Science X Newsletter Wed, Dec 13

Dear ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 13, 2023:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

An approach to realize Potts annealing using single-photon avalanche diodes

Newly created ultra-hard material rivals diamond

Scientists tackle AI bias with polite prodding

Smartwatches can pick up abnormal heart rhythms in kids, study finds

Natural gas is actually migrating under permafrost, and could see methane emissions skyrocket if it escapes

Twenty-year study confirms California forests are healthier when burned, or thinned

Extracting uranium from seawater as another source of nuclear fuel

Male sea snakes may have evolved bigger eyes to help them find a mate

Global assessment of free-ranging cats shows they eat more types of creatures than previously thought

AI method for describing soft matter opens up new chapter in density functional theory

Closed-loop recycling of organic flexible electronic devices paves way for sustainable wearable electronics

New AI algorithm enables advanced real-time decoding for neurotechnologies

Unlike most other animals, Tasmanian devils only have one set of teeth

Physicists discover new quantum phases in low-dimensional polar systems

Revealing the secrets of the sun: How magnetic structures drive coronal rotation

Nanotechnology news

	Researchers develop a novel dry-powder inhaled vaccine platform Researchers from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have proposed a new "nano-micro composite" delivery concept for vaccines.
	Embedding nanodiamonds in polymer can advance quantum computing and biological studies A nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center is a defect in the crystal structure of diamond, where a nitrogen atom replaces a carbon atom in the diamond lattice and a neighboring site in the lattice is vacant. This and other fluorescent defects in diamond, known as color centers, have attracted researchers' attention owing to their quantum properties, such as single-photon emission at room temperature and with long coherence time. Their many applications include quantum information encoding and processing, and cell marking in biological studies.
	Advances in nanoscale carrier-based approaches to enhance efficacy of podophyllotoxin Podophyllotoxin (PPT), an aryltetralin-type lignan isolated from Podophyllum species, exhibits a wide range of biologic and pharmacologic activities, and mainly serves as an antiviral agent or antitumor drug in clinical applications.

Physics news

	AI method for describing soft matter opens up new chapter in density functional theory Scientists from Bayreuth have developed a new method for studying liquid and soft matter using artificial intelligence. In a study now published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, they open up a new chapter in density functional theory.
	Physicists discover new quantum phases in low-dimensional polar systems A new paper published in Nature Communications by a team of physicists at the U of A charted the discovery of new quantum phases in low-dimensional systems.
	A new method to fabricate optical devices that more closely match their design specifications Photolithography involves manipulating light to precisely etch features onto a surface, and is commonly used to fabricate computer chips and optical devices like lenses. But tiny deviations during the manufacturing process often cause these devices to fall short of their designers' intentions.
	Glassy shell of microscopic algae inspires tiny ultrasound detectors for medical imaging A multidisciplinary team of researchers from Skoltech has discovered the resonance frequencies of diatom frustules. These intricately structured silicon dioxide shells of single-celled microalgae provide a promising model for nature-inspired electronic and optical devices, such as tiny ultrasound detectors for advanced medical imaging and components for ultrafast signal processing in microchips of the future.
	Discovery of magnetic liquid crystal: First direct observation of spin quadrupole moments in a spin-nematic phase Liquid crystal is a state of matter that exhibits properties of both liquid and solid. It can flow like a liquid, while its constituent molecules are aligned as in a solid. Liquid crystal is widely used nowadays, for example, as a core element of LCD devices.
	Researchers create stable hybrid laser by 3D printing micro-optics onto fibers For the first time, researchers have shown that 3D-printed polymer-based micro-optics can withstand the heat and power levels that occur inside a laser. The advance enables inexpensive, compact, and stable laser sources that would be useful in a variety of applications, including the lidar systems used for autonomous vehicles.
	Q&A: Understanding coordination mechanisms in decentralized systems Did you know that when a group of robots or bacteria moves in a space where there are several free objects, they deflect these objects so they can pass? An international research team managed to show that the trail left by this movement contributes to the formation of groups, functioning as an effective communication mechanism between them, in a study now published in Nature Communications.

Earth news

	Natural gas is actually migrating under permafrost, and could see methane emissions skyrocket if it escapes Beneath Svalbard's permafrost, millions of cubic meters of methane are trapped—and scientists have now learned that it can migrate beneath the cold seal of the permafrost and escape. A large-scale escape could create a cycle of warming that would send methane emissions skyrocketing: warming thaws the permafrost, causing more gas to escape, allowing more permafrost to thaw and more gas to be released.
	Pacific Northwest snowpack endangered by increasing spring heat waves Even in the precipitation-heavy Pacific Northwest, more frequent heat waves are threatening a key source of water supply.
	Great frigatebirds wearing backpacks map the atmosphere Scientists often field check their findings, heading outside to see if computer models match with what is happening in the real world. But doing so is challenging when the field is two and a half miles up. Enter a new field assistant: The great frigatebird.
	Satellite-based method measures carbon in peat bogs Peat bogs in the tropics store vast amounts of carbon, but logging, plantations, road building, and other activities have destroyed large swaths of these ecosystems in places like Indonesia and Malaysia. Peat formations are essentially permanently flooded forestlands, where dead leaves and branches accumulate because the water table prevents their decomposition.
	Electric vehicles improve air quality for everyone but have less impact in more polluted areas, study finds Although electric vehicle ownership is higher in wealthier neighborhoods than in disadvantaged ones, EVs improve air quality in all communities, a UCLA study found.
	Cyclone Jasper makes landfall in Australia Tropical Cyclone Jasper hit northeast Australia Wednesday, leaving thousands of people in coastal communities without power and preparing for potentially "life-threatening" floods.
	Dubai summit adopts world-first 'transition' from fossil fuels Nearly 200 nations meeting in Dubai on Wednesday approved a first-ever call for the world to transition away from fossil fuels, the top culprit of climate change behind a planetary crisis.
	Investigation shows inequity in US wildfire emergency response Recent U.S. wildfire events—including the 2023 Maui wildfire in Hawaii, the 2022 Hermit's Peak/Calf Canyon fire in New Mexico, and the 2020 Cameron Peak Fire in Colorado—are tragic examples of how disadvantaged communities can suffer most during and after a wildfire.
	From wildfires to melting sea ice, the warmest summer on record had cascading impacts across the Arctic The year 2023 shattered the record for the warmest summer in the Arctic, and people and ecosystems across the region felt the impact.
	COP28: countries have pledged to cut emissions from cooling—here's how to make it happen Cast your eyes over the statistics in a new report I helped author on staying cool in a warming climate and the urgency becomes clear: 1 billion people, mostly in Africa and Asia, are at high risk from extreme heat because they lack access to cooling, while a further 2.9 billion only have intermittent access. As the climate crisis deepens, close to half of the world's people have little defense against deadly heat.
	Our cities will need to harvest stormwater in an affordable and green way—here's how When it rains, stormwater runs down surfaces like streets and parking lots and into drains. Most of the time, we see it as a problem because it can cause floods. Recent storms across eastern Australia created huge amounts of stormwater and flooding.
	We rely heavily on groundwater—but pumping too much threatens thousands of underground species Groundwater is the world's largest unfrozen freshwater reserve. Australia's Great Artesian Basin alone holds enough water to fill Sydney Harbour 130,000 times. Worldwide, groundwater provides drinking water for half the world's population. Countries like Denmark and Austria rely entirely on it for drinking water.
	How to assess the carbon footprint of a war We know that war is bad for the environment, with toxic chemicals left polluting the soil and water for decades after fighting ceases. Much less obvious are the carbon emissions from armed conflicts and their long-term impacts on the climate.
	River deltas are threatened by more than climate change—leaving hundreds of millions of people at risk Perilously situated between rising sea levels and pressures from upstream lie coastal river deltas and their roughly half a billion inhabitants. These regions have played an important role in societal development since the last ice age, offering flat, fertile lands with abundant freshwater which are ideal for agriculture.
	Researchers unveil mechanisms behind ozone pollution in China's Yangtze River Delta Recently, a research group led by Prof. Xie Pinhua from Hefei lnstitutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), revealed the source and transport mechanisms behind an episode of ozone pollution observed in Hefei, a city located in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region of China.
	Helping more people get to safety in a wildfire Wildfires pose an increasing threat to communities at the wildland-urban interface (WUI)—where dry, flammable vegetation borders backyards, often in remote locations. Despite the well-known danger, many communities at highest risk do not have a strong wildfire evacuation plan in place. (One of these was the town of Lahaina on Maui, where wind-driven wildfires killed nearly 100 people in August 2023.)
	Researchers use deep learning to enhance spatial, temporal resolution of coarse precipitation maps Strong precipitation may cause natural disasters, such as floodings or landslides. Global climate models are required to forecast the frequency of these extreme events, which is expected to change as a result of climate change. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now developed a first method based on artificial intelligence (AI), by means of which the precision of coarse precipitation fields generated by global climate models can be increased.
	How to give gifts with the planet in mind The holidays can put the eco-conscious in a tricky spot. On one hand, the holidays are synonymous with the gift giving: What would Christmas be without Santa and his overstuffed sleigh? And other faiths, of course, share in different traditions around the theme of surprising and delighting the people we love. But considering the enormous amount of waste flowing into landfills, not to mention the tremendous strain on natural resources—and the pocketbook—how can one give in a responsible way?
	Wildfires found to also impact aquatic ecosystems In devasting cases dotting the globe in recent years, climate warming has led to an increase in the number and severity of destructive wildfires. Climate change projections indicate that environmental and economic damage from wildfires will spread and escalate in the years ahead.
	COP28's commitment to transforming farming and food systems is an insult to Africans Globally, food systems are unsustainable: 80% of the production of food is powered by fossil fuels. The food system is responsible for over one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. It is the primary driver of biodiversity loss. The COP28 climate change conference has issued a declaration on sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems. An expert on food systems, Florian Kroll, sets out why the COP28 commitments are inadequate.
	The NZ aviation industry is making bold climate claims—and risking anti-greenwashing litigation On the same day last week that Air New Zealand announced the purchase of its first fully electric aircraft, Christchurch Airport announced it had reached "a new standard for decarbonization". On the face of it, great news for reducing aviation emissions in Aotearoa.
	Dubai deal hailed as 'beginning of end' for fossil fuels The world for the first time on Wednesday approved a call to transition away from fossil fuels as UN negotiations in Dubai tackled the top culprit behind climate change, but at-risk countries said far more action was needed.
	Three ways sustainable businesses can prepare for climate challenges From supply chain disruption to regulatory compliance pressure, companies experience bottom-line impacts of climate change every day. Accounting for environmental disruptions and transitions is essential to corporate risk management and resilience plans.

Astronomy and Space news

	Revealing the secrets of the sun: How magnetic structures drive coronal rotation Solar rotation, a fundamental characteristic of the sun, is second in importance only to the Schwabe cycle, an approximately 11-year cycle. The energy and matter of the solar atmosphere originate from the interior of the sun and drive the rotation of the solar atmosphere from the inside out.
	Spectroscopic data from atmospheric green ghost captured for the first time A team of astronomers from Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, CSIC, Glorieta de la Astronomía, and Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya has captured spectroscopy data from a mesospheric green ghost for the first time.
	Some icy exoplanets may have habitable oceans and geysers A NASA study expands the search for life beyond our solar system by indicating that 17 exoplanets (worlds outside our solar system) could have oceans of liquid water, an essential ingredient for life, beneath icy shells. Water from these oceans could occasionally erupt through the ice crust as geysers.
	Webb identifies tiniest free-floating brown dwarf Brown dwarfs are sometimes called failed stars, since they form like stars through gravitational collapse, but never gain enough mass to ignite nuclear fusion. The smallest brown dwarfs can overlap in mass with giant planets. In a quest to find the smallest brown dwarf, astronomers using the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope have found the new record-holder: an object weighing just three to four times the mass of Jupiter.
	Unlocking the secrets of fast radio bursts: More pieces to the puzzle of mysterious space signals A team of SETI Institute scientists has unveiled new insights into a cosmic mystery known as Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). The discovery and detailed observation of the repeating FRB 20220912A, made at the SETI Institute's refurbished Allen Telescope Array (ATA), shed light on the nature of these space signals.
	Geminids meteor shower peaks this week under dark skies The year's best meteor shower, the Geminids, peaks this week. Skygazers may see as many as one or even two a minute streaking across dark skies.
	Engineers working to resolve issue with Voyager 1 computer Engineers are working to resolve an issue with one of Voyager 1's three onboard computers, called the flight data system (FDS). The spacecraft is receiving and executing commands sent from Earth; however, the FDS is not communicating properly with one of the probe's subsystems, called the telecommunications unit (TMU). As a result, no science or engineering data is being sent back to Earth.
	New NASA satellite to unravel mysteries about clouds, aerosols Some of the same properties of light and optics that make the sky blue and cause rainbows can also help scientists unlock mysteries about cloud formation and the effects of tiny particles in our air.
	The positions of stars on an ancient navigation device tell us when it was made Astrolabes serve two purposes. First, they are useful as an astronomical tool, especially for finding a ship's latitude. But second, they are works of art in themselves. Besides having to be precise, many are beautiful. They are even seeing a resurgence in popularity as collectors lap up even those made by modern manufacturing processes because of their aesthetic appeal.
	Astronomy toolkit allows users to create their own sky map, find the weirdest stars and explore the surface of the moon A new set of tools for astronomers and planetary explorers use interactive visual analytics and machine learning to reveal and contrast properties of objects in our galaxy.

Technology news

	An approach to realize Potts annealing using single-photon avalanche diodes Massively parallel annealing processors, where the computing nodes on a single processor can simultaneously perform a series of coordinated operations, could have a huge potential for tackling complex sampling and optimization problems. Electronics engineers and physicists worldwide have thus been trying to devise new approaches that enable the realization of these devices.
	Scientists tackle AI bias with polite prodding The troubling presence of racial bias in AI output may be easier to contain than many thought. Scientists at AI research company Anthropic say a little politeness may just do the trick, at least in some instances.
	Extracting uranium from seawater as another source of nuclear fuel Oceans cover most of Earth's surface and support a staggering number of lifeforms, but they're also home to a dilute population of uranium ions. And—if we can get these particular ions out of the water—they could be a sustainable fuel source to generate nuclear power.
	Closed-loop recycling of organic flexible electronic devices paves way for sustainable wearable electronics A research team led by Professor Kyoseung Sim in the Department of Chemistry at UNIST has achieved a milestone in sustainable wearable devices. Their cutting-edge method enables closed-loop recycling of organic electronic materials, addressing environmental concerns and paving the way for a sustainable future in the electronic device industry.
	Cognitive strategies for augmenting the body with a wearable, robotic arm Neuroengineer Silvestro Micera has developed advanced technological solutions to help people regain sensory and motor functions that have been lost due to traumatic events or neurological disorders. Until now, he had never before worked on enhancing the human body and cognition with the help of technology.
	Researchers develop spintronic probabilistic computers compatible with current AI Researchers at Tohoku University and the University of California, Santa Barbara, have shown a proof-of-concept of energy-efficient computer compatible with current AI. It utilizes a stochastic behavior of nanoscale spintronics devices and is particularly suitable for probabilistic computation problems such as inference and sampling.
	This adaptive roof tile can cut both heating and cooling costs About half of an average American building's energy consumption is spent on heating and cooling. That's a lot of money spent, fossil fuel burned and strain on an aging energy infrastructure during times of severe temperatures.
	Understanding attention in large language models Chatbot users often recommend treating a series of prompts like a conversation, but how does the chatbot know what you're referring back to? A new study reveals the mechanism used by transformer models—like those driving modern chatbots—to decide what to pay attention to.
	A new system for producing green hydrogen cheaply and efficiently What does it take to produce green hydrogen more efficiently and cheaply? Apparently, small ruthenium particles and a solar-powered system for water electrolysis. This is the solution proposed by a joint team involving the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (Italian Institute of Technology, IIT) of Genoa, and BeDimensional S.p.A. (an IIT spin-off).
	Pew survey: YouTube tops teens' social-media diet, with roughly a sixth using it almost constantly Teen usage of social media hasn't dropped much, despite rising concerns about its effects on the mental health of adolescents, a survey from the Pew Research Institute found.
	US proposes replacing engine-housing parts on Boeing jets like one involved in passenger's death Federal officials are proposing modifications and additional inspections on nearly 2,000 Boeing planes in the United States to prevent a repeat of the engine-housing breakup that killed a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight in 2018.
	Big tech stumbles in Google's Epic defeat Google' stinging defeat against Fortnite-maker Epic Games in a California courtroom could be an important blow against big tech's decades of supremacy on antitrust matters in the United States.
	Netflix releases vast viewing data for first time Netflix for the first time published detailed viewing figures about thousands of its shows and movies Tuesday, offering an unprecedented glimpse into the world-leading streaming platform's top hits and highest-profile flops.
	EU backs rules to improve app workers' conditions The European Parliament and EU member states struck a landmark deal Wednesday to strengthen conditions for those working through apps, such as ride-hailing drivers.
	Free electric vehicle charging at work? It's possible with optimum solar The global surge in electric vehicle sales has prompted an Australian university to explore how it could offer free or nominal EV charging facilities to staff and students by optimizing its solar PV system and minimizing workplace electricity costs.
	Can AI be too good to use? Much of the discussion around implementing artificial intelligence systems focuses on whether an AI application is "trustworthy": Does it produce useful, reliable results, free of bias, while ensuring data privacy? But a new paper published Dec. 7 in Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence poses a different question: What if an AI is just too good?
	Engineers design safer and more comfortable football equipment The University of Missouri football team has been on a hot streak this season, ranking nationally and dominating games against SEC rivals. Now, Mizzou engineering students are designing new equipment to make sure players stay comfortable on the field.
	Why a new wave of solar panels may lose their spark too soon The newest photovoltaic systems may promise to be the most efficient ever produced, but question marks about their longevity mean they risk proving to be a false economy.
	Stanford launches emerging-tech project co-led by Hoover Institution's Condoleezza Rice Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is helping lead a new Stanford University initiative to provide "one-stop shopping" for government, businesses and the public to obtain timely information about new and evolving technologies.
	Like cereal, AI needs 'nutrition labels,' AI CEO Q&A People should demand transparency in artificial intelligence like they do in their breakfast food, says Mike Capps, whose Raleigh company Howso allows users to see how AI arrives at its conclusions.
	California will mandate electric school buses. But rural districts say they don't work In California's vast northern rural school districts, with their mountain passes and long, snowy winters, the typical electric bus' range is not nearly enough. West Valley is one of Lassen High's nearest athletic opponents. One of the farthest, Yreka High, is 169 miles away.
	Humanoid robot working in a Spanx warehouse In what GXO Logistics calls "a proof-of-concept pilot," a human-centric machine by that name is moving tote boxes in a Spanx warehouse in Flowery Branch, Georgia, that is managed by the global, Connecticut-based company. The 5-foot, 9-inch robot does "repetitive tasks" in a warehouse like moving items onto conveyor belts, according to GXO spokeswoman Fallon McLoughlin.
	Musk's X 2023 ad sales projected to slump to about $2.5 billion Elon Musk's X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, is on track to bring in roughly $2.5 billion in advertising revenue in 2023—a significant slump from prior years, according to people familiar with the matter.
	Tesla recalls nearly all vehicles sold in US to fix system that monitors drivers using Autopilot Tesla is recalling nearly all vehicles sold in the U.S., more than 2 million, to update software and fix a defective system that's supposed to ensure drivers are paying attention when using Autopilot.
	New EU gig worker rules will sort out who should get the benefits of full-time employees In a bid to improve working conditions for people who deliver food and offer rides through smartphone apps, the European Union gave provisional approval Wednesday to rules that determine who should get the benefits of full-time employees and restrict the way online platforms use algorithms to manage their workers.
	OpenAI to pay Axel Springer to use journalism in ChatGPT Axel Springer said Wednesday it was partnering up with the maker of ChatGPT, OpenAI, which will pay the German media group to include its journalism in responses generated by the chatbot.
	What Tesla Autopilot does, why it's being recalled and how the company plans to fix it Tesla introduced Autopilot software in October of 2015 with CEO Elon Musk heralding it as a profound experience for people.
	Light-stimulated adaptive artificial synapse based on nanocrystalline metal-oxide film The quest for more efficient and versatile computing methods has given rise to innovative solutions, moving beyond traditional digital architectures. The limitations of the von Neumann architecture, which separates memory from processing units, have prompted the exploration of new frontiers in artificial intelligence.
	Resource-efficient, climate-friendly sodium-ion batteries The transition to a society without fossil fuels means that the need for batteries is increasing at a rapid pace. At the same time, the increase will mean a shortage of the metals lithium and cobalt, which are key components in the most common battery types. One option is a sodium-ion battery, where table salt and biomass from the forest industry make up the main raw materials.
	Once is enough: Helping robots learn quickly in new environments Alone at home, your bones creaky due to old age, you crave a cool beverage. You turn to your robot and say, "Please get me a tall glass of water from the refrigerator." Your AI-trained companion obliges. Soon, your thirst is quenched.
	Copy and paste: New AI tool helps computers interpret the world Copy and paste: It's a simple concept. You define some text or image on your computer, copy it, and paste it where you want it. Now, think of that new leather sofa you crave. Popular augmented reality (AR) apps allow you to cut and paste an image of the sofa into a photo of your living room to see if you like it before buying.
	Apple now requires court orders in U.S. to access push notification data Apple is now requiring that U.S. law enforcement agencies obtain a court order for information on its customers' push notifications, the alerts that iPhone apps send users that can reveal a lot about their online activity.
	More range for electric vehicle batteries on the horizon A seemingly simple shift in lithium-ion battery manufacturing could pay big dividends, improving electric vehicles' (EV) ability to store more energy per charge and to withstand more charging cycles, according to new research led by the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
	Women may pay a 'mom penalty' when AI is used in hiring, research suggests Maternity-related employment gaps may cause job candidates to be unfairly screened out of positions for which they are otherwise qualified, according to new research from NYU Tandon School of Engineering.
	E-cars will soon be cheaper than combustion engine vehicles, German researchers say As early as 2025, an average midsize battery-electric vehicle will be cheaper than a comparable combustion engine vehicle. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich. The researchers developed a model that they used to assess the expected future costs in the transport sector and look at the resulting scenarios for achieving climate protection goals.
	China shows off homegrown C919 jet in Hong Kong China's new domestically produced passenger jet made its debut outside the mainland on Wednesday, with international media in Hong Kong getting their first up-close look.
	With eye on China, Dutch and Koreans vow stronger chip ties The leaders of South Korea and the Netherlands vowed Wednesday to bolster co-operation in the critical semiconductor sector, amid growing tensions between China and the West over the technology.

Chemistry news

	Newly created ultra-hard material rivals diamond Scientists have solved a decades-long puzzle and unveiled a near unbreakable substance that could rival diamond as the hardest material on Earth. The research is published in the journal Advanced Materials.
	A new bioimaging method for speeding up and simplifying chemicals identification in tissues Scientists associated with the international software project MZmine, led by Dr. Robin Schmid and Dr. Tomáš Pluskal from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, have come up with a new piece of software that significantly speeds up and simplifies the identification of chemicals in tissues.
	Crystal language empowers AI to design novel materials with desired properties Over the past decade, generative deep learning models have been applied successfully to the design of novel drug molecules, organic synthesis routes, and functional molecules tailored for electronic/optoelectronic devices. This is largely enabled by the availability of SMILES representation for molecules—an invertible and invariant representation well-suited for natural language processing models like recurrent neural networks, transformers, etc.
	Next-generation nanocatalysts to revolutionize active electron transfer Various molecular systems have been developed by researchers for photoinduced (i.e., light-driven) electron transfer, including supramolecules, hybrid materials, and organic polymeric systems. While these systems fulfill the distance criterion required by the electron donor and acceptor for efficient electron transfer, they frequently fall short in accommodating molecular motion, especially in fluid environments. Is there a viable approach to design a system that facilitates electron transfer without succumbing to these limitations?
	Study presents new pathway for electrochemically controlling ion selectivity A new study by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign advances fundamental knowledge about the role of solvation in ion binding and presents a new pathway for electrochemically controlling ion selectivity. The study was published in JACS Au.
	Nonalcoholic beer: New techniques craft flavorful brews without the buzz The holiday season for me includes socializing over drinks with friends and family. But all the celebrating tends to catch up with my waistline, and by New Year's Day, it's time to get back in shape. Besides vowing to hit the gym more, my approach involves a "Dry January." But as someone who teaches brewing science, spends a lot of time around breweries and bars, and thoroughly loves beer, abstaining is no easy task.
	New chemical method advances toward targeted RNA medicine Targeted drugs aim to pinpoint the exact location in the body where diseased tissue is located and where the medicine is required. The manifold benefits of administering a targeted drug include heightened efficacy, as the drug is meticulously designed for specificity, thereby reducing side effects, and minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Consequently, this approach enhances the patient's quality of life during treatment.

Biology news

	Twenty-year study confirms California forests are healthier when burned, or thinned A 20-year experiment in the Sierra Nevada confirms that different forest management techniques—prescribed burning, restoration thinning or a combination of both—are effective at reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire in California.
	Male sea snakes may have evolved bigger eyes to help them find a mate A trio of marine scientists from Macquarie University, working with a colleague from the Australian Institute of Marine Science, all in Australia, has found evidence suggesting that male aipysurine sea snakes have evolved to have relatively large eyes as a means to find female mates underwater.
	Global assessment of free-ranging cats shows they eat more types of creatures than previously thought A small team of environmental and wildlife specialists from the U.S., France, Australia and New Zealand has found via study of prior research efforts that cats eat a wider variety of other creatures than previously known.
	Unlike most other animals, Tasmanian devils only have one set of teeth A Tasmanian devil expert has uncovered an evolutionary quirk that sets carnivorous marsupials apart from the crowd—and the secret lies behind their smiles.
	Researchers build a physical model to probe the creative destruction inside cells Researchers at Princeton University have demonstrated the mechanics behind a key process in living cells, where liquid droplets form and carry out complex tasks within the intricate polymer scaffolds that crisscross the cells' interiors.
	New study identifies the best areas for rewilding European bison At the end of the last ice age, large herds of bison roamed across Europe. But by 1927, the European bison became extinct in the wild, with only about 60 individuals remaining in captivity. Scientists have long debated the exact causes of the grazers' near extinction, and how much humans were to blame.
	A sugar analysis could reveal different types of cancer In the future, a little saliva may be enough to detect an incipient cancer. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have developed an effective way to interpret the changes in sugar molecules that occur in cancer cells.
	How forests smell: Investigating how biodiversity affects the atmosphere Plants emit odors for a variety of reasons, such as to communicate with one another, to deter herbivores or to respond to changing environmental conditions. An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Leipzig University, the Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS) and the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) carried out a study to investigate how biodiversity influences the emission of these substances.
	Tagged turtles and 3D ocean current maps reveal loggerheads' navigation mechanisms A study published in the Journal of The Royal Society Interface has revealed new insights into the navigational strategies of sea turtles during their pre-reproductive migration.
	Research discovers that mice possess a natural gene therapy system A previously mysterious small RNA molecule in mice is found to play a crucial role in gene expression, and may be the first identified member of a new class of regulatory RNAs.
	Measuring 3D pores for better wound healing Biomedical engineers at Duke University have developed a method to identify and characterize the empty spaces between particles in any packed structure. By mapping out these empty spaces, researchers can better understand how cells and other phenomena will respond to their surroundings.
	Cell types in the eye have ancient evolutionary origins Karthik Shekhar and his colleagues raised a few eyebrows as they collected cow and pig eyes from Boston butchers, but those eyes—eventually from 17 separate species, including humans—are providing insights into the evolution of the vertebrate retina and could lead to better animal models for human eye diseases.
	A surprisingly simple expression for enzyme activity could help guide biotechnologists A surprising relationship that governs the activity of enzymes—the molecules that catalyze almost all the chemical reactions of life—has been uncovered by three RIKEN scientists. This finding could help researchers to select and design the best enzymes for use in biotechnology applications. The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Earliest evidence for domestic yak found using both archaeology and ancient DNA The high-altitude hero of the Himalayas, yak are among the few large animals that can survive the extremely cold, harsh and oxygen-poor conditions of the Tibetan Plateau. In the mountainous regions of Asia, yak and yak–cattle hybrids serve as vital sources of meat, milk, transportation and fuel. However, little is known about their history: when or where yak were domesticated.
	Beef farming that keeps cattle on lifelong grass diets may have higher carbon footprint Beef operations that keep cattle on lifelong grass-based diets may have an overall higher carbon footprint than those that switch cattle to grain-based diets partway through their lives. Daniel Blaustein-Rejto of the Breakthrough Institute, U.S., and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on December 13.
	Scientists identify biosynthetic pathway of chemotherapeutic derived from yew trees Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology have unraveled the biosynthetic pathway of paclitaxel in yew plants, a chemotherapeutic for cancer treatment. This discovery might facilitate the production of this very complex molecule which is currently produced with great efforts and high costs.
	Eelgrass proves to be evolutionarily much younger than we thought Eelgrass, one of the most abundant plants in the ocean, originated in Japan before spreading around the globe. Now, scientists have shed light on both when and how eelgrass adapted and evolved throughout its history.
	AI provides more accurate analysis of prehistoric and modern animals A new Rice University study of the remains of prehistoric and modern African antelopes found that AI technology accurately identified animals more than 90% of the time compared to humans, who had much lower accuracy rates depending on the expert.
	Cells found to move differently in groups than they do when alone A protein that helps generate the force needed for single cells to move works differently in cells moving in groups, a new study shows.
	Saving endangered species: New AI method counts manatee clusters in real time Manatees are endangered species volatile to the environment. Because of their voracious appetites, they often spend up to eight hours a day grazing for food within shallow waters, making them vulnerable to environmental changes and other risks.
	Research reveals a rare enzyme role change with bacterial defense system assembly Scientists have revealed a never-before-seen phenomenon in a protein: Alone, the enzyme processes DNA and RNA but, when bound to another protein as part of a defense system, interacts with a completely different type of compound to help bacteria commit suicide.
	New embryo-like model simulates early human blood production University of Pittsburgh researchers have developed a new embryo-like model derived from adult cells that replicates key features of early human development, including the generation of blood cells.
	Scientist show trees in wetter regions are more sensitive to drought This holiday season brings surprising news about your Christmas tree. Scientists just discovered that globally, trees growing in wetter regions are more sensitive to drought. That means if your tree hails from a more humid clime, it's likely been spoiled for generations.
	The shape of dogs' heads affects their sleep, according to study Flat-faced dog breeds are popular all over the world. In the U.S. and in Hungary, the French bulldog is currently the most common breed. However, their popularity comes at a high cost in terms of health: Shortened skulls are associated with deteriorative brain morphology changes, breathing difficulties and sleep problems.
	Researchers predict protein placement on atomic force microscopy substrates Researchers at Kanazawa University report in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences a computational method to predict the placement of proteins on AFM substrates based on electrostatic interactions
	Study overturns conventional wisdom about wild turkey nesting survival A new study finds that precipitation levels during nesting season are not related to reproductive success for wild turkeys, which runs counter to the conventional wisdom regarding the role that rainfall plays in wild turkey nesting success. The findings shed new light on how climate change may affect wild turkey populations.
	Research looks to flip commercial fishing method to aid species conservation A QUT researcher has suggested a technology widely used by fishing fleets to attract open ocean species could be used in Marine Protected Areas to protect, conserve and sustain exploited fish species. The study is published in Conservation Letters.
	New salmon habitat created by melting glaciers could be threatened by mining claims, study finds Thousands of salmon on the West Coast of North America are finding their way into new streams left behind as glaciers retreat. But a new study suggests mining companies are too keen on the newly exposed mineral deposits beneath the shrinking glaciers—and few policies are in place to protect the emerging habitats.
	Study suggests boosting beaver populations could have toxic consequences Beavers are influential animals in ecosystems. These dam-building, tree-chewing rodents change streamflow with their wooden barriers and create rich wetland habitats by diverting water into soils near rivers. They help conserve water and improve biodiversity.
	Biodiversity modeling advances to improve predictions of nature's contributions to people People depend on nature in a multitude of ways. Crop pollination, pest management, storm buffering, and carbon capturing are all part of nature's contributions to people (NCP). But these contributions are subject to change—species that make vital contributions may migrate or even go extinct due to climate change or habitat loss. Forecasting these changes is challenging, but also essential to ensure that humans are adequately prepared to respond.
	Drug-resistant fungus is on the rise worldwide, says molecular biologist The Candida auris fungus is spreading across the globe at an "alarming" speed. This species of fungus, which can cause fatal infections in risk groups and was first discovered only 10 years ago, can now be found all over the world. In nearly all cases, infections are contracted in hospitals, and the fungus has become resistant to all current drugs. Molecular biologist Auke de Jong, who is conducting research to try to understand the fungus, will be defending his Ph.D. thesis on 22 December in the Agnietenkapel in Amsterdam.
	Aquatic insects in restored streams need more rocks to lay their eggs Likening it to providing more runways at busy airports, researchers at North Carolina State University found in a new study that adding protruding rocks to restored streams can help attract female aquatic insects that lay their eggs on the rock bottoms or sides.
	New genetic vulnerability to herbicide found in nearly 50 sweet and field corn lines When a sweet corn breeder reached out in 2021 to report severe injury from the herbicide tolpyralate, Marty Williams hoped it was a fluke isolated to a single inbred line.
	Singapore bids farewell to China-bound panda cub Singaporeans bid farewell to a two-year-old panda cub on Wednesday as authorities prepared to send him to China where he will join the country's breeding program.
	Three orphaned mountain lion cubs rescued in San Diego Three orphaned mountain lion cubs were recently rescued by the University of California, Davis' Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The cubs—approximately six weeks old at the time of their rescue—were found separately following an extensive search over the span of a week.
	Invasive species threaten marine biodiversity in Danish waters Not all new underwater residents are polite. Some overshadow other species or gorge themselves on food sources at the expense of the species already living there. There is little data on invasive species in the Danish waters, fjords, and streams, but with the help of an underwater robot and DNA analyses, we can gain much more knowledge quickly and relatively cheaply.

Medicine and Health news

	Smartwatches can pick up abnormal heart rhythms in kids, study finds Smartwatches can help physicians detect and diagnose irregular heart rhythms in children, according to a new study from the Stanford School of Medicine.
	New AI algorithm enables advanced real-time decoding for neurotechnologies Maryam Shanechi, Dean's Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Founding Director of the USC Center for Neurotechnology, and her Ph.D. students have developed a new, advanced deep-learning method for brain signals that can perform real-time decoding to significantly advance neurotechnologies. This work has been published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
	Study discovers cause of pregnancy sickness, and potential treatment A Cambridge-led study has shown why many women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy—and why some women, including the Duchess of Cambridge, become so sick they need to be admitted to hospital.
	Observations in mice hint at role of daydreams in remodeling the brain You are sitting quietly, and suddenly your brain tunes out the world and wanders to something else entirely—perhaps a recent experience, or an old memory. You just had a daydream. Yet despite the ubiquity of this experience, what is happening in the brain while daydreaming is a question that has largely eluded neuroscientists.
	Senior physicians may care for fewer Medicaid and racial/ethnic minority patients than junior physicians Senior physicians may avoid seeing racial minorities and lower paying Medicaid-insured patients compared to junior physicians in the same practice, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
	Research shows how stress activates neurons that disrupt sleep New research reveals that neurons in the preoptic hypothalamus—the region of the brain that regulates sleep and body temperature—are rhythmically activated during non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM). Stress activates these brain cells out of turn, causing "microarousals," that interrupt sleep cycles and decrease the duration of sleep episodes, according to research from Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, published in Current Biology.
	Tobacco smoke exposure linked to increased risk of tuberculosis Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have identified a potential mechanism by which tobacco smoking drives a type of white blood cell known as monocytes to the lung where they can increase the risk of active tuberculosis (TB).
	Deep neural networks show promise as models of human hearing Computational models that mimic the structure and function of the human auditory system could help researchers design better hearing aids, cochlear implants, and brain-machine interfaces. A new study from MIT has found that modern computational models derived from machine learning are moving closer to this goal.
	Translating the language of brain cells to figure out what goes wrong in diseases of the brain Despite all our cells sharing the same DNA, there are thousands of different cell types in the human brain, each with a unique structure and function. One longstanding problem in neuroscience is determining how genes are switched on and off to form the mosaic of different cell types within the brain. Scientists from University of California San Diego School of Medicine have published two new studies that bring us closer to solving this mystery.
	Mpox vaccine triggers equally strong immune response with smaller doses in people with or without HIV, finds study Delivering the two-dose mpox vaccine, called JYNNEOS, in smaller than the usual FDA-approved doses, and by injection between layers of the skin rather than by the standard route under the skin, produced a detectable immune response, a new study shows. This also occurred regardless of whether people were living with or without HIV.
	Scientists create a comprehensive atlas of cell types in a mammalian brain A team of scientists at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard has generated one of the first comprehensive maps of cell types in a mammalian brain using recently developed technology called spatial transcriptomics, which can reveal not just the gene activity of individual cells, but also their location within tissues and organs.
	Using next-gen CRISPR tool, scientists create unprecedented molecular map of human immune response In a study of historic scale, scientists at Gladstone Institutes have created an intricate map of how the immune system functions, examining the detailed molecular structures governing human T cells using the next-generation CRISPR tool known as base editing.
	New study sheds light on how the brain learns to seek reward Imagine you're teaching a dog to play fetch. You throw a ball, and your dog sprints after it, picks it up, and runs back. You then reward your panting pup with a treat. But now comes the real trick for your dog: figuring out which part of that sequence earned the treat. Scientists call this the 'credit assignment problem' in the brain. It's a fundamental question about understanding which actions are responsible for the positive outcomes we experience.
	Research provides further evidence that epigenetic changes can cause type 2 diabetes Do epigenetic changes cause type 2 diabetes, or do the changes occur only after a person has become ill? A new study by researchers at Lund University provides increased support for the idea that epigenetic changes can cause type 2 diabetes. The researchers behind the new findings published in Nature Communications now aim to develop methods for disease prevention.
	Yoga nidra might be a path to better sleep and improved memory Practicing yoga nidra—a kind of mindfulness training—might improve sleep, cognition, learning, and memory, even in novices, according to a pilot study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on December 13 by Karuna Datta of the Armed Forces Medical College in India, and colleagues. After a two-week intervention with a cohort of novice practitioners, the researchers found that the percentage of delta-waves in deep sleep increased and that all tested cognitive abilities improved.
	Study shows how genes in retina are regulated during development Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have mapped the 3D organization of genetic material of key developmental stages of human retinal formation, using intricate models of a retina grown in the lab.
	Organoids study discovers promising treatment for deadly uterine cancer QUT scientists have discovered a promising new therapy for a deadly type of endometrial cancer that has a poor prognosis if the cancer spreads or returns after initial treatment, a plight that affects 15%–20% of endometrial cancer patients.
	Cholesterol-lowering therapy may hinder aggressive type of colorectal tumor Hard-to-detect colorectal pre-cancerous lesions known as serrated polyps, and the aggressive tumors that develop from them, depend heavily on the ramped-up production of cholesterol, according to a preclinical study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine. The finding points to the possibility of using cholesterol-lowering drugs to prevent or treat such tumors.
	How an immune response is driven by one letter difference in DNA A one-letter difference in our DNA determines whether BCG vaccine provides good protection against tuberculosis or not. Researchers at Radboudumc have elucidated how that one-letter difference affects the activation and deactivation of the immune system. The discovery, published in Nature Genetics, not only provides more insight into interleukin-driven inflammatory responses but also opens up new possibilities for (re)guiding the immune system.
	A heart valve that grows with a pediatric patient A prototype of an expanding artificial heart valve could make a big dent in the number of surgeries that many kids born with congenital heart disease need.
	Examining the pedigree of brain cells The superior colliculus in the mammalian brain takes on many important tasks by making sense of our environment. Any mistakes during the development of this brain region can lead to severe neurological disorders. ISTA scientist Giselle Cheung and colleagues have now, for the first time, delineated the pedigree and origin of nerve cells that make up the superior colliculus. Their findings have been published in the journal Neuron.
	Multiple periods of loneliness may add up to higher mortality risk Working from well-established research on the detrimental health effects of loneliness, University of Michigan researchers set out to study whether feeling lonely multiple times through the years leads to more serious illness and higher mortality risk in mid to later life.
	Model that maps relationships between neurons could help make deep brain stimulation treatment more viable By listening in on the background chatter in the brain, scientists can predict the relationships between different neurons, according to new research from University of Oregon scientists and their colleagues.
	In hypochondria paradox, Swedish study finds a higher death rate in those who fear serious illness A large Swedish study has uncovered a paradox about people diagnosed with an excessive fear of serious illness: They tend to die earlier than people who aren't hypervigilant about health concerns.
	DNA discovery opens door to personalized medicine for Indigenous Australians The most comprehensive analysis of Indigenous Australians' genomes collected to date has revealed an "abundance" of DNA variations—some of which have never been reported anywhere else in the world—paving the way for new, personalized treatments that address health inequities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
	Unique cell-based approach for pulmonary arterial hypertension shown to be safe Infusions of potentially therapeutic cells derived from the heart are safe for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension, a form of high blood pressure that occurs in the blood vessels of the lungs and typically affects middle-aged women, according to a study led by Cedars-Sinai investigators.
	Biologists discover new rodent-based virus Biologists at the University of Arkansas have discovered a new virus that belongs to a family of viruses that transfers from rodents to humans, some of which cause a fatal cardiopulmonary disease. The study was published in the December issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases journal.
	Study analyzes what babies hear, say on six continents Elika Bergelson, associate professor of psychology at Harvard University, studies how infants and toddlers learn language from the world around them. The developmental psychologist specifically strives to parse the various theories that account for the onset and eventual mastery of language comprehension and production.
	Memory CD8 T cells promote pathogenic plaque buildup of the arteries in aged mice: Study Aging is known to be a risk factor for the biological changes that create the dangerous buildup of plaque in arteries called atherosclerosis, and aging also induces a buildup of memory CD8 T cells, a type of immune cell, in mice and humans.
	Scientists identify a key cause of female infertility Infertility affects around 48 million couples worldwide and can have various causes. In mammals, including humans, eggs are produced in the ovary. When this process goes wrong, it can lead to female infertility. One example of this is premature ovarian insufficiency, which is characterized by problems with egg production before the age of 40. Up to 3.7% of females experience infertility as a result of this condition, and around 30% of cases are due to genetic variations.
	New research challenges notion that post-meal insulin surge is a bad thing Researchers at Sinai Health have unearthed vital information about the relationship between insulin levels after eating and long-term heart and metabolic health. The research upends the notion that insulin surge following food intake is a bad thing.
	Innovative method identifies rare brain cell types for the first time Tracking rare cell types in the brain has proved elusive. And yet alterations in some of these cells may be associated with a variety of diseases, including Alzheimer's. Being able to find and study them could potentially open up a new world of brain analysis and disease intervention.
	Using deep learning to identify teens most in need of mental health support The personal yet global struggle with mental health may be more visible now than ever before. Yet many people still find it difficult to access the support they need.
	Millions infected with dengue this year in new record as hotter temperatures cause virus to flare Dengue is sweeping across the Western Hemisphere in numbers not seen since record-keeping began more than four decades ago, with experts warning that rising temperatures and rapid urbanization are accelerating the pace of infections.
	New tool helps gauge trust in government, aims to help inform better public health policies People are less likely to adopt new health policies if they don't have faith in their government, and a new tool from University of Waterloo researchers aims to fix that.
	People who see climate change as a health threat show more interest in cancer screening Brigham researchers' findings support developing public health interventions that incorporate components of environmental health literacy alongside cancer screening efforts.
	Research finds deaths from heart valve infections drop across U.S. overall, but surged among young adults Death rates related to infective endocarditis declined in most adults across the U.S. within the last two decades, yet accelerated among young adults ages 25 to 44 years old, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
	Report shows mental health care gaps for women veterans Issues of identity, male-dominated branding and apprehension that their needs will go unmet are among the reasons women are not accessing veterans' mental health support, according to new research being discussed at a conference in Cambridge.
	Scientists develop high-resolution method to analyze skin gene expression in thermal burns A research group led by Prof. Li Xueling from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed the skin gene expression in thermal burns and developed a new cell type signature and pipeline based on a high-resolution group mode of cell type deconvolution.
	Novel biomarker for immune checkpoint inhibitors identified in human lethal cancers A new study, published online ahead of print in Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer on December 6, has identified a novel biomarker for ICIs in human cancers.
	Is this a faster, better treatment for blood and solid tumor cancers? A Northeastern researcher in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the New England Inflammation and Tissue Protection Institute (NEITPI) says his lab has employed a novel gene editing technology that might make personalized treatments for cancer available "off the shelf" against solid tumors.
	Understanding the risks of cell therapy for heart repair A type of cell that plays a crucial role in tissue repair after a heart attack may also inadvertently be why cutting-edge cell therapies cause an increased risk of rhythm disorders, according to a new study from the Universities of Surrey and Oxford. Researchers hope the findings could open up new pathways to safe regenerative treatments for people who have suffered a heart attack.
	Interactive screen use reduces sleep time in kids, researchers find While screen time is generally known to affect sleep, new research suggests that interactive engagement, such as texting friends or playing video games, delays and reduces the time spent asleep to a greater extent than passive screen time, like watching television—especially for teens.
	Large-scale study finds increased risk of heart rhythm disruption after COVID-19 Individuals infected with COVID-19 are also at an increased risk of suffering from heart rhythm disturbances, such as atrial fibrillation. This is shown in a new study published in European Heart Journal Open by researchers from Umeå University, Sweden, in one of the largest studies of its kind in the world.
	Alarm over lax oversight of weight loss drug adverts that could harm patients UK organizations responsible for protecting the public from prescription-only drug adverts are putting patients at risk from the harms of weight loss drugs by not enforcing the law, reveals an investigation published by The BMJ.
	Rare sleep disorder more prevalent than previously thought People who are very sleepy during the day, despite a good night's rest, may have a sleep disorder called idiopathic hypersomnia. New research has found this neurologic disorder may not be as rare as once thought. The study is published in the December 13, 2023, online issue of Neurology.
	Early research shows Gen Z perceives more dangers in life than previous generations There appears to be a common understanding that there is a mental health crisis among young people, but has society understood why?
	Very irregular sleep linked to higher risk of dementia People who have very irregular sleep patterns may have a higher risk of dementia than those who have more regular sleep patterns, according to new research published in the online issue of Neurology. The study does not prove that sleep irregularity causes dementia. It only shows an association.
	Study finds growing use of hemp-derived alternative cannabis products containing CBD, Delta-8-THC, CBG, CBN Cannabis use for medicinal or recreational purposes is now permitted is most states in the U.S. Many of the products sold in dispensaries contain delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (better known as "THC"), and are thus classified as Schedule I drugs, making them illegal under federal law.
	Burden of visual impairment has increased globally, according to study The number of prevalent cases of visual impairment globally increased substantially in working-age individuals from 1990 to 2019, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Ophthalmology.
	Clinical counselor offers tips to beat holiday depression The holiday season can invite unwelcome guests into your life, such as loneliness, money problems, family demands and unrealistic expectations. The stress and anxiety that accompany those issues can lead to sadness and depression. But Debbie Fuehrer, a clinical counselor at Mayo Clinic, has some tips to take back your holiday happiness.
	Psychedelic drugs: Follow the money as investors seek to replace Prozac, Zoloft and other drugs The golden road to pharmaceutical riches can quickly become a rocky wilderness trail. Chemical compounds that hit a target in the lab often fall short in human studies.
	Most American parents plan to vaccinate their children against the 'tripledemic,' new study finds The first national study of its kind suggests that most parents of infants and young children in the United States plan to have their children vaccinated against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), despite increasing opposition to the practice. In addition, 40% intend to have their children vaccinated against COVID-19.
	Could a high-fiber diet improve cancer immunotherapy performance? It's no secret that a high-fiber diet is good for you—just ask Google. Lots of research suggests that eating a high-fiber diet can lower your risk for certain cancers, but less is known about whether fiber can also help you fight a current cancer diagnosis.
	Study shows how Instagram could help promote awareness of stuttering A study into Instagram posts about stuttering has revealed a significant gap of credible and reliable information about the speech disorder on the social media platform.
	Medicare doesn't cover obesity drugs, but 76% of older adults think it should: Poll The vast majority of older adults—83%—think health insurers should cover medications that can help people with obesity manage their weight, a new poll of people age 50 to 80 finds.
	A tool in battling COVID: Simple liver test is highly predictive of a patient's need for a respirator A simple, widely used test developed by a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher to predict advanced liver disease can also predict which COVID-19 patients might need a respirator, with patients higher on the scale almost twice as likely to need help to breathe.
	Social isolation and loneliness linked to poor health—our study could help explain why Numerous studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increased risk of early death, on a scale comparable to other known risk factors such as smoking and obesity. This year, the US surgeon general declared social isolation and loneliness to be a significant public health concern.
	Do you get a headache after a good red wine? This might be why Headaches affect 16% of the world's population on a daily basis, and alcohol consumption is one of the main causes.
	Climate change risks triggering a spike in infectious disease outbreaks: three reasons why Climate change is our planet's most immediate existential threat, and will likely only worsen for the foreseeable future.
	Microscopic colitis explained—and why it's often mistaken for IBS In 1976, a Swedish pathologist, C.G Lindström, published a paper describing a colonic anomaly. Through his microscope, he noted that part of the large intestinal wall of one of his patients was thickened. The patient, whose large intestine had been so thoroughly examined, suffered from chronic diarrhea. The pathologist suggested naming the new entity collagenous colitis, with "colitis" referring to inflammation of the large intestine.
	What happens to teeth as you age? And how can you extend the life of your smile? A healthy smile helps us live long, well and happy lives. But just like our bodies, our teeth succumb to age-related changes.
	AI regulation will have a significant effect on health sciences, expert says The future for AI regulation is currently being charted in the United States and will have significant effects on the health sciences, writes Vanderbilt researcher Laura Stark in a new article.
	Rethinking how reproductive health care quality is measured A study by CUNY SPH researchers suggests the quality of reproductive health care should be measured from the patient's perspective, rather than using current measures such as rates of "unintended" pregnancies.
	Study: Why nurses are too often missing in health care leadership with major barriers to career advancement New Monash University research has revealed the barriers women nurses face to advance into leadership roles. These findings will inform organizational interventions and strategies to improve the career opportunities for Australian nurses as part of an international initiative to advance women in health care leadership.
	Thrush: Zinc may prevent yeast infections—new research Around a half-billion women experience a vaginal yeast infection (thrush) every year—with around 140 million women suffering from multiple infections throughout their lifetime.
	Preapproval requirement for oral anticancer drugs may interfere with treatment The use of prior authorizations by insurance companies for certain oral cancer drugs can lead to significant delays in patients' obtaining the medication and make it more likely that some would discontinue the drug, according to a new study from Harvard Medical School researchers.
	Kidney disease linked to increased mortality after stroke thrombolysis Renal dysfunction, especially chronic kidney disease, is the biggest risk factor of mortality among thrombolysed stroke patients, according to a retrospective cohort observational study published in Medicine.
	Can mindfulness meditation help you stress less during the holidays? Looking for the perfect holiday gift for yourself? Try a daily dose of mindfulness meditation, says Laura Dudley, associate clinical professor at Northeastern University's Bouvé College of Health Sciences.
	Reported drug use among adolescents continued to hold below pre-pandemic levels in 2023 The percentage of adolescents reporting they used any illicit substances in 2023 continued to hold steady below the pre-pandemic levels reported in 2020, with 10.9% of eighth graders, 19.8% of 10th graders and 31.2% of 12th graders reporting any illicit drug use in the past year, according to the latest results from the Monitoring the Future survey.
	Study shows women with PCOS respond well to fertility treatments Researchers from The University of Queensland have found that women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) respond well to fertility treatments and have the same birth rate as women without the condition.
	ASH: Daratumumab beneficial for patients with multiple myeloma For transplantation-eligible patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, the addition of subcutaneous daratumumab combined with bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone induction and consolidation therapy and with lenalidomide maintenance therapy (D-VRd) improves progression-free survival. These findings were published online Dec. 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, held from Dec. 9 to 12 in San Diego.
	Benign breast disease linked to increased risk for breast cancer The overall risk for breast cancer (BC) is increased for women diagnosed with benign breast disease (BBD) in the percutaneous biopsy era compared with the general population, according to a study published online Dec. 13 in JAMA Surgery.
	FDA asked to consider party drug MDMA as treatment for PTSD A California company has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve MDMA, the active ingredient in party drugs like molly and ecstasy, as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
	Advanced practice registered nurses adapt to expanded telehealth use during and after pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic, nursing staff leaders scrambled to find online platforms that would allow providers to treat patients via telehealth.
	New AI algorithm identifies risk of falls and fracture for older women A new automated machine-learning algorithm has been developed by researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU). The algorithm accurately assesses abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) during routine bone density testing. AAC is a recognized measure of advanced vascular disease.
	Prediabetes treatment may reduce heart and kidney risks in childhood cancer survivors A study from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital sheds light on the incidence of prediabetes and diabetes in childhood cancer survivors for better prevention and treatment. At a younger age, childhood cancer survivors can experience chronic conditions such as diabetes, typically associated with older individuals.
	Unique relations of drinking motives and motivations for drinking responsibly When someone gets pulled over while driving under the influence, officers, friends and family don't fully understand the why—why did this person think they could drive while high or drunk?
	Vitamin D deficiency linked to inflammation in IBD patients Lower levels of vitamin D found in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are linked to inflammation, potentially playing a role in the disease's development, according to findings from a cross-sectional observational study published in the journal Medicine.
	Sleep trackers everywhere: How does one choose? With the growing number and variety of wearable sleep tracking devices in the market today, users are often unsure which one best fits their needs. Commentaries by consumer facing reviewers often look at features that researchers or clinicians treating patients do not. The latter are influential, but because they predominantly face persons with sleep complaints and not those who are mostly healthy, the goals of the latter—to self-understand sleep and maintain or improve it—tend to be submerged by technical concerns that may not be relevant.
	Researchers call for equity in cannabis research When marijuana was illegal across the United States, enforcement and penalties were disproportionately heaped upon communities of color. Today, cannabis remains federally illegal and unequal enforcement continues, while profits from the "green rush" of state legalization are in many cases flowing to wealthy white men.
	Examining potential of Forsythiae Fructus in mitigating chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal inflammation and nausea Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) are among the most prevalent and distressing side effects faced by patients undergoing antineoplastic treatments. This condition can lead to complications such as dehydration, metabolic imbalances, anorexia and weakened physical stamina. Notably, highly emetic drugs such as cisplatin are notorious for causing severe nausea and vomiting in approximately 90% of patients. Therefore, enhancing the management of CINV is of utmost importance.
	Study finds moderately elevated fracture risk following use of sedative–hypnotics Global consumption data show that there is an increasing trend of sedative–hypnotic prescriptions, especially in more developed affluent countries and regions, such as Hong Kong. Researchers in the Center for Safe Medication Practice and Research (CSMPR) of the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy in the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), conducted a study investigating the connection between particular sedative–hypnotics and the risk of bone fractures on more than 6 million individuals in 11 countries/ regions.
	How slower breathing really helps against stress People who are often stressed can feel calmer by making certain adjustments to their breathing. Possibly this also positively affects concentration and attention. Psychologist Roderik Gerritsen studied the effects of breathing differently and explained them. Gerritsen received his Ph.D. on 13 December.
	Q&A: Gene-editing treatment could replace cholesterol meds A recent trial of a novel gene-editing technique that lowered dangerously high cholesterol by up to 55% has generated talk of a new front opening against cardiovascular disease, which kills nearly 700,000 Americans each year and is the nation's leading cause of death.
	A spinal muscle's size and shape is linked to body fat, according to new research A new study carried out by researchers at Concordia's School of Health provides a new way of looking at the spine. Now published in Frontiers in Musculoskeletal Disorders, the research reveals the way one spinal muscle's size, shape, and function relate to body composition.
	Breastfeeding alters infant gut in ways that boost brain development, may improve test scores: Study Breastfeeding, even partially alongside formula feeding, changes the chemical makeup—or metabolome—of an infant's gut in ways that positively influence brain development and may boost test scores years later, suggests new CU Boulder research.
	Cytostatic persister cancer cells: Therapeutic opportunities and challenges A new editorial paper titled "Therapeutic potentials and challenges of cytostatic persister cancer cells" has been published in Oncotarget.
	Consumers grapple with confusion over food-date labels The use of food-date labels such as "use-by" and "best if used by" causes consumer confusion that results in many Americans discarding food that is safe to eat or donate, according to the November 2023 Consumer Food Insights Report.
	Body dissatisfaction linked with depression risk in children Body dissatisfaction at age 11 is linked to increased risk of depression by age 14, finds a new longitudinal study led by UCL researchers.
	Light physical activity shows promise in reversing childhood obesity caused by being sedentary Increased sedentary time from childhood through young adulthood caused increased body fat and abdominal fat, according to a new study. However, the results also showed that light physical activity (LPA) may completely reverse the adverse process. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) may only reduce the effect.
	Nectandrin B in nutmeg found to significantly increase lifespan of fruit flies A new research paper titled "Nectandrin B significantly increases the lifespan of Drosophila—Nectandrin B for longevity" has been published in Aging.
	Researchers reveal prevalence of persistent symptoms in patients with microscopic colitis It's a hidden cause of diarrhea, and the development of the disease is poorly understood. Multiple factors work against the diagnosis of microscopic colitis, an inflammatory digestive disease, because the symptom distress compared to patients with other causes of chronic diarrhea remains unknown.
	National cardiogenic shock initiative study results show significant increase in heart attack survival Published results of a large, national heart attack study show that patients with a life-threatening complication known as cardiogenic shock survived at a significantly higher rate when treated with a protocol developed by cardiologists at Henry Ford Health, in collaboration with 80 hospitals nationwide.
	Poor diet quality during adolescence is linked to serious health risks Diet quality among adolescents in the United States is among the worst across all age groups, putting young people at risk for heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, among other cardiometabolic diseases later in life. The research brief shared in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior used the Healthy Eating Index-2015 and medical testing to assess a group of youth aged 10-16 years.
	Researchers solve mystery behind tumor receptor behavior Case Western Reserve University and MetroHealth cancer researchers have successfully unraveled a mystery surrounding a receptor protein that can either suppress cancer or foster its growth and spread. The findings, recently published in the Science journal, highlight how and why the EphA2 receptor assumes the dual roles of cancer hero and villain.
	Focused screening of new residents is key to fight TB in Canada According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tuberculosis (TB) caused 1.3 million deaths in 2022 and is still very much present in many countries. In Canada, where foreign-born residents bear 80 percent of the burden of TB, the annual incidence rate is close to 5 cases per 100,000 persons, far from the WHO's goal to reduce it to one case per million inhabitants.
	Scientists enhance cell-based therapy to destroy solid tumors Wistar researchers successfully tested a simple intervention that could unlock greater anti-tumor power in therapies that use T cells—an approach known as "cell-based therapy," which uses specially designed T cells to fight cancer.
	Pregnancy may increase the risk of a debilitating hip condition called transient osteoporosis A review published in the journal Medicine investigates the link between transient osteoporosis of the hip (TOH) and pregnancy, focusing on diagnosis, treatment, and potential contributing factors.
	Researchers: Mental health care and research must confront systemic racism to improve health, lives of Black Americans Improving the mental health and wellness of Black Americans requires acknowledging and confronting systemic racism underlying the U.S. political, social, and health care systems that create and maintain racial inequality in every aspect of life for Black people in the US.
	Researcher says men should abstain from drinking at least three months prior to conceiving Researchers at Texas A&M University have already shown that paternal drinking habits prior to conception can have a negative effect on fetal development—with semen from men who regularly consume alcohol impacting placenta development, fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)-associated brain and facial defects, and even IVF outcomes.
	Don't expect cost savings from precision medicine, says new research While genetic information may lead to better treatments, promises of cost savings are unfounded. Instead, a large additional bill is more likely, according to University of Copenhagen researchers.
	New study reveals how blood cancer cells escape the immune system's natural killer cells The advent of T-cell therapies, where cells of the immune system are directed towards malignant cells, has changed the treatment paradigm of certain forms of blood cancer. However, despite the huge progress in this field, not all patients affected by blood cancers benefit from these therapies, and many may experience serious side effects.
	Review highlights the challenges and recent advances in targeted therapies for lupus nephritis Patients with lupus nephritis (LN), a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), often undergo progressive kidney damage, with approximately 20% of these patients advancing to end-stage renal disease.
	Lack of sleep can be linked to depression and suicidal thoughts among young people Too little sleep during school days and poor sleep quality can be linked to an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts among middle school students, shows a study conducted at the National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention (NASP).
	Infection with stomach bacteria may increase risk of Alzheimer's disease Infection with the stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori could increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease: In people over the age of 50, the risk following a symptomatic infection can be an average of 11 percent higher, and even more about ten years after the infection, at 24 percent greater risk.
	Being Black and pregnant in the Deep South can be a dangerous combination O'laysha Davis was a few weeks shy of her due date when in mid-August she decided it was time to switch doctors.
	US Supreme Court agrees to rule on abortion pill restrictions The Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to rule on restrictions imposed by a lower court on a widely used abortion pill in the latest skirmish in the battle over reproductive rights in the United States.
	A common abortion pill will come before the US Supreme Court. Here's how mifepristone works Medication abortion is the preferred method of ending pregnancy in the U.S., and one of the two drugs used—mifepristone—will now go in front of the U.S. Supreme Court next year.
	In a post-COVID world, there's a new landscape for at-home medical tests During the COVID-19 pandemic, at-home tests became standard operating procedure for many households. In just 15 minutes, with a quick swab and a stir, we felt more confident visiting elderly family for the holidays, dropping in to visit a friend's newborn baby, or boarding a plane for a much-needed vacation.
	Studies support Vietnam's mental health licensure policy and pagoda-based depression treatment Research Professor of Psychology and Human Development Bahr Weiss is helping to lead efforts to develop Vietnam's licensure criteria for clinical psychologists, and as part of his primary efforts at capacity development, he and his team are adapting, implementing, and evaluating a mindfulness-based program for adults with depression within Buddhist pagodas.
	Video: Treating liver cancer Liver cancer rates have more than tripled in the U.S. since 1980 and continue to rise. More than 41,000 people will be diagnosed with liver cancer in the U.S. this year, and about 29,000 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
	Heart attack deaths spike during the winter holidays The winter holidays can turn deadly as research shows that more people die from heart attacks during the last week of December than at any other time of the year.
	Breakthrough X-ray technology goes from concept to medical standard Detecting a deadly tumor as early as possible is vital to stopping its spread. However, creating the solution doesn't necessarily solve the problem—it needs to be widely adopted by medical professionals. That's why standards like the new IEC 62220-2-1: 2023 Medical electrical equipment—Characteristics of digital X-ray imaging devices are so important.
	Stressors linked to increased drinking college students during COVID pandemic differ by race College students reporting increased mental distress during the pandemic also reported greater quantity and frequency of alcohol use, and distress was linked to certain pandemic-related factors which differed by race.
	Abortion pill at the center of a US court battle A widely used abortion pill is at the center of the latest legal battle in America's ongoing debate over abortion.
	Mental health and addiction now second largest cause of disease in Australia Cancer remains the leading cause of ill-health and premature death among Australians, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
	Worsening depressive symptoms found to decrease subsequent help-seeking intentions in adolescents One in four adolescents are reported to have depressive symptoms. However, most adolescents with depressive symptoms do not receive appropriate care. Cross-sectional studies have observed an association between depressive symptoms and help-seeking intentions among adolescents, suggesting a possibility that adolescents with depressive symptoms have difficulties seeking help for their symptoms.
	Study from China reports a high prevalence of high myopia and pathological myopia but a lack of awareness Myopia is the most common eye disease worldwide, with prevalence rates of 25-50% among adults in the United States and Europe and up to 85-90% among young people in Asian countries. In East Asia, myopia progresses at an amazingly rapid rate during childhood, and about 24% of patients may develop high myopia by adulthood.
	How can children, adolescents and adults who are overweight or obese be motivated to participate in health programs? The World Health Organization (WHO) sees obesity as one of the greatest challenges for public health in the 21st century. The Austrian Institute for Health Technology Assessment (AIHTA) has now examined group programs offered in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland for children, adolescents, and adults with either overweight or grade 1 obesity, as well as numerous international literature sources.

Other Sciences news

	Large study presents evidence for the importance of behavioral sciences in policymaking A new global study led by Kai Ruggeri, Ph.D., at Columbia Mailman School of Public Health involving over 80 collaborators from more than 30 countries underscores the crucial role of behavioral sciences in formulating policy decisions, while also asserting the need for clear standards for what evidence gets used in policy decisions. The findings are published in the journal Nature.
	Study shows Vikings in Sweden suffered from tooth decay Vikings in Sweden suffered from painful dental issues and occasionally tried to treat them, according to a study published December 13, 2023, in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Carolina Bertilsson of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and colleagues.
	New research shows that US renters are hit the hardest when a hurricane strikes With a severe shortage of affordable housing in the United States, renters living along the East and Gulf coasts are uniquely vulnerable to hurricane disasters. Two new studies based on data from 2009 to 2018 show that renters living along the East and Gulf coasts of the United States face rent increases, higher eviction rates, and a lack of affordable housing in the aftermath of a hurricane.
	Study shows digital leisure reading does little to improve reading comprehension for students For years, research showed that print reading, whether for leisure or school, improved developing readers' ability to comprehend text. However, the explosive use of digital reading devices, constant access to these devices, and new types of reading materials have introduced new reading habits.
	Children born or raised during lockdown are developing language skills at a slower rate Social interactions in the first months of life are fundamental for babies to learn how to communicate and develop their language skills. Physical contact, touch, smiling and our first face-to-face "conversations" are the pillars on which we build our understanding of the social world.
	Health misinformation is rampant on social media—here's what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it The global anti-vaccine movement and vaccine hesitancy that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic show no signs of abating.
	Time to abandon null hypothesis significance testing? Moving beyond the default approach Researchers from Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Colorado published a new Journal of Marketing study that proposes abandoning null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) as the default approach to statistical analysis and reporting.
	Big-box retail chains were never a solution for America's downtowns, and now they're fleeing back to suburbia Holiday shopping is in full swing, but city dwellers may have fewer options for buying in person than they did a few years ago. That's because many large chain stores are pulling out of central cities.
	Homes hit hardest by fuel poverty not benefiting from government's flagship energy scheme Households in areas hit hardest by fuel poverty are not benefiting most from the government's flagship energy support scheme, a damning report has found.
	Rizz: I study the history of charisma—here's why the word of the year is misunderstood The Oxford English Dictionary has selected rizz as its word of 2023. If you've heard of it at all, you'll probably have heard that it comes from the word charisma. However, the OED definition pins it down as "style, charm or attractiveness, and the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner."
	'Computer says no': More employers are using AI to recruit, increasing the risk of discrimination Imagine being the most qualified person for a job and not getting a call-back or not being selected for an interview.
	How to get people to speak up in meetings An appointed devil's advocate could be one of the many strategies to encourage people to share ideas in meetings, according to new research from the University of Sydney Business School and Lund University.
	Holiday blahs? Why social connection, even talking to strangers, can help Some people look forward to the holidays all year—the decorations, the food, the get-togethers. Others find that stressful, and still others may not feel up to the festivities at all. Maybe you've felt all those emotions at times this season.
	A rocky road to more educational equality in sub-Saharan Africa What are the chances of going to and completing primary school for children in sub-Saharan countries? A current study by Professor Dr. Ilze Plavgo, Professor of Sociology at the University of Mannheim, shows that educational attainment in these countries is characterized by low social mobility.
	Even a single negative review can sink a good product, says study Online retailers have every reason to be concerned about negative reviews, as they severely reduce the appeal of a product. An extensive study by Marton Varga of Bocconi's Department of Marketing and Paulo Albuquerque (INSEAD), recently published in the Journal of Marketing Research investigates to what extent negative reviews can influence prospective buyers and finds that even a single bad impression can put people off a purchase.
	Slow motion in videos increases number of likes and promotes brand preference, finds study Slow motion is a popular style tactic for short videos on social media. Marketing researcher Anika Stuppy of Tilburg University shows that slow motion increases the number of likes and views of videos and stimulates brands' preference, choice and willingness to pay. There are conditions to its use, however. The research helps marketers use slow motion more effectively.
	Feeling lonely? Chances are you lost both social support, personal control While the holiday season typically brings joy, cheer and celebration, a significant number of people feel lonely.
	First ground-based survey of damage to Ukrainian cultural sites reveals severity, need for urgency The war in Ukraine is not just a war against a people, but a war on culture. And after nearly two years of fighting, it is destroying Ukraine's cultural heritage on a scale not seen since World War II, according to new research by University of Notre Dame faculty members Ian Kuijt and William Donaruma.
	Workplace gossip can benefit employees and employers: Study New research from Binghamton University, State University of New York shows how some workplace gossip could reduce the likelihood of employee turnover and, as a result, potentially boost an organization's effectiveness.
	Nourishing communities: Neighborhood restaurants as social infrastructure Studies on sustainability inevitably touch on food-related topics like food security, culinary heritage, and the sustenance of vulnerable people. Social sustainability is one of the three pillars of sustainability, alongside environmental and economic sustainability, and has become a pivotal topic in various research fields. It includes concerns about social justice, resource distribution and recognition, and political participation of marginalized groups at the local community level.
	A road map for the lawful use of stop-and-frisk in Philadelphia—and elsewhere Violent crime, and how to reduce it, dominated the 2023 Philadelphia mayoral campaign.
	The myths and truths of individualism in America In America, where "having it your way" is a major selling point for everything from fast food to home-building, and making your own way in the world is the gold standard of achievement, individualism stands as the ideal for realizing the American dream. But when and why did this concept take hold in the American imagination, and how does it continue to influence our society and political system today—for better or worse?
	Growth of autocracies will expand Chinese global influence via Belt and Road Initiative as it enters second decade China currently faces daunting challenges in its domestic economy. But weakness in the real estate market and consumer spending at home is unlikely to stem its rising influence abroad.
	How much should a textbook cost? Try '$0.00' OER (open educational resources) are learning materials that have been licensed for payment-free use by educators and students. Researchers and experts in the field of higher education are increasingly considering OER as a useful tool for reducing the financial burden on students. After all, the average cost of a college textbook in 2022 exceeded $105.
	Report shows most people in Australia support lifting incomes for those with the least Three in four people in Australia support an income boost for people on the lowest incomes, while less than a quarter think it's possible to live on the current JobSeeker rate, new research by ACOSS and UNSW Sydney shows.
	Study shows how Black college athletes alter self-presentation to avoid biases On Sept. 16, the University of Colorado's football team was 3-0 and had secured the No. 19 ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 College Football Poll. Under Head Coach Deion Sanders, the Buffaloes were enjoying one of their best starts in recent memory, fully embracing the identity of a roster comprised of more than 75% Black athletes.
	A volcano on Hawaii's Big Island is sacred to spiritual practitioners and treasured by astronomers Shane Palacat-Nelsen's voice drops to a reverent tone as he tells the story of the snow goddess Poliahu who Native Hawaiians believe inhabits the summit of Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii.
	Civilian attacks likely to strengthen Ukrainian resistance, say researchers During the all-out invasion of Ukraine, Russia has deliberately chosen civilian targets, such as apartment buildings, presumably with the goal of deterring Ukrainian resistance. But does such terror deter or, in contrast, motivate resistance among ordinary Ukrainians?
	Political science meets physical science: The shared concept of stability In a Perspective, a biophysical chemist, Kenneth J. Breslauer, and his brother, a political scientist, George W. Breslauer, explore the parallelisms between the concept of stability as it is used in their respective fields. The Perspective is published in the journal PNAS Nexus.

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