A study by Japanese researchers has claimed that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can remain alive on skin and plastic more than the earlier variants like Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma.

The researchers from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Japan analysed the differences in viral environmental stability between the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain and all variants of concern (VOCs).

The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study, posted recently on the preprint repository BioRxiv, stated that Omicron can survive on the skin for over 21 hours and more than eight days on any plastic surface.

Hence, it might be the reason why Omicron spreads faster than other strains, the study noted.

“The high environmental stability of these VOCs could increase the risk of contact transmission and contribute to their spread,” the authors of the study said.

“This study showed that Omicron has the highest environmental stability among VOCs, which might be one of the factors that have allowed the variant to replace the&nbsp;Delta variant&nbsp;and spread rapidly,” they said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/can-weed-cure-covid-cannabis-compound-stops-coronavirus-in-test-tube-447858" hreflang="en">Can weed cure Covid? Cannabis compound stops coronavirus in test tube</a>

The study found that the Omicron variant can survive up to 193.5 hours on plastic surfaces and 21.1 hours on the skin.

In comparison, the original strain and other later variants like Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants survived for 56 hours, 191.3 hours, 156.6 hours, 59.3 hours, and 114 hours, respectively.

Whereas on the skin, the average virus survival times were 8.6 hours for the original version, 19.6 hours for Alpha, 19.1 hours for Beta, 11 hours for Gamma and 16.8 hours for Delta, they said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/new-research-hints-at-4-factors-that-may-increase-chances-of-long-covid-447776" hreflang="en">New research hints at 4 factors that may increase chances of long COVID</a>

The findings also analysed the effectiveness of ethanol-based sanitisers on the variants.

The research noted that Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants showed a slight increase in resistance to ethanol in response to increased environmental stability.

Whereas on the skin surface, all VOCs were completely inactivated by 15-second exposure to 35 per cent ethanol.

"Therefore, it is highly recommended that current infection control (hand hygiene) practices use disinfectants... as proposed by the World Health Organisation,” the researchers added.

(With inputs from agencies)

A study by Japanese researchers has claimed that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can remain alive on skin and plastic more than the earlier variants like Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma.

A study by Japanese researchers has claimed that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 can remain alive on skin and plastic more than the earlier variants like Alpha, Beta, Delta and Gamma. The researchers from Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine in Japan analysed the differences in viral environmental stability between the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain and all variants of concern (VOCs). The yet-to-be peer-reviewed study, posted recently on the preprint repository BioRxiv, stated that Omicron can survive on the skin for over 21 hours and more than eight days on any plastic surface. Hence, it might be the reason why Omicron spreads faster than other strains, the study noted. “The high environmental stability of these VOCs could increase the risk of contact transmission and contribute to their spread,” the authors of the study said. “This study showed that Omicron has the highest environmental stability among VOCs, which might be one of the factors that have allowed the variant to replace the Delta variant and spread rapidly,” they said. Also read | Can weed cure Covid? Cannabis compound stops coronavirus in test tube The study found that the Omicron variant can survive up to 193.5 hours on plastic surfaces and 21.1 hours on the skin. In comparison, the original strain and other later variants like Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants survived for 56 hours, 191.3 hours, 156.6 hours, 59.3 hours, and 114 hours, respectively. Whereas on the skin, the average virus survival times were 8.6 hours for the original version, 19.6 hours for Alpha, 19.1 hours for Beta, 11 hours for Gamma and 16.8 hours for Delta, they said. Also read | New research hints at 4 factors that may increase chances of long COVID The findings also analysed the effectiveness of ethanol-based sanitisers on the variants. The research noted that Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants showed a slight increase in resistance to ethanol in response to increased environmental stability. Whereas on the skin surface, all VOCs were completely inactivated by 15-second exposure to 35 per cent ethanol. "Therefore, it is highly recommended that current infection control (hand hygiene) practices use disinfectants... as proposed by the World Health Organisation,” the researchers added. (With inputs from agencies)

Omicron survives over 21 hours on skin and more than 8 days on plastic: Study

In a first, a plan seems to be underway in Japan to launch a "wooden" satellite in 2023. &nbsp;

The team, which is developing it, looks to harness the environmental friendliness and low cost of wood in space development. &nbsp;

The team comprising of Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co will come up with the satellite. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/catch-ultimate-glimpse-104-m-wide-asteroid-set-to-pass-near-earth-on-january-11-441573" hreflang="en">Catch ultimate glimpse: 104-m-wide asteroid set to pass near Earth on January 11</a>

Its exterior will be made of wood, which will help it burn on re-entering the Earth's atmosphere when its operation ends. It will put less burden on the environment. &nbsp;

Not just this, it will be cheaper than aluminum, which is mostly used in construction of a satellite. &nbsp;

As the electromagnetic waves can penetrate wood, it will contain an antenna inside. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/researchers-design-flying-saucer-that-can-levitate-on-moon-asteroids-441035" hreflang="en">Researchers design 'flying saucer' that can levitate on moon, asteroids</a>

The team is being led by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takao Doi. It plans to attach wooden sheets with varying hardness on the apparatus. The wood may belong to several tree species. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Doi, programme-specific professor, Kyoto University, said that if the plan succeeds, it will lead the way to "allowing even children, who are interested in space, to make a satellite." &nbsp;

The satellite will be a cube with around 10-centimeter-wide sides. On the outer side, there will be wood and solar cells. It will also have an electronic substrate inside. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a first, a plan seems to be underway in Japan to launch a "wooden" satellite in 2023. The team, which is developing it, looks to harness the environmental friendliness and low cost of wood in space development.

In a first, a plan seems to be underway in Japan to launch a "wooden" satellite in 2023. The team, which is developing it, looks to harness the environmental friendliness and low cost of wood in space development. The team comprising of Kyoto University and Sumitomo Forestry Co will come up with the satellite. Also Read: Catch ultimate glimpse: 104-m-wide asteroid set to pass near Earth on January 11 Its exterior will be made of wood, which will help it burn on re-entering the Earth's atmosphere when its operation ends. It will put less burden on the environment. Not just this, it will be cheaper than aluminum, which is mostly used in construction of a satellite. As the electromagnetic waves can penetrate wood, it will contain an antenna inside. Also Read: Researchers design 'flying saucer' that can levitate on moon, asteroids The team is being led by Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takao Doi. It plans to attach wooden sheets with varying hardness on the apparatus. The wood may belong to several tree species. Doi, programme-specific professor, Kyoto University, said that if the plan succeeds, it will lead the way to "allowing even children, who are interested in space, to make a satellite." The satellite will be a cube with around 10-centimeter-wide sides. On the outer side, there will be wood and solar cells. It will also have an electronic substrate inside. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Wooden’ satellite in space by 2023? Explore ambitious plans of Japanese researchers

Japan has given the green light to a controversial research process involving implanting animals with human stem cells that could eventually help grow human organs for transplant inside animal hosts.

The decision by the education and science ministry Friday to revise its guidelines means Japanese researchers can now apply for permits to carry out studies employing the technique, a ministry official told AFP.

The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human 'induced pluripotent stem' (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human 'induced pluripotent stem' (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">×</a></div>
</div>
</div>

The idea is for the iPS cells to grow into transplantable human organs inside the animal embryos.

Japan had previously required researchers to terminate animal embryos implanted with human cells after 14 days "due to ethical concerns over the vague line between human beings and animals," the official said.

The old regulations also prevented researchers from placing the embryos into animal wombs to allow them to develop.

But the ministry has dropped both restrictions "as we have concluded that there is technically zero risks of producing a new organism mixing human and animal elements under the research," the official added.

Researchers will now, for instance, be allowed to create animal embryos with a human pancreas and transplant it into the womb of a pig, which could, in theory, result in the birth of a baby pig with a human pancreas.

In practice, where similar research has been carried elsewhere, the embryos have been terminated before delivery, avoiding the thorny moral issues raised by creating creatures that contain both human and animal cells.

Research involving the hybrids sometimes called "chimeras" -- after the monster in Greek mythology with a lion's head, goat's body and dragon's tail -- has been controversial elsewhere too.

Ethical questions have been raised about the status of animals containing human cells, and whether human iPS cells implanted into animals could develop into brain matter or reproductive organs.

But a shortage of transplantable human organs means researchers around the world are racing to create mixed human-animal embryos.

Japan has given the green light to a controversial research process involving implanting animals with human stem cells that could eventually help grow human organs for transplant inside animal hosts.

Japan has given the green light to a controversial research process involving implanting animals with human stem cells that could eventually help grow human organs for transplant inside animal hosts. The decision by the education and science ministry Friday to revise its guidelines means Japanese researchers can now apply for permits to carry out studies employing the technique, a ministry official told AFP. The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human "induced pluripotent stem" (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body. The process involves implanting embryonic animals, likely first pigs, with human 'induced pluripotent stem' (iPS) cells, which can transform into the building blocks of any part of the body × The idea is for the iPS cells to grow into transplantable human organs inside the animal embryos. Japan had previously required researchers to terminate animal embryos implanted with human cells after 14 days "due to ethical concerns over the vague line between human beings and animals," the official said. The old regulations also prevented researchers from placing the embryos into animal wombs to allow them to develop. But the ministry has dropped both restrictions "as we have concluded that there is technically zero risks of producing a new organism mixing human and animal elements under the research," the official added. Researchers will now, for instance, be allowed to create animal embryos with a human pancreas and transplant it into the womb of a pig, which could, in theory, result in the birth of a baby pig with a human pancreas. In practice, where similar research has been carried elsewhere, the embryos have been terminated before delivery, avoiding the thorny moral issues raised by creating creatures that contain both human and animal cells. Research involving the hybrids sometimes called "chimeras" -- after the monster in Greek mythology with a lion's head, goat's body and dragon's tail -- has been controversial elsewhere too. Ethical questions have been raised about the status of animals containing human cells, and whether human iPS cells implanted into animals could develop into brain matter or reproductive organs. But a shortage of transplantable human organs means researchers around the world are racing to create mixed human-animal embryos.

Japan okays research using human cells in animals