Neat News - Neat things do happen

There is a new approach to use genetic modification. The idea is to modify mosquitoes so that they are no longer able to bite. The modification of the mosquitoes would also propagate via gene-drive so that the modified mosquitoes take the population over. This way the transmission of malaria and other illnesses such as Zika would be reduced.

Auto-immune diseases such as arthritis are due to an overactive immune system. Now scientists have discovered a mechanism how this can be switched off. This may in the long run lead to a new approach to treating these diseases.

Researchers have detected a mechanism previously unknown in the variability of a particular virus, the so-called lambda virus. The virus is able to translate its genetic material into at least two different proteins thereby increasing its ability to infect its host. The new insight into the reasons of the flexibility of viruses may lead to a way of developing new treatments against them.

In an attempt to reduce plastic waste, it is planned to introduce a deposit on plastic bottles in the UK, following the example of other countries such as Norway.

Being embarrassed can have a negative impact on one's life, for instance, when postponing a potentially important visit to the doctor because of embarrassment. Putting oneself in the position of an observer can be an important approach to overcoming embarrassment.

In experiments with mice it has been found that the way in which young mice are brought up has an influence on their DNA. This puts the question whether nature or nurture are more important in a new light: the genome is not fixed and the DNA of developing brain cells may be influenced by the upbringing. There is a speculation that certain medical conditions of the brain may be influenced this way as well.

In the USA were demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of predominantly young people under the motto "March for our Lives", according to some reports more than one million people demonstrated. A young generation gets active and demands of politicians action and not words against gun violence.

In experiments with mice, scientists managed to reverse age-related muscle loss. The so-called sirtuin proteins boost growth of blood vessels and muscles thereby increasing the endurance of old mice by up to 80%.

Air contains water that can be extracted to get drinking water. By a method using MOFs (Metal organic frameworks) it is possible to do this even in the driest deserts in the presence of sunlight.

Avoiding hunger and avoiding pain are important components of the survival skills of humans and animals. In research with mice it has been found that hunger activates neural pathways that inhibit those of pain. This may offer a way to treating chronic pain.

The next generation of solar cells can be made more efficient by adding potassium ions. It may be possible to push the efficiency to 35%.

A new therapy using stem cells which are injected carefully into the back of a patient's eye has been successful and restored the sight of a patient with age-related macular degeneration.

In a surprise move, regulators in Arizona have decided that Arizona's Public Service Company should not invest in natural gas but in renewable energies. This is potentially an important step for the USA in its transition to renewables.

In animal experiments, it was found that a very low dose of romidepsin, a drug used in the treatment of cancer, can have a strong and long-lasting effect in reducing the symptoms of autism. The drug seems to be able to restore genes whose absence is responsible for the social deficits in autism.

In tests babies, who were not yet able to speak, were shown some scenes which were logical and some which were not. For instance, behind a screen certain objects were put and taken away. If the scene was inconsistent with the observation after the screen was taken away (e.g., since there was an object which should not be there), babies looked at the scene much longer than at other scenes.

By changing the medication against a fungal form of meningitis from a two-week regimen to a one-week regimen it looks possible to significantly increase the survival rate of patients, potentially saving 80,000 lives a year.

In a longtime (running for 44 years) study in Sweden with 191 women of around 50 years old, it was found that very fit women were 90% less likely to develop dementia than moderately fit women. More research is needed to see whether the findings apply to women in other countries and to men as well.

Chemists have developed MOFs (Metal organic frameworks), that is, materials made of metal and organic molecules that are able to remove heavy metals such as lead and mercury from water. The approach may constitute an important step in providing clean drinking water to many people.

Finds of Neanderthals suggest that they must have cared for injured fellow Neanderthals even when they were so badly injured that they could not possibly contribute much to the group. It can even be argued that they practised some kind of healthcare. It is also suggested that compassion is an important feature for the survival and has a very long history.

There has been a claim that neuroscience had proved that we were determined and did not have free will. In a meta-study scientists argue now that the findings are not conclusive and that the results of the study leave room for interpretation. In other words, the question whether we have free will or not remains unanswered.

Sleep plays an important role in the retention of new memories. During particular phases of sleep so-called sleep spindles occur. These are phases of special brain activities. They can also enhance learning when the information is played back to people during their sleep.

Ageing lets the immune system decline, starting in the 20s and reducing it by 2 to 3% per year. However, exercising can slow down this process or even bring it to a halt. In a study with 125 long-distance cyclists it was found that some people in their 80s have an immune system like a 20 year old.

Scientists have managed to determine from brain waves of people whether they have understood some speech. This can also be used in people who are either too young to tell themselves, or who have an impairment. There is some hope that it may lead to a hearing aid.

A new approach has been designed to filter plastic from the water. Its most important feature is that it uses the flow in the water to accumulate micro-plastic particles, then calms the water so that the micro-plastic can be skimmed from the surface. A prototype is planned for a polluting river mouth.

Red squirrels, native to the UK, have been under pressure by the nowadays more widespread grey squirrels. However, the recovery in numbers of pine martens, which are predators of the red and the grey squirrel, has led also to a recovery of the numbers of red squirrels. The reason seems to be that red squirrels are better prepared to escape pine martens than grey squirrels.

In a new study, scientists have shown how to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees by introducing renewable energies, phasing out fossil fuels, and reforestation.

A particular bacterium, S. epidermidis, seems to fight certain forms of skin cancer in experiments with mice. Further experiments are needed to understand whether it can be used as a prevention against the corresponding forms of cancer.

There is a new theory how the Moon was created, namely at an early phase of the creation of the Earth when the Earth was still very hot and vaporized. The model can explain the Moon's distinct composition better than previous theories.

Nerves can restrain the immune system's response to infections. This insight may in the longer run lead to a new treatment of diseases such as asthma.

Holding hands of a loved one demonstratable can reduce their pain. If a partner is in pain and we hold hands brainwaves fall into sync, the greater the empathy the greater the effect. It shows that human touch can have a very positive effect.

Fish oil taken during pregnancy and during breastfeeding may help to reduce allergies for the babies. The omega-3 fat has an anti-inflammatory effect.