Category: Feature Stories

For years, scientists have warned that microplastics contaminate oceans, soil, and even the food chain. Now, new research suggests that the air we breathe—especially indoors—may be an even more significant source of exposure than previously imagined. According to a study published in PLOS One by a team led by Nadiia Yakovenko of the University of Toulouse, humans inhale tens of thousands of microscopic plastic particles every single day. The numbers are startling. An average adult may breathe in around 68,000 microplastic particles daily, while children—who inhale less air overall—still take…

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For most of human history, people understood—intuitively and through experience—that food could heal, strengthen, or harm. Long before anyone spoke of “nutrients,” communities knew that certain foods restored energy, prevented illness, or helped children grow. Yet the scientific explanation behind these effects remained a mystery until surprisingly recently. The story of why vitamins carry letters rather than poetic names is, in many ways, the story of modern nutrition itself. When Food Became Chemistry By the late 19th century, scientists had already identified proteins, fats, and carbohydrates as the major building…

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Singapore holds the world’s most powerful passport in 2026, offering visa‑free access to 192 destinations. Japan and South Korea follow in second place with 188 destinations, while a strong cluster of European countries dominates the next tiers. Every January, the British consultancy Henley & Partners releases one of the most anticipated global mobility rankings: the Henley Passport Index. Based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the index measures how many destinations passport holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance. In a world where mobility…

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Friendship is often described as one of life’s greatest gifts — a source of comfort, joy, and belonging. Yet not every person who enters our lives with a smile has our best interests at heart. “False friends” can drain energy, undermine confidence, and quietly destabilize relationships long before the damage becomes obvious. Recognizing them early is not about becoming suspicious of everyone, but about protecting emotional well‑being and nurturing healthier connections. The Subtle Signs of a False Friend • Support that disappears when you need it most – A reliable…

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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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