Nanocrystals made from amalgam of two metals

Researchers at ETH have managed to produce nanocrystals made of two different metals using an amalgamation process whereby a liquid metal penetrates a solid one. This new and surprisingly intuitive technique makes it possible to produce a vast array of intermetallic nanocrystals with tailored properties for diverse applications.

Breakthrough in understanding genesis of fibroids

Scientists at the University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital have made a breakthrough in understanding the genesis of uterine leiomyomas, also called fibroids.

New approach to information transfer reaches quantum speed limit

Even though quantum computers are a young technology and aren't yet ready for routine practical use, researchers have already been investigating the theoretical constraints that will bound quantum technologies. One of the things researchers have discovered is that there are limits to how quickly quantum information can race across any quantum device.

Stroke team travels to patients, resulting in faster treatment and better patient outcomes

In a pilot program in New York City, instead of transferring stroke patients to a specialized stroke center, a mobile interventional stroke team (MIST) traveled to the patient to perform emergency stroke surgery resulting in significantly less disability for patients three months after the stroke, compared to patients who lost valuable time in the transfer to a higher level stroke center, according to new research published today in Stroke.

Sputnik V: From vaccine hope to frustration for Latin America

Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine was the first to arrive in Argentina in December 2020 with the promise of relief for Latin American countries low on the waiting list for shots developed, and approved, in the West.

In blistering drought, California farmers rip up precious almond trees

Crushed by a devastating drought and new water restrictions, Daniel Hartwig had no choice but to pull thousands of precious, fragrant almond trees from his California farm.

No animal left behind: Kenya holds first national wildlife census

The flimsy planes tethered to metal drums to prevent them from accidentally becoming airborne are unlikely weapons in Kenya's fight to protect threatened species as it conducts its first national wildlife census.

Tokyo logs record 5,042 cases as infections surge amid Games

Tokyo reported 5,042 new daily coronavirus cases on Thursday, hitting a record since the pandemic began as the infections surge in the Japanese capital hosting the Olympics.

Delta variant challenges China's costly lockdown strategy

The delta variant is challenging China's costly strategy of isolating cities, prompting warnings that Chinese leaders who were confident they could keep the coronavirus out of the country need a less disruptive approach.

Can I get 'long COVID' if I'm infected after vaccination?

It's unclear, but researchers are studying the chances of long-term symptoms developing in anyone who might get infected after vaccination.

US plans to require COVID-19 shots for foreign travelers

The Biden administration is taking the first steps toward requiring nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, a White House official said Wednesday.

Australia's 2nd-largest city Melbourne enters 6th lockdown

Australia's second-largest city Melbourne went into a 6th lockdown on Thursday, with a state government leader blaming the nation's slow COVID-19 vaccination rollout for the decision.

Heads reveal how 'overwhelming' government guidance held schools back as COVID hit

Headteachers and school leaders have described how an 'avalanche' of confused and shifting Government guidance severely impeded schools during the critical first months of COVID lockdown in a new study.

Debt crises: Politics determine how developing countries borrow

Interest payments on bilateral official debt were frozen in some of the world's poorest countries this year and in 2020 to alleviate the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Like China, Japan and the US continue to finance overseas fossil fuel power technologies

Stepping away from carbon-intensive power systems and investing in renewable technologies is critical to decarbonizing the global power sector and reducing global climate change. But the three countries dominating overseas bilateral finance in the power generation sector—China, Japan, and the United States—continue to fund fossil fuel power generation.

Ageing societies afford more advantages to men than women, international study finds

Gender differences in societal ageing favour men over women, which suggests that men have better resources to help them cope with the challenges of ageing. The international analysis, published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity journal, is the first of its kind to investigate gender differences in the ageing experience of older people across 18 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries.

New 10-year patient safety analysis highlights areas for improvement in acute medical units

Recommendations from a new 10-year analysis of patient safety incidents in hospital acute medical units across England and Wales include the introduction of electronic prescribing and monitoring systems, checklists to reduce diagnostic errors, and an increased presence of senior clinicians and pharmacists overnight and at the weekends to reduce the vulnerability of less experienced staff.

Diabetes associated with significant increase in risk of hospitalisation, mortality caused by infections: study

A new study published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) finds that individuals with diabetes are significantly more likely to be hospitalised and have a greater risk of dying from infections, and this elevated risk is more pronounced in younger adults with diabetes and black people.

The Final 25%: How to tackle hard-to-reach emissions

Electricity, transport, and heating account for a massive 80% of greenhouse gas emissions and are at the forefront of the battle to achieve Net Zero. However, reaching Net Zero means also dealing with the hard-to-reach 20% of emissions: agriculture, plastics, cement, and waste, and extracting at least 5% extra from the atmosphere to account for the emissions that we simply cannot get rid of. Together, this is known as the 'Final 25%'. And Net Zero cannot be achieved without tackling this hard-to-reach wedge.

New study finds frequent shedding of infectious pathogens in healthcare settings outside patient rooms

New data suggest that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is frequently shed during outpatient healthcare visits, creating the potential for transmission to other patients and healthcare staff. The findings from a six-month, hospital-based observational study appear in the August issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), and provide some of the first empirical data regarding the frequency of and risk factors for MRSA contamination outside hospital rooms.

Research shows many with mild COVID-19 infections still experience long-term symptoms

The majority of individuals who experience mild or moderate COVID-19 infection also experience long COVID, or persistent symptoms more than 30 days after they test positive, according to research data from the longitudinal CoVHORT study at the University of Arizona Health Sciences.

Two PrEP medications are now available. Equally safe/effective. The biggest difference? The price tag.

With a significantly costlier medication for HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) approved in 2019, a new study examined reasons patients switched to the new drug. Study results indicate that a minority of those who switched had a documented clinical reason to do so.

New PIDS-IDSA guideline on bone infections in children addresses key diagnostic and treatment questions

Invasive diagnostic tests play an important role in the treatment of bone infections in children, but these tests may not always be necessary or feasible, according to a new guideline from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Published today in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, the clinical practice guideline is the first-ever developed on the diagnosis and management of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis in pediatric patients.