Babbage: Beyond immunity

<p>The immune system plays a vital role in protecting humans from infections, but how is it faring against covid-19? Pascal Soriot, chief executive of the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, tells host, Kenneth Cukier, about potential treatments for covid patients. Plus, do people build up an immunity to covid-19 if they have recovered from it, or can they catch it again?<strong> </strong>And, Sonja Lyubomirsky, professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, on how <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2020/04/16/acts-of-kindness-prevent-a-downward-spiral-from-solitude-to-loneliness" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">acts of kindness</a> can boost the immune system.</p><p><br></p><p>Read <em>The Economist</em>’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/news/2020/03/11/the-economists-coverage-of-the-coronavirus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">full coverage</a> of the coronavirus.</p><p>For access to <em>The Economist</em>’s print, digital and audio editions subscribe: <a href="http://www.economist.com/radiooffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/radiooffer</a></p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>