Just Say No: It may be the 21st Century, but alcohol consumption continues to be a scourge in Europe. In order to call attention to the damage alcohol causes, the World Health Organization has published fact sheets on alcohol consumption, harm, and policy responses in 30 European nations. According to the WHO, 42% of all traffic deaths and 23% of all injury deaths were due to alcohol in 2016. Even more troubling, 1 in 5 deaths among 15-19 year olds were due to alcohol. http://bit.ly/2t50DNH
No Thank You, Next: More bad news for the pharmaceutical industry. Alkermes’ anti-depression drug ALKS 5461 has received two thumbs down from the American Food and Drug Administration. ALKS 5461 is a fixed-dose combination of buprenorphine and samidorphan meant to treat patients unresponsive to current antidepressants on the market. http://bit.ly/2HTGNPT
Where Are the Grown Ups?: Russia has pulled out of a long-standing nuclear weapons treaty with the United States after the Americans did the same. Vladimir Putin has vowed to continue developing the hypersonic missile it showcased last year, at least according to footage released by the Russian government. America and its allies had been upset over the development of the Novator 9M729 land-based cruise missile which they claim exceeds the now-abandoned treaty’s rules. Russia is unhappy with the network of American defensive missile launchers located in places like Romania. They claim that they can be used for offensive purposes as well. http://bit.ly/2HQOXs5
Dating Denisovans: Two new studies regarding the ancient hominins found in Denisova Cave have prompted revisions in the timeframes of the Denisovan people who inhabited the cave. According to the studies, some of the inhabitants lived there almost 200,000 years ago. The youngest hominin remains were estimated to have lived there between 40,000 and 50,000 years ago. The research indicates that Homo sapiens may have played a larger role in settling the ancient cave. https://go.nature.com/2HU7C6n
The Melt Is On: Climate change is having a serious impact on one of the world’s iciest regions, the Himalayan Hindu Kush region. Greenhouse gases are causing glaciers to melt at break-neck speed. By the end of the century more than a third of the glaciers would be destroyed. The findings were published in a 600-page report from the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, or ICIMOD. http://bit.ly/2I1YsEO
IMAGE SOURCE: Creative Commons
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