Science X Newsletter Tue, Nov 21

Dear ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for November 21, 2023:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A wearable robot that assists people with walking

Acoustic diffraction-resistant adaptive profile technology for elasticity imaging

'Triple star' discovery could revolutionize understanding of stellar evolution

High temperatures may have caused over 70,000 excess deaths in Europe in 2022

Babies as young as four months show signs of self-awareness: Study

Computer simulation suggests mutant strains of COVID-19 emerged in response to human behavior

Researchers improve magnets for computing

Unearthing how a carnivorous fungus traps and digests worms

Most-cited scientists are still mostly men, but the gender gap is closing

Written in blood: How bloodstain 'tails' can point to significant, additional forensic details

Study highlights need to keep an eye on the ozone hole

Scientists take a step forward in understanding how to tackle chronic infections in cystic fibrosis patients

Coffee grounds may hold key to preventing neurodegenerative diseases

How gut microbes help alleviate constipation

Neuroscientists pinpoint how memories are likely to be stored in the brain

Nanotechnology news

	Creating vortices in a superfluid made of light By using a special combination of laser beams as a very fast stirrer, RIKEN physicists have created multiple vortices in a quantum photonic system and tracked their evolution. This system could be used to explore exotic new physics related to the emergence of quantum states from vortex matter. The research is published in the journal Nano Letters.
	Nano-sized probes reveal how cellular structure responds to pressure By giving living cells a "nano-poke" and monitoring the resulting changes in the intracellular environment, researchers have gotten their first glimpse of how whole cells respond to external mechanical pressure.

Physics news

	Acoustic diffraction-resistant adaptive profile technology for elasticity imaging Acoustic beam shaping with high degrees of freedom is critical for ultrasound imaging, acoustic regulation, and stimulation. The ability to fully regulate the acoustic pressure profile relative to its propagation path remains to be achieved.
	Researchers improve magnets for computing As demand rises for increased data storage and faster-performing computers, researchers are creating a new generation of materials to meet consumers' expectations.
	Written in blood: How bloodstain 'tails' can point to significant, additional forensic details Forensic science has captured the public imagination by storm, as the profusion of "true crime" media in the last decade or so suggests. By now, most of us know that evidence left at a crime scene, such as blood, can often reveal information that is key to investigating and understanding the circumstances around a crime—and that scientific methods can help interpret that information.
	Single ions in nano-sized particles: A new platform for quantum information processing Processing quantum information relies on interacting qubits—the basic building blocks of quantum information—to perform computational tasks. Scientists are searching for the optimal qubit platform that can perform operations more efficiently, accurately and as fast as possible.
	Researchers achieve zero-knowledge proof based on device-independent quantum random number beacon Zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) is a cryptographic tool that allows for the verification of validity between mutually untrusted parties without disclosing additional information. Non-interactive zero-knowledge proof (NIZKP) is a variant of ZKP with the feature of not requiring multiple information exchanges. Therefore, NIZKP is widely used in the fields of digital signature, blockchain, and identity authentication.
	Transcending nonlinear media by shaking: A framework for controlling the nature of nonlinearities Writing in PRX Quantum, Nathan Goldman and Lucila Peralta Gavensky (Science Faculty, ULB) and their colleagues introduce a general framework for modifying and controlling the nature of nonlinearities in a broad class of physical systems, including optical devices and quantum atomic gases.
	Meet the new instruments that will take advantage of SLAC's upgraded X-ray laser Teams at the U.S. Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory recently celebrated the completion of a major upgrade to the world's first hard X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL), the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) at the US Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.

Earth news

	High temperatures may have caused over 70,000 excess deaths in Europe in 2022 The burden of heat-related mortality during the summer of 2022 in Europe may have exceeded 70,000 deaths according to a study led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).
	Study highlights need to keep an eye on the ozone hole Despite public perception, the Antarctic ozone hole has been remarkably massive and long-lived over the past four years, University of Otago researchers believe chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) aren't the only things to blame.
	Improved air quality could enhance natural carbon sequestration by plants Reducing pollution from aerosol particles would improve air quality. It could also increase the amount of sunlight accessible to plants—enhancing their ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change.
	First comprehensive global analysis shows action on emissions can bring huge health benefits Experts are calling on global leaders to implement climate mitigation actions that could prevent millions of premature deaths worldwide each year as well as reduce the risks of climate change.
	Better capturing the effect of aerosol particles on clouds and the climate The extent to which aerosol particles affect the climate depends on how much water the particles can hold in the atmosphere. The capacity to hold water is referred to as hygroscopicity (K) and, in turn, depends on further factors—particularly the size and chemical composition of the particles, which can be extremely variable and complex.
	COP28 turns attention to potent methane emissions Climate talks often revolve around reducing the most dangerous greenhouse gas CO2.
	Denial is over: Climate change is happening, but why do we still act like it's not? Climate-fueled disaster is now front-page news, as record-breaking floods, fires, droughts and storms keep arriving.
	Researcher: The 15-minute city is a popular planning approach, but relies on ableist assumptions The 15-minute city is a popular urban planning concept that promotes people living close to essential services, and encourages the use of walking and biking. Public transit is sometimes included in the transport mix, preferred to automobiles, which are largely absent.
	In September we went past 1.5 degrees. In November, we tipped over 2 degrees for the first time. What's going on? In September, the world passed 1.5°C of warming. Two months later, we hit 2°C of warming. It's fair to wonder what is going on.
	Rust to riches: Goethite's role in shaping Australia Have you noticed many Australian landscapes, like the outback and our deserts, are brown and orange? This is especially easy to see when looking at a satellite image. Australia's red center is colored by an abundant mineral scorched into Australian soils and sediments.
	Reflecting real-world precipitation extremes in climate simulations Daily predictions of rainstorms are useful for helping us decide whether we should bring an umbrella or not when we run errands. But scientists, urban planners, and many others need to know about precipitation extremes on much larger time scales.
	Libyan desert's yellow glass: How we discovered the origin of these rare and mysterious shards The Great Sand Sea Desert stretches over an area of 72,000km² linking Egypt and Libya. If you find yourself in a particular part of the desert in south-east Libya and south-western parts of Egypt, you'll spot pieces of yellow glass scattered across the sandy landscape.
	Corporate growers' carrots are soaking up water in this arid valley. Locals are fighting back In the Cuyama Valley north of Santa Barbara, lush green fields stretch across the desert. Sprinklers spray thousands of acres to grow a single thirsty crop: carrots.
	Eruption of Papua New Guinea volcano subsides though thick ash is billowing 3 miles into the sky An eruption of Papua New Guinea's tallest volcano that raised regional tsunami fears subsided Tuesday, but thick ash still billowed into the sky and coated roofs and palm trees nearby.
	Maldives to battle rising seas by building fortress islands Rising sea levels threaten to swamp the Maldives and the Indian Ocean archipelago is already out of drinking water, but the new president says he has scrapped plans to relocate citizens.
	Could the good news story about the ecological crisis be the collective grief we are feeling? A summer of wildfires across Canada sat alongside news of global deforestation, rapid loss of Antarctic ice mass and Swiss glacial ice depletion. Then, in mid-October, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service delisted 21 species from the Endangered Species Act due to extinction.
	How Indigenous knowledge can help solve the climate crisis As the world grapples with adapting to a warming planet, Indigenous Peoples are experiencing unique climate-related challenges exacerbated by centuries of having their land overtaken by settlers and governments.
	Does rainfall in southern China contribute to air pollution in the North China Plain? The North China Plain (NCP) is a region with some of the worst air pollution conditions on a global scale. Air pollution (known as haze) dominated by higher PM2.5 concentration, is well-documented for its adverse impacts on both human health and socioeconomic progress.

Astronomy and Space news

	'Triple star' discovery could revolutionize understanding of stellar evolution A ground-breaking new discovery by University of Leeds scientists could transform the way astronomers understand some of the biggest and most common stars in the universe. The paper, "Gaia uncovers difference in B and Be star binarity at small scales: evidence for mass transfer causing the Be phenomenon," is published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
	Hydrogen detected in lunar samples, points to resource availability for space exploration U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) researchers have discovered solar-wind hydrogen in lunar samples, which indicates that water on the surface of the moon may provide a vital resource for future lunar bases and longer-range space exploration. Space-based resource identification is a key factor in planning for civilian- and government-led space exploration.
	Global view of Io's volcanic activity suggests that tidal heating is concentrated within its upper mantle A team of volcanologists and planetary scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, the University of Arizona, and Arizona State University has found via study of a newly created global view of Io's volcanic activity that its tidal heating is likely concentrated within its upper mantle. In their study, reported in the journal Nature Astronomy, the group analyzed data from sensors measuring heat emission from the closest of Jupiter's innermost moons.
	A radically new view on dwarf galaxies surrounding the Milky Way Commonly thought to be long-lived satellites of our galaxy, a new study now finds indications that most dwarf galaxies might, in fact, be destroyed soon after their entry into the Galactic halo.
	Dwarf galaxies use 10-million-year quiet period to churn out stars If you look at massive galaxies teeming with stars, you might be forgiven for thinking they are star factories, churning out brilliant balls of gas. But actually, less evolved dwarf galaxies have bigger regions of star factories, with higher rates of star formation.
	NASA climate science spacecraft PACE arrives for launch NASA's PACE spacecraft completed its journey Tuesday, Nov. 14, from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, to the Astrotech Spacecraft Operations facility near the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
	Arctic Weather Satellite shipped to Germany for series of tests Embracing the New Space approach, it has taken just 36 months to develop and build ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite. Now complete, this remarkable microsatellite has been shipped from OHB in Sweden to Germany where it is starting a series of tests to make sure that it will survive liftoff next year and its subsequent life in orbit.

Technology news

	A wearable robot that assists people with walking In recent years, roboticists have introduced increasingly advanced systems, which could open exciting new possibilities for surgery, rehabilitation, and health care assistance. These robotic systems are already helping to improve the quality of life of many people with disabilities, as well as patients who suffered physical trauma or underwent medical procedures.
	Toward sustainable energy applications with breakthrough in proton conductors Donor doping into a mother material with disordered intrinsic oxygen vacancies, instead of the widely used strategy of acceptor doping into a material without oxygen vacancies, can greatly enhance the conductivity and stability of perovskite-type proton conductors at intermediate and low temperatures of 250–400°C, as demonstrated by Tokyo Tech scientists (e.g. 10 mS/cm at 320°C). This innovative approach provides a new design direction for proton conductors for fuel cells and electrolysis cells.
	Researchers develop a stretchable and efficient wearable thermoelectric energy harvester Dr. Hyekyoung Choi and Min Ju Yun's research team from the Energy Conversion Materials Research Center, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI), has developed a technology that can increase the flexibility and efficiency of a thermoelectric generator to the world's highest level by using "mechanical metamaterials" that do not exist in nature. The research results were published in Advanced Energy Materials.
	Long in the Bluetooth: Scientists develop a more efficient way to transmit data between our devices University of Sussex researchers have developed a more energy-efficient alternative to transmit data that could potentially replace Bluetooth in mobile phones and other tech devices. With more and more of us owning smartphones and wearable tech, researchers at the University of Sussex have found a more efficient way of connecting our devices and improving battery life. Applied to wearable devices, it could even see us unlocking doors by touch or exchanging phone numbers by shaking hands.
	Researchers develop AI-powered model to predict stock market trends Can artificial intelligence tools help predict stock price movement and volatility? Two South Dakota State University researchers believe so. Kaiqun Fu, assistant professor in SDSU's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Yangxiao Bai, a graduate research assistant, have developed an AI-powered model that anticipates stock price movement and stock market volatility trends.
	Researchers break Apple's new MacBook pro weeks after release A Georgia Tech researcher has successfully evaded security measures on Apple's latest MacBook Pro with the M3 processor chip to capture his fictional target's Facebook password and second-factor authentication text.
	Two new studies inform outlook on scaling of carbon removal technologies Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies that could be critical tools to combat climate change have developed in line with other technologies from the last century. However, according to new studies led by Gregory Nemet, a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, these technologies need to develop faster to meet policy targets aimed at limiting global warming.
	Chinese company gives leftover hotpot oil second life as jet fuel At an upmarket restaurant in the hotpot-loving Chinese city of Chengdu, diners plunge sliced meat and vegetables into cauldrons of spicy, oily broth, largely unaware that their leftovers are set to take on a second life as jet fuel.
	AI doomsayers blamed in OpenAI's undoing OpenAI has gone from ruling the world of artificial intelligence with ChatGPT to chaos, its chief executive ousted seemingly for advancing too fast and too far with the risky technology.
	AI can 'lie and BS' like its maker, but still not intelligent like humans, argues researcher The emergence of artificial intelligence has caused differing reactions from tech leaders, politicians and the public. While some excitedly tout AI technology such as ChatGPT as an advantageous tool with the potential to transform society, others are alarmed that any tool with the word "intelligent" in its name also has the potential to overtake humankind.
	World's first look at the atomic-scale of a future nuclear fuel shows how chromium can improve performance In a world first, collaborative research has shown that a material that could be added to advanced fuel accumulates in certain regions, giving it desirable properties. Using the incredibly powerful microscopes at The UK's National Nuclear Laboratory, Bangor University in Wales has helped analyze fuels manufactured by Westinghouse.
	Photovoltaic converters: Reducing size, weight and cost through higher switching frequencies and lower losses Within the Research Project PV-MoVe, researchers at the Fraunhofer IEE investigated how to use active switching loss reduction networks for power semiconductors to enable smaller, more lightweight, and more cost-efficient photovoltaic converters. Using newly developed additional circuitry, switching frequencies for a 50 kW PV inverter could be increased by a factor of 2.5–3 for the DC input stage and by a factor of 10–12.5 for the inverter output stage.
	New cyber policy to harden defenses against our 'fastest growing threat' The Albanese government's cyber security policy aims to make Australian citizens, businesses and government agencies harder targets as they face what minister Clare O'Neil describes as "the fastest growing threat that we face as a nation."
	Q&A: Artificial intelligence—stemming the tide of fake facts Professor Stefan Feuerriegel is Head of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Management at LMU, and his research focuses on the challenges of the digitalization wave.
	Novel framework for assessing the utilization efficiency of mobile power sources in the power grid Natural disasters are occurring more frequently, causing damage to the power grid and leading to widespread and prolonged power outages. Leveraging mobile power sources has shown potential in lessening the impact of these disasters; however, their efficiency remains largely unassessed.
	Researchers use artificial intelligence to find road safety issues in school zones Researchers at the Resilient Infrastructure and Disaster Response Center (RIDER) are using artificial intelligence and aerial imaging to make Florida's school zones safer.
	Deliveroo riders not entitled to union rights: UK's top court Food delivery riders for the firm Deliveroo are not entitled to trade union rights such as collective bargaining, the UK Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday.
	Digital payment platforms can easily be misused for drug dealing Digital payment platforms such as Venmo work great for sharing a dinner bill with friends, buying gifts at a pop-up shop, or making payments without cash or credit cards.
	Density matters for better battery material performance, researchers find Zinc—cheap, abundant, environmentally friendly—may be the answer to better batteries, but there's a major problem: Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) cannot match lithium-ion batteries in terms of power output. To test what electrode material composition might be able to bring AZIBs up to par, a research team based in China developed two organic frameworks with the same constituents but arranged in different ways.
	OpenAI's unusual nonprofit structure led to dramatic ouster of sought-after CEO Unlike Google, Facebook and other tech giants, the company behind ChatGPT was not created to be a business. It was set up as a nonprofit by founders who hoped that it wouldn't be beholden to commercial interests.
	'Ineffable cryptography' to protect critical infrastructure from cyber attacks Australia's critical infrastructure—including ports, energy grids and water supplies—reported 143 cyber attacks over the past year, up from 95 incidents the year before.
	Company that created ChatGPT is thrown into turmoil after Microsoft hires its ousted CEO The company that created ChatGPT was thrown into turmoil Monday after Microsoft hired its ousted CEO and many employees threatened to follow him in a conflict that centered in part on how to build artificial intelligence that's smarter than humans.
	What you need to know about Emmett Shear, OpenAI's new interim CEO OpenAI is bringing in the former head of Twitch as interim CEO just days after the company pushed out its well-known leader Sam Altman, sparking upheaval in the world of artificial intelligence.
	Indonesia unveils investment plan for $20 bn energy transition pact Indonesia on Tuesday launched an investment plan to attract $20 billion pledged by Western nations in a renewable energy transition pact agreed last year for the archipelago to slash emissions and wean itself off coal.
	Musk's X sues media nonprofit over portrayal of site as full of anti-Semitism Elon Musk's X Corp. on Monday sued nonprofit Media Matters for driving advertisers away from the platform formerly known as Twitter by portraying it as rife with anti-Semitic content.
	With X's Musk under fire, Biden joins rival Threads US President Joe Biden on Monday joined Threads, Meta's social media rival to Elon Musk's X, just days after the White House blasted the tech baron for pushing anti-Semitism.
	Who is Sam Altman, OpenAI's wunderkind ex-CEO, and why does it matter that he got sacked? On Friday, OpenAI's high-flying chief executive Sam Altman was unexpectedly fired by the company's board. Co-founder and chief technology officer Greg Brockman was also removed as the board president, after which he promptly resigned.
	Ford to resume building Michigan electric vehicle battery plant delayed by strike, but scale it back Ford Motor Co. is resuming construction on a Michigan electric vehicle battery plant that the company postponed two months ago during a strike by the United Auto Workers union.
	US reaches over-$4 billion settlement with world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, AP source says The U.S. government has reached a settlement with the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange worth more than $4 billion, a person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
	Hyundai opens high-tech Singapore electric car factory Hyundai opened a high-tech electric vehicle factory in Singapore on Tuesday that the South Korean auto giant says will be a "pillar" of its electrification strategy in the coming decades.
	How about a customized soap or shampoo created using AI? Researchers have recently discovered a new way of making consumer items. They've developed a machine, based on AI technology, that can customize personal care products to your own requirements.

Chemistry news

	Coffee grounds may hold key to preventing neurodegenerative diseases Neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's, affect millions of people in the United States, and the cost of caring for people who live with these conditions adds up to hundreds of billions of dollars each year.
	Discovery of structural regularity hidden in silica glass Glass—whether used to insulate our homes or as the screens in our computers and smartphones—is a fundamental material. Yet, despite its long usage throughout human history, the disordered structure of its atomic configuration still baffles scientists, making understanding and controlling its structural nature challenging. It also makes it difficult to design efficient functional materials made from glass.
	Study offers new method for determining the water content of water-soluble compounds Researchers at the University of Eastern Finland School of Pharmacy have developed a new method for the accurate determination of the water content of water-soluble compounds. This plays a significant role in, for example, drug dosage. The method utilizes solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, that is, NMR spectroscopy. The study was published in Analytical Chemistry.
	An effective approach for preparing supramolecular polymers at high concentration Supramolecular polymers (SPs) are molecular assemblies composed of non-covalently bonded small molecules. They show high recyclability originating from their dynamic nature of monomer binding, which is different from covalent polymers with non-biodegradable nature.
	Researchers create molecule to tackle antimicrobial resistance Researchers at Maynooth University, working as part of an international team, have created a new molecule that could help in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria.
	Researchers shed light on how one deadly pathogen makes its chemicals Investigators at the University of Kansas have played a key role in deciphering a previously unidentified cluster of genes responsible for producing sartorypyrones, a chemical made by the fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, whose family causes Aspergillosis in humans.
	The formation of switchable and metastable discrete structures through chiral self-sorting A paper titled "Thermo-/Mechano-Chromic Chiral Coordination Dimer: Formation of Switchable and Metastable Discrete Structure through Chiral Self-Sorting" describes chiral coordination dimers that emerge based on effectively exclusive chiral self-sorting. The complex also exhibits thermo-/mechano-chromism originating from monomer-dimer transformation. The paper is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
	Thank gluten's complex chemistry for your light, fluffy baked goods Within the bread, rolls and baked goods on many tables this holiday season is an extraordinary substance—gluten. Gluten's unique chemistry makes foods airy and stretchy.
	Researchers describe a more sustainable process to recycle biobased polycarbonates A month ago, the European Union banned glitter. This action was part of an effort that aims to reduce the presence of microplastics in our environment by 30%. Waste plastics are a serious problem for our ecosystems, and the push for recycling plastics, in general, has gained significant attention as a potential solution.
	Investigating solid-state atomic hydrogen as a potential hydrogen therapy strategy The overexpression of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is closely associated with the onset and progression of diverse chronic diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and chronic diabetic ulcers. Hydrogen therapy, as an emerging and promising general-purpose therapeutic approach, normally utilizes molecular H2 to selectively eliminate RONS and maintain intracellular redox homeostasis, thereby treating related chronic diseases.
	From waste to wealth: Transforming biomass into humic acid with two-step hydrothermal process via hydrochar Humic acid (HA) is a macromolecular organic substance that is widely used in agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, chemical industry, building materials, medicine, environmental protection, and a number of other fields. However, the production of chemical HA in the market relies on non-renewable resources, such as peat, lignite, and coal, which require long periods to form. And the extracted HA yield depends on the type and quality of fossils.
	Progress in wastewater treatment via organic supramolecular photocatalysts under sunlight Refractory organic pollutants, including phenols, perfluorinated compounds, and antibiotics, are abundant in various industrial wastewater streams such as chemical, pharmaceutical, coking, and dyeing sectors, as well as municipal and domestic sources. These pollutants pose significant threats to ecological well-being and human health.

Biology news

	Unearthing how a carnivorous fungus traps and digests worms A new analysis sheds light on the molecular processes involved when a carnivorous species of fungus known as Arthrobotrys oligospora senses, traps and consumes a worm. Hung-Che Lin of Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.
	Scientists take a step forward in understanding how to tackle chronic infections in cystic fibrosis patients Scientists have engineered a living material resembling human phlegm, which will help them to better understand how a certain kind of infection develops on the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis.
	Researchers predict climate change-driven reduction in beneficial plant microbes Bacteria that benefit plants are thought to be a critical contributor to crops and other ecosystems, but climate change may reduce their numbers, according to a new study by an international team of researchers. They have published their findings in Nature Food.
	First comprehensive look at effects of 2020–2021 California megafires on terrestrial wildlife habitat The only thing constant is change—isn't that how the saying goes? We know that wildlife in western forests evolved with changing habitats and disturbances like wildfire. Each species responds differently, some benefiting from openings, others losing critical habitat.
	Striated caracaras perform as well as Goffin's cockatoos with puzzle boxes A team of comparative cognition researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, working with a colleague from Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras, in Argentina, has found that a type of falcon can perform as well as Goffin's cockatoos in solving puzzles to gain a food reward.
	Will this antibiotic work for you? A quick and easy method of testing antimicrobial susceptibility Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) directly causes an estimated 1.3 million deaths around the globe annually, a figure that the World Health Organization has predicted will rise. A leading cause of AMR is the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, which has allowed microbes to mutate over time and develop insensitivity to the drugs designed to kill them, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread.
	Study shows how AI can detect antibiotic resistance in as little as 30 minutes To mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, researchers supported by the Oxford Martin Program on Antimicrobial Resistance Testing at the University of Oxford have reported advances towards a novel and rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test that can return results within as little as 30 minutes—significantly faster than current gold-standard approaches.
	Trilobites rise from the ashes to reveal ancient map Ten newly discovered species of trilobites, hidden for 490 million years in a little-studied part of Thailand, could be the missing pieces in an intricate puzzle of ancient world geography.
	Tiny beads preserve enzymes for biocatalysis Plasmas can provide the co-substrate needed for biocatalysis of valuable substances, but they are also harmful to enzymes. By attaching enzymes to small beads, the enzymes are protected and remain active up to 44 times longer.
	Researchers improve efficacy and efficiency of CRISPR diagnostic technology Changchun Liu, professor of Biomedical Engineering at UConn Health, has developed a new method that improves existing diagnostic technology for a more rapid, sensitive, and deployable approach to molecular diagnostics.
	Skull shape can predict how extinct vultures fed on carrion Variations in the skull shape of vultures have been found to coincide with the preferred method each species uses to feed on a carcass.
	Caught in living cells: How bacteria regulate their genes to defend themselves For the first time, it was shown in living cells how the bacterium E. coli regulates genes that help it survive in a new environment. Biochemist Fatema Zahra Rashid managed to do this using a technique she fine-tuned. Her research into changes in 3-dimensional chromosome structure offers clues for ways to fight pathogens and appeared in Nature Communications on November 17.
	Sophisticated swarming: Bacteria support each other across generations When bacteria build communities, they cooperate and share nutrients across generations. Researchers at the University of Basel have been able to demonstrate this for the first time using a newly developed method. This innovative technique enables the tracking of gene expression during the development of bacterial communities over space and time.
	Deep-sea mining and warming trigger stress in a midwater jellyfish: Study investigates effects of sediment plumes The deep sea is home to one of the world's largest communities of animals about which we still know very little. Yet it is already subject to a growing number of human-induced environmental pressures. How do its inhabitants respond to these stressors?
	Researchers develop software with enhanced genome-sequencing powers for better plant breeding A new software tool with enhanced genome-sequencing powers has been developed by the University of Adelaide, increasing the speed and accuracy at which researchers can improve plants through breeding.
	Laser-powered 'tweezers' reveal universal mechanism viruses use to package up DNA Researchers have used laser-powered 'optical tweezers' to reveal a universal motor mechanism used by viruses for packaging their DNA into infectious particles.
	Shedding light on the complex evolution of human feet An extensive study, published in Communications Biology, sheds new light on the complex evolution of our feet.
	Looking for the last universal common ancestor of all living organisms LUCA, the "last universal common ancestor" of all living organisms, lived 4.32–4.52 billion years ago, according to a study from NIOZ biologists Tara Mahendrarajah and senior author Anja Spang, with collaborating partners from Universities in Bristol, Hungary, and Tokyo. Their research is published in Nature Communications.
	Critically endangered Victorian dolphins suffering highest known levels of PFAS pollutants, study finds Dolphins in the waters off Melbourne and Gippsland have been found with the highest concentrations of PFAS chemicals in dolphins reported anywhere in the world, according to new research.
	Curators and cavers: How a tip from a citizen scientist led to deep discoveries in Utah's caves Scientists from the Natural History Museum of Utah have taken a deep dive into the not-so-distant past thanks to a friendly tip from Utah's caving community. In a paper published this week by the Journal of Mammalogy, five scientists from the Natural History Museum of Utah (NHMU) and colleagues from Utah's caving community have published the first research from their collaborative fieldwork effort deep in Utah's caves.
	Bacteria store 'memories' and pass them on for generations, study finds Scientists have discovered that bacteria can create something like memories about when to form strategies that can cause dangerous infections in people, such as resistance to antibiotics and bacterial swarms when millions of bacteria come together on a single surface. The discovery—which has potential applications for preventing and combatting bacterial infections and addressing antibiotic-resistant bacteria—relates to a common chemical element bacterial cells can use to form and pass along these memories to their progeny over later generations.
	The first eco-friendly fluorescent artificial seed for monitoring soil temperature by using drones Researchers have invented a new kind of artificial seed to sense environmental parameters without impacting the health of the environment.
	Microautophagy is essential for preventing aging, finds lysosomes study To age or not to age? How does aging affect organisms on a cellular level? What mechanisms help cells survive self-inflicted or external harm? It is known that lysosomes—critically important cellular structures—are crucial for digesting damaged cellular components and pathogens, and to maintain stability within cells and tissues. But can they also be repaired, and if so, how?
	Study sheds new light on mechanism of robust motility of flagellated bacteria Flagellated bacteria are propelled by the rotation of helical flagellar filaments, each with a flagellar motor at its base. Taking Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an example, each cell has 3–7 flagella whose rotation as a helical bundle enables the cell to move smoothly. The flagellar motors are sensitive to the load they drive, generating varied torque at different speeds. The motor torque remains approximately constant within a knee speed, while dropping rapidly above the knee speed.
	Lizards, fish and other species are evolving with climate change, but not fast enough Climate change is threatening the survival of plants and animals around the globe as temperatures rise and habitats change.
	How do viruses get into cells? Their infection tactics determine whether they can jump species or set off a pandemic COVID-19, flu, mpox, noroviral diarrhea: How do the viruses that cause these diseases actually infect you?
	The good, bad and essential: Microbes that affect food and health EU researchers are examining how bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms could boost the health of both plants and animals.
	Researchers investigate effect of invasive species on plant–soil microbial feedback in different environments Interactions between plants and their associated soil biota (plant-soil feedback, PSF) are often considered to be one of the most important drivers of plant abundance, community composition, and biological invasion. However, it is still unclear how PSF changes during biological invasions in different environments.
	Unveiling the subtle influence of rootstocks on grapevine growth and wine quality: A 30-year X-ray imaging study Grafting, the union of rootstock and scion to form a single organism with vascular connections, is a critical technique for agriculture, especially in woody perennials like grapevines. Despite the benefits such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved fruit quality, the environmental factors still predominantly dictate grapevine traits.
	Hate driving your cat to the vet? FDA just approved a drug for that If you belong to one of the 46 million American households with a cat, you already know how stressful a trip to the vet can be for your feline—and you.
	Giving thanks isn't just a holiday tradition. It's part of how humans evolved It's the season of giving thanks—and it turns out humans have been doing it for a long, long time.
	Researchers discover novel bacteriocin in common skin bacterium Infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a growing global problem. Part of the solution may lie in copying the bacteria's own weapons. Researchers in Tromsø have found a new bacteriocin, in a very common skin bacterium. Bacteriocin inhibits the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are often the cause of disease and can be difficult to treat.
	Thermal refuges help trout beat the heat in hot weather What do fish do when the water gets too hot?
	In time for the holidays: Interactive map shows where your food comes from As people across the United States get ready to fill their bellies with green bean casserole and candied yams, a question may come up around Thanksgiving dinner tables: Where does all this food come from?
	Forest modeling shows which harvest rotations lead to maximum carbon sequestration Forest modeling by Oregon State University scientists shows that a site's productivity—an indicator of how fast trees grow and how much biomass they accumulate—is the main factor that determines which time period between timber harvests allows for maximum above-ground carbon sequestration.
	New fossil assemblage highlights complexity of classifying silesaurid phylogeny A set of fossils recovered in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil's southernmost state, has brought an extra layer of complexity to the study of the evolutionary history of silesaurids, a family of dinosauriforms (dinosaurs and their close relatives) that lived in the Triassic period between 247 million and 208 million years ago.
	Advancing viticulture: Pioneering transgene-free CRISPR genome editing in grapevines Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) holds significant economic and cultural value, driving the need for rapid genetic improvement to meet climatic and market demands.
	Study reveals reduced γ-glutamyl hydrolase activity as a key to higher folate levels in tomato Tomato is the sixth most important globally grown crop and is rich in many nutraceuticals, especially the antioxidants lycopene and β-carotene. Vitamin B9 (folate) is an essential vitamin for all organisms. However, despite the high folate content in tomato leaves, the fruits contain only moderate levels.
	Unlocking the genetic potential of apple and pear: Advances in intergeneric hybrid viability and trait selection The Pomoideae subfamily includes nutritionally valuable pome fruits like apples and pears, and their genetic diversity is critical for the enhancement of fruit crops. Current research has made strides in intergeneric hybridization to amalgamate traits such as flavor and disease resistance but is hampered by the hybrids' viability issues.
	Revolutionizing rose breeding: Unraveling the mystery of self-incompatibility and genetic linkages in roses Roses, celebrated worldwide for their ornamental value, have a long history of breeding and cultivation, with more than 30,000 cultivars. Roses are predominantly outcrossing and highly heterozygous plants, and patterns of inheritance for most traits are difficult to predict. As a result, rose cross breeding is extremely challenging.
	Decoding cherry traits: Genome-wide association studies propel sweet cherry breeding Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) breeding has advanced through the identification of molecular markers for key traits, with genome sequencing of leading cultivars providing a foundation for marker-assisted selection (MAS).
	New framework developed to monitor the impact of 'destructive' fishing The UN Sustainable Development Goals highlight the need to end destructive fishing practices to conserve marine resources and protect the ocean. However, there is no globally shared understanding of what destructive fishing is, or how to measure progress against it, making it incredibly difficult for governments and the fishing industry to achieve this goal.
	Unlocking citrus tolerance secrets: The Valencia sweet orange genome and the fight against HLB disease Sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.), a hybrid fruit crop originating from mandarins (Citrus reticulata Blanco) and pummelos [Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr.], exhibits complex genomic diversity due to ancient interspecific hybridization. At present, the best assembly of the sweet orange genome is the double haploid sweet orange (HSO).
	Decoding anthocyanin impact: Genetic insights into plant defense and growth trade-offs Anthocyanins are key pigments in plants for plant resistance to abiotic stress. It can provide photoprotection by potentially absorbing visible light and scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) when biotic stress occurs. However, comparative studies of anthocyanin function are challenged due to the absence of isogenic plant models with variable anthocyanin levels.

Medicine and Health news

	Babies as young as four months show signs of self-awareness: Study Babies as young as four months old can make sense of how their bodies interact with the space around them, according to new research from the University of Birmingham.
	Computer simulation suggests mutant strains of COVID-19 emerged in response to human behavior Using artificial intelligence technology and mathematical modeling, a research group led by Nagoya University has revealed that human behavior, such as lockdowns and isolation measures, affects the evolution of new strains of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, developed to become more transmissible earlier in its lifecycle. The researchers' findings, published in Nature Communications, provide new insights into the relationship between how people behave and disease-causing agents.
	How gut microbes help alleviate constipation Scientists have identified the genes in the probiotic Bifidobacteria longum responsible for improving gut motility. A research team reporting November 21 in the journal Cell Host & Microbe found that B. longum strains possessing the abfA cluster of genes can ameliorate constipation through enhanced utilization of an indigestible fiber called arabinan in the gut.
	Neuroscientists pinpoint how memories are likely to be stored in the brain What is the mechanism that allows our brains to incorporate new information about the world, and form memories? New work by a team of neuroscientists led by Dr. Tomás Ryan from Trinity College Dublin shows that learning occurs through the continuous formation of new connectivity patterns between specific engram cells in different regions of the brain.
	Researchers confirm role of gut microbes in cancer therapy Medical researchers have confirmed the role of a complex community of gut organisms in the effectiveness of cancer treatments and in reducing toxicity.
	Our brains are not able to 'rewire' themselves, despite what most scientists believe, new study argues Contrary to the commonly held view, the brain does not have the ability to rewire itself to compensate for the loss of sight, an amputation or stroke, for example, say scientists from the University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University.
	Immunotherapy research shows potential to extend healthy lifespan of humans A Brock-led international research team has discovered an immunotherapy method that could potentially add years to healthy aging. The research, published in the journal EMBO Molecular Medicine, introduces an innovative method to address health issues arising from poor lifestyle choices, which can cause damage to biomolecules and contribute to the development of diseases later in life.
	Comprehensive strategy results in nearly 20% boost in adolescent HPV vaccination rates Mayo Clinic researchers demonstrated a nearly 20% increase in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates among adolescents through a combination intervention approach, a new Mayo Clinic study finds. The strategy involved mailing reminders to parents about their child's eligibility for the HPV vaccine and simultaneously giving health care providers feedback about successful HPV vaccine administration among the patients they had recently seen.
	Genomic study links cannabis abuse to multiple health problems A Yale-led analysis of the genomes of more than 1 million people has shed light on the underlying biology of cannabis use disorder and its links to psychiatric disorders, abuse of other substances such as tobacco, and possibly even an elevated risk of developing lung cancer.
	Skin cancer: New therapy option to prevent metastases As an extremely aggressive form of skin cancer, cutaneous melanoma, is still associated with a high mortality rate. Enormous progress has recently been made in the fight against deadly metastasis, but existing therapeutic measures are still not effective in many cases.
	New discovery furthers understanding of how critical immune cells are controlled during an infection A recent publication from Audrey Gérard's lab looks at how a specific protein, called IFNγ, can coordinate CD8+ T cell responses during a flu infection.
	Clinical trial results give new hope for children with rare gliomas A collaboration of researchers, led by UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital, have published successful results from a Phase II clinical trial for the treatment of BRAF mutated low-grade pediatric gliomas.
	New drug delivery system could reduce daily diabetes shots to just three a year Materials engineers at Stanford University have developed a novel hydrogel drug delivery system that transforms daily or weekly injections of diabetes and weight control drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Trulicity, Victoza, and others to just once every four months. In a new study published in Cell Reports Medicine, researchers believe that such a system will greatly improve the management of both diabetes and weight, improve patient drug compliance, and help those with type 2 diabetes improve long-term health outcomes.
	Researcher finds help for Alzheimer's-associated agitation with new FDA-approved treatment A Saint Louis University researcher was instrumental in developing the first and only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment for agitation associated with Alzheimer's dementia.
	Vitamin B2 derivatives can alleviate chronic kidney inflammation, research suggests Researchers from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf and the University Hospital Bonn have demonstrated that certain derivatives of vitamin B2 can alleviate chronic kidney inflammation in mice. Their findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Researchers uncover role of 'molecular plasters' that protect against infection Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have found that cellular structures called stress granules perform an essential protective function in support of the immune response against infections like tuberculosis (TB).
	Promising target for CAR T cells helps cancer trick the immune system Findings from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are moving the field of cancer immunotherapy one step closer to treating brain and solid tumors. Scientists at St. Jude validated a cellular immunotherapy target called 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78) in proof-of-principle experiments.
	Researchers illuminate the complexity of the human hypothalamus How often do you think about your hypothalamus? Chances are that you never do. As compared to the rest of our brain, it is tiny—just the size of an almond. Yet it is our body's master control, regulating a myriad of functions including body temperature, circadian rhythm, sleep, blood pressure and blood volume, stress responses, hunger and satiety, arousal, and lactation. Until recently, our understanding of the hypothalamus at cellular resolution came from animal studies.
	Could eating turkey ease colitis? Study suggests extra tryptophan could reduce risk of future flares Thanksgiving is often a time for thinking about your belly. For those with an inflammatory bowel diseases like ulcerative colitis, feasting can be associated with stress, even when food isn't a trigger for the painful symptoms. New research in mice suggests that certain foods—especially those high in tryptophan, like turkey, pork, nuts and seeds—could reduce the risk of a colitis flare. The findings point to a noninvasive method of improving long-term colitis management, if the results are validated in people.
	Unlocking the impact of early-life adversity on brain function Do adults with a history of childhood trauma have altered brain responses to psychological challenges? Previous studies indicated that this can occur in laboratory animals, but it has been unclear whether it occurs in humans.
	Getting to the root of visceral gut pain: Research highlights the role played by glia Researchers at Michigan State University may have discovered why visceral pain is so common in people who have experienced inflammation in their guts, including patients with irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS.
	Medical AI tool gets human thumbs-up in first study A new artificial intelligence computer program created by researchers at the University of Florida and NVIDIA can generate doctors' notes so well that two physicians couldn't tell the difference, according to an early study from both groups.
	A methodological approach to study why some individuals are prone to weight gain while others aren't Even though it's known that people who have a higher genetic risk for obesity generally have a higher body mass index (BMI), researchers have unveiled a new methodological approach to find out why some individuals are more susceptible to weight gain than others for reasons not related to their genetic liability to obesity, according to a study published in Obesity.
	Calls for improved support of menstruation changes during perimenopause Perimenopausal women need better education and support about how their periods might change towards the end of their reproductive life, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.
	MRI reveals brain activity behind fanaticism Soccer fans exhibit different patterns of brain activation while watching a match that may trigger positive and negative emotions and behaviors, according to research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The researchers say the implication of these findings could extend beyond sports to fanaticism in other areas, such as politics.
	Novel AI system could diagnose autism much earlier A newly developed artificial intelligence (AI) system that analyzes specialized MRIs of the brain accurately diagnosed children between the ages of 24 and 48 months with autism at a 98.5% accuracy rate, according to research being presented next week at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).
	Babies are losing their lives to a preventable illness Cases of syphilis have skyrocketed in L.A. County and across the country, with devastating results. Left untreated in adults, it can damage organs and infiltrate the brain, possibly leading to dementia and blindness. Men have suffered at higher rates than women, but a rise in cases among women has spurred particular alarm because newborns infected in utero can be stillborn or suffer enduring medical issues.
	Is Novavax, the latecomer COVID vaccine, worth the wait? Erin Kissane, a co-founder of the COVID Tracking Project, rolled up her sleeve for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine in mid-October soon after it was finally recommended in the United States. Like many people with autoimmune diseases, she wants to protect herself from a potentially devastating COVID infection.
	Risk for autism increased for children born to those with infertility Children born to individuals with infertility have a slightly higher risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study published online Nov. 20 in JAMA Network Open.
	Poor physical function persists in childhood cancer survivors Despite changes in therapy, the prevalence of poor physical function has remained steady among childhood survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), according to a study published online Nov. 8 in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship.
	Sexual minority youth more likely to experience homelessness Sexual minority youth are more likely to experience homelessness, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in Pediatrics.
	Occupational exposure to solar UVR linked to nonmelanoma skin cancer Occupational exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is associated with a substantial burden of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), according to a study published in the November issue of Environment International.
	Guidance provided for fecal microbiota transplantation in children For pediatric patients, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is recommended for moderate-to-severe or recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), according to a clinical report published online Nov. 20 in Pediatrics.
	Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI linked to psychosis severity in schizophrenia Neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (NM-MRI) contrast is associated with psychosis severity in antipsychotic-free patients with schizophrenia, according to a study published online Nov. 8 in JAMA Psychiatry.
	Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease set to increase to 34.3% in 2050 The burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is predicted to continue increasing, according to a study presented at The Liver Meeting, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, held from Nov. 10 to 14 in Boston.
	A sugar tax in Germany could save as much as 16 billion euros and improve population health A simulation study conducted by a team from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) demonstrates that a soft drink tax in Germany would have significant positive effects. In all of the simulated variants evaluated, less sugar was consumed and the rate of illness dropped. This would be a way to reduce costs to the national economy and alleviate the burden on the health care system. There is, however, a difference between taxes aimed at reducing soft drink consumption and taxes aimed at bringing about changes in product formulation.
	Strip searching a child without appropriate consent is 'sexual abuse,' insists expert Strip searching a child without appropriate consent is "sexual abuse," and should attract heavy sanctions—backed up by legislation—for any UK police officer who does it, insists a leading pediatrician in an opinion piece, published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
	Study finds long-term acute care hospital closures associated with changes in hospital care practices Long-term acute care hospitals (LTCHs) are common sites of post-acute care for patients recovering from severe respiratory failure requiring long-term mechanical ventilation. Because of longer lengths of stay compared to regular, short-stay hospitals, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) reimburses LTCHs at higher rates. However, since 2005, CMS implemented a series of reforms designed to restrict their growth and curb spending resulting in many LTCH closings.
	Immunotherapy drug is well tolerated in lung cancer patients with limited physical function, study suggests For patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and limited performance status, an immune checkpoint inhibitor drug called durvalumab is safe and may benefit overall survival, according to a new eClinicalMedicine study by UPMC Hillman Cancer Center researchers.
	Novel molecular mechanisms in the early development of diabetes mellitus Researchers led by the University of Tsukuba conducted a gene expression analysis at the single-cell level on pancreatic islets from prediabetic and diabetic mouse models. Their results are published in the journal Diabetes.
	Fixing racial inequities in lupus care Receiving a lupus diagnosis can be a long and frustrating journey. For Black adults, this already difficult process is usually even more drawn out and comes with its own types of challenges. Sadly, racial inequities are a defining feature in the treatment of Black adults with lupus.
	Developmental amnesia: Rare disorder that causes children to forget things they've just learned Even though it came out more than 20 years ago, many people still remember "Finding Nemo" thanks to one of its beloved main characters: Dory. The blue fish is remembered not only for her happy-go-lucky personality but for the condition she has, which makes her forget things almost as soon as they've happened.
	Early births—between 34 and 37 weeks—for moms with pre-eclampsia can reduce baby and mother deaths About a half-million babies die each year as a result of pre-eclampsia, an aggressive and potentially life-threatening problem in pregnancy. Approximately 46,000 women also die each year due to the disorder.
	Malaria: Two groundbreaking vaccines have been developed, but access and rollout are still big stumbling blocks The approval of two malaria vaccines—the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine in 2021 and the R21/Matrix-MTM vaccine in 2023—will help control, and eventually help eradicate, a disease that causes more than 600,000 deaths annually.
	No, antibiotics aren't always needed: How GPs can avoid overprescribing Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest global threats to health, food security and development. This month, The Conversation's experts explore how we got here and the potential solutions.
	How culturally appropriate diets can be a pathway to food security in the Canadian Arctic As food prices soar it is clear that food security is becoming an ever-growing concern for Canadians. However, not everyone faces these rising costs equally.
	How movies use music to manipulate your memory Around one in five American adults manage to squeeze in watching a movie on a daily basis. It's a great way to escape the daily grind and unwind with loved ones. But, what can you actually remember about last night's film?
	Perfecting the performance of nerve implants Researchers are extending their understanding of the effectiveness of electrical fields that are increasingly being used in implants to stimulate and repair damaged nerves. Effective nerve stimulation is the key to helping alleviate debilitating conditions such as sciatica.
	Study uncovers prevalence of diabetes among American Indian and Alaska Native communities For decades, limited data have been available when researching health and health care access in the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) population due to historical, cultural, ethical and legal reasons. One notable example in 1989 is the unethical use of blood samples from members of the Havasupai Tribe.
	Poor nutrition contributes to poor mental health and risk of diabetes, research finds People with diabetes (diabetes mellitus) are 2–3 times more likely to have depression than people without, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Current treatment includes therapy, medicine, or both. However, the understanding of the multifaceted relationship between nutrition, mental health, and DM is relatively new in scientific discourse. Mason researchers sought to learn about the connection between nutrition, diabetes, and mental health.
	Caring is sharing: Call for more openness on cancer drug trial results Development of potential or improved anti-cancer treatments is being blocked or slowed down by a lack of transparency in data sharing between pharmaceutical companies and research groups, according to cancer clinicians, researchers and consumers.
	For veterans receiving dialysis, unstable housing linked to mortality Unstable housing before starting dialysis is associated with an increased risk for all-cause mortality among veterans receiving dialysis, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
	One death, 10 hospitalizations in listeria outbreak tied to peaches, plums Peaches, nectarines and plums tainted with Listeria have caused one death and put 10 people in the hospital with food poisoning across seven states, federal officials say.
	Low income decreases odds of cardiologist involvement in heart failure hospital care Adults with low household income are less likely to have a cardiologist involved in their care during hospitalization for heart failure than adults with higher incomes, according to a study published online Nov. 20 in JAMA Network Open.
	Hemoglobin glycation index is novel risk factor for incident CKD Hemoglobin glycation index (HGI) is a novel risk factor for incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population, according to a study published online Nov. 1 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	Direct-acting antivirals still underused in hep C-related liver cancer Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) remain underutilized in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), according to a study presented at The Liver Meeting, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, held from Nov. 10 to 14 in Boston.
	Psychological distress reported for indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas Patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (iNHL) report considerable psychological distress, according to a study published online Nov. 3 in The Oncologist.
	Food insecurity in seniors linked to increased risk for dementia For older adults, food insecurity is associated with an increased risk for dementia with poorer memory function and faster memory decline, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in JAMA Network Open.
	Research shows wastewater testing improves predictions for COVID-19 hospital admissions Testing wastewater for COVID-19 provides a better forecast of new COVID hospital admissions than clinical data, according to a Syracuse University research team led by postdoctoral researcher Dustin Hill.
	A year after Pakistan's floods, 44% of children have stunted growth. What can be done about it? The extensive flooding in Pakistan in August 2022 submerged one-third of the country. This affected 33 million people, half of them children. Some 9.4 million acres of crops were destroyed, and more than 1.1 million farm animals perished.
	What are the new COVID booster vaccines? Can I get one? Do they work? Are they safe? As the COVID virus continues to evolve, so does our vaccine response. From December 11, Australians will have access to new vaccines that offer better protection.
	Machine learning could improve efficiency of X-ray-guided pelvic fracture surgery Researchers at Johns Hopkins University are leveraging the power of machine learning to improve X-ray-guided pelvic fracture surgery, an operation to treat an injury commonly sustained during car crashes.
	High-fiber food advice welcomed by older people, finds study Older adults are willing to up the fiber in their diet, but need help, a new study has shown.
	Study: High blood pressure increasing in low-income adults, while diabetes, obesity on the rise in higher-income adults A study of more than 20,000 middle-aged U.S. adults found that lower-income status was associated with an increased risk for hypertension compared to other middle-aged adults with higher incomes. Those with higher incomes were found to be at increased risk for diabetes and obesity. The findings are published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Infectious disease researcher discusses the spread, treatment, prevention of drug-resistant Salmonella The spread of extensively drug-resistant Salmonella in Canada has prompted serious public health concern.
	Long COVID happens in nursing homes, too, study finds COVID-19 raced through nursing homes many times over the past few years, as the virus spread rapidly among vulnerable older adults living close together.
	Researchers develop new method of precisely targeting cancer lesions while protecting healthy tissues A team of researchers has developed a new method that suppresses the distribution of drugs to healthy tissues and also rapidly removes the drugs once distributed in the body, which could improve the accuracy of imaging diagnosis of difficult cancers, reduce toxicity to healthy tissues, and further improve the effectiveness of treatment. They report their findings in a recent study published in the Journal of Controlled Release.
	New study reveals unexpected consequences of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing A new study by Claudia Kutter's research group at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC) has identified potential pitfalls in the use of the gene editing technique CRISPR-Cas9, a gene scissors that is used for cancer treatments.
	New report highlights increase in number of children and young people with eating disorders One in five children and young people have a probable mental health condition, according to The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023 report. The report also reveals a significant rise in those being diagnosed with eating disorders, including a 10% increase among young men and women aged 17–19.
	More deaths than malaria and HIV/AIDS: What Africa is doing to fight the silent epidemic of antibiotic resistance Each year antimicrobial resistance—the ability of microbes to survive agents designed to kill them— claims more lives than malaria and HIV/Aids combined. Africa bears the brunt of this development, which thrives on inequality and poverty. Nadine Dreyer asked Tom Nyirenda, a research scientist with over 27 years' experience in infectious diseases, what health organizations on the continent are doing to fight this threat to medical progress.
	Bone growth drug may reduce sudden infant death syndrome in children with common form of dwarfism A drug that boosts bone growth in children with the most common form of dwarfism may also reduce their chances of sudden infant death syndrome, sleep apnea, and needing surgery, according to a new study.
	Research finds sex differences in immune response and metabolism drive Alzheimer's disease Cleveland Clinic researchers analyzed genes and brain tissue of patients with Alzheimer's and found that differences in brain immunometabolism—the interactions between the immune system and the ways cells create energy—may contribute to women's increased risk for the disease and its severity.
	Hearing loss is associated with subtle changes in the brain Hearing loss affects more than 60 percent of adults aged 70 and older in the United States and is known to be related to an increased risk of dementia. The reason for this association is not fully understood.
	Merging rural and urban ACA rating areas improved health insurance choice and premiums for rural consumers in Texas For people living in rural areas, accessing quality health care services can sometimes be difficult. A large portion of this difficulty can be boiled down to supply and demand. Rural residents tend to be older and less healthy, increasing health care demand, while a shortage of providers and limited choices in health insurance coverage affect supply.
	Researchers help unravel brain processes involved in vision Faced with images that break the expected pattern, like a do not enter sign where a stop sign is expected, how does the brain react and learn compared to being shown images that match what was predicted?
	Using human stem cells to model a severe epilepsy syndrome and identify a potential targeted treatment Mutations in the SCN3A gene cause a spectrum of neurological conditions collectively referred to as SCN3A-related neurodevelopmental disorders, which includes different types of epilepsy and brain malformations.
	AI and synthetic patients to improve diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome Between 17 and 24 million people worldwide suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, a deeply debilitating and difficult-to-diagnose condition. Also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, according to the World Health Organization, this condition causes a wide range of symptoms that combine to produce a debilitating, difficult-to-explain feeling of extreme, chronic fatigue, including difficulty sleeping and feeling unwell after exertion. Some patients may have serious problems carrying out their usual activities or concentrating and may even become bedridden.
	Investigating parental age effect on the longevity and healthspan of flies and worms A new research paper was published in Aging, titled "Parental age effect on the longevity and healthspan in Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans."
	New target identified for pulmonary hypertension treatment Indiana University School of Medicine researchers at the school's South Bend regional campus, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Notre Dame, have identified a new therapeutic target for pulmonary hypertension, a type of high blood pressure that affects the blood vessels in the lungs. Their findings were recently published in Circulation Research.
	Study investigates using telemedicine for flu diagnosis Imagine you're feeling achy. You have a cough, and you might have a fever. It's flu season, so you want to have a doctor check you out. Almost a quarter of Americans now opt for a telehealth visit, which public health experts say has helped to keep sick people out of community spaces where they can spread illness.
	The myopia epidemic: Blame computers not phones for short-sightedness, researcher says A new study from The University of Western Australia has found the world is experiencing a myopia (short-sightedness) epidemic, and the main cause is computer screens rather than mobile phones or tablets.
	Apotransferrin shows promise as an early treatment for stroke Researchers from Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) have discovered that administering human apotransferrin to mice models affected by intracerebral hemorrhage can mitigate the damaging effects of this severe type of stroke. This finding highlights the promising role of apotransferrin as a pre-hospital and pre-triage frontline treatment for all stroke patients. The study has been published in the journal Antioxidants.
	Nut consumption may enhance fertility for men, suggests study Eating nuts may enhance male fertility, a Monash University-led research review has found. The authors now want more research into the potential benefits of nuts for male and female fertility after finding only two intervention studies on men eating more than two serves per day and none on women.
	Study finds risk factors for severe COVID-19 cases in children Children who had preexisting health problems or who lived in the Southern United States had a higher risk for severe health outcomes from acute COVID-19 infections, according to researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The results, reported in the journal Hospital Pediatrics, also showed the importance of vaccinations in reducing the severity of illness for those who became infected.
	Using Pacman to study cooperative behavior Intense focus pervades the EEG laboratory at the University of Konstanz on this day of experimentation. In separate labs, two participants, connected by screens, engage in the computer game Pacman. The burning question: Can strangers, unable to communicate directly, synchronize their efforts to conquer the digital realm together?
	COVID-19 variant maintains threat: WHO COVID-19 remains a threat as a virus variant has been spreading steadily around the globe, the World Health Organisation said Tuesday.
	Biomaterial proves capable of accelerating bone regeneration Researchers at São Paulo State University's Botucatu Institute of Biosciences (IBB-UNESP) in Brazil have developed a novel biomaterial that speeds up osteoblast (bone cell) differentiation. The invention has the potential to be used in the future in bone regeneration, bone grafting, and dental implant recovery, among other procedures.
	How AI could help optimize nutrient consistency in donated human breast milk A team of University of Toronto Engineering researchers, led by Professor Timothy Chan, is leveraging machine learning to optimize the macronutrient content of pooled human donor milk recipes.
	The unusual way a Catholic health system is wielding an abortion protest law A Catholic hospital system is suing several California patients and their advocates because the patients allegedly refused to be discharged. The suits invoke a novel legal approach: accusing them of trespassing under a California law intended to stop anti-abortion protesters from blocking access to health facilities.
	Biden administration's limit on drug industry middlemen backfires, pharmacists say The Biden administration's first major step toward imposing limits on the pharmacy benefit managers who act as the drug industry's price negotiators is backfiring, pharmacists say. Instead, it's adding to the woes of the independent drugstores it was partly designed to help.
	Gaza's next tragedy: Disease risk spreads amid overcrowded shelters, dirty water and breakdown of basic sanitation After more than a month of being subjected to sustained bombing, the besieged people of the Gaza Strip are now confronted with another threat to life: disease.
	Keep telehealth alive and well, experts tell Senate subcommittee To many Americans, telehealth options for connecting with their health care providers seemed to spring to life suddenly in 2020—even though some virtual care options started years before that.
	How video games can make it easier to discuss mental health Depression is common among young people, but this target group often does not get the help they need. Books, exercise, and other depression prevention programs do not achieve the envisioned results for everyone. Video games might help reach another part of this target group. Anouk Tuijnman co-developed two applied video games to target depression in adolescents and will defend her Ph.D. at Radboud University on 28 November.
	Unraveling autism spectrum disorder mechanisms through rigid-autonomous phase sequences A recent study delves into the behavioral complexities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by introducing the rigid-autonomous phase sequence (RAPS) formation concept. RAPS may be responsible for the cognitive, sensory-motor, and memory-related challenges faced by individuals with ASD. By uniting these insights under a single theoretical framework, this research paves the way for innovative treatments, promising a brighter future for those with ASD.
	4 out of 5 Mexicans who got a flu shot this year turned down Cuban and Russian COVID-19 vaccines Four out of five people in Mexico who got influenza shots so far this year turned down the government's recommendation that they get Russian or Cuban COVID-19 boosters at the same time, officials said Tuesday.

Other Sciences news

	Most-cited scientists are still mostly men, but the gender gap is closing An analysis of 5.8 million authors across all scientific disciplines shows that the gender gap is closing, but there is still a long distance to go. The new research by John Ioannidis of the Meta-Research Innovation Center at Stanford (METRICs) at Stanford University, US, and colleagues, was published Nov. 21 in the journal PLOS Biology.
	Grief questionnaire results suggest Irish wakes may help reduce feelings of loss more than UK funerals A team of psychologists and social scientists from Maynooth University, in Ireland, Ulster University, in Northern Ireland and Napier University, in Scotland, has found via questionnaire that traditional Irish wakes may help people deal better with the death of a loved one than somber funerals such as those conducted in the U.K.
	New teaching framework aims to make short STEM training effective, inclusive and scalable Success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) demands keeping up with the latest tools and techniques. The AI boom, for example, has made coding and data management skills integral. But going back to school isn't an option for most scientists.
	Study finds female academics less likely to win prizes, even when the award is named after a woman A new study shows that female academics are significantly underrepresented in winning academic prizes and having awards named after them.
	The bilingual brain may be better at ignoring irrelevant information People who speak two languages may be better at shifting their attention from one thing to another compared to those who speak one, according to a study published this month in the journal Bilingualism: Language and Cognition.
	Researchers: Disinformation campaigns are undermining democracy—here's how we can fight back Misinformation is debated everywhere and has justifiably sparked concerns. It can polarize the public, reduce health-protective behaviors such as mask wearing and vaccination, and erode trust in science. Much of misinformation is spread not by accident but as part of organized political campaigns, in which case we refer to it as disinformation.
	Nostalgia in politics: Study sheds light on how (and why) parties appeal to the past in their election campaigns Have you ever felt nostalgic when thinking about the past? Then you are not alone. According to survey research, around two-thirds of the European public feel nostalgic.
	'Time warp' takes students to Native American past to search for solutions for the future The eyes of the fifth graders in Ms. Evans' class widened as they saw a dazzling light on the classroom smartboard and the phrase, "Let's do the Time Warp!"
	Study unveils strategies for global virtual teams to facilitate effective long-distance communication Scientists say they have revealed a host of strategies that can facilitate the flow of information among global virtual teams (GVTs) of different cultural, linguistic, and geographic backgrounds.
	Study: Despite Asia's preference for sons, happiness in old age has everything to do with daughters Researchers from Monash University Malaysia's Business School warn that the traditional preference for a son rather than a daughter, may worsen gender inequality in rapidly aging Asian societies.
	Apology psychology: Breaking gender stereotypes leads to more effective communication, says study Saying "I'm sorry," especially in the workplace, can be tricky terrain. Delivering an effective apology can help resolve conflicts, restore trust and promote collaboration among coworkers.
	Gaza and Ukraine are separate conflicts, but conspiracy theorists are trying to link the two on social media As the war between Israel and Hamas has intensified in Gaza, disinformation and conspiracy theories about the conflict have been increasingly circulating on social media.
	In America, national parks are more than scenic—they're sacred. But they were created at a cost to Native Americans Abraham Lincoln has an almost saintly place in U.S. history: the "Great Emancipator" whose leadership during the Civil War preserved the Union and abolished slavery.
	More than half of U.S. counties have no access or very limited access to local news The loss of local newspapers accelerated in 2023 to an average of 2.5 per week, leaving more than 200 counties as "news deserts" and meaning that more than half of all U.S. counties now have limited access to reliable local news and information, researchers at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University have found.
	Abuse of female athletes goes unchecked on mainstream social media sites Social media posts that abuse female athletes can remain unmoderated on the official social media accounts of major sports clubs, new research has shown.
	Q&A: New report examines myths hampering advancement of women in workplace, actual barriers and possible solutions Pervasive myths that paint an overall picture of women having a lesser commitment to their jobs are hampering their career advancement, according to a new report on women in the workplace by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org, a nonprofit founded and chaired by Sheryl Sandberg, the former chief operating officer of Meta, Facebook's parent company.
	Increasing urbanization contributes to racial and gender inequality, study shows Researchers who study cities have long documented an "urban wage premium," whereby workers in denser, larger cities tend to have higher wage and salary incomes. But a new study by a UCLA scholar is providing fresh insight into how growing population density in urban areas contributes to pay inequalities by race and gender.
	Unlocking the connection between science fiction and patents Imagine diving into the world of futuristic stories where spaceships soar and gadgets do incredible things. Now, think about how those ideas become real things we use. Camilla Hrdy, professor of intellectual property law, and her co-author, former Akron Law assistant professor Daniel Brean, have made new findings about the connection between science fiction and patents.
	Crowd-sourced fact-checking fights misinformation in Taiwan New Cornell University research finds while journalists and professional fact-checkers struggle to keep up with the deluge of misinformation online, sites that rely on loosely coordinated contributions from volunteers, such as Wikipedia, can help fill the gaps.
	Study suggests present generation's negotiators ignore consequences for future generations In a new psychology paper titled "Present generation's negotiators realize their interests at the cost of future generations," researchers from Leuphana University Lüneburg and the University of Hildesheim have uncovered critical insights into the challenges of intergenerational negotiations and their far-reaching implications.
	Study shows that the 'manosphere' community is misusing scientific research to support its beliefs Members of the "manosphere" community are misusing academic research to frame and validate their beliefs about women, according to new research led by the University of Kent's School of Anthropology and Conservation.
	Gaza war: How investigators would go about finding and verifying underground military complexes Following the raid on the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza by units of the Israel Defence Forces on October 15, the IDF claims to have uncovered evidence of tunnels underneath the hospital. A video released on November 19 showed a tunnel running under the al-Shifa medical complex at a depth of ten meters, running 55 meters along to what IDF sources said was a blast-proof door.
	What would it take for a cease-fire to happen in Gaza? Calls for a cease-fire and other limits on military operations and violence were made by governments, advocacy groups and political leaders around the world almost immediately after the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 Israeli civilians by Hamas. Israel immediately declared war on Hamas and began shelling and then invaded Gaza, leading to more than 11,000 civilian deaths and massive destruction.
	Women still face unfair pressure about having children If you're a woman in your 20s or 30s, particularly if you're in a long-term relationship, you've probably been asked when you're going to have children. In the UK and many other countries, there is a clear societal expectation that women will eventually become mothers.
	Researchers develop new method of modeling market regimes using efficient frontier information Financial markets often undergo changing regimes or states, where environments can be significantly different from one another. Various models have attempted to capture the dynamics of these regimes, but exhibit poor performance when tested on unfamiliar data.
	As homeschooling numbers keep rising in Australia, is more regulation a good idea? The number of families choosing to homeschool in Australia and around the world keeps growing.
	The Ethical Slut has been called 'the bible' of non-monogamy—but its sexual utopia is oversimplified In 2022, University of Melbourne evolutionary psychologist Dr. Khandis Blake estimated that among young people, "around 4-5 percent of people might be involved in a polyamorous relationship, and about 20 percent have probably tried one."
	Giving voice to children in refuge from domestic violence A new report from Trinity College evaluating a child-centered and trauma informed project to support children in refuge from domestic violence at Meath Women's Refuge and Support Services (MWRSS) was launched today to coincide with World Children's Day.
	Imperialism abroad, policing at home fundamentally connected, says researcher The culture and tactics of U.S. and U.K. policing are often referred to as militarized, but how such excessive use of force developed isn't fully understood. But research from sociology Prof. Julian Go offers a global, historical viewpoint of policing to explore the racialized, aggressive approach. His new book, "Policing Empires: Militarization, Race, and the Imperial Boomerang in Britain and the U.S.," posits that imperialism abroad and policing at home are fundamentally connected.
	UK report highlights vital contribution of 'virtual schools' for children in care A new study highlights the vital contribution of 'virtual schools' for children in care and recommends ten ways to improve their educational outcomes.

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