Today’s Boost is what yesterday’s should have been, had another piece not distracted me:
COSTA RICA’S SCIENTISTS ARE AMAZEBALLS.
I’m sorry, that’s not particularly professional. But can you believe this? Scientists from the University of Costa Rica-affiliated Clodomiro Picado Institute (read more about the institute here) have found a way to use purified serums made from horse plasma in the treatment of COVID-19. Tests carried out at George Mason University in the U.S. confirmed that two different versions of the serum prevents the virus from infecting cells as effectively. The serum could improve Costa Rica’s results with hospitalized patients, and the Clodomiro Picado Instistute is ramping up production as it enters critical trials.
Costa Rica has having much tougher times with COVID-19 than it was just a month ago, but there are still so many reasons to be hopeful and proud. Let’s hear it for the world’s nerd heroes, and for governments that respect and support them! Here’s one of the scientists in charge, Gabriela Solano Blanco. (This image and the featured image are from UCR online posts sharing the news.)
I’m a writer in San José, Costa Rica, on a year-long quest to share daily posts on inspiring people, places and ideas from my adopted home as a kind of tonic during a rough time in the world. Sign up (top right of this page) to receive a little dose of inspiration every weekday in your mailbox; tell a friend; check out past posts; learn how to join my Overwhelmed Writers’ League, every Saturday at 1 pm EST; and please connect with me on Instagram or Facebook! To learn more about how to support Costa Rica during the crisis, visit my COVID-19 section – or for ways to enjoy Costa Rica from afar, visit Virtual Costa Rica.
katherine stanley obando 