Welcome to the space club. China’s first successful private sector rocket launch took place earlier today. Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Technology Ltd., also known as iSpace, launched the Hyperbola-1 launch vehicle from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. iSpace joins SpaceX, Blue Origin, a select few other companies to succeed in this field. Two previous attempts by separate Chinese companies failed on lift off. http://bit.ly/2LGR0QC
Two separate studies are suggesting that there may be more water on the moon than previously thought. South Pole craters, in particular, could contain ice sheets several meters thick. Areas shaded from the sun’s rays can reach as much as -233C at night. http://bit.ly/30WnidW
Billionaire’s are a lot like college students. They’re all in need of causes to champion. Internet billionaire Sean Parker, a man known for his early work with Napster and Facebook, has taken to cancer research, in particular immunotherapy. He’s infused a lot of money into the field and has had an impact on the field already. http://bit.ly/2LGz34I
The fungus Candida auris is keeping doctors, scientists, and public health officials awake at night. According to STAT, “The fungus doesn’t behave like a fungus. It causes outbreaks like a bacterium and is generally highly resistant to available antifungal drugs.” Now, clones are spreading around the world at a furious pace. People are rightly concerned. http://bit.ly/2LFQa6T
Speedy and accurate diagnostics are a central part of the fight against antibiotic resistance. A recent paper documents implementing Whole Genome Sequencing in part of Mexico, a country with a significant AMR problem. The authors of the study report positive results: “The results illustrate the utility of WGS for establishing the potential for prediction of resistance against first and second line drugs in isolates of tuberculosis from the region. They also demonstrate the feasibility of this procedure for use as a tool to support the epidemiological surveillance of drug- and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.” http://bit.ly/2LDPEpP
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