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davieG

Technology, Science and the Environment.

By davieG, in General Chat

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leicsmac

leicsmac

Posted
Posted
15 minutes ago, Fazzer 7 said:

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMFvrwQ1n/

This is all becoming just a little bit repetitive.

 

If this person believes in this conspiracy theory that the world climate science corps are all systematically corrupt, then it would be nice for them to present more evidence than just a TikTok video and "trust me, bro".

 

Hitchens Razor clearly applies, yet again.

 

Of course, such folks are welcome to air their viewpoint, it should just be dismissed as lacking in any kind of credibility and also rather annoying as it attempts to convince people to act against the future interests of everyone, including themselves. The factual, proven increase in global average temperature won't spare many from its global consequences.

  • Like 3
davieG

davieG

Posted
  • Author
Posted

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64176038

 

UK plan for national mRNA cancer vaccine advance

Vaccine
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
By Michelle Roberts
Digital health editor
The UK is embarking on an ambitious plan to accelerate research into mRNA cancer vaccines, with German pharmaceutical company BioNTech.

Following the success of Covid vaccines using the same messenger-ribonucleic-acid technology, scientists now want to conduct more trials in cancer patients.

And they are hoping to provide this personalised type of treatment to about 10,000 patients by 2030.

Britain is the first nation to sign up to such a partnership.

BioNTech has several international cancer vaccine trials in progress but says the UK is ideally placed as it has a great track record and infrastructure for medical research.

Could Covid vaccine technology crack cancer?

Media caption,
BioNTech founders described their cancer research to the BBC in October

Some of the patients in the trials will have cancer that has already been treated and the vaccine will hopefully prevent it returning.

Others will have advanced, spreading cancers the vaccine might help shrink and control.

Unlike chemotherapy, which attacks lots of different cells as well as the cancer, the mRNA treatment is tailor-made for the individual and presents the immune system with bits of genetic code from the specific cancer so it can attack only the tumour.

This makes it more expensive to produce. BioNTech says it will be affordable for healthcare systems. But much more work is needed to determine whether the cost can be justified for the NHS. Being commercially sensitive, the details of the partnership between the Government and BioNTech have not been disclosed.

'Wanted poster'
BioNTech co-founder Prof Ozlem Tureci told BBC News: "The UK is a great partner for this endeavour.

"We have seen in the Covid-19 pandemic with the fast approval of vaccines in the UK that the regulatory authority is exceptional.

"And then there is the genomic-analysis capabilities. The UK is one of the leading nations in that regard.

"The concept here is to use specific molecular features in individual cancers of patients to encode them into the mRNA vaccines and to train the immune system to attack."

It was like putting up a bounty or wanted poster, she said, alerting the body to be on the lookout and fight.

And because cancer is a complex disease, patients might need several doses to keep the immune system on guard.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay said: "Once cancer is detected, we need to ensure the best possible treatments are available as soon as possible, including for breast, lung and pancreatic cancer.

"BioNTech helped lead the world on a Covid-19 vaccine and they share our commitment to scientific advancement.

"This partnership will mean that, from as early as September, our patients will be among the first to participate in trials and tests to provide targeted, personalised and precision treatments using transformative new therapies to both treat the existing cancer and help stop it returning."

Cancer Research UK welcomed the news, but said delays in diagnosis and treatment mean staff are increasingly overstretched and may be unable to find the time needed to set up clinical trials - if this continued it would mean slower progress towards new treatments.

CRUK spokesman Dr Iain Foulkes said: "mRNA vaccines are one of the most exciting research developments to come out of the pandemic, and there are strong hints that they could become powerful treatment options for cancer.

"Getting there will require lots more research."

  • Like 1
davieG

davieG

Posted
  • Author
Posted

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63700540

 

The Pioneer of Belfast

 

The Pioneer of Belfast glides above the water, quiet and smooth, leaving little wake behind it.

"Even in big waves and wind, we can see the benefits of flying above the waves," says Katrina Thompson, programme director at Artemis Technologies.

The Pioneer, developed by Artemis Technologies, is the world's first electric foiling workboat to be brought to market.

The foil, a wing-like structure underneath the boat, lifts the hull out of the water, greatly reducing drag.

Combine with an electric motor and you have, according to Artemis, a vessel which reduces fuel costs by 90% and is emission-free.

"It's such a transformative technology," says Dr Thompson.

Dr Thompson grew up in Sailortown, Belfast, in amongst the bustle of heavy industry. She spent her childhood playing on the docks while her parents worked on the boats.

She left Belfast to become an aeronautical engineer, designing aircraft for Rolls-Royce and Bombardier. Then, she went back to her roots - taking her expertise with her.

  • Like 2
FoxesDeb

FoxesDeb

Posted
Posted
6 hours ago, davieG said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64176038

 

UK plan for national mRNA cancer vaccine advance

Vaccine
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
By Michelle Roberts
Digital health editor
The UK is embarking on an ambitious plan to accelerate research into mRNA cancer vaccines, with German pharmaceutical company BioNTech.

Following the success of Covid vaccines using the same messenger-ribonucleic-acid technology, scientists now want to conduct more trials in cancer patients.

And they are hoping to provide this personalised type of treatment to about 10,000 patients by 2030.

Britain is the first nation to sign up to such a partnership.

BioNTech has several international cancer vaccine trials in progress but says the UK is ideally placed as it has a great track record and infrastructure for medical research.

Could Covid vaccine technology crack cancer?

Media caption,
BioNTech founders described their cancer research to the BBC in October

Some of the patients in the trials will have cancer that has already been treated and the vaccine will hopefully prevent it returning.

Others will have advanced, spreading cancers the vaccine might help shrink and control.

Unlike chemotherapy, which attacks lots of different cells as well as the cancer, the mRNA treatment is tailor-made for the individual and presents the immune system with bits of genetic code from the specific cancer so it can attack only the tumour.

This makes it more expensive to produce. BioNTech says it will be affordable for healthcare systems. But much more work is needed to determine whether the cost can be justified for the NHS. Being commercially sensitive, the details of the partnership between the Government and BioNTech have not been disclosed.

'Wanted poster'
BioNTech co-founder Prof Ozlem Tureci told BBC News: "The UK is a great partner for this endeavour.

"We have seen in the Covid-19 pandemic with the fast approval of vaccines in the UK that the regulatory authority is exceptional.

"And then there is the genomic-analysis capabilities. The UK is one of the leading nations in that regard.

"The concept here is to use specific molecular features in individual cancers of patients to encode them into the mRNA vaccines and to train the immune system to attack."

It was like putting up a bounty or wanted poster, she said, alerting the body to be on the lookout and fight.

And because cancer is a complex disease, patients might need several doses to keep the immune system on guard.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay said: "Once cancer is detected, we need to ensure the best possible treatments are available as soon as possible, including for breast, lung and pancreatic cancer.

"BioNTech helped lead the world on a Covid-19 vaccine and they share our commitment to scientific advancement.

"This partnership will mean that, from as early as September, our patients will be among the first to participate in trials and tests to provide targeted, personalised and precision treatments using transformative new therapies to both treat the existing cancer and help stop it returning."

Cancer Research UK welcomed the news, but said delays in diagnosis and treatment mean staff are increasingly overstretched and may be unable to find the time needed to set up clinical trials - if this continued it would mean slower progress towards new treatments.

CRUK spokesman Dr Iain Foulkes said: "mRNA vaccines are one of the most exciting research developments to come out of the pandemic, and there are strong hints that they could become powerful treatment options for cancer.

"Getting there will require lots more research."

Presumably all the people who absolutely shit themselves over the mRNA covid vaccine will also be steering clear of this if it becomes viable...

  • Like 1
SpacedX

SpacedX

Posted
Posted
52 minutes ago, FoxesDeb said:

Presumably all the people who absolutely shit themselves over the mRNA covid vaccine will also be steering clear of this if it becomes viable...

I thought exactly the same. You also know that most of those members in question rarely frequent this thread or have little to know knowledge or awareness of the topic. As myself and many attempted to explain on the Covid thread, this technology has the subject of research and development for decades - and very much driven by oncology. BioNTech's mRNA cancer trials started long before the pandemic and was one of the reasons that they were so quick to respond. 

  • Like 2
fox_up_north

fox_up_north

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, leicsmac said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64215660

 

"Human action to save the ozone layer has worked as hoped, and it may recover in just decades, the UN says."

 

Hey, look at that. Global unified action on an environmental problem actually does work when folks think of something beyond the immediate bottom line!

I've said it before but I do think we'll avoid the worst of global warming - JUST. I think it will be either at the end of my (hopefully long) lifetime or just after.

 

Though, I will be grumpy that I managed to be an adult during the worst of it. 

leicsmac

leicsmac

Posted
Posted
56 minutes ago, fox_up_north said:

I've said it before but I do think we'll avoid the worst of global warming - JUST. I think it will be either at the end of my (hopefully long) lifetime or just after.

 

Though, I will be grumpy that I managed to be an adult during the worst of it. 

I think if we follow the path we're following right now, this is about right - we'll do enough to stave off the kind of upheaval that results in widespread conflict and civilisational collapse, but perhaps not by much.

 

On the other hand though, I think that "not by much" will still mean droughts and famines that will lead to the deaths and suffering and migration of tens, if not hundreds of millions of people, and the only reason that won't result in utterly global upheaval is because they will mostly be in nations that have much less global clout - most nations around the Equator. The more influential nations will likely weather the storm.

 

As far as I'm concerned, the blood of those millions of people will be mostly, if not squarely, on the hands of those more influential nations and the powerful people within them who had the opportunity to change the world for the better in the time needed and didn't because it was more financially convenient not to.

SpacedX

SpacedX

Posted
Posted
13 hours ago, yorkie1999 said:

Oops.

 

12 hours ago, leicsmac said:

Everyone falls the first time.

 

It's a shame, but I'm sure they'll figure out what went wrong and get it right next time.

Terribly disappointing to all that have dedicated so much to this project. Reported to be a failure of the second stage. As @leicsmac says, a setback for Virgin Atlantic, but they will try again. Meanwhile, Spaceport Cornwall is committed to creating a business model that is not solely reliant on Virgin Orbit but to encourage a cluster development of space companies. 

 

On a similar positive note, we have the expanding Harwell 'Space Campus' in Oxfordshire comprising 100 space companies, giants such as Airbus and Lockheed Martin, to SMEs and start-ups such as Open Cosmos. It has become the most concentrated space cluster in Europe. Satellite manufacturers, lunar scientists, aerospace engineers and data scientists are encouraged to network in coffee shops and restaurants on the site creating a thriving community and is now the first UK listed investment trust dedicated to space ventures. And we know that clusters work. The burgeoning but little known UK space industry employs over 50,000 and brought in £6.5 billion in revenue in 2020. The objective of the UK to become a satellite-launching state are already well underway. The UK Space Agency is now a key partner of the ESA which is playing and ever growing role in projects such as Artemis. 

 

I realised yesterday that I've flown a couple of times on 'Cosmic girl'. 

 

Sounds like an hallucinogenic/psychotropic tab from my younger years. Different sort of trip. 

yorkie1999

yorkie1999

Posted
Posted
22 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

I think if we follow the path we're following right now, this is about right - we'll do enough to stave off the kind of upheaval that results in widespread conflict and civilisational collapse, but perhaps not by much.

 

On the other hand though, I think that "not by much" will still mean droughts and famines that will lead to the deaths and suffering and migration of tens, if not hundreds of millions of people, and the only reason that won't result in utterly global upheaval is because they will mostly be in nations that have much less global clout - most nations around the Equator. The more influential nations will likely weather the storm.

 

As far as I'm concerned, the blood of those millions of people will be mostly, if not squarely, on the hands of those more influential nations and the powerful people within them who had the opportunity to change the world for the better in the time needed and didn't because it was more financially convenient not to.

Or, just blame Thomas Midgley, he's the one that discovered cfc's in the first place.

leicsmac

leicsmac

Posted
Posted
16 minutes ago, yorkie1999 said:

Or, just blame Thomas Midgley, he's the one that discovered cfc's in the first place.

Him and E Bruce Harrison have more bodies on them combined than any 20th Century dictator.

 

Midgley also patented leaded petrol, for goodness sake.

 

But no, ozone problems and carbon driven temperature change problems are rather different areas with different areas of responsibility.

yorkie1999

yorkie1999

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

Him and E Bruce Harrison have more bodies on them combined than any 20th Century dictator.

 

Midgley also patented leaded petrol, for goodness sake.

 

But no, ozone problems and carbon driven temperature change problems are rather different areas with different areas of responsibility.

It’s a shame that the chemists and scientists hadn’t invented all these things in the first place that they’re now telling us that are going to end mankind!

leicsmac

leicsmac

Posted
Posted
1 minute ago, yorkie1999 said:

It’s a shame that the chemists and scientists hadn’t invented all these things in the first place that they’re now telling us that are going to end mankind!

Yep, scientific advancement gets you into the kind of deep shit that only such advancement can generate and only more of it can get you out of again.

 

Problem is that we can't get off that particular runaway train because if we do nature will then very soon hit us right between the eyes with one of her patented nasties, of which she has a variety.

Jon the Hat

Jon the Hat

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, leicsmac said:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64241994

 

Of course they knew. Everyone vaguely familiar with the topic knew they knew. At least the proof is reasonably conclusive now, I guess.

Seems a little one sided - there is a big difference between someone in their research department predicting something - likely among many other things which turned out to be wrong - and the idea that "they" (assuming this means senior leaders over time) knew this of the many forecast models would turn out to be true but chose to do nothing.  

 

12 minutes ago, The Bear said:

Yep. Same as tobacco companies knowing it caused cancer. 

Not quite the same - that was a proven causal link and tobacco companies continued to for example give out free cigarettes to kids across Africa when it was proven fact. 

leicsmac

leicsmac

Posted
Posted
24 minutes ago, Jon the Hat said:

Seems a little one sided - there is a big difference between someone in their research department predicting something - likely among many other things which turned out to be wrong - and the idea that "they" (assuming this means senior leaders over time) knew this of the many forecast models would turn out to be true but chose to do nothing.  

 

Nah, not buying.

 

The companies listened to their scientists, and they knew that this was a highly possible outcome and despite that did nothing to plan for it, instead focusing on short-term material gain. Even if it wasn't given as a certainty, there should have been contingencies in place considering it that should have been applied. No such applications (right up until the last couple years anyway) so we can assume no such contingencies.

  • Like 2

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