How Accurate Are Rapid COVID Tests?

Extraterrestrial Life

Origin of Life Theory Involving RNA–Protein Hybrid Gets New Support

A structure that links amino acids suggests that early organisms could have been based on an RNA-protein mix

Davide Castelvecchi and Nature magazine

Natural Disasters

Climate Change Caused $4 Billion of Typhoon’s Damage

A new wave of attribution research links the economic cost of weather events to climate change

Chelsea Harvey and E&E News

Space Exploration

Boeing’s Starliner Launch Will Bring New Cargo and Science to the Space Station

The uncrewed flight includes a payload of food, provisions and a specialized flight-test dummy

Josh Dinner and SPACE.com

Vaccines

What the U.S. Can Learn from Brazil’s Successful COVID Vaccination Campaign

Despite similar leadership at the start of the pandemic, Brazilians are more trusting of government and view vaccination as a necessity and a right

Adriana de Souza e Silva and Claudio Araujo | Opinion

Conservation

The Scientists Fighting for Parasite Conservation

Parasites play an outsize role in balancing ecosystems, and some species may be in danger

Rachel Nuwer