Science Weekly Sub-two-hour marathon, spooky houses explained and why is UK health in decline?
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Apr 30, 2026 A trio of science stories: why healthy years in the UK have dropped and where inequalities bite. How two marathoners broke the two-hour barrier thanks to shoes, training and tech. The science behind why some old houses feel spooky, including infrasound experiments that might explain eerie sensations.
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UK Healthy Life Expectancy Has Fallen
- Healthy life expectancy in the UK has fallen by ~2 years since 2012, dropping to ~60.8 years for men and women by 2022–24.
- The decline reduced the proportion of life spent in good health from ~79% to 77% for men and 77% to 73% for women, based on self-reported health data.
Big Regional Health Span Inequality
- The fall in health span occurred across all areas but hit the most deprived hardest, widening inequality.
- Examples: Richmond upon Thames men average 69.3 healthy years, Blackpool men average 50.9 healthy years, a ~18-year gap.
Drivers Behind Declining Health Span
- Major drivers named include obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and high deaths from alcohol, drugs and suicide.
- Overall life expectancy stayed stable and the fall in health span isn't driven by COVID according to the report.