285 articles from THURSDAY 13.5.2021

How AIs ask for personal information is important for gaining user trust

Researchers report that users responded differently when AIs either offered to help the user, or asked for help from the user. This response influenced whether the user trusted the AI with their personal information. They added that these introductions from the AI could be designed in a way to both increase users' trust, as well as raise their awareness about the importance of personal...

Measuring brain blood flow and activity with light

A new, noninvasive method for measuring brain blood flow with light has been developed by biomedical engineers and neurologists and used to detect brain activation. The new method, functional interferometric diffusing wave spectroscopy, or fiDWS, promises to be cheaper than existing technology and could be used for assessing brain injuries, or in neuroscience research.

UK Covid scientists: variant found in India variant may be spreading faster than Kent strain

Reports that Sage will meet on Thursday to discuss threat with PHE figures expected to show big jump in cases linked to variantCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageEvidence is growing that a troubling variant of the coronavirus discovered in India is more transmissible than the variant first detected in Kent and which fuelled the UK’s second wave of infections and spread...

Emphasis on personal may be best way to fight vaccine scepticism, research suggests

GB study points to highlighting personal benefits being key to counter vaccine hesitancyCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageEmphasising the personal benefits of vaccination against Covid may be an effective way to reduce scepticism in those most hesitant towards having a jab, research suggests.In the UK more than two-thirds of adults have received at least one dose of a...

More frequent side-effects reported mixing Pfizer and Oxford Covid jabs, study suggests

However, UK trial found two doses of the same vaccine triggered less adverse reactionsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAdministering one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine followed by one of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine (or vice versa) induces a higher frequency of mild to moderate side-effects compared with standard two doses of either vaccine, initial data from a...