Science X Newsletter Mon, Feb 19

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 19, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Study discovers link between high levels of niacin and heart disease

A multi-camera differential binocular vision sensor for robots and autonomous systems

Pandora's Cluster explored by researchers

New technique for revealing genetic repeats yields surprising insights into Huntington's disease

A novel elderly care robot could soon provide personal assistance, enhancing seniors' quality of life

AI-generated disproportioned rat genitalia makes its way into peer-reviewed journal

Brightest and fastest-growing: Astronomers identify record-breaking quasar

From crop to cup: A new genetic map could make your morning coffee more climate resilient

New research helps create new antibiotic that evades bacterial resistance

Potassium depletion in soil threatens global crop yields

Amazon unveils largest text-to-speech model ever made

Examining viruses that can help 'dial up' carbon capture in the sea

Saturday Citations: Einstein revisited (again); Atlantic geological predictions; how the brain handles echoes

This tiny, tamper-proof ID tag can authenticate almost anything

Targeting 'undruggable' proteins promises new approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases

Nanotechnology news

	Targeting 'undruggable' proteins promises new approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases Researchers led by Northwestern University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison have introduced a pioneering approach aimed at combating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
	Chameleons inspire new multicolor 3D-printing technology Inspired by the color-changing ability of chameleons, researchers have developed a sustainable technique to 3D-print multiple, dynamic colors from a single ink.

Physics news

	Researchers synthesize two new isotopes, osmium-160 and tungsten-156 Researchers at the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and their collaborators have synthesized two new isotopes—osmium-160 and tungsten-156—which sheds new light on nuclear structures and hints that lead-164 could be a doubly magic nucleus with increased stability.
	Physicist's model and predictions may have applications in the new generation of superradiant lasers Theoretical physicist Farokh Mivehvar has investigated the interaction of two collections of atoms emitting light inside a quantum cavity—an optical device consisting of two high-quality, tiny mirrors facing each other that confine the light within a small area for an extended time. The model and predictions can be implemented and observed in state-of-the-art cavity/waveguide-quantum-electrodynamics experiments and might have applications in the new generation of so-called superradiant lasers.
	Quantum computing engineers perform multiple control methods in just one atom Quantum computing engineers at UNSW Sydney have shown they can encode quantum information—the special data in a quantum computer—in four unique ways within a single atom, inside a silicon chip.
	Quantum dark states lead to an advantage in noise reduction While atomic clocks are already the most precise timekeeping devices in the universe, physicists are working hard to improve their accuracy even further. One way is by leveraging spin-squeezed states in clock atoms.
	Widefield diamond quantum sensing with neuromorphic vision sensors A collaborative project has made a breakthrough in enhancing the speed and resolution of widefield quantum sensing, leading to new opportunities in scientific research and practical applications.

Earth news

	Anoxic marine basins are among the best candidates for deep-sea carbon sequestration, say scientists Anoxic marine basins may be among the most viable places to conduct large-scale carbon sequestration in the deep ocean, while minimizing negative impacts on marine life. So say UC Santa Barbara researchers in a paper published in the journal AGU Advances.
	Once melting glaciers shut down the Gulf Stream, we will see extreme climate change within decades, study shows Superstorms, abrupt climate shifts and New York City frozen in ice. That's how the blockbuster Hollywood movie "The Day After Tomorrow" depicted an abrupt shutdown of the Atlantic Ocean's circulation and the catastrophic consequences.
	20°C seems the optimal temperature for life on Earth to thrive: What this means in a warming world Have you ever wondered about the optimal temperature for life on Earth? For humans, 20°C is comfortable. Any warmer and we work less efficiently because releasing heat requires energy.
	What does Lake Washington's warming mean for its future? The region's cold, watery heart is nestled between Seattle and the Eastside. It uniquely supports two major roadways atop floating bridges, has offered beachgoers a summertime respite for decades and is central to the identity of the Seattle area's culture.
	The Colorado River is shrinking: Will seven states agree on how to manage its water by March? The seven Colorado River states face a quickly approaching deadline to present a unified plan for how to manage the drying river that provides water for 40 million people across the West.
	Impact of moisture sources on variability of precipitation oxygen isotopes in northern China In a study published in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, a joint research group from the Institute of Earth Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Stockholm University, and the California State University found that while land recycled water vapor contributes more than 60% to precipitation in northern China, the precipitation δ18O (δ18Op) is primarily influenced by the relative contribution of oceanic moisture.
	What does an iceless Lake Superior portend? From Duluth, Lake Superior is a colossal expanse of blue this week with no otherworldly ice shards smashed against the shore or colorful fish houses decorating stretches of white.
	Sand study shows new data to help manage Southern California's shrinking beaches Millions of dollars are being spent to add sand to Southern California beaches—but a new study suggests technology can give a better understanding of how sand moves, offering data decision-makers could use in planning how to fix the eroding coastline.
	Researchers reveal relationship between air oxidation and air pollution In the atmospheric environment, the pollutants emitted by human activities are oxidized to secondary pollutants and gradually removed from the atmosphere. Therefore, the understanding of atmospheric oxidation is of great significance for air pollution control.
	Colorado is now home to America's newest national park Amache National Historic Site in southeastern Colorado is officially America's newest national park, the National Park Service announced Thursday.
	A new model for measuring global water storage In their recent publication in Nature Water, D-BAUG researchers Junyang Gou and Professor Benedikt Soja introduced a finely resolved model of terrestrial water storage using a novel deep learning approach.
	Detecting atmospheric rivers with satellite observations Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are filaments of intense moisture transport in the atmosphere. These weather systems drive a large fraction of the extreme precipitation events over coastal regions. Detecting ARs in satellite observations has long been a challenging task due to the lack of wind information. In a study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, scientists derived an approximation of the 3-dimensional (3D) wind field based on the spatial distribution of the satellite-based temperature.
	Communities must get prepared for increased flooding due to climate change, expert warns Communities must be better prepared for flooding in their homes and businesses, an expert warns, as climate change predictions suggest more extreme flooding globally.
	Economists have proposed a $100 billion-a-year fossil fuel tax: A debate Australia should embrace Leading Australian economists Ross Garnaut and Rod Sims this week sought to shake up the carbon policy debate in Australia, by proposing a tax on the nation's fossil fuel production. They claim it could raise A$100 billion in its first year and position Australia at the forefront of the low-carbon revolution.
	Australians are washing microplastics down the drain and it's ending up on farms Australian wastewater treatment plants produce thousands of tons of treated sewage sludge every year. This nutrient-rich material is then dried to make "biosolids," which are used to fertilize agricultural soil.
	Climate change is forcing Australians to weigh up relocating Big environmental changes mean ever more Australians will confront the tough choice of whether to move home or risk staying put.
	Nature-based solutions play key role in mitigating climate change, suggest researchers A new study shows that nature-based solutions are crucial to mitigate climate change, but only if they go hand in hand with a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
	Why LA's last big storm caused landslides in only some areas The last round of atmospheric river storms drenched Southern California with historic rainfall, and by one measure, it came close to beating a record for the most rain over a three-day period.

Astronomy and Space news

	Pandora's Cluster explored by researchers Using the Magellan Telescopes in Chile, Italian astronomers have observed a giant galaxy cluster known as Abell 2744, dubbed the Pandora's Cluster. Results of the observational campaign, presented in a paper published February 13 on the preprint server arXiv, provide more insights into the properties of this cluster.
	Brightest and fastest-growing: Astronomers identify record-breaking quasar Using the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have characterized a bright quasar, finding it to be not only the brightest of its kind but also the most luminous object ever observed. Quasars are the bright cores of distant galaxies, and supermassive black holes power them.
	Newborn gas planets may be surprisingly flat, says new research A new planet starts its life in a rotating circle of gas and dust, a cradle known as a protostellar disk. My colleagues and I have used computer simulations to show that newborn gas planets in these disks are likely to have surprisingly flattened shapes. This finding, published in Astronomy and Astrophysics Letters, could add to our picture of exactly how planets form.
	Image: Hubble views a massive star forming This image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope is teeming with color and activity. It features a relatively close star-forming region known as IRAS 16562-3959, which lies within the Milky Way about 5,900 light-years from Earth in the constellation Scorpius.
	Mars samples project looms large in final spending talks A complex project aimed at retrieving rock and dirt samples from Mars has long been a top priority for NASA, with proponents arguing the mission could answer the age-old question of whether life once existed on the red planet.
	Japanese space debris inspection probe launched A Japanese firm said Monday it had successfully launched a spacecraft tasked with inspecting potentially dangerous man-made junk floating around the Earth.
	Subglacial microbial life on Earth and beyond The search for life beyond Earth fascinates many and inspires big questions: Are we truly alone in the universe? Is our Earth unique? Is it possible that life beyond Earth may actually be far from little green aliens and much closer to the microbial life with which we share our planet?
	There's one last place Planet Nine could be hiding A study recently submitted to The Astronomical Journal continues to search for the elusive Planet Nine (also called Planet X), which is a hypothetical planet that potentially orbits in the outer reaches of the solar system and well beyond the orbit of the dwarf planet, Pluto.
	New or retooled Cape Canaveral launch pads considered for SpaceX Starship The Department of Defense is looking for a new home for SpaceX's Starship, launching the process to determine what the environmental impact would be to allow the world's most powerful rocket to launch from Florida's Space Coast.
	NASA vows to battle 'organizational silence' as problems arise amid Artemis delays NASA was riding a high after the overall success of Artemis I when the uncrewed rocket made a test run to the moon and back in 2022, so the message remained full steam ahead to push for a crewed Artemis II flight in 2024 and the return of humans to the moon in 2025.
	Rocket propellant tanks for NASA's Artemis III mission take shape As NASA works to develop all the systems needed to return astronauts to the moon under its Artemis campaign for the benefit of all, the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket will be responsible for launching astronauts on their journey. With the liquid oxygen tank now fully welded, all of the major structures that will form the core stage for the SLS rocket for the agency's Artemis III mission are ready for additional outfitting.

Technology news

	A multi-camera differential binocular vision sensor for robots and autonomous systems Recent technological advances have enabled the development of increasingly sophisticated sensors, which can help to advance the sensing capabilities of robots, drones, autonomous vehicles, and other smart systems. Many of these sensors, however, rely on individual cameras, thus the accuracy of the measurements they collect is limited by the cameras' field of view (FOV).
	A novel elderly care robot could soon provide personal assistance, enhancing seniors' quality of life Worldwide, humans are living longer than ever before. According to data from the United Nations, approximately 13.5% of the world's people were at least 60 years old in 2020, and by some estimates, that figure could increase to nearly 22% by 2050.
	Amazon unveils largest text-to-speech model ever made A team of artificial intelligence researchers at Amazon AGI announced the development of what they are describing as the largest text-to-speech model ever made. By largest, they mean having the most parameters and using the largest training dataset. They have published a paper on the arXiv preprint server describing how the model was developed and trained.
	This tiny, tamper-proof ID tag can authenticate almost anything A few years ago, MIT researchers invented a cryptographic ID tag that is several times smaller and significantly cheaper than the traditional radio frequency tags (RFIDs) that are often affixed to products to verify their authenticity.
	Could mini nuclear stations plug South Africa's power gaps? South African nuclear scientists want to build a new generation of mini nuclear reactors, both to plug holes in their own country's blackout-plagued grid and to build an export industry for the future.
	Combating fractional spurs in phase locked loops to improve wireless system performance in beyond 5G Two innovative design techniques lead to substantial improvements in performance in fractional-N phase locked loops (PLLs), report scientists from Tokyo Tech.
	From Deadheads on bulletin boards to Taylor Swift 'stans': A short history of how fandoms shaped the internet Fans and the internet have a symbiotic relationship. The digital era increased the productivity and visibility of fan culture, which in turn has largely influenced the ways that we all act online.
	To protect user privacy online, governments need to reconsider their use of opt-in policies Internet users—almost all of us—are growing used to seeing requests for consent to gather our information: "Do you accept cookies from this website?" Most of us just click "yes" and continue browsing, rather than bothering with convoluted settings and choices we don't quite understand.
	OpenAI in deal valuing it at $80 billion: Media OpenAI has concluded a deal with investors that reportedly values the California start-up at $80 billion or more, after a roller-coaster year for the inventor of ChatGPT.
	AI has a large and growing carbon footprint, but there are potential solutions on the horizon Given the huge problem-solving potential of artificial intelligence (AI), it wouldn't be far-fetched to think that AI could also help us in tackling the climate crisis. However, when we consider the energy needs of AI models, it becomes clear that the technology is as much a part of the climate problem as a solution.
	Scientists design 'sunflower' city to boost solar energy in countries with relatively low levels of sunlight Inspired by the distribution of sunflower seeds, a group of scientists say they have developed a new city-pattern that ensures the best distribution of solar energy utilization "in low solar radiation countries."
	State-owned energy companies are among the world's most polluting—putting a price on carbon could help Existing measures to cajole companies to decarbonize, with subsidies for renewable energy and carbon taxes, have failed to prevent global emissions rising. Does state ownership, particularly in the energy sector, make this process easier?
	Researchers seek to expand supplies of clean aviation fuels by producing more from agricultural sources Professor David Chiaramonti is looking down at the ground to help resolve a problem up in the sky: airplanes' emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other pollutants.
	Improving cloud security model for web applications using hybrid encryption techniques Research published in the International Journal of Internet Technology and Secured Transactions uses a hybrid approach to boosting the security of online applications, particularly within the realm of cloud computing. By merging two distinct techniques—homomorphic encryption and the squirrel search algorithm (SSA)—the study demonstrates a significant enhancement in the security of cloud computing models.
	Research reveals massive failures in US cybersecurity laws In the world of advancing technology, cyberattacks have been on the rise, causing a potential risk of stolen personal data across 400 million users. In response, governments in all 50 states have introduced breach notification laws (BNLs) mandating that companies notify a consumer if their data has been breached.
	Tapping into the 300 GHz band with an innovative CMOS transmitter A new phased-array transmitter design overcomes common problems of CMOS technology in the 300 GHz band, as reported by scientists from Tokyo Tech. Thanks to its remarkable area efficiency, low power consumption, and high data rate, the proposed transmitter could pave the way to many technological applications in the 300 GHz band, including body and cell monitoring, radar, 6G wireless communications, and terahertz sensors.
	China new year holiday spending surges past pre-pandemic levels China's new year holiday spending last week surged past pre-pandemic levels, official figures showed, a rare bright spot for an economy struggling with sluggish consumption and deflation.
	EU launches probe into TikTok over child protection The EU on Monday announced a formal investigation into TikTok over alleged breaches of its obligations to protect minors online, under a landmark new law on policing digital content.
	US to give GlobalFoundries $1.5bln to boost domestic chip production The United States plans to award giant chipmaker GlobalFoundries $1.5 billion in direct funding to boost domestic chip production, the Commerce Department said on Monday.
	Some video game actors are letting AI clone their voices. They just don't want it to replace them If you are battling a video game goblin who speaks with a Cockney accent, or asking a gruff Scottish blacksmith to forge a virtual sword, you might be hearing the voice of actor Andy Magee.
	'Green' or 'blue' hydrogen—what difference does it make? Not much for most Australians Hydrogen can play a key role in Australia's energy transition by giving us additional ways of storing and moving energy around. As the world shifts towards cleaner energy production, there's a push to make hydrogen production cleaner as well. In Australia, low-emission hydrogen is produced in two main ways.
	New NASA report suggests we could see space-based power after 2050 Space-based solar power (SBSP) has been in the news recently, with the successful test of a solar power demonstrator in space taking place last summer. While the concept is fundamentally sound, there are plenty of hurdles to overcome if the technology is to be widely adopted—not the least of which is cost.
	A light source device to address the current data explosion ETRI's researchers have pioneered the development of light source devices that can be utilized in mega/hyper data centers and 5G/6G mobile communication base stations. The technology innovated by the research team can transmit full HD movies of 5 GB size at a rate of 5.6 per second.

Chemistry news

	Scientists create method to bond hydrogels and other polymeric materials using chitosan Hydrogels are versatile biomaterials conquering an increasing number of biomedical areas. Consisting of water-swollen molecular networks that can be tailored to mimic the mechanical and chemical features of various organs and tissues, they can interface within the body and on its outer surfaces without causing any damage to even the most delicate parts of the human anatomy.
	Research findings could enable high-density hydrogen storage for future energy systems A development in efficient hydrogen storage has been reported by Professor Hyunchul Oh in the Department of Chemistry at UNIST, marking a significant advancement in future energy systems.
	Applying green chemistry principles to iron catalysis At the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock, Dr. Johannes Fessler has developed new methods for the synthesis of drug precursors using catalysts made of iron, manganese and cobalt. Each of these three chemical elements has the potential to replace a number of noble metals that are commonly used in organic chemistry to catalyze fine chemicals.
	Smart e-nose uses self-heating temperature modulation to enable rapid identification of gas molecules A recent study published in ACS Sensors highlights the development of a smart electronic nose (e-nose) by a research team led by Prof. Meng Gang from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
	Chemists produce all eight possible variants of polypropionate building blocks from one starting material To synthesize potential drugs or natural products, you need natural substances in specific mirror-image variants and with a high degree of purity. For the first time, chemists at the University of Bonn have succeeded in producing all eight possible variants of polypropionate building blocks from a single starting material in a relatively straightforward process. Their work has now been published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition.
	Researchers develop coral-tentacle-inspired antifouling membrane spacer A research group led by Prof. Wan Yinhua from the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a coral-tentacle-inspired antifouling membrane spacer through the sequential growth of functional polymer brushes on the spacer surface. The study was published in AIChE Journal.
	A 'catch-and-release' mechanism for efficient oxidation of hydrophobic aromatic organic substrates in water Oxidative functionalization of hydrophobic compounds is an important research area from the perspective of effective utilization of natural resources and treatment and reuse of hazardous substances. However, a method that can facilitate such reactions has not been well established.
	Run out of butter or eggs? Here's the science behind substitute ingredients It's an all too common situation—you're busy cooking or baking to a recipe when you open the cupboard and suddenly realize you are missing an ingredient.

Biology news

	AI-generated disproportioned rat genitalia makes its way into peer-reviewed journal The editors at the journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology have retracted a paper after it was pointed out to them by readers that supporting images had been generated improperly by an AI image generator. In their retraction, the editors report that the reason for the retraction was that "concerns were raised regarding the nature of its AI-generated figures."
	From crop to cup: A new genetic map could make your morning coffee more climate resilient A new genetic map of the arabica coffee plant, Coffea arabica, could help breeders develop to more climate-proof brews.
	New research helps create new antibiotic that evades bacterial resistance Scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago and Harvard University have developed an antibiotic that could give medicine a new weapon to fight drug-resistant bacteria and the diseases they cause.
	Potassium depletion in soil threatens global crop yields Potassium deficiency in agricultural soils is a largely unrecognized but potentially significant threat to global food security if left unaddressed, finds new research involving researchers at UCL, University of Edinburgh and the UK Center for Ecology & Hydrology.
	Examining viruses that can help 'dial up' carbon capture in the sea Armed with a catalog of hundreds of thousands of DNA and RNA virus species in the world's oceans, scientists are now zeroing in on the viruses most likely to combat climate change by helping trap carbon dioxide in seawater or, using similar techniques, different viruses that may prevent methane's escape from thawing Arctic soil.
	Widely used machine learning models reproduce dataset bias: Study Rice University computer science researchers have found bias in widely used machine learning tools used for immunotherapy research.
	Pollinator's death trap turns into nursery In a group of plants that is famous for luring its pollinators into a death trap, one species offers its flowers as a nursery in exchange. The Kobe University discovery blurs the line between mutualism and parasitism and sheds light on the evolution of complex plant-insect interactions.
	Discovery of new enzymes related to bacterial cell walls could lead to novel antibiotics Researchers at Umeå University in Sweden, led by Professor Felipe Cava, have identified a new family of enzymes that creates a unique type of cross-linking between the building blocks of bacterial cell walls. This discovery could help develop new antibiotics against infectious diseases.
	Without social distancing, how do bacteria survive a viral epidemic? Like humans struggling to get through the COVID-19 pandemic, bacterial cells need social distancing to thwart viruses. But in some situations, such as inside elevators or within the candy-colored bacterial structures known as "pink berries," staying apart just isn't feasible.
	Our ligaments and bones don't grow the way we thought, new research finds New research by Northeastern scientists questions the long-held belief that the connective tissues that give us mechanical strength, such as tendons, ligaments, bones and skin, form in the human body by cells coming together.
	More coral may not equal more fish on reefs A team of international and North Queensland researchers from James Cook University have found the link between fishes and corals may not be as strong as scientists had always assumed. The study is published in Nature Ecology & Evolution.
	Measurement uncertainty may stall global biodiversity targets More than ever before, there is a growing interest in dedicating resources to stop the loss of biodiversity, as recently exemplified by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) decided at COP15 in December 2022. The GBF focuses on understanding why biodiversity is declining and what actions are needed to reverse this trend.
	Researchers present new approach to identify key regulatory factors in wheat spike development Wheat, a globally important food crop, derives its yield from factors such as number of spikes per unit area, thousand-grain weight and grain yield per spike. Spike shape directly affects spikelet number, grain yield, and overall wheat productivity. Uncovering the key regulators of wheat spike development and investigating their molecular mechanisms holds great promise for precision breeding and molecular improvement of spike morphology.
	Giant Antarctic sea spiders reproductive mystery solved by researchers The reproduction of giant sea spiders in Antarctica has been largely unknown to researchers for more than 140 years, until now. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa scientists traveled to the remote continent and saw first-hand the behaviors of these mysterious creatures, and their findings could have wider implications for marine life and ocean ecosystems in Antarctica and around the world. The researchers findings were published in Ecology.
	Scientists shocked to discover new species of green anaconda, the world's biggest snake The green anaconda has long been considered one of the Amazon's most formidable and mysterious animals. Our new research, published in Diversity, upends scientific understanding of this magnificent creature, revealing it is actually two genetically different species. The surprising finding opens a new chapter in conservation of this top jungle predator.
	Common plant could help reduce food insecurity, researchers find An often-overlooked water plant that can double its biomass in two days, capture nitrogen from the air—making it a valuable green fertilizer—and be fed to poultry and livestock could serve as life-saving food for humans in the event of a catastrophe or disaster, a new study led by Penn State researchers suggests.
	Spy satellite images offer insights into historical ecosystem changes A large number of historical spy-satellite photographs from the Cold War Era were declassified decades ago. This valuable remote sensing data has been utilized by scientists across a wide range of disciplines from archaeology to civil engineering. However, its use in ecology and conservation remains limited.
	For threatened polar bears, the climate change diet is a losing proposition For polar bears, the climate change diet is a losing proposition, a new study suggests.
	Australia's most at-risk bird species share some common traits Australian birds that live on islands are among the species most at risk of extinction, a first-of-its-kind study from The Australian National University (ANU) has shown. The study is published in the journal Emu—Austral Ornithology.
	Old joke: Apes also like to tease, meaning trait could be ancient A boisterous young chimpanzee slaps an adult in his family on the back, then scampers away and looks back to see the response to his cheekiness.
	Amazon rainforest may face tipping point by 2050: Study The Amazon rainforest is facing a barrage of pressures that might tip it into large-scale ecosystem collapse as soon as 2050, according to new research Wednesday warning of dire consequences for the region and the world.
	South Korean scientists develop sustainable 'meaty rice' Scientists in South Korea have developed a new type of sustainable hybrid food—a "meaty" rice that they say could help solve food crises and climate change.
	Men become less fertile with age, but the same isn't true for all animals: Study We take it for granted that humans find it more difficult to conceive as they grow older. But our recent study, which analyzed data from 157 animal species, found that male reproductive aging seems to be a lot less common in other male animals.
	Finding Skywalker gibbons with love songs: Study Valentine's day is over but love's call lingers: the Skywalker gibbons' mating song, scientists reported this week, has revealed a previously unknown population—the largest in the world—of the endangered primate in the jungles of Myanmar.
	Eight ways that the stopping of overfishing will promote biodiversity and help address climate change Amid the escalating threats of a warming world, and with the latest annual United Nations global climate conference (COP28) behind us, there is one critical message that's often left out of the climate change discourse. Halting overfishing is itself effective climate action.
	Imageomics poised to enable new understanding of life Imageomics, a new field of science, has made stunning progress in the past year and is on the verge of major discoveries about life on Earth, according to one of the founders of the discipline.
	Natural pesticides gain ground in 'agri-tox' capital Brazil Inspecting a thriving green field, Brazilian farmer Adriano Cruvinel is beaming: Using a fraction of the chemical products he used to, he is growing even more soy, thanks to natural pesticides.
	Balsa tree is suitable for planting in Xishuangbanna, finds study Ochroma pyramidale, commonly known as the balsa tree, is a large, fast-growing tree native to the Americas. The tree is known for its wide use in woodworking, due to its softness and its high strength compared to its low density.
	Study finds photosynthetic mechanism of purple sulfur bacterium adapted to low-calcium environments Photosynthetic bacteria (PSB), unlike plants, do not generate oxygen as a photosynthetic byproduct because they use hydrogen sulfide instead of water to convert solar energy into chemical energy (electrons). This process is orchestrated by a protein complex, the light-harvesting 1-reaction center (LH1-RC).
	Researchers: Chronic wasting disease has been detected in British Columbia deer, and we need to act now Since 1996, a deadly neurodegenerative disease of cervids (deer, elk, moose, caribou, reindeer) has been spreading across Canada.
	Oysters in the Chesapeake Bay are on the rebound: New report says they can help fight climate change A new report from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation says efforts to restore oyster populations could have benefits beyond just survival of the species.
	Microplastics found to enter agricultural land through wastewater As we strive towards a circular economy, the application of treated sewage sludge (biosolids) to land is an opportunity to enhance soil health and reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilizers.
	Researchers reveal novel biochemical mechanism of cytokine-induced cell death Uncovering the biochemical mechanisms underlying different types of cell death has the potential to provide targets for the treatment of various diseases. A physiological cytokine combination (TNF+IFNγ) has been identified that induces cell death in several cell lines in vitro. However, because TNF and IFNγ are multi-effector cytokines, their individual and combined use has complex effects. In disease situations, it is difficult to distinguish which effects are triggered by TNF+IFNγ cell death.
	Diving into the secret life of mixed-species dolphin groups in Australia In-depth research of two of Australia's dolphin species shows how their behaviors have evolved to co-exist and form mixed-species groups in northwestern Australia.
	Zombie deer disease is spreading and scientists are concerned that it could jump to humans In the tranquil expanses of North America's woodlands and grasslands, a silent but concerning phenomenon is unfolding: chronic wasting disease (CWD). The condition, often dubbed "zombie deer disease", is stealthily spreading among deer populations, sparking concerns among scientists, conservationists and the public alike.
	Microplastics present in muscles, intestines of South East Queensland sharks Researchers have discovered not only microplastics but also a higher abundance of cellulose-based fibers in the intestine samples of four apex shark species caught off the coast of South East Queensland (SEQ).
	Why two prehistoric sharks found in Ohio got new names Until recently, Orthacanthus gracilis could have been considered the "John Smith" of prehistoric shark names, given how common it was.
	Rare and threatened shark found in the Roper River for the first time Charles Darwin University (CDU) researchers and First Nations Yugul Mangi Rangers have discovered a new population of a rare and threatened shark species in the Northern Territory's Roper River.
	Variability of bat nasal bone morphology found to determine ultrasonic localization Japanese horseshoe bats—or Nihon Kikugakushira—emit high-amplitude, ultrasonic waves from their nostrils. Several ultrasound-related studies have previously attempted to address the significant regional variability noted in bats' nasal morphologies, without yielding conclusive results.

Medicine and Health news

	Study discovers link between high levels of niacin and heart disease Cleveland Clinic researchers have identified a new pathway that contributes to cardiovascular disease associated with high levels of niacin, a common B vitamin previously recommended to lower cholesterol.
	New technique for revealing genetic repeats yields surprising insights into Huntington's disease Neurodegenerative diseases are among the most complex human ailments, and their exact causes and mechanisms are the subject of ongoing research and debate. When it comes to Huntington's disease, steadily accumulating evidence over the past 30 years has led to a model of molecular events that explains several key features of the disease, including why it has an earlier onset in some people and why it causes symptoms such as involuntary movements and mood swings.
	Commercial AI tool moderately successful at predicting hospitalization-related kidney injury Hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (HA-AKI) is a common complication in hospitalized patients that can lead to chronic kidney disease and is associated with longer hospital stays, higher health care costs and increased mortality. Given these negative consequences, preventing HA-AKI can improve hospitalized patient outcomes. However, anticipating HA-AKI onset is difficult due to a large number of contributing factors involved.
	Additional study shows promise for low-intensity ultrasound as a non-invasive approach to alleviate pain Virginia Tech researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC report that applying low-intensity focused ultrasound to an area deep within the brain may point to new ways to help people cope with chronic pain.
	Newly discovered genetic markers help pinpoint diabetes risks, complications In the largest genome-wide association study to date on type 2 diabetes, a team of international researchers, co-led by a University of Massachusetts Amherst genetic epidemiologist, has located 1,289 genetic markers associated with type 2 diabetes (145 of which are newly identified) and generated risk scores for diabetes complications.
	Neural network model identifies distinct brain organization patterns in women and men A new study by Stanford Medicine investigators unveils a new artificial intelligence model that was more than 90% successful at determining whether scans of brain activity came from a woman or a man.
	Study discovers molecular mechanism that could explain why eating too much protein is bad for your arteries University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers discovered a molecular mechanism by which excessive dietary protein could increase atherosclerosis risk. The findings were published in Nature Metabolism.
	Researchers optimize genetic tests for diverse populations to tackle health disparities To prevent an emerging genomic technology from contributing to health disparities, a scientific team has devised new ways to improve a genetic testing method called a polygenic risk score. Since polygenic risk scores have not been effective for all populations, the researchers recalibrated these genetic tests using ancestrally diverse genomic data.
	Genetic risk prediction for ten chronic diseases moves closer to the clinic By analyzing millions of small genetic differences across a person's genome, researchers can calculate a polygenic risk score to estimate someone's lifetime odds of developing a certain disease. Over the past decade, scientists have developed these risk scores for dozens of diseases, including heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer, with the hope that patients could one day use this information to lower any heightened risk of disease. But determining whether such tests work effectively across all populations, and how they can guide clinical decision-making, has been a challenge.
	Liver metastasis, metabolism, and a therapeutic conundrum A new study led by researchers at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center (HICCC) has identified a crucial factor that can drive tumor cells to spread to the liver. The work, which is published in the current issue of Nature Cancer, points toward strategies that could help treat these often recalcitrant tumors.
	Key regulator of decision-making pinpointed in brain Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have new insight on what goes on inside people's heads as they make decisions to obtain information about the future.
	One step forward, no steps back: New study advances understanding of dopamine's role in movement Dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain, is mostly known for its role in how we experience pleasure and reward. However, new research from the Champalimaud Foundation (CF) shifts the spotlight toward dopamine's critical involvement in movement, with implications for our understanding and treatment of symptoms in Parkinson's Disease (PD).
	Understanding the relationship between our sleep, body clock and mental health Problems with our sleep and internal body clock can trigger or worsen a range of psychiatric disorders, according to a new review of recent research evidence.
	One step closer to reversing liver failure: Study shows how liver is triggered to regrow when damaged Researchers at Peter Mac have made a key discovery in liver regeneration that may have important implications for liver cancer. Joint research by Associate Professor Andrew Cox and Professor Mark Dawson, published Feb. 15 in Developmental Cell, has identified how the liver is triggered to regrow when damaged.
	To appreciate music, the human brain listens and learns to predict Music has been central to human cultures for tens of thousands of years, but how our brains perceive it has long been shrouded in mystery.
	How the brain develops in unborn babies A new population-based study led by CHU Sainte-Justine researcher and Université de Montréal medical professor Tomas Paus reveals the roles of maternal and fetal genes in the growth of a baby's cerebral cortex.
	Frozen shoulder research may hold the key to understanding fibrosis resolution Researchers have identified how cells work to resolve frozen shoulder, opening up potential new targets for treatment and reducing the need for surgery.
	Understanding early effects of psoriasis drug offers potential for personalized treatment Academic researchers from King's College London have investigated the early effects of an immunosuppressant drug that could help clinicians with future personalized approaches for the treatment of psoriasis.
	Study finds youth-onset diabetes is a genetically distinct form of the disorder The diabetes field has long classified the disorder into genetically distinct groups, including type 1 and type 2. However, new genetics research focused on a form of type 2 diabetes (T2D) that is becoming more common in adolescents suggests a more complicated picture.
	New approaches to live-track the production of different types of blood cells in mice Scientists have found a way to monitor in real time how bone marrow stem cells produce the different types of cells in the blood—a process called hematopoiesis.
	What reactivates dormant cancer cells? Researchers at Columbia University have found a molecule that is responsible for arousing dormant cells from breast cancer and nudging them to create metastases. Silencing this molecule, called Malat1, in mice with breast cancer reduced metastases and improved survival, suggesting that a similar treatment could benefit patients.
	Revealing global barriers to curative hep C treatment access Almost 90% of the 57 million people living with hepatitis C live in low- and middle-income countries, but only half of these countries currently provide curative treatments at an accessible cost, according to a study by UNSW Sydney's Kirby Institute.
	Protein production glitches in Huntington's disease revealed DNA, often thought of as "the blueprint of life," contains instructions for building proteins that cells need to survive and function properly. But DNA isn't perfect and errors can occur during replication. Sometimes, this can result in snippets of the DNA building blocks called nucleotides—G (guanine), A (adenine), T (thymine), C (cytosine)—getting repeated too many times in a row.
	Scientists develop more effective treatment for chronic wounds with plasma-activated hydrogel dressings A team of international scientists has developed a more effective treatment for chronic wounds that does not involve antibiotics or silver-based dressings, but an ionized gas called plasma.
	Research shows lasting effects of smoking after quitting Researchers are still discovering how smoking continues to harm people's health even years after they quit, with a new study on Wednesday revealing tobacco's lasting effect on the immune system.
	Frog embryo study helps scientists unravel the human birth anomaly of intestinal malrotation How does our intestine, which can be at least 15 feet long, fit properly inside our bodies? As our digestive system grows, the gut tube goes through a series of dramatic looping and rotation to package the lengthening intestine. Failure of the gut to rotate properly during development results in a prevalent, but poorly understood, birth anomaly called intestinal malrotation.
	Try a cholesterol-lowering diet for heart health With those New Year's resolutions six weeks behind us, some people may have reverted to less healthy ways of eating. Heart Month is a great time to remind yourself why a healthy diet is important for more than just your waistline.
	Modifying chemotherapy treatment can make life better for older adults with cancer Standard chemotherapy regimens, which are mostly based on testing in relatively young and healthy patients, may do more harm to older adults with cancer who often struggle with other health issues. New research, published yesterday in JAMA Network Open, shows that lowering the dose and adjusting the schedule of how chemotherapy is given to older adults with advanced cancer can make life better for patients, without compromising their treatment goals.
	Study finds risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM) may lower breast cancer mortality A study co-led by Professor Kelly Metcalfe of the Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, and researchers at the Familial Breast Cancer Research Unit at Women's College Hospital, finds risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM) in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic variant, significantly reduces the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer and lowers the probability of death.
	Weight management treatments increase weight loss in patients with obesity, finds study For patients with obesity, weight management treatments (WMTs) are associated with an increased probability of 5 percent or greater weight loss, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in JAMA Network Open.
	Study finds prevalence of long COVID varies geographically in the United States There is geographic variation in the prevalence of long COVID in the United States, according to research published in the Feb. 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	E-cigarettes boost tobacco use abstinence with smoking cessation counseling The addition of electronic cigarettes to standard smoking-cessation counseling results in greater abstinence from tobacco use among smokers than smoking-cessation counseling alone, according to a study published in the Feb. 15 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	FDA approves Eohilia for eosinophilic esophagitis The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Takeda's Eohilia (budesonide oral suspension) as the first and only oral treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
	CDC may recommend COVID boosters for some this spring The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is weighing whether to recommend another COVID booster shot this spring, most likely for those who are vulnerable to severe illness.
	FDA expands use of asthma med Xolair to treat food allergies People threatened by accidental exposure to foods they're allergic to may have a new weapon of defense: On Feb. 16, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the use of the asthma drug Xolair to help prevent anaphylactic reactions.
	Research finds brain cancer risk increase after moderate/severe, penetrating TBI Moderate/severe and penetrating traumatic brain injury (TBI) are associated with an increased risk for subsequent development of brain cancer, according to a study published online Feb. 15 in JAMA Network Open.
	Endovascular thrombectomy found to be beneficial for large ischemic stroke For patients with acute ischemic stroke and large cores, endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) improves clinical outcomes compared with medical management (MM), according to a study published online Feb. 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association to coincide with the annual American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference, which was held from Feb. 7 to 9 in Phoenix.
	Antihypertensive combos recommended for BTKi-linked hypertension Specific combinations of antihypertensives are recommended for patients with Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi)-associated hypertension (HTN), according to a study published online Feb. 5 in Blood Advances.
	Pickleball-related fractures up significantly in older adults As pickleball has gained in popularity, associated fractures have skyrocketed 90-fold since 2002, according to a study presented at the 2024 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, held from Feb. 12 to 16 in San Francisco.
	Study finds more kids, teens may be taking multiple psychiatric meds A study of mental health care in Maryland finds an increasing number of children and teens covered by Medicaid are taking multiple psychiatric meds.
	Spring allergies have wide-ranging effects, say experts Spring allergies bring to mind thoughts of stuffy noses and watery eyes. But allergies actually affect many different and interconnected systems within a person's body, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
	Inside the plan to diagnose Alzheimer's in people with no memory problems and who stands to benefit In a darkened Amsterdam conference hall this summer, a panel of industry and academic scientists took the stage to announce a plan to radically expand the definition of Alzheimer's disease to include millions of people with no memory complaints.
	Women may realize health benefits of regular exercise more than men Women who exercise regularly have a significantly lower risk of an early death or fatal cardiovascular event than men who exercise regularly, even when women put in less effort, according to a new study.
	Remission of Cushing's disease associated with higher risk of developing autoimmune disease A study of more than 250 persons undergoing surgical therapy for Cushing's disease (CD) or nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) found that patients who achieved remission of CD were more likely than those with surgically treated NFPAs to develop new-onset autoimmune disease within three years after remission. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.
	Emerging role of lipids in metabolic disorders and lipid alterations in fatty liver disease The importance of lipids as one of the fundamental biological compounds is well established as they are important signaling molecules and key components of metabolic disorders. The imbalance in lipid homeostasis and the dysregulation of lipid uptake and trafficking contribute to a multitude of metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and fatty liver disease and it is crucial to identify new mechanistic insights and the role of genetic variants involved in these disorders.
	Study highlights importance of genetic sequencing to diagnosis of growth disorders In an article published in the Journal of Pediatrics, researchers based in Brazil describe the case of a nine-year-old boy admitted to hospital with multiple symptoms and overlapping conditions that made diagnosis difficult, such as short stature, thin tooth enamel (dental enamel hypoplasia), moderate mental deficiency, speech delay, asthma, mildly altered blood sugar, and a history of recurring infections in infancy.
	HIV among older South Africans in rural areas: Large study shows there's a problem that's being neglected South Africa continues to have a high prevalence of HIV among all age groups. About 8.2 million people or 13.7% of the population live with HIV, one of the highest rates in the world.
	Asbestos in mulch? Here's the risk if you've been exposed Mulch containing asbestos has now been found at 41 locations in New South Wales, including Sydney parks, schools, hospitals, a supermarket and at least one regional site. Tests are under way at other sites.
	Medicaid 'unwinding' could lead to eviction crisis, new public policy research suggests The United States may be in for a significant wave of evictions in a year or so, the unintended consequence of work to trim Medicaid rolls expanded during the COVID-19 public health emergency, according to new research from Georgia Tech's School of Public Policy.
	Scientists develop new monoclonal antibody to treat HER2-positive breast cancer In a step forward for breast cancer treatment, researchers at Tohoku University have developed a novel monoclonal antibody that specifically targets a certain type of breast cancer cell. Their findings, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, offer a new tool for treating this disease.
	Black, hispanic middle class finding it tougher to afford senior housing, health care Millions of Black and Hispanic middle-class adults won't be able to afford senior housing and health care expenses as they grow old, a new study warns.
	E. coli outbreak tied to raw milk cheese Raw milk cheese tainted with E. coli bacteria has sickened 10 people in four states, hospitalizing four, federal regulators warn.
	FDA approves new treatment for advanced melanoma The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a novel treatment for advanced melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.
	Study sheds light on links between cognitive and motor skill development in children with autism A recent study by Oregon State University researchers highlighted the ways motor skills and cognitive skills develop in connection with each other in young children with autism, and found an opportunity for behavioral and physical therapists to work together to improve care.
	Seniors, FDA has 5 medication tips to keep you safe When settling into your senior years, you need to be especially careful when taking medicines, herbal remedies and supplements, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
	The HILPDA protein: A potential biomarker for new treatment options in aggressive kidney cancer A new study from Karolinska Institutet discovered that blocking the MYC tumor protein in kidney cancer cells leads to an increase in fat droplets, which are associated with tumor growth. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides crucial knowledge for identifying new therapeutic targets for treating this aggressive form of cancer.
	Colorado prescription drug board declares Enbrel unaffordable in national first A Colorado board voted unanimously Feb. 16 to consider setting a maximum price for a drug to treat autoimmune diseases, launching the state into uncharted territory and setting up a possible showdown with the drug's manufacturer.
	'That's a good girl': How women are infantilized during obstetric care and labor As Kate, a participant in our research on birth experiences, struggled with the pain she was experiencing during labor, the midwife was stern. She referred to Kate as a "silly girl" and told her she needed to calm down. Finally, the anesthetist arrived to give Kate an epidural. He asked if this was "the silly girl" he'd heard about, and then told her to control herself.
	Climate change is fueling a new type of anxiety, therapists say When psychotherapist Caroline Hickman was asked to help a child overcome a fear of dogs, she introduced them to her Labradoodle, Murphy. "You get the child to feel confident in relation to the dog and teach the child skills to manage a dog," she says. "You build the skills, build the competence, build the confidence, and then they're less scared of dogs generally."
	Boost to palliative care may be needed for cancer patients Care normally increases towards the end of a cancer patient's life, especially while their prognosis is still uncertain or when treating potentially reversible conditions such as infections, but not all care improves their situation.
	Lung cancer: Predicting which patients are at high risk of recurrence to improve outcomes Lung cancer is responsible for more deaths than breast, colon and prostate cancer combined.
	COVID: There's a strong current of pandemic revisionism in the mainstream media, and it's dangerous There is no clearer marker that we are now in the "after" phase of the pandemic, than the proliferation of public inquiries, reports on lessons learned and post hoc analyses. To reassess and agonize over how reasonable lockdown was is now a near-constant in the media, particularly in the UK.
	Music exposes listeners to alcohol references, potentially influencing drinking At least one in four contemporary songs references alcohol, according to an analysis of multiple studies that hint at the effects of music exposure on listeners' drinking. Music is nearly ubiquitous in modern life, thanks partly to smartphones and streaming services.
	Q&A: Why the top cause of death for women has been ignored Experts at the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai who have studied progress made over decades of research say there's still a long way to go before medical science fully understands how heart disease is different in women than men.
	Viewpoint: Colonial legacies fuel unfair practices in African research Africa's data science ecosystem has the potential to drive transformative scientific research and health care advancements.
	Unveiling uremic toxins linked to itching in hemodialysis patients Hemodialysis patients commonly experience itching on a daily basis, which is distributed throughout their bodies. A research team led by Dr. Yamamoto has found several uremic toxins that cause itching in hemodialysis patients. They developed a "PBUT score" based on highly protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUT) that increase in the body with end-stage kidney disease. The PBUT score was associated with itching in hemodialysis patients.
	Patients see first savings from Biden's drug price push, as pharma lines up its lawyers Last year alone, David Mitchell paid $16,525 for 12 little bottles of Pomalyst, one of the pricey medications that treat his multiple myeloma, a blood cancer he was diagnosed with in 2010.
	New eligibility rules are a financial salve for nearly 2 million on Medi-Cal Millions of Medi-Cal beneficiaries can now save for a rainy day, keep an inheritance, or hold on to a modest nest egg, without losing coverage, thanks to an eligibility change phased in over the past year and a half. It also has opened the door for thousands who previously did not qualify for Medi-Cal, the health insurance program for low-income residents that covers over one-third of California's population.
	Can Ozempic treat depression? Early signs point to yes Add depression to the growing list of chronic diseases that obesity medicines might alleviate. Signs of improved mental health are showing up in the health records of people who take the broader class of medicines known as GLP-1s, which include Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly & Co.'s Zepbound.
	Rare case of opossum infected by rabies sounds alarm regarding circulation of this virus in urban environments A female white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris) found dead in 2021 in Bosque dos Jequitibás Park in the center of Campinas, one of the largest cities in São Paulo state, Brazil, died from rabies meningoencephalitis, according to a group of researchers at the University of São Paulo (USP) and Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL), the regional reference laboratory, working with health professionals affiliated with public institutions in São Paulo city and Campinas.
	Study finds connection between COVID-19 and insomnia Researchers in Vietnam have discovered a connection between COVID-19 cases and trouble sleeping in patients.
	Q&A: Study finds women more likely than men to suffer from long COVID A new study by Western researchers has drawn a link between higher body mass index (BMI) in women and the likelihood of long COVID, but did not find the same link in men.
	How having conversations with children builds their language—and strengthens family connections Parents and caregivers of school-aged children are all too familiar with the after-school conversation that sounds a little something like:
	What bodily secretions like blood, wax and tears can tell us about our health Dry scalp? Blocked ears? Crusted eyes? Our bodies produce many different unusual, sometimes repellent secretions, and their function doesn't always seem entirely clear. But each has their own important role, which often goes unappreciated.
	Team develops highly accurate universal diagnostic blood test for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment An HKUST-led international research collaboration has achieved a significant milestone in Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis and management. The team has developed a cutting-edge blood test for the early detection of AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), surpassing remarkable accuracy rates of over 96% and 87% respectively.
	Study finds no higher risk of miscarriage after COVID-19 LUMC research has shown that women who previously had a miscarriage due to COVID-19 are not at increased risk of having another miscarriage or a stillbirth. Nor are preventive drugs needed during the pregnancy.
	Can smells improve your athletic performance? Did you know that the scent of peppermint can make you run faster? That a whiff of ammonia will make you do a few more push-ups than usual? Or that the fragrance of jasmine can improve your bowling score?
	To boost a preschooler's language skills, consider reminiscing Language skills are strong predictors of academic, socioemotional and behavioral outcomes when children enter school. They learn language in preschool years by interacting with others, especially their parents. Book sharing is a popular way parents engage young children in conversation. However, not all parents are comfortable with book sharing and not all children like having books read to them.
	Research finds flu vaccines were effective in 2022–2023 flu season The prospect of the worrisome triple threat of COVID, RSV, and flu was assuaged last year by the effectiveness of flu vaccines. Two recent studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's VISION Network have found that flu vaccines were effective for all ages against both moderate and severe flu in the U.S. during the 2022-2023 flu season.
	Insulin resistance in shift workers not affected by melatonin treatment, finds study Melatonin treatment does not affect the insulin resistance or the glucose tolerance of night shift workers, according to a new study from the University of Surrey and the University Medical Centre Hamburg. Melatonin treatment does, however, significantly improve the sleep quality of those working shifts.
	Revealing the gut's crucial role in lung disease Research led by the Centenary Institute, the University of Technology Sydney, and the Hunter Medical Research Institute suggests that the gut microbiome plays a pivotal role in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), paving the way for new therapeutic treatments.
	Exposure to the sun's UV radiation may have a positive effect on fertility in women aged 30–40 A research team from Tel Aviv University and the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer conducted an investigation of seasonal fluctuations in AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) levels. Their pioneering study revealed that during the summer, women of late reproductive age—between the ages of 30 and 40—experience increased secretion of the hormone from their ovaries.
	Study highlights disparities in life-saving treatment for stroke after heart surgery Although stroke treatments have vastly improved in recent years, leading to better outcomes for many, one population of patients often does not receive these effective therapies: those who suffer strokes following heart surgery.
	Researchers demonstrate clinical benefits of schema therapy for inpatient treatment Schema therapy is increasingly being used as a psychotherapeutic method. The focus here is on early childhood experiences and emotions that contribute to current symptoms and mental disorders. So far, the effectiveness of schema therapy for depression has been examined only in outpatient settings.
	Study reveals five common ways in which the health of homeless pet owners and their companions is improved A rapid scoping review has been conducted, which reveals five common ways in which the health of homeless pet owners and their companion animals is improved.
	Ethical burden, restricted resources and poor management cause home care workers to leave their jobs: Study Many of Finland's newly established well-being services counties are looking to cut costs in eldercare services, especially in round-the-clock care and home care. At the same time, the sector suffers from a significant shortage of workforce, which means that a growing number of older adults, many with high needs for support, have to manage in their own homes without adequate help.
	'Soaring' over hills or 'playing' with puppies: Study finds seniors enjoy virtual reality Retired Army Col. Farrell Patrick taught computer science at West Point during the 1970s and then at two private universities through the 1990s, so he isn't surprised by the progress technology has made over the decades.
	Drug repairs systems that remove Alzheimer's-causing waste from the brain, study shows A team of Rutgers undergraduates has shown that an experimental drug known as Yoda1 may help drain cranial waste plus neurotoxins that cause Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.
	Largest COVID vaccine study yet evaluates adverse events of special interest Vaccines that protect against severe illness, death and lingering long COVID symptoms from a coronavirus infection were linked to small increases in neurological, blood, and heart-related conditions in the largest global vaccine safety study to date.
	Behind the wheel: Navigating driving with epilepsy Jessica Veach didn't wait long enough at the stop sign.
	Analysis identifies more than 275 million previously unreported genetic variations An analysis of genomic data from nearly 250,000 participants in the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program has identified more than 275 million previously unreported genetic variations, nearly 4 million of which have potential health consequences.
	Researchers combine modern equipment for increased precision in body composition analysis Locating specific, localized distributions of fat and muscle in body composition is intuitively and imprecisely implied by body shape. Now, a team of researchers has discovered that the unique combination of modern deep learning models, specified equipment and three-dimensional body scans has given a quantitative validation on medical imaging that was previously only qualitative.
	PFAS: Can we adapt to live without? Over the past two years, 3M sold nearly 25,000 different products that contain PFAS, the "forever chemicals" that will soon be largely illegal in Minnesota.
	Pediatrician offers advice on how to safely help a baby with a stuffy nose sleep Every year in the U.S., some 3,400 babies die while sleeping. Many lose their lives to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which has no clear cause. Others manage to twist or turn themselves into a position that narrows their airways. Some babies suffocate when pillows or blankets block their mouths or noses.
	For Washington patients with serious mental illness, this little-known right may get stronger Andrea Boyd's son has been in crisis often enough to know the urgency of getting treatment when he needs it. In his 20s, without proper care and medication, he drifted onto the streets for nearly a decade.
	Early detection may help Kentucky tamp down its lung cancer crisis For the past decade, Kentucky researchers have promoted lung cancer screening, first recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in 2013. These days the Bluegrass State screens more residents who are at high risk of developing lung cancer than any state except Massachusetts—10.6% of eligible residents in 2022, more than double the national rate of 4.5%—according to the most recent American Lung Association analysis.
	Australian research leaves smoking stereotypes up in smoke A first-of-its-kind national study from The Australian National University (ANU) has debunked common myths about who smokes in Australia and will help provide better support and potentially life-saving interventions for 2.5 million daily smokers.
	New study unveils dynamics of sexual racism among young sexual minority black men Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD), commonly known as "sexual racism," remains a significant challenge for young sexual minority Black men (YSMBM). Despite growing awareness, there remains a significant gap in understanding how RSD intersects with individuals' sexual positioning roles.

Other Sciences news

	Saturday Citations: Einstein revisited (again); Atlantic geological predictions; how the brain handles echoes Einstein's inexhaustible field equations just keep on predicting weird stellar objects, and the latest one is a doozy—so strap on your helmet, inside of which is another helmet, encasing still yet another helmet. This headgear is modeled on a weird solution to the field equations described below, along with an interesting neural study involving human speech in reverberant environments and predictions for the Atlantic Ocean over the next 20-odd-million years.
	Researchers find worsening distress among Latinos in the United States Changes to the social and political landscape between 2011 and 2018, with dramatic events such as DACA rule changes, new presidential leadership, immigration bills and more, have left one major threat looming—deportation.
	Scientists try out Stone Age tools to understand how they were used Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University crafted replica Stone Age tools and used them for a range of tasks to see how different activities create traces on the edge. They found that a combination of macroscopic and microscopic traces can tell us how stone edges were used. Their criteria help separate tools used for wood-felling from other activities. In addition, dated stone edges may be used to identify when timber use began for early humans.
	People do change their beliefs about conspiracy theories—but not often, says study From 9/11 to COVID, researchers including La Trobe University's Dr. Mathew Marques, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, surveyed just shy of 500 Australians and New Zealanders over the course of six months to determine whether people change their minds frequently or stick tenaciously to their beliefs, regardless of what evidence they come across.
	Birds have been adapting to human activity for millennia, research suggests Roughly 14,500 to 10,500 years ago, in the transition from the last glacial period, Epipaleolithic and Neolithic peoples harvesting vegetation from the wetlands of eastern Jordan created a habitat for birds that would otherwise have migrated, a new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory reveals.
	From Coke cans to shoes to menus: What's behind the rise in personalized products? Customized shoes, personalized drinks and specialized menu offerings. In a world where carbon copies of products are everywhere, retailers have to make their products stand out and provide customers with a unique purchasing experience.
	Trauma-informed approaches to discipline matter for equitable and safe schooling Schools across North America are increasingly implementing policies and practices to reduce suspensions and expulsions.
	Stone Age 'megastructure' under Baltic Sea sheds light on strategy used by Paleolithic hunters over 10,000 years ago Archaeologists have identified what may be Europe's oldest human-made megastructure, submerged 21 meters below the Baltic Sea in the Bay of Mecklenburg, Germany. This structure—which has been named the Blinkerwall—is a continuous low wall made from over 1,500 granite stones that runs for almost a kilometer. The evidence suggests it was constructed by Paleolithic people between 11,700 and 9,900 years ago, probably as an aid for hunting reindeer.
	Is Russia looking to put nukes in space? It would undermine global stability and ignite an anti-satellite arms race Fresh U.S. intelligence circulating in Congress reportedly indicates that Russia is developing an anti-satellite weapon in space with a nuclear component.
	Economic model shows trust in government is linked to takeup of renewables South Africa relies heavily on energy from coal-fired power stations, which emit large quantities of carbon. But making the transition to greater use of renewable energies, such as solar, is being hampered by a number of factors. Chief among them is corruption, which is affecting the quality of institutions.
	History's crisis detectives: Using math and data to reveal why societies collapse—and clues about the future American humorist and writer Mark Twain is believed to have once said, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes."
	'Benevolent sexism' in startups widens the gender gap by advantaging men over women Women continue to face barriers in entrepreneurship, with only 17 percent of small and medium-sized businesses being owned by women in Canada.
	Q&A: If Russia is developing some kind of space-based weapon, Putin may never get to use it News of a possible Russian satellite-destroying, space-based nuclear weapon sent shock waves through Washington this week. Some officials responded with considerable alarm, while others insisted that such concern is—for the moment—an overreaction.
	'I'm gonna get totally and utterly X'd': Can you really use any English word to mean 'drunk'? The English language is famous for the large number of words that express the idea of being drunk in a humorous way—so-called drunkonyms like "pissed," "hammered" or "wasted." British comedian Michael McIntyre even argues in a comedy routine that posh people can use any word to mean "drunk" in English, e.g., "I was utterly gazeboed" or "I'm gonna get totally carparked." With the myriad of possibilities, how can people understand new drunkonyms then?
	Data suggest Indigenous fathers help build stronger communities: How they can be better supported When approaching how to support the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, there is a tendency in favor of strengthening and empowering mothers, rather than fathers.
	Disinformation threatens global elections: How to fight back With over half the world's population heading to the polls in 2024, disinformation season is upon us—and the warnings are dire. The World Economic Forum declared misinformation a top societal threat over the next two years and major news organizations caution that disinformation poses an unprecedented threat to democracies worldwide.
	Acid attacks are a form of violence against women—the law needs to treat them as such, researcher says At the end of January, a 31-year-old woman and her daughters suffered horrifying injuries after being assaulted with an alkaline corrosive substance in London. Sadly, acid attacks like this are not isolated incidents. Over the last 15 years, they have been on the rise across the world, including in the UK.
	UK report: Innovative approaches by financial institutions can make a crucial difference in gambling-related harm With a record number of people seeking help for problem gambling through the National Gambling Helpline last year, and the Gambling Commission's new figures suggesting that as many as 1.3 million adults in Great Britain might experience gambling-related harm, new research from Queen Mary University of London reveals innovative and effective approaches by financial institutions to support affected individuals.
	What's behind the collapse in the price of nickel and how can the industry survive? Australia's nickel industry has been granted access to billions of dollars in federal funding as well as relief from royalty payments after a collapse in the global price of nickel that threatens thousands of jobs.
	Study: Gardening good for the soul, until the pressure grows What if one of the things known for helping and reducing stress and anxiety, becomes such a commitment, it leads to burn-out?

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