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Galileo Project: scientists to search for signs of extraterrestrial technology | Space
A team of scientists will embark on a new international research project led by Harvard University to search for evidence of extraterrestrial life by looking for advanced technology it may leave behind. The Galileo Project is led by the Harvard astronomy professor Avi Loeb. Loeb co-founded the project with Frank Laukien, CEO of Bruker Corporation, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of scientific equipment. “Given the recently discovered abundance of Earth-Sun systems, the Galileo Project is dedicated to the proposition that humans can no longer ignore the possible existence of Extraterrestrial Technological Civilizations (ETCs),” the team announced in a statement on Monday. The project follows the US government’s report from last month on…
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‘This new science is worrisome’
CDC director Rochelle Walensky in Wilmington, Delaware on December 8, 2020. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters New science has again prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update its mask guidelines. The CDC recommended on Tuesday that fully vaccinated people wear masks in public indoor settings “in areas with substantial and high transmission.” That includes a large swath of the US right now, including the vast majority of counties in the South. The CDC recommended that all teachers, staff, students, and visitors at K-12 schools mask up as well. The goal of these new guidelines, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said, is to “help prevent the spread of the Delta variant and…
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New science leads to another CDC update on masks. Even for the vaccinated.
A version of this story appeared in CNN’s What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. CNN — You could almost hear the collective groan of frustration around the country Tuesday when the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention again updated its guidance, encouraging more Americans and all schoolkids and teachers to wear face masks to stop the spread of Covid-19. But the health community’s understanding of the coronavirus, its variants and vaccine efficacy has evolved with the virus itself, and this new guidance is based on new information. The country missed President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70% of adults with…
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Ancient fossil threads may be the oldest known archaea microbes
Threadlike filaments pressed in rock may be the remnants of archaea that burped methane near hydrothermal vents 3.42 billion years ago. If so, these strands in rock excavated in South Africa around a decade ago, would provide the earliest direct evidence of a methane-based metabolism, researchers report July 14 in Science Advances. Such ancient fossil filaments may contain clues about Earth’s early inhabitants and hint at where to look for extraterrestrial life. Scientists suspect that life on our planet could have arisen in such an environment (SN: 9/24/20). Biologists have deduced that metabolisms based on munching or belching methane evolved early on, but don’t know exactly when, says Barbara Cavalazzi,…
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Science, not speculation, is essential to determine how SARS-CoV-2 reached humans
On Feb 19, 2020, we, a group of physicians, veterinarians, epidemiologists, virologists, biologists, ecologists, and public health experts from around the world, joined together to express solidarity with our professional colleagues in China. 1 Calisher C Carroll D Colwell R et al. Statement in support of the scientists, public health professionals, and medical professionals of China combatting COVID-19. Unsubstantiated allegations were being raised about the source of the COVID-19 outbreak and the integrity of our peers who were diligently working to learn more about the newly recognised virus, SARS-CoV-2, while struggling to care for the many patients admitted to hospital with severe illness in Wuhan and elsewhere in China. It…
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Studies add to concern about climate tipping
IMAGE: Professor Michael Ghil: “These results indicate that climate tipping is an imminent risk in the Earth System. Even the safe operating space of 1.5 or 2.0 degrees above present generally… view more Credit: Philippe Bruère Two model studies document the probability of climate tipping in Earth subsystems. The findings support the urgency of restricting CO2 emissions as abrupt climate changes might be less predictable and more widespread in the climate system than anticipated. The work is part of the European TiPES project, coordinated by the University of Copenhagen, Denmark but was conducted by Professor Michael Ghil, Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris, France and coauthours from The Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium…
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36 books and podcasts on health and science to check out this summer
In this time of transition, we’re back with our annual list of health, medicine, and science books to check out this summer — and this time we’ve thrown podcasts in the mix, too. Read on for recommendations from the likes of Anthony Fauci, Rochelle Walensky, and Chelsea Clinton. Plus, STAT readers from New York to Sweden share their picks, in addition to our staff. Enjoy! SEE SUGGESTIONS FROM: NOTABLE FIGURES | OUR READERS | OUR STAFF advertisement “The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race”By Walter IssacsonI recommend it because this captivating book provided clear and accessible explanations of the…
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