Surgery

Surgery

Two ants performing surgery on each other

These ants can perform life-saving emergency surgery on each other, study finds

These particular ants from Florida are saving each other from infection with long, yet simple surgeries.
Show more
© University of Maryland School of Medicine

Ground-breaking surgery has saved a terminal patient with a genetically modified pig heart

A first-of-its-kind operation that proves a modified animal heart can function just like a human heart without the body rejecting it.
Show more
Spina bifida: Surgery in the womb saves 32 babies from paralysis © NHS England/PA

Spina bifida: Surgery in the womb saves 32 babies from paralysis

The babies have spina bifida, a condition which prevents the spine and spinal cord developing properly.
Show more

null

undefined

'Mini organs' grown for children with intestinal failure © Getty Images

'Mini organs' grown for children with intestinal failure

The mini organs, grown from the patient's own tissue, could one day lead to personalised transplants.
Show more
New technique 'saves 70 per cent' of donated livers for transplant © Getty Images

New technique 'saves up to 70 per cent' of donated livers for transplant

It could boost liver transplant numbers in the future and reduce NHS waiting lists.
Show more
What does the world look like outside of our brains? © Getty Images

"Some people like skiing, or mountain climbing, or playing poker. I like operating on people’s brains"

Neurosurgeon Dr Rahul Jandial recounts the story of the first time he operated on a brain in this extract from Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon.
Show more
Leg transplanted onto rat using trick inspired by cancer cells © UPMC

Leg transplanted onto rat using trick inspired by cancer cells

This method would mean transplant patients wouldn't have to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives.
Show more
Joe Hamilton intuitively controls a prosthetic hand © Evan Dougherty/University of Michigan Engineering

'Nerve interface' technology allows amputees to use thought to move bionic limb

New technology allows users to have greater control and precision when using prosthetic hands.
Show more
Revolutionary new valve could save children from repeated open-heart surgery © Sophie C Hofferberth/Boston Children’s Hospital

Revolutionary new valve could save children from repeated open-heart surgery

The new expanding device, which has been tested in sheep, could allow children to keep the same prosthetic valve until adulthood, researchers say.
Show more
Doctors put a patient into ‘suspended animation’ for first time © Shutterstock

Doctors put a patient into ‘suspended animation’ for first time

Ground-breaking technique involves rapidly cooling the brain down to 10-15°C.
Show more
Micro implants could restore walking in spinal injury patients © Getty Images

Micro implants could restore walking in spinal injury patients

The implants could potentially include a direct connection to the brain.
Show more
Dr Piergiorgio Gentile, who has led a team developing the high-tech honey sandwiches © John Millard/Newcastle University/PA

Post-surgical Manuka honey 'sandwiches' help fight superbug infections

Scientists have used tiny layers of Manuka honey in surgical mesh to fight post-operative infections which cause hospital re-admissions.
Show more
Everything you need to know about Neuralink © Getty Images

Everything you need to know about Neuralink

What are the ethics behind monitoring someone’s every thought, deed and emotion?
Show more
Newborns' gut microbiome changes depending on method of delivery © Getty Images

Newborns' gut microbiome changes depending on method of delivery

Scientists found that while vaginally born babies got most of their gut bacteria – microbiome – from their mother, babies born via caesarean did not.
Show more
Flexible magnetic robot could stop brain damage by sliding through blood vessels © Image courtesy of the researchers/MIT

Flexible magnetic robot could stop brain damage by sliding through blood vessels

The flexible robot was designed by researchers at MIT to slide through the brain’s blood vessels without getting stuck.
Show more
Wellcome Photography Prize: Science’s hidden stories (Pakistan Floods © Daniel Berehulak)

Science’s hidden stories

The shortlist of 28 images for the annual Wellcome Photography Prize competition has been announced. Here are a few of our favourites from this year.
Show more
Collagen used as a bio-ink to 3D print heart (A researcher displays the pliability of a trileaf heart valve bioprinted in collagen © Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering)

Collagen used as a bio-ink to 3D print heart

The dream of 3D-printing whole, living human hearts for life-saving transplants just got a little closer.
Show more
Nervous about surgery? Soft music could be the new sedative © Getty Images

Nervous about surgery? Soft music could be the new sedative

Gentle music could replace intravenous sedatives to relax anxious patients.
Show more
In cold blood - how therapeutic hypothermia can save lives

In cold blood: how therapeutic hypothermia can save lives

We all know that hypothermia can kill – but increasingly, it’s also being used to save lives.
Show more
'Molecular surgery' gives pain-free operations © Getty Images

'Molecular surgery' gives pain-free operations

The new technique uses electric currents to reshape tissue with no incisions.
Show more
© MARS Bioimaging

X-rays reach new dimensions

X-ray images will soon be more detailed than ever before.
Show more
Monkey eating vegetable © Getty Images

Planned and immediate movements are processed differently by the brain

Dr Benjamin Dann of the German Primate Center explains how it might help humans.
Show more
Five quick facts about Victorian quacks © BBC

Five quick facts about Victorian quacks

BBC Two’s gruesome comedy about Victorian doctors is sure to leave you feeling squeamish, but real-life 19th century surgery will have you squirming.
Show more
Sue Black © Morgan Silk/The Conde Nast Publications Ltd

Is the first cut the deepest? What it’s like to dissect your first dead body

Sue Black, Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee, tells us what it was like to begin her journey into unlocking the secrets of the dead, making her first incision into a cadaver.
Show more
This website is owned and published by Our Media Ltd. www.ourmedia.co.uk
© Our Media 2025