Science & Health

New spike mutations in Alpha, Beta variants of COVID-19 found; more infectious, evasive [Study]

According to the multi-institutional study, the spike protein of the Alpha (B.1.1.7 -UK) and Beta (B.1.351-South Africa) variants—both VOCs—have acquired structural changes that make them more lethal.

Jun 27, 2021

COVID-19 on hospital surfaces may not cause infection; low chances of transmission [details]

An interdisciplinary team of scientists from UC Davis has confirmed that hospital surfaces contaminated with the SARS-CoV-2 may not serve as a major route of transmission of COVID-19.

Jun 27, 2021

Still no taste, smell after recovering from COVID; it may take a year [details]

The loss of smell can severely impact a person's quality of life, making it extremely difficult to taste foods, detect airborne hazards in the environment and carry out other functions dependent on the senses.

Jun 27, 2021

Crucial Differences In Human and Mice Brain Cells Found; To Impact Neurological Disease Research [Study]

According to a new study led by researchers from UCLA (University of California-Los Angeles), the comparison of brain cells known as astrocytes in mice and humans revealed that they possessed important differences that can have an impact on human neurodegenerative disease research.

Jun 26, 2021

New 'CoVRapid' test detects COVID-19 antibodies in just 8 mins; it's reliable & affordable [details]

A new interdisciplinary study by researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has described a new automated microarray rapid test called 'CoVRapid' that is highly specific and highly sensitive; yet reliable and affordable.

Jun 26, 2021

COVID-19 may infect cells through alternate route; is it cause for concern [Explained]

According to scientists from the Washington University School of Medicine, a single mutation provides the SARS-CoV-2 virus the capacity to enter cells without the requirement of ACE2; however, no evidence of resulting evasion of COVID-19 vaccines and antibodies was found.

Jun 25, 2021

Covid-19 virus found "well adapted" to infect human cells [Study]

Scientists from Flinders University and La Trobe University discovered that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the Covid-19 epidemic, is most suited to infect human cells, according to the study.

Jun 25, 2021

Ancient Coronavirus epidemic rocked East Asia 20,000 years ago; its evidence found in modern populations

A new study by an international team of researchers has discovered that a coronavirus epidemic erupted in the region of East Asia over 20,000 years ago, with evidence of it found in modern day populations.

Jun 24, 2021

Identifying new variants of COVID using this low-cost method promises effective surveillance globally [details]

Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet have developed a platform COVseq that can help generate complex sequencing libraries from hundreds of SARS-CoV-2 samples at a very low cost.

Jun 24, 2021

Earth-like atmospheres may be hard to find; uncommon on other planets [details]

According to a new study of known exoplanets, Earth-like characteristics on possibly habitable planets may be far fewer than previously thought.

Jun 24, 2021

Coffee consumption is linked to lower risk of developing chronic liver disease, shows data

Researchers found that coffee consumption is linked to a lower risk of developing chronic liver disease and dying from it.

Jun 24, 2021

Rashes, swelling after COVID vaccine no cause for concern; do not panic [details]

Researchers from the University of Connecticut find that reported reactions such as swellings and rashes have been exaggerated in the media and should not discourage getting the vaccine.

Jun 23, 2021

AstraZeneca vaccine 92% effective against dreaded Delta variant; protects against other COVID variants [details]

According to new data by Public Health England (PHE), two doses of the COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca were found to be 92 percent effective against hospitalization on account of the Delta variant, and no death was reported in fully vaccinated individuals

Jun 23, 2021

Scientists find how pancreatic cancer cells dodge treatment; What's next

Cancer cells can change to become resistant to therapies, making them notoriously difficult to fight and fatal. Researchers uncovered one of the backups that these cells use when exposed to cancer-killing medicines.

Jun 23, 2021

NASA takes this detergent brand to outer space, could help fight water scarcity on earth

The detergent is fully degradable, and it could help to solve the problem of water scarcity on earth

Jun 23, 2021