Why we created a phone-sized device to take blood diagnostics out of the lab into the real world

When your doctor thinks you might have an infection or an allergy, a simple blood test should give answers within hours. But for much of the world, that test can take days – or never happen at all. The problem is not usually the test itself, but an overlooked step between taking your blood and […]

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Addressing sustainability and space environmental issues with AI – UKRI

Deep Planet and Space DOTS have been selected as the first cohort of the newly established European Space Agency (ESA) Phi-Lab UK. They received nearly £380,000 (€450,000) in seed funding for projects that use AI to address sustainable agriculture and space environmental challenges. The announcement was made on 4 December 2025, at the Appleton Space […]

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Separating RFK Jr’s claims from scientific evidence

The US health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, believes that aluminium in vaccines can cause health issues, such as neurological disorders, allergies and autoimmune diseases. This contradicts scientific evidence from many studies that have confirmed the safety of vaccines and aluminium “adjuvants” – substances that boost vaccines’ effectiveness. In November 2025, RFK Jr “personally ordered” […]

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Endurance athletes have a four times higher risk of irregular heartbeat – and this may be why

Exercise is one of the best things we can do for a healthy heart. Yet research shows that endurance athletes have up to a four times higher risk of atrial fibrillation (an irregular or fast heartbeat) than non-athletes. This heart condition increases risk of both heart failure and stroke. If regular exercise and being fit […]

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UK Launches New Support Fund for Displaced Social Care Workers

London — December 2025 — The UK’s National Health Executive has announced the launch of a dedicated support fund for displaced social care workers, aiming to stabilise a sector facing acute staffing pressures and rising demand for community‑based care. The initiative is designed to assist workers who have lost their roles due to service closures, […]

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African football legends join forces to give a red card to polio

In partnership with the UN-backed Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), they have launched the ‘Kick Out Polio’ campaign ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 which begins in Morocco on 21 December. “Polio is an illness that we simply need to take seriously,” said Naby Keïta of the Guinea National Team who plays […]

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Malaria: Drug resistance and underfunding threaten progress towards eliminating killer disease

The parasitic mosquito-borne disease is both preventable and curable but it remains a serious and deadly global health threat – claiming hundreds of thousands of lives – mostly among young children and pregnant women, predominantly in sub-Saharan Africa. The WHO’s latest annual update shows impressive progress since 2000: intervention has saved an estimated 14 million […]

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Flu season has started early this year – a new variant might be to blame

Every winter, respiratory viruses, especially influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and RSV, put huge pressure on healthcare systems throughout Europe. In a typical season, flu causes up to 50 million symptomatic cases, and anywhere from 15,000 to 70,000 deaths per year on the continent. All age groups are affected, although children have the highest infection rates and are […]

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How mouth health affects diabetes – and vice versa

Imagine trying to enjoy your favourite meal but finding that your gums hurt, your mouth feels dry and chewing has become uncomfortable. For people living with diabetes, this can be a daily reality that often goes unrecognised. Diabetes care routinely focuses on the heart, feet, eyes, liver and kidneys. The mouth, however, is frequently overlooked, […]

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Why the future of psychedelic medicine might not be psychedelic at all

Psychedelic medicine has regained momentum in 2025. Investors are coming back, regulatory attitudes are softening, trial results are improving and major pharmaceutical firms that kept their distance are starting to pay attention. This is quite a turnaround for a sector whose share prices collapsed and whose funding dried up when weak trial results combined with […]

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