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Mar 30, 2020

Coronavirus helped Google Classroom surpass 50 million downloads

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

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, most schools and universities around the world have had to close. Institutions have turned to services such as Zoom and Google Classroom, which have skyrocketed to being the most popular ones on the Play Store. Google’s service has become so famous that it just passed 50 million downloads.

AppBrain’s data shows the app was not even in the top 100 most popular at the beginning of the month but has rapidly spiked starting March 10 to reach the top 5 most popular ones in the US last week. In fact, the app is also being downloaded massively all around the world, as it’s amongst the most installed ones in Indonesia, Mexico, Canada, Finland, Italy, and Poland as well.

In times like this, it’s heartwarming to see there are free platforms readily available for teachers and students to keep learning and stay in touch, helping them continue to learn despite being on lockdown.

Mar 30, 2020

Researcher on aging confronts his own mortality

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

His work transformed the mind-set of scientists, launching a new field in the science of aging when he demonstrated that identifying and manipulating genes could lengthen life span.

Although Johnson’s research has led to drug development to slow the effects of age-related diseases, he has yet to find the secret to stop aging. Now the soft-spoken redheaded scientist is running out of time as he confronts his own mortality.


In 1987, scientist Tom Johnson’s team identified the first gene that affects aging. Today, he still works in his lab as he deals with incurable Lewy body dementia.

Continue reading “Researcher on aging confronts his own mortality” »

Mar 30, 2020

Features, Evaluation and Treatment Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, health

Like other CoVs, it is sensitive to ultraviolet rays and heat. Furthermore, these viruses can be effectively inactivated by lipid solvents including ether (75%), ethanol, chlorine-containing disinfectant, peroxyacetic acid and chloroform except for chlorhexidine.


According to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral diseases continue to emerge and represent a serious issue to public health. In the last twenty years, several viral epidemics such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in 2002 to 2003, and H1N1 influenza in 2009, have been recorded. Most recently, the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

In a timeline that reaches the present day, an epidemic of cases with unexplained low respiratory infections detected in Wuhan, the largest metropolitan area in China’s Hubei province, was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China, on December 31, 2019. Published literature can trace the beginning of symptomatic individuals back to the beginning of December 2019. As they were unable to identify the causative agent, these first cases were classified as “pneumonia of unknown etiology.” The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local CDCs organized an intensive outbreak investigation program. The etiology of this illness is now attributed to a novel virus belonging to the coronavirus (CoV) family.

Continue reading “Features, Evaluation and Treatment Coronavirus (COVID-19)” »

Mar 29, 2020

Research Scientist, Experimental Quantum Computing

Posted by in categories: computing, quantum physics

:oooo.

Mar 29, 2020

Eruption Triggers ‘Volcanic Freeze’

Posted by in category: futurism

Temperatures measured in a volcanic cloud generated by the eruption of the Indonesian volcano Anak Krakatau plummed to chilling −112°F.

Mar 29, 2020

BEYOND LOCAL: New DNA test that reveals ‘true age’ has promise, but ethical pitfalls

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, genetics

Epigenetic clocks are a fascinating new technology, but some potential applications are controversial.

Mar 29, 2020

Protecting Ourselves from the Next Pandemic

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

The potential power of 21st-century vaccines.

Mar 29, 2020

Comet Atlas could be the brightest comet in decades

Posted by in category: space

C omet Atlas is racing toward the inner solar system, and it could become the brightest comet seen in the night sky in over two decades. The comet, discovered by an observatory designed to protect Earth from asteroids, may even be visible during the day just two months from now.

Also known as C/2019 Y4, this comet was discovered by astronomers at the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii in December 2019. At the time, the comet was exceedingly dim — but the comet became 4,000 times brighter in just a month. This increase is far greater than astronomers predicted, and could potentially signal the comet may soon be exceptionally bright.

Mar 29, 2020

Coronavirus survivors’ blood plasma could be used to fight infection

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

Patients, carers and NHS staff could receive experimental antibody treatment.

Mar 29, 2020

Liberty University Brings Back Its Students, and Coronavirus, Too

Posted by in category: biotech/medical

The decision by the school’s president, Jerry Falwell Jr., to partly reopen his evangelical university enraged residents of Lynchburg, Va. Then students started getting sick.