health & wellness

December 12, 2024

YouTuber social experiments: Where do we draw the line?

Popular American YouTuber ‘Nikocado Avocado’ broke the internet with a video posted in September that revealed the “grand social experiment” (his words) that he had been conducting for the past two years

15-year-old Hesandi Ravisinghe unpacks Youtuber Nikocado Avocado’s controversial online persona

November 22, 2024

Why love, hate and fear play a crucial role in evolution

The Ancient Greek poet Sappho wrote this lyric, a description of the cardiocentric view of emotions, where emotion is linked to the heart. Centuries later, the Greek physician Galen moved our focus beyond the limits of the ribcage, with his theory that the brain is our emotional cortex

17-year-old Ananya Prasanna explains how our emotions are key to our survival as a species

October 24, 2024

Moving on from the past: Abortion should be a constitutional right

Ahead of the US election, abortion rights are a crucial issue for many young women—including myself. Here's a look back at the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v Wade, the consequences so far, and where presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump stand on abortion

17 year-old Alia Saphier explains the controversy around abortion rights in the US

October 17, 2024

What is the debate surrounding marijuana use?

Legislation around marijuana differs from country to country. Some allow its use for recreational and medical purposes, while many still ban it as an illegal drug. With its increasing medical uses, its overall impact and risk are becoming more overlooked

18 year-old Emilia Wilkin discusses marijuana use around the world

October 10, 2024

How to stay sane during the college application process

The process of applying to university has been an incredibly stressful time for me. I have questioned my decisions and abilities, and struggled with time management. Thousands of people go through this process every year

17 year-old Maria Mitko shares her experience and gives advice on applying to college

October 10, 2024

Exercise is not a cure-all: we should support mental health with compassion, not pressure

Exercise is often praised as a natural mood booster, and research shows that physical activity can improve mental well-being. But we need to approach the subject with more sensitivity, as not everyone can simply ‘get moving’

16 year-old Anna Wilkin explores the complex relationship between exercise and well-being

September 26, 2024

How media stereotypes of the medical profession damage perceptions and patient care

Whether through TV, film or literature, the motives of creatives are not to portray our healthcare professionals positively or even accurately, but rather to entertain

17 year-old Ananya Prasanna explores stereotypes of surgeons as arrogant, aggressive and uncaring

September 12, 2024

The fentanyl crisis is 'destroying lives'

In Mexico, official figures of fentanyl are sparse, but there have likely been thousands of deaths due to the drug. In Tijuana, a city controlled primarily by the Sinaloa Cartel, people die from overdoses daily. Despite a growing problem, many believe president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum will continue her predecessor’s policy of treating the drug cartels with “hugs, not bullets”

17 year-old Inika Singh explores the lucrative but deadly business of the infamous Sinaloa Cartel

September 04, 2024

It was painful and horrible - why my acne made me feel different from others

My struggles with acne started from the age of 11 and for years I felt different from others. My journey taught me a lot, most importantly that it is only temporary

15 year-old Eliza Tomaszewska shares her struggles with acne and what others can learn from her journey

September 02, 2024

Issues professional athletes face from the perspective of a young figure skater

Figure skating is my life and biggest passion, but I almost quit because of the pressures I had to deal with as a young athlete. Many people I have come across share similar feelings about the highs and lows of figure skating. But they wouldn’t give it up for the world

15 year-old Helena Ruszkowska takes us behind the scenes in the world of ice-skating competitions and the pressures young athletes face

August 27, 2024

What is mpox and why is it an ‘international public health emergency’?

The viral infection, which is transmitted through close contact and causes symptoms including chills, body aches and lesions, spread rapidly from the Democratic Republic of Congo to nearby countries

15 year-old Helena Ruskowska reports on recent updates on the mpox virus and the advice issued by health experts

August 08, 2024

How can America learn from Netflix’s Sex Education?

The show's success and relevance is not just due to its own quality, it's also because American sex education is not as effective as it should be. A lack of comprehensive sex education doesn’t mean a more or less conservative new generation — it means a less educated one

16 year-old Sanjana Senthil explores the problems with sex education programs in the US

August 08, 2024

How to start and keep a healthy diet without feeling overwhelmed

A balanced diet, rich in essential nutrients, enhances immune defence and promotes overall vitality. However, contemporary diets trends increasingly lean towards fast foods and processed items which has resulted in a surge of health issues

15 year-old Oliver Stachowiak examines the harms of added sugars offering steps for a balanced diet without feeling deprived

August 05, 2024

Ten free self-care tips for Gen Z

In our busy academic and social lives, self-care is essential. It’s not just about treating yourself, it's about staying healthy and balanced. Thankfully, self-care doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag

13 year-old Lilly Stachowiak explains the importance of self-care and shares examples for Gen Z

July 20, 2024

Trump and Vance kept silent on abortion at RNC, in effort to secure more women’s votes

Donald Trump and JD Vance did not mention reproductive rights even once during their acceptance speeches at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

15 year-old Nell Dethloff on the political strategy behind top Republicans’ silence on abortion

June 27, 2024

The dangerous rise of diabetes in South Asia

The rate of diabetes is increasing drastically across the world, but particularly in developing countries such as Sri Lanka and India. With expensive treatments, there is a rising importance to follow precautions to better protect health expenditure

15 year-old Lisindi Liyanage explores the past, present and future of diabetes in Sri Lanka

March 29, 2024

The importance of striking a healthy balance on social media

Social media is a realm where borders blur, friendships transcend geographical barriers, and voices resound across continents. But in the vast world of online platforms, we must use these tools wisely to avoid the growing dangers it can pose

17 year-old Shanhaza and 15 year-old Mahwa warn of the dangers hidden in social media’s vast potential

March 22, 2024

Ways to maintain a healthy and balance lifestyle

Taking time to focus on our habits, our lifestyle choices, and what we put into our bodies, can be difficult and sometimes confronting but taking care of yourself is important undertaking

16 year-old Swita shares her guide to living a healthier lifestyle

March 15, 2024

‘Extremely alarming’ – Concern raised over global obesity increase amongst young people

Current trends predict a 100% increase of childhood obesity between 2020 and 2035. Despite expert warnings, many countries are failing to address the ‘structural drivers’ of obesity to halt rising levels

17 year-old Sofia Radysh reports on rising global health concerns

March 01, 2024

Why growing up as a young woman is scary: A teen’s perspective from Poland

Despite the global progress made in women’s rights in the past few decades, Poland still has a long way to go. The country’s strict abortion laws, gender pay gap and prescribed lifestyle for a woman’s future fills me with fear

17 year-old Maria Mitko on the daunting reality of womanhood

February 16, 2024

Oligopolies on the vaccine market hindered saving lives - should Pfizer have profited?

With the UK’s ongoing Covid inquiry, in which an independent organisation is examining the British government's response to the pandemic, it is worth asking – should this essential drug have ever been for-profit?

16 year-old Ananya Prasanna examines the profit incentives driving pharmaceutical advancement

December 15, 2023

We need to break the mental health stigma in football. Here is why

Mental health among football players is overlooked, despite being equally vital as their performance on the pitch. I strongly believe it deserves equal attention and recognition

16 year-old Isaaq Hussain argues against the culture of mental health suppression in football

November 24, 2023

Since 1960, the contraceptive pill has revolutionized women's lives. One woman financed the research

The invention of the pill not only gave women the opportunity to plan parenthood, it revolutionized Western societies in gender equality. The pill allowed women to stay in education longer, and pursue professional careers

17 year-old Flora Lodd on the history and future of hormonal contraception

November 17, 2023

Seven things you need to know about the UK Covid inquiry

The COVID-19 inquiry has become the focal point of current affairs in the UK. This guide aims to break down the independent inquiry and answer frequently asked questions

17-year-old Jinn Ong explains the inquiry into the UK’s handling of COVID-19

October 27, 2023

Glioblastoma. What’s being done about the cancer with over a 90% mortality rate?

Glioblastoma is a type of cancer which ravages the brain, causing cell death. With 12,000 people being diagnosed with glioblastoma every year, this is truly a cause worth fighting for

16 year-old Swara Kulkarni was the runner-up for the Harbinger Prize in Science

October 27, 2023

Denying treatment because women could get pregnant? That’s a new level of toxic absurdity

Women cannot be stripped of basic services, like healthcare, because of their so-called ‘function’, and the word ‘woman’ should not be synonymous with ‘mother’

17 year-old Sofiya Tkachenko speaks against curbing women’s rights in the US

October 20, 2023

At 12, I promised myself a hysterectomy. That’s how ignorance of menstrual health tortures girls

Young girls like me will continue to suffer because periods are taboo and we are told period cramps are supposed to hurt. The pain of endometriosis is instead chalked up to female sensitivities, low pain tolerance, and the joys of womanhood

17 year-old Erin Walshaw was the runner-up in the Harbinger Prize in Reporting

October 06, 2023

‘It’s like an addiction’ — American teenagers fall victim to online sports gambling apps

Whether through indirect or direct means, teenagers are being influenced to pursue online sports gambling. The rapidly growing industry is preying on those with underdeveloped minds, increasing profits to the detriment of future generations

17 year-old Arham Shah wins the Harbinger Prize in Economics

August 11, 2023

To solve US alcoholism youth should be drinking sooner. Here’s why

From completely banning alcohol to lowering the legal drinking age to 18, to raising it again to 21, nothing seems to solve US alcoholism. I feel that creating any type of concrete barrier creates desire for youth, it creates a natural incentive to want it more

15 year-old Noah Saphier on the legal age of drinking

August 10, 2023

Are vapes truly safe alternatives to cigarettes?

As a British teenager, I feel that I am constantly exposed to flashy and colourful images of e-cigarettes which is a new way to get young people addicted to nicotine

15 year-old Isaaq Hussain gives his opinion on the UK vape “epidemic”

July 14, 2023

Lewis Capaldi talks mental health after Glastonbury stage Tourette’s

The Someone You Loved artist faced a moment of crisis when performing at Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom

14 year-old Sofia Vorobei on the lesson learnt at Glastonbury

June 23, 2023

7 ways AI could benefit healthcare

The development of AI leads to lots of new and exciting possibilities of its applications in the modern world, including within healthcare. This article will outline 7 ways in which AI can benefit healthcare and the challenges associated with adopting it

18 year-old Grace Whitehouse outlines the practical uses of the technology

March 03, 2023

The maths of the COVID-19 era. The pandemic told in four equations

A difference of R, as little as one, has dramatic effects on the number of those infected within a population which without intervention would continue to increase at a rapid rate thus resulting in increased numbers of deaths

17 year-old Grace Whitehouse uses her own calculations to explain COVID-19 with maths

September 30, 2022

Herbal Insurgency: Wielding Knowledge to Heal and Harm Under Southern Enslavement

Through their knowledge of healing and harming, enslaved people were able to create small but vital spaces of healing and alternative power within the totalizing structures of Southern enslavement laws

William Derek Pacini examines the history of herbal expertise as a form of resistance and a means to freedom

September 10, 2022

A Plague Constant: Disease and Conspiracy in the Early Modern Period and Today

Today, as during the Great Plague of London, some of those holding office have put forward questionable remedies said to be more effective than mainstream treatments

Zachary Górka considers the similarities in public reaction and conspiracy between COVID-19 and the Great Plague of London, almost 400 years apart

August 12, 2022

‘Transforming healthcare’ - How AI is helping save lives

AI is able to not only speed up the process of diagnoses, but also procure the healthcare system with higher quality and more precise results

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova interviews the AI specialists behind comprehensive stroke imaging solution

July 05, 2022

It is teenage girls who will be affected the most by abortion bans in the US

The Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case, which removed the right for abortion in the US was done by a group which is 80 percent male, 80 percent white and 100 percent in their 50s or older. The societal group which is going to be affected by the change, is the complete opposite.

16 year-old Sofiya Suleimenova on the implications of overturning Roe vs Wade

June 22, 2022

Medicare for All: a debate

Seeing a million citizens die due to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with an economic crash and rising unemployment, just highlights the importance of the Medicare for All debate. Could this program transform our healthcare system for the better – or would it further harm our economy?

Dylan Yip lays out opposing stances on the Medicare for All debate in the United States.

May 27, 2022

‘Minimum inclusion gives huge joy’, says Sylwia, mother to a 14-year-old with autism

It is impossible to predict Julia's future but the outlook is grim. The state does not support centers that educate neurodivergent young adults as almost all types of support for adults with disabilities are scrapped by austerity measures.

Eva Smolokovskaya inquires into Poland’s non-existent system to include people with disabilities within society

February 16, 2022

With Mosquirix approved by WHO, hopes are high for a breakthrough in fight against Malaria

Despite its efficacy at just below 46%, Masquirix may prevent 4.3 million cases of malaria and 22,000 deaths in children younger than five annually

Noor Bejjani explains the difficulties and rewards behind the new vaccine against malaria

January 27, 2022

Religious beliefs are not a sufficient reason to seek vaccine exemption

82% of American Catholics have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine while only 57% of Evangelical Protestants did the same.

Marsi Hadjieva explains twisted relations between religion and jabs

December 16, 2021

Victims of Fukushima still pay for failures of Japan’s government

Residents of Fukushima were left jobless, homeless and hopeless after most were unable to find work. Many women were unable to wed or have children since they were regarded as ‘tainted’, and relocated children were being shunned by peers at school.

Jinn Ong pictures a decade of injustice after the preventable meltdown at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

October 28, 2021

Caroline Hickman: Anxiety and anger are psychologically healthy responses to climate crisis

The UK-based philosopher, psychotherapist and researcher has made it her mission to help people cope with denial, depression, anger and powerlessness which so many face because of the climate crisis.

She sat with Eva Smolokovskaya to explain what she has learned over the last two decades.

September 09, 2021

Quartz Lamps and Quarantines

The elevator stopped on the third floor, and the nurse led me out into the dark hallway. After a couple of turns we approached a glass door marked with red letters reading “Quarantine Zone!” The letters were reversed. I was inside of the hospital now – I was what the bold red letters warned outsiders about. The nurse stopped and turned to face me.

Ilya Kan on experience of quarantine.

August 24, 2021

What I Heard About Covid-19

I heard Trump’s term in office had coincided with more than 25 million confirmed coronavirus cases, over 400,000 of which resulted in fatalities.

Daria Badger on fading memories

August 19, 2021

COVID-19 boosted research in mRNA vaccines

With enough funding and brainpower, MRNA technology is capable of shortening the amount of time needed for vaccine development and manufacturing so significantly that it may be close to real-time vaccination.

Noor Bejjani explores the implications of the coronavirus-related leap in vaccination science

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