Emily is a health news writer based in London, United Kingdom. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Durham University and a master's degree in clinical and therapeutic neuroscience from Oxford University. She has worked in science communication, medical writing and as a local news reporter while undertaking NCTJ journalism training with News Associates. In 2018, she was named one of MHP Communications' 30 journalists to watch under 30.
-
Lab-grown 'minibrains' may have just confirmed a leading theory about autismExcessive brain growth in the womb has been directly tied to autism in toddlers in new research involving lab-grown "minibrains."
By Emily Cooke Published
-
New blood test detects ovarian cancer years before conventional methodsPatients with early-stage ovarian cancer may have detectable changes in the immune cells in their blood.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
6 distinct forms of depression identified by AI in brain studyA new analysis of the brains of 800 people has revealed that there may be six distinct types of depression, with potential implications for treatment.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Tuberculosis triggered giant, crusty wart to sprout on man's handAround 20% of cases of tuberculosis affect organs other than the lungs, and some can cause warty plaques on the skin.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Scientists inserted a window in a man's skull to read his brain with ultrasoundNew research shows it's possible to use ultrasound waves to monitor activity in the human brain.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Melatonin may stave off age-related vision loss, study hintsA large new analysis has tied the use of supplemental melatonin to a lower risk of developing one of the most common age-related causes of vision loss.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Gen Xers will have higher cancer rates than boomers, study forecastsA new modeling study predicts that cancer rates in people over 60 may be rising among successive generations.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
New antivenom invented for black widow spider bitesA new type of antivenom that contains human antibodies could more safely and effectively treat European black widow spider bites.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
The 5 human senses — and a few more you might not know aboutReference Humans have more than five senses that help us navigate the world.
By Ailsa Harvey Last updated
Reference -
Restless legs syndrome tied to 140 'hotspots' in the genomeA new study has identified more than 140 novel genetic risk factors associated with the development of restless legs syndrome.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Scientists pinpoint likely origin of stuttering in the brainDisruptions to a single network in the brain may be responsible for stuttering, new research suggests.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
The brain can store nearly 10 times more data than previously thought, study confirmsScientists harnessed a new method to precisely measure the amount of information the brain can store, and it could help advance our understanding of learning.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Cobra venom kills by collapsing blood vessels, organ-on-a-chip showsA new 3D model of a human blood vessel made in the lab may help accelerate the development of new antivenoms, researchers say.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Some patients with brain injuries have life support withdrawn too soon, study suggestsA small modeling study suggests that some patients with severe traumatic brain injury may have recovered had they been kept on life support for longer.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
New genetic cause of intellectual disability potentially uncovered in 'junk DNA'Mutations in "junk DNA" could be responsible for rare genetic cases of intellectual disability, new research hints.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Did pandemic lockdowns stunt kids' immune systems long-term?Common illnesses spiked in kids as COVID-related social distancing policies were lifted. But experts say this doesn't reflect a long-term change in children's immune systems.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Ancient Egyptians tried to treat cancer 4,000 years ago, cut-marked skull indicatesCut marks discovered surrounding cancerous lesions on an ancient Egyptian skull suggest that humans were conducting cancer surgery more than 4,000 years ago.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
What's the highest place on Earth that humans live?Inhabitants of the world's highest settlement, La Rinconada, in the Peruvian Andes, face a unique set of challenges.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
50,000-year-old Neanderthal bones harbor oldest-known human virusesA new analysis of two skeletons suggests that three modern human viruses infected Neanderthals around 50,000 years ago.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
Drowning deaths in US on the rise for the 1st time in decadesAbout 500 more people died from drowning each year between 2020 and 2022 than did in 2019, the CDC reports.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
10 unexpected ways Neanderthal DNA affects our healthAround 2% of the genomes of modern Eurasians contains Neanderthal DNA. Here's how it affects our health.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
What's the difference between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens?Neanderthals are our closest relatives who went extinct around 40,000 years ago. Here's how they differed to us.
By Emily Cooke Published
-
'More Neanderthal than human': How your health may depend on DNA from our long-lost ancestorsFeature Neanderthals and humans mated millennia ago, and their legacy lives on in us today. Here's how.
By Emily Cooke Published
Feature -
The mystery of the disappearing Neanderthal Y chromosomeNon-Africans carry around 2% Neanderthal DNA in their genomes — yet there's one chromosome where DNA from our ancient cousins is nowhere to be found.
By Emily Cooke Published

