The pandemic has been critical in the early testing of vaccines and therapeutics. A lot of airlines in the us won't carry primates fall research, due to th pressure from animal rights groups. Another issue that's come up during the pandemic is that another kind of makak that's used for a lot of drug testing, was being imported from china, and china stopped shipping them because of the pandemic.
Funding for gun violence research in the US returns after a 20-year federal hiatus, and the glass sponges that can manipulate ocean currents.
In this episode:
00:45 Gun violence research is rebooted
For 20 years there has been no federally-funded research on gun violence in the US. In 2019, $25 million a year was allocated for this work. We speak to some of the researchers that are using these funds, and the questions they are trying to answer about gun violence.
Venus’ flower baskets are marine sponges that live at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. These sponges have an unusual glass skeleton that helps them gather food, and even appears to control ocean currents.
We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, investment in non-human primate facilities, and the European Union's latest climate plan.