Device inflates before eating and contracts afterwards, simulating the effects of having a meal, say scientists From weight loss jabs to vibrating pills, the obesity crisis has spawned myriad innovations to help people shed pounds. Now scientists have overhauled the humble gastric balloon – producing a device that inflates and...
What really helps with hangovers? – podcast
What if you could take a pill or a shot that could reduce your blood alcohol level and make you feel better in the morning? That’s the promise of a range of wellness products aiming to be the next big hangover antidote. But what exactly are hangovers, and which methods...
Most teenagers recover from long Covid after two years, study shows
World’s largest ‘longitudinal cohort study’ reports that older teens and society’s most disadvantaged most likely to be affected Most teenagers who have suffered from long Covid recover within two years, according to the largest study of its kind. But the researchers said more work was needed to understand why some...
The brain microbiome: could understanding it help prevent dementia?
Long thought to be sterile, our brains are now believed to harbour all sorts of micro-organisms, from bacteria to fungi. How big a part do they play in Alzheimer’s and similar diseases? Nine years ago, Nikki Schultek, an active and healthy woman in her early 30s, experienced a sudden cascade...
Scientists close to solving mystery of how universe’s giant galaxies formed
‘Cosmic collisions’ 12bn years ago could be key to understanding formation, say researchers Galaxies crashing together 12bn years ago could have caused the universe’s biggest galaxies to form, according to research. A study by astronomers at the University of Southampton is hoping to solve what they are calling an “intergalactic...
Google DeepMind predicts weather more accurately than leading system
AI program GenCast performed better than ENS forecast at predicting day-to-day weather and paths of hurricanes and cyclones For those who keep an eye on the elements, the outlook is bright: researchers have built an artificial intelligence-based weather forecast that makes faster and more accurate predictions than the best system...
Exposure to air pollution increases infertility risk, US study finds
Research shows common air pollutants can be detrimental to egg, sperm and embryo development Maternal and paternal exposure to common air pollutants may increase the risk of infertility because it can be detrimental to egg, sperm and embryo development, new research in the US finds. Previous papers have established that...
Starwatch: crescent moon and Venus make a beautiful pairing
Slender curve of the moon and bright beacon of Venus will be visible in the south-south-west on 5 December No matter how many times you may have seen it, the crescent moon and the planet Venus make a beautiful pairing. This week, as twilight closes around the landscape, the duo...
Atmospheric analysis shows Venus never had Earth-like life, scientists say
Research indicates planet’s interior is dry in blow to theories that it was previously habitable With a surface hot enough to melt lead and with clouds of sulphuric acid above it, it is a planet often called Earth’s “evil twin” – similar in size, yet worlds apart. Some scientists have...
‘With brain preservation, nobody has to die’: meet the neuroscientist who believes life could be eternal
A brilliant young scientist believes that if we preserve our brains, they could be revived in the future, helping us live for centuries Elizabeth Hughes Gossett shouldn’t have survived beyond 11, the age at which she developed type 1 diabetes. Born in Albany, New York, Gossett received her diagnosis in...