Category: Feature Stories

A passionate kiss between two lovers is not just an expression of passion. It also has tangible biological consequences. According to a new study, a ten-second kiss transfers an average of 80 million bacteria. If the two kiss at least nine times a day, their bacterial worlds become similar. This is reported by a team led by biologist Remco Kort from the University of Amsterdam. Genetics and lifestyle The study: “Shaping the oral microbiota through intimate kissing” by Remco Kort and colleagues was published on November 17 in the journal…

Read More

Many people realize early on that money alone does not make you happy. Happiness depends not only on income, but also on things like loving relationships, good health, and time for the beautiful moments in life. Nevertheless, money gives us one thing above all else: security and independence. But how much do you need to earn to be happy? And is there a point at which more money can no longer increase our happiness? A study provides the answer to these questions. More money makes those who have little happier…

Read More

By Hector Pascua In Austria, as across much of Europe, the question of “how much is enough?” has become more pressing than ever. Prices are up, wages haven’t kept pace, and even the once-stable essentials — housing, groceries, and transport — are taking bigger bites out of household budgets. The Pressure of Everyday Expenses The cost of living in Austria has risen steadily over the past few years. While inflation has cooled compared to its 2022 peak, everyday life remains significantly more expensive than before the pandemic. According to Statistics…

Read More

Countless studies have now proven one thing: the more steps you take each day, the greater the effect on your health. Unfit people can benefit significantly from a low number of steps if they have previously been almost entirely inactive. But is it enough to accumulate steps throughout the day, or does the length of each period of exercise also play a role? A large-scale study has come to an interesting conclusion. Data from the new study by Australian and Spanish researchers shows that people who are continuously active for…

Read More

Humans and monkeys do it, dogs and cats do it, and birds and fish yawn too. If something is so widespread, it must have a purpose. Or rather, purposes, because in addition to sleep, yawning has a variety of functions: it aids breathing, empathy, and alertness. “Yawning is a silent cry for coffee” is a phrase that can be read on many a cafeteria mug. It has some merit, but it doesn’t quite satisfy the requirements of a scientific explanation—in this case, the field responsible is chasmology, as the study…

Read More

Climate crisis: UN report warns of 2.8 degrees of global warming by 2100. A 1.5-degree target is hardly achievable; climate protection remains urgent. The climate crisis continues to worsen. According to the latest figures from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the planet is facing a dramatic 2.8-degree rise in temperature by the end of this century—measured against pre-industrial levels. Experts believe that the target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees will already be exceeded in ten years’ time. Although there have been minimal improvements compared to last year—when the…

Read More

Scientists are tracking these natural phenomena to better understand how space weather affects our planet’s technology and atmosphere. Storm warning The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a severe warning of a geomagnetic storm for Thursday and Friday. The event is related to a coronal mass ejection from the sun, which is expected to reach Earth between Thursday evening and Friday morning. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center classified the storm as G3—a level that can cause significant disturbances in the Earth’s magnetic field. Researchers believe the…

Read More

We’ve all been there: out of boredom, we reach for our smartphones and get sucked into social media. What’s new on Facebook? What are our friends posting on Instagram? Another new TikTok trend? Before we know it, an hour or more has passed on our smartphones. Social media has become an integral part of our everyday lives: we like, read, share, and post! It accompanies us every step of the way in the form of smartphones, which we almost always carry with us and which give us quick access. But…

Read More

All Saints’ Day, celebrated on November 1st, is one of the most beautiful solemnities in the Catholic Church. It is a day dedicated to honoring all the saints—known and unknown—who now share in the fullness of God’s glory in heaven. This feast reminds us that sainthood is not reserved for a select few but is the universal call of every Christian. The saints were ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives of faith, courage, and love, and their example inspires us to follow Christ more closely in our own lives. From…

Read More