Health News - Science and Medicine Articles

Concept of gene editing. Here we see a gloved hand with tweezers pinching out a part of a DNA double helix.

Gene therapy: Everything you need to know about the DNA-tweaking treatments

By Dr. David Warmflash published 23 March 23

Gene therapies treat or prevent disease by tweaking the content or expression of cells' DNA.

You can now get a free at-home HIV test. Here's how.

By Nicoletta Lanese published 23 March 23

A new program is collaborating with the dating app Grindr to distribute 1 million free at-home HIV tests to U.S. residents.

close up of a hand holding package of contraceptive pills

Hormonal birth control slightly increases breast cancer risk, regardless of type

By Rebecca Sohn published 22 March 23

Hormonal contraceptives slightly raise users' risk of breast cancer, regardless of whether they're combination or progestogen-only.

close up photo of two mosquitoes with long thin legs, light tan bodies and dark stripes on their bodies

New invasive mosquitoes descend on Florida, raising concerns of disease

By Nicoletta Lanese published 22 March 23

A species of mosquito from Central and South America has spread to South Florida.

lower body shot of a nurse helping an elderly woman with a walking stick

Stroke: Symptoms, tests and treatment

By Elizabeth Peterson last updated 22 March 23

Stroke is the second leading cause of disability and death worldwide, and occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is disrupted.

Illustration depicts a thyroid gland being attacked by antibodies

Hashimoto's disease: Causes, symptoms and treatment

By Dr. David Warmflash last updated 22 March 23

Hashimoto's disease, or Hashimoto thyroiditis, is an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid gland.

An artist's interpretation of what the fungus Candida auris might look like.

Potentially deadly 'superbug' fungus is spreading faster in the US

By Harry Baker last updated 22 March 23

A new study shows that the number of cases and anti-drug resistance of the infectious fungus Candida auris increased between 2019 and 2021.

man making the best meal replacement shake

Best meal replacement shakes 2023: Quick and easy nutrition on the move

By Anna Gora last updated 21 March 23

BUYING GUIDE We've tested the best meal replacement shakes to see how they weigh up for taste, nutrition and ingredients.

BUYING GUIDE

Best humidifiers 2023: Relieve dry skin & allergy symptoms

By Sarah Finley last updated 21 March 23

Buying Guide Avoid a dry and uncomfortable home this allergy season with one of the best humidifiers we’ve tested.

Buying Guide

close up of a deer tick on a blade of grass reaching one of its legs towards a bare human leg

Tick-borne parasite is spreading in the Northeast, CDC says

By Nicoletta Lanese published 21 March 23

A tick-borne illness called babesiosis is spreading in the northeastern U.S.

Timothy Ray Brown at a press conference to announce the launch of the Timothy Ray Brown Foundation on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC.

How are people cured of HIV? Here's everything you need to know

By Nicoletta Lanese published 17 March 23

Only a few people have been cured of HIV, but scientists are working to develop cures that could be accessible to more of those infected.

photo shows a common raccoon dog, which looks like a super fluffy raccoon, peering out from behind a fallen log in the woods

Raccoon dog DNA from Wuhan market supports the idea that COVID came from animals

By Nicoletta Lanese published 17 March 23

Newly-released genetic data suggests raccoon dogs carrying SARS-CoV-2 may have been at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in late 2019.

illustration of dna – pink and blue DNA strands in a helix shape

What is DNA?

By Rachael Rettner last updated 17 March 23

DNA is a molecule that contains the instructions an organism needs to develop, live and reproduce.

image shows HIV viral particles, depicted in pink, attached to the membrane of an immune cell, depicted in purple

1st woman given stem cell transplant to cure HIV is still virus-free 5 years later

By Nicoletta Lanese published 16 March 23

A woman who received a stem cell transplant to treat her HIV is still virus-free more than five years after the procedure and 30 months after she stopped taking HIV medication.

closeup of an adult's hand holding a swab used for STI testing in a sealed package, a sample collection tube, and a piece of paper that reads "chlamydia pcr testing" at the top

Why are sexually transmitted infections on the rise in the US?

By Carissa Wong published 15 March 23

Surging STIs are being driven by a "perfect storm" of factors in the U.S.

photo shows an older woman in a red blouse standing by a window and wearing a blue surgical mask. The viewer is seeing her from outside the building, through the window.

COVID pandemic had 'minimal' effect on mental health, study says. Is that true?

By Stephanie Pappas published 15 March 23

A new study finds that COVID-19 had minimal mental health impacts on the population, consistent with other research suggesting that people are resilient.

An illustration of neurones in the nervous system

The nervous system: Facts, function and diseases

By James Horton last updated 15 March 23

Reference The network of nerves is the body's electrical wiring.

Reference

The 9 best exercise bikes for home use in 2023

By Sam Hopes last updated 15 March 23

Buying Guide Boost your cardio with the best exercise bikes — get fit from the comfort of your own home