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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 chemistry The importance of symmetry in chemistry View More pharmacology ‘The Molecule’ by Dr Rick Sax and Dr Marta New View More biology What are health inequalities? View More neuroscience Does being bilingual make you smarter? 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!

Book review Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link 'The Emperor of All Maladies' by Siddhartha Mukherjee 08/01/26, 18:58 Last updated: Published: 28/11/24, 14:55 Book review Stretching nearly 4,000 years of history, Pulitzer Prize winner Siddhartha Mukherjee sets on a journey to document the biography of cancer in The Emperor of All Maladies. Drawing from a vast array of books, studies, interviews, and case studies, Mukherjee crafts a narrative that is as comprehensive as it is compelling. Driven by curiosity and a desire to understand the origins of cancer, Mukherjee sets the tone by reflecting on his experiences as an oncology trainee, drawing insightful parallels to contemporary perspectives on the fight against this relentless disease. Mukherjee also pays homage to Ancient Egyptian and Greek physicians for their early observations on cancer, from the work on Imhotep to Claudius Galen. He then introduces Sidney Farber, whose monumental contributions to modern chemotherapy are brought to life through Mukherjee's exceptional storytelling—tracing Farber's journey from his initial observations to his unprecedented success in treating children with leukaemia. As you progress through each chapter of this six-part book, your appreciation deepens for how far cancer treatments have advanced - and how much further they can go. Mukherjee’s unparalleled skill as a science communicator shines through, seamlessly weaving together groundbreaking scientific discoveries with the historical contexts in which they emerged contributing to an immersive reading experience. Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor of All Maladies : In 2005, a man diagnosed with multiple myeloma asked me if he would be alive to watch his daughter graduate from high school in a few months. In 2009, bound to a wheelchair, he watched his daughter graduate from college. The wheelchair had nothing to do with his cancer. The man had fallen down while coaching his youngest son's baseball team. Mukherjee also makes an effort to highlight the critical role of raising awareness in shaping public health outcomes. ‘Jimmy’ was a cancer patient that represented children with cancer, his real name was Einar Gustafson, but his individual story was able to galvanise large-scale support. As the face of the ‘Jimmy Fund’, he was able to assist in raising $231,485.51 for the Dana-Farber Institute subsequently becoming the official charity for the Boston Red Sox. Mukherjee underscores how storytelling can serve as a catalyst for change, not just in raising money, but also in enacting larger societal and governmental shifts. In 1971, President Richard Nixon signed the National Cancer Act, the first of its kind where federal funding went directly into advancing cancer research. What struck me most was how Mukherjee connects this historical event to the broader need for advocacy, as science doesn’t just happen in the lab. It is a collective effort, driven by awareness, to push funding and influence policy. The ability to link individual stories to broader missions, as Mukherjee illustrates, continues to be one of the most effective strategies in keeping cancer research in the public eye. Mukherjee delves into the pivotal role of genetics in cancer research, tracing its evolution from the discovery of DNA's structure by Francis Crick, James Watson, and Rosalind Franklin to Robert Weinberg's ground-breaking work on how proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressors drive cancer progression. These discoveries ushered in a new era in cancer drug development. Mukherjee also emphasises the importance of collaboration and the rise of the internet, which gave birth to The Cancer Genome Atlas, a landmark program, that unites various research disciplines to diagnose, treat, and prevent cancer. In concluding the book, Mukherjee looks ahead to the future of cancer treatment, seamlessly connecting this discussion to his second book, The Gene . This book takes readers on a remarkable journey through the history of cancer, from the earliest recorded cases to groundbreaking discoveries in genetics. It weaves together compelling personal stories as well as pivotal moments in governmental policy. The storytelling is rich and immersive, drawing you in with its detail and depth. By the time you finish, you'll find yourself returning to its pages, eager to revisit the knowledge and insights it offers. Written by Saharla Wasarme Related book reviews: Intern Blues / The Molecule Project Gallery

Impact of war and geopolitics on health in Palestine Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Life under occupation: the health and well-being of Palestinians Last updated: 08/01/26, 18:56 Published: 13/03/25, 08:00 Impact of war and geopolitics on health in Palestine This is article no. 1 in a series about global health injustices. Next article: Civil war in Sudan . Introduction Welcome to the Global Health Injustices Series, which will focus on critically examining the health inequalities and inequities faced by vulnerable populations within different countries and regions worldwide and even put forward actionable steps to improve their health and wellbeing. This series will begin with Palestine, as it has been an enduring crisis that should be addressed to include long-lasting benefits and outcomes for the Palestinians. Palestine: from a rich history to current occupation Palestine is a country in the Middle East (West Asia) mainly bordered by Israel. Palestine is unique in its various cultures and knowledge, moulded by multifaceted events and geopolitical shifts over centuries. The multidimensional cultural landscape of Palestine illustrates the impact of civilisations, such as the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans, who each had their religions, languages, and cultures, which still exist in various forms today. The resilience of the Palestinians is evident through their distinct traditions, art, food and environment, which are essential to their identity. With these testaments in mind, Palestinians are facing consistent strife because they are under constant occupation, blockade and cutting off of needed supplies carried out by Israel, as noted by several humanitarian and human rights non-governmental organisations (NGOs) like Amnesty International and Save the Children. These actions are facilitated by nations, notably the United States and the United Kingdom, through arms and weapons trade. Hence, the struggle for the Palestinians to have autonomy and freedom, among other human rights within their own homeland, is a consistent fight that requires ongoing international cooperation and solidarity. Geopolitics: its detrimental impacts on the Palestinians Given the currently divisive geopolitical landscape, it is essential to bring attention to the health outcomes of the Palestinian population, especially since at least half of them are children. A report from the Global Nutrition Cluster called “Nutrition Vulnerability and Situation Analysis / Gaza” had several key findings and tables (see Tables 1 and 2 ). Firstly, more than 90% of children less than a year old, along with pregnant and breastfeeding women, encounter high under-nutrition due to poverty. Another finding was that approximately 90% of children under five are impacted by at least one infectious disease, and 81% of households in Gaza lack clean and safe water. However, the authors noted limitations in their analysis, such as limited data sources because collecting it is difficult within the context of Gaza, and this was true for screening. Another report from the organisation Medical Aid For Palestinians (MAP), titled “Health Under Occupation” from 2017, discussed healthcare access and outcomes more broadly. For example, they noted that in 2016, up to one-third of patients’ permits to exit Gaza for healthcare access were either denied or delayed. Moreover, they stated that 40% of people in Gaza live below the poverty line. Given the recent geopolitical shifts in power, these findings from both reports will likely be higher now. This brings forthcoming uncertainty about whether the health outcomes of Palestinians will improve. In a recent qualitative study involving the views of Palestinian physicians in the West Bank, they shared their experiences of violence, threats of violence, issues with healthcare access for themselves and patients, financial difficulties to support their families, struggle to help their patients and limited access to education due to harsher life under occupation. Thinking more largely about emergency care in Palestine, one scoping review reported the depletion of healthcare resources such as medical equipment and medications. The authors even related how human rights violations and the destruction of the Palestinian healthcare system, including emergencies, have exacerbated outcomes; the most notable were stroke, myocardial infarction and traumatic injury, among other non-infectious diseases. Although the authors included this information from a human rights standpoint, they called for additional interventions and research to fill in and learn gaps within emergency care to enhance health outcomes for Palestinians. This review was published in 2022, and again, many geopolitical shifts in power have taken place within a few years. Therefore, it can be deduced that emergency care is drastically needed for the Palestinians; this is primarily compelled by the blockade in Gaza and occupation in the West Bank. Focusing on the mental health outcomes among Palestinians, they have become worse. In another scoping review, researchers focused on trauma among young Palestinian people in Gaza; the authors noted that events, such as exposure to devastation and violence, as well as the death or loss of friends and family, have contributed to mental health outcomes ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to depression. Nevertheless, the authors stated that further qualitative research is vital to addressing gaps in knowledge and enhancing mental health outcomes among the Palestinian youth and the wider population. Connecting back to how the modern geopolitical landscape is very dynamic, the poorer mental health outcomes among Palestinians have conceivably increased. Urgent calls to action: recommendations from NGOs to upholding human rights Given all of these detrimental impacts on the health and wellbeing of Palestinians, there are recommendations from organisations, notably the United Nations (UN), for ways forward towards upholding the human rights of Palestinians: Immediately end all practices of collective punishment, including lifting its blockade and closures – and the “complete siege”- of Gaza, and urgently ensure immediate access to humanitarian and commercial goods throughout Gaza, commensurate with the immense humanitarian needs. Ensure that all Palestinians forcibly displaced from Gaza are allowed to return to their homes creating safe conditions and fulfil its responsibilities as an occupying Power in this regard. End the 56-year occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem as part of a broader process towards achieving equality, justice, democracy, non-discrimination, and the fulfilment of all human rights for all Palestinians. These recommendations, among others mentioned in the report from the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, were divulged in 2024; the year had been a challenging time, particularly in Gaza, due to the complete blockade of food, water and essentials like medical supplies; in addition to this, many explosives were dropped on Gaza, killing thousands of men, women and children. Finally, buildings, such as hospitals and homes, were destroyed. Conclusion: moving forward towards a equitable and equal future for Palestinians Reflecting on everything discussed in this article, the numerous injustices happening to Palestinians must not go on; they have been suppressed for nearly 75 years by governments and the mainstream media before receiving closer attention, examination and debate within Western society recently. Therefore, we need to take actionable steps by initiating more open discussions of justice and advocacy involving the voices of Palestinians, such as myself and others. Furthermore, it is crucial always to nudge those in positions of power worldwide to fulfil their responsibilities as civil servants and defend human rights for everyone. Both of these actions uphold the health and wellbeing of Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank, especially as enabling the recommendations from the UN and other NGOs. As for the wider international community, we must continue upholding human rights to maintain our health and wellbeing. In my next article, I will discuss Sudan because this population has also encountered many injustices, primarily the civil war that has been occurring since 2023. This has impacted the health and wellbeing of the Sudanese population, which requires thorough attention and discussion. Written by Sam Jarada Related articles: Gentrification and well-being / Health Inequalities / Impacts of global warming on NTDs / Global health injustices- Bangladesh , Sri Lankan Tamils REFERENCES Human rights in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Amnesty International. 2022. Available from: https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/middle-east/israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/report-israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/ Occupied Palestinian Territory. Save the Children International. 2024. Available from: https://www.savethechildren.net/occupied-palestinian-territory Nutrition Vulnerability and Situation Analysis / Gaza. 2024. Available from: https://www.nutritioncluster.net/sites/nutritioncluster.com/files/2024-02/GAZA-Nutrition-vulnerability-and-SitAn-v7.pdf HEALTH UNDER OCCUPATION. Medical Aid For Palestinians. 2017. Available from: https://www.map.org.uk/downloads/health-under-occupation---map-report-2017.pdf Husam Dweik, Hadwan AA, Beesan Maraqa, Taher A, Zink T. Perspectives of Palestinian physicians on the impact of the Gaza War in the West Bank. SSM - Qualitative Research in Health. 2024 Nov 14;6:100504–4. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321524001136 Rosenbloom R, Leff R. Emergency Care in the Occupied Palestinian Territory: A Scoping Review. Health and Human Rights. 2022 Dec;24(2):255. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9790939/ Abdallah Abudayya, Fugleberg T, Nyhus HB, Radwan Aburukba, Tofthagen R. Consequences of war-related traumatic stress among Palestinian young people in the Gaza Strip: A scoping review. Mental Health & Prevention. 2023 Nov 25;32:200305–5. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212657023000478 M.I. Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice - Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights - Advance unedited version (A/HRC/55/28) - Question of Palestine. United Nations. Available from: https://www.un.org/unispal/document/human-rights-situation-in-opt-unohchr-23feb-2024/ Project Gallery

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 The Molecule by Dr Rick Sax and Marta New

Book review Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link 'Intern Blues' by Robert Marion, M.D. 08/01/26, 18:59 Last updated: Published: 01/09/24, 12:30 Book review The public's glimpse of a doctor’s life varies depending on the doctor. Popular TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy , New Amsterdam , and Private Practice allow keen viewers to follow the romanticised lives of doctors, from their heroic moments to the romances and tragedies that take place in their hospital shifts. Similarly, social media platforms have been filled with doctors and medical students glamourising their experience with hashtags and filters, focusing on the positive but hardly ever commenting on their negative experiences. Additionally, flashy news articles celebrate a doctor’s innovative and ground-breaking methods and attempts to save a lucky patient’s life. In particular, doctors were placed in the spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic, being seen as the real-life superheroes of the pandemic. On the other hand, in 2023, the televised NHS doctors’ protests presented the struggles and hardships endured by the professionals. Furthermore, a report by the General Medical Council in 2022 found that 50% of doctors were unhappy in their workplace. Simply put, the public’s perspective towards medicine and a doctor’s life will differ depending on their source and possibly their personal experiences. Therefore, how can one understand the world through the eyes of a doctor without studying and working within the profession? This question may never have a perfect answer, but the book Intern Blues by Robert Marion could be considered a step in the right direction. This book explores the life of three first-year interns (Amy, Adam, and Mark) in New York paediatric hospitals during the mid-1980s. After meeting his new interns and learning about the fear and outsider syndrome they felt toward the coming year, Dr. Robert Marion encouraged them to document their experiences during their year as interns to reflect and possibly learn through their achievements and struggles. Unknowingly, Dr Marion’s advice created the concept behind this inspiring book. The book explains treatment methods, their reasoning, and the medical abbreviations, making any reader feel like a doctor. This is emphasised by the vividly descriptive writing and the constant log of emotions, allowing anyone to experience the vibrant rush of a hospital from the comfort of their home. One of the best things about this book is each intern’s contrasting perspectives on such supposedly similar experiences. The first intern, Andy Baron, explored his struggles of living far from his family and girlfriend due to his awkward working hours and his feelings that his loved ones do not understand what he is going through. On the other hand, Amy Horowitz has an intriguing perspective of being a mother of a young child, presenting to the reader the struggles with viewing her own child in her patients' eyes and how she surpassed this challenge to succeed in her work. In contrast, Mark Greenberg has an interesting and almost humoristic negative perspective towards his experience – one should note that, at times, some of his entries are quite shocking with their abruptness and pessimistic view. On the other hand, one of the few limitations to note in this book would be the timing. Having taken place in the 1980s, the reader should note that some elements have changed and evolved over the years. However, one could argue that this difference in 40 years gives a uniqueness to the book as it allows for a comparison and reflection on how medicine has changed. For instance, there is a brief exploration of the struggle that Amy faced as a doctor: struggles that in some way stem from how being a woman made others view her differently from her male colleagues. Although these same struggles may not apply to female doctors in the present, the Amys of 2024 encounter their own challenges. Moreover, the book provides an interesting reflection on how the HIV pandemic changed medicine and forced the medical community to adapt – which, for many readers, can resonate with the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Intern Blues is an entertaining read that will make its readers want to hug their siblings and appreciate their lives differently. This book will elicit laughs, tears, and moments of profound contemplation - a rollercoaster of emotions filled to the brim with intriguing medical cases. Presenting the hardships these three doctors faced, one has the opportunity to reflect and decide for themselves: does the good outweigh the bad? What causes the balance to tip? Is a doctor’s life made for them? Nevertheless, one conclusion is constant: the newfound admiration for the healthcare community. Check out this book on Amazon Written by Inês Couto André Related article and book reviews: Healthcare serial killers / The Emperor of All Maladies / The Molecule REFERENCES Marion R. The Intern Blues: The Timeless Classic about the Making of a Doctor. Reprint edition. William Marrow & Company; 2001. General Medical Council. The State of Medical Education and Practice in the UK, Workplace Experiences 2023 [Internet]. General Medical Council. 2023 June. Available from: gmc-uk.org/stateofmed . Project Gallery

Study the plethora of interactions between drug and target with these articles focusing on antibiotic resistance, analgesics, and drug treatments for diseases with presently no cure. Pharmacology Articles Study the plethora of interactions between drug and target with these articles focusing on antibiotic resistance, analgesics, and drug treatments for diseases with presently no cure. You may also like: Chemistry , Medicine Effect of heat on medicine When medication is exposed to extreme heat, what happens? Antibiotic resistance Its rising threat Exploring ibuprofen Ibuprofen is a painkiller A treatment for Parkinson's disease By using a common diabetes drug mRNA vaccines What they are, and how they are different to traditional (live, attenuated, or viral-vectored) vaccines Anthrax toxin Using bacterial toxins to treat pain 'The Molecule': an upcoming biotech thriller A book review

Elements, compounds, and mixtures make up the building blocks of materials that shape our world. Read on to uncover the latest contributions in chemistry, such as advances in mass spectrometry and quantum chemistry. Chemistry Articles Elements, compounds, and mixtures make up the building blocks of materials that shape our world. Read on to uncover the latest contributions in chemistry, such as advances in mass spectrometry and quantum chemistry. You may also like: Medicine , Pharmacology Advances in mass spectrometry Analytical chemistry Bioorthogonal chemistry Chemical reactions with high yields Polypharmacy Multiple medications Plastics and their environmental impact The same property that makes plastics so strong endangers the environment Quantum chemistry A relatively new field of chemistry Nanomedicine and targeted drug delivery An overview as to why nanoparticles are suitable for drug delivery Nanogels Smarter drug delivery The importance of symmetry in chemistry Symmetry in spectroscopy, reaction mechanisms and bonding Previous

​Dive into the latest biological research! Read about animal testing and ethics, and learn about the regulation and policy of stem cell research. Biology Articles Dive into the latest biological research! Read about animal testing and ethics, and learn about the regulation and policy of stem cell research. You may also like: Cancer , Ecology , Genetics , Immunology , Neuroscience , Zoology , and Medicine Regulation and policy of stem cell research The 14-day rule and stem cell-based embryo models Maveerar Naal Health, trauma, and resilience amid decades of war in Sri Lanka What are health inequalities? Unequal access to healthcare. Article #1 in a series on health inequalities. COMING SOON Previous

Symmetry in spectroscopy, reaction mechanisms and bonding Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link The importance of symmetry in chemistry Last updated: 27/12/25, 17:26 Published: 08/01/26, 08:00 Symmetry in spectroscopy, reaction mechanisms and bonding Introduction Symmetry is everywhere- in snowflakes, flowers and even art. Chemistry is no different and the symmetrical properties of a molecule often dictate its behaviour. From interpreting spectra, to predicting reaction pathways and understanding bonding, symmetry shapes all chemical disciplines. 1. Symmetry in spectroscopy Firstly, understanding the symmetry of molecules is essential in a range of characterisation techniques. In 1 H NMR spectroscopy, the number of peaks seen in a spectrum correspond to the number of unique chemical environments. For example, dibenzylidene acetone has a plane of symmetry and a rotational axis (C 2 ) through the centre of the carbonyl. This explains why the spectrum only has 5 different proton environments. In IR spectroscopy, infrared radiation is absorbed by a molecule causing stretching and bending of bonds when they vibrate. The total number of vibrational modes can be predicted using: • 3N – 5 rule for linear molecules • 3N – 6 rule for non-linear molecules (where N = no. of atoms) However, only vibrations which cause a change in dipole moment are seen in IR spectra. This explains why CO 2 only shows 3 main absorption peaks, despite having 4 vibrational modes. 2. Symmetry in reaction mechanisms Considering the symmetry of molecules also helps chemists predict the stereochemical outcome of organic reactions. A common example is the E2 elimination of a halogenoalkane, where an alkene is formed via elimination of a halogen. For an E2 elimination to occur, the H and the leaving group must be 180 ° from each other, in an ‘anti-periplanar’ conformation. To predict which groups, have this relationship, Newman projections are used to easily assign and rotate bonds. A Newman projection is a perspective of a molecule, typically by imagining you are looking down a specific C-C bond. See Figure 3 . 3. Symmetry in bonding Lastly, considering the symmetry of a molecule is vital for understanding Molecular Orbital (MO) Theory. MO theory explains how covalent bonding occurs by considering the symmetry elements of the valence orbitals. For example, in H 2 , the two valence 1s orbitals are completely symmetric and therefore can overlap effectively to form a σ molecular orbital. However, in HF, the introduction of 2p orbitals means the shape and symmetry has changed. The 2p x and 2p y orbitals can no longer overlap with the 1s H orbital as their symmetries are incompatible. Using this information, a MO diagram can be constructed to show how the orbitals combine, explaining why H 2 has a single bond. In essence, symmetry determines which orbitals can ‘match up’ to form bonds. See Figure 4 . Conclusion Symmetry influences every aspect of chemistry and is frequently employed to rationalise observed molecular characteristics. While sometimes overlooked, considering the symmetry of a molecule underpins any chemistry undertaken across industry and academia. If you enjoyed this article, future articles could build on this topic by introducing Group Theory and showing how you can predict an entire vibrational spectrum, or the molecular geometry of a compound based entirely on its symmetry. Written by Antony Lee REFERENCES S. Civis, M. Ferus, A. Knizek, in The Chemistry of CO 2 and TiO 2 : From Breathing Minerals to Life on Mars, ed. S. Civis, M. Ferus, A. Knizek, Springer Nature, Switzerland, 1 st edn., 2019, vol. 1, ch. 1, pp. 1-7 A. Burrows, J. Holman, S. Lancatser, T. Overton, A. Parsons, G. Pilling, G. Price, in Chemistry 3 , Oxford University Press, Oxford, 3 rd edn., 2017, ch.4, pp. 172-219 Project Gallery

What they are, which groups are affected, and pandemic and economic impacts Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link What are health inequalities? Last updated: 27/12/25, 17:42 Published: 08/01/26, 08:00 What they are, which groups are affected, and pandemic and economic impacts This is Article 1 in a series on health inequalities. Next article: Socioeconomic health equalities (coming soon). Welcome to the first article in a series of articles about health inequalities. This first article will look more in detail at exactly what health inequalities are. Introduction Imagine that you lived in Blackpool, and that your friends or family lived in Kensington. Your life expectancy would be 76 years, while theirs would be 86 years, a full decade of difference! Or consider the fact that even though men have shorter life-spans compared to women, women spend longer living with ill health or major illnesses. These are some examples of health inequalities, which are health differences between different groups of people. They aren’t just random variations in health outcomes between different groups or people: instead, they’re systematic and avoidable. What groups are affected by health inequalities? Health inequalities can be seen across various populations. A person’s health can be impacted by socioeconomic factors, like income or wealth, and geographic factors, like where they live. Other characteristics affecting health include ethnicity or gender. These factors don’t act in isolation. For individuals who experience multiple levels of disadvantage, the effects of inequalities are worsened. For example, ethnic minority groups who live in deprived areas, or socioeconomically disadvantaged women, experience even worse health outcomes. This interconnectedness means that understanding health inequalities and addressing them requires a holistic approach. Health status and health inequalities Differences in health outcomes can manifest in different ways. One indicator is health status, which includes overall life expectancy and healthy life expectancy, which is the time people live in good health. In England, there’s an almost 10-year gap in life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas, shown by the example above, where the life expectancy is 76 years in Blackpool and 86 years in Kensington. Differences in healthy life expectancy between the most and least deprived areas are even more pronounced. Healthy life expectancy is more than 18 years lower for the most deprived areas compared to the least deprived areas, as shown in Figure 1 . Males living in the most deprived areas can expect to live 52.3 years in good health, while for males living in the least deprived areas, this number increases to 70.5 years. For females, it’s 51.9 years in the most deprived areas, compared to 70.7 years in the least deprived. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health inequalities The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health inequalities, with those living in the most deprived areas and people from ethnic minority backgrounds being the worst impacted. For example, as the pandemic strained healthcare services, more deprived areas had longer waiting lists, highlighting issues of unequal access and quality of care. In addition, death rates in the most deprived areas were higher compared to the least deprived areas: at a deprivation level of 1 (most deprived), deaths from COVID-19 were 566.2 per 100,000, with this number decreasing to 228.7 deaths per 100,000 at a deprivation level of 10 (least deprived), as seen in Figure 2 . The economic impact of health inequalities Health inequalities can have economic impacts as a result of the added costs needed to address them. The persistence of health inequalities, particularly among the working-age population, is a challenge to economic growth, as increasing levels of ill health can lead to economic inactivity. For example, data from before COVID-19 suggests that health inequalities cost the UK £31bn to £33bn per year in lost productivity, £20bn to £32bn per year in lost tax revenue and higher benefits payments and £4.8bn of the NHS budget. This is equivalent to almost a fifth of the NHS budget. As the pandemic exacerbated inequalities, these numbers have only increased: for example, the long-term impacts of COVID-19 have varied between demographics. Given that at least 2.5 million working-age adults are unable to work due to long-term sickness, as per the Office for National Statistics estimates, this is a significant economic challenge for the country, as well as a health issue. Conclusion Health inequalities have been shown to affect different groups disproportionately, with deprivation, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and other social factors having compounding effects, resulting in poorer health and shorter healthy lives. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these inequalities, with the most marginalised communities being the most affected. Failure to address these differences has resulted in not only human costs but also billions in lost productivity and increased burdens on health services. Socioeconomic status is one specific factor that influences health outcomes: as mentioned above, people in the most deprived areas face a gap of approximately ten years in life expectancy compared to the least deprived, seen when comparing life expectancy in Blackpool and Kensington. The next article in this series will look more in detail at socioeconomic inequalities, so watch out for that! Written by Naoshin Haque Related article: Global Health Injustices (series) Project Gallery