Physical sciences

The United Nations has announced that it will end the employment of nine employees affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). This decision comes after an inquiry revealed possible connections between these individuals and Hamas-led attacks on Israel that took place on October 7. The investigation, led by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), was initiated after accusations surfaced from Israel last year, alleging

— The impact of aspirin on colorectal cancer risk lessens with healthier living A prospective cohort study has revealed that the regular use of aspirin is linked to a lower incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), but this benefit appears more pronounced in those leading less healthy lifestyles. For healthcare professionals with the most unfavorable lifestyle scores, the 10-year cumulative rate of CRC was found to be 2.12% for consistent aspirin users, compared to 3.40% for those who did not

— Update from Lancet Commission incorporates vision loss, high LDL to risk factors PHILADELPHIA -- The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care has expanded the list of modifiable risk factors linked to cognitive decline to 14, after new research conducted since its previous report in 2020. Vision loss and elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol have been added to the commission's risk factor list, which previously included 12. This revised 57-page

— Replacing weekly servings of bacon or hot dogs with nuts and legumes linked to reduced dementia risk PHILADELPHIA – A long-term observational study involving 130,000 healthcare professionals found that eating processed red meat twice a week over several decades was associated with a higher likelihood of developing dementia. Participants from the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who consumed at least one-quarter of a daily serving of processed red meat —

— Recombinant Shingles Vaccine Linked to 164 Days Free from Dementia Diagnosis Key Points Those who received the recombinant shingles vaccine (Shingrix) saw a 17% longer duration without a dementia diagnosis compared to patients who got the live vaccine version. This extension translates to 164 more days on average without receiving a dementia diagnosis. The findings add to the growing understanding of a potential link between shingles vaccination and the prevention of dementia. A recent

— Numerous veterans report severe health issues, many tied to radiation exposure Renowned comedian and activist Jon Stewart is urging the Biden administration to address an oversight in the expansive PACT Act, a veterans assistance bill, which neglected to cover American soldiers who were among the first responders post-9/11, and later fell ill after being stationed at a base heavily contaminated with radiation. In the months following the September 11 attacks, U.S. special operations forces