What's the lowdown on the Russian coronavirus vaccine? Why did cats start hanging around humans? Find out in ScienceSeeker's picks of the best posts for the week of August 10 - 16 2020 #SciSeekPicks #SciComm.

In this week's best and brightest from the world of science news, find out whether there's such a thing as a 'male or female brain', and explore the surprising ways that a little social interaction can impact your health. ScienceSeeker editors' favourite posts within their respective areas of interest and expertise also cover many other important and exciting topics. Why not have a read, inform yourself, and indulge your scientific curiosity?

• The Russian vaccine by Derek Lowe at Science Translational Medicine.

Russia is the first country to come out with a Coronavirus vaccine - but should this speedy result be viewed as a success or with caution?
Credit: Dr. Partha Sarathi Sahana via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

• Vaccine contrasts and massive volunteer mobilization: Covid-19 vaccine race, month 8 by Hilda Bastian at Absolutely Maybe, a PLOS blog.
• What does COVID-19 do to your gut microbiome? by Sophie Strosberg for Massive Science.
• The coronavirus crisis as an opportunity for an innovative future by Nebojsa Nakicenovic for IIASA.
• Coronavirus, anti-vaxers, misinformation...Are we ever going to learn? by Meenakshi Noll for The Scrutinizer.
• Do obesity and abnormal liver function magnify coronavirus symptoms? by Rakshanda Sajeed for Sciworthy.
• The truth about trusting science by Ashley Piccone for Astrobites.
• New research on Nipah virus finds the virus spreads rapidly as patients approach death by Marnie Willman for Massive Science.
• Why did ancient cats begin hanging around humans? by Rebecca Dzombak for Massive Science.
• Are there ‘male’ and ‘female’ brains? Computers can see a distinction, but they rely strongly on differences in head size by Cordelia Fine & Carla Sanchis Segura for The Conversation US.
• The neuroscience of viewing your past like a fly on the wall by Christopher Bergland for Psychology Today.
• Can we outrun dark energy in the race to see the Universe? by Ethan Siegel at Starts with a Bang.
• Dawn’s close-up look at an active Ceres by Richard A. Lovett for Cosmos.
• This new tiny biomedical device makes diagnosing cancer types easier by Jessica Ray for Sciworthy.
• Shining a light on breast cancer (literally) by Michael Marand for Oncobites.
• The surprising ways little social interactions affect your health by David Robson for New Scientist.
• The shape of a glass can influence how much we drink by Matthew Warren for BPS Research Digest.
• Recycling coffee grounds for science by Alice Chi Phung for Science and Food.

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Check back next week for more great picks!