This week in science

Neil Baugh
August 14, 2024

Happy Wednesday morning! Thanks for joining in for another week. We’ve got 5 new pieces on injections for HIV prevention, Toyota/Samsung launching a new EV battery, self-powering pace makers, antibiotic resistance, and the Milky Way escaping a collision for the Andromeda Galaxy (in a few billion years).

1. Twice yearly injections score 100% prevention of HIV

HIV researchers in South Africa found a new medicine that was 100% effective in preventing HIV infection when tested by >2000 African women. While there are several effective HIV/AIDS medications on the market, a sure-fire way to prevent infection would be amazing. There were roughly 1.3 million new cases of HIV last year, so any additional preventatives are welcome.

Press: https://www.science.org/content/article/landmark-trial-may-herald-new-era-hiv-prevention

Paper: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2407001

2. Toyota and Samsung team up for long range EV battery

Samsung Unveils Solid-State Batteries with 20-Year Lifespan and 9-Minute Charging Time

Samsung has unveiled a new solid-state battery with 20-year lifespan, 600-mile range, and 9-minute charging time.

techreport.com/news/samsung-launch-solid-state-batteries

A surprising duo teamed up to bring a new battery to the EV world. They showed it off at the SNE Battery Day expo in South Korea and have been testing it with EV car makers for a while.

Apparently it has a wopping 600 mile range, charges in 9 minutes, and has a 20 year lifespan. If so, it sounds pretty nice to me.

3. Implanted carbon nanotubes generate electricity to keep heart implants going

The title pretty much says it all. We’re always on the lookout for new ways to keep implanted medical devices going without needing to take them out to replace batteries or charge them.

4. Science vs antibiotic resistance

Five ways science is tackling the antibiotic resistance crisis

Humans are locked in an arms race with microbes, but scientists are pursuing diverse approaches to keep one step ahead or slow down the competition.

www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02601-4

Natural products
AI
Combo therapies
Getting some help from the immune system
Improving how we diagnose infections

5. Milky Way might not crash into the Andromeda galaxy after all

Since 2008, scientists have thought the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies were destined for a merger. This new study says otherwise. Check out the nice writeup in the link for more details.

See you next week for more science,

Neil

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