John Elder
Unfit and pushed for time? Exercise in four-second bursts throughout the day, says new study
In the time it takes to read this sentence, you could do a heart-saving workout. No kidding. A new study found that...
Alzheimer’s breakthrough? Not yet, but new drug strips plaque and slows mental decline
For the first time in a Phase II clinical trial, mental decline in a group of Alzheimer’s patients was slowed by a...
The Oxford/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is safe, but questions remain over its efficacy
Here we are, apparently on the brink of getting a needle in the arm to protect us from COVID-19. Early March says...
Coronavirus-free zone: 2020’s most intriguing medical stories
As a science writer in 2020, one might wish to never write about COVID-related matters ever again. Just as you might never...
Cosmic news 2020: The year’s most far-out discoveries
This year was a busy and somewhat self-centred one on Earth. We were forced to deal head-on with one existential threat (the...
Glucosamine supplement: ‘May reduce overall death rates as effectively as regular exercise’
Wow! At last, a magic pill that delivers all the life-saving benefits of exercise and none of the exertion or sweaty clothes!...
Coronavirus vaccine: Australia’s March rollout in question despite government assurances
Despite Australian government assurances, there are serious questions hanging over the nation’s readiness to begin a national COVID-19 vaccination program, yet these...
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer at just 28, Jordan wants young women to know the signs
The day before her 28th birthday, Jordan Turner was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The first sign, possibly, was a case of shingles...
Massive 2021 human trials for breakthrough blood test that detects 50 different cancers
Super early detection of cancer, well before symptoms become apparent, is the second-best thing to a cure – and almost as elusive....
The Clever Dog study: How a dog’s personality changes, and why science thinks it matters
The world has gone to the dogs in the last 12 months – especially in the area of personality research. Increasingly, dogs...