Science Times: How Koalas With an S.T.D. Could Help Humanity

Plus: The United Arab Emirates Aims for Mars —

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 14, 2020 Russell Shakespeare for The New York Times   How Koalas With an S.T.D. Could Help Humanity When it comes to finding a vaccine for chlamydia, the world’s most common sexually transmitted infection, koalas may prove a key ally. By Rachel E. Gross Melissa Bunni Elian for The New York Times   She’s an Authority on Earth’s Past. Now, Her Focus Is the Planet’s Future. The climate scientist Maureen Raymo is leading the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia. She has big plans for science, and diversity, too. By John Schwartz Josh Haner/The New York Times   Matter Some Polynesians Carry DNA of Ancient Native Americans, New Study Finds A new genetic study suggests that Polynesians made an epic voyage to South America 800 years ago. By Carl Zimmer Emirati Mars Mission   How the United Arab Emirates Set Its Sights on Mars The launch of the Hope orbiter was delayed because of weather. The mission’s goal is to make contributions to research on the red planet. But the Emirati government really hopes it will inspire future scientists. By Kenneth Chang Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Email us Let us know how we’re doing at sciencenewsletter@nytimes.com. THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Dimitris Rapakoussis/EPA, via Shutterstock   How to Reopen Schools: What Science and Other Countries Teach Us The pressure to bring American students back to classrooms is intense, but the calculus is tricky with infections still out of control in many communities. By Pam Belluck, Apoorva Mandavilli and Benedict Carey Melissa Bunni Elian for The New York Times   These Scientists Raced to Find a Covid-19 Drug. Then the Virus Found Them. This spring, researchers at Regeneron’s Westchester headquarters found themselves in one of the country’s first coronavirus hot spots. By Katie Thomas Sebastiao Moreira/EPA, via Shutterstock   The Coronavirus Can Be Airborne Indoors, W.H.O. Says The agency also explained more directly that people without symptoms may spread the virus. The acknowledgments should have come sooner, some experts said. By Apoorva Mandavilli O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University   8 Questions From a Disease Detective on the Pandemic’s Origins Dr. Daniel R. Lucey wants answers to pointed questions that bear on how the coronavirus leapt from bats to humans. By William J. Broad Callaghan O'Hare/Reuters   Why We Still Don’t Know Enough About Covid-19 and Pregnancy More than six months into the pandemic there’s still a lot we don’t know about how the coronavirus affects pregnant women and babies. By Christina Caron Rahim Fortune for The New York Times   Feature Why We’re Losing the Battle With Covid-19 The escalating crisis in Texas shows how the chronic underfunding of public health has put America on track for the worst coronavirus response in the developed world. By Jeneen Interlandi Jim Wilson/The New York Times   Who Gets a Vaccine First? U.S. Considers Race in Coronavirus Plans When a vaccine hits the market, it will be a key tool in putting an end to the pandemic. A federal committee is debating giving early access to groups that face a high risk. By Megan Twohey Gracia Lam   Personal Health The Case for Smarter Coronavirus Testing Current tests have a high rate of false negative or false positive results. Smart testing would “help ensure that the right test is given to the right person at the right time.” By Jane E. Brody Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NASA   Out There Beyond the Milky Way, a Galactic Wall Astronomers have discovered a vast assemblage of galaxies hidden behind our own, in the “zone of avoidance.” By Dennis Overbye George Etheredge for The New York Times   Trilobites Scientists Say You Can Cancel the Noise but Keep Your Window Open Researchers in Singapore developed a system that’s sort of like noise-canceling headphones for your whole apartment. By David Waldstein Ceridwen Fraser   Trilobites Scientists Find an Earthquake’s Toll in an Organism’s DNA Along a coastline in New Zealand, kelp seems to contain a genetic record of the planet’s geological upheaval. By Veronique Greenwood Science Source   Trilobites This Ancient Sea Creature Builds Its Body With a Whisper, Not a Scream Unlike vertebrate embryo cells, which signal to each other over long distances, sea squirt embryo cells talk only to those they’re closest to. By Katherine J. Wu Natural History Museum, London/Science Source   Trilobites How a Saber-Tooth Marsupial Blinded Us With Its Bite The extinct South American animal made us believe it was as fierce as a saber-tooth cat, but a new study suggests it was a mere scavenger. By Matt Kaplan HEALTH Zephyr/Science Source   In Astounding Test, Scientists Revive Damaged Lungs for Transplant Injured and unusable lungs were restored with respirators and pig blood. The procedure one day may increase the supply of organs for transplant. By Gina Kolata Getty Images   Phys Ed What’s the Best Exercise for You? Twins Can Provide an Answer Almost everyone responds to the right exercise program, but the right program is not genetics-dependent. By Gretchen Reynolds Dado Galdieri for The New York Times   A Shot to Protect Against H.I.V. A drug injected every two months is more effective at preventing H.I.V. infection than a daily pill, scientists report. By Apoorva Mandavilli Cayce Clifford for The New York Times   Technology Bridges the Gap to Better Sight More than 6 million Americans have vision problems that cannot be corrected by glasses or contact lenses. Companies like IrisVision are creating headsets to help them see better. By Janet Morrissey Tony Cenicola/The New York Times   Should We Be Drinking Less? Scientists helping to update the latest edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are taking a harder stance on alcohol. By Anahad O’Connor Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Make a friend’s day: Forward this email. Got this from a friend? Subscribe to the Science Times newsletter. Check out other New York Times newsletters (all free!) including: Climate Fwd: for climate coverage and expert analysis. The Upshot for a data-driven look at the news. Well for the latest on health, fitness and nutrition. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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