Paracetamol: 'Harmless' Fever Pill Riskier Than Illness

Every day, countless events occur around the world, making it impossible to keep up with the news flow. That«s why we»ve gathered the highlights in this digest. Today, we sum up February 3.

A butterfly emerged from a chrysalis in space for the first time

Scientists have successfully conducted the first-ever experiment on the full life cycle of a living organism in space: a butterfly emerged from a chrysalis in orbit. The experiment was carried out by specialists from Chongqing University, proving the possibility of complex biological processes under microgravity conditions.

The chrysalis was placed in a compact sealed module with its own closed ecosystem, where plants produced oxygen and microorganisms processed waste. This container, weighing 8.3 kilograms (18.3 lb), was launched on a Kuaizhou-11 rocket on December 13, 2025. After hatching, the butterfly was able to move freely and flap its wings in zero gravity.

Project developers note that the experiment«s success is an important step in confirming the feasibility of complex life support systems for long-term human presence beyond Earth. In the future, the team plans to study the resilience of such a system during long-term operation in orbit.

Doctor lists external signs that may indicate serious illnesses

Persistent dry skin, brittle nails, red eyes, and even slouching may not be cosmetic defects or habits, but external signs of serious diseases. Alexander Novikov, a therapist at Poliklinika.ru, told Lenta.ru.

The specialist explained that skin peeling often indicates iron deficiency, vitamin deficiencies, or thyroid problems; a yellowish tint warrants a liver check; and pallor and rashes in adults may indicate anemia or hormonal imbalance. Brittle nails and hair loss often signal iron or vitamin D deficiency, while red eyes without infection may point to autoimmune disorders.

Also, according to the doctor, slouching, stiffness of movement, and an unsteady gait can indicate health problems, being signs of chronic pain, depression, or neurological disorders.

At what age do people develop cancer?

People in Russia are diagnosed with cancer at an average age of 65, a figure that has increased slightly in recent years. This was reported by oncologist Ali Mudunov, president of the Russian Society of Head and Neck Tumor Specialists, head of the head and neck oncology department at the Lapino Clinical Hospital, and professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

«The average age for cancer incidence has not increased much over the past few years, by about one year, and is now around 65,» Mudunov said, as quoted by TASS.

Constitutional Court allows temporary registration in apartments

Russia«s Constitutional Court has allowed owners of apartment-type premises (apartments) to register themselves and their relatives there. The ruling, effective from February 3, concerns registration at the place of stay (temporary registration) for personal and family needs.

However, the court upheld a key restriction: permanent registration (registration at the place of residence) in non-residential premises, which include apartments, remains impossible. Legally, they remain non-residential stock, and for temporary registration, the developer, as before, must have hotel status («hotel operator»), through whom the procedure is carried out.

The reason for appealing to the Constitutional Court was the police«s refusal to register Victoria Piunova, the owner»s wife, in a St. Petersburg apartment. The court ruled that the impossibility of registration in apartments restricts constitutional rights and ordered lawmakers to amend the laws.

When can being late for work become grounds for dismissal?

Being late for work can lead to dismissal if the employee is absent for more than four hours. Such absence is considered truancy, which is a legal ground for terminating the employment contract. This was reported by Evgeny Masharov, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation«s Commission on Public Expertise.

«Lateness of up to four hours cannot be grounds for dismissal. However, if an employee is absent for more than four hours, it is considered truancy,» the expert explained in an interview with RIA Novosti.

He added that for regular lateness, the employer has the right to impose a disciplinary penalty — a reprimand or a warning.

Masharov emphasized that the Russian Labor Code directly prohibits fining employees. The only legal measures are disciplinary sanctions. An employer can withhold bonuses (de-bonus) only if this is provided for by the company«s internal documents.

An employee from whom money was illegally withheld for lateness has the right to demand its return through the labor inspectorate, prosecutor«s office, or court. For imposing such sanctions, the employer may face an administrative fine:

from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles ($300 to $500 at current rates) for legal entities;

from 1,000 to 5,000 rubles ($10 to $50 at current rates) for individual entrepreneurs;

from 1,000 to 5,000 rubles ($10 to $50 at current rates) for officials of the employing organization.

Banks tighten rules on renting out mortgaged apartments

Major Russian banks have begun tightening conditions for mortgage clients. Loan agreements increasingly include the requirement to coordinate rental with the bank and the lender«s right to conduct unannounced inspections of the mortgaged property, Izvestia reported.

Now most banks explicitly require written consent to rent out the apartment, even to relatives. Contracts also stipulate the right of credit institutions to conduct on-site inspections of the housing condition without prior notice. Particularly strict rules apply to apartments purchased using maternity capital: obtaining permission to rent them is almost impossible, as it contradicts the program«s purpose.

The positions of credit institutions vary: some claim loyalty, others are actively tightening policies. Experts link these measures to the growing share of buyers who view mortgaged real estate as a source of income and a general increase in overdue debt. According to estimates, about 95% of all rental housing in Russia is rented unofficially, with a significant portion being mortgaged apartments. For banks, the main risks are deterioration or loss of collateral, as well as problems with its sale in the event of eviction of tenants living there.

Violation of the new rules threatens owners not only with fines but also with a demand for early repayment of the entire loan. Tenants of unofficially rented housing risk losing the apartment and compensation if the bank seizes it from the owner. Experts advise borrowers to carefully study the terms of the contract, and tenants to check the apartment for encumbrances.

Family mortgage proposed to be extended to pregnant women

The state support program «Family Mortgage» has been proposed to be expanded, allowing loans to be issued from the seventh month of pregnancy. This initiative was put forward by Kaplan Panesh, deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes.

According to the deputy, this will help families obtain housing precisely at the time of greatest need — with the arrival of a child, TASS reports. Currently, the program is available only to families with already born children.

Key proposals include two new conditions:

Access from the seventh month of pregnancy to be able to welcome the child in new housing.

Installment plan for the down payment (at least 20% of the cost) to reduce the financial burden at the start.

Implementing the new rules will require additional legal regulation, including the procedure for confirming pregnancy and a mechanism for phased contribution payments. Currently, the rate for the «Family Mortgage» is 6%, and from February 1, 2026, both spouses are required to act as co-borrowers.

Students carry out attacks in two Russian schools

In Ufa, a ninth-grade student burst into a school with a weapon. He wounded a teacher. The attacker was quickly detained.

In Krasnoyarsk Krai, a girl stabbed a peer with a knife. It happened at School No. 4 in the city of Kodinsk. The schoolgirl first tried to attack a teacher but was stopped by classmates.

Oncologist warns of danger of paracetamol overdose

The popular painkiller paracetamol can pose a serious threat to the liver if used incorrectly. Oncologist Vladimir Ivashkov warned on his Telegram channel about the need to strictly follow the dosage.

The doctor noted that paracetamol is the leading cause of acute liver failure in developed countries. According to research, overdose of this drug causes about 50% of all acute liver injury cases in the United States and the United Kingdom.

For adults, the maximum daily dose is 4 grams (8 tablets of 500 mg) with an interval between doses of at least 4–6 hours. The course without medical consultation should not exceed 5 days.

Liver damage can begin with a daily intake of 7.5–10 grams. For people with liver disease, those who consume alcohol, or those who are debilitated, the risks are higher even at lower doses.

The hidden danger is that paracetamol is a component of more than 600 combined cold medications. This easily leads to accidental overdose if several drugs are taken simultaneously.

The doctor recommends special caution in cases of liver and kidney diseases, during pregnancy, when consuming alcohol simultaneously, and when treating children, where the dose should be calculated strictly by weight, not by age.