In today’s issue of Squirrel News, we delve into Nigeria’s pioneering efforts in combatting meningitis, how the deployment of new mosquito nets has been credited with preventing 13 million cases of malaria, and how California’s energy grid has set a record 30-day streak meeting over 100% of its demand through wind, solar, and hydro sources.
Nigeria takes lead in meningitis fight, introduces world-first vaccine
Nigeria has made history as the first nation to introduce the Men5CV vaccine against meningitis. Situated in one of Africa’s meningitis hotspots, Nigeria saw a 50% surge in annual meningitis hyperendemic cases last year.
New mosquito nets prevented 13 million malaria cases, global NGO reports
With the distribution of 56 million cutting-edge mosquito nets across Nigeria and 16 other nations in sub-Saharan Africa, the initiative – spearheaded by the Global Funds to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria – has successfully thwarted an estimated 13 million malaria cases and 24,600 deaths.
California’s renewable energy surpasses 100% of demand for record 30-day streak
California’s primary grid has seen wind, solar, and hydro sources meeting over 100% of the state’s energy demands for an unprecedented stretch of 30 days out of the last 38.
New Title IX rules to provide extensive safeguards for LGBTQ+ students
In a significant policy shift, the Biden administration has implemented revised Title IX regulations aimed at fortifying protections against sex discrimination. These reforms, which counteract alterations made during the Trump era, are designed to offer robust support to LGBTQ+ students and individuals who have survived sexual violence.
‘Horizontally’ recycled nappies go on sale in Japan in world first
A company in Japan has started selling the world’s first “horizontally” recycled nappies, as the country’s ageing society undergoes a shift in demand for children’s diapers to those for older adults. They are described as “horizontal” because the reproduced items are the same as those they were recycled from, as opposed to being turned into different products.
Scientists develop digital replicas of human hearts
Researchers in Barcelona are leading an innovative project to construct digital replicas of human hearts, offering new avenues of exploration for predictive and preventative medicine.
Pillbot: the tiny microrobot for early disease detection, controlled remotely
Over the centuries, internal medicine has seen innovations like X-rays, endoscopes, ultrasounds, and MRIs – but scrutinising the human body for cysts, tumours, and other disease indicators remains a complex task. A microrobot designed for early disease detection, easily ingested and controlled remotely, aims to change that.
Penguins in the pond, kiwi in the back yard: how a city brought back its birds
As nature falls silent in most cities around the world, New Zealand’s capital has been transformed by the sound of native birds returning to the dawn chorus.
A high school’s student-run gardening scheme mixes science and creativity
The school gardening programme at Sylmar Charter High goes beyond just growing flowers for prom. It blends floriculture with lessons in science, sustainability, financial literacy, and supports creativity in a calming, peaceful environment.
Israeli and Palestinian activists unite in TED Talk on the power of hope in action
Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon aim to establish a space where individuals can serve as citizen diplomats, embracing a framework of learning from one another to pave the way for meaningful progress.
