Promising malaria vaccine to be tested in first large field trial (3 minute read)
A malaria vaccine that has so far provided almost 100% protection against malaria will be tested on humans in an area where malaria occurs. Bioko, an island off the coast of Equatorial Guinea, has a population of 280,000 people and 2,100 will participate in the trials beginning in 2020. The vaccine is made from whole parasites as opposed to the genetically engineered parasite proteins that other vaccines are made with, which may explain its strong immune response. As the immune systems of people who have previously had malaria are generally weaker, it is expected that the vaccine will be less effective in the trial, but researchers are optimistic about the results.
Scientists: We kept pig brains alive 10 hours after death. Bioethicists: “Holy shit.” (9 minute read)
The line between life and death has been blurred by recent research, where scientists were able to revive the cells in dead pig’s brains and keep them alive hours after death. Brain death was thought to occur 15 minutes after the organ stops receiving oxygen, but the scientists saw signs of life in brains that had been ‘dead’ for more than four hours, after hooking them up to a special system called BrainEx. BrainEx supplied the brains with oxygen, nutrients, and protective chemicals. While the cells showed signs of life, brain monitors showed no signs of activity, indicating that there was no consciousness. As the lack of consciousness was chemically induced, it may be possible that the brain activity could have been restored, but researchers did not want to cross that line.