US biotech raises $15m to reduce cattle methane emissions with Irish state among the backers
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Series A raise for Hoofprint Biome has been led by Sean O'Sullivan's SOSV through its Ireland Biomanufacturing Fund, which is backed by the Irish state Hoofprint founders Kathryn Polkoff and Scott Collins,
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Irish Post
26 minutes ago
- Irish Post
Heatwaves have ‘major impact' on spread of disease
HEATWAVES can have a major influence on the spread of disease new research by Irish scientists has found. The study conducted by researchers at Trinity College Dublin, found that a multitude of factors related to sudden heatwaves can have a significant impact on environmentally transmitted diseases. It also found that many existing predictive models related to the spread of disease have overlooked this factor. 'While scientists have a relatively good idea of how temperature impacts some viruses and disease-causing pathogens and parasites, they know much less about the effects of sudden heatwaves or cold snaps, or how influential variation in the duration of these events are,' the report authors explain. Specifically, the scientists discovered that differences in heatwaves – such as how much hotter they are than normal temperatures, and how long they last – can increase or decrease disease burden by up to 13 times. Their discovery and its implications come at a time when global climate change and related extreme weather events are impacting counties across the globe, and their findings have been published in the leading international journal PLOS Climate. 'In this study, we worked with the water flea (Daphnia magna) and a microsporidian pathogen (Ordospora colligata), which is a widely used model for environmentally transmitted diseases, to investigate the impacts of different heatwave attributes,' first author, Niamh McCartan, a PhD candidate from Trinity's School of Natural Sciences, said this week. 'We manipulated the amplitude and duration of heatwaves across four average temperatures and four distinct time points at which the hosts were exposed to the pathogen. 'This approach gave us 64 unique heatwaves for comparison.' The results showed that, when compared to other types of temperature variation, such as cold snaps, heatwaves alter parasite burden up to 13-fold, which drives significant variation in infection outcomes. 'A recently published study reported that 58 per cent of human pathogenic diseases have been aggravated by climate change, with temperature changes impacting host susceptibility due to altering biological properties such as how our immune systems function, as well as our behaviour,' Ms McCartan explained. 'From a bigger-picture perspective, this work underlines the need for more detailed, context-specific models to help better predict the likely impact of heatwaves and climate change on different diseases. 'We now know that amplitude, duration, baseline temperature and the point at which exposure occurs have differing effects in shaping disease outcomes, so overly simplified models may miss critical complexities.' She explained: 'For example, other researchers have suggested almost 70 per cent of Covid-19 cases in the summer of 2022 could have been avoided if there hadn't been heatwaves around that time – imagine the difference that a better understanding of how heatwaves alter disease dynamics could have made to countless people?' 'Climate change is also causing mosquito species that carry diseases like dengue, Zika, and malaria to be increasingly found in parts of southern and central Europe, including Italy and France, areas that were previously too cool to support them. 'While Ireland has so far been less affected, the findings of our study highlight the urgent need to understand how warming and extreme weather events can alter disease dynamics more broadly. 'With all of this in mind, it's important that future disease-specific models must account for fluctuating and extreme temperatures, not just averages.' See More: Disease, Heatwave, Research, TCD
The Irish Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Highest ever' €2k payment for 138k Irish TODAY in ‘vital role' boost after 25-year €1,746 increase & full list revealed
SOME 138,000 Irish people will today receive a €2,000 cash boost straight into their accounts, it has been confirmed. The Carer's Support Grant has this year reached its "highest ever level" after Advertisement 2 Minister for Social Protection Dara Calleary confirmed the payment landed into accounts today Credit: Getty Images 2 Some 16,000 people will receive a €4,000 payment Credit: Getty Images The grant is available to all carers providing full-time care to an older person or a person with a disability, regardless of their means or social insurance contributions. Minister for Social Protection And over 16,000 carers are providing care for two or more people - meaning they will receive a grant in respect of each person. Announcing the payment this morning, Minister Calleary said the extra cash is designed to recognise the "vital role" carers play in society. Advertisement READ MORE IN MONEY He said: "The "This is one of a number of improvements introduced this year in recognition of the vital role of carers and the contribution they make to society. "The Grant will be paid automatically to those who are receiving the "It is also available to other full-time carers not receiving these payments and is paid in respect of each person being cared for." Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN There are New online application system opens for €360 or €180 Domiciliary Care Allowance applications The Carer's Support Grant is also available to other full-time carers who are not receiving any of these payments. You can qualify for the payment if you are aged over 16, ordinarily resident in Ireland and caring for the person a full-time basis for at least six months - including the first Thursday in June. You must also be living with the person being cared for, or meet certain criteria. Advertisement FULL LIST OF GRANT NUMBERS BY COUNTY SOME 138,000 carers across Ireland received the Carer's Allowance Grant today. The county with the highest number of carer's who received the cash boost was Dublin, with 31,191 eligible carer's. Leitrim, which is the smallest county by population, had the least amount of carer's who received the payment. The number of people who received the grant by each county has been revealed: Carlow - 2,165 Cavan - 2,324 Clare - 3,128 Cork - 16,432 Donegal - 5,664 Dublin - 31,191 Galway - 6,969 Kerry - 4,666 Kildare - 5,850 Kilkenny - 2,523 Laois - 2,730 Leitrim - 1,095 Limerick - 7,220 Longford - 1,605 Louth - 4,337 Mayo - 4,084 Meath - 5,045 Monaghan - 1,669 Offaly - 3,051 Roscommon - 2,191 Sligo - 1,922 Tipperary - 5,807 Waterford - 3,683 Westmeath - 3,227 Wexford - 5,452 Wicklow - 4,038 In a situation like this, where the carer and person being cared for live separately, an investigation is conducted by a "You dedicate yourselves to providing care to support your loved ones and I want to take this opportunity to thank all carers in Ireland for the vital and valuable contribution you play in our society and in our local communities." The Respite Care Grant was introduced in 1999 at a rate of £200, which is worth €254. Advertisement In 2016, the name of the payment was changed to the Carer's Support Grant to better reflect how the grant is used and, in 2025, the payment was increased to €2,000. STILL TIME TO APPLY The Carer's Support Grant is not a means-tested payment and only one can be paid for each person getting care. If you are getting Carer's Allowance, Carer's Benefit or Domiciliary Care Allowance, you do not need to apply for the money. Instead, you will automatically get it in June. Advertisement However, those not getting one of the above payments should fill in the Carer's Support Grant application form (CSG1) for each person they are caring for. Applications for the Carer's Support Grant are open from April until 31 December of the following year - meaning those eligible who haven't applied won't miss out on the cash payment. And those who were eligible for the payment last summer but didn't receive it can still apply. For example, you can apply for the Carer's Support Grant for 2024 at any time from April 2024 up until 31 December 2025. Advertisement And you can apply for the Carer's Support Grant in 2025 at any time from April 2025 up until 31 December 2026.
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
The ‘enchanting' cottage on Irish market for €135k – it has ‘perfect blend of traditional character and modern comfort'
A STUNNING home has hit the Irish market for €135,000 - and it comes with huge perks. Located at Cloontumper in Bekan, Advertisement 6 The home in Cloontumper in Bekan, Claremorris, County Mayo is selling for €135,000 Credit: 6 The home has an open plan design Credit: 6 The kitchen is fully fitted Credit: It is perfect for those looking to put their own touch on a The home has two bedrooms and one bathroom, making it perfect for a couple or small It is nestled in the Mayo countryside, offering the perfect blend of traditional character and modern comfort. The home is set on a large private site, and gives off rustic charm with timeless features. Advertisement READ MORE IN PROPERTY Inside the home, guests are welcomed by a large open-plan living room with tiled floors. It features exposed brick walls, a feature fireplace and a bay window to allow sunlight in. The open-plan kitchen is the heart of the home, which leads into an open-plan dining room. The kitchen is fitted with all necessary appliances including a large amount of storage, a washing machine, an oven, a countertop sink and a large fridge. Advertisement Most read in Money The open-plan design is perfect for hosting friends or families, and for making it your own. The two bedrooms have tiled flooring with large windows to allow natural sunlight in. The two bedrooms are generously sized, offering comfort, tranquility and countryside views. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES The bathroom appears to be recently renovated, and has tiling from floor to ceiling. Advertisement It features a walk-in shower, a wash hand basin and a water closet. The property also includes a smart meter and is due to be fitted with fibre broadband this year. There is an immersion heater installed, along with a wood burner and an insulated roof. Outside, there are endless possibilities for the new owners. Advertisement The large garden provides options for planting your own desired plants or transforming it into the perfect hosting space. The size of the site also allows for the expansion of the property. To the back of the home, there is the septic tank, a decking area and the original stone wall sheds. 'SERENE RETREAT' These sheds could be used for a number of uses, including as an outdoor office, a home gym or even for more accommodation. Advertisement The property is just a short drive from Claremorris, Ballyhaunis, Knock Shrine and Ireland West Airport. There are a range of different amenities within a short drive, including lakes, scenic walks, schools, shops and services. The Westport to In the listing on the agent said: "Whether you are looking for a serene retreat, a charming family home or a picturesque holiday escape this countryside gem is a rare find." Advertisement The home has a BER rating of G and an Energy Performance Indicator of 761.9 kWh/m2/yr. 6 There are two bedrooms in the home Credit: 6 The bathroom appears to be recently renovated Credit: 6 The home sits on a large site Credit: Advertisement
