Firstly, happy new year! I am so grateful for the support I've received for this blog. This is something I would never have thought I could achieve, and even having the ambition and self-belief to begin this journey is something I'm so proud of achieving in the midst of 2020's crazy events. I wish each of you reading this the best possible 2021.
Do you have any resolutions? Comment them below! I'd love to read them.
If you're like me, I'm sure you probably thought once midnight struck on December 31st and 2021 rolled around, things would magically become better. However, it seems this isn't exactly the case with the new tiers and rumoured school closures. Despite this apparent bad news, it is important to remember that we are in a good position for this pandemic to get better very soon. Not only have the UK approved the Pfeizer vaccine but they have now approved the Oxford vaccine too.
2021 has many proposed events focused in the science field, for example the concept of 'Covid Detectives'. The World Health Organization (WHO) have established a task force that are due to head to China this month. Their main purpose is to identify the source of the Covid-19 pandemic, and as they are composed of virologists, epidemiologists and public and animal health researchers, this task should prove interesting to the task forces.
Additionally, the current guidelines concerning the use of stem cells for research are due to be reconsidered in 2021. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) last issued these guidelines 4 years ago. The new guidelines could see a change being made to the '14 day rule', meaning scientists could work on human embryos produced in vitro for longer than two weeks. Although this may cause some ethical concerns, it would allow scientists to do more research into miscarriages and why they occur.
Science publishing in 2021 will change, too. A two-year open access project has been organised by some of the largest research funders. Organizations such as Wellcome in London, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle and NWO are stipulating that scholarly papers published from the work that they fund must be immediately free to read. This is great news for students and those interested in current research, as it gives them greater access. I'm sure it will prove useful for this blog! The idea is called Plan S and could result in the end of journal subscriptions.
I am very interested in neuroscience and therefore the concept of a drug to slow down Alzheimer's is very exciting to me. The drug is named Aducanumab and is made by the pharmaceutical company Biogen. It is an antibody that sticks to amyloid proteins in the brain which scientists believe to be the main trigger for the disease. It is the first ever drug to treat the actual disease rather than just the memory loss caused by it.
There is a lot of projected developments in space science too. A Chinese probe is destined for Mars and should touchdown in February. It is called Tianwen-1 and it is going to look for water and signs of life using a selection of 13 instruments. Crafts from the United Arab Emirates and the USA should arrive at around the same time. Also, October will see the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Webb will continue the success of the Hubble Telescope, although it covers more wavelengths than the Hubble.
Next time the BBC or ITV news becomes too overwhelming, don't forget there are good things going on right now too, they're just not as broadcasted. I'm sending best wishes and lots of love to each of you!
Here's to 2021!