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

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Study outlines spectroscopic signatures of fractionalization in octupolar quantum spin ice

A method to enhance the planning of missions completed by multiple UAVs

Scientists consider fighting potentially lethal form of breast cancer with chemical produced by the disease

Signs of life detectable in single ice grain emitted from extraterrestrial moons, experimental setup shows

Your dog understands that some words 'stand for' objects, new study shows

Unintentional generation of PCBs may be producing more of the chemicals than before ban

Using Twitter/X to promote research findings found to have little impact on number of citations

Researchers explain the dissimilar smells of babies and teenagers

Decommissioned offshore structures could offer only limited ecological benefits, analysis of studies suggests

Messenger RNAs with multiple 'tails' could lead to more effective therapeutics, say researchers

Research visualizes 'demonic' face distortions in a case of prosopometamorphopsia

Researchers publish dataset of over 6,000 agri-environmental policies from all over the world

Researchers invent artificial intelligence model to design new superbug-fighting antibiotics

Researchers uncover protein interactions controlling fertility in female mice

Accumulation of 'junk proteins' identified as one cause of aging and possible source of ALS

Nanotechnology news

A 2D 'antenna' boosts light emission from carbon nanotubes A flat sheet of atoms can act as a kind of antenna that absorbs light and funnels its energy into carbon nanotubes, making them glow brightly. This advance could aid the development of tiny future light-emitting devices that will exploit quantum effects.

Physics news

	Study outlines spectroscopic signatures of fractionalization in octupolar quantum spin ice Quantum spin liquids are fascinating quantum systems that have recently attracted significant research attention. These systems are characterized by a strong competition between interactions, which prevents the establishment of a long-range magnetic order, such as that observed in conventional magnets, where all spins align along the same direction to produce a net magnetic field.
	Downscaling storage devices: Magnetic memory based on the chirality of spiral magnets A team of researchers has proposed a new concept for magnet-based memory devices that might revolutionize information storage devices due to their potential for large-scale integration, non-volatility, and high durability.
	Discovery of a hidden quantum critical point in two-dimensional superconductors Weak fluctuations in superconductivity, a precursor phenomenon to superconductivity, have been successfully detected by a research group at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech). This breakthrough was achieved by measuring the thermoelectric effect in superconductors over a wide range of magnetic fields and over a wide range of temperatures, from much higher than the superconducting transition temperature to very low temperatures near absolute zero. The results of this study were published online in Nature Communications on March 16, 2024.
	Putting a new spin on 1T phase tantalum disulfide: Scientists uncover a hidden electronic state Research often unfolds as a multistage process. The solution to one question can spark several more, inspiring scientists to reach further and look at the larger problem from several different perspectives. Such projects can often be the catalyst for collaborations that leverage the expertise and capabilities of different teams and institutions as they grow.
	Using physics principles to understand how cells self-sort in development Erin McCarthy '23, physics summa cum laude, is a rarity among young scientists. As an undergraduate researcher in Syracuse University's College of Arts & Sciences' Department of Physics, she guided a study that appeared in March 2024 in Physical Review Letters. It is the most-cited physics letters journal and the eighth-most cited journal in science overall.
	Breakthrough in light manipulation: Unveiling novel finite barrier bound states Exploring wave propagation and localization in various media has been a core focus in optics and acoustics. Specifically, in photonics and phononics, scientists have been dedicated to understanding and controlling the behavior of light and sound waves in periodic media.

Earth news

	Unintentional generation of PCBs may be producing more of the chemicals than before ban A trio of researchers at Chemistry Matters Inc., in Canada, has found evidence suggesting that more polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are being generated today than before they were banned.
	Scientists explore complex pattern of tipping points in the Atlantic's current system An international team of scientists has warned against relying on nature providing straightforward 'early warning' indicators of a climate disaster, as new mathematical modeling shows new fascinating aspects of the complexity of the dynamics of climate.
	Icefields in South America are larger than all glaciers in the European Alps together Although the two huge icefields in the Andes in South America cover approximately 16,000 square kilometers, an area roughly equivalent to the state of Thuringia in Germany, not much is known about the Patagonian icefields. A team led by Johannes Fürst from the Institute of Geography at FAU is trying to change that.
	Study reports enormous ice loss from Greenland glacier Ground-based measuring devices and aircraft radar operated in the far northeast of Greenland show how much ice the 79° N-Glacier is losing. According to measurements conducted by the Alfred Wegener Institute, the thickness of the glacier has decreased by more than 160 meters since 1998. Warm ocean water flowing under the glacier tongue is melting the ice from below.
	No 'human era' in Earth's geological history, scientists say A top panel of geologists has decided not to grant the 'human age' its own distinct place in Earth's geological timeline after disagreeing over when exactly our era might have begun.
	Reviving England's polluted rivers through incentivizing farmers and comprehensive monitoring At the close of 2023, Defra asked the British Ecological Society to bring together nearly 40 experts, to collate expert opinion on freshwater policy and set out a list of priorities for the biodiversity evidence program to focus on. Published today, the new report sets out priorities for restoring England's polluted fresh waters.
	Q&A: Clarifying the megathrust earthquake mechanism There is a 70-80% chance that the Nankai Trough Megathrust Earthquake will occur in the next 30 years. It is predicted to cause more extensive damage than the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and fatalities may exceed 320,000.
	UN warns against thirsty tech to solve water crisis The world needs to better manage its freshwater resources but thirsty new technologies touted as solutions could lead to "serious problems" if left unchecked, a UN report warned Friday.
	Exploring China's water usage trends and sustainability Against the backdrop of growing global concern over water scarcity, China, has been grappling with the complexities of water dynamics and their impact on economic growth and environmental protection. A study published in the journal Advances in Water Science has shed light on the intricate interplay between China's water usage, demand, and the factors influencing it, which is crucial for understanding the future trajectory of the country's water resources.
	Lack of resources threatens research in the Amazon Teaching and research institutions in the Amazon say they are struggling to maintain their output due to dwindling financial resources despite Brazil's climate promises on the global stage.
	New model integrates soil microbes, large perennial grasses Of all the carbon stored in ecosystems around the world, about half can be found in soils. Depending on climate, vegetation, and management, soils can be either a carbon source or a sink.
	A strong earthquake shakes Indonesia's Java Island but no reports of casualties A strong and shallow undersea earthquake shook the eastern side of Indonesia's main island of Java on Friday, causing some damage but no immediate reports of casualties.

Astronomy and Space news

	Signs of life detectable in single ice grain emitted from extraterrestrial moons, experimental setup shows The ice-encrusted oceans of some of the moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter are leading candidates in the search for extraterrestrial life. A new lab-based study led by the University of Washington in Seattle and the Freie Universität Berlin shows that individual ice grains ejected from these planetary bodies may contain enough material for instruments headed there in the fall to detect signs of life, if such life exists.
	Water persisted in Mars' Gale crater for longer than previously thought, study finds Billions of years ago, Mars was home to abundant water, and its Gale crater contained a lake. Gradually, the climate changed, drying the red planet and creating the dusty desert world we know today.
	Astronomers find evidence that blue supergiant stars can be formed by the merger of two stars An international piece of research, led by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) has found clues to the nature of some of the brightest and hottest stars in our universe, called blue supergiants. Although these stars are commonly observed, their origin has been an old puzzle that has been debated for several decades.
	April's total solar eclipse promises to be the best yet for experiments April's total solar eclipse promises to be a scientific bonanza, thanks to new spacecraft and telescopes—and cosmic chance.
	The unexplained: Giant Swedish archive logs paranormal phenomena Newspaper clippings, books and first-hand accounts of people who said they visited other planets are catalogued in a giant Swedish archive on paranormal phenomena, attracting the curious and researchers from around the world.
	What to expect when total solar eclipse passes through Ohio On April 8, millions of observers in Ohio will witness a total solar eclipse, a rare celestial event that promises to be an otherworldly experience.
	NASA's tiny BurstCube mission launches to study cosmic blasts NASA's BurstCube, a shoebox-sized satellite designed to study the universe's most powerful explosions, is on its way to the International Space Station.

Technology news

	A method to enhance the planning of missions completed by multiple UAVs Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, have already proved to be valuable tools for tackling a wide range of real-world problems, ranging from the monitoring of natural environments and agricultural plots to search and rescue missions and the filming of movie scenes from above. So far, most of these problems have been tackled using one drone at a time, rather than teams of multiple autonomous or semi-autonomous UAVs.
	Optimal system for reusing construction materials includes local storage, a new study of Amsterdam suggests Building construction accounts for a huge chunk of greenhouse gas emissions: About 36% of carbon dioxide emissions and 40% of energy consumption in Europe, for instance. That's why the European Union has developed regulations about the reuse of building materials.
	Researchers create skyrmion-based memory technology for extremely low-power devices A research team led by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) in partnership with National University of Singapore (NUS) has created an innovative microelectronic device that can potentially function as a sustainable, high-performance "bit-switch." This paves the way for future computing technologies to process data much faster while using significantly less energy.
	3D images reveal link between crack complexity and material toughness The last time you dropped a favorite mug or sat on your glasses, you may have been too preoccupied to take much notice of the intricate pattern of cracks that appeared in the broken object. But capturing the formation of such patterns is the specialty of John Kolinski and his team at the Laboratory of Engineering Mechanics of Soft Interfaces (EMSI) in EPFL's School of Engineering.
	Machine 'unlearning' helps generative AI forget copyright-protected and violent content When people learn things they should not know, getting them to forget that information can be tough. This is also true of rapidly growing artificial intelligence programs that are trained to think as we do, and it has become a problem as they run into challenges based on the use of copyright-protected material and privacy issues.
	Top computer scientists say the future of artificial intelligence is similar to that of Star Trek Leading computer scientists from around the world have shared their vision for the future of artificial intelligence—and it resembles the capabilities of Star Trek character "The Borg."
	Apple's 'Walled Garden' under fire in lawsuit Call it a "walled garden" or an ecosystem, but at the heart of Thursday's blockbuster US lawsuit against Apple are the many ways the company gets customers to remain faithful to its products.
	TikTok's duet, green screen and stitch turn political point-scoring into an art form Since its astronomical rise in popularity during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns, TikTok has played an increasing role in all aspects of American life, including politics, from the White House briefing key TikTok creators on the war in Ukraine to Joe Biden's presidential campaign launching a TikTok account.
	Lightweight machine learning method enhances scalable structural inference and dynamic prediction accuracy In recent strides within machine learning technology, particularly in reservoir computing (RC), notable advancements have been made in understanding complex systems across various domains. Researchers have been tirelessly innovating machine learning methods to analyze and forecast the dynamic behaviors of intricate systems using observed time series data. However, a pressing challenge persists: how to uphold a lightweight model while harnessing more structural information to achieve precise predictions of complex dynamics.
	Thin, bacteria-coated fibers could lead to self-healing concrete that fills in its own cracks Some say there are two types of concrete—cracked and on the brink of cracking. But what if when concrete cracked, it could heal itself?
	AI's excessive water consumption threatens to drown out its environmental contributions Water is needed for development, production and consumption, yet we are overusing and polluting an unsubstitutable resource and system.
	Major environmental benefits of recycling gold with biodiesel Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed an environmentally friendly method for recycling and purifying metals. Using gold earrings from a pawnshop in Gothenburg and biodiesel from the nearest filling station, the discovery could change an industry that is currently dependent on large amounts of fossil oil.
	Meta's success in suppressing misinformation on Facebook is patchy at best, finds study The content moderation policy adopted by Meta at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic to rein in misinformation on Facebook has proved no great obstacle to users capable to finding work arounds according to a new study by digital and social media researchers from the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney.
	What the DOJ's antitrust suit against Apple means for everyone with an iPhone Cheaper app subscriptions. Additional payment options. Greater freedom for app developers on the App Store. More consumer choice.
	Forced labor in the clothing industry is rampant and hidden. This AI-powered search platform can expose it Almost all of the clothing sold in America comes from overseas, making a long journey on a shipping container into a domestic port. Peer inside any apparel shipment bound for customs checkpoints, groaning with t-shirts or leggings or underwear, and you'll probably see tags hinting at their origins: Made in Vietnam, China, Indonesia.
	Additive manufactured aluminum alloys for space optical instruments When Zach Post was approached about leading a study to develop a framework for additively manufacturing (colloquially called 3D printing) a new space instrument for detecting air pollution, it was an opportunity he couldn't pass up.
	Could supersonic flights be the next big thing in air travel? This flight expert isn't so sure If you could fly from New York to London in half the time, would you? With a renewed interest and investment in commercial supersonic flight, that's what some companies hope to achieve.
	New structure transistors for advanced technology node CMOS ICs A review published in the journal National Science Review summarizes the research of a team led by Prof. Huaxiang Yin (Institute of Microelectronics of Chinese Academy of Sciences). They systemically reviewed the development history of Si-based metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistors (MOSFETs), including the theory update, new materials introduction, key processes breakthrough, especially on device structure innovations for the development of advanced integrated circuits (ICs) in the past twenty years.
	Amazon under investigation for selling illegal electronic devices Amazon is currently being investigated for selling illegal electronic devices, including radio signal jamming devices that can be used to confuse drones, thwart security systems and interfere with Wi-Fi networks.
	Cogeneration of innovative audio-visual content: A new challenge for computing art Walter Benjamin came up with aura and authenticity in "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" in 1936 to describe the value of original artworks created by artists instead of mechanical copies. He wanted to defend artificiality and support traditional fine arts.
	Apple, Google and Meta set to face probes under new law: source Apple, Google and Meta are set to face the EU's wrath next week as Brussels prepares to hit the tech giants with probes into potential violations of a landmark law, sources close to the matter said Friday.

Chemistry news

	Researchers explain the dissimilar smells of babies and teenagers A team of aroma chemists at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, working with psychologist colleagues from the Technical University of Dresden, has uncovered the reasons for the dissimilar smells between babies and teenagers. The study is published in the journal Communications Chemistry.
	Fast folding for synthetic peptides and microproteins Certain types of peptides and microproteins for drug discovery research can be made more efficiently and quickly using a reaction solvent that helps mimic nature's way.
	New AI model: A leap for autonomous materials science Materials science enables cutting-edge technologies, from lightweight cars and powerful computers to high-capacity batteries and durable spacecraft. But to develop materials for these applications, they need to be exactingly analyzed through numerous microscopic lenses—a difficult and time-consuming process.
	B-site rock-salt-ordered Cu-based double perovskite realizes high efficiency and stable CO₂ electroreduction Carbon dioxide electroreduction (CO2RR) into high-value chemical feedstocks and fuels is a potential way to realize the carbon-neutral cycle. Cu-oxide-based catalysts are promising for CO2 electroreduction, but suffer from inevitable reduction and structural collapse, leading to unstable electrocatalytic properties.
	More environmentally friendly flame retardants for e-mobility and electronics Organophosphorus flame retardants are a possible alternative to brominated flame retardants. However, comparative life cycle studies on this type of flame retardant are still lacking.
	Research team introduces superaerophobic three-dimensional nickel catalysts for accelerated water electrolysis Water electrolysis process is a system that produces hydrogen by electrolyzing water. It is an eco-friendly technology that can produce hydrogen fuel, a future energy source, without emitting environmental pollutants, but its limitations include low hydrogen production efficiency and high production costs. A team of researchers from Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has published research in Advanced Materials that solved both problems at once.
	Researchers propose electrocatalytic ammonia synthesis as a more environmentally friendly method A team of researchers has unveiled a promising alternative to the conventional means of synthesizing ammonia, one that is more environmentally friendly.
	Core-shell structural units show outstanding toughening effect for ceramics Toughening has always been an important research direction of structure ceramics. The addition of secondary phases to the ceramic matrix to prepare composite ceramics is an effective toughening pathway in the field of structure ceramics.
	A reliable and efficient computational method for finding transition states in chemical reactions A computational method for finding transition states in chemical reactions, greatly reducing computational costs with high reliability, has been devised. Compared to the most widely used existing method, the present method reduces the total computational cost by approximately 50 to 70%.

Biology news

	Your dog understands that some words 'stand for' objects, new study shows It's no surprise that your dog can learn to sit when you say "sit" and come when called. But a study appearing March 22 in the journal Current Biology has made the unexpected discovery that dogs generally also know that certain words "stand for" certain objects. When dogs hear those words, brain activity recordings suggest they activate a matching mental representation in their minds.
	Decommissioned offshore structures could offer only limited ecological benefits, analysis of studies suggests Decommissioned offshore structures offer limited long-term ecological benefits if they are simply left in the ocean to serve as artificial reefs, a new study suggests.
	Messenger RNAs with multiple 'tails' could lead to more effective therapeutics, say researchers Messenger RNA (mRNA) made its big leap into the public limelight during the pandemic, thanks to its cornerstone role in several COVID-19 vaccines. But mRNAs, which are genetic sequences that instruct the body to produce proteins, are also being developed as a new class of drugs. For mRNAs to have broad therapeutic uses, however, the molecules will need to last longer in the body than those that make up the COVID vaccines.
	Researchers publish dataset of over 6,000 agri-environmental policies from all over the world There can be no analysis without data. In this spirit, researchers from the University of Bonn and the Swiss Federal Institution of Technology (ETH) Zurich have published a database containing over 6,000 agri-environmental policies, thus enabling their peers as well as policymakers and businesses to seek answers to all manner of different questions.
	Researchers invent artificial intelligence model to design new superbug-fighting antibiotics Researchers at McMaster University and Stanford University have invented a new generative artificial intelligence model that can design billions of new antibiotic molecules that are inexpensive and easy to build in the laboratory.
	Bees need food up to a month earlier than provided by recommended pollinator plants, study reveals New research from the Universities of Oxford and Exeter has revealed that plant species recommended as 'pollinator-friendly' in Europe begin flowering up to a month too late in the spring to effectively contribute to bee conservation. This 'hungry gap' results in low colony survival and low production of queens for the following year.
	Research unravels the enigma of curly birch and suggests marker to recognize it at the sprout stage Curly—or Karelian—birch is a mysterious tree with a patterned wood texture and a bizarre trunk shape. Unlike the elegant white-stemmed traditional birch, the Karelian one may seem unsightly at first glance: It is a low-growing, sinuous tree with bumps and bubbles. But the Karelian birch is famous for its wood. With its beautiful shade, patterns, and durability, the material has been used since the XVIII century in the manufacture of furniture, even for the royal chambers. For this reason, the Karelian birch was called the "royal tree" and "wooden marble."
	Study shows how the chemical properties of RNA molecules could have facilitated the origin of life How was complex life able to develop on the inhospitable early Earth? At the beginning there must have been ribonucleic acid (RNA) to carry the first genetic information. To build up complexity in their sequences, these biomolecules need to release water. On the early Earth, which was largely covered in seawater, that was not so easy to do.
	Decoding the shared genetic toolkit for male sex determination Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen have broken new ground by demonstrating that an HMG-box gene in brown algae is crucial for determining male sex. This breakthrough significantly expands our understanding of sex-determination mechanisms in eukaryotic organisms. Until now, master sex-determination genes had been identified in only a select number of vertebrates and plants.
	Physicists develop modeling software to study biological membranes at the mesoscale Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen and University of Southern Denmark have recently published FreeDTS—a shared software package designed to model and study biological membranes at the mesoscale—the scale "in between" the larger macro level and smaller micro level.
	Researchers devise new way to find proteins for targeted treatment of disease Researchers at the University of Toronto and Sinai Health have created a new platform to identify proteins that can be co-opted to control the stability of other proteins—a new but largely unrealized approach to the treatment of disease.
	Why is DNA almost always a right-handed helix? Exploring the causes of chirality Why is the heart slightly on the left side of the body for most people? Why is DNA almost always a right-handed helix? Same with alpha helices, the building blocks of proteins. Chirality, or handedness, is everywhere in biology, but the reasons can be a mystery.
	Researchers develop affordable, user-friendly method for single-cell reactions at the nanoliter level Scaling down single-cell reactions to the nanoliter level is critical to minimize the risk of contamination, increase reaction efficiency, and reduce costs. Researchers from the Single-cell Center of the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a centrifugally driven system for precise manipulation of nanoliter liquids in single-cell analysis, suitable for conventional biological laboratories.
	In Lake Erie, climate change scrambles zooplankton's seasonal presence A new analysis of zooplankton in western Lake Erie shows that their biomass and seasonal behavioral patterns have been drastically altered by human-driven changes in water temperature and food webs.
	Research uncovers a rare resin fossil find: A spider that aspires to be an ant Arachnophobia can make humans flee at the sight of a brown recluse, black widow or even a daddy long legs, but animal predators of spiders know no such fear.
	Bird flu is causing thousands of seal deaths. Scientists aren't sure how to slow it down Avian influenza is killing tens of thousands of seals and sea lions in different corners of the world, disrupting ecosystems and flummoxing scientists who don't see a clear way to slow the devastating virus.
	Entanglements of humpback whales in fish farms rare, and naivety could be to blame The first study of humpback whale entanglements in B.C. aquaculture facilities in PLOS One found eight over 13 years, with the curiosity of young whales a potential contributing factor.
	Interaction patterns between bumblebees and floral resources revealed during buzz pollination Many plants conceal their pollen, requiring pollinators to use specialized methods, such as acoustic resonance pollen ejection, to achieve pollination. Pollinators with such capabilities are mainly bees (buzz pollination), with the bumblebee being the most representative.
	Multi-cusped postcanine teeth associated with zooplankton feeding in phocid seals The morphology of an animal's teeth often reflects its diet. A well-known example of a mammal that feeds in the water is the crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophaga), which consumes large amounts of zooplankton.
	Goat dies of bird flu for first time in US, Minnesota officials say: Why it's 'significant' Minnesota has reported the U.S.'s first ruminant—a group of animals including cattle, sheep, and goats—to test positive for avian influenza.
	Feds want grizzly bears back in Washington's North Cascades The National Park Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service published a final series of proposals Thursday calling for reintroducing grizzly bears to the North Cascades.
	An account of Australia's oldest, boldest trees Every state and territory in Australia has got big things. Consider the big Merino ram, big chooks, big Ned Kelly, or even the big golden guitar.
	Can mRNA vaccines help boost livestock production? University of Queensland researchers say mRNA vaccine technology could play an important role in boosting livestock production to meet global food demands.
	How flowers maintain water balance across different angiosperm branches Flowers play an essential role in maintaining a species' genetic stability. Understanding how flowers regulate water use strategies to adapt to their environment is crucial for better understanding floral evolution and plant-pollinator-environment interactions. However, the mechanisms by which flowers maintain water balance are poorly understood across angiosperm branches.
	A closer look into cryptococcal fungal infections in pets Allowing pets to roam outdoors can seem like harmless fun, providing them with exercise, mental stimulation, and a chance to explore.
	Bedtime or go time? Observing what animals do during a total solar eclipse When darkness falls on central Ohio during the total solar eclipse on April 8, will animals think it's time to go to bed? Will they be anxious? Will they care?
	Novel microsatellite tags hold promise for illuminating sea turtles' cryptic lost years In the new article "Novel Microsatellite Tags Hold Promise for Illuminating the Lost Years in Four Sea Turtle Species" published in Animals, researchers tested new prototypes of microsatellite tags on 160 juvenile sea turtles of four species in the North Atlantic and analyzed the tags' performance. These findings have important implications for the bio-logging community, especially those studying marine animals such as sea turtles.
	Duckbill dinosaur discovery in Morocco: Expert unpacks the mystery of how they got there Why are fossils of duckbill dinosaurs, a North American family, found in North Africa?
	Court upholds California rules to protect fish, but Newsom wants lenient Delta approach A Sacramento judge upheld a decision by California's water regulator to cut back agricultural and municipal water use from the San Joaquin River. The decision could lend support for future regulations in the rest of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta system.

Medicine and Health news

	Scientists consider fighting potentially lethal form of breast cancer with chemical produced by the disease Triple negative breast cancer is the most aggressive subtype of the disease and is notorious for a poor prognosis, but scientists are working on a breakthrough method of converting these treatment-resistant tumors into a form that succumbs to therapy.
	Research visualizes 'demonic' face distortions in a case of prosopometamorphopsia Imagine if every time you saw a face, it appeared distorted. Well, for those who have a very rare condition known as prosopometamorphopsia (PMO), which causes facial features to appear distorted, that is reality.
	Researchers uncover protein interactions controlling fertility in female mice Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shed light on the proteins controlling the development of ovaries in mice before and after birth. This could lead to a better understanding of how female infertility develops.
	Accumulation of 'junk proteins' identified as one cause of aging and possible source of ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease. The neurons responsible for movement begin to die and muscle control is progressively lost, leading to a fatal outcome. The causes of ALS are currently unknown, and there is no effective treatment.
	Movement disorder ALS and cognitive disorder FTLD show strong molecular overlaps, new study shows On the surface, the movement disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and the cognitive disorder frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), which underlies frontotemporal dementia, manifest in very different ways. In addition, they are known to primarily affect very different regions of the brain.
	Study explores characteristics associated with poor COVID-19 antibody response Adults with certain socio-demographic and clinical characteristics may have weaker antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccination, which could leader to a higher risk of infection, according to a recent study published in Nature Communications.
	Study finds most new doctors face some form of sexual harassment, even after #MeToo More than half of all new doctors face some form of sexual harassment in their first year on the job, including nearly three-quarters of all new female doctors and a third of males, a new study finds.
	Researchers unlock secrets of birth defect origins, offering early detection and prevention strategies A new study led by the University of California, Irvine, has revealed a potential shift in our basic knowledge of the origins of birth defects, which affect about 3% of babies born in the United States each year. The findings offer new avenues of exploration for early detection and prevention strategies.
	New alveolar soft-part sarcoma chip can mimic the microenvironment during angiogenesis Cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide, is more likely to respond to effective treatment if identified early before metastasizing, resulting in a greater probability of surviving.
	Researchers analyze how the proteome of specific brain cells changes as we age For the neurons in the brain to work smoothly and be able to process information, the central nervous system needs a strictly regulated environment. This is maintained by the blood–brain barrier, whereby specialized brain endothelial cells lining the inner walls of blood vessels regulate the exchange of molecules between the circulatory and nervous systems.
	Scientists pinpoint anorexia's neurologic origins Anorexia nervosa, a mental health disorder in which people dangerously restrict their eating or purge their stomachs soon after a meal, is one of the deadliest psychological diseases.
	New brain discovery could help in the fight against obesity One of the largest threats to human health is obesity, but now researchers from the University of Aberdeen Rowett Institute have made an important discovery in how the brain controls food intake.
	Risk of adverse pre-eclampsia outcomes accurately identified through new AI model A potentially lifesaving model for identifying maternal risk in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia has been developed by researchers.
	New study reveals preventable-suicide risk profiles Individuals with physical health concerns made up the largest and fastest growing of five subgroups of individuals who died by suicide in the United States over roughly twenty years, according to an analysis led by Weill Cornell Medicine in collaboration with Columbia University, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, the University of Hong Kong and University of Kentucky investigators.
	Researchers determine underlying mechanisms of inherited disorder that causes bone marrow failure An international study led by researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has discovered an important biological cause of Fanconi anemia, a rare inherited disorder that almost universally leads to bone marrow failure. The researchers also confirmed that a readily available bile acid may help correct some of these biological issues and provide more options for potential treatment. The findings were recently published by Nature Communications.
	Scientists using novel hydrogel to create 'lollipops' for mouth cancer diagnostic Researchers from the University of Birmingham, U.K., are creating a new 'lollipop' diagnostic for mouth cancer using a novel smart hydrogel.
	Research reveals link between menstrual cycles, emotions and sleep patterns in women Women experience disruptions in their sleep patterns and report heightened feelings of anger in the days leading up to their period, according to new research.
	Breast cancer patients can safely avoid extensive removal of lymph nodes if they respond well to systemic treatment Patients with breast cancer that has started to spread to the lymph nodes in the armpit can safely avoid extensive removal of the lymph nodes if their treatment is tailored to their response to cancer-killing therapies such as chemotherapy before surgery.
	Drug overdoses reach another record with almost 108,000 Americans in 2022, CDC says Nearly 108,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2022, according to final federal figures released Thursday.
	Allergy season arrived early in US. Here's how to keep pollen from ruining your spring Allergy season is here—and it's earlier and stronger than expected. More than 80 million Americans deal with itchy eyes, runny nose and other symptoms of seasonal allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
	Study: For each 10% increase of bacteria type in the gut, risk of hospitalization for infection falls by up to a quarter A study of two large European patient cohorts has found that for every 10% increase in butyrate-producing bacteria in a patient's gut, the risk of hospitalization for any infection falls by between 14 and 25% across two large national cohorts. The study will be presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) in Barcelona, Spain (27–30 April).
	Researchers propose a new way to identify when consciousness emerges in human infancy Academics are proposing a new and improved way to help researchers discover when consciousness emerges in human infancy.
	Navigating the maze of cancer: How precision medicine unravels the unknown In our journey to unravel the obscurities of high-grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs), we've embarked on a quest guided by personalized medicine principles. Imagine you're faced with a challenging puzzle—each piece representing a unique aspect of your illness. Precision medicine acts as our Personalized Puzzle Solver, meticulously arranging these pieces to reveal a clearer picture of the disease.
	Can you build muscle in old age? Yes, and an expert has tips If you're in your 60s, 70s or even older, you might think your days of productively pumping iron are behind you.
	Medicare to cover Wegovy when patients also have heart disease Medicare will now cover the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy if patients using it also have heart disease, U.S. officials announced Thursday.
	2008 to 2020 saw increase in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) increased among privately insured people from 2008 to 2020, according to a study published online March 20 in Health Affairs.
	Body dysmorphia affects many teens, especially girls Many teens—especially girls—are affected by body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), a condition in which they become obsessed with perceived flaws in their personal appearance, a new study shows.
	Can I get sick from my pet? Cuddly, friendly, fun: Your pet brings so much to your life, but experts warn that, in rare cases, they can also bring illness.
	Fewer cases of fungal diseases coincided with start of COVID-19 There were fewer reports of coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis coinciding with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research published in the March 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Researchers describe tools to better understand CaMKII, a protein involved in brain and heart disease The health impacts of a complex protein that plays a major role in the development of Alzheimer's disease and heart conditions can be lessened by three kinds of drug inhibitors, according to scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
	UK study provides insights into COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children and young people COVID-19 vaccine uptake among children and young people was low across all four UK nations, compared to other age groups, according to the first research study to look at data from all four UK nations.
	A boost to biomedical research with statistical tools: From COVID-19 analysis to data management The Biostatistics Unit, a recent addition to the technologies and services offered by Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), consists of a team of statisticians and mathematicians who conduct and support biomedical research. They have recently published two notable articles.
	Vitamin supplements versus a balanced diet? No contest Global consumers spent more than $177 billion dollars on dietary supplements in 2023, with at least a quarter of that—roughly $45 billion or more—purchased by Americans, according to a study by Grand View Research, a U.S.-based research and marketing firm.
	The genomic architecture of inherited DNA variants You have your mother's eyes and your father's smile, but genetics is much more than just what's on the surface. In a study that spans more than a decade, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have looked at generations of families in a specific population to reveal the role newly inherited DNA variants play on recessive disease traits, and in the process, they have created a population specific database revealing unique DNA information unseen in larger cohorts.
	Blood tests could identify people with AFib at risk for 'breakthrough' stroke Looking at specific substances in the blood of people with atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heartbeat, could help identify who's at risk for a stroke despite taking blood-thinning medication to prevent one, new research suggests.
	Lung disease puts patients at risk of developing heart conditions regardless of other risk factors Patients with lung disease are more likely to develop heart disease independent of any risk factors, according to new research.
	Anti-inflammatory molecules show promise in reducing risks of further heart damage Research into the protective effects of two anti-inflammatory molecules following a heart attack has found that two proteins reduce the inflammatory response and scarring within the injured heart. The study is published in The American Journal of Pathology.
	Scientists provide novel insights into the effects of alternate day fasting on atherosclerosis Atherosclerosis is the major contributor to cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Diet-induced metabolic abnormalities including obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance (IR), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are considered atherogenic risk factors.
	Are you a mosquito magnet? Here's why and what you can do about it Mosquitoes are some of the most effective hunters on the planet. They can track you down at great distance by sniffing out the air you breathe.
	Study finds outcomes after stem cell transplant in elderly patients with AML have improved since 2000 According to a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, among patients over 65 who received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HCT) for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) between 2000 and 2021, leukemia-free and overall survival improved significantly over time.
	What causes breast cancer? There is a lot going on within the field of breast cancer research. A new AI tool is trying to fine-tune the screening program, another one is helping pathologists make diagnoses. New drugs are approved. This could save more lives. But there is still no answer to the trickiest question of all: What causes breast cancer?
	An avocado a day may improve overall diet quality, researchers report Eating one avocado per day may improve overall diet quality, according to a team led by researchers in Penn State's Department of Nutritional Sciences. Poor diet quality is a risk factor for many diseases, including heart disease, and many American adults have poor diet quality and do not meet key dietary recommendations provided by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
	Lower social class throughout life linked to higher risk of cognitive impairment People in lower socioeconomic positions throughout their lives have a higher risk of developing mild cognitive impairment by the age of 50, according to a new study led by researchers at UCL.
	Study shows that US and other countries can do more to improve quality of life for people with Down syndrome A new study led by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital assesses for the first time the quality of daily life for people with Down syndrome (DS) in 50 countries around the world.
	Study: Empathy travels across generations and empathetic teens become good parents In the first finding of its kind, University of Virginia researchers have discovered that empathy is passed from one generation to the next. And it all starts with moms.
	Hearts not sharks are a major killer on Aussie beaches Research published today in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health shows that almost 40% of deaths that occur in the coast are not drowning related, with cardiac conditions and traumatic injuries the major culprits.
	Scientists close in on TB blood test that could detect millions of silent spreaders Scientists have taken a major step towards developing a blood test that could identify millions of people who unknowingly spread tuberculosis.
	Chronic diseases do not reduce the benefits of exercise, finds study A recent study shows exercise is also beneficial and safe for older people with multiple chronic conditions or risk factors. Exercise can improve physical fitness despite chronic diseases. However, exercise should be started safely and at an intensity appropriate for your starting level.
	Progress in the diagnosis of systemic diseases based on ophthalmic imaging artificial intelligence technology The eye is a unique window to overall health. Its associated medical imaging has great characteristics, such as being non-invasive, convenient, and rich in information, which offers significant potential for developing new technologies for diagnosing systemic diseases.
	Is active screening for tuberculosis among vulnerable populations cost-effective? Early detection and prompt treatment of tuberculosis (TB) are the main pillars on the way to ending TB as they help prevent further transmission. Finding those at risk of developing infection, however, requires extra efforts, particularly in settings where TB incidence levels are generally low, i.e., when there are less than 10 TB cases per 100,000 population.
	New research results explore the safety of short-term cultivated CAR T cells in cancer immunotherapy Chimeric antigen receptor T cells—CAR T cells for short—are immune cells (T cells) that are taken from the body and genetically modified outside the body in the laboratory using transport vehicles for the genes to be transmitted (vectors). After being returned to the patient, these CAR T cells can specifically target and kill cells that contain defined antigens.
	New genomic method offers diagnosis for patients with unexplained kidney failure Scientists have identified a new method of analyzing genomic data in a major discovery that means patients with unexplained kidney failure are finally getting a diagnosis.
	Intervention after first seizure may prevent long-term epilepsy Only a very small percentage of neurons show changes after an epileptic seizure in mice, but these alterations can be permanent and trigger future seizures that can affect the whole brain and lead to impaired cognition, like memory and learning, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
	Pregnancy in low-income, food-scarce neighborhoods may increase risk of adverse birth outcomes, study reveals Living in neighborhoods where residents have lower incomes and limited food access during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of babies born small for gestational age or with lower birthweight, according to a new study from the NIH Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
	Motor skills, sensory features differ in autism with, without ADHD Motor skills and sensory features differ for children with autism with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published online March 5 in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
	Multicomponent intervention aids quality of life with overactive bladder A multicomponent intervention improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for women with moderate-to-severe overactive bladder, according to a study published online March 13 in JAMA Network Open.
	ADHD medications linked to reduction in psychiatric hospitalizations For adolescents and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the use of ADHD medications is associated with fewer psychiatric and nonpsychiatric hospitalizations, according to a study published online March 20 in JAMA Network Open.
	Eligibility for lung cancer screening up with 2021 USPSTF recommendations Expanded U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) criteria for lung cancer screening (LCS) in 2021 have resulted in a 65.9 percent increase in the number of eligible individuals, according to a research letter published online March 21 in JAMA Network Open.
	Systemic inflammation increases risk for chronic kidney disease Systemic inflammation is associated with an elevated risk for chronic kidney disease, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Frontiers in Immunology.
	Survey assesses perspectives on patient image use in dermatology Most patients report an increase in trust in the quality of their medical care if asked for permission to use their images for research or education, according to a research letter published online March 13 in JAMA Dermatology.
	Q&A: How can we get more people to eat climate-smart? In a new study, Patricia Eustachio Colombo and her colleagues have developed suggestions for healthy and climate-friendly dietary patterns. Now, it's just a matter of getting us to adopt them.
	Lymph node-like biomaterial scaffold for augmenting CAR-T cell therapy In a study published in the journal National Science Review, a research team aimed to enhance treatment efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors. The research was led by Dr. Zhen Gu and Dr. Hongjun Li from the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Zhejiang University, along with Dr. Jie Sun from the School of Medicine at Zhejiang University,

Other Sciences news

	Using Twitter/X to promote research findings found to have little impact on number of citations A team of researchers with varied backgrounds has found that using X (formerly Twitter) as a means to increase citations on research papers has little impact. In their study, published on the open-access site PLOS ONE, the group compared the number of citations for papers that had been promoted on X and those that had not.
	Tudor era horse cemetery in Westminster revealed as likely resting place for elite imported animals Archaeological analysis of a near unique animal cemetery discovered in London nearly 30 years ago has revealed the international scale of horse trading by the elites of late medieval and Tudor England.
	Scientists uncover evidence that microplastics are contaminating archaeological remains Researchers have for the first time discovered evidence of microplastic contamination in archaeological soil samples.
	Exploration—not work—could be key to a vibrant local economy The next time you're on a walk, consider stopping by that restaurant you've never been to or the local store you keep meaning to check out. They just might be the key to a vibrant local economy, according to a new study.
	'I have been ground down': About 50% of Australian principals and other school leaders are thinking of quitting Australia's school principals have collective responsibility for nearly 3 million students and staff. But who takes responsibility for them?
	Deadline for global pandemic agreement looms A high-powered intervention by 23 former national Presidents, 22 former Prime Ministers, a former UN General Secretary, and 3 Nobel Laureates are being made today to press for an urgent agreement from international negotiators on a Pandemic Accord under the Constitution of the World Health Organization, to bolster the world's collective preparedness and response to future pandemics.
	How do you teach young children about complex issues? New research suggests 'read-alouds' For many educators today, introducing race into curricula is a fraught proposition. So how do teachers—tasked with new learning imperatives—even begin to introduce the subject to young children?
	Researcher uses machine learning to help digitize ancient texts from Indus civilization The civilization of Indus River Valley is considered one of the three earliest civilizations in world history, along with Mesopotamia and Egypt. Bigger geographically than those two as it unfolded starting in 3300 BCE across what is now Pakistan and India, the Indus civilization boasted uniform weights and measures, skilled artisans, a multifaceted system of trade and commerce, and upwards of 500 symbols and signs for communicating.
	Study of car lenders shows AI could mitigate bias and open lending to marginalized customers Lenders operating in indirect retail channels such as car dealerships could improve their profit margins by over a third by using artificial intelligence to support the retailers' salespeople rather than rely on salespeople alone to price loans at their discretion, new research published in the European Journal of Marketing from the University of Bath shows.
	Q&A: Could riding older school buses hinder student performance? Students who ride newer, cleaner-air buses to school have improved academic performance, according to a University of Michigan study that documents the effects on students who ride new school buses rather than old ones.
	Q&A: Researchers warn of danger, call for pause in bringing AI to schools In K-12 schools across the country, a new gold rush of sorts is underway: Classrooms nationwide are racing to bring the latest artificial intelligence tools, such as platforms powered by the chat bot ChatGPT, into the classroom.
	Why are we so divided? Zero-sum thinking is part of it A recent working paper charts the surprising politics of zero-sum thinking—or the belief that one individual or group's gain is another's loss—with a goal of offering fresh insight into our nation's schisms.
	US election: Turning off TikTok is a big risk for the Democrats Popular social media platform TikTok stands accused of holding US data in China, fostering censorship, and spreading disinformation. Its popularity poses a dilemma for US politicians, but especially Democrats who have heavily relied on the app to reach its core base of young voters.
	Why teens should treasure their friendships Adolescents with strong friendships experience fewer anxiety and depression symptoms, Ph.D. student Iris Koele discovered in her research on high school students' social relationships. "As a psychologist, I include friends in the treatment plan: who do you call when things are not going well?"
	Questioning cities that create wealth disparities from the perspective of the 'excluded' Cities are reborn in the wake of international mega-events such as the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the G7 Hiroshima Summit in 2023, and the upcoming Expo 2025 in Osaka. Areas around stations, parks and roads are redeveloped, hotels and shopping buildings are constructed, and high-rise condominiums are erected that overlook the city. The orderly space stimulates consumption and creates a bustling atmosphere.
	UK government's approach to realizing benefits of AI assessed in new report A new report on the UK government's use of AI offers insight into accelerating its adoption and overcoming the barriers to transforming public services, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds.

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