Researchers are testing whether blood biomarkers can work in Nigerian populations, while confronting the much larger gap in dementia care.

A new world map inspires a fresh look at our planet and beyond.

We are delighted to announce the finalists for our 2026 Medical Journalists’ Association Awards. As ever, the MJA Awards recognise outstanding reporting across medicine, health and science. Our indepe...

When the Moon blocks sunlight, solar panels across the affected grid produce less power. In four eclipses, output fell by 45% to 95%.

Unexpected Elements · Episode

Q&A with Dr Delese Mimi Darko, Director General of the African Medicines Agency.

The Andes hantavirus outbreak linked to expedition cruise ship m/v Hondius has prompted an international public health response, with authorities monitoring passengers and crew across multiple countri...

A decade after Ebola vaccines changed outbreak response, a new epidemic in central Africa is caused by a strain the world never fully prepared for

On Jan 27, 2026, Zimbabwe's Medicines Control Authority (MCAZ) alerted citizens about the circulation of an unauthorised formulation of goserelin acetate, a hormone therapy used in the treatment of pr...

The promise was global. The fracture, when it came, was painfully local.

Galaxies can collect in large filamentary structures that have—until now—been considered rigid. A new study suggests one filament may be rotating.

Physics World and Physics Magazine announce successful pitches

This week’s clashes at the UN have renewed questions about its role in the world. A new biography of U Thant recalls a time when it wielded real power.

An insatiable thirst for cheap, ready-to-build furniture has been linked to illegal logging and assassinations of forest defenders.

In Behavioural Economics and Policy for Pandemics, editors Joan Costa-Font & Matteo M. Galizzi bring together global behavioural policy insights from COVID-19.

In Behavioural Economics and Policy for Pandemics, editors Joan Costa-Font & Matteo M. Galizzi bring together global behavioural policy insights from COVID-19.

Despite being declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern 10 months ago, the mpox outbreak is not over. And in places like Sierra Leone, it is spiralling. Paul Adepoju reports.

The Assembly approved a first-ever resolution on Fostering social connection for global health:  the essential role of social connection in combating

The 78th World Health Assembly picked up momentum Saturday as countries adopted a Nigeria-sponsored initiative to stimulate more public health spending; and

In a region where war, displacement, and weak health systems fuel a deadly disease, nine African governments are trying a new approach: eliminate visceral

Africa has achieved a remarkable 40% reduction in maternal deaths since 2000—a significant milestone in global health. Yet paradoxically, the continent still accounts for a staggering 70% of maternal deaths worldwide. In this episode, Paul Adepoju speaks with Dr. Adeniyi Aderoba, WHO's lead on reproductive and maternal health for Africa, to unpack this complex paradox. They explore what's driving Africa's maternal mortality crisis, highlight innovative interventions making a difference, and discuss how political will, funding, and community empowerment are shaping the fight to save mothers’ lives. Tune in to discover why pregnancy in Africa should not be a death sentence and how progress can accelerate even further.

Vienna, Austria – April 8, 2025 — Paul Adepoju, PhD, renowned science journalist and host of the Paul Talks Science podcast, will be speaking at the Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global) in Vienna, Austria. The event, taking place from April 12 to 15, 2025, brings together leading experts in microbiology, epidemiology, and infectious disease research from around the world.

Obesity has often been viewed as a personal failing, a consequence of poor individual choices. But is this really the full picture? In the latest episode of Paul Talks Science, host Paul Adepoju delves into this critical question with Dr. Simon Barquera, President of the World Obesity Federation. Dr. Barquera shares illuminating insights from the recently released World Obesity Atlas, a comprehensive global overview highlighting troubling trends and deep systemic issues fueling the obesity epidemic—particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

In the latest episode of Paul Talks Science, Dr. Helen Croker, Assistant Director of Research and Policy at the World Cancer Research Fund International, delves into the critical topic of lifestyle factors and their impact on cancer survival. Dr. Croker explains how the World Cancer Research Fund International champions global research into the roles diet, nutrition, physical activity, and body weight play, not just in cancer prevention, but significantly, in cancer survival after diagnosis.

In this episode, we explore Ireland's groundbreaking approach to cancer advocacy through two compelling conversations with leaders from the Irish Cancer Society. CEO Averil Power shares how relentless advocacy led to landmark legislation requiring cancer warnings on alcohol labels, changing Ireland's relationship with alcohol and health. Suzanne Dowd, Advocacy Officer, reveals another front in the fight: erasing financial stigma against cancer survivors struggling to access insurance and financial services long after recovery. Together, their stories illustrate Ireland's bold steps to protect cancer survivors, tackle stigma, and inspire global action.

In this episode, I sit down with Prof. Christian Gilissen, a pioneer in genome bioinformatics, and Head of Bioinformatics at Radboud University Medical Center, to explore how long-read sequencing is revolutionizing the diagnosis of rare diseases. For patients who’ve endured years of uncertainty, this technology offers newfound hope by uncovering genetic variations previously invisible to traditional methods. 🔍 What We Discuss:

In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sat down with Dr. Hailey Hampson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Carolina and the University of Washington, to discuss a growing but often overlooked public health threat—PFAS chemicals. Known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and human body, PFAS have been linked to a range of health issues, including chronic kidney disease.

In a breakthrough moment for Africa’s vaccine independence, two landmark deals could help put the continent on a path to becoming a producer, not just a

PFAS—also known as "forever chemicals"—are everywhere. They’re in our water, our soil, our food, and even our bodies. These toxic substances have been linked to serious health risks, yet industries continue to manufacture and use them while regulatory efforts face increasing resistance. In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sit down with Erik Olson, Senior Strategic Director for Health at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), to discuss the ongoing battle against PFAS contamination.

As an international non-profit organization that discovers, develops, and delivers treatments for neglected communities, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) expresses its alarm at drast...

Scientists also declared several other extinctions, including the first documented plant extinction in New Hampshire.

A report from the USAID inspector general says that almost $500 million in food assistance is sitting in ports, ships and warehouses.

The head of the U.N. AIDS agency says the number of new HIV infections could jump more than six times by 2029 if American support of the biggest AIDS program is dropped.

The Trump administration has already rolled back planned limits on PFAS chemicals, which have been linked to cancer and other health problems.

The Trump administration has already rolled back planned limits on PFAS chemicals, which have been linked to cancer and other health problems.

Guest: Dr. Jesse Mez, Associate Professor of Neurology, Boston University In this episode of Paul Talks Science, we explore a critical but often overlooked issue in contact sports: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in ice hockey. Dr. Jesse Mez, a neurologist specializing in aging and dementia at Boston University, shares groundbreaking findings on the risks associated with repetitive head trauma in hockey players and what this means for the future of the sport.

When we think about health, we often focus on personal choices—how much we exercise, what we eat, and our lifestyle habits. But what if our environment plays a bigger role than we realize? In the latest episode of Paul Talks Science, I sit down with Dr. Rumi Chunara, Associate Professor, and Director of the Center for Health Data Science at NYU, to explore how…

Climate solutions are the subject of Ayana Johnson’s new book, “Climate Futures,” with a focus on fixing inequities and growing hope.