Science

Structural racism and vaccine access

The German data gap

In the UK and the US, white people are being vaccinated more quickly than others. It might well be the same in Germany ― but statistics based on ethnicity are not collected here. Is it time to close the data gap?  

Vaccines appear effective against India COVID variant

The B.1.617 variant raised alarms after it was identified as a double mutant. But the fact that both mutations occur together does not necessarily mean that this variant is also twice as infectious or dangerous.  

Fact check: 5 myths about the Chernobyl nuclear disaster

Monday marks the 35th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. What happened in the former Soviet Union on April 26, 1986, is no longer a secret.  

New malaria vaccine first to reach WHO efficacy demand

Malaria kills hundreds of thousands of children each year. Now, an early stage malaria vaccine trial in Africa has shown encouraging results.  

The COVID variant from India: What we know so far

The latest variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus, dubbed B.1.617, was first found in India and then in other countries around the world. It is still unclear how dangerous it is.  

Spanish study shows coffee still good for your health

Drinking up to six cups of caffeinated coffee a day is good for your heart and may even protect against cancer, a long-term study in Spain suggests.  

Medicinal cannabis: 'Wonder drug' or work in progress?

Cannabis is more than a recreational drug. Non-psychoactive cannabis may have health benefits, from protecting against human coronaviruses to antibiotics.  

COVID vaccines tested on real-world variants in Israel

Vaccines are being put to the test. But how effective are they against new strains of COVID-19? A study from Israel offers hope and caution.  

Health

Disrupted sleep linked to heart disease and death

Results from a long-term study of 8,001 people suggest that disrupted sleep is linked to cardiovascular disease and mortality — in women more than men.  

Stem cell research

Researchers integrate human stem cells into monkey embryo

Stem cell research is an ethically fraught field. Now scientists in California have taken a step that's sure to jump-start a lot of discussions: They created a human-monkey embryo that survived for three weeks.  

COVID-19 vaccinations: What's the progress?

Which vaccines are approved? How many people have been vaccinated? Here's the global progress on vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  

Fact check

How effective is the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine?

Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V, has been approved for use in dozens of countries, and it's also under review by the European Medicines Agency. But the vaccine remains controversial.  

COVID

The link between vector vaccines and thrombosis

First, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis occurred with the vaccine from AstraZeneca, now similar cases have shown up with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Does this have anything to do with the way vector vaccines work?  

Coronavirus: Confusion over efficacy of Chinese vaccines

After a high-ranking Chinese virologist appeared to doubt the efficacy of China's four approved vaccines, he is now backpedaling and calling it a misunderstanding.  

Corticosteroids

Asthma drug brings hope for COVID-19 treatment

A steroid commonly used in asthma inhalers has the potential to prevent severe COVID-19 symptoms. It could treat the illness early on and help to reduce pressure on hospitals.  

COVID and mental health

'I really struggled psychologically'

It's not just the body that suffers from COVID-19. A new Oxford study has found that an infection can have psychological consequences, as well, with symptoms including depression and anxiety.