Ruth McHugh-Dillon
@ruthmchugh-dillon.bsky.social
👋🏼 Assistant Health Editor at The Conversation @aunz.theconversation.com
👓I’m a journo with a background in academia
✨Looking for health stories and the next good read. (Views are my own)
👓I’m a journo with a background in academia
✨Looking for health stories and the next good read. (Views are my own)
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Asbestos traces have been confirmed in coloured sand used for children’s art play. The products have been recalled and several schools in the ACT and Queensland are closed.
Asbestos has been found in children’s coloured sand. What’s the risk to kids?
theconversation.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Asbestos traces have been confirmed in coloured sand used for children’s art play. The products have been recalled and several schools in the ACT and Queensland are closed.
The findings reveal a confronting truth: two in five Australians – around 8.25 million people – experienced at least one traumatic event before the age of 18.
New study finds 2 in 5 Australians experience traumatic events as children
Being exposed to trauma in childhood is linked to serious mental and physical health issues later in life. These findings show trauma is not rare.
theconversation.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The findings reveal a confronting truth: two in five Australians – around 8.25 million people – experienced at least one traumatic event before the age of 18.
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Cats are excellent at communicating, but humans still routinely misunderstand them.
Do you speak cat? Take this quiz to find out
theconversation.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Cats are excellent at communicating, but humans still routinely misunderstand them.
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Parents may dismiss early warning signs of an eating disorder. But if you notice these changes, trust your gut and get help early.
How do I know if my kid is worrying about food and their body too much? And what should I say?
theconversation.com
November 12, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Parents may dismiss early warning signs of an eating disorder. But if you notice these changes, trust your gut and get help early.
If you needed an excuse... 👢🪩
5 health benefits of line dancing – according to science
Line dancing exercises your mind and memory as well as your body. But the benefits aren’t just for older people.
theconversation.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:56 AM
If you needed an excuse... 👢🪩
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Four big outbursts from the Sun mean skies may light up much further from the poles than usual.
Read more: theconversation.com/aurora-...
Read more: theconversation.com/aurora-...
November 12, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Four big outbursts from the Sun mean skies may light up much further from the poles than usual.
Read more: theconversation.com/aurora-...
Read more: theconversation.com/aurora-...
"Monitoring of the war is largely left to aid groups still operating on the ground, as well as through videos posted online and satellite images capturing developments from space."
'They shot them all': Aftermath of massacre can be seen from space
Satellite imagery has shown pools of blood in Sudan’s El-Fasher, after the RSF militia took control. For relatives — finding out who has survived has turned into a torturous task.
www.abc.net.au
November 12, 2025 at 1:23 AM
"Monitoring of the war is largely left to aid groups still operating on the ground, as well as through videos posted online and satellite images capturing developments from space."
Results from The Conversation readers' survey are in – thanks to the 5,738 people who told us what they think about our work. We're listening
Your kind feedback and candid criticism of our journalism
The results from our 2025 reader survey.
theconversation.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Results from The Conversation readers' survey are in – thanks to the 5,738 people who told us what they think about our work. We're listening
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
One night of Halloween treats won’t harm your kids’ health long term. But the sugar and excitement can disrupt their sleep – and yours.
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/do-hall...
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/do-hall...
October 28, 2025 at 2:22 AM
One night of Halloween treats won’t harm your kids’ health long term. But the sugar and excitement can disrupt their sleep – and yours.
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/do-hall...
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/do-hall...
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Chickenpox parties are a thing of the past but the virus is still circulating. Most illness is mild but some people can become seriously ill.
Can you get chickenpox twice? Or if you’re vaccinated? Experts answer 9 key questions
theconversation.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Chickenpox parties are a thing of the past but the virus is still circulating. Most illness is mild but some people can become seriously ill.
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
The death of a 17-year-old community cricket player has raised questions about how well helmets and neck protectors are working.
Yes, cricket is a contact sport. We have safety gear – but we need to do more
theconversation.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:18 AM
The death of a 17-year-old community cricket player has raised questions about how well helmets and neck protectors are working.
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Studies show women are twice as likely as men to have irritable bowel syndrome.
👉 theconversation.com/hot-gir...
👉 theconversation.com/hot-gir...
October 23, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Studies show women are twice as likely as men to have irritable bowel syndrome.
👉 theconversation.com/hot-gir...
👉 theconversation.com/hot-gir...
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Dissociation is the brain’s way of protecting itself from overwhelming stress or emotion, and it’s often linked to trauma.
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/wait-wi...
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/wait-wi...
October 26, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Dissociation is the brain’s way of protecting itself from overwhelming stress or emotion, and it’s often linked to trauma.
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/wait-wi...
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/wait-wi...
Lovely quotes here from older patients. Mainly, they didn't want to complain about the food and praised hospital staff for doing their jobs. But when researchers dug a little deeper there were a few key reasons patients weren't eating properly.
Noodles, pita bread, rice? How more diverse hospital menus can improve care – and reduce costs
Most older patients in a recent study had a ‘no complaints’ attitude to hospital food. But when it was unfamiliar, they were less likely to eat it.
theconversation.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Lovely quotes here from older patients. Mainly, they didn't want to complain about the food and praised hospital staff for doing their jobs. But when researchers dug a little deeper there were a few key reasons patients weren't eating properly.
Your exercise questions answered once again by the talented @hunterbennett.bsky.social theconversation.com/should-i-inc...
Should I increase weights at the gym? How often? And by how much?
To make your muscles grow, you need to keep increasing their load. But there are different ways to do this.
theconversation.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Your exercise questions answered once again by the talented @hunterbennett.bsky.social theconversation.com/should-i-inc...
"On Sunday, two days after the ceasefire was announced, Khadr returned to search through the ruins of his parents’ home. He spent the day sifting through shattered concrete and twisted metal for any sign of them. All he managed to find were some shards of their skulls and parts of their hands."
‘My heart is broken’: Palestinians begin searching the Gaza rubble for their dead
Using manual tools and their bare hands, people start the immense task of trying to find their loved ones’ remains
www.theguardian.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:48 AM
"On Sunday, two days after the ceasefire was announced, Khadr returned to search through the ruins of his parents’ home. He spent the day sifting through shattered concrete and twisted metal for any sign of them. All he managed to find were some shards of their skulls and parts of their hands."
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Hospitals are the single biggest contributor to green house gas emissions from healthcare sources. Our study showed a simple change, replacing single-use “blueys” with reusables is safe for patients and saves almost half a tonne of landfill waste ♻️ Read more: @deakinuniversity.bsky.social
Health care is responsible for up to 7% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing the use of disposable products could reduce this footprint.
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/reusing...
👉 Read the full story: theconversation.com/reusing...
October 7, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Hospitals are the single biggest contributor to green house gas emissions from healthcare sources. Our study showed a simple change, replacing single-use “blueys” with reusables is safe for patients and saves almost half a tonne of landfill waste ♻️ Read more: @deakinuniversity.bsky.social
More silencing of those risking their lives to tell us what is going in Gaza's hospitals. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Fiona Stanley ‘ashamed’ after hospital bearing her name cancelled event featuring Palestinian Australian doctors
Exclusive: Distinguished professor says she considered asking hospital to remove her name after event on doctors’ experiences in Gaza was abruptly called off
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 5:48 AM
More silencing of those risking their lives to tell us what is going in Gaza's hospitals. www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Need some weekend reading? Today, we're resharing Nina Culley’s essay on what society's shifting perspectives on love and marriage have meant for contemporary literary fiction.
bit.ly/3IiLHFU
bit.ly/3IiLHFU
September 14, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Need some weekend reading? Today, we're resharing Nina Culley’s essay on what society's shifting perspectives on love and marriage have meant for contemporary literary fiction.
bit.ly/3IiLHFU
bit.ly/3IiLHFU
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
A new survey shows children’s chronic pain is often dismissed as anxiety or attention-seeking.
Not just ‘growing pains’: 1 in 5 Australian kids live with chronic pain, but it’s often invisible
theconversation.com
September 23, 2025 at 12:41 AM
A new survey shows children’s chronic pain is often dismissed as anxiety or attention-seeking.
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
Could a cancer drug really treat autism? The evidence is far from certain. Here’s what we know so far.
What is leucovorin, the drug the Trump administration says can treat autism?
theconversation.com
September 23, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Could a cancer drug really treat autism? The evidence is far from certain. Here’s what we know so far.
Reposted by Ruth McHugh-Dillon
It’s safe for pregnant women to take paracetamol at any stage of pregnancy. Here’s what the research says about the risk of autism.
It’s OK to use paracetamol in pregnancy. Here’s what the science says about the link with autism
theconversation.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:19 AM
It’s safe for pregnant women to take paracetamol at any stage of pregnancy. Here’s what the research says about the risk of autism.