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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 18, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A simple technique to defend ChatGPT against jailbreak attacks

Simulations show that exoplanets heated at deeper depths by their host stars display markedly different weather patterns

A hybrid control architecture that combines advantages of current quadruped robot controls

Astronomers detect new faint tidal disruption event

Shiyu discovery reveals East Asia's advanced material culture dating to 45,000 years ago

Study reveals a universal pattern of brain wave frequencies across mammalian species

New study discovers short, toxic RNAs kill brain cells and may allow Alzheimer's to develop

DNA construction leads to unexpected discovery of important cell function

Team uncovers new marine source of carbon emissions into atmosphere

Most Earth system models are missing key piece of future climate puzzle, researchers say

CD19-targeted CAR NK cell therapy achieves promising one-year results in patients with B-cell malignancies

Theoretical research offers explanation as to why some animals shrink over time

Sea level rises could cost EU and UK economies up to 872 billion euros by 2100, study suggests

Study with over 11,000 individuals of African descent finds genetic variants linked to glaucoma

New gut-brain circuits found for sugar and fat cravings

Nanotechnology news

	DNA becomes our 'hands' to construct advanced polyhedral nanoparticles In a paper published in Science Jan. 18, scientists Chad Mirkin and Sharon Glotzer and their teams at Northwestern University and University of Michigan, respectively, present findings in nanotechnology that could impact the way advanced materials are made.
	Nanopores and deep learning aid in disease diagnostics EPFL scientists have unveiled a method using biological nanopores and deep learning to detect protein modifications, offering new avenues in disease diagnostics.
	Scientists create qubits using precision tools of nanotechnology Silicon carbide is becoming a major player on the quantum scene. Widely used in specialized electronics goods such as LEDs and electric vehicles, silicon carbide boasts versatility, wide commercial availability, and growing use in high-power electronics, making it an attractive material for quantum information science, whose impact is expected to be profound.
	Team uses magnetized neurons to treat Parkinson's disease symptoms Electrical deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established method for treating disordered movement in Parkinson's disease. However, implanting electrodes in a person's brain is an invasive and imprecise way to stimulate nerve cells. Researchers report in Nano Letters on a new application for the technique, called magnetogenetics, that uses very small magnets to wirelessly trigger specific, gene-edited nerve cells in the brain. The treatment effectively relieved motor symptoms in mice without damaging surrounding brain tissue.
	Researchers create faster and cheaper way to print tiny metal structures with light Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a light-based means of printing nano-sized metal structures that is significantly faster and cheaper than any technology currently available. It is a scalable solution that could transform a scientific field long reliant on technologies that are prohibitively expensive and slow. The breakthrough has the potential to bring new technologies out of labs and into the world.
	Injectable agents could improve liquid biopsy for cancer detection and monitoring Scientists have developed two agents, made of therapeutic nanoparticles and antibodies, that could be given to patients shortly before a blood draw to allow physicians to better detect tumor DNA in blood using a technology called liquid biopsy.

Physics news

	New tomographic reconstruction algorithm sets world record Advanced synchrotron tomography is a critical research tool, allowing scientists to explore the intricate structures of objects in extremely high resolution. Because this technique enables researchers to capture dynamics in real-time, it can capture ongoing changes in living organisms (cellular movements and fluid dynamics) for medical research, and in materials, such as observing dendrite formation in batteries to understand the causes of capacity reduction and eventual failure.
	Engineers develop terahertz imaging system capable of capturing real-time, 3D multi-spectral images Terahertz waves can penetrate opaque materials and provide unique spectral signatures of various chemicals, but their adoption for real-world applications has been limited by the slow speed, large size, high cost and complexity of terahertz imaging systems. The problem arises from the lack of suitable focal-plane array detectors, components that contain radiation detectors used by the imaging system.
	Making a superconductor liquid–solid out of the vacuum with hundred-exatesla-strong magnetic fields The discovery of superconductivity more than a century ago has significantly changed our world.
	Reimagining the optical diode effect for enhanced optical isolator efficiency At the heart of global internet connectivity, optical communications form an indispensable foundation. Key to this foundation are optical isolators, created by combining multiple components.
	Unlocking the secrets of quasicrystal magnetism: Revealing a novel magnetic phase diagram Quasicrystals are intermetallic materials that have garnered significant attention from researchers aiming to advance condensed matter physics understanding. Unlike normal crystals, in which atoms are arranged in an ordered repeating pattern, quasicrystals have non-repeating ordered patterns of atoms.
	Quantum physicists develop robust and ultra-sensitive topological quantum device A significant breakthrough has been achieved by quantum physicists from Dresden and Würzburg. They've created a semiconductor device where exceptional robustness and sensitivity are ensured by a quantum phenomenon. This topological skin effect shields the functionality of the device from external perturbations, allowing for measurements of unprecedented precision.
	Research reveals new insights into exciton binding energies in organic semiconductors Organic semiconductors are a class of materials that find applications in various electronic devices owing to their unique properties. One attribute that influences the optoelectronic property of these organic semiconductors is their "exciton binding energy," which is the energy needed to divide an exciton into its negative and positive constituents.
	Protons reveal universal phenomenon of maximal entanglement When a high-energy photon strikes a proton, secondary particles diverge in a way that indicates that the inside of the proton is maximally entangled. An international team of physicists with the participation of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Cracow has just demonstrated that maximum entanglement is present in the proton even in those cases where pomerons are involved in the collisions.
	'Magic trap' preserves quantum coherence in ultracold molecules longer than expected Quantum technologies bring the promise of faster computing, enhanced drug development and new sensing applications. However, quantum behaviors are difficult to study experimentally since most systems can only sustain quantum effects for a short time.
	Study suggests that physical processes can have hidden neural network-like abilities We tend to separate the brain and the muscle—the brain does the thinking; the muscle does the doing. The brain takes in complex information about the world and makes decisions, and the muscle merely executes. This has also shaped how we think about a single cell; some molecules within cells are seen as 'thinkers' that take in information about the chemical environment and decide what the cell needs to do for survival; separately, other molecules are seen as the 'muscle,' building structures needed for survival.
	Reaching the quantum ground state of sound in waveguides: Scientists move a step closer A team of scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light led by Dr. Birgit Stiller has succeeded in cooling traveling sound waves in waveguides considerably further than has previously been possible using laser light. This achievement represents a significant move towards the ultimate goal of reaching the quantum ground state of sound in waveguides.
	Astrophysicist proposes a new theory of gravity without a conservation law The general theory of relativity is based on the concept of curved space–time. To describe how the energy and momentum of fields are distributed in space–time, as well as how they interact with the gravitational field, a special mathematical construct is used—the energy–momentum tensor. This is a kind of analog of energy and momentum in ordinary mechanics.
	New method for integrating electro-optic heterointerfaces in MIS structures for plasmonic waveguide modulation Researchers at the University of Toronto, led by Dr. Amr S. Helmy, have developed a new method for integrating electro-optic SiO2/ITO heterointerfaces into metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) structures. This breakthrough is expected to lead to the development of more efficient and compact photonic devices.

Earth news

	Team uncovers new marine source of carbon emissions into atmosphere Bottom trawling is a previously unaccounted for source of atmospheric carbon emissions, scientists reveal in a study published today. As the world scrambles to slash emissions caused by fossil fuels, deforestation and other sources, the study finds bottom trawling—the act of dragging a heavy fishing net across the ocean floor and resuspending some of the carbon in the seafloor sediment—to be a significant source of atmospheric carbon pollution.
	Most Earth system models are missing key piece of future climate puzzle, researchers say The way science is funded is hampering Earth system models, and may be skewing important climate predictions, according to a new comment published in Nature Climate Change by Woodwell Climate Research Center and an international team of model experts.
	Dramatic images of the 6 Feb. 2023 Turkiye earthquake scarps reveal details of motions of tectonic plates The 6 Feb. 2023 earthquakes of eastern Turkiye were the most devastating in the region for the past century. Researchers from China University of Geosciences, US Geological Survey, and Middle East Technical University were on the scene one day after the quakes, and used drones and field surveys to make the most detailed maps of a major continental earthquake ever, so soon after major earthquakes.
	Climate change may reduce average life expectancy by half a year, study suggests The cost of climate change may take six months off the average human lifespan, according to a study published January 18, 2024, in the open-access journal PLOS Climate by Amit Roy from Shahjalal University of Science and Technology and The New School for Social Research, U.S.
	Climate models predict weakened subtropical circulation in stable warming scenario The latest climate models show a weakening of the subtropical circulation under stable greenhouse warming scenario, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.
	Climate and health impacts of dust inaccurately represented, research finds The source and amounts of different types of mineral dust reaching the Earth's atmosphere needs to be re-evaluated so its effects on human health and climate change can be more accurately understood, scientists claim.
	Understanding man-made earthquakes: Study highlights role of fault roughness and stress heterogeneity Man-made earthquakes, or induced seismicity, have become an increasing concern. These events can occur during fluid injection or extraction, such as in oil or gas reservoirs, wastewater disposal, or geothermal reservoirs.
	Cross-sectoral approach could protect oceans at lower costs, says new research Protecting the world's oceans against accelerating damage from human activities could be cheaper and take up less space than previously thought, new research has found.
	Scaling theory approach may offer framework to reduce waste and pursue a more sustainable future Waste is a natural by-product of life on Earth and of productive human economies. Living systems have evolved to reconstitute waste—creatures like dung beetles fill an ecological niche of breaking down other organisms' feces—but waste is a problem that still plagues human systems.
	200 US cities will fall short of sustainable energy goals despite pledging to transition by 2050, says study Two-hundred U.S. communities will fail to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050 despite their pledges to do so, according to a new study published in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability.
	Flood risks rise as federal wetlands protections disappear: SC needs help, senators told South Carolina's landscape is pockmarked with wetlands that have historically gotten in the way of developers seeking to build shopping malls, hotels and housing communities.
	California's water-saving plan slammed as costly, complicated and unrealistic In a scathing review, advisors to the state Legislature have found that California's proposed regulations for urban water conservation would be costly, overly complicated and difficult to implement.
	Icelanders see little chance of return after volcano destroys homes Icelanders forced from their town by a dramatic volcanic eruption face never returning home, after lava engulfed several homes in the town, something the island nation had not seen in five decades.
	Mozambique's cyclone flooding was devastating to animals—we studied how body size affected survival Anyone who watches the news will have seen the devastation that tropical cyclones can cause when they reach land, with very strong winds, high rainfall and flooding. A cyclone like this, Idai, moved over Gorongosa National Park in central Mozambique in March 2019. At that time, it was the deadliest storm in Africa.
	Iceland battles a lava flow: Barriers and explosives tried in the past, but it's hard to stop molten rock Fountains of lava erupted from the Sundhnúkur volcanic system in southwest Iceland on Jan. 14, 2024. As the world watched on webcams and social media, lava flows cut off roads and bubbled from a new fissure that invaded the outskirts of the coastal town of Grindavík, burning down at least three houses in their path.
	Extreme cold still happens in a warming world—in fact climate instability may be disrupting the polar vortex Over the past few days, extremely cold Arctic air and severe winter weather have swept southward into much of the U.S., breaking daily low-temperature records from Montana to Texas. Tens of millions of people have been affected by dangerously cold temperatures, and heavy lake-effect snow and snow squalls have had severe effects across the Great Lakes and Northeast regions.
	How to host a climate-positive Olympic Games University of Queensland researchers say a requirement for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games to be climate positive presents an opportunity for the state to be bold and leave the city with a valuable legacy.
	New animation shows track of giant A23a iceberg Scientists at British Antarctic Survey are using satellite images to track the colossal iceberg A23a.
	St. Croix tap water remains unsafe to drink as US Virgin Islands offer short-term solutions With no date in sight for when it will be safe to drink tap water again on the island of St. Croix, officials in the U.S. Virgin Islands announced Wednesday night that they would distribute water filters and provide free lead and copper testing as they work on long-term solutions.
	Federal rule forces oil states to cut planet-warming methane emissions Within two years, a new federal rule will force oil- and gas-producing states to crack down on methane gas emissions—a major driver of climate change.
	Ripple effect: How public attitudes can shift governments toward sustainable, and resilient, water systems With all the negative news coming out about climate change, its impacts and its possible trajectory in the not-so-distant future, it can be difficult to maintain hope for a brighter future.
	Scientists retrieve rare methane hydrate samples for climate and energy study A scientific drilling mission in the Gulf of Mexico has returned with 44 cores from a methane hydrate reservoir deep under the seafloor. Globally, energy-rich methane hydrates hold an estimated 15% of the world's organic carbon but are poorly understood by the scientific community.

Astronomy and Space news

	Simulations show that exoplanets heated at deeper depths by their host stars display markedly different weather patterns For many years, most astrophysical models assumed that planets beyond our solar system, known as exoplanets, are heated at similar depths by their host stars (i.e., stars like the sun around which planetary systems are formed). Analyses of recent observations by several collaborations using different telescopes, however, suggest that some exoplanets could absorb heat much deeper into their atmosphere than originally thought. Such exoplanets could display a weather pattern very different than has been expected from past modeling.
	Astronomers detect new faint tidal disruption event An international team of astronomers reports the detection of a new tidal disruption event (TDE) as part of All-Sky Automated Survey for SuperNovae (ASAS-SN). The newfound TDE, designated ASASSN-23bd, turns out to be the least luminous and the lowest redshift TDE known so far. The finding is reported in a paper published January 10 on the pre-print server arXiv.
	Brightness peak of M87 supermassive black hole shifts 30 degrees in one year The brightness peak of the ring around M87's supermassive black hole has shifted 30 degrees counterclockwise in a year. This is shown by new images released by the Event Horizon Telescope consortium.
	Lightest black hole or heaviest neutron star? MeerKAT uncovers a mysterious object in Milky Way An international team of astronomers have found a new and unknown object in the Milky Way that is heavier than the heaviest neutron stars known and yet simultaneously lighter than the lightest black holes known.
	Webb reveals that galaxy mergers are the solution to early universe mystery One of the key missions of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope is to probe the early universe. Now, the unmatched resolution and sensitivity of Webb's NIRCam instrument have revealed, for the first time, what lies in the local environment of galaxies in the very early universe.
	Moon rocks with unique dust found The moon is almost completely covered in dust. Unlike on Earth, this dust is not smoothed by wind and weather, but is sharp-edged and also electrostatically charged. This dust has been studied since the Apollo era at the end of the 1960s. Now, an international research team led by Dr. Ottaviano Rüsch from the University of Münster has for the first time discovered anomalous meter-sized rocks on the lunar surface that are covered in dust and presumably exhibit unique properties—such as magnetic anomalies.
	Crippled spaceship set for fiery reentry into Earth's atmosphere A crippled American spaceship is set to burn up in the atmosphere over a remote region of the South Pacific on Thursday, bringing a fiery end to its failed mission to land on the moon.
	Axiom set for third mission to ISS, carrying European space hopes An all-European crew including Turkey's first astronaut are set to launch for the International Space Station on Thursday with Axiom Space, as countries increasingly look to the private sector to fulfill their final frontier ambitions.
	Studying total solar eclipse in Dallas could benefit radio, GPS devices, expert says Where Earth's atmosphere meets space, a sea of gas particles swirl in a dance choreographed by electric and magnetic fields.
	NASA selects a sample return mission to Venus In Dante Alighieri's epic poem The Divine Comedy, the famous words "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" adorn the gates of hell. Interestingly enough, Dante's vision of hell is an apt description of what conditions are like on Venus. With an average temperature of 450°C (842°F), atmospheric pressures 92 times that of Earth, and clouds of sulfuric acid rain to boot, Venus is the most hostile environment in the solar system. It is little wonder why space agencies, going all the way back to the beginning of the Space Age, have had such a hard time exploring Venus' atmosphere.
	To the Moon and back: modern lunar exploration Japan, whose unmanned "sniper" probe will attempt a lunar landing on Saturday, is one of many countries and private companies launching new missions to the moon.
	Image: An aurora in another light The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite sensor on the NOAA-NASA Suomi NPP satellite captured this image of the aurora borealis, or northern lights, over western Canada at 3:23 a.m. MST (5:23 a.m. EST) on November 5, 2023.

Technology news

	A simple technique to defend ChatGPT against jailbreak attacks Large language models (LLMs), deep learning-based models trained to generate, summarize, translate and process written texts, have gained significant attention after the release of Open AI's conversational platform ChatGPT. While ChatGPT and similar platforms are now widely used for a wide range of applications, they could be vulnerable to a specific type of cyberattack producing biased, unreliable or even offensive responses.
	A hybrid control architecture that combines advantages of current quadruped robot controls A team of robotics engineers at Robotic Systems Lab, in Switzerland, has developed a hybrid control architecture that combines the advantages of current quadruped robot control systems to give four-legged robots better walking capabilities on rough terrain.
	Robots that can autonomously build structures out of lattice blocks A combined team of engineers from NASA Ames Research Center and KBR has designed and built a robot system that can autonomously build structures using specially designed lattice blocks. In their paper published in the journal Science Robotics, the group describes the robots and the lattice blocks they use to build structures and how they whole system works.
	Machine learning method speeds up discovery of green energy materials Researchers at Kyushu University, in collaboration with Osaka University and the Fine Ceramics Center, have developed a framework that uses machine learning to speed up the discovery of materials for green energy technology.
	Self-powered sensor automatically harvests magnetic energy MIT researchers have developed a battery-free, self-powered sensor that can harvest energy from its environment.
	New, portable antenna could help restore communication after disasters Researchers from Stanford and the American University of Beirut have developed a lightweight, portable antenna that can communicate with satellites and devices on the ground, making it easier to coordinate rescue and relief efforts in disaster-prone areas.
	Next-generation batteries could go organic, cobalt-free for long-lasting power In the switch to "greener" energy sources, the demand for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries is surging. However, their cathodes typically contain cobalt—a metal whose extraction has high environmental and societal costs. Now, researchers in ACS Central Science report evaluating an earth-abundant, carbon-based cathode material that could replace cobalt and other scarce and toxic metals without sacrificing lithium-ion battery performance.
	Mini-robots modeled on insects may be smallest, lightest, fastest ever developed Two insect-like robots, a mini-bug and a water strider, developed at Washington State University, are the smallest, lightest and fastest fully functional micro-robots ever known to be created.
	Apple loosens grip on iPhone apps—with a catch After a years-long legal battle, Apple says it will begin allowing iPhone app developers to use alternative payment systems—but they will still have to pay fees and meet various conditions.
	TSMC to launch chipmaking plant in Japan, but US plant to face delays Taiwan's TSMC will open its latest chipmaking foundry on Japan's Kyushu island on February 24, but a plant in the United States will face further delays, the company said Thursday.
	Tiny AI-based bio-loggers revealing the interesting bits of a bird's day Have you ever wondered what wildlife animals do all day? Documentaries offer a glimpse into their lives, but animals under the watchful eye do not do anything interesting. The true essence of their behaviors remains elusive. Now, researchers from Japan have developed a camera that allows us to capture these behaviors.
	Sheryl Sandberg, who helped to turn Facebook into digital advertising empire, to leave company board Sheryl Sandberg, who helped to transform Facebook from a tech startup into a digital advertising empire, will step down from the board of Meta, Facebook's parent company.
	Google CEO warns of more layoffs Google CEO Sundar Pichai has warned employees that more layoffs are in store at the search engine giant as it focused on new priorities, including artificial intelligence.
	Research team designs privacy-protecting algorithm for better wireless communication In today's increasingly interconnected world, high-quality communication has become more vital than ever. Accurately estimating the dynamic status of communication channels is a key factor in achieving this. Recently, a joint research team designed a new algorithm that offers high-level estimation accuracy and privacy protection with low computational and communication costs. This research was published in Intelligent Computing.
	Reining in AI means figuring out which regulation options are feasible, both technically and economically Concern about generative artificial intelligence technologies seems to be growing almost as fast as the spread of the technologies themselves. These worries are driven by unease about the possible spread of disinformation at a scale never seen before, and fears of loss of employment, loss of control over creative works, and, more futuristically, AI becoming so powerful that it causes extinction of the human species.
	Why electric trucks are our best bet to cut road transport emissions Transport is likely the hardest economic sector to decarbonize. And road vehicles produce the most greenhouse gas emissions of the Australian transport sector—85% of its total. Freight trucks account for only 8% of travel on our roads but 27% of transport emissions.
	Australia plans to regulate 'high-risk' AI. Here's how to do that successfully This week, federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic announced the Australian government's response to the Safe and Responsible AI in Australia consultation.
	Novel frequency-adaptive methods enhance remote sensing image processing Researchers led by Prof. Xie Chengjun and Associate Prof. Zhang Jie at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a novel deep learning-based method for satellite imagery.
	Electric cars jolt Europe sales for 2023 New car sales in Europe rebounded by 13.9 percent in 2023 as electric vehicles overtook diesel for the first time, an industry group said on Thursday.
	Quantum computing to spark 'cybersecurity Armageddon,' IBM says Governments and businesses are not prepared for the havoc quantum computers will sow in cybersecurity by the end of the decade, according to an International Business Machines Corp. executive.
	Meta joins rivals in pursuit of human-level AI Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday said his company is joining the pursuit of creating super artificial intelligence, putting it in a race with Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Google.
	New tool analyzes news media sentiment regarding shipping industry A study in the International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics has introduced a new Shipping Industry Risk Sentiment Index (SRSI). This tool has been designed to analyze sentiment in the news media concerning South Korea's shipping industry. The SRSI utilizes an innovative method involving text analysis of news articles from Korean newspapers, focusing on terms related to the six C's of credit—character, capacity, capital, company, conditions, and collateral.
	US officials say 40 Boeing jets have been inspected as investigations continue into midair blowout Federal officials have briefed a congressional committee on their investigations into a jetliner that lost a panel of its fuselage in midflight this month and revealed that airlines have inspected 40 identical Boeing planes.
	Japan literary laureate unashamed about using ChatGPT The winner of Japan's most prestigious literary award has acknowledged that about "five percent" of her futuristic novel was penned by ChatGPT, saying generative AI had helped unlock her potential.
	'Prince of Persia' creator 'never imagined' game would be his magic carpet For video game maker Jordan Mechner, "The Prince of Persia" has allowed him to achieve a childhood dream.
	Taiwan's TSMC reports profit drop in fourth quarter Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC saw a nearly 20 percent drop in net profits in the fourth quarter of 2023, it announced Thursday.
	Bally Sports and Amazon strike deal that could bring Texas Rangers to Amazon Prime Bally Sports and parent company Diamond Sports Group have announced a restructuring of their debt that would allow the organization to emerge from bankruptcy and could make it easier for fans of the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Stars to see their games.
	India's Akasa Air orders 150 Boeing planes: CEO India's newest airline, Akasa Air, said Thursday it has ordered 150 Boeing 737 MAX planes as it looks to bolster its fleet and kick off international operations.
	Just Eat to halt Paris subsidiary employing riders on contracts The Anglo-Dutch group Just Eat Takeaway said Thursday that it would wind up its Paris subsidiary that employs riders on labor contracts but that it will continue to operate its delivery service in the French capital.
	What the Red Sea crisis could mean for the electric vehicle industry and the planet Automotive giants Tesla and Volvo have announced pauses to the production of their electric vehicles (EVs) in Europe. Electric vehicles are seeing record sales and demand worldwide, but a lack of parts means that factories cannot sustain their production.
	What is credential stuffing and how can I protect myself? A cybersecurity researcher explains Cyber-skullduggery is becoming the bane of modern life. Australia's prime minister has called it a "scourge", and he is correct. In 2022–23, nearly 94,000 cyber crimes were reported in Australia, up 23% on the previous year.

Chemistry news

	Chemical synthesis: New strategy for skeletal editing on pyridines A team from the University of Münster has introduced a strategy for converting carbon–nitrogen atom pairs in a frequently used ring-shaped compound into carbon–carbon atom pairs. The method has potential in the quest for active ingredients for new drugs, for example. The results are published in Nature Chemistry.
	New material opens up possibility of converting water pollutants into hydrogen gas WPI Researchers have developed a material to remove urea from water and potentially convert it into hydrogen gas. By building these materials of nickel and cobalt atoms with carefully tailored electronic structures, the group has unlocked the potential to enable these transition metal oxides and hydroxides to selectively oxidize urea in an electrochemical reaction.
	A cheap substitute for expensive metal in an industrially common chemical reaction The chemical industry commonly uses rare, expensive metals to produce pharmaceuticals and other essential substances. Replacing these metals whenever possible with more abundant, cheaper substitutes would benefit environmental sustainability, lower costs, and minimize the risk of supply chain disruptions.
	Research reveals gas-phase migration route for formation of strong metal-support interaction state Strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) is one of the most important concepts in heterogeneous catalysis. Triggered by pretreatment or reaction processes, the supported metal nanoparticles may be partially or completely encapsulated by support-derived overlayers, which impact the catalytic performance of supported metal catalysts. However, the formation mechanism of the SMSI state is still unclear.
	Helium is essential for research, medical equipment, but it's nonrenewable and difficult to recycle The next time you pick up balloons for your big party, remember the helium gas in those balloons is destined for the stars. Helium is so light that it easily escapes Earth's gravity, and all helium will eventually make its way into space. Like fossil fuels, helium is a limited resource.
	Hidden cause of lithium-rich cathode materials' low energy efficiency revealed A research team consisting of the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) and SoftBank Corp. has found that voltage hysteresis in Li2RuO3—a high-energy-density rechargeable battery cathode material—is caused by differences in the intermediate crystalline phases formed during charge and discharge processes. The study is published in Energy Storage Materials.

Biology news

	DNA construction leads to unexpected discovery of important cell function Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have used DNA origami, the art of folding DNA into desired structures, to show how an important cell receptor can be activated in a previously unknown way. The result opens new avenues for understanding how the Notch signaling pathway works and how it is involved in several serious diseases. The study is published in Nature Communications.
	Theoretical research offers explanation as to why some animals shrink over time The mystery behind why Alaskan horses, cryptodiran turtles and island lizards shrank over time may have been solved in a new study.
	African Swine Fever is wreaking havoc in Borneo's forests and among its people A highly contagious and virulent virus is sweeping through domestic and wild swine populations across the world, decimating those in Asia, Europe, and Africa. The near-100% fatality rate threatens food security, ecosystems and the lives and traditions of millions. African Swine Fever (ASF) is probably the most devastating viral disease you have never heard of.
	Early evolution of cicadas revealed by analyses of new fossils To clarify the early evolutionary history of Cicadoidea fossils, the phylogenetic relationships between Mesozoic fossils and extant Cicadoidea, the macroevolution of body structure adaptations, and their relationship with environmental changes, Dr. Jiang Hui, supervised by Profs. Wang Bo and Zhang Haichun from the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGPAS), together with collaborators, conducted a collaborative cicada study.
	Study reveals genes that 'don't play well together' in swordtail fish hybrids drive speciation Stanford researchers have gained new insights into how the rise of reproductive barriers between organisms creates new species and drives the incredible diversification of life on Earth.
	Researchers unravel complex 3D structure of thick filaments in human heart It's been estimated that over one lifetime, a heart will beat 2.5 to 3 billion times without stopping. Yet the mechanics of how the heart physically carries out this function flawlessly, without fail, minute after minute, remains poorly understood on a molecular level.
	New technique visualizes mechanical structure of the cell nucleus for the first time The cell nucleus is considered to be the control center of vital cellular processes, but its material properties continue to puzzle scientists. An international research team led by MedUni Vienna has now developed a new technique that provides a previously unattainable view of the mechanical properties inside this control center.
	Genetic study offers little evidence of Black Death having selective impact on genetic variation in England A team of archaeologists, geneticists and pathologists affiliated with a host of institutions across Europe, working with one colleague from the U.K. and another from the U.S., has found little evidence of the Black Death causing genetic variants to arise in affected populations.
	Study provides rare field-based evidence of opportunistic cannibalism in mini marsupial The mouse-sized marsupial famed for its mighty mating until it dies has now been observed eating its own dead.
	Not all underwater reefs are made of coral—the US has created artificial reefs from sunken ships, radio towers and more When people hear about underwater reefs, they usually picture colorful gardens created from coral. But some reefs are anchored to much more unusual foundations.
	Invasive ants selectively abandon toxic baits, evading our most effective eradication method Invasive ants are economically costly and ecologically devastating, and most of our eradication attempts have failed. Now, researchers at the University of Buenos Aires and the University of Regensburg have discovered that these ants can evade the most ecological friendly and effective control method we have—toxic baits—by rapidly abandoning them before the ants can be killed.
	Bar-coding bacteriophages: New method could unleash powerful biotechnology applications Barcodes at the supermarket allow fast and easy product identification, often including such valuable information as location, quantity, and tracking.
	Unveiling sodium channel dynamics: New insights into cell biology using high-speed atomic force microscopy The transport of ions to and from a cell is controlled by pore-forming proteins embedded in the cell membrane. In particular, voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) govern the transfer of sodium (Na+) ions, and play an important role in the regulation of the membrane potential—the voltage difference between the cell's exterior and interior.
	New study shows sea otters helped prevent widespread California kelp forest declines over the past century Monterey Bay Aquarium researchers strengthen the link between sea otters and long-term health of California kelp forests in a new study released today. The paper, published in the journal PLOS Climate, finds that sea otter population growth during the last century enhanced kelp forest resilience in the state.
	Male power over females is not the default social dynamic in primates, says study Male dominance has long been assumed to be nearly universal in primates, with female power viewed as a rare exception to the rule. However, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, female-biased power structures or social equality between the sexes can be found within every major primate group and probably existed throughout evolutionary history.
	Largest deep-sea coral reef to date is mapped by scientists off the US Atlantic coast Scientists have mapped the largest coral reef deep in the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles off the U.S. Atlantic coast.
	For this beetle, 'date night' comes every other day: The 48-hour cycle of the large black chafer beetle Life on Earth runs on a 24-hour cycle as the planet turns. Animals and plants have built-in circadian clocks that synchronize metabolism and behavior to this daily cycle. But one beetle is out of sync with the rest of nature.
	Semen microbiome health may impact male fertility You may have heard about the gut microbiome and its influence on a person's overall health and well-being. It turns out that the same may hold true for the semen microbiome.
	Butterflies could lose spots as climate warms Female meadow brown butterflies have fewer spots if they develop in warmer weather—so climate change could make them less spotty, new research shows. The work is published in Ecology and Evolution.
	Missing gene in mouse sperm could explain infertility Mice lacking a certain gene are unable to produce offspring because their sperm lack the connection between the tail and the head. A new thesis from the University of Gothenburg indicates a probable cause of male infertility.
	Feds want boats to slow down to protect whales The Savannah River meets the Atlantic Ocean at Fort Pulaski National Monument, the brick citadel built to guard this port city in the years before the Civil War.
	Deep-sea coral reef stretches 600 miles from Miami to SC, scientists find The world's largest deep-sea coral reef has been discovered off the East Coast: a massive 6.4 million acre seascape that stretches from Miami to Charleston, South Carolina, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ocean Exploration.
	Turkey hails discovery of endangered leopard barbel fish Turkey on Thursday hailed the unexpected sighting of the leopard barbel fish—listed as one of the most endangered in the world—in the Tigris River.
	Unraveling the health benefits of tomatoes: A molecular dive Scientists at U.S. the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and The Ohio State University (OSU) have been working to investigate how tomatoes may be imparting health benefits in a recently published study.
	Study identifies priority areas for conservation of endangered crustacean in Brazil Mass migration takes place between December and April on Trindade Island, the easternmost point of Brazil located in the Atlantic about 1,200 km from the coastal city of Vitória, capital of Espírito Santo state. Hundreds of Johngarthia lagostoma land crabs descend steep rocky trails from the upland peaks to the shore, where they mate and release larvae into the ocean.
	Researchers observe how the flexibility of a protein hinge is crucial to the transfer of cell proteins Ubiquitination—the addition of the protein ubiquitin—is a key stage in many cell processes, such as protein degradation, DNA repairs, and signal transduction. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) and molecular modeling, researchers led by Hiroki Konno and Holger Flechsig at WPI-NanoLSI, Kanazawa University have identified how the mobility of a ubiquitination-related enzyme hinge allows ubiquitination to take place.
	Grapevine phenotyping: Harnessing LiDAR for enhanced growth assessment and genetic insights In response to the pressing need to reduce pesticide usage and adapt grapevine varieties to climate change, there's an unprecedented effort to phenotype new genotypes using high-throughput methods.
	AI-driven nutritional assessment of seed mixtures enhances sustainable farming practices Cultivating seed mixtures for local pastures is an age-old method to produce cost-effective and balanced animal feed, enhancing agricultural autonomy and environmental friendliness in line with evolving European regulations and organic consumer demands. Despite its benefits, farmers face adoption challenges due to the asynchronous ripening of cereals and legumes and the difficulty in assessing the nutritional value of heterogeneous seeds.
	Improving grape yield predictions: The rise of semi-supervised berry counting with CDMENet To improve grape yield predictions, automated berry counting has emerged as a crucial yet challenging task due to the dense distribution and occlusion of berries. While grape cultivation is a significant global economic activity, traditional manual counting methods are inaccurate and inefficient.
	GenoDrawing: Pioneering plant phenotyping with autoencoders and SNP markers Advancements in whole-genome sequencing have revolutionized plant species characterization, providing a wealth of genotypic data for analysis. The combination of genomic selection and neural networks, especially deep learning and autoencoders, has emerged as a promising method for predicting complex traits from this data.
	New deep-sea crustacean discovered in Bahamas An international team of marine biologists including Oliver Shipley, Ph.D., of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University, have discovered a unique isopod, a form of crustacean, that has been formally identified as a new species of the genus Booralana from the deep waters of The Bahamas.
	Petunia and pansy reactions to prolonged carbon dioxide enrichment Although crops often respond immediately to enriched CO2 concentrations (e.g., increased photosynthesis), this initial response is often not sustained throughout production, thus reducing the benefit of this input. For horticulture species, the timing and extent of these acclimation responses are still widely uncertain.
	France orders rare Atlantic fishing ban to protect dolphins The French government will temporarily ban almost all commercial fishing in the Bay of Biscay to protect dolphins, much to the dismay of the industry.
	New potato-threatening pathogens reported for first time in Pennsylvania, US As the home of beloved snack companies like Martin's Potato Chips, Utz and Snyder's of Hanover, Pennsylvania values its potatoes. Tasty tubers across the state may face the threat of newly identified pathogen strains, though, according to Penn State researchers who made the finding and aim to develop management strategies.
	New magnolia tree species discovered in northern Honduras Fauna & Flora's in-country partner in Honduras has discovered a new species of magnolia. Named in honor of two prominent Honduran conservationists, Magnolia ciroorum was found in Pico Bonito National Park during ongoing fieldwork to document and safeguard the threatened tree species within this globally important haven of biodiversity.
	Q&A: Growth rings in fish give clues about fluctuations in climate over decades A giant tree in your backyard can reveal stories about Earth's past climate. The concentric rings in the trunk, besides indicating the age of the tree, also shed light on the corresponding weather conditions during each year of the tree's life.
	As the climate warms, birds in the East Africa mountains are getting bigger As global temperatures rise, animals—especially birds—have been decreasing in size.
	Knowing what dogs like to watch could help veterinarians assess their vision Ever wonder what kind of TV shows your dog might choose if they could work the remote control? New research from the University of Wisconsin–Madison's School of Veterinary Medicine provides some answers, but the study was more interested in solving a longstanding problem in veterinary medicine than turning canine companions into couch potatoes.
	Report: Warmer planet will trigger increased farm losses Extreme heat is already harming crop yields, but a new report quantifies just how much that warming is cutting into farmers' financial security. For every 1 degree Celsius of warming, yields of major crops like corn, soybeans and wheat fall by 16% to 20%, gross farm income falls by 7% and net farm income plummets 66%.
	Chilled-out tadpoles defy climate odds University of Queensland researchers have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that allows tadpoles in cold environments to mitigate the detrimental effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
	Repeated sexual failures cause social stress in fruit flies Repeated failures to reproduce make fruit flies stressed and frustrated, which in turn makes them less resilient to other types of stress, Julia Ryvkin at Bar-Ilan University and colleagues report in PLOS Genetics.
	Scientists, farmers, managers work together to avoid the decline of the little bustard Collaboration between scientists, farmers and managers is crucial to improve the protection of the little bustard, an steppe-land bird in Spain endangered due to human activity. The reduction of natural habitats, the increase in irrigation and the urbanization of the land have led to fewer areas that guarantee the survival of this vulnerable species.
	New study reveals impact of skin microorganisms on earthworm toxicity in polluted environments In a study published in the journal Eco-Environment & Health, researchers from Zhejiang University revealed the crucial role of epidermal microorganisms in influencing earthworm toxicity under environmental stress, notably in conditions of nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) co-contaminated soil.
	Commentary: Can the Sierra Nevada bighorn dodge extinction? It may mean reining in another wild animal The high peaks of the southern and central Sierra Nevada are home to a unique and endangered animal, the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep. John Muir called them "the bravest of all the Sierra mountaineers," and indeed they have weathered both ancient and modern climate extremes, human-introduced disease and other existential threats across the centuries. But the greatest danger they face today may be from another native species.
	Plant phenotyping: Deep learning and 3D point cloud technology in overcoming reconstruction challenges 3D point cloud technology revolutionizes non-invasive measurement of plant phenotypic parameters, offering vital data for agriculture and research.
	Scientists address debates on postbiotic definition with new paper In the area of microbiome-related interventions for gut, skin and other areas of health, postbiotics are one of the most misunderstood substances.
	LED lights, info treatments boost microgreen preference Since microgreens entered the market in the 1980s and 1990s, their use has expanded far beyond being a garnish in high-end restaurants. They can now be found in casual dining establishments and private homes. They are used to add texture and color, as well as for their taste, aroma, and visual appeal.
	Seaweed is a billion-euro industry in Europe, but inclusive, sustainable transition approaches are marginalized Interest in the seaweed industry is growing rapidly across Europe, and seaweed farming is viewed as a forerunner of a sustainability transition with widespread local benefits. However, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland questions if the industry is able to deliver on its promises of an inclusive transition.

Medicine and Health news

	Study reveals a universal pattern of brain wave frequencies across mammalian species Throughout the brain's cortex, neurons are arranged in six distinctive layers, which can be readily seen with a microscope. A team of MIT neuroscientists has now found that these layers also show distinct patterns of electrical activity, which are consistent over many brain regions and across several animal species, including humans.
	New study discovers short, toxic RNAs kill brain cells and may allow Alzheimer's to develop Alzheimer's disease, which is expected to have affected about 6.7 million patients in the U.S. in 2023, results in a substantial loss of brain cells. But the events that cause neuron death are poorly understood.
	CD19-targeted CAR NK cell therapy achieves promising one-year results in patients with B-cell malignancies Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have reported promising results in a Phase I/II trial of 37 patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies who were treated with cord blood-derived chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cell therapy targeting CD19.
	Study with over 11,000 individuals of African descent finds genetic variants linked to glaucoma Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness around the globe, affecting up to 44 million people. Although people of African ancestry are most frequently and severely affected by this hereditary disease, its genetic underpinnings in this population have rarely been studied.
	New gut-brain circuits found for sugar and fat cravings Understanding why we overeat unhealthy foods has been a long-standing mystery. While we know food's strong power influences our choices, the precise circuitry in our brains behind this is unclear. The vagus nerve sends internal sensory information from the gut to the brain about the nutritional value of food. But, the molecular basis of the reward in the brain associated with what we eat has been incompletely understood.
	AI harnesses tumor genetics to predict treatment response In a study published in Cancer Discovery, scientists at University of California San Diego School of Medicine leveraged a machine learning algorithm to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing cancer researchers: predicting when cancer will resist chemotherapy.
	TB: How prior exposure to bacteria changes the lung's innate immune response and what it might mean for vaccines Tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) kills upwards of 1.6 million people a year, making it one of the leading causes of death by an infectious agent worldwide—and that number is only growing larger.
	New approach in liquid biopsies makes it easier to detect circulating tumor DNA in blood samples Tumors constantly shed DNA from dying cells, which briefly circulates in the patient's bloodstream before it is quickly broken down. Many companies have created blood tests that can pick out this tumor DNA, potentially helping doctors diagnose or monitor cancer or choose a treatment.
	Third major study finds that multivitamin supplements improve memory and slow cognitive aging in older adults By 2060, according to the Alzheimer's Association, nearly one in four Americans will be in an age bracket at elevated risk of cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease unless interventions can help preserve cognitive function before deficits begin.
	Researchers propose a navigation system to tackle medication supply bottlenecks Supply bottlenecks for medications present major challenges to health care systems the world over. In Switzerland, for instance, just under 1,000 drugs that are covered by statutory health insurance are currently unobtainable.
	Prenatal opioid exposure tied to infections, eczema and asthma risk in early childhood New research has found that prenatal exposure to prescription opioids, such as oxycodone, methadone and codeine, may impact the development of immune systems.
	Researchers treat consequences of brain injuries with nasally administered stem cell secreted factors Brain injuries cause widespread damage to brain tissue. Damaged cells begin to produce signaling molecules that trigger processes of inflammation, apoptosis—programmed cell death—and oxidative stress. After the acute phase (about a day), chronic neuroinflammation occurs. It can last a long time and cause secondary damage with negative consequences, including behavioral and cognitive dysfunction.
	Researchers document health provider impacts from post-Dobbs abortion bans School of Medicine researchers and colleagues have documented the perceived effects on physicians in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization U.S. Supreme Court decision of June 22, 2022, after which 16 states functionally banned abortion with only limited exceptions based maternal health, rape, incest, and fatal fetal anomalies. Five other states have similar legislation pending.
	Research team observes the processes of memory and cognition in real time The human brain contains approximately 86 billion neurons and 600 trillion synapses that exchange signals between the neurons to help us control the various functions of the brain, including cognition, emotion, and memory. Interestingly, the number of synapses decreases with age or as a result of diseases like Alzheimer's, and research on synapses thus attracts a lot of attention. However, limitations have existed in observing the dynamics of synapse structures in real-time.
	Standing united: When immune cells join forces, cancer therapy is more effective Winning on the battlefield takes a combination of precise intelligence and resolute soldiers. But when it comes to the battle against cancer, the immune system's fighters—the T cells—quickly lose their ability to kill and become exhausted, while the intelligence-providing dendritic cells are scarce. This is one of the reasons that the great promise of immunotherapy—a new generation of treatments that harness the body's own immune system for fighting cancer—has not been fully realized.
	Wheat diet may exacerbate multiple sclerosis severity, research finds A research team at the University Medical Center Mainz has discovered that a diet containing wheat can increase the severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). This is due to the amylase trypsin inhibitors (ATI), natural proteins in wheat, while the gluten proteins did not influence the inflammatory reaction.
	Research uncovers mechanism behind stubborn memories Researchers from the Medical Research Council Brain Network Dynamics Unit at the University of Oxford and the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences have identified a novel mechanism by which the brain produces powerful, lasting memories that drive ill-advised actions.
	Analysis of brain tumor blood vessels yields a candidate therapy—and a platform to find more A Ludwig Cancer Research study has generated a granular portrait of how the cellular and molecular components of the blood vessels that feed brain metastases of melanoma and lung and breast cancers differ from those of healthy brain tissue, illuminating how they help shape the internal environment of tumors to support cancer growth and immune evasion.
	Researchers develop framework to identify molecules responsible for chemotherapy resistance Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and SciLifeLab demonstrate in a new study published in iScience how they can identify substances that can deactivate an enzyme responsible for chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells. These results could help improve chemotherapy effectiveness for cancer patients.
	Climate change linked to spread of diarrheal illness A new study from the University of Surrey reveals that temperature, day length and humidity are linked to the increased spread of a diarrheal illness. The findings could help predict further outbreaks of the illness, potentially leading to better preparedness within health services. This study is published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology.
	Study finds complement system causes cell damage in long COVID Most people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus recover after the acute illness. However, a significant proportion of infected individuals develop long-lasting symptoms with a wide range of manifestations. Long COVID's causes and disease mechanisms are still unknown, and there are no diagnostic tests or targeted treatments.
	Positive childhood relationships linked to improved adult mental health, study shows A Columbia University study found that positive relationships with parents and other adults during childhood are associated with better mental health in adulthood, regardless of exposure to adverse childhood experiences.
	Structural study points the way to better malaria drugs Structural insights into a potent antimalarial drug candidate's interaction with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have paved the way for drug-resistant malaria therapies, according to a new study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Van Andel Institute.
	Mitigating COVID-19 spread at mass gatherings: Lessons from the FIFA World Cup 2022 The 2022 FIFA World Cup ended with a tight win for Argentina over France on penalties, but it was also a triumph for SARS-CoV-2 with a significant jump in the number of cases, some of which York University researchers say could have been prevented.
	Don't look back: The aftermath of a distressing event is more memorable than the lead-up, study suggests Halfway through a true crime podcast, a morning commuter jerks the wheel to narrowly avoid a collision. When discussing the podcast with a coworker later that day, the driver can easily recall the details of the episode's second half but retains only a blurry recollection of how it began.
	Stromal cells may help predict prostate cancer metastasis Non-cancerous cells called stromal cells, which are found in and around prostate tumors, may be useful in assessing these tumors' potential to spread, and may even be targets for future prostate cancer treatments, according to a study led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine.
	Researchers develop a handheld white blood cell tracker A Rutgers researcher, through his spinoff company, has led a team to design and test a device that quickly counts a person's white blood cells with a single drop of blood, similar to the way glucometers rapidly scan for blood sugar levels.
	New hope for early pancreatic cancer intervention via AI-based risk prediction The first documented case of pancreatic cancer dates back to the 18th century. Since then, researchers have undertaken a protracted and challenging odyssey to understand the elusive and deadly disease. To date, there is no better cancer treatment than early intervention. Unfortunately, the pancreas, nestled deep within the abdomen, is particularly elusive when it comes to early detection.
	Take these steps to protect yourself from winter weather dangers The arctic blast of winter weather that is gripping much of the U.S. this week is also bringing with it various hazards that people have to contend with to keep warm and safe.
	Decay in state dental care leaves UK patients down in the mouth Finding a state-funded dentist is becoming increasingly difficult in the UK, forcing those who can pay to the private sector, and those who cannot to avoid treatment altogether—or take matters into their own hands.
	A wrist-rotatable robot for a renewed lease on life in partial hand amputees A Korean company recently garnered attention by showcasing robotic prostheses and artificial limbs to 50 recipients. These robotic assistive devices play a crucial role in supporting the daily activities of individuals with congenital disabilities or those who have experienced unfortunate accidents. Despite their benefits, achieving truly natural movements remains a significant challenge for these robotic assistive devices.
	Household income and health insurance among factors in decision to withdraw life support after hemorrhagic stroke: Study Living in a high-income neighborhood, having private health insurance, and being older are tied to an increased likelihood that life support will be withdrawn for people who have suffered severe bleeding in the brain, a new study shows.
	Removing largest wine glass serving reduces amount of wine sold in bars and pubs, research finds Taking away the largest serving of wine by the glass—in most cases the 250ml option—led to an average reduction in the amount of wine sold at pubs and bars of just under 8%, new research led by a team at the University of Cambridge has discovered.
	New York City virus database may advance research into factors contributing to respiratory illness severity Viral respiratory infections are a significant public health concern. A study published January 18 in the open access journal PLOS Biology by Marta Galanti at Columbia University, New York, United States and colleagues used longitudinal cohort data to create an interactive, publicly-available website, The Virome of Manhattan Project: Virome Data Explorer to visualize cohort characteristics, infection events, and illness severity factors.
	Nurse home visits have a lasting impact for disadvantaged mothers and daughters, health data show Nurse home visits to disadvantaged mothers can significantly reduce their rates of hypertension and their daughters' likelihood of obesity, finds a new reanalysis of health data by a team led by a UCL researcher.
	Why COVID tests don't seem to work as well as they used to With COVID outbreaks being whipped up for a fifth year, testing has emerged as a source of frustration once again.
	WHO weighs up AI risks and benefits for health care Generative artificial intelligence could transform health care through things like drug development and quicker diagnoses, but the World Health Organization warned Thursday of the potential pitfalls in rushing to embrace AI.
	Age-adjusted cancer mortality rates decreased from 2000 to 2020 From 2000 to 2020, U.S. age-adjusted cancer mortality rates decreased significantly, but racial and ethnic disparities persisted for certain cancers, according to a research letter published online Jan. 12 in JAMA Health Forum.
	Seniors who smoke weed and drive are road hazards: Study Many studies have found that getting high on weed and then getting behind the wheel is dangerous for young drivers, and now new research finds it's no different for seniors.
	FDA approves AI device that helps spot skin cancer The first medical device powered by artificial intelligence and designed to help doctors catch skin cancer has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
	Five-year survival for pancreatic cancer has risen to 13% Pancreatic cancer is known as a 'silent killer' because it's usually only detected in its later stages.
	Are your driving habits pointing to a sleep disorder? Do you drive with the window open? Sip coffee behind the wheel? Blast the car radio and sing along? Fidget and fuss in the driver's seat?
	Simnotrelvir shortens time to resolution of symptoms in COVID-19 For adults with mild-to-moderate COVID-19, early administration of simnotrelvir plus ritonavir shortens the time to sustained resolution of symptoms, according to a study published in the Jan. 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Physicians IDs barriers to 'no antibiotic' strategy for pediatric viral pneumonia There are considerable barriers relating to implementation of a "no antibiotic" strategy for mild community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in Pediatrics.
	Testosterone treatment does not cut fracture incidence in men with hypogonadism Testosterone treatment does not result in a lower incidence of clinical fractures among middle-aged and older men with hypogonadism, according to a study published in the Jan. 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Intake of 100 percent fruit juice tied to weight gain Intake of 100 percent fruit juice may be associated with weight gain in both children and adults, according to a review published online Jan. 16 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Lasting benefits seen for cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator Receipt of a cardiac-resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) offers long term benefit for patients with heart failure, reduced ejection fraction, and a widened QRS complex, according to a study published in the Jan. 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Big dreams and high demands: The mental health challenges of elite youth athletes Elite sport poses several unique pressures that can impact athletes' mental health.
	Dengue fever: The tropical disease spreading across Europe If you were looking for information on dengue fever and only had access to older textbooks, it would likely be found in the sections on tropical and subtropical diseases.
	Stickers and wristbands aren't a reliable way to prevent mosquito bites Protecting yourself and family from mosquito bites can be challenging, especially in this hot and humid weather. Protests from young children and fears about topical insect repellents drive some to try alternatives such as wristbands, patches and stickers.
	Mentors, nurture rooms and mindfulness: What schools can do to improve pupils' mental health Recent data shows that around 20% of children and young people aged from eight to 25 years have a probable mental disorder.
	A nutritional epidemiologist explains what food choices will help you get more healthy sleep You probably already know that how you eat before bed affects your sleep. Maybe you've found yourself still lying awake at 2 a.m. after enjoying a cup of coffee with dessert. But did you know that your eating choices throughout the day may also affect your sleep at night?
	Beyond breathing: How COVID-19 affects your heart, brain and other organs It's easy to be complacent about COVID-19. Most people experience only mild issues—fever and coughing, maybe congestion and shortness of breath.
	Research reveals possible link between teen personalities, social media preferences and depressive symptoms Teens using social media are vulnerable to depressive symptoms and some platforms, like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, may be linked to higher levels of depression than others, according to West Virginia University research.
	Add virtual reality to exercise and ease chronic pain, say researchers Boosting exercise is often on the agenda in the new year, but if you're struggling to stick to a new fitness regime, University of South Australia research shows that virtual reality (VR) will not only make exercise feel easier but also ease chronic pain.
	Wastewater tests can find mpox, study finds. Expect more bugs to be tracked that way Wastewater testing does a good job at detecting mpox infections, U.S. health officials said in a report Thursday that bolsters a push to use sewage to track more diseases.
	Using coping strategies for sleepiness while driving could be sign of a dangerous snoring condition Frequently using more than three strategies to stay alert while driving could be a sign of excessive sleepiness due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), according to a study published in ERJ Open Research.
	Youth use anonymous reporting system for firearm-related threats, says report Anonymous reporting systems are used by youth to submit firearm-related tips on threats, which most often involve a potential school shooting, according to a report published online Jan. 17 in Pediatrics.
	Air pollutants can affect cardiometabolic health even at low levels, but diet may mitigate the outcomes Exposure to air pollutants, even at very low concentrations, was associated with adverse changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in a recent Finnish study. The main pollutant affecting these risk factors was particulate matter, which can be emitted from traffic and wood burning, among other sources. Interestingly, diet quality appeared to modify several associations of pollutants with cardiometabolic health.
	LGBTQ+ individuals recommend strategies to promote affirming substance use treatment care A new study by doctoral alumna Dr. Margaret Paschen-Wolff and colleagues, published in Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, offers concrete recommendations for delivering LGBTQ+-affirming care for substance use and disorders, which could reduce disparities and drug overdose mortality overall.
	Action needed now to avoid potential harm for future hip fracture patients, says UK study New research from the University of Aberdeen forecasts an upsurge in hip fracture patients within the next decade with an annual NHS shortfall of more than £25 million to meet this demand.
	How research helped change a Massachusetts policy that made it harder for families to find shelter Physicians and policy makers usually work in separate worlds: those of medicine and government. But when a change in Massachusetts policy led to an unprecedented increase in the number of homeless families seeking shelter in the emergency department (ED), physicians at Boston Children's Hospital set out to reverse that policy. What happened next shows that clinical experience and research can be powerful tools in addressing social determinants of health at a population level.
	What persuades parents to vaccinate their children? In the last few years, rising vaccine hesitancy levels have contributed to decreased vaccination coverage for common pathogens in the general population, and specifically among minors. During the COVID pandemic, the debate on childhood vaccination was particularly heated and polarized.
	Even nicotine-free vapes can harm the lung, finds study A new study has identified a protein that nicotine-free vape fluid increases in the lung, causing damage including oxidative stress, inflammation, and breakdown of the blood vessels.
	Study examines substance use in first responders during the COVID-19 pandemic Considerable attention has focused on burnout and mental health of physicians and nurses on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. First responders—law enforcement personnel, firefighters, and emergency medical service (EMS) providers, also experienced increased levels of stress, anxiety, and depression due to job-related pressures associated with the pandemic.
	Mouse model may help explain and treat infertility Cornell researchers have created a genetically engineered mouse model that could shed light on the causes of human infertility and allow researchers to explore other areas of reproduction.
	Study: Any remission of diabetes from weight-loss trial associated with lower rates of heart and kidney disease While several trials have shown that substantial weight loss using diet and lifestyle can reverse type 2 diabetes, new research published in Diabetologia is among the first to show the subsequent impact of remission on cardiovascular outcomes. The study is by Professor Edward Gregg, Head of the School of Population Health, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland, and colleagues.
	Study finds early switch to oral antibiotic therapy for S. aureus bloodstream infections is safe, effective A new study shows efficacy and safety of oral antibiotic therapy, in the form of pills, for Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections. Currently, infusions are the standard treatment.
	Q&A: Researcher discusses tau and its role in Alzheimer's The effects of Alzheimer's disease are devastating: not being able to recognize loved ones, losing precious memories, losing the ability to perform simple tasks, suffering through mood swings, and so on. Not only are memory and cognition affected; so are physical functions such as the ability to walk and swallow food.
	Racial disparities in obesity widen in rural areas across country Racial disparities in health and health care throughout the lifespan are pervasive and well-documented, and culminate in a life expectancy for Black people that is about four years shorter than for white people. One major health issue impacted by racial disparities is obesity, one of the most significant public health concerns affecting the United States and the global population.
	Study: Physical exercise boosts motor learning—and remembering what one has learned Violinists, surgeons and gamers can benefit from physical exercise both before and after practicing their new skills. The same holds true for anyone seeking to improve their fine motor skills. This is demonstrated by new research from the University of Copenhagen, which, among other things, can make the way we rehabilitate more effective.
	A first-ever experiment shows how pigs might one day help people who have liver failure Surgeons externally attached a pig liver to a brain-dead human body and watched it successfully filter blood, a step toward eventually trying the technique in patients with liver failure.
	New species of bacteria discovered in unusual human infection Researchers at King's and Guy's & St Thomas' have discovered a new species of bacteria, now called Variovorax durovernensis, living within a patient at St. Thomas' Hospital.
	Experiences of racism may contribute to the disproportionately high incidence of cardiovascular disease in Black women Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. Black women have a disproportionally higher burden of coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD-related mortality and earlier onset than women of other racial and ethnic groups.
	'Exhalation' system improves symptoms for most common form of chronic sinus infections An exhalation delivery system that uses a patient's own breath to carry the anti-inflammatory compound fluticasone (EDS-FLU) directly to the sinuses reduces chronic sinus infection (sinusitis) symptoms and decreases aggravations and infections associated with chronic inflammation of the sinus by more than 50 percent, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania reported.
	Research uncovers Tle3 protein's role in enhancing memory T cells The Xue Lab at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) has made another breakthrough in better understanding and potentially modulating the immune system to fight diseases.
	The sound of emotional prosody: A research review People talk to share ideas, facts, and feelings. When we listen to someone speaking, it's not just about the words they say. The way they sound can also tell us a lot—for example, about the age, size, or even mood of the person speaking. This sound of emotional prosody has been studied for decades. An interdisciplinary team of researchers, including the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt am Main recently published a review of the current state of research on this topic.
	Veterans' PTSD symptoms affected by factors like service appraisal, social support, says new study Military veterans' individual perceptions of their combat experiences and the social supports they receive when they return home are greater predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms than the specific conflict in which they served, a new Oregon State University study has found.
	One in three telehealth users have privacy concerns, finds Finnish study Privacy concerns are common among users of Finland's national patient portal OmaKanta, a recent study by the University of Eastern Finland and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare shows. As many as one in three users had concerns about the security of their personal data.
	Early growth spurt: How prenatal chemical exposure shapes child development Organophosphate esters, commonly used as substitutes for brominated flame retardants, are increasingly present in various environmental media due to their use in consumer products. Humans are exposed to these chemicals through several pathways, and they can cross the placental barrier, possibly affecting the growth of offspring. The early years of life are crucial for long-term health and development, making it essential to understand the impact of these exposures.
	Tackling antibiotic resistance when treating pneumonia New research has identified positive steps toward a better understanding of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), specifically in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP).
	Study provides insights into role of 'hunger hormone' receptor in obesity-related chronic inflammation A team comprised primarily of Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists has made an important discovery that could lead to a novel treatment for obesity and obesity-associated diseases or conditions.
	Federal program to save rural hospitals feels 'growing pains' Folks in a Mississippi River town hope a new federal program can revive the optimism engraved long ago in a plaque on the side of their hospital.
	Can cold weather cause a cold? The bitter winter elements can be brutal on the body. But is there any truth that you can "catch a cold" if not properly dressed outside?
	Rural hospitals are caught in an aging-infrastructure conundrum Kevin Stansbury, the CEO of Lincoln Community Hospital in the 800-person town of Hugo, Colorado, is facing a classic Catch-22: He could boost his rural hospital's revenues by offering hip replacements and shoulder surgeries, but the 64-year-old hospital needs more money to be able to expand its operating room to do those procedures.
	Washington travelers to receive $1.5 million in mental health discrimination case Allianz, the world's largest travel insurance company, will pay $1.5 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit that alleged the company discriminated against Washington residents with mental health conditions. A civil rights trial was set to begin Wednesday.
	Data shows nursing home closure often linked to care issues When 17 nursing homes closed in Ohio in fiscal 2023, the Ohio Health Care Association, which represents nursing homes in the state, echoed a refrain often used by the industry to explain closures and get more funding from the state: Medicaid reimbursement rates are too low and it is too hard to find staff.
	Plasma of people with COVID-19 found not to alter the protective brain barrier It is now well documented that the coronavirus outbreak triggered a global health crisis. In this study, researchers wanted to know whether blood-brain barrier impairment contributed to the development of neurological problems during COVID-19 progression and to what extent.
	Researchers: Reducing nicotine in tobacco would help people quit—without prohibiting cigarettes Supporters of the new government's plan to repeal Aotearoa New Zealand's smokefree legislation have claimed victory against "prohibition".
	New PET/CT technique accurately diagnoses adrenal gland disorder, informs personalized treatment plans A novel imaging approach, 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT, has been shown to accurately identify sub-types of primary aldosteronism (an adrenal gland disorder), outperforming traditional methods for diagnosis. Reported in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, this detailed imaging technique provides a clearer picture of the adrenal glands, helping doctors decide more confidently whether surgery is the right option for patients.
	Unraveling the genetic puzzle of Alzheimer's disease As Australia's population ages, we're hearing a growing number of stories about complex diseases with cognitive and behavioral effects.

Other Sciences news

	Shiyu discovery reveals East Asia's advanced material culture dating to 45,000 years ago A team of researchers from China, Australia, France, Spain, and Germany has revealed advanced material culture in East Asia dating to 45,000 years ago. The new study is published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
	Sea level rises could cost EU and UK economies up to 872 billion euros by 2100, study suggests Damage caused by sea level rises could cost the EU and UK economies up to 872 billion euros in total by the end of the century, according to a modeling study published in Scientific Reports.
	Analysis of chewed birch tar reveals poor Mesolithic oral health Members of a hunter-gatherer group that lived in south-western Scandinavia during the Mesolithic era—approximately 10,000 years ago—may have been affected by tooth decay and gum disease, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
	Despite intensive scientific analyses, this centaur head remains a mystery At the National Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark, there is a marble head that was once part of the ancient Greek Parthenon temple on the Acropolis in Athens. The head originally belonged to a centaur figure and was part of a scene depicting the Greek mythological Lapiths' battle against the centaurs (mythical creatures that were half-horse, half-human).
	Fewer than 1% of schools in England have full policies on second languages, language learning and English A tiny fraction of schools in England—about three in every 500—have whole-school policies that address foreign languages, English usage, and integrating students who speak English as an additional language (EAL), new research published in the British Educational Research Journal indicates.
	China's population shrinks again and could more than halve—here's what that means China's population has shrunk for the second year in a row.
	Students do better and schools are more stable when teachers get mental health support When it comes to mental health at school, typically the focus is on helping students, especially as they emerge from the pandemic with heightened levels of anxiety, stress and emotional need. But as school officials seek to put resources toward student well-being, another school population is possibly being overlooked: teachers.
	Education and understanding is vital when tackling rising reports of harmful sexual behavior by children An analysis of data from 42 police forces across England and Wales has found that over half of the 106,984 child sexual abuse cases in 2022 involved reported offenses by young people aged between ten and 17. This is a rise of 7.6% from 2021.
	New paper suggests how universities can regain control of education from AI Universities around the world can preserve academic integrity from the threat of artificial intelligence (AI) by resisting corporate pressure and prioritizing ethics, according to a new paper by researchers from Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Babeş-Bolyai University in Romania.
	Some people who share fake news on social media actually think they're helping the world, say researchers Misinformation is the number one risk facing society over the next two years, according to the World Economic Forum. With key elections due in the US, UK, and many other nations this year, an onslaught of political misinformation can be expected.
	'News finds me' mindset may lead readers away from political, science news Many adults in the United States do not actively follow traditional TV, print or online news outlets, because they believe the information will find them via social media or their social networks. One in three adults in the United States hold this "news finds me" (NFM) mentality, which could lead to less political knowledge, less interest in politics and greater political cynicism, according to Penn State researchers.
	How AI can boost service for vulnerable customers Artificial intelligence has become the Swiss Army knife of the business world, a universal tool for increasing sales, optimizing efficiency, and interacting with customers. But new research from Texas McCombs explores another purpose for AI in business: to contribute to the social good.
	New research promotes a business paradigm shift that emphasizes people, not just profit New research from Virginia Commonwealth University fundamentally challenges the paradigm that business organizations should promote profit above all else.
	Researchers find that online reviews are compromised with transparent filter policies When you try a new restaurant or book a hotel, do you consider the online reviews? Do you submit online reviews yourself? Do you pay attention if they are filtered and moderated? Does that impact your own online review submissions?
	Q&A: Does homework still have value? An education expert weighs in The necessity of homework has been a subject of debate since at least as far back as the 1890s, according to Joyce L. Epstein, co-director of the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University. "It's always been the case that parents, kids—and sometimes teachers, too—wonder if this is just busy work," Epstein says.
	Compelling unemployed people to widen their job search is often counterproductive, researcher finds Unemployed people often need not only a financial safety net but also a stimulus to look for work. Ph.D. candidate Heike Vethaak researched the effects of incentives used by benefit agencies, such as compelling people to widen their job search. And what happens when the application process is unintentionally long? "The effects are often contradictory."
	Connecting researchers and legislators can lead to policies that reflect scientific evidence Like most kids of the 1990s, I attended a school that used the original DARE program as a cornerstone initiative in the war on drugs. Congressional funding for this Drug Abuse Resistance Education program surged to over US$10 million per year by 2002, despite studies published in the prior decade demonstrating the original program was ineffective at preventing substance use. Following mounting political pressure and declining government investments, the DARE program was retooled.
	What are the principles of civilian immunity in war? A scholar of justice in war explains About 1 in 100 Gazans have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health's Jan. 8, 2024, update. More than 24,000 people have died, an average of 250 each day. The Israel Defense Forces' own figures acknowledge that two-thirds of those killed are civilians.
	Why Colombia sees legalizing drugs as the way forward—here's what's being proposed Another drug war has begun in Latin America. The newly elected president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa, has declared a state of emergency and the military is being used to tackle violence and drug trafficking in a country that is part of the transnational cocaine smuggling trade.
	Anonymization for equity and diversity in Australian research A multi-year study, published as a preprint article led by the office of Australia's Women in STEM Ambassador investigated the impact of anonymization (removing identifying names and other information) on applications for access to research facilities in Australia. The results provide crucial insights that have the potential to reshape the landscape of equity and diversity in the research sector.
	Rising inequality slows as more women in lower-income groups join the labor force, analysis finds Behind the relatively stable income inequality in the Netherlands, big changes have been happening. Income inequality has increased over the past 40 years, but less sharply because women in lower income groups have begun working more.

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