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Woman slammed for using GoFundMe for house deposit

A woman has been relentlessly mocked online after launching a GoFundMe page to ask strangers to contribute money to her house deposit. Emmalee Potter, a mother-of-three from Victoria, wrote on the page that she had been "suffering a rough few years" and relying on friends and family for help with accommodation. Now however, Potter is finally in the position where she is tantalising close to being able to purchase her new home after "working hard towards saving", but still finds herself $3,000 short of her goal. As she wrote on the fundraising page, "I'm almost at the final stage but I'm short on the deposit so I'm calling on my village. Please help me get over this last hurdle, every little bit truly helps, a house is more than just a place to live." "It's a foundation for the next chapter of life, a space where memories are made, and where I can really begin to feel settled. Your donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward helping me achieve this dream." While Ms Potter thanked those who could contribute, many were not impressed at her using the platform in order to fund her house. "No hate but you expect people to donate to you so you can buy a house?" one person asked, while another added, "I'm sorry but that is ridiculous. If we are all going to start GoFundMe accounts, I may as well start one so I can go on a holiday to Greece." Another person wrote, "It's a tough time for everyone trying to buy a house, especially with the cost of living, so I'm kind of confused why you're asking for donations. The first paragraph of your listing says 'I'm now in a position to purchase a home' but you're asking strangers to send you money for the deposit?" Ms Potter defended the fundraising page as she responded to one outraged commenter, writing, "It's not about 'funding me a house' it's the small amount still needed to buy something." "Me and my kids are living in a room at my friends. Buying is actually cheaper than renting. We've applied for over 100 rentals and been knocked back. I can get the home loan and pay the repayments [I'm] just needing the last bit of the deposit." Others were quick to defend the woman, as one person wrote, "There's nothing wrong with asking for help." Image credits: GoFundMe / Facebook

Money & Banking

Meghan Markle shares rare glimpse of Princess Lilibet

Meghan Markle has shared a rare glimpse of her daughter, Princess Lilibet, as she reintroduces her lifestyle brand under a new name – As Ever. Following trademark issues with her original brand name, American Riviera Orchard, the Duchess of Sussex officially confirmed the rebranding in a social media post. Accompanying the announcement, a newly launched website prominently features an image of Meghan and Lilibet walking hand-in-hand through a park, seemingly captured by a drone. This marks the third new image of three-year-old Lilibet shared with the public in just a few months. In December, Prince Harry and Meghan’s private Christmas card included a touching moment of the couple embracing Lilibet and her older brother, Prince Archie, 5. Then, in a tribute video following the passing of Meghan’s beloved rescue Beagle, Guy, fans caught another glimpse of Lilibet in a photo from Meghan’s private album, showing her with Guy in a park. The latest image appears to have been taken on the same day, as Meghan and her daughter are seen wearing similar outfits. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2025/02/LilibetMarkle_Insta.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The heartwarming photo aligns with the essence of As Ever, which will offer a variety of products, including Meghan’s homemade jams. In a video accompanying the brand's launch, the Duchess excitedly shared her passion for the venture. “I think we're all clear at this point that jam is my jam, but there are so many more products that I just love and use in my home, and now it’s time to share them with you,” she said. “I can't wait for you to see it.” The name As Ever holds special meaning for Meghan’s followers, as it was originally her signature sign-off on her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig. The phrase later appeared on her podcast, Archetypes, and has now been embraced as the identity of her revived business, which coincides with her reactivated Instagram account. “And if you’ve followed me since 2014 with The Tig, you know I’ve always loved cooking, crafting and gardening,” she explained. “This is what I do, and I haven’t been able to share it with you in the same way for the past few years, but now I can.” As Ever is expected to reflect Meghan’s personal style and passions, much like her previous work on The Tig, with a focus on home and lifestyle products. Images: As Ever / Instagram

Family & Pets

Polish woman claiming to be Maddie McCann arrested

The young Polish woman who has long claimed to be Madeleine McCann has been arrested, just moments after arriving in the UK. Julie Wandelt, 23, was descended upon by police at Bristol Airport, with authorities holding her on suspicion of stalking and harassing Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann. Wandelt, who had just flown in from Wroclaw in Poland, had been due to meet a friend, who lives in Cardiff, when she was surrounded by officers in front of shocked passengers. The friend, who is thought to be aged in her 60s, was also arrested and taken away by police. Wandelt's representative, Surjit Singh Clair, confirmed news of the arrest, saying, "I'm trying to find out what's happened but it appears Julia has been arrested at Bristol Airport this evening just after she got off the plane." "The police have reportedly arrested her on an allegation of stalking and harassing the McCanns." Wandelt has recently appeared back in the spotlight after a new DNA allegedly <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/polish-woman-doubles-down-on-maddie-mccann-claims" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proves</a> that she is Madeleine McCann. After disappearing from the public eye in 2024, Wandelt has resurfaced online to share the “results” of a fresh DNA test she claimed were submitted to a “world expert”, who compared them to the crime scene following Madeleine’s disappearance. In a series of posts in which she referred to Kate and Gerry McCann has “my parents”, Ms Wandelt said her “actual dna results show that I am part British, part Irish” and that genetic evidence “strongly supports that Gerry McCann could be Julia Wandelt’s biological father”. Ms Wandelt’s “source” claimed her DNA results were a “perfect match” to the samples taken from the scene of Madeleine’s disappearance. Madeleine vanished at the age of three after being snatched by an intruder who broke into her family's holiday villa in Praia de Luz in Portugal in 2007. Image credits: YouTube

Legal

Polish woman doubles down on Maddie McCann claims

Polish woman Julia Wandelt has doubled down on her belief that she is Madeleine McCann, claiming to have new DNA evidence that "strongly supports" her theory. Wandelt has long claimed to be the missing child, after first posting her theories on Instagram in February 2023. A DNA test at the time found Ms Wandelt to be of Polish, Lithuanian and Romanian heritage, proving she could not be Madeleine, who is of British descent. She went on to tell the <a title="www.bbc.com" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-68139294" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a> in an interview last year that she “regretted” the ordeal, and had apologised to the McCanns for any pain she’d caused unintentionally by claiming to be their child who went missing in Portugal in 2007. After disappearing from the public eye, Wandelt has resurfaced online to share the “results” of a fresh DNA test she claimed were submitted to a “world expert”, who compared them to the crime scene following Madeleine’s disappearance. She also claimed they matched the toddler’s eyes, teeth and voice with her own. In a series of posts in which she referred to Kate and Gerry McCann has “my parents”, Ms Wandelt said her “actual dna results show that I am part British, part Irish” and that genetic evidence “strongly supports that Gerry McCann could be Julia Wandelt’s biological father”. Ms Wandelt’s “source” claimed her DNA results were a “perfect match” to the samples taken from the scene of Madeleine’s disappearance. The unnamed source allegedly analysed “hair obtained from the floor of the crime scene in Portugal” and “saliva obtained from the bed quilt at the scene”, resulting in a 69.23 per cent match which “suggests a biological connection between the two individuals”. “The genetic evidence strongly supports that (Gerry) McCann could be Julia Wandelt’s biological father, as the data aligns perfectly with a parent-child relationship,” they claimed. “If this analysis is accurate and properly derived from their DNA samples, the relationship between McCann and Julia Wandelt is biologically consistent with that of a father and daughter.” A spokesperson for Ms Wandelt told <a title="www.dailymail.co.uk" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14405073/Woman-claiming-Madeleine-McCann-releases-bombshell-new-DNA-test-results-18-years-British-toddler-disappeared-Portugal.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Mail</a> she remains determined for the McCanns and her Polish parents to take a DNA test, despite both parties’ repeated refusal to do so. Image credits: Instagram / Getty Images

Legal

Jack the Ripper's identity revealed after 137 years

A major breakthrough in the Jack the Ripper case could have identified the notorious serial killer after 137 years of mystery. Jack the Ripper terrorised the streets of London in 1888, with police believing he was responsible for the brutal rape and murders of at least five women – known as the Canonical Five – but could very well have committed at least six more. The victims, who were all brutally slain between August and November 1888, were Mary Nichols, 43, Annie Chapman, 47, Elizabeth Stride, 44, Catherine Eddowes, 46, and Mary Jane Kelly, 25. Police, historians and crime buffs have long questioned the real identity of the serial killer, and despite a long list of potential suspects, investigators have not been able to definitively pin down a single suspect to the crimes. However, new evidence has emerged in the case, leading to a possible answer. Self-proclaimed ‘Ripperologist’ and British author Russell Edwards purchased a shawl belonging to one of the victims, Catherine Eddowes, which contained blood and semen back in 2007. Years later, the shawl was put through rigorous forensic testing where it was found to contain DNA from two separate people. One of them matched a descendant of the female victim, while the other matched the descendants of a Polish immigrant, who would have been around 23 at the time of the murders. Upon discovering this male’s name, Edwards was able to reveal the true identity of the infamous‘Jack the Ripper’: Aaron Kosminski. “Considering his DNA is on the shawl that was at the murder scene and he was named, I have never considered anyone else to be the Ripper,” Edwards told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/we-may-finally-know-the-true-identity-of-jack-the-ripper-after-137-years-of-mystery/news-story/14f22046597546a64113567752d972c9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “I have, however, looked into every other suspect in order to eliminate them. The DNA work was a huge four-year process. We had to bypass the issue of contamination, plus many other hurdles." “It was a voyage of discovery, with many twists and turns. The adventure was thrilling from beginning to end and I was lucky to experience it.” Edwards said that when he discovered the DNA from the shawl matched, he was absolutely elated to have made such a breakthrough. “When we matched the DNA from the blood on the shawl with a direct female descendant of the victim, it was the singular most amazing moment of my life at the time,” he said. “We tested the semen left on the shawl. When we matched that, I was dumbfounded that we actually had discovered who Jack the Ripper truly was.” Born in Kłodawa in central Poland, Kosminski moved to England with his family as a child and eventually began working as a barber in London’s Whitechapel district. Medical records show that he had suffered from mental illness since at least 1885 and had spent time in various ‘lunatic asylums’ around London, with his condition reportedly taking the form of auditory hallucinations, a fear of being fed by other people, as well as a refusal to wash or bathe. He later died in 1919 at age 53. The descendants of Jack the Ripper’s victims are now calling for police to do an immediate investigation into Aaron Kosminski to make Edwards’ findings official. Karen Miller, the great-great-great-granddaughter of victim Catherine Eddowes, said that it would “mean a lot” to her and her family to put an end to this 137-year-old mystery. “The name Jack the Ripper has become sensationalised, it has gone down in history as this famous character,” the 53-year-old told the <a title="www.dailymail.co.uk" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14234461/Descendants-Jack-Rippers-victims-DNA-breakthrough.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>. “It has all been about him, this iconic name, but people have forgotten about the victims who did not have justice at the time." “What about the real name of the person who did this? Having the real person legally named in a court which can consider all the evidence would be a form of justice for the victims. We have got the proof, now we need this inquest to legally name the killer." “It would mean a lot to me, to my family, to a lot of people to finally have this crime solved.” Despite the excitement over the new evidence, some have cast doubt on the findings. The research has not yet been published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal, which means that the claims cannot be independently verified or the methodology scrutinised. Under UK law, it is up to the attorney general to approve a further inquest into the Jack the Ripper case, with Attorney-General Michael Ellis refusing the request two years ago, saying there was “not sufficient new evidence” to support an inquest. Image credits: Instagram

Legal

What are sleep retreats? A sleep scientist explains the latest wellness trend

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-ellis-280919">Jason Ellis</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/northumbria-university-newcastle-821">Northumbria University, Newcastle</a> Considering the effect of poor sleep on the individual as well as on <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5627640/">society and the economy</a>, it is hardly surprising sleep has become an intense area of research focus in recent years. Most recently we have seen an <a href="https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/beauty/the-beauty-consumer-trends-set-to-define-2025">increase</a> in the <a href="https://www.aspiretravelclub.co.uk/insight/in-focus-the-rise-of-sleep-retreats">offering of and appetite for</a> so-called <a href="https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/style/health-and-beauty/sleep-retreats/">sleep retreats</a>. But what are sleep retreats and are they helpful? As with any specialised retreat, there is no set formula for what a sleep retreat should focus on. As such, the range of what is available is incredibly variable, from retreats that just focus on a sleep-friendly environment (a cool, dark, quiet and comfortable bedroom in a luxurious location) to ones specifically aimed at managing a specific sleep disorder, using evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. There are even ones that provide, among other things, a regimen of vitamins and minerals delivered intravenously. Most, however, fall somewhere between focusing on meditation, exercise and relaxation. Although there is good evidence that exercise, at the right intensity and duration, can be <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen-Driver-3/publication/10948102_Exercise_and_sleep/links/5f578ffca6fdcc9879d67d41/Exercise-and-sleep.pdf">beneficial for sleep</a>, it is unlikely that a lack of exercise alone causes poor sleep. Similarly, there is some, albeit poor quality, evidence that <a href="https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/40186">meditation and relaxation improve sleep quality</a>. As such, it is unlikely that these treatments alone will fix a sleep problem. The main challenge is that sleep, as with diet or exercise, is just an overarching term for a complex behaviour, one that is influenced and can influence almost every area of a person’s life. For example, I am <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12011-022-03162-1">hearing a lot</a> about supplementing with magnesium to aid sleep, but this is only likely to be beneficial if you are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780124201682000314">deficient in the first place</a>. <h2>What to consider before you splash the cash</h2> So, should we approach the sleep retreat with caution? Not necessarily, it is more a case of doing your homework. First, who does the sleep retreat cater for, and what do you hope to get from the retreat? The busy executive who only allows themselves four hours of sleep a night will have very different expectations and experiences to a person who has undiagnosed sleep apnoea and sleeps for nine hours but wants to know why they are so sleepy during the day. This leads to the second consideration: what kind of pre-screening (for conditions that might be causing insomnia) and personalisation do they offer? Many retreats advertise an individual consultation as part of the package but don’t really say what that will cover (a sleep, medical and psychiatric history and lifestyle assessment should be done as a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/jsr.14035">bare minimum</a>. This is vital when we consider that while well-established, evidence-based treatments for a variety of sleep disturbances and disorders exist, they are not suitable for everyone. Also, there is a <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/fo/d4fo01113a/unauth">perception</a> that non-pharmacological therapies, including nutraceuticals (products derived from food sources that said to have health benefits) and over-the-counter remedies (such as antihistamines, melatonin and valerian), don’t have side-effects, which is <a href="https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/fo/d4fo01113a/unauth">not necessarily the case</a>. The final considerations are: who is delivering the retreat? And is what they are offering based on sound scientific evidence? Considering certification in sleep medicine is a hot topic in the sleep community at the moment, it is worth doing some research. For example, in the UK there is no pathway to becoming a sleep medicine specialist, consultant or coach. So who is leading the sleep retreat and is what they offering evidence-based?<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/247632/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-ellis-280919">Jason Ellis</a>, Professor of Sleep Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/northumbria-university-newcastle-821">Northumbria University, Newcastle</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-are-sleep-retreats-a-sleep-scientist-explains-the-latest-wellness-trend-247632">original article</a>.

Travel Tips

Tourists explain why they love “overrated” capital cities

A group of travellers have explained why they love some capital cities that are often dubbed as “overrated”. On a dedicated travel thread on Reddit, one person asked the question, “Which capital city gets a lot of hate that you loved visiting?” which welcomed an influx of responses. A few capital cities were mentioned several times, one of which being the Greece capital of Athens. One Reddit user said they “avoided” Athens for a long time “because all I heard was negativity about it”. However, when they “finally went”, they say they “loved it” and “can't wait to go back”. Another person said they actually “loved” the city's “gritty feel” adding, “Incredible history at every turn, delicious affordable food, fun bars, cool music venues, neighbourhoods full of character and beautiful viewpoints.” Another capital that was mentioned was the Norwegian capital of Oslo, with one person saying the Scandinavian city was perfect for a short getaway. They wrote, “I’m not advising anyone to go for a long time but for a weekend trip, it’s lovely. The seaside is great with lots of beautiful modern architecture, the old town is picturesque, lots of trendy new places to eat and drink, some old castles to walk to and in general a really nice vibe and very walkable.” Washington D.C. was also mentioned with many people defending the city, with one person claiming “it’s generally other Americans who hate it.” One person wrote of the city, “We have great museums, food, way more nature than you’d expect for a city, and incredible music and dance scenes. It’s not just insufferable bureaucracy and politics.” The Belgian capital of Brussels was also mentioned, with the city often copping a lot of flack amongst travellers. However, many were quick to defend the city, as one person wrote,”I loved Brussels, it’s beautiful in places, has amazing museums, great beer, the EU Parliament is really interesting and the Atomium is awesome.” Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Young woman dies suddenly after international holiday

Christine Visnjic, 24, from western Sydney was eagerly making plans for the year ahead, and had just returned from her dream trip to Japan. On January 10, a month after her overseas trip, the young woman woke up with a sharp pain in her leg and found it swollen and red. Christine was ushered into her father's car so he could driver her to nearby Westmead Hospital to get it checked out, but started vomiting and suffered seizures during the journey. “Westmead Hospital is only about 2km from us, but about 500 meters down the road she told my dad to stop the car to vomit. So he stopped the car, he opened the door, she shifted herself to lean over the side, and then she experienced a seizure," her brother, Jason, told Yahoo News. She fell unconscious not long after, and two nurses who happened to be following in another car came to her aid. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to hospital, but three days later, scans showed Christine was brain dead after she had suffered a bilateral stroke, disrupting blood flow to both sides of her brain. “There was a blood clot in her leg that broke off and travelled up to her lung, then to her heart and then to her brain,” Jason said. With no family history of blood clots, it is believed that the clot was a result of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition that in rare cases can arise from long-haul plane travel. However, the exact cause is still unknown. “I was talking to a doctor and I asked him ‘how often do you see this?’ and he said to me ‘a case like this, we do know about it in literature…in my career of 44 years in the ICU, this is the second time’ and he started crying,” Jason said. "It's unbelievable, just unbelievable," he told Yahoo News. "Who would’ve thought - 24 years old and getting a blood clot that becomes so fatal." Christine's family had to make the heartbreaking decision of turning off her life support. “We embraced her and watched her pass. For about 20 minutes her heart was independent and we just slowly saw it all go away — and she doesn’t even know,” Jason said. He hopes that his sister's death will "at least echo a message to all the young women and men out there" to be on alert for health issues and cherish life. "Don’t just go chasing work. There are many lessons to take away. Luckily for her, Christine still managed to enjoy her life till her prime, both at career and social level." Christine's family and friends have since created a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/headstone-in-honor-of-christine-visnjic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> to raise funds for her headstone, where they have described her as a "young, beautiful, healthy girl, full of energy and love for others, whose life was tragically cut short." Image: Instagram

Travel Trouble

Social media star Pesto the penguin celebrates first birthday

Social media star Pesto the penguin, who has earned an army of online followers for his big and fluffy appearance, is turning one. The King Penguin, who calls the Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium home, has celebrated his birthday with a slimmed down look, worlds away from the 23.5 kilogram big boy who went viral in 2024. "It's kind of crazy how fast this year has gone, it feels like only yesterday that he hatched out of his little egg," Sea Life Aquarium Melbourne's Catherine Bushell told Today. "He only weighed around 200 grams, then went up to 23.5 kilograms at his heaviest and now back down to around 16 kilograms." Pesto's special day will be celebrated on Friday, which also happens to be Sea Life Aquarium Melbourne's 25th anniversary. "It's going to be a pretty big day, lots of celebration going on both in and out of the exhibit. Pesto has got a jelly cake today and lots of fun enrichment for he and the rest of his colony to enjoy," she said. "There's also lots of fun for the people, our first 1000 guests today will all get a free cupcake, but the party's going on all weekend, we've got a DJ and all sorts of celebrations happening tomorrow as well, so it will certainly be a party fit for a king." Image credits: Instagram

Family & Pets

Eagles star announces retirement after shock health diagnosis

Steuart Smith, the lead guitarist of iconic rock band The Eagles has announced his retirement. The 72-year-old musician, who joined the band back in 2001, shared that he would be leaving the band following a shock health diagnosis. "It is with profound regret that, due to performance issues associated with my recently diagnosed Parkinsonism, I find that I must bow out of my role with The Eagles while I can still do so gracefully," Smith told People magazine. "It's been a great quarter of a century, and I had hoped to be able to finish out this year with the band, but I must now do what’s best for all concerned." According to Parkinsons.org.uk, parkinsonism is "an umbrella term used to cover a range of conditions that share similar symptoms to Parkinson's". Bandmate and founding member of The Eagles, Don Henley, also released a statement praising Smith's talents, adding that the group will "be forever grateful" for his contributions to the band and their tour. “Steuart Smith has retired from touring. The Eagles will be forever grateful for the extraordinary talents that he brought to both our recordings and live performances," he told the publication. "Steuart will be greatly missed, but he will always be a part of our musical family. We know our many fans join us in wishing him well." The Eagles, were formed in 1972 with founding members Henley, Glenn Frey, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. They are known for their hit songs like Hotel California and Lyin Eyes. <em style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;">Image: SplashNews.com/ Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Woman's "clever" Pringles plane hack sparks debate

A woman has sparked a debate online after she used a Pringles tube to stop the person in front of her from reclining their seat. Clare Duggan shared the hack on TikTok, with the video from her plane seat showing the packet wedged securely between the top and bottom of the tray table. “This is the best life hack when you’ve got someone in front who is trying to put the seat down constantly,” she said. In just a week, the video received over 1.5 million views and received thousands of comments from TikTok users divided over the act. Many described it as a “brilliant” and “genius” idea, while others were less impressed, calling the act "ridiculous". “You know, the seats go back so people can relax,” one person commented. “I would never do it,” another added. “I’d just ask the cabin crew to see why my chair won’t recline," a third wrote. Some people said that while the move was "clever" all passengers were “entitled to put seat back”. <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 535px; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7461268433301261600&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40clareduggan1982%2Fvideo%2F7461268433301261600&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-useast2a.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast2a-p-0037-euttp%2FoAbTEBfEQ9idhI4vCo5LLnzCwSILxAPgiI8AAL%3Flk3s%3Db59d6b55%26x-expires%3D1738278000%26x-signature%3DAJXi175GcI7KVGH1AbaDNFgzBTY%253D%26shp%3Db59d6b55%26shcp%3D-&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> “The seats are literally made to recline,” one person wrote. “I never understand why people get annoyed about a seat going back. Doesn’t bother me,” another added. “Quite frankly, you should be banned from flying bloody pathetic," a third wrote. Following the wave of comments, Duggan explained that while she doesn't mind people reclining, the passenger in front of her kept ignoring her requests to incline his seat during meal service. “But this guy was refusing to lift his up when I was eating even though politely asked. So this seemed like a fair way of dealing with it,” she said. She added that the flight attendant had asked him to put up his seat, but he still didn't comply. “I always respect the person behind me by asking if they mind if I recline the seat back. That’s called consideration but I love this hack, well shared," one person commented. Image: TikTok

Travel Tips

How do mosquito repellents work? A chemistry expert explains

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/daniel-eldridge-1494633">Daniel Eldridge</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> It’s summertime, and for many of us that means plenty of time outside – and, unfortunately, mosquitoes. The combination of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-your-summer-might-be-full-of-mosquitoes-according-to-a-scientist-98369">increase in temperature and plenty of water</a> is ideal for these blood-sucking insects to make their presence felt. In the best-case scenario, they are a pest, delivering a highly unpleasant sting. At the other end of the spectrum, they are vectors for diseases responsible for <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/global-health/impact/fighting-the-worlds-deadliest-animal.html">more human fatalities than any other animal on Earth</a>. To keep them at bay, many of us will reach for the bottle of insect repellent or citronella candles in order to avoid the bite and incessant itching that comes with it. But how do these repellents actually work? <h2>A complex interplay</h2> <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-technology/why-mosquitos-bite-you-and-how-make-them-stop">A great deal</a> of research has gone into understanding how and why female mosquitoes – they are the ones that bite us – are attracted to people. There is evidence showing they are attracted to the <a href="https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-mosquitoes-detect-people">carbon dioxide</a> we exhale, lactic acid found in our sweat, and a variety of other <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24315103/">skin odours</a> and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6482070/">volatile compounds</a> we give off. The interplay between all these factors is quite <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8906108/">complex</a>. To ward off mosquitoes, physical barriers such as netting make for the best protection. However, while you might put netting around a backdoor patio and barbecue, doing this for any large space is simply not practical. This is where repellents come in. <h2>DEETerrent</h2> There are a variety of mosquito repellents available. The most tried-and-true products are based on a substance called N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, more commonly referred to as DEET. This molecule has been commercially available since 1957, <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2018/05/17/protecting-military-flying-foes">after the United States military discovered</a> it was an effective insect repellent. DEET is often used as a <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/health/insect-repellent/how-safe-is-deet-insect-repellent-safety-a4952100929/">point of comparison</a> for <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa011699">studies</a> investigating alternatives. <a href="https://scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ps.5476?casa_token=prUg_pX7fjAAAAAA%3AuEKT5PGXWU1mO4fakwQ9NSEY-0uVYBEz25zWxXjMOp5AxX5UFWENJc1UF_JdsKA45x3sSHpmJSLJSwM">Studies show that</a>, provided they are used according to direction, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4041896/">DEET products are safe and effective</a>. For example, it is recommended that when required, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9458079/">sunscreen is applied</a> before the repellent. DEET products are not recommended for infants. The exact mechanism by which DEET repels mosquitoes and other insects is <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336934.2015.1079360#d1e132">still explored</a> <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13258-020-00991-z">today</a>. Many studies link its success to mosquitoes having receptors that sense the presence of DEET, deterring them from closely approaching our skin. Some investigations suggest that when DEET is detected, it <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18339904/">inhibits mosquitoes’ attraction</a> to us, while others show evidence that mosquitoes “<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2518096/pdf/zpq13598.pdf">smell and avoid</a>” DEET. There are also numerous reports demonstrating mosquitoes don’t bite when they <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdfExtended/S0960-9822(19)30402-6">land on</a> DEET-treated skin. This is because DEET acts as a contact-based repellent and conveys a chemical message to mosquitoes to leave. <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19336934.2015.1079360">Studies</a> <a href="https://www.cell.com/current-biology/pdfExtended/S0960-9822(19)30402-6">suggest</a> that DEET likely works through a combination of the processes described here. <h2>Effective alternatives</h2> Another more recent family of mosquito repellent products rely on an active ingredient called picaridin (or icaridin). The current consensus is that picaridin products are safe, and highly effective. For many, they are considered appealing as they <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190962207014673?casa_token=zzPMhkW9QtIAAAAA:Euk6hjWnuiem6OAq020Xv0Pu70K7LfN_siLGcK1DIyOZn-mbH7U9tKK115rAK0rYbWQ2oaMGfg#bib49">don’t have as strong a scent</a> as DEET. Picaridin products have been reported to be <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4270489/">equally effective</a> as DEET, or in some cases, even <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jtm/article/25/suppl_1/S10/4990399">slightly superior</a>, though the outcome depends on their concentration too. The other repellent regularly reported as being effective is para-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD). This is produced by chemical treatment of <a href="https://www.phrp.com.au/issues/december-2016-volume-26-issue-5/a-review-of-recommendations-on-the-safe-and-effective-use-of-topical-mosquito-repellents/">oil of lemon eucalyptus</a>. Untreated, this oil isn’t effective at repelling mosquitoes. However, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1573(199606)10:4%3C313::AID-PTR854%3E3.0.CO;2-O">several</a> <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1016/j.wem.2015.11.007">studies</a> have shown that PMD is an effective mosquito repellent. The ability of these repellents to deter mosquitoes is <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4270489/">dose</a> <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jtm/article/25/suppl_1/S10/4990399">dependent</a>. In all cases, it’s important that an appropriate dose is applied, with re-application sometimes required to keep protection to a maximum. The performance of these products varies according to many other variables too, including <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4270489/">the species of mosquito</a>. <h2>What about citronella?</h2> Citronella products, including candles and topical formulations, are popular choices for keeping mosquitoes away. However, in systematic testing, these <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2015/361021">have been shown</a> to be <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa011699">far less effective</a> than DEET. Studies have also shown that <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience/article/17/1/24/2996380?login=false">citronella candles don’t</a> <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4617422/">fend off mosquitoes</a> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8827606/">as much</a> as you might like. There are many other repellent products on the market. Given the widespread interest in preventing mosquito bites, natural remedies abound. It’s important to recognise that natural <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience/article/17/1/24/2996380?login=false">isn’t necessarily more effective</a> and it <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-does-a-chemical-do-addressing-misconceptions-about-chemistry-104085">isn’t necessarily safer</a>. In <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa011699">most reported studies</a>, DEET and picaridin are reported as having the greatest duration of protection (of the order of hours) and greatest effect on the mosquitoes. They are more thoroughly tested than many alternatives. When others are tested, they are often found wanting. One study described sound-based devices as being the repellent equivalent of <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscience/article/17/1/24/2996380?login=false">snake oil</a>. And although repellent bracelets contain working ingredients, they are largely ineffective in that form. This is because of insufficient concentrations of the active ingredient being “emitted”. When it comes to preventing disease transmission via mosquitoes, the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4041896/">benefits</a> of the proven repellents far outweigh the risks.<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/244403/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/daniel-eldridge-1494633">Daniel Eldridge</a>, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-do-mosquito-repellents-work-a-chemistry-expert-explains-244403">original article</a>.

Body

Whoopi Goldberg reveals birth name

Whoopi Goldberg has surprised The View audiences by revealing her birth name. On Monday’s episode of the US daytime talk show, the co-hosts debated the necessity of a new platform that can tell house hunters in the US the political affiliations of their potential neighbours. While they were discussing the topic, Whoopi casually dropped her real birth name, with viewers wondering if they'd heard her correctly. Whoopi made it clear that she was against the start-up, saying: “That is not a good idea because number one, it’s none of your business, and number two, it just fosters more division." Co-host Sunny Hostin said: “I have a multiracial family, my goddaughter is gay, some of my best friends are trans. I wouldn’t want to live next to an extremist that would make my family feel unwelcome.” She then clarified, “But I don’t think that’s a political affiliation thing. I think it’s a behavioural thing.” Goldberg added that there's been a shift in recent years with more people openly talking about their political affiliations. “I was raised, you never asked anybody how they were voting. I would say, ‘Ma, who are you going to vote for?’ and she’d just give me that look. And she’d say to me, ‘Caryn, that’s nobody’s business,’” she recalled. Whoopi’s birth name is actually Caryn - pronounced ‘Karen'. When asked why she changed it, Goldberg replied in an old interview: “Here’s the thing. When you’re performing on stage, you never really have time to go into the bathroom and close the door. So if you get a little gassy, you’ve got to let it go. “So people used to say to me, ‘You are like a whoopee cushion.’ And that’s where the name came from.” Image: The View

Pilot explains why airplane mode on phones is so important

A seasoned pilot has explained the real reason why your phone needs to be on airplane mode for the duration of your next flight. The pilot broke down the precaution in a video he posted to TikTok, with the explanation racking up over 2 million views. “The plane mode button on your phone is not a conspiracy,” declared the pilot, before reassuring passengers that using your phone onboard won't cause the plane to “fall out of the sky” or even really “mess with the systems on board”. However, if too many flyers choose to use their phones all at once, it can inadvertently mess with the pilots’ radio communications with the control tower. “If you have an aircraft with 70, 80, 150 people on board, and even three or four people’s phones start to try to make a connection to a radio tower for an incoming phone call, it sends out radio waves,” the captain explained. “There’s the potential that those radio waves can interfere with the radio waves of the headset that the pilots are using.” He recalled a recent flight where he was using his headset to get “clearance on which way to go” and the message interference made it feel like there was a “mosquito” in his ear. “It’s definitely not the end of the world but it’s pretty annoying when you’re trying to copy down instructions and it sounds like there’s a wasp or something flying around,” the pilot declared. “So if you’re ever curious why you’ve got to put on plane mode, that’s why.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

102-year-old woman fulfils bucket list dream of visiting Australia

A 102-year-old woman has successfully fulfilled her bucket list dream of visiting all seven continents with the help of two Youtubers. Dorothy Smith, who lives in a retirement home in San Francisco, had travelled all over the world except Australia. When the guys behind the YouTube channel Yes Theory, Staffan Taylor and Ammar Kandil heard about this, they were determined to make her dream come true. The two men, who met her in the retirement village, asked her "‘is there anything on your bucket list you haven’t ticked off yet?’ and she said, ‘I’ve been to six continents but I’ve never been to Australia,’” Yes Theory filmmaker Staffan Taylor explained. The centenarian recalled how she received a note from them. “He gave me this little piece of paper that said something about ‘dreams come true’,” Dorothy told Sunrise on Tuesday. “I showed it to a friend, and they said, ‘look, there is no signature, there is no telephone number, there is no address — it’s fake’,” she added. But it wasn't a scam and with the help of Destination NSW and Qantas, the Youtubers made her dream come true, and shared a clip of her experience online. She chose Sydney as her Aussie destination because of the Opera House, which she is twice the age of. “This is like Disneyland for grown ups,” she joked while visiting the iconic landmark. She also visited visited Wild Life Sydney Zoo to see some koalas and kangaroos, the Botanic Gardens, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and went for a cruise on the harbour. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/38PwG3zGDDI?si=dqhuCIqOoKfokdCq" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> She described Aussies as “charming” and complimented the food, scenery and weather. “These two gentlemen have been delightful, and there is a whole crew, and each one is as nice as the other, and they have been around this town very well,” she told Sunrise. “It’s just beautiful — I’ve seen things like the zoo and the real animals. “It is much more metropolitan (than I would have thought), and the people are charming,” she added. The centenarian said it is "never too late" for a new adventure, saying: “You can either rust out or wear out and I’m trying to wear out rather than rust out." Yes Theory co-founder Ammar Kandil who went on the trip with Dorothy and her daughter, said he was in awe of the centenarian's curiosity during the trip and had been inspired by her. “One of the cornerstones of the experiences in our videos is actually whenever we go somewhere, we always try to ask the elders and get a lot of the wisdom out of them from their life experiences,” he said. “Staffan (and I) had the opportunity to double down and do a full episode on elders, only to meet the most epic one of all (Dorothy) — it doesn’t get better. “(As soon as we heard) we just went for it, and it was a no-brainer — as soon as she said she hadn’t been to Australia, we thought God bless her soul. “She is so powerful and still moves, and if anyone can go to Australia at 102 years old, it is Dorothy.” “Even at 102 years old she is still appreciating everything she is seeing,” he added. Images: Yes Theory/ Youtube

Retirement Life

Pilot explains why plane windows are rounded

A pilot has revealed why plane windows are the unique shape that we see today, sharing a glimpse into the world of airplane design and engineering. American Airlines pilot Captain Steve, who regularly makes TikTok videos on the marvel of flying, shared the reason why plane windows today are slightly rounded instead of square, revealing why this design became the norm. "Some of the airliners were designed with square windows and over in Europe as airplanes started to climb higher and require more pressurisation, they discovered a problem," he shared in a clip that has since been viewed over two million times. Following a series of inflight disasters caused by their rectangular counterparts, the window designs had to be changed, as Captain Steve said, “The airplanes literally came apart.” He added that "they lost a few airplanes in midair" because the square windows created "a hairline crack" right in the edge, and the stress on the airframe caused by the pressurisation was simply too much. As a result, engineers decided to round the windows' frames so they wouldn't break under the strain and they've "never had a problem since," according to the pilot. The video was flooded with comments by curious passengers, with one person writing, “I have never thought about this but it makes so much sense! Captain Steve is teaching us yet again.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

Woman horrified after man brings his mother to first date

A woman has been left stunned after her crush invited his mother to infiltrate their first date. The young woman took to Reddit to recall the mortifying moment, and to ask users if she was out of line by leaving the awkward date. The 23-year-old began the story by explaining how she matched with a 25-year-old man, who she referred to as Jake, on the dating app Hinge. She explained that the couple had been “chatting for a few weeks, and he seemed like a solid guy — funny, good taste in music, and even remembered I loved Italian food.” “He planned the date at this nice little spot in Dallas, which I thought was sweet,” she added. She continued, “I show up, and everything's fine at first. He's already there, we hug, and he even complimented my outfit.” “But like five minutes after I sit down, this older woman walks in. Jake stands up, waves her over, and says, ‘This is my mom!’ 'I thought I misheard him for a second.” After he introduced his mother to his date, she pulled up a chair and began asking the 23-year-old a slew of invasive questions. “She sits down at the table, all casual, and starts introducing herself to me like this is normal. Meanwhile, I'm sitting there, trying to figure out if I'm being pranked. I kind of laugh nervously and say, ‘Oh, I didn't know you were bringing anyone,’ and he goes, ‘Oh, she just wanted to meet you. Don't worry—it's not a big deal’.” “But it was a big deal because she didn't just stop by to say hi — she ordered wine and stayed. The whole time, she's asking me these personal questions about my job, my family, even if I want kids someday.” “It was like an interview, not a date. Jake barely said anything. He just smiled and kept nodding like this was all normal,” she revealed. The woman then shared that after 20 minutes of the awkward encounter, she decided to leave, and texted Jake that same evening to say she didn’t want to go on another date. She said, “I couldn't take it anymore. I said I wasn't feeling great and needed to leave. I texted him later, saying I didn't think it would work out and wished him well.” Although she thought she did the right thing, she began doubting her decision and questioned if she was in the wrong. The 23-year-old concluded the post by asking, '”Now I feel kind of bad. My roommate says I did the right thing because honestly, who brings their mom to a first date? But my coworker said it was rude to just leave and that maybe his mom was just super close to him or nervous for him or whatever. Was I wrong for walking out?” Reddit users flocked to the comments section and ran to her defence as they slammed Jake for bringing his mother along on the date. One person said, “It's absurd that he would bring her. Unless she needs constant supervision due to some health issue. That is a very strange dynamic. You did what most anyone else would have done. Best of luck.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Relationships

What’s the difference between MSG and table salt? A chemist explains

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> It’s dinner time. You’ve worked hard to prepare a nutritious and tasty meal. But after taking your first bite you feel something is missing. Perhaps you should have added more salt? Pepper? Or maybe even something more exotic like monosodium glutamate, better known as MSG? There are many <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-are-e-numbers-and-should-you-avoid-them-in-your-diet-43908">food additives</a> used in both home cooking and commercial products. These ingredients improve the flavour, smell, texture, appearance and longevity of foods. Salt and MSG are two well-known food additives. Both contain sodium, but there are plenty of differences which you can use to your benefit. <h2>What is a salt?</h2> Salts are made of positively and negatively charged components called ions. Salts generally dissolve in water, and are brittle. The names of salts often feature a metal (positively charged) followed by a non-metal (negatively charged). The common kitchen ingredient we call “salt” is just one type of salt. To distinguish it from all other salts, we should more specifically refer to it as “table salt”. Chemically, it’s sodium chloride. <h2>Sodium chloride</h2> After the quick chemistry lesson above, we can see that table salt, sodium chloride, contains a positively charged sodium and a negatively charged chlorine. These charged components are arranged in crystals of salt in a regular repeating pattern. Each sodium ion is surrounded by six chloride ions and each chloride ion is surrounded by six sodium ions. This arrangement gives the crystal a “cubic” form. If you look closely at salt, you may see cube-shaped crystals. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/617802/original/file-20240906-16-gk38c9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/617802/original/file-20240906-16-gk38c9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/617802/original/file-20240906-16-gk38c9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/617802/original/file-20240906-16-gk38c9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/617802/original/file-20240906-16-gk38c9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/617802/original/file-20240906-16-gk38c9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/617802/original/file-20240906-16-gk38c9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/617802/original/file-20240906-16-gk38c9.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>The chemical structure of table salt forms a cube of sodium and chloride ions. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/sodium-chloride-nacl-structure-ionic-crystal-2417242373">Sandip Neogi/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> Sodium chloride is very abundant. It is found <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-have-always-wondered-why-is-the-sea-salty-83489">dissolved in Earth’s oceans</a>. Mineral deposits of salt, known as halite or rock salt, formed from the evaporation and crystallisation of ancient seas. Depending on the source, the salt may contain many other trace minerals that can even add colour to it, such as the pink-coloured Himalayan salt from Pakistan. Salt can also be fortified with <a href="https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240053717">sodium iodide</a> as a public health measure. Describing the taste of salt is quite difficult without using the word “salty”. It’s a very common food additive, as it is so abundant and versatile. It is an essential ingredient for many traditional food preservation techniques for meats (pork and fish), vegetables (kimchi, sauerkraut and pickles), and dairy (cheese and butter). Salt is considered a universal flavouring agent. It can mask bitter flavours and bring out sweet, sour and <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-asian-roots-of-umami-the-fifth-taste-central-to-thanksgiving-fare-50699">umami</a> (savoury) ones. Despite popular depictions of <a href="https://theconversation.com/that-neat-and-tidy-map-of-tastes-on-the-tongue-you-learned-in-school-is-all-wrong-44217">taste maps</a>, there is no one place on the tongue where we taste salt. Other sodium salts can also give a “salty” taste, but the effect declines (and can even turn to bitter) with negatively charged components other than chloride. <h2>MSG or monosodium glutamate</h2> Monosodium glutamate is also a salt. The glutamate is the negatively charged form of glutamic acid, an amino acid that is found in nature as a building block of proteins. MSG, and more generally glutamates, are found in a wide range of foods including tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, soy sauce, dried seaweeds, Worcestershire sauce and protein-rich foods. All of these foods impart umami flavours, which are described as savoury or meaty. Commercial MSG is not extracted from the environment but produced by bacterial fermentation. Glucose is converted to glutamic acid, which is further processed by adding sodium hydroxide to form MSG (and water). MSG is sold as crystals, but they have a long, prismatic shape rather than the cubic form of sodium chloride. It’s worth tasting a few crystals of MSG directly to experience the native taste of umami. Despite decades of bad press and concern, <a href="https://theconversation.com/msg-is-back-is-the-idea-its-bad-for-us-just-a-myth-or-food-science-237871">MSG is considered safe</a> to consume in the concentrations typically found in or added to foods. Table salt and MSG both contain sodium, but at different percentages of the total weight: table salt has around 40% sodium, versus just 14% in MSG. You are also more likely to be routinely adding table salt to your food rather than MSG. Eating too much sodium is well known to be unhealthy. <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-salt-alternative-could-help-reduce-blood-pressure-so-why-are-so-few-people-using-it-221409">Potassium-enriched substitutes</a> have been suggested for a range of health benefits. <h2>A flavour enhancer</h2> The flavour of MSG can be elevated further by combining it with other food additives, known as sodium ribonucleotides. Japanese and Korean cooks figured this secret out long before chemists, as boiling dried fish and seaweed produces foundation stocks (dashi) containing a mix of naturally sourced glutamates and ribonucleotides. Ribonucleotides are classified as “generally considered as safe” by <a href="https://www.cfsanappsexternal.fda.gov/scripts/fdcc/index.cfm?set=FoodSubstances&id=DISODIUMINOSINATE&sort=Sortterm_ID&order=ASC&startrow=1&type=basic&search=disodium">food standards authorities</a>. Humans consume many grams of the natural equivalent in their diets. What can be more problematic are the carbohydrates- and fat-rich foods that have their flavours enhanced, which can potentially lead us to eat excessive calories. The combination of MSG and ribonucleotides produces a more-ish sensation. Next time you see a bag of potato chips or instant noodles, have a quick look to see if it contains both MSG (E621) and a ribonucleotide source (E627–E635). I personally keep a jar of MSG in my kitchen. A little goes a long way to elevate a soup, stew or sauce that isn’t quite tasting the way you want it to, but without adding too much extra sodium.<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237668/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nathan-kilah-599082">Nathan Kilah</a>, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-tasmania-888">University of Tasmania</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-msg-and-table-salt-a-chemist-explains-237668">original article</a>.

Food & Wine

Dwayne Johnson's emotional moment with cancer-stricken fan

A heartfelt moment between Hollywood actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and a fan battling stage 4 cancer has gone viral. While on a trip to Target in New Jersey, Johnson met a woman who shared candidly that she was facing stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Johnson greeted her warmly in the shop, “Good to see you, how are you feeling?” With a smile, the woman replied: “Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Can’t do anything about it.” Johnson then offered to take a photo with her, to which she responded, “I would love to.” As they posed together, the woman proudly declared, “I’m a warrior,” prompting Johnson to affirm, “You are a warrior,” before the woman joked that they looked alike since they both had no hair. Before he parted, she told Johnson: “We gotta keep fighting, fight fight fight.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" 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);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCTEM7ixvm1/?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> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </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;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCTEM7ixvm1/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock)</a> </div> </blockquote> The Rock then posted a video of the sweet moment to his Instagram, reflecting on the moment with the caption, "As frenzied, and chaotic as all this was - it hit me here just how unpredictable, yet beautiful life truly is." The video quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of likes, with many commenting words of support for the fan. "The Rock is the most humble guy ever," one person wrote, while another added, "You made that woman's day!" Image credits: Instagram

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Airlines cancel flights after volcanic eruptions. An aviation expert explains why that’s a good thing

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/patrick-murray-2027113">Patrick Murray</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a> At least three airlines <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-13/flights-to-and-from-bali-cancelled-due-to-volcanic-ash/104593698">cancelled flights between Australia and Bali</a> this week after a volcano eruption in eastern Indonesia spewed a vast plume of volcanic ash into the air. But while would-be holiday makers are naturally <a href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/volcanic-eruption-in-indonesia-forces-airlines-to-cancel-flights-to-bali-stranding-frustrated-passengers-c-16732486">upset</a> at having their plans disrupted, it’s worth remembering it’s not safe to fly planes through volcanic ash. So, how do airlines decide it’s not safe to fly when a volcano erupts? And why is volcanic ash so dangerous for aircraft, anyway? <h2>What does volcanic ash do to a plane?</h2> Volcanic ash particles are very, very abrasive. They can cause permanent damage to windscreens in the aircraft and can even make windscreens look opaque – like someone has gone over them with sandpaper. Imagine getting spectacles and scraping them over and over with sandpaper – that’s what you’d see if you were sitting in the cockpit. Volcanic ash can also clog or damage external sensors, leading to erroneous readings, and can infiltrate an aircraft’s ventilation system. This can affect cabin air quality and lead to potential respiratory issues. But the main issue, in fact, is the impact volcanic ash has on engines. A jet engine works by drawing in air, compressing it, mixing it with fuel and igniting it. This creates high-pressure exhaust gases that are expelled backward, which pushes the engine (and the aircraft) forward. The correct balance of fuel and airflow is crucial. When you disrupt airflow, it can cause the engine to stall. Ash particles that get inside the engines will melt and build up, causing disruption of the airflow. This could cause the engine to “flame out” or stall. Volcanic ash has a lot of silica in it, so when it melts it turns into something similar to glass. It won’t melt unless exposed to very high temperatures – but inside a jet engine, you do get very high temperatures. There was a famous incident in 1982 where a <a href="https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-story-of-british-airways-flight-9-the-boeing-747-that-lost-all-four-engines-due-to-volcanic-ash-yet-it-landed-safely/">British Airways Boeing 747 plane</a> was flying in the vicinity of Indonesia and lost all four engines after it encountered volcanic ash spewing from Java’s Mount Galunggung. Fortunately, the pilot was able to <a href="https://simpleflying.com/gallunggung-glider-the-story-of-british-airways-flight-9/">restart the engines and land safely</a>, although the pilots were unable to see through the front windscreens. <h2>How do airlines decide it’s not safe to fly when a volcano erupts?</h2> The decision is made by each airline’s operational staff. Each airline’s operational team would be looking at the situation in real time today and making the decision based on their risk assessment. Every airline has a process of risk management, which is required by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Different airlines may tackle risk management in slightly different ways; you might have some cancelling flights earlier than others. But, in broad terms, the more sophisticated airlines would come to similar conclusions and they are likely all communicating with each other. Mostly, they make the call based on the extent of the plume – how big the cloud of ash is and where it’s going, bearing in mind that winds vary with altitude. As you get stronger winds with altitude, the ash can drift quite far from the source. There is also a United Nations agency called the <a href="https://www.icao.int/Pages/default.aspx">International Civil Aviation Organization</a>, which issues guidance on volcanic ash hazards. Various meteorological agencies around the world work together and liaise with aviation authorities to spread the word quickly if there is an eruption. For airlines to resume flights, the ash needs to clear and there needs to be a low probability of further eruptions. <h2>Passenger safety is the priority</h2> The underpinning reason behind these flight cancellations is safety. If you lose engines and you can’t see out the window, the risk to passenger safety is obvious. Naturally, people are upset about their holiday plans being held up. But it’s actually in passengers’ best interests to not fly through volcanic ash.<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;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/243576/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/patrick-murray-2027113">Patrick Murray</a>, Emeritus Professor of Aviation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-southern-queensland-1069">University of Southern Queensland</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/airlines-cancel-flights-after-volcanic-eruptions-an-aviation-expert-explains-why-thats-a-good-thing-243576">original article</a>.

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Airlines cancel flights after volcanic eruptions. An aviation expert explains why that’s a good thing