What researchers are doing in the race to understand omicron

+ the tragic legacy of leaded gasoline; how Elon Musk could donate Tesla stock US Edition - Today's top story: Figuring out omicron – here's what scientists are doing right now to understand the new coronavirus variant [View in browser]( US Edition | 9 December 2021 [The Conversation]( Breaking news about the emerging omicron variant of the coronavirus was an unwelcome dark cloud over my Thanksgiving weekend. When officials suggested it would be several weeks before it was clear just how bad the omicron news really was, it got our staff wondering what kind of science would be going on in the interim. Luckily, Peter Kasson, a virologist and biophysicist at the University of Virginia, stepped up to explain [what researchers are doing in laboratories right now]( to figure out how contagious and dangerous omicron is and whether current vaccines are up to the fight. He writes that it’s “a combination of public health data and understanding from the lab” that fills out the picture of any new coronavirus variant. Also today: - [Bosnia is in crisis again, and breaking up is on the table]( - [Pandemic casts heavy weight on medical examiners and coroners]( - [Nuns are becoming equal members of some Buddhist communities]( Maggie Villiger Senior Science + Technology Editor Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you]( A researcher works with COVID-19 samples from patients. Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images [Figuring out omicron – here’s what scientists are doing right now to understand the new coronavirus variant]( Peter Kasson, University of Virginia Careful lab work will complement public health data as researchers worldwide focus on omicron, asking questions about contagiousness, severity of disease and whether vaccines hold up against it. Science + Technology - [A century of tragedy: How the car and gas industry knew about the health risks of leaded fuel but sold it for 100 years anyway]( Bill Kovarik, Radford University Burning leaded gasoline releases toxic lead into the environment, and for 100 years people around the world have been dealing with the health effects. How did a century of toxic fuel come to be? - [Colorful sweets may look tasty, but some researchers question whether synthetic dyes may pose health risks to your colon and rectum]( Lorne J. Hofseth, University of South Carolina Sixty percent of the Standard American Diet consists of ultra-processed food, which isn’t great for colon health. Researchers are looking into whether artificial food colors play a role. Health - [Medical examiners and coroners have borne a heavy burden during the COVID-19 pandemic and have often felt invisible and unsupported]( Staci Zavattaro, University of Central Florida Death care workers are at high risk for burnout as well as depression and other mental health concerns. Ethics + Religion - [Buddhist nuns and female scholars are gaining new leadership roles, in a tradition that began with the ordination of Buddha’s foster mother]( Jue Liang, Denison University Traditionally, Buddhism has been opposed to women taking on leadership roles. However, nuns in many Buddhist-majority countries are challenging the patriarchal rules. Politics + Society - [Bosnia’s endless crisis could be solved by letting it break apart peacefully]( Timothy William Waters, Indiana University The Dayton accords in 1995 ended years of ethnic warfare in Bosnia, but more than 25 years later, the peace is holding but little else is. Serbian President Milorad Dodik wants out. Economy + Business - [How Elon Musk can save big on taxes by giving away a ton of his Tesla stock]( Eric James Allen, University of California, Riverside Giving away stock that has soared and that the donor has owned for at least a year makes the biggest dent in what share the IRS takes. - [Many global charities refrain from ‘poverty porn’ imagery to raise money from donors, but stereotypes still distort their pictures]( Abhishek Bhati, Bowling Green State University These photos tend to oversimplify the issues that cause poverty and the suffering of poor people in low-income countries. Trending on Site - [Quitting your job or thinking about joining the ‘great resignation’? Here’s what an employment lawyer advises]( Elizabeth C. Tippett, University of Oregon A record number of Americans are quitting their jobs. But before you opt to join them, you should consider the risks and costs. - [How can scientists update coronavirus vaccines for omicron? A microbiologist answers 5 questions about how Moderna and Pfizer could rapidly adjust mRNA vaccines]( Deborah Fuller, University of Washington The new omicron variant of coronavirus has a number of mutations that may require manufacturers to update vaccines. The unique attributes of mRNA vaccines make updating them fast and easy. - [An expert draws 7 lessons about US gun laws from the murder of Ahmaud Arbery and the Rittenhouse verdict]( John Donohue, Stanford University Spoiler alert: Stolen guns arm criminals, and limiting gun carrying outside the home reduces violent crime. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s graphic [A chart showing China's non-fossil fuel energy targets for 2016-2020 that includes the emissions in gigawatts that they reached.]( From the story, [In the fight against climate change, China is doing more than you think – but still not enough]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](