livescience--2020-09-14--Study casts doubt on 'sky disk' thought to be oldest representation of the heavens

One of Germany 's most famous ancient artifacts may not be what it seems , if a new study is to be believed .
Fierce debate over the Nebra Sky Disk has been reignited by a new study that suggests it is at least 1,000 years younger than previously thought , and probably does n't have any of the elaborate meanings proposed for it .
The 12-inch-wide ( 30 centimeters ) bronze disk inlaid with gold circles , arcs and crescents was reportedly unearthed in 1999 near the town of Nebra , in Germany 's Saxony-Anhalt state .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stunning ancient artifacts ever found .
But controversy has surrounded it since its discovery .
Related : 30 of the world 's most valuable treasures that are still missing Experts have long debated where the disk originated and what meaning , if any , it holds ; some have even declared it is fake ( and created very recently ) — although scientific tests suggest it 's an authentic artifact that may date from Europe 's pre-Celtic Bronze Age , up to 3,800 years ago .
If that dating is correct , then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representation of the heavens anywhere in the world , said Jan-Heinrich Bunnefeld , an archaeologist at Saxony-Anhalt 's State Museum for Prehistory in the city of Halle , where the disk is now on display ( The next oldest is an on the ceiling of a tomb from about 3,500 years ago ) .
`` The Nebra Sky Disc features the oldest concrete depiction of cosmic phenomena , '' Bunnefeld told Live Science in an email .
`` It is a key find , not only for the discipline of archaeology , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religions . ''
But a new study casts doubts on the origins and meaning of the Nebra Sky Disk .
Writing this month in the journal Archäologische Informationen , University of Munich archaeologist Rupert Gebhard and Rüdiger Krause , an archaeologist at Goethe University in Frankfurt , argue that the artifact could not have been unearthed at the location near Nebra , .
That also means the sky disk probably is n't from the Bronze Age at all .
In addition , a new examination of its iconography suggests the artifact dates to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,800 and 2,050 years ago , the researchers wrote .
The study has created outrage in parts of the archaeological scene in Germany , where the Nebra Sky Disk is considered a national treasure and an emblem of early European civilization — and where any challenges to its provenance or authenticity are aggressively confronted .
`` It 's like Beethoven 's Ninth , '' Gebhard told Live Science , referring to the composer 's famous symphony , a nationally revered symbol of German achievement .
`` That makes it difficult for me … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very happy about this . ''
The biggest reason the new study casts doubt on the sky disk 's provenance is that scientific evidence suggests it was not part of a hoard of Bronze Age axes , swords and bracelets allegedly unearthed by treasure hunters near Nebra in 1999 , although it was initially thought to be , Gebhard said .
The collectors sold the disk and hoard to a black-market collector for around 70,000 German marks ( $ 42,000 ) and it was sold on for up to a million German marks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recovered the hoard in 2002 and handed it over to state archaeologists .
A court found the two treasure hunters guilty in 2005 for the illegal excavation , sentencing the pair to several months in jail .
Statements made by the treasure hunters in their attempts to appear to be cooperating with authorities explains the resulting confusion about the location of the artifacts , Gebhard said .
Related : 10 historical treasures the world lost in the last 100 years But archaeological evidence , soil analysis and studies of trace isotopes ( variations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neutrons ) in the metals of the disk show it must have been found somewhere else , and then sold as part of the hoard from Nebra : `` If you go back to the basics , then you wo n't find any argument that these objects belong together , '' he said .
Gebhard hopes the treasure hunters will eventually explain where they actually unearthed the Nebra Sky Disk , information that would cast new light on its origins .
`` I think our article now brings some movement in this story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope it will be the first step to get some information about the original site . ''
Past analysis of the construction of the disk and the metals that were used shows the Nebra Sky Disk was made in several phases .
Its creators first added a central group of gold stars , which have been interpreted as the Pleiades , and a large gold circle and crescent , which have been interpreted as the full and crescent moon .
They later rearranged some of the gold stars , also adding two `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disk which may show the movement of the sun on the and solstices .
During a later phase , the artists added an arc near the bottom edge of the disk , which was previously interpreted as a `` solar boat '' carrying the sun through the sky .
Proponents of the disk 's Bronze Age origins say the artifact represents a sophisticated understanding of astronomical phenomena as well as the intricacies of religious thought at the time .
Archaeologists at the Saxony-Anhalt State Museum for Prehistory in Halle , who support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest study is wrong .
They say some of the soil samples suggest the sky disk could have been part of the Nebra hoard , while chemical analysis of its metals establish its earlier date .
`` Gebhard and Krause are ignoring important publications and quoting only those facts that seem useful to underline their theory , '' deputy state archaeologist Alfred Reichenberger .
`` The of an Iron Age date for the Nebra Sky Disc is demonstrably incorrect . ''
But Gebhard said the iconography of the sky disk shows it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly by peoples in the north of Germany who were strongly influenced by the Celtic civilization farther south .
Iron Age swords and other objects from the region are also decorated with symbols of the moon and stars that reflect the symbolic importance of the night , he said .
Any new interpretations of the Nebra Sky Disk would have to account for the uncertainty of its origins , Gebhard said .
`` We just have to start at the very beginning again . ''

The Nebra Sky Disk of bronze decorated with gold is one of Germany's most famous archaeological artifacts. But a new study suggests it dates to the Iron Age, at least 1,000 years later than scientists had thought.
One of Germany's most famous ancient artifacts may not be what it seems, if a new study is to be believed.
Fierce debate over the Nebra Sky Disk has been reignited by a new study that suggests it is at least 1,000 years younger than previously thought, and probably doesn't have any of the elaborate meanings proposed for it.
The 12-inch-wide (30 centimeters) bronze disk inlaid with gold circles, arcs and crescents was reportedly unearthed in 1999 near the town of Nebra, in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt state.
It was widely hailed as one of the most stunning ancient artifacts ever found. But controversy has surrounded it since its discovery.
Related: 30 of the world's most valuable treasures that are still missing
Experts have long debated where the disk originated and what meaning, if any, it holds; some have even declared it is fake (and created very recently) — although scientific tests suggest it's an authentic artifact that may date from Europe's pre-Celtic Bronze Age, up to 3,800 years ago.
If that dating is correct, then the Nebra Sky Disk is the oldest-known representation of the heavens anywhere in the world, said Jan-Heinrich Bunnefeld, an archaeologist at Saxony-Anhalt's State Museum for Prehistory in the city of Halle, where the disk is now on display (The next oldest is an ancient Egyptian star map on the ceiling of a tomb from about 3,500 years ago).
"The Nebra Sky Disc features the oldest concrete depiction of cosmic phenomena," Bunnefeld told Live Science in an email. "It is a key find, not only for the discipline of archaeology, but also for astronomy and the history of religions."
The researchers argue that motifs of the full moon, crescent moon and stars were common in the Iron Age from about 800 B.C. to 50 B.C. — such as on this Early Celtic sword found near Munich, from about 500 B.C. (Image credit: State Archaeological Collection Munich, Manfred Eberlein)
Ancient artifact
But a new study casts doubts on the origins and meaning of the Nebra Sky Disk.
Writing this month in the journal Archäologische Informationen, University of Munich archaeologist Rupert Gebhard and Rüdiger Krause, an archaeologist at Goethe University in Frankfurt, argue that the artifact could not have been unearthed at the location near Nebra, according to a statement .
That also means the sky disk probably isn't from the Bronze Age at all. In addition, a new examination of its iconography suggests the artifact dates to the period of the Celtic Iron Age between about 2,800 and 2,050 years ago, the researchers wrote.
The study has created outrage in parts of the archaeological scene in Germany, where the Nebra Sky Disk is considered a national treasure and an emblem of early European civilization — and where any challenges to its provenance or authenticity are aggressively confronted.
"It's like Beethoven's Ninth," Gebhard told Live Science, referring to the composer's famous symphony, a nationally revered symbol of German achievement.
"That makes it difficult for me … you can understand that people are not very happy about this."
This photograph shows the Nebra Sky Disk before restoration work was carried out at the State Museum for Prehistory at Halle. It shows the corrosion and damage to the desk, including a fragment of gold missing from the circle near the center. (Image credit: Hildegard Burri-Bayer)
Bronze Age hoard
The biggest reason the new study casts doubt on the sky disk's provenance is that scientific evidence suggests it was not part of a hoard of Bronze Age axes, swords and bracelets allegedly unearthed by treasure hunters near Nebra in 1999, although it was initially thought to be, Gebhard said.
The collectors sold the disk and hoard to a black-market collector for around 70,000 German marks ($42,000) and it was sold on for up to a million German marks ($600,000), until police recovered the hoard in 2002 and handed it over to state archaeologists.
A court found the two treasure hunters guilty in 2005 for the illegal excavation, sentencing the pair to several months in jail.
Statements made by the treasure hunters in their attempts to appear to be cooperating with authorities explains the resulting confusion about the location of the artifacts, Gebhard said.
Related: 10 historical treasures the world lost in the last 100 years
But archaeological evidence, soil analysis and studies of trace isotopes (variations of an element with different numbers of neutrons) in the metals of the disk show it must have been found somewhere else, and then sold as part of the hoard from Nebra: "If you go back to the basics, then you won't find any argument that these objects belong together," he said.
Gebhard hopes the treasure hunters will eventually explain where they actually unearthed the Nebra Sky Disk, information that would cast new light on its origins.
"I think our article now brings some movement in this story," he said. "I hope it will be the first step to get some information about the original site."
Disputed origins
Past analysis of the construction of the disk and the metals that were used shows the Nebra Sky Disk was made in several phases. Its creators first added a central group of gold stars, which have been interpreted as the Pleiades, and a large gold circle and crescent, which have been interpreted as the full and crescent moon.
They later rearranged some of the gold stars, also adding two "horizon" arcs to the edges of the disk which may show the movement of the sun on the winter and summer solstices.
Related: Amazing astronomy: Victorian-era illustrations of the heavens
During a later phase, the artists added an arc near the bottom edge of the disk, which was previously interpreted as a "solar boat" carrying the sun through the sky.
Proponents of the disk's Bronze Age origins say the artifact represents a sophisticated understanding of astronomical phenomena as well as the intricacies of religious thought at the time.
Archaeologists at the Saxony-Anhalt State Museum for Prehistory in Halle, who support the Bronze Age dating, insist the latest study is wrong. They say some of the soil samples suggest the sky disk could have been part of the Nebra hoard, while chemical analysis of its metals establish its earlier date.
"Gebhard and Krause are ignoring important publications and quoting only those facts that seem useful to underline their theory," deputy state archaeologist Alfred Reichenberger said in a statement . "The theory of an Iron Age date for the Nebra Sky Disc is demonstrably incorrect."
But Gebhard said the iconography of the sky disk shows it was probably made in the Iron Age, possibly by peoples in the north of Germany who were strongly influenced by the Celtic civilization farther south.
Iron Age swords and other objects from the region are also decorated with symbols of the moon and stars that reflect the symbolic importance of the night, he said.
Any new interpretations of the Nebra Sky Disk would have to account for the uncertainty of its origins, Gebhard said. "We just have to start at the very beginning again."


livescience--2020-09-15--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--2020-09-15--Eerily well-preserved 17th-century ship found in the dark waters of the Baltic Sea

Divers from Finland have made an unexpected discovery while exploring the depths of the Baltic Sea , finding an incredibly well-preserved shipwreck dating back almost 400 years .
Volunteer divers from the nonprofit Badewanne team more often come across wrecked 20th-century relics sunk during the sea battles of World War I and WWII , so uncovering what appears to be a largely undamaged Dutch merchant vessel from the 17th century was a huge surprise .
The ship , an example of a Dutch 'fluit ' ( or fluyt ) , was found near the mouth of the Gulf of Finland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Baltic .
At a depth of about 85 meter ( roughly 280 ft ) , the Badewanne diving team discovered this Dutch time capsule lying on the seabed , almost completely preserved and intact .
Showing only minor damage sustained from subsequent pelagic trawling with fishing nets , the vessel is otherwise frozen in a kind of 17th-century stasis , the team says , thanks to the properties of the water in this part of the sea — where a combination of low levels of salinity , temperature , and light can enable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of years .
In warmer waters , wood-boring organisms flourish , and can do untold damage to relics such as this , but here , the chemistry of the Baltic — and the unknown nature of the fluit 's sinking — have left us with a remarkable relic for further investigation .
Even the holds of the ship are full , the divers say , still carrying its stock of provisions and wares from when Dutch cargo vessels largely dominated seaborne trade in this part of the world , thanks in part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fluit itself .
These ships , which in their first iterations emerged in the 16th century , sacrificed everything for their all-important cargo .
Unlike other boats of the time that were designed to switch between serving as cargo ships and war vessels , the three-masted fluit bore a cost-effective and capacious design fully intended to maximize cargo capacity .
Because of this , it could carry as much as twice the cargo of rival vessels , and advanced rigging systems ensured its deft sailing capabilities could be controlled by small crews , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profitable ship to operate .
Despite the design 's success and popularity between the 16th and 18th century , relatively few fluits survive to this day .
Further investigation of this particular find could reveal interesting facts about these historical treasures .
`` The wreck reveals many of the characteristics of the fluit but also some unique features , not least the construction of the stern , '' says maritime archaeologist Niklas Eriksson from the University of Stockholm in Sweden , who will work with Finnish authorities and others to study the discovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is an early example of the design .
The wreck thus offers a unique opportunity to investigate the development of a ship type that sailed all over the world and became the tool that laid the foundation for early modern globalization . ''
This article was originally published by ScienceAlert .
Read the original article here .

Volunteer divers from the nonprofit Badewanne team discovered this Dutch fluit ship in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea.
Divers from Finland have made an unexpected discovery while exploring the depths of the Baltic Sea, finding an incredibly well-preserved shipwreck dating back almost 400 years.
Volunteer divers from the nonprofit Badewanne team more often come across wrecked 20th-century relics sunk during the sea battles of World War I and WWII, so uncovering what appears to be a largely undamaged Dutch merchant vessel from the 17th century was a huge surprise.
The ship, an example of a Dutch 'fluit' (or fluyt), was found near the mouth of the Gulf of Finland, in the easternmost waters of the Baltic.
At a depth of about 85 meter (roughly 280 ft), the Badewanne diving team discovered this Dutch time capsule lying on the seabed, almost completely preserved and intact.
Showing only minor damage sustained from subsequent pelagic trawling with fishing nets, the vessel is otherwise frozen in a kind of 17th-century stasis, the team says, thanks to the properties of the water in this part of the sea — where a combination of low levels of salinity, temperature, and light can enable sunk wrecks to survive virtually unchanged for hundreds of years.
In warmer waters, wood-boring organisms flourish, and can do untold damage to relics such as this, but here, the chemistry of the Baltic — and the unknown nature of the fluit's sinking — have left us with a remarkable relic for further investigation.
Even the holds of the ship are full, the divers say, still carrying its stock of provisions and wares from when Dutch cargo vessels largely dominated seaborne trade in this part of the world, thanks in part to the pioneering advancements demonstrated by the fluit itself.
These ships, which in their first iterations emerged in the 16th century, sacrificed everything for their all-important cargo. Unlike other boats of the time that were designed to switch between serving as cargo ships and war vessels, the three-masted fluit bore a cost-effective and capacious design fully intended to maximize cargo capacity.
Because of this, it could carry as much as twice the cargo of rival vessels, and advanced rigging systems ensured its deft sailing capabilities could be controlled by small crews, which also made the fluit a more profitable ship to operate.
Despite the design's success and popularity between the 16th and 18th century, relatively few fluits survive to this day. Further investigation of this particular find could reveal interesting facts about these historical treasures.
"The wreck reveals many of the characteristics of the fluit but also some unique features, not least the construction of the stern," says maritime archaeologist Niklas Eriksson from the University of Stockholm in Sweden, who will work with Finnish authorities and others to study the discovery.
"It might be that this is an early example of the design. The wreck thus offers a unique opportunity to investigate the development of a ship type that sailed all over the world and became the tool that laid the foundation for early modern globalization."
This article was originally published by ScienceAlert. Read the original article here.


livescience--2020-09-15--Squirrel beer, ant gin and poop wine are served up in Disgusting Food Museum's new exhibit

Gin brewed with .
Poop wine .
Whale testicle beer flavored with the smoked dung of Icelandic sheep .
This beverage collection sounds like a menu at the world 's worst Happy Hour , but it 's actually part of a new exhibit at the aptly named Disgusting Food Museum in Malmö , Sweden .
The museum is already known for its , such as maggoty cheese from Sardinia , Icelandic fermented shark flesh and Peruvian frog smoothies .
For the new three-month-long exhibit , which opened to the public on Sept. 5 , `` we have found the strangest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the world , '' museum director Andreas Ahrens said in a statement .
`` Some of the exhibited alcohols showcase different types of homemade alcohols going back thousands of years , while others are experimental , made by local brewers , '' he said .
One highlight is a Scottish beer that is the strongest beer in the world , with a staggering 55 % alcohol by volume , or ABV ( on average , beer is usually about 4.5 % ABV ) .
But the high alcohol content is n't the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intoxicating brew is served inside a taxidermy squirrel .
Related : 15 of the world 's most 'disgusting ' foods ( photos ) '' I have long been fascinated by why we humans force ourselves to overcome our dislike for 'acquired taste ' alcohols '' — drinks that can be intensely bitter , pungent or otherwise unpleasant , Ahrens told Live Science in an email .
`` This exhibit is a deep dive into why we drink and how we started our strange relationship with spirits . ''
Disgust has long been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be universal , opinions vary widely about what qualifies as `` disgusting , '' depending on customs , cultures and personal tastes , says .
`` What is delicious to one person can be revolting to another .
Disgusting Food Museum invites visitors to explore the world of food and challenge their notions of what is and what is n't edible , '' according to the website .
Alcohol in the museum exhibit had to be considered drinkable somewhere in the world , even if some would be put off by an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ background of how it 's made , '' Ahrens told Live Science .
For example , a rice wine called Ttongsul , once used as a medicinal remedy in South Korea , is brewed with fermented human feces .
`` The thought alone is enough to get most people to gag , '' Ahrens said .
Unsurprisingly , this so-called poop wine `` smells horribly bad during production , '' he added .
Whale testicle beer , a seasonal product produced by Brewery Steðji in Iceland , incorporates testicles `` that are cured @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lightly salted and then smoked , '' brewery co-owner Dagbjartur Arilíusson told in 2015 .
`` We put a lot of effort into this and it 's a long process , '' he said .
And Anty Gin — each bottle steeped with about 62 red wood ants ( Formica rufa ) , is the world 's first gin brewed with insects , according to manufacturer .
The ants lend `` sharp citrus notes '' to the beverage , the product website says .
It 's probably just as well that visitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alcoholic beverages , and not taste them .
However , Ahrens did sample `` as many as possible '' while researching the drinks ; he tasted `` almost all of the rest '' by the time the exhibit opened , Ahrens told Live Science .
In fact , four of the alcoholic beverages on display were manufactured by the museum : Korean feces wine ; chicha , an ancient beer made from corn that is chewed into paste before fermenting ; pruno , a prison wine made from fruit and brewed in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that British colonizers dubbed `` war gin . ''
`` The only one I ca n't bring myself to trying is the poo wine , '' Ahrens admitted .
`` It 's just messing with my head . ''

Gin brewed with ants . Poop wine. Whale testicle beer flavored with the smoked dung of Icelandic sheep. This beverage collection sounds like a menu at the world's worst Happy Hour, but it's actually part of a new exhibit at the aptly named Disgusting Food Museum in Malmö, Sweden.
The museum is already known for its peculiar culinary displays , such as maggoty cheese from Sardinia, Icelandic fermented shark flesh and Peruvian frog smoothies. For the new three-month-long exhibit, which opened to the public on Sept. 5, "we have found the strangest, most interesting and challenging alcohol types from the world," museum director Andreas Ahrens said in a statement. "Some of the exhibited alcohols showcase different types of homemade alcohols going back thousands of years, while others are experimental, made by local brewers," he said.
One highlight is a Scottish beer that is the strongest beer in the world, with a staggering 55% alcohol by volume, or ABV (on average, beer is usually about 4.5% ABV). But the high alcohol content isn't the weirdest aspect of this Scottish beer — the intoxicating brew is served inside a taxidermy squirrel.
Related: 15 of the world's most 'disgusting' foods (photos)
"I have long been fascinated by why we humans force ourselves to overcome our dislike for 'acquired taste' alcohols" — drinks that can be intensely bitter, pungent or otherwise unpleasant, Ahrens told Live Science in an email. "This exhibit is a deep dive into why we drink and how we started our strange relationship with spirits."
Disgust has long been considered a universal human emotion . But while the emotion may be universal, opinions vary widely about what qualifies as "disgusting," depending on customs, cultures and personal tastes, the museum website says. "What is delicious to one person can be revolting to another. Disgusting Food Museum invites visitors to explore the world of food and challenge their notions of what is and what isn't edible," according to the website.
End of History beer is produced by the Scottish brewery BrewDog, and is served inside a dead squirrel. (Image credit: Courtesy of Disgusting Food Museum)
Alcohol in the museum exhibit had to be considered drinkable somewhere in the world, even if some would be put off by an offensive taste, odor "or the background of how it's made," Ahrens told Live Science. For example, a rice wine called Ttongsul, once used as a medicinal remedy in South Korea, is brewed with fermented human feces. "The thought alone is enough to get most people to gag," Ahrens said. Unsurprisingly, this so-called poop wine "smells horribly bad during production," he added.
Whale testicle beer, a seasonal product produced by Brewery Steðji in Iceland, incorporates testicles "that are cured according to an old, Icelandic tradition, lightly salted and then smoked," brewery co-owner Dagbjartur Arilíusson told Icelandic news site Vísir in 2015. "We put a lot of effort into this and it's a long process," he said.
And Anty Gin — each bottle steeped with about 62 red wood ants (Formica rufa), is the world's first gin brewed with insects, according to manufacturer Cambridge Distillery . The ants lend "sharp citrus notes" to the beverage, the product website says.
Anty Gin is flavored with juniper and nettle. And of course, ants. (Image credit: Courtesy of Disgusting Food Museum)
It's probably just as well that visitors can only look at the exhibit's alcoholic beverages, and not taste them. However, Ahrens did sample "as many as possible" while researching the drinks; he tasted "almost all of the rest" by the time the exhibit opened, Ahrens told Live Science.
In fact, four of the alcoholic beverages on display were manufactured by the museum: Korean feces wine; chicha, an ancient beer made from corn that is chewed into paste before fermenting; pruno, a prison wine made from fruit and brewed in a toilet; and a potent Ugandan moonshine that British colonizers dubbed "war gin."
"The only one I can't bring myself to trying is the poo wine," Ahrens admitted. "It's just messing with my head."
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-15--Countries around the world want a Space Force — but why?

As perceived security threats mount in Earth 's orbit , countries around the world are following the example of the United States and creating their own `` space forces . ''
Nine months ago , in December 2019 , the U.S. Space Force was born .
The new military branch was created with a focus to protect the nation 's satellites and other space assets , which are vital to everything from national security to day-to-day communications .
Now , countries including France , Canada and Japan are following suit , as leaders from those countries ' `` space force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) during the 2nd Summit for Space Sustainability , an online event hosted by the nonprofit Secure World Foundation .
So , why do these countries , as well as nations like Russia and China , want a military presence in space ?
Related : The most dangerous space weapons ever According to Maj. Gen. John Shaw , the combined force space component commander of the U.S. Space Command and commander of space operations command for the U.S. Space Force , it 's analogous to asking `` why do ocean-going or seafaring nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` to secure that domain for all activity and to deter threats in that domain , '' he said during the summit on Thursday .
`` Nobody wants a war in space . ''
The threats that the U.S. Space Force aims to deter are not theoretical and have already started popping up , Shaw explained .
For example , in April and , the Space Force detected an anti-satellite missile test conducted in low Earth orbit by Russia .
The April test `` provides yet another example that the threats to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , serious and growing , '' Space Force commander Gen. John `` Jay '' Raymond .
Satellite tests are no uncommon occurrence in low Earth orbit .
However , according to Shaw , Russia was testing what looked like a `` space torpedo . ''
`` And I could add many other threats that we 've seen along the continuum of space counter-space capabilities , '' Shaw added , citing `` the proliferation of electromagnetic spectrum jammers '' as an example .
Jammers deliberately interfere with information beaming to or from Earth-orbiting satellites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force is actively working to combat these threats , other countries are following suit .
`` We share the same concerns , '' French Space Command major general and commander Michel Friedling said during the summit .
`` We want to make sure that we 're not riding coattails , '' Brig .
Gen. Mike Adamson , the director general and Space/Joint Force Space Component Commander for the Canadian Department of National Defence added during the summit .
Canada wants to `` maintain our place at the table , '' Adamson said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ other nations are not the only concern for the U.S. Space Force and other countries ' growing military space efforts .
Constellations of satellites from private companies here on Earth can also pose serious issues .
The `` proliferation in low Earth orbit of commercial satellites , in some ways , might be the greatest threat to space sustainability , '' Shaw said , adding that this will only really be a threat if not done properly .
Recently , SpaceX began launching large numbers of satellites to low Earth orbit , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Starlink that 's designed to provide internet access around the globe .
SpaceX has already lofted more than 700 Starlink satellites .
But Elon Musk 's company has approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to launch as many as 12,000 satellites into orbit and may want to grow the constellation even larger than that someday .
And SpaceX is n't the only one with such ambitions .
For example , Amazon aims to launch about 3,200 satellites for its own internet constellation , Project Kuiper .
Putting so many satellites into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the proliferation of `` space junk . ''
While SpaceX 's Starlink satellites are designed to fall out of orbit and burn up in Earth 's atmosphere over time , the presence of so many spacecraft in orbit at once increases the possibility of collisions , which would generate huge swarms of debris .
These swarms would then pose a potential threat to other satellites in orbit .
Related : In photos : SpaceX launches third batch of 60 Starlink satellites to orbit As Shaw mentioned , the Space Force also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ academic '' or science-focused satellites launched into orbit .
With all of these new satellites expected to launch , the Space Force wants to ensure that they are made with a `` responsible design so that they do n't become a navigational hazard , '' Shaw said .
`` As we continue to expand across all sectors…how do we do that in a responsible way ? ''
This is a concern for other countries dipping their toes into space-focused military branches as well .
These emerging military enterprises have to consider things such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the private actors in space ? ''
Friedling said .
Friedling also brought up the issue of security for these private or science-focused satellites .
`` Do they want to be protected or escorted ? ''
he asked , comparing these craft to private ships that were escorted in convoys during World War I to keep them safe from enemy attack from newly introduced submarines .
The space military representatives , which also included Maj. Gen. Hiroaki Sakanashi , the director general of the project promotion group for emerging domains and programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seemed to agree that these are concerns that should be addressed by space-focused military efforts .
`` You invite conflict when there 's weakness , and I believe you deter conflict when there is strength , and that is the path we 're on , '' Shaw said .
Taking this approach `` will lead us , I believe , to a more strategically stable situation that deters conflict in space , '' he added .
`` Certainly , Canada is going along those lines as well , '' Adamson agreed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or follow her on Twitter @ chelsea_gohd .
Follow us on Twitter @ Spacedotcom and on Facebook .

The U.S. Space Force isn't the only military space branch popping up around the world.
As perceived security threats mount in Earth's orbit, countries around the world are following the example of the United States and creating their own "space forces."
Nine months ago, in December 2019, the U.S. Space Force was born. The new military branch was created with a focus to protect the nation's satellites and other space assets, which are vital to everything from national security to day-to-day communications.
Now, countries including France, Canada and Japan are following suit, as leaders from those countries' "space force" analogs said Thursday (Sept. 10) during the 2nd Summit for Space Sustainability, an online event hosted by the nonprofit Secure World Foundation.
So, why do these countries, as well as nations like Russia and China, want a military presence in space?
Related: The most dangerous space weapons ever
According to Maj. Gen. John Shaw, the combined force space component commander of the U.S. Space Command and commander of space operations command for the U.S. Space Force, it's analogous to asking "why do ocean-going or seafaring nations want a Navy?" They want "to secure that domain for all activity and to deter threats in that domain," he said during the summit on Thursday. "Nobody wants a war in space."
Space torpedoes
The threats that the U.S. Space Force aims to deter are not theoretical and have already started popping up, Shaw explained.
For example, in April and again in July , the Space Force detected an anti-satellite missile test conducted in low Earth orbit by Russia. The April test "provides yet another example that the threats to the U.S. and allied space systems are real, serious and growing," Space Force commander Gen. John "Jay" Raymond stated following that incident .
Satellite tests are no uncommon occurrence in low Earth orbit. However, according to Shaw, Russia was testing what looked like a "space torpedo."
Video: Watch Russia launch the two mysterious satellites
"And I could add many other threats that we've seen along the continuum of space counter-space capabilities," Shaw added, citing "the proliferation of electromagnetic spectrum jammers" as an example. Jammers deliberately interfere with information beaming to or from Earth-orbiting satellites.
And, while the U.S. Space Force is actively working to combat these threats, other countries are following suit. "We share the same concerns," French Space Command major general and commander Michel Friedling said during the summit.
"We want to make sure that we're not riding coattails," Brig. Gen. Mike Adamson, the director general and Space/Joint Force Space Component Commander for the Canadian Department of National Defence added during the summit. Canada wants to "maintain our place at the table," Adamson said.
Satellite swarm threats
However, intentional, nefarious threats from other nations are not the only concern for the U.S. Space Force and other countries' growing military space efforts. Constellations of satellites from private companies here on Earth can also pose serious issues.
The "proliferation in low Earth orbit of commercial satellites, in some ways, might be the greatest threat to space sustainability," Shaw said, adding that this will only really be a threat if not done properly.
Recently, SpaceX began launching large numbers of satellites to low Earth orbit, in an effort to grow a huge constellation called Starlink that's designed to provide internet access around the globe.
SpaceX has already lofted more than 700 Starlink satellites. But Elon Musk's company has approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to launch as many as 12,000 satellites into orbit and may want to grow the constellation even larger than that someday.
And SpaceX isn't the only one with such ambitions. For example, Amazon aims to launch about 3,200 satellites for its own internet constellation, Project Kuiper.
Putting so many satellites into orbit raises a number of potential concerns, including the proliferation of "space junk." While SpaceX's Starlink satellites are designed to fall out of orbit and burn up in Earth's atmosphere over time, the presence of so many spacecraft in orbit at once increases the possibility of collisions, which would generate huge swarms of debris. These swarms would then pose a potential threat to other satellites in orbit.
Related: In photos: SpaceX launches third batch of 60 Starlink satellites to orbit
As Shaw mentioned, the Space Force also expects to see more and more "academic" or science-focused satellites launched into orbit.
With all of these new satellites expected to launch, the Space Force wants to ensure that they are made with a "responsible design so that they don't become a navigational hazard," Shaw said. "As we continue to expand across all sectors…how do we do that in a responsible way?"
This is a concern for other countries dipping their toes into space-focused military branches as well.
These emerging military enterprises have to consider things such as, "How do we coordinate with the private actors in space?" Friedling said.
Friedling also brought up the issue of security for these private or science-focused satellites. "Do they want to be protected or escorted?" he asked, comparing these craft to private ships that were escorted in convoys during World War I to keep them safe from enemy attack from newly introduced submarines.
The space military representatives, which also included Maj. Gen. Hiroaki Sakanashi, the director general of the project promotion group for emerging domains and programs in the Air Staff Office in Japan, seemed to agree that these are concerns that should be addressed by space-focused military efforts.
"You invite conflict when there's weakness, and I believe you deter conflict when there is strength, and that is the path we're on," Shaw said. Taking this approach "will lead us, I believe, to a more strategically stable situation that deters conflict in space," he added.
"Certainly, Canada is going along those lines as well," Adamson agreed.
Email Chelsea Gohd at cgohd@space.com or follow her on Twitter @chelsea_gohd. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.


livescience--2020-09-15--SpaceX gearing up for 12-mile-high test flight with prototype of Mars-colonizing Starship

The next big leap for SpaceX 's Mars-colonizing appears to be right around the corner .
Two full-size Starship prototypes , known as SN5 and SN6 , recently performed at SpaceX 's South Texas facilities , near the village of Boca Chica .
And the next vehicle in line is nearly ready to soar much higher , company founder and CEO Elon Musk said .
`` SN8 Starship with flaps & nosecone should be done in about a week .
Then static fire , checkouts , static fire , fly to 60,000 ft [ 18,300 m ] & back , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Static fires are routine engine tests conducted while a vehicle is tethered to the ground .
The engines that will be tested in this case are SpaceX 's next-generation Raptors — likely three of them , to get the SN8 up so high .
SN5 and SN6 sported only a single Raptor , and those vehicles did n't have nosecones or control-improving body flaps , either .
( SN7 was a test tank that during a pressure trial this past June , in case you were wondering . )
SpaceX is iterating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will feature six Raptors and , Musk has said , be capable of carrying up to 100 people to the moon , Mars and other distant destinations .
The 165-foot-tall ( 50 m ) Starship will launch from Earth atop a gigantic rocket known as Super Heavy , which will be powered by about 30 Raptors of its own .
The Starship vehicle will be powerful enough to blast itself off the moon and Mars , whose gravitational pulls are much weaker than that of our planet , Musk has said .
Both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be fully and rapidly reusable , a technological breakthrough that SpaceX believes will make ambitious exploration feats such as Mars colonization economically feasible .
SpaceX has already booked one Starship customer — Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa , who will fly around the moon on the vehicle .
The target launch date for that mission is 2023 .
Starship is also to land NASA astronauts on the moon , as part of the space agency 's .
Artemis aims to put two astronauts down near the lunar south pole in 2024 and establish a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moon by the end of the decade .
Starship will fly a wide variety of missions to many different destinations , if all goes according to plan .
SpaceX plans to phase out all of its other spaceflight hardware over time , handing all duties over to Starship and Super Heavy eventually .
Mike Wall is the author of `` Out There '' ( Grand Central Publishing , 2018 ; illustrated by Karl Tate ) , a book about the search for alien life .
Follow him on Twitter @ michaeldwall .
Follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

The next big leap for SpaceX's Mars-colonizing Starship spacecraft appears to be right around the corner.
Two full-size Starship prototypes, known as SN5 and SN6, recently performed 500-foot-high (150 meters) test hops at SpaceX's South Texas facilities, near the village of Boca Chica. And the next vehicle in line is nearly ready to soar much higher, company founder and CEO Elon Musk said.
"SN8 Starship with flaps & nosecone should be done in about a week. Then static fire, checkouts, static fire, fly to 60,000 ft [18,300 m] & back," Musk said via Twitter on Saturday (Sept. 12).
In photos: SpaceX's SN5 Starship prototype soars on 1st test flight
Static fires are routine engine tests conducted while a vehicle is tethered to the ground. The engines that will be tested in this case are SpaceX's next-generation Raptors — likely three of them, to get the SN8 up so high. SN5 and SN6 sported only a single Raptor, and those vehicles didn't have nosecones or control-improving body flaps, either. (SN7 was a test tank that SpaceX intentionally burst during a pressure trial this past June, in case you were wondering.)
SpaceX is iterating toward a final version of Starship that will feature six Raptors and, Musk has said, be capable of carrying up to 100 people to the moon, Mars and other distant destinations.
The 165-foot-tall (50 m) Starship will launch from Earth atop a gigantic rocket known as Super Heavy, which will be powered by about 30 Raptors of its own. The Starship vehicle will be powerful enough to blast itself off the moon and Mars, whose gravitational pulls are much weaker than that of our planet, Musk has said.
Both Starship and Super Heavy are designed to be fully and rapidly reusable, a technological breakthrough that SpaceX believes will make ambitious exploration feats such as Mars colonization economically feasible.
Related: SpaceX's Starship and Super Heavy rocket in pictures
SpaceX has already booked one Starship customer — Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, who will fly around the moon on the vehicle. The target launch date for that mission is 2023.
Starship is also in the running to land NASA astronauts on the moon, as part of the space agency's Artemis program . Artemis aims to put two astronauts down near the lunar south pole in 2024 and establish a sustainable human presence on and around the moon by the end of the decade.
Starship will fly a wide variety of missions to many different destinations, if all goes according to plan. SpaceX plans to phase out all of its other spaceflight hardware over time, handing all duties over to Starship and Super Heavy eventually.
Mike Wall is the author of "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.


livescience--2020-09-15--COVID-19 may become a seasonal virus

COVID-19 may become a seasonal virus

COVID-19 may eventually become a seasonal illness like the , but only when the population achieves , meaning a sufficient number of people are immune to prevent constant spread , a new study suggests .
But until then , COVID-19 will likely spread year-round , a finding that highlights the importance of following public health measures to control the virus , according to the review , published Tuesday ( Sept. 15 ) in the journal .
`` COVID-19 is here to stay and it will continue to cause outbreaks year-round until herd immunity is achieved , '' study senior author @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Beirut in Lebanon , .
`` Therefore , the public will need to learn to live with it and continue practicing the best prevention measures , including wearing of masks , physical distancing , hand hygiene and avoidance of gatherings . ''
Many viruses seem to — for example , in temperate regions , cases of the flu regularly peak in winter and dwindle during the summer months .
The same is true for certain types of coronaviruses that cause the common cold .
Scientists do n't know for sure why these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of factors are thought to play a role .
For example , studies suggest that many respiratory viruses are more stable and linger in the air longer in environments with cold temperatures and low humidity , the authors said .
Human behaviors , such as gathering indoors in wintertime , could also boost transmission .
Early studies on SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 , also suggested that the virus 's transmission may increase in colder temperatures and .
But with any infectious disease , in order for cases to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` basic reproduction number '' ( R0 , pronounced R-nought ) , or the average number of people who catch the virus from a single infected person , needs to drop below 1 .
The R0 for COVID-19 appears to be relatively high , with many scientists estimating a value between 2 and 3 , compared with about 1.3 for the flu , the authors said .
COVID-19 's high R0 may be due , in part , to the absence of pre-existing immunity to the disease in most of the population .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the authors predict it will be harder for seasonal factors to push R0 below 1 .
`` Therefore , without public health interventions , SARS-CoV-2 will continue to spread in summer as witnessed in many countries around the world , '' the authors wrote .
In contrast , as more people gain immunity , either through natural infection or vaccine , the R0 `` is expected to drop substantially , making the virus more prone to seasonal fluctuations , '' such as spikes in wintertime and dips in summertime , the authors concluded @

COVID-19 may eventually become a seasonal illness like the flu , but only when the population achieves herd immunity , meaning a sufficient number of people are immune to prevent constant spread, a new review article suggests.
But until then, COVID-19 will likely spread year-round, a finding that highlights the importance of following public health measures to control the virus, according to the review, published Tuesday (Sept. 15) in the journal Frontiers in Public Health .
"COVID-19 is here to stay and it will continue to cause outbreaks year-round until herd immunity is achieved," study senior author Hassan Zaraket, an assistant professor of virology at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, said in a statement . "Therefore, the public will need to learn to live with it and continue practicing the best prevention measures, including wearing of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene and avoidance of gatherings."
Related: 14 coronavirus myths busted by science
What makes a virus seasonal?
Many viruses seem to follow seasonal patterns — for example, in temperate regions, cases of the flu regularly peak in winter and dwindle during the summer months. The same is true for certain types of coronaviruses that cause the common cold.
Scientists don't know for sure why these viruses follow a seasonal pattern, but a number of factors are thought to play a role. For example, studies suggest that many respiratory viruses are more stable and linger in the air longer in environments with cold temperatures and low humidity, the authors said. Human behaviors, such as gathering indoors in wintertime, could also boost transmission.
Early studies on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, also suggested that the virus's transmission may increase in colder temperatures and decrease in warmer temperatures .
But with any infectious disease, in order for cases to decline, a factor known as the "basic reproduction number" (R0, pronounced R-nought), or the average number of people who catch the virus from a single infected person, needs to drop below 1.
The R0 for COVID-19 appears to be relatively high, with many scientists estimating a value between 2 and 3, compared with about 1.3 for the flu, the authors said.
COVID-19's high R0 may be due, in part, to the absence of pre-existing immunity to the disease in most of the population. Thus, with a higher R0, the authors predict it will be harder for seasonal factors to push R0 below 1.
"Therefore, without public health interventions, SARS-CoV-2 will continue to spread in summer as witnessed in many countries around the world," the authors wrote.
In contrast, as more people gain immunity, either through natural infection or vaccine, the R0 "is expected to drop substantially, making the virus more prone to seasonal fluctuations," such as spikes in wintertime and dips in summertime, the authors concluded.
If a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available, it may reduce the spread, but it will likely not totally eliminate the virus, Zaraket and study co-author Hadi Yassine, an associate professor of infectious diseases at Qatar University in Doha, told Live Science in an email. That's because the vaccine will likely not be 100% effective, so some infections will still occur. In addition, the protection offered by the vaccine may wane with time, or the virus may mutate and evade immune protection, the researchers said.
Editor's note: This article was updated on Sept. 15 at 11:45 am ET to include comments from the authors about the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-18--Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates

Coronavirus outbreak: Live updates


livescience--2020-09-17--Flu season may be very mild this year, thanks to COVID-19 precautions

Flu season may be pretty mild this year thanks to measures taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 , according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
In the report , published Thursday ( Sept. 17 ) in the CDC journal , the researchers note that flu activity in the U.S. right now is at `` historical lows , '' and that data from the Southern Hemisphere — which has just gone through its winter — showed `` virtually no circulation . ''
However , nothing is certain when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the middle of a .
So it 's still important to prepare for both flu and COVID-19 this fall and winter , and to get a , the report says .
Flu activity in the U.S. dropped sharply in March , when it became apparent that COVID-19 was circulating widely across the country .
This drop likely includes a real decline in flu activity — a side effect of , stay-at-home orders , and mask-wearing that aimed to slow the spread of COVID-19 — as well as less reporting , as fewer people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu-like symptoms .
Overall , the number of samples that U.S. labs submitted for flu tests ( an indicator of flu activity ) dropped 61 % , from nearly 50,000 per week from September 2019 through February 2020 , to 19,500 per week from March through May of this year .
Even more striking , there was a 98 % drop in the number of samples that tested positive for flu during this time , from 19 % to 0.3 % .
This summer , flu activity has remained extremely low , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from May through August , compared with 2.35 % during that same period in 2019 , 1.04 % in 2018 and 2.36 % in 2017 , the report said .
There 's been very little flu activity in the Southern Hemisphere as well .
From April through July ( during the Southern Hemisphere 's fall and winter , or peak flu season ) , there were only 51 positive flu tests out of more than 83,000 people tested in Australia , Chile and South Africa , for a positivity rate of 0.06 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July in the years 2017 to 2019 , nearly 14 % , or 24,000 out of 178,000 people , tested positive for flu in those three countries .
Initially , declines in flu activity were mostly attributed to doctors testing for COVID-19 rather than the flu .
But even when public health officials made renewed efforts to test for flu ( and conducted an adequate number of flu tests ) , there was still `` little to no influenza virus '' detected , the report said .
The findings suggest that `` community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear to have substantially reduced transmission of influenza in all these countries , '' the report said .
If these strategies continue through the fall `` influenza activity in the United States might remain low and the season might be blunted or delayed , '' the authors wrote .
But given that people may not necessarily stick with measures meant to slow the spread of COVID-19 , it is important to plan for flu this fall and winter .
COVID-19 has made getting a flu shot this year `` especially important , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flu , but also to reduce the burden on the health care system responding to COVID-19 , the CDC says .
The findings also suggest that , in the future , officials might consider implementing some of the COVID-19 mitigation measures during seasons with high flu activity , particularly among those at highest risk for flu complications .

Flu season may be pretty mild this year thanks to measures taken to stop the spread of COVID-19, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the report, published Thursday (Sept. 17) in the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , the researchers note that flu activity in the U.S. right now is at "historical lows," and that data from the Southern Hemisphere — which has just gone through its winter — showed "virtually no influenza circulation."
However, nothing is certain when it comes to the flu season, especially during the middle of a pandemic . So it's still important to prepare for both flu and COVID-19 this fall and winter, and to get a flu shot , the report says.
Related: 14 coronavirus myths busted by science
Flu activity in the U.S. dropped sharply in March, when it became apparent that COVID-19 was circulating widely across the country. This drop likely includes a real decline in flu activity — a side effect of school closures , stay-at-home orders, social distancing and mask-wearing that aimed to slow the spread of COVID-19 — as well as less reporting, as fewer people went to their doctor when they had flu-like symptoms.
Overall, the number of samples that U.S. labs submitted for flu tests (an indicator of flu activity) dropped 61%, from nearly 50,000 per week from September 2019 through February 2020, to 19,500 per week from March through May of this year. Even more striking, there was a 98% drop in the number of samples that tested positive for flu during this time, from 19% to 0.3%.
This summer, flu activity has remained extremely low, with just 0.2% of samples testing positive from May through August, compared with 2.35% during that same period in 2019, 1.04% in 2018 and 2.36% in 2017, the report said.
There's been very little flu activity in the Southern Hemisphere as well. From April through July (during the Southern Hemisphere's fall and winter, or peak flu season), there were only 51 positive flu tests out of more than 83,000 people tested in Australia, Chile and South Africa, for a positivity rate of 0.06%. In contrast, during April through July in the years 2017 to 2019, nearly 14%, or 24,000 out of 178,000 people, tested positive for flu in those three countries.
Initially, declines in flu activity were mostly attributed to doctors testing for COVID-19 rather than the flu. But even when public health officials made renewed efforts to test for flu (and conducted an adequate number of flu tests), there was still "little to no influenza virus" detected, the report said.
The findings suggest that "community mitigation strategies implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19 … appear to have substantially reduced transmission of influenza in all these countries," the report said.
If these strategies continue through the fall "influenza activity in the United States might remain low and the season might be blunted or delayed," the authors wrote.
But given that people may not necessarily stick with measures meant to slow the spread of COVID-19, it is important to plan for flu this fall and winter. COVID-19 has made getting a flu shot this year "especially important," not only to reduce the risk of flu, but also to reduce the burden on the health care system responding to COVID-19, the CDC says.
The findings also suggest that, in the future, officials might consider implementing some of the COVID-19 mitigation measures during seasons with high flu activity, particularly among those at highest risk for flu complications.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-17--Moderna releases key details on how it's running COVID-19 vaccine trial

The biotechnology company Moderna publicly released a detailed description of how it 's conducting the large , late-stage trial of its coronavirus vaccine , which will reveal whether the vaccination is both safe and effective .
The 135-page document , , breaks down the nitty gritty of how many patients will be enrolled , how many infection cases are needed in order to see if the works well enough to be approved , and how they 'll make sure the drug is safe and does n't cause serious side effects .
In general , to determine whether a vaccine works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccinated people catch the virus compared with a group of unvaccinated people in the trial , who instead receive a placebo shot , in what 's known as a phase 3 trial .
How many people catch the virus depends , in part , upon how much of the virus is circulating in the community .
So far , the company is estimating that they wo n't have enough cases of coronavirus in trial participants to evaluate effectiveness until late December at the earliest , .
Related : Here are the most promising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 151 cases of COVID-19 in total occur in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people , Moderna will be able to tell whether its vaccine is at least 60 % effective , The Times reported .
Sixty-percent effective would mean that a vaccinated person has a 60 % lower chance of catching the virus than an unvaccinated person ; in June , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) issued guidelines that a COVID-19 vaccine must have at least 50 % efficacy to be approved , .
Flu shots are typically , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could take about 10 months to reach 151 cases , starting from the beginning of the trial in July .
However , if the vaccine appears highly effective in early reviews of the data — meaning there 's a strong statistical difference in infection rate between the trial groups — the protocol allows the trial to stop sooner , Zaks told The New York Times .
Moderna will initially evaluate the efficacy data after 53 cases , and if that analysis proves inconclusive , it will conduct another analysis at 106 cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anticipated , Moderna could have enough data for its preliminary analysis by October or November — but that scenario is unlikely , company CEO Stéphane Bancel said in an interview on CNBC 's `` Squawk Box , '' .
So far , the company has enrolled 25,296 trial participants out of an expected 30,000 volunteers for the phase 3 trial , according to a statement released prior to this morning ( Sept. 17 ) , .
More than 10,000 participants have already received two doses of the vaccine .
The trial should reach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Moderna 's chief medical officer Dr. Tal Zaks told The New York Times .
To see if the vaccine is safe , Moderna asks participants to use electronic diaries to record any symptoms of illness ; participants also take their own temperatures , get formal check-ups in the clinic and undergo periodic phone interviews to assess their health , The Times reported .
In earlier trials of the vaccine , patients reported mild side effects such as soreness at the injection site , fatigue , short-term muscle pain and transient fever or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protects against COVID-19 infection , the investigators track which participants develop symptoms and test positive for the virus after receiving their second shot , according to The New York Times .
Every participant receives two shots , spaced four weeks apart , and the investigators start counting new cases after two more weeks have elapsed from the second shot , since the takes time to react to the vaccine .
Related : 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history The odds of demonstrating 60 % effectiveness during the first analysis are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , even if the data does look promising and the trial is stopped early , that could dangerously limit the amount of safety data available to catch rare or unanticipated side effects , Live Science previously reported .
`` I 've been doing clinical trials for decades .
I do n't know if there 's ever been a more important one than this one .
I 'd like to see it done right , and not stopped early , '' Dr. Eric Topol , a clinical trial expert at Scripps Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Based on the trial 's current trajectory , and Moderna 's manufacturing capacity , `` it is extremely unlikely '' that an approved Moderna vaccine would be available to every U.S. resident who wants it by the first quarter of 2021 , Bancel told Bloomberg News .
It 's more likely that the vaccine would become widely available in the second half of the year , he said .

The biotechnology company Moderna publicly released a detailed description of how it's conducting the large, late-stage trial of its coronavirus vaccine, which will reveal whether the vaccination is both safe and effective.
The 135-page document, posted today (Sept. 17) on the company's website , breaks down the nitty gritty of how many patients will be enrolled, how many infection cases are needed in order to see if the vaccine works well enough to be approved, and how they'll make sure the drug is safe and doesn't cause serious side effects. In general, to determine whether a vaccine works, drug companies must compare how many vaccinated people catch the virus compared with a group of unvaccinated people in the trial, who instead receive a placebo shot, in what's known as a phase 3 trial.
How many people catch the virus depends, in part, upon how much of the virus is circulating in the community. So far, the company is estimating that they won't have enough cases of coronavirus in trial participants to evaluate effectiveness until late December at the earliest, The New York Times reported .
Related: Here are the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates out there
When at least 151 cases of COVID-19 in total occur in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, Moderna will be able to tell whether its vaccine is at least 60% effective, The Times reported. Sixty-percent effective would mean that a vaccinated person has a 60% lower chance of catching the virus than an unvaccinated person; in June, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidelines that a COVID-19 vaccine must have at least 50% efficacy to be approved, Live Science previously reported . Flu shots are typically 40 to 60% effective , for comparison.
Moderna estimated that it could take about 10 months to reach 151 cases, starting from the beginning of the trial in July. However, if the vaccine appears highly effective in early reviews of the data — meaning there's a strong statistical difference in infection rate between the trial groups — the protocol allows the trial to stop sooner, Zaks told The New York Times. Moderna will initially evaluate the efficacy data after 53 cases, and if that analysis proves inconclusive, it will conduct another analysis at 106 cases.
If more trial participants catch COVID-19 than anticipated, Moderna could have enough data for its preliminary analysis by October or November — but that scenario is unlikely, company CEO Stéphane Bancel said in an interview on CNBC's "Squawk Box," CNBC reported .
So far, the company has enrolled 25,296 trial participants out of an expected 30,000 volunteers for the phase 3 trial, according to a statement released prior to an investor meeting this morning (Sept. 17), according to Bloomberg News . More than 10,000 participants have already received two doses of the vaccine. The trial should reach full enrollment within the next few weeks, Moderna's chief medical officer Dr. Tal Zaks told The New York Times.
To see if the vaccine is safe, Moderna asks participants to use electronic diaries to record any symptoms of illness; participants also take their own temperatures, get formal check-ups in the clinic and undergo periodic phone interviews to assess their health, The Times reported. In earlier trials of the vaccine, patients reported mild side effects such as soreness at the injection site, fatigue, short-term muscle pain and transient fever or chills.
To determine whether the vaccine protects against COVID-19 infection, the investigators track which participants develop symptoms and test positive for the virus after receiving their second shot, according to The New York Times. Every participant receives two shots, spaced four weeks apart, and the investigators start counting new cases after two more weeks have elapsed from the second shot, since the immune system takes time to react to the vaccine.
Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history
The odds of demonstrating 60% effectiveness during the first analysis are very low, Zaks told The Times. However, even if the data does look promising and the trial is stopped early, that could dangerously limit the amount of safety data available to catch rare or unanticipated side effects, Live Science previously reported.
"I've been doing clinical trials for decades. I don't know if there's ever been a more important one than this one. I'd like to see it done right, and not stopped early," Dr. Eric Topol, a clinical trial expert at Scripps Research in San Diego, told The Times.
Based on the trial's current trajectory, and Moderna's manufacturing capacity, "it is extremely unlikely" that an approved Moderna vaccine would be available to every U.S. resident who wants it by the first quarter of 2021, Bancel told Bloomberg News. It's more likely that the vaccine would become widely available in the second half of the year, he said.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-09-17--Vikings may not have been blonde, or Scandinavian

Those ferocious seafaring warriors that explored , raided and traded across Europe from the late eighth to the early 11th centuries , known as the , are typically thought of as blonde Scandinavians .
But Vikings may have a more diverse history : They carried genes from Southern Europe and Asia , a new study suggests .
`` We did n't know genetically what they actually looked like until now , '' senior author Eske Willerslev , a fellow of St. John 's College of the University of Cambridge , and director of The Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The research `` debunks the modern image of Vikings . ''
For the study , which took six years to complete , an international group of researchers analyzed the taken from the remains — such as the teeth and bones — of 442 people who lived sometime between about 2400 B.C .
to A.D.1600 found in archaeological sites across Europe and Greenland .
These people lived , for the most part , during the Viking Age , which lasted from about A.D. 750 to A.D. 1050 .
The researchers then compared these ancient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sequences from 3,855 modern-day individuals and from 1,118 other ancient individuals .
This sweeping gene analysis suggested that the Vikings were n't just the continuation of Iron Age groups who lived from about 500 B.C .
to about A.D. 700 in Scandinavia before the Viking Age .
Rather , the Vikings and their ancestors would have intermingled often with people from Asia and Southern Europe .
Many Viking individuals had `` high levels of non-Scandinavian ancestry , '' the authors wrote in the paper .
`` No one could have predicted these significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Asia happened before and during the Viking Age , '' Willerslev said .
They also found that many Vikings had brown hair , not blonde blond hair as typically imagined , according to the statement .
The researchers found genetic differences among different Viking populations within Scandinavia , which suggests that Viking groups were much more isolated from each other than previously thought , Willerslev said .
The coastal communities had high genetic diversity — likely due to more trading and spread of people — than communities in the heartland of Scandinavia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , by comparing ancient genes to modern-day genes , the researchers were able to confirm ideas about how the Vikings moved out of Scandinavia to raid and trade .
Vikings from present-day Denmark typically went to England ; Vikings from Sweden went mostly east to the Baltic region ; and Vikings from Norway traveled to Ireland , Iceland , Greenland and the Isle of Man .
Their finds also revealed unique cultural tidbits .
A boat burial in Estonia may have been the earliest evidence of a Viking voyage , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if this expedition was a raid or a `` diplomatic '' expedition ; but the burial , made up of two boats , contained the remains of 41 men from modern-day Sweden who died violently and were buried with `` high-status '' weaponry .
Among the burial remains were four brothers and a relative , which suggested raiding may have been a family or local activity , according to the statement .
Others in the burial had similar genes , suggesting they came from the same local spot in what is now Sweden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every person treated as a Viking was genetically a Viking .
In Orkney , Scotland , the researchers found two male skeletons in a Viking burial site .
They were buried with swords and other Viking items , but they were n't actually Vikings , but rather genetically similar to modern-day Irish and Scottish people .
The findings were published yesterday ( Sept. 16 ) in the journal .

Researchers sequenced the DNA from more than 400 Viking remains including from this female skeleton named Kata discovered in a Viking burial site in Varnhem, Sweden.
Those ferocious seafaring warriors that explored, raided and traded across Europe from the late eighth to the early 11th centuries, known as the Vikings , are typically thought of as blonde Scandinavians. But Vikings may have a more diverse history: They carried genes from Southern Europe and Asia, a new study suggests.
"We didn't know genetically what they actually looked like until now," senior author Eske Willerslev, a fellow of St. John's College of the University of Cambridge, and director of The Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said in a statement . The research "debunks the modern image of Vikings."
For the study, which took six years to complete, an international group of researchers analyzed the DNA taken from the remains — such as the teeth and bones — of 442 people who lived sometime between about 2400 B.C. to A.D.1600 found in archaeological sites across Europe and Greenland. These people lived, for the most part, during the Viking Age, which lasted from about A.D. 750 to A.D. 1050. The researchers then compared these ancient people's DNA with already published DNA sequences from 3,855 modern-day individuals and from 1,118 other ancient individuals.
Related: Fierce fighters: 7 secrets of Viking seamen
This sweeping gene analysis suggested that the Vikings weren't just the continuation of Iron Age groups who lived from about 500 B.C. to about A.D. 700 in Scandinavia before the Viking Age. Rather, the Vikings and their ancestors would have intermingled often with people from Asia and Southern Europe. Many Viking individuals had "high levels of non-Scandinavian ancestry," the authors wrote in the paper.
Researchers analyzed the DNA from some remains found in a mass grave of 50 headless Vikings in Dorset, U.K. (Image credit: Dorset County Council/Oxford Archaeology)
"No one could have predicted these significant gene flows into Scandinavia from Southern Europe and Asia happened before and during the Viking Age," Willerslev said. They also found that many Vikings had brown hair, not blonde blond hair as typically imagined, according to the statement.
The researchers found genetic differences among different Viking populations within Scandinavia, which suggests that Viking groups were much more isolated from each other than previously thought, Willerslev said. The coastal communities had high genetic diversity — likely due to more trading and spread of people — than communities in the heartland of Scandinavia, the authors wrote.
What's more, by comparing ancient genes to modern-day genes, the researchers were able to confirm ideas about how the Vikings moved out of Scandinavia to raid and trade. Vikings from present-day Denmark typically went to England; Vikings from Sweden went mostly east to the Baltic region; and Vikings from Norway traveled to Ireland, Iceland, Greenland and the Isle of Man.
An artist's reconstruction of "Southern European" Vikings. (Image credit: Jim Lyngvild)
Their finds also revealed unique cultural tidbits. A boat burial in Estonia may have been the earliest evidence of a Viking voyage, according to the paper. It's not clear if this expedition was a raid or a "diplomatic" expedition; but the burial, made up of two boats, contained the remains of 41 men from modern-day Sweden who died violently and were buried with "high-status" weaponry. Among the burial remains were four brothers and a relative, which suggested raiding may have been a family or local activity, according to the statement. Others in the burial had similar genes, suggesting they came from the same local spot in what is now Sweden.
And it turns out, not every person treated as a Viking was genetically a Viking. In Orkney, Scotland, the researchers found two male skeletons in a Viking burial site. They were buried with swords and other Viking items, but they weren't actually Vikings, but rather genetically similar to modern-day Irish and Scottish people.
The findings were published yesterday (Sept. 16) in the journal Nature .


livescience--2020-09-17--Watch LIVE: The 2020 Ig Nobel Prize ceremony, tonight @ 6:00 p.m. ET

Tune in tonight ( Sept. 17 ) at 6:00 p.m .
ET to catch a science awards ceremony like no other .
The 30th First Annual Ig Nobel Prizes celebrates offbeat scientific research `` that makes people laugh , then think , '' according to the Annals of Improbable Research ( AIR ) , the magazine that organizes the annual event .
Now in its 30th year , the Ig Nobels ceremony is always officially described as the `` First Annual '' because `` every year is a new beginning , '' master of ceremonies and AIR editor Marc Abrahams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winners of Ig Nobel Prizes explored probing questions such as : Why do old men have big ears ?
Can you unboil a hard-boiled egg ?
And the eternal conundrum : Are cats a solid or a liquid ?
Related : In photos : The science and silliness of the 2017 Ig Nobels Since 1991 , the ceremony has unfolded in front of a packed house at Harvard University 's Sanders Theater in Cambridge , Massachusetts , and Nobel laureates typically hand the winners their trophies .
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it will still offer the debut of a science-themed opera — a long-standing Ig Nobel tradition , performed by opera singers and scientists from the Boston area — as well as plenty of surprises , Abrahams told Live Science .
`` Every part of the elaborate ceremony has been re-engineered , because of the pandemic , '' AIR representatives said in a statement .
`` The organizers even invented a new way for a Nobel laureate on one continent to physically hand an Ig Nobel Prize to a new Ig Nobel Prize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How is that even possible , you might ask ?
You 'll have to watch the Ig Nobels to find out .
The ceremony will be streamed live here on Live Science as well as on YouTube and AIR 's Facebook page .
Versions of the ceremony with translations or captions in Japanese , Chinese and Spanish , will premiere at the same time as the U.S. version and will be accessible from the AIR website .

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.