Author: Andrew Rogers

People who drink a few cups of tea or coffee daily show a lower risk of dementia, researchers say.A US study followed more than 130,000 adults for up to 43 years.Those drinking two to three coffees or one to two teas daily had a 15–20% lower dementia risk.Caffeinated coffee drinkers also showed slightly less cognitive decline than non-drinkers.The findings were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Researchers caution the study cannot prove caffeine protects the brain.Other lifestyle factors may explain the reduced risk.Lead author Yu Zhang said the results align with plausible biology.Coffee and tea contain caffeine and…

BP faces growing pressure to end a turbulent period as it prepares to publish full-year results. Analysts expect weaker profits after oil prices fell for a third straight year. Forecasts put profits near $7.5bn, down from almost $9bn in 2024. Falling crude prices hit earnings late in the year, dropping below $60 a barrel. Incoming chief executive Meg O’Neill must outline a clearer long-term strategy. Investors want BP to plan for declining fossil fuel demand. Shareholder groups, including Follow This, demand limits on future oil and gas spending. Others want BP to explain how it will create value as demand…

A new study suggests menstrual blood could offer a convenient alternative to cervical cancer screening. Researchers found that a simple sanitary pad fitted with a sample strip can detect human papillomavirus, which causes most cervical cancers. The test can be used at home and avoids invasive clinical procedures. Researchers in China compared menstrual blood samples with clinician-collected cervical samples in more than 3,000 women. The findings, published in BMJ, showed the pad-based test detected serious cervical cell changes with similar accuracy to traditional screening. Sensitivity reached 94.7%, slightly higher than clinician-collected samples, while negative results proved equally reliable. Experts say…

A major review published in The Lancet finds that most statin side-effects listed on drug labels are not caused by the medicines. Researchers analysed 19 randomised trials involving 124,000 people and found evidence for only a few risks. Aside from muscle pain and diabetes, only minor liver test changes, small liver abnormalities, urine changes, and tissue swelling showed links to statins. The study found no strong evidence that statins cause memory loss, depression, sleep problems, or nerve damage. Researchers say the benefits of statins in preventing heart attacks and strokes far outweigh the small risks. They call for updated labels…

Hidden sellers promote unlicensed weight-loss drugs through WhatsApp and Telegram competitions.They offer injectable medicines such as retatrutide as prizes. The Guardian observed groups using countdowns and giveaways to attract users.Experts warn these tactics pose serious health risks. Retatrutide remains experimental and lacks approval anywhere in the world.Other prizes include unapproved peptides such as melanotan II. UK law allows weight-loss injections only with valid prescriptions.Unlicensed drugs cannot be marketed or sold legally. Some sellers disguise drug sales as fitness or coaching programmes.Researchers say these practices undermine safety and medical oversight.

Ultra-processed foods should be regulated more like cigarettes than everyday food, US researchers have said.Scientists from Harvard University, University of Michigan and Duke University warned UPFs are engineered to drive addiction and overconsumption.The study, published in Milbank Quarterly, found parallels with tobacco design, marketing, and health harms.Researchers said “health washing” claims mirror past cigarette advertising tactics.They urged tighter controls, including marketing restrictions and industry accountability.Critics cautioned against overreach but agreed UPFs pose growing public health risks.

Toto Wolff dismissed rival complaints about the legality of Mercedes’ 2026 engine.He said competitors should focus on themselves after missing a regulatory opportunity.Rivals questioned whether Mercedes and Red Bull Racing exploited engine compression rules.The dispute centres on thermal expansion increasing performance while remaining legal at inspection.FIA discussed the issue but reached no resolution.Wolff insisted the engine meets regulations and warned rivals may still protest in Melbourne.

Scientists recreate cosmic dust to study how life’s building blocks reached Earth.Thousands of tonnes of space dust hit Earth each year, mostly burning up.Some fragments survive as meteorites, carrying organic molecules linked to life.At the University of Sydney, Linda Losurdo produced cosmic dust in a laboratory.She simulated dying stars using gas mixtures, vacuum conditions, and high-voltage plasma.The dust contains CHON molecules, key ingredients for life.Researchers hope this work explains how meteorites gained organic matter.The study appeared in Astrophysical Journal.

The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply warned that soaring shipping costs could push up consumer prices in 2026.CIPS said growing transport, energy, and raw material costs are straining global supply chains.Procurement teams reported the highest disruption concerns in two years.Shipping and logistics saw the sharpest increases, with 22% reporting costs up more than 10%.Prices for computers, transport equipment, and electrical machinery also rose sharply.CIPS said volatility now looks permanent rather than a short-term shock.Rising freight rates between Asia, the US, and Europe add inflation pressure.Geopolitical tensions and US trade policies under Donald Trump are worsening instability.

West Ham United banned a season-ticket holder for five matches after he held up an anti-board banner.Joshua Wood received a letter accusing him of breaching stadium rules by handling an oversized banner during the Sunderland game.The banner read “Time 2 Sell – Name Your Price” and targeted owners David Sullivan and Karren Brady.West Ham said the ban related to banner size, not its message.Wood denied bringing the banner into the stadium and plans to appeal the decision.