Four insights to tell what happens at the frontiers of research, with two episodes also dedicated to Sardinia. This is what is proposed by "Fifth Dimension - The future is already here", the new in-depth and scientific dissemination program of Rai 3, conducted by Barbara Gallavotti, broadcast in prime time starting from Saturday 12 March (at 21.50).
The Covid-19 epidemic has made humanity the protagonist of a page of history in spite of itself. However, the fact of having experienced events does not always allow us to make sense of them. This is the goal of the first episode of "Fifth Dimension", entitled "Invisibles - What Covid has revealed and taught us". In a single great story between history and the future, the great epidemics that have upset man over the centuries are reviewed, to understand what can be learned today, looking at tomorrow and, in particular, at the fruits that knowledge can give. acquired thanks to the enormous efforts made in the last two years.
Barbara Gallavotti, with the participation of illustrious guests and experts, reconstructs the spread of Sars-CoV-2, addressing the great questions that have remained pending or that have received only a partial answer, starting with how the pandemic began.
Starting from the forests, treasures of biodiversity constantly threatened by human action, the episode retraces the long history of the war between humans and microbes.
We analyze the strategies and tools developed by man to prevent and protect them, such as Predict, an ambitious research project for the identification of new viruses, or the most modern laboratories such as the Biosafety Center in Bern led by Kathrin Summermatter, where agents are studied dangerous infectives following very strict safety protocols.
Virologist Alessandro Marcello, director of the Icgeb molecular virology laboratory in Trieste, explains how it is unlikely to manipulate the genetic heritage of an organism without leaving traces.
Among other interventions that of Walter Ricciardi, full professor of General and Applied Hygiene at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Sacred Heart University of Rome and scientific advisor to the Minister of Health for the coronavirus emergency, the scientist Francesco Stellacci of the Federal Polytechnic of Lausanne, who illustrates his research to create molecules to make a broad-spectrum antiviral, Paolo D'Ancona medical epidemiologist, Chief researcher of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the ISS, who shows how bacteria are extremely good and fast to develop resistance to antibiotics and the US immunologist advisor to the US president for the fight against Covid Anthony Fauci and Marco Cavalieri, responsible for EMA vaccines.
(Unioneonline / vl)