Understanding ageing
Mitochondria – the tiny energy generating powerhouses inside cells – are suspected of playing a key role in diseases of ageing, as well as muscle loss in the elderly, Maria Burke reports
Pig coronavirus risk
A coronavirus that previously killed thousands of suckling pigs in China remains largely a mystery to scientists.
Post Covid risks report
Prolonged global recession, high unemployment, another outbreak of infectious disease and protectionism dominate the list of near-term worries for companies, according to the World Economic Forums report, Covid-19 Risks Outlook: A Preliminary Mapping and Its Implications.
Electrochemical disinfectant
A novel method to produce powerful, environmentally friendly disinfectants has been developed by Israeli researchers. Based on tap water, they claim it can eliminate bacteria and kill viruses.
Turning waste into rubber
A team of researchers has turned waste materials into a new rubber material that can stick itself back together when cut into pieces. They claim the approach is a new concept in repairing and recycling sustainable rubber.
Back in the news
While carbon capture and storage (CCS) is not considered to be a major factor in meeting the world’s 2050 zero-carbon target, it can still have a significant impact.
Graphene graft
Graphene has been touted as a game changer by materials scientists, with applications envisaged in the aerospace, electronics, coatings, batteries and automotive industries.
BCG vaccine trial
A clinical trial is under way to test whether BCG vaccination protects against or reduces the severity of illness from Covid-19. It will enroll 10,000 healthcare workers across Australia, the Netherlands and Spain.
Electronic control of cells
Scientists in the US have hooked up electronics to cells, permitting genes to be controlled by applying a voltage outside of bacteria (Nature Commun., doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-16249-x).
Over-pricing PPE
The South African Competition Commission has cracked the whip on medical products and equipment suppliers taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to hike prices of critical personal protection equipment (PPE), contrary to the country’s consumer protection regulations.