Loneliness Reflected in Your Blood Proteins?

 

Humans are social animals. Socially isolated humans generally have poorer health.  A recent Nature study used 42,000 subjects in the UK's Biobank Project to examine links between self-reported loneliness/social isolation and blood proteins. It went on to examine whether some of these proteins are linked of cardio-vascular disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke. In essence, 5 proteins partially explained the link between loneliness  and disease. Four of the 5 are associated with the volume of neural regions involved in emotional and social processes. They also determine the brain's perception of the state of the body (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jan/03/loneliness-ill-health-protein-levels-research). Although the impact of proteins on disease were relatively modest, they were significant. Consequently, the link between loneliness and ill-health seems real enough. The Covid19 pandemic appears to have lasting impacts on mental health, especially in young people. It could well cause further  increases in cardio-vascular disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke.

'Citizen Scientists' to Look After UK River Pollution?

 There's real concern about the polluted state of all UK rivers. Pollution is particularly carried into these waterways, by run-off from agricultural land; discharges from privatised water companies and current or former (including old mine workings) industrial processes. The pollutants themselves may consist of  organic matter, herbicides, pesticides, metals and acid oxides. Monitoring such pollution may be carried out by government agencies as well as the privatised water companies. Quite complex equipment might be used to measure features like chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon. The health of a river can also, however, be assessed by looking at which organisms thrive or fail to thrive in its waters. Fish are an obvious focus for angling enthusiasts. Substantial numbers of fish deaths are often quickly reported to the media. One can also easily note the presence of dangerous algal blooms produced by eutrophication (caused by run-off containing excess nitrates from fertilizers and/or animal waste). Perhaps less obviously, one can also get a good idea of water quality, by looking at the invertebrates (worms, insects and molluscs) in water samples. These assessments only require simple dipping nets, sorting trays and organism identification keys. Freshwater invertebrates show differing sensitivities to pollutants and/or requirements for dissolved oxygen. These assessments can be (and are) carried out by 'citizen scientists' (concerned amateurs, working privately). Earthwatch has called for such data to be included in official monitoring reports, that attempt to track river population (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/03/uk-river-quality-citizen-scientist-testing). There appear to be several reasons for Earthwatch's call. Firstly, there all lots of rivers and their year-round monitoring requires lots of periodic assessments. Secondly, progressive cut backs to government bodies, like England's Environmental Agency, have markedly reduced independent water quality testing. Thirdly, some  privatised water companies appear untrustworthy in their reporting (or failing to report) collected data. One must, of course, ensure that the 'citizen scientists' are accurately reporting their findings. This shouldn't be too difficult with a little training. It's sad, however, that protecting rivers has become reliant on amateur enthusiasts.

From Rebellion To Locally Coping With Climate Change?

 

Rupert Read was a founder member of Extinction Rebellion. He has subsequently helped set up the Climate Majority Project, with its 'Strategic Adaptation For Emergency Resilience' (SAFER) project. This seems a move away from direct action to prevent climate change, to encouraging local actions to mitigate its effects (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/01/extinction-rebellion-uk-net-zero-2025-climate). Read now opines that UK folk will have to recognise that decarbonisation will no longer (never could?) save them from the consequences of climate change. He still thinks decarbonisation efforts must continue, but wants people to concentrate on coping, adapting and preparing for inevitable climate change. SAFER advocates bringing neighbours together to do things like retrofitting buildings, making them more resilient to weather extremes. Read favours planting gardens, rather than paving them over (for parking) to reduce the likelihood of flooding. He suggests, if an area must be paved over. using absorbent material.  Encouraging installing water butts to collect rainwater in every garden, could also be helpful in dealing with water shortages. These are all sensible small mitigation suggestions. Read's change of focus may, however, be a response to the draconian legal penalties imposed on participants in direct action. Getting locals involved in dealing with the direct consequences of climate change, could be a good recruitment strategy. It's certainly likely to boost the numbers of environmentalists!

Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink!

 

The UK government is employing the Behavioural Insights Team to try to dispel some of the myths about heat pumps. Electrically-operated heat pumps could be a very effective way of reducing the country's very substantial domestic 'greenhouse gas' emissions  (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/01/uk-government-dispel-heat-pump-myths-misinformation-media). It's true that heat pumps are relatively expensive (grants can be an effective stimulus) and need to be efficiently installed. Many people, however, currently think (often encouraged by sections of the media and some political groups), they don't work effectively in cold weather. Others, believe that heat pumps are not effective in older properties. They're also thought untruly to be very expensive to run. The intention, is to 'nudge' folk into a better understanding the benefits of heat pumps. This could increase their uptake in UK homes. 

Bird 'Flu, Brain Rot, Booze and Obesity?

 

Devi Sridhar (Edinburgh University) has listed likely public health challenges of 2025. She opines that Bird 'flu shows every sign of becoming a new pandemic. The virus is now ubiquitous in both wild and domesticated birds. A less virulent version is to be found in US herds of dairy cattle. There's been increasing numbers of human infections. Thus far, however, these have been largely due to contact with animals. Things will get serious, if the virus mutates to facilitate human-to-human transmission. Sridhar also thinks that the 'Brain rot' associated with virtually continuous exposure to social media algorithms must lead to protections being put in place to protect children's developing minds. She also believes the public must finally recognize there are no health benefits of even modest amounts of alcohol ingestion. Booze is bad for you. Sridhar also points out that the injectable weight-loss drugs (e.g. Wegovy) are clearly associated with a number of health problems, including kidney damage. She strongly feels they should only be used to counter intractable obesity and not as a life-style means of losing a few pounds  (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jan/01/bird-flu-public-health-issues-2025-pandemic-social-media-alcohol). In fairness, Sridhar also notes some potential 'good news' public health developments. She thinks the new malarial vaccine offers real hope, especially to young people in parts of Africa. Sridhar also thinks the HPV vaccine could eradicate cervical cancer in most women. So, 'A Happy and Healthy 2025!' 

State of the Nation

England's National Health Service (NHS) has soaring numbers of hospital admissions of folk with vitamin/mineral deficiencies. In 2023-24, NHS figures for patient admissions, where iron deficiency was the primary cause, were almost 192,000. This was an 11% increase on the previous year and almost 10-times the figure for 1998-99. There were also more than 2,500 2023-24 admissions of folk with non-folate Vitamin B deficiencies, a 15% increase on the previous year. The new figure was more then 3-times that seen in 1998-99. Patients admitted to hospital in 2023-24 and 2022-23 with folate (Vitamin B12)-related anaemia, were 4-times the number seen in 1998-99. Increases in hospital admissions of folk with Vitamin C and calcium deficiencies, told similar stories. The primary causes were poor diets (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jan/01/hospital-admissions-lack-of-vitamins-iron-nhs-figures).These NHS figures, however, shouldn't be taken at face value. One complication, is that folk admitted to hospital for other overt reasons, are often also found later to have vitamin/mineral deficiencies. Another complication, is that the Covid19 pandemic (1999-2021) would have reduced hospital admissions for folk with vitamin/mineral deficiencies (perhaps inflating the apparent increase). There's little doubt, however, that dietary vitamin and mineral deficiencies are currently inflating England's stretched hospital admissions. Many folk seem to lack the finance and/or knowledge to adopt a healthy diet. Some people largely live on dietary-poor 'fast foods'. In addition, there are increasing numbers of vegans/vegetarians in the UK. They have to be counselled to ensure they get appropriate amounts of iron. Prevention of dietary deficiency diseases would be much better (and cheaper) than cures. It could also help clear England's hospital treatment backlog. 

Wooden Tops 37. Apple

Apple wood timber is knotty and can be difficult to work. Seasoned applewood, however, has (and still is) used in working mills. This timber has also been employed in fine carving as well as speciality wooden household objects including spoons, bowls, handles and mallet heads.

Wooden Tops 36. Yew

Yew is very toxic, needing to be carefully treated. Traditionally, yew wood was used in turnery as well as to make long bows and tool handles. Some of the oldest, surviving wooden artefacts, were made of this wood.

Wooden Tops 35. Sycamore

Sycamore wood is hard, strong, pale cream, with a fine grain. It's used to make concealed parts of less-expensive furniture. As it's excellent for carving, Sycamore wood is also employed to produce kitchenware. Its ladles and wooden spoons don't taint or stain cooking foods.