Disease outbreak news from the WHO: SARS-CoV-2 Variants

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has had a major impact on human health globally; infecting a large number of people; causing severe disease and associated long-term health sequelae; resulting in death and excess mortality, especially among older and vulnerable populations; interrupting routine healthcare services; disruptions to travel, trade, education and many other societal functions; and more broadly having a negative impact on peoples physical and mental health. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO has received several reports of unusual public health events possibly due to variants of SARS-CoV-2. WHO routinely assesses if variants of SARS-CoV-2 result in changes in transmissibility, clinical presentation and severity, or if they impact on countermeasures, including diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. Previous reports of the D614G mutation and the recent reports of virus variants from the Kingdom of Denmark, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of South Africa have raised interest and concern in the impact of viral changes.

A variant of SARS-CoV-2 with a D614G substitution in the gene encoding the spike protein emerged in late January or early February 2020. Over a period of several months, the D614G mutation replaced the initial SARS-CoV-2 strain identified in China and by June 2020 became the dominant form of the virus circulating globally. Studies in human respiratory cells and in animal models demonstrated that compared to the initial virus strain, the strain with the D614G substitution has increased infectivity and transmission. The SARS-CoV-2 virus with the D614G substitution does not cause more severe illness or alter the effectiveness of existing laboratory diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines, or public health preventive measures.

Published on December 31, 2020
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Chaos at the Heart of the Orion Nebula

Chaos at the Heart of the Orion Nebula via NASA https://ift.tt/3rHu8ST

Retrofuturistic NASA Space Art

Retrofuturistic NASA Space Art via NASA https://ift.tt/3nVtXkB

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Yellow fever – Senegal

From October to December 2020, a total of seven confirmed cases of yellow fever (YF) have been reported from four health districts in three regions in Senegal.

Published on December 29, 2020
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Looking Back: Dr. George Carruthers and Apollo 16 Far Ultraviolet Camera/Spectrograph

Dr. George Carruthers, right, and William Conway, a project manager at the Naval Research Institute, examine the gold-plated ultraviolet camera/spectrograph, the first Moon-based observatory that Carruthers developed for the Apollo 16 mission. Apollo 16 astronauts placed the observatory on the moon in April 1972. via NASA https://ift.tt/2kwxJTs

Shaping a Spiral Galaxy

Magnetic fields in NGC 1068, or M77, are shown as streamlines over a visible light and X-ray composite image of the galaxy. via NASA https://ift.tt/2Kx4Whj

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Yellow fever – Guinea

Between 6 November and 15 December 2020, 52 suspected cases of yellow fever (YF), including 14

Published on December 23, 2020
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Disease outbreak news from the WHO: SARS-CoV-2 Variant – United Kingdom

On 14 December 2020, authorities of the United Kingdom (UK) reported to WHO that a new SARS-CoV-2 variant was identified through viral genomic sequencing. This variant is referred to as SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 (Variant Under Investigation, year 2020, month 12, variant 01).

Published on December 21, 2020
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A Great Conjunction Draws Near

The Moon, left, Saturn, upper right, and Jupiter, lower right, are seen after sunset with the Washington Monument, Thurs. Dec. 17, 2020, in Washington. via NASA https://ift.tt/2WpW3YX

Apollo 8: Earthrise

This iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon. via NASA https://ift.tt/2LG0lcE

Stellar Snowflake Cluster

The newly revealed infant stars appear as pink and red specks toward the center and appear to have formed in regularly spaced intervals along linear structures. via NASA https://ift.tt/35QZqLP

Stellar Jewel Box

Thousands of sparkling young stars are nestled within the giant nebula NGC 3603, one of the most massive young star clusters in the Milky Way Galaxy. NGC 3603, a prominent star-forming region in the Carina spiral arm of the Milky Way about 20,000 light-years away, reveals stages in the life cycle of stars. via NASA https://ift.tt/37AhIo1

Entering the Martian Atmosphere with the Perseverance Rover

With its heat shield facing the planet, NASA’s Perseverance rover begins its descent through the Martian atmosphere in this illustration. via NASA https://ift.tt/3r62oHd

Starry, Starry Night

The Hubble Space Telescope captured a crowd of stars that looks rather like a stadium darkened before a show, lit only by the flashbulbs of the audience's cameras. via NASA https://ift.tt/3p1Trg7

Quasars Rip Across Galaxies Like Tsunamis

Using the unique capabilities of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, a team of astronomers has discovered the most energetic outflows ever witnessed in the universe. via NASA https://ift.tt/2WnTvul

Educational CubeSats to Launch on Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne Rocket

Ten NASA-sponsored CubeSats are preparing to fly on the agency’s next Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) mission, making this the first payload carried by Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket. via NASA https://ift.tt/3gIk3jA

50 Years of Research Using Langley's 14 by-22-Foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel

Dec. 11, 2020, marks the 50th anniversary of NASA’s Langley Research Center’s 14x22 Subsonic Wind Tunnel. via NASA https://ift.tt/3qQN1CC

Introducing the Artemis Astronauts

Vice President Mike Pence introduces NASA astronauts during a meeting of the National Space Council on Dec. 9, 2020. via NASA https://ift.tt/3gvn7zq

3D Printed Rocket Parts and the Future of Spacecraft

Future lunar landers might come equipped with 3D printed rocket engine parts that help bring down overall manufacturing costs and reduce production time. via NASA https://ift.tt/3ow4I8i

NASA, Boeing Complete Series of Starliner Parachute Tests

NASA and Boeing have completed Starliner’s last parachute balloon-drop test designed to strengthen the spacecraft’s landing system ahead of crewed flights. via NASA https://ift.tt/3gnZjNV

Seeing the Station From Earth

The International Space Station is seen in this 13 second exposure as it flies over Arlington, Virginia, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020. via NASA https://ift.tt/3lQm0v1

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: SARS-CoV-2 mink-associated variant strain – Denmark

Since June 2020, Danish authorities have reported an extensive spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, on mink farms in Denmark.

Published on December 03, 2020
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Relaxing Inside the Space Station's Window to the World

JAXA and Expedition 64 astronaut Soichi Noguchi relaxes at the end of the work day inside the seven-windowed cupola on the International Space Station. via NASA https://ift.tt/2JzNwQz

Awakening Newborn Stars

Lying inside our home galaxy, the Milky Way, this Herbig–Haro object is a turbulent birthing ground for new stars in a region known as the Orion B molecular cloud complex, located 1,350 light-years away. via NASA https://ift.tt/33CfUIz

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Acute hepatitis E – Burkina Faso

Between 8 September and 24 November, 2020, the North-Central region of Burkina Faso reported a

Published on November 27, 2020 at 01:37AM
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Earth May Be Surrounded by Hairy Dark Matter

This illustration shows Earth surrounded by theoretical filaments of dark matter called "hairs." via NASA https://ift.tt/2I15tH0