Today in Science: Meet the pink fairy armadillo

Every story is a science story January 22, 2024: Infants have natural immunity to COVID, a catalog of lost and found species, and steer clear of that Instagram miracle cure.  —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor TOP STORIES Infant Power Most babies don't get seriously sick from COVID. Infants mount a strong innate immune response in their noses, where the airborne virus usually enters the body, a new study found. Babies also don't have a widespread inflammatory response in their blood during a COVID infection like adults do, which perhaps helps to prevent severe cases. Researchers analyzed proteins and gene activity in blood samples from dozens of infants and adults to track the participants' innate and adaptive immune responses to the virus. Why this is interesting: Even without a widespread immune response, infants had surprisingly high levels of long-lasting SARS-specific antibodies in their blood. But researchers don't yet understand what distinguishes this virus from others that ARE deadly for kids, like the flu and RSV. What the experts say: "If we can understand this protection in young children, could we harness it for other viruses they face?" asks Bria M. Coates, a pediatrician and assistant professor at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Lost and Found Over the course of two years, conservation scientists created a catalog of 1,280 four-limbed creatures that were considered lost and the proportion of them that have since been rediscovered. To be considered lost, a species must not have been seen for at least 10 years. Some species, like the endangered Travancore bush frog of India, waited more than a century before being spotted again.  What the numbers say: The longer it's been since a species was sighted, the more likely it is gone forever. Though some animals are easier to see and therefore have a better chance of being rediscovered. For example, 80-90 percent of lost primate and Eulipotyphla (hedgehogs and relatives) species have been found. But a much smaller proportion of lost reptile species have been rediscovered–they are hard to find and don't inspire the excitement that cute mammals or birds do. What the experts say: "As soon as they're rediscovered, they go into a pipeline to have designations made possible: 'protected areas' or 'marine protected areas,'" says Christina Biggs, a conservationist and one of the catalog's co-authors. "So everything that we do could potentially save an entire other body of species in that same habitat. To me, that's a very hopeful thing." Overview of Lost and Found Species Credit: Amanda Montañez (graphics), Brown Bird Design (animal illustrations); Source: "What Factors Influence the Rediscovery of Lost Tetrapod Species?" by Tim Lindken et al., in Global Change Biology. Published online January 17, 2024 TODAY'S NEWS • The fastest way, in theory, to board a plane is all window seats first. But humans mess it up. | 5 min read • Researchers have developed a computational model that predicts how likely a person is to develop long COVID. | 3 min read • A Japanese spacecraft has soft-landed on the moon, making Japan only the fifth nation in history to achieve the feat. | 5 min read • Humans have tried many ways to stop lava flows in the past, from attempting to freeze it in place to building barriers against it. A volcanologist explains the effectiveness of each. | 3 min read More News EXPERT PERSPECTIVES • In January, all the various wellness tinctures, tablets and magic juices seem to come out of the woodwork to help people achieve their resolutions. But the best resolution is to avoid all the over-hyped "miracles," writes David Robert Grimes, who is a scientist and author. "Ultimately, the parade of detox, immune-boosting and lucrative supplements amounts to a swindle, peddled at high prices to an eager audience," he says. | 6 min read More Opinion IMAGE OF THE DAY Credit: Adisha Pramod/Alamy Stock Photo In a recent study, researchers discovered that the 6-inch pink fairy armadillos have a second layer of skin under the animal's dorsal shield. This double skin layer is unique among mammals. Yes, these creatures are actually related to armadillos. No, they were not designed by Disney.  What a fun day discovering cool animal species I'd never heard of before. Hedgehogs and their ilk are Eulipolyphla. Skinks are a family of lizards. A 6-pound, PINK armadillo lives in Argentina! These are but a fraction of the vast diversity on Earth, but it's nothing considering that more than 99 percent of all species that have ever lived on this planet have already gone extinct, according to some projections. Let that sink in for a minute.  Welcome to a new week of discovery. This newsletter is for you, so please reach out to us with suggestions or feedback. See you tomorrow! —Andrea Gawrylewski, Chief Newsletter Editor Subscribe to this and all of our newsletters here. Scientific American One New York Plaza, New York, NY, 10004   Support our mission, subscribe to Scientific American here   Unsubscribe Email Preferences