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Dec- 2021 -4 DecemberAstronomy
Sub-Earth Planet Discovered by Astronomers: Boiling New World Is Ultra-Light and Super-Fast
Lead Image: An illustration of a red dwarf star orbited by an exoplanet. Credit: NASA/ESA/G. Bacon (STScI) The boiling new world, which zips around its star at ultraclose range, is among the lightest exoplanets found to date. Ultra-short-period planets are small, compact worlds that whip around their stars at close range, completing an orbit — and a single, scorching year — in less than 24 hours. How these planets came to be in such extreme configurations is one of the continuing mysteries of exoplanetary science. Now, astronomers have discovered an ultra-short-period planet (USP) that is also super light. The planet…
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4 December
“This Virus Is a Shape-Shifter!” – New Research Details How COVID Variants Are Evolving New Ways To Evade Vaccines
New study models future SARS-CoV-2 mutations and forecasts their ability to evade immune defenses developed by vaccines and antibody-based treatments. Since the study was completed, several of the predicted mutations appeared in omicron, the most recently identified SARS-CoV-2 variant, offering insight into how omicron might be able to escape immune defense generated by mRNA vaccines and monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19. The researchers modeled their predictions of future mutations using a combination of variables, including rare mutations documented in immunocompromised patients, existing SARS-CoV-2 genotypes, and the virus’s current molecular structure and behavior. Findings highlight the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to shape-shift,…
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4 DecemberCOVID-19
Chewing Gum Developed That Could Reduce COVID Transmission – Laced With Protein That “Traps” the SARS-CoV-2 Virus
A chewing gum laced with a plant-grown protein serves as a “trap” for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reducing viral load in saliva and potentially tamping down transmission, according to a new study. The work, led by Henry Daniell at Penn’s School of Dental Medicine and performed in collaboration with scientists at the Perelman School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine, as well as at The Wistar Institute and Fraunhofer USA, could lead to a low-cost tool in the arsenal against the COVID-19 pandemic. Their study was published in the journal Molecular Therapy. “SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the salivary glands, and we…
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4 DecemberEnvironment
Architectural Marvels That Seem to Defy the Laws of Science
Lead Image: Lippo Center in Hong Kong. Image credits: WikiArquitectura Architecture is a complex process that involves the use of artistry and craftsmanship, along with numerous calculations and a solid understanding of physics and engineering principles. While every building, bridge, stadium, monument, and other type of structure need to conform to certain limitations of materials and technology, it is possible to build structures that appear to deter the laws of nature. From the Great Pyramid of Giza to the ancient Meenakshi Amman Temple and the Empire State Building, engineering science has played an important role in providing balance and strength…
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3 DecemberNASA
NASA awards $415 million for private space stations amid ISS transition questions
Blue Origin has teamed up with Sierra Space, Boeing and others to build Orbital Reef, a private space station, to begin flying by the end of the 2020s. (Image credit: Blue Origin) NASA just doled out a big chunk of change for the design of private space stations, On Thursday (Dec. 2), the agency announced that it has awarded three funded Space Act Agreements valued at a total of $415.6 million. The money is split almost evenly among three U.S. companies leading each project: Blue Origin ($130 million), Nanoracks LLC ($160 million) and Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. ($125.6 million). All…
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