Plants can liven up a dreary space, purify our air, and generally keep us healthier – but what if they could contribute to innovative germ-fighting science, too? That question is at the center of recent research on multi-resistant, or multidrug-resistant germs. Why? Because these highly evolved germs are a major concern in healthcare environments. There, they …
COVID-19 and Allergies – Symptoms, Similarities, and the Science
The spring equinox arrived in March and with it came longer days, warmer temperatures and, for about eight percent of the world’s population, seasonal allergies. Prior to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, allergies were more of a nuisance than a serious health concern for most people. But beyond emotional duress stemming from the fact that seasonal allergy …
Equine Coronavirus and Horses’ Contribution to the COVID-19 Vaccine
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, people around the world have been asked to do their part to prevent the virus from spreading. Whether they developed a vaccine, cared for the sick, or simply followed health officials’ guidelines, all humans have had the opportunity to make a positive impact – but did you know …
View from My Window, Part 3: The Community We Build
In January, we introduced the social media phenomenon “View From My Window” (VFMW), a Facebook Group whose members who have posted pictures of their inside-out views during lockdown. In February, we reviewed some of the science explaining why the VFMW photos have become such a global phenomenon. We discussed how views of natural environments have …
COVID-19 Immunity After Infection: Can You Catch COVID-19 Twice?
After recovering from a viral infection, the human body’s immune system retains a memory of the virus so that if the person encounters it again, their immune system will be able to recognize and kill the pathogens. Although a healthy immune system is remarkably effective at protecting the body from outside invaders, until recently researchers …
A COVID-19 Call to Arms: The HHS Invites Everyone to Join the Fight
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently launched a new website to enlist the public’s support in fighting the SARS-CoV-2 virus: CombatCovid.hhs.gov. The objective of the site is breaking down barriers where people’s involvement is critical to success, such as recruiting eligible participants for clinical trials in the treatment and prevention of the …
Unexpected (and Unexpectedly Artsy) COVID-19 Vaccination Sites
The logistics of vaccinating the global population against COVID-19 involve complicated scientific processes, complex infrastructure, governmental coordination, and collaboration with multinational companies. Despite these challenges, we’ve come a long way in the last few months. As of February 18, 2021, approximately 194.44 million COVID-19 vaccination doses have been administered around the world. Since some vaccines require more …
How COVID-19 Has Impacted Clinical Trials
Social distancing. Country-wide lockdowns. Mask mandates. In the last year, people around the world have been forced to adapt their everyday lives to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 – and the clinical trial community is no exception. The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a variety of challenges and limitations for trial managers. Many contract research organizations temporarily …
View from My Window, Part 2: The View from Your Window Matters
In January, we introduced the social media phenomenon “View From My Window,” a Facebook Group that gained popularity as COVID-related quarantines locked the world’s citizens behind closed doors. The group is made up of over 2.2 million members who have posted pictures of their inside-out views during lockdown. That’s a pretty phenomenal number of users, …
Mosaic Nanoparticles Might Provide a Design to Develop Products That Provide Immunity to Multiple Coronaviruses
Zoonotic coronaviruses, which are those that have made the leap from animals to humans, have caused three major epidemics in the last two decades. The most recent zoonotic coronavirus to result in a pandemic was SARS-CoV-2. In the last year, multiple vaccines have been developed to prevent infection, and researchers are working on therapeutic drugs …
