Weekly Health Quiz: Lungs, COVID and Vaccines

1 SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to increase production of hyaluronic acid in the lungs. When combined with fluid buildup, which of the following occurs?

• It clears the lungs of fluid
• It forms a hydrogel that clog the alveoli

  HLA has the ability to absorb more than 1,000 times its own weight in fluid, and when it combines with the built-up fluid in the lungs, it forms a thick hydrogel that makes breathing very difficult. Learn more.

• It causes blood vessels to leak
• Blood clots are formed

2 Profusa, backed by DARPA, is seeking FDA approval for which of the following?

• A surgically implantable microchip that tracks your location
• A neural (brain) implant that records your thoughts
• An injectable hydrogel biosensor that tracks your biometrics

  Profusa is seeking FDA approval for an injectable hydrogel biosensor that tracks your biometrics, including early signs of infection. Learn more.

• A permanent "bioidentifier" that stores your ID

3 According to CDC statistics released the last week of August 2020, what percentage of COVID-19-related deaths have SARS-CoV-2 infection listed as the sole contributing cause of death?

• 66%
• 26%
• 16%
• 6%

  According to data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention August 26, 2020, only 6% of the total COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. had COVID-19 listed as the sole cause of death on the death certificate. Learn more.

4 Gain-of-function or dual-use research was once known as:

• Biological weapons research

  Before the Biological Weapons Convention was ratified, this research was called what it is: biological weapons research. Now, it's euphemistically called gain-of-function or dual-use research. Learn more.

• Placebo studies
• Epidemiological research
• Global surveillance research

5 Which of the following has been shown to increase expression of ACE2 receptors in bronchial epithelial cells, potentially increasing your risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection?

• Caffeine
• Nicotine

  Recent research shows nicotine increases ACE2 expression in bronchial epithelial cells. Learn more.

• Aluminum
• Catechins

6 Which of the following is a key component of totalitarian rule?

• Social justice
• Socialism
• Fear

  Totalitarian nations have always used the power of fear to make citizens comply with authoritarian rule. Without fail, it's been shown that all you have to do to engineer compliance, no matter how horrific the ramifications, is to tell people they have something to fear, and claim you can protect them. Learn more.

• Gender/racial equality

7 Which of the following U.S. states passed a bill in 2020 requiring a vaccine provider signature or completion of an online education module for religious or conscientious exemptions?

• New York
• Maine
• Florida
• Colorado

  Of 10 bills filed across eight states to restrict vaccine exemptions, only one, in Colorado, passed, requiring a vaccine provider signature or completion of an online education module for religious or conscientious exemptions. Learn more.