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  • Why COVID keeps roaring back every summer, even as pandemic fades

    Why COVID keeps roaring back every summer, even as pandemic fades

    By many measures, the coronavirus is a thing of the past.

    Masks have been stored away. Social distancing is just a vague memory. Interest in vaccines is waning. COVID, for many, feels like an inevitable annoyance, like the flu.

    Then, each summer, we get a rude reminder.

    The season of travel and fun continues to bring a spike in COVID-19 activity, far less profound than during the height of the pandemic but enough for people to notice and worry.

    This summer’s jump is being fueled by the subvariant XFG, nicknamed “Stratus.”

    “As we learn more about COVID, we are seeing that it has two surges a year: the late fall/early winter and in the summer, so we expect this trend of increased cases in the summer to continue,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, the regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

    Why summer?

    There are a number of factors that could explain why COVID activity seems to ramp up along with the temperature, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health:

    • Summertime travel and increased social mixing because of social events.

    • Spending time indoors to beat the heat: Respiratory viruses tend to spread more easily in environments with low humidity and cool temperatures. Air-conditioned spaces might not have adequate ventilation.

    • Waning immunity from vaccination and previous infections.

    • Mutations: As the virus spreads, it acquires mutations that allow it to evade our existing immunity. Eventually, a version of the virus collects enough mutations that it has a slight edge over other viruses, and if other factors line up, it can sweep through a population.

    What do the numbers show?

    The rate at which coronavirus tests in California came back positive was 11.59% for the week ending Aug. 16. That’s up from a positive test rate of 5.69% for the week ending July 19, according to the California Department of Public Health.

    The positive test rate is expected to further increase in the coming weeks, the department said.

    “COVID-19 test positivity this summer looks similar to [the] summer of 2023 so far,” the department said. That year saw the summer COVID wave peak in early September.

    Last year, which saw the largest summer spike since 2022, COVID activity maxed out in early August.

    COVID is also increasingly a reason why people are seeking urgent medical care. For the week ending Aug. 17, COVID diagnosis was the reason why 4.04% of children in California up to age 11 were in the emergency room — up from 1.02% during the last week in June.

    COVID was the reason why 2.25% of people age 75 and older were in the emergency room over the same period, up from 1.13% during the last week of June, state data show.

    So what? The pandemic emergency is over

    The rise in COVID comes as the disease has receded as a major worry from the minds of many, with fewer people getting annual COVID vaccines and even fewer wearing masks in any setting.

    Still, COVID can result in significant illness — a “razor blade” sore throat and miserable cough for some and hospitalization and even death for the very young, very old and chronically ill.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that at least 38,000 have died from COVID-19 for the season that began Oct. 1. During the same period, the CDC estimates the number of flu deaths to be at least 27,000.

    What are the vaccine numbers like?

    Just 14.7% of California’s population has received the updated COVID-19 vaccine that first became available nearly a year ago. Uptake was greatest among the oldest Californians, with 37.2% of state seniors age 65 and up getting the vaccine.

    For those ages 50 to 64, 17.7% have gotten their shot, as have 9.5% of younger adults ages 18 to 49. Among children ages 5 to 11, 5.9% have been vaccinated, and for those younger than 5, 3.2% have been vaccinated with the latest COVID-19 vaccine formula.

    The California Department of Public Health continues to recommend that everyone age 6 months and older stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations.

    “This is particularly important for higher-risk individuals, such as infants and toddlers, pregnant individuals, older persons, and others with risks for serious disease,” the department said.

    The department’s advice resembles the CDC’s past guidance, which has changed since the start of the second Trump administration and the appointment of vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the CDC’s parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services.

    The CDC now says it offers “no guidance” as to whether healthy pregnant women should get the COVID vaccine, and asks parents of healthy children to talk with a healthcare provider before getting the COVID vaccine for their youngsters.

    Mainstream medical organizations, like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, continue to recommend that people receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine at any point during pregnancy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants and children ages 6 months to 23 months get the updated COVID vaccine, since they are at high risk of severe illness should they get COVID, and that the vaccine should be offered for children age 2 and older if their parent wishes.

    Some doctors, including Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a UC San Francisco infectious diseases expert, have suggested that people who haven’t been vaccinated in more than a year, and are at risk for severe complications should they get COVID, get vaccinated with the currently available shots now.

    Chin-Hong noted that the 2025-26 version of the COVID vaccine should be “relatively the same formula” as the 2024-25 version. “It’s less important to wait,” he said.

    Eligibility for the new vaccine has been delayed by the Trump administration, and it isn’t clear when it’ll become available or who will be eligible outside of older people and those with chronic health conditions.

    Some pharmacy chains and health providers have paused online scheduling of appointments for COVID-19 vaccines until the 2025-26 version is released, presumably later this year.

    But at least one chain, CVS, says all of its pharmacies nationwide offer the 2024-25 version of the COVID-19 vaccine and that it is available on a walk-in basis.

    “All CVS Pharmacy locations across the U.S. currently offer the COVID-19 vaccine. We’ll continue to offer to eligible patients, as determined by the [Food and Drug Administration] and CDC, until an updated 2025-2026 vaccine is released,” CVS spokesperson Amy Thibault said in a statement to The Times.

    “Digital vaccination scheduling is paused temporarily, but we are still offering walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations,” Thibault said.

    What might the rest of the summer look like?

    Officials note that the spread of COVID appears to be less severe this summer compared to last.

    Across California, levels of the coronavirus detected in wastewater are about 20% lower than the peak of the 2023 summer wave, and about 50% below the height of the 2024 summer wave, the state Department of Public Health said.

    For this time of year, COVID hospitalizations are currently considered low, based off thresholds “established from the data from the past five seasons,” the department said. “Deaths are also lower than previous seasons.”

    What can I do to protect myself?

    Here are some steps those concerned about COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases can take:

    • Get vaccinated now, especially if you’re at higher risk of severe complications from COVID-19 and haven’t received a vaccine in more than a year.

    • If you do get sick with COVID-19, talk with a medical provider about getting an anti-COVID drug like Paxlovid, which can reduce the duration of illness and alleviate symptoms.

    • Stay away from sick people.

    • Wear a well-fitting mask, like a KF94 or an N95, in indoor public settings — or perhaps at least carry one with you if you’re traveling, so you can wear it if someone is coughing on a plane. “Now’s a good time to mask in indoor public places if you’re in a high-risk group,” wrote Dr. Matt Willis, former public health officer for Marin County, on the “Your Local Epidemiologist in California” blog.

    • Optimize indoor air quality — opening a window helps!

    • Test if you’re ill with COVID-like symptoms or have been exposed to the virus.

    And here’s some advice about flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV:

    • Health officials recommend everyone age 6 months and older get the flu shot for the upcoming season.

    • The vaccine for RSV is recommended for all adults age 75 and older and those ages 50 to 74 who are at increased risk for RSV. People who have already received the RSV vaccine in recent years don’t need another dose at this time.

    • Pregnant women should also get a single dose of an RSV vaccine during weeks 32 through 36 of their pregnancy, sometime between September through January.

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  • After an amputation, the brain remembers the body’s lost limb : Shots

    After an amputation, the brain remembers the body’s lost limb : Shots

    A new study finds that the brain does not appear to significantly rewire its map of the body after an amputation.

    Westend61/Getty Images


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    Westend61/Getty Images

    A rare circulatory problem required Emily Wheldon to have her left arm amputated three years ago. Her brain still thinks it’s there.

    “Most days, it just feels like I’ve got my arm next to me,” she says.

    The perception is so compelling that Wheldon had to train herself not to rely on the missing limb.

    “When I first had the amputation,” she says, “I was trying to put my arm out to stop myself from falling.”

    A Sense Of Self: What Happens When Your Brain Says You Don't Exist

    Now, a study of Wheldon and two other people with arm amputations may help explain why they are living with phantom limbs.

    Brain scans showed that in all three, “the phantom hand representation is exactly similar to the pre-amputated hand representation,” even five years after surgery, says Hunter Schone, a postdoctoral associate at the University of Pittsburgh who started the project as a doctoral student at University College London.

    The finding, which appears in the journal Nature Neuroscience, challenges decades-old research in monkeys and people suggesting that after losing sensory input from a limb, the brain dramatically reorganizes the areas linked to that limb.

    How Do You Amputate A Phantom Limb?

    “I’m not sure the [new] study really negates that research,” says Dr. Krish Sathian, the chair of neuroscience at Penn State Health, who was not involved in the research. “But the plot thickens, which is always the case in science.”

    Sathian and Schone agree the finding bodes well for people who rely on a surgically implanted brain-computer interface to control a prosthetic or robotic limb. The interface depends on the brain maintaining for many years the circuits once used to move an arm, hand, or leg.

    A brain map of the body

    The news study involved three people who knew they were going to have an amputation because of cancer or some other disease.

    Stone Age brain surgery? It might have been more survivable than you think

    Researchers performed MRI scans before and after the amputation to look for changes in the somatosensory cortex, an area of the brain that maintains a detailed map of the body.

    “When you touch something with your hand, a certain region’s activated,” Schone says. “If you feel something with your toes, a different region is activated.”

    Before the amputation, participants in the scanner would move their fingers, allowing scientists to see which brain regions responded. Up to five years after the amputation, participants imagined moving their missing fingers.

    Researchers work to create a sense of touch in prosthetic limbs

    Earlier studies had suggested that after the loss of a hand, the brain would shift the borders of its body map. The area responding to the missing hand would shrink, while the neighboring area linked to the lips would expand.

    But that’s not what the team found.

    “There’s no evidence that the map of the lips is changing,” Schone says, “which goes completely against all of those old studies that suggest if you lose this body part, this region of the brain is going to completely reorganize.”

    Earlier studies were limited because they compared the brains of people who’d already lost a limb with the brains of typical people. The new study appears to be the first to look at the same person’s brain before and after an amputation.

    Prosthetic arms and phantom limb pain

    Like many people who’ve had an amputation, Wheldon often feels pain in her phantom arm and hand.

    “It’s like a throbbing pain that becomes quite unbearable at times,” she says. Sometimes it feels like her wrist is sore, other times it’s like her fingers are cramping.

    A Scientist's Pink Cast Leads To Discovery About How The Brain Responds To Disability

    Previous research suggested phantom limb pain was the result of changes in the brain’s body map. But the new study suggests it occurs because the map hasn’t changed, and the brain is still expecting signals from the missing body part.

    “Imagine if you had a nerve that was receiving a highly detailed information for the body and suddenly now it’s receiving some strange, atypical input,” Schone says. “How the brain would deal with something like this?”

    It might interpret the input as pain, he says.

    If so, he says, the solution may lie in finding a new home for a nerve ending, rather than just leaving it exposed.

    An unchanging body map could be a huge boost for the emerging field of brain-computer interfaces, which can allow a paralyzed person to speak or move a robotic arm.

    Many of these interfaces place electrodes in the same area of the brain that maintains the body map. So they depend on that map remaining constant over many years.

    The new evidence for this “offers a lot of hope for patients with neurological conditions,” Sathian says.

    Emily Wheldon isn’t seeking a brain-computer interface that could control a prosthetic left arm.

    But she says it’s helpful just to have a scientific explanation of why her missing limb still seems like it’s attached, and sometimes hurts.

    “A lot of people don’t realize that you can actually still feel the limb,” she says, “and they’re shocked when I say I’m suffering from phantom pain.”

    Wheldon has been able to control that pain with electrical stimulation and a therapy that uses a visual representation of the missing limb. And she says the phantom pain is much less severe than the pain she felt when her arm was still there.

    “Back then, the pain was so intense I couldn’t look after my newborn daughter,” she says. Now she’s back at work and able to help her kids get dressed and ready for school.

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  • Widespread temporal niche partitioning in an adaptive radiation of cichlid fishes

    Widespread temporal niche partitioning in an adaptive radiation of cichlid fishes

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  • The Clinical Impact of Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients with a Biatrial Orthotopic Heart Transplant

    The Clinical Impact of Tricuspid Regurgitation in Patients with a Biatrial Orthotopic Heart Transplant

    Newswise — Researchers from Erasmus MC in Rotterdam have revealed significant insights into the effects of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in patients who have undergone biatrial orthotopic heart transplants. Published in Frontiers of Medicine, this study sheds light on the prevalence and implications of TR post-surgery, offering potential guidance for clinical practices.

    Tricuspid regurgitation is a condition where the heart’s tricuspid valve does not close tightly, leading to blood flow backward into the right atrium. This study aimed to explore the long-term effects of TR on patients who had received a biatrial orthotopic heart transplant between 1984 and 2017, a group comprising 572 patients with follow-up echocardiograms.

    Biatrial orthotopic heart transplantation has been a standard procedure for patients with severe heart failure. However, post-operative complications such as tricuspid regurgitation are common and can impact patient outcomes. Existing literature suggests that TR can lead to increased mortality and associated complications, yet its dynamic progression and long-term clinical implications remain unclear.

    The study found that approximately 32% of patients experienced moderate-to-severe TR immediately following surgery. This figure declined to 11% at 5 years and 9% at 10 years post-surgery, indicating a potential natural decline in TR severity over time. The researchers discovered that pre-implant mechanical support was associated with lower TR severity during follow-up, while concurrent left ventricular dysfunction correlated with increased TR incidence during follow-up.

    Importantly, moderate-to-severe TR during follow-up was associated with a higher mortality rate, with a hazard ratio of 1.07. Furthermore, the study highlighted a significant positive correlation between longitudinal changes in TR severity and creatinine levels, as measured by creatinine levels.

    The researchers utilized a mixed-model approach to analyze the evolution of TR, integrating these findings into a Cox model to assess the association with mortality. This robust statistical framework enabled adjustment for survival-related confounding and provide reliable insights into TR’s clinical impact.

    These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring TR in heart transplant patients, particularly given its association with increased mortality and renal dysfunction. The study suggests that surgical intervention for TR might be unnecessary in the early post-transplant period, as TR severity decreases over time when adjusted for survival bias. This could inform clinical guidelines and patient management strategies, potentially improving long-term outcomes for heart transplant recipients.

    The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and conducted in collaboration with the Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cardiology, and Biostatistics at Erasmus MC. For more detailed findings, the full research article is available in Frontiers of Medicine: https://journal.hep.com.cn/fmd/EN/10.1007/s11684-022-0967-5. Future research will continue to explore the mechanisms driving TR progression and its broader implications on heart transplant success.


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  • Slate’s daily game of questions about history.

    Slate’s daily game of questions about history.

    You wanted more quizzes, and we’ve delivered! Now you can test your wits every day of the week. Each weekday, your host, Ray Hamel, concocts a challenging set of unique questions on a specific topic. At the end of the quiz, you’ll be able to compare your score with that of the average contestant, and Slate Plus members can see how they stack up on our leaderboard. Share your score with friends and compete to see who’s the brainiest.

    Today’s topic is history. Can you ace the quiz and beat the average? Good luck!

    If this is your first time playing, read the rules here. The quiz may require you to turn on cookies in your browser for it to function properly.


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  • SpaceX’s Starship releases first batch of mock satellites in orbit: What is Starlink’s deployment system and how does it work |

    SpaceX’s Starship releases first batch of mock satellites in orbit: What is Starlink’s deployment system and how does it work |

    SpaceX’s Starship achieved a key milestone in its tenth test flight by deploying its first batch of mock Starlink satellites into orbit. The demonstration, reported by Reuters, marks a turning point after several failed test attempts and showcases the rocket’s unique “Pez”-like dispenser system designed for mass satellite deployment. While the satellites were dummies, the success highlights the future potential of Starship as the backbone of Elon Musk’s ambitious satellite internet project, Starlink. Alongside this, the mission also tested new heat shield tiles during reentry, bringing the spacecraft closer to operational readiness.

    How the Starlink’s Pez-like dispenser works

    The Starship’s satellite deployment system has earned the nickname “Pez dispenser” due to its resemblance to the classic candy dispenser. Instead of side-mounted ejections, the system releases satellites vertically from an internal bay. During the test, eight dummy satellites were pushed into orbit, proving the mechanism’s capability. This design allows SpaceX to carry and release larger batches of satellites at once, increasing efficiency and reducing costs compared to the Falcon 9 system currently used for Starlink launches.

    Why mock satellites matter in testing

    The use of non-functional satellites in this mission allowed SpaceX to evaluate the reliability of Starship’s dispenser without risking expensive hardware. These mock payloads replicate the weight and dimensions of real Starlink satellites, giving engineers accurate data on deployment dynamics, orbital placement, and potential risks. By validating the process with test hardware, SpaceX reduces the chance of costly setbacks when real Starlink payloads are launched aboard Starship in the future.

    Starship’s role in Starlink’s future

    Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet venture, currently relies on the Falcon 9 rocket for launches. However, Starship’s larger payload capacity will enable the deployment of dozens, potentially hundreds, of satellites in a single mission. This efficiency is crucial to rapidly building out Starlink’s global constellation, which already numbers over 6,000 satellites. If successful, Starship could dramatically cut costs, accelerate expansion, and allow larger next-generation satellites with enhanced capabilities to reach orbit.

    What comes next for Starship

    While the dispenser test was a success, many technical hurdles remain before Starship can operate routinely. Heat shield durability, orbital refueling, and safe landings are still under development. NASA is watching closely, as Starship is slated to deliver astronauts to the Moon under Artemis III, currently scheduled for 2027. For now, the mock satellite deployment offers SpaceX proof that its innovative payload system works—and a glimpse into the future of how thousands of Starlink satellites could soon be launched into space more efficiently.


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  • How did F1’s most recent new teams approach their first driver line-ups?

    How did F1’s most recent new teams approach their first driver line-ups?

    Veteran racers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez are set to lead the charge for Cadillac when they arrive in Formula 1 next year.

    The Finn and the Mexican have bags of F1 know-how and boast 527 Grands Prix, 16 victories, and 106 podiums between them.

    Not every new team opts for such an experienced pairing for their debut season though. We’ve taken a look back at the new teams who have arrived in F1 across the last three decades to see what kind of line-up they went for, and how things panned out…

    1997 – Stewart: Barrichello and Magnussen

    Formula 1 had two new teams in 1997, as Lola and Stewart Grand Prix joined the fray. Lola opted for the inexperienced Vincenzo Sospiri and Ricardo Rosset, but the occupants of the machinery mattered little considering the team was woefully off the pace. They failed to qualify in Australia, and then disappeared of the grid entirely amid financial problems.

    Stewart, meanwhile, eventually morphed into the title-winning Red Bull Racing outfit. When Sir Jackie Stewart and son Paul brought their eponymous team onto the grid, with support from Ford, they recruited Rubens Barrichello and Jan Magnussen, father of former Haas racer Kevin.

    Barrichello had four years of competing for Jordan, which had yielded him a pole and two podiums, while de facto rookie Magnussen was a highly rated youngster with one stand-in appearance in 1995 to his name.

    Stewart’s SF01 was unreliable and saw the finish just eight times out of 34 across the two cars, but Barrichello stayed out of trouble in a rain-hit race in Monaco to score a remarkable second place – the team’s sole points of 1997. Barrichello stayed for three years, before moving on to Ferrari, though Magnussen was axed partway through 1998, and replaced by Max Verstappen’s dad Jos.

    1999 – BAR: Villeneuve and Zonta

    BAR technically acquired the entry of the once-mighty Tyrrell outfit, but to all intents and purposes they were a new team for 1999, kickstarting the operation that now operates as Mercedes after phases as Honda and, unforgettably, Brawn.

    BAR recruited Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 World Champion, with the Canadian managed by the outfit’s Team Principal, Craig Pollock. For the other seat they snapped up rookie Ricardo Zonta, who had claimed successive titles in Formula 3000 and the FIA GT Championship.

    BAR had high hopes and bold claims pre-season, but 1999 proved to be a disaster. The car showed glimpses of performance but unreliability stymied any hopes of big points hauls, with Villeneuve retiring from the first 11 races.

    An injured Zonta was replaced by Mika Salo for three Grands Prix and the Finn took the team’s best result of seventh – but even then failed to see the flag due to a technical issue.

    Villeneuve stuck around until 2003, before brief stints at Renault and Sauber/BMW, while Zonta was replaced after 2000, following which he started just seven more rounds as a stand-in at Jordan and Toyota.

    2002 – Toyota: Panis and McNish

    Toyota spent a couple of years preparing for their Formula 1 entry, including a sizeable testing programme in 2001, and went for two experienced drivers – though only one with Formula 1 race experience.

    Mika Salo was a veteran of the midfield, with six seasons under his belt and two podiums during his stint as Michael Schumacher’s injury replacement at Ferrari in 1999. Alongside Salo was Allan McNish, who had first tested Formula 1 machinery in the late 1980s, before embarking on a prolifically successful sportscar career, sparking the link with Toyota.

    Despite the team’s finances and build-up, their TF102 car often remained towards the rear of the field, with Salo scoring two points via a pair of sixth places in attritional races in Australia and Brazil.

    McNish failed to score and brought his season – and Formula 1 race career – to a premature halt after a violent accident during Qualifying for the finale at Suzuka, with the subsequent race proving to be Salo’s swansong as both were axed for 2003.

    2006 – Super Aguri: Sato and Ide

    Super Aguri joined the grid in 2006 as an effective Honda satellite team, handily providing refuge for one-time podium finisher Takuma Sato after he lost his seat at BAR-Honda.

    Sato’s selection was widely expected but the identity of his team mate was a surprise, as Super Aguri signed his compatriot, 31-year-old Yuji Ide.

    Super Aguri joined the field with an updated version of a 2002-spec Arrows A23 and were consequently off the pace, with Sato faring significantly better than rookie Ide, who was a frontrunner in Formula Nippon and Super GT but had zero experience of the Formula 1 landscape.

    After a string of dire displays – which included tipping Christijan Albers into a spectacular barrel roll at Imola – Ide was replaced by Renault tester Franck Montagny, who performed respectably, before a third newcomer, Sakon Yamamoto, took over the seat for the remainder of the season.

    Super Aguri’s performances improved and Sato capped the season with a top-10 result in Brazil. Neither Ide nor Montagny raced in Formula 1 again beyond their brief Super Aguri spells.

    2010 – Lotus Racing: Trulli and Kovalainen

    Formula 1 welcomed three new teams in 2010 and each took a different approach to their driver line-up.

    Lotus, run by Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandes, with cars designed by former Jordan, Renault and Toyota engineer Mike Gascoyne, went for experience.

    Jarno Trulli had been left unemployed by Toyota’s decision to withdraw from Formula 1, and he put pen to paper at Lotus, bringing with him over 200 starts, 11 podiums and a victory.

    Heikki Kovalainen was another refugee, after his replacement by World Champion Jenson Button at McLaren, where he had spent two years and taken a win and three podiums.

    Kovalainen regularly led the ‘new teams’ charge in 2010 (more on which below), though neither he nor Trulli troubled the top 10, with the Lotus T127 off the pace of the midfield outfits. Trulli exited at the end of 2011, and Kovalainen after 2012, as the spiralling team chased alternative options.

    2010 – Virgin Racing: Glock and Di Grassi

    Virgin Racing were another new team in 2010, run by prolific single-seater outfit Manor Motorsport, and they opted for experience and youth.

    Like Trulli, Timo Glock found himself on the market after three years at the departing Toyota team, where he had claimed three podiums. Virgin signed rookie Lucas di Grassi for the second car, after the Brazilian had spent several years as a frontrunner in the GP2 Series.

    The VR-01 was off the pace and unreliable, and typically it was Glock who led the charge, but without any realistic threat of scoring points.

    Glock spent three years at the team before worsening finances prompted the squad to look for other drivers, ending his Formula 1 career, while Di Grassi lasted only one season.

    2010 – Hispania: Senna and Chandhok

    Hispania arrived in 2010 on a wing and a prayer following financial strife and managerial upheaval during the months of preparation for their first race.

    Bruno Senna – nephew of F1 legend Ayrton – was signed in late 2009 when the team were still under the control of Campos, and the GP2 Series runner-up and one-time Honda test driver’s contract was honoured by the new ownership.

    Karun Chandhok was signed just a couple of weeks before the season opener, and such was the rush that his first laps in the F110 came during Qualifying for the season opener in Bahrain.

    Ex-Super Aguri and Spyker racer Sakon Yamamoto came on board mid-season, initially in place of Senna, before taking Chandhok’s seat, while ex-Red Bull racer Christian Klien had two starts later in the season.

    None stayed on for 2011, though Senna did go on to have slightly more success during a half-season with the Lotus-branded Renault team, and then with Williams.

    2016 – Haas: Grosjean and Gutierrez

    Haas went for experience when they joined the grid in 2016, taking on Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutierrez.

    Grosjean had spent four years at Renault/Lotus, following an initial abortive spell in 2009, picking up 10 podiums, and his recruitment was aided by the financial uncertainty that enveloped the squad in the mid-late 2010s.

    Gutierrez spent 2013/14 competing for Sauber, and 2015 as Ferrari’s test driver, before linking up with Grosjean.

    The Frenchman stunned on Haas’ debut by taking sixth, improving next time out to fifth, and scored all of Haas’ points that season.

    Gutierrez was often in the shadows, and beset by the lion’s share of the team’s issues, and the partnership ended after just one year, ending Gutierrez’s Formula 1 career.

    But Grosjean spent five seasons with Haas, and his fourth place in Austria in 2018, remains Haas’ best result in Formula 1.

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  • New tools help track and contain deadly avian flu

    New tools help track and contain deadly avian flu

    image: ©wildpixel | iStock

    Scientists have developed new tests that can detect avian influenza, which is also commonly known as bird flu. These tests can detect influenza quickly and more accurately than ever before

    The new tests are already playing a key role in tracking the virus in both animals and the environment, including in wastewater.

    Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1), a strain known for its rapid spread and deadly impact on birds, has already affected millions of poultry worldwide. It has now begun to infect mammals, raising fresh public health concerns. While the virus hasn’t been transmitted between humans, its ability to cross species from birds to mammals like cows and cats shows the urgent need for improved monitoring.

    A technological breakthrough

    A significant part of this breakthrough is the development of two new digital RT-PCR tests by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in collaboration with several leading European health institutes.

    These tests represent a significant improvement over traditional methods, enabling scientists to detect and identify the specific genetic material of the virus, even in complex samples such as wastewater.

    RT-PCR, or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, is a standard tool used to detect RNA from viruses, such as influenza. However, the new digital RT-PCR versions are far more sensitive and precise.

    They are capable of identifying tiny amounts of viral RNA. They can even differentiate between similar viruses, such as seasonal flu strains and the highly virulent clade 2.3.4.4b H5 strains responsible for the current global outbreaks.

    Wastewater surveillance and broader impacts

    One significant advantage of these digital tests is their ability to analyse wastewater, providing a robust early warning system for virus circulation in the environment. This is especially important given the recent revision of the EU’s Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, which now includes influenza viruses as targets for surveillance.

    By using these new tools, authorities can detect the presence of avian flu before it spreads further among birds, animals, or potentially humans. This enables quicker responses to outbreaks, including targeted measures to limit the spread, mitigate economic losses in the poultry sector, and safeguard public health.

    The global poultry industry has been significantly impacted by the bird flu crisis, with mass culling of infected birds driving egg prices to record highs in some regions, including the United States. Monitoring and controlling the spread of the virus is essential not just for animal health, but also for food security and economic stability.

    The development of these advanced RT-PCR assays supports EU regulations aimed at strengthening preparedness for serious cross-border health threats. It also meets the surveillance requirements outlined in European animal health legislation, ensuring enhanced protection of both livestock and public health.

    A tested and proven approach

    The new tests were created using a highly effective computational workflow previously used to develop reliable COVID-19 tests, including those for identifying SARS-CoV-2 variants. For avian flu, thousands of viral genetic sequences were analysed to pinpoint conserved regions unique to the current H5N1 clade, allowing for fast and accurate identification in any sample type.

    These digital RT-PCR assays are now available for use by laboratories across the EU, enabling faster and more targeted responses to outbreaks and helping to safeguard both animals and humans from the threat of avian influenza.

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  • JD Sports sales slump in UK as fragile consumer confidence concerns retailers | JD Sports Fashion

    JD Sports sales slump in UK as fragile consumer confidence concerns retailers | JD Sports Fashion

    JD Sports has revealed a slump in UK sales, amid mounting concern that brittle consumer confidence will damage retailers.

    Revenues in established UK shops fell 6.6% as the leisurewear company struggled to beat strong trading last year, when it received a boost from the men’s Euro 2024 football tournament and women’s growing taste for sports footwear such as Adidas’s Samba and Gazelle.

    The company said it had invested in cutting prices online amid “tough comparatives”, especially on footwear for women and children.

    The sales slide in the UK in the 13 weeks to 2 August contributed to a 3% fall in underlying group sales in the period, with sales increasing only in the Asia Pacific region.

    Sales in the US fell 2.3%, although this was better than had been expected amid the impact of new import tariffs introduced by the Trump administration this year.

    Despite falling sales, shares in JD rose 5% on Wednesday morning, reflecting relief that the company confirmed it was still on track to produce full-year profits in line with expectations – although those have been downgraded in recent months. The company also announced a £100m share buyback.

    The poor UK sales for JD, however, are likely to increase fears of a tougher consumer environment, which hit retail share prices across the London stock market on Tuesday.

    Régis Schultz, the chief executive of the retail group, which operates the JD Sports fashion chain globally but also owns the Finish Line and Shoe Palace chains in the US, Sport Zone and Courir in mainland Europe, and Blacks and Go Outdoors in the UK, said: “Across our regions and fascias, in general we see a resilient consumer, albeit very selective on their purchases. We therefore remain cautious on the trading environment going into [the second half of the year].”

    He said there had been an “improved performance” in the US after several product launches were deferred into the second quarter and stronger sales trends in clothing and online. In mainland Europe and the UK he said there was “a good underlying performance” in clothing and newer footwear lines despite tough market conditions.

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    In another sign of concern about the future for traditional UK retail, Frasers, whose brands include the Sports Direct chain and House of Fraser department stores, said it had added We Do Play, the operator of social leisure venues including the Flip Out trampolining indoor adventure parks and the crazy golf specialist Putt Putt Social, to its portfolio.

    Frasers’ chief acquisition officer, James France, said: “Today’s announcement marks a significant milestone in our strategy to diversify and create more dynamic consumer and leisure experiences.”

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  • Archery Premier League 2025 dates announced

    Archery Premier League 2025 dates announced

    The Archery Premier League 2025 will be held from October 2 to 12 this year at the Yamuna Sports Complex in New Delhi, the Archery Association of India (AAI) announced on Wednesday.

    “The dates have been decided keeping multiple factors in mind, including the schedule and workload of Archers and the weather conditions in the city,” AAI president Arjun Munda said in a statement.

    With six franchises competing, the inaugural edition of the Archery Premier League will feature 36 Indians alongside 12 of the top international names in archery. Franchise details are expected to be announced shortly.

    Recurve archers, who have represented India at the Olympics, Deepika Kumari and Dhiraj Bommadevara, are in the fray.

    Veterans Tarundeep Rai and Atanu Das will also be among the recurve participants, while the women’s recurve events will feature Paris 2024 Olympians Ankita Bhakat and Bhajan Kaur.

    World record-holding pair of compound archers Rishabh Yadav and Jyothi Surekha Vennam have also confirmed their participation along with Abhishek Verma, Prathamesh Fuge, Priyansh and Parneet Kaur.

    “With its dynamic format and inclusive approach, the league will bring unprecedented visibility to both recurve and compound archery,” AAI secretary general Virendra Sachdeva added.

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