Latest news with #BiomedicalScience
Daily Record
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Who is Big Manny? Meet the TikTok sensation starring in BBC's Horrible Histories spin-off
The Biomedical Science graduate boasts over three million followers on social media TikTok star Big Manny is putting his skills to the test in BBC's new series, brought to life by the team behind Horrible Histories. Horrible Science premiered on CBBC on May 9, with the entire boxset available to stream on iPlayer. Like Horrible Histories, the new comedy show makes learning accessible for children through fast-paced sketches, all related to scientific topics. Five of the fifteen episodes even feature themes that are on primary school curriculums, including outer space, motion, light and electricity. Among its reoccurring cast, the show also has guest appearances from First Dates star Fred Sirieix and social media scientist Big Manny. While viewers will be acquainted with Fred, this may be their first time seeing Manny on the big screen. Below, we delve into the viral sensation's life off screen. Why is Big Manny famous? Big Manny's real name is Emanuel Wallace, however he uses the moniker on his social media platforms. The BBC star started posting educational science videos on TikTok in 2021, when the COVID-19 lockdown had forced children into remote learning. Having just graduated with a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences, from the University of East London, Manny began working as a science technician in a secondary school. His stint at the school sparked the idea to start sharing videos online. "I could see first-hand that students were struggling in science because of the lockdown," the Londoner told Chemistry World in 2023. Four years on from his first post, he now boasts two million followers on TikTok and an additional 1.6 million on Instagram. His accolades don't stop there, Manny was recently honoured with the Education Creator of the Year award, at the inaugural TikTok Awards in December 2024. The content creator appeals to young audiences by using colloquial London slang to explain complex scientific theories. Ultimately, he aims to demonstrate to young people that anyone can pursue a career in the science field, regardless of their background. He opened up about the motivation behind his content to The Voice in 2024, saying: "So what I am trying to do with my platform is show young people that there are scientists out there that look like you, talk like you, dress like you, come from the same background as you. "So if they can become a scientist then there is no reason why you can't as well." Prince William link Back in January, Manny shocked his followers with a royal guest star. During a visit to Nature Metrics, a research group that studies environmental DNA, Prince William joined the scientist for an experiment. The royal described himself as "Manny's beautiful assistant," before showcasing a step-by-step guide on how to extract DNA from a strawberry. The short 48-second clip garnered over six million views on TikTok, and sent fans wild.
Daily Mirror
27-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Doctor warns of 'inconsistent symptoms' related to widely underdiagnosed health issue
Many people put the symptoms down to diet issues but they could have a far more serious reason It's easy to overlook stomach pain and toilet troubles as something related to diet. But one doctor warns these very symptoms could be indicators of an often-missed condition in women, which poses a significant diagnostic challenge. Dr Gareth Nye, a Biomedical Science lecturer at the University of Salford, told the Mirror that roughly one in every 10 women between 15 and 49 has endometriosis. This condition arises when tissue like that which lines the womb starts developing in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Symptoms typically include lower abdominal or back pain that worsens during menstruation, pain during intercourse and diarrhoea, on top of painful cramps, excessive menstrual bleeding and difficulty conceiving. While this can drastically impact quality of life, diagnosis times have risen to eight years and 10 months in England since 2020, according to recent figures. Dr Nye, therefore, encourages women to remain vocal about their unique symptoms in order to receive appropriate treatment. "Endometriosis develops when cells that resemble the part of the womb which sheds during menstruation (endometrium) is found in locations outside of the womb," Dr Nye explained in an exclusive interview. "This can occur in a number of places, but in 60% of cases it's found in the ovaries, leading to fertility issues. Other uncommon sites include the bowel, kidneys and lungs, leading to irregular symptoms and a very difficult diagnosis. "This tissue is found by the immune system, which thinks it's harmful to the body and acts to remove it, leading to inflammation and pain. To make matters worse, this tissue is still acting like the endometrial lining, and so, as the monthly hormonal cycles occur, you can see growth of the tissues and even bleeding, which therefore makes symptoms inconsistent and variable from month to month, even week to week." The World Health Organisation estimates that around 190 million people in the world are affected by endometriosis. Still, Dr Nye suspects the real number is far higher due to underdiagnosis and a lack of awareness. Get health warnings straight to your WhatsApp! As the world grapples with the threats of Covid-19, mpox and more, the Mirror has launched its very own Health & Wellbeing WhatsApp community where you'll get health warnings and news straight to your phone. We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Discussions around menstrual issues remain largely taboo, too. A focus group study from Endometriosis UK found that 47% of the female population (aged 16-54) 'would be concerned to tell their employer they needed to take time off sick due to endometriosis'. It's also thought that many women dismiss their symptoms as unworthy of further investigation, having been told that their discomfort is merely period pain and nothing to be overly concerned about. Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK previously commented: "Myths such as 'chronic period pain is normal' or 'you must have a low pain threshold' manifesting in society, workplaces, schools, and even healthcare settings contribute to those experiencing symptoms being put off from seeking medical advice and contribute to diagnosis taking on average a shocking eight years. "The impact of delayed diagnosis on people's physical and mental health can't be overstated. If undiagnosed, the disease may progress, and negatively impact people's careers, education, relationships and all aspects of their life." Amidst such trends, Dr Nye has urged that significant 'changes in medical opinion' must occur for women to receive the correct diagnosis and treatments for endometriosis. The disease is currently incurable, but painkillers and surgeries, such as hysterectomies, are frequently recommended to help manage symptoms. "There is a big push to educate healthcare workers with regards to women's reproductive issues, which will hopefully make diagnosis more accessible and streamlined," Dr Nye said. "Women need to remain vocal about their journey to diagnosis and their unique symptoms to ensure the NHS gains a full insight into the issues at hand. "Getting in contact with charities such as Endometriosis UK can provide backing and support, but ultimately, wholescale changes in medical opinion on women's health issues need to change before we can begin to help, in addition to more funding and research into the conditions." NHS list of potential endometriosis symptoms Heavy periods where you need to change your pads or tampons every one to two hours, or you may bleed through to your clothes Severe period pain that stops you from doing everyday activities Pain when urinating or going to the toilet Pain in your lower tummy or back Pain after or during sex Extreme fatigue Low moods and anxiety Difficulty getting pregnant
