Imagine there was a store where there were no prices on items, and you never knew what you’d pay until you’d picked out your purchases and were leaving the shop. You might be skeptical that the store would have any incentive to offer reasonable prices.
Antibiotic resistant ‘superbug’ genes found in the High Arctic
Eight myths about meal-replacement diets debunked
Meal-replacement diets, where some meals are replaced with soups, shakes or bars, have been making a comeback. They first took off during the early days of space travel when the public became obsessed with the idea of a nutritionally complete meal in a single drink or bar. These products remained popular for most of the 70s and 80s, but gradually fell from favour as people began to question the health benefits of these diets.
Morning or night person? It depends on many more genes than we thought
Do you prefer to rise early with the lark or stay up late with the owl? Your preference turns out to be partly decided by your genes. Our genetic study of nearly 700,000 people has revealed new insights about the genetics of chronotype – our preference to rise early or sleep late – and how it influences our mental and physical health.
How to reduce your risks of dementia
It’s cold! A physiologist explains how to keep your body feeling warm
These brain cells make pain feel so bad
Our obsession with taking photos is changing how we remember the past
I recently visited the Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia – one of the best art museums in the world. I was expecting to serenely experience its masterpieces, but my view was blocked by a wall of smart phones taking pictures of the paintings. And where I could find a bit of empty space, there were people taking selfies to create lasting memories of their visit.
Why you should stop buying vitamins and get more sleep instead
You’re probably brushing your teeth wrong – here are four tips for better dental health
We all know the advice for healthy teeth – brush twice daily and don’t eat too much sugar. So why do those of us following these instructions find we sometimes need a filling when we visit the dentist? The truth is, there’s a little more to preventing tooth decay than these guidelines suggest. Here’s what you need to know.
Engineers create an inhalable form of messenger RNA
When pets are family, the benefits extend into society
There is a growing global trend to consider pets as part of the family. In fact, millions of people around the world love their pets, enjoying their companionship, going for walks, playing and even talking to them. And there is evidence suggesting that attachment to pets is good for human health and even helps build community.
Making New Year’s resolutions personal could actually make them stick
Five life lessons from your immune system
Seasonal affective disorder: your eye colour might be why you have the ‘winter blues’
Why does it feel good to see someone fail?
Health Check: when should you throw away leftovers?
Why two people see the same thing but have different memories
Will wearing your coat indoors make you feel colder outside? A scientist explains
If you’ve ever had to work in a draughty office, warehouse or classroom, you’ve probably been tempted to keep your coat on inside. And you were probably also advised against it because you wouldn’t “feel the benefit” when you went outside. This might seem counter intuitive. If you’re cold already, surely you should do whatever you can to retain warmth? It turns out things aren’t that simple. To understand what’s really going on, we need to know a bit about why we feel cold in the first place.