What is mRNA? What you should know about the key ingredient in some COVID-19 vaccines
One surprising star of the coronavirus pandemic response has been the molecule called mRNA. It's the key ingredient in the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. But mRNA itself is not a new invention from the lab. It evolved billions of years ago and.....»»
Perception and deception in times of crisis: Characteristics of messages and sources that allow information to spread
The COVID-19 pandemic not only gave us a global health crisis but also an infodemic, a term coined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to describe the overwhelming flood of information—both accurate and misleading—that inundated media channels.....»»
Cells use alternative splicing to regulate gene expression, research suggests
Alternative splicing is a genetic process where different segments of genes are removed, and the remaining pieces are joined together during transcription to messenger RNA (mRNA). This mechanism increases the diversity of proteins that can be generat.....»»
From rhino horn snuff to pangolin livestock feed: A half-century of patents reveals the wildlife trade"s evolution
The bright blue blood of the horseshoe crab is used around the world to detect bacterial contamination in vaccines. Synonymous with luxury, sturgeon caviar has been patented as an antidote to impotency in China. Rhino horn is used in traditional Asia.....»»
Mark Zuckerberg regrets not pushing back on Biden’s COVID “pressure” campaign
Facebook is "ready to push back" on government takedown requests, Meta CEO says. Enlarge / Mark Zuckerberg. (credit: Bloomberg / Contributor | Bloomberg) After years of bickering with the Biden administration about vacci.....»»
COVID shot now or later? Just getting it at all is great, officials respond.
As the summer wave peaks, officials are prepping for the coming winter wave. Enlarge / A 13-year-old celebrates getting the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 13, 2021. (credit: Getty | JOSEPH PRE.....»»
The Next Frontier for mRNA Could Be Healing Damaged Organs
Researchers are testing the use of mRNA to get damaged livers to repair themselves, in a move that could one day lessen the need for organ transplants......»»
FDA Approves New Covid Vaccines Amid Summer Surge
The updated vaccines target the currently circulating KP.2 variant......»»
FDA green-lights fall COVID-19 boosters
Updated mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are ready to roll. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) As the COVID-19 case count continues to tick upward, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved an updated vaccine for.....»»
High school book club with prisoner on Death Row explores the complexities, joys of Black life
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when young people across the U.S. were struggling with the isolation, disruptions and frustrations imposed by shuttered schools, online learning and the dearth of social activities, the students in then-high school teach.....»»
Lipid nanoparticle mRNA therapy improves survival in mouse models of maple syrup urine disease
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine, Gene Therapy Program, and Moderna, have shown that repeated administration of lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA therapy significantly extended survival and reduced serum.....»»
We need far stronger support systems in the fight against gender-based violence, says expert
The COVID-19 pandemic brought renewed attention to the rising rates of gender-based violence, highlighting an ongoing, but growing, crisis......»»
The Covid-19 Summer Wave Is So Big, the FDA Might Release New Vaccines Early
The latest Covid-19 surge reportedly has officials considering approval of the new strain-matched vaccine as soon as this week......»»
This year’s summer COVID wave is big; FDA may green-light COVID shots early
Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 levels suggest the summer surge is high and peaking right now. Enlarge (credit: Getty | Thomas Trutschel) With the country experiencing a relatively large summer wave of COVID-19, the Food and Drug.....»»
Researchers investigate parent perceptions of virtual learning
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of schools across the U.S. shifted to virtual learning. In a new study, published in Social Education Research, researchers conducted interviews with parents of students who attended middle or high sch.....»»
How some states help residents avoid costly debt during hard times
A new national study provides the best evidence to date that generous unemployment insurance benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic helped reduce reliance on high-cost credit use......»»
Newly discovered protein stops DNA damage
Researchers from Western University have discovered a protein that has the never-before-seen ability to stop DNA damage in its tracks. The finding could provide the foundation for developing everything from vaccines against cancer, to crops that can.....»»
A school of new data about how climate impacts fisheries
The changing climate has profound implications for the ocean, including waters that are warmer, more acidic, and less oxygenated. In addition, the ocean absorbs a huge amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide, an essential ingredient for the growth of ph.....»»
Light-responsive gene regulation at the mRNA level
Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have established a new optogenetic approach that can control the bacterial production of proteins at the mRNA level using blue light. The new system gates the activation of the genetic substance particularly.....»»
Noah Lyles’ Olympic Run Is the New Normal for Living With Covid
Dozens of Olympic athletes competed with Covid as society increasingly treats it like the flu or the common cold. Public health experts warn that it's anything but......»»
Fewer car journeys and more flights: How COVID-19 has changed the way we travel
Four years after the outbreak of COVID-19, the pandemic seems like a distant memory for many. Yet its impacts on our lifestyle today are often profound and long-lasting, with many researchers on a mission to quantify it across sectors......»»