News Roundup 11/19/2019
Gene-Edited 'Supercells' Make Progress In Fight Against Sickle Cell Disease
Doctors are reporting that the first evidence of a safe way to treat sickle cell disease is with genetically edited cells. The cells come from the use of CRISPR, a gene editing technique. Many researchers and doctors think CRISPR could change medicine. Even though it is a preliminary trial being done on only one patient, the researchers say the results are promising and that it can hopefully lead to large scale change.
Source: NPR
‘We’re coming for you.’ Fresno police form Asian gang unit in manhunt for mass shooters
A day after Fresno’s worst mass shooting, which killed four and wounded six in a backyard on Sunday evening. According to the Fresno police chief 60 officers are already working on the case along with three other federal agencies including the FBI. Police chief Hall acknowledged that the attack appears to be a targeted act and that the investigators are looking into connections between the shooting and an incident earlier in the week.
Source: The Fresno Bee
Bei Bei, an American-born panda, leaves Washington for China
Bei Bei, born in 2015 at the Washington National Zoo is now four years old, which means it’s time for him to go to China. The agreement between China and the Zoo states that when the pandas turn four they must return to China so that when they turn six they can be inducted into the panda breeding program. This agreement has worked to move their status from endangered to vulnerable, now with 1800 giant pandas across the world.
Source: AP
Microsoft competes for popularity with upstart Slack
Slack shares have taken a hit this morning after Microsoft’s announcement. Microsoft’s new software teams now is boasting 20 million users which is 8 million more than Slack. Microsoft benefits from being able to bundle teams with their wide family of products already used in most workspaces.
Source: AP
Brazil’s Amazon rainforest destruction is at its highest rate in more than a decade
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has risen to the highest rate in more than a decade, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research. Activists say that the Brazilian Government has been lax in its enforcement of environmental regulations. Between 15 and 17 percent of the Amazon rainforest has been lost, and if the amount of cleared forest land reaches 25 percent, there won’t be enough trees cycling moisture through the rainforest. That will cause the rainforest to dry out and degrade into a savanna.
Source: Vox