Health – Views & Research – The Conversation

A medic looking at a computer screen.

A medic looking at a computer screen.

Palantir and the NHS – 10 things you need to know

Eerke Boiten, De Montfort University

Silver pack of pills next to word 'CODEINE', which is written above the a chemical diagram.

Silver pack of pills next to word 'CODEINE', which is written above the a chemical diagram.

Codeine: why one person’s painkiller can be another person’s problem

Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University

A faded holiday photo.

A faded holiday photo.

Headspace: can our brains get full?

Michelle Spear, University of Bristol

What a ‘post-antibiotic era’ could mean for modern medicine

Steven W. Kerrigan, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences

3D illustration of genetic mutation in bacteria that can lead to antibiotic resistance

3D illustration of genetic mutation in bacteria that can lead to antibiotic resistance

Supplements for menopause: here’s what the evidence actually says

Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University

A middle-aged blonde woman shakes a supplement out of a bottle and into the palm of her hand. There are an assortment of other supplements sitting on the counter beside her.

A middle-aged blonde woman shakes a supplement out of a bottle and into the palm of her hand. There are an assortment of other supplements sitting on the counter beside her.

Microplastics have been found to interact with the gut microbiome – here’s what health effects they might have

Nick Ilott, University of Oxford

A magnifying glass zoomed in on a person's index and middle finger, where they hold tiny, microscopic shards of plastics.

A magnifying glass zoomed in on a person's index and middle finger, where they hold tiny, microscopic shards of plastics.

Five health conditions mothers can develop after giving birth

Adam Taylor, Lancaster University

A woman has her blood pressure taken by a female doctor.

A woman has her blood pressure taken by a female doctor.

Alzheimer’s drugs offer little benefit, major review finds – and the reasons go deeper than the science

Simon Kolstoe, University of Portsmouth

A person touching the hands of an older adult. The older adult is holding a walking stick.

A person touching the hands of an older adult. The older adult is holding a walking stick.

Why understanding autism means looking beyond spoken language – two autistic researchers of communication explain

Lou Harvey, University of Leeds and Chris Bailey, Sheffield Hallam University

Group of wooden figures under blue lighting

Group of wooden figures under blue lighting

Eating fruit is linked to lung cancer? Here’s what you need to know about that new study

Justin Stebbing, Anglia Ruskin University

Bowl of fruit.

Bowl of fruit.

The 10 pence pill that underpins diabetes care – and may do much more besides

Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University

Close up of fingers holding metformin tablet

Close up of fingers holding metformin tablet

A busy hospital waiting room. I woman sits in the furthest row back.

A busy hospital waiting room. I woman sits in the furthest row back.

Fining hospitals for medical misogyny won’t help women – it will hurt them

Philip Broadbent, University of Glasgow

Fitness + Exercise

A group of marathon runners participate in the London marathon. They're running down a road in Westminster, with Big Ben behind them.

A group of marathon runners participate in the London marathon. They're running down a road in Westminster, with Big Ben behind them.

How to run a marathon better: the nutritional and psychological hacks that matter most

Andy Galbraith, University of East London and James Beale, University of East London

From Japanese walking to 75 Hard: what the science really says about viral fitness trends

Jack McNamara, University of East London

Cheerful man grabs the chin-up bar with both hands before performing the dead hang exercise

Cheerful man grabs the chin-up bar with both hands before performing the dead hang exercise

Hyrox is booming worldwide – here’s how to train for this race safely and effectively

Athalie Redwood-Brown, Nottingham Trent University and Jen Wilson, Nottingham Trent University

A Hyrox race, depicting a group of men performing lunges with sandbags balanced across their shoulders.

A Hyrox race, depicting a group of men performing lunges with sandbags balanced across their shoulders.

What wearables can (and can’t) tell you about your heart health

Kevin O'Gallagher, King's College London

An older woman sits on the floor on top of a yoga mat looking at her fitness watch.

An older woman sits on the floor on top of a yoga mat looking at her fitness watch.

Broken legs, skier’s thumb and ‘sled head’: just some of the injuries risked by Winter Olympians

Adam Taylor, Lancaster University

Austrian freestyle skiier Julius Forer crashes during a qualifying run at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Austrian freestyle skiier Julius Forer crashes during a qualifying run at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Diet + Nutrition

A woman taking a supplement.

A woman taking a supplement.

Collagen supplements can help your skin and joints, large new study finds

Heba Ghazal, Kingston University

Kim Kardashian’s new caffeine-free energy drink relies on paraxanthine – here’s what the science says

Colin Davidson, University of Lancashire

Paraxanthine molecular structure, 3D model molecule

Paraxanthine molecular structure, 3D model molecule

What weight loss jabs teach us about how appetite works

Lewis Mattin, University of Westminster

Woman with no appetite eats cereal

Woman with no appetite eats cereal

Anxiety in teenagers linked to sugary drinks – new research

Chloe Casey, Bournemouth University

A teen girl studying her notes holds a can of sugary drink on her hand.

A teen girl studying her notes holds a can of sugary drink on her hand.

Weight-loss drug ‘support supplements’: do they address nutrient deficiencies, or are they just another fad?

Jordan Beaumont, Sheffield Hallam University

Woman taking food supplements instead of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Woman taking food supplements instead of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Strange health

A woman holds a bottle of blue mouthwash in one hand and the cap in the other hand. She is swishes the mouthwash around in her mouth.

A woman holds a bottle of blue mouthwash in one hand and the cap in the other hand. She is swishes the mouthwash around in her mouth.

Is mouthwash bad for the heart? Here’s what the research actually says

Joanna L'Heureux, University of Exeter

Waking at 3am every night? Here’s what may be going on

Talar Moukhtarian, University of Warwick

Woman lies awake in bed next to alarm clock showing 3am

Woman lies awake in bed next to alarm clock showing 3am

A man used AI to help make a cancer vaccine for his dog – an oncologist urges caution

Justin Stebbing, Anglia Ruskin University

Phials of cancer vaccine (just for illustration purposes, not actual vaccines).

Phials of cancer vaccine (just for illustration purposes, not actual vaccines).

Skin mites explained: harmless passengers or health problem?

Alejandra Perotti, University of Reading

Close up of demodex follicolorum

Close up of demodex follicolorum

TikTok’s period scooping trend shows how little we still understand about menstruation

Sally King, King's College London

Close up of woman holding a vaginal douche

Close up of woman holding a vaginal douche

Drugs

Nicotine pouches against a black background.

Nicotine pouches against a black background.

Nicotine: the latest wellness hack

Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University

Kids can take tablets, so why are we still giving liquid medicines?

Rebecca Payne, Bangor University

Child refuses to take liquid medicine

Child refuses to take liquid medicine

Five everyday over-the-counter medicines with potential dangers

Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University

Young man with bottle of cough syrup sitting on sofa in living room

Young man with bottle of cough syrup sitting on sofa in living room

Ostarine: the performance-enhancing drug giving anti-doping agencies a headache

Tom Bassindale, Sheffield Hallam University

Athlete running on a track.

Athlete running on a track.

Pregnancy and pre-eclampsia: is aspirin the answer for everyone?

Patricia Maguire, University College Dublin

A pile of aspirin pills.

A pile of aspirin pills.

Dementia

Older man, sitting on a sofa, looking unhappy.

Older man, sitting on a sofa, looking unhappy.

Loneliness can affect your memory – but that doesn’t mean it leads to dementia

Ivana Babicova, Birmingham City University

Hospital conversations can distress people with dementia – here’s why

Alison Pilnick, Manchester Metropolitan University

Close up of hands of senior patient on examination table in the hospital.

Close up of hands of senior patient on examination table in the hospital.

Hormone therapy and dementia risk: what a new study says about menopause treatment

Eef Hogervorst, Loughborough University

Woman experiencing a hot flash while reading the back of a pack of HRT patches

Woman experiencing a hot flash while reading the back of a pack of HRT patches

Hearing loss is often called a dementia risk factor – here’s what the research really shows

Emma Broome, University of Nottingham

Doctor helping and man with hearing aid

Doctor helping and man with hearing aid

The Keepsake Chronicles: stories in times of dementia

Kate Irving, Dublin City University; Alex Kornhuber, Trinity College Dublin, and Cathy Fowley, Dublin City University

Close up of hands holding a key and a small model of a wooden bird house

Close up of hands holding a key and a small model of a wooden bird house

Live forever

Two friends, one looking happy, the other, upset.

Two friends, one looking happy, the other, upset.

Difficult friends and relatives could be making you age faster – new study

Ann Marie Creaven, University of Limerick; Chloe Boyle, University of Limerick, and Srebrenka Letina

Abuse, loneliness and financial strain in later life linked to poorer health

Kat Ford, Bangor University and Karen Hughes, Bangor University

An older man experiencing anguish

An older man experiencing anguish

Strength training may be the key to healthy ageing

Christopher Hurst, Newcastle University

Senior couple strength training with dumbells

Senior couple strength training with dumbells

Liverpool’s ‘blue people’: the older adults redefining what ageing looks like

Krisztina Rudolf, Liverpool John Moores University

Older woman in sportswear exercising in gym with dumbells.

Older woman in sportswear exercising in gym with dumbells.

Nine years to diagnosis: the challenge of spotting inflammatory arthritis and the role of first contact physiotherapists

Sarah Golding, University of Essex

First contact physiotherapist consulting with patient in clinic

First contact physiotherapist consulting with patient in clinic

Cancer

A woman and a man holding hands, each hand has a wedding band.

A woman and a man holding hands, each hand has a wedding band.

Does marriage prevent cancer? And who benefits the most?

Justin Stebbing, Anglia Ruskin University

Cancer deaths fall to historic low in UK – this is probably why

Ahmed Elbediwy, Kingston University and Nadine Wehida, Kingston University

Smiling female cancer patient, with her young daughter hugging her.

Smiling female cancer patient, with her young daughter hugging her.

Blood tests for cancer? We’re still a way off

Justin Stebbing, Anglia Ruskin University

A gloved hand holding a tube of blood.

A gloved hand holding a tube of blood.

Overdiagnosis? Why finding cancer isn’t always the same as saving lives

Ahmed Elbediwy, Kingston University and Nadine Wehida, Kingston University

Two hands holding ribbons of various colours representing different cancer charities.

Two hands holding ribbons of various colours representing different cancer charities.

A virus hiding inside bacteria may help explain colorectal cancer

Ryan Cook, Quadram Institute

A woman holding a cardboard cutout of the human gut against her abdomen.

A woman holding a cardboard cutout of the human gut against her abdomen.

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