# chem: a 'ghost' bond with a partner that isn't there

<< A peculiar type of atom can be induced to form a ‘ghost’ chemical bond with a nonexistent atom, according to new calculations. >>

<< A highly excited atom that includes a loosely bound electron has the weird ability to form 'trilobite' chemical bonds. Such bonds are created by the small attraction between the electron and a second atom in its lowest energy state. The electron is most often found at long distances from its host nucleus, 'reaching out' to the second atom. A visualization of the electron’s likely location in this ultra-long-range bond depicts a series of elongated shells that resemble the segments of an extinct sea animal called a trilobite. >>

<< Through computer simulations, [AA] found that the same effect can be engineered even in the absence of the second atom by exposing the excited atom to a rapid series of electric and magnetic pulses. In the resultant ghost chemical bond, the excited electron appears to reach out to the nonexistent second atom. Such a bond could be formed in a laboratory setting, the authors write. >>

How an atom forms a 'ghost' bond with a partner that isn't there. Nature. Sep 21, 2018

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06745-y

<< The existence of such a ghost chemical bond in which an electron reaches out from one atom to a nonexistent second atom is a consequence of the high level degeneracy. >>

Matthew T. Eiles, Zhengjia Tong, Chris H. Greene. Theoretical Prediction of the Creation and Observation of a Ghost Trilobite Chemical Bond. Phys. Rev. Lett. 121, 113203. Sep 12, 2018.

https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.113203

# phys: amorphous, but elastic

<< Long-range stress correlations, like those DeGiuli and others have found in amorphous solids, are characteristic of an elastic solid-a material that bounces back to its original shape after being deformed. >>

Emanuela Del Gado. Viewpoint: Constructing a Theory for Amorphous Solids. Sep 10, 2018.

https://physics.aps.org/articles/v11/88

# game: where cooperation is flexible, not fixed

<<
- Assortment on cooperation is a characteristic feature of hunter-gatherer life
- Assortment persists despite substantial migration and residential mixing
- No evidence for stable social types or a preference to live with cooperators
- Individuals respond in kind to the cooperative behavior of their group members
>>

Kristopher M. Smith, Tomas Larroucau, et al.  Hunter-Gatherers Maintain Assortativity in Cooperation despite High Levels of Residential Change and Mixing. Curr Biol doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.064 Sep 20, 2018.

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(18)30994-1

Nomadic hunter-gatherers show that cooperation is flexible, not fixed. University of Pennsylvania.  Sep 20, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-nomadic-hunter-gatherers-cooperation-flexible.html

# drugs: how to socialize octopuses (O. bimaculoides)

<< By studying the genome of a kind of octopus not known for its friendliness toward its peers, then testing its behavioral reaction to a popular mood-altering drug called MDMA or "ecstasy," scientists say they have found preliminary evidence of an evolutionary link between the social behaviors of the sea creature and humans, species separated by 500 million years on the evolutionary tree. >>

<< What our studies suggest is that certain brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters, that send signals between neurons required for these social behaviors are evolutionarily conserved. >> Gul Dolen

Octopuses given mood drug 'ecstasy' reveal genetic link to evolution of social behaviors in humans. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Sept 20, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-octopuses-mood-drug-ecstasy-reveal.html

Eric Edsinger, Gul Dolen. A Conserved Role for Serotonergic Neurotransmission in Mediating Social Behavior in Octopus. Curr Biol. Sep 20, 2018. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.061 

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(18)30991-6

# evol: life as a product of molecular self-assembly

<< There are currently two main schools of thought regarding the origins of RNA. In one school, RNA is considered to be a product of nonenzymatic, prebiotic reactions. In the other, RNA is considered to be a product of chemical and/or biological evolution. >>

AA << report progress toward finding a proto-RNA that is the product of molecular self-assembly. >>

Cafferty B.J., Fialho D.M., Hud N.V. (2018) Searching for Possible Ancestors of RNA: The Self-Assembly Hypothesis for the Origin of Proto-RNA. In: Menor-Salvan C. (eds) Prebiotic Chemistry and Chemical Evolution of Nucleic Acids. Nucleic Acids and Molecular Biology, vol 35. Springer, Cham. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-93584-3_5

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-93584-3_5

Joelle Renstrom. New study identifies possible ancestors of RNA. Astrobiol  Mag. Sep 17, 2018.

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-ancestors-rna.html 

# acad: oops! half of all EU trials are non-compliant

<< Of 7274 trials where results were due, 49.5% (95% confidence interval 48.4% to 50.7%) reported results. >>

<< Compliance with the European Commission requirement for all trials to post results on to the EUCTR [EU Clinical Trials Register] within 12 months of completion has been poor, with half of all trials non-compliant. >>

Ben Goldacre, Nicholas J DeVito, et al. Compliance with requirement to report results on the EU Clinical Trials Register: cohort study and web resource. BMJ 2018;362:k3218. Sep 12, 2018.

https://www.bmj.com/content/362/bmj.k3218

<< "chaos, rather than malice" is behind academics’ poor reporting of trial results. >> Ben Goldacre

Inga Vesper. Europe’s academics fail to report results for 90% of clinical trials. But nearly 70% of industry-sponsored trials report their results within a year of ending. Nature doi: 10.1038/d41586-018-06676-8 Sep 13, 2018.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06676-8

# brain: seeing "ghosted" images

<< the human eye and brain are together capable of seeing "ghosted" images >>

<< it is possible to create ghost images with a technique using light to make an image without reflecting it off the original object. The technique is called "ghosting," >>

Bob Yirka. Human eye capable of seeing 'ghosted' images. Sep 4, 2018

https://m.phys.org/news/2018-09-human-eye-capable-ghosted-images.html

<< Computational ghost imaging relies on the decomposition of an image into patterns that are summed together with weights that measure the overlap of each pattern with the scene being imaged. These tasks rely on a computer. Here [AA] demonstrate that the computational integration can be performed directly with the human eye. >>

Alessandro Boccolini, Alessandro Fedrizzi, Daniele Faccio. Ghost imaging with the human eye. arXiv:1808.05137 [q-bio.NC] Aug 13, 2018.

https://arxiv.org/abs/1808.05137