Findings could lead to use of calorie-free caffeinated drinks to cut obesity and type 2 diabetes – but more research neededHaving high levels of caffeine in your blood may lower the amount of body fat you carry and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, research suggests.The findings could lead to calorie-free caffeinated drinks being used to reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes, though further...

Nobel prizewinning biochemist who was a pioneer in the field of genetic engineeringThe Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 was built on the principle of stitching together DNA from two viruses, one to enable the vaccine to enter cells and the other to provoke an immune response.In 1972 Paul Berg, who has died aged 96, became the first person to combine the DNA of two organisms in this way....

Pharmacists told to stop supplying 20 brands after review finds raised risk of rare anaphylaxis in people who later have general anaestheticHealth officials have withdrawn 20 brands of dry cough medicine amid concerns they can trigger sudden, life-threatening allergic reactions in people who go on to have a general anaesthetic before surgery up to a year later.Pharmacists have been ordered to stop...

Study shows high ozone levels make males emit fewer pheromones to attract females, which may lead to population declineAir pollution is making it harder for fruit flies to mate because females cannot easily recognise a male’s scent, a study has found.Female fruit flies select their mates for reproduction through the scent of their pheromones, but ozone pollution can disrupt the male’s ability...

Drugs targeting the ‘happy hormone’ are widely used for depression. But some question whether the condition is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brainDaniela da Silva is feeling good. Lying cocooned under fleece blankets inside a medical scanner, her eyes are closed and her mind is focused and remarkably unperturbed by negative thoughts. Three hours earlier, the 39-year-old yoga teacher...

Data from more than 60,000 Britons suggests plant-rich diet may help regardless of person’s genetic risk A Mediterranean diet of nuts, seafood, whole grains and vegetables could lower the risk of dementia by almost a quarter, according to promising early research that could pave the way for new preventive treatments.The data suggests eating lots of plant-based foods may have a “protective...