7 drugs used to fight COVID-19: Do they help?

+ how monks live alone US Edition - Today's top story: Which drugs and therapies are proven to work, and which ones don't, for COVID-19? [View in browser]( US Edition | 1 July 2020 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Plenty of hype and misinformation has surrounded treatments for patients suffering from severe COVID-19. Now, six months into the pandemic, after multiple clinical trials, physicians are getting a better understanding of which drugs are effective, which ones don’t work and which ones require further study. University of Virginia physician-researcher William Petri describes the status ofthe most talked about COVID drugs currently being used in the clinic](. Also today: - [2020 is 1932 all over again]( - [Searching for genes that lead to a longer life]( - [Building drones to help wild dolphins]( Bijal Trivedi Science and Technology Editor We are slowly figuring out which drugs and therapies are effective against the new coronavirus. Anton Petrus / Getty Images [Which drugs and therapies are proven to work, and which ones don’t, for COVID-19?]( William Petri, University of Virginia During the last six months, news reports have mentioned dozens of drugs that may be effective against the new coronavirus. Here we lay out the evidence and reveal which ones are proven to work. Or not. Science + Technology - [From marmots to mole-rats to marmosets – studying many genes in many animals is key to understanding how humans can live longer]( Amanda Kowalczyk, University of Pittsburgh Is there a single master gene that controls longevity in all mammals? Or are 'Fountain of Youth' genes little more than a myth? - [With the help of trained dolphins, our team of researchers is building a specialized drone to help us study dolphins in the wild]( Jason Bruck, Oklahoma State University Wild dolphins are fast, smart and hard to study, but it is important to understand how human actions affect their health. So we are building a drone to sample hormones from the blowholes of dolphins. Health + Medicine - [COVID-19 and teletherapy may be changing how much you know about your therapist]( Adrienne Lapidos, University of Michigan With most therapy sessions now online, a psychologist explores whether more self-disclosure by therapists – sharing more about their own lives – might help their patients. - [Fireworks can torment veterans and survivors of gun violence with PTSD – here’s how to celebrate with respect for those who served]( Arash Javanbakht, Wayne State University Setting off fireworks may be fun for you, but for some of your neighbors it could be a traumatic experience. Politics + Society - [A summer of protest, unemployment and presidential politics – welcome to 1932]( James N. Gregory, University of Washington Marches, demonstrations, civic unrest, attacks by law enforcement and the military on protesting civilians: The parallels between the summer of 1932 and what is happening currently are striking. - [TikTok teens and the Trump campaign: How social media amplifies political activism and threatens election integrity]( Anjana Susarla, Michigan State University If teenagers organizing on social media can hamper a presidential campaign rally, how challenging is it to manipulate elections? Ethics + Religion - [Monks, experts in social distancing, find strength in isolation]( Michael A. Vargas, State University of New York at New Paltz Monastic tradition offers some useful advice about the value of isolation. Most read on site - [How fake accounts constantly manipulate what you see on social media – and what you can do about it]( Jeanna Matthews, Clarkson University A social media researcher explains how bots and sock puppet accounts manipulate and polarize public debate. - [What doctors know about lingering symptoms of coronavirus]( William Petri, University of Virginia Is it possible that people who recover from COVID-19 will be plagued with long term side effects from the infection? An infectious disease physician reviews the evidence so far. - [To safely explore the solar system and beyond, spaceships need to go faster – nuclear-powered rockets may be the answer]( Iain Boyd, University of Colorado Boulder An update of 50-year-old regulations has kickstarted research into the next generation of rockets. Powered by nuclear fission, these new systems could be the key to faster, safer exploration of space. You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111