Latest news with #science
Washington Post
16 hours ago
- Health
- Washington Post
‘I'm not a politician,' says NIH director. But it's not that simple.
'I'm not a politician,' the new director of the National Institutes of Health, Jay Bhattacharya insists. 'I'm not going to get involved in the political fight over things.' Easier said than done. The great challenge facing the former Stanford University doctor and economist as he guides the world's largest public funder of biomedical research is that science and American politics have become intertwined as perhaps never before. There is little ideological distance between NIH headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, and the White House in nearby D.C.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Sight of someone potentially infectious causes immune response, research suggests
Whether it's the person brandishing a tissue on the train or the child with the telltale signs of chickenpox, the threat of an infection can be enough for us to beat a retreat. Now researchers using virtual reality avatars have shown that the mere sight of a potentially contagious person is enough to mobilise our immune system too. 'Although surprising, our finding that immune responses can be triggered by simulated infections presented in VR is consistent with the principle of the smoke detector in biological systems,' the authors said, adding the behavioural system that helps us avoid catching diseases is 'exquisitely sensitive' to cues that may suggest someone is sick. Writing in the journal Nature Neuroscience, the researchers reported how they fitted 248 healthy people with VR headsets and carried out five experiments, each involving a minimum of 32 participants. In each experiment, participants initially watched three faces of the same sex as themselves repeatedly loom towards them, bearing a neutral expression. Participants were then split into groups and shown the same three faces multiple times, either with a neutral expression or signs of viral infections such as skin rashes. In some experiments, an additional subset of participants were shown the faces displaying an expression of fear. In one experiment, participants were asked to press a button as fast as possible after receiving a mild touch to their face while an avatar was shown. The team found that when the avatars showed signs of sickness, participants pressed the button when the faces appeared further away than for faces showing a neutral or fearful expression. Results from EEG tests to investigate the electrical activity of the brain tallied with these findings. As expected, as avatars loomed closer, the brain system that represents the space closely surrounding our body became activated. However, this activation differed when the avatars showed signs of infection compared with neutral expressions, even when they appeared far away. These differences, the team add, were localised in areas of the brain involved in detecting and filtering threats. The team found that functional MRI (fMRI) brain scans supported these results, further revealing that when infectious avatars were shown there was a greater connection between this threat-detection network and part of the brain called the hypothalamus, which acts as a key regulation centre for the body. The team also found differences in participants' blood when they were shown the infectious avatars compared with neutral or fearful faces. '[In terms of cells], we saw mainly that there is an activation of an immune cell family called the innate lymphoid cells (ILCs)that [are] early responders in immunity to basically alarm other immune cells,' said Prof Camilla Jandus of the University of Geneva and an author of the study. The team added that they found a similar activation of ILCs when they examined the blood of individuals who had received an influenza vaccine but had not been exposed to the VR setup. Dr Esther Diekhof of the University of Hamburg, who was not involved in the work, said the study chimed with previous research, including that of her own team. 'The study provides yet another good example for the existence of a mechanism that responds to potential contagion threats even before the immune system has come into contact with pathogens,' she said. But Prof Benedict Seddon, of University College London, said questions remained, including whether the observed responses help the immune system actually fight an infection. 'When we get infected, by Sars-CoV for instance, it can take a day or two for the infection to establish and for the immune system to become aware of it and respond, a long time after the initial encounter that stimulated this short-lived mobilisation,' he said.
CTV News
a day ago
- Science
- CTV News
NS professor discusses latest space developments
Atlantic Watch Saint Mary's University professor Rob Thacker speaks with Todd Battis about the latest developments in space exploration.
CBS News
a day ago
- Health
- CBS News
Billionaire philanthropist Wallis Annenberg known for her work in the arts, sciences dies at 86
Wallis Annenberg, the billionaire philanthropist who supported the arts, science, education and animal welfare causes over decades in Los Angeles, died Monday, her family said. She was 86. Annenberg died at home from complications related to lung cancer, the family said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. "Wallis transitioned peacefully and comfortable this morning to her new adventure," the statement said. "Cancer may have beaten her body but it never got her spirit. We will hold her and her wisdom in our hearts forever." Her children and co-directors of the Annenberg Foundation, Lauren Bon, Gregory Weingarten and Charles Weingarten, released a statement saying their mother's generosity will lift people up for "many generations to come." "To the public, she was a dynamic force in philanthropy, to us, she was a mother, grandmother, friend, mentor, and a force of nature whose life and family remain committed to honoring public service," the statement said. Her name adorns institutions across the Los Angeles area, including the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center, the Wallis Annenberg GenSpace senior center and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, the world's largest bridge for animals on the move, will open next year over an LA freeway. Mayor Karen Bass said Annenberg's passing affects more than just LA. Bass said that her impact helped transform the city in "profound and lasting ways." "Put simply — Los Angeles is stronger because of her," Bass said. "Her legacy of generosity will live on forever through the many lives changed by her service. My thoughts are with the Annenberg family during this difficult time." During her 16-year tenure as president and chief executive of the Annenberg Foundation, the nonprofit organization has donated about $1.5 billion to thousands of organizations in Southern California, the Times reported. Under Wallis Annenberg's leadership, the foundation expanded its philanthropic scope beyond media, arts and education to include animal welfare, environmental conservation and healthcare. Gov. Gavin Newsom also released a statement saying she was a "visionary who believed not just in a better world but a kinder one." He added that she was committed to helping people connect with each other and her work helepd fund medical research, economic development and environmental protection. "California is better for all that she did, and for her enormous heart and unbelievable generosity," Newsom said. "Jen and I join all those mourning this remarkable woman, but know that her legacy is carried on by her family, the work she accomplished, and the people she empowered to create a better world." Her father, Walter Annenberg, started the foundation after selling his publishing empire, including TV Guide and other publications, in 1989 to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Walter Annenberg died in 2002. Wallis Annenberg was a longtime board member of LA's Museum of Contemporary Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA. In 2002, she gave $10 million to endow LACMA's director position. "Wallis Annenberg blessed the Los Angeles community not only with her philanthropy, but also with her guidance about how to improve our community," said LACMA Chief Executive Michael Govan, who filled that endowed position in 2006. Born in Philadelphia, she moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s after marrying neurosurgeon Seth Weingarten. The couple divorced in 1975. Wallis Annenberg received the 2022 National Humanities Medal from President Joe Biden for her life in philanthropy. She is survived by four children and five grandchildren.
CTV News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Wallis Annenberg, billionaire philanthropist who backed arts, science and other causes, dies at 86
Wallis Annenberg, right, presents Elizabeth Taylor, center, and Sylvester Stallone with Devereux Foundation Awards at a ceremony, Thursday, July 12, 1984, Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, file) LOS ANGELES — Wallis Annenberg, the billionaire philanthropist who supported the arts, science, education and animal welfare causes over decades in Los Angeles, died Monday, her family said. She was 86. Annenberg died at home from complications related to lung cancer, the family said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. 'Wallis transitioned peacefully and comfortable this morning to her new adventure,' the statement said. 'Cancer may have beaten her body but it never got her spirit. We will hold her and her wisdom in our hearts forever.' Her name adorns institutions across the Los Angeles area, including the Wallis Annenberg Building at the California Science Center, the Wallis Annenberg GenSpace senior center and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, the world's largest bridge for animals on the move, will open next year over an LA freeway. During her 16-year tenure as president and chief executive of the Annenberg Foundation, the nonprofit organization has donated about $1.5 billion to thousands of organizations in Southern California, the Times reported. Under Wallis Annenberg's leadership, the foundation expanded its philanthropic scope beyond media, arts and education to include animal welfare, environmental conservation and healthcare. Her father, Walter Annenberg, started the foundation after selling his publishing empire, including TV Guide and other publications, in 1989 to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Walter Annenberg died in 2002. Wallis Annenberg was a longtime board member of LA's Museum of Contemporary Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, or LACMA. In 2002, she gave $10 million to endow LACMA's director position. 'Wallis Annenberg blessed the Los Angeles community not only with her philanthropy, but also with her guidance about how to improve our community,' said LACMA Chief Executive Michael Govan, who filled that endowed position in 2006. Born in Philadelphia, she moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s after marrying neurosurgeon Seth Weingarten. The couple divorced in 1975. Wallis Annenberg received the 2022 National Humanities Medal from President Joe Biden for her life in philanthropy. She is survived by four children and five grandchildren. The Associated Press
