Monthly Archives: October 2021

Very Cautiously Very Optimistic About a Third Vaccination

Posted on October 11, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

While it’s early days–and we don’t have a time machine to see what the future will hold–there’s some very promising data from Israel about the efficacy of a third mRNA vaccination dose (aka The Booster) in preventing confirmed infection. Not … Continue reading →

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Links 10/10/21

Posted on October 10, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Merck says experimental Covid pill cuts risk of death, hospitalization by 50 percent (also, also, press release) Biden officials finalize a rule making it harder to kill birds, reversing Trump. The move restores protections under the … Continue reading →

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Rage Is the Appropriate Emotion

Posted on October 10, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

Each flag represents one COVID-19 death in the U.S., most of which did not need to happen. This was an utter breakdown of governance and individual civic duty (observed on the Mall, D.C.):

Posted in COVID-19, DC | 3 Comments

Links 10/9/21

Posted on October 9, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: The impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on Alpha and Delta variant transmission Nationally Representative Social Contact Patterns in the United States, August 2020-April 2021 These Sea Slugs Break a Cardinal Rule of Animal Life SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA … Continue reading →

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In Case You Missed It…

Posted on October 9, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

…a week of Mad Biologist posts: Just Bribe Manchin Already The Policy on Third Doses Is Confused Because the Agencies Disagree: Thoughts on ‘Following the Science’ The State of COVID-19 in D.C.: Another Good Decline When COVID-19 Becomes ‘Endemic’ It’s … Continue reading →

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Links 10/8/21

Posted on October 8, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: A prenylated dsRNA sensor protects against severe COVID-19 Pfizer testing oral pill for prevention of COVID Could The Escaped Zebras Survive Roaming Around Prince George’s County Forever? Beware survivorship bias in advice on science careers NIH … Continue reading →

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It’s Still About the Prevalence: The Schools Edition

Posted on October 8, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

In a really good article about how the U.S. screwed up school re-opening, Melody Schreiber makes a very important point (boldface mine): No one’s advocating another year of remote learning. But there are a number of things we could be … Continue reading →

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Links 10/7/21

Posted on October 7, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Massachusetts Start-Up Hopes to Move a Step Closer to Commercial Fusion In Gratitude for mRNA Vaccines The Ancient People Who Burned Their Culture to the Ground Prophage-encoded phage defence proteins with cognate self-immunity Was R < … Continue reading →

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When COVID-19 Becomes ‘Endemic’

Posted on October 7, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

Ellie Murray has a very good thread on the Twitter machine about the word ‘endemic’ and how it relates to COVID-19 ‘endgames.’ It is worth the read because it lays out very clear possible ‘endgames’ and how they are achieved. … Continue reading →

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Links 10/6/21

Posted on October 6, 2021 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Ancient Footprints Push Back Date of Human Arrival in the Americas The evolution of social parasitism in Formica ants revealed by a global phylogeny Dancers From the Deep Sea Shine on the U.N. for Climate Week … Continue reading →

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