
Strawberry Moon 2025 captured across Wales
People across Wales marvelled at a phenomenon not seen so clearly for nearly 20 years on Wednesday evening.Cameras were turned to the skies as a full Strawberry Moon graced the UK.It is the name given to the full moon in June and is named after the harvest season of indigenous Americans because it appeared when wild strawberries were to be harvested.But, following a full moon spotted sitting low in the sky on Tuesday - making it appear much larger than usual - Wednesday saw its peak, caused by an event known as a major lunar standstill, which last occurred in 2006.The opportunity to see the moon this low in the sky will not arise again until 2043.
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BBC News
15 minutes ago
- BBC News
NHS plans to DNA test all babies in England to assess disease risk
Every newborn baby in England will have their DNA mapped to assess their risk of hundreds of diseases, under NHS plans for the next 10 scheme, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, is part of a government drive towards predicting and preventing illness, which will also see £650m invested in DNA research for all patients by Secretary Wes Streeting said gene technology would enable the health service to "leapfrog disease, so we're in front of it rather than reacting to it".It comes after a study analysing the genetic code of up to 100,000 babies was announced in October. The government's 10-year plan for the NHS, which is set to be revealed over the next few weeks is aimed at easing pressure on Department for Health and Social Care said that genomics - the study of genes - and AI would be used to "revolutionise prevention" and provide faster diagnoses and an "early warning signal for disease".Screening newborn babies for rare diseases will involve sequencing their complete DNA using blood samples from their umbilical are approximately 7,000 single gene disorders. The NHS study which began in October only looked for gene disorders that develop in early childhood and for which there are effective newborn babies are only given a heelprick blood test that checks for nine serious conditions, including cystic health secretary said in a statement: "With the power of this new technology, patients will be able to receive personalised healthcare to prevent ill-health before symptoms begin, reducing the pressure on NHS services and helping people live longer, healthier lives."


The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Current heatwave ‘likely to kill almost 600 people in England and Wales'
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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Erectile dysfunction drug Viagra has surprise new health benefit, scientists find - offering new hope to 3million ageing Britons
A surprising new health benefit has emerged from the sex drug Viagra - which means three million ageing Britons can now also enjoy a harder skull. The little blue tablet was found to increase the production of vital bone cells, preventing back pain and fractures in old age. Sildenafil - also known as Viagra - can help human stem cells transform into osteoblasts which help the human skeleton regenerate as it is completely replaced roughly once every 10 years. As humans get older, they lose more bone than is built, increasing the risk of breaks or osteoporosis, which makes bones brittle and painful. Follow-up tests on mice by Peking University also suggested a prevention of bone loss. Dr Menglong Hu and Dr Likun Wu told MailOnline: 'Our findings offer new insights into the physiological effects of the medicine. 'Sildenafil enhanced stem cell osteogenic differentiation and inhibited bone loss — it may usefully treat osteoporosis.' Viagra was invented as a heart drug in the 1980s before being found to help with erectile dysfunction. Some studies suggest it may also help reduce the risk of dementia. However, the have been cautions over the years that the drug could have some negative side effects, in particular if taken too much. A large quantity of the drug could result in a painful, 'uncomfortably and disproportionately large erection' called a priapism which could go on for hours. Some experts also found regularly taking the common drug may raise the risk of three serious eye conditions. Common side effects may include headaches, hot flushes, nausea, indigestion, dizziness and a stuffy nose. Nearly half of men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction in the UK - this is more than 4.5 million people. Though, reports suggest Viagra is now even becoming increasingly popular with younger individuals in their 20s and 30s. Last year, it emerged Viagra may help prevent dementia by boosting blood flow in the brain. 'This is the first trial to show that sildenafil gets into the blood vessels in the brain in people with this condition, improving blood flow and how responsive these blood vessels are,'Dr Alastair Webb, a neurologist and study author at Oxford University said.