As per the latest data released by Transforming Access to Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO) and the Policy Institute at King's College London, the number of UK students reporting mental health difficulties tripled. The estimate reveals that around 300,000 students could now be experiencing mental health struggles. Of the total, 18% of students reported some kind of mental health issue in 2024.

As per the reports, this estimate is triple what was reported in 2017, where it was at 6%. Experts also say that Covid-19 pandemic is "often considered to have contributed to this, it does not explain the ongoing rise in mental health difficulties." Another reason could also be the "changing definition and increasing openness about mental health" which has led to a rise in numbers. The report notes, "This trend pre-dates the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Although these factors play a part in students' deteriorating mental health, they cannot therefore be the only explanation."

How Did The Report Conclude?

The report drew data collected over the latest Student Academic Experience Survey of 93,212 students. From the survey, it was found that there exist significant disparities between demographic groups, with women being twice as likely to report mental health difficulties, about 22% as compared to men, at 11%.

What Did The Results Reveal?

The results revealed that students who identified as LGBTQ experienced the highest rates of mental health challenges. This has actually lessened the hope that conditions for LGBTQ students are improving, which may not have been a positive case.

Of them, 42% are bisexual and lesbian students, whereas last year it was 35% and 32% respectively. The report also noted that mental health difficulties among lesbian women and gay men rose three times the rate of straight people, and among bisexual and asexual people, it was twice as high. For trans students, the number jumped from 25% in 2023 to 40% in 2024.

Is The LGBTQ+ Prone To Mental Health Crisis?

As per the Child Mind Institute, being LGBTQ+ does not cause mental health problems, but because these kids often face factors like rejection, discrimination and violence, they are at a higher risk of challenges including depression, anxiety, and even attempting suicide.

A UTAH Health study quotes Anna Docherty, PhD, LP, assistant professor of psychiatry at Huntsman Mental Health Institute that, "likely with any identity, feeling different - or worse, unaccepted as you are is a significant risk factor of mental health struggle." The data reveals that LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than non-LGBTQ+ identifying teens. They are also more than twice as likely to feel suicidal and more than four times as likely to attempt suicide. In the US alone, 48% of transgender adults report that they have considered suicide in the last year, compared to 4% of the overall population.

What Do These Findings Mean?

TASO's academic lead and professor of public policy at King's College London, Michael Sanders said, "LGBTQ students and women bear the brunt of the rise in declining mental health and urgent action is needed to understand and address these trends."

Are you among those who ditch plastic straws in favor of paper ones? A new South Korean study suggests that switching to paper may not be as environmentally beneficial as it seems.

Commissioned by South Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, the study found that paper straws had 6.33 times the carcinogenic impact of conventional plastic straws. They also had 2.04 times the impact on environmental acidification, which can make soil and water more acidic and potentially harm plants, animals and ecosystems.

What Did The Study Find?

Researchers compared the environmental impacts of conventional plastic straws made from polypropylene (PP), paper straws, biodegradable plastic straws and non-biodegradable bio-based polyethylene (bio-PE) straws.

The assessment, conducted from May last year to April this year, examined four types of straws across 16 environmental impact categories.

Traditional plastic straws had a lower environmental footprint in 10 of the 16 categories, including climate change, air pollution and human toxicity. Paper straws performed worse in categories including carcinogenic impact and environmental acidification.

Meanwhile, bio-PE straws had the highest environmental impact in 10 categories, including ozone depletion, environmental acidification and smog formation.

The findings highlight how the environmental footprint of everyday products can vary depending on the materials used to make them and how they are manufactured and disposed of.

Also read: Can Panty Liners Pose A Cancer Risk? What Science Says

How Was The Environmental Impact Assessed?

Researchers assessed each type of straw across its entire life cycle, from raw material production and manufacturing to disposal.

The analysis assumed that nearly 74% of discarded straws would be incinerated, while the remaining 26% would end up in landfills, The Korean Herald reported.

The results showed that conventional plastic straws performed better than the alternatives in several environmental categories. However, this does not mean they are the most environmentally friendly option in every respect.

Why Are Paper Straws Difficult To Recycle?

Despite being promoted as recyclable alternatives to plastic, paper straws can be difficult to recycle in practice.

Their small size makes them harder for recycling facilities to separate, while coatings and adhesives used in their manufacture can complicate the recycling process.

Paper straws have become commonplace in bars and fast-food outlets as the hospitality industry has moved away from plastic amid consumer concerns about plastic pollution. Although paper generally breaks down more readily than conventional plastic, its overall environmental impact depends on several factors, including production and disposal.

Paper Straws May Contain More 'Forever Chemicals'

Read More: 485 'Inactive' Chemicals In US Pesticide Products Linked To Breast Cancer

A previous study by researchers at the University of Antwerp in Belgium found that paper straws contained per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as forever chemicals, more frequently than plastic straws.

These chemicals can persist in the environment for decades, contaminate water supplies and are associated with several health concerns. However, detecting PFAS in a product does not, by itself, establish the level of exposure or the risk to human health from using it.

Trump Administration Moves To Phase Out Paper Straws

In March 2025, the Trump administration launched an effort to phase out paper straws in federal government operations, releasing a White House report titled National Strategy to End the Use of Paper Straws.

The report argued that paper straws were more expensive, less effective and potentially more harmful than conventional plastic alternatives.

President Donald Trump described paper straws as a “pulpy, soggy mess” and raised concerns about the presence of PFAS, chemicals associated with cancer and other health problems, The Daily Mail reported.

Avian influenza, or bird flu, is caused by Type A influenza viruses found naturally in wild birds. The virus can spread to poultry and mammals, including dairy cattle. Humans can become infected through contact with infected animals or contaminated environments. While sustained human-to-human transmission of H5N1 has not been established, continued outbreaks and the virus's potential to evolve are raising concerns about the risk of a future pandemic, experts warn.

Early this month, a resident of Yakima County in Washington tested positive for avian influenza after exposure to infected dairy cattle, the Yakima Health District and Washington State Department of Health announced. The resident is isolating at home and has not developed severe illness or required hospitalization.

H5N1 In Humans: What Do We Know?

According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 1,002 laboratory-confirmed human H5N1 infections and 479 deaths were reported across 25 countries between 2003 and August 7, 2026. In 2026 alone, nine cases, including two deaths, were reported worldwide.

The H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b circulating among US dairy cattle has been less lethal to humans than some other H5N1 infections. The US has reported at least 72 human cases since the virus spread to dairy cattle, with two deaths. Most patients had contact with infected animals, The Telegraph reportedd.

Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches and conjunctivitis. Mild infections may resemble COVID-19 or the common cold, potentially leaving cases undetected.

Migrant dairy workers may also avoid voluntary testing over fears of contact with law enforcement.

“If people don’t feel safe coming forward for testing or care, we risk missing early signs of spread, especially in high-risk populations like dairy farm workers,” Dr Krutika Kuppalli, associate professor in the division of infectious diseases at the University of Texas Southwestern, previously told The Telegraph.

H5N1 Detected In Mink On US Farm

H5N1 has been detected in at least six captive mink on a Utah farm, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Scientists are monitoring the virus in mammals because some species can support viral replication and transmission. Mink are of particular concern because they are susceptible to respiratory viruses, and crowded farms could create conditions for viruses to spread and evolve.

"It is REALLY dangerous to let bird flu spread unchecked through mammals, especially minks, which have similar susceptibility & respiratory physiology to humans. The virus can adapt to human hosts by adapting to the respiratory tract of minks," virologist Dr Angela Rasmussen said, in a post on X.

"We don't know if H5N1 will ever make that evolutionary leap or not. We know that it could. But I hope we don't find out. A worst-case bird flu pandemic could literally kill hundreds of millions of people & cause agricultural, ecological, & economic collapse," she added.

How H5N1 Spread From Birds To Dairy Cattle

Marc Johnson, a molecular virologist and professor, shared a timeline of H5N1's spread on X. A new variant spread across the US in early 2022, causing substantial bird mortality and spilling over into several mammal species.

In late 2023 or early 2024, the virus began appearing in dairy cattle's mammary tissue. By the time the outbreak was identified, it had spread to herds across the country.

Johnson said bulk milk testing and strict quarantines could have helped contain the outbreak, warning that the virus continues to circulate among cattle.

"Pasteurization kills H5N1," he said, adding no human cases have been linked to drinking pasteurized milk.

Could H5N1 Trigger Another Pandemic?

Scientists are concerned that continued circulation in mammals could allow H5N1 to evolve and become better adapted to mammalian hosts, potentially increasing the risk to humans.

Johnson warned that "continued spread gives the virus more opportunities to evolve". While sustained human-to-human transmission has not been established, a future pandemic remains inevitable.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk?

People who work closely with animals, including agricultural workers, backyard flock owners, hunters and wildlife workers, face a higher risk.

• Avoid touching sick or dead animals, wild birds, bird droppings and potentially contaminated surfaces.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling infected animals and report suspected animal infections.
• Wear disposable gloves when handling harvested birds and practice good hygiene.
• Ask a healthcare provider about seasonal flu vaccination. It does not prevent bird flu but may reduce the risk of simultaneous infection with human and avian influenza viruses.

An experimental male contraceptive pill could soon enable men to prevent pregnancy on demand as researchers are aiming for it to work within 30 minutes of being ingested and provide protection for at least six to eight hours.

Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine in the United States have received a grant of $8.2 million from the National Institutes of Health to test the drug in a human trial for the first time. The investigational pill is designed to temporarily stop the sperm in its tracks, rather than suppressing hormone production or formation of sperm.

The drug’s effectiveness, safety and ability to maintain fertility health after each dose remain to be investigated.

More About The Experimental Male Contraceptive Pill

Researchers Dr Jochen Buck and Dr Lonny Levin, professors of pharmacology at Weill Cornell, are developing a compound that blocks an enzyme called soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC).

This enzyme plays a crucial role in sperm motility, the ability of sperm to move. By inhibiting sAC, the drug is intended to temporarily immobilise sperm, preventing them from swimming enough to fertilise an egg.

In 2023, the researchers reported in Nature Communications that blocking sAC rendered sperm immobile and prevented pregnancies in preclinical models. This drug differs from experimental hormonal male contraceptives, which generally aim to reduce sperm production and may require weeks to become effective.

“We’ve developed an on-demand contraceptive pill that men would take 30 minutes before having sex,” Buck said in a statement from Weill Cornell Medicine. “The pill provides a six-to-eight-hour window of protection from pregnancy, and afterwards, fertility returns to normal.”

These timings reflect the researchers’ intended profile for the drug. They have not yet been confirmed in people yet.

Also read: 'Contraceptive Coil Saved My Life': UK Woman's Persistent Abdominal Pain Led Her To Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis

Humans Trials Planned

The four-year grant will fund the toxicology and safety studies that are needed before human testing. The grant will also cover the development of an oral formulation as well as the drug’s manufacturing processes.

The next step is a Phase 1, placebo-controlled trial in which healthy men will participate. Researchers will monitor participants for side effects and examine sperm samples to measure changes in motility. They will also investigate whether the effect is temporary and sperm movement returns to normal after the drug’s effect wears off.

“Contraception is unusual in that you’re giving a medicine to healthy people, often in their prime, so the requirements for efficacy and safety are particularly stringent,” said Dr Peter Meinke, an assistant professor of pharmacology at Weill Cornell who has contributed to the drug's development.

“You need a molecule that is fast-acting, potent, safe and which is active for hours in the male but also continues to prevent sperm from swimming inside the drug-free female,” he added.

Also read: What Does A Morning-After Pill Do To Your Body?

Could It Be A Breakthrough In Male Contraception?

Male contraceptive options that are currently available include just condoms and vasectomy. Other experimental methods include hormonal pills, gels and long-acting treatments. Many require regular use and can take weeks to affect fertility.

An on-demand pill could offer an instant method for preventing unwanted pregnancy by allowing men to use the drug around the time they have sex, provided the future trials prove it is safe and effective.

“I hope someday family planning becomes a shared responsibility where men or couples can go to the local pharmacy to get male contraceptives,” Levin said. “This gives couples another option to discuss what is best for them.”