DEEP in the heart of the cell, your DNA may be undergoing subtle changes that could lead to a devastating disease several years down the line. New microscopy techniques are now lifting the lid on this inner world, potentially offering an early-warning system for cancer or Alzheimer’s long before the diseases begin to bite. Full-blown [...]

Step into the sun and it’s not just your eyes that sense the light. Your skin contains photoreceptors like those in the retina, allowing it to mount an immediate defence against damaging ultraviolet radiation. The skin tans by producing melanin, a pigment that protects DNA from dangerous UV rays. We already know that one component [...]

Trying to remove every last cancer cell during surgery can be a bit like playing blind man’s buff: they are often the same colour as healthy cells, so surgeons risk leaving behind cancer cells which can regrow. But that could change thanks to a technique that makes ovarian cancer cells glow. Currently, surgeons largely rely [...]

The brain waves associated with sleep and dreaming could be helpful for distinguishing between people in a persistent vegetative state and those who are minimally conscious – a distinction that could seal the fate of the individual. The minimally conscious state, persistent vegetative state and coma are all disorders of consciousness caused by severe brain [...]