Winners of Contracts for Innovation quantum funding announced – UKRI

Further information The successful projects Gravity cartography mission: mobile networked quantum sensors for resilient critical infrastructure and mapping at scale Lead: Delta. G Ltd Understanding the subterranean environment is critical to how we build, move, extract resources and maintain and protect critical infrastructure. The persistent gaps in spatial intelligence lead to costly delays, utility strikes, […]

Continue Reading

Poor heart health in middle age linked to dementia in old age – new study

For generations, medicine treated the heart and brain as separate domains. However, a new study suggests the two are more closely connected than we thought, especially as we age. A 25-year study of nearly 6,000 adults found that subtle heart muscle damage in middle age predicts dementia risk decades later. The research, known as the […]

Continue Reading

Stress and anxiety before a marathon can leave runners at risk of getting sick – new research

Marathons have quickly become a popular pursuit. Hundreds of thousands of people submit ballots each year to run in some of the most prestigious races. In 2024, a record number of people crossed the finish line at some of the world’s biggest marathons. If you haven’t run a marathon yourself, chances are you know someone […]

Continue Reading

What autistic people – and those with ADHD and dyslexia – really think about the word ‘neurodiversity’

The term “neurodiversity” is still relatively new. Even now, there’s no firm agreement among experts about what it should include. Does it refer only to neurodevelopmental differences such as autism, ADHD and dyslexia? Or should it stretch further, to include mental health conditions too? Until recently, no one had asked neurodivergent people themselves what they […]

Continue Reading

Can brain training really shave ten years off brain ageing, as a recent study suggests?

A ten-week online brain training programme helped older adults’ brains act as though they were a decade younger, a recent study has found. Much like exercise for the body, regular mental workouts can help keep the brain in shape. As we age, brain processes that support memory, attention and decision-making can become less efficient. Keeping […]

Continue Reading

Should you worry about melatonin and heart failure? The evidence isn’t clear

A study presented at the American Heart Association’s scientific meetings has raised concerns about melatonin, one of Britain’s most commonly prescribed sleep aids. The findings suggest that long-term users face a higher risk of heart failure. But the preliminary data demands careful scrutiny before the alarm is sounded. Melatonin has been prescribed in the UK […]

Continue Reading

The real cost of environmental inequality in the UK

Environmental deaths in the UK are primarily attributed to air pollution, which the Royal College of Physicians estimates contributed to around 30,000 deaths in 2025, costing the economy billions each year. Other environmental risks include climate-related events such as extreme heat, which could cause tens of thousands of deaths annually, and pollutants from diesel emissions […]

Continue Reading

Can colostrum supplements improve your skin, gut and immune system? A nutritionist explains

Colostrum is often called “liquid gold” by lactation specialists, midwives and infant-health researchers. It’s the early milk produced in the first days after childbirth: thick, yellow and rich in antibodies, proteins and nutrients. Newborn babies benefit greatly from it because their immune systems are not yet fully developed and their stomachs can only hold very […]

Continue Reading

The science of weight loss – and why your brain is wired to keep you fat

For decades, we’ve been told that weight loss is a matter of willpower: eat less, move more. But modern science has proven this isn’t actually the case. More on that in a moment. But first, let’s go back a few hundred thousand years to examine our early human ancestors. Because we can blame a lot […]

Continue Reading

Safeguarding clean water access as climate threats rise

“Healthcare facilities are where the vulnerable seek healing. Yet, without adequate water, sanitation and hygiene, for too many people, expected care can become inadvertent harm,” said Dr. Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Director for Europe.  Emphasizing that healthcare is “being tested as never before”, Dr. Kluge insisted that bolstering them is an investment in withstanding crises. As part of this work, a UN-led meeting in Budapest this […]

Continue Reading