27 Nov, 2024
3 mins read

Scientists revive ‘zombie’ virus that was trapped for 48,500 years in the Arctic’s permafrost

“Zombie” viruses that spent up to 48,500 years frozen in the ground could reawaken as the permafrost melts due to climate change, scientists warn. Noticeably warmer temperatures in the Arctic are already thawing the region’s permafrost, the permanently frozen layer below Earth’s surface. Researchers are now trying to assess how big a risk the bacteria […]

3 mins read

Vitiligo: ‘Miracle cream’ ruxolitinib might be coming to Europe but why is it so controversial?

Skin condition vitiligo has, in more recent years, become globally celebrated thanks to public figures like Canadian model Winnie Harlow. It’s thought to present in about 0.5-1 per cent of the global population, and is widely defined as an autoimmune condition that affects the pigmentation of the skin. Technically, there’s currently no cure for vitiligo. […]

3 mins read

NHS hospitals are trialling an AI lip-reading app to help patients who struggle to speak

“I am in pain,” says a digital voice as 33-year-old Nathan Armstrong stares into an iPad at Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire, northwestern England. He is using SRAVI, short for Speech Recognition For The Voice Impaired, a lip-reading app that is being trialled in UK public hospitals among patients who have difficulties speaking, whether it’s […]