From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground.
The household burning of plastic for heating and cooking is widespread in developing countries, suggests a global study that raises concerns about its health and environmental impacts. The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, surveyed more than 1,000 respondents across 26 countries. One in three people reported being aware of households burning plastic, while 16% said they had burned plastic themselves.
We have a clock in the hypothalamus in the brain, and that clock has evolved to control many aspects of our physiology. This includes metabolism and immune system, hormones, and heart, lung and brain function. We've evolved to be awake in the daytime and asleep at night. When we do shift work, we're going against what our natural rhythms want us to do.
It makes perfect sense that you would want to have your cooking oil within easy reach of the cooktop. Unlike other ingredients that might be measured out first, oil is something to be added with a flourish at any time throughout the cooking process. It turns out, however, that cooking oil is one of the items you should never store above the stove.
Fiorella Rafael remembers feeling stiff at the end of every day in her old office job. That lack of movement would creep up and compound over the week, she says. Though standing and walking meetings were encouraged, with deadlines to meet it wasn't always tenable. It's partly what drove me to become a pilates instructor, she says. Now Rafael teaches pilates at Sydney's Scout Studios, where she meets people like me who spend far too much time sitting.
While it's nothing to be ashamed of, any identified issues should be tackled as soon as possible-even if it's a relatively unthreatening amount. That's because exposure to unabated mold growth can make your home uninhabitable. Health problems, like allergies, can arise in anyone spending a lot of time on your property (including your children and pets). More severe reactions, like lung conditions, are also a risk. We asked the experts everything you need to know about this pesky problem.
Young people who vape are three times as likely to start smoking, develop asthma and have poor mental health as those who do not. The study indicates consistent links between vaping and future smoking among youth.
Doctors recognize that maintaining a proper sodium level is crucial for fluid balance, nerve function, and heart health. Healthy sodium levels range from 135 to 145 millimoles per liter.
Experts warn against self-administering cheap Botox-like injections due to significant risks, including eyelid droops, infections, and potentially botulism from substances like Innotox.
Alpha-gal syndrome is actually an allergy to a sugar molecule with a tongue-twisting name: galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, shortened to alpha-gal. The alpha-gal sugar molecule exists in the tissues of most mammals, including cows, pigs, deer, and rabbits. But it's absent in humans.
The research found that teenagers consuming sucralose, glycyrrhizin, and added sugars had a significantly increased risk of early puberty, particularly in genetically predisposed individuals.
The study found that 67% of purchased cosmetic items from third-party sellers on platforms like Amazon, eBay, and TikTok are likely counterfeit. Doctors warn the consequences of using these fake products can be grave due to toxic ingredients.