Science X Newsletter Wed, Dec 27

Dear ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for December 27, 2023:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Astronomers detect new pulsar wind nebula and its associated pulsar

Constraining the dynamics of rotating black holes via the gauge symmetry principle

A logical magic state with fidelity beyond distillation threshold realized on superconducting quantum processor

A new strategy to regulate the stiffness of snake-inspired robots

Novel path of intercellular signal sharing discovered in zebrafish experiments

Marine heat waves: Why the East Sea experienced extreme conditions in 2021

Gut microbes may determine patients' response to a drug that delays onset of type 1 diabetes

Astronomers inspect a peculiar nuclear transient

Developing a futuristic elastomer with ultrahigh strain-induced crystallization

Arabia's alluvial fans grow and decay with Earth's orbital cycles

Quality of care declines after private equity takes over hospitals, finds nationwide analysis

Risk of young-onset dementia could be reduced through targeting health and lifestyle factors, finds study

Social media platforms generate billions in annual ad revenue from US youth: Study

Ordering of neutrino masses may be revealed by measuring those produced in Earth's atmosphere

A study of genetics of pericarditis increases understanding of newly approved drug treatment

Nanotechnology news

	High-sensitivity terahertz detection by 2D plasmons in transistors A research group from Tohoku University and RIKEN has developed a high-speed, high-sensitivity terahertz-wave detector operating at room temperature, paving the way for advancements in the development of next generation 6G/7G technology.
	In quest to prevent debilitating traumatic brain injuries, new foam material rises to the top From falls to football tackles, most blows to the head occur at odd angles. And those impacts trigger simultaneous linear and rotational head motions. The rotating movement in particular causes shear strain, which is especially damaging to the brain.

Physics news

	Constraining the dynamics of rotating black holes via the gauge symmetry principle In 2015, the LIGO/Virgo experiment, a large-scale research effort based at two observatories in the United States, led to the first direct observation of gravitational waves. This important milestone has since prompted physicists worldwide to devise new theoretical descriptions for the dynamics of blackholes, building on the data collected by the LIGO/Virgo collaboration.
	A logical magic state with fidelity beyond distillation threshold realized on superconducting quantum processor Quantum computers have the potential to outperform conventional computers on some tasks, including complex optimization problems. However, quantum computers are also vulnerable to noise, which can lead to computational errors.
	Ordering of neutrino masses may be revealed by measuring those produced in Earth's atmosphere A group of physicists, three with Harvard University's Department of Physics and Laboratory for Particle Physics and Cosmology, and the fourth with the University of Liverpool, has found evidence suggesting that additional measurements of neutrinos generated in Earth's atmosphere could be used to reveal how the three types of neutrino masses are ordered.
	Engineers pair laser light to crystal lattice vibrations to enhance optical properties of 2D material Engineers at Columbia University and theoretical collaborators at the Max Planck for the Structure and Dynamics of Matter have found that pairing laser light to crystal lattice vibrations can enhance the nonlinear optical properties of a layered 2D material. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Images hidden in noise revealed by a quantum-inspired phase-imaging method Researchers at the University of Warsaw's Faculty of Physics with colleagues from Stanford University and Oklahoma State University have introduced a quantum-inspired phase-imaging method based on light intensity correlation measurements that is robust to phase noise.
	Successful test paves the way for magnet production at CERN The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) needs specific types of magnets to tightly control the beams of particles at its collision points. Called final-focusing quadrupoles, these magnets are installed in the LHC's interaction regions around the experiments. For the high-luminosity upgrade of the LHC (HL-LHC), the final-focusing magnets at ATLAS and CMS will need replacing. Tests at CERN have now confirmed that the quadrupole magnets newly designed to replace them will work.
	Let there be light: Many photons are better than one for advancing quantum technologies Quantum objects, such as electrons and photons, behave differently from other objects in ways that enable quantum technology. Therein lies the key to unlocking the mystery of quantum entanglement, in which multiple photons exist in multiple modes or frequencies.
	Novel molecular ionization dissociation pathway induced by Interatomic Coulombic Decay A research group led by Prof. Ma Xinwen at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has observed a novel molecular ionization dissociation pathway triggered by Interatomic Coulombic Decay (ICD). The study, published in Physical Review Letters, verifies the theoretical prediction and has potential applications in developing new radiotherapy.
	Latest search for new exotic particles at CERN The CMS experiment has presented its first search for new physics using data from Run 3 of the Large Hadron Collider. The new study looks at the possibility of "dark photon" production in the decay of Higgs bosons in the detector.
	Harnessing all-dielectric metamaterials to manipulate the polarization state of light Polarization is one of the fundamental characteristics of electromagnetic waves. It can convey valuable vector information in sensitive measurements and signal transmission, which is a promising technology for various fields such as environmental monitoring, biomedical sciences, and marine exploration. Particularly in the terahertz frequency range, traditional device design methods and structures can only achieve limited performance. Designing efficient modulator devices for high-bandwidth terahertz waves presents a significant challenge.

Earth news

	Marine heat waves: Why the East Sea experienced extreme conditions in 2021 Extreme environmental events are becoming an ever more pressing concern with the continued stresses of climate change, both on land and in the marine realm. While terrestrial heat waves tend to occur over a few days, those in the oceans often have longer timescales of weeks to months.
	Arabia's alluvial fans grow and decay with Earth's orbital cycles Erosion of Earth's topography entrains sediment in rivers flowing across mountains, canyons and other naturally steep landscapes within the catchment. This silt, sand and gravel is transported variably by suspension in the water column, bouncing along the river bed (saltation), or rolling larger pebbles (traction). With a deceleration in water velocity, and therefore carrying capacity, as topography flattens, this material is deposited in a fan shape at the mouth of the river on the shallower plain of the break in slope, becoming progressively finer-grained with distance from the source.
	AI will play a bigger role in predicting weather and climate disasters in the US in 2024, experts say Hurricane Idalia and the Hawaii firestorm were the most notable weather disasters in the U.S. in 2023, but they were far from the only ones.
	Measuring methane intensity is a key step on the path to net zero After Canada and the United States both announced new policy measures to address oil and gas methane at the COP28 climate summit—just weeks after the EU agreed to extend its methane intensity standards to imported natural gas—it is clear that global policy to address the potent climate-warming greenhouse gas is moving fast.
	Researchers reveal anthropogenically-induced atmospheric lead cycle in low-latitude Asia In recent decades, environmental lead (Pb) pollution has posed a significant threat to public health and ecological systems due to its harmful and irreversible effects. It has also been proposed that the distinct Pb pollution signals in geological archives may define the new Anthropocene epoch.
	Researchers find natural spa water in central Japan is long-trapped lithospheric water Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the origins of non-meteoric water in natural spa waters located in central Japan. Based on numerical modeling, their results suggest that this water has been confined within the lithosphere for an extensive period of 1.5–5 million years. They identified three primary sources for this ancient water: the Philippine Sea Plate, the Pacific Plate, and ancient seafloor sediments, particularly in the Niigata and southwest Gunma regions.
	Enhancing coastal cities' flood resilience through smart city technologies Over the rest of this century due to global warming, coastal populations are likely to face increased risk of flooding. A team of researchers has proposed how the integration of Internet of Things, 5G mobile telephony, big data and machine learning into "smart cities" can be harnessed to enhance urban flood resilience.
	Forest fires: a record year As the deadliest year this century for forest fires comes to a close, attention is turning to how to prevent such infernos happening again.
	AI predicts the influence of microplastics on soil properties Plastic waste and its buildup in nature has become a major environmental concern in recent times. While plastic pollution in the oceans is undoubtedly a problem, the presence of plastics in soils around the world is also known to cause severe environmental and health issues.
	How to make your life greener in 2024 People all around the world traditionally use their new year to embark on a change in lifestyle.
	New model sheds light on grassland desertification dynamics In a study published in Remote Sensing, scientists from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have employed a Desertification Difference Index (DDI) model to better understand and combat global grassland desertification.
	Reducing PM2.5 disparity in China: Progress and challenges A pivotal study, published in Eco-Environment & Health, has examined the evolution of PM2.5 pollution disparity in China from 2013 to 2020, revealing both progress and persistent challenges in air quality management.
	'Rights of nature' are being recognized overseas. In Australia, local leadership gives cause for optimism As each day passes, the need to protect Australia's environment grows more urgent. As noted in the most recent State of Environment Report in 2021, we are increasingly turning to "measures of last resort" to prevent species extinctions and the collapse of ecosystems.

Astronomy and Space news

	Astronomers detect new pulsar wind nebula and its associated pulsar Astronomers from the Western Sydney University in Australia and elsewhere report the detection of a new pulsar wind nebula and a pulsar that powers it. The discovery, presented in a paper published Dec. 12 on the pre-print server arXiv, was made using the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), as well as MeerKAT and Parkes radio telescopes.
	Astronomers inspect a peculiar nuclear transient An international team of astronomers has employed a set of space telescopes to observe a peculiar nuclear transient known as AT 2019avd. Results of the observational campaign, presented in a paper published December 21 on the pre-print server arXiv, deliver important insights into the properties and behavior of this transient.
	New study shows Small Magellanic Cloud is actually two smaller galaxies A large international team of astronomers and astrophysicists has found evidence showing that the Small Magellanic Cloud is not a single galaxy—it is actually two, one behind the other. The group has written a paper describing their work and posted it to the arXiv preprint server.
	Dream Chaser is getting tested at NASA After a journey spanning almost two decades, Sierra Nevada Corporation's Dream Chaser reusable spaceplane, named Tenacity, is officially undergoing environmental testing at NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility located at NASA's Glenn Research Center in anticipation of its maiden flight to the International Space Station (ISS), currently scheduled for April 2024.
	ESA is stockpiling simulated regolith for the ultimate lunar playground Testing interplanetary landers means putting them in an environment as close to their destination as possible. Mars landers are often tested in the "Mars Yard" at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in South California, and now ESA is looking to build a similar test bed for the moon. They are mining a material in Greenland known as anorthosite to create the largest lunar test bed yet.
	Lost in space? Just use relativity One of the hardest things for many people to conceptualize when talking about how fast something is going is that they must ask, "Compared to what?" All motion only makes sense from a frame of reference, and many spacecraft traveling in the depths of the void lack any regular reference from which to understand how fast they're going.
	Tatahouine: 'Star Wars meteorite' sheds light on the early solar system Locals watched in awe as a fireball exploded and hundreds of meteorite fragments rained down on the city of Tatahouine, Tunisia, on June 27, 1931. Fittingly, the city later became a major filming location for the Star Wars movie series. The desert climate and traditional villages became a huge inspiration to the director, George Lucas, who proceeded to name the fictional home planet of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, "Tatooine."
	From the moon's south pole to an ice-covered ocean world, several exciting space missions are slated for launch in 2024 The year 2023 proved to be an important one for space missions, with NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission returning a sample from an asteroid and India's Chandrayaan-3 mission exploring the lunar south pole, and 2024 is shaping up to be another exciting year for space exploration.
	LST-1 discovers the most distant active galactic nucleus at very high energies On 15 December, the Large-Sized Telescope (LST) Collaboration announced through an Astronomer's Telegram (ATel) the detection of the source OP 313 at very high energies with the LST-1. Although OP 313 was known at lower energies, it had never been detected above 100 GeV, making this the LST-1's first scientific discovery.
	Miniaturized jumping robots could study an asteroid's gravity Missions focusing on small bodies in the solar system have been coming thick and fast lately. OSIRIS-Rex, Psyche, and Rosetta are all examples of projects that planned or did rendezvous with a small body in the solar system. But one of their biggest challenges is understanding the gravity of these bodies—which was especially evident when Philae, Rosetta's lander, had a hard time staying on the surface of its intended comet. A new idea from researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory could help solve that problem—by bouncing small probes around.
	The atmosphere of an exoplanet reveals secrets about its surface As astronomers have begun to gather data on the atmospheres of planets, we're learning about their compositions and evolution. Thick atmospheres are the easiest to study, but these same thick atmospheres can hide the surface of a planet from view. A Venus-like world, for example, has such a thick atmosphere making it impossible to see the planet's terrain. It seems the more likely we are to understand a planet's atmosphere, the less likely we are to understand its surface. But that could change thanks to a new study accepted for publication in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astrophysical Society and available on the arXiv preprint server.
	Using smart materials to deploy a Dark Age explorer One of the most significant constraints on the size of objects placed into orbit is the size of the fairing used to put them there. Large telescopes must be stuffed into a relatively small fairing housing and deployed to their full size, sometimes using complicated processes. But even with those processes, there is still an upper limit to how giant a telescope can be. That might be changing soon, with the advent of smart materials—particularly on a project funded by NASA's Institute for Advanced Concepts (NIAC) that would allow for a kilometer-scale radio telescope in space.

Technology news

	A new strategy to regulate the stiffness of snake-inspired robots Robotic systems inspired by nature can help to efficiently tackle a wide range of problems, ranging from navigating complex environments to seamlessly completing missions as a team. In recent years, roboticists have created a growing number of bio-inspired systems designed to replicate the body structure and movements of various animals, including snakes.
	Toyota small car maker Daihatsu shuts down Japan factories during probe of bogus safety tests Daihatsu, a unit of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp., has shut down production lines at all its four factories in Japan while transport ministry officials investigate improper tests for safety certifications.
	Apple to appeal US watch ban Apple said on Tuesday it will appeal a US ban on its latest smartwatch models after the Biden administration opted to not veto a ruling on patent infringements.
	Apple Watch import ban goes into effect in US patent clash A US import ban on certain Apple smartwatch models came into effect Tuesday, after the Biden administration opted not to veto a ruling on patent infringements.
	Ubisoft investigates hack attempt "Assassin's Creed" publisher Ubisoft said Tuesday it was investigating a suspected data security breach, in the latest cyberattack against a major actor in the video game industry.
	Google rejected Play Store fee changes due to impact on revenue, Epic lawsuit shows Alphabet Inc.'s Google considered changing its app store pricing model to circumvent a regulatory crackdown, but abandoned a proposal to charge a set fee per app after it became clear that could cost the company billions of dollars, according to documents released late Thursday.
	Review: The best plug-in hybrids for driving without filling up on gas Buying a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is a great way to try living with an electric vehicle without giving up the convenience of using gasoline for longer trips. They're perfect for driving shorter commutes, shuttling kids to school, and running local errands on electricity. But when your plans call for a longer trip, a plug-in hybrid's gasoline engine takes over and makes it possible to drive across the city or the entire country without recharging the battery.
	New York Times sues OpenAI, Microsoft in copyright clash The New York Times sued ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and Microsoft in a US court on Wednesday, alleging that the companies' powerful AI models used millions of articles for training without permission.
	Social media companies made $11 billion in US ad revenue from minors, Harvard study finds Social media companies collectively made over $11 billion in U.S. advertising revenue from minors last year, according to a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published on Wednesday.
	Apple wins watch ban delay in US patent feud A federal court handed Apple a victory on Wednesday by suspending a ban on the US sale of its latest Watch models in a feud over patents with health company Masimo.
	Research team develops absolute taste 'electronic tongue' technology A research team led by Professor Kyung-In Jang at the Department of Robotics and Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, DGIST, and another led by Professor Jihwan Choi at the Department of Aerospace Engineering, KAIST, developed an artificial electronic tongue system that mimics the human gustatory system.
	Major security flaws in Java applications, European researchers warn Alexandre Bartel, Professor of Software Engineering and Security at Umeå University, in collaboration with several European researchers, has extensively analyzed weaknesses in software written in one of the world's most widely used programming languages.
	The AI industry is on the verge of becoming another boys' club. We're all going to lose out if it does A recent New York Times article released a list of people "behind the dawn of the modern artificial intelligence movement"—and not a single woman was named. It came less than a week after news of a fake auto-generated woman being listed as a speaker on the agenda for a software conference.
	Seeing a lot of mobile speed cameras on your summer road trips? Here's how they work As you're driving around this summer holidays, there's every chance you'll see a strange-looking white or yellow box on the side of the road.
	The late-night email to Tim Cook that set the Apple Watch saga in motion At about 1 a.m. California time in 2013, a scientist emailed Apple Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook with an irresistible pitch.
	Why Google's lobbying in California skyrocketed this year The 30-second video ad struck an ominous tone, urging Californians to tell their lawmakers to vote against legislation that would force Google, Facebook and other large platforms to pay news publishers.
	Research team monitors critical infrastructure using navigation satellites From the outside, the Kölnbrein water dam, operated by Verbund in Carinthia, which is Austria's highest dam, and the DC Tower in Vienna, Austria's tallest building, do not have much in common, but for a research group around Caroline Schönberger and Werner Lienhart from the Institute of Engineering Geodesy and Measurement Systems at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), they are equally interesting from a scientific point of view.

Chemistry news

	Developing a futuristic elastomer with ultrahigh strain-induced crystallization Strain-induced crystallization can strengthen, toughen, and facilitate an elastocaloric effect in elastomers. The resulting crystallinity can be induced by mechanical stretching in common elastomers that are typically below 20%, with a stretchability plateau.
	A 3D magnesiophilic substrate enables planar electroplating/stripping of magnesium metal anode As a promising candidate to current lithium-ion batteries, rechargeable magnesium batteries have attracted extensive attention due to the superior properties of magnesium (Mg) metal anodes, such as high volumetric capacity (3,833 mAh/cm3), abundant resources, environmental friendliness, and difficult to grow dendrites.
	Strategies for environmentally friendly and sustainable polyamide production Global industries focused on carbon neutrality, under the slogan Net-Zero, are gaining increasing attention. In particular, research on the microbial production of polymers, replacing traditional chemical methods with biological approaches, is actively progressing.
	Shedding light on the origin of the photovoltaic effect in organic–inorganic perovskites A team led by RIKEN researchers has investigated how special crystals convert light into electricity. Their findings will help inform efforts to improve their efficiency, which could lead to the crystals being used in solar cells. The study is published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
	Reusing plastic waste to kickstart radical chain reactions, improving process safety and efficiency Single-use plastics are a major environmental concern, but now, rather than being disposed of as garbage, used plastic bags from the grocery store could be utilized to carry out a reaction that can detoxify hazardous chemicals.
	World's first coffee bean Certified Reference Material for component analysis The Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) has developed the world's first Certified Reference Material (CRM) capable of accurate measurement of the nutritional and harmful elements in coffee beans.
	Examining how fiber content affects mechanical properties in flax and pineapple leaf fiber-reinforced plastic composites A new study has compared the reinforcing efficiency of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) and cultivated flax fiber in poly(butylene succinate) composites. PALF, a less explored but potentially sustainable alternative, outperformed flax at 20 wt.%, showcasing its potential in high-performance bio-composites and aligning with environmental goals.
	Development of tissue molecular imaging technique using multiple probes at hundreds of microns Researchers have shown it is possible to image small animal tissue clearly to several hundred micrometers using multi-probe imaging, reports a recent study in Scientific Reports.
	Light measurement enables estimation of the chemical attributes of spice extracts Spices and other plant-derived products contain many active components, such as polyphenols and flavonoids. However, even the slightest variations in conditions can considerably affect the extraction efficiency of these active components, posing challenges in determining the exact quantity of active components in the extract solution.

Biology news

	Novel path of intercellular signal sharing discovered in zebrafish experiments Researchers at the University of Exeter, U.K., have discovered intricate mechanisms of ligand–receptor complex transport via specialized protrusions transporting signaling components between cells, challenging the conventional understanding of cell responsiveness solely based on receptor expression.
	Battling persistence in tuberculosis bacteria Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with NCBS and InStem, have uncovered an important mechanism that allows the tuberculosis (TB) bacterium to persist in the human host for decades. They found that a single gene involved in the production of iron-sulfur clusters could be crucial for the persistence of the TB bacterium. The study was published in Science Advances.
	How antibiotic-resistant bacteria can teach us to modify behavior Most people want to do something about climate change, but lifestyle trade-offs and a narrowing window to enact broad changes to industrial, transportation, and consumption patterns are daunting enough to make them resist.
	Singapore's species extinction rate found to be 37% over the past 200 years A multi-institutional team of biologists and life and environmental scientists has found that Singapore's rate of plant and animal extinction over the past 200 years is approximately 37%. This finding is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Western Cascades landscapes in Oregon historically burned more often than previously thought Forests on the west slope of Oregon's Cascade Range experienced fire much more often between 1500 and 1895 than had been previously thought, according to new research by scientists at Oregon State University.
	A chemically defined, xeno-free culture system for culturing and deriving monkey pluripotent stem cells in vitro Non-human primates (NHPs) have a high degree of similarity to humans compared to other animal models. These similarities manifest at the genetic, physiological, socio-behavioral, and central nervous system levels, making NHPs uniquely suitable for research into stem cell therapy and increasingly used in preclinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of biotechnology therapies.
	New research reveals how to obtain high-quality DNA from marine samples The oceans are still the most underexplored part of our planet. Diversity of large organisms in the Arctic Ocean has been investigated in many ways, yet research on the diversity of Arctic microorganisms is lacking. One of the problems, apart from inaccessibility, is obtaining high-quality microbial DNA: when working with natural samples, DNA often degrades—it is obtained in low quantities and can contain inhibitors that interfere with sequencing.
	Complex floral traits affect pollinator attraction to urban green spaces Pollinators are in decline globally and regionally. Building pollinator-friendly urban green spaces is an effective way to mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization on pollinator diversity and services.
	Unusual ancient elephant tracks had our team of fossil experts stumped—how we solved the mystery Over the past 15 years, through our scientific study of tracks and traces, we have identified more than 350 fossil vertebrate tracksites from South Africa's Cape south coast. Most are found in cemented sand dunes, called aeolianites, and all are from the Pleistocene Epoch, ranging in age from about 35,000 to 400,000 years.
	Researchers prove human influence on large herbivore diets during Anthropocene The human population explosion, soaring from 1.6 billion to more than 6 billion during the 20th century, has had a profound impact on global environments and biodiversity. However, large mammalian herbivores, including species such as elephants and deer that are sensitive to habitat changes, have experienced relatively little extinction in the face of this 20th century change.
	Special publication investigates paleopathology and evolution of tuberculosis Recent research suggests that the emergence of tuberculosis infection (TB) in human populations dates back tens of thousands of years earlier than previously known cases in the Middle East. In collaboration with an international research team, Hungarian researchers have edited and published a special issue of the journal Tuberculosis.
	Apple preharvest drop not linked to xylem functionality Heat stress induces and accelerates leaf senescence, which is characterized by a loss of chlorophyll and cellular membrane deterioration, as well as oxidative damage). Leaf senescence can be exacerbated by the hormone ethylene, which acts as a signal to trigger cellular maturation and senescence.
	New species of Arum family reported from Myanmar The Arum family (Araceae) consists of terrestrial or aquatic shrubs, vines, or herbs. Amorphophallus is a large genus of about 200 tropical and subtropical tuberous herbs of the Arum family. Fifteen Amorphophallus species have been reported from Myanmar, five of which are known to be endemic.
	New method of cultivating human norovirus using zebrafish embryo Food virologists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have successfully propagated the human norovirus using zebrafish embryos, providing a valuable platform to assess the effectiveness of virus inactivation for the water treatment and food industries.
	California seal pups were turning up headless. Experts finally confirmed the culprit Finding dead seals along California's coast is not novel in and of itself. The marine mammals get sick, are stillborn or even wash ashore after being fatally struck by a boat.
	Anthrax lethal toxin and tumor necrosis factor-α synergize to induce mouse death Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LT) is a determinant of lethal anthrax. Its function in myeloid cells is required for bacterial dissemination, and LT itself can directly trigger dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. The interplay between LT and the host responses is important in the pathogenesis, but our knowledge of this interplay remains limited.
	Which zoo animals are most active in winter and what times are best to see them? The temperature has dropped, the nights have drawn in. The winter holidays have started, families are gathered—so where can you go to fuel the imagination and get some fresh air? A zoo might not be your first thought—but with some offering reduced ticket prices and smaller crowds than in summer, your nearest zoo on a cold, crisp winter's day might be just the place.

Medicine and Health news

	Gut microbes may determine patients' response to a drug that delays onset of type 1 diabetes The microbiome offers a motherlode of data about health and disease, and new findings suggest that antibodies to gut microbes can determine how well patients respond to a new monoclonal antibody drug that delays the onset of type 1 diabetes.
	Quality of care declines after private equity takes over hospitals, finds nationwide analysis Patients are more likely to fall, get new infections, or experience other forms of harm during their stay in a hospital after it is acquired by a private equity firm, according to a new study led by researchers at Harvard Medical School.
	Risk of young-onset dementia could be reduced through targeting health and lifestyle factors, finds study Researchers have identified a wide range of risk factors for young-onset dementia. The findings challenge the notion that genetics are the sole cause of the condition, laying the groundwork for new prevention strategies.
	A study of genetics of pericarditis increases understanding of newly approved drug treatment Sequence variants that protect against pericarditis have been discovered at a genomic locus encoding interleukin-1 immune cytokines. A newly approved drug treatment for pericarditis inhibits these cytokines, according to a new study.
	The first 'multiome' atlas of cell development in the human cerebral cortex from before birth to adulthood A team of researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Yale University School of Medicine has created the first "multiome" atlas of brain cell development in the human cerebral cortex across six broad developmental time points from fetal development into adulthood, shedding new light on their roles during brain development and disease.
	Scientists use organoid model to identify potential new pancreatic cancer treatment A drug screening system that models cancers using lab-grown tissues called organoids has helped uncover a promising target for future pancreatic cancer treatments, according to a new study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.
	Researchers uncover unexpected molecular pattern in fragile X syndrome Researchers have found new disrupted genes and an unexpected molecular pattern—dubbed BREACHes—related to fragile X syndrome (FXS), a genetic disorder estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to impact about 1 in 7,000 males about 1 in 11,000 females.
	Power of illusion can help with learning new movements Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University showed that visual aids that create the illusion of movement, like a screen placed in front of one's hand showing the hand move, can improve motor performance and the early stages of motor learning. Compared to observing third-person motions, functional near-infrared spectroscopy data also showed greater changes in brain activity in regions associated with motor learning.
	Sleep may be compromised with a bed partner If you're having trouble sleeping, perhaps contact with a bedmate is causing the problem, say University of Michigan researchers.
	New model of type 1 diabetes: RNA editing disruption mimics early stage disease with no involvement of virus A recent study published in Cell Metabolism by researchers at the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Bar-Ilan University and Vanderbilt University has developed a new paradigm for early stages of type 1 diabetes (T1D), suggesting a new etiology that does not involve viral infection.
	Study reveals relationship of gut microbiome on children's brain development and function Emerging evidence implicates the gut microbiome in cognitive outcomes and neurodevelopmental disorders, but the influence of gut microbial metabolism on typical neurodevelopment has not been explored in detail. Researchers from Wellesley College, in collaboration with other institutions, have demonstrated that differences in the gut microbiome are associated with overall cognitive function and brain structure in healthy children.
	Study identifies 'visual system' protein for circadian rhythm stability Scientists at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health have identified a protein in the visual system of mice that appears to be key for stabilizing the body's circadian rhythms by buffering the brain's response to light. The finding, published Dec. 5 in PLoS Biology, advances efforts to better treat sleep disorders and jet lag, the study authors say.
	Revealing how an ancient genetic invader inhabits our DNA Billions of years ago, as primitive lifeforms were becoming more complex, a selfish genetic component became a sort of genome colonizer. Using a copy-and-paste mechanism, this pernicious bit of code replicated and inserted itself again and again into a variety of genomes.
	The Douglas-Bell Canada Brain Bank: A goldmine for research on brain diseases Human beings have always been fascinated by the brain.
	Got period pain or cramps? What to eat and avoid, according to science Painful periods are common. More than half of people who menstruate have some pain for up to three days a month, typically throbbing or cramping in the lower abdomen.
	Most expectant mothers miss out on vitamins important for their health and their baby's, study finds Our bodies require many important vitamins and minerals in order to function well. B vitamins, for example, are particularly important for many of our everyday functions—including energy levels, cell health and nerve function.
	Updated guidelines issued for management of anaphylaxis In a practice parameter update published online Dec. 17 in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, new guidelines are presented for the diagnosis and management of anaphylaxis.
	Pet ownership may slow cognitive decline in older adults living alone Pet ownership is associated with slower rates of cognitive decline among older adults living alone, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in JAMA Network Open.
	Negative wealth shock linked to accelerated cognitive decline For older adults, negative wealth shock is associated with accelerated cognitive decline and increased risks for dementia, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in JAMA Network Open.
	Milestone rating system improved residency knowledge ratings bias Adoption of the Milestone ratings system in 2014 was associated with improvement in internal medicine (IM) residency knowledge ratings bias in Black or Latino residents, who are underrepresented in medicine (URiM), and Asian residents, according to a study published online Dec. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Understanding the neuroendocrine basis for social anxiety–like behavior in male mice Estradiol (E2), a sex steroid hormone, plays an essential role in social behavior, including regulating social anxiety, which is anxiety experienced when unknown individuals are encountered. In males, testosterone secreted by the testes is converted to E2 in the brain, and the E2 binds to two types of estrogen receptors (ERs), ERα and ERβ, to regulate social behavior. However, its neuroendocrine basis has not been understood.
	Histone acetylation, transcription factor dynamics contribute to gene expression in brain development No man is an island, and no neuron is either: complex, intricate connections between and among brain cells are needed for the brain to do its job correctly. Now, researchers from Japan have uncovered a fundamental mechanism that lets neurons know when and how to form these connections.
	Artificial intelligence lowers the barrier to ultrasound brain disease treatment Focused ultrasound technology is a non-invasive treatment method that focuses ultrasound energy on a few millimeters of the brain, including deep regions, to treat neurological disorders without opening the skull. It has been applied to the treatment of various intractable brain diseases such as depression and Alzheimer's disease because it minimizes the impact on the surrounding healthy tissue and reduces side effects such as complications and infections.
	Study of cognitive fatigue across different tasks and populations provides new insights In an innovative study, researchers at Kessler Foundation have conducted the first systematic investigation of the effects of cognitive fatigue by using two different tasks across three distinct populations: multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and controls.
	Major breakthrough in hypertension diagnosis could save billions Hunter Medical Research Institute and University of Newcastle researcher Professor Murray Cairns, along with his Precision Medicine team, have discovered a way of predicting who will respond to blood pressure treatments to lower sodium in the body. Their findings were published this week in Circulation.
	Low liver awareness among the public Liver doctors tell us that the general public's level of knowledge about the liver is surprisingly low. A study confirms this.
	Off-label use of a common antibiotic to treat muscular dystrophy Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a genetic disease characterized by progressive muscular weakness. There is currently no treatment despite many recent efforts. But now researchers from Japan may have found a cure.
	The science of the ideal salad dressing Summer means salads. And salads are even more delicious with a good dressing.
	Cognitive impairment in preterm infants can be predicted at time of discharge from NICU Impaired cognition among preschoolers born very early can be predicted already at discharge from neonatal care. This is according to a study from Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and University College Cork, Ireland, published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
	Increasing levels of 'hype' language in grant applications and publications The success of scientific endeavors often depends on support from public research grants. Successful applicants increasingly describe their proposed research using promotional language ("hype"); however, it remains unclear whether they use hype in their subsequent research publications.
	Virtual care works best when patients see their own family doctor, study finds Compared to patients who had a virtual visit with their own family doctor, those who received virtual care from a doctor outside of their family care team were 66% more likely to visit the emergency department within seven days, according to new research.
	Bad prescription? Strategies to improve racial health disparities can backfire Strategies used by doctors to increase patient engagement with health information may work with white Americans, but can backfire with Black Americans.
	Daily learning test can detect Alzheimer's disease-related changes in memory among cognitively normal older adults Detecting cognitive changes associated with Alzheimer's disease in older adults can be difficult in early stages of disease, but daily testing on smartphones may provide a less time-consuming and less labor-intensive way to reveal amyloid-related changes in memory.
	Brisk walks found to support smoking cessation Good news for anyone who wants to quit smoking in the new year: In a recently published study, Innsbruck scientists show that ten-minute brisk walking sessions reduce the cravings of temporarily abstinent smokers and improve their overall well-being. The study is the first to compare the effect of indoor and outdoor activity on smoking cessation.
	Nasal spray a better alternative to injections for many children You have probably been there yourself.
	Keeping a streak alive can be strong motivation to stick with a chosen activity Dick Coffee attended 781 consecutive University of Alabama football games. Meg Roh surfed through illness, storms and nightfall to maintain a seven-year daily surfing streak. Jon Sutherland ran at least 1 mile every day for over 52 years.
	Unraveling the mystery of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer Gastric cancer, a significant global health burden, claims more than 7% of cancer-related deaths annually. Although only 1%–3% of cases have a genetic basis, understanding these genetic drivers is crucial for developing preventative strategies.
	Researchers explore relation between sleep quality and various physical health parameters Researchers conducted a comprehensive study involving 100 adults aged 30–59 years by employing electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements to assess sleep quality for five nights at the participants' homes. Additionally, detailed health examinations were conducted at a health care facility in Tokyo. The objective was to explore the relationship between sleep quality and various physical health parameters. Notably, individuals with poor objective sleep quality exhibited a tendency toward unfavorable physical health indicators, particularly elevated systolic blood pressure.
	What does 'male menopause' mean? Hormone changes are a natural part of aging, but the experience is different for men and women. Unlike the more dramatic plunge that occurs in women during menopause, sex hormone changes in men occur gradually. This is sometimes called male menopause.
	An African history of cannabis offers fascinating and heartbreaking insights—an expert explains When I tell people that I research cannabis, I sometimes receive a furtive gesture that implies and presumes: "We're both stoners," as if two members of a secret society have met.
	Relax—having different sleeping arrangements over the holidays probably won't wreck your child's sleep routine Sleep, along with diet and physical activity, is one of the three pillars of good health. Good sleep makes it easier to grow, learn, perform, be happy, stay in our best weight range and generally be in the best mental and physical health. This is true for all humans but is particularly important with children.
	Why does alcohol make my poo go weird? As we enter the festive season it's a good time to think about what all those celebratory alcoholic drinks can do to your gut.
	A short history of sunscreen, from basting like a chook to preventing skin cancer Australians have used commercial creams, lotions or gels to manage our skin's sun exposure for nearly a century.
	Arthritic hands: What works (and doesn't) to ease the pain? Millions of people who live with the pain and stiffness of arthritis in their hands get steroid or hyaluronic acid injections directly into their finger joints in the hopes of feeling better.
	High probability reported that balanced crystalloids in ICU cut mortality For adults in the intensive care unit (ICU), there is a high probability that use of balanced crystalloids decreases in-hospital mortality compared with saline, according to a review published online Nov. 30 in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.
	Pediatricians offer 8 goals to parents to 'start the year strong' New Year's resolutions often center on weight loss and personal lifestyle changes, but setting good parenting goals is also well worth the effort, pediatricians say.
	More than half of US medical interns experience sexual harassment More than half of U.S. medical interns report experiencing sexual harassment, according to a research letter published online Dec. 26 in JAMA Network Open.
	Five-day antibiotic course noninferior for pediatric febrile UTI For young children with febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI), a five-day amoxicillin-clavulanate course is noninferior to a 10-day course for recurrence of UTI within 30 days after completion of therapy, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in Pediatrics.
	Expecting? Stay heart-healthy for you and your baby It's never too late for an expectant mom to adopt healthy habits for her baby and herself.
	WHO urges pandemic accord in 2024 after years of COVID pain The head of the WHO said Tuesday the world needs to properly prepare for future pandemics after finally ending three years of COVID "crisis, pain and loss,"
	Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity: Treatment and distant metastatic behavior A research perspective was recently published in Oncoscience, titled "Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity—follow up treatment and distant metastatic behavior."
	Importance of physician-led team-based care underscored in new ACP policy Team-based care is associated with better patient outcomes and lower burnout for physicians, but despite these benefits barriers remain to its adoption, says the American College of Physicians (ACP) in a new policy paper published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine. "Principles for the Physician-Led Patient-Centered Medical Home and Other Approaches to Team-Based Care" makes recommendations on professionalism, payment models, training, licensure, and research to support the expansion of dynamic clinical care teams.
	Inside the Pentagon's painfully slow effort to clean up decades of PFAS contamination Oscoda, Michigan, has the distinction as the first community where "forever chemicals" were found seeping from a military installation into the surrounding community. Beginning in 2010, state officials and later residents who lived near the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base were horrified to learn that the chemicals, collectively called PFAS, had leached into their rivers, lakes, and drinking water.
	Q & A: Cleft lip and palate repair DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I'm pregnant with my second child. During the 20-week anatomy scan, my obstetrician detected my baby has a cleft lip. Does this mean my baby also has a cleft palate? How and when is a cleft lip or cleft palate corrected?
	'Financial ruin is baked into the system': Readers on the costs of long-term care Thousands of readers reacted to the articles in the "Dying Broke" series about the financial burden of long-term care in the United States. They offered their assessments for the government and market failures that have drained the lifetime savings of so many American families. And some offered possible solutions.

Other Sciences news

	Social media platforms generate billions in annual ad revenue from US youth: Study Social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube collectively derived nearly $11 billion in advertising revenue from U.S.-based users younger than 18 in 2022, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study is the first to offer estimates of the number of youth users on these platforms and how much annual ad revenue is attributable to them.
	Draw-and-write mapping: Effective way to capture children's natural representations Mental representations play a crucial role in shaping attitudes and behavior. Children's representations of 'nature' can be assessed along several dimensions, including aspects such as level of wildness, cognitive complexity, degree of elaboration, emotional expression, and representational style. However, understanding children's representations of nature, especially among preadolescents with limited verbal narrative skills, remains a challenge.
	Selfies and social media: How tourists indulge their influencer fantasies A town in the US state of Vermont closed its roads to tourists in September 2023 after a social media tag sparked a swarm of visitors that overwhelmed the rural destination.
	A legal scholar explains the need for government databases to retract information In 2004, Hwang Woo-suk was celebrated for his breakthrough discovery creating cloned human embryos, and his work was published in the prestigious journal Science. But the discovery was too good to be true; Dr. Hwang had fabricated the data. Science publicly retracted the article and assembled a team to investigate what went wrong.
	Switching off from work has never been harder, or more necessary. Here's how to do it In the hit dystopian TV series "Severance," employees at biotech corporation Lumon Industries find it easy to separate work and home life. A computer chip is inserted in their brains to act as a "mindwipe." They leave all thoughts of home behind while at work, and completely forget about their work when at home.
	20 people, 2.4 quintillion possibilities: The baffling statistics of Secret Santa Christmas, we're told, is the most wonderful time of the year. For many of us, however, it is preceded by one of the least wonderful times: the awkward social spectacle of the office Secret Santa or Kris Kringle, where employees agree to purchase a gift for a randomly allocated colleague.
	How the retailing contest between CBDs, shopping centers and online will reshape our cities Retail activity has been a defining facet of cities since antiquity. The Greek Agora and Roman Forum may be viewed as the original CBDs—central business districts, or what urban planners call activity centers.
	UK retains metric system for selling after overwhelming support The UK government said on Wednesday it had dropped its plan to start selling in imperial measures after a consultation revealed 99 percent support for keeping the metric system.
	How to start a successful innovation ecosystem The emergence of informal voluntary organizations capable of triggering "coopetition" where sheer competition and poor resource management prevailed, can be the key to tackling the hurdles that prevent the establishment of an innovation ecosystem, according to Dovev Lavie (Bocconi's Department of Management and Technology).

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