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May 6, 2020

14 mutations found in SARS-CoV-2: One strain may be more easily spread

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, education, genetics

A team of researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS and the Duke Human Vaccine Institute and Department of Surgery has found 14 mutations to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of which they suspect might be more easily spread. In the interest of speedy dissemination of findings, the group has uploaded their paper to the bioRxiv preprint server rather than waiting for peer review at another journal.

The work involved analyzing the genomes of the virus found in 6,000 infected people from around the globe. They focused most specifically on the virus genes that are responsible for producing the “spike protein,” which is the mechanism the virus uses to attach to human cells. In so doing, they found 14 mutations, but one they named D614G (also known as G614) stood out because it was found in almost all samples outside of China. It was also particularly notable because it appeared to replace a prior mutation called D614. They also noted that in the original outbreak in China, there were only D614 mutations. It was only after the virus began appearing in Europe that the G614 mutation emerged. They suggest that the fact that the G614 virus took over from the prior mutation could mean it is more easily spread.

May 6, 2020

Scientists Found A Way to Disable a Gene Responsible For Obesity: Worry About Getting Too Fat No More?

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

If this is viable, this will cut the cost of healthcare dramatically, and improve billions of lives over the centuries.


Despite being fed high-fat diets, a study reveals that by blocking macrophages or inflammatory cells, low-grade inflammation related to obesity could also be controlled. Click the link above to learn more.

May 6, 2020

PLANDEMIC (pt. 1 Judy Mikovits)

Posted by in category: futurism

Click on photo to start video.

This is “PLANDEMIC (pt. 1 Judy Mikovits)” by ELEVATE on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

May 6, 2020

Physicists Criticize Stephen Wolfram’s ‘Theory of Everything’

Posted by in category: physics

The iconoclastic researcher and entrepreneur wants more attention for his big ideas. But so far researchers are less than receptive.

May 6, 2020

Navy Confirms Global Strike Hypersonic Weapon Will First Deploy on Virginia Attack Subs

Posted by in categories: military, robotics/AI

The Navy intends to deploy its conventional prompt strike hypersonic weapon on Virginia-class attack submarines, after previous discussions of putting the weapon on the larger Ohio-class guided-missile submarine (SSGN), according to budget request documents.

In its Fiscal Year 2021 budget overview, the Navy outlines a research and development portfolio with 5 percent more funding than this current year – for a total of $21.5 billion – that is aimed at “providing innovative capabilities in shipbuilding (Columbia class), aviation (F-35), weapons (Maritime Strike Tomahawk), hypersonics (Conventional Prompt Strike), unmanned, family of lasers, digital warfare, applied [artificial intelligence], and [U.S. Marine Corps] expeditionary equipment. These technologies are crucial to maintaining DON’s competitive advantage.”

On the Conventional Prompt Strike, the Navy wants to invest $1 billion for research and development.

May 6, 2020

US: N.Korea may be building missile facilities

Posted by in categories: existential risks, military

A US think tank says North Korea appears to be building facilities that can be used to assemble ballistic missiles near the capital, Pyongyang.

On Tuesday, the Center for Strategic and International Studies published the results of an analysis on a construction site near Pyongyang International Airport. The site was captured in satellite images.

Pictures show three new buildings. The largest one is about 120 meters wide and 40 meters in depth. They all have bay doors, wide enough for large vehicles. The center says one of the buildings may be able to accommodate an intercontinental ballistic missile.

May 6, 2020

Extinct ‘extra-terrestrial equivalent of the Rhine’ spotted on Mars

Posted by in category: space

Researchers from Utrecht used high-resolution images from orbiters circling the planet and found evidence of a river that continuously shifted. This created created sandbanks like the Rhine.

May 6, 2020

Planet Nine is a MIRAGE according to experts who say it is just debris

Posted by in category: space

New research suggests Planet Nine is a mirage and nothing more than ‘collective gravity.’ The team say it is a sprawling disk of icy debris that formed when the solar system was born.

May 6, 2020

Alien life might thrive on ‘super-Earths’ made of pure hydrogen

Posted by in category: alien life

Professor Sara Seager from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) believes astronomers should broaden their horizons as they scan the cosmos for life.

She said: ‘Microbes can survive and grow in a 100 percent hydrogen atmosphere. We should expand the types of planets we consider worth searching.’

Continue reading “Alien life might thrive on ‘super-Earths’ made of pure hydrogen” »

May 6, 2020

Closest black hole to Earth is discovered just 1,000 light years away

Posted by in category: cosmology

The closest black hole to the Earth has been discovered just 1,000 light years away — near enough to see its companion stars with the naked eye on a clear night.

Located in the constellation of Telescopium, the hole forms part of a so-called ‘triple system — one named ‘HR 6819’ — with its two accompanying stars.

Continue reading “Closest black hole to Earth is discovered just 1,000 light years away” »