Science Alert It’s called the widowhood effect: the increased chance of death, particularly in older couples, when a person loses their spouse. Now, scientists have discovered new evidence for why broken hearts and widowhood are in themselves a deadly danger to the recently bereaved – decoding hidden biological markers associated with severe cases of the…
Eurek Alert Light and high-frequency acoustic sound waves in a tiny glass structure can strongly couple to one another and perform a dance in step. A team of researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, and the National Physical Laboratory have experimentally achieved a long-standing goal to demonstrate the so-called “strong-coupling regime” between…
Science Alert We are still in love with vitamins a century after they were discovered, with half the US and UK population taking a supplement. Vitamin D – the sunshine vitamin – is the favourite and is believed to have the most proven benefits. Governments, including the UK government, have said that the evidence for…
Tech Explorist A large, ongoing international study from the University of Exeter, dubbed the ‘Santa survey’ is investigating how, and at what age, children begin to change their minds about the existence of Santa Claus. The research also examines whether a child’s trust in adults is threatened by the discovery that Santa isn’t real. The…
AP Britain has banned third-party sales of puppies and kittens to protect the animals from exploitation. The government says the new law will help crack down on “puppy farms” and make it harder for unscrupulous dealers who have little regard for animal welfare. Animal Welfare Minister David Rutley said the ban “is part of our…
NDTV At a time when more and more extravagant weddings are becoming the norm, a Pakistani man’s story of his sweet and simple wedding has found a lot of fans. Twitter user Rizwan Pehelwan took to the micro blogging website to share his experience of organizing a simple wedding, and his Twitter thread has now…
Eurek Alert A certain proportion of the adult population has not only white adipose (or fatty) tissue, but also the brown kind. This brown adipose tissue helps to convert sugar and fat into heat. People with brown adipose tissue are better at regulating their body temperature in the winter, and are less likely to suffer…
Eurek Alert A new Tel Aviv University study describes a process to make bioplastic polymers that don’t require land or fresh water — resources that are scarce in much of the world. The polymer is derived from microorganisms that feed on seaweed. It is biodegradable, produces zero toxic waste and recycles into organic waste. The…
Science Alert Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects one in ten Australians, and twice as many women as men. Its symptoms include chronic abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhoea, and bloating. These have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life. Many people use the term irritable bowel syndrome to describe…
The Japan Times The violence and scandals that have plagued Japan’s sumo world came full circle just after the year’s sixth and final tournament, leaving maiden victories by the sport’s young up-and-comers in the shadows. Revelations of violence, harassment and antiquated traditions dogged the country’s once-venerable sport in 2018 as it began its slow ascent…