Author: Andrew Rogers

As H5N1 bird flu devastates global wildlife, New Zealand is racing to protect some of its most endangered species, including the kākāpō, the world’s fattest parrot. With fewer than 250 left, a single outbreak could wipe them out. The country’s Department of Conservation has completed a world-first trial, vaccinating 10 birds from five critically endangered species. Four, including the kākāpō, developed strong antibody responses lasting at least six months. Officials aim to protect captive breeding populations before migratory birds arrive, though vaccinating wild flocks is seen as impractical and risky. Similar efforts abroad include the emergency vaccination of over 200…

A two-minute cheek swab could transform how doctors identify children at risk of a life-threatening heart condition years before symptoms appear, new research suggests. The condition, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), is responsible for more than 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children. Typically genetic, it occurs when abnormalities in the proteins between heart cells disrupt the heart’s structure and electrical activity. Often, it strikes without warning. Scientists from Great Ormond Street Hospital and St George’s, University of London discovered that the same protein changes affecting the heart can also be detected in cells from the lining of the cheek. This breakthrough…

Oscar Piastri took a commanding win at the Dutch Grand Prix to open up a 34-point lead in the championship, while his McLaren teammate and closest rival Lando Norris suffered a devastating DNF just seven laps from the finish. Piastri’s performance at Zandvoort was flawless, controlling the race from pole through changing conditions and multiple safety car restarts. The 24-year-old Australian never looked under threat, displaying the composure that has become his hallmark. Norris, however, endured heartbreak. Running second and keeping the pressure on Piastri, his car suddenly began smoking before grinding to a halt with an oil leak. Forced…

A major US study has found that many young children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are prescribed medication far sooner than medical guidelines recommend. The analysis of more than 9,700 children, published in JAMA Network Open, revealed that 42% of four- and five-year-olds were given ADHD medication within a month of diagnosis, despite official advice to begin with six months of behavioural therapy. Guidelines emphasise that early behavioural treatment can have “a big positive effect on the child as well as on the family,” according to Dr Yair Bannett, lead author and assistant professor of paediatrics at Stanford University. While medications…

A groundbreaking global review has revealed that the shingles vaccine may provide significant cardiovascular benefits, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes by nearly 20%. The study, the first systematic review and meta-analysis on the topic, found that vaccinated adults had an 18% lower risk of cardiovascular events, with a 16% reduction observed in people over 50. Researchers believe the protective effect may be linked to the vaccine’s role in preventing shingles-related inflammation, a key factor in heart and circulatory diseases. While the analysis included both randomized trials and observational studies, experts caution that more evidence is needed to…

A new study suggests ocean acidification could erode shark teeth, threatening their ability to feed and destabilizing marine ecosystems. Sharks’ rapid tooth replacement usually safeguards their survival, but researchers found that increasingly acidic oceans may damage teeth faster than they can be replaced. The study tested 60 naturally shed blacktip reef shark teeth in seawater tanks simulating current pH levels (8.1) and projected future acidity (7.3). After eight weeks, teeth in the acidic tank showed double the damage, including root corrosion and dulled serrations. Lead author Maximilian Baum from Heinrich Heine University warned this could hinder sharks’ hunting efficiency, especially…

Wild bumblebees actively visit different flowers to balance their intake of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, according to a new study conducted in the Colorado Rockies. Over eight years, ecologists tracked eight species of wild bumblebees, collecting pollen samples from flowers to analyze their macronutrient content. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, revealed that bees’ dietary choices are closely linked to both seasonal changes in pollen nutrients and the bees’ physical traits. Researchers discovered striking differences in protein levels among flowers, with some containing as little as 17% and others as much as 86%.…

Surgeons in China have successfully transplanted a genetically modified pig lung into a brain-dead human recipient, marking a major step in xenotransplantation research. The organ functioned for nine days, remaining viable and showing no immediate signs of hyperacute rejection or infection. The lung, taken from a Chinese Bama Xiang pig with six genetic modifications, was transplanted into a 39-year-old man declared brain dead. Despite its early success, the lung began showing signs of fluid buildup and antibody-related damage within 24 hours, even under strong immunosuppressive medication. Researchers noted that the patient’s remaining natural lung may have masked the full extent…

A large study published in Nature Medicine suggests that following a Mediterranean-style diet may help reduce the risk of dementia, even for those with a high genetic predisposition. The diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, whole grains, and low in red and processed meats, was linked to slower cognitive decline over a period of three decades. Diet Benefits Strongest for High-Risk Groups The findings were particularly notable in people carrying two copies of the APOE4 gene variant, which can increase Alzheimer’s risk up to twelvefold. Researchers found that participants with healthier dietary patterns showed better long-term brain health, suggesting that…

Antarctica, once visited by fewer than 8,000 people annually in the 1990s, welcomed more than 124,000 tourists in the 2023–24 season, with projections suggesting numbers could rise to 450,000 by 2034. A new study in Nature Sustainability warns that this surge, combined with expanding research bases, is leaving a lasting mark on the continent. Researchers travelling across 2,000 kilometres of Antarctica found concentrations of toxic metals such as nickel, copper and lead up to ten times higher than four decades ago. Tourism not only generates vast carbon emissions—about 5.44 tonnes of CO2 per passenger—but also disturbs wildlife, damages fragile vegetation…