An Airbus A340 landed in Antarctica

A new coronavirus variant could just be the most dangerous to date, nasal Alzheimer’s vaccine to start human trials for the first time Nov 26, 2021 Together with [ALTAIR]( Good morning. We know you are probably tired of hearing it by now, but there is a new coronavirus variant on the horizon. Scientists are on alert and racing to see if this fast-spreading variant poses a threat to the vaccines’ effectiveness. On a brighter note, human trials of a nasal vaccine aimed to prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease will begin soon. And far, far away in Antarctica, a team of explorers has achieved an aviation first by landing an Airbus A340 on glacial ice. Don't forget: You can refer The Blueprint and win exclusive IE swag for free. Check out our reward program at the end of this edition. This is The Blueprint. Keep reading. HEALTH [A New Coronavirus Variant Could Just Be the Most Dangerous to Date]( [Viruses constantly mutate to yield new variants.]( Scientists are concerned about [a new coronavirus variant known as B1.1.529]( which was discovered in a patient in Botswana and has twice the number of mutations seen in the Delta variant. The new variant has 32 mutations in its spike protein, which could significantly alter the virus' structure. This is especially worrying since vaccines have been designed around the original structure of the spike protein, and even the vaccinated may not be protected against the new variant. - Evolution at work. Viruses undergo rapid changes in their genetic makeup as they reproduce inside the host cell. These changes help the virus become more infectious or evade the host immune system. So far, 82 cases have been reported, and the news comes just after infections have spiked in European countries like Austria and Germany, [despite having fully vaccinated more than 65 percent of their population](. However, the spike in cases has not yet been linked to the newly found variant. Scientists on alert. The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) of the World Health Organization is scheduled to convene today to discuss the variant and suggest appropriate measures. We’ll keep our fingers crossed on that one. [Read More]( INNOVATION [An Airbus A340 Landed in Antarctica for the First Time Ever]( [The Airbus A340.]( A team of explorers [achieved an aviation first]( by landing an Airbus A340 in Antarctica for the first time. - The feat. The A340 took off at 8 a.m. local time on Nov. 2 from Cape Town, South Africa, before flying 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 km) to Antarctica and returning. The goal was to bring supplies to the extremely remote location. Each of these flights took just more than five hours, and the crew spent less than three hours on the continent itself, meaning they may well have made it back home in time for a late dinner. - Break the ice. Antarctica is a treacherous place for pilots. It’s home to only 50 landing strips and no airports, meaning pilots have to account for slippery conditions and the weight of their aircraft as it lands on ice. The A340 weighed a hefty 190 tons. The researchers were sure, however, that they "had done [their] homework properly" and that the A340's "four engines redundancy and very long range, make it the ideal airplane" for their mission. Following the historic flight, the same A340 will be used to fly tourists and scientists, along with cargo supplies, to Antarctica. Alongside, other luxury trips such as deep-sea private submersible rides and [trips to the polar regions]( are also starting to take off. [Read More]( SPONSORED Market Competition Is At Its Zenith. And There's Only One Way To Survive. The ever-increasing competitiveness in the market has compelled businesses to expand their capabilities and come up with high-performance, profitable products. But, how do you shorten the development time and reduce the costs of creating such products? CAD embedded simulation tools are the only way to manage this feat. A simulation tool could answer all the what-ifs of your product when it's in the development cycle. However, it's no cinch to select the right tool and implement it with minimal resources, since slow or inaccurate tools can deprive you of all the benefits you are looking for. Altair is holding a virtual event "Don't Be Late To Stimulate" on November 30th as a part of their Simulation Drive Design Session to help you deal with the dilemma. Small and medium-sized design and engineering teams will talk about how simulation can be applied early in the product development cycle to create and optimize efficient parts, systems, and assemblies. [Register now]( before it's too late! HEALTH [Nasal Alzheimer's Vaccine To Start Human Trials for the First Time]( [Brain MRI scan.]( Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston Massachusetts [will soon begin Phase I trials]( of a nasal vaccine designed to prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. - A milestone. Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques and tau tangles between neurons in the brain. And this is the first occasion when a nasal vaccine is being trialed for the disease, which affects more than six million people in the U.S. alone. The researchers are using an immune modulator called Protollin to trigger the immune system, specifically the white blood cells from the lymph node located in the neck area. The researchers are hopeful that this will clear out plaques in the patients. - The trial will include 16 participants between the age of 60 and 85 years who have been diagnosed with symptomatic, early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Participants will receive two doses of the vaccine, one week apart. Early days. The main aim of the trial is to determine if the vaccine is safe and can be tolerated at the dosages planned. If successful, the same mode of treatment [could be used for other neurodegenerative diseases](. [Read More]( MAIL & MUSINGS We've come a long way since the creation of the world's first vaccine, against smallpox, in 1797. From polio to measles, we've almost forgotten about the existence of some diseases, and with the mRNA technology, vaccine development is picking up pace. Which disease do you think researchers should concentrate on next to develop a vaccine? Be sure you check back tomorrow for the results! [HIV]( [Alzheimer’s]( [Cancer]( [Diabetes]( Yesterday’s Results And now let’s check out your answers to yesterday’s question! We asked you whether you are excited about Tesla’s Cybertruck. And almost half of you said that it's overhyped, while 21% are excited about it and call it revolutionary. And for 19%, Cybertruck is simply way too ugly to ever see production. Well, Tesla CEO Elon Musk doesn't really care, and he even admitted that it might flop. But [he doesn't care because he loves its odd trapezoid-like design](. No, it’s overhyped. 47% Yes, it’ll be revolutionary. 21% I hope it never sees production. Too ugly. 19% I still think it's an Elon Musk joke. 13% QUOTE OF THE DAY “ We take risks all the time, we talk about failure. We need big failures in order to move the needle. If we don't, we're not swinging enough. You really should be swinging hard, and you will fail, but that's okay. ” Jeff Bezos at Amazon's Re:Mars conference in 2019. [Video]VIDEO OF THE DAY [Space Telescopes Are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe]( Here's how they do it. [Space Telescopes Are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe]( AND ANOTHER THING... - So, [where are all the nuclear-powered cars we were promised]( Can such small vehicles ever be powered by nuclear energy in the first place? Let's find out. - From Neanderthals to now, [here’s how dogs became humans’ best friends](. It’s a lively tale of evolution, domestication, migration, and fellowship. (Nature) - [China's radar satellite constellation is growing]( and it's looking right at Earth. - A hospital patient from the U.K. will be [the first person to ever be fitted with a 3D-printed prosthetic eye](. - Practicing gratitude makes people happier, according to science. [Here's how to make it a habit](. (Fast Company) - This [Skoda-inspired electric moon rover concept]( has puncture-resistant tires, can seat up to four people, and can be operated autonomously. - Stroll the sidewalks of the eastern U.S. this fall and you might think you’re walking on ball bearings, as a bumper crop of acorns rolls under your feet. [This is a mast year]( in which tree species reproduce prolifically, creating a bounty that will last for years. (Science.org) [Share to Win]SHARE TO WIN [All products]( Share The Blueprint! Give your friends deeper insights into engineering and tech, and win exclusive IE swag for free. [Read Details]( Share your link Copy & share your referral link with others. [ [Referral Program Terms and Conditions]( Prepared by Derya Ozdemir Enjoy reading? Don't forget to forward to a friend! Was this email forwarded to you? 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