Study suggests economic growth benefits wildlife but growing human populations do not

In a world first, researchers at ZSL and UCL compared changes in bird and mammal populations with socio-economic trends in low- and lower-middle income countries over the past 20 years. Their results suggest that national-level economic growth and more gender-balanced governments enhance wildlife populations and provide support for linking the UN's human development and conservation targets.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/study-suggests-economic-growth-benefits-wildlife-but-growing-human-populations-do-not

Study identifies way to enhance the sustainability of manufactured soils

A combination of waste materials supplemented with a product of biomass could help in the search for high quality soils, a new study suggests.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/study-identifies-way-to-enhance-the-sustainability-of-manufactured-soils

Cheater, cheater: Human Behavior Lab studies cheating as innate trait

Is cheating a product of the environment or a character trait?

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/cheater-cheater-human-behavior-lab-studies-cheating-as-innate-trait

'Iceberg Corridor' sparks tourist boom on Canada's east coast

At dusk, tourists marvel at the sensational collapse of an iceberg at the end of its long journey from Greenland to Canada's east coast, which now has a front row seat to the melting of the Arctic's ice.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/iceberg-corridor-sparks-tourist-boom-on-canadas-east-coast

Fear of more dangerous second Zika, dengue infections unfounded in monkeys

An initial infection with dengue virus did not prime monkeys for an especially virulent infection of Zika virus, according to a study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Nor did a bout with Zika make a follow-on dengue infection more dangerous.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/fear-of-more-dangerous-second-zika-dengue-infections-unfounded-in-monkeys

Supercomputing improves biomass fuel conversion

Fuels made from agricultural or forestry wastes known as lignocellulosic biomass have long been a champion in the quest to reduce use of fossil fuels. But plant cell walls have some innate defenses that make the process to break them down more difficult and costly than it could be.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/supercomputing-improves-biomass-fuel-conversion

Convention on Biological Diversity adopts indicator to track conservation of useful plants

The Biodiversity Indicators Partnership officially adopted in July a new indicator to track progress on the conservation of thousands of economically and culturally important plants. Developed by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture and the Crop Trust, the indicator helps rate progress toward the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Aichi Biodiversity Target 13, which includes maintaining the genetic diversity of cultivated plants, their wild relatives, and other socioeconomically and culturally valuable flora. The metric is also listed as a relevant indicator for Sustainable Development Goal 2.5. But based on the very low average score for the plants in the index—about 3 out of 100—the indicator shows that much work remains to be done to achieve the conservation target.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/convention-on-biological-diversity-adopts-indicator-to-track-conservation-of-useful-plants

Eleven new species of rain frogs discovered in the tropical Andes

Eleven new to science species of rain frogs are described by two scientists from the Museum of Zoology of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador in the open-access journal ZooKeys. Discovered in the Ecuadorian Andes, the species are characterized in detail on the basis of genetic, morphological, bioacoustic, and ecological features.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/eleven-new-species-of-rain-frogs-discovered-in-the-tropical-andes

'Fake news,' diminishing media trust and the role of social media

The term "fake news" has been popularized by President Donald Trump in recent years, and while its meaning has been hotly debated, the spreading of false information to fulfill a political agenda is far from a new concept around the world. Exploring the perception of the "fake news" phenomenon is critical to combating the ongoing global erosion of trust in the media according to a study co-authored by a University of Houston researcher.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/fake-news-diminishing-media-trust-and-the-role-of-social-media

Veterans with traumatic brain injuries have higher suicide risk

Military veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are more than twice as likely to die by suicide compared with veterans without such a diagnosis, according to a newly published study by researchers led by faculty from the CU School of Medicine.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/veterans-with-traumatic-brain-injuries-have-higher-suicide-risk

Canadian iceberg hunter on the trail of white gold

It's midday and Edward Kean, a Canadian fisherman who now scours the North Atlantic for icebergs that have broken off from Greenland's glaciers, is positively beaming.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/canadian-iceberg-hunter-on-the-trail-of-white-gold

Humanity's next test: feed 10 billion without ruining Earth

It is a question critical to mankind's survival: how do we grow enough food to sustain our booming population without wrecking our only home and plundering Nature's bounty?

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/humanitys-next-test-feed-10-billion-without-ruining-earth

Experimental treatment slows prion disease, extends life of mice

Scientists using an experimental treatment have slowed the progression of scrapie, a degenerative central nervous disease caused by prions, in laboratory mice and greatly extended the rodents' lives, according to a new report in JCI Insight. The scientists used antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), synthetic compounds that inhibit the formation of specific proteins.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/experimental-treatment-slows-prion-disease-extends-life-of-mice

Researchers make immunotherapy work for treatment-resistant lymphoma

Mount Sinai researchers have developed a way to use immunotherapy drugs against treatment-resistant non-Hodgkin's lymphomas for the first time by combining them with stem cell transplantation, an approach that also dramatically increased the success of the drugs in melanoma and lung cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Discovery in August.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/researchers-make-immunotherapy-work-for-treatment-resistant-lymphoma

Deep learning AI may identify atrial fibrillation from a normal rhythm ECG

An artificial intelligence (AI) model has been found to identify patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation even when performed during normal rhythm using a quick and non-invasive 10 second test, compared to current tests which can take weeks to years. Although early and requiring further research before implementation, the findings could aid doctors investigating unexplained strokes or heart failure, enabling appropriate treatment.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/deep-learning-ai-may-identify-atrial-fibrillation-from-a-normal-rhythm-ecg

Hungarian doctors separate Bangladeshi twins joined at head

Bangladeshi twins who were joined at the head were recovering Friday after Hungarian surgeons performed a marathon 30-hour operation to separate their skulls and brains in the capital Dhaka.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/hungarian-doctors-separate-bangladeshi-twins-joined-at-head

'I like plastic': Pakistan's toxic 'love affair' with waste

From the once pristine rivers of Hindu Kush to the slums of Islamabad, Pakistan is being smothered by plastic due to a lack of public awareness, government inertia, and poor waste management.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/i-like-plastic-pakistans-toxic-love-affair-with-waste

Medical marijuana cleared for release to Louisiana patients

Medical marijuana is expected to start reaching select dispensaries in Louisiana on Tuesday, after the state agriculture department completed final testing and cleared therapeutic cannabis for release to patients.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/medical-marijuana-cleared-for-release-to-louisiana-patients

'Dead zone' reduced by Hurricane Barry but still 8th largest

This year's Gulf of Mexico "dead zone" is the eighth largest on record, but Hurricane Barry reduced its size from an expected near record, the scientist who has measured it since 1985 said Thursday.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/dead-zone-reduced-by-hurricane-barry-but-still-8th-largest

Cities now see more overdose deaths than rural areas

U.S. drug overdose deaths, which have been concentrated in Appalachia and other rural areas for more than a dozen years, are back to being most common in big cities again, according to a government report issued Friday.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/cities-now-see-more-overdose-deaths-than-rural-areas

Treatment for liver disorder in pregnancy ineffective, finds new study

Research led by King's College London has found that the currently recommended treatment for a common pregnancy liver disorder that can result in preterm birth and stillbirth, is ineffective and should be reconsidered.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/treatment-for-liver-disorder-in-pregnancy-ineffective-finds-new-study

Speeding up drug discovery for brain diseases

A research team led by Whitehead Institute scientists has identified 30 distinct chemical compounds—20 of which are drugs undergoing clinical trial or have already been approved by the FDA—that boost the protein production activity of a critical gene in the brain and improve symptoms of Rett syndrome, a rare neurodevelopmental condition that often provokes autism-like behaviors in patients. The new study, conducted in human cells and mice, helps illuminate the biology of an important gene, called KCC2, which is implicated in a variety of brain diseases, including autism, epilepsy, schizophrenia, and depression. The researchers' findings, published in the July 31 online issue of Science Translational Medicine, could help spur the development of new treatments for a host of devastating brain disorders.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/speeding-up-drug-discovery-for-brain-diseases

Biologist searches remote South Pacific island for slime molds

Norfolk Island is an isolated island in the South Pacific located between New Zealand and Australia. The island is quite small, with a total area of only about 14 square miles. Norfolk Island is known for two things. First, it is the native habitat for a tree known as the Norfolk Island pine, which is widely planted throughout subtropical and tropical areas of the world. Second, the descendants of the Tahitians and the mutineers from the HMS Bounty (from the famous incident referred to as "mutiny on the Bounty") were resettled on Norfolk Island from Pitcairn Island in 1856.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/biologist-searches-remote-south-pacific-island-for-slime-molds

Cat causes carnage in rare seabird colony

Ph.D. student Claire Greenwell from Murdoch University's Harry Butler Institute helped to establish the successful Fairy Tern colony in Mandurah, South-Western Australia, resulting in a thriving colony containing 111 nests by late November 2018.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/cat-causes-carnage-in-rare-seabird-colony

Novel catalysis approach reduces carbon dioxide to methane

A growing number of scientists are looking for fast, cost-effective ways to convert carbon dioxide gas into valuable chemicals and fuels.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/novel-catalysis-approach-reduces-carbon-dioxide-to-methane

Solar eclipse provides unique opportunity to study atmospheric waves

Witnessing one total solar eclipse—the one that swept across the continental U.S. in 2017—wasn't enough for Montana State University senior Jaxen Godfrey. But when she flew to Chile in July to experience another, it wasn't just for the thrill. It was to continue studying an elusive atmospheric phenomenon.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/solar-eclipse-provides-unique-opportunity-to-study-atmospheric-waves

Researchers develop cleaner, greener fertiliser

Research from The Australian National University (ANU) has produced a method that transforms waste into a new fertiliser.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/researchers-develop-cleaner-greener-fertiliser

Review calls for better care in our dying days

A new paper from The Australian National University (ANU) highlighting failings with palliative care and how we are cared for when we die.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/review-calls-for-better-care-in-our-dying-days

Why intercountry adoption needs a rethink

Associate Professor Sonja Van Wichelen, sociologist and leader of the Biohumanity FutureFix research project in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences made the call in a paper published in the latest issue of Law and Society Review.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/why-intercountry-adoption-needs-a-rethink

Chromosome structure inspires intricate works of art

A collaboration between a Virginia Tech entomology professor, art professor, and computer science professor working in biophysics has resulted in the creation of stunning works of art that can help researchers and the public better understand the function of DNA and chromosomes in many important cellular processes.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/chromosome-structure-inspires-intricate-works-of-art

Data on alcohol-related incidents show positive trends

Dartmouth has released its latest data on the number of alcohol-related incidents involving undergraduates on campus. The new information, which tracks incidents through the 2018-2019 academic year, is available on the Student Wellness Center website.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/data-on-alcohol-related-incidents-show-positive-trends

Male black widow spiders piggyback on the work of their rivals to find female mates faster

A new University of Toronto study finds male black widow spiders will hijack silk trails left by rival males in their search for a potential mate.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/male-black-widow-spiders-piggyback-on-the-work-of-their-rivals-to-find-female-mates-faster

Slow start for blue-green algae on Alberta lakes

There have been fewer health advisories than usual about blue-green algae in Alberta lakes this past summer but that doesn't mean the problem is going away, explained a University of Alberta biologist.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/slow-start-for-blue-green-algae-on-alberta-lakes

'Virtual teams' can overcome barriers to thrive, study finds

Employees working in 'virtual teams' can overcome performance difficulties to work effectively if they have positive feedback, social support and job autonomy in their tasks and jobs, new research involving Curtin University has found.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/virtual-teams-can-overcome-barriers-to-thrive-study-finds

Decades-old pollutants melting out of Himalayan glaciers

Melting Himalayan glaciers are releasing decades of accumulated pollutants into downstream ecosystems, according to a new study.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/decades-old-pollutants-melting-out-of-himalayan-glaciers

LightSail 2 spacecraft successfully demonstrates flight by light

Years of computer simulations. Countless ground tests. They've all led up to now. The Planetary Society's crowdfunded LightSail 2 spacecraft is successfully raising its orbit solely on the power of sunlight.

source https://www.lifetechnology.com/blogs/life-technology-news-blog/lightsail-2-spacecraft-successfully-demonstrates-flight-by-light