The answer to cleaning up contaminated industrial sites in Europe could lie in the microbes that are already there. By JACK MCGOVAN Trees and other vegetation grow on the site of a former soap factory in northwestern France. While the greenery suggests all is well in the Ploufragan commune near the Brittany coast, the truth is … Read more
Schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection that causes high fevers, is chronic and can be fatal, has prompted researchers to come up with better detection methods and an expected vaccine. By VITTORIA D’ALESSIO A disease caused by parasitic worms has long blighted the lives of millions of people in tropical and subtropical countries including Burkina Faso and Madagascar. … Read more
Sequencing DNA offers hope of explaining changes to farm animals and helping combat their present-day maladies. By ANTHONY KING The dubious winners of the agricultural revolution, by sheer numbers, are obvious. Living in the world today are 30 billion chickens, 1 billion cows and almost 800 million pigs. While the dawn of agriculture was 8 000 … Read more
Meditation can curb the risk of disease and boost general well-being for the old and young, according to researchers. by Alex Whiting Several minutes of meditation a day can improve people’s physical and mental health and even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease. So say scientists. Nonetheless, a lack of evidence means health … Read more
While people the world over enjoy a good laugh, remarkably little is known about this instinctive behaviour. By Ali Jones Before babies can talk or walk, they can laugh. An infant’s first giggle at around four months enchants and reinvigorates even the most weary parent and, from then on, it’s a lifelong tool for communicating … Read more
European researchers are tackling the world’s most lethal infectious disease as part of efforts to end it by 2035. By Anthony King Dr Cristina Vilaplana is a medical doctor passionate about helping patients with tuberculosis (TB). Her research could make a difference to a lot of people. Each year globally, around 10 million adults and … Read more