Science X Newsletter Thu, Feb 22

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for February 22, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Hiroshima fallout debris linked to first solar system condensates

Study investigates chemical composition of metal-poor star HD 1936

Compound vital for all life likely played a role in life's origin, suggests synthesis study

3D-printable tissue adhesive sets a new standard in biomedical technology

Word inscribed on ancient bronze hand resembles modern Basque word

Exploring how the somatosensory cortex contributes to the encoding of newly learned movements

Research combines two leading theories to better explain how and why people cooperate with one another

Snakes do it faster, better: How a group of scaly, legless lizards hit the evolutionary jackpot

Carbon emissions from the destruction of mangrove forests predicted to increase by 50,000% by the end of the century

New realistic computer model will help robots collect moon dust

Damage to cell membranes causes cell aging, finds new study

Researchers discover underlying cause of brain fog linked with long COVID

Research shows how air pollution has offset expected increases in rainfall

Treating newly-diagnosed Crohn's patients with advanced therapy leads to dramatic improvements in outcomes

AI matches or outperforms human specialists in retina and glaucoma management, study finds

Nanotechnology news

Researchers harness 2D magnetic materials for energy-efficient computing Experimental computer memories and processors built from magnetic materials use far less energy than traditional silicon-based devices. Two-dimensional magnetic materials, composed of layers that are only a few atoms thick, have incredible properties that could allow magnetic-based devices to achieve unprecedented speed, efficiency, and scalability.

Graphene research: Numerous products, no acute dangers Think big. Despite its research topic, this could well be the motto of the Graphene Flagship, which was launched in 2013: With an overall budget of one billion Euros, it was Europe's largest research initiative to date, alongside the Human Brain Flagship, which was launched at the same time.

Physics news

	Scientists discover exotic quantum interference effect in a topological insulator device In a novel experiment, physicists have observed long range quantum coherence effects due to Aharonov-Bohm interference in a topological insulator-based device. This finding opens up a new realm of possibilities for the future development of topological quantum physics and engineering.
	Photon upconversion: Steering light with supercritical coupling National University of Singapore researchers and their collaborators have unveiled a novel concept termed "supercritical coupling" that enables a several-fold increase in photon upconversion efficiency. This discovery not only challenges existing paradigms, but also opens a new direction in the control of light emission.
	A new chapter for all-attosecond spectroscopy: Researchers achieve 1 kilohertz repetition rate A team of researchers from the Max Born Institute in Berlin has, for the first time, demonstrated attosecond-pump attosecond-probe spectroscopy (APAPS) at a repetition rate of 1 kilohertz. This became possible by the development of a compact, intense attosecond source using an out-of-focus generation geometry. The approach opens new avenues for the investigation of extremely fast electron dynamics in the attosecond regime.
	Experiment paves the way for new set of antimatter studies by laser-cooling positronium AEgIS is one of several experiments at CERN's Antimatter Factory producing and studying antihydrogen atoms with the goal of testing with high precision whether antimatter and matter fall to Earth in the same way.
	Enhanced 3D chemical imaging with phase-modulation Understanding complex biological and biomedical systems is greatly aided by 3D imaging, which provides much more detailed information than traditional two-dimensional methods. However, live cell and tissue imaging remain challenging due to factors like limited imaging speed and significant scattering in turbid environments.
	In a doughnut in Japan, unlocking the power of the Sun With its tangle of pipes and pumps leading to a metal pot the size of a five-storey building, Japan's JT-60SA machine looks to the untrained eye like a contraption from 1970s sci-fi.

Earth news

	Hiroshima fallout debris linked to first solar system condensates The atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, by the United States in August 1945 was not only devastating at the time, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, but it has had long-standing impacts to the present day, particularly the elevated incidence of cancer from radiation.
	Carbon emissions from the destruction of mangrove forests predicted to increase by 50,000% by the end of the century The annual rate of carbon emissions due to the degradation of carbon stocks in mangrove forests is predicted to rise by nearly 50,000% by the end of the century, according to a new study published in Environmental Research Letters. Mangroves in regions such as southern India, southeastern China, Singapore and eastern Australia are particularly affected.
	Research shows how air pollution has offset expected increases in rainfall We know that greenhouse gas emissions like carbon dioxide should increase rainfall. The emissions heat the atmosphere, causing a one-two punch: Warmer oceans make it easier for water to evaporate, and warmer air can hold more water vapor, meaning more moisture is available to fall as rain. But for much of the 20th century, that increase in precipitation didn't clearly show up in the data.
	Side effects of wide scale forestation could reduce carbon removal benefits by up to a third, study finds Research, led by scientists at the University of Sheffield and published in the journal Science, provides a new insight into the broader impacts of forestation on the Earth's climate, indicating that its positive impact is potentially smaller than previously thought.
	New detection method aims to warn of landslide tsunamis University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers have devised a way to remotely detect large landslides within minutes of occurrence and to quickly determine whether they are close to open water and present a tsunami hazard.
	New study is first step in predicting carbon emissions in agriculture For the first time, researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities (UMN) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) have demonstrated that it is possible to provide accurate, high-resolution predictions of carbon cycles in agroecosystems, which could help mitigate the impacts of climate change.
	Plate boundaries may experience higher temperature and stress than previously thought Temperature and shear stress are two influential variables that affect faulting and seismicity in subduction zones, where tectonic plates converge. Yet because earthquakes originate tens of kilometers below Earth's surface at plate boundaries, the effects of temperature and the magnitude of stress are poorly understood and hotly debated.
	California's rainy season is here. What does it mean for water supply? After a dry start to winter, California's rainy season is finally well under way.
	China may miss all key climate targets for 2025: report China may miss all of its main climate goals for 2025, a new report showed Thursday, as the world's largest emitter increased its reliance on carbon-intensive industries to bolster a flagging economy.
	After heavy storms, Death Valley is now open to kayakers: The return of ghostly Lake Manly Storms pummeling Southern California have dramatically transformed Death Valley National Park, doubling the size of a vast temporary lake that is even visible to orbiting spacecraft.
	It's not just toxic chemicals: Radioactive waste was also dumped off Los Angeles coast, scientists conclude For decades, a graveyard of corroding barrels has littered the seafloor just off the coast of Los Angeles. It was out of sight, out of mind—a not-so-secret secret that haunted the marine environment until a team of researchers came across them with an advanced underwater camera.
	Anzali wetland, Iran's 'ecological gem,' may dry up by 2060 As climate change progresses, the world's wetlands are disappearing, more quickly in some places than others. Iran has the second-fastest rate of wetland loss (after Greece), having lost 14% of its wetland area between 2010 and 2020.
	Research project on the Atlantic highlights worldwide efforts to preserve marine biodiversity When it comes to life on Earth, the importance of the Atlantic Ocean may be bigger even than its size. The world's second-largest body of water after the Pacific, the Atlantic is unique because of its large-scale ocean circulation. This movement of water and heat from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere has no equivalent in other oceans.
	Australian passenger vehicle emission rates are 50% higher than the rest of the world—and it's getting worse, says study Australian passenger vehicles are emitting 50% more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than the average of the world's major markets. And the real-world situation is even worse than official figures show. That's the finding of a new study comparing the CO₂ emissions performance of cars, SUVs and light commercial vehicles in Australia and overseas.
	Understanding uncertainties in projected summer precipitation changes over the Tibetan Plateau The Tibetan Plateau (TP), a complex high-altitude region with an average elevation of 4,000 meters, is widely recognized as the "Asian Water Tower" and "the third pole." Changes in precipitation over the TP significantly affect the water cycle in the surrounding areas, directly and indirectly affecting the lives of millions of people and ecosystems.
	Satellites increasingly critical for monitoring ocean health Playing a huge role in moderating the climate, oceans are fundamental to the functioning of our planet. Understanding more about how seawater temperatures are rising and how oceans are absorbing excess atmospheric carbon dioxide, as well as knock-on issues such as ocean acidification, is key for understanding climate change and for taking effective action.
	Video: The latest science on tipping points in Antarctica Ice loss from Antarctica has increased over the recent decades. The ice sheet in this remote continent covers about 98% of the Antarctic continent and is the largest single mass of ice on Earth. Even small changes in ocean conditions in the future could lead to long-lasting or even irreversible changes—with important implications for global sea-level rise.
	Cooler, wetter parts of Pacific Northwest likely to see more fires, new simulations predict Forests in the coolest, wettest parts of the western Pacific Northwest are likely to see the biggest increases in burn probability, fire size and number of blazes as the climate continues to get warmer and drier, according to new modeling led by an Oregon State University scientist.
	Black carbon sensor could fill massive monitoring gaps Black carbon is the most dangerous air pollutant you've never heard of. Its two main sources, diesel exhaust and wood smoke from wildfires and household heating, produce ultrafine air particles that are up to 25 times more of a health hazard per unit compared to other types of particulate matter.
	UK to quit 'outdated' fossil fuel friendly treaty The UK will join a string of European countries in leaving a controversial energy treaty that has allowed fossil fuel giants to sue governments over their climate policies, the government said on Thursday.
	New study unveils east Asian spring climate influencers In a study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, researchers from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have found significant relationships between March and April variations in the East Asian trough (EAT). This atmospheric phenomenon, similar to a persistent low-pressure belt, plays a crucial role in determining East Asian's climate and weather during the crucial spring months.

Astronomy and Space news

	Study investigates chemical composition of metal-poor star HD 1936 Using the Ankara University Kreiken Observatory (AUKR) in Turkey, astronomers have performed high-resolution spectroscopic observations of a metal-poor star known as HD 1936. Results of the observations campaign, published February 15 on the preprint server arXiv, shed more light on the chemical composition of this star.
	New realistic computer model will help robots collect moon dust A new computer model mimics moon dust so well that it could lead to smoother and safer lunar robot teleoperations. The tool, developed by researchers at the University of Bristol and based at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory, could be used to train astronauts ahead of lunar missions.
	Astronomers find first strong evidence of neutron star remnant of exploding star An international team of astronomers including UCL's (University College London's) Professor Mike Barlow has discovered the first conclusive evidence that a neutron star exists at the center of Supernova 1987A, a star explosion observed 37 years ago.
	Astronomers observe the effect of dark matter on the evolution of the galaxies Dark matter comprises around 85% of all the matter in the universe. Although ordinary matter absorbs, reflects and emits light, dark matter cannot be seen directly, which makes its detection difficult. Its existence is inferred from its gravitational effects on visible matter, the material that forms stars, planets, and other objects in the cosmos.
	LHAASO discovers giant ultra-high-energy gamma-ray bubble, identifying the first super PeVatron The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) has discovered a giant ultra-high-energy gamma-ray bubble structure in the Cygnus star-forming region, which is the first time that the origin of cosmic rays with energy higher than 10 Peta-Electronvolt (PeV) has been discovered. This achievement was published in the form of a cover article in Science Bulletin on Feb. 26.
	Little groundwater recharge in ancient Mars aquifer, according to new models Mars was once a wet world. The geological record of the Red Planet shows evidence for water flowing on the surface—from river deltas to valleys carved by massive flash floods.
	A new beginning: Astronomers search for more temperate 'Tatooines' Star Wars protagonist Luke Skywalker's childhood might have been slightly less harsh if he'd grown up on a more temperate Tatooine—like the ones identified in a new study.
	Three years later, the search for life on Mars continues In the three years since NASA's Perseverance rover touched down on Mars, the NASA science team has made the daily task of investigating the red planet seem almost mundane.
	Old European satellite plunges harmlessly through the atmosphere over the Pacific An old Earth-observing satellite fell out of orbit Wednesday and harmlessly broke apart over the Pacific.
	New measurement of cosmic distances in the dark energy survey gives clues about the nature of dark energy We now have a standard model of cosmology, the current version of the Big Bang theory. Although it has proved very successful, its consequences are staggering. We know only 5% of the content of the universe, which is normal matter. The remaining 95% is made up of two exotic entities that have never been produced in the laboratory and whose physical nature is still unknown.
	Heritage ERS-2 satellite returns to Earth Launched in 1995, ERS-2 was a pioneering Earth observation satellite that greatly influenced our understanding of our planet and climate change. Despite an intended operational life of only three years, the satellite had a 16-year operational lifetime, and together with the almost identical ERS-1 satellite left an important legacy for the future of Earth observation.
	Commercial US spaceship hours from attempted Moon landing A Houston-based company is set Thursday to land America's first spaceship on the Moon in more than 50 years, part of a new fleet of NASA-funded, uncrewed, commercial robots meant to pave the way for astronaut missions this decade.

Technology news

	A DVD-sized disk that can store 1 million movies A team of photonic engineers affiliated with several institutions in China has developed a new type of optical DVD that is capable of holding up to a petabyte of data. The group used a new material to coat the DVDs and new laser techniques to write data. The results are published in Nature.
	New structural insights could lead to mechanical enhancement in alloys A new class of metallic materials with potential applications in airplane turbines, nuclear reactors and equipment for space exploration can withstand extreme temperatures and resist fractures, but scientists haven't understood why until now.
	Method identified to double computer processing speeds Imagine doubling the processing power of your smartphone, tablet, personal computer, or server using the existing hardware already in these devices.
	World's first real-time wearable human emotion recognition technology developed A technology that can recognize human emotions in real time has been developed by Professor Jiyun Kim and his research team in the Department of Material Science and Engineering at UNIST. This innovative technology is poised to revolutionize various industries, including next-generation wearable systems that provide services based on emotions.
	Amorphous solar cells with FIDO technology are more efficient, stable and lightweight A group led by researchers at Nagoya University in Japan has created a material based on fullerene indanones (FIDO), which promises to improve the durability of next-generation solar cells. Durability has been one of the biggest hurdles in their practical application and commercialization. The researchers published their findings in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
	Q&A: ChatGPT acts more altruistically, cooperatively than humans Modern artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, is capable of mimicking human behaviors, but the former has more positive outcomes such as cooperation, altruism, trust and reciprocity.
	Hyundai's Supernal and Embraer-backed Eve Air Mobility see future in electric-powered air taxis As the aviation sector seeks ways to make air travel less polluting and more sustainable, aerospace company Embraer and South Korean automaker Hyundai are among the companies betting on a new form of air travel -– air taxis.
	Apple boosts iMessage security to fend off quantum computing attacks Apple Inc. is upgrading the security of its iMessage app, aiming to fend off a looming future threat: advanced quantum computing attacks.
	How an endangered hawk could topple plans for WA's largest wind farm What began as the largest wind project ever proposed in Washington—the Horse Heaven Hills wind farm—will likely soon be cut to a fraction of the original vision.
	Commentary: Cement is a big part of the carbon problem. How to make it part of the solution In 2014, hundreds of Angelenos gathered downtown to watch more than 2,000 trucks pour concrete into a vast hole. During that event, Los Angeles set a world record: 80 million pounds of concrete were laid down over 18 straight hours to form the foundation for the Wilshire Grand Center, which now towers 73 stories over the city.
	Supreme Court sounds skeptical of cross-state air pollution rule Republican appointees to the Supreme Court criticized the EPA's rule on cross-state air pollution during oral arguments Wednesday, as the justices contemplate whether to block the rule as lower legal challenges play out.
	Americans reporting nationwide cellular outages from AT&T, Cricket Wireless and other providers A number of Americans are dealing with cellular outages on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and other service providers, according to data from Downdetector. AT&T, who was the hardest hit, is actively working to restore service to all of its customers.
	Exploring the use of silicon microresonators for artificial neural networks Researchers have made significant progress in the development of artificial neural networks using tiny silicon devices called microresonators, paving the way for faster and more energy-efficient artificial intelligence systems. These networks mimic the computing capabilities of the human brain, breaking away from traditional digital computer architectures and leveraging the speed, low power dissipation and multi-wavelength capabilities of photonics.
	Thermoelectric technologies can help power a zero-carbon future Thermometers are an under-appreciated marvel of human ingenuity built upon an understanding of relatively simple physical principles. Mercury and alcohol thermometers rely on the volume of liquids growing or shrinking in reaction to temperature change. Contactless infrared thermometers, by contrast, read the thermal radiation emitted by any object, from frying pans to the human body.
	OpenAI's new generative tool Sora could revolutionize marketing and content creation OpenAI's new generative Sora tool has sparked lively technology discussions over the past week, generating both enthusiasm and concern among fans and critics.
	Path to lower emissions demands a smarter grid, say researchers Researchers at the University of Adelaide believe the global investment being made in smart metering infrastructure could fall short of fulfilling promised benefits to customers if key systems issues are not addressed.
	Despite uncertainties, cellulosic biofuels still a win for ground transportation Despite the fervor around electric vehicles and their potential to reduce the transportation sector's carbon footprint, 2023 projections suggest EVs won't edge out gas-powered vehicles for decades to come. With conventional vehicles likely to dominate the ground fleet for the foreseeable future, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign experts say cellulosic biofuels shouldn't be discounted.
	AI-driven method helps improve quality assurance for wind turbines An international collaboration between EPFL and the University of Glasgow has led to an advanced machine-learning algorithm to effectively detect concealed manufacturing defects in wind turbine composite blades—before turbines are put into service.
	Ultra-fast generative visual intelligence model creates images in just 2 seconds ETRI's researchers have unveiled a technology that combines generative AI and visual intelligence to create images from text inputs in just 2 seconds, propelling the field of ultra-fast generative visual intelligence.
	Research team develops parabolic trough solar module for hybrid electricity and heat generation Solar rays focused on concentrator photovoltaic cells using parabolic mirrors not only supply electricity, but also thermal energy for industrial processes, heating or cooling. Three technological innovations significantly reduce costs.
	New electrochemical system enables efficient metal recovery from industrial wastewater A research team at Tsinghua University led by Professor Huijuan Liu has developed a new electrochemical system that promises to revolutionize metal recovery from industrial wastewater. The research was published in Engineering.
	Emergence of machine language: Towards symbolic intelligence with neural networks Led by a team from the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, a new study explores a novel frontier in machine learning. With the rise of large language models, AI is evolving from perceptual intelligence to cognitive intelligence, and human language has become a pivotal component of visual understanding. This study questions whether machines can spontaneously learn a machine language as a visual representation, without relying on human language.
	ChatGrid: A new generative AI tool for power grid visualization Every minute of every day, grid operators monitor the ebb and flow of electricity from generators to substations to homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and more. They make sure that the supply of electricity matches the current demand and often must make snap decisions if there's a disruption, such as a storm or equipment failure.
	Massive leak shows Chinese firm hacked foreign govts, activists: analysts A Chinese tech security firm was able to breach foreign governments, infiltrate social media accounts and hack personal computers, a massive data leak analysed by experts this week revealed.
	CEOs of OpenAI and Intel cite artificial intelligence's voracious appetite for processing power Two tech CEOs scrambling to produce more of the sophisticated chips needed for artificial intelligence met for a brainstorming session Wednesday while the booming market's early leader reported another quarter of eye-popping growth.
	How AI health care chatbots learn from the questions of an Indian women's organization Komal Vilas Thatkare says she doesn't have anyone to ask about her most private health questions.
	TSMC diversifies out of hotspot Taiwan with new Japan plant Surrounded by fields of carrots and cabbages, workers are putting the finishing touches to a factory opening on Saturday that is a milestone for both US ally Japan and Taiwanese chip giant TSMC.
	Google suspends Gemini AI chatbot's ability to generate pictures of people Google said Thursday it is temporarily stopping its Gemini artificial intelligence chatbot from generating images of people a day after apologizing for "inaccuracies" in historical depictions that it was creating.
	Brash tech lobby drives social media battles to Supreme Court After California passed a law forcing digital platforms to adopt privacy guardrails and safety standards for young users, Carl Szabo had a blunt warning for legislators attending the nation's biggest conference for state policymakers: "The lawsuits are coming."
	Adaptive fusion of structure and attribute-guided polarized communities search The exploration of polarized communities, which consist of two antagonistic subgraphs and include a set of query nodes, is a crucial task in community search on signed networks. Most existing methods either predominantly rely on topological structure while disregarding node attributes or tend to prioritize the global identification of all polarized communities. Thus, they fail to consider two crucial insights.
	AT&T's network is having problems: What you should know while navigating a phone service outage Customers of AT&T, the country's largest wireless provider, reported widespread outages on Thursday.
	How residual materials can become high-performance construction products When it comes to sustainable development, the construction industry faces great challenges. In the ReMatBuilt project, experts from the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut, WKI and their partners are proving that the tasks associated with this can be solved with high-performance construction materials made of recycled and waste materials. They presented their solutions to specialist audiences at the Hannover Messe Preview on February 21, 2024.
	Diminishing ether-oxygen content of electrolytes enables temperature-immune lithium metal batteries Oxygen-free n-Hexane (HEX), the most stable solvent against Li-metal, was successfully introduced into the standard concentration electrolyte to constitute an electrolyte for temperature-immune lithium-metal batteries.

Chemistry news

	Compound vital for all life likely played a role in life's origin, suggests synthesis study A chemical compound essential to all living things has been synthesized in a lab in conditions that could have occurred on early Earth, suggesting it played a role at the outset of life, finds a new study led by University College London researchers.
	Polymer science team develops additive that can 'upcycle' a wide range of plastics One doesn't need to be reminded that plastic production, and plastic pollution, have steadily increased over the years—the evidence is all around us. What if we were able to recycle plastic in a way that is truly sustainable?
	Bright and tough: A material that heals itself and glows A research team at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) has succeeded in developing a self-healing material that is also capable of emitting a high amount of fluorescence when absorbing light. The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, could lead the way to the creation of new materials such as organic solar cells that are more durable than current types.
	New method for marking neurotransmitter receptors in living animal brains Researchers have developed a new method of labeling naïve neurotransmitter receptor proteins in living animal brains.
	A new vibrant blue pottery pigment with less cobalt Whether ultramarine, cerulean, Egyptian or cobalt, blue pigments have colored artworks for centuries. Now, seemingly out of the blue, scientists have discovered a new blue pigment that uses less cobalt but still maintains a brilliant shine.
	Looking at the importance of catalyst sites in electrochemical CO₂ conversion Intense research efforts have been directed toward studying the electrochemical conversion of CO2, a major greenhouse gas, into platform chemicals and fuels. The success of this technology can enable the decarbonization of some of the largest CO2 emitters, including steel, cement, and chemical manufacturing industries.
	New study shows similarities and differences in human and insect vision formation Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have discovered profound similarities and surprising differences between humans and insects in the production of the critical light-absorbing molecule of the retina, 11-cis-retinal, also known as the "visual chromophore." The findings deepen understanding of how mutations in the RPE65 enzyme cause retinal diseases, especially Leber congenital amaurosis, a devastating childhood blinding disease.
	Chemists synthesize unique anticancer molecules using novel approach Nearly 30 years ago, scientists discovered a unique class of anticancer molecules in a family of bryozoans, a phylum of marine invertebrates found in tropical waters.
	Quick-drying polymer may be key to more energy-efficient buildings University of Texas at Dallas researchers and their collaborators are developing a quick-drying polymeric desiccant that could dehumidify buildings using at least 30% less energy than conventional air-conditioning systems.
	Tailoring morphology symmetry of bismuth vanadate photocatalysts for efficient charge separation In a study published in the journal Science China Chemistry and led by Prof. Rengui Li (State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences), a distinct charge separation difference has been found via rationally tailoring the morphology symmetry of BiVO4 photocatalyst.

Biology news

	Snakes do it faster, better: How a group of scaly, legless lizards hit the evolutionary jackpot More than 100 million years ago, the ancestors of the first snakes were small lizards that lived alongside other small, nondescript lizards in the shadow of the dinosaurs.
	Damage to cell membranes causes cell aging, finds new study Our cells are surrounded by a fragile membrane that's only 5 nanometers thick, 1/20 of a soap bubble. Cells are easily damaged by physiological activities, including muscle contraction and tissue injury. To cope with such damage, cells are equipped with mechanisms that can repair membrane damage to a certain degree.
	Scientists can tell where a mouse is looking and located based on its neural activity Researchers have paired a deep learning model with experimental data to "decode" mouse neural activity. Using the method, they can accurately determine where a mouse is located within an open environment and which direction it is facing just by looking at its neural firing patterns.
	Chromatin accessibility: A new avenue for gene editing In a study recently published in Nature Genetics, researchers from Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University explore chromatin accessibility, i.e., endogenous access pathways to the genomic DNA, and its use as a tool for gene editing.
	Uncovering how HIV assembles its lipid coat, which allows it to enter cells New insights into how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) curates and assembles its lipid envelope have been gleaned by RIKEN biologists. These findings into HIV biology could help to inform the search for new treatments. The paper is published in the journal Nature Communications.
	Stem cells 'migrate' to repair damaged lung cells, study shows A new Yale-led study has found that stem cells migrate to help repair damaged lung cells caused by injuries such as viral or bacterial infections.
	Novel technology allows comprehensive analysis of membrane protein extracellular interactions Many proteins within the body form complexes with other proteins, determining the fate of cells. Therefore, the analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPI) is a crucial process for understanding the biological function of target proteins.
	New research reveals activation mechanism of Thoeris antiviral defense system Senior Researcher Dr. Giedrė Tamulaitienė and colleagues from Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC), in collaboration with the researchers from Weizmann Institute of Sciences (Israel), revealed an activation mechanism of the Thoeris antiviral defense system effector.
	40 years of crop research shows inequities A systematic analysis of 40 years of studies on public crop breeding programs found that cereal grains receive significantly more research attention than other crops important for food security, such as fruits and vegetables; only 33% of studies sought input from both men and women household members; and there is significantly less research in South America, the Middle East and North Africa than in sub-Saharan Africa.
	Study explores a novel and precise mitochondrial gene editing method Gene editing technology could revolutionize the treatment of genetic diseases, including those that affect the mitochondria—cell structures that generate the energy required for the proper functioning of living cells in all individuals. Abnormalities in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) could lead to mitochondrial genetic diseases.
	'Dynamic duo' defenses in bacteria ward off viral threats Scientists at the University of Southampton have discovered that bacteria can pair up their defense systems to create a formidable force, greater than the sum of its parts, to fight off attacks from phage viruses. Understanding how bacteria react to this type of virus is a big step in combating antimicrobial resistance.
	Tracking tropical turtles deep down to the seabed reveals their feeding habits Hawksbill turtles are critically endangered, they are found in every ocean and are the most tropical of sea turtles. Adult hawksbills have long been considered to have a close association with shallow (less than 15 meters depth) seas where coral reefs thrive.
	Illuminating the source-sink balancing act of photosynthetic 'tiny green bacteria' Cyanobacteria are little green microorganisms that photosynthesize, like plants and algae do, but with stark differences in how they function.
	Largest study of developmental microRNA dynamics uncovers mechanism of their regulation Gene expression is controlled by numerous small RNA molecules called microRNAs, or miRNAs. However, specific functions of most miRNAs remain poorly understood. Working with worms, Friedrich Miescher Institute (FMI) researchers created an encyclopedia of miRNA dynamics during development, uncovering mechanisms of their regulation.
	AI helps provide the most complete map of interactions key to bacterial survival UAB researchers have produced the most complete map of the bacterial essential interactome, that is, how proteins combine and interact to perform functions essential for their survival. The research, published in the journal eLife, used the artificial intelligence tool AlphaFold to predict and model more than 1,400 interactions. The results have revealed previously unknown details of these mechanisms and offer potential targets for the development of new antibiotics.
	Starving mosquitoes for science Researcher Jiayue (Gabriel) Yan is part of the Medical Entomology Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His recent study appears in Communications Biology. In this article, he describes his work.
	Live imaging reveals key cell dynamics in 3D organ formation in Drosophila Animal development requires successive changes in cell and tissue structures. To form complex 3D organs, cell shapes must adapt to support tissue morphogenesis. However, our understanding of how cellular structure changes are coupled with dynamic tissue morphogenesis is limited, largely due to reliance on studies of fixed tissues and cultured cells. Real-time observation of cell shape changes during morphogenesis is therefore crucial.
	Study finds a smoking gun for the spread and evolution of antibiotic resistance Biomedical engineers at Duke University have uncovered a key link between the spread of antibiotic resistance genes and the evolution of resistance to new drugs in certain pathogens.
	Study shows orchid family emerged in northern hemisphere and thrived alongside dinosaurs for 20 million years In a new study published in New Phytologist, scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, along with partners in Latin America, Asia and Australia, present an updated family tree of orchids, tracing their origins to the northern hemisphere some 85 million years ago. Not only does the study shed new light on their complex and fascinating evolutionary history, but the study's authors hope their findings will help inform future orchid conservation planning.
	Neurobiology: Examining how bats distinguish different sounds Seba's short-tailed bat (Carollia perspicillata) lives in the subtropical and tropical forests of Central and South America, where it mostly feeds on pepper fruit. The animals spend their days in groups of 10 to 100 individuals in hollow trunks and rocky caverns, and at night they go foraging together. They communicate using sounds that create distinct ambient noise in the colony—like the babble of voices at a lively party.
	Seaports found to be hotspots of contagious cancer in mussels Seaports act as hubs for the global spread of MtrBTN2, a rare contagious cancer affecting mussels. In this disease, cancer cells can be transmitted, like parasites, from one mussel to another nearby.
	Australian researchers discover new native rodent species Australia can lay claim to two new species of native rodent thanks to a study from The Australian National University (ANU).
	Can a lone wolf affect the environment? Red wolf researchers have surprising data As Ron Sutherland guides his Subaru along the roads of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, he keeps his eyes peeled.
	Sentinels of the sea: Ancient boulder corals are key to reef survival in a warmer world Seas surrounding Australia this month hit an alarming level of warming. It comes on the back of serious marine heat waves in the Northern Hemisphere summer.
	Hard to kill: Here's why eucalypts are survival experts They can recover from fire. Grow back from a bare stump. Shrug aside bark loss that would kill a lesser tree. Endure drought and floods.
	Researchers develop tree masting model to better understand how it affects ecosystems The effects of a phenomenon called tree masting on ecosystems and food webs can be better understood thanks to new theoretical models validated by real-world observations.
	Secret, undeclared pesticide ingredients may pose a risk to people, pollinators and the environment In a new article in Environmental Science & Policy authored by a researcher from Trinity, the case is made that secret ingredients in pesticides could be posing risks to people, pollinators and the environment.
	U.S. safety protocols stopped TB in imported lab monkeys from spreading to humans Rigorous safety protocols prevented an outbreak of tuberculosis last year in lab monkeys imported to the United States from spreading to humans, a new report shows.
	New method measures levels of toxic tire particles in rivers Scientists at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) have developed a robust method for detecting whether a toxic chemical used in car tires is present in rivers, streams, and lakes and measuring its concentrations.
	Report makes five recommendations to promote regenerative farming In a new report, researchers at Ivey Business School offer evidence-based research, best practices, and critical recommendations for farming that supports ecosystems through natural agricultural principles, a method known as regenerative agriculture.
	Stronger storms free more nutrients from mud flats, finds researcher If storms become stronger in the future due to climate change, more nitrogen may be released from the bottom of coastal seas. This is shown by the research of marine biogeochemist Dunia Rios-Yunes at NIOZ in Yerseke. Rios-Yunes will defend her Ph.D. thesis today at the University of Utrecht. "The dynamics of nutrients in deltas and estuaries have been a bit of a blind spot for marine science so far," she says.
	Coast Guard launches 'traffic control for whales' in Washington State's Puget Sound Joe Gaydos remembers the beautiful minke whale that washed up on the shore of a San Juan Island in 2022. Illuminated by a pink and orange sunrise, its injuries were consistent with a fatal strike.
	Dogs with epilepsy found to have altered levels of trace elements and heavy metals in their blood and fur A recent study at the University of Helsinki reveals that dogs with epilepsy exhibit distinct alterations in trace elements and heavy metal levels in their blood and fur compared with healthy counterparts.
	Irrecoverable carbon in the mountains: Embracing the opportunity of agroforestry Over 29% of global irrecoverable carbon, which once gone is not likely to recover in any reasonable timeframe according to scientific literature, is stored in mountains. This biomass, representing irreplaceable ecosystems, biodiversity, and globally significant ecosystem services, is under threat everywhere by demographic and environmental pressures, as Earth's rapidly changing global climate is affecting mountains at an accelerated rate.
	China plans to send San Diego Zoo more pandas this year, reintroducing panda diplomacy China plans to send a new pair of giant pandas to the San Diego Zoo, renewing its longstanding gesture of friendship toward the United States after nearly all the iconic bears on loan to U.S. zoos were sent back as relations soured between the two nations.
	Norway salmon farms turn to veggie menu Norway's fish farms are feeding their salmon an increasingly vegetarian diet in order to make their businesses more sustainable, but for these carnivorous pink-fleshed fish, all is not rosy.
	Birds know no borders. Nor do scientists Over centuries, wetlands all over the world have had to give way to "more useful" types of land—seen from man's perspective.
	Research on the Tirlán grain pool shows the carbon footprint is one of lowest in the world New research from Teagasc on the Tirlán grain pool shows that Irish grain has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. The research, unveiled at the Tirlán Quality Grain Awards this week, is the first of its kind using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology specifically developed for Irish grain on a wide range of commercially grown Irish cereals. Accounting for straw incorporation, the study showed the net carbon footprint could be close to net zero.
	CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutagenesis of inulin biosynthesis in rubber dandelion Researchers have leveraged the power of the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system to enhance natural rubber production in rubber dandelion (Taraxacum kok-saghyz). The CRISPR system's efficiency and precision offer a promising avenue to address challenges faced by the rubber industry.

Medicine and Health news

	3D-printable tissue adhesive sets a new standard in biomedical technology Researchers from MIT have developed a 3D-printable tissue adhesive that demonstrates superior tissue adhesion, rapid sealing capabilities across various surgical scenarios and a unique blood-repelling feature. The technology holds immense potential for revolutionizing wound care and biomedical device applications.
	Exploring how the somatosensory cortex contributes to the encoding of newly learned movements The somatosensory cortex is a brain region known to play a role in the detection of tactile information, changes in temperature, and pain sensations. Some recent studies found that this crucial brain region is also involved in the human ability to learn and retain new motor skills.
	Researchers discover underlying cause of brain fog linked with long COVID A team of scientists from Trinity College Dublin and investigators from FutureNeuro has announced a major discovery with profound importance for our understanding of brain fog and cognitive decline seen in some patients with long COVID. The work appears in Nature Neuroscience.
	Treating newly-diagnosed Crohn's patients with advanced therapy leads to dramatic improvements in outcomes A large-scale clinical trial of treatment strategies for Crohn's disease has shown that offering early advanced therapy to all patients promptly after diagnosis can drastically improve outcomes, including by reducing the number of people requiring urgent abdominal surgery for treatment of their disease by ten-fold.
	AI matches or outperforms human specialists in retina and glaucoma management, study finds A large language model (LLM) artificial intelligence (AI) system can match, or in some cases outperform, human ophthalmologists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with glaucoma and retina disease, according to research from New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai (NYEE).
	Study reveals new insights into immune system role in lung cancer risk Recent developments in cancer research have highlighted the vital role of the immune system, particularly in the notable successes of cancer immunotherapy.
	How chronic stress spreads cancer Stress is inevitable. But too much of it can be terrible for our health. Chronic stress can increase our risk for heart disease and strokes. It may also help cancer spread. How this works has remained a mystery—a challenge for cancer care.
	Researchers use deep brain stimulation to map therapeutic targets for four brain disorders A new study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham demonstrated the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) to map a 'human dysfunctome'—a collection of dysfunctional brain circuits associated with different disorders. The team identified optimal networks to target in the frontal cortex that could be used for treating Parkinson's disease, dystonia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette's syndrome. Their results are published in Nature Neuroscience.
	New study pinpoints why some injured kidneys do not heal Cedars-Sinai investigators have discovered why some injured kidneys heal while others develop scarring that can lead to kidney failure. Their findings, detailed in a paper published in Science, could lead to the development of noninvasive tests to detect kidney scarring and, eventually, new therapies to reverse the condition.
	Cracking the code of neurodegeneration: New model identifies potential therapeutic target Scientists at the University of Zurich have developed an innovative neural cell culture model, shedding light on the intricate mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration. Their research pinpointed a misbehaving protein as a promising therapeutic target in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Their paper is published in the journal Nature.
	New class of antivirals works against broad range of RNA viruses including SARS-CoV-2 A University of Alberta research team has uncovered a new class of drugs with the potential to prevent or treat infections in a future viral outbreak.
	Can your smartwatch improve treatment for depression? The same smartwatch that counts your steps and hours of sleep can also offer mental health clinicians valuable information about depression symptoms, a Northeastern expert says in an article published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
	New technique can quickly detect fentanyl and other opioids University of Waterloo researchers have developed a new blood testing method that can detect potent opioids much faster than traditional approaches and potentially save lives.
	'Olive oil' drug shows early promise for some brain cancer patients A unique drug derived from oleic acid—which naturally occurs in animal and vegetable fats such as olive oil—has shown promise for patients with an advanced form of the most common type of brain cancer, following a study led by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London.
	Unsaturated fats can help control damaging bouts of inflammation in colitis An overly robust immune response to usually harmless germs has been linked to colitis, a potentially severe inflammation of the colon that afflicts millions of people worldwide. A new Yale-led study not only reveals that the presence of one class of fatty acids is the hidden villain that quietly triggers this inflammation, but also found that another group of fats—unsaturated fats such as those found in olive oil—can alleviate symptoms of colitis in mice.
	Re-exposing a cancer protein to enhance immunotherapy Successful immunotherapy for cancer involves activating a person's own T cells to identify telltale proteins called antigens on the surface of a tumor and attack it. But some tumors have a trick: They hide themselves from the immune system by preventing their antigens from being displayed.
	Alzheimer's blood test found to perform as well as FDA-approved spinal fluid tests A simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease soon may replace more invasive and expensive screening methods such as spinal taps and brain scans.
	Study reveals extent of undiagnosed cancer cases due to COVID-19 pandemic Over 134,000 cancer cases went undiagnosed in the U.S. during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center study.
	Removing bias from health care AI tools Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have opened the way for the creation of a huge range of new health care tools, but to ensure that these tools do not exacerbate preexisting health inequities, researchers urge the use of more representative data in their development.
	First brain-wide map shows how sex and intimacy rewire the brain How does sex relate to lasting love? To answer that question, scientists have long studied a small Midwestern rodent called the prairie vole, one of the few mammals known to form long-term, monogamous relationships.
	New research shows how empathy can be socially transmitted Prof. Dr. Grit Hein's latest assessments of empathic abilities once again challenge the old adage, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." It seems that not only children but also adults can adopt empathic responses from close caregivers in addition to their genetic predispositions. Adults, too, are malleable and can learn to be more or less compassionate through observing others.
	Protein integral to sperm development and male fertility identified Early in the development of sperm, a strange event happens: the X and Y chromosomes condense into tight packages and are sequestered away from the other 44 human chromosomes. If any part of this process goes awry, the cells cannot mature into sperm. Researchers in the UC Davis College of Biological Sciences have now identified an important link in this process—a little-known protein called ATF7IP2.
	Families of men with fertility problems show distinct patterns of increased risk for several types of cancer For the first time researchers have identified patterns of risk for several different types of cancer in men with fertility problems and their families.
	Women in health care face significantly higher burnout rates compared to their male colleagues, finds review A new study finds women in health care occupations endure significantly more stress and burnout compared to their male counterparts. The analysis by researchers at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences also found that job satisfaction and better work-life balance can protect women health care professionals from harmful stress.
	Silent brain changes precede Alzheimer's. Researchers have new clues about which come first Alzheimer's quietly ravages the brain long before symptoms appear and now scientists have new clues about the dominolike sequence of those changes—a potential window to one day intervene.
	FDA warns against smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar without needles Smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels for medical purposes without piercing the skin could be dangerous and should be avoided, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.
	CAR T-cell therapy appears to be feasible, safe for autoimmune diseases CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy seems feasible, safe, and efficacious for patients with different autoimmune diseases, according to a study published in the Feb. 22 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	'Fourth wave' of opioid epidemic crashes ashore, propelled by fentanyl and meth The United States is knee-deep in what some experts call the opioid epidemic's "fourth wave," which is not only placing drug users at greater risk but is also complicating efforts to address the nation's drug problem.
	In California, faceoff between major insurer and health system shows hazards of consolidation For weeks, more than half a million Anthem Blue Cross enrollees who receive health care from the University of California were held in suspense. It wasn't clear whether they would have to find new doctors or switch plans as the health system and one of its largest insurance partners struggled to reach agreement on a new contract.
	An essential medical device fails people of color: A clinic is suing to fix that Roots Community Health Center was slammed in 2020, with lines for its COVID-19 testing stations stretching around the block and exam rooms full of people struggling to breathe.
	Closing the clinical trials disparity gap Getting sufficient representation of racial and ethnic minority populations in clinical trials remains a pervasive challenge, despite concerted efforts by researchers and mandates set by funding sources and regulatory agencies. A lack of diversity in research results in continued disparities and poorer health outcomes in underrepresented communities.
	Syphilis cases spike in Florida, especially in Orange County Syphilis, a sexually transmitted disease nearly eradicated 20 years ago, is back on the rise in Florida, particularly in Orange County.
	Study finds that living in violent neighborhoods affects children's brain development Living in neighborhoods with high levels of violence can affect children's development by changing the way that a part of the brain detects and responds to potential threats, potentially leading to poorer mental health and other negative outcomes, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
	Study finds a third of trans masculine individuals on testosterone still ovulate Physician-researcher Joyce Asseler and gynecologist Norah van Mello examined the ovarian tissue of transgender people who had their ovaries removed as part of their gender-affirming treatment. They had all used testosterone for at least one year prior to and at the time of the procedure. Their analysis shows that 17 of the 52 study participants (33%) show signs of recent ovulation in the ovarian tissue. The results have been published in Cell Reports Medicine.
	Latest research redefines neurodevelopmental risks, outcomes for congenital heart disease More than a decade of new knowledge about neurodevelopmental risk in people with congenital heart disease has changed the thinking about who is most at risk and the factors that impact neurological development, learning, emotions and behaviors, according to a new American Heart Association statement published in Circulation.
	Police transport may influence restraint use in the emergency department Patients brought to the emergency department (ED) under police transport are more likely to be restrained in the ED, a new Yale study finds. And it may explain, at least in part, why racial disparities exist in the use of restraint, the researchers say.
	Ductus arteriosus stenting could help severely ill infants with pulmonary arterial hypertension Treatment for infants who have severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is sometimes limited. Because they haven't physically matured, a procedure could increase the risk of serious complications, including failure of the heart's right ventricle.
	Generative AI used to create translatable pediatric care educational videos for hospitals in resource-poor countries A team of pediatric clinicians at Mass General Brigham have turned to generative artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle problems plaguing child medical care delivery in resource-poor countries that increase risk for poor outcomes and mortality.
	Uncovering anxiety: Scientists identify causative pathway and potential cures Anxiety-related disorders can have a profound impact on the mental health and quality of life of affected individuals. Understanding the neural circuits and molecular mechanisms that trigger anxiety can aid in the development of effective targeted pharmacological treatments.
	Fighting the flu: The surprising power of a century-old vaccine for tuberculosis As Canada's flu season collides with record strep A cases and ongoing COVID-19 concerns, a new study is shedding light on our understanding of respiratory immune responses. Scholars from the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center (RI-MUHC) have discovered a surprising facet about a century-old vaccine for tuberculosis, Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG).
	Transforming nursing assessment in acute hospitals A large-scale participatory study led by QUT researchers has shown how optimizing ward nursing physical assessment for early changes and trends in patient condition can enhance hospital safety.
	Mask-wearing and skincare preservatives: A double challenge for skin health The skin, our largest organ, can absorb many chemicals, including methylparaben (MeP), commonly used in cosmetics. MeP, found in 72% of tested personal care products in a Czech study, can accumulate in the skin, potentially causing adverse effects such as skin aging and oxidative stress. Additionally, mask wearing creates a hypoxic environment for facial skin, impacting skin metabolism and thickness.
	Substudy of trial reveals how statin therapy prevents cardiovascular disease in people with HIV A recent clinical trial reveals how a daily statin pill may prevent heart attacks and strokes in people with HIV. In this substudy of the phase 3 Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV (REPRIEVE), a team led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) discovered that pitavastatin reduces plaque buildup in the heart's coronary arteries and lowers inflammation in the blood. The findings are published in JAMA Cardiology.
	Researchers: We gave palliative care patients VR therapy—more than 50% said it reduced pain and depression symptoms People in palliative care are dealing with serious, non-curable illness. Every day can be filled with severe physical, psychological and emotional pain.
	Dating apps are accused of being 'addictive'. What makes us keep swiping? A class-action lawsuit filed in the United States against Match Group—the parent company of dating apps Tinder, Hinge and The League—is making headlines around the world.
	Whether inserted, ingested or implanted, batteries are a matter of life and death If you've heard about the case of the Australian man who needed emergency removal of the three "button" batteries he'd inserted into his urethra, then it's likely your eyes will still be watering. According to the case report, ten days later, he required follow-up surgery for penile tissue necrosis caused by the battery burns.
	Scientists discover link between leaky gut and accelerated biological aging The Wistar Institute's associate professor Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen, Ph.D., has demonstrated, with his lab and collaborators, a connection between viral damage to the gut and premature biological aging.
	Brief psychological interventions can reduce post-traumatic stress symptoms after childbirth After a childbirth that was traumatic (and/or medically complicated) women can develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which poses numerous risks for themselves and their children. Identifying and implementing treatments to reduce the symptoms of PTSD could reduce those risks and make families healthier.
	Researchers uncover potential treatment for cardiovascular complications from type 2 diabetes New research at the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building has discovered a potential treatment for an underlying cause of cardiovascular disease in people with type 2 diabetes.
	Improving efficiency, reliability of AI medical summarization tools Medical summarization, a process that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to condense complex patient information, is currently used in health care settings for tasks such as creating electronic health records and simplifying medical text for insurance claims processing. While the practice is intended to create efficiencies, it can be labor-intensive, according to Penn State researchers, who created a new method to streamline the way AI creates these summaries, efficiently producing more reliable results.
	AI aids efforts to cut nuisance alerts for health care teams: Study A new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center demonstrates the promise of artificial intelligence to help refine and target the myriad computerized alerts intended to assist doctors and other team members in day-to-day clinical decision-making.
	Review seeks to understand and manage risk factors for common heart condition A large-scale review published in The Lancet Regional Health—Europe provides an update on the recent advances in understanding and managing risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF).
	Number of registered nurses rebounds following pandemic decline There was a rebound in the total size of the U.S. registered nurse (RN) workforce during 2022 and 2023, according to a study published online Feb. 16 in JAMA Health Forum.
	How discrimination, class, and gender intersect to affect Black Americans' well-being Black Americans experience racial discrimination as a chronic stressor that influences their quality of life. However, it exists in conjunction with other social factors that may modify the impact in various ways. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores how discrimination, gender, and social class affect individual well-being and relationship quality for Black Americans.
	Kidney cancer treatments and tumor biology can activate different immune-modifying processes in patients An analysis of blood and tumor samples from patients in a clinical trial comparing two therapies for advanced renal cell carcinoma shows that different immunomodulatory mechanisms are at work depending on the type of treatment and the genetic makeup of the cancer.
	Fewer nurses linked to delayed care and serious outcomes in emergency departments Having fewer nurses on shift in emergency departments is linked to worse outcomes for patients, including heart attacks in the department, according to a new research paper.
	Recognize the signs of burnout in yourself and others Burnout: It's a common enough concept, but how do you know if you're experiencing it at work and at home?
	Protecting yourself from winter weather injuries Falls, frostbite, fractures: They are all potential hazards of icy winter conditions. But experts say there's a lot you can do to avoid injury when snowflakes fall.
	Hormone therapy may aid in managing depressive symptoms during menopause, study suggests Hormone therapy (HT) is already recognized as the most effective treatment option for physiologic menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, but a new study is one of the first to suggest that it might also help manage depressive symptoms. It further documented a high rate of depression during menopause. Results of the study are published in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.
	Scientists develop a simple blood test to quickly diagnose sarcoidosis A research project supported by the National Institutes of Health has developed a tool to rapidly and inexpensively diagnose sarcoidosis, a chronic inflammatory disease marked by the growth of tiny lumps called granulomas in the lungs and other organs in the body. The tool, which uses a simple blood test, could allow for selective use of more invasive diagnostic tests often used to identify the disease. The findings were published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
	Decreasing sedentary time in class found to reduce obesity in children Introducing more movement into lessons led to an 8% reduction in children's waist-to-height ratio, according to new research from UCL and the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health (ISEH).
	Analysis finds discrimination impairs mental health directly and indirectly Up to now, there was some indication that discrimination negatively affects a person's mental health and well-being. With a meta study, female researchers of the University of Mannheim show the clear negative effects of discrimination for the first time.
	New insight into gene uncovers its link to incurable birth defect Researchers have unraveled how mutations in a gene can lead to an incurable neurodevelopmental disorder that causes abnormal brain development in newborns and infants.
	Anti-diabetic drugs could lower risk of primary and secondary brain cancer Diabetic patients who take anti-diabetic drugs—known as glitazones—long term had a lower risk of primary and secondary brain cancer compared with diabetic patients on other medications, new research led by the University of Bristol has found.
	Antibiotics administered to mothers during childbirth linked to autoimmune diseases in children Children whose mothers have received antibiotic treatment during childbirth are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases compared to their counterparts, according to a recent registry-based study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and conducted at the University of Oulu, Finland, involving nearly 46,000 children.
	Ginseng can speed up recovery and reduce muscle fatigue after exercise, research finds Ginseng is one of the most popular food supplements in the world. It is made out of various plants and herbs and is thought to provide many benefits, with numerous studies pointing at possible anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits as well as anti-cancer effects. A group of researchers at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) has now found that it can also be helpful for exercise.
	Physical fitness in adolescence linked to less atherosclerosis in middle age Men who were physically fit when they were young had a lower risk of atherosclerosis almost 40 years later, according to a study led by researchers at Linköping University, Sweden. The findings, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, suggest that atherosclerosis is one of the mechanisms behind the link between physical fitness and cardiovascular disease.
	Special gel could help in surgery after pelvic organ prolapse Of women who have had surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, 20% require surgery again. This is usually due to suboptimal wound healing after surgery. The synthetic PIC gel (discovered at Radboud University) might help improve this recovery process. Melissa van Velthoven will receive her Ph.D. at Radboud University on 27 February for research on this topic (in collaboration with Amsterdam UMC).
	Mice study suggests metabolic diseases may be driven by gut microbiome, loss of ovarian hormones The gut microbiome interacts with the loss of female sex hormones to exacerbate metabolic disease, including weight gain, fat in the liver and the expression of genes linked with inflammation, researchers found in a new rodent study.
	Spotlight on early detection of three heart diseases using ECG-AI Too often, the first sign of cardiovascular disease may be a major event like a heart attack, stroke or cardiac arrest. Now, researchers and clinicians at Mayo Clinic are using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to flag heart problems earlier, boosting the abilities of a diagnostic test that has been around for over a century—the electrocardiogram (ECG).
	Elenagen, a novel DNA immunotherapy for ovarian cancer, found to delay disease progression CureLab Oncology, a clinical-stage, pre-IPO biotech company, announced that its novel biological agent, Elenagen, has been shown to significantly enhance standard chemotherapy and provides clinical benefits for the patients with the deadliest form ovarian cancer. Elenagen belongs to a novel class of biological agents, supercoiled circular DNA (plasmids).
	Patients diagnosed with new-onset, persistent AFib are more likely to have certain risk factors Patients who present with persistent atrial fibrillation at diagnosis are more likely to have certain risk factors as compared with patients with occasional atrial fibrillation (AFib). The findings, led by investigators in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, published in Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology.
	Immune cell receptor provides promising immunotherapy target Drugs that target a receptor on immune cells called activin receptor 1C may combat tumor-induced immune suppression and help patients' immune systems fight back against cancer, according to a study by investigators at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy.
	Study finds AI-assisted polyp detection system significantly improves colonoscopy Annually, over 100,000 people in the Netherlands undergo a colonoscopy, an endoscopy of the colon. During this procedure, a doctor uses a camera to search for colorectal cancer and polyps, protrusions from the colon wall that can be precursors to colorectal cancer. Previous studies have shown that the more polyps a doctor finds and removes, the lower the likelihood of developing colorectal cancer later on.
	Climate change linked to rise in mental distress among teens, finds study Worsening human-induced climate change may have effects beyond the widely reported rising sea levels, higher temperatures, and impacts on food supply and migration—and may also extend to influencing mental distress among high schoolers in the United States.
	Exploring complement system response to adeno-associated virus vector gene therapy Recent clinical trials utilizing high doses of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have highlighted a new challenge to AAV gene transfer—activation of the complement system. A new article in Human Gene Therapy describes how a convergence of AAV-specific, environmental, and patient-specific factors shaping complement responses likely contribute to differential outcomes seen in clinical trials.
	Study highlights urgent need to address impact of extreme weather events on cancer survivorship Hurricanes and other extreme weather events pose immediate threats to life and property and have long-lasting impacts on health outcomes, particularly for cancer survivors.
	Developing standards for organ-on-a-chip research When testing a new medicine, researchers must do more than assess how well that drug works. They also have to determine whether the medicine has some negative, unintended consequences.
	A non-invasive option to quickly reduce blood pressure and activate blood gas exchange A study conducted by scientists from Kaunas (Lithuania) universities has revealed the possibility of non-invasively reducing blood pressure and speeding up gas exchange within the pulmonary system. The findings were confirmed in vivo—within 7 minutes, lung oxygen saturation of the test subjects improved by more than 10–15%, and blood pressure and heart rate decreased.
	Empowering autistic teens: New clinician advice for navigating chronic pain When you're an autistic teenager living with chronic pain, getting treatment for your pain can be a challenging experience. That's according to a group of young people who've spoken to Dr. Abbie Jordan of the Department of Psychology and Centre for Pain Research at The University of Bath about their experiences. Teenagers mention sensory issues, a lack of autism awareness among staff, or feeling "doubly different" compared to their peers, making receiving "one-size-fits-all" psychologically focused treatment for their chronic pain particularly challenging.
	COVID vaccine during pregnancy improves neonatal outcomes: Study An international study of COVID-19 in pregnancy, which included Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, found that neonates of booster-vaccinated mothers had less risk of being infected with COVID-19 compared to those of unvaccinated mothers.
	No clear link between weather and common muscle and joint symptoms, says study There is no clear connection between the weather and back, knee or hip pain, a University of Sydney led study has found, challenging a common belief that changes in weather parameters, such as temperature and humidity can trigger musculoskeletal pain or arthritis.
	Black children in UK have four times the risk of complications after emergency appendicitis surgery as white children New research published in Anaesthesia shows that for children undergoing emergency surgery for appendicitis in the UK, the risk of postoperative complications in Black children was four times greater than that of white children.
	ADHD drug shortages: What to expect if you take Vyvanse and can't access your usual dose Imagine you or your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and after several weeks, or even months, you've found a dose of medication you're happy with.
	Cardiac amyloidosis: Why early diagnosis and targeted treatment matter Amyloidosis occurs when the body produces abnormal proteins that bind together to form a substance called amyloid. Amyloids can deposit in any tissue or organ, including the heart, kidneys, liver and nerves. When it occurs in the heart, it's called cardiac amyloidosis.
	Postnatal depression and marginalized women A new study from the University of Warwick exposes the stark disparities within society that have long suppressed the voices of marginalized women dealing with postnatal depression.
	Whole breast ultrafractionation radiotherapy after breast‐conserving surgery in early breast cancer The FAST-Forward randomized trial from the U.K. found that ultrahypofractionated whole breast irradiation (WBI, 26 Gy in five fractions over 1 week) was just as effective as the 3-week regimen for local control. This approach can reduce treatment time from 3–5 weeks to 1 week, shorten linear accelerator (linac) operation times, and decrease hospital visits.
	Fewer Ukrainian refugees in Denmark show symptoms of post-traumatic stress: Report A new study of Ukrainian refugees in Denmark shows a significant drop in the proportion reporting signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). But while more are thriving, many are also uncertain about the future, and no less than 60% want to stay in Denmark permanently.

Other Sciences news

	Word inscribed on ancient bronze hand resembles modern Basque word A team of archaeologists with the Aranzadi Science Society has found a word inscribed on an ancient Basque bronze hand that resembles a modern Basque word. Their paper is published in the journal Antiquity.
	Research combines two leading theories to better explain how and why people cooperate with one another A team of economists from Switzerland and Germany has found, via model testing, that two leading theories created to explain why humans engage in cooperation with one another tend to fail under scrutiny. In their paper published in the journal Nature the group describes how further model and field testing showed that it was only when the two theories were combined that they proved able to describe scenarios where humans cooperated.
	Biology textbooks do not provide students with comprehensive view of science of sex and gender, say professors The teaching of science has long generated controversy in the United States—from evolution in the early 20th century to climate change today. Debates have also often emerged around how textbooks teach concepts related to social groups, and in particular whether they gloss over complex realities in ways that may mislead students in providing scientific instruction.
	How colourism affects families in the UK—and how positive parenting can challenge it Actor Lupita Nyong'o describes colourism as "the daughter of racism" in "a world that rewards lighter skin over darker skin". This form of prejudice sees people more penalized the darker their skin is and the further their features are from those associated with whiteness.
	Working from home is producing economic benefits return-to-office rules would quash More of us have been in paid work this past year than ever before. A big part of that is because more of us have been able to work from home than ever before.
	The power and pleasure—and occasional backlash—of celebrity conspiracy theories With Taylor Swift pulling in over half-a-million audience members on her Australian tour, we've been thinking a lot about fans. In this series, our academics dive into fan cultures: how they developed, how they operate, and how they shape the world today.
	Learning in two languages: Lessons from francophone Africa on what works best Children living in multilingual communities often learn in a language at school that does not match the language they speak at home. This mismatch makes it challenging for them to participate in classroom discussions and learn to read. In turn, this contributes to poor learning outcomes, grade repetition, and dropping out of school.
	Does Russia stand to benefit from climate change? Recent research examines the effect of climate change on Russia and the country's role in addressing global environmental challenges.
	Rethinking ancient Rome and its colonies in Africa When French archaeologists first began digging into the baked earth of their new colonial empire in Algeria in the mid-19th century, they fancied that they'd found kindred spirits in the Roman Empire that had come some 2,000 years before them.
	How public awareness campaigns can affect our thoughts "The war against climate change." The expression is so ingrained in our language that we forget it contains a metaphor, but it does: it makes a connection between climate change and war, a war we must win. The expression is therefore figurative.
	Research reveals GCSE results may have far-reaching impact on adult life Researchers from the universities of York and Leeds have found that General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) results have a significant impact on many elements of life at 23 years-old, predicting factors such as whether an individual had a prestigious job and a good income as well as their level of well-being, and if they had any behavioral problems.
	When food producers reduce sugar content, many buyers opt for sweeter alternatives American consumers have failed to fully embrace products with less added sugar despite the clear health benefits, according to a new study led by a researcher at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The study is believed to be the most comprehensive accounting to date of the evolution of sugar content and intake in the U.S. The findings are published in the journal Agribusiness.
	Can hunger be eradicated by 2030? World hunger is growing at an alarming rate, with prolonged conflicts, climate change, and COVID-19 exacerbating the problem. In 2022, the World Food Programme helped a record 158 million people. On this trajectory, the United Nations' goal to eradicate hunger by 2030 appears increasingly unattainable. New research at McGill University shines the spotlight on a significant piece of the puzzle: international food assistance.
	Two truths and a lie about immigration Congressional gridlock over border security talks, controversial proposals to restrict asylum and a looming impeachment trial for the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas paint a stark picture of a nation deeply divided on immigration.
	Entrepreneurs' stock losses bruise their businesses When a recession takes a bite out of an entrepreneur's personal stock portfolio, does that person's business suffer more than those of older and larger competitors?
	What does a physicist see when looking at the NFT market? The market for collectible digital assets, or non-fungible tokens, is an interesting example of a physical system with a large scale of complexity, non-trivial dynamics, and an original logic of financial transactions. At the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN) in Cracow, its global statistical features have been analyzed more extensively.
	A problem or an opportunity? App-based work separates and isolates workers from their colleagues Feeling hungry, you reach for the phone in your pocket. A few taps later, your meal is delivered to your doorstep. Problem solved: you're no longer hungry. It's so quick and easy it almost feels like magic. But what actually occurs when we place our seemingly simple food order via Wolt, Foodora, or a similar app? How are the individuals working via the apps affected?
	Study finds guided parent-child discussions are effective at addressing subtle racism Experts have long pointed out the need for white parents to have conversations that directly address racism with their children to reduce racial bias. But many parents fail to have these crucial discussions.
	Agricultural economists offer food for thought to improve baby formula supply The 2022 baby formula crisis highlighted the precarious balance between regulation, competition and safety, according to a recent study published last month.
	Parental financial assistance for home ownership may increase risk of financial elder abuse Parents offering their children a leg-up on the property ladder are at increased risk of financial elder abuse, according to a new study published in the Australian Journal of Social Issues.
	Examining the relationship of reproductive health and economics Access to reproductive health care—and abortion in particular—is an issue that resonates with voters' deeply held personal beliefs and reflects their underlying moral, philosophical, and religious views. But is it also an economic issue?

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