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Comment and Health

To stay alive, try being more female

From infections to brain injuries, the female body is more resilient than the male. It is time to reassess the "weaker" sex, says Cat Bohannon

By Cat Bohannon

22 May 2024

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Adrià Voltà

Women and children first, right? The idea that the female body is more vulnerable is pervasive in the public imagination. But in biology, it is increasingly clear the male body has that dubious honour. So let’s talk a bit about innate female strength, shall we?

When it comes to fighting off invading pathogens, female bodies come up victorious – and not just in relation to covid-19. Across the human lifespan, they are less likely to contract most infections. At first, scientists weren’t sure about this: in many places in the world, boys are taken to health clinics sooner, which can…

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