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Catching a cold is never a good thing — even just a mild one can be extremely irritating. But it turns out, there might be one saving grace about the viruses responsible for the common cold, particularly a type called rhinoviruses. A new study shows that if you’re infected with a common cold rhinovirus and coronavirus at the same time, the former might play a role in protecting you from the latter.
When you’re infected with a cold, your immune system produces virus-killing molecules called interferons. The body produces these interferons much faster and in bigger quantities in response to a rhinovirus, compared to other kinds of virus. By studying cells that replicate the respiratory tract, scientists have shown that being infected with a rhinovirus and coronavirus at the same time suppresses the replication of the coronavirus. But,
once the cold has gone away, you’re no longer protected from coronavirus.
Speaking of protection, state-backed cyber attacks are expected to become more common in future. The UK has recently created a “National Cyber Force” tasked with developing responses to them – including the option to use nuclear weapons. But, philosophers say, the response to cyber warfare is not as clear as the response to conventional warfare, and requires careful ethical consideration.
A recent survey asked Britons what they think are the most serious forms of inequality today, against the backdrop of COVID-19. Just over half (51%) said geographical inequalities (between more and less deprived areas of the country) were one of the most serious types of inequality – more than for race or gender.
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Abigail Beall
Science and Tech Editor
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The common cold is usually caused by a rhinovirus.
Shutterstock/fizkes
Matthew James, Queen's University Belfast
Rhinoviruses may play a critical role in controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2 among the human population.
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seaonweb/Shutterstock
Christopher J. Finlay, Durham University
Cyber attacks have created new dilemmas for philosophers who determine the ethics of war.
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Regional inequality has been a key theme in British politics since the Brexit referendum.
Alamy
Bobby Duffy, King's College London
Differences between regions has been a major political theme in recent years and it shows in the polling.
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Health + Medicine
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Simon Nicholas Williams, Swansea University; Kimberly Dienes, Swansea University
Physical contact is important for our mental health and social bonding. We need to bring it back as soon as it's safe to do so.
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Jessica Williams, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Immunity to COVID-19 appears to be generated in different ways in different subgroups of people.
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Celia Souque, University of Oxford
A genetic trick called an integron plays an important role in helping bacteria do this.
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Politics + Society
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Steve Taylor, Leeds Beckett University
Why companies (and political parties) should screen leadership candidates for psychopathy and narcissism.
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Rachel M Gisselquist, United Nations University; Miguel Niño-Zarazúa, United Nations University
How can democratic nations help fledgling democracies and others struggling against the tide of autocrats?
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Fatima Rajina, De Montfort University
Comparisons between Begum's Islamic garb and her new wardrobe suggest that Muslim women's "liberation" depends on westernisation.
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Arts + Culture
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Nick Swann, University of South Wales
It's the 'religion of peace', with a long history of warlike behaviour.
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Maria Vogiatzaki, Anglia Ruskin University
With the construction industry a major source of pollution and waste, rethinking how we use the built environment we have has never been more important. This French architect duo is showing the way
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Business + Economy
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Sharif Mahmud Khalid, University of Sheffield
Not content with swinging behind a global digital tax, now the US treasury secretary wants to put paid to bargain corporation tax rates in general.
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Environment + Energy
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Phil Hosegood, University of Plymouth
Climate change is strengthening the division between the ocean surface and the abyss.
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Featured events
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