Science X Newsletter Wednesday, Jun 17

Dear Mahesh Sagar Khanal,

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Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for June 17, 2020:

Spotlight Stories Headlines

Simultaneous nodal superconductivity and broken time-reversal symmetry in CaPtAs

White nanolight source for optical nanoimaging

Nanosponges could intercept SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection

Tomato's hidden mutations revealed in study of 100 varieties

New study suggests that hard eggshells evolved at least three times in dinosaur family tree

Knock-knock? Who's there? How coral let symbiotic algae in

First egg from Antarctica is big and might belong to an extinct sea lizard

Researchers map out intricate processes that activate key brain molecule

Soap bubbles pollinated a pear orchard without damaging delicate flowers

Peculiar chemical abundance pattern detected in the star RAVE J183013.5−455510

Study sheds light on a classic visual illusion

Astronomers detect regular rhythm of radio waves, with origins unknown

A cosmic baby is discovered, and it's brilliant

Intel, Google, UC Berekely AI team trains robot to do sutures

Seaweed takes scientists on trip 'through time' in the waters of Monterey Bay

Nanotechnology news

	White nanolight source for optical nanoimaging Nanolight sources based on resonant excitons of plasmons near a sharp metallic nanostructure have attracted great interest in optical nanoimaging. However, the resonant phenomenon only works for one type of wavelength that resonates with plasmons. Compared to plasmonic resonance, the alternative plasmon nanofocusing method can generate a source of nanolight by propagating and compressing plasmons on a tapered metallic nanostructure, independent of wavelength, due to its reliance on propagation. In a new report on Science Advances, Takayuki Umakoshi and a research team in applied physics and chemistry in Japan generated a white nanolight source spanning across the entire visible light range through plasmon nanofocusing. Using the process, they demonstrated spectral bandgap nanoimaging of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The experimental demonstration of the source of white nanolight will enable diverse research fields to progress toward next-generation, nanophotonic technologies.
	Nanosponges could intercept SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection Nanoparticles cloaked in human lung cell membranes and human immune cell membranes can attract and neutralize the SARS-CoV-2 virus in cell culture, causing the virus to lose its ability to hijack host cells and reproduce.
	Nanomaterial gives robots chameleon skin A new film made of gold nanoparticles changes color in response to any type of movement. Its unprecedented qualities could allow robots to mimic chameleons and octopi—among other futuristic applications.
	How Toxoplasma parasites glide so swiftly If you're a cat owner, you might have heard of Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan that sometimes infects humans through contact with contaminated feces in litterboxes. Although harmless to most people, T. gondii can cause serious illness or death in immunocompromised individuals or fetuses of infected pregnant women. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Nano have studied how the microorganism glides so swiftly through mammalian tissues during an infection.
	New nanoparticle drug combination for atherosclerosis developed Physicochemical cargo-switching nanoparticles (CSNP) designed by KAIST can help significantly reduce cholesterol and macrophage foam cells in arteries, which are the two main triggers for atherosclerotic plaque and inflammation.
	Energy storage using oxygen to boost battery performance Researchers have presented a novel electrode material for advanced energy storage device that is directly charged with oxygen from the air. Professor Jeung Ku Kang's team synthesized and preserved the sub-nanometric particles of atomic cluster sizes at high mass loadings within metal-organic frameworks (MOF) by controlling the behavior of reactants at the molecular level. This new strategy ensures high performance for lithium-oxygen batteries, acclaimed as a next-generation energy storage technology and widely used in electric vehicles.
	Nanofiber masks can be sterilized multiple times without filter performance deterioration With the global spread of coronavirus infections, personal protective equipment, especially face masks, are receiving much attention. Masks are essential items for the primary protection of the respiratory tract from viruses and bacteria that are transmitted through the air as droplets.

Physics news

	Simultaneous nodal superconductivity and broken time-reversal symmetry in CaPtAs In the vast majority of superconducting materials, Cooper pairs have what is known as even parity, which essentially means that their wave function does not change when electrons swap spatial coordinates. Conversely, some unconventional superconductors have been found to contain odd-parity Cooper pairs. This quality makes these unconventional materials particularly promising for quantum computing applications.
	Schrödinger's cat explained In 1935, E. Schrödinger proposed his well-known cat thought experiment suggesting, but not explaining, how a measurement transforms the probable states of an atom into the actual state of a cat (alive or dead). Rather than applying quantum mechanics (the previous approach usually taken), I offer an out-of-the-box, logically consistent explanation using metrology (the science of physical measurement).
	A new way to study how elements mix deep inside giant planets There are giants among us—gas and ice giants to be specific. They orbit the same star, but their environmental conditions and chemical makeup are wildly different from those of Earth. These enormous planets—Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus—can be seen as natural laboratories for the physics of matter at extreme temperatures and pressures.
	Experiments expose how powerful magnetic fields are generated in the aftermath of supernovae In a paper recently published by Physical Review Letters, a team of researchers including scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) detail the first quantitative measurements of the magnetic field structure of plasma filamentation driven by the Weibel instability, using a novel optical Thompson scattering technique.
	From custom-built to ready-made photonics Information technology continues to progress at a rapid pace. However, the growing demands of data centers have pushed electrical input-output systems to their physical limit, which has created a bottleneck. Maintaining this growth will require a shift in how we build computers. The future is optical.
	Machine learning qualitatively changes the search for new particles The ATLAS Collaboration at CERN is exploring novel ways to search for new phenomena. Alongside an extensive research program often inspired by specific theoretical models—ranging from quantum black holes to supersymmetry—physicists are applying new model-independent methods to broaden their searches. ATLAS has just released the first model-independent search for new particles using a novel technique called "weak supervision."
	Observation of excess events in the XENON1T dark matter experiment Scientists from the international XENON collaboration, an international experimental group including the Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (Kavli IPMU), University of Tokyo; the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research (ICRR), University of Tokyo; the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research (ISEE), Nagoya University; the Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute for the Origin of Particles and the Universe (KMI), Nagoya University; and the Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, announced today that data from their XENON1T, the world's most sensitive dark matter experiment, show a surprising excess of events. The scientists do not claim to have found dark matter. Instead, they have observed an unexpected rate of events, the source of which is not yet fully understood. The signature of the excess is similar to what might result from a tiny residual amount of tritium (a hydrogen atom with one proton and two neutrons), but could also be a sign of something more exciting—such as the existence of a new particle known as the solar axion or the indication of previously unknown properties of neutrinos.
	New quantum sensing technique allows high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a widely used tool for chemical analysis and molecular structure recognition. Because it typically relies on the weak magnetic fields produced by a small thermal nuclear spin polarization, NMR suffers from poor sensitivity compared to other analytical techniques. A conventional NMR apparatus typically uses large sample volumes of about a milliliter—large enough to contain around a million biological cells.
	Quantum-inspired approach dramatically lowers light power needed for optical coherence tomography Researchers have shown that a detection technology borrowed from quantum optics can be used to perform optical coherence tomography (OCT) with much lower light power than previously possible. This could greatly improve the imaging quality available from OCT used for medical imaging applications.
	Using light turbulence to generate frequency combs from small ring lasers We've all experienced turbulent air and water, but did you know light can be turbulent too?
	New techniques improve quantum communication, entangle phonons Quantum communication—where information is sent through particles, typically entangled photons—has the potential to become the ultimate secure communication channel. Not only is it nearly impossible to eavesdrop on quantum communication, those who try will also leave evidence of their indiscretions.
	Graphics cards farm to help in search of new physics at LHCb For the first time, data from LHCb, a major physics experiment, will be processed on a farm of GPUs. This solution is not only much cheaper, but it will help decrease the cluster size and process data at speeds up to 40 Tbit/s. The research paper has been published in Computing and Software for Big Science.
	Physicists develop a new theory for Bose-Einstein condensates Bose-Einstein condensates are often described as the fifth state of matter: At extremely low temperatures, gas atoms behave like a single particle. The exact properties of these systems are notoriously difficult to study. In the journal Physical Review Letters, physicists from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) and Ludwig Maximilian University Munich have proposed a new theory to describe these quantum systems more effectively and comprehensively.
	A step forward in solving the reactor-neutrino flux problem Joint effort of the nuclear theory group at the University of Jyvaskyla and the international collaborative EXO-200 experiment paves the way for solving the reactor antineutrino flux problems. The EXO-200 collaboration consists of researchers from 26 laboratories and the experiment is designed to measure the mass of the neutrino. As a byproduct of the calibration efforts of the experiment the electron spectral shape of the beta decay of Xe-137 could be measured. This particular decay is optimally well suited for testing a theoretical hypothesis to solve the long-standing and persistent reactor antineutrino anomaly. The results of measurements of the spectral shape were published in Physical Review Letters in June 2020.
	A proven method for stabilizing efforts to bring fusion power to Earth All efforts to replicate in tokamak fusion facilities the fusion energy that powers the sun and stars must cope with a constant problem—transient heat bursts that can halt fusion reactions and damage the doughnut-shaped tokamaks. These bursts, called edge localized modes (ELMs), occur at the edge of hot, charged plasma gas when it kicks into high gear to fuel fusion reactions.

Earth news

	Half of the world's population exposed to increasing air pollution, study shows Half of the world's population is exposed to increasing air pollution, new research has shown.
	How seismometers record church bells ringing A new study made by Jordi Díaz, researcher at Institute of Earth Sciences Jaume Almera of the Spanish National Research Council (ICTJA-CSIC), has compared the different types of bell ringing to indicate the passage of time used in several European countries using recordings of seismometers installed near bell towers. The study, which has been published recently in the Journal of Seismology, describes the characteristics of the seismic signal recorded by stations installed close to four churches from Greece, France, Italy and Spain. The work reflects the existing differences in traditions still active in Europe to mark the hours with bell ringing.
	20-year field experiment: Rotate corn for better soil health Soil microbes are living, working barometers of soil health. They are responsible for turning atmospheric nitrogen into forms plants can use, and for releasing nitrogen back into the air. Farm management decisions undoubtedly affect these microscopic workhorses, but, until now, scientists didn't have a full picture of how crop rotation and tillage influence the soil microbiome.
	Antarctic sea ice loss explained in new study Scientists have discovered that summer sea ice in the Weddell Sea area of Antarctica has decreased by one million square kilometres—an area twice the size of Spain—in the last five years, with implications for the marine ecosystem. The findings are published this month (June 2020) in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
	Scientists discover unusual underwater rivers along Australia's coastline Scientists from The University of Western Australia have discovered underwater rivers along most of Australia's continental shelf that are unique and do not occur at this scale anywhere else in the world. The research has been published today in Nature Scientific Reports.
	Geoscientists create deeper look at processes below Earth's surface with 3-D images Geoscientists at The University of Texas at Dallas recently used massive amounts of earthquake data and supercomputers to generate high-resolution, 3-D images of the dynamic geological processes taking place far below the Earth's surface.
	Stocks of vulnerable carbon twice as high where permafrost subsidence is factored in New research from a team at Northern Arizona University suggests that subsidence, gradually sinking terrain caused by the loss of ice and soil mass in permafrost, is causing deeper thaw than previously thought and making vulnerable twice as much carbon as estimates that don't account for this shifting ground. These findings, published this week in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, suggest traditional methods of permafrost thaw measurement underestimate the amount of previously-frozen carbon unlocked from warming permafrost by over 100 percent.
	Why the Mediterranean is a climate change hotspot Although global climate models vary in many ways, they agree on this: The Mediterranean region will be significantly drier in coming decades, potentially seeing 40 percent less precipitation during the winter rainy season.
	Study finds that proactive home buyouts provide financial benefits, reduce flood damage, and protect homeowners Damages from flooding cost hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Compounded by a changing climate, by 2080 the frequency of these major events is expected to increase by 20 times.
	Planting non-native trees accelerates the release of carbon back into the atmosphere Large-scale reforestation projects such as New Zealand's One Billion Trees programme are underway in many countries to help sequester carbon from the atmosphere.
	Study: Biodiversity in stagnant shallow lakes cramps growth of aquatic plants The recovery and long-term maintenance of submerged macrophytes is the key to the restoration of the ecosystem in eutrophic lakes, because submerged macrophytes can promote the transformation of lake ecosystem from algae-type turbid water steady state to grass-type clear water steady state through construction functions.
	Earthquake presents new opportunities for research, Idaho geological survey director says The 6.5-magnitude earthquake on March 31 near Stanley in south-central Idaho sent a ripple-effect of situations for researchers to explore.
	Why we'll still need waste in a circular economy Every year, we buy 30 billion tonnes of stuff, from pizza boxes to family homes. We throw out or demolish 13 billion tonnes of it as waste—about 2 tonnes per person. A third of what we discard was bought the same year. The extraction, use and discarding of so much stuff creates a large environmental burden, from the depletion of minerals to the destruction of rainforests.
	Women commuting during rush hour are exposed to higher levels of pollutants Studies have shown associations between exposure to traffic-related air pollution and adverse health outcomes, including preterm birth and low birthweight. However, few studies have estimated real-world exposures during personal vehicle trips for women commuters.
	COVID-19 makes air pollution a top concern worldwide: report At least two-thirds of people in countries home to a fifth of the world's population support stricter laws and enforcement to tackle air pollution, the Clean Air Fund said Wednesday.
	How to manage water systems for long-term sustainability The concept of a circular economy (CE) promotes reparability, durability and recyclability, unlike the traditional linear economy that is based on the take-make-consume-dispose pattern involving the using up of resources. As such, CE can help lower the use of resources, decrease waste production and limit energy consumption.
	Russia says has removed fuel from river hit by Arctic spill Russia has finished clearing fuel from the surface of a river hit by a massive diesel spill in the Arctic region, but the full clean-up could take years, officials said Wednesday.
	With storms in May, lawmaker wants a longer hurricane season Even though the six-month Atlantic hurricane season lasts as long as a typical Major League Baseball season, a Florida congresswoman thinks it needs to be longer.
	Senate approves $2.8B plan to boost conservation, parks The Senate has approved a bipartisan bill that would spend nearly $3 billion on conservation projects, outdoor recreation and maintenance of national parks and other public lands, a measure supporters say would be the most significant conservation legislation enacted in nearly half a century.

Astronomy and Space news

	Peculiar chemical abundance pattern detected in the star RAVE J183013.5−455510 An international team of astronomers has carried out spectroscopic observations of a distant star known as RAVE J183013.5−455510. Results of this observational campaign show that this object exhibits a peculiar chemical abundance pattern. The finding is detailed in a paper accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal and posted June 8 on arXiv.org.
	Astronomers detect regular rhythm of radio waves, with origins unknown A team of astronomers, including researchers at MIT, has picked up on a curious, repeating rhythm of fast radio bursts emanating from an unknown source outside our galaxy, 500 million light years away.
	A cosmic baby is discovered, and it's brilliant Astronomers tend to have a slightly different sense of time than the rest of us. They regularly study events that happened millions or billions of years ago, and objects that have been around for just as long. That's partly why the recently discovered neutron star known as Swift J1818.0-1607 is remarkable: A new study in the journal Astrophysical Journal Letters estimates that it is only about 240 years old—a veritable newborn by cosmic standards.
	Study suggests bright patches on Titan are dry lake beds A team of researchers affiliated with several institutions in the U.S. and one in France has found evidence that suggests the bright patches spotted on Titan's surface 20 years ago are dry lake beds. In their paper published in the journal Nature Communications, the group describes their study of data on the bright patches and what they learned from it.
	Quasar jets are particle accelerators thousands of light-years long An international collaboration bringing together over 200 scientists from 13 countries has shown that the very high-energy gamma-ray emissions from quasars, galaxies with a highly energetic nucleus, are not concentrated in the region close to their central black hole, but in fact, extend over several thousand light-years along jets of plasma. This discovery shakes up current scenarios for the behavior of such plasma jets. The work, published in the journal Nature on June 18, 2020, was carried out as part of the H.E.S.S collaboration, involving in particular the CNRS and CEA in France, and the Max Planck society and a group of research institutions and universities in Germany.
	4,000th comet discovered by solar observatory On June 15, 2020, a citizen scientist spotted a never-before-seen comet in data from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, or SOHO—the 4,000th comet discovery in the spacecraft's 25-year history.
	From lab to space: Discovery of a new organic molecule in an interstellar molecular cloud Laboratory experiments performed at the Center for Astrochemical Studies (CAS) of the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE) in Munich, together with astronomical observations conducted by the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics (INAF), lead to the identification of a new molecule in the molecular cloud known as G+0.693-0.027, close to the galactic center. The newly discovered molecule is called propargylimine: according to the experts, this chemical species may play a fundamental role in the formation of amino acids, among the key ingredients for life as we know it.
	When Vega met satellites The upper composite containing 53 separate satellites being attached to the rest of the Vega launcher, ahead of Friday morning's launch from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana.

Technology news

	Intel, Google, UC Berekely AI team trains robot to do sutures The next time you go to a hospital for surgery, the surgeon's assistant may be a robot.
	New method makes more data available for training self-driving cars For safety's sake, a self-driving car must accurately track the movement of pedestrians, bicycles and other vehicles around it. Training those tracking systems may now be more effective thanks to a new method developed at Carnegie Mellon University.
	Catching semiconductor defects before they multiply From smartphones to laptops, in today's digital world, we rely on connectivity. One of the components underlying the smooth operation of these machines are silicon chips—semiconductors, which are an essential part of electronic circuits. They are also expensive.
	Manipulating tiny skyrmions with small electric currents A research group from the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science has managed to manipulate and track the movement of individual magnetic vortices called skyrmions, which have been touted as strong candidates to act as information carriers in next-generation storage devices and as synapses for neuromorphic computing. They were able to move and measure skyrmions of 80 nanometers in size, using a small electric current 1000 times weaker than those used for drives of magnetic domain walls in racetrack memory.
	'SlothBot in the Garden' demonstrates hyper-efficient conservation robot For the next several months, visitors to the Atlanta Botanical Garden will be able to observe the testing of a new high-tech tool in the battle to save some of the world's most endangered species. SlothBot, a slow-moving and energy-efficient robot that can linger in the trees to monitor animals, plants, and the environment below, will be tested near the Garden's popular Canopy Walk.
	New discovery allows 3-D printing of sensors directly on expanding organs In groundbreaking new research, mechanical engineers and computer scientists at the University of Minnesota have developed a 3-D printing technique that uses motion capture technology, similar to that used in Hollywood movies, to print electronic sensors directly on organs that are expanding and contracting. The new 3-D printing technique could have future applications in diagnosing and monitoring the lungs of patients with COVID-19.
	Robots: allies during virus crisis, enemies later? When human contact needs to be kept to a minimum, robots can save lives and factories. But when the coronavirus crisis is over, will they amplify job losses?
	Scooters, e-bikes gain traction as virus lockdowns ease Electric bikes and scooters, dismissed before the pandemic as a curiosity or nuisance, are getting fresh traction in cities seeking new transportation options as they emerge from lockdowns.
	Oracle shares slump on earnings hit by pandemic Oracle shares fell Tuesday after the business software company reported its earnings took a hit from the pandemic's toll on hotels, shops and other enterprises that rely on its cloud computing offerings.
	Lufthansa warns rescue threatened as billionaire weighs in European airline giant Lufthansa warned Wednesday that a billionaire investor could block a nine-billion-euro ($10.1 billion) pandemic rescue plan agreed with the German state.
	Pokemon Go wants to 3-D scans the whole world for 'planet-scale augmented reality experiences' In 2016, the mobile game Pokémon Go sent hundreds of millions of players wandering the streets in search of virtual monsters. In the process it helped popularize augmented reality (AR) technology, which overlays computer-generated imagery on real-world environments.
	Researchers develop a compact 28 GHz transceiver supporting dual-polarized MIMO Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and NEC Corporation have jointly developed a 28-GHz phased-array transceiver supporting dual-polarized MIMO for 5G radio units. Advances in 5G will benefit an array of industries ranging from healthcare, manufacturing and transportation to education and entertainment that require high bandwidth and high-quality connectivity.
	Tech firms are winning the AI race because they understand data – other sectors need to catch up Artificial intelligence is already powering much of the technology helping to drive the modern economy. AI is now an essential part of how we use the internet but can also be found in stock exchanges, advanced factories and automated warehouses. It is starting to drive our cars and even vacuum our floors. And yet only a fraction of companies which stand to significantly benefit from AI are exploiting this approach to help deliver their products and services.
	Study: Energy giants hinder reforms that would help renewables, lower power bills Australia's energy market is outdated. It doesn't encourage competition and that's holding back the transition to renewable energy. Important reforms to modernize the market are on the way, but big energy companies are seeking to use the cover of COVID-19 to prevent the change.
	Brainsourcing automatically identifies human preferences Researchers at the University of Helsinki have developed a technique using artificial intelligence to analyze opinions and draw conclusions from the brain activity of groups of people. This technique, which the researchers call "brainsourcing," can be used to classify images or recommend content, something that has not been demonstrated before.
	Facebook lets users block political ads, aiming to quell outcry Facebook is allowing users to turn off all political ads in a move aimed at quelling criticism of the leading social network's hands-off approach to election misinformation.
	US senators unveil bill to limit Big Tech legal protections Four Republican senators introduced a bill Wednesday aimed at limiting legal protections of Big Tech platforms if they "selectively" suppress certain content, stepping up a political battle with social media.
	Computer scientists study data security in Internet website tracking Tracking our browsing behavior is part of routine Internet use. Companies use it to adapt ads to the personal needs of potential clients or to measure their range. Many providers of tracking services advertise secure data protection by generalizing datasets and anonymizing data in this way. Computer scientists of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) have now studied how secure this method is and reported their findings in a scientific paper for the IEEE Security and Privacy Conference.
	Adhesive film turns smartwatch into biochemical health monitoring system UCLA engineers have designed a thin adhesive film that could upgrade a consumer smartwatch into a powerful health-monitoring system. The system looks for chemical indicators found in sweat to give a real-time snapshot of what's happening inside the body. A study detailing the technology was published in the journal of Science Advances.
	Driver free but virus fee? Robo-car firms hit new speed bump The latest challenge for the autonomous vehicle industry: How to assure passengers that the car they are getting in is virus free, even if it doesn't have a driver.
	Twitter adds option to share spoken tweets Twitter on Wednesday said it is adding an option to speak tweets of up to 140 seconds in length instead of just writing posts.
	Norwegian Air returns to European skies Low-cost airline Norwegian announced Wednesday it was reopening 76 European and domestic routes starting July 1, after months of keeping most of its fleet grounded due to the new coronavirus.
	Reliable, high-speed MTJ technology for 1X nm STT-MRAM and NV-logic has wide applications Professor Tetsuo Endoh, leading a group of researchers at Tohoku University, has announced the development of an MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) with 10 ns high-speed write operation, sufficient endurance (>1011), and with highly reliable data retention over 10 years at 1X nm size. Realizing a 1X nm STT-MRAM (Spin Transfer Torque-Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory) and NV(Non-Volatile)-Logic has wide application to a variety of fields.
	Israeli financial tech had record year in 2019: report Israel's financial technology industry had a bumper 2019, with investment in this market doubling year-on-year to a record $1.8 billion, a report said on Wednesday.
	Microlandscaped abrasive tools deliver perfect grinding results Tiny pyramids and cubes precisely aligned in rows and columns or radial lines of minute raised dots—these microscopic structures whose size is similar to the width of a human hair, are enabling engineers to design novel grinding tools made from cemented carbides. Engineering professor Dirk Bähre and his team at Saarland University are using lasers to create carefully configured, micrometer-scale grinding surfaces. High-precision copies of these laser-generated surface patterns can then be produced cost-effectively and in large numbers using electrochemical machining.
	Facebook removes another 900 accounts linked to hate groups Facebook has removed another 900 social media accounts linked to white supremacy groups after members discussed plans to bring weapons to protests over police killings of black people.
	FAA chief accused of stonewalling Senate MAX probe Senators from both parties accused the top US aviation regulator of stonewalling Wednesday on inquiries into the 737 MAX crashes as they introduced legislation to revamp the plane certification process.
	US wants undersea data cable to skip Hong Kong US Justice Department officials on Wednesday recommended that a high-capacity undersea data cable system proposed by Google and Facebook bypass Hong Kong, citing potential national security concerns following China's moves to exert greater control in the territory.

Chemistry news

	Engineers advance insights on black phosphorus as a material for future ultra-low power flexible electronics Black phosphorus is a crystalline material that is attracting growing research interest from semiconductor device engineers, chemists and material scientists to create high-quality atomically thin films.
	New research creates neutralizing sponge for dangerous chemicals Dr. Simon Holder, Reader in Organic Chemistry at the University of Kent (UK) and Dr. Barry Blight, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of New Brunswick (Canada), have developed a new method for containing and deactivating neurotoxic chemicals like VX and sarin.
	Molecular containers for the sequestration of neurotransmitter drugs in water Molecular containers that remove drugs, toxins, or malodorous substances from the environment are called sequestering agents. Scientists have developed a class of molecular containers that specifically sequester neurotransmitter antagonists. The barrel-shaped molecules called Pillar[n]MaxQ bind neuromuscular blocking chemicals 100,000-fold more tightly than established macrocyclic detoxification agents, the researchers report in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
	Researchers develop easier and faster way to quantify, explore therapeutic proteins Researchers at New Jersey Institute of Technology in collaboration with Ohio University and Merck & Co. Inc. recently developed a new efficient method for targeted protein analysis—one they say could speed up processes for disease testing, drug discovery and vaccine development.
	Detecting antibodies with glowing proteins, thread and a smartphone To defend the body, the immune system makes proteins known as antibodies that latch onto the perceived threat, be it HIV, the new coronavirus or, as is the case in autoimmune disease, part of the body itself. In a new proof-of-concept study in ACS Sensors, researchers describe a new system for detecting antibodies within a pinprick of blood within minutes, using an unlikely combination of cotton thread, glowing proteins and a smartphone camera.
	Self-powered 'paper chips' could help sound an early alarm for forest fires Recent devastating fires in the Amazon rain forest and the Australian bush highlight the need to detect forest fires at early stages, before they blaze out of control. Current methods include infrared imaging satellites, remote sensing, watchtowers and aerial patrols, but by the time they sound the alarm, it could be too late. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces have developed self-powered 'paper chips' that sense early fires and relay a signal.
	Latest findings on bitter substances in coffee Coffee is very popular around the world despite or perhaps because of its bitter taste. Compounds contained in the coffee such as caffeine contribute to the bitterness to varying degrees. A recent study conducted by the Leibniz-Institute for Food Systems Biology and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) provides new insights into the molecular interactions between bitter substances and bitter receptors. This is of relevance not only for taste perception.
	Chemists developing paper-strip urine test for at-home/office/clinic COVID-19 evaluation Chemists at Iowa State University are developing a paper-strip urine test to detect infection by the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
	Food technology: Insect flours According to estimates of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), population growth will cause the worldwide demand for animal proteins to double by 2050. Even if free agricultural areas would be used, this demand could not be covered by meat from cattle breeding alone. For this reason, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) study production of new alternative protein sources. Their goal is to develop insect flours suited for, for example, bread production.
	New 'fingerprints' added to chemical identification database The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has updated its database of chemical fingerprints, called mass spectra, that are used to identify unknown chemical compounds. The NIST Mass Spectral Library and its new version, called NIST20, is used in health care, drug discovery, foods and fragrances, oil and natural gas, environmental protection, forensic science and almost every other industry that manufactures or measures physical stuff.
	Benefits of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 are still unclear With vaccines and therapeutic drugs for COVID-19 still under development, doctors are wondering whether antibody-rich plasma infusions from the blood of recovered patients could be a more immediate way to keep hospitalized patients alive and off ventilators. However, an article in Chemical & Engineering News, the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, indicates that, despite some anecdotal evidence, scientists still don't have high-quality data showing that the treatment actually works.

Biology news

	Tomato's hidden mutations revealed in study of 100 varieties DNA and all. After centuries of breeding, what was once a South American berry roughly the size of a pea now takes all sorts of shapes and sizes, from cherry-like to hefty heirloom fruit.
	Knock-knock? Who's there? How coral let symbiotic algae in New work from a team of Carnegie cell, genomic and developmental biologists solves a longstanding marine science mystery that could aid coral conservation. The researchers identified the type of cell that enables a soft coral to recognize and take up the photosynthetic algae with which it maintains a symbiotic relationship, as well as the genes responsible for this transaction.
	Researchers map out intricate processes that activate key brain molecule For researchers looking to understand and someday treat certain neuropsychological ailments, one place to start is a molecule known as GABA, which binds to receptor molecules in neurons and helps regulate neuron firing rates in the brain. Now, researchers have produced a detailed map of one such GABA receptor, revealing not just the receptor's structure but new details of how it moves from its inactive to active state, a team writes June 17 in Nature.
	Soap bubbles pollinated a pear orchard without damaging delicate flowers Soap bubbles facilitated the pollination of a pear orchard by delivering pollen grains to targeted flowers, demonstrating that this whimsical technique can successfully pollinate fruit-bearing plants. The study, from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Nomi, Japan, and published June 17 in the journal iScience, suggests that soap bubbles may present a low-tech complement to robotic pollination technology designed to supplement the work of vanishing bees.
	Seaweed takes scientists on trip 'through time' in the waters of Monterey Bay New research led by Monterey Bay Aquarium is helping to unlock the natural history of one of the most studied places on the planet. By tapping into a collection of dried, pressed seaweed—that dates back more than 140 years—researchers with the Aquarium's Ocean Memory Lab can now offer a window back in time to understand what the bay was like before the impacts of modern human activity.
	How fish got onto land, and stayed there Research on blennies, a family of fish that have repeatedly left the sea for land, suggests that being a 'jack of all trades' allows species to make the dramatic transition onto land but adapting into a 'master of one' allows them to stay there. The findings are published in the British Ecological Society journal Functional Ecology.
	New structural 'map' solves mysteries of gigantic gene regulator Structural biology has been used to 'map' part of a protein called SMCHD1, explaining how some changes in SMCHD1 cause certain developmental and degenerative conditions.
	Limpet sticking power down to mucus, not muscle Limpets—those coin-sized, suction-cup critters with conical caps—have had the experts fooled all along.
	'Cooperative' and 'independent' dog breeds may not react differently to unfair outcomes Cooperative worker dog breeds do not appear to respond more negatively to unfair outcomes than do independent worker breeds, according to a study published June 17 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Jim McGetrick of the Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, and colleagues. Although the sample size was small, the results do not support the hypothesis that inequity aversion and cooperation co-evolved.
	Fighting fish synchronize their combat moves and their gene expression When two betta fish are fighting for dominance, not only do their attacks mirror each other, but the gene expression in their brain cells also starts to align. The new findings, published June 17th in PLOS Genetics by Norihiro Okada of Kitasato University, Japan, may explain how the fish synchronize their fighting behavior.
	Predicting honeybee swarming by listening to the sounds made by a queen bee A team of researchers from Nottingham Trent University, l'Institut National de Recherche en Agriculture and Centre Apicole de Recherche et d'Information reports accurately predicting honeybee swarming by listening to sounds made by the queen bee in a nest. In their paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group describes what they learned about honeybees when they placed accelerometers in the hives.
	Humans found able to infer behavioral information from chimpanzee vocalizations A team of researchers from the University of Amsterdam, the University of York and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, has found evidence of human ability to infer behavioral information from chimpanzee vocalizations. In their paper published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group describes experiments they conducted with human volunteers listening to chimpanzee vocalizations and what they found.
	A changing mating signal may initiate speciation in populations of Drosophila mojavensis When choosing a mate, females of different subspecies of Drosophila mojavensis recognize the right mating partners either mainly by their song or by their smell. This was discovered by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology and their international collaboration partners, as a new study reports.
	Earth's species have more in common than previously believed The Earth hosts an abundance of life forms—from well-known animals and plants to small, more hardy life forms such as archaea, viruses and bacteria. These life forms are fundamentally different all the way down to the cell level—or so scientists thought.
	Permo-Triassic biodiversity patterns could offer a window into our climate future A new study by the University of Leeds and University of Oxford has examined spatial biodiversity patterns across the Permo-Triassic mass extinction event. (c. 252 million years ago). The Permo-Triassic mass extinction represents the most catastrophic event in the last 500 million years of evolutionary history and caused the loss of up 95% of species because of a cocktail of volcanic effects including extreme greenhouse warming.
	Gut bacteria may modify behavior in worms, influencing eating habits Gut bacteria are tiny but may play an outsized role not only in the host animal's digestive health, but in their overall well-being. According to a new study in Nature, specific gut bacteria in the worm may modify the animal's behavior, directing its dining decisions. The research was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.
	Study evaluates stress level of rehabilitated sea turtles during transport to warmer waters A new study co-authored by six scientists with the New England Aquarium has found that rehabilitated Kemp's ridley and loggerhead sea turtles experience a substantial stress response when transported to release locations in the southern United States but that the turtles remained physically stable and ready for release.
	Wind farms 'turn off times' could help save Eastern European bat populations The Via Pontica, an important migration route for birds in Eastern Europe, runs along the Black Sea coast of Romania and Bulgaria. Bats also use this route. In this region, numerous wind farms have been installed in recent years because of good wind conditions, but there has been little implementation of the legally required measures for the protection of bats. A Romanian research team cooperated with the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) in Berlin to demonstrate that this leads to high death rates of migrating bats and potentially large declines even in populations living far away in other countries. The scientists therefore recommend the widespread introduction of turn-off times during the migration months, which—as the team was able to show in a local wind farm—would massively decrease bat mortality yet produce only a marginal loss in the energy production of the turbines.
	Study calls for reallocation of subsidies for biocontrols to fight fall armyworm A new CABI-led study is calling for governments to reallocate subsidies to encourage the use of lower risk control options—such as biopesticides—in the fight against the devastating maize pest fall armyworm (FAW).
	Scientists construct high-quality graph-based soybean genome Soybean oil is one of the world's most important vegetable oils and soybeans are a key protein feed crop. Cultivated soybeans were domesticated from wild relatives in China approximately 5,000 years ago. At present, over 60,000 accessions adapted to different ecoregions have been developed. Extensive genetic diversity among soybean germplasms has shown the need for construction of a complete pan-genome from diverse soybean accessions.
	Weed's wily ways explained in Illinois research Like antibiotic-resistant bacteria, some herbicide-resistant weeds can't be killed by available chemicals. The problem affects more than just the errant weed in our driveways; herbicide-resistant weeds threaten our food supply, stealing resources and outcompeting the crops that make up our breakfast cereal and feed the nation's livestock.
	Using tiny electrodes to measure electrical activity in bacteria Scientists at Laboratory of Organic Electronics, Linköping University, have developed an organic electrochemical transistor that they can use to measure and study in fine detail a phenomenon known as extracellular electron transfer in which bacteria release electrons.
	Lead-Seq: A new high-throughput structure mapping method for RNA Researchers from Bochum and Münster have developed a new method to determine the structures of all RNA molecules in a bacterial cell at once. In the past, this had to be done individually for each molecule. Besides their exact composition, their structure is crucial for the function of the RNAs. The team describes the new high-throughput structure mapping method, termed Lead-Seq for lead sequencing, in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, published online on 28 May 2020.
	New family of enzymes reveals the Achilles' heel of fungal pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus is a species of fungus that can cause serious illnesses in immunocompromised individuals such as those who are undergoing transplantation or cancer chemotherapy. Every year, about 500,000 new Aspergillus cases are reported, and even with antifungal agents in place, the mortality rate remains over 50%. Infections caused by A. fumigatus are difficult to treat because during an infection, the fungus aggregates into small communities called "biofilms." These biofilms not only protect the pathogens from antifungal agents, but also help the fungus evade the immune system. Researchers around the world have been trying to understand how biofilms are produced and how they can be disrupted, as this knowledge will be crucial for developing effective therapeutics.
	What it means when animals have beliefs Humans are not the only ones who have beliefs; animals do too, although it is more difficult to prove them than with humans. Dr. Tobias Starzak and Professor Albert Newen from the Institute of Philosophy II at Ruhr-Universität Bochum have proposed four criteria to understand and empirically investigate animal beliefs in the journal Mind and Language. The article was published online on 16 June 2020.
	The balancing act between plant growth and defense Researchers from Kumamoto University in Japan have pinpointed the mechanism that regulates the balance between plant growth and defense. Plants synthesize and accumulate protective hormones to protect them from pathogen infections, but excessive accumulation significantly hinders plant growth. Researchers found that the DEL1 gene plays a role in balancing growth and defense of plants infected with nematodes. This finding is expected to contribute to the improvement of agricultural crop varieties and the identification of infection mechanisms of various pathogens.
	Mapping the genome could help in race to save native rat Scientists from The University of Western Australia have unveiled a genetic analysis of an endangered native rodent, which could help researchers and conservation authorities better understand how to protect the Australian species.
	Red squirrels making comeback as return of pine marten spells bad news for invasive grey squirrel The number of red squirrels is on the increase in Ireland thanks to the return of the pine marten, a native carnivore, a new survey led by NUI Galway has found.
	How the giant sequoia protects itself The giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) has developed effective strategies to protect itself against external influences in its natural environment in the Sierra Nevada. Its bark ensures that the tree survives wildfires and rock fall almost unscathed. Prof. Dr. Thomas Speck from the Cluster of Excellence Living, Adaptive and Energy-autonomous Materials Systems (livMatS), working with Dr. Georg Bold and Max Langer of the Institute of Biology, have examined the structural properties of its bark in detail for the first time. The University of Freiburg team has shown that the bark fibers form a three-dimensional network with cavities. This network distributes energy acting on the bark across the entire tissue. The results of their study have been published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Medicine and Health news

	Study sheds light on a classic visual illusion It's a classic visual illusion: Two gray dots appear on a background that consists of a gradient from light gray to black. Although the two dots are identical, they appear very different based on where they are placed against the background.
	Simple blood test could one day diagnose motor neurone disease Scientists at the University of Sussex have identified a potential pattern within blood which signals the presence of motor neuron disease; a discovery which could significantly improve diagnosis.
	CAR T cells beyond cancer: Targeting senescence-related diseases Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have transformed the treatment of refractory blood cancers. These genetically engineered immune cells seek out and destroy cancer cells with precision. Now, scientists at Memorial Sloan Kettering are deploying them against other diseases, including those caused by senescence, a chronic "alarm state" in tissues. The scope of such ailments is vast and includes debilitating conditions, such as fibrotic liver disease, atherosclerosis, and diabetes.
	Study links endometriosis to DNA changes DNA from uterine cells of women with endometriosis has different chemical modifications, compared to the DNA of women who do not have the condition, according to researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health. The changes involve DNA methylation—the binding of compounds known as methyl groups to DNA—which can alter gene activity. Moreover, the methylated DNA regions varied according to the stage, or severity, of endometriosis and responded differently to hormones involved in the menstrual cycle. Uterine responses to hormones influence pregnancy and other functions of uterine tissue.
	Combination biomarker predicts response to immune checkpoint therapy in patients with advanced bladder cancer In patients with metastatic bladder cancer, a novel combination of biomarkers from baseline tumor tissues was predictive of improved clinical responses and prolonged survival following treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
	Common cholesterol drugs could slow spread of breast cancer to brain A new study from the University of Notre Dame shows drugs used to treat high cholesterol could interfere with the way breast cancer cells adapt to the microenvironment in the brain, preventing the cancer from taking hold. Patients with breast cancer who experience this type of metastasis typically survive for only months after diagnosis.
	A fair reward ensures a good memory, study reveals How does our memory work, and how can we optimize its mechanisms on a daily basis? These questions are at the heart of many neuroscience research projects. Among the brain structures examined to better understand memory mechanisms, the reward system is now at the center of investigations. Through the examination of brain activity in healthy human subjects, scientists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) have highlighted the lasting positive effect of a reward—monetary, in this case—on the ability of individuals to retain a variety of information. Moreover, and much more surprisingly, the research team demonstrated that the average accumulation of reward should be neither too small nor too large. By ensuring an effective neural dialog between the reward circuit and the memory circuit, this delicate balance allows the proper encoding of memories in our brain. These results can be read in Nature Communications.
	Researchers overcome a vexing problem in vaccine research Researchers at UConn's Center of Excellence in Vaccine Research (CEVR) have made a breakthrough in vaccine development for a common and difficult to treat pneumonia-causing pathogen. Their research was recently published in the Nature Partner Journal—Vaccines.
	Air quality impacts early brain development Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found a link between traffic-related air pollution and an increased risk for changes in brain development relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders. Their study, based on rodent models, corroborates previous epidemiological evidence showing this association.
	Rapid changes in end-of-life care will affect patients at home and in care homes in the UK Family members are being trained to administer drugs to end-of-life patients at home and in care homes in the UK, in case doctors or nurses are not available to give injections when needed. And new palliative care drugs are being considered for use during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research carried out at the height of the pandemic.
	Even without concussion, athletes in contact sports may have brain changes Female college rugby players may have subtle brain changes even if they haven't had a recent concussion, according to a new study published in the June 17, 2020, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study compared rugby players to other female college athletes competing in the non-contact sports of swimming and rowing.
	Combination of healthy lifestyle traits may substantially reduce Alzheimer's disease risk Combining more healthy lifestyle behaviors was associated with substantially lower risk for Alzheimer's disease in a study that included data from nearly 3,000 research participants. Those who adhered to four or all of the five specified healthy behaviors were found to have a 60% lower risk of Alzheimer's. The behaviors were physical activity, not smoking, light-to-moderate alcohol consumption, a high-quality diet, and cognitive activities. Funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, this research was published in the June 17, 2020, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
	Bouillon fortified with a new iron compound could help reduce iron deficiency Iron fortification of food is a cost-effective method of preventing iron deficiency. But finding iron compounds that are easily absorbed by the intestine without compromising food quality is a major challenge. Now, studies from Chalmers University of Technology, ETH Zurich and Nestlé show that a brand-new iron compound, containing the iron uptake inhibitor phytate and the iron uptake enhancing corn protein hydrolysate, meets the criteria.
	Liver perfusion could save 7 in 10 rejected donor livers A major study investigating the effectiveness of liver perfusion as a technique to improve the function of donor livers that would have otherwise been rejected has shown that up to seven in every 10 could be used after just four to six hours of the assessment.
	Oral antibiotics work, shorten hospital stays for IV drug users with infections People who inject illicit drugs can develop potentially deadly infections of the heart, blood, joints and soft tissues. Typically, such infections require weeks of hospitalization to treat effectively. But a new study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that drug users who, while in the hospital, started IV antibiotics for serious infections and then finished their courses of treatment at home with antibiotic pills fared just as well as those who stayed in the hospital.
	Robotic technology speeds arrhythmia gene classification Vanderbilt University Medical Center investigators have used high-throughput robotic technology to rapidly study and classify variations in a gene linked to heart rhythm disorders and cardiac conditions.
	Q&A: How the COVID-19 pandemic affected alcohol consumption To stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic, some groups of coworkers, friends, and families set up regular Zoom happy hours. And as bars and restaurants temporarily shuttered, consumers began ordering wine and spirits online, sometimes in bulk.
	Use of pain drug Lyrica common among injecting drug users, study finds The use of pregabalin, a medicine for neuropathic pain, is relatively common among a sample of people who regularly inject drugs (PWID) in Australia, a new study by researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center (NDARC), UNSW Sydney has found.
	Healthier food can contain more contaminants – but there's a simple way to stay safe A recent study found that brown and organic rice sold in the UK tends to contain significantly more arsenic than white inorganic varieties that are often considered less healthy. Arsenic is found in many foods but can be especially concentrated in rice, particularly in the husk, which is removed to produce white rice but retained in brown rice.
	Junk food marketers found targeting children on social media without repercussions In Australia and around the world, junk food companies are targeting children on social media.
	Novel therapeutic targets ulcerative colitis Biologics to modulate the migration and activation of specific innate immune cells, called neutrophils, discovered in the lab of Beth McCormick, Ph.D., at UMass Medical School, have been licensed by Bacainn Therapeutics, Inc., to develop treatments for various acute medical conditions, including ulcerative colitis. The Massachusetts company received FDA clearance for a Phase I clinical trial of its compound to address uncontrolled inflammation in the gut.
	Wildfire smoke inhalation puts firefighters at risk A recent study co-authored by CUNY SPH Professor Ilias Kavouras examined the cardiovascular and pulmonary effects of smoke inhalation in firefighters. The study revealed that firefighters are inhaling large quantities of tiny particles containing carcinogenic chemicals while they combat destructive and dangerous wildfires. These firefighters are often battling wildfires over long periods of time and with little, if any, personal protective equipment. The study showed that the hazardous mixtures they were inhaling are known to be associated with cancer and cardiovascular disease, which are also predominant causes of death among firefighters.
	A sugar hit to help destroy cancer cells Like any cells in the body, cancer cells need sugar—namely glucose—to fuel cell proliferation and growth. Cancer cells in particular metabolize glucose at a much higher rate than normal cells. However researchers from USC Viterbi's Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science have unlocked a weakness in a common type of cancer cell: sugar inflexibility. That is, when cancer cells are exposed to a different type of sugar—galactose—the cells can't adapt, and will die.
	Multispecialty centers for pediatric dysphagia deliver better outcomes, reduced costs Children who choke when they drink or eat may have what's known as dysphagia, or a swallowing disorder—one of the most common medical complaints seen in young children. This condition can be due to various causes that require care from clinicians with expertise in areas including otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, gastroenterology, pulmonology, pediatric surgery, and speech-language pathology.
	Mild thyroid dysfunction affects one in five women with a history of miscarriage or subfertility Mild thyroid abnormalities affect up to one in five women with a history of miscarriage or subfertility which is a prolonged time span of trying to become pregnant, according to a new study published in the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
	Income security important in times of ill health While most countries have national policies in place, effective coverage is very low and often exclude those who have the greatest need. There are often several prominent barriers, especially for those outside the formal workforce who are affected by illnesses such as COVID-19, according to a newly published article by researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the SPARKS Network.
	Why do so many of us feel guilty about taking a lunch break? New research from health psychologists at Staffordshire University explores why some employees feel guilty about taking their legally entitled breaks.
	The novel mechanisms for inflammation and cancer induced by HTLV-1 A research group from Kumamoto University, Japan, has clarified the mechanism by which human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) causes inflammation and oncogenesis. The action of the viral gene HTLV-1 bZIP factor (HBZ) changes the reactivity of immune cells (T cells) infected with HTLV-1 to cytokines, which results in inflammation. This research is expected to contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of HTLV-1-induced malignant tumors (ATL) and HTLV-1-related inflammatory diseases, and lead to the development of new treatment and prevention strategies.
	10 percent of patients continue to use opioids three to six months after heart surgery Nearly 10 percent of patients who are prescribed opioid medications following heart surgery will continue to use opioids more than 90 days after the procedure, according to a new study led by researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
	Early and intensive treatment of rheumatoid arthritis reduces fatigue Disease-related, profound fatigue impairs the quality of life of many people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. A Belgian study has now concluded that early intensive treatment combining methotrexate with a bridging scheme of prednisone can reduce the onerous fatigue—this also applies to patients at low risk of a severe course. The European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) therefore recommends, that even in so-called low-risk patients, early consideration should be given to whether intensive treatment should be initiated.
	Call for caution for using a CAR-T immunotherapy against acute myeloid leukemia Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy the incidence of which increases with age, that is biologically, phenotypically, and genetically very heterogeneous. Its treatment combines chemotherapy followed by allogenic Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells transplant (allo-HSCT), based on the patient's eligibility, to consolidate complete remission and prevent relapse. Yet, except for a few subgroups, so-called low-risk AMLs, relapses are frequent after consolidation therapy and transplant. Chemotherapy-related toxicity, refractoriness, and failure to eradicate leukemia-initiating cells are the major causes underlying AML progression and relapse. Unfortunately, improved AML treatments have only experienced minor developments over the last four decades, and current 5-year event-free survival remains in a 20% in adults and less than 70% in children, highlighting the desperate need for safer and more efficient therapeutics.
	Light-activated 'CRISPR' triggers precision gene editing and super-fast DNA repair In a series of experiments using human cancer cell lines, scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have successfully used light as a trigger to make precise cuts in genomic material rapidly, using a molecular scalpel known as CRISPR, and observe how specialized cell proteins repair the exact spot where the gene was cut.
	New test paves the way for tailored treatment of deadliest form of ovarian cancer University of British Columbia (UBC) researchers have led an international team in developing a new test to better diagnose different types of ovarian cancer, a tool that could one day guide and improve treatment options for women diagnosed with the most common and deadliest form of the disease.
	National tick surveillance survey identifies gaps to be filled New Cornell-led research shows that inadequate funding is the main barrier to better surveillance and control of ticks, including the blacklegged tick, which spreads Lyme disease, the No. 1 vector-borne illness in the country.
	Non-invasive fetal oxygen monitor could make for safer deliveries A device to directly measure blood oxygen saturation in a fetus during labor has been developed by researchers at the University of California, Davis. By providing better information about the health of a fetus right before birth, the device could both reduce the rate of Cesarean sections and improve outcomes in difficult deliveries.
	Researchers develop microscopy technique for noninvasive evaluation of wound healing Researchers at the GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging have developed a new microscope that looks at the different parameters that change during wound healing. They hope to use this technique to understand how skin disorders, such as foot ulcers in diabetic patients and psoriasis, can be treated.
	Both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortality increased with azithromycin use (HealthDay)—Outpatient azithromycin use is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality, according to a study published online June 17 in JAMA Network Open.
	Globally, 11 percent of children live with one of four disabilities (HealthDay)—Overall, 11.2 percent of the 2.6 billion children and adolescents worldwide had one of the following in 2017: childhood epilepsy, intellectual disability, vision loss, or hearing loss, according to a study published online June 17 in Pediatrics.
	Midlife blood pressure during exercise predicts later heart disease (HealthDay)—Higher blood pressure (BP) during exercise and impaired BP recovery after exercise in midlife may be markers of subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease and mortality in later life, according to a study published online May 20 in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
	Hormone therapy no cure-all for 'low T' in aging men Testosterone therapy ads promise to help aging men recapture their vitality, decrease body fat and enhance libido. But hormone treatments—while medically necessary for some men—aren't meant to be a fountain of youth, and experts warn more research is needed to determine if such therapy could boost heart disease risks.
	People die when hospital bed shortages force patients out (HealthDay)—When patients are pushed out of the hospital after hip surgery to make room for others, the odds of dying increase, according to a recent study from Norway.
	Continuous glucose monitors help with type 1 diabetes at any age Technology often makes life easier to manage, and new research confirms that's definitely the case for people with type 1 diabetes.
	Researchers working to improve quality of life for seniors in long-term care Simon Fraser University researchers are hoping their latest study on seniors will help to address one of their biggest physical challenges—injury from falls.
	Research finds deployment affects mental health of veterans differently The saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," doesn't necessarily hold up when it comes to military mental health. Michigan State University is the first to examine veterans' personalities before and after deployment to measure psychological changes resulting from combat.
	A new study on rare 'split brain' patients sheds light on feature of human sleep "A new study of researchers at IMT School for Advanced Study Lucca demonstrates for the first time that the slow waves of NREM-sleep travel and propagate in the brain through 'anatomical highways.' The scientists have investigated in particular the role of the corpus callosum, the bundle of nervous fibers that connects the two brain emispheres, by enrolling in the research a group of 'split brain' patients.
	Centenarian study suggests living environment may be key to longevity When it comes to living to the ripe old age of 100, good genes help, but don't tell the full story. Where you live has a significant impact on the likelihood that you will reach centenarian age, suggests a new study conducted by scientists at Washington State University's Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.
	For babies born with a rare immune deficiency, a unique new test to better target care A new test developed at CHU Sainte-Justine in Montreal will enable better management of patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). The results of this work was presented Tuesday in the medical journal Blood Advances published by the American Society of Hematology.
	Evidence lacking for drug treatment of multiple sclerosis-related cognitive impairment Researchers at Kessler Foundation conducted a comprehensive review of pharmacologic agents used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, seeking evidence for efficacy for the cognitive dysfunction experienced by more than half of affected individuals. The article, "Cognitive efficacy of pharmacologic treatments in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review," was published open access in CNS Drugs 2020 May 02. The authors are Michelle H. Chen, Ph.D., Helen Genova, Ph.D., and John DeLuca, Ph.D., of Kessler Foundation. Yael Goverover, Ph.D., of New York University, is a visiting scientist at Kessler Foundation.
Social norms may increase consumption of risky food Who can make you eat pink hamburgers or uncooked chicken? Your future parents-in-law, research shows.
	'Remarkably high' rate of suicide among elderly patients after hip fracture Older adults who suffer a hip fracture requiring surgery are at a higher risk of suicide, suggests a study in the June 17, 2020 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

	UK modelling study finds case isolation and contact tracing vital to COVID-19 epidemic control In the absence of a vaccine or highly effective treatments for COVID-19, combining isolation and intensive contact tracing with physical distancing measures—such as limits on daily social or workplace contacts—might be the most effective and efficient way to achieve and maintain epidemic control, according to new modelling research published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal.
	What is China doing to stop Beijing's new coronavirus outbreak? Over 1,000 flights have been cancelled, schools shut and residents urged not to leave Beijing, as Chinese authorities race to contain a fresh outbreak linked to the capital's largest wholesale food market.
	Pandemic takes a toll on mental health of U.S. residents, new national survey shows As United States residents continue to weather the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it's taking a toll on their mental health, according to a new national survey led by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers universities.
	Study: Preparing health practitioners to deal with family violence from COVID-19 A world-first framework that identifies a health practitioner's readiness to address family violence has been developed in a University of Melbourne-led study funded by the Safer Families Centre.
	People in England's poorest towns "lose over a decade of good health," research finds Cambridge researchers find major health inequalities—as well as a geographic divide—between the most and least deprived English towns. They say that life expectancy in cities is now overtaking towns for the first time.
	COVID-19 exposes health inequities, underscores the need for more inclusivity in research As evidence mounts that COVID-19 disproportionately claims the lives of people from minority communities, particularly African Americans, researchers say it is time to correct the traditional underrepresentation of these groups in research studies.
	How far does COVID-19 spread through air? Study monitors virus in hospital rooms The CDC recently updated its guidance for avoiding COVID-19, saying that infection from touching surfaces is not the major way the virus spreads. The bigger risk is spending time with infected people.
	Happiness among Americans dips to five-decade low In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the public's happiness is at a five-decade low despite most Americans being satisfied with their financial situation, according to a new survey from NORC at the University of Chicago.
	Data show spike in family violence after stay-at-home orders Researchers at The University of Texas at Dallas have found that incidents of domestic violence in Dallas increased in the three weeks after local stay-at-home orders went into effect in response to the coronavirus pandemic, then they gradually declined.
	Feeling hopeless? There are things you can do to create and maintain hope in a post-coronavirus world Today is a far cry from what we hoped for and expected from 2020.
	Health experts grappling with what happens if COVID-19 cases leap States are easing COVID-19 lockdowns, and many Americans are joyously leaping in with both feet, lowering their masks and their concerns about distancing as summer nears. But cases are continuing to rise in several states, and scientists expect a second wave in the fall. Based on public statements and news reports, however, there appears to be little will among some average Americans and a number of politicians and corporate executives to reinstitute the broad, economically costly closures of March, April, and May.
	Q&A: Epidemiologist offers advice on healthy travel, recreation during the pandemic Despite the all-encompassing disruption of the coronavirus pandemic, time marches on, with summer just around the corner. For many, June signals the beginning of vacation season. But as COVID-19 continues to spread, where does summer travel stand?
	Two clinical trials use low-dose radiation to treat COVID-19 infections Previous studies have shown that low-dose, whole lung radiation in the form of X-rays can effectively treat severe pneumonia, with minimal side effects. Two clinical trials are applying a modern version of this concept to test patients who have acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as a result of COVID-19 infection.
	Russia starts clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine Clinical trials of a Russian coronavirus vaccine have started Wednesday, the Health Ministry said in a statement.
	Here's what doctors know about immunizations right now: You still need them There's no vaccine for COVID-19 yet. But there are routine immunizations that people aren't getting for a host of debilitating and potentially deadly diseases.
	Masks and summer heat: Not a great mix, but experts have tips (HealthDay)—Dr. Teresa Murray Amato rode the subway into Manhattan from Queens the other day and found that summertime and face masks aren't an easy fit.
	Church tied to Oregon's largest coronavirus outbreak A church in rural northeastern Oregon is now the epicenter of the state's largest coronavirus outbreak, as 236 people tested positive for the disease, authorities said Tuesday.
	Mexico records 3rd highest daily death numbers Even as Mexico announced plans for reopening churches and religious events, the country posted near-record numbers of newly confirmed cases and deaths from COVID-19 on Tuesday.
	Report: 60% of Beijing flights canceled to stem virus spread The Chinese capital on Wednesday canceled more than 60% of commercial flights and raised the alert level amid a new coronavirus outbreak, state-run media reported.
	Months into virus, biggest one-day case spike worries Iran Months into Iran's fight against the coronavirus, doctors and nurses at Tehran's Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital still don a mask, a disposable hazmat suit and a double layer of latex gloves every day to attempt to contain a pandemic that shows no signs of slowing.
	New Zealand military to control borders after virus bungle New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered the military to oversee the country's border controls Wednesday after a bungle that allowed two people with the coronavirus to leave quarantine.
	India coronavirus toll sees record jump of 2,000 dead India's official coronavirus death toll leapt by more than 2,000 on Wednesday as the hard-hit country struggles to contain a ballooning health crisis that has overwhelmed hospitals.
	Steroid 'breakthrough' raises virus hopes, despite China outbreak The World Health Organization on Tuesday hailed a "breakthrough" steroid treatment for the coronavirus, boosting hopes that pandemic deaths can be reduced, but a growing new cluster in China sparked fears of a second wave of infections.
	Peru's coronavirus deaths surge past 7,000 Peru's health ministry said Tuesday that the hard-hit nation's coronavirus death toll had reached 7,056, the third-highest in Latin America after Brazil and Mexico.
	Brazil reports highest daily jump in virus cases Brazil on Tuesday recorded its highest daily jump in new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, with nearly 35,000 registered in 24 hours, the health ministry said.
	Beijing schools closed again as city finds 31 more virus cases Beijing shut all its schools again on Wednesday as the city reported 31 new coronavirus cases, with authorities in the Chinese capital rushing to curb an outbreak linked to a wholesale food market.
	China cancels flights, classes over new outbreak as India deaths soar China closed schools in Beijing and restricted air travel from the capital on Wednesday to prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections, as India's death toll spiked.
	Brussels urges world to work for shared vaccine European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen urged rich countries to prepare to share any future coronavirus vaccine with their poorer neighbours, as she launched Brussels' pandemic strategy.
	Germany bans big events until end-October over virus fears Germany will ban most large events until the end of October to prevent a new wave of coronavirus transmission, Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.
	How religions and religious leaders can help to combat the COVID-19 pandemic: Indonesia's experience Many have attacked religions as a part of the problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
	How doctors' fears of getting COVID-19 can mean losing the healing power of touch: One physician's story Even as America begins to reopen, people across city neighborhoods continue to express appreciation for the health care workers braving hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients by clanging pots and cheering nightly. Similar to the firefighters who sacrificed their lives during 9/11, frontline health care workers have become the symbolic heroes of the moment.
	Sweden's coronavirus consensus cracks as deaths top 5,000 Sweden on Wednesday passed the grim mark of 5,000 deaths from the new coronavirus, as cracks began to emerge in the political consensus the government has until now enjoyed over its softer approach.
	New Beijing outbreak raises virus fears for rest of world China raised its emergency warning to its second-highest level and canceled more than 60% of the flights to Beijing on Wednesday amid a new coronavirus outbreak in the capital. It was a sharp pullback for the nation that declared victory over COVID-19 in March and a message to the rest of the world about how tenacious the virus really is.
	Data dashboard highlights COVID-19 demographics and time trends As news reports underline the disproportionate toll of COVID-19 on racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, a new data visualization dashboard developed by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health scientists may be the first to compile state-level COVID-19 demographic information for age, race/ethnicity, and sex. The Demographics by State COVID-19 Reporting (DSCovR) Dashboard allows policymakers, scientists, and the lay public to visualize and compare COVID-19 time trends and demographic information among cases, hospitalizations, and deaths across states.
	Germany: 657 virus cases at slaughterhouse in new outbreak Regional officials in western Germany said Wednesday that the number of new COVID-19 cases linked to a large meatpacking plant has risen to 657, a higher figure than many recent daily increases for the entire country.
	Nation's capital could move to phase 2 reopening next week Washington, D.C., officials are targeting next Monday for the start of phase two of reopening the nation's capital after months of social restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
	New York City set for further reopening New York City's restaurants and bars—closed for three months due to the coronavirus pandemic—will be allowed to open outside areas next week, Governor Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday.
	When the fight against COVID-19 is at home (HealthDay)—If a loved one is dealing with COVID-19 at home, there are several steps you can take to aid in their recovery.
	Beijing fights new virus outbreak as India deaths soar China closed schools in Beijing and restricted air travel from the capital on Wednesday to halt an outbreak of coronavirus cases and dampen fears of a second wave, as India's death toll spiked and Sweden's went above 5,000.
	WHO halts hydroxychloroquine trials on COVID-19 patients The World Health Organization decided Wednesday to halt trials of hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for hospitalised COVID-19 patients, finding it did not reduce the mortality rate.

Other Sciences news

	New study suggests that hard eggshells evolved at least three times in dinosaur family tree New research suggests that the first dinosaurs laid soft-shelled eggs—a finding that contradicts established thought. The study, led by the American Museum of Natural History and Yale University and published today in the journal Nature, applied a suite of sophisticated geochemical methods to analyze the eggs of two vastly different non-avian dinosaurs and found that they resembled those of turtles in their microstructure, composition, and mechanical properties. The research also suggests that hard-shelled eggs evolved at least three times independently in the dinosaur family tree.
	First egg from Antarctica is big and might belong to an extinct sea lizard In 2011, Chilean scientists discovered a mysterious fossil in Antarctica that looked like a deflated football. For nearly a decade, the specimen sat unlabeled and unstudied in the collections of Chile's National Museum of Natural History, with scientists identifying it only by its sci-fi movie-inspired nickname—"The Thing."
	First-degree incest: Ancient genomes uncover Irish passage tomb for dynastic elite Archeologists and geneticists, led by those from Trinity College Dublin, have shed new light on the earliest periods of Ireland's human history.
	Is Santa real? Examining children's beliefs in cultural figures and 'non-real' people Young children understand dinosaurs and The Wiggles are (or were!) real, and that fictional characters like Peter Pan and Spongebob are not real—but cultural figures like Santa or the Tooth Fairy occupy an ambiguous place in a child's pantheon, suggests a study published June 17, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Rohan Kapitány from Keele University, and colleagues.
	Gigantic Australian carnivorous dinosaurs discovered and studied using footprints North America had the T. rex, South America had the Giganotosaurus and Africa the Spinosaurus—now evidence shows Australia had gigantic predatory dinosaurs.
	Insect-crunching reptiles on ancient islands of the U.K. By analyzing the fossilized jaw mechanics of reptiles who lived in the Severn Channel region of the UK 200-million-years ago, researchers from the University of Bristol have shown that they weren't picky about the types of insects they ate—enjoying both crunchy and less crunchy varieties.
	Envy divides society It's generally recognized that differences in background and education cement class differences. It is less clear when and under what circumstances individual psychological forces can drive an initially homogenous social group apart and ultimately divide it. Claudius Gros, professor for theoretical physics at Goethe University, investigated this question in a mathematical precise way using game theory methods. "In the study, societies of agents—acting individuals—are simulated within game theory, which means that everybody optimizes her/his success according to predetermined rules. I wanted to find out whether social differences can emerge on their own if no one starts off with advantages—that is, when all actors have the same skills and opportunity," the physicist explains.
	Association between morbidity and poverty reversed during early US COVID-19 epidemic The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the USA was on January 20, 2020 in Washington State. Since then, there have been over two million confirmed cases and 113,000 deaths in the country. A shortage of tests has beleaguered the US healthcare system from the beginning of the pandemic.
	Classes set by ability are hitting children's self-confidence, study finds The way a vast amount of schools are setup, with classes grouping children based on their ability, is severely affecting pupil's self-confidence.
	How the coronavirus pandemic is adding to the world's slave labour workforce The economic disruption created by the Coronavirus pandemic could trap hundreds of thousands more workers around the world in modern slavery working conditions, researchers are warning.
	New economic tracker finds flaws in U.S. recovery plan Results from a new economic tracker that looks at real-time statistics on consumer spending, jobs, and business revenue suggest that the government's traditional recovery strategies to reverse the downturn triggered by the pandemic are not having a major impact, because they fail to address the root of the problem—consumer fear of the virus itself.
	A Neandertal from Chagyrskaya Cave The researchers extracted the DNA from bone powder and sequenced it to high quality. They estimate that the female Neandertal lived 60,000-80,000 years ago. From the variation in the genome they estimate that she and other Siberian Neandertals lived in small groups of less than 60 individuals.
	To make a good impression, leave cell phone alone during work meetings To get on the good side of a new boss, colleague or acquaintance in a business meeting, leave your cell phone stashed in your pocket or purse.
	Report finds that unionist and nationalist identities in NI became stronger in the run-up to Brexit A research study on political attitudes and identities in Northern Ireland has been released today by ARK—a joint initiative between Queen's University Belfast and Ulster University.
	Expert: 'Shovel-ready' projects ignore important aspects of community resilience Roads, cycleways and housing developments are among 11 projects announced this week as the first tranche of infrastructure developments to kickstart New Zealand's economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
	Why protesting racism during a pandemic is important – an epidemiologist explains Widespread protests have broken out across the United States in response to the police killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many other black Americans at the hands of police. Demonstrations have also erupted in the UK, Australia, France and several other countries in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and in protest at these countries' own domestic cases of institutional racism.
	Unpaid carers going hungry during COVID lockdown says study Unpaid carers are twice as likely as the general public to have relied on a food bank during the COVID-19 pandemic says a new study.
	Report: Moratorium on evictions during COVID-19 protects vulnerable children Children who experience housing eviction are more likely to live in families earning low incomes, belong to communities of color, and have special education needs than children who do not experience eviction, according to new research from the Center for Child and Family Policy at the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy. In addition, these children are more likely to experience household job loss and economic consequences from COVID-19.
	Human trafficking, over-incarceration in Australia an ongoing concern In the charged atmosphere of Black Lives Matter demonstrations, Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently made the mistake of stating there was no slavery in Australia. Morrison later apologized for causing offense. He clarified that his comments related specifically to the colony of New South Wales.
	Real estate control policies in China can partially constrain real estate risks to banks According to Junhua Jiang's doctoral study, real estate control policies in China that aim at stabilizing or slowing house price growth can reduce two types of real estate risks to banks: discount rate risks and overall risks of the real estate firms to banks. Real estate control policies, however, cannot constrain another type of real estate risks to banks: risks of the real estate market to banks.
	Researchers develop diversity intelligence scale for organizations University of Arkansas researchers have developed the first diversity intelligence scale that employers can use to ensure and improve diversity, inclusion and equity within their organizations.

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