Credit: Unsplash. Dr. Matthew Binnicker, Director of the Clinical Microbiology Molecular Lab and Co-Director of the Clinical Virology Lab at Mayo Clinic sheds light on the annual surge of respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and influenza during colder months. Beyond increased indoor activities, Dr. Binnicker highlights the influence of humidity and weakened immunity in fostering virus...
Illustration of COVID viruses. Credit: Unsplash. The JN.1 COVID variant has rapidly gained prevalence, becoming the predominant strain of the virus in the United States, as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported. Its impact is also felt in the United Kingdom, China, and India. Uncertainty Surrounds JN.1 Symptoms Health authorities are currently grappling...
Credit: Nerwsnation New research from UC San Francisco and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health highlights a widening gender gap in life expectancy in the United States. This trend, present for over a decade, grew notably due to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid crisis. Published in JAMA Internal Medicine on November...
Willow Bark. Credit: joybileefarm. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on global health and society, researchers are actively seeking new antiviral medications to prevent the recurrence of such crises. Surprisingly, a promising solution has emerged from an unexpected source – willow bark. Drawing Inspiration from Nature While "drug discovery" often evokes images of cutting-edge laboratories and...
The danger zone: Take extra care around your cat's litter . Credit: Pixaobay The widely recognized single-cell parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which induces hazardous behavior in its hosts to enhance its transmission and can lead to severe mental and physical health issues, is now linked to the acceleration of age-related frailty. This microscopic organism that prospers in...
Credit: Pixaobay Bird populations in North America are rapidly decreasing. Climate change, among various factors affecting these birds, plays a noteworthy role, often interacting with other stressors like habitat loss. Researchers from the University of California, Davis, discovered that extreme temperatures affect avian reproduction differently based on the bird's habitat. Published in the journal Science, the...
Cleaning Trends in 2023 and Beyond. As we reach mid-year, we reflect on the dynamic world of cleaning and hygiene, assessing its impact on our evolving industry. At the start of the year, we released our 2023 Trend Report, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead for the cleaning sector. Focused on ensuring safety,...
Credit: Unsplash. When you feel unwell and consult a doctor, you may undergo various tests to determine the cause of your symptoms. However, the accuracy of diagnostic tests is not always straightforward, and understanding their limitations is crucial. Few medical tests can claim absolute accuracy. Human beings exhibit inherent variability, which can affect test outcomes. Moreover, many...
Credit: Pixaobay Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, when false information thrived on the internet, several platforms introduced measures and strategies to counteract the dissemination of misinformation. Did these initiatives prove effective? According to a study published in Science Advances, Facebook, the world's largest social media platform, did not effectively combat COVID-19 vaccine misinformation through its policies. The...
Credit: Pixaobay Being the sole mammal capable of genuine flight, bats have developed a range of distinctive traits that enable their bodies to adapt to the physical demands of nocturnal flapping. Having a resilient physique reduces the likelihood of infections causing significant harm. For species like us, lacking such robust immune systems, possessing the ability to...
