It's been a bit more than a week since we learned of Omicron, the newest coronavirus variant of concern.

And while we're still a while from knowing solid answers, the world's scientists have done an amazing job over the last 7 days unraveling parts of Omicron's mysteries.

The three big questions are will our vaccines continue to work? For people who do get the virus, will it be severe and will it beat Delta to become the coronavirus champion of the world?

So on today's Coronacast, what we know from the latest science about answering those big questions.

Also on today's show

* Does it escape previous immunity and/or our vaccines?

* Is it better at spreading than Delta?

* Does it matter? Does it make you sicker than previous variants?

* Where's Dr Norman Swan's Omicronometer of Panic heading?

Omicron's latest clues are a bit concerning

Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.

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Health & Fitness

Apple cider vinegar is revered in wellness spaces for its health-giving benefits, but is there anything to it?

There are claims it can aid with weight loss, boost your gut microbiome and manage blood sugar levels. 

Norman and Tegan explain how this salad dressing became so famous, and what the science tells us.

References:
Apple cider vinegar for weight management in Lebanese adolescents and young adults with overweight and obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 
Antibacterial apple cider vinegar eradicates methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and resistant Escherichia coli
The improvement effect of apple cider vinegar as a functional food on anthropometric indices, blood glucose and lipid profile in diabetic patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Is apple cider vinegar a cure-all tonic?

Sometimes 24 hours doesn’t feel like nearly enough time to get everything done — those to-do lists aren't going to check themselves.

Especially when you're spending around eight hours of that time in bed.

Norman and Tegan assess whether it's possible to train yourself to sleep less without any of the negatives.

References:
Which Is More Important for Health: Sleep Quantity or Sleep Quality?
Sleep in the Military
Familial natural short sleep mutations reduce Alzheimer pathology in mice
What's That Rash? on napping and Norman's nap-time tips

Can you train yourself to sleep less?

It's an age-old adage that youth is wasted on the young – you don't know what you’ve got until it's gone.

The aches and pains that start to linger longer as you approach your 30s can feel like a rite of passage.

Norman and Tegan explore why this happens, and whether it's inevitable.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

References:
Does your body really start falling apart in your 30s? - ABC Health
Age changes in pain perception: A systematic-review and meta-analysis of age effects on pain and tolerance thresholds
Declining muscle mass is part of aging, but that does not mean you are helpless to stop it

Why everything hurts when you turn 30

Dementia is common – more than 400,000 Australians are living with it – but it’s not an inevitable part of ageing.

There are ways to lower your risk, and the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.

Norman and Tegan give us the top tips needed to lower your risk of developing the illness as you get older.

References:
Physical and Mental Activity, Disease Susceptibility, and Risk of Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study Based on UK Biobank
Association of Lifespan Cognitive Reserve Indicator With Dementia Risk in the Presence of Brain Pathologies
Drugs Contributing to Anticholinergic Burden and Risk of Fall or Fall-Related Injury among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia and Multiple Chronic Conditions

Can sudoku really keep your brain younger for longer?

Much has been said about the single glass of red wine. It's good for you, it’s bad for you, it's good for you again.

It can be confusing to follow.

Norman and Tegan take on this age-old health question — does a single glass of red wine have health boosting benefits?

References: 
The French paradox: Lessons for other countries
Moderate Wine Consumption and Health: A Narrative Review
Health Effects of Red Wine Consumption: A Narrative Review of an Issue That Still Deserves Debate

Omicron's latest clues are a bit concerning

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