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COVID-19 Herd Immunity: Where Are We?

COVID-19 Herd Immunity: Where Are We?

During the current COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of herd immunity has become a topic of much debate. This Comment examines the factors that determine it, discusses how far we have come and considers what it will take to reach herd immunity safely.

Longtime Climate Science Denier Hired At NOAA

Longtime Climate Science Denier Hired At NOAA

The appointment of a climate change denier to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration comes as Americans face profound threats stoked by climate change, from the vast, deadly wildfires in the West to an unusually active hurricane season in the South and East.

Vaccine Makers Keep Safety Details Quiet, Alarming Scientists

Vaccine Makers Keep Safety Details Quiet, Alarming Scientists

Researchers say drug companies need to be more open about how vaccine trials are run to reassure Americans who are skittish about getting a coronavirus vaccine.

How the Pandemic Could Choke Gender Equity for Female Researchers in Denmark

How the Pandemic Could Choke Gender Equity for Female Researchers in Denmark

An advocacy group calls for funders and institutions to launch flexible grant and fellowship schemes and equity programmes.

What if We Have to Wait Years for a Coronavirus Vaccine?

What if We Have to Wait Years for a Coronavirus Vaccine?

A silver-bullet vaccine is far from guaranteed. But it's also not the only way out of the pandemic.

More Readers in More Places: The Benefits of Open Access for Scholarly Books

More Readers in More Places: The Benefits of Open Access for Scholarly Books

New report published by Springer Nature analyses usage patterns across open access and closed books.The results show higher geographic diversity of usage, higher numbers of downloads and more citations for open access books.

Data-driven Advice for Grad School

Data-driven Advice for Grad School

"Do you have any advice for future graduate students?" I asked. The student had recently defended his Ph.D., and I was conducting an exit interview-something I do with every graduating biomedical Ph.D. student at my university, where I am in charge of evaluating our medical school's Ph.D. training programs. He sat back in his chair and thought for a minute before responding: He wished he had started to plan for his post-Ph.D. career earlier. My shoulders dropped and I let out a sigh. "Program directors recommend this to incoming students every year, but some don't seem to hear it," I said. "How do you think we can get them to listen?" This time, he didn't hesitate. "They are graduate students in science ," he exclaimed. "Show them the data!" > "Even when you're just getting started, you need to look forward." That was my aha moment. I immediately began to document the responses to this question in subsequent interviews. It has been 3 years now, and the data I've collected confirm my suspicions-the same answers come up again and again. As a new cohort of Ph.D. students starts grad school this fall, here are the five pieces of advice graduates offer most frequently. Thirty-two percent of graduating students said this is the most critical decision a Ph.D. student can make. Many students gravitate toward mentors who work in areas they find interesting and exciting, but it is also important to think about what style of mentoring you respond to best. Finding a mentor with the right mentoring approach for you is at least as important as finding one who studies a specific topic. You need time to (a) decide which career paths you find appealing and (b) start preparing for those careers. Twenty percent of graduating students recommended exploring future careers as early as possible so you can use your time in grad school to build additional skills you will need. To learn about specific professions, you can conduct informational interviews, attend seminars where alumni discuss their careers, do an internship, or engage in a variety of other options. Graduate school is full of ups and downs. Thirteen percent of graduates said that if you feel the need to talk to someone on or off campus, don't hesitate. "If you are not happy, try to do something about it and make a change," one student said. If you feel isolated, another student recommended joining a campus group to connect with others. Twelve percent of graduates recommended that students consistently and critically evaluate their progress throughout their training. Make an outline of your research and career goals and when you want to achieve them, and hold yourself to that plan. Some students use an individual development plan to prompt discussions with their mentor and thesis committee. But don't wait for these meetings; setting goals and holding yourself accountable should be a continuous habit. This looks different for different people, but don't ignore it. You should expect to work hard in grad school, but the right work-life balance can have an important influence on your mental health and overall quality of life. Nine percent of graduates recommended finding something that helps you unwind, such as pursuing hobbies, getting together with friends, or volunteering in the community. Observant readers may notice that the numbers above only add up to 86%. Other pieces of advice included be assertive and ask for what you need, learn to trust your experimental results as long as the controls work, and plan your projects around what's needed for a publishable paper. But the most important thing is to take these pointers to heart early on. Even when you're just getting started, you need to look forward.

Fraud by Numbers: Metrics and the New Academic Misconduct

Fraud by Numbers: Metrics and the New Academic Misconduct

UCLA professor of Law and Communication Mario Biagioli dissects how metric-based evaluations are shaping university agendas.

The New Age of Preprints: Enhanced, Reproducible, and Reusable

The New Age of Preprints: Enhanced, Reproducible, and Reusable

Invest in Open Infrastructure receives initial funding to launch and hire a Director.

How the Coronavirus Attacks the Brain

How the Coronavirus Attacks the Brain

It's not just the lungs - the pathogen may enter brain cells, causing symptoms like delirium and confusion, scientists reported.

Facial Masking for Covid-19 — Potential for “Variolation” as We Await a Vaccine

Facial Masking for Covid-19 — Potential for “Variolation” as We Await a Vaccine

Universal facial masking might help reduce the severity of SARS-CoV-2 and ensure that a greater proportion of new infections are asymptomatic.

The Contagion Externality of a Superspreading Event:The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and COVID-19

The Contagion Externality of a Superspreading Event:The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and COVID-19

Large in-person gatherings without social distancing and with individuals who have traveled outside the local area are classified as the “highest risk” for COVID-19 spread by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Between August 7 and August 16, 2020, nearly 500,000 motorcycle enthusiasts converged on Sturgis, South Dakota for its annual motorcycle rally.

Shorter Lifespan of Faster-growing Trees Will Add to Climate Crisis, Study Finds

Shorter Lifespan of Faster-growing Trees Will Add to Climate Crisis, Study Finds

Rise in carbon capture as global warming speeds growth of forests would be negated by earlier deaths, say scientists.

Dozens of Scientific Journals Have Vanished from the Internet, and No One Preserved Them

Dozens of Scientific Journals Have Vanished from the Internet, and No One Preserved Them

Most open access journals lack the technical means and plans to preserve their articles, despite a mandate from some funders that they do so. Specialists worry about a potential loss to scholarship.

A Robot Wrote This Entire Article. Are You Scared Yet, Human?

A Robot Wrote This Entire Article. Are You Scared Yet, Human?

We asked GPT-3, OpenAI's powerful new language generator, to write an essay for us from scratch. The assignment? To convince us robots come in peace.