Author: Andrew Rogers

A new “smart jab” has shown remarkable success in shrinking head and neck cancer tumours within just six weeks, offering fresh hope to patients whose disease has returned after standard treatments. The drug, amivantamab, works through a triple-action mechanism and can be administered as a simple injection under the skin — a faster, more convenient alternative to lengthy hospital infusions. In a major clinical trial presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Berlin, researchers found that 76% of patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma saw their tumours shrink or stop growing after…

Paramount Skydance is set to lay off about 2,000 employees in the US starting the week of 27 October, according to Variety. The cuts are part of a $2 billion cost-reduction plan under new CEO David Ellison. The layoffs come just months after Skydance Media’s $8.4 billion merger with Paramount Global was finalized in August. Additional international job cuts are expected, with more details likely to be shared in the company’s third-quarter earnings report on 10 November. Earlier reports suggested Paramount was targeting between 2,000 and 3,000 job reductions by early November. As of December 2024, the company employed nearly…

A new long-acting injection to prevent HIV is set to be approved for use in England and Wales, offering a major breakthrough in the fight against the virus. The jab, known as cabotegravir (CAB-LA), is administered once every two months and provides an alternative to the daily oral Prep (pre-exposure prophylaxis) pills used by HIV-negative individuals to reduce infection risk. In draft guidance released on Friday, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) recommended the injection for adults and young people at risk of HIV who are unable to take oral Prep. The treatment is already available on…

Nestlé will cut 16,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years as new chief executive Philipp Navratil pushes to cut costs and boost sales. The layoffs — about 6% of the global workforce — include 12,000 white-collar roles and 4,000 in manufacturing and supply chains. “The world is changing and Nestlé needs to change faster,” Navratil said, pledging to handle the cuts “with respect and transparency.” The company aims to save 3 billion Swiss francs (£2.8 billion) by 2027, up from its previous 2.5 billion target. Navratil took over last month after former CEO Laurent Freixe was dismissed for failing…

Rhizanthella is a remarkable orchid unlike any other—it spends its entire life underground. Without leaves and never breaking the soil’s surface, it survives by drawing nutrients from a symbiotic fungus that connects to the roots of the broom bush (Melaleuca uncinata). The species first captured international attention in 1928 when a farmer in Western Australia discovered it while ploughing a field. Nearly a century later, it remains one of the world’s most elusive plants. Botanists searching for it must identify suitable habitat, then carefully remove layers of soil to uncover its tiny, reddish flowers encased in creamy-pink bracts. Despite living…

Waymo, the self-driving vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, has announced plans to launch its autonomous ride-hailing service in London by next year. This move expands the company’s global footprint and brings its cutting-edge transportation technology to the UK. The service will use fully autonomous vehicles designed to provide safe and efficient rides. Waymo’s technology combines advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and real-time mapping to navigate complex city streets without a human driver. Industry experts see this launch as a significant milestone for autonomous transportation in Europe. London, with its dense urban environment and high demand for ride-hailing, provides an ideal setting to…

The Independent Media Group has received over $700,000 in funding from the Gates Foundation to expand reporting in undercovered regions. This support will span the next 18 months and ensures that the organization maintains full editorial independence. The grant comes at a critical time for journalism. With declining advertising revenue and shifts away from social media-driven news, many media organizations are seeking new ways to sustain quality reporting. The Gates Foundation’s support allows Independent Media Group to continue producing in-depth stories that might otherwise be overlooked. Historically, the Gates Foundation has supported journalism focusing on global health, development, and social…

Alcohol consumption is a major driver of cancer in Europe, according to a new report from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Experts say that stronger government policies to limit alcohol use could prevent thousands of cancer cases and deaths every year. In the European Union—the region with the world’s highest levels of alcohol consumption—alcohol was responsible for more than 111,000 new cancer cases in 2020, the IARC review found. Globally, alcohol was linked to an estimated 741,000 cancer cases, with men accounting for nearly 70% of them. The economic burden is also severe.…

Scientists have successfully grown embryo-like structures that produced human blood cells, marking a significant advance for regenerative medicine and future blood therapies. Researchers at the University of Cambridge’s Gurdon Institute created the models from human stem cells — without using eggs or sperm — to study how blood and heart cells form in the earliest stages of development. “It was an exciting moment when the blood-red colour appeared in the dish – it was visible even to the naked eye,” said Dr Jitesh Neupane, the study’s lead author. The discovery could one day allow doctors to grow compatible blood cells…

Microplastics are everywhere – in our blood, lungs, guts and even brains. Researchers estimate the average person carries about a teaspoon of plastic inside them. Austrian scientists found that microplastics can disrupt gut bacteria in ways linked to depression and cancer. “Reducing exposure is a wise precaution,” said Dr Christian Pacher-Deutsch, who led the study. Microplastics come from packaging, clothes, cosmetics and tyres. They’re tiny enough to enter cells. “We’re finding them in almost every tissue,” said Dr Jaime Ross, whose research showed mice exposed to microplastics had brain changes similar to dementia. Human studies have found plastic in the…