This week’s clashes at the UN have renewed questions about its role in the world. A new biography of U Thant recalls a time when it wielded real power.

An insatiable thirst for cheap, ready-to-build furniture has been linked to illegal logging and assassinations of forest defenders.

In Behavioural Economics and Policy for Pandemics, editors Joan Costa-Font & Matteo M. Galizzi bring together global behavioural policy insights from COVID-19.

In Behavioural Economics and Policy for Pandemics, editors Joan Costa-Font & Matteo M. Galizzi bring together global behavioural policy insights from COVID-19.

Despite being declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern 10 months ago, the mpox outbreak is not over. And in places like Sierra Leone, it is spiralling. Paul Adepoju reports.

The Assembly approved a first-ever resolution on Fostering social connection for global health:  the essential role of social connection in combating

The 78th World Health Assembly picked up momentum Saturday as countries adopted a Nigeria-sponsored initiative to stimulate more public health spending; and

In a region where war, displacement, and weak health systems fuel a deadly disease, nine African governments are trying a new approach: eliminate visceral

Africa has achieved a remarkable 40% reduction in maternal deaths since 2000—a significant milestone in global health. Yet paradoxically, the continent still accounts for a staggering 70% of maternal deaths worldwide. In this episode, Paul Adepoju speaks with Dr. Adeniyi Aderoba, WHO's lead on reproductive and maternal health for Africa, to unpack this complex paradox. They explore what's driving Africa's maternal mortality crisis, highlight innovative interventions making a difference, and discuss how political will, funding, and community empowerment are shaping the fight to save mothers’ lives. Tune in to discover why pregnancy in Africa should not be a death sentence and how progress can accelerate even further.

Vienna, Austria – April 8, 2025 — Paul Adepoju, PhD, renowned science journalist and host of the Paul Talks Science podcast, will be speaking at the Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global) in Vienna, Austria. The event, taking place from April 12 to 15, 2025, brings together leading experts in microbiology, epidemiology, and infectious disease research from around the world.

Obesity has often been viewed as a personal failing, a consequence of poor individual choices. But is this really the full picture? In the latest episode of Paul Talks Science, host Paul Adepoju delves into this critical question with Dr. Simon Barquera, President of the World Obesity Federation. Dr. Barquera shares illuminating insights from the recently released World Obesity Atlas, a comprehensive global overview highlighting troubling trends and deep systemic issues fueling the obesity epidemic—particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

In the latest episode of Paul Talks Science, Dr. Helen Croker, Assistant Director of Research and Policy at the World Cancer Research Fund International, delves into the critical topic of lifestyle factors and their impact on cancer survival. Dr. Croker explains how the World Cancer Research Fund International champions global research into the roles diet, nutrition, physical activity, and body weight play, not just in cancer prevention, but significantly, in cancer survival after diagnosis.

In this episode, we explore Ireland's groundbreaking approach to cancer advocacy through two compelling conversations with leaders from the Irish Cancer Society. CEO Averil Power shares how relentless advocacy led to landmark legislation requiring cancer warnings on alcohol labels, changing Ireland's relationship with alcohol and health. Suzanne Dowd, Advocacy Officer, reveals another front in the fight: erasing financial stigma against cancer survivors struggling to access insurance and financial services long after recovery. Together, their stories illustrate Ireland's bold steps to protect cancer survivors, tackle stigma, and inspire global action.

In this episode, I sit down with Prof. Christian Gilissen, a pioneer in genome bioinformatics, and Head of Bioinformatics at Radboud University Medical Center, to explore how long-read sequencing is revolutionizing the diagnosis of rare diseases. For patients who’ve endured years of uncertainty, this technology offers newfound hope by uncovering genetic variations previously invisible to traditional methods. 🔍 What We Discuss:

In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sat down with Dr. Hailey Hampson, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of South Carolina and the University of Washington, to discuss a growing but often overlooked public health threat—PFAS chemicals. Known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment and human body, PFAS have been linked to a range of health issues, including chronic kidney disease.

In a breakthrough moment for Africa’s vaccine independence, two landmark deals could help put the continent on a path to becoming a producer, not just a

PFAS—also known as "forever chemicals"—are everywhere. They’re in our water, our soil, our food, and even our bodies. These toxic substances have been linked to serious health risks, yet industries continue to manufacture and use them while regulatory efforts face increasing resistance. In this episode of Paul Talks Science, I sit down with Erik Olson, Senior Strategic Director for Health at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), to discuss the ongoing battle against PFAS contamination.

As an international non-profit organization that discovers, develops, and delivers treatments for neglected communities, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) expresses its alarm at drast...