Tests under development in Poland that are designed to detect abortion drugs in biological samples are raising scientific and ethical concerns among scientists. It is not clear to what extent such tests are being used by judicial authorities in Poland, where abortion is restricted by law in most circumstances. But researchers question whether the tests are ready to be used to determine pregnancy outcomes. They also warn that such tests have the potential to embolden prosecutors in Poland and other countries with restrictive laws on abortion — and to discourage women there from seeking safe...…Tests under development in Poland that are designed to detect abortion drugs in biological samples are raising scientific and ethical concerns among scientists. It is not clear to what extent such tests are being used by judicial authorities in Poland, where abortion is restricted by law in most circumstances. But researchers question whether the tests are ready to be used to determine pregnancy outcomes. They also warn that such tests have the potential to embolden prosecutors in Poland and other countries with restrictive laws on abortion — and to discourage women there from seeking safe...WW…

×By , , , , , , , , , , , andModerna’s omicron-tailored booster candidate produces eight times as many virus-neutralising antibodies against the variant as its original booster vaccineAn updated version of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine that targets the BA.1 sublineage of omicron leads to an eight-fold increase in antibody levels against the variant of concern, according to a small, preliminary .Moderna’s new booster is the first covid-19 vaccine to combine the jab that targeted the original strain of the coronavirus – which emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 – with a vaccine that...…×By , , , , , , , , , , , andModerna’s omicron-tailored booster candidate produces eight times as many virus-neutralising antibodies against the variant as its original booster vaccineAn updated version of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine that targets the BA.1 sublineage of omicron leads to an eight-fold increase in antibody levels against the variant of concern, according to a small, preliminary .Moderna’s new booster is the first covid-19 vaccine to combine the jab that targeted the original strain of the coronavirus – which emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 – with a vaccine that...WW…

×By , , , , , , , , , , , andModerna’s omicron-tailored booster candidate produces eight times as many virus-neutralising antibodies against the variant as its original booster vaccineAn updated version of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine that targets the BA.1 sublineage of omicron leads to an eight-fold increase in antibody levels against the variant of concern, according to a small, preliminary .Moderna’s new booster is the first covid-19 vaccine to combine the jab that targeted the original strain of the coronavirus – which emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 – with a vaccine that...…×By , , , , , , , , , , , andModerna’s omicron-tailored booster candidate produces eight times as many virus-neutralising antibodies against the variant as its original booster vaccineAn updated version of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine that targets the BA.1 sublineage of omicron leads to an eight-fold increase in antibody levels against the variant of concern, according to a small, preliminary .Moderna’s new booster is the first covid-19 vaccine to combine the jab that targeted the original strain of the coronavirus – which emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 – with a vaccine that...WW…

×By , , , , , , , , , , , andModerna’s omicron-tailored booster candidate produces eight times as many virus-neutralising antibodies against the variant as its original booster vaccineAn updated version of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine that targets the BA.1 sublineage of omicron leads to an eight-fold increase in antibody levels against the variant of concern, according to a small, preliminary .Moderna’s new booster is the first covid-19 vaccine to combine the jab that targeted the original strain of the coronavirus – which emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 – with a vaccine that...…×By , , , , , , , , , , , andModerna’s omicron-tailored booster candidate produces eight times as many virus-neutralising antibodies against the variant as its original booster vaccineAn updated version of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine that targets the BA.1 sublineage of omicron leads to an eight-fold increase in antibody levels against the variant of concern, according to a small, preliminary .Moderna’s new booster is the first covid-19 vaccine to combine the jab that targeted the original strain of the coronavirus – which emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 – with a vaccine that...WW…

×By , , , , , , , , , , , andModerna’s omicron-tailored booster candidate produces eight times as many virus-neutralising antibodies against the variant as its original booster vaccineAn updated version of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine that targets the BA.1 sublineage of omicron leads to an eight-fold increase in antibody levels against the variant of concern, according to a small, preliminary .Moderna’s new booster is the first covid-19 vaccine to combine the jab that targeted the original strain of the coronavirus – which emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 – with a vaccine that...…×By , , , , , , , , , , , andModerna’s omicron-tailored booster candidate produces eight times as many virus-neutralising antibodies against the variant as its original booster vaccineAn updated version of Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine that targets the BA.1 sublineage of omicron leads to an eight-fold increase in antibody levels against the variant of concern, according to a small, preliminary .Moderna’s new booster is the first covid-19 vaccine to combine the jab that targeted the original strain of the coronavirus – which emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 – with a vaccine that...WW…

×ByThe ozone layer may recover more quickly than first thought, thanks mostly to reduced emissions from China of a banned ozone-depleting gas.Luke Western at the University of Bristol, UK, and his colleagues analysed data on atmospheric levels of the banned ozone-depleting gas trichlorofluoromethane, or CFC-11, and found that emissions from eastern declined after 2017. Emissions in 2019 were 10,000 tonnes less than the average annual emissions between 2014 and 2017, says Western.Another study, led by Steve Montzka at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Colorado, which...…×ByThe ozone layer may recover more quickly than first thought, thanks mostly to reduced emissions from China of a banned ozone-depleting gas.Luke Western at the University of Bristol, UK, and his colleagues analysed data on atmospheric levels of the banned ozone-depleting gas trichlorofluoromethane, or CFC-11, and found that emissions from eastern declined after 2017. Emissions in 2019 were 10,000 tonnes less than the average annual emissions between 2014 and 2017, says Western.Another study, led by Steve Montzka at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Colorado, which...WW…

×ByMicroplastic particles that are exposed to fresh water or saltwater for several weeks are more likely to be absorbed by mouse cells growing in the laboratory, suggesting that environmental microplastics may be able to enter cells more easily than we thought.Studies investigating the potential effects of in animals often use clean – or “pristine” – microplastic particles. Yet these don’t fully resemble the particles found in nature, which can become coated with debris from the environment.Anja Ramsperger at the University of Bayreuth in Germany and her colleagues took pristine...…×ByMicroplastic particles that are exposed to fresh water or saltwater for several weeks are more likely to be absorbed by mouse cells growing in the laboratory, suggesting that environmental microplastics may be able to enter cells more easily than we thought.Studies investigating the potential effects of in animals often use clean – or “pristine” – microplastic particles. Yet these don’t fully resemble the particles found in nature, which can become coated with debris from the environment.Anja Ramsperger at the University of Bayreuth in Germany and her colleagues took pristine...WW…

×ByA thin gel layer that mimics camel fur could help insulate objects, potentially keeping them cool for days, without electricity.Researchers have long been interested in hydrogels, which can absorb water and then release it through evaporation to produce a passive without power. But a key challenge has been in finding ways to make this effect last longer.Jeffrey Grossman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his colleagues looked to camels for inspiration by combining hydrogel with a thin layer of another gel – aerogel – which is .Advertisement“Our evaporation-insulation...…×ByA thin gel layer that mimics camel fur could help insulate objects, potentially keeping them cool for days, without electricity.Researchers have long been interested in hydrogels, which can absorb water and then release it through evaporation to produce a passive without power. But a key challenge has been in finding ways to make this effect last longer.Jeffrey Grossman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his colleagues looked to camels for inspiration by combining hydrogel with a thin layer of another gel – aerogel – which is .Advertisement“Our evaporation-insulation...WW…

×ByA device that can extract water from almost dry air using heat from sunlight could help provide a sustainable source of water in remote regions with limited access to electricity.“In areas where water scarcity is a problem, it’s important to consider different technologies which provide water, particularly as climate change will exacerbate many water scarcity issues,” says Alina LaPotin at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.The device, developed by LaPotin and her colleagues, contains an adsorbent material called a zeolite inside it, which collects water vapour from the air at...…×ByA device that can extract water from almost dry air using heat from sunlight could help provide a sustainable source of water in remote regions with limited access to electricity.“In areas where water scarcity is a problem, it’s important to consider different technologies which provide water, particularly as climate change will exacerbate many water scarcity issues,” says Alina LaPotin at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.The device, developed by LaPotin and her colleagues, contains an adsorbent material called a zeolite inside it, which collects water vapour from the air at...WW…

×ByPlastic feeding bottles release an average of 4 million microplastic particles per litre into baby formula during preparation, but it still isn’t clear whether ingesting microplastics is harmful to infant health.John Boland at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and his colleagues measured released during the process of baby formula preparation in feeding bottles made of polypropylene plastic, which they estimate account for almost 69 per cent of such bottles available on the market.The researchers cleaned and sterilised brand-new polypropylene feeding bottles, left them to dry and then...…×ByPlastic feeding bottles release an average of 4 million microplastic particles per litre into baby formula during preparation, but it still isn’t clear whether ingesting microplastics is harmful to infant health.John Boland at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland and his colleagues measured released during the process of baby formula preparation in feeding bottles made of polypropylene plastic, which they estimate account for almost 69 per cent of such bottles available on the market.The researchers cleaned and sterilised brand-new polypropylene feeding bottles, left them to dry and then...WW…