Science & Research & Technology 2024-08-22 === ```Summary of the day``` ### [This week's Short Wave news roundup](https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5078770/this-weeks-short-wave-news-roundup) ```npr.org``` <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5078770/nx-s1-67f0d88c-02a8-431e-86b8-e177d857aa5c" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></iframe> NPR's Ailsa Chang talks to Regina Barber and Emily Kwong of NPR's Short Wave about an ancient magma ocean on the moon, the snake problem of Florida's Everglades, and why scrolling through video clips bores us. [Continue Reading →](https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5078770/this-weeks-short-wave-news-roundup) ---- ### [Will EEG be able to read your dreams? The future of the brain activity measure as it marks 100 years](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240822125953.htm) ```sciencedaily.com``` ```University of Leeds``` One hundred years after the human brain's electrical activity was first recorded, experts are celebrating the legacy of its discovery and sharing their predictions and priorities for its future. A survey saw respondents -- with 6,685 years of collective experience -- presented with possible future developments for EEG, ranging from those deemed 'critical to progress' to the 'highly improbable,' and asked to estimate how long it might be before they were achieved. [Continue Reading →](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240822125953.htm) ---- ### [Fighting coastal erosion with electricity](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240822125958.htm) ```sciencedaily.com``` ```Northwestern University``` New research has systematically demonstrated that a mild zap of electricity can strengthen a marine coastline for generations -- greatly reducing the threat of erosion in the face of climate change and rising sea levels. The new process forms natural cement between grains of sand, transforming it into solid, immoveable rock. Mollusks use a similar process to turn naturally occurring minerals into shells. [Continue Reading →](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/08/240822125958.htm) ---- ### [Google is shoving its apps onto new Windows laptops](https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/22/24226146/google-essentials-app-package-windows-pc-hp) ```theverge.com``` **Google’s new Essentials app will be preinstalled on new HP laptops and is coming to more Windows PCs later.** Google is making a new desktop app called Essentials that packages a few Google services, like Messages and Photos, and includes links to download many others. The app will be included with many new Windows laptops, with the first ones coming from HP. [Continue Reading →](https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/22/24226146/google-essentials-app-package-windows-pc-hp) ---- ### [The role of bitter polyphenols in the regulation of blood sugar](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-role-bitter-polyphenols-blood-sugar.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` Bioactive compounds like polyphenols and their health benefits have long captured public attention and interest. Commonly present in plant-based food like fruits, vegetables, seeds, coffee, and tea, polyphenols have a strong bitter taste, and in the normal course of a day, are excreted by our body due to poor absorption. The polyphenols interact with human bitter taste receptors also known as type 2 taste receptors (T2R) expressed within and outside the oral cavity. Notably, the activation of T2R expressed along the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is responsible for the bioactivity of ingested polyphenols. The scientific mechanisms beyond T2R activation leading up to the reported health benefits of polyphenols are unclear. With over 8,000 types of polyphenols and 25 types of human T2R, this is a crucial gap in knowledge. With a focus on filling in this gap, a team of researchers led by Professor Naomi Osakabe from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, along with Dr. Makoto Ohmoto from the Takasaki University of Health and Welfare, Japan; Dr. Yasuyuki Fujii and Dr. Takafumi Shimizu from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan; Dr. Keiko Abe from University of Tokyo, Japan; and Dr. Vittorio Calabrese from University of Catania, Italy, conducted a review to understand the interaction between the polyphenols and T2R and the resulting health benefits. Their findings are published in the journal Food Bioscience. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-role-bitter-polyphenols-blood-sugar.html) ---- ### [Waymo wants to chauffeur your kids](https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/22/waymo-wants-to-chauffeur-your-kids/) ```techcrunch.com``` Soon, parents in range of Waymo robotaxis might not have to worry about picking up their kids from after-school activities — or any time, really. The San Francisco Standard reports that Waymo, the Alphabet subsidiary, is considering a subscription program that would let teens hail one of its cars solo and send pickup and drop-off alerts to their parents. In a survey, Waymo referred to the program as “Waymo Teen,” and floated prices ranging from $150 to $250 per month for up to 16 rides. “We have been exploring the potential for authorized teenagers to access [Waymo] under their guardians’ supervision and have received promising feedback from our research in this area,” a Waymo spokesperson told TechCrunch. Waymo isn’t the only ride-hailing company looking to teens to boost profits. Last year, Uber began matching teens ages 13 through 17 with highly rated drivers in its network. Consent is required from a child’s legal guardians, who then receive notifications about their child’s whereabouts during rides [Continue Reading →](https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/22/waymo-wants-to-chauffeur-your-kids/) ---- ### [Researcher: Young Black people are disproportionately strip-searched—ways the justice system treats them as a threat](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-young-black-people-disproportionately-ways.html) ```phys.org``` A new report from the Children's Commissioner for England has found that 457 strip searches of children by police took place between July 2022 and June 2023. The report shows that Black children were four times more likely, when compared to national population figures, to be strip-searched. The Children's Commissioner's reports on this topic began following the terrible case of Child Q, a 15-year-old Black girl who was strip-searched at her school. The Children's Commissioner's research shows that before Child Q's case came to light, Black children were six times more likely to be strip-searched. So there has been some improvement, though Black children remain disproportionately affected. But my academic work as a criminologist and lecturer in youth justice continues to demonstrate that young Black people are over-represented throughout the whole justice system, from their interactions with the police to their presence in prisons. For instance, in 2022, Black children made up 31% of children on remand—in custody before the start of a trial. But they comprise only around 5% of the school-age population. Research has found that in 2018, Black children received longer custodial sentences than their white peers. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-young-black-people-disproportionately-ways.html) ---- ### [Breaking boundaries: The unexpected routes of minerals in crop growth](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-boundaries-unexpected-routes-minerals-crop.html) ```phys.org``` Imagine plants not just sipping nutrients dissolved in water, but actually munching on tiny mineral particles straight from the soil. A study sheds light on how wheat and lettuce aren't just passive feeders—they actively grab, transport, and utilize solid minerals from their roots all the way to their shoots. This discovery is not only surprising but also hints at new ways to boost crop growth and environmental health, paving the way for smarter farming techniques. Plants traditionally acquire nutrients in dissolved forms, but the uptake of solid mineral particles has been largely unexplored. Current agricultural practices and environmental assessments may overlook the potential of plants to directly utilize these particles. This study's insights into the direct uptake routes provide a crucial understanding of how plants interact with their soil environment, potentially altering how we manage crop nutrition and soil health. Based on these challenges, there is a pressing need to delve deeper into this phenomenon. Conducted by researchers at the State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, the study, published in Eco-Environment & Health, investigates how wheat and lettuce plants absorb and transport kaolin particles. Employing covalent labeling and advanced microscopy techniques, the researchers tracked the particles' movement, offering groundbreaking insights into the plants' ability to engage with their non-soluble mineral environment. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-boundaries-unexpected-routes-minerals-crop.html) ---- ### [How volunteer roadkill tracking helps save wildlife](https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5069664/how-volunteer-roadkill-tracking-helps-save-wildlife) ```npr.org``` <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5069664/nx-s1-b4f192b2-1565-4745-84c6-a001664e395c" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></iframe> A new program in Oregon lets drivers upload photos of roadkill, which officials say can help them identify dangerous hotspots and reduce the number of animals killed. It's one of several such programs that have sprouted up to protect wildlife from cars. [Continue Reading →](https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5069664/how-volunteer-roadkill-tracking-helps-save-wildlife) ---- ### [Improving the accuracy of global cropland mapping](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-accuracy-global-cropland.html) ```phys.org``` To address the needs of the agricultural monitoring community, IIASA scientists fused two of the latest high-quality, high-resolution, remotely sensed cropland products to produce an improved cropland map for early warning and food security assessments. To ensure efficient resource management, food security, and environmental policies, policymakers require the most sophisticated and up-to-date information about agricultural areas. This information is typically derived from satellite observations of our planet. Scientists tend to compile such data into cropland maps to make it more comprehensive, so it can be used for tracking crop production, developing sustainable agricultural practices and supply chains, as well as assessing land use changes. The increasing frequency and severity of droughts and other extreme weather events caused by climate change makes accurate mapping of cropland areas increasingly important, since drought-induced production losses can heavily impact the global market. To further improve the accuracy of the existing data, researchers from IIASA and the European Commission's Joint Research Center have developed a new global hybrid cropland map, which can help to conduct more rigorous agricultural monitoring and food security assessments. The research is published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-accuracy-global-cropland.html) ---- ### [Novel silica nonwoven fabric scaffold enhances understanding of cell-to-cell interactions](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-silica-nonwoven-fabric-scaffold-cell.html) ```phys.org``` Communication and coordination among different cells are fundamental aspects that regulate many functions in our body. This process, known as paracrine signaling, involves the release of signaling molecules by a cell into its extracellular matrix (ECM) or surroundings to communicate changes in its cellular processes or the local environment. These signaling molecules are then detected by neighboring cells, leading to various cellular responses. For instance, during cell/tissue injury, the paracrine signaling process releases growth factors that signal nearby stem cells to assist in tissue repair in the form of scar tissue formation or blood clotting. Similar processes occur in the regulation of other vital functions, such as digestion, respiration, and reproduction. Additionally, paracrine signals influence the expression and activity of enzymes involved in drug metabolism and play a role in drug–drug interactions. The signaling molecules, which may contain proteins and genetic material, are transported within tiny vesicles called exosomes. These vesicles serve as valuable biomarkers for various diseases and can even be engineered to carry drugs, making them a highly effective targeted drug delivery system. Notably, the hormone oxytocin and the neurotransmitter dopamine are paracrine messengers. To investigate the impact of exosomes on cell–cell interactions, a team of researchers, including Professor Hidenori Otsuka and Dr. Shohei Ishikawa from Tokyo University of Science, has recently developed an innovative cell culture system. Their findings were published in the journal Biotechnology and Bioengineering on May 19, 2023. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-silica-nonwoven-fabric-scaffold-cell.html) ---- ### [Why entrepreneurship education fails in impoverished regions](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-entrepreneurship-impoverished-regions.html) ```phys.org``` As formal employment opportunities are rare in impoverished regions, entrepreneurship is considered a key alternative to help people in such regions improve their livelihoods. Many development organizations have adopted a market-based approach to alleviating poverty, offering entrepreneurship education and training programs to help microentrepreneurs innovate in their businesses. However, evidence suggests that these programs often fail to foster lasting change in entrepreneurs' behavior. Research from the University of Michigan found that the way training programs are framed can play a crucial role in this adoption process. Most programs teach microentrepreneurs to do different things in their businesses by emulating successful entrepreneurs—what the researchers call within-logic contrasting—asking them to build new skills. The research is published in the Journal of Business Venturing. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-entrepreneurship-impoverished-regions.html) ---- ### [Autism spectrum disorders linked to neurotransmitter switching in the brain](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-autism-spectrum-disorders-linked-neurotransmitter.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) involve mild to severe impairment of social, behavioral and communication abilities. These disorders can significantly impact performance at school, in employment and in other areas of life. However, researchers lack knowledge about how these disorders emerge at early stages of development. University of California San Diego neurobiologists have found evidence of altered development of the nervous system in mouse models of autism spectrum disorders. They linked environmentally induced forms of ASD to changes in neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that allow neurons to communicate with each other. They also discovered that manipulating these neurotransmitters at early stages of development can prevent the appearance of autistic-like behaviors. The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-autism-spectrum-disorders-linked-neurotransmitter.html) ---- ### [World-first lung cancer vaccine trials launched across seven countries](https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/23/world-first-lung-cancer-vaccine-trials-launched-across-seven-countries) ```theguardian.com``` **First patient in UK gets dose of jab designed to kill most common form of lung cancer – and stop it coming back** Doctors have begun trialling the world’s first mRNA lung cancer vaccine in patients, as experts hailed its “groundbreaking” potential to save thousands of lives. Lung cancer is the world’s leading cause of cancer death, accounting for about 1.8m deaths every year. Survival rates in those with advanced forms of the disease, where tumours have spread, are particularly poor. Now experts are testing a new jab that instructs the body to hunt down and kill cancer cells – then prevents them ever coming back. Known as BNT116 and made by BioNTech, the vaccine is designed to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common form of the disease. The phase 1 clinical trial, the first human study of BNT116, has launched across 34 research sites in seven countries: the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Turkey. The UK has six sites, located in England and Wales, with the first UK patient to receive the vaccine having their initial dose on Tuesday. [Continue Reading →](https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/23/world-first-lung-cancer-vaccine-trials-launched-across-seven-countries) ---- ### [Advances in fiber-based wearable sensors with machine learning](https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-advances-fiber-based-wearable-sensors.html) ```techxplore.com``` The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) in the past decade has greatly enhanced the ability of wearable devices to process complex data. Among them, machine learning—a major category of AI algorithms—and its important branch, deep learning, are the main thrust of this wave of AI. Machine learning eliminates the labor cost of manually extracting data features, and its deep learning branch has powerful insights into hidden features. Their large demand for data fits the massive information brought by this era of information explosion. A recent study summarizes all machine learning algorithms that have been used in conjunction with fiber sensors, divided into two categories: traditional machine learning algorithms and deep learning algorithms. Traditional machine learning algorithms include linear regression (LR), k nearest neighbors (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), random forest, XGBoost, and K means clustering. The paper is published in the journal Advanced Devices & Instrumentation. [Continue Reading →](https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-advances-fiber-based-wearable-sensors.html) ---- ### [Does it matter if students do tests on computers or on paper?](https://theconversation.com/does-it-matter-if-students-do-tests-on-computers-or-on-paper-236872) ```theconversation.com``` Australian students are increasingly taking tests on computers. This includes major tests used to check national progress on literacy and numeracy. The idea is this prepares students “for the future”, because “technology is everywhere”. But as our two recent studies suggest, the way students respond to test questions on computers may not be the same as on paper. This is a particular issue amid concern over the latest round of NAPLAN results, which appear to show too many Australian students are not learning basic skills in English and maths. NAPLAN (for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9) has been fully online for two years. [Continue Reading →](https://theconversation.com/does-it-matter-if-students-do-tests-on-computers-or-on-paper-236872) ---- ### [Being a ‘weekend warrior’ could be as good for brain health as exercising throughout the week, new study shows](https://theconversation.com/being-a-weekend-warrior-could-be-as-good-for-brain-health-as-exercising-throughout-the-week-new-study-shows-237212) ```theconversation.com``` With the responsibilities of adulthood, free time can be a rare commodity. Many of us find ourselves asking, “I barely have time to cook dinner. How can I find time to exercise regularly during the week?” The health benefits of exercise – which include reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and dementia – can seem out of reach due to the pressures of work and life. But a new study published in the journal Nature Aging offers some good news for people who struggle to fit regular exercise into their weekday schedules. The findings suggest “weekend warriors” – those who get most of their exercise on the weekend – may enjoy the same brain health and mental health benefits as those who exercise regularly throughout the week. [Continue Reading →](https://theconversation.com/being-a-weekend-warrior-could-be-as-good-for-brain-health-as-exercising-throughout-the-week-new-study-shows-237212) ---- ### [Lose Weight Faster With These Two Nutrients, Scientists Say](https://scitechdaily.com/lose-weight-faster-with-these-two-nutrients-scientists-say/) ```scitechdaily.com``` **Participants in a self-directed diet program lost significantly more weight by consuming higher amounts of protein and fiber, along with adhering to a personalized and flexible diet plan.** Over a 25-month study, the most successful participants, who made up 41% of the total, lost an average of 12.9% of their body weight by following individualized plans that prioritized nutritional education and sustainable changes. [Continue Reading →](https://scitechdaily.com/lose-weight-faster-with-these-two-nutrients-scientists-say/) ---- ### [Researchers discover brain circuit that controls ability to recall information and memories](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-brain-circuit-ability-recall-memories.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` Daily, we encounter new people, situations, and things that require our attention. Fortunately, there is an area in the brain that contributes to consciousness and awareness. This area is called the "Claustrum complex" and is located deep within the brain in each hemisphere. Today, we know that many diseases related to higher cognitive function, such as Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, and ADD/ADHD, are closely linked to abnormal function of this particular part of the brain. However, we still do not fully understand how the different parts of the claustrum complex work or how its circuits and communication system are organized. Researchers at Aarhus University have now uncovered this, and their results identify, down to the cellular level, which part of the claustrum complex controls our ability to discriminate familiar and novel things. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-brain-circuit-ability-recall-memories.html) ---- ### [A new screening method for measuring blood-brain barrier permeability](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-screening-method-blood-brain-barrier.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` Scientists at Southwest Research Institute have developed a new screening method to identify drug formulations that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), to facilitate treatment of brain diseases and conditions. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-screening-method-blood-brain-barrier.html) ---- ### [Examining the use of opioids for chronic cough](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-opioids-chronic.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` Chronic cough, with symptoms lasting more than eight weeks, affects approximately one in 10 adults. Cough is among the most common reasons for seeking medical care in the United States, yet chronic cough is difficult to treat. One of the largest studies of chronic cough and one of the first to explore the use of opioids, which are known to suppress cough, to treat these patients, has found that 20% of patients with chronic cough received a prescription for a cough suppressant containing an opioid. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-opioids-chronic.html) ---- ### [Just 10 minutes of mindfulness daily boosts well-being and fights depression, study finds](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-minutes-mindfulness-daily-boosts-depression.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` In a new study published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, researchers from the Universities of Bath and Southampton have unveiled how just 10 minutes of daily mindfulness practice can improve well-being, ease depression and anxiety, and help people to be more motivated to improve their lifestyle—including healthier exercise, eating and sleeping habits. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-minutes-mindfulness-daily-boosts-depression.html) ---- ### [How particles of light may be producing drops of the perfect liquid](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-particles-liquid.html) ```phys.org``` The world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator may be producing the world's tiniest droplets of liquid, right under scientists' noses. Researchers are digging into this subatomic enigma. Underground at the Switzerland-France border, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN holds the record for the world's largest particle accelerator. Its ring alone is nearly 17 miles around. With this tool, scientists smash together subatomic particles to help them better understand the tiny building blocks of the universe. One area that scientists use the LHC to study is the quark-gluon plasma. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-particles-liquid.html) ---- ### [Journalists and social media users are key drivers behind product recall decisions](https://theconversation.com/journalists-and-social-media-users-are-key-drivers-behind-product-recall-decisions-236937) ```theconversation.com``` Canada saw a record 2,330 product recalls in 2023 — more than six per day and the highest since the federal government started releasing the data in 2011. A product recall occurs when a manufacturer takes action to remove consumer goods with safety defects or regulatory non-compliance from the market. The decision on the number of product units to recall is typically left up to the managers of manufacturing companies. This decision can be influenced by a variety of external pressures. However, what exactly drives these managers when issuing a recall? [Continue Reading →](https://theconversation.com/journalists-and-social-media-users-are-key-drivers-behind-product-recall-decisions-236937) ---- ### [Pollution drives families to relocate—but only the rich can afford to live in healthier areas](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-pollution-families-relocate-rich-healthier.html) ```phys.org``` Pollution levels factor in households' decision to relocate within the United States, but only richer households can afford areas with improved air quality, a new study finds. Research led by Lancaster University Management School and published in Environmental and Resource Economics, examines county-to-county migration data from 2010 to 2014 provided by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It uses a range of controls to account for households opting to move to a particular county—such as employment opportunities and amenities—and finds environmental quality plays a key role in a choice of destination. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-pollution-families-relocate-rich-healthier.html) ---- ### [Nitrogen deposition also reduces biodiversity on a larger scale, research shows](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-nitrogen-deposition-biodiversity-larger-scale.html) ```phys.org``` It has long been known that nitrogen deposition, where nitrogen is released from the atmosphere into soil or water, can lead to biodiversity loss on a small scale. New research shows that this effect can also be seen in larger areas of several kilometers. The study is based on data from eight European countries, including the Netherlands. The findings are published in the journal Global Change Biology. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-nitrogen-deposition-biodiversity-larger-scale.html) ---- ### [Early Brain Changes May Trigger Autism](https://neurosciencenews.com/autism-brain-changes-neurodevelopment-27568/) ```neurosciencenews.com``` **Summary:** Researchers have uncovered critical insights into how autism spectrum disorders (ASD) may develop at early stages of brain formation. Using mouse models, the team discovered that environmental factors causing autism-like symptoms are linked to early changes in neurotransmitter activity in the brain. Specifically, they observed that a temporary switch from the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA to the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in neonatal mice could lead to the development of ASD-like behaviors, such as repetitive actions and reduced social interaction, later in life. By intervening during this early stage and reversing the neurotransmitter switch, the researchers were able to prevent the onset of these behaviors in adulthood. [Continue Reading →](https://neurosciencenews.com/autism-brain-changes-neurodevelopment-27568/) ---- ### [Why Forgiveness Can Be So Difficult](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/darwins-subterranean-world/202408/why-forgiveness-can-be-so-difficult) ```psychologytoday.com``` An evolutionary perspective on why it's often hard to bury the hatchet. [Continue Reading →](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/darwins-subterranean-world/202408/why-forgiveness-can-be-so-difficult) ---- ### [Mosquitoes sense infrared from body heat to help track humans down, study shows](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-mosquitoes-infrared-body-track-humans.html) ```phys.org``` While a mosquito bite is often no more than a temporary bother, in many parts of the world it can be scary. One mosquito species, Aedes aegypti, spreads the viruses that cause over 100,000,000 cases of dengue, yellow fever, Zika and other diseases every year. Another, Anopheles gambiae, spreads the parasite that causes malaria. The World Health Organization estimates that malaria alone causes more than 400,000 deaths every year. Indeed, their capacity to transmit disease has earned mosquitoes the title of deadliest animal. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-mosquitoes-infrared-body-track-humans.html) ---- ### [How Electric-Vehicle Battery Fires Happen—and How You Should React](https://www.wired.com/story/ev-battery-fires-explained/) ```wired.com``` Lithium-ion battery fires can be intense and frightening. As someone who used to repair second-hand smartphones, I’ve extinguished my fair share of flaming iPhones with punctured lithium-ion batteries. And the type of smartphone battery in your pocket right now, is similar to what’s inside of electric vehicles. Except, the EV battery stores way more energy—so much energy that some firefighters are receiving special training to extinguish the extra-intense EV flames that are emitted by burning EV batteries after road accidents. [Continue Reading →](https://www.wired.com/story/ev-battery-fires-explained/) ---- ### [State laws strongly affect mental health of trans people, study finds](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-state-laws-strongly-affect-mental.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` There's a strong association between a state's policies and laws around the rights of transgender people and the mental health of transgender residents, a new study shows. "Trans individuals who were worried about having their rights taken away had significantly higher odds of experiencing depression and anxiety symptoms," the study authors [reported](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2822715) Aug. 22 in the journal JAMA Network Open. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-state-laws-strongly-affect-mental.html) ---- ### [Another Infectious Disease Threat: Mpox Makes A Comeback](https://www.europeanscientist.com/en/features/another-infectious-disease-threat-mpox-makes-a-comeback/) ```europeanscientist.com``` The World Health Organization (WHO) on August 14 sounded the alarm about an mpox virus outbreak, declaring it a global health emergency for the second time in two years. While the initial outbreak in 2022 primarily affected gay and bisexual men, the current crisis is unfolding in a different, more alarming way. Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus. It can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. Most people fully recover, but some become gravely ill, and the infection can be fatal. At the heart of this resurgence is a new, more virulent strain of the virus. Originating in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where mpox has been endemic for decades, this new strain has rapidly spread to neighboring countries and is showing signs of adapting to new modes of transmission. Unlike the previous outbreak, which was primarily transmitted through sexual contact, the new strain is being spread through both sexual and community transmission. It spreads by contact with infected: * persons, through touch, kissing, or sex * animals — hunting, skinning, or cooking them * materials, such as contaminated sheets, clothes or needles * pregnant women, who may pass the virus on to their unborn baby. [Continue Reading →](https://www.europeanscientist.com/en/features/another-infectious-disease-threat-mpox-makes-a-comeback/) ---- ### [Research reveals many laws targeting homelessness are ineffective](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-reveals-laws-homelessness-ineffective.html) ```phys.org``` A University of Texas at Arlington professor recently published a study that found no correlation between laws criminalizing homeless activities and a long-term reduction of homelessness. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-reveals-laws-homelessness-ineffective.html) ---- ### [FDA green-lights fall COVID-19 boosters](https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/08/fda-green-lights-fall-covid-19-boosters/) ```arstechnica.com``` **Updated mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are ready to roll.** As the COVID-19 case count [continues to tick upward](https://arstechnica.com/science/2024/08/amid-summer-covid-surge-fda-reportedly-poised-to-approve-updated-shots/), the US Food and Drug Administration has approved an updated vaccine for use ahead of the northern hemisphere winter. The emergency use authorization covers updated mRNA vaccines from both Pfizer and Moderna. The booster shots will target the JN.1 and KP.2 strains of SARS-CoV-2, both of which are [omicron variants](https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/01/who-warns-of-potential-for-more-variants-as-omicron-subvariant-found-in-us/). [Last year's booster](https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/09/everyone-should-get-a-covid-booster-this-fall-cdc-says/) keyed on omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, which has long since lost the evolutionary arms race. [Continue Reading →](https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/08/fda-green-lights-fall-covid-19-boosters/) ---- ### [Ex-bank CEO gets 24 years after falling for crypto scam, causing bank collapse](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/08/ex-bank-ceo-gets-24-years-after-falling-for-crypto-scam-causing-bank-collapse/) ```arstechnica.com``` **Former bank CEO ignored warnings that he was being scammed while tanking bank.** A federal judge sentenced a 53-year-old Kansas man to more than 24 years in prison after the former bank CEO abused his trusted position to embezzle $47 million after falling for a cryptocurrency scam that he believed would make him wildly rich. In a press release, the US Attorney's Office said that Shan Hanes was driven by "greed" when directing bank employees to transfer millions in funds to a sketchy crypto wallet managed by still-unknown third parties behind the so-called "pig butchering" scheme. [Continue Reading →](https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/08/fda-green-lights-fall-covid-19-boosters/) ---- ### [Hot flash drug shows significant benefits in clinical trials](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-hot-drug-significant-benefits-clinical.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` The investigational drug elinzanetant significantly reduces the frequency and severity of hot flashes associated with menopause while improving women's quality of life, according to new UVA Health research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-hot-drug-significant-benefits-clinical.html) ---- ### [Air pollution found to have greater mental health impact in New York's historically redlined neighborhoods](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-air-pollution-greater-mental-health.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` Air pollution is bad for mental health. That much is clear. Now, new research shows the impact may be even worse in neighborhoods that were historically redlined. University at Buffalo researchers looked at 17 cities across New York State where longstanding federal housing policies once denied neighborhoods with people of color from receiving mortgages. Although this practice was outlawed in 1968, the researchers found that elevated levels of air pollutants in these neighborhoods of the state are disproportionately linked to increased emergency room (ER) visits for mental disorders. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-air-pollution-greater-mental-health.html) ---- ### [ChatGPT shows promise in answering patients' questions to urologists](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-chatgpt-patients-urologists.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` The ChatGPT chatbot shows potential as a time-saving tool for responding to patient questions sent to the urologist's office, suggests a study in the Urology Practice journal. The artificial intelligence (AI) tool generated "acceptable" responses to nearly one-half of a sample of real-life patient questions, according to the new research by Michael Scott, MD, a urologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. "Generative AI technologies may play a valuable role in providing prompt, accurate responses to routine patient questions—potentially alleviating patients' concerns while freeing up clinic time and resources to address other complex tasks," Dr. Scott comments. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-chatgpt-patients-urologists.html) ---- ### [A potential pathway may guide new therapies for inflammatory bowel disease and other inflammatory diseases](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-potential-pathway-therapies-inflammatory-bowel.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` There is a critical unmet need to help tighten and maintain a healthy intestinal barrier and treat a leaky gut. Researchers have now found that a unique strain of probiotic bacteria, Bifidobacterium bifidum BB1, enhances intestinal barrier function and protects against penetration of bacteria and various harmful agents in the intestine. The findings, detailed in an article in The American Journal of Pathology can help advance the development of novel, targeted, naturally occurring probiotic therapy for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and other inflammatory diseases, such as fatty liver disease or alcoholic liver disease, that are associated with a leaky or disordered intestinal barrier. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-potential-pathway-therapies-inflammatory-bowel.html) ---- ### [High-dose and adjuvanted flu vaccines found to provide better protection for seniors](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-high-dose-adjuvanted-flu-vaccines.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` High-dose and adjuvanted influenza (flu) vaccines boosted protection against flu symptoms and hospitalization for people 65 years and older during the 2022–2023 flu season compared to the standard flu vaccine. The study "Comparative effectiveness of licensed influenza vaccines in preventing influenza-related medical encounters and hospitalizations in the 2022-2023 influenza season among adults ≥65 years of age" was published on Aug. 21, 2024, in Clinical Infectious Diseases. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-high-dose-adjuvanted-flu-vaccines.html) ---- ### [Immune cells have a metabolic backup plan for accessing their anti-cancer playbook](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-immune-cells-metabolic-backup-accessing.html) ```medicalxpress.com``` Immune cells use two different routes to produce acetyl-CoA, an essential metabolite required to fight infection and cancer, reports a study led by Van Andel Institute scientists. The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, could help improve immunotherapies by revealing how diet can boost immune cell function. [Continue Reading →](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-08-immune-cells-metabolic-backup-accessing.html) ---- ### [Research forecasts warmer, rainier winter storms ahead for Great Lakes region](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-warmer-rainier-winter-storms-great.html) ```phys.org``` Anyone who's spent their winter months around the Great Lakes has probably had the uncanny experience of living through three seasons in a single weekend. According to new research from the University of Michigan, these wild weather swings are poised to become even more common in the future. Behind this forecast is an analysis spanning decades of data about large storm systems known as midlatitude cyclones or extratropical cyclones. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-warmer-rainier-winter-storms-great.html) ---- ### [Can't buy me love: TikTok users seek authenticity in sponsored content, dismissing top influencers for smaller creators](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-buy-tiktok-users-authenticity-sponsored.html) ```phys.org``` High-profile and popular influencers on TikTok should rethink their approach to brand-sponsored campaigns since followers better engage and trust the authenticity of smaller creators over super influencers when it comes to paid content. The study published in Psychology & Marketing from the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management aims to help brands and businesses develop more successful strategies on the social media platform by delving into how users interact with sponsored user-generated content. They found engagement around brand-sponsored content mirrors TikTok's own image as an unfiltered, raw, and authentic platform. [Continue Reading →](https://phys.org/news/2024-08-buy-tiktok-users-authenticity-sponsored.html) ---- > This selection of articles was prepared by [Pepik Hipik](https://linktr.ee/pepikhipik)