Science Weekly: Positive thinking and vaccines, scabies trends, and Veronicas tool-use

In this episode, Guardian science editor Ian Sample joins Madeleine Finlay to discuss three stories shaping science and health. First, a Nature Medicine study suggests that positive thinking may nudge the immune system to respond more strongly to vaccines, via neurofeedback and brain reward systems. Next, attention turns to scabies, with evidence of rising diagnoses across the UK and Europe and insights from public health expert Dr. Michael Head on diagnosis, treatment, and transmission. Finally, the team covers Veronica, a cow in Austria who uses a deck brush as a tool to scratch herself, prompting reflections on animal intelligence and how we perceive cows. Read more at Guardian.com.

Positive thinking and vaccine response

Madeleine Finlay and Guardian science editor Ian Sample discuss a Nature Medicine study that probes the mind–body connection in immunology. The researchers used neurofeedback to train participants to boost activity in different brain regions over four sessions. One group was encouraged to enhance activity in the brain's reward system, especially the ventral tegmental area, while another tried to activate non-reward regions. After four sessions, all participants received a hepatitis B vaccine, with antibody levels measured two and four weeks later. The key finding was that higher reward-system activity correlated with a stronger antibody response, though effects were modest. The researchers emphasized caution, noting that this does not mean positive thinking can prevent disease, but that mind–immune interactions could complement standard medical treatments in certain contexts. "This was published in Nature Medicine and really taps into a debate that's been going on in medicine and in science for centuries" - Ian Sample

Scabies on the rise across Europe

The conversation then shifts to scabies, an itchy skin condition caused by mites, with UK data showing rising diagnoses since 2023 and a 44% increase in sexual health clinics from 2023 to 2024. Dr. Michael Head of the University of Southampton provides context on the difficulty of diagnosis due to vague symptoms and stigma, as well as treatment options such as topical creams (permethrin, malathion) and oral ivermectin. The discussion covers transmission in close-contact settings and the challenges of eradication, including potential drug resistance and access to care. "There's something generally about skin infections that it's just a bit icky" - Dr Michael Head

Veronica the tool-using cow

The final story centers on Veronica, a 13-year-old brown Swiss cow in Austria who demonstrates tool use by manipulating a broom to scratch hard-to-reach areas. Researchers observed Veronica reorienting the brush and choosing ends to target different body regions, effectively making her a multi-purpose tool user. The piece reflects on how such behavior challenges stereotypes about cow intelligence and discusses broader implications for how we view domesticated animals. Ian Sample calls Veronica’s behavior a meaningful reminder of the potential cognitive abilities of cows, urging a reevaluation of assumptions about livestock. "Veronica's smarts have shown us up really in terms of our own thinking about things" - Ian Sample

Read more on Guardian.com as these stories illustrate how mind and body, disease and treatment, and animal cognition intersect in contemporary science.