President Biden, former President Obama and Michelle Obama are joining a slew of stars for an NBC special this weekend that aims to raise awareness of COVID-19 vaccines, dispel myths and boost inoculation rates.
What to expect: In Sunday's "Roll Up Your Sleeves" special, hosted by NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and actor-singer Ciara,Biden will urge Americans to "beat the pandemic, protect loved ones and continue the road to recovery," according to a statement from NBC.
Human screams can signal more than just fear — and we're actually more alert to positive screams than alarming ones, researchers have found.
Why it matters: The fact that a simple scream can connote such a variety of emotions shows the complexity of nonverbal human communication and may indicate we're more alert to joy than terror.
Researchers for the first time have created embryos in the lab that contain both human and monkey cells.
Why it matters: So-called chimeric embryos could help scientists produce organs for people desperately in need of transplants, but the very act of mixing human and animal cells raises major ethical questions.
Faster and cheaper genetic sequencing can give us the ability to test for almost any infectious pathogen — provided we use it.
Why it matters: Doctors never identify the causative agents of many infections, leading them to misdiagnose patients and even miss the early emergence of new diseases, but wider use of genetic sequencing promises a future in which no virus will be left behind.
NASA announced Friday it has awarded Elon Musk's SpaceX a $2.89 billion contract to build a spacecraft that will carry astronauts to the Moon's surface.
Why it matters: NASA hopes to land astronauts on the Moon by 2024, which if successful, would be the first time since the last Apollo mission. SpaceX beat out Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and defense contractor Dynetics for the contract.
