'Mini skirt meteorology' used to predict weather

The length of women's mini skirts can be used to predict changes in the weather ahead of announcements from the Met Office, it has been claimed. 

The rises and falls in the length of skirts are said to be a good way of forecasting what the weather will be like three days in advance, based on research at eBay. 

Analysts at the company said the length of skirts sold on the website becomes shorter several days before the weather changes for the better, and lengthens when colder conditions are due. 

On occasions, the trend is said to have predicted a shift in the weather before any advice has been issued by the Met Office using more traditional meteorological methods. 

Demand for skirts on the internet auction site reportedly rose by 200 per cent a week before the recent hot weather began, several days before forecasters had announced it. 

Ruth Szyszkowski, of eBay, told the Daily Mail: "We're calling it mini skirt meteorology. If you want to know what the weather is going to be like in three days, just take a look at hemlines." 

Conditions during the remainder of the Bank Holiday weekend are set to improve, forecasters at the Met Office said. 

The warmer weather that arrived in much of the country on Sunday is set to remain for at least the first half of the week, with temperatures reaching up to 24C (75F) on Wednesday. 

www.telegraph.co.uk

Asus Challenges Apple's iPad with Eee Pad

When CEO Jerry Shen unveiled the Asus Eee Pad on stage at Computex today, the crowd of journalists almost rushed the stage with excitement. 

Unlike the similarly-named Asus Eee Tablet, which is designed to compete with e-Readers like the Nook and the Kindle, the Eee Pad is designed to go head-to-head with the Apple iPad. 

The Eee Pad is a Windows 7-based device that uses an Intel CULV Core 2 Duo processor and a touch-sensitive capacitive screen. It can be used as a multimedia player, e-reader, Web-browser, or, with the help of a keyboard docking station, full-featured PC.  Asus will be releasing two versions of the Eee Pad. The EP101TC will come with a 10-inch screen and the EP121 will ship with a 12-inch screen. Asus claims both systems will deliver at least 10 hours of battery life.

Asus CEO Jerry Shen says that tablet devices like this will bridge the conventional divide between business and consumer products. "We envision a different kind of usage scenario," Shen said. "You can be both a premier professional and a housewife."

Question is, can Asus get an Eee Pad in her hands before she buys an iPad. No specific ship date was given.

Originally posted to Gearlog.

Hopes for breast cancer vaccine

American scientists say they have developed a vaccine which has prevented breast cancer from developing in mice.

The researchers - whose findings are published in the journal, Nature Medicine - are now planning to conduct trials of the drug in humans. 

But they warn that it could be some years before the vaccine is widely available.The immunologist who led the research says the vaccine targets a protein found in most breast tumours.Vincent Tuohy, from the Cleveland Clinic Learner Research Institute, said: "We believe that this vaccine will someday be used to prevent breast cancer in adult women in the same way that vaccines have prevented many childhood diseases. 

Unique challenge

"If it works in humans the way it works in mice, this will be monumental. We could eliminate breast cancer."

In the study, genetically cancer-prone mice were vaccinated - half with a vaccine containing á-lactalbumin and half with a vaccine that did not contain the antigen. 

None of the mice vaccinated with á-lactalbumin developed breast cancer, while all of the other mice did.

The US has approved two cancer-prevention vaccines, one against cervical cancer and one against liver cancer. 

However, these vaccines target viruses - the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) - not cancer formation itself.

In terms of developing a preventive vaccine, cancer presents problems not posed by viruses - while viruses are recognised as foreign invaders by the immune system, cancer is not. 

Cancer is an over-development of the body's own cells. Trying to vaccinate against this cell over-growth would effectively be vaccinating against the recipient's own body, destroying healthy tissue. 

Caitlin Palframan, of charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "This research could have important implications for how we might prevent breast cancer in the future. 

"However, this is an early stage study, and we look forward to seeing the results of large-scale clinical trials to find out if this vaccine would be safe and effective in humans." 

She added there were already steps women could take to reduce the risk of breast cancer, including reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining a healthy weight and taking regular exercise. 

Cancer Research UK's professor of oncology, Robert Hawkins, said: "This very early study describes an interesting approach to the prevention of breast cancer. 

"It will be several years before this vaccine can be tested fully to assess its safety and effectiveness as a way to stop the disease developing in women."Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, affecting more than 45,500 women every year.

Research to find effects on brain of bilingualism

A project at Bangor University aims to explore the benefit of being bilingual.

Researchers will be recruiting 700 people aged between two and 80 to take part in the £750,000 programme. Prof Virginia Gathercole said the obvious benefits included being able to converse and to participate in two cultures. But she said there was also evidence of non-language benefits, such as the ability to protect the brain from ageing. 

"The very act of being able to speak, listen, and think in two languages and of using two languages on a daily basis appears to sharpen people's abilities to pay close attention to a aspects of tasks relevant to good performance," she added.

Research carried out already had also shown having two languages helped protect against the decline in the brain's abilities when ageing," she added."We already know that language processing is one of the most complex activities that our brains carry out."Running two parallel language systems throughout life has had positive benefits in a number of ways," she added. 

One multilingualist, Phillip Hughes, 62, travelled widely with his work as a teacher before his retirement. He said he found having two languages handy, especially when he had to learn another one, German while living in Swizerland. 

He grew up in an English-speaking household, but spoke Welsh to his friends and in the wider community, and was adamant that his children should also have language skills.Dr Enlli Thomas, who is collaborating on the project, said there was evidence from Canada that being bilingual "may provide some protection against age-related memory loss". 

The Bangor research team are looking for people who are bilingual in Welsh and English and monolinguals - or those who speak only one language - aged over 60 to take part in the research. 

Participants take part in a set of simple language tests and then carry out on-screen puzzles and tasks, similar to "brain games" played on hand-held games consoles. 

The researchers are looking for people who grew up in homes where only Welsh was spoken, where both Welsh and English were spoken, and where only English was spoken.

The research can be carried out either at the university or a researcher can visit the participant. 

news.bbc.co.uk

Condoms 'too big' for Indian men

A survey of more than 1,000 men in India has concluded that condoms made according to international sizes are too large for a majority of Indian men.

The study found that more than half of the men measured had penises that were shorter than international standards for condoms. 

It has led to a call for condoms of mixed sizes to be made more widely available in India.

The two-year study was carried out by the Indian Council of Medical Research.Over 1,200 volunteers from the length and breadth of the country had their penises measured precisely, down to the last millimetre. 

The scientists even checked their sample was representative of India as a whole in terms of class, religion and urban and rural dwellers. 

The conclusion of all this scientific endeavour is that about 60% of Indian men have penises which are between three and five centimetres shorter than international standards used in condom manufacture. 

Doctor Chander Puri, a specialist in reproductive health at the Indian Council of Medical Research, told the BBC there was an obvious need in India for custom-made condoms, as most of those currently on sale are too large. 

The issue is serious because about one in every five times a condom is used in India it either falls off or tears, an extremely high failure rate.And the country already has the highest number of HIV infections of any nation. 

'Not a problem'

Mr Puri said that since Indians would be embarrassed about going to a chemist to ask for smaller condoms there should be vending machines dispensing different sizes all around the country. 

"Smaller condoms are on sale in India. But there is a lack of awareness that different sizes are available. There is anxiety talking about the issue. And normally one feels shy to go to a chemist's shop and ask for a smaller size condom." 

But Indian men need not be concerned about measuring up internationally according to Sunil Mehra, the former editor of the Indian version of the men's magazine Maxim."It's not size, it's what you do with it that matters," he said. 

"From our population, the evidence is Indians are doing pretty well."With apologies to the poet Alexander Pope, you could say, for inches and centimetres, let fools contend."

news.bbc.co.uk

Most of us Google ourselves, survey finds

Web search engines make our lives easier: They connect us with what we're searching for in a matter of seconds, and sometimes they bring us to places we didn't even know we were looking for.


But they can also teach us a lot about ourselves, as more than half of adult internet users already know.
About 57 percent of adult internet users in the United States said they have entered their name into a search engine to assess their digital reputation, according to a new Pew Research Center study "Reputation Management and Social Media."

That's a significant increase since 2006, when only 47 percent of adult internet users said they had looked their name up on a search engine. The findings show "reputation management has now become a defining feature of online life," the study says.

This probably doesn't come as a surprise to many, considering a new story about Facebook's privacy settings surfacing each day.

And the concern about people's digital reputations will most likely continue to grow as posting and sharing information over the internet becomes more and more widespread.

The study also found that young adults are more apt to "restrict what they share" and manage their online reputations more closely than older internet users. This is "contrary to the popular perception that younger users embrace a laissez-faire attitude about their online reputations," wrote Mary Madden, a senior research specialist.

The Pew Research Center study, which took place by phone between August 18 and September 14, sampled 2,253 adults 18 and older. The margin of error is 2.3 percentage points.

Have you ever Googled yourself? Were you surprised by what you found? 

cnn.com

13 Best ways to have ton of energy

If you didn't know better, you might think that all the energy necessary to get through the ups and downs of an average day could be found in a powder, a pill, or a suspiciously small can. If only! But here's the good news: getting -- and, more important, keeping -- your energy level high is a breeze. Just take a look at these expert tips and tricks.


1. To get your first energy boost of the day: Eat a little something
Studies show that breakfast-eaters enjoy more energy and stay in a better mood throughout the day than their breakfast-skipping counterparts. But we're not talking just any breakfast.

"Muffins, granola, and croissants are energy zappers," Los Angeles--based dietitian Ashley Koff, R.D., says. "They're high in sugar, sodium, and less-healthy fats, providing carbs but rarely protein. So you get superhigh in the morning, and two hours later you're picking yourself up off the floor."

Instead, aim for an energy-balancing mix of high-quality carbs, lean protein, and healthy fats --oatmeal with a serving of almonds, an egg white omelet with a slice of avocado and a side of berries, or even last night's leftovers.

2. To have enough zing to get yourself out the door: Fake it
Slap on a smile. Apply some bright lipstick. Wear a crisp, clean outfit instead of sloggy sweats. If you fake energy until you feel it, soon enough your body will catch on, says Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., author of "The 150 Most Effective Ways to Boost Your Energy." "The face you show to the outside world sends a message to the brain," he says. Research suggests that simply smiling, for instance, releases endorphins and boosts serotonin, which actually lead you to feel the emotion you're projecting.

3. To turn your emotions into energy: Spin your situation
If a few hours at work has depleted your good mood, you might find yourself feeling inexplicably exhausted. A bad mood can sap your energy because it keeps your mind busy ruminating, says Kimberly Kingsley, author of "The Energy Cure: How to Recharge Your Life 30 Seconds at a Time."

Substituting thoughts about what you have in your life, as opposed to what's missing, can help reverse the negative spiral. With the first sign of stress or energy drain, Kingsley suggests, ask yourself, "What was I just thinking that's causing me to be in such a funk?" Once you zero in on the problem, replace it with something that's positive and gratitude-centered -- for instance, "I'm grateful that I just had that argument with Sarah. It was a good reminder that I don't allow people to walk all over me." This type of reframe will stop you from wasting a lot of energy, Kingsley says.

4. To find the energy to conquer your to-do list: Change up your daily routine
The same ol' same ol' is more than boring -- it's an energy suck. When you switch things up, the brain's reward chemical, dopamine, is released, which prepares the body for action, says Gregory Berns, M.D, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at Emory University. "The brain is constantly trying to predict the way the world works, so when you encounter something that's novel, it sees an opportunity to learn something new," he explains. Even small changes -- like taking an alternate route to work or making that morning jog an afternoon swim -- can make a difference.

5. To stay energized during a very long meeting: Sip something cold
Anything over ice is an instant pick-me-up, but staying hydrated can also help prevent brain drain, Kingsley says. Water is an ideal drink, but for an extra boost, make it iced tea. The combo of caffeine and the amino acid theanine stimulates alpha brain waves that are associated with an alert state of mind.

6. To keep going on very little sleep: Get small caffeine hits
Instead of downing one giant to-go cup of coffee, drink 4 to 6 ounces (the amount in a small cup or half a mug) every few hours.

Studies suggest that low doses of caffeine throughout the day are more effective than the traditional übercup first thing in the a.m. Researchers found that shift workers, medical residents, truck drivers, and others who work odd hours not only got a better boost from caffeine when they drank it in small portions, but they also performed better on cognitive tests.


7. To find the energy to deal with conflict: Stop fibbing to others
Making up stories -- even the tiniest white lies -- takes more energy than simply telling it like it is. "Deceit takes a lot of psychic energy," Bowden says.

When you withhold things or aren't forthcoming, you're constantly thinking about what you're saying and how you're saying it in order to avoid blowing your cover. Of course, you don't want to unload in a harsh way in the name of honesty. Try wrapping the truth in something positive. Instead of telling a co-worker her ideas are lousy, say something like, "You have lots of great suggestions, but I'm not sure this one works."

8. To retain your energy when you're upset: Breathe!
It's normal to get worked up when something rotten happens. But staying worked up is just a waste of energy, and breathing can help you take it down a notch, thus conserving your energy.

Try this "4-7-8 Deep-Breathing Exercise" from integrative-medicine guru Andrew Weil, M.D.: Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge behind your upper teeth and exhale completely through your mouth so that you make a whoosh sound. Then close your mouth and inhale deeply through your nose for a count of 4, hold your breath for 7 counts, then exhale through your mouth for a count of 8; repeat three more times.

Breathing like this -- as opposed to taking shallow breaths, which we tend to do when stressed -- forces more oxygen into your cells, slows your heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and improves circulation, ultimately resulting in an energy boost. The trick is to let the belly expand with each inhale, Weil says. "Over time, this improves many aspects of our physiology."


9. To find the juice to de-clutter your surroundings: Picture a tidy space
Clutter is a great big drag on your energy -- and not just because of all the stuff taking up space. "So much of what ends up as clutter are tasks that we haven't finished or obligations we haven't been able to meet," says professional organizer Emily Wilska, founder of San Francisco--based The Organized Life. "Who wants to be in a space where there are constant reminders of things you should be doing or aspiring to?"

Wilska suggests mind-mapping to get motivated: Clip pictures from magazines and write down snippets or words that describe your goal -- "I want an organized living room so I can invite my girlfriends over for our book club." Then post them on the fridge, the bathroom mirror, or on your computer desktop as a reminder of where you're headed.

10. To get revved to exercise: Create a killer playlist
If it's time for a real workout, but you're dragging, pop in those ear buds. Your favorite tunes are more than just a distraction from all the huffing and puffing -- researchers have found that matching the tempo of a workout to music with a strong, fast beat can increase one's capacity for exercise by 15 percent.

Choose songs with 120 to 140 beats per minute (the norm for most pop and rock songs). "I Gotta Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas, for instance, clocks in at 128 beats per minute.

11. To avoid an afternoon energy slump: Get moving
The exercise-and-energy equation goes like this: The more active you are, the better your circulation. And the better your circulation, the easier it is for blood to transport oxygen and nutrients (fuel for the cells) to your muscles and brain.

So take a walk. If you can't get outside, a trip around the office or up and down a few flights of stairs will do the trick, says Carol Espel, M.S,. National Senior Director of Group Fitness and Pilates at Equinox Fitness Clubs. A brisk, 10-minute walk is enough to boost your energy level for up to two hours, according to research from California State University.


12. To boost your energy (and treat yourself): Enjoy some dark chocolate
Sugar isn't a complete no-no when it comes to energy --you just have to conquer the crash. That cookie with sprinkles will give you the rush you're looking for, but your body will burn the sugar quickly, and soon enough your energy level will take a nosedive.

Dark chocolate, on the other hand, contains the stimulant theobromine, which boosts energy without the jitters that can come from caffeine. Dietitian Ashley Koff's recommendation for a crash-proof treat: choose chocolate with at least 60 percent cacao and eat it with a little protein -- a dab of organic nut butter atop about 1 ounce (3 squares) of chocolate.

13. To remain sharp at the end of the day: Stay hydrated
Where dehydration goes, fatigue follows. But staying hydrated involves more than drinking lots of water. You also need potassium -- the mineral that helps regulate fluid balance in the body, Koff says.

Even mild dehydration can slow metabolism and sap your energy. To stay hydrated, besides drinking water and eating water-based fruits and vegetables throughout the day, aim for at least one serving of a potassium-rich food or drink -- such as avocado, coconut water, banana, white potato -- each day.

cnn.com

Regular teeth brushing linked to healthier hearts

People who don't brush their teeth twice a day have an increased risk of heart disease, scientists said on Friday (28th May 2010), adding scientific weight to 19th century theories about oral health and chronic disease.

British researchers studied nearly 12,000 adults in Scotland and found those with poor oral hygiene had a 70 percent extra risk of heart disease compared with those who brushed twice a day and who were less likely to have unhealthy gums.

People with gum disease are more likely to develop heart disease and diabetes because inflammation in the body, including in the mouth and gums, plays a role in the build up of clogged arteries, said Richard Watt from University College London, who led the study.

The 70 percent extra risk compares to a 135 percent extra risk of heart disease in those who smoke, he said.
Although the overall risk was low -- with a total of 555 heart attacks or other serious coronary problems among 11,869 people -- the effect of regular teeth brushing was significant.

"Compared to things like smoking and poor diet, which are obviously the main risk factors for heart disease, we are not claiming this is in the same league," Watt said.

"But ... even after controlling for all those things there is a still a relationship between this very simple measure of tooth brushing and heart condition," he told Reuters.

OLD THEORIES
"In a way, it's really quite an old story, because back in the early 19th century there was a theory called focal sepsis, and people believed that infections in the mouth caused disease in the whole body," Watt said.
"As a result, they used to take everyone's teeth out."

Watt said such a response was "a bit dramatic," but his findings did suggest that twice-a-day brushing was a good idea.

Gum or periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth and is more likely to occur in people who do not brush their teeth regularly.

Heart disease is the leading killer of men and women in Europe, the United States and many other rich nations and together with diabetes, accounted for almost a third of all deaths around the world in 2005, according to the World Health Organization.

The teeth brushing study published on Friday in the British Medical Journal was the first to investigate whether the simple number of times someone brushes their teeth daily has any bearing on the risk of heart disease.
The results showed oral health behaviors were generally good, with 62 percent of participants saying they visited the dentist every six months and 71 percent reporting they brushed their teeth twice a day.

Once the data were adjusted for other known heart risk factors such as social class, obesity, smoking and family history of heart disease, those who reported less frequent teeth brushing had a 70 percent extra risk of heart disease compared to those who brushed twice a day.

Blood tests on those with poor oral hygiene were also positive for two factors called C-reactive protein and fibrinogen -- both of which signal inflammation in the body.

www.reuters.com

Soy trims postmenopausal fat, study suggests

A small new study has found that taking soy supplements may help postmenopausal women slim down.

The effect, however, differed between African-Americans and whites: While white women lost more fat around their middles, black women showed greater overall reductions in body fat, researchers found.
Researchers have been interested in soy's potential for treating problems that affect women during and after menopause, from hot flashes to heart attack risk factors like high cholesterol. Because estrogen drops sharply when menstruation stops, the idea is that soy's estrogen-like properties could help with these symptoms. But studies have yielded conflicting results.

In the new study, Dr. Daniel R. Christie of the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham and colleagues used soy-stuffed shakes, which included 20 grams of soy protein and 160 milligrams of soy isoflavones, or placebo shakes containing a milk protein called casein. They assigned 16 African-American women and 17 white women to drink the shakes daily for three months.

X-rays found no difference in total body fat percentage between the soy and placebo groups after three months. But more precise computerized tomography (CT) scans did find a 7.5 percent less abdominal fat in women given soy, compared to 9 percent more of such fat in the placebo group.

Black women taking soy lost an average of 1.8 kilograms, or 4 pounds, while whites given soy put on 0.8 kilograms. But while white women lost visceral fat -the fat surrounding the organs in the abdominal cavity - black women gained it. Deep abdominal fat is believed to be particularly important in the risks of health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Whites also showed greater abdominal fat reductions, while blacks mainly lost total body fat.
While the reason for the racial difference in fat loss "is not clear," the study in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology said, white women have more visceral fat to begin with and so have "more to lose in response to the treatment."

But another expert on soy and body composition who wasn't involved in the new study said that its size - just 33 patients - was too small to draw any conclusions about differences between ethnic groups. "It was also very short," Dr. Oksana A. Matvienko of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls told Reuters Health.
In her own research, published in February, Matvienko and her team looked at 229 postmenopausal women who took a placebo or soy isoflavone tablets (at 80- or 120-milligram doses) for a year. They found no difference in body composition between the active and placebo groups after 12 months.

Matvienko said that CT scans are more sensitive than the X-ray technique, which could explain why Christie and his colleagues saw abdominal fat changes that she and her colleagues did not. It's also not clear, she added, that these changes would be large enough to help improve the women's health.

One possible explanation for the new study's positive findings, Matvienko said, is that women took soy protein along with isoflavones; women in her study only took isoflavones.

Recognizing how short the study was, the authors write that "it is not clear if the effects of the soy supplement on abdominal fat reduction would persist if the supplement was continued."

Matvienko said more research is needed, but for now, "I wouldn't recommend taking soy supplements just for the sake of controlling body composition or body weight."

www.reuters.com

Watermelon 'has same effect as Viagra'

Eating watermelon has a similar effect on the body to Viagra, according to researchers in the US.
It's down to a chemical called citrulline which is found in the juicy fruit.Citrulline is an organic compound which affects the body's blood vessels in the same way as the sex enhancement pills.

It helps relax the blood vessels which means blood gets around the body more easily.The research comes from the US' Texas Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Centre.

Dr Bhimu Patil led the research. He said: "We've always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study.

"Watermelon may not be as organ specific as Viagra... but it's a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side-effects."

It's also claimed watermelons are good for your heart and immune system.

The vast majority of watermelon (92%) is made up of water. But the remaining 8% is loaded with the anti-oxidant lycopene which is also good for your skin.

http://news.bbc.co.uk

Chocolate bar may help fight wrinkles

Specially developed product packed with antioxidants, company says

The world's largest chocolate maker says it may have come up with a chocolate bar that could fight wrinkles and slow the aging process, making it the latest food group to tap the appetite for healthier living.

Eating 20 g (0.755 oz) of specially developed chocolate packed with antioxidants, or flavanols, each day may help prevent wrinkles and make skin more radiant by boosting elasticity and improving hydration, studies carried out by Barry Callebaut showed.

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the nutritional value of what they eat, and Barry Callebaut's claims come as food giants such as Nestle and Danone also push into the healthy eating arena.

Dark chocolate has already been linked with certain health benefits, such as helping to lower blood pressure and reducing the risk of strokes thanks to its high content of antioxidants.

The Swiss group has developed a way of preserving the flavanols found in cocoa beans during the chocolate-making process, allowing them to produce a bar that is richer in flavanols, Barry Callebaut Chief Innovation Officer Hans Vriens said in an interview.

"Chocolate and health do not seem to fit together but it is a very interesting proposition: if I can eat something I like and it is good for me, that is great," Vriens said. "Chocolate is probably at the bottom of the list when you think about making food healthier."

Smoking, pollution, caffeine and a lack of sleep contribute to the creation of free radicals that can damage healthy cells in the body and accelerate the aging process."There is a huge body of evidence that shows flavanols slow down damage caused by free radicals," said Kepler Capital Markets analyst Jon Cox.

"Food manufacturing companies are leveraging health and wellness into various products and there is definitely a market for chocolate in health and wellness. We have already seen how this has worked in dairy products, with products like Danone's Actimel and Unilever's Benecol," Cox said.

The functional chocolate market, which includes organic and diet chocolate, is seeing double-digit growth, easily outpacing the 1-2 percent growth currently seen in the rest of the chocolate market, Cox said.But some experts are doubtful about the positive effects flavanols have on skin.

"There is quite a lot of evidence that cocoa flavanols have a positive effect on the blood flow. They could reduce blood pressure which could have a positive effect on cardiovascular diseases," said Richard Hurrell, Professor of Human Nutrition at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.

"The possible effects on skin and cognitive performance are less well established. There is evidence, but it is much less consistent. It may be that the effect on the blood flow is also what improves memory or skin health in some of the studies," Hurrell said.

source: www.reuters.com

People are happier, less stressed after age 50

Those in their 50s are more satisfied than those in 20s, large study says.

Life looks a little rosier after 50, a new study finds. Older people in their mid- to late-50s are generally happier, and experience less stress and worry than young adults in their 20s, the researchers say.

The results, based on a Gallup phone survey from 2008 of more than 340,000 Americans, held even after the researchers accounted for factors that could have contributed to differences in well-being with age, such as whether the participants were married, had children at home or were employed. 

So if having a partner and getting rid of the kids aren't responsible for the uptick in happiness and general life satisfaction with age, then what is? More studies will be needed to find out, the researchers say. 

"That can be based on social things, on societal things, on biological things; and for us that is the big question," study researcher Arthur Stone, a psychologist at Stony Brook University in N.Y. 

Two ways to look at lifeThe findings agree with previous work showing well-being varies with age. And some studies have narrowed things down to suggest that happiness comes with being old, male and Republican. 

However, the current work included measures of both overall happiness (called global well-being) and day-to-day experiences of specific feelings such as stress and happiness (called hedonic well-being). 

These two measures of well-being are rarely included in the same study, Stone said. But they are both important, since global well-being provides a more reflective look at life while hedonic well-being gives a more immediate view, he said. 

The immediate, hedonic measures — happiness, enjoyment, stress, worry, anger and sadness — all changed with age, but they showed very different patterns. For example, stress and anger steadily decreased from young adulthood through old age. But worry was fairly constant until age 50, when it declined. Sadness levels rose slightly in the early 40s and declined in the mid 50s, but overall sadness didn't change much with age.And people's overall satisfaction with their lives showed a U-shaped pattern, dipping down until about the age of 50 before trending upward again. 

Men and women showed very similar patterns in terms of how well-being changed with age, though women tended to have higher levels of stress, worry and sadness. However, women had about the same levels of happiness as men and tended to feel better overall about their lives, especially during the first 50 years.  

The results emphasize the importance of looking at hedonic well-being since these feelings, particularly the negative ones, don't all vary the same way as we age, Stone said.

"Looking at well-being really needs to be multidimensional and more comprehensive than might be suggested by the current literature," he said. 

Fewer bad memories?
There are several theories that might explain why people feel better with age that don't have to do with lifestyle factors. It could be, for example, that older people are better at controlling their emotions than younger people. Or it might have something to do with nostalgia, the idea that older people remember fewer negative memories and so are happier.Also, older people might focus less on what they have or have not achieved, and more on how to get the most out of the rest of their lives, Stone said.

The results will be published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  

www.msnbc.msn.com

 

15 best age-erasing superfoods

Boost your health with yogurt, almonds and more

The latest science shows the muscle-building, brain-enhancing, wrinkle-erasing, heart-strengthening, bone-protecting, immunity-boosting, and inflammation-fighting foods you should be eating every day. 

1. Almonds 
These energy-rich snacks lower bad cholesterol, thanks to plant sterols, and benefit diabetics by lowering blood sugar. They’re also rich in amino acids, which bolster testosterone levels and muscle growth. Almonds are also stuffed with vitamin E, which helps defend against sun damage. In a study, volunteers who consumed 14 milligrams of the vitamin (about 20 almonds) per day and then were exposed to UV light burned less than those who took none. And because vitamin E is an antioxidant, it also works to keep your arteries free of dangerous free radicals. Low levels of vitamin E are also associated with poor memory performance and cognitive decline, says dietitian Sari Greaves of New York Presbyterian Hospital–Cornell.  

2. Flaxseeds 

Rich in protein and fiber, these little seeds offer a payload of omega-3 fatty acids, which erase spots and iron out fine lines in the skin. The British Journal of Nutrition reported that participants in one study who downed about half a teaspoon of omega-3s daily in 6 weeks experienced significantly less irritation and redness, along with better-hydrated skin. A recent study of people with high cholesterol (greater than 240 mg/dL) compared statin treatment with eating 20 grams of flaxseed a day. After 60 days, those eating flaxseed did just as well as those on statins. Try sprinkling ground flaxseed on oatmeal, yogurt, and salads.

3. Tomatoes

There are two things you need to know about tomatoes: red are the best, because they’re packed with more of the antioxidant lycopene; and processed tomatoes are just as potent as fresh ones, because it’s easier for the body to absorb the lycopene. Studies show that a diet rich in lycopene can decrease your risk of bladder, lung, prostate, skin, and stomach cancers, as well as reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, and help eliminate skin-aging free radicals caused by ultraviolet rays. “Cooked tomatoes and tomato paste work best,” says celebrity trainer Gunnar Petersen.  

4. Rosemary

The carnosic acid found in this spice has been shown to reduce stroke risk in mice by 40 percent, according to a study published in the Journal of Neurochemistry. Carnosic acid appears to set off a process that shields brain cells from free-radical damage, which can worsen the effects of a stroke. It can also protect against degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and the general effects of aging.  

5. Dried plums

Also known as prunes, these dark shrivelers are rich in copper and boron, both of which can help prevent osteoporosis. “They also contain a fiber called inulin, which, when broken down by intestinal bacteria, makes for a more acidic environment in the digestive tract,” says Bowerman. “That, in turn, facilitates calcium absorption.”

6. Whole grains

Whole grains — oatmeal, wheat flour, barley, brown rice — are high in fiber, which calms inflamed tissues while keeping the heart strong, the colon healthy, and the brain fueled. Whole grains can be loaded with carbs, but the release of those sugars is slowed by the fiber, and because they can pack as much as 10 grams of protein per 1/2-cup serving, they also deliver steady muscle-building energy. But not all breads and crackers advertised as “whole grain” are the real deal. “Read the label,” says Lynn Grieger, an online health, food, and fitness coach. “Those that aren’t whole grain can be high in fat, which increases inflammation.”  

7. Yogurt

Various cultures claim yogurt as their own creation, but the 2,000-year-old food’s health benefits are not disputed: Fermentation spawns hundreds of millions of probiotic organisms that serve as reinforcements to the battalions of beneficial bacteria in your body, which keep your digestive tract healthy and your immune system in top form, and provide protection against cancer. Not all yogurts are probiotic, though, so make sure the label says “live and active cultures.”  

8. Avocado

Chock full of monounsaturated fat, avocados deliver a double-barreled blast to LDL cholesterol (the bad kind). They are also rich in folate, a water-soluble B vitamin that helps lower the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that can hinder the flow of blood through blood vessels. Eat a 1/4 cup twice a week, says Greaves.  

9. Walnuts

Richer in heart-healthy omega-3s than salmon, loaded with more anti-inflammatory polyphenols than red wine, and packing half as much muscle-building protein as chicken, the walnut sounds like a Frankenfood, but it grows on trees. Other nuts combine only one or two of these features, not all three. A serving of walnuts — about 1 ounce, or seven nuts — is good anytime, but especially as a postworkout recovery snack.  

10. TurmericCurcumin, the polyphenol that gives turmeric its tang and yellow hue, has anti-cancer properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and tumor-fighting activities known in nutrition-speak as anti-angiogenesis. Researchers at UCLA have also found that it helps deter the accumulation of amyloid plaques in the brain, tiny blockages that may cause Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric’s prevalence in India, the researchers suggest, may help explain why so few of the country’s senior citizens have the disease, whereas the statistic is close to 13 percent in the United States, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. One tip: Pair it with pepper in curries. “Adding black pepper to turmeric or turmeric-spiced food enhances curcumin’s bioavailability by 1,000 times, due to black pepper’s hot property called piperine,” says nutritionist Stacy Kennedy of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. 

11.Black beans 
People who eat one 3-ounce serving of black beans a day decrease their risk of heart attack by 38 percent, according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition. And while other beans are also good for your heart, none can boost your brainpower like black beans. That’s because they’re full of anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds that have been shown to improve brain function. They’re also packed with superstar nutrients, including protein, healthy fats, folate, magnesium, B vitamins, potassium, and fiber.

12. Apples

An apple a day reduces swelling of all kinds, thanks to quercetin, a flavonoid also found in the skin of red onions. Quercetin reduces the risk of allergies, heart attack, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prostate and lung cancers. If given the choice, opt for Red Delicious. They contain the most inflammation-fighting antioxidants.  

13. Leeks

“Leeks can support sexual functioning and reduce the risk of prostate cancer,” says Michael Dansinger, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine and an obesity researcher at Tufts–New England Medical Center in Boston. “Chop the green part of a medium leek into thin ribbons and add it to soups, sautés, and salads as often as possible.” These scallion-like cousins of garlic and onions are also packed with bone-bolstering thiamine, riboflavin, calcium, and potassium, and they’re also rich in folic acid, a B vitamin that studies have shown to lower levels of the artery-damaging amino acid homocystein in the blood. 

14. Mushrooms

Delicious when added to brown rice, reiki, shiitake, and maitake mushrooms are rich in the antioxidant ergothioneine, which protects cells from abnormal growth and replication. “In short, they reduce the risk of cancer,” says Bowerman, who recommends half a cup once or twice a week. “Cooking them in red wine, which contains resveratrol, magnifies their immunity-boosting power.”  

15. Figs  
Packed with potassium, manganese, and antioxidants, this fruit also helps support proper pH levels in the body, making it more difficult for pathogens to invade, says Petersen. Plus, the fiber in figs can lower insulin and blood-sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Select figs with dark skins (they contain more nutrients) and eat them alone or add them to trail mix.  

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Sony Flexible Full Color Paper Screen

 

Sony unveiled what it is calling the world’s first flexible, full-color organic light emitting diode (OLED) display built on organic thin-film transistor (TFT) technology. OLEDs typically use a glass substrate, but Sony researchers developed new technology for forming organic TFT on a plastic substrate, enabling them to create a thin, lightweight and flexible full-color display. The 2.5-inch prototype display supports 16.8 million colors at a 120 x 160 pixel resolution (80 ppi, .318-mm pixel pitch), is 0.3 mm thick and weighs 1.5 grams without the driver.


According to Sony, which plans to release a new line of miniature TVs this year and is bolstering efforts to develop next-generation flat-panel OLEDs, this new technology will lead to the development of thinner, lighter and softer electronics.

The company is scheduled to present the results of its research at the SID 2007 International Symposium now underway in the US.

Panera cafe says pay what you want

Bakery hopes to expand nonprofit restaurants around U.S.

The national bakery and restaurant chain launched a new nonprofit store here this week that has the same menu as its other 1,400 locations. But the prices are a little different — there aren't any. Customers are told to donate what they want for a meal, whether it's the full suggested price, a penny or $100.The new store in the upscale St. Louis suburb of Clayton is the first of what Panera hopes will be many around the country. Ronald Shaich, Panera's CEO until last week, was on hand at the new bakery Monday to explain the system to customers.

The pilot restaurant is run by a nonprofit foundation. If it can sustain itself financially, Panera will expand the model around the country within months. It all depends on whether customers will abide by the motto that hangs above the deli counter: "Take what you need, leave your fair share."

Panera hopes to open a similar location in every community where it operates. Other nonprofits have opened community kitchens, where customers set the price, and the idea has spread among food enthusiasts and philanthropists. But Panera brings new scale to the idea — its community restaurants will use the company's distribution system and have access to its national food suppliers.

The first location bears the name St. Louis Bread Co. Cares — the chain's former name and one it still uses in its hometown. Customers seemed alternately puzzled and pleased by the concept.

Dawn Frierdich, 52, came in to buy three loaves of bread and an iced tea. She asked how much the drink would cost. "About $1.85," said the 21-year-old cashier, Michael Miller. And the whole order?

"It would be, like, $12," Miller told her, reminding her she didn't have to pay if she didn't want to. Frierdich tried to hand him $12 in cash, but he directed her to put it in the donation jar. "This is a little hard. I just can't wrap my head around this," Frierdich said. A young man spoke on his cell phone nearby. "Seriously," he said. "They don't charge tax or anything."

The clientele at the Clayton location is a mix of well-to-do attorneys and bankers from Clayton, as well as lower-income customers who work nearby or are visiting the sprawling St. Louis County offices and courthouse nearby. Miller, the cashier, said most customers paid full price for their meals Monday, but some took a discount of a few dollars, or paid half-price.

Panera is using its nonprofit foundation to support the restaurant and any future locations. The foundation will pay the new restaurant's bills, including staff salaries, rent and food costs. At the end of each month, the foundation will tally donations to see if they cover food costs. The Panera parent company won't bear losses if the experiment fails. Saich was CEO of Panera until he stepped down Thursday, taking the post of executive chairman. He will run the nonprofit along with other projects for Panera.

Other similar experiements have worked. The One World Salt Lake City restaurant has operated as a nonprofit with pay-what-you-want prices since 2003, said founder Denise Cerreta. She works for a foundation that helps similar restaurants open around the county. She said the places don't get swarmed by crowds and emptied, but have managed to stay afloat based on the honor system. "It somehow stays in balance," Cerrata said. "I think ultimately people are good. They want to contribute."

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California Woman Earns College Diploma at Age 94

It's never too late to earn your college degree. Just ask 94-year-old Hazel Soares.


The San Leandro woman was one of about 500 undergraduates to pick up diplomas Saturday during a commencement ceremony at Mills College, an all-women's school in Oakland.

"It's taken me quite a long time because I've had a busy life," said Soares. "I'm finally achieving it, and it makes me feel really good."

Soares, who has six children and more than 40 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, is believed to be the world's second oldest person to graduate from college.

Nola Ochs (OAKS) of Kansas became the oldest when she graduated from Fort Hays State University three years ago at age 95, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Ochs, now 98, topped that academic feat Saturday, when she received her master's degree in liberal studies from Fort Hays.

The nonagenarians are earning their degrees as the Obama administration pushes to once again make the United States the world leader in college attainment by 2020.

Born in Richmond, Calif. in 1915, Soares had wanted to attend college right after she graduated from Roosevelt High School in Oakland in 1932, but that was during the Great Depression.

"Unless you had some help, it would have been impossible to go to college," Soares said. "However I never lost the desire to go."

Soares married twice, raised six kids and worked as a nurse and event organizer before she retired and decided to return to pursue her dream of obtaining a college education.

"We are really amazed and very proud of my mom," said Regina Hungerford, Soares' youngest child. "The biggest thing that we can all learn is that we're never too old."

At Saturday's commencement, she was congratulated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who delivered the keynote speech, and was cheered by her classmates.

"She's really an incredible inspiration," said Sandeep Brar, who also graduated Saturday.Soares doesn't plan to relax now that she finally has her degree. The art history major hopes to work as a docent at a San Francisco Bay area museum.

Through her experience, she hopes others realize that it's never too late to get a college education.
"There's no reason why you could not go back," Soares said. "Some people do give up the idea or postpone the idea. It's too late. It's too much work. They may not realize that once you try it it's exciting to go to school."

news.yahoo.com

Tokyo couple married by robot in rooftop wedding

Japan has hosted the world's first wedding to be conducted by a robot.

The automated creature, known as the I-Fairy, oversaw the wedding of Tomohiro Shibata and Satoko Inoue in the capital, Tokyo.

The couple decided to use the robot as they are both connected with Japan's thriving robotics industry.
Since robots had brought them together in the first place, they said, having one officiate at their wedding was a natural choice.

During the ceremony, I-Fairy - which has flashing eyes and plastic pigtails - instructed the groom to lift the bride's veil for the kiss.

The wedding took part in a rooftop restaurant in the Japanese capital.