For years, the prevalence of peanut allergies has been rising in the west — now affecting between 1% and 2% of the population in this part of the world. But a recent study has shown something surprising: peanut allergy diagnoses in infants may have actually declined in the US. And it could be due to a change in allergy guidelines.

But while these findings are promising, there’s still much we don’t know, as Sheena Cruickshank, professor of immunology at the University of Manchester explains. And, with the incidence of other types of food allergies still increasing, it’s clear we need to explore the mechanisms that underpin food allergies and answer why certain infants are more at risk than others.

If you’re an employee and you get ill this winter, you’ll probably be glad of being able to take paid time off. But you might be surprised to learn that some medieval peasants were far better off than we are now when it came to sick leave. And as Britain braces for a tax-raising budget next week, you might be interested in research that shows how some of the highest earners can effectively choose how much tax they pay – could they be a target for Rachel Reeves?