Study arts, die young

A new study suggests that the course you study at university could affect how long you live. Bill Parry reports.

Mapping the autistic mind

The High Court has dismissed claims about the MMR jab as 'junk science'. But if vaccines aren't to blame, what else are scientists investigating? Jo Revill reports.

Pioneer DNA bank to examine lifestyles

Thousands of people are to be recruited for Britain's first DNA databank to help scientists understand how genes work with lifestyle factors to create disease, The Observer can reveal.