Science X Newsletter Mon, Dec 4

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 4, 2023:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A method to resolve quantum interference between photoionization pathways with attosecond resolution

One-step synthesis of Janus hydrogel

New young and highly scattered pulsar discovered with ASKAP

Altering the behavior of living mice by editing genes in the brain

Brain implants revive cognitive abilities long after traumatic brain injury in clinical trial

New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics

AI image generation adds to carbon footprint, research shows

Optical data storage breakthrough increases capacity of diamonds by circumventing the diffraction limit

Following in polar bears' footprints: DNA from snow tracks could help monitor threatened animals

Bottlenose dolphins can sense electric fields, study shows

Saturday Citations: Adorable kittens, violent pulsars, brand-new fusion reactor and a proposed giant cosmic void

A new possible explanation for the Hubble tension

'Unusual' ancient graves found near Arctic, but no remains discovered inside, study says

Researchers identify traces of trauma in the young brain and suggest how to erase them

Best of Last Week—LK-99 not a superconductor, tricking ChatGPT into leaking data, behaviors guided by dopamine

Nanotechnology news

	Optical data storage breakthrough increases capacity of diamonds by circumventing the diffraction limit Physicists at The City College of New York have developed a technique with the potential to enhance optical data storage capacity in diamonds. This is possible by multiplexing the storage in the spectral domain. The research by Richard G. Monge and Tom Delord, members of the Meriles Group in CCNY's Division of Science, is titled "Reversible optical data storage below the diffraction limit" and appears in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
	Researchers show excited electrons straightening the skewed lattice of perovskite nanocrystals Researchers from ETH Zurich, Empa and Stanford have taken snapshots of the crystal structure of perovskite nanocrystals as it was deformed by excited electrons. To their surprise, the deformation straightened out the skewed crystal structure rather than making it more disordered.
	Breakthroughs in nanosized contrast agents and drug carriers through self-folding molecules Self-folding polymers containing gadolinium forming nanosized complexes could be the key to enhanced magnetic resonance imaging and next-generation drug delivery, as demonstrated by scientists at Tokyo Tech. Thanks to their small size, low toxicity, and good tumor accumulation and penetration, these complexes represent a leap forward in contrast agents for cancer diagnosis, as well as neutron capture radiotherapy.
	Engineers tackle hard-to-map class of materials The properties that make materials like semiconductors so sought after result from the way their atoms are connected, and insight into these atomic configurations can help scientists design new materials or use existing materials in new, unforeseen ways.
	On/off in trillionths of a second: Optically controlled magnetic fields Physicists at the University of Duisburg-Essen and their cooperating partners have discovered that tiny graphene sheets can become electromagnets under infrared radiation. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Researchers design limestone putty nanogenerator to harvest energy from everyday motion to power small devices Researchers at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) have created a new kind of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) that produces electricity through the use of limestone putty, promising considerable cost savings over conventional manufacturing methods.
	Nature inspires a new wave of biotechnology Biological molecules called peptides play a key role in many biological activities, including the transport of oxygen and electrons. Peptides consist of short chains of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. They are also the inspiration for new kinds of biotechnology.
	3D models for placing nanoparticles in the palm of your hand Nanoparticles are super tiny―as small as one nanometer, or one billionth of a meter―and are of keen interest to materials scientists for their unique physical and chemical properties. They cannot be detected by the naked eye and require a highly specialized electron microscope to be seen.

Physics news

	A method to resolve quantum interference between photoionization pathways with attosecond resolution The field of attosecond physics was established with the mission of exploring light–matter interactions at unprecedented time resolutions. Recent advancements in this field have allowed physicists to shed new light on the quantum dynamics of charge carriers in atoms and molecules
	New theory claims to unite Einstein's gravity with quantum mechanics A radical theory that consistently unifies gravity and quantum mechanics while preserving Einstein's classical concept of spacetime has been announced in two papers published simultaneously by UCL (University College London) physicists.
	Superconducting nanowires detect single protein ions An international research team led by quantum physicist Markus Arndt (University of Vienna) has achieved a breakthrough in the detection of protein ions: Due to their high energy sensitivity, superconducting nanowire detectors achieve almost 100% quantum efficiency and exceed the detection efficiency of conventional ion detectors at low energies by a factor of up to a 1,000.
	Q&A: Unveiling a new era of imaging—engineers lead breakthrough microscopy techniques When microscopes struggle to pick up faint signals, it's like trying to spot subtle details in a painting or photograph without your glasses. For researchers, this makes it difficult to catch the small things happening in cells or other materials. In new research, Boston University Moustakas Chair Professor in Photonics and Optoelectronics, Dr. Ji-Xin Cheng, and collaborators are creating more advanced techniques to make microscopes better at seeing tiny sample details without needing special dyes.
	'Doughnut' beams help physicists see incredibly small objects In a new study published in Optica, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have used doughnut-shaped beams of light to take detailed images of objects too tiny to view with traditional microscopes.
	Collisions change how fast ions surf on plasma waves in fusion experiments and beyond Just like there are waves in the ocean, waves can also occur in an electrically charged gas called a plasma, made up of electrons and ions. In the ocean, people surf by riding their boards at nearly the same speed as the waves. This matching condition, called resonance, allows the wave to efficiently push the surfer by exchanging energy.
	Teaching physics from the din of flying discs Disc golf is booming, with record numbers of players turning up each year to partake in the disc-throwing sport. It is also whizzing and whistling. In fact, the sound a disc makes while soaring through the air toward its target is full of information about how fast the disc is flying and how quickly it spins.
	Polarized hetero-structured luminant: The 'marriage' of 2D materials and 0D quantum dots The generation, modulation, and detection of polarized light play a pivotal role across diverse fields, including optical communication, laser processing, dynamic displays, and biomedical imaging. The advancement of multifunctional prototype devices, seamlessly integrating an array of optical control technologies, holds great potential to address the future requirements of polarized optics, emphasizing low power consumption, functional integration, and cost-effective optical components.
	ALICE records about 12 billion heavy-ion collisions After a five-year pause, on the evening of 26 September, lead ions collided at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at an unprecedented high energy of 5.36 TeV per pair of nucleons (protons or neutrons) and a collision rate six times higher than before.
	Neutron capture research offers insight into astrophysics and detector design In a study published in the journal Nuclear Science and Techniques, researchers from Sun Yat-sen University have conducted a novel study on neutron capture by bromine at the China Spallation Neutron Source, providing invaluable insights into both astrophysics and cutting-edge detector design.

Earth news

	Wind of (climate) change: Himalayan glaciers react, blow cold winds down their slopes Himalayan Glaciers fight back to preserve themselves, but for how long? An international team of researchers, co-led by Professor Francesca Pellicciotti of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), explains a stunning phenomenon: rising global temperatures have led Himalayan glaciers to increasingly cool the air in contact with the ice surface. The ensuing cold winds might help cool the glaciers and preserve the surrounding ecosystems. The results, found across the Himalayan range, were published in Nature Geoscience.
	Research shows that wildfires have erased two decades' worth of air quality gains in western United States You need only to remember last summer's wildfires in the United States and Canada, which fouled the air from coast to coast, to know the effects these blazes can have on the environment and human health.
	How mountains affect El Niño-induced winter precipitation A consideration of how mountains influence El Niño and La Niña-induced precipitation change in western North America may be the ticket to more informed water conservation planning along the Colorado River, new research suggests.
	Toxic chemicals in UK whales and dolphins are exceeding safe limits Almost half of marine mammals around the UK are being poisoned by banned chemicals.
	New unified theory shows how past landscapes drove the evolution of Earth's rich diversity of life Earth's surface is the living skin of our planet—it connects the physical, chemical and biological systems.
	NASA and Boeing chase jet contrails with science of climate impact in doubt Scientific debate is getting heated over what to do about airplane contrails—the wispy lines of water vapor you often see trailing behind a jet.
	Why are people still flying to climate conferences by private jet? Rishi Sunak, David Cameron and King Charles are just three of the more than 70,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries at the latest UN climate summit in Dubai, COP28. But they are among hundreds who will have traveled there by private jet. In fact, the UK prime minister, foreign secretary and king even traveled in three separate planes.
	PFAS forever chemicals found in English drinking water. Why are they everywhere and what are the risks? PFAS chemicals (per-and poly fluoroalkyl substances), also known as forever chemicals, are rarely out of the news at the moment. The latest concern about this chemical group is their presence in drinking water in England.
	COP28: Health is finally on the agenda, but there's more to do as we face continued climate extremes As global leaders gather in Dubai for COP28, health has finally landed firmly on the climate change agenda, with the first "health day" at the annual UN climate summit taking place yesterday (December 3).
	Tackling climate change can improve public health in Africa: New report highlights how African countries can simultaneously address climate change and improve public health by reducing air pollution. In many cases these actions also have other societal, economic, environment or health benefits.
	British research ship crosses paths with world's largest iceberg as it drifts out of Antarctica Britain's polar research ship has crossed paths with the largest iceberg in the world—a "lucky" encounter that enabled scientists to collect seawater samples around the colossal berg as it drifts out of Antarctic waters, the British Antarctic Survey said Monday.
	People may support climate action more strongly if they understand how their health is at risk Highlighting the health relevance of climate change and the health benefits of climate solutions can generate support for climate action, a major review of evidence on the subject has found.
	Researchers urge caution with 'net zero' in climate policy While a trend reversal in global CO₂ emissions is still yet to come, more and more countries are announcing the goal of "net zero" by mid-century.
	National climate assessment offers new insights on community resilience and adaptation A major weather event such as a hurricane or wildfire can have lasting, visible impacts on communities, but the longer-term, compounding effects of a changing climate can be harder to see. In its contributions to the recently released Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) highlights ways that communities can adapt and become more resilient as the climate changes.
	El Niño helped steer storms away from U.S. this hurricane season. What about next year? This year, a record-hot Atlantic Ocean went toe-to-toe with a strong El Niño for which weather phenomena would steer the hurricane season. The winner?
	US leads call to triple nuclear power at COP28 More than 20 nations including the United States called for a tripling of nuclear energy to drive down emissions on Saturday as world leaders assembled for a second day at UN climate talks in Dubai.
	New doubts over coral, safety at planned Olympic surf venue The president of French Polynesia has questioned whether 2024 Olympic surfing can go ahead at the planned site in Tahiti, saying he was concerned about safety and damage to coral from a planned judging tower.
	Strong earthquake that sparked a tsunami warning leaves 1 dead amid widespread panic in Philippines A powerful earthquake that shook the southern Philippines killed at least one villager and injured several others as thousands scrambled out of their homes in panic and jammed roads to higher grounds after a tsunami warning was issued, officials said Sunday.
	50 oil and gas companies pledge to cut operational emissions Fifty oil and gas companies representing 40 percent of global production pledged to decarbonize their operations by 2050 at the UN's COP28 climate talks in Dubai on Saturday.
	As Dubai hosts climate talks, its air pollution soars Dubai's glitzy skyline was obscured by a blanket of smog rated as "unhealthy" on Sunday as thousands of delegates attended a COP28 conference dedicated to the harmful effects of air pollution.
	To greenwash or do the right thing? Corporate dilemmas at COP28 They call the giant climate business expo running outside the COP28 United Nations talks in Dubai the "green zone".
	Nations rally behind renewables at COP28 climate talks Nearly 120 nations pledged to triple the world's renewable energy within seven years at UN climate talks Saturday as the United States pushed to crank up nuclear capacity and slash methane emissions.
	Earth is running a fever. And UN climate talks are focusing on the contagious effect on human health With Planet Earth running a fever, U.N. climate talks focused Sunday on the contagious effects on human health.
	Indonesia's Marapi volcano erupts for the second day as 12 climbers remain missing Indonesian authorities halted Monday the search for 12 climbers after Mount Marapi volcano erupted again, unleashing a new burst of hot ash as high as 800 meters (2,620 feet) into the air, officials said.
	Indonesia's coal love affair still aflame despite pledges Sania sits in front of her home in Indonesia, less than a kilometer from Southeast Asia's biggest coal complex, where chimneys pump dark gray smoke and a chemical smell into the air.
	Proposal for new water district sparks fear of Northern California 'water grab' As California grapples with worsening cycles of drought, a proposal to create a new water district in Butte County has sparked fears of a profit-driven water grab by large-scale farmers and outside interests.
	Exxon among 50 oil producers in controversial climate pact at COP28 Exxon Mobil Corp. and Saudi Arabia's Aramco, the world's largest private and state-sector oil companies, led a pledge by 50 oil and gas producers at the COP28 climate summit to cut emissions from their own operations.
	Rains pound southern India ahead of cyclone Rains lashed southern India's city of Chennai on Monday ahead of the landfall of a powerful cyclone, with a crocodile spotted swimming the streets and cars floating away.
	We're in an El Niño. So why has Australia been so wet? After three La Niña summers many of us would have been expecting much hotter and drier conditions this spring and summer after the arrival of El Niño. Instead, in many parts of eastern Australia it's rained and rained over the last few weeks.
	Controversial carbon credits flood COP28, yet still no rules The COP28 climate talks have been flooded with announcements hyping controversial carbon credits before rules for them have been hammered out, with environmental groups fearing "greenwashing" on a massive scale.
	Clean energy innovation or illusion? JETP climate funds They were billed as an ingenious new way of helping developing countries ditch planet-polluting coal, promising an injection of billions from wealthy governments looking for new ways to tackle carbon emissions.
	'Unintended consequences': friction at COP28 over green trade Inside the negotiating rooms and on the sidelines of the COP28 climate talks, simmering tensions over wealthy countries' "green trade" policies have been bubbling to the surface, with developing nations fearful they will be penalized.
	Artificial intelligence tackling global water shortages A company using artificial intelligence to save billions of liters of water has partnered with University of the West of Scotland (UWS) to further enhance its technology. FIDO Tech is helping communities affected by water shortages and restrictions around the world—working with utility companies to protect UK resources and protecting water supplies for communities in Australia, America, Thailand and beyond.

Astronomy and Space news

	New young and highly scattered pulsar discovered with ASKAP Using the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), astronomers have discovered a new pulsar, which has received the designation PSR J1032−5804. The newfound pulsar turned out to be relatively young and highly scattered. The finding was reported in a paper published Nov. 25 on the pre-print server arXiv.
	A new possible explanation for the Hubble tension The universe is expanding. How fast it does so is described by the so-called Hubble-Lemaitre constant. But there is a dispute about how big this constant actually is: Different measurement methods provide contradictory values.
	Dark galactic region nicknamed 'The Brick' explained with Webb findings In a study led by University of Florida astronomer Adam Ginsburg, groundbreaking findings shed light on a mysterious dark region at the center of the Milky Way. The turbulent gas cloud, playfully nicknamed "The Brick" due to its opacity, has sparked lively debates within the scientific community for years.
	A 10-billion-year, 50,000-light-year journey to a black hole A star near the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy originated outside the galaxy according to a new study published in Proceedings of the Japan Academy, Series B. This is the first time a star of extragalactic origin has been found in the vicinity of the supermassive black hole.
	Mapping Mars: Deep learning could help identify Jezero Crater landing site Preparations for a safe landing on Earth, such as finding the most even terrain and equipping the appropriate landing gear, are also crucial for Mars missions.
	A six-planet solar system in perfect synchrony has been found in the Milky Way Astronomers have discovered a rare in-sync solar system with six planets moving like a grand cosmic orchestra, untouched by outside forces since their birth billions of years ago.
	Massive planet too big for its own sun pushes astronomers to rethink exoplanet formation Imagine you're a farmer searching for eggs in the chicken coop—but instead of a chicken egg, you find an ostrich egg, much larger than anything a chicken could lay.
	Does Betelgeuse even rotate? Maybe not Betelgeuse is the well known red giant star in the corner of Orion the hunter. The name translated in some languages means "armpit of the giant," which, I think of all the star names, is simply the best! Betelgeuse has been fascinating observers of late not only because it unexpectedly faded a few years ago but more recently a study shows it's super fast rotational speed which is, when compared to other supergiants, is like nothing seen before.
	Counteracting bone and muscle loss in microgravity In microgravity, without the continuous load of Earth's gravity, the tissues that make up bones reshape themselves. Bone cells readjust their behaviors—the cells that build new bone slow down, while the cells that break down old or damaged bone tissue keep operating at their normal pace so that breakdown outpaces growth, producing weaker and more brittle bones.
	Lift-off for EIRSAT-1, Ireland's first ever satellite Six years of hard work and dedication paid off in spectacular fashion on Dec. 1 as the Educational Irish Research Satellite, EIRSAT-1, successfully blasted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. Hitching a ride on a Space-X Falcon-9 launcher, the tiny satellite—measuring just 10.7cm x 10.7cm x 22.7cm—has now made history as Ireland's first satellite.
	Tracking undetectable space junk Satellite and spacecraft operators may finally be able to detect small pieces of debris orbiting Earth using an approach proposed by researchers from the University of Michigan.

Technology news

	AI image generation adds to carbon footprint, research shows So you program your thermostat to save heating costs, recycle glass and plastic, ride a bicycle to work instead of driving a car, reuse sustainable grocery bags, buy solar panels, and shower with your mate—all to do your part to conserve energy, curb waste and lower your carbon footprint.
	Investigation of degradation mechanism for all-solid-state batteries takes another step toward commercialization Often referred to as the "dream batteries," all-solid-state batteries are the next generation of batteries that many battery manufacturers are competing to bring to market. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, which use a liquid electrolyte, all components, including the electrolyte, anode, and cathode are solid, reducing the risk of explosion, and are in high demand in markets ranging from automobiles to energy storage systems (ESS).
	Snail-inspired robot could scoop ocean microplastics Inspired by a small and slow snail, scientists have developed a robot protype that may one day scoop up microplastics from the surfaces of oceans, seas and lakes.
	DeepMind develops AI that demonstrates social learning capabilities A team of AI researchers at Google's DeepMind project have developed a type of AI system that is able to demonstrate social learning capabilities. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the group describes how they developed an AI application that showed it was capable of learning new skills in a virtual world by copying the actions of an implanted "expert."
	New method tracks physical processes inside both liquid and solid parts of Li-ion batteries What if you could charge your electric vehicle in the same amount of time it takes to fill a tank of gas? In a new paper published in Joule, researchers from McGill University and the University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM) announced the development of a novel method that enables researchers to peer inside Li-ion batteries and, for the first time, track the physical processes that take place in both the liquid and solid parts of the battery cells as they happen.
	A year of ChatGPT: 5 ways AI has changed the world OpenAI's artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT was unleashed onto an unsuspecting public exactly one year ago.
	Solar power is growing. Now Georgia wants to store more of its energy A decade ago, the state's largest electric utility—Georgia Power—took its first, major step toward a future powered by the sun when it installed thousands of solar panels on 150 acres outside the town of Social Circle.
	Montreal research hub spearheads global AI ethics debate Rapid developments in artificial intelligence—and recent turmoil at industry powerhouse OpenAI—have brought fresh attention to a key hub of ethics research related to the technology in Montreal, led by Canadian "godfather of AI" Yoshua Bengio.
	BMW recalls SUVs after Takata air bag inflator blows apart, hurling shrapnel and injuring driver BMW is recalling a small number of SUVs in the U.S. because the driver's air bag inflators can blow apart in a crash, hurling metal shrapnel and possibly injuring or killing people in the vehicles.
	Bitcoin soars past $40,000 on optimism for US trading approval Bitcoin on Monday rose past $40,000 for the first time since May last year, boosted by hopes that the United States will soon allow broader trading of the world's biggest cryptocurrency.
	Spotify axes 17% of workforce in third round of layoffs this year Spotify says it's axing 17% of its global workforce, the music streaming service's third round of layoffs this year as it moves to slash costs while focusing on becoming profitable.
	Spanish media file 550-mn-euro lawsuit against Meta A group representing over 80 Spanish media outlets on Monday filed a 550-million-euro ($600 million) lawsuit against Instagram-owner Meta for allegedly violating European Union regulations on personal data protection.
	Electric arc furnaces: Technology poised to make British steelmaking more sustainable In a move to embrace sustainable steelmaking, British Steel has unveiled a £1.25 billion plan to replace two blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe plant with electric arc furnaces. This follows the UK government's commitment in September to invest up to £500 million towards an electric arc furnace at Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant in south Wales.
	Turmoil at OpenAI shows we must address whether AI developers can regulate themselves OpenAI, developer of ChatGPT and a leading innovator in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), was recently thrown into turmoil when its chief-executive and figurehead, Sam Altman, was fired. As it was revealed that he would be joining Microsoft's advanced AI research team, more than 730 OpenAI employees threatened to quit. Finally, it was announced that most of the board who had terminated Altman's employment were being replaced, and that he would be returning to the company.
	For domestic violence victim-survivors, a data or privacy breach can be extraordinarily dangerous A suite of recent cybersecurity data breaches highlight an urgent need to overhaul how companies and government agencies handle our data. But these incidents pose particular risks to victim-survivors of domestic violence.
	Could you move from your biological body to a computer? An expert explains 'mind uploading' Imagine brain scanning technology improves greatly in the coming decades, to the point that we can observe how each individual neuron talks to other neurons. Then, imagine we can record all this information to create a simulation of someone's brain on a computer.
	Why OpenAI developing an artificial intelligence that's good at math is such a big deal With the recent sacking and swift rehiring of Sam Altman by OpenAI, debates around the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) are once again in the spotlight. What's more unusual is that a prominent theme in media reporting has been the ability of AI systems to do math.
	AI networks are more vulnerable to malicious attacks than previously thought Artificial intelligence tools hold promise for applications ranging from autonomous vehicles to the interpretation of medical images. However, a new study finds these AI tools are more vulnerable than previously thought to targeted attacks that effectively force AI systems to make bad decisions.
	Researchers explore impacts of E-bikes on sustainable, equitable, efficient mobility Do electric bikes (e-bikes) improve the overall quality of mobility for certain groups in a region? Do they provide a similar level of time-, cost-, and energy-efficient access to opportunities as cars?
	Uber set to join the S&P 500 index in latest sign of turnaround for the ride-hailing service Uber is set to join the S&P 500 index later this month, the latest sign that the ride-hailing and delivery company is turning its business around after struggling through much of the pandemic.
	Social robots could be an effective tool to combat loneliness, according to study People interacting with social robots disclosed more about themselves over time and reported feeling less lonely, according to a new study.
	Electric vehicles remain a tough sell in Texas, according to new survey Electric-powered vehicles do not inspire much enthusiasm in Texas, according to a survey released on Nov. 30 by University of Houston and Texas Southern University. Results in the new study reflect only a few shifts in opinions from those voiced by Texans in a similar survey from 2021.
	New AI tool lets users generate hi-res images on their own computer A new tool promises to bring low-cost, high-resolution artificial intelligence (AI) image generation to a wider audience. It can achieve this without powerful computers behind a paywall.
	Asian cement and steel companies must decarbonize to survive carbon prices, says report High carbon emitting businesses in Asia will see consistent negative profits if they fail to decarbonize.
	Scientists propose a model to predict personal learning performance for virtual reality-based safety training In Korea, occupational hazards are on the rise, particularly in the construction sector. According to a report on the "Occupational Safety Accident Status" by Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor, the industry accounted for the highest number of accidents and fatalities among all sectors in 2021. To address this rise, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency has been providing virtual reality (VR)-based construction safety content to daily workers as part of their educational training initiatives.
	Chico State part of effort to create a lighter, better battery With the increase in solar panels on houses and plug-in cars patrolling the roads, batteries are going to be ever more important in the coming years.
	Are we witnessing the death of the password? Once considered a near iron-clad weapon of defense against cyber criminals, the password has begun to fall from grace.
	CITE23: How to start an AI task force at your school An emerging consensus among school technologists is that generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is irrepressible, so the process of embracing it has to start somewhere. One approach that has made progress at La Cañada Unified School District (LCUSD) in California: forming a task force of stakeholders to deal with emerging technology.
	Nuclear power has role to play, atomic energy head tells AFP at COP28 It would be a mistake to reject nuclear power because of problems at a handful of projects, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said in an interview with AFP.
	With outburst, Musk puts X's survival in the balance Elon Musk's verbal assault on advertisers who have shunned X (formerly Twitter) threatens to sink the social network further, with the tycoon warning of the platform's demise, just one year after taking control.
	Alaska Airlines to buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 bn Alaska Airlines announced Sunday that it would buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 billion, consolidating its position as the nation's fifth biggest carrier if it can attain regulatory approval.

Chemistry news

	One-step synthesis of Janus hydrogel Janus adhesive hydrogels hold promising applications across health care fields. Nevertheless, a simple method to synthesize the material had yet to be bioengineered in the lab.
	Generative model unveils secrets of material disorder National University of Singapore (NUS) scientists have utilized generative machine learning models to explore the different methods in which atoms between adjacent crystals in a piezoelectric material, which are materials that generate a small electrical voltage upon application of mechanical stress, can experience mismatches. This revelation unveils the pathways through which disorder emerges in such materials.
	New study into solute transport and solidification mechanisms in additive manufacturing Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is a rapidly growing technology with the potential to revolutionize many industries. However, AM parts can be susceptible to defects, such as porosities and cracks, which can limit their performance and reliability.
	Ultralight ultrafast enzymes: Isotopes more powerful than previously thought In a recently published study in Angewandte Chemie International Edition, researchers at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (MBB) at Karolinska Institutet have questioned the old paradigm surrounding isotopes of light elements—carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. These isotopes have now emerged as more powerful than one thought.
	Unexpected discovery at the air-water interface for CO₂ reaction impacting geophysical and biological cycles Ocean acidification, mammal respiration, and aerosol formation all depend on chemistry that occurs at air-water interfaces. In new research, scientists from the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have discovered which pathway carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules follow on their way from the atmosphere into water—and it's not the one that they expected.
	AI model directly compares properties of potential new drugs Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed an AI platform that autonomously compares molecules and learns from their variations to anticipate property differences critical to discovering new pharmaceuticals. The platform provides researchers with a more accurate and efficient tool to help design therapeutics and other chemicals with useful properties.
	Engineered surface helps boiled bubbles jump to carry more heat Water is often the go-to resource for heat transfer, being used in large-scale cooling operations like data centers that power the internet and nuclear power plants that power cities. Discovering dynamic phenomena to make water-based heat transfer more energy and cost-efficient is the ongoing work of Jonathan Boreyko, associate professor and John R. Jones III Faculty Fellow in mechanical engineering.
	Using clay to combat eternal toxins: Scientists clarify basis for innovative PFAS filter made of clay PFAS filters available for industrial waste are usually made of activated carbon. As this is comparatively expensive, researchers are looking for alternative filter materials for the so-called "eternal toxins," whose hazardous residues only degrade very slowly in the environment.
	Decoding flavonoid metabolism: A closer look at plant-based diets In a world where plant-based lifestyles are on the rise, the power of foods such as broccoli, celery, and tofu, which are rich in flavonoids, is becoming clearer. Flavonoids are phenolic compounds produced by plants that are essential for plant development and defense and have long been said to have therapeutic and preventive effects against cancer and heart disease. However, the exact process of how our bodies metabolize flavonoids remains unclear.
	Study explains the rapid deterioration of one of painter Juan Miró's favorite colors A photo from 1978 shows famous Catalan surrealist painter Juan Miró in his Taller Sert, surrounded by his paintings. In the background, the bright, intense yellow of Femme dans le rue (1973), stands out. Fifty years later, that cadmium-based yellow is faded and chalky. The same phenomenon has affected 25 other paintings in the Fundació Miró Mallorca.

Biology news

	Following in polar bears' footprints: DNA from snow tracks could help monitor threatened animals Polar bears are icons of the Arctic, elusive and vulnerable. Detailed monitoring of their populations is crucial for their conservation—but because polar bears are so difficult to find, we are missing critical data about population size and how well-connected those populations are. Scientists have now developed a new tool to help: DNA analysis using skin cells shed in the bears' footprints in the snow.
	Bottlenose dolphins can sense electric fields, study shows A small team of bio-scientists from the University of Rostock's Institute for Biosciences and Nuremberg Zoo's Behavioral Ecology and Conservation Lab, both in Germany, has found evidence that bottlenose dolphins can sense electric fields. In their study, reported in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the group tested the ability of two captive bottlenose dolphins to sense a small electric field.
	More than 100 'magic mushroom' genomes point the way to new cultivars Scientists have amassed genome data for dozens of "magic mushroom" isolates and cultivars, with the goal to learn more about how their domestication and cultivation has changed them. The findings, published December 4 in the journal Current Biology, may point the way to the production of intriguing new cultivars, say the researchers.
	'DNA curtain' technology provides real-time visualization of replication for new scientific insights A research team, led by Professor Ja Yil Lee in the Department of Biological Sciences at UNIST has made a breakthrough in the field of molecular biology. Their research, published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, has successfully imaged the real-time process of DNA replication using the innovative "DNA curtain" technology.
	Researchers map crocodile family tree to shed light on their evolution A research team, led by scientists at the University of York, mapped the family tree of the ferocious ambush-predators and their extinct relatives known as Pseudosuchia. They then compared this with data from the fossil record to understand why crocodiles have so few living species, while there are 11,000 species of their closest living relatives, birds.
	Researchers crack the cellular code on protein folding, offering hope for many new therapeutic avenues While we often think of diseases as caused by foreign bodies—bacteria or viruses—there are hundreds of diseases affecting humans that result from errors in cellular production of proteins.
	Brains of newborns aren't underdeveloped compared to other primates, finds new study Contrary to current understanding, the brains of human newborns aren't significantly less developed compared to other primate species, but appear so because so much brain development happens after birth, finds a new study led by University College London researchers.
	In hotter regions, mammals shown to seek forests and avoid human habitats The cool of the forest is a welcome escape on a hot day. This is especially true for mammals in North America's hottest regions, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. The study indicates that, as the climate warms, preserving forest cover will be increasingly important for wildlife conservation.
	Earliest-known fossil mosquito suggests males were bloodsuckers too Researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology on December 4 have found the earliest-known fossil mosquito in Lower Cretaceous amber from Lebanon. What's more, the well-preserved insects are two males of the same species with piercing mouthparts, suggesting they likely sucked blood. That's noteworthy because, among modern-day mosquitoes, only females are hematophagous, meaning that they use piercing mouthparts to feed on the blood of people and other animals.
	Researchers suggest use of natural fermentation may have led to early human brain size increase A trio of researchers with varied backgrounds is suggesting in an article published in the journal Communications Biology that eating naturally fermented foods may have led to an increase in brain size for early humans. In their paper, Katherine Bryant, an evolutionary neuroscientist at Aix-Marseille Université, Christi Hansen, a dietician at Hungry Heart Farm and Dietary Consulting, and Erin Hecht, a biologist at Harvard University, suggest that eating naturally fermenting foods may also have led to a decrease in the size of the colon.
	Shedding light on health and zombie cells in aging With age, cells can experience senescence, a state where they stop growing but continue releasing inflammatory and tissue-degrading molecules. When a person is young, the immune system responds and eliminates senescent cells, often referred to as zombie cells. However, zombie cells linger and contribute to various age-related health problems and diseases. Mayo Clinic researchers, in two studies, shed light on the biology of aging cells.
	Study shows that artificial light is luring birds to cities and sometimes to their deaths Nearly 1,000 birds were killed Oct. 4–5 when they collided with an illuminated glass building in Chicago. Though mass fatalities of this magnitude are rare, light pollution poses a serious—and growing—threat to migrating birds.
	MicroRNA holds clues to why some mammals are cancer-prone Researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) have identified an important pathway that reveals why some mammals, like humans, dogs, and cats, regularly develop mammary cancer while others, such as horses, pigs, and cows, rarely do.
	Deep sea sensor reveals that corals produce reactive oxygen species Just like us, corals breathe in oxygen and eat organic carbon. And just like us, as a byproduct of converting energy and oxygen in the body, corals produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), a family of chemical compounds that are naturally made by cells during cell division, while fighting off pathogens, and performing other physiological functions.
	Bashful golden mole detected in South Africa after 87 years A golden mole that "swims" in sand has resurfaced in South Africa after 87 years in the wilderness when many specialists feared it had become extinct, researchers have said.
	As seas get warmer, tropical species are moving further from the equator Climate change is causing tropical species in the ocean to move from the equator towards the poles, while temperate species recede. This mass movement of marine life, termed tropicalization, is leading to a cascade of consequences for ecosystems and biodiversity, and has the potential to impact the global economy.
	Maghreb farmers embrace drones to fight climate change A drone buzzed back and forth above rows of verdant orange trees planted near Nabeul, eastern Tunisia.
	'Limbless' creature found digging beneath rotten tree in Vietnam: It's a new species In Vietnam's driest and hottest region, a limbless forest creature took refuge under a rotten log, scrounging around for termites to eat. Suddenly, something lifted the nearly-blind animal into the air. It tried to defend itself, but to no avail.
	A lethal wildlife disease is stalking South Carolina: How 'zombie deer' threaten the state Tom Hauge, a veteran wildlife biologist in Wisconsin, was told 21 years ago that a deadly disease had shown up in deer that roamed across the state's southwest corner.
	Researchers characterize translation inhibition in CRISPR-Cas antiviral defense system A recent study in Science uses bioinformatic analysis as well as biochemical and structural studies to characterize a novel family of effector proteins, named Cami1. The research shows that when a virus attacks a bacterium, CRISPR-Cas10 signaling molecules activate Cami1—a ribosome-dependent ribonuclease.
	COP28: 7 food and agriculture innovations needed to protect the climate and feed a rapidly growing world For the first time ever, food and agriculture took center stage at the annual United Nations climate conference in 2023.
	New technique efficiently offers insight into gene regulation DNA is the most important carrier of genetic information. Each cell contains approximately two meters of DNA. To ensure that all this genetic material fits into the small cell nucleus, it must be tightly packed. The DNA is, therefore, wrapped around a special type of protein, a histone. The packages of DNA and histones are called chromatin.
	Advancing food safety: Natural alternatives for meat preservation In a study published in the journal Food Quality and Safety on 19 October 2023, researchers from Zhejiang A&F University and Zhejiang University conclude that natural preservatives offer a viable alternative to synthetic chemicals in meat preservation.
	Soil drought weakens forest microclimatic cooling, study finds Scientists from Stockholm University have investigated the mechanisms that create cool microclimates beneath forest canopies during warm and dry summer days. The study reveals how canopy shading and water evaporation together create cooler forest microclimates compared to temperatures outside forests. The article is published in Agricultural and Forest Meteorology.
	Pioneering the future: An innovative approach to plant synthetic genomics In October 2023, BioDesign Research published a perspective article titled "Toward Synthetic Genomics in Plants." Focusing on the emerging field of plant synthetic genomics, this study delves into the complexity of assembling and engineering large genomes, a task made challenging by the abundance of transposons and complex epigenetic regulations in multicellular eukaryotes.
	Strange burn: New research identifies unique patterns in Utah wildfires For a century fire ecologists have worked to decipher a complex question—what does a "normal'' wildfire year look like in the West? That's a hard question to answer for many reasons, but new research from a team in the Quinney College of Natural Resources shows that thanks to the state's unique landscapes, Utah's wildfire patterns may never fit into what is considered "normal" for other Western states. The research is published in the journal Fire.
	Could our body's 'bleach' be key to fighting a common fungal pathogen? A study that assesses the effects of hypochlorous acid (HOCI), commonly known as bleach, as it is generated during the immune response of a cell (phagocytosis) when fighting a common fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, reveals that HOCI is a potent killing agent.
	Three benefits of genetically improved Christmas trees Christmas trees are the centerpiece of the holiday season. But the fear of needles falling can deter shoppers from buying real trees from local growers.
	Q&A: How to choose the perfect Christmas tree If you are heading to a farm or the local lot this weekend to pick out your perfect Christmas tree, Timothy Waller, an evergreen researcher, has some advice for you.
	Applying pulp mill waste to soil could be a win-win for the environment and industry Pulp mill waste destined for the landfill could instead be useful as an organic fertilizer that can help reduce the environmental impact of using conventional fertilizers while improving soil and tree growth, University of Alberta research shows.
	Agriculture officials confirm 25th case of cattle anthrax in North Dakota this year A new case of cattle anthrax has been confirmed in southwest North Dakota's Grant County, bringing the number of cases in the state to 25 this year, according to state agriculture officials.
	Volunteer divers guard Oman's 'unique' coral reefs On a sailing boat anchored off Oman's pristine Daymaniyat Islands, volunteer divers pull on wetsuits, check their scuba tanks and then take turns plunging into the clear turquoise water.
	Hard to bear: UK's only pandas return to China The UK's only giant pandas left Edinburgh for China on Monday after spending 12 cubless years in the Scottish capital.

Medicine and Health news

	Altering the behavior of living mice by editing genes in the brain Researchers at Fudan University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China, have conducted whole-brain genome editing targeted to correct a single-base mutation associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in mice.
	Brain implants revive cognitive abilities long after traumatic brain injury in clinical trial In 2001, Gina Arata was in her final semester of college, planning to apply to law school, when she suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident. The injury so compromised her ability to focus she struggled in a job sorting mail.
	Researchers identify traces of trauma in the young brain and suggest how to erase them The images of Israeli child hostages being freed from Hamas captivity are heartwarming, but for most of these children, the release is just the start of a long rehabilitation process. Countless studies have shown that exposure to warfare, abuse and other traumatic events at a young age significantly raises the risk of ill health, social problems and mental health issues later in life.
	Powerful financial giants could play vital role in preventing the next pandemic, say researchers Many emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, especially zoonotic diseases such as Ebola or new coronaviruses, emerge as the result of intensified human activities such as deforestation, expansion of agricultural land, and increased hunting and trading of wildlife.
	Studies help explain why some prostate cancers become resistant to hormone therapy Two new studies led by researchers from the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center give insight into how cells use energy to influence the way prostate tumors survive and grow—advancements that can help explain why some prostate cancers become resistant to hormone therapy, the most commonly used treatment for men with advanced stages of the disease.
	New wearable communication system offers potential to reduce digital health divide Wearable devices that use sensors to monitor biological signals can play an important role in health care. These devices provide valuable information that allows providers to predict, diagnose and treat a variety of conditions while improving access to care and reducing costs.
	Dietary supplement could protect against Cryptosporidium infection Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have discovered that a common dietary supplement could protect against chronic Cryptosporidium infections which are particularly prevalent in children under two and in areas with poorer sanitation.
	New study maps ketamine's effects on brain Ketamine—an anesthetic also known for its illicit use as a recreational drug—has undergone a thorough reputational rehabilitation in recent years as the medical establishment has begun to recognize its wide-ranging therapeutic effects. The drug is increasingly used for a range of medical purposes, including as a painkiller alternative to opioids, and as a therapy for treatment-resistant depression.
	Patients listed as alive in their electronic health records were actually deceased, according to data About 20% of patients whose medical records showed them as being alive with a serious illness were in fact deceased according to California data, leading to hundreds of unnecessary interactions such as appointment reminders, prescription refills and other kinds of wasteful outreach that strain resources and health care workers' time.
	Research reveals that stimulating nerves connected to the pancreas can regenerate insulin-producing cells Insulin is a hormone that decreases blood glucose levels. The only cells that produce insulin are pancreatic beta cells (β-cells), and a decrease in these cells is a major cause of diabetes. Although therapies aimed at increasing pancreatic β-cells are eagerly awaited, a strategy that can increase β-cells has, thus far, not been developed.
	Study finds 'shared care' is preferred by patients, is cheaper and just as effective A new study led by researchers at Peter Mac has found sharing follow-up care between a GP and hospital-based specialists was preferred by bowel cancer patients, was cheaper for the health care system and was just as effective as standard hospital-based care.
	Personalizing treatment for colorectal cancer patients by combining tissue-based biomarkers and ctDNA Combining artificial intelligence-generated digital pathology tools, conventional histopathological assessment and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis can improve treatment stratification of patients with colorectal cancer after surgery. David Kerr and colleagues outline this novel paradigm for personalized adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer in a study in Nature Reviews Clinical Oncology.
	Identifying new potential in cancer-killing T cells When Joanina Gicobi began her Ph.D. degree five years ago at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, she was interested in thinking creatively about ways to improve cancer treatment. In particular, she was curious about the body's natural ability to fight tumors: Could that process be improved? In the laboratory of Haidong Dong, M.D., Ph.D., she joined efforts to learn more about the T cells that are part of an inherent cancer-killing immune response.
	Researchers show how lipids and diabetes are closely linked While sugar is the most frequently named culprit in the development of type 2 diabetes, a better understanding of the role of fats is also essential. By analyzing the blood profiles of dozens of people suffering from diabetes or pre-diabetes, or who have had their pancreas partially removed, researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have made two major discoveries.
	The paradoxical role of white blood cells in the spread of breast cancer A new study from Karolinska Institutet, published in Cell Reports, shows that tumor-associated macrophages, which are white blood cells that are found in breast tumors, can both help and hinder the spread of cancer cells to other organs. The researchers found that macrophages that produce a substance called VEGF-C reduce the spread of breast cancer to the lungs but increase the spread to the lymph nodes. This may have implications for the prognosis and treatment of breast cancer.
	Study shows leukemia cells activate cellular recycling program In a recent study, scientists led by Professor Stefan Müller from Goethe University's Institute of Biochemistry II investigated a specific form of blood cancer known as acute myeloid leukemia, or AML. The disease mainly occurs in adulthood and often ends up being fatal for older patients. In about a third of AML patients, the cancer cells' genetic material has a characteristic mutation that affects the so-called NPM1 gene, which contains the building instructions for a protein of the same name.
	Discovery points to new approach to treating liver cancer A breakthrough in the understanding of the relationship between a naturally occurring enzyme and the liver cancer drug sorafenib could improve the effectiveness of the drug, which currently prolongs the life of liver cancer patients for only two to three months. A study of the relationship between the enzyme DDX5, liver cancer sorafenib, published in the journal Cell Death & Disease, points to the potential for a more effective therapy that combines existing anti-cancer drugs with treatments that spur production of this enzyme.
	Study finds 1 in 6 patients with opioid use disorder leave the hospital early The number of patients admitted with opioid use disorder (OUD) and injection-related infections who left the hospital before completing treatment increased significantly between 2016 and 2020 (from 9.3% to 17%), according to analysis from researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. One in six of these patients now leave the hospital before their care team deems them safe to do so.
	'Salty' immune cells surrounding the brain linked to hypertension-induced dementia A study suggests that the response of immune system cells inside the protective covering surrounding the brain may contribute to the cognitive decline that can occur in a person with chronic high blood pressure. This finding, published in Nature Neuroscience, may shed light on new ways to counteract the effects of high blood pressure on cognition.
	Advancements make laser-based imaging simpler and three-dimensional There are times when scientific progress comes in the form of discovering something completely new. Other times, progress boils down to doing something better, faster, or more easily. New research from the lab of Caltech's Lihong Wang, the Bren Professor of Medical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, is the latter.
	Hard to drug: Protein droplets reveal new ways to inhibit transcription factors in an aggressive form of prostate cancer Transcription factors play essential roles in turning the genetic information encoded in genes into proteins in all cells and organisms. These regulatory proteins bind DNA, turn genes on or off, and control the rate at which DNA is transcribed into mRNA, which is needed for protein synthesis.
	Study finds visions of nonphysical world are common among cognitively healthy Ojibwe individuals Visual hallucinations are common among people with Lewy body dementia and other types of dementia. Identifying visual hallucinations is an important component of a wide variety of medical and psychiatric diagnoses and treatments, but without cultural context, some patients' symptoms can be misinterpreted or misdiagnosed.
	Impacts of gestational weight gain seen 50+ years later Gestational weight gain might have implications that extend beyond the pregnancy window to long-term health, according to a study published in the Nov. 18 issue of The Lancet.
	Doxycycline tied to lower risk for C. difficile in pneumonia patients For patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), doxycycline is associated with a reduced risk for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), according to a study published online Nov. 1 in the American Journal of Infection Control.
	Research shows that being overweight hampers the body's immune response to SARS-CoV-2 University of Queensland-led research shows being overweight can impair the body's antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection but not to the protection offered by vaccination.
	Survey finds Americans struggle to maintain healthy habits during the holiday season The holiday season is a time for joy and celebration but many Americans admit the endless flurry of activities makes it difficult to eat healthy, exercise, and get adequate rest, according to a new survey from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
	Investigating needle-free ultrasound vaccine delivery An estimated quarter of adults and two-thirds of children have strong fears around needles, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet, public health depends on people being willing to receive vaccines, which are often administered by a jab.
	Cutting sugar and processed meats helped people live longer, study found Many years ago, the ageless Cher made a gym commercial. There she was looking incredibly fit and glamorous and said, "If it came in a bottle, everyone would look like this."
	New rule for emergency departments to safely reduce use of CT scans after falls in older patients How do emergency department staff determine whether older adults who have fallen need imaging? A new decision rule will help emergency department physicians determine which older adults need imaging for head injuries, describes new research in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
	Lesbian, gay, and bisexual survivors of adolescent and young adult cancers often have chronic health conditions: Study Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents and young adult cancer survivors in the United States are more likely to report experiencing chronic health conditions than their heterosexual peers with a history of cancer, as well as their LGB peers without a past cancer diagnosis. The findings come from a survey-based study published by Wiley online in Cancer.
	Chasing weight loss dream, many in US seek Ozempic alternatives Like many Americans struggling to lose weight, Marissa Montanino felt compelled to try Ozempic or one of the other new so-called "wonder drugs" described as revolutionary in the fight against obesity.
	The new generation of weight-loss drugs Wegovy, Mounjaro, Ozempic... These new drugs drawing such intense attention have raised the hopes of millions around the world suffering from diabetes or obesity. But what are they, how are they used and who makes them?
	Update: Amid salmonella outbreak, consumers should avoid unknown brands of cantaloupe As the Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes continues to widen, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges consumers to avoid any precut versions of the fruit if the brand is unknown.
	Lipid-lowering drugs save lives, but use decreasing Lipid-lowering drugs for primary prevention are associated with a significant survival benefit, but use has decreased over time, according to a study published online Nov. 16 in Circulation.
	Bidirectional relationship seen between overactive bladder, poor sleep There is a bidirectional relationship between overactive bladder (OAB) and poor sleep patterns, according to a study published online Nov. 13 in BMC Urology.
	Trim your holiday stress this season: Experts offer tips The holidays are typically a happy whirlwind of gift-buying, house decorating, party planning and family gatherings, but all that work can also stress people out.
	2011 to 2022 saw little change in smoking prevalence for older adults Between 2011 and 2022, there were significant decreases in smoking prevalence among younger adults, but not older adults, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in JAMA Health Forum.
	How does noise affect children? Many parents know that loud noise can hurt a child's hearing. Very loud sounds—from fireworks or firearms, for example—can cause immediate damage. Using personal listening devices for music, videos and classes can also cause damage if they're too loud.
	Why long-term care insurance falls short for so many For 35 years, Angela Jemmott and her five brothers paid premiums on a long-term care insurance policy for their 91-year-old mother. But the policy does not cover home health aides whose assistance allows her to stay in her Sacramento, California, bungalow, near the friends and neighbors she loves. Her family pays $4,000 a month for that.
	Eating disorder hospitalizations on the rise in Canada, affecting 'atypical' groups the most: Study There was a disproportionate rise in pediatric eating disorder hospitalizations among males, younger adolescents, and individuals with eating disorder diagnoses other than anorexia or bulimia, according to a new study from researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and ICES.
	Immunotherapy in first-line standard therapy significantly improves survival in metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer Published in The Lancet, results of the randomized phase III BEATcc academic trial (ENGOT-Cx10/GEICO 68-C/JGOG1084/GOG-3030) show that adding immune checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab to standard of care with bevacizumab and chemotherapy significantly improves progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with metastatic or recurrent cervical cancer who are not candidates for curative-intent surgery and/or radiotherapy.
	Reducing oxygen levels for children in intensive care could save lives, finds UK study Reducing oxygen levels in critically ill children on mechanical ventilators in intensive care could save tens of young lives each year, finds a new study led by researchers at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
	Homing in on disparities in access to HIV prevention medication can help get care to those who need it most As the globe marks another World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, it's crucial to both acknowledge the significant strides made in the global battle against HIV and recognize the persistent challenges that remain. While the United States had seen a slow decline in the overall number of new HIV infections from 2017 to 2021, a closer look at the data reveals persistent disparities largely borne by LGBTQ people and communities of color.
	Four tips to help your loved one with dementia enjoy the festive season The festive season is fast approaching, and if you're organizing celebrations with family or friends, you might be grappling with a seemingly endless to-do list. But as you make these plans, it's important to consider how you can best include any friends or loved ones living with dementia.
	Artificial wombs could someday be a reality—here's how they may change our notions of parenthood Our reproductive lives are considerably different from those of our ancestors, thanks in part to health innovations that have taken place over the past few decades. Practices such as IVF, donor eggs and sperm, womb transplants, surrogacy and egg freezing, mean that for many, there's now more choice than ever before over whether, when and how to reproduce.
	The rising health crisis of congenital syphilis: What physicians can do Congenital syphilis, a disease passed to babies during pregnancy, is increasing worldwide, with between 700,000 and 1.5 million reported cases annually over the past eight years. The disease can cause stillbirths, disability and death. To better understand this issue, a team of UC Davis pediatricians wrote a literature review, published in the journal Children, to illuminate this rising health threat and offer potential countermeasures.
	Potential pitfalls when using the Cre-LoxP system in cancer research A new editorial paper has been published in Oncoscience, titled, "Be mindful of potential pitfalls when using the Cre-LoxP system in cancer research."
	Findings highlight importance of early monitoring and management of hypertension during and after pregnancy Hispanic/Latina women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP)—conditions marked by high blood pressure during pregnancy—are more likely to have abnormalities in their heart structure and function decades later when compared with women without a history of HDP, according to a National Institutes of Health-supported study.
	What is the difference between Alzheimer's and dementia? Alzheimer's and related forms of dementia are commonplace with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting that 5.8 million people in the United States live with these diseases. This number is expected to rise to 14 million by 2060.
	Rising cost of living puts spotlight on family meals Australian parents face similar barriers to delivering regular and nutritious meals as families did in the 1990s, amid increasing cost of living and time pressures that have been ignored for thirty years, according to new research.
	Maternal depressive symptoms linked to slower fetal growth Maternal depressive symptoms are associated with slower fetal growth rate in the critical rapid growth stage (CRGS) before delivery, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Network Open.
	STD specialists warn of shortage of vital syphilis drug As syphilis cases surge across America, a group representing the nation's STD specialists says members are reporting shortages of a drug essential to fighting the disease.
	Recommendations developed for sport-related concussion in children In a consensus statement issued by the International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport and published online Dec. 4 in Pediatrics, recommendations are presented for managing sport-related concussion among children and adolescents.
	CVD mortality similar with diuretic, ACE inhibitor, or calcium channel blocker For patients with hypertension and at least one other coronary heart disease risk factor, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality is similar for those receiving a thiazide-type diuretic, calcium channel blocker (CCB), or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Network Open.
	Bladder function disorders common in refractory nocturnal enuresis Children with refractory monosymptomatic (MNE) and nonmonosymptomatic (NMNE) primary nocturnal enuresis have considerable prevalence of bladder function disorders, according to a study published in the October issue of Health Science Reports.
	Middle ear pressure therapy aids vertigo symptoms Middle ear pressure therapy (MEPT) using the EFET01 device effectively controls vertigo symptoms with Meniere disease and delays endolymphatic hydrops (DEH), according to a study published online Nov. 23 in Acta Oto-Laryngologica.
	New model enhances precision in seizure localization for epilepsy patients A research team led by Prof. Zhan Yang from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has recently introduced a novel unsupervised dual-stream model based on adaptive graph convolution to predict seizure onset zones in epilepsy patients. The study is published in Neuroimage.
	Research examines how protein aggregates can trigger neurodegenerative diseases Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the deposition of clumped proteins in the brain and progressive neuronal cell death. Although the causal link between protein aggregates and neurodegeneration is clear, how misfolded proteins trigger cell death is not known.
	Mathematical dermatology: Unraveling the mechanism of urticaria from eruption shapes The skin is the largest organ in the human body and plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis as well as protecting the body from the outside environment. Skin diseases can be life-threatening or heavily impair patients' quality of life. Urticaria (also called "hives") is common, affecting at least one in five people in their lifetime, and can persist for years or even decades.
	Teens with epilepsy face higher odds for eating disorders Teenagers with epilepsy are more likely to have an eating disorder than those not suffering from the brain disease, a new study shows.
	Brain stimulation decreases involuntary shaking, researcher finds Neurosurgical treatment with deep brain stimulation in a relatively new target area has been shown to relieve involuntary tremors in Parkinson's disease and Essential Tremor for up to at least five and 10 years after treatment initiation. In addition, by using this target area, the operation could be performed under general anesthesia. This is shown in a thesis by Rasmus Stenmark Persson at Umeå University.
	Filling data gaps to assess the role of education in fertility decline Researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) have introduced an innovative methodology for reconstructing data on fertility and education, particularly in developing countries with inconsistent or unreliable data sets.
	Ovary-sparing hysterectomy may not offer protection against metabolic syndrome Having a hysterectomy, even if the ovaries are spared, may place women at greater risk for a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors known as metabolic syndrome, new research shows.
	Physical therapy for long COVID: Research shows patients benefit Studies show that those suffering from long COVID may benefit from physical therapy services as soon as they are able to tolerate physical activity, a PCOM Georgia assistant professor, who specializes in cardiopulmonary physical therapy, said.
	Research finds a new way to improve the accuracy and speed of radiology reporting Some diseases and conditions hide inside our bodies: calcified arteries that could cause a heart attack, infections, slight fractures in a bone, or even cancerous tumors. Special imaging, like X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans, makes them visible. But what's revealed in those bluish-tinted black-and-white pictures takes a highly discerning eye to decode.
	Training the immune system to prevent cancer—researchers discover paradigm-shifting approach As one of the most insidious diseases in the world, cancer has few treatments that work to eradicate it completely. Now, a new approach pioneered by two researchers working at the University of Missouri's Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building shows promising results in preventing lung cancer caused by a carcinogen in cigarettes—a discovery that immunologists Haval Shirwan and Esma Yolcu rank among the most significant of their careers.
	Unraveling the age-related cellular changes in osteosarcoma progression In a study published in the journal Genes & Diseases, scientists from Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, and Huazhong University of Science and Technology delve into the molecular intricacies of osteosarcoma in the elderly. The team investigated senescent cells, cells that no longer divide or grow, and their influence on tumor progression. A spotlight was cast on methylmalonic acid (MMA), a compound found in elevated levels in the elderly, known to be associated with aggressive cancer characteristics.
	YTHDF2's role in promoting acute myeloid leukemia: The key lies in microRNA processing In a study published in the journal Genes & Diseases, researchers from Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, explored the impact of m6A modification on the maturation process of precursor microRNAs (pre-miRNAs) and its potential role in tumorigenesis. They have uncovered a novel mechanism behind the progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a life-threatening blood cancer characterized by rapid expansion of abnormally differentiated hematopoietic cells.
	Complications from flu largely preventable with annual flu vaccine During National Influenza Vaccination Week (December 4-8, 2023), leading public health organizations are encouraging everyone to get a flu shot if they have not already done so. The flu is more than an inconvenience: it can lead to hospitalization, worsening of chronic medical conditions or even death. An annual flu vaccine is the best way to help prevent complications from the flu.
	What's behind the holiday-suicide myth? For more than two decades, the Annenberg Public Policy Center has tracked the ways in which news organizations erroneously link the year-end holiday season with suicide, perpetuating the false holiday-suicide myth. But as years of national data show, the winter holiday months usually have low average daily suicide rates, with December the lowest of all.
	Study shows advanced footwear technology positively impacts elite sprint performances A study published in PeerJ sheds light on the potential game-changing impact of advanced footwear technology (AFT) on elite sprint performances in track and field. The research, titled "The Potential Impact of Advanced Footwear Technology on the Recent Evolution of Elite Sprint Performances," reveals the significant strides made in sprint performance and suggests that AFT has played a pivotal role in these improvements.
	Increase in child suicide linked to the nation's opioid crisis The rise in child suicides in the U.S. since 2010 was fueled in part by the nation's opioid crisis, which previous studies found increased rates of child neglect and altered household living arrangements, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	Osteopontin induces mitochondrial biogenesis in deadherent cancer cells: Study A new research paper was published in Oncotarget is titled, "Osteopontin induces mitochondrial biogenesis in deadherent cancer cells."
	A European initiative aims to ensure fair trials for children and young people with special language needs Nearly 70% of children and young adults who face the justice system for committing a crime have serious language difficulties that affect their comprehension and expression skills. This severe disorder leaves them defenseless or unable to fully exercise their right to be heard and, consequently, exposed to harsher sentences than individuals without this disorder.
	Drug-resistant tuberculosis may be under-diagnosed, says genomic analysis in southern Mozambique A proportion of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) receive ineffective treatment due to misdiagnosis by rapid molecular tests, according to a genomic analysis carried out in southern Mozambique and co-led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a center supported by "la Caixa" Foundation, and the Institute of Biomedicine in Valencia (IBV), from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
	Do oral contraceptives affect muscle recovery after exercise? No, say researchers Recovering quickly from a tough training session or match is crucial for athletes' performance. Therefore, they must be aware of all the factors that may affect their recovery.
	Aspirin may benefit cancer treatments Aspirin is an inexpensive and readily available medication that could benefit cancer treatments, preventing metastatic cancer spread and reducing vascular complications, finds a new meta-analysis study.
	Adversity accelerates epigenetic aging in children with developmental delays, but positive parenting can reverse course Research has shown that children who experience adversity during their early years may undergo faster biological aging.
	Endovascular catheter opens blocked arteries deep within lungs The BASHIR Endovascular Catheter (THROMBOLEX, Inc.), recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is paving the way to more effective and safe treatment for acute pulmonary embolism.
	Research examines nutrition data's value from pregnancy to adolescence in understanding child health Collaborative ECHO research led by Megan Bragg, Ph.D., RD and Kristen Lyall, ScD of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute highlights the opportunity for researchers to access the large amount of diet information already collected from the ECHO Cohort. This research, titled "Opportunities for examining child health impacts of early-life nutrition in the ECHO Program: Maternal and child dietary intake data from pregnancy to adolescence," is published in Current Developments in Nutrition.
	Understanding diet's role in modifying risk of Alzheimer's disease In a detailed study, "Diet's Role in Modifying Risk of Alzheimers Disease: History and Present Understanding" published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, we can finally see which diets are helpful in reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The role of diet in modifying the risk of Alzheimer's disease is discussed in detail.
	Eating more oily fish may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, says study People with close relatives who have suffered from cardiovascular disease may benefit from eating more oily fish. This is according to a new study led by researchers from Karolinska Institutet and published in the journal Circulation.
	Primary care lessons for Canada from OECD countries To improve primary care, Canada can learn from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries with high rates of patients attached to primary care clinicians, write authors in an analysis in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
	Divided US high court hears challenge to $6bn Purdue opioid settlement The US Supreme Court appeared divided on Monday as it heard a challenge to Purdue Pharma's $6 billion opioids settlement immunizing the Sackler family that controlled the drugmaker from future litigation.
	More than 260,000 Penn Medicine patients have agreed to share their DNA for research Any changes in your medications or allergies? Check. New health issues since your last visit? Check.
	South Florida's HIV dilemma: How to prevent babies from being born with the disease As the international community observes World AIDS Day on Friday, doctors in South Florida confront a challenging reality: More women locally are getting HIV. A percentage of those women will become pregnant and give birth to babies who are infected.
	Members of the public to help stop insurers' bogus Medicare Advantage sales tactics After an unprecedented crackdown on misleading advertising claims by insurers selling private Medicare Advantage and drug plans, the Biden administration hopes to unleash a special weapon to make sure companies follow the new rules: you.
	DeSantis wants health care plan that would 'supersede' Obamacare. What does that mean? Seeking the GOP nomination for president, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in an interview that aired Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he plans on unveiling a health care proposal next year that would "supersede" Obamacare.
	Do you know the signs of inflammatory bowel disease? Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week will be observed Dec. 1–7, which makes this a good time to learn about the signs and symptoms of these disorders.
	Australia making progress but more needs to be done to eliminate hepatitis C: Report Australia has made great progress towards hepatitis C elimination, with an estimated 60% of people living with hepatitis C having already been treated, but more work is needed if Australia is to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030.
	'Pharmacy Forecast' identifies growing societal challenges expected to impact care Societal issues—including the growth in ultra-high-cost treatments, the epidemic of mental health and substance use disorders, climate change, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)— could alter how health systems serve their communities within five years, according to the latest annual ASHP/ASHP Foundation Pharmacy Forecast Report. The 2024 Pharmacy Forecast, released at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting & Exhibition, drew its findings from a survey of more than 250 pharmacy leaders from across the United States on key topics impacting health systems.
	Make sure kids' melatonin use 'isn't a Band-Aid for a larger issue,' says pediatrician Sleep-deprived parents may view that bottle of melatonin gummies on the store shelf as a golden ticket to finally getting their kids to sleep and getting some rest themselves.
	Mathematics supporting fresh theoretical approach in oncology A study by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) uses game theory to establish that tumors with less cellular heterogeneity are more aggressive
	Q&A: Why 'Jack Frost' may spoil winter plans for some with autoimmune diseases Most Coloradans look at winter as a time of excitement when the high country turns into our own winter wonderland with the opportunity to create lifelong memories. But for many who live with autoimmune diseases, the colder months may mean more pain, fatigue and unexpected disease flares that hamper the excitement of the snow and the holiday season.
	Q&A: Awareness, accessibility, and affordability are crucial for the early detection of thalassemia This article includes an interview with Dr. Androulla Eleftheriou, Executive Director at TIF, and Dr. Zhiyu Peng, Deputy GM at BGI Genomics, Head of the World Hemoglobinopathy Foundation

Other Sciences news

	Saturday Citations: Adorable kittens, violent pulsars, brand-new fusion reactor and a proposed giant cosmic void This week in our wrap up, we lull you into a false sense of security with adorable lion cubs then ambush you with terrifying pulsars. We do this not out of a sense of malice but to prepare your mind for the possibility of a giant cosmic void. Also, Japan has launched a new fusion research facility.
	'Unusual' ancient graves found near Arctic, but no remains discovered inside, study says Just south of the Arctic Circle, within the vast forests of northern Finland, lies a sandy field dotted with dozens of "unusual" pits.
	Best of Last Week—LK-99 not a superconductor, tricking ChatGPT into leaking data, behaviors guided by dopamine It was an interesting week for physics research as a team at the Austrian Academy of Sciences unveiled a new approach to the study of entanglement that they claim could significantly improve the understanding of entanglement in quantum materials. A team in South Korea had made worldwide headlines earlier this year when they claimed that the polycrystalline compound LK99 was superconductive at room temperature. Now, a small team at Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics has provided solid evidence that LK-99 is non-superconducting, disproving earlier claims. And officials at JT-60SA, currently the world's biggest experimental nuclear fusion reactor, announced that the facility had been officially inaugurated—housed in a hangar in Naka, Japan, the six-story machine uses a donut-shaped tokamak vessel to investigate the feasibility of using fusion as an energy source.
	Aging societies more vulnerable to collapse, suggests analysis Societies and political structures, like the humans they serve, appear to become more fragile as they age, according to an analysis of hundreds of pre-modern societies. A new study, which holds implications for the modern world, provides the first quantitative support for the theory that the resilience of political states decreases over time.
	Native American mothers separated from their children experience a raw, ongoing grief that has no end, says researcher Native American mothers whose children were separated from them—either through child removal for assimilation into residential boarding schools or through coerced adoption—experience the kind of grief no parent should ever feel. Yet theirs is a loss that is ongoing, with no sense of meaning or closure.
	Payment controversy over 'The Elephant Whisperers' provokes questions about documentary storytelling Months after the Indian film The Elephant Whisperers won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short at the Academy Awards this past March, the mahout (elephant rider or caretaker) couple Bomman and Bellie at the center of the film filed a legal notice.
	Researchers: Australia has its first framework for AI use in schools, but it needs to proceed with caution Federal and state governments have just released a national framework for generative AI in schools. This paves the way for generative AI—algorithms that can create new content—to be used routinely in classrooms around the country.
	9 out of 10 South African criminals reoffend, while in Finland it's 1 in 3—here is why A very large percentage of South Africans who are released from prison end up being rearrested and being convicted for crimes again. The country has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world.
	Online 'likes' for toxic social media posts prompt more—and more hateful—messages, researcher says The rampant increase of hate messages on social media is a scourge in today's technology-infused society. Racism, homophobia, xenophobia and even personal attacks on people who have the audacity to disagree with someone else's political opinion—these and other forms of online hate present an ugly side of humanity.
	Why all civilian lives matter equally, according to a military ethicist Some commentators have criticized Israel for causing what is claimed to be disproportionate harm to civilians in its military response to Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
	Sustainability schemes deployed by business most often ineffective, research reveals If you ever wondered what the weather might look like should global average temperatures rise 2C degrees above pre-industrial levels—the critical warming threshold the Paris Agreement seeks to prevent us from reaching—take your mind's eye back to Friday 17 November. That day, for the first time since records began, global surface air temperature briefly reached 2.07C above pre-industrial levels. While this does not mean that we have breached the global climate agreement's target, the frequency at which the mercury jumps over that line raises serious concern.
	The case of a persistent bully, from victim to perpetrator The new kid, the class clown, the popular kid, the troublemaker, or the loner. We all know children and young people who may be labeled in this way. In fact, many of these stereotypes have been depicted in Hollywood films.
	Conspiracy theories negatively affect their targets, new research shows New research from the University of Nottingham and Northumbria University has found that conspiracy theories about social groups can have significant negative effects on their members.
	Plugging the holes left by exiting colleagues can pay off, says researcher Colleagues who leave an organization vacate not only their jobs, but also their collaborative relationships with other employees—relationships that are an increasingly prominent feature of modern workplaces. The exit of a colleague is already known to open vacancy-driven promotion opportunities for employees who remain.
	Why is religious attendance linked to more anxiety in US South Asians? A study of older U.S. South Asians examines relationships between religious service attendance (temple, mosque, etc.), anxiety and feelings of emotional neglect by fellow congregation members. The research finds that among U.S. South Asians, those who attend religious services more often are also more likely to experience higher levels of anxiety. Further, much of this relationship can be attributed to feelings of being ignored or neglected by other members of the congregation.
	Decoupled direct payments make agriculture more productive, finds study Better alignment with the market is one of the goals pursued by the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in recent decades. One of the measures used to achieve this was to decouple direct payments from production. Agricultural economists at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have now found that this form of direct payments makes farms more productive. Despite higher productivity, the environmental impact remains at a comparable level.
	New study examines long-term negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on well-being of young people A study led by education professor Martin Neugebauer of Freie Universität Berlin and published in the European Sociological Review shows that young people's life satisfaction significantly declined during the pandemic. The decline was three times stronger than among the overall German population.
	Study shows how ethical brands fare in a recession A new study from the University of East Anglia reveals why some 'eco goods' may fare better than others as a UK recession looms. The new study, published today, shows that when money gets tight, people are more likely to keep up more expensive ethical purchases like buying fair trade products.
	Small publishers increasingly important for translated literature, researcher says Over the period 1970–2016, small publishing houses became increasingly important for the publication of literature in translation in Sweden. More than ever, Nobel laureates are being published by relatively small independent publishers. A specialization in translations often stems from a publisher's personal interest in a language or geographical area. These conclusions are drawn in a doctoral thesis submitted at Uppsala University.
	Consistency key to corporate expressions of racial solidarity, says study After violent incidents such as police shootings, and around annual observances like Black History Month, why do some corporate expressions of solidarity with marginalized groups register as genuine, while others may seem performative or even backfire?
	Equitable sentencing can mitigate anti-Black racism in Canada's justice system Black people continue to be overrepresented at all levels of the Canadian justice system. According to the Correctional Service of Canada, 9% of offenders in custody were Black in 2020–2021, despite only representing about 4% of Canada's population.
	Outcomes associated with participation in high-quality early care and education For decades, researchers have debated the long-term impact of early childhood education, sharing evidence that while some children experience positive long-term outcomes, others see initial benefits fade out—or even experience detrimental outcomes.
	Universities urged to turn campuses paperless to cut deforestation rates Universities will do the environment a good service and trim deforestation levels if they turn their campuses paperless, according to a study published as part of the 2022 Advances in Science and Engineering Technology International Conferences (ASET).
	Capital, canaries, or catalysts: Insurance industry's role in tackling climate change risks Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, canaries were used in coal mines to assess the risk of toxic gases. If the birds became ill or passed away, their fate served as a warning for miners to vacate the premises.
	New book anticipates a world of military robots, and the need to regulate them In our digitally mediated world, the atrocities of war are hard to ignore. Conflagrations in Europe (Ukraine–Russia), the Middle East (Israel–Hamas) and elsewhere relay images of death and destruction as quickly as our feeds can process them.

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