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Jun 23, 2020

Cancer drug cures COVID-19 patient with acute respiratory distress

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

“We knew from Chinese publications that patients with a severe and even fatal course of the disease are characterized by a so-called cytokine storm,” Neubauer says. “During a cytokine storm, the body is flooded with substances that stimulate the immune system.” This overreaction of the body’s own defense system damages the tissue—making it all the easier for the invading virus to spread.

Neubauer suspected that the patient might respond to ruxolitinib, a drug originally used in cancer treatment. It inhibits enzymes in the body involved in excessive inflammatory reactions. “We suggested to our colleagues who were treating the patients that the cancer drug might be able to prevent the life-threatening effects brought on by the inflammatory damage to lung tissue,” Neubauer says.


Although the spreading SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus usually causes only mild respiratory symptoms, the COVID-19 disease progresses so severely in around five percent of those affected that acute respiratory distress can occur. “The mortality rate in these cases is high,” says Dr. Thomas Wiesmann, who attended the patient along with the intensive care team in the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at Marburg University Hospital.

Jun 23, 2020

Xinhua Headlines: China launches last BDS satellite to complete global navigation constellation

Posted by in category: satellites

China launched the last satellite of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System on Tuesday, marking the completion of the deployment of its own global navigation system. The mission, the 336th by the Long March rocket series, was a “complete success” http://xhne.ws/qCGPZ


– China launched the last BDS satellite on Tuesday, marking the completion of the deployment of its own global navigation system.

— The three GEO satellites, including the newly launched one, feature two distinctive creations of the BDS system — active positioning and short message communication.

Continue reading “Xinhua Headlines: China launches last BDS satellite to complete global navigation constellation” »

Jun 23, 2020

Study illustrates huge potential of human, artificial intelligence collaboration in medicine

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, robotics/AI

A.i assisting the doctors.


Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in medicine to support human expertise. However, the potential of these applications and the risks inherent in the interaction between human and artificial intelligence have not yet been thoroughly researched. The fear is often expressed that in future, as soon as AI is of sufficient quality, human expertise will become dispensable and therefore fewer doctors will be needed. These fears are further fuelled by the popular portrayal of this as a “competition” between humans and AI. An international study led by MedUni Vienna has now illustrated the enormous potential of human/computer collaboration.

The international study led by Philipp Tschandl and Harald Kittler (Department of Dermatology, MedUni Vienna) and Christoph Rinner (CeMSIIS/Institute for Medical Information Management, MedUni Vienna) now debunks the idea of this alleged competition, highlighting instead the of combining human expertise with Artificial Intelligence. The study published in Nature Medicine examines the interaction between doctors and AI from various perspectives and in different scenarios of practical relevance. Although the authors restrict their observations to the diagnosis of skin cancers, they stress that the findings can also be extrapolated to other areas of medicine where Artificial Intelligence is used.

Continue reading “Study illustrates huge potential of human, artificial intelligence collaboration in medicine” »

Jun 23, 2020

Dexamethosone: Upcoming Treatment for the Coronavirus | The State of Science

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, business, science

Until recently, there has not been a treatment for the deadly coronavirus. However, that is about to change with the discovery of a new compound: Dexamethosone! With this compound, the worst cases of the coronavirus have seen an increased survival rate.

PS: The stock footage from this photo comes from Videvo!

Continue reading “Dexamethosone: Upcoming Treatment for the Coronavirus | The State of Science” »

Jun 23, 2020

Reducing the damage of a heart attack

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Cardiology researchers have discovered how a key protein can help the heart regulate oxygen and blood flow and repair damage.

San Diego State University

Jun 23, 2020

Beyond 2030: David A. Kekich on Working Towards Biological Superlongevity

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, geopolitics, life extension, neuroscience, transhumanism

In “2030: Beyond the Film” Director Johnny Boston discusses the futurist FM-2030, the Coronavirus Pandemic, and a range of urgent issues in the medical, philosophical, longevity & futurist space with leading voices.

In this episode, Boston talks with David A. Kekich on why Kekich believes working towards Biological Superlongevity should be the first goal of Transhumanists and futurists.

Continue reading “Beyond 2030: David A. Kekich on Working Towards Biological Superlongevity” »

Jun 23, 2020

North Korea reportedly threatens ‘new round of the Korean War’ to end US

Posted by in categories: existential risks, military

North Korea’s embassy in Moscow has threatened to use its nation’s nuclear weapons against the United States in what they claim would be “a particularly sensational event,” a Russian state-owned news agency reports.

The reporting comes from the TASS news agency, a state-owned wire service known largely as a propaganda outlet for the Kremlin, which claims the embassy sent them the threat in the form of a statement over the weekend.

The agency quotes the embassy as stating, “This year, the U.S. military has been carrying out various kinds of military maneuvers in South Korea and its vicinity with the purpose of striking North Korea quickly.”

Jun 23, 2020

Nuclear waste shipment leaves Germany for Russia

Posted by in category: nuclear energy

The waste will reportedly be moved by sea and rail to a plant in the Urals.

Urenco told the BBC its uranium would be further enriched in Russia and the process met environmental standards.

But environmental activists have long been concerned that Russia may become a “dumping ground” for radioactive waste from power plants.

Jun 23, 2020

Solar-powered poultry farm floated for Rotterdam harbor

Posted by in categories: food, sustainability

We’ve reported on several eye-catching floating architecture projects lately, including a “parkipelago” and a greenery-covered office. This solar-powered urban poultry farm is the most off-the-wall idea of the bunch though and, assuming it goes ahead as planned, will host roughly 7,000 egg-laying hens, as well as an area for growing food, in a harbor in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

The building is officially named Floating Farm Poultry and was designed by Goldsmith for a company named Floating Farm Holding BV.

It will be based on a floating platform with three pontoons and will measure 3,500 sq m (roughly 37,670 sq ft), spread over three floors. Its interior layout will consist of a lower level used for farming vegetables, herbs and cresses under LED lighting, while upstairs will be a production factory floor for processing and packaging. The uppermost level is conceived as the poultry area and will contain the egg-laying hens.

Jun 23, 2020

Surprise! Pluto may have had an underground ocean from the very beginning

Posted by in category: space

Though Pluto is now famously frigid, it may have started off as a hot world that formed rapidly and violently, a new study finds.