Using genome sequencing researchers at Reno School of Medicine, University of Nevada have confirmed a case of coronavirus reinfection. Unlike the first reported case of confirmed reinfection in Hong Kong who was asymptomatic the second time, the U.S. adult exhibited severe symptoms when reinfected. About five days after the first case of confirmed reinfection by … Continue reading Second case of confirmed coronavirus reinfection reported
Preprint
Why hospitals are hotbeds for coronavirus transmission
At 31.9%, the intensive care unit specialised for taking care of COVID-19 patients was the most contaminated in the hospital. And nearly 14% of all commonly used hospital objects and medical equipment had the virus on them. Across the world, hospitals have become the hotspot for novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection. And hundreds of healthcare workers … Continue reading Why hospitals are hotbeds for coronavirus transmission
Lancet retracts letter on plight of nurses treating COVID-19 patients
The Lancet Global Health retracts a letter about the plight of nurses treating COVID-19 patients in Wuhan published on February 26. Can editors of peer-reviewed journals take a moral high-ground and make disparaging comments about preprints? On February 26, The Lancet Global Health retracted a letter by two nurses from Guangzhou province just two days … Continue reading Lancet retracts letter on plight of nurses treating COVID-19 patients
Coronavirus: A preprint provides ammunition to conspiracy theories about virus origin
A preprint by two Chinese authors has without a shred of evidence provided much ammunition to conspiracy theories that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) might have come from a Chinese lab. Meanwhile, 27 scientists have in an open letter in The Lancet condemned conspiracy theories. In a preprint that was posted on Research Gate (but now … Continue reading Coronavirus: A preprint provides ammunition to conspiracy theories about virus origin
Plants emit ultrasonic distress screams when stressed
Researchers at Tel-Aviv University have found plants making airborne emission of ultrasound screams when subjected to stress. They suspect that the sounds are generated by a process called cavitation. The sound may be alerting other plants nearby. Researchers have for the first time found evidence of plants making airborne emission of ultrasound screams when subjected … Continue reading Plants emit ultrasonic distress screams when stressed
IISc team submits more evidence of superconductivity
In a new preprint posted in arXiv on June 5, the IISc team has provided evidence of signatures of critical current — the current at which the superconductor is no longer stable and becomes resistive. The critical current data is a strong indicator of superconductivity. Further evidence of possible superconductivity in gold-silver nanostructures has been … Continue reading IISc team submits more evidence of superconductivity
IISc team provides video evidence of superconductivity at room temperature
IISc researchers have posted a video evidence of diamagnetism causing magnetic levitation at ambient temperature and pressure. In the video, the nanoparticles made of gold-silver mixture seen inside a test tube can be seen getting repelled when brought close to a permanent magnet. On May 24, three days after posting a revised article in arXiv, … Continue reading IISc team provides video evidence of superconductivity at room temperature
Finally, IISc team confirms breakthrough in superconductivity at room temperature
The revised article posted in arXiv on May 21 by IISc researchers led by Prof. Anshu Pandey strengthens the claim of achieving superconductivity at ambient temperature and pressure. About the identical noise in measurements made under different conditions, the researchers say it suggests a possible physical origin related to the sample as opposed to instrument … Continue reading Finally, IISc team confirms breakthrough in superconductivity at room temperature
IISc superconductivity claim gets another jolt, IISER Pune finds no superconductivity in Au/Ag films
After Brian Skinner, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, raised a red flag after noticing nearly identical noise in two presumably independent measurements in IISc superconductivity study, IISER Pune now finds no superconductivity in gold-silver thin films. Though thin films synthesised by the IISER Pune team is different from IISc's nanosized films and … Continue reading IISc superconductivity claim gets another jolt, IISER Pune finds no superconductivity in Au/Ag films
Should science journalists stay away from preprints?
If science journalists can report results discussed at conferences, why should preprints be off-limit, especially if reported responsibly? While peer-reviewed papers published in reputable journals give journalists a degree of confidence in reporting, there have been instances when such papers have caused much harm. Peer-reviewing is not a magic bullet as the number of papers … Continue reading Should science journalists stay away from preprints?
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