How nervous ought to we be about fowl flu? The previous few months have seen some doubtlessly worrisome developments within the US, together with the continued unfold of the virus amongst dairy cattle, the detection of the virus in a pig in addition to cow’s milk, and—most regarding of all—the rising variety of human infections.
We don’t but have any proof that the virus is spreading between folks, however the threat of a possible pandemic has elevated since MIT Know-how Overview final coated this subject a few months in the past.
The excellent news is we’re in a a lot better place to deal with any potential future flu outbreaks than we had been to face covid-19 again in 2020, provided that we have already got vaccines. However, on the entire, it’s not wanting nice. Learn the total story.
—Jessica Hamzelou
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The moon is only the start for this waterless concrete
If NASA establishes a everlasting presence on the moon, its astronauts’ houses may very well be manufactured from a brand new 3D-printable, waterless concrete. Sometime, so may yours. By accelerating the curing course of for extra speedy development, this sulfur-based compound may turn out to be simply as relevant on our house terrain as it’s on lunar soil.
Conventional concrete requires massive quantities of water, a commodity that shall be in brief provide on the moon, and sending simply 1 kilogram of it to the moon prices roughly $1.2 million.
As an alternative, NASA hopes to create new supplies from lunar soil and finally adapt the identical methods for constructing on Mars. However creating the proper waterless “lunarcrete” is simpler mentioned than carried out. Learn the total story.