Editor's note

If you take omega 3 supplements to maintain a healthy heart, you can stop now. A comprehensive review of the scientific evidence, conducted by Lee Hooper and colleagues, found that these supplements do nothing to reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke. Other supplements have also taken a drubbing. Probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics – said to boost your gut microbiome – may not be safe to take when you are very ill. At least, we don’t know if they’re safe because no one is recording the data, says Amreen Bashir. But there is some good news. We are all living longer, and humans don’t seem to have a natural expiry date. While some philosophers are downbeat about this prospect, Mackenzie Graham argues that life can remain rich and complex, well into old age.

Check out the latest episode of our podcast, The Anthill. It's all about confidence. Hear from neuroscientists about how it works in our brains, psychologists who've studied the extent that it can help us get ahead at work and a magician academic on the role it plays in con artistry.

Confusion continues over what exactly the UK's position is on Brexit, more than a week since the government published a white paper setting it out. Our experts delve into the detail on Northern Ireland and the future role of the European Court of Justice – two of the most contentious topics. At the time of writing, Theresa May was still prime minister. But as Ben Williams writes, she will almost definitely be experiencing sleepless nights.

Clint Witchalls

Health + Medicine Editor

Top stories

R_Szatkowski/Shutterstock.com

Omega 3 supplements don't protect against heart disease – new review

Lee Hooper, University of East Anglia

The final word on omega 3 supplements and heart health.

cdrin/Shutterstock

Would a longer lifespan make us happier? A philosopher's take

Mackenzie Graham, University of Oxford

Some philosophers believe that a very long life could easily become boring.

Shutterstock

Anthill 27: Confidence

Annabel Bligh, The Conversation; Gemma Ware, The Conversation; Holly Squire, The Conversation

A podcast about confidence – from how it works in our brains and whether it can get us ahead at work to how confidence tricksters fool people into falling for their scams.

EPA/Virginia Mayo

Brexit: Theresa May's plan will strengthen rather than weaken European legal control

Davor Jancic, Queen Mary University of London

The UK government has consistently pledged freedom from European laws. It's clear now that the plan is no such thing.

Health + Medicine

Science + Technology

Cities

  • Overtourism: a growing global problem

    Claudio Milano, Ostelea - School of Tourism and Hospitality; Joseph M. Cheer, Monash University; Marina Novelli, University of Brighton

    Spare a thought for the locals.

Arts + Culture

Business + Economy

Politics + Society

 

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