A drop in US births due to smartphone use? These researchers say so
Researchers argue that smartphone use is contributing to the decline in U.S. births. The available text provides no details about their evidence or methods. (detroitnews.com)
$300k for a personalized cancer vaccine
rnafoundry.com20 points6 comments
The RNA Foundry, a Hyderabad facility run by PopVax with Stochastic Sciences, offers contract research, development, and GMP-compliant manufacturing for personalized mRNA cancer vaccines. It can work from a sequence supplied by a client or help design candidates using tumour sequencing data, AI models, and open-source tools predicting immune presentation. After agreeing on a sequence, the team makes the mRNA, packages it in lipid nanoparticles, fills vials, and supplies manufacturing records, test results, and a certificate of analysis. The company says projects typically cost about $300,000 and take 8-10 weeks, subject to production availability, and that it has capacity for more than 100 vaccines over the next year.
The facility uses the mRNA and lipid-nanoparticle platform developed for PopVax’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which has entered clinical trials in Australia. Its proprietary lipid formulation is reported to remain stable for more than nine months under refrigeration; preclinical tests of the COVID-19 candidate produced strong CD8+ T-cell responses in mice. Quality checks include sequencing for identity, particle and RNA measurements, endotoxin testing, and sterility testing. The service responds to demand from patients and physicians seeking personalized vaccines before approvals are available across cancer types. The company points to encouraging studies combining personalized mRNA vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors in melanoma and pancreatic cancer, while positioning its manufacturing service as a route for research or regulatory-access efforts, not as an established cancer treatment.
Summary generated by AI from the linked article. hn.today is not affiliated with Hacker News or Y Combinator.
More in Science
Zinc creep in cable spelter sockets brought down the Arecibo telescope in 2020
Long-term zinc creep in cable sockets caused the Arecibo telescope’s support cables to pull out, bringing down its platform in 2020. A National Academies report says Hurricane Maria preceded worsening cable damage and recommends closer monitoring of aging research facilities. (maketecheasier.com)
SpaceX No longer needs NASA
SpaceX has shifted from relying on government contracts to becoming an essential supplier, giving it more leverage over NASA. Signs of a partial split raise concerns about the agency’s growing dependence on the company. (arstechnica.com)
Cold Triggers a Hidden Molecular Pathway That Extends Lifespan
Mild cold exposure increased production of the metabolite BH2 in worms, with muscle tissue releasing it to support protein balance and tissue health as they age. The findings identify a molecular pathway that may help explain why cold extends lifespan in some animals. (sciencealert.com)
The oldest ice disappears and the Stone Age emerges from it
Melting ice in Norway is revealing Stone Age and Bronze Age hunting gear, including arrows up to 6,000 years old. Archaeologists found 48 prehistoric arrows this year, as warming exposes older artefacts once preserved beneath ancient ice. (sciencenorway.no)
NASA ponders a Hubble servicing mission or a controlled deorbit
NASA is seeking information from commercial companies on servicing Hubble, boosting its orbit, or guiding it into a controlled reentry. The telescope could begin reentering as early as 2032, and NASA says no replacement is expected before the 2040s. (theregister.com)