SYNAGRO PROFITS FROM TOXIC SLUDGE DESPITE HEALTH RISKS
Synagro, a company owned by a Goldman Sachs fund, has been profiting from selling treated sewage sludge, or biosolids, as fertilizer. However, the fertilizer contains harmful PFAS chemicals linked to health issues like cancer and birth defects. Farmers are discovering PFAS contamination in their land, water, crops, and livestock. Synagro is lobbying Congress to protect itself from lawsuits related to the hazardous sludge, arguing the chemicals were already in the sludge before it became fertilizer. A bill introduced in Congress seeks to shield companies like Synagro from liability. The company, which earned an estimated $100-120 million in 2020, faces lawsuits from ranchers in Texas and California over PFAS contamination. Despite the risks, sewage sludge remains promoted as fertilizer due to its nutrient content and the environmental cost of disposal. The EPA is working on assessing PFAS risks, but critics argue that the industry continues to profit while farmers face mounting contamination issues. (New York Times)
SHI ZHENGLI PRESENTS DATA DISMISSING LAB ORIGIN CLAIMS
Virologist Shi Zhengli, known for her research on bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), presented new data at a conference in Japan, dismissing the theory that SARS-CoV-2 originated from her lab. The analysis, which has not been peer-reviewed, included 56 new bat coronaviruses collected between 2004 and 2021, showing no viruses closely related to SARS-CoV-2. Shi has consistently denied that the virus was studied or stored at WIV. The closest known viruses to SARS-CoV-2 were found in bats in Laos and Yunnan, China, but they diverged decades ago. Shi’s long-time collaborator, Peter Daszak, emphasized that the research expands knowledge of coronaviruses and assesses their potential risk to humans. Despite delays due to funding cuts and investigations, the team plans to submit their findings for peer review soon. The data supports Shi’s claim that SARS-CoV-2 did not originate in her lab. (Nature)
ALTERNATIVE HEALER SENTENCED FOR MANSLAUGHTER IN INSULIN CASE
Hongchi Xiao, an alternative healer who promoted “slapping therapy,” was sentenced to 15 years for the manslaughter of 71-year-old Danielle Carr-Gomm. She died after attending one of his paida lajin therapy retreats, during which she stopped taking insulin and fasted, leading to a fatal illness. The court found that Xiao failed to ensure she took insulin or sought medical help when she became critically ill. This was not his first incident; a similar case occurred in Australia in 2015, where a six-year-old boy with type 1 diabetes died after Xiao advised his mother to stop insulin. Xiao, who taught paida lajin as a healing method, was convicted of gross negligence manslaughter. The judge described him as dangerous due to his unwavering belief in paida lajin and its rejection of Western medicine. Xiao acknowledged his mistakes but maintained his belief in the therapy. Carr-Gomm’s family hopes the case highlights the dangers of unregulated alternative treatments. (The Guardian)
BMS PARTNERS WITH AI PROTEINS TO DEVELOP MINIPROTEINS
Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) has partnered with Massachusetts-based biotech AI Proteins to use its AI-driven platform for discovering and developing therapeutic miniproteins for two undisclosed targets. The deal is valued at up to $400 million, plus royalties, with AI Proteins receiving an undisclosed upfront payment. BMS has the option for an exclusive worldwide license for the miniproteins and two additional target options. Miniproteins, which are small and highly potent, offer advantages over traditional antibodies, such as better tissue penetration and faster clearance, potentially improving efficacy and safety. AI Proteins combines AI, synthetic biology, and automation to rapidly design and optimize miniproteins with drug-like properties. This is AI Proteins’ second major partnership this year, following a collaboration with Vivtex to develop oral biologic therapies for inflammatory diseases. The BMS deal follows AI Proteins’ presentation at the Falling Walls Venture competition, highlighting its innovative protein engineering technology. (Fierce Biotech)
LATIN AMERICAN OPEN-ACCESS JOURNALS BOOST SCIENTIFIC VISIBILITY
In 2016, biochemist Marcus Oliveira, unable to pay a $1,200 article-processing charge for publishing in a commercial journal, turned to nonprofit open-access journals, a model thriving in Latin America. These journals, often affiliated with academic institutions or scientific societies, charge minimal or no fees. Latin American scientists face visibility challenges, as many journals are not indexed in international databases. To address this, platforms like SciELO, launched in 1998, have helped increase the visibility of non-commercial journals. SciELO now hosts over 1,000 journals from Latin America, with many indexed in major databases like Scopus and Web of Science, boosting their global reach. Other platforms like Redalyc are also making strides in open-access publishing. Despite financial challenges, this model allows for affordable and accessible publishing. Latin American initiatives are gaining international attention, with some advocating for a shift to a non-commercial, university-run publishing model in the Global North to reduce reliance on profit-driven commercial publishers. (Science)
NASA’S ARTEMIS CAMPAIGN TARGETS MOON SOUTH POLE LANDING
NASA’s Artemis campaign aims to land astronauts on the Moon’s South Pole, including the first international astronaut. Updates to the mission include targeting April 2026 for Artemis II, with mid-2027 for Artemis III. Engineers are addressing issues from the Artemis I uncrewed test flight, particularly the heat shield on the Orion spacecraft, which experienced unexpected material loss during re-entry. Extensive analysis revealed that Avcoat, used in the heat shield, did not allow gases to escape properly, causing cracking. However, safety measures are in place, and Artemis II will proceed with modifications. NASA is also integrating the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket for Artemis II. The mission aims to provide data on Orion’s life support systems and crew safety. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen will fly Artemis II, which will help prepare for sustained lunar exploration and eventual Mars missions. (NASA)
NEW THEORY QUESTIONS COMETS’ ROLE IN EARTH’S WATER ORIGIN
For years, scientists believed that Earth’s water arrived on icy asteroids and comets, specifically Jupiter-family comets, which are influenced by Jupiter’s gravity. This theory was based on the deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio in water, where higher deuterium levels suggested colder environments, such as the outer solar system. However, a 2014 study from the European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission to comet 67P revealed that its water had three times more deuterium than Earth’s oceans, which cast doubt on the theory. Kathleen Mandt and her team revisited these findings, hypothesizing that cometary dust, which clings to deuterium-rich water, may have skewed the measurements. When comets heat up during their orbits, the dust could make the water appear more deuterium-rich than it actually is. Subsequent observations supported this hypothesis, suggesting that the true role of comets in Earth’s water delivery is still an open question. (space.com)
STUDY UNCOVERS MICRORNA ROLE IN BUTTERFLY WING COLOR
A recent study investigates the role of a microRNA, mir-193, as a key effector gene in the “cortex” genomic hotspot locus, which is crucial in the regulation of melanic wing color polymorphisms in Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). This locus, traditionally associated with protein-coding genes like cortex, was thought to be responsible for wing coloration, but the study reveals that mir-193, derived from the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) ivory, is the actual effector. The research shows that mir-193 represses multiple pigmentation genes, leading to adaptive changes in wing color. The study also highlights that mir-193’s role in pigmentation is conserved across multiple butterfly families and even in Drosophila. This discovery challenges the focus on protein-coding genes in genotype-phenotype studies and underscores the importance of noncoding RNAs in driving evolutionary adaptations. (Science)
Thanks for reading. Let’s be careful out there.
WORDS: The Biology Guy.
Leave a Reply