SCIENCES ENERGIES ENVIRONNEMENT

A Dear olivier hartmanshenn,

Here is your customized Science X Newsletter for week 42:

	First coherent picture of an atomic nucleus made of quarks and gluons The atomic nucleus is made up of protons and neutrons, particles that exist through the interaction of quarks bonded by gluons. It would seem, therefore, that it should not be difficult to reproduce all the properties of atomic nuclei hitherto observed in nuclear experiments using only quarks and gluons. However, it is only now that an international team of physicists has succeeded in doing this.
	Scientists successfully breed corals to improve their heat tolerance A new study has shown that selective breeding can lead to a modest rise in coral heat tolerance.
	High-potency cannabis use is tied to epigenetic changes, study suggests A study published in Molecular Psychiatry is the first to suggest that the use of high-potency cannabis leaves a distinct mark on DNA, providing valuable insights into the biological impact of cannabis use. High-potency cannabis is defined as having Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 10% or more. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent in cannabis.
	Are dental practices out of control in the United States? A series of recently published opinions and letters in JAMA Internal Medicine present varying perspectives on the current state of US dental care all emphasize the need for evidence-based practices and changes in economic models.
	Walking in short bursts found to consume 20% to 60% more energy than walking continuously for same distance A team of pathophysiologists at the University of Milan has found that climbing stairs or walking for short bursts allows people to consume 20% to 60% more energy than if they do the same activity nonstop for the same distance. In their study, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the group asked volunteers to walk on a treadmill or climb stairs while also monitoring their oxygen intake.
	Study suggests around 40% of postmenopausal hormone positive breast cancers are linked to excess body fat Around 40% of postmenopausal hormone positive breast cancer cases may be linked to excess body fat, suggests Spanish research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
	Scientists discover one of the Earth's earliest animals in Australian outback In the shadow of South Australia's largest mountain range beneath the outback soil lies a fossil record that reveals a rich history of life on Earth. Fossils found at Nilpena Ediacara National Park preserve a pivotal moment in the history of evolution: the crucial period during which single-celled organisms began to evolve into the planet's first complex, visible animals.
	Study suggests that 'Jedi' rodents remotely move matter using sound to enhance their sense of smell Scientists have debated the purpose of the ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) produced by rodents since the discovery of these sounds in the 1950s. There's a wide research consensus suggesting USVs are a form of social communication, a courtship display, which though inaudible to humans, might otherwise be compared to the calls of certain birds.
	New type of insulin that switches on and off could help diabetics avoid sudden drops in blood sugar levels A modified insulin that can prevent sudden drops in blood sugar has been demonstrated in laboratory experiments and animal models, reports a paper in Nature. This could provide a more flexible way to supplement insulin for individuals with diabetes and reduce sudden drops in blood glucose.
	Bumblebee queens choose to hibernate in pesticide-contaminated soil, scientists discover An alarming discovery from University of Guelph researchers raises concerns for bumblebee health, survival and reproduction. U of G environmental sciences researchers Drs. Nigel Raine and Sabrina Rondeau have found that bumblebee queens are more likely to hibernate in soil contaminated with pesticides than in clean soil—for reasons they still don't quite understand.
	Neuroscientists discover a mechanism that can reactivate dormant neural stem cells An international team of neuroscientists, led by Duke-NUS Medical School, have uncovered a mechanism that controls the reactivation of neural stem cells, which are crucial for repairing and regenerating brain cells.
	Giant prehistoric elephant skull from India belongs to mysterious extinct species The giant fossil skull of an extinct elephant, discovered in northern India's Kashmir Valley in 2000, sheds light on a poorly known episode in elephant evolutionary history.
	Modern mass extinction in an Ecuadorean cloud forest found to be a mirage One of the most notorious mass extinction events in modern times occurred on a hilltop in coastal Ecuador in the 1980s. Ninety species of plants known from nowhere else on Earth—many of them new to science and not yet given a name—went extinct when the last cloud forests of the Centinela range were cleared for agriculture. The cautionary tale of Centinela has long been a driving force in the fight to save the world's rainforests. But did it really happen?
	El Niño Southern Oscillation caused spike in 2023 temperatures, study finds A study by scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science identified El Niño–Southern Oscillation as the primary cause of the spike in global surface temperature in 2023, not human-induced climate change. The rapid rise in global surface temperature in 2023 led to concerns and speculation among the public and media as to the cause.
	Scientists discover unexpected link between genes involved in human brain evolution and developmental disorders The human brain's remarkably prolonged development is unique among mammals and is thought to contribute to our advanced learning abilities. Disruptions in this process may explain certain neurodevelopmental diseases.
	Atmospheric rivers are shifting poleward, reshaping global weather patterns Atmospheric rivers—those long, narrow bands of water vapor in the sky that bring heavy rain and storms to the U.S. West Coast and many other regions—are shifting toward higher latitudes, and that's changing weather patterns around the world.
	Cats associate human words with images, experiment suggests A small team of animal scientists at Azabu University, in Japan, has found via experimentation that common house cats are capable of associating human words with images without prompting or reward. In their study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group tested volunteer cats looking at images on a computer screen to see if they form associations between the images and spoken words.
	City microbes surviving on disinfectants, research reveals New research shows microbes in our cities are evolving to resist the very cleaners we use to eliminate them. It also identifies novel strains living in Hong Kong that were previously only found in Antarctic desert soil.
	Physicists show that neutron stars may be shrouded in clouds of axions A team of physicists from the universities of Amsterdam, Princeton and Oxford have shown that extremely light particles known as axions may occur in large clouds around neutron stars. These axions could form an explanation for the elusive dark matter that cosmologists search for—and moreover, they might not be too difficult to observe.
	New research shows most space rocks crashing into Earth come from a single source The sight of a fireball streaking across the sky brings wonder and excitement to children and adults alike. It's a reminder that Earth is part of a much larger and incredibly dynamic system.