Light and noise pollution ‘are neglected health hazards’, say peers

Lords committee calls for creation of advisory groups to tackle the pollutants, which may increase risk of heart disease and premature death

The Country of the Blind review – a penetrating study of the loss of sight

Andrew Leland’s thoughtful, beautifully expressed memoir about losing his eyesight invites us to rethink ideas about identity and independence

‘He could have died’: family calls for better jaundice testing of black and Asian babies

Jaxson’s symptoms were initially dismissed by health staff in a case that could have had fatal consequences

Don’t fret, neurotics – there are advantages to worrying

Negative mental chatter and anxious fantasies may not be all bad – they could bring benefits such as greater creativity and better health

Scientists find vital missing ingredient for healthy vegan diet – algae

Natural aquatic supplement could be used to make up for lack of key vitamin B12 in plant-based diets

‘They’re in the air, drinking water, dust, food …’ How to reduce your exposure to microplastics

No corner of the planet is free from minuscule fragments of plastic packaging, textiles or utensils. We ask scientists what this means for our health – and what we should do to protect it

Should I worry about how much processed meat I eat?

All those sausages, hotdogs, ham and salami can spice up your diet. Do they also increase the risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s?

‘People want to shake it out’: dance away the tears at a ‘grief rave’ in a pink disco kiosk

London artist Annie Frost Nicholson is touring her Fandangoe Discoteca dancefloor to help people process bereavement

Crisis in NHS maternity units revealed as 21 rated ‘substandard’

Care Quality Commission finds many services inadequate, needing improvement or shut over safety concerns

Wednesday briefing: What really ails the NHS at 75 – and three ways to treat it

In today’s newsletter: Staff are leaving in droves, wait times have tripled and critics say it’s locked in a ‘death spiral’. But the situation might not be terminal, with some big changes