AskScience AMA Series: We're Cheryl Bowman, Deputy Branch Chief for High Temperature and Smart Alloys, and Sean Clarke, Principal Investigator, X-57 Maxwell Experimental Aircraft. We are part of the NASA team that is developing new technology for Electrified Aircraft. Ask us anything.

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• AskScience AMA Series: We're Cheryl Bowman, Deputy Branch Chief for High Temperature and Smart Alloys, and Sean Clarke, Principal Investigator, X-57 Maxwell Experimental Aircraft. We are part of the NASA team that is developing new technology for Electrified Aircraft. Ask us anything.
• Does a photon travel more than 1 billion light years in 1 billion years due to the expansion of space?
• If regularly donating blood without being re-exposed to a particular pathogen, will circulating antibody levels decline over time?
• Is it possible to change skin colour from constant tanning?
• Does taking a vitamin D supplement stop natural vitamin D production?
• Given that light travels faster in air than in water, and sound travels faster in water than air. Is there a theoretical (or real) substance where sound travels faster than light?
• Does NASA have a plan to save astronauts that are stranded on the ISS?
• What are the implications of a COVID positive, asymptomatic person donating blood?
• How do I calculate the celestial coordinates of an object in the solar system at a given time from its ephemerides?
• How does our body know the spike protein made from the mRNA vaccines is foreign?
• Can Human Beings become immune to the Corona Virus due to evolution?
• Is there a uniquely "Human" protein, or a unique aspect of a Human protein that exists in humans and no other species?
• What makes fusion power so hard to keep self-sustaining?
• How is electron degeneracy pressure different from thermal/kinetic pressure?
• How do space vehicles know how to orientate themselves? (Specifically unmanned spacecraft)
• How do the vaccine companies prove they have 94/95 percent effectiveness? How can they possibly test this, how do they know the people they injected in the clinical trials just weren't exposed to the disease yet?
• Is there evidence that suggests whether getting the primary vaccine and the booster shot in the same arm is better/worse/equivalent to getting them in opposite arms?
• How are other common seasonal viruses transmitted?
• How do COVID19 vaccinations complication rates compare to flu vaccinations complication rates?
• Can a planet have an elliptical ring system and/or an "offset" orbital point?

AskScience AMA Series: We're Cheryl Bowman, Deputy Branch Chief for High Temperature and Smart Alloys, and Sean Clarke, Principal Investigator, X-57 Maxwell Experimental Aircraft. We are part of the NASA team that is developing new technology for Electrified Aircraft. Ask us anything. Posted: 17 Dec 2020 04:00 AM PST Join us today at 2 p.m. ET (19 UT) to ask anything about NASA's recent technology developments for Electrified Aircraft Propulsion - the use of propulsors (propellers or fans) driven by electric motors to propel or help propel aircraft ranging from air taxis to subsonic transports. From developing technology to aircraft concepts to flight testing, we're working toward a new generation of aircraft with a lower carbon footprint. We built and tested a lithium-ion battery pack that uses Space Station technologies to improve safety and reliability - already being used in other experimental aircraft! We've doubled the temperature capability of soft magnetics for flight electronics. We will soon be flight testing the all-electric X-57 Maxwell Experimental Aircraft in a 2-motor, 150 kW mode followed by a 14-motor, 300 kW flight test on a high-performance wing. We are using what we learn on experimental aircraft and in laboratories to help write the design and test standards for electric propulsion system in future passenger aircraft. We can't wait to answer your questions on how we're turning this idea from science fiction to reality. Participants include: Cheryl Bowman, Deputy Branch Chief for High Temperature and Smart Alloys Sean Clarke, Principal Investigator, X-57 Maxwell Experimental Aircraft and Advanced Systems Development Engineer Proof: https://twitter.com/NASAaero/status/1338884365632331779 Username: /u/nasa submitted by /u/AskScienceModerator [link] [comments]

Does a photon travel more than 1 billion light years in 1 billion years due to the expansion of space? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 10:41 AM PST Assuming we shoot a photon out into space, it would go 1 light year after 1 year, and 1 million light years after 1 million years. Because after that the expansion of space is noticeable, would photon be farther than 1 billion light years after 1 billion years? Does the expansion of space (Hubble flow) carry the photon forward? submitted by /u/mobydikc [link] [comments]

If regularly donating blood without being re-exposed to a particular pathogen, will circulating antibody levels decline over time? Posted: 17 Dec 2020 07:06 AM PST I'm not an immunologist so please forgive me if there are glaring errors. My understanding as I remember it from many years ago is that when a previously encountered pathogen is detected by B-memory cells, they proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells, which begin to produce antibodies until the pathogen is cleared. Whilst the B-memory cells will survive, the plasma cells and antibodies in the blood stream will decline over time until the pathogen is reintroduced and more are produced? I ask this in relation to Covid as I had Covid-19 back in early March and was very sick. However I've just had a negative antibody test when trying to donate plasma. I've donated blood on at least 4 occasions since and have been very careful with distancing etc so would hope I have not come back into contact with any viral particles. submitted by /u/RichardsonM24 [link] [comments]

Is it possible to change skin colour from constant tanning? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 06:38 PM PST When I was a kid I had light skin. I tanned easily and always stayed in the sun without sunscreen. Fast forward to being near 20 I have a lot darker skin (brown) although its gotten lighter slowly since I stopped tanning. Is my dark skin a result of staying in the sun for my whole childhood or would it have happened regardless, and will it return to my natural colour, I've just been curious about this for a while. submitted by /u/Donttgiveup [link] [comments]

Does taking a vitamin D supplement stop natural vitamin D production? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 10:04 AM PST If I would for example take 1000 IU of oral vitamin D every day, does my natural vitamin D production in the sun stop due to the supplement taking? submitted by /u/krafter22 [link] [comments]

Given that light travels faster in air than in water, and sound travels faster in water than air. Is there a theoretical (or real) substance where sound travels faster than light? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 08:59 PM PST If so, what sort of properties does that substance have? Is it possible to be the density required while still being transparent? (Assuming my not transparent on the visible spectrum, but anywhere else?) Would a sound wave travelling through it create 'photonic booms' submitted by /u/nIBLIB [link] [comments]

Does NASA have a plan to save astronauts that are stranded on the ISS? Posted: 17 Dec 2020 06:39 AM PST Could NASA save astronauts, or are they just crossing their fingers and hoping that this situation won't happen. submitted by /u/Puppy_Cat_Meowz2020 [link] [comments]

What are the implications of a COVID positive, asymptomatic person donating blood? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 04:53 PM PST My understanding is here in the US the Red Cross tests blood donations for COVID antibodies, but do not test the donee for COVID. Obviously, given the amount of asymptomatic COVID carriers I am sure that people who are actively positive have donated. What would this mean for recipients of this blood? submitted by /u/scoopG [link] [comments]

How do I calculate the celestial coordinates of an object in the solar system at a given time from its ephemerides? Posted: 17 Dec 2020 12:12 AM PST More specifically, do I need to account for Earth's axial precession (Precession of the Equinox), and if so, how? Not a homework question, although it sounds like one. Just something that came up in a discussion. submitted by /u/TheWalruss [link] [comments]

How does our body know the spike protein made from the mRNA vaccines is foreign? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 07:27 PM PST Just what the question says. How does the body know something made by our cells is foreign? submitted by /u/roweira [link] [comments]

Can Human Beings become immune to the Corona Virus due to evolution? Posted: 17 Dec 2020 04:22 AM PST There are a number of diseases that no longer affect us, since we have undergone enough evolution to become immune to it. So, is it possible that the body (given enough time), can develope an immediate immunity even to a virus as deadly as the Corona virus in the future? submitted by /u/NegativeProtonsLol [link] [comments]

Is there a uniquely "Human" protein, or a unique aspect of a Human protein that exists in humans and no other species? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 07:42 AM PST Asking for a television script I'm writing. ​ Thank you! submitted by /u/Masterdavy108 [link] [comments]

What makes fusion power so hard to keep self-sustaining? Posted: 17 Dec 2020 03:24 AM PST I've read up a bit on fusion power plants, and it seems to be some pretty end-game energy production. Though the most recent top efficiency I've seen is 67% energy return. My question is, if it's capable of producing so much energy how come it takes more than it gives back? Is it sustaining the reaction for long enough, or does more have to be generated at a time and it's an issue with containment? submitted by /u/ChunderSmash [link] [comments]

How is electron degeneracy pressure different from thermal/kinetic pressure? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 09:24 PM PST submitted by /u/BeKindToEachOther6 [link] [comments]

How do space vehicles know how to orientate themselves? (Specifically unmanned spacecraft) Posted: 16 Dec 2020 11:11 AM PST Do they use a gyroscope system? Or the planets magnetic field? (I got curious watching a Scott Manley video on YouTube, he talked about the pitch and yaw of the recent 'Astra' rocket launch and I realised I'd never questioned the method - hard to get a straight-forward answer out of google) submitted by /u/Metaforeman [link] [comments]

How do the vaccine companies prove they have 94/95 percent effectiveness? How can they possibly test this, how do they know the people they injected in the clinical trials just weren't exposed to the disease yet? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 11:01 PM PST Ex: how do they know whether the vaccine worked or whether the person's social distancing worked? How can they be sure it was the vaccine doing something? ​ Basically how they design their experiment to be able prove it was actually the vaccine? submitted by /u/wallpapersdance [link] [comments]

Is there evidence that suggests whether getting the primary vaccine and the booster shot in the same arm is better/worse/equivalent to getting them in opposite arms? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 12:29 PM PST (Vaccines in general, rather than just the Covid vaccine...) submitted by /u/scottsinct [link] [comments]

How are other common seasonal viruses transmitted? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 02:48 PM PST So Covid is transmitted most by air droplets. What about the seasonal flu? Common cold? Stomach flu/Norovirus? Is everything air droplets or are some more apt to live on surfaces for longer? submitted by /u/Meilikah [link] [comments]

How do COVID19 vaccinations complication rates compare to flu vaccinations complication rates? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 05:05 AM PST From the FDA report, roughly twice as many people had fatigue/headaches compared to placebo, and 10 times as many had chills compared to placebo. When I get a flu shot I always feel pretty shitty and get chills the next day or two. I guess I was wondering, "If I already feel very shitty from a flu shot, how much better/worse is this going to be?"/"Will I be able to handle it?" submitted by /u/hobalongalong [link] [comments]

Can a planet have an elliptical ring system and/or an "offset" orbital point? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 11:01 AM PST I am wondering a few things: Can a planet have an elliptical ring system? Can the barycenter between a planet and its ring system be outside the planet's axis of rotation? Can a planet with high obliquity have a ring system? Assuming ~90° obliquity, where would the ring system be in relation to the planet's axis of rotation? If multiple questions aren't allowed: I apologize and will be satisfied to just have the answer to one of my questions. submitted by /u/mez1337 [link] [comments]

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How stable is the human oral microbiome against disruptions like mouthwash? If I use alcohol mouthwash will my mouth microbiome be back to the same amount and species ratio by my next meal? Several meals? Or never quite the same again?

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• How stable is the human oral microbiome against disruptions like mouthwash? If I use alcohol mouthwash will my mouth microbiome be back to the same amount and species ratio by my next meal? Several meals? Or never quite the same again?
• AskScience AMA Series: Hunting aliens is a serious business. My name is Simon Steel, and I'm an astrophysicist and Director of Education and Outreach at the SETI Institute, where alien hunting, whether microscopic bugs or macroscopic megastructures, is our bread and butter. Hungry for answers? AMA!
• Ask Anything Wednesday - Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science
• Does COVID 19 disproportionately cause long term symptoms, or is it the global shift in the scientific community’s attention towards a virus’s effects that we are acutely aware of these long term symptoms in COVID and long term consequences of viral infection are more common than originally thought?
• Theoretically, when a rocket nozzle exhausts to a vacuum, the exhaust gases are expanded to Mach infinity. In reality, what velocity do they reach? Do the particles continue at this velocity infinitely? Does the velocity change once they leave the exhaust and Mach number is no longer defined?
• How does docking something to ISS doesn't change its trajectory? Shouldn't the momentum from docking space craft "move" to ISS?
• Why do metals interfere with lower frequency (VHF) radio transmissions moreso than higher frequency (UHF) transmissions?
• Will getting a COVID vaccine result in having positive antibody tests? If so, how will we be able to know whether we were infected with COVID or not?
• If the Covid-19 vaccine has to be stored at -80F, when they administer it is it also at -80F?
• If E=MC^2 and we've converted mass into energy, have scientists turned energy into mass yet?
• What was Pfizer's actual role in developing the Covid vaccine?
• Does light affect our organs?
• How do microwaves deal with emptiness?
• How long do SARS-CoV-2 RNA based vaccines express the spike protein?
• Why is the equation E=MC^2 so revolutionary when we knew E=mv^2?
• Is there a predictor for who will not benefit from the COVID vaccine?
• Does Curcumin in Turmeric have health benefits or not?
• Where do the COVID-19 tests swabs go?
• What exactly is crossing over?
• Does Galaxy Collision usually also mean there will be a Merger of Black Holes?
• Does lower thermostat temperature really save?
• Aerodynamic Lift - Isn't it more about angle of attack than the shape of the airfoil?
• How will we test whether COVID-19 vaccines are effective against transmission?
• Why does a hydrogen bomb cause a massive explosion but a meltdown at a hypothetical nuclear fusion plant wouldn’t?

How stable is the human oral microbiome against disruptions like mouthwash? If I use alcohol mouthwash will my mouth microbiome be back to the same amount and species ratio by my next meal? Several meals? Or never quite the same again? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 04:08 PM PST submitted by /u/screwyoushadowban [link] [comments]

AskScience AMA Series: Hunting aliens is a serious business. My name is Simon Steel, and I'm an astrophysicist and Director of Education and Outreach at the SETI Institute, where alien hunting, whether microscopic bugs or macroscopic megastructures, is our bread and butter. Hungry for answers? AMA! Posted: 16 Dec 2020 04:00 AM PST As an observational astronomer, my research focused on star formation and galaxy evolution. As an educator with over 25 years' experience, I am a qualified high school teacher, have held lectureships at Harvard University, University College London and University College Dublin, and am an eight-time recipient of Harvard's Certificate of Distinction in Teaching award for undergraduate education. My experience spans formal and informal education, teacher training, exhibit design and multimedia product development. I have an interest in special needs audiences, and co-wrote, for NASA and the Chandra X-Ray Center, the first Braille book on multiwavelength astrophysics: Touch the Invisible Sky. I'll be answering questions at 10 am PST (1 PM ET, 18 UT), AMA! Links: https://seti.org/ https://seti.org/our-scientists/simon-steel https://chandra.harvard.edu/edu/touch/ Username: /u/setiinstitute submitted by /u/AskScienceModerator [link] [comments]

Ask Anything Wednesday - Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science Posted: 16 Dec 2020 07:00 AM PST Welcome to our weekly feature, Ask Anything Wednesday - this week we are focusing on Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science Do you have a question within these topics you weren't sure was worth submitting? Is something a bit too speculative for a typical /r/AskScience post? No question is too big or small for AAW. In this thread you can ask any science-related question! Things like: "What would happen if...", "How will the future...", "If all the rules for 'X' were different...", "Why does my...". Asking Questions: Please post your question as a top-level response to this, and our team of panellists will be here to answer and discuss your questions. The other topic areas will appear in future Ask Anything Wednesdays, so if you have other questions not covered by this weeks theme please either hold on to it until those topics come around, or go and post over in our sister subreddit /r/AskScienceDiscussion , where every day is Ask Anything Wednesday! Off-theme questions in this post will be removed to try and keep the thread a manageable size for both our readers and panellists. Answering Questions: Please only answer a posted question if you are an expert in the field. The full guidelines for posting responses in AskScience can be found here. In short, this is a moderated subreddit, and responses which do not meet our quality guidelines will be removed. Remember, peer reviewed sources are always appreciated, and anecdotes are absolutely not appropriate. In general if your answer begins with 'I think', or 'I've heard', then it's not suitable for /r/AskScience. If you would like to become a member of the AskScience panel, please refer to the information provided here. Past AskAnythingWednesday posts can be found here. Ask away! submitted by /u/AutoModerator [link] [comments]

Does COVID 19 disproportionately cause long term symptoms, or is it the global shift in the scientific community’s attention towards a virus’s effects that we are acutely aware of these long term symptoms in COVID and long term consequences of viral infection are more common than originally thought? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:01 PM PST submitted by /u/borinquen95 [link] [comments]

Theoretically, when a rocket nozzle exhausts to a vacuum, the exhaust gases are expanded to Mach infinity. In reality, what velocity do they reach? Do the particles continue at this velocity infinitely? Does the velocity change once they leave the exhaust and Mach number is no longer defined? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 04:51 AM PST submitted by /u/TheImpoliteCanadian [link] [comments]

How does docking something to ISS doesn't change its trajectory? Shouldn't the momentum from docking space craft "move" to ISS? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 01:37 AM PST I'm not a flat earther, just curious. submitted by /u/potato_for_brain [link] [comments]

Why do metals interfere with lower frequency (VHF) radio transmissions moreso than higher frequency (UHF) transmissions? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 05:55 AM PST To visualize photons riding transverse waves (the transmission) through a dense field of particles (the metal), and given a common amplitude and rate of propagation, makes it seem VHF transmissions would have fewer chances of intersecting a scattering particle (proton/neutron/electron) than UHF. So, why do UHF transmissions penetrate metals better than VHF? Does it have something to do with their higher energy imparting something analogous to inertia that makes them fundamentally harder to deflect? submitted by /u/ajblue98 [link] [comments]

Will getting a COVID vaccine result in having positive antibody tests? If so, how will we be able to know whether we were infected with COVID or not? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 05:11 PM PST submitted by /u/Etha_n [link] [comments]

If the Covid-19 vaccine has to be stored at -80F, when they administer it is it also at -80F? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 04:03 PM PST I can't find the answer online. Getting a shot of anything that cold is a chilling thought. submitted by /u/Thunor_SixHammers [link] [comments]

If E=MC^2 and we've converted mass into energy, have scientists turned energy into mass yet? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 10:05 AM PST submitted by /u/GiddySwine [link] [comments]

What was Pfizer's actual role in developing the Covid vaccine? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:18 AM PST Despite the fact everyone is calling it the "Pfizer" vaccine, it seems to me this vaccine was developed in Germany by a company called BioNTech. And Pfizer has licensed it and has a contract to distribute it in the US through its logistics channel. I think most laymen imagine scientists in Pfizer lab coats working on a Covid vaccine. Did this ever really happen? I ask because someone I trust told me "One thing I agree with Donald Trump on is the Pfizer vaccine should go to Americans first" but I see on the news planeloads of it arriving from Germany. We're not producing it here, it wasn't invented here, how the hell could we enforce that even if we wanted to? submitted by /u/elmariachi304 [link] [comments]

Does light affect our organs? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:28 AM PST Since our organs are always in the dark, presumably one of the only circumstances they get exposed to light is during some sort of surgery. Does this sudden exposure to light have any effect on our insides? submitted by /u/Reddevildj [link] [comments]

How do microwaves deal with emptiness? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 12:21 PM PST What happens to the microwaves produced inside an empty microwave that's run by accident? Do they just bounce around in the oven and exit when it is open or do they get reabsorbed by the microwave itself? I ran a microwave for one minute with an empty cup in it by accident. Did I get blasted by microwaves when I opened the door? submitted by /u/a_new_error_ [link] [comments]

How long do SARS-CoV-2 RNA based vaccines express the spike protein? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 01:12 PM PST So if i understood correctly, the Pfizer vaccine inserts the mRNA into the muscle cells of the host. They then translate it into the spike protein, and the mRNA degrades. How exactly does the degradation occur and have biopsy studies been performed to assess how long the protein expression lasts? thanks submitted by /u/Altkonto1066 [link] [comments]

Why is the equation E=MC^2 so revolutionary when we knew E=mv^2? Posted: 16 Dec 2020 12:36 AM PST In classic mechanics we knew that E ∝ mv2 Replace v with c and you have Einstein's equation submitted by /u/jonbristow [link] [comments]

Is there a predictor for who will not benefit from the COVID vaccine? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 11:51 PM PST Is there any way to test to find out the common traits of people who didn't respond to the COVID (or another) vaccine? Is it possible to predict who would not be among the 95% for whom the vaccine will be effective? submitted by /u/janedoecurious [link] [comments]

Does Curcumin in Turmeric have health benefits or not? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 04:37 PM PST From Wikipedia: "Turmeric and curcumin have been studied in numerous clinical trials for various human diseases and conditions, with no high-quality evidence of any anti-disease effect or health benefit.[8][9][40][41] There is no scientific evidence that curcumin reduces inflammation, as of 2020.[8][9]" From this article: "Turmeric's clearest benefit is that "it is profoundly anti-inflammatory," says [Shawn Talbott, a biochemist, fellow at the American College of Sports Medicine], thanks to curcumin, a natural polyphenol that also gives the powder its bright yellow hue. The body of research on turmeric is fairly deep, with several large-scale studies, and turmeric may have more benefits than researchers yet realize—early results from one small study in the UK showed a potential for turmeric to change gene expression in a way that might help fight cancer." The wikipedia article seems to be better sourced (one of the links in the latter article is dead, the other leads to a single small experiment). submitted by /u/CaskMA [link] [comments]

Where do the COVID-19 tests swabs go? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:57 PM PST After being tested for COVID-19 where/who do the testing swabs go to? how do determine if you're positive or negative? submitted by /u/RevMeCar [link] [comments]

What exactly is crossing over? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 03:59 PM PST I am trying to understand homologous recombination. At the end of this short video it shows two possible products of homologous recombination, one with cross over and one without. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT5JwMaLv90) I'm still trying to get a grasp on what's happening. In both examples, it looks like the strands have swapped some part of them. What is the difference? submitted by /u/GlassesRXNHelp [link] [comments]

Does Galaxy Collision usually also mean there will be a Merger of Black Holes? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 12:13 PM PST When in a few billion years the Milky Way merges with the Andromeda Galaxy, how likely do you think is it that there will also be a merger of supermassive black holes around that time? And if it happened, what would that mean for life around (given, there is any at that time)? submitted by /u/neko_ramen [link] [comments]

Does lower thermostat temperature really save? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:20 AM PST So I and everyone else has been told that keeping your house at lower temps during the winter and higher temps during the summer saves you money. But I wonder if that is even true. If it is 20F outside wouldn't my house use the same amount of energy trying to maintain a cool 65F or a warm 72F. Do hotter objects get colder faster is basically what I am asking. submitted by /u/HorzaDonwraith [link] [comments]

Aerodynamic Lift - Isn't it more about angle of attack than the shape of the airfoil? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 12:28 PM PST For instance, symmetrical wings fly just fine, and our hands aren't really airfoil-ish when sticking them out the window of a moving car, but you tilt it up, it goes up, down it goes down. submitted by /u/Gasoline_Dion [link] [comments]

How will we test whether COVID-19 vaccines are effective against transmission? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 08:44 AM PST I keep hearing about how the vaccines are 95% or so effective against subjects developing symptoms, but that it is yet unknown how effective they are in preventing transmission. Is there a way to measure whether someone is a carrier after they've gotten the vaccine? I figure an antibody test would not work since from my limited understanding, the point of the vaccine is to produce antibodies. Or are we just waiting on some aggregate statistics from people who were not vaccinated? submitted by /u/pyggi [link] [comments]

Why does a hydrogen bomb cause a massive explosion but a meltdown at a hypothetical nuclear fusion plant wouldn’t? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 09:25 AM PST A hydrogen bomb used nuclear fusion to create a massive explosion. I am very interested in the possibility of using nuclear fusion in the future as a sustainable energy source, and I have heard that it is not possible for an explosion or meltdown to happen at a fusion plant. Is that true? And if it is, what makes it different from what happens inside a hydrogen bomb? submitted by /u/bullshark13 [link] [comments]

You are subscribed to email updates from AskScience: Got Questions? Get Answers.. To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
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AskScience AMA Series: Got questions about vaccines for COVID-19? We are experts here with your answers. AUA!

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• AskScience AMA Series: Got questions about vaccines for COVID-19? We are experts here with your answers. AUA!
• How does hormonal birth control impact the onset of menopause?
• Since there is no gravity at the center of the earth, does it experience gravitational time dilation?
• Who first discovered in the ancient world that stars produce their own light like the sun ?
• We know that cats can get coronavirus and quickly recover after about 3 days. But can they also transmit coronavirus to humans?
• How does the cell synthesize all of the proteins of a protein complex at stoichiometric ratios/numbers? (eg synthesize all proteasome proteins at the appropriate ratios to which they are used)
• Does the moon have the proper nutrients in its surface "soil" to grow plants?
• Why does the El Nino Southern Oscillation occur?
• Why does the pitch of a sound lower when a video is slowed down?
• Why did the 2009 Vaccine in sweden against the swine flu cause those bigger problems?
• Is there a significant risk to being vaccinated with BNT162b2 while having an active COVID infection?
• Is there such a thing as "evolutionary momentum" in biology?
• Is it possible for the SARS-CoV2 virus to enter the body, but NOT be able to replicate itself?
• If viruses have to crossover with another virus to mutate, how is COVID19 mutating so often if there aren't any viruses that are similar to it?
• Will the vaccine work on new strains of the virus?
• mRNA 'vaccine' to treat other genetic conditions?
• Does carbon monoxide affect hemocyanin the same way it affects hemoglobin?
• Did the slow rotation of Venus contribute to how hot it is there?
• Why are there no saltwater rivers?
• Where was the Pfizer vaccine created?
• Do people who received a placebo vaccine ever find out they got the placebo?
• How did we got rid of smallpox but haven't been able to do the same for chickenpox or measles?

AskScience AMA Series: Got questions about vaccines for COVID-19? We are experts here with your answers. AUA! Posted: 15 Dec 2020 06:00 AM PST In the past week, multiple vaccine candidates for COVID-19 have been approved for use in countries around the world. In addition, preliminary clinical trial data about the successful performance of other candidates has also been released. While these announcements have caused great excitement, a certain amount of caution and perspective are needed to discern what this news actually means for potentially ending the worst global health pandemic in a century in sight. Join us today at 2 PM ET (19 UT) for a discussion with vaccine and immunology experts, organized by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). We'll answer questions about the approved vaccines, what the clinical trial results mean (and don't mean), and how the approval processes have worked. We'll also discuss what other vaccine candidates are in the pipeline, and whether the first to complete the clinical trials will actually be the most effective against this disease. Finally, we'll talk about what sort of timeline we should expect to return to normalcy, and what the process will be like for distributing and vaccinating the world's population. Ask us anything! With us today are: Dr. Brianne R. Barker, Ph.D. (u/BioProfBarker)- Associate Professor of Biology, Drew University Dr. A. Oveta Fuller, Ph.D. (u/TrustMessenger)- Associate Professor, African Studies Center International Institute; Microbiology and Immunology Department, University of Michigan Medical School Dr. Vineet D. Menachery, Ph.D. (u/VineetMenachery)- Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas Links: https://asm.org/Articles/2020/December/COVID-19-Vaccine-FAQs https://asm.org/COVID/COVID-19-Research-Registry/Home https://asm.org/Podcasts/TWiV/Episodes/We-put-COVID-19-papers-through-a-sieve-TWiV-688 https://www.clickondetroit.com/all-about-ann-arbor/2020/12/11/why-a-university-of-michigan-professor-voted-no-on-pfizers-covid-vaccine/ submitted by /u/AskScienceModerator [link] [comments]

How does hormonal birth control impact the onset of menopause? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:33 PM PST The main action of my hormonal birth control (nexplanon implant) is to prevent ovulation. I know that women are born with a set number of oocytes arrested in the first meiotic division and then those oocytes complete their first round of meiosis just prior to ovulation. From my understanding, this keeps happening until you reach menopause. What I am wondering is if, by preventing ovulation, I will not deplete my store of oocytes and therefore have oocytes until later in life... Asked another way, does taking hormonal birth control delay the onset of menopause? If so, by how long?? I don't know any 60+ year old women that still menstruate so I'm guessing there is some other process going on but I'm curious. submitted by /u/betancou1586 [link] [comments]

Since there is no gravity at the center of the earth, does it experience gravitational time dilation? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 07:10 AM PST submitted by /u/a_saddler [link] [comments]

Who first discovered in the ancient world that stars produce their own light like the sun ? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 05:04 PM PST Did the Ancient Greeks know about it? submitted by /u/SnooLobsters7431 [link] [comments]

We know that cats can get coronavirus and quickly recover after about 3 days. But can they also transmit coronavirus to humans? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 10:57 PM PST For clarification, I mean house cats. Our pets. submitted by /u/BowelMan [link] [comments]

How does the cell synthesize all of the proteins of a protein complex at stoichiometric ratios/numbers? (eg synthesize all proteasome proteins at the appropriate ratios to which they are used) Posted: 14 Dec 2020 04:09 PM PST submitted by /u/inquilinekea [link] [comments]

Does the moon have the proper nutrients in its surface "soil" to grow plants? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 05:16 PM PST If we dragged in a bunch of lunar dirt to a pressurized area and planted something like wheat grain into it, then added a bunch of earth soil bacteria into it, would the plant be able to healthily grow in the soil? submitted by /u/RedCommunistOctopus [link] [comments]

Why does the El Nino Southern Oscillation occur? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 11:19 PM PST I understand the basic mechanisms of sea surface and air temperature changes affecting rainfall on either side of the Pacific, but I want to know why the Pacific has an oscillation to begin with. Why does is oscillate rather than remain fairly even on both sides. My quick internet searches turn up very little, and while I'm able to read scientific papers on the matter, I don't exactly enjoy it. Is it just one of those things were we go "not sure, probably a wide range of factors so small and complex that we can't really pin it down" or? Thanks :) submitted by /u/Kezza92958 [link] [comments]

Why does the pitch of a sound lower when a video is slowed down? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 02:25 PM PST When slowing down a video, why do noises sound lower than they do at normal speed, and vice versa? Shouldn't the noise stay at the same pitch but just be slowed? submitted by /u/se7en51ns [link] [comments]

Why did the 2009 Vaccine in sweden against the swine flu cause those bigger problems? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 12:28 PM PST I've asked this question before in r/explainlikeimfive but they don't want ongoing topics like this on there so here it is again: In Sweden, in 2009, about 5 million people got vaccinated against the swine flu and to my knowledge about 400 of them suffered from that point onwards with narcolepsy. Explain me how that exactly worked out and where the problem was. Disclaimer: If you are just a reader and not an answerer you should be aware that they used the old school version of a vaccine, unlike most current covid vaccines in the later stages. Also there was some kind of immune booster in it (which seems currently not be a thing in covid vaccines), which was apperently very strong that might had to do with it, but i am hoping for more info here too, on how and why. And lastly it might have had partly to do with genetics, too. More infos or explanations here a welcome, too. ​ Edit. Spelling submitted by /u/Lugex [link] [comments]

Is there a significant risk to being vaccinated with BNT162b2 while having an active COVID infection? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 03:45 PM PST Hi, I have a few questions. I know this is an unlikely scenario, but am just curious. Is there any significant risk to being vaccinated while COVID positive? Is there any risk to be vaccinated while having asymptomatic COVID? Will people be tested before receiving the vaccine? Question #1 and #2 may be the same question, but I included #2 because there may be some people who are unaware that they have COVID and am assuming that the immune response in asymptomatic cases might be slightly different? (Not sure about this) I realize that the mRNA vaccine is beneficial to those who have already had COVID in the past since it is a modRNA encoding viral spike glycoprotein and generates S-protein specific antibodies, but am specifically wondering if it could cause cytokine storms or something similar in individuals who currently have an active infection. Feel free to go into detail with an answer. I am not a medical professional but have been studying microbiology a little bit recently and would like to learn from your answers. Edit: Speculation is okay here. I'm sure there isn't much existing data on this yet. Please feel free to correct anything I might be incorrect about. I love to learn but probably have some misconceptions since microbiology is new to me. Btw, I'm not talking about attenuated or inert vaccines. I'm specifically referring to the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. I'm wondering what the potential immunological response is while simultaneously taking a vaccine and having an active infection. submitted by /u/AKHawaii [link] [comments]

Is there such a thing as "evolutionary momentum" in biology? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 03:06 PM PST As an example, if a quadruped experiences a random mutation that slightly lengthens its legs leading to a fitness advantage, is it possible that its descendants be more likely to experience additional mutations affecting the length of their legs, or do such mutations remain stochastic? submitted by /u/eine_zauberflote [link] [comments]

Is it possible for the SARS-CoV2 virus to enter the body, but NOT be able to replicate itself? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 03:06 PM PST Can the virus enter the body but somehow fail at binding to cell-surface receptors and be unable to replicate itself? submitted by /u/Bolton_McThunderpecs [link] [comments]

If viruses have to crossover with another virus to mutate, how is COVID19 mutating so often if there aren't any viruses that are similar to it? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 02:24 PM PST Edit: Sorry, I made a mistake in adding that the virus mutates often which is not true, so let's just say that it mutates. submitted by /u/DaxTom [link] [comments]

Will the vaccine work on new strains of the virus? Posted: 15 Dec 2020 02:40 AM PST With the new strain identified in South East England that has been linked to the surge in cases in London, I'm seeing a lot of discussion around the vaccine. Looking through the media I'm not really seeing a clear answer, so I thought I'd ask the straight to the point people on here. What do you think, will the vaccine work on new strains such as the one identified in England? If someone could please explain the science in dumbed down terms that'd be even better. I've just felt my mood plummet since hearing about this, so I'm silently praying there is some hope. [link] [comments]

mRNA 'vaccine' to treat other genetic conditions? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 01:00 PM PST So given that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are both mRNA which proves viability of mass manufacturing of things like this. The way I understand it these sequences are absorbed then the protein is built which then generates an immune response as it's released from the cell. Given that same principle would it be possible to use this to treat conditions with misfolded proteins like cystic fibrosis? Especially given that CF costs on average 10-33k a year to treat, these mRNA vaccines are comparatively cheap. Or it could be used as a cancer treatment to induce apoptosis by giving the mRNA strand with apoptosis inducing factor? submitted by /u/Maverick__24 [link] [comments]

Does carbon monoxide affect hemocyanin the same way it affects hemoglobin? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:32 PM PST submitted by /u/Jelly_Noodle [link] [comments]

Did the slow rotation of Venus contribute to how hot it is there? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 02:28 PM PST I'm just imagining that the extremely long days on Venus probably get really hot, right? submitted by /u/cyclopean87 [link] [comments]

Why are there no saltwater rivers? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 07:17 PM PST submitted by /u/Jalsavrah [link] [comments]

Where was the Pfizer vaccine created? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 11:54 AM PST I've been seeing different things from different people about where the Pfizer vaccine was created, with some saying that America made it first, or that germany was the first to make it. I know that Pfizer is an american company, but also that BioNTech, who is a german company, was working with Pfizer to develop the vaccine. submitted by /u/Jokerrules4ever [link] [comments]

Do people who received a placebo vaccine ever find out they got the placebo? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 08:47 AM PST I ask because with this covid 19 vaccine that's rolling out there's going to be people who were part of the testing who literally have no idea if they got a placebo or a vaccine. Wouldn't it be safe for everyone to make sure the one's who got the placebo eventually get the vaccine. While at the same time not wasting resources on someone who already had the vaccine. submitted by /u/jimmy__jazz [link] [comments]

How did we got rid of smallpox but haven't been able to do the same for chickenpox or measles? Posted: 14 Dec 2020 12:52 PM PST submitted by /u/Roller-bon45 [link] [comments]

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