Society & Community

Hair care may be turning your bathroom into a hazardous emissions zone, as scientists find that 10-20 minutes of styling with common products and tools resulted in 10 billion ultrafine particles being inhaled and able to cross into the bloodstream.

Whether it's watching the news or checking a bank account, adults often deal with uncertainty by switching off – even when that knowledge is useful. Now, scientists have identified when it is we start to go down the "ignorance is bliss" path, and why.

You may have heard the term “porn addiction” used to describe the excessive consumption of this kind of media, in ways that disrupt a person’s life or the lives of those around them. But is porn addictive? Current research suggests it's complicated.

We encounter different combinations of chemicals every day, depending on where we live, what we eat, the products we use and the work we do. Scientists suggest the best way to mitigate risks – and it doesn't involve sealing yourself in a bubble.

Many of us know the state of being “wired but tired” – feeling physically exhausted yet mentally unable to switch off. But the brain does not simply fall asleep because the body is fatigued – and part of the reason lies in the biology of survival.

According to University of Wrocław psychologist Michal Misiak and evolutionary biologist Petr Tureček from Charles University in Prague, regular acts of cannibalism aren't worth the risk of societal collapse.

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, drawing on tens of thousands of participants in the UK and the US, suggests that the risk of developing cancer isn't just a matter of birthdays; it's about how fast bodies age biologically.

In California alone, more than 550 workers have been diagnosed with silicosis caused by this engineered stone used in kitchen construction. This deadly disease is completely preventable – however, once it develops, there's no cure.

By following the journey of how PFAS move into the bodies of living things – including people – scientists like me are working to improve safety recommendations and usage guidelines for these chemicals.

For the first time, scientists have identified ancient cannabis enzymes dating back millions of years – and discovered they were more efficient at producing the plant’s bioactive compounds like THC and CBD. The team then resurrected them in the lab.

If you're after a free, simple boost for pushing through challenges, try swearing your way to your goals. A new study has uncovered the surprising psychological effect that cursing in the heat of the moment has – for the swearer, at least.

The “trophy wife” trope has been given a modern twist. New research shows that after the wedding, beauty-for-status becomes a two-way street, with both husbands and wives adjusting their looks as income power shifts.

A new poll commissioned by the American Psychological Association has shed light on a disturbing trend among residents in the US. An increased sense of division is leading to a cascade of other negative effects.

A 13-year-old boy was admitted to hospital after four days of abdominal pain – when he then admitted to doctors that he'd swallowed 80-100 small high-powered magnets. It's the latest in a trend that's more serious that what it may first appear to be.

Across cultures and continents, most people prefer to tackle life’s toughest choices alone, trusting their own gut or inner voice over the counsel of friends or the wisdom of the crowd, according to a new study.

We're closing in on an oral male pill that doesn't change hormones or libido, is fully reversible and has no side effects. YCT-529, a new kind of contraceptive mechanism, has also sparked debate about disparities in men's and women's health research.

How many partners you’ve had matters – but so does when you had them. A global study reveals people judge long-term partners more kindly if their sexual pace has slowed, challenging the idea of a universal sexual double standard.

Traces of a psychoactive compound has been found in the dental plaque of a woman buried 4,000 years ago, making it the earliest direct chemical evidence of humans chewing betel nut – the world's fourth biggest drug, after tobacco, caffeine and alcohol.