Science X Newsletter Thu, May 9

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for May 9, 2024:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

AlphaFold 3 upgrade enables the prediction of other types of biomolecular systems

Research investigates the environment of globular cluster NGC 6355

Study shows that astrocytes integrate information about past events in their soma

Likely ancestor of all modern hoofed animals identified

Researchers estimate vaccines have saved 154 million lives over past half-century

High school student helps transform 'crazy idea' into a model that can predict neurotransmitters

Quantum breakthrough sheds light on perplexing high-temperature superconductors

Team develops an epigenome editing toolkit to dissect the mechanisms of gene regulation

New AI tool uses a small set of interpretable variables to rapidly assess self-harm risk

Researchers harness blurred light to 3D-print high-quality optical components

AI advancements make the leap into 3D pathology possible

New cells could be key to treating obesity

Scientists pinpoint new vaccine adjuvant that promotes potent anti-tumor immunity

Human brain map contains never-before-seen details of structure

Topological phonons: Where vibrations find their twist

Nanotechnology news

	Research team develops new thin film deposition process for tin selenide-based materials A research team has developed a new thin film deposition process for tin selenide-based materials. This process utilizes the metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) method, enabling thin film deposition on large wafer surfaces at a low temperature of 200°C, achieving exceptional precision and scalability.
	New DNA origami technique promises advances in medicine A new technique in building DNA structures at a microscopic level has the potential to advance drug delivery and disease diagnosis, a study suggests.
	Researchers demonstrate enhanced radiative heat transfer for nanodevices Researchers from Japan have been working hard to keep their cool—or at least—keep their nanodevices from overheating. By adding a tiny coating of silicon dioxide to micro-sized silicon structures, they were able to show a significant increase in the rate of heat dissipated. This work may lead to smaller and cheaper electronic devices that can pack in more microcircuits.
	Researchers discover optimal conditions for mass production of ultraviolet holograms Researchers have delved into the composition of nanocomposites for ultraviolet metasurface fabrication and determined the ideal printing material for crafting them. Their findings are featured in the journal Microsystems & Nanoengineering on April 22.

Physics news

	Quantum breakthrough sheds light on perplexing high-temperature superconductors Superfast levitating trains, long-range lossless power transmission, faster MRI machines—all these fantastical technological advances could be in our grasp if we could just make a material that transmits electricity without resistance—or "superconducts"—at around room temperature.
	Researchers harness blurred light to 3D-print high-quality optical components Canadian researchers have developed a new 3D printing method called blurred tomography that can rapidly produce microlenses with commercial-level optical quality. The new method may make it easier and faster to design and fabricate a variety of optical devices.
	Topological phonons: Where vibrations find their twist An international team of researchers has discovered that the quantum particles responsible for the vibrations of materials—which influence their stability and various other properties—can be classified through topology.
	New study reveals phonon properties of β-MoB₂ single crystal According to research published in Physical Review Research, a research team led by Prof. Luo Xuan from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences discovered the existence of stacking faults in the lattice structure of topological phononic β-MoB2 single crystal.
	Alternating triangular charge density wave domains observed within a layered superconducting compound A research team consisting of NIMS and the Tokyo University of Science observed charge density waves (CDWs) within niobium diselenide (NbSe2)—a layered compound—at cryogenic temperatures and discovered that they form alternating triangular domains characterized by two distinctive star-shaped and clover-shaped CDW structures.
	Probing neptunium's atomic structure with laser spectroscopy A new technique developed by researchers in Germany can measure ionization states of this element more precisely than before, with implications for its detection and remediation in radioactive waste.
	Scientists demonstrate the potential of electron spin to transmit quantum information The spin of the electron is nature's perfect quantum bit, capable of extending the range of information storage beyond "one" or "zero." Exploiting the electron's spin degree of freedom (possible spin states) is a central goal of quantum information science.
	Ultrasound experiment identifies new superconductor With pulses of sound through tiny speakers, Cornell physics researchers have clarified the basic nature of a new superconductor.
	New phononics materials may lead to smaller, more powerful wireless devices What if your earbuds could do everything your smartphone can do already, except better? What sounds a bit like science fiction may actually not be so far off. A new class of synthetic materials could herald the next revolution of wireless technologies, enabling devices to be smaller, require less signal strength and use less power.
	Study demonstrates fast photoionization detection of single erbium ions in silicon Efficient detection of single optical centers is crucial for applications in quantum computing, sensing, and single-photon generation. For example, nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in diamond have made breakthroughs in high-precision magnetic field measurement. The detection of NV centers relies on observing their spin-correlated fluorescence.
	Researchers demonstrate low-loss and polarization-independent integrated optical colorless ROADM The implementation of integrated optical switches shows promise in the size reduction of ROADMs for greater flexibility and compactness, ultimately leading to robust single-chip solutions. Despite decades of research on switches with various structures and platforms, achieving a balance between dense integration, low insertion loss (IL), and polarization-dependent loss (PDL) remains a significant challenge.
	Researchers develop compiler acceleration technology for quantum computers Researchers have succeeded in developing a technique to quickly search for the optimal quantum gate sequence for a quantum computer using a probabilistic method.
	Organic infrared photodetectors offer advance in imaging technology The demand for high pixel-count, low-cost focal-plane arrays in the near-infrared (NIR) and short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) spectra has surged due to their potential applications in AI-driven technologies such as 3D face-identification, augmented/virtual reality, robotics, and autonomous vehicles. Traditional SWIR photodiodes rely on crystalline germanium (Ge) or indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), which have limitations including high dark current and complex fabrication processes. The advent of organic semiconductors offers a promising alternative, with the potential for easier fabrication and tunable optical properties.

Earth news

	Unearthing the impacts of hydrological sensitivity on global rainfall Georgia Tech researcher Jie He set out to predict how rainfall will change as Earth's atmosphere continues to heat up. In the process, he made some unexpected discoveries that might explain how greenhouse gas emissions will impact tropical oceans, affecting climate on a global scale.
	Net zero plans show limited climate ambition on 'residual' emissions New research by the University of East Anglia (UEA) reveals what countries think will be their most difficult to decarbonize sectors when they reach net zero, with agriculture expected to be responsible for the largest remaining emissions.
	Biogeographical evidence shows trickster animal folklore is limited by environmental factors Humans have the capacity to imagine civilizations and creatures that have never existed, and our language reflects that ability. It would therefore be understandable if the stories we tell ourselves stretched beyond the bounds of local ecology. However, research has shown that many cultural artifacts and ideas are strongly affected by environmental factors.
	Improved wildfire smoke model identifies areas for public health intervention The Canadian wildfires of June 2023 exposed a large portion of the Northeastern United States to unprecedented levels of smoke. A new model that combines wildfire smoke forecasts and data from ground-based sensors may help public health officials plan targeted interventions in areas most at risk for the negative health effects of unexpected smoke events and air pollution, according to a team led by Penn State scientists.
	New 'forever chemical' cleanup strategy discovered As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cracks down on insidious "forever chemical" pollution in the environment, military and commercial aviation officials are seeking ways to clean up such pollution from decades of use of fire suppressant foams at military air bases and commercial airports.
	Bleaching of coral reefs shows severe ocean circulation changes A new paper in Oxford Open Climate Change indicates that extensive bleaching and deaths are widespread at several major coral reefs around the world. This suggests that climate change has resulted in shifting patterns in ocean circulation. Coral reefs may soon be a thing of the past.
	Report: Governments are falling short on promises of effective biodiversity protection A new analysis of the world's largest 100 marine protected areas (MPAs) published in Conservation Letters suggests that governments are falling short on delivering the promise of effective biodiversity protection due to slow implementation of management strategies and failure to restrict the most impactful activities.
	Supercharged thunderstorms: Have we underestimated how climate change drives extreme rain and floods? In media articles about unprecedented flooding, you'll often come across the statement that for every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture.
	Kenya floods: As the costs add up pressure mounts on a country in economic crisis There were early warnings that Kenya's long rain season—between March and May—was going to bring above-normal rainfall. The extreme intensity of the rain has resulted in devastating floods in many parts of the country. Forty of the country's 47 counties have been affected. More than 230 people have died and about 40,000 households, so far, have been displaced.
	Climate report: US struck with more than 100 tornadoes, heavy snow in April April continued the year's warm streak, with 2024 ranking as the fifth-warmest year on record for the nation so far.
	Scientists develop new method for quantifying 'invisible' plastics in rivers Current methods to count plastic pollution in rivers are insufficient and do not account for the fragments that sink below the surface, a team of scientists has warned.
	AI and social media may be fueling the climate crisis, say researchers Generative artificial intelligence and social media can undermine efforts to address climate change, argue researchers in a new forum article published in the journal Global Environmental Politics.
	Take cover: Survey shows tornado warnings widely misunderstood Research by Nebraska's Cory Armstrong is defining the effectiveness of the alerts, warnings and advisories that swirl around extreme weather events.
	School's out: how climate change threatens education Record-breaking heat last month that prompted governments in Asia to close schools offers fresh evidence of how climate change is threatening the education of millions of children.
	Famed Thai holiday isles suffer water shortages after heatwave The dazzling Thai holiday islands made famous by Hollywood film "The Beach" are facing a severe water shortage following a blistering heatwave across Asia, a tourism official and locals said Thursday.
	West Midlands air pollution causing up to 2,300 early deaths each year, research suggests Every resident of the West Midlands lives in an area exceeding the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines, and air pollution in the region is causing up to 2,300 premature deaths each year according to new research.
	Florida's major power company prepares for this year's hurricanes by dealing with a fake one Under blue skies, officials at Florida's largest power company dealt Thursday with the aftermath of a major hurricane that slammed into Miami and Fort Lauderdale—or a pretend one, anyway.
	Costa Rica to ration electricity as drought bites Costa Rica has become the latest Latin American country to introduce rationing due to drought, announcing Thursday it will limit access to electricity for which it relies heavily on hydro-generation.
	Study finds consistent decline in nitrogen oxides emissions from human activities in China since 2020 Nitrogen oxides (NOx) form aerosols and ozone in the atmosphere and are significant contributors to air pollution and climate change. China is the largest emitter, yet accurate and timely information on NOx emissions in China has been lacking since 2020 due to delays in emissions reporting.

Astronomy and Space news

	Research investigates the environment of globular cluster NGC 6355 Using the Dark Energy Camera (DECam), Argentinian astronomers have investigated the environment of a galactic globular cluster known as NGC 6355. The study, presented in a paper published May 2 on the pre-print server arXiv, found that the cluster has several extra-tidal features.
	Astrophysicists discover a novel method for hunting the first stars A recent study led by the research group of Professor Jane Lixin Dai of the Department of Physics at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has discovered a novel method for detecting the first-generations stars, known as Population III (Pop III) stars, which have never been directly detected.
	NASA images help explain eating habits of massive black hole In images from NASA's retired Spitzer Space Telescope, streams of dust thousands of light-years long flow toward the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Andromeda galaxy. It turns out these streams can help explain how black holes billions of times the mass of our sun satiate their big appetites but remain "quiet" eaters.
	Looking for life on Enceladus: What questions should we ask? Does life exist beyond Earth? One of the most compelling places to consider this possibility is Enceladus, a moon of Saturn with a liquid water ocean encased in a frozen shell. There, plumes of water spray from ice fractures into space, and spacecraft observations of these geysers suggest that Enceladus has all the chemical building blocks necessary for life.
	TESS discovers a rocky planet that glows with molten lava as it's squeezed by its neighbors UC Riverside astrophysicist Stephen Kane had to double-check his calculations. He wasn't sure the planet he was studying could be as extreme as it seemed.
	Exoplanet WASP-69b has a cometlike tail, helping scientists to learn more about how planets evolve Located 163 light-years from Earth, a Jupiter-sized exoplanet named WASP-69b offers astrophysicists a window into the dynamic processes that shape planets across the galaxy. The star it orbits is baking and stripping away the planet's atmosphere, and that escaped atmosphere is being sculpted by the star into a vast, cometlike tail at least 350,000 miles long.
	Where space weather starts: Self-consistent propagation of flux ropes in realistic coronal simulations The effects of space weather extend out across our entire solar system, but this is a simulation of where everything starts: the sudden, violent, emergence of a "flux rope" out of the sun's magnetic field and into the solar wind. In the process flux ropes may bring along millions of tons of plasma from the solar surface to be released into space, known as a Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME.
	Q&A: AI in Earth observation—a force for good The upcoming launch of the Φsat-2 mission is a prime example of the pioneering work that ESA does in the field of AI in Earth observation.
	NASA watchdog report: 100+ cracks on heat shield biggest threat to human moon mission The damage to the Orion capsule from the Artemis I mission is already top of mind for NASA as it works to make the Artemis II mission safe for humans. But a new agency report has revealed the extent of the problem, including scores of cracks in Orion's critical heat shield.
	Image: Sulaiman mountain haze An astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this Dec. 17, 2023, photograph of the Sulaiman Mountains in central Pakistan. The Sulaiman Mountains form a natural barrier between the plateaus to the west and the Indus River Valley to the east. Winds blowing from the Indian Ocean and Indus floodplain carry moisture and particulates inland, causing a combination of haze, mist, and clouds to form on the windward side of the mountain range.

Technology news

	Manganese sprinkled with iridium reduces need for rare metal without altering rate of green hydrogen production As the world is transitioning from a fossil fuel-based energy economy, many are betting on hydrogen to become the dominant energy currency. But producing "green" hydrogen without using fossil fuels is not yet possible on the scale we need because it requires iridium, a metal that is extremely rare.
	Robotic system feeds people with severe mobility limitations Cornell researchers have developed a robotic feeding system that uses computer vision, machine learning and multimodal sensing to safely feed people with severe mobility limitations, including those with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
	A better way to control shape-shifting soft robots Imagine a slime-like robot that can seamlessly change its shape to squeeze through narrow spaces, which could be deployed inside the human body to remove an unwanted item.
	Controlling chaos using edge computing hardware: Digital twin models promise advances in computing Systems controlled by next-generation computing algorithms could give rise to better and more efficient machine learning products, a new study suggests.
	'Digital afterlife': Call for safeguards to prevent unwanted 'hauntings' by AI chatbots of dead loved ones Without design safety standards, artificial intelligence that allows users to hold text and voice conversations with lost loved ones runs the risk of causing psychological harm and even digitally "haunting" those left behind, according to University of Cambridge researchers.
	New study finds AI-generated empathy has its limits Conversational agents (CAs) such as Alexa and Siri are designed to answer questions, offer suggestions—and even display empathy. However, new research finds they do poorly compared to humans when interpreting and exploring a user's experience.
	Microsoft's Xbox is planning more cuts after studio closings The sudden closure of several video-game studios at Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox division was the result of a widespread cost-cutting initiative that still isn't finished.
	Opinion: OpenAI's content deal with Financial Times is an attempt to avoid legal challenges—and an AI 'data apocalypse' OpenAI's new "strategic partnership" and licensing agreement with the Financial Times (FT) follows similar deals between the US tech company and publishers such as Associated Press, German media giant Axel Springer and French newspaper Le Monde.
	AI companions can relieve loneliness: Here are four red flags to watch for in your chatbot 'friend' It's been seven years since the launch of Replika, an artificially intelligent chatbot designed to be a friend to human users. Despite early warnings about the dangers of such AI friends, interest in friendships and even romantic relationships with AI is on the rise.
	Why US offshore wind energy is struggling—the good, the bad and the opportunity America's first large-scale offshore wind farms began sending power to the Northeast in early 2024, but a wave of wind farm project cancellations and rising costs have left many people with doubts about the industry's future in the U.S.
	Prototype browser extension adds Wikipedia-like citations on YouTube to curb misinformation While Google has long been synonymous with search, people are increasingly seeking information directly through video platforms such as YouTube. Videos can be dense with information: text, audio, and image after image. Yet, each of these layers presents a potential source of error or deceit. When people search for videos directly on a site like YouTube, sussing out which videos are credible sources can be tricky.
	New tool pinpoints security fixes in open-source software updates Researchers have demonstrated a new tool that analyzes open-source software updates to specify which sections of code are being modified to address recently identified security vulnerabilities. The tool, called VFCFinder, should make it faster and easier for programmers to determine which security updates are necessary to prevent vulnerabilities without having to make unnecessary changes.
	Deep learning empowers reconfigurable intelligent surfaces in terahertz communication The escalating demand for wireless data traffic, driven by the proliferation of internet-of-things devices and broadband multimedia applications, has intensified the search for innovative solutions in wireless communication.
	First transatlantic sustainable aviation fuel flight saved 95 metric tons of CO₂, results show Findings from the Virgin Atlantic-led Flight100 project, which involved a consortium of experts from Imperial College London, University of Sheffield, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, BP, and others, show that Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is safe to use with existing infrastructure and can deliver significant reductions in CO2 emissions.
	Scientists uncover quantum-inspired vulnerabilities in neural networks In a recent study merging the fields of quantum physics and computer science, Dr. Jun-Jie Zhang and Prof. Deyu Meng have explored the vulnerabilities of neural networks through the lens of the uncertainty principle in physics.
	Q&A: Researcher discusses the importance of visualizing undersea fiber-optic cables The internet is kind of like drinking water, says UC Berkeley Professor Nicole Starosielski. Most of us don't think much about how it's delivered to our houses or wherever we need it, until we can't get it.
	Airbnb shares slide on lower revenue forecast despite a doubling of net income Airbnb's profit more than doubled last quarter, but management's disappointing revenue forecast sparked a roughly 7% drop fort its stock in after-market trading Wednesday.
	Judge grills Apple exec about whether company is defying order to enable more iPhone payment options A federal judge on Wednesday questioned whether Apple has set up a gauntlet of exasperating hurdles to discourage the use of alternative payment options in iPhone apps, despite a court order seeking to create more ways for consumers to pay for digital services.
	US forges new 'battery belt' in hopes of electric future Growing up, Devante Cuthbertson assumed he might have to leave his North Carolina hometown to pursue a career, but a new multi-billion-dollar Toyota battery plant is offering him a reason to stay put.
	iPad 'Crush' ad causes uproar amid AI anxiety An ad for the new iPad Pro caused an uproar Wednesday for showing an industrial-sized hydraulic press crushing objects linked to human creativity—such as a record player and trumpet—into a sleek tablet.
	US revokes some licenses for exports to China's Huawei The United States has revoked some export licenses that allowed companies such as US chip firm Qualcomm to supply Chinese tech giant Huawei, the Commerce Department confirmed on Wednesday.
	TikTok to start labeling AI-generated content as technology becomes more universal TikTok will begin labeling content created using artificial intelligence when it's uploaded from outside its own platform.
	How Duluth, Minnesota, is preparing for the EV future Nearly 33 million electric vehicles (EVs) nationwide—that is the number of vehicles the United States should be prepared to support through a national charging network by the year 2030, researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimated in a recent study. Improving reliable, equitable, and widespread access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure in all communities will be critical to ensuring the continued success of the EV revolution.
	Degradation-adaptive neural network for jointly single image dehazing and desnowing In harsh winter scenes, the captured images often suffer from haze and snow degradations simultaneously, which significantly affect the performance of high-level computer vision tasks. Most existing restoration methods are either specialized to address only one type of weather-related degradation, or have a heavy number of parameters.

Chemistry news

	Getting dirty to clean up the chemical industry's environmental impact The global chemical industry is a major fossil fuel consumer and climate change contributor; however, new Curtin University research has identified how the sector could clean up its green credentials by getting dirty.
	Laser printing on fallen tree leaves produces sensors for medical and laboratory use Fabrication of sensors by 3D printing combines speed, freedom of design, and the possibility of using waste as a substrate. Various results have been obtained in a circular economy mode, whereby residues usually thrown away are instead used as low-cost resources.
	Hot compression bonding helps achieve seamless CLAM steel joint China low activation martensitic (CLAM) steel, as a typical reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steel, is the main candidate structural material for fusion reactors due to its low activation, high mechanical properties, irradiation resistance and corrosion resistance. However, weld uniformity is difficult to achieve with a conventional welding method, which tends to coarsen the martensitic slat, and the performance of the joints is usually lower than that of the base material.
	Turning trash into treasure: Exploring biotic and abiotic methods for PET plastic upcycling A paper published in Eco-Environment & Health introduces innovative biotic and abiotic methods for recycling and upcycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The review delves into sustainable strategies that improve the processing and utility of PET waste.
	Study finds activated carbon from palm kernel shells enhances methane storage In a significant development for clean energy, researchers at Universiti Teknologi MARA have made an advance in the field of methane storage technology. Their study, recently published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, introduces a method for synthesizing activated carbon (AC) from palm kernel shells (PKS), which significantly enhances methane storage capacity.

Biology news

	AlphaFold 3 upgrade enables the prediction of other types of biomolecular systems A combined team of medical researchers and AI systems specialists from Google's Deep Mind project and Isomorphic Labs, both in London, has made what the group describes as substantial improvements to AlphaFold 2 that make it possible for the application to predict the structure of a wide variety of biomolecular systems more broadly and accurately. The new iteration is called AlphaFold 3.
	Likely ancestor of all modern hoofed animals identified A team of anthropologists, paleontologists and Earth scientists from Kent State University, the City University of New York and the University of Michigan's Museum of Paleontology has for the first time identified the likely common ancestor of all modern hoofed animals.
	Team develops an epigenome editing toolkit to dissect the mechanisms of gene regulation Understanding how genes are regulated at the molecular level is a central challenge in modern biology. This complex mechanism is mainly driven by the interaction between proteins called transcription factors, DNA regulatory regions, and epigenetic modifications—chemical alterations that change chromatin structure. The set of epigenetic modifications of a cell's genome is referred to as the epigenome.
	How climate change will affect malaria transmission A new model for predicting the effects of climate change on malaria transmission in Africa could lead to more targeted interventions to control the disease according to a new study.
	New rhizobia-diatom symbiosis solves long-standing marine mystery Nitrogen is an essential component of all living organisms. It is also the key element controlling the growth of crops on land, as well as the microscopic oceanic plants that produce half the oxygen on our planet. Atmospheric nitrogen gas is by far the largest pool of nitrogen, but plants cannot transform it into a usable form.
	New fluidic system advances development of artificial blood vessels and biomedicine applications Nature consistently inspires engineering applications. Recently, a group of researchers from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) drew new inspiration from the vascular network and developed a new type of fluidic system named VasFluidics.
	How aging clocks tick: New study points to stochastic changes in cells Aging clocks can measure the biological age of humans with high precision. Biological age can be influenced by environmental factors such as smoking or diet, thus deviating from chronological age that is calculated using the date of birth. The precision of these aging clocks suggests that the aging process follows a program.
	Genes spatially organize for efficient mRNA splicing, study shows The nucleus of each of your cells contains all the genetic information (the genome) necessary to build every type of cell and protein in your entire body. Like a complex library in a tiny space 50 times smaller than the width of a human hair, genes are organized into precise regions in three dimensions.
	Scientists win World Food Prize for work on Global Seed Vault Scientists Geoffrey Hawtin and Cary Fowler, who on Thursday received the prestigious World Food Prize for "their work to preserve the world's heritage of seeds", are on a mission.
	Changes in pig farming in the 20th century spread antibiotic-resistant Salmonella around the world, finds study Historical changes in pig farming led to the global spread of Salmonella, resistant to antibiotics—a new international study led by researchers at the University of Warwick suggests.
	For sustainable aviation fuel, researchers engineer a promising microorganism for precursor production Sustainable aviation fuels made from renewable sources of carbon could reduce carbon dioxide emissions and help to mitigate climate change. Isoprenol is a chemical involved in the production of a jet biofuel blendstock called 1,4-dimethylcyclooctane (DMCO). Blendstocks are chemicals that are combined with other chemicals to create fuel. Researchers have produced isoprenol in several microbial hosts.
	Should we fight climate change by re-engineering life itself? Life has transformed our world over billions of years, turning a dead rock into the lush, fertile planet we know today. But human activity is currently transforming Earth again, this time by releasing greenhouse gases that are driving dramatic changes in our climate.
	Saturated soils could impact survival of young trees planted to address climate change The saturated soil conditions predicted to result from increased rainfall in the UK's upland regions could have a knock-on effect on the ambition to create more woodland in the fight against climate change, a new study has found.
	Research presents 2D dipole orientation method for mapping cells Due to the high transparency of cells, it is very difficult to observe the organelles within them. Biologists can label specific organelles for observation through fluorescence staining. This is somewhat analogous to being in an environment without light where everyone is dressed entirely in black, making it difficult to find your friends. By having our friends hold a fluorescent stick, we can easily locate them.
	Nepal's nature threatened by new development push: conservationists Nepali conservationists condemned on Thursday new regulations permitting hydropower and hotel projects in protected nature reserves, saying they threatened to damage the habitats of tigers and other endangered animals.
	Researchers: Heat is coming for our crops—we have to make them ready Australia's vital agriculture sector will be hit hard by steadily rising global temperatures. Our climate is already prone to droughts and floods. Climate change is expected to supercharge this, causing sudden flash droughts, changing rainfall patterns and intense flooding rains. Farm profits fell 23% in the 20 years to 2020, and the trend is expected to continue.
	Playing with the kids is important work for chimpanzee mothers Wild chimpanzees have been studied for more than 60 years, but they continue to delight and surprise observers, as we found during the summer of 2017 in Kibale National Park in Uganda.
	Fossilized circles in the sand on South Africa's coast may be artwork by our early ancestors If you have walked on a dune surface after windy conditions have settled, you may have been privileged to recognize one of Nature's wonders: scratch circles. These are structures formed when the end of a tethered object is passively rotated into the surrounding sediment. In other words, a flimsy frond or blade of grass that is attached to the ground will blow in the wind, and its loose end will inscribe a perfect circle or perfect arc, with the point at which it is attached becoming the center of the circle or arc.
	Keep an eye out for foxtail seed pods that can harm your pet this summer Across much of the United States, spring is in full force. With warmer weather, people are taking their furry family members out on longer walks and spending more time outside. Alongside blooming flowers and trees, your pet might run into a small, unassuming grass seed pod known as a foxtail. Despite the cute name, foxtails can pose a major threat to your pet's health.
	Rapid oyster reef restoration gives hope for repairing the sea After a century of functional extinction on the Australian mainland, a Flat oyster reef has been successfully restored along a metropolitan Adelaide coastline.
	Drill-interseeded cover crops in V3 corn reap benefits Research published in the journal Weed Science shows that drill-interseeded cover crops into vegetative growth stage 3 (V3) corn performs well in Northeast U.S. production regions. The paper is titled "Light partitioning strategies impact relative fitness of weeds and cover crops when drill-interseeding in corn."
	Study reveals changes in soil carbon and nutrient stocks in desert oasis farmland The arid desert oasis is an important agricultural production base in northwestern China, and desert reclamation is the main reason for its continuous expansion. However, the effects of long-term conventional agricultural practices on soil carbon and nutrient pools after desert reclamation in arid oasis farmlands are still unclear.
	Variability of everyday life may have influenced evolution at least as much as rare activities like big-game hunting Think about taking a walk: where you need to go, how fast you need to move to get there, and whether you need to bring something along to carry the results of your errand.
	Transformation of ocean management is underway, study finds Marine ecosystem-based management (EBM) is a growing practice of ocean stewardship and conservation that offers benefits to the production of healthy, local food and the preservation of clean water, as well as recreation, habitation and storm protection in the Gulf of Maine and beyond.
	Four new-to-science species of snail described DNA analysis by Queensland Museum scientists has unearthed the true identity of 15 species of land snails including four new-to-science species with one named in honor of Queensland wildlife warrior Robert Irwin.
	Is it a bird or a dinosaur? Fossils from Teylers Museum in Netherlands secretly visit UK's synchrotron The feathered limbs, sharp teeth and claws of the oldest known bird-like dinosaurs, the Archaeopteryx have fascinated naturalists and paleontologists including Charles Lyell and Charles Darwin who propelled the species to fame especially following publication of his theory of evolution.
	Report: There are no good or bad oil crops, only good and bad practices When shopping, have you considered the social and environmental impacts of your vegetable oil purchases? Most products offer limited information on these effects. Labels like "No Palm Oil"—linked to environmental damage and threats to orangutans—or "Fair-trade" are familiar, but many ingredients go unmentioned. How reliable are these claims, and what unseen impacts are we responsible for with our choices?
	Japan Fisheries Agency proposes allowing commercial catching of fin whales Japan's Fisheries Agency has proposed a plan to allow catching fin whales in addition to three smaller whale species currently permitted under the country's commercial whaling around its coast, officials said Thursday.
	Comprehensive review on the significant roles and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNAs in fruits and vegetables With the development of genome sequencing technologies, many long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified in fruits and vegetables. Extensive research on lncRNAs has revealed their roles in regulating the expression of protein-coding genes at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, thereby playing crucial roles in the growth, development, and stress responses in fruit and vegetables.
	Resident perceptions of the ring-necked parakeet in the UK A study published in the open-access journal NeoBiota reveals UK residents' complex perceptions of the ring-necked parakeet (Psittacula krameri), an introduced species now prevalent across various urban and rural settings in the country.

Medicine and Health news

	Study shows that astrocytes integrate information about past events in their soma Neurons are known to communicate and integrate information they receive from their dendrites, branch-like structures extending from their body. In contrast, the activity in astrocytes, a class of star-shaped glial cells found in the central nervous system (CNS), has so far been assumed to be largely uncoordinated, thus lacking the central integration of information.
	Researchers estimate vaccines have saved 154 million lives over past half-century An international team of health and medical researchers including workers at the WHO, working with economists and modeling specialists, has found that the use of vaccines to prevent or treat disease has saved the lives of approximately 154 million people over the past half-century.
	High school student helps transform 'crazy idea' into a model that can predict neurotransmitters Like many good ideas in science, it started with a walk in the woods. During a stroll through the Berlin Botanic Garden in 2019, HHMI Janelia Research Campus Group Leader Jan Funke and some of his scientific colleagues started chatting about a familiar topic: How to get more information out of insect connectomes.
	New AI tool uses a small set of interpretable variables to rapidly assess self-harm risk A new assessment tool that leverages powerful artificial intelligence was able to predict whether participants exhibited suicidal thoughts and behaviors using a quick and simple combination of variables.
	AI advancements make the leap into 3D pathology possible Human tissue is intricate, complex and, of course, three dimensional. But the thin slices of tissue that pathologists most often use to diagnose disease are two dimensional, offering only a limited glimpse at the tissue's true complexity. There is a growing push in the field of pathology toward examining tissue in its three-dimensional form. But 3D pathology datasets can contain hundreds of times more data than their 2D counterparts, making manual examination infeasible.
	New cells could be key to treating obesity Understanding how fat tissue forms and functions is crucial for addressing obesity and related metabolic diseases. However, adipose tissue, or body fat, behaves differently based on its location in the body.
	Scientists pinpoint new vaccine adjuvant that promotes potent anti-tumor immunity Scientists from Trinity College Dublin have made an important breakthrough that offers promise for developing new immune therapies for cancer. They have discovered that a vaccine adjuvant called C100 promotes potent anti-tumor immunity when it is injected directly into tumors in an animal model.
	Human brain map contains never-before-seen details of structure A cubic millimeter of brain tissue may not sound like much. But considering that tiny square contains 57,000 cells, 230 millimeters of blood vessels, and 150 million synapses, all amounting to 1,400 terabytes of data, Harvard and Google researchers have just accomplished something enormous.
	New treatment could reverse hair loss caused by autoimmune skin disease alopecia areata Researchers at MIT, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School have developed a potential new treatment for alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss and affects people of all ages, including children.
	New drug reduces vascular leak and endothelial cell dysfunction in mice with sepsis A new drug could prevent sepsis-related organ failure and death by restoring the health of a patient's blood vessels. Researchers from The University of Queensland and the Queensland Children's Hospital (QCH) have successfully tested the first-in-class drug in mice.
	GPS-like system shows promise as HIV vaccine strategy to elicit critical antibodies A team led by the Duke Human Vaccine Institute (DHVI) has developed a vaccine approach that works like a GPS, guiding the immune system through the specific steps to make broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV.
	Study identifies primary cause of sensory hypersensitivity in a mouse model of autism spectrum disorder A research team led by Director Kim Eunjoon of the Center for Synaptic Brain Dysfunctions and Director Kim Seong-Gi of the Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) has identified the primary cause of sensory hypersensitivity related to autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
	Study introduces hyperspectral dark-field microscopy for rapid and accurate identification of cancerous tissues Breast-conserving surgery (BCS), also called lumpectomy, involves the removal of a cancerous lump and some surrounding tissue. BCS is suitable for women with early-stage breast cancer or small lumps, as it preserves more of the breast compared to mastectomy.
	Scientists discover how deadly skin cancer evades the human immune system An international study led by Dr. Li Qi-Jing from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) has revealed a mechanism by which melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer, evades the immune system.
	Researchers discover benefits of adding immune-boosting agent to personalized cancer vaccine Investigators at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have pinpointed a combination immunotherapy treatment that enhances the immune response for people with malignant gliomas, an aggressive type of brain tumor that is fast growing and difficult to treat.
	Collaboration uncovers an entirely new COVID-related syndrome Pradipta Ghosh, M.D., sat down in her office at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and considered a request from the other side of the world.
	Navy Growler jet noise over Washington state's Whidbey Island could impact 74,000 people's health Bob Wilbur thought he'd found a retirement home that would be a place of peace. Nestled against Admiralty Bay on the western edge of Whidbey Island, the three-story house is surrounded by trees and shoreline. It offers the kind of quiet that only an island can provide. Except when the Growlers fly.
	'Smart' contact lenses could someday enable wireless glaucoma detection Most people with early-stage glaucoma don't know they have it, even though early treatment is key to reducing vision loss. While detecting a subtle increase in eye pressure helps doctors to diagnose glaucoma, it's challenging to monitor continuously, especially with the variety of temperatures eyes experience. Now, researchers in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces report a prototype "smart" contact lens that measures eye pressure accurately, regardless of temperature.
	Study shows how night shift work can raise risk of diabetes, obesity Just a few days on a night shift schedule throws off protein rhythms related to blood glucose regulation, energy metabolism and inflammation, processes that can influence the development of chronic metabolic conditions.
	Inconclusive evidence suggests zinc may slightly shorten common cold A new review has found that taking zinc may help to reduce the duration of common cold symptoms by about two days, but the evidence is not conclusive and potential benefits must be balanced against side effects. The article is published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
	Endoscopic procedure burns stomach lining to reduce 'hunger hormone' and lead to weight loss A new weight-loss treatment could be on the horizon with an innovative endoscopic procedure that ablates (burns) the stomach lining to reduce production of ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger, resulting in decreased appetite and significant weight loss, according to a first-in-human trial to be presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024.
	Simple 'swish-and-spit' oral rinse could provide early screening for gastric cancer A simple oral rinse could provide early detection of gastric cancer, the fourth-leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, according to a study scheduled for presentation at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024.
	GI procedures can produce dangerous levels of smoke Health care professionals attending certain smoke-producing endoscopic gastrointestinal procedures, including a procedure that uses electrical current to remove polyps, could be exposed to dangerous toxin levels equivalent to smoking a cigarette during each procedure and face "significant health risks" over their careers, according to a study scheduled for presentation at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024.
	Colorectal cancer cases more than tripled among teens over two decades, data show Colorectal cancer incidence has steadily increased among younger people in the U.S. over the last two decades, with the youngest seeing the most dramatic jumps, according to a study scheduled for presentation at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2024. Between 1999 and 2020, the rate of colorectal cancers grew 500% among children ages 10 to 14, 333% among teens aged 15 to 19, and 185% among young adults ages 20 to 24, researchers said.
	Older adults with aggressive blood cancer are responsive to treatment and show prolonged survival: Study Standard of care treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is safe and effective for adults over 80, according to a study published in Blood Neoplasia. For roughly a quarter of patients, this treatment can durably prolong survival.
	Removing gut bacteria's potential 'safe house' may lower risk of colorectal cancer subtype The appendix, once dismissed as an unnecessary human organ, has more recently been shown to play a role in the immune system. However, we lack a clear understanding of how its removal to treat appendicitis affects long-term human health.
	Radiotherapy with hormone therapy can help some advanced prostate cancer patients avoid chemotherapy Radiotherapy can be used alongside hormone treatment, delaying the need for chemotherapy and therefore significantly protecting their quality of life for some patients with advanced prostate cancer, according to researchers from The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London.
	Amgen plows ahead with costly, highly toxic cancer dosing despite FDA challenge When doctors began using the drug sotorasib in 2021 with high expectations for its innovative approach to attacking lung cancer, retired medical technician Don Crosslin was an early beneficiary. Crosslin started the drug that July. His tumors shrank, then stabilized.
	A mother's loss launches a global effort to fight antibiotic resistance In November 2017, days after her daughter Mallory Smith died from a drug-resistant infection at the age of 25, Diane Shader Smith typed a password into Mallory's laptop.
	Hospitals no longer must report COVID data to CDC, spotlighting clunky system As COVID-19 swept over Phoebe Putney Health System and Southwest Georgia in the first days of the pandemic, residents and public health officials were desperate to know what patients had and how far it was spreading. The Albany, Georgia-based outbreak turned out to be one of the four largest in the world in terms of the percentage of the population infected, along with Wuhan, New York and Northern Italy, and it was only the beginning.
	Baby born deaf can hear after breakthrough gene therapy A baby girl born deaf can hear unaided for the first time, after receiving gene therapy when she was 11 months old at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.
	Study finds patients with limited English proficiency have poorer experiences with virtual health care People with limited English proficiency have a worse experience with virtual health care visits than those who are proficient in English, according to a new study led by a team of investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The study highlights the importance of designing telehealth platforms and processes that better serve people who face day-to-day language barriers.
	What makes a public health campaign successful? The highest performing countries across public health outcomes share many drivers that contribute to their success. That's the conclusion of a study published May 9 in the open-access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Dr. Nadia Akseer, an Epidemiologist-Biostatistician at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-author of the study and colleagues in the Exemplars in Global Health (EGH) program.
	Study finds discrimination may accelerate aging Discrimination may speed up the biological processes of aging, according to a new study led by researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health. The research links interpersonal discrimination to changes at the molecular level, revealing a potential root cause of disparities in aging-related illness and death.
	Supercharging immune cells to battle blood cancer: Advances in cancer immunotherapy Cancer has a profound impact on human life, and immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has made remarkable strides in cancer treatment. However, ICT faces challenges such as low overall response rates and the emergence of immune-related adverse events. To overcome these hurdles, researchers are exploring new immune checkpoints.
	New stem cell research may have implications for liver transplantation Liver disease, due to viral infections, alcohol abuse, obesity, or cancer, accounts for one in every 25 deaths worldwide. A liver transplant can be life saving for people with end-stage liver disease. However, the procedure has limitations related to donor shortage, a technically challenging and invasive surgical procedure, and the requirement for lifelong immunosuppressive medication in the transplant recipients.
	Caribbean researchers innovate to protect cancer patients from compounding disasters Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine assembled a multidisciplinary team and recently published a "Personal View" paper exploring the unique challenges of providing timely, effective care in developing Caribbean states impacted "first and worst" by climate hazards and rising cancer rates.
	Paris in spring, Bali in winter: How 'bucket lists' help cancer patients handle life and death In the 2007 film "The Bucket List," Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play two main characters who respond to their terminal cancer diagnoses by rejecting experimental treatment. Instead, they go on a range of energetic, overseas escapades.
	Study shows not all ultra-processed foods are bad for your health In recent years, there's been increasing hype about the potential health risks associated with so-called "ultra-processed" foods.
	Researchers investigate the relationship between perceived glossiness and pupillary responses The association between perceived glossiness and pupillary response has previously been elucidated through a collaborative effort involving the Cognitive Neurotechnology Unit and the Visual Perception and Cognition Laboratory in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Toyohashi University of Technology.
	Telehealth group sessions can benefit clinician-patient relationships Patients perceive relationships formed in group telehealth sessions as surprisingly good, if not better than those in traditional in-person consultations, Monash University-led research has found.
	Arizona's now-repealed abortion ban serves as a cautionary tale for reproductive health care across the US When the Arizona Supreme Court ruled on April 9, 2024, that the state's Civil War-era law banning nearly all abortions was enforceable, it brought into stark reality the potential impacts of leaving reproductive rights up to the states to regulate, and the related consequences for women's health.
	Cancer: Here's the role exercise plays, from prevention to treatment Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In Europe, almost 3 in every 10 adults were diagnosed with a form of cancer in 2022.
	AstraZeneca's COVID vaccine withdrawn—it was a victim of misinformation right to the end, researcher says The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was a critical part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. However, on May 7, 2024, the European Commission announced the vaccine is no longer authorized for use.
	Brain study identifies a cost of caregiving for new fathers Parenting makes the heart grow fonder, and the brain grow … smaller? Several studies have revealed that the brain loses volume across the transition to parenthood. But researchers like me are still figuring out what these changes mean for parents.
	Keto diet boosts lifesaving antifungal drug in mice For the roughly 150,000 AIDS patients who come down with a life-threatening infection called fungal meningitis each year, there aren't many options.
	Scope of maternal substance use disorder crisis is dramatically underestimated, says study Drug overdoses are a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States, which has the highest maternal mortality rate of all high-income nations. And despite this convergence of the maternal mortality and overdose crises, substance use during pregnancy has traditionally only been tracked during the hospital visits when babies are delivered.
	Call the midwife: Study highlights maternity care model's success Mothers have described feeling "empowered" and "respected" during their labor and birth at a small rural hospital in Victoria's Goldfields region that has adopted a midwifery continuity of caregiver model, labeled as "gold standard" by La Trobe University experts.
	Some brain tumors may be linked to head injury, mouse study suggests A study in mice by researchers at the School of Medicine indicates that brain injury can lead to brain tumors in susceptible individuals. For this study, they used mice that model people with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), a genetic disorder that causes brain tumors.
	Q&A: Study details how major advances have been implemented in intensive diabetes management For 30 years, doctors have known that maintaining near-normal blood sugar has huge benefits for people with type 1 diabetes.
	Study reveals how gender affects liver transplant success in cancer patients Liver transplantation is a life-saving option for those with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most prevalent type of liver cancer. Although often successful, outcomes can vary widely among recipients.
	Q&A: Do you know your risks for breast cancer? The reminders are everywhere. When a woman turns 40, doctors say she should begin receiving yearly mammograms to detect breast cancer. You see it on posters, ads and buttons.
	How ultrasound and microbubbles could deliver immunotherapy to the brain Malignant primary brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer deaths among children and young adults with few therapeutic options. Treatments are limited by the blood–brain barrier, a unique structure within the brain formed by tightly connected cells that line the inside of blood vessels.
	Thrombectomy linked to better outcomes for acute stroke, large infarct For patients with acute stroke and a large infarct, thrombectomy plus medical care results in better functional outcomes and lower mortality, according to a study published in the May 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Bariatric surgery tied to higher short-term risk for venous thromboembolism In the short term, bariatric surgery is associated with a greater risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE), but in the long-term, it is associated with lower risk, according to a study published online April 30 in Obesity Surgery.
	Symptom burden prevalent in childhood cancer survivors Symptom burden is prevalent among young childhood cancer survivors, with caregiver anxiety and greater neighborhood deprivation associated with greater symptom burden, according to a study published online May 7 in JAMA Network Open.
	Adoption study links child behavior issues with mother's trauma Mothers' childhood experiences of trauma can predict their children's behavior problems, even when the mothers did not raise their children, who were placed for adoption as newborns, a new University of Oregon study shows.
	Researchers identify highly drug-resistant infections from stem cell treatments in Mexico Experts in mycobacterial diseases at National Jewish Health, in collaboration with local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are investigating a potential outbreak of a highly drug-resistant mycobacterium (germ) after U.S. patients who traveled to Mexico for stem cell injections became sick. Genetically identical Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies massiliense infections following stem cell injections at various clinics in Mexico prompted this investigation.
	Growing body of research shows importance of addressing loneliness, social isolation Too much time alone can take a toll on the mind—and for older adults, the consequences can be particularly severe.
	Research finds genetic variation that could lead to increased risk of viral infections A new study, led by Jesmond Dalli, professor of molecular pharmacology at Queen Mary University of London, has found that people with a genetic mutation that leads to a reduction in a protein called LGR6, found on the surface of immune cells, have a decreased ability to clear viral infections.
	Predicting and detecting abuse in supported living for people with a learning disability and autistic people The abuse of people with a learning disability and autistic people sadly features in several health and care services across the years. Researchers have consistently reported that people with a learning disability and autistic people are more at risk of abuse than other groups, especially when living in residential services (as compared to older people more generally, or those people with mental health needs).
	Bullying significant issue for young people in aftermath of eye cancer, study shows Young people who have undergone successful treatment for eye cancer are often subject to bullying and require psychological support, a new study has revealed.
	Low-cost MRI paired with AI produces high-quality results A magnetic resonance imaging device built with off-the-shelf parts and paired with AI matched the performance of high-end MRI machines, according to a study published Thursday that could pave the way for greater access to the life-saving tools.
	Older Singaporeans who volunteer perceive a better quality of life, finds study A new study by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) has found that compared to non-volunteers, older adults who volunteer feel more supported by their social networks, which in turn leads to an improvement in their quality of life. This is even though social networks from which older adults receive actual help do not expand as a result of volunteering.
	Patients with chronic lung disease who live farther from a hospital found to have poorer survival rate Patients with pulmonary fibrosis from the poorest areas had more severe symptoms by the time they saw a hospital doctor and had a poorer survival rate than those living in wealthier areas, according to the new research.
	Older Veterans with cognitive difficulties could mistakenly be diagnosed with Alzheimer's when PTSD is root cause A new study has investigated how measures of thinking, memory, and Alzheimer's disease risk group together in Veterans aged 65 and older without dementia. Results of the study showed multiple patterns of cognitive strengths and weaknesses and Alzheimer's disease risk and may imply that older Veterans with certain cognitive difficulties could mistakenly receive a diagnosis of possible Alzheimer's disease, when other factors such as PTSD may really be the root cause of the cognitive difficulties.
	Research calls for translation of aged care assessment tools for culturally, linguistically diverse communities New research by Western Sydney University has identified the need to translate psychosocial assessment tools, which measure social ability and well-being, used in aged care environments into multiple languages. This translation is crucial for the effective evaluation of social engagement and quality of life in older adults receiving aged care services.
	Under 4-minute milers' longevity shows that extreme exercise doesn't seem to curb lifespan Extreme exercise doesn't seem to shorten the lifespan as is widely believed, suggest the findings of a study on the longevity of the first 200 athletes to run a mile in under 4 minutes, and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
	During peak of COVID-19, some lacked access to safe water and lavatories A defining development of the 20th century that changed the course of public health was when governments around the world improved access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene. However, a binational study led by University of California San Diego researchers has found that during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, people experiencing homelessness and individuals injecting drugs in San Diego and the bordering city of Tijuana, Mexico often did not have access to these basic resources.
	Social networks provide crucial support for older adults living with HIV, study finds Having social support and strong social networks is vital to the health and well-being of older adults living with HIV, according to a Rutgers Health study.
	Traffic injuries to low-income NYC residents fell 30% in first five years of road safety program, study finds Among New Yorkers with low incomes, the "Vision Zero" initiative to stem roadway crashes resulted in a marked, 30% reduction in traffic injuries of varying severity from early 2014—when the city government launched the program—until 2019, according to a new study conducted at New York University.
	New tool streamlines nurse work environment research New research from Penn Nursing's Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR)—recently published in the journal Research in Nursing & Health—has successfully validated a new, streamlined version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), originally authored in 2002 by Eileen T. Lake, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, Professor of Nursing, the Edith Clemmer Steinbright Professor in Gerontology, and Associate Director of CHOPR, who is also lead author on this publication. This innovative tool, known as the PES-5, is designed to revolutionize how nurse work environments are measured across the United States.
	The impact of escalating environmental and social challenges on our brains and the planet A team of neuroscientists have studied the impact of escalating environmental and social challenges on both our brains and the sustainability of the planet. The expert team is led by Dr. Agustin Ibáñez from the Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI) and a perspective paper from the group is published in the journal Neuron.
	Musk's Neuralink says issue in brain implant fixed Neuralink, the brain implant company owned by Elon Musk, said that it had fixed an issue that saw its first patient's ability to move a computer cursor greatly reduced.
	Study finds relationship between depression symptoms and physical activity likely goes both ways New research from the University of Toronto finds that adults reporting more depression symptoms in the past week are less likely to report physical activity in the same period, and this relationship generally goes both ways: being more active is also linked to better mental health.
	Study finds association between neighborhood deprivation and DNA methylation in an autopsy cohort A new research paper was published in Aging, titled, "The association between neighborhood deprivation and DNA methylation in an autopsy cohort."
	Recall notice after more than 200 insulin pump users injured due to app malfunction The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a Class 1 recall—its most urgent kind—for an IOS app linked to a specific kind of insulin pump used by people with diabetes.
	How antibody levels can predict which children will outgrow their peanut allergy Australian researchers have discovered how changes in antibody levels over time can predict which children are likely to outgrow their peanut allergy.
	Redesigning health care: Integrating social care into a safety net health system Neighborhoods of high need are where investment in social care offers the best opportunities to improve health. Screening for social determinants of health is comparatively easy, but building the infrastructure to meet needs occurring outside the formal health care system is quite difficult. Few health systems have achieved more than even partial integration of social care into routine patient care.
	Q&A: Scientist partners with colleagues around the globe to make gene therapies more effective and widely available Fred Hutch Cancer Center scientist Jennifer E. Adair, Ph.D., is on a mission to foster worldwide collaboration on potentially curative gene therapies.
	Hallmarks of precancer: Researchers investigate the principles governing the biology of early, precancerous lesions Every oncologist and cancer researcher is familiar with the hallmarks of cancer, a series of functional capabilities that human cells acquire as they transition from a normal state to a neoplastic state (a state of excessive and abnormal growth). These hallmarks have been used (and updated) during the last quarter of a century as a "conceptual scaffold" to help "rationalize the complex phenotypes of diverse human tumor types and variants in terms of a common set of underlying cellular parameters."
	Providing end-of-life care at home has environmental benefits, says study A study led by Canadian researchers sheds new light on how to approach decreasing the carbon footprint of our health care system by thinking critically about end-of-life care.
	Counterfeit Botox found in California: How to spot fake products and report them Counterfeit versions of Botox have been found in multiple states, including California, according to the California Department of Public Health.
	Unraveling the link between the microbiome and esophageal cancer Esophageal cancer (EC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis, with its development and progression potentially influenced by changes in the esophageal microbiome. Recent studies have revealed that specific microbiome compositions might be linked to EC's development, response to treatment, and patient prognosis.
	Australian study finds large support for blocking online alcohol content In a new study published in Health Promotion Journal of Australia, La Trobe University researchers found large support for a browser plug-in that blocks online alcohol-related imagery to prevent young people being influenced to start drinking alcohol or drinking to excess.
	The beginning of becoming a human—insights from researchers A new review paper was published in advance by Aging, titled "The beginning of becoming a human."
	Study: Deep learning-based whole-body PSMA PET/CT attenuation correction utilizing Pix-2-Pix GAN A new research paper was published in Oncotarget, titled "Deep learning-based whole-body PSMA PET/CT attenuation correction utilizing Pix-2-Pix GAN."

Other Sciences news

	Random processes shape science and math: Researchers propose a unified, probabilistic framework Will a certain tritium atom decay by a certain time? According to our current science, this question concerning physical phenomena should be answered by sampling from a probability distribution, a process not unlike spinning a roulette wheel or rolling dice. However, a paper in Foundations of Physics suggests that the same could be true of a question concerning mathematical phenomena, even one as prosaic as "what is 2+2?"
	Study finds liberals and conservatives differ on climate change beliefs—but are relatively united in taking action The division between liberals and conservatives on both climate-change beliefs and related policy support is long-standing. However, the results of a newly released global experiment show that despite these differences, the two camps actually align when it comes to taking certain actions to combat climate change.
	Analysis of millions of posts shows that users seek out echo chambers on social media We all know that communication encompasses so much more than words. Facial expressions, intonations, hand gestures, and more contribute to our expressiveness. However, in social media, these intricacies are lost.
	Research shows higher carbon emissions increase costs for Australian businesses Imagine every ton of carbon dioxide a company emits is slowly inflating its costs—not just in terms of potential fines or fees but in the capital it needs to grow and operate.
	The reconstruction of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman makes her look quite friendly—there's a problem with that From a flaky skull, found "as flat as a pizza" on a cave floor in northern Iraq, the face of a 75,000-year-old Neanderthal woman named "Shanidar Z" has been reconstructed. With her calm and considered expression, Shanidar Z looks like a thoughtful, approachable, even kindly middle-aged woman. She is a far cry from the snarling, animalistic stereotype of the Neanderthal first created in 1908 after the discovery of the "old man of La Chapelle."
	Silent disco: Why dancing in sync brings us closer together Silent discos started back in the 1970s as a convenient way to get around noise restrictions. In those days that meant everyone bringing their own music loaded onto a Walkman. Later, DJs would set up their own radio channels to allow everyone to listen to the same playlist. These events gained popularity in the early 2000s, when music festivals began to host silent gigs with lots of artists streaming on different channels.
	US drone warfare faces questions of legitimacy, study of military chaplains shows Are drone strikes legitimate, meaning on sound moral and legal footing? How people perceive the legitimacy of U.S. drone strikes—firing missiles from remotely piloted aircraft at terrorist and insurgent leaders—is central to whether and how the government can continue to use them.
	Why removing protections on social media in the name of free speech is bad for peacebuilding On May 16 the world will mark the UN International Day of Living Together in Peace. It is a rallying call for people to listen respectfully to others and promote tolerance and understanding.
	Measuring the accuracy of lifestyle-based judgments on political affiliation Can we infer a person's voting preferences from their lifestyle choices? Are certain characteristics, such as the type of car you drive or leisure activities, really associated with different political parties?
	Study explores what helps agritourism grow According to researchers from The University of Western Australia, location, authenticity, interaction, and learning are important factors in enhancing agritourism experiences.
	Why some receiving federal benefits don't consider themselves poor, although poverty rates have increased For the past 25 years, my research as a cultural anthropologist has taken me into the homes and neighborhoods of people living in poverty in cities and rural communities throughout the U.S.
	High rates of harassment behaviors observed in obstetrics and gynecology There are high rates of harassment behaviors within the obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) specialty, according to a review published online May 8 in JAMA Network Open.
	Meet the Stone Age Trøndelag man In 1916, a road up the hill to Fausland farm on the island of Hitra was being upgraded, using gravel from the shore along the innermost part of Barmfjorden. Suddenly, the workers noticed some human bones in between all the sand and stones. The bones belonged to a man who was approximately 25 years of age and who had died at the very end of the Stone Age—4,000 years ago.
	High status leads to increased happiness—sometimes Is it worth the effort to seek high status in a group or setting for which a person has no real passion? New Cornell research suggests the answer is "no."
	Areas with more illegal market opportunities more likely to be targeted by organized crime, study shows Communities with higher-than-average illegal market opportunities (proxied by drug-related activities) are more likely to be targeted by organized crime groups, a new study shows.
	Study finds not all failures lead to learning Do people learn from their failures? In a new study, researchers have examined the high-stakes field of cardiothoracic surgery to assess the relationship between individuals' experiences with failures and the learning outcomes associated with them. The study found that individuals reach a threshold at which they stop learning from their failures and that this threshold is higher for surgeons with a higher perceived ability to learn.
	Understanding the crucial role of information delivery in improving citizen perceptions of government policy Citizens are often deeply concerned about how the government manages public finances and taxes. However, understanding government fiscal policy can be complex, leaving citizens without a complete picture of the factors guiding budget decisions.
	Researcher: I interviewed moms with five or more kids—what I learned about women who are quietly going against the grain Commentators link America's declining birth rate to a number of factors: a lack of support for mothers in the workplace, expensive child care, delayed marriage and a rising cost of living.

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