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Showing posts with the label BGR

Dr. Fauci says this is where most people catch the coronavirus

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Each day's coronavirus update for the US seems to set a frightening new record, with the latest 7-day average of new COVID-19 cases in the US topping 131,4000 as of Thursday. One of the key things driving the explosion in new cases right now is peoples' behavior, which is leading many to congregate in small group settings at home. Perhaps with other family members, especially with the holidays at hand. This is why health experts are, sadly, predicting an acute spike in the number of deaths from coronavirus over the next two months or so. The message that public health experts have been sharing lately about the current state of the coronavirus pandemic in the US is as follows: It can be summed up, quite succinctly, as "It's getting really bad out there." For an indication of just how much the pandemic is worsening, one of the nation's indispensable journalists covering the health crisis, Ed Young , has a new piece online that he wrote for The Atlantic ...

Here’s what Joe Biden’s coronavirus task force thinks about lockdowns

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An advisor to President-elect Joe Biden made headlines this week for suggesting that a nationwide coronavirus lockdown of at least one month is needed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. A few members of the Biden coronavirus task force, however, shot that idea down, saying that a more targeted approach is better than a widespread, nationwide coronavirus lockdown. One member of the Biden coronavirus task force said an approach like a light switch dimmer rather than an on/off switch is what's needed. Dr. David Nabarro, a “special envoy” of the World Health Organization’s director-general, said in an interview with the British magazine The Spectator , published in October, that restrictions like coronavirus lockdowns to fight the pandemic should really only be a last resort -- if even that. It was a remarkable reversal for the WHO, which had months prior talked up lockdowns as unavoidable in some parts of the world in order to control the spread of the virus. Now, with Presid...

Here are the cheapest states in the United States

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How expensive is your state? You might be surprised to learn what the most and least expensive states in the US really are. Sure, California is expensive, but what about Alaska? Apparently, it's incredibly pricey. The ranking uses data on home prices, utility costs, and transportation costs. Ah yes, we've already covered things like the fattest state and the rudest state thanks to BestLife's addition to list-making, so of course, we'd eventually get to the cheapest and most expensive states in the US . Where does your state rank? Well, first let's take a look at how the list was created and the criteria on which each state was ranked. Most of the time, real estate prices are the driving factor behind any state being considered expensive or cheap to live in. This list is no different, as median housing price is first on the list, but there are some other metrics that were also weighed, including grocery cost, transportation cost compared to the national aver...

CDC revealed 12 new coronavirus side effects – and you should know about every single one

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Doctors are finding that coronavirus patients can endure lingering symptoms for months after their initial diagnosis. Some of the more common long-term coronavirus symptoms include fatigue and cough. More severe long-term coronavirus symptoms, though less common, include lung damage, heart damage, and depression.  While the most common COVID-19 symptoms tend to align closely with what one might typically experience with the flu, the full list of possible coronavirus symptoms is much more expansive. If anything, it sometimes seems that we can't go a few weeks without hearing about a new symptom endured by coronavirus patients. The coronavirus is a particularly nasty virus because it can also cause a number of serious long-term symptoms. Indeed, a growing number of coronavirus patients report enduring a number of lingering symptoms that persist for months after their initial diagnosis. There are also indications that many coronavirus patients can experience long-term symptoms...

Two bears killed after accidentally ending up on Russian submarine

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A video showing a mother bear and cub being killed after climbing on top of a Russian nuclear has gone viral. The killing was carried out to protect residents of a local village, the Russian Navy asserts. Bears are common in the area, and instances of aggressive bear encounters are not uncommon. A video showing bears being shot while roaming around on top of a Russian nuclear submarine has gone viral, sparking swift criticism even as the Russian Navy defends their actions. It was an incredibly bizarre situation, with a mother bear and small cub finding their way on top of a large submarine while the vessel was in port, but did the bears really have to die? The Russian military says yes. In the video, the large adult bear and her cub are seen swimming toward the submarine and eventually climbing up on top. The pair don't appear to have a care in the world, but that all changes once they are fired upon. The clip, which I won't embed because it's pretty sad (you can fi...

Dr. Fauci reveals how to avoid catching COVID-19 while cases are skyrocketing

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Each day's coronavirus update this week has brought new records and foretold more misery, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen. In a new interview, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci shared a number of ways people can keep themselves safe as coronavirus cases surge around the US. This comes as one estimate projects another 110,000 US coronavirus deaths over the next two months. CNN chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta addressed the latest dismal coronavirus statistics for the US during a broadcast on Thursday by calling the pandemic here a " humanitarian disaster -- probably one of the worst stories I've covered in my career here at CNN ." That is, of course, no mere hyperbole. For proof, just let the data tell the story. The latest coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins University show that more than 10.4 million COVID-19 infections have now been reported in the US, along with more than 242,000 deaths. On Wednesday alone, there we...

These are the places where you’re most at risk to catch COVID-19

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Researchers from Stanford and Northwestern have developed a model that explains which public places are the riskiest for coronavirus transmission. ”Full-service restaurants, gyms, hotels, cafes, religious organizations, and limited-service restaurants produced the largest predicted increases in infections when reopened,” the researchers said. The model also explained disparities between low- and high-income neighborhoods regarding COVID-19 spread and offered a solution that can reduce transmission. The novel coronavirus is spreading at alarming rates in the US and Europe, as the winter wave is unlike anything experienced so far in these regions. America has been breaking daily records and has just surpassed 130,000 infections. Several European countries have reported record figures as well, with some imposing new restrictions and more limited lockdowns meant to curb the rate of infection. Since late October, the world has been averaging over half a million new COVID-19 cases pe...

You’ll never guess what’s hiding beneath Greenland’s ice sheet

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Scientists have discovered a massive lake bed hiding deep beneath Greenland's thick sheet of ice. The lake would have covered 2,700 square miles, though it's hard to tell how old the lake truly is. Sediment analysis would reveal the age of the lake, but it would take a lot of work to make that happen. Greenland, despite its name, isn't all that green. It's actually covered in ice — this was always the mind-blowing thing that teachers liked to reveal when they told us that Greenland and Iceland are basically the opposite of what their names would suggest — and some of that ice is incredibly thick. Understand what might be hidden under that ice has been challenging for scientists, but new research suggests that Greenland is hiding something big. Using data from NASA's Operation IceBridge, researchers have been able to determine that there's a colossal lake bed sitting far beneath Greenland's thick layer of ice. The research was published in the journal...

Here’s what Dr. Fauci has to say about the ‘extraordinary’ Pfizer coronavirus vaccine

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Pfizer on Monday announced that their coronavirus vaccine is 90% effective and may become available in a few months. Dr. Fauci, in response, called the breakthrough "extraordinary." While more testing is required, there's a strong chance a coronavirus vaccine may be readily available by early 2021. Dr. Fauci has never been one to offer hollow encouragement when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic. Fauci, after all, recently cautioned that the next few weeks will likely see the U.S. experience a massive increase in new coronavirus cases. And back in July, Fauci said that the coronavirus, if not effectively fought, could end up rivaling the devastation caused by the Spanish Flu during the early 20th century. Suffice it to say, Fauci is not someone inclined to offer up niceties about the coronavirus pandemic just to make people feel better. Consequently, the dynamic above makes Fauci's views on Pfizer's encouraging coronavirus vaccine all the more impactful...

CDC says you can have Thanksgiving during the coronavirus pandemic – but only if you do this

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Thanksgiving 2020, because of the coronavirus pandemic, is going to be a lot different from the family-heavy, meal-sharing get-togethers of years past. Large indoor gatherings have been responsible for many of the large coronavirus outbreaks in recent months seen around the US. Accordingly, the CDC is recommending that if people do celebrate with other family members for Thanksgiving, any gatherings should take place outside. The next big holiday that public health experts are worried about is just around the corner -- days away, in fact. Obviously, the Thanksgiving 2020 edition is going to look and feel dramatically different to those in years past, and experts like White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci are already concerned about what this year's version will entail because of what's tended to follow holidays this year amid the coronavirus pandemic . Small group gatherings at home, among families that are socially intimate with each other -- hugging, seated t...

NASA may want to send bacteria to the Moon and Mars after all

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Research from the International Space Station reveals the benefits of using bacteria to extract minerals from material found on the Moon and Mars. One specific bacteria is capable of extracting rare earth elements from volcanic rock under multiple gravity conditions. NASA has historically avoided contaminating its mission with bacteria, but it turns out they may be helpful. NASA has always done its best to ensure that its missions are as sterile as possible. Sending bacteria from Earth into space is a bad idea for a number of reasons, but new research suggests that certain bacteria may be useful. The research, which was published in Nature Communications , reveals that Earthly bacteria could help extract minerals from the material that covers the surfaces of the Moon and Mars. The research, which is based on experiments performed on the International Space Station, revealed that one specific bacteria called Sphingomonas desiccabilis is particularly good at extracting rare eart...

Finally, the Biden transition team has put together a real coronavirus task force

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The Biden transition team on Monday unveiled the members of the coronavirus task force that will advise the President-elect and his administration on how to address the COVID-19 pandemic that's continuing to get worse across the country. White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked about the new coronavirus task force on Monday and praised its members as "qualified" and well-established. This came the same day that the US added another 130,000 cases to the number of daily COVID-19 infections in the country. White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci was asked about the set of experts unveiled Monday by the Biden transition team to help the incoming administration tackle the coronavirus pandemic , and the high-profile doctor's response should probably come as no surprise. Fauci, who's been the plainspoken public face of the US response to the pandemic for almost a year now, called the health experts now advising President-elect Biden and his t...

Major recall hits over 217,000 vehicles, and you might be driving one

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General Motors has issued a recall for over 217,000 vehicles with model years between 2018 and 2020 due to the potential for transmission failure. A leak in the transmission could cause the vehicle to eventually stop moving and even spark a fire. No known cases of accidents or injuries have been reported so far, but the recall will begin in mid-December. 2020 has thrown a lot of curveballs at us, and I don't need to list them for you to know exactly what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, all that additional drama, stress, and anxiety is compounded by things that, in a normal year, we wouldn't even have blinked at. Product recalls are one of those things, and General Motors just issued a pretty serious one. The automotive manufacturer is recalling over 217,000 cars and SUVs sold in the United State and Canada because of a transmission oil leak issue that could cause a vehicle to break down and perhaps even catch fire. Yeah, it's not good. Continue reading... To...

One of the most powerful coronavirus cures might come from this surprising source

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Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine identified a llama antibody that can block the novel coronavirus from infecting cells. The nanobodies are extremely efficient at neutralizing the spike protein of the virus, according to the study. A compound based on llama antibodies could be used in an inhaler to send those nanobodies deep into the lungs of COVID-19 patients and block the virus from doing more damage. Llamas and other camelids might help scientists develop powerful coronavirus drugs that could treat COVID-19 patients. The first such tests were performed early in the pandemic, with researchers looking at llama antibodies for creating monoclonal antibody drugs that would work inside human hosts. These are similar to human antibodies that the immune system produces upon infection with a pathogen like SARS-CoV-2. Some of those antibodies are called neutralizing antibodies because they can block the virus from binding to cells. Without the ability to...

Dr. Fauci’s worst coronavirus prediction has come true

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The latest coronavirus update showing where the US stands at this point in the pandemic is perhaps the most ominous one yet. The US has now set a truly frightening coronavirus record, having passed 120,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a single day on Thursday. For this and other reasons, it seems that White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci was right that winter would be a tough time for the US. The coronavirus updates have been coming fast and furious as the week draws to a close, and while everyone's attention is still focused on the outcome of Election Day 2020, the latest updates are equally deserving of attention -- for all the wrong reasons. For starters, remember all those dire predictions from White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci , about how this winter was going to be truly terrible and that COVID-19 would be spreading like wildfire more than ever? The US notched a stunningly bad coronavirus record on Thursday, when we passed the 120,000 mark in te...

This new subscription service could help Spotify crush Apple Music

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A new Spotify premium subscription service may be in the works, based on surveys the streamer has apparently been sending out to users through the music streaming app. Spotify users have been queried on their interest in a possible Spotify subscription offering focused on podcasts. For a monthly fee, users would get exclusive and original shows, early episodes -- but no music. Spotify cautions that this potential product should not be considered official or on the way just yet. Since Spotify is going full steam ahead into original and exclusive podcast series as a way to further differentiate itself from rival services like Apple Music, you had to expect something like this would come to fruition eventually. The Swedish-based music streamer has started sending out surveys asking people for their thoughts on a possible podcast-focused Spotify premium subscription offering, whereby you'd pay a monthly fee to get access to the streamer's exclusive podcast content. Andrew...

How to get all of your old Google icons back on Chrome

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Google changed all of its browser icons recently as part of a rebranding for G Suite, which is now called Google Workplace, including Gmail, Meet, Calendar, and more. The new icons are awful, but there's a way to change them back with a free Chrome extension. The extension has some bugs, but you might be willing to deal with them to fix the icon design. In an affront to design and good taste, Google recently updated the app icons for its biggest services as part of a G Suite rebranding . That in itself wouldn't have been a problem, but the icons are hideous and all look nearly identical, which makes it hard to tell if you're clicking on the Google Calendar icon or the Google Meet icon. The all-new Google Workspace "brand identity" has been universally derided, and I can confirm that it has made the bookmarks bar on my own Chrome browser more confusing than ever (which I genuinely did not think was possible). The good news is that there's actually a way...

If you live here, your state just announced a new coronavirus lockdown

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Coronavirus cases in the U.S. topped 100,000/day for the first time earlier this week. Dr. Fauci warns that coronavirus cases and deaths are likely to increase over the next few weeks as colder weather sets in. In response to a surge in new infections, Massachusetts recently implemented a new coronavirus lockdown that precludes people from being out past 10 p.m. For the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began, the U.S. yesterday reported more than 100,000 new coronavirus cases. The sudden surge in new coronavirus cases, it's worth noting, isn't simply a function of increased testing. On the contrary, the rise in new infections is being accompanied by a troubling increase in hospitalizations and coronavirus-related deaths across the country. With November already in full swing, health experts are anticipating that the pandemic is going to get a lot worse due to colder weather settling in. In fact, a top infectious disease expert recently said that the next 2-3...

NASA wants your help to film and produce its Artemis mission stories

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NASA is asking for proposals from individuals, groups, or companies that can provide systems, hardware, or software that will make its Moon missions look better than ever.  The US space agency wants to document every step of the Artemis missions, and it needs help doing so. The missions are slated to begin in 2023, but you'll need to get your proposal in by December 11th if you want a shot at scoring the gig. NASA has been doing a pretty good job of hyping up its soon-to-be-launched Artemis. missions to the Moon. The space agency has spoken at length about the upcoming missions and hopes to drum up public and political support for its goals, and secure some much-needed funding in the process. Of course, NASA is a scientific organization, and it can't run a state-of-the-art production company as a side gig, so it needs your help to make its Artemis missions look at awesome as possible. To that end, NASA put out a call for "new partners to help tell the story of huma...