COVID-19: Top science stories of the week, from genetics to herd immunity

May 15, 2020

A computer image created by Nexu Science Communication together with Trinity College in Dublin, shows a model structurally representative of a betacoronavirus which is the type of virus linked to COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus linked to the Wuhan outbreak, shared with Reuters on February 18, 2020.

A computer image showing a model of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Alice Hazelton

Programme Lead, Science and Society, World Economic Forum

Greta Keenan

Lead, Strategic Impact and Communications, World Economic Forum

Sam Leakey

Programme Specialist, Science and Society, World Economic Forum

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How challenge trials could speed up a COVID vaccine Image: Eyal, N., Lipsitch, M., & Smith, P. G. (31 March 2020). Human Challenge Studies to Accelerate Coronavirus Vaccine Licensure. The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

A graphic showing how herd immunity functions to prevent a disease spreading through a population.

A graphic representation of how herd immunity can prevent or slow the spread of disease through a population Image: Tkarcher / CC BY-SA

A network map showing the connections of Facebook pages that are neutral, pro- and anti-vaccination

The study's network map showing how anti-vaccination Facebook pages are more central, numerous and connected than pro-vaccine pages. Image: Johnson, N.F., Velásquez, N., Restrepo, N.J. et al. The online competition between pro- and anti-vaccination views. Nature (2020)

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