Hopes for an easing of the pandemic were dealt a major setback over the Thanksgiving weekend, with news that a variant first spotted in southern Africa carries a multiplicity of mutations that might make it resistant to approved vaccines. At an emergency meeting convened Friday by the World Health Organization, the agency dubbed the variant,… read on > read on >
As concerns about the new Omicron variant grow, vaccine makers say they’re already working on ways to protect people against the potential new threat. Pfizer said it and its partner BioNTech could develop and produce a “tailor-made vaccine” in about 100 days if a “vaccine-escape” variant emerges, NBC News reported. Meanwhile, Moderna said it was… read on > read on >
Worried about climate change? You can do something about it every time you lift your fork, a new study suggests. Folks can reduce their personal carbon footprint by eating less red meat, nibbling fewer sweets and cutting back on tea, coffee and booze, according to the findings. “We all want to do our bit to… read on > read on >
The misconception that girls are less interested than boys in computer science and engineering begins at a young age in the United States. And it’s one reason for the gender gap in those career fields, according to a new study. In surveys of more than 2,200 U.S. children and teens in grades 1 through 12,… read on > read on >
Singing in a choir may be good for your soul, but it can also spread COVID-19 far more easily than conversation does. A new study also found that the louder and person sings or talks, the more particles are spewed into the air, and that more particles are released by men than women, and by… read on > read on >
A holiday visit with older relatives might be a good chance to help them remove fall risks in their home, an expert suggests. Older adults’ risk of falling may have increased during the pandemic due to declines in physical activity and mobility, along with increased isolation, a University of Michigan poll shows. Many also became… read on > read on >
A return to a more normal holiday season may also mean higher stress levels, so an expert offers some coping tips. Don’t get too focused on buying the perfect presents, making the best dinner or planning the perfect party. Try to be mindful of pleasant things and moments, suggested Jennifer Wegmann, a health and wellness… read on > read on >
Women getting vaccinated against the cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) now need two or three shots, but an African clinical trial suggests a single dose is just as effective. The finding could speed up the immunization process in developing countries with high levels of HPV-related cancers and protect many more women more quickly. “These findings are… read on > read on >
When it comes to helping others and your health, it might be better to give than to receive, a new study suggests. Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 Americans between 34 and 84 about their social involvement and how much they thought they could rely on their family, friends or a spouse if they needed help.… read on > read on >
There is a very low risk that pregnant women with COVID-19 will pass the virus to their unborn babies, researchers say. The study should reassure expectant parents, said the British investigators. To find out if and how the virus could pass from an infected pregnant women to her fetus, the team examined various fetal organs… read on > read on >
