Apart from new findings on coronavirus every single day, the year was also filled with stories from outer space, archeology and anatomy

The year 2020 also termed as the year of the pandemic, social distancing, work from home, was also the year of research at breakneck speed. Virologists, immunologists, computational biologists, epidemiologists, and medical professionals across the globe turned into superheroes without capes.

Quick sequencing of the whole genome of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) helped develop various test kits. We now have not one or two, but multiple COVID-19 vaccines that have succeeded in human clinical trials. Moderna's and Pfizer-BioNTechs vaccines that use messenger RNA have reported efficacy of about 95%, and the United Kingdom, the United States and the United Arab Emirates have already launched mass vaccinations.

Apart from new findings on coronavirus every single day, the year was also filled with stories from outer space, archeology and anatomy. Here is a list of a few of them in random order

In October, NASA confirmed, for the first time, water on the sunlit side of the Moon indicating that water may be distributed across the moons surface, and not limited to the cold and shadowed side.

Researchers from the Netherlands Cancer Institute announced in October that they have discovered a new pair of salivary glands hidden between the nasal cavity and throat. The team proposed the name tubarial glands and noted that this identification could help to explain and avoid radiation-induced side-effects such as trouble during eating, swallowing, and speaking.

In September, an international scientific team announced that they have spotted phosphine gas on Venus. On Earth, microorganisms that live in anaerobic (with no oxygen) environments produce phosphine. Massachusetts Institute of Technology molecular astrophysicist and study co-author Clara Sousa-Silva said in a release, This is important because, if it is phosphine, and if it is life, it means that we are not alone. It also means that life itself must be very common, and there must be many other inhabited planets throughout our galaxy.

Read our detailed explainer here.

In March, a person suffering from Leber congenital amaurosis, a rare inherited disease that leads to blindness, became the first to have CRISPR/Cas-9-based therapy directly injected into the body.

In June, two patients with beta-thalassemia and one with sickle cell disease had their bone marrow stem cells edited using CRISPR techniques.

Click here to read our explainer on the genome-editing tool that won this years Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

The year 2020 marks 100 years of discovery of Indus Valley Civilisation, and a new study showed that dairy products were being produced by the Harappans as far back as 2500 BCE.

Another study found the presence of animal products, including cattle and buffalo meat, in ceramic vessels dating back about 4,600 years.

Chinas Change-5 probe brought back about 1,731 grams of samples from the moon becoming the third country to bring moon samples after the U.S and Soviet Union.

Also, Japans Hayabusa 2 brought back the first extensive samples from an asteroid. The spacecraft, launched from Japan's Tanegashima space centre in 2014, took four years to reach the asteroid Ryugu before taking a sample and heading back to Earth in November 2019.

Mars rover Perseverance blasted off for the red planet on July 30 to bring the first Martian rock samples back to Earth. If all goes well, the rover will descend to the Martian surface on February 18, 2021.

You have reached your limit for free articles this month.

Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list.

Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.

A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.

Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.

A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.

We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.

Support Quality Journalism.

*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper, crossword and print.

Read the original here:
2020: The year science took centre-stage - The Hindu

PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oyster Point Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: OYST), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of first-in-class pharmaceutical therapies to treat ocular surface diseases, today announced that the Company will participate virtually in the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at 10:50 a.m. ET, and host investor meetings.

Read more from the original source:
Oyster Point Pharma to Participate in the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference

Company Receives additional 180-day grace period, until June 28, 2021, to satisfy the $1.00 bid price requirement to maintain Nasdaq listing

Read the original:
Assertio Announces Transfer of Listing from Nasdaq Global Select Market to Nasdaq Capital Market

NESS-ZIONA, Israel, Dec. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VAXIL BIO LTD. (“Vaxil” or the “Company”) (TSX VENTURE: VXL), an innovative immunotherapy biotech company specializing in cancer and infectious diseases, is pleased to announce that further to our press release dated December 3, 2020, in respect to our cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (“USAMRIID”), the mice have received two of the three scheduled vaccinations. The third and final vaccine is scheduled to be administered later this week. USAMRIID reports that the mice appear to be fine having responded normally to the injections administered to date and that the experiment is proceeding on schedule. The Company expects that the mice will be “challenged” with the COVID-19 virus in mid-January 2021, after having had the chance to develop an immune response. Vaxil expects to provide a further update at the beginning of February 2021.

Read the original:
VAXIL Provides Update on USAMRIID and Oral Experiments

Sydney, AUSTRALIA, Dec. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immutep Limited (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP) ("Immutep“ or “the Company“), a biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapy treatments for cancer and autoimmune disease, is pleased to announce the grant of patent number 10,874,713 entitled “Combined Preparations for the Treatment of Cancer or Infection” by the United States Patent & Trade Mark Office.

Read this article:
Immutep Secures United States Patent For Eftilagimod Alpha In Combination With A PD-1 Pathway Inhibitor

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lui Franciosi is pleased to announce that Franciosi Consulting Ltd. will be reviewing the pharmacological feasibility of using specific glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2, i.e., COVID-19. GAGs are long linear polysaccharides consisting of repeating disaccharide units (i.e., two-sugar units) that participate in many biological processes, in particular, cell signalling and development, angiogenesis, anti-coagulation, tumour progression, axonal growth and metastasis. Their large structural diversity makes them useful in the discovery of new drugs. The clinically best-known GAG is heparin, which is an anticoagulant used for the treatment of thrombophlebitis, embolism, and thrombosis. It also has anti-inflammatory activity. However, its major side effects are bleeding and bruising, especially in the elderly. From the COVID-19 medical literature, the virus appears to cause increased activation of cells that are involved with the clotting and inflammatory processes. This may lead to an increased risk of blood clots and lung inflammation. Currently, there are clinical studies of heparin underway looking at its benefits in COVID-19 patients, but bleeding is still a major issue. Therefore, there is a need to come up with a better heparin-like molecule which is anti-inflammatory but with minimal anticoagulant effects.

More here:
Lui Franciosi Reviewing the Use of Sugar-Based Molecules as Potential Treatments for COVID-19

TORONTO, Dec. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eve & Co. Incorporated (TSXV: EVE) (OTCQX: EEVVF) (the “Company” or “Eve & Co”) announces that it has filed articles of amendment to consolidate the Company’s issued and outstanding common shares on the basis of one (1) new common share for every ten (10) existing common shares (the “Consolidation”).

See more here:
Eve & Co Announces Share Consolidation

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Dec. 29, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: OSMT) (“Osmotica” or the “Company”) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has issued a Complete Response Letter (“CRL”) regarding the Company's New Drug Application (“NDA”) seeking approval for the investigational agent arbaclofen extended release ("ER") tablets to treat spasticity resulting from multiple sclerosis.

See original here:
Osmotica Pharmaceuticals plc Receives Complete Response Letter from U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Arbaclofen Extended Release Tablets

TORONTO, Dec. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Revive Therapeutics Ltd. (“Revive” or the “Company”) (CSE: RVV, USA: RVVTF), a specialty life sciences company focused on the research and development of therapeutics for medical needs and rare disorders, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. John Fahy, MD, MSc, as a Scientific and Clinical advisor to the Company to assist in the expansion and the analysis of the clinical data on the ongoing U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) Phase 3 clinical trial (the “Study”) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Bucillamine in patients with mild-moderate COVID-19.

Continued here:
Dr. John Fahy Joins Revive Therapeutics as Scientific and Clinical Advisor for COVID-19 FDA Phase 3 Study

Company announcement – No. 64 / 2020

Here is the original post:
Total number of shares and voting rights in Zealand Pharma at December 31, 2020

Press Release

Read more here:
Immunicum AB (publ) Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Ilixadencel as a Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Dec. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX), announced today the commencement of patient dosing in RELIEF-PHN 1, a Phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center clinical study of LX9211 for the treatment of post-herpetic neuralgia. LX9211 is a potent oral small molecule inhibitor of adaptor associated kinase 1 (AAK1).

Follow this link:
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals Announces Commencement of Dosing in Phase 2 Clinical Study of LX9211 in Post-Herpetic Neuralgia

MIRAMAR, Fla., Dec. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generex Biotechnology Corporation (www.generex.com) (OTCQB:GNBT) (http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/GNBT/quote) today announced that its majority owned public entity, NuGenerex Immuno-Oncology, Inc. (NGIO), has filed for and expects to receive a trademark for The Complete Vaccine™. A complete vaccine is designed to regulate the immune system to provide a targeted, neutralizing antibody response without generating off-target, non-neutralizing antibodies that can lead to antibody dependent enhancement of disease (ADE); further a complete vaccine should activate the appropriate T cell responses to yield long-term immune memory without activating detrimental Th2 responses that have been associated with immune-related complications of COVID-19 disease.

Continue reading here:
Generex and NuGenerex Immuno-Oncology Provide Update on Ii-Key COVID-19 Vaccine Development Program and Files Trademark Application for The Complete...

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF UNITED STATES SECURITIES LAWS

Follow this link:
Avicanna Announces Exercise and Closing of Over-Allotment Option

The Company Will Exhibit Through a Virtual Booth to Present its Products, Product Lines, and Business Initiatives to a Broad Array of Top Tier Institutional Biotech Investors

Read the original post:
Tauriga Sciences Inc. Approved to be Corporate Exhibitor at 2021 CTIC Capital Pre-J.P. Morgan Healthcare Investment Summit January 9th-10th, 2021

BUENA, N.J., Dec. 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teligent, Inc. (NASDAQ: TLGT), a New Jersey-based specialty generic pharmaceutical company, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2020.

Here is the original post:
Teligent, Inc. Announces Third Quarter 2020 Results

Not for distribution by US newswire or in United States

Continued here:
Vaxil’s Annual and Special Shareholders Meeting and Update on Exercise of Warrants

Read the rest here:
Draft Top Tool Reviews - Go Topless! – Product Review by Mike Vaughn

More than 25 years ago, it was a patient with a port-wine stain who inspired Alster to learn more about the then-fledgling world of lasers. Alster accepted a fellowship in Boston, where her patient traveled to receive treatments. So in essence, I changed her life because I significantly lightened the birthmark to the point where she didn't need to cover it, says Alster. And she changed my life because I wouldn't have looked into lasers if it wasn't for her... I ended up opening up my own center in Washington, D.C. in 1990. And at that time it was the only freestanding laser center in the world.

Lasers and Scars

Lasers can treat many types of scars, including surgical scars, acne scars, and scars from injuries. They penetrate the epidermis to stimulate new, healthy skin cell growth. The most common lasers used in scar removal are ablative fractional carbon dioxide lasers, Nd:YAG, nonablative fractional lasers, and pulsed dye lasers.

Lasers and Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses a concentrated beam of light to remove unwanted hair. The laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which then damages the hair follicles that produce hairs. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth. With repeated treatments, laser hair removal can permanently reduce unwanted hair. While all hairs dont fall out immediately, they will shed within days to weeks of treatment.

But lasers arent only used for hair reduction. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a relatively new treatment that uses low-power lasers to stimulate hair growth. Its hypothesized that LLLT stimulates stem cells in the hair follicle and shifts the follicles in the anagen (growth) stage of the hair cycle.

How is LED different from lasers?

Commonly confused with lasers, light-emitting diodes (LED) can reduce fine lines, increase collagen production, and smooth skin by using varying color wavelengths of visible LED light. Lasers, on the other hand, often use a single wavelength, and the beam is ideal for stimulating changes that only respond to very specific wavelengths (hair removal, dark spot removal, etc.).

Can you combine lasers with other in-office treatments in the same session?

Short answer: Yes! Depending on the laser you and your dermatologist choose, you can get filler or Botox in the same treatment. Some experts will specifically recommend injectables with Fraxel within the same appointment since its considered safe and delivers a rather dramatic final result. Alster often combines non-ablative laser treatments with microneedling to amplify the effects.

Can you be too young for lasers?

When deciding whether or not to try a laser, your age shouldnt be a major deciding factor. It's more of a matter of the problem you want to fix, not how old you are. Many young people have rosacea, acne, sun spots, and sun damage all of which are treatable with lasers. Still, less-intensive therapies, such as chemical peels, are likely enough to repair young, relatively healthy skin (and are often less expensive).

Is it safe to laser your skin at home?

There are various options for at-home laser treatments that you can use safely. Typically, at-home devices have significantly lower power than those used in a medical setting, in order to reduce risks. Many lasers for wrinkles or acne are simply LED light products, like the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite mask. There are, however, a few at-home non-ablative fractional lasers available, like the Tria SmoothBeauty Laser.

Michelles Current Favorites

While everyones skin is different and your personal dermatologist knows whats best for you Michelle says she slathered her face with Aquaphor following a Fraxel treatment. You really do need to keep your skin moist [afterward], she says. And then it's all about sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. Right now, Michelle is into Dr. Loretta Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 40, which has a slight tint.

Jennys Current Favorites

Like Michelle, Jenny used Aquaphor after getting Fraxel. She also used CeraVe Moisturizing Cream post-treatment to help speed up healing. And in order to cover up the sandpaper-like texture and small, dark dots that often arise after getting Fraxel, Jenny used Oxygenetix Oxygenating Foundation. A lot of dermatologists and plastic surgeons recommend it for people to use this when they're healing, she says. It's thicker than what I would normally use for foundation, but it gave a really seamless finish [and] got me through that week or two after [treatment].

Like many in-office treatments, lasers often come with some downtime. But good things come to those who wait: Lasers can have a huge impact on the look and health of your skin.

Original post:
The Complete Guide to Laser Treatments for Hair and Skin | The Science of Beauty Podcast | Allure - Allure

Sign Up for

Our free email newsletters

Vaccines at warp speed

Only one breakthrough truly mattered this year: the creation of a COVID-19 shot. The previous record for the fastest vaccine development, for mumps, was four years. But on Dec. 8 11 months after research began a 90-year-old British grandmother became the first person in the world to receive Pfizer's new COVID vaccine outside of a clinical study. Like Moderna's new shot, which was approved in the U.S. last week, the two-dose vaccine is about 95 percent effective and uses an entirely new type of technology. In traditional vaccines, a patient is injected with dead viral material, which triggers the body to produce antibodies. Pfizer's and Moderna's shot use a synthetic version of coronavirus genetic material that leads human cells to produce copies of the virus' outer spike proteins. Those proteins spark an immune defense. Pfizer and Moderna together hope to deliver enough doses for 20 million people by Dec. 31. "The light at the end of the tunnel is getting a little brighter," says infectious-disease expert Dr. William Schaffner.

Solving a protein puzzle

An artificial intelligence program appears to have solved one of the biggest mysteries in biology. The "protein-folding problem" is important because most biological processes such as how insulin controls blood-sugar levels or how antibodies fight coronaviruses are driven by proteins. How the strings of amino acids that make up a protein twist and fold into a 3D shape determines its function. Trying to establish how proteins get their origami-like structure can take years of lab work. But AlphaFold, an artificial intelligence program developed by the Google-owned DeepMind lab, can do it in a matter of hours with a remarkable level of accuracy. Bioinformatics professor Janet Thornton says protein-folding was "a problem that I was beginning to think would not get solved in my lifetime."

Building living 'bots

American scientists have created the world's first living robots. The millimeter-wide "xenobots" were formed by scraping live stem cells from frog embryos and leaving them to incubate. The resulting skin and heart cells were then reshaped and combined into "body forms" designed by a supercomputer to complete certain tasks walking, for example, or swimming. The pulsing heart cells serve as a miniature engine that powers xenobots until their energy reserves run out after about 10 days at present. Study co-leader Michael Levin says these "living, programmable organisms" might one day carry out tasks such as removing plaque from artery walls.

Signs of life on Venus?

Scientists have found hints that life might exist on Venus a notoriously inhospitable planet where surface temperatures hit 860 degrees Fahrenheit. Using powerful telescopes, researchers detected traces of the gas phosphine in the Venusian atmosphere. On Earth, that gas is produced by human industry and by microbial organisms that live in oxygen-free environments. Phosphine is quick to react and disappear, so something must be replenishing its supply on Venus. Researchers say it's not implausible that single-celled life might survive in the Venusian atmosphere, floating in a region where liquid water exists. Study co-author Sara Seager says the only way to confirm this theory is by "actually going to Venus."

This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here.

More:
The big scientific breakthroughs of 2020 - The Week