Understanding monkeypox risks

+ the power of habits; 'living architecture' US Edition - Today's top story: How does monkeypox spread? An epidemiologist explains why it isn't an STI and what counts as close contact [View in browser]( US Edition | 10 August 2022 [The Conversation]( As monkeypox continues to spread, our news team has published a few stories over the past week on various aspects of the outbreak. Texas A&M University epidemiologist Rebecca Fischer offers an authoritative “what you need to know now” article that [explains the ways monkeypox is spread]( and what people should do if they contract it. The risk for most people is currently low, she writes, but “anyone who has prolonged, close contact with an infected person is at risk, including partners, parents, children or siblings, among others.” Another widely read health article this week addresses long COVID-19, perhaps a reflection of people’s concern about this vexing condition. Harish Narasimhan at University of Virginia encapsulates a review he and his colleagues did of scientific papers on the subject and details some of the medical questions researchers are now actively exploring. One key conclusion from their study is that [long COVID-19 appears to stem from an overreaction of the immune system](, rather than active viral infection. In a more offbeat story, University of South Carolina bioarchaeologist Sharon DeWitte writes that, contrary to popular perception, [people lived to ripe old ages in the past](. By studying skeletons excavated from archaeological sites, DeWitte can examine different markers, such as changes to hip bones as people age and layers of minerals in teeth, to estimate the age of people. She also explains some of the math around life expectancy to describe overall age patterns now and in the past. Also in this week’s science news: - [Map shows how climate change can exacerbate infectious disease spread]( - [Suncreen’s impact on aquatic life – panel calls for balanced review]( - [Biden just signed the CHIPS Act. What’s a semiconductor?]( 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 Vaccination can help reduce the risk of monkeypox infection. Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images [How does monkeypox spread? An epidemiologist explains why it isn’t an STI and what counts as close contact]( Rebecca S.B. Fischer, Texas A&M University While the majority of monkeypox cases thus far have been recorded among men who have sex with men, everyone is still at risk of contracting the disease. The immune system usually stays dormant in the lungs in times of health. wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images [Long COVID-19 and other chronic respiratory conditions after viral infections may stem from an overactive immune response in the lungs]( Harish Narasimhan, University of Virginia While a strong immune response is essential to fight against viral infection, an immune system that continues to stay active long after the virus has been cleared can lead to lung damage. If you made it past early childhood, your chances got better to see your golden years. Grafissimo/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images [Old age isn’t a modern phenomenon – many people lived long enough to grow old in the olden days, too]( Sharon DeWitte, University of South Carolina Nasty, brutish – but not necessarily short. Here’s how archaeologists know plenty of people didn’t die young. - [To break unhealthy habits, stop obsessing over willpower – two behavioral scientists explain why routines matter more than conscious choices]( Asaf Mazar, University of Pennsylvania; Wendy Wood, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Understanding and changing the environment in which habits form is a critical step when it comes to breaking unwanted behaviors and forming healthy ones. - [58% of human infectious diseases can be worsened by climate change – we scoured 77,000 studies to map the pathways]( Tristan McKenzie, University of Gothenburg; Camilo Mora, University of Hawaii; Hannah von Hammerstein, University of Hawaii It’s not just mosquitos. Flooding, extreme heat and other climate-related hazards are bringing people into contact with pathogens more often, and affecting people’s ability to fight off disease. - [Do chemicals in sunscreens threaten aquatic life? A new report says a thorough assessment is ‘urgently needed,’ while also calling sunscreens essential protection against skin cancer]( Robert Richmond, University of Hawaii; Karen Glanz, University of Pennsylvania Rising concern about possible environmental damage from the active ingredients in sunscreens could have ripple effects on public health if it causes people to use less of them. - [How ‘living architecture’ could help the world avoid a soul-deadening digital future]( Tim Gorichanaz, Drexel University The late Christopher Alexander’s groundbreaking work on patterns has informed the development of technology for decades, but it’s the architect’s later work that holds the key to a healthier digital life. - [Illuminating the brain one neuron and synapse at a time – 5 essential reads about how researchers are using new tools to map its structure and function]( Vivian Lam, The Conversation From figuring out where memories are stored to how sensory information translates to behavior, new technologies are helping neuroscientists better understand how the brain works. - [Boosting renewable energy use can happen quickly – and reduce harm to low-income people if done thoughtfully]( Erin Baker, UMass Amherst While a US transition to renewable energy by 2030 is possible, streamlined policies with clear goals and incentives are necessary to get there, says an industrial engineering professor. - [The climate bill could short-circuit EV tax credits, making qualifying for them nearly impossible]( James Morton Turner, Wellesley College No electric vehicle maker currently meets all the bill’s supply chain requirements, not even Tesla. One big reason: China. - [Monkeypox vaccines: A virologist answers 6 questions about how they work, who can get them and how well they prevent infection]( - [What are muscle knots? An exercise physiologist explains what those tight little lumps are and how to get rid of them]( - [What is a semiconductor? An electrical engineer explains how these critical electronic components work and how they are made]( - [The UN just declared a universal human right to a healthy, sustainable environment – here’s where resolutions like this can lead]( - [Rise of precision agriculture exposes food system to new threats]( - Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly emails: [Politics Weekly]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Economy & Business]( - - About The Conversation: We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. 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