When it comes to collective effort, laziness pays off
Humans have much to learn from ants, it seems. Researchers have now discovered from their behaviour how a busy work flow can be optimised – and surprisingly it’s not by everyone working harder.
How your outlook can affect exam performance
High school can be stressful as school work and expectations mount – particularly when exams are looming. But students who believe intelligence can be developed may weather anxiety better than those who think it is a fixed trait, according to US research.
Weeds growing in poor city areas more nutritious than store-bought produce
Despite the odds, nature does her best to nurture us. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, have reported finding nutritious wild greens growing abundantly in poor urban areas of San Francisco
Dateless and dreaming: the science of seeking romance online
People searching for love using a popular online dating website tend to target potential mates who are more desirable than they are
Can crab shells and trees replace plastic?
An eco-friendly material made from crab shells and trees could replace plastic food packaging, according to US researchers.
Please pass the salt – just hold the processed food
While trekking through Europe in his twenties, my husband dutifully visited elderly Italian relatives and immediately sat down to a sumptuous garden-grown, home-cooked meal. His ‘nonno’ asked him to pass the salt.
Full-fat dairy may not be the enemy we once thought
A new study intensifies doubts about long-standing recommendations to avoid full-fat dairy for a healthy heart.
Experimental diet offers hope for sufferers of inflammatory bowel disease
An experimental carbohydrate diet that restricted processed foods and most sugars has relieved symptoms in eight out of 10 children with inflammatory bowel disease
Mediterranean diet’s heart health benefits hold up despite intense scrutiny
A landmark paper has been retracted from the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.
The common culprit behind obesity, heart disease and depression
Heart disease, diabetes, asthma, cancer, arthritis, depression, Alzheimer’s: these diseases share a common culprit. Low-grade inflammation.
Mediterranean diet on a budget
Thinking of Mediterranean food tends to conjure up images of pizza, pasta and lamb on a spit. But the traditional diet, extolled for its bountiful health benefits, is far more colourful. With roots in provincial Mediterranean villages, this “peasant food” is tasty, diverse and simple. It can also be deceptively cheap.
There’s a new way to measure your risk of obesity
Several factors shape our propensity to gain excess pounds – and most are preventable. To help shine a light on this, researchers from the University of Navarra in Spain developed a dietary tool for calculating obesity risk
Babies prefer ‘talking’ to other babies over adults
Few sounds are more delightful than a baby’s sweet voice. But baby tones not only enrapture us. New research suggests other babies enjoy hearing them too, even preferring them to our own high-pitched cooing.
Bringing culinary skills to mental health care
John Strachan’s career began as a chef. Several years ago, as outer sector manager for residential centres that house people with severe mental illness in Adelaide, he saw a gaping hole in their health care team: there were no nutrition professionals.
Meet Helen Rodríguez-Trías, pediatrician-turned-healthcare activist
Pediatrician Helen Rodríguez-Trías (1929-2001) beat incredible odds to become a champion for underprivileged women and children.
The reality is sick, overweight people with tooth decay
We’ve all seen images of sexy young people radiating happiness and vitality while sipping sugar-sweetened drinks with sparkly white teeth.
