Introducing the poison that inspired Van Gogh and almost killed James Bond: Digoxin The otherwise innocent-looking flower Digitalis contains the poison that can make your heart stop. That unfortunate effect is also the reason why the poison has been used for treating heart ailments for more than 200 years.
Cell death and vomiting: This happens in your body, if you eat poisonous mushrooms Toxic mushrooms can be found in Danish forests. But what makes them so poisonous?
Living human brain in petri dishes provides unique insight into old mysteries For the first time in Denmark, researchers are examining living pieces of human brain in a laboratory.
Want to improve your concentration? There is no magic pill, but science does offer some tips and tricks Brain training apps are not the answer to your concentration troubles. Plenty of sleep, exercise and lifelong learning are better allies.
Stress and shame are closely linked – understand why Read about new methods for managing stress in working life.
How do you research 'global mobility' during a pandemic when travel is highly restricted? Two researchers tell the story of how the pandemic completely altered their research topic and how they dealt with it.
How smart antibodies can lead to superior treatments Antibodies are the garbage trucks of the human body. They take the stuff we do not want in our system and drive it off to the waste dump. This system is smart, but it can be improved.
Myth: The adult brain is hardwired and unchangeable On the contrary, your brain changes with every new skill you learn and the brain can form new connections throughout your life.
Myth: The left and the right brain hemisphere are fundamentally different The differences between right vs. left brain have been blown completely out of proportion.
Myth: We only use 10 percent of our brain The myth pervades is often repeated by self-improvement gurus and Hollywood movies. But 'wasting' 90 percent of brain tissue would run contrary to all evolutionary principles.
Nanobodies – a smaller and better version of antibodies? Nanobodies, a protein derived from the camel’s immune system, can prove very helpful in combating a variety of diseases and ailments. But what are they exactly and how far has the current nanobody research come?
Do you easily gain weight? It might have something to do with the calories in the toilet Our bodies do not take up all the calories we ingest. New research indicates that certain people are protected from weight gain simply because a significant part of their calorie intake ends up going down the toilet drain.
How your immune system combats infections like COVID-19 Your immune cells can be found everywhere in your body and without hesitating they will fight against any intruder to ensure your well-being. But how much do you know about your immune system and the way your immune cells handle infections like COVID-19?
How can Denmark better detect children 0-5 years with developmental and behavioral problems? COMMENT: The first years of life are crucial for the rest of life. Still, too many infants and toddlers are largely not periodically screened to measure their communication, motor, cognitive, social and emotional skills in Denmark, and therefore you might not be swiftly identifying the children who deserve extra help, writes an American pediatrician.
Sibling studies: Nature's own randomised trials? COMMENT: Why do some people get sick while others remain healthy? We can learn more about that by comparing siblings to one another. But it is a delicate balancing act to perform such studies.
Water channels in the brain can determine how deeply you sleep COMMENT: A new study has found a possible link between deep sleep and cleansing of the brain, which may prove to be the next step in understanding why we sleep.
“In excellent physical shape”: Football-playing 70-yr-old men have cells that are up to 11 years younger Older men who have played football throughout their lifetime are younger at cellular level than their inactive peers.
Coronavirus: Schoolchildren and parents emerge unscathed from being guinea-pigs Many parents feared sending their children back to school midway through a global pandemic. Fortunately, that fear has so far proved unfounded, reveals a new report from CBS.
The medicines of the future are hiding in Nature's treasure trove Researchers at the University of Copenhagen are studying bioactive molecules in fungi to find the medicines of tomorrow.
Why are men hit hardest by COVID-19? COMMENT: To answer that and many other questions, we need to examine how coronavirus is related to gender – and not just the biological one. This knowledge would also be helpful in the prevention and handling of future pandemics.
Corona isolation puts our existential state to the test The coronavirus is a biological phenomenon that affects our social world. But what about the existential alterations? Søren Kierkegaard can help us understand fear and anxiety during pandemic isolation.
Slime-loving bacteria from fresh faeces may be able to help anorexia patients Researchers have transferred fresh faeces from a healthy donor and helped one anorexia patient gain weight. It is the first time it has been done. Now it requires further testing to show that the weight gain was not just a lucky coincidence.
Psychological Strategies Can Reduce Your Cravings Your uncontrollable craving for a bar of Snickers bar is real enough – but it is probably not because your body lacks chocolate or sugar. A health psychologist offers you tips on how to prevent cravings from turning into eating.
Why mice are man's best friend in the fight against COVID-19 Researchers around the world are recreating the type of mice used in SARS research for many years. Because you cannot just use any mouse to test possible COVID-19 vaccines or to research the biology of the disease.
Brain researchers want to know how you take care of your brain One in three will develop a brain disease in their lifetime, and we know that lifestyle influences brain health. Find out how you can help researchers understand what motivates people to take care of their brain.
After four billion years, the code of life has begun to shrink The genetic code is billions of years old and contains the recipe for all life. Now scientists have managed to change it.
Professor: Physical activity may prevent cancer risk American researchers have given concrete estimates as to what extent physical activity is able to reduce the risk of breast and colon cancer. The goal is that doctors will one day prescribe physical activity to patients the same way as they do regular medication. However, Danish researchers are more hesitant.
Hospitals fear a new, deadly fungus – How big is the threat and what can we do? Drug-resistant infections are increasing globally. One new member of the superbug family has already caused severe illness in hospitalized patients. Here is what you need to know.
Babies can show signs of autism early in life Babies who were just 10 months old and who later received a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder took less initiative than other children to communicate with adults.
Dogs mirror owner’s stress level New research suggests that long-term stress is transmitted from human to dog.
Scientists discover brain mechanism that regulates body weight A neurotransmitter in the brain affects whether we gain or lose weight, a new study in mice suggests.
Snoring prevents the body from repairing damage to the pharynx Snoring triggers a vicious cycle that can cause sleep apnoea and difficulty swallowing, according to Swedish research.
Written in the blood: Researchers detect signs of cancer risk years in advance of disease Some serious cancers have been linked to an increase of certain proteins in the blood as early as 15-25 years before a person becomes ill, a series of Swedish studies shows.
Kidney failure deaths on the rise More and more elderly people are seeing a sharp reduction in kidney function, while other people live well into their old age with healthy kidneys. Tromsø researchers are looking for the reasons behind this dichotomy — and are getting closer to figuring it out.
Children are ashamed of abuse they endured Childhood violence has major consequences for the victims’ long-term health and living conditions. A new report shows that the shame many individuals feel causes them to withdraw and become lonely.
Anxiety and depression high among undocumented migrants in Sweden Half say they often go hungry and few have permanent places to live, according to a survey of 88 migrants.
No link between MMR vaccine and autism Another study confirms that the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella does not lead to autism.
Crosswords, knitting and gardening lower the risk of Alzheimer's Physical activity can prevent dementia in the elderly. But activities that stimulate the brain, such as reading, going to concerts or weeding the garden, also lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease regardless of how much physical activity the person does, a Swedish study says.
Older Swedes drink more — and are more prone to accidents, disease Twenty-seven per cent of 75-year-old Swedish men and 10 per cent of 75-year-old Swedish women are considered to be hazardous drinkers, a new report says. Elderly people are more sensitive to alcohol than younger people and therefore are more at risk from drinking-related problems.
Professors with advice to inactive people: Football is good for your health But if you want to play football rather than taking medicine, the advice is that you will need to keep playing and only do it after consulting with your doctor.
Are all cancer cells the same? Not necessarily. And being able to identify the differences at a genetic level could lead to more effective, personalised treatments.
Healthiest to limit sugar, but not cut it completely It’s OK to eat a little sugar, but stay away from sugary soft drinks. Still, Swedish researchers are not sure how sugar affects our general health.
Grandsons' health at risk if grandpa ate well in his youth This odd connection may be due to our genes being affected by the world around us.
Eat your spinach, it’s good for your heart If you want to take care of your heart, you may want to eat more spinach or other greens. But eat it raw.
A single protein could be the key to treating hydrocephalus A new study in mice identified a mechanism responsible for brain fluid production
Using personal data to understand aging A new six-year research project shows how patient data can help progress scientific research while maintaining personal data privacy.
Danish children are reaching puberty earlier A new study shows that Danish children start puberty earlier than their parents did.
Where should we draw the line between a healthy and an unhealthy sports body? Norway is working on the answer with health certificates for athletes.
Everything you ever wanted to know about the history of haemorrhoids Warning: Includes spanking and leeches around the anus.
Elite female athletes at greater risk of eating disorders Especially in disciplines like running and gymnastics, where body weight is especially associated with aesthetics and fast running times.
How to build your own personal robot Researchers in Denmark are helping people who have suffered brain damage to develop their own personal robots that fit in with their existing routines and aid recovery.
Computer game addiction is now a diagnosis OPINION: Who’s decision to classify game addiction as a mental disorder could negatively impact the most vulnerable in society.
An enlightened approach to “illegal” drugs will revolutionise medicine and science OPINION: Let logic prevail! It is time for all countries to review their support of the current UN approach to recreational drug control and allow medical research on illegal substances.
When feeling sick feels great: New study reveals a close link between reward and unease A recent study shows how mice can be made to prefer sickness, nausea, and stress over feeling well, just be removing one specific receptor from the brain. This could open the door to new treatments against various types of malaise associated with disease.
Just one sleepless night can tell your body to start storing fat Sleep is one of those physiological necessities that continues to puzzle researchers. But a new study illuminates how missing one single night of sleep can initiate a series of physiological changes, and not necessarily for the better.
Here's a mental health workout that's as simple as ABC The Act-Belong-Commit approach promotes keeping active, building stronger relationships with friends, family and community groups, and committing to hobbies, challenges, and meaningful causes.
Double the number of children born to women over the age of 45 Scandinavian women are waiting longer to have children. Last year in Norway, 138 women over age 45 had children – twice as many as ten years earlier, according to figures from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway.
Swedish youth prescribed more anxiety medications Use of medications for anxiety, insomnia and epilepsy has increased significantly in Sweden among children and adolescents, a new study shows.
Considering knee surgery? Read this first About two out of ten people who undergo the procedure do not experience any pain relief at all and may actually be worse off after surgery than they were before.
Greenlandic children are getting taller and healthier The general health of Greenlandic children now appears to be as good as that of their European peers. And perhaps even better. New studies show that compared with Danish children, they are no longer characterised as short and have similar patterns of disease.
Diabetes patients can reduce their risk of heart failure by 70 per cent 21-year-long research project shows the difference it makes when doctors initiate intensive treatment of diabetes patients.
How necessary is the world’s most common shoulder operation? Patients who received surgical treatment for shoulder impingement fared no better than patients receiving placebo treatment.
Ouija board study highlights ineffective treatment for autism Facilitated communication is still a widely used technique even though studies have shown that it does not work. A new study into Ouija boards indicates why.
How can you avoid regaining those lost kilos? New scientific results from a small clinical study shows that people maintain weight loss when they adhere to their own systematic set of rules for eating, rather than following any particular diet, or eating for pleasure or hunger.
Biology makes women and girls survivors Women outlive men even in the face of discrimination and crisis situations, such as famine.
Autoimmune diseases more often affect people with stress disorders A major study shows an association between stress-related disorders and subsequent autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, celiac disease and type 1 diabetes.
Weight loss can protect overweight boys from developing type 2 diabetes A new Danish study shows that boys who are overweight at seven are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes as adults, but not if they lose weight before hitting puberty.
New research may explain why some people become alcoholics Several studies suggest that a brain function related to the handling of emotions and stress may be abnormal in people who are addicted to drink.
Human implants are invaded by microorganisms A multitude of microorganisms depend on human implants to survive, shows new research. Scientists do not yet know whether they have a health impact.
Caesarean section versus natural birth – an obstetrician examines a new review Caesarean section should not be “marketed” as a safe way to avoid pelvic floor problems. The reality is more complex than that.
Thin evidence behind “revolutionary” blood sugar diet: Scientists “Irresponsible to make recommendations” when there isn’t convincing evidence that they’re right, says a critic of new diet promoted by University of Copenhagen research group.
Football is a winning treatment for elderly people with prediabetes Playing football is great for your health and could even stave off type 2 diabetes. New study in the Faroe Islands reveals improvements in overall health among middle-aged and elderly prediabetic men and women who enjoy a regular kickabout.
Here’s why firefighters don’t get burned out In spite of encountering stressful situations, firefighters have good coping strategies that keep them healthy and protect them from burnout, a new study shows.
Is it bad to sleep in on the weekends? A large study suggests that a few extra hours of sleep on the weekend are probably not detrimental to your health.
Fake researcher fabricated finding that HPV vaccine causes cervical cancer A research article alleging that HPV vaccines can cause cancer has now been withdrawn. "Extremely serious," says Karolinska Institutet.
Self-admissions can improve patients’ ability to manage their illness Danish psychiatric patients have been able to admit themselves to the psychiatric ward since 2014. It gives them a sense of safety and a better quality of life.
Voluntary admissions do not reduce coercion among psychiatric patients Psychiatric patients in Denmark can decide when to admit themselves to hospital. The idea was to reduce coercion, but new evidence indicates it has little to no effect.
Can birth control pills make teens depressed? A Swedish study shows that hormone-based contraceptives are associated with an increased use of antidepressants among young girls.
