“This is not an acceptable long-term standard,” says US COVID Czar Ashish Jha. Additionally, the Biodiversity COP15 will move to Canada and softer sonar based on shrimp shots.
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Deforestation, in places like the Amazon, contributes to biodiversity loss.Credit: Ivan Valencia/Bloomberg/Getty
Biodiversity COP15 will go ahead in Canada
The United Nations has announced that a pivotal summit to finalize a new global agreement on environmental protections will be held in December, after a two-year delay due to the pandemic. COP15, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, will move from Kunming in China to Montreal, Canada. Environmental advocates feared that China’s strict zero COVID-19 policy could force the country to delay the meeting again. “The global community is already behind in adopting, let alone implementing, a plan to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030,” says human rights expert Andrew Deutz. the biodiversity.
Open-source AI tackles built-in biases
An open-source artificial intelligence (AI) called BLOOM aims to break big tech’s hold on natural language processing and reduce its harms and biases. An international team of around 1,000 volunteers, mostly academics, trained BLOOM on data chosen to emphasize high-quality, multicultural content and reduce reliance on dubious sources such as websites. Pornographic websites. BLOOM will be available for download for researchers who want to experiment with it or train it on new data for specific applications.
A gentler sonar based on shrimp
Scientists at the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are working to replace whale-damaging sonar with ambient sounds emitted by aquatic creatures. The low-frequency booms of goliath groupers (Epinephelus itajara) and the super-loud snaps of pistol shrimp (family Alpheidae) are among the sounds being considered. On the same subject : HIV testing before and during the spread of COVID-19. Software can help detect natural sounds and analyze how they are reflected from an underwater object such as a submarine.
Features & opinion
US COVID czar: “you don’t write people off”
Physician and health policy researcher Ashish Jha has gone from ‘reluctant academic’ to US President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 czar. He is also a prolific science communicator, known for appearing in surprising media to right the wrongs of misinformation. He says the current situation in the United States should not be seen as the “new normal. To see also : China launches high-tech aircraft carrier at a naval milestone.” “We have hundreds of thousands of Americans infected every day. We still have a few hundred people dying from COVID every day,” he says. “I don’t think any of that is an acceptable long-term norm.”
National parks bend under climate pressure
The iconic Yellowstone National Park experienced flash and destructive flooding last week. In Joshua Tree National Park, California, the eponymous trees are dying from heat and wildfires. Glacier National Park in Montana faces a future in which it may have no glaciers. See the article : 100 million people in America are burdened with health debts. “Each of our more than 400 national parks is suffering,” says Stephanie Kodish, director of the climate change program at the National Parks Conservation Association. “We are literally making the choice to eliminate those things that are gems from our world, that are gifts that we have to pass on.”
‘Sentient’ AI is a smokescreen
News that a Google software engineer got himself in hot water for claiming an artificial intelligence (AI) system had become sentient comes as no surprise to AI ethicists Timnit Gebru and Margaret Mitchell. “It was exactly what we warned would happen in 2020, shortly before we ourselves were fired by Google,” they write. According to Gebru and Mitchell, the profit-driven hype about these systems tends to obscure their true risks and benefits. They urge companies to focus on meeting people’s needs, “rather than pretending they’re creating über intelligence”. And they encourage the media to stop “falling into the glare of seemingly magical AI systems”.
The Washington Post | 5 minute read
Today, I laugh when I discover that astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti re-enacts scenes from her sci-fi favorites on the International Space Station. A recent pose as Sandra Bullock in the movie Gravity follows Cristoforetti’s 2015 turn as Star Trek’s Captain Janeway.
Flora Graham, Editor, Nature Briefing
With contributions from Nicky Phillips
What are the Unity Studies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic?
WHO, in collaboration with technical partners, has developed several standardized generic epidemiological investigation protocols called UNITY studies. These studies aim to support national public health and social measures, promote international comparability of research, and fill gaps in current knowledge regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is a pandemic in the context of COVID-19? A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads across countries or continents. It affects more people and causes more victims than an epidemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic when it became clear that the disease was severe and spreading rapidly over a wide area.
What is community spread in the context of COVID-19?
Community spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who don’t know how or where they got infected. Each health department determines community spread differently based on local conditions. For more information on community spread in your area, please visit your local health department’s website.
What is the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on individuals and communities?
Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on individuals and communities. The COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak has the potential to increase stress and anxiety, both due to fear of catching the virus and also due to uncertainty about how the he epidemic will affect us socially and economically.
What is a healthy diet during the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Each day, eat a mix of whole grains like wheat, corn, and rice, legumes like lentils and beans, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with some animal-source foods (eg, meat, fish, , eggs, and milk).• Choose whole foods like unprocessed corn, millet, oats, wheat, and brown rice when you can; they are rich in valuable fiber and can help you feel full longer. • For snacks, choose raw vegetables, fresh fruit and unsalted nuts.
What are the guidelines for good nutrition during the COVID-19 quarantine? For optimal health, it’s also important to remember to eat healthy and stay hydrated. The WHO recommends drinking water rather than sugary drinks. Limit or avoid alcoholic beverages for adults and strictly avoid them for young people, pregnant and breastfeeding women, or for other health reasons. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and limit salt, sugar and fat intake. Choose whole grains over refined foods. For more advice on how to eat healthy during self-quarantine, please see Food and nutrition advice during self-quarantine, prepared by WHO/Europe.
What are the best foods to eat during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Eat fruits, vegetables, legumes (lentils, beans, etc.), nuts, and whole grains (like oats, wheat, brown rice, potatoes, and yams), and foods that animal origin (such as meat, fish, eggs and milk).
What are some appropriate vegetables to help the immune system during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A boost of Vitamin C nutrients: kiwi fruit, red peppers, citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit), pineapple, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach. Beta-carotene: sweet potatoes, carrots, yellow/orange squash, dark green leafy vegetables.
Where was COVID-19 first discovered?
The first known SARS-CoV-2 infections were discovered in Wuhan, China. The original source of viral transmission to humans remains unclear, as does whether the virus became pathogenic before or after the spillover event.
When and where was COVID-19 first identified? In 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified as the cause of an outbreak that originated in China. The virus is now known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease it causes is called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Where did the 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak start?
In 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified as the cause of an outbreak that originated in China. The virus is now known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease it causes is called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Where were first COVID-19 infections discovered?
The first known SARS “CoV” 2 infections were discovered in Wuhan, China. The original source of viral transmission to humans remains unclear, as does whether the virus became pathogenic before or after the spillover event.
When was COVID-19 first reported?
On this website you will find information and advice from WHO regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) which was first reported in Wuhan, China on 31 December 2019.
