Category: Feature Stories

If something itches, don’t scratch it because it will itch even more: small children are taught this. However, scratching has a double effect, as new research shows: On the one hand, it exacerbates skin inflammation, and on the other, it can strengthen the immune system. From an evolutionary perspective, it’s actually a paradox: if scratching is so harmful, why does it feel so good? “It must also offer some kind of benefit,” says Daniel Kaplan, a dermatologist at the University of Pittsburgh and lead author of a study that has…

Read More

According to EU regulations, mealworm powder can be used in various products but must be declared. A new EU regulation will come into force on Monday (February 10, 2025): mealworm powder may now be included in bread and cheese, among other things. However, the authorization is initially limited to 5 years. Dried yellow mealworms have already been approved as a food in the EU since 2021, and now mealworm powder, which can be added to other products, is also included in the EU’s list of “novel foods”. In the future,…

Read More

Every year, the travel platform Booking.com analyzes where there are particularly many accommodations with so-called Traveller Review Awards. This in-house award is given for exceptional hospitality, and Booking uses it to create a ranking of the most hospitable places in the world. To arrive at its ranking, the travel platform evaluates which providers on the platform consistently receive excellent customer reviews from holidaymakers and are praised for their outstanding service. The categories analyzed include accommodation, car rental companies, and cab drivers. From coffee farms to pristine beaches or medieval hideaways…

Read More

According to the EU Copernicus program’s climate change service, the global average temperature for January was 13.23 degrees, 1.75 degrees above the pre-industrial level. The data is based on billions of readings from satellites, ships, airplanes, and weather stations around the world. Despite La Niña: January 2025 was the warmest ever recorded “January 2025 is another surprising month and continues the record temperatures observed over the past two years—despite the development of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific and their temporary cooling effect on global temperatures,” said Samantha Burgess…

Read More

Today, the internet and social media are indispensable parts of our lives. They have sped up communication, made information more accessible and made entertainment ubiquitous. But with these advances, we have also lost some of the little things that made everyday life more personal and tangible. Many of the old habits and traditions that brought us closer together have disappeared in the wake of the digitalization of our lives. Before the internet became commonplace, everything was a little simpler—and perhaps a little better. Letters were written by hand, social gatherings…

Read More

US researchers have found up to 30 times more microplastics in brain samples than in the liver or kidneys. The concentration was even higher in dementia brains. Tiny plastic particles are increasingly accumulating in tissues of the human body. A US research team has found significantly more nano- and microplastics in the livers and brains of people who died in 2024 than in samples from 2016. The contamination was particularly high in the brain—up to 30 times higher than in the liver or kidneys, reports the group led by Matthew…

Read More

Researchers are in turmoil: the asteroid “2024 YR4” could hit the Earth on December 22, 2032. The consequences would be catastrophic. The 60-metre asteroid is still 43 million kilometers away from Earth – according to current calculations, it would be possible for this celestial body to come within 2,000 kilometers of Earth in seven years’ time, on 22 December 2032.With a probability of 1:83, the object could even collide with the Earth – a rather unpleasant Christmas present. “1:83 is one of the highest probabilities for an impact of a…

Read More

The study examined how often people searched for “how to become [profession]” in 2024 and revealed the world’s most popular careers. The most searched profession was pilot, with over 432,000 searches. It was the most popular career choice in 25 countries, including the Czech Republic, Egypt, and Slovakia. Lawyer came in second with 393,000 searches, showing a significant increase in interest compared to previous years. Other popular careers were police officer (272,000 searches), pharmacist (272,630), and nurse (248,720). Interest in police work has risen by 440% in the last two…

Read More

There are repeated reports that wine, in particular, has a protective effect on the heart. Spanish researchers have also reached the same conclusion. It is well known that alcohol is a neurotoxin. According to WHO figures, 2.6 million people worldwide die every year as a result of drinking. In the past, studies have repeatedly suggested that moderate alcohol consumption can have a protective effect on the heart in particular. This is also the case in a new analysis from Spain. A team from the University of Barcelona collected data from…

Read More