Virus cell in the body being attacked by tiny antibodies.

Millions of people across the world have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Countries are also now embarking on massive vaccination campaigns to control the virus and protect their most vulnerable citizens. One of the biggest questions remaining is whether vaccination and/or prior infection with SARS-CoV-2 offersContinue Reading

Why we need to test COVID-19 tests

SwitchedDesign/Shutterstock During the first peak of the coronavirus pandemic, it became apparent that the processing of the standard COVID-19 test using nasal swab samples, while considered a gold standard, was slow, taking over 24 hours to give results in most cases. As demand for quicker test results increased with suppliesContinue Reading

Pie chart showing the age breakdown of COVID-19 hospital admissions in England in December 2020; 52% were people over 75.

England has gone into a tough lockdown to halt spiralling COVID-19 hospitalisations and relieve pressure on its health system. The prime minister, Boris Johnson, has said the new lockdown will last at least seven weeks, but it’s safe to assume that, with many hospitals near capacity, it will stay inContinue Reading

Physical activity is good for your concentration – here's why

Even short periods of physical activity can improve concentration throughout the day. Somkid Saowaros/ Shutterstock Whether it’s during the post-lunch slump or just one of those days, we all struggle to concentrate on what we’re doing sometimes, whether that’s at work, school, or home. Being able to concentrate on whatContinue Reading

Three ways to move more while working from home

Replace two hours of sitting with standing Burlingham/ Shutterstock Though people with office jobs often sit for up to 80% of the working day, many still manage to get an average of 3,616 steps daily, largely thanks to many small opportunities for activity throughout the day. But with many ofContinue Reading

The fascinating story of placebos – and why doctors should use them more often

By – https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/emotions/self.html , , Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1684469 Elaine and Arthur Shapiro/Wikimedia Commons Plato’s cure for headaches involved: a certain leaf, but there was a charm to go with the remedy; and if one uttered the charm at the moment of its application, the remedy made one perfectly well; butContinue Reading