Emily Cooke

Emily Cooke

Staff Writer

Emily is a health news writer based in London, United Kingdom. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Durham University and a master's degree in clinical and therapeutic neuroscience from Oxford University. She has worked in science communication, medical writing and as a local news reporter while undertaking journalism training. In 2018, she was named one of MHP Communications' 30 journalists to watch under 30. (emily.cooke@futurenet.com) 

Articles by: Emily Cooke

Blurred image of two surgeons operating on someone in an operating theater

This is what it's like to treat a 'brain-eating' amoeba infection

By Emily Cooke published

A now-retired doctor in Texas describes his experience treating a child with a brain-eating amoeba infection.

Teenage girl with brunette hair, wearing a red top and gold hoop-earrings is shown giggling with her left hand over her mouth. Behind her is a man who is wearing a black t-shirt. The top half of his face is cut off. The background is blurry but the faint outline of trees can be seen.

What causes blushing? Science finally reveals the answer.

By Emily Cooke published

A new study harnessed Mariah Carey karaoke and brain scans to reveal the neuroscience behind blushing.

Illustration of the bacteria streptococcus pyogenes. The bacterial cells look like fluorescent light green-ish blue balls that are bunched together in a diagonal line across the image and in a cluster in the top-right-hand corner of the image. The background is undulating and a mixture of dark purple, green and yellow colors.

New, faster sepsis test could save lives, scientists say

By Emily Cooke published

Preliminary experiments suggest that a new test could diagnose bacterial infections that cause sepsis days faster than conventional approaches, with potentially lifesaving consequences.

Close-up of a scar on the upper-right-hand-side of a person's chest. They appear to be wearing blue denim dungarees and one of the shoulder straps is falling down their arm to showcase the scar. The scar is red and darker than the skin around it and is a long, thin line.

Why are scars permanent?

By Emily Cooke published

Scar tissue differs from normal skin in a few important ways.

A researcher is shown sat on a black swivel computer chair. They have their hands crossed over their lap and are looking at the camera. They are wearing a black sweatshirt, dark grey jeans, glasses and a light-grey beanie. There is lab equipment in the background.

'We can't answer these questions': Neuroscientist Kenneth Kosik on whether lab-grown brains will achieve consciousness

By Emily Cooke published

So much is still unknown about consciousness, nevermind whether brain organoids will achieve it, explains a leading neuroscientist.

Close-up of the hands of an elderly person that are crossed together over their lap. They are wearing a shirt with black and light blue stripes.

Could blocking this one protein extend human life span?

By Emily Cooke published

Blocking a pro-inflammatory protein extended the life span of mice by around 25%. Could it do the same in humans?

A gloved hand holds a petri dish with a culture of yeast

New fungal infection discovered in China

By Emily Cooke published

Scientists uncovered a species of fungi that had never before been seen in humans. They say warmer temperatures could drive its evolution, for the worse.

A white mouse is shown crawling out of a petri dish and onto a researchers'' hand. The mouse, who is in a side view, has one eye looking at the camera. The researcher is wearing blue lab gloves

Scientists breed most human-like mice yet

By Emily Cooke published

Scientists have bred mice that are just like us — at least in terms of their immune systems.

Astronaut shown doing a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. They are in the center of the image and appear to be bending towards the camera

Astronauts could ditch diapers on spacewalks thanks to new device that let's them drink their pee

By Emily Cooke published

A new device may someday soon allow astronauts to drink purified water made from their filtered pee during spacewalks.

Six fluorescent yellow tube-like blobs are shown sprawled across an undulating fluorescent green surface

Bubonic plague strikes person in Colorado

By Emily Cooke published

Colorado health officials have confirmed a human case of bubonic plague in the state.

Two boxes of Xanax lying side-by-side, pointing towards the camera. They appear to be positioned on top of a wooden table. The box on the left is open and packets of pills are sliding out of it towards the camera.

Benzos like Xanax may shrink the brain in the long term, study hints

By Emily Cooke published

A new study involving almost 5,500 people suggests that long-term benzodiazepine use may shrink parts of the brain involved in memory and mood regulation.

Two rows of three multi-colored blobs are shown against a black background. The blobs appear to contain different types of cells that are different fluorescent colors.

Scientists just grew the 1st-ever 'minibrains' from multiple people's cells

By Emily Cooke published

Hybrid brain organoids could be used to test how people respond differently to drugs before clinical trials begin, researchers say.

Multi-colored computer illustration show a collection of blue-green-colored rod shapes on a red-orange, undulating background

The gut microbiome has a circadian rhythm. Here's how it might affect your health.

By Emily Cooke published

Daily fluctuations in gut microbes may have a plethora of effects on the body, but many questions remain.

Patient shown walking up stairs while wearing the new prosthetic limb. Only the bottom half, from the middle of their torso downwards is shown.

Bionic legs plugged directly into nervous system enable unprecedented 'level of brain control'

By Emily Cooke published

A first-of-its-kind study demonstrated that a new nervous system-controlled bionic leg helps leg amputees walk more naturally than traditional prosthesis.

Lab-grown urethra

Body parts grown in the lab

By Mindy Weisberger, Emily Cooke last updated

In recent years, scientists have successfully grown a range of miniature organs and human body parts in the lab.

3D illustration of two neurons (in a burnt orange color) facing each other with a small gap. Within the gap, there are lots of yellow bubbles. The background of the image is black with a yellow halo around the gap between the two neurons and specks of cream dotted around.

Secret to lifelong memories sticking is molecular 'glue'

By Emily Cooke published

A new study has uncovered the role that a specific molecule in the brain plays in maintaining long-term memory.

Close-up of a mosquito sucking human blood from skin. The mosquito is black on the top with white specks, while its underbelly is red.

Americans face a higher risk of dengue this year, CDC warns

By Emily Cooke published

The CDC has issued a new health alert as global cases of dengue fever soar.

A patient is shown in the foreground of the image lying down on a bed in the operating theatre. He is wearing a blue surgical hair net and is covered by a white sheet. He is smiling at the camera with his thumbs up. Behind the bed is a group of medical professionals all dressed in blue scrubs, with blue surgical face masks and hair nets.

US man gets kidney transplant while awake

By Emily Cooke published

Being able to transplant kidneys using only local anesthetic could shorten patients' hospital stays and make the procedure accessible to more people, doctors say.

Scientist wearing a blue surgical mask is shown holding up a lab dish containing size circles which contain a clear fluid with what appears to be small white bubbles in it. The scientist is looking at the lab dish and is wearing a blue lab coat and gloves. The scientist is slightly blurred while the dish is clear.

Lab-grown 'minibrains' may have just confirmed a leading theory about autism

By Emily Cooke published

Excessive brain growth in the womb has been directly tied to autism in toddlers in new research involving lab-grown "minibrains."

Two blob-shaped cells against a grey background. The cells are colored in a blue to purple gradient. They look like they are made of lots of smaller rod shapes with protruding spikes

New blood test detects ovarian cancer years before conventional methods

By Emily Cooke published

Patients with early-stage ovarian cancer may have detectable changes in the immune cells in their blood.

Lots of light blue/grey-colored lines connected to form the shape of a brain against a black background.

6 distinct forms of depression identified by AI in brain study

By Emily Cooke published

A new analysis of the brains of 800 people has revealed that there may be six distinct types of depression, with potential implications for treatment.

Computer illustration of mycobacterium tuberculosis. A cluster of individual, rod-shaped bacteria are shown in blue with a yellow tinge. The background is black

Tuberculosis triggered giant, crusty wart to sprout on man's hand

By Emily Cooke published

Around 20% of cases of tuberculosis affect organs other than the lungs, and some can cause warty plaques on the skin.

A close up on a brain scan with one portion highlighted in red, indicating the location of an implant

Scientists inserted a window in a man's skull to read his brain with ultrasound

By Emily Cooke published

New research shows it's possible to use ultrasound waves to monitor activity in the human brain.

Mature woman is shown having her eyes tested by an opthalomogist. A black device is in front of her eyes which is in focus. The rest of the image is blurred

Melatonin may stave off age-related vision loss, study hints

By Emily Cooke published

A large new analysis has tied the use of supplemental melatonin to a lower risk of developing one of the most common age-related causes of vision loss.

Middle-aged woman is pictured sitting on a hospital bed wearing a surgical gown. There is hospital equipment in the background. Her legs are crossed and she is looking in front of her with a concerned look on her face. There is a chair to the right of her.

Gen Xers will have higher cancer rates than boomers, study forecasts

By Emily Cooke published

A new modeling study predicts that cancer rates in people over 60 may be rising among successive generations.