A team of scientists captured 133 rats at various places in New York City s subways, and used DNA sequencing to catalog the pathogens they were carrying. They found an alarming number of disease causing bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, but what was most alarming was the viruses they found—18 viruses that are entirely unknown to science. The authors note that the new viruses have not been reported yet in humans, but it is possible that human infection with some of these viruses is already occurring. Because most viruses cause only mild symptoms, or symptoms very similar to other illnesses, many illnesses are misdiagnosed. A few of the viruses stand out, including a new species similar to the hepatitis C virus, and Seoul hantavirus, a dangerous disease that causes excessive bleeding, and had never been found in New York before. The study raises the question of how many more unknown viruses are lurking in rat populations around the country.
On October 28, 1886, U.S. president Grover Cleveland, the former New York governor, presided the dedication ceremony of the Statue of Liberty, a gift to the United States from the people of France.
From the blog Daily Buzz: A carbon footprint — or the amount of carbon-based greenhouse gases an individual, product or business produces — can be difficult to visualize and therefore difficult for people to personally to take into account. So to provide us with tangible, everyday … Continue reading →
Author J.K. Rowling became an international literary sensation when the first three installments of her Harry Potter children's book series took over the top three slots of The New York Times best-seller list.
Recently opened in New York, the High Line is a unique new public park as it isn’t at ground level, but elevated on the former freight railroad spur called the West Side Line. The park covers 2.33 km (1.45 miles) along 10th Avenue from West 30th Street in the North to Gansevoort Street in the South.