Things We Don’t Know

In 1953, thalidomide was prescribed for morning sickness, and over 10,000 babies were born with deformities. Scientists suspected that only the left-handed version of the drug was responsible, so was this a disaster that could have been avoided?

The hormetic effect suggests that small doses of alcohol may be good for us, but is this still true whilst pregnant? Alcohol can affect a developing foetus differently at different stages, and scientists are looking into the underlying mechanisms. Meanwhile, the effects of caffeine remain mysterious, as do the effects of herbal teas.

Glaciers are pockets for unusual lifeforms: extremophiles. As glaciers melt, habitats change, diversity is boosted but extremophiles endangered.

The body changes during pregnancy, but exercising can ease symptoms, labour, and the baby blues. So what is the controversy about, and why does advice differ?

Pregnancy can make you feel unwell because a mother is immunosuppressed whilst she's carrying - but this is only one of several complex ways the immune system interacts with pregnancy, and one of many factors scientists want to know more about.

Toxoplasmosis - the disease that makes you like cats - is asymptomatic in healthy adults, but can be devastating in unborn babies. But what are the risks of contracting it during pregnancy, and why do some women avoid eating their greens?