Hopes for an easing of the pandemic were dealt a major setback over the Thanksgiving weekend, with news that a variant first spotted in southern Africa carries a multiplicity of mutations that might make it resistant to approved vaccines. At an emergency meeting convened Friday by the World Health Organization, the agency dubbed the variant,… read on > read on >
Worried about climate change? You can do something about it every time you lift your fork, a new study suggests. Folks can reduce their personal carbon footprint by eating less red meat, nibbling fewer sweets and cutting back on tea, coffee and booze, according to the findings. “We all want to do our bit to… read on > read on >
As concerns about the new Omicron variant grow, vaccine makers say they’re already working on ways to protect people against the potential new threat. Pfizer said it and its partner BioNTech could develop and produce a “tailor-made vaccine” in about 100 days if a “vaccine-escape” variant emerges, NBC News reported. Meanwhile, Moderna said it was… read on > read on >
Merck’s experimental COVID-19 antiviral pill appears effective, but may pose risks for pregnant women, including birth defects and toxicity to developing fetuses, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. On Friday morning Merck announced updated results from its molnupiravir study that showed a smaller benefit than first thought: Among more than 1,400 adults in… read on > read on >
Extreme heat brings a jump in emergency room visits by adults of all ages, a new study shows. While it’s well known that extreme heat puts adults aged 65 and older at increased risk of hospitalization and death, it’s been less clear how it affects young and middle-aged adults. To find out, the researchers analyzed… read on > read on >
A weekly dose of deep red light in the morning may protect fading eyesight as people age, U.K. researchers say. “Using a simple LED device once a week recharges the energy system that has declined in the retina cells, rather like recharging a battery,” according to Glen Jeffery, lead author of a small, new study.… read on > read on >
A defect in the blood-brain barrier may play a role in Parkinson’s disease, a groundbreaking research study suggests. The blood-brain barrier acts as a filter to keep out toxins while still allowing the passage of nutrients to nourish the brain. This study found that in some people with Parkinson’s, the blood-brain barrier doesn’t work right.… read on > read on >
The misconception that girls are less interested than boys in computer science and engineering begins at a young age in the United States. And it’s one reason for the gender gap in those career fields, according to a new study. In surveys of more than 2,200 U.S. children and teens in grades 1 through 12,… read on > read on >
Singing in a choir may be good for your soul, but it can also spread COVID-19 far more easily than conversation does. A new study also found that the louder and person sings or talks, the more particles are spewed into the air, and that more particles are released by men than women, and by… read on > read on >
NBA great Michael Jordan had a special ritual he would follow before every free throw: He would assume a shoulder-width stance, spin the basketball in his hands, bounce the ball three times, and then spin the ball once more while focusing on the rim before finally taking his shot. Now, new research suggests similar routines… read on > read on >
