Category: Feature Stories

Coffee every day—that’s how we like it. But how healthy is it really? On Coffee Day, we take a look at the most interesting myths, the latest studies, and a few surprising facts. Spoiler alert: The truth is usually much more relaxed than you might think. Coffee: Myth or truth? 1. “Coffee dehydrates you” Not true. Yes, caffeine has a short-term diuretic effect, but the water in coffee easily compensates for this. So if you think you need to drink twice as much water after every cup, you can breathe…

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In 2025, several countries stand out for having the highest top marginal personal income tax rates, particularly in Europe. These are rates that apply only to the highest income brackets, not what everyone pays. Still, they offer a glimpse into how different nations structure tax burdens and social welfare systems. Top Countries by Highest Personal Income Tax Rates Some of the highest marginal income tax rates around the world are: Country Top Marginal Rate* Denmark 55.9% France 55.4% Austria 55% Finland 55 % Spain 54% (national + regional taxes) Belgium…

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Saying hello is one of those things. Some people call out a friendly greeting from afar, sometimes accompanied by a cheerful wave. Others remain stubbornly silent, no matter how clearly you say “hello.” Anyone who has ever entered a doctor’s waiting room with a cheerful greeting and been punished with audible silence knows what we’re talking about. But it’s not just the sick and miserable who sometimes find moving their lips as strenuous as lifting a car with one hand. The same thing happens in the elevator at work, in…

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Opinions are divided on the time change: some are in favor of it, while others would prefer to abolish it. The fact is: the clocks will be turned back at the end of October. The fact that summer is finally over is not only evident from the thermometer – the clocks will also be turned back to standard time, incorrectly referred to as “winter time.” This is because so-called winter time is standard time, Central European Time (CET), and lasts five months, from the end of October to the end…

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Tiny plastic particles are now found not only in the most remote regions of the world, but also almost everywhere in the human body. Tissue analyses of deceased individuals now show how much pollution has increased over the years. Higher amounts accumulate in the brain than in the kidneys and liver. Over the past 50 years, environmental pollution from tiny plastic particles has increased worldwide. The nano- and microparticles range in size from one nanometer to 500 micrometers. According to estimates, humans ingest up to five grams of them every…

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In a dramatic shift at the top of global liveability rankings, Copenhagen, Denmark, has taken over the #1 spot, ending Vienna’s three-year reign as the world’s most livable city, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) 2025 Global Liveability Index. Top Ranked Cities for 2025 Here are the top 10 most livable cities in 2025. Rank City Country 1 Copenhagen Denmark 2 (tie) Vienna Austria 2 (tie) Zurich Switzerland 4 Melbourne Australia 5 Geneva Switzerland 6 Sydney Australia 7 (tie) Osaka Japan 7 (tie) Auckland New Zealand 9 Adelaide Australia…

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Asteroid 2025 FA22 will pass unusually close to Earth on September 18. Researchers give the all-clear; observation campaigns are underway worldwide. Earth is getting a visitor from space: on September 18, 2025, asteroid “2025 FA22” will race unusually close to our planet. Measuring up to 280 meters in size, it is classified as a “potentially hazardous” celestial body—but researchers have given the all-clear: a collision is virtually impossible. “2025 FA22” was only discovered in March with a telescope in Hawaii (USA). NASA initially classified it as level 1 on the…

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Excerpts from the interview were published on Sunday, the Pope’s 70th birthday. Leo XIV talks at length about his experience as the first US-born pope and the first pope with Peruvian citizenship. He jokes about which team he would cheer for in a soccer World Cup and shares his views on the papacy and current issues, such as peace in Ukraine and the polarization that divides many parts of the world. “The Latin American perspective is very valuable to me.” “I am, of course, North American and feel very much…

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Hundreds of thousands of faithful made a pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Square on Sunday for the canonization of Italian blesseds Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) and Pier Giorgio Frassati (1909-1925). The ceremony at the Vatican is a highlight of the Catholic jubilee year. Thirty-six cardinals, 270 bishops, and over 1,700 priests from around the world celebrated Mass with Pope Leo XIV. Also present were the parents and siblings of Carlo Acutis and Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Before Mass, the Pope greeted the people in St. Peter’s Square. “Today is a wonderful celebration…

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