COVID Virus Crisis

Global warming to expose more people to Zika-spreading mosquito Aedes aegypti

Jun 16, 2016 16:55 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature Health

As Americans ready themselves for the arrival of mosquitoes this summer, many may be wondering whether they are at risk for tropical diseases like Zika and whether climate change will raise the risks of infection. My...

Raise a cup -- of coffee; WHO no longer says it can cause cancer

Jun 16, 2016 16:50 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

Since 1991, coffee has been saddled with the label, possibly causes cancer. As of June 15, coffee got a clean bill of health. The International Agency for Research on Cancer or IARC is the WHO agency that evaluates...

Why the NHS should prescribe wearable fitness trackers

Jun 16, 2016 15:32 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health Technology

Its not yet clear whether wearable fitness trackers, such as Fitbits, Jawbones and Microsoft Bands, really do encourage us to become healthier over the longer term. They might make us move more and eat healthier in the...

COVID Virus Crisis

Why new-fangled mosquito controls should not replace tried and tested methods

Jun 16, 2016 14:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views Health

In the last 40 years of mosquito-borne viruses such as malaria, yellow fever and dengue, scientists have introduced myriad interventions to control the population of mosquitoes. This is because controlling mosquitoes has a...

Is this injectable tanning drug safe to use?

Jun 16, 2016 05:34 am UTC| Health

Most Australians are familiar with the Cancer Councils slogans reminding us to slip, slop, slap, and that theres nothing healthy about a tan. Now a controversial injectable tanning agent Melanotan is growing in...

Did we used to have two sleeps rather than one? Should we again?

Jun 15, 2016 07:00 am UTC| Insights & Views Health

Around a third of the population have trouble sleeping, including difficulties maintaining sleep throughout the night. While night time awakenings are distressing for most sufferers, there is some evidence from our recent...

Restricting gay men from donating blood is discriminatory

Jun 15, 2016 06:37 am UTC| Insights & Views Life Law Health

The Orlando massacre has again raised the question of whether it is ethical or sensible to restrict gay and bisexual men from donating blood. Some of the most moving images coming out of Orlando this week are those of...