Evidence grows of air pollution link with dementia and stroke risk
Long-term UK study adds to body of research associating pollutants with declining brain health
Source: theguardian.com
How the Post Office's Horizon system failed: a technical breakdown
"From bugs to unqualified staff, the Post Office's point-of-sale system was inadequate on many levels." The code was poor from the start and the small team of developers were not up to the job. However, the problems were apparent in 1999 before it was launched. Includes a discussion of the Dalmellington...
Source: theguardian.com
Lecturer detects bot use in one-fifth of assessments as concerns mount over AI in exams
Deakin University’s Sally Brandon says technology ‘not going away’ as educators strive to adapt to use of software such as ChatGPT
Source: theguardian.com
The First Commercial Sand-based Thermal Energy Storage in the World Is in Operation.
Polar Night Energy’s first commercial sand-based high temperature heat storage is now in operation at Vatajankoski power plant area. The heat storage, which has a hundred tons of sand inside, is producing low emission district heating to the city of Kankaanpää in Western Finland.
Source: polarnightenergy.fi
Senior health professionals call for urgent climate briefing of all MPs by the chief scientific adviser: open letter to
Dear prime minister,
We wish to make you aware of our concern for the health of Angus Rose, a 52 year old man, who at the time of writing is on day 34 of a hunger strike outside Parliament, consuming only fluids, vitamins, and minerals.
His not unreasonable demand is that all members of parliament...
Source: bmj.com
Biopharma futures
I've been looking at a few industry reports on the future of biopharma as part of a course I'm on with INSEAD Business School on Business Strategy and Financial Performance. I thought I'd share some of my ramblings on Biopharma Futures. Expectations are high Pharmaceutical
companies are operating...
Source: agnate.co.uk
Psychology of panic buying
I've been fascinated by the psychology of panic buying and it is clearly an area for future research. It has an enormous impact on delivery infrastructure and I wonder if anyone has been tracking the data of the causes and the impact in the current fuel 'crisis'. A systematic review from last year identified...
Source: nih.gov
How an informant and a messaging app led to huge global crime sting
It took $100,000 plus expenses, and the opportunity for a reduced prison sentence, for the smartphone developer to collaborate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in 2018 and kick-start Operation Trojan Shield, according to a court document.
Source: reuters.com
Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants
All viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, change over time. Most changes have little to no impact on the virus’ properties. However, some changes may affect the virus’s properties, such as how easily it spreads, the associated disease severity, or the performance...
Source: who.int
WHO's Ryan says some countries didn't hear early COVID-19 warning
Some countries should have listened more carefully when the World Health Organisation declared a global health emergency in January 2020, Mike Ryan, the WHO's top emergency expert, said on Monday.
Source: reuters.com
Quantum computing and pharmaceutical research
"Theoretically, quantum computers can prove more powerful than any supercomputer. And recent moves from computer giants such as Google and pharmaceutical titans such as Roche now suggest drug discovery might prove to be quantum computing’s first killer app." In January this year Boehringer-Ingelheim...
Source: ieee.org
Eeek! or E484K mutation and the coronavirus pandemic
Rupert Beale · Eeek! · LRB 19 February 2021: "Uncontrolled spread – as we knew it would – led to an even greater wave of infections, hospitalisations and deaths than last spring. Children were sent to school for one day before the necessary ‘lockdown’ was reimposed. The impulse to keep schools...
Source: lrb.co.uk
Abundant Rain Turns Namibia Green
The landscape has been transformed by the wettest rainy season since 2011. "January 2021 saw rainfall totals double to triple the norm in the northeastern, central, and southern parts of Namibia. According to a weather monitor in Windhoek, 228 millimeters (9 inches) of rain fell in January; the long-term...
Source: nasa.gov
Day 2381 - Coffee cup sketch
The crap artist awakens for the first time in a long time. Joining Janet's Sketchaway course I thought I'd knock out a study of a typical breakfast moment - the empty coffee cup in pen. #thecrapartist
Coronavirus COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 information
A collection of information sources for COVID-19. The NHS 111 online COVID-19 service. The first point of call for someone in the UK who thinks they have symptoms or have been exposed whilst travelling. The NHS Coronavirus COVID-19 information webpage. UK Government's Coronavirus action plan. Public...
Student Performance on an E-Learning Platform: Mixed Method Approach
Student Performance on an E-Learning Platform: Mixed Method Approach: E-learning is considered a leading application of digital technologies in educational systems. The aim of the paper is to explore the utilization and impact of digital technologies on an e-learning platform. For this purpose, research...
Source: online-journals.org
Energy conference cancelled after Royal College of General Practitioners concern.
Energy conference cancelled after College concern. Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “We deeply regret that a booking was accepted to host an event at our headquarters that conflicts with the College’s longstanding commitment to combat the impact of climate change...
Source: rcgp.org.uk
Peak meat: is veganism the future?
Peak meat: is veganism the future?: Marco Springmann, a public health expert, tells Anushka Asthana why cutting out animal products is the best route to a healthy diet – and why veganism is good for the planet. Part of a Guardian Podcast. "Veganism is having a moment. From ‘Veganuary’ promotions...
Source: theguardian.com
Poorest adults in worse health now than older generation - study: Research shows widening health gap between higher and
Poorest adults in worse health now than older generation - study: Research shows widening health gap between higher and lower socioeconomic status. "The poorest third of the UK’s older working-age adults today have worse health than people born a century ago had at the same age, according to research...
Source: theguardian.com
UCL cancer policy update
“Because of the complexity of delivering better cancer care and the dynamics of NHS funding and introducing better practices in the health service there is a strong case for developing new cancer strategies for all the UK nations for the 2020s. Britain could also benefit from leading an independent...
Source: ucl.ac.uk
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