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So, leaving aside those less than fond memories of the local teenage disco, chances are you haven't banged heads with someone you're about to kiss in a long time.

Not that you have to think about it too hard, it just sort of happens that way – you'll go one way, they'll go the other and well, you know the rest.

But as it turns out, there's actually a scientific reason why.

New research has found that people are actually hard-wired to tilt their heads to the right when kissing a romantic partner.

Researchers asked 48 married couples in Bangladesh to kiss privately in their own home and compile an independent report on different aspects of the kiss – and the results were very interesting indeed.

The study revealed that men were about 15 times more likely to initiate a kiss with 79 reporting they had done so.

What's more, two thirds of all participants (both initiators and receivers) subconsciously chose to turn their heads to the right when going in for the kill.

Dr Rezaul Karim, from the department of psychology at the University of Dhaka said:

“This is the first study to show sex differences in the initiation of kissing, with males more likely being the initiator, and also that the kiss initiators’ head-turning direction tends to modulate the headturning direction in the kiss recipients.”

The findings also revealed that the direction the kiss initiator chose strongly predicted that of the recipient, as well as whether the person was right or left handed.

“This further suggests the underlying cognitive mechanisms of the act of kissing and head turning,” the authors said. 

“Though this action tends to be performed intuitively, a decision must be made about the direction to which the partners should lean to kiss each other.”

This study was particularly unique given that kissing is censored from film and television in Bangladesh meaning that the results were in no way influenced by cultural factors or copying.

“Prior works could not rule out cultural learning due to having western samples. It turns out, we as humans are similar even if our social values differ,” Dr Michael Proulx, from the department of psychology at the University of Bath added.

Whatever the reason, we're just glad that kissing-head-collisions aren't a thing we have to worry about. 

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Sleep! Don't sleep. Drink! Don't drink. Exercise! But not too much.

In the world we live in, it seems like every corner of the Internet is telling us something different. 

'Researchers' and 'scientists' who have been conducting studies for years on end will tell you the best way to live your life.

The best way to go to sleep at night.  The best way to eat your greens. The best way to have sex.

But, what do any of them know about you?

A recent article featured on Refinery29 brought up the issue of 'social jet lag'.

A research paper published in the science journal Sleep, said that sleeping in at the weekend or on days off is detrimental to your health.

"This routine is actually causing chronic fatigue and often triggers a terrible mood. Even worse, a new study reveals that this form of 'jet lag' can increase your risk of heart disease by 11 percent," explains R29.

I'm speaking for myself here when I say I couldn't be more delighted when I sleep in, and my mood is definitely boosted with an extra hour in bed.

The lead author of the study, Sierra B. Forbush, said: "These results indicate that sleep regularity, beyond sleep duration alone, plays a significant role in our health."

At first glance of this study, I would look away immediately. As I said above, I love nothing more than sleeping in at the weekend, and I bask in the glory of my bed when I have a day off.

And even though they are just my own views, a study published in New Scientist backs them up.

Just last month, the research paper found that brain cells ware out and can be destroyed if we're sleep deprived.

Experts suggested that lying in was a great way to combat this issue, which can lead to Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.

So, who is right? Who should we believe? To sleep or not to sleep.

Alcohol is another tricky one. A study popped up this week claiming that "even moderate drinking can damage the brain."

It explains that even if you drink a mild amount of alcohol over the space of 30 years, the right side of your brain can shrink from its intake.

"The findings do contradict a common belief that a glass of red wine or champagne a day can protect against damage to the brain,” said one of the researchers.

However, another study published just last week said, "a glass of red wine every night may help people with their cholesterol and cardiac health."

A quick scan through EurekAlert, a science news website, shows similar views; 'Red wine compound linked to health!', 'Drinking with friends makes you happy!', 'Wine with dinner can improve the cardiovascular system!'

We're living in an age where people have the tools (hello, Internet) to voice their numerous opinions and 'findings', and while this can be a fantastic thing, it also lends itself to utter sh*te.

Something that is good for you may not be good for the person sitting beside you.

Sleeping in on Saturday morning is your saving grace, but could be Hell for your sister.

Drinking a glass of wine might calm you down, but make another person anxious.

I'm going to stop concentrating so much on what the Internet is telling me and concentrate more on what my body is telling me.

If I'm tired and want to sleep, I will sleep. If I'm sitting in on a rainy Tuesday night and fancy a glass of vino, I will drink it, happily.

While it can be great and beneficial to read these studies, believing every word will only send you into a spiral.

So, drink the wine, Sleep in. Eat chocolate. Listen to your body, and just do you.

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Find yourself getting a bit narky after a few too many G&Ts?

Well, according to science, you're not the only one.

In fact, new research has shown that spirits are the most likely alcohol type to spark a feelings of aggression with 30 per cent of people agreeing that these type of drinks provoke negative behaviour.

Results from the world's largest online survey of legal and illicit drug and alcohol use revealed that just 20 per cent of participants associated spirits such as vodka, gin and rum with a feeling of calm and relaxation.

Meanwhile, red wine (53 per cent) and beer (50 per cent) were found to be the most relaxing alcoholic drinks.

However, it's not all bad news for spirit-lovers.

The study also found that spirits were more likely to promote some positive feelings when compared to beer and wine, with four out 10 admitting they felt sexier after a few vodka and whites.

According to The Independent, researchers say that understanding emotions associated with the consumption of alcohol was “imperative” to addressing issues of alcohol misuse.

“Understanding emotions associated with alcohol consumption is imperative to addressing alcohol misuse, providing insight into what emotions influence drink choice between different groups in the population,” the study concluded.

So, the next time you're looking for a quiet night in, skip the gin and head straight for the vino instead.

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Millions of women across the world could soon see an improvement in their heavy periods thanks to a very promising scientific breakthrough.

A team at the University of Edinburgh have identified the possible cause of excessive menstrual bleeding and are hopeful that their research will provide some very welcome relief for the women who suffer in silence every month.

Researchers found that lower levels of HIF-1, a protein which is affected by low oxygen levels, are to blame for the increased level of blood loss.

For the study, published in Nature Communications and primarily funded by Wellcome, laboratory mice were given a drug designed to boost levels of HIF-W.

Results showed that the increased presence of the specific protein led to improved tissue repair and reduced blood loss.

Dr Jackie Maybin, Clinical Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Edinburgh's Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, who led the study, said:

"Our findings reveal for the first time that HIF-1 and reduced levels of oxygen in the womb are required during a period to optimise repair of the womb lining… Excitingly, increasing levels of the HIF-1 protein in mice shows real promise as a novel, non-hormonal medical treatment."

The breakthrough heralds a possible new era in the treatment of heavy menstruation, meaning women will no longer be subjected to the adverse side-effects that come with some forms of hormone-based medication.

Speaking about the findings, a spokesperson for Wellbeing of Woman, a women's health charity which supported the study, said:

"Wellbeing of Women is delighted to have supported this work, which has led to the breakthrough discovery of causes of the condition so treatments might now be developed. These findings give hope to women who have suffered in silence with the condition for too long."

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Plastic waste is a massive issue for the environment, with tonnes of it entering our oceans and being dumped in landfills every day. 

Scientists have discovered that an enzyme exists that breaks down plastic components in a matter of days, and there is hope that it could be utilised to alleviate the global plastic disposal issue. 

'What we are hoping to do is use this enzyme to turn this plastic back into its original components, so we can literally recycle it back to plastic,'  Prof John McGeehan, at the University of Portsmouth, told The Guardian.

'It means we won’t need to dig up any more oil and, fundamentally, it should reduce the amount of plastic in the environment.'

The enzyme, described as a 'mutant' was born from the plastic landfills of Japan, where it was discovered. 

The enzyme digests the element polyethylene terephthalate, used in plastic bottles.

'There is strong potential to use enzyme technology to help with society's growing waste problem by breaking down some of the most commonly used plastics,' Oliver Jones, a chemistry expert at RMIT University in Melbourne told ABC.

We'll be sticking to our paper straws and reusable water bottles for now until this discovery is given the trial period it deserves.

Here's to hoping for a fully recyclable plastic future. 

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OK, at this stage we all the how important exercise is when it comes to maintaining our general health and well-being. 

Increased energy levels, decreased risk of disease and improved mental health are just some of the benefits enjoyed by those who engage in regular physical activity, and while we've always known that exercise can make us look more youthful as we age, science has now proven that regular workouts can actually reduce a person's biological age. 

Researchers at the University of Birmingham and King's College London studied 125 amateur cyclists between the ages of 55 and 79.

84 of the participants were male and 41 were female. 

The study found that, despite their age, the cyclists' managed to maintain the muscle mass and strength of a much younger person. 

What's more, the participants' immune systems showed little to no deterioration. 

Speaking about the results, Professor Janet Lord, Director of the Institute of Inflammatory and Ageing at the University of Birmingham, said we are under the false assumption that ageing automatically makes us weak and frail. 

"Hippocrates in 400 BC said that exercise is man’s best medicine, but his message has been lost over time and we are an increasingly sedentary society," she said.

"However, importantly, our findings debunk the assumption that ageing automatically makes us more frail.

"Our research means we now have strong evidence that encouraging people to commit to regular exercise throughout their lives is a viable solution to the problem that we are living longer but not healthier."

Researchers hope to continue the study to find out whether or not the same affects can be seen as the cyclists get older. 

So basically, if you're searching for the real secret behind enteral youth, ditch the anti-ageing creams and hop on a bike instead. 

 

 

 

 

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As part of a landmark new study, scientists in the US have successfully edited the DNA of human embryos in an effort to prevent babies being born with genetic mutations and diseases.

News of the groundbreaking, yet controversial experiment began to circulate last week, however more details were released to the public on Wednesday when the paper was published in the journal, Nature.

This is the first time this type of gene editing has been carried out in the United States, and while the results could pave the way for a total wipe out of inherited diseases, experts have warned of the need to answer the ethical and legal questions surrounding the work.

The controversy lies not in the potential correction of disease causing genes, but instead with the possible alteration of personal characteristics such as intelligence, height, facial structure and eye colour.

According to The Independent, Professor Peter Braude from King's College London observed that the results of the experiment means “the possibility of germline genome editing has moved from future fantasy to the world of possibility, and the debate about its use, outside of fears about the safety of the technology, needs to run to catch up.”

In order to conduct the study, scientists first fertilised eggs with sperm cells that included a gene that causes a heart condition known for causing sudden death in young competitive athletes.

As the eggs were fertilised, researchers applied a gene-editing tool, which works by cutting away the defective parts of the gene and allowing the cell to repair itself.

The experiment proved successful in preventing the spread of a disease that usually has a 50 per cent chance of being passed on in 42 of 58 embryos.

“Every generation on would carry this repair because we’ve removed the disease-causing gene variant from that family’s lineage,” said lead researcher, Dr Shoukhrat Mitalipov, from Oregon Health and Science University.

“By using this technique, it’s possible to reduce the burden of this inheritable disease on the family and eventually the human population.”

As it stands, using these types of treatments on humans is illegal, though some experts say they expect the law will soon change.

However, they have also warned that the legal and ethical frameworks need to catch up with the technology so as not to allow for the creation of designer babies.

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So, if you've ever snapped at a co-worker during an afternoon slump, or even forgotten to say your please and thank yous to the everyday heroes that make your morning coffee – there's a high possibility you were feeling hangry.

A dangerous combination of hungry and angry for anyone who doesn't know.

And while it's an emotion most of us will experience at some point (or you know, on a daily basis, whatever), there has never been any scientific evidence to back up this old wive's tale.

That is, until now.

According to New Scientist, there is actually a link between blood sugar levels and hormones that trigger aggression and anger.

Simply put – when your blood sugar is low, your rage is high.

As scientist and columnist Simon Oxenham discovered, low levels of blood sugar prompt the body to release cortisol and adrenaline, two chemicals associated with higher levels of stress.

Combine that with a spike in neuropeptide Y levels, a hormone that has been linked to aggression, and what have you got?

A recipe for disaster, that's what.

And this isn't the first time Simon has tested his theory.

In a 2014 study, the scientist asked a number of married couples to “stick pins into voodoo dolls that represented their loved ones, to reflect how angry they felt towards them.”

Results showed that participants inserted more pins into the voodoo dolls when their blood sugar levels were low.

So, even though the method of testing was albeit, a little creepy – at least there's an actual reason for those pre-lunch blues.

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So, whether it's a full Irish, a kale smoothie or a seven-hour nap, we all have our own favourite hangover remedies.

Sure, we might feel a little better afterwards, but deep down we know that only time will cure that thumping sensation in our heads.

But what if we told you there could be a miracle solution in the very near future?

Well, Sisun Lee, feels so passionate about his hangover cure that he quit his job in order to launch his very own company, Morning Recovery.

 

Remember your Morning Recovery tonight. Happy Thursday!

A post shared by Morning Recovery (@morningrecovery) on

On July 5, the startup company will open for business, selling an FDA-compliant hangover remedy.

It all started about a year ago when the 26-year-old travelled back to his home country of South Korea. While he was there, Sisun spent a lot of time drinking and partying with friends.

But instead of suffering through the aches and pains that a night of drinking can bring, his Korean friends introduced him to some popular Korean hangover drinks.

Speaking to Business Insider, Sisun explained how the drinks worked for him: "The next day, I woke up feeling great."

Upon returning to the US, he searched for similar drinks, but found it difficult to find anything of the same standard.

Not content with going back to his old, hungover ways, Sisun instead ordered some Korean drinks online and shared them with friends, particularly his former colleagues at Facebook, who loved them.

 

Hope your Monday morning is amazing so far! Sending you all the good vibes.

A post shared by Morning Recovery (@morningrecovery) on

“I tried to import them” and become a distributor, he told Business Insider, but understandably these companies were not interested in going into business with someone with no background in beverages or consumer goods.

But this wasn't going to stop him. Sisun began to research ingredients and soon discovered a herbal compound called dihydromyricetin (DHM) found in the Oriental raisin tree, which has been used as a hangover cure in Asia for thousands of years.

He also learned what it takes to make the perfect hangover drink:

"Purity matters, quantity matters, and you need a lot of other ingredients for hangovers. You lose Vitamin B and Vitamin C in the body. These are all things that are not in Korean hangover drinks."

The remedy, set to be released on July 5, is FDA compliant meaning that all its ingredients are approved food supplements, but Sisun's hope is that one day his remedy will become FDA approved.

If this were to happen, doctors would be able to prescribe the drug as a medicinal cure.

Cheers to that!  

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Does the sound of your own voice make you want to cringe internally?

Don't worry, pretty much everyone feels the same way.

In fact, playing a sound clip back to someone will almost always prompt the same response – ''Oh my God, do I actually sound like that?"

Sure, we all have things about ourselves that we don't like, but why is it that absolutely everyone shares this particular dislike?

Well, according to experts from University College London, you actually hear your voice back completely differently to how other people hear it.

See, when we hear another person talking, the sound waves travel through the air and into your ears, causing our eardrums to vibrate, and in turn, those vibrations get transformed into sound.

However, when you're the one talking, your vocal cords also vibrate, meaning you receive two sources of sound at the same time.

According to Red Online, Martin Birchall, professor of laryngology at UCL explains: “When we talk, it’s like everyone hears the sound through speakers, but we’re hearing it through a cave complex inside our own heads.”

“The sound is going around our sinuses, all the empty spaces in our heads and the middle part of our ears, which changes the way we hear sounds compared to what other people hear.”

So, seeing as a recording of your voice only contains one source of vibrations, you automatically dislike it because it's not the sound you're used to.  

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So, it turns out taking regular power naps can actually make us happier. 

In a recent study conducted by the University of Hertfordshire, researchers asked over 1,000 participants to rate their happiness levels and note whether or not they napped throughout the day.

The subjects were then divided into three groups – non-nappers, short nappers and long nappers.

Results found that approximately 67 per cent of short nappers claimed to feel happy, while just 56 per cent of long napper and 60 percent of non-nappers said the same. 

According to Red Online, Richard Wiseman, Psychologist Professor at the university said:

"Previous research has shown that naps of under 30 minutes make you more focused, productive and creative, and these new findings suggest the tantalising possibility that you can also become happier by just taking a short nap."

"Similarly longer napping is associated with several health risks and again, this is in line with our results."

Short 'power' naps actually come with a whole host of health benefits. 

A separate study carried out by NASA found that 26-minute naps could boost alertness by up to 54 per cent. 

We won't argue with those statistics. 

Professor Wiseman also stressed the need for workplaces to provide quiet napping areas for their employees.

"A large body of research shows that short naps boost performance. Many highly successful companies, such as Ben & Jerry's and Google, have installed dedicated nap spaces, and employees need to wake up to the upside of napping at work."

Now, there's an idea we can definitely get behind. 

 

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Remember the last time you longed for a quick text off your favourite milk carton? Yeah, us neither, but that doesn't mean it won't soon happen.

Wait, hear us out.

According to The Irish Times, researchers at the Science Foundation Ireland-funded Amber Centre in Trinity College are currently examining ways in which to turn everyday household items and features into smart devices.

From milk cartons which could text you a 'use-by' warning to window panes that could communicate the weather forecast, you might soon own a home that is basically alive… well, kind of.

And how would this work exactly?

According to the report, leading investigator, Professor Jonathan Coleman, and his team aim 'to take liquid dispersions of nanosheets and, by carefully tuning the liquid properties, optimise them for use as inks.'

Speaking to The Irish Times, Professor Coleman said: "Electronics has been around for donkey’s years and Intel out in Leixlip are among those making high-end, high performing transistors."

"However, unlike them we are trying to make transistors so cheaply that they could be used in pretty much anything."

But before you start naming your window panes, the team are keen to stress that this development won't be taking place today or tomorrow.

"All of this is a long way off in the future, but it is imaginable that at some point milk cartons could send messages to your phone warning that the milk is about to reach its sell-by-date," Professor Coleman added.

Well, we live in hope.

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