your science briefing for 03.18.2025

A volcano in Alaska is getting ready to erupt, are humans really getting dumber, a new potential treatment for Ebola, and more...

Alaska is cold, snowy, rugged, and has very weird daylight hours since it’s so close to the North Pole and is highly affected by the planet’s axial tilt. That’s what most people usually know about the state the size of Myanmar. But it’s also part of the Ring of Fire, and is home to active volcanoes. One of these volcanoes, Mt. Spurr, which is about 75 miles from the city of Anchorage is showing telltale signs of waking up for an eruption, which appears more and more likely… (ABC News)

One of the most popular opinions today is that people are going to Jupiter to get more stupider and colleges give them no more knowledge. Weirdly, there does seem to be some evidence that our intelligence appears to be declining, or at least our capability to do well on tests measuring logical problem-solving, numerical literacy, and general knowledge. And even more disconcertingly, while COVID appears to be a culprit in big declines as of late, these declines are not new. So are we really getting dumber? Or is there an issue with our tests? And why? We’re not entirely sure… (Futurism)

Since the start of mass vaccination, common childhood illnesses that used to ravage families for thousands of years were on the brink of extinction. Now, thanks to social media and malicious ignorance of powerful figures who deny basic science, some of these diseases are coming back, much to the horror and frustration of pediatricians who thought we were long past this being a typical concern… (Airmail)

Ebola is a horrifying virus. It’s a hemorrhagic fever, which means it forces your body to overheat as it causes internal bleeding, killing its victims with shock or organ failure. It spreads swiftly and violently, with fatality rates between 25% and 90% depending on the outbreak and medical capabilities where it erupts, and while there are treatments and even a somewhat effective vaccine, both require refrigeration, which limit access and increase costs. Thankfully, a pill based on one failed early attempt to treat COVID is showing early promise against the disease in monkeys… (ScienceAlert)

Oh, and speaking of a volcano getting ready to erupt near the most populated city in Alaska, Co-President Musk is actively trying to shut down facilities which are used to monitor volcanic activity which could put people at risk in Alaska and Hawaii. Why? It appears that the sites might be guilty of wrongthink under the new administration by studying climate along with volcanic activity, and climate is a no-no word in research grants and budgetary requests… (NYT)