Science X Newsletter Monday, Jun 15

Dear Mahesh Sagar Khanal,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 15, 2020:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

A quantum memory that operates at telecom wavelengths

Research sheds new light on intelligent life existing across the galaxy

Researchers develop artificial synapse that works with living cells

Spectacular bird's-eye view? Hummingbirds see diverse colors humans can only imagine

Jitterbug: Roaches and robots shake it to transition between movements in tricky terrain

New lithium-rich Cepheid discovered in the Milky Way

Tiny sand grains trigger massive glacial surges

Newly observed phenomenon could lead to new quantum devices

Light bulb vibrations yield eavesdropping data

Why pulsars shine bright: A half-century-old mystery solved

Researchers create first room-temp 'magnon switch' with industrially useful properties

Beetle that can survive in volcanic areas inspires new cooling materials

Advanced MRI scans may improve treatment of tremor, Parkinson's disease

Following a variety of healthy eating patterns associated with lower heart disease risk

Disrupted circadian rhythms linked to later Parkinson's diagnoses

Nanotechnology news

	A phase battery for quantum technologies Batteries belongs to everyday life. A classical battery, the Volta's pile, converts chemical energy into a voltage, which can power electronic circuits. In many quantum technologies, circuits or devices are based on superconducting materials. In such materials, currents may flow without the need of an applied voltage; therefore, there is no need for a classical battery in such a system. These currents are called supercurrents because they do not exhibit any energy losses. They are induced not from a voltage but from a phase difference of the wave function of the quantum circuit, which is directly related to the wave nature of matter. A quantum device able to provide a persistent phase difference can be seen as a quantum phase battery, which induces supercurrents in a quantum circuit.
	Melting a crystal topologically The introduction of topology, a branch of mathematics focusing on the properties of 'knots,' into physics has inspired revolutionary concepts such as topological phases of matter and topological phase transitions, which resulted in the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2016.
	Current-voltage curve of graphene nanoribbons measured, with implications for graphene switches Researchers at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) have successfully measured the current-voltage curve of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) that were suspended between two electrodes. Measurements were performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results revealed that, in contrast to the findings of previous reports, the electrical conductance of GNRs with a zigzag edge structure (zigzag GNRs) abruptly increased above the critical bias voltage. This finding is worth noting because the abrupt change in these GNRs can be applied to switching devices, which are the smallest devices in the world.

Physics news

	A quantum memory that operates at telecom wavelengths To create large quantum networks, researchers will first need to develop efficient quantum repeaters. A key component of these repeaters are quantum memories, which are the quantum-mechanical equivalents of more conventional computer memories, such as random-access memories (RAM).
	Newly observed phenomenon could lead to new quantum devices An exotic physical phenomenon known as a Kohn anomaly has been found for the first time in an unexpected type of material by researchers at MIT and elsewhere. They say the finding could provide new insights into certain fundamental processes that help determine why metals and other materials display the complex electronic properties that underlie much of today's technology.
	Why pulsars shine bright: A half-century-old mystery solved When Jocelyn Bell first observed the emissions of a pulsar in 1967, the rhythmic pulses of radio waves so confounded astronomers that they considered whether the light could be signals sent by an alien civilization.
	Researchers create first room-temp 'magnon switch' with industrially useful properties Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have demonstrated a potentially new way to make switches inside a computer's processing chips, enabling them to use less energy and radiate less heat.
	Probing dark matter with the Higgs boson Visible matter—everything from pollen to stars and galaxies—accounts for roughly 15% of the total mass of the universe. The remaining 85% is made of something entirely different from things we can touch and see: dark matter. Despite overwhelming evidence from the observation of gravitational effects, the nature of dark matter and its composition remain unknown.
	Elasticity key to plants and animals' ability to sting A new study explains for the very first time the principles behind the design of stings, needles, and spikes in animals and plants. The principles can be directly used in the development of new tools and medical equipment.
	Research reveals how material defects influence melting process In 1972, physicists J. Michael Kosterlitz and David Thouless published a groundbreaking theory of how phase changes could occur in two-dimensional materials. Experiments soon showed that the theory correctly captured the process of a helium film transitioning from a superfluid to a normal fluid, helping to usher in a new era of research on ultra-thin materials, not to mention earning Kosterlitz, a professor at Brown University, and Thouless shares of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physics.
	Radiation pressure with recoil: Experimental proof for a 90 year-old theory Light exerts a certain amount of pressure onto a body: sun sails could thus power space probes in the future. However, when light particles (photons) hit an individual molecule and knock out an electron, the molecule flies toward the light source. Atomic physicists at Goethe University have now observed this for the first time, confirming a 90 year-old theory.
	Excitons form superfluid in certain 2-D combos Mixing and matching computational models of 2-D materials led scientists at Rice University to the realization that excitons—quasiparticles that exist when electrons and holes briefly bind—can be manipulated in new and useful ways.

Earth news

	Tiny sand grains trigger massive glacial surges About 10 percent of the Earth's land mass is covered in glaciers, most of which slip slowly across the land over years, carving fjords and trailing rivers in their wake. But about 1 percent of glaciers can suddenly surge, spilling over the land at 10 to 100 times their normal speed.
	Disclosure of climate-related financial risks not enough to drive action A new Griffith University study cautions over-reliance on a financial disclosure framework for driving climate action.
	A possible explanation for why West Antarctica is warming faster than East Antarctica A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in South Korea has found a possible reason for West Antarctica warming faster than East Antarctica. In their paper published in the journal Science Advances, the group describes their study of surface and air temperature trends in the region over the past several decades in which they applied math models to the problem, and what they found.
	What has caused more extreme summer heat events over northeast Asia? Widespread hot extremes have been seen throughout the world in recent years, causing heat-related mortality and harming crops and livestock. In summer 2018, a record-breaking heat wave swept across large areas of Northeast Asia. The China Meteorological Administration issued high-temperature warnings for 33 consecutive days. In Japan, at least 71,266 required hospitalization for heat stroke.
	The many lifetimes of plastics Many of us have seen informational posters at parks or aquariums specifying how long plastics bags, bottles, and other products last in the environment. They're a good reminder to not litter, but where does the information on the lifetime expectancy of plastic goods come from, and how reliable is it?
	Carbon emission from permafrost soils underestimated by 14% Picture 500 million cars stacked in rows. That's how much carbon—about 1,000 petagrams, or one billion metric tons—is locked away in Arctic permafrost.
	Researchers unlock clues to a dramatic chapter of Earth's geological history Imagine Earth completely covered in ice. While it's hard to picture all of today's oceans and land masses obscured with glaciers, such an ice-covered version of the planet was not so far-fetched millions of years ago.
	Researchers show Canada Basin's diminished capacity to absorb carbon dioxide New research by University of Delaware doctoral student Zhangxian Ouyang and oceanographer Wei-Jun Cai, and an international team of researchers, demonstrates that rapid warming and sea-ice loss have induced major changes in the western Arctic Ocean.
	Taking a landslide's temperature to avert catastrophe Engineers from Duke University have developed a comprehensive new model of deep-seated landslides and demonstrated that it can accurately recreate the dynamics of historic and current landslides that occur under various conditions.
	What is a derecho? An atmospheric scientist explains these rare but dangerous storm systems Thunderstorms are common across North America, especially in warm weather months. About 10% of them become severe, meaning they produce hail 1 inch or greater in diameter, winds gusting in excess of 50 knots (57.5 miles per hour), or a tornado.
	Study finds warming peat may boost greenhouse gases Warming temperatures in cold-climate peatlands may over time trigger decomposition of old, deeply buried peat and increase emissions of climate-harming methane and carbon dioxide into the air, according to a study led by a former University of Oregon doctoral student.
	New tool to measure aerosol optical hygroscopicity Researchers at Anhui Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science recently developed a humidified cavity-enhanced albedometer (H-CEA) which could simultaneously measure relative-humidity-dependent aerosol light extinction, scattering, absorption, and single scattering albedo.
	Making coal from food waste, garden cuttings – and even human sewage Food waste, garden cuttings, manure, and even human sewage can be turned into solid biocoal for energy generation, and, if scaled up, could help match the industrial demand for carbon with the need to get rid of organic waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
	Pollution in Asian tropopause layer comes from human activities and natural sources, study finds The Asian Tropopause Aerosol Layer (ATAL) is a thin layer of aerosol with a thickness of about 3-4 km, which appears regularly at the height of the tropopause layer during the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) period over the Tibetan Plateau. How is it formed? Where are aerosols from? There questions have been debated since the discovery of ATAL in 2011.
	Brazil drives increase in worldwide forest loss Primary forest destruction contributed carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 400 million cars last year, as tree cover loss increased by 2.8 percent compared with 2018.
	The search for nature in times of crisis and beyond As a fellow hiker took a picture of the extremely faint Manhattan skyline stretched out beyond an inlet of the Long Island Sound, I thought about how financially privileged we were to be there. I had paid $27 for a round-trip ticket to the Marshland Conservancy in Rye, Westchester County. This was way back on a crisp Sunday in February 2020, before New Yorkers realized that the coronavirus was a tangible threat to any city other than Wuhan, China. The Marshlands Conservancy is a wildlife sanctuary spanning 147 acres. We walked along the sanctuary's three-mile trail to see and hear as many birds as we possibly could in the few short hours we had there.
	Predicting the future response to our current cascading crises If the past hundred days or so have taught us anything it should be humility about our ability to predict the future. Here, in New York City, we have seen the horror of a pandemic that locked many of us in our homes while critical workers risked their health to keep the rest of us alive in hospitals and comfortable at home. We have seen a Black man in Minnesota brutally murdered in public by a policeman, and a global multi-racial movement rise up against the forces of racism and hatred. This year has provided catastrophe beyond belief, and courage on the front lines and in the streets that gives me hope and faith, that somehow, we will break on through to the other side.
	Scientists find key factors impacting sideswiping tropical cyclone precipitation Sideswiping tropical cyclones (STCs) are tropical cyclones (TCs) that cause precipitation over land without making landfall. STC precipitation (STP) can constitute a severe meteorological disaster leading to devastating impacts on the environment and society. STCs make a significant contribution to the total inland precipitation associated with TCs, and therefore could produce extreme rainfall events not only in coastal regions but also in inland areas far away from the coastline.
	NASA follows Tropical Storm Nuri's path An animation of four days of imagery from NASA's Terra satellite showed the progression and landfall of Tropical Storm Nuri.

Astronomy and Space news

	Research sheds new light on intelligent life existing across the galaxy Is there anyone out there? This is an age-old question that researchers have now shed new light on with a study that calculates there could be more than 30 intelligent civilizations throughout our Galaxy. This is an enormous advance over previous estimates which spanned from zero to billions.
	New lithium-rich Cepheid discovered in the Milky Way Italian astronomers have reported the discovery of a new lithium-rich galactic Cepheid star, identified by high-resolution spectroscopic observations. The newfound object, designated V363 Cas, is the fifth lithium-rich classical Cepheid in our Milky Way galaxy. The study detailing the finding was published June 5 on arXiv.org.
	Measuring the spin of a black hole A black hole, at least in our current understanding, is characterized by having "no hair," that is, it is so simple that it can be completely described by just three parameters, its mass, its spin and its electric charge. Even though it may have formed out of a complex mix of matter and energy, all other details are lost when the black hole forms. Its powerful gravitational field creates a surrounding surface, a "horizon," and anything that crosses that horizon (even light) cannot escape. Hence the singularity appears black, and any details about the infalling material are also lost and digested into the three knowable parameters.
	Electrically charged dust storms drive Martian chlorine cycle How's the weather on Mars? Tough on rovers, but very good for generating and moving highly reactive chlorine compounds. New research from Washington University in St. Louis planetary scientists shows that Martian dust storms, like the one that eventually shut down the Opportunity rover, drive the cycle of chlorine from surface to atmosphere and may shed light on the potential for finding life on Mars.
	Observatories around the solar system team up to study sun's influence At the heart of understanding our space environment is the knowledge that conditions throughout space—from the sun to the atmospheres of planets to the radiation environment in deep space—are connected.
	While stargazing on Mars, Curiosity rover spots Earth and Venus NASA's Curiosity Mars rover occasionally stops to stargaze. Recently, it captured a shot of Earth and Venus in the Red Planet's night sky.

Technology news

	Jitterbug: Roaches and robots shake it to transition between movements in tricky terrain Animals in their natural environments effortlessly switch up their movements to hunt, escape from predators and travel with their packs every day.
	Light bulb vibrations yield eavesdropping data In an era of digital eavesdropping where hackers employ a variety of means to take over built-in video cameras, peruse personal digital data and snoop on cellular conversations, researchers have finally seen the light.
	Beetle that can survive in volcanic areas inspires new cooling materials A type of beetle capable of regulating its body temperature in some of the hottest places on Earth is the centerpiece of new research with major potential implications for cooling everything from buildings to electronic devices in an environmentally friendly manner.
	The first intuitive programming language for quantum computers Programming quantum computers is becoming easier: computer scientists at ETH Zurich have designed the first programming language that can be used to program quantum computers as simply, reliably and safely as classical computers. "Programming quantum computers is still a challenge for researchers," says Martin Vechev, computer science professor in ETH's Secure, Reliable and Intelligent Systems Lab (SRI), "which is why I'm so excited that we can now continue ETH Zurich's tradition in the development of quantum computers and programming languages."
	Hertz allowed to sell $1 bn in shares despite bankruptcy Coronavirus-hit car rental company Hertz was granted permission Friday to sell $1 billion in shares, an extraordinary move after it declared bankruptcy in the United States and Canada.
	Pandemic leads to a bicycle boom, and shortage, around world Fitness junkies locked out of gyms, commuters fearful of public transit, and families going stir crazy inside their homes during the coronavirus pandemic have created a boom in bicycle sales unseen in decades.
	Facebook rejects call to share revenue with Australian media Facebook on Monday rejected calls from the Australian government and news companies that it share advertising revenue with the media, suggesting it would rather cut news content from its platform.
	Norway suspends virus-tracing app after privacy concerns Norway's health authorities said on Monday they had suspended an app designed to help trace the spread of the new coronavirus after the national data protection agency said it was too invasive of privacy.
	Circular reasoning: Spiraling circuits for more efficient AI Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science at the University of Tokyo designed and built specialized computer hardware consisting of stacks of memory modules arranged in a 3-D spiral for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. This research may open the way for the next generation of energy-efficient AI devices.
	AI algorithm identifies age of faces in photos using wrinkles, spots An algorithm developed by neuroinformatics engineers in Bochum estimates age and ethnic origin as exactly as humans do. The researchers are not yet sure which features it interprets.
	Report details best practices for concentrating solar power So you want to build a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant. Have you developed a technical specification that clearly defines the key project requirements? Does your team have the relevant experience and knowledge to successfully deploy a CSP project? Have you designed your plant for the daily start-ups and transient conditions it will experience? Have you planned appropriately to prepare and mobilize your O&M team to take over operation of the plant at the appropriate time? Have you fully considered the implications of building a plant at a remote location?
	Framework built for using graph theory to solve discrete optimization problems A framework that uses graph theory, which considers how networks are coded, could help make digital communication networks more efficient.
	AI reduces 'communication gap' for nonverbal people by as much as half Researchers have used artificial intelligence to reduce the 'communication gap' for nonverbal people with motor disabilities who rely on computers to converse with others.
	India's Tata Motors reports $1.3 bn loss as coronavirus bites India's Tata Motors Monday reported a loss of $1.3 billion for the first three months of this year as sales in its key markets of China and Europe were hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
	Walmart partners with Shopify to expand e-commerce 'marketplace' Walmart said Monday it was teaming up with e-commerce platform Shopify to expand its online marketplace in a ramped-up challenge to Amazon for third-party sellers.
	WhatsApp launches first digital payments option Facebook on Monday added a digital payments feature to its WhatsApp messaging service, starting in Brazil but with an eye to expanding around the world.
	Madrid announces 3.75 billion euro injection for car industry Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a 3.75-billion-euro aid plan for the car industry, a pillar of its economy that has been badly hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
	Media calls on EU to crack down on online disinformation Broadcasters, publishers and journalists called on the European Commission on Monday to implement "much stronger measures" to combat disinformation on internet platforms such as Google and Facebook.
	Moving to energy-efficient lighting more than just a bright idea A new University of Otago-led study shows moving to more energy-efficient lighting would help New Zealand achieve 100 percent renewable electricity generation.
	We played 'The Last of Us Part II'. Here's what you should know What better way to escape the real-world horrors of a global pandemic, then to play a video game based on a more terrifying and stressful outbreak?
	Building a circular chemical economy Carbon dioxide is essential to plant and animal life, but in excess it negatively impacts the environment by absorbing and radiating heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
	Airbnb speeds up initiative to curb racial discrimination Airbnb said Monday it was accelerating its effort to uncover and root out race-based discrimination on its home-sharing platform with its "Project Lighthouse" initiative.
	Ex-eBay execs sent cockroaches to harassment victims: US prosecutors Six former eBay executives and employees sent a box of live cockroaches, a bloody pig mask and a funeral wreath to a couple they were harassing, US prosecutors alleged Monday.

Chemistry news

	Cutting-edge computing paves way to future of NMR spectroscopy Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy helps chemists and other scientists identify and explore atomic structures. However, NMR is limited by the availability of catalogs of reference data to compare and identify structures.
	Salt solution produces better organic electrochemical transistors Doping is commonly used to improve performance in semiconducting devices but has not previously been successful for electron transporting or n-type, organic electronic materials. Now, an approach developed by KAUST uses a dopant, an additive that boosts the electronic performance and water stability of an n-type semiconducting polymer, to produce the first water-stable n-doped, organic electrochemical transistors, known as OECTs.
	New 3-D X-ray technique reveals secrets from inside bones An international research team has used new X-ray techniques to describe how the architecture of healthy human bones is built up. The team has uncovered a hitherto unknown structure in healthy bones.
	Scientists discover three-dimensional structure in smaller water droplet Water and its interactions with other substances are essential to human life. However, understanding the structure of liquid water and its hydrogen-bonding networks has been a challenge.
	History of insightful HIV research inspires neutron scattering approach to studying COVID-19 As the novel coronavirus continues to spread, researchers are searching for novel ways to stop it. But for two scientists, looking to the future means drawing inspiration from the past.
	One-minute simultaneous analysis of pungency components in kimchi The World Institute of Kimchi (WiKim) has announced its development of a rapid analysis method for quantifying capsaicin (CAP) and dihydrocapsaicin (DHC), which are major pungency components in kimchi, within one minute.

Biology news

	Spectacular bird's-eye view? Hummingbirds see diverse colors humans can only imagine To find food, dazzle mates, escape predators and navigate diverse terrain, birds rely on their excellent color vision.
	New species extinction target proposed for global nature rescue plan The upcoming future strategy for conserving biodiversity must include a prominent target to lower extinction rates, according to group including UCL scientists.
	How young embryos conduct quality control The first few days of embryonic development are a critical point for determining the failure or success of a pregnancy. Because relatively few cells make up the embryo during this period, the health of each cell is vital to the health of the overall embryo. But often, these young cells have chromosomal aneuploidies—meaning, there are too many or too few chromosome copies in the cell. Aneuploid cells lead to the failure of the pregnancy, or cause developmental defects such as Down syndrome later in gestation.
	Unpacking the two layers of bacterial gene regulation during plant infection A study in Nature Plants has revealed new insights into how pathogenic bacteria regulate gene expression during plant infection, as well as the strategies employed by plants to protect themselves from bacterial invaders.
	Researchers discover what's behind nature's perhaps largest erection, which is not that big In the plant kingdom, the sexual organ of a male pollen grain grows up to a thousand times its own length as it sniffs its way forth to a female egg cell to deliver its two sperm cells. Now researchers at the University of Copenhagen have advanced the understanding of what makes pollen 'penises,' called pollen tubes, grow. The newfound knowledge may prove valuable to understanding human nerve cells.
	Modeling neuronal cultures on 'brain-on-a-chip' devices For the past several years, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists and engineers have made significant progress in development of a three-dimensional "brain-on-a-chip" device capable of recording neural activity of human brain cell cultures grown outside the body.
	Wounded plants: How they coordinate their healing When we cut our fingers, blood rushes out of the wound to close it. However, the vegetable we just wanted to slice and dice, would have reacted completely differently to this injury. Scientists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (IST Austria) investigated how plant cells heal wounds. In their results, published in PNAS on June 15, the researchers discovered that the hormone auxin and pressure changes are crucial to regeneration.
	Surprising growth rates discovered in world's deepest photosynthetic corals New research published in the journal Coral Reefs revealed unexpectedly high growth rates for deep water photosynthetic corals. The study, led by Samuel Kahng, affiliate graduate faculty in the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), alters the assumption that deep corals living on the brink of darkness grow extremely slowly.
	Team develops benchmark for detecting large genetic mutations linked to major diseases Many serious diseases, including autism, schizophrenia and numerous cardiac disorders, are believed to result from mutation of an individual's DNA. But some large mutations, which still make up only a small fraction of the total human genome, have been surprisingly challenging to detect.
	Accelerating biological systems design for sustainable biomanufacturing Northwestern University synthetic biologists have developed a new rapid-prototyping system to accelerate the design of biological systems, reducing the time to produce sustainable biomanufacturing products from months to weeks.
	Sugar coating locks and loads coronavirus for infection They say you can't judge a book by its cover. But the human immune system does just that when it comes to finding and attacking harmful microbes such as the coronavirus. It relies on being able to recognize foreign intruders and generate antibodies to destroy them. Unfortunately, the coronavirus uses a sugary coating of molecules called glycans to camouflage itself as harmless from the defending antibodies.
	Scientists unravel the evolution and relationships for all European butterflies in a first For the first time, a complete time-calibrated phylogeny for a large group of invertebrates is published for an entire continent.
	Interactions between human‐modified habitat change and climate change shape tropical butterfly biodiversity in Yunnan Butterflies are considered bioindicators of environmental change. In a study published in Insect Science, researchers from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) found that butterfly diversity in tropical rainforests and savannas is threatened by human‐modified habitat loss and global climate change.
	Precision genome editing enters the modern era CRISPR has sparked a renaissance in genome editing. Now, next-generation CRISPR technologies let scientists modify the genome more efficiently and precisely than before. Such tools could one day serve as therapeutics, but many challenges remain.
	Don't count your fish before they hatch: experts react to plans to release 2 million fish into the Murray Darling The New South Wales government plans to release two million native fish into rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin, in the largest breeding program of its kind in the state. But as the river system recovers from a string of mass fish deaths, caution is needed.
	Rare moss clinging to life on B.C. cliff should be protected, says expert A rare moss struggling to survive on a single square metre of rock in British Columbia should be protected as an endangered species, says a University of Alberta expert who has studied the tiny plant.
	A continental-scale prediction on the functional diversity of stream microbes A recent research find indicates that climate change increases the functional diversity of microbes living in streams. Consequently, climate change may, in certain cases, be beneficial to ecosystems.
	A method to anaerobically disinfect soil to increase phosphorus using diluted ethanol Scientists in Japan and the Netherlands have independently developed anaerobic soil disinfestation, also known as biological soil disinfestation or reductive soil disinfestation, to kill off pathogenic bacteria, parasitic nematodes and even weeds in soils without using pesticides. By covering the soil with plastic to cut off access to oxygen, unwanted organisms suffocate and do not need to be chemically fumigated.
	New research investigates the role of lipid rafts in virus infiltration A cell's membrane acts as a natural shield, a fence around the cell that protects and contains it. It mediates processes that let nutrients through and let waste out, and it acts as a physical barrier to the entry of toxic substances and pathogens, like the viruses SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, the one that causes COVID-19.
	Cell wall research reveals possibility of simple and sustainable method to protect crops While crop diseases have devastating consequences on agriculture, causing losses of up to 30% in some crops, plants constantly evolve to maintain robust immune systems that allow them to perceive pathogens and develop defenses. One key player in this system is the plant cell wall, a complex structure that surrounds all plant cells. The plant cell wall is a dynamic structure modified by interactions with microbes and environmental stresses. These modifications alter the integrity of the cell wall and often activate plant immunity and disease resistance responses.

Medicine and Health news

	Researchers develop artificial synapse that works with living cells In 2017, Stanford University researchers presented a new device that mimics the brain's efficient and low-energy neural learning process. It was an artificial version of a synapse—the gap across which neurotransmitters travel to communicate between neurons—made from organic materials. In 2019, the researchers assembled nine of their artificial synapses together in an array, showing that they could be simultaneously programmed to mimic the parallel operation of the brain.
	Advanced MRI scans may improve treatment of tremor, Parkinson's disease Recently developed MRI techniques used to more precisely target a small area in the brain linked to Parkinson's disease and essential tremor may lead to better outcomes without surgery and with less risk of negative effects, a new study led by UT Southwestern researchers suggests.
	Following a variety of healthy eating patterns associated with lower heart disease risk Greater adherence to a variety of healthy eating patterns was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to new research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The findings add support for the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which focus on healthy eating patterns rather than individual ingredients and nutrients to better account for diverse cultural and personal food traditions and preferences.
	Disrupted circadian rhythms linked to later Parkinson's diagnoses Older men who have a weak or irregular circadian rhythm guiding their daily cycles of rest and activity are more likely to later develop Parkinson's disease, according to a new study by scientists at the UC San Francisco Weill Institute for Neurosciences who analyzed 11 years of data for nearly 3,000 independently living older men.
	Blocking brain signals detected in the kidney could help unlock future treatments for kidney failure Scientists have discovered an important cell signaling pathway in the kidney which if stopped, could hold the key to treating chronic kidney disease as well as other deadly conditions, including heart attack and stroke.
	Firearm use and storage restrictions associated with reduction in firearm deaths Three common types of gun laws are associated with changes in the number of firearm deaths, with the most-restrictive combination of the laws estimated to result in an 11% reduction in firearm deaths, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
	Delta opioid receptor identified as promising therapeutic target for inflammatory pain relief Delta opioid receptors have a built-in mechanism for pain relief and can be precisely targeted with drug-delivering nanoparticles—making them a promising target for treating chronic inflammatory pain with fewer side effects, according to a new study from an international team of researchers. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was conducted using cells from humans and mice with inflammatory bowel disease, which can cause chronic pain.
	Scientists map how human retinal cells relay information to brain To understand how we see the world and how diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma impair vision, scientists need to understand how the retina communicates vision signals to the brain.
	Muscles support a strong immune system In the fight against cancer or chronic infections, the immune system must be active over long periods of time. However, in the long run, the immune defense system often becomes exhausted. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now found initial evidence in mice that skeletal muscles help to keep the immune system functional in chronic diseases.
	New indication of a link between Alzheimer's and diabetes Pathological protein clumps are characteristic of a series of diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and type 2 diabetes. Scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, and Maastricht University have now used cryo-electron microscopy to obtain a sharp image for the first time of how individual molecules are arranged in protein strings, which constitute the deposits typical for diabetes. The structure of the fibrils is very similar to that of Alzheimer's fibrils. These findings are in line with other commonalities that researchers have discovered in the last few years.
	Diluting blood plasma rejuvenates tissue, reverses aging in mice In 2005, University of California, Berkeley, researchers made the surprising discovery that making conjoined twins out of young and old mice—such that they share blood and organs—can rejuvenate tissues and reverse the signs of aging in the old mice. The finding sparked a flurry of research into whether a youngster's blood might contain special proteins or molecules that could serve as a "fountain of youth" for mice and humans alike.
	Tuberculosis vaccine strengthens immune system A tuberculosis vaccine developed 100 years ago also makes vaccinated persons less susceptible to other infections. While this effect has been recognized for a long time, it is not known what causes it. Together with colleagues from Australia and Denmark, researchers from Radboud university medical center the universities of Nijmegen and Bonn have now presented a possible answer to this question. Their results are also interesting against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic: several studies are currently testing the use of the vaccine in preventing severe disease progression in populations at risk such as hospital staff and elderly individuals. The study is published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe.
	Improved gut microbiota with cholesterol-lowering medication There is a clear link between improved gut microbiota and one of our most common cholesterol-lowering drug groups: statins. This is evident from a European study involving researchers from the University of Gothenburg.
	Brothers in arms: The brain and its blood vessels The brain is our most energy-hungry and metabolically active organ. It is responsible for our thoughts, ideas, movement and ability to learn. Our brain is powered by 600 km of blood vessels that bring it nutrients and remove waste products. However, the brain is also very fragile. Thus, the blood vessels in the brain have evolved to form a tight protective barrier—the blood-brain barrier—that restricts the movement of molecules in and out of the brain. It is essential that the brain can regulate its environment. On the one hand, pathogens or toxins are effectively prevented from entering the brain, but on the other hand, required messengers or nutrients can pass through them unhindered.
	Immune properties in ancient DNA found in isolated villages might benefit humanity today Could remnants of DNA from a now extinct human subspecies known as the Denisovans help boost the immune functions of modern humans?
	Neurons can shift how they process information about motion: study New Rochester research indicates some neurons may be more adept than previously thought in helping you perceive the motion of objects while you move through the world. The findings may have implications for developing future prosthetics and for understanding some brain disorders.
	Molecules that reduce 'bad' gut bacteria reverse narrowing of arteries in animal study Scientists at Scripps Research have developed molecules that can remodel the bacterial population of intestines to a healthier state and they have shown—through experiments in mice—that this reduces cholesterol levels and strongly inhibits the thickened-artery condition known as atherosclerosis.
	First report of systemic delivery of micro-dystrophin gene therapy in children with DMD Researchers from Nationwide Children's Hospital have published in JAMA Neurology results from the first four patients treated in the first clinical trial of systemic delivery of micro-dystrophin gene therapy in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD)—and initial findings suggest that the therapy can provide functional improvement that is greater than that observed under the standard of care.
	Even 'low-risk' drinking can be harmful It's not just heavy drinking that's a problem—even consuming alcohol within weekly low-risk drinking guidelines can result in hospitalization and death, according to a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
	Experts call for more awareness of the potential impact of physical distancing on adolescent peer relationships Authors of an opinion piece, based on a review of evidence and published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, are urging policymakers to consider the effects of physical distancing measures introduced to tackle the spread of COVID-19 on young people's social development and wellbeing.
	Parents twice as likely to be concerned about ticks than of mosquitoes Not all bloodsuckers are created equal in parents' eyes.
	Study finds significant parental hesitancy about routine childhood and influenza vaccines A national study measuring parental attitudes toward vaccinations found 6.1% were hesitant about routine childhood immunizations while nearly 26% were hesitant about the influenza vaccine.
	Maternal depression: Seeking help sooner is better for mums and kids The children of mothers with long-term depression have been found to be at higher risk of behavioral problems and poor development.
	Who is at risk of heart rhythm disorders? Use the right tool for the job. Today experts outline the best way to identify people most likely to develop common and devastating heart rhythm disorders. The advice is published in EP Europace, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and presented on EHRA Essentials 4 You, a scientific platform of the ESC.
	How virtual reality takes the 'work' out of workouts If you want to exercise harder, enjoy it more and feel it less, pull on a VR headset and plug in some upbeat tunes, leading sport scientists say in their latest study.
	Adaptive therapy based on Darwin's evolutionary principles could help fight cancer Computational models developed by USC researchers show adaptively controlling tumor cell populations to keep them in competition can more effectively treat cancer.
	Exploring safe contraception methods for women living with HIV Women living with HIV need to know which contraceptive methods are safe for them to use both in terms of their own health and in terms of the likelihood of increasing transmission to their sexual partners. Some evidence suggests that some forms of hormonal contraception may increase the risk of transmission to sexual partners by increasing genital viral shedding.
	People born small for gestational age have a lower IQ throughout development from infancy to adulthood People born small for gestational age (SGA) have a lower IQ throughout development, however the differences in IQ to those born appropriate for gestational age (AGA) reduce by adulthood. The effects of SGA on IQ are nearly as large as being born into lower socio-economic status or receiving poor parenting in infancy.
	Rapid chip medical tests prototyped for premature babies Scientists at the University of Southampton's Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics are developing a rapid bedside test for diagnosing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (nRDS) in premature babies.
	Researchers analyze ethics of allocating medical resources in COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has left many healthcare providers scrambling for resources to treat cases over the last several months. And public health officials fear a resurgence in cases. Doctors and healthcare professionals may be forced into difficult decisions: Whom do you save?
	Cannabis use in pregnancy linked to poorer outcomes for babies The use of cannabis during pregnancy leads to poorer health outcomes for babies, according to research from the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute.
	FDA OKs second treatment for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (HealthDay)—Uplizna (inebilizumab-cdon) injection is now approved to treat neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in patients who are anti-aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody positive, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.
	Blood cancer find raises new treatment hopes New QIMR Berghofer research has identified how an early genetic change in blood and bone marrow cells paves the way for the development of some blood cancers.
	Study shows how caring responsibilities affect health and restrict ability to work New research from the University of Southampton has highlighted inequalities faced by men and women over the age of fifty with caring responsibilities. As well as being more likely to be socio-economically disadvantaged, carers in this age group are more likely to experience problems with their mental and physical health than people who do not provide any care.
	New bandages could help to treat diabetic and burn wounds New dressings that could be used to treat diabetic wounds and burns injuries more effectively have been developed by engineers from the University of Sheffield
	Q&A: New neuronal model with potential to tackle spinocerebellar ataxias disease Within the partnering environment of the Human Brain Project, a Future and Emerging Technologies Flagship, researchers of the Politechnic University of Milan have developed a simplified neuronal model with potential to tackle the spinocerebellar ataxias disease—a success story of the integration of the partnering environment's scientific community in neuroscience and neurocomputing with the Human Brain Project.
	A preclinical study shows that hydroxychloroquine has no antiviral effect on SARS-CoV-2 in vivo A study on the effects of hydroxychloroquine in macaques infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, used alone or in combination with azithromycin, has been pre-published on Research Square after their submission to Nature. Scientists from the CEA, Inserm, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris-Saclay, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and Aix-Marseille Université have been involved in the study, which has been carried out under the aegis of the multidisciplinary consortium, REACTing.
	Exposure to air pollution impairs cellular energy metabolism Exposure to air particulate matter impairs the metabolism of olfactory mucosal cells, according to a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland. The results can contribute to a better understanding of how air pollutants may harm brain health, as the olfactory mucosa can act as a key pathway to the brain.
	Blood sample can be used to assess the severity and prognosis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration in the future Biomarkers to support the diagnosis of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and to assess the severity and expected prognosis of the disease are needed. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) measured from a blood sample strongly correlates with the duration of the disease in FTLD patients and the rate of brain atrophy, according to a new study published by the University of Eastern Finland in the Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology.
	Hearts transported and preserved for transplantation in new heart box A donated heart can now be transported and preserved for longer than what has previously been possible. The new method, which consists of a specially designed heart box, was used for a transplant for the first time as early as the summer of 2017. Now it has been evaluated in a first clinical study, and the results are published in Nature Communications.
	Researchers flush out worrying trend of designer drug use In a sign that designer drugs are becoming more prevalent in Australia, synthetic cathinones—commonly known as 'bath salts'—have been detected in the nation's wastewater in the largest study of its kind in the country.
	Diabetic mice improve with retrievable millimeter-thick cell-laden hydrogel fiber Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) results from an irreversible autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic β-cells requiring life-long substitution of insulin. In a new study, researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo discovered that the diameter of cell-laden hydrogels determines its longevity after transplantation, paving the way for efficacious cell therapy for T1DM.
	GLP-1-based treatment of diabetes does not cause pancreatitis About 50,000 Danish diabetic patients are treated with GLP-1-based medicine. GLP-1 is a hormone that reduces the blood sugar and inhibits the appetite, and it is a frequent treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity. A known side effect of this particular treatment is that it increases patients' markers for pancreatitis.
	Vegetarians are slimmer and less extroverted than meat eaters, study finds According to a survey by the Allensbach Institute, more than 6.1 million Germans stated last year that they were vegetarians, 400,000 more than two years earlier. A large-scale study at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (MPI CBS) in cooperation with the University Hospital of Leipzig has now examined in almost 9,000 people how this form of nutrition is related to the body and the psyche—regardless of age, gender and level of education.
	Multi-ethnic study suggests vitamin K may offer protective health benefits in older age A new, multi-ethnic study found older adults with low vitamin K levels were more likely to die within 13 years compared to those whose vitamin K levels were adequate. The results suggest vitamin K, a nutrient found in leafy greens and vegetable oils, may have protective health benefits as we age, according to the researchers.
	Low physical function and low muscle mass increase the risk for accelerated bone loss in older hip fracture patients Low physical function and low muscle mass after hip fracture increased the risk for accelerated bone deterioration in older hip fracture patients. Acknowledgement of the risk factors is important for bone health and overall recovery.
	Magnetic guidance improves stem cells' ability to treat occupational lung disease Results of a study released today in Stem Cells Translational Medicine (SCTM) may point the way to a cure for a serious lung disease called silicosis that affects millions of workers worldwide. Silicosis results from years of breathing in dust microparticles of silica by workers in professions such as construction and sand blasting. The particles can eventually lead to inflammation and scarring of the lung tissue, which in turn makes it difficult to breathe and can result in death.
	COVID-19 associated with dramatic decline in ED use by pediatric asthma patients The number of patients visiting the emergency department (ED) for asthma treatment dropped by 76% in the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study by researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The proportion of ED visits that led to a patient being hospitalized also decreased over this period, suggesting the decrease in overall visits was not solely due to patients avoiding the hospital due to the pandemic or delays in care for less serious asthma events.
	Tuberculosis spread from animals to humans may be greater than previously thought The number of human tuberculosis (TB) cases that are due to transmission from animals, as opposed to human-to-human transmission, may be much higher than previously estimated, according to an international team of researchers. The results could have implications for epidemiological studies and public health interventions.
	Research delves into causes of nightmares that shadow female survivors of sexual trauma It's been estimated that up to 88% of survivors of rape or molestation suffer from persistent nightmares that can occur multiple times per week, seemingly at random.
	New technical approach can enhance diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious problem associated with a wide variety of lung diseases, which can lead to right ventricular dysfunction and death. Currently, there is no drug therapy to cure PH and the condition may necessitate lung transplantation. The management and prognosis of PH heavily relies on whether the pathology is localized in pulmonary arteries or veins. In particular, at early stages, it is challenging to distinguish pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) from the rare subtype of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) because clinical presentations of PAH and PVOD can be similar. A new study in the American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, reports gene expression analysis of lung explant tissue can accurately differentiate PAH from PVOD.
	Drug with new approach on impeding DNA repair shows promise in first clinical trial In its first randomized clinical trial, a drug that targets a protein needed by cancer cells to maintain their dogged growth and division has shown considerable promise in combination with chemotherapy in patients with a common form of ovarian cancer, investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute report.
	Addressing the safety of high folate levels in the older population and implications for fortification in Ireland A new study led by researchers from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) at Trinity College Dublin challenges claims from some international scientific circles, that having high blood levels of folate (folic acid) increases the risk of poor cognition in older adults, especially in those with low levels of vitamin B12.
	Brother's death from heart failure inspires his own fight for health Yonas Michael didn't know what to think when his younger brother, Daniel, kept saying he felt "funny."
	Experts warn of 'sound cannon' hearing loss at protest marches (HealthDay)—As Americans take to the streets to protest police brutality, they may face ear-blasting "sound cannons" that can harm their hearing.
	Electronic health information exchange improves public health disease reporting Disease tracking is an important area of focus for health departments in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. A new study from Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University shows that using electronic health information exchanges (HIE) to prepopulate forms for notifiable disease reports increases reporting and completeness of information.
	Use of unproven COVID-19 therapies by African American patients poses risks Nearly one out of every 10 African Americans has a genetic variant that puts them inherently at an increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Writing in the journal Heart Rhythm, the official publication of the Heart Rhythm Society and the Cardiac Electrophysiology Society, investigators observe that along with socioeconomic and cultural factors, this genetic risk factor may contribute to the racial health disparities that have been documented in victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also note that the unwanted effects of therapies such as hydroxychloroquine may put African Americans with the variant at increased risk of drug-induced ventricular arrhythmias. Therefore, they urge particular caution.
	Icky prescription: Could hookworms help ease multiple sclerosis? In a new trial there are hints, but no proof, that a wriggling intestinal parasite might help fight multiple sclerosis.
	Higher parental stress linked to low screen-time enforcement, research finds When parents are under stress, household rules about screen time often get abandoned, new University of Guelph research finds.
	Researchers uncover drivers of healthy gut maintenance Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have found two genes that regulate the differentiation of stem cells in the small intestine, offering valuable insight into how the body develops and maintains a healthy gut.
	CICERO software enables detection of cancer-causing gene fusions After years of development, engineering and enhancement, researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have made publicly available a software system that enables better detection of gene fusions. The system, called CICERO, offers additional insights into cancers, as well as new targets for drug treatments. The latest version of CICERO was published in Genome Biology.
	As food insecurity continues to plague New Yorkers, impact on children is worrisome One in four households with children have reported a child experiencing hunger as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis, according to the latest CUNY SPH COVID-19 tracking survey. Many New Yorkers continued to report difficulties in getting the food they needed, but of particular concern is the impact on households with children under the age of 18. About one in three of these households reported that since the epidemic started a child had lost weight and almost one in four reported that a child had been hungry because they couldn't get enough food to feed them. These are the major findings of the 12th city and statewide tracking survey from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy (CUNY SPH), conducted on May 29th and 30th.
	Multilevel interventions improve HPV vaccination rates of series initiation and completion New research from Boston Medical Center shows that providing education and training to pediatric and family medicine providers about the importance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, in tandem with healthcare systems changes including starting an HPV vaccination series before the age of 11, improves the overall rate of HPV vaccinations among adolescent patients. HPV vaccinations can help reduce rates of HPV-related cancers, as well as play a role in reducing race- and income-related disparities in these diagnoses.
	Genetic rescue of SHANK3 is potential therapy in rare forms of autism spectrum disorder A mouse study by Craig Powell, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues suggests that early genetic rescue may be a potential therapy in autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. Powell looked at one gene called SHANK3, whose alteration is seen in about 0.5 percent of ASD patients.
	Directly printing 3-D tissues within the body In the TV series Westworld, human body parts are built on robotic frames using 3-D printers. While still far from this scenario, 3-D printers are being increasingly used in medicine. For example, 3-D printing can be used to produce parts of the body such as orthopedic joints and prosthetics, as well as portions of bone, skin and blood vessels. However, the majority of these tissues are created in an apparatus outside of the body and surgically implanted. Such a procedure may involve making large surgical incisions, posing the added risk of infection and increased recovery time for the patient. And since there is a time lapse between when the tissue is created and when it is implanted in the patient, further complications may occur. To prevent these complications, a team of scientists have developed a technology to print tissues directly in the body.
Novel treatment for mesothelioma shows promise for patients A novel treatment for advanced mesothelioma is safe and effective and may improve the quality of life for patients who have few treatment options, according to a research abstract presented during a virtual session of the Society of Interventional Radiology's 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting on June 14. Transarterial chemoperfusion treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) comes with minimal side effects and shows promise for extending the lives of patients who have limited or no remaining treatment options.
House-call model tapping interventional radiology improves outcomes and access to care Interventional radiologists participating in a collaborative house call model in rural Indiana helped reduce emergency department use by 77 percent and hospital readmissions by 50 percent for nearly 1,000 elderly homebound patients with chronic illnesses, according to a research abstract presented during a virtual session of the Society of Interventional Radiology's 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting on June 13. The novel care model brings interventional radiology treatments into patients' homes to provide more value through in-home advanced specialty care, prevent common complications of chronic diseases, and avoid unnecessary emergency department visits and hospital admissions.
Minimally-invasive treatment for 'frozen shoulder' improves patients' pain and function A new nonsurgical treatment decreases errant blood flow in the shoulder to quickly reduce pain and improve function in patients with adhesive capsulitis, also known as "frozen shoulder," according to a research abstract presented during a virtual session of the Society of Interventional Radiology's 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting on June 13. Frozen shoulder gradually causes significant pain and stiffness of the shoulder joint in an estimated 200,000 people in the U.S. each year. The symptoms are often treated with physical therapy or pain medications, until they resolve within one to three years.
	Study demonstrates feasibility of hologram technology in liver tumor ablation Data from one of the first clinical uses of augmented reality guidance with electromagnetically tracked tools shows that the technology may help doctors quickly, safely, and accurately deliver targeted liver cancer treatments, according to a research abstract presented during a virtual session of the Society of Interventional Radiology's 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting on June 14. The technology provides a three-dimensional holographic view inside a patient's body, allowing interventional radiologists to accurately burn away tumors while navigating to avoid organs and other critical structures.
Many LGBTQ adolescents report experiences of victimization that extend beyond their sexual and gender orientations 91% of LGBTQ adolescents in a US survey report at least one experience of bias-based bullying, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine by researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut. This number is more than double estimates from previous studies with predominantly heterosexual youth.
	Loneliness alters your brain's social network Social media sites aren't the only things that keep track of your social network—your brain does, too. But loneliness alters how the brain represents relationships, according to new research published in JNeurosci.
	By recreating phobias and panic attacks, neuroscientists aim to improve anxiety therapies Tracking the brain's reaction to virtual-reality-simulated threats such as falling rocks and an under-researched fear reduction strategy may provide better ways of treating anxiety disorders and preventing relapses.
	Rehab facilities preparing for COVID-19 crunch as more patients recover Rehabilitation centres have undergone dramatic transformations over the past three months to accommodate patients recovering from COVID-19. An estimated one in 20 patients with COVID-19 require critical care during their illness and are likely to need extensive physical and pulmonary rehabilitation after the fact.
	Indigenous ICU patients suffer in long term Rigorous follow-up of Indigenous patients recovering from critical illness, particularly those who have discharged themselves from hospital, is essential, a new Medical Journal of Australia paper says.
	Australia is 'an island in a sea of measles' Combating the resurgence of measles requires vigilant clinicians and sustained, high level vaccination coverage, because Australia is "an island in a sea of measles," according to the authors of Perspective published online today by the Medical Journal of Australia.
	PPE supplies sent by FEMA to nursing homes often defective (HealthDay)—A Trump administration plan to boost nursing homes' supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) is falling short, critics say.
	An artificial skin made with graphene could revolutionize robotic surgery Computer and Robot Assisted Surgery is an area receiving broad attention worldwide because of its strong potential to advance new levels of healthcare. In Europe, the robotics and cognitive science communities have been independently pursuing research in this field, making significant, but fragmented contributions. Furthermore, strong surgical instrument manufacturers are now present in Europe.
	Romosozumab in osteoporosis: Considerable added benefit for women after menopause Romosozumab is a bone-forming monoclonal antibody used in women after menopause for the treatment of severe osteoporosis if there is a high risk of bone fractures. Having been granted approval for this therapeutic indication by the European Medicines Agency in December 2019, it has been available on the German market since March 2020.
	Barriers exist to using risk stratification tools to evaluate pulmonary embolism in the ED Common barriers exist to the use of risk stratification tools in the evaluation of pulmonary embolism in the emergency department and provide insight into where to focus efforts for future implementation endeavors. That is the conclusion of a study to be published in the June 2020 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM).
	Calling for nursing support amid COVID-19 pandemic There are close to 28 million nurses around the world who comprise a global workforce that delivers about 90 percent of primary healthcare, including frontline response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring their optimal contribution and continued well-being amid the myriad consequences of COVID-19 will increase the potential for measurable and improved health outcomes.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

	Maternal transmission of COVID-19 to baby during pregnancy is uncommon, study finds Transmission of COVID-19 from mother to baby during pregnancy is uncommon, and the rate of infection is no greater when the baby is born vaginally, breastfed or allowed contact with the mother, according to a new study.
	Super-potent human antibodies protect against COVID-19 in animal tests A team led by Scripps Research has discovered antibodies in the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients that provide powerful protection against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes the disease, when tested in animals and human cell cultures.
	Fresh virus cluster in China raises fears for pandemic control Lockdowns were imposed in parts of Beijing on Saturday to try and prevent the spread of a new coronavirus cluster, highlighting the challenges that lie ahead even for places where outbreaks are under control.
	AstraZeneca agrees to make COVID-19 vaccine for Europe Drugmaker AstraZeneca struck a deal Saturday to supply up to 400 million doses of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine to European Union countries, the latest in a series of agreements as scientists, governments and pharmaceutical companies race to combat the virus.
	China reports 57 new cases, highest daily number in 2 months China on Sunday reported its highest daily total of new coronavirus cases in two months after the capital's biggest wholesale food market was shut down following a resurgence in local infections.
	Accuracy still unknown for many coronavirus tests rushed out How accurate are the coronavirus tests used in the U.S.?
	Home DNA test data wanted to boost coronavirus fight Data from popular home genetic-testing kits could help scientists shed light on why some people who catch coronavirus have no symptoms while others become very ill.
	China's new virus outbreak underscores continued threat China's capital was bracing Monday for a resurgence of the coronavirus after more than 100 new cases were reported in recent days in a city that hadn't seen a case of local transmission in more than a month.
	China virus cluster grows as European borders reopen China reported dozens of new coronavirus cases for the second consecutive day on Monday as a growing cluster of infections stoked fears of a second wave, while more borders were opened in Europe ahead of the summer holiday season.
	Vaccinations skipped during COVID-19 shutdown may lead to outbreaks of other diseases Although COVID-19 is a new illness caused by a new virus, the fallout from the COVID-19 shutdown may put the world at risk for outbreaks of old illnesses: ones that were practically eradicated through vaccination.
	Disparities in travel time to COVID-19 testing sites may bias case estimates As the U.S. economy begins to reopen after two months of lockdown, states and counties are using local data on COVID-19 incidence to inform their plans. But a new analysis highlights an inconvenient truth. Geographic access to COVID-19 testing sites is as uneven as access to health care overall, meaning that local estimates of COVID-19 spread may be incorrect.
	Pregnancy and birth in the time of a pandemic When it comes to COVID-19 and pregnancy, there's a lot we don't know.
	The next once-a-century pandemic is coming sooner than you think – but COVID-19 can help us get ready COVID-19 is being referred to as a "once in a century event"—but the next pandemic is likely to hit sooner than you think.
	COVID-19 immune response may remain stable for two months after diagnosis Initial results from an antibody testing study have revealed that COVID-19 antibodies remain stable in the blood of the majority of infected individuals almost two months after diagnosis and possibly longer. However, antibodies were not detectable in everyone exposed to the virus, opening discussions on how best to interpret antibody and viral tests.
	Stress-management strategies can boost health care teams during pandemic Celebrating successes, admitting mistakes and encouraging honest communication among employees are some of the steps health care leaders should take to improve teamwork during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new paper from researchers at Rice University.
	Combination drug treatments for COVID-19 show promise in cell culture tests In the absence of a vaccine for COVID-19, researchers across the globe are in pursuit of possible treatments for the disease. Now a team of Norwegian and Estonian researchers have established a cell culture that allows them to test antibody-laden plasma, drugs and drug combinations in the laboratory. A screen of 136 safe-in-human antiviral drugs and identified six promising candidates. One combination of two drugs was so effective that researchers hope others can begin clinical trials on the drugs now.
	Keeping governments accountable: The COVID-10 assessment scorecard A new commentary published in Nature Medicine calls for governments to recognize the urgent need to improve their outbreak preparation and response. Noting that many governments are pinning their hopes on a vaccine against COVID-19, Jeffrey Lazarus and co-authors argue that a successful vaccine could take years to develop, and tried and tested public health measure can and must be implemented now. They write, "This pandemic should be a wake-up call for countries to address the most critical shortcomings in their pandemic readiness and health-system resilience in order to prevent and to mitigate the impacts of future catastrophes."
	Self-screening technology for COVID-19 symptoms available as open source code Employers across the country can advance reopening efforts with technology developed by the University of Rochester to check employees for potential COVID-19 symptoms before they report to work each day.
	COVID-19 death rate high for patients with thoracic cancer (HealthDay)—For patients with thoracic cancer, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with high mortality and low intensive care unit (ICU) admission, according to a study published online June 12 in The Lancet Oncology.
	Pediatric COVID-19 symptoms differ from those seen in adults (HealthDay)—Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in children differ widely from adult cases, according to a review published online June 3 in Pediatric Pulmonology.
	Gastrointestinal symptoms not uncommon with COVID-19 (HealthDay)—Approximately 12 percent of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection report gastrointestinal symptoms, according to a review published online June 11 in JAMA Network Open.
	Nonpharmaceutical interventions slow COVID-19 growth (HealthDay)—Nonpharmaceutical interventions have been beneficial for slowing COVID-19 growth on a global level and within Europe, according to two studies published online June 8 in Nature.
	Mutation helps coronavirus infect more human cells, study shows A particular mutation in one strain of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus may have helped it infect more human cells and turn it into the dominant strain worldwide, new laboratory research shows.
	Pandemic causing havoc for kids with ADHD (HealthDay)—Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) generally fare better when they have a clear routine. Now, a new study suggests that as the coronavirus pandemic turned family schedules upside down, kids' symptoms often worsened.
	America's gyms are reopening and your workout will change (HealthDay)—Gyms are finally reopening across the United States, but your workout will not be the same.
	AI scientist develops platform to track changes in genetic structure of COVID-19 virus The COVID-19 virus is constantly changing as it moves from person to person. To fight the virus today and prepare for what it may look like tomorrow, researchers need to be able to track its development.
	Researchers develop model to predict likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19, disease outcomes Cleveland Clinic researchers have developed the world's first risk prediction model for healthcare providers to forecast an individual patient's likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19 as well as their outcomes from the disease.
	US revokes emergency use of malaria drugs vs. coronavirus U.S. regulators on Monday revoked emergency authorization for malaria drugs promoted by President Donald Trump for treating COVID-19 amid growing evidence they don't work and could cause serious side effects.
	Over 100 cases in new Beijing COVID-19 outbreak: WHO More than 100 cases of the novel coronavirus have been officially recorded in the fresh outbreak in Beijing, the World Health Organization said Monday.
	Blood donors will get results of coronavirus antibody test, Red Cross says (HealthDay)—The American Red Cross will test all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies so donors can learn whether they've been exposed to the new coronavirus.
	Study says lockdowns making things worse for obese Americans (HealthDay)—As COVID-19 closed gyms and forced people to hunker down at home, "Quarantine-15" jokes flooded the internet, referring to the weight gain that many anticipated.
	Alcohol taxes have never been lower: study Inflation has reduced American alcohol tax rates by 70% since 1933, according to a new study from Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
	COVID-19 hospitalizations could mean significant out-of-pocket medical costs for many Americans If past hospitalizations for pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses are any guide, many Americans could face high out-of-pocket medical costs for COVID-19 hospitalizations despite the fact that many insurers have waived their cost-sharing requirements, a study from researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests.
	COVID-19 will affect the food and financial security of many for years to come The complex food shopping patterns that financially insecure families employ have been upended by the COVID-19 crisis. While increasing the maximum benefit for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps) is an essential step in addressing the current food insecurity crisis, this policy change alone will not address many of the barriers low-income families are facing in acquiring food during the pandemic.
	Parts of Beijing locked down as virus outbreak gathers fresh pace All indoor sports and entertainment venues were shut down in China's capital on Monday as authorities raced to contain a coronavirus outbreak linked to a wholesale food market, with some neighbourhoods placed under complete lockdown.
	Study examines the prevalence of COVID-19 infections in pregnant women Universal testing of pregnant women admitted to labor and delivery units is part of a multipronged approach to reducing transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19 in hospitals and clinics.
	Coronavirus death rate is higher for those with chronic ills Death rates are 12 times higher for coronavirus patients with chronic illnesses than for others who become infected, a new U.S. government report says.
	Florida migrant towns become coronavirus hot spots in US When much of the world was staying at home to slow the spread of the new coronavirus, Elbin Sales Perez continued to rise at 4:30 a.m. to report to his landscaping job in a rural Florida town.
	Uncertainty as Spain puts virus death toll 'on hold' For days now, Spain's daily coronavirus death toll has been on hold, generating widespread uncertainty about the real state of the epidemic that has claimed more than 27,000 lives.
	China races to find virus vaccine, put scandals in the past China has mobilised its army and fast-tracked tests in the global race to find a coronavirus vaccine, but its labs also have an image tarnished by past health scandals to overcome.
	Brazil now second in virus deaths, as US states see rising cases Brazil on Friday claimed the unenviable position of having the second-highest coronavirus death toll worldwide behind the United States, where several states have posted record daily case totals, signaling the crisis is far from over.
	Global virus death toll passes 425,000 The coronavirus pandemic has killed 425,000 people since it emerged in China late last year, according to an AFP tally of official sources at 0130 GMT on Saturday.
	Chile registers new daily record of COVID-19 deaths, cases Chile registered its worst daily figures for covonavirus fatalities on Friday, with 222 deaths and more than 6,700 new infections in the previous 24-hours, authorities said.
	Despite virus surge, Arizona governor won't require masks Coronavirus infections are surging in Arizona. Hospitalizations are increasing and more people are dying since the state relaxed stay-at-home orders last month.
	Beijing closes market, locks down area in new virus outbreak The largest wholesale food market in Beijing was shuttered behind police guard and the surrounding neighborhood locked down Saturday after more than 50 people tested positive for the coronavirus in the Chinese capital.
	Russia more than doubles April virus death toll Russia on Saturday more than doubled its official coronavirus death toll for April to 2,712 after changing how it classifies fatalities.
	Botswana capital in lockdown after new virus cases detected Authorities in Botswana declared a strict lockdown in the capital Gaborone from Saturday after the discovery of 12 new cases of the coronavirus.
	France unveils plan to reopen non-Schengen borders France will gradually reopen its borders to countries outside the Schengen zone from July 1, the interior and foreign ministers said in a joint statement on Friday.
	Russia's low virus death toll still raises questions in West When Leonid Shlykov's father, Sergei, died in a Moscow hospital last month after 11 days on a ventilator, the death certificate listed the coronavirus as an underlying condition but not the actual cause of death.
	Europe reopens many borders but not to Americans, Asians Europe is taking a big step toward a new normality as many countries open borders to fellow Europeans after three months of coronavirus lockdowns—but even though Europeans love their summer vacations, it's not clear how many are ready to travel again.
	Delhi coronavirus fears mount as hospital beds run out Ashwani Jain succumbed to the coronavirus in an ambulance as his family pleaded with several hospitals to take him in, the latest victim of the pandemic sweeping through the Indian capital and exposing a deadly shortage of hospital beds.
New polio cases in Afghanistan as coronavirus halts immunisation Afghanistan has detected polio in areas previously declared free of the life-threatening disease after immunisation programmes were paused due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Sunday.
	Macron says France has scored its 'first victory' against virus President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that France has marked its first victory in the fight against the coronavirus, even if the struggle to contain the outbreak is not over.
	'Disinfecting non-stop' as Italy faces two new virus outbreaks Yellow police tape—a familiar sight across Italy since the coronavirus began sweeping the country in March—reappeared at the weekend outside a Rome squat where around 15 new cases have emerged.
	Turkey sees rise in daily coronavirus cases following easing Turkey is "moving away from the target," the country's health minister warned Sunday as the daily number of new coronavirus cases rose above 1,500 following the relaxation of restrictions.
	Mass virus testing in Beijing after new cluster triggers lockdowns Beijing carried out mass testing for the coronavirus on Sunday after a new outbreak in the city that prompted travel warnings across the country amid fears of a resurgence of the disease.
	Pakistan warns coronavirus will peak at more than a million cases Pakistan's planning minister warned Sunday that the number of coronavirus cases in the country could double by the end of June and peak at more than a million infections just a month later.
	Iran daily virus deaths exceed 100 for first time in 2 months Iran Sunday reported over 100 deaths in a single day from the novel coronavirus for the first time in two months, with authorities saying a recent surge in confirmed cases is due to increased testing.
	US records 382 virus deaths in 24 hours, lowest in weeks: monitor The United States has recorded 382 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing its death toll to 115,729, according to a tally Sunday by Johns Hopkins University.
	Beijing outbreak shows need to be ready as economies reopen China moved swiftly Monday to try to control a new outbreak of the coronavirus after 36 more cases were confirmed in Beijing.
	Worries about catching COVID-19 stay low as lockdown eases Despite the relaxation of lockdown measures enabling many people to return to more normal activities, worries about catching the virus show little sign of changing, finds UCL's COVID-19 social study.
	Q&A: Meeting the challenge of vaccination hesitancy In 2019, the World Health Organization declared vaccine hesitancy one of the top 10 threats to global health. In recent years, worldwide measles outbreaks in communities with low immunization rates have revealed gaps in the herd immunity that once protected us, including the United States' largest measles outbreak in 20 years in 2019. The troubling trend of declining vaccination uptake is fueled by complacency and loss of confidence in the system that develops, produces, recommends, and delivers vaccines. And, of course, nothing in recent memory has underscored the urgency of a strong vaccine system more than COVID-19.
	Mathematician on the front lines of Colorado's coronavirus response At the start of 2020, David Bortz, like most Coloradans, didn't know what a coronavirus was. For the last few months, tracking this virus is practically his full-time job.
	Rapid COVID-19 test granted EU approval Even as coronavirus testing is ramping up across the world, the issue of speed and accuracy in diagnosis still poses a challenge for public health authorities. A research group supported by the EU-funded HG nCoV19 test project has developed a test enabling rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 at its early and highly infectious stage. It can detect the presence of the virus in 30 minutes, while negative results are delivered within 60 minutes. "When coupled with a nucleic acid extraction method, the system provides sensitivity equivalent to that of the current PCR [polymerase chain reaction] systems for samples from individuals at all stages of COVID-19 infection," as stated in a press release by project coordinator HiberGene Diagnostics.
BAME individuals must not be under-represented in COVID-19 research Researchers must ensure people of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups are proportionately represented in COVID-19 studies, according to scientists from UK and U.S..
	India's Chennai city to reimpose lockdown as coronavirus surges A lockdown will be reimposed Friday on some 15 million people in the Indian city of Chennai and several neighbouring districts, state officials said, as coronavirus cases surge in the region.
	Germany takes stake in vaccine firm CureVac Berlin will take a stake in German biotech company CureVac, Economy Minister Peter Altmaier said Monday, months after reports the US was eyeing the firm and its under-development coronavirus vaccine.
	Iran warns may have to reimpose tough virus controls Iran warned Monday it may have to reimpose tough measures against the novel coronavirus to ensure social distancing, as it reported more than 100 deaths for a second straight day.
Virus impact could kill over 50,000 children in MENA: UN UN agencies warned Monday that the coronavirus pandemic could lead to the deaths of an additional 51,000 under-fives in the Middle East and North Africa by the end of the year.
	Coronavirus testing: information on test devices and methods in a single place The European Commission's Joint Research Centre has created a database of COVID-19 in vitro diagnostic devices and test methods
	Q&A: Lessons learned from viral outbreaks in the age of COVID-19 What did health professionals learn about dealing with viral outbreaks from the Ebola epidemic of 2018?
	Graphene stimulates wound healing Chronic or hard-to-heal wounds, those that do not heal after six weeks, place a significant economic burden on health systems around the world, costing around $30 billion annually. They lead to half-a-million amputations per year globally. In the United States alone, more than 6.5 million people suffer from such wounds.
	Google search data provides insights about EU citizens' concerns during the coronavirus pandemic Using Google search data, a Joint Research Centre team has created a set of indicators to analyze how the worries of EU citizens change as the coronavirus pandemic evolves.
	COVID-19 vaccine to be tested in clinical trial The University of Illinois at Chicago will soon test a vaccine for COVID-19.
	Survey: In Vermont, pandemic's impact falling disproportionately on lower income groups High percentages of Vermonters agree with the social distancing measures put in place by the state in response to the coronavirus pandemic and have complied with them, according to a new survey. But their attitudes and actions, while protecting their health, have come at a significant economic cost, especially for low income Vermonters, one of several ways in which poorer Vermonters have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
	Turkey daily virus cases double from early June Turkey's health minister on Monday warned citizens against complacency as daily coronavirus cases doubled compared with figures in early June.

Other Sciences news

	No single solution helps all students complete MOOCs In one of the largest educational field experiments ever conducted, a team co-led by a Cornell researcher found that promising interventions to help students complete online courses were not effective on a massive scale—suggesting that targeted solutions are needed to help students in different circumstances or locations.
	Best of Last Week: Micrometeoroid stardust, a Windows 10 worm, mask use could prevent second COVID-19 wave It was another good week for space science as an international team of researchers closed in on a 12-billion-year-old signal from the end of the universe's 'dark age'—the time before there were stars in the universe. Also, a team at Washington University in St. Louis found that ancient micrometeoroids carried specks of stardust and water to asteroid 4 Vesta before the birth of the sun.
	From clickbait to transparency: Reimagining the online world Polarization, conspiracy theories, fake news: What people see on the Internet is largely determined by the opaque algorithms of just a few corporations. That's a worrying development for democratic societies. But online environments could be designed in ways that promote autonomy and transparency, thereby fostering the positive potential of the Internet. A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, the University of Bristol, and Harvard Law School has approached this debate from the behavioral science perspective and proposed interventions capable of promoting a more democratic Internet. Their findings have been published in Nature Human Behaviour.
	Using Jenga to explain lithium-ion batteries Tower block games such as Jenga can be used to explain to schoolchildren how lithium-ion batteries work, meeting an educational need to better understand a power source that has become vital to everyday life.
	New fossil discovery shows 50 million-year-old Canada-Australia connection The discovery of a tiny insect fossil is unearthing big questions about the global movement of animals and the connection to changes in climate and shifting continents across deep time. The fossil, estimated to be 50 million years old, was found in rocks near the city of Kamloops, British Columbia, but today its relatives live exclusively in Australia.
	New analysis of human portraits reveals shift in culture, cognition Throughout history, portraits featuring the human profile have evolved to reflect changing cultural norms. A new study led by Helena Miton, a Santa Fe Institute Omidyar Fellow, and co-authored by Dan Sperber of Central European University and Mikołaj Hernik, of UiT the Artic University of Norway, shows that human cognition plays a critical role in the evolution of human portraiture.
	Scientists introduce rating system to assess quality of evidence for policy The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the critical need for robust scientific evidence to support policy decisions, such as around the effectiveness of various social distancing measures and the safety of drug therapies. Yet this need arises at a time of growing misinformation and poorly vetted facts repeated by influential sources. To address this gap, a group of scientists led by Kai Ruggeri, a professor at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, and James Green, chief scientist at NASA, has introduced a new framework to help set standards for the quality of evidence used in policymaking.
	At-home language skills development requires strong motivation, study shows The coronavirus pandemic was an unwelcome surprise to thousands of Erasmus students. However, high levels of foreign language proficiency and intercultural competence can also be acquired at home. A recent study shows that self-motivation, strategy and reflection are the driving forces for honing such skills.
	Watch yourself: the self-surveillance strategy to keep supermarket shoppers honest Retailers have tried many overt tactics to limit theft, such as signs that display images of CCTV cameras, threats to prosecute offenders, bag checks, checkout weighing plates and electronic security gates.
	How some countries are reviving coronavirus-affected tourism in Africa In the Gambia, teams of young tourism guides in their first holiday season are doing something very different from what they learned in training. They have been redeployed to act as coronavirus guides for their local communities, raising awareness and explaining to their fellow Gambians how to prevent the spread of infection.
	48,000-year-old arrowheads reveal early human innovation in the Sri Lankan rainforest Archaeological excavations deep within the rainforests of Sri Lanka have unearthed the earliest evidence for hunting with bows and arrows outside Africa.
	Rethinking our built and open spaces after a pandemic Keep six feet away from others. Avoid crowds. Stay home.
	Candidates who use humor on Twitter may find the joke is on them Political candidates' use of humor on social media could sometimes backfire on them with potential supporters, new research suggests.
	What the archaeological record reveals about epidemics throughout history – and the human response to them The previous pandemics to which people often compare COVID-19—the influenza pandemic of 1918, the Black Death bubonic plague (1342-1353), the Justinian plague (541-542) – don't seem that long ago to archaeologists. We're used to thinking about people who lived many centuries or even millennia ago. Evidence found directly on skeletons shows that infectious diseases have been with us since our beginnings as a species.
	Reputation-based social payoff system improves community involvement Simulations have revealed how a "payoff transfer system," rewarding individuals who cooperate the most with their local communities, can improve social benefits.
	Extra police powers during COVID-19 could affect relationship with public for good How the police use extra powers they have received during Covid-19 will have a long-lasting effect on their relationship with the public, argues a university researcher who is also a senior police officer.
	When board members get involved, corporate tax burden goes down New research finds that corporate tax-planning practices improve when a company's board takes an interest in tax-planning practices—and better planning results in both less tax uncertainty and a lower tax burden.
	Black and female principal candidates more likely to experience delayed and denied promotions Black and female assistant principals are systematically delayed and denied promotion to principal, compared to their White or male counterparts, despite having equivalent qualifications and more experience on average, according to a new study. The findings were published in June in AERA Open, a peer-reviewed, open access journal of the American Educational Research Association.
	COVID-19 pandemic could decimate outdoor environmental, science education programs The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the survival of organizations nationwide that provide critical outdoor environmental and science education to K-12 students, with an alarming 63% of such groups uncertain about their ability to ever reopen their doors, according to a study released this week by the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California, Berkeley.
	New study reveals racial disparities in fear of police brutality A recently published nationwide study by two University of South Florida professors indicates that blacks are five times more likely and Latinos four times more likely to fear police brutality than whites.
'A pandemic within a pandemic': COVID-19, protests shine a spotlight on inequity Amid worldwide protests over systemic racism, a Richmond-area congresswoman, Virginia's chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, and the director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center hosted a virtual town hall Wednesday to discuss the disproportionate ways that minority communities have been affected by the novel coronavirus.
	Refugees face poverty, food insecurity At the start of Refugee Week, a timely study reminds us of the experiences and 'cultural acclimatisation' of recent arrivals.
	Choosing your mother tongue, rather than it choosing you Young Ukrainian adults are prompting us to rethink what we mean when we talk about people having a 'mother tongue', as many are working to shift the primary language they use from Russian to Ukrainian amid the ongoing Ukrainian–Russian War.
	Ethnic minorities' employment prospects lag behind white majority because of 'persistent racism' Research led by the University of Bristol has revealed that despite progress, most ethnic minority groups studied are still more likely to be in manual work or unemployed or sick than their white counterparts. The researchers analysed national census data on more than 70,000 people in England and Wales.
	After coronavirus: how seasonal migration and empty centres might change our cities The changes to urban space brought by the coronavirus have many people asking what the post-pandemic city might look like.
	Key workers are lowest paid with poorer job qualities, study finds A study led by Dr. Matt Barnes, Senior Lecturer from the Department of Sociology, suggests that key worker jobs including check-out operators, care workers, food operatives and security guards receive lower pay and experience lower job quality than the average worker.
	How teachers are adapting to COVID-19 disruptions is subject of new study The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on many of society's unsung heroes—among them teachers, who took their duties online this past spring and kept teaching, even as schools shuttered and "homeschooling" became the new norm.

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