Science X Newsletter Tue, Jan 9

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 9, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A robot that can play video games with humans

Study gathers new insight about the evolutionary origin of vertebrate jaws

Light-emitting textiles for diverse flexible and wearable displays

Gliese 367 b is a dark and hot sub-Earth with no atmosphere, study finds

Quantum energy exchange: Exploring light fields and a quantum emitter

Scientists examine how friction forces propel development in a marine organism

Study finds Spanish butterflies are better at regulating their body temperature than their British cousins

Vaccine demonstrates potential in delaying relapse of KRAS-mutated pancreatic and colorectal cancers

Different biological variants discovered in Alzheimer's disease

Researchers engineer skin bacteria that are able to secrete and produce molecules that treat acne

How fruit bats evolved to consume so much sugar may have implications for diabetes research

Fastest swimming insect could inspire uncrewed boat designs

Dark energy discovery a decade in the making: New supernova insights offer clues to the expansion of the universe

'Blob-like' home of farthest-known fast radio burst is collection of seven galaxies, researchers find

Researchers find Zika virus is effective when used to treat a type of childhood cancer in mice

Nanotechnology news

	How black silicon, a prized material used in solar cells, gets its dark, rough edge Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have developed a new theoretical model explaining one way to make black silicon, an important material used in solar cells, light sensors, antibacterial surfaces and many other applications.
	Creating novel amino acid nanoparticles with enhanced anticancer activity Amino acids, such as tyrosine and tryptophan, are the fundamental building blocks that make up proteins. These biomolecules have different chemical groups on each end and side chain, and so, have the natural ability to form a chain through the formation of an amide (peptide) bond. However, such linkages are weak and easily degraded under physiological conditions. This is where the Fmoc-protected amino acids come into the picture.
	Fighting superbugs with medical nanomachines Instruments smaller than a human hair are being designed to eradicate antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fight cancer.
	Precision coating boosts nanomedicine A study published in the International Journal of Nanotechnology has looked at the controlled synthesis and coating of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), specifically using oleic acid (OA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG). These two well-studied polymers can be used in a co-precipitation approach to produce MNPs, which can be coated with different ratios of the two polymers to give different nanoparticle characteristics.

Physics news

	Quantum energy exchange: Exploring light fields and a quantum emitter A new study in Physical Review Letters illuminates the intricacies of energy exchanges within bipartite quantum systems, offering profound insights into quantum coherence, pure dephasing effects, and the potential impact on future quantum technologies.
	Study examines aerodynamic performance of nylon shuttlecocks Badminton traces its roots back more than a millennium, but the modern version of the racket game originated in the late 19th century in England. Today, it is the second most popular sport in the world behind soccer, with an estimated 220 million people who enjoy playing. For the last three decades, badminton has been a competitive Olympic sport, and with "bird" speeds topping 300 mph in "smash" shots, it certainly makes for an exciting spectator sport.
	Perovskite LEDs, a thousand times brighter than OLEDs Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have revolutionized modern lighting and sensing technology. From applications in our homes to industry, LEDs are used for all lighting applications, from indoor lighting over TV screens to biomedicine. Widely used organic LEDs (OLEDs) today, for example in smartphone screens, employ organic thin-film materials as a semiconductor. However, their maximum brightness remains limited; just think of trying to read your smartphone screen on a very sunny day.
	Shape of water jet found to influence sound of impact on still water A trio of mechanical engineers at Seoul National University has found that the shape of a water jet dropped into a glass of water is the determining factor in the noise that results. In their paper published in the journal Physical Review Fluids, Mouad Boudina, Joonoh Kim and Ho-Young Kim describe experiments they conducted with a falling water stream colliding with still water.
	Process for the optical analysis of trace gases optimized Laser-based absorption spectroscopy is an important method for determining the concentration of gas components in a sample. Modern devices are highly specialized for detecting very specific gases, such as trace gases in the atmosphere, in combustion exhaust fumes and in technical applications of plasmas.
	Quantum Cheshire cat study finds particles can't separate from their properties after all The quantum Cheshire cat effect draws its name from the fictional Cheshire Cat in the Alice in Wonderland story. That cat was able to disappear, leaving only its grin behind.
	New study uses machine learning to bridge the reality gap in quantum devices A study led by the University of Oxford has used the power of machine learning to overcome a key challenge affecting quantum devices. For the first time, the findings reveal a way to close the "reality gap": the difference between predicted and observed behavior from quantum devices. The results have been published in Physical Review X.
	Unveiling the future of photonics: Hydrogel innovations pave the way In a review published on 1 January 2024, in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering, researchers discuss hydrogels in photonics, highlighting their potential to revolutionize the field. The article emphasizes how hydrogels enable devices to adapt and respond to their environment, promising significant advances in technology and biomedicine.

Earth news

	Scientists outline a bold solution to climate change, biodiversity loss, social injustice An international team of scientists led by Oregon State University researchers has used a novel 500-year dataset to frame a "restorative" pathway through which humanity can avoid the worst ecological and social outcomes of climate change.
	Projections reveal the vulnerability of freshwater to climate change Climate and land use changes are causing significant alterations in global terrestrial water storage, impacting extreme weather events such as floods and droughts, a Griffith University-led study has found.
	Climate change likely to drive more floods in some parts of the US, fewer in others By breaking down flooding analysis into its main physical mechanisms, researchers at Princeton have projected that climate change will markedly impact river basin flooding across the United States during the 21st century.
	Hurricane waves hitting Americas grow 20% per decade: Study The U.S., Mexico and countries in the Caribbean are being battered by hurricane-induced ocean waves that have grown in areal size by 80% over the past 40 years, a new study has found.
	Deforestation in the Amazon may be decreasing the frequency of thunderstorms in South America For the first time, researchers from Tel Aviv University have determined that due to the ongoing deforestation in the Amazon basin in recent decades, the number of thunderstorms in the region has decreased significantly, and the area over which they occur has shrunk.
	Shape matters: Study finds microplastic fibers may travel as far as the stratosphere How far microplastics travel in the atmosphere depends crucially on particle shape, according to a recent study by scientists at the University of Vienna and the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization in Göttingen. Although spherical particles settle quickly, microplastic fibers might travel as far as the stratosphere.
	Uncertainty abounds in seeding the sky to fight climate change, says study As greenhouse gas levels increase in Earth's atmosphere, scientists are considering ways to temporarily limit rising temperatures. One idea is to inject aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect incoming sunlight, thereby reducing global warming and its associated risks.
	Earth shattered global heat record in '23 and it's flirting with warming limit, European agency says Earth last year shattered global annual heat records, flirted with the world's agreed-upon warming threshold and showed more signs of a feverish planet, the European climate agency said Tuesday.
	Meat and dairy industry's attempt to change how we measure methane emissions would let polluters off the hook Lobbyists from major polluting industries were out in force at the recent UN climate summit, COP28. Groups representing the livestock industry, which is responsible for around 32% of global methane emissions, want to increase their use of a new way of measuring these emissions that lets high polluters evade their responsibility to make big emissions cuts.
	'Cli-fi' might not save the world, but writing it could help with your eco-anxiety The consequences of climate change weigh on all of us, especially as we face an El Niño summer, with floods and fires already making themselves felt in the Australian environment.
	Innovating wastewater treatment: A leap from experience to intelligence In a recent study published online 18 December 2023 in the journal Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, scientists from Peking University introduced a Global WWTP Microbiome-based Integrative Information Platform to address the escalating complexities of pollutants and inadequacies in traditional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).
	Norway greenlights deep-sea mining exploration Norway's parliament on Tuesday adopted a government plan to open up parts of its seabed to mining exploration, despite protests from activists and scientists' warnings about the uncertain environmental impact.
	Why we need to know more about individual carbon footprints Most countries, including Switzerland, record their greenhouse gas emissions by source and sector. In absolute terms, Swiss greenhouse gases make up less than 1% of global emissions. With an average of 12 metric tons of CO2 equivalents per capita per year, however, the Swiss are polluting the climate about twice as much as the average person globally if we take into account the emissions of our imported goods. This average value is useful for international comparisons, but it ignores differences between individuals or groups of people within Switzerland.
	Analyzing the extreme drought in eastern China in 2022 and its future risk Eastern China was hit by an extreme drought in summer 2022 that caused severe economic and agricultural damage. The event has attracted a great deal of attention not only because of its severe intensity and huge social impacts but also because it is yet another example within the hot topic of the influence of anthropogenic forcing-induced warming on drought extremes and how they might change under different scenarios of continued warming in the future.

Astronomy and Space news

	Gliese 367 b is a dark and hot sub-Earth with no atmosphere, study finds Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have investigated a nearby sub-Earth exoplanet known as Gliese 367 b. The obtained results indicate that this alien world is dark, hot and lacks a detectable atmosphere. The new findings were published January 2 on the pre-print server arXiv.
	Dark energy discovery a decade in the making: New supernova insights offer clues to the expansion of the universe Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology have contributed to a landmark study that complicates our understanding of the universe.
	'Blob-like' home of farthest-known fast radio burst is collection of seven galaxies, researchers find In summer 2022, astronomers detected the most powerful fast radio burst (FRB) ever observed. And coming from a location that dates halfway back to the Big Bang, it also was the farthest known FRB spotted to date.
	New study suggests some forms of life could exist in Venus's sulfuric acid clouds A team of chemists and planetary scientists from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Nanoplanet Consulting and MIT has found evidence that a form of life that uses sulfuric acid as a liquid medium could exist in some of the clouds covering Venus. The team has published their paper on the arXiv preprint server.
	NASA telescopes chase down 'Green Monster' in star's debris By bringing together data from two NASA telescopes, astronomers may have solved a mystery around a bizarre structure found in the debris field of an exploded star. Their work has uncovered new details about the star's remains, and about the explosion itself.
	A Jupiter-sized planet has been hiding a big secret: A 350,000-mile-long tail WASP-69b is having a hot girl summer that never ends. The huge gaseous exoplanet, roughly the size of Jupiter and approximately 160 light years from Earth, orbits its searing host star so closely that its atmosphere is boiling away at a rate of 200,000 tons per second.
	Meteorite analysis shows Earth's building blocks contained water When our sun was a young star, 4.56 billion years ago, what is now our solar system was just a disk of rocky dust and gas. Over tens of millions of years, tiny dust pebbles coalesced, like a snowball rolling larger and larger, to become kilometer-sized "planetesimals"—the building blocks of Earth and the other inner planets.
	Secrets of a hot Saturn and its spotted star unlocked A team of astronomers including McGill Professor Nicolas Cowan has unraveled the enigmatic atmosphere of the exoplanet HAT-P-18 b, shedding light on its intriguing blend of gases, clouds, and even the effects of its star's activity
	New research on microbes expands the known limits for life on Earth and beyond New research led by Stanford University scientists predicts life can persist in extremely salty environments, beyond the limit previously thought possible.
	Study of wide binary stars reveals new evidence for modified gravity at low acceleration A new study published in The Astrophysical Journal reveals new evidence for standard gravity breaking down in an idiosyncratic manner at low acceleration. This new study reinforces the evidence for modified gravity that was previously reported in 2023 from an analysis of the orbital motions of gravitationally bound, widely separated (or long-period) binary stars, known as wide binaries.
	More delays for NASA's astronaut moonshots, with crew landing off until 2026 Astronauts will have to wait until next year before flying to the moon and another few years before landing on it, under the latest round of delays announced by NASA on Tuesday.
	Fuel leak forces US company to abandon moon landing attempt A crippling fuel leak forced a U.S. company on Tuesday to give up on landing a spacecraft on the moon.
	Unexpectedly massive black holes dominate small galaxies in the distant universe Astronomers have discovered that the supermassive black holes in the centers of early galaxies are much more massive than expected. These surprisingly hefty black holes offer new insights into the origins of all supermassive black holes, as well as the earliest stages of their host galaxy's lives.
	Nube, the almost invisible galaxy that challenges the dark matter model Nube is an almost invisible dwarf galaxy discovered by an international research team led by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in collaboration with the University of La Laguna (ULL) and other institutions.
	Centaurs gain comet-like characteristics through close encounters with Jupiter, Saturn A rapid reshaping of orbits resulting from a close encounter with Jupiter or Saturn can lead Centaurs to exhibit comet-like activity, according to a Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist Eva Lilly paper.
	Moon landing attempt by US company appears doomed after 'critical' fuel leak The first U.S. moon landing attempt in more than 50 years appeared to be doomed after a private company's spacecraft developed a "critical" fuel leak just hours after Monday's launch.
	China says successfully launched satellite China successfully launched a satellite into space on Tuesday, state broadcaster CCTV said.
	Questions about NASA's Mars Sample Return mission put JPL jobs in jeopardy The Jet Propulsion Laboratory laid off 100 contractors last week and will scale back part of the first-ever effort to bring pieces of Mars to Earth, after a cost-cutting order from NASA that lawmakers called "short-sighted and misguided."
	NASA expected to push back moon missions NASA is holding a briefing Tuesday in which it is widely expected to push back the timeline for the Artemis missions to return astronauts to the moon, amid delays to the delivery of key components by contractors.
	Dark energy is one of the biggest puzzles in science and we're now a step closer to understanding it Over ten years ago, the Dark Energy Survey (DES) began mapping the universe to find evidence that could help us understand the nature of the mysterious phenomenon known as dark energy. I'm one of more than 100 contributing scientists that have helped produce the final DES measurement, which has just been released at the 243rd American Astronomical Society meeting in New Orleans.
	NASA selects bold proposal to 'swarm' Proxima Centauri with tiny probes Humans have dreamed about traveling to other star systems and setting foot on alien worlds for generations. To put it mildly, interstellar exploration is a very daunting task. As we explored in a previous post, it would take between 1000 and 81,000 years for a spacecraft to reach Alpha Centauri using conventional propulsion (or those that are feasible using current technology). On top of that, there are numerous risks when traveling through the interstellar medium (ISM), not all of which are well-understood.
	Can alien civilizations detect humanity? One of the fascinating things about being a human in this age is that we can do more than wonder about other life and other civilizations. We can actually look for them, although there are obvious limitations to our search. But what's equally fascinating is that we can wonder if others can see us.
	Einstein Probe lifts off on a mission to monitor the X-ray sky The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) spacecraft Einstein Probe lifted off on a Chang Zheng (Long March) 2C rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China at 15:03 CST / 07:03 GMT / 08:03 CET on 9 January 2024. With the successful launch, Einstein Probe began its mission to survey the sky and hunt for bursts of X-ray light from mysterious objects such as neutron stars and black holes.

Technology news

	A robot that can play video games with humans In recent years, engineers have developed a wide range of robotic systems that could soon assist humans with various everyday tasks. Rather than assisting with chores or other manual jobs, some of these robots could merely act as companions, helping older adults or individuals with different disabilities to practice skills that typically entail interacting with another human.
	Light-emitting textiles for diverse flexible and wearable displays Textile research has highlighted the advances in electroluminescent threads as suitable biomaterials for driving growth in the wearable electronics market. While the direct embroidery of textiles with custom designs and patterns can offer substantial benefits, machine embroidery can challenge the integrity of these threads.
	First battery prototype using hemoglobin developed A team with the Chemical Institute for Energy and the Environment (IQUEMA) at the University of Cordoba has come up with a battery that uses hemoglobin as an electrochemical reaction facilitator, functioning for around 20–30 days.
	Future gigantic solar farms might impact how much solar power can be generated elsewhere in the world The sun's energy is effectively limitless. While resources such as coal or gas are finite, if you are able to capture and use solar power it doesn't prevent anyone else from also using as much sunshine as they need.
	Engineers create a zwitterionic hydrogel system to swiftly eliminate micropollutants from water "Zwitterionic" might not be a word you come across every day, but for Professor Patrick Doyle of the MIT Department of Chemical Engineering, it's a word that's central to the technology his group is developing to remove micropollutants from water. Derived from the German word "zwitter," meaning "hybrid," "zwitterionic" molecules are those with an equal number of positive and negative charges.
	Green ammonia could decarbonize 60% of global shipping when offered at just 10 regional fuel ports A new study published in Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability has found that green ammonia could be used to fulfill the fuel demands of over 60% of global shipping by targeting just the top 10 regional fuel ports. Researchers at the University of Oxford looked at the production costs of ammonia, which are similar to those of very low sulfur fuels, and concluded that the fuel could be a viable option to help decarbonize international shipping by 2050.
	CES 2024 updates: The most interesting news and gadgets from tech's big show CES 2024 kicks off in Las Vegas this week. The multi-day trade event put on by the Consumer Technology Association is set to feature swaths of the latest advances and gadgets across personal tech, transportation, health care, sustainability and more—with burgeoning uses of artificial intelligence almost everywhere you look.
	CES gadget fest a showcase for AI-infused lifestyle From self-driving baby carriages to ChatGPT in Volkswagen cars, artificial intelligence is expected to be center stage at the CES gadget extravaganza that formally opens Tuesday in Las Vegas.
	At CES, tech knows if you're sick and rocks babies CES, the annual high tech gadget extravaganza in Las Vegas, again delivers its wave of new inventions and cutting edge technology with artificial intelligence this year's unavoidable buzzword.
	EU examines Microsoft investment in OpenAI The EU, racing to regulate the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence, said Tuesday it has started a preliminary study of Microsoft's multi-billion-dollar investment in ChatGPT developer OpenAI to see if it could be a disguised merger.
	GE business to fill order for turbines to power Western Hemisphere's largest wind project A business to be spun off by General Electric will build hundreds of turbines for what will be the largest wind project in the Western Hemisphere, part of a massive equipment order and long-term service agreement with the global renewable-energy giant Pattern Energy.
	New rule tightens worker classification standards; Uber, Lyft say their drivers won't be affected The Biden administration enacted a new labor rule Tuesday that aims to prevent the misclassification of workers as "independent contractors," a step that could bolster both legal protections and compensation for millions in the U.S. workforce.
	TikTok restricts tool used by researchers—and its critics—to assess content on its platform TikTok has restricted one tool researchers use to analyze popular videos, a move that follows a barrage of criticism directed at the social media platform about content related to the Israel-Hamas war and a study that questioned whether the company was suppressing topics that don't align with the interests of the Chinese government.
	LG and Samsung making TVs disappear—in a way After years spent dominating living rooms, big flat-screen televisions could start getting out of the way of the decor.
	Honda unveils futuristic EV designs to hit US market in 2026 Honda unveiled Tuesday a new electric vehicle series to launch commercially in 2026, revealing a futuristic concept car at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
	At CES, beauty products pamper with AI Salon-worthy manicures at home and expert skin care advice from artificial intelligence: the beauty industry is counting on tech to get consumers pampered like the rich and famous.
	Unique framework of tin bimetal organic compound facilitates stable lithium-ion storage Battery capacity is one of the primary bottlenecks in efficient renewable energy storage and significant reductions in carbon emissions. As a battery anode that releases electrons in a lithium-ion battery (LIB), tin (Sn) and Sn-mixture alloys could theoretically store more energy at a higher density than more common carbon-based anodes.
	Meta toughens content curbs for teens on Instagram, Facebook Meta on Tuesday said it was tightening up content restrictions for teens on Instagram and Facebook as it faces increased scrutiny that its platforms are harmful for young people.
	Researchers are developing AI to make the internet more accessible In an effort to make the internet more accessible for people with disabilities, researchers at The Ohio State University have begun developing an artificial intelligence agent that could complete complex tasks on any website using simple language commands.
	Nanowire contacts push the boundaries for high-performance electronics Space comes at a premium on electronic chips: Powerful electronics need more and more connections, crammed into smaller and smaller spaces. Established technologies are reaching the limits of what is physically possible. Now, researchers at Fraunhofer IZM-ASSID have teamed up with other partners to level up a connection technology patented by NanoWired GmbH that uses wires at a nanometer scale. The team demonstrated how the novel technology could be used in the industrial production of 300 mm wafers.
	Report highlights a range of emerging photovoltaic technologies Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy is emerging as a significant contributor to global sustainable energy production. Inspired by the continued technological progress of PV, and motivated by the challenges ahead, the Journal of Photonics for Energy (JPE) recently published a status report on emerging photovoltaics written by a community of 41 experts from across the globe.
	ChatGPT poem regurgitation raises ethical questions Ask ChatGPT to find a well-known poem and it will probably regurgitate the entire text verbatim—regardless of copyright law—according to a new study by Cornell researchers.
	Network combines 3D LiDAR and 2D image data to enable more robust detection of small objects Robotics and autonomous vehicles are among the most rapidly growing domains in the technological landscape, potentially making work and transportation safer and more efficient. Since both robots and self-driving cars need to perceive their surroundings accurately, 3D object detection methods are an active study area.
	Green wheels, bright skies: New analysis unveils the connection between electric vehicles and photovoltaics People who own electric vehicles (EVs) are more likely to go a step further and add solar panels to their home, according to an analysis of a behavioral study by researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Conversely, the impact of owning solar panels also has a bearing on whether a homeowner buys an electric vehicle but not as strongly.
	Researchers develop optimal design method for microwave power transmission A team of researchers from Xidian University in China has achieved a new result in the field of microwave power transmission. Their study, published in Engineering, introduces an optimal design method for antenna aperture illumination with an annular collection area, with the goal of maximizing the power radiated on the collection area.
	Airlines say they found loose parts in door panels during inspections of Boeing Max 9 jets Federal investigators say a door panel slid up before flying off an Alaska Airlines jetliner last week, and they are looking at whether four bolts that were supposed to help hold the panel in place might have been missing when the plane took off.
	A look at recent crashes and safety problems involving Boeing planes The blowout of part of the fuselage on a Boeing 737 Max flying over Oregon is the latest in a string of safety problems—including two devastating crashes—for the aerospace giant.
	US retail mortgage lender loanDepot struggles with cyberattack The U.S. retail mortgage lender loanDepot is struggling to recover from a cyberattack that impacted its loan processing and phone service.
	Indonesia temporarily grounds Boeing 737-9 Max jetliners after Alaska Airlines incident Indonesia has temporarily grounded three Boeing 737-9 Max jetliners, following an incident last week in which an Alaska Airlines plane suffered a blowout that left a gaping hole in the side of the fuselage.
	France drops renewables targets in new energy bill Critics are deriding as a step backward a new French energy bill that favors the further development of nuclear power and avoids setting targets for solar and wind power and other renewables.
	Fake Facebook ads hit Minnesota clothing business, scam hundreds Daryl Vallad thought he was getting a great deal on an ice fishing flotation suit for $60 rather than the usual $300.
	As Australia's net zero transition threatens to stall, rooftop solar could help provide the power we need Australia is not rolling out clean energy projects nearly fast enough to reach the Australian government's target of 82% renewable electricity by 2030. A huge build of solar and wind farms, transmission lines and big batteries is needed. But progress is challenged by the scale required, community resistance to new infrastructure and connecting all that new renewable electricity to the grid.
	South Africa's new plan to end power cuts is seriously flawed South Africa experienced unprecedented electricity shortages in 2023 as aging coal plants became increasingly prone to breakdowns. The country urgently needs to develop new electricity generation facilities and reduce reliance on coal power.
	Neighbors can save money by suspending car charging for 30 seconds, Norwegian researchers say A lot is happening these days in the Norwegian electricity grid. The Nordic countries are experiencing increasing levels of variability in electricity generation from new wind and solar power plants, combined with decreasing production from plants fueled by fossil coal and gas.
	Tech helps beauty 'dreams' come true, says L'Oreal Technology, in particular artificial intelligence, is making it possible to fulfill beauty wishes like never before, Guive Balooch, global vice president of L'Oreal's Tech Incubator, told AFP.
	Improving soil health with aeration curing for sludge management The construction industry is recognized for its high resource consumption and large waste generation. Among the waste products generated are construction-generated sludge (CGS) and construction-generated surplus soil (CGSS). These can be used for various applications such as backfilling, creating environmentally friendly building materials like bricks, and soil stabilization.

Chemistry news

	A chemical reaction key to various industries just got greener From alleviating your allergy symptoms to optimizing herbicide performance, alkylamines are molecules that have many uses. Unfortunately, common methods of producing alkylamines result in harmful waste byproducts. A method of synthesizing alkylamines in a sustainable yet cost-effective way has thus been highly sought after.
	Transmitting a domino reaction using redox chemistry achieved for the first time Domino reactions occur when the transformation of one chemical group stimulates the reaction of another attached group, or another molecule, leading to a rapid knock-on effect through the system like a row of falling dominoes. Researchers at Hokkaido University have now achieved the first example of a domino reaction in the branch of chemistry called redox chemistry.
	Researchers discover how atmospheric feldspar dust contributes to cloud formation Feldspar is a ubiquitous mineral and makes up about half of the Earth's crust. In the Earth's atmosphere, feldspars play a surprisingly important role. Fine powder carried by air influences cloud formation. Water molecules adhere better to feldspar dust than to other particles. Tiny feldspar grains, floating in the atmosphere, thus become excellent nucleation seeds, where water molecules stick and freeze, eventually forming a cloud.
	Looking at the sides of molecules: Lateral force microscopy reveals previously unseen hydrogen atoms Researchers at the University of Regensburg and the Graz University of Technology have shown that hydrogen atoms at the sides of molecules lying on a surface can directly be seen. The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, describes that by looking beside the molecules, the position and presence of the previously-hidden hydrogen atoms could be revealed.
	Chemists develop new approach to inserting single carbon atoms into rings Molecules with a central ring system play an important role in the search for active ingredients for new pharmaceutical products—and it is important that the rings should have the correct size if the desired product is to be manufactured as efficiently as possible.
	Novel chemical recycling system for vinyl polymers of cyclic styrene derivatives Chemical recycling of widely used vinyl polymers (VPs) is one of the key technologies required for realizing a sustainable society. In this regard, a team of researchers from Shinshu University have recently reported a new chemical process that facilitates the depolymerization of cyclic styrene-based VPs, resulting in the recovery of a monomer precursor.
	Researchers discover eco-friendly fungicide alternative A material that could replace current fungicides (i.e., anti-fungal pesticides), increase food security, and help protect wildlife has been discovered.
	Researchers develop a new approach to amides from alkene and amine feedstocks A team at UNC-Chapel Hill has developed a new process for synthesizing amides in a 100% atom-economical, sustainable fashion using Earth-abundant, environmentally friendly cobalt.
	Exploring developments and challenges in electrochemical nitrate reduction for ammonia synthesis Ammonia is a necessary feedstock to produce nitrogen-based fertilizers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and polymers. To date, about 80% of global ammonia is used to produce nitrogen-based fertilizers which relates to 50% of global food production.
	Breakthrough in nonoxidative coupling of methane: Direct conversion to propylene in low temperature Nonoxidative coupling of methane (NOCM) exhibits promising prospect in that it affords value-added hydrocarbons and hydrogen with high atom economy. However, the challenge remains in methane's direct, selective conversion to more valuable hydrocarbons like olefins.
	Uncovering self-recoverable NIR mechanoluminescence from Cr³⁺ doped perovskite type aluminate Mechanoluminescence (ML) located within the near infrared (NIR) spectral range may hold promising applications in in-situ and real-time biomechanical imaging. This is due to the better spatial resolution and penetration depth of the biological tissues, lower optical loss, and the avoidance of autofluorescence.

Biology news

	Study gathers new insight about the evolutionary origin of vertebrate jaws Jaws are bone- or cartilage-based structures that hold together teeth in the mouth of most vertebrates (i.e., all animal species with a backbone or spinal column). While these crucial structures have been the focus of numerous studies, their evolutionary origin and their development over centuries and across species is yet to be fully elucidated.
	Scientists examine how friction forces propel development in a marine organism As the potter works the spinning wheel, the friction between their hands and the soft clay helps them shape it into all kinds of forms and creations. In a fascinating parallel, sea squirt oocytes (immature egg cells) harness friction within various compartments in their interior to undergo developmental changes after conception. A study from the Heisenberg group at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), published in Nature Physics, now describes how this works.
	Study finds Spanish butterflies are better at regulating their body temperature than their British cousins Butterfly populations in Catalonia in northern Spain are better than their UK counterparts at regulating their body temperature by basking in the sunshine, but rising global temperatures due to climate change may put Spanish butterflies at greater risk of extinction.
	Researchers engineer skin bacteria that are able to secrete and produce molecules that treat acne International research led by the Translational Synthetic Biology Laboratory of the Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS) at Pompeu Fabra University has succeeded in efficiently engineering Cutibacterium acnes, a type of skin bacterium, to produce and secrete a therapeutic molecule suitable for treating acne symptoms.
	How fruit bats evolved to consume so much sugar may have implications for diabetes research A high-sugar diet is bad news for humans, leading to diabetes, obesity and even cancer. Yet fruit bats survive and even thrive by eating up to twice their body weight in sugary fruit every day.
	Fastest swimming insect could inspire uncrewed boat designs Whirligig beetles, the world's fastest-swimming insect, achieve surprising speeds by employing a strategy shared by speedy marine mammals and waterfowl, according to a new Cornell University study that rewrites previous explanations of the physics involved.
	Resilience in the depths: Silky shark regenerates wounded dorsal fin A skin resembling armor, rapid healing abilities, continuous tooth renewal and the capability for limb regeneration—this might sound like the description of a creature from a superhero film. Surprisingly, these are standard features of a well-known animal: sharks.
	Shadows and greenness: Uncovering satellite biases in viewing Earth's vegetation For decades, scientists have used satellite data to assess the health and greenness of Earth's vegetation. These data have influenced our understanding and decision-making on pressing issues from sustainable crop production to climate change.
	Decline of Tasmanian devil could be causing genetic changes in spotted-tailed quoll, study finds An international team of evolutionary biologists and natural scientists has found that the population decline of the Tasmanian devil is likely leading to genetic changes in another local predator—the spotted-tailed quoll. In their study, reported in Nature Ecology & Evolution, the group collected quoll tissue samples and conducted a genetic analysis and comparison of quolls over 15 generations to learn more about their evolutionary history during the time the devils have been in decline. A Research Briefing outlining the work has been published in the same journal issue.
	AI depicts 3D social interactions between animals Accurate quantification of multi-animal behavior plays a pivotal role in unraveling the intricacies of animal social interactions with far-reaching applications in neuroscience and ecology.
	Crop spray could lead to mass resistance in new-generation antifungal treatments An agricultural fungicide approved in the U.S. and currently under consideration by authorities worldwide could have a devastating effect on a new drug for one of world's deadliest infectious diseases, show University of Manchester scientists.
	Two new databases combine computer science and pharmaceutical research Modern pharmaceutical research generates large amounts of data faster than ever before. To analyze and evaluate this data, it is collected and structured in extensive databases and thus provides the basis for the development of new active ingredients.
	Study reveals genetic legacy of racial and gender hierarchies Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have revealed how sociocultural factors, in addition to geography, play a significant role in shaping the genetic diversity of modern societies. The research published in eLife employed deep learning to unravel the intricate patterns of ancestry-related sex bias and assortative mating, revealing how societal structures have shaped the genetic diversity of the Americas region.
	With only the pawprints, researchers study elusive bobcat One Sunday morning in February of 2021, Dave Duffy's kids told him they had just seen a bobcat through the window of their home near the University of Florida's Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience outside St. Augustine, Florida. They knew their dad would want to know because they had helped him countless times take samples of animal tracks in hopes of studying the creatures that left them.
	Large-scale mapping of pig genes could lead to greener agriculture, pave the way for new human medicines Researchers from Aarhus University have carried out complex genetic analyses of hundreds of pigs and humans to identify differences and similarities. This new knowledge can be used to ensure healthier pigs for farmers and can help the pharmaceutical industry breed better laboratory pigs for testing new medicines.
	Australian firm's proposal to build headlands, artificial reef in Oceanside gets nod A plan to build headlands and an artificial reef has been selected from three proposals by international design firms for a pilot project to restore and retain sand on Oceanside's eroded beaches.
	Elucidating the process of bile duct formation in the liver Bile ducts are pathways that carry hepatocyte-produced bile from the liver to the small intestine. In the human fetal liver, bile ducts are formed from bile duct epithelial cells surrounding the portal vein, and hepatocytes form on the outside. Both bile duct epithelial cells and hepatocytes are formed by the differentiation of common progenitor cells (hepatoblasts).
	When polar bears hunt snow geese, hunger justifies the means Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) take advantage of the winter to build up their fat reserves. Intensive hunting of seals, a resource rich in fat, allows bears to store up enough energy to get through the summer.
	How inter-annual climate variability affects seedling survival in temperate forests Two new studies by researchers from the Institute of Applied Ecology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have revealed the relative effects of interannual climate variability and density-dependent species interactions on seedling survival in temperate forests.
	Study reveals key molecular mechanisms involved in development of tomato plant In an article published in the journal Development, researchers at the University of São Paulo's Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture (ESALQ-USP) in Brazil describe mechanisms relating to the development of the tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum) and point to ways of creating novel technologies for tomato yield improvement.
	Q&A: Does noisy construction of offshore wind farms disturb marine animals? Offshore wind farms can be an energy boon, but does their noisy construction bother marine animals? UMD's Arthur N. Popper, who studies underwater sounds and their ecological impacts, weighs in.
	Unveiling hidden biodiversity underfoot: DNA barcoding of Taiwanese forest leaf litter beetles Forest leaf litter, often likened to terrestrial coral reefs, supports an astonishing variety of life. Among the myriad arthropods dwelling in this ecosystem, beetles emerge as the most common and speciose group. Despite their abundance, our understanding of leaf litter beetles remains limited due to the challenges posed by their sheer numbers, small sizes, and high local endemism.
	New Maui forest height research could impact water yields, fire risk and more A new 30-meter Maui Forest Height Map reveals that trees on the Valley Isle are taller than previously thought, challenging past assumptions about the island's forest elevation. The map developed by a University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa geography professor in the College of Social Sciences has implications that extend beyond cartography that could impact future environmental resource management in all areas, including Lahaina.
	Scientists collect eDNA samples in the extreme environment of the Arctic melting glaciers autonomously What if there was a way to collect environmental DNA (eDNA) samples in extreme environments autonomously? And what if this method allowed the collection of more samples and to prevent risk of sample contamination? Portuguese researchers from the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC) set out to carry out this endeavor in the remote Arctic and Atlantic North environments.
	Plant warfare: The crucial function of Nrc proteins in tomato defense mechanisms In the fascinating world of plant biology, a study recently featured on the cover of The Plant Journal has been turning heads. The research delves into the intricate defense mechanisms of tomatoes against the notorious bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst). It's a classic tale of nature's arms race: As pathogens evolve to outsmart plant defenses, plants counter with more sophisticated immune responses.
	Nine new snail species discovered in Papua New Guinea, a biodiversity hot spot at risk Nine new species of carnivorous land snails have been found in the remote forests of Papua New Guinea, a biodiversity hot spot. A new study describes the species, which are so small that all nine could fit together on a U.S. nickel.
	New findings reveal koalas' health risks following bushfires, will aid in future rescue efforts A new publication featured in Veterinary Sciences will guide future wildlife rescue and rehabilitation after Australian bushfires. These findings provide critical information for improving koala care during subsequent fire seasons.
	Colorado environmental groups file federal lawsuit to halt Rocky Flats trail Physicians for Social Responsibility and five Colorado advocacy groups are suing Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and four federal agencies to halt work on a trail through Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge.

Medicine and Health news

	Vaccine demonstrates potential in delaying relapse of KRAS-mutated pancreatic and colorectal cancers A vaccine has shown potential to prevent relapse of KRAS-mutated pancreatic and colorectal cancers for patients who had previously undergone surgery, according to a Phase I trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Results are published in Nature Medicine.
	Different biological variants discovered in Alzheimer's disease Dutch scientists have discovered five biological variants of Alzheimer's disease, which may require different treatments. As a result, previously tested drugs may incorrectly appear to be ineffective or only minimally effective. This is the conclusion of researcher Betty Tijms and colleagues from Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC and Maastricht University. Their study is published in Nature Aging.
	Researchers find Zika virus is effective when used to treat a type of childhood cancer in mice Injecting neuroblastoma tumors with Zika virus shrank or eliminated those tumors in studies with mice, suggesting that the virus could someday serve as an effective cancer therapy, according to a study led by Nemours Children's Health researchers and published in Cancer Research Communications.
	Vaccine boosts innate immunity in people with dormant immune cells, finds study Humans are protected by two branches of the immune system. Innate immunity provides built-in defense against widespread characteristics of bacteria and viruses, while adaptive immunity memorizes individual pathogens that a person has already encountered. Vaccines teach the adaptive immune system about new pathogens without having to go through an actual infection. This has greatly contributed to human health, but requires a specific vaccine for each major pathogen.
	Re-frame of mind: Do our brains have a built-in sense of grammar? For centuries, a prevailing theory in philosophy has asserted that at birth the human mind is a blank slate. More recently, the same notion has also held sway in the field of neurobiology, where it is commonly held that neural connections are slowly created from scratch with the accumulation of sensory information and experience.
	Severe multiple sclerosis predicted using machine learning A combination of only 11 proteins can predict long-term disability outcomes in multiple sclerosis (MS) for different individuals. The identified proteins could be used to tailor treatments to the individual based on the expected severity of the disease. The study, "Proteomics reveal biomarkers for diagnosis, disease activity and long-term disability outcomes in multiple sclerosis," led by researchers at Linköping University in Sweden, has been published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Building momentum toward neural prostheses It's estimated that 42 million people in the U.S. live with some form of movement disorder springing from a neurological issue, according to the National Institutes of Health, and that number is projected to rise further as life expectancy increases.
	Epigenetic therapy shows promise for endocrine-resistant breast cancer in mice Endocrine resistance—a major cause of breast cancer deaths—can be underpinned by an epigenetic change called DNA methylation, researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have discovered. The team successfully reversed this methylation to reduce cancer growth in patient-derived animal models.
	Improved cellular recycling could benefit patients with neurodegenerative conditions For the first time, a research team at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) has uncovered a way to potentially reduce the amount of toxic cellular waste accumulating in patients with Zellweger Spectrum Disorder (ZSD).
	Nitrous oxide effects are reversible with early treatment: Case study Nitrous oxide is readily accessible to those who want to use it recreationally for the high it can provide. With just a few clicks, it can easily be bought online. But despite its availability, using the drug—commonly referred to as "whippets" (or "whippits"), "laughing gas," or "hippie crack"—can have sobering consequences, including permanent, full, or partial paralysis.
	Researchers prevent myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury with oral fullerenes Myocardial infarction (MI) is a deadly disease. It can cause serious myocardial ischemic necrosis due to coronary occlusion. The most effective treatment for MI in clinic is reperfusion, e.g., interventional or thrombolytic therapy. However, reperfusion itself could induce more severe injury, called myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI).
	Researchers uncover blood flow regulation of brain pericyte development In a study published online in Cell Reports researchers create a zebrafish model for in vivo labeling of brain pericytes, and systematically explored the developmental dynamics of brain pericytes during the early embryonic stage.
	Researchers identify protein that increases the formation of good brown fat Brown fat cells convert energy into heat—a key to eliminating unwanted fat deposits. In addition, they also protect against cardiovascular diseases. Researchers from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Life & Health" at the University of Bonn have now identified the protein EPAC1 as a new pharmacological target to increase brown fat mass and activity.
	Study suggests key to antipsychotic-drug–induced obesity An increased concentration of the hormone leptin in fat cells is believed to be responsible for weight gain associated with antipsychotic drugs, according to research led by UT Southwestern Medical Center. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, used a mouse model to uncover the underlying mechanisms of unwanted metabolic side effects and to test an antibody that might reduce them.
	Using the body's own cells to treat traumatic brain injury Scientists have created a new treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI) that shrank brain lesions by 56% and significantly reduced local inflammation levels in pigs. The new approach leverages macrophages, a type of white blood cell that can dial inflammation up or down in the body in response to infection and injury.
	Engineering a more elegant deep brain stimulation therapy for Parkinson's A team of physicians, neuroscientists and engineers at Duke University has demonstrated two new strategies that use deep brain stimulation to improve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
	Research discovers innate immune cells are more adaptable than previously thought Natural killer (NK) cells, part of the innate immune system, can permanently remain in infected tissue and thus contribute to immunological memory, researchers at the University of Würzburg have discovered.
	Learning a second language strengthens neural connections in the language network, study shows Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig have unearthed fascinating evidence that the brain undergoes important changes in wiring when we embark on the journey of learning a new language in adulthood. They organized a large intensive German learning program for Syrian refugees and studied their brains using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), uncovering dynamic modulations in the wiring of crucial language regions that enabled them to communicate and think in the new language.
	PFAS may increase risk of disease in unborn children, new study suggests Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of synthetically produced chemicals used in a wide range of everyday products worldwide. They are often called "forever chemicals" since it takes a very long time for these substances to break down naturally and can remain in the bodies of humans and animals for many years.
	Mutations in spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 pirola variant found to augment infection of lung cells Despite the end of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to pose a serious health threat. Most individuals have established robust immune protection and do not develop severe disease but the infection can still lead to marked and sometimes long-lasting disease symptoms.
	Research better characterizes a rare form of leukemia on the molecular level Leukemia is a common term used to refer to a form of blood cancer. However, there are different types of leukemia depending on the cell type involved. One unique form is myeloid/natural killer (NK) cell precursor acute leukemia (MNKPL). Because of its rarity, no consensus exists on the specific clinical characteristics needed to identify this disease.
	A common marker of neurological diseases may play a role in healthy brains Researchers have discovered that a protein called phosphorylated α-synuclein, which is associated with several neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia, is also involved in the normal processes of how neurons communicate with each other in a healthy brain.
	Injectable hydrogel electrodes open door to a novel painless treatment regimen for arrhythmia A study sets the foundation of a ground-breaking treatment regimen for treating ventricular arrhythmia. The research, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates the design and feasibility of a new hydrogel-based pacing modality.
	Study finds clear link between autoimmune disease and perinatal depression Women with autoimmune disease are more likely to suffer from depression during pregnancy and after childbirth; conversely, women with a history of perinatal depression are at higher risk of developing autoimmune disease, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry reports.
	Measuring grass pollen allergens instead of grass pollen count could help hay fever sufferers Measuring airborne grass allergen levels instead of pollen counts will be more beneficial for hay fever sufferers, as new research shows grass allergen levels are more consistently associated with hay fever symptoms than grass pollen counts.
	Team develops app to help train the brain to overcome tinnitus An international research team has shown that the debilitating impact of tinnitus can be effectively reduced in just weeks by a training course and sound therapy delivered via a smartphone app.
	Scientists find about a quarter million invisible nanoplastic particles in a liter of bottled water The average liter of bottled water has nearly a quarter million invisible pieces of ever so tiny nanoplastics, detected and categorized for the first time by a microscope using dual lasers.
	Research group unveils the first individual risk prediction model for multiple myeloma A multicenter collaboration has produced the first computational model for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma that predicts an individual's personalized prognosis based on their tumor genomics and treatments. The collaboration was led by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
	New research shows mobile methadone units are most impactful in rural areas While mobile methadone units make a difference in expanding methadone use for patients with opioid addictions, they are likely to be most impactful in rural areas, according to new research.
	Women more resistant to anesthetic than men, finds study Sex hormones may contribute to increased anesthetic resistance in women compared with men, according to a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. General anesthetics exert their hypnotic effects partly by modulating the activity of hypothalamic circuits, which regulate sleep and wakefulness.
	Survey finds many US health care workers face harassment, burnout Health workers are experiencing ever-increasing levels of harassment and burnout in the wake of the pandemic, a new federal survey has found.
	American Red Cross issues urgent plea for blood donations The American Red Cross has declared a national blood shortage emergency as donations plummet to the lowest levels seen in 20 years.
	There's a new COVID-19 variant and cases are ticking up: What you need to know It's winter, that cozy season that brings crackling fireplaces, indoor gatherings—and a wave of respiratory illness. Nearly four years since the pandemic emerged, people are growing weary of dealing with it, but the virus is not done with us.
	Ozempic mania's billions in bills are coming for US taxpayers State and local governments across the US are grappling with a growing problem: Expensive drugs to treat diabetes and obesity are threatening to drain their health care budgets.
	Older Americans say they feel trapped in Medicare Advantage plans In 2016, Richard Timmins went to a free informational seminar to learn more about Medicare coverage.
	Photostimulation of lymphatic clearance of β-amyloid: A new strategy for Alzheimer's disease therapy Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition in the brain is a crucial contributor to the pathogenesis of AD, mitigating excessive cerebral Aβ burden has been considered as a possible therapeutic strategy for AD.
	Newly developed inhibitor shows potential for prostate cancer More than 65,000 men fall ill with prostate cancer each year in Germany. Of these, 12,000 develop a treatment-resistant form that eventually ends in death. Now, a team of researchers from the Medical Faculty at the University of Freiburg has developed an active substance that might represent a future treatment option.
	Examining molecular biomarkers to diagnose vascular cognitive impairment and dementia A recent study from UNSW Sydney's Center for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA) suggests that the research pace into understanding biomarkers for the diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia needs to be accelerated.
	How often should you wash your sheets and towels? Everyone seems to have a different opinion when it comes to how often towels and bed sheets should be washed. While many people might wonder whether days or weeks is best, in one survey from the United Kingdom, almost half of single men reported not washing their sheets for up to four months at a time.
	'We don't know what tomorrow will bring': How climate change is affecting Fijians' mental health It's unlikely any region of the world will escape the effects of climate change. These include increasing temperatures, more frequent and intense extreme weather events such as bushfires and floods, rising sea levels, and more.
	Why you shouldn't let guilt motivate you to exercise The hardest part of consistently exercising is finding the motivation to do it. But using the wrong type of motivation for your workouts could militate against you—and could even have consequences for your mental health.
	Physician survey shows lack of understanding of the FDA's approval process Many physicians are unfamiliar with how the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulates new drugs and medical devices, and they may be under the impression that the data supporting these approvals are more rigorous than they are, according to a national survey of physicians conducted by researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF).
	Study shows there are disparities in cancer research and advocacy funding A new Cleveland Clinic study shows there are disparities in cancer research and advocacy funding and that less funding strongly correlates with fewer clinical trials in a particular disease.
	Emotional well-being and subjective health are linked during adulthood, shows study A study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, showed that mood and life satisfaction are linked to people's experiences of their health. Emotional well-being was found to predict subjective health up to 11 years later. And vice versa, better health predicted life satisfaction later in life. The paper is published in the journal Psychology & Health.
	Researchers develop tool to identify dust lung disease risk A new dust testing methodology developed by University of Queensland researchers offers workers better protection from diseases such as black lung and silicosis. The research is published in the journal Minerals.
	Some believe the 1889 Russian flu pandemic was actually caused by a coronavirus—here's why that's unlikely COVID-19 was the first coronavirus pandemic. The original SARS virus from 2003 and the MERS virus that created a health emergency in South Korea in 2015 were both coronaviruses, but fortunately, they failed to turn into pandemics in the way that COVID did.
	Take laughter, add tears: The secret recipe for the most-liked Super Bowl ads Viewers gravitate toward Super Bowl commercials that incorporate both happiness and sadness, our 2023 study shows.
	What Taoism teaches about the body and being healthy New Year's resolutions often come with a renewed investment in making our bodies healthier. Many may take to the newest diet plan or sign up for a health club membership, but it is worth taking some time to consider what actually constitutes a healthy, happy body.
	Rabies is an ancient, unpredictable and potentially fatal disease—two rabies researchers explain how to protect yourself A feral kitten in Omaha, Nebraska, tested positive for rabies in November 2023. It died of the raccoon variant of the virus, which is typically found only in the Appalachian Mountains. Detecting this variant hundreds of miles away in the Midwest raised concerns about a potential outbreak and launched a public health task force to vaccinate all raccoons in the area.
	How to maintain a healthy gut microbiome in 2024 We all know by now that the pillars of a healthy lifestyle are regular exercise, eating enough fruit and vegetables, a good night's sleep and staying hydrated. All of these things also support the gut microbiome—all the microbes that live in your digestive system—but there are some extras to consider if you want to optimize your gut health.
	Microfragmented adipose tissue injection beneficial for knee OA For patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), microfragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) injection with arthroscopic surgery is associated with improved midterm clinical outcomes, according to a study published online Dec. 26 in the World Journal of Stem Cells.
	Two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine highly effective Two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) are effective against herpes zoster (HZ), with the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of two doses waning a little over four years of follow-up, according to a study published online on Jan. 9 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Exposure to green space boosts young children's bone mineral density For children in early childhood, exposure to green space has a positive impact on bone health, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in JAMA Network Open.
	Imetelstat leads to durable red blood cell transfusion independence For heavily transfused patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (LR-MDS) who are not responding to or are ineligible for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), the competitive telomerase inhibitor imetelstat leads to durable red blood cell (RBC) transfusion independence, according to a study published online Dec. 1 in The Lancet.
	Using AI to identify high risk patients with asthma and COPD Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two of the most common lung diseases worldwide, and exacerbation of these conditions can negatively impact health and increase health care costs. A new study shows that deep learning, a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that uses large amounts of data to process information, can improve detection of patients with these diseases who are at increased risk for multiple hospitalizations.
	Policy interventions helped save lives during pandemic, study finds States that emphasized non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as distancing and mask wearing, fared better in curbing the spread of COVID-19, finds a forthcoming study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
	Seven things you should know about job burnout We hear a lot about work-related burnout these days, especially as many workers continue to deal with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Maybe it's the blurring of lines between home and work life. Or maybe it's the stress of returning to the workplace after working from home. Or the lingering symptoms of long COVID causing both physical and mental health challenges.
	Turning basic research into new treatment for the most aggressive forms of breast cancer Thirty years ago, Gail Sonenshein was studying cancer in immune cells when she read an article in the New York Times that would shape the rest of her career. The article described a new residency program in women's health, part of an effort to improve treatment and outcomes for women at a time when most medical knowledge came from exclusively studying men.
	Combining anti-tumor drugs with chemo may improve rare children's cancer outcomes Children who develop neuroblastomas, a rare form of cancer which develops in nerve cells, may benefit from receiving certain anti-tumor drugs as well as chemotherapy, a new trial has found.
	Love scrambles the brain and scientists can now tell us why Love is blind, the saying goes, and thanks to a world-first Australian study, we are now a step closer to understanding why.
	Scientists provide new insight into a molecular target of alcohol Ethanol—the compound found in alcoholic beverages—interferes with the normal functioning of a long list of biological molecules, but how each of these interactions contributes to the behavioral effects of alcohol is not fully understood. A guiding, but elusive, goal of researchers is to identify the protein (or proteins) to which ethanol binds that makes some people vulnerable to excessive drinking.
	Study uncovers new biological marker for scleroderma A cross-disciplinary University of Alberta research team has uncovered a biological marker for scleroderma that can predict which patients will develop severe disease and could also lead to new treatments.
	New insights into obsessive-compulsive disorder: Understanding the role of insight in treatment and neuroimaging Marking a substantial advancement in understanding obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), researchers from Zhejiang University School of Medicine have revealed key connections between clinical characteristics, neuroimaging and treatment, heralding new opportunities for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. The study was published in Psychoradiology on 8 November, 2023.
	Leukemia: Artificial intelligence provides support in diagnostics Decisions on treatment for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)—a highly aggressive form of leukemia—are based, among other things, on a series of certain genetic features of the disease; but at the time when a diagnosis is made, this information is not available. Evidence of these genetic anomalies is crucial in providing targeted treatment for patients at an early stage. As genetic testing is expensive and time-consuming, there is a great need for inexpensive, fast and broadly accessible tests to predict such anomalies.
	Q&A: Poison control expert discusses water beads' hidden dangers Water beads are tiny, colorful, expanding gel balls often sold as crafts, toys or sensory tools for children with developmental disabilities. However, if ingested, they can cause vomiting, intestinal blockages and may be fatal if left undetected.
	Low fitness in youth associated with higher risk of cardiometabolic diseases in middle age: Study An extended follow-up study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä and now published in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports shows that low cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescence is associated with higher risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in middle age. The study provides real-life evidence for the far-reaching consequences of deteriorating fitness in youth.
	Why do we cradle babies in one specific arm? You probably haven't ever given it much thought, but almost everyone cradles a baby in one specific arm. The vast majority of people always cradle a baby in the crook of their left arm.
	Overhaul epidemic modeling to include social networks, says new research Models used by scientists to predict how epidemics will spread have a major flaw since they do not take into account the structure of the networks underlying transmission.
	Clinical trial: New dual therapy could revolutionize treatment of urothelial and bladder cancers An international clinical trial of a treatment for advanced urothelial cancer has found a new dual therapy can nearly double patients' life expectancy.
	Liver transplantation becomes a 9-to-5 operation thanks to perfusion machine Since early 2023, it has become standard practice at Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen (UMCG) to perform virtually all hour-long liver transplants during daytime. This is possible because donor livers can be preserved for a much longer time in a special perfusion machine at the UMCG, without compromising donor liver quality.
	What happens to our online activity over the switches to and from Daylight Saving Time? Daylight Saving Time (DST) might be influencing our internet habits, according to research from the University of Surrey and the University of Padova (Italy).
	First-in-the-field application of non-contrast optical coherence tomography for coronary artery disease A research team has demonstrated the clinical feasibility and safety of non-contrast optical coherence tomography (OCT) for patients with coronary artery disease.
	Predominantly plant-based or vegetarian diet linked to 39% lower odds of COVID-19 A predominantly plant-based or vegetarian diet is linked to 39% lower odds of COVID-19 infection, finds research published in the journal BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health. The findings prompt the researchers to suggest that a diet high in vegetables, legumes, and nuts, and low in dairy products and meat, may help to ward off the infection.
	Early menopause and HRT among hormonal factors linked to heightened rheumatoid arthritis risk Early menopause—before the age of 45—taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and having four or more children are among several hormonal and reproductive factors linked to a heightened risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women, finds a large long-term study published in the journal RMD Open.
	Sex-specific panel of 10 proteins can detect 18 different early-stage cancers A sex-specific panel of 10 proteins can pick up 18 different early-stage cancers, representing all the major organs of the human body, finds a proof of concept study published in the journal BMJ Oncology.
	Irritable bowel syndrome patients found to suffer higher rates of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have uncovered a link between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and somatic disorders, such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.
	Researchers race to develop Paxlovid replacement Researchers from Rutgers believe themselves among the leaders in a race to find an oral COVID-19 treatment to supplement or replace Paxlovid—the antiviral medication that helps keep high-risk patients out of the hospital and from dying.
	Stem cell ovarian transplant induces changes in plasma proteome of women with impaired ovarian reserves, finds study A new research paper titled "Systemic changes induced by autologous stem cell ovarian transplant in plasma proteome of women with impaired ovarian reserves" has been published in Aging.
	The secret to better rural health care: Pay doctors to travel from urban to rural areas Researchers from University of Oxford, Arizona State University, and University of Iowa have published a new Journal of Marketing study that examines how paying doctors to visit rural areas is a cost-effective way to provide reasonable access and effective care to most rural communities.
	Current research on prevalence of prolonged grief disorder is inadequate, says study Proper procedures for diagnosing prolonged grief disorder (PGD) are not being followed in research into its prevalence, according to a study published in Harvard Review of Psychiatry. What's more, most published literature doesn't clearly acknowledge the limitations of the methodology used.
	RSV shown to infect nerve cells, cause inflammation and damage Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common infection in children and senior adults, can also infect nerve cells and trigger inflammation leading to nerve damage, according to a new Tulane University study.
	Study unveils machine learning-aided non-invasive imaging for rapid liver fat visualization Steatotic liver disease (SLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which includes a range of conditions caused by fat build-up in the liver due to abnormal lipid metabolism, affects about 25% of the population worldwide, making it the most common liver disorder. Often referred to as "silent liver disease," SLD progresses without noticeable symptoms and can lead to more severe conditions like cirrhosis (liver scarring) and liver cancer.
	The role of fibronectin in BRAF-mutant thyroid cancer treatment New research overseen by University of Colorado Cancer Center member Rebecca Schweppe, Ph.D., could lead to improved treatment for people with thyroid cancer characterized by a mutation in the BRAF gene—a mutation also responsible for some types of melanoma, colorectal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and ovarian cancer.
	Sickle cell raises COVID-19 risk, but vaccination lags: Study Despite the fact that people with sickle cell disease have a much higher risk of serious illness or death if they develop COVID-19, a new study shows they're also much less likely than those without sickle cell disease to have gotten vaccinated against coronavirus.
	Hospitalizations for scooter injuries nearly tripled in the US between 2016 and 2020, research finds UCLA-led research finds that scooter injuries nearly tripled across the U.S. from 2016 to 2020, with a concurrent increase in severe injuries requiring orthopedic and plastic surgery over the same period.
	Humanized mice reveal arsenic may raise diabetes risk only for males Chronic exposure to arsenic, often through contaminated groundwater, has been associated with type 2 diabetes in humans, and there are new clues that males may be more susceptible to the disease when exposed.
	Discovering a new mechanism of vestibular neuritis Prof. Sun-Uk Lee of the Department of Neurology and Prof. Euyhyun Park of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology from Korea University's Anam Hospital have discovered a new mechanism of vestibular neuritis.
	Hepatitis linked to alcohol increasingly drives emergency department visits, especially among younger adults: Study Hepatitis linked to alcohol, the most severe form of alcohol-associated liver disease, is increasingly prevalent, severe, and likely to involve emergency departments, according to a new analysis. The findings reflect increased drinking and alcohol-linked liver disease in the general population.
	Social media leaves clues to mental health Researchers are working on a way to better support people living with mental health concerns by analyzing their social media posts.
	New insights into the roles of cell mechanics in tumor malignancy Cancer, as a life-threatening disease, has been a major research focus. Understanding the mechanisms of tumor progression has been a significant challenge. In recent years, increasing evidence has indicated a correlation between the mechanical properties of tumor cells and tumor progression and malignancy.
	COVID-19 affected Canadians with noncommunicable diseases more than those without, study finds Researchers at the Montreal Behavioural Medicine Centre (MBMC) say people with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, or chronic lung ailments were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
	New research calls for antimicrobial resistance to be reframed as a sustainability issue From a wartime spread of antimicrobial resistant disease in Ukraine, to superbugs in China causing "white lung" pneumonia in children, 2023 brought no shortage of new evidence that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to be a pressing problem globally, and this pattern shows no sign of abating in 2024 unless a radical shift occurs.
	Researchers characterize the tumor suppressor activity of the PTEN protein in melanoma Cutaneous melanoma is considered the deadliest form of skin cancer because it's aggressive and tends to spread quickly through the body. While scientists have made significant progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms leading to melanoma development, it is still unclear how the PTEN protein regulates melanoma progression.
	A new method based on computational time series analysis allows the estimation of exercise thresholds The monitoring of an athlete's exertion during performance is often done through personal heart rate zones. Heart rate zones can be categorized based on the heart rate of basic, tempo, and maximum endurance zones, which are separated by aerobic and anaerobic thresholds.
	Exposure to air pollution associated with increase in sedentary time, study finds Long-term exposure to current levels of UK air pollution has been found to be associated with an annual increase of up to 22 minutes of sedentary time each day, in a study published in the Journal of Public Health.
	Spain re-imposes masks in hospitals as flu cases surge Wearing masks will be obligatory again in Spain's hospitals and other health care facilities from Wednesday, the health ministry said on Monday as the country faces a flu outbreak.
	GSK buys asthma drug developer for up to $1.4 bn British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline on Tuesday agreed to buy Aiolos Bio for up to $1.4 billion, with focus on an asthma medication still at the testing stage.
	Study: A novel cell-penetrating peptide exerts therapeutic effects against ischemic stroke Stroke is a major public health concern worldwide. The lack of effective therapies heightens the need for new therapeutic agents.
	New health care education program improves communication between clinicians, Aboriginal patients A new health care education program developed in rural Western Australia is breaking down communication barriers between clinicians and Aboriginal patients.
	OB-GYN answers questions about advanced maternal age, fertility and pregnancy The average maternal age in Canada increased over the last few decades, according to data from Statistics Canada. In 2021, 25% of all mothers at childbirth were 35 years of age and older, an increase from 16% in 2001.
	Study reveals cardiac arrest figures in England: Just 1 in 12 people survive and leave hospital A national research database has revealed stark figures for cardiac arrests in England for 2022. Survival rates remain low, with around 8% patients surviving to 30 days after a cardiac arrest.
	Panel advocates for increased adoption of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in peripheral vascular interventions Proceedings from an expert consensus roundtable that discussed the benefits of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in lower extremity revascularization procedures were released today in the Journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (JSCAI), Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (JVIR), and Journal of Vascular Surgery—Vascular Insights.

Other Sciences news

	Researchers use machine learning to examine meanings across languages How meanings align across languages suggests that translation and cross-cultural communication may be challenging, but researchers haven't been clear as to what characterizes this alignment, and what factors might affect it.
	Money might be more motivating for people in 'WEIRD' countries Financial rewards may be more motivating for people living in Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) countries, than for people from non-WEIRD countries, reports a study published in Nature Human Behaviour.
	New analysis unlocks the hidden meaning of 15,000-year-old rock art in Arnhem Land Rock art is one of the most intriguing records of the human past—it directly represents how our ancestors viewed their world. This provides a fundamentally different perspective compared to other archaeological items, such as stone artifacts.
	Technique could efficiently solve partial differential equations for numerous applications In fields such as physics and engineering, partial differential equations (PDEs) are used to model complex physical processes to generate insight into how some of the most complicated physical and natural systems in the world function.
	Educational reform should embrace learners' diversity, study finds Educational reform should embrace learners' diversity, provide equitable access to foster attendance and promote student interest in learning through child-centered teaching, finds a new study from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
	Analysis finds soaring demand for people skills in Aussie post-pandemic jobs market Aussie employers' demand for workers with strong interpersonal skills has surged following the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research by CSIRO, Australia's national science agency.
	Concerned about student mental health? How wellness is related to academic achievement Supporting student mental health and well-being has become a priority for schools. This was the case even prior to the increased signs of child and youth mental health adversity in and after the pandemic.
	Studying engineering is tough: Six insights to help university students succeed Engineering courses are a popular choice among South African university students. But these courses are also grueling, and the attrition rates are high. The Council on Higher Education reports that half of the engineering students enrolled at South African universities do not complete their studies. That figure is similar in other parts of the world.
	South Korea's gender imbalance is bad news for men. Outnumbering women, many face bleak marriage prospects South Korea's bachelor time bomb is about to really go off. Following a historic 30-year-long imbalance in the male-to-female sex ratio at birth, young men far outnumber young women in the country. As a result, some 700,000 to 800,000 "extra" South Korean boys born since the mid-1980s may not be able to find South Korean girls to marry.
	College applications rose in states that legalized recreational marijuana Colleges in states where recreational marijuana became legal over the past decade saw a significant but short-term boost in applications from top-notch students. They also got more applications overall. Those were the key findings of a new study our team published recently in the peer-reviewed journal Contemporary Economic Policy.
	How marketing and business school educators can help combat climate change The holidays are a wrap, and the new year offers an opportunity for reflection and change. For many people, the holidays are a time when consumption kicks into overdrive, but a University of Arizona researcher concerned about the environmental impacts of overconsumption—and the marketing that drives it—says it doesn't have to be this way and offers solutions.
	Unlocking green entrepreneurial intentions in emerging economies In a study published on 20 November 2023 in Entrepreneurship Education, researchers delve into the various factors that drive green entrepreneurial intentions among undergraduate students in an emerging economy. The study highlights the role of Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in fostering this mindset among students, who are key to sustainable business practices.
	Quantum mechanics model unveils hidden patterns in stock markets A new study published in Financial Innovation has developed a novel quantum model for stock market fluctuations that incorporates economic uncertainty and herding behavior. The study aims to provide a deeper understanding of the origins and implications of stock market anomalies such as fat tails, volatility clustering, and contrarian effects.
	Engaging children with science helps with long-term interest in STEM, research finds Engaging children early with science can have long term impacts on subject choices at GCSE and A level, and improve uptake of STEM subjects, according to new research.
	Police leaders face challenges when seeking to accommodate community stakeholders Police reform movements often focus on improving police–public relationships. These ties are a focus of community policing and procedural justice, two significant reform efforts in policing worldwide over the last three decades. In a new article, researchers examine issues involved in these efforts, especially limitations to communication, and highlight implications for police–community relations.
	An undercounted group of Arab American and Muslim voters may have outsized impact on 2024 presidential election Though domestic issues tend to motivate most U.S. voters, the war in the Middle East may be the dominant issue in mind for an increasingly important voting block: Middle Eastern and Muslim Americans.
	Freedom of thought is threatened by states, big tech and even ourselves. What we can do to protect it The idea of free speech sparked into life 2,500 years ago in Ancient Greece—in part because it served a politician's interests. The ability to speak freely was seen as essential for the new Athenian democracy, which the politician Cleisthenes both introduced and benefited from.
	How liberal conspiracy theories can be just as destructive as their extremist counterparts Liberal commentators frequently condemn conspiracy theories that threaten public safety. The US mainstream media exploded in 2016 when an armed man harassed diners in a Washington DC pizzeria, allegedly because he subscribed to the QAnon online conspiracy theory claiming that a Hillary Clinton-connected pedophile ring was operating from the restaurant.
	Two new books provide road map for educators, school communities to promote self-determination More than a decade of research has shown that when students, especially those with disabilities, are given ownership and determination of their own education and life goals, they have better educational outcomes. Two new books based upon work at the University of Kansas provide a road map for educators, school communities and families to promote self-determination and use the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction, or SDLMI.
	New book explores complicated relationship between workers and their work A new book by a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign labor historian explores how workers characterize their relationship to their jobs using their own personal mini-narratives, mining that material to ultimately advocate for a more humanistic-centered future of work.

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