Let’s do a quick word association. I say “virus” you say… "corona"? Or perhaps "Covid"? This is a clear sign of our times and collective experience.
Like you, right now I’m following the waves of coronavirus infection and its spread. If I said “virus” or “viral” in 2019 you might have said “computer” or “flu” or “cute cat”. That’s because the exponential spread of viral particles is a useful shorthand, and analogy we employ outside of the world of medicine and virology: rapidly and globally spreading information on more and more computers and devices reflects the capacity that viruses have for exponential replication and spread across people across the world.
Viruses of any kind have been getting really bad press, mostly because many of them are reported to be damaging and harmful, and cures or countermeasures are difficult to develop. They are like something out of a sci-fi story: they look menacing, infect cells and use the cell's machinery to make copies of themselves before destroying the cell and infecting more. This is the stuff of War of the Worlds.
But there is more to viruses than meets our coronavirus-primed mind. Think about this: what if we could use the unique, stealth-like properties of viruses to our advantage? What if instead of infecting human cells we could infect organisms we want to get rid of?
Turns out we can, and it may well be important for the future: phage therapy. Bacteriophages, or phages for short, are a class of virus that infects bacteria – you know, the other kinds of microbes we have an issue with because they infect us and we’ve run out of useful antibiotics. Well, phages can be so laser-like as to selectively infect the one kind of bacterium that’s causing a specific infection. Nothing else. The phage infects the bacterium, makes several copies of itself within the bacterium and bursts it. The new phages then go on an infect more hapless bacterial cells nearby. This clever system was discovered in France and the UK over 100 year ago, and is widely used in Russia and Georgia.
Good viruses and no side effects. Similar approaches are used in the detection and treatment of certain cancers; a virus designed to recognise cancer cells would infect and burst them, thereby treating the cancer.
You may have heard about use of viruses in medicine, but how about viruses in batteries? Researchers have enlisted viruses to grow the microscopic scaffolding and surface of electrodes in some next-generation lithium-air batteries. Here the viruses are utilised as molecular-sized construction workers that make up high-surface-area battery components. These nano-engineered batteries have the potential of being more energy efficient, charge faster, last longer and are more eco-friendly. This is due to the fact that these batteries are made in water and at room temperature, with no additional organic solvents.
Here is the extraordinary twist: because the viruses are DNA-based, it is possible to evolve or mutate the battery to new conditions just by altering their genetic material. Granted, most of us won’t be doing that in our spare-bedroom-turned-lab anytime soon, but DNA-based technology is adaptable, much like computer code-based technology.
So, viruses can fight off bacteria, cure cancers and make up the core of batteries. What else?
Still in the power-generating mode, bacteria can be summoned in piezoelectric processes – in which mechanical pressure on layers of tightly packed viruses is transformed into electricity. Such technology has been shown to power small LCD screens, so your retro-digital watches may be brought to life by avant-garde, battery-grade armies of viruses.
Even better: virus-generated electricity could provide the juice to body-function sensors we may one day soon ingest or even print onto our skins in order to monitor oxygen, blood-sugar and other vital information.
Finally, less esoteric but still colossally important, it is worth remembering that the offending virus is also often the medicine that can prevent the next infection.
Vaccines prepare our bodies’ immune systems ahead of the onslaught of the virus against which we seek protection. They are frequently based on the virus itself – though an innocuous version – or other viruses with a similar molecular structure. Some of the world’s most devastating diseases have been nearly eradicated thanks to vaccines. Smallpox, yellow fever, polio and many other diseases are managed through vaccinations that prevent the infection in the first place and, consequently, the spread of the virus across the population.
Antibiotic, nanobattery, cancer treatment, scientific discovery tool or even disease prevention method – there is so much more to viruses than we’re ready to accept at this time.
But thinking about the future is all about seeing the path through the forest and around the trees. Although SARS-coV-2 is our enemy, other viruses will be our allies.
Dr Patrick Noack is the executive director of future, foresight and imagination at the Dubai Future Foundation
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Fixture: Thailand v UAE, Tuesday, 4pm (UAE)
TV: Abu Dhabi Sports
The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Barings Bank
Barings, one of Britain’s oldest investment banks, was
founded in 1762 and operated for 233 years before it went bust after a trading
scandal.
Barings Bank collapsed in February 1995 following colossal
losses caused by rogue trader Nick Lesson.
Leeson gambled more than $1 billion in speculative trades,
wiping out the venerable merchant bank’s cash reserves.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Sun jukebox
Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)
This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.
Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)
The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.
Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)
Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.
Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)
Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.
Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)
An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.
Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)
Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.
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Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
More coverage from the Future Forum
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
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Vaccine Progress in the Middle East
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn
Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE
1 Man City 26 20 3 3 63 17 63
2 Liverpool 25 17 6 2 64 20 57
3 Chelsea 25 14 8 3 49 18 50
4 Man Utd 26 13 7 6 44 34 46
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5 West Ham 26 12 6 8 45 34 42
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6 Arsenal 23 13 3 7 36 26 42
7 Wolves 24 12 4 8 23 18 40
8 Tottenham 23 12 4 8 31 31 39
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
more from Janine di Giovanni
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
match info
Maratha Arabians 138-2
C Lynn 91*, A Lyth 20, B Laughlin 1-15
Team Abu Dhabi 114-3
L Wright 40*, L Malinga 0-13, M McClenaghan 1-17
Maratha Arabians won by 24 runs
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
