Science

It turns out your immune cells know what time it is. Literally.

A new study published in Science Immunology has uncovered something remarkable: your first line of immune defense — the neutrophils that gobble up invading bacteria — work more effectively during daylight hours. Why? Because they’re running on circadian time.

Let’s break it down.

Most of us know about the circadian rhythm in the context of sleep. Stay up too late, miss the morning light, or do shift work long enough, and your internal clock starts to drift — a phenomenon researchers call “social jet lag.” But the impact goes far beyond fatigue or grogginess.

Disruption of your circadian rhythm doesn’t just mess with your mood. It affects your immune function too. And this new research helps explain why.

Immune Cells, But Make It Chronobiological

Led by immunologist Chris Hall at the University of Auckland, the study used transparent larval zebrafish — a surprisingly powerful model due to their similarity to human immune

It’s blue. It’s everywhere online. And it’s being talked about as the next big thing for brain health.

We’re talking about methylene blue — a synthetic dye with a long medical history that’s now showing up in wellness circles as a brain-enhancing supplement. Touted for sharpening focus, boosting memory, and clearing brain fog, methylene blue has caught the attention of health influencers and biohackers alike. But does the science actually back it?

Let’s unpack what this compound is, how it works, and what the evidence says — and doesn’t say — about its cognitive claims.

A Dye With Medical Roots

Methylene blue isn’t new. It was first created in 1876 as a textile dye. Its bright, vivid colour made it ideal for staining tissues under the microscope — and by the late 1800s, it was being tested as an anti-malarial drug.

Its superpower lies in its chemistry. Methylene blue can swap electrons with other molecules, like a mini battery. That makes it useful in medicine — especially for treating