How frightened ought to we be about hen 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 individuals, however the danger of a possible pandemic has elevated since MIT Know-how Overview final lined this subject a few months in the past.
The excellent news is we’re in a a lot better place to sort out any potential future flu outbreaks than we had been to face covid-19 again in 2020, provided that we have already got vaccines. However, on the entire, it’s not trying nice. Learn the total story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly publication supplying you with the within monitor on all issues well being and biotech. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The moon is just the start for this waterless concrete
If NASA establishes a everlasting presence on the moon, its astronauts’ properties could possibly be fabricated from a brand new 3D-printable, waterless concrete. Sometime, so would possibly yours. By accelerating the curing course of for extra speedy building, this sulfur-based compound might change into simply as relevant on our house terrain as it’s on lunar soil.
Conventional concrete requires giant quantities of water, a commodity that can 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 finally adapt the identical strategies for constructing on Mars. However creating the right waterless “lunarcrete” is simpler stated than performed. Learn the total story.
