20 articles from SATURDAY 22.8.2020
Coronavirus pandemic halts life-saving UK cancer and heart disease research
Thousands of clinical trials have closed permanently or been suspended – and may never have the cash to restartCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMore than 1,500 clinical trials of new drugs and treatments for cancers, heart disease and other serious illnesses have been permanently closed down in Britain in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, a further...
Panda cub birth at Washington zoo sparks intense online interest amid pandemic
A brand new giant panda cub is sparking pandemic-fuelled panda-mania, and officials at the National Zoo said traffic on its livestream spiked 1,200 per cent over the past...
Coronavirus will be with us forever, Sage scientist warns
Sir Mark Walport says, unlike smallpox, coronavirus will not be eradicated by vaccination.
Surface deep: Light-responsive top layer of plastic film induces movement
- ScienceDaily
- 20/8/22 14:57
Scientists show that only a thin, topmost layer of the light-dependent azobenzene-containing plastic film needs to be light-sensitive, rather than the entire film, opening up new ways to potentially reduce production costs and revolutionize its use.
Covid-19 will be around for ever, says former UK chief scientific adviser
Prof Mark Walport says regular vaccinations are likely to be required to control coronavirus Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageCoronavirus will be around “for ever” and people are likely to need regular vaccinations against it, a former chief scientific adviser to the UK government has said.Prof Mark Walport, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies...
What's that orange hue in Mackenzie Delta waterways?
Officials with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the N.W.T. say so far they've found an "iron bacteria" in water samples, but it could be other phenomenon...
California wildfires some of largest in state history
Lightning-sparked wildfires in Northern California exploded in size Friday to become some of the largest in state history, forcing thousands to flee and destroying hundreds of homes and other structures as reinforcements began arriving to help weary firefighters.
Birth of panda cub provides 'much-needed moment of pure joy'
Delivering a "much-needed moment of pure joy," the National Zoo's giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a wiggling cub Friday at a time of global pandemic and social unrest.
GPT-3, Bloviator: OpenAI’s language generator has no idea what it’s talking about
Since OpenAI first described its new AI language-generating system called GPT-3 in May, hundreds of media outlets (including MIT Technology Review) have written about the system and its capabilities. Twitter has been abuzz about its power and potential. The New York Times published an op-ed about it. Later this year, OpenAI will begin charging companies…
This barren N.S. ecosystem is a rare biodiversity hotspot. Scientists want to preserve it
Over hundreds of years, human activity has reduced Nova Scotia's sand barrens to roughly 3 per cent of their original size. Scientists and a community organization are trying to build awareness about the importance of the ecosystem and stem further...
'What in the heck was that?': Fisherman shocked to haul in long-nosed chimaera
A fisherman from Templeman, on the north side of Bonavista Bay, got quite the fright recently when he hauled in a strange creature with his...
Earth Overshoot Day: When consumption outstrips the planet's eco resources
Today is Earth Overshoot Day, when scientists say we've used all the resources the planet can produce in 12 months.
Net-zero emissions by 2050 is the goal. So how do we get there?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says carbon emissions need to fall to zero by 2050, and Canada has pledged to do it. But what will it take to get there from here, when more than 70 per cent of the energy we use comes from fossil...
No more nose swabs? Why a saliva test for COVID-19 could be a 'game changer'
Good news — spitting into a cup may soon be an alternative to having an extra-long swab pushed up your nose to test for COVID-19. Unfortunately, it isn’t yet available in Canada, but here’s why the test, and its emergency authorization in the U.S., could be a big step forward in keeping the pandemic under...
'I'm up for the fight': Chris Jackson to be first black scientist to give Christmas lecture
Professor urges organisations to help tackle racism, misogyny and transphobiaCovid v climate change: Royal Institution Christmas lectures on chance to reset EarthProf Chris Jackson, who this year will be the first black person to present the Royal Institution Christmas lectures, has said such organisations have a key role to play in addressing issues including racism and transphobia.Jackson is one...
Covid is 'restart button' for climate action, Royal Institution Christmas lecturers say
Experts to explain how pandemic offers chance to pull planet back from the brinkCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageCovid-19 has provided a crucial opportunity to make drastic changes to tackle climate change, experts behind this year’s Royal Institution Christmas lectures have said.The talks, Planet Earth: A User’s Guide, will take audiences on a deep dive into our...
Birth of panda cub provides 'much-needed moment of pure joy'
Delivering a “much-needed moment of pure joy,” the National Zoo's giant panda Mei Xiang gave birth to a wiggling cub Friday at a time of global pandemic and social unrest. An experienced mom, “Mei Xiang picked the cub up immediately and began cradling and caring for it,” the zoo said in a statement. Panda lovers around the world were able to see the birth on the zoo's Panda...
Surface deep: Light-responsive top layer of plastic film induces movement
Scientists show that only a thin, topmost layer of the light-dependent azobenzene-containing plastic film needs to be light-sensitive, rather than the entire film, opening up new ways to potentially reduce production costs and revolutionize its use.
Coronavirus live news: global deaths near 800,000; Australian state of Queensland brings in new restrictions
Australian state of Victoria records 13 more deaths and 182 new cases; WHO hopes pandemic will finish in less than two years; Spain records 8,000 new cases. Follow latest updatesDozens of schools report infections in BerlinNurses horrified by neglect of woman from Melbourne nursing homePapua New Guinea bans Chinese mine staff ‘given experimental vaccine’Tour de France: teams will be expelled...
As many as 215,000 people in the US have died as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, new CDC figures suggest
From January to July, the US experienced as many as 215,000 more deaths than usual, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and...