Mary W. Jackson: NASA's First Female African American Engineer

On Feb. 25, 2021, the NASA Headquarters Building in Washington D.C. was officially renamed after Mary W. Jackson, the agency's first African American female engineer. via NASA https://ift.tt/2ZSzBJR

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Human infection with avian influenza A (H5N8) – the Russian Federation

On 18 February 2021, the National IHR Focal Point for the Russian Federation notified WHO of detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) in seven human clinical specimens. These are the first reported detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) in humans. Positive clinical specimens were collected from poultry farm workers who participated in a response operation to contain an avian influenza A(H5N8) outbreak detected in a poultry farm in Astrakhan Oblast in the Russian Federation. The laboratory confirmation of the seven specimens were performed by the State Research Centre for Virology and Biotechnology VECTOR (WHO H5 Reference Laboratory). The age of seven positive cases ranged between 29 to 60 years and five were female.

Between 3 and 11 December, a total of 101 000 of 900 000 egg laying hens on the farm died. This high mortality rate prompted an investigation. Samples were collected from these birds and an initial detection of avian influenza A(H5N8) was performed by the Russian regional veterinary laboratory. On 11 December, the outbreak was confirmed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Reference laboratory, and the Federal Centre for Animal Health (FGBI-ARRIAH), in Vladimir, the Russian Federation. Outbreak containment operations started immediately and continued for several days due to the large size of the poultry farm.

Published on February 26, 2021
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Reflections from a Black Hole

This 2003 composite X-ray and optical image of galaxy NGC 1068 shows gas blowing away in a high-speed wind from the vicinity of a supermassive black hole. via NASA https://ift.tt/37NwXJH

Traversing Mars' Jezero Crater

This image depicts a possible area through which the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover could traverse across Jezero Crater. via NASA https://ift.tt/2NXkgFi

Perseverance Snaps Its First Full-Color Image of Mars

This is the first high-resolution, color image to be sent back by the Hazard Cameras (Hazcams) on the underside of NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover after its landing. via NASA https://ift.tt/3slIKH3

Alvin Drew: Down to Earth

On Feb. 28, 2011, NASA astronaut Alvin Drew participates in the STS-133 mission's first spacewalk as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. via NASA https://ift.tt/3sl6mLN

Perseverance Rover Lands on the Red Planet

NASAs Perseverance Rover lands on Mars. via NASA https://ift.tt/2NKs4tC

Showcasing the Rover at the Perseverance Engineering and Technology Overview

During the Mars Perseverance engineering and technology overview on Feb. 16, 2021, chief engineer Adam Steltzner displays a rover wheel. via NASA https://ift.tt/3u6YK1k

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Guinea

On 14 February 2021, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Guinea informed WHO of a cluster of Ebola Virus

Published on February 17, 2021 at 11:50PM
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The Empire State Building Illuminated for Mars Perseverance

The Empire State Building is illuminated in red to celebrate this Thursday's scheduled landing on Mars of NASA's Perseverance rover, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. via NASA https://ift.tt/3puOo7O

Astrobiologist Kennda Lynch Uses Analogs on Earth to Find Life on Mars

If we find life on the Red Planet, we'll have astrobiologists like Dr. Kennda Lynch to thank. via NASA https://ift.tt/3qv8rEA

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Rift Valley fever – Kenya

Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been reported in Kenya in humans in Isiolo and Mandera counties and in

Published on February 12, 2021 at 11:00AM
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Bernard Harris: First African American Spacewalker

A physician, flight surgeon, and NASA astronaut, Bernard Harris became the first African American to perform a spacewalk in February 1995, . via NASA https://ift.tt/3u2vCbE

Crystal Clear: Observing Crystal Growth on the Space Station

There are more than 100,000 proteins in the human body. Every structure is different, and each one of them holds important information related to our health. via NASA https://ift.tt/3jCCWG9

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo

On 7 February 2021, the Minister of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) after the laboratory confirmation of one case in Butembo, North Kivu Province. The case was a 42-year-old female living in Masoya Health Area, Biena Health Zone. She was a spouse of an EVD survivor, who has been followed up and whose biological samples have tested negative since 28 September 2020.

On 25 January 2021, the case presented with nasal bleeding. From 25 January to 1 February, she reportedly received outpatient care in Ngubi health center. From 1 to 3 February, she was admitted to Masoya health center with signs of physical weakness, dizziness, joint pain, epigastric pain, liquid stools, headache and difficulty breathing. On 3 February, a blood sample was collected for EVD testing due to her epidemiological link with an EVD survivor. On the same day, she was referred to Matanda Hospital, in Katwa Health Zone, Butembo territory following the deterioration of her condition. She was admitted to the intensive care unit the same day and died on 4 February. On 5 February, the body was buried in Musienene Health Zone, not under safe burial practices.

Published on February 10, 2021
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The Coalsack Nebula

This stunning image captures a small region on the edge of the inky Coalsack Nebula, or Caldwell 99. via NASA https://ift.tt/3aTsFRW

Sunrise Over the Pacific

This view of a sunrise breaking through the Earth's horizon was taken as the International Space Station orbited 271 miles above the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern Chile. via NASA https://ift.tt/2YYoePY

Jeanette Epps: Astronaut and Aerospace Engineer

In this image from 2018, NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps trains in a U.S. spacesuit at the Johnson Space Center. via NASA https://ift.tt/3rwM9Cv

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Influenza A (H3N2) variant virus – United States of America

On 13 January, 2021, a child under 18 years of age in Wisconsin developed respiratory disease. A respiratory specimen was collected on 14 January. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing conducted at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene indicated a presumptive positive influenza A(H3N2) variant virus infection. The specimen was forwarded to the Influenza Division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 21 January for further testing. On 22 January, CDC confirmed an influenza A (H3N2)v virus infection using RT-PCR and genome sequence analysis. Investigation into the source of the infection has been completed and revealed that the child lives on a farm with swine present. Sampling of the swine on the property for influenza virus has not yet been conducted but is planned. Five family members of the patient reported respiratory illness during the investigation and were tested for influenza; all tested negative. The patient was prescribed antiviral treatment and was not hospitalized and has made a full recovery. No human to human transmission has been identified associated with this investigation.

Sequencing of the virus by CDC revealed it is similar to A (H3N2) viruses circulating in swine in the mid-western United States during 2019-2020. Viruses related to this A (H3N2)v virus were previously circulating as human seasonal A (H3N2) viruses until around 2010-2011 when they entered the USA swine population. Thus, past vaccination or infection with human seasonal A (H3N2) virus is likely to offer some protection in humans.

Published on February 05, 2021
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Taken Under the 'Wing' of the Small Magellanic Cloud

The tip of the "wing" of the Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy is dazzling in this view from NASA's Great Observatories. via NASA https://ift.tt/3tuRPPf

Apollo 14 Arrives in Lunar Orbit on Feb. 4, 1971

Apollo 14 arrived n lunar orbit on Feb. 4, 1971 to prepare for the landing in and exploration of the Fra Mauro highlands. via NASA https://ift.tt/39OY4p2

Seeing Our Moon from the Space Station

The waning gibbous moon is pictured the day after its full Moon phase as the International Space Station orbited 264 miles above China near the Mongolian border. via NASA https://ift.tt/3ayzjwL

NASA Astronaut Victor Glover Works to Upgrade the Station

Victor Glover, who has accumulated 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft, over 400 carrier arrested landings and 24 combat missions, took his first spacewalk on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. via NASA https://ift.tt/3oHbrMu

Remembering STS-107 and Her Crew

The STS-107 crewmembers strike a ‘flying’ pose for their traditional in-flight crew portrait in the SPACEHAB Research Double Module aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. via NASA https://ift.tt/3jhUpUd

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Between 1 June through 31 December 2020, the National IHR Focal Point of Saudi Arabia reported four additional cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) with one associated death. The cases were reported from Riyadh (two cases), Taif (one case), and Al-Ahsaa (one case) Regions.

The link below provides details of the four reported cases.

Published on February 01, 2021
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