As summer sets in and swimming season kicks off, you might notice a familiar sight: your fingertips turning wrinkly after a long soak in water. But what may seem like a simple quirk of nature is actually a complex biological response — and it’s more consistent and significant than you might think.

It’s Not Just Skin Swelling

For a long time, people assumed that "pruney" fingers were just a result of water making the skin swell. But Guy German, a biomedical engineering professor at Binghamton University (State University of New York), has found otherwise. According to German, the wrinkling is caused by blood vessels under the skin constricting, not the skin absorbing water.

This reaction is part of a natural nervous system response and has evolved to possibly improve grip in wet conditions — think of it as nature’s own anti-slip mechanism.

Do the Wrinkles Always Look the Same?

That’s the question that sparked the latest round of research. German had already explored the phenomenon back in 2023. But when a student asked whether these wrinkles always formed the same way, he realized no one had ever looked into that specific detail.

This curiosity led to a new study published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. Working with graduate student Rachel Laytin, German set out to test whether wrinkle patterns were repeatable.

Participants soaked their fingers in water for 30 minutes, had their wrinkles photographed, and then repeated the experiment at least a day later. The results showed that the patterns — loops, ridges, and furrows — consistently reappeared in the same way.

Why the Patterns Stay the Same

The explanation lies beneath the skin. “Blood vessels don’t change their position much,” said German. “They move a bit, but in relation to other vessels, they’re mostly static. That means the wrinkles should form the same way — and they do.”

In other words, the architecture of your vascular system shapes your wrinkle pattern like a biological blueprint.

What Happens When Nerves Are Damaged?

One unexpected discovery was that some people don’t wrinkle at all — specifically, those with median nerve damage in their hands. In one case, a student volunteered that they had such damage. When tested, their fingers showed no wrinkling after soaking.

This lack of response confirms that the wrinkling process is neurologically driven — not just a passive reaction to water.

Implications for Forensics

The research has potential applications beyond the pool. Forensic investigators, for example, could use wrinkle patterns to help identify bodies that have been exposed to water or assist in fingerprint analysis where traditional methods might fail.

German, whose father was a police officer, says the work feels personally relevant. “Biometrics and fingerprints are built into my brain,” he shared. “This stuff is just fascinating.”

With so much still unknown about skin and its responses, German and his team are excited to keep digging into the science. “I feel like a kid in a candy store,” he said. “There’s so much here that I don’t know — and that’s the fun part.”

Children in Great Britain with serious mental health conditions are two-thirds more likely to have a limited ability to work in adulthood, according to research from a leading think tank. The report by researchers at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) looked at data from about 6,000 people who took part in the 1970 British Cohort Study, which is following the lives of individuals born in a single week in 1970 across Great Britain.

The analysis found that people who had severe mental and behavioural issues as a child were 85% more likely to have symptoms of depression at the age of 51, and 68% more likely to have a long-term condition that affects their ability to work. Children with a physical health problem were 38% more likely to have limited capacity for work in later life, according to the analysis.

The government has pledged to “raise the healthiest generation of children in our history”. Labour has committed to introducing a targeted national dental hygiene programme, cutting paediatric waiting times with 2m more operations, and setting a 9pm watershed for junk food advertising.

The IPPR recommended the government safeguard spending on children and preventive spending in the NHS and other public services, and expand the role of the children’s commissioner.

In January, the Guardian reported that the number of children referred to emergency mental healthcare in England had risen by 10% in a year, with lengthy waiting lists for regular NHS care pushing more to crisis point.

Previous research by the IPPR estimated that the hidden cost of rising workplace sickness in the UK had passed £100bn a year, with employees now losing the equivalent of 44 days of productivity because of working through sickness, up from 35 days in 2018.

Amy Gandon, an associate fellow at the thinktank and a former senior government official on children’s health, said: “Successive governments have failed to face up to the long-term consequences of poor child health. If this government is serious about building a preventative state, it must act decisively to improve the prospects of our children and young people.

“What’s more, the dividends from doing so need not be decades away; the right action now, for example, for those joining the workforce within a few years, can deliver better health, opportunity and growth within this parliament.”

Dr Jamie O’Halloran, a senior research fellow at the IPPR, said: “The earlier we address both physical and mental health challenges for children, the more likely we can prevent costly health conditions and worklessness later in life. This is not just a matter of improving individual lives, but also of alleviating long-term pressures on the state.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “As this report demonstrates, prevention is better than cure. That’s why this week, we expanded access to mental health teams in schools to almost an extra million children.

"We are investing an extra £680 million for mental health services, recruiting 8,500 extra mental health workers, and delivering an extra 345,000 talking therapies. Through our Plan for Change, we will tackle the mental health crisis and give every child a healthy start to life."

We all hear a lot of things about what causes miscarriages and what doesn't. And much of the information available is confusing at best and harmful at worst. In fact, it's estimated that as many as 26% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, with the likelihood increasing with advancing age.

"Much misinformation is shared among women or passed down from older generations," says Jonathan Schaffir, MD, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Ohio State University College of Medicine.

According to Dr. Ankita Chandna, Director of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, Delhi several medical factors can lead to miscarriage. “Chromosomal abnormalities, maternal diseases, and certain infections are significant causes,” she explains. She adds that an abnormal number of chromosomes during fertilization can prevent the embryo from developing properly, leading to pregnancy loss. Additionally, maternal age plays a critical role, with the risk rising from 1 in 5 pregnancies by age 30 to 1 in 2 by age 40.

Dr. Chandna also emphasizes the importance of identifying blood clotting disorders, which can disrupt placental circulation, leading to early or late miscarriages. Conditions such as antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), thrombophilia, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are common culprits. "Blood clotting disorders are causes of both early and late miscarriages and can also lead to recurrent losses," she notes.

Other potential causes include cervical insufficiency, developmental issues in the fetus, fibroids, hormonal imbalances, lifestyle factors such as smoking and excessive caffeine intake, and multiple pregnancies. Dr. Chandna also points out that placental abnormalities and certain uterine shapes, like a heart-shaped or septate uterus, can heighten the risk of miscarriage.

What Doesn't Cause A Miscarriage?

There are many reasons that can lead to a miscarriage, but several myths continue to circulate, causing unnecessary stress and guilt. Here are four things that do not cause miscarriages, according to experts.

Moderate Exercise: Exercising or picking up a reasonably heavy object, such as a grocery bag or a toddler, is unlikely to cause a miscarriage. In fact, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) states that exercise during pregnancy, with a doctor’s approval, can be beneficial.

Abortion: While some studies suggest a slightly increased risk of miscarriage in people who had previously terminated a pregnancy, the evidence overwhelmingly indicates that elective abortion is safe and not linked to future pregnancy loss.

A large study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that elective medical abortion was not associated with an increased risk of subsequent miscarriage. However, any increased risk appears to be limited to those who experienced complications like severe infection or uterine scarring after a surgical abortion.

Everyday Stress: While some studies on stress and miscarriage are conflicting, everyday tension or anxiety—like tight deadlines at work or worries about labor—have not been conclusively linked to pregnancy loss. According to Dr. Schaffir, even extreme stress, such as the death of a loved one, is not strongly associated with miscarriage.

Foods Themselves: Foods don't cause miscarriages directly, but certain foods carry higher risks of food-borne illnesses like listeriosis, which have been linked to pregnancy complications. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that pregnant people avoid raw meat and fish, unpasteurized cheeses, and deli meat due to the risk of food poisoning from bacteria like Listeria, Salmonella, and E. coli.

Dr. Chandna also highlights that eating a balanced diet, maintaining good hydration, and practicing relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation are essential in reducing stress and promoting overall health during pregnancy. “Routine antenatal visits, proper sleep, and following the doctor’s advice on safe medications are crucial,” she advises.

Sex During Pregnancy

Generally, all kinds of sex and sexual acts, including the use of sex toys, are considered safe during pregnancy. The fetus is protected by amniotic fluid and the strong muscles of the uterine walls. However, if the pregnancy is high-risk, or if there are concerns about pre-term labor or other complications, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider.

Understanding what truly causes and doesn't cause miscarriages can help dispel misconceptions and alleviate unnecessary stress for those navigating the challenges of pregnancy.

We have all heard the phrase ‘I have a gut feeling’ or ‘gut-wrenching’ experience and other variations of gut and our feelings. However, are they just phrases or do they hold some truth to them. There have been many studies that show how your mental health affects your gut and vice versa.

People have expressed how when they are scared or angry or anxious they often experience an upset stomach with other people also experiencing some sort of sudden reaction with heightened feelings whether it is a lurch or a sudden ‘drop’.

So, if these things affect your gut, then can helping your gut make you feel better? A new study shows that a happy gut could mean a happy you.

A recent study published in the npj Mental Health Research found that people who took probiotic supplements, which contain live microorganisms, reported feeling better emotionally over a month. Interestingly, these probiotics didn't seem to change people's overall mood as measured by standard psychological questionnaires.

The study explained that "negative feelings" can mean different things to different people. She believes this finding is significant because it suggests probiotics might help with whatever an individual interprets as a negative emotion, whether it's anxiety, sadness, or tiredness.

What Are Probiotics?

The types of microbes that thrive in our gut are largely determined by the food we eat and what those microbes do because of this, companies and researchers have developed probiotic supplements containing specific strains of live microorganisms. The goal is to see if these supplements can improve health. Probiotics, usually sold in capsules or pills, are defined as live microorganisms that provide a health benefit when consumed in adequate amounts. These beneficial microbes are also naturally present in some fermented foods like yogurt.

How Do Probiotics Directly Affect Your Mood?

The study involved 88 healthy individuals. For one month, half of the participants took a daily probiotic supplement, while the other half took a placebo (a dummy pill with no active ingredients). The probiotic used was a mix of nine different bacteria strains found in the Ecologic Barrier mixture from a Dutch company. Participants mixed a sachet of these bacteria with lukewarm water each day.

At the beginning and end of the study, everyone completed ten different questionnaires about their emotions and how they processed them, as well as one about any bowel issues. Participants also rated how positive or negative they felt each day on a scale and provided stool samples.

The results showed that both the placebo group and the probiotic group:

• Scored similarly on the mood questionnaires.
• Reported similar levels of good mood each day.

However, the group that took probiotics said their negative mood went down after just two weeks. This difference between daily feelings and the questionnaires suggests we might need better ways to measure mood changes.

How the Gut And Brain is Connected?

Harvard Health Publishing explains that our gut and our brain are closely linked, so much so that how we feel emotionally can directly affect our stomach and intestines, and problems in our gut can also send signals to our brain, influencing our mood. Think about how stress can give you "butterflies" or how worry can make you feel sick to your stomach – these common feelings show this strong connection because of this, when our gut is upset for no clear physical reason, it's important to consider how our stress and emotions might be playing a role, as our mental state can actually change how our digestive system works and how sensitive we are to pain in our gut.