Year: 2021

Fauci says omicron variant is `just raging around the world’

Fauci says omicron variant is `just raging around the world’

Published by skeptic

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The COVID-19 omicron variant is “just raging around the world,” the White House’s top medical adviser said Sunday as President Joe Biden prepares to issue “a stark warning of what the winter will look like” for unvaccinated Americans. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease expert, told NBC’s “Meet the Press” that “the real problem” for the U.S. hospital system is that “we have so many people in this country who are eligible to be vaccinated who have not yet been vaccinated.” The prospect of a winter chilled by a wave of coronavirus infections is a severe reversal from the optimism projected by Biden some 10 months ago, when he suggested at a CNN town hall that the country would essentially be back to normal by this Christmas. Biden has been careful not to overpromise, yet confidence in the country has been battered by an unrelenting wave of COVID-19 mutations and variations that have left many Americans emotionally exhausted, dispirited and worried about infections. Fauci, director of the National Institute …

Johnny Isakson, former Georgia Republican U.S. senator, dies

Johnny Isakson, former Georgia Republican U.S. senator, dies

Published by skeptic

ATLANTA (AP) — Johnny Isakson, an affable Georgia Republican politician who rose from the ranks of the state legislature to become a U.S. senator known as an effective, behind-the-scenes consensus builder, died Sunday. He was 76. Isakson died in his sleep before dawn at his home in Atlanta, his son John Isakson told The Associated Press. He said that although his father had Parkinson’s disease, the cause of death was not immediately apparent. “He was a great man and I will miss him,” John Isakson said. Johnny Isakson, whose real estate business made him a millionaire, spent more than four decades in Georgia political life. In the Senate, he was the architect of a popular tax credit for first-time home buyers that he said would help invigorate the struggling housing market. As chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, he worked to expand programs offering more private health care choices for veterans. Isakson’s famous motto was, “There are two types of people in this world: friends and future friends.” That approach made him exceedingly popular …

Omicron may sideline two leading drugs against COVID-19

Omicron may sideline two leading drugs against COVID-19

Published by skeptic

WASHINGTON (AP) — As strained U.S. hospitals brace for a new surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the fast-spreading omicron variant, doctors are warning of yet another challenge: the two standard drugs they’ve used to fight infections are unlikely to work against the new strain. For more than a year antibody drugs from Regeneron and Eli Lilly have been the go-to treatments for early COVID-19, thanks to their ability to head off severe disease and keep patients out of the hospital. But both drugmakers recently warned that laboratory testing suggests their therapies will be much less potent against omicron, which contains dozens of mutations that make it harder for antibodies to attack the virus. And while the companies say they can quickly develop new omicron-targeting antibodies, those aren’t expected to launch for at least several months. A third antibody from British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline appears to be the best positioned to fight omicron. But Glaxo’s drug is not widely available in the U.S., accounting for a small portion of the millions of doses purchased and distributed …

Brain health tips from a neuroscientist: 5 things she does every day

Brain health tips from a neuroscientist: 5 things she does every day

Published by Sam

Exercise, particularly aerobic forms, like running, skipping or taking a brisk walk, which elevate your heart rate and gets oxygen pumping around in your blood, is great for the brain. “Oxygen creates an environment for embryonic neurons to grow into fully-formed neurons via a process called neurogenesis, which is a form of neuroplasticity,” Swart says. “What’s interesting is that if it’s exercise you enjoy, the enjoyment aspect releases a growth factor called brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, which encourages the growth of neurons.” So make sure it’s something you love doing. Dance, and social activities like ping pong or tennis are other great examples. Source link

How to hack your stress and turn it into a positive force in your life

How to hack your stress and turn it into a positive force in your life

Published by skeptic

Many of us have felt more than a little stressed over the past couple of years. For me, exhibit A is my teeth. A recent trip to the dentist confirmed that months of pandemic-induced jaw-clenching, product of the usual deadline stress amplified by the demands of two young children, had left four of them broken. Crumbling teeth are small fry. Last year, the American Psychological Association found that two-thirds of people in the US reported feeling more stressed in the pandemic, and predicted “a mental health crisis that could yield serious health and social consequences for years to come”. Increased risk of diabetes, depression and cardiovascular disease and more are all associated with high stress levels. It’s enough to make you feel stressed just thinking about it. Perhaps we just need to think about stress differently, though. That, at least, is the startling conclusion of researchers studying the mind-body connection. There are natural benefits to being stressed, they say, and if we change our “stress mindset”, we might be able to turn things around and …

The best aluminum-free deodorants in 2024

The best aluminum-free deodorants in 2024

Published by skeptic

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Aluminum-free deodorants are great if you experience underarm irritation and want to find an alternative that doesn’t leave you stinky. If you have sensitive skin, most antiperspirants probably leave you with itchy, red armpits. You’ve probably tried countless options, only to end up smelling like horse poop with a hint of Febreeze. And all that testing has made you feel like a soggy science experiment. “Should I just embrace the stink and my damp pits?” you ask yourself after yet another disappointing deodorant trial. The answer is no; do not be the person who doesn’t wear deodorant to a concert. Thankfully, you can smell and feel good with aluminum-free deodorant and can mosh relatively worry-free. And if you’re skipping aluminum because you’re worried about getting cancer, good news: There’s very little science, if any at all, to back that fear up. As we say, you do you, but we want to make sure you’re not falling …

The best label printers in 2024

The best label printers in 2024

Published by skeptic

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › You don’t have to be a true type-A person for a label printer to change the way you work. Whether you’re running a high-volume online store or just trying to keep track of where all your stuff is, a great label machine can make the process much simpler. The best label printers are typically much more efficient than trying to wrestle with an unreliable all-in-one inkjet printer that tries to do everything and succeeds at almost nothing. These purpose-built printers can make the shipping process a lot easier and a whole lot cheaper. Just be sure you know what you’re looking for before taking the plunge and picking up one of the best label printers.  How we chose the best label printers Here at PopSci HQ, we have gadgets and other products coming in and out all the time. I’m also a frequent online seller with an established vintage clothing business, so this is essential equipment for …

The best surge protectors for 2024

The best surge protectors for 2024

Published by skeptic

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Connecting your electronics to the proper surge protector will ensure they remain guarded against potentially irreversible damage from commonly occurring electrical spikes in building wiring and power grids. While any amount of protection is better than none, it’s important to consider what types of appliances you’ll be using to determine what type is best for your needs. For most common home appliances—like lamps—any standard surge protector should do the trick. However, a heavy-duty model may be more fitting for high-wattage appliances and critical electronic equipment like computers or stereos. Whether you’re looking for a portable surge protector to use with your electronics while you’re on the go or one for permanent use in a business or home, we’ve compared the best surge protectors to help you make an informed decision. How we chose the best surge protectors The PopSci writers’ and staff’s homes and offices are loaded with gadgets, all of which require ample power to …

The best soundbars for 2023, tested and reviewed

The best soundbars for 2023, tested and reviewed

Published by skeptic

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › It’s more affordable than ever before to take your home media viewing experience to new heights thanks to streaming services, smart TVs, and soundbars. With this increased content availability enriched by new surround sound audio formats, a whole new world of entertainment possibilities comes to light. One of the easiest, most space-efficient ways to drastically improve the quality of your home theater’s audio is by upgrading to a soundbar to give you sound as vivid as the 4K video you’re probably enjoying. The top soundbars are compact, quick to install, and an unbeatable way to present your movies, music, and video games with elevated volume, clarity, and immersion. Unlike a traditional speaker system with an AV receiver, a soundbar usually requires only a single connection to your television to switch between sources. These systems are often Bluetooth-compatible from the get-go, so you can also sync your tablet, phone, and other streaming devices. If you’re looking for …

The best bidets in 2024

The best bidets in 2024

Published by skeptic

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more › Bidets aren’t unusual in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, but they’ve been a foreign topic of conversation in the United States until recently. Thankfully, many people learned a few lessons about the pros of a gentle water spray to cleanse our most sensitive parts in the midst of toilet paper shortages and conservation conversations. Bidets feature safeguards that ensure only clean water touches the body and are less abrasive than traditional toilet paper. Whether you’re ready to install a bidet/toilet combo or transform your existing toilet, there’s a model that will do the job. You don’t necessarily need to spend a bundle (though you can). What you do need is a little research (like what we’ve got) to figure out exactly which model you need. Trust us, if you haven’t experienced the fresh, clean sensation of the best bidets, you’re in for a clean (and sanitary) treat. How we chose the best bidets Bidets upgrade …