Complex venom varieties make snakebites hard to treat: study
An evolutionary "arms race” with their prey has left rattlesnakes with an ever-shifting arsenal of venom varieties, which may be one reason why snakebites are so hard to treat, a new study has found. Drew Schield, lead author of the study published Monday in Nature Ecology and Evolution, said understanding the constantly shifting nature of snake venom could help scientists design more effective treatments. "We found these rattlesnakes had a more diverse venom repertoire,
Read MorePrince Harry says world 'witnessing a global assault on democracy'
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, says the world is “witnessing a global assault on democracy and freedom,” calling for action at what he dubs a “pivotal moment.” The 37-year-old British royal family member delivered a fiery address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday to mark Nelson Mandela International Day. Harry called the current moment a “time of global uncertainty and division, when it’s all too easy to look around and feel anger or despair.” “How many of us feel battered, helpless in the face of the seemingly endless stream of di
Read MoreYellen calls for US, allies to fortify supply chains to combat China's 'unfair trade practices'
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will call for the United States to leverage its allies to build more resilient supply chains during a speech in South Korea on Tuesday. Her remarks will focus on the need to jointly develop stronger supply chains for key components, like semiconductors and electric vehicle batteries, with like-minded countries to combat China’s attempted dominance in those industries, according to excerpts released by the Treasury Department. “We cannot allow countries like China to use their market position in key raw materials, technologies or products t
Read MoreMan accused of fatally stabbing former NASCAR driver killed in police shooting
The man accused of fatally stabbing former NASCAR driver Bobby East at a gas station last week was shot and killed during a shootout with officers in California over the weekend. The Westminster Police Department said in a press release the suspect connected to East's stabbing was fatally shot on Friday after officers obtained a warrant to enter a residence in Anaheim, Calif. No officers were injured in
Read MoreNext up for mRNA vaccines: cancer and Alzheimer’s
A vaccine is a preparation that stimulates your immune system to respond against a disease. We have grown accustomed to thinking of a vaccine as a virus (or bacteria) or part of a virus that is “defanged” or inactivated and then introduced into the body to provoke the same kind of immune response that the full-fledged virus would. This in effect “tricks” the body into responding. But keep in mind a vaccine can be more than just that. In fact, a vaccine means any chemical or biological substance which activates your immune system to fight off the cause of a disease.
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