WEIRD STUFF

Study links marriage to lower cancer risk

Marriage could help protect against cancer, according to a major new study.

Scientists found that people who never tie the knot are significantly more likely to develop the disease compared to those who are married, divorced or widowed.

Researchers at the University of Miami analysed medical records from four million Americans diagnosed between 2015 and 2022 - and uncovered a striking trend.

Women who had never married were 85 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than those who had, while never-married men faced a 70 per cent higher risk than husbands.

The study suggests that emotional support and lifestyle factors linked to relationships could play a key role.

Study author Dr Frank Penedo said: "It's a clear and powerful signal that some individuals are at a greater risk.

"It means that if you're not married, you should be paying extra attention to cancer risk factors, getting any screenings you may need and staying up to date on health care."

Experts believe having children - more common among married couples - may help lower the risk of certain cancers, including womb and ovarian cancer.

They also say partners may encourage healthier habits and push each other to seek medical help earlier - something that can be crucial for survival.

Previous research has shown married people are often diagnosed sooner and have better outcomes after treatment.

However, researchers stress that marriage itself is not a magic shield.

Dr Penedo noted the link may partly be because healthier people are more likely to marry in the first place.

In England and Wales, around seven per cent of women and 11 per cent of men remain unmarried by the age of 65 - a figure that is rising.

Scientists say the findings highlight the importance of regular check-ups and awareness - regardless of relationship status.

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Diabetes breakthrough trial begins

A revolutionary one-off jab hailed as a potential "functional cure" for type 1 diabetes is set to be trialled in humans this year.

The groundbreaking treatment could allow patients to ditch daily insulin injections by turning their own muscles into long-term insulin producers.

In a world-first study, adults with type 1 diabetes will be given a gene therapy known as KRIYA-839, which delivers genetic instructions to muscle cells - effectively transforming them into mini insulin factories.

Dr Partha Kar, NHS England's national speciality adviser for diabetes, said: "If it works, it could help a lot of people.

"I see it as positive... I certainly would be keeping a very close eye on this."

He added the approach is "really exciting" and could act as a "functional cure".

Type 1 diabetes affects around 464,000 people in the UK and occurs when the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells, leaving patients reliant on injections or pumps to survive.

But this new therapy aims to bypass the pancreas entirely.

After a single injection into the thigh, muscle cells could begin producing insulin and other key proteins to regulate blood sugar - potentially for years or even decades.

Early animal studies suggest the effects could last up to four years without ongoing treatment.

Jeremy Pettus, an endocrinologist at the University of California, said: "It's very exciting to stand here and say that this is actually something that's in the works and happening now."

Patients in the trial will receive injections in both thighs during a single outpatient visit, with full effects expected within two to three months.

Experts stress it is not a cure just yet.

Tadej Battelino, head of endocrinology at UCH-UMC Ljubljana, said: "I'm not saying it's a cure, but a functional cure, for sure."

Dr Kar added even partial success could be life-changing.

He said: "If you're saying, 'Hey, listen, we can reproduce 75 per cent of your need of insulin', then you probably would be like, 'wow, that's a big thing.'"

If successful, the jab could transform diabetes care - replacing daily management with a single breakthrough treatment.

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Coin sells for 100 times its value

A humble 5p coin has sold for a whopping 100 times its face value - thanks to a tiny minting mistake.

The 2012 coin, featuring Queen Elizabeth - who died in September 2022 aged 96 from "old age" - on the front and the Royal Shield on the reverse, was snapped up on eBay for PS5, plus PS1 postage.

Its surprising price tag was down to a small defect - an unusual blob of metal on the shield design.

The seller believes the flaw was caused during production.

The listing read: "A Circulated, British, 2012, Elizabeth II, Minting Error, 5p Coin.

"The error is a small globule of metal on the reverse which I believe is the result of a cracked die being used.

"The coin is in circulated condition, as can be seen from the photographs."

Despite being an everyday coin, the quirky imperfection appears to have made it highly desirable to collectors.

The Royal Shield design, created by Matthew Dent, was introduced in 2008 and appears across multiple UK coins from 1p to 50p.

When arranged together, the designs form the complete Royal Arms - but it is rare errors like this that can really boost value.

While most 5p coins won't buy you much more than a sweet, this one proves that a tiny mistake can turn loose change into a collector's prize.