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What is the placebo effect?

Definition

The placebo effect

The placebo effect is a mysterious phenomenon that happens when someone’s medical symptoms are lessened through the power of suggestion and expectation.

How to spend a trillion dollars to fix climate change and end poverty

Life

How to spend a trillion dollars to fix climate change and end poverty

Features

Contagious cancer may cause Tasmanian devils to become antisocial

Life

Contagious cancer may cause Tasmanian devils to become antisocial

News

fungus

Health

Potent new antifungal discovered in the microbiome of marine animals

News

mosquito

Health

Malaria parasite hides in human blood by changing how its genes work

News

Social distancing in a park

Health

Are pets at risk of getting covid-19 and can they spread it to people?

News

Coronavirus: US has no cohesive plan to tackle massive second wave

Health

Coronavirus: US has no cohesive plan to tackle massive second wave

News

lyme disease vaccine

Health

Lyme disease vaccine found to be safe and effective in clinical trial

News

Boosting gut microbes helps protect mice against Alzheimer’s disease

Health

Boosting gut microbes helps protect mice against Alzheimer’s disease

News

A volunteer in Seattle takes part in a trial for a vaccine developed by Moderna

Health

Coronavirus vaccine hope rises after a flurry of positive results

There are more than 160 coronavirus vaccines in development, and we don't yet know if any will work, but a string of promising results offers hope for the long run

News

Health

How a Jewish ghetto beat a typhus epidemic during the second world war

News

Health

Alzheimer’s disease may start in the gut and spread to the brain

News

Environment

Climate change may push Zika virus into southern and eastern Europe

News

Health

Scotland could eliminate the coronavirus – if it weren't for England

Analysis