Science X Newsletter Thu, Mar 14

Dear ,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 14, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Polar plastic: 97% of sampled Antarctic seabirds found to have ingested microplastics

Warm Jupiter exoplanet orbiting distant star detected

Dragonflies with waxy coating better able to resist a warming climate, research suggests

Study finds children in Flint experienced educational declines even if they did not have lead pipes

Space company develops centrifuge to test impact of gravity on crystalline-structured drug molecules

Bacterial diseases a lethal threat during the Stone Age

Quantum dance to the beat of a drum: Researchers observe how energy of single electron is tuned by surrounding atoms

Lives could be saved from tropical disease with new rapid test

How to upcycle low-energy light: A new design for highly efficient conversion materials

Researchers target cancer's ability to survive at low oxygen levels

Team performs the first gene therapy tests in a whole human liver

It's hearty, it's meaty, it's mold: Hacking the genome of fungi for smart foods of the future

Researchers develop dual anti-tumor vaccine

Sleep-wake rhythm: Fish change our understanding of sleep regulation

New study shows mother chimps play with their offspring through good times and bad

Nanotechnology news

	New method enables synthesis of hundreds of new 2D materials Materials that are incredibly thin, only a few atoms thick, exhibit unique properties that make them appealing for energy storage, catalysis and water purification. Researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, have now developed a method that enables the synthesis of hundreds of new 2D materials. Their study has been published in the journal Science.
	New LCD nanoparticle therapy offers hope for burn victims Severe burns can cause critical issues, including deep tissue damage and an increased risk of fatal conditions such as sepsis and organ failure. A major concern is the disruption of the intestinal barrier, leading to inflammation and systemic health problems. This breakdown allows pathogens to invade, worsening the patient's condition. Given the limitations and side effects of current treatments, there is a pressing need for new, more effective therapies.
	Scientists develop new multicellular scaffold strategy for treating tendon-bone injuries According to a study published in Science Advances, a research group led by Prof. Wu Chengtie from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has developed a multicellular scaffold based on inorganic bioceramics to achieve immunomodulation and integrated regeneration in tendon-to-bone injuries, i.e., injuries occurring at the tendon–bone interface.
	Researchers overcome lattice mismatch issue to advance optoelectronic applications A research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) recently successfully achieved lattice-mismatch-free construction of III-V/chalcogenide core-shell heterostructure nanowires for electronic and optoelectronic applications. This breakthrough addresses crucial technological challenges related to the lattice mismatch problem in the growth of high-quality heterostructure semiconductors, leading to enhanced carrier transport and photoelectric properties.
	Nanozyme-enabled nanodecoys: A new strategy for fighting urinary tract infections Urinary tract infections (UTIs), affecting millions worldwide, are predominantly caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). These infections are characterized by bacterial adhesion and colonization in the urinary tract, evading host immune responses. Researchers from Nanjing University have recently reported a new approach to combating UTIs through the development of bioinspired nanozymes acting as nanodecoys.
	Engineered MgO nanoparticles: A promising path to synergistic cartilage and bone therapy In a recent study published in Science Advances, researchers from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and others have unveiled a promising approach for treating osteoarthritis (OA) using engineered magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles.
	Researchers find new ways to regulate hole transport layer for efficient perovskite solar cells According to a study published in Nano Energy, a research group led by Prof. Chen Chong from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has increased the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) to 24.5%.
	Using adavosertib-encapsulated MOFs for p53-mutated gallbladder cancer treatment via synthetic lethality Since the revelation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and their remarkable results in the treatment of BRCA1/2 mutant cancers, synthetic lethality (SL) in antitumor therapy has attracted increasing attention. SL is a phenomenon in which a single genetic event is insufficient to induce cell death, but multiple genetic events lead to cell death.

Physics news

	Quantum dance to the beat of a drum: Researchers observe how energy of single electron is tuned by surrounding atoms Physicists at the University of Regensburg have choreographed the shift of a quantized electronic energy level with atomic oscillations faster than a trillionth of a second.
	How to upcycle low-energy light: A new design for highly efficient conversion materials To combine two low-energy photons into one high-energy photon efficiently, the energy must be able to hop freely, but not too quickly, between randomly oriented molecules of a solid. This Kobe University discovery provides a much-needed design guideline for developing materials for more efficient PV cells, displays, or even anti-cancer therapies.
	A theory linking ignition with flame provides roadmap to better combustion engines In a study published on January 18, 2024 in the journal Physics of Fluids, researchers from Tohoku University theoretically linked ignition and deflagration in a combustion system, unlocking new configurations for stable, efficient combustion engines due to the possible existence of any number of steady-state solutions.
	Exotic molecules embedded into continuum refuse to break apart, defying initial expectations Researchers have unveiled the extraordinary behavior of weakly-bound three-atomic molecules, defying conventional understanding of quantum mechanics. In a study recently published in Nature Communications, a team of scientists from Bar-Ilan University in Israel, in collaboration with theoreticians in the United States, sheds light on the mysterious resilience of these exotic molecules against dissociation.
	Researchers discover new yttrium-hydrogen compounds with implications for high-pressure superconductivity Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have made a significant scientific breakthrough by identifying new yttrium-hydrogen compounds, a discovery that has serious implications for research on high-pressure superconductivity. High-pressure superconductivity refers to the property of materials to become superconducting, which means they conduct electrical current without resistance when exposed to certain pressure conditions. The study is published in Science Advances.
	Photon-like electrons in a four-dimensional world discovered in a real material Dirac electrons were predicted by P. Dirac and discovered by A. Geim, both of whom were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933 and in 2010, respectively. Dirac electrons behave like photons rather than electrons, for they are considered to have no mass, and in materials they move with light velocity.
	Researchers develop a new type of frequency comb that promises to further boost the accuracy of timekeeping Chip-based devices known as frequency combs, which measure the frequency of light waves with unparalleled precision, have revolutionized timekeeping, the detection of planets outside of our solar system and high-speed optical communication.
	Researchers prove fundamental limits of electromagnetic energy absorption Electrical engineers at Duke University have determined the theoretical fundamental limit for how much electromagnetic energy a transparent material with a given thickness can absorb. The finding will help engineers optimize devices designed to block certain frequencies of radiation while allowing others to pass through, for applications such as stealth or wireless communications.

Earth news

	Polar plastic: 97% of sampled Antarctic seabirds found to have ingested microplastics Anthropogenic plastic pollution is often experienced through evocative images of marine animals caught in floating debris, yet its reach is far more expansive. The polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctica are increasingly experiencing the impacts of plastic reaching floating ice and land, not solely as larger macroplastics (>5 cm), but as microplastics (0.1 µm—5 mm) and nanoplastics (
	'The night might not save us': New study shows drought drives overnight burning of wildfires The welcomed slowing of a wildfire's destruction that comes with the cool and humidity of nightfall shrinks and even disappears during drought conditions, according to a University of Alberta researcher whose new study published in Nature challenges conventional fire management practices.
	New method predicts harvest location to reveal illegal timber exports A new method of timber analysis developed by researchers from the University of Gothenburg can confidently identify the location in which the tree was harvested. The method has been developed with the aim of combating illegal timber imports from Russia and Belarus.
	Map created that shows 11 California counties most at risk for wildfires California is no stranger to wildfires—and some regions are more at risk than others.
	Researchers offer unique way to monitor carbon emissions in bodies of water Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are not typically associated with water ways, like streams and rivers, but emerging research shows that water bodies play an important role in storing and releasing carbon dioxide.
	How AI is clearing the waters in urban rivers Researchers have developed a new machine learning system to improve the accuracy and efficiency of sewer-river system models. This innovative approach, detailed in an article published in Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, promises to significantly reduce parameter calibration time and enhance model precision in predicting urban water pollution.
	Advances and challenges in understanding compound weather and climate extremes In the context of global warming, many extremes, such as heat waves, heavy precipitation, and droughts, have become increasingly frequent and intense, as expected theoretically. Somewhat unexpectedly, these extremes have also exhibited tightened linkage in both time and space, constituting compound weather and climate extremes with larger impacts.
	Eroding bluffs could send California homes tumbling into the ocean. What can be done? Over the past 30 years, Tony and Marilee Hyman have enjoyed the fruits of what they describe as "10 years of doing three jobs" to retire in their Shell Beach dream home.
	Facts about hail, the icy precipitation often encountered in spring and summer Intense storms swept through Kansas and Missouri on Wednesday and brought whipping winds, possible tornadoes, and what some described as "gorilla hail."
	Wind and wave observations reveal the seasonal variations in wave-induced stress over global ocean Recently, a study by Ph.D. student Jing Ren from Ocean University of China and Associate Prof. Sheng Chen and Prof. Fangli Qiao from First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources was published in Science China Earth Sciences.

Astronomy and Space news

	Warm Jupiter exoplanet orbiting distant star detected Astronomers report the discovery of a new warm Jupiter exoplanet orbiting a distant star in the open cluster Messier 67. The newfound extrasolar world, designated S1429 b, is almost twice as massive as Jupiter. The finding was detailed in a paper published March 5 on the pre-print server arXiv.
	Surprising insights about debris flows on Mars The period that liquid water was present on the surface of Mars may have been shorter than previously thought. Channel landforms called gullies, previously thought to be formed exclusively by liquid water, can also be formed by the action of evaporating CO2 ice.
	Citizen astronomers and AI discover 30,000 ring galaxies Building on the synergy between citizen astronomer classifications and AI, astronomers have discovered approximately 400,000 spiral galaxies and 30,000 ring galaxies in data from the Subaru Telescope. This is the first example of research building on the classification data from the citizen science project "GALAXY CRUISE."
	SpaceX mega rocket makes successful test flight but lost in descent Starship, the world's most powerful rocket, flew further and faster than ever before during its third test launch Thursday, although it was eventually lost as it re-entered the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean, SpaceX said.
	Study reveals ancient ice may still exist in distant space objects A paper recently published in Icarus presents findings about the Kuiper Belt Object 486958 Arrokoth, shedding new light on the preservation of volatile substances like carbon monoxide (CO) in such distant celestial bodies.
	SpaceX poised for third launch test of Starship megarocket SpaceX plans on Thursday to attempt another launch of Starship, the world's most powerful rocket that is vital to NASA's plans for landing astronauts on the moon later this decade—and Elon Musk's hopes of eventually colonizing Mars.
	SpaceX scrubs Wednesday launch attempt at Kennedy Space Center SpaceX scrubbed a launch attempt Wednesday night with just over 2 minutes on the countdown clock. The mission was set to send up another batch of Starlink satellites from the Space Coast using a first-stage booster for a record-tying 19th time.
	Total solar eclipses provide an opportunity to engage with science, culture and history On April 8, 2024, there will be a total solar eclipse in Canada. This is an opportunity to experience, learn from and participate in the excitement and wonder. And rather than hiding inside, researchers have been communicating how people can safely enjoy this unique opportunity.
	Danish chef to launch gourmet dining to stratosphere Danish chef Rasmus Munk wants to take high-end cuisine to the edge of space, with plans to serve up a stratospheric dining experience in 2025, his restaurant said Thursday.
	A 790,000 year-old asteroid impact could explain seafloor spherules Our solar system does not exist in isolation. It formed within a stellar nursery along with hundreds of sibling stars, and even today has the occasional interaction with interstellar objects such as 'Oumuamua and Borisov. So it's reasonable to presume that some interstellar material has reached Earth. Recently Avi Loeb and his team earned quite a bit of attention with a study published in Research Notes of the AAS, arguing that they had found some of this interstellar stuff on the ocean seabed. But a new study finds that the material has a much more local origin.
	What can we learn flying through the plumes at Enceladus? In the next decade, space agencies will expand the search for extraterrestrial life beyond Mars, where all of our astrobiology efforts are currently focused. This includes the ESA's JUpiter ICy moon's Explorer (JUICE) and NASA's Europa Clipper, which will fly past Europa and Ganymede repeatedly to study their surfaces and interiors.
	NASA Armstrong updates 1960s concept to study giant planets NASA researchers are looking at the possibility of using a wingless, unpowered aircraft design from the 1960s to gather atmospheric data on other planets—doing the same work as small satellites but potentially better and more economically.
	NASA lights 'beacon' on moon with autonomous navigation system test For 30 total minutes in February, NASA lit a beacon on the moon—successfully testing a sophisticated positioning system that will make it safer for Artemis-era explorers to visit and establish a permanent human presence on the lunar surface.
	Arctic Weather Satellite tested for life in orbit ESA's Arctic Weather Satellite has passed its environmental test campaign with flying colors—meaning that the satellite has been declared fit for liftoff and its life in the harsh environment of space.
	Hubble tracks Jupiter's stormy weather The largest and nearest of the giant outer planets, Jupiter's colorful clouds present an ever-changing kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. This is a planet where there is always stormy weather: cyclones, anticyclones, wind shear, and the largest storm in the solar system, the Great Red Spot.
	SpaceX's 3rd Starship launch makes it to space without exploding, but is lost on reentry SpaceX's powerful Starship and Super Heavy rocket completed a more successful third orbital test flight from Texas on Thursday morning with no explosive endings on the way up that marred the first two test flights in 2023.

Technology news

	An electricity generator inspired by the drinking bird toy powers electronics with evaporated water Inspired by the classic drinking bird toy, scientists in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China have developed an engine that efficiently converts energy from water evaporation into electricity to power small electronics. The device produces energy outputs exceeding 100 volts—much higher than other techniques that generate electricity from water—and can operate for several days using only 100 milliliters of water as fuel, according to a study published March 14 in the journal Device.
	Fast-charging lithium-sulfur batteries on the horizon New research shows that the next generation of lithium-sulfur (Li||S) batteries may be capable of being charged in less than five minutes, instead of several hours as is currently the case. The paper is published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
	Scientists can now remove nanoplastics from our water with 94% efficiency University of Waterloo researchers have created a new technology that can remove harmful nanoplastics from contaminated water with 94% efficiency. The study, "Utilization of epoxy thermoset waste to produce activated carbon for the remediation of nano-plastic contaminated wastewater," was published in the journal Separation and Purification Technology.
	Researchers help robots navigate efficiently in uncertain environments If a robot traveling to a destination has just two possible paths, it needs only to compare the routes' travel time and probability of success. But if the robot is traversing a complex environment with many possible paths, choosing the best route amid so much uncertainty can quickly become an intractable problem.
	Sun and space: Harnessing cold universe and solar power for renewable energy As traditional energy methods increase in cost and take their toll on the environment, Penn State researchers are turning to two underutilized renewable resources, the sun and outer space, for solutions to generate electricity and passively cool down structures.
	Redefining quantum machine learning Machine learning is a branch of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer science that focuses on the use of data and algorithms to allow computers to learn without explicitly being programmed. While discussions surrounding AI algorithms, such as ChatGPT and other generative models, are taking place at all levels of society, the machine learning capabilities of quantum computers are still somewhat unexplored.
	New advance in all-solid-state battery technology enhances performance of lithium from the bottom A research team has successfully enhanced the performance and durability of all-solid-state batteries. This breakthrough was made possible through the implementation of a novel approach known as bottom electrodeposition. Their research has been published in Small.
	Large language models trained in English found to use the language internally, even for prompts in other languages EPFL researchers have shown that large language models primarily trained on English text seem to use English internally, even when they are prompted in another language. As AI increasingly runs our lives, this may have important consequences regarding linguistic and cultural bias.
	Perovskite solar cells: Vacuum process may offer a short track to commercialization Research and industry worldwide work on the commercialization of perovskite photovoltaics. Most research laboratories focus on solvent-based manufacturing processes because these methods are versatile and easy to use. Established photovoltaic industries, however, almost exclusively apply vacuum processes for the deposition of high-quality thin films.
	Foxconn logs second straight quarter of profits as AI demand surges Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn on Thursday reported a second straight quarter of profit growth, with the Apple supplier boosted by demand for AI hardware and infrastructure.
	OpenAI partners with Le Monde and Prisa Media OpenAI on Wednesday announced partnerships with French daily Le Monde and Spanish conglomerate Prisa Media, saying it intends to develop news-related uses of its ChatGPT artificial intelligence tool.
	Microsoft to release security AI product to help clients track hackers Microsoft Corp. plans to release artificial intelligence tools on April 1 that will help cybersecurity workers produce summaries of suspicious incidents and ferret out the devious methods hackers use to obscure their intentions.
	Automatic design of metaheuristics: The future of optimization? To discourage the inefficient manual invention and configuration of new metaheuristic optimization algorithms, a research team at IRIDIA, the artificial intelligence laboratory of the Université Libre de Bruxelles, studied the literature and outlined the strengths of automatic approaches to the design of metaheuristics, especially compared to the many redundant—and at times outlandish—metaphor-based metaheuristics.
	Should you be concerned about flying on Boeing planes? The American aerospace giant Boeing has been synonymous with safe air travel for decades. Since the 1990s, Boeing and its European competitor Airbus have dominated the market for large passenger jets.
	From Asteroids to Guitar Hero, World Video Game Hall of Fame finalists draw from 4 decades The 12 finalists for the World Video Game Hall of Fame this year draw from four decades of gaming, from Atari Asteroids, played on coin-fed consoles in arcades, to Guitar Hero, for living-room rockers who compete on a plastic guitar.
	Bitcoin not invented by computer scientist Wright: court Australian computer scientist Craig Wright is not "Satoshi Nakamoto", the pseudonym used by the creator of the cryptocurrency bitcoin when it launched in 2008, a UK court ruled Thursday.
	Researcher: I created a 'cozy game' and learned how they can change players' lives The COVID pandemic transformed our lives in ways many of us are still experiencing, four years later. One of these changes was the significant uptake in gaming as a hobby, chief among them being "cozy games" like Animal Crossing: New Horizons (2020).
	Bosnia's lithium discovery raises hopes and fears In northeast Bosnia's rolling hills, the local community is torn between fears of environmental ruin and hopes of riches from huge deposits of the critical minerals Europe needs for its green transition.
	Defective thermoplastic composite parts can be reborn with better characteristics Skoltech researchers have demonstrated that reinforced plastics can be recycled without loss of original mechanical properties, sometimes even with improved characteristics. Published in Composites Communications, the study brings hope for an environmentally sounder—and economically viable—production of construction parts, car, aircraft, and marine vessel components, high-end sports equipment and other articles that currently end their service life in landfills.
	Can you get electrocuted by an electric vehicle? Electric cars, scooters and bikes are everywhere. Are they safe? A Northeastern expert breaks down the safety of EV and lithium-ion batteries when they encounter water.
	Study exposes failings of measures to prevent illegal content generation by text-to-image AI models Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have revealed critical shortcomings in recently-proposed methods aimed at making powerful text-to-image generative AI systems safer for public use.
	PIANO: A new operator learning framework that deciphers and incorporates invariants from the PDE series In a recent article published in the National Science Review, researchers have proposed a new operator learning framework called PIANO. PIANO uses self-supervised learning to extract representations containing physical invariants from partial differential equations (PDEs) systems with different physical mechanisms, thereby extending the generalization ability of neural operators to various physics scenarios.
	Automated fake news detection: A simple solution may not be feasible With misinformation and disinformation proliferating online, many may wish for a simple, reliable, automated "fake news" detection system to easily identify falsehoods from truths. Often with the help of machine learning, many scientists have developed such tools, but experts advise caution when deploying them.
	Enhancing ergonomics in industrial domains with 'cobots' and intelligent wearable systems At the 2024 European Robotics Forum taking place in Rimini, Italy, researchers of Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT- Italian Institute of Technology) have shown the most recent results from the project SOPHIA: A collaborative robot to guide workers and relieve the burden of overhead tasks such as drilling, wearable robots to support the lifting and carrying of heavy loads physically, and wearable feedback devices to alert users about awkward postures.
	African internet access hit by damaged undersea cables Major internet access cuts struck several African countries Thursday because of damage to submarine communications cables, telecom operators said.
	Musk abruptly cancels 'The Don Lemon Show' on X after he sits for the program's first interview Elon Musk abruptly canceled "The Don Lemon Show" on his social media network X after the former CNN anchor recorded an interview with the billionaire for its as-yet unaired first episode.
	The massive health care hack is now being investigated by the federal Office of Civil Rights Federal civil rights investigators are looking into whether protected health information was exposed in the recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare.
	China blasts US TikTok vote as buyout plan emerges China blasted Washington's "bandit" mentality Thursday after the US House passed a bill that would ban TikTok unless it splits from its Chinese owner, as former Trump treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin said he is preparing a buyout plan.
	At Texas arts and tech fest, virtual reality is perfectly human At South by Southwest—the gargantuan Texas festival for cinema, music and tech—artists this year embraced virtual reality as a way to better connect with humanity, not escape it.
	Australia PM rules out US-style TikTok ban Australia's prime minister said Thursday his government has no plan to copy a move by US legislators to ban TikTok unless it agrees to divest from its Chinese owner.
	Gov. Shapiro calls for Pennsylvania carbon cap and trade market, plus higher clean energy requirements Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled his energy strategy on March 12, a two-pronged approach that would create a carbon cap and trade market in Pennsylvania and boost the amount of clean energy delivered to electric utility consumers in the state.
	Italy fines TikTok 10 mn euros for failing to protect minors Italy's competition authority on Thursday fined TikTok 10 million euros (nearly $11 million), saying the hugely popular video app had failed to sufficiently protect minors.
	EU targets TikTok, X, other apps over AI risk to elections The EU on Thursday wielded a powerful new digital law to press TikTok and seven other platforms on the AI risks for upcoming elections in the 27-nation bloc, including from deepfakes.

Chemistry news

	Space company develops centrifuge to test impact of gravity on crystalline-structured drug molecules Kanjakha Pal and Adrian Radocea, a pair of engineers at Varda Space Industries, a company working to develop space-based drug facilities, has developed a centrifuge-based device to test the impact of gravity on crystalline-structured drug molecules as they grow. Their paper is published in the journal Crystal Growth & Design.
	Supercharging fuel cells with caffeine With global goals set on transitioning away from fossil fuels, fuel cells stand out as a promising carbon-free energy source. Comprising an anode and a cathode separated by an electrolyte, fuel cells convert the chemical energy of fuel directly into electricity. The anode receives the fuel, while an oxidant, typically oxygen from the air, is introduced at the cathode.
	Vinegar and baking soda: A cleaning hack or just a bunch of fizz? Vinegar and baking soda are staples in the kitchen. Many of us have combined them in childhood scientific experiments: think fizzy volcanoes and geysers.
	Aiming at the industrial use of clay column chromatography for optical resolution A recent study, published in Applied Clay Science, could have applications in clay column chromatography for obtaining enantiomeric compounds in industries.
	Conduction of catalytic properties from buried transitional metals to exposed inert main group metals The electronic interaction between buried single transitional metal and adjacent aluminum atoms via metallic bonding can be well demonstrated.

Biology news

	Dragonflies with waxy coating better able to resist a warming climate, research suggests A trio of biologists at the University of Colorado has found that dragonflies that cover themselves in a waxy coating fare better as the climate grows warmer and drier in regions where they live. In their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Michael Moore, Sarah Nalley and Dalal Hamadah tested the impact of pruinescence in two ways with dragonflies living in dry parts of North America.
	It's hearty, it's meaty, it's mold: Hacking the genome of fungi for smart foods of the future With animal-free dairy products and convincing vegetarian meat substitutes already on the market, it's easy to see how biotechnology can change the food industry. Advances in genetic engineering are allowing us to harness microorganisms to produce cruelty-free products that are healthy for consumers and healthier for the environment.
	New study shows mother chimps play with their offspring through good times and bad When it comes to nurturing their young, mother chimpanzees go the extra mile, according to a new study. Using 10 years of observational data on wild chimpanzees, researchers found that while adults often play, and young chimps play a lot, when food gets scarce, the adults put mutual play aside and focus on survival.
	Increasing sea temperatures associated with higher bull shark abundance Increasing sea surface temperatures over the past 20 years in Mobile Bay—an estuary in the US state of Alabama—have coincided with five-fold increases in the abundance of juvenile bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas), according to a study published in Scientific Reports.
	New discovery reveals how the egg controls sperm entry After the egg has been fertilized by a sperm, the surrounding egg coat tightens, mechanically preventing the entry of additional sperm and the ensuing death of the embryo. This is according to a new study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and published in the journal Cell. The work also explains how mutations in egg coat proteins can cause female infertility and may eventually lead to new contraceptive methods.
	Researchers solve mystery of how minimalist plant immune molecules become activated In a new study published in the journal Nature, researchers led by Jijie Chai at Westlake University, China, and Jane Parker and Paul Schulze-Lefert at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany, have demonstrated that an important class of immune proteins must condense into droplets in order to become activated and protect plants against infections.
	Researchers reveal dual-function mechanism of bacteriophage-derived protein AcrIIA15 In response to the efficient attacks of the host CRISPR-Cas system, bacteriophages have evolved various resistance strategies, including encoding anti-CRISPR (Acr) proteins. Since their initial discovery in 2013, over a hundred Acr proteins have been identified. These proteins use different mechanisms to inhibit the recognition and cleavage of target nucleic acids by the Cas protein-RNA complex, and have great potential for development as gene editing regulatory elements.
	Insights into fungal toxin promise new treatment pathway for C. albicans infections The toxin candidalysin of the yeast Candida albicans is incorporated into an unusual protein structure during an infection, the composition of which has so far been unknown to scientists. Researchers at the Leibniz-HKI have now succeeded in deciphering the function of this unusual arrangement.
	New starting point discovered in the fight against P. aeruginosa Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important opportunistic pathogen responsible for life-threatening infections that are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Researchers from TWINCORE, the Center for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research in Hannover, and the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig have now been able to show that an enzyme controls virulence through modification of tRNAs. They hope that their findings will pave the way for the development of new treatments.
	Gene expression technology set to semi-automation The Human Genome Project generated the first sequence of the human genome, revealing a kind of blueprint of human biology. Two decades later, the field of gene regulatory networks describes a complex system where thousands of genes regulate one another to create appropriate gene expression dynamics.
	Scientists develop a novel pipeline to create custom cell culture devices Scientists at the UK Dementia Research Institute at King's at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience have developed a process enabling custom cell culture device creation. This pipeline has been published in PLOS Biology and is available as an open source on GitHub.
	Field studies confirm social network shrinking for aging monkeys As people get older, they increasingly focus on their more important relationships, often turning to family and close friends. This active reorientation towards a few, particularly close relationships could explain why aging humans live in ever smaller social networks.
	Alzheimer's drug fermented with help from AI and bacteria moves closer to reality Galantamine is a common medication used by people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia around the world to treat their symptoms. Unfortunately, synthesizing the active compounds in a lab at the scale needed isn't commercially viable. The active ingredient is extracted from daffodils through a time-consuming process, and unpredictable factors, such as weather and crop yields, can affect supply and price of the drug.
	Plant identification via app enables phenological monitoring Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry in Jena and the Ilmenau University of Technology, Germany, have shown that plant observations collected with plant identification apps such as Flora Incognita allow statements to be made about the developmental stages of plants—both on a small scale and across Europe.
	Shade-grown coffee demonstrates the benefits of combining agriculture and conservation Increasing shade cover over coffee plants can increase biodiversity and provide new ways to combine agriculture and conservation, a new study has revealed.
	Dog-killing flatworm discovered in Southern California UC Riverside scientists confirm, for the first time, that a potentially fatal dog parasite is present in a portion of the Colorado River that runs through California.
	New bioengineered protein design shows promise in fighting COVID-19 In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists have been racing to develop effective treatments and preventatives against the virus. A recent scientific breakthrough has emerged from the work of researchers aiming to combat SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
	Scientists describe new orchid species related to famous Darwin's orchid Missouri Botanical Garden scientists and collaborators discovered and described a new orchid species in Central Madagascar with a record-setting nectar spur and close ties to the famous "Darwin's orchid." This novelty species needs urgent conservation action, scientists say.
	Research uncovers specific protein interactions needed for cells to break down and remove damaged mitochondria Autophagy is a process used by cells as a recycling system to transport and break down organelles and other cytosolic components, which become enveloped in a membrane called the autophagosome. When this involves the removal of damaged mitochondria, it is known as mitophagy.
	New research on their metabolism helps conserve endangered beluga whales in Alaska New data provided by studying the beluga whales at Georgia Aquarium helps close a key information gap about how much food these whales need to thrive. The information will inform important management decisions for their counterparts in Alaska's Cook Inlet, which are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).
	Large old trees are vital for Australian birds. Their long branches and hollows can't be replaced by saplings When we make roads, houses or farmland, we often find large old trees in the way. Our response is often to lop off offending branches or even cut the tree down.
	Researchers: Sweden has vast 'old growth' forests, but they are being chopped down faster than the Amazon Most of Europe's natural ecosystems have been lost over the centuries. However, a sizeable amount of natural old forest still exists, especially in the north. These "old-growth" forests are exceptionally valuable as they tend to host more species, store more carbon, and are more resilient to environmental change.
	Australian Timor ponies have genetic diversity necessary for a breeding program, researchers find Researchers at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) collaborated with Australian geneticists to determine whether the country's population of Timor ponies are genetically diverse enough to support a designated breeding program.
	Advanced analytical technologies for controlling medical cannabis production To facilitate the use of cannabis in the medical field, researchers from the IBeA group of the UPV/EHU have developed a rapid analytical technique for the strict control of the growth of cannabis plants. The plants have been classified according to cannabinoid type using hyperspectral imaging and machine learning.
	Forest and stream habitats keep energy exchanges in balance, global team finds Forests and streams are separate but linked ecosystems, existing side by side, with energy and nutrients crossing their porous borders and flowing back and forth between them. For example, leaves fall from trees, enter streams, decay and feed aquatic insects. Those insects emerge from the waters and are eaten by birds and bats.
	Scent training could make pet dogs better behaved, shows study Scent training could make pet dogs better behaved, suggests a study by Aberystwyth University academics published in Animals.
	New simpler and cost-effective forensics test helps identify touch DNA Television dramas like CSI and NCIS make criminal investigations look easy. In real life, DNA testing can be challenging and requires expensive equipment, special facilities, and extensive training to identify DNA from a crime scene and determine which belongs to a potential suspect and which may have been transferred from someone who was never there.
	Tropical birds could tolerate warming better than expected Consider the globe, spinning silently in space. Its poles and its middle, the equator, remain relatively stable, thermally speaking, for the duration of Earth's annual circuit around the sun. The spaces between—Earth's temperate zones—experience seasons with their characteristic temperature extremes.
	Training dairy cows with positive reinforcement can turn otherwise stressful events into play Dairy cows receive a huge amount of care during their lives on a farm, but procedures, especially restraining during procedures, can be stressful for some animals. Positive reinforcement training—or training with a reward to achieve a desired behavior—has shown promise to reduce this fear in other species.
	Diverse habitats help salmon weather unpredictable climate changes, says study Restored salmon habitat should resemble financial portfolios, offering fish diverse options for feeding and survival so that they can weather various conditions as the climate changes, a new study shows.
	Rangers hunt endangered Indonesian tigers after deadly attacks Indonesian rangers along with an animal whisperer are hunting multiple critically endangered Sumatran tigers after two villagers were recently killed in separate attacks that stoked local anger, officials said Thursday.
	Victoria's new habitat law fails to protect a tiny endangered species, say researchers Australia's unique and diverse wildlife is a source of national pride and global fascination. But this reputation is marred by our country's alarming rate of species extinction.

Medicine and Health news

	Lives could be saved from tropical disease with new rapid test Globally, more than half of patients die after infection with the neglected tropical disease, melioidosis, often before they are diagnosed. A new rapid test could save lives by diagnosing patients in hours rather than several days taken by current bacterial culture methods, meaning they receive the correct antibiotics faster.
	Researchers target cancer's ability to survive at low oxygen levels Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have shed light on how cancer cells survive in the first few hours after being cut off from a supply of oxygen.
	Team performs the first gene therapy tests in a whole human liver In a worldwide first-of-its-kind study published in the journal Nature Communications this week, a team of scientists from Children's Medical Research Institute (CMRI) have tested novel gene therapies in a whole human liver, with the goal of developing more effective treatments for life-threatening inherited diseases.
	Researchers develop dual anti-tumor vaccine A research team at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has discovered that exosomes derived from γδ-T cells not only have direct anti-tumor effects but also, when developed into a tumor vaccine, can effectively induce a tumor-specific immune response. The findings, which provide a new approach to cancer treatment, were published in the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.
	Sleep-wake rhythm: Fish change our understanding of sleep regulation Contrary to common belief, not all vertebrates regulate their sleep-wake rhythm in the same way. University of Basel researchers have discovered that some fish—unlike humans—do not need orexin to stay awake. This molecule was thought to be necessary for normal wake and sleep rhythms in vertebrates. Humans without orexin suffer from narcolepsy.
	Neurobiologists uncover how stress turns into fear in the brain in conditions such as PTSD Our nervous systems are naturally wired to sense fear. Whether prompted by the eerie noises we hear alone in the dark or the approaching growl of a threatening animal, our fear response is a survival mechanism that tells us to remain alert and avoid dangerous situations.
	Age and sex associated with patient's likelihood of antimicrobial resistance A person's age, sex and location are correlated with the chance that they have a bloodstream infection that is resistant to antibiotics, according to a new study published in PLOS Medicine by Gwenan Knight of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and colleagues.
	Tissue samples show the deep genetic and cellular impacts of smoking It's no secret that smoking is extremely detrimental to health. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, including carcinogens, increasing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
	Protein discovery sparks treatment hope for aggressive cancer Researchers have found a new way to potentially treat one of the most common forms of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
	Aging population to be major driver of future climate-related deaths, predicts study Climate change poses profound public health threats to people of all ages. But as the climate changes, the world is facing another public health challenge: aging.
	New genes implicated in uterine fibroid development Northwestern Medicine scientists have identified new genes implicated in the development of uterine fibroids, according to a study published in Nature Communications.
	Researchers may have found key to deprogram cells that lead to transplant rejection Houston Methodist researchers identified a troublesome subset of T-cells in transplant recipients that may be a more effective therapeutic target for preventing transplant rejection in patients.
	Study identifies molecular alterations in brain tissue and blood of people who committed suicide In an article published in the journal Psychiatry Research, Brazilian scientists describe a number of molecular alterations found in the blood and brain tissue of individuals who committed suicide. According to the authors, the study aimed to identify susceptibility factors and potential targets for innovative pharmacological intervention.
	Program provides integrated, trauma-informed care for pregnant and parenting adolescents The pregnancy and post-partum experience is stressful, but for pregnant adolescents the barriers to accessing supportive care can have fatal consequences.
	Shedding new light on brain calcification Brain calcification can cause movement disorders and cognitive impairment. Researchers at the Arnesen Lab at UiB have now identified a gene that provides new insight into how these calcifications occur.
	New AI model detects 90% of lymphatic cancer cases Medical image analysis using AI has developed rapidly in recent years. Now, one of the largest studies to date has been carried out using AI-assisted image analysis of lymphoma, cancer of the lymphatic system. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, have developed a computer model that can successfully find signs of lymph node cancer in 90% of cases.
	Research reveals the genetic code behind non-identical twins A QIMR Berghofer-led international team of scientists has unlocked the genetic secrets behind why some mothers are more likely than others to conceive twins.
	Initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations prime immune cells to respond to subsequent variants, study finds A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows that antibody responses to new SARS-CoV-2 variant infections and vaccinations are powerfully shaped by prior exposures to earlier SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
	Next milestone in the treatment of liver tumors and acute and chronic liver diseases The results of a Tübingen-led study raise hope that a newly developed drug could herald a new era in oncological liver surgery and liver transplantation. The drug could even have the potential to significantly improve the treatment of acute and chronic liver diseases.
	Cell division, DNA repair and cancer progression closely tied to CDK9 dysfunction Researchers describe a newly observed role for the protein Cyclin Dependent Kinase 9 (CDK9) in regulating DNA repair during cellular division, where errors can become the origin of cancerous tumor growth. Through a process called phosphorylation, the experiment simulated the interaction of CDK9 with the other proteins and genes involved in cell division and cancerous tumor growth.
	FRYL gene variants linked to a new neurological disorder A recent study from the lab of Dr. Hugo J. Bellen, distinguished service professor at Baylor College of Medicine and investigator at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) links the FRYL gene to a new neurodevelopmental disorder in humans. The researchers used fruit flies to establish that the loss of a functional copy of the FRY-like transcription coactivator (FRYL) gene is the underlying cause of this new disorder in fourteen individuals.
	Scientists compete to make best predictions about pertussis vaccine Scientists love a challenge. Or a friendly competition. Now, scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have recently published the results of a competition that put researchers to the test. For the competition, part of the Computational Models of Immunity network, teams of researchers from different institutions offered up their best predictions regarding B. pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination.
	Often overlooked stem cells hold hidden powers for blood disease treatments A method that enhances the functionality of an often-overlooked type of stem cell could lead to better treatments for blood-related diseases, according to new research.
	Using X (formerly Twitter) has a negative impact on well-being, study confirms Researchers at the University of Toronto have confirmed what many have long suspected: Using X (formerly known as Twitter) takes a toll on our well-being—although the social media platform itself isn't entirely to blame.
	Modest rise in UK cancer cases but substantial decline in deaths over last 25 years: Study Cases of cancer among UK men and women aged 35-69 years have seen a modest rise over the last quarter of a century, but there has also been a substantial decline in death rates, finds a study published by The BMJ today.
	Poor neighborhoods linked to elevated dementia risk and faster brain aging Living in a poorer neighborhood is linked to accelerated brain aging and increased dementia risk early in life, regardless of income level or education, a Duke University-led study finds.
	Study shows potential for using AI tools to detect health care-associated infections A new proof-of-concept study published in the American Journal of Infection Control reports that artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can accurately identify cases of health care-associated infections (HAI) even in complex clinical scenarios. The study, which highlights the need for clear and consistent language when using AI tools for this purpose, illustrates the potential for incorporating AI technology as a cost-effective component of routine infection surveillance programs.
	A new strategy to attack aggressive brain cancer shrank tumors in two early tests A new strategy to fight an extremely aggressive type of brain tumor showed promise in a pair of experiments with a handful of patients.
	Arizona's most populous county has confirmed 645 heat-associated deaths in metro Phoenix last year Public health officials in Arizona's most populous county on Wednesday reported they confirmed a staggering 645 heat-associated deaths last year—more than 50% higher than 2022 and another consecutive annual record in arid metro Phoenix.
	Annual indirect economic burden of sickle cell disease over $2 million Adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) are more likely to report employment loss, and caregivers of children with SCD report more missed days of work, according to a study published online Feb. 29 in Blood Advances.
	Operating in the red: Half of rural hospitals lose money, as many cut services In a little more than two years as CEO of a small hospital in Wyoming, Dave Ryerse has witnessed firsthand the worsening financial problems eroding rural hospitals nationwide.
	Bariatric surgery linked to heart health improvements in people with severe obesity Bariatric surgery may result in significant cardiometabolic improvements, particularly among younger, female, or white people and those without comorbidities, according to new research, titled "Cardiometabolic Improvements After Metabolic Surgery and Related Pre-surgery Factors," published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.
	Common viruses trigger most cases of intussusception in children, finds study Viral infections trigger more cases of intussusception, the common cause of bowel blockages in young children, than previously thought, according to a new study.
	Researchers call for regulation of direct-to-consumer microbiome tests Scientific research has linked a person's microbiome to everything from gut and mental health to immunity and predisposition to cancer. This research comes at a time when there is a burgeoning interest in wellness and alternative medicine, which has fueled consumers' curiosity about the composition of their own microbiomes.
	Q&A: The rising rates of immunosuppression among US adults Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, as it became clear that people with suppressed immune systems were particularly vulnerable to the worst of the virus, public health officials prioritized their protection. Leaders presented stay-at-home orders and masking requirements as measures to prevent the virus from spreading to high-risk individuals. And when vaccines became available, many governments placed immunocompromised people near the front of the line.
	First-in-human trial finds new bladder cancer treatment safe A first-in-human trial led by The University of Western Australia has found injecting an immunotherapy drug directly into the bladder wall to treat cancer is viable and safe.
	Researchers establish India's first national benchmark for survival among hemodialysis patients A new nationwide study has provided new information on the survival rates of patients undergoing hemodialysis across India and associated factors.
	Long COVID 'indistinguishable' from other post-viral syndromes a year after infection, researchers find Long COVID appears to manifest as a post-viral syndrome indistinguishable from seasonal influenza and other respiratory illnesses, with no evidence of increased moderate-to-severe functional limitations a year after infection, according to new research being presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2024) in Barcelona, Spain (27-30 April).
	Young people seeing GPs for mental health problems have low ongoing contact, finds study Most children and adolescents in England presenting to their GPs with psychiatric symptoms have low or declining rates of ongoing contact, according to a study led by University of Manchester researchers.
	Studying use of patients' own reprogrammed cells to attack cancer as alternative to more chemo A process of taking patients' own cells and reprogramming them to fight cancer has been a last-ditch option for blood cancer patients when nothing else worked, but a new study underway in Aurora is trying to determine whether more patients could benefit from trying the procedure sooner.
	Why even public health experts have limited insight into stopping gun violence in America Gun violence has exploded across the U.S. in recent years—from mass shootings at concerts and supermarkets to school fights settled with a bullet after the last bell.
	Better patient care, at a lower cost? A primary care doctor is testing new models to improve health care Christine Meyer, an independent physician in Exton, Pennsylvania, is always looking for ways to provide better care for the patients who come to her primary care practice each year.
	VIP health system for top US officials risked jeopardizing care for soldiers, say investigators Top U.S. officials in the Washington area have received preferential treatment from a little-known health care program run by the military, potentially jeopardizing care for other patients including active-duty service members, according to Pentagon investigators.
	New method that aims to help people overcome apathy shows promise Do you sometimes feel like you just can't be bothered? Would you like to have exercised more, learned a new language or taken more education, but you feel that everything is too much effort?
	What is gender-affirming care? A social worker and therapist working with trans people explains In late January, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith unveiled policies on gender-affirming care and parental rights. These policies want to change access to medical treatments, participation in athletics, and whether transgender children can use preferred pronouns and names in school.
	What are the most common symptoms of menopause? And which can hormone therapy treat? Despite decades of research, navigating menopause seems to have become harder—with conflicting information on the internet, in the media, and from health care providers and researchers.
	Only walking for exercise? Here's how to get the most out of it We're living longer than in previous generations, with one in eight Australians aged over 85. But the current gap between life expectancy ("lifespan") and health-adjusted life expectancy ("healthspan") is about 10 years. This means many of us live with significant health problems in our later years.
	Are you sitting too long in your office job? Study offers some health tips Sedentary behavior can result in chronic health conditions such as obesity and heart diseases, bad news for the millions of office workers who are forced to sit behind their desks every day.
	Only one in five state Medicaid programs covers weight loss medications: Study Mounting evidence suggests that FDA-approved weight loss medications, such as Wegovy, not only help patients lose weight but also protect against complications from obesity such as cardiovascular disease. In 2021, 40 percent of patients enrolled in Medicaid had obesity. The high cost of these drugs has raised concerns about affordability, both for patients and public insurance programs.
	Why do we usually sleep at night? What happens when we don't sleep? Experts discuss sleep health Sleep is as essential to our health as food and water. It is important to a number of brain functions, including how nerve cells communicate with each other. We sleep for a third of our lives and there are many restorative processes going on during sleep that are needed to stay healthy.
	Finland managed to halve its suicide rate—here's how The end of the 20th century was a particularly grim period for Finland. Suicide rates were among the highest in the world, peaking in 1990 with over 30 deaths per 100,000 citizens, compared with a European average of ten per 100,000.
	Gut bacteria important for overcoming milk allergy, study suggests Researchers led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences in Japan have discovered a link between gut bacteria and the success of milk-allergy oral immunotherapy.
	Offering nutritious meals to students can improve diets and counter obesity across Europe When the lunch bell rings at the Sancta Maria primary school in the Belgian city of Leuven, standard packed meals aren't on the menu for dozens of hungry children.
	Lived experience perspectives essential to reducing global mental health stigma: Study Media and anti-stigma activities could help combat mental health stigma and discrimination, but only with lived experience involvement, according to research led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London in collaboration with the Global Mental Health Peer Network.
	One step back: Why the new Alzheimer's plaque-attack drugs don't work On Jan. 31, aducanumab, a pricey drug approved for treatment of early-stage Alzheimer's disease, was withdrawn from the market. And in early March, the Food and Drug Administration delayed its decision regarding whether to approve a separate, closely similar drug. A prescient commentary by Stanford Medicine neurologist Mike Greicius, MD, in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease goes a long way toward explaining why.
	African American veterans with PTSD have higher risk of re-hospitalization after stroke, finds study After a stroke, African American veterans previously diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were significantly more likely to be re-hospitalized than those without PTSD. PTSD did not raise the risk of post-stroke readmission in white veterans, according to research published in Stroke.
	New study explores next-generation vaccine technology for RSV Calder Biosciences, Inc., a next-generation vaccine company, has published an article that debuts and validates the application of Calder's '3D Vaxlock' platform technology. When applied to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) F protein as a vaccine immunogen, Calder's 3D Vaxlock technology achieves an unprecedented 11X more potent immune response than the standard industry comparator.
	Study explores homeless women's experiences of 'period poverty' Research from the University of Southampton has identified common issues women face when experiencing periods while homeless.
	Does how loud you snore matter to your health? Snoring is often a sign of a very serious condition known as obstructive sleep apnea, a common disorder marked by loud snoring and stops and restarts in breathing. Until now it was thought that the louder the snore, the worse the sleep apnea. But current and ongoing research shows paradigms may be shifting in how we think about snoring.
	Rapid realist review reveals how to achieve effective virtual wards for people with frailty Proactive care, a whole-system approach and a "team-of-teams" are important elements in achieving effective virtual wards for people with frailty, according to the first rapid realist review of the evidence. The findings of the review, published in Age and Ageing and involving University of Bristol researchers, also apply to multidisciplinary virtual wards for other complex conditions.
	Noninvasive, smart-CKD diagnostic device for management of chronic kidney disease Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 10% of the global population, among which renal fibrosis is a progressive process that can lead to end-stage renal failure. Early diagnosis and active monitoring are particularly important.
	Small amounts of licorice raise blood pressure, study finds It is known that large amounts of licorice cause high blood pressure. A study by researchers at Linköping University now shows that even small amounts of licorice raise blood pressure. The individuals who react most strongly also show signs of strain on the heart.
	Excessive gaming leads to health issues, says study University of Queensland research has found gaming for more than three hours a day can lead to health problems.
	Researchers one step closer to preventing preeclampsia Researchers have identified several differences in DNA methylation in people who experienced preeclampsia during pregnancy, according to a new study from Oregon Health & Science University. The study also revealed these differences appear to occur in connection to genes relevant to the disease. The study is published in Physiological Genomics.
	Researchers highlight the importance of feminist global health policy in tackling health inequalities An international group of researchers including a researcher from The George Institute for Global Health, India, emphasized the critical need for a Feminist Global Health Policy (FGHP) in addressing existing power structures that hinder health equity worldwide.
	Intensive trauma treatment relieves PTSD symptoms within eight days, finds researcher Relieved from post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in eight days? It is possible with a highly intensive treatment method that combines trauma-focused therapies and lots of exercise. "About 80% of people no longer have a PTSD diagnosis at the end of the treatment," says Eline Voorendonk, who will receive her Ph.D. on 15 March for her research on this method.
	Study reveals disturbing dietary trends in North India Researchers at The George Institute for Global Health India, in collaboration with the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh, have conducted a comprehensive study on the dietary habits of North Indian populations, focusing on the intake of sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and protein, that have an impact on the risk of development of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease—fast-growing health challenges in the country.
	Study shows a healthy diet is linked with a slower pace of aging, reduced dementia risk A healthier diet is associated with a reduced dementia risk and a slower pace of aging, according to a new study at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and The Robert Butler Columbia Aging Center. The findings show that multi-system processes of aging at least partially facilitated a diet-dementia association.
	Cool insights: Research explores how brains perceive temperature Christian Lemon, Ph.D., an associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Oklahoma, often thinks about temperature sensation and the brain when eating a chilled mint cookie. Now, research from his lab examining oral temperature perception has been published in The Journal of Neuroscience.
	Ginkgo biloba compounds found to improve cognitive function following stroke Ginkgo Diterpene Lactone Meglumine (GDLM), a group of organic compounds that derive from the Ginkgo biloba plant, can improve cognitive function in patients who recently experienced an acute ischemic stroke, according to new research. The study is the first to examine the potential of GDLM for improving cognitive function in acute ischemic stroke patients.
	Cardiologists lead national study on novel bleeding monitoring system Interventional cardiologists at Henry Ford Hospital led a national multi-center clinical study, dubbed the "SAFE-MCS" study, that evaluated the safety of complex, high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and surveillance with the Early Bird Bleed Monitoring System (EBBMS).
	Researchers find the key to genome-modifying drugs' sensitivity in malignant blood diseases There are many anti-cancer genes that are no longer active in human tumors, preventing them from carrying out their protective function against cell transformation. One of the main mechanisms used by cancer cells to silence these 'good' genes is the addition of a chemical modification called methylation, which results in the loss of gene expression.
	Breast cancer diagnoses plummeted during first year of pandemic, finds study Several studies have described the distinct ways the COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted cancer care, but less is known about the specific ways the pandemic disrupted breast cancer, the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in women.
	HHS opens investigation into UnitedHealth cyberattack Following a cyberattack on one of the nation's largest health insurers that's thrown health care payments into disarray and likely exposed reams of private patient data, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday it has begun an investigation into the incident.
	Race, ethnicity plays role in liver transplant survival: Study Researchers hope findings from a new study of liver transplant patients will lead to improved interventions for those from racial and ethnic minority groups.
	Scientists use an innovative approach to provide relevant insights into a rare neurologic disorder Researchers from the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) have discovered new genetic mechanisms related to spinocerebellar ataxia type 37.
	Targeting LTA4H improves the tumor immune microenvironment in ovarian cancer: Study In ovarian cancer, the abnormal expression of various metabolic enzymes in the metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is involved in the development of tumors and immune regulation. Most ovarian cancer patients are admitted with advanced disease due to its hidden symptoms and difficulty of detection at an early stage. The chemoresistance to standard platinum-based chemotherapy further leads to poor survival.
	EPA tightens limits on a chemical used to sterilize medical equipment, citing cancer risk The Environmental Protection Agency is imposing stricter limits on a chemical used to sterilize medical equipment after finding a higher-than-expected cancer risk at facilities that use ethylene oxide to clean billions of devices including catheters and syringes.
	Therapy using intense light and chronological time can benefit heart Managing circadian rhythms through intense light and chronologically timed therapy can help prevent or treat a variety of circulatory system conditions including heart disease, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
	Infections from nontuberculous mycobacteria are on the rise: New blood test cuts diagnosis time from months to hours Inhaling nontuberculous mycobacteria is common for most people. The bacteria are found in water systems, soil and dust worldwide and, for many, cause no harm.
	How to stay healthy in changing weather conditions The weather can be unpredictable, especially in late winter. One day it might be sunny and warm, the next day it might be freezing and snowy. How does this changing weather affect your health and well-being? And what can you do to protect yourself from getting sick?
	Republic Of Congo reports its first mpox virus cases, in several regions The Republic of Congo has recorded its first cases of mpox in several regions, the health ministry said, an indication of how the disease may be spreading across Africa since sexual transmission was first confirmed on the continent last year.
	AstraZeneca buys French biotech firm Amolyt for $1 bn Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca on Thursday agreed to buy French biotech specialist Amolyt Pharma for about $1 billion, expanding further into the field of rare drugs.
	Too much of a food thing: A century of change in how we eat Think about the last meal you ate. Whether it was a reheated plate of takeout food, a cornucopia of fresh fruit or something in between, it probably would have been unfathomable to most people a century ago.
	Researchers find lack of personalized maternity care is causing more unassisted 'freebirths' The number of women having unassisted births, or 'freebirths' across the UK is believed to be rising, as more expectant mothers are unable to access high-quality individualized maternity care.
	Calcium intake and absorption: Are you getting enough? Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. About 1% of the body's calcium is used for metabolic functions, such as vascular contraction and dilation, muscle function, blood clotting, heart rhythm, nerve transmission, intracellular signaling and hormone secretion. The remaining 99% is found in structural support for your bones and teeth. When calcium blood levels are low, a hormone signals that calcium be released from bones into the bloodstream.
	Video: Can collagen supplements help with aging? Many people take collagen supplements, hoping to capture the fountain of youth. But can these products really reverse the aging process?
	Chronic school absenteeism 5.8 percent for 5- to 17-year-olds in 2022 In 2022, 5.8 percent of children ages 5 to 17 years experienced chronic school absenteeism for health-related reasons, according to a March data brief published by the National Center for Health Statistics.
	Physician advises diabetics to heed FDA's smart device warning The FDA has warned diabetes patients not to use smartwatches or smart rings to measure their blood glucose levels. Now, obesity medicine expert Eleanor Yusupov, D.O., assistant professor at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, is sharing insight for these patients.
	What is the breast cancer risk calculator recommended by Olivia Munn? When Olivia Munn revealed this week that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy, she urged people to ask their doctors to figure out their score on a breast cancer risk calculator.
	Sleep expert says daylight saving time comes at a cost to your health Americans set their clocks ahead one hour on Sunday to transition into daylight saving time. That "springing ahead," however, can come with serious negative health effects—including an increase in total heart attacks and teen sleep deprivation—researchers discovered.

Other Sciences news

	Study finds children in Flint experienced educational declines even if they did not have lead pipes A trio of researchers, one a sociologist at Princeton University, the other two public policy experts with the University of Michigan, has found that children living in Flint, Michigan, experienced educational declines after that city changed its water delivery system in 2015, regardless of whether they lived in homes with lead pipe delivery systems.
	Bacterial diseases a lethal threat during the Stone Age Bacterial poisoning via food and water—but also via contact such as kisses—caused a lot of suffering during the Stone Age. Diseases that today can be treated with antibiotics were then fatal, concludes new study published in Scientific Reports.
	Could iPhones replace microscopes in early STEM education? Widespread ownership of modern smartphones could make for more accessible—and equitable—microscopy in many elementary and middle school classrooms. According to University of Georgia research, iPhone cameras can serve as adequate alternatives to traditional grade-school optical microscopes when paired with more cost-efficient magnification devices.
	Energy price hikes hit older people hardest, study finds Adults ages 60 and up in developed nations are spending more money on energy than younger counterparts—and are also more likely to struggle to reduce those higher costs, according to research led in part by University of Maryland geographers.
	Study finds workers misjudge wage markets Many employees believe their counterparts at other firms make less in salary than is actually the case—an assumption that costs them money, according to a study co-authored by MIT scholars.
	What's Pi Day all about? Math, science, pies and more Math enthusiasts around the world, from college kids to rocket scientists, celebrate Pi Day on Thursday, which is March 14 or 3/14—the first three digits of an infinite number with many practical uses.
	Transgender scientists speak up about the challenges they face in academia and share how to support them A group of 24 transgender (and/or family members of transgender) scientists describe what it's like to be a transgender person in STEMM. In a commentary published on March 14 in the journal Cell, they discuss the historical origins of trans marginalization, explain how this affects trans people's careers in science and medicine, and lay out actions that cisgender individuals and institutions can take to support trans people in STEMM.
	Digital surveillance is omnipresent in China. How citizens are coping Do you ever think about the digital footprint you leave when you are browsing the web, shopping online, commenting on social networks or going by a facial recognition camera?
	Financial abuse from an intimate partner? Three ways you can protect yourself Financial abuse occurs when one person takes control over another person's ability to acquire, use and maintain financial resources. An example is being denied access to your own funds or being forced to deposit your salary into a joint bank account but not having access to the account. It could also take place when large withdrawals are made from joint bank accounts without any explanation.
	Digital nomads: A benefit or burden for local communities? Many criticize digital nomads for fueling gentrification and pricing out locals. Social, economic, spatial and cultural segregation between nomads and local communities has already stirred controversy from Canada to the Canary Islands.
	Women favor climate actions that benefit future generations more than men, research shows The decisions we make now inevitably shape the prospects for generations to come. So tackling a long-term problem like climate change raises an intergenerational moral dilemma: should we invest in solutions that might not personally benefit ourselves but will help future generations reach net zero—or should money be spent to ensure everyone right now has the best possible quality of life?
	Analyzing impact of climate flooding images and political cues in news coverage According to a Rutgers study, news stories that include vivid photos of episodic climate change-related flooding (specifically flooded houses) significantly increase Americans' perception of such flooding as a threat.
	Social-emotional growth linked to higher math and English scores Does empathy relate to algebra? Can social awareness predict one's grasp of Shakespeare?
	The timeless wisdom of Sanpo-yoshi for present day businesses There is a growing emphasis for corporations to consider their impact on the environment, society, and its stakeholders. Broadly falling under environmental, social and governance or ESG, this involves practices such as using sustainably sourced materials, reducing carbon emissions, improving labor practices, fostering positive community relations, and promoting ethical corporate behavior, including efforts against anti-competitive practices and corruption.
	A new starring role for video captions: Language learning Want to learn a new language? Try watching videos in that language with the captions turned on—and slow down the speed.
	Researcher finds high schools fail to understand, support aspirations of Black and Latinx boys Researcher Roderick L. Carey offers an in-depth case study of three Black and two Latinx boys in 11th grade at a linguistically and ethnically diverse urban school, which he calls Metropolitan Collegiate Public Charter School (Metro). Over the course of an academic year, Carey interviewed the students about their school's college-going culture and how it influenced their conceptions of their postsecondary future selves.
	Researchers teach kids to code with cultural research and embroidery machines Even in tech-heavy Washington state, the numbers of students with access to computer science classes aren't higher than national averages: In the 2022–2023 school year, 48% of public high schools offered foundational CS classes and 5% of middle school and high school students took such classes.
	Improving education and human security for vulnerable refugee children "Access to education" is recognized as a fundamental human right and is listed as one of the United Nations' sustainable development goals to achieve by 2030. Quality education unlocks opportunities and gives individuals the freedom to make livelihood choices and shape their own destinies.
	Lonely young adults less likely to gain employment in adulthood, study finds New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, in partnership with the University of Greenwich, has found that there is a direct socioeconomic impact of loneliness in early adolescence.
	Study finds media coverage focused on NASA mathematician's achievements, but treated discrimination as past problem Without Katherine Johnson, NASA would not have landed a man on the moon. The 2016 film "Hidden Figures" told Johnson's story as a brilliant mathematician, a trailblazer who overcame racism and sexism to succeed at NASA in the 1950s and '60s. That monumental career was again examined in the media following her death in 2020.
	Terminator-style robots more likely to be blamed for civilian deaths Advanced killer robots are more likely to be blamed for civilian deaths than military machines, new research has revealed. The University of Essex study shows that high-tech bots will be held more responsible for fatalities in identical incidents.
	Information overload is a personal and societal danger, researchers say We are all aware of the dangers of pollution to our air, water, and Earth. In a letter recently published in Nature Human Behavior, scientists are advocating for the recognition and mitigation of another type of environmental pollution that poses equivalent personal and societal dangers: information overload.
	Hierarchy expansion: When should a startup hire managers? In a new study out of Vanderbilt Business, Professor Megan Lawrence explores a common challenge growing organizations face: how to continue to organize and coordinate the work of its growing body of employees.
	Kurdish uprisings have led to new ways for communities to claim Kurdish identity, study shows Kurdish uprisings have become a way for people to assert their identity and challenge their historical and structural erasure in modern Iran, a new study shows.
	No soft skills training spells missed opportunity for many organizations New research from Wiley suggests soft skills training can positively impact job performance and retention, but many organizations are missing out on its advantages.
	Consumers across political spectrum share food pricing frustrations University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign agricultural and consumer economist Maria Kalaitzandonakes recently completed a survey of U.S. consumers, gauging their perceptions of market share and tendency to overcharge by different players in the food system. The survey was in response to continuing consumer frustration at the grocery store, despite cooling inflation, an issue at the center of the 2024 presidential campaign.
	Increasing participation in the energy transition: Making community energy cooperatives more diverse The term "community energy" can be applied to a variety of projects, some of which are more grassroots-focused ("grassroots movement"), while others are professionally managed, large-scale energy projects. In some towns, for example, it was the members of local environmental initiatives or heritage associations that founded energy cooperatives. Larger projects, on the other hand, are more commonly initiated by companies, banks, public institutions or businesses.

---

This email is a free service of Science X Network
You received this email because you subscribed to our list.
If you do not wish to receive such emails in the future, please unsubscribe here.
You are subscribed as manojdole1.copa@blogger.com. You may manage your subscription options from your Science X profile