Liquid biopsies, space probes and other science stories of the week

Welcome to your weekly science update – a curated list of this week’s most interesting stories.

Six reasons the Ebola outbreak continues in West Africa, including shifting hotspots, dangerous funerals and rain.

United States appoints first chief data scientist. Meet Dr DJ Patil and listen to him explain the significance of, and his vision for, the new role.

Obesity and inflammatory bowel disease linked to chemicals in processed foods. The more we learn about the microbiome (the trillions of bacteria that live in and on our bodies, and play a vital role in our general health) the more it seems we need to revisit the safety tests in place for food additives.

Speaking of revisiting tests, a deeper look into accusations of fake herbal dietary supplements in major US retailers this month suggests that misapplied science may have turned up faulty results.

And speaking of science being used in questionable ways, brain scans that appear to show if someone is experiencing pain are starting to be used as evidence in court cases despite researchers questioning whether the technology is ready for use in courtrooms.

Computer programs are creating sketches of suspected criminal mugshots based only on DNA found at crime scenes. Soon they should be able to automatically match theses sketches with mugshots in police databases.

Meanwhile, UK policy-makers argue that the European stance on GMOs are based on values and politics, not science, and must be revisited.

The breakthrough technologies 2015 list from MIT Technology Review is out. Some favourites: liquid biopsy (a blood test for cancer) and brain organoids for research into diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

As we speak, there are many robots exploring the solar system for us. Now you can keep up with all of them on a beautifully designed website, spaceprob.es.

3D-printed “slings” for fixing broken nervous systems.

A long-lasting HIV vaccine is being tested in South Africa.

Encouraging news on diversity: a (US) National Science Foundation study finds rising numbers of minorities, especially hispanics, enrolling at university in the US, with more women than men enrolled across the board. Nearly half or all science and engineering bachelor degrees in the US go to women, but female participation in fields of research vary, with participation lowest in engineering, computer science and physics.

And ICYMI, geo-engineering (tinkering with our planetary systems to thwart climate change) is not safe. Reducing emissions is the least risky intervention.

Author: David Gleicher is Senior Programme Manager, Science and Technology, at the World Economic Forum.

Image: The Phoenix spacecraft lifts off successfully from Kennedy Space Center as viewed from Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral, Florida August 4, 2007. REUTERS/Mike Carlso