Better Science Better Science

Today we bring you relevant information about the coronavirus delta variant! Since the beginning of the month, news about this variant have increased just as fast as it has been spreading in the US and the world. The number one question many are asking at this point is whether the vaccine you took will still be effective against the delta variant.

So, in this episode, we will show you the data from a few studies, emphasizing on one research article, and we will also tell you a little about vaccine immunity and one method scientists use to test for vaccine efficacy (all in cool analogies and fun illustrations that we loved creating for you!). We will also tell you about how we, as scientists, feel about the implications of the spread of the delta variant and other related points, like for example the potential of a “third booster” for some vaccines.

This episode turned out to run a little longer, at 30 min, than our target ~20 min of duration, but trust us it will be worth it! Share far and wide, and please feel free to send us any feedback!

References:

Main Article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03777-9 (Free)

1. World Health Organization, https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/

2. Our World in Data, https://tinyurl.com/OurWorldInData2

3. Our World in Data, https://tinyurl.com/OurWorldInData3

4. https://tinyurl.com/PublicHealthEngland4

5. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01358-1/fulltext

6. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.06.28.21259420v1.full.pdf

7*. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/israel-said-the-delta-variant-is-making-pfizers-covid-19-shot-less-effective-medical-experts-say-its-too-soon-to-worry-11625768481

*We are linking a story here since the original statement from the Israeli government is not available in English.


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In this episode of Better Science, we talk about a study published in April of this year, titled "Association of Sleep Duration in Middle and Old Age with Incidence of Dementia". In this scientific report, the authors discuss findings on the relationship between how long you* sleep and the development of neurological diseases. 

We saw quite a bit of news outlets inaccurately reporting on the findings of this study and we decided to clear up the confusion - so join us to learn more!

*This relationship was studied only on participants between approximately 50 to 70 years of age. 

We would love to hear your feedback - let us know if you have suggestions, questions, etc. We are new to this and will need to adjust as we go, so please be patient!

Here is the link to the study for those that want to read it:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22354-2 

You can read the article on that page or download the PDF (top-right side)


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-science/support

A disconnect between science and the public has existed for a long time. A disconnect that has been amplified with the ongoing pandemic. It feels like public trust in science has reached a new low. Misinformation runs rampant. The media cannot help themselves from sensationalizing scientific discoveries, and we often get mixed messages from politicians, public health officials, and sometimes scientists themselves.

With all that in mind, we sought to create Better Science and contribute to making science better by bridging this gap between science and the public. With the Better Science Show, we are bringing simple and accessible discussions about fresh scientific discoveries to the public! Ultimately, the mission is to increase public trust and excitement in science!


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/better-science/support