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Earth’s magnetic field may change faster than we thought – new research The Earth’s magnetic field, generated 3,000km below our feet in the liquid iron core, is crucially important to life on our planet. It extends out into space, wrapping us in an electromagnetic blanket that shields the atmosphere and satellites from solar radiation. Yet the magnetic field is  constantly changing  in both its strength and direction and has undergone some dramatic shifts in the past. This includes  enigmatic reversals of the magnetic poles , with the south pole becoming the north pole and vice versa. A long-standing question has been how fast the field can change. Our new study,  published in Nature Communications , has uncovered some answers. Rapid changes of the magnetic field are of great interest because they represent the most extreme behaviour of the ocean of molten iron in the liquid core. By tying the observed changes to core processes, we can learn important ...

Why do we have different blood types — and do they make us more vulnerable to Covid-19? Most humans fall into one of four blood groups — A, B, AB, or O. Ordinarily, your blood type makes very little difference in your daily life except if you need to have a blood transfusion. However, some studies have people wondering if blood type affects coronavirus risk. One, for instance, suggests that people with  Type A may have a higher risk of catching Covid-19  and of developing severe symptoms while people with Type O blood may have a lower risk.  a  study published this week  counters some of these early findings, a reminder that scientific discovery is an evolving process. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital published a study Thursday that found no evidence that blood type affects whether someone develops severe symptoms (defined as intubation or death) from a coronavirus infection. Other past research indica...

FACT: People should NOT wear masks while exercising  People should NOT wear masks when exercising, as masks may reduce the ability to breathe comfortably. Sweat can make the mask become wet more quickly which makes it difficult to breathe and promotes the growth of microorganisms. The important preventive measure during exercise is to maintain physical distance of at least one meter from others. Download and share FACT: The likelihood of shoes spreading COVID-19 is very low The likelihood of COVID-19 being spread on shoes and infecting individuals is very low. As a precautionary measure, particularly in homes where infants and small children crawl or play on floors, consider leaving your shoes at the entrance of your home. This will help prevent contact with dirt or any waste  that could be carried on the soles of shoes. Download and share FACT: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is caused by a virus, NOT b...