Medics grapple with why autoimmunity is most common in women, not men
When Rhonda Voskuhl was a postdoctoral fellow at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the mid-1990s, it was common knowledge among clinicians that multiple sclerosis (MS) – an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord – was about twice as common in women as in men....
Scientists turn to pottery for clues on what ancient generations ate, cooked food
Unearthed from the graves of children, ceramic baby bottles from thousands of years ago would look perfectly at home in nurseries today. Some have little feet, and one bottle’s spout juts from a ceramic critter’s bottom like a tail. These itty-bitty Bronze and Iron Age vessels smack of whimsy. But...
Survey in United Kingdom finds bullying and harassment are rife in astronomy
Bullying and harassment are rife in astronomy and geophysics in Britain and perhaps other regions, according to the results of a survey conducted last year by the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in London. Among 661 researchers polled, more than half of whom were in the United Kingdom, 44 per cent...
From Zero Hunger to severe food shortages, Brazil braces for hard times
Brazil is grappling with severe food insecurity, which is characterised by the inability to eat for a whole day; while moderate food insecurity means that a person is concerned or uncertain about future access to food, or the quality of food they can access is compromised. “For the past few...
After spells of food security, Brazil’s growing numbers of hungry people worries WFP
Not long ago hailed for its exemplary efforts to reduce hunger, Brazil is seeing a marked deterioration in its food security indicators as the economic fallout of Covid-19 deepens and a growing number of people struggle to afford a nutritional diet amid government aid cuts. Considered an upper middle-income country,...
Tensions soar in Tigray as Ethiopia alleges aid agencies are arming rebels, ‘fabricating facts and figures’ against state
Ethiopian government accusations that aid agencies are supporting rebel forces in Tigray have left international relief organisations concerned for the security of frontline staff, even as conflict escalates and hundreds of thousands of people face famine. In a statement last week, Ethiopian foreign affairs official Redwan Hussein accused aid organisations...
How publishers are coping with push to expedite name changes for ‘transwriters’
In an effort to expand inclusivity for transgender researchers, some scientific publishers and societies worldwide have adopted policies that allow rapid and discreet author name changes to be made on digital editions of published works. These include research articles, conference papers, books and book chapters. Some publishers are also extending...
‘I’m sorry, but it’s too late’: Doctor tells of how emotionally it’s taxing to care for someone who’d have prevented Covid
Dr Brytney Cobia said early this week that all but one of her Covid patients in Alabama did not receive the vaccine. The vaccinated patient, she said, just needed a little oxygen and is expected to fully recover. Some of the others are dying. “I’m admitting young healthy people to...
Graduate student mental health: Boundaries between work and life are blurred, self-care’s key
A graduate student mental health and well-being (CGS-JED) report says many PhD students say they have problems accessing care. This is because counselling centres are often closed after 5pm and at weekends, limiting access for those busy with classes, teaching and research. Some students were also apprehensive about going to...
Researchers and PhD holders want reforms in their fields addressed to rein in wastage
Nations, universities and research institutions around the world must redouble efforts to expand training for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to prepare them for jobs outside academia. So urges a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental coalition of 38 nations. The report, the result...
