to ask why scientists still haven't found a cure for the common cold?

[RVF400]

It's 2012 for christ's sake, we have space tourism, autonomous deep sea submarines and we can access gazillions of bytes of data using miniscule phones we keep in our pockets. So am I the only one wondering what the hold up is?

AND WHERE IS MY FLYING CAR??????

The Common Cold Research Facility. Not Porton Down.

There are over 300 different "cold" viruses, it would be near impossible!

I've got no idea where it was, RVF400, but she did come back OK - and lived until her late 80s!

I suspect the link that OldLady has posted is probably more like it. I'm guessing it would have been in the mid 70s when Mum went there (you will have gathered I'm one of the ... erm ... older MNers!)

I'd like scientists to work on a way of making creams and gels not be freezing cold when you put them on (eg the gel they use for an ultrasound). Can't be that hard, surely ?

phew. Saw a TV programme on Porton Down once that scared the willies out of me.

Just use all the latest Cold remedies on the chemist's shelves, and your cold will be gone in a week.

Without treatment, it will hang on for seven days.

Piglet - I never take anything when I have a cold, as I don't like pills much and my colds never last more than a couple of days. All remedies do is treat the symptoms, they don't actually do anything to the virus. You're better off eating well, getting plenty of sleep and taking a multivitamin.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16165605

Ooh interesting Kate. Although that picture of the man sneezing is seriously gross.

CailinDana