New Scientist Health
Honey has been used as medicine for centuries β does it really work?
Honey's reputation as a folk remedy has more scientific backing than skeptics might expect, with certain varieties showing genuine medicinal properties. The key caveat is specificity β not all honey is created equal, and the type matters enormously when it comes to real therapeutic effect.
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US supreme court temporarily restores full access to mifepristone abortion pill
The US Supreme Court has temporarily restored full access to mifepristone, allowing the abortion pill to be obtained at pharmacies or by mail without requiring an in-person doctor's visit. The emergency order, signed by Justice Samuel Alito, blocks a lower court ruling that had threatened to severely restrict one of the most widely used methods of abortion in the country. The decision buys time as the legal battle over mifepristone's availability continues through the courts.
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Low-dose drug cuts breast density up to 26% with fewer side effects
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found that low doses of endoxifen reduce breast density by up to 26% β matching the effectiveness of the standard drug tamoxifen β while producing significantly fewer side effects. The findings, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, position endoxifen as a promising candidate for breast cancer prevention. For the millions of women who discontinue tamoxifen due to its tolerability issues, this could represent a meaningful clinical alternative.
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Supreme Court gives abortion pill mifepristone a 1-week reprieve from a major change
The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that would have restricted access to mifepristone, granting a one-week stay to preserve current rules allowing the abortion pill to be prescribed and mailed to patients. The pause gives the justices time to weigh a more extended hold on the restrictions while legal battles continue. The decision offers a brief but significant lifeline to the millions of Americans who rely on mail-order access to the most commonly used method of abortion in the United States.
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Blood test shows promise for detecting testicular cancer when standard markers miss
Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a blood test capable of detecting germ cell tumors, the most common form of testicular cancer, even in cases where standard markers fail to flag the disease. The findings, published in Nature Communications, represent a significant step forward in catching a cancer that disproportionately affects younger men. Earlier detection could meaningfully improve treatment outcomes and reduce reliance on more invasive diagnostic procedures.
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