Science X Newsletter Mon, Dec 18

Dear ,

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

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Challenging assumptions: The 8.5-year rhythm of Earth's inner core

New 'n-i-p' perovskite/organic hybrid tandem solar cells with efficiencies over 23%

A digital twin system that could enhance collaborative human-robot product assembly

From 'liquid lace' to the 'Drop Medusa,' researchers compete for the best image of fluid flow

Chimps and bonobos can recognize long-lost friends and family for decades, find researchers

Mesopotamian bricks unveil the strength of Earth's ancient magnetic field

Second radio relic discovered in the galaxy cluster Abell 2108

Dobb-E: A framework to train multi-skilled robots for domestic use

First discovery of carbon-based cave art in France's Dordogne region could pave way for precise radiocarbon dating

A novel sandwich-structured composite from biopolymers for building envelope applications

A new strategy for making and manipulating higher-temperature superconductors

Researchers create 'Mugatu,' the first steerable bipedal robot with only one motor

Psychedelic psilocybin-assisted therapy found to reduce depressive symptoms in adults with cancer and depression

Researchers invent 'methane cleaner' that could become a permanent fixture in cattle and pig barns

Study finds clinicians rank patient views as least important in diagnosis

Nanotechnology news

	Researchers use vapor deposition to make covalent organic framework films Rice University materials scientists developed a fast, low-cost, scalable method to make covalent organic frameworks (COFs), a class of crystalline polymers whose tunable molecular structure, large surface area and porosity could be useful in energy applications, semiconductor devices, sensors, filtration systems and drug delivery.
	First observation of how water molecules move near a metal electrode A collaborative team of experimental and computational physical chemists from South Korea and the United States has made an important discovery in the field of electrochemistry, shedding light on the movement of water molecules near metal electrodes.
	Harnessing nanotechnology to understand tumor behavior A new study conducted by pre-Ph.D. researcher Pablo S. Valera demonstrates the potential of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to explore metabolites secreted by cancer cells in cancer research.

Physics news

	From 'liquid lace' to the 'Drop Medusa,' researchers compete for the best image of fluid flow Each year at its annual meeting, the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics sponsors a contest for the best images in a variety of categories, all related to the flow of fluids.
	A new strategy for making and manipulating higher-temperature superconductors Superconductors have intrigued physicists for decades. But these materials, which allow the perfect, lossless flow of electrons, usually only exhibit this quantum-mechanical peculiarity at temperatures so low—a few degrees above absolute zero—as to render them impractical.
	Electronic pathways may enhance collective atomic vibrations' magnetism Materials with enhanced thermal conductivity are critical for the development of advanced devices to support applications in communications, clean energy and aerospace. But in order to engineer materials with this property, scientists need to understand how phonons, or quantum units of the vibration of atoms, behave in a particular substance.
	Two possible ways to use black holes as energy source in the distant future A pair of astrophysicists at Tianjin University, in China, has proposed ways that humans in the distant future might use black holes as an energy source. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review D, Zhan-Feng Mai and Run-Qiu Yang outline two possible scenarios in which energy could potentially be harvested from primordial black holes.
	New technique could make modeling molecules much easier Much like the humans that created them, computers find physics hard, but quantum mechanics even harder. But a new technique created by three University of Chicago scientists allows computers to simulate certain challenging quantum mechanical effects in complex electronic materials with far less effort.
	Study: Physicists create giant trilobite Rydberg molecules Kaiserslautern physicists in the team of Professor Dr. Herwig Ott have succeeded for the first time in directly observing pure trilobite Rydberg molecules. Particularly interesting is that these molecules have a very peculiar shape, which is reminiscent of trilobite fossils. They also have the largest electric dipole moments of any molecule known so far.
	'Teleporting' images across a network securely using only light Nature Communications published research by an international team from Wits and ICFO- The Institute of Photonic Sciences, which demonstrates the teleportation-like transport of "patterns" of light—this is the first approach that can transport images across a network without physically sending the image and a crucial step towards realizing a quantum network for high-dimensional entangled states.
	Scientists are recommending IceCube should be eight times bigger The IceCube Neutrino Observatory, operated by the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-M), located at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica, is one of the most ambitious neutrino observatories in the world. Behind this observatory is the IceCube Collaboration, an international group of 300 physicists from 59 institutions in 14 countries.

Earth news

	Challenging assumptions: The 8.5-year rhythm of Earth's inner core Researchers from China have confirmed the existence of an approximately 8.5-year Inner Core Wobble (ICW) in both polar motion and length-of-day variations, revealing a static tilt of about 0.17 degrees between the Earth's inner core and mantle, challenging traditional assumptions and providing insights into the Earth's internal dynamics and density distribution.
	Research reveals regions in US where heat adaptation and mitigation efforts can most benefit future populations Extreme heat waves, once considered rare, are now frequent and severe in cities due to climate change. Phoenix faced such a brutal heat wave in July of 2023 when it endured 31 consecutive days of high temperatures of at least 110° F. The severity of the heat wave triggered a state of emergency. In June of 2021, the town of Lytton, B.C., Canada, hit a blistering 121° F, leading to a fire that burnt most of the village.
	Ecosystem benefits to humanity expected to decline by 9% by 2100 As climate change redistributes terrestrial ecosystems across the globe, the world's natural capital is expected to decrease, causing a 9% loss of ecosystem services by 2100. That's according to a study of natural capital published in the journal Nature led by scientists at the University of California, Davis, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
	Wildfires increasing across eastern US, new study reveals In a new analysis of data spanning more than three decades in the eastern United States, a team of scientists found a concerning trend—an increasing number of wildfires across a large swath of America.
	Hydrothermal mercury: The natural story of a contaminant An international team of researchers including scientists from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel has produced the first global estimate of mercury emissions from hydrothermal sources at mid-ocean ridges based on measurements.
	Genetic sequencing uncovers unexpected source of pathogens in floodwaters Researchers report in the journal Geohealth that local rivers and streams were the source of the Salmonella enterica contamination along coastal North Carolina after Hurricane Florence in 2018—not the previously suspected high number of pig farms in the region.
	New study aims to reduce the time required to implement geologic sequestration sites for carbon capture Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change. While CCS is an essential tool in decarbonizing the U.S. economy, there are barriers that exist to the development, approval, and implementation of a geologic sequestration site, as it requires an appropriate geologic formation, as well as an approved injection facility.
	The Sahara Desert used to be a green savannah: Research explains why Algeria's Tassili N'Ajjer plateau is Africa's largest national park. Among its vast sandstone formations is perhaps the world's largest art museum. Over 15,000 etchings and paintings are exhibited there, some as much as 11,000 years old according to scientific dating techniques, representing a unique ethnological and climatological record of the region.
	A new tool to better model future wildfire impacts in the United States Wildfire management systems outfitted with remote sensing technology could improve first responders' ability to predict and respond to the spread of deadly forest fires.
	Paying people to replant tropical forests and letting them harvest the timber can pay off Tropical forest landscapes are home to millions of Indigenous peoples and small-scale farmers. Just about every square meter of land is spoken for, even if claims are not formally recognized by governments.
	If a tree burns in Canada's unmanaged forest, does anyone count the carbon? Earlier this fall, a commentary in the journal Communications Earth & Environment argued for a change to the implementation of the Paris Agreement's reporting mechanisms. The authors called for all countries to report carbon emissions and removals taking place across their entire territories, not just within so-called "managed" lands (as is presently the case).
	Is El Niño's reputation as a legendary rainmaker overblown? In the minds of many Californians, El Niño has long loomed as a rainmaker of epic proportions.
	COP28: We need a reality check on hopes for carbon capture and removal, experts say The potential role of innovative technologies that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in combating climate change has an understandable popular appeal.
	COP28 assessment: Impact will depend on actual implementation About a day later than planned, the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) closed on 13 December 2023. After much contestation, the conference adopted a decision that effectively signals the beginning of the end for fossil fuels.
	Study finds atmospheric pollutants in São Paulo exceeded recommended levels even at the height of the pandemic People who live in São Paulo city in Brazil certainly recall an event that occurred on August 19, 2019, when dark clouds covered the sky and day turned into night. The phenomenon was not caused by local pollution or emissions produced in São Paulo state but by a massive influx of particulate matter disgorged by forest fires blazing thousands of kilometers away in the Amazon.
	Oceanography, sea floor mapping and satellite combine to map world's strongest current From space to the sea floor, an Australian and international research voyage has mapped a highly energetic "hotspot" in the world's strongest current simultaneously by ship and satellite, and uncovered an underwater mountain range.
	California children sue US govt over pollution Children in California are suing the US government over its failure to curb pollution, the latest in a series of legal actions by young people around the world worried about climate change.
	Could Culver City's landmark deal to end oil production be a model for other cities? Culver City has struck a deal with one of California's largest oil producers to end petroleum extraction and plug all wells within the city limits by the end of the decade—an agreement that environmentalists say could serve as a model for other municipalities.
	Uncontrolled chemical reactions fuel crises at LA County's two largest landfills Hundreds of feet underground, in a long-dormant portion of Chiquita Canyon landfill, tons of garbage have been smoldering for months due to an enigmatic chemical reaction.
	Cattle ranchers want Florida to preserve their land. Will DeSantis, Legislature fund the programs? Cattle rancher Billy Kempfer would love for Florida to pay him for the development rights on his land, keeping it as ranchland forever. But it all comes down to the list.
	Florida the only state to turn down millions to lessen emissions, feds say Congress in 2021 provided $6.4 billion to states to curb tailpipe emissions and reduce the effects of climate change.

Astronomy and Space news

	Second radio relic discovered in the galaxy cluster Abell 2108 Astronomers from India and Taiwan have used the upgraded Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (uGMRT) to perform radio observations of a galaxy cluster known as Abell 2108. As a result, they detected a second radio relic, which is much larger and differs in morphology from the previously identified relic in this cluster. The finding was reported in a paper published Dec. 7 on the pre-print server arXiv.
	Astronomers look billions of years into the past to study Pandora's Cluster Two McMaster astronomers have used recent deep imaging data from the James Webb Space Telescope to look 3.5 billion years into the past to study a remote giant cluster of galaxies.
	Exoplanets' climate: It takes nothing to switch from habitable to hell, say researchers The Earth is a wonderful blue and green dot covered with oceans and life, while Venus is a yellowish sterile sphere that is not only inhospitable but also sterile. However, the difference between the two is only a few degrees in temperature. A team of astronomers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), with the support of the CNRS laboratories of Paris and Bordeaux, has achieved a world's first by managing to simulate the entirety of the runaway greenhouse process that can transform the climate of a planet from idyllic and perfect for life, to a place more than harsh and hostile.
	History and contents of the universe can be determined using radio telescopes on the moon, researchers say A study from Tel Aviv University has predicted for the first time the groundbreaking results that can be obtained from a lunar-based detection of radio waves. The study's findings show that the measured radio signals can be used for a novel test of the standard cosmological model to determine the composition of the universe as well as the weight of neutrino particles and possibly help scientists gain another clue to the mystery of dark matter.
	Surface of Saturnian moon Enceladus shields buried organics The Saturnian moon Enceladus presents a unique opportunity in our solar system to search for evidence of life, given its habitable ocean and plume that deposits organic-bearing ocean material onto the surface.
	Webb rings in holidays with ringed planet Uranus The James Webb Space Telescope recently trained its sights on unusual and enigmatic Uranus, an ice giant that spins on its side. Webb captured this dynamic world with rings, moons, storms, and other atmospheric features—including a seasonal polar cap. The image expands upon a two-color version released earlier this year, adding additional wavelength coverage for a more detailed look.
	Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin headed back into space after accident The American company Blue Origin plans to launch its rocket New Shepard Monday for the first time since an accident more than a year ago, as the firm founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos heads back into space.
	Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin heads back to space in critical launch Blue Origin is set Monday to launch its New Shepard rocket for the first time since an uncrewed crash more than a year ago, a mission that is critical in reviving the fortunes of Jeff Bezos' space company.
	Hubble looks at a late-type galaxy This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image features NGC 2814, an irregular galaxy that lies about 85 million light-years from Earth. In this image, which was captured using Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys, the galaxy appears to be quite isolated: visually, it looks a little like a loose stroke of bright paint across a dark background. However, looks can be deceiving.
	What's the source of binary rogue planets? The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is already making great strides in helping us to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Earlier this year, hundreds of rogue planets were discovered in the Orion Nebula. The real surprise to this discovery was that 9% of the planets were paired up in wide binary pairs. To understand how this binary planets formed, astronomers simulated various scenarios for their formation.
	Could there be a black hole inside the sun? It's a classic tale of apocalyptic fiction. The sun, our precious source of heat and light, collapses into a black hole. Or perhaps a stray black hole comes along and swallows it up. The End is Nigh! If a stellar-mass black hole swallowed our sun, then we'd only have about eight minutes before, as the kids say, it gets real. But suppose the sun swallowed a small primordial black hole? Then things get interesting, and that's definitely worth a paper on the arXiv preprint server.
	Weather in the solar system can teach us about weather on exoplanets The way astronomers study planets in our own solar system is surprisingly similar to the way they study exoplanets, despite the latter being orders of magnitude more distant. The key is spectroscopy—examining the wavelengths of light that reach a telescope from a planet's atmosphere. Different molecules allow different wavelengths to pass through, creating unique patterns in the spectrum and giving scientists clues about the composition of an atmosphere.
	NASA's BurstCube passes milestones on journey to launch Scientists and engineers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, have completed testing for BurstCube, a shoebox-sized spacecraft designed to study the universe's most powerful explosions. Members of the team have also delivered the satellite to their partner Nanoracks (part of Voyager Space) in Houston, Texas, where it will be packed for launch.
	First segments of the world's largest telescope mirror shipped to Chile The construction of the European Southern Observatory's Extremely Large Telescope (ESO's ELT) has reached an important milestone with the delivery to ESO and shipment to Chile of the first 18 segments of the telescope's main mirror (M1). Once they arrive in Chile, the segments will be transported to the ELT Technical Facility at ESO's Paranal Observatory in the country's Atacama Desert, where they will be coated in preparation for their future installation on the telescope's main structure.
	Photonic crystals could be exactly what Breakthrough Starshot is looking for Light sail technology is a fascinating concept and a step change in rocket propulsion. It may not be big and impressive like the Saturn V, the Space Shuttle or the new Starship rocket but when it comes to traveling among the stars, light sails could just be the answer. And what better material to build the sails from then something that just makes me want to say it over and over again: photonics crystals. It sounds right out of a "Star Trek" episode, but a new paper examines their feasibility.

Technology news

	New 'n-i-p' perovskite/organic hybrid tandem solar cells with efficiencies over 23% Engineers and material scientists have been working to develop increasingly advanced photovoltaic solutions, to convert as much solar energy as possible into electricity and help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This has led to the introduction of various new solar cell designs, including all-perovskite tandem solar cells.
	A digital twin system that could enhance collaborative human-robot product assembly Robotics systems have already been introduced in numerous real-world settings, including some industrial and manufacturing facilities. In these facilities, robots can assist human assembly line and warehouse workers, assembling some parts of products with high precision and then handing them to human agents tasked with performing additional actions.
	Dobb-E: A framework to train multi-skilled robots for domestic use Roboticists have been trying to develop robots that can tackle various everyday house chores, such as washing dishes or tidying up, for several years. However, so far none of the robots created has been commercialized adopted on a large scale.
	Researchers create 'Mugatu,' the first steerable bipedal robot with only one motor Small robots are important tools for the investigation and inspection of, well, small spaces. They can carefully place their steps, allowing them to navigate around obstacles, capabilities larger robots do not always possess. This can enable them to inspect machinery or search through rubble in disaster scenarios that other robots cannot reach. However, due to their size constraints, building small robots that can steer themselves and carry their own power sources is difficult.
	Researchers invent 'methane cleaner' that could become a permanent fixture in cattle and pig barns In a new study, researchers from the University of Copenhagen have used light and chlorine to eradicate low-concentration methane from air. The result gets us closer to being able to remove greenhouse gases from livestock housing, biogas production plants and wastewater treatment plants to benefit the climate. The work is published in the journal Environmental Research Letters.
	Artificial intelligence can predict events in people's lives, researchers show Artificial intelligence developed to model written language can be utilized to predict events in people's lives. A research project from DTU, University of Copenhagen, ITU, and Northeastern University in the US shows that if you use large amounts of data about people's lives and train so-called 'transformer models', which (like ChatGPT) are used to process language, they can systematically organize the data and predict what will happen in a person's life and even estimate the time of death.
	AI's memory-forming mechanism found to be strikingly similar to that of the brain An interdisciplinary team consisting of researchers from the Center for Cognition and Sociality and the Data Science Group within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) revealed a striking similarity between the memory processing of artificial intelligence (AI) models and the hippocampus of the human brain. This new finding provides a novel perspective on memory consolidation, which is a process that transforms short-term memories into long-term ones in AI systems.
	Researchers use environmental justice questions to reveal geographic biases in ChatGPT Virginia Tech researchers have discovered limitations in ChatGPT's capacity to provide location-specific information about environmental justice issues. Their findings, published in the journal Telematics and Informatics, suggest the potential for geographic biases existing in current generative artificial intelligence (AI) models.
	Activision to pay about $50 mn to settle lawsuit: report Videogame giant Activision Blizzard is set to pay around $50 million to settle a lawsuit by a California regulator, a US news report said Friday.
	Canada print media to get two-thirds of Google's payment to news outlets Canada's print media will receive nearly two-thirds of an annual Can$100 million (US$75 million) payment from Google to the country's news outlets in exchange for distribution of their content, the federal government announced Friday.
	Researchers reveal hidden fortunes and surprising underestimations in cybercrime revenue To what extent methodological limitations and incomplete data impact the revenue estimations of cybercriminal groups using the Bitcoin blockchain was largely unknown. A new study, conducted by IMDEA Software Institute researchers Gibran Gomez, Kevin van Liebergen, and Juan Caballero challenges existing figures regarding cybercriminals' Bitcoin earnings to date.
	EU launches 'illegal content' probe into Elon Musk's X The EU announced "formal infringement proceedings" against Elon Musk's platform X on Monday, under a law designed to combat disinformation and hate after identifying suspect posts related to Hamas's October 7 attack in Israel.
	Photoshop-maker Adobe scraps rival buyout after EU, UK pushback Photoshop giant Adobe has scrapped its plans to buy up software company Figma after encountering opposition to the deal by regulators in the EU and Britain, the company said on Monday.
	Buying indie video games over the holidays can help make the industry more ethical and fair The 2023 Game Awards recently saw accolades doled out to the biggest and most celebrated games of the year—alongside a few lucky indie titles—and with the holidays fast approaching, many of those same games are starting to go on sale.
	Data poisoning: How artists are sabotaging AI to take revenge on image generators Imagine this. You need an image of a balloon for a work presentation and turn to a text-to-image generator, like Midjourney or DALL-E, to create a suitable image.
	Cybersecurity experts explain how a British tabloid company may have hacked Prince Harry's phone A London court on Friday ruled that a British tabloid newspaper hacked Prince Harry's phone while reporting on the royal family.
	Energy transition at municipalities: A holistic consideration of power, heat and transport Municipalities as the smallest administrative units play a major role in the implementation of the energy transition. They can support citizens in better using the heat from waste water or they can make the equipment of new buildings with photovoltaic facilities mandatory in order to increase the use of renewable energy sources.
	Using AI-related technologies can significantly enhance human cognition, finds study Interpreters, translators and subtitlers should not fear artificial intelligence (AI), as training in new forms of real-time human-AI interaction (HAII) can increase their working memory and task-switching abilities, according to new research from Surrey's Centre for Translation Studies (CTS).
	Big shift coming to EV industry, say experts America's highways and byways would be a wild west if we didn't have automotive standards. So, give some serious respect, please, to these massive documents filled with painstaking technical specifications. After all, they determine how your car operates, its safety features, what parts it can use, and how it fuels or recharges—and that's just the short list.
	Understanding the relationship between proton exchange membrane fuel cells and hydrogen partial pressure In a new study, researchers have made significant strides in understanding the relationship between hydrogen partial pressure and the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Their findings could revolutionize fuel cell quality testing by simplifying processes, reducing costs, and enhancing safety measures. Their work was published in the journal Industrial Chemistry & Materials.
	Open-source training framework increases the speed of large language model pre-training when failures arise As the demand for technologies that enable generative AI continues to skyrocket, processing capacities must keep pace to accommodate model training and fault tolerance. University of Michigan researchers designed a solution specific to modern AI workloads.
	Apple pauses US sale of latest Watch models over patent clash Apple on Monday said it will stop selling some of its smartwatch models in the United States while it fights a patent battle over technology for detecting blood oxygen levels.
	NASA's tech demo streams first video from deep space via laser NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications experiment beamed an ultra-high definition streaming video on Dec. 11 from a record-setting 19 million miles away (31 million kilometers, or about 80 times the Earth-moon distance). The milestone is part of a NASA technology demonstration aimed at streaming very high-bandwidth video and other data from deep space—enabling future human missions beyond Earth orbit.
	Research finds people struggle to identify AI from human art, but prefer human-made works New research from Bowling Green State University finds that generative artificial intelligence—or AI—can blur the lines when it comes to identifying the source of images, but discovered humans still maintain a subsurface preference for genuine human art.
	Industrialization perspectives for the lithium-ion industry A new Fraunhofer ISI Lithium-Ion battery roadmap focuses on the scaling activities of the battery industry until 2030 and considers the technological options, approaches and solutions in the areas of materials, cells, production, systems and recycling. The study examines three trends in particular: The production of performance-optimized, low-cost and sustainable batteries.
	US utilities on track to be 100% renewable by 2060, says study Utilities in the United States have pledged to transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2060, and although state mandates have played a role, it's the utilities, themselves, that are leading the transition.
	A suspected cyberattack paralyzes the majority of gas stations across Iran Nearly 70% of Iran's gas stations went out of service on Monday following possible sabotage—a reference to cyberattacks, Iranian state TV reported.
	Klarna CEO Siemiatkowski says buy now, pay later is used by shoppers who otherwise avoid credit Sebastian Siemiatkowski is a co-founder and CEO of Klarna, the Sweden-based company that's one of the world's biggest providers of buy now, pay later services to customers. Klarna started off in Europe and entered the U.S. market in 2015.
	Learning label-specific features for decomposition-based multi-class classification Multi-class classification can be solved by decomposing it into a set of binary classification problems according to some encoding rules. Existing works solve these binary classification problems in the original feature space, while it might be suboptimal as different binary classification problems correspond to different positive and negative examples.

Chemistry news

	A novel sandwich-structured composite from biopolymers for building envelope applications A new sandwich-structured composite has been developed from the surface layers of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and the interlayer of polylactic acid and cellulose microfibers. The biodegradable cellulose microfibers can be modified chemically with a sol-gel process to improve the compatibility between natural reinforcement and the polymer matrix.
	New possibilities for the medical use of botulinun toxin A1 PSI researchers have discovered a surprising trick that could expand the possibilities for medical use of botulinun toxin A1, better known under the name Botox, as an active agent. They have developed antibody-like proteins that speed up the enzyme's effect on the transmission of nerve signals. This suggests that Botox might, for example, be able to relief pain more quickly than before.
	Research team discovers how to sabotage antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs' Antibiotic-resistant "superbugs" that can defeat efforts to kill them are an urgent public health crisis, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur each year. Researchers across the world are scrambling to meet the challenge.

Biology news

	Chimps and bonobos can recognize long-lost friends and family for decades, find researchers Researchers led by a University of California, Berkeley, comparative psychologist have found that great apes and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, can recognize groupmates they haven't seen in over two decades—evidence of what's believed to be the longest-lasting nonhuman memory ever recorded.
	Researchers fill the final gaps in the Arabidopsis genome sequence Arabidopsis thaliana is a species grown worldwide for genetic research and was the first plant to have its complete set of chromosomes (its genome) sequenced.
	Scientists may be using a flawed strategy to predict how species will fare under climate change, suggests study As the world heats up, and the climate shifts, life will migrate, adapt or go extinct. For decades, scientists have deployed a specific method to predict how a species will fare during this time of great change. But according to new research, that method might be producing results that are misleading or wrong.
	Some coral species might be more resilient to climate change than previously thought Some coral species can be resilient to marine heat waves by "remembering" how they lived through previous ones, research by Oregon State University scientists suggests.
	Global inventory of sound production brings us one step closer to understanding aquatic ecosystems Scientists looking to uncover the mysteries of the underwater world have more valuable information at their fingertips thanks to an international team that has produced an inventory of species confirmed or expected to produce sound underwater.
	A new mathematical language for biological networks A team of researchers around Berlin mathematics professor Michael Joswig is presenting a novel concept for the mathematical modeling of genetic interactions in biological systems. Collaborating with biologists from ETH Zurich and Carnegy Science (U.S.), the team has successfully identified master regulators within the context of an entire genetic network.
	Researchers discover novel antibiotic substance in the human nose Researchers at the University of Tübingen have discovered a novel antibiotic substance from the human nose that can be used against pathogenic bacteria. Named epifadin, the molecule is produced from specific strains of the bacterial species Staphylococcus epidermidis, which occur on the mucous membrane of the inside wall of the nose. Strains that produce epifadin can also be isolated on the surface of the skin.
	Study provides insights into diets of early primates Turns out our love of sweet food goes back—way back—to our early primate ancestors, a University of Otago-led study has found.
	AI generates proteins with exceptional binding strengths A new study in Nature reports an AI-driven advance in biotechnology with implications for drug development, disease detection, and environmental monitoring. Scientists at the Institute for Protein Design at the University of Washington School of Medicine used software to create protein molecules that bind with exceptionally high affinity and specificity to a variety of challenging biomarkers, including human hormones.
	Little bacterium may make big impact on rare-earth processing A tiny, hard-working bacterium—which weighs one-trillionth of a gram—may soon have a large influence on processing rare earth elements in an eco-friendly way.
	Photodynamic action weakens resistance to antibiotics in bacteria that attack airways The development of antibiotics to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria, especially those that infect the airways, has been increasingly tricky, and some scientists have opted to try to weaken the bacteria so that the available therapeutic substances are made more effective.
	Scientists collect aardvark poop to understand how the species is impacted by climate in Africa In a first-of-its-kind study of aardvarks, Oregon State University researchers spent months in sub-Saharan Africa collecting poop from the animal and concluded that aridification of the landscape is isolating them, which they say could have implications for their long-term survival.
	Plant metabolism proves more complicated than previously understood Plants have evolved fiendishly complicated metabolic networks. For years, scientists focused on how plants make secondary metabolites, the compounds that plants produce to enhance their defense and survival mechanisms.
	Giant bacterium powers itself with unique processes Not all bacteria are created equal. Most are single-celled and tiny, a few ten-thousandths of a centimeter long. But bacteria of the Epulopiscium family are large enough to be seen with the naked eye and 1 million times the volume of their better-known cousins, E. coli.
	Machine learning could help scientists understand why birds are eating plastic Seabirds in the Pacific Ocean are eating plastic and feeding it to their chicks. But we know precious little about why the birds are doing this.
	Pesticide residue from farms and towns is ending up in fresh oysters For years, oysters have been lauded as one of the most sustainable and healthy seafood options. But our food is only as healthy as the environment it is grown in.
	'CountShoots' unveils advanced UAV and AI techniques for precise slash pine shoot counting In southern China, the genetically improved slash pine (Pinus elliottii) plays a crucial role in timber and resin production, with new shoot density being a key growth trait. Current manual counting methods are inefficient and inaccurate. Emerging technologies such as UAV-based RGB imaging and deep learning (DL) offer promising solutions.
	Study identifies Florida's potential invasive species threats In a first-of-its-kind study for North America, scientists accumulated a list of potential invasive species for Florida, and researchers deemed 40 pose the greatest threat.
	Native oysters return to Belfast after a century's absence Long gone from Belfast's famed harbor where the Titanic was built, oysters are making a comeback thanks to a nursery installation project aimed at boosting marine life and water quality.
	Drones help solve forest carbon capture riddle On a hillside overlooking cabbage fields outside the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, a drone's rotors begin to whir, lifting it over a patch of forest.
	Horizon scan identifies 15 most pressing issues for conservation, including invertebrate decline and marine ecosystems Since 2009, the Cambridge Conservation Initiative has coordinated an annual horizon scan, a well-established method for predicting which threats, changes, and technologies will have the biggest impact on biological conservation in the following year.
	Characterizing the role of oxidized tryptophan residues in repairing damaged photosystem II protein Photosynthesis refers to the fundamental biological process of the conversion of light energy into chemical energy by chlorophyll (a green pigment) containing plants. This seemingly routine process in plants sustains all the biological life and activities on Earth. The first reaction of photosynthesis occurs at a site called photosystem II (PSII), present on the thylakoid membrane in the chloroplast, where light energy is transferred to chlorophyll molecules. PSII comprises a complex group of proteins, including the D1 and D2 reaction center proteins.
	Coral atoll islands may outpace sea-level rise with local ecological restoration, scientists say Ecological restoration may save coral atoll islands from the rising seas of climate change, according to an international team of scientists, conservationists, and an indigenous leader.
	Researchers: Genetically modified crops aren't a solution to climate change, despite what the biotech industry says The European Commission launched a proposal in July 2023 to deregulate a large number of plants manufactured using new genetic techniques.
	New ecosystem mapping workflow tackles unique challenges of Antarctic continent A study conducted by QUT researchers has developed a pioneering ecosystem mapping workflow that combines drones, advanced imaging techniques, and machine learning to map and monitor vegetation in Antarctica's protected regions with unprecedented accuracy.
	Study sheds new light on regulation of sex differentiation in spotted knifejaw, a cultured fish A new study published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules has identified the regulatory mechanism of sex differentiation in the important cultured fish, the spotted knifejaw (X1X1X2X2/X1X2Y).
	Q&A: Why small organisms can make big impacts on climate, emissions This week, representatives from nearly 200 countries reached an agreement at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai to begin reducing global consumption of fossil fuels in efforts to reduce carbon emissions and stave off the worst-case scenarios of climate change.
	Novel lightweight deep learning models unveiled for multi-crop protection and plant disease diagnosis Swift plant disease diagnosis is vital to prevent extensive production losses and uphold food security. Recently, object detection-based methods using deep learning have shown promise in accurately identifying and locating crop diseases.
	Crop phenotyping research: Self-supervised deep learning enhances green fraction estimation in rice and wheat The accurate measurement of the green fraction (GF), a critical photosynthetic trait in crops, typically relies on RGB image analysis employing segmentation algorithms to identify green pixels within the crop. Traditional methods have limitations in accuracy due to environmental variances, while advanced deep learning techniques, like the SegVeg model, show improvement but don't fully leverage the latest vision transformer models.
	Multispectral imaging unlocks genetic secrets of Phedimus plants for rooftop gardening Ornamental plants, valued for their varied morphological characteristics, are increasingly used in urban greening initiatives such as rooftop greening. But this application presents challenges like limited soil depth and no irrigation, requiring plants such as the Phedimus species, known for their resilience to these conditions.
	Gender gap in prokaryotes: Only 14.8% of bacteria and archaea named after women In microbiology, microorganisms may be named after well-known scientific personalities to honor them. Such eponyms are common in the natural sciences, such as pasteurization (after the microbiologist Louis Pasteur).
	RGB imaging and neural networks unveil seasonal oil and phenol variations for olive crop quality assessment Olive oil, renowned for its antioxidants like phenolic compounds, plays a pivotal role in the global olive crop. The concentration of oil and phenols in olives, varying seasonally, significantly affects crop profitability and quality, dictating the optimal harvest time.
	Machine learning unveils new insights into stress responses for plant health diagnosis Leaf color patterns, influenced by factors such as leaf age and environmental stress, serve as indicators of plant health in agriculture. The VIS-NIR-SWIR sensor, though effective in measuring these patterns with high resolution, has been limited to assessing general plant health and phytopigment contents, not specific metabolic or signaling defects.
	Insights from the Global Wheat Challenge on deep learning and dataset diversity Crowdsourcing has become pivotal in scientific research, particularly in data-intensive fields like plant phenotyping, leveraging platforms like Kaggle for data analysis and machine learning challenges.
	Wearable sensors for advanced plant phenotyping In response to increasing global food demands, improving crop yields through efficient phenotyping is imperative. Optical imaging-based phenotyping has markedly progressed plant breeding and crop management, yet encounters limitations in spatial resolution and accuracy due to its noncontact approach.
	New method could help estimate wildlife disease spread A new method could be used by biologists to estimate the prevalence of disease in free-ranging wildlife and help determine how many samples are needed to detect a disease.
	Several groups of birds and mammals avoid wind turbines, finds review While wind power is an important part of the green transition, its downsides include the disturbances caused by wind turbines in animal habitats. According to the international review of the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), many bird and mammal groups avoid wind power. The full or partial displacement of individuals from the wind turbine area may reduce population sizes, which will especially have an adverse impact on rare and threatened species.
	Apple tree conversion to narrow walls via hedging, root pruning Fruit trees are pruned to maintain a desired tree shape and size to increase light penetration into the canopy, thereby enhancing fruit quality and flower bud development. Most modern apple orchards consist of high-density plantings, and they must be managed to maximize light interception and distribution throughout the canopy. Pruning is essential, especially in modern high-density operations and represents approximately 30% of the apple production costs for trees trained as central leaders
	Research explores cell-based theory of consciousness and what it entails Humans and other animals with brains perhaps aren't the only beings on the planet to experience consciousness, says a study in the journal EMBO Reports.
	Meal sharing for a longer life? Insects may hold the secret Insect species which are closely related and eat a similar balance of nutrients in their diet live longer than those that don't, according to new research from the University of Aberdeen.
	Hotter weather caused by climate change could mean more mosquitos, according to study A warmer environment could mean more mosquitos as it becomes harder for their predators to control the population, according to a recent study led by Virginia Commonwealth University researchers.
	Colorado wolf reintroduction to move forward as ranchers' legal effort fails The reintroduction of wolves in Colorado this month will proceed as planned after a federal judge on Friday 15 Dec. denied ranchers' request to stop the state's efforts to allow for further environmental analysis.
	A mathematical framework for evo-devo dynamics Natural selection acts on phenotypes constructed over development, which raises the question of how development affects evolution.
	Viewpoint: Private landholders control 60% of the Australian continent—so let's get them involved in nature protection As the federal government attempts a major overhaul of national environment law, all options must be on the table to prevent the fast deterioration of Australia's natural places. And more than ever before, the efforts of private landholders should be front and center.
	Farmers impoverished by climate change make 'lose–lose' choices, says researcher Climate change is pushing farmers in the Global South towards short-term choices that further increase their vulnerability, research involving a Bayes Business School academic suggests.
	Addressing post-harvest storage issues of Shiranui mandarins Citrus packed and marketed in the United States is generally washed and sanitized on a commercial packing line for decay control, food safety, and appearance reasons. The purpose of a new study was to evaluate the use of different coating protocols and storage temperatures suitable for Shiranui mandarins in a commercial packing house. The research was the result of the recognition that special procedures would be needed for this highly valuable but more difficult to handle mandarin variety.

Medicine and Health news

	Psychedelic psilocybin-assisted therapy found to reduce depressive symptoms in adults with cancer and depression Results from a Phase II clinical trial indicate that psilocybin, a hallucinogenic chemical found in certain mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe, may benefit individuals with cancer and major depression. Trial participants treated with psilocybin not only experienced a lessening of depressive symptoms but also spoke highly of the therapy when interviewed at the end of the trial.
	Study finds clinicians rank patient views as least important in diagnosis Experts today call for more value to be given to patients' "lived experiences" as a study of over 1,000 patients and clinicians found multiple examples of patient reports being under-valued.
	Microbiome insights found in poop help predict infections in liver transplant patients In a new study, researchers at the University of Chicago were able to predict postoperative infections in liver transplant patients by analyzing molecules in their poop. Their analysis represents a key leap forward in exploring the connection between the gut microbiome—the bacteria that inhabit the human body—and overall health.
	Unstable 'fluttering' predicts aortic aneurysm with 98% accuracy Northwestern University researchers have developed the first physics-based metric to predict whether or not a person might someday suffer an aortic aneurysm, a deadly condition that often causes no symptoms until it ruptures.
	Study bolsters evidence that severe obesity increasing in young US kids A new study adds to evidence that severe obesity is becoming more common in young U.S. children.
	Hospital coffee machines get a clean bill of health Health care workers will be relieved to know that hospital coffee machines are not responsible for spreading disease and a general ban doesn't seem necessary, finds a study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.
	Doctor Who festive specials linked to lower death rates A new "Doctor Who" episode shown during the festive period, especially on Christmas Day, is associated with lower death rates in the subsequent year across the UK, finds a study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.
	Daily toothbrushing tied to lower rates of pneumonia among hospitalized patients Researchers have found an inexpensive tool that may help reduce rates of pneumonia for hospitalized patients—and it comes with bristles on one end.
	Secret vulnerabilities of cancer's 'Death Star' protein revealed Researchers at the Center for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona, Spain, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute near Cambridge, UK, have comprehensively identified the allosteric control sites found in the protein KRAS. These are highly sought after targets for drug development, representing secret vulnerabilities that can be exploited to control the effects of one of the most important causes of cancer. The study presents the first complete control map for any protein and is published in the journal Nature.
	Scientists develop a versatile imaging system that will help diagnose pathologies in the back of the eye Many ocular diseases involve changes in the structure and function of different regions of the back of the eye, also known as the "eye fundus." For example, fluorescent pigments and tiny yellowish deposits called drusen accumulate under the retina in age-related macular degeneration, and the degeneration of neurons called ganglion cells is a defining characteristic of glaucoma.
	Researchers develop innovative and flexible method to study immune cell capabilities Our body's immune system is a complex network of organs, cells, and proteins that work in synchrony to protect our bodies against infections caused by pathogens and fight against disease-causing changes in our body, such as the emergence of cancer cells. Cell-mediated cytotoxicity is one of such defense mechanisms carried out by the immune system that fights against foreign cells.
	Study reveals the human health costs of exposure to floods The cost of severe flooding in the United States is often tallied in economic terms, including a flood's impact on infrastructure.
	Early-life diseases linked to lifelong childlessness A study published in Nature Human Behaviour examines the link between 414 early-life diseases and lifetime childlessness in over 2.5 million individuals born in Finland and Sweden. The international research team was led by Aoxing Liu and senior authors Melinda Mills, Andrea Ganna.
	Unraveling predisposition in bilateral Wilms tumor Children with bilateral Wilms tumor have a tumor in each of their kidneys—a condition that strongly suggests an underlying genetic or epigenetic predisposition driving the disease. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital gathered a large cohort of bilateral Wilms tumor samples and conducted analyses to assess which factors contribute to predisposition comprehensively.
	Breathing patterns during sleep found to impact memory processes How are memories consolidated during sleep? In 2021, researchers led by Dr. Thomas Schreiner, leader of the Emmy Noether junior research group at LMU's Department of Psychology, had already shown there was a direct relationship between the emergence of certain sleep-related brain activity patterns and the reactivation of memory contents during sleep. However, it was still unclear whether these rhythms are orchestrated by a central pacemaker.
	Researchers make unexpected discovery in how pancreatic cancer spreads How cancer spreads or metastasizes is a big question for cancer researchers and patients. Mayo Clinic researchers studying pancreatic cancer—the third deadliest form of cancer in the U.S.—recently made a discovery that advances knowledge of how metastasis unfolds. They identified a cell-signaling protein that drives pancreatic cancer cell growth that could be a potential therapeutic target.
	Unusual RNA structures could be targets for new ALS treatments Studying strange forms of RNA associated with the formation of aggregates in the brains of ALS patients could lead to new avenues for treatments.
	Using AI to diagnose autism in children A multi-institutional Korean team of child and adolescent psychologists, behavioral scientists, ophthalmologists and biomedical systems informatics specialists has found that deep-learning-based AI systems can accurately diagnose children with autism. In their study, reported in the journal JAMA Network Open, the group created an autism-diagnosing tool using a learning-based AI system and tested it on human subjects.
	More parallel 'traffic' observed in human brains than in animals In a study comparing human brain communication networks with those of macaques and mice, EPFL researchers found that only the human brains transmitted information via multiple parallel pathways, yielding new insights into mammalian evolution.
	The keto diet protects against epileptic seizures, and scientists are uncovering why The high-fat, low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet is more than just a trendy weight-loss tactic. It has also been known to help control seizures in children with epilepsy, particularly those who don't respond to first-line anti-seizure medications.
	Study identifies new concepts for GLP-1 action in the brain Researcher Dr. Daniel Drucker has much to be proud of, as the GLP-1-based diabetes drugs hailing from his early research are named the 2023 breakthrough of the year by the Science Magazine. Not only have millions of people with type 2 diabetes benefitted from GLP-1 agonists, but the drugs also produced wide-ranging health benefits beyond weight loss in two recent patient trials.
	Scientists discover new method Ebola virus uses to infect cells Understanding how viruses travel once inside the human body is critical to develop effective drugs and therapies that can stop viruses in their tracks. Scientists at Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) recently published findings in the Journal of Infectious Diseases indicating that Ebola virus creates and uses intercellular tunnels to move from cell to cell and evade treatments.
	New findings about key pathological protein in Parkinson's disease open paths to novel therapies A so-called pathological protein long associated with Parkinson's disease has been found in a new study to trigger cells to increase protein synthesis, an event that eventually kills the subset of brain cells that die off in this neurodegenerative condition.
	Discovery may open new therapeutic avenues for degenerative diseases of the brain and eye Scientists at LSU Health New Orleans' Neuroscience Center of Excellence, led by Nicolas Bazan, MD, Ph.D., Boyd Professor and Director, have identified a new mechanism that regulates a protein key for cell survival. It appears to protect against the excessive oxidative stress that precedes the development of neurodegenerative diseases of the brain and eye. Results are published in the journal Cell Death & Disease.
	Researchers create genetic atlas detailing early stages of zebrafish development Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have published an atlas of zebrafish development, detailing the gene expression programs that are activated within nearly every cell type during the first five days of development, a period in which embryos mature from a single cell into distinct cell types. These diverse cells become tissues and organs that form juvenile fish capable of swimming and looking for food. The findings are published in Developmental Cell.
	Genomic data shed light on how lymphoma can turn lethal A study by researchers at Columbia and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is helping to clarify how low-grade lymphoma changes as it develops into a more aggressive tumor, which could lead to the development of new treatments.
	B cell-deficient patients gain protective T cell immunity following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection, study finds B cell deficiency is a common condition that can result either from immunosuppressant drugs used to treat autoimmune disease or certain cancers—such as rituximab (RTX)—or from natural immune deficiency. These patients suffer from a weakened immune system that is less effective at combating both viral and bacterial diseases. As B cells are a key type of immune cell that produces antibodies, a deficiency results in a significant decrease in antibody count that can lead to severe disease or death upon infection with SARS-CoV-2.
	The future of heart health: Researchers develop vaccine to lower cholesterol Nearly two in five U.S. adults have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Untreated, high cholesterol can lead to heart disease and stroke, which are two of the top causes of death in the U.S. Worldwide; cardiovascular diseases claim nearly 18 million lives every year, according to the World Health Organization.
	Study assesses GPT-4's potential to perpetuate racial, gender biases in clinical decision making Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and GPT-4 have the potential to assist in clinical practice to automate administrative tasks, draft clinical notes, communicate with patients, and even support clinical decision making. However, preliminary studies suggest the models can encode and perpetuate social biases that could adversely affect historically marginalized groups.
	More people are using CBD products. There's still little research on the benefits and risks CBD use increased 50% in the past four years, according to a new survey published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	We think we have found a cause of pregnancy sickness, and it may lead to a treatment Sickness in pregnancy, or hyperemesis gravidarum, is common and is thought to affect seven out of ten women at some time in their pregnancy. But, until recently, very little has been known about why it happens.
	Winter brings more than just ugly sweaters—here's how the season can affect your mind and behavior What comes to mind when you think about winter? Snowflakes? Mittens? Reindeer? In much of the Northern Hemisphere, winter means colder temperatures, shorter days and year-end holidays.
	Do genes that code athletic heart enlargement carry a risk of future heart problems? A new landmark study involving 281 elite athletes from Australia and Belgium has revealed one in six have measurements that would normally suggest reduced heart function.
	Few patients receive opioid agonist therapy after opioid overdose, despite benefits: Study In the week following any hospital visit for an overdose, only one in 18 people with opioid use disorder begin a treatment known to be highly effective in reducing illness and deaths, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
	Parents' top resolutions: More patience, less time on phones Among many parents' top resolutions for the New Year: More patience, less time on phones, better consistency with discipline and healthier family habits.
	Exploring the effects of vascularization strategies on brain organoids Cerebral organoids are three-dimensional, in vitro cultured brains that mimic the activities of the human brain. They have emerged as invaluable tools to comprehend evolution, disease pathogenesis, and neurodevelopmental processes.
	Biomedical engineers unveil the dynamics of maternal immune responses Sepideh Dolatshahi, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Virginia, is spearheading an exploration of systems immunology in its crucial development phase—during pregnancy.
	Your child has a fever: When is it time to see a doctor? It's that time of year when your kids come home with sniffles and sore throats, but when should you worry if they have a fever?
	Efficacy shown for new melanoma therapeutic vaccine In a recent trial, a new melanoma vaccine, mRNA-4157 (V940), when taken in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab), was found to be effective in battling the deadly skin cancer.
	Cardiac follow-up should be common practice after MIS-C diagnosis, say researchers Following multisystem inflammatory disease in children (MIS-C), cardiac abnormalities are common, regardless of myocardial injury during acute disease, according to a study published online Nov. 15 in Pediatrics.
	Statistics shows mortality for adults 65 and over was declining before COVID-19 Among adults age 65 years and older, mortality was declining before the COVID-19 pandemic, although the rate of decline slowed from 2009, according to the Dec. 15 National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	Research shows benefits of PCI–capable facility openings vary by race, community There are differential benefits associated with a percutaneous coronary intervention–capable facility (PCI-CF) opening based on patient race and community segregation, according to a research letter published online Dec. 12 in JAMA Network Open.
	Study shows postoperative atrial fibrillation tied to worse outcomes after valve surgery Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is associated with an increased rate of neurologic events and worse long-term survival, according to a study published online Sept. 11 in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
	There's a black market on social media for pricey fertility drugs After in vitro fertilization led to a miscarriage, Lindsay found herself with thousands of dollars' worth of fertility drugs she could no longer use.
	Understanding ear infection in children "My ear hurts." There are many conditions that can trigger this complaint from a young child. Depending on the symptoms, causes of earache in children include a foreign object in the ear, the common cold, swimmer's ear and earwax blockage.
	Algae as a surprising meat alternative and source of environmentally friendly protein With more of us looking for alternatives to eating animals, new research has found a surprising environmentally friendly source of protein—algae.
	Multi-site study reveals addressable socioeconomic barriers to prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defects—the most common birth defects in the United States—is associated with improved outcomes. Despite its importance, however, overall prevalence of prenatal diagnosis is low (12–50%).
	Lung nodule program provides benefits to patients ineligible for lung cancer screening Adopting a lung nodule program (LNP) may increase the detection of early lung cancer for patients who are not eligible for lung cancer screening under existing age eligibility criteria, according to a study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
	A unique pathogenic mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant: Selective induction of cellular senescence SARS-CoV-2 variants are constantly emerging with a variety of changes in the conformation of the spike protein, resulting in alterations of virus entry mechanisms. Solely omicron variants use the endosomal clathrin-mediated entry.
	AI may predict survival after heart surgery A technology from the 19th century meets one from the 21st to better help doctors predict who'll survive a heart surgery.
	Resolve to keep your allergies, asthma in check in 2024 If you're one of the 50 million Americans with asthma or allergies, 2024 is another year to redouble efforts to manage them.
	Alzheimer's disease researchers extend the amyloid degradation toxicity hypothesis to the population level Despite affecting millions worldwide, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has long lacked effective treatments due to a fundamental inadequacy of our understanding of its etiology and pathogenesis. The absence of an integrative theory connecting the molecular origins of AD with disturbances at the organelle and cell levels, changes in relevant biomarkers, and population-level prevalence has hindered progress.
	BioNTech hails key step in building Rwanda mRNA vaccine hub German manufacturer BioNTech on Monday said it had completed a key step in setting up its first vaccine production hub in Africa aiming to boost access to mRNA jabs on the continent.
	Gut-skin connection is key factor in atopic dermatitis, research review shows Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease whose main symptoms are redness, swelling, and itchy rashes. It is more common in people with a genetic predisposition. The manifestation of symptoms depends on interactions among the immune system, environmental factors, and gut microbiota.
	Improving the diagnosis of infection: A prospective study clarifies the role of an innovative metagenomic tool Scientists studied the role of global genetic characterization of samples (or non-targeted metagenomics) using next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in diagnosing infections. The results of the study are published in the journal Lancet Microbe.
	Is it okay to take antidepressants while pregnant? Mental health conditions including anxiety and depression are among the most common disorders affecting women during pregnancy and after birth.
	Have we been trying to prevent suicides wrongly all this time? Traditional approaches to preventing suicide have focused on "who is at risk?" The aim is to identify an individual and to help them get support.
	Q&A: What sunscreen is best? A dermatologist offers advice on protecting your skin Sunburn is a sign that skin has experienced significant levels of damage. Ultraviolet light can change a person's DNA structure, which can lead to cancer. At the same time, choosing from the multitude of modern sunscreens can be overwhelming. Health & Medicine editor Nadine Dreyer asked dermatologist Bianca Tod what to look for in sun protection.
	Cancer: People living in England's poorest areas at higher risk of death—new study Nationally, the risk of dying from most cancers is falling thanks to improvements in screening, diagnostics and treatment. But new research shows stark health inequalities still exist in England when it comes to cancer care. The study found that people who live in the poorest parts of England have more than a 70% higher risk of dying from cancer compared with those who live in more affluent areas.
	Loneliness is a major public health problem—and young people are bearing the brunt of it, say researchers Writing in The Week, journalist Theara Coleman has declared 2023 "the year of the loneliness epidemic." In May, the US surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, said loneliness posed a public health risk on a par with smoking and drinking.
	Students could get more sleep and learn better if school started a little later, neurologist says Nearly three-quarters of high school students do not get enough sleep on school nights, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
	Screen time may not be tied to autism spectrum disorder Screen time for children may not be associated with development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study published online Dec. 8 in JAMA Network Open.
	Female researchers receive only one-third of NIH R01 grants, research finds From 2012 to 2022, female researchers were awarded only one-third of National Institutes of Health Research Project Grants (R01 grants), according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, held from Dec. 9 to 12 in San Diego.
	Racial and ethnic disparities seen in use of hospice Racial and ethnic disparities are seen in use of hospice among Medicaid recipients, according to a study published online Dec. 8 in JAMA Health Forum.
	Q&A: Digital interventions for binge drinking Brian Suffoletto, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine, views interactions with patients in the Emergency Department as valuable opportunities to identify specific risks and then facilitate positive behavior changes post-ED discharge using digital devices.
	Super-aging: Defining exceptional cognitive ability in late-life Research led by UNSW Sydney's Center for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA) has highlighted the need for clarity when defining late-life cognitively high performers, which could ultimately inform strategies to help prevent the development of dementia.
	Study reveals the art of aging well The gift of art could make the perfect Christmas present for older friends and relatives, after new research by The University of Western Australia and Busselton Health Study linked better physical health and mental well-being in older Australians with taking part in the arts for enjoyment.
	Nurse aide turnover linked to scheduling decisions Long-term care facilities that scheduled part-time Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) with more hours and more consistently with the same co-workers had reduced turnover, according to research led by Washington State University. The findings could help address staffing challenges that affect millions of patients at long-term care facilities nationwide.
	Discovery unveils promising anticancer drug targeting KRAS protein Through a highly collaborative research effort led by the laboratory of Saïd Sebti, Ph.D, at the VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, a team of scientists has successfully developed a targeted therapy that hones in on the KRAS protein that drives some of the deadliest human cancers, including pancreatic, lung and colon tumors.
	AI screens for autism in the blink of an eye With a single flash of light to the eye, artificial intelligence (AI) could deliver a faster and more accurate way to diagnose autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children, according to a new study from the University of South Australia and Flinders University now published in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
	How shortened telomeres heighten risk of serious lung disease In 2017, Cindy Sutherland caught a nasty cold she couldn't shake. After coughing nonstop for weeks, she went to urgent care and got a chest X-ray. When the doctor shared the results with her, he asked, "Have you ever heard of pulmonary fibrosis?" Cindy started to cry because she knew what those words meant. Her grandmother had died of pulmonary fibrosis at the age of 62. Her mother had died of it at 58, and her sister at 48.
	Teaching positive psychology skills at school may be one way to help student mental health and happiness Youth mental health has worsened significantly over the past decade, but new interventions that teach positive psychology concepts in school may help.
	Q&A: Why some California hospitals are still struggling after COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic hammered California hospitals by disrupting their operations and pounding their finances. Nearly four years after the onset of the pandemic, profit margins for the state's hospitals are still under pressure, and a few have even closed or filed for bankruptcy. MLK Community Hospital in Los Angeles is the latest facing serious trouble, warning that it could soon be unable to pay its bills.
	Pancreatic enzymatic replacement therapy improves maladaptive behavior in preschool children with autism, finds study The use of high-protease pancreatic replacement therapy demonstrated improvement in maladaptive behaviors, such as irritability, in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to research conducted at 32 clinical sites, including UTHealth Houston.
	Heart vest could help predict sudden cardiac death risk A reusable vest that can map the electrical activity of the heart in fine detail could potentially be used to better identify people at high risk of sudden cardiac death, suggests a new study led by UCL researchers.
	Exercise-induced Pgc-1α expression inhibits fat accumulation in aged skeletal muscles: Study Myosteatosis, or aging-related fat accumulation in skeletal muscles, is a leading cause of declines in muscle strength and quality of life in elderly adults.
	Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer may continue benefiting from immunotherapy after treatment discontinuation The majority of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose cancer did not progress during initial treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) had no disease progression two years after discontinuing treatment, reports a new study.
	Firearms and hanging primary methods for suicide in US as rates continue to rise Suicide rates in the United States increased across all racial groups in the United States between 1999 and 2020 but were highest among white people, followed by American Indian and Alaskan Native (AIAN) persons. Firearms and hanging were the top methods used, with a sharp and substantial increase in hangings among women. This finding poses a conundrum for clinicians, as suicide prevention strategies based on means restriction are not effective when the primary means is hanging. The research report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Q&A: How proteins interact may hold key to future autism treatments Tremendous progress has been made over the last decade in identifying genes leading to autism spectrum disorders (ASD), especially for those who are severely affected. To date, however, these genetic insights have not translated into improvements in clinical care, particularly for those who need it most.
	Researchers outline AI blueprint to help tackle antimicrobial resistance on a global scale Researchers from the University of Liverpool have outlined a framework for artificial intelligence (AI) to improve antimicrobial use and infection care, helping to address the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
	Researchers locate two compounds in blood that could identify patients at risk of severe dengue Scientists and clinicians at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) have identified two compounds—sST2 and suPAR—in the blood of dengue patients that could determine if a patient is at risk of severe dengue in the early phases of the disease.
	Why are we in the middle of an obesity epidemic? Here is a possible explanation Since 2010, the number of people with obesity in Denmark has doubled, while other countries have seen an even greater increase. But what started this, and what is driving it? Professor Emeritus Thorkild I. A. Sørensen outlines the obesity epidemic and proposes a new theory.
	Melatonin and carcinogenesis in mice: The 50th anniversary of relationships A new research perspective titled "Melatonin and carcinogenesis in mice: the 50th anniversary of relationships has been published in Oncotarget.
	Spike in dermatology visits for skin problems seen during summer of wildfires New research suggests that air pollution may contribute to the development or worsening of skin conditions.
	Stressed snails and slugs may spread rat lungworm through slime Can humans become infected with the rat lungworm parasite from snail slime, if an infected snail or slug leaves slime on a lettuce leaf? That is the question University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa researchers set out to answer in a study published in One Health.
	US physical inactivity pandemic is a crisis within a crisis, experts say Findings from a new study in The American Journal of Medicine show that increased social vulnerability worsens both unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and health characteristics. Researchers found distinct geographic variance and disparities within the United States. They support adoption of precision medicine approaches to target specific groups of individuals and communities to alleviate these disparities.
	Changes in biochemical, hematological parameters seen before IBD diagnosis Changes in multiple biochemical and hematological parameters occur up to eight years before diagnosis of Crohn disease and up to three years before diagnosis of ulcerative colitis, according to a study published in the Nov. 21 issue of Cell Reports Medicine.
	Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease is associated with greater impairment of lung function: Study Recent research, which involved 2543 participants across four Chinese cities, employed spirometry and liver ultrasonography to assess lung function and liver health, respectively. The findings indicated that individuals with MAFLD exhibited significantly lower lung function compared to those with NAFLD. This was particularly evident in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume (FEV1) measurements, essential indicators of pulmonary health.
	Why children should not ride e-scooters Shared or personal use electric scooters (e-scooters) are common in cities and on college campuses across the United States. Much like bike shares, you can find them on the street, unlock them with a smartphone app and leave them at your destination. But there is a cost to convenience: e-scooter-related emergency room visits have spiked.
	Ensure a safe and delicious holiday feast: How to use a food thermometer to prevent foodborne illness Most holiday festivities include preparing and eating food. Addressing uninvited guests (pathogens) that lurk in the background is crucial amid the joy and celebration.
	What is dandruff and how is it treated? Dandruff becomes more common in the cold winter months, when the chilly air and dry heat causes a person's scalp to flake and itch.
	Matthew Perry died of 'acute effects of ketamine'—what you need to know about the drug Millions of people worldwide were left devastated by the death this year of 54-year-old Matthew Perry, the "Friends" star famous for bringing wise-cracking Chandler Bing to life. A global superstar, recently sober with an autobiography on the bestseller lists, it looked like his troubled past was behind him. So the world was especially shocked and saddened to learn of his untimely death by apparent drowning.
	Most Australian hospitals are able to offer good stroke care, but many patients are missing out: Report A new report across six states and territories shows data from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (AuSCR) is improving clinical outcomes for patients with stroke, with two leading hospitals achieving marked improvements over a short time.
	Study underlines impact of air pollution on people with asthma in Scotland New research by the University of Stirling has offered a greater understanding of how people with asthma in Scotland are affected by air pollution.
	New survey: 79% of respondents overlook their health needs during the holidays According to new survey from the American Heart Association, the holidays are more stressful than taxes, causing people to overlook their own health during "the most wonderful time of the year." The survey suggests that adults of all ages have trouble prioritizing their mental and physical health at this time of year.
	Eating disorders affect everyone regardless of race, gender or age, say experts The myth that "only skinny white affluent girls develop eating disorders" is to blame for other sufferers not getting diagnosed or treated, according to health experts.

Other Sciences news

	Mesopotamian bricks unveil the strength of Earth's ancient magnetic field Ancient bricks inscribed with the names of Mesopotamian kings have yielded important insights into a mysterious anomaly in Earth's magnetic field 3,000 years ago, according to a new study involving University College London researchers.
	First discovery of carbon-based cave art in France's Dordogne region could pave way for precise radiocarbon dating The Dordogne region of southern France is home to over 200 caves decorated with colorful Paleolithic art, but little is known about how old it is. Due to its coloration with iron- or manganese-oxide-based material, radiocarbon dating of the art has not been possible, and it has been generally thought to have been created during the Magdalenian Period, which occurred between 12,000 and 17,000 years ago.
	Saturday Citations: Dogs (woolly) and cats (athletic). Plus: Amino acid precursors on Enceladus, beer goggles on Earth This week, scientists reported on drinking beer, Saturnian expulsions, an ancient North American dog breed, and cats playing dogs' favorite game, fetch.
	North America's first people may have arrived by sea ice highway as early as 24,000 years ago One of the hottest debates in archaeology is how and when humans first arrived in North America. Archaeologists have traditionally argued that people walked through an ice-free corridor that briefly opened between ice sheets an estimated 13,000 years ago.
	Barbie should expand her range of medical and scientific professions, suggests study Barbie should consider expanding her medical and scientific careers into areas where women and other under-represented groups remain a minority, suggests a study published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.
	Best of Last Week–cause of large mammal decline, AI good imitator but not innovator, alcohol patterns and liver disease It was a good week for research on environmental impacts on human history as a team of geologists, oceanographers and historians affiliated with several entities found evidence suggesting that North America's first people may have arrived by a sea ice highway as early as 24,000 years ago. Also, a team of ecologists, biologists and environmental scientists at Aarhus University, in Denmark, found evidence that people, not climate change, caused the decline of the giant mammals—their work involved studying the genes and history of surviving large mammals. And a team of geologists, mineralogists and Earth and ocean scientists affiliated with institutions in Canada, the U.S. and France discovered a 72-kilometer fault line on Canada's Vancouver Island. An earthquake centered there thousands of years ago is believed to have impacted the region's history.
	Overcoming our psychological barriers to embracing AI As AI increasingly transforms our lives and is predicted to do so in profound ways, there are mixed feelings about its adoption around the globe.
	Research finds women 'turn inward' when they experience ambiguous workplace incidents That gender discrimination is wrong is beyond argument. But identifying which incidents are cases of it is not always so clear cut. That's why researchers are recommending that organizations develop processes that encourage workers to share their concerns when they suspect but aren't sure that they have experienced discriminatory treatment based on their gender.
	Shaggy dog yarn: Study unravels history and demise of long-haired canine A little-known dog lineage with fur so thick it was spun into blankets was selectively bred for millennia by Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest until its rapid demise following European colonization, a study in Science showed Thursday.
	University isn't right for everyone. Pushing young people to go can have devastating effects, say researchers (Names have been changed to protect identities.)
	Can software tools help students avoid distraction during digital learning? Those who learn digitally are quickly distracted. This is because the devices used offer many opportunities to pass the time in other ways. Meanwhile, a large number of software applications have been designed to help you stay focused. But how are these self-control tools used and how helpful are they perceived to be?
	'Technostress' and the role of the welfare state Technological change is currently driving fundamental changes to the world of work—with significant consequences for social inequality. Against this backdrop, the interdisciplinary research project "Digitalization, Automation and the Future of Work in Post-Industrial Welfare States" recently published research results on how technological change impacts health, e.g., causes technostress.
	Research uncovers the power of narrative in selling 'unconventional' products An entrepreneur's challenge is to find a gap in the market, or challenge norms to create a new one. Without broad appeal or specialist knowledge among consumers, this can often become a losing battle even if a new invention or product is highly practical or serves a market need.
	Feelings of impatience evolve over time, study says A new study answers a timely question: What is the hardest part of waiting? Consumers do plenty of it—online, in line, in traffic, or for deliveries. And now we know it's the final phase that's most problematic for them.
	Could smart speakers protect women against intimate partner violence? New research from Monash University examines the practical, ethical and political challenges of using smart home technologies to protect women from intimate partner violence in their own homes.
	America's native population arises from a single wave of Asian migration, suggest dental anthropologists For more than 50 years, dental anthropologists have studied variation in the shape of human teeth to study the patterns of migration that people took as they populated the world. The last major continental migration event took place about 16,000 years ago, when humans first moved into North and South America. Where exactly did these people come from? How did they get there? Were there multiple waves of migration?
	Study unveils hidden driver of economic volatility: Central bank discretion In the last article of his prolific career, the late Marvin Goodfriend, who held the Allan H. Meltzer Professorship of Political Economy at Carnegie Mellon's Tepper School of Business and was a lifelong student of inflation and central bank policy, identified a subtle yet significant factor contributing to fluctuations in inflation and employment rates. This factor is the discretionary decision-making by central banks, combined with economic agents trying to forecast both the central bank's actions and the forecasts of their peers.
	Unleashing canine travel: Hospitality, tourism sector urged to adapt to dog-friendly travel demands Becoming more dog-friendly could be a gold mine for the hospitality and tourism industry, according to new research from the University of Surrey. The research team has urged tourism providers to seize the opportunities offered by a thriving market, reflecting the substantial impact dog ownership is having on travel behaviors.
	Public opinion polls may not be as straightforward as you think Public opinion polls are often considered "the will of the people" but a new study on the role of polls in South Korea shows that they may not always be that transparent.
	International recognition played a crucial role in giving Libyan political actors sovereignty, study shows Libya's various governments in the past decade have played a crucial role in the shaping the course of the conflict in the country, a new study shows.
	Recent immigrants saw biggest spike in mental distress as anti-immigrant sentiment increased, find researchers Anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies are widely known to have harmful impacts on mental health, but a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research has revealed large disparities in rates of serious psychological distress across immigrant subgroups in California.
	Consumer confusion still hindering recycling, finds survey A new survey of 2,000 European consumers reveals persistent confusion around recycling food packaging, despite sustainability efforts by brands.
	Why the American technological war against China could backfire The technological war waged by the United States against China has the potential to backfire, supercharging China's creation of an independent computer chip industry that would directly compete with American manufacturers.
	Special schools feel like 'bookends' to UK's national education policy, says research New research from the University of Nottingham has found that national education policies can make special schools feel like a 'bookend."

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as manojdole1.copa@blogger.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile