First large-scale study of universal screening for autism raises questions about accuracy

In the first large, real-world study of universal screening for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in toddlers, researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have found that the most widely used and researched screening tool is less accurate than shown in previous studies conducted in research laboratory settings. The new study also revealed significant disparities in detecting early autism symptoms in minority, urban and low-income children. The findings were published online today in the journal Pediatrics.

Cause of antibiotic resistance identified

Scientists have confirmed for the first time that bacteria can change form to avoid being detected by antibiotics in the human body.

Technique can image individual proteins within synapses

Our brains contain millions of synapses—the connections that transmit messages from neuron to neuron. Within these synapses are hundreds of different proteins, and dysfunction of these proteins can lead to conditions such as schizophrenia and autism.

Dishing the dirt on an early man cave

Fossil animal droppings, charcoal from ancient fires and bone fragments litter the ground of one of the world's most important human evolution sites, new research reveals.

Researchers identify metabolic cycles in baby teeth linked to ADHD and autism in children

Mount Sinai researchers have identified elemental signatures in baby teeth that are unique to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, and cases when both neurodevelopment conditions are present, which suggests that the metabolic regulation of nutrients and toxins play a role in these diseases, according to a study published in Translational Psychiatry in September.

Google steps up battle on 'deepfakes' with data release

Google said Wednesday it was stepping up efforts to battle "deepfakes" by releasing new data to help researchers detect videos manipulated by artificial intelligence.

More than 2 million animals perish in Bolivia wildfires

More than two million wild animals, including jaguars, pumas and llamas, have perished in weeks of wildfires that devastated huge swaths of Bolivian forest and grassland, environmental experts said Wednesday.

Facebook unveils virtual social space for its Oculus users

Facebook said Wednesday it will launch a virtual social community where users of its Oculus headgear can "explore new places" and "create their own new experiences."

Last Australian state decriminalises abortion

Abortion was decriminalised in Australia's state of New South Wales on Thursday after weeks of contentious debate, bringing its laws into line with the rest of the country.

More chores for Amazon's Alexa, and a new (celebrity) voice

Amazon unveiled a lineup of new Alexa-powered products on Wednesday extending from homes and cars to wearable devices, and a celebrity voice option for the popular digital assistant.

As attack drones multiply, Israeli firms develop defenses

Israel, one of the pioneers of drone warfare, is now on the front lines of an arms race to protect against attacks by the unmanned aircraft.

Volunteers conserve vulnerable sea turtles in remote Panama

Iver Valencia goes out at dusk each evening during nesting season with a group of lantern-wielding villagers to walk a stretch of Panamanian beach. Their mission: to find nests where olive ridley sea turtles lay their eggs and take them to a hatchery safe from predators.

Bloomberg, California team on climate satellites

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is teaming up with California to use satellites to track climate pollutants.

High-flying marijuana vapes take hit from health scare

Vaping products, one of the fastest-growing segments of the legal marijuana industry, have taken a hit from consumers as public health experts scramble to determine what's causing a mysterious and sometimes fatal lung disease among people who use e-cigarettes.

Amazon digital assistant Alexa gets into your head

Amazon on Wednesday unveiled a cornucopia of new gadgets as it extended the reach of Alexa from automobiles and homes essentially into people's heads.

The next generation: mice can reproduce after space stints, study finds

Male mice that spent more than a month in space were able to successfully reproduce back on Earth, a study has found, the first evidence of how space travel affects reproduction in mammals.

Emirati becomes first Arab to reach ISS

An Emirati has made history as the first Arab to reach the International Space Station, after blasting off from Kazakhstan.

ISSF releases new non-entangling and biodegradable FADs guide

The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) has published a best-practices guide—based on years of ISSF scientific research and fleet collaboration worldwide, including at skippers workshops—to help tuna fishers accelerate their use of fish aggregating device (FAD) designs with the least possible impact on the marine ecosystem.

Teens share stories to deter other students from using tobacco

An innovative strategy called Teens Against Tobacco Use showed promise as an effective strategy to deter tobacco use in middle and high school students, according to a research study by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health.

Drug with immunotherapy may provide therapeutic opportunity for patients previously treated for kidney and lung cancer

Pegilodecakin, a first-in-class drug currently in clinical trials, has shown positive safety results and may offer a potential new treatment avenue for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and kidney cancer. The study, led by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, demonstrated that the drug, in combination with two leading anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies, pembrolizumab and nivolumab, achieved measurable responses for these patients.

Ditch the delicate wash cycle to save our seas

Delicate wash cycles in washing machines found to release more plastic microfibres than other cycles.

Minimum pricing policy appears to have cut spending on alcohol in Scotland

The introduction of minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Scotland appears to have been successful in reducing the amount of alcohol purchased and, by inference, consumption by households, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

AI identifies genes linked to heart failure

Genetic research led by Queen Mary University of London could open the way to earlier identification of people at risk of heart failure and to the development of new treatments.

Fathering children by assisted reproduction linked to increased risk of prostate cancer

Men who became fathers through assisted reproduction techniques seem to be at higher risk for prostate cancer and early onset prostate cancer compared with men achieving fatherhood naturally, concludes a study published by The BMJ today.