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Book https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/inner-clock-9781526649096/ Lynne Peeples(Out 24 September: Bloomsbury Tonic (UK); Riverhead Books (US)) Our increasingly indoor lives are wreaking havoc with our circadian rhythms. Helen Thomson explores a new guide with [...]

A woman's brain has been scanned throughout her pregnancy, adding to evidence that dramatic remodelling takes place in preparation for motherhood, finds Helen Thomson THE human brain goes through significant [...]

MORE people in comas than we thought may be "locked in", meaning they are aware of their surroundings but unable to communicate. And some of those with severe brain damage [...]

It is a surprisingly difficult question to answer. But a new generation of tests, based on emerging insights into human biology, offers a way to find out, says Helen Thomson [...]

This article provides an overview of anxiety, discussing its prevalence, causes, and effects. It explains that anxiety is a natural response to risky situations but can become problematic when it persists in safe environments. The article explores the brain mechanisms involved in anxiety and the role of interoception. It also examines the genetic and environmental factors that contribute to anxiety, including the influence of gut microbiome and caffeine intake. The article discusses the rise of anxiety disorders in high-income countries, potentially influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, economic stressors, and political stressors. It highlights the increasing prevalence of childhood anxiety, possibly driven by climate change, social media, and smartphones. Effective treatments for anxiety in young people, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, are available. The article also addresses eco-anxiety, emphasizing that it is a rational response to ecological breakdown rather than a mental health condition. It suggests coping strategies for eco-anxiety and explores the benefits of anxiety, such as improved problem-solving abilities and health outcomes. The article concludes by providing tips on how to support someone experiencing anxiety. [Extracted from the article]

30 per cent of the variation in generalised anxiety disorder is attributable to genetics WE ALL know that person, the one who, when faced with what looks like an overwhelming [...]

The different mechanisms behind acute and chronic pain that research is beginning to reveal mean that for decades, people with chronic pain have been dismissed or wrongly treated by a medical profession that continues to prescribe therapies that work for acute pain, but, it transpires, simply don't work for persistent pain. Brain scans show similar activity in the pain network, which includes areas such as the insula, thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex that consistently respond to painful or attention-grabbing stimuli, when people are feeling psychological pain like social rejection and when they have physical pain. According to a study of 263 people with chronic lower back pain, it can be as effective as eight 2-hour sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy, a well-established psychological treatment for pain, and it offers greater pain relief than a health education session that included information about nutrition and managing medications. Pain is one of the most integral parts of the human experience and our relationship with it is complex. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents information on the global COVID-19 pandemic that began in early 2020 and the scientific endeavor during the pandemic. Topics discussed include the discovery of the virus in Wuhan, China, the estimated number of deaths resulting from the pandemic, the investigation on the origin of the coronavirus conducted by a World Health Organization group, the spread of the coronavirus, the evolution of the virus, and the development of mRNA vaccines for the virus.

The article discusses health issues associated with the consumption of plant-based meat alternatives by vegans. Topics explored include the environmental and animal cruelty-related concerns of vegans which contribute to their transition to a plant-based diet, the nutritional quality of soya protein-based processed foods, and the blood glucose levels associated with vegan diets.

Millions of people worldwide are experiencing lasting symptoms from covid-19. Michael Le Page, Helen Thomson, Adam Vaughan and Clare Wilson report on what we do – and don't – know so far [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a collection of letters from readers published in New Scientist. The topics discussed include the possibility of artificial intelligences having empathy, the overlooked concern of sports-related concussions, the harmonic intervals in music, habituation to the dire state of the world, the removal of microplastics from tap water, the limitations of exercise as a treatment for post-viral conditions, and the use of tree staking in urban environments. The letters provide diverse perspectives on these subjects, offering insights and raising important questions for further exploration. [Extracted from the article]

Lifestyle choices around the time of a vaccination can affect your immune response to it. Helen Thomson explores how to give it the best shot at success [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on hypnosis can improve symptoms and quality of life. Topics discussed include hypnosis can improve a variety of chronic problems, such as lower back pain and side effects of cancer treatments, and Guy Montgomery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York found that people needing breast cancer biopsy in the U.S. were to undergo hypnosedation.