RTÉ sport presenter returns car after five years
Marty Morrissey says he recognised the "error of judgement" following the recent controversy at RTÉ.
2023-07-07 00:48
Scientists capture the moment a black hole 'turns on'
Astronomers have spotted the moment a black hole "turned on". While looking for the collision of a neutron star with another object, which should result in a kilonova (an explosion which reddens then fades over time), they stumbled upon an event which remained extremely bright. They soon worked out this light was because of supermassive black hole called J221951-484240 which had been on for around 10 months. But then they had to work out what had caused it, and got stuck between two causes, “J221951 is consistent with being nuclear, so the scenarios we are being left are a tidal disruption event or an active galactic nucleus,” lead author Dr Samantha Oates said as she presented the research at the National Astronomy Meeting 2023. “Looking at the spectrum it's consistent with both categories.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter A tidal disruption event (TDE) takes place when a star or a gas cloud gets too close to a supermassive black hole. The material is ripped apart, and begins to shine as the black hole feeds Alternatively, it could be an active galactic nucleus (AGN), the phase of a supermassive black hole where it is consistently feeding in a frenzy. “We hope in future to distinguish between these two scenarios,” Dr Oates concluded. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-07-06 20:16
Wagner boss Prigozhin is in Russia, Belarus ruler Lukashenko says
Alexander Lukashenko says Prigozhin, who led a short-lived mutiny in Russia, is in St Petersburg.
2023-07-06 17:26
Your questions on RTÉ's payment scandal answered
From Tubridy to flip-flops, what is the latest with undisclosed payments at the broadcaster?
2023-07-06 13:53
Middle-aged people who skip on sleep won’t see cognitive benefits of exercise
Middle-aged people not getting enough sleep are less likely to see the benefits of exercise when comes to protecting against decline in skills such as memory and thinking, scientists have said. Researchers from University College London (UCL) found that those in their 50s and 60s who performed regular physical activities but slept less than six hours a night had a faster decline in these skills overall. The team found that after a decade, their cognitive functions – such as attention, memory and learning – were the same as those who did less physical activity. The researchers said their study, published in journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity, highlights the need for sleep to protect against cognitive decline as people get older. Lead author Dr Mikaela Bloomberg, of UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, said: “Our study suggests that getting sufficient sleep may be required for us to get the full cognitive benefits of physical activity. “It shows how important it is to consider sleep and physical activity together when thinking about cognitive health. “Previous studies examining how sleep and physical activity might combine to affect cognitive function have primarily been cross-sectional – only focusing on a snapshot in time – and we were surprised that regular physical activity may not always be sufficient to counter the long-term effects of lack of sleep on cognitive health.” The World Health Organisation already identifies physical activity as a way to maintain cognitive function, but interventions should also consider sleep habits to maximise long-term benefits for cognitive health Prof Andrew Steptoe For the study, the team looked at data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (Elsa) from nearly 9,000 people aged 50 and over. Their cognitive function was assessed over a period of 10 years with various memory and verbal fluency tests. Questionnaires were also used to assess how long they slept and whether this was less or more than six hours. People were also asked about their levels of physical activity. At the start of the study, those who were more physically active also had better cognitive function regardless of how long they slept. However, this changed over the 10-year period, with more physically active short sleepers in their 50s and 60s experiencing more rapid cognitive decline, the researchers said. But for people aged 70 and over, the benefits of exercise on cognitive function were maintained, despite short sleep, the team added. Co-author professor Andrew Steptoe, of UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, said: “It is important to identify the factors that can protect cognitive function in middle and later life as they can serve to prolong our cognitively healthy years and, for some people, delay a dementia diagnosis. “The World Health Organisation already identifies physical activity as a way to maintain cognitive function, but interventions should also consider sleep habits to maximise long-term benefits for cognitive health.” Read More 8 best kids’ bunk beds that are fun and functional Nurture your health and wellbeing this season The best holidays to book for August, from beach breaks in Portugal to stays on an Italian lake More travelers get cozy with glamping, even amid high costs People who sleep very late may die earlier due to unhealthy habits, study says
2023-07-06 13:23
Being overweight ‘linked to 18 cancers’ in under-40s
Being overweight as a young adult can increase the risk of developing 18 cancers – more than have been previously linked with the disease, researchers found. Previous studies have shown that people who are overweight or obese have a heightened risk of a number of different cancers including breast, bowel, kidney and pancreatic. Now excess weight has also been linked to leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and among never-smokers, bladder and head and neck cancers in a large new study. The authors said these cancers have not previously been “considered as obesity-related cancers”. Our findings support public health strategies for cancer prevention focusing on preventing and reducing early overweight and obesity Study authors And that the impact of obesity on cancer is “likely underestimated”. The new study, published in Nature Communications, saw researchers examine data on more than 2.6 million Spanish adults aged 40 and under who were cancer-free in 2009. Researchers examined the body mass index (BMI) scores throughout the lifetime of people involved with the study, saying that previous research investigating the link between weight and cancer has used single BMI scores. The people in the study were tracked for nine years to see whether they developed cancer. Some 225,396 were diagnosed with cancer during the period studied. The Spanish researchers found that those who were overweight or obese in early adulthood – aged 40 and under – appeared to have an increased risk of cancer. Those who were overweight or obese for a longer period also appeared to have a higher risk. Our own evidence shows that maintaining a healthy weight throughout life is one of the most important things people can do to reduce their cancer risk, and early prevention in adulthood is key Dr Heinz Freisling, one of the study’s co-leaders Overall, some 18 cancers were linked to excess weight. The authors wrote: “This study shows that longer duration, greater degree, and younger age of onset of overweight and obesity during early adulthood are positively associated with risk of 18 cancers, including leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and among never-smokers, head and neck, and bladder cancers which are not yet considered as obesity-related cancers in the literature. “Our findings seem to indicate that longer exposures to overweight and obesity (with or without accounting for the degree of overweight and obesity), as well as developing overweight and obesity at younger ages in early adulthood might increase cancer risk. “Our findings support public health strategies for cancer prevention focusing on preventing and reducing early overweight and obesity.” Dr Heinz Freisling, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer and one of the study’s co-leaders, said: “The results of our study support a re-evaluation of the cancer burden associated with overweight and obesity, which currently is likely underestimated.” Commenting on the study, Dr Panagiota Mitrou, director of research, policy and innovation at World Cancer Research Fund, said: “This large study has future public health implications since additional cancers, such as leukaemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, have been shown to be linked with overweight and obesity. “Our own evidence shows that maintaining a healthy weight throughout life is one of the most important things people can do to reduce their cancer risk, and early prevention in adulthood is key.” Read More Study says drinking water from nearly half of US faucets contains potentially harmful chemicals Up to 10,000 Britons could take part in cancer vaccine trials People with signs of bowel cancer should be offered a £5 ‘poo test’ before invasive bowel investigations Nurture your health and wellbeing this season What diet drinks don’t have aspartame in them?
2023-07-06 13:20
Authorities ramp up shark patrols along New York's Long Island after 5 people were bitten in 2 days
Shark patrols are ramping up off Long Island beaches after five people were bitten in two days by marine animals that are likely sharks, authorities say.
2023-07-06 10:24
Can 'good cop' Janet Yellen help fix US-China relations?
The US Treasury secretary's trip to Beijing comes as tensions between the two countries remain high.
2023-07-06 07:54
Officer for second Mississippi department implicated in alleged torture, shooting and attempted sexual assault of two men
A second Mississippi law enforcement department says that one of its officers was "implicated" in an incident of alleged torture, shooting and attempted sexual assault of two men in police control.
2023-07-06 05:50
In NATO’s new north, fresh chances to contain Moscow
By Anne Kauranen, Johan Ahlander TORNIO, Finland/KARLSKRONA, Sweden (Reuters) -High above a railway bridge spanning a foaming river just outside
2023-07-05 23:58
RTÉ spent €5,000 on flip-flops
The broadcaster was accused by Irish parliamentarians of running a slush fund.
2023-07-05 23:56
Jenin: Palestinians fear escalation after destructive West Bank assault
The atmosphere in the West Bank refugee camp feels like Gaza after wars with Israel, says Tom Bateman.
2023-07-05 21:52