|
|
|
|
“Inflammation” is one of those medical terms that may sound intuitive, but few of us actually understand the causes or the mechanisms at work in our bodies. Immunologists Prakash and Mitzi Nagarkatti from the University of South Carolina dig into this basic question – what is inflammation? – and the damage an overactive immune system can inflict. They note that stress, diet and nutrition, as well as genetic and environmental factors, all play roles in
inflammation.
The U.N. projects the global population to reach 8 billion people on or around Nov. 15, which happens to overlap with the COP27 climate conference in Egypt. Arizona State University evolutionary biologist and historian of science Manfred Laubichler ties together the two threads of climate change and population in a story that provides a framework for understanding how humanity has managed to grow exponentially despite limited environmental resources. His piece
ends with a hopeful note that “humanity can use knowledge to keep itself within its environmental boundaries.”
A story by a marine biologist and an evolutionary ecologist from Texas A&M University raises questions about how to best protect highly migratory species. They explain their research tracking endangered olive ridley sea turtles, which have highly varied paths across the oceans. They recommend a “dynamic ocean management” strategy, which has been used to reduce threats to other species, that “integrates many kinds of data, including satellite tracking,
voluntary catch reports from fishermen and modeling of target species’ habitat preferences.”
Also in this week’s science news:
If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to explore, reply to this email.
|
|
Martin La Monica
Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters
|
|
Insect bites or stings, like the one on this person’s hand, are a manifestation of inflammation.
Suthep Wongkhad/EyeEm via Getty Images
Prakash Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina; Mitzi Nagarkatti, University of South Carolina
Inflammation is a complicated and important part of how the immune system responds to threats to the body. But when the inflammatory response goes awry, it can lead to serious problems.
|
Population growth fuels knowledge, leading to new technology and energy use, fueling more population growth.
Robert Essel/The Image Bank via Getty Images
Manfred Laubichler, Arizona State University
The UN estimates the global population will pass 8 billion people on Nov. 15, 2022. From the Stone Age to today, here’s how things spiraled out of control.
|
An olive ridley swims Into the wild blue yonder.
Gerard Soury/The Image Bank via Getty Images
Pamela T. Plotkin, Texas A&M University; Joseph Bernardo, Texas A&M University
Standard marine protected areas with fixed boundaries can’t effectively shelter these ocean nomads.
|
|
|
Muhammad E. Rasul, University of California, Davis; Jaeho Cho, University of California, Davis; Saifuddin Ahmed, Nanyang Technological University
Researchers identified a connection between low levels of media literacy and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in people who consume their news via social media.
| |
Kimberly S. Sheldon, University of Tennessee
Everyone is feeling the heat these days – even species that develop underground.
|
Vinaya Manchaiah, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; Cory Portnuff, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
They are cheaper to buy and don’t require a doctor’s prescription. But OTC hearing aids come with some limitations.
| |
Casey Fiesler, University of Colorado Boulder
The communities that call Twitter home might decide to pack their bags. If they do, they are unlikely to be able to completely reconstitute themselves elsewhere.
|
|
|
|
|
-
Bethany Teachman, University of Virginia
As uncertainty abounds and anxiety skyrockets, you’ve probably heard advice to be patient, stay calm and keep the faith. Here are 10 concrete tips to help you actually manage the stress.
|
|
|
| | |
| | |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
