this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2026
96 points (99.0% liked)

World News

54020 readers
2848 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 24 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] boydster@sh.itjust.works 28 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (2 children)

The approach described in the journal Science does not train the immune system. Instead it mimics the way immune cells communicate with each other.

It is given as a nasal spray and leaves white blood cells in our lungs – called macrophages – on "amber alert" and ready to jump into action no matter what infection tries to get in.

The effect lasted for around three months in animal experiments.

[–] DaddleDew@lemmy.world 28 points 4 hours ago (4 children)

I'm no immunologist, but there has to be a reason why we evolved so our immune system doesn't constantly stay on "amber alert". There has got to be drawbacks.

[–] Kirp123@lemmy.world 14 points 2 hours ago

So one of the reasons asbestos is so dangerous is that it gets in your lungs where macrophages detect it as being foreign and try to destroy it. The issue is that asbestos is way larger than these cells and it's pretty resilient so they can't break it apart and eat it. The cells "get frustrated " so they start releasing inflammatory substances trying to find a way to neutralize this foreign body. That prolonged inflammation is what eventually leads to mesothelioma and other cancers.

I'm not sure how they plan to avoid the inflammation caused by these cells being in constant fighting infection mode.

[–] daychilde@lemmy.world 16 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

But the way evolution works is "whatever works that keeps the species alive".

We haven't evolved reading glasses, but they are helpful devices with very few downsides.

That said, there may well be unintended consequences and effects, sure.

[–] Kage520@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago

I think of it this way. The immune system is like an army, ready to fight off foreign invaders. If you were a king, would you want a huge standing army at all times, or the ability to draft soldiers as needed? Having a huge standing army is not only a waste of resources if there isn't anything to fight, but your soldiers might get bored and invent things to fight or just stir up trouble.

So my guess is you'd be prone to inflammation and develop food sensitivities, but it's a total guess. If they were the case though, chronic inflammation is really bad long term.

[–] scytale@piefed.zip 3 points 2 hours ago

Probably why there are auto-immune disorders, no? When the body randomly chooses to attack itself. Not a scientist so just speculating.

[–] hayvan@piefed.world 4 points 3 hours ago

On one hand I can see the benefit of using such a booster right before flu season. On the other hand, yeah does it have a crash at the end? Does an overactive immune system damage healthy tissues? Does it create inflammation response that leads to depression, fatigue, other chronic issues? There is A LOT that can go wrong there.

[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 19 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

I’d be really worried about autoimmune reactions. I swear there’s been a few Trek episodes where some kind of universal vaccine has unintended consequences.

[–] daychilde@lemmy.world 7 points 3 hours ago

I'm not sure I'd put any truck into fictional sci-fi where everything needs a good story, so any positive needs a negative…

…but I get it. And yeah, it's a worry.

[–] Regna@lemmy.world 2 points 2 hours ago

Same. Every major corona infection I suffered has set off my immune system for months, leading to debilitating nerve and joint pain. Even some vaccinations trigger this.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 4 points 4 hours ago

Can you please CW this post, for people like RFK this could be really triggering of their emotions.