A Daily Mail headline claimed trying alcohol during puberty ups the chance of addiction. But results are far less persuasive"People who have their first taste of alcohol during puberty are more likely to become addicted," says a recent headline in the Daily Mail. But is that actually what the research shows? (clue: would I write…
Light from TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones may disrupt sleep and raise risk of obesity, heart disease and depressionWatching TV or using computers, tablets or smartphones after dark may cause sleep loss and resultant health problems, a leading doctor has warned.Peering at brightly lit screens at night disrupts the body's natural rhythms and raises the…
Baby's mental development reduced where mother's diet lacks iodine, researchers say in Lancet
A growing number of psychiatrists suspect mental conditions are 'culture-bound syndromes' rather than exclusively biologicalThe latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – DSM 5 – was published over the weekend. Produced by the American Psychiatric Association, it describes the symptoms of a vast range of mental illnesses and is intended…
The cells, made with cloning technique behind Dolly the sheep, have the potential to regenerate damaged organs and tissuesScientists have used the cloning technique that led to Dolly the sheep to turn human skin into embryonic stem cells – which can make any tissue in the body.The US team overcame technical problems that had frustrated…
Psychology has perhaps unfairly borne the brunt of criticisms about lack of replications and confidence in findings, but this has inspired researchers in the field to do something about itOn Tuesday a group of scientists published a protocol, a set of instructions for running an experiment, which represents the culmination of a year's discussion on…
Medical researchers in China unveil a sheep fitted with a new type of artificial heart developed using aerospace technology
For Cambodia which offers no treatment for cervical cancer apart from palliative care, see-and-treat programmes could radically cut deaths and reduce the burden of diseaseEvery year worldwide there are an estimated 530,000 new cases of cervical cancer. The disease kills 250,000 women a year, 85% of whom live in low- and middle-income countries, like Cambodia,…
Angelina Jolie and the complex truth about breast cancer | Judith Soal
Her decision to speak out about a double mastectomy has rightly won her plaudits, but there's a danger of something being lostIt's no fun having everyone discussing your breasts, especially in relation to cancer. So Angelina Jolie's decision to speak out about her double mastectomy has understandably won her much praise and many new fans.…
Read more »