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Undertaking a study of proteins found in the complement system, an important part of the immune system, of patients with long COVID, researchers have identified a blood protein ‘signature’ that may improve the diagnosis and lead to a treatment for the debilitating condition. · About 5% of all people infected with SARS-CoV-2 don’t recover from acute disease and develop debilitating long-term symptoms commonly known as ‘long COVID.’ While the…

Humans are increasingly passing pathogens to animal populations, imperilling endangered species such as chimpanzees and gorillass. · There was something wrong with the chimpanzees. For weeks, a community of 205 animals in Uganda’s Kibale National Park had been coughing, sneezing and looking generally miserable. But no one could say for sure what ailed them, even as the animals began to die. · Necropsies can help to identify a cause of death,…

Plans for an ambitious new supertall skyscraper have been revealed for Oklahoma City. Assuming the project goes ahead as expected, it will be the second-tallest skyscraper in the United States – as well as the second-tallest in the entire Western Hemisphere. · The Boardwalk at Bricktown skyscraper has been designed by AO for developers Matteson Capital and Thinkbox, and is part of a larger development push in the downtown area. · It will…

While it's important for your dog or cat to have a form of ID in case they get lost, tags can fall off, and microchips can migrate out of place. Japanese scientists are developing an alternative, in the form of quick and painless tattoos. · First of all, yes, some pet owners do already get their animals tattooed. However, because the procedure is time-consuming, invasive and a bit painful, the creature typically has to be placed under general…

From beds that disappear into ceilings to cabins that open to the landscape, a 2023 collection of tiny homes demonstrated striking ingenuity. For New Zealanders, the more important question is whether those ideas can translate into affordable, durable and genuinely liveable housing Report by eLocal | Revisited October 2026 · The tiny-house movement is often presented as an answer to escalating housing costs. Its appeal is understandable: less…

People are swallowing hundreds of thousands of microscopic pieces of plastic each time they drink a liter of bottled water, scientists have shown — a revelation that could have profound implications for human health. · A new paper released Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found about 240,000 particles in the average liter of bottled water, most of which were “nanoplastics” — particles measuring less than one…

The rail system, built to connect tourist destinations, has been criticized for endangering archaeological and environmental sites. · Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador inaugurated the first part of the controversial Maya Train in late December. Billed as an ambitious effort to boost tourism, the rail system will eventually connect archaeological and tourist destinations in a rough loop through five states. · The newly completed…

The Soviet Union launched the Sputnik 1 satellite in 1957, placing the first human-made object in space. Fast forward to 2024, and we are now launching more than a thousand satellites into space each year, improving our weather forecasts, boosting our internet coverage and propelling the field of Earth science into new terrain. And for researchers studying the profound changes gripping our planet due to the climate crisis, that means they’ve…

Nicholas Winton organized a rescue operation that brought approximately 669 children from Czechoslovakia to safety in Great Britain before the outbreak of World War II. · Nicholas Winton was born Nicholas Wertheimer on May 19, 1909, in West Hampstead, England, and baptized as a member of the Anglican Church by decision of his parents who were of German Jewish ancestry. He was a stockbroker by profession. · In December 1938, Martin Blake, a…

Family Values at the Forefront! · Flooring Xtra Pukekohe Showroom is the perfect place to find flooring to suit your style. Located at 16d Wrightson Way, Pukekohe, in the Pukekohe Mega Centre, the Flooring Xtra Pukekohe Showroom is open Monday through Friday 8.30am-5pm and Saturdays 9am-1pm. It is spacious, bright and modern, with ample car parking available. · Showcased in the showroom are leading brands such as Cavalier Bremworth including…