What's the science behind superspreaders? Why can't your brain resist Halloween candy? Find out in ScienceSeeker's picks of the best posts for the week of Oct 26 - Nov 1 2020 #SciSeekPicks #SciComm.

In this week's curated selection of the best science news sources from around the world, find out what to ask if a COVID-19 vaccine is approved - or if you prefer lose yourself contemplating the nature of the stars in the sky. 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 science of superspreading by Martin Enserink, Kai Kupferschmidt, and Nirja Desai for Science magazine.

Studies have shown that Covid-19 is spread mostly by superspreaders - single individuals that infect many others.
Credit: pravin.premkumar via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

• Seven Key Questions to Ask if a SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine is Approved by Bruce Walker at Bench Press
• New case study shows that COVID-19-positive people don’t transfer the virus through donated eggs by Victoria Farrar for Massive Science
• The oceans contain vast mineral resources. Can the deep sea be mined without catastrophic results? by Ashley Marranzino for Massive Science.
• Sabre-toothed carnivores killed many types of prey in many ways by Hector Tejero for Massive Science.
• Loveless Lost: The Case of the Oldest Doe Identified Using Forensic Genetic Genealogy by Margaret Press, Anthony Redgrave and Samantha Blatt for ISHI News
• Giant ‘toothed’ birds flew over Antarctica 40 million to 50 million years ago by Peter A. Kloess at The Conversation UK  
• How geologists reveal the secrets of the Solar System by Tim Gregory for Scientific American.
• Are we what we hear? A reflection on sound, identity and science communication by Nat das Neves Rodrigues Lopes for Crastina.
• Smaller, more efficient tokamak could follow in ITER’s fusion footsteps by Chris Lee for Ars Technica.
• Why looking at the stars is like looking at the distant past by Mikael Angelo Francisco at FlipScience.
• Deep neural networks are helping decipher how brains work by Anil Ananthaswamy for WIRED.
• Focused Ultrasound: A Stimulating New Strategy To TreatSevere Brain Damage by Joshua Cain for Knowing Neurons 
• Brain waves with the same beat as “Call Me Maybe” induce dissociative states by Celia Ford for Massive Science 
• Why Your Brain Can’t Resist Reese’s by Dana G Smith for Elemental
• Solo stars among the genes by Emily Underwood at Knowable Magazine.
• The Robot Doctor Will See You... Eventually by Lauren Nelson at A Short Scientist
• A brief history of scientific racism - Bench Press by Bench Press at Mass General Research Institute.

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Check back next week for more great picks!