A lesson in immunology from the latest research on vaccines and pregnant women

+ avoiding megafires; marijuana and academic performance; threat of a 'twindemic' US Edition - Today's top story: Vaccination against COVID-19 supports a healthy pregnancy by protecting both mother and child – an immunologist explains the maternal immune response [View in browser]( US Edition | 13 October 2021 [The Conversation]( The pandemic seems to have made us all amateur (or at least wanna-be) epidemiologists. The even more geeky among us have learned a lot about immunology as well. Immunologist Matthew Woodruff, who has written a number of stories for us since the pandemic began, provides an in-depth explanation of the “coordinated dance” that the immune system of pregnant women must perform – and the role vaccines play in that. His piece explains why pregnancy is a significant risk factor for COVID-19 and [how the research shows that vaccines are vital for pregnant women](. In reading Chris Impey’s story on the James Webb Space Telescope, I learned of a period in the universe’s history I hadn’t heard of before: the Dark Ages. Impey, an astronomer at the University of Arizona, explains in lay terms how this mission, set for launch in December, is engineered [to learn about the period after the Big Bang – the Dark Ages – and other mysteries, such as when galaxies formed](. “Some of the biggest unanswered questions about the universe relate to its early years just after the Big Bang,” he writes. As any parent knows, kids seem to spend a whole lot of time with screens of various kinds. Is this harming their development and mental well-being? In a recent study, Ph.D. student Katie Paulich from University of Colorado Boulder found [five hours a day for preteens doesn’t appear to be harmful in terms of mental health](. Her write-up provides a nuanced look at the findings, including caveats and room for more research. Also in this week’s science and research news: - [Reducing fuel in forest is best tool for fighting wildfires]( - [Chaos is not the same as randomness – and why it matters to science]( - [Why it took so long to produce a vaccine for malaria]( If there’s a subject you’d like our team of science editors to investigate, please reply to this email. Martin La Monica Director of Editorial Projects and Newsletters Pregnancy poses significant risks for severe illness or death from COVID-19, for both mother and baby. ArtMarie/E+ via Getty Images [Vaccination against COVID-19 supports a healthy pregnancy by protecting both mother and child – an immunologist explains the maternal immune response]( Matthew Woodruff, Emory University In light of mounting research showing the serious risks of contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy, the CDC is re-upping its urgency that pregnant women get their shots. Hubble took pictures of the oldest galaxies it could – seen here – but the James Webb Space Telescope can go back much farther in time. NASA [The most powerful space telescope ever built will look back in time to the Dark Ages of the universe]( Chris Impey, University of Arizona The James Webb Space Telescope is set to launch into orbit in December 2021. Its mission is to search for the first light to ever shine in the universe. Tools for a prescribed burn conducted in the Sierra Nevada in November 2019. Susan Kocher [Moving beyond America’s war on wildfire: 4 ways to avoid future megafires]( Susan Kocher, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources; Ryan E. Tompkins, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Two forest researchers whose own communities were threatened by fires in 2021 explain how historic policies left forests at high risk of megafires. Other good finds - [Kids and their computers: Several hours a day of screen time is OK, study suggests]( Katie Paulich, University of Colorado Boulder New data shows that lots of time on screens may even improve peer relationships. But the study comes with caveats. - [How does smoking marijuana affect academic performance? Two researchers explain how it can alter more than just moods]( Jason R. Kilmer, University of Washington; Christine M. Lee, University of Washington In their quest to feel high and relax, college students who use marijuana may be setting themselves back, research consistently shows. - [Flu season paired with COVID-19 presents the threat of a ‘twindemic,’ making the need for vaccination all the more urgent]( Mark S Roberts, University of Pittsburgh; Richard K Zimmerman, University of Pittsburgh Recent computer modeling shows the upcoming flu season might see a surge in cases. Coupled with COVID-19’s continued threat, doctors are again urging Americans to get their shots. - [WHO approved a malaria vaccine for children – a global health expert explains why that is a big deal]( Miriam K. Laufer, University of Maryland School of Medicine Malaria is one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. So why has it taken so long to get a vaccine? - [Ancient groundwater: Why the water you’re drinking may be thousands of years old]( Marissa Grunes, Harvard University; Alan Seltzer, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Kevin M. Befus, University of Arkansas As surface water diminishes in the Western US, people are drilling deeper wells – and tapping into older groundwater that can take thousands of years to replenish naturally. - [What is chaos? A complex systems scientist explains]( Mitchell Newberry, University of Michigan Part of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for work modeling Earth’s climate using its chaotic, complex weather. To scientists, chaos lies in the gray zone between randomness and predictability. - [Perseverance’s first major successes on Mars – an update from mission scientists]( Melissa Rice, Western Washington University; Briony Horgan, Purdue University Perseverance and its helicopter sidekick, Ingenuity, have been on Mars for nearly nine months. The duo have taken rock samples, performed first flights and taken images of the delta in Jezero Crater. [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](