Author: Andrew Rogers

About one in 10 people in the UK aged 70 and over may have brain changes linked to Alzheimer’s disease, according to a large population-based study published in Nature. The findings are not a diagnosis but suggest that more than 1 million people could meet NHS criteria for anti-amyloid treatment, far more than current estimates. Researchers analysed blood samples from nearly 11,500 randomly selected participants using a p-tau217 biomarker test, which can detect Alzheimer’s-related changes early. The prevalence rose with age, from under 8% in people in their 50s and 60s to around two-thirds of those over 90. Experts say…

A carnivorous pitcher plant has been found to drug its prey with a chemical nerve agent before digesting it, researchers have discovered. The plant, Nepenthes khasiana, produces a sweet nectar along the rim of its pitcher-shaped traps to attract insects, especially ants. While the liquid appears harmless, it is laced with a toxic compound called isoshinanolone that interferes with the insects’ nervous systems. After feeding on the nectar, ants become sluggish, lose muscle control and begin excessive grooming. Many eventually fall into spasms, sometimes dying before tumbling into the pitcher, where they are broken down by digestive fluids. The nectar…

The first new treatments for gonorrhoea in decades have been approved in the US, offering hope in the fight against rapidly rising drug-resistant strains of the infection. Gonorrhoea infects more than 82 million people worldwide each year, with cases at record levels in England and tripling across Europe since 2014. Health officials are increasingly alarmed by resistance to existing antibiotics, with the World Health Organization classifying the disease as a priority pathogen. Two new antibiotics have now received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration. Zoliflodacin, approved on 12 December, cured more than 90% of genital gonorrhoea cases in…

The US company behind the Roomba robot vacuum cleaner has filed for bankruptcy protection and agreed to be taken over by one of its Chinese suppliers, Picea Robotics. iRobot said it had entered Chapter 11 proceedings in Delaware as part of a restructuring deal that will see the company acquired by a Picea subsidiary. The company has struggled in recent years with declining profits, supply chain disruption and growing competition from cheaper rivals, and warned earlier this month that bankruptcy was a possibility. Chief executive Gary Cohen said the takeover would strengthen iRobot’s financial position by combining its design and…

A new review suggests psychedelic treatments, particularly psilocybin, may help reduce symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), while cannabis shows little lasting benefit. The review, led by Dr Michael Van Ameringen of McMaster University and published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, examined alternative treatments for OCD, a condition in which up to 60% of patients see limited improvement from standard therapies. After analysing published studies, conference data and early trial results, the researchers found stronger evidence supporting psychedelics than cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Van Ameringen said the difference may lie in how the substances affect the brain. Cannabinoids…

Scientists have identified genetic changes in polar bears that could help the animals adapt to rising temperatures, offering new insight into how wildlife responds to climate change. Researchers from the University of East Anglia found that polar bears living in south-east Greenland show distinct genetic activity compared with bears in colder northern regions. The study, published in Mobile DNA, links warmer local temperatures to increased activity of so-called “jumping genes” – mobile pieces of DNA that can alter how other genes function. By analysing blood samples from bears in different parts of Greenland and comparing gene activity with regional climate…

The EU’s planned ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2035 is set to be weakened, according to a senior MEP, in a move likely to provoke strong opposition from environmental groups. Manfred Weber, president of the European People’s party in the European parliament, said the European Commission is expected to soften the rule so it no longer amounts to a total ban on combustion engines. Instead of requiring all new cars to have zero CO₂ emissions from 2035, manufacturers would need to meet a 90% fleet-wide emissions reduction target, allowing some hybrid vehicles to remain…

Scientists have recorded northern resident killer whales and Pacific white-sided dolphins cooperating to hunt salmon off British Columbia — a first for these species. Drone videos, underwater cameras, and acoustic tags showed dolphins leading the chase, moving quickly through the water as “scouts,” with orcas following behind. Once the whales caught and broke apart the salmon, the dolphins scavenged leftover pieces. Remarkably, the orcas showed no aggression, even though they usually guard fresh prey. Alternating echolocation clicks from both species suggest they may even be listening to each other’s sonar while hunting, expanding their ability to track fish deep underwater.…

Humans have been ranked 7th out of 35 mammal species for monogamy in a Cambridge University study, placing us among the most monogamous mammals. We scored a 66% rate of full siblings, meaning most children share both parents — a sign of relatively strong pair bonding. We ranked above meerkats and gibbons, but below Eurasian beavers and moustached tamarins. At the top was the California deermouse, while species like chimpanzees, dolphins and mountain gorillas ranked far lower due to highly promiscuous mating systems. Researchers say humans remain unusual among mammals for forming long-term pair bonds, though cultural and religious pressures…

Health officials in England have identified a new recombinant variant of mpox after testing a patient who had recently travelled to Asia. Genome sequencing revealed that the virus combines characteristics of two circulating clades – clade 1, the more severe form, and clade 2, which drove the global mpox outbreak in 2022. The UK Health Security Agency said further assessment is underway to understand how the new strain behaves, though experts emphasised that viral evolution is expected. While most mpox infections remain mild, officials are urging eligible people to get vaccinated as protection. Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, spreads through…