Live Science Today: Meningitis is back and Iran war fertilizer shock
Today’s news
An “explosive” and “unprecedented” outbreak of meningitis struck a university in Kent, England, killing two young people and affecting 13 others, UK health bosses said. [BBC]
The outbreak, which appears to have started in university residence halls, has been identified as meningitis B (MenB), a form of illness caused by Neisseria meningitidis. These bacteria usually live harmlessly in the throat, but can cause life-threatening illnesses if they enter the spinal fluid or bloodstream. MenB is spread by prolonged close contact and is usually treated with antibiotics.
Although a MenB vaccine exists as part of the UK’s childhood immunization programme, it has been introduced only after 2015 – meaning students linked to the current outbreak were not protected. [The Guardian]
The trend
When Iran decided to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz – the world’s most vital oil transit chokepoint – in response to the US-Israel war with the Middle Eastern country, it caused oil and gas prices to skyrocket.
Yet while much of the commentary has focused on the immediate effects of a supply shock of these fossil fuels, one of the most serious consequences has been overlooked: the imminent threat to global food production.
Indeed, urea, a key fertilizer, is made mainly from liquefied natural gas, for which the strait is a channel for about a fifth of the world’s supply. This means that the disruption to gas transport now threatens to cause an agricultural shock that could driving prices of basic foods beyond what millions of people around the world can afford.
Three to read
- Scientists say marijuana does not relieve anxiety or other mental health problems [CNN]
- Colorectal cancer is now the most common cause of cancer death in the United States among people under the age of 50. [Live Science]
- Brazil’s underprotected Cerrado savannah stores impressive amount of carbon, study finds [Live Science]
Say it, I said it
Word of the day: Adlocutio — Latin meaning “to speak to” or “to address” — was used in ancient Rome to refer to a speech given by a general. He is often depicted in sculpture with a typical pose of an outstretched arm to indicate an address to the troops.
A famous example is the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius in the Capitoline Museums of Rome, which is the only surviving equestrian statue of the pagan Roman emperor.
Quote of the day: “If a bird flew towards you in your garden and offered to change your life in a beneficial way, would you pay enough attention to notice it?”
Rob Dunnprofessor of applied ecology at North Carolina State University, on what honeyguides – African birds that evolved to lead humans to hives – are. can teach us mutualism.
Fun and games
If all this news wasn’t enough to train your brain, why not exercise your gray matter with our daily sudoku puzzle?
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