Thursday 26 November 2015
For the second most expensive mobile phone in the world, a variant of
the iPhone from Apple, the Supreme iPhone 3G is priced at $ 3,200,000.
The iPhone 3GS Supreme features a casing made from 271 grams of solid
22k gold and a screen trimmed with fifty-three 1-carat diamonds. The
home button is covered with a single rare 7.1-carat diamond. That’s not
all, though—the iPhone 3GS Supreme comes in a chest carved from a single
block of granite and sports Kashmir gold and an interior lining made
with nubuck top-grain leather.
Tuesday 24 November 2015
Who is Lucy the Australopithecus? Five facts you might not know about the oldest hominid ever discovered
A sculptor's rendering of Lucy when she was alive, displayed at the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Texas Dave Einsel/Getty Images
The 41st anniversary of the discovery of 'Lucy' has been celebrated with a Google Doodle.
'Lucy' is a collection of fossilised bones that once made up the skeleton of a hominid from the Australopithecus afarensis species. She lived in Ethiopia 3.2 million years ago.
First discovered in 1973, the discovery was remarkably 'complete' - 40 per cent of her skeleton was found intact, rather than just a handful of incomplete and damaged fossils that usually make up remains of a similar age.
Shortly after being dug up, it became apparent that Lucy was a significant find with researchers saying she belonged to a previously unknown species.
In honour of 'Lucy', here are five things you may not know about her:
1. She was named after The Beatles song 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds'
After making the discovery, paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson headed back to his campsite with his team.
He put a Beatles cassette in the tape player, and when Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds came on, one of the group said he should call the skeleton Lucy. "All of a sudden, she became a person," Johanson told the BBC.2. Lucy walked upright
One of the most important things about Lucy is the way she walked. By studying her bones, in particular the structure of her knee and spine curvature, scientists were able to discover that she spent most of her time walking on two legs - a striking human-like trait.3. No one knows how she died
The few clues we have about Lucy's cause of death can only rule things out, rather than provide solid answers.There's not much evidence of teeth marks anywhere on her skeleton, suggesting she was not killed and scavenged by other animals after she died. However, there is one tooth mark from a carnivore on the top of her left pubic bone - but it's not known whether this happened before she died, or whether she was bitten after.
4. Lucy still lives in Ethiopia, near to where she was found
The skeleton of Lucy lies hidden away from the public in a specially constructed safe in the National Museum of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa, not far from where she was discovered.
Only a plaster replica of her skeleton is available to be seen by the public.
A copy of Lucy's skeleton, displayed in the Musee de l'Homme in Paris
However, the real skeleton was taken on a tour of the US from 2007-2013, despite fears that the tour would damage it.
A number of other plaster casts of Lucy's remains are dotted around the world.
5. She was pretty short
Australopithecus afarensis may have walked upright and looked somewhat human-like, but they were much smaller than we are.Lucy died as a young but fully grown adult, and stood only 1.1m (3.7ft) tall and weighed in at a paltry 29kg (64lb).
Wednesday 18 November 2015
Go Ahead, Drink More Coffee
Go ahead, have that third cup of coffee. (Stocksy)
New
research from Harvard University has found it may decrease your risk of
dying from a host of diseases — and even lower your risk of suicide.
For the study, which was published in the journal Circulation,
researchers analyzed coffee consumption of more than 208,000 people
over 30 years, as well as cause of death. Their coffee drinking was
assessed every four years using food questionnaires.
Researchers
discovered that people who drank one to five cups of decaf or regular
coffee a day had a lower risk of mortality than those who didn’t. They
were specifically less likely to die from heart disease, neurological
diseases, Type 2 diabetes, and suicide. (They did not find a significant
association between cancer and coffee consumption.)
Coffee
consumption has already been linked with a lower risk of heart disease.
An analysis of 36 studies published last year in the journal Circulation
found that people who drink three to five cups of coffee a day were at
the lowest risk of developing heart disease. (People who drank five or
more cups a day didn’t have a higher risk than those who drank no
coffee.)
Previous research published in the journal Diabetes Care also found that moderate consumption of decaf and regular coffee can lower a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
But the suicide link is especially intriguing. Can regularly drinking coffee really reduce a chance that someone will commit suicide?
Study
co-author Qi Sun, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of
Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, says yes.
“It’s probably because of the caffeine,” he tells Yahoo Health. “It’s a
central part of coffee and it’s known to boost people’s moods and make
them feel happy.”
While
the study found the effect was similar for regular and decaf coffee,
Sun points out that decaf still contains a certain amount of caffeine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40,000 Americans commit suicide each year, making it the 10th leading cause of death.
Previous
research has also established a link between a lowered risk of suicide
and coffee consumption. A 16-year Harvard study published in the World Journal of Biological Psychiatryin 2013 found that drinking two to four cups of caffeinated coffee a day can lower a person’s risk of suicide by 50 percent.
“At
low to moderate doses, caffeine has well-known psycho-stimulant
effects, such as improved psychomotor performance, increased vigilance,
elevated arousal, and increased sensations of well-being and energy,”
Michel Lucas, PhD, a visiting scientist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School
of Public Health, who co-authored the 2013 coffee study, tells Yahoo
Health.
But
he says more may be at play than just caffeine: “It is possible that
non-coffee drinkers are predisposed to depression/suicide because of
other reasons and that increasing their coffee intake will not help.”
While
the reason for the link is still somewhat unclear, Lucas says recent
research should reassure coffee drinkers that their daily cup (or three)
may be boosting their health.
However,
he says people shouldn’t misinterpret the results. “We’re not at the
point where we can say, ‘Drink coffee so you won’t get depressed,’” he
says.
Research has found there’s a limit to the benefits of coffee drinking and a person’s suicide risk. A study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology
found that people who drank eight or more cups of coffee a day had a 58
percent greater risk of suicide than those who drank less.
Sun
stresses that coffee isn’t the answer for everything, but it can help a
person stay healthy. “Coffee is not a magic bullet,” he says. “But if
you can drink coffee as part of a health diet and lifestyle, that will
be great.”
Let’s keep in touch! Follow Yahoo Health on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Have a personal health story to share? We want to hear it. Tell us atYHTrueStories@yahoo.com.
Miguel Cotto vs. Canelo Alvarez: 4 Reasons Why Canelo Will Win On Saturday
Canelo Alvarez (R)and Miguel Cotto(L)
Canelo Alvarez and Miguel Cotto are two of the best boxers in the world, so it wouldn’t be a shock for either one to emerge victorious when they meet in Las Vegas on Saturday. But Alvarez is the betting favorite, and he has better odds for a reason.
Alvarez has barely tasted defeat in his career, losing only to Floyd Mayweather, who’s made every opponent, including Cotto, look pedestrian. Cotto has four career losses, and defeat No.5 could be coming on Saturday.
Cotto was stripped of the WBC middleweight belt on Tuesday for refusing to pay a sanctioning fee. He’s still the lineal champion, but Alvarez would be awarded the now-vacant belt with a victory.
Below are four reasons why Alvarez will beat Cotto in their highly anticipated fight.
Size Advantage
Alvarez’s last three bouts have been at 154 pounds, while Cotto has fought back-to-back fights at catch weights of 159 pounds and 157 pounds. But Alvarez is naturally bigger, giving him a distinct advantage on Saturday.
The two boxers will fight at a catch weight of 155 pounds, and Alvarez will have the clear size advantage. At 5’9, he stands two inches taller than Cotto, and his reach of 70.5” gives him a 3.5-inch edge over his opponent. Considering Alvarez usually weighs around 170 pounds on fight night, he could be over 175 pounds when he steps in the ring with Cotto. That might be too much for Cotto, who is a smaller middleweight than most, to handle.
Punching Power
Following the mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao that bored many casual boxing fans to tears, promoter Oscar De La Hoya has promised a much more entertaining fight with non-stop action. If that’s the case and the fight doesn’t go the distance, Alvarez is more likely to score the knockout victory.
Both boxers have the ability to end the fight early, combining for 65 knockouts in 91 career fights. Austin Trout and Alfonso Gomez, both of whom have been in the ring with Alvarez and Cotto, told ESPN.com that Alvarez is the harder puncher. Cotto has been knocked out twice in his career, and he’ll be in trouble if the boxers engage in a brawl.
Age Difference
Cotto experienced a resurgence when he teamed up with trainer Freddie Roach, winning his last three fights by knockout. But he’s still 35 years old, and he’s at a disadvantage against the boxer that is 10 years his junior.
Cotto has had a Hall-of-Fame career, but he’s already peaked. Alvarez is getting better with every fight, and the boxing world still hasn’t seen the best he has to offer, even after going 45-1-1 to start his career. The betting favorite unleashed hell on James Kirkland in a third-round knockout six months ago, and Cotto won’t survive the same barrage of punches that Alvarez’s last opponent faced.
Motivation
Both boxers obviously want to win on Saturday, but the fight holds a different level of importance for Cotto and Alvarez. Cotto doesn’t have much more to accomplish in his career, and when he retires in the not so distant future he’ll go down as one of the best fighters of his generation. Alvarez has only begun to write his legacy, and his quest for greatness begins with a win against Cotto.
Alvarez is recognized as the No.1 junior middleweight, but he’s looking for the first true marquee victory of his career. Cotto’s legacy is largely intact, and a victory is not nearly as important to him as it is for Alvarez.
Monday 16 November 2015
7 Things Kind People Do That Make Us Love Them
Have you ever noticed that kind people are also incredibly content in their life?
That’s because being kind literally increases our levels of health and happiness. Research shows this impacts our relationships positively, as well. Kindness helps keeps couples together. The more your partner is on the receiving end of your goodwill, the more likely they are to shower you with love in return.
Kindness
is pretty awesome. It creates an overall climate of trust, acceptance
and comfort. And let’s be honest — in this age of violence, war, general
snarkiness, and online cruelty, “being kind” is it’s own form of social
rebellion. What a fun way to “stick it” to an overly harsh world.
While over-the-top “nice” people tend to annoy us,
genuine kindness is a trait pretty much everyone appreciates and
admires. So what’s the difference between that amazing, kind person
everyone adores and, well … you? Here a seven things they do every
single day that make people want to be around them:
1. They’re kind to themselves.
They know that being spontaneous and generous requires having solid
stores of your own positive energy. So, they take care of meeting their
own needs first, before giving to others. As a result, receiving from
them feels like a true gift.
2. They’re grateful.
Truly and deeply grateful … for life and all its blessings, its
challenges, and its lessons. In every circumstance, they take time to
find and acknowledge the kernel of good — viewing every situation with a
glass half full mindset. They still acknowledge what’s challenging, but
in facing it, they strive to help others keep perspective, too.
3. They truly listen.
Even when they have something to add, they know how to just listen
first to what others say, so that the person talking feels respected and
understood. They connect fully, listen with interest, and don’t censor
or talk-over what others are saying.
4. They’re confident.
Their self-confidence allows them to indulge their big-hearted nature
without expecting anything in return. And others find this quality
incredibly attractive. Every day, kind people look for opportunities to
give someone the benefit of the doubt — and they do. Because they’re
confident in themselves, they don’t need to take others down for every
misstep.
5. They genuinely care.
Kind people pay attention and your happiness and well-being are on
their mind. While they respect personal boundaries, they support and
celebrate what serves your higher good. They want to know how your day
is, how your mom is, and that the people in your life treat you right.
6. They laugh often.
Kind people see the humor and irony in situations, without the
snarkiness and meanness others typically show. Life is funny! And these
awesome people know that sometimes the best gift you can give someone is
just helping them laugh and lighten up. Dropping a witty comment at
just the right moment — they are masters light-hearted comedy.
7. They’re respectful.
They thrive on diversity but don’t expect others to share their
opinions. They accept your right to your own viewpoint, even if they
don’t agree with it. And they wouldnever shame or embarrass someone in
any way — verbally or non-verbally. They look out for others and try to
protect them from feeling small in front of others.
Small acts of kindness make a big difference.
Grand
gestures don’t always mean more than small kindnesses. After all, it’s
the “little things” that show an awareness of others (who they are and
what they love). Kind people put their love for you into action, through
small thoughtful gestures that show they care enough to pay attention.
Little things like: sending cards, making a phone call, buying presents.
But life is busy, times get hectic and we don’t always have time for those extra actions.
We will,
however, always have time for kindness because it is the real intention
and emotion behind those actions. Follow up with those gestures when
you have the time and opportunity and watch how fast those around you
begin to think you’re the kindest person they know.
But
when you don’t, still make the time to take care of yourself, truly
listen in a conversation, and be deeply grateful. And just see if the
world doesn’t seem a little … or a lot… nicer. —Jan Bowen
Friday 13 November 2015
Billionaire Buys World’s Most Expensive Diamond for 7-Year-Old Daughter
A new record for most expensive diamond was set by a 12.03-carat blue diamond sold at auction for $48.4 million. (Photo: Fabrice Coffrin/Getty)
The world’s most expensive diamond was purchased for $48.4 million at auction in Geneva on Wednesday. The recipient? A seven-year-old girl. The Blue Moon diamond weighs in at 12.03 carats and Sotheby’s auctioneer David Bennett identified it as the “highest price per carat” ever obtained for any kind of stone, so the buyer didn’t necessarily get a bang for his buck. Sotheby’s withheld the identity of the winning bidder, who renamed the diamond “Blue Moon of Josephine” upon purchase. The day before, a 16.08-carat pink diamond was purchased by an anonymous bidder at a Christie’s auction in Geneva for $28.5 million, and was named “Sweet Josephine.” That’s one lucky kid.
The anonymous purchaser of the most expensive diamond bought another diamond with a similar name the day before. (Photo: Christie’s)
The auction houses revealed that a “Hong Kong buyer” purchased the diamonds, but their adoptive names let the cat out of the bag. “Yes, the diamonds were bought by Mr. Joseph Lau for his daughter,“ his assistant told CNN. Lau is more of a generous gift giver than a diamond collector: His history of naming diamonds after his daughters Josephine and Zoe is what gave him away. Josephine is adding these diamonds to an already hefty collection, including another blue diamond weighing 7.03 carats that Lau purchased for $9.48 million in 2009 when Josephine was just one year old. 13-year-old daughter Zoe’s diamonds include a 9.75-carat blue diamond named “The Zoe Diamond,” which was purchased for $32.6 million last year, the most for any blue diamond at the time, and “The Zoe Red” a 10.10-carat Cartier brooch featuring a Burmese ruby surrounded by white diamonds for $8.43 million.
\Lau’s daughters already have expansive jewelry collections at ages 7 and 13. (Photo: Christie’s)
Lau is the 114th richest person in the world according to Forbes, and his gifting habits surely make a dent in his $9.8 billion fortune. His previous gestures include naming Hong Kong’s tallest retail complex “The ONE” after an ex-girlfriend. Despite Lau’s extensive purchases, the Blue Moon of Josephine, which was discovered in South Africa in January of 2014, is obviously his most generous. The gift claims the title of world’s most expensive diamond, trumping the previous titleholder — the $46.2 million, 24.78-carat Graff Pink, which sold at a Sotheby’s auction in 2010 — by $2.2 million. If Josephine can walk bearing the weight of 31.14 carats and $86.38 million, she’ll definitely wear her gifts with style.
Thursday 12 November 2015
Yes, Video Games Can Make You Smarter — Depending On What Type You Play
To anyone whose parents ever made them shut off Grand Theft Auto (or Crash Bandicoot or Spyro, for those of us who liked our games a bit lighter) and “go the heck outside,” we feel your pain, and we’re here to tell you: You were right all along. New research shows that video games don’t actually melt your brain like we were led to believe as children. In fact, they can have serious cognitive benefits — provided you play the right kind.
Consuming Charred Meat May Raise Kidney Cancer Risk
Cancer patients tended to eat more red and white meat, and more of the carcinogenic “char” chemicals caused by grilling, pan frying or barbequing, than people without kidney cancer. (Photo: Getty Images)
People
who eat large amounts of meat cooked at high temperature or over an
open flame - and are also genetically susceptible - may have a higher
risk of kidney cancer, according to a new study.
Animal
muscle, cooked at high temperatures, produces substances called
heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can
cause changes in DNA that may increase cancer risk, according to the
National Cancer Institute. Population studies have not found a definite
link between cooked meat and cancer in humans, but studies using
detailed food questionnaires have found that increased consumption of
well done, fried or barbecued meats is tied to an increased risk of
cancer of the colon, pancreas and prostate.
For the full interactive experience, check out this infographic at Graphiq. (Image: Graphiq)
“A few previous studies have looked at kidney cancer and these
carcinogens, but this is the first study to find an association between
one of these specific mutagens (MeIQx) and kidney cancer risk,” said
senior author Dr. Xifeng Wu of The University of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center in Houston. MeIQx is one of the heterocyclic amines formed
by high temperature cooking. “This is also the first study to look at
genetic variants along with consumption of these carcinogens in relation
to kidney cancer risk,” Wu told Reuters Health by email. The
researchers compared the dietary patterns and genetic risk profiles of
659 people newly diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma to 699 people
without the cancer.
Research Shows Estrogen May Save Soldiers And Trauma Victims
High levels of estrogen in female mice seem to prevent life threatening septicema. (Corbis)
More than 80% of US soldiers’ deaths between 2001 and 2011 were the result of blood loss and septicemia [Editors note – septicemia is a blood infection, also known as blood poisoning. This is dangerous because the bacteria and their toxins can be carried through the bloodstream to your entire body, causing sepsis). There’s limited time to save trauma victims experiencing significant blood loss — the so-called “golden hour” — and researchers at the University of Alabama have been working for 19 years on a way to extend that time so that wounded soldiers and remote trauma victims are more likely to survive the long trip to a hospital.
Tuesday 10 November 2015
10 Ways To Relieve Stress
1. Don’t focus on the problem.
Don’t focus on the problem, focus on the solution. Replace a negative thought with something positive like a funny moment recently or something personally enlightening e.g. birth of a baby.
2. Try some Yoga.
Try some yoga as this teaches you through exercise to focus on being calm.
3. Go for a walk.
Go for a walk in the park or go for a swim, activities like these help to relieve stress.
4. Get a head massage.
Get a head massage or do it yourself. Gentle rubbing of the scalp is a very effective way to put you at ease. Meditation and also massage techniques offer great therapy. A great way to meditate is to close your eyes and focus on one thing such as your controlled breathing.
5. Play a game.
Play a game (if allowed while at work) or do a crossword. Activities like these allow you to easily find at least 10 ways to relieve stress so shift your focus away from whatever is stressing you. It’s a known fact that computer game lovers enjoy obliterating aliens or whatever as a means to alleviate stress.
6. Play some music.
This is an issue at work though if you can, play some music. Perhaps your employer will allow headphones. Sound that invokes feelings of serenity such as sea waves or forests can act as an excellent reliever.
7. Chang your seating position.
If at work, change your seating position or go for a stroll around the office if stress is hitting you.
8. Avoid Drugs
Perhaps, you have heard the song ‘the drugs don’t work’ from The Verve and it’s all true. Being lethargic or stressed should not mean reaching for the pharmaceutical cupboard. Stimulants cannot remove the problem or help to forget it. Grab a huge drink of water instead and enjoy the feeling of refreshment.
9. Try Humor!
As part of this list explaining 10 ways to relieve stress, this is probably the most effective method. Laughing brings you into the brighter side of your daily life. Read some jokes, or tell them to colleagues.
10. Sleep better.
Try to sleep for at least 7 or 8 hours every night. More early nights and a proper sleep pattern will allow you to feel more relaxed each day and less prone to procrastination and lethargic behavior.
Don’t focus on the problem, focus on the solution. Replace a negative thought with something positive like a funny moment recently or something personally enlightening e.g. birth of a baby.
2. Try some Yoga.
Try some yoga as this teaches you through exercise to focus on being calm.
3. Go for a walk.
Go for a walk in the park or go for a swim, activities like these help to relieve stress.
4. Get a head massage.
Get a head massage or do it yourself. Gentle rubbing of the scalp is a very effective way to put you at ease. Meditation and also massage techniques offer great therapy. A great way to meditate is to close your eyes and focus on one thing such as your controlled breathing.
5. Play a game.
Play a game (if allowed while at work) or do a crossword. Activities like these allow you to easily find at least 10 ways to relieve stress so shift your focus away from whatever is stressing you. It’s a known fact that computer game lovers enjoy obliterating aliens or whatever as a means to alleviate stress.
6. Play some music.
This is an issue at work though if you can, play some music. Perhaps your employer will allow headphones. Sound that invokes feelings of serenity such as sea waves or forests can act as an excellent reliever.
7. Chang your seating position.
If at work, change your seating position or go for a stroll around the office if stress is hitting you.
8. Avoid Drugs
Perhaps, you have heard the song ‘the drugs don’t work’ from The Verve and it’s all true. Being lethargic or stressed should not mean reaching for the pharmaceutical cupboard. Stimulants cannot remove the problem or help to forget it. Grab a huge drink of water instead and enjoy the feeling of refreshment.
9. Try Humor!
As part of this list explaining 10 ways to relieve stress, this is probably the most effective method. Laughing brings you into the brighter side of your daily life. Read some jokes, or tell them to colleagues.
10. Sleep better.
Try to sleep for at least 7 or 8 hours every night. More early nights and a proper sleep pattern will allow you to feel more relaxed each day and less prone to procrastination and lethargic behavior.
Monday 9 November 2015
Vegetable Oils Might Actually Not Be Good For You
Frying up that egg with vegetable oil may lead to disease and death. (Image via AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Like cooking with vegetable oils as a “healthy” alternative to lard and butter? A professor in England has some bad news: When you heat up oils such as sunflower or corn oil, they produce intense concentrations of chemicals known as aldehydes that have been associated with dementia, heart disease, and cancer, the Telegraph reports.
Saturday 7 November 2015
How to Build a Healthy Sandwich
1. Artisan sourdough bread
Skip
the bagged bread and head to a local bakery or farmer’s market, Elkaim
tells Yahoo Health. You’ll avoid the preservatives and junk fillers,
like cornstarch, in store-bought breads — and add delicious
baked-this-morning taste. Elkaim recommends choosing a gluten-free bread
if it’s available, or a sourdough as an alternative. Sourdough’s long fermentation process (12 or more hours, versus three or less for wheat bread) helps break down the gluten proteins.
2. Fresh-sliced deli meat
Skip
right past those pre-packaged containers of sliced sandwich meat and
head to the deli counter instead. “They’re usually using some type of
preservative to keep it fresh in the package, and that might be
sulfites, nitrites, or nitrates, and those are pretty problematic for a
lot of people,” Elkaim says. The WHO lists nitrites and nitrates as
probable human carcinogens.
While
you’re at the deli counter, ask a few questions about the meat you’re
considering. “Does it contain any nitrates, MSG, colors, or fillers?
Some of those meats will have things like that to make it look more
appealing and taste better,” Elkaim says. “Those are things that you
don’t really need in meat. Meat is just meat — you don’t need those
extra things to be put in.”
Finally, don’t trust a label that says the meat is “natural.” The term isn’t regulated, and can mean anything (or nothing).
3. All the veggies
No surprise here: pile on the veggies. According to the American Cancer Society,
one-third of cancers in the U.S. can be linked to diet or physical
activity. A 2015 research review in the British Journal of Nutrition
confirmed that eating lots of fruits and vegetables may protect against
several forms of cancer, especially cancers affecting the digestive
tract.
Elkaim’s order? Ham with lettuce, tomato, and avocado. Bon apetit!
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