| Moderna announces promising vaccine results, states institute restrictions as cases rise, and the pandemic affects underrepresented students' college plans. Here's what you should know: Headlines Moderna announces promising early vaccine results This morning Moderna announced that its coronavirus vaccine is 94.5 percent effective. Of the 95 trial participants who contracted the virus, only five had received the vaccine. These results were put out in a press release and haven't been peer-reviewed, but the news is still promising. Moderna's is an mRNA vaccine, like Pfizer's, but doesn't need to be stored at as low of a temperature, which should make it easier to distribute. More states implement restrictions as US adds 1 million cases in a week In the last week, 1 million new Covid-19 cases have been reported in the US, bringing the total case count in the country to more than 11 million. Over the weekend, Michigan and Washington became the latest states to implement new restrictions in an effort to fend off rising infections. The new measures include stopping in-person high school and college classes and suspending organized sports. Both states will also halt indoor dining. The pandemic is negatively impacting the number of underrepresented students applying to college In recent years, the number of low-income Black and Hispanic students applying to college has increased measurably. But many who have worked to expand access are concerned that the pandemic will reverse this hard-won progress. With schools mostly online and many struggling to hold down jobs and put food on the table, attendance is down across the country. So is the number of students filling out the federal application for financial aid, an indicator of intent to go to college. Daily Distraction Experiencing Zoom fatigue? Try communicating with loved ones via voice memo instead. Something to Read To transmit messages accurately at the fastest possible speed, you need to get rid of all the noise. Turkish information scientist Erdal Arıkan figured out how to do just that. Huawei noted his discovery and saw something to sell: 5G. Sanity Check Black Friday may look a little different this year, but we've compiled our best tips and tricks to help you get the best deals regardless. One Question If everyone gets tested, is it safe to gather for Thanksgiving? No. Unfortunately, getting a negative test does not mean that you're definitively Covid-free. A test will only tell you your status at the time it's conducted, and even then there's no guarantee it's completely accurate. Public health experts have repeatedly advised against gathering with family and friends over the holidays, especially if it requires traveling. If you plan to do so despite the risk, they add that the best approach is for everyone to fully quarantine for two weeks. While getting tested before you see each other certainly doesn't hurt, it's a form of risk reduction, not a guarantee of safety. Covid-19 Care Package ❓ From social distancing to viral spread to staying sane, here's everything we know and advise about the coronavirus. 📦 The Covid-19 virus can linger on objects for as little as a few hours or as long as a couple of days, depending on the surface. Here's an updated look at the research. 😷 If you're planning to go out in public anytime soon, you're going to need a mask. Here are the best ones you can buy, or how to make one at home. 🧼 It's not just your hands that need washing—your gadgets, clothes, and home need it too. Here's how to properly disinfect your stuff. 💻 Some of you are work-from-home pros, but if you're new to it, here's how to stay productive without losing your mind. 😔 It's hard not to be anxious about a global pandemic, but here's how you can protect yourself and your family without spiraling and how to not hate the loved ones you're quarantined with. ✂️ It may still be a while before you can see your hairstylist, so here's how to cut your hair at home, plus other ways to keep yourself lookin' fresh. 🦠 Read all of our coronavirus coverage here. | 
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