The Unlikely Buddha

It has been detected in a small number of samples from infected people and waste (sewer) water in several countries, including the  United States,  Denmark,  Israel,  South Africa, and the  United Kingdom. BA.2.86 is a subvariant of Omicron and is more genetically different from the original Omicron variant than previous subvariants have been.  It has over 35 amino acid changes compared with the more recently circulating  XBB.1.5 variant.  This number of genetic differences is roughly of the same magnitude as seen between the initial Omicron variant (BA.1) and previous variants, such as Delta (B.1.617.2). It is too early to say whether BA.2.86 is more transmissible or causes more severe disease than other Omicron variants. However, the fact that it has so many genetic changes is concerning to public health experts. They are closely monitoring the spread of BA.2.86 and its impact on the pandemic. These genetic changes are located throughout the vir...

Although currently there are no cures for autoimmune diseases, researchers are still trying to find what causes them in hopes of developing new treatments. Researchers recently developed a new type of vaccine called an “inverse vaccine” that showed potential in completely reversing autoimmune disease symptoms in mice. Scientists were able to do this without shutting down the rest of the immune system. Researchers from the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago say they have developed a new type of vaccine called an “inverse vaccine” via a mouse model. The new vaccine was able to completely “reverse” autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, and Crohn’s disease without fully shutting down the rest of the immune system in the mice. An estimated 1 in every 10 people worldwide has an autoimmune disease — a condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues within the body. Generally speaking, there are curren...

NPR had a story this morning  about Lantern Bugs. They mention that the excrement is almost all sugar and encourages fungus growth which can slow the work of  chlorophyll in plants. They then went into all sorts of machinations to try and control them. From placing a sticky substance on tree trunks (which can trap and kill animals) to finding egg sacks and place them in alcohol to using insecticides which endanger humans. The fact of the matter is that In general, lantern bugs are not considered to be a serious threat to most plants. You can just knock them off foliage with a stream of water or... just wait for the coming cold season that will take care of them naturally.