Fwd: Science X Newsletter Friday, Apr 22

HOT!

VW to take $18 billion hit as German carmakers face recall

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Newsletter Phys.org <not-for-reply@physorg.com>
Date: Sat, Apr 23, 2016 at 3:35 AM
Subject: Science X Newsletter Friday, Apr 22
To: Pascal Alter <pascal.alter@gmail.com>

Dear Pascal Alter,
Here is your customized Phys.org Newsletter for April 22, 2016:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

- New state of water molecule discovered
- Scientists discover new reef system at mouth of Amazon River
- Atoms placed precisely in silicon can act as quantum simulator
- Researchers uncover 'local heroes' of immune system
- Study shows how skeletal stem cells form the blueprint of the face
- New Herschel maps and catalogues reveal stellar nurseries across the galactic plane
- New maps chart Greenland glaciers' melting risk
- Researchers demonstrate hydrogen atoms on graphene yield a magnetic moment
- Researchers demonstrate way to shape electron beams in time through interaction with terahertz electromagnetic fields
- Scientists harness nature's transport system to the brain
- Researchers develop magnifying smartphone screen app for visually impaired
- The unique challenges of conserving forest giants
- Sophisticated 'mini-brains' add to evidence of Zika's toll on fetal cortex
- Research team realizes three-color photodetector
- Cell death mechanism may—paradoxically—enable aggressive pancreatic cells to live on

Nanotechnology news

Researchers use common table salt as growth template for energy storage materials The secret to making the best energy storage materials is growing them with as much surface area as possible. Like baking, it requires just the right mixture of ingredients prepared in a specific amount and order at just the right temperature to produce a thin sheet of material with the perfect chemical consistency to be useful for storing energy. A team of researchers from Drexel University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) and Tsinghua University recently discovered a way to improve the recipe and make the resulting materials bigger and better and soaking up energy—the secret? Just add salt.
	Researchers demonstrate hydrogen atoms on graphene yield a magnetic moment (Phys.org)—A team of researchers with members from institutions in Spain, France and Egypt has demonstrated that hydrogen atoms on graphene yield a magnetic moment and furthermore, that such moments can order ferromagnetically over relatively large distances. In their paper published in the journal Science the group describes experiments they carried out in attempting to cause a sheet of graphene to become magnetic, how they found evidence that it was possible using hydrogen atoms, and the ways such a material might be used in industrial applications. Shawna Hollen with the University of New Hampshire, and Jay Gupta with Ohio State University, offer some insights into the work done by the team in the same journal issue with a Perspectives piece—they also outline the hurdles that still need to be overcome before magnetic graphene might be used in real applications.
	Manipulating light inside opaque layers Light propagating in a layer of scattering nanoparticles, shows the principle of diffusion - like tea particles in hot water. The deeper light is penetrating into the layer, the lower the energy density. Scientists of University of Twente's Complex Photonics Group, however, manage to turn this falling diffusion curve into a rising one, by manipulating the incident light. More light energy inside an opaque layer, is the result, which could lead to solar cells or LED's with better yields. The results are published in New Journal of Physics.
	Meet the nanomachines that could drive a medical revolution A group of physicists recently built the smallest engine ever created from just a single atom. Like any other engine it converts heat energy into movement – but it does so on a smaller scale than seen before. The atom is trapped in a cone of electromagnetic energy and lasers are used to heat it up and cool it down, which causes the atom to move back and forth in the cone like an engine piston.

Physics news

	New state of water molecule discovered Neutron scattering and computational modeling have revealed unique and unexpected behavior of water molecules under extreme confinement that is unmatched by any known gas, liquid or solid states.
	Dark matter does not contain certain axion-like particles Researches at Stockholm University are getting closer to light dark-matter particle models. Observations rule out some axion-like particles in the quest for the content of dark matter. The article is now published in the Physical Review Letters.
	Researchers demonstrate way to shape electron beams in time through interaction with terahertz electromagnetic fields (Phys.org)—A small team of researchers with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and the Max-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics, both in Germany has successfully demonstrated a means for shaping electron beams in time through interactions with terahertz electromagnetic fields. In their paper published in the journal Science, the team describes their technique and why they believe it may lead the way to ultrafast microscopy and diffraction techniques. In a Perspectives piece in the same journal issue, Claus Ropers with the University of Göttingen, describes the benefits of developing faster electron microscopy, outlines the technique used by the researchers with this new effort and offers some insight into where the science is headed.
Atoms placed precisely in silicon can act as quantum simulator In a proof-of-principle experiment, researchers at UNSW Australia have demonstrated that a small group of individual atoms placed very precisely in silicon can act as a quantum simulator, mimicking nature - in this case, the weird quantum interactions of electrons in materials.
Research team realizes three-color photodetector While infrared waves are available in short, mid, and long lengths, most detection devices are unable to harness all three at the same time.
	Your one-stop shop for producing, crystallizing biomolecules A new center has been established on campus to help researchers probe the structure of biological molecules.
	Physicist aims for the stars with JENSA system Physicists studying stellar explosions, the origin of life and just about everything in between could gain light years in precision because of a system inspired by a team led by Kelly Chipps of the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
	What the universe's most elusive particles can tell us about the universe's most energetic objects In 2012, a tiny flash of light was detected deep beneath the Antarctic ice. A burst of neutrinos was responsible, and the flash of light was their calling card.
	A laser look at ultra-thin layers From the coating of electronic or pharmaceutical products to thin plastic films – a new technique developed by TU Wien enables coating processes to be quality controlled in real time.
	The universe, where space-time becomes discrete In quantum gravity, classical physics and quantum mechanics are at odds: scientists are still uncertain how to reconcile the quantum "granularity" of space-time at the Planck scale with the theory of special relativity. In their attempts to identify possible tests of the physics associated with this difficult union, the most commonly studied scenario is the one that implies violations of  "Lorentz invariance", the principle underlying special relativity. However, there may be another approach: to salvage special relativity and to reconcile it with granularity by introducing small-scale deviations from the principle of locality. A recent theoretical study just published in Physical Review Letters and led by the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) in Trieste has analysed such a model demonstrating that it can be experimentally tested with great precision. The team is already collaborating on developing an experiment, ! which will take place at the LENS (European Laboratory for Non-linear Spectroscopy) in Florence, some members of which have also taken part in the theoretical study.
The big question of 'how physics makes us free' Can it really be that everything you do is determined by facts that were in place long before you were born?

Earth news

	Giant plankton gains long-due attention A team of marine biologists and oceanographers from CNRS, UPMC and the German organization GEOMAR have revealed the importance in all the world's oceans of a group of large planktonic organisms called Rhizaria, which had previously been completely underestimated. According to their findings, these organisms make up 33% of the total abundance of large zooplankton in the world's oceans, and account for 5% of the overall marine biomass. The study was carried out on samples collected during eleven oceanographic campaigns (2008-2013) covering the world's main oceanic regions, and included the Tara Oceans expedition. It is published on 20 April 2016 on the website of the journal Nature.
	New maps chart Greenland glaciers' melting risk Many large glaciers in Greenland are at greater risk of melting from below than previously thought, according to new maps of the seafloor around Greenland created by an international research team. Like other recent research findings, the maps highlight the critical importance of studying the seascape under Greenland's coastal waters to better understand and predict global sea level rise.
	The unique challenges of conserving forest giants The redwood and sequoia trees in California, the baobab trees in Madagascar, and the rose gum Eucalyptus trees in northeastern Australia are only a few of the spectacular large, old trees still growing today. Protecting these trees, some hundreds or thousands of years old, requires thinking long-term about concerns such as their unique habitat needs and the impacts of climate change, researchers write in a Forum published April 22, Earth Day, in Trends in Ecology & Evolution.
	Old-growth forests may provide buffer against rising temperatures The soaring canopy and dense understory of an old-growth forest could provide a buffer for plants and animals in a warming world, according to a study from Oregon State University published today in Science Advances.
	Corals most important for building reefs are now in sharp decline A new study has found that the very corals responsible for establishing today's reefs are now some of the most threatened coral species due to climate change and other man-made stressors.
	Scientists discover new reef system at mouth of Amazon River A new reef system has been found at the mouth of the Amazon River, the largest river by discharge of water in the world. As large rivers empty into the world's oceans in areas known as plumes, they typically create gaps in the reef distribution along the tropical shelves—something that makes finding a reef in the Amazon plume an unexpected discovery.
Test aims to identify shale gas hazard in groundwater A test has been developed to check for contamination of shallow groundwater from unconventional gas extraction techniques, such as fracking.
	Tiny microbes could help mining remediation Termite guts could contribute to mining site rehabilitation and pay big dividends for the planet, thanks to University of Queensland research.
	Rising seas puts Vietnam in climate change 'bull's eye' In a tale of two life experiences, Mike Hoffmann went to Vietnam for the first time in 47 years: On his first tour of duty, he was a 19-year-old U.S. Marine, and for the March 2016 trip, Hoffmann returned as an environmental scientist.
	Windfarms generate microclimates with uncertain effects on peatland carbon store The microclimates created by the action of wind farms is unlikely to affect the ability of peatland to capture carbon, scientists consider.
	Before fusion—a human history of fire We humans are fire creatures. Tending fire is a species trait, a capacity we alone possess – and one we are not likely to tolerate willingly in any other species. But then we live on Earth, the only true fire planet, the only one we know of that burns living landscapes. Fire is where, uniquely, our special capabilities and Earth's bioenergy flows converge. That has made us the keystone species for fire on Earth. Our environmental power is literally a fire power.
	Rainforest study shows biodiversity loss worse than anticipated The loss of plant and animal species around the world due to human activities could have been significantly underestimated due to a commonly used scientific method, according to a new study.
	Paperbark tree to unlock climate change Synonymous with the Australian landscape, the paperbark tree is most recognised for its distinctive bark, but it is the leaves that have found themselves at the centre of research which could provide crucial insights into climate change.
Changing the world, one fridge at a time: Food waste, and what to do about it To help change the world, have a look inside your fridge—this is one of the messages contained in an article published in the most recent issue of the authoritative academic journal Science. Food waste has attained monumental proportions in both the developed and developing worlds, and the sum of individual consumer´s actions can have major impacts on a global scale, according to the article's author, Jessica Aschemann-Witzel, an associate professor at Aarhus BSS, the business school of Aarhus University, Denmark.
	Dry soil to absorb some snowmelt heading to Colorado River Storms brought deep snow to the mountains that feed the vital Colorado River this winter and spring, but the dried-out landscape will soak up some of the runoff before it can reach the river and the 40 million people depending on it for water.
	'Once-a-century' climate hazards will hit Europe yearly: study By mid-century, pockets of southern Europe will face at least one severe climate hazard every year of the scale now occurring only once a century, according to a new study.
	Citizen seismologists multiply the impacts of earthquake studies From matchbook-sized sensors plugged into a desktop computer to location-tagged tweets, the earthquake data provided by "citizen seismologists" have grown in size and quality since 2000, according to the field's researchers.
	Ferries banned from dumping toilet waste in Baltic Sea Ferries and ships will be banned from dumping toilet waste in the Baltic Sea, one of the world's most polluted bodies of water, the International Maritime Organization said Friday.
	UN climate deal signing gets the ball rolling World leaders gather at the United Nations on Friday to sign the Paris climate deal and get the ball rolling on a quick entry into force to start beating back global warming.
	Expert discusses sustainability in the face of growing development United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday will welcome 130 heads of state who have pledged to sign the Paris Agreement, the global agreement on managing climate change. For William Clark, Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, Public Policy, and Human Development at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), sustainability is a global imperative and a scientific challenge like no other.
	Image: Rocky Mountain fire in Virginia from orbit The Rocky Mountain portion of Shenandoah National Park in Virginia is experiencing an early fire season wildfire. The satellite image was taken by the Aqua satellite on April 20, 2016. The fire began on April 16, 2016 and has spread to 5,616 acres at present. It is currently 1% contained with active creeping wind driven fire runs occurring. Weather concerns are that the area is experiencing continued hot and dry conditions. Another frontal passage will bring limited rainfall with dry and windy conditions to follow which will contribute to extreme fire danger. The cause of the fire is being investigated but it most likely human in nature according to Inciweb. The following trails are currently closed due to the fire:
	NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Fantala slowing On April 21, Fantala's maximum sustained wind speeds started to decrease since making a "U-turn" and moving southeastward to a position northeast of Madagascar and the storm maintained strength on April 22. NASA's RapidScat instrument measured winds around the system while NASA-JAXA's Global Precipitation Measurement or GPM core satellite analyzed rainfall rates with the hurricane.
	175 states signing landmark Paris deal on climate change Leaders from at least 175 countries were signing the Paris Agreement on climate change Friday as the landmark deal took a key step forward, potentially entering into force years ahead of schedule.
	NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Amos threatening American Samoa As the seven islands of American Samoa were bracing for Tropical Cyclone Amos, NASA's Aqua satellite saw the storm affecting the Southwestern Pacific Islands of Wallis and Futuna. Warnings were already in effect for American Samoa on April 22 as the storm continued moving east toward the islands.

Astronomy & Space news

	China targets 2020 Mars mission launch: official China plans to send a rover to Mars to explore the Red Planet, a top space official announced on Friday, in the latest step of its ambitious space programme.
	New Herschel maps and catalogues reveal stellar nurseries across the galactic plane ESA's Herschel mission releases today a series of unprecedented maps of star-forming hubs in the plane of our Milky Way galaxy. This is accompanied by a set of catalogues of hundreds of thousands of compact sources that span all phases leading to the birth of stars in our Galaxy. These maps and catalogues will be very valuable resources for astronomers, to exploit scientifically and for planning follow-up studies of particularly interesting regions in the Galactic Plane.
	Image: Tracking asteroid Heinerklinkrad The US Minor Planet Center has announced the new name for the asteroid formerly known as 2009 RC26 to be (264045) Heinerklinkrad.
	Gene analysis system could accelerate pace of research on the space station Biologists around the world routinely perform gene expression analysis to better understand living systems. Gene expression analysis examines the types and amounts of molecules produced by genes in living cells, telling us which genes are active and which are inactive at a given point in time. This reveals valuable information about the highly dynamic internal states of cells in living systems. NASA's WetLab-2 hardware system is bringing to the International Space Station the technology to measure gene expression of biological specimens in space, and to transmit the results to researchers on Earth at the speed of light.
	NASA works to improve solar electric propulsion for deep space exploration NASA has selected Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc. of Redmond, Washington, to design and develop an advanced electric propulsion system that will significantly advance the nation's commercial space capabilities, and enable deep space exploration missions, including the robotic portion of NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission (ARM) and its Journey to Mars.
	Constructing James Webb Space Telescope's twin for Goddard's 'biggest' thermal test Crouching low beneath the underbelly of the behemoth James Webb Space Telescope "observatory core" test model, surrounded by critical test hardware, a technician toiled for hours wrapping the replica's surfaces in delicate thermal blankets and strips of Mylar.
	Image: Pluto's 'halo' craters Within Pluto's informally named Vega Terra region is a field of eye-catching craters that looks like a cluster of bright halos scattered across a dark landscape.
	Our sun may have eaten a super-Earth for breakfast Our solar system sure seems like an orderly place. The orbits of the planets are predictable enough that we can send spacecraft on multi-year journeys to them and they will reliably reach their destinations. But we've only been looking at the solar system for the blink of an eye, cosmically speaking.
	Cosmic beacons reveal the Milky Way's ancient core An international team of astronomers led by Dr. Andrea Kunder of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) in Germany has discovered that the central 2000 light years within the Milky Way Galaxy hosts an ancient population of stars. These stars are more than 10 billion years old and their orbits in space preserve the early history of the formation of the Milky Way.
Lens used during Apollo mission sells for more than $450,000 A camera lens used during the Apollo 15 space mission in 1971 has been sold at auction for more than $450,000.
	NASA seeks industry ideas for an advanced Mars satellite NASA is soliciting ideas from U.S. industry for designs of a Mars orbiter for potential launch in the 2020s. The satellite would provide advanced communications and imaging, as well as robotic science exploration, in support of NASA's Journey to Mars.
Is there anybody out there? On the quest for extraterrestrial life Leiden Professor of Astronomy Mike Garrett is searching for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence. In his Kaiser lecture on 23 April he will discuss how far science has progressed in this quest.
	What is the surface of Neptune like? As a gas giant (or ice giant), Neptune has no solid surface. In fact, the blue-green disc we have all seen in photographs over the years is actually a bit of an illusion. What we see is actually the tops of some very deep gas clouds, which in turn give way to water and other melted ices that lie over an approximately Earth-size core made of silicate rock and a nickel-iron mix. If a person were to attempt to stand on Neptune, they would sink through the gaseous layers.

Technology news

	Google empire built on search looks to other bets A Google empire built on search shifted attention on Thursday to high-speed Internet networks, 360-degree video broadcasting and "other bets" as parent company Alphabet logged disappointing earnings.
	Solar plane slowly soaring from Hawaii to California A solar plane on an around-the-world journey has reached the point of no return over the Pacific Ocean after departing Hawaii, and now it's California or bust.
	Ready, set, think! Mind-controlled drones race to the future Wearing black headsets with tentacle-like sensors stretched over their foreheads, the competitors stare at cubes floating on computer screens as their small white drones prepare for takeoff.
	Siemens looks into spider-bots for collaborative additive manufacturing Adults appear to have a difficult time figuring it out but some bees and ants find the concept quite fundamental: There is strength in numbers; if they cooperate in carrying out tasks, they can survive as a group.
	Scientists solve a long-standing puzzle for Na-ion battery leading to a general conceptual rule The lithium-ion battery is a very popular energy storage device that provides power for our laptops, cellphones, hover boards, etc. However, there are serious safety problems with lithium-ion batteries, including serious fires caused by dendrite growth during charging. There are also cost issues. To overcome these problems, research has turned toward alternative batteries using other alkali metals such as sodium or alkaline-earth metals like magnesium as the active cation. Among these, sodium-ion batteries are most extensively studied.
	Researchers develop magnifying smartphone screen app for visually impaired Researchers from the Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Harvard Medical School have developed a smartphone application that projects a magnified smartphone screen to Google Glass, which users can navigate using head movements to view a corresponding portion of the magnified screen. They have shown that the technology can potentially benefit low-vision users, many of whom find the smartphone's built-in zoom feature to be difficult to use due to the loss of context. Their results are published online in the journal IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.
	Two Apple services blocked in China (Update) Apple confirmed Friday its iTunes Movies and iBooks service have become unavailable in China, after reports authorities ordered them to be taken offline.
Trust in the cloud could be pinned to online scoring system Computer scientists at the University of Adelaide have developed a sophisticated but easy-to-use online tool to help build people's trust in the cloud.
	Retinal scans and fingerprint checks: High tech or high risk? Having a smartphone unlock once it recognises your face or using a paypass machine that needs your fingerprint to finalise a purchase are becoming increasingly common, but are these the best way to stay secure?
	New tomb will make Chernobyl site safe for 100 years Thirty years after the Chernobyl nuclear accident, there's still a significant threat of radiation from the crumbling remains of Reactor 4. But an innovative, €1.5 billion super-structure is being built to prevent further releases, giving an elegant engineering solution to one of the ugliest disasters known to man.
	Bakery switches to propane vans A switch to propane from diesel by a major Midwest bakery fleet showed promising results, including a significant displacement of petroleum, a drop in greenhouse gases and a fuel cost savings of seven cents per mile, according to a study recently completed by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory.
	Thin-film solar cells: How defects appear and disappear in CIGSe cells An international collaboration of German, Israeli, and British teams has investigated the deposition of thin chalcopyrite layers. They were able to observe specific defects as these formed during deposition and under what conditions they self-healed using the BESSY II X-ray source at the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin. The results of their research provide clues to optimizing fabrication processes and have now been published in Energy & Environmental Science.
	Solar-powered plane slowly soaring from Hawaii to California A solar-powered plane on an around-the-world journey was about a third of the way to California early Friday after taking off from Hawaii, the project's mission control said.
	VW to take $18 billion hit as German carmakers face recall German carmaker Volkswagen capped two grim days for the country's auto industry by revealing its diesel emissions cheating cost it a chunky 16.2 billion euros ($18.2 billion) for 2015 alone—and that's likely only a part of the total bill.
	Microsoft and Google make regulatory peace treaty Microsoft and Google on Friday said they have agreed to drop all regulatory complaints against one another to work out such concerns between themselves in the future.
	Google seeks to play down EU Android probe Google sought to play down its anti-trust battle with the European Commission on Friday, with a senior executive insisting the row was "normal".
	App aims to bring Shakespeare to new generation A new iPad app intended to make William Shakespeare's works more accessible is being launched by actor Ian McKellen and director Richard Loncraine on Saturday, the 400th anniversary of the Bard's death.
Reducing the cost of wind energy for a renewable future A 100 percent renewable energy scenario is possible in Europe, but to achieve it, we need to make offshore wind more competitive and start redesigning our energy systems, says world expert Brian Vad Mathiesen
Report: German automakers to recall 630,000 cars German news agency dpa is reporting that several of the country's automakers are going to recall a total of 630,000 cars following an investigation into emissions levels.
Lithuania govt websites hit by cyberattacks for third time Lithuanian officials say government websites have been hit by cyberattacks for the third time this month.
	Review: Nintendo's 'Star Fox Zero' crashes and burns How do you solve a problem like Fox McCloud?

Chemistry news

	New protein-making factory promises better medicines A Yale research team has created a mutant protein-making factory in bacteria that churns out proteins containing beta-amino acids, molecules not normally found in nature but capable of creating longer-lasting and life-saving medicines.
	Scientists harness nature's transport system to the brain Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School (Duke-NUS) have derived a structural model of a transporter at the blood-brain barrier called Mfsd2a (1). This is the first molecular model of this critical transporter, and could prove important for the development of therapeutic agents that need to be delivered to the brain —- across the blood-brain barrier. In future, this could help treat neurological disorders such as glioblastoma.
	Scientists discover how to deal with fungal resistance to antimycotic drugs Research scientists from the Lomonosov Moscow State University have suppressed the resistance of fungi to antifungal drugs. The results of this work could serve as a basis for the development of effective antifungal pharmaceuticals, and have been published in the journal FEMS Yeast Research.
	Hydrogen makes the natural gas network greener Hydrogen from the natural gas pipeline – a separation technique developed by TU Wien is opening up new possibilities for our natural gas network and improves the ecological balance of hydrogen fuel cells.
	Successful laboratory test of photoswitchable anti-tumor agent Photoswitchable agents might reduce side effects of a chemotherapy. So far, photodynamic therapies have been dependent on oxygen in the tissue. But hardly any oxygen exists in malignant, rapidly growing tumors. A group of researchers of KIT and the University of Kiev has now developed a photo-switchable molecule as a basis of an oxygen-independent method. Their successful laboratory tests on tumors are reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie.

Biology news

	Study of chimpanzees explores the early origins of human hand dexterity Chimpanzees use manipulative dexterity to evaluate and select figs, a vital resource when preferred foods are scarce, according to a new Dartmouth-led study just published by Interface Focus. The action resembles that of humans shopping for fruits, and the study demonstrates the foraging advantages of opposable fingers and careful manual prehension, or the act of grasping an object with precision. The findings shed new light on the ecological origins of hands with fine motor control, a trait that enabled our early human ancestors to manufacture and use stone tools. (A pdf of the study is available upon request. The paper will be available for free via open access once the embargo lifts, as the link is not currently live).
	Researcher studies how animals puncture things If shooting arrows from a crossbow into cubes of ballistics gelatin doesn't sound like biological science to you, you've got a lot to learn from University of Illinois animal biology professor Philip Anderson, who did just that to answer a fundamental question about how animals use their fangs, claws and tentacles to puncture other animals.
	Researchers reveal how orchid bees navigate through the depths of the rainforest Scientists are untangling the mystery of how tropical bees are able to navigate through dense rainforests with brains the size of sesame seeds.
	Researchers have discovered two ways a compound blocks dengue virus Harvard Medical School scientists have found a compound that in laboratory dishes blocks the dengue virus in two ways, raising hopes for a future drug whose dual activity could suppress the otherwise likely emergence of drug resistance.
	More tricks with next-generation DNA sequencing: DNA barcodes gone wild A team of researchers at Sinai Health System's Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute (LTRI) and University of Toronto's Donnelly Centre has developed a new technology that can stitch together DNA barcodes inside a cell to simultaneously search amongst millions of protein pairs for protein interactions. The paper will be published today in the journal Molecular Systems Biology.
	Beyond milkweed: Monarchs face habitat, nectar threats In the face of scientific dogma that faults the population decline of monarch butterflies on a lack of milkweed, herbicides and genetically modified crops, a new Cornell University study casts wider blame: sparse autumnal nectar sources, weather and habitat fragmentation.
	The rise and fall of the antibiotic age It's a dog-eat-dog world, but in the lab of University of Alberta bacteriologist Jon Dennis, it's actually virus-eat-bacteria.
	Protecting migratory birds when our beaches have gone to the dogs How do you reconcile the recreational needs of a city of two million people with the protection of migratory birds recovering after journeys half way around the planet?
	Molecular biologist talks cheese While many microbiologists build entire research careers around studies of a single microorganism, Rachel Dutton has taken her career in the other direction—examining collections of microbes, but with an unusual twist. She studies what grows on cheese.
	Earth's weird and wonderful animal models Consider, for a moment, the humble fruit fly. Genus Drosophila. Bulbous-eyed and papery-winged, it's the pest you've swatted away from fruit salad and cursed at in your kitchen.
	Unveiling the grammar of biological cells Cells in the body exchange a number of signals with their surroundings. Deficient signal pathways may adversely affect the function of cells and cause diseases. However, we hardly know more than the vocabulary of cellular language. It is unknown how the "words" are combined in "sentences". If cell grammar was known, complex processes in cells might be understood. Researchers of KIT have now presented a method to decode the grammar of cell signals in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
	When beauty becomes the beast: Research efforts successfully combat invasive species A walk through most Midwestern state parks and nature preserves looks much different today than it did a century ago.
	Field Museum expedition captures animal selfies in Amazon Rainforest If you've been on the Internet lately, you've probably seen a cat selfie. Now, a Field Museum expedition to the Peruvian Amazon has elevated the animal selfie phenomenon to a whole new level. Earlier this year, a team of 25 scientists trekked to the unexplored reaches of Medio Putumayo-Algodón, Peru and spent 17 days conducting a rapid biological and social inventory of the area. As part of their efforts to document the region's biodiversity, the team set up 14 motion-activated camera traps and used a drone to capture aerial footage of the rainforest. The results are amazing.
Researchers reduce sugar content of yogurt without reducing sweetness A team from a Danish food ingredients company has manipulated the metabolic properties of yogurt-producing bacteria to sweeten the yogurt naturally, while reducing sugar in the final product. Similar manipulations have also all but eliminated lactose, so that those with lactose intolerance can enjoy the yogurt. They have accomplished all of this using microbiological methods that predate the era of genetic technologies. The research appears April 22nd in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, a journal of the American Society for Microbiology.
	Cell fusion discovery could improve agricultural production An international research team has observed cell fusion in flowering plants for the first time in more than a century. The discovery demystifies how plants prevent the attraction of excessive pollen tubes after a successful fertilisation.

Medicine & Health news

	Gender stereotyping may start as young as 3 months—study of babies' cries shows Gender stereotyping may start as young as three months, according to a study of babies' cries from the University of Sussex.
	Sleep loss detrimental to blood vessels Lack of sleep has previously been found to impact the activation of the immune system, inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism and the hormones that regulate appetite. Now University of Helsinki researchers have found that sleep loss also influences cholesterol metabolism.
	Fructose alters hundreds of brain genes, which can lead to a wide range of diseases A range of diseases—from diabetes to cardiovascular disease, and from Alzheimer's disease to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—are linked to changes to genes in the brain. A new study by UCLA life scientists has found that hundreds of those genes can be damaged by fructose, a sugar that's common in the Western diet, in a way that could lead to those diseases.
	The shorter the mother, the higher the odds of having a premature baby: study Short mothers are twice as likely to have a baby born premature than tall mothers, according to a new international study.
Brain's immune system triggers frontotemporal dementia Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the second most common cause of dementia in people under 65, may be triggered by a defect in immune cells called microglia that causes them to consume the brain's synaptic connections, according to new research led by UCSF scientists.
	Study shows how skeletal stem cells form the blueprint of the face Timing is everything when it comes to the development of the vertebrate face. In a new study published in PLoS Genetics, USC Stem Cell researcher Lindsey Barske from the laboratory of Gage Crump and her colleagues identify the roles of key molecular signals that control this critical timing.
	Researchers uncover 'local heroes' of immune system Melbourne researchers have uncovered the genes responsible for the way the body fights infection at the point of 'invasion' - whether it's the skin, liver, lungs or the gut.
	Sophisticated 'mini-brains' add to evidence of Zika's toll on fetal cortex Studying a new type of pinhead-size, lab-grown brain made with technology first suggested by three high school students, Johns Hopkins researchers have confirmed a key way in which Zika virus causes microcephaly and other damage in fetal brains: by infecting specialized stem cells that build its outer layer, the cortex.
	Cell death mechanism may—paradoxically—enable aggressive pancreatic cells to live on The most aggressive form of pancreatic cancer - often described as one of the hardest malignancies to diagnose and treat—thrives in the presence of neighboring tumor cells undergoing a particular form of "orchestrated cell death." This is according to a major study recently published in the journal Nature.
	Research shows certain genes, in healthy environments, can lengthen lifespan Researchers at the University at Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions have discovered how a gene in the brain's dopamine system can play an important role in prolonging lifespan: it must be coupled with a healthy environment that includes exercise.
	Inspirational managers may harm workers' health Managers who inspire their staff to perform above and beyond the call of duty may actually harm their employees' health over time, according to researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA).
Older adults need better blood pressure and cholesterol control to prevent cardiovascular disease The leading cause of death in the elderly, the fastest growing segment of the population, is cardiovascular disease (CVD). Prevention of cardiovascular events in elderly patients presents a therapeutic challenge because this age group is generally underrepresented in clinical trials, and doctors often assume that it is too late to initiate preventive therapy in the elderly. A review by clinical experts of the best available evidence concluded that cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure-controlling therapy are the most effective treatments for reducing cardiovascular events in older adults, but that treatment needs to be individualized, reports the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
Infant BMI is good predictor of obesity at age 2 Babies with a high body mass index (BMI) at age two months are at risk for obesity at age two years, say pediatric researchers. The authors, in an online study published today in Pediatrics, say that BMI better predicts early childhood obesity than weight-for-length, the current standard measurement.
Organ recipients with previous cancers linked to higher death rates, new cancers People who had cancer before receiving an organ transplant were more likely to die of any cause, die of cancer or develop a new cancer than organ recipients who did not previously have cancer, a new paper has found. However, the increased risk is less than that reported in some previous studies.
450 million Africans threatened by spinal meningitis Spinal meningitis, which can kill in 24 hours, poses a threat to 450 million Africans this year, according to medical experts from eight of the continent's countries.
	US suicide rate jumps 24 percent since 1999: study (Update) The suicide rate in the United States has jumped 24 percent in the past 15 years, including a troublesome spike among girls aged 10-14, according to US government statistics out Friday.
	Research links heart disease with testosterone Testosterone might be involved in explaining why men have a greater risk of heart attacks than women of similar age, according to a study funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The findings, published in the journal Scientific Reports, could lead to new therapies to help reduce heart attack risk.
	Changing your body, from the head down It was the "head thing" that seemed like window dressing to Madeline Meehan, the Harvard Innovation Labs operations director who wanted to lose a few pounds.
	Strong evidence for double standards among adolescents regarding sex Adolescence is a developmental period of immense social, physical, and emotional change. In the midst of it all, both boys and girls face double standards regarding how peers react to sexual experiences, new Penn State research shows.
Women's adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines varies following false-positive mammogram Depending on when they received their last mammogram, women who receive a false-positive result are more or less likely to get screened at recommended intervals, according to preliminary findings from a University of North Carolina Comprehensive Cancer Center study. The findings (abstract #2585) were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Monday, April 18, 1-5 p.m., CST.
	Broken heart linked to other risk factors than heart attack Broken-heart syndrome is linked to other diseases, but the risk factors for cardiovascular disease are normally lower in these patients. This according to a large registry study of Swedish patients made by Karolinska Institutet. The results, which are published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, provide confirmation that the prognosis for a broken heart is comparable to that for myocardial infarction.
	Zebrafish study leads to potential treatment for muscle disease The tiny zebrafish has been used by Monash University researchers to identify a potential approach to treating the progressive and devastating muscle disease, myofibrillar myopathy. The findings may also be useful for diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, which also involve an accumulation of protein aggregates.
	Discover the Genetic Cause for Intellectual disability A research group led by Osaka University and collaborative institutions discovered that disorders in the same gene PIGG are the cause for intellectual disability with seizures and hypotonia. PIGG is one of the enzymes active in the GPI anchor glycolipid synthesis and the current study revealed its significance in the development of the cerebral nervous system.
	No pain and extreme pain from one gene The family from northern Pakistan is one of the strangest to appear in the scientific literature. At its center is a 10-year-old, a street performer who walked on hot coals and inserted daggers through his arms before astonished crowds – feeling absolutely no pain. He died at age 13 from jumping off of a roof, considering himself impervious to all injury.
	The rise and fall of Theranos—so many lessons in a drop of blood The last few months have witnessed the unraveling of the remarkable life sciences company Theranos, culminating in the latest news that federal regulators may ban founder Elizabeth Holmes from the blood-testing industry for at least two years. The company is also facing a federal criminal investigation into whether it misled investors about its technology and company operations.
Scientists identify genes that control smooth muscle contraction in digestive system Researchers at UMass Medical School have identified a new molecular pathway critical for maintaining the smooth muscle tone that allows the passage of materials through the digestive system. This finding, based on studying calcium ion-controlled pathways in mice, may lead to new treatments for a host of digestive disorders ranging from common gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), to swallowing disorders, incontinence and pancreatitis. Details of the study were published in Nature Communications.
	Report shows medical revalidation is off to a good start An interim report compiled for the General Medical Council (GMC) by a consortium of researchers known as UMbRELLA and led by Plymouth University represents the first UK-wide investigation into medical revalidation. It has found that around 40 per cent of doctors are changing how they work as a result of their last appraisal.
	Research reveals a new secret to the miracle of breast milk One of the secrets to rich milk production in lactation has been uncovered by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. Their studies have revealed that breast cells develop two nuclei as the breast switches on lactation to nurture the newborn.
Drug-overdose deaths hold steady in some high drug trafficking areas Areas in the U.S. with the highest drug-overdose death rates are not always places with high drug trafficking, according to a new University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health analysis published in the journal Preventive Medicine.
	Retirement can be golden for your health (HealthDay)—Although aging may mean more physical problems, retirement can help people lead healthier lives, a new study from Australia suggests.
	Heavy pot use in teen years linked to shortened life (HealthDay)—Men who were heavy pot smokers in their teens may not live as long as those who did not use marijuana when they were young, a new study suggests.
	Laser plus topical antifungal effective for onychomycosis (HealthDay)—Fractional carbon dioxide laser therapy combined with topical antifungal is effective in the treatment of onychomycosis, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
	Comorbidity tied to prostate cancer upgrading, up staging (HealthDay)—Comorbidity burden is strongly and independently associated with pathological upgrading/up staging in men with clinically low-risk prostate cancer, according to a study published in the April issue of The Journal of Urology.
Zinc deficiency may contribute to increased inflammation among HIV-positive individuals In a new study, University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers Krishna Poudel and colleagues report that zinc deficiency may contribute to chronic inflammation among HIV-positive individuals. Theirs is believed to be the first investigation to explore the association between serum zinc levels and inflammation among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, while taking their anti-retroviral therapy (ART) into account.
	FDA proposes ban on 'shock' device used to curb self-harm (HealthDay)—Electrical stimulation devices, used to treat self-harming or aggressive behaviors, should be banned, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.
	Take precautions to prevent child poisonings (HealthDay)—From detergents to prescription medication, many common household items can poison children, an emergency medicine physician warns.
	Dietary polyphenols don't provide much CV benefit in metabolic sx (HealthDay)—Supplementation with polyphenols does not strongly protect against cardiovascular diseases among patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS), according to a review published online April 15 in Obesity Reviews.
	Ideal BP in elderly with chronic kidney disease unclear (HealthDay)—Age modifies the association between blood pressure (BP) and adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes in elderly patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to research published online April 21 in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
	CT CAP rarely reveals acute injury in low-velocity trauma (HealthDay)—Computed tomographic (CT) chest abdomen pelvis (CAP) examinations rarely show acute traumatic injury in patients who had a low-velocity trauma but have acute head and/or cervical spine trauma without evidence of bodily injury, according to a study published in the May issue of Radiology.
	Lipid tx cuts cardiovascular risk with type 1 diabetes (HealthDay)—The risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular death is 22 to 44 percent lower among individuals with type 1 diabetes treated with lipid-lowering therapy (LLT), according to a study published online April 18 in Diabetes Care.
	How one health system is shifting from volume to value (HealthDay)—ACCESS Health System, which operates 36 health centers, is transitioning to a patient-centered, physician-friendly health system that provides a continuum of care to underserved populations, according to the American Medical Association (AMA).
	Antimicrobial treatment no benefit after kidney transplant (HealthDay)—For patients undergoing kidney transplantation (KT), systematic antimicrobial treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB) beyond the second month post-transplant is not beneficial, according to a study published online April 18 in the American Journal of Transplantation.
	Ustekinumab more effective than TNF-alpha inhibitors in psoriasis (HealthDay)—For patients with psoriasis, ustekinumab is more effective than tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Mobility assessment tool may help predict early postoperative outcomes for older adults A quick, reliable and cost-effective mobility assessment tool may help to identify elderly patients at risk for adverse post-surgery outcomes, according to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers.
Estrobolome disparities may lead to developing biomarkers that could mitigate cancer risk Investigating disparities in the composition of the estrobolome, the gut bacterial genes capable of metabolizing estrogens in both healthy individuals and in women diagnosed with estrogen-driven breast cancer may lead to the development of microbiome-based biomarkers that could help mitigate the risk of certain cancers, according to a review paper published April 22 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
	First exploratory Zika study in Suriname After the Zika virus appeared in Brazil in the spring of 2015, it was then discovered in Suriname last autumn. Will it also lead to congenital defects in babies there? Together with virologists from Rotterdam, Wageningen entomologist Sander Koenraadt travelled to Suriname in February for a first exploratory study.
A 7-year longitudinal trial of the safety and efficacy of a calcium supplement used to enhance bone mineral density A recent study from the Journal of the American College of Nutrition (JACN), examines the safety and efficacy of a vitamin/mineral enhanced plant-sourced calcium supplement [AlgaeCal (AC)] in female consumers who had taken the supplement from 1 to 7 years. The article "A 7-Year Longitudinal Trial of the Safety and Efficacy of a Vitamin/Mineral Enhanced Plant-Sourced Calcium Supplement" is published in JACN Issue 35(2) 2016, the official publication of the American College of Nutrition.
	Families contribute to mental health information portal For Julia Ogden, raising her beloved autistic son can be like bridging the gap to an alien world, one that can be difficult to navigate and interpret.
	New team to develop radiotherapies that target cancer more effectively Safer precision radiotherapies that will be able to cure more cancers with fewer side-effects will be available within five years under ambitious new plans for research and treatment at the UCL Cancer Institute and University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust.
It is critical to screen patients with rheumatoid arthritis for hearing impairment RA is the commonest autoimmune arthritis affecting 1% of the general population. Despite its main articular manifestations, RA caninvolveextra-articular organs including the auditory system.
ACS-Military Health System partnership prioritizes surgeon readiness and trauma systems CHICAGO (April 22, 2016): At the beginning of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, less than half of the surgeons deployed for the first time had received any type of trauma-specific training beforehand. Most surgeons were within a year or two of completing their surgical residency training, and many had not yet been certified by the American Board of Surgery. To ensure this situation does not happen again, the Military Health System Strategic Partnership American College of Surgeons (MHSSPACS) is working on a course curriculum to prepare surgeons before they are deployed to war zones or other areas affected by disasters.
	New book probes better ways to protect humanity of patients and families during ICU care About four million critically-ill or injured patients are admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in American hospitals every year. The care they receive is not only intensive, but intense—the emphasis is on speed, applying the latest clinical interventions and medical technologies, and saving lives—which is appropriate, given that mortality in an ICU can average between eight and 30 percent.
Risk of liver cancer from hepatitis B persists even after clearing the virus Long-term infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause liver inflammation and increase the risk of liver cancer. Researchers from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, found that resolving HBV infection was not associated with reduced rates of liver cancer.
	Leading U.S. pediatricians oppose transgender bathroom bill (HealthDay)—North Carolina's new transgender bathroom law will harm already vulnerable children, says a leading group of U.S. pediatricians that wants the law repealed.
	Let safety bloom in your garden this season (HealthDay)—Gardening offers exercise and fresh food, but don't forget to protect yourself from potential hazards, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.
	Study links hypoxemia from obstructive sleep apnea with renal complications in type 2 diabetes Examining the poorly understood link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and type 2 diabetes complications, researchers identified specific measures of low blood oxygenation that are associated with impaired kidney function and diabetic nephropathy. The study by Linong Ji, MD and colleagues, Peking University People's Hospital and Peking University Health Science Center (Beijing, China), is published in Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics (DTT).

Other Sciences news

	Fossilised tooth of gigantic 'killer' whale found in Australia A huge, five-million-year-old whale tooth has been discovered on an Australian beach, providing the first evidence of the now extinct killer sperm whale outside the Americas.
Gender-based social conventions influenced development of musical instruments Straddling the legs around a cello was considered immoral for women; sitting by the piano was more becoming for a lady. Thus, women influenced the development of piano composition and play.
	Bourbon or rye? You can't tell the difference, new study says Whiskey aficionados may claim that Manhattans must be made with fiery, grassy rye, while an Old Fashioned requires the sweetness of bourbon.
Research reveals racial disparities in education debt Low-to-moderate income (LMI) black students and graduates accrue on average $7,721 more student debt than their white counterparts, finds a new analysis by researchers in the Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University in St. Louis.
	Study: Choosing VP candidates from swing states can swing elections As summer approaches, the end of the presidential primary season is finally in sight and speculation on potential vice presidential candidates is heating up. Political strategists have already been working for months to analyze every advantage that possible running mates could bring to the table, but two University of Virginia researchers argue that there is a sizable advantage they may be overlooking.
	Exploding the myth of the scientific vs artistic mind It's a stereotype, but many of us have made the assumption that scientists are a bit rigid and less artistic than others. Artists, on the other hand, are often seen as being less rational than the rest of us. Sometimes described as the left side of the brain versus the right side – or simply logical thinking versus artistic creativity – the two are often seen as polar opposites.
Ancient mosaic featuring 'cheerful' skeleton found in Turkey Turkey's state-run news agency says archaeologists have unearthed an ancient mosaic featuring a reclining skeleton holding a drink with the inscription in Greek: "Be cheerful, enjoy life."
	High alpine dairying may have begun over 3000 years ago The discovery of dairy fats on ancient pottery may indicate dairying high in the Alps occurred as early as the Iron Age over 3000 years ago, according to a study published April 21, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Francesco Carrer from the University of York, UK, and colleagues.
Research finds multinationals pay half statutory corporate tax rate New research shows that Australia is forgoing billions of dollars in revenue because of the low rates of tax being paid by large multinational companies here.
Mergers not the answer for HEIs seeking savings, research says AS the sole UK academic presenting a paper at a large-scale conference in the USA, the University of Huddersfield's Professor Jill Johnes introduced her audience to some new concepts in education finance. She also returned with a fresh idea of her own - to establish a new European association for education and finance policy.
Queen's researcher explores effectiveness of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Queen's University political researcher Nathan Andrews has co-authored a report on the effectiveness of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in improving transparency and domestic government in resource rich countries suffering from the "resource curse."
New survey shows Americans believe civility is on the decline A recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that 74 percent of Americans think manners and behavior have deteriorated in the United States over the past several decades. A large majority of Americans believe that politicians should be held to a higher standard than the general public, but few think they are living up to that expectation. The Republican campaign is viewed as rude and disrespectful by nearly twice as many Americans as those who characterize the fight for the Democratic nomination in that way (78 percent vs. 41 percent).

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