COVID-19 can cause male fertility problems – the vaccine doesn't

+ lanternflies; Olympics science US Edition - Today's top story: AI spots shipwrecks from the ocean surface – and even from the air [View in browser]( US Edition | 28 July 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair Maybe it’s because I spend a fair amount of time talking with my kids about pirates, treasure maps and buried booty, but one of my favorite science stories of the past week described a computer model built to locate shipwrecks. UT Austin geographer Leila Character wrote about her project using artificial intelligence to comb through [underwater imagery to find shipwrecks](. It’s a potentially cheaper and less dangerous way to do underwater archaeology. And maybe a way for landlubbers to find some forgotten doubloons? Another article this week debunks a COVID-19 vaccine myth. University of Miami urologist Ranjith Ramasamy writes that there is absolutely no evidence that the vaccines cause erectile dysfunction or male infertility. And in an ironic twist, COVID-19 itself can cause both disorders. This short article is definitely worth a read or a share if you or a friend have held off on the vaccine because of [this unfounded worry](. On the other hand, an article by University of Tennessee entomologist Frank Hale introduced me to something worth worrying about: lanternflies. These invasive pests have been in the U.S. for less than a decade and they’re spreading fast, with deadly effects for trees and vines. Check out what these critters look like and [what to do if you spot them](. And here’s a trio of Olympics-related science stories from the past week: - [What makes world-class surfable waves]( - [Which lane on the track is fastest]( - [Where do winners focus their attention]( If there’s a topic or story you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Maggie Villiger Senior Science + Technology Editor It should be obvious to this diver that this is a shipwreck and not a reef, but what about to someone looking at a image of this spot taken from an aircraft? LookBermuda/Flickr [AI spots shipwrecks from the ocean surface – and even from the air]( Leila Character, The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts It’s difficult to tell a shipwreck from a natural feature on the ocean floor in a scan taken from a plane or ship. This project used deep learning to get it right 92% of the time. New research has found that some men who have had COVID-19 might experience unwanted sexual side effects. tuaindeed/iStock via Getty Images [COVID-19 could cause male infertility and sexual dysfunction – but vaccines do not]( Ranjith Ramasamy, University of Miami New studies show men who have had COVID-19 could face serious reproductive health issues. In seven years, the lanternfly has spread from Berks County, northwest of Philadelphia, to large areas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and both south and north. Penn State/E. Swackhamer [The invasive spotted lanternfly is spreading across the eastern US – here’s what you need to know about this voracious pest]( Frank A. Hale, University of Tennessee The spotted lanternfly, native to Asia, is spreading fast since arriving in the United States seven years ago. An entomologist explains why this is a big problem. Other good finds - [Extreme heat waves in a warming world don’t just break records – they shatter them]( Scott Denning, Colorado State University Not every extreme weather event is caused by climate change, but heat waves that were once ridiculously improbable are showing up more often. Just ask Portland. - [What is a breakthrough infection? 6 questions answered about catching COVID-19 after vaccination]( Sanjay Mishra, Vanderbilt University Vaccines can’t provide 100% protection, so it’s not a failure or surprise when some vaccinated people get sick with COVID-19. The good news is their cases are much less likely to be severe or fatal. - [Snow can disappear straight into the atmosphere in hot, dry weather]( Steven R. Fassnacht, Colorado State University As rivers run dry in the Rocky Mountains and the West, it’s easy to wonder where all the snow you see on mountain peaks goes. Some of it ends up in the air, but researchers aren’t sure how much. - [A winning edge for the Olympics and everyday life: Focusing on what you’re trying to accomplish rather than what’s going on with your body]( Gabriele Wulf, University of Nevada, Las Vegas A researcher who studies physical skills explains how getting your conscious thoughts out of the way lets your body do what it knows how to do, better. - [Surfing makes its Olympic debut – and the waves should be world-class thanks to wind, sand and a typhoon or two]( Sally Warner, Brandeis University Olympic surfers are coming from around the world to compete in surfing's Olympic debut. But where will the waves come from? - [Are middle lanes fastest in track and field? Data from 8,000 racers shows not so much]( David R. Munro, Middlebury In track and field, it’s a common belief that middle lanes are the fastest. But according to the data, middle lanes aren’t better, and in the 200-meter sprint, outside lanes might even be faster. You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451