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
View on website

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