Reference Terms
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Sunscreen
Sunscreen (also known as sunblock) is a lotion, spray or other topical product that helps protect the skin from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and which reduces sunburn and other skin damage, ultimately leading to a lower risk of skin cancer.
The best sunscreens protect against both UVB (ultraviolet radiation with wavelength between 290 and 320 nanometres), which can cause sunburn, and UVA (between 320 and 400 nanometres), which damages the skin with more long-term effects, such as premature skin aging. Most sunscreens work by containing either an organic chemical compound that absorbs ultraviolet light (such as oxybenzone) or an opaque material that reflects light (such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide), or a combination of both. Typically, absorptive materials are referred to as chemical blocks, whereas opaque materials are mineral or physical blocks.
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Health & Medicine News
March 21, 2026
Mar. 21, 2026 A new pill, enlicitide, reduced LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by about 60% in a large clinical trial, matching the power of injectable therapies. Because it’s taken orally, it could overcome one of the biggest barriers keeping patients from using ...
Mar. 21, 2026 Researchers have discovered that cancer spread isn’t random—it follows a kind of biological “program.” By studying colon tumor cells, they identified gene patterns that signal whether a cancer is likely to metastasize. Their AI model, ...
Mar. 21, 2026 Scientists have engineered probiotic bacteria to act as tumor-seeking drug factories. In mice, these bacteria infiltrated tumors and produced a cancer-fighting drug right where it was needed. This targeted approach could make treatments more ...
Mar. 21, 2026 “Forever chemicals” may be affecting kids in ways that last a lifetime. A new study links early PFAS exposure to lower bone density during the teen years, especially in girls. Researchers also found that when exposure happens may play a key ...
Mar. 20, 2026 Aging men often lose the Y chromosome in a growing number of their cells—and it may be far more dangerous than once believed. This loss has been linked to heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and shorter lifespans. Researchers suspect Y-less ...
Mar. 20, 2026 The largest review of medicinal cannabis to date found it doesn’t effectively treat anxiety, depression, or PTSD—despite millions using it for those reasons. Researchers warn it could even make mental health worse, raising risks like psychosis ...
Mar. 20, 2026 A shingles vaccine might double as a powerful heart protector. In people already at high risk, it cut major cardiac events by 46% and deaths by an impressive 66% within a year. Scientists think preventing shingles may also stop clot-related ...
Mar. 20, 2026 Scientists have found a way to make one of the most aggressive brain tumors vulnerable to the immune system. A single injection of a modified virus can invade glioblastoma, kill cancer cells, and summon immune fighters deep into the tumor. These ...
Mar. 19, 2026 A common oral bacterium tied to gum disease may help spark and fuel breast cancer, according to new research. Scientists discovered it can travel through the bloodstream to breast tissue, where it causes DNA damage and speeds tumor growth and ...
Mar. 19, 2026 Stopping popular weight-loss injections like Ozempic or Mounjaro might not trigger the dramatic rebound many fear. A large real-world study of nearly 8,000 patients found that most people who discontinue these drugs manage to keep the weight ...
Mar. 19, 2026 Eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods like chips, frozen meals, sugary drinks, and packaged snacks may significantly raise the risk of serious heart problems. In a major U.S. study, people consuming around nine servings per day had a 67% ...
Mar. 19, 2026 Carrying extra fat around the waist may be more dangerous than the number on the scale suggests. Researchers found that belly fat was more strongly linked to heart failure risk than BMI, even in people with normal weight. Inflammation seems to play ...
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Mar. 19, 2026 New strength training guidelines emphasize that doing any resistance training is what truly matters. Based on decades of research, experts say even simple routines can increase muscle, strength, and ...
Mar. 19, 2026 Malaria parasites contain tiny spinning crystals that have puzzled scientists for years. New research reveals they’re powered by a rocket-like reaction that breaks down hydrogen peroxide, releasing ...
Mar. 19, 2026 A new study suggests that eating less sweet food doesn’t make people crave it any less—or improve their health markers. Participants who increased or decreased sweetness in their diets showed no ...
Mar. 19, 2026 For years, people with prediabetes have been told the same thing: lose weight or risk developing diabetes. But new research flips that idea on its head, showing that blood sugar can return to normal ...
Mar. 18, 2026 Scientists have mapped the genetics of cancer in cats for the first time at scale, uncovering major overlaps with human cancers. Key mutations—like those linked to breast cancer—appear in both ...
Mar. 18, 2026 A risky but often lifesaving surgery that removes damaged parts of the small intestine can leave patients facing a new threat: serious liver damage ...
Mar. 18, 2026 Cycling might be one of the simplest ways for older adults to stay healthier, longer. A 10-year study in Japan found that seniors who rode bicycles had lower risks of needing long-term care and ...
Mar. 18, 2026 Your morning coffee or tea could be quietly supporting your brain health. A long-term study found that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee or tea was linked to an 18% lower risk of dementia ...
Mar. 18, 2026 A critically ill 33-year-old man survived an almost unimaginable scenario—living for 48 hours without lungs—thanks to a groundbreaking surgical approach. After a severe flu-triggered infection ...
Mar. 17, 2026 Early life stress may set the stage for long-term digestive problems by disrupting the gut-brain connection. Studies in both mice and thousands of children found links to symptoms like pain, ...