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The science of morning sickness

New research has revealed a link between the hormone GDF15 and vomiting in pregnancy, which could offer hope to sufferers of severe morning sickness.

An international team of researchers led by the University of Cambridge’s Prof Stephen O’Rahilly have discovered that sensitivity to the hormone GDF15 may cause severe morning sickness during pregnancy. Dr Marlena Fejzo, who took part in the study, tells us more.

Back in September, the OSIRIS-REx craft dropped a sample from the asteroid Bennu into the Utah desert. Now, scientists around the world have started studying the dust fragments in earnest. We join Dr Ashley King from the Natural History Museum in London and beamline scientist Dr Sharif Ahmed as they embark on their research.

Professor Scott Fendorf, from the University of Stanford, reveals that wildfire smoke contains heavy metals, which may be why it’s so damaging to our health.

Dr Junjie Yao from Duke University has worked on a new 'sono-ink'. This ink can be used to 3D print structures within the body, which can be used to mend tissues, bones and organs.

Presenter: Roland Pease
Producer: Alice Lipscombe-Southwell
Editor: Martin Smith
Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

(Photo: Young pregnant woman, 35 years old, feeling sick on a toilet. Credit: Getty Images)

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31 minutes

Last on

Sun 17 Dec 2023 04:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Thu 14 Dec 2023 20:32GMT
  • Thu 14 Dec 2023 21:32GMT
  • Fri 15 Dec 2023 05:32GMT
  • Fri 15 Dec 2023 09:32GMT
  • Fri 15 Dec 2023 13:32GMT
  • Sun 17 Dec 2023 04:32GMT

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