Grace Wade

Stem cell therapy lowers risk of heart failure after a heart attack People who receive stem cell therapy within a week of their first heart attack have nearly a 60 per cent lower risk of developing heart failure years later

After decades of mixed results, new evidence suggests stem cells really can help the heart heal. The largest trial yet finds stem cell therapy cuts the risk of heart failure by nearly 60% in the years following a heart attack. www.newscientist.com/article/2502...

US public health system is flying blind after major cuts The Trump administration has laid off government workers integral to major public health surveys, meaning the country will lack crucial information on births, deaths and illnesses nationwide

Throughout the year, the US government has gut staff running crucial public health surveys. These datasets track births, deaths, diet and drug use, forming the foundation of most public health policy. Without them, the public health system will be flying blind. www.newscientist.com/article/2501...

Common artificial sweetener may interfere with cancer treatments People who consume some artificial sweeteners are less likely to respond to certain cancer therapies, potentially because of the impact on their gut microbiome

More research is uncovering that aritficial sweeteners aren't as harmless as we once thought. Not only may they increase hunger and raise blood sugar, but a new study finds they could also be interfering with crucial cancer treatments. www.newscientist.com/article/2490...

YouTube video by New Scientist Gene-editing your gut microbiome could revolutionise your health

We discuss what could be the first step towards having gene-edited microbiomes. With @pennysarchet.bsky.social and @gracewade.bsky.social
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs9r...

The world is losing major ground in the fight against measles A wave of anti-vaccine sentiment has spurred measles outbreaks around the world, and could lead to outbreaks of other preventable illnesses

The US is the midst of its largest measles outbreak since it eradicated the virus in 2000. And it isn't alone. Countries around the world are losing ground against measles as more people choose to forego vaccination. www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

Certainly -- and that's a great point!

The world is losing major ground in the fight against measles A wave of anti-vaccine sentiment has spurred measles outbreaks around the world, and could lead to outbreaks of other preventable illnesses

My interview with @gracewade.bsky.social @newscientist.com

www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

The world is losing major ground in the fight against measles A wave of anti-vaccine sentiment has spurred measles outbreaks around the world, and could lead to outbreaks of other preventable illnesses

We're losing control of measles, and that's not great, as @gracewade.bsky.social explains www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

Brain changes with eating disorders similar to those in OCD and autism In children with anorexia nervosa or other restrictive eating disorders, changes in the brain’s outer layer don’t seem to be due to lack of nutrition alone – and some mirror those seen in other neurol...

We know little about the neurobiology of eating disoders, especially in children. Now, the largest-ever neuroimaging study of young children with anorexia finds the brain's outer layer drastically thins in those with the condition. www.newscientist.com/article/2488...

Appreciate it! :)

The unexpected benefits of wall squats and other isometric exercises Isometric exercises like wall squats are gentle on your body, but can enhance your fitness in a surprisingly efficient way, discovers Grace Wade

I'm really enjoying @gracewade.bsky.social's fitness column in @newscientist.com. This week's is super-interesting about the health benefits of exercises like planking, squats or wall sits that involve contracting and then holding our muscles in that position.

www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...

The truth about ivermectin’s supposed health benefits Interest in the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin skyrocketed during the covid-19 pandemic, but evidence for many of its supposed health claims are lacking

I must admit that I knew very little about ivermectin before writing this story. So I was surprised to learn just how important it has been for improving global health – and that some researchers believe it still has untapped potential. www.newscientist.com/article/2487...

Violent and Nonviolent Death Tolls for the Gaza War: New Primary Evidence High-quality war mortality estimates, such as those that were produced for Kosovo, Iraq, and Darfur play a critical role in illuminating the human cost of war. During the tumult of war they are, howev...

The study also estimates that there were nearly 9000 more non-violent deaths during this period than would normally be expected in the Gaza Strip. This is the first estimate of indirect deaths, and is lower than some have suggested

doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Independent estimate of Gaza deaths is higher than official figures A study based on household surveys suggests that from October 2023 to January 2025, around 75,000 people in Gaza died violent deaths, while Gaza's health ministry estimates 46,000 for the same period

Around 75,000 people - 3.6 per cent of the population - in the Gaza Strip died from violent causes between 7 October 2023 and 5 January 2025, according to an independent study. That is higher than the estimate of 46,000 violent deaths by Gaza’s health ministry

www.newscientist.com/article/2485...

When my publisher asked about inspiration for my book's cover I just sent a bunch of old textbook images, truly they used to be so good!

How to use psychology to feel better about how you look in a swimsuit Recent research delves into our issues with "seasonal body image dissatisfaction", says David Robson, who has advice on how to combat it during the summer months

Loved @davidarobson.bsky.social's latest column for @newscientist.com. I only started feeling comfortable in a swimsuit when I began appreciating my body for what it could do rather than how it looked. I am a big fan of the body-neutrality movement! www.newscientist.com/article/mg26...

How a US agriculture agency became key in the fight against bird flu Amidst an ongoing outbreak of a deadly bird flu virus in livestock, the US Department of Agriculture is doing more to prevent the spread than public health agencies are

It's absolutely wild that US government policy is that cows should be protected against bird flu, but people shouldn't - really interesting piece from @gracewade.bsky.social www.newscientist.com/article/2484...

US stops endorsing covid-19 shots for kids – are other vaccines next? When Robert F Kennedy Jr announced that the US would stop recommending covid-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnancies, he bypassed standard protocols and set the stage for future vaccine rollb...

Last week, RFK Jr announced the CDC would stop reccomending covid-19 vaccines for healthy children and pregnancies. In practice, not much has changed when it comes to who can access covid-19 vaccines in the US – but the news still sets a troubling precedent. www.newscientist.com/article/2483...

TB's extraordinary evolution reveals why the ancient disease lives on Once thought to have originated in cows and spread through dust, the surprising evolutionary story of tuberculosis reveals why it's so hard to stamp out this ancient disease, writes Carl Zimmer

TB may have caused more suffering than any other disease and still wreaks havoc today. To understand why, look to its ability to fly, writes Carl Zimmer.

MDMA was hyped as a promising treatment for PTSD – what went wrong? For years, it seemed MDMA-assisted therapy would revolutionise PTSD treatment. But poor trial design and alleged misconduct ultimately stopped the treatment from receiving government approval

I can't speak to psychedelic research under the Trump admin, but I would say that, at least under Biden, the FDA was open to psychedelics. It asked Lykos to conduct another clinical trial of MDMA for PTSD that addressed its concerns. You can read more here: www.newscientist.com/article/2448...

Psychedelics may boost mental health by dampening inflammation Psychedelic drugs like MDMA and psilocybin may help treat depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions by reducing the number of inflammatory cells around the brain

More and more research is suggesting that psychedelics can reduce inflammation. This raises the possibility of using the drugs to treat non-psychiatric conditions linked with excess inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel disease or chronic Lyme disease.
www.newscientist.com/article/2479...

US plans massive health database to study autism – will it work? The US government’s proposal for a vast health database to study autism could improve our understanding of the condition – but there is a risk it could do more harm than good

The US government has faced swift backlash over plans to create a massive health database to study autism. But the initiative, as it turns out, could be a boon for public health research — so long as it is executed ethically.
Read more:
www.newscientist.com/article/2478...

It was a pleasure to join Science Vs this week to discuss measles! Listen to the episode below :)

Yale Will Teach a Course on Bad Bunny’s Cultural Impact With a new fall offering, Yale becomes the latest university to offer a course on the cultural impact of the Puerto Rican star.

Bad Bunny will be the subject of a course at Yale University this fall, joining the handful of living artists, including Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, who have amassed enough cultural clout to have a college class taught about them.

'Bone collector' caterpillar wears dead insect body parts as disguise A carnivorous caterpillar species camouflages itself with dead insects so it can live safely alongside spiders, stalking their webs and stealing their prey

Took a break from health news to write about what has to be the most metal caterpillar of all time. This lil guy adorns itself with dead insects, lives with spiders, steals their prey AND is a cannibal. If that isn't hardcore enough, its named the bone collector. www.newscientist.com/article/2477...

It is ridiculous I am even saying this, but the fact some students experience not just one, but TWO(?!) school shootings in their lifetime is downright deplorable. It shouldn't be a surprise as to why young people are jaded on US government/politics...

Seems hard to track US progress in addressing the opioid crisis and mental health issues without this national survey...

US government fired researchers running a crucial drug use survey A termination letter obtained by New Scientist reveals that the Trump administration has gutted the office that runs the country’s only nationwide survey on drug use and mental health

Today, @HHSGov abruptly laid off all 17 employees running the United State's only nationwide survey on drug use and mental health. The survey has tracked these issues across the US for more than half a century. Its future is now uncertain. www.newscientist.com/article/2474...

Why exercise is more important than ever when taking weight-loss drugs GLP-1 drugs have revolutionised the treatment of obesity, but the very reason they are effective is also why it's vital to prioritise exercise when taking them

What impact do weight-loss drugs have on our ability to exercise, and do we still need to work out when taking them?

Microdosing LSD is not an effective ADHD treatment The first randomised controlled trial of microdosing LSD as a treatment for ADHD found the psychedelic drug wasn’t any more effective than a placebo in alleviating symptoms

The first randomised controlled trial of LSD for ADHD shows that microdosing the psychedelic drug isn't any more effective at reducing symptoms than a placebo. Still, more research is needed to rule out whether a higher or lower dose could have an effect. www.newscientist.com/article/2472...