


Do viruses trigger Alzheimer’s?
A growing group of scientists think so, and are asking whether antivirals could treat the disease
In the summer of 2024 several groups of scientists published a curious finding: people vaccinated against shingles were less likely to develop dementia than their unvaccinated peers. Two of the papers came from the lab of Pascal Geldsetzer at Stanford University. Analysing medical records from Britain and Australia, the researchers concluded that around a fifth of dementia diagnoses could be averted through the original shingles vaccine, which contains live varicella-zoster virus. Two other studies, one by GSK, a pharmaceutical company, and another by a group of academics in Britain, also reported that a newer “recombinant” vaccine, which is more effective at preventing shingles than the live version, appeared to confer even greater protection against dementia.
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What is the best way to keep your teeth healthy?
Tooth-brushing reigns supreme. But fluoride in tap water is a good safety net

Ukraine’s embrace of drone warfare has paid off
Two new reports highlight strengths as well as weaknesses

The race is on to build the world’s most complex machine
But toppling ASML will not be easy
Want even tinier chips? Use a particle accelerator
High-speed electrons can etch nano-scale designs
Is butter bad for you?
A new study suggests olive oil may be a healthier alternative
Two private companies reach the Moon within four days
Though Firefly Aerospace has had better luck than Intuitive Machines