logo
A UK health study has collected a whopping 100,000 full-body scans, and Neanderthals had ‘family recipes'

A UK health study has collected a whopping 100,000 full-body scans, and Neanderthals had ‘family recipes'

The Print20-07-2025
It is transforming healthcare, because UK National Health Service clinics now use Biobank-developed tools for faster, sharper diagnosis. The project is still ongoing and is expected to end by 2029.
Since 2015, researchers have used this vast dataset, which includes MRI scans of the brain, heart and abdomen, bone and fat measurements, and more, to develop earlier and more accurate diagnostics for conditions like dementia, heart disease and cancer. The project is impactful not just because of the deep imaging, but also because of 10 years' worth of lifestyle, genetic and health data from the same volunteers.
New Delhi: The UK Biobank has collected the scans of 100,000 volunteers in the world's largest whole body imaging project, to understand how bodies change with age, and how disease begins. The milestone was announced Tuesday in a release by UK Biobank, a biomedical database and research resource.
Scientists have also used the data to train AI models that can predict diseases years before symptoms appear, and altogether around 1,300 peer-reviewed scientific studies have been published worldwide using this data. The Biobank will soon make available a billion anonymised images of MRI scans of the 100,000 volunteers, providing increasing access for global biomedical research.
'Family recipes' of Neanderthals
Just like modern humans, the Neanderthals too had their own 'family recipes', according to a new peer-reviewed study published Thursday.
The paper in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology by researchers from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem talks about the different meat curing methods of two Neanderthal groups, with researchers studying animal bones from two nearby caves in northern Israel, named Amud and Kebara, which were occupied by Neanderthals around 500,000 years ago.
Both groups seemed to have hunted the same animals and used similar tools, yet their butchery marks were surprisingly different. At Amud, the cut-marks on the meat were more densely packed and irregular, while at Kebara, they were more spaced and orderly. These differences weren't due to skill or resources; instead, the researchers wrote that they reflect cultural food practices passed down through generations, like drying or ageing meat before cutting it.
It is one of the strongest pieces of evidence yet that Neanderthals had distinct traditions, possibly shared through social learning. It's a glimpse into their cultural complexity and shows that meat prep may have carried deeper meaning in their communities, much like the food rituals we have today.
Scientists catch a planet dying
It is rare that a cosmic tragedy unfolds in real time, but astronomers from Australia's Macquarie University have caught a distant planet in the act of dying.
In their study on orbital decay, the astronomers have found TOI-2109b, a giant exoplanet nearly five times the mass of Jupiter and twice the size, spiralling dangerously close to its host star, completing one blistering-hot orbit every 16 hours. This is even shorter than Mercury's orbit around the Sun. It is the shortest orbit ever seen for a planet this big.
Using data that was collected over 14 years from NASA's TESS, ESA's CHEOPS and ground-based telescopes, the researchers confirmed that the planet's orbit is shrinking by about 10 seconds over the next few years.
What happens next? According to the study, TOI-2109b might plunge into its star, be shredded by gravity, or have its gas layers stripped away, leaving just a rocky core behind. This rare glimpse into a planet's 'death spiral' is giving scientists new insights into how planetary systems change over time.
The peer-reviewed study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Tuesday.
A refuge for wildlife
After a massive wildfire swept through Brazil's Pantanal wetlands in 2020, researchers noticed something surprising: more jaguars showed up. A protected 36,700-acre site that already had the world's highest jaguar density saw an increase in both jaguar activity and new cubs.
A new peer-reviewed paper in Global Change Biology, published Tuesday, describes the findings. Led by Oregon State University, US, the study used camera traps and analysis of animal droppings to study jaguar populations before, during, and after the fire. The researchers found that resident jaguars stayed put, while others migrated in, and that the cats continued to feed mostly on aquatic prey like fish and caiman, rather than switching to land animals.
The authors said the area may be acting as a climate refuge, a safe haven for wildlife during extreme climate events like wildfires and drought. They highlighted the value of protected wetlands in an era of increasing climate extremes.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: That morning brew could be doing more than just jumpstarting your day—helping your cells age gracefully
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sadhguru, 67, recalls what led to his second brain surgery: ‘Doctors thought they lost me because organ failure started happening'
Sadhguru, 67, recalls what led to his second brain surgery: ‘Doctors thought they lost me because organ failure started happening'

Indian Express

timea minute ago

  • Indian Express

Sadhguru, 67, recalls what led to his second brain surgery: ‘Doctors thought they lost me because organ failure started happening'

Spiritual guru and founder of the Isha Foundation, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, who underwent an emergency brain surgery in Delhi in March 2024 after massive swelling and bleeding in his brain, recently opened up about the cause behind it. In a video titled 'Sadhguru's Second Brain Surgery – Undisclosed Details' on his Instagram, he recollected, 'My daughter and I were swimming in the pool. I had fixed a program in Bali and Cambodia. A plastic wrap on my wound and swimming a little bit because I need it. I needed exercise. After that, I just came up and sat on a chair. A big monkey came and wanted to go inside because there were lots of fruits inside. So, my daughter instinctively screamed at the monkey, and the monkey turned around, coming with its mouth open. Since I have seen monkey bite injuries, and it was coming towards her, I instinctively got up..I had my walking stick inside. I ran for the stick inside. Somebody had closed the door. I went and banged full speed into the glass. The glass made such a big bang that the monkey ran away. So the purpose was served, but my head was cracked.' According to the Isha Foundation, Sadhguru was examined by Dr Vinit Suri, a senior consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, and was advised to undergo an MRI, where 'massive bleeding' in his brain was detected. The hospital statement said that the MRI showed the bleeding was 'outside the brain and below the bone'. 'There was massive two-time bleeding,' it added. While Sadhguru initially 'thought immediately I'll fly to Delhi for another emergency surgery because they had said that if you hit your head, this is it', he decided to wait it out to see if any symptoms started to appear. 'Then I thought I would wait till that night and see if there are any symptoms. Immediately, imbalance will happen or pain will that…The next morning, I woke up…I was fine. The next three days of the program I went through, and then I flew to Coimbatore city. From the airport, I went straight to a scan. Once again, bleeding. Then I went for another surgery,' Sadhguru said. While that surgery went well with 'no problems', on the 'third day after the surgery, every cell in the body went through a storm'. 'This happens only if you have sepsis or some other kind of serious infection. I had no infection of any kind, so doctors could not make out what happened. Three days later, I open my eyes and see 14 doctors are standing there, including the chairperson of the hospital, all tears in their eyes. They think they lost me because all organ failure started happening,' recalled Sadhguru, 67. A post shared by Sadhguru (@sadhguru) He also said that it was tough for the hospital staff during those six hours before he started responding again. 'I looked at them and then looking at their faces…I knew…they thought of giving up on me…When I closed my eyes…I could see every cell in the body…like I am seeping away…So, I closed my eyes and I became a lot more conscious. And I kept myself like that. And in about an hour and a half, I turned around. So, when I came out of hours they were in very difficult situation with me…that took some time to recover. But within two months, I was on the motorcycle.' Reflecting on this, Dr Aniruddha Vasant More, a consultant neurologist at Jupiter Hospital, Thane, said that what Sadhguru described sounds like a rare but serious post-surgical complication. 'Even if surgery goes well, the body can react unexpectedly later. One possibility is systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), where the body goes into overdrive, reacting as if there were a massive infection, even when there isn't. Another possibility is a delayed brain injury or bleeding that might not be immediately visible. Sometimes, a head injury, even if it looks minor at first, can trigger a series of issues in the body's systems,' contended Dr More. If inflammation or pressure affects the brainstem or other critical areas, it can lead to widespread organ failure, as described by Dr More. How dangerous is this kind of situation? 'Extremely', remarked Dr More. 'When someone experiences multi-organ failure, as Sadhguru did, the body is in crisis. The brain, kidneys, liver, and lungs all begin to shut down. Without strong critical care, this can be fatal. The fact that he regained consciousness and stabilised is remarkable. It suggests that while the situation was dangerous, his overall health, resilience, and timely medical care played a significant role in his recovery,' said Dr More. What to note? Don't ignore head injuries. 'Even if you feel okay, get checked. Symptoms like dizziness, confusion, nausea, or loss of balance, especially after a fall or trauma are warning signs,' said Dr More. The body does not always follow a predictable pattern. 'Complications can emerge days later. Pay attention to your body and don't dismiss unusual symptoms,' said Dr More. Recovery is possible. 'Early intervention, good post-operative care, and overall health can make a big difference even in life-threatening cases,' said Dr More. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

Aundh District Hospital operating sans MRI machine for a year, adding to patients' woes
Aundh District Hospital operating sans MRI machine for a year, adding to patients' woes

Hindustan Times

time4 hours ago

  • Hindustan Times

Aundh District Hospital operating sans MRI machine for a year, adding to patients' woes

PUNE: Aundh District Hospital (ADH), a major government hospital in Pune district, has been operating without an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine for almost a year now, forcing hundreds of patients—many of whom are from low-income backgrounds—to turn to expensive private hospitals. Pune, India - Aug. 5, 2023: District Hospital in Aundh in Pune, India, on Saturday, August 5, 2023. (Photo by Kalpesh Nukte/HT PHOTO) According to officials, MRI scans are crucial for diagnosing a wide range of medical conditions, including brain injuries, tumours, spine problems, and joint disorders. However, patients at ADH must now wait for weeks or travel long distances to other government hospitals that are already overloaded to avail this facility. Besides, many patients cannot afford the cost of private scans, which range from ₹4,000 to ₹12,000 depending on the body part which is to be scanned. The government of Maharashtra in November 2023 appointed 'Unique Wellness', a private agency, to provide CT scan and MRI services at ADH. As per the agreement, the private agency was handed over possession of a designated space at ADH to set up CT scan and MRI services. As per the agreement, the CT scan and MRI services were supposed to be started within six months from the date of the private agency taking possession of the space. However, only CT scan services have been initiated at the hospital in August 2024 while MRI services are yet to be started, officials said. Pune district civil surgeon, Dr Nagnath Yempalle, has written to the private agency on July 17, 2025 calling for an explanation for its failure to start MRI services at ADH since February 2025. 'The stipulated six-month period to start the MRI service has lapsed in February 2025. This has resulted in inconvenience to the patients at the hospital. We have asked the private agency to submit an explanation regarding the non-initiation of the MRI service immediately. Also, in case of failure to respond, the issue will be reported to the higher authorities for further action,' said the civil surgeon. Dr Yempalle further informed that when patients bring up the issue of the absence of an MRI facility, the hospital authorities ask the private agency to get the MRI done at the latter's private facility in Aundh. Whereas the transport and manpower for the same is arranged by ADH. But it is still an inconvenience to patients, not to mention a waste of resources and time; Dr Yempalle said. Health experts say that the lack of timely MRI services can delay diagnosis and treatment, especially in cases of stroke, tumours, and internal injuries. The situation is challenging in severe cases. Sunanda Jadhav (name changed), a housemaid who had travelled from Talegaon, said, 'The doctor advised me to get an MRI of the spine. But I was told the machine is not available at ADH. I don't have the money to go to a private lab…' The ADH, on an average, has over 1k patients seeking treatment at the outpatient department (OPD) daily and has a capacity of 300 beds. While more than 100 patients are admitted to different wards of the hospital. On an average, around five to six patients require MRI services daily, and the number is high during the dedicated 'Ortho OPD' days. Besides, patients with severe/critical illnesses are referred from sub-district hospitals and rural hospitals of the district to ADH. Health activists have also raised concerns over the state's slow response, and have demanded urgent action. 'The absence of such key diagnostic services defeats the purpose of a district hospital meant to serve poor and middle-class citizens. Not every patient goes and meets the civil surgeon, asking for help to get the MRI done. The staff at the hospital only say that an MRI is not available at the hospital, and no transport is provided to take the patients to another MRI facility at Aundh. Even the civil surgeon is not always available at the hospital,' claimed health activist, Sharad Shetty. On his part, Jaipal Ravat, who manages the unit at ADH, said, 'The process to install a new MRI machine at ADH is underway and the issue will be resolved in a month. There was no stipulated time period given by the government in writing to us. Some costing issues related to MRI services are pending with the government, and the decision is yet to be taken.'

You won't believe this overlooked cause can be behind heart failure; new study unveils shocking results
You won't believe this overlooked cause can be behind heart failure; new study unveils shocking results

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

You won't believe this overlooked cause can be behind heart failure; new study unveils shocking results

A new study has discovered that hearing impairment often results in an increased risk of heart failure in human beings. According to the study, psychological distress caused by hearing impairment plays a 'notable' role in developing problems with the heart. Experts in China analyzed data from the UK Biobank, studying 164,431 people who took hearing tests designed to determine hearing ability for the research. Out of all participants, about 160,062 didn't use hearing aids . Heart failure happens when the heart cannot pump blood effectively, leading to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling in the legs and ankles. According to the Independent, test participants were split into three groups based on how they performed in a digit triplet test (DTT), which checks for hearing issues by using random digit combinations against the background noise. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing CXO Data Science healthcare Design Thinking Others Project Management Operations Management Public Policy Technology Healthcare MBA Leadership Product Management MCA Degree Data Analytics PGDM Finance Artificial Intelligence Management Data Science others Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details It is pertinent to mention that, none of the people included in the initial analysis had heart failure, but over more than 11 years of follow-up, about 4,449 developed the condition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo What did the research find Following the study, the researchers discovered that those who had a higher speech reception threshold (SRT), meaning they required louder speech to understand words, had an increased risk of heart failure. 'Compared with those with normal hearing, participants with insufficient hearing, poor hearing, or hearing aid use had higher heart failure risks,' researchers were quoted by The Independent as saying. Live Events Among people who didn't use hearing aids, high SRT levels were also linked to psychological distress, social isolation, and neuroticism. 'We have been the first to demonstrate that poor hearing ability is significantly associated with a higher risk of incident heart failure in the general population,' the researchers further stated. 'Psychological factors, especially psychological distress, play a significant mediating role in this association. If further confirmed, hearing impairment may be a potential risk factor or marker for incident heart failure in the general population, highlighting the importance of integrating hearing health assessments into broader cardiovascular risk evaluation frameworks. Moreover, strengthening psychological intervention in people with hearing impairment may be an important path and strategy to reduce the risk of heart failure,' they continued.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store