How anxious ought to we be about chicken flu? The previous few months have seen some doubtlessly worrisome developments within the US, together with the continued unfold of the virus amongst dairy cattle, the detection of the virus in a pig in addition to cow’s milk, and—most regarding of all—the rising variety of human infections.
We don’t but have any proof that the virus is spreading between folks, however the threat of a possible pandemic has elevated since MIT Expertise Evaluation final coated this matter a few months in the past.
The excellent news is we’re in a significantly better place to sort out any potential future flu outbreaks than we had been to face covid-19 again in 2020, on condition that we have already got vaccines. However, on the entire, it’s not trying nice. Learn the complete story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly publication providing you with the within monitor on all issues well being and biotech. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The moon is only the start for this waterless concrete
If NASA establishes a everlasting presence on the moon, its astronauts’ properties might be made from a brand new 3D-printable, waterless concrete. Sometime, so may yours. By accelerating the curing course of for extra speedy development, this sulfur-based compound may turn into simply as relevant on our house terrain as it’s on lunar soil.
Conventional concrete requires giant quantities of water, a commodity that will probably be in brief provide on the moon, and sending simply 1 kilogram of it to the moon prices roughly $1.2 million.
As a substitute, NASA hopes to create new supplies from lunar soil and ultimately adapt the identical strategies for constructing on Mars. However creating the proper waterless “lunarcrete” is less complicated mentioned than accomplished. Learn the complete story.
