Category: Feature Stories

Images of self-harm on social networks can encourage young people to engage in self-harming behaviour. According to a study by the Medical University of Vienna, affected adolescents show an increased awareness of these images. The research team urges that prevention and intervention measures be strengthened. “Our study shows that visual content on social media can contribute significantly to the intensification of the urge to self-harm, particularly in adolescents who are already at risk,” said lead author Andreas Goreis from the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry on Monday. The study,…

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Words can motivate, connect, and inspire—or have the opposite effect. Negative adjectives, in particular, can subtly but decisively influence the tone of a conversation or text. They leave a negative impression that not only affects others but also shapes your own perception and mood. Here we explain why you should avoid negative adjectives. Why avoid negative adjectives?Negative adjectives convey criticism or dissatisfaction and create a distant, unpleasant atmosphere. In communication in particular—whether at work, in personal relationships, or on social media—these words can hurt or demotivate the recipient. This has…

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If you turn it up, it will (hopefully) get warmer—so far, so good. But what temperature do the numbers on the thermostat stand for? Here is a brief overview:Asterisk: around 5 degrees, protects the heating from frostLevel 1: around 12 degreesLevel 2: around 16 degreesLevel 3: around 20 degreesLevel 4: around 24 degreesLevel 5: around 28 degreesSun: It stands for a basic setting at 20 degreesHalf moon: It stands for a night setback at 14 degreesIn an average household in Austria, around half of the energy consumed is used for…

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To mark European Waste Reduction Week, Too Good To Go asked Austrians about their views on best-before dates (BBDs). Every year, we throw away over one million tons of food in Austria, with private households accounting for half of this. According to the WWF, the best-before date is a driving factor in disposing of food even though it is still edible. The latest survey confirms this assumption and shows that many myths about best-before dates are floating around in people’s heads. Deadly or edible after all? Over two-thirds of Austrians…

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The new prosperity index has a few surprises in store: Switzerland is only in fourth place, and Austria is behind Germany.Which are the wealthiest countries in the world? The HelloSafe portal has analyzed this: Luxembourg, Norway, and Ireland make up the top three. Switzerland follows in fourth place, followed by Qatar, Singapore, and Iceland. The poorest country is Mozambique. Hellosafe’s Prosperity Index is based on six key figures: gross domestic product per capita, Gini coefficient, gross national income per capita, gross national savings rate, human development indicator, and poverty rate.Europe…

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A disparaging look at the office, the question about your “real origin,” the supposed compliment for your perfect German: racism has many faces. It can manifest itself in any situation in our everyday lives. What can we all do about it? Everyday racism and structural racism: what’s the difference? There is no universal definition of everyday racism. However, it must be distinguished from institutional or structural racism. Structural racism means that people do not have equal access to social goods such as rights or education for racist reasons, as was…

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Some people prefer to sleep on their backs, others on their stomachs, and the majority—60 percent—prefer to sleep on their sides. But different sleeping positions have different advantages. It is, therefore, worth taking a closer look at your own sleeping position. Your health will thank you for it. Why you shouldn’t sleep on your right side For most people, the heart is located on the left side of the body. If you sleep on your right side, the heart has to work harder and pump the blood “upwards.” Many of…

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Do you often fall into the “craving trap” and buy yourself an ice cream, a warm croissant, a slice of cake or a cheese roll even though you’re not hungry? Here’s the problem: these “cravings” come from the different types of hunger, and there are several of them. Hunger has 12 faces Hunger can have many triggers, from physical needs to emotional and social factors. Only stomach hunger is true hunger, while all other types often trigger cravings for food without our body needing food. It is important to know…

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On All Souls’ Day, celebrated on November 2, people honour and remember the souls of deceased loved ones. Rooted in Christian tradition, this day focuses on prayer, remembrance, and the hope for eternal peace for the departed. All Souls’ Day follows All Saints’ Day, which is dedicated to canonized saints, while All Souls’ Day expands to include all faithful souls who have left this world, regardless of sainthood. The day is marked by unique traditions across cultures, but a common theme is prayer. Many people visit cemeteries to lay flowers,…

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