A new study has found that men who actively monitored their low- to intermediate-risk prostate tumors had a lower risk of life-altering complications such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction, compared to those who underwent surgery or radiation. The study followed 8,000 men over 15 years, and showed that active monitoring is a safe and effective option for men with localized prostate cancer. However, decisions should be made on an individual basis.
Posts published in “Science”
On Saturday, the United Nations reached a historic agreement to protect biodiversity in the high seas, with nearly 200 countries signing a legally-binding treaty. The treaty provides legal tools to establish and manage marine protected areas, as well as environmental assessments to evaluate the potential damage of commercial activities. After two decades of negotiations, the agreement marks a major victory for conservationists and will help to protect the planet’s biodiversity.
A new study presented at the American College of Cardiology has found that bempedoic acid, an alternative to statins, can significantly lower cholesterol and the risk of heart attacks without the severe side effects associated with statins. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that bempedoic acid reduced LDL cholesterol levels by an average of 18.9% with no serious side effects, and may be a viable option for patients who cannot or will not take statins.
The ScanPyramids project has used cosmic-ray muon radiography to uncover a 30-foot-long corridor inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. Dr. Zahi Hawass believes that the discovery of the corridor could lead to the discovery of the real burial chamber of Khufu, and Mostafa Waziri is hopeful that the discovery will lead to further discoveries. The project is ongoing and the team of archaeologists and scientists are hopeful that further discoveries will be made in the near future.
In 1894, the Ironton cargo vessel collided with a grain hauler in the Thunder Bay area of northern Lake Huron, sinking both ships and taking the lives of the Ironton's captain and six sailors. In 2019, the wreckage of the Ironton was located by a team of historians and underwater archaeologists. The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is now working to document and preserve the Ironton and other shipwrecks in the area, as well as educate the public about the history of the Great Lakes.
SpaceX and NASA launched a mission to the International Space Station on Thursday morning, carrying two NASA astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut, and an astronaut from the United Arab Emirates. The Crew Dragon capsule detached from the Falcon 9 rocket and is expected to dock at the space station on Friday. This mission is the first time an Arab astronaut has been assigned to a long-duration spaceflight and will last roughly six months, during which the astronauts will conduct a variety of experiments and research projects.
The U.S. has been urged to respect science and facts in its investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. FBI Director Christopher Wray suggested that Covid-19 may have originated from a potential lab incident in Wuhan, China, and the Chinese government has interfered with the FBI's ongoing probe. The World Health Organization has called for more international cooperation and collaboration to help uncover the source of the virus.
A launch of a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying a four-man crew bound for the International Space Station was called off with less than three minutes to go due to a technical issue. The mission is part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program and is the first operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft. The next attempt to launch the mission could come as early as Tuesday, although poor weather is forecast up the East Coast in the emergency recovery area.