Unlocking the mystery of placental disorders and recurrent stillbirths

The winning essay in the Max Perutz science writing award 2022, published below, was written by Emily Cornish, a research training fellow and PhD candidate at University College London

‘Miracle’ baby opens debate over possible use of centuries-old sperm

Technology allows sperm to be frozen longer than legal 50-year limit but poses medical and ethical questions

Time for your medicine: unlocking the power of our body clocks

It’s long been known that certain drugs work better when taken at specific times of day. But now scientists are learning that our circadian rhythms affect everything from vaccines to meals – and even the results of exercise

400 people in UK diagnosed with preventable cancer every day, data shows

Experts say healthy lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and eating more vegetables can lower risk

Bad dreams in middle age could be sign of dementia risk, study suggests

Research finds people who had them at least once a week were four times more likely to experience cognitive decline

Night owls may be more prone to heart disease and diabetes, study finds

Research shows early birds more sensitive to insulin levels and burn more fat at rest and during exercise

Four radical new fertility treatments just a few years away from clinics

Synthetic embryos and three-person babies among advances revised fertility laws need to consider

My adult ADHD drugs felt like a lifeline. Then came the scary side-effects …

After a year on prescription stimulants, I started to unravel. Would a desperate experiment with street narcotics make me see things differently?

Can taking a pill really stop you getting a hangover? There’s one way to find out …

Even at £30 a packet, the Myrkl ‘pre-drinking’ pill sold out before its UK launch. I spent four days finding out if it does indeed reduce the effects of alcohol

Sleep scientist Russell Foster: ‘I want to take the anxiety around sleep away’

The Oxford professor has studied our circadian rhythms for decades – and says much of what we think we know is wrong