Science Times: New hope for a terrible disease with terrible treatments

Plus: Christmastime in the cosmos —

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story December 19, 2023 Federico Rios for The New York Times Global Health New Hope — and an Old Hurdle — for a Terrible Disease With Terrible Treatments Researchers in developing countries are trying to find treatments for conditions that affect the poorest people. But the system is stacked against their therapies. By Stephanie Nolen NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. Diego (Instituto de Física de Cantabria, Spain), J. D’Silva (U. Western Australia), A. Koekemoer (STScI), J. Summers & R. Windhorst (ASU), and H. Yan (U. Missouri). It's Christmastime in the Cosmos Astronomers have a long tradition of finding holiday cheer in outer space. By Katrina Miller Paula Bronstein/Associated Press How Christmas Tree Farms Can Help Wildlife It may seem counterintuitive to support the annual culling of trees, but environmentalists say Christmas tree farms have ecological benefits. By Cara Buckley Gerardo Gomez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Origins Chimps Can Still Remember Faces After a Quarter Century Long-term memories may have been vital to our own evolution, suggests a new study of chimpanzees and bonobos. By Carl Zimmer Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Email us Let us know how we're doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com. NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute Poison Gas Hints at Potential for Life on an Ocean Moon of Saturn A researcher who has studied the icy world said "the prospects for the development of life are getting better and better on Enceladus." By Kenneth Chang Javier Trueba/MSF, via Science Source Origins Morning Person? You Might Have Neanderthal Genes to Thank. Hundreds of genetic variants carried by Neanderthals and Denisovans are shared by people who like to get up early. By Carl Zimmer Julian Avery Why Mister Grouse Is the Friendliest Bird in the Forest Ruffed grouse are elusive and stealthy, but scientists are seeking a genetic explanation for why some of the birds become best buddies with people. By Ashley Stimpson Oyvind Zahl Arntzen/NTB, via Reuters Bird Flu Is Still Causing Havoc. Here's the Latest. The virus, which recently reached the Antarctic region for the first time, is surging again in North America. By Emily Anthes Jeroen Zewald/Goffin Lab Trilobites Polly Wants a Cracker, but She Wants to Make It Easier to Chew Goffin's cockatoos, long known as adept tool users, are the first parrots found to alter their food by dipping it in water. By Emily Anthes Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT New Mexico Spaceport Leaves Economic Dreams Grounded Long a priority of local officials, the desert launchpad is sending tourists into space, but taxpayers and merchants are waiting for the payoff. By Kurtis Lee and Adria Malcolm Congress Orders U.F.O. Records Released but Drops Bid for Broader Disclosure A newly passed measure directs the National Archives to collect documents related to U.F.O.s and disclose confidential records within 25 years but stops short of ordering more transparency. By Kayla Guo Trilobites Hunting Ghosts in the Sky and Finding What Makes Their Colors Scientists captured new imagery of atmospheric phenomena that occur during some lightning storms, offering clues into how they form. By Robin George Andrews Mary Cleave, Who Glimpsed a Blighted Earth From Space, Dies at 76 After flying on two shuttle missions and viewing a deteriorating world out a spacecraft window, she turned to environmental research for NASA. By Richard Sandomir CLIMATE CHANGE Nathan Weyland for The New York Times Who Gets the Water in California? Whoever Gets There First. As the world warms, the state is re-examining claims to its water that have gone unchallenged for generations. By Raymond Zhong and Mira Rojanasakul Martin Divisek/EPA, via Shutterstock Four Takeaways From the COP28 Climate Summit Here's why the meeting was important, and what to watch for going forward. By Somini Sengupta We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. HEALTH Emil Lippe for The New York Times Possible Ways to Ease Drug Shortages Lawmakers, U.S. officials and industry experts have offered measures to try to shore up the generic drug market. By Christina Jewett Jackie Molloy for The New York Times Operating Profits Inside the Booming Business of Cutting Babies' Tongues Dentists and lactation consultants around the country are pushing "tongue-tie releases" on new mothers struggling to breastfeed. By Katie Thomas, Sarah Kliff and Jessica Silver-Greenberg Food and Drug Administration, via Associated Press Lead Levels in Children's Applesauce May Be Traced to Cinnamon Additive The F.D.A. is investigating the sources of cinnamon and other ingredients produced outside the U.S. as the possible cause of lead poisoning in dozens of children. Advocates are urging mandatory testing of lead in food. By Christina Jewett and Julie Creswell Alamy Scientists Pinpoint Cause of Severe Morning Sickness The discovery could lead to better treatments for severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. By Azeen Ghorayshi Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT What to Know About Ketamine Matthew Perry's death was attributed to the effects of high levels of the anesthetic drug, which is increasingly used to treat depression. By Andrew Jacobs Biden Administration Warns 9 Governors About Medicaid Losses Among Children Xavier Becerra, the health and human services secretary, suggested that states were doing far too little to make sure that children were not unfairly denied federal insurance. By Noah Weiland Are Flaxseeds All That? The seeds have many potential benefits, from boosting heart health to lowering inflammation. But they can't do everything. By Dani Blum Jeanne Hoff, Pioneering Transgender Psychiatrist, Dies at 85 She shared the experience of her transition in a documentary to encourage her patients, many of whom were also transgender, to live openly and confidently. By Penelope Green Make a friend's day: Forward this email. Got this from a friend? Subscribe to the Science Times newsletter. Check out other New York Times newsletters (all free!) including: Climate Fwd: for climate coverage and expert analysis. The Upshot for a data-driven look at the news. 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