108 articles from FRIDAY 6.1.2023

FDA approves new antibody to slow Alzheimer’s disease, even as safety concerns linger

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved a controversial Alzheimer’s disease treatment for broad use—with caveats. The drug, an antibody called lecanemab, is the first to clearly slow cognitive decline in patients with early-stage disease, fueling excitement in the Alzheimer’s field and hope for patients and families. But its benefits appear modest, and it...

Maya calendar may be more than 3000 years old, laser mapping reveals

In the western, volcano-ringed highlands of Guatemala, Willy Barreno Minera keeps watch over the skies. As an ajq’ij , a daykeeper and spiritual guide, the stars and landscape help him keep track of the 260-day calendar that has ruled the life of his Maya K’iche’ community—an Indigenous group of about 1.6 million people—in Quetzaltenango for generations....

FDA approves breakthrough Alzheimer’s drug Lecanemab

Drug works with the body’s immune system to clear amyloid protein buildup from the brainThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lecanemab, a breakthrough drug to treat Alzheimer’s, that is manufactured by biotechnology companies Biogen and Eisai.The drug is an intravenously administered humanized monoclonal antibody that targets amyloid, the toxic protein in the brain linked to...

Scientists may have found magic ingredient behind ancient Rome’s self-healing concrete

The ancient Roman Empire still makes its presence felt throughout Europe. Bathhouses, aqueducts, and seawalls built more than 2000 years ago are still standing—thanks to a special type of concrete that has proved far more durable than its modern counterpart. Now, researchers say they have figured out why Roman concrete remains so resilient: Quicklime used in the mix may have given the...

133 Days on the Sun

This video chronicles solar activity from Aug. 12 to Dec. 22, 2022, as captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). From its orbit in space around Earth, SDO has steadily imaged the Sun in 4K x 4K resolution for nearly 13 years. This information has enabled countless new discoveries about the workings of our closest star and how it influences the solar system. With a triad of...