Restraint can leave mental health patients traumatised. New research reveals what they need afterwards
Compassionate conversations after restrictive interventions can help mental health patients feel heard and regain a sense of control. David Pereiras/Shutterstock Most of us know what it feels like to be ill and frightened. Now imagine being held down by the very people responsible for your care. This can happen in mental health hospitals when staff […]
Duct tape kept out more flood water than sandbags in laboratory tests
urbanbuzz / shutterstock Could a cheap roll of duct tape help protect your home from flooding? New research suggests it could make a surprisingly big difference. In controlled tests, correctly applied duct tape on the outside of a household door reduced water leakage by 97-98%. The findings suggest that a simple low-cost measure could substantially […]
We compared what happens after a schizophrenia diagnosis in Denmark and the UK
Schizophrenia is one of the most severe mental illnesses. This makes it an important test of how well countries support those with the most complex needs. Schizophrenia can involve hearing voices, delusions and difficulties with thinking, motivation and everyday activities. It does not mean having a split personality and improvement is possible. But recovery is […]
Japan’s MMX mission aims to swipe soil samples from Mars’ moon Phobos
The MMX spacecraft will enter Martian orbit before attempting to collect samples from Phobos. Jaxa A Japanese space mission is about to launch towards Mars. But it will not land on the planet itself. Instead, the Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) mission will focus on Phobos, the bigger of Mars’s two small moons. The mission will […]
The complicated history of women being seen as ‘monstrous bitches’ – from ancient Mesopatamia to modern film
Ulysses and the Sirens by John William Waterhouse (1891) National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne It’s news to no one that women have been consistently demonised in popular culture for a very, very long time. In her new book, Monstrous Bitch: A History of Terrifying Women, feminist academic Eleanor Johnson takes us on a detailed and […]
Prime’s Carrie miniseries expands Stephen King’s story – but weakens its central horror
Warning: this article contains spoilers for those not familiar with the plot of Stephen King’s Carrie. Amazon Prime’s Carrie is the fourth screen adaptation of Stephen King’s debut novel. Developed by frequent King collaborator Mike Flanagan (who also directed Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep and The Life of Chuck), this eight-episode miniseries follows the legacy of […]
Cardiac arrest: why the quality of CPR could affect your chances of survival
CPR training can help people develop the skills and confidence to provide effective chest compressions during a cardiac arrest. Shakirov Albert/Shutterstock When someone has a cardiac arrest, the actions of people nearby can make the difference between life and death. For years, the message has been clear: start cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as quickly as possible, […]
Could your plastic film packaging serve a purpose? We won’t know until recycling laws change
nicemyphoto/Shutterstock From the clear covering on your microwave meal to the flimsy bread bag lying on the kitchen counter, plastic film is notoriously tricky to recycle. But what if those annoying bits of plastic waste could be put to better use? This hard-to-reycle plastic could be transformed, potentially into a source of fuel, but the […]
The mafia isn’t keeping fentanyl out of Europe – the lack of demand is
Fentanyl-related deaths are far higher in the US than they are in Europe. JFontan / Shutterstock Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are still the single biggest driver of overdose deaths in the US. They were involved in around 38,000 of the roughly 70,000 deaths recorded in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and […]
Throttling Starlink puts added strain on US-Ukraine relations
Overnight on October 13-14, Russia launched 39 ballistic missiles and more than 120 drones at Kyiv and Kharkiv in one of its heaviest bombardments for some time. We already knew that Russia’s new-generation jet-powered drones pose a significant threat to Ukraine’s air defences. They are simply too fast to intercept consistently – so many more […]