Science, technology and technology news

US President Biden says new omicron strain has become dominant in the country

Photo: Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters

US President Joe Biden said that the new omicron strain has become dominant in the United States, writes RIA Novosti.

“Omicron now dominates the country, it happened so quickly,” the American leader said in his address to the nation.

Biden also urged citizens of the country to get vaccinated, saying that without the vaccine there is a risk of being hospitalized or even dying due to COVID-19. “The third, additional vaccine will make you worry much less,” he said.

Earlier on December 21, the United States recorded the first death from the omicron strain of coronavirus. According to preliminary information, a Texas resident died at the age of about 50 years. The Harris County Health Department said the man was not vaccinated. He also had heart problems.

A new strain of coronavirus, code B.1.1.529, was identified in South Africa on November 11. The first confirmed cases of infection date from November 24. The strain was named with the Greek letter “omicron” and has already managed to recognize its danger at the level of the World Health Organization.

UNIAN: President of Ukraine Zelensky invited ambassadors and journalists to barbecue with mulled wine

Photo: @zelenskiy_official

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy gathered ambassadors of a number of countries and journalists for a barbecue with mulled wine, the UNIAN agency writes.

“President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy invited ambassadors and journalists to an informal meeting around the fire. All guests are treated to Hutsul dishes and listen to authentic live Hutsul music, ”the newspaper writes. It is also indicated that Zelensky himself briefly attended an informal meeting.

“Also, some ambassadors dance and drink mulled wine. Wine is poured separately for everyone. Among the dishes there are also cheese and meat dishes, and, in particular, barbecue. The action itself takes place around a large bonfire, ”the newspaper's correspondent reports.

In the summer, Zelensky fried a barbecue for journalists on the occasion of the Day of Journalists of Ukraine. In Instagram footage, the president removes the skewers from the barbecue and then distributes the barbecue to the crowd.

Reproductologist Menshikova: genetic forms of cancer make up seven percent of those detected

Photo: Pixabay.com

Genetic predisposition to any diseases is often a cause for concern, especially when it comes to oncology, said Irina Menshikova, fertility specialist at Delta Fertility Clinic, Channel Five reports.

Hereditary forms of oncology make up only seven percent of the total number of diagnosed ones, she said. The specialist explained that there are families in which almost half of the genus have developed malignant neoplasms. Among doctors there is a concept of “family cancer”. She explained that some cancers are associated with mutations in certain genes. “A person with mutations in DNA can pass them on by inheritance if they fall ill with certain types of oncology,” Menshikova assessed.

These include breast cancer, ovarian cancer. In addition, they have genetic causes of endometrium, rectal cancer, and some types of skin cancers.

However, this does not mean that a cancer patient will necessarily transmit the disease to their offspring, even if there is a genetic predisposition. “A child born from a person with mutations and having the same mutations will have an increased predisposition to the listed cancers,” the expert said. In this case, steps should be taken to prevent the risk of getting sick. She advised to undergo diagnostics more often, to carry out a family genetic analysis.

Earlier it became known that approximately one in 200 people is located for a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. Mutations increase the risk of developing breast, ovarian, prostate, and pancreatic cancer.

Microsoft founder Gates believes COVID-19 pandemic could end in 2022

Bill Gates. Photo: Charles Platiau / Reuters

The founder of Microsoft, billionaire Bill Gates, has named the end of the coronavirus pandemic. He wrote about this on his Twitter account.

In his opinion, the coronavirus pandemic may end as early as 2022, despite the fact that now, with the advent of the omicron strain, the world may be experiencing its most difficult part. Gates stated that no virus in history has spread as quickly as the omicron.

“Soon it will be in all countries of the world,” the billionaire warned, stressing that it is necessary to take the new strain seriously, since it is still unknown how severe the symptoms are caused by this type of COVID-19.

“Even if it's only half as serious as Delta, it will be the worst wave we've seen because it's so contagious,” Gates wrote. However, he also predicted that if the necessary measures are taken, next year could be the last for a pandemic.

“If there is good news in this situation, it is that the omicron is spreading so quickly that after it becomes the dominant species in a country, the wave of infections there lasts no longer than three months,” the billionaire said. He stressed that these three months can be difficult, but he still believes that if the right steps are taken, the pandemic could end in 2022.

Earlier, Gates said that the spread of the Indian strain of the disease and the uneven distribution of vaccines around the world have alienated humanity from a complete victory over COVID-19. At the same time, according to him, the international community has made significant progress in the process of vaccination and treatment of the disease caused by the virus.

German Chancellor Scholz discussed bilateral, international issues with Turkish President Erdogan

Olaf Scholz. Photo: Reuters

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held talks by phone. They discussed bilateral relations, as well as international topics, TASS reports with reference to the press service of the German government.

It is noted that Erdogan phoned the new Chancellor of Germany and congratulated him on taking office. The leaders discussed the positions of the countries on various issues.

“Both were united in continuing the close alliance between Germany and Turkey. The central topics of the talks were bilateral and international topics, ”the press service of the German government underlines.

Earlier, the telephone talks with Scholz were held by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Russian leader congratulated the Chancellor on his election to the post. In addition, politicians expressed interest in further developing Russian-German ties and agreed to discuss the bilateral agenda in the course of further contacts.

The culprit of the accident involving 20 cars in Moscow spoke about hallucinations

Photo: Komsomolskaya Pravda / Global Look Press

The man who arranged the mass accident in Moscow spoke about the hallucinations, REN TV reports with reference to the press service of the Moscow Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.

Immediately after the traffic accident, it became known that the man was under the influence of prohibited substances. He described the accident with the words “simple road accident” that attracted too much attention.

A massive accident with 20 cars occurred on the morning of December 21. Ford Explorer driven by a man rammed cars at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour before the exit to Kutuzovsky Prospekt. Immediately after the accident, the perpetrator of the incident started a fight with other road users. He rushed at the employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations who came to eliminate the consequences of an accident.

As a result of the accident, two people were injured.

Earlier in the Voronezh region there was a massive accident involving 12 cars.

University of Sydney scientists link improper walking with risk of osteoarthritis

Photo: Long Truong / Unsplash

Scientists at the University of Sydney have discovered that improper walking with excessive stress on the hips and knees can lead to the premature development of osteoarthritis, an incurable disease that leads to chronic pain and disability. The unexpected danger of walking is reported in an article published in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.

Experts analyzed data from 23 scientific studies, which involved more than four thousand people, to identify links between different types of joint movements involved in walking, and their relationship with the progression of osteoarthritis. This allowed the scientists to create a detailed model of the knee joint displacement during stride. It turned out that if the knee moves first outward and then inward when walking, then the risk of exacerbation of osteoarthritis doubles.

Scientists are currently developing methods to reduce the dangerous stress on the joints in patients with knee osteoarthritis in order to slow the progression of the disease. Researchers are also studying the effects of different walking styles on arthritis prevention.

Scientists at the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences have discovered resistance to anti-aging drugs

Image: Godnauki.rf

Scientists at the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences have found that some senescent cells are resistant to senolytic drugs and mechanisms that provoke programmed cell death. Such cells limit the effectiveness of anti-aging drugs and continue to have harmful effects on the environment. This was reported in a press release from the study, published on the website Godnauki.rf.

Normally, aging (or senescent) cells are destroyed by the immune system, however, with age or with various diseases, cleansing becomes less effective. As a result, the risk of inflammatory reactions, as well as neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, and cardiovascular disorders, increases. Previously, it was thought that senolytics block any mechanisms that increase the survival of senescent cells during apoptosis (the process of programmed cell death), but a new study has shown that this is not the case.

The researchers conducted experiments on stem cells that are capable of transforming into various types of other cells: fat, bone, cartilage, muscle and nerve. The cultures were exposed to DNA damaging substances and hydrogen peroxide, which triggers oxidative stress, to simulate the aging process. After a certain time, scientists tried to kill cells with senolytics.

The results showed that all stem cell types were found to be drug resistant. Thus, senolytics act only on those cells that have not acquired resistance to apoptosis. According to the authors of the work, it is likely that the drugs affect other mechanisms necessary for the survival of old cells, and not those associated with apoptosis. To kill these cells, additional drugs must be used.

Mandiant: cyberattacks and deepfakes to rise in 2022

Photo: Vladimir Song / RIA Novosti

The number of ransomware attacks will grow in 2022. Reported by the MIT Technology Review magazine.

Journalists refer to the report of the research company Mandiant, which has compiled a list of 14 top predictions in the information environment for 2022. Experts say that the main one is the increase in the number of cyberattacks aimed at stealing information. The authors predict that there will be more threats from hackers if governments and new technologies fail to come up with an adequate response.

In addition, in 2022, the number of cases of the proliferation of deepfakes – an image synthesis technique based on artificial intelligence – will increase. This method will be used to extort personal information. Mandiant experts believe that the main threat will come from Russia, Iran, China and North Korea.

“The outlook for threats in 2022 looks bleak as ransomware participants become more aggressive and evade tactics of defense and negotiation,” the authors of the report concluded.

In early December, Mandiant specialists accused hackers allegedly connected with the Russian special services of new attempts to steal information. Most of the data theft is believed to have been “relevant to Russian interests.”

DPR head Pushilin: DPR took seriously Sergei Shoigu's words about chemical weapons in Donbass

Photo: Alexey Malgavko / RIA Novosti

The authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) took seriously the words of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu about the impending provocations with the use of chemical weapons by fighters of American PMCs in Donbass. The head of the DPR Denis Pushilin told about this in a conversation with the radio station “Moscow speaking”.

According to him, now the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) continue to build up their forces in the area of the contact line in the region, and the analysis of the military situation confirms the minister's words about the possible aggression from Kiev. “Ukraine is trying to arrange a man-made and humanitarian catastrophe on our land, which will lead to unpredictable consequences for the whole world,” Pushilin commented on Shoigu's words.

He also called Ukraine “a testing ground for external players' experiments” and said that the country's leadership, by its actions, endangers the lives of not only the residents of Donetsk and Lugansk, but also its citizens in the controlled territory.

“We call on the countries – guarantors of the Minsk agreements and international organizations working in Donbass towards establishing peace, not to allow the use of chemical weapons against civilians,” the politician added.

Sergei Shoigu announced the preparation of provocations with the use of chemical weapons at an expanded meeting of the board of the Ministry of Defense with the participation of President Vladimir Putin on December 21. He explained that for these purposes, the mercenaries delivered tanks with unidentified chemicals to the cities of Avdeevka and Krasny Liman.