livescience--2020-08-31--New quantum paradox throws the foundations of observed reality into question

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it , does it make a sound ?
Perhaps not , some say .
And if someone is there to hear it ?
If you think that means it obviously did make a sound , you might need to revise that opinion .
We have found a new paradox in quantum mechanics — one of our two most fundamental scientific theories , together with Einstein 's theory of relativity — that throws doubt on some common-sense ideas about physical reality .
Take a look at these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ideas , and widely believed even by physicists .
But our research , , shows they can not all be true — or quantum mechanics itself must break down at some level .
This is the strongest result yet in a long series of discoveries in quantum mechanics that have upended our ideas about reality .
To understand why it 's so important , let 's look at this history .
Quantum mechanics works extremely well to describe the behavior of tiny objects , such as atoms or particles of light ( photons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very odd .
In many cases , quantum theory does n't give definite answers to questions such as `` where is this particle right now ? ''
Instead , it only provides probabilities for where the particle might be found when it is observed .
For Niels Bohr , one of the founders of the theory a century ago , that 's not because we lack information , but because physical properties like `` position '' do n't actually exist until they are measured .
And what 's more , because some properties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observed simultaneously — such as position and velocity — they ca n't be real simultaneously .
No less a figure than Albert Einstein found this idea untenable .
In a with fellow theorists Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen , he argued there must be more to reality than what quantum mechanics could describe .
Read more : Einstein vs quantum mechanics ... and why he 'd be a convert today The article considered a pair of distant particles in a special state now known as an `` entangled '' state .
When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ velocity ) is measured on both entangled particles , the result will be random — but there will be a correlation between the results from each particle .
For example , an observer measuring the position of the first particle could perfectly predict the result of measuring the position of the distant one , without even touching it .
Or the observer could choose to predict the velocity instead .
This had a natural explanation , they argued , if both properties existed before being measured , contrary to Bohr 's interpretation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Einstein 's argument broke down if you carried out a more complicated combination of different measurements on the two particles .
Bell showed that if the two observers randomly and independently choose between measuring one or another property of their particles , like position or velocity , the average results can not be explained in any theory where both position and velocity were pre-existing local properties .
That sounds incredible , but experiments have now Bell 's correlations do occur .
For many physicists , this is evidence that Bohr was right : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are measured .
But that raises the crucial question : what is so special about a `` measurement '' ?
In 1961 , the Hungarian-American theoretical physicist devised a thought experiment to show what 's so tricky about the idea of measurement .
He considered a situation in which his friend goes into a tightly sealed lab and performs a measurement on a quantum particle — its position , say .
However , Wigner noticed that if he applied the equations of quantum mechanics to describe this situation from the outside , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the friend 's measurement making the particle 's position real , from Wigner 's perspective the friend becomes entangled with the particle and infected with the uncertainty that surrounds it .
This is similar to , a thought experiment in which the fate of a cat in a box becomes entangled with a random quantum event .
For Wigner , this was an absurd conclusion .
Instead , he believed that once the consciousness of an observer becomes involved , the entanglement would `` collapse '' to make the friend 's observation definite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
In our research , we built on an extended version of the Wigner 's friend paradox , by Časlav Brukner of the University of Vienna .
In this scenario , there are two physicists — call them Alice and Bob — each with their own friends ( Charlie and Debbie ) in two distant labs .
There 's another twist : Charlie and Debbie are now measuring a pair of entangled particles , like in the Bell experiments .
As in Wigner 's argument , the equations of quantum mechanics tell us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their observed particles .
But because those particles were already entangled with each other , Charlie and Debbie themselves should become entangled — in theory .
But what does that imply experimentally ?
Our experiment goes like this : the friends enter their labs and measure their particles .
Some time later , Alice and Bob each flip a coin .
If it 's heads , they open the door and ask their friend what they saw .
If it 's tails , they perform a different measurement .
This different measurement always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlie is entangled with his observed particle in the way calculated by Wigner .
Likewise for Bob and Debbie .
In any realisation of this measurement , however , any record of their friend 's observation inside the lab is blocked from reaching the external world .
Charlie or Debbie will not remember having seen anything inside the lab , as if waking up from total anaesthesia .
But did it really happen , even if they do n't remember it ?
If the three intuitive ideas at the beginning of this article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real and unique outcome for their measurement inside the lab , independent of whether or not Alice or Bob later decided to open their door .
Also , what Alice and Charlie see should not depend on how Bob 's distant coin lands , and vice versa .
We showed that if this were the case , there would be limits to the correlations Alice and Bob could expect to see between their results .
We also showed that quantum mechanics predicts Alice and Bob will see correlations that go beyond those limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to confirm the quantum mechanical predictions using pairs of entangled photons .
The role of each friend 's measurement was played by one of two paths each photon may take in the setup , depending on a property of the photon called `` polarisation '' .
That is , the path `` measures '' the polarisation .
Our experiment is only really a proof of principle , since the `` friends '' are very small and simple .
But it opens the question whether the same results would hold with more complex observers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do this experiment with real humans .
But we argue that it may one day be possible to create a conclusive demonstration if the `` friend '' is a human-level artificial intelligence running in a massive .
What does it all mean ?
Although a conclusive test may be decades away , if the quantum mechanical predictions continue to hold , this has strong implications for our understanding of reality — even more so than the Bell correlations .
For one , the correlations we discovered can not be explained just by saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are measured .
Now the absolute reality of measurement outcomes themselves is called into question .
Our results force physicists to deal with the measurement problem head on : either our experiment does n't scale up , and quantum mechanics gives way to a so-called `` `` , or one of our three common-sense assumptions must be rejected .
Read more : The universe really is weird : a landmark quantum experiment has finally proved it so There are theories , like , that postulate `` action at a distance '' , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elsewhere in the universe .
However , this is in direct conflict with Einstein 's theory of relativity .
Some search for a theory that rejects freedom of choice , but they either require , or a seemingly conspiratorial form of fatalism called .
Another way to resolve the conflict could be to make Einstein 's theory even more relative .
For Einstein , different observers could disagree about when or where something happens — but what happens was an absolute fact .
However , in some interpretations , such as , , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only relative to one or more observers .
A fallen tree observed by one may not be a fact for everyone else .
All of this does not imply that you can choose your own reality .
Firstly , you can choose what questions you ask , but the answers are given by the world .
And even in a relational world , when two observers communicate , their realities are entangled .
In this way a shared reality can emerge .
Which means that if we both witness the same tree falling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , you might just need a hearing aid .
This article was originally published at The Conversation .
The publication contributed the article to Live Science 's Expert Voices : Op-Ed & Insights .

If a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? Perhaps not, some say.
And if someone is there to hear it? If you think that means it obviously did make a sound, you might need to revise that opinion.
We have found a new paradox in quantum mechanics — one of our two most fundamental scientific theories, together with Einstein's theory of relativity — that throws doubt on some common-sense ideas about physical reality.
Quantum mechanics vs. common sense
Take a look at these three statements:
When someone observes an event happening, it really happened.
It is possible to make free choices, or at least, statistically random choices.
A choice made in one place can’t instantly affect a distant event. (Physicists call this “locality”.)
These are all intuitive ideas, and widely believed even by physicists. But our research, published in Nature Physics , shows they cannot all be true — or quantum mechanics itself must break down at some level.
This is the strongest result yet in a long series of discoveries in quantum mechanics that have upended our ideas about reality. To understand why it's so important, let's look at this history.
The battle for reality
Quantum mechanics works extremely well to describe the behavior of tiny objects, such as atoms or particles of light (photons). But that behavior is … very odd.
In many cases, quantum theory doesn't give definite answers to questions such as "where is this particle right now?" Instead, it only provides probabilities for where the particle might be found when it is observed.
For Niels Bohr, one of the founders of the theory a century ago, that's not because we lack information, but because physical properties like "position" don't actually exist until they are measured.
And what's more, because some properties of a particle can't be perfectly observed simultaneously — such as position and velocity — they can't be real simultaneously.
No less a figure than Albert Einstein found this idea untenable. In a 1935 article with fellow theorists Boris Podolsky and Nathan Rosen, he argued there must be more to reality than what quantum mechanics could describe.
Read more: Einstein vs quantum mechanics ... and why he'd be a convert today
The article considered a pair of distant particles in a special state now known as an "entangled" state. When the same property (say, position or velocity) is measured on both entangled particles, the result will be random — but there will be a correlation between the results from each particle.
For example, an observer measuring the position of the first particle could perfectly predict the result of measuring the position of the distant one, without even touching it. Or the observer could choose to predict the velocity instead. This had a natural explanation, they argued, if both properties existed before being measured, contrary to Bohr's interpretation.
However, in 1964 Northern Irish physicist John Bell found Einstein's argument broke down if you carried out a more complicated combination of different measurements on the two particles.
Bell showed that if the two observers randomly and independently choose between measuring one or another property of their particles, like position or velocity, the average results cannot be explained in any theory where both position and velocity were pre-existing local properties.
That sounds incredible, but experiments have now conclusively demonstrated Bell's correlations do occur. For many physicists, this is evidence that Bohr was right: physical properties don't exist until they are measured.
But that raises the crucial question: what is so special about a "measurement"?
The observer, observed
In 1961, the Hungarian-American theoretical physicist Eugene Wigner devised a thought experiment to show what's so tricky about the idea of measurement.
He considered a situation in which his friend goes into a tightly sealed lab and performs a measurement on a quantum particle — its position, say.
However, Wigner noticed that if he applied the equations of quantum mechanics to describe this situation from the outside, the result was quite different. Instead of the friend's measurement making the particle's position real, from Wigner's perspective the friend becomes entangled with the particle and infected with the uncertainty that surrounds it.
This is similar to Schrödinger's famous cat , a thought experiment in which the fate of a cat in a box becomes entangled with a random quantum event.
Read more: Schrödinger's cat gets a reality check
For Wigner, this was an absurd conclusion. Instead, he believed that once the consciousness of an observer becomes involved, the entanglement would "collapse" to make the friend's observation definite.
But what if Wigner was wrong?
Our experiment
In our research, we built on an extended version of the Wigner's friend paradox, first proposed by Časlav Brukner of the University of Vienna. In this scenario, there are two physicists — call them Alice and Bob — each with their own friends (Charlie and Debbie) in two distant labs.
There's another twist: Charlie and Debbie are now measuring a pair of entangled particles, like in the Bell experiments.
As in Wigner's argument, the equations of quantum mechanics tell us Charlie and Debbie should become entangled with their observed particles. But because those particles were already entangled with each other, Charlie and Debbie themselves should become entangled — in theory.
But what does that imply experimentally?
Read more: Quantum physics: our study suggests objective reality doesn't exist
Our experiment goes like this: the friends enter their labs and measure their particles. Some time later, Alice and Bob each flip a coin. If it's heads, they open the door and ask their friend what they saw. If it's tails, they perform a different measurement.
This different measurement always gives a positive outcome for Alice if Charlie is entangled with his observed particle in the way calculated by Wigner. Likewise for Bob and Debbie.
In any realisation of this measurement, however, any record of their friend's observation inside the lab is blocked from reaching the external world. Charlie or Debbie will not remember having seen anything inside the lab, as if waking up from total anaesthesia.
But did it really happen, even if they don't remember it?
If the three intuitive ideas at the beginning of this article are correct, each friend saw a real and unique outcome for their measurement inside the lab, independent of whether or not Alice or Bob later decided to open their door. Also, what Alice and Charlie see should not depend on how Bob's distant coin lands, and vice versa.
We showed that if this were the case, there would be limits to the correlations Alice and Bob could expect to see between their results. We also showed that quantum mechanics predicts Alice and Bob will see correlations that go beyond those limits.
Next, we did an experiment to confirm the quantum mechanical predictions using pairs of entangled photons. The role of each friend's measurement was played by one of two paths each photon may take in the setup, depending on a property of the photon called "polarisation". That is, the path "measures" the polarisation.
Our experiment is only really a proof of principle, since the "friends" are very small and simple. But it opens the question whether the same results would hold with more complex observers.
We may never be able to do this experiment with real humans. But we argue that it may one day be possible to create a conclusive demonstration if the "friend" is a human-level artificial intelligence running in a massive quantum computer .
What does it all mean?
Although a conclusive test may be decades away, if the quantum mechanical predictions continue to hold, this has strong implications for our understanding of reality — even more so than the Bell correlations. For one, the correlations we discovered cannot be explained just by saying that physical properties don't exist until they are measured.
Now the absolute reality of measurement outcomes themselves is called into question.
Our results force physicists to deal with the measurement problem head on: either our experiment doesn't scale up, and quantum mechanics gives way to a so-called " objective collapse theory ", or one of our three common-sense assumptions must be rejected.
Read more: The universe really is weird: a landmark quantum experiment has finally proved it so
There are theories, like de Broglie-Bohm , that postulate "action at a distance", in which actions can have instantaneous effects elsewhere in the universe. However, this is in direct conflict with Einstein's theory of relativity.
Some search for a theory that rejects freedom of choice, but they either require backwards causality , or a seemingly conspiratorial form of fatalism called "superdeterminism" .
Another way to resolve the conflict could be to make Einstein's theory even more relative. For Einstein, different observers could disagree about when or where something happens — but what happens was an absolute fact.
However, in some interpretations, such as relational quantum mechanics , QBism , or the many-worlds interpretation , events themselves may occur only relative to one or more observers. A fallen tree observed by one may not be a fact for everyone else.
All of this does not imply that you can choose your own reality. Firstly, you can choose what questions you ask, but the answers are given by the world. And even in a relational world, when two observers communicate, their realities are entangled. In this way a shared reality can emerge.
Which means that if we both witness the same tree falling and you say you can't hear it, you might just need a hearing aid.
This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.


livescience--2020-09-01--Vintage NASA satellite falls to Earth, meets fiery doom after 56 years in space

A long-retired NASA satellite over the weekend , the agency has confirmed .
NASA launched the satellite , called , or OGO-1 , in September 1964 , the first in a series of five missions to help scientists understand the magnetic environment around Earth .
OGO-1 was the first to launch but the last to fall out of orbit ; the satellite had circled Earth aimlessly since its retirement in 1971 .
But orbiting Earth is a tricky thing to do , since the with spacecraft and slow them down , even at very high altitudes where the atmosphere is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spacecraft 's altitude , until reentry becomes inevitable .
Related : The biggest spacecraft ever to fall uncontrolled from space The 1,070-lb .
( 487 kilograms ) OGO-1 experienced that inevitability on Saturday ( Aug. 29 ) , as NASA had predicted .
The satellite re-entered at 4:44 p.m. EDT ( 2044 GMT ) over the and burned up in the atmosphere , posing no threat to humans , NASA spokesperson Josh Handal told Space.com in an email .
The spacecraft hit the atmosphere about 25 minutes earlier than NASA had forecast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reentry location east of the agency 's predictions .
OGO-1 re-entered about 100 miles ( 160 kilometers ) southeast of Tahiti , he added ; in addition to tracking the satellite , NASA received reports of the event from people on the island .
OGO launches continued through 1969 , when OGO-5 began orbiting Earth , but all OGO-1 's successors had already re-entered Earth 's atmosphere .
Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels @ space.com or follow her on Twitter @ meghanbartels .
Follow us on Twitter @ Spacedotcom and on Facebook .

NASA's Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 1, or OGO-1, is seen in orbit on Aug. 25, 2020. The satellite launched in September 1964 and fell to Earth on Aug. 29, 2020.
A long-retired NASA satellite burned up in Earth's atmosphere over the weekend, the agency has confirmed.
NASA launched the satellite, called Orbiting Geophysics Observatory 1 , or OGO-1, in September 1964, the first in a series of five missions to help scientists understand the magnetic environment around Earth. OGO-1 was the first to launch but the last to fall out of orbit; the satellite had circled Earth aimlessly since its retirement in 1971.
But orbiting Earth is a tricky thing to do, since the particles in our plush atmosphere collide with spacecraft and slow them down, even at very high altitudes where the atmosphere is thin. That speed reduction also lowers the spacecraft's altitude, until reentry becomes inevitable.
Related: The biggest spacecraft ever to fall uncontrolled from space
An artist's illustration of the deployment steps for NASA's Orbiting Geophysical Observatory 1 satellite, which launched in 1964. (Image credit: NASA)
The 1,070-lb. (487 kilograms) OGO-1 experienced that inevitability on Saturday (Aug. 29), as NASA had predicted. An updated reentry prediction from NASA's Center for Near-Earth Objects at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory put satellite's fall at about 4:44 p.m. EDT (2044 GMT) over the southern Pacific Ocean , with it burning up in the atmosphere, posing no threat to humans, NASA officials told Space.com in an email.
The spacecraft hit the atmosphere about 25 minutes earlier than NASA had forecast, according to NASA, resulting in a reentry location east of the agency's predictions. OGO-1 was forecast to reenter about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Tahiti,; in addition to tracking the satellite, NASA received reports of the event from people on the island.
OGO launches continued through 1969, when OGO-5 began orbiting Earth, but all OGO-1's successors had already re-entered Earth's atmosphere.
Editor's note: This story was updated Sept. 4 to indicate that the final reentry time and location for OGO-1 was based on a final prediction from NASA's Center for Near-Earth Objects at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory .
Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her on Twitter @meghanbartels. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.


livescience--2020-09-01--New 'AI Jesus' can deliver a sermon, but will you understand it?

What happens when you train a neural network using the King James Bible ?
You get `` AI Jesus '' — artificial intelligence ( AI ) that expounds on topics as Jesus from the King James edition of the New Testament might have done .
The voice of this so-called AI clone of comes from one source of data — the Bible — `` and nothing else , '' said AI Jesus programmer George Davila Durendal .
As a developer of AI algorithms and CEO of Saviors Artificial Intelligence , Durendal trains neural networks to detect guns in security camera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The neural network 's exclusive focus on every word in the Bible surpasses the biblical scrutiny `` of all the monks of all the monasteries that have ever been , '' Durendal wrote about the AI .
Nevertheless , the resulting `` sermons '' were far more abstract and less grammatically accurate than those attributed to the biblical Jesus , Durendal said .
There are hundreds of translations of the Bible , but the , commissioned by England 's King James I and first published in 1611 , is the most popular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most widely-read books in the English language .
Durendal used this version of the Bible to train AI Jesus in English vocabulary , grammar and syntax , `` to replicate the style of the King James Bible without quite copying it , '' Durendal wrote in the blog post .
AI Jesus ' `` brain '' is made up of units that process data sequences — such as strings of text — as neurons do .
Working together , units in the network helped the AI `` learn '' the language of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jesus to generate original phrases that mimicked the style of the biblical text .
But thus far , AI Jesus ' oratory prowess does n't quite live up to that of its namesake .
In the , Jesus inspired his followers with profundities such as , `` Blessed are the peacemakers , '' `` Blessed are the meek : for they shall inherit the Earth , '' and `` Blessed are the merciful : for they shall obtain mercy , '' during his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew Chapter 5 .
AI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a more modern platform — Twitter — and while the language was similar to that of the King James Bible , the words were somewhat less inspiring and more puzzling .
`` Power and godly , and have commanded the children of the world , and will set my face against thee , and thou shalt be called the people , '' the neural network on Aug. 30 .
Durendal challenged the AI to respond to three topics — `` Caesar , '' `` The End of Days , '' and `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were relevant to the challenges humanity faces today , he wrote in the blog post .
AI Jesus ' responses to Durendal 's prompts were cryptic at best , providing little guidance or comfort .
`` For I will fill the land which the LORD thy God hath given thee a time to eat the force of the LORD of hosts , '' read one AI response .
`` And the soldiers of the prophets shall be ashamed of men , '' read another .
Then again , even when neural networks learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be weird .
An AI that was trained on a database came up with instructions for making bizarre treats such as Crock Pot Cold Water , Chocolate Chicken Chicken Cake and Completely Meat Circle .
Another AI fed a diet of millions of words from the `` Game of Thrones '' novels generated a new installment to the series with an intriguing plot twist : `` Jaime killed Cersei and was cold and full of words , and Jon thought he was the wolf now '' in Chapter Four , .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cat photos failed spectacularly ; the resulting feline images were dramatically distorted and .
As of Aug. 26 , AI Jesus had generated writings that were `` less random and less prone to errors '' than its original works , encompassing three new topics : `` Wisdom , '' `` Greeks '' and `` Blood , '' according to Durendal .
However , while these newer writings were more technically proficient than AI Jesus ' earlier works , they lacked `` artistic flair and prophetic prose , '' Durendal added .
`` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes artistic liberties and produces some glitches .
Or you can have more mundane , more technically proficient writing , '' he explained .
But achieving both would take a miracle ; one that AI Jesus ca n't yet deliver .

We could be 16 years into a methane-fueled 'termination' event significant enough to end an ice age
Methane emissions from tropical wetlands have been soaring since 2006 and accelerating at the same breakneck speed as when Earth's climate has flipped from a glacial to an interglacial period.


livescience--2020-09-01--Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates

Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates

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


livescience--2020-09-01--3,200-year-old Egyptian-built fortress found in Israel

Archaeologists in have discovered a 3,200-year-old fortress built by the Egyptians and , the ancient foes of the Israelites in the bible .
The fortress was built to keep the newly arrived out of the region .
The military structure , dubbed Galon Fortress , dates to the middle of the 12th century B.C.
, when the biblical characters of Deborah and Samson are thought to have lived , according to the Israel Antiquities Authority ( IAA ) .
The fortress highlights just how much unrest rocked the area at that time , the IAA said .
At the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ known as the land of Canaan — were ruled by the .
Then , the Israelites and the Philistines arrived during the 12th century B.C.
, prompting the Canaanites and Egyptians to ultimately build the recently unearthed fortress .
Teenage volunteers with the IAA found the fortress during an excavation close to Kibbutz Galon , a kibbutz ( a collective community ) about 40 miles ( 70 kilometers ) south of Jerusalem .
The remains of the fortress and the ceramic artifacts within are remarkable ; the nearly 60-foot-by-60-foot ( 18 by 18 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its four corners , and a threshold at the entrance carved from a massive rock weighing 3.3 tons ( 3 metric tons ) .
When people entered the fortress , which employed an Egyptian style of architecture , they would have seen a courtyard paved with slab stones and rising columns at the center .
Each side of the fort had rooms , where the archaeologists found hundreds of pottery vessels , some of them whole , including a bowl and cup that were likely used for religious rituals , Saar Ganor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement .
It 's unsurprising that the fortress dated to this tumultuous time of `` violent territorial disputes , '' Saar and Weissbein said .
The ancient Israelites had established themselves in non-fortified settlements in the Judean Mountains , which run through what is now central Israel and the West Bank .
The Philistines accumulated power in the west , along the Mediterranean Sea 's southern coast and the plains beyond it , where they built big cities such as Ashkelon , Ashdod and Gat , the archaeologists said .
Galon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Philistine and Israelite territories .
The Philistines — known for the legendary giant Goliath , who fought , according to the Hebrew Bible — likely descended from people in Greece , Sardinia and maybe even Iberia who migrated across the Mediterranean Sea to the Levant ( the lands immediately east of the Mediterranean ) about 3,000 years ago , according to a 2019 study in the journal .
As the Philistines tried to conquer more land in the Levant , they confronted the Egyptians and Canaanites , they said .
`` It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Canaanite/Egyptian attempt to cope with the new geopolitical situation , '' Saar and Weissbein said .
The fortress was `` built in a strategic location , from which it is possible to watch the main road that went along the Guvrin river — a road connecting the coastal plain to the Judea plains , '' Saar and Weissbein said .
However , the geopolitical situation changed in the middle of the 12th century B.C.
, when the Egyptians left the land of Canaan and retreated back to Egypt , leaving the Canaanites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Their departure led to the destruction of the now unprotected Canaanite cities — a destruction that was probably led by the Philistines , '' Saar and Weissbein said .
The discovery of Galon fortress `` provides a fascinating glimpse into the story of a relatively unknown period in the history of the country , '' Talila Lifshitz , director of the community and forest department in the southern region of the Jewish National Fund , said in the statement .
The fortress is now open to the public , due to a collaboration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fund .

An aerial view of the fortress discovered in central Israel. Notice the rooms that lined its sides.
Archaeologists in Israel have discovered a 3,200-year-old fortress built by the Egyptians and Canaanites , the ancient foes of the Israelites in the bible. The fortress was built to keep the newly arrived Philistines out of the region.
The military structure, dubbed Galon Fortress, dates to the middle of the 12th century B.C., when the biblical characters of Deborah and Samson are thought to have lived, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA).
The fortress highlights just how much unrest rocked the area at that time, the IAA said. At the time, the inhabitants of the region — known as the land of Canaan — were ruled by the ancient Egyptians .
Related: Biblical battles: 12 ancient wars lifted from the bible
Then, the Israelites and the Philistines arrived during the 12th century B.C., prompting the Canaanites and Egyptians to ultimately build the recently unearthed fortress.
Teenage volunteers with the IAA found the fortress during an excavation close to Kibbutz Galon, a kibbutz (a collective community) about 40 miles (70 kilometers) south of Jerusalem. The remains of the fortress and the ceramic artifacts within are remarkable; the nearly 60-foot-by-60-foot (18 by 18 meters) fortress had watchtowers in each of its four corners, and a threshold at the entrance carved from a massive rock weighing 3.3 tons (3 metric tons).
When people entered the fortress, which employed an Egyptian style of architecture, they would have seen a courtyard paved with slab stones and rising columns at the center. Each side of the fort had rooms, where the archaeologists found hundreds of pottery vessels, some of them whole, including a bowl and cup that were likely used for religious rituals, Saar Ganor and Itamar Weissbein, IAA archaeologists said in a statement.
Image 1 of 13 About 3,200 years ago, the fortress was erected to defend against the Philistines. (Image credit: Itamar Weisbein) The excavation site, located near Kibbutz Galon in Israel. (Image credit: Saar Ganor/IAA) Students from all over Israel helped with the excavation. (Image credit: Saar Ganor/IAA) A youth holds a ceramic bowl unearthed at the fortress. (Image credit: Saar Ganor/IAA) Excavators at the site (Image credit: Saar Ganor/IAA) A tent protects the excavation artifacts. (Image credit: Saar Ganor/IAA) The students uncovered hundreds of pottery pieces at the fortress. (Image credit: Saar Ganor/IAA) Ceramics found at the site. (Image credit: Saar Ganor/IAA) Excavators found 3,200-year-old vessels from the Galon excavation. (Image credit: Dafna Gazit/IAA) Hundreds of pottery — some whole others in pieces — were found at the site. (Image credit: Saar Ganor/IAA) Youths and volunteers helped with the excavation at Galon. (Image credit: Saar Ganor/IAA) The newly discovered fortress is near Kibbutz Galon. (Image credit: Emil Elgam/IAA) A diagram of the fortress in Galon. (Image credit: Itamar Weisbein)
It's unsurprising that the fortress dated to this tumultuous time of "violent territorial disputes," Saar and Weissbein said. The ancient Israelites had established themselves in non-fortified settlements in the Judean Mountains, which run through what is now central Israel and the West Bank. The Philistines accumulated power in the west, along the Mediterranean Sea's southern coast and the plains beyond it, where they built big cities such as Ashkelon, Ashdod and Gat, the archaeologists said. Galon fortress was smack in the middle of the Philistine and Israelite territories.
The Philistines — known for the legendary giant Goliath, who fought King David , according to the Hebrew Bible — likely descended from people in Greece, Sardinia and maybe even Iberia who migrated across the Mediterranean Sea to the Levant (the lands immediately east of the Mediterranean) about 3,000 years ago, according to a 2019 study in the journal Science Advances .
As the Philistines tried to conquer more land in the Levant, they confronted the Egyptians and Canaanites, they said.
"It seems that Galon fortress was built as a Canaanite/Egyptian attempt to cope with the new geopolitical situation," Saar and Weissbein said. The fortress was "built in a strategic location, from which it is possible to watch the main road that went along the Guvrin river — a road connecting the coastal plain to the Judea plains," Saar and Weissbein said.
However, the geopolitical situation changed in the middle of the 12th century B.C., when the Egyptians left the land of Canaan and retreated back to Egypt, leaving the Canaanites alone to defend their turf.
"Their departure led to the destruction of the now unprotected Canaanite cities — a destruction that was probably led by the Philistines," Saar and Weissbein said.
The discovery of Galon fortress "provides a fascinating glimpse into the story of a relatively unknown period in the history of the country," Talila Lifshitz, director of the community and forest department in the southern region of the Jewish National Fund, said in the statement.
The fortress is now open to the public, due to a collaboration between the IAA and the Jewish National Fund.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-01--Visualization shows face shields may not protect against COVID-19 spread

A new visualization shows why face shields and may not be the best barriers for preventing the spread of COVID-19 .
Although face shields initially block droplets from a simulated cough , small droplets can easily move around the sides of the visor and eventually spread over a large area , according to the visualization , which is detailed in a study published Tuesday ( Sept. 1 ) in the journal .
For masks with exhalation valves , a stream of droplets passes , unfiltered , through the valve , meaning the mask would in theory do little to hinder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In contrast , the researchers previously showed that some cotton face masks reduce the spread of droplets to only a few inches from the face during a simulated cough , .
The simulations in the new study `` indicate that face shields and masks with exhale valves may not be as effective as regular face masks in restricting the spread of aerosolized droplets , '' the authors wrote .
Face masks have become a part of everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic .
But some people are turning to plastic face shields or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these alternatives more comfortable to wear for long periods of time .
Face shields also have the advantage of allowing users to show facial expressions .
However , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) does not recommend either of these as alternatives to cloth masks .
Masks with one-way valves , which are intended for use in construction work , allow users to breathe in filtered air and exhale warm , moist ( and unfiltered ) air through the valve , .
But because respiratory droplets from the wearer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC says people should not wear these masks to prevent COVID-19 spread .
The CDC also does not recommend face shields as a substitute for cloth masks because evidence is lacking to show their effectiveness , the agency says .
`` As students return to schools and universities , some have wondered if it is better to use face shields , as they are more comfortable and easier to wear for longer periods of time , '' study lead author Siddhartha Verma , an assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University 's College of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But what if these shields are not as effective ?
You would be essentially putting everyone in a tight space with droplets accumulating over time , which could potentially lead to infections . ''
In the new study , the researchers simulated coughing by connecting a mannequin 's head to a fog machine — which creates a vapor from water and glycerin — and using a pump to expel the vapor through the mannequin 's mouth .
They then visualized the vapor droplets using a `` laser sheet '' created by passing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In this setup , simulated cough droplets appear as a glowing green vapor flowing from the mannequin 's mouth .
For the face shield simulation , the shield initially deflected droplets toward the ground after a cough .
But small droplets remained suspended at the bottom of the shield and then floated around the sides , eventually spreading about 3 feet ( 0.9 meters ) to the front and sides of the mannequin .
In some cases , the droplets spread backward , behind the mannequin , instead of forward .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jet of droplets passed through the valve in the front of the masks during coughing .
Initially , this jet of droplets traveled toward the ground , but eventually the droplets dispersed over a wide area .
The researchers also tested two different brands of commercially available surgical masks .
Both of these masks were not recommended for medical use by the manufacturers .
Although the masks looked similar , one brand was effective at stopping the forward spread of aerosolized droplets , while the other allowed a high number of droplets to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicates that even among commercially available masks which may appear to be similar superficially , there can be significant underlying differences in the quality and type of materials used for manufacturing the masks , '' the authors said .
Since the study was a simulation , it does n't provide data on the exact conditions that would result in the spread of an infection .
For example , with SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , it 's unclear exactly how long the virus remains infectious in the air , and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how much virus is needed to make a person sick .
The authors also noted that `` even the very best masks have some degree of leakage , '' Verma said .
So `` it 's still important to maintain physical distance while wearing [ masks ] to mitigate transmission . ''

A new visualization shows why face shields and masks with exhalation valves may not be the best barriers for preventing the spread of COVID-19.
Although face shields initially block droplets from a simulated cough, small droplets can easily move around the sides of the visor and eventually spread over a large area, according to the visualization, which is detailed in a study published Tuesday (Sept. 1) in the journal Physics of Fluids .
For masks with exhalation valves, a stream of droplets passes, unfiltered, through the valve, meaning the mask would in theory do little to hinder the spread of potentially infectious droplets.
In contrast, the researchers previously showed that some cotton face masks reduce the spread of droplets to only a few inches from the face during a simulated cough, Live Science previously reported .
The simulations in the new study "indicate that face shields and masks with exhale valves may not be as effective as regular face masks in restricting the spread of aerosolized droplets," the authors wrote.
Related: 14 coronavirus myths busted by science
Face masks have become a part of everyday life during the COVID-19 pandemic. But some people are turning to plastic face shields or masks with exhalation values because they find these alternatives more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Face shields also have the advantage of allowing users to show facial expressions.
(Image credit: Siddhartha Verma, Manhar Dhanak, John Frankenfield)
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend either of these as alternatives to cloth masks. Masks with one-way valves, which are intended for use in construction work, allow users to breathe in filtered air and exhale warm, moist (and unfiltered) air through the valve, Live Science previously reported . But because respiratory droplets from the wearer are expelled into the air, the CDC says people should not wear these masks to prevent COVID-19 spread.
The CDC also does not recommend face shields as a substitute for cloth masks because evidence is lacking to show their effectiveness, the agency says.
"As students return to schools and universities, some have wondered if it is better to use face shields, as they are more comfortable and easier to wear for longer periods of time," study lead author Siddhartha Verma, an assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science, said in a statement . "But what if these shields are not as effective? You would be essentially putting everyone in a tight space with droplets accumulating over time, which could potentially lead to infections."
In the new study, the researchers simulated coughing by connecting a mannequin's head to a fog machine — which creates a vapor from water and glycerin — and using a pump to expel the vapor through the mannequin's mouth. They then visualized the vapor droplets using a "laser sheet" created by passing a green laser pointer through a cylindrical rod. In this setup, simulated cough droplets appear as a glowing green vapor flowing from the mannequin's mouth.
For the face shield simulation, the shield initially deflected droplets toward the ground after a cough. But small droplets remained suspended at the bottom of the shield and then floated around the sides, eventually spreading about 3 feet (0.9 meters) to the front and sides of the mannequin. In some cases, the droplets spread backward, behind the mannequin, instead of forward.
For the mask with a valve, a jet of droplets passed through the valve in the front of the masks during coughing. Initially, this jet of droplets traveled toward the ground, but eventually the droplets dispersed over a wide area.
The researchers also tested two different brands of commercially available surgical masks. Both of these masks were not recommended for medical use by the manufacturers. Although the masks looked similar, one brand was effective at stopping the forward spread of aerosolized droplets, while the other allowed a high number of droplets to leak through the mask.
"This indicates that even among commercially available masks which may appear to be similar superficially, there can be significant underlying differences in the quality and type of materials used for manufacturing the masks," the authors said.
Since the study was a simulation, it doesn't provide data on the exact conditions that would result in the spread of an infection. For example, with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it's unclear exactly how long the virus remains infectious in the air, and how far infectious particles can travel, or how much virus is needed to make a person sick.
The authors also noted that "even the very best masks have some degree of leakage," Verma said. So "it's still important to maintain physical distance while wearing [masks] to mitigate transmission."
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-02--'Ghost Army' in WWII used inflatable tanks to fool the Nazis and win the war

Today ( Sept. 2 ) marks the 75th anniversary of 's end .
During this historic global conflict , hundreds of bloody skirmishes were waged on land , sea and air .
But one top-secret U.S. Army battalion fought not with bullets but with stagecraft , using inflatable life-size tanks , phony insignias , soundscapes and fake radio transmissions to deceive German soldiers on the battlefield .
The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops , also known as the `` Ghost Army , '' brought together artists , career military officers and audio experts in a unique unit devoted to the art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , multimedia , tactical deception unit in U.S. Army history , '' according to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans .
The museum features a number of Ghost Army artifacts in the special exhibit `` Ghost Army : The Combat Con Artists of World War II , '' on display until Jan. 3 , 2021 .
Using a combination of science and art , the Ghost Army staged nearly two dozen missions between May 1944 and 1945 with the sole purpose of tricking Nazi troops about the whereabouts of Allied forces in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts saved the lives of thousands of Allied soldiers .
Its existence was kept secret for more than 40 years after the war 's end ; the Ghost Army remained officially classified until the mid-1990s , according to the WWII Museum .
`` In the past , when deception operations took place , it was usually a temporary duty , '' said Larry Decuers , a curator at the WWII Museum .
`` This was a ground-up unit designed specifically for deception . ''
London-based U.S. Army officers Col. Billy Harris and Maj. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ghost Army , inspired by the success of British deception tactics in North Africa , Decuers told Live Science .
The British Army 's Operation Bertram , staged in 1942 , used camouflage and more than 2,000 dummy vehicles to convince the Germans that the British were strengthening a position in the south , and to conceal British mobilization in the north , according to the website History of War .
Leading the Ghost Army was Col. Harry L. Reeder , supervising 82 army officers and 1,023 recruits ; among them were art @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the in New York , fashion designer Bill Blass , photographer Art Kane and painter Ellsworth Kelly .
These and other strategists designed a four-part approach to bring phantom army battalions to life , Decuers explained .
`` The first element was the camouflage engineer battalion — the guys who dealt with the inflatable vehicles , inflatable tanks , '' he said .
These tanks could easily be lifted and moved into position by just a few men , but from a distance they were nearly impossible to distinguish from the real thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company that concocted fake radio traffic ; the radio operators were so skilled that they could mimic the morse code `` fist '' — the sending style — of operators in specific army units , to make fake dispatches sound authentic .
`` To the trained ear , that telegraphic fist is almost like a fingerprint , '' Decuers said .
A third element of the Ghost Army was sonic deception .
Audio engineers pre-recorded sounds of military training exercises and the construction of trenches and bridges , and then edited them into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speakers within range of German troops , to convince the Nazis that entire combat units occupied locations that were undefended .
And then a fourth layer of deception was supplied by the unit 's combat engineer company , which would don the insignias of other military units to confuse the Germans or to mislead potential spies in nearby towns .
`` Their most successful operation was Operation Viersen , '' which took place from March 18 to March 24 , 1945 , Decuers said .
For that mission , the Ghost Army used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to impersonate soldiers from other units ; and recordings of pontoon bridge-building , `` all to deceive the Germans into believing that the 30th Infantry Division and the 79th Infantry Division were preparing to cross the Rhine River , '' Decuers said .
And it worked .
The Germans moved the bulk of their defenses across the river from the suspected location of the two divisions , shelling an army that did n't exist .
And when the Nazis were busy chasing shadows , they were n't engaging the real Allied combat divisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road show that went up and down the front lines impersonating the real fighting outfits , '' according to the .
`` Attack when they are unprepared '' Though the Ghost Army 's audio technologies were n't available to their predecessors , the art of military deception is likely as old as war itself , and canny leaders have schemed their way to victory for thousands of years .
In one of the most famous examples , documented in the eighth century B.C .
by the poet Homer , the Greek army wins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accepting a gift of a giant wooden horse — with Greek soldiers hiding inside .
Sun Tzu , a renowned general and philosopher who lived in during the sixth century B.C.
, wrote `` all warfare is based upon deception '' in `` The Art of War , '' a book that defined military strategy for centuries , and is studied to this day .
It outlined a dozen methods of military deception , including : `` When one is capable , give the appearance of being incapable ; '' `` when one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being far ; '' and `` attack them when they are unprepared , come forth when they are not expecting you to do so , '' according to the .
Confederate generals during the American Civil War also used deception to save the day when they were outnumbered and outgunned .
They carved and painted logs to resemble cannons , arranging them around encampments so that Union spies would n't suspect that their foes were short on weapons and supplies , according to the .
But the Ghost Army was one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ created specifically to confuse and trick the enemy , Decuers told Live Science .
`` Deception has played a major part throughout the history of warfare , '' he said .
`` What was new , was this unit was put together to deceive in every way possible .
It was their sole mission . ''

The WWII Ghost Army unit used inflatable military equipment, such as the pictured armored vehicle, to fool German forces. They operated from May 1944 through the end of the war in 1945.
Today (Sept. 2) marks the 75th anniversary of Word War II 's end. During this historic global conflict, hundreds of bloody skirmishes were waged on land, sea and air. But one top-secret U.S. Army battalion fought not with bullets but with stagecraft, using inflatable life-size tanks, phony insignias, soundscapes and fake radio transmissions to deceive German soldiers on the battlefield.
The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, also known as the "Ghost Army," brought together artists, career military officers and audio experts in a unique unit devoted to the art of deception — "the first mobile, multimedia, tactical deception unit in U.S. Army history," according to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. The museum features a number of Ghost Army artifacts in the special exhibit "Ghost Army: The Combat Con Artists of World War II," on display until Jan. 3, 2021.
Using a combination of science and art, the Ghost Army staged nearly two dozen missions between May 1944 and 1945 with the sole purpose of tricking Nazi troops about the whereabouts of Allied forces in Europe. In the process, their efforts saved the lives of thousands of Allied soldiers. Its existence was kept secret for more than 40 years after the war's end; the Ghost Army remained officially classified until the mid-1990s, according to the WWII Museum.
Related: The 22 weirdest military weapons
"In the past, when deception operations took place, it was usually a temporary duty," said Larry Decuers, a curator at the WWII Museum. "This was a ground-up unit designed specifically for deception."
London-based U.S. Army officers Col. Billy Harris and Maj. Ralph Ingersoll guided the formation of the Ghost Army, inspired by the success of British deception tactics in North Africa, Decuers told Live Science. The British Army's Operation Bertram, staged in 1942, used camouflage and more than 2,000 dummy vehicles to convince the Germans that the British were strengthening a position in the south, and to conceal British mobilization in the north, according to the website History of War .
A dummy tank, photographed in Italy in 1944 and designed by the British Army. It was made of inflatable rubber and could be assembled in 20 minutes. (Image credit: The National Archives)
Leading the Ghost Army was Col. Harry L. Reeder, supervising 82 army officers and 1,023 recruits; among them were art students from the Industrial Camouflage Program at the Pratt Institute in New York, fashion designer Bill Blass, photographer Art Kane and painter Ellsworth Kelly.
These and other strategists designed a four-part approach to bring phantom army battalions to life, Decuers explained.
"The first element was the camouflage engineer battalion — the guys who dealt with the inflatable vehicles, inflatable tanks," he said. These tanks could easily be lifted and moved into position by just a few men, but from a distance they were nearly impossible to distinguish from the real thing. The second element was a signal company that concocted fake radio traffic; the radio operators were so skilled that they could mimic the morse code "fist" — the sending style — of operators in specific army units, to make fake dispatches sound authentic.
"To the trained ear, that telegraphic fist is almost like a fingerprint," Decuers said.
Pictured in 1944, this inflatable tank was part of the WWII Ghost Army efforts to create the illusion of greater Allied forces in Europe from Normandy to the Rhine River. (Image credit: The National WWII Museum)
Related: The flying bombs of Nazi Germany
A third element of the Ghost Army was sonic deception. Audio engineers pre-recorded sounds of military training exercises and the construction of trenches and bridges, and then edited them into soundscapes that could be played on massive speakers within range of German troops, to convince the Nazis that entire combat units occupied locations that were undefended.
And then a fourth layer of deception was supplied by the unit's combat engineer company, which would don the insignias of other military units to confuse the Germans or to mislead potential spies in nearby towns.
"Their most successful operation was Operation Viersen," which took place from March 18 to March 24, 1945, Decuers said. For that mission, the Ghost Army used 600 inflatable vehicles; fake uniform patches to impersonate soldiers from other units; and recordings of pontoon bridge-building, "all to deceive the Germans into believing that the 30th Infantry Division and the 79th Infantry Division were preparing to cross the Rhine River," Decuers said. And it worked. The Germans moved the bulk of their defenses across the river from the suspected location of the two divisions, shelling an army that didn't exist.
And when the Nazis were busy chasing shadows, they weren't engaging the real Allied combat divisions.
"It was like a traveling road show that went up and down the front lines impersonating the real fighting outfits," according to the Ghost Army Legacy Project .
"Attack when they are unprepared"
Though the Ghost Army's audio technologies weren't available to their predecessors, the art of military deception is likely as old as war itself, and canny leaders have schemed their way to victory for thousands of years. In one of the most famous examples, documented in the eighth century B.C. by the poet Homer, the Greek army wins the Trojan War after they tricked the city of Troy into accepting a gift of a giant wooden horse — with Greek soldiers hiding inside.
Sun Tzu, a renowned general and philosopher who lived in China during the sixth century B.C., wrote "all warfare is based upon deception" in "The Art of War," a book that defined military strategy for centuries, and is studied to this day. It outlined a dozen methods of military deception, including: "When one is capable, give the appearance of being incapable;" "when one is near, give the appearance of being far;" and "attack them when they are unprepared, come forth when they are not expecting you to do so," according to the U.S. Naval Institute .
Logs that were carved and painted to resemble cannons were known as "Quaker guns," and were used during the American Civil War by Confederate generals to trick Union opponents. This staged scene was photographed in 1862 by George N. Barnard in Centreville, Virginia. (Image credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
Confederate generals during the American Civil War also used deception to save the day when they were outnumbered and outgunned. They carved and painted logs to resemble cannons, arranging them around encampments so that Union spies wouldn't suspect that their foes were short on weapons and supplies, according to the Federation of American Scientists .
But the Ghost Army was one of the first known specialized military units that was created specifically to confuse and trick the enemy, Decuers told Live Science.
"Deception has played a major part throughout the history of warfare," he said. "What was new, was this unit was put together to deceive in every way possible. It was their sole mission."
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-02--Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates

Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates


livescience--2020-09-02--Creepy images show airway cells teeming with SARS-CoV-2

Striking new images show a close-up view of the novel coronavirus as it invades cells that line the human airway .
The images provide a glimpse of the staggering number of virus particles that are produced during an infection — indeed , infected cells can churn out virus particles by the thousands .
Camille Ehre , an assistant professor at University of North Carolina School of Medicine 's Marsico Lung Institute , captured the images with a scanning electron microscope , a device that uses a focused beam of electrons to produce images .
To obtain the images , published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New England Journal of Medicine , researchers first infected human airway cells with SARS-CoV-2 — the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 — in lab dishes , and then examined the cells after four days .
The noodle-like projections in the images are , or hair-like structures on the surface of some airway cells .
The tips of the cilia are attached to strands of net-like mucus , which is naturally present in the airway .
The SARS-CoV-2 virus particles look like teensy balls .
At a high magnification , you can make out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus particles .
Those crown-like spikes give the family of `` `` its name .
( `` Corona '' means `` crown '' in Latin . )
The virus uses those spikes to invade human cells .
The image also shows a high density of virus particles , or virions .
An analysis of the concentration of virus in the sample suggests a `` high number of virions produced and released per [ airway ] cell , '' Ehre wrote .

Images of SARS-CoV-2 captured with a scanning electron microscope. The SARS-CoV-2 virus particles appear as tiny, ball-looking structures. The noodle-like projections in the images are cilia, or hair-like structures on the surface of some airway cells.
Striking new images show a close-up view of the novel coronavirus as it invades cells that line the human airway. The images provide a glimpse of the staggering number of virus particles that are produced during an infection — indeed, infected cells can churn out virus particles by the thousands.
Camille Ehre, an assistant professor at University of North Carolina School of Medicine's Marsico Lung Institute, captured the images with a scanning electron microscope, a device that uses a focused beam of electrons to produce images. To obtain the images, published Wednesday (Sept. 2) in The New England Journal of Medicine , researchers first infected human airway cells with SARS-CoV-2 — the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 — in lab dishes, and then examined the cells after four days.
The noodle-like projections in the images are cilia , or hair-like structures on the surface of some airway cells. The tips of the cilia are attached to strands of net-like mucus, which is naturally present in the airway.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus particles look like teensy balls. At a high magnification, you can make out the spiky structures on the surfaces of the virus particles. Those crown-like spikes give the family of " coronaviruses " its name. ("Corona" means "crown" in Latin.) The virus uses those spikes to invade human cells.
The image also shows a high density of virus particles, or virions. An analysis of the concentration of virus in the sample suggests a "high number of virions produced and released per [airway] cell," Ehre wrote.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-02--Viral claim that only 6% of COVID-19 deaths were caused by the virus is flat-out wrong

A bogus claim circulating social media — one that purports that `` only 6 % '' of the reported COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are solely attributable to the new — is dangerously misleading , infectious disease experts told Live Science .
This claim stems from an Aug. 26 the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ) posted on its website , which provides a detailed breakdown of the accompanying health conditions ( known as comorbidities ) and contributing causes of death reported in people who have died of the new coronavirus in the United States .
The CDC noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned . ''
In other words , 6 % of people who died when they had COVID-19 did n't have underlying conditions , such as diabetes , asthma or heart disease , and did n't experience any medical complications , such as kidney failure or sepsis .
But the other 94 % of deaths were still caused by COVID-19 , infectious disease experts said .
That 's because many chronic , underlying conditions can make diseases that a person might otherwise recover from , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you look at the number of excess deaths this year in comparison with previous years , it 's staggering , '' Dr. William Hanage , a professor of epidemiology at Harvard University ’ s School of Public Health told Live Science .
That 's an estimated 228,200 additional deaths in the United States , according to the Weinberger Lab at the University of California , San Francisco .
Hanage noted that many of the people who have died so far had nonfatal diseases and would not have perished but for contracting the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone with diabetes or high-blood pressure might have lived decades longer if they had not contracted COVID-19 .
Dr. William Schaffner , a professor of preventative medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee , echoed the same reality .
`` The point is that those people would not have died except that they were carried away by COVID , '' Schaffner told Live Science .
In addition , deadly medical complications can be the immediate cause of death when in fact a virus is the ultimate culprit , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people worldwide have died so far of HIV/AIDS , for instance , but the disease itself is n't usually the immediate cause of death .
Dr. Shahnaz Azad , an infectious disease expert in Olympia Fields , Illinois , told Franciscan Health , `` It 's not HIV that kills you .
HIV kills your immunity , and then you become susceptible to all kinds of infections and cancers . ''
A death certificate might list a primary cause of death as Kaposi 's sarcoma , for instance , but in fact , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ otherwise rare type of cancer if they had n't been infected with HIV .
The HIV virus is still what ultimately killed the person .
That has n't stopped the flood of misleading social media posts about this 6 % statistic .
These posts have led many people to falsely believe that the number of U.S. coronavirus deaths is far less than previously reported .
President Donald Trump , for instance , retweeted a claiming that `` This week the CDC quietly updated the Covid number to admit that only 6 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Covid .
That ’ s 9,210 deaths .
The other 94 % had 2 to 3 other serious illnesses and the overwhelming majority were of very advanced age . ''
Dr. Anthony Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , appeared on the TV show `` Good Morning America '' yesterday the misunderstanding .
`` The numbers you 've been hearing — there are 180,000-plus deaths — are real deaths from COVID-19 .
Let there not be any confusion about that , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ those with comorbidities are likelier to die of COVID-19 is not exactly reassuring .
A huge fraction of the U.S. population has conditions that increase COVID-19 severity , such as diabetes , high blood pressure , asthma and even obesity .
According to the CDC , nearly 40 % of all U.S. adults age 20 and older are obese .
`` Obviously a lot of people have one of these things , or one of the very large number of other things that would be included in that catch-all term , '' Hanage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have a comorbidity yourself , someone you love almost certainly does . ''
The prevalence of comorbidities is seen in the CDC update , which noted that of people who died of COVID-19 but also had other medical complications or underlying medical conditions , `` there were 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death . ''
Schaffner said that `` the issue is not whether COVID alone can produce serious illness and death — it can .
Of course , those who are older and have underlying chronic conditions ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more serious disease , often with fatal outcomes .
Thus , most people who die of COVID have other contributing causes of death . ''
The cause of death for the 6 % who have died without comorbidities , Shaffner explained , is actually a `` severe pneumonia , caused by the virus , which is then exacerbated by a person 's own immune and inflammatory response . ''
Moreover , the CDC statistic in question speaks only to overall deaths , the experts told Live Science , and it 's important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prolonged health problems COVID-19 causes for those who survive the disease .
`` Death is not the only outcome that matters . ''
said Dr. Eduardo Franco , the director of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and the chairman of the Department of Oncology at McGill University in Canada .
`` There is considerable suffering and risk of long-term sequelae if one is hospitalized because of COVID-19 .
Being hospitalized is a reflection of the severity of the infection .
Being moved to an ICU is an even more ominous indication of severity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlights how public health data should n't be misconstrued for political purposes , Franco said .
`` The pandemic has become much too politicized when it 's really just about dealing with something as basic as public health science , '' Franco told Live Science .
`` Some people try to downplay the problem by ostensibly misinterpreting the statistics , '' he said , adding : `` We can prevent so many deaths by taking basic and simple precautions : wash hands frequently , wear a mask , disinfect frequently-touched surfaces , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of distance from one another .
We must keep COVID-19 numbers low while we .
Any surges because of the virus will only choke the process and interrupt healthcare for those who need it most . ''

A bogus claim circulating social media — one that purports that "only 6%" of the reported COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are solely attributable to the new coronavirus — is dangerously misleading, infectious disease experts told Live Science.
This claim stems from an Aug. 26 update the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) posted on its website, which provides a detailed breakdown of the accompanying health conditions (known as comorbidities) and contributing causes of death reported in people who have died of the new coronavirus in the United States. The CDC noted that "For 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned."
In other words, 6% of people who died when they had COVID-19 didn't have underlying conditions, such as diabetes, asthma or heart disease, and didn't experience any medical complications, such as kidney failure or sepsis. But the other 94% of deaths were still caused by COVID-19, infectious disease experts said. That's because many chronic, underlying conditions can make diseases that a person might otherwise recover from, such as COVID-19, suddenly deadly.
Related: 14 coronavirus myths busted by science
"When you look at the number of excess deaths this year in comparison with previous years, it's staggering," Dr. William Hanage, a professor of epidemiology at Harvard University’s School of Public Health told Live Science. That's an estimated 228,200 additional deaths in the United States, according to the Weinberger Lab at the University of California, San Francisco. Hanage noted that many of the people who have died so far had nonfatal diseases and would not have perished but for contracting the new coronavirus as well. For instance, someone with diabetes or high-blood pressure might have lived decades longer if they had not contracted COVID-19. Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventative medicine and infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee, echoed the same reality. "The point is that those people would not have died except that they were carried away by COVID," Schaffner told Live Science.
In addition, deadly medical complications can be the immediate cause of death when in fact a virus is the ultimate culprit, as is evident with HIV/AIDS. More than 32 million people worldwide have died so far of HIV/AIDS, for instance, but the disease itself isn't usually the immediate cause of death. Dr. Shahnaz Azad, an infectious disease expert in Olympia Fields, Illinois, told Franciscan Health, "It's not HIV that kills you. HIV kills your immunity, and then you become susceptible to all kinds of infections and cancers."
A death certificate might list a primary cause of death as Kaposi's sarcoma, for instance, but in fact, that patient would never have acquired the otherwise rare type of cancer if they hadn't been infected with HIV. The HIV virus is still what ultimately killed the person.
That hasn't stopped the flood of misleading social media posts about this 6% statistic. These posts have led many people to falsely believe that the number of U.S. coronavirus deaths is far less than previously reported. President Donald Trump, for instance, retweeted a since-removed post on Twitter claiming that "This week the CDC quietly updated the Covid number to admit that only 6% of all the 153,504 deaths recorded actually died from Covid. That’s 9,210 deaths. The other 94% had 2 to 3 other serious illnesses and the overwhelming majority were of very advanced age."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, appeared on the TV show "Good Morning America" yesterday to correct the misunderstanding. "The numbers you've been hearing — there are 180,000-plus deaths — are real deaths from COVID-19. Let there not be any confusion about that," he said.
Related: Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates
What's more, the fact that those with comorbidities are likelier to die of COVID-19 is not exactly reassuring. A huge fraction of the U.S. population has conditions that increase COVID-19 severity, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and even obesity. According to the CDC , nearly 40% of all U.S. adults age 20 and older are obese. "Obviously a lot of people have one of these things, or one of the very large number of other things that would be included in that catch-all term," Hanage said. "And even if you don’t have a comorbidity yourself, someone you love almost certainly does."
The prevalence of comorbidities is seen in the CDC update, which noted that of people who died of COVID-19 but also had other medical complications or underlying medical conditions, "there were 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death."
Schaffner said that "the issue is not whether COVID alone can produce serious illness and death — it can. Of course, those who are older and have underlying chronic conditions (comorbidities) are more likely to suffer more serious disease, often with fatal outcomes. Thus, most people who die of COVID have other contributing causes of death." The cause of death for the 6% who have died without comorbidities, Shaffner explained, is actually a "severe pneumonia, caused by the virus, which is then exacerbated by a person's own immune and inflammatory response."
Moreover, the CDC statistic in question speaks only to overall deaths, the experts told Live Science, and it's important to keep in mind the other disabling and prolonged health problems COVID-19 causes for those who survive the disease.
"Death is not the only outcome that matters." said Dr. Eduardo Franco, the director of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and the chairman of the Department of Oncology at McGill University in Canada. "There is considerable suffering and risk of long-term sequelae if one is hospitalized because of COVID-19. Being hospitalized is a reflection of the severity of the infection. Being moved to an ICU is an even more ominous indication of severity."
If anything, this episode highlights how public health data shouldn't be misconstrued for political purposes, Franco said.
"The pandemic has become much too politicized when it's really just about dealing with something as basic as public health science," Franco told Live Science. "Some people try to downplay the problem by ostensibly misinterpreting the statistics," he said, adding: "We can prevent so many deaths by taking basic and simple precautions: wash hands frequently, wear a mask, disinfect frequently-touched surfaces, and maintain 6 feet (1.8 meters) of distance from one another. We must keep COVID-19 numbers low while we await a vaccine . Any surges because of the virus will only choke the process and interrupt healthcare for those who need it most."
Originally published on Live Science.