Scientists develop vaccine that could protect against future pandemics

Scientists have developed a new “universal coronavirus” vaccine that could be effective against several different forms of coronaviruses, including the virus that caused the 2003 SARS outbreak and MERS-related coronavirus. The team of researchers from the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, and the California Institute of Technology said in a paper published in Nature that the experimental vaccine, which has been tested on mice, showed positive results even against coronavirus variations that weren’t added to the vaccine cocktail.

How it works: The vaccine is a “step forward” towards “proactive vaccinology,” a preventative measure where experimental shots are prepared for manufacture ahead of the actual emergence of a pandemic, the Guardian says. Harmless proteins taken from different iterations of coronaviruses are attached to nanoparticles — microscopic molecules that can pass through cell walls, making them ideal drug delivery systems — and injected into the body, priming the immune system to recognize viruses with similar proteins should they ever be introduced. Because these proteins are shared across many iterations of each virus, protection is extremely broad, meaning that it could target new versions of the same virus family.

It could be revolutionary, but proactive vaccinology could take a few years to become standard practice: Medical regulators don’t have ready-made procedures to certify and circulate preventative vaccines. When and if the vaccine proves safe and effective in humans, a fast way to bring it to the public would be through a technical loophole, administrating it as a covid booster instead of a vaccine until medical bodies give the green light, the Guardian says.

We’re getting two new iPads. Here’s what you may have missed from Apple’s event : CEO Tim Cook unveiled the iPad Pro and iPad Air at Apple’s Let Loose event late last night, marking the first release of a new line of iPads for the first time since 2022. The iPad Air is a lighter and cheaper 11- or 13-inch alternative to the iPad Pro, boasting an M2 chip instead of the M1 on the 2022 model. It comes in three different colors and three storage size options that can set you back between USD 599 to USD 799.

Do they come closer to being a laptop-equivalent — or are they just reinventing the wheel? As we noted yesterday, Apple has been working towards making its iPad products a compelling replacement for full-fledged laptops, although keptics raised eyebrows at the device’s processing power in comparison to a laptop. And for iPad keyboard users: The Magic Keyboard has been revamped to “ feel just like using a MacBook,” even coming with an aluminum palm rest to make you feel right at home (if home cost USD 299 or USD 349).

Finally, OLED. Despite the price difference, you might find yourself tempted to shell out for the iPad Pro, which now comes with a shiny new OLED screen. While the iPad Air is lighter, the Pro won’t give you a workout — the models’ profiles measure just 5.3mm and 5.1mm, with the 13-inch iPad surprisingly slimmer than its 11-inch counterpart.

The new screen may be the beauty, but the iPad Pro’s M4 chip is the brawn. Apple’s newest MacBooks are decked out with M3 chips, meaning that the new iPad Pro’s processing power may be even higher than your current lap warmer. A new iPad will eat between USD 999 to USD 1.3k of your budget. For comparison, a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the latest M3 chip comes at a base price of USD 1.6k.

Update your accessories: The Apple Pencil has received a much-needed upgrade to the tune of USD 129, and now has haptic feedback support, responding to brand new gestures.

Honorable mentions: The new tech drop means a new price drop in older models. Cook announced that base model 10th generation iPads will be reduced in cost by USD 100, now coming to a starting price of USD 349. The CEO also revealed Final Cut Camera, a supporting app for Final Cut Pro, to “let users connect multiple [devices] to capture additional angles during a live multicam shoot or record professional video.”

Last but not least, the plat du jour: AI. The tech giant, which has been increasingly investingin the tech, has just announced new AI features for Logic Pro, their digital audio workstation. Coming hot on the heels of reports of Apple developing their own AI chips, this may just be the company dipping their toes into the implementation of AI-powered tools.