Wellbeing 101: Science You Can Feel Good About

How might life be different if we had evolved on Mars? One likely change is to our internal body clocks, which help predict the daily changes of day and night. These would likely be longer, approximating the 25hr daylength on our neighbouring planet. These biological clocks pervade the entire kingdom of life on this planet, controlling and regulating a myriad of biological functions and behaviours. With the advent of air travel, artificial lighting and the 24hr society our clocks are now often disrupted. Here we will explore the impact of these modern inventions on our clocks and health.

As we age, staying active is key to maintaining independence—but many older adults, especially in South Asian communities, face barriers to physical activity. With falls being a leading cause of injury and £38 billion spent on over-65s' healthcare, promoting movement is more critical than ever. My research explores co-creating a digital activity program to support healthier ageing. Join me as I share lessons beyond one community—because the healthier we age, the longer we thrive!

Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and muscles and is made in the skin when we are exposed to sunlight. However, sunlight also damages our skin – too much exposure can cause sunburn and increase our risk of skin cancer. How do we balance these positive and negative effects? We will explore this and other questions such as: How much vitamin D do we need? What influences how much vitamin D our body can make? What are the public health messages around vitamin D and sunlight exposure?