Science

Anti-Parasitic Drug Inhibits Replication of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus in Cell Cultures A team of scientists from the Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University and the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) has found that a single dose of the FDA-approved drug, Ivermectin, can stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus growing …

Paper-Based Device Could Detect SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus in Wastewater An approach called the wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), which is already recognized as an effective way to trace illicit drugs and obtain information on health, disease, and pathogens, could provide an effective and rapid way to predict the potential spread of SARS-CoV-2, a …

Experimental Drug Blocks Growth of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus in Cell Cultures and Organoids A trial drug called APN01 or human recombinant soluble ACE2 (hrsACE2) can significantly block early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infections, according to a paper published in the journal Cell. In cell cultures analyzed in the study, APN01 inhibited the …

NASA Brings Back Iconic ‘Worm’ Logo for First Crewed SpaceX Launch The NASA logo of today is very similar to the agency’s original insignia, but the iconic “worm” logotype adorned spacecraft for more than 15 years a few decades ago. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine announced on Twitter that “the worm …

90-Million-Year-Old Fossilized Rainforest Discovered in Antarctica An international team of paleontologists and geologists has uncovered well-preserved fossilized roots, pollen and spores of 90-million-year-old (mid-Cretaceous period) rainforest trees in West Antarctica. Reconstruction of the West Antarctic mid-Cretaceous temperate rainforest. The painting is based on paleofloral and environmental information inferred from palynological, …

International Panel Releases Guidelines on Management of ICU Patients with COVID-19 The Surviving Sepsis Campaign COVID-19 panel, which includes 36 experts from 12 countries, has issued new guidelines for health-care workers treating intensive care unit (ICU) patients with COVID-19. The guidelines, co-published in the journal Critical Care Medicine and the …

Ancient Mars May Have Had 2 Distinct Water Reservoirs We used to think of Mars as a bone dry husk of a world. While there is some evidence of occasional flowing water on the surface, most of the planet’s water is long gone. We can still reconstruct some of Mars’ …

Researchers Create AI-Powered Blood Test to Detect Cancer Cancer is one of the most common causes of death, but the huge variation in types of cancer can make early detection a challenge. A team of researchers from the US has developed a blood test that might be able to help …

Newly-Discovered Gene Mutation Improves Cognitive Flexibility in Mice A team of U.S. researchers has discovered a genetic mutation that improves cognitive flexibility in mice. Hu et al reveal a novel mechanism regulating reversal learning and provide potential targets for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by cognitive inflexibility. Image credit: …

NASA Conducts Final Test on Mars Helicopter Before Launch NASA’s Mars 2020 mission is finally taking shape. The rover finally has a name — Perseverance, and engineers have wrapped up testing on the rover’s flying companion. The Mars Helicopter just spun its blades on Earth for the last time. When …