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We publish short lay-summaries ("breaks") of scientific research. Our authors are scientists involved in the field of the summarized research. Our readers are academics and laypeople likewise. Learn more.
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Monoclonal antibodies that are effective against all COVID-19 -related viruses
All licensed COVID-19 antibody treatments become ineffective over time as new mutants emerge. We isolated antibodies from an individual who recovered from SARS-1 and received the COVID vaccine, that work against all COVID-related viruses including the latest Omicron variants. These broad-targeting antibodies could make future-proof therapeutics to counter the continual evolution of coronaviruses.
Stressing the gut-brain axis
Jan 29, 2024 | 3.5 min read by Niklas Blank , Kai Markus Schneider , Christoph ThaissTaurine: a supplement for extending life-span and health
Jan 24, 2024 | 3 min read by Vijay Kumar Yadav , Parminder Singh , Kishore GollapalliTake Them Outside: Cold Air Helps Croup Symptoms in Kids
Jan 3, 2024 | 3.5 min read by Zoé ValbretLikely increase in coral thermal tolerance at a Pacific archipelago
Dec 29, 2023 | 3 min read by Liam LachsEarth’s large lakes are shrinking
Dec 27, 2023 | 3 min read by Fangfang Yao , Ben Livneh , Balaji RajagopalanHighlights
Making nature compute for us
Jan 27, 2023 in Maths, Physics & Chemistry | 4 min read by Martin M. SteinPlant genetic engineering makes treasure from trash
Feb 27, 2023 in Plant Biology | 3.5 min read by Dennis Kleinschmidt , Joachim FornerOrb-weaving spiders can hear using their web
Feb 10, 2023 in Evolution & Behaviour | 4 min read by Jian Zhou , Junpeng Lai , Ronald Hoy , Ronald MilesSubjects
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Take Them Outside: Cold Air Helps Croup Symptoms in Kids
Although for many years parents and paediatricians have noticed that cold fresh air helps improve children’s croup symptoms, there was no scientific data to support this. Now, a team in Geneva carried out a randomized clinical study that supports this claim; it shows that going outside in cold fresh air helps initially reduce the severity of croup symptoms in children.
Jan 3, 2024 | 3.5 min readMonoclonal antibodies that are effective against all COVID-19 -related viruses
All licensed COVID-19 antibody treatments become ineffective over time as new mutants emerge. We isolated antibodies from an individual who recovered from SARS-1 and received the COVID vaccine, that work against all COVID-related viruses including the latest Omicron variants. These broad-targeting antibodies could make future-proof therapeutics to counter the continual evolution of coronaviruses.
Jan 31, 2024 | 3.5 min readEarth’s large lakes are shrinking
Lakes play a crucial role in providing freshwater and support many essential ecosystem services. In a new study, we found significant water losses in 53% of large lakes on Earth in the past 28 years. These losses are attributed to human consumption, warming climate, and sedimentation. Two billion people reside in areas where lakes are drying, underscoring the urgent need for management solutions.
Dec 27, 2023 | 3 min readIs evolution predictable?
There are many shapes, forms, and patterns which could conceivably exist in biology. What are the factors that affect which ones will be selected, and determine evolutionary outcomes? We study this question by examining the bias towards certain shapes of RNA molecules that exist in nature.
Dec 22, 2023 | 4 min readLikely increase in coral thermal tolerance at a Pacific archipelago
Over the coming decades, reef-building corals will face ever hotter ocean temperatures, yet it remains unknown if their thermal tolerance can keep up with the pace of warming. A new study reveals that coral thermal tolerance in Palau has likely risen by 0.1 °C/decade since the late 1980s. Despite this ecological resilience, strong action on climate change remains a priority to protect coral reefs.
Dec 29, 2023 | 3 min readHow the immune response to a common virus may target the brain in multiple sclerosis
We discovered that the immune response to a common virus called Epstein-Barr virus may be linked to multiple sclerosis by cross-reacting with a protein in the body called alpha-crystallin B . People who reacted to this protein were more likely to develop the disease, and this finding is a step forward in our understanding of how this common virus may cause disease in some people.
Dec 20, 2023 | 4 min read