Science X Newsletter Mon, Jan 8

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 8, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

New transistors based on monolayer black phosphorus and germanium arsenide

Space oddity: Uncovering the origin of the universe's rare radio circles

Study explores the properties of a faint tidal disruption event

Targeting the mRNA of 'undruggable' proteins in the fight against Parkinson's disease

Renal macrophages observed playing crucial role in preventing kidney stones

In the interests of animal welfare and public health, researchers make a case for improved farm animal conditions

Scientists flip around gravitational-wave data analysis: Have LIGO and Virgo detected a merger of dark-matter stars?

Mimicking the masters: Octopus-inspired systems for deception and signaling

Astronomers observe three iron rings in a planet-forming disk

Saturday Citations: Honey yields, exercising under the influence, unexpected benefits of hearing aids

Coal miners in North Dakota unearth a mammoth tusk buried for thousands of years

Researchers identify why cancer immunotherapy can cause colitis

When bad cells go good: Harnessing cellular cannibalism for cancer treatment

First US lunar lander in more than 50 years rockets toward moon with commercial deliveries

Bottled water can contain hundreds of thousands of previously uncounted tiny plastic bits, study finds

Nanotechnology news

	Engineering stable and efficient nanosheet catalysts with Turing structures for hydrogen production Hydrogen energy has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering a clean and sustainable energy source. However, the development of low-cost and efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction remains a challenge.
	Ultrasensitive molecular sensing with synthesize complex-frequency waves Sensors are essential tools for detecting and analyzing trace molecules in a variety of fields, including environmental monitoring, food safety, and public health. However, developing sensors with high enough sensitivity to detect these tiny amounts of molecules remains a challenge.
	Tumor microenvironment-activated nanostructure enables precise multi-modal therapy Recently, a research team led by Prof. Wu Zhengyan from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration Binzhou Medical University, successfully designed a nanostructure that improves the detection and treatment of tumors.

Physics news

	Stripes in a flowing liquid crystal suggest a route to 'chiral' fluids Hold your hands out in front of you, and no matter how you rotate them, it's impossible to superimpose one over the other. Our hands are a perfect example of chirality—a geometric configuration by which an object cannot be superimposed onto its mirror image.
	Researchers demonstrate that quantum entanglement and topology are inextricably linked For the first time, researchers have demonstrated the remarkable ability to perturb pairs of spatially separated yet interconnected quantum entangled particles without altering their shared properties.
	Scientists invent ultrathin optical crystal for next-generation laser tech A team of Chinese researchers used a novel theory to invent a new type of ultrathin optical crystal with high energy efficiency, laying the foundation for next-generation laser technology.
	Substitutional doping of 2D semiconductor for broadband photodetector Substitutional doping from foreign elements stands out as a preferred method for precisely tailoring the electronic band structure, conduction type, and carrier concentration of pristine materials. In the realm of three-dimensional (3D) monocrystalline silicon, for instance, the introduction of boron (B) and nitrogen (N) atoms as acceptor and donor dopants, respectively, has proven highly effective in enhancing carrier mobility. This improvement positions silicon for advanced applications in integrated circuits.
	Multi-point temperature measurements in packed beds using phosphor thermometry and ray tracing simulations A team of researchers has proposed an indirect optical method for determining internal temperatures of opaque packed beds based on phosphor thermometry. This method enables simultaneous multi-point measurements using an image-based separation of the superimposed luminescence originating from sources at different locations.

Earth news

	Bottled water can contain hundreds of thousands of previously uncounted tiny plastic bits, study finds In recent years, there has been rising concern that tiny particles known as microplastics are showing up basically everywhere on Earth, from polar ice to soil, drinking water and food. Formed when plastics break down into progressively smaller bits, these particles are being consumed by humans and other creatures, with unknown potential health and ecosystem effects.
	Global study finds extreme drought impacts on grasslands and shrublands A global study organized and led by Colorado State University scientists shows that the effects of extreme drought—which is expected to increase in frequency with climate change—has been greatly underestimated for grasslands and shrublands.
	How magma and water shaped the iconic Columbia River Gorge University of Oregon researchers are adding new details to the geological history of the iconic Columbia River Gorge, a wide river canyon that cuts through the volcanic peaks of the Cascades along the border between Oregon and Washington.
	Researchers say accounting for plastic persistence can minimize environmental impacts With plastic pollution posing a significant threat to ecosystems and human health, various strategies to lessen this type of pollution include reducing the production of plastic, decreasing the generation of plastic waste, and improving the material and product design of plastic items.
	Scientists develop AI model to predict earthquakes in Arabian Peninsula Scientists say they have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model which would efficiently interpret and recognize the behavior of certain factors in seismic-prone regions to forecast earthquakes before their occurrence.
	Will we be able to ski in a +2°C world? Over the last months, the raison d'être of winter sports has been threatened more than ever by a range of challenges and controversies. From the occupation by activists of the glacier of Girose, Southeastern France, to protest against plans for a new cable car, to doubts over whether to hold pre-season sporting events following the partial destruction of the Théodule glacier in Switzerland, scarce snow is pitting people against one another. Behind all these tensions lies the same question: what does the future hold for skiing on an overheating planet?
	Exploring dimensions of justice in climate science How can climate policy be made more just and fair? IIASA researchers have synthesized different dimensions of justice into a framework that can be used by climate scientists and policymakers, explaining how previous research has neglected many potential justice positions and how these can be implemented in policy contexts.
	Senegal's small scale gold miners still use poisonous mercury: How to reduce the harm "Do not fish in these waters." "Contains high levels of mercury."
	Researchers develop Mexico's first comprehensive greenhouse gas budget Mexico's greenhouse gas emissions are the second highest among Latin American countries, trailing only Brazil according to the World Bank. But until now, no one had leveraged the full spectrum of available scientific data to make an estimate of sources (such as fossil fuel burning and agriculture) and sinks (such as healthy forests and soils) of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Calculating the country's greenhouse gas budget could help policymakers develop effective emissions reduction strategies.
	The importance of corporate climate disclosure and measuring financial costs of environmental impacts Under the Biden administration, there has been an effort to do a better job of measuring public and private environmental impacts. The federal government is trying to develop ways of improving the measurement of environmental costs and benefits of public investments and is also trying to stimulate the development of measures of private sector environmental impacts and risks.
	After COP28, 'insider' climate activists will become increasingly important, study suggests Climate campaigners will increasingly adopt "insider activist" roles, working to change or challenge their organizations from the inside rather than the outside, a new study says.
	Unlocking Earth's ammonia mysteries: China's HIRAS/FY-3D satellite reveals first global map Atmospheric ammonia (NH3) is a trace gas that causes environmental problems and harms human health. Chinese scientists have established a full-physical retrieval algorithm to derive the concentration of the atmospheric ammonia from the Hyperspectral Infrared Atmospheric Sounder (HIRAS) onboard the Chinese FengYun (FY)-3D satellite, presenting the first atmospheric NH3 column global map observed by the HIRAS instrument.
	Urbanization has led some Costa Rican water sources to exceed safety levels: Study Four decades of changes in land use in central Costa Rica have increased nitrate concentrations in drinking water, in some areas to potentially unsafe levels, according to a new study led by a University of Texas at Arlington scientist.
	Winter storm threatens travel chaos on US east coast Forecasters warned on Friday that a deluge of snow and wintery conditions could bring travel chaos to the US northeast this weekend, with some 25 million people subject to a storm warning.
	WWII-era munitions found under water in survey of Southern California industrial waste dump site Underwater dump sites off the Los Angeles coast contain World War II-era munitions including anti-submarine weapons and smoke devices, marine researchers announced Friday.
	Death toll from western Japan earthquakes rises to 126 as rain and snow imperil already shaky ground Aftershocks threatened to bury more homes and block roads crucial for relief shipments, as the death toll from the earthquakes that rattled Japan's western coastline this past week rose to 126 on Saturday.
	Snow hinders rescues and aid deliveries to isolated communities after Japan quakes kill 161 people Rescue teams worked through snow to deliver supplies to isolated hamlets Monday, a week after a powerful earthquake hit western Japan, killing at least 161 people.
	Toxic secret: Lawmakers want rules and remedies for chemical in Florida County tap water Two local lawmakers are announcing a bipartisan effort today to regulate a toxic industrial chemical that has tainted the drinking water of thousands of people in Seminole County for years and possibly decades.
	Expert: When it comes to being prepared for bushfires, safety starts in your own backyard With hotter and drier conditions expected this summer, we can expect an increase in high fire danger days. So, it's good to be prepared. No property can ever be completely safe from bushfire, but there are some ways to address some of the weak links a bushfire may exploit. One of CSIRO's bushfire experts, Justin Leonard, has decades of experience in understanding how we can manage bushfire risk to life and infrastructure. He provides these tips to help prepare your home.

Astronomy and Space news

	Space oddity: Uncovering the origin of the universe's rare radio circles It's not every day astronomers say, "What is that?" After all, most observed astronomical phenomena are known: stars, planets, black holes and galaxies. But in 2019 the newly completed ASKAP (Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder) telescope picked up something no one had ever seen before: radio wave circles so large they contained entire galaxies in their centers.
	Study explores the properties of a faint tidal disruption event Using a spectral synthesis code designed to simulate conditions in interstellar matter, astronomers have explored a faint tidal disruption event (TDE) designated iPTF16fnl. Results of the study, published Dec. 29 on the pre-print server arXiv, deliver important insights into the properties of this TDE.
	Scientists flip around gravitational-wave data analysis: Have LIGO and Virgo detected a merger of dark-matter stars? Gravitational waves are ripples in the fabric of spacetime that travel at the speed of light. These are produced in some of the most violent events in the universe, such as black-hole mergers, supernovae, or the Big Bang itself. Since their first detection in 2015, and after three observing runs, the Advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors have detected around 100 such waves.
	Astronomers observe three iron rings in a planet-forming disk The origin of Earth and the solar system inspires scientists and the public alike. By studying the present state of our home planet and other objects in the solar system, researchers have developed a detailed picture of the conditions when they evolved from a disk made of dust and gas surrounding the infant sun some 4.5 billion years ago.
	First US lunar lander in more than 50 years rockets toward moon with commercial deliveries The first U.S. lunar lander in more than 50 years rocketed toward the moon Monday, launching private companies on a space race to make deliveries for NASA and other customers.
	COSMIC: Expanding the search for extraterrestrial intelligence In a groundbreaking cosmic quest, the SETI Institute's Commensal Open-Source Multimode Interferometer Cluster (COSMIC) at the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) is expanding the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).
	Private US lunar lander facing failure after 'critical loss' of fuel An historic private mission to land on the moon was facing near-certain failure Monday after the spacecraft suffered a "critical loss" of fuel, in a major blow to America's hopes of placing its first robot on the lunar surface in five decades.
	Researchers reveal new findings on diamond rain on ice planets An international team of researchers led by Dr. Mungo Frost from the SLAC research center in California has gained new insights into the formation of diamond rain on icy planets such as Neptune and Uranus, using the X-ray laser European XFEL in Schenefeld. The results also provide clues to the formation of the complex magnetic fields of these planets.
	A colossal star erupts: Examining one of the largest stars in the Milky Way as it fades from view Astronomers from Georgia State University's CHARA Array have captured the first close-up images of a massive star known as RW Cephei that recently experienced a strange fading event. The images are providing new clues about what's happening around the massive star approximately 16,000 light years from Earth.
	The most massive neutron stars probably have cores of quark matter Atoms are made of three things: protons, neutrons, and electrons. Electrons are a type of fundamental particle, but protons and neutrons are composite particles made of up and down quarks. Protons have 2 ups and 1 down, while neutrons have 2 downs and 1 up. Because of the curious nature of the strong force, these quarks are always bound to each other, so they can never be truly free particles like electrons, at least in the vacuum of empty space. But a new study in Nature Communications finds that they can liberate themselves within the hearts of neutron stars.
	India's Sun probe reaches solar orbit India's solar observation mission on Saturday entered the Sun's orbit after a four-month journey, the latest success for the space exploration ambitions of the world's most populous nation.
	United Arab Emirates to build NASA Gateway airlock, send astronaut on Artemis mission NASA has onboarded another integral partner to its lunar plans by striking a deal with the United Arab Emirates to build part of its lunar Gateway space station and send one of the Arab country's astronauts on a future Artemis mission.
	GJ 367b is another dead world orbiting a red dwarf, say astronomers Red dwarf exoplanet habitability is a hot topic in space science. These small dim stars host lots of exoplanets, including small rocky ones the size of Earth. But the little stars emit extremely powerful flares that can damage and strip away atmospheres.
	Should we send humans to Pluto? Universe Today has examined the potential for sending humans to Jupiter's icy moon, Europa, the planet Venus, and Saturn's largest moon, Titan, all despite their respective harsh environments and vast distances. These conversations with planetary science experts determined that humans traveling to these worlds in the foreseeable future could be possible, despite the harsh conditions and travel time, specifically to Titan.
	NASA's Parker Solar Probe completes 18th close approach to the sun NASA's Parker Solar Probe completed its 18th close approach to the sun on Dec. 28, 2023, matching its own distance record by skimming just about 4.51 million miles (7.26 million kilometers) from the solar surface.

Technology news

	New transistors based on monolayer black phosphorus and germanium arsenide Two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting materials have proved to be very promising for the development of various electronic devices, including wearables and smaller electronics. These materials can have significant advantages over their bulky counterparts, for instance retaining their carrier mobility irrespective of their reduced thickness.
	Mimicking the masters: Octopus-inspired systems for deception and signaling In a new study, scientists have introduced octopus-inspired deception and signaling systems using a stable nonacene-like molecule, marking a significant advancement in camouflage technology with potential applications in diverse fields.
	New soft robots roll like tires, spin like tops and orbit like moons Researchers have developed a new soft robot design that engages in three simultaneous behaviors: rolling forward, spinning like a record, and following a path that orbits around a central point. The device, which operates without human or computer control, holds promise for developing soft robotic devices that can be used to navigate and map unknown environments.
	Mobile ALOHA robot able to help with multiple household tasks A trio of robotics engineers at Stanford University, working with colleagues from Google's Deep Mind, has built on Google's ALOHA system to create a mobile robot capable of carrying out a wide variety of household chores—they have named it Mobile ALOHA.
	Scientists create DNA hydrogel-based, solar-powered evaporation system for highly efficient seawater desalination Minerals as well as freshwater can be obtained by desalinating seawater with solar power facilities for the sustainable development of human civilization. For instance, hydrogels have shown great power for solar-powered water evaporation potential, although the highly efficient and specific target extraction method remains to be expanded.
	New material to boost the efficiency limits of silicon solar cells A research group from the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC, Lithuania), together with partners from Tallinn University of Technology (Estonia) set out to synthesize new material that could potentially complement silicon solar cell technologies and increase the overall efficiency of solar modules.
	Solid state battery design charges in minutes, lasts for thousands of cycles Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a new lithium metal battery that can be charged and discharged at least 6,000 times—more than any other pouch battery cell—and can be recharged in a matter of minutes.
	Multiple AI models help robots execute complex plans more transparently Your daily to-do list is likely pretty straightforward: wash the dishes, buy groceries, and other minutiae. It's unlikely you wrote out "pick up the first dirty dish," or "wash that plate with a sponge," because each of these miniature steps within the chore feels intuitive. While we can routinely complete each step without much thought, a robot requires a complex plan that involves more detailed outlines.
	Vacuuming, moving house, unpacking are boring in real life—so why is doing them in a video game so fun? After an exhausting day, housework is often the last thing I feel like doing. But I sometimes relax by playing video games where you tidy and arrange household items in living rooms, kitchens and bathrooms.
	Explainer: Now-found door 'plug' may hold vital clues to how a gaping hole blew open on a jetliner Investigators said Sunday they had found the piece of fuselage that blew off a Boeing airliner over Oregon on Friday, and hoped it would provide physical evidence of what went wrong.
	Still standing: unique houses survive quake in Japan village The New Year's Day earthquake demolished wooden buildings all across Japan's Noto Peninsula but thanks to decades-old smart architecture, one small fishing village stood strong.
	Google search technique used by police draws new legal challenge Civil liberties advocates are mounting a new challenge to the use by police of Google search data for help solving criminal cases, as the practice draws greater scrutiny nationwide.
	Researchers unveil useful strategies for sustainable gas storage and separation with clathrate hydrates Clathrate hydrates are ice-like nano porous compounds which consists of nano-sized water cages. They are found in places like permafrost or seabed. Moreover, their unique physical and chemical traits make them beneficial for various separation processes, such as the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) before and after combustion, storage of hydrogen gas, transportation of natural gas, desalination of wastewater, and more.
	Why we should take competitive video games more seriously Is playing competitive video games a serious business?
	iPhone survives 16,000-foot fall from Alaska Airlines flight Now that's what you call airplane mode—an iPhone that plummeted 16,000 feet (5,000 meters) from an Alaska Airlines flight landed without a single crack in the screen and even a battery still half-charged.
	Apple's Vision Pro headset available in US on February 2 Apple on Monday said it will release its highly anticipated Vision Pro mixed reality headset in the United States on February 2, in its first major release since the Apple Watch in 2015.
	The world's next big carbon capture challenge? Figuring out how to use it Carbon capture is having a moment. Companies such as Chevron Corp. are building technology to capture carbon dioxide from smokestacks while others such as Microsoft Corp. are investing in startups working to yank the greenhouse gas out of the air directly.
	Educating civil engineers for the twenty-first century: The 'new-model engineer' Nick Francis, a Senior University Teacher at the Department of Civil and Structural Engineering, has co-authored, with Esther Norton, a new research article on educating civil engineers in the twenty-first century and proposed a new teaching model to empower future engineers to meet human needs in the context of climate and biodiversity crises.
	Bitcoin: Four reasons why the price could surge in 2024 The year 2023 will be remembered as turbulent for cryptocurrencies, with numerous important developments that ultimately helped to "clean up" the space to potentially make it more attractive to mainstream investors. Notably there was the conviction of FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried for fraud.
	CES 2024 is upon us. Here's what to expect from this year's annual show of all-things tech CES, the Consumer Technology Association's annual trade show of all-things tech, is kicking off in Las Vegas this week.
	Processing biochar into pellets to offset emissions in concrete production To achieve the goal of a climate-neutral Switzerland by 2050, strategies and processes with a negative CO2 balance are necessary. These so-called negative emission technologies (NET) are intended to counterbalance the remaining "hard-to-avoid" emissions in 2050 and should help ensure that we eventually achieve net zero.
	Cathode innovation makes sodium-ion battery an attractive option for electric vehicles New cathode material for sodium-ion batteries is inspired by earlier work at Argonne that led to the lithium-ion batteries in the Chevy Volt and Bolt. It could help the supply of low-cost and abundant elements for electric vehicle batteries.
	No win-win? Input-efficient technologies might not be so efficient after all To address natural resource scarcity, pollution, and other harmful effects of climate change, some scientists and policymakers emphasize the adoption of input-efficient technologies like water-saving devices and fuel-saving stoves. Proponents often refer to these input-efficient technologies as a "win-win" for the benefits to their users and to the environment and lament their low adoption rates by consumers in what they call an "efficiency paradox."
	Boeing still hasn't fixed this problem on Max jets, so it's asking for an exemption to safety rules Boeing is asking federal regulators to exempt a new model of its 737 Max airliner from a safety standard designed to prevent part of the engine housing from overheating and breaking off during flight.
	US regulator orders inspections on some Boeing MAX 9 planes after emergency The US air safety regulator said Saturday it was grounding some Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets pending inspections, a day after a panel blew out of one of the planes over the western state of Oregon.
	Federal officials order grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners after plane suffers a blowout Federal officials on Saturday ordered the immediate grounding of some Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners until they are inspected after an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage.
	What to know about the Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 jet that suffered a blowout An emergency landing by an Alaska Airlines jetliner has prompted U.S. federal authorities to ground some Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft, adding another episode to the troubled history of Boeing's Max lineup of jets.
	Vinfast plans first EV factory in India Vietnamese carmaker VinFast said it will build its first electric vehicle factory in India as part of a planned $2 billion investment, as it looks to expand into the rapidly growing market.
	Boeing hit by new headwinds in recent mid-flight scare A mid-air emergency in which a piece of fuselage came off a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jetliner as it flew over the US west coast dealt a new blow to the oft-beleaguered manufacturer.
	Rooftop-solar industry blames PG&E, Newsom as Bay Area businesses struggle Bay Area rooftop-solar businesses are reeling from a statewide change that gutted compensation for homeowners returning surplus power to the electrical grid, causing applications for new solar to plunge to a 10-year low and leading to layoffs in an industry that had expected to lead the vanguard toward more sustainable, environmentally friendly energy use.
	Boeing jetliner that suffered inflight blowout was restricted because of concern over warning light The Boeing jetliner that suffered an inflight blowout over Oregon was not being used for flights to Hawaii after a warning light that could have indicated a pressurization problem lit up on three different flights, a federal official said Sunday.
	Rolls-Royce delivers record number of cars in 2023 Rolls-Royce Motor Cars delivered a record number of luxury vehicles last year when clients also began taking possession of its first all-electric Spectre model, the German-owned brand said Monday.
	EU approves 900-mn-euro German aid for battery plant The EU approved Monday a 900-million-euro German state subsidy for electric vehicle battery firm Northvolt to build a plant in Germany that might have otherwise been lured to the United States.
	Boeing shares dive as regulators unveil inspection plan for grounded MAX jets Shares of Boeing plunged Monday after an airplane panel blew out mid-flight, reviving safety questions at a time when the company had hoped to recover its reputation.
	A natural gas plant guarding US Northeast from winter blackouts is at risk A natural gas terminal that's been operating for more than half a century has been a crucial safeguard against blackouts when bone-chilling cold hits the U.S. Northeast. In less than five months, it's slated to shut forever.

Chemistry news

A computer vision and machine learning system that monitors and controls workup processes A team of chemists and engineers at the University of British Columba working with colleagues at pharmaceutical company Pfizer has developed a chemical processing system combining computer vision with a real-time machine-learning monitoring system for use in conducting chemical workup processes. Their paper is published in the journal Chemical Science.

A novel strategy for extracting mycelial fibers for mushroom-based materials Mycelial fibers, the fibrous cells found in fruiting mushroom bodies, have gained momentum as a sustainable material for making leather and packaging owing to their excellent formability. Recently, a team of researchers from Shinshu University, Japan, has found a simple way of obtaining mycelial fibers, called "mycelial pulp," from fruiting mushroom bodies and bleaching them using sunlight while keeping their mycelial structures intact.

Biology news

	In the interests of animal welfare and public health, researchers make a case for improved farm animal conditions Research shows that three-quarters of emerging infectious diseases are passed from animals to humans; an illness of this type is known as zoonosis (plural: zoonoses). Farm animals, especially pigs and poultry, pose a high risk of zoonotic infection.
	Coal miners in North Dakota unearth a mammoth tusk buried for thousands of years The first person to spot it was a shovel operator working the overnight shift, eyeing a glint of white as he scooped up a giant mound of dirt and dropped it into a dump truck.
	When bad cells go good: Harnessing cellular cannibalism for cancer treatment Scientists have solved a cellular murder mystery nearly 25 years after the case went cold. Following a trail of evidence from fruit flies to mice to humans revealed that cannibalistic cells likely cause a rare human immunodeficiency. Now the discovery shows promise for enhancing an up-and-coming cancer treatment.
	Researchers discover molecular 'barcode' used by bacteria to secrete toxins Researchers at McMaster University have discovered a molecular "barcode" system used by disease-causing bacteria to distinguish between beneficial and toxic molecules.
	More than 30 new species of bacteria discovered in patient samples Unknown germs are a common occurrence in hospitals. Researchers at the University of Basel have spent many years collecting and analyzing them. They have identified many new species of bacteria, some of which are significant for clinical practice.
	Tuna species popular in sashimi and poke bowls in sharp decline in the Indian Ocean The yellowfin tuna commonly enjoyed in sashimi, poke bowls and salad sandwiches may soon disappear from these dishes if current over-exploitation rates remain unchanged, especially in the Indian Ocean.
	Researchers engineer in vivo delivery system for prime editing, partially restoring vision in mice Prime editing, a versatile form of gene editing that can correct most known disease-causing genetic mutations, now has a new vehicle to deliver its machinery into cells in living animals.
	Exploring how antibiotic-resistant bacteria become aggressive Some strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that have recently acquired disease-enhancing genes may not behave as aggressively as expected, according to a Northwestern Medicine study recently published in Nature Communications.
	Researchers develop algorithm to determine how cellular 'neighborhoods' function in tissues Researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have developed a new AI-powered algorithm to help understand how different cells organize themselves into particular tissues and communicate with one another. This new tool was tested on two types of cancer tissues to reveal how these "neighborhoods" of cells interact with one another to evade therapy, and more studies could reveal more information about the function of these cells in the tumor microenvironment.
	Q&A: Researchers highlight the potential for microrobots in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases Biofilms—structured communities of microorganisms that create a protective matrix shielding them from external threats, including antibiotics—are responsible for about 80% of human infections and present a significant challenge in medical treatments, often resisting conventional methods.
	Researchers produce first macromolecular model of plant secondary cell wall A multidisciplinary approach has enabled researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to quantitatively define the relative positioning and arrangement of the polymers in Populus wood and to create a computer model that details the findings.
	A primate on the brink: Cao vit gibbon even closer to extinction than feared Thanks to new technology, we now have a better idea of just how vanishingly rare the world's second rarest ape really is.
	Researchers develop strategy for adding keystone species to collapsing ecosystems There are very few animals as important to our world as honeybees. There is, of course, the delicious honey they produce, but they are also essential in maintaining food security and the biodiversity that is threatened by climate change and becoming our strongest natural defense against it.
	A unique approach to detecting and predicting dog mobility issues Veterinary researchers at the University of Liverpool, along with partners at Dogs Trust, have developed a unique approach to detecting and predicting dog mobility issues.
	How a sea animal with a 'snot palace' could inspire better pumps To build more efficient pumping systems, engineers might take inspiration from a tiny filter-feeding sea creature encased in a gelatinous structure known as a "mucus house" or "snot palace."
	Researchers discover important membrane transport mechanism in pathogenic bacteria Some bacterial membrane transporters work almost like freight elevators to transport substances through the cell membrane into the interior of the cell. The transporter itself spans the bacterial membrane. Like a forklift, a soluble protein outside the bacterium transports the substance to the "elevator" and unloads its cargo there. The freight elevator transports it to the inside of the cell, in other words to another floor.
	How did the bushpig cross the strait? A great puzzle in African mammal biogeography solved by genomics In the ongoing biodiversity crisis, large terrestrial animals are more threatened by extinction than any other group of organisms. The African continent holds an impressively intact large-mammal community, but there is still a lot we do not know about how these species evolved, became diverse, and adapted to the changing climate and habitats. Many of these questions can be addressed by investigating the genomes and genetic variation across species.
	Molecular dynamics database offers improved understanding of COVID-19 proteins Designed to meet the urgent need for insights into the molecular intricacies of SARS-CoV-2 infection, BioExcel-CV19 is a repository for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.
	Clustering algorithm helps scientists make sense of vast amounts of molecular data Thanks to technological advances, scientists have access to vast amounts of data, but in order to put it to work and draw conclusions, they need to be able to process it.
	Nutrition needs drive bee appetites: New research findings may help to boost pollinator health, resilience Most garden enthusiasts know that certain flowers can attract pollinators. New research helps explain why and also provides more details about how the nutrition found in plant pollen may determine which specific bee communities might favor your garden. On a larger scale, this research may help fight against pollinator declines through better design of rangeland restoration projects.
	Protecting coral 'nurseries' is as important as safeguarding established coral reefs, new study shows When imagining corals, the picture that comes to mind is usually a stationary one: a garden of rock-like structures covering sections of the ocean floor. Reef conservation efforts typically focus on preserving established coral and protecting them from known stressors such as pollution, overfishing and runoff from coastline populations.
	Study shows captive-bred Egyptian vultures can improve their flight and migration performance Two types of experiences affect the behavioral skills of animals: the animal's environment during its early development and acquired experience. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's researchers followed Egyptian vultures during migration, a critical and challenging period for them, and investigated how their flying skills developed by examining their performance using high-resolution tracking.
	Plantations are putting primate infants at risk, finds study Frequent visits to oil palm plantations are leading to a sharp increase in mortality rates among infant southern pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) in the wild, according to a new study published in Current Biology. In addition to increased risk from predators and human encounters, exposure to harmful agricultural chemicals in this environment may negatively affect infant development.
	Study of Darwin's finches sheds light on how one species become many Using data on four species of Darwin's finches on the Galápagos Islands, researchers led by McGill University have confirmed a long-standing hypothesis that species diversity evolves through adaptation to different resources.
	Dogs can terrify (and even kill) wildlife. How to be a responsible owner this summer In Australia, dog ownership often goes hand-in-hand with a love for the great outdoors. Whether it's walking on the beach, going camping, or having a barbecue in the park, we tend to keep our canine companions close as we soak up the sun.
	In Colombia, rare bird flaunts male and female feathers On the right side of its body, the bird flaunted the typical blue plumage and black head of the male Green Honeycreeper. On the left, it was a beautiful grass green.
	Soil fungi may help explain the global gradient in forest diversity A paper published in Nature Communications Biology contributes to the growing appreciation for the outsize role that microbes play in everything from human digestion to crop yields: Microbes in the soil—fungi in this case—appear to be influencing forest diversity on a global scale.
	Protein structures signal fresh targets for anticancer drugs Cell replication in our bodies is triggered by a cascade of molecular signals transmitted between proteins. Compounds that block these signals when they run amok show potential as cancer drugs.
	Dogs are incredible, if unlikely, allies in conservation Dogs have been working with people for centuries. Think hunting dogs, herding dogs, police dogs or search and rescue dogs. But have you heard of conservation dogs?
	Male pregnancy and weird courtship wiggles: How NZ's wide-bodied pipefish confounds expectations If you've ever watched a natural history program on TV, you've probably seen animals performing a wide variety of behaviors to get the attention of the opposite sex.
	Global scientific network highlights plant genera named for women A network of scientists across the globe have identified more than 700 plant genera named for women. This is a nearly 20-fold increase in the number of genera linked to women before the group started working on the list.
	Mosquito heat tolerance varies by population, according to new study Certain populations of mosquitoes are more heat tolerant and better equipped to survive heat waves than others, according to new research from Washington University in St. Louis.
	California mountain lion population is thousands fewer than previously estimated Scientists have completed the first comprehensive estimate of mountain lions in California, a vital statistic needed to shape puma-friendly land-use decisions and ensure that the predators can find room to roam, mate and find prey.
	New online guides to aid in identification of native bees in Pacific Northwest Pollinator enthusiasts and scientists have new online tools to identify native bees in the Pacific Northwest.
	The black spots on salmon filets found to contain melanin More than 20% of the filets of Atlantic salmon may have unattractive black and red spots, which are often >1 cm and create substantial financial losses. The spots are far more abundant in reared than in wild salmon, and their causes are poorly understood.
	Aquaculture blessing in disguise for migratory waders fueling up in China On the mudflats along the Chinese coasts where benign forms of aquaculture are practiced, shorebirds like knots and bar-tailed godwits are doing relatively well. That is shown in the dissertation that NIOZ Ph.D. candidate and biologist He-Bo Peng will defend at the University of Groningen on January 15.
	Can Florida's corals survive climate change? Fate of one small reef may hold the answer When marine scientist Ian Enochs jumped into the water at Cheeca Rocks, a small reef in the Florida Keys known for vibrantly colorful corals, what he saw shook him to the core.
	'Green' energy, plant food from Florida's stinky seaweed? Ideas will be put to test Seaweed poses all sorts of problems when it piles up on South Florida beaches. It stinks, spoils the view and makes swimming icky. It's also pricey to haul off to the landfill, which currently is the only viable disposal option.
	Unraveling the mystery of lignosuberization: A comprehensive study of periderm formation in Sikkim cucumber fruit skin In fleshy fruits, periderm tissue often forms on the skin surface as a response to mechanical damage caused following environmental cues or developmental programs, known as lignosuberization, creating a protective, corky matrix.
	Engineering tomatoes for high-yield saffron apocarotenoid production Apocarotenoids, derived from the oxidative cleavage of carotenoids by carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs), are crucial for biological functions in plants and animals, though their definition varies among scientific communities. In plant carotenoid biosynthesis, enzymes convert isoprenoids into carotenoids, leading to products like lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which play roles in photoprotection and detoxification.
	Unlocking the secrets of strawberry aroma: The crucial role of FanCXE1 carboxylesterase in ester metabolism and ripening Strawberries owe their distinctive flavor to a complex mixture of sugars, acids, and over 900 volatile compounds, primarily esters, which are produced and degraded by alcohol acyltransferases (AATs) and carboxylesterases (CXEs), respectively.
	Accessing the bronze tomato's enhanced antioxidant and health properties through metabolic engineering The Bronze tomato, a product of metabolic engineering, produces high levels of polyphenol due to the over-expression of genes such as VvStSy, AmDel/Rosea1, and AtMYB12. This modification, part of broader efforts to enhance plant nutritional value through specific biochemical alterations, results in ripe fruits with significantly higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
	Unraveling the complexity of melon-pumpkin graft collapse Grafting melon (Cucumis melon L.) onto pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duch. × Cucurbita moschata Duch.) rootstock is a method of improving yield but is challenged by the scion-rootstock incompatibility leading to plant collapse attributed to various physiological and biochemical factors.

Medicine and Health news

	Targeting the mRNA of 'undruggable' proteins in the fight against Parkinson's disease Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute, Florida, have developed a new method to counteract α-synuclein protein levels by targeting the mRNA that forms them. The strategy unlocks many research doors with potential therapeutic approaches for addressing neurodegenerative diseases.
	Renal macrophages observed playing crucial role in preventing kidney stones Researchers at Zhejiang University School of Medicine, China, have investigated how the body's innate immune system of renal macrophages works to prevent kidney stones. In a paper, "Renal macrophages monitor and remove particles from urine to prevent tubule obstruction," published in Immunity, the authors detail their findings of mechanistic actions and strategic positioning of macrophages to surveil epithelial cells and intratubular environments.
	Researchers identify why cancer immunotherapy can cause colitis Researchers at the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center have identified a mechanism that causes severe gastrointestinal problems with immune-based cancer treatment.
	Novel test holds promise for detecting Parkinson's disease early In the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), the changes that will lead to neurodegeneration take place in the brain long before patients show any symptoms. But without a test that can detect these changes, it's difficult to intervene early to more effectively slow disease progression.
	Exposure to TV may affect babies' and toddlers' ability to process the world around them, new study suggests Babies and toddlers exposed to television or video viewing may be more likely to exhibit atypical sensory behaviors, such as being disengaged and disinterested in activities, seeking more intense stimulation in an environment, or being overwhelmed by sensations like loud sounds or bright lights, according to data from researchers at Drexel's College of Medicine published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
	Study suggests EBV-specific T cells play key role in development of multiple sclerosis The body's immune response to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may play a role in causing damage in people with multiple sclerosis, according to a new study led by University of Texas Health Houston.
	Study suggests omicron subvariant causes enhanced fusion with human lung cells New research shows that the recently-emerged BA.2.86 omicron subvariant of the virus that causes COVID-19 can be neutralized by bivalent mRNA vaccine-induced antibodies in the blood, which explains why this variant did not cause a widespread surge as previously feared.
	Novel tissue-derived brain organoids could revolutionize brain research Scientists have developed 3D mini-organs from human fetal brain tissue that self-organize in vitro. These lab-grown organoids open up a brand-new way of studying how the brain develops. They also offer a valuable means to study the development and treatment of diseases related to brain development, including brain tumors.
	Certain combinations of gut bacteria protect stem cell transplant patients from immune reactions, finds study After stem cell transplantation, the donated immune cells sometimes attack the patients' bodies. This is known as graft versus host disease or GvHD. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Universitätsklinikum Regensburg (UKR) have shown that GvHD is much less common when certain microbes are present in the gut. In the future, it may be possible to deliberately bring about this protective composition of the microbiome.
	New AI tool accurately detects COVID-19 from chest X-rays Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that can rapidly detect COVID-19 from chest X-rays with more than 98% accuracy. The study results have just been published in Scientific Reports.
	Applying global lessons to protect abortion access in the United States In the nearly two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, the introduction of state laws and policies further restricting access to abortion care has made the legal and health care landscape even more challenging.
	Researchers identify bacterial strain that demonstrates a potentially protective role in celiac disease Researchers from Mass General for Children (MGfC) and 13 other institutions have identified a strain of Bacteroides vulgatus that may protect the gut intestinal barrier against the break in tolerance that occurs when gluten is introduced into the diet of genetically at-risk children.
	Researchers find drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity reduce alcohol cravings In social media posts on the community network Reddit, users reported reduced cravings for alcohol when taking drugs intended to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
	A new platform to fast-track lifesaving brain research An international team led by Australian researchers has developed a platform that could transform neuroimaging data analysis worldwide. The Neurodesk platform will enable scientists to accelerate research on conditions such as epilepsy, dementia, schizophrenia and traumatic brain injury by enabling faster processing and analysis of neuroimaging data.
	Targeted MRI detects chronic liver disease Chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Fibrosis—the thickening and scarring of connective tissue—plays a major role in these liver diseases but detection of fibrosis is limited to biopsy, which suffers from limitations including the risk of complications, sampling only a tiny fraction of the liver, and an inability to serially monitor disease progression due to its invasive nature.
	Researchers target double-stranded DNA for cancer therapy A team of UConn School of Pharmacy researchers have published their work in Cell Reports Medicine, highlighting groundbreaking advancements in treating cancer.
	Hospitals dealing with increasingly complex patients, analysis reveals Hospitalized patients are more complex than they used to be. That's the finding of a newly published UBC study which set out to measure something researchers have been hearing anecdotally from hospital-based health care workers over the past two decades.
	Why do we sleep? Researchers propose an answer to this age-old question Sleep is a fundamental need, just like food or water. "You'll die without it," said Keith Hengen, an assistant professor of biology at Washington University in St. Louis. But what does sleep actually accomplish? For years, the best researchers could say is that sleep reduces sleepiness—hardly a satisfying explanation for a basic requirement of life.
	Study: About 22 adolescents died weekly from overdoses in 2022, driven by fentanyl-laced prescription pills An average of 22 adolescents 14 to 18 years of age died in the U.S. each week in 2022 from drug overdoses, raising the death rate for this group to 5.2 per 100,000—driven by fentanyl in counterfeit pills, new research finds.
	The 'mosquito effect': How tumor cells outwit the body's immune system In a first-of-its-kind research breakthrough, a team of scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has analyzed and described what they call the "mosquito effect," which sheds light on how specific pathogens, such as cancerous tumor cells, can outwit the body's immune system.
	Brain tumors in children: Cancer cells become less aggressive as they migrate within the tumor, finds study Certain brain tumors in small children contain cells that develop very similarly to normal brain cells and others that have already developed malignantly, depending on where they are located within the tumor.
	Using spectroscopy to measure visual recognition The brain is not only the most complex organ of the human body, but also one of the most difficult to study. To understand the roles of different regions of the human brain and how they interact, it is crucial to measure neuronal activity with subjects who are awake while they perform controlled tasks. However, the most accurate measurement devices are invasive, which greatly limits their use on healthy humans in real-life settings.
	Immunoengineering researchers decode the 'cytokine storm' in sepsis Sepsis—when an infection causes the immune system to improperly target the body—is one of the leading causes of death in the ICU.
	Investigators profile three treatment response trajectories to close in on triple-negative breast cancer Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators have analyzed the cells within triple-negative breast cancer tumors before and after radiation therapy with immunotherapy, identifying three patient groups with different responses to the treatment. Their study, published in Cancer Cell, found that for some patients with this difficult-to-treat cancer, radiation therapy plus immunotherapy could yield the best tumor-fighting immune response prior to surgery.
	Lifespan increases in mice when specific brain cells are activated, study finds In recent years, research has begun to reveal that the lines of communication between the body's organs are key regulators of aging. When these lines are open, the body's organs and systems work well together. But with age, communication lines deteriorate, and organs don't get the molecular and electrical messages they need to function properly.
	Lung transplant discovery could improve survival rates University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have identified a potential way to improve the survival rate of lung transplant patients.
	How living like a hunter-gatherer could improve your health Many of us want to live long, happy and healthy lives. Yet it's often confusing to know the best way to achieve this, and many aspects of modern, westernized living conspire to keep us from achieving this goal.
	Out-of-pocket cost increase could put HIV prevention medications out of reach Increasing patients' out of pocket costs for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medications, which have been shown to dramatically reduce the risk of HIV infection, could lead to a significant reduction in PrEP use and a rise in HIV infection rates, according to a new study co-led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
	Does where patients choose to have breast cancer surgery drive health care inequality? Including patients as partners for making decisions about their medical treatments is an important aspect of patient-centered care. A new study from England examined choices that patients with breast cancer make when considering where to have surgery for their condition and assessed how policies that offer such choices might affect inequalities in the health care system. The findings are published in the journal Cancer.
	Survey finds most Americans think bariatric surgery is a shortcut and should only be a last resort More than 2 in 5 U.S. adults suffer from obesity, an epidemic that continues to trend upward. While bariatric surgery is an extremely effective treatment option, a new national survey by Orlando Health reveals common stigmas that may deter those who qualify for surgery from pursuing the treatment they need.
	Dlung: A novel method for lung image registration Research published in Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Science) has proposed a new method for lung image registration named Dlung. Dlung is an unsupervised few-shot learning-based diffeomorphic lung image registration, which can help construct respiratory motion models based on limited data with both high speed and high accuracy, offering a more efficient method for respiratory motion modeling.
	Flu and COVID infections got worse over the holidays, with more misery expected, CDC says The flu season in the U.S. is getting worse but it's too soon to tell how much holiday gatherings contributed to a likely spike in illnesses.
	PTSD, depression, and anxiety nearly doubles in Israel in aftermath of Hamas attack A study conducted by researchers at Ruppin Academic Center in Israel and Columbia University documents the broad impact on the mental health of Israelis, both Jews and Arabs, with sharp increases in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety in the aftermath Hamas' attack in October.
	Can we fight back against Parkinson's disease? These research volunteers hope so About three years before he retired, David Campbell noticed something weird happening as he typed. Whenever he tried to hit a letter, say "a," he'd get "aaa," like the keyboard was jamming or his finger was triple-tapping the key. That wasn't the only thing that seemed off—his sense of smell was faltering. "Little things," he says, "that I didn't think of as being a big deal."
	Blood flow changes in the eyes could influence visual symptoms of migraines A recent study found changes in blood flow in the retina could explain why some migraine patients experience visual symptoms. The findings could represent a long-sought observable marker for migraines that doctors can use to aid in the clinical treatment of the condition.
	Study finds residential addiction treatment for US teens is scarce, expensive Despite an alarming increase in overdose deaths among young people nationwide, a new "secret shopper"-style study led by Oregon Health & Science University researchers finds that access to residential addiction treatment centers for adolescents in the United States is limited and costly.
	Health care workers were at highest COVID risk in workplace U.S. health care workers were most likely to be infected with COVID-19 at work during the pandemic's first year, according to a new study that challenges previous research suggesting their risk was highest off the job.
	Psychologists face challenges of increased demand, patient severity The ongoing mental health crisis is causing significant challenges for many psychologists as they grapple with both heightened demand and patients presenting with increasingly severe symptoms, according to the results of a survey released Dec. 5 by the American Psychological Association.
	Study finds child-care stress affects health, work of U.S. health care workers during pandemic Child-care stress (CCS) during the pandemic is associated with anxiety, depression, burnout, intent to reduce hours, and intent to leave among health care workers (HCWs), according to a study published online July 18 in JAMA Network Open.
	Maternal type 1 diabetes, overweight/obesity linked to heart defects in offspring Maternal type 1 diabetes and overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk for congenital heart defects (CHDs) among offspring, according to a study published online Jan. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
	New combination therapy found effective against drug-sensitive and resistant tick-borne babesiosis Drug-resistant babesiosis may respond to a novel combination therapy, researchers say. The treatment, which involves the antimalarial drug tafenoquine and the anti-fungal/anti-parasite drug atovaquone, may also provide immunity against future babesiosis infections. These findings were published on January 3 in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
	'Disease in a dish' model sheds light on the triggers for some forms of dementia New understanding of a gene that is linked to some forms of dementia and other age-related diseases gives scientists fresh hope that action can be taken against these diseases long before the onset of symptoms.
	Sunscreen: Why wearing it even in winter could be a good idea Sunscreen has taken center stage in many skincare routines, especially among those hoping to prevent visible signs of aging. But while it makes sense to wear sunscreen every day in the summer when the sun's rays are most powerful, many may wonder whether there's any benefit of wearing sunscreen daily in the winter months.
	New antibiotic zosurabalpin shows promise against drug-resistant bacteria: An expert explains Researchers have identified an entirely new class of antibiotic that can kill bacteria that are resistant to most current drugs.
	What is resilience? A psychologist explains the main ingredients that help people manage stress The word resilience can be perplexing. Does it mean remaining calm when faced with stress? Bouncing back quickly? Growing from adversity? Is resilience an attitude, a character trait or a skill set? And can misperceptions about resilience hurt people, rather than help?
	The curious link between animal hibernation and aging, and what humans could learn from it When the cold and dark winter is setting in, some of us envy animals that can hibernate. This long, deep rest is an example of how nature develops clever solution to difficult problems. In this case, how to survive a long, cold and dark period without much food and water.
	Opinion: Literature inspired my medical career—why the humanities are needed in health care While there is a long history of doctor-poets—one giant of mid-20th-century poetry, William Carlos Williams, was famously also a pediatrician—few people seem to know this or understand the power of combining the humanities and medicine.
	Can you really be allergic to alcohol? Some people get allergy-like symptoms when drinking alcohol, but can you really be allergic to alcohol?
	Researchers: Neighborhood amenities may have helped youth mental health and stress early in the pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic, youth as a population group reported some of the largest declines in their mental health compared to other age groups in Canada.
	Intravaginal sponge can make treatment of candidiasis more comfortable and effective A biodegradable sponge made of chitosan, a biopolymer derived from the shells of crustaceans, releases medication slowly into the organism and makes treatment of candidiasis more comfortable and effective, judging from the results of tests performed by researchers at the University of Porto in Portugal and the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in Brazil. An article describing them is published in the International Journal of Pharmaceutics.
	Why traditional cooking isn't always healthier: The case of Ghanaians in Manchester and in Accra In popular discussions of healthy eating, including political rhetoric and nutrition counseling, women are often blamed for a lack of nutrition knowledge or cooking skills, leading to the assumption that a decline in cooking skills is connected with unhealthy diets and obesity. This has been called a "deficit approach" and my research with Ghanaian women set out to challenge some of its assumptions.
	Less than half of pregnant women get the flu shot: New data from UPMC Children's might change that John Williams knows the risks associated with riding motorcycles, but they don't deter him. Neither do warnings from physician friends, who hope their chiding might prevent him from becoming a statistic.
	Patients with narcolepsy face a dual nightmare of medication shortages and stigma Nina Shand couldn't stay awake. She had taken afternoon naps since she was a teenager to accommodate her "work hard, play hard" attitude, but when she was in her mid-20s the sleepiness became more severe.
	New procedure standard/practice guidelines for FES PET imaging of breast cancer The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) and the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) have issued a new procedure standard/practice guideline for estrogen receptor imaging of breast cancer patients using FES PET. The standard/guideline, published ahead of print in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine, is intended to assist physicians in recommending, performing, interpreting, and reporting the results of 18F-FES PET studies for patients with breast cancer.
	Social anxiety, depression linked to more negative alcohol-related consequences from 'pre-gaming' College students with social anxiety may be driven by social motives to "pre-game," meaning drink prior to a party or event. Simultaneously, students with co-occurring social anxiety and depression also experience more negative consequences, like blackouts, from their alcohol use, according to a study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research.
	Climate change could be impacting Australian babies' birthweight for gestational age Climate change could pose a big risk to Australians' reproductive health, claims a new, large-scale Curtin University study revealing a possible link between extreme bioclimatic exposure during pregnancy and babies' birthweights for gestational age.
	Study: Defective ion channel in sperm flagellum renders men infertile, affects medically assisted reproduction In half of the couples that are unable to conceive a child, the infertility is due to the man. A new study identifies the defective function of "CatSper," an ion channel controlling calcium levels in sperm, as a common cause of seemingly unexplained male infertility.
	Lead-tainted applesauce may contain another toxin, chromium Applesauce fruit puree pouches under recall and investigation for toxic lead levels may also contain another toxin, chromium, according to an update released Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
	Sibling death in childhood, young adulthood linked to risk for CVD Sibling death in childhood and early adulthood is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a study published online Jan. 8 in JAMA Network Open.
	Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement boosts methadone treatment Telehealth-delivered mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement (MORE) is a feasible and effective adjunct to methadone treatment (MT) for individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Psychiatry.
	Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio can distinguish cystitis from OAB Serum neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can help differentiate interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) from overactive bladder (OAB), according to a study published online Nov. 8 in BMC Urology.
	Resolved to get fit this year? An experts offers tips Is that New Year's resolution to improve your fitness already looking less likely?
	Lipiodol: From intrusion until exile from the tumor microenvironment An editorial paper has been published in Oncoscience titled, "Lipiodol: from intrusion until exile from the tumor microenvironment."
	Why are my muscles sore after exercise? Hint: It's nothing to do with lactic acid As many of us hit the gym or go for a run to recover from the silly season, you might notice a bit of extra muscle soreness.
	Study reveals critical role of FAM3C in breast cancer progression A study conducted by Professor Jiyoung Park and her research team in the Department of Biological Sciences at UNIST has identified FAM3C, a metabolism-regulating signaling molecule produced by cancer-associated adipocytes (CAAs), as a key regulator of breast cancer progression within the tumor microenvironment (TME).
	Are mocktails better for you than cocktails? Experts suggest limiting intake of sugary drinks It might be Dry January, a New Year's resolution or just a general curiosity in sobriety, but at the start of each year, millions of American adults skip out on drinking.
	Methods for bypassing and treating spinal cord injury Grégoire Courtine, Jocelyne Bloch and their research team have been breaking new ground in the treatment of neurological disorders for over a decade. Here's a look at some of the promising new therapies they've developed.
	Machine learning can make medical images more reliable Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers great opportunities when it comes to diagnosing cancer. However, the scanning procedure is extremely sensitive. One of the many problems occurs if the patient moves ever so slightly during the scan, resulting in a blurry image. This makes it more difficult to accurately determine the size and position of the cancer tumor. However, precision treatment, for example directing radiation so that it attacks the tumor but not the healthy tissue around the tumor, requires precision imaging.
	New program for psoriasis patients highlights cardiovascular risk Almost 30% of the patients in a pilot program for those with psoriasis that was devised by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania were identified as having undiagnosed, elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. Those patients were then able to be given more individualized care over the next year, but all participants received extra care and guidance.
	Emergency medicine residencies more likely to go unfilled at for-profit and newly accredited programs, finds study The number of unfilled positions in emergency medicine residency programs surged in 2022 and 2023, with the trend most pronounced at programs that were recently accredited or under for-profit ownership. That's the key finding of my team's recent study of the past two match cycles.
	One million people in England living shorter lives than they should, says report A new report from the UCL Institute of Health Equity (IHE) has confirmed that a million people in 90% of areas in England lived shorter lives than they should have between 2011 and the start of the pandemic.
	Adolescent sports activities help improve bone health in older adults, study finds Loss of bone mineral density (BMD) with age is an important cause of osteoporosis (deterioration of bone tissue), which has been reported as one of the leading causes of falls among older adults in Japan. This leads to fractures that require long-term nursing. Prevention of osteoporosis in the aging population can thus help decrease the burden of disease and health care costs substantially.
	Researchers cultivate lung tumors to identify optimal personalized treatments Lung cancer accounts for nearly 20% of annual cancer-related deaths worldwide. According to 2022 statistics from the Swiss Cancer League, nearly 5,000 new cases of lung cancer are reported in Switzerland each year. Over the five years following diagnosis, only 1 in 5 people survives.
	E-cigarettes found to help more tobacco smokers quit than traditional nicotine replacement Nicotine e-cigarettes are more effective in helping people quit smoking than conventional nicotine-replacement therapy (NRT), according to the latest Cochrane review co-led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst public health and health policy researcher.
	Research discovers gene that links deafness to inner ear cell death Researchers have found a gene that links deafness to cell death in the inner ear in humans—creating new opportunities for averting hearing loss.
	Bariatric surgery may slow cognitive decline for people with obesity Within the next 10 years, it's projected that up to 50% of United States adults will be affected by obesity, which is associated with cognitive impairment and dementia.
	Review highlights advances in wearable brain-computer interfaces A review in Health Data Science highlights significant advancements in wearable electroencephalogram (EEG) technologies for non-invasive brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). This review is particularly valuable for researchers and clinicians new to BCI applications, offering insights into mainstream wearable non-invasive BCIs and the latest research reports.
	Researchers reach consensus on definition of acute pediatric critical illness St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have collaborated with a global group of acute pediatric critical illness experts to reach a consensus definition of the condition. Research on how to improve care in low- and middle-income countries has been stymied because conventional pediatric critical illness definitions are not applicable in these settings.
	Distinct sex differences persist in countries with higher standards of living, finds study Psychological gender differences persist in countries with improved living conditions, according to a study published in Perspectives on Psychological Science by researchers from Karolinska Institutet. Some differences become larger and others smaller as women seem to benefit more than men from improved living conditions. The findings confirm to some extent the so-called gender paradox.
	Real-world analysis: COVID-19 vaccine strongly effective for children and adolescents during delta and omicron Children and adolescents who received one of the main COVID-19 vaccines were significantly protected from the illness and showed no increased signs of cardiac complications compared to young people who were not vaccinated, according to a new real-world study led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
	Study of national data demonstrates the value of acute hospital care at home Since the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCaH) Waiver in 2020, thousands of patients from across 300 hospitals in 37 states have been treated in their homes. Yet little is understood about these patients' outcomes on a national level, and the waiver will end in December 2024 unless there is an act from Congress.
	AI could speed up the diagnosis of urinary tract infections Fraunhofer Austria and the AULSS2 Marca Trevigiana Institute in Treviso have developed a method based on artificial intelligence that can reduce the workload of laboratories.
	Mobile phone study sheds light on unhealthy food consumption disparities during COVID-19 A study published in Health Data Science, reveals critical insights into socioeconomic disparities in unhealthy food reliance using novel mobile phone data analysis. This study, led by researchers Charles Alba and Ruopeng An from Washington University in St. Louis, marks a significant departure from traditional survey-centric approaches, offering a more dynamic nationwide perspective.
	Study suggests artificial intelligence can help identify patients in need of alcohol treatment An artificial intelligence-based program efficiently and accurately identified patients' risky alcohol use by analyzing their health records, according to a study published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research. The artificial intelligence-based natural language processing algorithm accurately identified three times more patients with risky alcohol use compared to diagnostic codes alone.
	High-quality nursing home dementia care is not only a matter of adding staff, says study Additional staffing alone will not be sufficient to bridge the quality-of-care and health outcome disparities among nursing home facilities with varying percentages of residents with dementia, according to a first-of-its-kind study led by the University of California, Irvine. Specialized training, an easy-to-navigate environment and staff stability are also critical to meeting the unique challenges presented by this population.
	Studying cells to improve treatment for an aggressive childhood cancer New research is shedding light and potentially expanding options for patients living with medulloblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer. The work is published in Molecular Cell.
	Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning and its applications A new review paper titled "Transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning and its applications for gene function; genome architecture and evolution; biotechnology and biomedicine" has been published in Oncotarget.
	New research identifies high rates and common causes of diagnostic errors in hospitals across the nation A new study from researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, in collaboration with researchers at the University of California San Francisco, has shed light on the rate and impact of diagnostic errors in hospital settings.
	Research reveals age significantly impacts the diagnosis of a common blood disorder New research by RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences published in the Blood Journal has revealed that the age at which individuals are tested for von Willebrand disease (VWD), a common bleeding disorder, significantly affects their diagnosis. This could be key in addressing current challenges in misdiagnosis and treatment of patients, potentially reducing the risk of bleeding complications during surgery and childbirth.
	Participants in school-based gardening and food programs found to benefit from lasting impacts on dietary behaviors To encourage fruit and vegetable consumption among youth, experiential food education programs such as gardening and cooking lessons have increased across both community and school settings. A recent research article in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior revealed how this early learning positively influenced food decisions as children grew older.
	Thirdhand smoke study teaches reveals more about the risks It's long been established that secondhand smoke is a detriment to health and linked to cancer. Now, researchers are looking more closely at thirdhand smoke, which is the presence of toxic tobacco by-products that remain on surfaces such as furniture, décor, walls, and floors.
	Time change for biological aging clocks: How immune cells shape our body's true age When asked, "How old are you?" Most people measure by how many birthdays they've had. But scientists have developed epigenetic clocks to measure how "old" your body really is. At the forefront of aging research, these clocks go beyond our calendar age to try and reveal our biological age—a true marker of how healthy we are.
	Researchers find possible neuromarker for 'juvenile-onset' Batten disease Early symptoms can be subtle. A child's personality and behavior may change, and clumsiness or stumbling develops between the ages of 5 and 10. Over time, cognitive impairment sets in, seizures emerge or worsen, vision loss begins, and motor skills decline. This is the course of Batten disease, a progressive inherited nervous system disorder resulting from mutations to the CLN3 gene.
	Study highlights barriers to contraceptive access for disabled Medicare enrollees Contraceptive use is low among reproductive-aged people with disabilities who are enrolled in Medicare, according to a new study from the University of Pittsburgh that highlights how lack of contraceptive coverage by Medicare may prevent disabled enrollees from accessing contraception.
	Florida gains FDA approval to import drugs from Canada US regulators on Friday approved Florida's plan to import prescription drugs from Canada, making it the first state to win such authorization, in a bid to lower costs for American consumers.
	UC Davis Health creates road map to diversify health care workforce How can health care systems increase diversity and inclusion in their workforce?
	Roy Calne, a surgeon who led Europe's first liver transplant, has died aged 93 Roy Calne, a pioneer of organ transplantation who led Europe's first liver transplant operation in 1968, has died aged 93.
	Can family doctors deliver rural America from its maternal health crisis? Zita Magloire carefully adjusted a soft measuring tape across Kenadie Evans' pregnant belly. Determining a baby's size during a 28-week obstetrical visit is routine. But Magloire, a family physician trained in obstetrics, knows that finding the mother's uterus and, thus, checking the baby, can be tricky for inexperienced doctors.
	Sam's Club charcuterie meats recalled due to salmonella risk A salmonella outbreak that's already sickened 24 people is triggering the recall of charcuterie meats sent to Sam's Club distribution centers nationwide.
	Ways to prevent suicide in teens As children grow and become more independent, it can be more challenging for parents to know what they are thinking and feeling. When do the normal ups and downs of adolescence become something to worry about?
	UK facing unusually large scabies outbreaks, treatment shortages appear mostly to blame Scabies is an unpleasant skin infection that's common all around the world. Outbreaks happen regularly—with an estimated 450 million cases occurring globally each year. But since the start of winter, outbreaks in the UK have been higher than normal. In November 2023 alone, cases were double the seasonal average.
	Food risks and cancer: What to avoid After a cancer diagnosis patients ask "Are there specific foods I should be eating or avoiding?" It's not about any one food, and it's not about one diet; it's about a dietary pattern. The dietary pattern that organizations such as the American Institute for Cancer Research and the American Cancer Society recommend is a whole-food, plant-predominant diet.
	Clinical significance of PCSK9 and soluble P-selectin in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events Researchers have studied the association of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) with soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) and their values in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) at one-year follow-up in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) receiving dual antiplatelet therapy after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).
	Incremental metabolic benefits from cryoablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Study Cryoablation (CRYO) is a novel catheter ablation technique for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, uncertainty persists regarding the role of metabolic modifications associated with CRYO. A study published in Cardiovascular Innovations and Applications explores whether CRYO influences the metabolic signature—a possibility not previously investigated.
	Why you should take vitamin D this winter The days are finally getting longer, but the sun is still low in the sky—and that means you probably aren't getting your recommended daily allowance of vitamin D through solar rays alone.
	Video: Weight loss and willpower What does it take to make meaningful, lasting lifestyle changes? Some may argue it takes a fair amount of willpower to develop new habits, but a person can't rely on willpower alone.
	Does Canada's food guide provide adequate guidance for older adults? The latest Canada's food guide recommendations are primarily aimed at reducing chronic disease risk; however, how well does our national guide for healthy eating serve the nutritional needs of all Canadians?
	Update on mechanisms and management of atrial fibrillation Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major global health concern impacting millions and causing symptoms like palpitations, dyspnea, fatigue, dizziness, and chest discomfort. Furthermore, these symptoms reduce patients' quality of life and lead to increased mortality and morbidity.

Other Sciences news

	Saturday Citations: Honey yields, exercising under the influence, unexpected benefits of hearing aids It's the futuristic year 2024! Where is the power loom that natural philosophers have been promising me? What's that? Edmund Cartwright already made one? In 1785? And it revolutionized industrial weaving? Sorry, it's been so long since the last Saturday post that I've completely lost track of the progress of science. Here are a few stories to launch into the new year.
	Migrants can be 'transformative force' for sustainable development, research suggests Well-managed migration can enable migrants to boost sustainable development, research shows. Sustainable development means enhancing well-being in ways that equitably meet needs of present and future generations.
	Best of Last Week—giant predator worms, new type of transistor, complex sentences make brain work harder It was a good week to start off the new year as an international team of natural and Earth scientists found evidence of giant predator worms that lived more than a half-billion years ago in North Greenland—fossils proving their existence were found in the Early Cambrian Sirius Passet locality. Also, a trio of life scientists at the University of Nottingham, in the U.K., found evidence that evolution is not as unpredictable as thought. Using a machine-learning approach on the genome of a bacterial species, Alan Beavan, Maria Rosa Domingo-Sananes, and James McInerney found that some of its evolutionary process could be predicted. And a research team made up of evolutionary biologists from the University of Maine, Colby College and the Institute of Evolution, Center for Ecological Research found evidence that suggested evolution might stop humans from solving climate change. Timothy Waring, Zachary Wood and Eörs Szathmáry found that characteristic processes of innate human evolution may obstruct its global solutions abilities.
	First ever scientific study on First World War crater reveals new details on its history The spectacular explosion of the mine at Hawthorn Ridge—a fortified German front-line position in the First World War—marked the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, and remains one of the best-known pieces of film from the whole conflict.
	Families will change dramatically over the years to come, says study The number of relatives that an individual has is expected to decrease by more than 35% in the near future. At the same time, the structure of families will change. The number of cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren will decline sharply, while the number of great-grandparents and grandparents will increase significantly. In 1950, a 65-year-old woman had an average of 41 living relatives. By 2095, a woman of the same age will have an average of only 25 living relatives.
	Coastal populations set to age sharply in the face of climate migration, researchers find As climate change fuels sea level rise, younger people will migrate inland, leaving aging coastal populations—and a host of consequences—in their wake, a study by Florida State University researchers finds.
	Jan. 6, 2021, as networked incitement: Expert explains political violence orchestrated over social media The shocking events of Jan. 6, 2021, signaled a major break from the nonviolent rallies that categorized most major protests over the past few decades.
	How your Zoom background can make you seem more competent Working from home has made job interviews and starting a new role easier in many ways. You don't have to worry about a missed train or spilled coffee derailing a job interview if it's on Zoom—but you still need to impress your interviewer.
	Creating a welcoming and supportive environment helps immigrants better integrate, researcher says Over the coming few years, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to come to Canada to work, study and settle. This year, the federal government has set a target of welcoming 485,000 new permanent residents.
	Here's why you should (almost) never use a pie chart for your data Our lives are becoming increasingly data driven. Our phones monitor our time and internet usage and online surveys discern our opinions and likes. These data harvests are used for telling us how well we've slept or what we might like to buy.
	One in three people are lonely. Will AI help, or make things worse? ChatGPT has repeatedly made headlines since its release late last year, with various scholars and professionals exploring its potential applications in both work and education settings. However, one area receiving less attention is the tool's usefulness as a conversationalist and—dare we say—as a potential friend.
	China's capitalist reforms are said to have moved 800 million out of extreme poverty. Data suggest the opposite It has become an article of faith among many economists that China's pro-market reforms of the 1980s and 1990s ushered in a sustained reduction in poverty.
	Can non-partisan news survive in the online echo chamber? Journalists are supposed to go where the story takes them, unrestrained by political bias. But the online media market puts the ideal of journalistic objectivity to a severe test, as highly partisan news sources compete for clicks with legacy providers known for their neutrality, such as BBC News and Reuters.
	With higher fees and more ads, streaming services cashing in by using old tactics of cable TV There's one thing that television viewers can count on in 2024: higher fees and more commercials.
	The US invented shopping malls, but China is writing their next chapter On a recent research trip to China, I wandered through the Oasis Mall in suburban Shanghai. Like many Chinese shopping centers, this complex was filled with empty stores that reflected the end of China's 30-year-long economic expansion. But there also were surprises.
	Seventy years after Brown vs. Board of Education, public schools still deeply segregated Brown vs. Board of Education, the pivotal Supreme Court decision that made school segregation unconstitutional, turns 70 years old on May 17, 2024.
	How using your phone at work helps to balance your home life You might not think twice about using your phone while you're at work. Maybe you need to send a quick message to a family member or a friend, or catch up on the news. Then there's that dental appointment which needs to be booked—and while you're at it, you may as well get the online grocery shopping done.
	Researchers investigate consumer response to non-glass wine packaging Would you be happy to pour your friends a glass of wine from a cask or sip your favorite red from an aluminum can?
	Discerning which elements of viral videos most affect consumer behavior and purchasing decisions A study published in the International Journal of Business Competition and Growth has drawn insights from 621 survey samples to help improve our understanding of what elements of viral videos affect consumer behavior and purchasing decisions the most. The elements highlighted include entertainment, brand awareness, source credibility, informativeness, interactivity, and incentives.
	Q&A: How AI will reshape education. Experts consider the opportunities and the dangers It's astonishing to reflect on the swift technological progress that has reshaped the educational landscape in just the past year. In this age of creativity and innovation, the incorporation of AI into classrooms has emerged as a vital conversation.
	Opinion: 'Designated contrarians' could disrupt the kind of consensus and groupthink that contributed to the NRA's woes More than three years after New York authorities sued the National Rifle Association and four of its current and former leaders, the trial will begin on Jan. 8, 2024.
	Study redevelops framework for teaching artificial intelligence and robotics Just like computers, the Internet, and smartphones have become commonplace in our daily lives, artificial intelligence and robotics (AIR) are the next technologies in line to drastically change how we interact with the world and among ourselves. Various AI-driven applications, such as Siri, Google Assistant, and ChatGPT, are already in widespread use, and both industrial- and consumer-grade robots are becoming increasingly capable and accessible.
	Reading genetic information of ancient Teotihuacans Teotihuacan was one of the largest metropolitan centers in ancient Mesoamerica in the pre-Columbian era. Six ancient individuals unearthed from the Teotihuacan between the third and seventh centuries AD were examined in a study led by Dr. Fuzuki Mizuno at the Toho University School of Medicine.
	Slow the scroll: Users less vigilant about misinformation on mobile phones, study finds Mobile phones pack a lot of information into pocket-sized devices, which is why users may want to slow down the next time they're scrolling through social media or checking email on a mobile app. People process information more efficiently, but tend to be less vigilant about misinformation on their mobile phones compared to personal computers (PCs), according to a team led by Penn State researchers. This is especially true for users who have developed a routine or habit of using their mobile phones.
	Emailing during Zoom meetings? New research shows benefits of multicommunication at work, in the classroom In today's digital age, the need for multicommunicating has increased as people frequently juggle different communication tasks using multiple devices. While that occasionally means your attention could be diverted from one task or another, new research including faculty from Binghamton University, State University of New York examines how multicommunicating could benefit the workplace or classroom, as long as it's used properly.
	Worried about school refusal? How to use the holidays to help your child These long summer holidays may seem like an extra blessing to families who are dealing with a child who does not like school or who refuses to go.
	Why the UK census should not be replaced with alternative sources of data Every 10 years since 1801—save for a wartime interruption in 1941—the UK government has conducted a national census of England and Wales. This is a big event. The data collated in the last survey, in 2021, is still being published, with final reports only scheduled for 2025. Yet, doubts have emerged about whether the next one—in 2031—will actually take place.

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