Science X Newsletter Tue, Apr 16

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 16, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Most massive stellar black hole in our galaxy found

Spiraling insights: Scientists observe mechanical waves in bacterial communities

New insight about the working principles of bipolar membranes could guide future fuel cell design

Astronomers inspect open cluster Berkeley 50

In search for alien life, purple may be the new green

Can animals count? Neuroscientists identify a sense of numeracy among rodents

New analysis reveals the brutal history of the Winchcombe meteorite's journey through space

Biodiversity is key to the mental health benefits of nature, new study finds

A single atom layer of gold—researchers create goldene

Most countries are struggling to meet climate pledges from 2009, emissions tracking study shows

Using sound waves for photonic machine learning: Study lays foundation for reconfigurable neuromorphic building blocks

New insights could unlock immunotherapy for rare, deadly eye cancer

Seed ferns experimented with complex leaf vein networks 201 million years ago, paleontologists find

New study focuses on the placenta for clues to the development of gestational diabetes

NASA is seeking a faster, cheaper way to bring Mars samples to Earth

Nanotechnology news

	A single atom layer of gold—researchers create goldene For the first time, scientists have managed to create sheets of gold only a single atom layer thick. The material has been termed goldene. According to researchers from Linköping University, Sweden, this has given the gold new properties that can make it suitable for use in applications such as carbon dioxide conversion, hydrogen production, and production of value-added chemicals. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Synthesis.
	Scientists develop nanosilver-impregnated silk suture against surgical site infection In recent years, the adherence of microorganisms to surfaces or coatings has created major health risks to humans. Among these, microbial attachment and growth on surgical suture lines accounts for more than 20% of health-related infections in patients.
	'Nano stitches' enable lighter and tougher composite materials To save on fuel and reduce aircraft emissions, engineers are looking to build lighter, stronger airplanes out of advanced composites. These engineered materials are made from high-performance fibers that are embedded in polymer sheets. The sheets can be stacked and pressed into one multilayered material and made into extremely lightweight and durable structures.
	Quantum electronics: Charge travels like light in bilayer graphene An international research team led by the University of Göttingen has demonstrated experimentally that electrons in naturally occurring double-layer graphene move like particles without any mass, in the same way that light travels. Furthermore, they have shown that the current can be "switched" on and off, which has potential for developing tiny, energy-efficient transistors—like the light switch in your house but at a nanoscale.
	Evidence for reversible oxygen ion movement during electrical pulsing: Emerging ferroelectricity in binary oxides Ferroelectric binary oxides thin films are garnering attention for their superior compatibility over traditional perovskite-based ferroelectric materials. Its compatibility and scalability within the CMOS framework make it an ideal candidate for integrating ferroelectric devices into mainstream semiconductor components, including next-generation memory devices and various logic devices such as Ferroelectric Field-effect Transistor, and Negative Capacitance Field-effect Transistor.
	Novel method developed for phosphorescent multi-color carbon dots A research team has devised a novel method to prepare carbonized polymer nanodots capable of emitting multi-color ultra-long room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) from blue to green.
	Ultra-resilient flexible sensors break new ground in pressure detection In recent advancements, flexible pressure sensors have been developed to mimic human skin's sensitivity, significantly benefiting fields like interactive technologies, health monitoring, and robotics. These innovations leverage a variety of microstructural strategies, including pyramidal, dome, wrinkle, and layered structures, for enhanced sensitivity and durability. Despite their potential, current designs often involve complex manufacturing processes.
	Nanoparticle delivery of FZD4 to lung endothelial cells inhibits lung cancer progression and metastases A recent study from the lab of Tanya Kalin, MD, Ph.D., professor of Child Health and Internal Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine—Phoenix, has shown potential to improve therapeutic outcomes for patients suffering from lung cancers.

Physics news

	Attosecond imaging made possible by short and powerful laser pulses Extremely short pulses of laser light with a peak power of 6 terawatts (6 trillion watts)—roughly equivalent to the power produced by 6,000 nuclear power plants—have been realized by two RIKEN physicists. This achievement will help further develop attosecond lasers, for which three researchers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2023. The work is published in the journal Nature Photonics.
	CMS collaboration releases Higgs boson discovery data to the public As part of its continued commitment to making its science fully open, the CMS collaboration has just publicly released the combination of CMS measurements that contributed to establishing the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012.
	Electrical control of magnetism by electric field and current-induced torques In a review article published in Reviews of Modern Physics, Fèlix Casanova from the Nanodevices group at CIC nanoGUNE, Prof. Albert Fert, Nobel Prize in Physics, and his colleagues review the state of the art of electrical control of magnetism and give scientific and technological future perspectives.
	Creating an island paradise in a fusion reactor In their ongoing quest to develop a range of methods for managing plasma so it can be used to generate electricity in a process known as fusion, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have shown how two old methods can be combined to provide greater flexibility.
	Physicists explain, and eliminate, unknown force dragging against water droplets on superhydrophobic surfaces Microscopic chasms forming a sea of conical jagged peaks stipple the surface of a material called black silicon. While it's commonly found in solar cell tech, black silicon also moonlights as a tool for studying the physics of how water droplets behave.
	Crucial connection for 'quantum internet' made for the first time Researchers have produced, stored, and retrieved quantum information for the first time, a critical step in quantum networking.
	A universal path for converting light into current in solids Researchers have long wondered whether light can be efficiently converted into electricity. Realistic and efficient methods to generate electricity from light, photocurrent, has numerous potential applications in the clean conversion of energy, information processing, sensors, photodetectors and many other optoelectronic uses.
	How logic alone may prove that time doesn't exist Modern physics suggests time may be an illusion. Einstein's theory of relativity, for example, suggests the universe is a static, four-dimensional block that contains all of space and time simultaneously—with no special "now."
	Magnetism boosts hydrogen production in model catalysts Researchers at the University of Twente have shown how to improve the efficiency of hydrogen production in an experimental setup. They showed that the magnetic order of the molecules plays a critical role.
	Gigahertz-rate switchable wavefront shaping by LNOI-empowered metasurface Over the past decade, metasurfaces deploying two-dimensional artificial nanostructures have emerged as a groundbreaking platform to manipulate light across various degrees of freedom. These metasurfaces exhibit significant potential in foundational scientific research and industrial applications.

Earth news

	Most countries are struggling to meet climate pledges from 2009, emissions tracking study shows Nineteen out of 34 countries surveyed failed to fully meet their 2020 climate commitments set 15 years ago in Copenhagen, according to a new study led by UCL researchers.
	SWOT satellite helps gauge the depth of Death Valley's temporary lake California's Death Valley, the driest place in North America, has hosted an ephemeral lake since late 2023. A NASA-led analysis recently calculated water depths in the temporary lake over several weeks in February and March 2024, demonstrating the capabilities of the U.S.-French Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite, which launched in December 2022.
	Study quantifies ecological restoration effectiveness on greenhouse gas emissions Increasing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) are having irreversible consequences for the future of the Earth. However, the general pattern of the impacts of ecological restoration on the three major GHGs on a global scale has not yet been analyzed.
	Animals deserve to be included in global carbon cycle models as well, say researchers Models of the global carbon cycle typically include plants, microbes, soil, and the atmosphere. But they may be leaving out an important variable: Animals, from earthworms to elephants, can have a significant, though heretofore little-studied, influence on how carbon is captured and stored in ecosystems.
	Uranium-immobilizing bacteria in clay rock: Exploring how microorganisms can influence the behavior of radioactive waste When designing repositories for high-level radioactive waste in deep geological layers, various factors must be carefully considered to ensure their long-term safety. Among other things, natural communities of microorganisms can influence the behavior of the waste, especially when it comes into contact with water. The microorganisms interact with released radionuclides and influence their mobility.
	Researchers shine light on rapid changes in Arctic and boreal ecosystems Arctic and boreal latitudes are warming faster than any other region on Earth. In three new studies, Earth system scientists at the University of California, Irvine report how the ecosystems in these regions are changing.
	Yellowstone Lake ice cover unchanged despite warming climate The length of time that Yellowstone Lake is covered by ice each year has not changed in the past century, despite warming temperatures in the region, according to new research led by University of Wyoming scientists.
	CO₂ worsens wildfires by helping plants grow, model experiments show By fueling the growth of plants that become kindling, carbon dioxide is driving an increase in the severity and frequency of wildfires, according to a UC Riverside study.
	Iceland volcano still spewing lava, one month on Orange lava bubbles and pops, occasionally spewing large fountains from a volcano that has been erupting for a month in Iceland, the second-longest eruption since the region's volcanic activity reawakened in March 2021.
	More climate-warming methane leaks into the atmosphere than ever gets reported Far more methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is being released from landfills and oil and gas operations around the world than governments realized, recent airborne and satellite surveys show. That's a problem for the climate as well as human health. It's also why the U.S. government has been tightening regulations on methane leaks and wasteful venting, most recently from oil and gas wells on public lands.
	'Urban form' and the housing crisis: Can streets and buildings make a neighborhood more affordable? As of 2007, most humans live in cities. Though this is a relatively recent trend, many of our settlements contain street, block, and building patterns that have developed over centuries. These patterns—which collectively make up what we call "urban form"—are far from a neutral backdrop: they influence who lives where, what businesses find footholds in which locations, and what makes some areas more diverse than others.
	Research suggests that part of India will become a climate hotspot The Indian subcontinent is likely to experience an increasing number of extreme weather events in future. The fertile and densely populated plain around the Indus and Ganges rivers is therefore likely to become a climate change hotspot, which could have severe consequences for several hundred million people.
	Researchers reveal oceanic black carbon sink effect driven by seawater microdroplets Pyrogenic carbon is widely produced during the incomplete combustion of biomass and fossil fuels on land. About one-third of pyrogenic carbon is exported to the ocean by rivers, and thereinto, the refractory fraction becomes the source of oceanic black carbon that can provide a long-term sink for atmospheric CO2.
	Scientists develop framework to measure plastic emissions and bolster U.N. efforts to reduce pollution University of Toronto (U of T) scientists have developed a framework for measuring plastic pollution emissions akin to the global standard for measuring greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers say the approach will boost identification of the biggest contributors to plastic pollution from local to national levels and improve strategies in reducing emissions worldwide.
	Fires pose growing worldwide threat to wildland-urban interface Fires that blaze through the wildland-urban interface (WUI) are becoming more common around the globe, a trend that is likely to continue for at least the next two decades, new research finds.
	Global ocean summit nets $10 bn in pledges: Greek PM An international summit on saving the oceans netted $10 billion in pledges, the prime minister of host country Greece said on Tuesday.
	Dubai airport diverts flights as 'exceptional weather' hits Gulf Dubai's major international airport diverted scores of incoming flights on Tuesday as heavy rains lashed the United Arab Emirates, causing widespread flooding around the desert country.

Astronomy and Space news

	Most massive stellar black hole in our galaxy found Astronomers have identified the most massive stellar black hole yet discovered in the Milky Way galaxy. This black hole was spotted in data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission because it imposes an odd 'wobbling' motion on the companion star orbiting it. Data from the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (ESO's VLT) and other ground-based observatories were used to verify the mass of the black hole, putting it at an impressive 33 times that of the sun.
	Astronomers inspect open cluster Berkeley 50 Using the Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT), astronomers from the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, have observed a young Galactic open cluster known as Berkeley 50. Results of the observational campaign, presented April 5 on the preprint server arXiv, shed more light on the properties and stellar content of this cluster.
	In search for alien life, purple may be the new green From house plants and gardens to fields and forests, green is the color we most associate with surface life on Earth, where conditions favored the evolution of organisms that perform oxygen-producing photosynthesis using the green pigment chlorophyll a.
	New analysis reveals the brutal history of the Winchcombe meteorite's journey through space Intensive new nano-analysis of the Winchcombe meteorite has revealed how it was affected by water and repeatedly smashed apart and reassembled on the journey it took through space before landing in an English sheep field in 2021.
	NASA is seeking a faster, cheaper way to bring Mars samples to Earth NASA's plan to bring samples from Mars back to Earth is on hold until there's a faster, cheaper way, space agency officials said Monday.
	NASA confirms mystery object that crashed through roof of Florida home came from space station NASA confirmed Monday that a mystery object that crashed through the roof of a Florida home last month was a chunk of space junk from equipment discarded at the International Space Station.
	Why figuring out how potassium is destroyed in stars is important to understanding the universe If you want to know where elements come from, look to the stars. Almost every element heavier than helium is formed through nuclear reactions in stars. But which stellar processes are responsible for these elements? Can we find patterns in how much of each element we observe in different astrophysical environments, like stars, galaxies or globular clusters?
	A solar neighborhood census, thanks to NASA citizen science To take a census of nearby cosmic objects, sending out a survey won't work. Scientists need to use many telescopes with different specializations to chart what is in the general neighborhood of the sun.
	NASA's Fermi mission sees no gamma rays from nearby supernova A nearby supernova in 2023 offered astrophysicists an excellent opportunity to test ideas about how these types of explosions boost particles, called cosmic rays, to near light-speed. But surprisingly, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected none of the high-energy gamma-ray light those particles should produce.
	Dating the solar system's giant planet orbital instability using enstatite meteorites Evidence from the fragments of a destroyed asteroid suggests that the shift in the positions of the giant planets in our solar system billions of years ago happened between 60–100 million years after the solar system's formation and could have been key to the formation of our moon.
	The history of the young cold traps of the asteroid Ceres Ceres, the largest asteroid in our solar system, harbors a dark secret: extremely young ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters near its poles. If that sounds vaguely familiar, it's because our moon and planet Mercury also have such polar ice deposits, which have been studied for decades.
	Supporting the future of Mars exploration with supercomputers You may have flown a flight simulator in a computer game or at a science museum. Landing without crashing is always the hardest part. But that's nothing compared to the challenge that engineers are facing to develop a flight simulation of the very large vehicles necessary for humans to explore the surface of Mars. The Red Planet poses innumerable challenges to astronauts, not the least of which is getting there.
	Space exploration: A luxury or a necessity? "Oh, come on Daniel, space travel is so expensive, and pointless!" These were the words of my friend Max, during a Christmas party where I was discussing my thesis project: studying places on Earth where the living conditions are so extreme, they could hold lessons for future space missions.
	Citizen science project classifying gamma-ray bursts When faraway stars explode, they send out flashes of energy called gamma-ray bursts that are bright enough that telescopes back on Earth can detect them. Studying these pulses, which can also come from mergers of some exotic astronomical objects such as black holes and neutron stars, can help astronomers like me understand the history of the universe.
	NASA's VIPER moon rover gets its head and neck In this image from Feb. 12, 2024, engineers lift a mast into place on NASA's VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) robotic moon rover. VIPER's mast and the suite of instruments affixed to it look a lot like the rover's "neck" and "head." The mast instruments are designed to help the team of rover drivers and real-time scientists send commands and receive data while the rover navigates around hazardous crater slopes, boulders, and places that risk communications blackouts.
	New book gives insider's view of cosmic search for life Whether life exists anywhere besides Earth is a burning question that, at long last, may soon be answered.

Technology news

	New insight about the working principles of bipolar membranes could guide future fuel cell design Bipolar membranes are a class of ion-conductive polymers comprised of two oppositely charged layers, known as the cation-exchange and anion-exchange layer. These membranes are central to the functioning of various technologies, including electrolyzers and hydrogen fuel cells.
	Using sound waves for photonic machine learning: Study lays foundation for reconfigurable neuromorphic building blocks Optical neural networks may provide the high-speed and large-capacity solution necessary to tackle challenging computing tasks. However, tapping their full potential will require further advances. One challenge is the reconfigurability of optical neural networks.
	Taichi: A large-scale diffractive hybrid photonic AI chiplet A combined team of engineers from Tsinghua University and the Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, both in China, has developed a large-scale diffractive hybrid photonic AI chiplet for use in high-efficiency artificial general intelligence applications. Their paper is published in the journal Science.
	Neutron scattering study points the way to more powerful lithium batteries An international team of scientists has found a way to improve battery design that could produce safer, more powerful lithium batteries.
	Cooler transformers could help electric grid Most people do not give the U.S. electric grid a second thought—we flip a switch, and the lights come on. Behind the scenes are thousands of power plants and utilities linked by millions of miles of transmission lines. To make raw electricity useful, grid transformers convert high voltage to lower voltage that millions of households can plug into.
	Nissan says it will make next-generation EV batteries by early 2029 Nissan expects to mass produce electric vehicles powered by advanced next-generation batteries by early 2029, the company said Tuesday during a media tour of an unfinished pilot plant.
	Paris faces cyber battle to keep Games running and real The Paris Olympics are bracing themselves to fight off an unprecedented level of cyber attacks, for the first time augmented by artificial intelligence.
	Samsung returns to top of the smartphone market: Industry tracker Samsung regained its position as the top smartphone seller, wresting back the lead from Apple as Chinese rivals close the gap on both market leaders, industry tracker International Data Corporation (IDC) reported Monday.
	Microsoft to invest $1.5bn in AI firm in UAE, take board seat Microsoft is to invest $1.5 billion in the United Arab Emirates artificial intelligence firm G42, taking a minority stake and a seat on the board, the companies said on Tuesday.
	Meta 'supreme court' takes on cases of deepfake porn Meta's oversight board said Tuesday it is scrutinizing the social media titan's deepfake porn policies, through the lens of two cases.
	Can AI read our minds? Probably not, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be worried Earlier this year, Neuralink implanted a chip inside the brain of 29-year-old US man Noland Arbaugh, who is paralyzed from the shoulders down. The chip has enabled Arbaugh to move a mouse pointer on a screen just by imagining it moving.
	Why robots can be culturally insensitive—and how scientists are trying to fix it A robot is chatting to an elderly British man in his bedroom. The robot has a cheery demeanor and a pleasantly high-pitched voice.
	High electric bills threaten California's clean future: This plan could help California has some of the nation's highest electricity rates, and power bills are rising fast. That's a problem because it makes it harder for people to afford switching from fossil fuels to clean electric cars and appliances that are essential to combating climate change.
	Atrium Health shared patient data with Facebook, class-action lawsuit alleges A class-action lawsuit filed in North Carolina accuses Atrium Health of allowing Facebook and Google to access patient information online to use in targeted ads.
	How Amazon became the largest private EV charging operator in the US Amazon's Maple Valley, Washington, warehouse is built for speed. At night, big rigs pull up to one end to unload boxes and padded mailers—some after a short drive from a bigger warehouse down the road, others following a flight in the hold of a cargo plane. Waiting employees scan, sort and load them into rolling racks.
	Deepfake detection improves when using algorithms that are more aware of demographic diversity Deepfakes—essentially putting words in someone else's mouth in a very believable way—are becoming more sophisticated by the day and increasingly hard to spot. Recent examples of deepfakes include Taylor Swift nude images, an audio recording of President Joe Biden telling New Hampshire residents not to vote, and a video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling on his troops to lay down their arms.
	A timer can shorten your shower even when you have no incentive to save water From Barcelona to Mexico City, popular tourist destinations are facing droughts and running out of water. Yet, a huge 40% of household water is used for showers and baths, with products like shower gel actively encouraging people to spend longer washing so finding simple and scalable ways to cut water consumption is crucial.
	Solar energy can uplift rural Ethiopians, but is hard to come by Even though solar home systems are becoming cheaper and easier to access, barriers to their adoption persist among remote communities in developing countries, where solar panels can promote health and education, according to a new study of two rural villages in Ethiopia.
	AI model could optimize e-commerce sites for users who are color blind University of Toronto researcher Parham Aarabi has created an artificial intelligence model that mimics how people use e-commerce websites—and it may be able to help retailers optimize their sites for people experiencing color blindness and other conditions.
	Researchers can help shipowners achieve ambitious climate targets International shipping does not want to be a climate bad guy and is aiming to be emission-free by 2050. A new tool designed by researchers in Trondheim can help shipowners who are searching for green solutions.
	New apps help researchers with statistical analyses of data It's a sign of the times: an app store for omics enthusiasts. The Multi-Omics Analysis Portal (MAP) by the end of 2024 will be a one-stop shop for computer applications capable of making sense of various and vast omics data. Genomics, proteomics, lipidomics, transcriptomics—all are welcome.
	Shadowbanning: Some marginalized social media users believe their content is suppressed Social media allows users to express themselves through words, pictures, videos and emojis, but some marginalized groups say social media platforms restrict the visibility of their online posts, according to a new University of Michigan study.
	Water main breaks are rarely due to a single factor, research finds Canadians are no strangers to water main breaks. Aging equipment, increased demand, seasonal weather changes, and many other factors have added stress to the infrastructure of utilities across Canada.
	In-situ alloying of NiTiNb shape memory alloys by additive manufacturing In order to address the challenges in fabrication NiTiNb ternary alloy structures, researchers from Shandong University (SDU) have proposed an alloy design strategy to prepare NiTiNb shape memory alloys (SMAs) through laser powder bed fusion in-situ alloying and post-heat treatment. The in-situ alloyed NiTiNb alloy shows typical transformation characteristics (e.g. wide hysteresis) and good mechanical/functional properties.
	Decarbonization scenario model analyzes ambitious pathways to net-zero carbon emissions While the world would love to have a quick fix, there is no one specific pathway to stop or slow the rate of climate change.
	Trump Media stock slides again to bring it more than 66% below its peak as euphoria fades The stock price for Donald Trump's social media company slid again Monday, pushing it more than 66% below its peak set late last month.
	Shareholders approve pay package of Stellantis CEO Stellantis shareholders on Tuesday approved a controversial 36.5-million-euro ($38.75 million) pay package for chief executive Carlos Tavares.
	MGM Resorts sues FTC, agency chair over cyberattack investigation MGM Resorts International filed a lawsuit April 15 against the Federal Trade Commission and its top officer, Chairwoman Lina M. Khan, claiming the agency violated the company's Fifth Amendment right to due process while investigating a September cyberattack against the company.
	Women in tech, AI in focus as Web Summit opens in Rio The future of artificial intelligence, technology to fight climate change and other glimpses at the cutting edge were in focus Tuesday as mega-tech conference Web Summit opened in Rio de Janeiro.
	Trump media group plans TV streaming platform Donald Trump's media group said Tuesday it will launch a streaming television platform, but its shares continued to tumble on Wall Street.

Chemistry news

	L-cyclodextrins synthesized in the lab for the first time A team of chemists at Northwestern University has successfully synthesized three L-cyclodextrins in the lab for the first time. In their study, published in the journal Nature Synthesis, the group used a one-pot strategy to achieve the feat.
	New time-resolved ultraviolet photodissociation mass spectrometry strategy for target protein stability analysis How mutations impact protein stability and structure dynamics is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanism of the disease and the targeted drug design. However, probing the molecular details of mutation-induced subtle structure dynamics is still challenging.
	Researchers create new AI pipeline for identifying molecular interactions Understanding how proteins interact with each other is crucial for developing new treatments and understanding diseases. Thanks to computational advances, a team of researchers led by Assistant Professor of Chemistry Alberto Perez have developed an algorithm to identify these molecular interactions.
	Trash to treasure—Researchers turn metal waste into catalyst for hydrogen Scientists have found a way to transform metal waste into a highly efficient catalyst to make hydrogen from water, a discovery that could make hydrogen production more sustainable.
	Sustainable synthesis method reveals N-hydroxy modifications for pharmaceuticals Recently published research results enable preparative access to novel substances that carry a modification of a structural motif frequently found in pharmaceuticals.
	Chemists invent a more efficient way to extract lithium from mining sites, oil fields, used batteries Chemists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have invented a more efficient way to extract lithium from waste liquids leached from mining sites, oil fields, and used batteries. They demonstrated that a common mineral can adsorb at least five times more lithium than can be collected using previously developed adsorbent materials.
	Researchers advance pigment chemistry with moon-inspired reddish magentas An Oregon State University researcher who made color history in 2009 with a vivid blue pigment has developed durable, reddish magentas inspired by lunar mineralogy and ancient Egyptian chemistry.
	New research could enable more—and more efficient—synthesis of metastable materials Ion exchange is a powerful technique for converting one material to another when synthesizing new products. In this process, scientists know what reactants lead to what products, but how the process works—the exact pathway of how one material can be converted to another—has remained elusive.
	Research team identifies culprit behind canned wine's rotten egg smell While it is the fastest growing sector of the wine-packaging market, canned wine faces a few hurdles. It's not considered as elegant as wine in a bottle, and it's not as popular as the formerly maligned "wine bag in a box." There is also the unfortunate fact—and there is no gentle way to put this—that canned wine occasionally smells like rotten eggs.
	New benzofuran synthesis method enables complex molecule creation In the field of organic chemistry, scientists are always looking out for new types of reactions to unlock synthesis routes for challenging compounds. Most of the progress that we have witnessed in pharmaceutics and agrochemicals over the past few decades can be traced back to the discovery of novel practical reaction pathways. Such pathways often involve the selective replacement of a functional group with another, the formation of aromatic rings, or the strategic cleaving of parts of a molecule. But what about the rearrangement of existing functional groups within a molecule?
	Analyzing isotopes for nitrate in sake for combating beverage fraud in Japan The demand for sake, a Japanese alcoholic drink, has increased globally. However, the rise in the popularity of sake has the potential for related beverage fraud. To address this issue, researchers from Japan have identified a novel method to authenticate the source of and differentiate between sake breweries. They measured the oxygen and nitrogen stable isotopes in nitrates within sake using denitrifying bacteria first. Their findings could help prevent mislabeling of the sake's brewery of origin.
	Researchers explore medicinal potential of lotus benzylisoquinoline alkaloids A research team has made progress in understanding benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) in lotus (Nelumbo nucifera), highlighting their presence in various tissues and their potential for novel drug development.

Biology news

	Spiraling insights: Scientists observe mechanical waves in bacterial communities A new study by researchers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong has reported the emergence of mechanical spiral waves in bacterial matter.
	Seed ferns experimented with complex leaf vein networks 201 million years ago, paleontologists find According to a research team led by paleontologists from the University of Vienna, the net-like leaf veining typical for today's flowering plants developed much earlier than previously thought, but died out again several times. Using new methods, the fossilized plant Furcula granulifer was identified as an early forerunner. The leaves of this seed fern species already exhibited the net-like veining in the late Triassic (around 201 million years ago). The study was recently published in the journal New Phytologist.
	Older male blue tits out-compete young males when it comes to extra-marital breeding Young male blue tits are less successful in fathering offspring outside their breeding pair, not because of a lack of experience, but because they are outcompeted by older males, Bart Kempenaers and colleagues from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence in Germany report in a study published in the open-access journal PLOS Biology.
	Climate-change-driven cold snaps threaten marine life Tropical marine species venturing into new areas as the climate changes could fall victim to another effect of the phenomenon—as bursts of cold water from the deep sea suddenly kill them.
	Twisted pollen tubes induce infertility in plants with multiple sets of chromosomes Most mammals and humans have a double set of chromosomes—and as a rule, plants do, too: One set comes from the father, the other from the mother. Such organisms are called diploids. However, sometimes the number of chromosome sets doubles from one generation to the next: one diploid organism suddenly becomes a tetraploid—i.e., it has four sets of chromosomes.
	Illuminating the path to hearing recovery: Structural insights into a receptor protein's role in auditory function Researchers have worked to uncover the mysteries surrounding a specific receptor protein associated with hearing. Professor Yunje Cho's research team from the Department of Life Sciences at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH, Republic of Korea) has collaborated with Professor Kwang Pyo Kim's group from the Department of Applied Chemistry at Kyung Hee University (KHU, ROK), Professor Vsevolod Katritch's team from the University of Southern California (USC, U.S.), and Professor Carol V. Robinson from the University of Oxford (UK).
	How do Australia's desert animals avoid inbreeding during dry spells? Some Australian desert mammals use distinct strategies to promote evolutionary fitness in response to changing environmental conditions over short timescales, according to a new study.
	Researchers find cryptic genetic element in the human gut that could serve as a sensitive biomarker A component of the human intestinal flora that has been little studied to date is the focus of a new study from Germany. Plasmids are small extrachromosomal genetic elements that frequently occur in bacterial cells and can influence microbial lifestyles—yet their diversity in natural habitats is poorly understood.
	From tape measures to space lasers: Quantifying biomass of the world's tallest forests In this era of accelerating climate crisis, accounting for all aspects of Earth's carbon cycle is a crucial task. The magnitude of atmospheric carbon burden means trees and forests are limited but important instruments among a suite of mitigation options.
	Exploring the interactions between baby marmosets and their caregivers The connection that infants form with their parents or caregivers is crucial for their cognitive, social, and emotional development. These attachments vary in quality, depending on how caregivers respond to the infant's needs. When caregivers are attentive, infants are likely to develop secure attachments. However, if caregivers neglect their needs, infants may develop insecurity, leading to challenges in emotional development and difficulty in forming healthy relationships later in life.
	Deadly bacteria show thirst for human blood: Research outlines the phenomenon of bacterial vampirism Some of the world's deadliest bacteria seek out and feed on human blood, a newly-discovered phenomenon researchers are calling "bacterial vampirism."
	New study sheds light on the structure and evolution of an enzyme in psychoactive fungi An international research team has investigated the biosynthesis of psilocybin, the main ingredient of hallucinogenic mushrooms. They gained new insights into the structure and reaction mechanism of the enzyme PsiM. It plays a key role in the production of psilocybin. The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Communications.
	New tagging method provides bioadhesive interface for marine sensors on diverse, soft and fragile species Tagging marine animals with sensors to track and study their movements can provide researchers with important environmental and behavioral information, including energy usage, habitat changes, and migration patterns. But existing techniques to attach sensors currently largely rely on invasive physical anchors, suction cups, and rigid glues. While these techniques can be effective for marine animals with hard exoskeletons and large animals such as sharks, the traditional tag attachment methods are not ideal for more fragile species, such as squid and jellyfish.
	'One ring to rule them all': How actin filaments are assembled by formins Actin is a highly abundant protein that controls the shape and movement of all our cells. Actin achieves this by assembling into filaments, one actin molecule at a time. The proteins of the formin family are pivotal partners in this process: positioned at the filament end, formins recruit new actin subunits and stay associated with the end by "stepping" with the growing filament.
	Research team shows island bats are valuable allies for farmers A new study has highlighted how bats can be valuable allies for farmers, by feeding on important agricultural pests. The findings demonstrate that encouraging bat species can be a win-win for both conservation efforts and local farmers.
	Human odorant receptor for characteristic petrol note of Riesling wines identified Climate change does not stop at grapevines. Too much sun means that the bouquet of German Riesling wines becomes dominated by a petrol note (some) customers do not appreciate. A research team from the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich has identified the human odorant receptor responsible for the perception of this special aroma. Their paper is published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
	Surf clams off the coast of Virginia reappear and rebound The Atlantic surf clam, an economically valuable species that is the main ingredient in clam chowder and fried clam strips, has returned to Virginia waters in a big way, reversing a die-off that started more than two decades ago.
	First-of-its-kind study shows Florida Wildlife Corridor eases worst impacts of climate change From rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns to intense weather events such as hurricanes, Florida is experiencing significant climate-related challenges in tandem with skyrocketing insurance rates. As the state's population continues to surge by 1,000 new residents a day, it is projected to lose 3.5 million acres of land to development by 2070, threatening Florida's future ability to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services.
	How phytochemical diversity affects plant adaptation to stress Phytochemical diversity plays a critical role in determining plant adaptation and fitness, as well as ecosystem functions and services. However, phytochemicals and their ecological adaptations have long been ignored. Fine (or absorptive) roots, microorganisms, and soil form the complex interface known as the rhizosphere. However, the variation in fine root chemistry along large-scale environmental gradients remains poorly understood.
	Masses of scalloped hammerheads return to one of Australia's busiest beaches For the second year in a row, over 100 hammerheads have gathered at one of Australia's busiest beaches, Burleigh Beach in the Gold Coast.
	Nine beavers die from disease in Utah—and it can spread to people, officials say Beavers are being found dead in Utah, and the disease killing them can spread to humans, officials said.
	Grizzly bear conservation is as much about human relationships as it is the animals Montanans know spring has officially arrived when grizzly bears emerge from their dens. But unlike the bears, the contentious debate over their future never hibernates. New research from my lab reveals how people's social identities and the dynamics between social groups may play a larger role in these debates than even the animals themselves.
	Drugs that aren't antibiotics can also kill bacteria. A new method pinpoints how Human history was forever changed with the discovery of antibiotics in 1928. Infectious diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis and sepsis were widespread and lethal until penicillin made them treatable. Surgical procedures that once came with a high risk of infection became safer and more routine. Antibiotics marked a triumphant moment in science that transformed medical practice and saved countless lives.
	The secret world of earthworms: Meet the tiger worm and the nightcrawler Most people are aware of earthworms, but probably give them little thought. Some have a notion they are "good for the soil". Others regard them with distaste and think of slimy animals associated with decay. But these alien-looking animals are remarkable and control the foundations of life from their subterranean world.
	Whales and dolphins now have legal personhood in the Pacific—but one treaty won't be enough to protect them Whales and dolphins have been officially recognized as "legal persons" in a new treaty formed by Pacific Indigenous leaders from the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and Tonga.
	Study shows insect diet is reflected by the wear and tear on their jaws Show me your jaw and I'll tell you what you eat: This could be the motto of a study conducted at Kiel University (CAU) and the University of Tokyo. The researchers investigated whether the wear and tear on insect mouthparts can be used to determine their eating habits.
	Polyploidy in vegetables: Exploring genetics for crop evolution and breeding success A research team has elucidated the role of polyploidy in the evolution and breeding of vegetable crops, leveraging advanced sequencing technologies to dissect the genetic and epigenetic nuances of polyploids. Their findings underline the critical contribution of polyploidy to plant diversity and adaptability, shedding light on "Darwin's abominable mystery" of angiosperm expansion.
	Scientists explore the genetic foundations of Rhododendron flower color diversity A research team has made strides in uncovering the genetic foundations of flower color variation within the Rhododendron genus. The team's review summarizes recent advancements in phylogenetic reconstruction, genome sequencing of various Rhododendron species, and delineating metabolic pathways responsible for pigment synthesis, spotlighting the crucial structural and regulatory genes.
	Pioneering crop productivity and sustainability in the face of water scarcity A research team has shed light on the early morning "golden hours" as a pivotal time for achieving optimal water use efficiency (WUE) in crops, revealing that plants can maintain lower transpiration rates and higher photosynthetic activity under favorable light conditions and minimal vapor pressure deficit (VPD).
	Study finds patterns of crop-specific fertilizer-nitrogen losses, opportunities for sustainable mitigation Nitrogen fertilizers play an essential role in ensuring global food security. However, the applied fertilizer-nitrogen, particularly that exceeding crop demand and soil N retention capacity, can potentially escape into the environment and lead to a variety of negative environmental impacts.
	Reproductive success improves after a single generation in the wild for descendants of some hatchery Chinook salmon Researchers who created "family trees" for nearly 10,000 fish have found that first-generation, wild-born descendants of hatchery-origin Chinook salmon in an Oregon river show improved fitness.
	Plastic pollution can kill variety of ocean embryos High levels of plastic pollution can kill the embryos of a wide range of ocean animals, new research shows.
	Spectator boats at large sailing events could be impacting marine wildlife with noise pollution New research led by Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, suggests that international sailing events should try to reduce the underwater noise they create to avoid impacting marine wildlife.
	Huge database gives insight into salmon patterns at sea A massive new analysis of high seas salmon surveys is enhancing the understanding of salmon ecology, adding details about where various species congregate in the North Pacific Ocean and their different temperature tolerances. The study is published in the journal Fish and Fisheries.
	Virologist offers perspective on avian influenza outbreak Health officials around the globe, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, are monitoring the ongoing avian influenza outbreak. Also known as bird flu, the highly contagious viral disease typically spreads among birds, but can also infect livestock and, in rare cases, humans.
	Unraveling the unique role of DELLA proteins in grapevine flowering The transition from vegetative to reproductive stages in plants involves both internal and external cues, with grapevines (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pixie) presenting a unique case. Research shows that a mutation in the grapevine's DELLA proteins enhances the conversion of tendrils to inflorescences, diverging from DELLA's typical role in suppressing flowering in annual plants.
	Advancing citrus cultivation: The superior tolerance and growth vigor of 'Shuzhen No.1' rootstock Citrus is the world's most economically significant fruit crop, but it faces various environmental adversities that restrict its distribution. Grafting is a crucial factor in enhancing citrus productivity. Current research focuses on selecting genetically uniform rootstocks, such as trifoliate orange for its disease resistance. However, issues such as sensitivity to alkalinity and incompatibility with certain cultivars persist.
	The role of TOR signaling in enhancing graft success and crop vigor A research team has delved into the Target of Rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathway in plant grafting, emphasizing its role in regulating seedling vigor, graft junction healing, and shoot-to-root communications. Exploring TOR's involvement offers a promising avenue for improving grafting techniques and understanding plant communication, with the potential to significantly impact agricultural productivity and sustainability.
	Physical field technologies to improve extraction and quality of extracted juices Consumers are increasingly health-conscious and seek products with minimal additives and preservatives. The modern consumer understands the link between consuming bioactive compounds from fruits and vegetables and the associated health benefits. Hence, there has been a steady rise in demand for juices made from fresh fruits and vegetables, with minimal processing and no added sugars.
	Cut light pollution and treat glass to help migrating birds, say researchers Spring bird migration has begun. Under cover of darkness, 2.5–3.5 billion birds will fly northward to their breeding grounds in the United States and Canada. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, now is one of the most important times of year to keep birds safe by reducing non-essential lighting at night and treating window glass so birds can see it and avoid deadly collisions.
	Diverse native wildflower plantings for pollinators in farmlands Pollinators are declining rapidly, largely due to land conversion and intensification of agriculture. To mitigate their crisis, low-disturbance habitats, such as sown wildflower plantings (commonly known forms are wildflower strips at the edges of arable fields), could promote pollinators by restoration of their resources (food, sheltering and nesting habitats). However, comprehensive knowledge is lacking on how landscape context, spatial configuration and age of wildflower plantings, seasonality and flower composition affect pollinator communities, especially from East-Central Europe.

Medicine and Health news

	Can animals count? Neuroscientists identify a sense of numeracy among rodents A discovery that appears to confirm the existence of discrete number sense in rats has been announced by a joint research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
	Biodiversity is key to the mental health benefits of nature, new study finds New research from King's College London has found that spaces with a diverse range of natural features are associated with stronger improvements in our mental well-being compared to spaces with less natural diversity.
	New insights could unlock immunotherapy for rare, deadly eye cancer New research from the University of Pittsburgh explains why metastatic uveal melanoma is resistant to conventional immunotherapies and how adoptive therapy, which involves growing a patient's T cells outside the body before reinfusing them, can successfully treat this rare and aggressive cancer.
	New study focuses on the placenta for clues to the development of gestational diabetes A new study led by the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute has identified that a deficit in the placental expression of the gene insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGFBP1) and low IGFBP1 circulating levels are associated with insulin resistance during pregnancy, highlighting a potential risk factor for the development of gestational diabetes.
	New drug may slow rapid progression of Parkinson's disease Prasinezumab, a monoclonal antibody, is shown to reduce signs of motor deterioration in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) who have rapidly progressing disease, as reported in an exploratory analysis of data from a large phase 2 clinical trial published in Nature Medicine.
	New treatment method using plasma irradiation promotes faster bone healing "Break a leg!" is a welcome blessing of good luck, but who wants to hear that they have actually broken a bone? What's worse, fractures that are displaced or complex require surgery and possibly lengthy recovery times while the patient remains partly or wholly immobilized.
	Women who experience major complications during pregnancy found to have increased risk of early death years later A team of medical researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center, in the U.S., and Lund University, in Sweden, has found via study of massive amounts of health data that women who experience serious complications during pregnancy have an increased risk of early death for many years after they give birth.
	How AI improves physician and nurse collaboration to boost patient care With large language models that take notes during patient visits and algorithms that identify disease, artificial intelligence has begun to prove its worth as an assistant for physicians. But a new study from Stanford Medicine shows the potential of AI as a facilitator—one that helps doctors and nurses connect to achieve more efficient, effective patient care.
	Scientists identify cell vulnerability 'fingerprint' related to Parkinson's, Lewy body dementia A new study from Van Andel Institute scientists offers a first look into the complex molecular changes that occur in brain cells with Lewy bodies, which are key pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease and some dementias.
	Study suggests adolescent stress may raise risk of postpartum depression in adults In a new study, a Johns Hopkins Medicine-led research team reports that social stress during adolescence in female mice later results in prolonged elevation of the hormone cortisol after they give birth. The researchers say this corresponds to the equivalent hormonal changes in postpartum women who were exposed to adverse early life experiences—suggesting that early life stress may underlie a pathophysiological exacerbation of postpartum depression (PPD).
	Mouse study finds small extracellular vesicles from young blood extend lifespan and restore physiological functions New research presents a significant discovery: small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) from the blood of young mice possess the capacity to dramatically extend lifespan, rejuvenate whole-body physiology and reverse age-related degenerative changes in aged mice. The work is published in Nature Aging by a collaborative research team led by Chen-Yu Zhang, Xi Chen, Yanbo Wang and Lei Fang at Nanjing University.
	Study on rats shows a junk food diet can cause long-term damage to adolescent brains A new USC-led study on rats that feasted on a high-fat, sugary diet raises the possibility that a junk food-filled diet in teens may disrupt their brains' memory ability for a long time.
	An effective drug delivery system for next-generation treatments to hitch a ride in cancer cells Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are next-generation drugs that can treat disease by blocking the transfer of harmful messages from our genes. In people with cancer, ASOs have the potential to block messages that encourage the growth and spread of the tumor. However, ASOs aren't used for treating cancer yet. They must first get delivered inside cancer cells, but the cancer cells won't let them in.
	A urine-based test that detects tumor DNA fragments could offer early reliable screening for head and neck cancer Researchers from the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center have created a urine-based test that detects pieces of DNA fragments released by head and neck tumors. The test could potentially facilitate early detection of this cancer type, which currently does not have a reliable screening method.
	Antibiotics reveal a new way to fight cancer Cancer cells grow and spread by hiding from the body's immune system. Immunotherapy allows the immune system to find and attack hidden cancer cells, helping cancer patients live longer lives. However, many patients get little or no benefit from these revolutionary treatments.
	New guidelines reflect growing use of AI in health care research The widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical decision-making tools has led to an update of the TRIPOD guidelines for reporting clinical prediction models. The new TRIPOD+AI guidelines are launched in the BMJ today.
	Pressure to lose weight in adolescence linked to how people value themselves almost two decades later People who as teenagers felt pressure to lose weight from family or from the media, females, people who are not heterosexual, and people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, are most at risk of 'internalized' weight stigma, new research led by the University of Bristol has found. The study is published in The Lancet Regional Health - Europe.
	Care home staff and residents need 'family' bonds to thrive, says study Care home residents receive much better care when they enjoy "family" bonds with staff—but staff must be empowered to create these bonds, new research has found.
	Asthma in children: Researchers envision novel drug to reduce the risk of the disease Scientists have reached a milestone in the research of childhood asthma. For the first time, they have clarified how a certain genetic defect in children initially leads to frequent infections and later to asthma. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, offers a novel approach to therapeutic interventions. It is the result of a close collaboration between Helmholtz Munich, the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Center of Allergy and Environment (ZAUM), and the German Center for Lung Research (DZL).
	Bill to phase out smoking advances in UK parliament A contentious bill that aims to eventually phase out smoking in Britain advanced in parliament on Tuesday, as the House of Commons voted in favor of the controversial measure.
	GPT-4 matches radiologists in detecting errors in radiology reports Large language model GPT-4 matched the performance of radiologists in detecting errors in radiology reports, according to research published in Radiology.
	Scientists identify targets to protect against anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity Scientists at the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) have identified the mechanisms through which anthracyclines, a widely used class of anticancer drugs, damage the hearts of patients receiving this treatment. The study, published in the journal JACC: CardioOncology, also identifies possible treatments for this complication, which affects an estimated one-third of cancer survivors.
	Experts propose specific guidelines for the use and regulation of AI in cancer treatment AI models are set to transform future cancer care by providing personalized diagnoses and treatment options. The emergence of Generalist Medical Artificial Intelligence (GMAI) models poses a significant challenge to current regulatory frameworks.
	Taking a leave of absence can harm medical students' match prospects, finds study Students who take a leave of absence during medical school are less likely to match into a residency or fellowship program, a new Yale study finds, a consequence that disproportionately affects Black students. Because nonplacement can negatively affect an individual's career trajectory, and the diversity of the medical workforce generally, programs should reevaluate their admission criteria, the researchers say.
	Health care providers should talk with adult smokers about relative risks of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes Health care providers who are working with adult patients struggling to stop smoking should consider discussing e-cigarettes as a potential tool if they've already tried FDA-approved medications, say tobacco researchers with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.
	Stuck in fight-or-flight mode? Five ways to complete the 'stress cycle' and avoid burnout or depression Can you remember a time when you felt stressed leading up to a big life event and then afterwards felt like a weight had been lifted? This process—the ramping up of the stress response and then feeling this settle back down—shows completion of the "stress cycle."
	What happens when people stop taking a drug like Ozempic or Mounjaro? Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide are taking drugs like Ozempic to lose weight. But what do we actually know about them? The Conversation's experts explore their rise, impact and potential consequences.
	Eating an unhealthy breakfast could have a similar effect on your child's school day as having nothing at all Many parents know it is important for their teenagers to have breakfast before they go to school. Even though young people can be reluctant to eat it, breakfast provides the energy the brain and body need to function through the day.
	Can playing Tetris prevent PTSD if you've witnessed something traumatic? In the wake of witnessing tragic events, many people turn to online communities such as Reddit to discuss and process their experiences. A common bit of advice users give each other is to play Tetris to help combat traumatic memories.
	Obstetric and gynecological violence: Empowering patients to recognize and prevent it In recent years, media and social networks have brought to light growing denunciations of obstetric and gynecological care that is considered violent, disrespectful, abusive or neglectful. These behaviors, words, acts and omissions are known as obstetric and gynecological violence (OGV).
	Human brains and fruit fly brains are built similarly—researchers are studying the differences The human brain contains approximately 87 billion neurons. On average, each of these cells make thousands of different connections to facilitate communication across the brain. Neural communication is thought to underlie all brain functions—from experiencing and interpreting the world around you to remembering those experiences and controlling how your body responds.
	Oral contraceptive use may reduce muscle-tendon injuries Women who take oral contraceptives may be significantly less likely to experience certain musculoskeletal injuries than women who do not take the drugs or men, according to a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center.
	From opioid overdose to treatment initiation: Outcomes associated with peer support in emergency departments People with a nonfatal opioid overdose who have access to a peer support program while in the emergency department are more likely to initiate treatment and less likely to have repeated overdoses, according to a Rutgers Health study.
	Doctors take on dental duties to reach low-income and uninsured patients Pediatrician Patricia Braun and her team saw roughly 100 children at a community health clinic on a Monday. They gave flu shots and treatments for illnesses like ear infections. But Braun also did something most primary care doctors don't. She peered inside mouths searching for cavities or she brushed fluoride varnish on their teeth.
	City-country mortality gap widens amid persistent holes in rural health care access In Matthew Roach's two years as vital statistics manager for the Arizona Department of Health Services, and 10 years previously in its epidemiology program, he has witnessed a trend in mortality rates that has rural health experts worried.
	2011 to 2021 saw increase in vaccination timeliness for infants From 2011 to 2021, there was an increase in vaccination timeliness among U.S. children aged 0 to 19 months, according to a study published online April 12 in JAMA Network Open.
	Childhood cancer survivors face socioeconomic difficulties, researchers find Childhood cancer survivors face socioeconomic difficulties, according to a review published online April 15 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Walking your way to better health Walking is one of the best exercises available to average folks, and it can be as easy as stepping out your front door, experts say.
	CDC warns of 19 cases of botched botox shots in 9 states Counterfeit or mishandled Botox shots have triggered harmful reactions in 19 people in nine states, U.S. health officials warned Monday.
	Melatonin gummies to get safety labeling, child-safe bottles after poisonings In the wake of a sharp rise in the number of young children accidentally eating melatonin supplements, an industry group has called for tougher safety guidelines for packaging and labeling the sleep-aid supplements.
	Man who caught virus from a monkey in a critical condition—B virus explained A 37-year-old man wounded by a wild monkey in Hong Kong is in intensive care suffering from infection with B virus.
	Age-related and contractual factors stronger drivers of NHS clinical staff retention than organizational ones: Study Age-related and contractual factors seem to be stronger drivers of NHS hospital clinical staff retention than organizational factors, suggests research published in the journal BMJ Open.
	Online 'addiction' and not enough sleep or exercise linked to teen school absence risk Spending too much time online to the point of compulsion and the neglect of other necessary activities, plus not sleeping or exercising enough, are linked to a heightened risk of both truancy and school absence due to illness among teens, finds research published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
	Working arrangements for locum doctors pose significant patient safety challenges, finds study Working arrangements for locum doctors pose significant patient safety challenges for the NHS in England, although there are opportunities to be grasped too, finds qualitative research involving a broad spectrum of health professionals, published online in the journal BMJ Quality & Safety.
	New findings illustrate pathway for screening high-risk individuals for pancreatic cancer New research in the April 2024 issue of Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network showcases the feasibility of improving early detection and prevention for pancreatic cancer. Global incidences of pancreatic cancer have risen dramatically in recent years, but the overall survival rate is currently only 12%.
	Project determines HIV epidemic cannot be ended without stopping former prisoners and other patients being lost to care New data from an implementation program to be presented at this year's the ESCMID Global Congress (formerly ECCMID) in Barcelona, Spain (27–30 April) stress that the global HIV epidemic cannot be ended without keeping former prisoners and other patients engaged in care, and outlines the efforts made by HIV care clinics in Chicago to locate formerly incarcerated individuals living with HIV who dropped out of care and to reconnect them with treatment services.
	Researchers discover cause of rare congenital lung malformations Most rare diseases are congenital—including CPAM (congenital pulmonary airway malformations). These are airway malformations of the lungs that can lead to severe breathing problems in some affected newborns and can be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Researchers at Hannover Medical School (MHH) and Magdeburg University Hospital (UMMD) have now succeeded in identifying the genetic causes of the disease.
	Study suggests the brain's reward system works to make others happy, not just ourselves Making decisions that impact the lives of others involves considering the options available and selecting ones that will provide optimal benefit to them. This happens on a broad scale, from getting a gift for a friend to deciding which politician to elect for the betterment of societal welfare to being a politician and choosing how best to improve the quality of life for a country's inhabitants.
	Last whistle: Tackling tough issues athletes face when they retire from sports Life changes radically and can be rough on athletes who are forced to retire, and a new study has found that women and younger people are more prone to experience symptoms of anxiety than more mature sportsmen.
	Optimizing differentiation protocols and experimental assays to study patient-specific astrocytes In a joint effort with RIKEN BioResource Research Center and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, a team of researchers led by Dr. Haruhisa Inoue (Professor, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, CiRA) improved upon a differentiation protocol to generate astrocytes from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for modeling an astrocyte-associated disease.
	Good blood pressure control could prevent fibroids Keeping blood pressure under control could be crucial for women in preventing uterine fibroids, new research shows.
	Got a chronic disease and fear of needles? A prick-free natural alternative is on the horizon A Charles Darwin University (CDU) researcher is a step closer to replacing the needle to deliver drugs in the treatment of many chronic diseases.
	Q&A: What the EPA limits on 'forever chemicals' in water mean No one wants to imagine chemicals in the water they drink. Yet PFAS—the "forever chemicals" used in products from clothing to some non-stick pans—contaminate nearly half of tap water in the U.S., according to a 2023 U.S. Geological Survey study. Exposure to them has known negative consequences, including cancer and developmental harm to infants and children.
	More information and better follow-up care needed after adverse pregnancy outcomes, says study A study by researchers from Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (KL Krems) highlights the urgent need for improved care and information for women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or gestational diabetes.
	New inflammatory bowel disease testing protocol could speed up diagnosis Patients with suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) could benefit from better testing protocols that would reduce the need and lengthy wait for potentially unnecessary colonoscopies, a new study has found.
	Early and targeted treatment is important for tackling tularemia: Study A new study at Umeå University in collaboration with Sunderby Hospital in Norrbotten County supports the recommendation to use ciprofloxacin for treatment of tularemia. It also identifies a need for more awareness about the disease among health care workers and the public to start effective antibiotic treatment early. The study is published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.
	Q&A: When will patients see personalized cancer vaccines? Catherine Wu has been a pioneer in a promising approach to fight cancer: vaccines that target specific immune-stimulating molecules, known as immunogenic peptides, generated by the distinct genetic mutations of any individual cancer.
	Cracking the calcium code to understand its role in health People seeking straightforward nutrition advice might have a bone to pick with calcium, a building block of health that can start to seem like a piece from a complicated puzzle.
	Intestinal neurons in infancy could explain wide-ranging gastrointestinal disorders in children Wu Tsai Neuro Faculty Scholar Julia Kaltschmidt and MD/Ph.D. candidate Lori Dershowitz propose a novel theory that could transform our understanding of pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders.
	African-led clinical research essential to tackling the continent's health care challenges, says expert Africa is experiencing unprecedented growth in terms of both population and economic transformation.
	Study discusses how and why nurses can develop their advocacy skills to build influence among policymakers Nurses advocate on behalf of their patients in health care settings every day but often hesitate to speak up in other settings, especially when policy and politics are involved. A nurse-turned-legislator says it's crucial for nurses to develop the confidence and competence to add their voices to important discussions on issues facing their patients, communities and the nursing profession.
	Research uncovers new reasons to target neutrophils for tuberculosis therapy Tuberculosis is the biggest infectious killer in the world, causing 1.2 million deaths every year. In common with other pneumonia types, tuberculosis can destroy the human lung as a result of excessive inflammation.
	Health behaviors accumulate and remain relatively stable throughout middle adulthood, study finds According to a recent study, either healthier or unhealthier health behaviors cluster among individuals. These health behavior patterns remain relatively stable in middle adulthood and are predicted by several sociodemographic and personality characteristics.
	Multidisciplinary research team creates computational models to predict heart valve leakage in children An innovative new field of research holds the promise for pediatric cardiologists and heart surgeons to predict the future structural integrity of a child's heart valves so they can perform the best possible surgery today.
	Combination therapy can delay resistance of lung cancer cells A specific genetic alteration, known as an ALK fusion, drives non-small cell lung cancer in some patients. This abnormality leads to excessive activity of the ALK protein, a key cancer promoter. These tumors can be treated with an ALK inhibitor—but the cancer cells quickly develop resistance to the drug.
	Developing research into mpox infections A study, "Mpox infection protects against re-challenge in rhesus macaques," published in Cell, leads researchers to believe that the successful development of a mpox (previously known as monkeypox) vaccine may prevent humans from falling ill if they were to contract the disease.
	Researchers conclude fecal transplants can rid patients of resistant gut bacteria Transferring fecal microbiota from healthy donors to the intestines of chronically ill people has beneficial effects on these recipients' gut bacteria, also in the longer term. This is the conclusion of research by the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and the Netherlands Donor Feces Bank (NDFB).
	Researchers demonstrate the positive effect of melatonin in the prevention of obesity Two international studies led by the University of Granada (UGR) have confirmed that melatonin helps prevent obesity. In addition, its effects are positive against visceral obesity, a particularly worrying fat that accumulates deep in the abdomen, close to vital organs, which can cause serious health problems.
	Bacteria behind meningitis in babies explained A study led by University of Queensland researchers has identified the main types of E. coli bacteria that cause neonatal meningitis, and revealed why some infections recur despite being treated with antibiotics.
	Supporting healthy habits with school lunches School lunches have come a long way from square pizza and fish sticks, and students across the board are benefiting from improved nutritional standards in the cafeteria.
	Evidence of a pan-tissue decline in stemness during human aging A new research paper was published on the cover of Aging, entitled, "Evidence of a pan-tissue decline in stemness during human aging."
	U.S. to partner with 50 countries to prevent future pandemics The Biden Administration announced Tuesday that it will work with 50 nations worldwide to try to prevent global pandemics such as COVID-19, which brought the world to a standstill four years ago.
	Risk for second primary breast cancer low in certain young breast cancer patients Young breast cancer (BC) survivors (40 years or younger) without a pathogenic variant (PV) have a low risk for developing second primary BC (SPBC), according to a study published online April 11 in JAMA Oncology.
	Novel therapeutic bispecific antibodies for B-cell lymphoma A new research paper was published in Oncotarget entitled, "Novel therapeutic bispecific antibodies for B-cell lymphoma targeting IgM and other antigens on the B-cell surface."
	Research suggests answer to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis may reside in brain's corticoreticular pathway Heavy school bags, poor posture, one-handed sports are often blamed for the development of curved spine in teens. Known as adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), it affects those aged 10 to 19 but has no known cause. A team from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) has now discovered that the answer to this condition may lie in the brain.
	Using machine learning to identify patients with cancer that would benefit from immunotherapy A new study examines the development of two machine learning models to classify the immunophenotype of a cancer specimen.
	Breaking down the 'brick wall' of scar tissue Doctors in the U.S. perform nearly 800,000 total knee replacements every year, but some estimates indicate that up to 10% of patients may emerge from surgery with a new problem: arthrofibrosis or excessive scarring that limits mobility.
	Improving asthma control in young adults Here's a surprising statistic: Nearly 50% of people with asthma do not take their medications as prescribed. That means they risk a flare-up of symptoms or a visit to the emergency room. Asthma researchers have studied medication adherence in children and adults to improve patient education, but rarely the population that bridges those groups: young adults.
	Common HIV treatments may aid Alzheimer's disease patients Alzheimer's disease (AD) currently afflicts nearly seven million people in the U.S. With this number expected to grow to nearly 13 million by 2050, the lack of meaningful therapies represents a major unmet medical need. Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys have now identified promising real-world links between common HIV drugs and a reduced incidence of AD.
	Discussions may improve adherence to diabetes medication Not taking medications exactly as prescribed is a major barrier to the treatment of diabetes and has been shown to be more common in African American patients than in their white counterparts.
	Should pharmacists be able to dispense nicotine vapes without a prescription? The Australian government is currently considering a bill to implement the next stage of reforms to vaping regulation.
	After a second knife attack in Sydney, how can parents talk to their kids and help them feel safe? In the space of three days, there have been two devastating knife attacks in Sydney. Your child may have seen these on the news or social media. Or they might be hearing about it from friends or at school.
	Ten doctors on FDA panel reviewing Abbott heart device had financial ties with company When the FDA recently convened a committee of advisers to assess a cardiac device made by Abbott, the agency didn't disclose that most of them had received payments from the company or conducted research it had funded—information readily available in a federal database.
	US advances pandemic preparedness plan as global talks falter The United States is helping 50 countries build up their health care systems as part of its new global strategy to prevent another pandemic, officials announced Tuesday.
	Cyberattack could cost UnitedHealth Group up to $1.6B this year UnitedHealth Group spent about $872 million during the first quarter responding to the cyberattack at its Change Healthcare division and expects that full-year costs could reach $1.6 billion.
	New SPECT/CT technique shows impressive biomarker identification, offers increased access for prostate cancer patients A novel SPECT/CT acquisition method can accurately detect radiopharmaceutical biodistribution in a convenient manner for prostate cancer patients, opening the door for more personalized treatment. Utilizing lead-212 (212Pb), the new imaging technique has the potential to change practice and increase access for patients around the world. The first-in-human images from this method are published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Other Sciences news

	For 600 years the Voynich manuscript has remained a mystery—now, researchers think it's partly about sex The Voynich manuscript has long puzzled and fascinated historians and the public. This late-medieval document is covered in illustrations of stars and planets, plants, zodiac symbols, naked women, and blue and green fluids. But the text itself—thought to be the work of five different scribes—is enciphered and yet to be understood.
	How self-compassion can help activists deal with stress Why are activists, who are so passionate about their social justice work, so often burned out by those very causes? We don't often think about activism as a form of labor, but it is. Research on the activists that make up social justice movements suggests that the pressures of activist work, can cause them to experience serious consequences to their own mental well-being.
	From forced kisses to power imbalances, research suggests violence against women in sport is endemic Former Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales may face significant consequences for his non-consensual kiss of Spanish soccer star Jenni Hermoso.
	Despite the desire to reduce the risk of imitation, research suggests startups should scale slowly and steadily A recent study published in the Strategic Management Journal cautions startups against prioritizing early scaling, as it's positively associated with a higher rate of firm failure—especially for platform companies. Although managers could see the potential benefits of scaling as a way to prevent competitor imitation, scaling early can also prematurely curtail learning through experimentation and committing to a business idea that lacks product-market fit.
	Researchers say media need generative AI policies to help navigate misinformation and disinformation New research into generative AI images shows only over a third of media organizations surveyed at the time of research have an image-specific AI policy in place.
	Study shows corporate misconduct at home hurts sales overseas Research in the Global Strategy Journal has bad news for companies struggling with corruption, discrimination, or sweatshops in their supply chain: corporate misconduct demonstrably hurts international sales. Consumers and investors increasingly read about unethical business practices globally and demonstrate their displeasure locally.
	Feeling rushed at the food ordering kiosk? You're not alone If you've been to a fast-food restaurant recently, you've probably noticed that self-service kiosks are beginning to replace human workers. But as you go to place your order and the lunch-rush crowd grows behind you, have you experienced increased pressure to make a decision?
	Study highlights successful Iowa program for youth exiting foster care Iowa offers a successful model for serving youth exiting foster care, according to a new study in Children and Youth Services Review.
	Q&A: For many prisoners, gang affiliation drops off after release Nearly everyone who enters prison in the United States eventually leaves. In fact, every year about 600,000 people are released from federal and state prisons, according to U.S. Department of Justice data.
	How can companies address consumers who are averse to products using a novel technology? Researchers from IE Business School and Indian Institute of Management Shillong have published a new study that examines why certain consumers are averse to products using a novel technology and what strategies marketers can use to remedy this aversion.
	Chennai growth maps blueprint for rural-urban areas in Global South The ongoing growth of a major Indian city has helped experts to create a new way of understanding how urban sprawl happens, providing potential to improve people's lives across the Global South through better urban planning.
	Study suggests real-time feedback in hotel showers could help the tourism industry cut water use Providing hotel guests with messages about water use while they are taking a shower can reduce the length of time they spend showering by more than 25%, a new study has shown.
	Persistent questioning of knowledge takes a toll: New study supports theories that baseless discrediting harms It can be demoralizing for a person to work in a climate of repetitive skepticism and doubt about what they know, a new study shows.
	Emojis make tourism advertising on social media more effective and appealing, finds study A study by the University of Granada (UGR) shows that users understand advertisements better and with less effort when congruent emojis and messages are used. The findings also suggest a shift in the preferences of potential consumers towards more nature-based tourism.
	Study completes new analysis of patents to refute earlier claim that research has lost its innovative drive A high-profile study made headlines in 2023 stating that the scientific and innovation system is producing less and less completely new knowledge. Researchers at the University of Basel are now refuting this claim, at least for patents: It is based on a measurement error.
	Q&A: Expert discusses the well-being and mental health of immigrants in the US Germán A. Cadenas, an expert in immigration and mental health, embarked on a journey to the Texas border earlier this year.
	Supreme Court to consider whether local governments can make it a crime to sleep outside if no inside space is available On April 22, 2024, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could radically change how cities respond to the growing problem of homelessness. It also could significantly worsen the nation's racial justice gap.
	In the age of cancel culture, shaming can be healthy for online communities "Cancel culture" has a bad reputation. There is growing anxiety over this practice of publicly shaming people online for violating social norms ranging from inappropriate jokes to controversial business practices.
	New statewide research reveals the economic cost of intimate partner violence in Louisiana A new study conducted by Tulane University's Newcomb Institute has uncovered the staggering economic toll of intimate partner violence experienced by women in Louisiana.
	Escalation in harassment of New Zealand's MPs threatens democracy, says study From online abuse to threats of sexual violence, harassment of New Zealand's parliamentarians is on the rise, and becoming increasingly disturbing, University of Otago research shows.
	Researcher reveals the hidden story behind St. Augustine's 11-foot statue of Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales New details have emerged about the history of one of St. Augustine's most popular tourist attractions. University of South Florida Spanish Professor David Arbesú pieced together documents that were scattered around the world that helped connect the dots about the life of Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, believed to be the first priest in the United States. An 11-foot statue of him is located on the grounds of Mission Nombre de Dios near Matanzas Bay.

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