Health Sense

Japanese comedian Asoyama Daifunka has revealed he was diagnosed with a nationally designated intractable disease. He said that while there is no established treatment, having a confirmed name for his condition brought him a sense of relief. The announcement, reported by Oricon News, is drawing attention and well-wishes from fans in Japan.

A debate is circulating over whether WordPress remains a sensible choice for new websites in 2026. One widely shared article argues that of the internet's more than 1.1 billion websites, roughly 80% have not been updated in the past year, describing them as 'digital ghosts' frozen in time. The discussion weighs whether building on WordPress still makes sense given this large stock of abandoned sites.

A doctor at West Virginia University's Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute is highlighting the role of purpose and social connection in mental health. The comments point to relationships and a sense of meaning as important factors in psychological wellbeing, alongside clinical treatment. The remarks come as communities and health providers across the region continue to confront elevated rates of loneliness, depression and substance misuse.

Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) is presenting new technologies at CEATEC, including deformation measurement using moire images, a fall-risk assessment that works while seated, and VR that produces odors. Researchers explained the projects in interviews as part of efforts to move the technologies into real-world social implementation, with hands-on demonstrations available for visitors.

Cigna Healthcare has announced Health Sense, a tool it says combines artificial intelligence with clinical support, and has published details on how it works and where it will be available. The announcement outlines the insurer's approach to using AI alongside clinical oversight in its health services. Details on rollout regions and safeguards were included in the company's release.

Writer Rishi Dass poses a reflective question — is anything lacking right now? — in a short essay touching on philosophy, mental health and simple living. The piece invites readers to examine whether their sense of lack is real or self-created, resonating with ongoing online interest in minimalism, contentment and mental wellbeing.

The US National Institutes of Health has awarded a $2 million grant for research into how the brain detects protein intake. The funded work will explore the mechanisms behind protein sensing, a topic of growing interest in nutrition science given protein's role in appetite regulation and health. Coverage so far is limited to nutrition trade outlets, with no broader reaction recorded yet.

A new approach uses satellite imagery to detect tillage practices across the US Midwest, offering a way to monitor conservation agriculture at scale. Researchers say remote sensing could track whether farmers are adopting reduced or no-till methods, information that has been difficult and costly to gather on the ground across large farm regions.

A feature argues that watching horror films can benefit mental health, suggesting that controlled exposure to fear on screen may help people process anxiety and feel a sense of control over stress. The piece adds to a wider ongoing conversation among psychologists and film fans about whether scary movies serve a therapeutic purpose rather than simply frightening viewers.

UC Davis Health has received a $1.6 million grant to study a little-known sensory sense that most people have never heard of. The funding will support research into this poorly understood aspect of human perception, which researchers say plays a role in health despite remaining obscure to the general public.