How frightened ought to we be about hen flu? The previous few months have seen some doubtlessly worrisome developments within the US, together with the continued unfold of the virus amongst dairy cattle, the detection of the virus in a pig in addition to cow’s milk, and—most regarding of all—the rising variety of human infections.
We don’t but have any proof that the virus is spreading between folks, however the danger of a possible pandemic has elevated since MIT Expertise Overview final lined this subject a few months in the past.
The excellent news is we’re in a significantly better place to deal with any potential future flu outbreaks than we had been to face covid-19 again in 2020, on condition that we have already got vaccines. However, on the entire, it’s not wanting nice. Learn the total story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly publication supplying you with the within monitor on all issues well being and biotech. Enroll to obtain it in your inbox each Thursday.
The moon is only the start for this waterless concrete
If NASA establishes a everlasting presence on the moon, its astronauts’ houses may very well be manufactured from a brand new 3D-printable, waterless concrete. Sometime, so may yours. By accelerating the curing course of for extra speedy development, this sulfur-based compound might turn into simply as relevant on our dwelling terrain as it’s on lunar soil.
Conventional concrete requires giant quantities of water, a commodity that might be briefly provide on the moon, and sending simply 1 kilogram of it to the moon prices roughly $1.2 million.
As a substitute, NASA hopes to create new supplies from lunar soil and ultimately adapt the identical strategies for constructing on Mars. However creating the right waterless “lunarcrete” is simpler mentioned than carried out. Learn the total story.
