Climate change: The small village of Lytton in British Columbia, Canada was once a pitstop for hikers and tourists taking in nearby scenic mountain ranges and rivers. But, in 2021, a devastating wildfire – fuelled by an unprecedented heatwave sweeping much of the Pacific north-west – destroyed nearly all of its houses and buildings, killing two of its 250 residents. By Daisy Dunne Amid the disaster, temperatures in Lytton reached 49.6C – the highest temperature ever recorded in Canada, smashing the previous record for the country by 4.6C. Climate scientists studying the heatwave were left stunned by the record-shattering temperatures. “Within our knowledge, this [heatwave] is…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) have developed a low-cost sensor system to help farmers improve irrigation efficiency and manage crop diseases more effectively. Led by Younsuk Dong, an assistant professor in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, the system—known as the Low-Cost Monitoring System (LOCOMOS)—uses in-field sensors to track soil moisture, leaf wetness, and environmental conditions. The data is analyzed to provide irrigation recommendations via a smartphone app, offering an affordable alternative to expensive commercial-grade systems. In recent years, Michigan farmers have faced extreme weather, with both droughts and excessive rainfall impacting crops. These conditions have made irrigation…
A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveals a decline in tobacco product use among U.S. middle and high school students, based on the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey. The survey highlights that although its overall use has decreased, e-cigarettes remain the most popular product among adolescents. The survey shows that 10.1% of high school students, approximately 1.58 million, reported using the products in the past 30 days. Among middle school students, 5.4% or 640,000, reported similar use. In both groups, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco…
A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over the continued outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs), particularly in countries with low immunization rates. The report, covering the period from January 2023 to June 2024, highlights 74 distinct outbreaks across 39 countries, predominantly in Africa, affecting vulnerable populations, including children. According to the US CDC, a vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain related to the weakened live poliovirus contained in the oral polio vaccine (OPV). The vaccine-derived report indicates that 47 of the outbreaks were newly detected, with countries like Nigeria and Somalia experiencing prolonged transmission due…
Inflammation is how your body responds to an injury, allergen, or infection. It’s why a sprained ankle doubles in size and why you run a fever when your body is fighting a virus. But in today’s world, your body is constantly exposed to things that turn on the inflammation response — even when it’s not needed. And in the U.S., many of the common foods in our diet have become potential sources of that inflammation. Key takeaways There are many sources of inflammation in our lifestyle — from stress to diet. Chronic inflammation can put you at risk for long-term health conditions like heart…
University College Dublin (UCD) is leading MpoxVax AFRIVAC, a new €1.3 million international consortium that aims to rapidly deploy technology and develop new knowledge to end the current Mpox outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and surrounding countries. Professor Patrick Mallon, Director of the UCD Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research (CEPHR) and Professor of Microbial Diseases at UCD School of Medicine, is the Lead Coordinator of the consortium and Professor Bruce Kirenga from the Makerere University Lung Institute in Kampala, Uganda is the Scientific Coordinator. MpoxVax AFRIVAC (Expanding a prospective, clinical trial examining the immune response of participants receiving…
The Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) says it has detected that the SideWinder APT group is expanding its attack operations to impact high-profile entities and strategic infrastructure in the Middle East and Africa, utilising a previously unknown espionage toolkit called ‘StealerBot’. As part of its ongoing monitoring of APT activities, Kaspersky discovered that recent campaigns by the SideWinder APT group were targeting high-profile entities and strategic infrastructures in various countries in the Middle East, Turkiye, as well as in Morocco and Djibouti in Africa. The campaign in general remains active and may target other victims. SideWinder, also known…
The United States had the largest area of genetically modified crops worldwide in 2023, at 74.4 million hectares, followed by Brazil with a little over 66.5 million hectares. Genetically Modified Crop Market ALSO READ How We’re Reducing Disease With Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Regarding acreage [worldwide], the most commonly genetically modified crops are soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola as of 2019. In that year, 13.5 per cent of all the cotton grown worldwide was genetically modified. The same was true for 48.2 percent of all soybean plants. Because genetic modifications are proprietary, the market for genetically modified seeds and pesticides is heavily concentrated between…
In South Korea, we met with a Nigerian postdoctoral researcher from Kano, Dr AbdulQaadir Yusuf Maigoro, whose lab is doing fascinating work on malaria control. He invented the machine that can kill mosquitoes from one kilometer. His machine can capture mosquitoes within a range of 600 meters to one kilometer. It first lures them in, then captures them. The machine also identifies the mosquitoes within seconds and the types of illnesses they cause. With this, he works with his professor to mitigate asymptomatic malaria that silently damages the body, including the brain. ALSO READ How We’re Reducing Disease With Genetically…
In September 2024, over 3 million tubes of lubricant eye ointments were recalled. The affected products include Refresh P.M. and Refresh Lacri-Lube, which were distributed across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The recall is due to a tube seal issue, which could result in leakage and potential contamination. If your product has been affected by this recall, it’s best to stop using it. Tell your healthcare team if you experience eye infection symptoms such as eye pain, redness, or vision changes. Not all recalls are announced with a press release. To stay up to date on FDA…