Category: Feature Stories

Exercise lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and other serious illnesses – according to a new study, you can benefit from this even with a short walk. For the study, an international team of researchers evaluated the results of 196 previously published studies in which more than 30 million people had participated. They calculated that about one in six premature deaths would have been prevented if each study participant exercised at least 150 minutes a week at moderate intensity, as the U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) recommended. But even…

Read More

Researchers have identified toilet paper as a “potentially significant source” of perpetual chemicals. Disubstituted poly-fluoroalkyl phosphates (diPAPs) have been found in many cases in analyses of toilet paper in the Americas, Africa and Western Europe, according to a study published yesterday in the Environmental Science and Technology Letters. These substances belong to the group of per and polyfluorinated chemicals or PFASs. PFASs are extremely persistent. Various studies have concluded that some of them can affect fertility or lead to developmental delays in children. The diPAPs now detected may transform into…

Read More

Fats have a bad reputation, yet they are indispensable for nutrition. It depends on which fats you eat: saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids or trans fats. Along with carbohydrates and protein, fats are among the vital building blocks of nutrition. They provide valuable fatty acids that the body cannot produce itself and ensure that it can absorb fat-soluble vitamins. In addition, fats are flavour carriers; they bring a lot of flavour to our food. It is important to distinguish which fats are healthy and which are unhealthy. What are…

Read More

It is almost certain that Apple will switch to USB-C for the upcoming iPhone 15. However, the change to the industry standard will not likely come without restrictions on Apple’s part. For example, the “Made For iPhone” program, in which manufacturers can have their Apple accessories certified for a fee, is to be continued. According to a leak on Twitter, Apple supplier Foxconn is currently mass-producing USB-C accessories with “Made For iPhone” certification. Replies to the tweet also say that non-certified accessories will be restricted. Specifically, charging performance and data…

Read More

In almost every Austrian household, coffee in the morning is simply part of the routine. Yet a study by the North Western University of California found that most people drink coffee not for the taste but much more for the feeling it evokes in them. So it’s no wonder that some add sugar, milk or other sweeteners to the flavorful beverage for taste. But instead of using fattening additives, there is also a simpler trick to make your coffee tastier. A pinch of saltEven though bitter substances are very healthy,…

Read More

Eating in front of a screen is a bad habit that takes a toll on our bodies and health. Who doesn’t like to eat while watching on their TV, laptop or phone? This practice is widespread in many countries, but it has many harmful effects on our bodies, some of which we would not have suspected. Eating in front of the screen is a growing trendMany people eat in front of a screen. A HelloFresh survey conducted in January 2022 found that 35.8% of UK families eat dinner in front…

Read More

When we’re tired, bored or stressed, we yawn. Or even when someone else does. What is known about the phenomenon so far? We all yawn. But no one knows exactly why. What is clear, however, is that it’s contagious. Who doesn’t know this: someone yawns heartily, and you already feel the impulse to yawn – even if you’re not tired. Maybe even now, as you read this, you suddenly have to yawn. But why is yawning so contagious? And why do we do it in the first place? Most of…

Read More

Do you ever wonder if fasting is healthy? Fasting refers to voluntary abstention from (certain) foods for a certain period. Fasting often also has a spiritual aspect. A culture of fasting can also be found in the major world religions. In most cases, the goals behind it are similar, as those fastings want to strengthen their faith through abstinence. All the great founders of religions went through fasting and established such a period in their respective beliefs. For example, while Jesus retreated to the desert for 40 days to fast,…

Read More

In some countries, napping is quite common. It’s supposed to be healthy and make people more productive – but several studies contradict that, finding a link between naps and a higher risk of high blood pressure and stroke. It may even be an early signal of dementia, they say. While the siesta is a tradition in Japan and Spain and is becoming increasingly popular in Silicon Valley, napping is less common in this country – at least in the workplace. Yet napping during the day is good for concentration, creativity…

Read More