Page 50 - Science

used a genetic screen to devices by more than 60%. Edited by Caroline Ash
pinpoint candidate genes that Optimal settings varied between IN OTHER JOURNALS
and Jesse Smith
might encode such a protein the participants, suggesting that
from mouse taste receptor customizing assistance is better
cells (see the Perspective by than a o ne-size-fits-all approach.
Montell). They identified the —RLK Remains of charred
known protein otopetrin and Sci. Robot. 3, eaar5438 (2018). boxwood sticks
showed that it conferred proton show how Neandertals
conductance when expressed made tools.
in cultured human cells. Their ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
results indicate that otopetrin Guiding nitrenes away
may function in sensory recog-
nition of sour (acidic) taste in from a migration
humans and other organisms. Nitrogen conventionally shares
—LBR its electrons in three bonds with
Science, this issue p. 1047; one or more partners. A singly
see also p. 991 bonded nitrogen, or nitrene,
is exceptionally reactive and
can insert itself into normally
ASTRONOMY inert C–H bonds. If the nitrene
Advancing astronomy, forms next to a carbonyl center,
though, it tends to react with
one screen saver at a time the C–C bond on the other side
One of the major challenges of instead. Hong et al. used theory
modern astronomy is finding to guide the design of an iridium
important results in the over- catalyst that inhibits this rear-
whelming volume of acquired rangement, steering the nitrene
data. Clark et al. used the toward C–H insertion to form a
computers of tens of thousands variety of useful lactam rings.
of volunteers participating in —JSY
the Einstein@Home project Science, this issue p. 1016
to search Fermi Large Area
Telescope data. Their goal was
to discover radio-quiet gamma- EVOLUTION ANTHROPOLOGY
ray millisecond pulsars (MSPs). Ratcheting up wild
More than 10,000 donated CPU Ablaze in Pleistocene Italy
years in this survey led to the virulence
s engravers know, boxwood is dense and hard.
discovery of two isolated MSPs, Partially protective vaccination Neandertals knew this too. Nevertheless, wooden
including a rotation-powered can sometimes select for
artifacts are vulnerable to decay, and such finds are rare
MSP that has remained unde- increasingly virulent pathogens. and exciting. During excavations for a spa in central Italy,
tected in radio observations. Fleming-Davies et al. asked
A Aranguren et al. found remains of elephants, together
—WSW what happens in a natural with remnants of more than 50 burnt wooden sticks dating
Sci. Adv. 10.1126/sciadv.aao7228 system. In the United States,
from around 170,000 years ago. Back then, this area consisted
(2018). the house finch population of patches of hotspring wetlands surrounded by grass and
is suffering an increasingly
box shrub (Buxus sempervirens), through which elephant and
virulent epidemic caused by deer roamed. The Neandertals apparently selected boxwood
MEDICAL ROBOTS Mycoplasma gallisepticum.
for its hardness and charred it to make shaping of the tough
Individually optimized The pathogen induces incom- wood with flint tools a little easier. The tools appear to be of
plete immunity that clears
exosuit less virulent pathogens and multipurpose digging sticks with rounded handles and pointed
Like a regular suit, a wearable offers partial protection against tips. Tools of similar dimensions and technology were, until
recently, also part of the essential equipment of modern
exosuit can be customized strains of greater virulence. In hunter-gatherers. —CA
for the individual. Ding et al. the birds, the partial immune Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 10.1073/pnas.1716068115 (2018).
PHOTO: CARO/RUPERT OBERHAEUSER/NEWSCOM The device reduced the energy virulent pathogens. The partial IMMUNOLOGY is wounded. But not always.
response does away with
tested a hip-extension device
on eight adult male volunteers.
competition from the less
immunity of the host also
required to walk, and the
Commensals direct
Microorganisms on all bar-
authors’ approach tailored the
hinders replication of the more
rier surfaces are continually
virulent pathogens enough to
assistance for each wearer. They
wound healing
applied a Bayesian algorithm
allow some birds to survive.
monitored by the host’s various
This allows increasingly virulent
that could rapidly find optimal
Human skin is coated with
immune responses. Linehan et
forms of the pathogen to be
al. found that the skin-dwelling
microorganisms, some of
settings. Optimization reduced
organism Staphylococcus epi-
the metabolic cost of walking
by 17.4%, improving on existing
dermidis specifically prompts
infection when the skin barrier
Science, this issue p. 1030
SCIENCE sciencemag.org transmitted. —CA which can cause serious 2 MARCH 2018 • VOL 359 ISSUE 6379 1005
Published by AAAS
DA_0302ISIO.indd 1005 2/28/18 10:51 AM