US Emissions To Drop 9% In 2020, Putting Country Back On Track For Paris Commitment

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Greentech Media: The U.S. economy is on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 9 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, BloombergNEF reported Thursday. It’s a sign of the impact that COVID-19 shutdowns and the ensuing recession have had on life in the U.S. When workers stayed home and the streets emptied out, it reduced…

Shot To Prevent HIV Works Better Than Daily Pill in Women

A single shot given every two months has proved to be more effective than a daily pill at preventing H.I.V. in women, researchers reported on Monday, an advance that medical experts hailed as groundbreaking in the fight against the deadly virus that causes AIDS. From a report: The finding that the long-acting drug would prevent H.I.V. in six doses taken over…

CRISPR weapon spread by bacterial sex could destroy deadly superbugs

Bacteria armed with a CRISPR-based weapon that infects other microbes during the bacterial equivalent of sex could help us kill off dangerous antibiotic-resistant superbugs – if regulators approve their use Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2258049-crispr-weapon-spread-by-bacterial-sex-could-destroy-deadly-superbugs/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

No, Mouthwash Will Not Save You From the Coronavirus

You may have noticed a rash of provocative headlines this week suggesting that mouthwash can “inactivate” coronaviruses and help curb their spread. While the news is based on a new study from researchers at the Penn State College of Medicine, it’s important to note that the study focused on a coronavirus that causes common colds — not the one that causes…

Is the coronavirus evolving and will it become more or less deadly?

So far, we haven’t seen much change in the coronavirus, but as we develop more therapies and potentially a vaccine it could mutate Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833053-600-is-the-coronavirus-evolving-and-will-it-become-more-or-less-deadly/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

We must pay attention to subtle yet deadly aspects of climate change

Catastrophic events hog the climate limelight but there are more understated effects that demand attention too, says Hannah Cloke Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg24833040-100-we-must-pay-attention-to-subtle-yet-deadly-aspects-of-climate-change/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

Tardigrades survive deadly radiation by glowing in the dark

Tardigrades are famously near-indestructible, and some have harnessed the power of fluorescence to help them survive intense ultraviolet radiation Source: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2257008-tardigrades-survive-deadly-radiation-by-glowing-in-the-dark/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home…

Harvard, Oxford, Stanford Docs Among Leaders of Global Anti-Lockdown Movement

An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Mercury News: Doctors at Stanford University are at the forefront of a global movement of health experts who are criticizing lockdowns to control COVID-19 and say schools and businesses should reopen, but with a focus on protecting the elderly and infirm who are most vulnerable to the virus. Called the Great Barrington Declaration…