Mask wearing wasn’t disputed in previous crises – so why is it so hotly contested today?

Nathan Abrams, Bangor University; Anaïs Augé, Bangor University; Maciej Nowakowski, Bangor University, and Thora Tenbrink, Bangor University Across western countries, people are polarised over wearing masks. While some support wearing them as an effective counter to the virus, others believe … Continue reading Mask wearing wasn’t disputed in previous crises – so why is it so hotly contested today?

The hunt for coronavirus variants: how the new one was found and what we know so far

Prof. Wolfgang Preiser, Stellenbosch University; Cathrine Scheepers, University of the Witwatersrand; Jinal Bhiman, National Institute for Communicable Diseases; Marietjie Venter, University of Pretoria, and Tulio de Oliveira, University of KwaZulu-Natal Since early in the COVID pandemic, the Network for Genomics … Continue reading The hunt for coronavirus variants: how the new one was found and what we know so far

How you can help your pussy cat

Why the pandemic made some cats sick with stress – and how we can help them Lauren Finka, Nottingham Trent University Those of us who own pets probably enjoyed their company in the depths of the pandemic. Not only are pets potentially good for our physical health, they also benefit our mental wellbeing. Indeed, they may have even been a way of coping with pandemic-fuelled mental health problems. But this is still an emerging area of research, so the impacts of pet ownership on human health aren’t always clear cut. Recent research suggests that having to care for a pet during … Continue reading How you can help your pussy cat