An international team of conservation experts has revealed how ancient and historical DNA (a/hDNA), such as genetic data from specimens stored in natural history museums, can be used to assess population genetic patterns and processes that are relevant for endangered species.

Analyzing the publications that appeared on PubMed between the beginning of 2018 and the end of 2020, researchers at the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca have shown that COVID-19 acted as a powerful and unpredictable shock, profoundly affecting and shifting priorities of the scientific production in the biomedical field. While publications related to all the aspects of the pandemic skyrocketed - thanks to the commitment of the scientific community, which brought in a short period a surge of knowledge about the new coronavirus - publications, clinical trials, and grants in subjects not directly related to Covid decreased of up to 25 percent compared to the pre-Covid era, a fact non immediately evident and not without consequences.

What exactly causes that ‘skunky’ odour emitted by cannabis production facilities, and what do these emissions mean for air quality, workers, and the general public? We should address these and other knowledge gaps while the industry is still developing, according to a new study led by Davi de Ferreyro Monticelli, a doctoral student in UBC’s department of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences. In this Q&A, he discusses what’s missing in our knowledge about cannabis production emissions, their potential impacts on communities living nearby, and just how their smell stacks up against other odours.

A study of weight loss methods suggests that gastric bypass surgery is the best strategy for patients with type 2 diabetes and severe obesity, regardless of the severity of a patient’s diabetes.