livescience--2020-12-15--There's a new coronavirus variant in the UK. Here's what we know.

A new genetic variant of SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , has emerged in the United Kingdom , but it 's unlikely to threaten the effectiveness of , scientists say .
New `` variants '' of the emerge as the virus makes copies of itself and picks up ; the mutations in a given variant may or may not change how the virus infects cells or how easily it spreads , so scientists keep track of the changes to determine which ones might pose a potential risk .
Now , researchers in the U.K. have identified a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 local authority areas , Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Dec. 14 while addressing the House of Commons , .
That amounts to more than 1,100 total infections caused by the new variant , predominantly in southern and eastern England , according to a from Public Health England ( PHE ) , an agency in the Department of Health and Social Care .
Related : 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history '' High numbers of cases of the variant have been observed in some areas where there is also a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement noted .
`` It is not yet known whether the variant is responsible for these increased numbers of cases . ''
In other words , we do n't yet know if the new variant spreads more easily than other variants of the virus .
While the rising number of infections could be linked to a genetic mutation that lets the variant spread easily , it may have also become widespread by chance as infected individuals interacted with others and set off chains of transmission .
In the coming weeks , both PHE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) will study the new variant and track its spread to determine whether it 's more transmissible , Hancock said .
Again , the emergence of this new variant is `` not unexpected , '' Dr. Susan Hopkins , the medical adviser for the U.K. 's Test and Trace program , said in the statement .
In fact , new variants of the virus have cropped up throughout the pandemic , with some infecting more people than others , .
`` It 's important that we spot any changes quickly to understand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Hopkins said .
Currently , there 's no indication that the variant identified in the U.K. causes more-severe illness than others in circulation , she said .
In addition , there 's no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines would work differently against the variant , according to the statement .
In general , any single genetic mutation is unlikely to make COVID-19 vaccines less effective , .
That 's partly because the vaccines prompt the immune system to build different types of , which then target different sites on the coronavirus , Dr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Clinical Virology Laboratory at the University of Washington Medical Center , told Live Science in an email .
The , including the now-authorized , specifically target the spike protein — a pointed structure on the virus that plugs into cells to start infection — but antibodies can latch onto many different sites along that spike .
If the spike develops a mutation in just one spot , the remaining assortment of antibodies can still grab hold elsewhere .
That means , since vaccines generate a variety of antibodies , subtle mutations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective .
That is likely the case with the new coronavirus variant , which picked up a mutation in its spike protein , according to the PHE statement .
To confirm that enough antibodies still recognize the mutant virus , scientists can run experiments in which they incubate the viral particles , vaccine-generated antibodies and cells together in the lab , Greninger said .
`` If the spike protein changes such that it can at least partially evade the antibody that 's trying to lock into it … then that would impair the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr. William Schaffner , an infectious-disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville , Tennessee .
Again , a subtle change in the spike protein likely would n't pose a problem , but scientists are checking anyway , he said .
In addition to looking at antibody responses , scientists can study whether the new mutations change how the virus functions , including whether it infects cells more efficiently compared with other variants .
For example , in laboratory studies , some spike protein mutations enable the virus to bind more tightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gateway into human cells — according to a report published Aug. 11 in the journal .
However , the way the virus binds to cells in a dish does n't always translate to how infectious it is in the wild , Schaffner said .
Laboratory studies must be paired with data from real-world scenarios to determine how easily a particular variant spreads , he said .
To compare two variants , scientists would need similar field data related to both ; for example , one could compare the rate of spread between similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with comparable public health restrictions in place .
When it comes to the new variant in the U.K. , `` we do n't know that much about it yet , '' Schaffner said .
Upcoming research by the PHE , WHO and other scientific groups should offer insight into whether the mutation has altered the virus 's biology in any consequential way .
Based on the more than 1,000 reported infections caused by the new variant , it does n't appear to cause more-severe disease than other versions of the virus .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variant is more transmissible .

A new genetic variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has emerged in the United Kingdom, but it's unlikely to threaten the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines , scientists say.
New "variants" of the coronavirus emerge as the virus makes copies of itself and picks up genetic mutations ; the mutations in a given variant may or may not change how the virus infects cells or how easily it spreads, so scientists keep track of the changes to determine which ones might pose a potential risk.
Now, researchers in the U.K. have identified a new variant that has caused infections in nearly 60 local authority areas, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Dec. 14 while addressing the House of Commons, The Guardian reported . That amounts to more than 1,100 total infections caused by the new variant, predominantly in southern and eastern England, according to a statement from Public Health England (PHE), an agency in the Department of Health and Social Care.
Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history
"High numbers of cases of the variant virus have been observed in some areas where there is also a high incidence of COVID-19," the statement noted. "It is not yet known whether the variant is responsible for these increased numbers of cases."
In other words, we don't yet know if the new variant spreads more easily than other variants of the virus. While the rising number of infections could be linked to a genetic mutation that lets the variant spread easily, it may have also become widespread by chance as infected individuals interacted with others and set off chains of transmission. In the coming weeks, both PHE and the World Health Organization (WHO) will study the new variant and track its spread to determine whether it's more transmissible, Hancock said.
Again, the emergence of this new variant is "not unexpected," Dr. Susan Hopkins, the medical adviser for the U.K.'s Test and Trace program, said in the statement. In fact, new variants of the virus have cropped up throughout the pandemic, with some infecting more people than others, Live Science previously reported .
"It's important that we spot any changes quickly to understand the potential risk any variant may pose," Hopkins said. Currently, there's no indication that the variant identified in the U.K. causes more-severe illness than others in circulation, she said. In addition, there's no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines would work differently against the variant, according to the statement.
In general, any single genetic mutation is unlikely to make COVID-19 vaccines less effective, Live Science previously reported . That's partly because the vaccines prompt the immune system to build different types of antibodies , which then target different sites on the coronavirus, Dr. Alex Greninger, an assistant director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at the University of Washington Medical Center, told Live Science in an email.
The leading vaccines , including the now-authorized Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine , specifically target the spike protein — a pointed structure on the virus that plugs into cells to start infection — but antibodies can latch onto many different sites along that spike. If the spike develops a mutation in just one spot, the remaining assortment of antibodies can still grab hold elsewhere. That means, since vaccines generate a variety of antibodies, subtle mutations in the virus shouldn't make them less effective.
That is likely the case with the new coronavirus variant, which picked up a mutation in its spike protein, according to the PHE statement. To confirm that enough antibodies still recognize the mutant virus, scientists can run experiments in which they incubate the viral particles, vaccine-generated antibodies and cells together in the lab, Greninger said.
"If the spike protein changes such that it can at least partially evade the antibody that's trying to lock into it … then that would impair the effectiveness of the vaccine," said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious-disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Again, a subtle change in the spike protein likely wouldn't pose a problem, but scientists are checking anyway, he said.
In addition to looking at antibody responses, scientists can study whether the new mutations change how the virus functions, including whether it infects cells more efficiently compared with other variants. For example, in laboratory studies, some spike protein mutations enable the virus to bind more tightly to the ACE2 receptor — its preferred gateway into human cells — according to a report published Aug. 11 in the journal Cell .
However, the way the virus binds to cells in a dish doesn't always translate to how infectious it is in the wild, Schaffner said. Laboratory studies must be paired with data from real-world scenarios to determine how easily a particular variant spreads, he said. To compare two variants, scientists would need similar field data related to both; for example, one could compare the rate of spread between similar long-term care facilities, schools or cities with comparable public health restrictions in place.
When it comes to the new variant in the U.K., "we don't know that much about it yet," Schaffner said. Upcoming research by the PHE, WHO and other scientific groups should offer insight into whether the mutation has altered the virus's biology in any consequential way. Based on the more than 1,000 reported infections caused by the new variant, it doesn't appear to cause more-severe disease than other versions of the virus. However, it's still unclear whether the variant is more transmissible.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-15--The UK is sending robot submarines to watch the world’s largest iceberg crash into an island

The , A-68a , may be mere days away from crashing into the Antarctic wildlife refuge of South Georgia island , and researchers are already preparing for the aftermath .
According to the British Antarctic Survey ( BAS ) , which has tracked the iceberg for months , two refrigerator-sized robots will soon ship out for South Georgia to study the underwater effects of the impending collision .
The twin submersibles — each one measuring about 5 feet ( 1.5 meters ) long and operated remotely — will spend almost four months collecting data on seawater temperature , salinity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a statement from BAS .
Scientists have known for some time that a direct hit from the 2,000-square-mile ( 5,100 square km ) berg could for millions of penguins and seals , potentially leading to mass animal starvation on the island .
But there are other , more nebulous environmental impacts that can be studied only from the sea .
For example , what happens when a trillion-ton iceberg starts releasing enormous amounts of freshwater into a thriving saltwater ecosystem ?
`` Animals and plants are … going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment , '' Geraint Tarling , an ecologist with BAS , said in a video included in the statement .
`` [ Native plants ] might not be able to grow as well , and that means there 's not as much food available for zooplankton and krill , which are then the food for the and .
And so , the whole [ ecosystem ] might stop thriving . ''
The robots will help Tarling and his colleagues monitor those changes as they 're happening , and hopefully allow them to predict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Iceberg A-68a broke off of 's Larsen C Ice Shelf in July 2017 , and has been steadily drifting north into warmer waters ever since .
from the U.K. 's Royal Air Force ( RAF ) revealed that the berg is losing huge ice chunks ( called `` growlers '' ) around its edges , and is streaked with deep cracks and caves .
Whether the doomed iceberg breaks apart before grinding to a halt at South Georgia remains to be seen .

The world's largest iceberg , A-68a, may be mere days away from crashing into the Antarctic wildlife refuge of South Georgia island, and researchers are already preparing for the aftermath. According to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), which has tracked the iceberg for months, two refrigerator-sized robots will soon ship out for South Georgia to study the underwater effects of the impending collision.
The twin submersibles — each one measuring about 5 feet (1.5 meters) long and operated remotely — will spend almost four months collecting data on seawater temperature, salinity and clarity from opposite sides of the iceberg, according to a statement from BAS .
Scientists have known for some time that a direct hit from the 2,000-square-mile (5,100 square km) berg could block off marine feeding routes for millions of penguins and seals, potentially leading to mass animal starvation on the island. But there are other, more nebulous environmental impacts that can be studied only from the sea. For example, what happens when a trillion-ton iceberg starts releasing enormous amounts of freshwater into a thriving saltwater ecosystem?
Related: Images of melt: Earth's vanishing ice
"Animals and plants are … going to be faced with an instantaneous change in their environment," Geraint Tarling, an ecologist with BAS, said in a video included in the statement. "[Native plants] might not be able to grow as well, and that means there's not as much food available for zooplankton and krill, which are then the food for the penguins and seals . And so, the whole [ecosystem] might stop thriving."
Mapping experts have been tracking A-68a's movement for several months. A crash may be days away. (Image credit: BAS)
The robots will help Tarling and his colleagues monitor those changes as they're happening, and hopefully allow them to predict long-term changes to the island's ecosystem.
Iceberg A-68a broke off of Antarctica 's Larsen C Ice Shelf in July 2017, and has been steadily drifting north into warmer waters ever since. Recent aerial footage from the U.K.'s Royal Air Force (RAF) revealed that the berg is losing huge ice chunks (called "growlers") around its edges, and is streaked with deep cracks and caves. Whether the doomed iceberg breaks apart before grinding to a halt at South Georgia remains to be seen.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-16--Hundreds of graves reveal Spanish town’s secret Muslim history

An archaeological site in northeast Spain holds one of the oldest-known Muslim cemeteries in the country , with the discovery of 433 graves , some dating back to the first 100 years of the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula .
The finds confirm that the region , along the frontier between the warring Islamic and Christian worlds in the turbulent early Middle Ages , was once dominated by Muslim rulers , who were later replaced by Christian rulers and their history forgotten .
The archaeologists unearthed the ancient graves from a maqbara or Muslim necropolis , dating from between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this summer in the town of Tauste , in the Ebro Valley about 25 miles ( 40 kilometers ) northwest of Zaragoza .
The remains show that the dead were buried according to Muslim funeral rituals and suggest the town was largely Islamic for hundreds of years , despite there being no mention of this phase in local histories .
`` The number of people buried in the necropolis and the time it was occupied indicates that Tauste was an important town in the Ebro Valley in Islamic times , '' lead archaeologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Live Science .
Giménez and the company Paleoymás were contracted for the latest excavations by , which was founded by local people in 1999 to investigate the history of the town .
Their initial excavations in 2010 suggested that a 5-acre ( 2 hectares ) Islamic necropolis at Tauste might hold the remains of up to 4,500 people .
But the association 's limited funds meant only 46 graves could be unearthed in the first four years of work .
Giménez said the latest discoveries hint that even more Muslim graves could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have information that indicates that the size of the necropolis is greater than what was known , '' she said .
The graves date all the way back to the time when Muslim armies from North Africa that were allied with Islam 's Umayyad caliphate in Damascus invaded what is now Spain in A.D. 711 .
By 718 , they had conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula — today 's Spain and Portugal — except for some mountainous regions of the northwest that remained independent Christian kingdoms .
The Muslim invaders , called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then attempted to conquer Gaul — now France — but were turned back , first at the Battle of Toulouse in 721 and then at the Battle of Tours in 732 , where they were defeated by a smaller Frankish army led by the nobleman Charles Martel .
It 's said the Frankish use of heavy cavalry played a decisive part in the battle , .
After that , Muslim leaders established their rule south of Barcelona and the Pyrenees , the mountain range that divides Spain and France .
The Ebro Valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muslim hands .
Related : Crusader battlefield where 'Richard the Lionheart ' defeated Muslims is unearthed in Israel The Muslim-ruled region became known as al-Andalus — with the `` Andal '' part possibly from the name of the the Muslims had conquered — and reached its cultural peak in about the 10th century with advances in , astronomy and medicine .
By some accounts , the regime was relatively benign .
Jews and Christians were allowed to practice their religions if they chose not to convert to Islam , but they paid extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treated as a lower social class than Muslims .
Muslim rule in Spain began to fragment after the 11th century , and the Christian kingdoms in the north grew more powerful .
The last Muslim emirate , at Granada , was defeated in 1492 by the armies of Castile in the final battle of the Christian Reconquista led by Isabela and Ferdinand , the first queen and king of Spain .
Islam was outlawed , and violent anti-Muslim persecutions continued until the early 17th century .
The influence of Islamic rule has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but history was silent about the Islamic phase at Tauste .
Ancient graves were sometimes unearthed in the town , but they were dismissed as those of victims of a cholera that killed almost a quarter-million people in Spain in 1854 and 1855 , said Miriam Pina Pardos , the director of the Anthropological Observatory of the Islamic Necropolis of Tauste for El Patiaz .
Some members of El Patiaz suspected an 11th-century church tower in the town had Islamic origins — a suspicion confirmed when examinations showed it was once a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2010 , the group began excavations led by archaeologist Francisco Javier Gutierrez .
They learned the ancient graves at Tauste contained individuals buried with Muslim rituals , and not in the style of a mass burial that might have been expected for victims of the cholera pandemic , Pina Pardos said .
For instance , each grave held the remains of a single person , typically placed lying on their right side so that their gaze was oriented toward Mecca , and each was covered with a mound of earth , Gutierrez @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wooden cover , now missing .
The graves also showed other distinctive Muslim features : They were just large enough to accommodate the body , and the dead were buried in a white shroud , regardless of their social status , she said .
To this day , Muslim rituals do not allow the dead to be buried with grave goods , but fragments of ceramics found nearby in the excavations since 2010 showed they dated to between the eighth and 12th centuries , Giménez said .
While the existence of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excavations , `` what was not known were the dimensions and density of the tombs , '' she said .
`` It has been expected and unexpected at the same time . ''
The latest discoveries , in a single street known to be part of the ancient necropolis , show the extent of Muslim influence in the town over several centuries.
, The cemetery was in use continuously for more than 400 years , they found .
`` This tells us about a constant and deeply rooted [ Islamic ] population in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century , '' Giménez said .

Archaeologists think up to 4,500 bodies may have been buried in the ancient necropolis at Tauste over 400 years of Muslim rule.
An archaeological site in northeast Spain holds one of the oldest-known Muslim cemeteries in the country, with the discovery of 433 graves, some dating back to the first 100 years of the Islamic conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.
The finds confirm that the region, along the frontier between the warring Islamic and Christian worlds in the turbulent early Middle Ages, was once dominated by Muslim rulers, who were later replaced by Christian rulers and their history forgotten.
The archaeologists unearthed the ancient graves from a maqbara or Muslim necropolis, dating from between the eighth and the 12th centuries, this summer in the town of Tauste, in the Ebro Valley about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Zaragoza.
Related: 10 epic battles that changed history
The remains show that the dead were buried according to Muslim funeral rituals and suggest the town was largely Islamic for hundreds of years, despite there being no mention of this phase in local histories.
"The number of people buried in the necropolis and the time it was occupied indicates that Tauste was an important town in the Ebro Valley in Islamic times," lead archaeologist Eva Giménez of the heritage company Paleoymás told Live Science.
Giménez and the company Paleoymás were contracted for the latest excavations by El Patiaz Cultural Association , which was founded by local people in 1999 to investigate the history of the town.
Their initial excavations in 2010 suggested that a 5-acre (2 hectares) Islamic necropolis at Tauste might hold the remains of up to 4,500 people. But the association's limited funds meant only 46 graves could be unearthed in the first four years of work.
Giménez said the latest discoveries hint that even more Muslim graves could still be found. "We now have information that indicates that the size of the necropolis is greater than what was known," she said.
Image 1 of 6 The dead were typically wrapped in a shroud and placed lying on their side, with their gaze facing towards Mecca. (Image credit: El Patiaz Cultural Association) Archaeologists say the ancient burials at Tauste were carried out according to strict Muslim funeral rites, without grave goods or signs of social distinction. (Image credit: El Patiaz Cultural Association) The latest excavations at Tauste focused on a single road known to pass through the ancient Islamic necropolis. The remains of 433 people were unearthed there who had been buried according to Muslim funeral rituals. (Image credit: El Patiaz Cultural Association) The Islamic phase of Tauste's history had been forgotten – perhaps deliberately – and ancient graves sometimes found in the town were dismissed as those of victims of the 19th-century cholera pandemic. (Image credit: El Patiaz Cultural Association) Archaeologists think up to 4,500 bodies may have been buried in the ancient necropolis at Tauste over 400 years of Muslim rule. (Image credit: El Patiaz Cultural Association) The discovery of hundreds of people buried according to Muslim riites between the eighth and the 12th centuries indicates Tauste was an important local centre of Islamic culture. (Image credit: El Patiaz Cultural Association)
Muslim conquest
The graves date all the way back to the time when Muslim armies from North Africa that were allied with Islam's Umayyad caliphate in Damascus invaded what is now Spain in A.D. 711. By 718, they had conquered most of the Iberian Peninsula — today's Spain and Portugal — except for some mountainous regions of the northwest that remained independent Christian kingdoms.
The Muslim invaders, called "Moors" by the Christians, then attempted to conquer Gaul — now France — but were turned back, first at the Battle of Toulouse in 721 and then at the Battle of Tours in 732, where they were defeated by a smaller Frankish army led by the nobleman Charles Martel. It's said the Frankish use of heavy cavalry played a decisive part in the battle, Live Science previously reported .
After that, Muslim leaders established their rule south of Barcelona and the Pyrenees, the mountain range that divides Spain and France. The Ebro Valley around Zaragoza, however, stayed in Muslim hands.
Related: Crusader battlefield where 'Richard the Lionheart' defeated Muslims is unearthed in Israel
The Muslim-ruled region became known as al-Andalus — with the "Andal" part possibly from the name of the Vandals the Muslims had conquered — and reached its cultural peak in about the 10th century with advances in mathematics , astronomy and medicine. By some accounts, the regime was relatively benign. Jews and Christians were allowed to practice their religions if they chose not to convert to Islam, but they paid extra tax, called jizya, and were treated as a lower social class than Muslims.
Muslim rule in Spain began to fragment after the 11th century, and the Christian kingdoms in the north grew more powerful. The last Muslim emirate, at Granada, was defeated in 1492 by the armies of Castile in the final battle of the Christian Reconquista led by Isabela and Ferdinand, the first queen and king of Spain. Islam was outlawed, and violent anti-Muslim persecutions continued until the early 17th century.
The influence of Islamic rule has been recognized in nearby parts of the region, but history was silent about the Islamic phase at Tauste.
Ancient graves were sometimes unearthed in the town, but they were dismissed as those of victims of a cholera pandemic that killed almost a quarter-million people in Spain in 1854 and 1855, said Miriam Pina Pardos, the director of the Anthropological Observatory of the Islamic Necropolis of Tauste for El Patiaz.
Unearthing Islam
Some members of El Patiaz suspected an 11th-century church tower in the town had Islamic origins — a suspicion confirmed when examinations showed it was once a minaret in the distinctive Zagri architecture..
So in 2010, the group began excavations led by archaeologist Francisco Javier Gutierrez. They learned the ancient graves at Tauste contained individuals buried with Muslim rituals, and not in the style of a mass burial that might have been expected for victims of the cholera pandemic, Pina Pardos said.
For instance, each grave held the remains of a single person, typically placed lying on their right side so that their gaze was oriented toward Mecca, and each was covered with a mound of earth, Gutierrez said. Some may also have had a wooden cover, now missing.
The graves also showed other distinctive Muslim features: They were just large enough to accommodate the body, and the dead were buried in a white shroud, regardless of their social status, she said. To this day, Muslim rituals do not allow the dead to be buried with grave goods, but fragments of ceramics found nearby in the excavations since 2010 showed they dated to between the eighth and 12th centuries, Giménez said.
While the existence of the Islamic graveyard was known from the earlier excavations, "what was not known were the dimensions and density of the tombs," she said. "It has been expected and unexpected at the same time."
The latest discoveries, in a single street known to be part of the ancient necropolis, show the extent of Muslim influence in the town over several centuries.,
The cemetery was in use continuously for more than 400 years, they found. "This tells us about a constant and deeply rooted [Islamic] population in Tauste since the beginning of the eighth century," Giménez said.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-16--Spooning skeletons: Who were these 3,000-year-old 'Romeo and Juliet'?

More than 3,000 years ago , a couple at the biblical site of Bethsaida , in , was buried side by side in a spooning position , with the male 's arm over the female 's body , and the archaeologists who discovered the remains are now calling the couple `` Romeo and Juliet . ''
Archaeologists think the individuals died at the same time , though they are n't sure what killed the couple , said Rami Arav , director of the Bethsaida project and a professor of religious studies at the University of Nebraska Omaha .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a couple like this '' Arav said at a virtual archaeology conference held by New York University and the Israel Antiquities Authority from Oct. 25 to28 .
Related : In photos : Biblical 'Church of the Apostles ' discovered After studying the skeletons , Arav said the male died in his late teens and the female in her early teen or preteen years .
`` Apparently , they died at the same time , or at least [ were ] buried at the same time before their bodies decomposed , '' Arav told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ were ] evidenced on the skeletons .
We have no clue what killed them . ''
Despite the intimate burial position of the pair , archaeologists can not be certain that they were a romantic couple , Arav told Live Science , noting that whoever buried the couple put the bodies into the cuddling position .
`` The 'spooning position ' was made by the people [ who ] buried them .
Perhaps [ the ] people who buried them knew the story '' of the couple , Arav said .
Who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objects accompanied their burial , '' Arav said .
As such , he and his colleagues do n't know whether the two individuals were elite members of society or from a modest background .
From the archaeological remains and surviving historical information , the archaeologists can tell that , at the time the couple lived , people at Bethsaida `` were Aramaic , '' Arav said .
`` The moon god was perhaps an important god for them , since we discovered two steles [ at Bethsaida ] with the image of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bethsaida was the capital city of Geshur , a kingdom mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible , Arav said .
The stories told in the Bible claim that Geshur was in conflict , at times , with .
Archaeologists would like to extract DNA from the couple 's skeletons to learn more about them , but right now , they lack the funds to do so .
Excavations at Bethsaida have been ongoing since 1987 , and the remains of the couple were found about 10 years ago , Arav said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the research team has found at the site .
The discovery of the couple was presented as part of a paper on Bethsaida that looked at what the site was like when it was the capital of Geshur .
Analysis of the site and the skeletons is ongoing .

A man and woman were buried together more than 1,000 years ago in Israel. Archaeologists call the couple "Romeo and Juliet."
More than 3,000 years ago, a couple at the biblical site of Bethsaida, in Israel , was buried side by side in a spooning position, with the male's arm over the female's body, and the archaeologists who discovered the remains are now calling the couple "Romeo and Juliet."
Archaeologists think the individuals died at the same time, though they aren't sure what killed the couple, said Rami Arav, director of the Bethsaida project and a professor of religious studies at the University of Nebraska Omaha.
"It is very, very rare to find a couple like this" Arav said at a virtual archaeology conference held by New York University and the Israel Antiquities Authority from Oct. 25 to28.
Related: In photos: Biblical 'Church of the Apostles' discovered
After studying the skeletons, Arav said the male died in his late teens and the female in her early teen or preteen years. "Apparently, they died at the same time, or at least [were] buried at the same time before their bodies decomposed," Arav told Live Science. "No trauma remains [were] evidenced on the skeletons. We have no clue what killed them."
Despite the intimate burial position of the pair, archaeologists cannot be certain that they were a romantic couple, Arav told Live Science, noting that whoever buried the couple put the bodies into the cuddling position. "The 'spooning position' was made by the people [who] buried them. Perhaps [the] people who buried them knew the story" of the couple, Arav said.
Who were they?
"No offering or objects accompanied their burial," Arav said. As such, he and his colleagues don't know whether the two individuals were elite members of society or from a modest background.
From the archaeological remains and surviving historical information, the archaeologists can tell that, at the time the couple lived, people at Bethsaida "were Aramaic," Arav said. "The moon god was perhaps an important god for them, since we discovered two steles [at Bethsaida] with the image of the moon god."
They know that Bethsaida was the capital city of Geshur, a kingdom mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible, Arav said. The stories told in the Bible claim that Geshur was in conflict, at times, with Israel .
Archaeologists would like to extract DNA from the couple's skeletons to learn more about them, but right now, they lack the funds to do so.
Excavations at Bethsaida have been ongoing since 1987, and the remains of the couple were found about 10 years ago, Arav said, adding that they are the oldest skeletons that the research team has found at the site. The discovery of the couple was presented as part of a paper on Bethsaida that looked at what the site was like when it was the capital of Geshur. Analysis of the site and the skeletons is ongoing.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-16--China's Chang'e 5 moon lander is no more after successfully snagging lunar rocks

China 's lander touched down on the moon and collected the first lunar samples in nearly 50 years , but now the lights have gone out .
The Chang ' e 5 lander was a crucial part of China 's daring sample-return mission .
It made a in the moon 's Oceanus Procellarum , or `` Ocean of Storms , '' on Dec. 1 before conducting sampling and other science experiments .
The sun set over the solar-powered spacecraft , which landed near the volcanic peak Mons Rümker in the northwest of the near side of the moon , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ units carried by the long-lived and landers , the electronics and systems on Chang ' e 5 will succumb to temperatures as low as minus 310 degrees Fahrenheit ( minus 190 degrees Celsius ) .
However , it appears the spacecraft has already ceased working .
Reports indicate that the lander was damaged when it acted as a launch pad for the mission 's from to reach low lunar orbit on Dec. 3 .
The ascent vehicle carried the samples collected by the lander 's drill and robotic arm and delivered them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moon .
Cameras on the lander captured the ascent vehicle 's takeoff , which started with a spring mechanism before ignition of the ascender 's 3,000 Newton engine .
The lander managed to send the data to Earth but has not been carrying out activities since .
Amateur radio trackers have also from the lander since the ascent vehicle 's takeoff .
The apparent loss of the spacecraft is neither a shock nor an unplanned failure : China 's engineers and scientists expecting the lander to incur damage during the dangerous ascent launch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objectives and played its full role in the complex 23-day mission .
As well as collecting around 4.4 lb .
( 2 kilograms ) of samples , the lander conducted experiments with a ground-penetrating radar , which will provide information about layers beneath the landing site .
An imaging spectrometer analyzed the composition of the surface regolith while a panoramic camera provided from Oceanus Procellarum each made by stitching together 120 photos .
Another experiment detected at the landing site using an instrument called a .
Scientists speculated that the of the ascent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7 could have carried dust to the vicinity of the Chang ' e 5 lander , where the spacecraft 's instruments may have detected it , but with the lander 's damage , such observations no longer seem possible .
about the potential challenges caused by lunar dust kicked up by landings ahead of the agency 's plan to send astronauts back to the moon by 2024 through the Artemis program .
The Chang ' e 5 orbiter a back to Earth on Dec. 12 , taking with it a reentry capsule containing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earth is expected around Dec. 17 .
Follow us on Twitter @ Spacedotcom and on Facebook .

China's Chang'e 5 lander touched down on the moon and collected the first lunar samples in nearly 50 years, but now the lights have gone out.
The Chang'e 5 lander was a crucial part of China's daring sample-return mission. It made a stunning descent and soft landing in the moon's Oceanus Procellarum, or "Ocean of Storms," on Dec. 1 before conducting sampling and other science experiments.
The sun set over the solar-powered spacecraft, which landed near the volcanic peak Mons Rümker in the northwest of the near side of the moon, on Dec. 11. Without the radioisotope heater units carried by the long-lived Chang'e 3 and Chang'e 4 landers, the electronics and systems on Chang'e 5 will succumb to temperatures as low as minus 310 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 190 degrees Celsius).
Related: Amazing panorama shows China's Chang'e 5 landing site on the moon (photos)
However, it appears the spacecraft has already ceased working. Reports indicate that the lander was damaged when it acted as a launch pad for the mission's ascent vehicle to blast off from to reach low lunar orbit on Dec. 3.
The ascent vehicle carried the samples collected by the lander's drill and robotic arm and delivered them to the Chang'e orbiter circling the moon. Cameras on the lander captured the ascent vehicle's takeoff, which started with a spring mechanism before ignition of the ascender's 3,000 Newton engine.
The lander managed to send the data to Earth but has not been carrying out activities since. Amateur radio trackers have also not detected any signals from the lander since the ascent vehicle's takeoff.
The apparent loss of the spacecraft is neither a shock nor an unplanned failure: China's engineers and scientists expecting the lander to incur damage during the dangerous ascent launch. The lander had carried out its objectives and played its full role in the complex 23-day mission.
As well as collecting around 4.4 lb. (2 kilograms) of samples, the lander conducted experiments with a ground-penetrating radar, which will provide information about layers beneath the landing site. An imaging spectrometer analyzed the composition of the surface regolith while a panoramic camera provided brilliant, detailed vistas from Oceanus Procellarum each made by stitching together 120 photos.
Another experiment detected electrically charged dust at the landing site using an instrument called a quartz crystal microbalance . Scientists speculated that the impact of the ascent vehicle onto the lunar surface on Dec. 7 could have carried dust to the vicinity of the Chang'e 5 lander, where the spacecraft's instruments may have detected it, but with the lander's damage, such observations no longer seem possible.
NASA is particularly curious about the potential challenges caused by lunar dust kicked up by landings ahead of the agency's plan to send astronauts back to the moon by 2024 through the Artemis program.
The Chang'e 5 orbiter beg a n its journey back to Earth on Dec. 12, taking with it a reentry capsule containing the collected lunar samples. Touchdown on Earth is expected around Dec. 17.
Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.


livescience--2020-12-16--Coronavirus relief funds could easily pay to stop the worst of climate change (Op-Ed)

As of late summer , governments around the world had pledged US $ 12.2 trillion of relief in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
That ’ s around 15 % of global GDP , three times larger than government spending put forward during and after the 2008-2009 global financial crisis and enough for every adult in the world to receive a $ 2,000 check .
A good chunk of initial COVID-19 aid funding is being used – quite rightly – to support health care systems , preserve people ’ s livelihoods and stabilize employment .
But much is slated for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those are climate-friendly investments or not still remains to be seen .
While the world ’ s bout with the virus is far from over , there is already talk amongst leaders like Joe Biden and Boris Johnson about rebuilding toward a more sustainable , more resilient future .
The global economic rebuild could include efforts to avoid the worst impacts of one of today ’ s looming mega-threats : climate change .
Moving toward a cleaner energy world is cheaper than many people perceive .
My work at the Electric Power Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change focuses on the costs and benefits of energy and climate decisions made by governments and companies .
According to research done by me and my colleagues , we estimate it would cost around $ 1.4 trillion per year over the next five years in clean-energy investment to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement .
This amount – if invested around the globe in things like solar and wind power , advanced power grids , carbon capture and storage , biofuels , electric vehicles , better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would start to bend the emissions curve , putting the world on a path to net-zero emissions by midcentury .
In other words , it is by no means impossible to hold global temperature rise to +1.5 C ( 2.7 F ) .
A lot is already being spent on climate initiatives While $ 1.4 trillion per year sounds like a lot of money , it ’ s actually not so much greater than what is already being spent on clean energy worldwide .
Countries are projected to invest an estimated $ 1.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years into low-carbon energy strategies .
This pathway would take the world toward 3 degrees Celsius of warming , a level that could be quite harmful for the planet .
Much of this funding comes in response to national , state and local policy mandates and incentives .
But a lot is happening thanks to pure economics as well : companies aiming to profit from new clean energy installations , which are becoming increasingly more affordable in many places .
Thus , taking into account the $ 1.1 trillion per year baked into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of clean energy investment needed to get on a 1.5 C track comes to just $ 0.3 trillion – or $ 300 billion – per year over the next five years .
For the entire globe , $ 300 billion per year over five years – or $ 1.5 trillion cumulative – is not an outrageous sum of money .
It represents just one-eighth of the $ 12.2 trillion governments around the world have announced for COVID-19 relief to date .
Thus , a fraction of current bailout funding could provide the extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on track to meet +2 or 1.5 C ( +3.6 or 2.7 F ) of warming , the levels countries committed to in the 2015 Paris climate agreement .
President-elect Joe Biden is calling for some $ 1.7 trillion investment in clean energy and energy efficiency over the next 10 years .
This level of investment , if also realized in other countries , could put the world on a path to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement .
The U.S. has already committed trillions of dollars for COVID-19 relief , much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like patient care , vaccine research and direct economic bailouts .
But economic recovery plans contain money for long-term economic growth , too .
And that ’ s the money I am suggesting could be directed toward climate-friendly investments .
Meeting the Paris goals will ultimately demand continued and increasing investments going forward , climbing above the $ 300 billion per year over the next five years that would get the world on track to 1.5 C ( 2.7 F ) .
Nevertheless , an initial injection of funds into clean energy could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy through large infrastructure spending and accelerate the deployment of clean energy production and energy efficiency measures .
[ Deep knowledge , daily .
Sign up for The Conversation ’ s newsletter . ]
Like with so many things , the question seems to be one of political will – are governments and companies willing and able to turn toward a cleaner , more prosperous future to the benefit of all ?
Public funding appears to be available – for now – and given how massive this funding is , it provides a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deployment and dissemination of clean technologies during the next decade , an absolutely critical period in the fight against climate change .
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .
Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates — and become part of the discussion — on Facebook and Twitter .
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher .

The U.S. is now the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of late summer, governments around the world had pledged US$12.2 trillion of relief in response to the coronavirus pandemic. That’s around 15% of global GDP, three times larger than government spending put forward during and after the 2008-2009 global financial crisis and enough for every adult in the world to receive a $2,000 check.
A good chunk of initial COVID-19 aid funding is being used – quite rightly – to support health care systems, preserve people’s livelihoods and stabilize employment. But much is slated for investment into infrastructure and economies. Whether those are climate-friendly investments or not still remains to be seen.
While the world’s bout with the virus is far from over, there is already talk amongst leaders like Joe Biden and Boris Johnson about rebuilding toward a more sustainable, more resilient future.
The global economic rebuild could include efforts to avoid the worst impacts of one of today’s looming mega-threats: climate change.
Money needed to achieve climate goals
Moving toward a cleaner energy world is cheaper than many people perceive.
My work at the Electric Power Research Institute, University of Tennessee and with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change focuses on the costs and benefits of energy and climate decisions made by governments and companies.
According to research done by me and my colleagues, we estimate it would cost around $1.4 trillion per year over the next five years in clean-energy investment to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement. This amount – if invested around the globe in things like solar and wind power, advanced power grids, carbon capture and storage, biofuels, electric vehicles, better insulated homes and other carbon-saving efforts – would start to bend the emissions curve, putting the world on a path to net-zero emissions by midcentury.
In other words, it is by no means impossible to hold global temperature rise to +1.5 C (2.7 F).
A lot is already being spent on climate initiatives
While $1.4 trillion per year sounds like a lot of money, it’s actually not so much greater than what is already being spent on clean energy worldwide.
Countries are projected to invest an estimated $1.1 trillion per year over the next five years into low-carbon energy strategies. This pathway would take the world toward 3 degrees Celsius of warming, a level that could be quite harmful for the planet.
Much of this funding comes in response to national, state and local policy mandates and incentives. But a lot is happening thanks to pure economics as well: companies aiming to profit from new clean energy installations, which are becoming increasingly more affordable in many places.
Thus, taking into account the $1.1 trillion per year baked into the system already, the additional amount of clean energy investment needed to get on a 1.5 C track comes to just $0.3 trillion – or $300 billion – per year over the next five years.
For the entire globe, $300 billion per year over five years – or $1.5 trillion cumulative – is not an outrageous sum of money. It represents just one-eighth of the $12.2 trillion governments around the world have announced for COVID-19 relief to date.
Thus, a fraction of current bailout funding could provide the extra near-term boost the world needs to get on track to meet +2 or 1.5 C (+3.6 or 2.7 F) of warming, the levels countries committed to in the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Change course, then move forward
President-elect Joe Biden is calling for some $1.7 trillion investment in clean energy and energy efficiency over the next 10 years. This level of investment, if also realized in other countries, could put the world on a path to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The U.S. has already committed trillions of dollars for COVID-19 relief, much of which is going toward important needs like patient care, vaccine research and direct economic bailouts. But economic recovery plans contain money for long-term economic growth, too. And that’s the money I am suggesting could be directed toward climate-friendly investments.
Meeting the Paris goals will ultimately demand continued and increasing investments going forward, climbing above the $300 billion per year over the next five years that would get the world on track to 1.5 C (2.7 F). Nevertheless, an initial injection of funds into clean energy could achieve two goals: boost the global economy through large infrastructure spending and accelerate the deployment of clean energy production and energy efficiency measures.
[Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter.]
Like with so many things, the question seems to be one of political will – are governments and companies willing and able to turn toward a cleaner, more prosperous future to the benefit of all?
Public funding appears to be available – for now – and given how massive this funding is, it provides a unique opportunity to catalyze the development, deployment and dissemination of clean technologies during the next decade, an absolutely critical period in the fight against climate change.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates — and become part of the discussion — on Facebook and Twitter. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.


livescience--2020-12-17--Coronavirus outbreak: Live Updates

Coronavirus outbreak: Live Updates

A wild mink tested positive for the coronavirus , it may be the first wild animal to have a confirmed case A wild mink in Utah may be the first `` free-ranging , native wild animal '' confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2 , according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) , Live Science reported .
The mink was found near a mink farm and likely picked up the infection from the farmed mink .
There 's no evidence that the virus spread to other minks or wild animals ; but if the virus does begin circulating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up mutations that COVID-19 vaccines may not protect well against if it spreads back to humans , according to the report .
`` If it does [ establish a reservoir ] , then we 've got a long-term issue here , where this virus has the potential to be with us for millennia , '' Sarah Olson , associate director of the health program at the Wildlife Conservation Society , told Vox .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture 's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has screened other animal species for the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Wisconsin , but all of them have tested negative so far , according to a statement .
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has authorized the first over-the-counter COVID-19 test , which can be done at home and does not need a prescription .
The test , made by the Australia-based company Ellume , provides results in as little as 20 minutes , according to a .
It is a `` lateral flow antigen test , '' meaning it works in a similar way to a home pregnancy test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along a surface with reactive molecules , '' the FDA said .
The test works in conjunction with a smartphone app .
Users take a nasal swab and place their sample in an analyzer , which communicates to the smartphone app via Bluetooth .
The results are delivered through the app , and also reported to public health authorities ( based on a user 's zip code ) through a secure cloud connection , .
Ellume is ramping up production of its test , and expects to produce three million tests in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first half of 2021 .
FDA analysis confirms Moderna 's vaccine is safe and effective , emergency authorization is likely to come Friday A new from the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) released on Tuesday ( Dec. 15 ) confirmed that Moderna 's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective , .
Moderna 's COVID-19 vaccine is 94 % effective and has `` a favorable safety profile , '' according to the document .
A panel of experts is set to meet on Thursday ( Dec. 17 ) to discuss the effectiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whether or not the FDA should grant emergency approval to the vaccine .
Last week , the same panel voted that the FDA should grant emergency approval to Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine ; the authorization came a day late and the first doses were given on Monday ( Dec. 15 ) .
The FDA will likely approve Moderna 's vaccine for emergency use on Friday ( Dec. 18 ) , according to The New York Times .
ICU nurse in New York becomes first person in the US to receive a coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the worst-hit state at the start of the pandemic , just became the first to administer a coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials , kicking off a long , massive effort to vaccinate the American people , Live Science reported .
Around 9 a.m. E.T .
on Monday ( Dec. 14 ) , the very first dose of Pfizer and BioNTech 's coronavirus vaccine was given to Sandra Lindsay , an intensive care nurse in Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens , New York , according to The New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to battle a massive wave of the virus that has more than 109,000 people currently hospitalized , according to The COVID Tracking Project .
Since the start of the pandemic , New York has recorded more than 780,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 35,100 deaths , according to The Times .
`` This vaccine is exciting because I believe this is the weapon that will end the war , '' Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said during a live broadcast of the first vaccination .
`` It 's the beginning of the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we just have to do it . ''
An Australian COVID-19 vaccine that had shown promising results in early trials is being abandoned after researchers found that the shot caused false-positive results on HIV tests .
On Friday ( Dec. 11 ) , Australian officials said they had canceled an order for some 51 million doses of the vaccine , which was being developed by The University of Queensland and CSL Ltd. , a local biotech company , according to .
In an early trial with 216 participants , the vaccine appeared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immune response against COVID-19 , according to a .
But some volunteers falsely tested positive for HIV , which officials feared would undermine trust in the vaccine , the Times reported .
The vaccine contained small fragments of an HIV protein , which helped stabilize the vaccine .
Some of the participants developed antibodies against these fragments , and these antibodies triggered false positive results on some HIV tests .
It 's important to note that there is no way for the vaccine to cause an HIV infection , because it contains harmless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could come this weekend , as U.S. continues to record high daily death tolls On Thursday ( Dec. 10 ) , the U.S. recorded another 2,902 COVID-19 deaths , a day after the country set a record of 3,253 deaths , .
“ Probably for the next 60 to 90 days , we ’ re going to have more deaths per day than we had on 9/11 or we had at Pearl Harbor , ” Dr. Robert Redfield , the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to Reuters .
`` The reality is the vaccine approval this week is not going to really impact that , I think , to any degree for the next 60 days . ''
On Thursday , the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee discussed , voted and recommended that the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) should grant an emergency use authorization for Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine .
The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved in the U.K. and in Canada , and FDA approval for use in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of experts for the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has recommended that the agency authorize Pfizer 's new COVID-19 vaccine in the United States .
On Thursday ( Dec. 10 ) , the panel voted 17 to 4 to recommend that the vaccine receive emergency use authorization ( EUA ) for people ages 16 and older , according to .
The FDA typically follows the advice of its panels , and so today 's vote is an important step towards the vaccine 's authorization .
It is anticipated that the agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Dec. 12 ) , the Times reported .
Several countries have already authorized Pfizer 's vaccine , including Canada , the United Kingdom and Bahrain .
Daily COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. reaches record-high , surpassed 9/11 On Wednesday ( Dec. 9 ) , the U.S. recorded 3,124 new COVID-19 deaths , the highest daily death toll to date , .
In comparison , 2,977 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks .
The U.S. has now recorded 280,488 deaths related to the virus , according to The COVID Tracking Project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention predicts that the total death toll can increase to between 332,000 and 362,000 by January 2 , according to CNN .
There are currently 106,671 people hospitalized with the virus in the U.S. ; 20,903 of them are currently in the ICU and 7,621 are currently on a ventilator , according to the COVID Tracking Project .
On Thursday ( Dec. 10 ) , the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is set to meet to discuss an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine .
Canada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the first doses expected to be administered there as early as next week .
Health Canada , the country 's health regulatory agency , said in a statement on Wednesday ( Dec. 9 ) that it had determined that the vaccine `` meets the Department 's stringent safety , efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada , '' according to .
`` We expect vaccines to arrive maybe as early as Monday [ Dec. 14 ] .
It takes time to prepare the vaccine , '' said Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine rollout for the Public Health Agency of Canada , according to CTV News .
The first doses could be administered by the middle of next week , he said .
Canada is the third country in the world to authorize the Pfizer vaccine , following the United Kingdom and Bahrain .
The country should receive up to 249,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of December , and has purchased 20 million doses total , with the option to purchase more , CTV News reported .
The U.K. 's Regulatory Agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` significant '' allergic reactions to avoid Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine , after two National Health Service members developed severe allergic reactions to it on Tuesday ( Dec. 8 ) , Live Science reported .
`` As is common with new vaccines the MHRA ( Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency ) have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday , '' Stephen Powis , the national medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement on Wednesday ( Dec. 9 ) .
Both workers have a history of severe allergies and carry adrenaline auto injectors ( such as EpiPens ) around with them , according to The Guardian .
Shortly after receiving the vaccine , both NHS workers developed anaphylaxis-like symptoms , or severe allergic reactions , but have recovered after receiving treatment .
The MHRA will investigate further and Pfizer and BioNTech will support their investigation , according to Reuters .
`` Allergic reaction occurs with quite a number of vaccines , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So it is not unexpected , '' Stephen Evans , a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said in remarks to journalists published by Britain 's Science Media Center .
“ What would be wise , as the MHRA have already advised , would be for anyone who has known severe allergic reaction such that they need to carry an EpiPen , to delay having a vaccination until the reason for the allergic reaction has been clarified , '' he said .
For the general population this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be anxious about receiving the vaccination , he added .
`` One has to remember that even things like marmite [ a quintessential British food spread ] can cause unexpected severe allergic reactions.
” Pfizer 's COVID-19 vaccine starts to work just 10 days after 1st dose Pfizer 's new COVID-19 vaccine starts to protect people from the novel coronavirus just 10 days after the first dose , according to from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) .
The documents were released on Tuesday ( Dec. 8 ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FDA 's vaccine advisory panel , which will vote on whether to recommend authorization of the vaccine in the U.S , .
The FDA analyzed data from Pfizer 's phase 3 clinical trial , which included some 44,000 people in the United States , Brazil , Argentina , Germany and Turkey , about half of whom received the vaccine while the other half received a placebo .
Both groups received two shots , 21 days apart .
About 10 days after the first dose , there was a noticeable drop-off in new COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the placebo group , indicating that even one dose provides some protection , the report said .
However , scientists do n't know how long the protection from a single dose will last , so it will still be important for people to receive two shots , according to .
Overall , the vaccine was 52 % effective after the first dose and 95 % effective after the second dose , the report said .
90-year-old woman in the UK receives first dose of Pfizer vaccine , FDA review confirms vaccine is safe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will turn 91 next week ) became the first in the world to be given Pfizer 's coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials , according to the BBC .
Margaret Keenan , who is originally from Northern Ireland , was given the vaccine at the University Hospital in Coventry , England .
She received the first of 800,000 doses expected to be administered in the U.K. in the coming weeks , according to the BBC .
`` I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19 , '' Keenan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year . ''
`` My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it .
If I can have it at 90 , then you can have it too , '' she added .
Up to four million doses of Pfizer 's vaccine is expected to be given to people in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , a 53-page Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) review published Tuesday ( Dec. 8 ) confirmed that Pfizer 's vaccine is safe and effective , according to The Washington Post .

Refresh
90-year-old woman in the UK receives first dose of Pfizer vaccine, FDA review confirms vaccine is safe and effective A 90-year-old woman (who will turn 91 next week) became the first in the world to be given Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials, according to the BBC. Margaret Keenan, who is originally from Northern Ireland, was given the vaccine at the University Hospital in Coventry, England. She received the first of 800,000 doses expected to be administered in the U.K. in the coming weeks, according to the BBC. "I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19," Keenan said, according to the BBC."It's the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the new year after being on my own for most of the year." "My advice to anyone offered the vaccine is to take it. If I can have it at 90, then you can have it too," she added. Up to four million doses of Pfizer's vaccine is expected to be given to people in the U.K. by the end of the month. Meanwhile, a 53-page Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review published Tuesday (Dec. 8) confirmed that Pfizer's vaccine is safe and effective, according to The Washington Post.
Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine starts to work just 10 days after 1st dose Pfizer's new COVID-19 vaccine starts to protect people from the novel coronavirus just 10 days after the first dose, according to new documents from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The documents were released on Tuesday (Dec. 8), two days before a meeting of the FDA's vaccine advisory panel, which will vote on whether to recommend authorization of the vaccine in the U.S, Live Science reported . The FDA analyzed data from Pfizer's phase 3 clinical trial, which included some 44,000 people in the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and Turkey, about half of whom received the vaccine while the other half received a placebo. Both groups received two shots, 21 days apart. About 10 days after the first dose, there was a noticeable drop-off in new COVID-19 cases in the vaccine group compared with the placebo group, indicating that even one dose provides some protection, the report said. However, scientists don't know how long the protection from a single dose will last, so it will still be important for people to receive two shots, according to The New York Times . Overall, the vaccine was 52% effective after the first dose and 95% effective after the second dose, the report said.
People with significant allergies should avoid Pfizer vaccine, UK warns The U.K.'s Regulatory Agency is advising people with a history of "significant" allergic reactions to avoid Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine, after two National Health Service members developed severe allergic reactions to it on Tuesday (Dec. 8), Live Science reported. "As is common with new vaccines the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) have advised on a precautionary basis that people with a significant history of allergic reactions do not receive this vaccination after two people with a history of significant allergic reactions responded adversely yesterday," Stephen Powis, the national medical director for England's National Health Service said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec. 9). Both workers have a history of severe allergies and carry adrenaline auto injectors (such as EpiPens) around with them, according to The Guardian. Shortly after receiving the vaccine, both NHS workers developed anaphylaxis-like symptoms, or severe allergic reactions, but have recovered after receiving treatment. The MHRA will investigate further and Pfizer and BioNTech will support their investigation, according to Reuters. "Allergic reaction occurs with quite a number of vaccines, and perhaps even more frequently with drugs. So it is not unexpected," Stephen Evans, a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine said in remarks to journalists published by Britain's Science Media Center. “What would be wise, as the MHRA have already advised, would be for anyone who has known severe allergic reaction such that they need to carry an EpiPen, to delay having a vaccination until the reason for the allergic reaction has been clarified," he said. For the general population this does not mean that they would need to be anxious about receiving the vaccination, he added. "One has to remember that even things like marmite [a quintessential British food spread] can cause unexpected severe allergic reactions.”
Canada approves Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine Canada has authorized Pfizer's new COVID-19 vaccine, with the first doses expected to be administered there as early as next week. Health Canada, the country's health regulatory agency, said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec. 9) that it had determined that the vaccine "meets the Department's stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements for use in Canada," according to CTV News . "We expect vaccines to arrive maybe as early as Monday [Dec. 14]. It takes time to prepare the vaccine," said Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the top military general leading the vaccine rollout for the Public Health Agency of Canada, according to CTV News. The first doses could be administered by the middle of next week, he said. Canada is the third country in the world to authorize the Pfizer vaccine, following the United Kingdom and Bahrain. The country should receive up to 249,000 doses of the vaccine by the end of December, and has purchased 20 million doses total, with the option to purchase more, CTV News reported.
Daily COVID-19 death toll in the U.S. reaches record-high, surpassed 9/11 On Wednesday (Dec. 9), the U.S. recorded 3,124 new COVID-19 deaths, the highest daily death toll to date, according to CNN . In comparison, 2,977 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. has now recorded 280,488 deaths related to the virus, according to The COVID Tracking Project . A forecast from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that the total death toll can increase to between 332,000 and 362,000 by January 2, according to CNN. There are currently 106,671 people hospitalized with the virus in the U.S.; 20,903 of them are currently in the ICU and 7,621 are currently on a ventilator, according to the COVID Tracking Project. On Thursday (Dec. 10), the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is set to meet to discuss an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine.
FDA panel recommends authorization of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine A panel of experts for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that the agency authorize Pfizer's new COVID-19 vaccine in the United States. On Thursday (Dec. 10), the panel voted 17 to 4 to recommend that the vaccine receive emergency use authorization (EUA) for people ages 16 and older, according to The New York Times . The FDA typically follows the advice of its panels, and so today's vote is an important step towards the vaccine's authorization. It is anticipated that the agency will officially authorize the vaccine on Saturday (Dec. 12), the Times reported. Several countries have already authorized Pfizer's vaccine, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Bahrain.
Vaccine approval could come this weekend, as U.S. continues to record high daily death tolls On Thursday (Dec. 10), the U.S. recorded another 2,902 COVID-19 deaths, a day after the country set a record of 3,253 deaths, according to Reuters . “Probably for the next 60 to 90 days, we’re going to have more deaths per day than we had on 9/11 or we had at Pearl Harbor,” Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told the Council on Foreign Relations on Thursday, according to Reuters. "The reality is the vaccine approval this week is not going to really impact that, I think, to any degree for the next 60 days." On Thursday, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee discussed, voted and recommended that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should grant an emergency use authorization for Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine. The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved in the U.K. and in Canada, and FDA approval for use in the U.S. could come this weekend.
Australia abandons local COVID-19 vaccine after it caused false-positive HIV tests An Australian COVID-19 vaccine that had shown promising results in early trials is being abandoned after researchers found that the shot caused false-positive results on HIV tests. On Friday (Dec. 11), Australian officials said they had canceled an order for some 51 million doses of the vaccine, which was being developed by The University of Queensland and CSL Ltd., a local biotech company, according to The New York Times . In an early trial with 216 participants, the vaccine appeared to be safe and to produce a robust immune response against COVID-19, according to a statement from CSL . But some volunteers falsely tested positive for HIV, which officials feared would undermine trust in the vaccine, the Times reported. The vaccine contained small fragments of an HIV protein, which helped stabilize the vaccine. Some of the participants developed antibodies against these fragments, and these antibodies triggered false positive results on some HIV tests. It's important to note that there is no way for the vaccine to cause an HIV infection, because it contains harmless fragments of the virus.
ICU nurse in New York becomes first person in the US to receive a coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials New York, the worst-hit state at the start of the pandemic, just became the first to administer a coronavirus vaccine outside of clinical trials, kicking off a long, massive effort to vaccinate the American people, Live Science reported. Around 9 a.m. E.T. on Monday (Dec. 14), the very first dose of Pfizer and BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine was given to Sandra Lindsay, an intensive care nurse in Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens, New York, according to The New York Times. This comes as the U.S. continues to battle a massive wave of the virus that has more than 109,000 people currently hospitalized, according to The COVID Tracking Project. Since the start of the pandemic, New York has recorded more than 780,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 35,100 deaths, according to The Times. "This vaccine is exciting because I believe this is the weapon that will end the war," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during a live broadcast of the first vaccination. "It's the beginning of the last chapter of the book, but now we just have to do it."
FDA analysis confirms Moderna's vaccine is safe and effective, emergency authorization is likely to come Friday A new briefing document from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released on Tuesday (Dec. 15) confirmed that Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective, according to NPR . Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is 94% effective and has "a favorable safety profile," according to the document. A panel of experts is set to meet on Thursday (Dec. 17) to discuss the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine and vote on whether or not the FDA should grant emergency approval to the vaccine. Last week, the same panel voted that the FDA should grant emergency approval to Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine; the authorization came a day late and the first doses were given on Monday (Dec. 15). The FDA will likely approve Moderna's vaccine for emergency use on Friday (Dec. 18), according to The New York Times .
FDA authorizes first over-the-counter COVID-19 test The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first over-the-counter COVID-19 test, which can be done at home and does not need a prescription. The test, made by the Australia-based company Ellume, provides results in as little as 20 minutes, according to a statement from the FDA . It is a "lateral flow antigen test," meaning it works in a similar way to a home pregnancy test, by running a "liquid sample along a surface with reactive molecules," the FDA said. The test works in conjunction with a smartphone app. Users take a nasal swab and place their sample in an analyzer, which communicates to the smartphone app via Bluetooth. The results are delivered through the app, and also reported to public health authorities (based on a user's zip code) through a secure cloud connection, the company said . Ellume is ramping up production of its test, and expects to produce three million tests in January 2021, and 20 million within the first half of 2021.
A wild mink tested positive for the coronavirus, it may be the first wild animal to have a confirmed case A wild mink in Utah may be the first "free-ranging, native wild animal" confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Live Science reported. The mink was found near a mink farm and likely picked up the infection from the farmed mink. There's no evidence that the virus spread to other minks or wild animals; but if the virus does begin circulating in wild animals, it could pick up mutations that COVID-19 vaccines may not protect well against if it spreads back to humans, according to the report. "If it does [establish a reservoir], then we've got a long-term issue here, where this virus has the potential to be with us for millennia," Sarah Olson, associate director of the health program at the Wildlife Conservation Society, told Vox. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has screened other animal species for the virus near mink farms in Utah, Michigan and Wisconsin, but all of them have tested negative so far, according to a statement.
An FDA advisory panel will meet today to vote on whether to recommend Moderna's coronavirus vaccine for emergency approval On Thursday (Dec. 17), a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee will meet to determine whether to recommend that Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine for emergency approval, according to The New York Times . This panel, composed of independent experts, will vote on whether to recommend the vaccine after hearing from the company, FDA scientists and the public, according to The Times. Last week, the same panel of experts met to discuss Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine and voted to recommend emergency authorization; the authorization came the next day. There have now been more than 16.9 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and more than 307,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins dashboard . There are currently 113,090 people hospitalized across the country with more than 21,900 of them in the ICU and 7,778 on a ventilator, according to The COVID Tracking Project .
California becomes new epicenter of COVID-19 in U.S. California, once praised for its early pandemic response, is now the new U.S. hotspot for COVID-19 infections. The state has reported an alarming surge in cases, breaking previous records for daily cases. On Thursday (Dec. 17), the state reported some 50,000 COVID-19 infections in 24 hours, and nearly 100,000 in 48 hours, according to The Washington Post . That's more than the daily cases reported in many countries, including India, Germany and Britain, the Post reported. The state also set a record for daily deaths on Thursday, with 379 fatalities reported, up from the previous high of 293. Capacity in intensive care units has also dropped dramatically, with hospitals in Southern California reporting zero percent capacity on Thursday. "I want to be very clear: Our hospitals are under siege, and our model shows no end in sight," said Christina Ghaly, director of Los Angeles County's Department of Health Services, the Post reported.
FDA expected to authorize Moderna's vaccine on Friday The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to authorize Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine on Friday (Dec. 18). Once authorized, it will be the second coronavirus vaccine to get the green light from the agency in just a week, with Pfizer's vaccine gaining authorization on Dec. 11. Moderna is expected to begin shipping 5.9 million doses of its vaccine on Sunday (Dec. 20), with the first deliveries arriving Monday (Dec. 21), according to The New York Times . Unlike the Pfizer vaccine, Moderna's vaccine does not require storage in extremely cold temperatures, and states are hoping to distribute the vaccine to rural hospitals and community health centers, the Times reported.
COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the U.S. There have now been more than 17 million cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and more than 300,000 deaths, according to The COVID Tracking Project . There are currently 114,237 people hospitalized across the country and 21,900 people in the ICU. California is facing a massive surge in cases; the state reported 41,012 new COVID-19 cases and 300 new deaths on Thursday (Dec. 17), according to the state's COVID-19 dashboard . By comparison, at the start of November, California was reporting a seven-day average of 4,183 cases, compared to an average of 38,774 on Thursday, according to CNN . "We're experiencing an explosive and very deadly surge," Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Public Health Director said, according to CNN. Intensive care unit beds are rapidly filling up across the state; there are only 1,234 ICU beds left available in California, according to the dashboard. Current closures across California are impacting around 98% of the state's population, according to CNN.
London and southeast England are under an emergency lockdown Following concerns of a new version of the coronavirus that might be more transmissible, London and most of southeast England are now under an emergency lockdown, according to The New York Times . Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the lockdown on Saturday (Dec. 19) citing concerns that the mutated virus — which was detected a couple of weeks ago in southeast England — may be as much as 70% more transmissible than previous versions, according to the Times. The new version of the coronavirus is detected in more than 60% of new infections in London and have also been detected in several other countries, according to the Times. But it's not yet clear if this coronavirus version is any more infectious than the last and thorough analyses will need to be conducted before conclusions are made, scientists cautioned. In South Africa, a similar version of the virus has been found in up to 90% of new cases detected since mid-November, according to The Times . It's common for viruses to mutate, and this particular coronavirus has mutated many times since the start of the pandemic. But experts told The Times that it would take years for the virus to mutate enough such that it would make the current vaccines developed to fight COVID-19 ineffective.
Biden gets Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine President-elect Joe Biden received a dose of Pfizer's new COVID-19 vaccine on Monday (Dec. 21), according to The New York Times . He received the shot on camera at the Christiana Hospital in Newark, Delaware. "I'm doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it's available to take the vaccine. There's nothing to worry about," Biden said.
Antarctica has its 1st COVID-19 outbreak The first COVID-19 cases have been reported in Antarctica , meaning the disease has now spread to every continent in the world. On Tuesday (Dec. 22), Chilean officials reported an outbreak of 36 COVID-19 cases at the Chilean research base General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme on the Antarctic Peninsula, according to the BBC . Of these, 26 cases were military personnel and 10 were maintenance workers, the BBC reported. All of these cases have been evacuated from Antarctica to Punta Arenas, Chile, according to The Guardian . Antarctica had been COVID-19 free up until the current outbreak. The continent has no permanent residents, but about 1,000 people, including scientists and other workers, stayed there this past winter, The Guardian reported.
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livescience--2020-12-16--Two strange blobs of X-ray energy are swirling out of the galaxy's center

Millions of years ago , a powerful explosion shook the center of the , sending twin shock waves blasting across the sky .
Those waves bulldozed through the galaxy , heating up all the gas and dust in their path and leaving two telltale blobs of hot , highly energized gamma-rays in their wake .
Today , those blobs — now named the — span half the width of our galaxy .
One lobe towers for 25,000 light-years above the Milky Way 's disk , and the other looms just as large below it .
Since their discovery in 2010 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mystery of our galaxy — and now we know they are not alone .
As scientists continue to study our galaxy in every wavelength of light imaginable , strange new structures within the Fermi Bubbles — from to slowly inflating — continue to emerge .
Now , a paper published Dec. 9 in the journal reveals some of the largest Fermi-familiar structures yet : the `` eROSITA bubbles . ''
Visible only in emissions , these newfound bubbles are considerably less energetic ( and less hot ) than the Fermi blobs but are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light-years from end to end .
Like the Fermi bubbles , these orbs of hot gas tower above and below the galactic plane in a distinct hourglass shape , pinned to the galactic center at the point where the two blobs meet .
Given their similar shape and common midpoint , it 's likely that the Fermi and eROSITA bubbles share a physical connection , and probably emerged from the same eruption of galactic fireworks millions of years ago , the authors wrote in their study .
What caused the bubbles to blow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mystery , but astronomers suspect it involves an of energy from our galaxy 's central black hole , Sagittarius A* .
That explanation fits for the newfound X-ray bubbles , the study authors wrote , considering the amount of energy required to inflate them .
The team calculated that an energy release equivalent to that of 100,000 supernovas ( powerful stellar explosions ) was needed to create these structures — a figure on a par with X-ray energy releases observed in other galaxies with active black holes at their centers .
Even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old , its traces would still be visible .
`` The scars left by such outbursts take a very long time to heal , '' study co-author Andrea Merloni , a senior scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany , .
Merloni and his colleagues discovered the X-ray bubbles using the eROSITA X-ray telescope , which rides around the cosmos aboard the Russian-German Spektr-RG satellite .
The telescope scans the entire sky every six months , constantly updating our view of the X-ray universe .

Millions of years ago, a powerful explosion shook the center of the Milky Way , sending twin shock waves blasting across the sky. Those waves bulldozed through the galaxy, heating up all the gas and dust in their path and leaving two telltale blobs of hot, highly energized gamma-rays in their wake.
Today, those blobs — now named the Fermi Bubbles — span half the width of our galaxy. One lobe towers for 25,000 light-years above the Milky Way's disk, and the other looms just as large below it. Since their discovery in 2010, the bubbles have been a monolithic mystery of our galaxy — and now we know they are not alone.
As scientists continue to study our galaxy in every wavelength of light imaginable, strange new structures within the Fermi Bubbles — from "chimneys" of plasma to slowly inflating balloons of radio energy — continue to emerge. Now, a paper published Dec. 9 in the journal Nature reveals some of the largest Fermi-familiar structures yet: the "eROSITA bubbles."
Related: 15 Unforgettable images of stars
Visible only in X-ray emissions, these newfound bubbles are considerably less energetic (and less hot) than the Fermi blobs but are nearly as gargantuan, measuring about 45,000 light-years from end to end. Like the Fermi bubbles, these orbs of hot gas tower above and below the galactic plane in a distinct hourglass shape, pinned to the galactic center at the point where the two blobs meet.
Given their similar shape and common midpoint, it's likely that the Fermi and eROSITA bubbles share a physical connection, and probably emerged from the same eruption of galactic fireworks millions of years ago, the authors wrote in their study. What caused the bubbles to blow in the first place is still a mystery, but astronomers suspect it involves an explosive outburst of energy from our galaxy's central black hole, Sagittarius A*.
That explanation fits for the newfound X-ray bubbles, the study authors wrote, considering the amount of energy required to inflate them. The team calculated that an energy release equivalent to that of 100,000 supernovas (powerful stellar explosions) was needed to create these structures — a figure on a par with X-ray energy releases observed in other galaxies with active black holes at their centers. Even if this hypothetical explosion is millions of years old, its traces would still be visible.
"The scars left by such outbursts take a very long time to heal," study co-author Andrea Merloni, a senior scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Germany, said in a statement .
Merloni and his colleagues discovered the X-ray bubbles using the eROSITA X-ray telescope, which rides around the cosmos aboard the Russian-German Spektr-RG satellite. The telescope scans the entire sky every six months, constantly updating our view of the X-ray universe.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-12-16--Deadly 'brain-eating amoeba' has expanded its range northward

Deadly `` `` infections have historically occurred in the Southern United States .
But cases have been appearing farther north in recent years , likely because of , a new study finds .
The study researchers , from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , examined cases of this brain-eating amoeba , known as Naegleria fowleri , over a four-decade period in the U.S .
They found that , although the number of cases that occur each year has remained about the same , the geographic range of these cases has been shifting northward , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than before .
N. fowleri is a single-celled organism that 's naturally found in warm freshwater , such as lakes and rivers , according to the .
It causes a devastating brain infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis ( PAM ) , which is almost universally fatal .
Infections occur when contaminated water goes up a person 's nose , allowing the organism to enter the brain through the olfactory nerves ( responsible for your sense of smell ) and destroy brain tissue .
Swallowing contaminated water will not cause an infection , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thrives in warm waters , up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit ( 45 degrees Celsius ) , it 's possible that warming global temperatures may affect the organisms ' geographic range , the authors said .
In the new study , published Wednesday ( Dec. 16 ) in the journal , the researchers analyzed U.S. cases of N. fowleri linked to recreational water exposure — such as swimming in lakes , ponds , rivers or reservoirs — from 1978 to 2018 .
They identified a total of 85 cases of N. fowleri that met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
cases that were tied to recreational water exposure and included location data . )
During this time , the number of yearly reported cases was fairly constant , ranging from zero to six per year .
The vast majority of cases , 74 , occurred in southern states ; but six were reported in the Midwest , including Minnesota , Kansas and Indiana .
Of these six cases , five occurred after 2010 , the report said .
What 's more , when the team used a model to examine trends in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they found that the maximum latitude had shifted about 8.2 miles ( 13.3 kilometers ) northward per year during the study period .
Finally , the researchers analyzed weather data from around the date each case occurred , and found that on average , daily temperatures in the two weeks leading up to each case were higher than the historical average for each location .
`` It is possible that and consequent increases in recreational water use , such as swimming and water sports , could contribute to the changing epidemiology of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Efforts to characterize PAM cases , such as knowing when and where these cases occur , and being aware of changes in their geographic range , could help predict when it 's riskiest to visit natural swimming holes , the authors said .
Since there is no rapid test for N. fowleri in water , the only sure way to prevent these infections is to avoid swimming in warm freshwater , the CDC says .
If you choose to go swimming in warm freshwater , you can try to avoid having water go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed , using nose clips or keeping your head above water .

Deadly " brain-eating amoeba " infections have historically occurred in the Southern United States. But cases have been appearing farther north in recent years, likely because of climate change , a new study finds.
The study researchers, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), examined cases of this brain-eating amoeba, known as Naegleria fowleri, over a four-decade period in the U.S. They found that, although the number of cases that occur each year has remained about the same, the geographic range of these cases has been shifting northward, with more cases popping up in Midwestern states than before.
N. fowleri
is a single-celled organism that's naturally found in warm freshwater, such as lakes and rivers, according to the CDC . It causes a devastating brain infection known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is almost universally fatal. Infections occur when contaminated water goes up a person's nose, allowing the organism to enter the brain through the olfactory nerves (responsible for your sense of smell) and destroy brain tissue. Swallowing contaminated water will not cause an infection, the CDC says.
Related: 5 key facts about brain-eating amoebas
Because N. fowleri thrives in warm waters, up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius), it's possible that warming global temperatures may affect the organisms' geographic range, the authors said.
In the new study, published Wednesday (Dec. 16) in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases , the researchers analyzed U.S. cases of N. fowleri linked to recreational water exposure — such as swimming in lakes, ponds, rivers or reservoirs — from 1978 to 2018. They identified a total of 85 cases of N. fowleri that met their criteria for the study (i.e. cases that were tied to recreational water exposure and included location data.)
During this time, the number of yearly reported cases was fairly constant, ranging from zero to six per year. The vast majority of cases, 74, occurred in southern states; but six were reported in the Midwest, including Minnesota, Kansas and Indiana. Of these six cases, five occurred after 2010, the report said.
A map showing cases of Naegleria fowleri infections tied to recreational water in the U.S. from 1978 to 2018. (Image credit: CDC/Emerg Infect Dis. 2021 Jan)
What's more, when the team used a model to examine trends in the maximum latitude of cases per year, they found that the maximum latitude had shifted about 8.2 miles (13.3 kilometers) northward per year during the study period.
Finally, the researchers analyzed weather data from around the date each case occurred, and found that on average, daily temperatures in the two weeks leading up to each case were higher than the historical average for each location.
"It is possible that rising temperatures and consequent increases in recreational water use, such as swimming and water sports, could contribute to the changing epidemiology of PAM," the authors wrote.
Efforts to characterize PAM cases, such as knowing when and where these cases occur, and being aware of changes in their geographic range, could help predict when it's riskiest to visit natural swimming holes, the authors said.
Since there is no rapid test for N. fowleri in water, the only sure way to prevent these infections is to avoid swimming in warm freshwater, the CDC says. If you choose to go swimming in warm freshwater, you can try to avoid having water go up your nose by holding your nose closed, using nose clips or keeping your head above water.
Originally published on Live Science.