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What causes objects to “disappear” even when they are in front of us?

A professor of anatomy at the University of Bristol, Michelle Spear, has explained how clearly visible objects can remain hidden from our perception despite being in plain sight, highlighting how the brain processes attention and visual information.Spear describes the phenomenon as “inattentional blindness,” a condition in which the brain fails to register certain elements in the environment even when they fall within the field of vision.She notes that a common experience such as searching for keys on a table and failing to find them, only for someone else to immediately spot them, is not merely coincidental but linked to how visual attention operates in the brain.In a blog post published on The Conversation, she explains that everyday object search relies on a process known as “visual search,” but the brain does not process everything we see at once. Instead, it selectively focuses on certain elements while filtering out others.She adds that vision is shaped not only by what the eyes detect but also by the brain’s expectations of what should be seen. When a person is distracted, under pressure, or in a hurry, the brain forms a mental image of the missing object and searches according to that expectation.As a result, if the keys are placed in an unusual position, partially obscured, or surrounded by clutter, they may go unnoticed even when directly in view because they do not match the mental template.Spear further explains that what may seem striking in such cases is that another person seeing the scene for the first time can often locate the object immediately as they are not influenced by prior expectations.She also notes that psychological studies have found slight differences in visual search strategies between men and women. Women tend on average to perform better in cluttered environments, while men may perform better in tasks involving spatial visualization or mental rotation. However, she emphasizes that these differences are not determined by gender alone but are more strongly influenced by factors such as experience, familiarity with the environment, and attentional habits.Spear concludes that visual search is not like viewing a static image but rather a predictive process in which the brain continuously guesses where objects are likely to be, helping to explain why things can “disappear” from sight even when they are right in front of us.

11-05-2026 17:05

What causes objects to “disappear” even when they are in front of us?

A professor of anatomy at the University of Bristol, Michelle Spear, has explained how clearly visible objects can remain hidden from our perception despite being in plain sight, highlighting how the brain processes attention and visual information.Spear describes the phenomenon as “inattentional blindness,” a condition in which the brain fails to register certain elements in the environment even when they fall within the field of vision.She notes that a common experience such as searching for keys on a table and failing to find them, only for someone else to immediately spot them, is not merely coincidental but linked to how visual attention operates in the brain.In a blog post published on The Conversation, she explains that everyday object search relies on a process known as “visual search,” but the brain does not process everything we see at once. Instead, it selectively focuses on certain elements while filtering out others.She adds that vision is shaped not only by what the eyes detect but also by the brain’s expectations of what should be seen. When a person is distracted, under pressure, or in a hurry, the brain forms a mental image of the missing object and searches according to that expectation.As a result, if the keys are placed in an unusual position, partially obscured, or surrounded by clutter, they may go unnoticed even when directly in view because they do not match the mental template.Spear further explains that what may seem striking in such cases is that another person seeing the scene for the first time can often locate the object immediately as they are not influenced by prior expectations.She also notes that psychological studies have found slight differences in visual search strategies between men and women. Women tend on average to perform better in cluttered environments, while men may perform better in tasks involving spatial visualization or mental rotation. However, she emphasizes that these differences are not determined by gender alone but are more strongly influenced by factors such as experience, familiarity with the environment, and attentional habits.Spear concludes that visual search is not like viewing a static image but rather a predictive process in which the brain continuously guesses where objects are likely to be, helping to explain why things can “disappear” from sight even when they are right in front of us.

11-05-2026 17:05

British Passengers from Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship Isolated in Hospital

Twenty Britons are beginning 45 days of self-isolation in the UK after being evacuated from a cruise ship hit by hantavirus.They are isolating at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside, after their chartered flight from Tenerife landed at Manchester Airport on Sunday. They will stay there for 72 hours, before being asked to self-isolate for a further 42 days at home.Professor Robin May, chief scientific officer at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) told the BBC that all of the evacuees are "healthy and asymptomatic".Three people have died following the outbreak on the MV Hondius, including two the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed have had hantavirus.Two British nationals, who are being treated in the Netherlands and South Africa, also have confirmed cases.Meanwhile, an American and French national who returned to their home countries after leaving the ship have also tested positive for the virus, according to local authorities.Most strains of hantavirus, a group of viruses carried by rodents, do not pass from person to person, but the Andes strain identified in a number of people who had been on the Dutch cruise ship does.Twenty-two British nationals were still aboard the ship when it docked in the Canary Islands on Sunday. Two are dual nationals, with one travelling to the US and one to Australia.Some could be seen clad in blue protective gear as they were bussed from the Granadilla de Abona port to Tenerife South Airport.They were tested for hantavirus before getting on the flight."The UK Government has worked with international partners to ensure the safe return of all remaining British nationals on board the MV Hondius, with passengers now safely transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital," the UKHSA said in a statement.Twenty British nationals are now being monitored at the hospital for a 72-hour period, along with one German national, who is a UK resident, and one Japanese passenger.After their time in hospital they will then be asked to spend a further 42 days self-isolating. May said this would likely be at their homes, but that decision would be made on a "case-by-case basis".Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Monday morning, he said "we may need to update" the period of isolation "depending on what the science tells us".May said throughout that period, they will continue to support the passengers "very closely"."Not just with testing, but also for the very large emotional turmoil this will obviously have – it's going to be a very stressful period for them and their families," he said.The support will include clothes and supplies, he said, as many had to leave behind all but essential belongings when they were evacuated.May also reiterated that the risk to those not directly linked to the cruise is "extremely low indeed", and that the process of testing and contact tracing is still ongoing.Janelle Holmes, CEO of Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust, which oversees Arrowe Park Hospital, said the former passengers will be screened and continuously assessed when they arrive there.They will be housed in self-contained flats with access to phones so they can call friends and relatives.A specialist team will be on site throughout their quarantine to support them."What we've learnt from past experience is they're going to be absolutely shattered. They've probably felt quite traumatised by the whole experience so the thing for us to do is to make sure that they're here, they're safe, they're welcome," Holmes said.She added that if passengers develop symptoms, they will be taken to Royal Liverpool University Hospital, which houses the regional Tropical and Infectious Diseases Unit.They will not be allowed to take public transport when they leave Arrowe Park for a period of self-isolation at home.Emergency services in the North West said the NHS trust and hospital is "operating as normal" with no risk to patients, visitors or staff and "people should continue to come forward for care as usual"."Thank you to all those who worked around the clock to get passengers from MV Hondius back to the UK by special flight this evening with public health protections in place," Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said.As well as the confirmed cases, there are also two suspected cases, including a British man who is on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha. He is currently in a stable condition and in isolation.A team of six British Army paratroopers and two medical clinicians have parachuted onto the island to help its two-person medical team provide care to the man and the island's other residents.It is the first time the UK military has parachuted in medical personnel to provide humanitarian support, according to the MoD.Meanwhile two Britons are voluntarily self-isolating at home in the UK, having disembarked the vessel at St Helena on 24 April alongside dozens of other passengers before the first case of hantavirus was confirmed.MV Hondius began its journey on 1 April in Ushuaia, Argentina, with about 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries reported to have initially been aboard.Many of those still aboard the ship disembarked on Sunday for repatriation to their home countries.However, some 30 crew members and a nurse from the Netherlands, as well as the body of a passenger who died on board, have remained on the ship. It will sail to Rotterdam in the Netherlands where it will undergo disinfection, the WHO said.

11-05-2026 13:07

These fruits and nuts protect your liver!

Fruits and nuts rich in ellagic acid may help protect the liver from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and could even reverse some of the damage it causes.According to a report published by Medical Xpress, consuming common soluble fiber supplements on their own may actually worsen the condition.A doctor noted that the study was conducted on mice, where scientists examined the impact of ellagic acid on the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of NAFLD. They also tested the effects of inulin—a widely used soluble fiber known for its prebiotic benefits in supporting gut health.“We found that ellagic acid, present in pomegranates, berries, grapes, and walnuts, helps protect the liver from disease. It is a natural antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties,” he said.However, contrary to expectations, consuming inulin without ellagic acid led to unwanted weight gain, elevated blood sugar levels, and increased liver damage.The doctor stressed that this effect is linked to an imbalance in gut bacteria, a hallmark of NAFLD. When combined with ellagic acid, the negative effects of inulin were reduced.“These findings highlight the importance of diet—not just what we eat, but how different nutrients interact within the body,” he added.

01-05-2026 16:44

WHO: US to participate in meeting on influenza vaccine composition

The United States will take part in a World Health Organization meeting at the end of the month to determine the composition of upcoming influenza vaccines, the agency's official said at a press conference on Wednesday.Washington officially left the WHO in January after a year of warnings that doing so would hurt public health in the U.S. and globally, saying its decision reflected failures in the U.N. health agency's management of the COVID-19 pandemic.It has been unclear how much the country would work with the WHO following the departure, and the collaboration on flu vaccines is a sign of an ongoing link.Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's director for epidemic and pandemic preparedness, said the global influenza surveillance and response network — a system of more than 150 laboratories across 130 countries — plays a central role in tracking seasonal and zoonotic influenza viruses and updates vaccine recommendations every six months.There are seven collaborating centers, including facilities in the U.S., the UK and Australia.Van Kerkhove said there had also been "a slight dip" in the global circulation of influenza virus samples after funding challenges, but shipments had now resumed.GUINEA-BISSAU VACCINE STUDY 'UNETHICAL' - TEDROSAt the same press conference, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said a planned U.S.-funded research in Guinea-Bissau to study the effects of hepatitis B vaccines on newborns, which has drawn significant criticism, is unethical."As far as WHO's position is concerned, it's unethical to proceed with this study," Tedros said, but added that it was ultimately a domestic decision.African health officials in January said the study has not been canceled, but will undergo further ethical review.Scientists have opposed the study because some of the newborns involved would not get the vaccine, which is known to be safe and save lives, in a country with high rates of hepatitis B. The disease transmits commonly from mother to child during birth and can cause liver failure and cancer.The study's researchers say the project is ethical because the vaccine is not yet administered at birth in Guinea-Bissau, where the first dose is given at six weeks.The research was due to investigate potential "non-specific effects" of the vaccine, including skin disorders and neuro-developmental disorders, such as autism.

11-02-2026 20:37

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What causes objects to “disappear” even when they are in front of us?

A professor of anatomy at the University of Bristol, Michelle Spear, has explained how clearly visible objects can remain hidden from our perception despite being in plain sight, highlighting how the brain processes attention and visual information.Spear describes the phenomenon as “inattentional blindness,” a condition in which the brain fails to register certain elements in the environment even when they fall within the field of vision.She notes that a common experience such as searching for keys on a table and failing to find them, only for someone else to immediately spot them, is not merely coincidental but linked to how visual attention operates in the brain.In a blog post published on The Conversation, she explains that everyday object search relies on a process known as “visual search,” but the brain does not process everything we see at once. Instead, it selectively focuses on certain elements while filtering out others.She adds that vision is shaped not only by what the eyes detect but also by the brain’s expectations of what should be seen. When a person is distracted, under pressure, or in a hurry, the brain forms a mental image of the missing object and searches according to that expectation.As a result, if the keys are placed in an unusual position, partially obscured, or surrounded by clutter, they may go unnoticed even when directly in view because they do not match the mental template.Spear further explains that what may seem striking in such cases is that another person seeing the scene for the first time can often locate the object immediately as they are not influenced by prior expectations.She also notes that psychological studies have found slight differences in visual search strategies between men and women. Women tend on average to perform better in cluttered environments, while men may perform better in tasks involving spatial visualization or mental rotation. However, she emphasizes that these differences are not determined by gender alone but are more strongly influenced by factors such as experience, familiarity with the environment, and attentional habits.Spear concludes that visual search is not like viewing a static image but rather a predictive process in which the brain continuously guesses where objects are likely to be, helping to explain why things can “disappear” from sight even when they are right in front of us.

11-05-2026 17:05

These fruits and nuts protect your liver!

Fruits and nuts rich in ellagic acid may help protect the liver from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and could even reverse some of the damage it causes.According to a report published by Medical Xpress, consuming common soluble fiber supplements on their own may actually worsen the condition.A doctor noted that the study was conducted on mice, where scientists examined the impact of ellagic acid on the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a severe form of NAFLD. They also tested the effects of inulin—a widely used soluble fiber known for its prebiotic benefits in supporting gut health.“We found that ellagic acid, present in pomegranates, berries, grapes, and walnuts, helps protect the liver from disease. It is a natural antioxidant with anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties,” he said.However, contrary to expectations, consuming inulin without ellagic acid led to unwanted weight gain, elevated blood sugar levels, and increased liver damage.The doctor stressed that this effect is linked to an imbalance in gut bacteria, a hallmark of NAFLD. When combined with ellagic acid, the negative effects of inulin were reduced.“These findings highlight the importance of diet—not just what we eat, but how different nutrients interact within the body,” he added.

01-05-2026 16:44

What Causes Diabetes, What Are the Different Types and How Can It Be Treated

Sabrina Barr wrote this article in The Independent:More than 105,000 diabetes patients in England could be eligible for a new technology, likened to an artificial pancreas, that promises to make type 1 diabetes a “thing of the past”.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has recommended the use of the “hybrid closed-loop system”, which helps patients manage blood sugar levels without the need to constantly monitor themselves, in order to control their condition.At the moment the standard care for people with type 1 diabetes involves regularly measuring blood sugar levels either through a finger-prick blood test or by using a continuous glucose monitor.The development is hugely positive news given that the number of people with diabetes in the UK is reported to have doubled over the past two decades.There are currently around 4.9 million diagnosed cases of diabetes across the UK, with many at risk of developing some form of the disease due to factors such as childhood obesity.So what are the symptoms of diabetes, what's the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, how is it caused and how can it be treated?Here’s everything you need to know.What is diabetes and how is it caused?Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates your blood sugar levels.It does this by breaking down the glucose that is in your blood so that it can be used for energy, explains the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.When a person has diabetes, this means that their pancreas is unable to produce enough or any insulin to break down the glucose in their blood.This can lead to a drastic increase in their blood sugar levels.The amount of blood glucose that you have in your body typically depends on the foods that you eat, so if you eat sugary foods, your blood sugar levels will rise.People who consume inordinate quantities of sugar are more likely to develop less severe forms of diabetes.However, whether or not a person is diagnosed as diabetic may also depend on their genetic makeup, explains Diabetes.co.uk.What are the different types of diabetes?There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.If someone is suffering from type 1 diabetes, then this means that their body is not producing any insulin at all and therefore has very serious implications for their health.People who have type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of developing other health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and circulation problems.Scientists have been unable to pinpoint the exact cause of type 1 diabetes, the Mayo Clinic explains, with genetics being the most likely factor.While type 1 diabetes is commonly found in children, it can be diagnosed at any age.When someone has type 2 diabetes, this means that their body is either unable to produce enough insulin, or the insulin that the pancreas is able to produce is not working sufficiently, explains Diabetes UK.While genetics may also play a role in a person developing type 2 diabetes, it can also be caused by other factors such as whether or not they follow a healthy and active lifestyle.Approximately 13.6 million people in the UK reportedly have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in future, due to factors such as obesity.Symptoms of type 1 or type 2 diabetes can include fatigue, unexplained weight loss, excessive thirst and frequent urination.How can diabetes be treated?People who have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes may need to take medication in order to reduce the amount of glucose in their blood.They should also aim to include more healthy foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts and high-fibre cereals in their diets and reduce the amount of sugar that they consume.Those who have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the more severe form of the disease, must treat the condition with insulin injections or pumps every day.They may also need to check their blood sugar levels every day by using a finger-prick blood test.The type and quantity of insulin that you need is a matter that you can discuss with a medical professional.The NHS also recommends maintaining an active lifestyle and carrying out regular blood tests to keep an eye on blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.Can diabetes be reversed?In September 2018, the former deputy leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson, revealed that he had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but had "reversed" the condition by making changes to his diet and exercising more.After being diagnosed with the condition in summer 2017, Mr Watson said he eliminated junk food, refined sugar and processed food from his diet and took up cycling, boxing and weightlifting.The politician told his audience at the annual conference of health industry association ukactive that his diabetes was in "remission" following the changes he had made to his lifestyle.Diabetes.co.uk explains that people with type 2 diabetes can effectively "reverse" their condition by following similar steps.If you have type 2 diabetes and you think that you may be able to reverse your condition by following a healthier diet and doing more exercise, then it may be wise to speak to a nutritionist or a medical professional for further advice.Furthermore, if you are on type 2 diabetes medication that you think you no longer need, make sure that you speak to a doctor before making any changes to your routine.

16-01-2023 12:36

Six Minutes of Daily Exercise Can Boost Brain Health and Delay Alzheimer’s

Vishwam Sankaran wrote this article in The Independent:Just six minutes of intense exercise every day can boost the brain’s lifespan and delay the onset of neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, according to a new study.The research, published last week in The Journal of Physiology, found that a short but intense bout of cycling can increase the production of a special brain protein linked to brain formation, learning, and memory.Scientists, including those from the University of Otago in New Zealand, say the special protein named brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can protect the brain from age-related cognitive decline.Previous studies have shown that increasing the availability of BDNF in the brain encourages the formation and storage of memories, enhances learning, and also boosts cognitive performance overall.“BDNF has shown great promise in animal models, but pharmaceutical interventions have thus far failed to safely harness the protective power of BDNF in humans,” study lead author Travis Gibbons from the University of Otago said in a statement.“We saw the need to explore non-pharmacological approaches that can preserve the brain’s capacity which humans can use to naturally increase BDNF to help with healthy aging,” Dr Gibbons said.In the new study, researchers analysed the influence of fasting and exercise on BDNF production in 12 physically active participants - six males and six females aged between 18 and 56 years.They assessed the contributing role played on this protein’s production by factors such as fasting for 20 hours, light exercise, a six-minute bout of high-intensity vigorous cycling, and the combined effects of fasting and exercise.Scientists found that brief, but vigorous, exercise was the best way to increase BDNF compared to one day of fasting with or without a lengthy session of light exercise.Researchers say BDNF increased by a factor of four to five times compared to fasting, or prolonged activity.“Six minutes of high-intensity cycling intervals increased every metric of circulating BDNF by 4 to 5 times more than prolonged low-intensity cycling,” researchers wrote in the study.However the cause for these differences remains unknown, they say, adding that more research is needed to understand the biological mechanisms involved.Scientists suspect the brain may be switching its favoured fuel source during exercise for another to ensure the body’s energy demands are met.“We are now studying how fasting for longer durations, for example up to three days, influences BDNF. We are curious whether exercising hard at the start of a fast accelerates the beneficial effects of fasting,” Dr Gibbons said.“Fasting and exercise are rarely studied together. We think fasting and exercise can be used in conjunction to optimize BDNF production in the human brain,” he added.

17-01-2023 09:42

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