Sewer slime can hang on to SARS-CoV-2 RNA from wastewater
During the COVID-19 pandemic, monitoring the levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater entering treatment plants has been one way that researchers have gauged the disease's spread. But could the slimy microbial communities that line most sewer pipes aff.....»»
Antiviral proves effective at preventing, treating COVID-19 in lab
Using a new research model containing human lung tissue, scientists showed that the broad spectrum, experimental drug EIDD-2801 proved effective at preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infection......»»
New clues to how SARS-CoV-2 infects cells
The molecular details of how SARS-CoV-2 enters cells and infects them are still not clear. Researchers have identified receptors that could be important players in the process......»»
The genetic susceptibility of people with Down"s syndrome to COVID-19
A study reveals the genetic factors that may expose or protect people with Down syndrome from SARS-CoV-2. TMPRSS2, a gene that codes for an enzyme critical for aiding the entry of SARS-CoV-2 in human cells, had 60 percent higher levels of expression.....»»
Half of global wastewater treated, rates in developing countries still lagging
A new study by scientists at Utrecht University and the United Nations University concludes that about half of global wastewater is treated, rather than the previous estimate of 20%. Despite this promising finding, the authors warn that treatment rat.....»»
Signs that SARS-CoV-2 is evolving to avoid immune responses
Mutations are changing, but not eliminating, the antibody response to the virus. Enlarge / The structure of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. (credit: University of Arkansas) Over the summer, you could almost hear a sigh of relief rising from the.....»»
Climate change may have driven the emergence of SARS-CoV-2
Global greenhouse gas emissions over the last century have made southern China a hotspot for bat-borne coronaviruses, by driving growth of forest habitat favoured by bats......»»
Lab 3-D prints microbes to enhance biomaterials
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have developed a new method for 3-D printing living microbes in controlled patterns, expanding the potential for using engineered bacteria to recover rare-earth metals, clean wastewater, detect.....»»
An integrated approach based on activated carbon removes trace substances from wastewater
Wastewater plants employ a variety of effective and established processes to treat sewage and wastewater. As yet, however, there is no ideal, uniformly recognized method for removing trace substances. Researchers from the Fraun-hofer Institute for En.....»»
To Re-Enable Flash Support, South Africa"s Tax Agency Released Its Own Web Browser
"The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has released this week its own custom web browser," reports ZDNet, "for the sole purpose of re-enabling Adobe Flash Player support, rather than port its existing website from using Flash to HTML-based web for.....»»
Orizon mirror by Ocrum Studios
Dezeen Showroom: New York design practice Ocrum Studios has released a mirror that is both a functional and a decorative item and resembles "a window with a view that you can hang from your walls". Read more Dezeen Showroom: New York design.....»»
COVID variants throw J&J vaccine a curveball, lowering efficacy to 66%
The adenovirus vector-based vaccine is another useful tool against SARS-CoV-2. Enlarge (credit: Getty | SOPA Images) Johnson & Johnson’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine was 72 percent effective at preventing moderate and severe disease in the.....»»
How vitamins, steroids and potential antivirals might affect SARS-CoV-2
Evidence is emerging that vitamin D—and possibly vitamins K and A—might help combat COVID-19. A new study from the University of Bristol published in the journal of the German Chemical Society Angewandte Chemie has shown how they—and other anti.....»»
Coronavirus variants: What they do and how worried you should be
The Ars guide to the coronavirus variants Enlarge / Coronaviruses (credit: Getty | BSIP) Ever since the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, began jumping from human to human, it’s been mutating. The molecular machinery the virus uses to read and.....»»
Software spots and fixes hang bugs in seconds, rather than weeks
Hang bugs - when software gets stuck, but doesn't crash - can frustrate both users and programmers, taking weeks for companies to identify and fix. Now researchers have developed software that can spot and fix the problems in seconds......»»
May I Borrow Your Covid Immunity?
Whenever a new virus emerges—be it HIV or SARS-CoV-2—a few lucky people put up a potent natural defense. Monoclonal antibody drugs let them share the health......»»
Worrisome New Coronavirus Mutations Are Emerging. Why Now?
Across the globe, SARS-CoV-2 is evolving ways to evade the immune system and become more infectious. Blown pandemic response plans are to blame......»»
Ultra-absorptive nanofiber swabs could improve SARS-CoV-2 test sensitivity
Rapid, sensitive diagnosis of COVID-19 is essential for early treatment, contact tracing and reducing viral spread. However, some people infected with SARS-CoV-2 receive false-negative test results, which might put their and others' health at risk. N.....»»
Moderna says it’s making variant-specific COVID-19 vaccines, but its existing vaccine should still work
Moderna has detailed some of the steps it’s taking to ensure that its vaccine remains effective in the face of emerging strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that leads to COVID-19. These include testing how adding a second booster, for a total of th.....»»
As SARS-CoV-2 Mutates, AI Algorithms Try to Keep Pace
Machine learning model meant for understanding language searches for coronavirus strains that could evade the vaccine As new variants of the coronavirus continue to spring up like wildfires across the planet, researchers have bee.....»»
Hot IPOs hang onto gains as investors keep betting on tech
How many recent tech IPOs are down from their opening price? We looked at 14 debuts from the last year to find out. This morning, while checking the latest price for shares of recent IPO Poshmark, I noticed that they were down from their fi.....»»