Viruses
Viruses are minute infectious particles that require a host to survive, be it an animal, plant and bacterium. Viruses have a simple structure consisting of DNA or RNA enveloped within a protein capsule. These pesky pathogens cause a variety of human diseases, including AIDs, meningitis and the flu. There is some controversy as to whether viruses are alive, as they require a living host cell to replicate, and cannot do so on their own.
Does cold weather cause the common cold?
Wrapping up warm won't save you from a sniffle and cough, unfortunately.
How can a virus survive in ice for hundreds of years?
From viruses in frozen mummies to anthrax outbreaks in Siberia. What lies beneath the ice is creepy, to say the least.
Inside the race to stop a deadly new strain of sexually transmitted monkeypox
New data suggests the virulent strain is now being sexually transmitted.
I’ve had COVID, plus all the vaccines – how long will my immunity last?
Is it time for your booster jab?
Bird flu has now jumped to cows - and their milk. Could humans be next?
The WHO chief scientist says the spread is of “enormous concern”.
COVID, 4 years on: 9 most surprising lessons from the pandemic
It’s been exactly four years since the official declaration of the COVID pandemic. What do we know now that we didn’t before?
Before we had long COVID, was there long SARS?
A doctor explains the post-viral impact of the respiratory viruses, SARS and COVID-19.
New AI could unlock viral ‘dark matter’ of next pandemic
The AI could have predicted the emergence of the covid variants.
Instant Genius Podcast | The intriguing science of phages, with Tom Ireland
The viruses that could be our greatest allies in the fight against superbugs.
Stacked on top of each other, how tall would all the world’s germs and bacteria be?
The answer will blow your mind.
Getting a good night’s sleep boosts our immune response to vaccinations
People who sleep more than six hours a night produce significantly more antibodies after getting their jabs.
Here’s how a human bird flu pandemic could unfold
The largest ever global outbreak of avian influenza has started to jump to other animals. Are humans next?
Are viruses the key to fighting infections?
Are phages – viruses that hunt and kill bacteria – part of the solution to antimicrobial resistance?
How soon after having COVID can you catch it again?
Yes, it's possible to catch COVID after just having it.
COVID-fighting chemicals identified in sea sponges and marine bacteria
The three compounds discovered are effective against several variants including delta and omicron.
How is RNA used in CRISPR and mRNA vaccines?
While DNA is perfect for storing biological information, RNA has proven better for applications in biotechnology. That's thanks to the molecule's versatility, which is closely tied to how RNA interacts with the immune system.
RNA: What it is, what it does, and why it’s one of life’s most important molecules
Besides being the genetic material that the ancestor of all living things may have used, RNA is integral to many essential processes inside our cells, and around the body.
Instant Genius Podcast | Zombie viruses in the Arctic
The world’s polar regions are melting. Beneath the ice lurks all kind of microbes, but how much of a threat do they really present?
Can you pass on COVID-19 if you’re testing negative?
In a word - yes.
Instant Genius Podcast | COVID in waste, with Dave O’Connor and Marc Johnson
How do viruses mutate? Are there rogue forms of coronavirus still out there? How can we track viruses down? We spoke to virologists Dave O’Connor and Marc Johnson to find out.
Will melting permafrost release ancient viruses and bacteria?
Climate change is causing permafrost to thaw, and estimates suggest that by 2100 up to two-thirds of Arctic near-surface permafrost will be lost.
Should we be worried that polio has been detected in the UK?
A national incident has been declared after the virus was found in a London sewer.
What is Parosmia?
If you have long COVID, you may be experiencing this.
Monkeypox Explainer | Why it's spreading now, what causes it and what to look for
There are now 173 cases of monkeypox in the UK. But what is the risk to the general public, and why has the outbreak occurred? We answer your key questions about the disease outbreak.