Minor volcanic eruptions could 'cascade' into global catastrophe, experts argue

Currently, much of the thinking around risks posed by volcanoes follows a simple equation: the bigger the likely eruption, the worse it will be for society and human welfare.

California to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for health workers

California will require all of its roughly 2.2 million health care workers and long term care workers to be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30 as the nation's most populous state is losing ground in the battle against new infections of a more dangerous coronavirus variant.

Early adulthood education and employment experiences play independent role in later life cardiovascular health

New research published today in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health has found that education and employment experiences in early adulthood contribute to cardiovascular health inequalities in later life, independent of occupation and family income in mid-adulthood.

Evacuation orders widened as California fire spreads

Evacuation orders were widened Thursday as California's biggest wildfire raged through the state's tinder-dry landscape, laying waste to hundreds of square miles (kilometers).

Scientists in troubled DR Congo pursue research despite conflict, poverty

Time seems to stand still in the wood-panelled library, where students and researchers work in silence as a few visitors amble through the gardens and cloisters outside.

Struggling Sydney warned to brace for higher COVID numbers

Australia's hope of returning to "COVID zero" suffered a fresh blow Friday, as Sydney reported another record number of new infections and authorities warned residents to brace for worse to come.

Philippine capital back in lockdown over Delta fears

The Philippine capital Manila returned to lockdown Friday as authorities sought to slow the spread of the hyper-contagious Delta variant and ease pressure on hospitals while trying to avoid crushing economic activity.

3 erupting Alaska volcanoes spitting lava or ash clouds

Three remote Alaska volcanoes are in various states of eruption, one producing lava and the other two blowing steam and ash.

Novavax seeks OK for COVID vaccine in needy countries first

Vaccine maker Novavax announced Thursday it has asked regulators in India, Indonesia and the Philippines to allow emergency use of its COVID-19 vaccine—offering its shot to some low-income countries before rich ones with ample supplies.

Brazil forest fire season underway and raising concern

The season of Brazilian forest fires has begun, and early data plus severe drought is sparking concern that nationwide destruction in 2021 will stay at the high levels recorded in the past two years, despite efforts to tamp down the blazes.

Virgin Galactic restarts space-trip sales at $450,000 and up

The ticket window is open again for space flights at Virgin Galactic, with prices starting at $450,000 a seat.

Observatory in Chile takes highest-resolution measurements of asteroid surface temperatures ever obtained from earth

A close examination of the millimeter-wavelength emissions from the asteroid Psyche, which NASA intends to visit in 2026, has produced the first temperature map of the object, providing new insight into its surface properties. The findings, described in a paper published in Planetary Science Journal (PSJ) on August 5, are a step toward resolving the mystery of the origin of this unusual object, which has been thought by some to be a chunk of the core of an ill-fated protoplanet.

Expert: Using carbon is key to decarbonizing economy

Rice University carbon materials expert Matteo Pasquali is available to discuss ways to slash carbon dioxide emissions and rapidly decarbonize the global economy.

Employment and wellbeing often don't correlate in India, Ethiopia, Vietnam and Peru

Not all jobs are 'good jobs', and new research from the Universities of East Anglia (UEA) and Birmingham finds such work can have a negative impact on wellbeing.  

Tourist-tourist rapport: SFU expert on why it matters

Booking a guided tour for your next vacation? Consider that getting along with the tourists you are co-traveling with—building tourist-tourist rapport— leads to more satisfying group experiences and that's better for business, according to a new study by researchers at Simon Fraser University.

Zoonotic threats must be integrated into global health security planning, say experts

The surveillance of zoonotic diseases must be integrated into health security intelligence systems, if future pandemics are to be handled effectively, according to global health practitioners writing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. Zoonotic diseases are animal infections that can be transferred from animals to humans and include the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Scientists reverse a key hallmark of motor neuron disease in the laboratory

Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL have studied how proteins accumulate in the wrong parts of brain cells in motor neuron disease, and have demonstrated how it might be possible, in some cases, to reverse this.

Call to increase participation of women in cardiovascular clinical trials

Women must be equally represented in heart disease research to ensure that treatment recommendations meet their specific health needs, according to a report published today in European Heart Journal. The review highlights barriers to recruiting women into clinical trials and potential solutions.

Mountain lions moved less, downsized territory during LA's pandemic shutdown

As people sheltered in place at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, sightings of wildlife in urban areas helped spawn a meme, "Nature is healing," that reflected an intuitive belief: Carnivores were stretching their legs, and their ranges, by expanding into long-lost territory.

First-in-class histone deacetylase inhibitor gel shows promise for the treatment of patients with basal cell carcinoma

Remetinostat, a topical cream and first-in-class inhibitor of histone deacetylation, showed signs of clinical efficacy in patients with basal cell carcinoma, according to results from a phase II clinical trial published in Clinical Cancer Research.

Scientists discover inherited neurodegenerative disease in monkeys

Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University have identified a naturally occurring mutation in nonhuman primates that closely resembles a rare neurodegenerative disease in people.

Home Hospital increased in-patient capacity during the COVID-19 surge

A research team from Brigham and Women's Hospital has found that delivering acute care at home for non-COVID patients freed up substantial inpatient capacity during the COVID-19 surge last spring. From March 15, 2020, when Massachusetts' state of emergency restrictions took effect, until the surge ended on June 18, 2020 (defined as less than 30 patients hospitalized with COVID-19), the Brigham's Home Hospital program provided care for 65 acutely ill patients at home, amounting to 419 bed-days. In addition to freeing up beds for patients at the hospital, the Home Hospital program offered a care option for patients who may have otherwise deferred care during the pandemic. Results of the team's retrospective analysis are published in The Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Non-recommended milk being provided to young children

More than one-third of infant caregivers reported serving at least one non-recommended milk type to their infant in the past month—most providing them daily—and the majority of toddler caregivers did not follow expert recommendations to provide only cow's milk to their children, according to a new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.