Health (Page 157)

Scientists in the Netherlands have discovered a hollowed-out bone containing black henbane seeds at a Roman archaeological site. For centuries, the plant has been associated with medicine and magic. Black henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) contains toxic and potentially deadly compounds called tropane alkaloids. These compounds include hyoscyamine and scopolamine, which areContinue Reading

There is no clearer marker that we are now in the “after” phase of the pandemic, than the proliferation of public inquiries, reports on lessons learned and post hoc analyses. To reassess and agonise over how reasonable lockdown was is now a near-constant in the media, particularly in the UK.Continue Reading

GOLFX/Shutterstock As Kate, a participant in our research on birth experiences, struggled with the pain she was experiencing during labour, the midwife was stern. She referred to Kate as a “silly girl” and told her she needed to calm down. Finally, the anaesthetist arrived to give Kate an epidural. HeContinue Reading

Spice is the name given to a diverse group of drugs called 'synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists'. Axel Alvarez/ Shutterstock Five teenagers in London were hospitalised recently after smoking vapes containing the drug known as spice. This incident is only the latest in what appears to be a growing problem inContinue Reading

King Charles’ cancer diagnosis means the royal family has joined the approximately 3 million families in the UK affected by the disease. His family has already gathered around in support. William, Prince of Wales, has taken over some public duties for his father. And younger son Harry, who lives inContinue Reading

Stefani Reynolds / AFP If you think memes are simply online images of cute cats and celebrities with funny captions, then you might be surprised to learn that they can have a more sinister function. Our research shows that memes form part of a highly sophisticated strategy to spread andContinue Reading

fizkes/Shutterstock Hundreds of chemicals stream from our bodies into the air every second. These chemicals release into the air easily as they have high vapour pressures, meaning they boil and turn into gases at room temperature. They give clues about who we are, and how healthy we are. Since ancientContinue Reading

Jolygon/Shutterstock There’s a great deal of interest from scientists and the public alike in how we can keep our minds sharp and our brains healthy as we get older. While some factors that increase the risk of dementia cannot be modified, including genetics, there are several factors we do haveContinue Reading

fizkes/Shutterstock A recent report from the charity YoungMinds found that over 1.2 million children and young people aged 18 and under were referred to mental health services in England in 2022. This is more than double the number in 2019. When the number of young people needing help is soContinue Reading

24-K Production/Shutterstock Medical cannabis, often in the form of cannabidiol (CBD) oil, is one of the most recent trends in the human health and wellness world. Unsurprisingly, this trend has made its way to our pets, with a recent study suggesting that 38% of surveyed Danish dog owners routinely gaveContinue Reading