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08/12/2022 ---- 26/12/2022

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26.12.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

The US faced over Christmas the most powerful winter storm in the last century

In the last few days, record-low temperatures have been registered in large territories of Canada and the US. A powerful and prolonged winter storm brought strong winds and snow in incredible amounts. The scope of the storm has been unprecedented, stretching from Canada as far south as the Rio Grande. The snowfall and blizzard conditions made roads impassable, froze power substations and left more than a dozen dead. At least 38 deaths have now been linked to this severe Arctic freeze. Storm-related deaths were reported in Vermont, Ohio, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Colorado. South Florida's temperatures dropped so low that iguanas froze and fell from trees. Over 200'000 people were left without power, with their homes covered in snow and ice. Thousands of flights have been cancelled, preventing many people from reaching their families at Christmas. The western US state of Montana is the worst hit by the cold, with temperatures dropping to -45C. Atlanta and Tallahassee, Florida, were forecast to have their coldest temperature recorded on December 24. Such an event is so rare that it should happen once in a hundred years. However, it is not the first potent and extreme weather event this year. The whole northern hemisphere was hit earlier in the summer by record-high temperatures and droughts. Recently, studies published by eminent climatologists demonstrated that the effects of global warming are to increase the frequency of extreme events. May this recent storm also be a consequence of climate change?

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23.12.2022
THEME: HEALTH

FDA approved the first monoclonal antibody drug for the treatment of COVID-19 hospitalized patients

The FDA has approved Tocilizumab - also known as Actemra and commercialized by Roche Genentech - for treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The treatment is for individuals who receive corticosteroids and require supplemental oxygen, non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation or oxygenation. Tocilizumab is the first FDA-approved monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19, recommended for use as a single intravenous injection. Scientists evaluated Tocilizumab for the treatment of COVID-19 in 4 studies in more than 5500 individuals who were hospitalized. The studies showed that Tocilizumab may improve outcomes in individuals receiving corticosteroids and requiring supplemental oxygen or breathing support. There were no new warnings or precautions related to Tocilizumab noted in the trials, with the most common adverse events being anxiety, constipation, diarrhoea, hypertension, insomnia, nausea, and urinary tract infection. More than one million people hospitalized with COVID-19 have been treated with Actemra worldwide since the pandemic's beginning. Tocilizumab has been approved for use for COVID-19 in the United States, European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Russia, and Brazil. It is also provisionally approved in Australia and authorized for emergency use in Ghana, Mexico, and Korea for individuals hospitalized with severe or critical COVID-19. The World Health Organization has also recommended and prequalified the drug.

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21.12.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

At COP15 in Montreal, nations agreed on four goals and 23 targets to protect biodiversity

Earlier this year, the environmental issues have been growing, ranging from devastating floods to extreme heat and drought in the northern hemisphere. The preservation of biodiversity is crucial to sustaining human life on Earth. On this topic, countries have reunited in Montreal, Canada, from December 7 to 19 at the UN COP15 conference. The conference was presided over by China. The premises of this meeting called for prompt action to preserve biodiversity: the latest WWF's Living Planet Report warned that global wildlife populations declined by 69% on average from 1970 to 2018. The accelerating loss of nature has already impacted human well-being and economies. Healthy ecosystems also play indispensable roles in tackling climate change, and biodiversity loss weakens our resilience. In response, nations agreed on four goals and 23 targets to protect biodiversity. The four goals are: (1) to maintain genetic biodiversity, increase the natural ecosystem's areas and reduce extinction rate and risk tenfold (2) to support the restoration and maintenance of biodiversity (3) to share the monetary and non-monetary benefits equitably from utilizing genetic resources, including with indigenous populations and local communities (4) to guarantee adequate means of implementation, including financial resources, capacity-building, and technical and scientific cooperation. A few of the 23 targets for 2030 supporting these goals are undoubtedly relevant. It is agreed to reach the conservation of at least 30% of the world's lands, inland waters, coastal areas and oceans (today, only 17% and 10% of the world's terrestrial and marine areas are under protection). Further, a target mentions reducing the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance to near zero, including ecosystems of high ecological integrity. It is also agreed to cut global food waste in half and reduce overconsumption and waste generation. Financial targets also mentioned phasing out subsidies that harm biodiversity by at least $500 billion per year while mobilizing by 2030 at least $200 billion per year in domestic and international biodiversity-related funding from all sources – public and private. Although all the targets agreed upon in Montreal are impressive, it is fair to question if they will be achieved. In fact, in 2002, nations committed "to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss". They failed. In 2010 they met in Japan and agreed on a new plan, which included the 20 Aichi Targets. But not one of these targets was fully satisfied by the 2020 deadline. It is worth noting that, being these targets non-binding by law, they are rather guidelines to support objectives. Despite the ambition demonstrated at COP15 leaving hope, it remains true that just earlier this year, a monumental occasion to protect biodiversity failed miserably. At the end of last August, after 15 years of negotiations, nations could not agree on a binding pact to preserve Earth's oceans' biodiversity in another UN meeting in New York - probably the biggest of the lost occasions to preserve our marine ecosystems.

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20.12.2022
THEME: ENVIRONMENT

Oil drilling may soon destroy the unique ecosystem of the Amazon Reef

In the 1970s, the biologist Rodrigo Moura completed a study on fishing on the continental shelf and wanted to expand his research by locating the reefs where he caught the fish. When Moura found the fish he caught around the Amazon Reef and in the mouth of the Amazon River, he saw this as an indication that there must be biodiversity underneath. A few decades later, a group of students from the University of Georgia noted that Moura's article did not contain GPS coordinates and used Moura's sound waves and seafloor samples to locate the reef. Finding the reef took about three years before an official announcement was made about its discovery. The Amazon River is home to about 20 per cent of the world's freshwater supply, placing the Amazon Reef at the mouth of the largest river in the world, where every day, one-fifth of the world's water flows into the ocean from the Amazon River. Because of this, the Amazon Reef is less biologically diverse compared to other reefs of its kind. It is a unique ecosystem, and researchers say it could contain many unknown species of medicinal or scientific value, some of which are being studied for their anti-cancer properties. The Amazon reef is unusual because it lies in deep water and is sometimes hidden by the muddy waters flowing into the sea from the world's largest river. Some species may appear only in that area and nowhere else in the world. Brazilian scientists say today that this unique reef habitat is threatened by government plans to drill for oil. The scientists worry that the Brazilian oil company Petrobras plans to drill for oil close to the reef could cause an oil leak that would devastate the ecosystem. Petrobras is planning this month to carry out a test to learn more about how oil diffuses in the case of a leak. If that satisfies Brazil's environmental protection agency, Ibama, exploration wells could follow soon afterwards, 160km (100 miles) from the shore, but much closer to the reef. "This area has one of the strongest currents on the planet and a tidal range that can be greater than 10m (33ft). These are environmental conditions that challenge any engineering work, making it very risky," says Rodrigo Leão de Moura, professor at the Institute of Biology at the University of Rio de Janeiro and the leading scientist involved in the reef's discovery. Brazil is also not new to environmental disasters due to oil drilling. An oil spill that hit the coast of northern Brazil in 2019 also casts a long shadow. On that occasion, tons of thick black crude began washing up at a thousand locations, bringing the tourism industry to a halt. Overnight the biggest market for locally caught fish also disappeared since buyers stopped buying for fear of contamination.

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18.12.2022
THEME: SPORT

The most corrupted soccer World Cup has concluded in Qatar and Argentina won it

Today Argentina won over France at the play-offs by a score of 7-5, conquering the 2022 Soccer World Cup disputed this year for the first time in the Arabian peninsula, specifically in Qatar. The team that reached the third position was Croatia beating Morocco yesterday. The teams played, giving their best on the playfield in a spectacle that, technically, is the most followed sports tournament in the world. Unfortunately, this year the World Cup held in Qatar did not certainly offer a triumphant image of sport for what it should be outside of the playfield: unifying, fair, and honest. From its early days, worrisome elements emerged about the Qatar World Cup. During a major corruption scandal involving FIFA - Federation Internationale de Football Association - in 2015, several claims indicated that the Gulf country obtained the successful 2022 Qatari World Cup Bid by bribing committee members. After winning the bid, Qatar was further under scrutiny as there were many claims of abuse of human rights behind the construction works needed to prepare the country - whose land area is mainly made up of flat, low-lying desert - for the event. It is challenging to verify how many migrant workers have died from work on projects connected to the tournament. The Guardian reported last year that 6,500 South Asian migrant workers have died in Qatar since the country was awarded the World Cup in 2010, most of whom were involved in low-wage, dangerous labour, often undertaken in extreme heat. In July, three human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, wrote to FIFA's 14 corporate partners and World Cup sponsors "urging them to call on the football body to remedy abuses of migrant workers linked to preparations for the World Cup." According to Amnesty, four sponsors – AB InBev/Budweiser, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's – stated their support for financial compensation to migrant workers and their families who suffered death or injury, wage theft or debt from illegal recruitment while preparing the tournament. Corruption linked to the Qatar World Cup has reached in these days also high members of the European Parliament, who were being paid to speak publicly in favour of Qatar as an exemplary evolving country and influence some EU political decisions. On December 9, the Belgian federal prosecutor announced four arrests, including of members of the parliament, after 600,000 euros in cash was discovered in raids within the capital Brussels. Curiously, the four detained people were either Italian citizens or originally from Italy. The prosecutor's statement said that investigators "suspected a Gulf country (of influencing) the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament". It alleged this was done "by paying large sums of money or offering large gifts to" influential figures in the European parliament. Among the arrested, there is also the Greek socialist Eva Kaili, one of 14 European Parliament vice-presidents, in connection with an investigation into criminal organization, corruption, and money laundering involving Qatar. Moreover, two journalists (one from the US and the other Qatari) were found dead in mysterious circumstances during the tournament. Despite all these scandals, on December 16, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced proudly at a press conference that the organization has made record revenues from the World Cup in Qatar. Infantino said the tournament was the "best World Cup ever" and had shown the cohesive power it had. Responding to this comment, Stephen Cockburn, Head of Economic and Social Justice at Amnesty International, said: "Gianni Infantino has announced that FIFA made $7.5 billion from the 2022 World Cup cycle, more than $1 billion more than expected. He also forecasted FIFA to make over $11 billion over the next four years. Yet he offered nothing new to many workers and their families who continue to be denied compensation for stolen wages and lost lives. The migrant workers behind this World Cup have contributed hugely to FIFA's incredible wealth, and FIFA has a clear responsibility to compensate them for their losses. Rather than continue to ignore workers' calls for justice. The organization's proposed new Legacy Fund must ensure remedy to everyone who made this tournament possible, including the families of those who lost loved ones for it."

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14.12.2022
THEME: HEALTH

Depressive symptoms are linked to the composition of microorganisms species inhabiting the gut

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders experienced worldwide, with an average lifetime prevalence of 11–15%. The occurrence of depression has doubled and, in some countries, even tripled during the COVID-19 pandemic. The causes of depression are still not fully understood. However, there are pieces of evidence showing that various factors are involved, such as genetics, changes to neurotransmitter levels in the brain, environmental factors, exposure to trauma, and psychological and social factors. A recent study published in Nature Communications shows that gut microbiota - the complex of microorganisms inhabiting the human gut - plays a role in depression. Scientists investigated the relationship between the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota with symptoms of depression. They examined data from 1,133 participants, and they made sure to control for lifestyle factors and medication use. For example, they only included individuals who were not taking antidepressants. The research team has identified 13 types of bacteria associated with depression. These bacteria are known to be involved in the metabolism of critical molecules, including glutamate and butyrate, which are neurotransmitters linked to depression. Such a study may pave the way for novel treatments for depression. Since lifestyle factors primarily determine gut microbiota, diet in particular, once causality is established, the therapy would be the modification of diet or use of probiotics.

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13.12.2022
THEME: TECHNOLOGY

Historic achievement for nuclear fusion: net energy gain is now real

Nuclear fusion is when atomic nuclei combine to form a new, heavier nucleus. It is the same process that is powering the Sun, where it is ignited by the tremendous gravitational force that presses the star's atoms together. This process releases a large amount of energy, potentially helpful in generating power and electricity. Unfortunately, nuclear fusion requires the nuclei to be brought extremely close together, with sufficient speed to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between their protons, to be at a high temperature, and to be contained within a medium that can withstand the high temperatures and pressures that are generated. So far, nuclear fusion on Earth has been observed only in experiments where the energy spent to achieve it was larger than the energy produced by the fusion process. The achievement of a net energy gain in a nuclear fusion device has been since decades highly sought after. It is considered the holy grail in our modern times, as its commercial application would vastly reduce the issues related to the use of fossil fuels and the ones related to the energy crisis. Two methods have been developed to achieve an efficient fusion process through public investments: magnetic and laser containment. Magnetic containment is a method for nuclear fusion involving using strong magnetic fields to confine and heat a fuel target, causing the atomic nuclei within it to fuse. In this method, a fuel target is placed inside a chamber and surrounded by several powerful magnets. These magnets create a strong magnetic field that confines the fuel target, preventing it from spreading and losing its heat. At the same time, the fuel target is heated using other methods, such as lasers or particle beams, causing the atomic nuclei within it to fuse and release a large amount of energy. One example of a magnetic containment project is the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project. It is an international collaboration constructing a large-scale fusion device in southern France. When completed, ITER will use magnetic confinement to achieve nuclear fusion, demonstrating its feasibility as a source of electricity. Laser containment is a nuclear fusion method involving high-powered lasers to heat and compress a fuel target, causing the atomic nuclei within it to fuse together. One example of a laser containment project is the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in California, USA. The NIF is currently the world's largest and most energetic laser facility. It is one of the most ambitious fusion research projects in the world. The ultimate goal of the NIF is to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion as a source of clean, plentiful energy for the future. Today December 13, the US Department of Energy announced that, for the first time, US scientists produced at the NIF 50% more energy from fusion than the laser energy they used to power the experiment. The race to develop approaches that enable the commercial exploitation of fusion is now expected to accelerate. In the next decade, more money will be invested in the domain to achieve the dream of endless green energy production. However, there are still many years and a long way to go to make the project commercially viable. Moreover, a thorough evaluation must comprehend which methods can operate at reasonable costs and production rates.

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12.12.2022
THEME: HEALTH

Gene editing depleted acute leukemia from a girl and may have been able to cure her

Leukaemia is cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. It is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal white blood cells, which can crowd out healthy blood cells and prevent them from functioning correctly, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, infections, and easy bruising or bleeding. Several different types of leukaemia are classified based on how quickly the disease progresses and the type of blood cells affected. Treatment often involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or bone marrow transplant and may include targeted drug therapies or immunotherapy. The prognosis varies depending on the type of leukaemia and the stage at which it is diagnosed. Still, many people with the disease can be successfully treated and go on to lead healthy, everyday lives. Alyssa, 13, was diagnosed with T-cell acute leukaemia in May last year. Chemotherapy and bone-marrow transplant were unable to rid it from her body. A team of doctors at Great Ormond Street, led by Prof Waseem Qasim, used a technology called base editing - invented only six years ago - on Alyssa with outstanding results. They used the most advanced methods to build her a new living drug based on a personalized T-cell capable of hunting down and killing Alyssa's cancerous T-cells. Base editing allows scientists to zoom into a specific part of the genetic code and alter the molecular structure of just one base, converting it into another and changing the genetic instructions. After a month of treatment, she was in remission and given a second transplant to rebuild her immune system. As she was left vulnerable to infection, she spent 16 weeks in the hospital and couldn't see her brother, who was still going to school, in case he brought germs. There were worries after the three-month check-up found signs of cancer again. But her two most recent investigations have been positive. Alyssa is the first patient to be treated with this technology. This outstanding result undoubtedly suggests that science has found a way to reduce leukaemia mortality. However, more statistics are needed to determine if the method can be called a "cure", which would be close to a miracle compared to the alternatives. Genetic manipulation, a high-speed moving area of science, confirms its true potential - which experts say goes across many incurable diseases.

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