Category: Feature Stories

Names are among the first gifts we receive. Long before we speak, walk, or choose our own path, a name is placed gently—or sometimes boldly—upon us. It becomes our introduction to the world, our signature, our anchor in conversations and memories. But what if the very first letter of your name carries a quiet influence of its own? What if your initial shapes how others perceive you—and even how you perceive yourself? This idea isn’t new. Across cultures and centuries, people have believed that letters hold symbolic power. From ancient…

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A new Caritas study paints a troubling picture of social isolation in Austria: around 700,000 people report feeling very frequently lonely, with older adults and those with low incomes particularly affected. Loneliness Persists After the Pandemic Although the COVID‑19 pandemic has ended, its social consequences linger. According to the study, one in four people in Austria wishes for more social interaction. At a press conference in Vienna, Caritas Vienna Director Klaus Schwertner described loneliness as “the silent pandemic that remains” and renewed his call for a national action plan to…

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A growing body of research is challenging the assumption that excessive screen time is merely a lifestyle issue. A new Danish study, highlighted by the Austrian Society for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (ÖGKJ), suggests that the hours young people spend on smartphones, gaming consoles, and other digital devices may have measurable consequences for their heart health. More Screen Time, Higher Risk According to the study, every additional hour spent in front of a screen is associated with changes in key cardiometabolic risk factors — including blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and…

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The year 2025 has officially ranked as the third‑warmest year worldwide since temperature records began, according to new data released by the EU’s Earth observation programme Copernicus. The global average temperature reached 14.97°C, continuing an alarming trend: the past eleven years have been the warmest eleven years ever measured. Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of Copernicus, emphasized the narrow margins separating recent record years. “2025 was only slightly cooler than 2023, and 2024 remains the warmest year on record,” she said during the publication of this year’s Global Climate Highlights. According…

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The year 2025 has officially ranked as the third‑warmest year since global temperature measurements began—surpassed only by 2024 and 2023. New data from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service underscores how rapidly the climate crisis is accelerating and how precarious the path toward the Paris Agreement target has become. A Planet Under Pressure “2025 was only slightly cooler than 2023, and 2024 remains the warmest year on record,” said Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of Copernicus, during a briefing on the release of the Global Climate Highlights. According to the report,…

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Preservatives in food increase the risk of developing cancer or diabetes. This is shown by two recently published studies in which researchers evaluated data from more than 100,000 people over a period of several years. The studies, published in the British Medical Journal and Nature Communications, conclude, among other things, that the consumption of various preservatives such as sorbates, sulfites, and nitrites is associated with a higher incidence of cancer. This is most evident in the case of sodium nitrite (E250), which is used to preserve meat and sausage products…

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A lot of people regularly stay up late into the night, even though the next day starts early. A US study now shows that this behavior has less to do with a lack of discipline than with emotional patterns. Going to bed late is often no coincidence Many people are familiar with the feeling of putting off sleep: checking your phone one last time, reading or streaming something. Researchers do not see this as purely a time problem. Rather, there are many indications that inner tension plays a central role.…

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Modern humans belong to a small minority of mammals that live monogamously – and rank between the Eurasian beaver and the white-handed gibbon in terms of partner fidelity. This is shown by a comparison of Homo sapiens with 34 other mammal species. To determine the level of monogamy in a species, evolutionary anthropologist Mark Dyble from the University of Cambridge in England compared sibling data from genetic studies of various mammals. Specifically, he examined the ratio of full siblings to half-siblings – i.e., offspring with only one common parent –…

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The year 2026 will bring a wave of new regulations and fees that affect travellers across the globe. From currency changes to stricter entry requirements and updated traffic rules, those who prepare early can avoid unpleasant surprises. Here is an overview of the most important changes awaiting travellers in the coming year. Bulgaria Adopts the Euro Goodbye currency exchange hassles. Starting 1 January 2026, Bulgaria will officially join the Eurozone. The Bulgarian lev will be replaced by the euro, making travel significantly easier for visitors. No more conversion calculations, no…

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