Posts

DARPA Announces AIM to Overhaul Vaccination Systems

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The Assessing Immune Memory (AIM) program proposes the development of a platform that will "uncover new biomolecular correlates..." and "incorporate next-generational analytical and computational approaches to determine the host response mechanisms that lead to long-lasting protection". [READ @ darpa.mil] Taking Guesswork Out of Vaccine Development This initiative is still in its infancy, but its proposal guidelines are rather specific. [READ @ sam.gov] Assessing Immune Memory (AIM) Biological Technologies Office   "DARPA is soliciting innovative proposals that will apply systems biology principles to develop a research and evaluation (R&E) tool for practical assessment of immune memory responses to vaccination. A responsive proposal will integrate biomolecular profiling approaches with computational tools and methods to derive actionable and testable mechanisms from multidimensional datasets. Specifically excluded is research that involves: 1. The focused

How to Choose a Cloth Face Mask

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MIT Medical provides a concise breakdown of cloth masks. [ READ @ medical.mit.edu ] How do I choose a cloth face mask? The expert team at MIT Medical is answering your COVID-19 questions! [ CONTACT - medical@mit.edu ] Find the right mask and stay safe!

Testing 14 Different Face Masks

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Researchers from Duke University studied 14 different masks by measuring filtration of expelled droplets during speech. The researchers offer a "simple optical measurement method" that is both "inexpensive and can be built and operated by non-experts". [READ @ advances.sciencemag.org] Low-Cost Measurement of Face Mask Efficacy for Filtering Expelled Droplets During Speech BEST MASKS Top-Tier: "Fitted N95- 14 " and "Surgical- 1 " 2nd-Tier: "Poly/cotton- 5 " and "PolyProp- 4 " 3rd-Tier: "Cotton5- 13 " and "Cotton2- 7 " WORST MASKS Bottom-Tier: "Neck Gaiter- 11 " 2nd-Bottom-Tier: "None" 3rd-Bottom-Tier: "Bandana- 12 "

Local Group

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"The Local Group is the galaxy group that includes the Milky Way." This is our home. [READ @ wikiwand.com / wikipedia.org] Local Group

How to Select, Wear, and Clean Your Mask

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"CDC recommends that you wear masks in public settings around people who don’t live in your household and when you can’t stay 6 feet away from others. Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others." [READ @ cdc.gov] How to Select, Wear, and Clean Your Mask

GW190521

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"On 2 September 2020, the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration announced the discovery of GW190521, the most massive gravitational wave binary observed to date. The two inspiralling black holes had masses of about 85 and 66 solar masses, and resulted in the formation of a black hole remnant of 142 solar masses. This remnant provides the first clear detection of an 'intermediate-mass' black hole..." [READ @ ligo.org] GW190521

Earth

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"Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life." This is our home. [READ @ wikiwand.com / wikipedia.org] Earth - [WATCH @ youtube.com] Time-Lapse Earth Flyover from NASA Astronaut in Space

AlphaDogfight Trials

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"Artificial intelligence has defeated chess grandmasters, Go champions, professional poker players, and, now, world-class human experts in the online strategy games Dota 2 and StarCraft II. No AI currently exists, however, that can outduel a human strapped into a fighter jet in a high-speed, high-G dogfight. As modern warfare evolves to incorporate more human-machine teaming, DARPA seeks to automate air-to-air combat, enabling reaction times at machine speeds and freeing pilots to concentrate on the larger air battle." [READ @ darpa.mil] Training AI to Win a Dogfight - [READ @ darpa.mil] AlphaDogfight Trials Foreshadow Future of Human-Machine Symbiosis - [WATCH @ youtube.com] EpiSci: AlphaDogfight Trials Playlist - [WATCH @ youtube.com] DARPAtv: AlphaDogfight Trials Final Event -

CERN Environmental Report: 2017-2018

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"Prepared according to Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Reporting Standards, the first public CERN Environment Report details the current status of CERN's environmental footprint, along with objectives for the coming years..." [READ @ home.cern] CERN Publishes Its First Public Environment Report - "Among the 626 hectares of forests, meadows, agricultural and recreational land under CERN's sterwardship are 211 hectares devoted to fundamental research. This makes CERN an integral part of its environment: a responsibility we take very seriously, both within the spaces we manage and beyond..." [READ @ hse.cern] Environment Report: Covering The Period 2017-2018