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Evolution of Vaccine Recommendations in the United States

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Nurse administering a flu shot

Tess Crowley/Chicago Tribune/Getty Images

On June 26, the Advisory Committee on U.S. Vaccination Practices (ACIP) announced new recommendations regarding flu vaccinations that utilize controversial preservatives often misattributed to autism. While this change is unlikely to restrict access to vaccines, it reflects a broader U.S. governmental effort to uphold the integrity of the vaccination recommendation process.

What Changes Have Occurred with ACIP?

ACIP is an advisory body that provides expert recommendations to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccinations. Established in 1964, its members are appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, currently Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Kennedy recently dismissed all 17 members of ACIP, claiming it was necessary to eliminate conflicts of interest. “A complete overhaul is essential to restore public trust in vaccine science,” Kennedy stated in a press release.

This action faced pushback from many public health experts. “Prior to Kennedy’s actions, I had confidence in ACIP. Now, I have none,” remarked Amesh Adalja from Johns Hopkins University. “It’s reckless and dangerous to unilaterally dismantle an entire panel of experts,” added Tinatan, president of the American Infectious Diseases Association, in a statement.

Kennedy appointed eight new members, though one resigned before the inaugural meeting. Several of the new members have raised concerns regarding various vaccines. For instance, Robert Malone, a pioneer in mRNA vaccine technology, discussed on Joe Rogan’s Experience podcast in 2021 the potential links between Covid-19 vaccines and heart-related issues. A 2024 study found that while there was a lower heart attack and stroke rate post-vaccination among approximately 46 million adults, there was an increase in rare side effects such as myocarditis and pericarditis.

A CDC spokesperson stated, “Dr. Malone is a seasoned physician who advocates for rigorous, evidence-based evaluations rather than uncritical acceptance. He does not oppose vaccines based on flawed data or policies—noting the necessity for better information.”

Adalja expressed concerns that some new members lack significant expertise in vaccines, infectious diseases, and epidemiology, suggesting that trust in ACIP under Kennedy’s leadership is dwindling. “In reality, he effectively made ACIP an independent entity,” he stated.

What Changes Have Been Made to Vaccine Recommendations?

In May, Kennedy stated in a video on social media platform X that the CDC would halt Covid-19 vaccine recommendations for most children and pregnant individuals. This decision was taken without ACIP’s input, breaking longstanding precedent.

Subsequently, the CDC revised its Vaccination Guidelines for Children and Adolescents, indicating that decisions regarding Covid-19 vaccinations will be made in consultation with healthcare providers, based on personal preferences.

The new ACIP also voted to discontinue recommendations for flu vaccines containing Thimerosal, a preservative used in several vaccines, during its first meeting. Additionally, the panel advocated for seasonal flu vaccinations for all individuals older than six months.

What is Thimerosal? Is it Safe?

Thimerosal is a preservative used in various vaccines to prevent bacterial contamination and contains trace amounts of mercury, which the body metabolizes into a byproduct known as ethyl mercury.

Ethyl mercury is distinct from the more harmful methylmercury found in certain environmental sources, such as fish. Methylmercury is highly toxic and can accumulate in the body, while numerous studies have shown that low doses of ethyl mercury are safe. Additionally, it is typically cleared from the bloodstream within 30 days, even in infants.

Despite claims from anti-vaccine proponents, no studies have substantiated a link between thimerosal and autism. A 2014 survey of nearly 1.3 million children found no association between vaccines, including thimerosal-containing vaccines, and the development of autism.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducted a thorough review of thimerosal use in pediatric vaccines in 1999, identifying no side effects aside from minor allergic reactions at the injection site.

Which Vaccines Contain Thimerosal?

The utilization of thimerosal in vaccines has decreased as formulations have evolved, with a shift toward single-dose vials minimizing the risk of bacterial contamination.

Thimerosal is not included in routine childhood vaccinations except for certain flu shots, which are used infrequently. For instance, only 3% of children over the age of 65 and about 2% of adults received the flu vaccine containing thimerosal during the 2024-2025 influenza season.

How Will New U.S. Vaccine Policies Compare to Other Countries?

Other nations have continued to recommend thimerosal-containing vaccines. For instance, the UK removed thimerosal from routine vaccinations between 2003 and 2005 to mitigate mercury exposure but later found no evidence of harm. They employed several vaccinations, including those with thimerosal, during specific flu seasons targeting H1N1.

In 1999, the European Medicines Agency endorsed the use of vaccines without thimerosal even in light of no evidence of harm. In 2004, after new data re-affirmed the safety of preservatives, the agency noted that “the benefits of vaccination significantly outweigh any exposure concerns, including thimerosal.” A further review of their guidelines in 2016 reaffirmed their relevance.

Can I Get the Vaccine for Myself or My Child?

Since most seasonal flu vaccinations do not contain thimerosal, it is unlikely that the ACIP’s recommendations will hinder vaccine access. Additionally, the CDC’s updated guidelines regarding Covid-19 vaccines for children and pregnancies should not affect the availability of vaccines.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

A Massive Untapped Energy Resource Lies Beneath the United States

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Below the western United States lies a significant, untapped source of clean energy. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), this potential is substantial.

This research is part of a long-term initiative to chart the nation’s geothermal capabilities, particularly focusing on the expansive basin regions that encompass Nevada, Utah, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Wyoming.

USGS projects that these geologically active states hold the potential to generate reliable and consistent geothermal energy of up to 135 gigawatts, provided new technologies can harness this underground resource. To put this in perspective, the typical U.S. household consumes about 1 kilowatt of electricity continuously, meaning that 135 gigawatts can fulfill the stable energy demands of nearly 135 million homes.

“The evaluation of USGS energy resources is geared towards the future,” stated Dr. Sarah Ryker, the acting director of USGS. “We emphasize undiscovered resources that have yet to be fully explored and developed, starting our work in the Great Basin due to its geothermal activity history.”

Currently, geothermal energy comprises less than 1% of the electricity in the U.S., predominantly sourced from conventional hydrothermal systems, where naturally heated water rises through permeable rocks.

Nonetheless, USGS findings suggest a much richer energy reservoir exists. This indicates that heat is trapped in dense, impermeable rock formations buried deep underground.

Geothermal systems generate electricity by circulating and heating liquids – USGS

To access these “enhanced geothermal systems” (EGS), engineers must drill deeper, sometimes reaching depths over 6 km (3.7 miles), fracturing the rock to allow water to circulate and capture heat.

This heated water can then be raised back to the surface to produce electricity, offering a constant, weather-independent energy source.

To estimate the potential energy available, USGS researchers have combined underground temperature maps, heat flow data, and sophisticated techniques for measuring extraction efficiency and energy conversion. They collaborated with the US Department of Energy (DOE), state geological surveys, and academic institutions nationwide.

Dr. Ryker stressed that this research offers a multitude of benefits beyond just energy generation. “Natural resources play a vital role in sustaining the national economy, and historically, we have advanced the technology for mapping and characterizing these resources.”

The large basins of Nevada and surrounding states showcase potential geothermal energy, indicated by colors ranging from green to red – USGS

However, advancing EGS technology presents substantial challenges. Although pilot projects have shown promise within the Great Basin, commercial-scale fortified geothermal plants are not yet operational in the U.S.

One of the primary hurdles is cost, which the U.S. Department of Energy aims to address through the Enhanced Geothermal Shot™, a program targeting a 90% reduction in technological costs by 2035.

The USGS’s efforts are not limited to the Great Basin. The agency plans to shift its focus to the Williston Basin in North Dakota, another region that may hold geothermal potential.

Should these efforts succeed, geothermal energy could emerge as a crucial component of America’s low-carbon future.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Trump signs order to increase coal production in the United States.

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President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at bolstering the declining coal industry in the country and imposing stricter regulations on coal mining, leasing, and export. The White House stated that this move is intended to address the energy demands of artificial intelligence data centers.

This action by the Trump administration is at odds with global efforts to reduce coal-fired electricity generation and curb harmful greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change.

During the signing of the order, Trump emphasized the importance of coal, referring to it as “beautiful, clean coal.”

Coal is widely regarded as one of the dirtiest fossil fuels and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The burning of fossil fuels like coal releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming.

In addition to reopening certain coal plants and allowing coal leases on public land, the executive order instructs federal agencies to explore how coal-fired power plants can meet the increasing energy needs of artificial intelligence.


Workers at the John E. Amos power plant, which is a coal burning of American power fuel, in Winfield, W.Va., stand in the coal mine in 2018.Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg via Getty Images file

Recent government actions have rolled back environmental regulations, targeting pollution and emissions from power plants operated by oil and gas companies.

Over the past decade, the coal industry in the US has seen a decline, with coal contributing only about 16% of domestic electricity in 2023, down from 45% in 2010. The growing use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind has also played a role in reducing the country’s reliance on coal.

Efforts to revive the coal industry run counter to the preferences of most Americans, with two-thirds supporting a transition away from fossil fuels like coal by 2050, according to a recent poll by Yale University.

Burning coal for electricity generation is not only environmentally harmful but also costlier than cleaner energy sources. According to estimates, coal-generated electricity can cost Americans three to four times more than wind or solar power.

Critics of Trump’s executive order, including former EPA administrator Gina McCarthy, argue that it will worsen climate change and harm public health. They advocate for a shift towards cleaner and safer energy alternatives.

As the demand for energy from artificial intelligence increases, there is a growing need for new energy resources. However, meeting this demand is expected to strain existing energy systems, prompting calls for increased investments to stay competitive internationally.

Goldman Sachs projects a 165% rise in global electricity demand over the next five years due to the expansion of AI data centers.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Tonight, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across the United States.

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A total lunar eclipse will be visible across the United States on Thursday night or early Friday morning.

The lunar eclipse will begin around midnight ET – when the Earth’s shadow completely covers the moon – and will last for over an hour from 2:26 am to 3:32 am. According to Earth Sky. The complete process will continue until around 6 am ET.

The lunar eclipse will be visible in most of North and South America, as well as in Africa, Europe, eastern Australia, Russia, and half of Japan.

During a total lunar eclipse, the sun, earth, and moon align, creating shadows on the moon. As a result, the moon appears to have a reddish tint, earning it the nickname “Blood Moon.”

This reddish tint is caused by the way sunlight passes through the Earth’s atmosphere. Shorter wavelengths of blue light are easily scattered, while longer wavelengths of red light are more likely to pass through, giving the moon its distinctive color.

Unlike solar eclipses, all stages of a lunar eclipse can be safely viewed with the naked eye, although binoculars and telescopes can enhance the experience.

Unfortunately, cloudy conditions are predicted for many skywatchers tonight. Those who miss this event can look forward to the next lunar eclipse on September 7th, followed by another on March 3rd, 2026.

Overall, total lunar eclipses are less common than partial solar eclipses, which can occur up to three times a year. Neither of the two lunar eclipses in 2024 were total, with the last total lunar eclipse occurring in 2022.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

MrBeast, a popular YouTube personality, joins efforts to purchase TikTok in the United States

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MrBeast, a famous YouTube star and the highest-paid creator on the internet, has officially joined the bid to acquire TikTok’s US operations.

Teaming up with technology entrepreneur Jesse Tinsley, the 26-year-old made an all-cash offer for the social video app’s American division. This move follows President Donald Trump’s statement that US tech billionaires Elon Musk and Larry Ellison were interested in buying TikTok.

Known as Jimmy Donaldson, MrBeast has shown interest in acquiring TikTok through various social media posts. On January 13th, he mentioned in a post, “I’ll buy TikTok to avoid getting banned.” In subsequent TikTok posts, Donaldson revealed discussions with “a bunch of billionaires” regarding the bid.


American law firm Paul Hastings announced the bid for Donaldson in a statement on Tuesday. The statement mentioned Mr. Tinsley leading an investor group consisting of “institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals,” with Mr. Donaldson being the only publicly disclosed member.

While the size of the all-cash bid was not disclosed, Trump valued it at $1 trillion. With 346 million YouTube followers, MrBeast was the world’s top internet creator in the previous year, earning $85 million according to Forbes.

Paul Hastings also noted that Brad Bondi, the lawyer leading the team advising on the bid, is the brother of President Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general, Pam Bondi.

President Trump mentioned potential agreements with Elon Musk and Larry Ellison, expressing openness to their bids to acquire TikTok. Ellison commented that it sounded like a “good deal.” Trump stated that TikTok would be allowed to operate in the US with 50% American ownership and a valuation of $1 trillion.

Despite TikTok returning online after temporary shutdown, its future in the US remains uncertain. The app faces a deadline of January 19 due to a requirement for the sale of its American division by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance.

President Trump issued an executive order halting enforcement of the sale requirement, providing assurances for TikTok’s operation. Some lawmakers question the legality of suspending the law, warning of potential consequences for businesses not complying.

TikTok, Google, and Apple have been approached for comments.

Source: www.theguardian.com

United Kingdom must accelerate adoption of electric cars to stay ahead of competitors

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This push for electric cars isn’t about a culture war. It’s a simple choice. Can we prepare British industry to take advantage of the changes that are coming? Or will we leave it alone to let our competitors run laps until we decide whether to change our tires? Or?

The previous government, including the current opposition leader, may have been content to play politics with people’s jobs at stake by delaying the end of sales of new gasoline and diesel cars. But this government is not like that.

Prior to that, we were on track to meet the 2030 deadline and the electric vehicle mandate had wide support from industry. More than two-thirds of UK car manufacturers had already committed to a full transition to electric cars by 2030, and investment was starting to pour into building electric cars here at home.

However, the decision to delay the transition has resulted in significant costs for companies that were already gearing up to meet the 2030 deadline, dealing a major blow to our credibility and putting investment, jobs, and growth at risk.

This Government has clearly recognized the fact that if we want the car industry to survive in the UK, we need to provide certainty and confidence to investors, not change our targets.

Having grown up in Sunderland, home to the Nissan factory, I know first-hand how important the car industry is to local communities in delivering growth, jobs, and wealth creation. The UK car industry employs over 150,000 people, and its continued success plays a major role in our mission to grow the economy.

If we get this transition right and support the growth of the UK electric vehicle market, we have a huge opportunity to tap into a multi-billion pound industry that can create well-paid jobs for decades to come.

That’s why in our manifesto we committed to moving back the transition to electric cars to 2030 and phasing out the sale of new cars with internal combustion engines.

But we want to work with industry and make sure that their voice is heard on how to get there. That’s why we’re fast-tracking a consultation to see how the government can support manufacturers, investors, and the industry as a whole to achieve our goals. To be clear, the content of this consultation is how do not have if We will achieve this ambition.

Working families also benefit from this transition. EVs are becoming more affordable and practical, prices are starting to fall, they are cheaper to run and maintain, range is improving, charging infrastructure is expanding rapidly, and demand in the UK is increasing. It is increasing.

And of course, with road traffic contributing up to 30% of air pollution, a shift to electric vehicles means cleaner, healthier air for our children and future generations.

Delaying the transition will only make it harder and more expensive for the industry and families in the long run. That’s why we want to do everything possible to ensure that the next generation of zero-emissions vehicles are designed and manufactured here in the UK, are affordable and accessible to workers, and encourage the uptake of electric vehicles. That’s what I think.

That’s why the Chancellor announced more than £2 billion will be spent on producing zero-emission cars. This funding will support the latest research and development of these technologies, accelerate commercial scale-up, and enable capital investment.

On the demand side, people involved in promoting electric vehicles are concerned about the availability of charging points. That’s why we’re investing over £200m to accelerate the rollout of charging points, building on the 71,000 public charging points already available.

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We are currently taking proactive steps to foster stability in this sector, but we are also developing long-term plans to ensure UK motor manufacturing can grow and thrive.

We are already seeing manufacturers embrace zero-emission vehicles and the transition to a greener economy, with governments fully supporting manufacturers. Jaguar Land Rover will move to a 100% fully electric vehicle range over the next five years, investing billions of dollars into the UK economy. At the same time, we can see Toyota investing heavily to make its UK manufacturing operations 100% carbon neutral by 2030.


When governments say decarbonization must not mean deindustrialization, we mean it. There is no path to net zero without the support of British industry and workers.

With Ford recently announcing job cuts across Europe and Stellantis proposing to close Vauxhall’s Luton factory, we’ve learned more about the global challenges facing the industry and how we’re working to help. We have no doubts about the need to play a role.

That’s exactly why I’ve been sitting around the table talking directly with industry leaders about how best to make this transition happen, and my message has always been loud and clear. The Government is listening and we will work closely with you to deliver our plans.

The bottom line is: Either we look ahead and leverage the clean energy transition to deliver growth, creating new jobs and a greener future, or we fall behind. is. This government will not make the same mistakes as the past and will not tolerate it.

Jonathan Reynolds is Secretary of State for Business and Trade.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Daylight Saving Time in 2024 in the United States: Understanding the Reasons for Changing Clocks

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Daylight Saving Time in the United States will soon end, with clocks turning back an hour. As we bid farewell to long summer nights, we welcome cozy winter evenings and the upcoming holiday season.

When will the clocks change in November 2024?

In the United States, the time change will occur at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 3, 2024, marking the transition from daylight saving time (DST) to standard time.

Here’s how the time change will affect some major cities:

  • Los Angeles: Transition from Pacific Daylight Time to Pacific Standard Time. Sunrise will be delayed by an hour to 6:15 a.m. and sunset will shift to 4:57 p.m.
  • Chicago: Transition from Central Daylight Time to Central Standard Time. Sunset will move back to 4:41 p.m. and sunrise will be at 6:26 a.m.
  • New York and Washington DC: Transition from Eastern Daylight Saving Time to Eastern Standard Time. Sunrise will change to 6:29 a.m. and sunset to 4:49 p.m.

America follows six major time zones, which increase to nine when including regional variations. This is a significant improvement from the 144 local time zones that existed before time zones were consolidated in 1883.

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What is the history of daylight saving time?

The concept of daylight saving time was first proposed by New Zealand scientist George Hudson in 1895, with the aim of utilizing extra daylight for activities. The idea was later championed by British builder William Willett, who saw it as a way to maximize daylight hours. Daylight saving time was eventually adopted in various countries, including the United States during World War I.

The U.S. had a tumultuous relationship with daylight saving time, trialing and abandoning it multiple times before standardizing it in 1966.

Why do people want to abolish daylight saving time?

Critics of daylight saving time cite negative effects on health, economy, and pet behavior as reasons to abolish it. The time change can disrupt sleep patterns, decrease productivity, and confuse pets. Some states, like most of Arizona and Hawaii, have chosen not to observe daylight saving time due to various reasons.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Insights into the Future of Humanity from the 2024 United Nations World Population Prospects Report

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“Demographic composition has changed significantly in recent years,” Li Junhua, the U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said in a news release.

The report predicts that the world’s population will continue to grow over the coming decades, from 8.2 billion in 2024 to a peak of nearly 10.3 billion in the next 50 to 60 years. But population won’t keep growing forever: By 2100, the world’s population is expected to return to 10.2 billion, 6% lower than UN experts predicted a decade ago.

The United Nations’ last population assessment, released in 2022, suggested humanity could reach 10.4 billion people by the late 2000s, but falling birth rates in some of the world’s largest countries, including China, are one of the reasons why the population peak will come sooner than expected.

More than half of countries have fertility rates below 2.1 children per woman, or the “replacement rate,” the number of children each woman needs to have to avoid population decline.

An additional 48 countries, including Vietnam, Brazil, Turkey and Iran, are also expected to see their populations peak over the next 30 years.

India’s population is 1.4 India’s population is expected to surpass China’s in 2022, surpassing 2 billion and becoming the world’s most populous country. India’s population is also expected to continue growing until the middle of this century, according to the report.

However, China’s population continues to decline.

“China has experienced a rapid and significant decline in births in recent years,” said Patrick Garland, head of the Population Estimates and Projections Division at the United Nations Population Division.

“The changes China has undergone in the past generation are among the fastest in the world,” Garland said.

Without immigration, the United States would also face a population decline. It is one of about 50 countries projected to continue experiencing population growth due to increased immigration. The U.S. population is projected to grow from 345 million in 2024 to 421 million by the end of the century.

People pass through a crowded street in Kampala, Uganda. Since 2013, Uganda’s population has grown by 13 million people, or nearly 40 percent, second only to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Badru Katumba/AFP via Getty Images

A growing country is likely to exacerbate problems related to consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and other drivers of global warming. A growing population also means more people are exposed to climate risks such as droughts, heat waves, and other extreme weather events that are intensified by global warming.

“Just because a challenge might emerge 60 years from now doesn’t mean it’s pointless to talk about it now,” said Dean Spears, an associate professor of economics at the University of Texas at Austin.

“Decades from now, people will be talking about these new demographic changes with the same level of academic and societal concern that we are talking about today about climate change,” Spears said.

Countries where population growth is expected to continue through to 2054 include India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Nigeria. In parts of Africa, including Angola, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Somalia, populations are expected to double dramatically between 2024 and 2054, according to the United Nations.

But a growing population on Earth does not necessarily mean that climate change will occur faster. Most of the world’s fastest growing regions are also countries that have historically contributed the least to global warming. These regions are also typically disproportionately affected by climate change.

The report notes that life expectancy has recovered after the impact of the pandemic. Global life expectancy will be 73.2 years in 2023, up from the pandemic low of 70.9 years in 2021 and higher than the pre-pandemic level of 72.4 years five years ago. Global life expectancy is projected to reach 81.7 years in 2100.

As life expectancy increases and birth rates fall, the world’s population is ageing. Projections show that by 2080, people aged 65 and over will outnumber children under 18. By 2023, there will be almost three times as many children as people aged 65 and over.


Source: www.nbcnews.com

Preparation in the United States for a possible avian influenza outbreak

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Dairy cows on a farm in the US

Shutterstock / Roman Melnyk

The avian influenza virus continues to spread among dairy cows in the United States, and the country’s health authorities are actively preparing for possible spread to humans.

“risk [of bird flu] “While the current rate remains low, we continue to be strongly prepared as new data becomes available,” Vivian Dugan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said at a meeting of health officials on April 25. Stated.

The first priority is tracking the spread of the virus. So far, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the H5N1 avian influenza virus subtype in dairy cows. 33 farms across 8 statessix cats on farms in three of those states.

Genetic sequencing has shown that out of 260 samples taken from sick dairy cows, only one has a mutation that suggests H5N1 is adapted to infect mammals, he said. Rosemary Chiffod At the Department of Agriculture during a meeting. However, this marker has been previously observed in other diseased mammals and did not affect the ability of the virus to transmit between mammals. Furthermore, her other 10 samples from the same herd from which this sample was collected did not have the same mutation.

“It hasn’t changed much and remains an avian virus…in other words, it hasn’t become an avian virus. [cow] It’s a virus,” Sifford said.

According to data presented at the meeting, the CDC tested 23 people who had close contact with the animals for the virus. Only one person tested positive, a dairy worker in Texas whose only symptom was bloodshot eyes. To increase testing capacity, the CDC recently increased funding to genetic sequencing centers in six states, Dugan said.

Another important measure being taken is to ensure the security of the milk supply in the United States. Milk from infected cows contains large amounts of the virus. Although milk from sick animals should not enter the milk supply, initial testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that: 1 in 5 milk samples Contains genetic signatures of avian influenza.

“Importantly, this does not mean the sample contains intact infectious virus.” donald prater At the FDA. The test method used detects any genetic material, including dead virus.

Most milk sold in the United States is pasteurized, a process that uses high heat to kill pathogens. Although no studies have evaluated the effectiveness of pasteurization against H5N1, research on similar influenza viruses suggests it may be effective, Prater said. This is why people should avoid consuming or touching raw dairy products.

Two vaccine candidates against H5N1 are also under development. Initial testing by the CDC showed both to be effective in laboratory tests on current strains of cattle, Dugan said.

As part of pre-established procedures, the US Office of Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) said it is stockpiling supplies for the avian influenza vaccine. david boucher At the ASPR conference. This involves producing a part of the vaccine called an antigen that triggers an immune response to the virus. He said ASPR and its commercial partners have already filled hundreds of thousands of bottles of H5N1 vaccine and can quickly supply it for clinical trials or emergency use if needed.

“Based on the CDC’s current situational risks, vaccination is not a necessary tool at this time. But we want to be prepared in case the situation changes,” Boucher said. Enough material is also stockpiled to produce 10 million more doses. And ASPR has contracts with vaccine manufacturers to further increase production as needed.

“If we need to pull any of these levers, we are ready to do so,” Boucher said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Research shows that the majority of Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) sightings occur in the western United States.

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Sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), formerly known as unidentified flying objects (UFOs), have been reported throughout history. There is growing interest in understanding what these sighting reports mean, given the potential security and safety risks they pose, as well as scientific curiosity. Scientists at the University of Utah and the U.S. Department of Defense see this problem as a key question of human experience and can be examined through a geographic lens: what local factors might increase or decrease the number of reported sightings. I wondered if there was a gender. They used data from the National UFO Research Center and included a total of 98,000 sighting reports over a 20-year period from 2001 to 2020. For each county in the continental United States, they analyzed his two conditions. Light pollution, cloud cover, and canopy cover. And the possibility of an object in the sky, which means near an airport or military installation. Most of the sightings took place in the western United States due to the physical geography of the area: wide open spaces and dark skies.

UAP from declassified video taken by a US Navy aircraft. Image credit: U.S. Navy.

“The idea is that if you have a chance to see something, you're likely to see an unexplained phenomenon in the sky,” said Dr. Richard Medina, a geographer at the University of Utah.

“There's more technology in the sky than ever before, so the question is: what are people actually seeing?”

“This is a difficult question to answer, but an important one because any uncertainty could be a potential threat to national security.”

“Understanding the environmental context of these sightings will help us find explanations for their occurrence and help identify truly anomalous objects that are legitimate threats.”

Dr. Medina and his colleagues looked at the number of sightings per 10,000 people per county and identified significant clusters of low numbers (cold spots) and high numbers of reports (hot spots).

Far more sightings have been reported in the west, northeast, and some isolated areas. Cold spots were in the Central Plains and Southeast.

All results except cloud cover support the general hypothesis that people will see things if they have the chance.

“We have historical ties to the UAP in the West, with military operations at Area 51 in Nevada, Roswell in New Mexico, and here in Utah at the Skinwalker Ranch in the Uinta Basin and the U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground.” Dr. Medina said.

“Additionally, we have a strong outdoor community that recreates on public lands year-round. People get outside and look at the sky.”

NUFORC reported sightings for the spatial distribution of the continental United States from 2001 to 2020. Image courtesy of Medina other., doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49527-x.

In July 2022, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, directed the establishment of the All Area Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) as a single authoritative UAP agency to lead and synchronize a whole-of-government approach. problem.

Previous UAP tracking efforts include the project blue booka U.S. Air Force-led project that investigated UFO sightings from 1947 to 1969.

blue bookThe most famous account is the Roswell, New Mexico incident, which claimed that a flying saucer crashed into a desert town on July 8, 1947, and the alien occupants were recovered by government agents.

Many Roswell residents witnessed this mysterious event, which may have led to a surge in flying saucer sightings that swept the United States.

Silence from government officials led to wild speculation and subsequent cover-up regarding the otherworldly visitors.

The US Air Force later revealed that the incident was caused by a secret multi-balloon project to detect Soviet nuclear tests.

Many UAP sightings have natural explanations. For example, the planet Venus is the usual culprit.

We've seen an increase in UAP reports in recent years, likely related to the rapid increase in spacecraft launches and orbiting satellites, including the Starlink satellite train and the proliferation of personal drones across the night sky. It is considered. The challenge is to parse which reports indicate the real threat.

The authors investigate whether there are temporal considerations for variation in sightings based on sociocultural factors.

For example, were there more reports after the Congressional hearings in July 2023 or after the SpaceX launch?

They are also investigating whether sociocultural factors influence UAP sightings. Whether there is a spike in reports after shows like: X files Will it become popular? Are some cultures more likely to see UAPs because of their beliefs?

“The U.S. government, military, intelligence community, and civilian agencies need to understand what is in their operational domain to ensure the safety and security of our nation and its people,” said Physicist Sean, AARO's first director.・Kirkpatrick said. University of Georgia.

“In this age of ubiquitous sensors and data availability, the unknown is unacceptable. The scientific community has a responsibility to investigate and educate.”

team's paper It was published in the magazine scientific report.

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RM Medina other. 2023. Environmental analysis of the likelihood of public UAP sightings and sky views. science officer 13, 22213; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-49527-x

Source: www.sci.news

Confirmation of Two Newly Discovered Carboniferous Ctenacan Shark Species in the United States

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An intensive search for ancient marine vertebrates in Mammoth Cave National Park's paleontological resource inventory has yielded a wealth of new fossil data. To date, paleontologists have identified marine vertebrate fossils from four major formations within the park, two of which are the first of marine vertebrate fossils to occur in those formations. It's a record. The Mammoth Cave ruins have yielded more than 70 species of ancient fish, approximately 90% of which are cartilaginous fish (sharks and related species), including two new species: I am. Troglocladodus trimbley and Grikmanius Care Forum.

Reconstruction of a new Ctenacan shark discovered in Mammoth Cave National Park and northern Alabama: Grikmanius Care Forum Two people can be seen swimming in the foreground. Troglocladodus trimbley swimming above. Image credit: Benji Paynose.

Mammoth Cave National ParkLocated in central Kentucky, it is home to the longest cave system in the world.

To date, more than 685 km (426 miles) of corridors within 214 km have been mapped.2 It forms a park. In addition, within the boundaries of the park there are more than 500 small caves.

These cave passages date back 340 to 325 million years and were formed by dissolution by underground rivers, streams, and other drainage channels that cut through a series of limestones covered with durable sandstone. I did.

These passages opened up unique views of these limestones. Limestone is a time capsule containing a wealth of information about the ancient marine environment at the time of its deposition.

From these layers, invertebrate fossils such as horned corals, fan-like bryozoans, brachiopods, gastropods, shelled cephalopods, and a variety of echinoderms are found throughout the various strata that form the cave. It has been.

“Every new discovery at Mammoth Cave is made possible because of collaboration,” said Superintendent Barclay Trimble.

“Our parks team is proud to collaborate and collaborate with the National Park Service Paleontology Program and now the University of Alabama Department of Geological Sciences to make this latest announcement possible.”

Restoration of the St. Louis Shallow Marine Environment and its Fauna Genevieve Formation, Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. Image credit: Julius Csotony.

The two new species are stenacanto shark, Troglocladodus trimbley and Grikmanius Care Forumlikely hunting in an ancient coastal habitat that covered Kentucky and Alabama more than 325 million years ago.

This region was once an ancient sea route connecting what is now eastern North America, Europe, and North Africa, but it later disappeared with the formation of the supercontinent Pangea.

Troglocladodus trimbley It was identified from adult and juvenile teeth found in St. Louis and St. Louis. Genevieve Formation and Bangor Formation of Mammoth Cave.

The ancient shark is estimated to have reached about 3 to 3.7 meters (10 to 12 feet) in length, about the same size as the oceanic white shark.

Grikmanius Care Forum It was mainly identified from teeth in St. Louis, St. Louis.Genebabe and Haney Formations in Mammoth Cave, Hartselle and Bangor Formations in Alabama, but a partial set of jaws and gills from a young specimen Grikmanius Care Forum It was also discovered in Mammoth Cave.

The body length of this species was 3-3.7 meters. The shape of its jaws suggests that it had a short head with a powerful bite to hunt small sharks, bony fish, and right-cone-shaped creatures like squid.

“This discovery pushes the origin of the Ktenacanto shark back more than 50 million years earlier than expected,” the paleontologists said.

of study It was published in the magazine park management forum.

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JM Hodnet other. 2024. Sharks in the Dark: Paleontological inventory reveals multiple contiguous populations of Mississippian cartilaginous fishes (chondrichthyes) in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. park management forum 40(1); doi: 10.5070/P540162921

Source: www.sci.news

Despite its wealth, why is the United States still not as healthy as it should be?

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People wait in line to get vaccinated at a COVID-19 vaccination site in Orlando, Florida, United States.

SOPA Image/LightRocket (via Gett)

People in the United States are watching with increasing caution. aging progresses Among Washington, DC's elected leaders, the two current leading candidates for the 2024 presidential election are currently 81 and 77 years old. But the longevity of the leadership stands in sharp contrast to the reality in other parts of the country. Americans are literally dying of disease.

Ten years ago, I led a study. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) This paper is the first to document that the United States has a disadvantage in health and survival among high-income countries.our report The United States has the lowest life expectancy of any country and has been shown to have high rates of morbidity and mortality from dozens of causes. This health and survival deficit has been growing for more than 40 years, affecting men and women, young and old, rich and poor, and of all races and ethnicities.

Average life

Meanwhile, other the study This trend has been confirmed as the life and death situation worsens. Life expectancy in the U.S., after plateauing for several years, had declined for three consecutive years before the global pandemic hit. What followed was devastating. COVID-19 has killed more than 1 million people in the United States and cut life expectancy by an additional two years, twice as much for Hispanics, Blacks, and Native Americans. This was the steepest decline in life expectancy since then. Second World War and nothing comparable happened other wealthy countries.

During the pandemic, Eight Among the 10 main causes of death, the following also increased: maternal and children and youth death. Given these harsh realities, the pressing question is why are Americans so unwell?in new scientist Ten years ago, I realized the reason was simple, yet deceptively complex. That's pretty much it.

Even a casual look at life in America today reveals an incredible situation.The country is entering its third decade of national deaths. opioid epidemic – unleashed by pharmaceutical industry – 110,000 lives were claimed in 2022 alone. And along with drugs, there are also bullets. In 2020 and 2021, Guns killed more American children It is more common among people between the ages of 1 and 17 to die from any other cause.

Circumstances that cause poor health, such as high economic levels inequality and instabilityalong with limited safety net Institutions and social support systems are found in every aspect of life. children and youth In the United States. For over 10 years now, Cross-border comparison The well-being of children and adolescents in wealthy countries shows that children in the United States are worse off than other children in virtually every area measured.

Health insurance

Given the poor health status of Americans, this country needs a reliable health care system. However, the United States is well known for being one of the most complex and fragmented nations. expensive medical system world.largely 30 million the american people No health insuranceAnd for millions of others, quality, affordable, and accessible health care is simply out of reach or effectively not available.

The final feature of the U.S. situation is one of its most important factors: systemic racism and the injustices that accompany it. In 2021, Average life For Asian Americans it was 84 years, for Hispanic Americans it was 78 years, for white Americans it was 77 years, for black Americans it was 72 years, and for Native Americans it was 67 years. native community They have long experienced some of the most severe health inequalities in this country, a direct reflection of the cumulative violence, trauma, and injustice inflicted on them over generations. . It is difficult to overstate the impact of racism in the United States today.

If health is wealth, then the United States is far from being the rich and powerful country many imagine.other countries will do well too do not have They will follow the Americans down this deadly path. And the United States should consider the many ways other industrialized democracies are achieving far better and more equitable health outcomes at far lower costs.

A longer version of this article was first published in German at Der Pragmaticus Verlag AG.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

The United States is experiencing a snow deficit despite recent storms

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The storm is pummeling much of the northern United States, a welcome relief for some areas that have seen little snow in recent months.

A late start to winter until early January limited ski resort operations and raised early concerns about water supplies for the summer.

“We’re playing catch-up now,” said Dan McEvoy, a regional climatologist at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada.

About 800 monitoring stations track snowfall across the West. More than 90% of those stations reported measurements below the median. Mr McEvoy said it was perfect for this time of year. It’s not unusual for parts of the West to be below seasonal averages, but it’s unusual for so many areas to be below them at once.

In Western states, the size of the snowpack affects how much water farmers can use, how severe the wildfire season is, and how much electricity hydroelectric dams can generate. Climate scientists predict that as the climate warms, snowpack will decrease, further threatening already tight supplies in much of the West.

Scientists have struggled to quantify the impact of climate change on snowpack, but the results of the study were published Wednesday. Published in Nature magazine They found that climate change is the cause of the decreasing trend in snowfall.

“Our analysis reveals that many of the world’s most populated basins lie on cliffs of rapid snowfall,” the authors write.

Previous studies have shown that snowfall is decreasing. Quantifying snow cover (the amount of water stored as snow) is more difficult because it varies significantly from year to year and is difficult to measure. In some cases, the atmosphere warms and can hold more water, leading to more snowfall or more extreme events.

“Snow is a very bad canary for a coal mine,” said Justin Mankin, an author of the Nature paper and a climatologist at Dartmouth College, who continued the study because the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change did not cooperate. . We were able to talk clearly about how the overall snowpack had changed.

For the study, Mankin and Dartmouth Earth System Scientist Alexander Gottlieb analyzed snowpack in 169 river basins in the Northern Hemisphere. They identified clear snowpack trends in 82 of these basins and sharp declines in the snowpack that supplies water to populated areas. Researchers were able to confirm that human influence, or global warming, is causing changes in 31 watersheds.

Their research suggests that many watersheds in the Northern Hemisphere are nearing rapid loss, with the potential to rebuild water supplies for more than 2 billion people.

“When snow falls off a cliff, it accelerates and falls off the cliff,” Mankin said. “We are fundamentally unprepared.”

In most parts of the country, winter has just begun. On January 1st, after a mild December, snow fell on just 20% of the continental United States. Based on satellite analysis of the National Operational Hydrological Remote Sensing Center. The recent storm surge has increased by about 45% as of Wednesday.

McEvoy said a ridge of high pressure blocked moisture in December, leaving areas in the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains with dry conditions. Snow fell in parts of the Midwest, including Chicago, Minneapolis, and the Dakotas.

“Normally in late December we have snow on the ground. We really didn’t have any,” McEvoy said of those cities, adding that some parts of the Midwest saw average monthly temperatures in December that were below normal in degrees Fahrenheit. He pointed out that the temperature was 10 to 15 degrees higher.

Meanwhile, warmer temperatures and several storms in the Pacific Northwest hindered snowpack development. Rain wiped out the snow after the storm in the Northeast.

Recent storms have put 164 million people in the United States under weather warnings, and the situation will improve, not ease.

“From what we’ve seen so far, it doesn’t look like a pattern that will completely eliminate the snow drought,” McEvoy said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center predicts a warm and dry winter for most northern states, due in part to strong El Niño conditions. El Niño is a naturally occurring pattern associated with warm ocean temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that slow trade winds. .

“El Niño is a double whammy, with warmer waters from the Pacific Ocean adding more heat and energy to the atmosphere as a result of warming due to climate change,” McEvoy said. “This combination allows us to have a warm year ahead.”

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Confirmation of a new species of plesiosaur found in the United States

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Paleontologists have described a new genus and species of small polycotyledonous plesiosaur from two specimens discovered in the US states of Wyoming and South Dakota.

rebuilding the life of Untahira Specta The proposed habitat is a sunlit body of water just below the earth's surface, and the eyes are covered by bulges above the orbits.Image credit: Clark other., doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105812.

Untahira Specta lived in the waters of Western Inland Sea Route Late Cretaceous period, approximately 80.5 million years ago.

This marine reptile is polycotyledonous plantsa family of plesiosaurs that evolved in the Early Cretaceous and radiated into multiple genera in the Late Cretaceous.

“Polycotyledons were a marine herpeta superfamily of the Cretaceous period. plesiosaurinae” said the lead author. Dr. Robert Clark and colleagues at Marshall University.

“The earliest polysperms are known from the Aptians of Australia, but they reached North America by the Albians and achieved an international distribution before dying out along with the rest of the polysperms. plesiosaur At the end of the Maastrichtian. ”

“Polysosaurs had short tails, limbs transformed into large paddles, and plesiosaur-like bowplans of broad, hydrodynamic bodies with extended pectoral and pelvic girdle, but short It also had a derivative condition: a large head with a neck and an elongated snout.”

“It has converged, but Pliosauridae In these traits, the small clefts and teeth of most polycots indicate that they occupied different ecological niches. ”

holotype of Untahira Specta.Image credit: Clark other., doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105812.

Two fossilized skulls (holotype and paratype) Untahira Specta Recovered from the Baculites obtusus zone of the Sharon Springs Formation in the United States.

“The holotype is a skull and mandible with an almost complete cervical, sacral, caudal series, partial dorsal series, ribs, part of the pelvic and pectoral girdle, both iliac bones, both anterior paddles, both It has a rear paddle,” the paleontologists said. Said.

“The paratype is a complete cranium, a three-part lower jaw, and five small, fragmentary, unidentified postcranial elements.”

Untahira Specta It was a small polycotyledonous plant, 2.3–2.6 m (7.5–8.5 ft) long, with a broad skull and distinctive paddle.

The large eyes had flat protuberances that probably blocked sunlight. It is possible that they were visually chasing prey just below the water surface.

“Comparisons with extant quadrupeds suggest several characteristics of quadrupeds. Untahira Specta “This may be an adaptation to predation by visual tracking in sunny environments, an interpretation with ecological implications for other aquatic reptiles,” the researchers said.

their findings It was published in the magazine Cretaceous research.

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Robert O. Clark other.Elucidation of a new genus of small polycotyledonous plesiosaurs that lived in the Upper Cretaceous of the Western Interior Seaway and its genus doricorinchops. Cretaceous research, published online on December 24, 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.cretres.2023.105812

Source: www.sci.news