scientificamerican--2020-11-11--We Finally Have a COVID Strategy

We Finally Have a COVID Strategy

On Sunday , November 8 , President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris released the Biden-Harris plan to beat COVID-19—and on Monday they announced the names of the doctors and public health officials who will head up their coronavirus task force .
The plan and the board members who will implement it are mostly to be celebrated .
Still , both create cause for concern , particularly in regard to how incarceration , health care access and the persuasive ( and bipartisan ) ideology of ableism have plagued so much of the coronavirus response in the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a national plan !
“ The American people deserve an urgent , robust , and professional response to the growing public health and economic crisis , ” it begins , correctly , and explains how it will test , treat and mitigate the virus .
To my pleasant surprise , it mostly elides nationalism ; even its call for an “ American-sourced and manufactured capability to ensure we are not dependent on other countries in a crisis ” isn ’ t overly jingoistic .
For months , President Trump has blamed China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing to stop community spread within the United States , but also recklessly putting himself ( and his wife , his son , his press secretary , his Secret Service detail , his rallying supporters , everyone who worked at the many venue where he dangerously held rallies , and seemingly as many people in the United States as possible ) in the path of SARS-CoV-2 .
I was relieved to see that the Biden-Harris plan does not seek “ to blame others ” ; indeed , it pivots from the anti-Asian hysteria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertising .
Instead , it outlines how they want to scale up a variety of testing , hire “ at least ” 100,000 people to provide contact tracing and support , and “ fix personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for good.
” This firm rejection of how Trump shamefully had states bidding against one another for masks and reportedly told them to “ try getting [ ventilators ] yourselves ” is a welcome relief .
Linguistically , I appreciate how the Biden-Harris plan assesses risk on a spectrum and proclaims that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is a dial . ''
It acknowledges that there are degrees between free-for-all socializing and lockdowns .
But I have mixed feelings about the creation of a “ Nationwide Pandemic Dashboard that Americans can check in real-time to help them gauge whether local transmission is actively occurring in their zip codes.
” While there are clear benefits to this approach , such data will likely also have deleterious consequences in terms of stigma and housing segregation .
Financially , I was relieved to read of a desire to “ establish a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help prevent budget shortfalls , which may cause states to face steep cuts to teachers.
” The feds can always print money , while cities and states can not , and it ’ s great that the new administration will use the pandemic to keep teachers employed and cities running as local tax revenues fall .
But I was more skeptical of the economics of addressing the crisis in terms of medical treatment .
They promise to provide “ $ 25 billion in a vaccine manufacturing and distribution plan that will guarantee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and to “ ensure all Americans have access to regular , reliable , and free testing.
” Both of these are necessary , good and long overdue .
Still , while they are mostly promising free testing ( but not treatment ) , I have concerns as they look down the road .
In writing they want “ everyone—not just the wealthy and well-connected—in America to receive the protection and care they deserve , and [ that ] consumers are not price gouged as new drugs and therapies come to market , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that COVID-19 care won ’ t be free forever .
“ Once we succeed in getting beyond this pandemic , ” they write , they promise to “ ensure that the millions of Americans who suffer long-term side effects from COVID don ’ t face higher premiums or denial of health insurance because of this new pre-existing condition.
” To do so , they promise “ protections for those with pre-existing conditions that were won with Obamacare are protected.
” But while Medicare for All would cover everyone , the “ Medicare-like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still leave millions out .
The plan utilizes two phrases which arouse critical inquiry : a pledge to always “ listen to science , ” and the mischaracterization that public health “ isn ’ t about politics.
” It is dangerous to either “ listen to science ” unquestioningly or to think that a medical plan of this scope is not extremely political .
Even though Trump seemed to ignore science entirely , science isn ’ t inherently good , and it ’ s certainly never any one thing .
We can address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sterilize an immigrant woman without her consent , and science can make an atomic bomb to kill hundreds of thousands .
With a technocratic new administration , it ’ s important to be critical of the culture and politics of science .
Similarly , it would be dishonest to say politics has no role in health policy when health science is rigorously political .
Who is being studied ?
Who is interpreting the data ?
Which populations are being tested ?
Who is receiving medications ?
Who is designing the studies , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Perhaps the most obviously political part of the plan is a proposed national mask mandate .
While I want people to use them , I am not a huge fan of mandates .
Requiring their use outdoors , for example , not only focuses on low-risk activity and puts vulnerable people at risk for policing ; it can also turn people off to the need to use them in higher risk indoor settings .
( Harvard epidemiologist Julia Marcus put it best : “ It ’ s a bit like saying we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear condoms when they ’ re masturbating , because we think it ’ s going to get them to wear a condom when they ’ re with another person.
” ) In terms of masks , condoms or any prophylactics , what I am a fan of is the power of modeling positive behaviors .
In the 1980s , gay men did not get other gay men to wear condoms through threat of arrest ; they did it through peer-to-peer education and by wearing them with each other .
Similarly , the Biden-Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beautifully for months .
What I ’ d love for them to do now is revive a plan the Trump administration shamefully scuttled : the postal service ’ s intention to mail 650 million masks to Americans , along with funding to mail food to people in quarantine , get hotel rooms for those in isolation and provide financial relief to the struggling .
Perhaps the best political part of the plan : the establishment of a COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force that “ will transition to a permanent Infectious Disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with racialized health disparities is amazing and radically political .
While I was concerned to see nothing explicit about incarceration in the plan given that it is a major driver of infectious disease in the U.S. , I was thrilled to learn that Marcella Nunez-Smith of the Yale School of Medicine , who has co-authored research on the health disparities caused by imprisonment , will co-chair the overall Biden-Harris COVID task force .
She will be excellent .
At the same time , I was deeply dismayed to see Ezekiel Emanuel appointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Emanuel published an ableist essay titled “ Why I Hope to Die at 75.
” In the most commonly reviled piece I ’ ve heard about in my reporting on disabled communities , Emanuel argues that old age “ renders many of us , if not disabled , then faltering and declining , a state that may not be worse than death but is nonetheless deprived .
It robs us of our creativity and ability to contribute to work , society , the world .
It transforms how people experience us , relate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , remember us .
We are no longer remembered as vibrant and engaged but as feeble , ineffectual , even pathetic.
” It is odd that a president-elect of some 77 years would appoint the author of this essay to a board overseeing a disease that mostly kills people in their 70s and 80s—and it ’ s especially disappointing since Biden had just shouted out to disabled people in his acceptance speech on Saturday night .
All told , it is an enormous relief to have a plan , and to have lots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But while liberals love technocratic order , there is no consensus on how to equitably approach the most pressing public health challenge of our time .
And so the most marginalized people who did so much to defeat Trump are going to get little rest before having to get back to work , in order to maximize how the Biden-Harris plan can become not just a blueprint for survival for some , but for liberation for all .

On Sunday, November 8, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris released the Biden-Harris plan to beat COVID-19—and on Monday they announced the names of the doctors and public health officials who will head up their coronavirus task force. The plan and the board members who will implement it are mostly to be celebrated. Still, both create cause for concern, particularly in regard to how incarceration, health care access and the persuasive (and bipartisan) ideology of ableism have plagued so much of the coronavirus response in the United States.
First, the good news: There is a national plan! “The American people deserve an urgent, robust, and professional response to the growing public health and economic crisis,” it begins, correctly, and explains how it will test, treat and mitigate the virus. To my pleasant surprise, it mostly elides nationalism; even its call for an “American-sourced and manufactured capability to ensure we are not dependent on other countries in a crisis” isn’t overly jingoistic.
For months, President Trump has blamed China for COVID-19, while not only doing nothing to stop community spread within the United States, but also recklessly putting himself (and his wife, his son, his press secretary, his Secret Service detail, his rallying supporters, everyone who worked at the many venue where he dangerously held rallies, and seemingly as many people in the United States as possible) in the path of SARS-CoV-2. I was relieved to see that the Biden-Harris plan does not seek “to blame others”; indeed, it pivots from the anti-Asian hysteria of the Biden campaign’s own advertising. Instead, it outlines how they want to scale up a variety of testing, hire “at least” 100,000 people to provide contact tracing and support, and “fix personal protective equipment (PPE) for good.” This firm rejection of how Trump shamefully had states bidding against one another for masks and reportedly told them to “try getting [ventilators] yourselves” is a welcome relief.
Linguistically, I appreciate how the Biden-Harris plan assesses risk on a spectrum and proclaims that “Social distancing is not a light switch. It is a dial." It acknowledges that there are degrees between free-for-all socializing and lockdowns.
But I have mixed feelings about the creation of a “Nationwide Pandemic Dashboard that Americans can check in real-time to help them gauge whether local transmission is actively occurring in their zip codes.” While there are clear benefits to this approach, such data will likely also have deleterious consequences in terms of stigma and housing segregation.
Financially, I was relieved to read of a desire to “establish a renewable fund for state and local governments to help prevent budget shortfalls, which may cause states to face steep cuts to teachers.” The feds can always print money, while cities and states cannot, and it’s great that the new administration will use the pandemic to keep teachers employed and cities running as local tax revenues fall.
But I was more skeptical of the economics of addressing the crisis in terms of medical treatment. They promise to provide “$25 billion in a vaccine manufacturing and distribution plan that will guarantee it gets to every American, cost-free” and to “ensure all Americans have access to regular, reliable, and free testing.” Both of these are necessary, good and long overdue.
Still, while they are mostly promising free testing (but not treatment), I have concerns as they look down the road. In writing they want “everyone—not just the wealthy and well-connected—in America to receive the protection and care they deserve, and [that] consumers are not price gouged as new drugs and therapies come to market,” Biden and Harris reveal, however, that COVID-19 care won’t be free forever. “Once we succeed in getting beyond this pandemic,” they write, they promise to “ensure that the millions of Americans who suffer long-term side effects from COVID don’t face higher premiums or denial of health insurance because of this new pre-existing condition.” To do so, they promise “protections for those with pre-existing conditions that were won with Obamacare are protected.” But while Medicare for All would cover everyone, the “Medicare-like public option” they are proposing would still leave millions out.
The plan utilizes two phrases which arouse critical inquiry: a pledge to always “listen to science,” and the mischaracterization that public health “isn’t about politics.” It is dangerous to either “listen to science” unquestioningly or to think that a medical plan of this scope is not extremely political. Even though Trump seemed to ignore science entirely, science isn’t inherently good, and it’s certainly never any one thing. We can address COVID-19 with science, but science can sterilize an immigrant woman without her consent, and science can make an atomic bomb to kill hundreds of thousands. With a technocratic new administration, it’s important to be critical of the culture and politics of science.
Similarly, it would be dishonest to say politics has no role in health policy when health science is rigorously political. Who is being studied? Who is interpreting the data? Which populations are being tested? Who is receiving medications? Who is designing the studies, and how? These are all political questions.
Perhaps the most obviously political part of the plan is a proposed national mask mandate. While I want people to use them, I am not a huge fan of mandates. Requiring their use outdoors, for example, not only focuses on low-risk activity and puts vulnerable people at risk for policing; it can also turn people off to the need to use them in higher risk indoor settings. (Harvard epidemiologist Julia Marcus put it best: “It’s a bit like saying we’re going to ask people to wear condoms when they’re masturbating, because we think it’s going to get them to wear a condom when they’re with another person.”)
In terms of masks, condoms or any prophylactics, what I am a fan of is the power of modeling positive behaviors. In the 1980s, gay men did not get other gay men to wear condoms through threat of arrest; they did it through peer-to-peer education and by wearing them with each other. Similarly, the Biden-Harris campaign has modeled the use of masks beautifully for months. What I’d love for them to do now is revive a plan the Trump administration shamefully scuttled: the postal service’s intention to mail 650 million masks to Americans, along with funding to mail food to people in quarantine, get hotel rooms for those in isolation and provide financial relief to the struggling.
Perhaps the best political part of the plan: the establishment of a COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force that “will transition to a permanent Infectious Disease Racial Disparities Task Force.” To reckon with racialized health disparities is amazing and radically political. While I was concerned to see nothing explicit about incarceration in the plan given that it is a major driver of infectious disease in the U.S., I was thrilled to learn that Marcella Nunez-Smith of the Yale School of Medicine, who has co-authored research on the health disparities caused by imprisonment, will co-chair the overall Biden-Harris COVID task force. She will be excellent.
At the same time, I was deeply dismayed to see Ezekiel Emanuel appointed to the task force. In 2014, Emanuel published an ableist essay titled “Why I Hope to Die at 75.” In the most commonly reviled piece I’ve heard about in my reporting on disabled communities, Emanuel argues that old age “renders many of us, if not disabled, then faltering and declining, a state that may not be worse than death but is nonetheless deprived. It robs us of our creativity and ability to contribute to work, society, the world. It transforms how people experience us, relate to us, and, most important, remember us. We are no longer remembered as vibrant and engaged but as feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic.” It is odd that a president-elect of some 77 years would appoint the author of this essay to a board overseeing a disease that mostly kills people in their 70s and 80s—and it’s especially disappointing since Biden had just shouted out to disabled people in his acceptance speech on Saturday night.
All told, it is an enormous relief to have a plan, and to have lots of competent people working on it. But while liberals love technocratic order, there is no consensus on how to equitably approach the most pressing public health challenge of our time. And so the most marginalized people who did so much to defeat Trump are going to get little rest before having to get back to work, in order to maximize how the Biden-Harris plan can become not just a blueprint for survival for some, but for liberation for all.


scientificamerican--2020-11-11--How to Use Masks during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Editor ’ s Note ( 11/11/20 ) : On November 10 , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance on cloth face masks to add that they can protect the wearer as well as prevent that individual from infecting others .
Any mask worn for day-to-day protection against COVID-19 is going to be imperfect , at least for now .
Supplies of N95 respirators—the most effective mask type—should find their way to those in daily close contact with infected people .
This requirement leaves the rest of us reusable cloth face coverings and single-use paper surgical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in high demand for frontline folks , so if you ’ re looking to buy , try to acquire fabric masks . )
“ These are not going to be perfectly efficient , ” says Kirsten Koehler , an occupational and public health expert who studies personal protection at Johns Hopkins University .
But they can still help limit the virus ’ s circulation , especially if they are worn by those infected with the novel coronavirus—many of whom may be asymptomatic .
“ We ’ re trying to prevent spreading disease to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Hopefully the mask is helping to protect us , too.
” Even with our faces covered , she adds , we should continue to perform social distancing and isolation .
A handful of best practices can help make the most of our imperfect personal protection .
How to Put on a Mask The mask should fit without gaps and fully cover your nose and mouth .
Take special care to ensure a snug fit across the bridge of the nose .
If your mask doesn ’ t have a flexible wire built @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MacGyver a pipe cleaner , a tie for a coffee bag or another object into the role .
Are there special precautions bearded individuals should take ?
Koehler doesn ’ t think so .
“ None of us are getting a perfect seal around our nose anyway , ” she says .
“ It shouldn ’ t make that big of a difference.
” If the mask is on correctly , air will pass through it rather than around it .
Your breath will probably make it feel kind of humid and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Mask Off There is not a lot of data on how long a mask can be effectively worn .
According to the World Health Organization , a face covering should be replaced when you have breathed through it enough for it to become damp .
That effect is only likely to happen after several hours : For a trip to the grocery store , one mask will probably do .
If you will be out longer , bring a spare if possible .
How to Take a Mask Off Placing a cloth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking it off has two purposes : the container isolates the mask from accidental handling , and the paper allows it to dry out .
Before wearing the covering again , let it sit in a warm spot—still in that paper bag—for two or three days .
( The science here is nascent , but one study found that the coronavirus reaches undetectable levels on fabric after two days .
And after a week , levels were undetectable on the insides of surgical masks , though they remained detectable on the outsides .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sunny windowsill or in the natural oven of your car because the virus becomes inert faster at higher temperatures .
Alternatively , if you have your own laundry facilities , you can pop a used mask straight into the washing machine with the regular laundry .
A bag for washing delicates will keep mask ties from making a knot of the whole load .
You can also wash a mask by hand : soak it in bleach suitable for disinfection for five minutes and then rinse it thoroughly .
Face coverings should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few on hand if you are going out more often than your decontamination schedule allows .
How to Keep Your Glasses from Fogging For the bespectacled among us , the foggy-glasses struggle is real .
And in general , it means your mask isn ’ t fitting super well .
If the material were tight across your nose , air would not be leaking from the top in the first place .
Here are a few ideas to improve that fit : Tissue : A piece of facial tissue tucked between the glasses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latter into a tighter fit and prevent exhaled vapor from rising .
Tape : A bit of medical tape across the top of the mask can hold it more securely to your face at the cheeks .
Soap : A little soap on the insides of the lenses can keep fog from forming .
One paper recommends dousing the inner surface with soapy water and allowing it to air-dry .
A pinky nail ’ s worth of liquid soap , rubbed directly onto the insides of the lenses , is another option .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A few laboratory studies have examined how fabrics protect against particles of different sizes .
They were mostly done in the pre-COVID-19 era to examine air pollution and the flu .
But the medical gold standard—a randomized controlled trial of masks in daily use—is difficult and has ethical concerns , because it would require knowingly exposing people to pathogens or pollutants .
That said , the existing lab studies have helped teach researchers a lot about how particles interact with fabrics and paper .
Are paper or fabric masks more effective ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks ’ ability to filter air pollution .
Researchers examined the materials under a microscope and found fabric had a more open structure with bigger holes—often larger than the droplets believed to transmit the coronavirus .
These droplets cover a huge size range : they can be wider than 100 microns—big enough to see as they fly out—down to the submicron scale .
Another study found paper masks were more effective than cloth ones at protecting against the flu .
But there is more to consider than material .
Fabric masks are typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them trap more particles than a single cloth layer alone .
In general , even if paper face coverings are more effective , they have a shorter lifetime than cloth masks .
And they are in high demand .
Although the supply of surgical masks is starting to rebound , Koehler still advises the use of cloth ones .
“ We want to make sure that medical personnel have access to the supplies that they need , ” she explains .
Okay , so what should I look for in a cloth mask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else or make it yourself , there are a few things to pay attention to .
The fabric should be high-quality and tightly woven .
In woven fabric , the fibers cross at right angles , whereas a knit ’ s structure involves tiny V ’ s of thread .
Look for a right-angle weave and avoid knits .
A tight weave—such as one you might find in a fancy pillowcase—blocks most of the light if it is held up to a window .
These are , of course , difficult properties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the mask should fit your face well .
Rectangular coverings usually have a length of wire built into the top so they can be molded to your face , while those with a curved design rise up over the nose a little more .
To make your own covering , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s Web site has several designs for different levels of crafting skill .
Designs for curved-style cloth masks are fairly widespread as well .
Experts recommend the public should avoid masks with built-in valves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the wearer exhales , reducing humidity but also allowing unfiltered breath to exit the coverings .
Are masks for the protection of the wearer or those around that person ?
Both .
They are most effective at preventing an infected mask wearer from spreading the virus to others .
But ideally , they can also provide some protection against incoming virus-laden droplets .
Droplets evaporate as they move through the air , so they are biggest when they are first coughed out .
Because cloth masks are more effective at blocking larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopping the spread if they stop the droplets at their source .
Have we proved that masks themselves significantly help ?
Or do mask wearers tend to simply be more careful in general ?
Randomized controlled studies have shown mask wearing is indeed effective against the flu , but such trials do not currently exist for masks and the coronavirus .
“ The evidence isn ’ t always as perfect as we would like it to be , ” Koehler says .
“ Based on the aerosol science , we know that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission of these particles .
Can it be 100 percent effective ?
Maybe not .
But can it help ?
I think so.
” Read more about the coronavirus outbreak from Scientific American here .
And read coverage from our international network of magazines here .

Editor’s Note (11/11/20): On November 10, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance on cloth face masks to add that they can protect the wearer as well as prevent that individual from infecting others.
Any mask worn for day-to-day protection against COVID-19 is going to be imperfect, at least for now. Supplies of N95 respirators—the most effective mask type—should find their way to those in daily close contact with infected people. This requirement leaves the rest of us reusable cloth face coverings and single-use paper surgical masks. (The latter are also in high demand for frontline folks, so if you’re looking to buy, try to acquire fabric masks.)
“These are not going to be perfectly efficient,” says Kirsten Koehler, an occupational and public health expert who studies personal protection at Johns Hopkins University. But they can still help limit the virus’s circulation, especially if they are worn by those infected with the novel coronavirus—many of whom may be asymptomatic. “We’re trying to prevent spreading disease to other people,” Koehler says. “Hopefully the mask is helping to protect us, too.” Even with our faces covered, she adds, we should continue to perform social distancing and isolation. A handful of best practices can help make the most of our imperfect personal protection.
How to Put on a Mask
Credit: Brown Bird Design
How to Wear a Mask
The mask should fit without gaps and fully cover your nose and mouth. Take special care to ensure a snug fit across the bridge of the nose. If your mask doesn’t have a flexible wire built in, you may be able to MacGyver a pipe cleaner, a tie for a coffee bag or another object into the role.
Are there special precautions bearded individuals should take? Koehler doesn’t think so. “None of us are getting a perfect seal around our nose anyway,” she says. “It shouldn’t make that big of a difference.”
If the mask is on correctly, air will pass through it rather than around it. Your breath will probably make it feel kind of humid and “swampy” inside.
Credit: Brown Bird Design
When to Take a Mask Off
There is not a lot of data on how long a mask can be effectively worn. According to the World Health Organization, a face covering should be replaced when you have breathed through it enough for it to become damp. That effect is only likely to happen after several hours: For a trip to the grocery store, one mask will probably do. If you will be out longer, bring a spare if possible.
How to Take a Mask Off
Credit: Brown Bird Design
How to Clean a Reusable Mask
Placing a cloth mask in a paper bag immediately after taking it off has two purposes: the container isolates the mask from accidental handling, and the paper allows it to dry out. Before wearing the covering again, let it sit in a warm spot—still in that paper bag—for two or three days. (The science here is nascent, but one study found that the coronavirus reaches undetectable levels on fabric after two days. And after a week, levels were undetectable on the insides of surgical masks, though they remained detectable on the outsides. Koehler recommends setting the paper bag on a sunny windowsill or in the natural oven of your car because the virus becomes inert faster at higher temperatures. Alternatively, if you have your own laundry facilities, you can pop a used mask straight into the washing machine with the regular laundry. A bag for washing delicates will keep mask ties from making a knot of the whole load. You can also wash a mask by hand: soak it in bleach suitable for disinfection for five minutes and then rinse it thoroughly. Face coverings should be decontaminated after each use—so have a few on hand if you are going out more often than your decontamination schedule allows.
How to Keep Your Glasses from Fogging
For the bespectacled among us, the foggy-glasses struggle is real. And in general, it means your mask isn’t fitting super well. If the material were tight across your nose, air would not be leaking from the top in the first place. Here are a few ideas to improve that fit:
Tissue: A piece of facial tissue tucked between the glasses and the mask can both push the latter into a tighter fit and prevent exhaled vapor from rising.
Credit: Brown Bird Design
Tape: A bit of medical tape across the top of the mask can hold it more securely to your face at the cheeks.
Credit: Brown Bird Design
Soap: A little soap on the insides of the lenses can keep fog from forming. One paper recommends dousing the inner surface with soapy water and allowing it to air-dry. A pinky nail’s worth of liquid soap, rubbed directly onto the insides of the lenses, is another option.
Credit: Brown Bird Design
Materials and Effectiveness
The science on mask efficacy is spotty. A few laboratory studies have examined how fabrics protect against particles of different sizes. They were mostly done in the pre-COVID-19 era to examine air pollution and the flu. But the medical gold standard—a randomized controlled trial of masks in daily use—is difficult and has ethical concerns, because it would require knowingly exposing people to pathogens or pollutants. That said, the existing lab studies have helped teach researchers a lot about how particles interact with fabrics and paper.
Are paper or fabric masks more effective?
One study compared fabric and paper surgical masks’ ability to filter air pollution. Researchers examined the materials under a microscope and found fabric had a more open structure with bigger holes—often larger than the droplets believed to transmit the coronavirus. These droplets cover a huge size range: they can be wider than 100 microns—big enough to see as they fly out—down to the submicron scale.
Credit: Brown Bird Design; Source: “Optical Microscopic Study of Surface Morphology and Filtering Efficiency of Face Masks,” by Bhanu Bhakta Neupane et al., in PeerJ; June 26, 2019
Another study found paper masks were more effective than cloth ones at protecting against the flu. But there is more to consider than material. Fabric masks are typically sewn with two layers, which helps them trap more particles than a single cloth layer alone.
In general, even if paper face coverings are more effective, they have a shorter lifetime than cloth masks. And they are in high demand. Although the supply of surgical masks is starting to rebound, Koehler still advises the use of cloth ones. “We want to make sure that medical personnel have access to the supplies that they need,” she explains.
Okay, so what should I look for in a cloth mask?
Whether you acquire one from someone else or make it yourself, there are a few things to pay attention to. The fabric should be high-quality and tightly woven. In woven fabric, the fibers cross at right angles, whereas a knit’s structure involves tiny V’s of thread. Look for a right-angle weave and avoid knits. A tight weave—such as one you might find in a fancy pillowcase—blocks most of the light if it is held up to a window. These are, of course, difficult properties to assess when buying online.
The shape of the mask should fit your face well. Rectangular coverings usually have a length of wire built into the top so they can be molded to your face, while those with a curved design rise up over the nose a little more.
Credit: Brown Bird Design
To make your own covering, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site has several designs for different levels of crafting skill. Designs for curved-style cloth masks are fairly widespread as well.
Experts recommend the public should avoid masks with built-in valves. They are designed to release air when the wearer exhales, reducing humidity but also allowing unfiltered breath to exit the coverings.
Are masks for the protection of the wearer or those around that person?
Both. They are most effective at preventing an infected mask wearer from spreading the virus to others. But ideally, they can also provide some protection against incoming virus-laden droplets.
Droplets evaporate as they move through the air, so they are biggest when they are first coughed out. Because cloth masks are more effective at blocking larger particles, they are most efficient at stopping the spread if they stop the droplets at their source.
Have we proved that masks themselves significantly help? Or do mask wearers tend to simply be more careful in general?
Randomized controlled studies have shown mask wearing is indeed effective against the flu, but such trials do not currently exist for masks and the coronavirus. “The evidence isn’t always as perfect as we would like it to be,” Koehler says. “Based on the aerosol science, we know that the masks are going to help reduce the transmission of these particles. Can it be 100 percent effective? Maybe not. But can it help? I think so.”
Read more about the coronavirus outbreak from Scientific American here. And read coverage from our international network of magazines here.


scientificamerican--2020-11-11--How We Can Avoid a 'Twindemic' of COVID and Flu

The official end of winter in the Southern Hemisphere has brought a glimmer of hope on the pandemic front .
According to the World Health Organization , countries ranging from Chile to Australia to South Africa experienced one of the mildest flu seasons on record .
In a typical year , Australia registers anywhere between 80,000 and 250,000 laboratory-confirmed cases ; this year , the figure barely inched above 20,000 , leading government officials to confirm the “ minimal impact on society due to influenza circulation in the 2020 season.
” What might this mean for the United States ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the eruption of a so-called “ twindemic ” in which influenza and a second COVID spike appear simultaneously , overwhelming our hospitals , our first responders , and our supply chain of lifesaving protective gear .
“ I do think the fall and winter of 2020 and 2021 are going to be probably one of the most difficult times we ’ ve experienced in American public health , ” CDC Director Robert Redfield has said , citing this probability , and he ’ s not alone .
This month , Anthony Fauci warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these highly infectious diseases .
Theories abound as to why the Southern Hemisphere escaped the flu season relatively unscathed .
It ’ s possible that a fair number of inhabitants were partly immune to the circulating strains , having encountered them before , or that the strains themselves were less virulent .
But the consensus among public health experts is much simpler : the measures put in place to stop COVID in the Southern Hemisphere had a dramatic impact on the suppression of other respiratory diseases .
Social distancing , mask wearing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , shuttering schools and nonessential businesses—each played a role .
This should come as no surprise .
More than a decade ago , a group of medical researchers employed the term “ flattening the curve ” in studying pandemics—specifically the “ Great Influenza ” of 1918 , which killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide .
Focusing on the response of several dozen American cities , they demonstrated that measures designed to isolate and quarantine , from school closings to staggered business hours , proved extremely effective .
The death rates from influenza @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously , especially when they started them early and kept them in place until the virus burned itself out .
Today , of course , the best firewall against influenza is a vaccine .
Reports from the Southern Hemisphere showed a surge in influenza vaccinations this past winter , as people rushed to protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic .
New Zealand , known for its notoriously low rate of “ flu jabs , ” saw a record doubling of demand .
Will the United States follow suit ?
Early signs are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confused by mixed messages and false White House predictions , Americans are deeply divided about the best way to proceed .
Sensible precautions have become politically charged issues , with the coming flu season lost in the noise .
According to CDC estimates , the U.S. experienced a “ moderate ” season in 2018–2019 , with 35.5 million cases , 16.5 million medical visits , 490,000 hospitalizations and 24,200 deaths .
Combined with a COVID virus that shows few signs of receding , these numbers offer a dire portrait of what may lie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has wished away the possibility of a second COVID-19 spike , insisting that the virus would either disappear as the weather warmed or “ come back in doses that we can contain.
” His own recent illness , during which he received a level of medical care reserved for heads of state , appeared to make him even less mindful of the consequences .
Upon leaving the hospital , he further scrambled the truth by claiming that the coronavirus is no more dangerous than seasonal flu , and that neither is serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of everyday life .
The likelihood of a “ twindemic , ” such as Redfield and Fauci have warned about , seems beyond his ability to grasp .
While demanding “ warp speed ” in hopes of rolling out a COVID vaccine before election day , the president has long viewed vaccines with suspicion .
He is on record endorsing the thoroughly debunked theory that vaccines cause autism , while also dismissing the need for a flu shot .
“ I never had the flu , ” he said recently .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Sir we have to give you a flu shot.
’ I said , ‘ Why ?
’ And I took it .
I don ’ t know if I should have .
Who knows ?
” Certainly , the public health community does .
There is now an abundance of flu vaccine in the United States , but a worrisome shortage of Americans determined to be vaccinated .
A recent survey by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases revealed that more than 40 percent of U.S. adults do not intend to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including many at high risk for flu-related complications , and the young have fared no better .
Fully one third of American parents have no plans to get their children a flu shot , while two -thirds believe that having them vaccinated this season , when COVID-19 is circulating , is no more important than in previous years .
The tools for minimizing a “ twindemic ” are both obvious and available .
The Southern Hemisphere just proved that .
What is lacking is a coherent federal strategy to alert Americans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has already begun .
The clock is ticking .

The official end of winter in the Southern Hemisphere has brought a glimmer of hope on the pandemic front. According to the World Health Organization, countries ranging from Chile to Australia to South Africa experienced one of the mildest flu seasons on record. In a typical year, Australia registers anywhere between 80,000 and 250,000 laboratory-confirmed cases; this year, the figure barely inched above 20,000, leading government officials to confirm the “minimal impact on society due to influenza circulation in the 2020 season.”
What might this mean for the United States? The great fear at this point is the eruption of a so-called “twindemic” in which influenza and a second COVID spike appear simultaneously, overwhelming our hospitals, our first responders, and our supply chain of lifesaving protective gear. “I do think the fall and winter of 2020 and 2021 are going to be probably one of the most difficult times we’ve experienced in American public health,” CDC Director Robert Redfield has said, citing this probability, and he’s not alone. This month, Anthony Fauci warned about the “dreaded overlap” of these highly infectious diseases.
Theories abound as to why the Southern Hemisphere escaped the flu season relatively unscathed. It’s possible that a fair number of inhabitants were partly immune to the circulating strains, having encountered them before, or that the strains themselves were less virulent. But the consensus among public health experts is much simpler: the measures put in place to stop COVID in the Southern Hemisphere had a dramatic impact on the suppression of other respiratory diseases. Social distancing, mask wearing, quarantines, border closings, handwashing campaigns, shuttering schools and nonessential businesses—each played a role.
This should come as no surprise. More than a decade ago, a group of medical researchers employed the term “flattening the curve” in studying pandemics—specifically the “Great Influenza” of 1918, which killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide. Focusing on the response of several dozen American cities, they demonstrated that measures designed to isolate and quarantine, from school closings to staggered business hours, proved extremely effective. The death rates from influenza dropped in cities that took these measures seriously, especially when they started them early and kept them in place until the virus burned itself out.
Today, of course, the best firewall against influenza is a vaccine. Reports from the Southern Hemisphere showed a surge in influenza vaccinations this past winter, as people rushed to protect themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand, known for its notoriously low rate of “flu jabs,” saw a record doubling of demand. Will the United States follow suit? Early signs are not encouraging.
Weary of the pandemic, confused by mixed messages and false White House predictions, Americans are deeply divided about the best way to proceed. Sensible precautions have become politically charged issues, with the coming flu season lost in the noise. According to CDC estimates, the U.S. experienced a “moderate” season in 2018–2019, with 35.5 million cases, 16.5 million medical visits, 490,000 hospitalizations and 24,200 deaths. Combined with a COVID virus that shows few signs of receding, these numbers offer a dire portrait of what may lie ahead.
For months now, President Trump has wished away the possibility of a second COVID-19 spike, insisting that the virus would either disappear as the weather warmed or “come back in doses that we can contain.” His own recent illness, during which he received a level of medical care reserved for heads of state, appeared to make him even less mindful of the consequences. Upon leaving the hospital, he further scrambled the truth by claiming that the coronavirus is no more dangerous than seasonal flu, and that neither is serious enough to “dominate” the pace of everyday life. The likelihood of a “twindemic,” such as Redfield and Fauci have warned about, seems beyond his ability to grasp.
While demanding “warp speed” in hopes of rolling out a COVID vaccine before election day, the president has long viewed vaccines with suspicion. He is on record endorsing the thoroughly debunked theory that vaccines cause autism, while also dismissing the need for a flu shot. “I never had the flu,” he said recently. “And I come to the White House, ‘Sir we have to give you a flu shot.’ I said, ‘Why?’ And I took it. I don’t know if I should have. Who knows?”
Certainly, the public health community does. There is now an abundance of flu vaccine in the United States, but a worrisome shortage of Americans determined to be vaccinated. A recent survey by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases revealed that more than 40 percent of U.S. adults do not intend to get a flu shot during the 2020–2021 season, including many at high risk for flu-related complications, and the young have fared no better. Fully one third of American parents have no plans to get their children a flu shot, while two -thirds believe that having them vaccinated this season, when COVID-19 is circulating, is no more important than in previous years.
The tools for minimizing a “twindemic” are both obvious and available. The Southern Hemisphere just proved that. What is lacking is a coherent federal strategy to alert Americans to the consequences of inaction. Flu season has already begun. The clock is ticking.


scientificamerican--2020-11-11--China Set to Retrieve First Moon Rocks in 40 Years

Later this month , a Chinese spacecraft will travel to the Moon to scoop up lunar rocks for the first time in more than 40 years .
The mission , named Chang ’ e-5 , is the latest in a series of increasingly complex trips to the lunar surface led by the China National Space Administration ( CNSA ) , following its first touchdown of a craft , Chang ’ e-4 , on the Moon ’ s far side last year .
“ To take it to the next level and return samples from the Moon is a significant technological @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bogert , a planetary geologist at the University of Münster , Germany .
The craft is expected to take off on 24 November from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island .
Its original launch , planned for 2017 , was delayed because of an engine failure in China ’ s Long March 5 launch rocket .
Chang ’ e-5 ’ s mission is to collect dust and debris from a previously unexplored region of the Moon ’ s near side and return them to Earth .
If the mission is successful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ material since the US and Soviet missions in the 1960s and 1970s .
Lunar scientists will be eager to study the new samples because of what they might learn about the Moon ’ s evolution .
The material could also help researchers more accurately date the surfaces of planets such as Mars and Mercury .
“ The landing site was extremely wisely picked , ” says Harald Hiesinger , a geologist also at the University of Münster .
Chang ’ e-5 includes a lander , ascender , orbiter and returner .
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the lander-and-ascender pair will split off and descend close to Mons Rümker , a 1,300-metre-high volcanic complex in the northern region of Oceanus Procellarum—the vast , dark lava plains visible from Earth .
Once the craft has touched down , it will drill up to 2 metres into the ground and extend a robotic arm to scoop up about 2 kilograms of surface material .
The material will be stored in the ascender for lift-off .
The descent and ascent will take place over one lunar day , which is equivalent to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the extreme overnight temperatures that could damage electronics , says Clive Neal , a geoscientist at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana .
The mission is technically challenging , and many things could go wrong , says Neal .
The lander could crash-land or topple over , and the samples could escape from their canister along the way .
“ We all hope that it works , ” he says .
Once the ascender is back in lunar orbit , the samples will be transferred to the returner .
This in-flight rendezvous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rehearsal for future human exploration ” , says James Carpenter , a research coordinator for human and robotic exploration at the European Space Agency in Noordwijk , the Netherlands .
China plans to send people to the Moon from around 2030 .
The Chang ’ e-5 spacecraft will then journey back to Earth , with the lander parachuting toward Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia , northern China , probably sometime in early December .
Most of the lunar samples will be stored at the Chinese Academy of Sciences National Astronomical Observatory of China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Li Chunlai , deputy chief designer for the Chang ’ e-5 mission .
Some material will be stored at a separate site , safe from natural hazards , and some will be set aside for public display , says Li .
But it is not clear whether samples will leave the country .
The CNSA supports international collaboration and giving researchers outside China access to the samples if they work with Chinese scientists , says Xiao Long , a planetary geologist at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan , who was involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes that access to the samples will be similar to how researchers access rocks collected by the US Apollo missions—by submitting a proposal to NASA on how they plan to use them .
But Xiao points out that scientists at Chinese institutions can not access Apollo samples because the US government restricts NASA from collaborating directly with China .
The Chang ’ e-5 samples could fill an important gap in scientists ’ understanding of the Moon ’ s volcanic activity .
Rocks obtained by previous US and Soviet lunar missions suggest that activity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , then fizzled and stopped .
But observations of the lunar surface have uncovered regions that could contain volcanic lava formed as recently as one billion or two billion years ago .
If Chang ’ e-5 ’ s samples confirm that the Moon was still active during this time , “ we will rewrite the history of the Moon ” , says Xiao .
Studying the rocks ’ composition could also clarify what fuelled this thermal activity for so long .
“ The Moon is small , so its heat engine should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Neal .
The Moon is also an important reference for dating other planets , based on the method of counting craters .
The general rule is that older regions have more and larger craters , whereas younger regions have fewer and smaller ones .
These relative ages are then given absolute dates using samples from the Moon .
But no samples exist for the period between 850 million years and 3.2 billion years ago .
Chang ’ e-5 could fill that gap .
“ The Moon is the only place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exactly where they came from , ” says van der Bogert .
This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on November 5 2020 .

Later this month, a Chinese spacecraft will travel to the Moon to scoop up lunar rocks for the first time in more than 40 years. The mission, named Chang’e-5, is the latest in a series of increasingly complex trips to the lunar surface led by the China National Space Administration (CNSA), following its first touchdown of a craft, Chang’e-4, on the Moon’s far side last year.
“To take it to the next level and return samples from the Moon is a significant technological capability,” says Carolyn van der Bogert, a planetary geologist at the University of Münster, Germany.
The craft is expected to take off on 24 November from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan Island. Its original launch, planned for 2017, was delayed because of an engine failure in China’s Long March 5 launch rocket.
Chang’e-5’s mission is to collect dust and debris from a previously unexplored region of the Moon’s near side and return them to Earth. If the mission is successful, it will retrieve the first lunar material since the US and Soviet missions in the 1960s and 1970s. Lunar scientists will be eager to study the new samples because of what they might learn about the Moon’s evolution. The material could also help researchers more accurately date the surfaces of planets such as Mars and Mercury.
“The landing site was extremely wisely picked,” says Harald Hiesinger, a geologist also at the University of Münster.
Grab and go
Chang’e-5 includes a lander, ascender, orbiter and returner. After the spacecraft enters the Moon’s orbit, the lander-and-ascender pair will split off and descend close to Mons Rümker, a 1,300-metre-high volcanic complex in the northern region of Oceanus Procellarum—the vast, dark lava plains visible from Earth.
Once the craft has touched down, it will drill up to 2 metres into the ground and extend a robotic arm to scoop up about 2 kilograms of surface material. The material will be stored in the ascender for lift-off.
The descent and ascent will take place over one lunar day, which is equivalent to around 14 Earth days, to avoid the extreme overnight temperatures that could damage electronics, says Clive Neal, a geoscientist at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
The mission is technically challenging, and many things could go wrong, says Neal. The lander could crash-land or topple over, and the samples could escape from their canister along the way. “We all hope that it works,” he says.
Once the ascender is back in lunar orbit, the samples will be transferred to the returner. This in-flight rendezvous will be complex and “a good rehearsal for future human exploration”, says James Carpenter, a research coordinator for human and robotic exploration at the European Space Agency in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. China plans to send people to the Moon from around 2030.
The Chang’e-5 spacecraft will then journey back to Earth, with the lander parachuting toward Siziwang Banner in Inner Mongolia, northern China, probably sometime in early December.
Back on Earth
Most of the lunar samples will be stored at the Chinese Academy of Sciences National Astronomical Observatory of China (NAOC) in Beijing, says Li Chunlai, deputy chief designer for the Chang’e-5 mission. Some material will be stored at a separate site, safe from natural hazards, and some will be set aside for public display, says Li.
But it is not clear whether samples will leave the country. The CNSA supports international collaboration and giving researchers outside China access to the samples if they work with Chinese scientists, says Xiao Long, a planetary geologist at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, who was involved in selecting the landing site.
Hiesinger hopes that access to the samples will be similar to how researchers access rocks collected by the US Apollo missions—by submitting a proposal to NASA on how they plan to use them.
But Xiao points out that scientists at Chinese institutions cannot access Apollo samples because the US government restricts NASA from collaborating directly with China.
Evolutionary insights
The Chang’e-5 samples could fill an important gap in scientists’ understanding of the Moon’s volcanic activity. Rocks obtained by previous US and Soviet lunar missions suggest that activity on the Moon peaked 3.5 billion years ago, then fizzled and stopped. But observations of the lunar surface have uncovered regions that could contain volcanic lava formed as recently as one billion or two billion years ago.
If Chang’e-5’s samples confirm that the Moon was still active during this time, “we will rewrite the history of the Moon”, says Xiao.
Studying the rocks’ composition could also clarify what fuelled this thermal activity for so long. “The Moon is small, so its heat engine should have run out a long time ago,” says Neal.
The Moon is also an important reference for dating other planets, based on the method of counting craters. The general rule is that older regions have more and larger craters, whereas younger regions have fewer and smaller ones. These relative ages are then given absolute dates using samples from the Moon. But no samples exist for the period between 850 million years and 3.2 billion years ago. Chang’e-5 could fill that gap. “The Moon is the only place where we have samples that we know exactly where they came from,” says van der Bogert.
This article is reproduced with permission and was first published on November 5 2020.


scientificamerican--2020-11-11--Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2020

Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2020

Digital Medicine Can Diagnose and Treat What Ails You Therapeutic and diagnostic apps and bots are almost here

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scientificamerican--2020-11-12--A Cosmic Video Mini-Series to Ponder Gravity, the Universe, and Everything

How did the Big Bang shape the structure of the Universe ?
What would happen to reality if we tweaked the fundamental forces ?
Why is gravity just so strange ?
In our new three-part video mini-series , Scientific American contributors Jared Kaplan and Emily V. Driscoll ponder these weighty existential issues with you , through the lens of beautifully rendered explanatory animations , created by artist Lottie Kingslake .
Think of it as your cosmic therapy session for our on-edge times .
Part I : What if the laws of physics were different ?
In the video Did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It Is ?
we examine what our universe—and more specifically , our lives—might look like with some tweaks to the physics responsible for the world as we know it .
Part II : How did the Universe get its texture ?
In this video , How the Big Bang Governs the Texture of Our Universe , we explore the concept of cosmic inhomogeneities—using zebras as an analogy for clumps of matter scattered throughout the universe .
Part III : Why is gravity different ?
In our video Why Is Gravity Different ?
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and why it remains difficult to understand how Einstein ’ s general theory of relativity ( which covers gravity ) fits together with quantum mechanics .

How did the big bang shape the structure of the universe? What would happen to reality if we tweaked the fundamental forces? Why is gravity just so strange?
In our new three-part video miniseries, Scientific American contributors Jared Kaplan and Emily V. Driscoll ponder these weighty existential issues with you through the lens of beautifully rendered explanatory animations created by artist Lottie Kingslake.
Think of it as your cosmic therapy session for our on-edge times.
Part I: What if the laws of physics were different?
In the video Did the Universe Have to Be the Way That It Is? we examine what our universe—and more specifically, our lives—might look like with some tweaks to the physics responsible for the world as we know it.
Part II: How did the universe get its texture?
In this video, How the Big Bang Governs the Texture of Our Universe, we explore the concept of cosmic inhomogeneities—using zebras as an analogy for clumps of matter scattered throughout the universe.
Part III: Why is gravity different?
In our video Why Is Gravity Different? we explore why this force is so perplexing and why it remains difficult to understand how Einstein’s general theory of relativity (which covers gravity) fits together with quantum mechanics.


scientificamerican--2020-11-12--Quantum Sensors Could Let Autonomous Cars 'See' around Corners

Quantum computers get all the hype , but quantum sensors could be equally transformative , enabling autonomous vehicles that can “ see ” around corners , underwater navigation systems , early-warning systems for volcanic activity and earthquakes , and portable scanners that monitor a person 's brain activity during daily life .
Quantum sensors reach extreme levels of precision by exploiting the quantum nature of matter—using the difference between , for example , electrons in different energy states as a base unit .
Atomic clocks illustrate this principle .
The world time standard is based on the fact that electrons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition 9,192,631,770 times a second ; this is the oscillation that other clocks are tuned against .
Other quantum sensors use atomic transitions to detect minuscule changes in motion and tiny differences in gravitational , electric and magnetic fields .
There are other ways to build a quantum sensor , however .
For example , researchers at the University of Birmingham in England are working to develop free-falling , supercooled atoms to detect tiny changes in local gravity .
This kind of quantum gravimeter would be capable of detecting buried pipes , cables @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliably found only by digging .
Seafaring ships could use similar technology to detect underwater objects .
Most quantum-sensing systems remain expensive , oversized and complex , but a new generation of smaller , more affordable sensors should open up new applications .
Last year researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used conventional fabrication methods to put a diamond-based quantum sensor on a silicon chip , squeezing multiple , traditionally bulky components onto a square a few tenths of a millimeter wide .
The prototype is a step toward low-cost , mass-produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that could be used for any application that involves taking fine measurements of weak magnetic fields .
Quantum systems remain extremely susceptible to disturbances , which could limit their application to controlled environments .
But governments and private investors are throwing money at this and other challenges , including those of cost , scale and complexity ; the U.K. , for example , has put £315 million into the second phase of its National Quantum Computing Program ( 2019–2024 ) .
Industry analysts expect quantum sensors to reach the market in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an initial emphasis on medical and defense applications .

Quantum computers get all the hype, but quantum sensors could be equally transformative, enabling autonomous vehicles that can “see” around corners, underwater navigation systems, early-warning systems for volcanic activity and earthquakes, and portable scanners that monitor a person's brain activity during daily life.
Quantum sensors reach extreme levels of precision by exploiting the quantum nature of matter—using the difference between, for example, electrons in different energy states as a base unit. Atomic clocks illustrate this principle. The world time standard is based on the fact that electrons in cesium 133 atoms complete a specific transition 9,192,631,770 times a second; this is the oscillation that other clocks are tuned against. Other quantum sensors use atomic transitions to detect minuscule changes in motion and tiny differences in gravitational, electric and magnetic fields.
There are other ways to build a quantum sensor, however. For example, researchers at the University of Birmingham in England are working to develop free-falling, supercooled atoms to detect tiny changes in local gravity. This kind of quantum gravimeter would be capable of detecting buried pipes, cables and other objects that today can be reliably found only by digging. Seafaring ships could use similar technology to detect underwater objects.
Most quantum-sensing systems remain expensive, oversized and complex, but a new generation of smaller, more affordable sensors should open up new applications. Last year researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology used conventional fabrication methods to put a diamond-based quantum sensor on a silicon chip, squeezing multiple, traditionally bulky components onto a square a few tenths of a millimeter wide. The prototype is a step toward low-cost, mass-produced quantum sensors that work at room temperature and that could be used for any application that involves taking fine measurements of weak magnetic fields.
Quantum systems remain extremely susceptible to disturbances, which could limit their application to controlled environments. But governments and private investors are throwing money at this and other challenges, including those of cost, scale and complexity; the U.K., for example, has put £315 million into the second phase of its National Quantum Computing Program (2019–2024). Industry analysts expect quantum sensors to reach the market in the next three to five years, with an initial emphasis on medical and defense applications.


scientificamerican--2020-11-12--Low-Carbon Cement Can Help Combat Climate Change

Concrete , the most widely used human-made material , shapes much of our built world .
The manufacture of one of its key components , cement , creates a substantial yet underappreciated amount of human-produced carbon dioxide : up to 8 percent of the global total , according to London-based think tank Chatham House .
It has been said that if cement production were a country , it would be the third-largest emitter after China and the U.S .
Currently four billion tons of cement are produced every year , but because of increasing urbanization , that figure is expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next 30 years , Chatham House reports .
The emissions from cement production result from the fossil fuels used to generate heat for cement formation , as well as from the chemical process in a kiln that transforms limestone into clinker , which is then ground and combined with other materials to make cement .
Although the construction industry is typically resistant to change for a variety of reasons—safety and reliability among them—the pressure to decrease its contributions to climate change may well accelerate disruption .
In 2018 the Global Cement and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of worldwide production , announced the industry 's first Sustainability Guidelines , a set of key measurements such as emissions and water usage intended to track performance improvements and make them transparent .
Meanwhile a variety of lower-carbon approaches are being pursued , with some already in practice .
Start-up Solidia in Piscataway , N.J. , is employing a chemical process licensed from Rutgers University that has cut 30 percent of the carbon dioxide usually released in making cement .
The recipe uses more clay , less limestone and less heat than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nova Scotia , stores carbon dioxide captured from other industrial processes in concrete through mineralization rather than releasing it into the atmosphere as a by-product .
Montreal-based CarbiCrete ditches the cement in concrete altogether , replacing it with a by-product of steelmaking called steel slag .
And Norcem , a major producer of cement in Norway , is aiming to turn one of its factories into the world 's first zero-emissions cement-making plant .
The facility already uses alternative fuels from wastes and intends to add carbon capture and storage technologies to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers have been incorporating bacteria into concrete formulations to absorb carbon dioxide from the air and to improve its properties .
Start-ups pursuing “ living ” building materials include BioMason in Raleigh , N.C. , which “ grows ” cementlike bricks using bacteria and particles called aggregate .
And in an innovation funded by DARPA and published in February in the journal Matter , researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder employed photosynthetic microbes called cyanobacteria to build a lower-carbon concrete .
They inoculated a sand-hydrogel scaffold with bacteria to create bricks with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bricks could not replace cement and concrete in all of today 's applications .
They could , however , someday take the place of light-duty load-bearing materials , such as those used for pavers , facades and temporary structures .

Concrete, the most widely used human-made material, shapes much of our built world. The manufacture of one of its key components, cement, creates a substantial yet underappreciated amount of human-produced carbon dioxide: up to 8 percent of the global total, according to London-based think tank Chatham House. It has been said that if cement production were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter after China and the U.S. Currently four billion tons of cement are produced every year, but because of increasing urbanization, that figure is expected to rise to five billion tons in the next 30 years, Chatham House reports. The emissions from cement production result from the fossil fuels used to generate heat for cement formation, as well as from the chemical process in a kiln that transforms limestone into clinker, which is then ground and combined with other materials to make cement.
Although the construction industry is typically resistant to change for a variety of reasons—safety and reliability among them—the pressure to decrease its contributions to climate change may well accelerate disruption. In 2018 the Global Cement and Concrete Association, which represents about 30 percent of worldwide production, announced the industry's first Sustainability Guidelines, a set of key measurements such as emissions and water usage intended to track performance improvements and make them transparent.
Meanwhile a variety of lower-carbon approaches are being pursued, with some already in practice. Start-up Solidia in Piscataway, N.J., is employing a chemical process licensed from Rutgers University that has cut 30 percent of the carbon dioxide usually released in making cement. The recipe uses more clay, less limestone and less heat than typical processes. CarbonCure in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, stores carbon dioxide captured from other industrial processes in concrete through mineralization rather than releasing it into the atmosphere as a by-product. Montreal-based CarbiCrete ditches the cement in concrete altogether, replacing it with a by-product of steelmaking called steel slag. And Norcem, a major producer of cement in Norway, is aiming to turn one of its factories into the world's first zero-emissions cement-making plant. The facility already uses alternative fuels from wastes and intends to add carbon capture and storage technologies to remove emissions entirely by 2030.
Additionally, researchers have been incorporating bacteria into concrete formulations to absorb carbon dioxide from the air and to improve its properties. Start-ups pursuing “living” building materials include BioMason in Raleigh, N.C., which “grows” cementlike bricks using bacteria and particles called aggregate. And in an innovation funded by DARPA and published in February in the journal Matter, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder employed photosynthetic microbes called cyanobacteria to build a lower-carbon concrete. They inoculated a sand-hydrogel scaffold with bacteria to create bricks with an ability to self-heal cracks.
These bricks could not replace cement and concrete in all of today's applications. They could, however, someday take the place of light-duty load-bearing materials, such as those used for pavers, facades and temporary structures.


scientificamerican--2020-11-12--Dramatic Scope of the Anthropocene Can Be Seen from Above

To understand the 4.5 billion years of the earth ’ s past and predict what may happen to the planet and its inhabitants in the future , scientists across different disciplines think about divisions of geologic time such as epochs .
These chapters of the earth ’ s history are associated with major climatic changes and the arrival or disappearance of species in the fossil record .
The most recent epoch , the Holocene , began at the end of the last ice age , approximately 12,000 years ago .
In recent years , scientists have debated the need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that reflects humanity ’ s broad global effects : the Anthropocene .
Those in favor of doing so argue that topographic changes to the earth and increasing global temperatures caused by emissions from human activity worldwide are measurable signs that our planet is on the cusp of a new geologic chapter .
In this collection , photographer Tom Hegen brings a graphic design eye to his landscape images and captures the views of the Anthropocene from above using helicopters and drones .
“ I photograph landscapes that have been heavily transformed by human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ channeled , regulated and controlled , ” Hegen says .
“ I would like to inspire people to look closer at the impact we have on our environment and ask if , and how , we could assume responsibility.
” Marble mine in Alicante , Spain .
Studies that use satellite data may help researchers assess the global mining sector ’ s impact on the environment .
Quarry in the state of Bavaria in Germany .
In describing this photograph , Hegen has said that a huge amount of raw materials are required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its large size , this Dutch tulip field looks like a woven tapestry in this aerial view .
The Netherlands produces billions of tulips annually .
Farmlands across Spain , such as this area in Zaragoza , are susceptible to drought .
A method called dry farming allows for crop cultivation with limited water resources .
Glaciers , such as this one in Iceland , are markers of global warming as they lose ice mass .
Rising temperatures resulting from human emissions have led to a high annual loss of glacial ice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ contrast in Greenland .
Arctic summer sea ice has declined by more than 10 percent each decade since the 1970s .
These patterns form as Icelandic glaciers melt and release water across black volcanic sand , Hegen wrote on his Web site .
He described the meandering blue lines as “ veins.
” Lignite-mining pollution is causing discoloration of this river in Dresden , Germany , Hegen says .
This kind of mining drainage is extremely acidic and full of sulfate .
Science in Images is a new category of articles featuring photographs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science .
Click on the button below to see the full collection .

To understand the 4.5 billion years of the earth’s past and predict what may happen to the planet and its inhabitants in the future, scientists across different disciplines think about divisions of geologic time such as epochs. These chapters of the earth’s history are associated with major climatic changes and the arrival or disappearance of species in the fossil record.
The most recent epoch, the Holocene, began at the end of the last ice age, approximately 12,000 years ago. In recent years, scientists have debated the need to mark the emergence of a new epoch that reflects humanity’s broad global effects: the Anthropocene. Those in favor of doing so argue that topographic changes to the earth and increasing global temperatures caused by emissions from human activity worldwide are measurable signs that our planet is on the cusp of a new geologic chapter.
In this collection, photographer Tom Hegen brings a graphic design eye to his landscape images and captures the views of the Anthropocene from above using helicopters and drones. “I photograph landscapes that have been heavily transformed by human intervention and show places where nature is channeled, regulated and controlled,” Hegen says. “I would like to inspire people to look closer at the impact we have on our environment and ask if, and how, we could assume responsibility.”
Marble mine in Alicante, Spain. Studies that use satellite data may help researchers assess the global mining sector’s impact on the environment.
Quarry in the state of Bavaria in Germany. In describing this photograph, Hegen has said that a huge amount of raw materials are required to construct growing cities.
Because of its large size, this Dutch tulip field looks like a woven tapestry in this aerial view. The Netherlands produces billions of tulips annually.
Farmlands across Spain, such as this area in Zaragoza, are susceptible to drought. A method called dry farming allows for crop cultivation with limited water resources.
Glaciers, such as this one in Iceland, are markers of global warming as they lose ice mass. Rising temperatures resulting from human emissions have led to a high annual loss of glacial ice.
Solid ice and melted ice water visually contrast in Greenland. Arctic summer sea ice has declined by more than 10 percent each decade since the 1970s.
These patterns form as Icelandic glaciers melt and release water across black volcanic sand, Hegen wrote on his Web site. He described the meandering blue lines as “veins.”
Lignite-mining pollution is causing discoloration of this river in Dresden, Germany, Hegen says. This kind of mining drainage is extremely acidic and full of sulfate.
Science in Images is a new category of articles featuring photographs and videos from all the disciplines of science. Click on the button below to see the full collection.
Science in Images


scientificamerican--2020-11-12--Electric Aviation Could Be Closer Than You Think

In 2019 air travel accounted for 2.5 percent of global carbon emissions , a number that could triple by 2050 .
While some airlines have started offsetting their contributions to atmospheric carbon , significant cutbacks are still needed .
Electric airplanes could provide the scale of transformation required , and many companies are racing to develop them .
Not only would electric propulsion motors eliminate direct carbon emissions , they could reduce fuel costs by up to 90 percent , maintenance by up to 50 percent and noise by nearly 70 percent .
Among the companies working on electric flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eviation .
All are flight-testing aircraft meant for private , corporate or commuter trips and are seeking certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration .
Cape Air , one of the largest regional airlines , expects to be among the first customers , with plans to buy the Alice nine-passenger electric aircraft from Eviation .
Cape Air 's CEO Dan Wolf has said he is interested not only in the environmental benefits but also in potential savings on operation costs .
Electric motors generally have longer life spans than the hydrocarbon-fueled engines in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overhaul at 20,000 hours versus 2,000 .
Forward-propulsion engines are not the only ones going electric .
NASA 's X-57 Maxwell electric plane , under development , replaces conventional wings with shorter ones that feature a set of distributed electric propellers .
On conventional jets , wings must be large enough to provide lift when a craft is traveling at a low speed , but the large surface area adds drag at higher speeds .
Electric propellers increase lift during takeoff , allowing for smaller wings and overall higher efficiency .
For the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited in how far they can travel .
Today 's best batteries put out far less power by weight than traditional fuels : an energy density of 250 watt-hours per kilogram versus 12,000 watt-hours per kilogram for jet fuel .
The batteries required for a given flight are therefore far heavier than standard fuel and take up more space .
Approximately half of all flights globally are fewer than 800 kilometers , which is expected to be within the range of battery-powered electric aircraft by 2025 .
Electric aviation faces cost and regulatory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporations and governments excited by the progress of this technology are investing significantly in its development : some $ 250 million flowed to electric aviation start-ups between 2017 and 2019 .
Currently roughly 170 electric airplane projects are underway .
Most electric airplanes are designed for private , corporate and commuter travel , but Airbus says it plans to have 100-passenger versions ready to fly by 2030 .

In 2019 air travel accounted for 2.5 percent of global carbon emissions, a number that could triple by 2050. While some airlines have started offsetting their contributions to atmospheric carbon, significant cutbacks are still needed. Electric airplanes could provide the scale of transformation required, and many companies are racing to develop them. Not only would electric propulsion motors eliminate direct carbon emissions, they could reduce fuel costs by up to 90 percent, maintenance by up to 50 percent and noise by nearly 70 percent.
Among the companies working on electric flight are Airbus, Ampaire, MagniX and Eviation. All are flight-testing aircraft meant for private, corporate or commuter trips and are seeking certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Cape Air, one of the largest regional airlines, expects to be among the first customers, with plans to buy the Alice nine-passenger electric aircraft from Eviation. Cape Air's CEO Dan Wolf has said he is interested not only in the environmental benefits but also in potential savings on operation costs. Electric motors generally have longer life spans than the hydrocarbon-fueled engines in his current aircraft; they need an overhaul at 20,000 hours versus 2,000.
Forward-propulsion engines are not the only ones going electric. NASA's X-57 Maxwell electric plane, under development, replaces conventional wings with shorter ones that feature a set of distributed electric propellers. On conventional jets, wings must be large enough to provide lift when a craft is traveling at a low speed, but the large surface area adds drag at higher speeds. Electric propellers increase lift during takeoff, allowing for smaller wings and overall higher efficiency.
For the foreseeable future, electric planes will be limited in how far they can travel. Today's best batteries put out far less power by weight than traditional fuels: an energy density of 250 watt-hours per kilogram versus 12,000 watt-hours per kilogram for jet fuel. The batteries required for a given flight are therefore far heavier than standard fuel and take up more space. Approximately half of all flights globally are fewer than 800 kilometers, which is expected to be within the range of battery-powered electric aircraft by 2025.
Electric aviation faces cost and regulatory hurdles, but investors, incubators, corporations and governments excited by the progress of this technology are investing significantly in its development: some $250 million flowed to electric aviation start-ups between 2017 and 2019. Currently roughly 170 electric airplane projects are underway. Most electric airplanes are designed for private, corporate and commuter travel, but Airbus says it plans to have 100-passenger versions ready to fly by 2030.


scientificamerican--2020-11-12--Cutting Diesel Exhaust Could Lessen COVID Spread in Cities

The novel coronavirus can be carried through the air by aerosol particles to unsuspecting people who breathe them in .
This is why we wear masks and try to stay socially distant .
For months the rule of thumb has been for individuals to stay 1.5 meters apart to lessen transmission , although experts have more recently shown that very fine particulate matter , or PM , could carry SARS-CoV-2 virus particles farther .
What has received little media coverage is that diesel exhaust particles could be a big part of this spread .
Diesel exhaust , emitted by diesel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fine particles suspended in city air .
They can cause a range of health problems , from heart disease to cancer .
They have been shown to carry viruses .
Most of the fine particles come from transportation , caused by incomplete combustion .
The emissions are worst from low-quality fuel-oil diesel commonly used in shipping , and in some developing cities in old trucks and auto-rickshaws .
But high-quality diesel still results in significant emissions , even under the latest vehicle technology standards .
The particles are not visible : 90 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in diameter .
That is far smaller than the two size categories implicated in health effects—less than 10 micrometers ( PM ) and less than 2.5 micrometers ( PM ) , meaning they can spread in air even easier .
A number of studies show a positive correlation between the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 and the level of air pollution .
In early 2020 , studies conducted in Wuhan , China , found that viruses exhaled by infected people could reach new people who were not very close .
The researchers suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factor in the spread .
The Italian Society of Environmental Medicine found a significant correlation between the geographical distribution of PM or PM particles in 110 Italian provinces and the incidence of COVID-19 infection in those areas .
Other scientists in Italy later found that COVID-19 mortality in the high-particulate air pollution areas of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna was about 12 percent , compared with about 4.5 percent in the rest of Italy .
They also found that the virus ’ s genetic material , its RNA , was present in particulate matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high particulate concentrations and stable air , particulates holding the virus grouped into airborne clusters , enhancing its persistence in the atmosphere .
Global data support these ideas .
One paper found a correlation between cities with high particulates noted in annual indexes of air quality with high incidence of COVID-19 infection—in China , Iran , Italy , Spain , France , Germany , the U.K. and U.S .
Following that , a survey conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found there was a strong association between an increase in particulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one microgram per cubic meter of air in long-term exposure to PM was associated with an 8 percent increase in the COVID-19 mortality rate .
A recent study in 355 Dutch communities examined the associations between atmospheric concentrations of PM , nitrogen dioxide ( NO ) , sulfur dioxide ( SO ) and COVID-19 cases , both hospital admissions for them and deaths from them .
It found compelling evidence of a statistically significant positive relationship for PM , and to a lesser extent NO .
The SO levels were not a big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one microgram per cubic meter increase in PM concentration was associated with 9.4 more COVID-19 cases , 3.0 more hospital admissions and 2.3 more deaths .
These various studies lead us to conclude that particulate air pollution either makes people more susceptible to COVID-19 infection or brings the virus into their lungs .
The studies are primarily based on variations in human exposure to air pollution and occurrences of COVID-19 among large populations , however .
Evidence of a linkage could be strengthened by studies of small , local populations in many large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures of air pollution and the COVID-19 caseloads .
That is what originally clinched the case for associating small-particle air pollution with heart disease and cancer .
Should we wait for this evidence before acting to lessen the disease burden COVID-19 brings ?
We argue no .
Many high-income cities and countries are already working to reduce diesel exhaust pollution and the health complications it creates .
Their efforts should be redoubled , especially in COVID-19 areas .
Pollution reductions have begun serendipitously , too , in many cities where “ lockdowns ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transportation .
Some national and local governments are already seeking to maintain these reductions as lockdowns are eased , in some cases by closing streets or building more infrastructure that encourages cycling .
Prior to the pandemic , some cities were already starting to replace diesel trucks and buses with electric versions , and planning new electric transit such as trackless trams .
But the transition away from diesel is slow .
There are only around 400,000 electric buses in the world , mostly in cities trying to reach goals for 2040 established @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as Canberra , Sydney and Brisbane in Australia have begun to electrify their bus fleets .
The European leader , the Netherlands , has now electrified 10 percent of its bus fleet , and all new buses after 2025 will be electric .
China has electrified 17 percent of its bus fleet .
The U.S. plans for a third of all buses to be electric by 2045 .
Electrification of diesel transport has several environmental advantages , but now that there is a powerful health dimension , such agendas should accelerate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other new diesel vehicles by 2030 should be adopted .
An international study published in October suggests that around 15 percent of COVID-19 deaths can be linked to PM air pollution , and it has called for regulations to quicken the switchover to electric transportation .
It concludes : “ A lesson from our environmental perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic is that the quest for effective policies to reduce anthropogenic emissions , which cause both air pollution and climate change , needs to be accelerated.
” We agree , and note that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future airborne pandemics as well .
Business as usual should no longer be an option .

The novel coronavirus can be carried through the air by aerosol particles to unsuspecting people who breathe them in. This is why we wear masks and try to stay socially distant. For months the rule of thumb has been for individuals to stay 1.5 meters apart to lessen transmission, although experts have more recently shown that very fine particulate matter, or PM, could carry SARS-CoV-2 virus particles farther. What has received little media coverage is that diesel exhaust particles could be a big part of this spread.
Diesel exhaust, emitted by diesel engines, is a major source of fine particles suspended in city air. They can cause a range of health problems, from heart disease to cancer. They have been shown to carry viruses. Most of the fine particles come from transportation, caused by incomplete combustion. The emissions are worst from low-quality fuel-oil diesel commonly used in shipping, and in some developing cities in old trucks and auto-rickshaws. But high-quality diesel still results in significant emissions, even under the latest vehicle technology standards. The particles are not visible: 90 percent of them are less than one micrometer in diameter. That is far smaller than the two size categories implicated in health effects—less than 10 micrometers (PM 10 ) and less than 2.5 micrometers (PM 2.5 ), meaning they can spread in air even easier.
A number of studies show a positive correlation between the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 and the level of air pollution. In early 2020, studies conducted in Wuhan, China, found that viruses exhaled by infected people could reach new people who were not very close. The researchers suggested that air pollution may have been a factor in the spread. The Italian Society of Environmental Medicine found a significant correlation between the geographical distribution of PM 10 or PM 2.5 particles in 110 Italian provinces and the incidence of COVID-19 infection in those areas.
Other scientists in Italy later found that COVID-19 mortality in the high-particulate air pollution areas of Lombardy and Emilia Romagna was about 12 percent, compared with about 4.5 percent in the rest of Italy. They also found that the virus’s genetic material, its RNA, was present in particulate matter. They suggested that in places with high particulate concentrations and stable air, particulates holding the virus grouped into airborne clusters, enhancing its persistence in the atmosphere.
Global data support these ideas. One paper found a correlation between cities with high particulates noted in annual indexes of air quality with high incidence of COVID-19 infection—in China, Iran, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, the U.K. and U.S. Following that, a survey conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health found there was a strong association between an increase in particulate matter and mortality: An increase of one microgram per cubic meter of air in long-term exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with an 8 percent increase in the COVID-19 mortality rate.
A recent study in 355 Dutch communities examined the associations between atmospheric concentrations of PM 2.5 , nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) and COVID-19 cases, both hospital admissions for them and deaths from them. It found compelling evidence of a statistically significant positive relationship for PM 2.5 , and to a lesser extent NO 2 . The SO 2 levels were not a big factor. The researchers concluded that a one microgram per cubic meter increase in PM 2.5 concentration was associated with 9.4 more COVID-19 cases, 3.0 more hospital admissions and 2.3 more deaths.
These various studies lead us to conclude that particulate air pollution either makes people more susceptible to COVID-19 infection or brings the virus into their lungs. The studies are primarily based on variations in human exposure to air pollution and occurrences of COVID-19 among large populations, however. Evidence of a linkage could be strengthened by studies of small, local populations in many large cities that have excellent data on standard measures of air pollution and the COVID-19 caseloads. That is what originally clinched the case for associating small-particle air pollution with heart disease and cancer.
Should we wait for this evidence before acting to lessen the disease burden COVID-19 brings? We argue no. Many high-income cities and countries are already working to reduce diesel exhaust pollution and the health complications it creates. Their efforts should be redoubled, especially in COVID-19 areas.
Pollution reductions have begun serendipitously, too, in many cities where “lockdowns” have been imposed, naturally curbing fossil-fueled transportation. Some national and local governments are already seeking to maintain these reductions as lockdowns are eased, in some cases by closing streets or building more infrastructure that encourages cycling.
Prior to the pandemic, some cities were already starting to replace diesel trucks and buses with electric versions, and planning new electric transit such as trackless trams. But the transition away from diesel is slow. There are only around 400,000 electric buses in the world, mostly in cities trying to reach goals for 2040 established in the Paris climate accord. Cities such as Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane in Australia have begun to electrify their bus fleets. The European leader, the Netherlands, has now electrified 10 percent of its bus fleet, and all new buses after 2025 will be electric. China has electrified 17 percent of its bus fleet. The U.S. plans for a third of all buses to be electric by 2045.
Electrification of diesel transport has several environmental advantages, but now that there is a powerful health dimension, such agendas should accelerate. Plans to phase out new diesel trucks and other new diesel vehicles by 2030 should be adopted. An international study published in October suggests that around 15 percent of COVID-19 deaths can be linked to PM 2.5 air pollution, and it has called for regulations to quicken the switchover to electric transportation. It concludes: “A lesson from our environmental perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic is that the quest for effective policies to reduce anthropogenic emissions, which cause both air pollution and climate change, needs to be accelerated.”
We agree, and note that reducing diesel exhaust could lessen risk from future airborne pandemics as well. Business as usual should no longer be an option.