Researchers call for greater awareness of unintended consequences of CRISPR gene editing
CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing can lead to unintended mutations (DNA damage) at the targeted section of DNA in early human embryos, researchers have revealed. This highlights the need for further research into the effects of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, especially when used to edit human DNA in laboratory research.* The findings also have relevance to gene-edited plants and […]
Scientists create tear organoids that cry, can treat eye disorders
These were created out of tear-producing cells
Psychedelic drug could ‘reset’ brain
Researchers believe a hallucinogen drug may be the answer for treating depression. The powerful drug is currently being trialled, and researchers think it could ‘reset’ the depressed brain. The breakthrough could benefit those who don’t respond well to traditional pills for depression. Participants in the trial will be given the drug, which will be followed […]
Potspots: Indoor marijuana production is a major source of greenhouse gas emission
A new study found that the energy required to yield a single kilogram of dried cannabis plant produces about 2-5 tonnes equivalent of carbon dioxide
Researchers to win Abel prize for algorithmic study
In a world powered by algorithms, two mathematicians have helped pioneer the field of computational complexity — that is, the study of the speed and efficiency of algorithms. László Lovász of Budapest, Hungary, and Avi Wigderson of Princeton, US, will share this year’s Abel prize, often described as the Nobel prize of mathematics. Computational complexity […]
Another Epidemiologist calls out Facebook “fact-checkers” & calls it a “scam”
Vinay Prasad MD MPH, an associate professor at the University of California San Francisco is one of many experts in the field during this pandemic who has been criticizing Facebook fact-checkers.
Fungi turns rotting wood into electricity
A team of scientists led by Ingo Burgert at ETH Zurich, Switzerland, found a way to transform wood into clean electricity by treating it with fungi. When the pressure is applied to wood, an electric charge is produced. This process has been discussed since the 1940s, but the small amount of energy the process produced […]
Researchers say the new immunotherapy drugs can target two types of evasive cancer-driving proteins
Scientific research has shown that new immunotherapy drugs can target two types of evasive cancer-driving proteins.
Scientists clone endangered American animal for the first time
Meet Elizabeth Ann, the ferret
Pfizer launches COVID-19 vaccine trial in pregnant women
Pfizer and BioNTech will jab approximately 4000 pregnant women with their experimental COVID-19 vaccines in an effort to understand the vaccine’s effects. Globally, millions have already received shots of the vaccines authorized for emergency use.
