Galileo Galilei: Science vs. faith
[first paragraph of article] Galileo Galilei (1564–1642), professor of mathematics at the University of Padua from 1592 to 1610, was a pillar in the history of our University and a symbol of freedom for research and teaching, well stated in the university motto ‘‘Universa Universis Patavina Libertas’’ (Total freedom in Padua, open to all the world). He invented the experimental method, based on evidence and calculation (‘‘science is measure’’) and was able, by using the telescope, to confirm the Copernican heliocentric theory, a challenge to the Bible. Bertrand Russell (1872–1970), in his book ‘‘The Problems of Philosophy’’ stated: ‘‘Almost everything that distinguishes modern world from earlier centuries is attributable to science, which achieved the most spectacular triumphs in the seventeenth century. Together with Harvey, Newton and Keplero, Galileo was a protagonist of this scientific revolution in the late Renaissance’’.
COVID-19 and Treatment and Immunization of Children—The Time to Redefine Pediatric Age Groups is Here
Children are infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as often as adults, but with fewer symptoms. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in children (MIS-C), with symptoms similar to Kawasaki syndrome, was described in young minors testing positive for COVID-19. The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defined MIS-C as occurring in <21-year-olds, triggering hundreds of PubMed-listed papers. However, postpubertal adolescents are no longer children biologically; the term MIS-C is misleading. Furthermore, MIS also occurs in adults, termed MIS-A by the CDC. Acute and delayed inflammations can be triggered by COVID-19. The 18th birthday is an administrative not a biological age limit, whereas the body matures slowly during puberty. This blur in defining children leads to confusion regarding MIS-C/MIS-A. United States and European Union (EU) drug approval is handled separately for children, defined as <18-year-olds, ascribing non-existent physical characteristics up to the 18th birthday. This blur between the administrative and the physiological meanings for the term child is causing flawed demands for pediatric studies in all drugs and vaccines, including those against COVID-19. Effective treatment of all conditions, including COVID-19, should be based on actual physiological need. Now, the flawed definition for children in the development of drugs and vaccines and their approval is negatively impacting prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in minors. This review reveals the necessity for redefining pediatric age groups to rapidly establish recommendations for optimal prevention and treatment in minors.
Climatology of the cusp-related thermospheric mass density anomaly, as derived from CHAMP observations
We report on the thermospheric mass density anomaly in the vicinity of the ionospheric cusp. A systematic survey of the anomalies is presented, based on a statistical analysis of 4 years of data (2002–2005) obtained by the accelerometer onboard CHAMP. The anomalies are detected during all years and seasons in both hemispheres but with stronger signatures in the Northern Hemisphere. For the same geophysical conditions, solar flux and geomagnetic activity the anomalies in the north are larger by a factor of about 1.35. Over the course of the survey period the amplitude decreases by more than a factor of 5 while the level of solar flux reduces by a factor of 2. The anomaly strength also depends on the solar wind input. The merging electric field, E merg , is generally enhanced for about an hour before the anomaly detection. There is a quadratic response of the anomaly amplitude to E merg . For geophysical conditions of P10.7 E merg E merg , where the weight of E merg , in mV/m, is by about 50 times higher than that of the solar flux level. The solar zenith angle and the influence of particle precipitation are found to play a minor role as a controlling parameter of seasonal variation. The well-known annual variation of the thermospheric density with a minimum around June also influences the formation of the cusp anomalies. This leads to a clear hemispheric asymmetry with very weak anomalies in the south during June solstice, which is supposed to be a combined effect of the minimum in annual variation and the seasonal decrease of solar insolation in this region.