What Lies Behind the Pneumonia Surge in China?
An increase in respiratory illnesses, including pneumonia, among children in China is a result of the typical winter viral infections – not a new disease-causing pathogen. The World Health Organization reports that the country is experiencing a “typical winter surge” of acute respiratory infections. Epidemiologists say this rise is expected, as this is the first winter in China since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic when the country is free of COVID restrictions.
Source: Nature | 5 minutes read
Why Does Staphylococcus Make Us Itch?
Staphylococcus bacteria cluster around the endings of some sensory nerves in the skin and secrete an enzyme that causes itching called V8. These microorganisms are part of the human body’s natural microbial environment, but they can also cause infections. The bacteria spread particularly in individuals with atopic dermatitis or eczema. In trials on mice infected with Staphylococcus, a drug that prevents nerve cells from interacting with V8 reduced the animals’ itching. Dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth says: “We hope this understanding translates into new treatment options to help address itch and eczema issues.”
Source: The Guardian | 4 minutes read
Reference: Cell Paper
How to Make Waves Eat Themselves
Physicists have demonstrated that they can completely drain incoming wave energy by carving out two pits on the side of a channel. In a model using real water, researchers achieved “perfect absorption” – where the waves completely cancel themselves out when they reflect off the walls of the pit – with waves at a frequency of 2.9 Hz. This result suggests the potential to design structures to protect coastlines or harness wave energy.
Source: Physics Journal | 4 minutes read
Reference: Physical Review Letters Paper
How to Make Chemistry More Accessible
Inaccessible buildings, lab spaces, and equipment are all areas that can create barriers for chemists with disabilities and chronic illnesses or neurological disorders. A lack of part-time job opportunities and flexible work options can also be problematic. Three chemists provide tips on how to improve inclusion in companies and institutions – including seeking input from those who have left the profession to give their feedback on what happened.
Source: Nature | 9 minutes read
Why We Should Embrace Uncertainty
Science writer Maggie Jackson offers her perspective on uncertainty and states it provides an unknown opportunity to develop cognitive skills such as curiosity, adaptability, and resilience. Instead of seeking comfort in unwarranted certainty, we should accept the reality of unexpected situations, according to psychologists. In her new book “Uncertain,” Jackson explains how “when we face something new, powerful neurotransmitters like norepinephrine enhance the mind’s readiness to receive new data and activate cognitive circuits that control flexible focus, preparing brain areas to engage in information sharing.”
Source: CNN | 6 minutes read
My Workplace
Shpila Burko is a researcher and coordinator at Scientists for Balkan Rivers. Interviewed by Stav Dimitropoulos. Photo: Peter Gede.
Biologist Shpila Burko states that diving in caves has heightened her appreciation for the myriad living organisms thriving in underground lakes. (Nature | 3 minutes read)
Quote of the Day
“If someone early in their career, or someone in a less financially stable situation, or someone who doesn’t have a supportive family, or those social connections, or a whole range of other things… if they don’t have that comfort and privileges that I had, then they have a much lesser opportunity to get the help they so desperately need to advocate for the truth.”
Was done
A lawsuit against reproductive health researcher Chelsea Polis by the fertility tracking device manufacturer Daysy after speaking about misleading marketing. She won this year’s John Maddox Prize, awarded by the Sense About Science and Nature Association, for promoting science and evidence in the face of adversity or hostility. (The Guardian | 8 minutes reading)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-03761-5
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