Author: Andrew Rogers

Autism should not be regarded as a single condition with a unified cause, researchers say, after uncovering clear genetic and developmental differences between people diagnosed in early childhood and those diagnosed later in life. An international team analysed genetic data from more than 45,000 autistic people across Europe and the US, alongside behavioural data from birth cohorts. They found that children diagnosed before the age of six typically displayed early, stable difficulties with social interaction and communication, and had distinct genetic profiles. By contrast, those diagnosed after the age of 10 were more likely to experience worsening social and behavioural…

Scientists have successfully created human eggs from skin cells, a development that could revolutionise IVF treatment and open new possibilities for people who cannot conceive naturally. The early-stage research, led by Prof Shoukhrat Mitalipov at Oregon Health and Science University, adapted cloning techniques first used to create Dolly the sheep in the 1990s. By transferring the nucleus of a skin cell into a donor egg stripped of its own, researchers produced lab-grown eggs containing the donor’s genetic material. The breakthrough could one day help women whose fertility has been affected by age, illness or chemotherapy, as well as same-sex male…

New Zealand’s kārearea falcon, the country’s fastest bird and only native raptor, has soared to victory in the 2025 Bird of the Year competition. Capable of reaching speeds of up to 200km/h in pursuit of prey, the small tawny falcon is a formidable aerial hunter. But with just 5,000–8,000 left in the wild, it is considered threatened. Ground-nesting habits make kārearea especially vulnerable to predators such as cats, stoats and hedgehogs, while habitat loss, collisions with power lines, and vineyard netting have also reduced numbers. “The kārearea is just a stunning bird,” said Emma Blackburn, chair of the Karearea Falcon…

Strolling down supermarket aisles in 2025, it’s hard to miss the pastel-coloured cans of “functional beverages” promising calm, focus and a host of other mental and physical benefits. Packed with ingredients such as ashwagandha, lion’s mane mushroom, magnesium and CBD, the drinks have become a wellness trend worth billions. The global functional drinks market is projected to reach $248.5bn by 2030, fuelled by a shift away from alcohol and the rise of health-conscious young consumers. In the UK, almost half of 18 to 24-year-olds now opt for low- or non-alcoholic alternatives, according to YouGov. “These products fit perfectly into today’s…

Jennifer Lawrence received the Premio Donostia 2025 Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, becoming the youngest actor to win the honor. At 35, the Oscar winner reflected on her career and addressed cultural and political issues during the ceremony. “It’s a huge honour,” she said at a press conference, before warning: “Our freedom of speech is under attack in the United States, including in the world of film, where we realise that we are all connected and need empathy and freedom.” Lawrence presented her new film Kill Me Love, in which she also worked as producer, and encouraged…

A Cambridge-led clinical trial has found that combining a common diabetes drug with an antihistamine can partially repair nerve damage in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), raising hopes for a new generation of treatments. The CCMR Two trial tested metformin, widely used for type 2 diabetes, alongside clemastine, an antihistamine previously shown to stimulate myelin repair. Myelin is the fatty sheath that protects nerve fibres, and its loss in MS disrupts electrical signals in the brain and spinal cord, leading to disability. Seventy people with relapsing MS took part in the six-month study. While the combination therapy did not improve…

Women who miss their first breast cancer screening appointment face a 40% higher risk of dying from the disease, according to a major new study from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. The research, published in the British Medical Journal, tracked around 500,000 women invited for their first mammogram between 1991 and 2020. Nearly one in three (32%) did not attend, and over a follow-up period of up to 25 years, those who skipped the initial check were more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage and less likely to attend later screenings. The findings showed breast cancer mortality was…

The world’s oceans have crossed a critical threshold of acidity for the first time, according to the latest Planetary Health Check from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Scientists say the shift, driven by fossil fuel emissions, threatens marine life and global climate stability. Since the industrial era, ocean surface pH has fallen by about 0.1 units, increasing acidity by up to 40%. This disrupts calcium carbonate formation, harming corals, molluscs and shellfish, and indirectly affecting species like salmon and whales. Researchers warn of risks to food security and coastal economies, as well as the ocean’s ability to absorb…

Amazon will shut all 19 of its Fresh stores in the UK, just four years after opening the first in London. Five locations will be converted into Whole Foods Market outlets, the US organic grocery chain Amazon bought in 2017. The Fresh stores, launched in 2021, used sensors and cameras to let customers walk out without tills, charging them automatically via an app. The system struggled to attract demand after the pandemic, leaving Amazon unable to challenge UK rivals like Tesco and Sainsbury’s. Amazon did not confirm job losses but said staff would be offered roles in other divisions. The…

Vodafone franchisees warned in 2020 that commission cuts were affecting their mental health, four years before a group of 62 launched a £120m high court claim. A survey of 119 franchisees revealed stress, anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and low trust in the company. The claim alleges Vodafone “unjustly enriched” itself at the expense of small business owners, some of whom reported personal debts over £100,000 and suicidal thoughts. Vodafone says it “strongly refutes” the allegations and describes the case as a “commercial dispute,” while also launching a fourth investigation into its franchising division.