a great explanation for some of the challenges
Tag: science
The end of the ‘2 cultures’
After the pandemic, an ignorance of science will no longer be viable in polite company. 2 cultures will become 1. And the accommodation will have to be made by those of us in the humanities. And it is no longer cute or raffish to be innumerate.
Lifetimes of interstellar dust
We determined interstellar cosmic ray exposure ages of 40 large presolar silicon carbide grains extracted from the Murchison CM2 meteorite. Our ages, based on cosmogenic Ne-21, range from 3.9 +- 1.6 Ma to ∼3 =- 2 Ga before the start of the Solar System ∼4.6 Ga ago.
Animals without Microbiomes
Strictly herbivorous tree-dwelling ants were more likely to have an abundant microbiome, omnivorous and carnivorous ground-dwelling ants consumed more balanced meals and had negligible amounts of bacteria in their gut.
200 ka Asian migration
humans were in asia 100 ka earlier than previously thought, because archaeology had a silly obsession with the bible.
Photons from Silicon
for “long” distances, such as between a CPU and memory, using photons instead of electrons could increase computing speeds while reducing energy consumption and removing heat from the system. Whereas electrons must transmit data serially, 1 electron after the other, optical signals can transmit data on many channels at once as fast as physically possible—the speed of light.
Where Do New Genes Come From?
some “orphan genes” with no obvious ancestors evolve out of junk DNA, contrary to old assumptions.
see also this older article
several genes that were present in only 1 or 2 species and not others, suggesting that these genes weren’t the progeny of existing ancestors. Begun proposed instead that random sequences of junk DNA in the fruit fly genome could mutate into functioning genes.
COVID-19 Inflammation
More therapeutic ideas for Covid-19: too much inflammation?
But if overstimulation of the immune response really is the problem, this approach could be just what’s needed.
COVID-19 Antibody Update
having some sort of “immunological passport” will be a complicated process, 1 that might not clear as many people as 1 would hope.
Ventilators are overused
Many patients have blood oxygen levels so low (70%) they should be dead, but they’re not, so intubation may be the wrong thing to do.
Gregor J. Rothfuss 