17 h. ago The perfect way to look after your health if you work shifts

There are many knock-on effects of working nights or early mornings, and often employers could do more to protect staff. But there are small, simple changes that can make all the difference• Sign up here to get the whole series straight to your inboxApproximately 8.7 million people in the UK work night shifts, but humans are not meant to be awake at night. “It goes against our natural circadian cycle,” says Steven Lockley, visiting professor at the Surrey Sleep Research Centre, University of Surrey. “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.”This is true not just for those who work in the dead of night, but for those who work early and evening shifts. It means, says Lockley...

Politics

56 h. ago Thousands of teenagers are being subjected to sexual, physical and mental abuse by their partners in hidden epidemic, experts warn

A survey by the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) has found that 'far too many' young relationships are being plagued by behaviour that bears all the hallmarks of domestic abuse.

Events

65 h. ago The physical warning sign to change what you’re doing at the gym

When the human body is pushed beyond what it is ready for, the risk of injury rises sharply

Events

4 d. ago Scientists say this silent bone change could be early sign of leukaemia

Study finds inflammation in bone marrow environment key to evolution of cancer

Science

7 d. ago The perfect morning routine: how to build a happy, healthy start to the day – from showers to sunshine

You don’t have to wake at 5am or commit to hardcore exercise. But by working out a handful of habits that suit you, and introducing them slowly, you can change your life• Sign up here to get the whole series straight to your inboxThe first thing to say about the ideal morning routine is that it probably doesn’t exist. Yes, endless influencers promise that they have tweaked, tested and fine-tuned the process of revving up for the day, but how history’s most productive people actually get things done is so varied that it’s hard to draw definitive conclusions. Beethoven, reportedly, used to count out exactly 60 beans for his morning cup of coffee, while Victor Hugo downed two raw eggs after reading a daily missive from his mistress. Mark Wahlberg, on the other hand, wakes at 3am for pre-workout prayer, chasing up his gym time with a few holes of golf and a jolt in the cryo chamber before he even thinks about doing any work.It is clear, though, that having some sort of routine is key: a...

Politics

2 w. ago One day after controversial vote, Trump’s name is added to Kennedy Center

One ex officio member of the center’s board said she was muted on the call when the name change was discussed

Politics

2 w. ago Warning as dementia red flag sign could appear in Christmas cards

Changes in handwriting is a lesser-known sign of dementia, according to a care expert

Events

2 w. ago Scientists pinpoint six personality changes in middle age that may be a hidden sign of dementia

British researchers said the findings, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, could give doctors a potential tool to spot those at risk of dementia years before symptoms appear.

Politics

4 w. ago Horror game Horses has been banned from sale – but is it as controversial as you’d think?

Pulled by Steam and Epic Games Store, indie horror Horses shook up the industry before it was even released. Now it’s out, all the drama surrounding it seems superfluousOn 25 November, award-winning Italian developer Santa Ragione, responsible for acclaimed titles such as MirrorMoon EP and Saturnalia, revealed that its latest project, Horses, had been banned from Steam - the largest digital store for PC games. A week later, another popular storefront, Epic Games Store, also pulled Horses, right before its 2 December launch date. The game was also briefly removed from the Humble Store, but was reinstated a day later.The controversy has helped the game rocket to the top of the digital stores that are selling it, namely itch.io and GOG. But the question remains – why was it banned? Horses certainly delves into some intensely controversial topics (a content warning at the start details, “physical violence, psychological abuse, gory imagery, depiction of slavery, physical and psychologic...

Events

4 w. ago Prostitution Scotland: Hundreds sign open letter to MSPs calling for law change

MSPs are being urged to back Ash Regan’s bill to introduce the Nordic model.

Politics