A generic antidepressant might reduce COVID-19 symptoms in severe cases The antidepressant fluvoxamine, a generic, cheap drug, might reduce severe COVID-19 symptoms by up to a third, according to a trial conducted in Brazil. The drug, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is typically used for obsessive compulsive disorder and depression, but can have effects on inflammation and clotting in the body. In the study of roughly 1,500 participants, 11 percent of those who were given the drug required hospitalization from severe COVID-19, compared to 16 percent of those who were given a placebo....

Researchers from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that, on average, children in low and middle-income countries receive 25 prescriptions of antibiotics in their first five years of life. That’s five prescriptions a year— more than double what the researchers say is considered excessive in high-income settings. The findings were published last week in The Lancet and used datasets on prescribing patterns in eight different countries: Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nepal, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda....

As the climate crisis warms our planet’s poles, the northern ice cap is set to transform. As sea ice melts, open water and warmer air temperatures will mean more evaporation—prime conditions for a wetter Arctic. If carbon emissions are not cut, Arctic autumns could be dominated by rain rather than snow by 2060, according to the new projections, 30 years earlier than the previous estimate of 2090. A rainier Arctic could trigger further global sea level rise, the study’s authors write in their report published Tuesday in Nature Communications....

“This case is a further indication that the net is closing in on drug cheats,” said Frédéric Donzé, spokesman for the Montreal-based World Anti-Doping Agency, which lead the development of the new and previously unknown test. “It shows that the work we’ve conducted at WADA to anticipate doping trends is paying off.” Rising Italian star Riccardo Ricco, who was considered a dark horse for overall victory in the Tour, was kicked out Thursday morning after authorities announced that he had tested positive for CERA (Continuous Erythropoiesis Receptor Activator), a drug for anemia patients that boosts the production of red blood cells....

In the days before Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey changed course by urging people to stay home, Scottsdale city councilman Guy Phillips donned a face covering and shouted “I can’t breathe” into a microphone at an anti-mask rally. His mocking of the last words of George Floyd is only one more example of the racism that seems to shadow the outbreaks of contagious viruses. That’s precisely what happened 40 years ago with HIV/AIDS; that’s what happened a century ago with the xenophobically named Spanish flu....

Research published in the Journal of Food Science studied the effects of asparagus shoots and leaves on mouse and human liver cells. Specifically, researchers took a look at potentially beneficial amino acids and minerals found in asparagus extract (so maybe not exactly the full vegetable). “Cellular toxicities,” as lead researcher B.Y. Kim calls them, were alleviated with asparagus, and the veggie even protected liver cells, the team’s study suggests. The study is a bit old–it was published in 2009....

“The reported combination of blood clots and low blood platelets is very rare, and the overall benefits of the vaccine in preventing COVID-19 outweigh the risks of side effects,” the European Medicines Agency announced in a statement. The shot, which has not been approved for use in the United States, has been widely distributed in the European Union and a handful of other countries. No similar side effects have been observed in any of the vaccines being administered in the US....

Earlier this year, Walmart purchased two smaller fintech startups, Even Responsible Finance, Inc. and One Finance, Inc., subsequently combining the two under the latter’s name for a standalone, independent company—albeit a standalone company that counts Walmart as its majority shareholder. Within the coming weeks, employees along with a small number of online customers will purportedly gain beta access to digital banking accounts. From there, One reportedly plans to expand access to the general public and eventually offer a slate of standard services like loans and investment planning in order to become a “one-stop shop for consumers’ financial needs,” according to anonymous sources speaking with Bloomberg....

Basturma is to Armenia what bresaola is to Italy and cecina is to Spain—a ruddy hunk of air-dried beef with more umami punch per mouthful than the fanciest dry-aged steak—except it’s far more exciting. Unlike its simply-salted European brethren, basturma is garlicky and piquant and spiced with industrial quantities of paprika and fenugreek. It’s the type of cheese board item that draws instant oohs and aahs thanks to its crimson core and out-in-left-field flavor profile....

According to a study by the International Data Corporation (IDC), possessing Microsoft Office skills is one of the most required skills by employers everywhere, right along with oral and written communication skills. It then makes sense to step up your Office game, even if you already have a strong sense of familiarity with the programs within it. The eLearnOffice Microsoft Office eLearning: Lifetime Subscription can help you sharpen your skills, and for a limited time, you can get it for 85 percent off....

It’s manually powered, but the design uses Lego magnets to hold the head on the body, and even includes attachments for BB-8’s electric zapper and thumbs-up torch. From here, the project has almost a full year to get 10,000 people signed on to support it, at which point the design is sent to LEGO designers for them to review. It has more than 1,000 supporters already. If they get enough votes, and if Lego likes the design, it could go from hobbyist creation to actual purchasable kit....

When the iPad launched in 2010, it thrust the tablet computer into the spotlight, but Apple doesn’t corner the market in this category. In fact, the idea for a portable touchscreen device actually dates back all the way to the 1960s. Researchers at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center kicked around an idea called the Dynabook in 1968. From this seed grew the GRiD Systems Corps’ GRiDPad at the tail end of the 1980s, which in turn branched out into the PDA (Personal Digital Assistant—not a public display of affection) with such memorable entrants into the category as the Tandy Zoomer and, the most famous, the PalmPilot....

Best software for professional use: Serato DJ ProBest software for starting with hardware controllers: Serato DJ LiteBest software for bedroom/basement jam sessions: VirtualDJBest software for organizing a portable party: rekordboxBest software for casual iPad mixing: Traktor DJ 2 How we selected the best DJ software Our picks for the best DJ software include the latest products that are used by professionals, as well as beginners, and have been informed by user impressions and personal testing....

Studies show that indoor cycling can “improve aerobic capacity, blood pressure, lipid profile, and body composition,” and is a great option for those who require a lower impact exercise than treadmill or elliptical use. The problem is: there are so many options to choose from. Some are super frilly and expensive, like the wildly popular Peloton, and others offer a more basic but still highly effective experience at a much more wallet-friendly price point....

Best Garmin running watch: Garmin Forerunner 945 LTEBest Garmin adventure watch: Garmin fenix 6 ProBest Garmin smartwatch: Garmin Venu 2Best battery life: Garmin Instinct SolarBest for beginners: Garmin Vivoactive 3 What to consider when choosing a Garmin Smartwatch After more than a year of holding the pandemic at bay with packaged cookies and streaming TV, people are trying to reintroduce regular exercise and movement into their lives with the help of a workout tracker....

There are quite a few monitor manufacturers to choose from. Hewlett-Packard—better known as HP—makes office equipment, computers, and computer peripherals, including a wealth of solid choices for your next monitor. With more than 80 years of experience, this American manufacturer knows what it’s doing and many of the company’s screens are of both high-quality and affordable. One caveat: given HP’s history as a business-focused provider, many of its monitors are aimed at work rather than play, but that’s not to say that the company doesn’t have gamers covered too, as we’ll see in this list....

For starters, they’ll let you cook your meat to precisely to the right temperature, just the way you or your guests like it. But the more important reason is that you can cook your meat to the recommended temperatures that kill diseases, like salmonella or E. coli. Owning and using a good quality meat thermometer can help save your family and friends from getting sick from food poisoning. To help you find the best meat thermometer for you, we’ve put together this guide to let you know which ones are the best and why, along with advice on important features to look for or which ones you can ignore, along with some tips and other helpful advice....

Depending on your unique gaming or streaming setup you might want a different style of PS5 monitor, whether it be one that’s budget-friendly or is well-equipped for E-Sports games. Regardless of which monitor you ultimately land on, know that it’s an investment to make for your ideal PS5 setup, We’ve rounded up the best monitors for PS5 to help you find the right panel and make that happen. How we selected the best monitor for PS5 Through testing, reading monitor reviews, comparing specs and features, plus a lifetime of experience in both console and PC gaming, we surveyed modern monitors on the market right now and drilled down on those capable of showcasing the PS5’s graphical specs....

Best overall: Bushnell Equinox X650 MonocularBest for boaters: SiOnyx Aurora Best for military precision: Armasight PVS-14 Gen 3 Multi-Purpose MonocularBest for kids: JStoon Night-Vision GogglesBest budget: CREATIVE XP Digital Night Vision Monocular How we chose the best night-vision goggles There’s a major difference between a cheap pair of night vision goggles that use the term “night vision” loosely and those that are budget-friendly and tactical. To sort out the toys from the tried-and-trues, we looked at critical reviews, user recommendations, conducted first-hand testing, and performed heavy research....

Best overall: Samsung 55-inch Class QLED The Terrace Outdoor TVBest with a soundbar: Furrion FDUP55CSA 55″ Aurora Partial Sun Outdoor TV Bundle with 2.1-Channel SoundbarBest for shaded areas: SunBriteTV Weatherproof Outdoor 55-inch VerandaBest for partial sun: Furrion Aurora Partial Sun Series 43-inch UHD LED Outdoor TVBest budget: SunBriteTV 43-inch Outdoor Television for Shade How we chose the best outdoor TVs As pool lovers, grill geeks, and float fanatics, we’re excited about everything outdoorsy....