COVID-19 spread increases when UV levels decrease

Natural variations in ultraviolet radiation influence the spread of COVID-19, but the influence is modest compared to preventive measures such as physical distancing, mask wearing, and quarantine, according to new research from Harvard University. “Understanding the potential seasonality of COVID-19 transmission could help inform our response to the pandemic in the coming months,” said Jonathan…

Oral hormone therapy shown to significantly alter metabolome of menopausal women

Groundbreaking research led by a team of scientists including a University of Massachusetts Amherst biostatistician shows that oral hormone therapy (HT) significantly alters the metabolome of postmenopausal women. This finding, which examined blood specimens from the landmark Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, may help explain the disease risks and protective effects associated with different regimens…

Experimental vaccine can counter dangerous effects of synthetic cannabinoids

LA JOLLA, CA–Made in clandestine laboratories and sold widely across the United States, the diverse class of drugs known as synthetic cannabinoids presents a growing public health threat. In a new study, Scripps Research scientists have devised a way to deactivate these designer drugs after they’ve been administered–offering a potential path for treating addiction and…

California Travel Restrictions Ban Short-Term Rentals. Why Can’t Travelers Get Refunds?

Travel and travel planning are being disrupted by the worldwide spread of the coronavirus. For the latest updates, read The New York Times’s Covid-19 coverage here. California’s new travel restrictions, put in place to help prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed by the pandemic, have thrown vacation planning into reverse as travelers start canceling their lodging…