Health & Beauty

Exeter Hub: How to help the brain see cancer Speaker: Dr William Simpson (University of Plymouth) Breast cancer is detected by radiologists who view mammograms (X-ray images of the breasts). No matter how sophisticated the imaging equipment used to create the mammograms, a limiting factor in cancer detection is the visual system of the radiologist. Therefore, if we can present mammogram images to the radiologist in a way tailored to the capabilities of the visual system, we can improve cancer detection. Visual perception is at the very core of psychology, and a great deal is known about it...

Whilst the sun was shining in many parts of Devon today, research shows that four out of five of us are unaware of the threat posed by harmful Infrared-A rays. We all know that too much exposure to the sun can cause damage to our skin, and skin cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, with 100,000 new cases diagnosed every year. But despite this, new research has indicated that many consumers are still in the dark when it comes to sun protection. The survey was carried out by Ladival Sun Protection as part of their Think Infrared Defence campaign. The survey revealed that a worrying...

On Wednesday11 March, The British Heart Foundation’s No Smoking Day returns for its 32nd year.

The annual campaign inspires and helps smokers who want to quit. This year, over one million smokers are expected to use No Smoking Day to quit.

As well as supporting as many smokers as possible to take part and begin their smoke-free lives, our Public Health team has been working with Devon Partnership NHS Trust to provide support for people with mental health issues – who are particularly susceptible to the damaging effects of smoking.

Smoking prevalence in Devon is 16.4...

A new study led by the Universities of Exeter and York has shown that female killer whales survive after menopause because they help their family members find food during hard times. This research provides insights into why women continue to live long after they can no longer have children. Menopause is one of nature’s greatest mysteries. Most animals die around the same time they stop reproducing. Killer whales are one of just three species – alongside humans and another type of whale – where females continue to live for many years after giving birth to their last baby. Female killer...