It’s estimated that every year, over one hundred thousand human deaths can be attributed to snakebite from the world’s seven hundred venomous snake species, all inflicted in self-defence when the snakes feel threatened by encroaching humans. However, Swansea University reports new research by its experts and colleagues from Bangor University has concluded snake venom didn’t … Continue reading Snake venom did not evolve for self-defence

A mental health charity has teamed up with universities across the UK to monitor the country’s psychological wellbeing. For accurate and up to date information on coronavirus please go to gov.uk/coronavirus. If you’re outside the UK please see the information on coronavirus from your national and local authorities. The Guardian reports they will conduct monthly … Continue reading Monthly survey to gauge the mental health of the UK under coronavirus

A research projects aimed at gauging the UK public’s attitude and responses to the coronavirus pandemic has been launched. For accurate and up to date information on coronavirus please go to gov.uk/coronavirus. If you’re outside the UK please see the information on coronavirus from your national and local authorities. Cardiff University reports its experts, and … Continue reading Universities researching UK attitudes to coronavirus

The “impulsive and risk-taking” lifestyles of repeat offenders means they are likely to be at higher risk of catching and spreading coronavirus, according to a leading criminologist. For accurate and up to date information on coronavirus please go to gov.uk/coronavirus. If you’re outside the UK please see the information on coronavirus from your national and … Continue reading Repeat offenders’ lifestyles may put them at a higher risk of coronavirus

The COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK) brings together experts from across the NHS, academia and public health agencies for large scale, rapid sequencing and analysis of the disease. This information can then be quickly shared with hospitals, the NHS and the government to help inform their response to the pandemic. For accurate and up to … Continue reading Welsh scientists helping track the spread of coronavirus

A new study reports that people who became sick from the coronavirus in the Chinese city where the outbreak began likely had a lower death rate than previously thought. For accurate and up to date information on coronavirus please go to gov.uk/coronavirus. If you’re outside the UK please see the information on coronavirus from your … Continue reading Coronavirus death rate in Wuhan is lower than previously thought

Scientists in Australia say they have identified how the body’s immune system fights Covid-19. For accurate and up to date information on coronavirus please go to gov.uk/coronavirus. If you’re outside the UK please see the information on coronavirus from your national and local authorities. Their research, published in Nature Medicine, shows people are recovering from … Continue reading Australian scientists map how the immune system fights coronavirus

Yesterday BuzzFeed News reported the UK only realised “in the last few days” that attempts to “mitigate” the impact of the coronavirus pandemic would not work, and that it needed to shift to a strategy to “suppress” the outbreak, according to a report by a team of experts who have been advising the government. For … Continue reading Imperial College finds a mitigation strategy for coronavirus could lead to 250,000 deaths in the UK

One of Britain’s best loved mammals is set to receive a boost with the sequencing and release of the first high quality Eurasian otter genome by scientists at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in partnership with the Cardiff University Otter Project. Cardiff University reports the genome has been published through Wellcome Open Research and is openly … Continue reading Otter genome to help understand genetic legacy of pollution crisis and secure species’ future

Researchers have developed a potential new tool to help clinicians detect hidden signs of autism in adults. Autism is usually diagnosed in childhood but a growing number of adults are being diagnosed with the condition, even in mid to late adulthood. Many adults develop compensatory psychological strategies to hide their symptoms from clinicians, employers and … Continue reading Researchers develop new tool to help detect hidden signs of autism in adults