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Britons embrace DIY health checks

Most people in the UK already monitor their own health and wellbeing, and an overwhelming majority would be happy to do more if advised by the NHS, according to a new University of Manchester led study.

14 Aug 2026

Meat, stress and risk-taking: what 38 experiments reveal about masculinity threat

Experimental evidence suggests that masculinity threat can push some men toward health-risk behaviors, with the clearest and most consistent effects seen in meat-related food choices. Across 38 experiments, effects on stress, fitness, risk-taking, and relationships were mixed or limited, while individual beliefs about masculinity shaped how men responded.

14 Aug 2026

Most Americans still believe outdated antibiotic guidance, study finds

"Always finish your antibiotics" is no longer considered medical best practice for all conditions.

13 Aug 2026

Strong friendships linked to better mental and physical health

Fulfilling friendships and general close social relationships are strongly linked to excellent physical and mental health, finds a substantial global study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Mental Health.

13 Aug 2026

Prenatal appointment scheduling increases dental care during pregnancy

Prenatal visits might include bloodwork, discussions of due dates and vitamins, and ultrasounds. What if these visits could also improve oral health care among pregnant patients?

13 Aug 2026

Superstorm Sandy reshaped indoor fungal communities, with an unexpected asthma result

and lower fungal diversity than non-damaged homes. Despite these persistent but variable fungal changes, researchers found no statistically significant increase in asthma morbidity, impaired lung function, or airway inflammation among children with relatively mild asthma.

13 Aug 2026

Study examines how public deliberation can strengthen public health policymaking

Public health policies are commonly evaluated by their financial costs and expected outcomes. However, policy decisions must also be supported by strong evidence, political feasibility, effective implementation, and public trust to achieve lasting public health benefits.

13 Aug 2026

Smokers lack awareness of smoking-related cardiovascular risks

An international study has found that despite two decades of global tobacco control efforts, the message still is not getting through to enough smokers that smoking and second-hand smoke cause heart attack and stroke.

13 Aug 2026

Researchers identify genes that hinder CRISPR editing efficiency

Like a delivery driver navigating crowded city streets, a gene-therapy-toting lipid nanoparticle faces a gauntlet of potential detours on its journey toward a cell's nucleus.

13 Aug 2026

Study investigates spotted fever group rickettsioses in Laotian pets and owners

Announcing a new article publication for Zoonoses journal. Serological evidence of spotted fever group rickettsioses (SFGRs) and interactions between pets and their owners in Laos have rarely been reported.

13 Aug 2026

Liver’s internal clock coordinates daily metabolic communication, study finds

What if one of the keys to a healthier metabolism is understanding how and when the liver communicates with the rest of the body?

12 Aug 2026

Pregnant women use Reddit to seek Tdap vaccine reassurance

An analysis of Reddit posts about the maternal Tdap vaccine made by pregnant women reveals expectant mothers turning to Reddit to seek advice and reassurance-with fewer outright instances of vaccine hesitation/refusal than has generally been observed for other types of vaccines, according to a study published on August 12, 2026 in the open access journal PLOS Global Public Health by Soojung Jo from Purdue University, United States, and colleagues.

12 Aug 2026

New program receives CDC grant to expand access to breast and cervical cancer screening

The Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health Program (LBCHP), a program of the LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center and housed at the LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health, has received more than $3 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand access to breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic services and patient navigation across Louisiana.

12 Aug 2026

Ultra-processed foods linked to higher prostate cancer risk in men

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) account for nearly 60% of adults' and 70% of children's energy intake in the United States.

12 Aug 2026

Childhood screen time may support cognitive processing in teenagers

In a recent Finnish study, more screen time since childhood was associated with better cognitive processing in adolescence.

12 Aug 2026

Healthy lifestyle cuts hearing impairment risk by 14%, metabolism is key driver

Hearing impairment ranks as the third largest contributor to global disability among sensory disorders, with prevalence rising across younger and middle-aged populations alongside older adults.

12 Aug 2026

Cannabis compounds may weaken glioblastoma response to chemotherapy and radiation

Several cannabinoids reduced chemotherapy- and radiation-induced apoptosis in glioblastoma cell models, with effects linked to reduced apoptotic priming, increased pro-survival signaling, and G1 cell-cycle arrest. The findings raise concern that cannabinoid exposure could interfere with some cancer treatments, although the results are limited to laboratory models and require in vivo and clinical validation.

12 Aug 2026

The screen-time story gets more complicated as children grow up

Higher screen use was not consistently associated with poorer psychosocial development across childhood and adolescence in a large Scottish cohort. Very high gaming at age 15 was linked to greater difficulties, while some social media use was associated with lower difficulties scores, although causality cannot be established.

12 Aug 2026

Innovative youth mental health service model cuts costs and improves care

An innovative youth mental health service model can improve care and ease pressure on Canada's health-care system, a new study led by researchers at McGill University and the Douglas Research Centre demonstrates.

11 Aug 2026

Contaminated soil can bring hazardous lead dust into homes

Lead contamination in soil tracked inside homes can cause dangerous indoor lead dust levels even in residences with no interior lead-based paint, according to researchers with the Rutgers Environmental, Occupational and Health Sciences Institute in collaboration with community scientists from the East Trenton Collaborative.

11 Aug 2026