A new scientific task force is focusing on how to prevent the emergence of diseases that spill over from animals to human beings.
Why it matters: The focus on the origins of COVID-19 has recently turned to the possibility of a lab leak, but a zoonotic spillover is still highly likely, both for the novel coronavirus and for any future pandemic-causing pathogens.
Australian scientists discovered a new species of tree frog in a swampy rainforest in New Guinea.
Details: Tree frogs are known for their green skin, but researchers encountered a species that had brown coloring, nicknaming it the "chocolate frog." The team named the species "mira" — which translate to "surprised" in Latin — because they were shocked to discover a relative of the common green tree frog, they told CNN.
A team of researchers has collected an atlas of unique microorganisms found in the world's subways.
The big picture: While each city has its own unique microbial profile, they possess a distinct urban microbiome that reminds us that we share space not just with our fellow commuters, but vast numbers of bacteria and viruses.
The Senate confirmed Eric Lander via voice vote on Friday to serve as President Biden's science adviser and director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, a top White House science post that Biden raised to Cabinet-level earlier this year.
Why it matters: Lander, whose confirmation was in part delayed from questions about his past meetings with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was Biden's only unconfirmed Cabinet appointment.
