All about the science of disease
Every woman who has ever opened a magazine knows her “shape”. “Pear shaped” women accumulate fat on their hips and thighs, “hourglass shaped” women do the same but also have large breasts, “ruler” women have broad shoulders and larger waists and “apple shaped” people accumulate their fat on their waists and guts. While obviously comparing … Read more
These days, redheads the world over are acutely aware of the dangers they run by exposing themselves to the sun. In exchange for their fiery locks, they are unfortunately subject to a 40% increase in the risk of being diagnosed with melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer. So far, our understanding of why … Read more
A cancer diagnosis is an awful thing. Cancer isn’t simply devastating news for the patient – its consequences ripple through groups of family and friends spreading fear and uncertainty of what the future will bring. While cancer research and treatment has come a huge way since the earlier part of this century, many types of … Read more
One of the most interesting aspects of the “Age Of Misinformation” is the flourishing of thousands of medical myths. These are usually propagated by people who are not qualified medical professionals or scientists, who peddle misinterpreted or flat-out incorrect information to the Internet masses. Whether these myths are started to sell products or in good … Read more
The most exciting science headlines of the week were undoubtedly based on an exciting new study published in Science Translational Medicine showing that chemotherapy can promote breast cancer metastasis. Media coverage on the subject has varied from highly sensationalist to more sensible – and for once, the panic-striken ALL CAPITALS approach doesn’t seem like it’s out of place. … Read more
As a scientist, it is part of my job to keep tabs on new scientific discoveries and recent publications. It was in this context that I recently ran into a fascinating paper by researchers at the University Of Cambridge looking into how formaldehyde (a known carcinogen) selectively destroys BRCA2 – a protein in the cell … Read more