China ’s COVID vaccines have been crucial — now immunity is waning
More that 3 billions doses of China's CoronaVac and Sinopharm vaccines have been administered across the globe, playing an especially important role in Latin America and South East Asia, as well as China. These vaccines use inactivated virus particles to expose the immune system to Sars-CoV-2, but they do not appear to generate the same levels of neutralising antibodies as other vaccine platforms such as those based on mRNA. Now studies are suggesting that this protection may be waning more quickly than with other vaccines, which has sparked a conundrum - in many countries the only vaccines available are CoronaVac or Sinop...
Source: Nature Podcast - October 29, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
Viking presence in the Americas pinpointed by ancient solar storm
An ancient solar storm helps pinpoint when Vikings lived in the Americas, and using magnets to deftly move non-magnetic metals.In this episode:00:53 Pinpointing Viking presence in North AmericaIt’s well-understood that Vikings went to North America around a thousand years ago. However, working out a precise date has proven difficult. Now, thanks to an ancient solar storm, researchers have been able to identify an individual year when Vikings were definitely living on the continent.Research article: Kuitems et al.14:57 Research HighlightsHow shoulder muscles gave Pterosaurs an aerodynamic edge, and mysterious radio wav...
Source: Nature Podcast - October 20, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
Viking presence in the Americas pinpointed by ancient solar storm
An ancient solar storm helps pinpoint when Vikings lived in the Americas, and using magnets to deftly move non-magnetic metals.In this episode:00:53 Pinpointing Viking presence in North AmericaIt’s well-understood that Vikings went to North America around a thousand years ago. However, working out a precise date has proven difficult. Now, thanks to an ancient solar storm, researchers have been able to identify an individual year when Vikings were definitely living on the continent.Research article: Kuitems et al.14:57 Research HighlightsHow shoulder muscles gave Pterosaurs an aerodynamic edge, and mysterious radio wav...
Source: Nature Podcast - October 20, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
TWiV 798: Rats, more coronaviruses!
The TWiV team explains what the Biden report on SARS-CoV-2 origins did not: evidence that the virus came from Nature, not a lab; and reveals new coronaviruses in rodents that inhabit populated areas in southern China. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Alan Dove, Dickson Despommier, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Biden preliminary report on virus origins (NY Times) Window on SARS-CoV-2 origins closing (Nature) WHO Committee members on TWiV 760 Origins of SARS-CoV-2 review (Cell) Comirnaty? Really Pfizer? (FDA) Why the wei...
Source: This Week in Virology - MP3 Edition - August 29, 2021 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Source Type: podcasts
How the US is rebooting gun violence research
Funding for gun violence research in the US returns after a 20-year federal hiatus, and the glass sponges that can manipulate ocean currents.In this episode:00:45 Gun violence research is rebootedFor 20 years there has been no federally-funded research on gun violence in the US. In 2019, $25 million a year was allocated for this work. We speak to some of the researchers that are using these funds, and the questions they are trying to answer about gun violence.News Feature: Gun violence is surging — researchers finally have the money to ask whyPodcast: Stick to the science09:21 Research HighlightsStrategic laziness and...
Source: Nature Podcast - July 21, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
How the US is rebooting gun violence research
Funding for gun violence research in the US returns after a 20-year federal hiatus, and the glass sponges that can manipulate ocean currents.In this episode:00:45 Gun violence research is rebootedFor 20 years there has been no federally-funded research on gun violence in the US. In 2019, $25 million a year was allocated for this work. We speak to some of the researchers that are using these funds, and the questions they are trying to answer about gun violence.News Feature: Gun violence is surging — researchers finally have the money to ask whyPodcast: Stick to the science09:21 Research HighlightsStrategic laziness and...
Source: Nature Podcast - July 21, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
Food shocks and how to avoid them
Addressing the problem of sudden food scarcity in US cities, and the up-and-coming field of computational social science.In this episode:00:45 Food shocksClimate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical crises can cause food shortages. To tackle this issue, Alfonso Mejia and colleagues have modelled how to best mitigate these food shocks in US cities. Alfonso tells us about the new analyses and what steps cities could take in the future.Research Article: Gomez et al.News and Views: How to buffer against an urban food shortage06:07 Research HighlightsA tiny lattice can withstand the impacts of projectiles at twice...
Source: Nature Podcast - July 7, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
Food shocks and how to avoid them
Addressing the problem of sudden food scarcity in US cities, and the up-and-coming field of computational social science.In this episode:00:45 Food shocksClimate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and geopolitical crises can cause food shortages. To tackle this issue, Alfonso Mejia and colleagues have modelled how to best mitigate these food shocks in US cities. Alfonso tells us about the new analyses and what steps cities could take in the future.Research Article: Gomez et al.News and Views: How to buffer against an urban food shortage06:07 Research HighlightsA tiny lattice can withstand the impacts of projectiles at twice...
Source: Nature Podcast - July 7, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
The scientist whose hybrid rice helped feed billions
A historian reflects on the life of Chinese crop scientist Yuan Longping, and the possible influence of geothermal energy production on earthquake aftershocks.In this episode:00:46 Remembering Yuan LongpingYuan Longping, one of China’s most famous scientists, died in May at the age of 90. Known as the ‘father of hybrid rice’, we reflect on his life and the impact of his research, which helped feed billions of people.Obituary: Yuan Longping (1930–2021)09:55 Research HighlightsThe ancient and incredibly well-preserved beetle found in dinosaur poo, and a 5,000 year old, less transmissible strain of plague bacteria.Res...
Source: Nature Podcast - June 30, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
The scientist whose hybrid rice helped feed billions
A historian reflects on the life of Chinese crop scientist Yuan Longping, and the possible influence of geothermal energy production on earthquake aftershocks.In this episode:00:46 Remembering Yuan LongpingYuan Longping, one of China’s most famous scientists, died in May at the age of 90. Known as the ‘father of hybrid rice’, we reflect on his life and the impact of his research, which helped feed billions of people.Obituary: Yuan Longping (1930–2021)09:55 Research HighlightsThe ancient and incredibly well-preserved beetle found in dinosaur poo, and a 5,000 year old, less transmissible strain of plague bacteria.Res...
Source: Nature Podcast - June 30, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
TWiV 769: MIS-C and leaky gut
On this episode of TWiV, Novavax COVID-19 vaccine demonstrates 90% overall efficacy, preventing an antigenically disruptive change during growth of influenza virus vaccine in chicken eggs, and MIS-C is driven by loss of the gut mucosal barrier. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Click arrow to play Download TWiV 769 (68 MB .mp3, 114 min) Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode ASV Vaccine Town Hall 2:05 Novavax vaccine efficacy reported (Novavax) H3N2 glycosylation in eggs (TWiV 480) Preventing antigenically disruptive HA chan...
Source: This Week in Virology - MP3 Edition - June 17, 2021 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Source Type: podcasts
Communities, COVID and credit: the state of science collaborations
The pros and pitfalls of collaboration, with insights from researchers and beyond.This week, Nature has a special issue on collaborations, looking at the benefits to science and society that working together can bring. In this collaboration-themed edition of the podcast, we’re joined by Nature’s David Payne to discuss the issue, and the state of research collaborations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.In this episode:02:49 How are research collaborations changing?To answer the biggest questions, research teams are coming together in larger numbers than ever before. But the scientific enterprise hasn’t been set up...
Source: Nature Podcast - June 16, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
Communities, COVID and credit: the state of science collaborations
The pros and pitfalls of collaboration, with insights from researchers and beyond.This week, Nature has a special issue on collaborations, looking at the benefits to science and society that working together can bring. In this collaboration-themed edition of the podcast, we’re joined by Nature’s David Payne to discuss the issue, and the state of research collaborations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.In this episode:02:49 How are research collaborations changing?To answer the biggest questions, research teams are coming together in larger numbers than ever before. But the scientific enterprise hasn’t been set up...
Source: Nature Podcast - June 16, 2021 Category: Science Authors: Springer Nature Limited Source Type: podcasts
