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A man’s severe reaction to a tattoo, which made all his hair fall out and destroyed his sweat glands, has reignited conc...
11/01/2026

A man’s severe reaction to a tattoo, which made all his hair fall out and destroyed his sweat glands, has reignited concerns about the immune effects of some tattoo inks

A woman's body has been found to consist of varying proportions of male and female cells because of an extremely rare fo...
11/01/2026

A woman's body has been found to consist of varying proportions of male and female cells because of an extremely rare form of chimerism

An unusually massive black hole in the very early universe may be a kind of exotic, star-less black hole first theorised...
11/01/2026

An unusually massive black hole in the very early universe may be a kind of exotic, star-less black hole first theorised by Stephen Hawking.

Many of us experience a mood-boost after exercise, and now an updated review has revealed just how powerful it can be. E...
11/01/2026

Many of us experience a mood-boost after exercise, and now an updated review has revealed just how powerful it can be. Even light exercise, like walking or gardening, may ease the symptoms of depression as effectively as talking therapies or antidepressants.⁠

“It really reiterates that exercise provides an option for people who have depressive symptoms, and confirms that exercise may be as effective as psychotherapy and antidepressants,” says Andrew Clegg at the University of Lancashire in the UK.⁠

Prior studies, including a key review published by the Cochrane Library in 2013, have found that exercise may ease symptoms of depression as effectively as standard therapies, including antidepressants and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), where a therapist helps people change their thoughts, feelings and behaviour.⁠

This has prompted healthcare organisations to recommend regular exercise for managing depression. For instance, the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends weekly aerobic exercise, such as jogging, for 10 weeks – usually in combination with other therapies, which, on their own, don’t benefit everyone.⁠

But since the 2013 review, dozens more trials have been conducted, so the Cochrane Library is now publishing an updated review. “This latest review [almost] doubles the evidence base that was in the previous one,” says Clegg, one of the review authors.⁠

Read more: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2510492-exercise-may-relieve-depression-as-effectively-as-antidepressants/
Image: Neil Lang/Shutterstock

Drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound have transformed how we treat obesity, but more effective treatments could be do...
11/01/2026

Drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound have transformed how we treat obesity, but more effective treatments could be down the road

Clear out your shelves for a bumper new crop of books by authors including Naomi Klein, Rebecca Solnit and Xand Van Tull...
11/01/2026

Clear out your shelves for a bumper new crop of books by authors including Naomi Klein, Rebecca Solnit and Xand Van Tulleken, says culture editor Alison Flood

The Nesin Mathematics Village in western Turkey was dreamed up by award-winning mathematician Ali Nesin to engage his st...
11/01/2026

The Nesin Mathematics Village in western Turkey was dreamed up by award-winning mathematician Ali Nesin to engage his students

Tree bark has a total surface area similar to all of the land area on Earth. It is home to a wide range of microbial spe...
11/01/2026

Tree bark has a total surface area similar to all of the land area on Earth. It is home to a wide range of microbial species unknown to science, and they can either take up or emit gases that have a warming effect on the climate

Two later-stage trials investigating L*D for treating anxiety are due to conclude in 2026, which could lead to the drug ...
11/01/2026

Two later-stage trials investigating L*D for treating anxiety are due to conclude in 2026, which could lead to the drug being approved for the common mental health condition

Eleven companies are working towards an ambitious goal as part of the US Department of Energy's plan to fast-track the d...
11/01/2026

Eleven companies are working towards an ambitious goal as part of the US Department of Energy's plan to fast-track the development of advanced nuclear reactor technologies

The warm and fuzzy emotion of k**a muta underlies vital feel-good experiences like social connection and feeling part of...
11/01/2026

The warm and fuzzy emotion of k**a muta underlies vital feel-good experiences like social connection and feeling part of something bigger. But are you getting enough of it?

After finding success with last year's New Year's resolution, health reporter Grace Wade has grand plans for 2026 – and ...
11/01/2026

After finding success with last year's New Year's resolution, health reporter Grace Wade has grand plans for 2026 – and the science to back them up

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