Short Takes – 3-13-23

Newly discovered enzyme that turns air into electricity, providing a new clean source of energy. Phys.org article. Low power density but could be used in H2 sensor. Pull quote: “In this Nature paper, the researchers extracted the enzyme responsible for using atmospheric hydrogen from a bacterium called Mycobacterium smegmatis. They showed that this enzyme, called Huc, turns hydrogen gas into an electrical current. Dr. Grinter notes, "Huc is extraordinarily efficient. Unlike all other known enzymes and chemical catalysts, it even consumes hydrogen below atmospheric levels—as little as 0.00005% of the air we breathe."”

NASA identifies new asteroid that could impact Earth in 2046. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: “NASA has given 2023 DW a 1 in 560 chance of hitting Earth on Feb. 14, 2046, and the European Space Agency (ESA) gave it a 1 in 625 chance, taking over the top spot on the ESA’s “risk list” for near-Earth objects.” So just a little exaggeration in click-bate title.

McCarthy and Jeffries forge relationship amid partisan fire. TheHill.com article. Pull quote: ““Speaker McCarthy and myself have, you know, agreed to disagree strongly on a whole host of issues, but try not to be disagreeable for the good of the functioning of the institution and the country,” Jeffries told reporters during the House Democrats’ retreat in Baltimore this month. “And I look forward to continuing to try to proceed in that regard.””

If We Knew Then What We Know Now About Covid, What Would We Have Done Differently? WSJ.com article.  Pull quote: “It is possible to avoid lockdowns altogether. Taiwan, South Korea and Hong Kong—all countries experienced at handling disease outbreaks such as SARS in 2003 and MERS—avoided lockdowns by widespread masking, tracking the spread of the virus through testing and contact tracing and quarantining infected individuals.”