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Probing false memories: what is the Mandela Effect?

How is it possible to think you’re sure about something, only to learn that your memory’s let you down, and you were wrong all along? False memories can be so convincing that we never think to question their veracity. Denise Cullen investigates this odd, and little-understood, phenomenon. <div class="copy"> Imagine learning about a famous person’s death, watching footage of the funeral, and listening to the eulogies – then, decades later, finding out that this person had been alive all along. This was the scenario confronting Fiona Broome in 2009 when she shared her memory online, then subsequently learnt that Nelson Mandela was still alive. Broome, a paranormal researcher, had a distinct memory of the human rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner dying in prison in the 1980s. “I thought I remembered it clearly, complete with news clips of his funeral, the mourning in [South Africa], some riots in cities and the heartfelt speech by his widow,” she wrote on her website, in a post since removed. As history records, Mandela died aged 95 – a free man and revered former South African president – in 2013. “Recall is a more active and effortful process than mere recognition.” Broome would have been willing to chalk it up to a glitch in her memory. But after discovering that many others shared the same memory, she decided it was instead a glitch in the matrix – a sign consistent with the many-worlds theory of quantum physics that there was a parallel universe in which Mandela had, indeed, died in prison in the 1980s. Since then, many other examples of what’s become known as the Mandela Effect – or shared false memories – have emerged. Common examples include that Rich Uncle Pennybags – aka the Monopoly Man – wears a monocle (he doesn’t), that Pokémon character Pikachu has a black-tipped tail (it’s yellow) and that there’s a hyphen in KitKat (there isn’t). Geographically, some folks swear that there are 51 or 52 states in the United States (there are 50) or that New Zealand is located north-east of Australia (it’s south-east). Cinematic examples include the Evil Queen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs saying “Mirror, mirror on the wall” (it’s actually “Magic mirror on the wall”). And who can forget the chilling moment in The Silence of the Lambs when Hannibal Lecter first meets Agent Starling and says, “Hello Clarice”? Thing is, it never happened. Misremembering the finer details related to board game mascots, fictional characters or logos might sound inconsequential. Yet the Mandela Effect has spawned a fertile field of psychological research seeking to uncover why people develop false memories – and why, when they do, they are along much the same lines. Wilma Bainbridge, who works in the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago, has been interested in the workings of human memory since she and others discovered that people are surprisingly consistent in what they remember, forget and make false memories about. In 2011, Phillip Isola and some of his colleagues at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) identified that memorability was a stable property of an image shared across different viewers. Presenting at the annual Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR), they built one of the first computer vision systems that sought to predict the memorability of different images. They also provided some of the first glimmers that low-level visual attributes of an image – such as its bright colours, or distinctive edges – cannot alone account for its memorability. Similarly, aesthetics (visual appeal), interest (how likely people are to be drawn to or interact with an image) or saliency (the area which draws people’s eye focus first) are insufficient to unlock the keys to memorability. "[There is a] tendency for people to consistently misremember characters or logos from popular culture – things that were, in fact, designed to be memorable." While completing her PhD at MIT, Bainbridge, Isola and MIT colleague Aude Oliva drew on a 10,168-image database of facial photographs to see if the same intrinsic memorability was found in human faces. Their research, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that some faces were consistently remembered or forgotten – and that this couldn’t be fully explained by attractiveness or other perceived character traits such as ‘trustworthy’ or ‘boring’. Bainbridge says it was Isola’s paper in 2011 and hers in 2013 that launched the burgeoning field of memorability. Since then, 845 scientific papers have cited the two papers. Currently on maternity leave after having twin girls, Bainbridge told me via email that she was originally inspired to probe the visual Mandela Effect because of how pervasive discussions were online about people having the same false memories. But no memory research had then investigated this intriguing phenomenon. In a recent article in Psychological Science, Bainbridge and her colleague at The University of Chicago, Deepasri Prasad, explored the visual Mandela Effect for the first time. This is the tendency for people to consistently misremember characters or logos from popular culture – things that were, in fact, designed to be memorable. Over a series of experiments – using icons such as the Monopoly Man, Pikachu, Curious George, the Volkswagen logo and Waldo from Where’s Waldo – they provided the first experimental confirmation that the visual Mandela Effect exists. (Where’s Waldo? is known as Where’s Wally? in Australia. The discrepancy isn’t an example of the Mandela Effect. It arose because publishers believed ‘Waldo’ would better resonate with North Americans.) In the first experiment, they presented 100 adults with images of 22 characters, 16 brand logos and two symbols, and made two altered images of each. “Even though we’ve all lived different lives, there are some pictures that most people remember and some pictures that most people forget,” For instance, they modified Curious George by adding a thin tail in one image and a bushy tail in the other. Research participants viewed all three images and had to choose the correct one. The results indicated that seven out of the 40 images elicited shared – and specific – false memories. In the second experiment, they used eye-tracking methods to see if there were differences in the way participants looked at the images they correctly identified, versus those they got incorrect. “We found no attentional or visual differences that drive this phenomenon,” Prasad and Bainbridge wrote. In the third experiment, the researchers scraped the top 100 Google Image results for each of the seven images to see if previous exposure to non-canonical (incorrect) versions might explain it. But they concluded that there was “no single unifying account for how prior perceptual experiences could cause these visual false memories – which had previously elicited the visual Mandela Effect – to occur”. The fourth experiment involved having participants draw the images, given that recall is a more active and effortful process than mere recognition. Some participants viewed the canonical (correct) images prior to being required to reproduce them, while others, who’d flagged that they were already familiar with the images, did not. One-fifth of all images drawn by the former group, and about half of those drawn by the latter group, showed characteristic Mandela-Effect-type errors. For example, the Monopoly Man frequently appeared with a monocle, while Waldo was often depicted sans cane. The common production of such errors during both short- and long-term recall suggests there’s something intrinsic to these images that leads to people generating the same sorts of fallacies – but Bainbridge says that researchers are only just beginning to probe what that might be. Her laboratory is concerned with broader questions about why some images are intrinsically memorable. “Even though we’ve all lived different lives, there are some pictures that most people remember and some pictures that most people forget,” she explains. Interestingly, when people view an image, high-level visual and memory areas in their brains show a sensitivity to its memorability – regardless of whether they consciously remember seeing it or not. Several functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, including one conducted by Bainbridge and her colleague Jesse Rissman of the University of California Los Angeles and published in Scientific Reports, have demonstrated distinctive brain activation patterns (neural signatures) when memorable images are viewed. These processes take place outside conscious awareness, suggesting they occur automatically. Humans aren’t alone in this, with research led by Nicole Rust at the University of Pennsylvania and published in eLife in 2019 identifying similar patterns in rhesus monkeys who completed visual memory tasks. In a 2022 paper published in Computational Brain & Behavior, Bainbridge and her then University of Chicago master’s student Coen Needell wrote that they had developed a deep learning neural network that can predict people’s memories. <div> “We’ve recently developed a web tool called ResMem using deep learning artificial intelligence where you can upload an image and it will tell you the per cent chance someone will remember that image,” Bainbridge says. “Anyone can try it out with their own photos.” Recent work shows that the images people remember or forget can even be used to identify early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Research published by Bainbridge and colleagues in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring in 2019 found that a small, specific set of images reliably differentiated people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or subjective cognitive decline (SCD) from healthy controls. Using data drawn from the DZNE-Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study (DELCODE), an observational, longitudinal memory clinic–based study across 10 sites in Germany, Bainbridge and colleagues analysed the memory performance of 394 individuals. Each participant viewed a randomly selected subset of 88 photographs from a total pool of 835. The performance of 193 healthy controls was compared to 136 participants with SCD – elderly individuals who self-report a decline in cognitive abilities but don’t yet meet clinical thresholds – and 65 participants with MCI: elderly individuals who show early clinical signs of cognitive decline, but are not yet at the level of Alzheimer’s disease. (Bainbridge notes that Alzheimer’s disease is more severe than MCI, which is more severe than SCD; however, it is possible to have MCI or SCD and never end up developing Alzheimer’s disease.) The researchers found that there was a lot of overlap in what the different groups remembered and forgot. However, there was a small subset of images that were highly memorable to healthy controls, but highly forgettable to those with mild cognitive impairment or subjective cognitive decline. A subset of as few as 18.3 images could distinguish between the two groups. In this way, the intrinsic memorability of images might ultimately pave the way towards quicker, easier and more reliable diagnostic tests of precursors to Alzheimer’s disease. The study of false memories also has weighty implications for criminal defence, given that some people might be wrongfully identified as suspects just because their faces cause false memories more easily. Though this research is not the focus of Bainbridge’s laboratory, work in this area is continuing, with the promise of some yet-to-be-published data suggesting that these more diagnostic images also better tap into the underlying brain pathology in those with MCI. “We’re now interested in creating a neural network tool that can predict your chance of making a false memory to an image – and then, theoretically, you could make images that cause lots of false memories,” Bainbridge explains. “These next steps are still in very early stages, though, and sadly, we don’t really have anything yet [on what features may prompt false memories],” she says. One goal of the research is to make the neural network tool available to any scientist who wants to study what makes something cause false memories. Bainbridge’s research on memorability has potential applications for further research as well as education, which may be enriched, for example, with textbook images or infographics that are more likely to stick in students’ minds. The findings are also likely to enhance clinical practice, given that memory problems are the most common cognitive deficits in dementia. Bainbridge says those experiencing dementia typically benefit as a result of specially designed environments or tools to aid their memory – for example, memorable cues to help them remember to take essential medication. The study of false memories also has weighty implications for criminal defence, given that some people might be wrongfully identified as suspects just because their faces cause false memories more easily. “You’d want to make sure to control for that when choosing a line up,” Bainbridge says. “It’s pretty amazing to think about how our brains can build up vivid memories of images that don’t really exist and that we’ve never seen before.” Image credits: Getty Images <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=250856&title=Probing+false+memories%3A+what+is+the+Mandela+Effect%3F" width="1" height="1" loading="lazy" aria-label="Syndication Tracker" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/behaviour/probing-the-mandela-effect/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/denise-cullen/">Denise Cullen</a>. </div> </div>

Mind

19 common ‘facts’ about dogs that are actually false

Dog myths are everywhere You may think your dog knowledge is outstanding, but the truth is that some dog facts you’ve heard through the grapevine simply aren’t that true. That’s right. There’s a lot of misinformation out there about our pups. And while much of it’s pretty harmless, some perpetuated dog myths are downright dangerous – for you and your dog. Some inaccurate beliefs can cause you to misinterpret certain dog behaviours or dog facial expressions, lead to subpar nutrition or put a strain on the owner-dog bond. We reached out to a range of pet experts, including veterinarians, dog trainers and behaviourists, to shine some light on the biggest dog myths out there. A wagging tail always means a happy dog Have you wondered what your dog’s tail is telling you? Tail wagging is just one of the ways dogs communicate. And although a wagging tail often does denote an excited or happy dog, that’s not always the case. “For example, a vigorous tail wag to the right means happiness at seeing its owner, but slow wags of a tail held halfway down can mean fear or insecurity,” says veterinarian, Dr Jess Trimble. “Additionally, a tail held very high and wagged extremely fast can mean fear or aggression for some dogs.” Dogs eat grass because they’re feeling sick You might have noticed your favourite canine buddy likes to chomp on grass once in a while. They might even go straight for the patch of green the second they’re outside. One of the most common dog myths is that eating grass is a sign your dog is sick, but that’s not necessarily true. “So many clients come to me worried when their dog eats grass that they may be coming down with a sickness. This is not completely untrue, because the grass does act as a natural antacid to help make your dog’s belly feel better,” says veterinarian, Dr Lindsay Butzer. However, dogs eat grass for many reasons, some of which have nothing to do with an upset stomach. “They might just like the taste of the grass,” Dr Butzer says, “or they are still hungry and want to keep eating, and the fibrous grass will fill them up.” You can’t teach an old dog new tricks You’ve heard this phrase before: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” And while it is true that puppies are like sponges, making it so easy to teach them new things, “make no mistake, old dogs can learn too,” says certified animal behaviourist, Trish McMillan. She notes that some geriatric dogs that struggle with vision, hearing or mobility issues may not be as easy to train. However, as long as their brain is in good shape, they can absolutely learn new things. Dogs only see in black and white The idea that dogs only see in black and white is arguably one of the most perpetuated dog myths out there. Dogs can in fact see some colour, but the spectrum is limited, says veterinarian, Dr Adam Christman. “Humans and most other primates have three kinds of cones in our eyes, making us trichromatic; dogs are bichromatic.” And because of this, they do have a tendency to mix up greens and reds. Garlic is a natural flea and tick remedy When your dog is dealing with fleas or ticks, you’ll likely do anything to give them (and your household) some much-needed relief. If you’ve read that garlic acts as a natural cure, don’t believe it. Garlic is actually toxic to dogs and one of the <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/pets/12-foods-you-didnt-know-could-kill-your-dog" target="_blank" rel="noopener">foods dogs can’t eat</a>, so you’ll want to keep it away from your pup. “Garlic will not only have zero effect on fighting off fleas and ticks, but it can also lead to a serious disease known as Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA),” says veterinarian, Dr Michelle Dulake. “Even though it is a rare disease, IMHA causes the body to destroy its own red blood cells, leading to life-threatening anaemia. By feeding garlic, you are unnecessarily risking your pup’s health, expensive hospital bills and multiple blood transfusions.” If you meet a dog, let it sniff your hand This is a well-intentioned line of thinking, but a perpetuated dog myth nonetheless. In actuality, you should not stick your hand out toward any dog you’ve just met. “In our human interactions, it’s second nature to offer a handshake or a fist bump, but we must remember that dogs aren’t humans,” says dog trainer, Guillermo Roa. “Sticking out your hand can be misinterpreted as a sign of aggression, and a dog may bite you.” Roa says it’s better to calmly wait for the dog to approach you, if it is interested in doing so. You don’t know about the dog’s obedience record, after all. So if you must approach a new dog, do it from the side and avoid making intense eye contact. One dog year equals seven human years Although dogs do age quicker than humans, the seven-to-one ratio isn’t quite accurate. Their comparative age depends entirely on breed, size and genetic makeup, says Dr Trimble. “The bigger your dog is, the faster they age. I have patients that are five-kilo terriers that still act like puppies at 16 years old and would be considered around 75 to 80 in human years. In contrast, a Great Dane at 16 would be a record and considered to be more than 130 years of age.” <div> </div> Bad dog breath is completely normal Bad dog breath is so common that most people think it’s just something dog parents live with. The truth is that your dog’s breath really shouldn’t be that bad – and you should be brushing your dog’s teeth more often than you think. “Your dog will never have minty-fresh breath, but it shouldn’t be unbearable either,” says professional dog groomer, Tim Vogel. “Bad breath is an indicator of underlying health issues. Specifically, chronic bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth and is often the first sign of dental disease.” In fact, Vogel says the biggest culprit of bad dog breath is periodontal disease, which affects up to 80 per cent of dogs by age three. In addition to tooth loss, abscesses and periodontal disease, poor oral hygiene can lead to life-threatening conditions, including kidney, liver and heart damage. A warm and dry nose means your dog is sick One of the most repeated dog myths out there is about dog illness symptoms and implies that a healthy dog’s nose is always cold and wet. Warm and dry noses are completely normal though, so don’t worry if this is the usual state of your dog’s snout. “Everything from dry air and allergies to simply taking a nap can affect the wetness of your dog’s nose,” says Dr Christman. “However, while nose health isn’t normally concerning, if you notice your pet’s nose is constantly dry, cracking or running – not simply wet– then you should make an appointment with the veterinarian.” Always spay or neuter at a young age “Spaying and neutering dogs at a young age was happening at an alarming rate several years ago, and many veterinarians took the stance of ‘the younger, the better,’” says dog trainer, Adam Gibson. The idea is that early neutering or spaying will curb behavioural issues as the pet gets older. Gibson points out that numerous studies have shown this to be untrue and waiting to neuter your dog may be safer in the long run. “There are also added health benefits to allowing dogs to keep their reproductive organs intact into adulthood,” Gibson says. The community is responding to this new data, and more vets and owners are waiting six months to one year to spay or neuter pups. Use dog treats to bribe your pet Sure, they taste good, and your dog might beg for them, but the best dog treats aren’t just a way to bribe your pet into following your orders. The best dog trainers view treats as rewards – not bribes. “Treats are a really great way to show your dog that their consistent good behaviour or listening is going to be positively reinforced with a reward,” says Nick Navarro, a professional dog trainer. “When we’re training our dogs’ behaviours, we want to consider when we are giving them their treats. If you’re giving them treats before a bad behaviour happens, that would be considered a bribe. However, after they do something good – like dropping something they shouldn’t be chewing on or coming when called – you should definitely be digging into that treat jar for a job well done.” Bottom line: Treats (store-bought and homemake dog treats) are an excellent training tool for young dogs. Combine it with other training methods, and you’ll have an all-star pup in no time. A dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s This is one of the most common dog myths vets encounter. If a dog’s saliva was as antibacterial as the myth states, they’d be walking medical superheroes. Sure, dogs are superheroes in their own right, but this is one dog myth we’ve got to put to rest. “While dog saliva has a slightly more alkaline pH, which can discourage some bacteria from reproducing, it’s not truly antibacterial,” says Dr Trimble. “In fact, as a vet, one of the most common causes of canine skin infections we see is from a dog licking a wound or itchy spot too much.” Dogs evolved from wolves and should eat like them Dogs and wolves may come from the same lineage, but treating them as an interchangeable species is not ideal and can even impact their health. Dogs evolved from wolves more than 11,000 years ago, says Dr Trimble, and over that evolution, they’ve become two entirely different creatures. “Dogs should not eat the wild-wolf-type diet that’s becoming popular by boutique pet food manufacturers,” she says. It’s important to show your dominance Known as the alpha wolf theory, McMillan explains that it became a popular dog training method after wolves were first studied in captivity. However, with time, we’ve learned that dominance isn’t necessarily the best approach. “Later studies of wild wolves showed that packs are just families, with the older wolves caring for and teaching the younger ones until they’re old enough to leave,” McMillan says. “Modern dog trainers use behavioural principles to look at the antecedents and consequences of behaviour, managing the environment, meeting dogs’ needs for social time, enrichment and exercise, and teaching dogs what we want them to do, rather than solely punishing them when they misbehave.” Rubbing your dog’s nose in an accident curbs future behaviour This is one of those dog training myths that does more harm than good. Because dogs tend to understand behavioural problems at the time the behaviour occurs, rubbing your dog’s nose in an accident when you come home and find it likely will not help them make the connection. “When you do this, you’re in essence punishing a dog that doesn’t know why it’s being punished. This could exacerbate the issue and create more problems in the future,” warns Dr Christman. “Rather, it’s best to catch them in the act and redirect them to their proper potty destination.” Two puppies at once is best (they’ll have a playmate) Adopting two puppies at once sounds like a perfectly reasonable approach – and one that promises countless adorable puppy pictures. But it’s one of those dog myths that may lead to headaches all around, warns Gibson. “From a training and behavioural standpoint, the biggest issues I see with two young puppies being raised together are that they end up being much harder to train,” he says. Even if they are one of <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/pets/11-easiest-dogs-to-train-that-make-obedient-pets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the easiest dog breeds to train</a>, “they are oftentimes so co-dependent upon each other that they don’t seem to develop nearly as much as a puppy raised appropriately by itself.” Additionally, Gibson says they tend to be distracted by each other, and because their bond is so strong, they tend to place less value on their human relationships. The more love, the better the dog What do dogs want? If your answer is love, you’re only partially right. Love is important when it comes to fostering a healthy relationship with your pup and training them well, but don’t confuse love with poor boundaries. “Pets are increasingly seen as part of the family, and that can be wonderful,” says Roa. “We often want to indulge them by giving them the comfiest seat in the house or food from the table, but that can backfire. Like human children, furry kids require boundaries. Without boundaries, you will end up with many behavioural issues that can include aggression.” Dogs don’t think that humans are dogs, which means boundaries set by humans are beneficial. For Roa, gentle guidance and redirection are vital to establish a mutually respectful bond that benefits both pets and their humans. Dogs yawn when they’re tired Dogs are highly emotional, and it affects their behaviours. If you catch your dog mid-yawn, you might just assume it’s feeling sleepy and ready for a nap. That’s a reason humans yawn, after all. But not so fast! Yawning is common in dogs, and while they may yawn when they are tired, Dr Butzer says dogs also yawn due to boredom, anxiety, stress or when they want to get away with something. “For example, my dog will yawn when she has to sit still on the couch while we are eating dinner in the dining room. Dogs will also yawn during a veterinary visit due to stress or wanting to leave the appointment.” Short-haired dogs don’t need grooming When people think of dog grooming, they often think of haircuts. So it’s easy to assume that only long-haired dogs would need routine maintenance. But that’s one of those dog myths that’s bad for their health. The reality is that whether you choose to see a professional or groom your dog at home, every dog requires grooming to maintain good health. “All dogs need routine care, like bathing, ear cleaning, nail clipping and teeth brushing, to stay clean, comfortable and healthy,” says Vogel. “For example, long nails aren’t just unattractive or noisy – they can affect your dog’s overall health and comfort.” Routine ear checks and cleaning can ensure your dog is free of parasites, while brushing and bathing removes loose hair and dander. “Basic hygiene and grooming services aren’t luxuries reserved for special occasions; they’re imperative to maintaining your dog’s overall health and wellness.” Image credit: Shutterstock This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/pets/19-common-facts-about-dogs-that-are-actually-false" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Family & Pets

Apocalyptic films have lulled us into a false sense of security about climate change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)‘s sobering <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-58130705" target="_blank">“code red for humanity”</a> report comes on the heels of months of devastating weather events around the world. Our front pages have been dominated by photos that look as if they’ve come from a film – images of <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-58147674" target="_blank">heroic teams tackling forest fires</a> against a bright orange sky, of planes dropping water and fire retardant, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.voanews.com/europe/german-floods-kill-least-133-search-survivors-continues" target="_blank">cars sinking into flooded streets</a> and destroyed buildings. One image – that of a ferry, carrying evacuees from the Greek Island of Evia, surrounded by fire, helpless and in the middle of crisis – drew comparisons to the ferry scenes in the 2005 remake of War of the Worlds. In the film, people poured onto a vehicle ferry in a desperate attempt to escape the extraterrestrial invasion. In Greece, the ferry made safe landing, and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58141336" target="_blank">all passengers were accounted for</a>. But in the film, few, bar the protagonists, survived that moment. While War of the Worlds ends happily – with the alien lifeforms that had ravaged the world succumbing to their vulnerability to microbes on Earth – the footage from Greece is just one scene in a story for which the ending is not yet fully written. It might seem frivolous to compare such moments to films, but these comparisons play an important role in helping us to comprehend and make sense of particular moments in history. Like all works of art, films reveal much about the social and political zeitgeist in which they are conceived and produced, often acting as magnifying lenses for humankind’s hopes and anxieties. Psychoanalysis researcher Vicky Lebeau <a rel="noopener" href="https://cup.columbia.edu/book/psychoanalysis-and-cinema/9781903364192" target="_blank">has noted</a> that films can reveal the desires and fears of the societies that watch them. We have seen this in science fiction films, such as Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Day the Earth Stood Still, which flourished <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.humanities.org/blog/movie-critic-robert-horton-discusses-sci-fi-films-the-cold-war-and-today" target="_blank">during the cold war</a>, inspired by the space race and the arms race. The proliferation of blockbuster disaster films just before the turn of the millennium (Twister, Dante’s Peak, Armageddon, Deep Impact, to name a few), fed off theories that <a rel="noopener" href="https://davefox990.medium.com/what-disaster-movies-say-about-us-536a5dabbad1" target="_blank">the world would end</a> as we entered the year 2000. And it is also no accident that during the early months of the COVID pandemic the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/contagion-coronavirus-download-watch-online-otorrent-warner-bros-cast-twitter-a9403256.html" target="_blank">most watched films online</a> were Contagion, Outbreak and 28 Days Later –- all of which depict degrees of pandemic apocalypse. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/415428/original/file-20210810-15-7k1ul5.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /> A video of people being evacuated from the Greek island of Evia drew comparisons with the 2005 remake of War of the Worlds. Apocalypse now? Through these stories, directors have offered us an enthralling yet terrifying glimpse of what the end of the world might look like. It could be caused by zombies (Walking Dead, I Am Legend, Shaun of the Dead), biological demise (Children of Men, Logan’s Run), climate change (The Day After Tomorrow, Snowpiercer, Flood), nuclear accident or war (Dr. Strangelove), or ancient prophecy (2012). However, none of these are truly end-of-world narratives. Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic films start with the risk of total destruction, but more often than not, after the cataclysmic event of the story, a form of normality returns –- balance is restored to the world and life can once again move forward. This way of storytelling brings these films closer to the true meaning of apocalypse. The root of the word “apocalypse” comes from the ancient Greek term αποκαλύπτειν (apokalýptein), which <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/apocalypse" target="_blank">translates roughly</a> as “unveiling” or “revealing”. The implication being that the near destruction of the city or planet allows for a new understanding, a shift in priorities and a new way of seeing the world – or a renewed and better existence. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This is some horrifying War of the Worlds shit right here. We have got to start electing governments that actually fight climate change, above all, and start demanding more of ourselves and of companies that can change things. <a href="https://t.co/9JDGI2fWgH">https://t.co/9JDGI2fWgH</a> — Helen O'Hara (@HelenLOHara) <a href="https://twitter.com/HelenLOHara/status/1423980516181741570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2021</a></blockquote> The scenes of flooding and fires that fill our news programmes echo those we see in movies. But for them to be truly apocalyptic, rather than merely world ending, they must reveal something to us. As we watch the real-world events unfold, the IPCC report makes clear what they reveal – that humans have changed the climate and we are on a trajectory to make much of our environment unlivable. But unlike the films, not everyone is going to be saved in 90 thrilling minutes. By comparing reality to films, we are seeking the hope for renewal that these apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic narratives give us. Nevertheless, they are ultimately fiction. While rehearsing the end of the world through film can exorcise fears, at the same time they may have desensitised us, lulling us into a false sense of security that all will be well in the end – and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20130731-the-lure-of-the-disaster-movie" target="_blank">that we are immortal</a>. If our own apocalypse is a three-act film, then the last 200 years of environmental harms have been the setup, the exposition. We are now at the moment of confrontation. We all, as the lead characters, must confront the reality of what is around us. If not, the third act, the resolution, may not be the ending we hope for. As French philosopher Jacques Derrida warned: “the end approaches, but the apocalypse is long lived”.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/165837/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/doug-specht-530827" target="_blank">Doug Specht</a>, Senior Lecturer in Media and Communications, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-westminster-916" target="_blank">University of Westminster</a> and <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/silvia-angeli-1258983" target="_blank">Silvia Angeli</a>, Visiting Lecturer in Media and Communication, <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-westminster-916" target="_blank">University of Westminster</a> This article is republished from <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/apocalyptic-films-have-lulled-us-into-a-false-sense-of-security-about-climate-change-165837" target="_blank">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Movies

Grant Denyer’s big win over “false” affair story

TV presenter Grant Denyer has recently celebrated his win against tabloid magazine New Idea, after the publication was forced to publicly apologise for publishing a false story about him having an affair. In mid-October, New Idea published a story implying that Denyer was having an affair with his Dancing with the Stars partner Lily Cornish. Taking to Instagram on Monday, the Gold Logie winner shared two photos of the apology, which appeared on both <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.newidea.com.au/grant-denyer-chezzi-denyer-lily-cornish-apology" target="_blank">their website</a> and latest printed edition. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXHTazzBfoa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXHTazzBfoa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Grant Denyer (@grantdenyer)</a> </div> </blockquote> “As many of you have already read and raised with us, New Idea have printed today on the editor’s page an apology to Chezzi, Lily and myself for their most recent attack - The false, sensationalised, out of context and WRONG front cover,” he began in the caption. “And they have admitted (which very rarely ever happens) that the article was false. “They also have admitted that they regret publishing the article.” He <a rel="noopener" href="https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/2021/12/06/grant-denyer-wins-new-idea-battle/" target="_blank">also revealed</a> that he received a “confidential settlement” from the magazine almost two months after the “sensationalised” claims emerged. Denyer said that he had every intention of suing the publication, employing lawyers from Corrs Chambers Westgarth to argue his case, but a “suitable” settlement was reached outside of court. He noted that the settlement included, “most importantly, a public apology and an admission that the story and headline were false”. Though he said he, his wife Chezzi, and Cornish couldn’t remove the edition from circulation, “we hope this sets a serious precedent for the future”. “Thanks to each and every one of you who have sent us letters, emails and messages of support throughout this, and to all of those who passed on their distain (sic) to New Idea and boycotted the magazine, we thank you from the bottom of our heart,” he continued. “Without your support the 3 of us may not have been brave enough to take on this media giant.” New Idea released the apology earlier on Monday and conveyed its regret in publishing the story. “Are Media and New Idea acknowledge that Grant Denyer and Lily Cornish are not having an extramarital affair. They have never had an affair,” it said. “Are Media and New Idea regret publishing the article. “Are Media and New Idea wish to sincerely apologise to Grant Denyer, Chezzi Denyer and Lily Cornish for the hurt and embarrassment caused by this article.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CV4nf66Jw2G/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CV4nf66Jw2G/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Grant Denyer (@grantdenyer)</a> </div> </blockquote> When the story first emerged, the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/grant-and-chezzi-denyer-slam-cheating-rumours" target="_blank">Denyers refuted its claims</a> that Grant was “caught out” with Cornish. “Lilz is like our adopted daughter,” Chezzi said at the time, adding that Cornish was a close friend of both her and Denyer. “We grew extremely close during her month long stay with us here in Bathurst. We absolutely adore her!” Image: Getty Images

News

Donations POUR in for man wrongly convicted for murder

After US man Kevin Strickland <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/legal/no-compensation-after-43-years-of-wrongful-imprisonment" target="_blank">was released</a> from jail 43 years after his wrongful conviction in a triple murder, a flood of donations have swept in to help him rebuild his life. The <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kevin-strickland-after-wrongful-conviction" target="_blank">fundraiser</a> set up for him in June had received over $USD 400,000 ($NZD 586,000) at the time of his release, and donations keep coming. Many supporters were outraged that the 62-year-old wouldn’t receive any compensation for his time in prison from the state of Missouri. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Today, Kevin Strickland is finally home, 43 years after being ripped away from his life and family. It took not just a village, but a movement--all of you-- to bring him home. — Tricia Rojo Bushnell (@tcita) <a href="https://twitter.com/tcita/status/1463362164920623104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2021</a></blockquote> Because he wasn’t exonerated through the use of DNA evidence, Mr Strickland doesn’t qualify for wrongful imprisonment payments. Within three days of his release, donors had contributed another $600,000 to his fundraiser, totalling $USD 1.016 million ($NZD 1.49 million) . The organisers thanked donors on Tuesday, confirming that all the money raised would be received by Mr Strickland. “Thank you all for your support! All funds go directly to Mr Strickland, who the state of Missouri won’t provide a dime to for the 43 years they stole from him,” they wrote. Mr Strickland has maintained his innocence since he was sentenced to 50 years in prison in 1979. He has said that he was at home watching television at the time of the three deaths, which happened when he was 18 years old. The fundraiser, set up by the Midwest Innocence Project, has been collecting donations for Mr Strickland since June, when the organisation began campaigning for his release. They have said he would need help paying for basic living costs once he was free. “I can’t begin to say all the things I am thankful for,” Mr Strickland <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/travel/americas/almost-us1-million-raised-for-man-wrongly-convicted-of-1979-triple-homicide-c-4711022" target="_blank">said</a> as he left prison. Image: GoFundMe

Legal

No compensation after 43 years of wrongful imprisonment

US man has been freed after being imprisoned for more than four decades over crimes he didn’t commit. Kevin Strickland was convicted of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second degree murder in relation to a triple homicide in 1978. The then 18-year-old was accused of killing Larry Ingram, 21, John Walker, 20, and Sherrie Black 22, at a home in Kansas City. He maintains that he was at home watching television at the time of the murders. He received a 50-year life sentence with no parole as an eighteen-year-old, and has always maintained that he wasn’t involved. “I’m still in disbelief,” the 62-year-old <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/man-walks-free-after-spending-four-decades-behind-bars-for-crime-he-didnt-commit-c-4692536" target="_blank">said</a> moments after his release on Wednesday. “Thank you (to the judge) for reviewing all the no evidence against me to begin with. I really appreciate him taking his time to listen and understand what really happened in 1978 and how I was an easy mark and the police took advantage of me.” <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845887/kevin-strickland1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/273081ddd4ee44d68dcb6e42f689fdbc" /> Kevin Strickland was the first witness to testify at the hearing that secured his freedom. Image: KCTV5 Mr Strickland learned of the court’s decision to free him from prison while watching a soap opera, when the news scrolled across the television screen. He said fellow inmates began screaming. “I’m not necessarily angry. It’s a lot. I think I’ve created emotions that you all don’t know about just yet,” he told reporters while leaving the Western Missouri prison. “Joy, sorrow, fear. I am trying to figure out how to put them together.” All of Mr Strickland’s charges were dismissed after his legal team presented evidence to exonerate him. During the proceedings, family members of the sole surviving witness, Cynthia Douglas, said she was pressured by police to name Strickland as one of the men she saw on the night of the murders. Cynthia passed away in 2015, but her mother and daughter appeared before the court to testify. “We were talking, she said, ‘Mother, I picked the wrong guy. The officer told me that was the guy,” <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.kctv5.com/news/local_news/kevin-strickland-first-to-testify-at-long-awaited-hearing/article_5ecc3214-40f1-11ec-b53b-1f9e37137c18.html" target="_blank">said</a> Senoria Douglas, Cyntha’s mother. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845888/kevin-strickland2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/46cf4c1eccd248cab801dbdad9f03e58" /> Cyntha Douglas’ mother, Seroria, spoke about how her daughter told her she ‘picked the wrong guy’. Image: KCTV5 Sherrie Jordan, Cynthia’s daughter, said: “She started saying (that) Kevin Strickland was the wrong guy. And she was trying to get him out, by going through the right procedures.” Judge James Welsh, a retired court of appeals judge, made the ruling to free Mr Strickland after a Jackson county prosecutor requested an evidentiary hearing, saying evidence used to convict him had since been recanted or disproven. “Under these unique circumstances, the Court’s confidence in Strickland’s convictions is so undermined that it cannot stand, and the judgement of conviction must be set aside,” Welsh <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/24/kevin-strickland-freed-42-years-wrongful-conviction" target="_blank">wrote</a> when ordering Mr Strickland’s immediate release. Since securing his freedom, one of the first things Mr Strickland did was visit his mother’s grave. “That was the first step. I didn’t have a chance to visit her in the last years … I revisited those tears that I did when they told me I was guilty of a crime I didn’t commit,” he told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2021/11/24/kevin-strickland-prison-release-newday-vpx.cnn" target="_blank">CNN</a> on Wednesday. But, Mr Strickland will not receive any compensation from the State of Missouri for his time spent in prison, and a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kevin-strickland-after-wrongful-conviction" target="_blank">GoFundMe</a> set up to help him restart his life has received more than $400,000 in donations. Image: Midwest Innocence Project

Legal

False fossils could hamper search for life on Mars

<div> <div class="copy"> If you’re an interplanetary alien hunter scouring the red expanses of Mars for signs of life, you’re more likely to come across <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/looking-for-microbes-on-mars/" target="_blank">microbes</a> than little green men. You’re even more likely to come across fossils of ancient critters that lived billions of years ago. But new research warns that chemical processes can create “pseudofossils”, potentially fooling future exo-palaeontologists. “At some stage a Mars rover will almost certainly find something that looks a lot like a fossil, so being able to confidently distinguish these from structures and substances made by chemical reactions is vital,” says astrobiologist Sean McMahon from the University of Edinburgh, UK. “For every type of fossil out there, there is at least one non-biological process that creates very similar things, so there is a real need to improve our understanding of how these form.” In a study published in the Journal of the Geological Society, McMahon and colleagues from the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford assessed dozens of known processes that could have created life-like traces in Martian rocks. Many chemical processes can mimic the structures created by microscopic lifeforms, like bacterial cells or carbon-based molecules that make up the building blocks of life as we know it. Stromatolites are one example of fossils that could be impersonated. These rock-like structures formed from layers deposited by communities of blue-green algae. Called “living fossils”, they are still <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/history/palaeontology/extremely-ancient-lifeform-discovered-in-tasmania/" target="_blank">found</a> in shallow aquatic environments today, and at more than 3.5 billion years old they’re among the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/earth-sciences/earliest-life-found-in-ancient-aussie-rocks/" target="_blank">oldest evidence</a> for life on Earth. But non-biological processes can produce pseudofossils that mimic the domes and columns of stromatolites. Surprisingly, similar deposits can build up in places like factory floors, where cars are spray-painted, as well as more natural processes like the deposition of silica around hot springs, some of which <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13554" target="_blank">have recently been found</a> on Mars. Another example of ambiguous fossils can be found in sandstone beds from the Ediacaran period, 550 million years ago. Animal and plant-like imprints are embedded in “textured” rocks, where the texture actually represents fossilised microbial mats that once covered the ancient sea floor. A joint Australian-US team has <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/earth-sciences/studying-fossils-with-ai-tech/" target="_blank">recently been awarded</a> NASA funding to see if AI can distinguish between rocks that are formed from biological signatures (like these microbial mats) or from purely abiotic chemical processes. The team’s ultimate goal is to apply similar machine learning techniques to geological images taken by Mars rovers. This new paper by UK astrobiologists says that research like this may be key to the success of current and future exobiology missions. “We have been fooled by life-mimicking processes in the past,” says co-author Julie Cosmidis, a geobiologist from the University of Oxford. “On many occasions, objects that looked like fossil microbes were described in ancient rocks on Earth and even in meteorites from Mars, but after deeper examination they turned out to have non-biological origins. “This article is a cautionary tale in which we call for further research on life-mimicking processes in the context of Mars, so that we avoid falling into the same traps over and over again.”  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=172969&title=False+fossils+could+hamper+search+for+life+on+Mars" alt="" width="1" height="1" /> </div> <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/astrobiology/false-fossils-on-mars-could-hamper-search-for-life/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/lauren-fuge">Lauren Fuge</a>. Lauren Fuge is a science journalist at Cosmos. She holds a BSc in physics from the University of Adelaide and a BA in English and creative writing from Flinders University. Image: gremlin/Getty Images </div> </div>

International Travel

Weeks to live: Woman marries love of her life after being falsely promised more time

A terminally ill bride has married the love of her life with just days to live after she wrongly told by doctors that a cancerous lump on her leg was something not to think about. 23-year-old Ashleigh Simrajh tied the knot with her boyfriend Jason Hale in a deeply emotional last-minute ceremony that was attended by the couple’s family and friends on the Gold Coast. Ashleigh was diagnosed with cancer in May last year – over a year after she was told a lump on her leg was nothing serious. Her family claims the doctor dismissed it for nothing more than a “wart”. <img id="__mcenew" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837771/grandma.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3d6474caf0c04678ac18366cd6a501a2" /> She was sent her to a surgeon after a quick visual examination and was quoted $2,500 to get the lump removed, her father Tony Simrajh explained to Sunrise. “Ashley went away from those appointments thinking she just had something cosmetic on her and it wasn’t something that she had to worry about,” he said. “About May last year she went to check it again because it was sore, with another doctor, who within five minutes did a biopsy and then we got the devastating news that it was a nodular melanoma.” Scans that uncovered the cancer had determined it was already too late as it had spread to Ashleigh’s lungs, lymph nodes and liver. Tony says that his daughter has been using all of her energy throughout her cancer battle to encourage others to go for regular skin checks. She has also urged people to question a doctor’s diagnosis if something doesn’t feel right “It’s a story that didn’t need to happen,” he said. “If the basics had been done then we wouldn’t be where we are now.” “Ashleigh is 23 years of age and has terminal cancer due to a GP and specialist not conducting basic tests like a biopsy,” Tony said on a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/d8wx3-ashleighs-cancer-journey" target="_blank">GoFundMe page</a> set up for his sick daughter. “She is on a mission to get her story out there for young people to get checked but also to get another doctor to have a look at it if you are still not sure. “That would have saved her life if she did.” Image Credit: Willow And Finch Photography

Relationships

US calls out Prince Andrew for false portrayal

Prince Andrew is caught up in a battle with US authorities after they made an accusation against him, say he is refusing to cooperate with the investigation into his disgraced friend Jeffrey Epstein. The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey Berman, said the Duke of York was trying to “falsely portray himself to the public” after he publicly insisted he had offered to help “at least three times” and was being treated at a “lower standard” than other citizens. On Monday, Prince Andrew’s legal team at Blackfords LLP issued an extraordinary statement refuting claims that the Queen’s second son had offered “zero co-operation” and a “wall of silence” to investigators. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/KUKvXQsrzd">pic.twitter.com/KUKvXQsrzd</a> — US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/SDNYnews/status/1270074605923958785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2020</a></blockquote> His lawyers, Clare Montgomery QC and Stephen Ferguson, said so far they had chosen not to speak out about any conversations with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) but would now do so in light of “misleading media briefings.” Prince Andrew’s team says the DOJ had been “actively investigating” Epstein for 16 years “yet the first time they requested the Duke’s help was on 2nd January 2020.” “The Duke of York has on at least three occasions this year offered his assistance as a witness to the DOJ. Unfortunately, the DOJ has reacted to the first two offers by breaching their own confidentiality rules and claiming that the Duke has offered zero co-operation. In doing so, they are perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance proffered,” they said. The lawyers then claimed that the Geoffrey Berman, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York is making “inaccurate” statements after he said there had been a “wall of silence” from Prince Andrew back in January. But it didn’t take long for Mr Berman to fire back at the Duke of York’s “false” claims. “Today, Prince Andrew yet again sought to falsely portray himself to the public as eager and willing to cooperate with an ongoing federal criminal investigation into sex trafficking and related offenses committed by Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, even though the Prince has not given an interview to federal authorities, has repeatedly declined our request to schedule such an interview, and nearly four months ago informed us unequivocally - through the very same counsel who issued today’s release - that he would not come in for such an interview,” he said in a statement released by his office. “If Prince Andrew is, in fact, serious about cooperating with the ongoing federal investigation, our doors remain open, and we await word of when we should expect him.” In early March, Mr Berman had said the Prince “shut the door” on US authorities. “These statements were inaccurate, and they should not have been made,” the lawyers said. “It is a matter of regret that the DOJ has seen fit to breach its own rules of confidentiality, not least as they are designed to encourage witness co-operation. “Far from our client acting above the law, as has been implied by press briefings in the US, he is being treated by a lower standard than might reasonably be expected for any other citizen. “Further, those same breaches of confidentiality by the DOJ have given the global media – and, therefore, the worldwide audience – an entirely misleading account of our discussions with them,” the lawyers said.

Legal

Palace breaks silence to slam "false" claim against Kate Middleton

Kensington Palace has issued a statement that is rarely given to defend the Duchess of Cambridge against a “false” claim made by Tatler magazine. The media publication is known for reporting on the lives of British royalty, celebrities and socialites and this week was slammed for publishing an article saying Duchess Kate felt “exhausted and trapped”. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CArQiUVn65C/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CArQiUVn65C/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Royal Confessional Eng-Esp (@royalconfessional)</a> on May 26, 2020 at 8:17pm PDT </div> </blockquote> The publication quoted a close friend who said Kate was "furious" after Prince Harry and Meghan decided to step down as senior members of the royal family, which resulted in other royals being forced to pick up extra work. “Kate is furious about the larger workload. Of course, she's smiling and dressing appropriately but she doesn't want this,” the friend allegedly said. “She feels exhausted and trapped. She's working as hard as a top CEO, who has to be wheeled out all the time, without the benefits of boundaries and plenty of holidays.” The report also went on to claim that Duchess Kate had argued with Meghan Markle over whether or not she could wear tights at the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ wedding back in 2018. “There was an incident at the wedding rehearsal,” another friend reportedly told Tatler. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_WfFYOnC9U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B_WfFYOnC9U/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Royal Families (@_royalfamilies)</a> on Apr 23, 2020 at 10:09pm PDT </div> </blockquote> “It was a hot day and apparently there was a row over whether the bridesmaids should wear tights or not. Kate, following protocol, felt that they should. Meghan didn't want them to,” the friend said. However, Kensington Palace has given a terse response, saying the article was riddled with “inaccuracies” and “misrepresentations”. “This story contains a swathe of inaccuracies and false misrepresentations which were not put to Kensington Palace prior to publication,” it said. The statement did not single out any of the magazine's claims in particular. It is extremely rare for palace officials to slam claims made about the royal family in the media. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have not shown any annoyances towards tabloid claims and have kept busy during the coronavirus lockdown by conducting several of their official royal duties via video link.

Beauty & Style

Mother falsely accused of bringing COVID-19 to China says it's like living in a nightmare

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> Maatje Benassi has had her life turned upside down after conspiracy theorists falsely placed her at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, saying that she brought the disease to China. These false claims are spreading like wildfire on YouTube every day, racking up hundreds of thousands of views and have been embraced by Chinese Communist Party media. Maatje, her husband Ben and her two children have never been tested positive for coronavirus or experienced symptoms but are now subjects of discussion on Chinese social media. The family’s home address has been posted online and they had to shut down their social media accounts as their inboxes were overflowing with messages from believers of the conspiracy. "It's like waking up from a bad dream going into a nightmare day after day," Maatje told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/27/tech/coronavirus-conspiracy-theory/index.html" target="_blank">CNN Business</a> in an exclusive interview. Maatje works as a civilian employee at the US Army's Fort Belvoir in Virginia and her husband Ben is a civilian employee with the Air Force at the Pentagon. Despite the couple working for the US Government, Maatje believes it's too much. "I want everybody to stop harassing me, because this is cyberbullying to me and it's gone way out of hand," Maajte said while fighting back tears. The baseless claims initially began after Maatje participated in October 2019 in the Military World Games and was hosted by Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak began. While hundreds of US athletes took part in the games, Maatje Benassi was plucked out of the group and named as the reason why COVID-19 hit the city. The claims have gained more traction due to George Webb, who’s a prolific American misinformation peddler. Webb, 59, regularly streams hours of misinformation on YouTube and has amassed more than 27 million views. Webb considers himself an “investigative reporter” instead of a conspiracy theorist, but Maatje’s husband Ben said that it’s “hard to hold Webb accountable”. "Law enforcement will tell you that there's nothing that we can do about it because we have free speech in this country,” Ben explained. “Then they say, 'Go talk to a civil attorney,' so we did. We talked to an attorney. You quickly realize that for folks like us, it's just too expensive to litigate something like this. We get no recourse from law enforcement. We get no recourse from the courts." Unfortunately for the Benassi family, the “damage is done”. "I know it [will] never be the same. Every time you're going to Google my name, it will pop up as patient zero," said Maatje sadly. Photo credits: <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/27/tech/coronavirus-conspiracy-theory/index.html" target="_blank">Heather Fulbright / CNN</a> </div> </div> </div>

Legal

Prince Harry and William stand together against false claims

Prince Harry and Prince William have slammed a UK newspaper in a joint statement that suggests that bullying is the reason for the Sussex’s departure from the Royal Family. A royal source spoke to the UK press that the Duke of Sussex felt “pushed out of the royal family” by his big brother, but the brothers have fought back, saying that the claim is “offensive”. The brothers put out a joint statement saying the following, according to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.the-sun.com/news/246303/prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-feel-pushed-out-by-bullying-prince-william-as-harry-in-turmoil-over-cutting-ties/" target="_blank">The Sun</a>: “Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between The Duke of Sussex and The Duke of Cambridge. “For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language in this way is offensive and potentially harmful.” The source had told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=34784X1028065&isjs=1&jv=13.25.3-stackpath&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.the-sun.com%2Fnews%2F246303%2Fprince-harry-and-meghan-markle-feel-pushed-out-by-bullying-prince-william-as-harry-in-turmoil-over-cutting-ties%2F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thetimes.co.uk%2Farticle%2Fprinces-fell-out-because-william-wasnt-friendly-towards-meghan-pj0hjmzjl&xguid=ea7b4def31feee5787dcfb4dab958b7d&xs=1&xtz=-660&xuuid=5a3409330e72157834af781bb7bb70bc&xcust=016fa0de420800186f6be30cc88503079009407100bd0" target="_blank">The Times</a> that the decision for the Sussex’s to leave was driven by Meghan. "She wants to leave ... She thinks: 'It's not working for me'. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7EaGS_Jpb9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B7EaGS_Jpb9/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)</a> on Jan 8, 2020 at 10:33am PST </div> </blockquote> "Harry is under intense pressure to choose. It is sad. He loves the Queen. He loves this country. "He loves all his military stuff and I think it will genuinely break his heart to leave. "I don't think that's what he really wants. I think they want some halfway house."

International Travel

6 common "facts" about cats that are actually false

Most cat lovers would do anything to defend their favourite pet, but cats can still be very misunderstood. We gathered some of the most common cat “facts” that are actually false to set the record straight. Also, make sure to read up on these true cat facts that are purr-fectly fascinating. 1. Cats are nocturnal Cats are actually not nocturnal. “We probably think so because we are most aware of our cats when they are running over our faces at 3 o’clock in the morning. Cats are actually crepuscular, which means they are most awake at dusk and dawn,” says Jackson Galaxy, renowned cat behaviour and wellness expert, host of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell and New York Times best-selling author. “This is because in nature, their natural prey is awake at dusk and dawn.” Over time, you can adjust your cat to your sleeping schedule. You should feed them around the same time every day so that they get into a rhythm. 2. Cats like to be alone and aren’t loving like dogs “In comparing their behaviour to that of dogs, we end up calling cats things like ‘aloof,’ ‘overly independent,’ even ‘unloving.’ It’s not fair that because of who they are (and who they aren’t), we judge cats simply because they are not programmed to make us humans happy as their primary objective,” says Galaxy. “When seen through no other lens than their own, we can see that most cats thrive in communities and in relationships with humans and other animals, and absolutely can and do show love – it just looks different than the love that we perceive dogs give to us.” 3. Milk is a great treat for cats Just like some humans, cats can be lactose intolerant. Even though cats are often associated with milk, you should never feed your cat milk. “All mammals are born with the ability to digest their mother’s milk because their bodies contain the enzyme lactase which breaks down the lactose protein,” says Dawn LaFontaine, a cat shelter volunteer, cat blogger and founder of Cat in the Box. “Once a kitten is weaned, however, her gut stops producing this enzyme.” Feeding your cat milk can cause an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhoea. 4. A purring cat equals a happy cat If your cat is curled up next to you purring while you scratch their head that is typically a sign that they are very content. However, when a cat purrs it can mean a lot more than just happiness. “Cats purr when they are frightened and when they’re threatened. They purr in pain, when they’re injured, in labour and even when they are near death,” says LaFontaine. 5. Declawing is not harmful “Declawing is a completely unnecessary surgery. The idea of saving your furniture by destroying your cat’s body is just unacceptable,” says Galaxy. It can physically hurt your cat’s body and takes away a part of them. 6. Dry food is better than wet food When it comes to cats, the opposite is actually true. “Canned food is better than dry because it is higher in protein, lower in calories, and contains needed moisture,” says Bahr. Source: <a href="https://www.rd.com/advice/pets/common-cat-myths/">RD.com</a> Written by Morgan Cutolo. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/pets/14-common-facts-about-cats-that-are-actually-false">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a>

Family & Pets

These travel tips are no longer true

We all love an insider tip, but some of the classic tips for travellers no longer hold true. 1. Book a plane ticket far in advance to save money This myth may have been true back in the ’60s, when flights were less common than they are today. Back then, the demand for a flight would naturally increase as the date approached, there being few other options. These days, a plethora of alternatives for the most popular routes means that demand is levelled out. According to recent studies, the best time to buy a domestic ticket is between six and seven weeks out. 2. The best hotel prices are on travel websites Don’t overlook the benefits of going straight to the hotel to negotiate a good deal on a room. Many hotel chains offer rate guarantees and encourage customers to book directly. Hotels also frequently have discount or perk offers that third-party websites aren’t privy to. On top of this, hotels give the upgrades, not the booking agents. 3. Avoid street food When in Rome, do what the Romans do If this means standing up at a cheap street stall, then follow the crowd. Don’t sit down at a restaurant and spend four times more, on the simple assumption that it’s the only safe option. Can you see what’s going on the kitchen? 4. Put your money in a money pouch or belt This is the fastest way to stand out from locals – who will have their money in a wallet or purse. Only take what you need when you leave your hotel room and make sure to put your wallet in a front pocket. 5. Duty free is cheaper This is only true if you’re buying products that are heavily taxed, such as cigarettes and alcohol. Avoid sunglasses and perfumes, as these usually have a much higher base price than what you’ll find outside the airport. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/tips/travel-myths">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Cruising

10 more facts you believe that aren't actually true

We Showed you some of the most <a href="http://www.readersdigest.co.nz/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/51-favourite-facts-youve-always-believed-are-actually?items_per_page=All">believed 'facts' that are actually not true at all.</a> Here's ten new facts that are actually false. 1. Sugar = Hyperactivity Studies have disproved this. Poor or rowdy behaviours still occur in children with sugar-free diets. 2. Bulls hate red Bulls are colour-blind. They actually perceive the motions of the bullfighter’s cloth as a threat. 3. Your hair and nails keep growing after death Wrong – but your skin tissue does recede, making them appear longer. 4. Celebrities die in threes Of the celebs who have died since 1990, only in seven cases did three die in the same five-day period, according to data from the New York Times. 5. Bananas grow on trees Actually, they grow on massive herbs that just resemble trees. 6. Bagpipes are Scottish Sorry, Braveheart fans: they were prevalent in the Middle East centuries before Western Europe. 7. Adam and Eve ate an apple They ate the forbidden “fruit” of the tree of knowledge – nowhere in Genesis does it say it was an apple. 8. Sleepers swallow eight spiders per year Spiders usually don’t crawl into beds during night-time wanderings because they offer no prey. You probably swallow zero spiders per year. 9. All your fingernails grow at the same rate Because blood flow stimulates nail growth, the nails on your dominant hand actually grow faster. 10. Van Gogh cut off his ear for a lover It was just a small piece of lobe, and he did it during a violent spat with Pat Gauguin. Whether Van Gogh then gave it to a local girl remains unknown. Written by David McCandless and Brandon Specktor. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.co.nz/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/51-favourite-facts-youve-always-believed-are-actually">Reader’s Digest.</a> For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN87V">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Caring

10 favourite facts you’ve always believed that are actually false

Here, the world’s most contagious myths and misconceptions – debunked. 1. Napoleon was short A tall tale. At five six, he was actually slightly above average height for a Frenchman of the time. Just as his military genius has been studied throughout the years, we've also been fascinated with the life – and quirks – of the first emperor of France. 2. Don’t eat and swim This doesn’t increase the risk of cramps; alcohol is the biggest risk increaser. But a full stomach will make you short of breath. 3. Salty water boils quicker Adding a sprinkle of salt to water makes no difference. It can actually make boiling take longer. It is important for dishes that need to cook for a long time, that your pot or pan has a good-quality heavy base to distribute the heat evenly. 4. Oil stops stuck pasta Nope. It’ll only make it greasy. Stirring prevents sticking. 5. Left and right brain There’s no solid division between the talents of each hemisphere; the left brain can learn “right-brain skills” and vice versa. 6. Dropped coins kill Terminal velocity of a standard penny is 18 to 30 kilometres per hour. Not fast enough to kill – but it sure would sting. Back in the day, putting a coin or other hard, flat object on a baby’s belly to help to heal an umbilical hernia was a common practice. 7. Three wise men Nowhere in the Bible does it specify that there were three. Want to know something freaky? In the Bible, it is significant that Noah led seven pairs of all clean animals, one pair of every unclean animal and seven pairs of birds into the ark. When the flood subsided, God, who had created the world in seven days, sent a redeeming rainbow with seven colours. 8. MSG = Headaches There’s no scientific proof—just anecdotal evidence implicating monosodium glutamate. 9. Dogs sweat by salivating No—they regulate temperature through panting. They actually sweat through their footpads. 10 Great Wall of China It’s not visible from space. No single human structure is visible from orbit, but you can see cities at night. Written by David McCandless and Brandon Specktor. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/thought-provoking/51-favourite-facts-youve-always-believed-are-actually">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>. <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Mind

Myths about the flu vaccine that are completely false

Influenza kills hundreds of thousands of people around the world every year, but many seniors do not protect themselves because of common misconceptions about the vaccine. Cecile Meier reports. Emily Arps has constant lung infections, bouts of pneumonia, and lots of coughing. Arps and others like her with respiratory illnesses or compromised immune systems, could develop serious complications if exposed to influenza, commonly known as the flu. Every winter, Arps, who lives with two respiratory conditions, stays as healthy as possible. She hopes others will get their flu jabs. For some, the illness can be fatal. Many have severe symptoms leading to hospitalisation. Canterbury medical officer of health Dr Ramon Pink said 125,935 vaccinations were distributed in Canterbury by the end of April, which was "an encouraging start to the flu season". In 2009, about the same number of people were vaccinated over the whole season. "Flu can be severe and can cause serious illness and death, especially in the very young and in the elderly," Pink said. Worldwide, flu caused between 3 million and 5m cases of severe disease and an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 deaths, he said. Green Cross Health Group manager professional services Alison Van Wyk said even those who did not present symptoms could be carriers of the virus and infect others. "There remains a large proportion of New Zealanders who are not getting the flu vaccination." Common misconceptions stopped people from getting the vaccine, placing them at unnecessary risk of falling ill and infecting others, she said. Flu vaccines myths 1. The flu shot will give me the flu: False. The flu vaccine does not contain live strains of the virus; it cannot infect you. However, it takes about two weeks for your body to form protective antibodies to the vaccine so it can fully protect you. 2. I'm fit, healthy and I never get the flu – I don't need to worry: False. The flu can affect anybody, causing severe symptoms regardless of health, fitness levels or age. The more people who are vaccinated, the less transmission of the flu occurs and the better protected our overall population is. 3. Pregnant women can't get a flu shot: False. In fact, pregnant women should get a flu shot as soon as possible, to help protect their baby for their first few months of their life when they are susceptible to infection. Pregnant women are eligible for a free flu vaccine at their local pharmacy or GP clinic. 4. I already had a vaccine last year, so I'm safe: False. The flu strains in circulation change each year, so it is important to get a fresh vaccination at the start of the flu season (between April and May) to ensure you're protected against the latest virus. Immunity also decreases over time so annual vaccinations are necessary. 5. Man flu isn't real: The jury's still out. According to a study by Stanford University School of Medicine, men may suffer more when struck down by the flu, because high levels of testosterone can weaken their immune response. Women generally have a stronger antibody response to the flu shot, giving them greater protection against the virus. Have you had a flu vaccine yet? Written by Cecile Meier. First appeared on <a href="http://www.Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>.

Body

Study finds many remember events that never happened

In a world of misinformation and ‘fake news’, surely you can trust your own memory – right? Wrong. A recent study in the journal Memory found that false memories are common and can affect up to 50 per cent of people. So how do they work? False memories aren't lies, in that people don’t create them intentionally to deceive others. One way that they can come about is through implantation. More than 400 participants in the Memory study had a series of fake autobiographical events suggested to them (like a ride in a hot air balloon), which were then backed up by a narrative and photos. Despite the fact that these events had never taken place, 30 per cent of the participants appeared to fully remember it and were even able to embellish the story with their own extra details. Fifty-three per cent believed that they had experienced the event to some degree. And nobody is immune. Leading Australian psychologist Professor Elizabeth Loftus liken the memory to a Wikipedia page – anyone can open it up and make edits. "You can distort people's memories with a leading question or by exposing them to another person's version of an event," she said. "You can plant entirely false memories into the minds of people." Sometimes people create these memories themselves either as a survival mechanism (by editing or erasing painful memories) or to enhance their own prestige (like inflating exam results or charitable contributions). However, there have been cases of individuals in a position of power, such as therapists and lawyers, implanting memories in vulnerable clients. Incorrect or embellished memories can have serious consequences. Eyewitness testimony in criminal cases is based on memory. If these memories are unreliable, what does that mean for potentially thousands of people who have been convicted on the basis of an eyewitness? All memory is a reconstruction, it’s in the very nature of the brain. So when people recall memories, they are in fact telling a story about themselves integrated with the things they genuinely remember. The problem is, a few extra details can often find their way in. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2017/01/personality-quirks-that-are-a-sign-of-intelligence/">These 4 personality quirks are a sign of intelligence</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2017/01/getting-distracted-in-old-age-is-a-good-thing/">Getting distracted in old age is a good thing</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2017/01/tips-to-improve-your-memory/%20">Improve your memory with these 4 tips</a>

Mind

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