Massive young galaxies seen by JWST may upend our universe models | New Scientist Weekly podcast 173

TL;DR

Viral infections can trigger chronic conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, while the James Webb Space Telescope has found galaxies much larger than expected.

Transcript

hello and welcome back to New Scientist weekly the essential selection of the week's science stories I'm Penny Sashay and I'm Rowan Hooper welcome to the show this week we welcome back Jacob Aaron to the Pod after a long absence Jacob's New Scientist news editor and we also have assistant news editor Sam Wong reporter Claire Wilson and freelance sc... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍🔬 Viral infections can trigger chronic conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, indicating the need for further research and understanding in this field.
• 🪘 The scale of long COVID cases has prompted a more focused investigation into the potential biological causes of the condition.
• 🤙 The James Webb Space Telescope's discovery of larger-than-expected galaxies presents a significant challenge to current theories of galaxy formation and calls for new understandings of the early universe.
• 🌐 Solar radiation modification is a potential method to counter global heating, but its risks and benefits need to be carefully assessed before deployment.

Questions & Answers

Q: Can viral infections lead to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia?

Yes, viral infections like those caused by herpes viruses have been increasingly implicated as triggers for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia.

Q: How many cases of long COVID have been reported?

According to a recent review, it is estimated that about 10% of all COVID-19 infections will result in long COVID, with over 75 million cases globally.

Q: What are the possible causes of long COVID?

The causes of long COVID are still being studied, but ongoing disruption to the immune system, microscopic blood clots, and persistent coronavirus infections are all potential factors.

Q: What are the implications of the discovery of larger-than-expected galaxies by the James Webb Space Telescope?

The discovery challenges current understanding of galaxy formation and suggests the need to reevaluate existing models of the early universe.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Viral infections are linked to the development of chronic conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia.

• The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered galaxies that formed much earlier after the Big Bang and are larger than expected.