In an exclusive interview with DW, Nobel Prize winner Harald zur Hausen talks about cancer-causing viruses and his incomprehension towards vaccination scpeticism. Merck-Wissenschafts-Konferenz Curious Future Insight in Darmstadt (DW/A. Freund) It is well known that smoking, a poor diet and a lack of exercise greatly increase the risk of getting cancer. However, few people know that several cancers are caused by viruses or bacteria and that one can protect oneself against them with vaccinations.

Egyptian MPs have renewed demands to impose taxes on foreign social media companies. Last month, parliament s media, culture and antiquities committee approved a proposal to impose taxes on advertising revenues made by platforms including Facebook and Google in the Egyptian market.

A British study shows that gene editing does not work as well as previously assumed. Experiments with the cells of mice and humans resulted in numerous unwanted mutations. The molecular biological gene editing CRISPR/Cas9 method regularly causes unwanted mutations. This also happens in areas of the genome far from the target areas that medical researchers and molecular biologists may seek to change using this promising innovative tool.

Can electronic media harm small children? The use of computers, smartphones and tablets can cause behavioral issues such as hyperactivity and inattentiveness in young children between two and six years old. This is the result of a study by researchers at the University of Leipzig in Germany, who studied more than 500 children for several years. Children who were exposed to computers or smartphones on a daily basis were more hyperactive and inattentive one year on than children who did not use these types of media. Children who used electronic media were also more likely to have difficulties with other children.

They re touted as miracle cures. But the stem cell treatments on offer at private clinics are often anything but. Before you send a loved one in for a last-ditch (and very expensive) treatment, read the warnings. "Walking again - one month after stem cell treatment." Such is the way that a Swiss clinical center advertises itself online. The institution, with locations in Switzerland, Austria, Serbia, Slovenia, Russia and the US, offers stem cell therapy among other treatments to treat multiple sclerosis (MS).

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism has announced launching a digital TV channel on Instagram s view-platform IGTV, in another attempt to attract tourists to Egypt through online marketing. The channel will be broadcast through the Egyptian General Authority for Tourism Promotion s official page, and has been dubbed as the first of its kind in the Middle East. Egypt s White Desert In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry explained its move as an attempt to broaden its marketing methods; “The Ministry of Tourism is currently looking into launching more promotional campaigns across the most influential and focused platforms to spread its scope across wider populace.”

Britain s data regulator said Wednesday it will fine Facebook half a million pounds for failing to protect user data, as part of its investigation into whether personal information was misused ahead of the Brexit referendum. The Information Commissioner s Office (ICO) began investigating the social media giant earlier this year, when evidence emerged that an app had been used to harvest the data of tens of millions of Facebook users worldwide.

Did you know that fish pedicures can cause deformations in your toenails? Or that if you feel young, your brain has probably stayed young, too? DW brings you this week s health news, all in one handy guide! Fish pedicures – A bad idea! If you ve ever wondered what it s like to get a fish pedicure — don t. The treatment uses "doctor fish," known as Garra rufa, that nibble dead skin off your feet. It trended about 10 years ago and is still popular, despite some concerns over hygiene. The hot water tub that you place your feet in is often re-used, as are the fish — patient after patient — and various fungi and disease-causing bacteria have been detected at fish pedicure spas.

The Thai boys trapped in a cave may not only face psychological problems, but also gain psychological benefit, says psychologist Prof. Dr. Brigitte Lueger-Schuster from the University of Vienna. Military personnel in front of the Tham Luang cave, Chiang Rai, Thailand (Reuters/A. Perawongmetha) DW: In your opinion, what is the negative impact or the general impact on youngsters trapped in a cave for such a long time?

The Thai boys trapped in a cave may not only face psychological problems, but also gain psychological benefit, says psychologist Prof. Dr. Brigitte Lueger-Schuster from the University of Vienna. DW: In your opinion, what is the negative impact or the general impact on youngsters trapped in a cave for such a long time? I think the core problem is a lack of daylight. People who exclusively live in the dark for a long time are more stressed, because their usual sleep-wake rhythm is disrupted. This impacts the quality of sleep and the body s entire biorhythm.

After three and a half years of flight, the Hayabusa2 probe will reach the asteroid Ryugu. Its task: Collect asteroid dust. The German landing device MASCOT is also on board. It s due to land on Ryugu in October. Mission Hayabusa2 - Erforschung eines erdnahen Asteroiden (DLR CC-BY3.0) Hayabusa 2, or the "Falcon2," has been on the road for more than three years.

A trembling needle moves slowly over a roll of paper. If a truck rumbles by, the amplitude gets stronger. If an earthquake occurs — or if someone sets off an atomic bomb underground — the needle will vibrate even more, registering the strength and duration of the event. This is how seismographs have worked for centuries. Nowadays, seismometer data isn t recorded on paper. The information is transferred directly to computers worldwide in a matter of seconds, at which point earthquake researchers can analyze it.

Astronauts are expected to conduct a wealth of experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). They also have a lot of other tasks, like maintenance work. So how is a working day organized in space? Do astronauts get free time, as we do on Earth? Volker Schmid: An astronaut s working day is not so different from that on Earth. Of course, it is a unique environment, but they work eight hours, sometimes nine or ten hours if a job requires overtime, just like in normal life.

A Chinese firm has developed a laser gun designed for police use that can set fire to protesters’ hair or banners from a range of almost one kilometer. The general manager of the ZKZM fiber laser company, who asked to remain anonymous, said the weapon would “immediately” produce a “strong pain response” in the target but stressed it was designed to be “non-lethal”.

It s late, the booze is flowing, the woman is beautiful. Flirting and kissing are followed by a hook-up. All of that wouldn t be a problem if Max wasn t married. His wife doesn t know about her husband occasionally having sex with other women. The sexual partners don t mean anything to Max, he says — he s merely letting his sex drive take over every once in a while. "I know it s a natural thing," Max said to DW. "But it s definitely wrong as well."

Worried you ve contracted HIV? In Germany, the HIV self test, which just passed inspection in a large-scale study, will be available in pharmacies this year. Anyone concerned they ve contracted the disease will then be able to check, in the privacy of their own home, whether or not they re infected.

Our eyes have to cope with a lot throughout the day – with flickering computer screens, glaring fluorescent lights, or dirt and pollen flying through the air. But it s not only our environment that can damage the eyes, they can also be impacted from the inside. A new study by researchers at Magdeburg University in Germany has revealed that mental stress and anxiety can result in a loss of vision. Continuous mental strain raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which impacts our nervous system and therefore our brain and eyes. This can lead to severe eye diseases, such as glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and optic neuropathy, say the researchers.

An Egyptian electronics manufacturer is set to launch the country s first locally manufactured tablet on Wednesday, the chairman of Egyptian Silicons Industries Company (SICO) Mohamed Salem said on Tuesday. In statements to Al-Ahram Arabic news website, Saleh said the tablet, which will be named SICO Express 3, is manufactured with 45 percent locally produced components.

Scientists in southern Germany have discovered the fossilized remains of a previously unknown pufferfish. A team from the Bamberg Museum of Natural History made the find in a stone quarry in nearby Wattendorf. Matthias Mäuser, the head of the museum, said the pufferfish lived around 150 million years ago. Similar to pufferfish living today, the fossilized remains showed that the fish had teeth.

Egyptian Researcher Islam Khalaf on Wednesday won the medal of the Otto Hahn Prize for Chemistry and Physics in Germany for introducing outstanding research in the field of electrical conductivity in topological wires. Khalaf, who obtained his PhD thesis in January 2017, said that he used the laws of quantum mechanics in his research to understand features of the topological materials. He asserted that his research would develop industry of electronics in the future, adding that the topological wires will fasten the processing capabilities of computers.

The number of mobile subscribers in Egypt has declined by 1.1% in March, compared to February, according to a report issued by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, as the number of mobile subscribers declined from 100.2 million in February 2018 to 99.1 million subscribers in March. On the other hand, the report showed a decline in the number of internet users from 40.7 million in February 2018, recording 39.5 million in March. This means that the number of internet customers is decreasing by a rate of 1.2 million in just one month.