Most countries are violating international law during the COVID-19 pandemic: Legal experts
TORONTO, Dec. 03, 2020 — Most countries are not fulfilling their international legal obligations during COVID-19 and other public health emergencies, reveals new research by a consortium of 13 leading global health law scholars, hosted by the Global Strategy Lab
Less COVID-19 transmission seen in countries with more intense testing
Lacking vaccines, countries have relied on multiple non-pharmaceutical interventions to control COVID-19 transmission. Despite the urging of the World Health Organization (WHO) in March to “test, test, and test,” policy makers disagree on on how much testing is optimal. A
What social distancing does to a brain
Have you recently wondered how social-distancing and self-isolation may be affecting your brain? An international research team led by Erin Schuman from the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research discovered a brain molecule that functions as a “thermometer” for the
Plant-based diet ramps up metabolism
The study randomly assigned participants–who were overweight and had no history of diabetes–to an intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio. For 16 weeks, participants in the intervention group followed a low-fat, plant-based diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole
Cannabidiol (CBD) in cannabis does not impair driving, landmark study shows
A landmark study on how cannabis affects driving ability has shown that cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabis component now widely used for medical purposes, does not impair driving, while moderate amounts of the main intoxicating component tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produce mild driving
The (un)social network: The emergence of digital thought clones and what to do about them
In The Social Dilemma, the Netflix documentary that has been in the news recently for its radical revelations, former executives at major technology companies like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, among others, share how their ex-employers have developed sophisticated algorithms that
Vitamin D regulates calcium in intestine differently than previously thought
A Rutgers study has discovered that vitamin D regulates calcium in a section of the intestine that previously was thought not to have played a key role. The findings have important implications on how bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and
Glucosamine may reduce overall death rates as effectively as regular exercise
Glucosamine supplements may reduce overall mortality about as well as regular exercise does, according to a new epidemiological study from West Virginia University. “Does this mean that if you get off work at five o’clock one day, you should just
Rethink COVID-19 infection control to keep primary schools open this winter, governments urged
An urgent rethink of infection control policies to keep COVID-19 infection at bay in schools is needed if primary schools are to be kept open this winter, and the knock-on effects on their families avoided, argue children’s infectious disease specialists
Mild electrical stimulation with heat shock ameliorates kidney disease
A research team from Kumamoto University in Japan has found that the combination of weak pulsed electrical current and heat exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in the kidneys, as well as a protective effect against nephrotic syndrome (NS) by inhibiting apoptosis (cell
New cyberattack can trick scientists into making toxins or viruses — Ben-Gurion University researchers
BEER-SHEVA, Israel…November 30, 2020 – An end-to-end cyber-biological attack, in which unwitting biologists may be tricked into generating dangerous toxins in their labs, has been discovered by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev cyber-researchers. According to a new paper just published
Fit gamers challenge ‘fat’ stereotype, new esports research
Esports players are up to 21 per cent healthier weight than the general population, hardly smoke and drink less too, finds a new QUT (Queensland University of Technology) study. The findings, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, were
Wuhan mass screening identifies hundreds of asymptomatic cases
A mass screening programme of more than 10 million Wuhan residents identified 300 asymptomatic cases, but none were infectious – according to a study involving the University of East Anglia. The mass testing project took place over two weeks at
Chemical compounds in foods can inhibit a key SARS-CoV-2 enzyme
Chemical compounds in foods or beverages like green tea, muscadine grapes and dark chocolate can bind to and block the function of a particular enzyme, or protease, in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to a new study by plant biologists at
Does your pain feel different in English and Spanish?
We take for granted the fact that feelings such as love, happiness, or pain are described with different words and expressions across languages. But are these differences in the ways we express these feelings in different languages also tied to
Study reveals connection between gut bacteria and vitamin D levels
Our gut microbiomes — the many bacteria, viruses and other microbes living in our digestive tracts — play important roles in our health and risk for disease in ways that are only beginning to be recognized. University of California San
Plant-based diet ramps up metabolism, according to new study
A plant-based diet boosts after-meal burn, leads to weight loss, and improves cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight individuals, according to a new randomized control trial published in JAMA Network Open by researchers with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. The study randomly
Emergency department doctors ask: “Where did all the patients go?”
BOSTON – During the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in New England, emergency department visits for medical emergencies – including psychiatric problems, trauma and heart attacks – declined by nearly a third, raising concerns among clinicians that critically ill
Covid-19 shutdowns disproportionately affected low-income black households
PRINCETON, N.J.–The alarming rate at which Covid-19 has killed Black Americans has highlighted the deeply embedded racial disparities in the U.S. health care system. Princeton researchers now report that low-income Black households also experienced greater job loss, more food and
Business closures, partial reopenings due to COVID-19 could cost the US $3-$5 trillion in U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the course of two years, a new USC study finds
The COVID-19 pandemic could result in net losses from $3.2 trillion and up to $4.8 trillion in U.S. Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the course of two years, a new USC study finds. The pandemic’s economic impact depends on
Unexplained .98 Correlation in Deaths to Total Test Results in addition to global and state data.
This week we look for answers into why the powerful consistent correlation to Total Test Results and Cumulative Deaths in the U.S. as well as the review of inconsistent data in reference to pandemic strategies. For those that want to
Analysis: talc-based cosmetics test positive for asbestos
WASHINGTON – Laboratory tests of talc-based cosmetics products, commissioned by the Environmental Working Group, found asbestos – a deadly human carcinogen for which there is no safe level of exposure – in almost 15 percent of samples. The analysis, published
Sniffing your way to the gym
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — On a near daily basis, the internet spews out numerous tips and tricks for exercise motivation. Now we can add smell to the long and growing list. A research team led by a scientist at the University
Historical bias overlooks genes related to COVID-19
Based on genome-wide experiments, the human body has 2,064 genes relevant to COVID-19. So why are researchers only studying 611 of them? A historical bias — which has long dictated which human genes are studied — is now affecting how