Science

Coronavirus Updates: 30 Million Americans Applied For Unemployment In Past 6 Weeks

5:08pm April 30, 2020

More than 30 million Americans have applied for unemployment in just six weeks. NPR's economics and science correspondents update on the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis.

Warming oceans are melting the ice around Antarctica, accelerating how much ice flows off the continent.

Science

Antarctica And Greenland Are Losing Thousands Of Gigatons of Ice — That's A Lot

3:47pm April 30, 2020

by Lauren Sommer

A new NASA satellite is providing a detailed look at how much polar ice is melting, raising sea levels around the world.

An illustration shows spiky antigens studding the virus's outer coat. Tests under development that look for these antigens might be faster than PCR tests for diagnosing COVID-19, proponents say. But the tests might still need PCR-test confirmation.

A Next-Generation Coronavirus Test Raises Hopes And Concerns

2:19pm April 30, 2020

by Rob Stein

An antigen test could be quick, and much simpler and cheaper than the PCR tests now used to spot people infected with the novel coronavirus. But some scientists worry about an antigen test's accuracy.

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This Bornean horseshoe bat and other bat species can harbor coronaviruses. The nonprofit group EcoHealth Alliance had U.S. government funding for an ongoing research project in China on bats and coronaviruses — until the money was cut on April 24.

Why The U.S. Government Stopped Funding A Research Project On Bats And Coronaviruses

8:43pm April 29, 2020

by Nurith Aizenman

The project, run by the nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance, aimed to identify places to monitor, come up with strategies to prevent spillover of the virus and get a jump on creating vaccines and treatments.

A booth was taped off to ensure social distancing at a coffee shop in Woodstock, Ga., on Monday, as Gov. Brian Kemp eased restrictions in the state and allowed dine-in service.

Compared With China, U.S. Stay-At-Home Has Been 'Giant Garden Party,' Journalist Says

5:19pm April 29, 2020

by Dave Davies

New York Times health reporter Donald McNeil points to China as one extreme way to stop a pandemic in its tracks. "We're reluctant to follow China, but they did it," he says. At least for now.

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People wait in line for help with unemployment benefits at the One-Stop Career Center in Las Vegas.

Poll: Half Of Americans Financially Affected By Coronavirus

9:28am April 29, 2020

by Domenico Montanaro

In an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, 50% say they or someone in their household has lost hours or a job due to the pandemic. They also say their governor is doing a better job than the president is.

NIH Ends Funding For U.S. Nonprofit's COVID-19 Research In China

6:54am April 29, 2020

by Aizenman

The National Institutes of Health has withdrawn funding from EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S.-based organization that researches emerging diseases including the coronavirus.

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News Brief: Economic Data, Meat Shortage Concerns, Research Funds Pulled

6:21am April 29, 2020

We get a measure of how much damage COVID-19 has done to the economy. President Trump orders meat processors to stay open. And, the government terminates funding for a coronavirus research project.

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A project in San Francisco to estimate spread of the coronavirus in hard-hit neighborhoods has expanded testing to everyone over age 4 in a broad swath of the Mission District this week, including at a pop-up site at Garfield Square.

San Francisco Enlists A Key Latino Neighborhood In Coronavirus Testing

4:43pm April 28, 2020

by Eric Westervelt

To get better data this week on a hard-hit community, the public health department and researchers are offering free testing for everyone over age 4 in a broad swath of the Mission District.

Vice President Pence joined President Trump on Monday to announce a federal "blueprint" to help states ramp up their testing of the virus.

Pence Says His Earlier Comments About Testing Were Misunderstood

3:00pm April 28, 2020

by Franco Ordoñez

At issue: test distribution versus test completion. The vice president said his statement in March about 4 million tests referred to test distribution.