This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded for discoveries that explain how the immune system attacks hostile infections, but not the body's own cells. We explain the science that won Japan's Shimon Sakaguchi and US researchers Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell the prestigious award.How robots can help children with reading anxiety. Lauren Wright from the University of Chicago who led this research explains.A new targeted antibiotic has been found that treats Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Dr Graham Easton who is Professor of Clinical Communication Skills at Queen Mary University of London describes how it works.Missing your first mammogram appointment has as much impact on breast cancer outcomes than an inherited genetic risk according to new research. Ziyan Ma from the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Karolinska Institute tells us more.And should we reconsider how we treat blood pressure? Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Katie Tomsett
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Creating human eggs from skin cells
Functional human eggs have been generated using human skin cells in a breakthrough study. What impact could this have on couples with fertility issues? BBC Health Correspondent James Gallagher explains. How long covid is affecting menstrual cycles. Dr Jackie Maybin, Reader and Consultant Gynaecologist at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian explains her findings.With a rising trend of parents using unprescribed melatonin to help their children sleep, we examine the risks. G6PD deficiency affects more than 400 million people worldwide, but new research led by the University of Exeter in the UK reveals that it distorts the standard diagnostic test for diabetes. As a result, potential cases are missed. We ask what can be done to address this issue.And a new eye drop that’s been improving presbyopia, an ocular condition that often occurs as we age, causing long-sightedness. Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producer: Alice McKee
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Trump’s unproven claims on autism and paracetamol
President Trump has claimed that consuming Tylenol, or paracetamol, whilst pregnant can increase the risk of autism in children; Claudia is joined by Professor of Clinical Epidemiology Laurie Tomlinson to fact-check this unproven statement.Also on the show, BBC’s Philippa Roxby joins Claudia to share a breakthrough in treating Huntington’s disease. In a medical first doctors have used gene therapy to slow the progression of this fatal genetic disorder where a patient’s movement, thinking, and mood deteriorates over time. Reporter Carrim Mpaweni explores how Malawi is currently dealing with Cholera, and the role climate change is playing in exacerbating outbreaks of the disease.Plus, how South Korean researchers are exploring the use of glue guns as a way to repair broken bones. Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producer: Katie TomsettImage Credit: Francis Chung/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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More children are obese than underweight
In a ‘historical turning point’ there are now more overweight than underweight children and teenagers worldwide according to a new report from UNICEF. Claudia Hammond is joined by BBC’s Laura Foster to understand what changes to our food environments may be driving this shift.An international row has erupted over durian fruit, with China limiting imports of Vietnamese fruits due to health concerns. Journalist Sen Nguyen explores the potential health impacts of the durians and whether new regulations will put China’s concerns to rest. Also on the show, how the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is progressing and the rapid response from health services.Claudia is joined by Paula Prist from the International Union for Conservation of Nature to share her latest findings that Indigenous Amazon Territories may safeguard human health against certain fire-related and zoonotic diseases.Plus, the latest AI tool in healthcare, Delphi-2M, has been announced. Likened to a weather forecast but for health, how might this tool help us predict the occurrence of over 1000 diseases in the future?Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Hannah Robins
Assistant Producer: Katie Tomsett
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The psychology of curiosity
Is curiosity good for us, or should we learn a lesson from what curiosity did to the cat? And why does curiosity drive some people to explore the ends of the earth and beyond, while others just really aren’t very curious at all? We invite a panel of people for whom curiosity is also at the centre of what they do to discuss the psychology of curiosity in front of an audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival in the UK. They are... Tim Peake – astronaut, test pilot and author. His lifelong curiosity took him to live for six months on the International Space station. While he was there he famously ran the London Marathon on a treadmill and he was the first British astronaut to walk in space. Gosia Goclowska - a lecturer in the department of psychology at the University of Bath. She researches some of the more unusual emotions we experience such as curiosity, awe and surprise. And Matthias Gruber - an associate professor of psychology at the University of Cardiff. His research focuses on the neuroscience of curiosity and learning. Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Lorna Stewart
Ireland