livescience--2020-11-18--How early was the coronavirus really circulating in Italy?

The new may have been circulating in Italy since September 2019 , months before the first official case was detected in the country , according to a new study from Italy .
But public health experts say that more analysis is needed for that timeline to be confirmed .
The World Health Organization 's China office first picked up the scent of a mysterious cluster of pneumonia cases in the city of Wuhan from local media statements on Dec. 31 and rang the alarm bells at the start of the new year , according to the WHO 's timeline .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 in Wuhan back to Nov. 17 , 2019 , .
But the actual timeline — from the moment the virus hopped from animals to humans to when it first crossed international borders — remains murky .
Italy , one of the worst-hit countries in Europe during the first wave of the virus , recorded its first local case on Feb. 20 in Lombardy , a region in northern Italy .
That case suggested that the virus had been circulating in Italy since January of this year , according to the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But some studies hinted at the possibility that the virus had been crossing borders long before then .
found coronavirus RNA , or genetic material , in sewage samples taken on Dec. 18 , 2019 , in the cities of Milan and Turin .
Another found that a patient in Paris who was treated in an intensive care unit in December 2019 had COVID-19 , .
Another analysis looked at satellite images and found that traffic at hospitals in Wuhan and online searches for COVID-19 symptoms were elevated compared with normal starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 2019 .
That suggested that the coronavirus may have been attacking us long before we knew its name .
To further clarify the early movements of the virus , a group of researchers analyzed blood samples from people in Italy who were enrolled in a prospective lung cancer screening trial between September 2019 and March 2020 .
They looked for specific to the receptor binding domain ( RBD ) — the dock on the coronavirus ' spike protein that it uses to latch onto and invade human cells .
They found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asymptomatic at the time their blood was drawn , had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in their blood at the time it was taken , meaning that about 11.6 % of the entire group had been infected with the virus before March .
Specifically , the researchers found coronavirus antibodies in 23 patients who gave samples in September and in 27 who gave samples in October .
They also found that 53.2 % of these cases were participants from Lombardy .
`` Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 circulated in Italy earlier than the first official COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long before the first official reports from the Chinese authorities , casting new light on the onset and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic , '' the authors wrote in the study .
This is `` credible evidence that the virus was circulating prior to WHO 's awareness of it '' and may help explain how the disease spread so quickly in Italy , said Krys Johnson , an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Temple University in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , who was not a part of the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than previously thought , `` it may mean that it is ( or was ) less deadly than current estimates because of how long it took to be identified . ''
In other words , if these samples do indeed show evidence of early COVID-19 infections , they may not have been detected by the medical system possibly because they were somehow less deadly at the time .
She added that it would be nice to see more studies reanalyze blood or other biological samples collected in late summer and fall of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results .
But it 's hard to imagine that a substantial fraction of the population was infected with SARS-CoV-2 in September in Italy without a dramatic uptick in pneumonia-like cases then .
For instance , in Spain , far less than 10 % of the population tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in the summer , despite the fact that 28,000 people had died from COVID-19 up to that point , according to a survey published in August in the journal .
`` I would be very cautious , '' about these findings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California , San Francisco , who was also not a part of the study .
The results `` have to be confirmed with different antibody tests , '' that look for the prevalence of antibodies that target other parts of the coronavirus .
His previous experience has shown that such antibody tests for the coronavirus ' RBD can create a lot of false positives , Rutherford told Live Science .
And because this is `` such an unexpected finding , '' it should be confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that look for antibodies against another one of the coronavirus ' proteins , an outer coat called a `` nucleocapsid , '' which is also unique to the novel coronavirus , he said .
Still , `` it 's not totally outside the realm of possibility , '' that the virus circulated in Italy earlier than thought .
because there is a lot of travel back and forth between China and Italy , especially northern Italy , he said .
But considering the earliest COVID-19 case in Wuhan was reported to be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pause to say let 's really make sure we got this right before we try and explain it , '' Rutherford said .
The WHO said on Monday ( Nov. 16 ) that they are reviewing the results of the study and contacting the authors to arrange for further analysis of the samples , .

The new coronavirus may have been circulating in Italy since September 2019, months before the first official case was detected in the country, according to a new study from Italy. But public health experts say that more analysis is needed for that timeline to be confirmed.
The World Health Organization's China office first picked up the scent of a mysterious cluster of pneumonia cases in the city of Wuhan from local media statements on Dec. 31 and rang the alarm bells at the start of the new year, according to the WHO's timeline . Scientists later traced the first known case of COVID-19 in Wuhan back to Nov. 17, 2019, Live Science previously reported .
But the actual pandemic timeline — from the moment the virus hopped from animals to humans to when it first crossed international borders — remains murky. Italy, one of the worst-hit countries in Europe during the first wave of the virus, recorded its first local case on Feb. 20 in Lombardy, a region in northern Italy. That case suggested that the virus had been circulating in Italy since January of this year, according to the new study published on Nov. 11 in the Tumori Journal .
Related: Coronavirus live updates
But some studies hinted at the possibility that the virus had been crossing borders long before then. One study found coronavirus RNA, or genetic material, in sewage samples taken on Dec. 18, 2019, in the cities of Milan and Turin. Another found that a patient in Paris who was treated in an intensive care unit in December 2019 had COVID-19, Live Science previously reported . Another analysis from Harvard University looked at satellite images and found that traffic at hospitals in Wuhan and online searches for COVID-19 symptoms were elevated compared with normal starting in the late summer and early fall of 2019. That suggested that the coronavirus may have been attacking us long before we knew its name.
To further clarify the early movements of the virus, a group of researchers analyzed blood samples from people in Italy who were enrolled in a prospective lung cancer screening trial between September 2019 and March 2020. They looked for antibodies specific to the receptor binding domain (RBD) — the dock on the coronavirus' spike protein that it uses to latch onto and invade human cells.
They found that 111 of these 959 people, all asymptomatic at the time their blood was drawn, had SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in their blood at the time it was taken, meaning that about 11.6% of the entire group had been infected with the virus before March. Specifically, the researchers found coronavirus antibodies in 23 patients who gave samples in September and in 27 who gave samples in October. They also found that 53.2% of these cases were participants from Lombardy.
"Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 circulated in Italy earlier than the first official COVID-19 cases were diagnosed in Lombardy, even long before the first official reports from the Chinese authorities, casting new light on the onset and spread of the COVID-19 pandemic," the authors wrote in the study.
Potential for false positives
This is "credible evidence that the virus was circulating prior to WHO's awareness of it" and may help explain how the disease spread so quickly in Italy, said Krys Johnson, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who was not a part of the study. If the virus was circulating earlier than previously thought, "it may mean that it is (or was) less deadly than current estimates because of how long it took to be identified." In other words, if these samples do indeed show evidence of early COVID-19 infections, they may not have been detected by the medical system possibly because they were somehow less deadly at the time. She added that it would be nice to see more studies reanalyze blood or other biological samples collected in late summer and fall of 2019 to see if they arrive at similar results.
But it's hard to imagine that a substantial fraction of the population was infected with SARS-CoV-2 in September in Italy without a dramatic uptick in pneumonia-like cases then. For instance, in Spain, far less than 10% of the population tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in the summer, despite the fact that 28,000 people had died from COVID-19 up to that point, according to a survey published in August in the journal The Lancet .
"I would be very cautious," about these findings, said Dr. George Rutherford, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco, who was also not a part of the study. The results "have to be confirmed with different antibody tests," that look for the prevalence of antibodies that target other parts of the coronavirus.
His previous experience has shown that such antibody tests for the coronavirus' RBD can create a lot of false positives, Rutherford told Live Science. And because this is "such an unexpected finding," it should be confirmed with other antibody tests such as those that look for antibodies against another one of the coronavirus' proteins, an outer coat called a "nucleocapsid," which is also unique to the novel coronavirus, he said.
Still, "it's not totally outside the realm of possibility," that the virus circulated in Italy earlier than thought. because there is a lot of travel back and forth between China and Italy, especially northern Italy, he said. But considering the earliest COVID-19 case in Wuhan was reported to be in November, "it really gives me pause to say let's really make sure we got this right before we try and explain it," Rutherford said.
The WHO said on Monday (Nov. 16) that they are reviewing the results of the study and contacting the authors to arrange for further analysis of the samples, according to Reuters .
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-11-18--Woman's stomach pain turns out to be rare case of 'wandering spleen'

A woman who went to the emergency department with abdominal pain soon learned the source of her discomfort : Her spleen had shifted about a foot out of place , according to a new report of the case .
This rare condition , known as `` wandering spleen , '' occurs when ligaments that normally hold the spleen in place become loose and stretched out .
The , which filters in the body and produces cells , typically sits above the stomach in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen .
But when the 36-year-old woman showed up at Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found her spleen in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen , instead .
`` It traveled approximately 1 foot [ 0.3 meters ] , '' Dr. Alexander Wester , a resident physician in internal medicine at Michigan Medicine , told Live Science in an email .
Wester and Dr. Ivan Co , an emergency medicine doctor and assistant professor at Michigan Medicine , described the case in a paper published Nov. 18 in The New England Journal of Medicine .
Just two days before learning about her wandering spleen , the patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which doctors took medical images of her abdomen and saw her spleen sitting in its appropriate place .
A day later , the woman began to experience abdominal pain and vomiting .
At the emergency department , doctors took new scans , and in that space of time , her spleen had traveled to the complete opposite side of her body .
But why did the woman 's spleen wander in the first place ?
The movement likely stemmed from her , which connects to the spleen through a system of .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sclerosing cholangitis , a progressive disease marked by in the bile ducts that carry digestive liquids from the liver to the small intestine , according to the Mayo Clinic .
This inflammation caused severe liver scarring , known as cirrhosis , making it difficult for blood to flow through the organ , Wester said .
`` Much like a clogged pipe , this causes blood to back up , and one of the places it backs up is the spleen , '' he said .
`` Over time , the spleen gets larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
As the spleen gets bigger , the ligaments surrounding it can get stretched out , allowing the spleen to escape its proper place in the upper abdomen .
Thus , the wandering .
Wandering spleen can also be caused by congenital conditions , where babies are born with weak or missing ligaments that would normally stabilize the spleen , according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders .
The condition can also arise in adulthood through physical trauma or other conditions that can weaken the ligaments near the spleen , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The biggest danger of leaving a wandering spleen untreated is known as splenic infarction , Wester said .
`` There are blood vessels that travel near the spleen that can become twisted and cut off blood supply to the spleen , '' he said .
`` This can cause severe pain and even death if untreated . ''
The , which produces hormones and digestive enzymes , is also connected to the spleen via blood vessels and can become inflamed when the spleen wanders out of place .
The best treatment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organ removed .
`` You can live without an intact spleen , and most patients should get their spleen removed if they have this condition , '' Wester said .
However , the patient was being evaluated for a liver transplant at the time , and Wester noted that the potential complications of undergoing a splenectomy could undermine her candidacy for a new liver .
Additionally , if and when the patient qualified for a new liver , both the transplant and spleen removal could take place at the same time , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was deferred to some time in the future .
In the meantime , she was given `` pain-control treatment and hydration , and her abdominal pain and vomiting resolved , '' according to the case report .

A woman who went to the emergency department with abdominal pain soon learned the source of her discomfort: Her spleen had shifted about a foot out of place, according to a new report of the case.
This rare condition, known as "wandering spleen," occurs when ligaments that normally hold the spleen in place become loose and stretched out. The spleen , which filters blood in the body and produces immune cells, typically sits above the stomach in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen.
But when the 36-year-old woman showed up at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, her doctors found her spleen in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen, instead.
"It traveled approximately 1 foot [0.3 meters]," Dr. Alexander Wester, a resident physician in internal medicine at Michigan Medicine, told Live Science in an email. Wester and Dr. Ivan Co, an emergency medicine doctor and assistant professor at Michigan Medicine, described the case in a paper published Nov. 18 in The New England Journal of Medicine .
Related: 12 amazing images in medicine
Just two days before learning about her wandering spleen, the patient had undergone a screening for liver cancer , during which doctors took medical images of her abdomen and saw her spleen sitting in its appropriate place. A day later, the woman began to experience abdominal pain and vomiting.
At the emergency department, doctors took new scans, and in that space of time, her spleen had traveled to the complete opposite side of her body.
Panel A (left) shows the woman's spleen marked with an asterisk; these scans were taken when the patient went to the emergency department with abdominal pain. The spleen in the right lower quadrant of her abdomen. Panel B (right) is a scan taken two days earlier, where the spleen is in the correct position on the left side of the body. (Image credit: The New England Journal of Medicine)
But why did the woman's spleen wander in the first place? The movement likely stemmed from her liver , which connects to the spleen through a system of veins .
The woman had a liver condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis, a progressive disease marked by inflammation in the bile ducts that carry digestive liquids from the liver to the small intestine, according to the Mayo Clinic . This inflammation caused severe liver scarring, known as cirrhosis, making it difficult for blood to flow through the organ, Wester said.
"Much like a clogged pipe, this causes blood to back up, and one of the places it backs up is the spleen," he said. "Over time, the spleen gets larger trying to accommodate all the extra blood." As the spleen gets bigger, the ligaments surrounding it can get stretched out, allowing the spleen to escape its proper place in the upper abdomen. Thus, the wandering.
Related: 7 weirdest medical conditions
Wandering spleen can also be caused by congenital conditions, where babies are born with weak or missing ligaments that would normally stabilize the spleen, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders . The condition can also arise in adulthood through physical trauma or other conditions that can weaken the ligaments near the spleen, such as connective tissue diseases or even pregnancy.
The biggest danger of leaving a wandering spleen untreated is known as splenic infarction, Wester said. "There are blood vessels that travel near the spleen that can become twisted and cut off blood supply to the spleen," he said. "This can cause severe pain and even death if untreated." The pancreas , which produces hormones and digestive enzymes, is also connected to the spleen via blood vessels and can become inflamed when the spleen wanders out of place.
The best treatment for wandering spleen is to simply have the organ removed. "You can live without an intact spleen, and most patients should get their spleen removed if they have this condition," Wester said.
However, the patient was being evaluated for a liver transplant at the time, and Wester noted that the potential complications of undergoing a splenectomy could undermine her candidacy for a new liver. Additionally, if and when the patient qualified for a new liver, both the transplant and spleen removal could take place at the same time, he added.
So the patient's splenectomy was deferred to some time in the future. In the meantime, she was given "pain-control treatment and hydration, and her abdominal pain and vomiting resolved," according to the case report.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-11-18--FDA authorizes 1st fully at-home COVID-19 test

The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has authorized the first fully at-home rapid COVID-19 test .
The test , made by Lucira Health in California , requires a prescription and provides results within 30 minutes , according to a .
Although the FDA has authorized hundreds of ( including ) , these earlier tests either needed to be administered by a health care provider or sent to a lab for analysis .
The new test `` is the first that can be fully self-administered and provide results at home , '' FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing option is an important diagnostic advancement to address the pandemic and reduce the public burden of disease transmission . ''
Related : 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history To use the test , people first swab themselves inside both nostrils .
To get a good swab , people should tilt their head back and insert the swab tip fully inside the nostril , until they meet resistance , according to instructions from Lucira .
The company says the test should not hurt , but may sometimes feel uncomfortable or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the swab in a vial and swirl it around .
The vial is then placed in a battery-powered device with a light-up display .
After a half hour , the display lights show if the person has tested positive or negative .
People should report their results to their health care providers , who are then required to report all test results to public health authorities , the statement said .
The test is authorized for home use in people ages 14 and older who are suspected to have COVID-19 , the FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a health care provider must administer the test .
According to Lucira , a study of the test 's accuracy found that it correctly identified 94 % of people with the virus , and correctly ruled out infection in 98 % of healthy people .
The test detects genetic material from SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , through a method known as loop mediated amplification reaction , or LAMP .
This method is similar to PCR , the gold-standard for COVID-19 testing ; however , LAMP is generally considered less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lucira anticipates that each test will cost about $ 50 , according to a .
The test should be available in the near future to patients in Northern California served by Sutter Health , and to patients of the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale , the statement said .
The company expects the test to be available nationally by early spring 2021 .

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the first fully at-home rapid COVID-19 test.
The test, made by Lucira Health in California, requires a prescription and provides results within 30 minutes, according to a statement from the FDA .
Although the FDA has authorized hundreds of COVID-19 tests (including at-home tests ), these earlier tests either needed to be administered by a health care provider or sent to a lab for analysis.
The new test "is the first that can be fully self-administered and provide results at home," FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn, said in the statement. "This new testing option is an important diagnostic advancement to address the pandemic and reduce the public burden of disease transmission."
Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history
To use the test, people first swab themselves inside both nostrils. To get a good swab, people should tilt their head back and insert the swab tip fully inside the nostril, until they meet resistance, according to instructions from Lucira. The company says the test should not hurt, but may sometimes feel uncomfortable or tickly. After swabbing, users place the swab in a vial and swirl it around. The vial is then placed in a battery-powered device with a light-up display. After a half hour, the display lights show if the person has tested positive or negative.
People should report their results to their health care providers, who are then required to report all test results to public health authorities, the statement said.
The test is authorized for home use in people ages 14 and older who are suspected to have COVID-19, the FDA said. In children younger than 14, a health care provider must administer the test.
According to Lucira, a study of the test's accuracy found that it correctly identified 94% of people with the virus, and correctly ruled out infection in 98% of healthy people.
The test detects genetic material from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, through a method known as loop mediated amplification reaction, or LAMP. This method is similar to PCR, the gold-standard for COVID-19 testing; however, LAMP is generally considered less accurate than PCR, according to The New York Times .
Lucira anticipates that each test will cost about $50, according to a statement from the company . The test should be available in the near future to patients in Northern California served by Sutter Health, and to patients of the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, the statement said. The company expects the test to be available nationally by early spring 2021.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-11-18--Children can be stealth superspreaders of malaria to mosquitoes

Children infected with malaria can become `` superspreaders '' and pass the parasite to droves of local mosquitoes , even if the kids never develop symptoms of the disease , a new study suggests .
Since this disease is passed from humans to mosquitoes and then back again , rather than from person to person , this finding is worrisome .
If goes untreated in these asymptomatic children , the parasites will continue to circulate among , even in places that employ intensive malaria controls like insecticides , bednets , and free diagnostic tests and treatments .
According to new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ( ASTMH ) , even a small number of infected children can transmit malaria parasites to a mob of mosquitoes , which can then go on to infect more humans .
From their new research in Uganda , the researchers concluded that asymptomatic children between ages 5 and 15 are the main source of infection for local mosquitoes in the region they studied .
Some of these children were so-called superspreaders , meaning they infected a much larger number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where mosquitoes were fed samples from infected people , more than 60 % of the resulting mosquito infections could be traced back to just four asymptomatic children , two of whom were school-age .
The other two superspreaders were ages 3 and 4 .
Related : The 10 most diabolical and disgusting parasites Despite some children becoming infected with multiple malaria clones during the study , these kids never fell ill and continued to lead a `` normal life … somehow living with all these parasites , '' said lead author Chiara Andolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands .
Malaria is well controlled in the region the team studied , but should control efforts ever falter or cease , these children could potentially fuel a resurgence of disease in the area .
To prevent malaria cases from rebounding , control efforts could specifically target school-age children , senior author Teun Bousema , a malaria epidemiologist at Radboud , told Live Science .
For example , regular malaria screenings and treatment campaigns in schools could have a `` very meaningful impact '' on depleting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driving the case count down to zero , he said .
Asymptomatic malaria infections make up 80 % or more of the cases detected through comprehensive screenings in areas where the disease regularly circulates , Bousema said .
that these asymptomatic infections crop up most often in school-age children .
While scientists agree that mosquitoes pick up malaria from both symptomatic and asymptomatic people , there 's a question as to whether one kind of infection is more or less infectious than the other .
In search of the answer , the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uganda .
Malaria was once incredibly common in Tororo ; as recently as 2011 , each resident was bitten about 310 times per year by malaria-infected mosquitoes , Andolina said in her ASTMH presentation .
Now , after years of intensive malaria control , infection rates have plummeted .
In 2018 , exposure to infectious mosquitoes fell to only 0.43 bites per person , per year .
`` It 's sort of a blueprint for what you can expect — if you really invest very heavily in malaria control , you can bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But to completely eliminate malaria , scientists have to find and purge any remaining hideouts of the parasite , he added .
Related : 11 ( sometimes ) deadly diseases that hopped across species To do so in Tororo , the team recruited 531 adults and children from 80 households and monitored them for malaria for two years .
Each month they conducted diagnostic tests and collected blood samples from the participants ; the blood was screened for malaria parasites and then used in mosquito-feeding experiments .
To pass from humans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into `` gametocytes ; '' once being ingested by the blood-sucking insects , the gametocytes divide into sex cells , fertilize each other and multiply .
With this in mind , the team also analyzed the density of gametocytes in the human blood samples , as the number can hint at how infectious that blood might be to mosquitoes .
Over the course of the study , the team detected 148 episodes of malaria — 38 symptomatic and 110 asymptomatic .
They conducted nearly 540 mosquito-feeding experiments with blood from 107 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeps the blood warm with circulating water .
In each experiment , dozens of mosquitoes got released into a container with the apparatus , where they could access the blood through a membrane that mimicked human skin .
The team later dissected the fed mosquitos to see how many became infected , and the vast majority of infections were linked to blood from asymptomatic people .
In all , blood from symptomatic people only infected 0.6 % of the total infected mosquitoes .
This trend is likely due , in part , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment , the authors said .
`` In our study , children and adults if they fell sick … often they went to the clinic before they developed these transmissible gametocytes , '' Bousema said .
Gametocytes take nine to 12 days to reach maturity , during which time most symptomatic people had already gotten treatment .
`` It actually demonstrates that if your access to care is very good , you can prevent symptomatic individuals from transmitting . ''
The challenge then becomes identifying infected people without symptoms , so that their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
Notably , some asymptomatic people in the study remained infectious for months , though their gametocyte levels fluctuated over time .
For example , two children remained infectious for six months without ever developing symptoms of malaria .
Related : 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history '' Asymptomatic infections really dominated in children … and schoolchildren somehow have longer duration infections , higher gametocyte densities , and thus were really the important source for mosquitoes to become infected , '' Bousema said .
Overall , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 represent nearly 57 % of the infectious reservoir , meaning they carry most of the parasites that could infect mosquitoes with malaria .
Following school-age children , children younger than 5 represent 27.5 % of the reservoir , while those age 16 and older represent the remaining 15.7 % .
Malaria control measures , such as insecticide-treated nets to cover people 's beds , are often prioritized for young children under age 5 and pregnant women , but school-age children might get overlooked , the authors noted .
Beyond nets , test-and-treat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases of malaria before they get passed to local mosquitoes , they said , and , many of which can also be used to treat malaria , could help kids avoid picking up the parasites in the first place .

The study authors used "mosquito feeding assays" to determine how infectious different blood samples were to the insects.
Children infected with malaria can become "superspreaders" and pass the parasite to droves of local mosquitoes, even if the kids never develop symptoms of the disease, a new study suggests.
Since this disease is passed from humans to mosquitoes and then back again, rather than from person to person, this finding is worrisome.
If malaria goes untreated in these asymptomatic children, the parasites will continue to circulate among mosquitoes , even in places that employ intensive malaria controls like insecticides, bednets, and free diagnostic tests and treatments. According to new research, presented Wednesday (Nov. 18) at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), even a small number of infected children can transmit malaria parasites to a mob of mosquitoes, which can then go on to infect more humans.
From their new research in Uganda, the researchers concluded that asymptomatic children between ages 5 and 15 are the main source of infection for local mosquitoes in the region they studied. Some of these children were so-called superspreaders, meaning they infected a much larger number of mosquitoes than others; in experiments where mosquitoes were fed blood samples from infected people, more than 60% of the resulting mosquito infections could be traced back to just four asymptomatic children, two of whom were school-age. The other two superspreaders were ages 3 and 4.
Related: The 10 most diabolical and disgusting parasites
Despite some children becoming infected with multiple malaria clones during the study, these kids never fell ill and continued to lead a "normal life … somehow living with all these parasites," said lead author Chiara Andolina, a graduate student and malaria expert at Radboud University Medical Center in the Netherlands. Malaria is well controlled in the region the team studied, but should control efforts ever falter or cease, these children could potentially fuel a resurgence of disease in the area.
To prevent malaria cases from rebounding, control efforts could specifically target school-age children, senior author Teun Bousema, a malaria epidemiologist at Radboud, told Live Science. For example, regular malaria screenings and treatment campaigns in schools could have a "very meaningful impact" on depleting reservoirs of malaria, and ultimately, driving the case count down to zero, he said.
Spotting superspreaders
Asymptomatic malaria infections make up 80% or more of the cases detected through comprehensive screenings in areas where the disease regularly circulates, Bousema said. Studies suggest that these asymptomatic infections crop up most often in school-age children.
While scientists agree that mosquitoes pick up malaria from both symptomatic and asymptomatic people, there's a question as to whether one kind of infection is more or less infectious than the other. In search of the answer, the study authors traveled to the Tororo district of Uganda.
Malaria was once incredibly common in Tororo; as recently as 2011, each resident was bitten about 310 times per year by malaria-infected mosquitoes, Andolina said in her ASTMH presentation. Now, after years of intensive malaria control, infection rates have plummeted. In 2018, exposure to infectious mosquitoes fell to only 0.43 bites per person, per year.
"It's sort of a blueprint for what you can expect — if you really invest very heavily in malaria control, you can bring malaria burden down," Bousema said. But to completely eliminate malaria, scientists have to find and purge any remaining hideouts of the parasite, he added.
Related: 11 (sometimes) deadly diseases that hopped across species
To do so in Tororo, the team recruited 531 adults and children from 80 households and monitored them for malaria for two years. Each month they conducted diagnostic tests and collected blood samples from the participants; the blood was screened for malaria parasites and then used in mosquito-feeding experiments.
After feeding mosquitoes the blood of infected people, the study authors dissected the insect to see if they showed signs of malaria infection. (Image credit: Teun Bousema and Chiara Andolina)
To pass from humans to mosquitoes, malaria parasites must first mature into "gametocytes;" once being ingested by the blood-sucking insects, the gametocytes divide into sex cells, fertilize each other and multiply. With this in mind, the team also analyzed the density of gametocytes in the human blood samples, as the number can hint at how infectious that blood might be to mosquitoes.
Over the course of the study, the team detected 148 episodes of malaria — 38 symptomatic and 110 asymptomatic. They conducted nearly 540 mosquito-feeding experiments with blood from 107 of the infected people, using an apparatus that keeps the blood warm with circulating water. In each experiment, dozens of mosquitoes got released into a container with the apparatus, where they could access the blood through a membrane that mimicked human skin.
The team later dissected the fed mosquitos to see how many became infected, and the vast majority of infections were linked to blood from asymptomatic people.
In all, blood from symptomatic people only infected 0.6% of the total infected mosquitoes.
Targeting hidden reservoirs
This trend is likely due, in part, to symptomatic people having easy access to malaria treatment, the authors said.
"In our study, children and adults if they fell sick … often they went to the clinic before they developed these transmissible gametocytes," Bousema said. Gametocytes take nine to 12 days to reach maturity, during which time most symptomatic people had already gotten treatment. "It actually demonstrates that if your access to care is very good, you can prevent symptomatic individuals from transmitting."
The challenge then becomes identifying infected people without symptoms, so that their chains of transmission can also be broken, he said. Notably, some asymptomatic people in the study remained infectious for months, though their gametocyte levels fluctuated over time. For example, two children remained infectious for six months without ever developing symptoms of malaria.
Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history
"Asymptomatic infections really dominated in children … and schoolchildren somehow have longer duration infections, higher gametocyte densities, and thus were really the important source for mosquitoes to become infected," Bousema said.
Overall, the researchers estimated that children ages 5 to 15 represent nearly 57% of the infectious reservoir, meaning they carry most of the parasites that could infect mosquitoes with malaria. Following school-age children, children younger than 5 represent 27.5% of the reservoir, while those age 16 and older represent the remaining 15.7%.
Malaria control measures, such as insecticide-treated nets to cover people's beds, are often prioritized for young children under age 5 and pregnant women, but school-age children might get overlooked, the authors noted. Beyond nets, test-and-treat campaigns at schools could help snuff out new cases of malaria before they get passed to local mosquitoes, they said, and preventative medications , many of which can also be used to treat malaria, could help kids avoid picking up the parasites in the first place.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-11-19--Scientists discover exotic new mineral forged in the furnace of a Russian volcano

Volcanoes rank among the most destructive and awe-inspiring phenomena on the planet .
But these fiery fissures do much more than just destroy .
They also create .
In a new study , researchers in Russia report the discovery of one such creation – an unusual mineral never before documented by scientists : an alluring , vibrantly blue-and-green crystallized substance the team have called petrovite .
The mineral was found in the volcanic landscape of Russia 's far east , atop the Tolbachik volcano in the Kamchatka Peninsula .
Tolbachik 's eruptive history traces back thousands of years , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand out : the 'Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption ' of 1975–1976 , and a second , lesser follow-up that took place between 2012–2013 .
The force of eruptions during the first event tore numerous cinder cones in the volcanic complex , opening up rocky terrain that 's since been discovered to be a rich vein of fumarole deposits and unknown minerals never seen anywhere else .
In total , the Tolbachik volcano lays claim to 130 type locality minerals that were first identified here , the latest of which is petrovite , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ globular aggregates of tabular crystals , many holding gaseous inclusions .
The specimen studied here was discovered in 2000 , near the second cinder cone associated with the 1975 eruption , and was stored for later analysis .
It may have been a long time coming , but that analysis now reveals that this vibrantly blue mineral exhibits peculiar molecular hallmarks only rarely seen before now .
The copper atom in the crystal structure of petrovite has an unusual and very rare coordination of seven oxygen atoms , '' explains lead researcher and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Such coordination is characteristic of only a couple of compounds , as well as of saranchinaite . ''
Saranchinaite , identified a couple of years ago by another St Petersburg team , was also uncovered at Tolbachik – and , like petrovite , is strikingly colored in its own right .
In petrovite 's case , the mineral , which is thought to crystallise via direct precipitation from volcanic gases , takes form as blue cryptocrystalline crusts enveloping a fine pyroclastic material .
At the chemical level , petrovite represents a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one that bears similarities to saranchinaite , from which it may be produced , hypothetically speaking .
Notably , petrovite 's molecular framework – consisting of oxygen atoms , sodium sulphur and copper – is effectively porous in nature , demonstrating interconnected pathways that could enable sodium ions to migrate through the structure .
Due to that behavior – and if we can replicate the framework in the lab – the team thinks this could lead to important applications in material science , potentially enabling new ways of developing cathodes for use in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present , the biggest problem for this use is the small amount of a transition metal – copper – in the crystal structure of the mineral , '' Filatov says .
`` It might be solved by synthesizing a compound with the same structure as petrovite in the laboratory . ''
The findings are reported in Mineralogical Magazine .
This article was originally published by ScienceAlert .
Read the original article here .

The petrovite mineral consists of oxygen atoms, sodium sulfur and copper, which form a porous framework.
Volcanoes rank among the most destructive and awe-inspiring phenomena on the planet. But these fiery fissures do much more than just destroy. They also create.
In a new study, researchers in Russia report the discovery of one such creation – an unusual mineral never before documented by scientists: an alluring, vibrantly blue-and-green crystallized substance the team have called petrovite.
The mineral was found in the volcanic landscape of Russia's far east, atop the Tolbachik volcano in the Kamchatka Peninsula.
Tolbachik's eruptive history traces back thousands of years, but in recent times, two notable events stand out: the 'Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption' of 1975–1976, and a second, lesser follow-up that took place between 2012–2013.
The force of eruptions during the first event tore numerous cinder cones in the volcanic complex, opening up rocky terrain that's since been discovered to be a rich vein of fumarole deposits and unknown minerals never seen anywhere else.
Tolbachik is a volcanic complex on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the far east of Russia. (Image credit: Mekdet via Getty Images)
In total, the Tolbachik volcano lays claim to 130 type locality minerals that were first identified here, the latest of which is petrovite, a sulfate mineral that takes shape as blue globular aggregates of tabular crystals, many holding gaseous inclusions.
The specimen studied here was discovered in 2000, near the second cinder cone associated with the 1975 eruption, and was stored for later analysis. It may have been a long time coming, but that analysis now reveals that this vibrantly blue mineral exhibits peculiar molecular hallmarks only rarely seen before now.
The copper atom in the crystal structure of petrovite has an unusual and very rare coordination of seven oxygen atoms," explains lead researcher and crystallographer Stanislav Filatov from St Petersburg University.
"Such coordination is characteristic of only a couple of compounds, as well as of saranchinaite."
Saranchinaite, identified a couple of years ago by another St Petersburg team, was also uncovered at Tolbachik – and, like petrovite, is strikingly colored in its own right.
In petrovite's case, the mineral, which is thought to crystallise via direct precipitation from volcanic gases, takes form as blue cryptocrystalline crusts enveloping a fine pyroclastic material.
At the chemical level, petrovite represents a new type of crystal structure, although one that bears similarities to saranchinaite, from which it may be produced, hypothetically speaking.
Notably, petrovite's molecular framework – consisting of oxygen atoms, sodium sulphur and copper – is effectively porous in nature, demonstrating interconnected pathways that could enable sodium ions to migrate through the structure.
Due to that behavior – and if we can replicate the framework in the lab – the team thinks this could lead to important applications in material science, potentially enabling new ways of developing cathodes for use in batteries and electrical devices.
"At present, the biggest problem for this use is the small amount of a transition metal – copper – in the crystal structure of the mineral," Filatov says.
"It might be solved by synthesizing a compound with the same structure as petrovite in the laboratory."
The findings are reported in Mineralogical Magazine.
This article was originally published by ScienceAlert. Read the original article here.


livescience--2020-11-19--No, soaring COVID-19 cases are not due to more testing

COVID-19 cases are surging upward around the U.S. , reaching 100,000 daily cases for the first time on Nov. 4 and 150,000 only eight days later .
Some believe this increase in reported is a result of increases in testing , as more than 1.5 million tests are performed every day in the U.S .
But the evidence is clear that these high numbers reflect a true increase in the number of COVID-19 infections .
Hospitalizations , deaths and test-positivity rates are going up .
Taken together , this means that serious COVID-19 illness is on the rise and cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an artifact of changes in testing policy , the rise in cases reflects ongoing transmission and serious illness .
Even as COVID-19 treatments have improved and death rates have fallen , record-breaking levels of hospitalizations are already overwhelming ICUs in many parts of the country .
Hospitalizations and deaths will continue to climb even if the surge in new cases abates because the majority of cases are diagnosed before serious illness develops .
Today ’ s new infections will add to the death toll for weeks to come .
These hospitalizations and deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosis for hospitalized cases must be justified based on symptoms and test results .
COVID-19 is simply the only plausible explanation for ongoing high hospitalization and death rates .
High and rising test-positivity rates provide more evidence that COVID-19 is spreading uncontrollably around the country .
Test positivity can be calculated in two ways : as the percentage of all COVID-19 tests that come back positive , or , the percentage of people tested for active infection that return a positive result .
For example , Iowa ’ s test-positivity rate of 37.2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implies that for every 100 people tested for COVID-19 , 37 are positive .
Test positivity tells public health officials whether a testing program is casting a wide enough net to catch the majority of COVID-19 cases .
A high test-positivity rate indicates that the people getting tested are mostly those who have symptoms or think they ’ ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 .
But people can be infected or contagious even if they aren ’ t showing symptoms .
A low test-positivity rate means that access to testing is wide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who may not know they have the coronavirus .
This greatly increases the chances of diagnosing people without symptoms or known exposure who may nonetheless be infected .
The World Health Organization recommends a goal of 5 % test positivity or less , but test-positivity rates in many parts of the U.S. are well above that .
As of Nov. 17 , 44 states had test-positivity rates above 5 % , meaning their testing programs were not casting a broad enough net and were likely missing many undiagnosed cases .
Things are worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , deaths and test positivity clearly show that the worst of the surge is yet to come .
High test-positivity rates mean the current confirmed case numbers are undercounting total cases .
A test-positivity rate above 25 % , as is the case in several states , implies there may be more than five times as many cases in the population as have been diagnosed .
Many of these undetected cases may be contagious even though they have no symptoms , which further contributes to the spread of the virus .
Considering the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , the current surge does not bode well for the coming winter .
[ Expertise in your inbox .
Sign up for The Conversation ’ s newsletter and get expert takes on today ’ s news , every day . ]
The record-breaking surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations around the U.S. represents a true increase in infections and serious illness rather than an increase in testing .
In fact , high test-positivity rates show that cases are undercounted because of limited access to testing .
Hospitalizations and deaths will continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing programs remain a weak link in the U.S. pandemic response .
Diagnosing cases – and catching them as early as possible – will help cut off transmission chains of the deadly virus .
When people learn they ’ re infected , they ’ re more likely to take necessary precautions to avoid exposing family , friends and others to the virus .
Contrary to what some ill-informed people may be saying , the U.S. should be expanding access to testing to curb the spread of COVID-19 .
More testing would actually be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus under control .
This story was updated to reflect differences in definitions of test positivity and a more accurate estimate of undiagnosed cases .
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 .
This version of the article was originally published on @ @ @

COVID-19 cases are surging upward around the U.S., reaching 100,000 daily cases for the first time on Nov. 4 and 150,000 only eight days later. Some believe this increase in reported cases is a result of increases in testing, as more than 1.5 million tests are performed every day in the U.S. But the evidence is clear that these high numbers reflect a true increase in the number of COVID-19 infections.
Hospitalizations, deaths and test-positivity rates are going up. Taken together, this means that serious COVID-19 illness is on the rise and cases are being undercounted.
Steep increases in hospitalizations and deaths
Rather than being an artifact of changes in testing policy, the rise in cases reflects ongoing transmission and serious illness.
Even as COVID-19 treatments have improved and death rates have fallen, record-breaking levels of hospitalizations are already overwhelming ICUs in many parts of the country. Hospitalizations and deaths will continue to climb even if the surge in new cases abates because the majority of cases are diagnosed before serious illness develops. Today’s new infections will add to the death toll for weeks to come.
These hospitalizations and deaths represent confirmed COVID-19 infections. A COVID-19 diagnosis for hospitalized cases must be justified based on symptoms and test results. COVID-19 is simply the only plausible explanation for ongoing high hospitalization and death rates.
High and rising test positivity
High and rising test-positivity rates provide more evidence that COVID-19 is spreading uncontrollably around the country.
Test positivity can be calculated in two ways: as the percentage of all COVID-19 tests that come back positive, or, the percentage of people tested for active infection that return a positive result. For example, Iowa’s test-positivity rate of 37.2% between Oct. 26 and Nov. 9 implies that for every 100 people tested for COVID-19, 37 are positive.
Test positivity tells public health officials whether a testing program is casting a wide enough net to catch the majority of COVID-19 cases.
A high test-positivity rate indicates that the people getting tested are mostly those who have symptoms or think they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19. But people can be infected or contagious even if they aren’t showing symptoms. A low test-positivity rate means that access to testing is wide enough to reach large numbers of people who may not know they have the coronavirus. This greatly increases the chances of diagnosing people without symptoms or known exposure who may nonetheless be infected.
The World Health Organization recommends a goal of 5% test positivity or less, but test-positivity rates in many parts of the U.S. are well above that. As of Nov. 17, 44 states had test-positivity rates above 5%, meaning their testing programs were not casting a broad enough net and were likely missing many undiagnosed cases.
Things are worse than they seem
The data on hospitalizations, deaths and test positivity clearly show that the worst of the surge is yet to come. High test-positivity rates mean the current confirmed case numbers are undercounting total cases.
A test-positivity rate above 25%, as is the case in several states, implies there may be more than five times as many cases in the population as have been diagnosed. Many of these undetected cases may be contagious even though they have no symptoms, which further contributes to the spread of the virus. Considering the lag between new cases and hospitalization or death, the current surge does not bode well for the coming winter.
[Expertise in your inbox. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter and get expert takes on today’s news, every day.]
Overstretched testing programs
The record-breaking surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations around the U.S. represents a true increase in infections and serious illness rather than an increase in testing. In fact, high test-positivity rates show that cases are undercounted because of limited access to testing. Hospitalizations and deaths will continue to rise in the weeks ahead.
Overstretched testing programs remain a weak link in the U.S. pandemic response. Diagnosing cases – and catching them as early as possible – will help cut off transmission chains of the deadly virus. When people learn they’re infected, they’re more likely to take necessary precautions to avoid exposing family, friends and others to the virus. Contrary to what some ill-informed people may be saying, the U.S. should be expanding access to testing to curb the spread of COVID-19. More testing would actually be a crucial step toward finally getting the virus under control.
This story was updated to reflect differences in definitions of test positivity and a more accurate estimate of undiagnosed cases.
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. This version of the article was originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-11-19--The dazzling Blue Ring Nebula puzzled scientists for 16 years — and now they finally understand why

Scientists have uncovered new evidence in the mysterious fluorescent debris of the Blue Ring that may explain how the strange structure formed .
The Blue Ring Nebula harbors a central star , known as TYC 2597-735-1 .
An unusual ultraviolet ring surrounds the star , which astronomers first observed in 2004 using NASA 's now-defunct ( GALEX ) space telescope .
Until now , the formation of this peculiar ring — which is actually that has been color-coded blue in the telescope images — has largely remained a mystery .
`` Every time we thought we had this thing figured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'No , that 's not right , ' '' Mark Seibert , an astrophysicist with the Carnegie Institution for Science , a member of the GALEX team and a co-author on the new research , .
`` That 's a scary thing as a scientist .
But I also love how unique this object is , and the effort that so many people put in to figure it out . ''
Related : Gallery : Strange nebula shapes , what do you see ?
Using the in Hawaii , researchers found that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cone-shaped cloud of glowing molecular hydrogen that extends away from the central star , toward Earth .
The new observations also show a second cone-shaped cloud that extends from the star in the opposite direction .
The bases of the cone-shaped clouds appear to overlap when viewed from Earth , creating the ring shape around the star , Christopher Martin , a physicist at the California Institute of Technology ( Caltech ) and former principal investigator of GALEX , said in a news conference held digitally on Tuesday ( Nov. 17 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The scientists behind the new research believe that the clouds of fluorescent debris formed after a collided with and consumed a smaller stellar companion only a few thousand years ago .
The recent observations capture a never-before-seen evolutionary phase of a stellar collision .
`` The merging of two stars is fairly common , but they quickly become obscured by lots of dust as the ejecta from them expands and cools in space , which means we ca n't see what has actually happened , '' Keri Hoadley , lead author of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said in the statement .
The timing of the new observations was critical in helping scientists understand the phenomenon .
`` It 's like catching sight of a baby when it first walks , '' Don Neill , an astrophysicist at Caltech and a GALEX team member , said in the statement .
`` If you blink , you might miss it . ''
It was that timing that let the researchers really see what was going on .
`` We think this object represents a late stage of these transient events @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have a good view , '' Hoadley said .
`` But we also caught the process before it was too far along ; after time , will dissolve into the interstellar medium , and we would not be able to tell anything happened at all . ''
The stellar collision ejected a cloud of hot debris into space .
As the debris flew outward , it created a shock wave that , in turn , heated up hydrogen molecules in the debris cloud , producing the ultraviolet emissions scientists first observed back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ archived data from NASA 's and the ( WISE ) , which revealed an excess of infrared emissions around the central star of the Blue Ring Nebula .
These observations suggest that the star is surrounded by a disk of dust that absorbs the star 's light and then reradiates in the infrared .
The researchers believe that this disk cut the debris cloud surrounding the star in half , creating the two cone-shaped clouds that extend in opposite directions .
The findings were published today ( Nov. 18 ) in the .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter and on .

Scientists have uncovered new evidence in the mysterious fluorescent debris of the Blue Ring Nebula that may explain how the strange structure formed.
The Blue Ring Nebula harbors a central star, known as TYC 2597-735-1. An unusual ultraviolet ring surrounds the star, which astronomers first observed in 2004 using NASA's now-defunct Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) space telescope. Until now, the formation of this peculiar ring — which is actually invisible ultraviolet light that has been color-coded blue in the telescope images — has largely remained a mystery.
"Every time we thought we had this thing figured out, something would tell us, 'No, that's not right,'" Mark Seibert, an astrophysicist with the Carnegie Institution for Science, a member of the GALEX team and a co-author on the new research, said in a statement . "That's a scary thing as a scientist. But I also love how unique this object is, and the effort that so many people put in to figure it out."
Related: Gallery: Strange nebula shapes, what do you see?
The Blue Ring Nebula is believed to have formed after a stellar collision, which ejected a cloud of hot debris into space. These emissions appear to form a ring around the nebula's central star, as the outflow of material forms a cone shape and the base of one of the cones is oriented almost directly toward Earth. (Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/M. Seibert (Carnegie Institution for Science)/K. Hoadley (Caltech)/GALEX Team)
Using the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii, researchers found that the blue ring is actually the base of a cone-shaped cloud of glowing molecular hydrogen that extends away from the central star, toward Earth. The new observations also show a second cone-shaped cloud that extends from the star in the opposite direction.
The bases of the cone-shaped clouds appear to overlap when viewed from Earth, creating the ring shape around the star, Christopher Martin, a physicist at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and former principal investigator of GALEX, said in a news conference held digitally on Tuesday (Nov. 17), before the research was made public.
The scientists behind the new research believe that the clouds of fluorescent debris formed after a sunlike star collided with and consumed a smaller stellar companion only a few thousand years ago. The recent observations capture a never-before-seen evolutionary phase of a stellar collision.
"The merging of two stars is fairly common, but they quickly become obscured by lots of dust as the ejecta from them expands and cools in space, which means we can't see what has actually happened," Keri Hoadley, lead author of the study and a physicist at Caltech, said in the statement.
The timing of the new observations was critical in helping scientists understand the phenomenon. "It's like catching sight of a baby when it first walks," Don Neill, an astrophysicist at Caltech and a GALEX team member, said in the statement. "If you blink, you might miss it."
It was that timing that let the researchers really see what was going on. "We think this object represents a late stage of these transient events, when the dust finally clears and we have a good view," Hoadley said. "But we also caught the process before it was too far along; after time, the nebula will dissolve into the interstellar medium, and we would not be able to tell anything happened at all."
The stellar collision ejected a cloud of hot debris into space. As the debris flew outward, it created a shock wave that, in turn, heated up hydrogen molecules in the debris cloud, producing the ultraviolet emissions scientists first observed back in 2004.
The researchers also used archived data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Wide-field Survey Explorer (WISE), which revealed an excess of infrared emissions around the central star of the Blue Ring Nebula. These observations suggest that the star is surrounded by a disk of dust that absorbs the star's light and then reradiates in the infrared. The researchers believe that this disk cut the debris cloud surrounding the star in half, creating the two cone-shaped clouds that extend in opposite directions.
The findings were published today (Nov. 18) in the journal Nature .


livescience--2020-11-19--Mysteries of COVID smell loss finally yield some answers

It dawned on Eian Kantor on a Saturday in early April as he brewed a cup of tea from fresh mint leaves : he had lost his sense of smell .
The tea suspiciously smelled of nothing at all .
Kantor proceeded to rifle through the fridge , sniffing jars of pickles , chili sauce and garlic—nothing .
Ever since New York State went into lockdown in late March , Kantor , age 30 , and his girlfriend had stayed isolated in their Queens , N.Y. , apartment .
So he did not suspect he had COVID-19 despite running a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasonal allergies .
When he was finally able to get tested weeks into his loss of smell , or anosmia , he tested negative .
But months later , he says , several tests showed that his antibodies to the novel coronavirus were “ off the charts high , which affirmed that I had had it.
” An estimated 80 percent of people with COVID-19 have smell disturbances , and many also have dysgeusia or ageusia ( a disruption or loss of taste , respectively ) or changes in chemesthesis ( the ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chilies ) .
Smell loss is so common in people with the disease that some researchers have recommended its use as a diagnostic test because it may be a more reliable marker than fever or other symptoms .
One lingering mystery is how the novel coronavirus robs its victims of these senses .
Early in the pandemic , physicians and researchers worried that COVID-related anosmia might signal that the virus makes its way into the brain through the nose , where it could do severe and lasting damage .
A suspected route would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ odors in the air and transmit these signals to the brain .
But studies have shown that this is probably not the case , says Sandeep Robert Datta , a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School .
“ My gestalt read of the data to date suggests that the primary source of insult is actually in the nose , in the nasal epithelium , ” the skinlike layer of cells responsible for registering odors .
“ It looks like the virus attacks , predominantly , support cells and stem cells and not neurons directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact does not mean that neurons can not be affected , he emphasizes .
Olfactory neurons do not have angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( ACE2 ) receptors , which allow the virus entry to cells , on their surface .
But sustentacular cells , which support olfactory neurons in important ways , are studded with the receptors .
These cells maintain the delicate balance of salt ions in the mucus that neurons depend on to send signals to the brain .
If that balance is disrupted , it could lead to a shutdown of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustentacular cells also provide the metabolic and physical support needed to sustain the fingerlike cilia on the olfactory neurons where receptors that detect odors are concentrated .
“ If you physically disrupt those cilia , you lose the ability to smell , ” Datta says .
In a study in Brain , Behavior and Immunity , Nicolas Meunier , a neuroscientist at the Paris-Saclay University in France , infected the noses of golden Syrian hamsters with SARS-CoV-2 .
Just two days later , about half of the hamsters ’ sustentacular cells were infected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even after two weeks .
And strikingly , the olfactory epithelia were completely detached , which , Meunier says , resembled skin peeling after a sunburn .
Although olfactory neurons were not infected , their cilia were entirely gone .
“ If you remove the cilia , you remove the olfactory receptors and the ability to detect odorants , ” he says .
Disruption of the olfactory epithelium could explain the loss of smell .
Yet it remains unclear whether the damage is done by the virus itself or invading immune cells , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports of anosmia with COVID are not typical of other diseases caused by viruses .
“ We think it ’ s very specific to SARS-CoV-2 , ” Meunier says .
In a previous study with other respiratory viruses at his lab , he found sustentacular cells infected only rarely , whereas with SARS-CoV-2 , about half of cells contained the pathogen .
With other viruses , smell is usually compromised by a stuffed-up nose , but COVID doesn ’ t usually cause nasal congestion .
“ This is very different , ” Meunier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clues about the loss of smell , but they are less certain about how the virus causes a loss of taste .
Taste receptor cells , which detect chemicals in the saliva and send signals to the brain , do not contain ACE2 , so they probably do not get infected by SARS-CoV-2 .
But other support cells in the tongue carry the receptor , perhaps providing some indication of why taste goes away .
( Although taste can seem to disappear with anosmia because odors are such a key component of flavor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ageusia and can not detect even sweet or salty taste . )
The loss of chemical sensing—the burn of hot chilies or the refreshing sensation of mint—also remains unexplained and largely unexplored .
These sensations are not tastes .
Instead their detection is conveyed by pain-sensing nerves—some of which contain ACE2—throughout the body , including the mouth .
More clues to how the virus obliterates smell come from people recovering from anosmia .
“ The majority of patients lose smell like a light switch going off and recover it rapidly , ” Datta @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraction of patients that have much more persistent anosmia and recover on longer time scales.
” The olfactory epithelium regularly regenerates .
“ That ’ s the body ’ s way of protecting against the constant onslaught of toxins in the environment , ” Meunier says .
Still , more than seven months after he first experienced anosmia , Kantor falls in the second group of patients : he has yet to detect any odors at all .
“ It ’ s hard because you don ’ t realize how much you relate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he says .
“ If the house were on fire , I wouldn ’ t know it .
It ’ s very concerning.
” And then there is what anosmia does to the joy of eating .
“ Foods that used to be good now taste ‘ meh , ’ ” Kantor says .
Carol Yan , a rhinologist at the University of California , San Diego , says that anosmia poses a real health risk .
“ It actually increases mortality .
If you can ’ t smell and taste food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , like rotten food or a gas leak , ” she says .
“ It can also cause social withdrawal or nutritional deficits.
” The variation on sensory themes extends to another symptom called parosmia , a possible sign of recovery in people with long-lasting anosmia .
Freya Sawbridge , a 27-year-old New Zealand woman , is such an individual .
She got COVID-19 in March .
After several weeks of anosmia and ageusia , when everything tasted of “ ice cubes and cardboard , ” she says , Sawbridge began to regain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sour—but no nuance of flavor , which comes from foods ’ aromas .
“ Chocolate tastes like sweet rubber , ” she says .
Then , after about five months , some odors returned but not as expected .
For a while , all foods smelled of artificial strawberry flavor .
But now “ everything smells hideous and distorted , ” Sawbridge says .
“ Nothing is accurate , and the odors are all unpleasant.
” The smell of onions , she says , is unbearable , and a strange chemical flavor permeates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like it was sprayed with window cleaner , ” Sawbridge adds .
Parosmia may occur when newly grown stem cells that develop into neurons in the nose attempt to extend their long fibers , called axons , through tiny holes in the base of the skull and connect with a structure in the brain called the olfactory bulb .
Sometimes axons connect to the wrong place , causing erratic smell , but the miswiring can potentially correct itself , given enough time .
That news is welcome for people such as Sawbridge .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : How long will her anosmia last ?
“ We don ’ t know the final time course of recovery for those with anosmia , ” Yan says , but it is usually from six months to a year .
“ With long-term postviral smell loss from the flu , after six months , there is a 30 to 50 percent chance of spontaneous recovery ” without any treatment , she adds .
“ There have been case reports of recovery after two years .
But after that , we think the regenerative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chances of recovery are quite slim , unfortunately.
” Kantor has tried every avenue imaginable to regain his sense of smell : a course of high-dose steroids to reduce inflammation ; a smell-training program with essential oils ; beta-carotene supplements for nerve regeneration ; acupuncture .
Nothing has made a difference .
Yan recommends “ irrigation ” of the sinuses with budesonide , a topical steroid shown to improve outcomes in a Stanford University study of people with postflu smell loss for more than six months .
Another promising treatment Yan and others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-inflammatory concoction isolated from blood that has been used to treat some types of nerve damage .
But with any treatment , Yan says , the results “ are not amazing .
It ’ s not like you ’ ll wake up and say , ‘ Wow , I can smell again.
’ But if you can smell soap again or enjoy the taste of some foods , that ’ s a big gain.
” There is one final worrying note about anosmia : it has been identified as a risk factor for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu pandemic of 1919 , we saw an increase in the prevalence of Parkinson ’ s disease , ” Meunier says .
“ It would be really concerning if something similar were happening here.
” But Yan thinks that fear is overblown .
“ There is certainly a link between anosmia and diseases , but we think that viral-induced anosmia is [ working by ] a totally different mechanism , ” she says .
“ Having postviral anosmia doesn ’ t put you at higher risk for disease .
These are two completely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Kantor—and the millions of others worldwide affected with COVID-related smell loss .
Read more about the coronavirus outbreak from Scientific American here .
And read coverage from our international network of magazines here .
This article was first published at ScientificAmerican.com .
© ScientificAmerican.com .
All rights reserved .
Follow Scientific American on Twitter @ SciAm and @ SciamBlogs .
Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science , health and technology news .

It dawned on Eian Kantor on a Saturday in early April as he brewed a cup of tea from fresh mint leaves: he had lost his sense of smell. The tea suspiciously smelled of nothing at all. Kantor proceeded to rifle through the fridge, sniffing jars of pickles, chili sauce and garlic—nothing.
Ever since New York State went into lockdown in late March, Kantor, age 30, and his girlfriend had stayed isolated in their Queens, N.Y., apartment. So he did not suspect he had COVID-19 despite running a slight fever that he chalked up to seasonal allergies. When he was finally able to get tested weeks into his loss of smell, or anosmia, he tested negative. But months later, he says, several tests showed that his antibodies to the novel coronavirus were “off the charts high, which affirmed that I had had it.”
An estimated 80 percent of people with COVID-19 have smell disturbances, and many also have dysgeusia or ageusia (a disruption or loss of taste, respectively) or changes in chemesthesis (the ability to sense chemical irritants such as hot chilies). Smell loss is so common in people with the disease that some researchers have recommended its use as a diagnostic test because it may be a more reliable marker than fever or other symptoms.
One lingering mystery is how the novel coronavirus robs its victims of these senses. Early in the pandemic, physicians and researchers worried that COVID-related anosmia might signal that the virus makes its way into the brain through the nose, where it could do severe and lasting damage. A suspected route would be via the olfactory neurons that sense odors in the air and transmit these signals to the brain. But studies have shown that this is probably not the case, says Sandeep Robert Datta, a neuroscientist at Harvard Medical School. “My gestalt read of the data to date suggests that the primary source of insult is actually in the nose, in the nasal epithelium,” the skinlike layer of cells responsible for registering odors. “It looks like the virus attacks, predominantly, support cells and stem cells and not neurons directly,” Datta says. But that fact does not mean that neurons cannot be affected, he emphasizes.
Olfactory neurons do not have angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors, which allow the virus entry to cells, on their surface. But sustentacular cells, which support olfactory neurons in important ways, are studded with the receptors. These cells maintain the delicate balance of salt ions in the mucus that neurons depend on to send signals to the brain. If that balance is disrupted, it could lead to a shutdown of neuronal signaling—and therefore of smell.
The sustentacular cells also provide the metabolic and physical support needed to sustain the fingerlike cilia on the olfactory neurons where receptors that detect odors are concentrated. “If you physically disrupt those cilia, you lose the ability to smell,” Datta says.
In a study in Brain, Behavior and Immunity, Nicolas Meunier, a neuroscientist at the Paris-Saclay University in France, infected the noses of golden Syrian hamsters with SARS-CoV-2. Just two days later, about half of the hamsters’ sustentacular cells were infected. But olfactory neurons were not infected even after two weeks. And strikingly, the olfactory epithelia were completely detached, which, Meunier says, resembled skin peeling after a sunburn. Although olfactory neurons were not infected, their cilia were entirely gone. “If you remove the cilia, you remove the olfactory receptors and the ability to detect odorants,” he says.
Disruption of the olfactory epithelium could explain the loss of smell. Yet it remains unclear whether the damage is done by the virus itself or invading immune cells, which Meunier observed after infection. Widespread reports of anosmia with COVID are not typical of other diseases caused by viruses. “We think it’s very specific to SARS-CoV-2,” Meunier says. In a previous study with other respiratory viruses at his lab, he found sustentacular cells infected only rarely, whereas with SARS-CoV-2, about half of cells contained the pathogen. With other viruses, smell is usually compromised by a stuffed-up nose, but COVID doesn’t usually cause nasal congestion. “This is very different,” Meunier says.
Researchers have found a few clues about the loss of smell, but they are less certain about how the virus causes a loss of taste. Taste receptor cells, which detect chemicals in the saliva and send signals to the brain, do not contain ACE2, so they probably do not get infected by SARS-CoV-2. But other support cells in the tongue carry the receptor, perhaps providing some indication of why taste goes away. (Although taste can seem to disappear with anosmia because odors are such a key component of flavor, many people with COVID truly develop ageusia and cannot detect even sweet or salty taste.)
The loss of chemical sensing—the burn of hot chilies or the refreshing sensation of mint—also remains unexplained and largely unexplored. These sensations are not tastes. Instead their detection is conveyed by pain-sensing nerves—some of which contain ACE2—throughout the body, including the mouth.
More clues to how the virus obliterates smell come from people recovering from anosmia. “The majority of patients lose smell like a light switch going off and recover it rapidly,” Datta says. “There’s a fraction of patients that have much more persistent anosmia and recover on longer time scales.” The olfactory epithelium regularly regenerates. “That’s the body’s way of protecting against the constant onslaught of toxins in the environment,” Meunier says.
Still, more than seven months after he first experienced anosmia, Kantor falls in the second group of patients: he has yet to detect any odors at all. “It’s hard because you don’t realize how much you relate to smell until you lose it,” he says. “If the house were on fire, I wouldn’t know it. It’s very concerning.” And then there is what anosmia does to the joy of eating. “Foods that used to be good now taste ‘meh,’” Kantor says.
Carol Yan, a rhinologist at the University of California, San Diego, says that anosmia poses a real health risk. “It actually increases mortality. If you can’t smell and taste food, it can predispose you to harm, like rotten food or a gas leak,” she says. “It can also cause social withdrawal or nutritional deficits.”
The variation on sensory themes extends to another symptom called parosmia, a possible sign of recovery in people with long-lasting anosmia. Freya Sawbridge, a 27-year-old New Zealand woman, is such an individual. She got COVID-19 in March. After several weeks of anosmia and ageusia, when everything tasted of “ice cubes and cardboard,” she says, Sawbridge began to regain the most basic tastes—sweet, salty, sour—but no nuance of flavor, which comes from foods’ aromas. “Chocolate tastes like sweet rubber,” she says.
Then, after about five months, some odors returned but not as expected. For a while, all foods smelled of artificial strawberry flavor. But now “everything smells hideous and distorted,” Sawbridge says. “Nothing is accurate, and the odors are all unpleasant.” The smell of onions, she says, is unbearable, and a strange chemical flavor permeates everything. “All my food tastes like it was sprayed with window cleaner,” Sawbridge adds.
Parosmia may occur when newly grown stem cells that develop into neurons in the nose attempt to extend their long fibers, called axons, through tiny holes in the base of the skull and connect with a structure in the brain called the olfactory bulb. Sometimes axons connect to the wrong place, causing erratic smell, but the miswiring can potentially correct itself, given enough time.
That news is welcome for people such as Sawbridge. But the question she wants answered is: How long will her anosmia last? “We don’t know the final time course of recovery for those with anosmia,” Yan says, but it is usually from six months to a year. “With long-term postviral smell loss from the flu, after six months, there is a 30 to 50 percent chance of spontaneous recovery” without any treatment, she adds. “There have been case reports of recovery after two years. But after that, we think the regenerative capability may be hindered. And the chances of recovery are quite slim, unfortunately.”
Kantor has tried every avenue imaginable to regain his sense of smell: a course of high-dose steroids to reduce inflammation; a smell-training program with essential oils; beta-carotene supplements for nerve regeneration; acupuncture. Nothing has made a difference. Yan recommends “irrigation” of the sinuses with budesonide, a topical steroid shown to improve outcomes in a Stanford University study of people with postflu smell loss for more than six months. Another promising treatment Yan and others are investigating is platelet-rich plasma, an anti-inflammatory concoction isolated from blood that has been used to treat some types of nerve damage. But with any treatment, Yan says, the results “are not amazing. It’s not like you’ll wake up and say, ‘Wow, I can smell again.’ But if you can smell soap again or enjoy the taste of some foods, that’s a big gain.”
There is one final worrying note about anosmia: it has been identified as a risk factor for some neurodegenerative diseases. “After the flu pandemic of 1919, we saw an increase in the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease,” Meunier says. “It would be really concerning if something similar were happening here.”
But Yan thinks that fear is overblown. “There is certainly a link between anosmia and diseases, but we think that viral-induced anosmia is [working by] a totally different mechanism,” she says. “Having postviral anosmia doesn’t put you at higher risk for disease. These are two completely separate phenomena.” That should reassure Sawbridge and Kantor—and the millions of others worldwide affected with COVID-related smell loss.
Read more about the coronavirus outbreak from Scientific American here. And read coverage from our international network of magazines here.
This article was first published at ScientificAmerican.com. © ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved. Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news.


livescience--2020-11-19--Ancient Egyptian temple reveals previously unknown star constellations

The restoration of a soot-filled temple has revealed the previously unknown names of ancient Egyptian constellations , according to experts in Germany and Egypt .
The restoration has also uncovered the gorgeous original colors the ancient Egyptians painted the 2,000-year-old temple .
As workers in Egypt remove soot and dirt from the temple , sometimes with a mixture of alcohol and distilled water , the original painted carvings and hieroglyphics beneath are so vibrant , `` it looks like it was painted yesterday , '' project leader Christian Leitz , a professor of Egyptology at the University of Tübingen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we are not repainting anything , we are just removing the soot . ''
During the restoration , researchers cleaned ancient carved scenes depicting the constellations , including the Big Dipper ( known as Mesekhtiu ) and Orion ( known as Sah ) .
They also found inscriptions about previously unknown constellations , including one called `` Apedu n Ra , '' or `` the geese of Ra , '' who is the ancient Egyptian sun deity , Leitz said .
However , without an image to accompany these descriptions , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the night sky they describe , he said .
The first modern description of the Greco-Roman temple , known as the Temple of Esna , dates to 1589 , when a Venetian trader visited Egypt and described it , according to the .
The town of Esna , about 40 miles ( 60 kilometers ) south of the ancient capital of Luxor , used to have more temples , but two were quarried during the industrialization of Egypt , while the largest one — the Temple of Esna — was used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 19th century , Leitz said .
This sanctuary-turned-storage facility was likely valued for its location in the city center .
People began building houses and shacks directly against some of its walls , and postcards from the 19th and 20th centuries show it surrounded by rubble .
Decades of neglect left the temple filthy , covered in soot and bird droppings .
Today , only the vestibule is left .
The large sandstone structure is supported by 24 columns and also has 18 free-standing columns decorated with painted carvings of plants .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 65 feet wide and 50 feet high ( 37 by 20 by 15 meters ) .
But it would have been dwarfed by the actual temple , built under Roman Emperor Claudius ( ruled A.D. 41-54 ) .
It 's a mystery what happened to this part of the temple ; it was already gone by the time the Venetian trader described it in the 16th century .
The temple 's construction and decoration , which includes astronomical designs on the ceiling , likely took 200 years , Leitz said .
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including those of the unknown constellations .
Leitz noted that when the ancient Egyptians decorated the temple , they would first draw a design in black ink , then have an artisan carve the relief and then have a painter paint the relief .
On the astronomical ceiling , many of the inscriptions were drawn in ink , but not carved or painted .
`` They were previously undetected under the soot and are now being exposed piece by piece , '' Leitz said .
The project , which began in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Ancient Near Eastern Studies ( IANES ) at the University of Tübingen and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities .

Here is the ancient Egyptian depiction of the Big Dipper, seen here in the shape of a bull's leg. It includes seven stars and is tied to a stake by a goddess in hippo form (right). The Big Dipper is considered the manifestation of the evil god Seth, who murdered his brother Osiris. The goddess prevents Seth from reaching Osiris in the underworld — a myth made possible because the constellation never dips below the horizon.
The restoration of a soot-filled ancient Egyptian temple has revealed the previously unknown names of ancient Egyptian constellations, according to experts in Germany and Egypt.
The restoration has also uncovered the gorgeous original colors the ancient Egyptians painted the 2,000-year-old temple.
As workers in Egypt remove soot and dirt from the temple, sometimes with a mixture of alcohol and distilled water, the original painted carvings and hieroglyphics beneath are so vibrant, "it looks like it was painted yesterday," project leader Christian Leitz, a professor of Egyptology at the University of Tübingen in Germany, told Live Science. "But we are not repainting anything, we are just removing the soot."
Related: In photos: 3,300-year-old Egyptian carving
During the restoration, researchers cleaned ancient carved scenes depicting the constellations, including the Big Dipper (known as Mesekhtiu) and Orion (known as Sah). They also found inscriptions about previously unknown constellations, including one called "Apedu n Ra," or "the geese of Ra," who is the ancient Egyptian sun deity, Leitz said.
However, without an image to accompany these descriptions, there's no way to know which stars in the night sky they describe, he said.
Image 1 of 7 A column with plant designs that has been fully restored. (Image credit: Ahmed Amin) A close up look at a frieze taken in autumn 2019. The cartouche has the name of Hadrian, framed by the local god Khnum (left) and the solar god Behedeti (right). (Image credit: Ahmed Amin) A column before restoration (Image credit: Ahmed Amin) The same column, after restoration. The name of Trajan is written in the cartouche. (Image credit: Ahmed Amin) Workers found vibrant colors under the soot and filth. (Image credit: Ahmed Amin) The constellation Orion as Osiris (left) and Sothis as Isis (right). (Image credit: Ahmed Amin) The representation of a constellation in form of a mummy. (Image credit: Ahmed Amin)
Sanctuary to storage warehouse
The first modern description of the Greco-Roman temple, known as the Temple of Esna, dates to 1589, when a Venetian trader visited Egypt and described it, according to the UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology . The town of Esna, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) south of the ancient capital of Luxor, used to have more temples, but two were quarried during the industrialization of Egypt, while the largest one — the Temple of Esna — was used to store cotton during the first half of the 19th century, Leitz said.
This sanctuary-turned-storage facility was likely valued for its location in the city center. People began building houses and shacks directly against some of its walls, and postcards from the 19th and 20th centuries show it surrounded by rubble. Decades of neglect left the temple filthy, covered in soot and bird droppings.
Today, only the vestibule is left. The large sandstone structure is supported by 24 columns and also has 18 free-standing columns decorated with painted carvings of plants. It stands about 120 feet long, 65 feet wide and 50 feet high (37 by 20 by 15 meters). But it would have been dwarfed by the actual temple, built under Roman Emperor Claudius (ruled A.D. 41-54). It's a mystery what happened to this part of the temple; it was already gone by the time the Venetian trader described it in the 16th century.
The temple's construction and decoration, which includes astronomical designs on the ceiling, likely took 200 years, Leitz said.
This 2019 photo shows the temple of Esna from the east. (Image credit: Ahmed Amin)
During the latest restoration, researchers discovered new inscriptions, including those of the unknown constellations. Leitz noted that when the ancient Egyptians decorated the temple, they would first draw a design in black ink, then have an artisan carve the relief and then have a painter paint the relief.
On the astronomical ceiling, many of the inscriptions were drawn in ink, but not carved or painted.
"They were previously undetected under the soot and are now being exposed piece by piece," Leitz said.
The project, which began in 2018, is a collaboration between the Institute for Ancient Near Eastern Studies (IANES) at the University of Tübingen and the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Originally published on Live Science.