New Covid Variant 'Pirola' Sparks Concerns. Here's All You Need To Know

Amidst a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the United States, United Kingdom and China, a new variant dubbed "Pirola" has experts worried. According to the New York Times, the variant also referred to as BA.2.86, is a highly mutated variant of the Omicron strain of the coronavirus, which emerged in 2021 and led to an alarming spike in Covid cases and deaths. This variant is causing a surge in infections worldwide yet again and raising alarm bells among health authorities.

"When Omicron hit in the winter of 2021, there was a huge rise in COVID-19 cases because it was so different from the Delta variant, and it evaded immunity from both natural infection and vaccination," infectious disease specialist Dr Scott Roberts said in a Yale Medicine bulletin.

"There is some reason to worry, in that this variant ... has more than 30 mutations to its spike protein," it added, referring to the proteins on the surface of the virus that allow it to enter and infect human cells. 

"Such a high number of mutations is notable," Dr Roberts said, adding, "When we went from XBB.1.5 to EG.5, that was maybe one or two mutations. But these massive shifts, which we also saw from Delta to Omicron, are worrisome."

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As per the US Centres for Disease Control (CDC), the Pirola variant has been detected in Israel, Canada, Denmark, the UK, South Africa, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland and Thailand. 

The rapid spread of Pirola "doesn't look good right now," Dr Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, told Reuters.

Pirola's multiple mutations make it "radically different in its structure" compared to earlier coronavirus variants, Dr Topol said.

As far as Pirola's severity is concerned, it is "too soon to know whether this variant might cause more severe illness compared with previous variants," the CDC stated.

"CDC is closely monitoring hospitalization rates to identify any potential early signals that the BA.2.86 variant is causing more severe illness," the health agency added. 

Nonetheless, the New York Times in its report said that BA.2.86 may be less infectious than other variants. "There is also a chance that the variant will spread widely - and we will just have to wait for more data to know," Jesse Bloom, a professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center who specializes in virus evolution, told the outlet. 

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"62 Units Of Biryanis?" Swiggy's Post Amid India vs Pak Match Goes Viral

India vs Pakistan have a long-standing rivalry in cricket, with both teams having a strong history of competitive matches. Whenever these Asian giants face off for a cricket match, it turns out to be an enthralling affair, especially for cricket enthusiasts. But what's a good match if there is nothing to munch? Several people order various food items while watching this nail-biting match. And now, an interesting post by food delivery app Swiggy has caught the attention of many users on microblogging site X (formerly Twitter).

"someone from bengaluru just ordered 62 units of biryanis?? who are you? where exactly are you? are you hosting a #INDvsPAK match watch-party?? can i come?" Swiggy tweeted amid the ongoing India vs Pakistan match being held in Sri Lanka. 

someone from bengaluru just ordered 62 units of biryanis?? who are you? where exactly are you? are you hosting a #INDvsPAK match watch-party?? can i come?

— Swiggy (@Swiggy) September 2, 2023

Shared just a few hours ago, the post has already accumulated more than 13,000 views and over 160 likes. It garnered mixed reactions from internet users. 

"If India win you send me free food swiggy done??" jokingly commented one individual. "can you send me a pizza pls?" asked another. 

A third user hilariously wrote, "As if you won't know their address? Deliver kaha karoge fir?" while a fourth user added, "You know who they are" 

Cricket matches between India and Pakistan have always been more than just sports events; they have cultural phenomenon that brings millions of fans together. Ahead of the match, another post by Swiggy had caught the attention of social media users. The food delivery app reshared a post they had originally tweeted last year. "Dahi shakkar for the boys before we get started," Swiggy wrote in the one-year-old post and then shared a picture of Virat Kohli with Rohit Sharma.

Quite interestingly, they also re-shared the same tweet just few hours ago and explained the reason to their fans and followers. "Last year #India vs Pakistan happened, we posted this and India won. posting this again for good luck. What did you tweet?" Swiggy's post read. It added, "We are not superstitious but we are just a little stitious." 

The post received thousands of views on X (formerly known as Twitter).

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Magic Mushroom Psychedelic Can Help Ease Major Depression, Study Finds

A single dose of psilocybin can lead to a "rapid, robust, and sustained reduction" in symptoms of severe depression when taken in conjunction with psychotherapy, according to a new study.

Patients across the US were given either a 25mg dose of the drug, found in magic mushrooms, or a B vitamin, before spending between seven and 10 hours with therapists. They were encouraged to cover their eyes and listen to a curated playlist during the session.

Afterward, they were invited to discuss their experiences with the same therapists. Depression levels were measured before treatment and five times during the following 43 days.

Participants who received psilocybin showed a "clinically significant reduction in depressive symptoms," and fared significantly better than those given the vitamin that served as a placebo, the study found. The benefit was maintained throughout the following six weeks, according to the report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The study adds to a growing body of evidence that shows psychedelics can help patients open up and engage with therapists on subjects they often avoid or suppress.

"Psilocybin treatment was associated with a clinically significant sustained reduction in depressive symptoms and functional disability, without serious adverse events," researchers concluded. "These findings add to increasing evidence that psilocybin - when administered with psychological support - may hold promise as a novel intervention for major depressive disorder."

In July, Australia gave a world first approval to use MDMA and psilocybin - better known as ecstasy and magic mushrooms - to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment-resistant depression.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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James Webb Captures Stellar View Of Supenova's Expanding Remains

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured a stellar new image of a supernova - an exploded star. The observatory's Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam) captured the remains of a star that exploded 36 years ago, it shows the expanding stellar debris in unprecedented resolution, revealing brand new details about this burgeoning supernova remnant.

James Webb has begun the study of one of the most renowned supernovae, SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). Located 168,000 light-years away, SN 1987A has been a target of intense observations at wavelengths ranging from gamma rays to radio for nearly 40 years, NASA said.

Astronomers are fascinated by the discovery as it shows intricate details of what happens when big stars end their days.

"The new observations by Webb provide a crucial clue to our understanding of how a supernova develops over time to shape its remnant," NASA said.

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This image reveals a central structure like a keyhole. This centre is packed with clumpy gas and dust ejected by the supernova explosion. The dust is so dense that even near-infrared light that Webb detects can't penetrate it, shaping the dark "hole" in the keyhole, the space agency said in a press release.

A bright, equatorial ring surrounds the inner keyhole, forming a band around the waist that connects two faint arms of hourglass-shaped outer rings. The equatorial ring, formed from material ejected tens of thousands of years before the supernova explosion, contains bright hot spots, which appeared as the supernova's shock wave hit the ring.

Despite the decades of study since the supernova's initial discovery, there are several mysteries that remain, particularly surrounding the neutron star that should have been formed in the aftermath of the supernova explosion. Like Spitzer, Webb will continue to observe the supernova over time. Its NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) and MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) instruments will offer astronomers the ability to capture new, high-fidelity infrared data over time and gain new insights into the newly identified crescent structures. Further, Webb will continue to collaborate with Hubble, Chandra, and other observatories to provide new insights into the past and future of this legendary supernova, NASA said in the press release.

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"Cartographic Aggression To Erase Markers": Shashi Tharoor On China Map

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday accused the BJP-led Centre of failing to contain the Chinese aggression at the border. Launching an attack on the Narendra Modi-led dispensation, he said, "Unless we stop hoodwinking the people by saying that China has taken nothing and there is no change, the country is in danger of losing a significant amount of territory."

The Thiruvananthapuram MP said the Chinese aggression issue is not just a map but a much larger problem.

"This cartographic aggression is a way for China to erase certain markers done and when they sense vulnerability, they move according to their idea of the map," Mr Tharoor said.

He said earlier there were about 65 points where both armies used to patrol along the frontier, and there were no incidents for 45 years.

"Suddenly, on 26 of these points, the Chinese Army comes and establishes permanent positions, which means that our Army, which used to patrol, can no longer patrol," the Congress leader said.

He claimed Indian shepherds in Ladakh can no longer graze their sheep. 

"Rahul Gandhi, who visited these herders recently, heard it from their own lips. Even a local BJP councilor said the same," Mr Tharoor claimed.

He said the government has been talking about showing 'Lal Aankhen' (Red Eyes) to the Chinese, but there are no red eyes, but only red flags of the neighbour.

He said that it is now of paramount importance that the Congress and the Opposition hold the government's feet to the fire.

Mr Tharoor said the statement of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that Beijing had even put out such maps in the past, claiming territories that were not theirs, and that it was "an old habit" of China was not true. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Elon Musk's Daughter Thinks Anyone Rich Is Evil", Reveals Biographer

Billionaire Elon Musk in his highly-anticipated biography has opened up about his rift with his transgender daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson and has accused her school of brainwashing her. An excerpt of his biography was published by The Wall Street Journal, days before its actual release on September 12.

The excerpt highlights Mr Musk's relationship with his trans daughter, who was born Xavier Alexander Musk but legally changed her name to Vivian Jenna Wilson last year. She had filed a petition to change her name because she no longer wished to be related to her biological father.

"I no longer live with or wish to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form," Vivian Jenna Wilson had said in her petition.

The claim was made by Mr Musk's biographer, Walter Isaacson, in an excerpt from his book - entitled Elon Musk. The billionaire said, "She went beyond socialism to being a full communist and thinking that anyone rich is evil."

He said that his attempts to reach out to his daughter have failed. "I've made many overtures, but she doesn't want to spend time with me."

Mr Musk further said that the rift with his daughter is the most painful thing he has experienced, "the rift pained him more than anything in his life since the infant death of his firstborn child Nevada."

In the book, he has partly blamed the Crossroads School for Arts& Sciences for his daughter's change in attitude towards him.

"She went beyond socialism to being a full communist and thinking that anyone rich is evil," said Mr Musk.

Mr Musk had previously blamed "woke" schools for his daughter's transition, but this was the first time he has named the school.

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NASA Confirms Existence Of More Than 5,500 Exoplanets

In a major celestial milestone, NASA has confirmed the existence of a massive 5,500 planets beyond our own solar system. Not so long ago, we only knew a handful of planets that revolved around our Sun, but the quest to know the world beyond always continued.

NASA has now added a fresh batch of 6 planets outside our immediate solar family to its exoplanet archive, pushing the total beyond the 5,500 mark - after a 31-year journey of astronomical discoveries. The NASA Exoplanet Archive records discoveries that have been confirmed using multiple detection methods.

Scientists have discovered six new exoplanets - HD 36384 b, TOI-198 b, TOI-2095 b, TOI-2095 c, TOI-4860 b, and MWC 758 c - this has pushed the total number of confirmed exoplanets discovered to 5,502.

NASA said just about 31 years ago, in 1992, the first exoplanets were confirmed when scientists detected twin planets Poltergeist and Phobetor orbiting the pulsar PSR B1257+12. In March 2022, just last year, scientists celebrated the passing of 5,000 exoplanets discovered.

There are a number of both space and ground-based instruments and observatories that scientists have used to detect and study exoplanets.

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) launched in 2018 and has identified thousands of exoplanet candidates and confirmed over 320 planets.

NASA's flagship space telescopes Spitzer, Hubble, and most recently the James Webb Space Telescope have also been used to discover and study exoplanets.

NASA has said that these exoplanets include small, rocky worlds like Earth and "super Earths" which are larger than our own. There are also gas giants several larger than Jupiter and "mini-Neptunes." Some of these planets orbit two stars at once and others stubbornly revolve around the collapsed remnants of dead stars.

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