|
|
|
|
Herd immunity is a term that has been thrown around a lot since the start of the pandemic. It’s a rough estimate of the proportion of a population that needs to achieve immunity for an outbreak to decrease in size. Initially, a fringe group of scientists and commentators suggested that herd immunity could be achieved through natural immunity – in other words, immunity by getting sick. Those people are now largely silent as we have a much better way to achieve herd immunity: vaccines.
We’re in a good position, but the new viral variants – the more transmissible ones that seem to crop up at a rate of one a week – will push the herd immunity percentage up. At the start of the pandemic, herd immunity was estimated to be around 60-70%. With the new variants, that figure has been pushed up by roughly ten percentage points – meaning more people need to be vaccinated before we reach herd immunity. Adam Kleczkowski explains
why.
If you’re feeling the stress of lockdown, you could always pick up some tips from astronauts on how to survive isolation and confinement – they are masters of the art. And for a ghoulish read, find out how
vampire finches evolved to drink blood. Yes, you read that right: vampire finches.
|
Clint Witchalls
Health + Medicine Editor (UK edition)
|
|
|
Andrii Vodolazhskyi/Shutterstock
Adam Kleczkowski, University of Strathclyde
New variants will push the number needed to reach herd immunity up.
|
Earth from the ISS.
NASA
Nathan Smith, University of Manchester
We can look to astronauts’ experiences for tips to improve our own situation during lockdown.
|
Jaime Chaves
Kiyoko Gotanda, University of Cambridge; Daniel Baldassarre, State University of New York Oswego; Jaime Chaves, San Francisco State University
Finches have evolved to feed off blood from red-footed and Nazca boobies – and we've seen it first-hand.
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Steve Taylor, Leeds Beckett University
Research shows that when people feel insecure and anxious they become more concerned with identity values such as nationalism, status and success.
-
Alexandra Anderson, University of Sheffield; Alexandra Meakin, University of Sheffield
Rioters claimed to be defending democracy but they've made it harder for peaceful citizens to engage with lawmakers.
-
Vincent Obia, Birmingham City University
In a bitterly contested election, the government is seeking to control the message by shutting down the internet.
|
|
Health + Medicine
|
-
Nicola Guess, King's College London
Latest meta-analysis shows weight loss is the most important factor in achieving remission.
-
Costas Karageorghis, Brunel University London; Dawn Rose, Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts; Elias Mouchlianitis, Brunel University London
A match made in heaven or a doubtful duet?
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Pascal Vrticka, University of Essex
The brain activity of a parent and child can become synchronised during play and problem solving.
-
Nick Neave, Northumbria University, Newcastle
Physical hoarding has been studied for decades - but now, new forms of digital hoarding are emerging.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Robert Wilby, Loughborough University
Climate models are likely underestimating the true severity of future warming in urban areas.
-
Sankar Sivarajah, University of Bradford
Out of the existing 29 million homes in the UK, only eight million meet the highest energy standards.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
Oskar Cox Jensen, University of East Anglia
After rioters outside the US Capitol sang Bob Marley’s 'Three Little Birds', here are more global instances when history has sounded a little out of tune.
-
Madeleine Pelling, University of York
The Regency period was full of gossip and scandal, something Bridgerton gets right. However, it leaves out the period's grim record on slavery.
|
|
Business + Economy
|
-
John Tribe, University of Liverpool
Eight former directors of the collapsed super-contractor face being banned for up to 15 years if they are found to be unfit to run a company.
|
|
| |
Featured events
|
|
Online, N/A, Oxfordshire, N/A, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Oxford
|
|
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Essex
|
|
East Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB11PT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Anglia Ruskin University
|
|
|
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Essex
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
