Tag Archives: Covid-19
Morning News Podcast: Covid-19 Cases, High Heat And Fires IN California
Health experts are warning that with Labor Day celebrations in full swing, the US could see another COVID-19 spike. Also, rescue operations continue after a record heat wave in California intensifies wildfires trapping campers in the Sierra National Forest this weekend. And, Beirut’s search for survivors ends as the country continues to recover one month after a massive blast tore through the city.
Health Technology: “The Science Behind Artificial Blood” (WSJ Video)
The coronavirus pandemic led to shortages in the blood supply across the U.S. Scientists around the world are working on a potential solution. The Future of Everything looks at the process of making artificial blood.
Illustration: Timothy Wong
Morning News Podcast: Swing State Voters, Covid-19 Flare Ups & Black Holes
Joe Biden is visiting Kenosha, Wisconsin today, the city where Jacob Blake was shot by police last week. And where two people died after the black lives matter protests turned violent. His visit comes a few days after Trump’s own visit on Monday.
Axios talked to 10 swing voters in Wisconsin about their feelings on the protests in their state and the upcoming election.
- Plus, the latest on Covid-19 cases in the U.S.
- And, a new type of black hole in deep space.
Guests: Axios’ Alexi McCammond, Sam Baker, and Miriam Kramer.
Top New Science Podcasts: Yeasts Making Medicine, Covid-19 & Anaesthesia
Nature reviews: Engineering yeast to produce medicines, immunity to Covid-19, and the mechanism of anaesthetic action.
In this episode:
00:44 Making medicine with yeast
The tropane alkaloids are an important class of medicine, but they are produced agriculturally leaving them vulnerable to extreme weather and world events. Now, researchers have engineered yeast to produce these important molecules. Research Article: Srinivasan and Smolke
06:36 Coronapod
We discuss the complex story of immunity to COVID-19, and how this may affect vaccine development. News Feature: What the immune response to the coronavirus says about the prospects for a vaccine
16:33 Research Highlights
The neurological reason for overindulgence, and the bacteria that harness copper electrodes. Research Highlight: The brain circuit that encourages eating for pleasure; Research Highlight: Microbes with mettle build their own electrical ‘wires’
19:07 The molecular mechanisms of general anaesthetics
Despite over a century of use, there’s a lot we don’t know about how anaesthetics function. This week, researchers have identified how some of them they bind to a specific neuronal receptor. Research Article: Kim et al.
26:34 Briefing Chat
Whilst the Nature Briefing is on its summer holidays, we take a look at some other science from around the web. This time we discuss Elon Musk’s latest showcase of a brain-chip, and the physics behind how boats can float upside down on levitating liquid. New Scientist: Elon Musk demonstrated a Neuralink brain implant in a live pig; Business Insider: Elon Musk’s AI brain chip company Neuralink is doing its first live tech demo on Friday. Here’s what we know so far about the wild science behind it.; Research Article: Apffel et al.; Video: The weird physics of upside down buoyancy
World News Podcast: Covid-19 Protests In Germany & Chile, Cases Spike In India & France
DW Radio News 24/7 reports: Germans protest government Covid-19 measures in Berlin, Chilean protests, cases spike in India and France, and ‘Black Panther’ star Chadwick Boseman dies of cancer at 43.
Top New Science Podcasts: Damaged Quantum Bits, Convalescent Plasma & Ancient Ichthyosaurs
August 26, 2020: Protecting delicate quantum bits from radiation, convalescent plasma for serious Covid-19 patients and a competition to replicate findings from ancient computer code.
In this episode:
01:04 Quantum computers vs ionizing radiation
The quantum bits, or ‘qubits’, central to the operation of quantum computers are notoriously sensitive. Now, researchers have assessed the damaging effects that ionizing radiation can have on these qubits and what can be done about it. Research Article: Vepsäläinen et al.
08:15 Coronapod
We discuss the US Food and Drug Administration’s decision to authorize convalescent plasma for emergency use in COVID-19 patients. As accusations of political interference fly, what might this mean for the future of the US coronavirus response?
20:39 Research Highlights
Finding new populations of a long-lost elephant shrew, and the hunting method of ancient ichthyosaurs. Research Highlight: An elephant-nosed creature ‘lost to science’ was living just next door; Research Highlight: An extinct reptile’s last meal shows it was a grip-and-tear killer
22:34 The reproducibility of computer code
Many scientists have published papers based on code. Recently though, a gauntlet was thrown down for researchers to try to replicate their code, 10 years or more after they wrote it. Tech Feature: Challenge to scientists: does your ten-year-old code still run?
28:06 Briefing Chat
We take a look at some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time we discuss a cancer diagnosis in a dinosaur, and how to brew yourself a career outside of academia. Science: Doctors diagnose advanced cancer—in a dinosaur; Nature Careers Feature: The brews and bakes that forged career paths outside academia
Videos: “College-Town Economies Brace for Covid-19 Blow” (WSJ)
The coronavirus has pushed nearly half of U.S. colleges and universities into some degree of remote learning, a change that’s sending shock waves through small college town economies. WSJ’s Carlos Waters explains.
Covid-19: The Realities Of “Automated Contact Tracing” (Rand Video)
Ben Boudreaux, policy researcher with the RAND Corporation, describes how contact tracing can be used to track the spread of COVID-19 and explains the differences between manual and automated contact tracing.
Get more insights from RAND on the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.rand.org/latest/covid-19….
Morning News Podcast: Republican Convention, California Wildfires
Axios’ Jonathan Swan says to expect less of a traditional Republican National Convention and more of a reality TV show, featuring President Trump every night.
- Plus, how the pandemic makes fighting California wildfires even harder.
- And, an exclusive Harris poll shows Americans agree on who should get a COVID vaccine first.
Guests: Axios’ Jonathan Swan, Sam Baker and freelance environmental reporter Miranda Green.
Boomers Daily 