Currently, there are no drugs that can prevent COVID-19, and there is no vaccine. As the virus traverses the globe, scientists are working at breakneck speed to identify ways to slow or stop the disease. Taking a new drug from initial trials through to the clinic stage is an incredibly…

As we move from a colder winter to a warmer spring, the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic may significantly depend on levels of humidity — indoors and outdoors — a new review suggests. Prof. Akiko Iwasaki, an immunobiologist at Yale University, in New Haven, CT, is the senior author of…

This weekend, a hospital in Houston became the first in the United States to treat a seriously ill Covid-19 patient with blood plasma collected from a recovered patient. Plasma therapy, which delivers antibody-packed plasma from recovered patients to those still fighting off infection (or preemptively to those at high risk of infection),…

In New York and Houston, pints of straw-colored convalescent plasma have dripped into the veins of five U.S. coronavirus patients. Hundreds more there and across the nation are set to follow. Whether the plasma, derived from the blood of people who recovered from COVID-19, will help them fight off the devastating disease caused…

The recent coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.  Known as SARS-CoV-2, the virus has resulted in more than 920,000 infections and 46,000 deaths. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a respiratory illness called COVID-19. COVID-19 has now been reported on every continent except Antarctica. The World Health Organization (WHO) publish their latest confirmed numbers…

In lucid dreams, the dreamer realizes they are dreaming even as they remain asleep. What is the science behind this intriguing consciousness phenomenon? This special feature looks at the current research.  Typically, when we dream, we are not aware that we are dreaming, and the most unlikely events, characters, and…

In this feature, we discuss six studies that uncover new and unexpected truths about the organ we hold in our skulls. Neuroscience is never easy, but the resulting intrigue is worth the effort. The brain is the pivotal hub of our central nervous system. Through this organ, we take note…

In the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which started when the virus SARS-CoV-2 jumped from animals into humans, we ask an important question — why are infections acquired from animals so dangerous to human health?  While it is not yet clear which animals were the source of the new…

Italy put forward a 25 billion euro ($27.35 billion) fiscal package last month to support businesses. However, Economy Minister Roberto Gualtieri announced plans for “significantly larger” fiscal measures. Any additional spending is challenging, given Rome’s exceptionally high government debt. The Italian government is ramping up spending plans “significantly” to mitigate…

The fast-spreading coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, has killed at least 42,081 people around the world. Most of the deaths occurred in Europe: 12,428 people have died in Italy, 8,464 in Spain and 3,523 in France. China recorded 3,309 deaths to-date, though some have raised questions about the accuracy…

New research has found that air pollution is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, far surpassing smoking, malaria, and other significant factors. Researchers have found that air pollution is a leading cause of global death. In fact, they claim that it can raise death risk significantly more than…

New research finds that SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is the result of the natural process of evolution rather than a product of laboratory engineering. The new study appears in the journal Nature Medicine, and Kristian Andersen, Ph.D., an associate professor of immunology and microbiology at the Scripps Research…

An idea that has been doing the rounds on social media suggests that certain heart and kidney medications make people more susceptible to COVID-19. A new commentary strongly disputes this. The commentary warns that discontinuing these hypertension and kidney medications would seriously endanger the health of those taking the drugs…

Abbott Laboratories is unveiling a coronavirus test that can tell if someone is infected in as little as five minutes, and is so small and portable it can be used in almost any health-care setting. The medical-device maker plans to supply 50,000 tests a day starting April 1, said John Frels,…

The novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 576,000 people worldwide, and killed at least 26,000 people, has made its way into the upper ranks of several world governments. Officials in the US, Australia, Iran, and the UK have tested positive for the disease. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he…

Researchers are studying the effects of China’s lockdowns to glean insights about controlling the viral pandemic. As the new coronavirus marches around the globe, countries with escalating outbreaks are eager to learn whether China’s extreme lockdowns were responsible for bringing the crisis there under control. Other nations are now following…

Life is almost back to normal in much of China. Shops, restaurants, bars, and offices are open for business. Manufacturing activity is picking up. Traffic once again jams the highways of major cities. Three-quarters of China’s workforce was back on the job as of 24 March, according to one company’s…

Statistics Location Confirmed Cases per 1M people Recovered Deaths Worldwide 775,306 110.03 160,130 36,946 United States 155,705 476.04 4,913 2,810 Italy 101,739 1,610.68 14,620 11,591 Spain 85,199 1,719.44 16,780 7,424 China 81,470 59.32 75,770 3,304 Germany 64,527 785.6 6,522 568 Iran 41,495 512.33 13,911 2,757 France 40,174 594.59 7,202 2,606…

Smells can reinvigorate old memories in a way that doctors could use to treat memory-related mood disorders, suggests a study in mice from Boston University. The nature of memory is one of the biggest mysteries of neuroscience. Memories are at the basis of who we are, and how the brain…

Thomas Schaefer, finance minister of Germany’s Hesse state which includes Frankfurt, found dead near a railway track.10 hours ago Thomas Schaefer, the finance minister of Germany’s Hesse state, has committed suicide apparently after becoming “deeply worried” over how to cope with the economic fallout from the coronavirus, state premier Volker…

All over the world, except in China, the place where it all began, the COVID-19 pandemic is making its relentless way through the population. So far, it has caused nearly 34,000 deaths – and the situation in the US is still worsening with over 142,000 cases and 2,489 deaths. In…

We’re all in this together. Whether you’re self-isolating, social distancing or just plain WFH, here’s some tips to keep you sane and occupied during the pandemic.  There’s no getting around it: you’re shut in your house and don’t know what to do to pass the time. So, we’ve put together…

Monday morning: a routine visit by a young mother with her small child. A discussion about vaccine safety ensues. After an average visit of between 10 and 19 minutes, and equipped with the latest statistics and several leaflets, the mother leaves to consider her options. Sound familiar? Will she return the…

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that leads to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), has spread rapidly from the first known cases in China in December 2019 to countries around the world. On March 10, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there were 113,702 confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world, plus 4,012 deaths. …

As part of the global response to the pandemic, the citizens of many countries are having to stay at home. However, prolonged isolation can take its toll on mental health. In this Special Feature, mental well-being advocates share their top tips on what you can do to cope with anxiety…

The recent coronavirus outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.  Known as SARS-CoV-2, the virus has resulted in more than 600,000 infections and 27,000 deaths. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a respiratory illness called COVID-19. COVID-19 has now been reported on every continent except Antarctica. The World Health Organization (WHO) publish their latest confirmed numbers…

A new model has predicted that demand for beds in intensive care units (ICUs) will outstrip supply in two regions of the United Kingdom by around April 6, 2020. Doctors and computer scientists in Cambridge, U.K., have predicted the future availability of the country’s intensive care beds during the coronavirus…

In a press briefing on March 3, 2020, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported a 3.4% mortality rate from COVID-19. But how reliable is this figure? We take a look at what British experts have to say on the matter. In the media…

COVID-19 and the flu can cause similar symptoms. However, there are several differences between them. The novel strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Both COVID-19 and the flu are respiratory illnesses that spread from person to person. This article will discuss the differences between COVID-19 and the…

The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 continues to grow in the US. Mike Pence, the vice-president, is overseeing the US response to the coronavirus. So far, 80% of patients experience a mild form of the illness, which can include a fever and pneumonia, and many of these cases require…