What are variants? We asked Divya Shah, Epidemics Research Lead, to explain how variants happen, what they mean for treatments and vaccines—including for COVID-19—and how we can prevent them. What are mutations, variants and strains? Although the terms viral mutants, variants and strains are often used interchangeably, they generally hold different meanings. To spread, a […]
Researchers at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) reveal that newly formed embryos clear dying cells to maximize their chances of survival. It is the earliest display of an innate immune response found in vertebrate animals to date. The findings, which are published today in the journal Nature, may aid future efforts to understand why […]
Five minutes of burpees, jump squats and other calisthenics significantly improve aerobic endurance, according to one of the first randomised, controlled trials to test the effects of brief body weight workouts. The study's findings are predictable but provide reassurance that simple workouts will work, physiologically, and our burpees will not be in vain. Last year, […]
Through much of the last year, COVID-19 has propelled many people to accept and follow new patterns of behavior. These include wearing a mask in public, attempting to socially distance and restricting groups to smaller numbers. Developed in what critics say was an absence of strong national leadership, these behaviors have been policed, by and […]
Eating avocado as part of your daily diet can help improve gut health, a new study from University of Illinois shows. Avocados are a healthy food that is high in dietary fiber and monounsaturated fat. However, it was not clear how avocados impact the microbes in the gastrointestinal system or “gut.” “We know eating avocados […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has basically been a crash course in medical lingo most of us would've never used otherwise: intubation, incubation periods, personal protective equipment (PPE). Now, there's a new one you've likely been hearing more and more recently: emergency use authorization. Also known as an EUA, this specialty designation has been granted to several […]
Many engaged couples have made the difficult decision to postpone their wedding plans until the COVID-19 pandemic is over. But others have chosen to go ahead with their nuptials, and in some cases the consequences have been serious. Anthony and Mikayla Bishop wed in Blue Ash, Ohio, on October 31, in a ceremony joined by […]
In 2019, an average of around 2.1 million Austrian inhabitants came from a migration background. Due to the changing demographic due to migration over the last few decades, more and more children are growing up multilingual. Many of them display problems in learning their second language (German) and are often diagnosed as having a suspected […]
UNSW’s Dr. George Dertadian says the anxieties, stresses and strains people are dealing with in the pandemic could be influencing the use of drugs in society. “The combination of these existential threats and personal problems have the potential to drive up the use of non-medical pharmaceuticals,” says Dr. Dertadian, a social researcher who has published […]
Stepping out of a hot shower into a cold bathroom almost killed a Colorado man, who had developed a serious allergic reaction to cold temperatures. The 34-year-old old man collapsed after getting out of the shower, and his family found him on the floor, according to a report of the case published Oct. 27 in […]
