Category: Science and Tech
Searching for clues in the genome: What ancient DNA reveals about the history of epidemics
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut How did the devastating epidemics of plague and tuberculosis come about – and what can we learn from them today? Renowned paleogeneticist Prof. Dr. Johannes Krause, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, will give the 13th Loeffler Lecture at the Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg in Greifswald, providing exciting insights into his research […]
Jun 4, 2025
Black Death Plague That Killed Millions Became Less Fatal because of This Genetic Tweak
Scientific American Reducing the copies of one gene in the bubonic plague bacterium, Yersinia pestis, made it less deadly but potentially more transmissible. A small genetic change makes the bacterium that caused the plague less fatal but possibly more transmissible, allowing for greater disease spread in smaller populations, a study in Science reports. The bacterium Yersinia pestis caused the Black Death […]
Jun 3, 2025
RFK Jr. says he may bar scientists from publishing in top medical journals
Washington Post Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took aim at reputed journals such as the Lancet and said his agency will create “in-house” publications instead. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that he may bar government scientists from publishing in the world’s leading medical journals, instead proposing the creation […]
May 28, 2025
Can bioimaging build capacity in fungi research?
Wellcome.org Fungal infections are an increasing threat and we need researchers around the world to work on these problems. But fungal research is very challenging in resource-limited settings. Dr Elizabeth Ballou explains how promising new technologies could change that. Fungi are beautiful and very charismatic. The most fascinating thing about them is that they’re incredibly […]
May 21, 2025
Genetic Study Retraces the Origins of Coronaviruses in Bats
NYT As China and the United States trade charges of a lab leak, researchers contend in a new paper that the Covid pandemic got its start, like a previous one, in the wildlife trade. In the early 2000s, a coronavirus infecting bats jumped into raccoon dogs and other wild mammals in southwestern China. Some of […]
May 7, 2025
New Antimicrobial Paint Kills Flu, MRSA, and COVID-19 on Contact
SciTechDaily A new bacteria-killing paint shows powerful promise in eliminating dangerous pathogens like MRSA and COVID-19 from hard surfaces. nfused with chlorhexidine, a trusted dental disinfectant, the coating works on plastics and metals and activates once dry. Collaborating with industrial paint maker Indestructible Paint, the team aims to bring this innovation to hospitals, public transport, and even […]
Apr 23, 2025
A New UV Light May Help Stop Future Pandemics
Infectious Disease Advisor Five years after COVID-19 first hit the United States, scientists are already brainstorming how to stop the next big virus. One possible solution? A special kind of ultraviolet light called far-UVC, CBS News reported. Unlike regular UVC light, which can be harmful to people, far-UVC has a shorter wavelength. That means it can kill […]
Apr 16, 2025
Scientists hope far-UVC light could help stop the next airborne pandemic before it starts
CBS News Five years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic first swept across the U.S., infecting millions and claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Scientists are already concerned about the next airborne threat, but in the future, a powerful new weapon may be waiting in the wings. Far-UVC light is a form of ultraviolet light that can kill viruses and bacteria […]
Apr 9, 2025
Fast Detection of Airborne Bird Flu with New Biosensor
Ag Connection Washington University researchers have introduced a groundbreaking biosensor that detects airborne H5N1 bird flu in under five minutes. Developed in the Chakrabarty lab, this device marks a significant advancement in monitoring pathogens that threaten poultry and dairy farms. The biosensor utilizes electrochemical capacitive technology to achieve rapid and sensitive detection of viral and […]
Apr 9, 2025
Antiviral Chewing Gum May Prevent Flu and Herpes Transmission
Precision Medicine Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s (UPenn) School of Dental Medicine and their collaborators in Finland report they have developed chewing gum made from lablab beans that was effective at neutralizing both influenza and herpes simplex virus (HSV) transmission. The study, published in Molecular Therapy, shows the promise of this method as a new tool to help mitigate the […]
Apr 8, 2025