CovMT: Tracking virus mutations across the world

A SARS-CoV-2 tracker uses publicly available sequencing data to show how the virus is changing and spreading over time. The tracker, called CovMT, was developed at KAUST and is expected to help researchers and policymakers understand the evolution of the virus’s mutations. This could have implications for vaccine development, patient treatment and the implementation of…

Old-Time Radio: 6 Shows to Listen To

In the image and video cacophony of our world, there’s an old-fashioned medium that rouses and works with our own powers of imagination, one that suits these cooped-up inner-world days of ours. It’s radio drama, especially from its golden age, in the 1930s through the ’50s, when radio was king of home entertainment. Thanks to…

What is Clubhouse?

The focus on audio, rather than text, photos or videos, is a differentiator and part of the appeal. Delia Cai, of the newsletter Deez Links, wrote of her experience on the app: “It felt spontaneous, low-commitment and blessedly did not involve turning any kind of camera on.” Who is on it? As its name suggests,…

How To Make a Newspaper Pot Holder

Most people are doing a lot of cooking at home right now. These short cold days are the ideal time to enjoy steaming soup, warm roasted veggies and toasty bowls of comforting pasta. Newspaper is a good insulator, so why not turn it into a useful item that will protect your table from scorching dishes?…