Chernobyl and Ukraine's nuclear power stations – what's at risk?

+ sex differences matter in cardiovascular disease; COVID-19 and the brain US Edition - Today's top story: Military action in radioactive Chernobyl could be dangerous for people and the environment [View in browser]( US Edition | 9 March 2022 [The Conversation]( One of the alarming headlines this morning from the war in Ukraine is the deteriorating situation at the Chernobyl exclusion zone where power has been cut off. Last week, we commissioned an article from Timothy Mousseau, a University of South Carolina biologist who has spent more than 20 years working in Ukraine and other countries studying the effects of radiation. He spells out the [dangers of the current situation]( which, should they escalate, could be “catastrophic” to the environment. Another story, meanwhile, explains the [volatility warfare can bring to functioning nuclear power plants](. For people who have had COVID-19, one of the biggest worries is that health effects may linger or perhaps cause complications later on. Earlier this week, a study found that people with both severe and mild cases of COVID-19 showed a loss of brain volume. Jessica Bernard, a cognitive neuroscientist from Texas A&M University, unpacks the results of the paper and articulates a [few key questions the research community]( still faces, such as what the disease may mean for aging and the extent to which a brain can recover from a viral infection over time. Early on in the pandemic there was a raft of stories on how innovators were using 3D printing to build personal protective equipment or invent cheap rapid tests. Douglas Hannah, a professor of strategy and innovation from Boston University, describes how a successful example of this type of grassroots innovation came to be. The Corsi-Rosenthal box – built with four off-the-shelf furnace air filters taped to an ordinary fan – has been used in more than 1,000 schools. Hannah writes about the [lasting lessons from this project and how communities can form to address pressing needs](. Also in this week’s science and research news: - [Research on sex differences could improve cardiovascular care]( - [Why birds rarely have the means to fight]( - [A PTSD expert explains the toll on Ukrainians of war]( 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 Much of the region around Chernobyl has been untouched by people since the nuclear disaster in 1986. Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images [Military action in radioactive Chernobyl could be dangerous for people and the environment]( Timothy A. Mousseau, University of South Carolina With Russian troops rolling through the Chernobyl exclusion zone in Ukraine, a biologist who studies wildlife in the area describes the risks of disturbing this radioactive landscape. A new brain-imaging study finds that participants who had even mild COVID-19 showed an average reduction in whole brain sizes. Kirstypargeter/iStock via Getty Images Plus [Even mild cases of COVID-19 can leave a mark on the brain, such as reductions in gray matter – a neuroscientist explains emerging research]( Jessica Bernard, Texas A&M University New research offers insights into the brain after COVID-19 that may have implications for our understanding of long COVID-19 and how the disease affects our senses of taste and smell. A do-it-yourself air purifier in use in a classroom. Douglas Hannah [How a nondescript box has been saving lives during the pandemic – and revealing the power of grassroots innovation]( Douglas Hannah, Boston University 3D printers got a lot of attention when DIYers leapt to action to address equipment shortages early in the pandemic, but some everyday items found in hardware stores played a big role, too. - [Surprise – your kids may be nervous about ditching the mask]( Elizabeth Englander, Bridgewater State University; Katharine Covino-Poutasse, Fitchburg State University As mask mandates fall and the CDC issues new mask guidance, kids may experience anxiety around removing their masks. Clear communication from grown-ups can help children navigate the uncertainty. - [How pet cancer data sheds light on human cancers – and speeds the development of new treatments]( Rodney Lee Page, Colorado State University New research on cat and dog health may provide clues on how to prevent and treat cancer in humans. - [Women’s History Month: 5 groundbreaking researchers who mapped the ocean floor, tested atomic theories, vanquished malaria and more]( Maggie Villiger, The Conversation Discover the stories of five trailblazing women – Tharp, Nice, Tu, Noether and Wu – who worked in STEM during the 20th century. - [The great Amazon land grab – how Brazil’s government is clearing the way for deforestation]( Gabriel Cardoso Carrero, University of Florida; Cynthia S. Simmons, University of Florida; Robert T. Walker, University of Florida Land grabs spearheaded by wealthy interests are accelerating deforestation, and Brazil’s National Congress is working to legitimize them. - [The sex of your cells matters when it comes to heart disease]( Brian Aguado, University of California San Diego A one-size-fits-all approach may not be best for treating cardiovascular disease. Taking sex chromosomes into account could make for more effective and equitable care. - [Many Ukrainians face a future of lasting psychological wounds from the Russian invasion]( Arash Javanbakht, Wayne State University Ukrainian children, refugees and military personnel will be among those hardest hit with PTSD due to the Russian invasion. - [Deer have antlers, walruses have tusks – here’s why so few birds have weapons of their own]( Alexandre V. Palaoro, Clemson University ; João C. T. Menezes, UMass Amherst Birds will shriek and dive at each other over food, territory or mates, but only a small number of species sport actual weapons. The reason: Flying matters more for their survival than fighting. Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( Enjoy reading The Conversation? 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