Humans once regarded saliva as the ultimate cure for disease. The English, in particular, believed that saliva, when ingested with bread and mixed with digestive fluids, could cure gout, asthma, and dropsy. Research has shown that there are some morsels of truth to it: saliva contains minute traces of antibacterial compounds. But scientists are more interested in saliva as a non-invasive diagnostic tool, as they have minute traces of biologically active molecules that can tell professionals the overall health of the body. Read full article here
Research
Improving media literacy could boost trust towards the news, IMPRESS report suggests
The UK media is regulated by the likes of IPSO and Ofcom. The report by press regulator IMPRESS highlights the link between low levels of media literacy and trust in the news. The study found that three quarters of those who did not know if journalists were regulated did not trust the news. It suggests that improving media literacy is one way to stem the erosion of trust, and shows that audiences have an appetite for information on news processes. Stakeholders need to collaborate in order to rebuild trust in the news, and independent media is well placed to do this. Read full article here
Merv
February 1, 2023
