What is toe jam? From harmless gunk to a feast for bugs

Toe jam can be a source of fascination, disgust or barely noticed. It can be a sign you need to wash your feet or rethink your...

Cold showers: a scientist explains if they are as good for you as Wim Hof (the ‘Iceman’) suggests

Anyone watching the BBC programme Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof may be starting to wonder whether there really “power in the cold shower” as extreme...

Why many women with autism and ADHD aren’t diagnosed until adulthood – and what to do if you think you’re one of them

Over the last decade or so, there’s been an uptick in the number of adults being diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Any number of factors might...

Should you wear a mask on a plane, bus or train when there’s no mandate? 4 essential reads to help you decide

On April 18, 2022, a judge in Florida struck down the federal mandate requiring passengers on mass transit to wear masks. While the U.S. Centers for...

Achoo! 5 essential reads for pollen season

As spring expands across North America, trees, shrubs and flowers are releasing pollen. This fine, powdery substance is produced by the male structures of cone-bearing and...

Discovering new drugs is a long and expensive process – chemical compounds that dupe screening tools make it even harder

Exercising while sick won’t help you get over a cold faster – but it may prevent your next one

Exercising regularly is good for your immune system – with some research suggesting that it may even lower the risk of getting upper respiratory infections, such...

Beer and spirits have more detrimental effects on the waistline and on cardiovascular disease risk than red or white wine

The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Drinking beer and spirits is linked to elevated levels of visceral fat...

When it comes to the rarest of diseases, the diagnosis isn’t the answer – it’s just the starting point

“Mr. and Mrs. Smith, we finally have an answer for you.” The couple, whose real names we are protecting for privacy, looked at me anxiously. I...

Prostate cancer linked to bacteria, raising hope of new test and treatment

Every year, around 12,000 men in the UK die from prostate cancer, but many more die with prostate cancer than from it. So knowing whether the...