Health, features and articles | Educational Science

Aug 31, 2021

Huge, gold-standard study shows unequivocally that surgical masks work to reduce coronavirus spread

Results from a massive study in Bangladesh unequivocally show that surgical masks reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, scientists say. The results — from the highest-quality, gold-standard type of clinical trial, known as a randomized controlled trial — should end any scientific debate on whether masks are effective in battling the...

Aug 31, 2021

Yoga for back pain: What you need to know

If you’re thinking about using yoga for back pain, we’ve got all the information you need. In this article, physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience, Mark Brownless tells Live Science whether back pain is actually muscular and whether yoga is really a good idea if you’re experiencing issues with...

Aug 31, 2021

Why don't we breathe equally out of both nostrils?

Do you breathe through both nostrils at the same time? If you get close to a mirror and breathe out through your nose, the mirror will fog up. Two marks of water vapor will pool on the surface, one for each nostril. But one mark will be larger than the...

Aug 31, 2021

How to run for longer without getting tired: increase stamina and mental resilience

If you’re looking to get fit, or take your fitness regime to the next level, you might be contemplating how to run for longer without getting tired. To be clear, we all fatigue at some point, but there are ways of running for extended periods without having to stop and...

Aug 31, 2021

Are exercise bikes good cardio?

It’s a well-known fact that cardio exercise is good for you, but how do you know which form of exercise is best? When you step inside most gyms you’re confronted with rows of different cardio machines, from exercise bikes to cross trainers to treadmills. So how do you know which...

Aug 31, 2021

Viruses found in Laos bats are closest known relatives to SARS-CoV-2

Researchers have discovered coronaviruses lurking in Laotian bats that appear to be the closest known relatives to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, found to date, according to news reports. In a new study, researchers from the Pasteur Institute in France and the University of Laos captured 645 bats from...

Aug 31, 2021

Five mental health benefits of exercise

Wondering what the mental health benefits of exercise are? Well, the main side effects are good ones; mental, physical, and cognitive improvements. These benefits can often be underrated as we usually focus on the physical impact. But when exercise is taken regularly, and with the right intensity, it can be...

Jul 31, 2021

What happens if a far more lethal coronavirus emerges in pets?

The recent suggestion that British ministers may have to consider culling or vaccinating animals to prevent the coronavirus from picking up another dangerous mutation and jumping back to humans may sound like sudden panic, but it's just part of a long debate among scientists. Evidence that cats could be infected...

Jul 31, 2021

Immunodeficiency: Definition and examples

Immunodeficiency, immunocompromised and autoimmune disorder are all terms that describe the body's immune system and its reduced ability or inability to fight off infection or disease. But the terms aren't always interchangeable. Here's what each one means. What are immunodeficiency disorders? Immunodeficiency disorders are immune system malfunctions that may prevent...

Jul 31, 2021

FDA to authorize 3rd COVID-19 vaccine dose for immunocompromised people

On Thursday (Aug. 12), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to authorize a third vaccine dose for people with weakened immune systems, according to recent news reports. The FDA will update the emergency use authorizations for the two mRNA vaccines — Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna —to include a...

Jul 31, 2021

Why do you sometimes gain weight after exercising?

If you've ever started an especially vigorous workout regime with good faith and enthusiasm, only to be met with disappointment as the scale goes past the weight you started with, you may have had a lingering question: Why does exercise make me gain weight? Is there a biological explanation, or...

Jul 31, 2021

Ivermectin won't treat COVID-19, but it might kill you, CDC warns

Thousands of Americans may be taking potentially dangerous doses of an anti-parasitic drug because of misinformation that it will prevent or treat COVID-19, according to a new warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On Thursday (Aug. 26), the CDC alerted doctors that there's been a surge...

Jun 30, 2021

Respiratory virus spreads in the southern US

Parts of the southern U.S. are seeing off-season spikes in a respiratory virus called RSV after the lifting of public health measures put into place to slow COVID-19 spread, public health experts warn. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is typically more active in the fall and winter. This summer spike...

Jun 30, 2021

Delta variant now makes up 83% of new COVID-19 cases in US

The SARS-CoV-2 delta variant now makes up 83% of new U.S. cases, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Tuesday (July 20) at a Senate hearing. This is a dramatic increase up from 50% the week of July 3, Walensky said. In...

Jun 30, 2021

Nerve damage in cornea could be sign of 'long COVID,' study hints

Nerve damage and a buildup of immune cells in the cornea may be a sign of long COVID, a long-term syndrome that emerges in some people after COVID-19 infection, a new study suggests. These preliminary results will need to be verified in a larger group of people with long COVID,...