Notes
Covid-19
Antibodies reduce deaths
A clinical trial led by researchers at the University of Oxford, UK, identified a second drug capable of reducing mortality among patients with severe COVID-19
By Redação
Covid-19
Some more likely than others to leave the house
Middle and high earner are more willing to leave home to work during the pandemic than low earners, even at the risk of contracting the novel coronavirus
By Redação
Coronavirus
Declining infections and hospitalizations
Israel is already benefitting from the effects of vaccination against COVID-19
By Redação
Covid-19
Concerning virus variations
In early 2021, information emerged on the rapid spread of new variants of SARS-CoV-2
By Redação
Space mission
High season on Mars
The exploration of Mars was given fresh impetus last month with the arrival of three spacecraft, each controlled by a different nation
By Redação
Public health
Vaccinations have prevented 37 million deaths in 98 countries
Immunization against major diseases has had a significant impact on public health in low- and middle-income countries, helping to save 37 million lives between 2000 and 2019
By Redação
Award
Responsibility and diplomacy in science
Two Brazilians—physicist Ricardo Galvão and climatologist Carlos Nobre—were honored on February 10 at the annual meeting of the AAAS
By Redação
Genetics
A simpler brain?
Scientists used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique to alter stem cell DNA, replacing the NOVA1 gene with its archaic version from the extinct Neanderthals and Denisovans
By Redação
COVID-19
COVID-19 outbreak started on a flight
Map shows the origin of passengers who showed symptoms of illness after the journey
By Redação
COVID-19
A safer way to ride share
Always open car windows to reduce the risk of being infected by the novel coronavirus
By Redação
COVID-19
Yes to the vaccine
On January 18, FAPESP started the #vacinasim (“yesvaccine”) social media campaign to reinforce public confidence in their safety and effectiveness
By Redação
COVID-19
Immunity could be long-lasting
The immune system's ability to recognize the novel coronavirus and fight it seems to last for at least eight months
By Redação
COVID-19
Lockdown and the city air
The strict social distancing measures adopted by governments to try to contain the spread of the pandemic have improved air quality in some of the world's major cities
By Redação
Biodiversity
Damage beyond deforestation
Fragments of Atlantic Forest have already lost 23–42% of their biodiversity and forest carbon stocks
By Redação
Astronomy
A galaxy destined to fade
Astronomers observed a galaxy ejecting immense quantities of cold gas, enough to form 10,000 new stars the size of the Sun every year
By Redação
Physics
Plasma can desalinate seawater
Experiments demonstrated for the first time the possibility of using plasma to accelerate the formation and precipitation of salt crystals from seawater
By Redação
Public policies
Scientists return to key posts in US government
Joe Biden, the new president of the USA, nominated geneticist Eric Lander as chief science advisor and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policies
By Redação
Neuroscience
Brains shrink to save energy
In adverse conditions, such as when it is cold or food is scarce, the brain of some rodents shrinks in size, helping to conserve energy
By Redação
Environment
Lakes to lose ice cover by 2100
Some 5,700 lakes in the northern hemisphere are expected to lose their ice cover during the winter by the end of the century
By Redação
Archaeology
The oldest art
A scene portraying pigs native to Indonesia could be the oldest figurative painting attributed to modern humans ever found.
By Redação
COVID-19
First cases of reinfection confirmed in Brazil
On December 9, Brazil’s health authorities officially confirmed the country’s first proven reinfection by SARS-CoV-2
By Redação
COVID-19
Butantan develops serum for the novel coronavirus
The Butantan Institute has completed development of a serum to combat SARS-CoV-2
By Redação
COVID-19
Unequal access
Even before efficacy data for the vaccine candidates was released, it was clear that there will not be enough supply to immunize the entire global population before the end of next year
By Redação
COVID-19
Australia gives up on vaccine candidate
A vaccine being developed by the University of Queensland and biotechnology company CSL, both from Australia, is the first of more than 200 candidates to be discarded
By Redação
COVID-19
Vaccines and sharks
A compound extracted from the livers of sharks is used in five coronavirus vaccine candidates
By Redação
Zoology
Sound absorbing wings
Microscopic structures on the scaled wings of two moth species are able to absorb many of the ultrasound waves emitted by bats
By Redação
Notes
Ten people who made a difference in 2020
In December, the journal Nature published its traditional annual list of 10 science personalities who deserved recognition in 2020
By Redação
Medicine
Microneedles to treat cancer
A dressing made up of hundreds of microscopic needles that dissolve in the body promises to improve skin cancer treatment with photodynamic therapy
By Redação
Astronomy
Space 1.6 million years from now
Using new data astronomers have predicted the movement of the 300,000 stars within 326 light-years of the Sun over the next 1.6 million years
By Redação