Fwd: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 31

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From: Newsletter Science X <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Fri, Feb 1, 2019 at 12:54 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Thursday, Jan 31
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for January 31, 2019:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A new model introduces the concept of adaptive virtual organisms (VOs)

Biophotonics: In situ printing liquid superlenses to image butterfly wings and nanobiostructures

Male mice hard-wired to recognize sex of other mice, study finds

An unexpected mode of action for an antibody

New 3-D printer shapes objects with rays of light

Mars rover Curiosity makes first gravity-measuring traverse on the Red Planet

European waters drive ocean overturning, key for regulating climate

Novel electron microscopy offers nanoscale, damage-free isotope tracking in amino acids

Flatworms found to regenerate faster or slower when exposed to weak magnetic field

How the fruit fly got its stripes: Researchers explore precision of embryonic development

Evolution, illustrated: Study captures one of the clearest pictures yet of evolution in vertebrates

Fish fertilize eggs in their male relatives' nests

Cancer causes premature ageing

Superinsulators to become scientists' quark playgrounds

Hybrid electricity system would reduce rates, improve service

Nanotechnology news

	Novel electron microscopy offers nanoscale, damage-free isotope tracking in amino acids A new electron microscopy technique that detects the subtle changes in the weight of proteins at the nanoscale—while keeping the sample intact—could open a new pathway for deeper, more comprehensive studies of the basic building blocks of life.
Maximizing the potential of MXenes Amidst a surge of research over the last two decades focusing on the special properties of structures that are just an atom or two thick, called "two-dimensional" materials, researchers at Drexel University have steadily been uncovering the exceptional properties of one family of these materials, called MXenes. The researchers now know that MXenes are highly conductive and extremely durable, they can block electromagnetic interference, sense chemicals in the air, remove salt from water, and capture hydrogen. They've made a strong case to be involved in the future of energy storage, wireless communication and wearable technology. But before that can happen researchers need to understand why MXenes can do what they do—and how they can be designed to do it better.
	A sustainable and recyclable thermoelectric paper Thermoelectric materials, capable of transforming heat into electricity, are very promising for converting residual heat into electrical energy, as they convert hardly usable or nearly lost thermal energy in an efficient way.
	To observe photoswitches, stick on a platinum atom Advances with photoswitches could lead to a smartphone that's soft and flexible and shaped like a hand so you can wear it as a glove, for example. Or a paper-thin computer screen that you can roll up like a window shade when you're done using it. Or a TV as thin as wallpaper that you can paste on a wall and hardly know it's there when you're not watching it.
	A first: Researchers quantify photocurrent loss in particle interface With a growing global population will come increased energy consumption, and sustainable forms of energy sources such as solar fuels and solar electricity will be in even greater demand. And as these forms of power proliferate, the focus will shift to improved efficiency.
	Graphene crinkles can be used as 'molecular zippers' A decade ago, scientists noticed something very strange happening when buckyballs—soccer ball shaped carbon molecules—were dumped onto a certain type of multilayer graphene, a flat carbon nanomaterial. Rather than rolling around randomly like marbles on a hardwood floor, the buckyballs spontaneously assembled into single-file chains that stretched across the graphene surface.
	Stretchable multi-functional fiber for energy harvesting and strain sensing Fiber-based electronics are expected to play a vital role in next-generation wearable electronics. Woven into textiles, they can provide higher durability, comfort, and integrated multi-functionality. A KAIST team has developed a stretchable multi-functional fiber (SMF) that can harvest energy and detect strain, which can be applied to future wearable electronics.
	Nano-encapsulation technology enhances DHA absorption for early brain development The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today announced the findings on its novel nano-encapsulation technology for optimising the maternal and fetal absorption of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The research, conducted by PolyU's Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT), aimed to address the delivery and absorption issues of DHA that affect its potency and efficacy.

Physics news

	Biophotonics: In situ printing liquid superlenses to image butterfly wings and nanobiostructures Nanostructures and natural patterns have long fascinated researchers in bioinspired materials engineering. Biological samples can be imaged and observed at the nanoscale using sophisticated analytical tools in materials science, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). While imaging methods contribute to the understanding of structures by revealing material properties for biomimetic materials synthesis, they have often done so with the loss of photonic properties inherent to the materials.
	Superinsulators to become scientists' quark playgrounds Scientists widely accept the existence of quarks, the fundamental particles that make up protons and neutrons. But information about them is still elusive, since  their interaction is so strong that their direct detection is impossible and exploring their properties indirectly often requires extremely expensive particle colliders and collaborations between thousands of researchers. So, quarks remain conceptually foreign and strange like the Cheshire cat in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," whose grin is detectable—but not its body.
	Environmentally stable laser emits exceptionally pure light Researchers have developed a compact laser that emits light with extreme spectral purity that doesn't change in response to environmental conditions. The new potentially portable laser could benefit a host of scientific applications, improve clocks for global positioning (GPS) systems, advance the detection of gravitational waves in space and be useful for quantum computing.
	Research team demonstrates fractal light from lasers Fractal patterns are common in nature, including in the geometric patterns of a tortoise shell, the structure of a snail shell, the leaves of a succulent plant that repeat to create an intricate pattern, and the frost pattern on a car's windshield in winter.
	Computational algorithm to reduce electromagnetic noise in electronic circuits developed In order to design noiseless electromagnetic (EM) devices, it is necessary to clarify the mechanism behind EM noise and theoretical calculations and computer simulations are performed for prediction assessment of devices. Two researchers at Osaka University developed an algorithm for numerical calculation of EM noise (interference) in electric circuits.
	Crime scene investigation technique offers a hard look at the traces that particles leave before fleeing the scene Scientists solve neutrino mysteries by watching them interact with detectors—specifically, with the atomic nuclei in the detector material. Most of the time, a neutrino does not even shake hands with a nucleus. But when it does, the lightweight, neutral particle can transform into a charged particle and knock things out of the nucleus as it escapes—leaving a crime scene behind. Scientists at Fermilab's MINERvA experiment reconstructed the crime scene separating out underlying phenomena to get a clear picture of what happened.
	Expression of stop bands in forward volume spin waves A research group led by assistant Professor Taichi Goto at Toyohashi University of Technology has, for the first time, demonstrated stop bands that prevent propagation of specific frequency components of forward volume spin waves. These are transmitted through magnetic insulators without the flow of current, and could be applied to the next generation of integrated circuits (ICs).
	Dynamic aspirin – molecular vibrations drive electrons over large distances Aspirin is not only an important drug, but also an interesting physics model system in which molecular vibrations and electrons are coupled in a particular way. For the first time, X-ray experiments in the ultrashort time domain make electron motions visible in real time. They demonstrate that very small atomic displacements shift electrons over much larger distances within the aspirin molecules.

Earth news

	European waters drive ocean overturning, key for regulating climate A new international study finds that the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (MOC), a deep-ocean process that plays a key role in regulating Earth's climate, is primarily driven by cooling waters west of Europe.
	Plastic in Britain's seals, dolphins and whales Microplastics have been found in the guts of every marine mammal examined in a new study of animals washed up on Britain's shores.
	Huge cavity in Antarctic glacier signals rapid decay A gigantic cavity—two-thirds the area of Manhattan and almost 1,000 feet (300 meters) tall—growing at the bottom of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica is one of several disturbing discoveries reported in a new NASA-led study of the disintegrating glacier. The findings highlight the need for detailed observations of Antarctic glaciers' undersides in calculating how fast global sea levels will rise in response to climate change.
	Kilauea eruption spurs creation of real-time air pollution network As red molten lava oozed out of Kilauea on the Island of Hawaii ("the Big Island") in May 2018, destroying houses and property in its path, clouds of ash particles and toxic gases from the volcano—known as vog—filled the air and drifted across the island with the wind.
	Study finds billion-year superocean cycles in Earth's history Curtin researchers believe that ancient supercontinents formed and then fell apart through alternating cycles spanning hundreds of millions of years that involved superoceans being swallowed and the restructuring of the Earth's mantle.
	Ancient asteroid impacts played a role in creation of Earth's continents The heavy bombardment of terrestrial planets by asteroids from space has contributed to the formation of the early evolved crust on Earth.
	Earth's largest extinction event likely took plants first Little life could endure the Earth-spanning cataclysm known as the Great Dying, but plants may have suffered its wrath long before many animal counterparts, says new research led by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
	Passing aircraft wring extra snow and rain out of clouds Planes flying over rain or snow can intensify the precipitation by as much as 10-fold, according to a new study.
	Bangkok flies drones, warns of hardships in bad air battle A fleet of drones, trucks and small planes sprayed water to try to reduce air pollution around Bangkok on Thursday while the city's governor invited critics to brainstorm better ideas to improve the air quality in the Thai capital.
	Hospitals filling up in Europe's most polluted capital Children are missing school and hospitals are running out of beds as a noxious smog smothers Skopje, earning the small Macedonian city the grim distinction of being Europe's most polluted capital.
	Toiling in Delhi's toxic smog Delhi is the world's most polluted major city, its toxic cocktail of vehicle fumes, dust and smoke choking the chaotic metropolis and taking years off its 20 million inhabitants' lives.
	Australia river agency pilloried amid mass fish deaths The authority that oversees Australia's largest river system was accused of "maladministration", "gross negligence" and ignoring climate science Thursday, as its waterways were carpeted with hundreds of thousands of dead fish.
	How we traced the underwater volcanic ancestry of Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Island is a beautiful and incredibly isolated world heritage site some 600km off the coast of New South Wales, lauded for its unique volcanic landforms and endemic species.
	Scientist at work: I'm a geologist who's dived dozens of times to explore submarine volcanoes Staring up into the night sky as a kid and wondering what was out there started my journey to a career that involves diving in a cramped submersible vessel into the darkness of the deep sea to see what's there.
	Beach building is keeping the Atlantic Coast from going under The artificial build-up of beaches is buffering the U.S. Atlantic coastline against the effects of sea level rise, but that benefit may not last as sand gets harder to come by in the coming decades.
	Capturing carbon to fight climate change is dividing environmentalists Environmental activists are teaming up with fresh faces in Congress to advocate for a Green New Deal, a bundle of policies that would fight climate change while creating new jobs and reducing inequality. Not all of the activists agree on what those policies ought to be.
	Researchers lay out the science and history behind transitioning old oil rigs into permanent reefs Offshore oil platforms have an immense presence, physically, financially and environmentally. Some 6,000 rigs pump petroleum and natural gas worldwide. But as they extract hydrocarbons from deep beneath the sea, these structures undergo a transformation invisible from above the waves. The ocean claims the platforms' enormous substructures and converts them into vertical reefs, home to millions of individual plants and animals.
	Deadly Arctic cold strains resources in US Midwest Frozen water mains and strained natural gas supplies left the US Midwest struggling Thursday as a deadly Arctic air mass had tens of millions of Americans shivering for a second day.
	Study of brine discharge from desalination plant finds good news and bad news Before the Carlsbad Desalination Plant in Southern California began operations in 2015, scientists at UC Santa Cruz recognized an important opportunity to study the effects of the high-salinity brine that would be discharged from the plant into coastal waters. Starting in 2014, they collected measurements of water chemistry and biological indicators in the area so they could compare conditions before and after the plant began discharging brine into the ocean.
	Climate change could make corals go it alone Climate change is bad news for coral reefs around the world, with high ocean temperatures causing widespread bleaching events that weaken and kill corals. However, new research from The University of Texas at Austin has found that corals with a solitary streak—preferring to live alone instead of in reef communities—could fare better than their group-dwelling relatives.
	US Midwest gripped by bitterly cold temperatures but relief ahead Brutally cold temperatures gripped the US Midwest on Thursday, freezing water mains, causing power outages, canceling flights and straining natural gas supplies.
	How to talk about climate change on social media Extreme weather events, from hurricanes to snowstorms, often serve as focal points for discussions about global climate change. And many of those discussions take place on social media. But do social media serve as good platforms for climate change discussion? And do extreme weather events serve as good opportunities for informing the public about the effects of climate change?
	China launches world's first rocket-deployed weather instruments from unmanned semi-submersible vehicle For the first time in history, Chinese scientists have launched a rocketsonde—a rocket designed to perform weather observations in areas beyond the range of weather balloons—from an unmanned semi-submersible vehicle (USSV) that has been solely designed and specially developed by China for this task.
	UN University compares technologies that remove arsenic from groundwater A United Nations University study compares for the first time the effectiveness and costs of many different technologies designed to remove arsenic from groundwater—a health threat to at least 140 million people in 50 countries.

Astronomy & Space news

	Mars rover Curiosity makes first gravity-measuring traverse on the Red Planet A clever use of non-science engineering data from NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has let a team of researchers, including an Arizona State University graduate student, measure the density of rock layers in 96-mile-wide Gale Crater.
	Chinese rover finds lunar nights 'colder than expected' China's lunar lander has woken from a freezing fortnight-long hibernation to find night-time temperatures on the moon's dark side are colder than previously thought, the national space agency said Thursday.
	Hubble fortuitously discovers a new galaxy in the cosmic neighbourhood Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to study some of the oldest and faintest stars in the globular cluster NGC 6752 have made an unexpected finding. They discovered a dwarf galaxy in our cosmic backyard, only 30 million light-years away. The finding is reported in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters.
	Sodium, not heat, reveals volcanic activity on Jupiter's moon Io A large volcanic event was detected on Jupiter's moon Io using Jovian sodium nebula brightness variation, a new paper in Astrophysical Journal Letters said.
	Thermal testing of Solar Orbiter A side view of ESA's Solar Orbiter as it entered a vacuum chamber for thermal vacuum testing at the IABG test facility in Ottobrunn, Germany, last month.
	After mapping millions of galaxies, dark energy survey finishes data collection For the past six years, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory has been part of an international effort to create an unprecedented survey of distant galaxies and better understand the nature of dark energy—the mysterious force accelerating the expansion of the universe.
	First private spacecraft shoots for the moon "Moon of Israel" is an epic 1924 film from the golden era of silent movies, and helped launch the directing career of Michael Curtiz, of "Casablanca" fame. Sequels seldom live up to the original. But if Israel's plans to put a robotic lander on the moon in February 2019 can be considered a sequel, this new "Moon of Israel" mission, led by the nonprofit company SpaceIL, will be a blockbuster in its own right.
	Dark matter may not actually exist – and our alternative theory can be put to the test Scientists have been searching for "dark matter" – an unknown and invisible substance thought to make up the vast majority of matter in the universe – for nearly a century. The reason for this persistence is that dark matter is needed to account for the fact that galaxies don't seem to obey the fundamental laws of physics. However, dark matter searches have remained unsuccessful.

Technology news

	A new model introduces the concept of adaptive virtual organisms (VOs) Researchers at the University of Bucharest have recently developed a compositional model for complex hardware-software binding. Their model, outlined in a paper pre-published on arXiv, introduces the notion of a "virtual organism" (VO) that resides somewhere between slightly reconfigurable hardware agents and abstract, intelligent and adaptive software agents.
	New 3-D printer shapes objects with rays of light A new 3-D printer uses light to transform gooey liquids into complex solid objects in only a matter of minutes.
	Hybrid electricity system would reduce rates, improve service A new distribution system designed by researchers at the University of Waterloo would reduce electricity prices by more than five per cent while also improving service reliability.
	Car designers explore working with virtual reality Ford is interested in exploring what can result in sketching cars in virtual reality. Ignore the rollaway chairs, seat cushions, back rests, travel pillows, the lot. Industrial designers can put on their headsets, stand, burn calories, and fire up their minds with new ideas for new models.
	Atari master: New AI smashes Google DeepMind in video game challenge A new breed of algorithms has mastered Atari video games 10 times faster than state-of-the-art AI, with a breakthrough approach to problem solving.
	'Quantum leap' in AI-related patent filings: UN (Update) The UN noted Thursday that patent filings for artificial intelligence-based inventions have exploded in recent years, with more than half of all such patents filed since 2013.
	Samsung Electronics Q4 profits slump along with global demand Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest smartphone and memory chip maker, reported a slump in fourth-quarter net profits on Thursday, blaming a drop in demand for its key products.
Tesla posts higher earnings but still falls short Electric carmaker Tesla posted another quarter of higher earnings on Wednesday but fell short of expectations after announcing another round of job cuts earlier in the month.
Nintendo says nine-month profit up nearly 25%, lifted by strong titles Nintendo said Thursday its net profit jumped nearly a quarter for the nine months to December, riding out the crucial holiday season thanks to blockbuster game titles for its popular Switch console.
	Thai retailer Central puts $200 million into ride-hailing app Grab Thailand's biggest shopping mall owner, the Central Group, will pour $200 million into the Singapore ride-hailing and food delivery firm Grab, the companies said Thursday, as they look to reel in customers now buying everything from food to holidays online.
	Microsoft delivers robust profit, but shares take a hit Microsoft said Wednesday it swung to profit in the past quarter on gains in cloud computing and business services, but shares took a hit on disappointing revenue growth.
	Apple's iPhone problem: It just needs lower pricing, analysts say To hear Apple tell it, the reasons for the slowdown in iPhone sales can be attributed to changing economic conditions in China, the fluctuating change of the dollar in other countries and a shift in how people buy the iconic device.
	Germany sees surge in new solar power as prices drop Germany added almost 3 gigawatts of new solar power generation in 2018, about 68 percent more than the previous year amid a drop in prices for new systems.
	Uber, Cabify stop services in Barcelona due to tighter laws Ride-hailing companies Uber and Cabify said Thursday that they would stop operating in Barcelona after the regional government passed tighter regulations to appease taxi drivers.
	European heavyweights Airbus, Altran targeted by cyberattacks European aerospace and defence group Airbus has launched an inquiry into the origin and targets of a cyberattack detected earlier in January, the same month that French IT consulting group Altran also saw attempts to breach its systems.
	Seattle's 'other' tech sector, life science, is on the upswing again In a quiet business park far from Seattle's booming South Lake Union, players in the Northwest's "other" tech sector are coping with growing pains of their own.
	Exploring the potential of tall timber buildings University of Canterbury (UC) engineering doctoral candidate Justin Brown is guiding future timber core-wall design with his research, paving the way for eco-friendly, mid- to high-rise buildings.
Video: Aircraft-inspecting suction robot successfully trialled A prototype robot that uses intense suction to climb around the outside of aircraft and inspect them for damage has successfully been trialled at Cranfield University.
	Keeping the lights on during extreme cold snaps takes investments and upgrades Polar vortexes. Hurricanes. Wildfires.
	Facebook at 15: It's not all bad, but now it must be good It is almost too easy to bash Facebook these days. Nearly a third of Americans feel the country's most popular social media platform is bad for society. As the company approaches its 15th birthday, Americans rate its social benefit as better than Marlboro cigarettes, but worse than McDonald's.
	2018 'worst year ever' for smartphone market: survey Global smartphone sales saw their worst contraction ever in 2018, and the outlook for 2019 isn't much better, new surveys show.
	Mean streets: Self-driving cars will 'cruise' to avoid paying to park If you think traffic in city centers is bad now, just wait until self-driving cars emerge on the scene, cruising around to avoid paying hefty downtown parking fees.
	News media lobbies Merkel, Macron on copyright reform European news media associations wrote to French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday to push for action on online copyright reform.
	Hungary Audi workers end strike after securing wage deal Workers at the Hungarian plant of German luxury carmaker Audi went back to work Wednesday, ending a week-long walkout after reaching a wage deal with management, the company said.
Nokia Q4 profit up as operators switching to 5G networks Nokia has reported increased fourth-quarter earnings on the back of grown orders from telecom operators of new-generation mobile networks that are expected to be rolled out commercially this year.
	Efficient adversarial robustness evaluation of AI models with limited access Recent studies have identified the lack of robustness in current AI models against adversarial examples—intentionally manipulated prediction-evasive data inputs that are similar to normal data but will cause well-trained AI models to misbehave. For instance, visually imperceptible perturbations to a stop sign can be easily crafted and lead a high-precision AI model towards misclassification. In our previous paper published at the European Conference on Computer Vision (ECCV) in 2018, we validated that 18 different classification models trained on ImageNet, a large public object recognition dataset, are all vulnerable to adversarial perturbations.
	Tesla shares fall after surprise CFO exit Shares of electric carmaker Tesla Motors were under pressure Thursday following the surprise replacement of the company's chief financial officer.
	GE shares surge despite disappointing profits (Update) General Electric shares rocketed higher Thursday despite disappointing quarterly earnings after the company announced a preliminary settlement with US officials over subprime mortgages.
IAEA urges Japan to take ample time in Fukushima cleanup The International Atomic Energy Agency urged Japan on Thursday to spend ample time in developing a decommissioning plan for the tsunami-damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant and to be honest with the public about remaining uncertainties.
	Certifying attack resistance of convolutional neural networks When shopping for a watch, you may notice its water resistance rating, which indicates that the watch is warranted to be waterproof to a certain level. What about your neural network? Can one ensure a neural network is "attack proof", meaning that its functionality is robust against adversarial perturbations? If so, how can this be quantified with an attack resistance number? At AAAI 2019, our group of researchers from MIT and IBM Research proposes an efficient and effective method for certifying attack resistance of convolutional neural networks to given input data. This paper is selected for oral presentation at AAAI 2019 (January 30, 2:00-3:30 pm @ coral 1).
	Robert Swan moves from interim to permanent CEO at Intel Intel is changing Robert Swan's status as interim CEO, to permanent.
	Companies hope vests will ease burden for assembly workers Ford Motor Co. and other manufacturers want to help their workers take a load off. Or at least make it easier to lift a load up.
	Chinese engineer charged in theft of Apple car secrets A Chinese engineer was charged with stealing secrets from a stealth self-driving vehicle project at Apple, a freshly unsealed criminal complaint revealed.
	Airbus says in talks with Emirates on vital A380 deal Airbus said Thursday it was in discussion with Emirates over a deal for 36 of its A380 jets made last year, amid reports the Gulf carrier is considering converting some or all of the order to the smaller A350, potentially casting doubt on the future of Europe's superjumbo.
	Amazon profit jumps on strong holiday quarter Amazon on Thursday reported its profit in the past quarter leapt to $3 billion on strong holiday retail sales and its soaring cloud computing business.

Chemistry news

	An unexpected mode of action for an antibody Studies of human monoclonal antibodies isolated from survivors of coronavirus-induced severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle-East respiratory syndrome (MERS) are unveiling surprising immune defense tactics against fatal viruses. Atomic and molecular information about the workings of the highly potent antibodies may provide insights to prevent these serious and sometimes deadly lung infections.
	Cooking chemistry minus heat equals new non-toxic adhesive It seems like the cakes designed on competitive cooking shows get larger and more intricate every year. From re-creating full play stages to life-size sculptures, bakers often need to have serious architectural skills. They also need to make all of the pieces stick together.
	Carbon-capture technology scrubs CO2 from power plants like scuba-diving gear Scientists at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a process that removes CO2 from coal-burning power plant emissions in a way that is similar to how soda lime works in scuba diving rebreathers. Their research, published January 31 in the journal Chem, offers an alternative but simpler strategy for carbon capture and requires 24% less energy than industrial benchmark solutions.
	Self-growing materials that strengthen in response to force A strategy inspired by the process responsible for muscle growth could lead to the development of stronger, longer-lasting materials.
	Encapsulated protein oscillations cause dynamic membrane deformations in cells Which criteria do a synthetically created cell have to meet to be considered alive? What are the minimal requirements for individual functions of such a cell?
	Membraneless protocells could provide clues to formation of early life Membraneless assemblies of positively- and negatively-charged molecules can bring together RNA molecules in dense liquid droplets, allowing the RNAs to participate in fundamental chemical reactions. These assemblies, called "complex coacervates," also enhance the ability of some RNA molecules themselves to act as enzymes—molecules that drive chemical reactions. They do this by concentrating the RNA enzymes, their substrates, and other molecules required for the reaction. The results of testing and observation of these coacervates provide clues to reconstructing some of the early steps required for the origin of life on Earth in what is referred to as the prebiotic "RNA world." A paper describing the research, by scientists at Penn State, appears January 30, 2019 in the journal Nature Communications.
	Green alternative to PET could be even greener One of the most successful plastics is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the material we use to make bottles and fibers for clothing. However, PET is made from petroleum-based building blocks. An alternative to PET can be made from bio-based furan molecules, but to polymerize these furans you need toxic catalysts and high temperatures. Now, polymer chemists from the University of Groningen, led by Prof. Katja Loos, have described an enzyme-based polymerization method. Their results were published in the journal ChemSusChem on 29 January.
	Highly sensitive method to detect potential cancer biomarker Exosomes regulate intercellular communication in cancers, and are drawing attention as a potential cancer biomarker. A Japanese research group has developed a highly sensitive method for detecting these exosomes that could potentially contribute to early detection of cancer.
New computational method reduces risk of drug formulation One major factor that determines the efficacy of a drug is the structure that its molecules form in a solid state. Changed structures can entail that pills stop functioning properly and are therefore rendered useless.

Biology news

	Male mice hard-wired to recognize sex of other mice, study finds A male mouse identifies the sex of an unfamiliar mouse because of hard-wired brain physiology, not previous experience, Stanford University School of Medicine investigators have found.
	Flatworms found to regenerate faster or slower when exposed to weak magnetic field A team of researchers from Western Michigan University and the University of Colorado Boulder has found that the regeneration rate for planaria flatworms can be impacted by a weak magnetic field. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes experiments they conducted with flatworms exposed to weak magnetic fields and what they found.
	How the fruit fly got its stripes: Researchers explore precision of embryonic development The first moments of life unfold with incredible precision. Now, using mathematical tools and the help of fruit flies, researchers at Princeton have uncovered new findings about the mechanisms behind this precision.
	Evolution, illustrated: Study captures one of the clearest pictures yet of evolution in vertebrates What do you get when you put together several tons of steel plates, hundreds of mice, a few evolutionary and molecular biologists and a tiny Nebraska town near the South Dakota border?
	Fish fertilize eggs in their male relatives' nests Male cichlid fish sometimes fertilize eggs in nests belonging to one of their male relatives, a behaviour that is counter-intuitive yet ultimately beneficial, according to a study published in BMC Biology.
	Endangered sharks being eaten in UK Endangered species of hammerhead and dogfish are among the sharks being sold as food in the UK, researchers have revealed.
	Researchers uncover intracellular longevity pathway The search for clues on how to live healthier, longer lives has led researchers at Baylor College of Medicine to look inside the cells of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans. The researchers report in the journal Developmental Cell the discovery of an intracellular pathway that mediates metabolic adjustments that promote health and longevity in the worm.
	Male birth control for the malaria parasite Disrupting two genes involved in the preservation of RNA molecules inhibits the ability of the male form of the malaria parasite to mature and be transmitted from human blood into mosquitoes, interrupting a key stage in the parasite's life-cycle and cutting off an important step in the spread of the disease. Researchers at Penn State and the University of South Florida have identified a complex of proteins encoded by these genes that is crucial for the maturation of the male form—or gametocyte—of the Plasmodium parasite responsible for malaria; developing methods to target this complex with antimalarial drugs could lead to a new weapon in the fight against the disease. A paper describing the research appears January 31, 2019 in the journal PLOS Pathogens.
	Tweaking of hormone-producing cells in the intestine Researchers from the group of Hans Clevers at the Hubrecht Institute (KNAW) in the Netherlands and their collaborators shed new light on the origin and function of hormone-producing cells in the intestine and open new avenues to tweak gut hormone production to treat human disease. Their results were recently published in Nature Cell Biology and in Cell.
	Genome sequencing of baboon species provides new understanding of evolutionary diversification Rapidly increasing efforts to generate whole genome sequences for many vertebrate species are providing a significantly improved understanding of the biological differences among animals across the tree of life. In a new study published in Science Advances, an international multi-institutional research team, led by the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine, reports novel results describing the genome sequences and evolutionary history of six Papio baboon species. This work sheds new light on the fundamental biological processes that generate new species and has implications for the origin of our own species, Homo sapiens.
	Researchers solve the riddle of a unique fish A great mystery around one of our most unique fish species has been solved by researchers at The Australian National University (ANU).
	Salmon populations may adapt their eggs to survive in degraded rivers A University of Southampton study suggests that the membrane of salmon eggs may evolve to cope with reduced oxygen levels in rivers, thereby helping their embryos to incubate successfully.
	Sharks drawn to warm waters by Israeli coastal power plant A giant power plant with billowing smoke may not look like the most natural habitat for sea life. But the hot water gushing from an industrial plant in Israel's northern city of Hadera has drawn schools of sharks that are increasingly endangered by overfishing in the Mediterranean Sea. Now the hotspot is also drawing tourists.
	Solving the mystery of Serengeti's vanishing wild dogs In 1991, a strange thing happened in the wilds of Tanzania's Serengeti National Park.
	Aussie plants facing extinction The top 100 Australian plant species at risk of extinction have been identified by Threatened Species Recovery Hub research.
	Cells find their identity using a mathematically optimal strategy Organisms are made of many types of cells arranged in a precise and reproducible spatial pattern that gives rise to properly formed and well-functioning tissues and organs. But how do genetically identical cells in an organism become differentiated? A team of researchers, including Gašper Tkačik at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria), has now shown that in the developing fruit fly, expression levels of four genes, the so-called gap genes, can be jointly decoded into an optimal specification of position. This is the result of a study published today in Cell, by senior author Thomas Gregor, Eric Wieschaus, William Bialek, Mariela Petkova and Gašper Tkačik.
	What causes rats without a Y chromosome to become male? A look at the brains of an endangered spiny rat off the coast of Japan by University of Missouri (MU) Bond Life Sciences Center scientist Cheryl Rosenfeld could illuminate the subtle genetic influences that stimulate a mammal's cells to develop as male versus female in the absence of a Y chromosome.
	Crossbreeding threatens conservation of endangered milky storks A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) has discovered that the conservation of milky storks (Mycteria cinerea), an endangered wading bird native to Southeast Asia, is threatened due to crossbreeding with their more widespread cousins, the painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala).
	Climate change and infertility – a ticking time bomb? Rising temperatures could make some species sterile and see them succumb to the effects of climate change earlier than currently thought, scientists at the University of Liverpool warn.
Study reveals wildlife is abundant in Chernobyl A scavenger study that used fish carcasses as bait provides additional evidence that wildlife is abundant in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, University of Georgia researchers said.
Achieving a balance: Animal welfare and conservation In a paper recently published in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, a team of researchers, animal care experts and veterinarians evaluate the balance between animal welfare and conservation needs for a number of rare species of native birds being raised in San Diego Zoo Global breeding centers in Hawaii. The paper shares the challenges and complexity of situations where the needs of an individual and the needs of a species are weighed, and how that balance is achieved.
	Citizen scientists discover pinhead-sized beetle in Borneo How many citizen scientists does it take to discover a new species? A recent expedition to the Ulu Temburong forest in Borneo proved that you only need 10 enthusiasts with no professional training, yet fueled with curiosity and passion for the outdoors, to find a new beetle the size of a pinhead in leaf litter.
	Imperceptible movements guide juvenile zebra finch song development New research from Cornell University shows zebra finches engage in socially-guided vocal learning, where they learn their songs by watching their mothers' reactions to their immature songs.
	Who's the daddy? Surprise in Swiss orangutan paternity test A paternity test on a baby orangutan has come back with a surprising result.
	Warmer water, chemical exposure influence gene expression across generations in a coastal fish Warmer water temperatures, combined with low-level exposure to chemicals already known to be harmful to aquatic life, influence the expression of genes in the offspring of an abundant North American fish species—and threaten organisms whose sex determination is sensitive to water temperature.
	Researchers investigate factors in 'alarming' rate of cold-stranded sea turtles in Cape Cod Bay The number of cold-stunning and stranding events among juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtles, one of the world's most endangered species, is increasing at an "alarming" rate and has moved north from Long Island Sound to Cape Cod Bay, say researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Mass Audubon and the University of Rhode Island. Their recent study looked into what variables are most important in predicting such events, to more effectively help the distressed reptiles.
	Understanding white blood cells' defense mechanisms could lead to better treatments Experiencing a bacterial infection? You're generally prescribed antibiotics by your doctor. But how exactly do those antibiotics and your white blood cells work in tandem to improve your infection?
	'A way of life': Japan's whalers back treaty withdrawal Neatly lining up sliced whale meat to make "jerky" in the wintry sea breeze, Tetsuya Masaki says whaling is just part of daily life in his tiny Japanese community of Minamiboso.
	New study sheds light on illegal wildlife trade in Hong Kong Hong Kong's illegal wildlife trade is contributing to a global extinction crisis. Every year millions of live animals, plants and their derivatives are illegally trafficked into and through Hong Kong, by transnational companies and organised crime syndicates.
Uganda seizes 750 pieces of ivory, arrests two Vietnamese Ugandan authorities have seized 750 pieces of ivory and thousands of pangolin scales being smuggled from neighboring South Sudan, the revenue agency said Thursday, in one of the largest seizures of wildlife contraband in the East African country.
	Rewilding: Can it foster human coexistence with nature? Rewilding may have the potential to drastically improve biodiversity but remains a highly controversial and divisive topic. A new book edited by scientists from ZSL (Zoological Society of London) and Utah State University aims to build common ground and show how rewilding can foster human coexistence with wildlife.
	South American hawk in Maine euthanized as condition worsens A group caring for an injured South American hawk that turned up in a park in Maine says the bird had to be euthanized after its condition deteriorated.
Firm abandons plan to help endangered salmon in Maine river A plan to test the use of a new technology to help endangered salmon in a Maine river that is critical to their existence has been abandoned, at least for now.
	Ivory and pangolin scales smuggling bust in Uganda More than 700 pieces of ivory and hundreds of pangolin scales have been discovered inside hollowed out logs in the Ugandan capital Kamapala, authorities said on Thursday, as two Vietnamese men were detained suspected of smuggling.

Medicine & Health news

	Cancer causes premature ageing Leukaemia promotes premature ageing in healthy bone marrow cells—according to new research from the University of East Anglia.
	Opposite effect: Protein widely known to fight tumors also boosts cancer growth Search for a description of "p53" and it becomes clear that this human protein is widely known for its cancer-fighting benefits, leading to its renown as "the guardian of the genome."
	Skin cancer can spread in mice by hijacking the immune system Scientists have uncovered molecules released by invasive skin cancer that reprogram healthy immune cells to help the cancer to spread.
	A new approach to peripheral nerve injury? Natural killer cells in the immune system could present a target In animal models of a totally crushed peripheral nerve, the damaged axons are broken down, allowing healthy ones to regrow. But humans rarely suffer complete axonal damage. Instead, axons tend to be partially damaged, causing neuropathic pain—a difficult-to-treat, chronic pain associated with nerve trauma, chemotherapy and diabetes. A new study in Cell, led by Michael Costigan, Ph.D., at Boston Children's Hospital, explore the role of immune cells in breaking down damaged nerves. The findings may change our understanding of neuropathic pain and how to treat it.
	Bacteria promote lung tumor development, study suggests MIT cancer biologists have discovered a new mechanism that lung tumors exploit to promote their own survival: These tumors alter bacterial populations within the lung, provoking the immune system to create an inflammatory environment that in turn helps the tumor cells to thrive.
	Commonly used anti-rejection drug could be repurposed to treat some liver cancers Research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in animal models and patient tissues has identified a new molecular pathway in the liver that suggests a commonly used anti-rejection medication could be repurposed to treat certain liver cancers.
	Discovery points to innovative new way to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy Researchers at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa have discovered a new way to treat the loss of muscle function caused by Duchenne muscular dystrophy in animal models of the disease. As reported in Cell Stem Cell, the team restored muscle stem cell function that is impaired in Duchenne muscular dystophy, resulting in efficient regeneration of the muscle and preventing the progressive loss of muscle strength characteristic of the disease.
	Pinpointing the cells that control the brain's memory flow From the cab driver heading for Times Square to the commuter returning home on the freeway, we all carry maps in our head labeled with important locations. And a new Columbia study in mice shows that, by directing the delicate ebb-and-flow of brain activity, a small cluster of cells helps the brain's internal GPS remember which places matter most. These findings underscore the fact that navigating an environment requires flexibility in the brain: brain-cell activity must change as memories are formed or recalled.
	To sleep, perchance to heal: Newly discovered gene governs need for slumber when sick Humans spend nearly one-third of their lives in slumber, yet sleep is still one of biology's most enduring mysteries. Little is known about what genetic or molecular forces drive the need to sleep—until now. In a study of over 12,000 lines of fruit flies, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania have found a single gene, called nemuri, that increases the need for sleep. These findings are published today in Science.
	Discovery of blood vessel system in bones A network of very fine blood vessels that connects bone marrow directly with the blood supply of the periosteum that was previously overlooked has now been discovered by Dr. Anika Grüneboom, a young researcher who is now working at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen. She made this groundbreaking discovery while working on her doctoral thesis at Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE) with Prof. Dr. Matthias Gunzer. Researchers from Universitätsklinikum Essen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and research institutes in Jena, Berlin, Dresden and Bern were also involved in the study.
	Genetic causes of tumors in salivary glands Acinic cell carcinoma is the third most common malignant form of salivary gland cancer. These tumours are similar to normal salivary gland tissue and occur most frequently in the parotid gland. Until now, the molecular causes for the illness were unknown. Researchers at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen at FAU, the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) have now been able to shed light on them.
	We need to fine-tune our 'maps' of the visual cortex, study shows Monkey brain scans have revealed new information about the brain structure that processes visual information. The findings were recently presented in PNAS by neurophysiologists Qi Qhu (KU Leuven) and Wim Vanduffel (KU Leuven/ Harvard Medical School).
	Machine learning finds multiple factors underlie cancer immunotherapy success A University of Maryland-led research team is using a branch of artificial intelligence known as machine learning to better target immunotherapy treatment to those who will benefit.
	Discovery could improve cystic fibrosis treatment Researchers exploring the effects of a long-standing treatment for cystic fibrosis have discovered a potential new target for drugs to treat the disease, which has no cure and typically cuts decades off the lives of patients.
	Skin colour and neurodevelopment are not linked The latest findings from the international INTERGROWTH-21st Project, that has monitored healthy, urban children from educated families across four continents from early pregnancy to 2 years of age, show that human neurodevelopment is not influenced by the colour of an individual's skin.
	Researchers find TNF cannot be used as a biomarker for RA treatment discontinuation A team of researchers from the Netherlands, the U.S. and the U.K. has found evidence that suggests tumor necrosis factor (TNF) cannot be used as a biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment discontinuation. In their paper published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the group describes developing an assay that could be used to quantify TNF concentrations in RA patients taking a TNF inhibitor. They also describe their use of the assay to determine whether TNF levels could be used as a means for determining when to discontinue the inhibitor.
	Learning new vocabulary during deep sleep Sleeping is sometimes considered unproductive time. Could the time spent asleep could be used more productively—e.g., for learning a new language? To date, sleep research has focused on the stabilization and consolidation of memories formed during wakefulness. However, learning during sleep has rarely been examined. There is considerable evidence for a recapitulation by replay in the sleeping brain of wake-learned information. The replay during sleep strengthens the still fragile memory traces and embeds the newly acquired information in the preexisting store of knowledge.
	Improved AI-based tool increases accuracy of schizophrenia diagnosis A tool developed by University of Alberta researchers using machine learning diagnoses schizophrenia more accurately than other AI-based systems, according to a new study.
	Scientists shed light on processes behind age-related decline in brain structures important for memory Ageing can cause damage to support cells in the white matter, which in turn may lead to damage in the grey matter of the hippocampus, finds a new study by Cardiff University.
	Fight or flight: Serotonin neurons prompt brain to make the right call Known for its role in relieving depression, the neurochemical serotonin may also help the brain execute instantaneous, appropriate behaviors in emergency situations, according to a new Cornell study published Feb. 1 in Science.
	Eating breakfast may not be a good strategy for weight loss There is no good evidence to support the idea that eating breakfast promotes weight loss or that skipping breakfast leads to weight gain, finds a review published in The BMJ today.
	Medical scribes could help doctors care for more patients Scribes help to increase doctors' productivity and shorten patients' stay at the emergency department, with no significant risk to patient safety, suggest the results of a randomised trial published in The BMJ today.
	Americans concerned about weight, but don't understand link to heart conditions, health A Cleveland Clinic survey finds that while most Americans (88 percent) understand that there is a connection between a healthy heart and a healthy weight, most aren't doing enough—or anything—to combat their own weight issues. The survey found 74 percent are concerned about their weight and 65 percent are worried about getting heart disease due to extra pounds, yet less than half (43 percent) of Americans have tried to make dietary changes to lose weight and 40 percent of those who describe themselves as overweight or obese say they aren't careful about which foods they eat.
	Cultural practices improve health care for Indigenous women living with violence The health of Indigenous women recovering from the trauma of partner violence improves when the healing process integrates elder-led circles and other cultural elements, finds new research from the University of British Columbia and Western University.
	New treatment target emerging for retinal damage Scientists at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University are looking at new treatment targets for the retinal damage that often accompanies diseases like diabetes, glaucoma and hypertension.
	Exercise may fight depression in older adults, study suggests New research suggests that exercise-induced muscle changes could help boost mood in older adults. The study is published ahead of print in the American Journal of Physiology—Cell Physiology.
Vaccination with Streptococcus mitis could protect against virulent sibling, Streptococcus pneumonia Vaccinating laboratory mice with Streptococcus mitis bacteria prevents their virulent sibling, Streptococcus pneumoniae from infecting the mice. The research suggests that vaccination of humans with live S. mitis might offer protection from some of the many serotypes of S. pneumoniae that vaccines currently do not exist for. This pathogen is one of the most common causes of severe pneumonia, and can also cause meningitis, bloodstream and sinus infections, endocarditis, and middle ear infections in young children. The research is published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
	Females find social interactions to be more rewarding than males, study reveals Females find same-sex social interactions to be more rewarding than males, and females are more sensitive to the rewarding actions of oxytocin (OT) than males, according to a research study led by Georgia State University on the brain mechanisms that determine the rewarding properties of social interactions.
	Nearly half of all adult Americans have cardiovascular disease Nearly half (48 percent, 121.5 million in 2016) of all adults in the United States have some type of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association's Heart and Stroke Statistics—2019 Update, published in the Association's journal Circulation.
	Researchers discover method to 'turn off' mutated melanoma Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer and notorious for its resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Approximately 25 percent of melanoma is driven by oncogenic mutations in the NRAS gene, making it a very attractive therapeutic target. However, despite decades of research, no effective therapies targeting NRAS have been forthcoming.
	Cell lines deserve unique considerations when creating research protections, researchers say New rules recently went into effect, seeking to protect patients who donate tissue samples for research in the age of genetic sequencing. But this rule could have unintended consequences for certain critical types of biospecimens.
Molecular mechanisms behind AICAr drug; impact on ALL AICAr (5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside, also called Acadesine) has been found to inhibit cell proliferation and has cytotoxic potential for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Much of the drug's cytotoxic mechanisms, however, remain unknown. A new study published in The FASEB Journal explores the mechanisms behind AICAr.
	Nearly half of American adults have unhealthy hearts: report Almost half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, heart disease or a history of stroke, a new report shows.
	The first spontaneous animal model of human hypophosphatasia uncovered A research group led by Professor Hannes Lohi at the University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan Research Center has uncovered a new skeletal disease in dogs. The disease was recognized in the Karelian Bear Dog breed and associated with an autosomal recessive defect in the alkaline phosphatase gene, ALPL.
	Going for an MRI scan with tattoos? Tattoos are increasingly popular. Every eighth person in Germany has already felt the sting of a tattoo needle. Yet, examining tattooed people via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could possibly be risky. The first prospective study with statistically verifiable numbers has now been presented by a research team led by Nikolaus Weiskopf in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.
	Making the case for fluoridated water A recent University of Alaska study that found an increase in childhood dental decay in two cities that halted the use of fluoridated water demonstrates why this public health measure is needed, says Dean Cecile A. Feldman of Rutgers School of Dental Medicine.
	Analyzing metagenome helps understand the role of bacterial species in Crohn's disease Research on the gut metagenome of patients with Crohn's disease elucidates how it influences the taxonomic and functional composition of intestinal microbiota. Among the most common changes are the decrease in the diversity of beneficial microbes and the increased abundance of Escherichia coli and other microbes associated with inflammation. The results can help to better understand the causes and progress of the disease, as well as to optimize treatment schemes. The results were published in BMC Genomics.
	Doctors' conscientious objection to abortion can affect women's health, study finds Some Victorian health professionals who conscientiously object to abortion are breaking the law by not referring patients to another professional who doesn't object, new Victorian research has found.
	Sticker shock: Why the U.S. needs price tags on health care What if you could shop for a magnetic resonance imaging scan like you would for someone to paint your house?
	Look to the medicine wheel for mental health, Elders advise in First Nations study The traditional medicine wheel, symbolizing balance and interconnection, can serve as a framework for improving the mental well-being of First Nations people in Manitoba.
	Expanded recall announced for ibuprofen oral suspension drops (HealthDay)—An expanded recall of ibuprofen oral suspension drops that may contain higher-than-specified levels of ibuprofen that could harm infants' kidneys has been announced by Tris Pharma, Inc.
	Death at 10 years similar with bilateral, single-artery CABG (HealthDay)—There is no difference in the rate of death from any cause at 10 years for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with bilateral or single internal-thoracic-artery grafting, according to a study published in the Jan. 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	FDA receives an 'F' in tobacco prevention report card (HealthDay)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration was given an "F" in a new American Lung Association report card evaluating tobacco prevention programs.
	BDNF–VEGF interplay key to rapid antidepressant actions A study by researchers at Yale University reveals a complex interplay of two different growth factors in the rapid and long-lasting antidepressant effects of ketamine. The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, reports that the antidepressant-like actions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) require the release of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
	Potential way to treat and prevent cancer in children with neuroblastoma The MYCN oncogene has long been known to be a key cause of a number of deadly solid tumour cancers, including neuroblastoma, which claims more lives of children under the age of 5 than any other cancer.
	Heart patients prescribed opioids at hospital discharge often fare worse Heart disease patients prescribed opioids at hospital discharge were less likely to follow up with their healthcare provider or to participate in heart rehabilitation than patients who were not, according to new research in Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
	Fasting ramps up human metabolism, study shows Fasting may help people lose weight, but new research suggests going without food may also boost human metabolic activity, generate antioxidants, and help reverse some effects of aging. Scientists at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) and Kyoto University identified 30 previously unreported substances whose quantity increases during fasting and indicate a variety of health benefits.
Heart surgery technology developed at Baptist Health debuts after years of secrecy In the past decade, as cardiac and vascular surgery has evolved into a team effort involving multiple medical specialists and support staff, the operating suites at many hospitals have remained relatively snug—designed to accommodate a small group of professionals.
	As millions of teens get hooked on vaping, what works to help them quit? (HealthDay)—E-cigarette use is surging among American teenagers, with millions of kids flirting with nicotine addiction by regularly vaping.
	Polar vortex brings frostbite danger: Protect yourself (HealthDay)—Minus 29 Fahrenheit in Fargo, minus 28 in Minneapolis, minus 13 in Des Moines.
	How bicycle crash inspired doctor to launch startup For Itay Bengad, a bicycle crash several years ago that left a friend with a broken spine, a concussion and other injuries sparked an idea.
	Skipping breakfast may help you lose weight - what hunter gatherers can teach us Breakfast, we are told, is the most important meal of the day. Over the last 50 years, we have been bombarded with messages extolling the health benefits of processed cereals and porridge oats. We are told breakfast helps us reduce weight by speeding up our metabolism – this helps us avoid hunger pangs and overeating later in the day.
	Better out-of-hours palliative care needed A better understanding of risks and causes of harm for out of hours palliative care is urgently needed to ensure patient safety, finds a study carried out by researchers at Cardiff University.
	Accentuating the positives in breast cancer detection The presence of tiny deposits of calcified tissue in the breast remains an important indicator of early breast cancer. However, the standard diagnostic, the X-ray mammogram, cannot always distinguish between benign tissue artifacts and such microcalcifications because there is a great diversity in the shape, size, and distributions of these deposits. Moreover, there is only very low contrast between malignant, cancerous areas and the surrounding bright structures in the mammogram.
	How to prevent and treat eye allergies (HealthDay)—When it comes to allergies, allergic rhinitis with its congested, itchy nose gets a lot of attention. But for some, allergic conjunctivitis with itchy, watery eyes is the greater nuisance. You might even have both reactions.
	Exercise injury prevention: Protecting your ankles (HealthDay)—Guarding against injury means increasing both flexibility and strength. Target the muscles that support your ankles to protect your joints by strength-training two or three times a week on alternating days and always after you've warmed up.
	Why are children so good at learning languages? In 2003, an influential study showed that children from rich families were exposed to around 30 million more words before the age of three than children from poor families—a difference that put children from lower-income families at an educational disadvantage even before they'd started school.
Slow vocabulary growth linked to teen behaviour and emotional issues Children whose vocabulary skills develop slowly are more likely to experience emotional and behavioural issues in adolescence, according to new research published in the journal Child Development.
'Physician Associates' an asset to hospital medical and surgical teams, study finds The first study into the impact on the NHS of a new type of health worker in hospitals, physician associates, has found that they benefit medical and surgical teams and their patients over a wide range of specialities.
	Study identifies two proteins that suppress tumor growth in fruit flies, suggests similar effect on human cancers The concept sounds simple, but understanding the process has been elusive: Cut off the nutrient supply to suppress the growth of tumors.
	Scientists first to pinpoint a cause of pigmentary glaucoma An international team of researchers has identified a gene responsible for the onset of pigmentary glaucoma, which may lead to new therapies for the condition.
	South Asians at risk for tuberculosis often are not tested Many South Asian immigrants from countries where tuberculosis (TB) is common do not get tested even though they are at high risk for developing the disease, according to a recent study by Rutgers University and St. Peter's University Hospital.
	Why screen time for babies, children and adolescents needs to be limited There is increasing concern about the amount of time children and adolescents are spending in recreational screen time. There's also increasing controversy over whether or not screen time is actually harmful.
	Epidemic of autoimmune diseases pushes researchers in new direction The immune system normally defends the body against everything from microscopic viruses to meters-long parasitic worms. But sometimes, it sets its sights on the wrong target: the body's own cells.
	Treatment for obesity and fatty liver disease may be in reach Amiram Goldblum and his team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute for Drug Research have discovered 27 new molecules. These molecules all activate a special protein called PPAR-delta and have the potential to treat fatty liver disease, obesity, diabetic nephrotoxicity, and to heal wounds.
	The search for environmental causes of Parkinson's disease moves forward Environmental factors are widely believed to play a key role in the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), but little is known about specific environmental triggers. Writing in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease, scientists review novel research hypotheses and approaches that may help better define the role of environment in the development of PD, especially before a diagnosis can be made based on the characteristic motor dysfunction for which PD is known.
High-dose radiation therapy improves long-term survival in patients with stage-IV cancers, trial finds The first report from a phase II, multi-center clinical trial indicates that a newer, more aggressive form of radiation therapy—stereotactic radiation—can extend long-term survival for some patients with stage-IV cancers while maintaining their quality of life. The study is published in the January issue of International Journal of Radiation Oncology * Biology * Physics (Red Journal), the flagship scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).
	Sleep apnea creates gaps in life memories: study People with sleep apnea struggle to remember details of memories from their own lives, potentially making them vulnerable to depression, new research has shown.
	Hurricane Katrina's aftermath included spike in heart disease hospitalizations Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornados, and hurricanes are generally described in terms of wind speed, land area, and inches of rain. They're also described in terms of human costs, such as the number of fatalities and injuries. Hurricane Katrina, for example, led to approximately 1,000 deaths in Louisiana, of which 75 percent were among adults age 60 or above.
Fruit and vegetable consumption linked to lower risk of early death for dialysis patients A new study found that higher consumption of fruits and vegetables may be associated with a lower risk of premature death in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), suggest that more studies are needed to fine-tune dietary recommendations for patients with kidney failure.
	Medical cannabis relieves symptoms in children with autism: study In a new study of patients with autism who are 18 years old and under, researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) and Soroka University Medical Center report that cannabis as a treatment for autism spectrum disorders appears to be a well-tolerated, safe and effective option to relieve symptoms including seizures, tics, depression, restlessness, and rage attacks.
Survivors of a firearm injury at risk for subsequent hospitalizations Ten percent of firearm injury survivors will be readmitted to the hospital for further treatment within 90 days of their original injuries.
	Study finds exercise benefits brains, changes blood flow in older adults Exercise training alters brain blood flow and improves cognitive performance in older adults, though not in the way you might think. A new study published by University of Maryland School of Public Health researchers in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease showed that exercise was associated with improved brain function in a group of adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and a decrease in the blood flow in key brain regions.
Medical experts restore movement and autonomic function in patients with complete paralysis There are more than 290,000 people estimated to be living in the United States with a spinal cord injury. Previously, it has been shown that it is possible to restore some function to young and healthy patients within a few years of injury. Now, researchers show spinal cord stimulation can immediately restore some voluntary movement and autonomic functions such as cardiovascular, bowel, and bladder years after a paralyzing injury without any significant rehabilitation.
	Feeding tubes shouldn't be on POLST forms: JAGS opinion paper Following years of research that demonstrated feeding tubes can harm patients with dementia, the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society has published an OHSU opinion paper recommending patient preference for feeding tubes be excluded from Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment, or POLST, forms.
	Generic version of popular asthma inhaler wins FDA approval (HealthDay)—The first generic version of the widely used Advair Diskus inhaler for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has won U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.
	Chilling studies show cold weather could raise stroke risk Overexertion with a snow shovel isn't the only cardiovascular risk during the winter.
	An upbeat attitude might help prevent 2nd stroke (HealthDay)—If you've had a stroke, a positive outlook might just help prevent another one, a new study suggests.
	Blood donors needed as cold weather freezes U.S. supply (HealthDay)—The U.S. blood supply is expected to drop to dangerously low levels as sub-zero weather in many parts of the country forces cancellation of crucial blood drives, American Red Cross officials warn.
	Oral antibiotics noninferior to IV for bone, joint infection (HealthDay)—For patients being treated for bone or joint infection, oral antibiotics are noninferior to intravenous antibiotics, according to a study published in the Jan. 31 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
	Management of MS in pregnancy reviewed in U.K. guideline (HealthDay)—It is important to discuss family planning and pregnancy proactively in women of childbearing age who have multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a review published online Jan. 5 in Practical Neurology.
Methotrexate well tolerated, effective for psoriasis in Chinese (HealthDay)—Methotrexate is well tolerated and effective for psoriasis in a Chinese population and is more effective for those without psoriatic arthritis, according to a study published online Jan. 30 in JAMA Dermatology.
	Mindfulness promising option for easing chronic pain Mindfulness meditation is a promising option for easing chronic pain, finds a pooled analysis of the available data, published online in the journal Evidence Based Mental Health.
	Immune master regulator orchestrates responses to parasite infection A new study has identified the master regulator that maintains a healthy gut and limits damage by parasitic whipworms. Researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and collaborators have revealed that the interleukin 10 receptor (IL-10R) is critical to prevent uncontrolled whipworm infection in mice and a damaging immune response in the gut.
	Persistent low body weight in young kids increases risk for anorexia nervosa later A new study has found that a persistent low body mass index (BMI) in children, starting as young as age 2 for boys and 4 for girls, may be a risk factor for the development of anorexia nervosa in adolescence.
	Do all chemotherapies have equal long-term heart risk? In long-term survivors of childhood cancer, cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of early death from non-cancer causes. In a new study, published Jan. 31 in JAMA Oncology, researchers compared four chemotherapy drugs with development of cardiomyopathy (abnormal heart muscle with impaired function) years after treatment.
Research identifies pathway connecting some ARV drugs with liver disease As a raft of new treatments for HIV infection have come on the market in the past 20 years, AIDS patients got access to drugs that allowed them to live longer.
	Study: Many small kids in US are using too much toothpaste Too many young kids are using too much toothpaste, increasing their risk of streaky or splotchy teeth when they get older, according to a government survey released Thursday.
	When neurons get the blues: Hyperactive brain cells may be to blame when antidepressants don't work The most commonly prescribed antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), lift the fog of depression for many people. But for around a third of people with major depressive disorder, SSRIs don't make much of a difference. Now, researchers from the Salk Institute have pinned down a possible reason why—the neurons in at least some of these patients' brains may become hyperactive in the presence of the drugs. The study appeared in Molecular Psychiatry on January 30, 2019.
	Patients in Northwest measles outbreak traveled to Hawaii A measles outbreak in the Pacific Northwest became more worrisome Wednesday with word that people infected with the extremely contagious viral illness traveled to Hawaii and central Oregon after being exposed.
For older people, medications are common; AGS Beers Criteria aims to make them appropriate, too The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today unveiled its latest update to one of geriatrics' most frequently cited reference tools: The AGS Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults. With more than 90% of older people using at least one prescription and more than 66% using three or more in any given month, the AGS Beers Criteria—a compendium of medications potentially to avoid or consider with caution because they often present an unfavorable balance of benefits and harms for older people—plays a vital role in helping health professionals, older adults, and caregivers work together to ensure medications are appropriate.
French court backs doctors in right-to-die case A French court on Thursday upheld a decision by doctors to withdraw life support for a man kept alive in a vegetative state for a decade, after the latest legal challenge by the patient's parents in a divisive right-to-die case.

Other Sciences news

	Ancient pandas weren't exclusive bamboo eaters, bone evidence suggests The giant pandas we know and love today live only in the understory of particular mountains in southwestern China, where they subsist on bamboo alone. In support of their tough and fibrous bamboo diet, they've got distinctive teeth, skull, and muscle characteristics along with a special pseudo-thumb, the better to grasp and hold bamboo stems, leaves, and shoots with. But according to new evidence reported in Current Biology on January 31, extinct and ancient panda species most likely had a more varied and complex diet.
	Iguana-sized dinosaur cousin discovered in Antarctica 250 million years ago, it was covered in forests and rivers, and the temperature rarely dipped below freezing. It was also home to diverse wildlife, including early relatives of the dinosaurs. Scientists have just discovered the newest member of that family—an iguana-sized reptile whose name means "Antarctic king."
	The 210-million-year-old Smok was crushing bones like a hyena Coprolites, or fossilized droppings, of the dinosaur-like archosaur Smok wawelski contain lots of chewed-up bone fragments. This led researchers at Uppsala University to conclude that this top predator was exploiting bones for salt and marrow, a behavior often linked to mammals but seldom to archosaurs.
	Tomb savers: Conservationists unveil work on Tutankhamun grave After almost a decade, a team of international experts on Thursday revealed the results of their painstaking work to preserve the tomb of Egypt's legendary Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
	How the 2011 English riots spread—new evidence shows sense of identity was key New analysis led by a Sussex psychologist has explained the way in which the 2011 riots spread – something which may be useful for policy makers in future.
	Neanderthals were sprinters rather than distance runners, study surprisingly suggests The image of Neanderthals as brutish and culturally unsophisticated has changed in recent years – they could make cave art, jewellery, complex stone tools and may have had language and cooked foods. Yes, they were extremely physically strong – certainly stronger than the vast majority of humans living today. And yes, they went extinct just after our own species entered their territories (albeit with a small amount of interbreeding). But neither fact means they were sluggish or cognitively inferior to us humans.
	The less flexible the teaching, the more poorly boys read Standardised education has a more negative influence on the reading performance of boys than on that of girls. This was shown in a study done among almost 1.5 million 15-year-olds in 37 countries. In all of those countries, boys read more poorly than girls. The results of the study by sociologists Margriet van Hek and Gerbert Kraaykamp of Radboud University and Claudia Buchmann of Ohio State University were published on 27 January in the European Sociological Review.
	Why outer suburbs lack inner city's 'third places': A partial defence of the hipster One of the stark differences between neighbourhoods in the inner city and outer suburbs in Australia is the quality and type of retail offerings. Gentrifying inner-city suburbs – places like West End in Brisbane, Fitzroy in Melbourne and Newtown in Sydney – are characterised by independent owner-operated retail businesses. Busy "third places" such as cafes, bars and restaurants – where people spend time between home ("first" place) and work ("second" place) – are common.
Risk aversion rises with violent crime Fear in the wake of violent conflicts causes people to take fewer risks, which may come at the expense of bettering their lives and the economy.
	Text analysis of thousands of grant abstracts shows that writing style matters Is there a financial relationship to what or how people communicate?
	How to find Mayan ruins while sitting at your laptop In the summer of 2014, Matthew Cardona was standing in a shed near his father's childhood home in Guatemala. The walls were lined with boxes and buckets filled with recently unearthed Mayan artifacts. He was shown intricate pottery and obsidian masks and knives. The items were being packed up and moved off site.
	'Working rich' prevail among today's top earners Many blame idle millionaires for the rise in income inequality, but today's top earners are actually the "working rich," according to a new working paper co-authored by Princeton University.

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