What does Omicron mean for future COVID-19 vaccinations? | Science

Barely a year after vaccine developers reported spectacular successes against SARS-CoV-2, the latest variant of the virus has presented them with a new challenge. Omicron is spreading at unprecedented speed, and studies of blood samples and emerging real-world evidence show one reason is its ability to dodge immunity, whether from previous infections or vaccination. The … Read more

This millipede really does have 1000 legs—and more | Science

Country: Country *AfghanistanAland IslandsAlbaniaAlgeriaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBolivia, Plurinational State ofBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, The Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCote D’IvoireCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzech RepublicDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and Mcdonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)HondurasHong … Read more

First-Ever ‘True’ Millipede With 1,306 Legs Discovered Deep Underground in Australia

Although the name millipede comes from Latin for “thousand feet”, before now no species has been found with more than 750 legs. After the discovery of a new millipede with 1,306 legs however, this arthropod is finally living up to its name.   The new species is Eumillipes persephone – emillipes translating as “true-thousand-foot”, with … Read more

Water on Mars: Large deposits found below the surface at the equator

Previous discoveries of water on Mars were limited to the poles or deep underground, but water deposits spotted near the surface at the equator could be easily accessed by future astronauts Space 16 December 2021 By Alex Wilkins Candor Chasma is part of Valles Marineris, near the Candor Chaos region ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum), CC … Read more

Milky Way shakes: The cosmic collisions that made our galaxy

By Thomas Lewton A galaxy passes through other galaxies in a group known as Stephan’s quintet X-ray (NASA/CXC/CfA/E.O’Sullivan); Optical (Canada-France-Hawaii-Te​lescope/Coelum) HUMANS have always been captivated by the Milky Way. To the ancient Greeks, it was a squirt of breast milk, while the Mayan farmers of Mesoamerica saw it as a growing maize stalk. Today, astronomers … Read more

Amazon rainforest: Brazil approves gold mining exploration in pristine region

Gold mining in the municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira would drive deforestation and increase mercury pollution, say ecologists Environment 16 December 2021 By Luke Taylor An Indigenous village in São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Brazil Paulo Lopes/ZUMA Wire/Alamy Live News The Brazilian government has approved gold exploration in a pristine expanse of Amazon rainforest that … Read more

Embracing the Mess – Scientific American

Individuals often overestimate how harshly others judge a messy, chaotic life Credit: Scientific American MIND, Jan-Feb 2022 Advertisement The pandemic has been a hard time for most people, even if not everyone is struggling in the same way. Families, for example—mothers in particular—had to shift their routines drastically to accommodate remote schooling schedules for kids, … Read more

Lego Star Wars deals: Savings on vehicles, ships, helmets and more

The force will be with you, always, but there’s no guarantee these Lego Star Wars deals will be. We’ve highlighted the best Lego Star Wars deals out there and made sure there’s something for every Jedi Knight, Padawan and every budget.  There’s loads of great Lego Star Wars deals out there so it doesn’t matter … Read more

Oak processionary moth: Tougher action needed to stop tree-killing insect in UK

Seven years of concerted action to slow the spread of oak processionary moth have failed to stop its consistent outward expansion from London Environment 16 December 2021 By Adam Vaughan Caterpillars of the oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea) on a tree trunk in Germany blickwinkel/Hecker/Alamy Tougher action will be needed to stop a caterpillar threatening … Read more

DNA in Air Can Catalog Hidden Insects All Around Us

A decade ago, biologists and natural historians around the world launched ambitious goals to create inventories of our planet’s biodiversity. After all, they said, you can’t save what you don’t know exists. Even some high estimates suggest that only a quarter of Earth’s species have been described by science, raising concerns about the big picture amidst rising … Read more