LiteTalk People with fibromyalgia have different genetic variants than those without it KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images We are starting to unpick the genetics of fibromyalgia, a poorly understood condition that causes chronic pain all over the body. The results of two studies – with millions of participants between them – support the idea that dysfunction … Read more
Once upon a time, in a cave just north of Durango, Mexico, someone took a poop. In fact, it was quite a few someones, and these events were spread out over quite a bit of time—from about 725 A.D. to 920 A.D., researchers now believe. Thanks to the cave’s arid conditions, when archaeologists excavated the … Read more
People around the world collectively spend billions of dollars each year on products and services designed to extend their lives. But if they funnel all that money, time, and energy into the pursuit of longevity—only to reach those extra years and realize they’re not exactly enjoying them—what’s the point? Such is the dilemma that inspired … Read more
When Whitney Fleming, a writer in Grand Rapids, Mich., woke up to find her left eye sore and irritated, she wasn’t initially worried. Fleming had been wearing soft contact lenses since her teens; she cleaned them diligently, replaced them with a fresh pair every two weeks, and never wore them to sleep. But as the … Read more
Coloured light micrograph of a human embryo after in vitro fertilisation ZEPHYR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY During in vitro fertilisation (IVF), embryos undergo genetic testing before they are transferred to the uterus – but researchers have found that a widely used test cannot detect genetic abnormalities that form in embryos just before implantation. However, it isn’t clear … Read more
An illustration of CAR T-cell therapy treating tumour cells Brain light/Alamy Immune cells that have been genetically engineered to kill cancerous cellsknown as CAR T-cells, have transformed the treatment of blood cancers such as leukaemiabut have proved largely ineffective against solid tumours. But now, “weaponised” CAR T-cells have eradicated large solid prostate tumours in mice, … Read more
Evidence is mounting that GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy do far more than treat obesity and type 2 diabetes Shelby Knowles/Bloomberg via Getty Images The weight-loss drug Wegovy curbs the risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, even among people who don’t lose much weight on the drug or don’t have severe obesity to start … Read more
Eczema-like irritation prompted hair to grow back on shaved mice over 20 days (bottom row), compared with much less visible growth on shaved mice without this irritation (top row) Tai et al. 2025 Skin irritation promotes hair growth on mice by stimulating their fat cells – and a serum could bring about the same effects … Read more
Jacob McDonald knows he’s lucky to have a good health insurance plan through his employer, a tech company. But when his company started to send out emails recently updating employees about their options for health care in 2026 through open enrollment, he was disappointed to learn that once again, costs were going up. To cover … Read more
We’ll save you the trouble of wondering: Yes, people with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have considered using a planner, setting an alarm clock, and creating reminders on their phone. No, those suggestions aren’t helpful. In fact, these are among the worst things you can say to someone with ADHD, which is characterized by symptoms like having … Read more
