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Online tools such as NextStrain are helping to track the spread of coronavirus in real time. Image credit - nextstrain.org
coronavirus outbreak | health | frontier research
23 March 2020

Covid-19: How unprecedented data sharing has led to faster-than-ever outbreak research

Advances in gene sequencing have allowed scientists to trace and monitor the COVID-19 pandemic faster than any previous outbreak. However, gaps in our knowledge of how coronaviruses work has made it difficult to understand what makes the new coronavirus special.

When it comes to improving amputees’ quality of life, one of the biggest challenges is making prostheses that feel like a natural part of the user. Image credit - Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Wikimedia Commons
health | frontier research | ict | industry
19 March 2020

The prostheses that could alleviate amputees’ phantom limb pain

New prosthetic technologies that stimulate the nerves could pave the way for prostheses that feel like a natural part of the body and reduce the phantom limb pain commonly endured by amputees.

There are still many unanswered questions about SARS-CoV-2, such as whether children are affected. Image credit - NIAID Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML)/Public domain
coronavirus outbreak | health
11 March 2020

Covid-19: Social distancing will help health authorities deal with coronavirus, says epidemiologist

Social distancing policies, such as cancelling high-density gatherings, discouraging handshakes and asking people to increase their distance from each other will delay a coronavirus pandemic and help health authorities plan resources, according to epidemiologist Dr Vittoria Colizza who is modelling the spread of Covid-19 and the effectiveness of interventions.

Just being able to give a name to a rare disease is a major step forward for both patients and families, says Dr Lucia Monaco. Image credit - Dr Lucia Monaco
interview | health
28 February 2020

Q&A: ‘We can diagnose more than 4,000 rare diseases but there’s still a long way to go’

Patients with rare diseases often suffer a long and lonely path as they struggle to find out what the cause of their debilitating symptoms are, but recent advances in diagnostics are helping to give them new hope of identifying their illness, and perhaps even finding a treatment, according to Dr Lucia Monaco of Italy's Fondazione Telethon and chair of the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC).

Better cancer treatments means there is a growing number of cancer survivors in Europe and we need to work out how best to support them. Image credit - pxfuel, licensed under CC0
health
04 February 2020

‘Treating cancer is only part of the journey’: the overlooked needs of cancer survivors

As more people live for years and even decades after being diagnosed with cancer, the question of how best to support survivors is a challenge now facing health systems in Europe. More research into survivors’ specific care and support requirements is now needed, say experts.

Scientists are working on overcoming the protective blood-brain barrier to better treat conditions such as stroke or brain injuries. Image credit - Hellerhoff, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
health | frontier research
30 January 2020

Our brain has a barrier that stops drugs. How do we get past it?

A new drug for Alzheimer's, stroke or brain injury might work well in the lab, but the crucial test is whether it can get to where it needs to be.

There could be a genetic explanation for why some people are more susceptible to ill health following traumatic life events such as a natural disaster. Image credit - Pfc. Nicholas T. Howes, USMC
health | frontier research
14 January 2020

Genetics could explain how traumatic events affect people's health

Facing the death of a loved one, being given a life-threatening diagnosis, or living through a natural disaster is difficult enough. But those who get through these traumatic life events often face further ill effects.

One in five European adults suffer from chronic pain, which affects their social and working lives. Image credit - Piqsels, licensed under CC0
health | frontier research
09 January 2020

Why do people develop chronic pain?

Mood disorders and the discovery of a pain signalling organ in the skin could explain why chronic pain occurs – and how to treat it.

The 2020s should be a turning point where the world averts impending disaster, according to Sandrine Dixon-Declève. Image credit - Pxfuel, licensed under CC0
environment | health | social sciences | frontier research
02 January 2020

What’s the most urgent action we need to take in 2020?

Declaring a global planetary emergency, improving sub-volcanic imaging to predict eruptions and developing artificial intelligence that works for humans are some of the urgent actions and research that experts in different fields want to see in 2020.

Image credits - PlanetMallika/ Pixabay; Pablo Trincado, licensed under CC BY 2.0; Image credit - Pixnio/ Janice Haney Carr, Jeff Hageman, M.H.S, USCDCP, licensed under CC0; Virpi Lummaa
science in society | frontier research | health | environment
19 December 2019

Our top 12 science facts from 2019

From bacterial invisibility cloaks to unexpected dinosaur colors, Horizon uncovered some fascinating facts in 2019. Here are our 12 favourites.

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