Search Index

The field of neuroscience is rapidly expanding day by day. Study dopamine in the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal pathways; explore shattered brains in traumatic brain injuries; and delve into the mechanics of motion. Neuroscience Articles The field of neuroscience is rapidly expanding day by day. Study dopamine in the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal pathways; explore shattered brains in traumatic brain injuries; and delve into the mechanics of motion. You may also like: Biology , Immunology , Medicine Dopamine in the movement and reward pathways Aka the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal pathways Pseudo-Angelman syndrome A rare neurological disease that causes intellectual deficits. Article #10 in a series on Rare diseases. What does depression do to your brain? The biological explanation of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Article #1 in a series on psychiatric disorders and the brain. Neuroimaging and spatial resolution Which type of brain scan has it all? Beyond the bump A breakdown on traumatic brain injuries How does physical health affect mental health? The effects of exercise on the nervous system Mastering motion Looking at reflex, rhythmic and complex movements The brain of a bully The neurological basis of bullying Inside out: the chemistry of depression The role of neurotransmitters. Article #2 in a series on psychiatric disorders and the brain. Vertigo Physiology, causes, relevance Why brain injuries affect adult and children differently Differences in anatomical development, brain plasticity and learning stages are main reasons why Does being bilingual make you smarter? Looking at the neurological basis of bilingualism and multilingualism Previous

A new theory suggests intelligence develops through reciprocal interactions between abilities Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link A primer on the Mutualism theory of general intelligence 11/12/25, 14:15 Last updated: Published: 10/10/24, 14:19 A new theory suggests intelligence develops through reciprocal interactions between abilities Introduction One of the most replicated findings in psychology is that if a sufficiently large and diverse battery of cognitive tests is administered to a representative sample of people, an all-positive correlation matrix will be produced. For a century, psychometricians have explained this occurrence by proposing the existence of g, a latent biological variable that links all abilities. G is statistically represented by the first factor derived from a correlation matrix using a method called factor analysis, which reduces the dimensionality of data into clusters of covariance between tests called factors. Early critics of g pointed out that nothing about the statistical g-factor required the existence of a real biological factor and that the overlap of uncorrelated mental processes sampled by subtests was sufficient. While the strength of correlations between subtests does generally correspond to intuitive beliefs about processes shared between them, this is not universally the case, and for this reason, sampling theory has never seen widespread acceptance. A new theory called mutualism has been proposed that explains the positive manifold without positing the existence of g. In mutualism the growth of abilities is coupled, meaning improvement in one domain causes growth in another, inducing correlations between abilities over time. The authors of the introductory paper demonstrated in a simulation that when growth in abilities is coupled the interaction between baseline ability, growth speed and limited developmental resources is sufficient to create a statistical general factor from abilities that are initially uncorrelated, offering a novel explanation for why abilities like vocabulary that are ‘inexpensive’ in terms of developmental resources explain the most variance in other abilities. Empirical evidence In the field of intelligence, mutualism has been tested twice among neurotypical children in the lab and once in a naturalistic setting with data from a gamified maths revision platform. Alongside these, a lone study exists comparing coupling in children with a language disorder and neurotypical children, however methodological issues related to attrition preclude it from discussion here. All studies used latent change score modelling (LCSM) to compare competing models of how intelligence develops over time. LCSM is a subset of structural equation modelling in which researchers compare the discrepancy between models of proposed causal connections between variables and their values in the real data using model fit indices. Three parameters resembling those used in the introductory paper’s simulations were used to represent causal connections between variables: the change score - wave #2 score minus wave #1 score of the same ability, the self-feedback parameter – the regression coefficient of baseline ability on the change score of the same ability and the coupling effect parameter – the regression coefficient of one ability at wave #1 on the change score of the other ability. The following models were compared: the g-factor model defined by the absence of coupling and growth driven by change in the g-factor, the investment model defined by coupling from matrix reasoning to vocabulary and the mutualism model defined by bidirectional coupling. Mutualism in the lab The first two lab studies investigated coupling between vocabulary and matrix reasoning in samples of 14-25 year olds and 6-8 year olds respectively. The mutualism model showed the best model fit in both studies albeit less decisively in the three wave younger sample, suggesting the stronger model fit of the first study may have been an artefact of regression to the mean. I think it’s problematic to interpret this as empirical support for mutualism due to issues that follow from only using two abilities. A g-factor extracted from two abilities may reflect specific non-g variance shared between tests as much as it does common variance caused by g. Adding to this ambiguity is the fact that the correlations between the change scores of the two tests after controlling for coupling and self-feedback effects were positive, reflecting the influence of an unmodelled third variable, be that g or unmeasured coupling. Another problematic feature of the studies comes from their model specification of the g-factor as being without coupling. This is despite the fact no latent change score modelling study of childhood development has ruled out that g may develop in a coupled or partially coupled manner. Studies using the methodology to study cognitive ageing have shown that some abilities are coupled whereas others are not suggesting that only sampling abilities that do show coupling may lead to a biassed comparison. Mutualism in the classroom Mutualism showed a marginally better fit than the investment model in explaining the development of counting, addition, multiplication and division over three years in a study featuring a sample of 12,000 Dutch 6-10 year olds using the revision platform Mathgarden. The change scores of each ability showed strong correlations after controlling for coupling and self-feedback effects. When considered in relation to the good model fit of the investment model, I believe this may reflect the standardised effect of the curriculum on the development of abilities independent of coupling and baseline ability. A finding with negative implications for mutualism from this study is the fact that the number of games played was not associated with any greater strength in coupling. This could reflect that coupling is a passive mechanism of development with little environmental input but it could equally reflect sorting of high ability students into a niche combined with self-feedback effects of their baseline ability impeding coupling. To observe the causal effect of effort on coupling after controlling for cognitive aging and the tendency of high ability people to train harder a randomised control trial of cognitive training is needed. Cognitive training Unfortunately, no cognitive training study has used latent change score modelling, meaning coupling must be inferred from the presence of far transfer (gains on untrained abilities), rather than directly estimated. COGITO’s youth sample resembled the first lab study to test mutualism in its age range and choice of fluid reasoning as a far transfer measure. Participants underwent 100 days of hour-long training sessions of working memory, processing speed and episodic memory. The authors found no near or far transfer gains for working memory and processing speed, possibly indicating developmental limits on their improvement. However, moderate effect sizes were found for fluid reasoning and episodic memory. The study’s results are lacklustre and developmentally bound but they offer an example of experimentally induced far transfer in a literature – in which it is a rarity – leaving open the possibility that the coupling effects observed in the lab studies were not mere passive effects of development. In contrast to COGITO which targeted young people at the tail end of their cognitive development, the Abecedarian Project started almost as soon as the subjects were born. Conceived of as a pre-school intervention to improve the educational outcomes of African Americans in North Carolina, the Abecedarian Project consisted of an experimental group that received regular guided educational play for infants aimed at building early language and a control condition which only received nutritional supplementation. At the entry of primary school, the experimental group showed a 7 point difference in IQ, which persisted in a diminished capacity at 4.4 IQ points by age 21. In contrast to previous early life interventions, in cognitive training studies and studies on the cognitive outcomes of adoption the gains were domain general rather than improvements on specific abilities. This provides causal evidence that if interventions are sufficiently early and target highly g-loaded abilities such as vocabulary they can induce cascades of domain-general improvement, a finding in line with the predictions of mutualism. It would be unfair to end this segment without mentioning perhaps the most standardised cognitive training regime there is: schooling. The causal effect of a year of schooling on IQ can be teased apart from the developmental effects of ageing by using a method called regression discontinuity analysis. In this method, the distance of a student’s birthday from the year cutoff for two year groups is used as a predictor variable alongside the school year in a multiple regression predicting IQ. A recent paper reanalysing data from a study using this method found that the subtest gains from a year of schooling showed a moderate negative correlation with their g loading. As mutualism states that g develops through coupling, this would lend credence to the view that coupling effects are passive mechanisms of g’s development rather than being inseparable from experience. Conclusion I believe that it’s more accurate to say there is evidence for coupling effects than it is to say there is evidence for mutualism. There is convergent evidence from a year of schooling effect, coupling effects not rising with the amount of maths games played and the COGITO intervention’s results that the environment has little causal role in coupling effects and their strength. Opposing evidence comes from the Abecedarian Project, however this is not an environmental stimulus to which most people will be exposed to. Therefore, more weight should be placed on the effects of a year of schooling because it is generalisable. To reconcile this conflicting evidence, future authors should seek to replicate the COGITO intervention in an early adolescent identical twin sample with co-twin controls. This would allow researchers to observe coupling effects while executive functions are still in development and give them a more concrete understanding of the self-feedback parameter grounded in developmental cascades of gene expression. A more readily available alternative would be to apply latent change score modelling to the Abecedarian Project dataset. I will end with a quote from a critic of mutualism, Gilles Gignac: I conclude with the suggestion that belief in the plausibility of the g factor (or mutualism) may be impacted significantly by individual differences in personality, attitudes, and worldviews, rather than rely strictly upon logical and/or empirical evidence. As the current evidence stands, this may be true, but with the availability of new developmental studies such as the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study and old ones like the Louisville twin study there’s less of an excuse than ever. Written by James Howarth Related articles: Nature vs nurture in childhood intelligence / Does being bilingual make you smarter? REFERENCES Carroll, J. B. (1993). Human cognitive abilities: A Survey of Factor-Analytic Studies . Cambridge University Press Rindermann, H., Becker, D., & Coyle, T. R. (2020). Survey of expert opinion on intelligence: Intelligence research, experts’ background, controversial issues, and the media. Intelligence , 78 , 101406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2019.101406 Spearman, C. (1904). “General intelligence,” objectively determined and measured. The American Journal of Psychology , 15 (2), 201. https://doi.org/10.2307/1412107 Thomson, G. H. (1916). A hierarchy without a general factor. British Journal of Psychology 1904-1920 , 8 (3), 271–281. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8295.1916.tb00133.x Jensen, A. R. (1998). The g factor: The science of mental ability. Praeger Publishers/Greenwood Publishing Group Van Der Maas, H. L. J., Dolan, C. V., Grasman, R. P. P. P., Wicherts, J. M., Huizenga, H. M., & Raijmakers, M. E. J. (2006). A dynamical model of general intelligence: The positive manifold of intelligence by mutualism. Psychological Review, 113 (4), 842–861. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.113.4.842 Johnson, W., Nijenhuis, J. T., & Bouchard, T. J. (2008). Still just 1 g: Consistent results from five test batteries. Intelligence , 36 (1), 81–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intell.2007.06.001 Project Gallery

Scientia News is full of STEM blogs, articles and resources freely available across the globe for students. Browse all of our fascinating content written by students and professionals showing their passion in STEM and the other sciences. Log In Welcome to Scientia News DELIVERING INFORMATIVE CONTENT Scientia News is full of STEM blogs, articles and resources freely available across the globe for students. Browse all of our fascinating content written by students and professionals showing their passion in STEM and other sciences. We hope this platform helps you discover something that inspires your curiosity, and encourages you to learn more about important topics in STEM. Meet the Official Team NAVIGATE AND CLICK THE PHOTOS BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT US! To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Latest Articles neuroscience Does being bilingual make you smarter? View More ecology Meet the microbes that feed phosphorus to plants View More biology Maveerar Naal: health, trauma, and resilience amid decades of war View More physics Creatio ex Nihilo: a Christian creation doctrine including physics View More CONTACT CONTACT US Scientia News welcomes anyone who wants to share their ideas and write for our platform. If you are interested in realising your writing potential with us AND live in the UK; and/ or would like to give feedback: Email us at scientianewsorg@gmail.com or fill in our GET IN TOUCH form below and we'll be in contact... Follow us on our socials for the latest updates. Comment, like and share! Join our mailing list below for latest site content. You can also sign up to become a site member . SUBSCRIPTION Join our mailing list to receive alerts for new articles and other site content. Be sure to check your spam/ junk folders in case emails are sent there. Email Subscribe GET IN TOUCH First Name Last Name Email Message Send Thanks for submitting!

An extensive collection of insightful reviews on the best STEM books available. Whether you're a student looking to deepen your knowledge or something to aid your revision and research, an educator seeking great resources for your classroom, or simply a curious mind passionate about science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine and more, you'll find something here to inspire and inform you.  Discover Your Next Great Read Deep Dive into STEM Books Here you can explore an extensive collection of insightful reviews on the best STEM books available. Whether you're a student looking to deepen your knowledge or something to aid or complement your revision and research, an educator seeking great resources for your classroom, or simply a curious mind passionate about science, technology, engineering, mathematics, medicine and more, you'll find something here to inspire and inform you. Our Curated Selections: Intern Blues by Robert Marion, M.D. The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee

What matters most for the development of intelligence in childhood? Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Nature vs nurture in childhood intelligence 11/12/25, 14:14 Last updated: Published: 21/09/24, 15:38 What matters most for the development of intelligence in childhood? Introduction Intelligence is reasoning, planning, solving problems, thinking abstractly, comprehending complex ideas, and learning from experience. This broad and deep capacity for understanding our surroundings can be measured using standardised tests, such as Intelligence Quotient (IQ) tests, picture vocabulary tests for verbal ability and matrix reason tasks for non-verbal ability. This article explores how nature facilitates the development of intelligence in childhood through twin studies, which highlight genome-wide association studies. On the other hand, how nurture can further aid in developing intelligence in childhood through social environmental influences and investigate the association between parent socio-economic status (SES) and intelligence. However, there is no definite answer to whether only nature or nurture leads to the development of intelligence in childhood. Therefore, genotype-environment correlations are also explored. Nature Argument Nativists such as Jensen (1969) believe that intelligence is determined by nature-genetic makeup and estimate that 80% of the heritability in IQ is accounted for by genes. One way to determine the heritability of intelligence is by using twin studies. McGue and Bouchard (1998) reviewed five studies of monozygotic (MZ) twins who were reared apart and found that when accounting for heritability of intelligence, there was a correlation of 0.86 in MZ twins compared to the 0.60 correlation in dizygotic (DZ) twins. Hence, nature does play a role in the development of intelligence in childhood, because the monozygotic/MZ twins didn’t share the same environment but did share the same genes and had a higher correlation than dizygotic/DZ twins, suggesting that intelligence is heritable. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) further investigate the relationship between genetic sequences and intelligence by examining individual chromosomal markers, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Butcher et al (2008) conducted a genome scan using 7000 subjects and found six SNPs associated with intelligence, indicating that it is polygenic. The correlation between SNP-set scores and g scores is 0.105. Squaring this correlation indicates an effect size of 1.1% comparable to the sum of the effect sizes of the six SNPs. Figure 2 depicts a genotype-by-phenotype plot illustrating the relationship between SNP-set scores and standardised g . Identifying target alleles and SNP associations in genome polygenic scores has helped account for the heritability of intelligence in childhood. However, due to intelligence being polygenic, the contribution of any individual locus is small. Therefore, genomic variance only explains 10%, which makes it very difficult to detect relevant SNPS without huge samples. Foreseeable advances in genetic technology can mitigate this problem. Nurture Argument Alternatively, empiricists emphasise the family environment, socioeconomic status, and schooling, where schooling is a social influence. Sternberg et al., 2001 claim that pursuing higher education and schooling is associated with higher IQs. Dearey et al (2007), in their 5-year longitudinal study, recruited approximately 70,000 children and found a large overall contribution of intelligence to educational attainment, with an average chance of 58% of attaining grades between A and C. Therefore, their study establishes educational attainment for intelligence as an environmental outcome. However, the decision to pursue education may not be motivated by intelligence but may result from social causation, suggesting that social-economic conditions influence intelligence. The relationship between a parent's SES and a child's intelligence also exemplifies the role of nurture in the development of intelligence. This is further supported by Turkheimer et al (2003), where the authors concluded that in families with low levels of SES, 60% of the variance in IQ is explained by the shared environment, while in affluent families, all variation was accounted for by genes. However, parents with higher levels of intelligence may qualify for better-paying jobs. Hence, they have higher levels of SES, referring to social selection — when individuals influence the quality of their socio-economic environment — and genetics. Meanwhile, impoverished families do not get to develop their full genetic potential, and thus, the heritability of IQ is very low. Conversely, adoption can be seen as a social intervention that moves children from lower to higher SES homes and explores the gene-environment interplay in the development of intelligence. Kendler et al. (2015) studied 436 full male siblings, separated at birth, and tested at 18–20 years. A comparison was made between pairs of separated siblings (one raised in their biological family, the other in an adoptive family). Adopted-away siblings tested 7.6 points higher than their biological siblings when their adoptive parents had higher education levels than their biological parents (such as high school versus some postsecondary education). Gene-environment interplay According to Lerner et al. (2015), nature and nurture are inextricably linked and never exist independently of each other. In this way, the nature-nurture dichotomy presented in the title may be false. Gene-environment (GE) interplay offers two concepts: GE interaction and GE correlation. GE interaction is where the effects of genes on intelligence depend on the environment. GE correlation can be explained through adoption studies that compare genetically unrelated and related individuals. Supporting evidence from Van Ijzendoorn et al (2005) indicates that children who were adopted away from institutions had a better IQ than those children who remained in institutional care. Using 75 studies involving 3,800 children from 19 countries, a meta-analysis compared the intellectual development of children living in orphanages to those living with their adoptive families. On average, children growing up in orphanages had an IQ of 16.5 points lower than their adopted peers. This illustrates how adoptive families who typically have higher SES levels can assist children in achieving higher levels of IQ. However, the generalisability of Ijzendoorn's findings can be questioned as they used participants who were highly deprived in institutional settings, suggesting that their cognitive development is at risk. Furthermore, Neiss and Rowe (2000) contradicted Ijzendoorn’s findings by comparing adopted children to birth children to estimate the genetic-environmental effect of the mother's and father's years of education on the child's verbal intelligence. In biological families, mother-child (0.41) and father-child (0.36) correlations were significantly higher than in adoptive families (0.16). This implies that the adoptive parent's home environment has modest effects on the children's cognitive abilities, whereas the heredity and environment of the birth parents exert a profound influence. Conclusion In conclusion, both nature and nurture represent their significant role in childhood intelligence development, as they both offer testable evidence through twin studies and socio-economic correlations. Nevertheless, scientists have claimed that both genetics and environmental factors will predominantly influence the development of intelligence in childhood. This essay and future research in this field demonstrate that intelligence can be malleable, especially in children, through major social interventions and that the environment will continuously affect gene action. Written by Pranavi Rastogi Related articles: Mutualism theory of intelligence / Depression in children / Childhood stunting / Intellectual deficits / Does being bilingual make you smarter? Project Gallery

Bilingual individuals must regularly manage interference, focus their attention, and switch between linguistic rules Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Does being bilingual make you smarter? Last updated: 06/12/25, 20:07 Published: 11/12/25, 08:00 Bilingual individuals must regularly manage interference, focus their attention, and switch between linguistic rules The question of whether bilingualism makes a person smarter has fascinated researchers for years, and modern neuroscience provides strong evidence that speaking multiple languages gives the brain a significant cognitive workout. Because both language systems are constantly active, bilingual individuals must regularly manage interference, focus their attention, and switch between linguistic rules. This continuous practice strengthens executive functions, the mental skills responsible for problem solving, inhibition, and flexible thinking, resulting in sharper overall cognitive control. Brain imaging research highlights these effects clearly. When bilinguals switch between languages, areas such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex show increased activation, the same regions involved in handling complex decisions and monitoring conflicting information ( Figure 1 ). The left inferior frontal gyrus, a core language production area, also contributes to nonverbal cognitive control. This overlap suggests that the very skills required to manage multiple languages spill over into broader mental abilities, making the bilingual brain more efficient at processing information far beyond the realm of language. Together, these neural advantages align with emerging evidence that the sustained cognitive engagement required to manage multiple languages may offer long-term neuroprotective effects, including a meaningful delay in the onset of dementia. The cognitive boost extends into sensory processing as well. Studies show that bilingual adolescents encode speech sounds more robustly, especially in noisy environments. Their stronger brainstem responses reveal enhanced auditory attention and sharper sound discrimination ( Figure 2 ). This means that the mental discipline of navigating multiple languages does not only affect high level reasoning but also improves the brain’s ability to detect, filter, and interpret sound, giving bilingual individuals an advantage in environments where listening is challenging. These advantages are reinforced by physical changes within the brain itself. Learning and using multiple languages increases grey matter density and strengthens white matter pathways involved in communication between brain regions. Even a few months of second language learning can produce measurable structural changes. Taken together, these neurological, cognitive, and sensory benefits demonstrate that knowing multiple languages profoundly shapes the brain. While bilingualism may not raise IQ scores in the strictest sense, it enhances mental flexibility, attention, memory, and auditory precision, suggesting that in many practical ways, being bilingual truly does make you smarter. Written by Maria Z Kahloon Related articles: The mutualism theory of general intelligence / Childhood intelligence Project Gallery

A scientific reflection on the humanitarian, physical, and psychological cost of war Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Maveerar Naal: health, trauma, and resilience amid decades of war Last updated: 06/12/25, 20:09 Published: 27/11/25, 08:00 A scientific reflection on the humanitarian, physical, and psychological cost of war Every year on 27 November — and throughout the month of remembrance — Eelam Tamils worldwide observe Maveerar Naal, honouring those who lost their lives during Sri Lanka’s war (1983–2009). While traditionally centred on fallen fighters, this period also serves as a vital opportunity to reflect on the epidemiology of trauma, the collapse of public health systems, and the long-term physical and psychological consequences carried by Eelam Tamil communities after more than two decades of conflict. This article reframes Maveerar Naal not only as a commemoration, but also as a scientific reflection on the humanitarian, physical, and psychological cost of war — and the resilience of those who survived it. A health system under siege From the mid-1980s onward, northern and eastern Sri Lanka experienced a chronic, escalating humanitarian emergency. Repeated mass displacement, food scarcity, blocked medical supply routes, and intermittent bombardment steadily eroded the region’s healthcare infrastructure. Clinics became inaccessible due to shelling or military restrictions, and maternal and child health services deteriorated sharply. Early epidemiological observations from the 1990s documented widespread anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms among civilians, demonstrating that mental-health consequences were emerging long before the war’s final years. By the late 2000s, the public health crisis intensified dramatically. As the conflict entered its final phase — from late 2008 to May 2009 — more than 2.5 million people were trapped in active conflict zones, while approximately 800,000 civilians were internally displaced. Entire districts lost functional hospitals; others were forced to convert schools, churches, and tarpaulin shelters into emergency medical centres. Human resource shortages reflected the near-total systemic collapse: in some northern districts, only 34 of 108 midwife posts and 6 of 27 doctor posts remained filled. Pregnant women delivered in makeshift bunkers, neonatal mortality spiked, and infectious diseases spread rapidly through overcrowded displacement camps. For many, survival came at the cost of long-term disability, untreated injuries, and profound psychological trauma. Physical health consequences across populations The physical scars of the war persist across generations. Civilians experienced blast injuries, shrapnel wounds, burns, and amputations, often without access to timely surgical care. Emergency operations were performed in unsterile environments; in some cases, anaesthesia was unavailable, forcing staff to improvise with inadequate substitutes. Conditions in displacement camps — overcrowding, poor sanitation, contaminated water — led to outbreaks of diarrhoea, hepatitis A and E, and vector-borne diseases. For combatants, chronic health burdens are well-documented. Peer-reviewed studies, including research published in journals such as the International Journal of Social Psychiatry and the Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine , report the following long-term conditions among injured veterans: Back pain: 69.4% Knee osteoarthritis: 18.8% Hypertension: 22.4% Diabetes: 34.2% Phantom-limb pain among amputees: over 77% PTSD among amputees: ~41.7% These outcomes reflect years of untreated injuries, limited rehabilitation access, chronic stress, and long-term nutritional deficiencies. Psychological trauma and intergenerational consequences The psychological impact of the war has been profound. Medical workers described witnessing mass casualties with inadequate supplies — a situation that produced significant moral injury, compassion fatigue, and long-lasting mental-health consequences. Among severely injured fighters, mental-health assessments published in trauma and rehabilitation journals report: PTSD: 41.7% Adjustment disorder: 16.4% Depressive disorder: 15.6% Somatoform/dissociative disorders: significant prevalence Civilians exposed to high-intensity conflict show similarly alarming patterns. Studies from humanitarian organisations and academic institutions report that approximately: 64% of civilians exhibited long-term trauma-related effects 27% experienced PTSD 26% had anxiety disorders 25% had depression 18% experienced functional disability due to psychological distress Notably, emerging research has identified intergenerational transmission of trauma, with children of survivors — even those born after 2009 — displaying elevated rates of anxiety, behavioural challenges, and trauma-related symptoms. This represents a critical area for continued scientific study and intervention. Health workers on the frontline: the hidden scientific story The war’s final months produced some of the most extreme medical working conditions documented in modern conflict settings. For ethical, political, and safety reasons, this article does not name frontline medical staff; however, their experiences are well-recorded in reports by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), Human Rights Watch (HRW), and eyewitness testimonies. One regional physician coordinated makeshift hospitals inside schools and religious buildings. With no supplies, he sterilised instruments over open flames, used sarongs as dressings, and suspended IV fluids from tree branches. He performed dozens of emergency surgeries daily, sometimes operating while artillery fire struck nearby. A field-hospital superintendent described conducting amputations without anaesthesia, supported only by volunteer nurses. When their facility was shelled — an incident documented by multiple international observers — dozens died instantly. Survivors were treated in trenches illuminated by mobile phone torches. Another medical coordinator reported overseeing triage for thousands of displaced civilians, many severely dehydrated or malnourished. He described having to prioritise patients based solely on survivability, an ethically devastating but necessary decision in conditions of extreme scarcity. PHR and HRW documented at least 30 direct attacks on hospitals between December 2008 and May 2009. These incidents — some among the most thoroughly investigated attacks on medical facilities globally — illustrate the catastrophic collapse of health infrastructure and the extraordinary resilience of those who continued to provide care. Reflection, healing, and the path ahead Maveerar Naal is, at its core, a day of remembrance. Yet for many Eelam Tamils, it is also a day of scientific reflection — a moment to acknowledge the measurable, long-term consequences of conflict on physical health, mental well-being, and community resilience. Healing requires investment in: Long-term mental-health services rooted in trauma-informed care Rehabilitation programmes for amputees and individuals with chronic injuries Public health research into intergenerational trauma Accessible healthcare for survivors living in diaspora communities Preservation of evidence and health data for historical and scientific record By understanding the epidemiology of suffering, communities can better design strategies for recovery. By recognising the extraordinary resilience of civilians, fighters, and health workers, they honour all forms of courage. And by grounding remembrance in scientific truth, Maveerar Naal becomes not only a memorial, but a commitment to protecting health, dignity, and humanity for future generations. In remembering the past, we build the foundation for a more compassionate, prepared, and resilient future. Written by Jeevana Thavarajah Related articles: Impact of war on health (series) / South Asian Mental Health REFERENCES Amnesty International (2009) Sri Lanka: Twenty Years of Make-Believe. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/asa37/005/2009/en/ BBC News (2009) Sri Lanka shells no-fire zone. Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8046136.stm Catani, C. et al. (2008) ‘War trauma, child abuse and PTSD in Sri Lankan children’, Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry . Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18673497/ Channel 4 News (2011) Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields. Available at: https://www.channel4.com/news/sri-lankas-killing-fields Fernando, G. and Ferrari, M. (2013) ‘Short- and long-term psychological effects of war in Sri Lankan populations’, Asian Journal of Psychiatry . Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23885541/ Human Rights Watch (2009) Sri Lanka: Repeated Shelling of Hospitals. Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/05/08/sri-lanka-repeated-shelling-hospitals International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) (2014) War injury rehabilitation and prosthetics – Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.icrc.org/en/document/sri-lanka-prosthetics-rehabilitation International Crisis Group (2010) War Crimes in Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/war-crimes-sri-lanka Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) (2015) OISL Report: Sri Lanka. Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/hr-bodies/hrc/oisl-sri-lanka Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) (2009) PHR calls for inquiry into detention of doctors and war crimes in Sri Lanka. Available at: https://phr.org/news/phr-calls-for-inquiry-into-detention-of-doctors-and-war-crimes-in-sri-lanka/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7631365.stm Project Gallery

Peruse through the current treatment discoveries for one of the deadliest diseases in the world. With key breakthroughs in research, take a deep dive into specific cancers like bone, breast, and ovarian cancer. Learn about cancer biomarker evolution. Cancer Articles Peruse through the current treatment discoveries for one of the deadliest diseases in the world. With key breakthroughs in research, take a deep dive into specific cancers like bone, breast, and ovarian. Learn about cancer biomarker evolution. You may also like: Biology, Medicine Cancer biomarkers What does cancer evolution mean to cancer diagnosis and prognosis? Breast cancer and asbestos A collaboration with the Mesothelioma Centre (Asbestos), US Bone cancer How bone cancer forms Breast cancer in men How this killer disease affects the male population. Article #2 in a series on Rare diseases. Secondary bone cancer What is secondary bone cancer? Cancer treatment A breakthrough drug discovery process Liquid biopsies A novel diagnostic tool Cancer on the move Metastasis Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma A rare type of cancer. Article #4 in a series on Rare diseases. Ovarian cancer A deep dive Prostate cancer A breakthrough in treatment for this disease African-American women in cancer research Celebrating trailblazers in skin cancer, chemotherapy and cervical cancer cells Polly Matzinger A summary of the influential cancer immunologist's works The Hippo signalling pathway Also known as the Salvador-Warts-Hippo (SWH) pathway Illuminating thyroid cancer Shedding light on this disease Canines and cancer What can our canine friends tell us about cancer? Apocrine carcinoma A rare form of breast cancer. Article #9 in a series on Rare diseases. Metastasis caused by immue signals Chromosomal instability initiates immune signals, which lead to metastasis The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee Book review The MAPK/ ERK pathway The mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway Next

This page features articles which tackle imminent health problems such as smoking, childhood obesity and depression, and pre-diabetes. Skin disease, Crohn's disease, anaemias, and endometriosis are also explored.  Medicine Articles This page features articles which tackle imminent health problems such as smoking, childhood obesity and depression, and pre-diabetes. Skin disease, Crohn's disease, anaemias, and endometriosis are also explored. You may also like: Dentistry , Biology Interventions for smoking cessation Public smoking health interventions The problem with childhood obesity What is childhood obesity? How many does it affect, and what can we do to tackle this? Pre-diabetes Pre-diabetes is the period before the onset of diabetes Anaemias Anaemia is a blood disease. Article #1 in a series about anaemia. Endometriosis breakthrough The latest breakthrough in endometriosis: the bacterium theory AI in medicinal chemistry How can it help the field? Depression in children And how we can help them Iron-deficiency anaemia Anaemia is a blood disease. Article #2 in a series about anaemia. The power of probiotics And how they are effective Blood: a vital fluid The role and importance of blood Smart bandages What are they and how can they be better than traditional bandages? Why whales don't get cancer Discussing from Peter's Paradox perspective Anaemia of chronic disease The second most-common anaemia. Article #3 in a series about anaemia. Erasing memory Is it possible to wipe your memories clean? Herpes vs. skin disease From foe to ally: a Herpes-based gene therapy treats dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa. Article #3 in a series on Rare diseases. The foremothers of gynaecology An International Women's Month collab with Publett Healthcare serial killers A disturbing reality The gut microbiome Also known as: the microbiota, gut microflora Crohn's disease A summary of the condition Sideroblastic anaemia A problem synthesising haem. Article #4 in a series about anaemia. Next

These articles range from astrophysics and space science to nuclear physics, harmonic motion, and thermodynamics. Physics Articles These articles range from astrophysics and space science to nuclear physics, harmonic motion, and thermodynamics. You may also like: Maths, Technology , Engineering The liquid viscosity of castor oil An experiment determining the liquid viscosity of castor oil using spheres Summary of a pendulum experiment An experiment on the pendulum and its relation to gravity Female Nobel Prize winners in physics Who were they and what did they achieve? The Northern Lights in the UK What determines the Northern Lights to be seen in your country? The James Webb Space Telescope And its significance in space exploration Geoengineering Will it work to save the environmental crisis? The Lyrids meteor shower What is it and when does it happen? Nuclear fusion Unleashing the power of the stars Colonising Planet Mars Which fuel would be used to colonise Mars? Superfluids And their incredibly slippery nature Total solar eclipses A description of them Mercury The closest planet to the Sun The DESI instrument DESI stands for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Cumulus clouds How they form and their link to the weather Hubble Tension The cause of the Hubble Tension discrepancy is unknown Artemis The lunar south pole base A room-temperature superconductor? The search for one Physics in healthcare Incorporating nuclear medicine The Crab nebula In the constellation of Taurus The physics of LIGO LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Next