The Dose: How to ferment everything
COVID-19 and pregnancy, how to ferment everything and scroll deep into the ocean.
The Dose is back!
Before we dive in, we want to share that we are mixing things up here at The Dose.
We love science because it’s fun and it makes us smarter. We are also passionate about talented people who strive to communicate science in creative ways. From now, not only are you going to receive the latest pandemic updates, but you will also receive a fresh list of curated resources at the intersection of science and art that have us obsessed.
Because of this change, you will now receive The Dose in your inbox every two weeks instead of every week.
Check out our new look! The Dose is now on Substack. We believe that this change will make the reading experience a more pleasant one for you.
We are always trying out new things here to bring you the best experience possible. If you have any ideas on how we can improve, hit that reply button and let us know. We’re all ears!
Let’s dive right in👇
The Serious Stuff
In this section, we share the most important pandemic updates.
🤰 It’s not funny. In the US, only 31% of those pregnant are vaccinated. This is so worrying because those pregnant and infected with COVID-19 have a higher risk of pre-term birth, stillbirth and having a newborn infected with COVID-19. Did you know that if you are pregnant and infected, you run twice the risk of admission into the ICU, and a 70% higher risk of death? Read more
🤾 Protect our children before it’s too late. More children and adolescents are getting hospitalized ever since Delta became the predominant strain in July 2021. This spike is felt most painfully in states with the lowest vaccination rates (<49.7% fully vaccinated). Our little ones still can’t get the jab, which means that a COVID-19 infection for them can end up in long-term complications- or worse, death. Read more
😰 Worry about the right things. Do you know all your COVID-19 vaccine side effects? The ones you could experience are pain, redness, and swelling at the site of injection, fever, chills, nausea, headache, and fatigue. The rarer ones include myocarditis and anaphylaxis. And the ones you don’t need to worry about? Infertility, autism, changing of your DNA, death, or a COVID-19 infection. Read more
The Beautiful Stuff
In this section, we share pieces at the intersection of science and art that have us obsessed.
❤️ Gentle Facts Weekly. Jen Ma creates the most gorgeous, comforting art about topics such as mental health, climate change and COVID-19. Her art exudes a delicate thoughtfulness and compassion- and we’re all for it.
🥛 How to ferment (almost) everything. Have you ever wondered how different cultures ferment their food? We adored this article for its charming, colorful graphics and its step-by-step guide to preserve any vegetable you have at home. Pair this with the chart below for a smattering of fermented delights from across the globe.
🦠 The diseases we no longer see. How life-changing are vaccines really? The answer: incredibly. And this piece by the University of Oxford has one of the best visualizations we have seen. Isn’t it quite so simple yet powerful? We just had to share it.
🦀 How deep into the sea can you scroll? Explore the creatures of the deep sea with this interactive article and check all its wondrous inhabitants. We particularly loved The Japanese Spider Crab and losing ourselves in the ocean’s mysterious midnight zone - a part of the sea so deep that sunlight cannot penetrate.
🐳 How do whales and dolphins snooze? Check out this stunning clip of a whale taking a nap. Whales and dolphins are mammals- how do they fall asleep without drowning? The secret lies in controlling their blowhole, and sometimes, shutting down only half their brains.
The Personal Stuff
❤️ The Intern Corner
This week, we ask our very international team what their favourite national dish was. Here’s what some of them said, with pictures attached:
Maria Victoria Dreher: “I think my favourite Brazilian dish is Feijoada! It’s a black bean stew mixed with different meats such as pork and smoked meats. It’s served with rice, cassava flour, orange and sautéed collard greens! It’s delicious and it is normally a social event- everyone gets together to eat feijoada! It reminds me of my family in Brazil and it’s very comforting.”
Deanna Parisi: “I'm Puerto Rican so my favorite meal is rice and beans. But the best side is hands-down are beef empanadas! My mom says I make them better than my grandma but I'm not sure how true that is lol. They also come in cheese, shrimp, pork, steak (really anything)!
Montana Mullins: “I LOVE to cook and bake, so it’s hard for me to choose a favorite. But definitely in the top are cornbread cakes, also called ‘Hoe Cakes’ or ‘Johnny Cakes’ in the Southern US. I grew up eating them and they remind me of my late mom and late grandma, so it’s very comforting and nostalgic. Best eaten warm, with butter!”
Which part of the globe are you from? Reply to this email to let us know!
The Cool Stuff
After taking a break in the summer, we are excited to announce that our podcast is back!
🦠 In this episode, we provide a comprehensive update on the pandemic. We talk about variants, whether our vaccines are still effective and provide some updates on vaccine boosters. Listen here
That’s it for this issue!
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