Turkey-Syria earthquake: the risk of aftershocks and what can be done to protect rescuers: As the first United Nations aid convoy made it across the Turkish border into Syria, the regional death toll from the earthquakes four days earlier climbed steadily past 19,000. And it looks set to rise higher still. Quite a lot of …
Beta blockers: how these common heart medications may reduce the risk of violence: Beta blockers are commonly prescribed for heart problems. Prostock-studio/Shutterstock Beta blockers are medications commonly used for treating cardiac problems such as high blood pressure, chest pain, irregular heartbeat and heart failure. In the US, for example, one in five adults aged 60–79 …
People with light skin are at higher risk of skin cancer. How to reduce sun exposure: Anastasiya Parfenyuk/Shutterstock Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to the sun – specifically solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation or rays. These can damage the cells in the skin and cause them to mutate. This causes skin cancer. …
Sixteen-pound baby born in Brazil: here’s what increases the risk of giving birth to a giant baby: Zastolskiy Victor/Shutterstock A mother in Brazil recently gave birth to a two-foot-tall baby weighing 16lb (7.3kg). Angerson Santos was born via caesarean section at Hospital Padre Colombo in Parintins, Amazonas State. Angerson eclipsed the heaviest baby girl on …
Levelling up: how UK freeports risk harbouring international crime: SciPhi.tv A significant element of the UK government’s levelling up plan to create thousands of jobs, regenerate more deprived areas and attract overseas investors is the introduction of freeports. These special low-tax trading zones allow all kinds of businesses to trade. Under the UK model, freeports …
100 million Nigerians are at risk of neglected tropical diseases: what the country is doing about it: A nurse gives gives medicine, Ivermectin, against onchocerciasis or river blindness. Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images Neglected tropical diseases are a group of communicable diseases found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are classified as …
Liver King: how the rise of mega-influencers has put consumers at risk: In his videos, Liver King is regularly seen eating platefuls of bull's testicles, raw animal livers and cows' brains. Instagram/@LiverKing In the age of vloggers, influencers and content creators it might seem hard to imagine a world without YouTube. But back when the …
Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes are rising, putting thousands at risk – we now know why: A May 2022 drone image of the submerged main entrance to Lake Nakuru National Park. Photo by James Wakibia/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The East African Rift Valley sits between the Afar Triangle in Ethiopia and Mozambique. Within it lie …
China’s COVID situation is dire – but it shouldn’t pose a big risk to other countries: China is currently in the midst of a severe wave of COVID infections and deaths. We don’t know exactly how bad it is because of significant gaps in official reporting, but by all indications, things are dire. News reports …
Short bursts of physical activity during daily life may lower risk of premature death – new research: Short bursts of physical activity could be as simple as playing with your children or grandchildren. Prostock-studio/ Shutterstock Most of us know that regular exercise is important for our health and longevity. But with our busy schedules, many …
Black and minoritised ethnic communities at disproportionate risk of homelessness in the UK: In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, there has been a heightened awareness of ethnic inequality in the UK. Despite some recent studies on housing conditions in the context of the pandemic, little attention has been paid to how racial …
Overweight women may be at highest risk of long COVID – new research: Rostislav_Sedlacek/Shutterstock While hundreds of thousands of people are still getting COVID every day across the globe, reassuringly, the number of people dying as a result of the infection has dropped significantly thanks to effective vaccines and treatments. Yet for many people, the …
Waste pickers risk their lives to stop plastic pollution – now they could help shape global recycling policies: International waste pickers and allies visiting a sorting plant in Montevideo, Uruguay. Patrick O'Hare, Author provided Globally, waste pickers are responsible for collecting and recovering – from homes, businesses and landfills – up to 60% of all …
6 priorities to get Kenya’s curriculum back on track – or risk excluding many children from education: Getty Images Kenya’s education curriculum was reformed in 2017 to improve its quality – but now many Kenyans are calling for change again. Public disillusionment with the competency-based curriculum has forced a government review. Frustrations with the curriculum …
Hearing loss: headphones and concerts could put young people at risk – here’s how to protect yourself: The more often you expose yourself to loud noise, the greater your risk of hearing loss. Melinda Nagy/ Shutterstock A recent study published in BMJ Global Health has estimated that over one billion people worldwide aged 12-34 years …
World Cup concussion rules may be putting players’ lives at risk: In the eighth minute of their Fifa men’s World Cup match against England, Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand collided face-first with a teammate. The clash left the keeper bloodied, unsteady on his feet, and apparently disoriented – in no state to play. But after lengthy …
Treatment of wastewater in Nigeria’s oil fields is failing, raising the risk of health hazards: Stefan Heunis/AFP via Getty Images People need both clean, safe water and sustainable energy. That means both resources must be properly managed. But when it comes to the oil and gas industries, there’s a problem. The water that comes out …
The risk of seizures and epilepsy is higher after COVID than after the flu – new research: hutpaza/Shutterstock Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting roughly 50 million people around the world. It’s a condition characterised by seizures which involve episodic, abnormal activity in nerve cells in the brain. People can have …