Fwd: Science X Newsletter Friday, Oct 2

RESPEKT!

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From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Sat, Oct 3, 2015 at 4:00 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Friday, Oct 2
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,

Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for October 2, 2015:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- New polymer creates safer fuels
- Incident of drunk man kicking humanoid robot raises legal questions
- Touchless displays superseding touchscreens?
- New finds of a living fossil
- Can exercise be replaced with a pill?
- Fusion reactors 'economically viable' say experts
- Researchers use augmented reality to turn coloring books into 3-D experience
- Drug used to treat cancer appears to sharpen memory
- Technique identifies prenatal trisomy, cancer type, and transplant rejection using methylation sequences of plasma DNA
- Researchers identify genes associated with specific metabolic pathways
- Artificial heart design features porous plastic foam
- Team probes physical forces involved in creating the mitotic spindle
- To breathe or to eat: Blue whales forage efficiently to maintain massive body size
- Signs of ancient megatsunami could portend modern hazard
- Researchers create self-propelled powder to stop bleeding

Nanotechnology news

	Touchless displays superseding touchscreens? While touchscreens are practical, touchless displays would be even more so. That's because, despite touchscreens having enabled the smartphone's advance into our lives and being essential for us to be able to use cash dispensers or ticket machines, they do have certain disadvantages. Touchscreens suffer from mechanical wear over time and are a transmission path for bacteria and viruses. To avoid these problems, scientists at Stuttgart's Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research and LMU Munich have now developed nanostructures that change their electrical and even their optical properties as soon as a finger comes anywhere near them.
	Fractals aid efforts to understand heat transport at nanoscale Researchers for the first time have applied a modern theory of heat transport in experiments with semiconductors used in computers and lasers, with implications for the design of devices that convert waste heat into electricity and the control of overheating in miniaturized and high–speed electronic components.
	Breakthrough paves way for post-silicon future with carbon nanotube electronics IBM Research today announced a major engineering breakthrough that could accelerate carbon nanotubes replacing silicon transistors to power future computing technologies.
	Printable electronics thanks to contactless liquid deposition Scientists of research institute MESA+ of Twente University have developed a technology for contactless deposition of liquids at nanoscale. In doing so, they make use of an electric field. Their technology will lead to new 3D-applications and can be of great value to, for example, cell research, nano-lithography and printable electronics. The findings of the Twente-based Mesoscale Chemical Systems Department have recently been published in the academic journal Applied Physics Letters.
	New computational approach allows researchers to design cellulose nanocomposites with optimal properties Theoretically, nanocellulose could be the next hot supermaterial.
	Scientists grow organic semiconductor crystals vertically for first time Our smartphones, tablets, computers and biosensors all have improved because of the rapidly increasing efficiency of semiconductors.
	Electron partitioning process in graphene observed, a world first A group of researchers from Osaka University, The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, and the National Institute for Materials Science precisely conducted current-fluctuation ("shot noise") measurement in the graphene p–n junction in the quantum Hall regime.
	Spin lifetime of electrons in graphene increased by magnetic fields Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology shows that applying a moderate in-plane magnetic field increases spin lifetime of electrons in graphene. The results of this work have profound implications for graphene's use as post-CMOS platform in spintronics, and make an important contribution to the understanding of physics of 2D materials. The findings have recently been published in the prestigious journal Physical Review Letters.
	Graphene as a front contact for silicon-perovskite tandem solar cells Silicon absorbers primarily convert the red portion of the solar spectrum very effectively into electrical energy, whereas the blue portions are partially lost as heat. To reduce this loss, the silicon cell can be combined with an additional solar cell that primarily converts the blue portions.

Physics news

	A necklace of fractional vortices Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have arrived at how what is known as time-reversal symmetry can break in one class of superconducting material. The results have been published in the highly ranked Nature Physics journal, which also put the Chalmers researchers' study on the cover.
	Research team claims to have directly sampled electric-field vacuum fluctuations (Phys.org)—A team of researchers working at the University of Konstanz, in Germany is claiming to have directly sampled electric-field vacuum fluctuations, which would be the first ever made. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes an experiment they carried out and a part of it which they claim indicates that they have measured vacuum fluctuations directly for the first time.
	Fusion reactors 'economically viable' say experts Fusion reactors could become an economically viable means of generating electricity within a few decades, and policy makers should start planning to build them as a replacement for conventional nuclear power stations, according to new research.

Earth news

	Signs of ancient megatsunami could portend modern hazard Scientists working off west Africa in the Cape Verde Islands have found evidence that the sudden collapse of a volcano there tens of thousands of years ago generated an ocean tsunami that dwarfed anything ever seen by humans. The researchers say an 800-foot wave engulfed an island more than 30 miles away. The study could revive a simmering controversy over whether sudden giant collapses present a realistic hazard today around volcanic islands, or even along more distant continental coasts. The study appears today in the journal Science Advances.
	Hurricane and rainstorm are locked in a dangerous dance Hurricane Joaquin is locked in a dance with an extraordinarily heavy rainstorm that is already drenching the Carolinas. As the two draw closer together over the next few days, the effects could be disastrous for the East Coast.
	Indonesia forest fires could become worst on record: NASA Forest fires blanketing Southeast Asia in choking haze are on track to become among the worst on record, scientists warn, with a prolonged dry season hampering efforts to curb the crisis.
	Trek to Arctic lake brings researchers a step closer to refined watershed model To improve the accuracy of complex computer modeling, climate researchers in the Arctic are turning to natural features a little more in tune with longer time scales: glaciers and the lakes they feed.
	Satellites show Joaquin becoming a Category 4 hurricane Hurricane Joaquin had become a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale by 2 p.m. EDT on October 1. At NASA, satellite imagery from NOAA's GOES-East satellite was compiled into an animation that showed the hurricane strengthening. Earlier in the day, NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite saw powerful thunderstorms within, indicating further strengthening.
	India vows to cut carbon intensity in Paris pledge As the last major economy to submit a target for a global climate pact, India is pledging to reduce the intensity of its carbon emissions and boost the share of electricity produced from sources other than fossil fuels to 40 percent by 2030.
	Hurricane Joaquin may be experiencing eyewall replacement in NASA imagery The National Hurricane Center indicated on October 2 that powerful Hurricane Joaquin may be experiencing eyewall replacement. The eye was visible on NASA Aqua satellite imagery October 1, but obscured twelve hours later. In addition, NASA's RapidScat instrument helped determine what part of the storm had the strongest winds.
	NASA sees Tropical Storm Mujigae moving through South China Sea Tropical Storm Mujigae tracked over the northern Philippines and as it entered the South China Sea, NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of the storm. NASA's RapidScat instrument aboard the International Space Station analyzed the storm's surface winds.
	NASA sees Tropical Depression Choi-wan form Tropical Depression Choi-wan formed in the northwestern Pacific Ocean as NASA's Terra satellite passed overhead and captured infrared data on the developing storm.

Astronomy & Space news

	Rosetta's first peek at the comet's south pole Using the Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter (MIRO), scientists have studied the comet's southern polar regions at the end of their long winter season. The data suggest that these dark, cold regions host ice within the first few tens of centimetres below the surface in much larger amounts than elsewhere on the comet.
Russian supply ship docks at space station An unmanned Russian cargo ship has docked with the International Space Station, bringing the astronauts aboard 2.3 tons (2.5 short tons) of supplies ranging from air to garlic.
	Big plans for small satellites—testing laser communications, formation flying NASA is preparing to launch a set of miniature satellites that push the boundaries of space-to-Earth communications for CubeSats, as well as testing the ability of two small spacecraft to fly in close proximity to each other.
	New nova flares in Sagittarius – how to see it in your scope A nova farmer would do well in the fields of Sagittarius. Four nights ago on September 27, Japanese amateur Koichi Itagaki plucked another "new star" from its starry furrows, the third nova discovered there this year!
	SwRI awarded $3 million NASA contract to develop mission to Jupiter's Trojan asteroids A Southwest Research Institute proposal to study primitive asteroids orbiting near Jupiter that could give insights into the origins of the solar system is one of five science investigations selected as a possible future NASA mission.
	SDO sees sun emit mid-level flare Oct. 1 The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 8:13 p.m. EDT on Oct. 1, 2015. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event. Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth's atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however—when intense enough—they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS and communications signals travel.

Technology news

	Incident of drunk man kicking humanoid robot raises legal questions A few weeks ago, a drunk man in Japan was arrested for kicking a humanoid robot that was stationed as a greeter at a SoftBank, Corp., store, which develops the robots. According to the police report, the man said he was angry at the attitude of one of the store clerks. The "Pepper robot" now moves more slowly, and its internal computer system may have been damaged.
	Experian says 15M have info stolen in hack of T-Mobile data (Update) Hackers have stolen personal information belonging to about 15 million T-Mobile wireless customers and potential customers in the U.S., including Social Security numbers, home addresses, birthdates and other personal information.
	Student's high-tech smart glove translates sign language into text and speech A 'smart glove' that translates sign language from hand gestures to visual text on a screen and audible dialogue has been developed by a Goldsmiths, University of London student. She's now working on an app to enable real-time translation of the text into other languages.
	Two years of tests confound two decades of assumptions on lithium-ion battery design A Stanford undergraduate has contributed to a discovery that confounds the conventional wisdom in lithium-ion battery design, pointing the way toward storage devices with more power, greater capacity, and faster charge and discharge capabilities.
	Studying New Orleans to improve disaster planning As the 10th U.S. hurricane season since Katrina rolls on, a University of Michigan professor is using advanced data analytics and optimization techniques to find better ways to evacuate regions before disaster strikes.
	Researchers use augmented reality to turn coloring books into 3-D experience A coloring book and a box of crayons may give kids an early opportunity for creative expression but, next to TV and video games, coloring can sometimes seem unexciting. A coloring book app devised by Disney Research, however, can cause characters to leap from the page in 3-D glory with the help of augmented reality.
	People-rating app sparks firestorm Creators of an app that will let people assign ratings to those they know vowed to launch as planned next month as planned despite online outrage at the idea.
Honda recalling 143,000 Civics, Fits to fix faulty software Honda is recalling 143,000 Civic and Fit vehicles in the U.S. to fix a software problem that could cause the front wheels to lock up.
	Can youths in 'hackathon' help struggling city help itself? Can computer coding help turn this impoverished city around? One nonprofit group thinks so, and is bringing together youths and professional programmers for Camden's first "hackathon" this weekend.
	US regulator missed its best chance to catch VW cheating More than a decade ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency helped develop a technology that ultimately was used by an independent laboratory to catch Volkswagen's elaborate cheating on car emissions tests. But EPA used the technology primarily to test trucks rather than passenger cars because such heavy equipment was a much bigger polluter.
Here's why Americans are getting new credit and debit cards The battle against credit card fraud is inching forward. As of Thursday, the liability for fraud committed using traditional MasterCard and Visa magnetic-stripe credit and debit cards will shift from banks to stores. The move is part of a drive by the banks and payment companies to get people to use the new, more secure cards embedded with computer chips.
The real lessons of the VW scandal Consumer anger has been intense since Volkswagen (VW) admitted to selling diesel cars outfitted with software designed to fool emissions tests. The company's stock has fallen. Investors and consumers are suing. The CEO has resigned.
Technology to protect dry concrete from damage and extend life of concrete infrastructure The founder of a startup based on a Purdue University innovation says the company could help managers of state transportation departments and other large-scale consumers of concrete extend the lifetime of their concrete investments.
	The problem with rating people on the new app Peeple As I write this, #Peeple is the top trending topic in my Twitter sidebar. The web is bemused and irate about an app that will let people rate other people as if they were baubles purchased on Amazon.
	Micro photosynthetic power cells may be the green energy source for the next generation A team of researchers from the Optical Bio Microsystem lab at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, have invented and developed micro-photosynthetic cell technology that can harness electrical power from the photosynthesis and respiration of blue-green algae. This novel, scalable technology enables economical ways of generating clean energy, and may be the superlative, carbon-free power source for the future of mankind. The team headed by Dr. Muthukumaran Packirisamy, research Chair of the Optical Bio Microsystem lab at Concordia, has conceived and developed such a contraption. The report is featured in the September 2015 issue of the journal TECHNOLOGY.
	A novel technology to produce microalgae biomass as feedstock for biofuel, food, feed and more Novel and scalable technology and production process combining algal biomass cultivation, harvesting and concentration as well as extraction and fractionation of fatty acids from the biomass results in ability to offer high quality feedstock for various industries in a highly competitive price.
	T-Mobile fury as hackers steal customer data from credit agency T-Mobile's chief executive has expressed outrage over a breach at a credit monitoring service that exposed private data from 15 million customers of the mobile carrier.
Hack may have hit 4.6 mln online brokerage customers US online brokerage firm Scottrade said Friday it was notifying some 4.6 million customers about a hack into its database which could have leaked private information.
Google morphs into Alphabet as new plan takes shape Google announced that its new corporate structure was to be effective Friday, with shares of "Alphabet" parent company hitting the stock market on Monday
	Amazon pulling Chromecast and Apple TV from shelves Amazon on Friday said it will stop selling Apple TV and Google Chromecast devices that compete with the online retail titan's own media-streaming hardware.
	In Tech: Music for kids, Facebook video profiles and more Parents of small kids are getting more love from music services.
	Ofcom's massive price hike could cost us and the UK telecoms industry dearly If you thought your phone bill was expensive, UK telecoms regulator Ofcom just announced an inflation-busting price hike that will triple the licence fees paid by UK mobile network operating companies. The likes of EE, O2, Vodafone and Three must pay the government to use the 900MHz and 1800MHz radio frequency spectrum bands, which from October next year will cost the industry £199.6m per year.
	New supercomputer software takes one giant step closer to simulating the human brain Breakthrough computer software that will be used to power the world's fastest supercomputers of the future allowing us to model and simulate incredibly complex systems such as the human brain or global weather patterns is now being tested for use at the Science and Technology Facilities Council's (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory, at Sci-Tech Daresbury in Cheshire.
Smart coding technology to reduce video surveillance bandwidth and storage Panasonic has released Smart Coding, a new technology that enhances the encoding algorithm in standard H.264 video streams, yielding up to a 70 percent improvement in bandwidth reduction.
	VW, Audi offer online check if vehicle has trick software Volkswagen and its Audi subsidiary said Friday that customers in Germany can now go to their websites to see if their vehicles are among those installed with software that the company says was used to manipulate U.S. emissions testing.

Chemistry news

	New polymer creates safer fuels Before embarking on a transcontinental journey, jet airplanes fill up with tens of thousands of gallons of fuel. In the event of a crash, such large quantities of fuel increase the severity of an explosion upon impact. Researchers at Caltech and JPL have discovered a polymeric fuel additive that can reduce the intensity of postimpact explosions that occur during accidents and terrorist acts. Furthermore, preliminary results show that the additive can provide this benefit without adversely affecting fuel performance.
	Modeling electron excitation in organic photovoltaic material could change the future of solar energy Organic photovoltaic material offers great promise for solar energy. The semi-conducting plastic is lightweight, flexible, relatively inexpensive, and easy to make. The problem is that, unlike inorganic photovoltaic material, it is not very efficient or stable. But work by Adam Willard, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at MIT, has the potential to change that.
	Researchers create self-propelled powder to stop bleeding UBC researchers have created the first self-propelled particles capable of delivering coagulants against the flow of blood to treat severe bleeding, a potentially huge advancement in trauma care.
	Researchers discover mechanism for fixing defective mucins Proper lubrication is crucial to keep not only machines but also humans functioning smoothly. The mucus membranes in our mouths, eyes, stomachs and genital area help keep friction to a minimum and also protect us against environmental hazards such as chemicals and pathogens. Professor Oliver Lieleg and his working group at the Institute of Medical Technology at TUM are investigating exactly how these mechanisms work.
	Pre-purification system allows heightened purity of a metal binding compound A team of researchers from the State University of New York at Buffalo (University at Buffalo) have demonstrated a novel means of pre-purifying a natural product generated from a biosynthetic platform.

Biology news

	Sea turtles don swimsuits for science Collecting the faeces of an extremely strong, 120kg sea turtle in the open ocean is no simple task.
	New gene drive technology evokes hopes and fears The idea of introducing a novel gene into a few individuals that then spreads through an entire population sounds like a premise for science fiction. And yet fiction can be prophetic.
	The logistics on the drosophila X chromosome If we place an order in an online store we are often thrilled how fast the parcel is delivered to our doorstep. This is possible because logistic companies have established a very reliable and efficient system to distribute goods. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg now uncovered a similar distribution system in flies to achieve dosage compensation. By combining state-of-the-art molecular and imaging techniques the researchers revealed a molecular mechanism that allows the protein complexes that regulate dosage compensation to spread over the entire X chromosome. They observed that the so-called high affinity sites (HAS), which are binding regions for the protein complexes, often occur at X chromosomal regions with enriched long-range contacts to each other and further positions on the X chromosome. These central logistics hubs then facilitate the distribution of the dosage compensat! ion machinery towards nearby locations.
	To breathe or to eat: Blue whales forage efficiently to maintain massive body size As the largest animals to have ever lived on Earth, blue whales maintain their enormous body size through efficient foraging strategies that optimize the energy they gain from the krill they eat, while also conserving oxygen when diving and holding their breath, a new study has found.
	Team probes physical forces involved in creating the mitotic spindle Many millions of times per day, football-shaped structures called mitotic spindles form within the body's cells as they prepare to divide. The process is routine but mysterious, as the micro-mechanics involved are not yet well understood.
	Colorful caterpillar chemists may signal new useful plant compounds Scientists at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in Panama compared the diets of two caterpillar species, expecting the one that exclusively consumed plants containing toxic chemicals would more easily incorporate toxins into its body than the one with a broad diet. They found the opposite. The new finding, published in the Journal of Chemical Ecology, flies in the face of a long-held theory that specialist insects are better adapted to use toxic plant chemicals than non-specialists.
	15 EU nations opt to stay GMO-free Fifteen of the 28 EU member nations are seeking to keep genetically modified organisms out of all or part of their territory, as the deadline for opting out of new European legislation on GMO crops nears, the bloc's executive arm said Thursday.
	Bugs in an urban jungle—what green spaces mean for ecology and community Since 2013, UC Santa Cruz environmental studies professor Stacy Philpott has studied insect biodiversity in urban gardens to better understand the ecological role these green spaces provide. Her research has taken her to 18 gardens across central California.
	Satellite tracking reveals where the wild peregrines go We know very little about the time between when birds leave their natal territories and when they settle on their winter grounds. Although the period is a black hole of information, it is believed to be a critical time for the birds themselves, packed with learning and exploration.
Fruit fly research reveals genetic mechanisms of dietary sugar sensing Scientists at the University of Helsinki have identified a sugar sensing regulatory network, which is composed of several genes. Deregulation of this sugar sensing network leads to severely disturbed energy metabolism. The new insight gained in this study may also benefit research into human metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
	Scramble to protect keystone species from pesky pigs Conservation and community groups are striving to save peat ecosystems of national ecological and evolutionary significance in Walpole from destruction by feral pigs.
	Researchers describe three new species of fruit flies Acanthiophilus is a genus of fruit flies that infest plants of the tribe Cardueae (thistles) within the family Asteraceae. Members of this genus live in Africa, the Canary Islands, Europe, and Asia. Some species of Acanthiophilus are potential biological control agents of weeds, and others are serious pests to economically important crop plants. For example, the safflower fly, A. helianthi, is a significant pest to safflower in Europe and the Middle East.
	Pathogen-carrying neotropical ticks ride migratory birds into US Tick species not normally present in the United States are arriving here on migratory birds. Some of these ticks carry disease-causing Ricksettia species, and some of those species are exotic to the US. The research is published on October 2nd in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Panel identifies most-effective methods for protecting western snowy plovers from raptors For breeding western snowy plovers—small, federally protected shorebirds that nest along the Pacific coast—the list of predators is long. Predation management for the species serves to control some of the bird's most common predators—including coyotes, foxes, crows, and ravens—but less so for others, like raptors.
	New home found for Sandra the orangutan A Brazilian nature reserve has agreed to take in an orangutan who shot to fame when a court ruled she was a "non-human" being unlawfully held at a zoo, lawyers said Thursday.
Desert tortoise released on Marine Corps base Researchers have released a desert tortoise raised on a Marine Corps base as part of efforts aimed at reinvigorating the threatened population in the western Mojave Desert.
Mexico: endangered vaquita porpoises seen in Sea of Cortez A newly launched effort to find critically endangered vaquita marina porpoises has already spotted at least two and perhaps three of the elusive, rarely seen creatures in Mexico's Sea of Cortez.

Medicine & Health news

	Link between tallness, higher cancer risk: study Being tall is linked to a higher risk of cancer, especially for women, said research Thursday drawn from physical and health data for five million people in Sweden.
	Videos reveal how HIV spreads in real time How retroviruses like HIV spread in their hosts had been unknown—until a Yale team devised a way to watch it actually happen in a living organism. The elaborate and sometimes surprising steps the virus takes to reach and spread in the lymph nodes of a mouse have been captured on videos and described in the Oct. 2 issue of the journal Science.
	Scientists identify potential birth control 'pill' for men Two drugs that help suppress the immune system in organ transplant patients may have a future as the long-sought birth control "pill" for men, new research suggests.
	Technique identifies prenatal trisomy, cancer type, and transplant rejection using methylation sequences of plasma DNA Researchers from China were able to detect liver cancer and lymphoma in cancer patients, genetic abnormalities from the placenta in pregnant women, and donor DNA in post-transplant patients by analyzing the methylation sequence in plasma DNA. Using known tissue methylation profiles, they were able to identify the tissue origins of circulating DNA, making this a robust tool for screening, cancer detection, and therapy monitoring. This collaborative effort by researchers from several institutions is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
	Researcher finds that a small amount of oxidative stress can actually be good for you Oxygen, while necessary for life, has a dark side. With every breath taken, free radicals form, and these damaging molecules can wreak havoc in the body. The process is called oxidative stress.
	Study sheds light on role genes play in memory retention (Medical Xpress)—A combined team of researchers from the Institute for Basic Science and Seoul National University, both in South Korea, has found three types of repressive regulations in the hippocampus of mice that impact memory retention. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team outlines the study they conducted, their findings and suggest that what they learned highlights the importance of negative gene regulation in learning and memory.
	Can exercise be replaced with a pill? Everyone knows that exercise improves health, and ongoing research continues to uncover increasingly detailed information on its benefits for metabolism, circulation, and improved functioning of organs such as the heart, brain, and liver. With this knowledge in hand, scientists may be better equipped to develop "exercise pills" that could mimic at least some of the beneficial effects of physical exercise on the body. But a review of current development efforts, publishing October 2 in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, ponders whether such pills will achieve their potential therapeutic impact, at least in the near future.
	Researchers identify genes associated with specific metabolic pathways (Medical Xpress)—An international team of researchers working at the Washington University School of Medicine in Missouri has identified several genes associated with specific metabolic pathways in a mammal biome, including some that respond to a dramatic change in diet. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes a genetic study they conducted on four strains of gut bacteria and a secondary experiment involving genes associated with a change in diet.
	Drug used to treat cancer appears to sharpen memory Can you imagine a drug that would make it easier to learn a language, sharpen your memory and help those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease by rewiring the brain and keeping neurons alive?
	Artificial heart design features porous plastic foam Artificial hearts with multiple moving parts increase the chance of failure; scientists have worked up a device which is a single piece. No less interesting is the material they used; the team is taking a page out of soft robots.
Researchers design 'biological flashlight' using light-producing ability of shrimp Using the natural light-producing ability of deep-sea shrimp, a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher and a team of scientists developed a new imaging tool to help cancer researchers better track tumor development and treatment responses.
	Team characterizes genetic mutations linked to a form of blindness Achromatopsia is a rare, inherited vision disorder that affects the eye's cone cells, resulting in problems with daytime vision, clarity and color perception. It often strikes people early in life, and currently there is no cure for the condition.
	Fatty liver disease and scarring have strong genetic component Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine say that hepatic fibrosis, which involves scarring of the liver that can result in dysfunction and, in severe cases, cirrhosis and cancer, may be as much a consequence of genetics as environmental factors.
	The pharmaceutical ethics of stunning drug-price increases Last week Turing Pharmaceuticals, a startup run by a former hedge-fund manager, raised the price of Daraprim—the standard treatment for toxoplasmosis—from $13.50 to $750 a tablet soon after acquiring the drug from another company.
	To increase testing for hepatitis B, promote it in the community, study shows It's been called the silent epidemic. Four million people worldwide are infected with chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) and in the United States over two million people have been diagnosed with the disease. The viral infection is associated with chronic liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Video: Finding the key to cancer metastasis The capacity of cancer cells to spread throughout the body and invade new tissues — to become metastatic — makes them deadly. What makes metastatic cells different?
	Sleep proteins in new DNA repair mechanism Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and universities in Hong Kong have found a new molecular mechanism for DNA repair involving an unexpected interaction between the PARP-1 protein and sleep proteins in humans. Their discovery is presented in the scientific journal Molecular Cell.
	Marijuana brain study offers new substance by including nicotine use Until recently, marijuana research largely excluded tobacco users from its participant pool. But scientists at the Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas have found reason to include them, uncovering significant differences in the brains of those who use both substances and marijuana-only users.
	Cancer test predicts treatment outcome University of Queensland researchers have announced a new tool in the fight against cancer, with the development of a world-first test that will direct treatment choices for patients with some forms of blood cancer.
Studying cardiac arrhythmias in nematodes Researchers at the Goethe University have developed a simple model using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that can be used to test substances for treating genetically-mediated cardiac arrhythmias. They used the nematode feeding apparatus for this purpose, a rhythmically active muscle pump that resembles the muscle cells in the mammalian heart. This could be an important step on the road to personalised treatment.
	Could robots help unlock the mystery of autism spectrum disorder? Given the many mysteries around autism spectrum disorder (ASD), researchers are always looking for new and innovative ways to solve the mystery and one of the most interesting is using robots to venture into the question of language practice of children with ASD.
	Five things women should know about breast cancer Dr. Laura Esserman is filled with hope this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The UC San Francisco surgeon is gearing up for a five-year study that will tap into technology to improve breast cancer screening and patient outcomes.
	Do brain interventions to treat disease change the essence of who we are? These days, most of us accept that minds are dependent on brain function and wouldn't object to the claim that "You are your brain." After all, we've known for a long time that brains control how we behave, what we remember, even what we desire. But what does that mean? And is it really true?
	Living 'green' walls may have adverse health effects on office workers living in hot, polluted climates New research by University of York academics reveals that living 'green' walls may have adverse health effects on office workers living in hot, polluted climates.
A genetic test could predict future troubles for kidney donors – why not use it? Over 100,000 people in the US are waiting for a kidney transplant. Most of the kidneys that were transplanted in 2014 (about 17,000 transplants) are from deceased donors. Kidneys donated from living donors last longer, but the number of living donors has dropped over the past decade.
Twins more likely to suffer from congenital heart disease Identical twins that share a placenta have almost twice the increased risk of being born with congenital heart disease, new research has revealed.
Malaysian tribe schizophrenia research revived A 20-year research project into schizophrenia among Malaysian tribal Iban people has been resurrected thanks to a University of Adelaide visiting researcher.
	Researchers identify cause of inherited form of extreme nearsightedness "Why, Grandma, what big eyes you have!" Though similar in appearance, the hidden cause of those big eyes Little Red Riding Hood notices in Grimms' fairy tale has nothing to do with the hidden cause of enlarged eyeballs in buphthalmia, a genetic mechanism causing this devastating eye disease which has now been uncovered by Dr. Annabel Christ and Prof. Thomas Willnow from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC). Patients afflicted are severely myopic, or nearsighted.
	Study finds sit-stand desk users sit less and burn more calories Here's an easy way for office workers to burn a few extra calories and avoid the perils of sitting all day: stand and type.
Exercise is good for everyone—but some struggle more than others The cause of type 2 diabetes is linked to both genetics and lifestyle. If you have an immediate relative (mother, father, sibling) with type 2 diabetes, the risk of contracting the diabetes is about three times higher. Preventive treatments involve eating healthier and exercising more.
High-fructose diet slows recovery from brain injury A diet high in processed fructose sabotages rat brains' ability to heal after head trauma, UCLA neuroscientists report.
	Reducing aeromedical transport for traumas saved money and lives Changes to the trauma triage protocol in Maryland resulted in decreased use of helicopter transport for trauma patients and improved patient outcomes, saving lives and money. The results of a 11-year study of the impact of statewide field triage changes to Maryland's helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) were published online Wednesday in Annals of Emergency Medicine.
	High opioid use in older people with COPD raises safety concerns Researchers are raising safety concerns about high rates of new opioid use among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a new study published today in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
	Online e-cigarette vendors engage customers using popular internet tools First introduced in the United States in 2007, electronic cigarettes have risen dramatically in part because they are popularly considered safer and more socially acceptable than combustible cigarettes and because there are fewer restrictions on their purchase and use. A study by University of California, San Diego School of Medicine researchers, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, points to aggressive online marketing tactics that make purchasing e-cigarettes easy for all ages.
Temple physician testing mirror therapy in injured combat veterans Can a simple mirror help lessen the pain experienced by combat veterans with complex orthopedic injuries or nerve damage to the limbs? That is the premise behind a new research study being conducted by a Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM) physician.
Researcher calls for changes to colorectal cancer screening guidelines Colorectal cancer will claim the lives of close to 50,000 Americans this year, according to the American Cancer Society. Screening is the most effective way to reduce the risk of dying from the disease, yet as a Penn Medicine physician argues in an editorial this week in the journal Gastroenterology, current recommendations to screen older people with a family history of colorectal cancer, specifically with colonoscopy every five years, is not justified for most patients. Chyke A. Doubeni, MD, MPH, chair of the department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, is the co-author of the editorial.
FDA expands Merck drug's approval to treat lung cancer Federal health officials on Friday expanded approval of an innovative Merck drug to treat patients with an advanced form of the most common lung cancer.
	Video: How to avoid kidney stones They're a medical malady you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy: kidney stones. These little crystals can mean big trouble for your insides, so what can you do to make sure they never show up in your body?
Research links built characteristics of environment with health of persons with SCI Scientists in disability outcomes research have determined that differences in the built characteristics of communities may influence the health and wellbeing of residents with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). This study suggested that among New Jersey residents with SCI, residing in communities with more heterogeneous land use was less beneficial to their perceived health. The article, Differences in the community built environment influence poor perceived health among persons with spinal cord injury, was published in Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
From ambulances to funerals, volunteers prop up Myanmar healthcare With lights flashing and sirens blaring, volunteer ambulance driver Myint Hein weaves through traffic-choked Yangon, a lifeline in Myanmar where healthcare was crippled by decades of chronic underfunding during junta rule.
	AAP report ignores health impacts of screen time I just came across a new release from the American Academy of Pediatrics titled "Beyond 'turn it off': How to advise families on media use".  The report is the result of their recent invitation-only Growing Up Digital Media Research Symposium.
	Nuclear techniques reveal longevity of kidney stones Nuclear research has provided new information about the longevity of kidney stones, one of the most common disorders of the urinary tract, affecting 1 in 10 Australian men and 1 in 35 Australian women during their lifetime.
Three challenges for public health care While South Africa's public health care system has come a long way since the end of apartheid, three major issues are worrying Professor Laetitia Rispel.
	Pneumothorax treatment gets less painful Scientists working in Tianjin Chest Hospital, China, have developed a less painful treatment strategy for Pneumothorax treatment. By analyzing the partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide in thoracic cavity gas during Pneumothorax Treatment, physicians can understand the real conditions of the pneumothorax and then update to a less painful treatment method.
	From nuclear research to surgery technology A JRC invention initially stemming from its research in the nuclear sector will soon be used by hospitals for minimally-invasive robotic surgery. TELELAP ALF-X is an advanced multi-port robotic system that will empower surgeons with new technologies such as eye-tracking and haptics, allowing them eye-control of the camera and touch sensation during surgery. Hospitals will be able to use the most advanced technology while running at low operational costs, as the system can use current surgical instruments.
Irrigation of cutaneous abscesses may not be necessary A procedure commonly performed in emergency departments on cutaneous abscesses may not have any impact on the need for further interventions and therefore may not be necessary, according to a study published online Friday in Annals of Emergency Medicine.

Other Sciences news

	New finds of a living fossil The coelacanth fish, found today in the Indian Ocean, is often called a 'living fossil' because its last ancestors existed about 70 million years ago and it has survived into the present - but without leaving any fossil remains younger than that time. Now, some much older coelacanth remains have been uncovered in a fossil deposit near Bristol by a student at the University of Bristol.
	Largest dinosaur population growth study ever shows how Maiasaura lived and died Decades of research on Montana's state fossil—the "good mother lizard" Maiasaura peeblesorum - has resulted in the most detailed life history of any dinosaur known and created a model to which all other dinosaurs can be compared, according to new research published recently in the journal Paleobiology.
	Players object to extreme physique of video game characters College students playing Japanese fighting video games often object to the unrealistic depictions of the characters, drawn with exaggerated and highly sexualized physiques, but they say the mechanics of the game itself are more important to them.
Video highlights research on Aboriginal rock art Principal Research scientist David Fink in the Institute for Environmental Research is one of a number of scientists featured in a new video released by the Kimberley Foundation of Australia that highlights an exciting project to date Aboriginal rock art using new sample preparation methods in radiocarbon dating of rock art accretions.
Taking the rigor of physics to the netherworld A handful of scientists are combining their favourite hobby with their day job, to form the emerging field of "speleophysics" - exploring how underground caves form, evolve and move water from one place to another.

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