News

Young man standing in a hallway, looking at a smartphone, with a floor plan on the wall above a closed door.

Developmental Topographical Disorientation Can Leave People Lost at Home

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 20, 2026

Imagine leaving your bedroom for the kitchen, only to find that you suddenly cannot tell which way to go. For...

Healthcare worker in blue scrubs opening a medical fridge with Mpox information and vaccine vial on table.

WHO declares mpox a public health emergency of international concern

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 20, 2026

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified mpox as a public health emergency of international concern following increasing case numbers...

Woman applying facial serum with skincare products and rose hips on wooden table indoors

Rosehip Oil: Benefits, Uses and What Science Says

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 20, 2026

A few drops of a reddish oil have found their way into beauty routines for the face, body and even...

Female doctor examining two heart models with heart scans on tablet and monitors in a medical office.

Why the Human Heart Differs from Great Apes

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 20, 2026

Mammals occupy almost every part of Earth, ranging from the enormous blue whale to the diminutive shrew. Scientists have long...

Doctor in white coat explaining medical results to female patient in bright consultation room

Type 1.5 diabetes: what it is and how it is diagnosed

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 20, 2026

You are probably familiar with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but may know less about type 1.5 diabetes. Type...

Boy enjoying sunlight on a balcony with a tablet displaying a graph and the London city skyline in the background

First Evidence That London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone Improved Children’s Lung Health

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 20, 2026

In April 2019, London introduced far-reaching measures to curb traffic emissions and reduce the harmful air pollution that had engulfed...

Man lying awake in bed with a glowing firework-like visual above his head indicating a headache or stress.

Exploding Head Syndrome: Why You Hear a Bang While Falling Asleep

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 20, 2026

Have you ever been on the verge of sleep, then suddenly jolted awake as though a bomb had detonated inside...

Person preparing a healthy meal with salmon, vegetables, and grains on a kitchen counter with a stethoscope nearby.

Fatty Liver: Foods That Help Control Hepatic Steatosis

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 20, 2026

Hepatic steatosis, commonly called fatty liver, develops when excessive fat builds up in the organ’s cells. The condition often causes...

Mature woman sleeping in bed with pills, prescription bottle, and brain scan on screen in the background.

Sleeping Pills May Lower Alzheimer's Proteins During Sleep, Study Finds

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

Much remains unknown about Alzheimer's disease, yet scientists are keenly investigating the association between poor sleep and a worsening of...

Female doctor analysing breast scan on screen with patient in hospital consultation room

Circadian Rhythms Could Improve Chemotherapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

Every cell in the human body runs according to its own internal clock, including cancer cells. Research from the Charité...

Two people on balcony overlooking city street, one holding a map, with buildings and water in distance.

Why Palmas leads sanitation in Brazil’s North Region

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

Palmas, the capital of Tocantins, has qualities rarely found among Brazil’s state capitals: it was purpose-built at the end of...

Gloved hand holding pipette dropping red liquid onto electronic chip with test tubes and brain scan in background.

New Liquid Biopsy Detects Glioblastoma Biomarkers in Blood Within an Hour

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

Scientists have developed a new approach for detecting brain cancer that is quicker and less invasive than a surgical biopsy....

Two people reviewing brain scan images on a laptop and paper at a desk with a "Stay Home" sign.

COVID-19 Lockdowns May Have Prematurely Aged Teenagers' Brains

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

COVID-19 lockdowns saved lives during the pandemic, with research indicating that they prevented about 1 million deaths in the US...

Man in blue swimwear reaching towards a jellyfish in clear shallow tropical water near a sandy beach.

Irukandji: Why This Tiny Jellyfish Can Be Dangerous

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

A jellyfish so tiny and translucent that it may go unnoticed beside a swimmer can cause effects far greater than...

Medical professional analysing brain scan images on a tablet and lightbox near an MRI machine.

Are Full-Body MRI Scans Worth the Cost?

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

For a considerable price, many private clinics across the UK provide full-body MRI scans intended to identify disease and abnormalities...

Mother tending to son's scraped knee on the floor with a first aid kit and medical supplies nearby in a bright kitchen.

First aid: 7 emergencies every parent and guardian should know

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

Parents, mothers and guardians of young children know that a few seconds of distraction can lead to accidents at home....

Scientist in white coat examining rainbow-coloured test tubes in a laboratory with computers and petri dishes.

Bacteria Develop New pH Sensitivity Under Environmental Extremes

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

Bacteria can acquire an increased sensitivity to acid levels after being subjected to contrasting environmental extremes in the laboratory, new...

Boxer receiving a punch with a digital brain overlay illustrating impact on the head during a match.

Slap Fighting Study Finds Disturbingly High Concussion Risk in Power Slap

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

Several years have passed since the arrival of slap fighting, a new combat sport, and fears about traumatic brain injuries...

Healthcare professional performing an ultrasound scan on a patient's forearm with an anatomical model in the background.

Median Artery Is Becoming More Common in Adults

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

Imagining what humans could look like in the distant future often leads to bold predictions about obvious traits, including stature,...

Young woman meditating with eyes closed, sitting cross-legged with a book and tea by ancient stone columns.

What the Ancient World Can Teach Us About Mental Health

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 280 million people around the globe live with depression, while around one billion...

Doctor explaining virus information on a tablet to a female patient in a medical consultation room.

Mpox: Symptoms, Spread and Global Outbreaks

Dr Eleanor Whitfield • September 19, 2026

Mpox, previously called monkeypox, belongs to the Orthopoxvirus family of pathogens, alongside its close relative, the smallpox virus. The infection...