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How scientists are hacking bacteria to treat cancer, self-destruct, then vanish without a trace
Bacteria are rapidly emerging as a new class of “living medicines” used to kill cancer cells. We’re still a long way from a “cure” for cancer. But one day we could have programmable, self-navigating bacteria that find tumours, release treatment only where needed, then vanish without a trace. Here’s where the science is up to…. -
What is myasthenia gravis, the rare disease tennis great Monica Seles lives with?
Former tennis star Monica Seles recently revealed she is living with the rare disease myasthenia gravis, which affects 12 in 100,000 people globally. Seles explained her first symptoms appeared suddenly around three years ago. She began experiencing double vision and weakness in her arms and legs. This made everyday activities, such as drying her hair,… -
Timely home repairs are needed for good health in remote Aboriginal communities
For people living in metro areas, a broken hot water system or washing machine is a nuisance. But it can usually be sorted by a phone call for a same-day repair or a quick trip to the hardware store. In remote communities, the same repair is slowed by distance and lack of services, often taking… -
ADHD stimulants are being used recreationally, with consequences for users
Not long ago, most people thought of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, as a childhood condition that would eventually be outgrown. Now it’s everywhere. TikTok videos describe “ADHD moments” that feel instantly familiar, clinics are booked out for months, and adults are finally getting diagnoses that explain years of chaos and exhaustion. This visibility… -
Should I kick my diet soft-drink habit? Where do I start?
The average Australian drinks almost 60 litres of soft drink a year. Many people see diet soft drinks as a “healthier” choice than regular ones, and when it comes to sugar, that’s true. For example, a 375 millilitre can of Coca-Cola contains about seven teaspoons of added sugar (almost to 40 grams). That’s close to… -
What the Air You Breathe May Be Doing to Your Brain
For years, the two patients had come to the Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania, where doctors and researchers follow people with cognitive impairment as they age, as well as a group with normal cognition. Both patients, a man and a woman, had agreed to donate their brains after they died for further… -
How do I know if my kid is worrying about food and their body too much? And what should I say?
Eating disorders are most likely to develop in young people aged between 12 and 25. But parents and other close adults can miss the early warning signs. For example, you might notice your child doing more exercise or choosing healthier foods and see these behaviours as normal or even positive. Eating disorders are serious mental… -
5 health benefits of line dancing – according to science
Line dancing is enjoying a global resurgence, rising to a level of popularity not seen since Billy Ray Cyrus’ Achy Breaky Heart topped the charts in 1991. But it’s no longer just for cowgirls and cowboys. While traditionally associated with country music, line dancing has evolved to include variations of waltz, swing, salsa, disco and… -
5 types of ‘wellness woo’ that borrow from mainstream medicine
What we consider “fringe” or “mainstream” changes over time. That applies to health and medicine too. For instance, massage was once considered a fringe therapy but in the 19th century it morphed into what we know today as physiotherapy. Likewise, Swiss doctor Maximilian Bircher-Benner wasn’t taken seriously when he said we should eat oats and… -
I have a stuffy nose. How do I know if it’s hay fever or a cold?
You’ve been through winter lurgies and escaped the start of spring free of hay fever. Now you wake up with a sniffle you can’t seem to shake. How do you know if it’s hay fever, a cold, or something else? And how do these two different culprits cause such similar symptoms? Hay fever is actually… -
Are berries safe to eat? How worried should I be about the pesticide dimethoate?
Australia’s regulator has suspended use of a common pesticide used on blueberries, raspberries and blackberries known as dimethoate. But this year-long suspension isn’t due to any new information about the pesticide itself. Rather, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) says it’s because we’re eating more berries so our potential exposure has increased. In… -
Asbestos has been found in children’s coloured sand. What’s the risk to kids?
Multiple schools and early learning centres in the Australian Capital Territory have shut on Friday after asbestos was found in coloured sand used for children’s art and sensory play. At least one school in Brisbane has also closed due to potential exposure. On Thursday, WorkSafe ACT issued a contamination notice after laboratory testing confirmed traces…
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