05 - 12 February 2017
'Riskiest ideas' win $50 million from Chan Zuckerberg Biohub
The biomedical research initiative created by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, physician Priscilla Chan, has awarded its first grants to scientists, on topics ranging from the genomics of obscure microbes to a memory-retrieval device. Find source
More than 350 organizations write Trump to endorse current vaccines’ safety
More than 350 organizations, including leading U.S. medical, advocacy and professional organizations, have sent a letter to President Trump expressing their “unequivocal support for the safety of vaccines.” Find source
SpaceX is about to send a lethal superbug into orbit
SpaceX is preparing to launch a lethal, antibiotic-resistant superbug into orbit on February 14, to live its days in the microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS). Find source
How plants evolved into carnivores
Any insect unlucky enough to land on the mouth-like leaves of an Australian pitcher plant will meet a grisly end. The plant's prey is drawn into a vessel-like ‘pitcher’ organ where a specialized cocktail of enzymes digests the victim. Find source
Gene therapy: Deaf to hearing a whisper
Deaf mice have been able to hear a tiny whisper after being given a "landmark" gene therapy by US scientists.They say restoring near-normal hearing in the animals paves the way for similar treatments for people "in the near future". Find source
