Australia seems to be keeping a lid on covid-19 – how is it doing it?
The rate of new coronavirus cases is dropping in Australia, largely due to strict travel restrictions, but complacency could cause the virus to get out of hand
Covid-19: We can ward off some of the negative impacts on children
Children will face many hidden negative effects from the new coronavirus, but it's not too late to avert them, says Paul Ramchandani
Blood pressure drugs may do more harm than good for some older people
A study suggests high blood pressure in people over 75 doesn't seem to raise the risk of death, leading researchers to question the use of medications for it in older people
Does the ACE2 protein explain covid-19 risk for underlying conditions?
Does a cell surface protein explain why the coronavirus is more likely to kill people with diabetes or heart disease? Researchers are trying to find out
When will lockdown end? Nations look for coronavirus exit strategies
There are three main strategies for leaving coronavirus lockdown, but each risks a dangerous second wave and further lockdowns if things don't go as planned
Coronavirus treatment: What drugs could work and when can we get them?
To fight the new coronavirus, researchers are investigating more than 60 drugs, including remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine and brand new ones. Here’s a breakdown of progress so far
How realistic is Contagion? The movie doesn't skimp on science
Contagion was a film released in 2011 about a fictional pandemic of a virus called MEV-1 which kills between 25 and 30 per cent of those it infected. Here is our review of the film originally published in September 2011, now that it's on Netflix
Estimates of the predicted coronavirus death toll have little meaning
With all the unknowns about covid-19, any numbers you hear about death tolls or how long restrictions will last should be taken not just with a pinch of salt but with a sack of it
Experimental diabetes device works by killing gut cells with hot water
A device that carries hot water down a tube into the gut may help manage diabetes by killing overgrown gut cells that release hormones key to metabolising food
Coronavirus will play out very differently in world's poorest nations
Cases of covid-19 have been slow to appear in developing economies, but now they are ramping up. Slums and refugee camps could be particularly vulnerable
Why we still don't know what the death rate is for covid-19
Despite data pouring in from many countries, estimates of how many of those infected with covid-19 die still vary widely
Our approach to covid-19 can also help tackle climate change
We can't lose sight of the climate emergency when dealing with the covid-19 pandemic, say Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
Diet and exercise will keep your brain young – depending on your genes
Following a healthy diet or exercising could impact how your brain ages, but the effects on cognitive skills later in life depend on specific gene variants that not everyone has
How to get the health benefits of nature when you’re stuck inside
Going out into the natural world is good for your health and mind, and you can still get some of the same benefits even when stuck inside, says Graham Lawton
The science of crispy: how to make perfect pork crackling
What is it that turns tough pork skin into amazing crackling? Sam Wong reveals the secret to that wonderful crispy crunch
Diets do help you lose weight - but the benefits usually don't last
Atkins, Paleo or Zone – whichever diet you follow, you’ll probably only lose a bit of weight, and improvements to your cholesterol may disappear within a year
Will the spread of covid-19 be affected by changing seasons?
The factors that cause flu to decline in spring might apply to covid-19 too. But we don’t know yet if warm weather can curb the spread of the coronavirus
The hunt for patient zero: Where did the coronavirus outbreak start?
Growing evidence suggests the covid-19 outbreak may not have started at Wuhan’s Huanan Seafood Market in December after all. Finding its origins may help us stop it happening again
New York City’s coronavirus outbreak is already overwhelming hospitals
New York City is the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the US and hospitals are already struggling to treat everyone with covid-19, though the outbreak may not peak for three weeks
How DeepMind's artificial intelligence is reinventing the eye exam
Join Pearse Keane to find out why the NHS is collaborating with AI company DeepMind and how deep learning could transform ophthalmology
Blood test shows promise for detecting the deadliest cancers early
A blood test developed and checked using blood samples from 4000 people can accurately detect more than 50 cancer types
There are constructive steps we can all take to fight the coronavirus
The new coronavirus is upending our lives, but simple actions can slow its spread, help our neighbours, foster a sense of togetherness and rejuvenate our immune systems
Greta: We must fight the climate crisis and pandemic simultaneously
In an exclusive interview, climate activist Greta Thunberg has told New Scientist that the coronavirus pandemic shows we can act quickly in an emergency
UK science advisers expect coronavirus epidemic to peak within a month
The peak of the UK coronavirus epidemic now looks likely to arrive within the next month, according to analysis by the government’s science advisers
Will a home antibody test for covid-19 really be a game changer?
UK prime minister Boris Johnson has said a mass-produced antibody test for covid-19 that can be done at home will be a game changer - but this type of test has limitations
Does a high viral load or infectious dose make covid-19 worse?
Does being exposed to more virus particles mean you’ll develop more severe illness? Data suggests the relationship between infection and severity may be complex
Which covid-19 patients will get a ventilator if there's a shortage?
If there's a ventilator shortage, doctors and ethicists say priority should be given to people with the best chance of recovery and most years likely left to live
You could be spreading the coronavirus without realising you’ve got it
People with covid-19 appear to be most contagious 15 hours before their symptoms start, and many people may not even go on to develop noticeable symptoms
How to fight infection by turning back your immune system's clock
Your immune system ages too, weakening as you get older and making you more susceptible to infections. Fortunately, we are discovering plenty of things you can do to turn back the clock and stay healthy
Hepatitis C infection rates are being cut by testing and treatment
The infection is being eliminated as a public health threat by countries that introduce widespread testing and treatment for those at risk
How long does coronavirus stay on surfaces and can they infect you?
The coronavirus has been found to stick to surfaces for days – but you’re more likely to catch it when close to infected people, or possibly through droplets spread via plumbing and ventilation systems
Eating too much salt seems to impair body's ability to fight bacteria
High salt intake seems to impair the immune cells in humans that fight bacteria because of a side effect of the hormones that help get rid of salt
How does coronavirus testing work and will we have a home test soon?
Efforts to scale up testing for the covid-19 coronavirus have been slow in some countries, and some tests are more accurate than others, which could make it harder to slow the spread
UK has enough intensive care units for coronavirus, expert predicts
Neil Ferguson, whose modelling has informed the UK's coronavirus strategy, says that the need for intensive care beds will come close to, but not exceed, national capacity
Can you catch the coronavirus twice? We don’t know yet
We don’t have enough evidence yet to know if recovering from covid-19 induces immunity, or whether any immunity would give long-lasting protection against the coronavirus
We haven’t identified any new drugs for severe covid-19 cases yet
A number of potential drugs for treating the coronavirus are in trials. There are some promising candidates but it’s unclear if they’ll help those who need them most
Why US society is so vulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic
The economic and healthcare policies pursued by the US in recent years have failed to prioritise public health and made it vulnerable to a pandemic. Could things be different?
Greta Thunberg says she may have had covid-19 and has self-isolated
Greta Thunberg says she and her father, Swedish actor Svante Thunberg, appear to have been infected by the coronavirus, though they have not been tested as their native Sweden is only doing so for severe cases
The bacteria in a mother’s gut may protect babies from food allergies
The presence of bacteria that break down fibre in a mother’s gut is linked to a reduced risk of food allergies in her child’s first year of life
Higher step count linked to lower yearly risk of death, up to a point
An analysis of the daily steps taken by about 5000 people in the US has found that a higher step count is linked to a lower yearly risk of death, although the effect tails off above 12,000 steps
UK's scientific advice on coronavirus is a cause for concern
The UK government has published details of the scientific advice behind its strategies to tackle the covid-19 outbreak, but outside experts say it is missing key points and hasn't been implemented properly
Skin-to-skin 'kangaroo care' shows important benefits for premature babies
A world-first study has demonstrated significant benefits to a premature baby's heart and brain function when held by the parent in skin-to-skin contact. Parent-infant skin-to-skin care (SSC) or kangaroo care, started in the late 1970s in Columbia when incubators to keep babies warm were not available. It is now widely recognized as a beneficial component of holistic care provided for pre-term infants.
Survey: Half of Americans concerned about new moms, babies being in public amid COVID-19
A new national U.S. survey finds that nearly 80 percent of respondents would be concerned about themselves or an expectant mother in their life in the midst of the current COVID-19 outbreak, with almost half expressing fear of going to a scheduled prenatal appointment.
Killing 'sleeper cells' may enhance breast cancer therapy
The anti-cancer medicine venetoclax could improve the current therapy for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, according to preclinical studies. The promising preclinical results for this 'triple therapy' have underpinned a phase 1 clinical trial in Melbourne, Australia, that is combining venetoclax with hormone therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors in patients with ER+ breast cancer.
Fighting autoimmunity and cancer: The nutritional key
Scientists have revealed a novel mechanism through which the immune system controls autoimmunity and cancer. In the special focus of the researchers were regulatory T cells -- a type of white blood cells that act as a brake on the immune system.
Accumulation of gene mutations in chronic Graft-versus-host disease
Mutations in white blood cells can contribute to abnormal immune profile after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Clay layers and distant pumping trigger arsenic contamination in Bangladesh groundwater
To avoid arsenic contamination, many Bangladeshi households access water via private wells drilled to 300 feet or less, beneath impermeable clay layers. Such clay layers have been thought to protect groundwater in the underlying aquifers from the downward flow of contaminants. However, a new study suggests that such clay layers do not always protect against arsenic, and could even be a source of contamination in some wells.
Sleep difficulties linked to altered brain development in infants who later develop autism
New research finds that sleep problems in a baby's first 12 months may not only precede an autism diagnosis, but also may be associated with altered growth trajectory in a key part of the brain, the hippocampus.
Middle age may be much more stressful now than in the '90s
A new study found that life may be more stressful now than it was in the 1990s, especially for people between the ages of 45 and 64.
Police stop fewer black drivers at night when a 'veil of darkness' obscures their race
After analyzing 95 million traffic stop records, filed by officers with 21 state patrol agencies and 35 municipal police forces from 2011 to 2018, researchers concluded that 'police stops and search decisions suffer from persistent racial bias.'