Western Europe experienced its hottest June and July on record, according to the EU climate monitoring service Copernicus. The average temperature across the region, which includes parts of Austria in the Copernicus classification, reached 21.62°C over the two-month period.That figure was 2.79°C above the long-term June average for 1991–2020. The data include nighttime temperatures, meaning the exceptionally warm conditions persisted around the clock. Copernicus also highlighted a pronounced temperature gradient across Europe: while western parts of the continent experienced extreme heat, temperatures were considerably lower in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.…

Spicy food is popular all over the world. Chili peppers, hot sauces and spicy dishes can make meals more exciting, but they also raise an important question: Is eating spicy food actually healthy, or can it harm the body?The main substance responsible for the hot taste of chili peppers is capsaicin. It stimulates receptors in the mouth and creates the familiar burning sensation. Interestingly, capsaicin does not actually burn the body; it activates nerves that normally respond to heat. For many people, spicy food can have health benefits. Capsaicin may…

Good friendships and close social relationships may play an important role in both physical and mental health, according to a new international study involving more than 200,000 adults. The research, led by Veli Durmus of Kütahya Health Sciences University in Turkey and published in the Journal of Mental Health, examined how people’s satisfaction with their friendships and relationships was associated with their overall well-being. The study found that strong social connections were more closely linked to better health than positive memories of family relationships during childhood. Data from 22 countriesResearchers…