UNCOVERED: Strange health - Caught on Camera

Migraine remedies are everywhere on social media, but the evidence needs a closer look

When you have a migraine, anything that might ease the pain can become very appealing. On social media, that might mean ordering chips and a Coke or pressing a cold spoon against your forehead. As someone who experiences migraine, I understand the willingness to try something that promises relief.

The Conversation · Oct 27

Protein can help build and preserve muscle, but eating more has its limits

High protein content has become a selling point on foods ranging from breakfast cereals to yoghurts. For anyone hoping to build muscle or stay strong as they age, choosing the product with the most protein can seem sensible. But whether an extra serving will help depends on what they already…

The Conversation · Oct 27

Fries, cold spoons and eyebrow clamps: investigating the internet’s migraine remedies

If you’ve ever had a migraine, you’ll understand the appeal of anything that promises to make it stop. Even when that advice involves attaching hair clips to your eyebrows.

The Conversation · Oct 27

Skin mites explained: harmless passengers or health problem?

Almost everyone carries microscopic mites on their skin. They live inside pores and hair follicles, feeding on skin oils and dead cells.

The Conversation · Mar 12

The biology of body odour, from sweat glands to skin bacteria

Sweat rarely smells on its own. Body odour develops when bacteria on the skin break down compounds in sweat and release volatile chemicals that evaporate into the air.

The Conversation · Feb 26

What body odour says about you

Body odour has a reputation problem. It is often treated as a hygiene failure or a social offence. In reality, it is biology at work, plus a big helping of culture.

The Conversation · Feb 24

You are covered in mites – and most of the time that’s completely normal

You are not alone in your own skin. Millions of microscopic creatures live there too.

The Conversation · Feb 17

Vagus nerve stimulation: from TikTok tips to clinical trials

The vagus nerve has quietly shaped how our bodies function for thousands of years. Recently, it has moved into the spotlight, especially in wellness culture, where manipulating it is often described as a way to calm the body, reset the nervous system or even treat a wide range of conditions.

The Conversation · Feb 11

Why ‘activating’ your vagus nerve has become the latest wellness trend

The vagus nerve has become the internet’s favourite body part.

The Conversation · Feb 10

Why do our joints crack, pop and crunch and should we worry about it?

Many of us have noisy joints. Knees crack on the stairs, necks pop when we stretch, and knuckles seem to crack almost on demand. These sounds can be startling and are often blamed on ageing, damage or the looming threat of arthritis.

The Conversation · Feb 3