Cash for a COVID-19 vaccine?

+ yes, microwave weapons are a thing͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ US Edition - Today's top story: Why paying people to get the coronavirus vaccine won't work [View in browser]( US Edition | 11 December 2020 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair A COVID-19 vaccine moved closer to reality yesterday as an advisory panel to the FDA gave the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine the green light. Still, challenges lie ahead, including the fact that millions of people have said they won’t get a vaccine. Would paying them make a difference? Two health law scholars weigh [whether that makes sense](. If you have any of your own questions on COVID-19 vaccines, please reply to this email and we’ll try to have an expert answer it in an article. Also today: - [The collapse of Arecibo telescope and science infrastructure]( - [Why pastors in Congress are so scarce]( - [Neural networks of AI explained]( Lynne Anderson Senior Health + Medicine Editor Although monetary incentives work, there are potential drawbacks. Joel Saget/AFP via Getty Images [Why paying people to get the coronavirus vaccine won’t work]( Ana Santos Rutschman, Saint Louis University; Robert Gatter, Saint Louis University Millions of Americans say they won't get the vaccine. Will money change their minds? And is luring them with cash the right approach? Science + Technology - [Scientists suggest US embassies were hit with high-power microwaves – here’s how the weapons work]( Edl Schamiloglu, University of New Mexico High-power microwave weapons are useful for disabling electronics. They might also be behind the ailments suffered by US diplomats and CIA agents in Cuba and China. - [Arecibo telescope’s fall is indicative of global divide around funding science infrastructure]( Raquel Velho, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute The collapse of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico was a result of financial neglect – and was a long time coming. Environment + Energy - [The Marshall Islands could be wiped out by climate change – and their colonial history limits their ability to save themselves]( Autumn Bordner, University of California, Berkeley; Caroline E. Ferguson, Stanford University Climate change is a true existential threat for small island nations, but the US has done little to help the Marshall Islands, which it administered for decades. Video - [What is a neural network? A computer scientist explains]( Tam Nguyen, University of Dayton Neural networks today do everything from cameras to translations. A professor of computer science provides a basic explanation of how neural networks work. Politics/Election '20 - [Why do so few clergy serve in Congress?]( Robert Speel, Penn State It would seem like a natural fit: Americans are still very religious, while members of the clergy often possess the rhetorical skills and community ties that can launch political careers. Ethics + Religion - [From the White House to ancient Athens: Hypocrisy is no match for partisanship]( Raman Sachdev, University of South Florida Though hypocrites seemingly relinquish their moral authority, the trial against Socrates shows us that our favoritism for public figures is stronger than our judgments of their hypocrisy. - [Biden’s chance to revive US tradition of inserting ethics in foreign policy]( David Mayers, Boston University Four years of 'America First' has seen the US retreat from the world. But as a scholar of international relations explains, Biden could return Washington to the role of a more moral global leader. From our international edition - [COVID vaccines focus on the spike protein – but here’s another target]( Sarah L Caddy, University of Cambridge New research shows why the N protein might be a good target. - [Did Ethiopia’s attack on Tigray violate international laws?]( Eugène Bakama Bope, Université de Lubumbashi Providers of humanitarian aid haven't been able to reach civilians in Ethiopia's Tigray region. There are also reports that hundreds of civilians have been killed. - [Breakdancing in the Olympics? The Games have a long history of taking chances, from pesapallo (yes, it’s a sport) to kite flying]( Richard Baka, Victoria University New sports are being added to the Olympics all the time in an effort to remain relevant to younger audiences, while others (sorry baseball) are left out. You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451