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[ad_1] STOCKHOLM: Researchers discovered that Covid epidemic shutdowns in South Asia significantly reduced the number of short-lived cooling particles in the air while having no effect on the concentration of long-lived greenhouse gases. Researchers were thus able to demonstrate how lower air pollution emissions lead to cleaner air and faster global warming. The study was published in the journal, 'Climate and Atmospheric Science'. It is well known that emissions of sulphur and nitrogen oxides, as well as other air pollutants, cause the formation of aerosols (particles) in the air, which can offset or mask the full climate warming caused by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. However, this masking effect' has received little attention. Large-scale experiments involving vast areas would be required to determine the size, which is impractical. The Covid pandemic became such a 'natural' experiment. Due to pandemic restrictions, many industries

[ad_1] NEW DELHI: Vaccines administered for COVID-19 did not increase the risk of sudden death among young adults in India but it was the post-Covid hospitalisation, family history of sudden death, and certain lifestyle behaviours that are likely the underlying causes, according to a peer-reviewed ICMR study. The study by Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) was conducted through the participation of 47 tertiary care hospitals across India.Cases were apparently healthy individuals aged 18-45 years without any known co-morbidity, who suddenly died of unexplained causes during October 2021-March 2023. Interviews were recorded to collect data on COVID-19 vaccination, infection and post-COVID-19 conditions, family history of sudden death, smoking, recreational drug use, alcohol frequency and binge drinking and vigorous-intensity physical activity two days before death. "Lifestyle factors such as current smoking status, alcohol use frequency, recent binge drinking, recreati

[ad_1] You’re not imagining it: Covid-19 cases are on the rise again. Fortunately, since a vast majority of Americans have some sort of immunity, either from vaccination or a prior infection, or both, most people who get infected now will have a mild illness. And while there are multiple strains circulating (nearly all of them descendants of the omicron XBB variant), they are unlikely to cause the “wildfire spreading” that occurred with the delta variant and the first omicron variant, said Dr. David Boulware , a professor of medicine specializing in infectious diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical School. That includes EG.5, which was recently named a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization and now accounts for about 17% of U.S. cases. “I’m not sure if it’s a surge, per se, or just uptick,” Boulware said of the current situation. Either way, he added, it’s a reminder “that, yes, Covid still exists.” Below is a quick refresher on how to navigate an

[ad_1] OTTAWA: Canada will miss its 2030 target for cutting carbon emissions unless it quickly steps up efforts, concluded an audit released Tuesday by the environment commissioner. Ottawa has set a target of slashing total carbon emissions by 40 to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. But the audit found it is likely to reach only a 34 percent CO2 reduction. This leaves a gap of six percent to 11 percent. Environment Commissioner Jerry DeMarco in his report laid the blame for the projected shortfall on delayed climate measures such as a cap on oil and gas sector emissions and new clean fuel regulations. Those delays were due to the covid-19 pandemic and longer than expected consultations with stakeholders, according to the government. "We found that the measures most critical for reducing emissions had not been identified or prioritized," DeMarco said in the report. Ottawa has spent billions of dollars rolling out more than 10 climate plans since 1990 and all so fa

[ad_1] Exposure to ultrafine particles during pregnancy enhances the risk of respiratory viral infection, shows a study. During pregnancy, women are more susceptible to severe respiratory infections from multiple viruses, including influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). In addition, pregnant women are disproportionately affected by influenza, resulting in a more than 10-fold increase in hospitalisation risk. "We know that air pollution affects the pulmonary immune system, making individuals more susceptible to viral infections," said Dr Natalie Johnson, associate professor at the Texas A&M University School of Public Health. In the study, published in the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology, the team pointed out that there are several physiological characteristics that explain maternal susceptibility to viral infection. Also read: Natural Ways To Boost Fertility: How Lifest

[ad_1] BEIJING: China's exports fell in May for the first time since February, state media reported Wednesday, breaking a two-month growth streak as a post-Covid rebound in the world's second-largest economy faded. Overseas shipments sank 7.5 percent on-year last month, a sharp drop from an increase of 8.5 percent in April, according to figures published by the official Xinhua news agency. Meanwhile, imports fell 4.5 percent in May, according to Xinhua. Forecasts in a survey by Bloomberg showed economists expected exports to drop 1.8 percent and imports to shrink 8.0 percent. Rising global inflation , the threat of recession elsewhere and geopolitical tensions with the United States have weakened demand for Chinese products . China's exports grew in March and April, snapping a run of five straight declines, when production was disrupted by sweeping lockdowns and delays at ports when authorities enforced their strict zero-Covid policy. But that recovery has lost steam

[ad_1] Scent dogs may represent a cheaper, faster and more effective way to detect Covid-19, than conventional Covid-19 tests such as RT-PCR.  The review, published in Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, found that scent dogs are as effective, or even more effective, and could be a key tool in future pandemics, a new review of recent research suggests.  "Although many people have heard about the exceptional abilities of dogs to help humans, their value to the medical field has been considered fascinating, but not ready for real-world medical use," said Prof. Tommy Dickey from the University of California, Santa Barbara in the US.  cre Trending Stories "Having conducted this review, we believe that scent dogs deserve their place as a serious diagnostic methodology that could be particularly useful during pandemics, potentially as part of rapid health screenings in public spaces. We are confident that scent dogs will be useful in detecting a wide variety of diseas