Are 'immunity passports' a good idea?

BaLL LunLa/Shutterstock Vaccinations against COVID-19 are getting underway in England and will soon follow elsewhere. This is great news, but just the start of a long programme that could extend well into the middle of 2021 – and beyond. In the meantime, the number of people protected from symptomatic COVIDContinue Reading

The rise of commercial milk formulas and why it matters for the world's women and children

Infant formula sales have doubled between 2005 and 2019. 279photo Studio/ Shutterstock Breastfeeding can play an especially important role in early-life nutrition. It can benefit children’s future school performance and economic prospects in later life, as well as the mother’s health. Health authorities across the world endorse the World HealthContinue Reading

Could we use statins to treat COVID-19?

Statins lower cholesterol if taken daily – but may also have other effects on the body. StockLite/Shutterstock Nothing in medicine is as exciting as discovering new drugs. However, this process is time consuming, expensive and not always necessary. Sometimes, existing drugs can be used to manage illnesses that are differentContinue Reading

Do COVID-19 antibodies fade more quickly in men than women?

dotshock/Shutterstock In the global effort to overcome COVID-19, much scientific and medical attention has focused on the ability of our immune system to generate antibodies. Antibodies are one of our body’s main weapons against viruses, created to recognise specific proteins on a virus’s surface and initiate processes that ultimately neutraliseContinue Reading

Eight cracking facts about eggs

Krasula/Shutterstock One of life’s true miracles, the humble egg is maybe one of the most versatile foodstuffs on the planet. It’s formed in 24 to 26 hours and hens can lay up to 250 eggs a year. The incredible egg is pure protein and there are numerous (both sweet andContinue Reading