World’s first three-parent baby raises questions about long-term health risks
It's a landmark case but there are many unknowns.
Academic rigour, journalistic flair
Analysis and Comment
BMJ vs The Lancet: there are no winners in the ‘statins war’
Misreporting on the ongoing debate is likely to lead to more deaths from cardiovascular disease.
What is Spice and why is the drug so dangerous?
New psychoactive substances, same problematic users.
Case against soft drink levy is sugar coated
A widely quoted study produced for the soft drinks industry made much of the costs, but downplayed the benefits, of a tax on sugary drinks.
Why Alzheimer’s research is failing to hit treatment targets
A disease that we have known about for more than 100 years still defies proper description and a consensus on how to tackle it.
Why getting babies into strict routines isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
The pressure on new mums can be overwhelming, but culturally they are expected to go it alone.
How poor NHS testing and antibiotic use is creating super-strength cystitis
Poor testing methods and antibiotic use by GPs and urologists has left thousands of women with crippling infections.
Superbugs evolve in waste water, and could end up in our food
There's one important piece of the puzzle we're missing when it comes to antimicrobial resistance.
Rise in ‘freebirthing’ suggests women feel midwives and doctors are ignoring their needs
Does the growth of 'freebirthing' mean that women are rejecting professional advice? Or is there something else going on?
New finding offers breakthrough in beating African sleeping sickness
A new finding may shed light on how sleeping sickness has avoided elimination and could help finally beat the deadly disease.
Beware of undercooked chicken livers
Cooking chicken livers until they're just pink may be on trend, but you're playing Russian roulette with your health if you eat them.
People with ‘obesity gene’ can still lose weight
Genes aren't destiny.
Marieke Vervoort – and how the right to euthanasia can help some people to live better
The Belgian athlete won silver at the Paralympics – but has signed legal euthanasia papers.
Drugs and addiction
There’s no such thing as an ‘addictive personality’ – here’s why
Drugs, coffee, television – they can all be described as 'addictive'. But when do they become a problem?
Why new law banning all psychoactive substances will be just another ‘war on drugs’ disaster
As of next month, all legal highs will be banned in the UK when a new law comes into effect. Don't expect it to work.
The five most addictive substances on Earth – and what they do to your brain
Be careful: many of us have tried at least two of them.
On Human Experiments
Human experiments – the good, the bad, and the ugly
The first part of our series On Human Experiments looks at the parameters of human research and its ethical bounds.
Ethics vs economics: the cost of outsourcing clinical trials to developing countries
On Human Experiments – As demand grows for newer and better drugs for an expanding range of conditions, so too does the need for clinical testing.
How black slaves were routinely sold as ‘specimens’ to ambitious white doctors
The horrors of slavery also spread to research: black bodies provided easy targets for medical experiments.
Columnists
Research and Expert Database
Editors’ Picks
Does drinking hot tea in summer really cool you down?
Here's the science.
From perspiration to world domination – the extraordinary science of sweat
Our success as a species is 5% inspiration and 95% perspiration.
Why having thoughts that aren’t yours doesn’t make you delusional
We cannot think thoughts that are not ours - but there are still those who claim to have external thoughts being put into their heads.
What our faces can tell other people about the state of our health
Our faces give away far more just our mood.
Old man strength: is dad really stronger?
What science can tell us about ageing and strength.
An end to sleepless nights? New hope for families raising children with ADHD
A lack of sleep is a problem for children with ADHD and their parents. New research has an uplifting message for both.
Events
More EventsHow we are different
10 reasons
Most Read past week
- A dietitian puts extreme ‘clean eating’ claims to the test – and the results aren’t pretty
- Rise in ‘freebirthing’ suggests women feel midwives and doctors are ignoring their needs
- How poor NHS testing and antibiotic use is creating super-strength cystitis
- Marieke Vervoort – and how the right to euthanasia can help some people to live better
- What is Spice and why is the drug so dangerous?
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