Science X Newsletter Tue, Mar 12

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COMSOL Day: Fluid Flow & Chemical Transport

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for March 12, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

The realization of aqueous flow batteries with mild pH decoupling

Spring irrigation can reduce summer heat wave events

Observations explore the nature of merging dwarf galaxy VCC 322

Scientists use spent brewer's yeast to filter out metal from waste streams

Scientists develop a rapid gene-editing screen to find effects of cancer mutations

Age-related changes in skin may contribute to melanoma metastases

Rainforest's next generation of trees threatened 30 years after logging

Rice paddy snake diversification was driven by geological and environmental factors in Thailand, molecular data suggest

How invisible presences hijack the social counting brain in Parkinson's disease

Seismological study shows ancient lower mantle flow field under Philippine sea plate

A coral superhighway in the Indian Ocean

Mars attracts: How Earth's interactions with the red planet drive deep-sea circulation

Vaccine monitoring is crucial as SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to evolve, says study

How a wandering white shark's epic journey could provide clues for protecting them

Flying high: UK's modern-day green airship takes shape

Nanotechnology news

	'GPS nanoparticle' platform precisely delivers therapeutic payload to cancer cells A newly developed "GPS nanoparticle" injected intravenously can home in on cancer cells to deliver a genetic punch to the protein implicated in tumor growth and spread, according to researchers from Penn State. They tested their approach in human cell lines and in mice to effectively knock down a cancer-causing gene, reporting that the technique may potentially offer a more precise and effective treatment for notoriously hard-to-treat basal-like breast cancers.
	Chimeric nanobody research looks to improve chemotherapy drug delivery Finding the best method to deliver chemotherapeutic drugs to tumor cells can be tricky. Ideally, the treatments target tumor cells while leaving healthy cells alone.
	Ultrablack thin-film coating could make next-gen telescopes even better Sometimes, seeing clearly requires complete black. For astronomy and precision optics, coating devices in black paint can cut down on stray light, enhancing images and boosting performance. For the most advanced telescopes and optical systems, every little bit matters, so their manufacturers seek out the blackest blacks to coat them.
	Researchers reveal ways to fine-tune nanoparticles and outline future areas of study The demand for renewable energy sources is constantly growing fueling the development of catalytic-based technologies. By separating and forming chemical bonds, these technologies can be used to produce environmentally friendly energy.

Physics news

	Team achieves successful mass production of metalenses designed for application in the ultraviolet region Ultraviolet rays find diverse applications in medical and health care, serving purposes such as disinfection, sterilization, and therapy. They are also used in the semiconductor industry for creating microcircuits and patterns.
	Study shows inverting fusion plasmas improves performance To become commercially viable, fusion power plants must create and sustain the plasma conditions necessary for fusion reactions. However, at high temperatures and densities, plasmas often develop gradients in those temperatures and densities. These gradients can grow into instabilities such as edge localized modes (ELMs).
	You didn't see it coming: New research shows turbulent flows can be caused by minute triggers We experience turbulence every day: a gust of wind, water gushing down a river, or mid-flight bumps on an airplane.
	Exploring exotic behaviors in population-imbalanced fermionic systems Over the past 20 years, many physicists have studied ultra-cold fermionic systems contained in magnetic or optical traps. When an external magnetic field is applied to a two-species fermionic system, the particles can pair together to form composite "bosonic molecules" with a full-integer spin.
	Dolphin-kick swimming maximizes water-flow utilization with increasing speed, researchers find Researchers from University of Tsukuba investigated the propulsion mechanism by visualizing water flow around a swimmer during underwater dolphin-kick swimming in a water channel via particle image velocimetry. Their findings revealed that swimmers can utilize water flow and vortexes more effectively as their speed increases. The research is published in the Journal of Biomechanics.
	Powerful new tool ushers in new era of quantum materials research Research in quantum materials is paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries and is poised to drive technological advancements that will redefine the landscapes of industries like mining, energy, transportation, and medtech.

Earth news

	Spring irrigation can reduce summer heat wave events Heat waves are becoming more extreme as climate change exacerbates, with susceptible locations experiencing more frequent, prolonged and higher intensity events. As such, they pose a hazard to agricultural practices that rely upon sufficient water to ensure sustainable food supplies.
	Seismological study shows ancient lower mantle flow field under Philippine sea plate Researchers from China and Japan have discovered distinct characteristics of Earth's lower mantle flow field. They investigated seismic anisotropy in the upper part of the lower mantle beneath the Philippine Sea Plate (PSP) and found that the ancient lower mantle flow field is still preserved there.
	Mars attracts: How Earth's interactions with the red planet drive deep-sea circulation Scientists from the Universities of Sydney and Sorbonne University have used the geological record of the deep sea to discover a connection between the orbits of Earth and Mars, past global warming patterns and the speeding up of deep ocean circulation.
	Strange rock formations beneath the Pacific Ocean could change our understanding of early Earth Our world may seem fragile, but Earth has been around for a very long time. If we ventured far back into the past, would we reach a time when it looked fundamentally different?
	Vehicle brakes produce charged particles that may harm public health, says study Scientists know relatively little about particles released into the air when a vehicle driver brakes, though evidence suggests that those particles may be more harmful to health than particles exiting the tailpipe.
	AI analysis of satellite images shows 1990s USSR collapse increased methane emissions, despite lower oil, gas production The collapse of the former Soviet Union in 1991 yielded social, political and economic effects worldwide. Among them was a suspected role in slowing human-generated methane emissions. Methane had been rising steadily in the atmosphere until about 1990. Atmospheric scientists theorized that economic collapse in the former USSR led to less oil and gas production, and thus a slowdown in the rise of global methane levels, which has since resumed.
	Researchers connect declining atmospheric sulfur dioxide levels to rise in Legionnaires' disease Declining atmospheric sulfur dioxide levels might be related to the global rise in Legionnaires' disease—a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling the pathogenic bacteria Legionella. So reports a new University at Albany study, published today in the journal PNAS Nexus, which examined trends in atmospheric sulfur dioxide, Legionnaires' disease incidence, and the role of cooling towers in harboring Legionella.
	India's water problems set to get worse as the world warms Winter storms that provide crucial snow and rainfall to northern India are arriving significantly later in the year compared to 70 years ago, a new study has found, exacerbating the risk of catastrophic flooding while also reducing vital water supplies for millions of residents of India.
	Climate policies to reduce motor vehicle emissions can improve children's health and save money, finds study A new study finds that policies to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from motor vehicles combined with investments in electric vehicles and public transportation would reduce air pollution and bring large benefits to children's health. They would also save money.
	Unprecedented Hauraki Gulf heat waves revealed by marine lab's historic data set A thermometer dipped in a bucket of sea water on New Year's Day in 1967 began a unique record that shows the dramatic intensification of warming in the Hauraki Gulf.
	What should we do with aging marine structures? Marine artificial structures (MAS), such as oil and gas platforms and offshore wind farms, have a finite operational period and will eventually need to be decommissioned.
	Study declares waste-to-energy plants a low health risk As China rapidly urbanizes, turning waste into energy has become a key way to handle growing trash volumes and reduce landfill use, while also creating power. Yet, concerns about the pollution from these plants and its health effects have led to debates. Making sure these plants use the best technology to control pollution is crucial for protecting air quality and health, emphasizing the need for ongoing improvements and careful health checks.
	Global ecosystem contributes trillions in its services with key synergies and tradeoffs, study finds Tradeoffs and synergies between ecosystem services constitute an important topic in ecosystem management. The value of each service is substantially influenced by human activities, and changes will affect human decisions. Given the variability in tradeoffs and synergies, the simultaneous optimization of multiple ecosystem services presents a considerable challenge.
	Scientists propose ten key components to foster climate-smart marine spatial planning globally A new study identifies ten key components that will promote the development and implementation of sustainable, equitable, climate-smart ocean planning initiatives around the globe.
	California state senator introduces legislation targeting industrial chemicals flowing into Tijuana River State Sen. Steve Padilla has announced two pieces of legislation he says will address the worsening pollution of the Tijuana River.
	Poo bags and trackers: Nepal orders new Everest rules Nepal has ordered Everest mountaineers to carry mandatory trackers after one of the deadliest seasons last year—and remove their excrement using compostable bags similar to those used for dog waste.
	Opinion: Lagos bans single-use plastics—why I think Nigeria should have taxed them instead Waste pollution is a huge problem in Nigeria, with serious impacts on the environment. In response, the Lagos state government has banned styrofoam (a type of plastic widely used as food containers) and other single-use products.
	EU must adapt to warming continent: Officials EU countries need to step up preparedness for global warming after 2023 burned its way into history books as the hottest year on record, European Commission officials said Tuesday.
	Gravity waves caused by complex terrain over the Tibetan Plateau can enhance the intensity of spring rainfall The springtime persistent rainfall is the major rainy period before the onset of summer monsoon in East Asia. For example, it accounts for about 35% of the annual precipitation in South China, which brings plentiful water for agricultural and industrial use but can also cause heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

Astronomy and Space news

	Observations explore the nature of merging dwarf galaxy VCC 322 Using the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT), Chinese astronomers have performed multi-band observations of a merging dwarf galaxy known as VCC 322. Results of the observational campaign, presented March 4 on the preprint server arXiv, deliver crucial information regarding the nature and properties of this galaxy.
	Detailed pictures show galaxy growth in the early universe was much faster than first thought Astronomers are currently enjoying a fruitful period of discovery, investigating the many mysteries of the early universe. The successful launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a successor to NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, has pushed the limit of what we can see.
	NASA's Roman team selects survey to map our galaxy's far side NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team has announced plans for an unprecedented survey of the plane of our Milky Way galaxy. It will peer deeper into this region than any other survey, mapping more of our galaxy's stars than all previous observations combined.
	Scientists propose new theory that explains sand ripples on Mars and on Earth Sand ripples are fascinating. They are symmetrical, yet wind, which causes them, is very much not. Furthermore, they can be found on Mars and on Earth. It would be even more fascinating if the same effect found on Mars could be found here on Earth as well. What if one unified theory could explain their formation on two different planets of our solar system?
	Zero-boil-off tank experiments to enable long-duration space exploration Do we have enough fuel to get to our destination? This is probably one of the first questions that comes to mind whenever your family gets ready to embark on a road trip. If the trip is long, you will need to visit gas stations along your route to refuel during your travel.
	Condor telescope reveals a new world for astrophysicists A new telescope called the "Condor Array Telescope" may open up a new world of the very-low-brightness universe for astrophysicists. Four new papers, published back to back in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) this month, present the first scientific findings based on observations acquired by Condor. The project is a collaborative led by scientists in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Stony Brook University and the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).
	Four astronauts from four countries return to Earth after six months in orbit Four astronauts from four countries caught a lift back to Earth with SpaceX on Tuesday to end a half-year mission at the International Space Station.
	During the 2024 solar eclipse, Texans will aid a national research effort to study the sun On a sunny February day at Dallas' Frontiers of Flight Museum, a cluster of students lifted telescope equipment out of a bulky briefcase. A sticker on the case read: "stand back—we're going to science!"
	NASA's search for life on Mars: A rocky road for rovers, a long slog for scientists, and a battle of the budget Is or was there life on Mars? That profound question is so complex that it will not be fully answered by the two NASA rovers now exploring it.
	The LIFE telescope passed its first test, detecting biosignatures on Earth We know that there are thousands of exoplanets out there, with many millions more waiting to be discovered. But the vast majority of exoplanets are simply uninhabitable. For the few that may be habitable, we can only determine if they are by examining their atmospheres. LIFE, the Large Interferometer for Exoplanets, can help.
	Hubble sees spiral galaxy NGC 4423 edge-on This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image shows NGC 4423, a galaxy that lies about 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. In this image, NGC 4423 appears to have quite an irregular, tubular form, so it might be surprising to find out that it is in fact a spiral galaxy. Knowing this, we can make out the denser central bulge of the galaxy, and the less crowded surrounding disk (the part that comprises the spiral arms).
	The next space flight accident: How do we prevent it? I recently watched NESC Deputy Director Mike Kirsch stand before a roomful of engineers at the Langley Research Center and tell them that with every passing day, NASA breaks a record: the longest stretch without a major accident in the nation's human spaceflight program since the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry on February 1, 2003. NASA's challenge, he told them, was to make sure the record keeps being broken.
	Operational modal analysis of the Artemis I dynamic rollout test Operational modal analysis (OMA) techniques have been used to identify the modal characteristics of the Artemis I launch vehicle during the Dynamic Rollout Test (DRT) and Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR) configuration prior to launch. Forces induced during rollout and on the launch pad are not directly measurable, thus necessitating a unique approach.
	Dark Energy Camera captures remains of a massive star that exploded nearly 11,000 years ago in huge gigapixel image This colorful web of wispy gas filaments is the Vela Supernova Remnant, an expanding nebula of cosmic debris left over from a massive star that exploded about 11,000 years ago. Located around 800 light-years away in the constellation Vela (the Sails), this nebula is one of the nearest supernova remnants to Earth. Though the unnamed star ended its life thousands of years ago, the shockwave its death produced is still propagating into the interstellar medium, carrying glowing tendrils of gas with it.

Technology news

	The realization of aqueous flow batteries with mild pH decoupling Technologies that can store the energy produced by photovoltaics and wind turbines could play a key role in the decarbonization of the energy sector. The operation of both solar cells and wind turbines relies on suitable weather conditions, and grid-scale energy storage solutions could help to store the energy produced when the sun is out and the wind is blowing so that it can be used later.
	Flying high: UK's modern-day green airship takes shape Britain's innovative Airlander 10 airship could soon take to the skies to offer leisure passengers panoramic views and far less pollution than traditional aircraft, according to its manufacturer.
	Musk says will 'open source' Grok chatbot Elon Musk on Monday said he would make his Grok chatbot, a rival to ChatGPT, open source as his feud with OpenAI deepens.
	Researchers explore quantum computing's ability to speed solutions for financial sector Over the next decade, quantum computers are expected to have a transformative impact on numerous industry sectors, as they surpass the computational capabilities of classical computers. In finance, for example, quantum computing will one day be used to speed banking, make financial predictions and analyze financial patterns and risks.
	Researchers design new analog chip architecture with high precision While most computing in the world is still digital, the data around us is captured in analog via sensors–images through cameras, temperature, and sound, for example, and has to be converted into a digital form for precision. But imagine an autonomous vehicle that needs to capture what's on the road and then make decisions instantaneously: this data needs to be converted very quickly with low energy and high precision.
	Towards a universal mechanism for successful deep learning Image classification is a complex task that deep learning architectures perform successfully. Those deep architectures are usually comprised of many layers, with each layer consisting of many filters.
	Replica theory shows deep neural networks think alike How do you know you are looking at a dog? What are the odds you are right? If you're a machine-learning algorithm, you sift through thousands of images—and millions of probabilities—to arrive at the "true" answer, but different algorithms take different routes to get there.
	Scientists achieve record efficiency for next-generation roll-to-roll printed solar cells Scientists from Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, have led an international team to a clean energy breakthrough by setting a new efficiency record for fully roll-to-roll printed solar cells.
	New AI technology enables 3D capture and editing of real-life objects Imagine performing a sweep around an object with your smartphone and getting a realistic, fully editable 3D model that you can view from any angle. This is fast becoming reality, thanks to advances in AI.
	Reddit aims to raise $500 mn in stock market debut Reddit plans to raise some $500 million with its initial public offering of shares, using the money to improve the platform and its money-making power, according to a regulatory filing on Monday.
	Most automated driving systems are lousy at making sure drivers pay attention, insurance group says Most electronic systems that take on some driving tasks for humans don't adequately make sure drivers are paying attention, and they don't issue strong enough warnings or take other actions to make drivers behave, according to an insurance industry study published Tuesday.
	Black box seized after 'technical' failure on Boeing-made LATAM plane New Zealand investigators Tuesday seized the flight recorder from a Boeing-made LATAM plane, searching for the cause of a mid-air plunge that injured dozens of terrified travelers.
	Airbnb bans security cameras inside guest homes Airbnb on Monday said it is banning security cameras inside guest homes so as to prioritize privacy.
	LATAM flight 800 'just dropped' in mid-flight, injuring dozens—what happened, and how to keep yourself safe On Monday, LATAM Airlines flight 800 from Sydney to Auckland experienced what officials are describing as a "technical fault" that meant the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner "just dropped" without any warning.
	Can earth-covered houses protect us from bushfires? Even if they're a solution, it's not risk-free As extreme fire weather becomes more common across ever larger areas of Australia, we need new options for living with the risk of bushfire. Underground or earth-sheltered housing is one possibility. While still unusual, these homes are being built in bushfire-prone areas.
	Solar power occupies a lot of space—here's how to make it more ecologically beneficial to the land it sits on As societies look for ways to cut greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change, large-scale solar power is playing a central role. Climate scientists view it as the tool with the greatest potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2030. In the U.S., the Department of Energy predicts that solar will account for nearly 60% of all new utility-scale electricity-generating capacity installed in 2024.
	French startup Mistral AI vows to maintain open source French startup Mistral AI, a rising star in artificial intelligence, pledged Tuesday to maintain open source coding even as it launches into a venture with Microsoft that involves selling some of its software.
	Apple to let EU users download apps via websites Apple said Tuesday its users in the EU will be able to download apps directly from websites, bypassing app marketplaces, as it yields to a sweeping new law and pressure from developers.
	Training AI for smart bicycles Bike friendliness of a cycle path depends to a large extent on the surface quality. This allows people who use bicycles for work-related reasons or to complete daily errands and want to keep bike-commuting climate-neutral to perform their tasks faster and in a more pleasant way.
	New traffic signal would improve travel time for both pedestrians and vehicles, says modeling study Adding a fourth light to traffic signals—in addition to red, green, and yellow—would shorten wait times at street corners for pedestrians, as well as improve traffic flow for both autonomous vehicles and human drivers. And the more autonomous vehicles there are in the traffic network, the shorter the wait times for everyone.
	Computing's quantum shift With the race to build a new generation of computers heating up, European companies are eyeing the game-changing opportunities.
	Novel technology reaches 100-kW wireless power transfer for passenger vehicle A team of researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory has demonstrated that a light-duty passenger electric vehicle can be wirelessly charged at 100-kW with 96% efficiency using polyphase electromagnetic coupling coils with rotating magnetic fields.
	Off-road autonomous driving tools focused on camera vision Southwest Research Institute has developed off-road autonomous driving tools with a focus on stealth for the military and agility for space and agriculture clients. The vision-based system pairs stereo cameras with novel algorithms, eliminating the need for lidar and active sensors.
	New method helps analyze changes in solar photovoltaic power generation across the globe The shift toward renewable energy sources decreases our reliance on fossil fuels, providing a cleaner, more sustainable alternative. However, with their increasing use and development, we also face new challenges. Solar photovoltaic (PV) plants, for instance, are subject to the whims of the weather and many other environmental conditions. This variability leads to inconsistent power output from these plants.
	Air filters and scheduled window opening can reduce classroom pollution by up to 36%: Study To improve air quality in classrooms, schools should use air purifiers during the school day and open windows after hours. That's according to a new study from the University of Surrey.
	The IRS launches Direct File, a pilot program for free online tax filing available in 12 states After weeks of testing, an electronic system for filing returns directly to the IRS is now available to taxpayers from 12 selected states.
	Microsoft to train Philippine women in AI, cybersecurity Tech giant Microsoft said Tuesday it will train 100,000 Philippine women on artificial intelligence technology and cybersecurity.
	Ancient community banking enters digital age in Cameroon Joseph Ngono's face lights up with a smile as he looks at his smartphone, where a payment worth $830 has just appeared in his digital wallet.
	Germany launches major subsidy scheme for greener industry Germany on Tuesday launched what it called "an innovative" multi-billion-euro subsidy scheme aimed at turbocharging investments that will make industrial production in Europe's top economy more climate-friendly.
	Delete a background? Easy. Smooth out a face? Seamless. Digital photo manipulation is now mainstream It's been a common refrain when seeking proof that someone's story or some event actually took place: "Pics, or it didn't happen."
	Britain vows to build new gas power stations British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government pledged Tuesday to build new gas-fired power stations to boost energy security, drawing criticism over his climate policies before this year's general election.
	Multi-objective multigraph feature extraction for the shortest path cost prediction As emerging urban air mobility concepts such as air taxis, on-demand aircraft, and large unmanned aerial vehicles become integrated into daily life, ensuring their smooth interaction with existing conventional airport infrastructures is imperative for achieving a sustainable civil aviation industry.

Chemistry news

	Using AI to replicate odors and validating them via experimental quantification of perfume perception A small team of chemical engineers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, working with a colleague from IA Murins Startups, has developed a way to use machine learning to replicate odors and then validate them using experimental quantification of perfume perception. The group has posted a paper describing their research on the arXiv preprint server.
	A faster, cheaper way to synthesize diabetes and weight loss drugs like semaglutide Semaglutide is part of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor targeting family of peptide drugs which are mainly used to treat diabetes but are difficult and expensive to make.
	Researchers reveal interfacial confinement on open space of oxide–oxide catalysts Confined catalysis has been regarded as an important strategy to modulate chemical reactions and enhance catalytic performance. Previous studies have demonstrated that the applications of the confinement effect in catalysis are in enclosed nanospace. However, whether an open space also has this effect is still unclear.
	Video: Complex chemistry in the cold depths of space For years, scientists thought some complex molecules could only be formed on Earth.
	Tailoring raloxifene into single-component molecular crystals for multilevel stimuli-responsive phosphorescence Smart materials that can rapidly respond to external stimuli possess immense potential for applications in anti-counterfeiting and encryption, data storage, sensors, bioimaging, and so on. However, most stimulus-responsive systems are designed based on controlled fluorescence emission (emission color and intensity).
	A high-content triethyl phosphate-based, non-flammable, and high-conductivity electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries Safety issues related to flammable electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) remain a major challenge for their extended application. The use of non-flammable phosphate−based electrolytes has proven its validity in inhibiting the combustion of LIBs. However, the strong interaction between Li+ and phosphate leads to a dominant solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with limited electronic shielding, resulting in poor Li+ intercalation at the graphite (Gr) anode when using high−phosphate−content electrolytes.

Biology news

	Scientists use spent brewer's yeast to filter out metal from waste streams When we recycle electronic devices we can no longer use, we expect to make the most out of the precious natural resources that went into building them. But electronic waste is notoriously difficult to recycle because it's hard to separate the different metals in the waste from each other.
	Rainforest's next generation of trees threatened 30 years after logging Rainforest seedlings are more likely to survive in natural forests than in places where logging has happened—even if tree restoration projects have taken place, new research shows. The work appears in Global Change Biology.
	Rice paddy snake diversification was driven by geological and environmental factors in Thailand, molecular data suggest A University of Kansas study of rice paddy snakes in Southeast Asia gives key details to their diversification and natural history, adding molecular evidence that the rise of the Khorat Plateau and subsequent environmental shifts in Thailand may have altered the course of the snakes' evolution some 2.5 million years ago. The findings appear in the journal Scientific Reports.
	A coral superhighway in the Indian Ocean New research has revealed that, despite being scattered across more than a million square kilometers, remote coral reefs across the Seychelles are closely related. Using genetic analyses and oceanographic modeling, researchers at Oxford University have demonstrated for the first time that a network of ocean currents scatter significant numbers of larvae between these distant islands, acting as a "coral superhighway."
	How a wandering white shark's epic journey could provide clues for protecting them As sharks go, LeeBeth is something like a long-haul trucker with gills and giant teeth.
	New software allows scientists to model shapeshifting proteins in native cellular environments Cells rely on complex molecular machines composed of protein assemblies to perform essential functions such as energy production, gene expression, and protein synthesis. To better understand how these machines work, scientists capture snapshots of them by isolating proteins from cells and using various methods to determine their structures. However, this process also removes them from the context of their native environment, including protein interaction partners and cellular location.
	Defensive cage architectures in herbivore-driven ecosystems Dense branching and spines are common features of plant species in ecosystems with high mammalian herbivory pressure. The combination of dense branching and spines is likely to produce the most effective herbivore defenses, as dense branching directly translates into higher spine densities. However, how cage architecture evolved under mammalian pressure has remained unexplored.
	Genomic research may be key to understanding cancer resistance in Tasmanian devils Over the past 30 years, Australia's Tasmanian devil population has been afflicted with an infectious cancer that has pushed the species to near extinction. The marsupials are highly susceptible to devil facial tumor disease, which is almost always fatal to their species. The genomic interactions between the disease and its host correlate with how quickly a susceptible animal becomes infected after exposure to the pathogen.
	Indigenous fire management started 11,000 years ago, finds study James Cook University researchers have discovered Indigenous fire management in northern Australia was being practiced at least 11,000 years ago—and it has implications for fire management practices today.
	How a natural compound from sea squirts combats cancer Numerous anti-cancer drugs function by targeting the DNA within cancerous cells, halting their proliferation. Yet, cancer cells occasionally develop mechanisms to repair the damage inflicted by these drugs, diminishing their effectiveness.
	Virtual tool for studying gene function aims to reduce number of animals used for genetic testing Researchers at the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have developed a new virtual tool that will allow scientists to study the function of genes more efficiently and hopefully reduce the number of animal models used in genetic research.
	Cheetahs' unrivaled speed explained by their 'sweet spot' size, study finds A new Imperial College London study has answered a long-held question about why medium-sized land animals like cheetahs tend to be fastest.
	Range-shifting fishes are climate-change losers, according to new research The warming of the Earth's oceans due to climate change is affecting where the world's fishes live, eat, and spawn—and often in ways that can negatively impact their populations. That's according to a new paper published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.
	Gene flow in giraffes and what it means for their conservation Giraffes are a beautiful and powerful example of what adaptive evolution can achieve. However, in recent years, they have attained notoriety for a completely different reason: it has been suggested that instead of one giraffe species, there might be no fewer than four different species. Such dramatic taxonomic reappraisals in highly conspicuous and well-known "flagship" taxa are very unusual.
	Study shows how to increase success rate of restoration initiatives in the Cerrado Statistics made available in January 2024 show that while deforestation in the Amazon fell by half in 2023, it increased by 43% in the Cerrado, the Brazilian savanna. A research group at the State University of Campinas's Institute of Biology (IB-UNICAMP) in Brazil dedicated to ecological studies on the Cerrado has already highlighted the urgency of combating destruction of the biome. However, it is not enough to defend what remains: restoration is also needed.
	Our bacteria are more personal than we thought, new study shows The trillions of bacteria that call your body home—collectively known as the microbiome—appear to be unique to you, like a fingerprint. That's one conclusion of a detailed study of the gut, mouth, nose and skin microbiomes of 86 people. Over the course of six years, the bacteria that persisted best in each person's microbiome were those that were most particular to the individual, rather than those shared by the entire population.
	New method finds higher carnivorous dinosaur biodiversity in Kem Kem beds of Morocco An international team of paleontologists from The Netherlands, the UK, Argentina, Germany and Belgium applied recently developed methods to measure theropod (carnivorous) dinosaur species diversity. The newly applied method uses both traditional phylogenetic analysis, discriminant analysis as well as machine learning.
	Alaska dinosaur tracks reveal a lush, wet environment A large find of dinosaur tracks and fossilized plants and tree stumps in far northwestern Alaska provides new information about the climate and movement of animals near the time when they began traveling between the Asian and North American continents roughly 100 million years ago.
	Rare rabbit could be at risk in NC, and scientists are rushing to collect its poop Research in North Carolina involving rabbit poop could help protect a vulnerable species in the state, wildlife officials said.
	Wolverines vanished from California a century ago. Is it time to bring them back? Wolverines could be poised for a comeback in California. A new bill seeks to reintroduce the solitary, muscular carnivores to the state's mountainous regions, where they were hunted, poisoned and trapped into oblivion more than 100 years ago.
	History repeats as Coral Bay faces mass loss of coral and fish life A perfect storm of environmental factors has seen a monumental loss of fish and coral life at a popular area of Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia's Gascoyne region—however Curtin University research into the event shows there is hope it will recover.
	Researchers develop engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain for optimized production of carotenoids More than 90% of the commercially available carotenoids are synthetically produced using chemicals. To meet the increasing demand for cost-effective natural compounds in carotenoid synthesis, researchers at Xiamen University, China, have developed an engineered S. cerevisiae yeast strain capable of selectively overproducing carotenoids.
	Valorization of depolymerized lignin using microorganisms Lignin is an abundant natural polymer which is eliminated as a byproduct in the pulp and paper industry. A recent review article explored different microbial processes available for sustainable lignin valorization, yielding not only environmental but also economic benefits. The article was published in the journal BioDesign Research.
	A brief guide to birdwatching in the age of dinosaurs Have you ever wondered what it would be like travel back in time to the age of dinosaurs? If you stumble upon a time machine, remember to bring your binoculars. Birdwatching is a popular hobby today, with an around 3 million participants in the UK alone, and in our modern world there are a staggering 11,000 species of birds to spot.
	Scientists identify biodiversity conservation gaps in Madagascar Despite the importance of biodiversity and the urgency to conserve it, assessing what aspect of biodiversity requires the highest priority has proven complex, especially when conservation resources are limited. A new study published in Current Biology sheds light on this question.
	Scientists find that micronuclei are not the primary trigger of the cGAS/STING pathway Cells possess an innate immune system that defends against invasive pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. Previous studies have mapped out the cytoplasmic cGAS-STING pathway in the cytoplasm, known for responding to foreign nucleic acids, such as double-stranded DNA.
	Q&A: Why researchers need accessible training to understand and leverage artificial intelligence in the life sciences Using any technology to its full potential, whether a basic word processor or a cutting-edge AI algorithm, requires some training. To truly tap into the benefits of technology, users need to understand how it works, grasp its limitations, and employ it responsibly. Nowhere is this more relevant than in the world of AI.
	Study reveals 'considerable farmer knowledge' on aspects of antibiotics risk A study published in CABI Agriculture and Bioscience has revealed "considerable farmer knowledge" on different aspects of antibiotics risks—including antimicrobial resistance—associated with their use on livestock in Kenya.
	Exploring the bactericidal activity of T1-spanin against drug-resistant bacteria Given the worldwide prevalence of drug-resistant bacteria, the research community is on the lookout for alternative bactericidal treatment approaches. In a recent study, Japanese researchers have now compared bacteriophage-derived enzymes for combating drug-resistant bacteria.
	Advancing plant biology with breakthroughs in single-cell RNA sequencing Recent breakthroughs in single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA), such as the recently developed "RevGel-seq" method, have revolutionized plant cell analysis. This technique, independent of special instruments, streamlines processes and resolves protoplast isolation challenges.
	Study finds pronghorn population declining due to human development Global species diversity is in decline almost everywhere, largely due to human-driven development and resource use. Typically, conservation efforts have targeted the most endangered species, which can lead to some tough choices on how to balance limited resources.
	How touchscreens and eye trackers can tell us something about the dating life of orangutans Aesthetic attraction plays a big role in orangutans' mate choice, behavioral biologist and Ph.D. candidate Tom Roth has observed. But to discover just how big that role is, more research is needed into the emotions of the great apes.
	The next pandemic? It's already here for Earth's wildlife, says biologist I am a conservation biologist who studies emerging infectious diseases. When people ask me what I think the next pandemic will be I often say that we are in the midst of one—it's just afflicting a great many species more than ours.
	AI making waves in marine data collection Numerous measurement stations around the world provide us with data about air quality, allowing us to enhance it. Although we are increasingly collecting data from marine areas, access to such data is considerably more challenging. Signals are poorly transmitted through water, differences in both pressure and currents hinder measurement devices and there is an absence of pre-constructed computing infrastructure.
	Citizen scientists' 'glass eel' data helps protect Hudson River The Hudson River Eel Project—which has netted, counted and released roughly 2 million juvenile eels since its inception in 2008—owes its success to a cadre of nearly 1,000 high school, college and adult citizen scientists donating time and effort each spring along the Hudson River.
	Exploring Arctic plants and lichens: An important conservation baseline for Nunavut's largest territorial park Encompassing over 16,000 km2 of towering mountains, long fiords, lush valleys, and massive ice caps, Agguttinni Territorial Park is a protected area on northern Baffin Island, Nunavut, Canada. This park, and all of Nunavut, is Inuit Nunangat—Inuit homeland in Canada—and the park protects sites and biodiversity stewarded by Inuit since time immemorial.
	Automated high-throughput sorting of living cells using laser light and AI Tests on living cell cultures are becoming increasingly important for personalized medicine, drug development and clinical research. The Aachen-based Fraunhofer Institutes for Laser Technology ILT and for Production Technology IPT have developed an AI-assisted high-throughput process that now makes it possible to automatically isolate specific cell types.
	Exploring the transferability of extracytoplasmic function switches across bacterial species Extracytoplasmic function sigma factors (ECFs) have been successfully used for constructing predictable artificial gene circuits in bacteria like Escherichia coli, but their transferability between species within the same phylum remained unknown.
	Organic ginger's response to propagation, fertilizer in high-tunnel Ginger is one of the world's leading spice crops, and is used for both its medicinal and flavor qualities. It grows well in tropical regions and its rhizomes mature in eight to nine months from planting. Rising consumer demands for organically grown crops in the U.S. provide the opportunity to add locally grown organic ginger to certified crop lists.

Medicine and Health news

	Scientists develop a rapid gene-editing screen to find effects of cancer mutations Tumors can carry mutations in hundreds of different genes, and each of those genes may be mutated in different ways—some mutations simply replace one DNA nucleotide with another, while others insert or delete larger sections of DNA.
	Age-related changes in skin may contribute to melanoma metastases Age-related changes that cause the skin to stiffen and become less elastic may also contribute to higher rates of metastatic skin cancer in older people, according to research by investigators from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.
	How invisible presences hijack the social counting brain in Parkinson's disease If you had to estimate the number of people in a room, without counting them one by one, by nature you would overcount them. That's because—simply put from a Darwinian perspective of how we have evolved—it's better to overcount potentially harmful agents and predators than to underestimate them. This overcounting social behavior is shown to be true in humans as well as animals. It's certainly better to detect too many tigers (even if absent) during a jungle excursion than to miss a hungry one.
	Vaccine monitoring is crucial as SARS-CoV-2 variants continue to evolve, says study Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and the National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre at UCLH have highlighted the importance of continued surveillance of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants and vaccine performance as the virus continues to evolve.
	Study finds COVID-19 had greater impact on life expectancy than previously believed A new study published in The Lancet reveals never-before-seen details about staggeringly high mortality from the COVID-19 pandemic within and across countries. Places such as Mexico City, Peru, and Bolivia had some of the largest drops in life expectancy from 2019 to 2021.
	Lung cancer treatment shows promise in tumor models A molecule has demonstrated its ability to kill tumor cells and incite an immune response in preclinical models of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), according to UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could lead to more successful treatments for SCLC, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.
	Mutation provides insights into mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease A mutated protein expressed in lysosomes may contribute to Parkinson's disease, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study published in the Journal of Cell Biology.
	Researchers invent a new class of AI to improve cancer research and treatments Mayo Clinic researchers recently invented a new class of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms called hypothesis-driven AI that are a significant departure from traditional AI models which learn solely from data.
	Research shows comforting babies eases parental stress in painful procedures The Neuroimaging Group, at the Department of Pediatrics, in collaboration with Bliss, the charity for babies born premature or sick, has launched a new suite of information resources for parents of newborns designed to make them feel more confident about being involved in the care of their babies.
	Vitamin D₂ may help preserve honeymoon phase of type I diabetes A team of medical researchers and doctors affiliated with several universities and two hospitals in the U.S. reports that administration of vitamin D2 to patients newly diagnosed with diabetes type 1 can prolong the so-called honeymoon phase of the disease.
	Mechanism for silencing gene expression targets the culprit behind a deadly liver cancer Cell division is the generative spark of nearly every lifeform on Earth. But if healthy growth goes unchecked, cell division can turn lethal, overwhelming the organism. Such is the case with so-called oncogenes. When altered by a mutation, these growth-moderating genes go haywire, producing a geyser of cancer cells as a result.
	Research uncovers potential pathway for breast cancer treatment A recent University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences uncovers a critical pathway involved in immune evasion by breast cancer cells.
	Novel DNA shift discovery may benefit severe immune conditions Discovery of a DNA shift in the innate immune memory of cells may aid in the fight against one of humans' most deadly foes—sepsis.
	More than 11% of US 12th graders used psychoactive delta-8-THC last year, study finds A new study suggests that delta-8-THC, an intoxicating substance typically made from hemp, is being used by a substantial number of young people across the United States and could potentially pose a significant public health risk.
	The TREM2 antibody: A new player in atherosclerosis A new study has investigated the mechanisms by which the receptor TREM2 affects atherosclerosis and a possible therapeutic approach using an agonistic TREM2 antibody.
	Study provides new insights into deadly acute respiratory distress syndrome Researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities may have discovered a mechanical explanation for instability observed in the lungs in cases of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), particularly in the aftermath of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19 or pneumonia.
	Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: Study successfully implements pooled saliva tests In a recent study, researchers have successfully introduced pooled saliva polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for the universal screening of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection. This new method helps detect and intervene early in the most common congenital infection, known for causing hearing loss and developmental problems.
	Study opens the door to earlier diagnosis and potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease A study might open the door to earlier diagnosis and a potential pathway toward slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers have discovered a special receptor on immune cells that can effectively bind and neutralize harmful "beta proteins," which are strongly associated with the disease.
	Research offers improved understanding of the biology of eye complications caused by diabetes Advances in understanding the basic biology behind the causes of diabetic retinopathy could have potential therapeutic implications later down the line. A recent paper published by the experimental ophthalmology team at the Institute of Inflammation and Aging in Nature Communications, sheds light on the mechanisms that cause eye damage in as many as 80% of people who have had diabetes for several decades.
	Scientists find weak points on Epstein-Barr virus Studies of interactions between two lab-generated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and an essential Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) protein have uncovered targets that could be exploited in designing treatments and vaccines for this extremely common virus. The research was led by Jeffrey I. Cohen, M.D., and colleagues from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. Their study findings were published in the journal Immunity.
	Study reveals the role of the protein Kdm1a in maintaining neuronal identity Epigenetic processes allow different cell types to emerge from a single genome. Throughout development, cells differentiate and acquire distinct characteristics by expressing the same genome in different ways.
	ADHD medication linked to reduced mortality Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have shown a link between use of medication for ADHD and a reduced risk of premature death. The risk of death due to unnatural causes, such as accidents and overdoses, can be reduced by a quarter, according to the new study published in JAMA.
	AI language model provides new insights into the development of brain diseases A new AI language model identifies clinical symptoms in medical summaries and links them to brain tissue from donors of the Netherlands Brain Bank. This yields new insights into the development of individual disease progression and contributes to a better understanding of common misdiagnoses of brain diseases. The model may, in the future, assist in making more accurate diagnoses.
	New throat patch can turn muscle movements into speech A new adhesive patch could one day help people with voice disorders speak again by using artificial intelligence to read the movements of their throat muscles and turn them into speech, researchers said Tuesday.
	Multiple organ attack and immune dysregulation: Study reveals how the chikungunya virus leads to death The chikungunya virus, transmitted by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes and responsible for more than 900 deaths in Brazil since it arrived around ten years ago, is capable of spreading through the blood, reaching multiple organs and crossing the blood-brain barrier, which protects the central nervous system.
	A sprayable gel could make minimally invasive surgeries simpler and safer More than 20 million Americans undergo colonoscopy screenings every year, and in many of those cases, doctors end up removing polyps that are 2 cm or larger and require additional care. This procedure has greatly reduced the overall incidence of colon cancer, but not without complications, as patients may experience gastrointestinal bleeding both during and after the procedure.
	Study investigates the best way to memorize details Recent experiments by psychologists at Temple University and the University of Pittsburgh shed new light on how we learn and how we remember our real-world experiences.
	Sperm formation step could hold clues to male contraception A cross-college collaboration is opening new doors in the study of male infertility by breaking down a key step in sperm formation. Isolating the intricacies of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI), will now enable researchers to identify what happens when that key step fails.
	The science behind waking up on the wrong side of the bed It's always darkest before the dawn for many people, and now, a University of Michigan and Dartmouth Health study has looked into the science of waking up on the wrong side of the bed.
	First recognition of self in the mirror is spurred by touch, researchers discover Most babies begin recognizing themselves in mirrors when they are about a year and half old. This kind of self-recognition is an important developmental milestone, and now scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have discovered a key driver for it: experiences of touch.
	Study finds restaurants, bars still serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons Nearly every state has laws that ban restaurants and bars from serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated customers. But, at least in one region, few establishments seem to be complying, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
	Chronic stress and inflammation linked to societal and environmental impacts in new study From anxiety about the state of the world to ongoing waves of COVID-19, the stresses we face can seem relentless and even overwhelming. Worse, these stressors can cause chronic inflammation in our bodies. Chronic inflammation is linked to serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer—and may also affect our thinking and behavior.
	Colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults: Some states want to boost awareness Responding to new research on the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among younger adults, some states are trying to boost public awareness of the deadly disease with a focus on Black and rural residents.
	Prevalence of self-reported hypertension 30 percent in 2017 to 2021 The overall age-standardized prevalence of hypertension was about 30 percent in 2017 to 2021, according to research published in the March 7 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
	Study finds calcium, vitamin D supplements may reduce cancer mortality in long term For postmenopausal women, calcium and vitamin D (CaD) supplements may reduce cancer mortality and increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality after more than 20 years of follow-up, according to a study published online March 12 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
	California hospitals, advocates seek stable funding to retain behavioral health navigators Health providers and addiction experts warn the funding structure is unstable for a California initiative that steers patients with substance use disorder into long-term treatment after they are discharged from emergency rooms, which has already led some critical employees to leave their jobs.
	More parents are delaying their kids' vaccines, and it's alarming pediatricians As measles cases pop up across the country this winter—including several in California—one group of children is stirring deep concerns among pediatricians: the babies and toddlers of vaccine-hesitant parents who are delaying their child's measles-mumps-rubella shots.
	'Not enough therapists': Georgia lawmakers aim to support mental health workforce During the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 1,200 state psychiatric hospital employees left their positions, and just over half that number have been replaced, according to state officials.
	'Curved' walking and a depth camera: New tool detects early cognitive decline A first-of-its-kind study suggests that to detect subtle gait impairments in older adults that often are prevalent in the early stages of cognitive decline, "throw them a curve."
	Study finds many Americans are unaware of their hepatitis C infection and their risk of liver damage It's estimated that 2 to 3 million people in the U.S. are living with the hepatitis C virus, and hundreds of thousands of them are undiagnosed. That's primarily because it tends to be asymptomatic in the initial stages until liver damage sets in decades later.
	Key protein linked to immune disorders A new study has shed light on the importance of the protein STAP-1 in activating certain immune cells. Understanding the role of STAP-1 in these cells could give researchers a better glimpse into immune-related disorders and ways to treat them.
	Patients with obesity and kidney failure may be newly eligible for kidney transplants A collaborative study between a bariatric and transplant surgery team has introduced new hope for patients suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are also struggling with obesity. The study authors explored the outcomes of metabolic and bariatric surgery in ESRD patients and whether the surgery can improve their eligibility for kidney transplants. The findings are published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
	Health professionals and laypeople feel differently about allocating scarce lifesaving resources in a crisis: Survey The pandemic put a spotlight on the challenges that health systems face when deciding how to allocate scarce resources during a time of crisis. To better understand differing opinions on this issue, researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and UC Health conducted a survey of laypeople and health care professionals, and found that while both groups have similar priorities for allocating medical resources, they are less aligned on how these priorities should be achieved.
	Allergen warning: 'Vegan' foods may contain milk and eggs The popularity of vegan diets continues to increase around the world. Indeed, in 2023, the vegan food market grew to more than US$27 billion.
	Does intermittent fasting have benefits for our brain? Intermittent fasting has become a popular dietary approach to help people lose or manage their weight. It has also been promoted as a way to reset metabolism, control chronic disease, slow aging and improve overall health.
	Vaccine-skeptical mothers say bad health care experiences made them distrust the medical system Why would a mother reject safe, potentially lifesaving vaccines for her child?
	Social media continues to censor women's health posts as pornography—and it may cause serious harm What's the difference between men's nipples and women's? How about men's pubic hair and women's?
	Same ER. Same patient. Different visit: Study shows variation in data used to address health care disparities For decades, the national effort to find and fight inequity in American health care has relied on vast amounts of anonymous medical record data from tens of millions of people.
	Paying people to exercise can be motivating, but the financial rewards don't have to last forever to work If physical activity came in a bottle, it would be the most prescribed medicine of all. Just walking 10 more minutes a day may yield clinically significant outcomes such as improved mental health, less pain and better sleep. It can also help prevent and manage more than 100 chronic diseases like cancer, arthritis and diabetes.
	Implementing an evidence-based community health worker model In the U.S., where many minority populations have deeply rooted distrust of the medical system due to historical and ongoing barriers to high-quality care, it can be helpful when trained members of the community—called community health workers—serve as advocates who counsel and support sometimes hesitant people to seek out necessary medical care.
	TikTok claims 'tongue scrapers' can cure bad breath—here's what the evidence actually says Most of us know how important it is to brush and floss if we want a healthy smile. But some people on TikTok are suggesting that this isn't enough—and that if you really want good oral health, you need to use a "tongue scraper."
	First study of the microvessels connecting the human cranium and brain Emiliano Bruner, a paleoneurologist at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), has just completed the first study to investigate the number and distribution of the microscopic vessels that unite the bones of the cranial vault with the brain. Her results are published in the journal Anatomical Record.
	Intuition is the secret to great acting and many other skills. Here's how to train it The 2024 Academy Awards recognized several amazing acting performances, including Cillian Murphy's portrayal of the physicist Robert Oppenheimer, which won him the award for Best Actor. But what is it that drives such peak performances? When an actor fully embodies the character to the extent that it creates an immersive, sustained world of make-believe, we say that the actor was acting intuitively.
	Study finds women with depression face higher cardiovascular risk than men People with depression face an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, more women experience CVD following a depression diagnosis than men, according to a new study published in JACC: Asia. The study investigates the connection between depression and CVD, shedding light on potential mechanisms that contribute to its sex-based differences and underscoring the importance of tailoring CVD prevention and management strategies according to sex-specific factors.
	Salty foods are making people sick, in part by poisoning their microbiomes, says gastroenterologist People have been using salt since the dawn of civilization to process, preserve and enhance foods. In ancient Rome, salt was so central to commerce that soldiers were paid their "salarium," or salaries, in salt, for instance.
	Sitting is bad for your health and exercise doesn't seem to offset the harmful effects, research finds Advances in technology in recent decades have obviated the need and desire for humans to move. Many of the world's population sit for long periods throughout the day, whether in front of a computer at work or in front of a TV at home. Given that the human body is made to move, all this sitting is clearly bad for our health. A new study from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), confirmed this—and then some.
	High blood pressure's impact on white matter could be key to dementia prevention A study from the Center for Healthy Brain Aging (CHeBA) provides compelling evidence for clinical practice to direct efforts toward preventing white matter damage in individuals with hypertension in order to protect against cognitive decline and dementia.
	Study reveals lower survival rates for women than men with germ cell tumors Women with a type of ovarian cancer known as germ cell tumors have a worse prognosis than men with similar tumors (i.e., testicular cancer). After five years with the disease, 98% of men were alive while the survival rate for women was only 85%. This has been revealed by a new study from Uppsala University and Uppsala University Hospital published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
	Military service can bring melanoma danger U.S. military veterans, especially those who served in the Air Force, are at high risk for one of the deadliest skin cancers, melanoma.
	LGBT people can face unique skin health challenges Gay and bisexual people, as well as those undergoing gender transition, could face unique dermatological issues, an expert says.
	Measles cases climb to 4 at Chicago migrant shelter outbreak As the number of measles cases at a migrant shelter in Chicago climbed to four on Monday, a team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has headed to that city to help contain the outbreak.
	More than half of aged care residents are on antidepressants, finds Australian study A new study by the Registry of Senior Australians (ROSA), based at SAHMRI, has found 6 out of 10 Australian aged care residents are taking antidepressant medication.
	Researchers identify distinct sleep types and their impact on long-term health Poor sleep habits are strongly associated with long-term chronic health conditions, according to decades of research. To better understand this relationship, a team led by researchers in Penn State's College of Health and Human Development identified four distinct patterns that characterize how most people sleep. These patterns are also predictive of long-term health, the researchers said.
	Study reveals low COVID-19 transmission rate from mothers to newborns A study by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National University Hospital (NUH) has revealed that COVID-19 transmission from mothers to their newborns is low. The study has been published in Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore.
	Study finds US drug approvals 2010–2019 align with US, but not global, burden of disease Drug approvals in the United States between 2010–2019 were aligned with the US, but not global, burden of disease and the increasing number of expedited drug approvals could make the gap worse according to a study in the BMJ Open.
	Extra one-minute check can stop some babies from being born prematurely Women who have a cesarean section in the late stages of labor are at increased risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies. But UCL researchers have now found a way to prevent this from happening.
	In the ICU, what is a good death? What is a good death for a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)? The answer to that question may depend on whether you ask a family member of a patient or the physician, who are not necessarily aligned.
	Study offers new insights into earliest stages of brain tumor development Scientists working to better understand and find a cure for brain tumors have made progress in identifying initial events in cells that can lead to tumor growth.
	How the pandemic made its mark on personality traits Major life changes can affect personality, and the COVID-19 pandemic was the rare big life event that all humans shared together.
	Survey finds that physicians are concerned about private equity investment in the health care sector Physicians have concerns about the impact that private equity investment in the health care sector has on physician well-being, health care spending, and health equity, according to a new research letter published in the JAMA Internal Medicine. "Physician Perspectives on Private Equity in Health Care" presents the findings of a survey of American College of Physicians (ACP) internal medicine physician members about different aspects of private equity involvement in health care.
	New study quantifies health impacts from oil and gas flaring in US A new study led by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Institute for the Environment, Boston University School of Public Health and the Environmental Defense Fund finds that pollution from oil and gas venting and flaring results in $7.4 billion in health damages, more than 700 premature deaths, and 73,000 asthma exacerbations among children annually. Researchers also conclude that emissions are underreported and controlling emissions is not only profitable for operators, but also can significantly improve public health in surrounding communities.
	Who benefits from direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising? A new study co-authored by a University of Massachusetts Amherst economist reveals the value of government vaccine recommendations to drugmakers, as well as potential benefits of advertising pharmaceuticals directly to consumers—a practice that is banned in every country apart from the United States and New Zealand.
	Novel risk score for cardiovascular complications after bone marrow transplant For thousands of Americans each year, a bone marrow transplant has the potential to cure diseases such as leukemias, lymphomas, and immune deficiency disorders. While lifesaving, bone marrow transplants are taxing procedures that can affect various organs, including the cardiovascular system.
	Maternal obesity may promote liver cancer Obesity, which could reach 50% of the population in certain developed countries by 2030, is a major public health concern. It not only affects the health of those who suffer from it, but could also have serious consequences for their offspring. Scientists at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) have studied the impact of maternal obesity on the risk of developing liver disease and liver cancer.
	What's behind the worldwide shortage of cholera vaccines? For starters, they're only made by one company In February 2024 the World Health Organization announced southern Africa was suffering the deadliest regional outbreak of cholera in at least a decade. At the epicenter of the disaster were Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where cholera cases surged more than four-fold between 2022 and 2023. Over 1,600 deaths were reported in the three countries.
	Study reveals key mechanisms of a rare form of epilepsy A study has identified a genetic mutation underlying a rare form of epilepsy, and reveals novel molecular and cellular mechanisms by which the disorder manifests in patients.
	New method for early detection of relapse in the blood cancer disease myelodysplastic syndrome Researchers at the Department of Medicine, Huddinge (MedH), Magnus Tobiasson and Eva Hellström-Lindberg have, together with the Nordic MDS group, developed a method that makes it possible to detect early relapse of the blood cancer myelodysplastic syndrome after stem cell transplantation. The method makes it possible to initiate early treatment and, thus, hopefully, prevent relapse. The study has been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
	Association of prenatal vitamins and metals with epigenetic aging at birth and in childhood A new research paper titled "Associations of prenatal one-carbon metabolism nutrients and metals with epigenetic aging biomarkers at birth and in childhood in a US cohort" has been published in Aging.
	Study: How home food availability affects young children's nutrient intake Early childhood is an important time for learning about nutrition and establishing healthy eating behaviors. Young children rely on parents to provide food options, and the availability of food in the home affects their dietary choices. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign looks at changes in home food availability and nutrient intake for children from 2 to 4 years old.
	Study finds higher risk for fracture from falls in men than in women A recent study titled "A meta-analysis of previous falls and subsequent fracture risk in cohort studies" found links between self-reported falls and increased fracture risk and also that prior falls increased the risk for fracture slightly more in men than women.
	Setting realistic expectations for recovery after robotic lung surgery Are surgeons giving patients unrealistic expectations about recovery after robotic lung surgery? That's what CU Department of Surgery faculty member Robert Meguid, M.D., MPH, and surgery resident Adam Dyas, M.D., set out to discover after realizing the guidance they were offering patients might be based on outdated or anecdotal information.
	Low-cost versatile mesoscope makes brain imaging in rodents more accessible The human/mammalian brain is arguably the most complex biological system known. Even after witnessing massive progress in neuroscience, we are still far from a comprehensive understanding of mammalian brains and their pathologies. One important hurdle in our way to this goal is the high cost of neuroimaging systems, such as those used when studying animal models. For example, consider magnetic resonance imaging systems.
	Researchers provide recommendations for understanding music therapy's impact on chronic pain A recent article from a multi-institutional group of researchers provides recommendations for music therapy practice and research among individuals with chronic pain using sickle cell disease as an exemplar condition.
	Community health workers are leaving state and local public health departments, says study Community health workers are the frontline members of the U.S. public health workforce. They're also among the most diverse part of that workforce—about 40% are non-white, and that number is increasing.
	Understanding chronic liver disease through mitochondria Scientists have identified a new organelle in liver cells called the mitochondria-lysosome-related organelle (MLRO). This discovery could improve our understanding of chronic liver diseases like alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD).
	In the resuscitation discussion, do words matter between doctors and patients? Adults 65 and older who were hospitalized for a variety of medical conditions had highly satisfying conversations about whether they wanted CPR, regardless of whether doctors used the terms "allow a natural death" or "do not resuscitate" for indicating no CPR, according to a pilot study by Rutgers Health researchers.
	In the nation's M.D.-Ph.D. programs, the socioeconomic gap widens A new Yale study finds that M.D.-Ph.D. programs in the United States have become less socioeconomically diverse in recent years. Between 2014 and 2019, applicants from families with higher household incomes were accepted at increasingly higher rates, a trend not found among other income brackets.
	Does an early menopause transition cause women to leave the workforce sooner? Since most women will continue working for years after entering menopause, the effect of menopause symptoms on their working ability is an important issue and the focus of a new study. Among other things, the study suggested that premature menopause can limit a woman's work ability and time spent in the workforce. Results of the survey are published in Menopause.
	Metadata to ensure quality research and animal welfare A study conducted by a public-private research team, including the University of Lausanne (UNIL), establishes the first minimal metadata set for animal experimentation, a crucial step towards maximizing the sharing and reproducibility of research data and limiting the use of animals. The study, published in LabAnimal, is a real call to action for the major stakeholders in biomedical research.
	Study finds mpox DNA can persist in the body for up to four weeks DNA from the mpox virus can be found in different parts of the body for up to four weeks after symptom onset, according to a study led by researchers at Unity Health Toronto, the Sunnybrook Research Institute and the University of Toronto.
	South Korea 'concerned' doctors' strike could escalate South Korea's health minister warned of a threat to the lives of patients on Tuesday after medical professors said they might join striking junior doctors engaged in a three-week-long standoff that has plunged health care into chaos.
	Health insurance CEOs rake in millions: Here's the top 10 list Health insurance premiums keep rising and many employees carry high-deductible plans that mean bills of $100 or more for a visit to the doctor.
	Australia's restrictive vaping and tobacco policies are fueling a lucrative and dangerous black market, say researchers Australia currently has the most restrictive tobacco and vaping policies in the developed world. Australian smokers are taxed at one of the highest rates among comparable nations, with taxes set to further increase at rate of 5% per year. Meanwhile, Australia is the only country to have a prescription model for accessing vaping products.
	Mother's little helper: Interviews with Australian women show a complex relationship with alcohol Men have historically, and still do, drink more than women. But in recent years there has been an uptick in women's drinking, particularly among women in their late 30s through to their 60s.
	Political scientist: How Alabama Supreme Court's IVF ruling turned me into a reproductive-rights refugee The day before the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created and used for in vitro fertilization are children, my wife, Gabby, and I were greenlighted by our doctors to begin the IVF process. We live in Alabama.
	Is melatonin safe for kids? The use of melatonin supplements as a sleep aid for children is becoming more common. The number of children taking melatonin at least once a month has risen nearly 20-fold since 2018. From 2012 to 2021, calls to poison control centers reporting melatonin ingestion in children rose 530%, and sales of the supplement have doubled since 2017.
	Study reveals major gaps in lung cancer services across Australia and New Zealand Researchers from Curtin University have identified critical gaps and inconsistencies in the provision and quality of care for lung cancer patients across Australia and New Zealand.
	Medical devices review calls for immediate action on unfair biases to prevent patient harm A report published Monday, 11 March 2024, details the findings of the Independent Review of Equity in Medical Devices.
	No, you shouldn't be going barefoot in public It's time to de-feet the trend of going shoeless. Though the barefoot lifestyle is not new—as evidenced by various types of barefoot or minimalist shoes and other products—the movement is resurfacing thanks to TikTok.
	Five exercise tips for getting back on track after winter illness and inertia After a dreary winter—and brutal flu and cold season—most of us are welcoming a new kind of affliction: spring fever. Coma-like weeks on the couch, whether brought on by a super virus or the new season of "Vanderpump Rules," may have you itching to resuscitate your fitness routine—or reluctant to emerge from hibernation.
	AI technology takes notes for clinicians, allowing them more time with patients Clinicians at Stanford Health Care will soon have access to an AI-powered app that can securely listen to interactions with patients and automatically generate draft clinical notes. The app, which was recently tested in a pilot program at Stanford Health Care, harnesses ambient voice recognition technology to create a written summary that captures essential clinical details.
	England to end puberty blockers for under-18s Young people in England will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers by gender identity clinics, officials said on Tuesday.

Other Sciences news

	How do neural networks learn? A mathematical formula explains how they detect relevant patterns Neural networks have been powering breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, including the large language models that are now being used in a wide range of applications, from finance, to human resources to health care. But these networks remain a black box whose inner workings engineers and scientists struggle to understand.
	Research finds a college degree remains a sound investment despite rising tuition A new analysis of 5.8 million Americans finds that earning a college degree is still a sound investment, although the rate of economic return varies across college majors and student demographics. The findings come as skepticism continues to grow over the value of a degree in the face of rising college costs, a decline in college enrollment, and a transforming economy.
	Migration of hominins out of Africa may have been driven by the first major glaciation of the Pleistocene A pair of planetary scientists, one with the University of Milan, the other with Columbia University, has found evidence that the exodus of hominins out of Africa approximately 1 million years ago may have been driven by the first major glaciation of the Pleistocene.
	Guessing game: Response may bias understanding of future scenarios Does previous experience bias a person in future estimations? Yes, say Osaka Metropolitan University researchers in Japan, but only if the person engages higher processing powers by responding, as opposed to simply observing.
	Prehistoric piercings may have been coming-of-age ritual Archaeologists have discovered more than 100 ornaments for use in piercings in ~11,000-year-old adult burials in Türkiye, providing the earliest conclusive evidence for body perforation and suggesting that piercing may have been a coming-of-age ritual.
	Human activity on Curaçao began centuries earlier than previously believed, study finds New research co-led by Simon Fraser University and the National Archaeological Anthropological Memory Management (NAAM Foundation) in Curaçao extends the earliest known human settlement of Curaçao by centuries, adding pieces to the puzzle of pre-Colombian Caribbean history.
	News reports that don't report magnitude of scientific findings could mislead the public When media coverage doesn't include the numerical magnitude of a scientific study's effect, the risk of readers developing biases increases significantly, according to a new University of Michigan study.
	Researchers: We looked at all the recent evidence on mobile phone bans in schools—this is what we found Mobile phones are currently banned in all Australian state schools and many Catholic and independent schools around the country. This is part of a global trend over more than a decade to restrict phone use in schools.
	Archeoastronomy uses the rare times and places of previous total solar eclipses to help us measure history In 648 BCE, the Greek poet Archilochus wrote that "nothing can be surprising any more or impossible or miraculous, now that Zeus, father of the Olympians has made night out of noonday, hiding the light of the gleaming sun."
	Climate change matters to more and more people, and could be a deciding factor in the 2024 election If you ask American voters what their top issues are, most will point to kitchen-table issues like the economy, inflation, crime, health care or education.
	Family unbound: How Western society is redefining and assembling families through digital platforms Modern Western life offers a wide range of possibilities of what "family" can be: single parents, rainbow families, patchwork constellations, co-parenting, adoption, surrogacy and partnerships without children. Family forms are diversifying and extending beyond the traditional.
	Q&A: How Instagram influencers profit from anti-vaccine misinformation While Instagram might have a reputation for superficiality—a realm of exquisitely filtered images—it is now eclipsing other social media as a news source. The platform is increasingly filled with information, some of it pernicious and distributed via influencers.
	Innovative approaches for addressing difficult topics in K-12 schools Three journals have recently published research papers by Penn State's Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative. The papers illustrate how the initiative's programs help K-12 educators address difficult issues such as racism.
	Project reveals pandemic perceptions in Alaskan fishing community When the COVID-19 pandemic spread across United States in early 2020, people's perceptions of the disease varied widely. Penn State researchers examined those perceptions in Bristol Bay, Alaska, home to the world's largest commercial salmon fishery, and found people's perceptions of risk due to COVID-19 varied across race/ethnicity groups by residency and income. They published their work in the journal Marine Policy.
	What does the American public really think of AI? In 2021, two Stony Brook University researchers—Jason Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology, and Steven Skiena, Ph.D., Distinguished Teaching Professor in the Department of Computer Science—began conducting a survey study on attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) among American adults. Some of their recent findings, published in the journal Seeds of Science, show a shift in Americans' views on AI.
	Americans struggle to distinguish factual claims from opinions amid partisan bias How well do Americans succeed at distinguishing statements of fact from statements of opinion? The answer: Not very well at all, according to new research co-written by a team of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scholars.
	Gender diversity found to improve corporate social responsibility A study in the International Journal of Business Excellence examining the relationship between gender diversity on corporate boards and corporate social responsibility spending has found a positive correlation. The research focused on 738 firms across India listed on the national stock exchange over a seven-year period.
	Shopping study explores animal welfare in a virtual supermarket How can we encourage consumers to pay more attention to animal welfare aspects when they purchase meat? It now appears that this cannot be achieved solely by making the animal husbandry labels more visible. At least, this is what the findings of a study carried out by the University of Bonn and TU Munich tend to indicate. In this study, the researchers invited test subjects to go shopping in a virtual supermarket.
	Gun manufacturers' ads appeal to women as 'serious students' of firearms to boost sales Gun manufacturers are appealing to women as "serious students" of firearms in their advertising—a shift in strategy over the last two decades that may be contributing to increased gun sales, a new study shows.
	When a team is less than the sum of its parts: Tensions between individual and team well-being New research highlights the conflict between the needs of a team and the needs of the individuals in the team—and what leaders can do to strike the right balance to keep things ticking smoothly.
	Immigrants found to be significantly less likely to commit crimes than the US-born Some Americans believe that undocumented immigrants are a criminal threat to society. Former President Donald J. Trump has leveraged this assumption to inflame the rhetoric around immigration from the U.S.-Mexico border.
	The numbers do not add up for mathematics homework, according to a new study Supporting kids with math homework is a common afterschool activity. But beyond the basics, new curricula and teaching strategies are making it harder for parents to help and it's taking a serious toll on children's confidence and learning.
	Research examines the role of sex and violence in Peruvian military culture An article and book by Professor Jelke Boesten and co-author Peruvian anthropologist Lurgio Gavilán have received awards from the Latin American Studies Association, the largest professional organization for those studying Latin America. Jelke Boesten is Professor in Gender and Development in the Department of International Development.
	Difficulties in exploiting the economic opportunities in the ocean The green shift has created a strong interest in exploiting the economic opportunities in the ocean, but the ocean is not so easily economized. This is revealed in a comprehensive study, which, among other things, shows how the cod resists being domesticated.
	Calls for reform to manage potential risks of modern slavery in the UK's hospitality industry The UK's tourism and hospitality industries, having a high concentration of migrant workers, face complex challenges in managing the risks of labor exploitation and modern slavery—according to a study from the University of Surrey.

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