Medical News & Headlines for the Week of March 20, 2022

IPCC report urges further action on climate change

Climate change is causing more harm than we can keep up with, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report. Scientists think we could soon be overwhelmed by global warming. They say our efforts to reduce human’s impact on climate change haven’t been enough, and we need to prepare for future threats like irreversible ecosystem damage and reduced fresh water supplies.

CDC tracks wastewater for advanced warning of surges

Wastewater can help predict future Covid-19 outbreaks in communities. The CDC has released a data tracker showing how Covid travels in sewage. Testing sewage for Covid can signal a surge in cases up to two weeks in advance. This information can help prepare hospitals for an influx of emergency room visits.

Study tracks participants’ eyes during Zoom meetings

And finally, where are you looking during zoom meetings? A recent study in Scholar Space tracked where participants’ eyes travel during virtual meetings. Scientists report women look at their own video more than men, and everyone tends to look offscreen more during small, interactive meetings. Researchers hope these findings help contribute to future designs of video-conferencing.

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Medical Notes 22-12: Week of March 20, 2022

MEDICAL NOTES THIS WEEK…

Climate change is causing more harm than we can keep up with, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report. Scientists think we could soon be overwhelmed by global warming. They say our efforts to reduce human’s impact on climate change haven’t been enough, and we need to prepare for future threats like irreversible ecosystem damage and reduced fresh water supplies.

New research shows that more than 99% of commonly used chemicals aren’t sustainable. Standard practice for these assessments don’t show the global impacts on natural ecosystems, so researchers created a more comprehensive assessment. The findings published in Green Chemistry show that only three out of 492 chemicals can be considered environmentally sustainable.

And finally, where are you looking during zoom meetings? A recent study in Scholar Space tracked where participants' eyes travel during virtual meetings. Scientists report women look at their own video more than men, and everyone tends to look offscreen more during small, interactive meetings. Researchers hope these findings help contribute to future designs of video-conferencing.

And that’s medical notes this week… more in a moment.

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