Scientists

In 2023, 1.17 billion people suffered from a mental health disorder, compared to 599 million people in 1990, according to a global study published in The Lancet. Women experienced higher rates of anxiety and depression, while neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders—such as ADHD or autism—are more common in men. The highest incidence was observed among those aged 15 to 19, which, according to the authors, underscores the need for early prevention and targeted support for this age group.

The latest reports from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicate a rise in bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) across Europe. In 2024, notifications of gonorrhoea and syphilis, along with congenital syphilis, reached their highest levels in more than a decade, reflecting sustained transmission across multiple countries. Gonorrhoea has increased by more than 300 % over the past 10 years, with Spain among the countries with the highest rates, while syphilis has risen by around 100 %, with Spain also ranking second highest. Men who have sex with men are the most affected population group for both infections. Congenital syphilis increased by almost 250 %, described as “one of the most concerning findings” by two ECDC experts during the briefing presenting the results. Possible contributing factors include reduced condom use, an increase in sexual partners, as well as higher levels of testing.

A team in the United States has developed an open-source tool that enables the analysis of health data related to the menstrual cycle. So far, after analyzing 5,674 non-reproductive cycles recorded by 753 participants, they have found correlations between cycle variability, basal body temperature, and aging. According to the authors, who published the results in Science Advances, the algorithm could help advance the discovery of digital biomarkers, and they note that “most attention in menstrual health focuses exclusively on the reproductive aspect and fails to leverage these non-reproductive menstrual cycles (99%) as health indicators.” 

A lightweight robotic device aids neuromuscular recovery in children with spinal muscular atrophy, helping them to stand unaided, according to a study published in Nature. The research involved six participants aged between six and 10 and shows that the device achieved significant improvements in lower limb motor function after six weeks of assisted training. The study highlights that the improvement persists after training is discontinued and conventional physiotherapy routines are resumed, demonstrating the potential for lasting recovery.  

A team from China used data from over 17,000 people in the UK Biobank to analyze the relationship between physical activity and cardiovascular risk. Their results indicate that the current minimum recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week was associated with an 8-9% risk reduction. However, increasing the time to 560-610 minutes was linked to a decrease of more than 30%. According to the authors, who published the study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the current recommendations offer universal but modest protection, and optimal benefits would be obtained with substantially higher levels of activity.

The US company Colossal Biosciences claims to have successfully incubated a bird in an artificial egg system until it hatched. In a press release, the company states that this technology allows a bird embryo to develop fully outside the shell of a biological egg, and could be used to bring back extinct bird species such as the giant moa from New Zealand’s South Island.

Decades ago, concerns began to be raised about the decline in honeybee populations. Although their situation has improved, the same cannot be said for other pollinating insects. Together, they enable the reproduction of nearly 90% of flowering plants and directly contribute to three out of every four crops that feed the world. We examine the causes of this decline, their current situation, and the measures being taken to protect them.

Children whose mothers took high doses of vitamin D (2,800 IU/day) during pregnancy have better verbal and visual memory at the age of 10—among other cognitive functions—than children whose mothers took a standard dose of this vitamin (400 IU/day). This is the conclusion of a study, published in JAMA Network Open, based on a reanalysis of data from 498 children in another study on childhood asthma in Denmark.

Last Saturday, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, declared that the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), following consultation with the organisation’s member states. By 15 May, 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths had been reported in three health zones: Rwampara, Mongbwalu and Bunia.