Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Apr 25

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for April 25, 2018:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Invisible magnetic sensors measure magnetic fields without disturbing them

Breaking bottlenecks to the electronic-photonic information technology revolution

Astronomers witness galaxy megamerger

Long-sought structure of telomerase paves way for new drugs for aging, cancer

Transparent eel-like soft robot can swim silently underwater

Ultrahigh-pressure laser experiments shed light on super-Earth cores

Projectile cannon experiments show how asteroids can deliver water

Powerful flare detected on an M-dwarf star

Gaia creates richest star map of our Galaxy—and beyond

A new technique for making paper touch sensitive inexpensively

Ants found to use trapping technique to capture much larger prey

Magma ocean may be responsible for the moon's early magnetic field

Researchers 3-D print electronics and cells directly on skin

Reseachers use emerging memory devices to develop electronic circuits for cybersecurity applications

Engaging in physical activity decreases people's chance of developing depression

Nanotechnology news

	Breaking bottlenecks to the electronic-photonic information technology revolution Researchers at the University of Washington, working with researchers from the ETH-Zurich, Purdue University and Virginia Commonwealth University, have achieved an optical communications breakthrough that could revolutionize information technology.
	Watching nanomaterials form in 4-D When famed physicists Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska first introduced the transmission electron microscope (TEM) in 1933, it allowed researchers to peer inside cells, microorganisms and particles that were once too small to study.
	Nanowires could make lithium ion batteries safer From cell phones and laptops to electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are the power source that fuels everyday life. But in recent years, they have also drawn attention for catching fire. In an effort to develop a safer battery, scientists report in the ACS journal Nano Letters that the addition of nanowires can not only enhance the battery's fire-resistant capabilities, but also its other properties.
	Researchers identify promising delivery method for immunotherapy combination Using nanoparticles to bind molecules that can unleash and stimulate immune cells, University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers found they could more effectively trigger the body's defenses system against cancer in laboratory studies.
	Turning graphene into light nanosensors Graphene has many properties; it is e.g. an extremely good conductor. But it does not absorb light very well. To remedy this limiting aspect of what is an otherwise amazing material, physicists resort to embedding a sheet of graphene in a flat photonic crystal, which is excellent for controlling the flow of light. The combination endows graphene with substantially enhanced light-absorbing capabilities. In a new study published in EPJ B, Arezou Rashidi and Abdolrahman Namdar from the University of Tabriz, Iran demonstrate that, by altering the temperature in such a hybrid cavity structure, they can tune its capacity for optical absorption. They explain that it is the thermal expansion and thermo-optical effects which give the graphene these optical characteristics. Potential applications include light sensors, ultra-fast lasers, and systems capable of modulating incoming optical beams.
	Rabies trick could help treat Parkinson's disease The rabies virus wreaks havoc on the brain, triggering psychosis and death. To get where it needs to go, the virus must first trick the nervous system and cross the blood brain barrier—a process that makes it of interest in drug design. Now, scientists report in ACS Nano a way to exploit the rabies virus machinery to deliver a Parkinson's disease medication directly to the brain.

Physics news

	Invisible magnetic sensors measure magnetic fields without disturbing them Currently, most of the magnetic sensors used in today's computers, airplanes, cars, and other systems distort the magnetic fields that they are measuring. These distortions can cause major problems for some applications, in particular biomedical techniques, that require highly accurate measurements, and can also cause cross-talk in sensor arrays.
	Team shows tiny frequency combs are reliable measurement tools In an advance that could shrink many measurement technologies, scientists at the National Institute ofStandards and Technology (NIST) and partners have demonstrated the first miniaturized devices thatcan generate desired frequencies, or colors, of light precisely enough to be traced to an internationalmeasurement standard.
	New thermal coatings for spacecraft and satellites developed using metamaterials A team of researchers, which includes the University of Southampton, have developed new technology which could prompt a significant change for a spacecraft or satellite.
	Entanglement observed in near-macroscopic objects Perhaps the strangest prediction of quantum theory is entanglement, a phenomenon whereby two distant objects become intertwined in a manner that defies both classical physics and a common-sense understanding of reality. In 1935, Albert Einstein expressed his concern over this concept, referring to it as "spooky action at a distance."
	Quantum dots enable faster, easier photon detection, more secure data A team of researchers including U of A engineering and physics faculty has developed a new method of detecting single photons, or light particles, using quantum dots.
	Using a quantum blockchain to protect blockchains of the future A pair of researchers with Victoria University of Wellington has suggested that the way to prevent future blockchains from future hackers using quantum computers is to use quantum blockchains. Theoretical physicists Del Rajan and Matt Visser explain their idea in a paper they have uploaded to the arXiv preprint server.
	Researchers create precision optical components with inkjet printing Researchers have developed an inkjet printing technique that can be used to print optical components such as waveguides. Because the printing approach can also fabricate electronics and microfluidics, it could advance a variety of devices such as optical sensors used for health monitoring and lab-on-a-chip devices that integrate and automate multiple laboratory functions onto a small circuit, or chip.
	Next step towards quantum network based on micromechanical beams In recent years, nanofabricated mechanical oscillators have emerged as a promising platform for quantum information applications. Quantum entanglement of engineered optomechanical resonators would offer a compelling route toward scalable quantum networks. Researchers at the TU Delft and the University of Vienna have now observed this entanglement and report their findings in this week's edition of Nature.
	The Matryoshka effect: Researchers describe underwater phenomenon Researchers at Utah State University are sending cascades of water into a tank to uncover a mystery of fluid dynamics.
	Nuclear radiation detecting device could lead to new homeland security tool A Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory research team has developed an exceptional next-generation material for nuclear radiation detection that could provide a significantly less expensive alternative to the detectors now in commercial use.
	Dispute about terahertz photoresponse in graphene results in a draw Physicists at MIPT and their British and Russian colleagues revealed the mechanisms leading to photocurrent in graphene under terahertz radiation. The paper published in Applied Physics Letters ends a long-lasting debate about the origins of direct current in graphene illuminated by high-frequency radiation, and also sets the stage for the development of high-sensitivity terahertz detectors. Such detectors have applications in medical diagnostics, wireless communications and security systems.
Controlled nuclear transition for vastly more accurate clocks A Russian scientist from Skobelitsyn Research Institute of Nuclear Physics, MSU theoretically substantiated that the speed of transition of thorium-229 from ground to excited state may be managed depending on external conditions. The frequency of the transitions may be increased or decreased by dozens of times. This effect will contribute to extremely precise clocks exceeding even the best atomic clocks. The article was published in Physical Review Letters.
	Secrets of solar flares can now be studied on Earth Solar flares, cosmic radiation, and the northern lights are well known phenomena. But exactly how their enormous energy arises is not as well understood. Now, physicists at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have discovered a new way to study these spectacular space plasma phenomena in a laboratory environment. The results have been published in the renowned journal Nature Communications.
	Why perovskite solar cells are so efficient Solar cells with efficiencies above 20% and produced at low costs – perovskites make this possible. Now, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have gained fundamental insight into the function of perovskite solar cells. They found that bound states of electron-hole pairs can form during the absorption of light. Still, these pairs can be separated easily for current to flow. In addition, they enhance absorption. Work of the scientists is reported in the journal Applied Physics Letters.

Earth news

	Ultrahigh-pressure laser experiments shed light on super-Earth cores Using high-powered laser beams, researchers have simulated conditions inside a planet three times as large as Earth.
	Magma ocean may be responsible for the moon's early magnetic field Around four billion years ago, the Moon had a magnetic field that was about as strong as Earth's magnetic field is today. How the Moon, with a much smaller core than Earth's, could have had such a strong magnetic field has been an unsolved problem in the history of the Moon's evolution.
	Sunlight reduces effectiveness of dispersants used in oil spills Two new studies have shown that sunlight transforms oil spills on the ocean surface more significantly and quickly than previously thought. The phenomenon considerably limits the effectiveness of chemical dispersants, which are designed to break up floating oil and reduce the amount of oil that reaches coastlines.
	Many low-lying atoll islands could be uninhabitable by mid-21st century Sea-level rise and wave-driven flooding will negatively impact freshwater resources on many low-lying atoll islands in such a way that many could be uninhabitable in just a few decades. According to a new study published in Science Advances, scientists found that such flooding not only will impact terrestrial infrastructure and habitats, but, more importantly, it will also make the limited freshwater resources non-potable and, therefore, directly threaten the sustainability of human populations.
	Recent Russian Arctic glacier loss doubles from the previous 60 years Geophysicists examining glacier changes in the Russian Arctic have found that the rate of ice mass loss has nearly doubled over the last decade when compared to records from the previous 60 years, according to Cornell-led research published April 24 in Remote Sensing of Environment.
	Corn with straw mulch builds yield, soil carbon How do you boost soil water content and soil health without irrigating? Best cover it with a layer of straw, a new study concludes.
	In southern Iraq, drought tightens its grip Abu Ali carefully crank-starts a generator to pump water from a well out into his parched field in southern Iraq.
	East vs. West Coast earthquakes Why was an earthquake in Virginia felt at more than twice the distance than a similar-sized earthquake in California? The answer is one that many people may not realize. Earthquakes east of the Rocky Mountains can cause noticeable ground shaking at much farther distances than comparably-sized earthquakes in the West.
	What happens when sea levels rise and coastal land gets flooded? Due to climate change, sea levels are expected to rise and flood large, low-lying areas in many regions of the world. The big question is how we should cope—should we built dykes or let the sea in?
	What we know (and don't know) about sea level rise In 1969, Hurricane Camille, a Category 5 storm, destroyed every structure on the coast of Mississippi, including the beach home of Duke University geologist Orrin H. Pilkey's parents. Previously a specialist in deep-sea sediments, Pilkey began to investigate the relationships among climate, sea level, and beaches. As early as 1979, he began to sound the sea level alarm with books like The Beaches are Moving: The Drowning of America's Shoreline. Like many whistleblowers, he was not always warmly received. "Twenty-five years ago," Pilkey said in a 2006 Grist interview, "when I began speaking and writing about seawalls and how they destroy beaches, I was shocked at the tenor of the response to this idea both from professional engineers and from developers and politicians … As a scientist, I was unaccustomed to such personal attacks." Nonetheless, he persisted.
	As tellurium demands rise, so do contamination concerns As technology advances, demands for tellurium, a rare element, are on the rise. Some forms of tellurium are toxic, so as the element finds applications in solar panels, rubber production, electronics and more, researchers are becoming concerned about possible environmental contamination. Now, one group reports in ACS' Environmental Science & Technology that by studying lake sediments they can construct a history of tellurium as it was deposited in the environment.
	Fossil teeth reveal new facts about a mass extinction 260 million years ago Around 260 million years, the Earth was dominated by mammal like reptiles called therapsids. The largest of these therapsids were the dinocephalians, a genus composed of several herbivorous and carnivorous species.
	NASA finds Tropical Cyclone Fakir weakening Infrared imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite revealed that Tropical Cyclone Fakir was getting weaker as it moved through the Southern Indian Ocean. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center issued their final bulletin on the system.

Astronomy & Space news

	Astronomers witness galaxy megamerger Peering deep into space—an astounding 90 percent of the way across the observable universe—astronomers have witnessed the beginnings of a gargantuan cosmic pileup, the impending collision of 14 young, starbursting galaxies.
	Projectile cannon experiments show how asteroids can deliver water Experiments using a high-powered projectile cannon show how impacts by water-rich asteroids can deliver surprising amounts of water to planetary bodies. The research, by scientists from Brown University, could shed light on how water got to the early Earth and help account for some trace water detections on the Moon and elsewhere.
	Powerful flare detected on an M-dwarf star An international team of astronomers reports the finding of ASASSN-18di—a powerful white-light superflare on a previously undetected, mid-type M-dwarf star. The discovery is detailed in a paper published April 12 on the arXiv pre-print repository.
	Gaia creates richest star map of our Galaxy—and beyond ESA's Gaia mission has produced the richest star catalogue to date, including high-precision measurements of nearly 1.7 billion stars and revealing previously unseen details of our home Galaxy.
	Team aims to use new NASA telescope to capture light from the first stars to be born in the universe About 200 to 400 million years after the Big Bang created the universe, the first stars began to appear. Ordinarily stars lying at such a great distance in space and time would be out of reach even for NASA's new James Webb Space Telescope, due for launch in 2020.
	Shake those wings The solar arrays that will provide electricity to the Orion spacecraft were put through launch-day paces at ESA's Test Centre in the Netherlands to verify that they can handle the rigours of the trip around the Moon.
	Image: The colors in Saturn's rings Saturn's rings display their subtle colors in this view captured on Aug. 22, 2009, by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The particles that make up the rings range in size from smaller than a grain of sand to as large as mountains, and are mostly made of water ice. The exact nature of the material responsible for bestowing color on the rings remains a matter of intense debate among scientists.
	The potential habitability of TRAPPIST-1—no aliens yet, but a lot of data One year ago, I wrote an article about the remarkable discovery of the TRAPPIST-1 planetary system, a system of seven temperate terrestrial planets orbiting an ultra-cool red dwarf star. This was an enormous astronomical discovery because these low-mass stars are the most numerous ones in our galaxy, and the discovery of potentially habitable planets around one of them led many people to speculate about the existence of life there and elsewhere in our galaxy around similar stars.
	Image: Jupiter's Great Red Spot, spotted This image of Jupiter's iconic Great Red Spot and surrounding turbulent zones was captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft.
	How to reason with flat earthers (it may not help though) Thinking that the earth might be flat appears to have grown in popularity in recent years. Indeed, flat earthers are gathering for their annual conference this year in Birmingham, just two miles from my own university.
	European Space Agency satellite rides to orbit from Russia A Russian rocket has carried into orbit a satellite that is part of the European Space Agency's earth observation program.

Technology news

	Transparent eel-like soft robot can swim silently underwater An innovative, eel-like robot developed by engineers and marine biologists at the University of California can swim silently in salt water without an electric motor. Instead, the robot uses artificial muscles filled with water to propel itself. The foot-long robot, which is connected to an electronics board that remains on the surface, is also virtually transparent.
	A new technique for making paper touch sensitive inexpensively A pair of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University has developed a way to make ordinary paper touch sensitive. Yang Zhang and Chris Harrison have written a paper describing their technique and have posted it on their website. They are also going to be showing off samples that use it at this year's ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.
	Researchers 3-D print electronics and cells directly on skin In a groundbreaking new study, researchers at the University of Minnesota used a customized, low-cost 3D printer to print electronics on a real hand for the first time. The technology could be used by soldiers on the battlefield to print temporary sensors on their bodies to detect chemical or biological agents or solar cells to charge essential electronics.
	Reseachers use emerging memory devices to develop electronic circuits for cybersecurity applications While we embrace the way the Internet of Things already is making our lives more streamlined and convenient, the cybersecurity risk posed by millions of wirelessly connected gadgets, devices and appliances remains a huge concern. Even single, targeted attacks can result in major damage; when cybercriminals control and manipulate several nodes in a network, the potential for destruction increases.
	Bento browser makes it easier to search on mobile devices Searches involving multiple websites can quickly get confusing, particularly when performed on a mobile device with a small screen. A new web browser developed at Carnegie Mellon University now brings order to complex searches in a way not possible with conventional tabbed browsing.
	Move over Tupac! Life-size holograms set to revolutionize videoconferencing A Queen's University researcher will soon unveil TeleHuman 2—the world's first truly holographic videoconferencing system. TeleHuman2 allows people in different locations to appear before one another in life-size 3-D—as if they were in the same room.
	Team turns deep-learning AI loose on software development Computer scientists at Rice University have created a deep-learning, software-coding application that can help human programmers navigate the growing multitude of often-undocumented application programming interfaces, or APIs.
	Balancing nuclear and renewable energy Nuclear power plants typically run either at full capacity or not at all. Yet the plants have the technical ability to adjust to the changing demand for power and thus better accommodate sources of renewable energy such as wind or solar power.
	Beijing Auto show highlights e-cars designed for China Volkswagen and Nissan have unveiled electric cars designed for China at a Beijing auto show that highlights the growing importance of Chinese buyers for a technology seen as a key part of the global industry's future.
	Privacy fears weigh on Facebook with earnings ahead Facebook reports quarterly results Wednesday as it grapples with a data privacy scandal that strikes at how the huge social network makes money from what it knows about people.
	Japan drug giant Takeda tumbles as Shire recommends $64 bn offer Shares in Tokyo-listed Takeda tumbled Wednesday after it raised its offer for Irish pharmaceutical company Shire to £46 billion ($64 billion), which would represent the largest ever foreign takeover by a Japanese firm.
	New robot for skull base surgery alleviates surgeon's workload Drilling out a hole in the skull base requires great precision and often takes many hours, a demanding procedure for a surgeon. Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) have developed a surgical robot to take over this task. With sub-millimeter precision, the robot can automatically and safely mill a cavity of the desired shape and dimensions. Jordan Bos received his PhD on 16 April for the robot he designed and built. The robot is expected to perform its first surgery within five years.
	Americans ramp up use of solar, wind energy Americans used more solar and wind energy in 2017 compared to the previous year, according to the most recent energy flow charts released by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Overall, energy consumption by the residential and commercial sectors dropped a bit.
	A step toward faster, more accurate breast cancer detection Over the course of her lifetime, a woman has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer. The earlier the cancer is detected, the more likely bad luck can turn to good.
	Biomass-produced electricity in the US possible, but it'll cost If the U.S. wants to start using wood pellets to produce energy, either the government or power customers will have to pay an extra cost, a new University of Georgia study has found.
	New research shows how brain-computer interaction is changing cinema Over the past few years, we have seen the extraordinary development of neural prosthetic technologies that can replace or enhance functions of our central nervous system. For example, devices like Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) allow the direct communication of the brain with a computer. The most common technique applied in these devices, is Electroencephalography (EEG) – a recording of the electrical activity along the scalp.
	The 'double edge' of pervasive personalisation Anyone who uses online shopping, social media or even email is voluntarily – though not necessarily consciously – experiencing the influence of personalised technologies. The "profiling" which leads to advertisements for certain products stalking you across the web can be a nuisance. But recent news stories about Cambridge Analytica sourcing personal data from Facebook raises deeper concerns about people's autonomy, and the security of democratic processes.
Moving toward 100% renewable energy—drivers behind city policies and pledges As the United States federal government retreats from energy innovation and environmental regulation, local and regional efforts across the U.S. are scaling up. Cities, in particular, are intensifying their commitments to fighting climate change and are playing an increasingly important role in the sustainability of the planet. One such commitment is the Sierra Club's 'Ready for 100' campaign, which recognizes cities in the U.S. that have formally committed to transition to 100 percent renewable energy.
	The hypodermic effect—how propaganda manipulates our emotions The scandal surrounding the improper use of data by Cambridge Analytica and Facebook in the 2016 U.S. election is reminiscent of the old debates about propaganda and its ability to "violate the minds of the masses," according to Sergei Tchakhotin, an expert in the study of Nazi propaganda.
	Silicon as a new storage material for the batteries of the future Longer life times, larger ranges and faster recharging—developments such as electric mobility or the miniaturisation of electronics require new storage materials for batteries. With its enormous storage capacity, silicon would potentially have decisive advantages over the materials used in commercial available lithium-ion batteries. But due to its mechanical instability, it has so far been almost impossible to use silicon for storage technology. A research team from the Institute for Materials Science at Kiel University, in cooperation with the company RENA Technologies GmbH, is developing anodes made of 100% silicon, as well as a concept for their industrial production. Through targeted structuring of its surface at the micrometer level, the team can fully exploit the storage potential of silicon. This opens up a completely new approach to rechargeable batteries, as well as the energy storage of tomorrow. This week, the partners are presenting the production and potential use of silicon anodes at the Hannover Messe (23 – 27 April), at the CAU booth (Hall 2, C07).
	Twitter gains momentum with second straight profitable quarter (Update) Twitter reported its second consecutive quarterly profit Wednesday, boosting the outlook for the messaging platform after years in the red.
	Cybercrime website behind 4 million attacks taken down (Update) A British and Dutch-led operation on Wednesday brought down a website linked to more than four million cyberattacks around the world, with banking giants among the victims, European law enforcement agencies said.
	Poll: Younger Americans less apt to use unique passwords The number of online accounts compromised by hackers is now in the trillions—enough, perhaps, to make even technophobes think hard about the security of their passwords. Indeed, many are—especially older Americans, a new survey shows.
	Change blindness—mobile phone users miss vital information Do you ever find it difficult to read what is on your phone? Do you bring the phone closer or move it away from face to help? New research by computer scientists at the University of St Andrews finds how mobile phone users interact with their devices could result in a phenomena known as "change blindness."
	Defending hospitals against life-threatening cyberattacks Like any large company, a modern hospital has hundreds – even thousands – of workers using countless computers, smartphones and other electronic devices that are vulnerable to security breaches, data thefts and ransomware attacks. But hospitals are unlike other companies in two important ways. They keep medical records, which are among the most sensitive data about people. And many hospital electronics help keep patients alive, monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and even breathing and pumping blood for those in the most dire conditions.
	Businesses balance Facebook privacy concerns, ad needs Some small businesses that use Facebook ads to promote themselves and attract new customers are wrestling with whether they need to change strategy after the company's data-misuse scandal.
	Sky 'welcomes' higher Comcast bid in Murdoch battle Sky, the pan-European satellite TV group, withdrew support Wednesday for a full takeover by Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox group after US cable giant Comcast lodged a higher offer.
	WhatsApp bans European under-16s from using app WhatsApp has raised its minimum age for users in the European Union to 16 years, as the bloc prepares for a new online privacy law to come into force next month.
	Google ramps up Gmail privacy controls in major update Google on Wednesday ramped up privacy controls in a Gmail overhaul, aiming first at businesses that use its suite of workplace tools hosted in the internet cloud.
	How Comcast is trying to change the cable game If you can't beat them, join them. Comcast is trying to refigure the traditional cable bundle, adding services like Netflix to its subscription packages and offering internet-only TV streaming.
	YouTube overhauls kids' app after complaints about content YouTube is overhauling its kid-focused video app to give parents the option of letting humans, not computer algorithms, select what shows their children can watch.
	Profits up at Facebook, with no impact from privacy scandal Facebook on Wednesday reported a sharp jump in profits in the past quarter, with gains in its user base and strong ad growth as the social network appeared to see no impact from a controversy on privacy.
	House Democrats talk to Cambridge Analytica whistleblower House Democrats, frustrated by what they see as GOP inaction and with an eye on midterm elections, on Tuesday held the first of what they hope to be several interviews with witnesses who have not been interrogated in the Republican-led Russia investigations.
	Linde confident for Praxair merger after strong Q1 German industrial gases group Linde confirmed its objectives for 2018 Wednesday after a strong first quarter, as it eyes a jumbo tie-up with US rival Praxair in the second half.
	Airbus and Dassault to team up on combat fighter Airbus and Dassault Aviation announced Wednesday they intend to team up on the development of a French-German combat fighter, a project Paris and Berlin unveiled last year.
	Comcast challenges Murdoch with rival bid for UK-based Sky U.S. media giant Comcast on Wednesday offered 22 billion pounds ($30.7 billion) for Sky PLC, topping a bid from Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox and setting up a bidding war for Britain's biggest satellite television company.
	Using deep learning to predict emergency room visits At IBM Research, we are exploring new solutions for a range of health care challenges. One such challenge is emergency room (ER) overcrowding, which can lead to long wait times for treatment. Overcrowding results in part from people visiting the ER for non-emergency conditions rather than relying on primary physicians. Patients who use the ER for non-emergency situations are more likely to return to the ER multiple times (Poole et al. 2016), further contributing to overcrowding. Identifying those patients who are likely to return to the ER may enable hospitals to intervene to ensure access to necessary care outside the ER and potentially alleviate overcrowding.
	Simple grid increases fuel cell efficiency by over 30 percent TurbuGrid is the name of a small plastic grid approximately 16 x 16 cm that can markedly increase the efficiency of an air-cooled fuel cell stack. Tests by AAU researchers show an increase in efficiency of at least 33.5 percent, but this may be even greater if the grid is added to entirely new fuel cell stacks. The increase is due to the fact that the grid adds turbulence to the air flowing into the channels in the stack. Turbulence has a major effect on the heat transfer that occurs in fuel cells, and this has important implications for how high a power density can be achieved from the fuel cells.
	Chernobyl disaster zone lures tourists as visitor numbers boom Camera? Check. Sunglasses? Check. And a Geiger counter? Check. For a growing number of thrill-seekers visiting Chernobyl's radiation-contaminated lands the device is used to help navigate the site of what remains the world's worst nuclear accident.
	Boeing reports jump in 1Q profits, lifts 2018 forecast Boeing profits jumped, and the company upgraded its earnings forecast for this year Wednesday amid a strong commercial aviation market and as executives expressed optimism the US and China will avoid a trade war.
	Study examines denigration when people call a place a 'shithole' By tracing the use of the word and hashtag 'shithole' on Twitter, researchers have examined who is engaged in the stigmatizing discourse of denigration, the types of place that are stigmatized, and the responses to stigmatized places.
	Trump meets with Apple CEO at White House to talk trade President Donald Trump has met with Apple CEO Tim Cook at the White House to discuss trade as he engages in negotiations around the globe.

Chemistry news

	Long-sought structure of telomerase paves way for new drugs for aging, cancer More than 30 years ago, when University of California, Berkeley researchers discovered telomerase—an enzyme that lengthens chromosome ends and prevents them from fraying enough to kill a cell—speculation ran wild about its role in aging and cancer, setting off a full-court press to produce drugs to activate or block the enzyme.
	Why we need erasable MRI scans Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a widely used medical tool for taking pictures of the insides of our body. One way to make MRI scans easier to read is through the use of contrast agents—magnetic dyes injected into the blood or given orally to patients that then travel to organs and tissues, making them easier to see. Recently, researchers have begun to develop next-generation contrast agents, such as magnetic nanoparticles, that can be directed specifically to sites of interest, such as tumors.
	Spinning high-strength polymer nanofibers Spiderman has it figured out.
	How the building blocks of life may form in space In a laboratory experiment that mimics astrophysical conditions, with cryogenic temperatures in an ultrahigh vacuum, scientists used an electron gun to irradiate thin sheets of ice covered in basic molecules of methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide. These simple molecules are ingredients for the building blocks of life. The experiment tested how the combination of electrons and basic matter leads to more complex biomolecule forms—and perhaps eventually to life forms.
	Engineers get a grip on slippery surfactants A Rice University group's innovative surfactant theory removes limitations of a 100-year-old model for interfacial behavior in enhanced oil recovery.
Cheaper and easier way found to make plastic semiconductors Cheap, flexible and sustainable plastic semiconductors will soon be a reality thanks to a breakthrough by chemists at the University of Waterloo.
	Selective catalysts for carbon dioxide recycling NUS chemists have discovered key factors determining the selectivity of copper (Cu) catalysts for transforming carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into useful chemicals and fuels.
	Cracking the catalytic code The newly developed ability to tap previously inaccessible shale gas deposits during the last decade has created an abundant source of gases, including methane, ethane and propane, that are used to create chemical-based products such as plastics. But the U.S. chemical industry needs scientists, including those at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, to help turn that new feedstock supply into a competitive technological advantage.
	Large surface area lends superpowers to ultra-porous materials Some materials are special not for what they contain, but for what they don't contain. Such is the case with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) – ultra-porous structures that are being developed for a variety of future applications from fire-proofing to drug-delivery.
	Surface engineering gets the red light Perovskite particles could improve the performance of solar cells and light-emitting diodes via a simple process to stabilize the nanocrystal surface.
	Startup advances carbon-zero fuels through UConn partnership When Rob McGinnis needed a well equipped lab for his startup company, his graduate school friend, Jeff McCutcheon, associate professor of chemical and biomedical engineering, suggested he apply for UConn's Technology Incubation Program (TIP) at the Storrs campus.
	Flavins keep a handy helper in their pocket In human cells, vitamins often serve as the precursors of cofactors—non-proteins that are an essential part of enzymes. Among them are the flavins, derived from vitamin B2.
Research identifies easier way to predict how chemical compounds will interact New research has revealed that simple, commercially available computer programmes could be used to design next generation drug-delivery systems by predicting more easily how different chemical compounds interact.
Generic drug manufacturers see new opportunities ahead Declining prices and a saturated market could spell doom-and-gloom for the generic pharmaceutical industry, but some in the business are turning lemons into lemonade, seeing opportunities instead. According to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, these companies are putting their special expertise in chemistry to work.
	New natural gas catalyst would boost clean transportation Thanks to advances in drilling technology, there is enough natural gas in the U.S. to last well into next century and beyond. This has renewed the idea of using inexpensive, domestically produced natural gas as a transportation fuel.

Biology news

	Ants found to use trapping technique to capture much larger prey Two researchers, one with Biofaction in Austria, the other with Université de Toulouse in France, report an example of ants (Azteca brevis) in Costa Rica who have developed a truly unique way of capturing prey that are much larger than they are. As Markus Schmidt and Alain Dejean describe in their paper published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, the ants have found a way to take advantage of the impact a type of fungus has on trees to help them capture prey.
	How do marine mammals avoid the bends? Study offers new hypothesis, highlights role that sonar plays in strandings Deep-diving whales and other marine mammals can get the bends—the same painful and potentially life-threatening decompression sickness that strikes scuba divers who surface too quickly. A new study offers a hypothesis of how marine mammals generally avoid getting the bends and how they can succumb under stressful conditions.
	The melodious mouse that sings for sex A small, brown mouse found in the forests of Central America bucks the rodent trend of conversing in high-pitched squeaks often inaudible to the human ear.
	Skewed sex ratios causes single fathers to bring up the young When the balance of the sexes is skewed towards one gender, parents are more likely to split up, leaving the father to care for the offspring, says a study from an international team of scientists studying bird populations.
	Brain cell's Achilles' heel may prompt hydrocephalus Viruses may spark hydrocephalus by exploiting a suprising weakness of cells that circulate fluid in the brain, says a new study by Duke University scientists.
	Parasite eggs from ancient latrines hint at people's past diets DNA in parasite eggs recovered from ancient latrines provides new clues to the foods eaten by past populations, as well as their animal domestication and hunting practices, according to a study published April 25, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Martin Søe of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and colleagues.
	Researchers redefine the origin of the cellular powerhouse In a new study published by Nature, an international team of researchers led by Uppsala University in Sweden proposes a new evolutionary origin for mitochondria—also known as the "powerhouse of the cell." Mitochondria are energy-converting organelles that have played key roles in the emergence of complex cellular life on Earth.
	We still don't know how strange celibate animals evolve A new study has cast doubt on leading theory for how tiny creatures have evolved for tens of millions of years—without ever having sex.
	Massive study across western equatorial Africa finds more gorillas and chimpanzees than expected A massive decade-long study of Western Equatorial Africa's gorillas and chimpanzees has uncovered both good news and bad about our nearest relatives. The good news: there are one third more western lowland gorillas and one tenth more central chimpanzees than previously thought.
	Human impact on sea urchin abundance Sea urchin populations are more sensitive to human activities than previously believed, according to a half-century observational study. Researchers found that changing water temperature and algal blooms strongly affected sea urchin populations and even caused some abnormal development of their larvae. The research is published in the journal Ecological Indicators.
	Mediterranean fears bitter future for citrus crops Could we soon be forced to do without a glass of orange juice or a slice of grapefruit at breakfast? The answer is unfortunately yes.
	Discovery of the neural circuit for fear conditioning of fish Animals are often noted sensing signs of danger and reacting. A simple form of this phenomenon is called fear conditioning, which is a type of learning commonly seen in every animal. By manipulating the activity of specific neurons of the zebrafish brain, scientists at the National Institute of Genetics (NIG) in Japan have elucidated a neuronal population essential for fear conditioning in zebrafish. The study, published in the April 25 issue of BMC Biology, suggests that such a neural circuit essential for fear conditioning exists and is conserved during vertebrate evolution.
	Novel ecosystems provide use for some native birds Ecosystems that have been altered by human activities can provide suitable habitat for native birds, according to scientists in the United States and Australia.
New study explains antibiotic resistance in apple, pear disease When humans get bacterial infections, we reach for antibiotics to make us feel better faster. It's the same with many economically important crops. For decades, farmers have been spraying streptomycin on apple and pear trees to kill the bacteria that cause fire blight, a serious disease that costs over $100 million annually in the United States alone.
	Scientists design a novel formula that repels and kills mosquitoes Long-lasting insecticide treated nets and indoor spraying are the main malaria vector control interventions recommended by the World Health Organisation. Both target mosquitoes that feed indoors.
	Ban on food waste as animal feed should be reconsidered – here's why In the spring of 2001, the UK countryside turned into a crematorium. A foul-smelling haze settled over parts of the country as 6m cows, sheep, pigs and goats were slaughtered and their carcasses burned in the fields. This was the result of a bid to control an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease – a contagious disease of livestock named after the ulcers it causes in the mouth and between the hooves of farm animals.
	Eavesdropping on the deep—New live streaming audio from a deep-sea hydrophone For centuries poets and writers have imagined the depths of the ocean as eerily quiet. But scientists now know that the oceans, and especially coastal areas, are full of sound from both natural and human activities. Starting this week, anyone can eavesdrop on sounds in the deep sea via a continuous streaming YouTube video that carries live sound from 900 meters (3,000 feet) below the surface of Monterey Bay.
	Close relative of the cultivated tomato is resistant to many insects A wild tomato species from the Galapagos Islands has been discovered by scientists from Wageningen University & Research to be resistant to a wide range of pest insects. This species is closely related to the cultivated tomato, making the resilience easier to interbreed into the latter and ultimately making it resistant to many different types of insects.
	Path of Panama disease fungus established for the first time The much-feared Tropical Race 4 strain of the Fusarium oxysporum soil fungus which causes Panama disease in Cavendish bananas has now been discovered in Myanmar. This follows closely on the heels of its discovery in Vietnam and Laos. The fungus is expected to have disastrous consequences on individual banana growers and the global banana industry. Scientists from Wageningen University & Research working with colleagues abroad have detected the fungus and used advanced techniques to find out where it came from.
	Beaches are becoming safer for baby sea turtles, but threats await them in the ocean On beaches from North Carolina to Texas and throughout the wider Caribbean, one of nature's great seasonal events is underway. Adult female sea turtles are crawling out of the ocean, digging deep holes in the sand and laying eggs. After about 60 days turtle hatchlings will emerge and head for the water's edge, fending for themselves from their first moments.
	Protect forest elephants to conserve ecosystems, not DNA Although it is erroneously treated as a subspecies, the dwindling African forest elephant is a genetically distinct species. New University of Illinois research has found that forest elephant populations across Central Africa are genetically quite similar to one another. Conserving this critically endangered species across its range is crucial to preserving local plant diversity in Central and West African Afrotropical forests—meaning conservationists could save many species by protecting one.
	After a volcano erupts, bird colonies recover Where do seabirds go when their nesting colony is buried by a volcano? In 2008, the eruption of the Kasatochi volcano in the Aleutian archipelago provided a rare opportunity to track how the island's Crested and Least auklet populations responded when their nesting colony was abruptly destroyed. As a new study from The Auk: Ornithological Advances shows, the birds were surprisingly adaptable, establishing a new colony on freshly created habitat nearby in only four years.
	Endangered petrels and trawl fishing clash in Tasman sea Today's shifting environmental conditions are creating an uncertain future for many top predators in marine ecosystems, but to protect the key habitat of a species, you first have to know where that habitat is and what threats might be affecting it. A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications looks at where New Zealand's endangered Westland Petrel forages during its breeding season and shows that its range overlaps more with trawl fishing activity than conservationists realized.
	Something fishy: Mexico nabs traveler with endangered totoaba Mexican authorities arrested a Chinese airline passenger after a strong smell emanating from his suitcases led to the discovery that he was transporting body parts from hundreds of endangered totoaba fish.
	Will warm-water events in the Gulf of California reduce seabird populations? Oceanic warm-water events in the Gulf of California have increased in frequency during the last three decades, passing from a historic mean of one or two warm anomalies per decade to five events in the 2007-2016 period. This can lead to massive failures in seabird nesting, as anomalously warm waters accumulate in the ocean's surface, preventing the upwelling of colder, nutrient-rich waters from the ocean bottom, which in turn deprives seabirds of their food.
	Inuka, first polar bear born in the tropics, is put down Inuka, the first polar bear born in the tropics, was put down Wednesday after a rapid decline in health, with Singapore Zoo mourning the loss of one of its best-loved animals.
How microbes living in the gut affect the brain and behaviour Researchers at the University of Oxford have proposed an evolutionary framework to understand why microbes living in the gut affect the brain and behaviour, published in Nature Reviews Microbiology. Katerina Johnson (Department of Experimental Psychology) and Kevin Foster (Department of Zoology) assessed data from studies on the gut-brain axis to suggest how that gut feeling evolved.
	Tick control program reveals high level of infection in white-footed mice A surprisingly high percent of the white-footed mice collected last summer in Howard County, Maryland, in an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Areawide Integrated Tick Management Project turned out to be infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.
	How to overcome fierce debates about banning all trade in ivory Africa's elephants are under siege from rampant poaching for their ivory. Everyone agrees that Africa's elephants need protecting from the ongoing slaughter. But countries with wild elephant populations (range states) disagree vehemently on a central policy issue: should we ban all trade in ivory or not?
	Pennsylvania bear mange epidemic focus of Penn State and Game Commission project Pennsylvania's black bear population is experiencing a mange epidemic, and a Penn State research team will work with the state Game Commission to gain a better understanding of the disease and develop strategies to manage it.
Scientists lead the way in tackling Japanese knotweed Following extensive trials, a team of bioscientists at Swansea University have developed an effective way to tackle Japanese knotweed, listed by the World Conservation Union as one of the world's worst invasive species, and an issue of huge concern to householders in the UK.
Uganda counts gorillas amid tourism-boosting 'baby boom' Uganda has begun counting its population of critically endangered mountain gorillas amid confidence their numbers are steadily rising, boosting prospects for its tourism industry that relies heavily on the primates.

Medicine & Health news

	Engaging in physical activity decreases people's chance of developing depression An international team including researchers from King's College London have found physical activity can protect against the emergence of depression, regardless of age and geographical region.
	Implantable islet cells come with their own oxygen supply Since the 1960s, researchers have been interested in the possibility of treating type 1 diabetes by transplanting islet cells—the pancreatic cells that are responsible for producing insulin when blood glucose concentration increases.
	Mice make over four times as many new heart muscle cells when they exercise, study finds Doctors, health organizations, and the Surgeon General all agree that exercise is good for the heart—but the reasons why are still not well understood.
	Imaging may allow safe tPA treatment of patients with unwitnessed strokes A study led by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators may lead to a significant expansion in the number of stroke patients who can safely be treated with intravenous tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), the "clot busting" drug that has greatly reduced stroke-related disability and deaths in eligible patients. The report, published online in Annals of Neurology, describes the results of a trial using MR-based imaging technologies to identify patients likely to be within 4.5 hours of stroke onset, even though their initial symptoms had not been witnessed.
	Fetal immune system rejects the mother in preterm labor Preterm labor, a common pregnancy complication, has long been a mystery to scientists. But a new study from UC San Francisco shows it may sometimes happen when the fetal immune system "wakes up" too early and begins to reject the mother, causing the uterus to start contracting.
	Lab-on-a-chip delivers critical immunity data for vulnerable populations For millions of displaced people around the world—many of them refugees, living in temporary shelters under crowded conditions—an outbreak of disease is devastating. Each year, the measles virus kills more than 134,000 people globally, and another 100,000 children are born with defects caused by congenital rubella syndrome. Both diseases are preventable by vaccination.
	Want new medicines? You need fundamental research Would we be wise to prioritize "shovel-ready" science over curiosity-driven, fundamental research programs? Would that set the stage for the discovery of more new medicines over the long term?
	Indications of psychosis appear in cortical folding Imaging techniques can be used to detect the development of psychosis in the brains of high-risk patients at an early stage, as reported by researchers from the University of Basel and Western University in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
	Ethics debate overdue in human brain research: experts What if human brain tissue implanted into a pig transferred some of the donor's self-awareness and memories?
	New link between sleep arousals and body temperature may also be connected to SIDS Brief arousals during sleep—sometimes as many as ten to fifteen per night—appear random in time and occur in humans and even in animals.
	Drug-filled, 3-D printed dentures could fight off infections Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. denture-wearing population suffer frequent fungal infections that cause inflammation, redness and swelling in the mouth.
	Hospitals often missing dementia despite prior diagnosis Hospitals in the UK are increasingly likely to recognise that a patient has dementia after they've been admitted for a different reason, finds a new UCL-led study, but it is still only recognised in under two-thirds of people.
	Potential for sun damage should be carefully balanced with need for vitamin D in children, say scientists Scientists at King's College London are encouraging parents and carers to ensure even more rigorous protection of children against the harmful effects of the sun. The comments follow a study which has suggested that children may experience much more significant DNA damage from small amounts of sun exposure than adults.
	'Incompatible' donor stem cells cure adult sickle cell patients Doctors at the University of Illinois Hospital have cured seven adult patients of sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder primarily affecting the black community, using stem cells from donors previously thought to be incompatible, thanks to a new transplant treatment protocol.
	Drinking baking soda could be an inexpensive, safe way to combat autoimmune disease: study A daily dose of baking soda may help reduce the destructive inflammation of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, scientists say.
Telemedicine aided people hit by hurricanes Harvey and Irma Direct-to-consumer telemedicine is a viable way to deliver medical care in the days following a natural disaster, although most people who use such services do so for routine matters rather than disaster-caused illnesses, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	Consuming protein supplements with meals may work better for weight control A new systematic review of available evidence appearing in Nutrition Reviews indicates that consuming protein supplements with meals may be more effective at promoting weight control than consuming supplements between meals in adults following a resistance training regimen.
	Malaria study reveals gene variants linked to risk of disease Many people of African heritage are protected against malaria by inheriting a particular version of a gene, a large-scale study has shown.
Medicare will require hospitals to post prices online Medicare will require hospitals to post their standard prices online and make electronic medical records more readily available to patients, officials said Tuesday.
	Study: California gun deaths declined between 2000 and 2015 Gun deaths have fallen in California over a 16-year period ending in 2015, driven largely by a decline in gang violence and falling homicide rates among black and Hispanic male victims, a recent study of firearm violence has found.
	Five-day nitrofurantoin beats single-dose fosfomycin for UTI (HealthDay)—Five-day nitrofurantoin is associated with increased likelihood of clinical and microbiological resolution compared with single-dose fosfomycin among women with lower urinary tract infection (UTI), according to a study published online April 22 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	USPSTF urges abuse screening for reproductive-aged women (HealthDay)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has found that screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) is beneficial for reproductive-aged women, while there is inadequate evidence to weigh the balance of benefits and harms of screening for abuse in elderly and vulnerable adults. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online April 24 by the USPSTF.
	Exercise intervention doesn't improve walking ability in PAD (HealthDay)—For patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), a home-based exercise intervention does not improve walking ability over nine months compared with usual care, according to a study published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Ticagrelor + aspirin beneficial after elective CABG (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), ticagrelor + aspirin is associated with significantly increased saphenous vein graft patency rates compared with aspirin alone, according to a study published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
	Evening preference linked to higher BMI in type 2 diabetes (HealthDay)—Evening preference and a later breakfast are associated with elevated body mass index (BMI) in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online April 13 in Diabetic Medicine.
	A non-coding RNA lasso catches proteins in breast cancer cells A Danish-German study reports new findings about long non-coding RNA expression in the development of cancer. The results have an impact on the understanding of dynamic regulation of gene expression in biological processes.
Comments on social networks also reinforce socialization during adolescence Cybergossiping is when two or more people make evaluative comments on social media regarding a third person who is not present. This kind of online behavior is common among adolescents. Cybergossiping directly impacts the group, and can foster or damage the quality of the relationships among its members.
	Researchers identify factors promoting physical activity in childhood Physical activity plays a major role in children's and young people's health. International studies, however, show that physical activity is currently decreasing. In early years, children's own motor competence and their physical self-concept (aka perceived motor competence) play a major part in increasing the amount of time spent on exercise. Sport scientists and psychologists at the University of Münster (Germany) have now shown how these factors interact. The study has been published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Novel pathway identified in development of acute myeloid leukemia with poor prognosis Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that comprises 1 percent of all new cancer cases and almost 2 percent of cancer deaths in the U.S. The five-year survival rate for the disease is less than 20 percent.
	Stress hormones spike as the temperature rises A new study in medical students finds that summer, not winter, is the season when people are most likely to have higher levels of circulating stress hormones. These non-intuitive findings contradict traditional concepts of the taxing physical toll of winter and the relaxed ease of summer. Researchers will present their findings today at the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2018 in San Diego.
	Drinking kefir may prompt brain-gut communication to lower blood pressure Drinking kefir may have a positive effect on blood pressure by promoting communication between the gut and brain. Kefir is a fermented probiotic milk beverage known to help maintain the balance of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. Researchers will present their findings today at the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2018 in San Diego.
	Race now plays smaller role in americans' risk of dying young (HealthDay)—The racial gap between black and white Americans for dying early has narrowed, but opioid overdose deaths among whites might be fueling part of that otherwise positive trend.
	Brain structure linked to symptoms of restless legs syndrome People with restless legs syndrome may have changes in a portion of the brain that processes sensory information, according to a study published in the April 25, 2018, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Prospects for new malaria interventions April 25 marks World Malaria Day, an international event commemorated every year in recognition of global efforts to control malaria, one of the world's oldest and deadliest diseases. This year's theme, "Ready to beat Malaria", underscores the collective goal and commitment of the global malaria community. In a recent review published in Open Biology, David Baker, Professor of Malaria Parasite Biology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine discusses the issue of drug resistance in combating malaria and a promising molecular pathway that can help tackle this.
Study finds use of mobile app improved physician lab test ordering and diagnosis Mobile health applications (apps) for improving diagnostic decision-making often lack clinical evaluation, but one app that has undergone testing by researchers is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention PTT Advisor. In a recently published study in the Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and the CDC evaluated whether the app improves diagnostic and test ordering decisions of physicians for certain coagulation and bleeding disorders and if they find the app to be useful for learning.
Fake drugs are one reason malaria still kills so many Malaria, a mosquito-borne parasitic infection that affects about 3.2 billion people in 95 countries, has become largely a disease of the young and poor.
	Do prostate cancer cells have an Achilles' heel? Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago describe new ways to selectively kill prostate cancer cells by exploiting the cells' revved-up metabolism. They report their findings in the online journal, eLife.
	Meat-free Mondays could curb Scotland's growing obesity crisis A Heriot-Watt academic has concluded that introducing meat-free Mondays to school dinners—could help Scotland's growing obesity crisis.
	Crosstalk between cells plays role in pulmonary hypertension Pulmonary hypertension is a type of high blood pressure that affects blood vessels in the lungs. Once diagnosed, patients have limited treatment options, and many do not live beyond seven years. In a new study, scientists in the Yale Cardiovascular Research Center have gained new insight into the development of the disease that could lead to new therapies.
	Oxidative stress makes difference between metabolically abnormal and healthy obesities Scientists at Osaka University clarified that deletion of adipose oxidative stress (Fat ROS) decreased lipid accumulation in the liver, clinically improving insulin resistance and inducing metabolically healthy obesity. In fact, Fat ROS suppressed lipid accumulation and increased ectopic lipid accumulation in the liver, worsening insulin resistance. Their research results were published in Diabetes on Wednesday, April 4, 2018.
	Deceptive marketing sweet talks parents More and more processed products are coming on to supermarket shelves developed specifically for children. Most are designed and marketed to appeal to parents, particularly mothers, and many – despite appearing to be healthy – are in fact not.
	Research pinpoints viral mutation that would trigger resistance to new anti-influenza drugs Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have identified a mutation that would enable the influenza virus to become resistant to a promising new class of drugs. The most advanced of these drugs are now in late stage clinical trials, and would represent the first new approved class of influenza therapeutics in nearly 20 years. Identifying and monitoring for resistance will be critical to understanding their effectiveness. These findings also offer clues to synthesizing new compounds with a higher barrier to virus resistance.
	Bionic suit helps paralyzed patients stand and walk again Patients undergoing physical rehabilitation at Rush for paralyzing injuries are being aided by a robotic suit designed to help raise people to full height and walk.
	Hospital staff experience 'sea change' in addressing substance use disorder As the nation's opioid epidemic claims thousands of lives, more and more people are hospitalized with infections, overdoses, and other medical and surgical complications of substance use. This resonates across Oregon, with a recent national report revealing that Oregon had among the highest cumulative increases of opioid-related hospitalizations of any state between 2009 and 2014.
Study shows drug effectiveness in reducing glucocorticoid-induced bone loss About one in every 100 people in the world takes glucocorticoids long term to treat immune-mediated diseases. However, glucocorticoids, such as prednisone, have a side effect—they induce the bone loss called osteoporosis, causing an estimated yearly bone fracture rate of 5 percent.
	Stimulating the pathway connecting body and brain may change chronic condition patients' lives Health and wellbeing is something of a buzz phrase these days. It's become almost an ideal state: if one takes care of their health and wellbeing, then they will be "healthy".
	People with more fast food outlets near their home more likely to develop heart disease People with more fast food outlets near their home are more likely to develop heart disease, according to research published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a European Society of Cardiology (ESC) journal.
	Improving lung function in prematurely-born children A Cardiff-based research project which aims to improve lung function in prematurely-born children is expanding to target more participants.
	Why women choose to freeze their eggs – new research The numbers of women undergoing elective egg freezing across the Western world has increased rapidly over the past few years. But little was known about what motivated women to make use of this novel procedure. Our latest research, shows that, contrary to what many people believe, women don't freeze their eggs for career reasons. They freeze them because they need more time to find a suitable partner, to avoid future regret and to prevent engaging in what we have called "panic partnering".
	Traditional health claims about India's ayurvedic foods help make them big business In India, you can buy saffron that is "useful in asthma, indigestion, body pain, fever, dry skin diseases and pregnancy", ghee that increases "memory power", intellect and digestion, and lemon pickle that "improves your immunity level and helps the human body develop resistance against infectious agents".
Looking past peer influence: Genetic contributions to increases in teen substance use? Parents and adults spend a lot of time worrying about the influence of friends and peers when it comes to teen substance use - drinking alcohol, binge drinking, marijuana use and other illicit drugs. Is it all about an adolescent's environment, their friends, peers and family, or is there a genetic component that drives their desire for risk taking and novelty?
	One in every six deaths in young adults is opioid-related: study One out of every six deaths among young adults in Ontario is related to opioids, suggests a study led by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).
	Vitamin C as a treatment for cancer—the evidence so far If a headline says research shows a diet rich in a food 'could help fight cancer' then our advice would be to read on with a critical eye.
	Back in black for singletons trying to find love Black beats red as the colour of choice when it comes to finding new love, according to new research based on the hit TV series First Dates, which shows that single people wear more of the darker hue when meeting a potential partner for the first time.
	Increased smartphone use and selfie-taking linked to lower connection to nature and higher anxiety in new study A team of academics at the University of Derby has conducted the first study into the link between smartphone use, the number of selfies a person takes and how connected they feel to nature – and what this means for their health and wellbeing.
	Why it's so hard for doctors to understand your pain We're all human beings, but we're not all alike.
	Robotics startup launches first medically approved 3-D printed bionic arms A robotics company which began as a startup at Bristol Robotics Laboratory (BRL) has launched the world's first medically certified 3-D printed artificial arms for amputees.
	New breath and urine tests detect early breast cancer more accurately A new method for early and accurate breast cancer screening has been developed by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center, using commercially available technology.
	E. coli—are we measuring the wrong thing? A sepsis awareness and management programme has demonstrated overall success in terms of improved sepsis detection, but has led to an increase in the number of E. coli blood stream infection cases presented, calling into question the targets used by Health Boards and set by the Welsh Government.
Who (really) wants gaydar to be accurate anyway? Researchers from the University of Surrey, Instituto Universitario in Portugal and University of Padua in Italy, studied whether heterosexual, homosexual and lesbian men and women believe their voice is an indicator of their sexual orientation to others and their desire for it to be disclosed.
Obese patients underrepresented in cancer clinical trials Obesity is a risk factor for a number of cancer types and can influence cancer treatment outcomes. In 2014, cancer types associated with being overweight or obese represented about 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the United States.
	Maternal binge drinking linked to mood problems and alcohol abuse in offspring Binge drinking by pregnant and lactating mothers can impair the mental health of their offspring, reports a study published today in Frontiers in Psychiatry. In a rat model, Italian researchers find that while habitual drinking is associated with anxiety type of behaviors in mothers and their offspring, intermittent or binge drinking has a depressive effect. Moreover, offspring of binge-drinking mothers were less responsive to natural stimuli, showed greater "despair" behavior, and were more vulnerable to alcohol abuse during adolescence. This is the first study to show that alcohol-triggered changes in the mother can be passed on to her offspring.
What happens to stolen guns? Only about one per cent of all gun transactions in the US are thefts, and there is no evidence that theft is an important source of guns to those who use them to commit violent crimes. In an analysis of nationwide and state-specific data in Springer's Journal of Urban Health, Philip Cook of Duke University in the US emphasizes that what happens to stolen guns has not been studied systematically. New data from Chicago demonstrates that only a tiny proportion of crime guns in that city were ever reported stolen to the Police Department. That and other evidence challenge the popular belief that crimes are mostly committed using stolen weapons.
	Millennial men value altruism and self-care above traditional male qualities Contrary to popular stereotypes, young men today are likely to be selfless, socially engaged and health-conscious, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia and Intensions Consulting, a Vancouver-based market research firm.
	Bacteria boost antifungal drug resistance in severe childhood tooth decay Early childhood caries, a form of severe tooth decay affecting toddlers and preschoolers, can set children up for a lifetime of dental and health problems. The problem can be significant enough that surgery is the only effective way to treat it.
	Fighting diabetic blindness: Researchers develop new target to study potential treatments Diabetic retinopathy is a retinal microvascular disease that often causes blindness in adults who have had diabetes mellitus for 10 years or more. Estimates are that 600 million people will have some sort of diabetic retinopathy by 2040. Previously, no good animal models existed that scientists could use to study the disease, its diagnosis or potential treatments. Now, a team of researchers led by the University of Missouri has employed a mouse model exhibiting diabetic retinopathy symptoms that could lead to future translational research studies.
	Mediterranean diet boosts beneficial bacteria Here's another reason to eat a Mediterranean-type diet: It's good for your gut.
	Inducing labor at 39 weeks reduces risks of C-section and other complications It's better to induce than to watch and wait. That's the result of a new study published in PLOS ONE.
	Big decline in births to girls under 15, CDC says (HealthDay)—There's been a steep decline over the past two decades in births to American girls under the age of 15, a new report finds.
	His workouts helped him spot a dangerous heart problem Ricky Reyes had just begun a high-intensity exercise program to get in better shape. But instead of feeling energized, the workouts left him exhausted and with spasms in his back, arms and jaw.
	Exercise your blues away (HealthDay)—Regular exercise can reduce your risk of depression, no matter what your age or where you live, research suggests.
	Stop burnout in its tracks (HealthDay)—Finding the right work-life balance isn't easy. For many people, 9 to 5 has stretched to 9 to 7—or longer. And responsibilities can start much earlier in the day, especially for those with kids to corral in the morning.
	Aortic stiffness, concentric LV remodeling linked in T2DM (HealthDay)—For patients with type 2 diabetes, aortic stiffness is associated with concentric left ventricular (LV) remodeling, according to a study published online April 16 in Diabetes.
	Increase in HTN in children based on 2017 AAP guidelines (HealthDay)—The prevalence and severity of high blood pressure (BP) in children have increased based on the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guidelines, according to a study published online April 23 in JAMA Pediatrics.
	Risks to babies of mothers with HIV from three antiretroviral regimens appear to be low The risk for preterm birth and early infant death is similar for three antiretroviral drug regimens taken by pregnant women with HIV according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Preventive use of common antibiotic reduces child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa Treating young children in Sub-Saharan Africa with azithromycin, a safe, inexpensive, and widely used antibiotic, significantly reduced deaths of children under five in a large randomized trial led by scientists at UC San Francisco. The finding could help speed progress toward the United Nations' goal of ending preventable child deaths by 2030.
Targeting telomerase as therapeutic strategy for melanoma Targeting telomerase was effective at killing NRAS-mutant melanoma cells, and the impact was further enhanced when the strategy was paired with an inhibitor of mitochondrial function, according to study results by The Wistar Institute published in Oncogene.
When do problems with memory and decision-making affect older adults' ability to drive? For older adults, driving can mean living a more independent, satisfying life. Therefore, it's no surprise that about 86 percent of adults age 65 and older hold active driver's licenses, and many of us expect to drive for longer as we age.
	Hair products for Black women contain mix of hazardous ingredients A new report published today in the journal Environmental Research shows that Black women are potentially exposed to dozens of hazardous chemicals through the hair products they use.
Study shows a new approach to treating patients with stage IV Wilms tumor A new study showing significantly improved survival rates for patients with stage IV Wilms tumors with lung metastases was recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. The outcomes of the study, "Treatment of Stage IV Favorable Histology Wilms Tumor With Lung Metastases: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group AREN0533 Study", will be a game-changer in treating Wilms tumor and reduce the need for radiation - and the long-term risks associated with it - in nearly half of patients whose cancer has spread to the lung. The study was led by Jeffrey Dome, M.D., Ph.D., vice president for the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's National Health System.
Study: No chronic wasting disease transmissibility in macaques Chronic wasting disease (CWD) did not cross the species barrier to infect cynomolgus macaque monkeys during a lengthy investigation by National Institutes of Health scientists exploring risks to humans.
	Cases rise in E. coli outbreak tied to romaine lettuce (HealthDay)—The number of illnesses linked to Arizona romaine lettuce tainted with E. coli have risen sharply, from 53 cases a week ago to 84 on Wednesday.
	Don't panic over 'dry drowning' reports, ER docs say (HealthDay)—Despite media hype this week around what's being called "dry drowning," a group representing U.S. emergency physicians says the water is still safe for kids this summer.
Drugmaker GSK says first quarter revenue dropped 2 percent Pharmaceutical and consumer goods maker GlaxoSmithKline says first-quarter revenue dropped 2 percent as a stronger pound offset encouraging sales of a new shingles treatment.
	Brain scans may uncover signs of autism and developmental delays In the brains of elementary school children may lie clues for understanding differences in behavior among those with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental delays.
	Retirement transition increases sitting during free time Retirement transition may influence living habits and time use. The researchers of the University of Turku, Finland, found that retirement transition also has an impact on the amount of sitting during free time. The daily amount of sitting during free time increased on average from four and a half to six hours during retirement transition. The time used for television viewing increased particularly.
SCAI updates consensus on length of stay for percutaneous coronary intervention Revised guidelines incorporating new data on discharge criteria for patients undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) will allow for flexibility in length of stay while ensuring patient safety. The guidelines were published in early-view online in SCAI's official journal, Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.
SCAI releases consensus guidelines for PVD device selection The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has released new guidelines to address the selection of specific categories of devices when endovascular therapy (EVT) is indicated. The purpose of this document, which is the first of its kind, is to provide a review of comparative effectiveness data, including safety and efficacy of femoral-popliteal (FP) devices, and to provide clinicians with guidance and recommendations for device selection when these devices are intended as the definitive or adjunctive therapy. The document is available in early-view online in SCAI's official journal, Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.
Number of US deaths from poison-laced synthetic pot rises to 4 A deadly batch of synthetic marijuana laced with rat poison has claimed its fourth victim in the US Midwest, as health experts warn the public to avoid the illegal drug.

Other Sciences news

	Amazonian Bora people mimic the rhythm of their language for communication over large distances using drums An international team of researchers, including Frank Seifart and Sven Grawunder of the former Department of Linguistics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and Julien Meyer from the Université Grenoble Alpes carried out research into the drummed language system of the Bora people of the Northwest Amazon. They found the Boras not only reproduce the melody of words and sentences in this endangered language, but also their rhythm. This suggests the crucial role of linguistic rhythm in language processing has been underestimated.
	In New Guinea, human thigh bone daggers were hot property: study New Guinea warriors harvested thigh bones from their dead fathers to fashion into ornamental but deadly daggers used to kill and maim enemies, sometimes to eat them.
	Archaeologists on ancient horse find in Nile River Valley An ancient horse burial at Tombos along the Nile River Valley shows that a member of the horse family thousands of years ago was more important to the culture than previously thought, which provides a window into human-animal relationships more than 3,000 years ago.
	Weather associated with sentiments expressed on social media Sentiments expressed on Facebook and Twitter may be associated with certain weather patterns, according to a study published April 25, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Patrick Baylis from the Vancouver School of Economics, Canada, Nick Obradovich from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and colleagues.
	Researchers study how early humans thrived through volcanic winter UTA researcher Naomi Cleghorn has participated in a Nature paper that describes how humans thrived in South Africa through the Toba volcanic eruption about 74,000 years ago, which created a decades-long volcanic winter.
	Museum realizes collection's rare elephant bird egg is real A Buffalo museum has made a rare discovery within its own collection: a fully intact egg from the extinct elephant bird that until now, was thought to be fake.
	Sizing up the measurable good of affirmative action Want to start an argument at your next dinner party? Utter the words "affirmative action," and then bear down on your salad. The issue is particularly divisive because many people regard it as zero-sum: If your kid gets into that exalted university, mine doesn't.
	Study reveals remarkably high proportion of national elections are not free and fair Researchers from the University of Birmingham and the London School of Economics have found that the number of elections across the world has reached an all-time high, but that this has done little to increase the quality of democracy in the world.
	How the pretzel went from soft to hard—and other little-known facts about one of the world's favorite snacks The pretzel, one of the fastest-growing snack foods in the world, recently crossed a billion dollars a year in sales.
	Exposure to domestic violence costs US government $55 billion each year The federal government spends an estimated $55 billion annually on dealing with the effects of childhood exposure to domestic violence, according to new research by social scientists at Case Western Reserve University.
JFK was not shot from the grassy knoll, suggests new research The long-held conspiracy theory that John F. Kennedy was shot by a second gunman on the grassy knoll is wrong, according to a new analysis of video footage of the shooting, published in the journal Heliyon. The results support the official autopsy findings: JFK suffered a gunshot wound caused by the same type of rifle as that owned by Lee Harvey Oswald, fired from the vicinity of the Texas School Book Depository building located behind the motorcade.
Ancient skeleton of child found in ruins of Pompeii's bath Work at ancient thermal baths in Pompeii's ruins has revealed the skeleton of a crouching child who perished in Mount Vesuvius' eruption in A.D. 79.
	Study shows prejudiced attitudes—not economic concern—drove most voters to Trump Much of the narrative surrounding Donald Trump's surprising 2016 election victory has focused on economically stressed voters in Rust Belt states—feeling forgotten by both major parties and fretting over globalization—who rallied behind an outsider pushing for change.
	U.S. kids of color get kicked out of school at higher rates – here's how to stop it When two black men were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks where they had been waiting for a business meeting on April 12, the incident called renewed attention to the bias that racial minorities face in American society.

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