical touch. These interactions allow cells to respond to their neighbors, adapt to their surrounding environment and organize themselves into a fully functioning organism.
	Pancreatic cancer discovery opens the door for new clinical trial Pancreatic cancer is tricky to manage because it spreads easily and early, and the tumors have a unique biological makeup. But, researchers made a breakthrough by learning about the genetic changes that occur during tumor migration—and also found a drug that can obstruct the process.
	Anemia in children in foster care connected to other diagnoses, researchers find Children in or adopted from the Pennsylvania foster care system with anemia may have greater odds of certain developmental and behavioral diagnoses according to a newly published study from Penn State researchers. This study, published in PLOS ONE, is the first to examine such a relationship among children in U.S. foster care.
	A small molecule blocks aversive memory formation, providing a potential treatment target for depression Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the world, but current anti-depressants have yet to meet the needs of many patients. Neuroscientists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently discovered a small molecule that can effectively alleviate stress-induced depressive symptoms in mice by preventing aversive memory formation with a lower dosage, offering a new direction for developing anti-depressants in the future.
	Discovery of an antibody that stimulates the immune system to eliminate cancer cells Major work led by Dr. André Veillette's team at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM), in collaboration with a group of researchers, and just published in Nature Immunology, managed to identify a previously unknown molecular action that prevents phagocytosis, which is a process that promotes the immune system's response to cancer. A Research Briefing on the work done by the team has been published in the same journal.
	Blinking on a quiz show offers clues to human response under stress Quiz shows, where contestants answer rapid-fire questions in a high-stress, high-stakes environment, are an integral part of TV programming—and now they are demonstrating that they have research value.
	Long-term painkiller use in those under 25 may contribute to mental illness and substance misuse The long-term use of painkillers from a young age may be linked to an increased risk of poor mental health later in life. This is according to research led by scientists at the University of Liverpool and St George's, University of London which is published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe.
	Research discovers key molecule that regulates immune memory of natural killer cells Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have identified a key molecule, Themis2, within natural killer (NK) cells. These cells play a pivotal role in eliminating virus-infected cells. Themis2 remembers viral antigens and further regulates the differentiation of these NK cells into more potent immune memory NK cells, enhancing their killing ability and overall function.
	Mutations in tumor cells discovered to be frequently associated with DNA–RNA hybrids A study by the University of Seville, CABIMER and IRB Barcelona led by the researchers Andrés Aguilera (US-CABIMER) and Aleix Bayona Feliu (IRB Barcelona) raises the possibility that DNA–RNA hybrids and the mutations in various cellular factors that form them may be responsible for the emergence of carcinogenic processes. The authors therefore stress the need to study these factors to understand and assess possible cancer risks.
	Excessive fluid consumption: Habit or hormonal disorder? People who drink more than three liters of fluid a day may be suffering from a rare hormone deficiency. For many, however, it is just a harmless habit. Failing to differentiate the two correctly can be fatal, so researchers have been investigating what kind of test delivers a reliable diagnosis.
	New research advances understanding of cancer risk in gene therapies Medical research has shown promising results regarding the potential of gene therapy to cure genetic conditions such as sickle cell disease and the findings of this study, published in Nature Medicine, offer important new insights into processes happening in the body after treatment.
	Epidemic-economic model provides answers to key pandemic policy questions Is lockdown an effective response to a pandemic, or would it be better to let individuals spontaneously reduce their risk of infection? Research published today suggests these two highly-debated options lead to similar outcomes.
	How a mutation in microglia elevates Alzheimer's risk A rare but potent genetic mutation that alters a protein in the brain's immune cells, known as microglia, can give people as much as a three-fold greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. A new study by researchers in The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT details how the mutation undermines microglia function, explaining how it seems to generate that higher risk.
	Researchers identify brain center responsible for responses to rapid temperature change We've all heard it: Put a frog in boiling water, and it will jump out. But put the same frog in lukewarm water and heat it gradually, and you'll cook the frog. Often used as a metaphor for the unhurried and stubborn response many have to a slowly rising threat, the mechanisms underlying the urban myth have become a subject of scientific fascination.
	Study finds vitamin B12 is a key player in cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration Vitamin B12 is a well-known micronutrient that has long been acknowledged for its essential role in maintaining nerve function, supporting red blood cell production, and facilitating DNA synthesis, all vital processes for overall health. Researchers led by Dr. Manuel Serrano at IRB Barcelona have now revealed that vitamin B12 also plays a pivotal role in cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Metabolism
	Cannabis use during pregnancy associated with adverse birth outcomes Infants prenatally exposed to cannabis are more likely to be born preterm, have a low birth weight, and require neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) care than infants without prenatal cannabis exposure, according to a study published today in Addiction. However, cannabis-exposed infants are not at greater risk of birth defects or death within one year, including sudden unexpected infant death.
	Progress in childhood cancer has stalled for Blacks and Hispanics, report says Advances in childhood cancer are a success story in modern medicine. But in the past decade, those strides have stalled for Black and Hispanic youth, opening a gap in death rates, according to a new report published Thursday.
	Novel predictor of prediabetes in Latino youth identified in new study A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC have identified two metabolites, substances produced by the body during metabolism, that may help predict which young Latino people are most likely to develop prediabetes, a precursor to developing type 2 diabetes.
	High levels of maternal stress during pregnancy linked to children's behavior problems Children whose mothers are highly stressed, anxious or depressed during pregnancy may be at higher risk for mental health and behavior issues during their childhood and teen years, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Swedish study finds growing income inequities in the utilization of health care resources Swedish people with the lowest incomes utilize primary and outpatient care on par with those with the highest incomes despite having significantly higher mortality rates, according to a new study published November 16 in the open access journal PLOS Medicine by Pär Flodin of Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and colleagues.
	Study provides insights into impact of COVID-19 and vaccination on mother and child health A study by KKH, Singapore General Hospital, National Center for Infectious Diseases and the Ministry of Health found that COVID-19 vaccination (mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine) taken during pregnancy was associated with a reduced risk of COVID-19 infections among infants up to six months of age.
	Type 2 diabetes linked to increased risk for colorectal cancer Type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC), with increased associations for those without colonoscopy screening and with smoking history, according to a study published online Nov. 14 in JAMA Network Open.
	Neighborhood disadvantage tied to higher risk for autism diagnosis Children residing in more disadvantaged neighborhoods at birth have a higher likelihood of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis, according to a brief report published online Nov. 15 in JAMA Psychiatry.
	Opioid Rx down, but overdoses and deaths up, AMA report shows Opioid prescribing by physicians and other health professionals has decreased for the 13th consecutive year, down nearly 50% since 2012, while overdoses and deaths related to illicitly manufactured fentanyl, xylazine, and other synthetic substances continue to increase, according to the Overdose Epidemic Report 2023, released by the American Medical Association (AMA).
	Research strengthens link between Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis Many risk factors for multiple sclerosis (MS), which causes damage to the central nervous system, have been identified. However, it is still unknown why the disease occurs. In recent years, the herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been established as the leading risk factor.
	Informed consent to the use of personal health data: A new standardized approach For the first time, international initiatives such as the European Health Data Space recognize the value of citizen-generated health data. An EU-wide digital platform will allow the exchange of traditional as well as citizen-generated health data across member states for the use in patient care and research. Germany is currently preparing the corresponding national legislations such as the German Health Data Act (Gesundheitsdatennutzungsgesetz, GDNG). However, the role of citizens in consenting to health data sharing is the subject of a controversial debate.
	Clinical trials suggest first-ever safe and effective treatment to prevent multidrug-resistant TB in children and adults Two landmark clinical trials reported at the Union Conference in Paris showed that an oral antibiotic taken for six months once-daily substantially reduced the risk of developing drug-resistant TB.
	The world's first gene therapy for sickle cell disease has been approved in Britain Britain's medicines regulator has authorized the world's first gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease, in a move that could offer relief to thousands of people with the crippling disease in the U.K.
	Big Pharma scrambles to feed demand for weight-loss treatments amid rising US obesity rates Obesity rates in the U.S. have been rising steadily for well over a decade and some of the world's biggest drug developers are tapping into the growing treatment market.
	Social assistance programs found to be an effective strategy to mitigate the impact of economic crises on child health Social assistance programs have strongly reduced child mortality in Brazil, and their expansion could prevent nearly 150,000 child deaths by 2030. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal), shows that social pensions and conditional cash transfers are an effective strategy to mitigate the impact of the current multiple global economic crises in low- and middle-income countries (LIMCs).
	Working with community leaders found to boost family planning in Tanzania Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine found that partnering with local religious leaders boosted adoption of family planning methods in Tanzania. The findings present a novel strategy for increasing global awareness and use of contraception in regions where faith leaders are trusted messengers in the community.
	Researchers develop antibacterial material for use with internal medical devices such as hip replacements or pacemakers Researchers at Colorado State University and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland have developed an effective and flexible antimicrobial material that could be used to coat medical devices placed inside the body.
	Lord Byron vinegar diet can have a series of harmful health effects Romantic poet Lord Byron—famed for his rich and expressive portrayal of landscape and human emotions—is considered to be one of the key figures of English literature.
	Q&A: FDA's latest warnings about eye drop contamination—a team of infectious disease experts explain the risks The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in late October 2023 urging consumers to avoid purchasing and to immediately stop using 26 over-the-counter eye drop products because of risk of eye infection that could result in partial vision loss or even blindness. More products were soon added to the list, and a few others have been voluntarily recalled. No cases of eye infection from the products have been reported as of mid-November 2023. It's just the latest in a series of warnings and recalls related to bacterial or fungal contamination of these products.
	Colleges face gambling addiction among students as sports betting spreads Three out of four college students have gambled in the past year, whether legally or illegally, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.
	Health risks at home: A study in six African countries shows how healthy housing saves children's lives Housing is a critical social determinant of health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines healthy housing as a shelter that supports physical, mental and social well-being.
	Engineered stone kills trade workers. Bunnings and IKEA stopping its sales is a big win for public health Major retailers Bunnings and IKEA have announced this week they will discontinue selling engineered stone. While this might mean you have to rethink your plans for your new kitchen benchtops, it's a positive step that will protect the health of tradespeople exposed to this dangerous product.
	Does screen use really impact thinking skills? Recent analysis suggests it could Screens have become seamlessly integrated into our daily lives, serving as indispensable tools for work, education and leisure. But while they enrich our lives in countless ways, we often fail to consider the potential impact of screen time on our cognitive abilities.
	'Phage therapy' could treat some drug-resistant superbug infections, but comes with unique challenges As bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, more people will become infected and die of untreatable bacterial infections. By 2050, drug-resistant infections are predicted to kill ten million people a year.
	Examining the impact of a hospital's portfolio strategy on patient demand Researchers from Indiana University and Texas Christian University published a new Journal of Marketing study that examines the impact of a hospital's portfolio strategy on patient demand.
	A healthy mouth helps to maintain balanced metabolic profiles, finds study Common oral infections, periodontal diseases and caries, are associated with inflammatory metabolic profiles related to an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases, a new study by an international team of researchers suggests. Oral infections also predicted future adverse changes in metabolic profiles.
	Compassion fatigue can happen to anyone—here's how you can overcome it When tragic events happen, no matter how far away from us they are, it's hard not to pay attention. Many of us empathize with the people in these situations and wonder how we can get involved, or if there's anything we can do to help.
	Gene splicing found to reduce effectiveness of CD20-targeting monoclonal antibodies for blood cancers and disorders Immunotherapies that target the CD20 antigen have revolutionized how patients with a variety of blood cancers and hematologic disorders have been treated. However, many patients develop resistance to these treatments due to a loss of the antigen that's being targeted.
	Using a neuromonitoring platform to improve care for traumatic brain injuries Tracking heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels is a standard practice to give doctors valuable information on patients' heart and lung health over time and guide treatment decisions.
	Q&A: Alzheimer's disease basics and what you can do to prevent it Alzheimer's disease is feared by many―and for good reason. The brain disorder slowly destroys memory along with a person's ability to reason, speak, carry out daily tasks and recognize loved ones. To date, there's no cure. The good news, however, is that there are steps you can take to lessen your chances of developing Alzheimer's disease, and promising possibilities for treating it, experts say.
	Older adolescents with physical and mental illnesses have lowest self-perceptions: Study The combination of physical and mental illness had a negative impact on self-perception among older adolescents, but not for younger ones, shows a new University of Waterloo study.
	Gantenerumab does not slow clinical decline in early Alzheimer disease, research finds The use of gantenerumab leads to lower amyloid plaque burden at 116 weeks, but is not associated with slower clinical decline among patients with early Alzheimer disease, according to a study published in the Nov. 16 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Osimertinib + chemo improves progression-free survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Study For patients with EGFR-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), osimertinib with chemotherapy leads to significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) compared with osimertinib alone, according to a study publishedonline Nov. 8 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Compared to citizens of other wealthy nations, Americans more likely to skip medical care due to cost If you need medical care, you're more likely to skip it due to cost issues if you're American than if you're Australian, Canadian, British or French, a new report finds.
	Lawsuit accuses insurance company of using faulty AI to deny Medicare patient claims A class action lawsuit filed Tuesday claims UnitedHealth Group is using a faulty artificial intelligence algorithm to wrongly deny coverage for Medicare patients who need rehabilitation care following hospitalizations.
	Many Americans facing financial ruin as costs soar for elder care Margaret Newcomb, 69, a retired French teacher, is desperately trying to protect her retirement savings by caring for her 82-year-old husband, who has severe dementia, at home in Seattle. She used to fear his disease-induced paranoia, but now he's so frail and confused that he wanders away with no idea of how to find his way home. He gets lost so often that she attaches a tag to his shoelace with her phone number.
	What long-term care looks like around the world Around the world, wealthy countries are struggling to afford long-term care for rapidly aging populations. Most spend more than the United States through government funding or insurance that individuals are legally required to obtain. Some protect individuals from exhausting all their income or wealth paying for long-term care. But as in the United States, middle-class and affluent individuals in many countries can bear a substantial portion of the costs.
	Measles deaths worldwide jumped 40% last year, health agencies say Measles deaths globally spiked by more than 40% last year and cases rose after vaccination levels dramatically dropped during the pandemic, leading health agencies said Thursday.
	Why it's important to improve communication of unanticipated genomic findings to patients with late-stage cancer Cancer genomics experts at City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, conducted a qualitative study that underscored the importance of properly preparing patients for unanticipated, inheritable genetic findings prior to receipt of tumor sequencing.
	Research shows mindfulness may improve substance use treatment Patients receiving medication for opioid use disorder are more likely to complete their treatment programs and have a lower risk of relapse if they participate in mindfulness training, according to a West Virginia University study.
	More than 1 in 10 pediatric ambulance runs are for mental health emergencies, finds study A new study offers a novel look at the scope of the youth mental health crisis across the United States—in 2019-2020, more than 1 in 10 kids who were brought to the hospital by ambulance had a behavioral health emergency. Out of these behavioral health emergencies, 85 percent were in 12-17-year-olds. Findings were published in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine.
	Clinical trials present a new approach using immunotherapy combinations for bladder cancer treatment After 40 years of treating metastatic bladder cancer with chemotherapy as a primary treatment, scientists now present a new approach using immunotherapy combinations. The results of two studies have been presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference in Madrid. The outcomes of these studies could revolutionize the landscape of bladder cancer treatment.
	Polluted air can negatively impact children's test scores, finds study A new study led by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health finds air pollution may negatively impact standardized test scores.
	Swapping animal-based for plant-based foods could be better for you Swapping animal-based foods such as processed or red meat and eggs for plant-based foods such as nuts, legumes, and whole grains is associated with reduced risk of death and health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. This systematic review, published in BMC Medicine, provides further support for an overall shift from animal- to plant-based diets to promote better health.
	Study reveals broader impact of Alzheimer's on brain function Scientists at The University of Texas at Dallas Center for Vital Longevity (CVL) have published new evidence that shows changes in brain network patterns that occur in early-stage Alzheimer's disease differ from those associated with normal aging.
	Genomic tug of war could boost cancer therapy Some patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, like acute myeloid leukemia, benefit from a chemotherapy drug called decitabine that stunts cancer growth. But many others are resistant to decatibine's effects or become resistant over time. Wilmot Cancer Institute researchers have uncovered a "genomic tug of war" in animal studies that could influence how well certain patients—or certain cancers—respond to decitabine.
	New study reveals molecular causes of rare neurological condition in children A new study involving University of Portsmouth researchers has uncovered key molecular defects underlying a rare developmental brain condition in children.
	Exercise may reduce heart failure risk for people with depression or anxiety Physical activity may reduce the risk of heart failure among people with depression or anxiety more so than in people without the mental health conditions, according to new research.
	'AI virtual patients' diagnostic application breaks spatial and geographical barriers for medical training With the rapid development and extensive applications of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology across various sectors, Dr. Michael Co Tiong-hong from the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), and Dr. John Yuen Tsz-hon from the Department of Computer Science, HKU, have jointly developed Hong Kong's first "AI virtual patients" diagnostic application for training medical students.
	Young people less likely to study at university if mother has maternal depression, finds study Young people whose mothers experienced periods of depression during their lifetime were less likely to study at university, new research led by the University of Bristol has found. The study is published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
	Developing models that predict poor clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients Using basic information on 380,081 patients in the Basque Autonomous Community infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, collaboration between mathematicians from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and medical staff from the Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital has led to the proposal of a set of risk scales that are very easy to calculate, have a high predictive capacity and also function with the omicron variant. These scales may be of use in primary care, emergency departments and hospital admissions.
	High school students with multiple concussions report increased suicidal behavior High school students—particularly males—who reported a history of concussion in the last year were more likely to engage in suicidal thoughts, planning or attempts than their nonconcussed peers, according to a study by a research team that includes a researcher at the University of Michigan.
	Researchers explore causes of air passengers' turbulent behavior Incidents of passenger misconduct on airplanes—which are increasingly being shared in the news and on social media—are predominantly caused by passenger intoxication, according to a new study by University of Texas at Dallas researchers.
	Clinical trial results suggest potential new treatment for primary biliary cholangitis An international clinical trial involving UC Davis Health suggests the investigational drug Elafibranor is a potential novel treatment for patients with the rare, autoimmune disease primary biliary cholangitis. Results from the clinical trial showed significant improvements in biomarkers of disease progression. Patients also reported positive outcomes.
	UK analysis shows that 3 in 10,000 patients experience cardiac arrest requiring resuscitation during anesthesia A new study that has examined all cardiac arrests occurring during or soon after surgery in more than 300 UK hospitals over a one-year period has identified that this extremely dangerous and often fatal event occurs in 3 per 10,000 surgeries requiring anesthesia.
	Understanding survival factors in critically ill patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a widely used advanced life support procedure that provides cardiac and respiratory support to critically ill patients. ECMO use has been increasing exponentially over the last decade as it has shown success in resuscitating patients in critical situations like the COVID-19 pandemic and is now a lifesaving treatment modality in intensive care units (ICUs). However, prolonged ECMO use may be associated with an increased risk of mortality.
	Study finds motorist disorientation syndrome is not only caused by vestibular dysfunction A large case series aimed at understanding the factors underlying motorist disorientation syndrome (MDS) has found that patients experience severe, consistent symptoms comparable to vestibular migraine.
	Hormones have the potential to treat liver fibrosis, new study finds Hormone therapy may be associated with menopause and fertility treatment, but now an SDU-led research team reports that certain intestinal hormones seem to have a beneficial effect on the processes behind the formation of scar tissue in the liver (liver fibrosis).
	International team uses AI platform to find dual targets for aging and cancer An international research team is the first to use artificial intelligence (AI) analysis to identify dual-purpose target candidates for the treatment of cancer and aging, the most promising of which was experimentally validated. The findings were published in the journal Aging Cell.
	Study: Proposed law would expand methadone access, but gaps would remain The federal Modernizing Opioid Treatment Act, or MOTA, would expand methadone access to an additional 14% of census tracts in the U.S., according to new research from the University of Pittsburgh published recently in Health Affairs Scholar.
	Evidence of cerebral microstructural reorganization in symptomatic children following mild traumatic brain injury A new study published in the Journal of Neurotrauma shows that children with persistent symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury had evidence of ongoing cerebral microstructural changes.
	Cancer therapy shows promise against tuberculosis A promising new cancer therapy also appears extremely potent against one of the world's most devastating infectious diseases: tuberculosis (TB).
	Q&A: Modeling measles amidst a global disruption in vaccine supplies Measles vaccination rates among children worldwide declined during the COVID-19 pandemic to the lowest level since 2008, likely due to lockdowns and difficulty accessing vaccines. According to a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that published today (Nov. 17) in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, this drop in vaccination coverage led to a 72% increase in reported measles cases and a 43% increase in measles deaths during 2021-22.
	Researchers: We won't get real equality until we price breast milk and treat breastfeeding as work The Australian Women's Economic Equality Taskforce delivered a major report last month drawing attention to what it called the "motherhood penalty"—the 55% cut in earnings for Australian women in the first five years after having a child.
	FDA approves first at-home test for chlamydia, gonorrhea The first home test for chlamydia and gonorrhea will soon hit the market, following its approval Wednesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	Recommendations developed for atopic dermatitis therapies In updated guidelines issued by the American Academy of Dermatology and published online Nov. 7 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, recommendations are presented for use of phototherapy and systemic therapies for atopic dermatitis (AD) and include strong endorsements of monoclonal antibodies and Janus kinase inhibitors.
	Q&A: How to support someone with post-traumatic stress disorder Question: I'm reaching out because I'm in a tough spot. A close friend rode out Hurricane Ian in Florida last year and it seems to me that he's struggling now. He's angry and jumpy, while being numb to what's happening around him. He told me that he's not sleeping well, especially when another hurricane is in the news. Is it possible that he has PTSD from the hurricane? I'm not sure how to offer support without making him feel uncomfortable.
	Poor work performance among Japanese employees strongly associated with depressive symptoms and indefinite complaints In Japan, the decline in productivity has become a major social issue as the working-age population is decreasing owing to ultralow birthrate and increasing aging population. Therefore, companies are taking a wide range of initiatives related to "health and productivity management" to keep their employees healthy and enhance their work performance. However, the actual health problems related to the poor work performance of Japanese employees and the manner in which they differ for men and women have not been identified thus far.
	Four ways organ transplants are being transformed to save more lives Despite a record year for organ donation last year in the U.S., an estimated 17 people die every day waiting for a transplant. Yet Mayo Clinic transplant experts are optimistic that solutions to some of the biggest transplant challenges are on the horizon, thanks to new technology, research and innovations.
	Q&A: Enhancing physicians' colonoscopy training for early cancer prevention A novel colonoscopy training system that integrates automated personalized learning with a manikin—the more realistic version of a mannequin capable of medical simulations—embedded with sensors may help make the routine procedure safer, more accurate and cost-efficient. That's the goal of a team led by Penn State College of Engineering researchers.
	CDC to release infants' RSV shots to help ease shortage To address a continuing nationwide shortage, more than 77,000 doses of RSV shots for infants were released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Other Sciences news

	Australian astronomy center achieves gender parity in astronomy in just five years Around the world, research agencies are struggling to achieve gender parity. A paper published in Nature Astronomy reports how a national Australian astronomy center achieved equal numbers of women and men using science.
	How master chess players choose their opening gambits What influences the choices we make, and what role does the behavior of others have on these choices? These questions underlie many aspects of human behavior, including the products we buy, fashion trends, and even the breed of pet we choose as our companion.
	Generic statements widen the divide between political parties, study finds Using generic terms in politics may be exacerbating political division, a new study suggests. Statements such as "Democrats want to have tougher gun laws" and "Republicans want to ban abortion," can heighten perceived differences between the two political parties, the study says.
	Forensic scientists help locate missing Second World War pilot after eight decades On a summer's day in July 1943, a U.S. B-25 Mitchell bomber left Tunisia in North Africa on a mission to attack the Sciacca Aerodrome in Sicily, Italy.
	Thousands of California scientists strike over stalled contract talks Thousands of scientists who work for California began a rolling three-day strike Wednesday—the first walkout by a state civil service union.
	Interim housing isn't just a roof and four walls. Good design is key to getting people out of homelessness State governments across the country have plans to increase social and affordable housing to address ballooning waitlists.
	How colors and images on packaging can help identify a product line extension New flavors, scents, or formulations—we see them every day on the supermarket shelf. Despite line extensions being among the most common strategies to build a brand, they're expensive, risky, and come with an average fail rate of about 40%.
	Using machine learning to help refugees succeed Dominik Rothenhaeusler grew up in Oberzell, Germany, a quaint town of roughly 2,500 people along the Schussen River. Like many towns and cities across Germany, Oberzell has witnessed a surge of asylum seekers and refugees in recent years—at first, mostly men from Gambia, Senegal, Cameroon, and Afghanistan; more recently, men, women and children from Ukraine have entered Oberzell in need of asylum.
	Q&A: Schools are more likely to call mothers than fathers, which has implications for the careers of working parents Every parent is familiar with the requests: The call from the school nurse that Jimmy has a stomachache and needs to go home. The urgent message from the soccer coach that Katie forgot her cleats for the game. The reminder from the PTO to bring cupcakes for the bake sale. They vary in importance, but even the small distractions can pull working parents out of their day and leave them feeling torn between home life and career.
	Research eyes optimized design for web, mail surveys Singular-mode mail and telephone surveys are going the way of the landline—slowly but surely being phased out in favor of more technology-assisted communication.
	New research shows company mergers may increase investment and innovation New research from Nottingham University Business School (NUBS) has shown that some company mergers may promote product innovation and benefit society, contrary to previously held opinions.
	Seconded employees provide more novel and innovative ideas, finds research Seconded employees—employees temporarily assigned to a different role, organization, or department—choose more innovative ideas and influence permanent staff to do the same, finds new research from ESMT Berlin.
	Leading a school with poor indoor air quality puts an extra strain on principals Research into the experiences of principals working in schools with poor indoor air quality remains scarce. Published in Environmental Hazards, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland now sheds light on the challenges faced by principals in schools with poor indoor air quality.
	Undergraduate's writing program demonstrates the power of storytelling in STEM Elea Abisamra published her first book in fifth grade. Before she became a Virginia Tech College of Science student majoring in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, Abisamra's grade school years were focused on her love of writing.
	Experts urge reforms at FDA to rebuild trust In a new report aimed at rebuilding trust in health care and science, leading experts urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to adopt five reforms to rebuild public trust amid controversies around vaccine approvals.
	Study suggests corporate culture thwarts efforts to hire innovative candidates Despite the rhetoric from CEOs about the importance of recruiting for innovation, entrepreneurs face an established hiring bias. According to a recent study in the Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, recruiters are 23 to 29% less likely to rank a former startup founder as a top candidate against their corporate executive peers. The authors demonstrated that recruiter characteristics can have a lot to do mitigating this bias, as does the size of a company.
	Terrorism rather than pandemics more concerning for those with authoritarian views, analysis shows Those with authoritarian political views are more likely to be concerned about terrorism and border control than a future new health pandemic, new research shows.
	Young disabled people experience institutional discrimination and stigmatization in mainstream English schools New research by the University of Warwick has found that disabled young people in England experience institutional and structural discrimination in mainstream schools, with two thirds fewer achieving level 2 qualifications compared to non-disabled peers. Academics argue that these experiences are a key barrier to educational and occupational attainment.

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