Posts tagged with "The Sun"

Above, nail-biting. (Photo source: Studio 32 Orthodontics)

From biting your nails to being late, how so-called bad habits actually might be good for you

July 26, 2022

Nobody’s perfect, but researcher’s at Britain’s Oxford University have some good news for us: Some bad habits and bad manners might actually be good for us, according to a report by The Sun.

Below, are six things that we might not want to be caught doing in polite company, but that really could help, not hurt, according to researchers:

  • Biting nails–boosts immune system: Gnawing at your fingernails might make some people shudder, but biters have the last laugh. Some scientists believe such nibbling can keep you healthy. The theory is that introducing new bacteria into your body could help your immune system learn to recognize it in the future—like a vaccination.
  • Chewing gum—sharpens memory: Chewing on a stick of gum might get you a lecture from the dentist, but it could be worth it. Chewing is more effective than caffeine at helping with focus and memory, according to research. It raises levels of stress hormone cortisol, which keeps you on your toes and concentrating for longer.
  • Not tidying up—a sign of intelligence: If you constantly find yourself tripping over your kids’ shoes or standing on their Legos, your child might be a genius. Being messy is a sign of intelligence, according to the University of Minnesota.  Smarter people don’t waste time tidying or organizing things, they say (which may not “spark joy” for Marie Kondo). The chaotic clutter also boosts creativity.
  • Bad posture—can benefit your spine: The next time someone ticks you off for bad posture after a long day, tell them this: After hard physical work, leaning forward for a bit can benefit your spine, says University Hospital of North Tees. The position helps alleviate back stiffness by allowing fluid to grease up spinal discs, its study discovered.
  • Being late—makes you happy: Arriving late to parties might infuriate hostsm, but it keeps guests easy-going. Those with a relaxed approach to timekeeping are likely to have lower stress levels, says a study by Harvard Medical School. They are also more likely to lead a healthier, happier lifestyle.
  • Playing with your hair—stops boredom: Next time you find yourself zoning out, twiddling with your hair could help. A 2014 study found that playing with your locks can alleviate boredom when your concentration is waning. Messing with your tresses can even reduce anxiety and help you to wind down before going to bed.

Research contact: @TheSun

Above, Vladimir Putin (left) held the table and tapped his foot during his meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the Kremlin in Moscow. ( Image source: Russian Presidential Press Office)

Bloated Vladimir Putin video emboldens chatter that Russian leader is sick

April 25, 2022

New video shows Russian President Vladimir Putin looking bloated and awkwardly gripping a table for support—heightening suspicions that the warmongering president is seriously ill, reports The New York Post.

The footage— released by the Kremlin on Thursday, April 21—shows Putin, 69, tightly gripping the table with his right hand as soon as he sits down; then, keeping it there throughout the nearly 12-minute clip.

Putin sits with hunched shoulders and regularly fidgets and taps his toes during the briefing with his defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, who also is rumored to be suffering health woes.

The clip shows Putin and his key adviser “both depressed & seemingly in bad health,”  tweeted Anders Aslund, a Swedish economist who was previously an adviser to Russia.

Former UK politician Louise Mensch said that  the footage appeared to back earlier reports that “Vladimir Putin has Parkinson’s D

isease.”

“Here you can see him gripping the table so that his shaking hand is not visible but he cannot stop his foot from tapping,” she wrote.

Other reports have suggested that Putin has recently had 35 secret meetings with a cancer doctor— and has been bathing in the blood of deer antlers. The Kremlin has denied he has the disease.

Professor Erik Bucy, a body language expert from Texas Tech University, noted to The Sun that Putin’s face looked clearly bloated, saying it “reinforces an unhealthy appearance.”

“It’s an astonishingly weakened Putin compared to the man we observed even a few years ago,” Bucy told the outlet.

“An able-bodied president would not need to keep himself propped up with a hand held out for leverage and would not be concerned about keeping both feet planted on the ground.”

Research contact: @nypost

Above, Castello's gold cube sits in Central Park. (Photo source: The Sun)

Mystery: Gold cube worth $11.7 million ‘pops up’ in NYC’s Central Park—with security guards

February 7, 2022

A mysterious gold cube worth an estimated $11.7 million appeared in New York’s Central Park on Wednesday morning, February 2. accompanied by its very own security detail, reports The Sun.

The cube, which comprises about 400 pounds of pure 24-karat gold, was rolled out in front of a snowy Naumburg Bandshell at 5 a.m. (ET)—surrounded by photographers and NYPD officers.

The hollow gold block is the creation of 43-year-old German artist Niclas Castello, who has branded it the “Castello Cube.”  It’s not for sale, but is being used to promote the launch of a cryptocurrency called the Castello Coin. With gold currently priced at $1,788 per ounce, the block would probably go for $11.7 million, if it were put on the market.Castello’s team told ArtNet that the cube was made in a foundry in Aarau, Switzerland—and that it required temperatures of more than 2,000 degrees (F) to be cast.

The cube had been advertised as a once-in-a-lifetime work. Some viewers were unimpressed, however. “It’s pretty plain,” private security guard, Jamel Rabel, told The New York Times.

Another looked admitted that the “reflections are incredible and that “putting it there in the snow seems really inspired.”

Catello’s Cube stayed in the famous tourist spot for only a few hours before being shipped downtown to the exclusive Cipriani Wall Street for a private dinner.

Castello billed the block as a “socle du monde” (base of the world) sculpture. He told ArtNet that it is “a conceptual work of art in all its facets” and that he’d wanted to “create something that is beyond our world—that is intangible.”

“The cube can be seen as a sort of communiqué between an emerging 21st-century cultural ecosystem based on crypto and the ancient world where gold reigned supreme,” Viennese gallerist Lisa Kandlhofer commented to ArtNet.

The Castello Coin is being traded as $CAST at an initial price of $0.44. The artist’s team told the Times that he had privately sold enough of the coins to finance the cube project.

On February 21, the coin launch will be followed up with an NFT auction.

Research contact: @TheSun

Above, the White Hosue welcomes Willow. (Photo source: Dr. Jill Biden on Twitter)

Meet Willow, America’s new ‘First Cat’

Janaury 31, 2022

Americans have a new “First Cat.” Dr. Jill Biden has welcomed a two-year-old, green-eyed, gray-and-white tabby named Willow to the White House, reports The Sun.

Dr. Biden tweeted Friday, “Meet Willow,” as she shared several snaps of the  adopted pet by a White House window and on the carpet.

The First Lady met the short-haired feline during a 2020 campaign stop, according to her press secretary, Michael LaRosa—who says that Willow is the same cat that seized the spotlight on a 2020 campaign stop when she she strutted out on stage during Biden’s remarks.

“A farm cat from Pennsylvania, Willow made quite an impression on Dr. Biden in 2020 when he jumped up on the stage and interrupted her remarks during a campaign stop. Seeing their immediate bond, the owner of the farm knew that Willow belonged with Dr. Biden,” LaRosa said.

The cat’s name is inspired by Dr. Biden’s hometown of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, CNN reports.

LaRosa said: “Willow is settling into the White House with her favorite toys, treats, and plenty of room to smell and explore.”

And Twitter users are gushing over the White House’s new arrival. One said: “I love their names.” Aanother commented: “Willow is so cute! I want a kitty so bad.” A third posted: “Your cat is so cute and I’m not usually a cat person.”

 Research contact: @TheSun

Above, Kefir is only 22 months old. (Photo source: SWNS)

‘Furmidable’: Giant cat looks set to break world record at 27.5 pounds

January 20, 2022

No ‘kitten’ around—Yulia Minina of Stary Oskol, Russia, is a big cat fan. Her Maine Coon cat, Kefir, is only 22 months old and, already, he’s just a whisker away from a world record at 27.5 pounds of purry love, reports The Sun. .

Indeed, at his age, Kefir still is considered a kitten—and, unbelievably enough, has lots of growing to do.  Yulia explains: “I could not even think that an ordinary baby can become so big,” noting, “The look is generally like that of a person, and Kefir has a formidable appearance, but he is a very affectionate and modest child.”

What’s more, he’s not only large in size, she says: “He not only grew up big in appearance; he is also very smart and always behaves calmly.”

.He usually gets not just a first, but also a second look: “When friends and acquaintances come to the house,” Yulia says, “all the attention is on him and he willingly allows himself to be stroked. But when strangers come to the house, everyone first confuses him with a dog.”

And at night, he has become a “heavy” sleeper: “He has one more habit: At night he likes to climb on me and sleep,” she says, adding, “When he was a kitten, it didn’t cause me any inconvenience, but now he has become big and [hefty].”

Research contact: @TheSun

Photo source: Pfizer

Hard luck: Taking Viagra cuts the risk of Alzheimer’s by up to 69%

December 7, 2021

Now we really know it’s a man’s world: A research study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic’s Genomic Medicine Institute has found that the a drug used to counteract erectile dysfunction, Viagra, may help to boost brain health and cut levels of toxic proteins that trigger dementia, according to a report by The Sun.

Experts analyzed data on 7.2 million U.S. adults and found regular users had a 69% lower chance of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease over the next six years.

Medics say the findings, published in the journal, Nature Aging, suggest that “the little blue pill” soon could be prescribed to tackle dementia.

The authors are now planning a fresh study to test the benefits of sildenafil—the generic version of Viagra—in early Alzheimer’s patients.

A team from Cleveland Clinic looked at whether any of 1,600 approved drugs could be repurposed to tackle the underlying causes of the disease.

Lead researcher Dr Feixiong Cheng, from Cleveland Clinic’s Genomic Medicine Institute, said: “Sildenafil, which has been shown to significantly improve cognition and memory in preclinical models, presented as the best drug candidate.

Two in three cases of dementia are due to Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Jack Auty, lecturer in the Medical Sciences at the University of Tasmania, said: “This is exciting stuff,” adding, ““But we need further research. In the field of Alzheimer’s disease research, we have been excited by many drugs over the years, only to have our hopes dashed in clinical trials.”

However, Dr. Susan Kohlhaas, director of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, was more cautious about the findings.

She said: “While sildenafil is most well-known as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, it’s also used to treat high blood pressure in the lungs. In this study, researchers also found that its use is linked with fewer cases of Alzheimer’s disease in American adults. The researchers conducted lab-based experiments to give an indication as to why the drug may have impact diseases like Alzheimer’s, but these early-stage experiments would need follow-up in more thorough tests.”

Meanwhile, health officials in the United States recently approved the first new drug for Alzheimer’s disease in nearly 20 years. Despite controversy over the trial results, the Food and Drug Administration said it granted approval to the drug developed by Biogen.

Research contact: @TheSun

Above, Rupert Murdoch of News Corp. (Photo source: News Corp)

News Corp and Google form multi-year partnership to provide ‘trusted journalism’ globally

Leave a reply

Febraury 18, 2021

There will be no “fake news” on the Google News Showcase, News Corp announced on February 17—now that Rupert Murdoch’s media and information empire has agreed to a profitable, historic multi-year partnership with Google to provide trusted journalism from its news sites around the world.

As part of the deal, News Corp will receive significant payments from Google. Among the News Corp publications joining Google News Showcase will be The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, MarketWatch, and the New York Post; in the UK: The Times and The Sunday Times, and The Sun; and in Australia a range of news platforms, including The Australian, news.com.au, Sky News, and multiple metropolitan and local titles.

The landmark three-year agreement also includes the development of a subscription platform, the sharing of ad revenue via Google’s ad technology services, the cultivation of audio journalism, and meaningful investments in innovative video journalism by YouTube.

News Corp Chief Executive Robert Thomson stated in the announcement that the deal would have “a positive impact on journalism around the globe as we have firmly established that there should be a premium for premium journalism.

“I would like to thank Sundar Pichai and his team at Google, who have shown a thoughtful commitment to journalism that will resonate in every country. This has been a passionate cause for our company for well over a decade and I am gratified that the terms of trade are changing, not just for News Corp, but for every publisher.

“The deal simply would not have been possible without the fervent, unstinting support of Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, and the News Corp Board. For many years, we were accused of tilting at tech windmills, but what was a solitary campaign, a quixotic quest, has become a movement, and both journalism and society will be enhanced.

“Particular thanks are certainly due to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Rod Sims and his able team, along with the Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who have stood firm for their country and for journalism.”

Research contact: @newscorp

Above, Thomas Markle. (Photo source: Screen grab from ITV/Good Morning Britain)

Battle royal: Thomas Markle’s plans new documentary on his split from Meghan

Leave a reply

January 20, 2021

In January 2020, Meghan Markle’s father Thomas Markle, starred in a Channel 5 British documentary in which he tried to set the record straight about the seemingly strained relationship between him and his daughter. However, Markle has since revealed to The Sun that he wasn’t happy with the finished product, and intends to release a new film; which will chronicle his life from his career in television and raising Meghan to more recent event—including his absence from the royal wedding.

Now, Good Morning Britain has aired “everything we know about Thomas Markle’s new documentary”—and Bustle has reported the details.

Hoping to have the documentary “completed later this year,” Markle told the Sun that he hopes the project will help him to “figure out what went wrong” in his relationship with his daughter. “It begins with my life, my family, and my love of theatre and television and how I got there,” Markle explained. It will follow his “life with Meghan, growing up, her school days until she went off to college, and when her career began.”

Featuring unseen home footage of Meghan’s upbringing, Markle wanted to portray what he believes to be a truer version of events than what was shown in the previous documentary. “It was not edited in the correct order, dates were wrong, and it had too much generic public domain film added,” he told the Sun. “My documentary will have some new videos and my favourite photo of my ‘baby girl’ […] I think we will do a good job.”

The former Channel 5 version, titled Thomas Markle: My Story, saw Markle set the record straight in a one-on-one interview with the broadcaster. It covered the “staged” paparazzi photos that were released prior to Meghan and Harry’s wedding, as well as Markle not being able to attend the wedding due to serious health problems. The documentary also covered the publication of Meghan’s private letter to her father, and why Markle decided to publish part of it in British tabloids.

Research contact: @bustle

U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. (Photo source: www.salailungthitum.uk)

Paul Ryan: “No question that Russia interfered”

Leave a reply

July 18, 2018

Despite his continued assertions that there is “no evidence of collusion with Russia” and his support of California Representative Devin Nunes’ “undercover investigation” of the Russia probe, House Speaker Paul Ryan has issued a statement slamming President Donald Trump’s refusal to admit that Moscow interfered in the 2016 election, Vox reports.

“There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world,” Ryan said. “That is not just the finding of the American intelligence community, but also the House Committee on Intelligence. The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally.”

Ryan’s comments came in response to the press conference that marked the end of a two-hour private meeting in Helsinki, Finland, between President Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

At that meeting with the media, President Trump flatly answered a question from the Associated Press on the Kremlin’s role in the 2016 presidential election, “I have asked President Putin. He just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be.”

The POTUS noted that U.S. intelligence leaders—including Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats—“came to me … and said they think it’s Russia.”

While he said he had “great confidence” in U.S. intelligence, President Trump implied that he trusted Putin more. “…I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”

Ryan’s rebuke to those comments came as a surprise. Throughout a week that included an ornery meeting with NATO and an interview with The Sun that criticized Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, the House Speaker had repeatedly said that the president should not be bashed while he was overseas.

But it seems Trump’s shocking performance in Helsinki was beyond the pale—even for Ryan, Vox reported.

Research contact: karoun.demirjian@washpost.com