New Scientist - Health https://www.newscientist.com/ https://www.newscientist.com/build/images/ns-logo-scaled.ed2dc11a.png https://www.newscientist.com daily 1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2462027-will-there-be-another-pandemic-after-covid-19-and-are-we-prepared/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 01 Jan 2025 18:00:41 +0000 Covid-19 is responsible for the deaths of millions of people around the world, but researchers fear the next global outbreak could be even worse, making it vital that we start preparing for that unknown pathogen now 2462027-will-there-be-another-pandemic-after-covid-19-and-are-we-prepared|2462027 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435242-100-we-must-revisit-the-covid-19-pandemic-to-prepare-for-future-outbreaks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 01 Jan 2025 18:00:00 +0000 It is tempting to lock memories of the height of covid-19 away but looking back is vital for preparing properly for the next pandemic mg26435242-100-we-must-revisit-the-covid-19-pandemic-to-prepare-for-future-outbreaks|2462032 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2461613-ozempic-and-wegovy-have-heart-health-benefits-beyond-just-weight-loss/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:00:30 +0000 A study in pigs has shown that the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy directly boosts heart health, in addition to the benefits of losing weight 2461613-ozempic-and-wegovy-have-heart-health-benefits-beyond-just-weight-loss|2461613 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435230-600-why-looking-after-your-skin-is-so-crucial-to-your-long-term-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:45:00 +0000 Emerging evidence suggests a surprisingly strong connection between keeping your largest organ healthy and staving off age-related conditions like diabetes, heart disease and dementia mg26435230-600-why-looking-after-your-skin-is-so-crucial-to-your-long-term-health|2460787 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435232-400-well-learn-about-ozempics-potential-for-alzheimers-disease-in-2025/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Two later-stage trials investigating semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic, for treating Alzheimer's disease are due to complete in 2025, with potentially big results mg26435232-400-well-learn-about-ozempics-potential-for-alzheimers-disease-in-2025|2460806 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2462004-why-us-obesity-rates-fell-for-the-first-time-in-decades/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:00:59 +0000 After years of rising obesity rates in the US, the numbers dipped slightly during 2023, though experts disagree about the exact cause 2462004-why-us-obesity-rates-fell-for-the-first-time-in-decades|2462004 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435231-000-what-the-evidence-says-about-the-consequences-of-cosmetic-tweakments/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000 Laser therapy, microneedling and vampire facials are among the bizarre, non-surgical treatments that have become widely available, but their evidence base is decidedly mixed mg26435231-000-what-the-evidence-says-about-the-consequences-of-cosmetic-tweakments|2460791 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435230-700-what-should-we-eat-to-give-us-better-healthier-skin/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000 From carotenoids to vitamins C and E and minerals such as selenium, here are the most important nutrients to slow skin damage mg26435230-700-what-should-we-eat-to-give-us-better-healthier-skin|2460788 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435230-800-should-you-really-wear-sunscreen-all-year-round-even-in-winter/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000 We are often told to wear SPF throughout the year – but the science behind this advice is nuanced. The truth may depend on where you live mg26435230-800-should-you-really-wear-sunscreen-all-year-round-even-in-winter|2460789 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg25934563-100-is-cbd-a-wonder-drug-or-waste-of-money-heres-what-the-evidence-says/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 13 Sep 2023 15:00:00 +0100 Claims about the health benefits of cannabidiol have outpaced credible research, but CBD does show some real promise mg25934563-100-is-cbd-a-wonder-drug-or-waste-of-money-heres-what-the-evidence-says|2391595 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435233-200-forget-aesthetics-the-reason-to-look-after-our-skin-should-be-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000 New research shows that ensuring the skin is in excellent condition should be a priority for anyone who wants to increase their chances of living a long life mg26435233-200-forget-aesthetics-the-reason-to-look-after-our-skin-should-be-health|2461063 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435231-200-how-to-nurture-your-microbiome-to-look-after-your-skin/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:00:00 +0000 Our skin is host to a thriving community of bacteria, some of which help to restore and protect our epidermis. The hunt is now on for treatments that make the most of these allies mg26435231-200-how-to-nurture-your-microbiome-to-look-after-your-skin|2460793 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435231-100-how-your-mental-state-and-stress-levels-influence-your-skin/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:00:00 +0000 Understanding how stress can affect your skin could lead to reductions in conditions like acne and eczema mg26435231-100-how-your-mental-state-and-stress-levels-influence-your-skin|2460792 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435230-900-the-only-four-skincare-ingredients-that-have-been-proven-to-work/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000 In the quest for better skin, we are faced with an overwhelming choice of creams and serums to enhance our appearance. Here's what works – and what doesn't mg26435230-900-the-only-four-skincare-ingredients-that-have-been-proven-to-work|2460790 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2461512-will-an-mrna-vaccine-target-the-norovirus-strain-behind-surging-cases/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 20 Dec 2024 15:00:57 +0000 A new type of norovirus is causing a very high number of cases in countries like England, just as a large trial of an mRNA vaccine is starting up 2461512-will-an-mrna-vaccine-target-the-norovirus-strain-behind-surging-cases|2461512 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435210-900-2024-saw-the-first-living-people-to-receive-pig-kidney-transplants/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 11 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Three people in the US received a genetically modified pig kidney in 2024, marking another step towards animal-to-human organ transplants becoming routine mg26435210-900-2024-saw-the-first-living-people-to-receive-pig-kidney-transplants|2459248 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2460960-plastic-chemicals-linked-to-hundreds-of-thousands-of-deaths-worldwide/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 16 Dec 2024 20:00:27 +0000 A review of chemical exposures across 38 countries finds common plastic products are linked to millions of cases of heart disease and thousands of strokes 2460960-plastic-chemicals-linked-to-hundreds-of-thousands-of-deaths-worldwide|2460960 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459298-is-social-media-fuelling-a-rise-in-eating-disorders/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 17 Dec 2024 07:00:33 +0000 Eating disorders have increased - and many are pointing the finger at sites like Instagram and TikTok 2459298-is-social-media-fuelling-a-rise-in-eating-disorders|2459298 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2460650-eight-healthy-habits-could-slow-the-ageing-of-your-brain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 13 Dec 2024 13:55:28 +0000 From not smoking to maintaining a healthy weight, there are many healthy habits that could help keep your brain young 2460650-eight-healthy-habits-could-slow-the-ageing-of-your-brain|2460650 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459809-mpox-became-a-global-health-emergency-for-the-second-time-in-2024/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 13 Dec 2024 15:00:42 +0000 Surging mpox cases in East, West and Central Africa prompted the World Health Organization to once again make the infection a global health emergency 2459809-mpox-became-a-global-health-emergency-for-the-second-time-in-2024|2459809 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459984-bowel-cancer-is-rising-in-younger-people-around-the-world/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 11 Dec 2024 23:30:11 +0000 More and more people under 50 have been diagnosed with bowel cancer in different parts of the world over the past few decades 2459984-bowel-cancer-is-rising-in-younger-people-around-the-world|2459984 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2460080-pre-eclampsia-could-be-treated-with-mrna-technology/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 11 Dec 2024 16:00:12 +0000 Hope for a much-needed treatment for the common pregnancy complication pre-eclampsia has been raised by a successful test of an mRNA therapy in mice 2460080-pre-eclampsia-could-be-treated-with-mrna-technology|2460080 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435210-400-bird-flu-suddenly-got-serious-in-2024-infecting-dozens-of-people/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 11 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000 People in multiple US states tested positive for bird flu this year, raising concerns about the pandemic potential of the virus mg26435210-400-bird-flu-suddenly-got-serious-in-2024-infecting-dozens-of-people|2459243 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2413011-what-is-disease-x-and-do-we-need-to-worry-about-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 04 Apr 2024 17:10:38 +0100 The term “Disease X” means a new infection, or an existing pathogen that has mutated to become more dangerous, with the potential to cause a global pandemic 2413011-what-is-disease-x-and-do-we-need-to-worry-about-it|2413011 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459537-thirteen-proteins-in-your-blood-could-reveal-the-age-of-your-brain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 09 Dec 2024 16:00:23 +0000 Higher or lower levels of certain proteins in your blood appear to indicate if your brain's age is older than your actual age 2459537-thirteen-proteins-in-your-blood-could-reveal-the-age-of-your-brain|2459537 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435201-800-the-science-of-exercise-how-a-workout-benefits-your-brain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Research shows how exercise has other advantages in addition to the physical, whether in relation to ADHD or mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, finds Grace Wade mg26435201-800-the-science-of-exercise-how-a-workout-benefits-your-brain|2458488 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458812-killer-cells-explain-differences-in-immunity-between-the-sexes/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 05 Dec 2024 06:00:37 +0000 Women are more susceptible to autoimmune conditions than men, but also more protected against infections - and we are starting to understand why 2458812-killer-cells-explain-differences-in-immunity-between-the-sexes|2458812 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456669-why-do-ozempic-and-wegovy-seem-to-treat-everything/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 03 Dec 2024 12:00:22 +0000 From Alzheimer's disease to depression to heart disease, Ozempic and other GLP-1 agonist drugs appear to offer a solution. Can one type of drug really tackle so many conditions, and if so, how does it actually work? 2456669-why-do-ozempic-and-wegovy-seem-to-treat-everything|2456669 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2459077-h5n1-bird-flu-is-closer-to-gaining-pandemic-potential-than-we-thought/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 05 Dec 2024 19:00:50 +0000 The flu virus currently circulating in birds and dairy cows is already better at infecting people than earlier variants, and a single mutation would allow it to bind to key human receptors 2459077-h5n1-bird-flu-is-closer-to-gaining-pandemic-potential-than-we-thought|2459077 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435203-400-five-years-after-the-first-covid-19-cases-there-are-lessons-to-learn/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 04 Dec 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Hindsight makes it clear that the fight against covid-19 was also a struggle against the quiet epidemic of suppressed science, says Dali L. Yang mg26435203-400-five-years-after-the-first-covid-19-cases-there-are-lessons-to-learn|2458669 https://www.newscientist.com/video/2458705-what-flowbios-sweat-tracking-wearable-revealed-about-my-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:00:32 +0000 'Sweat is data': What Flowbio's sweat tracking wearable revealed about my health 2458705-what-flowbios-sweat-tracking-wearable-revealed-about-my-health|2458705 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435201-600-how-monitoring-your-sweat-could-reveal-the-state-of-your-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:00:00 +0000 From perfecting your hydration levels to tracking hormones, analysing your perspiration can give new insights into your fitness and how to improve it mg26435201-600-how-monitoring-your-sweat-could-reveal-the-state-of-your-health|2458486 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435160-100-the-complete-guide-to-cooking-oils-and-how-they-affect-your-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000 From seed oils to olive oil, we now have an overwhelming choice of what to cook with. Here’s how they all stack up, according to the scientific evidence mg26435160-100-the-complete-guide-to-cooking-oils-and-how-they-affect-your-health|2454359 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458514-when-and-where-did-the-covid-19-pandemic-really-begin/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:00:45 +0000 Covid-19 emerged in 2019, but some questions are still unanswered as to its origins 2458514-when-and-where-did-the-covid-19-pandemic-really-begin|2458514 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458249-most-comprehensive-picture-yet-of-how-organs-age-at-different-rates/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 29 Nov 2024 17:00:08 +0000 Our organs don't seem to age at the same rate, which could mean healthy habits are particularly important at certain times of our lives 2458249-most-comprehensive-picture-yet-of-how-organs-age-at-different-rates|2458249 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458070-a-little-bit-of-fear-can-bring-down-levels-of-inflammation-in-the-body/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 28 Nov 2024 13:00:43 +0000 Feeling scared seems to reduce elevated levels of inflammation, which may help explain why some people enjoy a haunted attraction 2458070-a-little-bit-of-fear-can-bring-down-levels-of-inflammation-in-the-body|2458070 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2458133-bird-flu-may-be-adapting-to-become-more-infectious-to-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 27 Nov 2024 20:20:21 +0000 Three people in North America without known animal exposures have tested positive for the bird flu virus H5N1, and samples from two of them suggest the virus is adapting to humans 2458133-bird-flu-may-be-adapting-to-become-more-infectious-to-humans|2458133 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457329-how-safe-is-the-us-food-supply/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 26 Nov 2024 18:39:27 +0000 Food in the US has a bad rap thanks to outbreaks caused by bacteria, plus processing, additives and food dyes, but the food supply is actually much less risky than people think 2457329-how-safe-is-the-us-food-supply|2457329 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457733-forest-schools-dont-actually-boost-most-childrens-mental-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:00:04 +0000 Swapping classrooms for the woods doesn't appear to improve most children's mental health, but they may still enjoy it 2457733-forest-schools-dont-actually-boost-most-childrens-mental-health|2457733 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435193-700-the-radical-treatments-bringing-people-back-from-the-brink-of-death/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 26 Nov 2024 16:00:00 +0000 Reperfusion technologies that can reanimate human brains are raising the possibility that death could be a reversible condition, even hours after a cardiac arrest mg26435193-700-the-radical-treatments-bringing-people-back-from-the-brink-of-death|2457867 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457782-older-people-may-have-better-immunity-against-bird-flu-virus/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:00:42 +0000 Most people born before 1968 have antibodies against flu viruses similar to the H5N1 strain circulating today, which might lower their risk of severe illness 2457782-older-people-may-have-better-immunity-against-bird-flu-virus|2457782 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456378-why-gene-editors-want-to-treat-fetuses-when-they-are-still-in-the-womb/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 25 Nov 2024 12:00:03 +0000 Gene editing in the womb could be more effective than the same treatment after birth, as it is easier to deliver the necessary genetic machinery to fetal cells 2456378-why-gene-editors-want-to-treat-fetuses-when-they-are-still-in-the-womb|2456378 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335052-000-the-surprising-science-of-coffee-and-its-effect-on-both-body-and-mind/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 20 Aug 2024 17:00:00 +0100 The latest research on caffeine reveals why coffee and decaf can be so good for your health, but energy drinks can be lethal mg26335052-000-the-surprising-science-of-coffee-and-its-effect-on-both-body-and-mind|2444610 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456786-what-to-know-about-creatine-the-gym-supplement-with-wide-benefits/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 22 Nov 2024 07:00:31 +0000 Creatine is commonly associated with athletes and bodybuilders, but the popular supplement seems to have broad benefits on everything from ageing to brain function 2456786-what-to-know-about-creatine-the-gym-supplement-with-wide-benefits|2456786 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435180-500-could-brain-freezing-cure-all-disease-indirectly/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 20 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Neuroscientist Ariel Zeleznikow-Johnston's book The Future Loves You presents a bold new take on dying mg26435180-500-could-brain-freezing-cure-all-disease-indirectly|2456469 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457260-worlds-thinnest-spaghetti-wont-please-gourmands-but-may-heal-wounds/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 21 Nov 2024 17:30:04 +0000 Spaghetti strands that are 200 times thinner than a human hair could be woven into bandages to help prevent infections 2457260-worlds-thinnest-spaghetti-wont-please-gourmands-but-may-heal-wounds|2457260 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2457519-common-chemical-in-drinking-water-hasnt-been-tested-for-safety/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 21 Nov 2024 21:47:30 +0000 Chloramine is used as a disinfectant in drinking water systems from the US to Australia. Research now shows it breaks down into a compound that may have negative health impacts 2457519-common-chemical-in-drinking-water-hasnt-been-tested-for-safety|2457519 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456682-are-calories-on-menus-doing-more-harm-than-good/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:12:40 +0000 Many restaurants in countries such as England and the US now print calories on their menus, but some researchers question whether this is really tackling their obesity problem 2456682-are-calories-on-menus-doing-more-harm-than-good|2456682 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456674-were-starting-to-understand-why-some-people-regain-weight-they-lost/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 18 Nov 2024 18:36:16 +0000 Changes to the structure of DNA within fat cells may be why it is often so hard to keep weight off after you have lost it 2456674-were-starting-to-understand-why-some-people-regain-weight-they-lost|2456674 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456451-evidence-is-growing-that-microbes-in-your-mouth-contribute-to-cancer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:21 +0000 The oral microbiome is increasingly being linked to head and neck cancer, but we don't yet understand its exact role 2456451-evidence-is-growing-that-microbes-in-your-mouth-contribute-to-cancer|2456451 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435170-700-why-we-now-think-the-myopia-epidemic-can-be-slowed-or-even-reversed/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:05:00 +0000 Rates of near-sightedness are rising all over the world. But solutions to the epidemic are coming into focus and could be simpler than you think mg26435170-700-why-we-now-think-the-myopia-epidemic-can-be-slowed-or-even-reversed|2455462 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435170-400-a-personal-investigation-into-the-crisis-of-mens-mental-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 13 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 The issue of men's dangerously bottled-up emotions finds a fresh and personal voice in Silent Men, a documentary that is at its most powerful when director Duncan Cowles turns the camera on others mg26435170-400-a-personal-investigation-into-the-crisis-of-mens-mental-health|2455459 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456295-weight-loss-medications-may-also-ease-chronic-pain/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:34:00 +0000 Popular semaglutide-based drugs used for weight loss may reduce chronic and acute pain, which could make them a promising alternative to opioids 2456295-weight-loss-medications-may-also-ease-chronic-pain|2456295 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2456063-mounting-evidence-points-to-air-pollution-as-a-cause-of-eczema/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 13 Nov 2024 19:00:43 +0000 Air pollution has been linked to eczema before, and now a study of more than 280,000 people has strengthened the association 2456063-mounting-evidence-points-to-air-pollution-as-a-cause-of-eczema|2456063 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455411-bird-flu-antibodies-found-in-dairy-workers-in-michigan-and-colorado/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 07 Nov 2024 18:10:40 +0000 Blood tests have shown that about 7 per cent of workers on dairy farms that had H5N1 outbreaks had antibodies against the disease 2455411-bird-flu-antibodies-found-in-dairy-workers-in-michigan-and-colorado|2455411 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435162-300-conspiracy-theorists-are-turning-their-attention-back-to-hpv-vaccines/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 06 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0000 We are living in a vaccine-hesitant moment, with conspiracy theories thriving on social media. We need to push back, says Simon Williams mg26435162-300-conspiracy-theorists-are-turning-their-attention-back-to-hpv-vaccines|2454621 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2455122-more-people-are-living-with-pain-today-than-before-covid-emerged/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 06 Nov 2024 17:28:00 +0000 Chronic pain has increased among adults in the US since 2019, which could be due to a rise in sedentary lifestyles or reduced access to healthcare amid covid-19 restrictions 2455122-more-people-are-living-with-pain-today-than-before-covid-emerged|2455122 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454732-cancer-deaths-expected-to-nearly-double-worldwide-by-2050/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:00:05 +0000 Experts predict that the number of cancer cases around the world will skyrocket, resulting in millions more fatalities by 2050 2454732-cancer-deaths-expected-to-nearly-double-worldwide-by-2050|2454732 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454851-dazzling-images-illuminate-research-on-cardiovascular-disease/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:00:25 +0000 The British Heart Foundation’s Reflections of Research competition showcases beautiful images captured by researchers studying heart and circulatory disease 2454851-dazzling-images-illuminate-research-on-cardiovascular-disease|2454851 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435150-200-could-when-you-eat-be-as-important-as-what-you-eat/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 Peaks in appetite and metabolism driven by our body's inbuilt clocks mean that eating at the wrong time can have consequences for our health and waistline mg26435150-200-could-when-you-eat-be-as-important-as-what-you-eat|2453412 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435155-000-the-science-of-exercise-which-activity-burns-the-most-calories/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0000 Running, swimming, HIIT or walking – what is the best way to work out? The answer is complicated, and depends on the person, finds Grace Wade mg26435155-000-the-science-of-exercise-which-activity-burns-the-most-calories|2453799 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454545-bird-flu-was-found-in-a-us-pig-does-that-raise-the-risk-for-humans/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 01 Nov 2024 20:21:36 +0000 A bird flu virus that has been circulating in dairy cattle for months has now been found in a pig in the US for the first time, raising the risk of the virus evolving to become more dangerous to people 2454545-bird-flu-was-found-in-a-us-pig-does-that-raise-the-risk-for-humans|2454545 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435150-800-are-fermented-foods-like-kimchi-really-that-good-for-your-gut/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0000 The health benefits of fermented food and drink have long been touted, but firm evidence in favour of kombucha, sauerkraut and kefir is surprisingly elusive mg26435150-800-are-fermented-foods-like-kimchi-really-that-good-for-your-gut|2453418 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454375-war-era-sugar-rationing-boosted-health-of-uk-people-conceived-in-1940s/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:00:30 +0000 People conceived during the UK's 1940s and 50s sugar rationing have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure than those conceived after rationing ended 2454375-war-era-sugar-rationing-boosted-health-of-uk-people-conceived-in-1940s|2454375 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435150-400-the-surprising-truth-about-the-health-benefits-of-snacking/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 29 Oct 2024 17:00:00 +0000 We get about a quarter of our calories from snacks and new research shows that this isn't necessarily bad for us. Done right, snacking can boost our health mg26435150-400-the-surprising-truth-about-the-health-benefits-of-snacking|2453414 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454073-michelangelos-the-flood-seems-to-depict-a-woman-with-breast-cancer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 30 Oct 2024 20:00:53 +0000 The Renaissance artist Michelangelo had carried out human dissections, which may have led him to include women with breast cancer in some of his pieces 2454073-michelangelos-the-flood-seems-to-depict-a-woman-with-breast-cancer|2454073 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435150-700-is-personalised-nutrition-better-than-one-size-fits-all-diet-advice/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0000 Our metabolism's response to food is highly idiosyncratic and there are hints that tailoring our diet to these personal differences can deliver health benefits mg26435150-700-is-personalised-nutrition-better-than-one-size-fits-all-diet-advice|2453417 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435153-300-how-to-cut-through-the-latest-nutritional-fads/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0000 From the benefits of fermented foods to diets that promise a better hormone balance, there is a confusing array of dietary advice out there mg26435153-300-how-to-cut-through-the-latest-nutritional-fads|2453782 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2454084-cancer-atlas-reveals-how-tumours-evolve-inside-the-body/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 30 Oct 2024 16:00:03 +0000 A massive undertaking to map cancer tumours is providing new insights into how the disease forms, evolves and develops resistance to treatments 2454084-cancer-atlas-reveals-how-tumours-evolve-inside-the-body|2454084 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435150-500-the-surprisingly-simple-supernutrient-with-far-reaching-health-impacts/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 30 Oct 2024 17:00:00 +0000 Most ingredients touted as the key to better health fail to live up to the hype but fibre bucks this trend, with benefits for the whole body, not just the gut mg26435150-500-the-surprisingly-simple-supernutrient-with-far-reaching-health-impacts|2453415 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435150-300-can-we-really-balance-our-hormones-by-eating-certain-foods/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 Diets that claim to control excess oestrogen or stress hormones are all the rage on Instagram and TikTok. They could be good for us, just not for the reasons claimed mg26435150-300-can-we-really-balance-our-hormones-by-eating-certain-foods|2453413 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2453800-one-course-of-antibiotics-can-change-your-gut-microbiome-for-years/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 29 Oct 2024 15:00:35 +0000 Antibiotics can reduce diversity in the gut microbiome, raising the risk of infections that cause diarrhoea - and the effects may last years 2453800-one-course-of-antibiotics-can-change-your-gut-microbiome-for-years|2453800 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435150-600-do-certain-foods-suppress-inflammation-and-help-you-live-longer/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 29 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0000 Recent research shows that anti-inflammatory diets are not as faddish as they might sound, with the power to reduce the risk of heart attacks and some cancers mg26435150-600-do-certain-foods-suppress-inflammation-and-help-you-live-longer|2453416 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2453526-flu-viruses-have-evolved-proteins-that-let-them-break-through-mucus/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 28 Oct 2024 19:00:05 +0000 Computer simulations of how influenza A moves through human mucus found it is ideally configured to slide through the sticky stuff on its way to infecting cells 2453526-flu-viruses-have-evolved-proteins-that-let-them-break-through-mucus|2453526 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435141-700-fresh-insights-into-how-we-doze-off-may-help-tackle-sleep-conditions/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 22 Oct 2024 17:00:00 +0100 New research into the moments between wakefulness and sleep could bring hope for insomniacs and even make us more creative problem-solvers mg26435141-700-fresh-insights-into-how-we-doze-off-may-help-tackle-sleep-conditions|2452629 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2453306-this-surprisingly-creative-trick-helps-children-eat-more-fruit-and-veg/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 25 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0100 Weaving tales of magical fruit and vegetables into your children's stories may encourage them to eat healthy snacks 2453306-this-surprisingly-creative-trick-helps-children-eat-more-fruit-and-veg|2453306 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2453195-electric-skin-patch-could-keep-wounds-free-of-infection/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 24 Oct 2024 17:00:21 +0100 Zapping the skin with electricity could stop bacteria that live there harmlessly from entering the body and causing blood poisoning 2453195-electric-skin-patch-could-keep-wounds-free-of-infection|2453195 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452737-neuroscientist-finds-her-brain-shrinks-while-taking-birth-control/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:52:51 +0100 A researcher who underwent dozens of brain scans discovered that the volume of her cerebral cortex was 1 per cent lower when she took hormonal contraceptives 2452737-neuroscientist-finds-her-brain-shrinks-while-taking-birth-control|2452737 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2406514-how-bad-is-vaping-for-your-health-were-finally-getting-answers/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 06 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 As more of us take up vaping and concerns rise about the long-term effects, we now have enough data to get a grip on the health impact – and how it compares to smoking 2406514-how-bad-is-vaping-for-your-health-were-finally-getting-answers|2406514 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452663-all-your-questions-about-marburg-virus-answered/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 23 Oct 2024 12:00:34 +0100 Everything you need to know about Rwanda's outbreak of Marburg virus, which has been described as one of the deadliest human pathogens 2452663-all-your-questions-about-marburg-virus-answered|2452663 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452399-boosting-brainwaves-in-sleep-improves-rats-memory/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 18 Oct 2024 19:00:59 +0100 Rats perform better on memory tests when certain brainwave-producing neurons are stimulated while they sleep. If we can boost these brainwaves in people, it could help treat memory impairments in those with dementia 2452399-boosting-brainwaves-in-sleep-improves-rats-memory|2452399 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452440-listening-to-music-after-surgery-seems-to-be-an-effective-painkiller/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 18 Oct 2024 14:00:08 +0100 People who listen to music after having surgery report lower levels of pain and require less morphine than those who don't 2452440-listening-to-music-after-surgery-seems-to-be-an-effective-painkiller|2452440 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335040-300-we-are-finally-improving-prostate-cancer-diagnoses-heres-how/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 13 Aug 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Cases of prostate cancer are surging alarmingly around the world. Thankfully, we are developing more accurate tests that can catch the condition early mg26335040-300-we-are-finally-improving-prostate-cancer-diagnoses-heres-how|2443325 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2452232-more-evidence-that-limiting-social-media-wont-boost-your-well-being/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 17 Oct 2024 14:00:59 +0100 People who went from using social media for at least 2 hours a day to just 30 minutes a day reported no improvement to their sleep or emotional well-being 2452232-more-evidence-that-limiting-social-media-wont-boost-your-well-being|2452232 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451897-risk-of-peanut-allergies-from-air-on-planes-has-been-overblown/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:30:42 +0100 Filters on commercial flights seem to stop peanut particles from circulating around aircraft, making the risk of a serious allergic reaction from inhaling the allergens very low 2451897-risk-of-peanut-allergies-from-air-on-planes-has-been-overblown|2451897 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451657-hospital-hit-by-hurricane-milton-gets-system-to-grab-water-from-air/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 11 Oct 2024 23:40:46 +0100 Systems that can harvest water from moisture in the atmosphere could offer a valuable water source in the wake of disasters 2451657-hospital-hit-by-hurricane-milton-gets-system-to-grab-water-from-air|2451657 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451477-stool-test-could-provide-a-simpler-way-to-diagnose-endometriosis/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 11 Oct 2024 17:00:43 +0100 A chemical produced by gut bacteria could be the basis for a non-invasive test for endometriosis – and mouse experiments suggest it might also help treat the condition 2451477-stool-test-could-provide-a-simpler-way-to-diagnose-endometriosis|2451477 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451606-france-slashed-bird-flu-outbreaks-by-vaccinating-ducks/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 11 Oct 2024 16:23:24 +0100 A vaccination campaign targeting ducks, the farm birds most at risk of getting and spreading bird flu, succeeded in greatly reducing outbreaks of the virus on poultry farms in France 2451606-france-slashed-bird-flu-outbreaks-by-vaccinating-ducks|2451606 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435122-800-next-generation-technology-is-a-critical-mid-step-in-dementia-care/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 09 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 New technologies will radically change the experience of living with and caring for someone with Alzheimer's, says Professor Fiona Carragher, chief policy and research officer at Alzheimer's Society, UK mg26435122-800-next-generation-technology-is-a-critical-mid-step-in-dementia-care|2450797 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26435120-400-a-sharp-interrogation-of-why-we-retreat-from-other-peoples-illnesses/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 09 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100 How well do we look after people who are seriously sick? Astonishingly, research is scant – which makes Neil Vickers and Derek Bolton's ambitious new book, Being Ill, very welcome mg26435120-400-a-sharp-interrogation-of-why-we-retreat-from-other-peoples-illnesses|2450636 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451209-weight-loss-drugs-lower-impulse-to-eat-and-perhaps-to-exercise-too/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 09 Oct 2024 19:00:02 +0100 Popular weight-loss medications including Ozempic and Wegovy contain a drug that seems to decrease cravings for food and drugs – and now there’s evidence that it might make exercise less rewarding, too 2451209-weight-loss-drugs-lower-impulse-to-eat-and-perhaps-to-exercise-too|2451209 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2451111-your-toothbrush-is-teeming-with-hundreds-of-types-of-viruses/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 09 Oct 2024 09:00:55 +0100 More than 600 types of viruses that infect bacteria have been found living on toothbrushes and showerheads – and many of them have never been seen before 2451111-your-toothbrush-is-teeming-with-hundreds-of-types-of-viruses|2451111 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335104-500-the-brain-has-its-own-microbiome-heres-what-it-means-for-your-health/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Wed, 25 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Neuroscientists have been surprised to discover that the human brain is teeming with microbes, and we are beginning to suspect they could play a role in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's mg26335104-500-the-brain-has-its-own-microbiome-heres-what-it-means-for-your-health|2449105 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450908-slowing-growth-in-life-expectancy-means-few-people-will-live-to-100/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:00:57 +0100 While the 20th century saw rapid rises in average life expectancy at birth, more recent years have seen a slowdown, suggesting we may be reaching the limit of human lifespan 2450908-slowing-growth-in-life-expectancy-means-few-people-will-live-to-100|2450908 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450743-the-us-is-ramping-up-bird-flu-surveillance-but-will-it-be-enough/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 07 Oct 2024 21:52:10 +0100 Two more people in the US have tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, highlighting the need for expanded influenza surveillance to prevent a potential pandemic 2450743-the-us-is-ramping-up-bird-flu-surveillance-but-will-it-be-enough|2450743 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450800-nobel-prize-for-medicine-goes-to-the-pair-who-discovered-microrna/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:43:01 +0100 The 2024 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine has gone to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery that tiny pieces of RNA called microRNAs play a key role in controlling genes 2450800-nobel-prize-for-medicine-goes-to-the-pair-who-discovered-microrna|2450800 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448375-mdma-was-hyped-as-a-promising-treatment-for-ptsd-what-went-wrong/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Fri, 04 Oct 2024 21:32:51 +0100 For years, it seemed MDMA-assisted therapy would revolutionise PTSD treatment. But poor trial design and alleged misconduct ultimately stopped the treatment from receiving government approval 2448375-mdma-was-hyped-as-a-promising-treatment-for-ptsd-what-went-wrong|2448375 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450479-stem-cell-transplant-gives-hope-for-treating-age-related-sight-loss/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 03 Oct 2024 17:08:51 +0100 A monkey that performed poorly on vision tests did much better after having a stem cell transplant to patch up holes in its retina 2450479-stem-cell-transplant-gives-hope-for-treating-age-related-sight-loss|2450479 https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26335090-900-snoring-isnt-just-a-nuisance-its-dangerous-why-cant-we-treat-it/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Tue, 17 Sep 2024 17:00:00 +0100 Snoring is often viewed as harmless, at least to the snorer, but we are now uncovering its potentially serious effects on cardiovascular health. And finding ways to stop is surprisingly challenging mg26335090-900-snoring-isnt-just-a-nuisance-its-dangerous-why-cant-we-treat-it|2447906 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2450476-rapamycin-could-make-an-epilepsy-drug-much-safer-during-pregnancy/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=health Thu, 03 Oct 2024 14:03:10 +0100 The epilepsy medication sodium valproate is linked to developmental problems in fetuses, but lab studies may now have found a way to prevent this 2450476-rapamycin-could-make-an-epilepsy-drug-much-safer-during-pregnancy|2450476