Sci-tech
DNA from early man increases Covid risk
The haplotype is found in about 16% of the population in Europe and half the population in South Asia, while in Africa and East Asia it is nonexistent. Now, in a new study, scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have discovered that this gene cluster is remarkably similar to DNA sequences found in the genome of a 50,000-year-old Neanderthal discovered in Croatia, indi... [Full Article...]
OR reports record-breaking high COVID-19 case count Sunday
Stories of some unlucky patients contracting COVID-19 twice sent the world into a tailspin over fears that immunity to the virus might not last . The study is the result of a collaboration led by Associate Professor Menno van Zelm, from Monash University and was published on Monday in the preprint server, MedRxiv. [Full Article...]
China seeks to retrieve first Moon rocks since 1970s
Named after the ancient Chinese deity of the moon, the Chang-5 probe will test China's ability to buy samples remotely from space , even before more complex missions. "Lunar scientists are advocating a robot's sample return mission in these various critical areas to address a host of basic questions left over from earlier explorations", said Head. [Full Article...]
Department to 'consider next steps' after recommendation made to cull mink
The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate said there were 18 cases of infections among farm workers that were unrelated to each other. The statement said: "While the Irish government is leaning on the recent Danish decision to cull all animals on these farms, it neglects to mention that the Danish decision was based on a rapid increase in the number of infected mink farms". [Full Article...]
Man Saves Puppy from Alligator
An Estero man is captured on camera saving his dog from an alligator in October. And Wilbanks said he and his family have gained a new appreciation for the wildlife around them. "I never thought an alligator could be that fast". He also said he was fine, but his hands had been hurt and he received a tetanus shot. "We don't just want to tolerate wildlife, but, rather, we want to thrive with wildl... [Full Article...]
Coronavirus: Immunity in COVID-19 survivors can last for years, claims study
The authors claimed that this is the first study of its kind, incorporating antigen-specific antibody, memory B cell , CD8+ T cell , and CD4+ T cell measurements, out past 6 months post-infection. But none of the three became unwell. In isolated cases of recurrence of COVID-19, illness with the SARS-COV-2 virus has raised concerns that potential remission may be short-lived and recur. [Full Article...]
Elon Musk Says First Mars Inhabitants Will Live in Glass Domes
The tech maverick has previously said that humans can fire nuclear weapons at Mars' poles in order to bring about a melting of ice caps that would then accelerate warming of the planet, making it more friendly to human life. Once they land on the dusty world, the first settlers will get to work constructing a self-sustaining city. Today, he is rumoured to also be visiting the site of the new Gigaf... [Full Article...]
NASA spacecraft lands on asteroid Bennu, grabs sample
The goal was to collect at least 1.7 ounces of fine-grained material, but the spacecraft can carry up to 4.4 pounds, Heather Enos, OSIRIS-REx deputy principal investigator at the University of Arizona said . After determining that the coast was clear, Osiris-Rex closed in the last few yards for sampling. It will attempt to capture at least 60 grams of rocks and dust from the asteroid by pumping a... [Full Article...]