The first Omicron death case occurred in the UK
According to the latest news from the British media, the country has the first death case due to infection with the Omicron (Omicron) variant virus. The government statement said Omicron is now spreading more rapidly than Delta and the vaccine is less protective. And infection rates in Omicron are set to rise sharply in the coming weeks. The current pressure on the NHS is not mainly due to the new coronavirus, but with the rapid spread of the virus, it is foreseeable that this pressure will rise rapidly.
The preventive effectiveness of two doses of Pfizer's vaccine is only 22.5%
A South African laboratory study on December 11 showed that two doses of Pfizer's new crown vaccine were only 22.5% effective in preventing symptomatic infection by the Omicron variant. Researchers at the African Health Research Institute in Durban released additional data from a small study released earlier this week in which they used modeling to estimate the vaccine's efficacy. The study relied on plasma samples from 12 participants. Scientists found that Omicron caused about a 41-fold reduction in the levels of the -neutralizing antibody in people who received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech SE shot.
Xi'an Bailuyuan Jiangcun Tomb was identified as Emperor Wen of Han Ba Tomb
This morning (14th), the State Administration of Cultural Heritage held an online meeting in Beijing, focusing on three important archaeological discoveries and research results in Gansu, Henan, and Shaanxi. Among them, the Ba Tomb of Emperor Hanwen, the third emperor of the Han Dynasty, is undoubtedly the project that attracts the most attention. Before the identity of the tomb owner was confirmed, this tomb in Bailuyuan, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province had been called the "Jiangcun Tomb." Through careful excavation and careful analysis, the archaeological team determined that the "Jiangcun Tomb" was the tomb of Emperor Wen of Han Dynasty.
The 401st flight of the Long March rocket , the Tianlian-2 02 star was successfully launched
It was learned from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation that at 0:09 on December 14, the Long March 3B carrier rocket was launched at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in my country After ignition and liftoff, the Tianlian-2 02 star was successfully sent into the predetermined orbit, and the launch mission was a complete success. It is reported that this is the 401st launch of the Long March series launch vehicle .
Chemical energy Promote the birth of life
Metabolism is the basic chemical reaction that supports the survival of life. About 4 billion years ago, the earliest life was born on the earth, but at that time, the biological enzyme necessary for metabolism had not yet evolved in the body of life, so the metabolic process probably occurred in the environment. Moreover, the metabolic reaction is an exothermic reaction . According to energy conservation , the energy released should also have a corresponding energy source. Recently, a study simulated the metabolic reactions of early life on Earth and found that pure chemical energy was enough for life to appear on Earth.
The world's first optical oscilloscope is launched
Measurement of transient light fields helps to understand the dynamics of ultrafast physical and chemical processes and is the key to achieving higher-speed electronic communications. The measurement of transient light fields requires converting light oscillation signals into electrical signals and recording the light electric field oscillations with sub-femtosecond resolution. However, current light field measurement tools can only measure the average signal of a light pulse, not the peaks and valleys of the pulse. Recently, researchers have developed the world's first "optical oscilloscope" that can measure the complete waveform of several cycles of light waves.
The reason why oil and water form emulsion was found
Oil and water usually cannot be mixed, but under the action of ultrasonic , oil can be dispersed in water in the form of small droplets with a diameter of less than 1 micron to form an emulsion. The emulsion can exist stably for weeks to months, and if placed in an electrostatic field , the oil droplets will move toward the anode, indicating that the oil droplets carry negative charges. The mechanism behind these phenomena is not yet clear. Recently, a team from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland discovered that the charge distribution at the oil-water interface is the key to the formation of emulsions.
Scientists have invented a sleeping bag in space that looks like a giant ice cream cone
Recently, NASA scientists have invented a sleeping bag that looks like a giant ice cream cone, which can suck the entire lower body of astronauts inside to protect their eyes.The fluid accumulation in the head caused by living in a microgravity environment for a long time will put great pressure on the eyeballs. The disease is called "spaceflight-associated neuro-ophthalmic syndrome."
Professor of Stanford University is studying UFO fragments and the pilots who had passed by UFO
Accepting a commission from the US government, Professor Garry Nolan, one of the top 25 inventors at Stanford University, is studying 10 to 12 pieces recovered from the UFO crash site. metal fragments, while also analyzing the brain damage of pilots who claimed to have encountered UFOs. The investigation was supported by the CIA and Department of Defense.
"Human-like" brain helps robots get out of the maze
Recently, researchers from the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Netherlands and the Max Planck Institute of Polymer Research in Germany drew inspiration from the human brain and developed a device that can A robot traveling through a maze. They use a polymer called p(g2T-TT) instead of silicon, allowing neuromorphic robots to "remember" or store learned states for long periods of time.
Life on Earth originated from Hydrogen energy
How did the first chemical reaction at the origin of life begin? What is their energy source? Researchers from the University of Dusseldorf (HHU) in Germany have reconstructed the metabolism of "Luca" (abbreviated as LUCA), the last common ancestor before the differentiation of modern organisms. They discovered and identified the long-sought source of energy needed to drive these reactions forward, which had been hiding in plain sight: hydrogen gas.
The common ancestor of domestic pigs in East Asia can be traced back to less than 20,000 years
Researchers from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Archeology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archeology obtained 42 cases from Based on the mitochondrial genome data of ancient Chinese pigs in the Yellow River basin, the study found that the common ancestor of the major East Asian domestic pig groups can be traced back to less than 20,000 years; since the Holocene, domestic pig groups have experienced two rapid population expansions. Relevant research results were published online in Acta Genetics (English version).
Astronomers discover supernova remnants
Recently, Costa Rica (Costa Rica) and Australian astronomers said that they discovered a new supernova remnant while examining a gamma ray source named FHES J1723.5-0501. (supernova remnant, SNR). The researchers named this SNR G17.8+16.7. SNR is a diffuse and expanded structure produced by a supernova explosion. They contain ejected material expanded by the explosion, as well as other interstellar material that has been "washed out" by shock waves from the exploding star.
Supercomputer predicts the existence of six quark particles
Scientists from RIKEN (RIKEN) in Japan wrote in the latest issue of " Physical Review Letters " magazine that they used supercomputers to predict a type of quark composed of six quarks. The existence of exotic particles, the latest research is expected to deepen scientists' understanding of how quarks combine to form nuclei .
Clonal hematopoiesis protects against Alzheimer's disease
Healthy neurons in an Alzheimer's patient (left) are surrounded by amyloid plaques (center, yellow) and are immune to microglia (red) Cells may prevent further damage by clearing away dead neurons. So far, there is no clear medical method to prevent Alzheimer's disease. Recently, a study by Stanford University School of Medicine found an unexpected source of protection against the disease: clonal hematopoiesis. Relevant research results were published on medRxiv on December 13.
Gut microbiota correlates with smoking and weight gain
Eran Elinav of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and colleagues have shown in a mouse study that changes in gut microbiota after cessation of exposure to tobacco smoke may lead to additional weight gain. This study, recently published in Nature, helps improve our understanding of why people often gain weight after quitting smoking, but further research is needed to verify this connection.
Scientists confirm the source of the super-bright signal in the stellar explosion
In June 2018, astronomers captured an extremely bright blue flash, which was much faster and stronger than the signal of previous supernova explosions. The celestial event is labeled AT2018cow and is classified as a blue fast optical transient (FBOT). Recently, a study published in Nature Astronomy showed that AT2018cow is likely to be caused by dense objects formed during the collapse of stars.
New method can keep cancer cells dormant
Currently, tumor metastasis and recurrence are the causes of death for most cancer patients. Early research shows that after cancer cells spread from their original site, they stay dormant for several years before awakening and becoming malignant tumors. If you can keep them dormant, it may help treat cancer . Recently, a new study published in "Nature Cancer" pointed out that cancer cells secrete a protein called type III collagen into the surrounding environment to maintain a dormant state. When the level of this type of protein around them decreases, , cancer cells will deteriorate.
Physical exercise is good for the brain, and it is related to the "motor factors" in plasma.
People may be familiar with the concept that physical exercise is good for the brain, but the academic community still doesn't know much about the biochemical process behind it. Recently, scientists from Stanford University injected the plasma of mice that exercised for a long time into sedentary mice and found that the latter's brain inflammation was reduced and their memory function was improved. The research team published the results in the journal Nature.
Fudan University leadership team members have been adjusted
On December 13, the school held a cadre meeting and announced the relevant appointment and dismissal decisions of the Central Organization Department, the State Council and the Ministry of Education Party Group. Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Fudan University; Zhou Yaming was appointed as Executive Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Fudan University (director level) and was relieved of his position as Vice President of Fudan University; Wang Yuanyuan was appointed as a member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Fudan University; due to age, Zhang Zhiyong He will no longer serve as Vice President of Fudan University, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee, and member of the Party Committee.
The dean of the School of Computer Science and Technology at Suzhou University has been appointed as the specially appointed assistant to the president of Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen)
According to the official website of Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Zhang Min, the dean of the School of Computer Science and Technology at Suzhou University, has been appointed as the specially appointed assistant to the president of Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen). According to the official website, Zhang Min has been engaged in natural language processing and machine translation research for a long time, and has been engaged in scientific research in overseas industry and academia for 16 years. Currently in charge of several national outstanding youth projects, natural science foundation key projects, Ministry of Science and Technology key R&D plan topics, and several industry projects. Won 3 ministerial-level scientific and technological progress awards. He has published more than 100 CCF A/B conference and journal papers, published 2 Springer monographs, and edited 16 English treatises (collections of papers).
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative will invest US$3.4 billion in biomedical research
According to US media reports, a spokesperson for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) said on December 7, local time, that the The organization will invest US$3.4 billion to promote human health development within 10 to 15 years. A CZI spokesperson said that of the US$3.4 billion investment, US$500 million will be used to establish a research institution focusing on artificial intelligence at Harvard University, and US$600 million to 900 million will be used. for CZI's new Biomedical Imaging Institute, and another $1 billion will be donated to the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network to pursue new projects on "grand scientific challenges."
