Biotech fit for the Red Planet: New method for growing cyanobacteria under Mars-like conditions

NASA, in collaboration with other leading space agencies, aims to send its first human missions to Mars in the early 2030s, while companies like SpaceX may do so even earlier. Astronauts on Mars will need oxygen, water, food, and other consumables. These will need to be sourced from Mars, because importing them from Earth would be impractical in the long term. In Frontiers in Microbiology, scientists show for the first time that Anabaena cyanobacteria can be grown with only local gases, water, and other nutrients and at low pressure. This makes it much easier to develop sustainable biological life support systems.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-02-biotech-red-planet-method-cyanobacteria.html

Biotech fit for the Red Planet: New method for growing cyanobacteria under Mars-like conditions

NASA, in collaboration with other leading space agencies, aims to send its first human missions to Mars in the early 2030s, while companies like SpaceX may do so even earlier. Astronauts on Mars will need oxygen, water, food, and other consumables. These will need to be sourced from Mars, because importing them from Earth would be impractical in the long term. In Frontiers in Microbiology, scientists show for the first time that Anabaena cyanobacteria can be grown with only local gases, water, and other nutrients and at low pressure. This makes it much easier to develop sustainable biological life support systems.

Study questions whether pubs can effectively prevent COVID-19 transmission risk

A new first-of-its-kind study has questioned whether pub operators can effectively and consistently prevent COVID-19 transmission—after researchers observed risks arising in licensed premises last summer.

Large-scale study finds genetic testing technology falsely detects very rare variants

A technology that is widely used by commercial genetic testing companies is "extremely unreliable" in detecting very rare variants, meaning results suggesting individuals carry rare disease-causing genetic variants are usually wrong, according to new research published in the BMJ.

Drinking, smoking, and drug use linked to premature heart disease in the young

Recreational drinking, smoking, and drug use is linked to premature heart disease in young people, particularly younger women, finds research published online in the journal Heart.

Ageism and sexism barring grandmothers from initiatives to save newborn lives in Global South

Ageism, sexism, and Western ideals of the nuclear family have excluded grandmothers from national and international policy initiatives to save newborn lives in the Global South, suggests an analysis published in the online journal BMJ Global Health.

Red Sea coral reefs 'under threat' from Israel-UAE oil deal

Israeli environmentalists are warning that a UAE-Israeli oil pipeline deal threatens unique Red Sea coral reefs and could lead to "the next ecological disaster".

source https://phys.org/news/2021-02-red-sea-coral-reefs-threat.html

Nissan says not in talks with Apple on self-driving cars

Japanese auto maker Nissan said Monday it is not in talks with Apple to develop self-driving cars, a week after Hyundai also denied reports it was discussing the top-secret project with the US tech giant.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-02-nissan-apple-self-driving-cars.html

Major Australian media company strikes Google news pay deal

Seven West Media has become the largest Australian news media business to strike a deal with Google to pay for journalism in a partnership announced Monday before the nation's Parliament considers draft laws to force digital giants to pay for news.

source https://techxplore.com/news/2021-02-major-australian-media-company-google.html

Strange creatures accidentally discovered beneath Antarctica's ice shelves

Far underneath the ice shelves of the Antarctic, there's more life than expected, finds a recent study in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-02-strange-creatures-accidentally-beneath-antarctica.html

Capuchin monkey genome reveals clues to its long life and large brain

An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of a capuchin monkey for the first time, uncovering new genetic clues about the evolution of their long lifespan and large brains.

source https://phys.org/news/2021-02-capuchin-monkey-genome-reveals-clues.html

New Zealand virus outbreak is first of UK variant: officials

Two new coronavirus infections which sent New Zealand's biggest city into lockdown Monday are due to the UK variant of the disease, the first to be detected in the country, officials said.

In one US city, coronavirus vaccines for everyone 18 and over

Most countries are still only vaccinating the elderly and healthcare workers, but one US town hit hard by the coronavirus is already offering doses to everyone age 18 and over.

UK rolls out hotel quarantine for 'high risk' country returnees

The UK government will on Monday introduce mandatory hotel quarantine rules for arrivals from dozens of countries deemed "high risk" for coronavirus variants, as it tries to stop new strains spreading.

Red Sea coral reefs 'under threat' from Israel-UAE oil deal

Israeli environmentalists are warning that a UAE-Israeli oil pipeline deal threatens unique Red Sea coral reefs and could lead to "the next ecological disaster".

Nissan says not in talks with Apple on self-driving cars

Japanese auto maker Nissan said Monday it is not in talks with Apple to develop self-driving cars, a week after Hyundai also denied reports it was discussing the top-secret project with the US tech giant.

Zimbabwe receives first vaccines from Sinopharm in China

Zimbabwe has received its first COVID-19 vaccines with the arrival early Monday of an Air Zimbabwe jet carrying 200,000 Sinopharm doses from China.

No new community cases found in New Zealand since lockdown

As people in Auckland adjusted to a new lockdown on Monday, health officials said they'd found no evidence the coronavirus had spread further in the community, raising hopes the restrictions might be short-lived.

Major Australian media company strikes Google news pay deal

Seven West Media has become the largest Australian news media business to strike a deal with Google to pay for journalism in a partnership announced Monday before the nation's Parliament considers draft laws to force digital giants to pay for news.

Strange creatures accidentally discovered beneath Antarctica's ice shelves

Far underneath the ice shelves of the Antarctic, there's more life than expected, finds a recent study in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science.

Parents say COVID-19 has disrupted children's dental care

A third of parents say the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult to get dental care for their children, a new national poll suggests.

Capuchin monkey genome reveals clues to its long life and large brain

An international team of scientists has sequenced the genome of a capuchin monkey for the first time, uncovering new genetic clues about the evolution of their long lifespan and large brains.

iDashboards Unveils Dashboard Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. for Black History Month

Announcement of a dashboard honoring the life and legacy of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in honor of Black History Month. [PR.com]

iDashboards Honors Past & Present Leaders with a President’s Day Data Dashboard

iDashboards, a data reporting and business intelligence software company, created an interactive dashboard for the upcoming celebration of President’s Day on February 15th. The dashboard includes key data points and information about each president of the United States. Users can interact with the dashboard and click to select a president. Once a president has been selected, the dashboard updates in real-time with [PR.com]

Tyto Athene, LLC is Dedicated in Their Support to AFCEA in Challenging Times, Vice President Fabian Plath Active Member of Two AFCEA Boards

Tyto Athene’s Vice President of Business Development and Sales, Fabian Plath, is excited to begin his third year as a member of the board at AFCEA Belvoir and as the Chapter’s Chair of Strategic Initiatives. Additionally, Fabian is starting his second year on AFCEA International’s Small Business Committee. Tyto Athene, LLC, a full-service systems integrator headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, is proud [PR.com]

Business Development Director at Tyto Athene, LLC Begins 16th Year on Industrial Advisory Board at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Engineering

Tyto Athene’s Robert Mohr, Director of Business Development and ACUITY®, celebrates his 16th year as a member of the Industrial Advisory Board at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Engineering. [PR.com]

CougarShield® Wins the 2020 Singapore Business Awards

CougarShield® celebrates recognition by the APAC Insider Magazine on the 2020 Singapore Business Awards. [PR.com]

CougarShield® Establishes Strategic Partnership in India

Inspiring car owners in professional car care solutions, CougarShield International deliver high performance products to the automotive community worldwide and pairing it with exceptional service and support to their country partners. [PR.com]