Page 9 - Barkha Mathur

New Google AI tool can study DNA changes and predict disease risk

Google DeepMind's AlphaGenome can analyse long stretches of DNA to predict how hidden genetic changes affect gene regulation, offering new clues to cancer, heart disease and mental illness

Does pollution kill Indians? Inside the government's air death divide

One ministry says there's no proof air pollution kills Indians, another pegs the toll at 1.24 million deaths a year; as Delhi-NCR's air turns hazardous again, the contradiction is back in focus

From Nimhans 2.0 to biopharma, Budget 2026 reshapes health priorities

Budget 2026 puts mental health, biopharma manufacturing and medical skilling at the centre, with Nimhans 2.0 and drug affordability shaping a broader healthcare realignment

Budget 2026 proposes seven high-speed rail corridors linking growth cities

Budget 2026 outlines seven high-speed rail corridors linking cities such as Mumbai-Pune and Delhi-Varanasi, aiming to cut travel time, reduce carbon emissions and support balanced regional development

Budget 2026: Biopharma Shakti plan aims to make India a biologics hub

Union Budget 2026: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveils Biopharma Shakti, a ₹10,000 crore, five-year plan to boost domestic biologics, biosimilars, clinical trials and regulatory capacity

Budget 2026 keeps infra at core, raises capital spending to ₹12.2 trillion

Union Budget 2026 scales up capital spending to ₹12.2 trillion, keeping infrastructure at the centre of growth while signalling continued commitment to fiscal consolidation

Trauma bonding decoded: Why some harmful relationships feel impossible to leave

Trauma bonding explains how unresolved emotional wounds, brain chemistry and fear-based attachment can trap people in harmful relationships that feel addictive and difficult to escape

India's obesity crisis is now an economic threat, warns Economic Survey

Economic Survey 2025-26 flags rising obesity and ultra-processed food intake as risks to productivity, healthcare spending and public finances, calling for policy action beyond consumer awareness

Spanish researchers report major pancreatic cancer breakthrough in mice

Scientists in Spain have reported a promising pancreatic cancer breakthrough in mice, where a triple-drug therapy eliminated tumours by targeting the KRAS pathway, one of deadliest cancer mechanisms

Long-term study shows men develop heart disease much earlier than women

A long-term US study tracking young adults for more than 30 years shows men develop heart disease up to a decade earlier than women, with cardiovascular risks diverging sharply from the mid-30s

Two days of oats may lower harmful cholesterol by 10%, finds study

A new Nature Communications study shows that a short, oat-heavy diet can cut harmful LDL cholesterol by about 10 per cent, with benefits lasting for weeks through changes in gut microbes

Is texting cheating? How modern infidelity damages mental wellbeing

Infidelity has changed with technology, but its impact hasn't. Emotional, physical and digital betrayals can all trigger lasting psychological distress and health consequences, psychologists warn

Why the viral 'nihilist penguin' reminds neurologists of Alzheimer's disease

Viral clip of a penguin heading towards mountains, dubbed 'nihilist penguin', has resonated online as symbol of burnout. A neurologist explains why its behaviour may resemble that seen in Alzheimer's

What happens inside the body after exposure to the deadly Nipah virus

A neurologist breaks down how Nipah virus travels through the body, damages blood vessels, and breaches the blood-brain barrier, setting off severe neurological disease

Why skipping eye check-ups after 60 can cost more than just vision

From cataracts to glaucoma and diabetic eye disease, many serious vision problems in older adults show no early symptoms. Doctors explain why routine eye tests matter even when vision seems fine

Why staying single for long in your late 20s may affect mental wellbeing

Singlehood is increasingly normalised, yet new research tracking young adults in Germany and the UK finds prolonged singlehood may affect happiness and mental well-being

Urological health across ages: What to watch for in your 30s, 40s, and beyond

From frequent urination to kidney stones and prostate issues, urological problems change as we age as experts explain age-wise warning signs, lifestyle risks and why early attention matters

Global health risks from plastics may double by 2040, warns Lancet study

From climate change to cancer risk, plastics may be silently harming human health across their entire lifecycle as a Lancet study warns the damage could double by 2040 without urgent action

After 65, do routine health screenings still truly make medical sense?

Experts explain which health screenings still matter after 65, which are overused, and how personalised decisions can be more useful

Gene therapy for weight loss: Can one shot replace lifelong GLP-1 drugs?

US biotech firm Fractyl Health is developing Rejuva, an experimental gene therapy that aims to trigger long-term weight loss by programming the pancreas to produce more GLP-1 hormone