Could humans hibernate?

Mar 15, 2016 15:20 pm UTC| Health

On cold, dark days it is tempting to imagine shutting yourself away until the warmer weather returns. Many animals do just that by entering a state known as torpor, which reduces their bodily functions to a minimum and...

'Acceptable risk' is a better way to think about radiation exposure in Fukushima

Mar 15, 2016 11:57 am UTC| Insights & Views Health

On March 11, 2011, the Fukushima Prefecture of Japan experienced multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns as a consequence of an earthquake and a subsequent tsunami. The meltdowns resulted in the release of radioactivity into...

Explainer: what is Dravet syndrome and how can it be managed?

Mar 15, 2016 04:37 am UTC| Health

A little baby suffering a seizure is an incredibly distressing event for a family. Epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in children and it takes the form of recurring seizures. But epilepsy is not a single...

Epigenetics: Can stress really change your genes?

Mar 14, 2016 23:41 pm UTC| Health

The Dutch famine of 1944 was a terrible time for many in the Netherlands with around 4.5m people affected and reliant on soup kitchens after food supplies were stopped from getting into the area by German blockades. As...

Rare single gene mutation increases risk of schizophrenia 35-fold, new study suggests

Mar 14, 2016 23:37 pm UTC| Health

Genetic factors play a major role in schizophrenia but scientists are only now beginning to identify the specific genes involved. A new study published in Nature Neuroscience shows that rare mutations in the SETD1A gene...

Three reasons why sleep is important for your health

Mar 14, 2016 04:12 am UTC| Health

Many of us dont get enough sleep on a regular basis. It might be due to a sleep disorder, busy social life, new baby, long working hours, shift work or just staying up too late binge-watching Netflix. But not getting...

Taking a break from your diet helps long-term weight loss

Mar 13, 2016 21:14 pm UTC| Health

How many times have you attempted to lose weight only to fall short and fail? For many people it is extremely challenging to stick to a strict dietary and exercise program for more than a few weeks. The good news is...