Numerous Arab and international media outlets have reported concerning information regarding the alleged use of banned weapons in the Gaza Strip. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has gathered testimonies from witnesses. However, verification remains pending, suggesting that the Israeli army employed white phosphorus munitions in southern Gaza in response to actions by Palestinian armed factions.
A Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor statement asserts that Israeli forces seemingly violate international humanitarian law by employing weapons of immense destructive power, evident in the collapse of entire residential structures.
White phosphorus or yellow phosphorus bombs denote the same type of munitions, which are highly incendiary chemical weapons. The offensive deployment of such weaponry was prohibited by the United Nations in 1983. These bombs are designed to generate extreme heat, reaching approximately 1,000 degrees Celsius, in addition to their destructive capabilities. When a phosphorus bomb, typically used for tactical purposes like obscuring ground movement, detonates, phosphorus disperses, ignites upon contact with oxygen, and produces dense smoke that can encompass an area of several hundred square meters.
The contact of phosphorus particles with human skin, when saturated with atmospheric moisture, leads to excruciating second- to third-degree burns. In contrast, white phosphorus is readily absorbed through the skin, causing further severe symptoms that can result in fatal damage to the kidneys, liver, and heart.
Progress Toward a Cat Dander Allergy Vaccine
Could discussions about cat allergies finally come to an end with the emergence of a vaccine to counter this allergic reaction?
There’s reason to believe that approval for an anti-cat dander allergy vaccine may be on the horizon, as the French-Canadian pharmaceutical company Angany initiates the first human clinical trial for its vaccine, “ANG-101,” at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London. Previous testing on animals has shown that this vaccine stimulates a robust production of antibodies capable of preventing allergic reactions.
The ANG-101 vaccine consists of a bioparticle that mimics the size and shape of the virus, covered with numerous copies of the Fel d1 protein, the primary allergen in cats.
According to Angany, established in France in 2010, the “ANG-101” vaccine marks the beginning of a series of vaccines designed to combat prominent human and pet allergies. These vaccines have the potential to replace often ineffective allergy relief treatments, such as antihistamines and allergen extract “desensitization” injections.
Amphibians Facing Extinction Due to Climate Change
Amphibians, remarkable creatures capable of living on land and in water, stand at the brink of extinction as climate change becomes the primary factor disrupting and altering their habitats, according to a recent study published in Nature magazine.
A striking 41% of amphibians are classified as “threatened,” highlighting the urgent need for habitat protection and carbon dioxide emissions reduction. Climate change is responsible for 39% of the decline in species conservation status since 2004, with habitat loss following closely at 37%.
Amphibians, devoid of feathers, hair, or scales on their bodies, are susceptible to dehydration in high temperatures and the loss of moist breeding grounds. Increased frequent storms, floods, and high-water events further imperil amphibian habitats. The pace of these environmental changes is rapid, and amphibians struggle to adapt, as noted by Kelsey Neam, a researcher with the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Amphibians occupy a crucial role in the food chain, serving as a source of sustenance for birds, mammals, and reptiles. In specific regions like Australia and Brazil, drought threatens the reproduction of frogs, which rely on soil and foliage moisture to safeguard their eggs.
