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Ebola treatment hope
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Golden leaves Trees have been used to prospect for hidden gold p12
Antibiotic resistance Ibuprofen may help spread resistance to antibiotics p14
Great balls of fire Huge balls of plasma spotted hurtling around the sun p15
Radiation
LISA VERAN/MSF
Radioactive blast at Russian missile site
Ebola treatment hope As many as 90 per cent of people with the virus could be saved thanks to two experimental drugs, reports Ruby Prosser Scully A CLINICAL trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has found that two drugs appear to be highly effective in treating people with the Ebola virus, prompting scientists to expand their use and stop testing two other medicines. The results come from a test involving almost 700 people in Ebola treatment centres that began last November. It found that, in recently infected people, only 6 per cent of those treated with a drug called REGN-EB3 died. The mortality rate of those given a drug called mAb114 was 11 per cent. Without treatment or vaccination, around two to three out of every four Ebola cases result in death. Both drugs are monoclonal antibodies, a class of immune
system drugs that bind to and interfere with viruses and bacteria. The trial was also testing two other drugs, which were found to have higher mortality rates. All new patients entering the trial will now be given REGN-EB3 or mAb114. Those currently taking the other drugs will be able to choose to switch to these too. Public health officials hope that these therapies will help control the current Ebola crisis, which has so far led to the infection of around 2800 people and the deaths of 1900. The World Health Organization declared
the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern last month. The new drugs may also help tackle the distrust many people feel towards the healthcare workers attempting to contain the virus. Ebola treatment centres have gained a reputation as places where sick people are brought in but very few leave alive. As word of effective new drugs spreads, infected people may feel encouraged to seek treatment earlier, which could further improve survival rates and lower rates of transmission. ❚
The latest on Ebola online
For more on Ebola drugs and vaccines visit newscientist.com/ebola
An explosion at a missile testing range in Russia last week killed five scientists working for the state nuclear energy agency Rosatom. Radiation levels spiked locally, but there is no sign of this in other countries. The scientists were thrown from a sea platform when fuel caught fire at the military facility near Severodvinsk. Rosatom said the work was “related to a radio isotope power source”. Observers have speculated it could have been a nuclearpowered cruise missile that Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke of last year. ❚ Adam Vaughan
Artificial intelligence
NHS to establish £250 million AI lab The National Health Service in England is setting up a lab to build artificial intelligence systems that could help treat conditions including cancer, dementia and heart disease, the Department of Health has announced. The aim is to tackle some of the NHS’s big challenges, such as improving cancer screening. It will receive £250 million for the project. Unveiling the fund, health secretary Matt Hancock spoke of a “health tech revolution”. While medical AIs show promise, few have been through trials to show they improve patient outcomes. ❚ Staff and agency 17 August 2019 | New Scientist | 5
Chlamydia vaccine Experimental vaccine gets promising early results p8
Golden leaves Trees have been used to prospect for hidden gold p12
Antibiotic resistance Ibuprofen may help spread resistance to antibiotics p14
Great balls of fire Huge balls of plasma spotted hurtling around the sun p15
Radiation
LISA VERAN/MSF
Radioactive blast at Russian missile site
Ebola treatment hope As many as 90 per cent of people with the virus could be saved thanks to two experimental drugs, reports Ruby Prosser Scully A CLINICAL trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has found that two drugs appear to be highly effective in treating people with the Ebola virus, prompting scientists to expand their use and stop testing two other medicines. The results come from a test involving almost 700 people in Ebola treatment centres that began last November. It found that, in recently infected people, only 6 per cent of those treated with a drug called REGN-EB3 died. The mortality rate of those given a drug called mAb114 was 11 per cent. Without treatment or vaccination, around two to three out of every four Ebola cases result in death. Both drugs are monoclonal antibodies, a class of immune
system drugs that bind to and interfere with viruses and bacteria. The trial was also testing two other drugs, which were found to have higher mortality rates. All new patients entering the trial will now be given REGN-EB3 or mAb114. Those currently taking the other drugs will be able to choose to switch to these too. Public health officials hope that these therapies will help control the current Ebola crisis, which has so far led to the infection of around 2800 people and the deaths of 1900. The World Health Organization declared
the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern last month. The new drugs may also help tackle the distrust many people feel towards the healthcare workers attempting to contain the virus. Ebola treatment centres have gained a reputation as places where sick people are brought in but very few leave alive. As word of effective new drugs spreads, infected people may feel encouraged to seek treatment earlier, which could further improve survival rates and lower rates of transmission. ❚
The latest on Ebola online
For more on Ebola drugs and vaccines visit newscientist.com/ebola
An explosion at a missile testing range in Russia last week killed five scientists working for the state nuclear energy agency Rosatom. Radiation levels spiked locally, but there is no sign of this in other countries. The scientists were thrown from a sea platform when fuel caught fire at the military facility near Severodvinsk. Rosatom said the work was “related to a radio isotope power source”. Observers have speculated it could have been a nuclearpowered cruise missile that Russian president Vladimir Putin spoke of last year. ❚ Adam Vaughan
Artificial intelligence
NHS to establish £250 million AI lab The National Health Service in England is setting up a lab to build artificial intelligence systems that could help treat conditions including cancer, dementia and heart disease, the Department of Health has announced. The aim is to tackle some of the NHS’s big challenges, such as improving cancer screening. It will receive £250 million for the project. Unveiling the fund, health secretary Matt Hancock spoke of a “health tech revolution”. While medical AIs show promise, few have been through trials to show they improve patient outcomes. ❚ Staff and agency 17 August 2019 | New Scientist | 5