Orforglipron also reduced blood sugar levels in participants with type 2 diabetesA significant trial of a daily weight-loss pill has found that it helped people to shed the pounds and reduce their blood sugar levels, making it a contender to join the new wave of drugs that combat obesity and diabetes.People who took a 36mg pill of orforglipron lost an average of 7.3kg (16lbs) over nine months, according to results from a phase 3 clinical trial reported by the drug's manufacturer, Eli Lilly, on Thursday. Continue reading...
by Presented by Ian Sample with Jessica Glenza, produ on (#6WP6M)
As a measles outbreak expands across the US, comments by health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr have come under scrutiny. Kennedy has said that the best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated - but he has also caused alarm among paediatricians, vaccine experts and lawmakers by promoting vitamin A and nutrition as treatments for measles and questioning the safety testing of the MMR vaccine. He also recently announced a US-led scientific effort to establish the cause of what he terms the autism epidemic', with some experts concerned that this study will support the widely discredited association between autism and vaccines. US health reporter Jessica Glenza tells Ian Sample, the Guardian's science editor, how these mixed messages are already impacting scientific research.RFK Jr says his response to measles outbreak should be model for the world'RFK Jr contradicts experts by linking autism rise to environmental toxins' Continue reading...
by Kat Lay, Global health correspondent on (#6WPAB)
Findings from Tanzania's Kilimanjaro region indicate traditional eating habits in rural Africa can boost the immune system and reduce inflammationPlantains, cassava and fermented banana drink should be added to global healthy eating guidelines alongside the olive oil, tomatoes and red wine of the Mediterranean diet, say researchers who found the traditional diet of people living in Tanzania's Kilimanjaro region had a positive impact on the body's immune system.Traditional foods enjoyed in rural villages also had a positive impact on markers of inflammation, the researchers found in a study published this month in the journal Nature Medicine. Continue reading...
by Hannah Devlin Science correspondent on (#6WP2V)
Astrophysics team say observation of chemical compounds may be tipping point' in search for extraterrestrial lifeA giant planet 124 light years from Earth has yielded the strongest evidence yet that extraterrestrial life may be thriving beyond our solar system, astronomers claim.Observations by the James Webb space telescope of a planet called K2-18 b appear to reveal the chemical fingerprints of two compounds that, on Earth, are only known to be produced by life. Continue reading...
US health secretary bucks expert opinion as research shows rise in diagnoses due to better tools and screeningThe US health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, said in his first press conference that the significant and recent rise in autism diagnoses was evidence of an epidemic" caused by an environmental toxin", which would be rooted out by September.Autism advocates and health experts have repeatedly stated the rise in diagnoses is related to better recognition of the condition, changing diagnostic criteria and better access to screening. Many also reject the label of an epidemic", arguing that neurodivergence should be valued. Continue reading...
Readers respond to George Monbiot's piece on how economic inequality fosters resentment, exclusion and nostalgiaGeorge Monbiot (Rightwing populists will keep winning until we grasp this truth about human nature, 13 April) makes some very important points about the psychology of those who follow demagogues and rightwing populist leaders. But this knowledge is not new. After the horrors of the rise of the Nazis and the persecution by them of Jews and other minority groups before and during the second world war, psychologists, many of them Jewish, began to systematically study the origins of such hatred. One was Henri Tajfel, a Jew born in Poland whose family were murdered by the Nazis.Tajfel was primarily interested in group identity, and popularised the terms in-group and out-group. Most importantly for understanding our times, Tajfel's work helped to show that not only do we work for, and experience reward through, the in-group's success (familiar to supporters of any football club), but, more sinisterly, we will work for, and experience reward through,the detriment of the out-group, even if that also meansthein-group suffers, so longas it is to a lesser extent. Continue reading...
Japanese-led team grow 11g chunk of chicken - and say product could be on market in five- to 10 yearsResearchers are claiming a breakthrough in lab-grown meat after producing nugget-sized chunks of chicken in a device that mimics the blood vessels that make up the circulatory system.The approach uses fine hollow fibres to deliver oxygen and nutrients to chicken muscle cells suspended in a gel, an advance that allowed scientists to grow lumps of meat up to 2cm long and 1cm thick. Continue reading...
Presenting an award at the Breakthrough prize ceremony, the actor and writer allegedly accused the president of destroying American scienceA pointed criticism of President Trump's policies on science by Seth Rogen was edited out of the filmed coverage of an annual science awards show, it has emerged.According to the Hollywood Reporter, which was one of the sponsors of the event, Rogen was one of the presenters at this month's Breakthrough prize ceremony, a high profile and lavishly funded awards programme recognising outstanding scientific achievements" co-founded by, among others, Google co-founder Sergey Brin and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and which describes itself as the Oscars of science". Continue reading...
Seeds can germinate having been buried in sediments of ghost ponds' for thousands of yearsGhosts of the ice age are being resurrected in Norfolk. When the ice sheets retreated at the end of the last ice age, mounds of ice called pingos remained underground until they thawed and the soil slumped, leaving behind shallow hollows that filled with water.These turned into swampy wetland habitats rich in plants and wildlife and Breckland, in Norfolk, became pocked with hundreds of these pingo pools, although many of them were later filled in for farmland and became lost. Continue reading...
Scientists call for urban areas to be tested for contaminants and potentially cleaned before wildflowers are plantedWildflowers could be absorbing toxic metals from soil in urban areas and passing toxins on to pollinators, a study has found.Researchers from the University of Cambridge found that common plants including white clover and bindweed, which are vital forage for pollinators in cities, can accumulate arsenic, cadmium, chromium and lead from contaminated soils. Continue reading...
by Denis Campbell Health policy editor on (#6WN6Q)
Gamechanger' brought in after success of trial offering larger doses of drugs within first two weeks of treatmentPeople in Britain with heart failure are being given larger doses of drugs at the start of their treatment after a global study found that this led to a huge fall in deaths.Experts say the new approach could mean those with the potentially fatal condition start receiving their ideal amount of medication within two weeks of diagnosis rather than after many months. Continue reading...
by Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent on (#6WN6R)
Study of 420,000 Britons suggests going at speeds of at least 4mph can lower risks by up to 43%Walking at a brisker pace could lower the risk of a wide range of heart rhythm problems, according to a study.The peer-reviewed research, published in BMJ Heart, analysed data from 420,925 participants of the UK Biobank who had provided data on their walking speed. Of these, 81,956 gave more detailed data on the amount of time they spent walking at different paces. Continue reading...
Amy Schumer, Olivia Wilde and Olivia Munn are among the famous names calling out the much-publicised space tripThe all-female Blue Origin rocket launch may have received plenty of glowing media coverage - but not everyone is impressed.The stunt has drawn criticism from a number of female celebrities who were not keen on the Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin NS-31 mission, which included Katy Perry, Bezos's fiancee Lauren Sanchez, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn and, in a twist straight out of Apple TV's The Morning Show, CBS Mornings host Gayle King. Continue reading...
Medical information will be available from UK Biobank, despite western intelligence agencies' security fearsResearchers from China are to be allowed access to half a million UK GP records despite western intelligence agencies' fears about the authoritarian regime amassing health data, the Guardian can reveal.Preparations are under way to transfer the records to UK Biobank, a research hub that holds detailed medical information donated by 500,000 volunteers. One of the world's largest troves of health data, the facility makes its information available to universities, scientific institutes and private companies. A Guardian analysis shows one in five successful applications for access come from China. Continue reading...
The all-female Blue Origin flight on Monday broke boundaries and set records in the spouting of girlboss gibberishWell, I watched every second of the buildup, flight and aftermath of the first Blue Origin all-female space trip. You've heard of one small step for man? This was one giant leap backwards for womankind. I'm kidding, I'm kidding! What could be more empowering or something than watching Lauren Sanchez make going to space sound like brunch with the girrrrrls. Sally Ride could never.Anyway, if you missed this, Jeff Bezos's fiancee took an 11-minute trip to the edge of space on one of his Blue Origin craft on Monday, alongside some all-female passengers - sorry, crew" - who included CBS anchor Gayle King and pop star Katy Perry. So yes: the Woman's World video is no longer the most plastic feminist thing Katy's done.Marina Hyde is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
by Presented by Madeleine Finlay with Robin McKie, pr on (#6WME6)
Robin McKie reflects on his 40 years as science editor for the Observer and tells Madeleine Finlay about the game-changing discoveries and scientific controversies that he's reported on during that time. He describes how the discovery of the structure of DNA revolutionised science, what he learned about misinformation from the HIV/AIDS pandemic and why cold fusion and the millennium bug failed to live up to their hype.What I've learned after 40 years as the Observer's science editorSupport the Guardian: theguardian.com/sciencepod Continue reading...
Six women, including the pop star Katy Perry and the morning TV host Gayle King, have safely completed a trip into space. They used a rocket owned by Jeff Bezos, the Amazon co-founder and commercial space flight entrepreneur. His fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, was also on the flight
I scored low for agreeableness in a personality test for the big five' traits - does this mean I'm doomed to be disagreeable? I looked into how I can change who I amThe other day, a friend decided to playfully name our individual roles within the group: planner, emotional support, and so on. I was the fault-finder - or, as she put it, the grumpy teenager" - who points out problems, but doesn't suggest alternatives.She was only kidding around, but she struck at an insecurity I have: that I'm unacceptably, intolerably negative.I'm an adult. Why do I regress under my parents' roof?I like my own company. But do I spend too much time alone?People say you'll know - but will I regret not having children?Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of Personality Change by Olga Khazan is out now Continue reading...
Analysis of over-50s who engage with phones, tablets and other devices challenges fears of digital dementia'Fears that smartphones, tablets and other devices could drive dementia in later life have been challenged by research that found lower rates of cognitive decline in older people who used the technology.An analysis of published studies that looked at technology use and mental skills in more than 400,000 older adults found that over-50s who routinely used digital devices had lower rates of cognitive decline than those who used them less. Continue reading...
Researchers say gepotidacin could be delivered via a pill and help combat strains resistant to standard treatmentScientists have hailed a new antibiotic treatment for gonorrhoea, the first in three decades, which they said could help combat the global rise of drug-resistant infections.The sexually transmitted infection can result in serious complications if it is not treated promptly, especially for women, for whom it can lead to increased risks of ectopic pregnancy and infertility. Continue reading...
All-female crew led by Jeff Bezos's fiancee Lauren Sanchez lands in Texas after reaching the edge of outer spaceSix women - including the pop star Katy Perry and morning TV host Gayle King - safely completed a trip to the edge of outer space and back from a private Texas ranch on Monday morning on a rocket belonging to Jeff Bezos, the Amazon co-founder and commercial space flight entrepreneur.The women, who also included Bezos's fiancee, Lauren Sanchez, made the trip to the Karman line - the internationally recognized boundary of space - to float about, weightlessly, in the rocket's capsule for three minutes before returning to Earth. Continue reading...
Giving patients statins and ezetimibe after a heart attack can reduce risk of second attack or stroke, say scientistsThousands of heart attacks or strokes could be prevented and lives saved with a combination of two cheap drugs, a study suggests.Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death worldwide, with heart attacks the most common acute event. For those who survive an attack, the risk of another one is highest in the first year because blood vessels are more sensitive, making it easier for blood clots to develop. Continue reading...
A recent study shows the benefit of being a middle-aged weekend warrior' who only exercises once or twice a weekIn these bleak times, glimmers of hope often seem to come out of the pages of scientific research. Take what we know about exercise. Just in the past few months, we've learned that moderate exercise may almost halve the risk of postpartum depression for new mothers, and that even five minutes of exercise a day could help lower blood pressure.But what really caught my eye recently was a study from Latin America that included roughly 10,000 people who were assessed over two decades using the Mexico City prospective study. The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, examined cognitive function with the aim of understanding the impact of exercise on mental ability, including mild dementia. The researchers took account of confounding variables such as age, diet, smoking and alcohol intake, nightly sleep and educational attainment, which have all been shown to affect overall health and wellbeing. By controlling for these factors, the contribution of physical activity towards mild cognitive impairment was estimated.Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, and the author of How Not to Die (Too Soon) Continue reading...
Three, two, one...UPDATE: read the solutions hereToday, we're down with the digits. Here are three elegant number puzzles, each nudging your brain to think creatively in different ways.1. Well balanced Continue reading...
Comprising 10-11 stars in the constellation of Coma Berenices, with a little effort, it is visible to the naked eyeThis week, we will track down an often overlooked naked eye star cluster; the Coma star cluster, which can be found in the constellation of Coma Berenices, Queen Berenice's hair. It is not as well known as the Pleiades in Taurus, the bull, but nevertheless gives a distinct sense of satisfaction when identified.While the Pleiades are almost immediately recognisable, it takes a little more effort to track down Coma. The chart shows the view looking south from London on 14 April 2025 at 10pm BST, although the view will remain essentially the same all week. Continue reading...
My father, Nick Heather, who has died aged 86, was a clinical psychologist with an international reputation in alcohol and addiction research, and published more than 500 articles and more than 20 books. He was tireless and uncompromising in his efforts to advance the understanding and treatment of alcohol problems, especially in challenging the disease model of addiction.Perhaps his most significant contribution was pioneering brief interventions" (short counselling sessions), now a key component of efforts used by medical professionals to reduce alcohol problems worldwide. He conducted the first randomised controlled trial, in 1985, and continued to advance their theoretical understanding and practical application for many years. Continue reading...
Annual celestial display is visible for several days in April as the Earth passes through debris left by comet C/1861 G1With the Lyrid meteor shower expected to light up the skies this month, we reveal how to get the best view and what to look for. Continue reading...
by Edward Helmore in New York and Robin McKie on (#6WK9D)
Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin rocket blasts off on Monday, with his fiancee, Katy Perry and three others on board. But is it more than just a stunt?Jeff Bezos is blasting his bride-to-be Lauren Sanchez and her guests" to space on Monday - a plan that might, under other circumstances, contain mixed messages.A crew of six women - Amanda Nguyen, a civil rights activist who will become the first Vietnamese woman to fly to space; the CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King; the pop star Katy Perry; film producer Kerianne Flynn; entrepreneur and former Nasa rocket scientist Aisha Bowe; and Sanchez, a journalist and philanthropist - will blast off on Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket from the company's launch site, 30 miles north of Van Horn, Texas, on an 11-minute, suborbital flight to the edge of space and back. Continue reading...
Almost as amazing as the knowledge we have gained in the past four decades is the fact that some people continue to deny the damage we are doing to our worldEarlier this year Ireceived an email from a reader asking background questions about an article I had written more than four decades ago. Given the time gap, my recollection was hazy. To be honest, it was almost non-existent. So Iwas intrigued - and then astonished when I read the feature.I had written about the British glaciologist John Mercer, author of a 1978 Nature paper in which he warned that continuing increases in fossil fuel consumption would cause amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide to soar. Global temperatures could rise by 2C by the mid-21st century, causing major ice loss at the poles and threatening a 5-metre rise in sea levels, he warned. Continue reading...
It's deeply human to seek approval and recognition from a parent, even when we are fully grownThe question I'm a man in my late 50s. My parents were teenagers when I was born. They married so I wouldn't be illegitimate, it was the 1960s. My parents divorced. My mum and stepdad moved up north, my father remarried and stayed down south.My father and his wife have three children, now in their 40s. My stepdad killed himself when I was in my early 20s, but I've come to realise he was much more of a parent to me than my actual father. Continue reading...
A podcast claims to show that autistic children with limited speech may be able to communicate via telepathy. What does the science say about the idea?
Researchers behind test using biomarkers say it could revolutionise' early diagnosis of diseaseResearchers have developed a simple and cost-effective" blood test capable of detecting Parkinson's disease long before symptoms emerge, according to a study.About 153,000 people live with Parkinson's in the UK, and scientists who undertook the research said the test could revolutionise" an early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease, paving the way for timely interventions and improved patient outcomes". Continue reading...
A neuroscientist decided to study the addiction-like obsession of limerence, while overcoming it himselfI never really gave much thought to the nature of love until it became a problem.Throughout adolescence I suffered through a series of intense, mostly unrequited crushes, but just assumed this was the exquisite agony of desire that poets and lyricists work so hard to capture in words. Continue reading...
Contact from the Observer prompts withdrawal as dealers urged to do more to stop illicit trade in antiquitiesA London antiquities dealer has withdrawn an ancient Greek amphora from sale after evidence arose that links it to a notorious smuggler.The Kallos Gallery in Mayfair, London, has removed a black-figure amphora - a jar with two handles and a narrow neck made around 550BC - from sale after the Observer contacted it about concerns raised by an expert in the illegal trade of antiquities. Continue reading...
Study into medication known as King Kong' of weight loss drugs throws fresh light on effects of longer-term usePeople who use the drug Mounjaro are able to sustain weight loss for three years, data from a trial suggests.Mounjaro, nicknamed the King Kong" of weight loss drugs, contains tirzepatide and is self-administered in once-a-week injections. Continue reading...
More than 40% of pesticides discovered in dust linked to toxic effects including cancer and hormone disruptionAlmost 200 pesticides have been found by a study examining dust in homes around Europe, as scientists say regulators need to take toxic cocktails" of chemicals into account when banning or restricting the use of pesticides.Scientists say their research supports the idea that regulators should assess the risks posed by pesticides when they react with other chemicals, as well as individually. They say this should apply to substances already in use, as well as those yet to be approved. Continue reading...
Eat-Lancet report recommended shift to more plant-based, climate-friendly diet but was extensively attacked onlineA leaked document shows that vested interests may have been behind a mud-slinging" PR campaign to discredit a landmark environment study, according to an investigation.The Eat-Lancet Commission study, published in 2019, set out to answer the question: how can we feed the world's growing population without causing catastrophic climate breakdown? Continue reading...
U-turn by medicines watchdog means about 3,000 women with advanced forms of disease could benefit each yearThousands of women with advanced breast cancer in England and Wales are to be offered a gamechanging" twice-a-day pill on the NHS after a U-turn by the medicines watchdog.Experts hailed the decision as a landmark moment". As many as 3,000 women every year could benefit from capivasertib for hormone receptor (HR)-positive HER2-negative breast cancer that has certain genetic mutations and has spread. Continue reading...
by Hannah Devlin Science correspondent on (#6WHQH)
Fossil found off Taiwan coast adds to picture of enigmatic human species having a prominent jaw with huge teethAn ancient jawbone dredged from the Taiwanese seabed has revealed new insights into the appearance and sweeping geographic range of an enigmatic human species called the Denisovans.The fossil was discovered by fishers trawling the Penghu Channel off Taiwan and is thought to be the most complete fossil that has been genetically identified as Denisovan. The male individual, who lived at least 10,000 years ago, had a strong jaw and very large, powerful molars. Continue reading...
by Tobi Thomas Health and inequalities correspondent on (#6WHKZ)
Exclusive: Racial disparities highlighted as researchers estimate 10 million women have conditions such as fibroids or endometriosisMore than a quarter of women in England are living with a serious reproductive health issue, according to the largest survey of its kind, and experts say systemic, operational, structural and cultural issues" prevent women from accessing care.The survey of 60,000 women across England in 2023, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and analysed by academics at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, found that 28% of respondents were living with a reproductive morbidity, such as pelvic organ prolapse, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, or cervical, uterine, ovarian or breast cancer. Continue reading...
Have you spotted the comet? Share your pictures and tell us about your sightingsA new, bright green comet, officially designated Comet C/2025 F2 (SWAN), has been discovered by an amateur astronomer. It was spotted by Michael Mattiazo using imagery from SWAN, an instrument on the European Space Agency's SOHO spacecraft, in late March. It is now visible from the UK and elsewhere and will remain so until around 14 April.Have you spotted the comet? You can share photos and tell us about your sightings below. Continue reading...
The pups are cute - and great for PR - but they're modified grey wolves. The real work is being done with their red cousinsI've been waiting for this. Ever since researchers almost brought a wild goat species back from extinction in 2003, it was only a matter of time until someone came forward and said they had successfully de-extincted" a species. Now, it has happened.This week, American biotech company Colossal Biosciences announced it had resurrected the dire wolf, an animal that went extinct at the end of the last ice age. Colossal released a video that invited viewers to experience the first dire wolf howls heard in over 10,000 years".Helen Pilcher is a science writer and the author of Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-Extinction and Life Changing: How Humans are Altering Life on Earth Continue reading...
by Presented and produced by Madeleine Finlay with Ph on (#6WH40)
Switzerland is leading the world in purifying its water of micropollutants, a concoction of chemicals often found in bodies of water that look crystal clear. They include common medicines like antidepressants and antihistamines, but have unknown and potentially damaging consequences for human and ecosystem health.
by Hannah Devlin Science correspondent on (#6WGZJ)
Researchers say relatively simple, inexpensive' means of assessing genetic risk offers hope of better screeningAn at-home spit test appears to perform better at predicting prostate cancer risk than the current frontline test, a study suggests.The test assesses 130 genetic variants to provide a risk score for prostate cancer, which is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men in the UK. Continue reading...
Nasa cuts contract that convened USGCRP, which released assessments impacting environmental decision-makingThe White House is ending funding for the body that produces the federal government's pre-eminent climate report, which summarizes the impacts of rising global temperatures on the United States.Every four years, the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is required by Congress to release a new national climate assessment to ensure leaders understand the drivers of - and threats posed by - global warming. It is the most comprehensive, far-reaching and up-to-date analysis of the climate crisis, playing a key role in local and national decision making about agriculture, energy production, and land and water use. Continue reading...
by Hannah Devlin Science correspondent on (#6WGTW)
The 3D map of a cubic millimetre of mouse brain reveals half a billion synapses and 5.4km of neuronal wiringThe most comprehensive circuit diagram of neurons in a mammalian brain has been created by scientists, providing groundbreaking insights into the mystery of how the brain works.The map is of a speck of a mouse's visual cortex, smaller than a grain of sand, and traces the structure of 84,000 neurons linked by half a billion synapses and approximately 5.4km of neuronal wiring. The 3D reconstruction of the cubic millimetre of brain is helping uncover how the brain is organised and how different cell types work together, and could have implications for the understanding of intelligence, consciousness and neuronal conditions such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, autism and schizophrenia. Continue reading...
by Presented by John Harris, produced by Natalie Kten on (#6WGTX)
As fears of a global recession continue in the wake of Donald Trump's tariffs, Keir Starmer insists the UK should keep a cool head. But with markets in turmoil and a looming economic crisis, does the prime minister need to be bolder? John Harris asks the Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff.Plus, he speaks to Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, about whether people should buy British' to combat the tariffs.--Listen to John discuss how music helped him connect with his autistic son on the Today in Focus podcast here: https://www.theguardian.com/news/audio/2025/apr/04/how-the-beatles-helped-my-autistic-son-find-his-voice-podcast-- Continue reading...
Science | The Guardian