Category: Feature Stories

Physical activity is considered the best medicine in many areas, including staying mentally fit for as long as possible. A new study now shows which aspects of intellectual abilities can be influenced by exercise. First, on the treadmill, and then on the questionnaire, 650 people between the ages of 65 and 80 had to prove their physical fitness, after which they were given various tests. The speed with which the participants processed information, short-term memory, visual-spatial perception, and the ability to plan and organize were examined. The study, which has…

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Thanks to the continuing high level of solar activity, there is a good chance of observing spectacular auroras in Austria again in 2025.Super solar storms not ruled outAfter some spectacular auroras in Austria at the end of last year, the chances of observing northern lights here in 2025 are also good. The reason for this is the continuing high level of solar activity, as Christian Möstl, Head of the Austrian Space Weather Office at GeoSphere Austria in Graz, explained to APA. He expects three to five intense solar storms next…

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Two-thirds of Austrians store online, and hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Cardboard boxes and shipping produce gigatons of CO2. Online retail continues to grow worldwide. The Covid-19 pandemic has given the sector even more impetus, leading to breathtaking sales records. Large companies such as Amazon and Alibaba have “monopolized” online shopping and raised consumer expectations by offering instant delivery and free returns, says climate expert Martina Igini from the environmental portal earth.org. Online retail is also in the fast lane in Austria. However, many sales flow abroad, explains Rainer…

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A 1,500-year-old stone tablet with the Ten Commandments has been auctioned in New York for 5.04 million dollars (4.81 million euros), far exceeding expectations. When the piece was presented, the auction house Sotheby’s expected proceeds to be between 1 and 2 million dollars. According to the auctioneer, it is the only known complete stone tablet with the bids from this period. The stone was discovered in 1913 during railroad construction in IsraelThe piece of marble, which is around 60 centimetres high and weighs 50 kilograms, is engraved with the commandments…

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Whether you are travelling in Europe or further afield, planning a longer stay abroad, or even wanting to emigrate, one thing is always important: how friendly the people are at your vacation destination or in your destination country. After all, we often fondly remember the helpfulness or surprising invitations from locals.In April of this year, Remitly, a digital provider of financial services, commissioned a study to determine which nations are the friendliest in the world. More than 3,000 people from all over the world took part and answered questions on…

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Happiness income describes the value above which earning more does not make you happier.Money alone does not make you happy, but it does help. An analysis now shows the exact happiness income. Austria is in the upper range. Does money make you happy? And if so, how much? Several studies have been devoted to precisely this question. Based on this, the experts at the online exchange “S Money” have calculated the so-called happiness income for (almost) all countries, including Austria. This value is strictly at the tipping point or saturation…

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Whether brown or white, both types of baking paper have a special coating so that nothing sticks, and they are heat-resistant. This thin layer of silicone is criticized occasionally. Still, it is considered harmless when used correctly (i.e., as long as the temperature specifications on the packaging are adhered to, which is usually 220°). Chemist Puis Kölbener also confirmed this to Swiss television SRF: “I know of no current studies that prove the health risks of baking paper.” The results of the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection (LAVES)…

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The current year is heading for a new temperature record: 2024 will almost certainly be the warmest year globally since records began. It is also likely to be the first year in which the average temperature is more than 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the pre-industrial average, as reported by the EU climate change service Copernicus. Copernicus relies on a data set based on billions of measurements from satellites, ships, airplanes and weather stations worldwide. The US climate agency NOAA recently also believed 2024 would likely be a record year.…

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Pope Francis elevates 21 men, including his deputy in charge of the diocese of Rome and the archbishops of Turin, Belgrade, Lima, Tokyo, Abidjan, and Tehran, to the cardinalate in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday. Except for the retired Vatican diplomat Angelo Acerbi (99), all new cardinals are under 80 and would be potential papal electors. After the consistory, the College of Cardinals will have 253 members. Of these, 140 are under 80 and could participate in a conclave. The Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias is already celebrating his 80th birthday…

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