A new study by an Ohio University faculty member showed that acetaminophen limited positive empathy a person has for others while taking it. Source: OHIO study: Acetaminophen can reduce positive empathy for others

A Columbia University study maps out the increase and spread of the Asian longhorned tick, a new species identified last summer in Westchester and Staten island. What’s particularly alarming is that the tick is notorious for its ability to quickly clone itself through asexual reproduction, or reproduce sexually, laying 1,000-2,000 eggs at a time. Source:…

People often experience psychological pain when they part from cash, which may make it more difficult to invest cash than dematerialized money to increase savings for the future. Source: When cash is your enemy

Scientists at the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology ranked metropolitan areas where, due to a combination of light pollution and geography, birds are at the greatest risk of becoming attracted to and disoriented by lights and crashing into buildings. Source: Chicago tops list of most dangerous cities for migrating birds

After more than a century of shrinking, the gap between rich and poor communities has increased dramatically over the past four decades, and Robert Manduca believes a large measure of the change can be chalked up to rising income inequality. Source: The income gap, growing

Social media had only a small influence on how much people believed falsehoods about candidates and issues in the last two presidential elections, a pair of new national studies found. And Facebook — which came under fire for spreading misinformation in the 2016 campaign — actually reduced misperceptions by users in that election compared to…

A new study out of Loma Linda University Health suggests that eating red and processed meats — even in small amounts — may increase the risk of death from all causes, especially cardiovascular disease. Source: Eating small amounts of red and processed meats may increase risk of death

Metformin, a common drug used for type 2 diabetes, has several benefits when the mother has PCOS. But children are at greater risk for obesity later in life. Source: Common medication used in pregnancy may lead to obesity in children

A new Australian study has found that more than half of car drivers think cyclists are not completely human, with a link between the dehumanisation of bike riders and acts of deliberate aggression towards them on the road. Source: Face off — Cyclists not human enough for drivers: study

Research led by the University of Southampton suggests that ‘rogue’ waves are occurring less often, but becoming more extreme. Scientists have, for the first time, used long-term data from a wide expanse of ocean to investigate how these rare, unexpected and hazardous ocean phenomena behave. Their findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports. Source:…

Consuming the equivalent of one can of soda per day caused mice predisposed to colon cancer to develop larger tumors, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian investigators. Source: High-fructose corn syrup promotes colon tumor growth in mice

A Washington University team showed how a phototrophic microbe called Rhodopseudomonas palustris takes up electrons from conductive substances like metal oxides or rust to reduce carbon dioxide. Source: Study shows how electricity-eating microbes use electrons to fix carbon dioxide

Billions worldwide are infected with tropical worms. Unsurprisingly, most of these people live in poor countries, kept poor by the effects of worm-related malnourishment. What may surprise many is that worms also cause the majority of cases of some cancers in these countries. Published in Frontiers in Medicine as a special article collection on parasite-associated…