Here’s a difficult one. If you’re a surgeon who’s called upon to perform surgery on a penis, where and on whom do you get your training? The answer is you don’t. The somewhat unpleasant truth is you practise on cadavers. … Read More
British team pioneers AI tool to help detect breast cancer
When it comes to detecting small, early breast cancers, mammography is good – but could it be better? Would AI help? Could it detect tumours that might have been missed using current screening methods? Turns out it could. We know … Read More
Short daily naps boost your brain and may slash risk of “silent killer” disease
Naps can do us the world of good, and give us the second wind we need. But daytime napping could also come with an added bonus: preserving brain health by slowing the rate at which brains shrink as we age. … Read More
Could you guess which nationality is among the most trusting in the world?
Would you be surprised to know the British are among the most trusting people of 24 nationalities? We trust people from different countries, people we meet for the first time, and people we know personally, according to a new study … Read More
Covid fears as flu pandemic findings show aftershocks could last for 20 years
Should we expect aftershocks with Covid? Some important research has found that once a flu pandemic is over, many nasty outbreaks follow for around 20 years, leading to even more deaths. Like earthquake aftershocks. The study, led by researchers at … Read More
Hope for four million Brits suffering from common condition after landmark study
Some of the mechanisms that trigger type 2 diabetes remain a mystery despite the major strides scientists have made with the disease in recent years. But an international DNA study involving Cambridge University may now pave the way for further … Read More
Ground-breaking research paves way to treat kidney and heart scarring
A few years back I received a letter from my GP stating some recent blood tests showed I had chronic kidney disease (CKD). It really shook me up because I know CKD shortens life. When I calmed down I asked … Read More
Major global threat is only getting worse but there’s one solution
The scourge of antibacterial resistance continues to threaten us, and it’s getting worse. A solution will only come from brilliant research. Two thriving areas of study, bacterial resistance and gene editing, come together successfully in an Exeter University project using … Read More
Quitting smoking can give your mental health a lift – despite what you may think
When I smoked 40 years ago, I thought I was calming myself down and alleviating anxiety. How wrong I was. There’s compelling evidence from Oxford University that shows quitting smoking actually improves mental health among people both with and without mental health disorders. The findings … Read More
Heavy drinkers are at major risk of muscle loss later in life
Did you know that heavy drinkers could be putting themselves at risk of muscle loss and frailty in later life? A significant study from the University of East Anglia shows, with statistical modelling, that people with the lowest amount of … Read More