Spectrum
From advances that will change our lives to offbeat oddities, Spectrum keeps you abreast of developments in the realm of European science and technology news.
16
JUN
Weekly roundup — COVID-19, aging brains & very cold computers
Will mutations change our vaccination strategy? Also, a controversial step in the fight against Alzheimer's, and how to tell a six-year-old what a quantum computer is.
15
JUN
What's the deal with Aduhelm?
It's a 'breakthrough' drug for Alzheimer's… but no one's sure if it actually works. There are also clear risks of side effects... and yet it was approved by the top US drug agency (prompting three scientists to quit). What is going on?
14
JUN
What is a quantum computer, exactly?
They look weird, they're outrageously cold, and they're "stupider" than your smartphone. So why are governments throwing billions at quantum computers? And is it possible for a normal person to even understand them?
11
JUN
COVID-19: Delta variant danger & 'magnetic' misinformation
How concerned do we have to be about the rapidly spreading Delta variant? (And why are they calling it 'Delta' anyway?) Also, what's with the TikTok videos where metal objects are sticking to vaccinated arms?
10
JUN
Weekly roundup — Dealing with the hesitant, vaccine mixing, and super mice
If you don't vaccinate, you will get COVID-19 at some point. That's a fact. There's also the social argument. But a lot of people in the world remain against immunization. How do we deal with these people - especially if they are close to us? Also, would you like to live a longer, more healthy life?
09
JUN
How do I talk to someone who won't get vaccinated against COVID-19?
It can be really, really frustrating to talk to someone who's misinformed and doesn't plan to get vaccinated. And sometimes, the easiest thing to do is just avoid the topic entirely. But what if it's a friend, a colleague or a family member we care about?
08
JUN
COVID-19: Mixing doses, boosters & a warning for the unvaccinated
Can you get more than one kind of COVID-19 vaccine? When will we need a booster shot? And what is inevitably going to happen to those who have chosen not to vaccinate?
04
JUN
Do you want to live a longer, more energetic life?
The march of time is unrelenting. Sure. But scientists say they're on the cusp of changing how long we live – and HOW WELL we live those bonus years.
01
JUN
Weekly roundup — Sleep, COVID-19 & a strange-sounding ostrich
If your genes make you a "night owl," the odds are higher you'll develop depression. Can we do anything to change that? Also, why is the EU planning to store our vaccination information inside a QR code, of all places? And finally, a big shoutout to the listener who won our bird quiz!
31
MAY
Herd immunity & why crosswords or sudoku don't help your brain
Know someone who does puzzles to 'keep their brain sharp'? We've got bad news for them. Also, it's time to forget herd immunity and embrace the idea of booster shots.
28
MAY
How are 'COVID-19 passports' going to work?
In a month or so, EU citizens are supposed to get a "digital COVID-19 vaccine passport" they can use to travel. But what will it actually look like? Where will this (private) health data be stored? Who has access to it? And could it be hacked?
26
MAY
YOUR ANSWERS to the bird quiz
Seven birdcalls. That was the challenge we put to you just over a week ago. And now, it's time for a reckoning.
