discuss Science & Technology news & discussion

[CraigD]

Post and discuss interesting articles & videos about science and technology.

You don't need to be an expert - just interested in the wonders of modern science, technology, and the history of these fields.

Please keep it rational, and post articles from reputable sources.
Try not to editorialise headlines and keep the copy to just a paragraph with a link to the original source. When quoting excerpts from articles, I think the best method is to italicise the copy, and include a link to the source.

Have some fun with your comments and discussions... just keep the sources legitimate.

Other threads:
The Break Room has a number of other popular threads, so there is no need to post material here that is better suited to these other threads:

- Covid19-Coronavirus updates and news
- Conspiracy Thread Free For All
- The *religious* discussion thread

Please enjoy!

 

[CraigD]

As the old saying goes, "You are what you eat." The same logic would apply to viruses and human evolution. I am not promoting any conspiracy theory, but remain somewhat skeptic about what we are injecting into our bodies, the conundrum being, what effect will Covid-19 and counter measures (ie. RNA/DNA vaccines) have on future generations?

Viruses Are a Primary Driver of Human Evolution
https://www.genengnews.com/news/viruses-are-a-primary-driver-of-human-evolution/

“We’re all interested in how it is that we and other organisms have evolved, and in the pressures that made us what we are,” Dr. Petrov stated. “The discovery that this constant battle with viruses has shaped us in every aspect—not just the few proteins that fight infections, but everything—is profound. All organisms have been living with viruses for billions of years; this work shows that those interactions have affected every part of the cell.”

Viruses: their extraordinary role in shaping human evolution
https://www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/virus-human-evolution/

"Around half of the human genome is made up of millions of DNA sequences that can be traced back to long-dead viruses or similar ‘jumping genes’, known collectively as transposable elements or transposons. Some researchers would even put this figure up at 80 per cent, as ancient sequences are now degraded beyond the point of being recognisably virus-like, weathered within the genome..."

Viruses play critical role in evolution and survival of the species
https://phys.org/news/2020-09-viruses-critical-role-evolution-survival.html

"Viruses, especially endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) that are an inherent part of mammalian biology, can dramatically influence gene expression, investigators report. ERVs are molecular remnants of retroviruses that infect the body and over time incorporate into the genome.

"What we learn from our study is that, in general, viruses have major roles in driving evolution," Namekawa explained. "In the long-term, viruses have positive impacts to our genome and shape evolution."

Aren't you the least bit interested in discovering what super power you will end up with?

 

[Cannuck]

Aren't you the least bit interested in discovering what super power you will end up with?

LOL, funny, I just don't want to be stripped of any superpowers which I may currently possess I know there are other threads on the subject that I have also been following, but here are a few talking points which I would like to address.

As an essential worker in a remote area, I'd likely be eligible to receive the vaccine in the near future, but my concern is, are we the guinea pigs? Also, side-effects due to mishandling during shipping and storage. Another other concern I have is, will future vaccines be more effective for mutated strains, and will there be any contraindications between taking the vaccine now vs down the road? Furthermore, unknown is what they put into the new vaccines re: CRISPR technology.

“Seeing the tragic impact of Covid-19... we felt that we could use the high-throughput CRISPR gene editing tools that we have applied to other diseases to understand what are the key human genes required by the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” said Dr. Sanjana. As he explained, “current treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infection currently go after the virus itself, but this study offers a better understanding of how host genes influence viral entry and will enable new avenues for therapeutic discovery.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/20/cri...ntified-genes-that-protect-against-covid.html

 

[Sutruk]

are we the guinea pigs?

No. Here you have a fresh released clinical trial results from Pfizer vaccine, from 43,548 participants, as of Dec 31, 2020.

Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2034577

Methods

In an ongoing multinational, placebo-controlled, observer-blinded, pivotal efficacy trial, we randomly assigned persons 16 years of age or older in a 1:1 ratio to receive two doses, 21 days apart, of either placebo or the BNT162b2 vaccine candidate (30 μg per dose). BNT162b2 is a lipid nanoparticle–formulated, nucleoside-modified RNA vaccine that encodes a prefusion stabilized, membrane-anchored SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike protein. The primary end points were efficacy of the vaccine against laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 and safety.

Results

A total of 43,548 participants underwent randomization, of whom 43,448 received injections: 21,720 with BNT162b2 and 21,728 with placebo. There were 8 cases of Covid-19 with onset at least 7 days after the second dose among participants assigned to receive BNT162b2 and 162 cases among those assigned to placebo; BNT162b2 was 95% effective in preventing Covid-19 (95% credible interval, 90.3 to 97.6). Similar vaccine efficacy (generally 90 to 100%) was observed across subgroups defined by age, sex, race, ethnicity, baseline body-mass index, and the presence of coexisting conditions. Among 10 cases of severe Covid-19 with onset after the first dose, 9 occurred in placebo recipients and 1 in a BNT162b2 recipient. The safety profile of BNT162b2 was characterized by short-term, mild-to-moderate pain at the injection site, fatigue, and headache. The incidence of serious adverse events was low and was similar in the vaccine and placebo groups.

Conclusions

A two-dose regimen of BNT162b2 conferred 95% protection against Covid-19 in persons 16 years of age or older. Safety over a median of 2 months was similar to that of other viral vaccines. (Funded by BioNTech and Pfizer; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04368728. opens in new tab.)

 

[Sutruk]

side-effects due to mishandling during shipping and storage.

If the vaccine gets warmed for too many days it won't be effective. The mRNA needs to be kept at a -70 to -80 degree celsius.

Why staying cold is so important to a Covid-19 vaccine

https://www.vox.com/21552934/moderna-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-biontech-coronavirus-cold-chain

"Once a clinic receives a vaccine shipment, health workers can thaw out the vials in a refrigerator as they prepare to give injections to patients. But once a vaccine is warmed up, it’s only viable for a few days."

 

[Sutruk]

will future vaccines be more effective for mutated strains

The mRNA vaccines are ideal to fight new mutated virus, because they are very easy and fast to produce, and with a very high specificity to target every part you want of the virus.

As the BioNTech CEO says: "If the vaccine needed to be adjusted for the new variant, the company could do that in about six weeks, Şahin said."

Covid vaccine 'highly likely' to work on UK variant, BioNTech says

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...kely-to-work-on-uk-variant-biontech-boss-says

"Chief executive Uğur Şahin says team will know within two weeks if vaccine works or needs adaption"

“We don’t know at the moment if our vaccine is also able to provide protection against this new variant,” Şahin said, a day after the vaccine was approved for use in the European Union. “But scientifically, it is highly likely that the immune response by this vaccine also can deal with the new virus variants.”

...he said the proteins on the UK variant were 99% the same as those on the prevailing strains, and therefore BioNTech had “scientific confidence” its vaccine would be effective. “We believe there is no reason to be concerned or worried,” he said.

If the vaccine needed to be adjusted for the new variant, the company could do that in about six weeks, Şahin said.

“In principle, the beauty of the messenger technology is that we can directly start to engineer a vaccine which completely mimics this new mutation – we could be able to provide a new vaccine technically within six weeks,” he said.

https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma...aunch-tests-vaccines-against-mutated-covid-19

“One of the reasons Pfizer and BioNTech chose to utilize a mRNA platform is because of the potential for the flexibility of the technology in comparison to traditional vaccine technologies,” including the ability to change the RNA sequence in the vaccine, should a strain emerge that’s not covered by the current shot,” Pfizer added."

 

[Cal2]

May 2021 be personally fulfilling and professionally enriching!

Some 'essentials' for moving forward well. (Desiderata ~ Essential things)

 

[Cal2]

A Good New Year to you all.

(Could only find this in its ad form.)

 

[koolishman]

Some 'essentials' for moving forward well. (Desiderata ~ Essential things)

Hearing this after a long time.

Thank you.

 

[koolishman]

Desalination Breakthrough Could Lead to Cheaper Water Filtration

Producing clean water at a lower cost could be on the horizon after researchers from The University of Texas at Austin and Penn State solved a complex problem that had baffled scientists for decades, until now.

Desalination membranes remove salt and other chemicals from water, a process critical to the health of society, cleaning billions of gallons of water for agriculture, energy production and drinking. The idea seems simple — push salty water through and clean water comes out the other side — but it contains complex intricacies that scientists are still trying to understand.

The research team, in partnership with DuPont Water Solutions, solved an important aspect of this mystery, opening the door to reduce costs of clean water production. The researchers determined desalination membranes are inconsistent in density and mass distribution, which can hold back their performance. Uniform density at the nanoscale is the key to increasing how much clean water these membranes can create.

The paper documents an increase in efficiency in the membranes tested by 30%-40%, meaning they can clean more water while using significantly less energy. That could lead to increased access to clean water and lower water bills for individual homes and large users alike.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.abb8518

 

[CraigD]

LOL, funny, I just don't want to be stripped of any superpowers which I may currently possess I know there are other threads on the subject that I have also been following, but here are a few talking points which I would like to address.

As an essential worker in a remote area, I'd likely be eligible to receive the vaccine in the near future, but my concern is, are we the guinea pigs? Also, side-effects due to mishandling during shipping and storage. Another other concern I have is, will future vaccines be more effective for mutated strains, and will there be any contraindications between taking the vaccine now vs down the road? Furthermore, unknown is what they put into the new vaccines re: CRISPR technology.

“Seeing the tragic impact of Covid-19... we felt that we could use the high-throughput CRISPR gene editing tools that we have applied to other diseases to understand what are the key human genes required by the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” said Dr. Sanjana. As he explained, “current treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infection currently go after the virus itself, but this study offers a better understanding of how host genes influence viral entry and will enable new avenues for therapeutic discovery.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/20/cri...ntified-genes-that-protect-against-covid.html

Interesting that you should enquire about the storage/ mishandling of the vaccine, because this news article was published today:

Pharmacist Arrested, Accused Of Destroying More Than 500 Moderna Vaccine Doses : NPR

Grafton police detectives reported 57 patients received those injections. Bahr said those vaccines were rendered potentially less effective or altogether ineffective. The patients, who have been notified, are not at any risk of adverse health effects because the doses were left out, he noted.

 

[Cal2]

Hearing this after a long time.

Thank you.

Glad it served.

I came across a copy the other day while cleaning up my home office, and thought it's something I'm going to read and listen to at the beginning of each day for the next while, to stay in tune with what I want and should be doing more of with my existence in 2021. (Desiderata ~ 'Things that are desired')

Fyi, I was adjusting a bit that Desiderata copy this morning - making it more personalized/relevant to my current situation. Eg. I gave the line "Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit" its own space at this time, to emphasize one thing I should be doing more of when it comes to some others.

Current draft:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant - they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. Do not distress yourself with dark imaginings; many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

 

[CraigD]

Glad it served.

I came across a copy the other day while cleaning up my home office, and thought it's something I'm going to read and listen to at the beginning of each day for the next while, to stay in tune with what I want and should be doing more of with my existence in 2021. (Desiderata ~ 'Things that are desired')

Fyi, I was adjusting a bit that Desiderata copy this morning - making it more personalized/relevant to my current situation. Eg. I gave the line "Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit" its own space at this time, to emphasize one thing I should be doing more of when it comes to some others.

Current draft:

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant - they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. Do not distress yourself with dark imaginings; many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

There's an interesting history behind Desiderata:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderata

Thanks

 

[CraigD]

NASA have launched a new video showcasing their goals for the exciting year ahead!

NASA 2021: Let's Go to the Moon

Sending the first Artemis mission to the Moon in preparation for human missions, landing a new rover on Mars, and launching the James Webb Space Telescope into space, expanding our ability to see deep into the universe, are just a few of the things NASA has planned for 2021.

I'm most excited about the Artemis I mission and hope NASA can keep on track for the November 2021 test flight to the Moon and back.

Which program or mission(s) are you looking forward to this year?

 

[Cal2]

There's an interesting history behind Desiderata:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderata

I see Leonard Nimoy once made Desiderata part of a record album titled 'Spock Thoughts'. Must've been because it seems so 'logical'.

Although he did replace 'Be cheerful' at the end with 'Be careful' - which I gather became an alternative for some. If one is flying space, I could see being careful as important.

 

[Cal2]

Which program or mission(s) are you looking forward to this year?

I'd be especially interested right now in whatever programs or missions there are that (truly) promote 'space for humanity'. I don't know if there are any such planned for this year. Or any upcoming year.

 

[CraigD]

I'd be especially interested right now in whatever programs or missions there are that (truly) promote 'space for humanity'. I don't know if there are any such planned for this year. Or any upcoming year.

• SpaceX Axiom Space-1: Axiom Space and SpaceX plan to send tourists to the ISS in late 2021 using a Dragon 2 spacecraft.
• Space Adventures Crew Dragon mission: Space Adventures and SpaceX plan to send up to four tourists to low Earth orbit for a few days in late 2021 or early 2022.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_tourism

 

[CraigD]

2020 in space: So many reasons to celebrate in an otherwise terrible year

Comets and planets and (Crew) Dragons. Oh my!

https://www.cnet.com/news/2020-in-space-so-many-reasons-to-celebrate-in-an-otherwise-terrible-year/

 

[CraigD]

Australia has lots of ancient volcanoes. But how did they form?

Massive volcanoes, such as those in the Pacific Ocean's "Ring of Fire", usually occur near the edges of tectonic plates as one plate slips beneath another. But Australia is bang in the middle of a tectonic plate. Just how these volcanoes formed away from the edge of a tectonic plate is a mystery, but scientists have come up with a new theory.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science...lcanoes-form-geology-cradle-mountain/12987192

 

[CraigD]

This Epic Space Cloud Is Nicely Summing Up Our Farewell to 2020

Sometimes, the Universe provides just the perfect method for expressing our feelings.

A space cloud 7,500 light-years away has given us the most appropriate farewell we can think of for this whole dumpster fire of a year, 2020.

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-epic-space-cloud-is-nicely-summing-up-our-farewell-to-2020

 

[koolishman]

This Epic Space Cloud Is Nicely Summing Up Our Farewell to 2020

Sometimes, the Universe provides just the perfect method for expressing our feelings.

A space cloud 7,500 light-years away has given us the most appropriate farewell we can think of for this whole dumpster fire of a year, 2020.

https://www.sciencealert.com/this-epic-space-cloud-is-nicely-summing-up-our-farewell-to-2020

LOL!

Apt.