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You’re probably brushing your teeth wrong – here are four tips for better dental health

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clement-seeballuck-583867">Clement Seeballuck</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicola-innes-388237">Nicola Innes</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> We all know the advice for healthy teeth – brush twice daily and don’t eat too much sugar. So why do those of us following these instructions find we sometimes need a filling when we visit the dentist? The truth is, there’s a little more to preventing tooth decay than these guidelines suggest. Here’s what you need to know. <h2>Brush up on your skills</h2> How you brush makes a big difference. The mechanical act of brushing removes the very sticky dental plaque – a mixture of bacteria, their acids and sticky byproducts and food remnants. It forms naturally on teeth immediately after you’ve eaten but doesn’t get nasty and start to cause damage to the teeth until it reaches a certain stage of maturity. The exact amount of time this takes isn’t known but is at least more than 12 hours. Bacteria consume sugar and, as a byproduct, produce acids which dissolve mineral out of the teeth, leaving microscopic holes we can’t see. If the process isn’t stopped and they aren’t repaired, these can become big, visible cavities. Taking two minutes to brush your teeth is a good target for removing plaque and you should brush at night and one other time daily. Brushing frequently stops the bacteria developing to a stage where the species which produce the most acid can become established. Electric toothbrushes can be <a href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD002281/ORAL_poweredelectric-toothbrushes-compared-to-manual-toothbrushes-for-maintaining-oral-health">more effective than manual brushing</a> and a small toothbrush head helps to reach awkward areas in the mouth, while medium-textured bristles help you clean effectively without causing harm to gums and teeth. The main thing, however, is to get brushing! <h2>Use fluoride toothpaste and disclosing tablets</h2> Most of the benefit from brushing comes from toothpaste. The key ingredient is fluoride, which evidence shows <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD002278/full#CD002278-abs-0003">prevents tooth decay</a>. Fluoride replaces lost minerals in teeth and also makes them stronger. For maximum benefit, <a href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD007868/ORAL_comparison-between-different-concentrations-of-fluoride-toothpaste-for-preventing-tooth-decay-in-children-and-adolescents">use toothpaste with 1350-1500 ppmF</a> – that’s concentration of fluoride in parts per million – to prevent tooth decay. Check your toothpaste’s concentration by reading the ingredients on the back of the tube. <a href="https://theconversation.com/childrens-toothpaste-the-facts-80508">Not all children’s toothpastes are strong enough</a> for them to gain maximum benefit. Your dentist may prescribe higher strength fluoride toothpaste based on their assessment of your or your child’s risk of tooth decay. Plaque is difficult to see because it is whitish, like your teeth. Disclosing tablets are available in supermarkets and chemists and they make plaque more visible, showing areas you may have missed when brushing. <h2>Spit, don’t rinse</h2> At night, you produce less saliva than during the day. Because of this, your teeth have less protection from saliva and are more vulnerable to acid attacks. That’s why it’s important to remove food from your teeth before bed so plaque bacteria can’t feast overnight. Don’t eat or drink anything except water <a href="https://www.sign.ac.uk/assets/sign138.pdf">after brushing at night</a>. This also gives fluoride the longest opportunity to work. Once you’ve brushed, don’t rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash – you’re washing away the fluoride! This can be a difficult habit to break, but can <a href="https://www.sign.ac.uk/assets/sign138.pdf">reduce tooth decay by up to 25%</a>. <h2>No more than four ‘sugar hits’</h2> Intrinsic sugars are found naturally in foods like fruit and they are far less likely to cause tooth decay than added or <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/sugar-salt-and-fat/free-sugars">free sugars</a>. Free sugars are generally those added to foods by manufacturers but also include honey, syrup and fruit juices. These are all easy for bacteria to consume, metabolise and produce acids from. However, it can be difficult to tell which are the worst sugars for teeth. For example, although normal amounts of fruit are fine, fruit juices have sugar liberated from the plant cells and heavy consumption can cause decay. <a href="http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/guidelines/sugars_intake/en/">The World Health Organization</a> and <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/food-and-diet/how-much-sugar-is-good-for-me/">NHS</a> recommend free sugars should ideally make up less than 5% of your daily calorie intake. So what does this look like? For adults and children over about 11 years old, this is around 30g – about eight teaspoons – of sugar daily. A 330ml can of Coke has <a href="https://www.coca-cola.co.uk/drinks/coca-cola/coca-cola">35g of sugar</a>. The <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phe.c4lfoodsmart&hl=en_GB">change4life app</a> is helpful to track how much sugar you consume in your diet. Although not as important as how much, how often you eat sugar also matters. Simple carbohydrates like sugar are easier for bacteria to digest than proteins or complex carbohydrates. Bacteria produce acids after they metabolise sugar which causes demineralisation. Fortunately, through the actions of fluoride toothpaste and the remineralising effects of saliva, your teeth can recover from the early stages of these attacks. It’s like having a set of scales – trying to keep the balance between sugars on one side, fluoride toothpaste and cleaning on the other. Typically, your teeth can be exposed to four “sugar hits” – episodes of sugar intake – daily without irreversible damage to the teeth. Why not try counting how many sugary hits you have a day? This includes biscuits, cups of sugary tea or coffee and other snacks with refined carbohydrates like crisps. A simple way of cutting down would be to stop putting sugar in hot drinks and limiting snacking. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, spit don’t rinse, eat and drink nothing after brushing, and don’t have sugar more than four times daily. Easy!<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/103959/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/clement-seeballuck-583867">Clement Seeballuck</a>, Clinical Lecturer in Paediatric Dentistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nicola-innes-388237">Nicola Innes</a>, Professor of Paediatric Dentistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-dundee-955">University of Dundee</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/youre-probably-brushing-your-teeth-wrong-here-are-four-tips-for-better-dental-health-103959">original article</a>.

Body

Why and how often do I need to wash makeup brushes and sponges?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/enzo-palombo-249510">Enzo Palombo</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rosalie-hocking-1428271">Rosalie Hocking</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> From the bristles of brushes to the porous surfaces of sponges, your makeup kit can harbour a host of bacteria and fungi. These potentially hazardous contaminants can originate not only from the cosmetics themselves, but also from the very surface of our skin. So, how can we keep things hygienic and avoid microbial growth on makeup brushes and sponges? Here’s what you need to know. <h2>How do germs and fungi get in my brushes and sponges?</h2> Germs and fungi can make their way into your makeup kit in lots of ways. Ever flushed a toilet with the lid open with your makeup brushes nearby? There’s a good chance <a href="https://theconversation.com/mobile-phones-are-covered-in-germs-disinfecting-them-daily-could-help-stop-diseases-spreading-135318">faecal particles</a> have landed on them. Perhaps a family member or housemate has used your eyeshadow brush when you weren’t looking, and transferred some microbes across in the process. Bacteria that trigger a pimple outbreak can be easily transferred from the surface of your skin to a makeup brush or sponge. And tiny little mites called Demodex mites, which have been linked to certain rashes and acne, live on your skin, as well, and so may end up in your sponge or brushes. Bacterial contamination of <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38020232/">lip cosmetics</a>, in particular, can pose a risk of skin and eye infections (so keep that in mind if you use lip brushes). Lipsticks are frequently contaminated with bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Low-quality cosmetics are more likely to have higher and more diverse microbial growth compared to <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319562X23002978?pes=vor">high-quality cosmetics</a>. Brushes exposed to sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth and nose are particularly susceptible to being potential sources of infection. The range of conditions caused by these microorganisms includes: <ul> <li> abscesses </li> <li> skin and soft tissue infections </li> <li> skin lesions </li> <li> rashes </li> <li> and dermatitis. </li> </ul> In severe cases, infections can lead to invasion of the bloodstream or deep tissues. Commercially available cosmetics contain varying amounts and types of preservatives aimed at inhibiting the growth of fungi and bacteria. But when you apply makeup, different cosmetics with unique formulations of preservatives can become mixed. When a preservative meant for one product mixes with others, it might not work as well because they have different water amounts or pH levels. So preservatives are not foolproof. We also need to observe good hygiene practices when it comes to brushes and other cosmetics applicators. <h2>Keeping brushes clean</h2> Start with the basics: never <a href="https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Isolation-of-Pathogenic-Microbes-from-Beauty-Salons-Hassan-Hamad/0199635290628fe326fcd04a2b8a2422884a8240">share makeup brushes or sponges</a>. Everyone carries different microbes on their skin, so sharing brushes and sponges means you are also sharing germs and fungi. If you need to share makeup, use something disposable to apply it, or make sure any shared brushes are washed and sterilised before the next person uses it. Clean makeup brushes by washing with hot soapy water and rinsing thoroughly. How often? Stick to a cleaning routine you can repeat with consistency (as opposed to a deep clean that is done annually). <a href="https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-secrets/routine/clean-your-makeup-brushes#:%7E:text=To%20protect%20your%20skin%20and,every%207%20to%2010%20days.">Once a week</a> might be a good goal for some, while others may need to wash more regularly if they are heavy users of makeup. Definitely wash straight away if someone else has used your brushes or sponges. And if you’ve had an eye infection such as conjunctivitis, ensure you clean applicators thoroughly after the infection has resolved. You can use bactericidal soap, 70% ethanol or chlorhexidine solutions to wash. Just make sure you wash very thoroughly with hot water after, as some of these things can irritate your skin. (While some people online say alcohol can degrade brushes and sponges, opinion seems to be mixed; in general, most disinfectants are unlikely to cause significant corrosion.) For some brushes, heating or steaming them and letting them dry may also be an effective sterilisation method once they are washed with detergent. Microwaving sponges isn’t a good idea because while the heat generated by a domestic microwave would kill microbes, it would need temperatures approaching 100°C for a decent period of time (at least several minutes). The heat could melt some parts of the sponge and hot materials could be a scalding hazard. Once clean, ensure brushes and sponges are stored in a dry place away from water sources (and not near an open toilet). If you’re having makeup applied professionally, brushes and applicators should be sterilised or changed from person to person. <h2>Should I wash them with micellar water?</h2> No. Not only is this expensive, it’s unnecessary. The same benefits can be achieved with cheaper detergents or alcohol (just rinse brushes carefully afterwards). Disinfection methods such as using bactericidal soap, 70% ethanol, or chlorhexidine are all very good at reducing the amount of microbes on your brushes and sponges.<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/220280/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/enzo-palombo-249510">Enzo Palombo</a>, Professor of Microbiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rosalie-hocking-1428271">Rosalie Hocking</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> Image credits: Getty Images 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/why-and-how-often-do-i-need-to-wash-makeup-brushes-and-sponges-220280">original article</a>.

Beauty & Style

King Charles' signature coronation dish mercilessly mocked

With the coronation comes one of the most famed traditions in the Monarchy, the creation of a signature dish, made to be shared and enjoyed across the Commonwealth in honour of the new Monarch. The Queen’s coronation made history in 1953, with the ‘Coronation Chicken’, a recipe that has since embedded itself into British culture. Charles’ crowning marks 70 years since the last coronation, and with the event coming up on May 6, the reveal of the signature dish has been highly anticipated. A culinary delight, like Queen Elizabeth II’s ‘Poulet Reine Elizabeth’, that will make its way down from generation to generation. The Royal Family verified Twitter account shared the long-awaited dish. “Introducing… Coronation Quiche!”, the tweet read. “Chosen personally by Their Majesties, The King and The Queen Consort have shared a recipe in celebration of the upcoming #CoronationBigLunch taking place up and down the country.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Introducing… Coronation Quiche! Chosen personally by Their Majesties, The King and The Queen Consort have shared a recipe in celebration of the upcoming <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronationBigLunch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronationBigLunch</a> taking place up and down the country. <a href="https://t.co/aVcw9tNarP">pic.twitter.com/aVcw9tNarP</a> — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1647917367798939648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></blockquote> King Charles III has officially unveiled his signature coronation offering, which will be served at the palace’s ‘Big Lunch’ event on May 7, also to be served at several community events and street parties across coronation weekend. The coronation quiche recipe consists of spinach, broad beans, cheese and tarragon, although Buckingham Palace’s chef Mark Flanagan says those who want to bake their own can easily make adjustments to suit their preferences. Charles, Camilla and Flanagan chose the dish because it’s a convenient “sharing” dish that can be served either hot or cold. The coronation quiche has left a bad taste in many individuals’ mouths, going viral online and becoming quite the laughingstock for a few reasons. The most profound stems from the well-known egg shortage in the UK, with production at its lowest in over a decade, according to The Guardian. In 2022, almost a billion fewer eggs were packed compared to 2019 due to producers hit by price hikes and a disastrous outbreak of bird flu. Shoppers calling for supermarkets to stock up on the ingredients for the coronation quiche have posted online to point out the obvious issue. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> And what are we supposed to make this Coronation Quiche with? <a href="https://t.co/nEmwQGmV0e">pic.twitter.com/nEmwQGmV0e</a> — Tavern Hoyden (@TavernHoyden) <a href="https://twitter.com/TavernHoyden/status/1648034778032009219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The UK: - There's a shortage of eggs in the supermarkets. Royal Family: - The "Coronation Quiche". <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronationBigLunch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronationBigLunch</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronationquiche?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronationquiche</a> <a href="https://t.co/xjEtjiUCuS">pic.twitter.com/xjEtjiUCuS</a> — Pauline (@tlnlndn) <a href="https://twitter.com/tlnlndn/status/1648016686937776128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></blockquote> Aside from supply shortages, many people decided the egg pie wasn’t very fitting. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> whats the matter babe? you've hardly touched your coronation quiche <a href="https://t.co/3FZZwzMEZz">pic.twitter.com/3FZZwzMEZz</a> — Jake Johnstone (@hijakejohnstone) <a href="https://twitter.com/hijakejohnstone/status/1648083477693120512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Quiche?? For a coronation?? <a href="https://t.co/rsmwcicgZQ">https://t.co/rsmwcicgZQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/V8aKgf1ZKL">pic.twitter.com/V8aKgf1ZKL</a> — local swamp gay 🦝🦨🦉 (@localswampgay) <a href="https://twitter.com/localswampgay/status/1648094906957660161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This is the lamest thing I’ve ever heard. Imagine having 70+ years to think about it and choosing QUICHE. I despair. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Coronation?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Coronation</a> <a href="https://t.co/jEeXmxP1Ss">https://t.co/jEeXmxP1Ss</a> — Julie Lovell (@ficklishjlo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ficklishjlo/status/1648094645669224452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2023</a></blockquote> Elizabeth’s coronation saw famed culinary school Le Cordon Bleu London’s creation of the ‘Coronation Chicken’, which consisted of cooked chicken meat in a creamy curry sauce with dried apricots. It was served with a simple salad. When it was first produced the dish came as a surprise due to many of the ingredients not being pantry staples and the country was still under post-war ration restrictions. The chicken dish has evolved over the years, with it now commonly served on a brioche bun and garnished with various trimmings from crisp coconut chips to mangetout and sultanas. Quiche the ‘Coronation Chicken’ goodbye and stay occu-pied with the recipe below. Pastry: <ul> <li>125g plain flour</li> <li>Pinch of salt</li> <li>25g cold butter, diced</li> <li>25g lard</li> <li>2 tablespoons milk</li> <li>Or 1 x 250g block of ready-made shortcrust pastry</li> </ul> Filling: <ul> <li>125ml milk</li> <li>175ml double cream</li> <li>2 medium eggs</li> <li>1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon</li> <li>Salt and pepper</li> <li>100g grated cheddar cheese</li> <li>180g cooked spinach, lightly chopped</li> <li>60g cooked broad beans or soya beans</li> </ul> Method: 1. To make the pastry: sieve the flour and salt into a bowl; add the fats and rub the mixture together using your finger tips until you get a sandy, breadcrumb-like texture. Add the milk a little at a time and bring the ingredients together into a dough. Cover and allow to rest in the fridge for 30-45 minutes. 2. Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the pastry to a circle a little larger than the top of the tin and approximately 5mm thick. 3. Line the tin with the pastry, taking care not to have any holes or the mixture could leak. Cover and rest for a further 30 minutes in the fridge. 4. Preheat the oven to 190C. 5. Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper, add baking beans and bake blind for 15 minutes, before removing the greaseproof paper and baking beans. 6. Reduce the oven temperature to 160C. 7. Beat together the milk, cream, eggs, herbs and seasoning. 8. Scatter half of the grated cheese in the blind-baked base, top with the chopped spinach and beans and herbs, then pour over the liquid mixture. 9. If required gently give the mixture a delicate stir to ensure the filling is evenly dispersed but be careful not to damage the pastry case. 10. Sprinkle over the remaining cheese. Place into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until set and lightly golden. Image credits: Getty/Twitter

Food & Wine

Here’s how often you should be washing your dish towels

Easily forgotten job Most people are probably not throwing their dish towels in the washing machine quite often enough. It’s easy to forget them, and after they’ve air-dried, they look ready for another use. But too often, we keep using them long after they’ve gotten dirty, and all we’re really doing is spreading bacteria and germs on everything they touch. “Believe it or not, dish towels can be one of the dirtiest items in your home. From cleaning up spills to wiping off counter tops, they often get used more than they’re cleaned,” said Bailey Carson, head of cleaning at Handy. A study by the American Society of Microbiology showed that half of kitchen towels tested contained some sort of bacterial growth, such as E. coli or staph. Bacteria breeding ground Because dish towels are so absorbent, they are the perfect home for bacteria, mildew and even mould. Your damp, warm towel is also the ideal breeding ground for that bacteria. That smell you associate with your dish towels and washcloths? Yup. That’s mould and mildew. If your towels or cloths smell, it’s time for a wash in very hot water. If they come out of the dryer still smelling less than pleasant? It’s time to get a new set. Stopping the spread But exactly how often DO you need to wash your dish towels to avoid spreading germs? That answer is: It depends. It depends on what exactly you’re using your dish towels for. Are they just for drying your hands after washing them, with maybe a quick use to mop up some spilled water or a food stain on the front of your cupboards? In that case, Julie Finch-Scally, founder of The Duster Dollies, says that it’s all right to reuse that type of towel for three to four days. If you’re using your dish towels to wipe up anything other than your wet hands, they’re getting more use than a towel you use after you shower, and you’ll have to wash them more often than the average amount of time you should wait between washing your bath towels. Other surfaces If you’re using your dish towels to wipe down cutting boards, wash down stovetops, clean up after spills, or even for drying your dishes, you may have to replace them a bit more often. In this case, Liz O’Hanlon, director of Metro Cleaning (UK) Ltd, says, “Ideally you should change your dishcloths once a day. Unless you use the towel to wipe up spillages which include raw meat or fish; then the towel should be washed immediately after use.” Wash together weekly Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to run a load of a few towels every single day. Laura Smith, owner of All Star Cleaning Services, recommends collecting dirty towels in a small bin under your sink and washing them when you’ve got a full load. That way, once you’ve figured out how often you need to wash your bedsheets, you can throw them all in together. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/heres-how-often-you-should-be-washing-your-dish-towels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

Brain cells in a dish learnt to play Pong

In a feat that reads like the plot of a science fiction movie, scientists have been able to get a collection of brain cells living in a dish to play a video game. The team were able to prove that their collection of 800,000 neurons, which they call DishBrain, could perform goal-directed tasks, including playing the popular tennis-like game Pong. To create DishBrain, they took brain cells from mouse embryos, along with some human brain cells created from stem cells, and grew them on top of microelectrode arrays. These arrays are capable of both reading the signals these cells produce and stimulating the cells - allowing them to play a cheeky game of Pong. Electrodes on the left and right of the array told the cells which side the ball was on, while the frequency of signals told them how far the ball was from the paddle. “The beautiful and pioneering aspect of this work rests on equipping the neurons with sensations — the feedback — and crucially the ability to act on their world,” says co-author Professor Karl Friston, a theoretical neuroscientist at UCL, London. “Remarkably, the cultures learned how to make their world more predictable by acting upon it. This is remarkable because you cannot teach this kind of self-organisation; simply because — unlike a pet — these mini brains have no sense of reward and punishment." Having published their findings in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.09.001" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neuron</a>, they now plan to find out what happens when they give DishBrain medicines and alcohol. “We’re trying to create a dose response curve with ethanol – basically get them ‘drunk’ and see if they play the game more poorly, just as when people drink,” lead author Dr Brett Kagan, the Chief Scientific Officer of the biotech start-up Cortical Labs, says. Because DishBrain was built using basic structures, rather than being modelled on AI, it can be used to understand how our brains function. “In the past, models of the brain have been developed according to how computer scientists think the brain might work,” Kagan explains. “That is usually based on our current understanding of information technology, such as silicon computing. “But in truth we don’t really understand how the brain works.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/dishbrain-gif1.gif" alt="" width="1326" height="946" /> DishBrain viewed under a microscope, where fluorescent markers show different kinds of cells. Where multiple markers appear, the colours merge and look yellow or pink. Image: Cortical Labs Dr Adeel Razi, the Director of Monash University’s Computational & Systems Neuroscience Laboratory, says this experiment could open the door for more discoveries. “This new capacity to teach cell cultures to perform a task in which they exhibit sentience – by controlling the paddle to return the ball via sensing – opens up new discovery possibilities which will have far-reaching consequences for technology, health, and society,” he says. “We know our brains have the evolutionary advantage of being tuned over hundreds of millions of years for survival. "Now, it seems we have in our grasp where we can harness this incredibly powerful and cheap biological intelligence.” The creation of DishBrain also creates the possibility for an alternative to animal testing for scientists investigating how new drugs work and gain insights into how conditions such as epilepsy and dementia affect our brains. “This is brand new, virgin territory. And we want more people to come on board and collaborate with this, to use the system that we’ve built to further explore this new area of science,” Dr Hon Weng Chong, Chief Executive Officer of Cortical Labs, says. “As one of our collaborators said, it's not every day that you wake up and you can create a new field of science.” Images: Cortical Labs / Flickr

Mind

The part of your teeth you’ve been forgetting to brush

Like so many things in life, brushing your teeth is a matter of quality over quantity. There’s no point in brushing your teeth four times a day if you’re doing it the wrong way. Jessica Hilburg, DDS and associate dean for clinical affairs at the NYC College of Dentistry, was recently asked by the Huffington Post about the most-common errors people make when they give their mouth the old once-over. "Sometimes people forget to brush the insides of their teeth, the surfaces that face the tongue and the palate," Hilburg said. "Sometimes people forget these areas because we don't see them when we look in the mirror. Food and plaque can buildup in these areas so it's just as important to brush there as it is on the front of our teeth where we can easily see." Hilburg added not brushing your teeth long enough or using the wrong amount of pressure while brushing your teeth is equally incorrect and can ultimately be damaging. "Applying too much pressure while brushing could damage gums and be abrasive to the teeth," she said. "Applying too little pressure while brushing just isn't as effective and will not remove the plaque as well as using gentle pressure. (Also) just rubbing the toothbrush back and forth in long strokes will not do as good a job as the short strokes because the short strokes allow you to get in between the teeth much better." She added, "The 'right amount of pressure' is pressure that feels comfortable, does not crush the bristles of the toothbrush (too much pressure) and of course leaves your teeth feeling and looking clean." What are your thoughts? Image: Getty

Caring

Mum’s clever hack helps dry your dishes in record time

For many people, the ultimate kitchen pet peeve is when you open your dishwasher after its cycle has finished and while your dishes may be clean, they are still sopping wet. Rather than running the appliance through another drying cycle, one clever mum has discovered how to dry your dishes in five minutes flat. Known online for her cleaning hacks and recipes, Babs shared a video to her Instagram to share her savvy hack. "Has this ever happened to you? You're ready to unload the dishwasher, and guess what!? Everything is still wet," says Babs. "Don't hand dry - do this instead." <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/ChwtuzFAwfP/?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/ChwtuzFAwfP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Babs (@brunchwithbabs)</a> </div> </blockquote> She explains, "Take a terry cloth dish towel, open the door, lay it right over. Just close the door. Wait five minutes. You'll have dry dishes." Many people thanked Babs for the great tip and confirmed that it really does work. “Have been doing it since I first saw it here,” said one commenter. Another added, "Such a great tip! Mine are never dry at the end of the cycle. I'm definitely going to try this.” Despite the praise for her handy tip, ohers cautioned Bab’s viewers with a warning. "It can/will compromise the dishwasher seal and locking mechanism, causing costly repairs or early replacement," someone warned. Image credits: Getty Images

Home & Garden

Postnatal psychosis is rare, but symptoms can be brushed aside as ‘normal’ for a new mum

The period after birth of a child is supposed to be a time of great happiness for women. However, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7491613/pdf/WPS-19-313.pdf">a significant number</a> of new mothers will experience a mental illness at this time. One is <a href="https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/pregnancy-and-birth/mental-health-pregnancy/post-partum-psychosis">postnatal psychosis</a> (also known as postpartum or <a href="https://www.cope.org.au/health-professionals/health-professionals-3/perinatal-mental-health-disorders/puerperal-psychosis/">puerperal psychosis</a>). It’s not related to postnatal depression. Postnatal psychosis affects <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD009991.pub2/full">one to two in every 1,000 new mothers</a>, or about 600 women each year in Australia. But our <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026661382100245X">interviews with women</a> who have been diagnosed with this rare but serious condition show their symptoms were often dismissed as a normal part of adjusting to motherhood. <h2>What is postnatal psychosis?</h2> Postnatal psychosis affects women across all cultures and geographic areas. The condition can put a woman at risk of self-harm or suicide and, on rare occasions, of harming others including her new baby or other children. We don’t know what causes it. But contributing factors may include sleep deprivation, and rapid hormone changes associated with pregnancy and childbirth. The risk of postnatal psychosis increases if a woman has a history of <a href="https://www.sane.org/information-stories/facts-and-guides/bipolar-disorder#what-is-bipolar-disorder">bipolar disorder</a> or has had postnatal psychosis before. <iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JUFRZ6PgfQE?wmode=transparent&start=81" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <h2>What are the symptoms?</h2> <a href="https://www.cope.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Postpartum-Psychosis_Health-Prof-Fact-Sheet.pdf">Symptoms</a> can begin in the first few days after giving birth but may not appear until up to 12 weeks afterwards. Some women have manic symptoms <ul> <li> manic symptoms include feeling they do not need to sleep, and are powerful and strong </li> <li> women may have unusual experiences, such as seeing or hearing things others cannot. They may believe things that are not true </li> <li> they can also make unrealistic and impulsive plans, can be disorganised or forgetful, and talk very quickly </li> <li> their moods may change rapidly or they may seem excessively happy. </li> </ul> Others have depressive symptoms <ul> <li> depressive symptoms include a loss of energy and an inability to sleep or eat </li> <li> women may have thoughts or auditory hallucinations that they are a bad mother and they may say they wish to die. Hallucinations or delusions (false beliefs) point to postnatal psychosis rather than to postnatal depression </li> <li> women may find it difficult to complete activities, such as caring for themselves or their baby, or attending to other tasks in the home </li> <li> they may believe they are helpless, hopeless and worthless, especially as a mother </li> <li> they can become isolated and no longer enjoy activities. </li> </ul> <h2>Women say it’s traumatic</h2> Women say postnatal psychosis is traumatic, especially if they do not get help when they first report symptoms. But it can be challenging to diagnose because of the stigma surrounding mental illness around the time of giving birth. Women say they are <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs00737-015-0548-6.pdf">reluctant to disclose</a> unusual symptoms as they feel ashamed they are finding motherhood difficult and worry they may lose custody of their baby. When we <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S026661382100245X">interviewed ten women</a>, who had experienced an episode of postnatal psychosis in the past ten years, we discovered another barrier to diagnosis. Women said they knew they had unusual symptoms, such as not being able to sleep or changes in the way they thought or behaved, but they found it difficult to get help. Often, they were told these symptoms were a normal part of adjusting to motherhood. Their postnatal psychosis was not identified until their only option was admission to an acute mental health unit and separation from their baby. So we need more education about the condition for health-care workers. By identifying the condition earlier, this gives women more treatment options. <h2>There are treatments</h2> Once diagnosed, the condition can be treated with antipsychotic and mood stabilising medication, prescribed by a psychiatrist or other treating doctor. This is <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00737-009-0117-y">very effective</a> but medication is often not started until the symptoms have become very severe and the woman requires hospitalisation in an acute mental health unit, without her baby. This separation can compromise the developing bond between them. So early diagnosis can potentially reduce the time a woman may spend in an acute mental health unit. <h2>Admission to a mother-baby unit</h2> Best practice is to admit women and their babies to a <a href="https://www.cope.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/COPE-Perinatal-MH-Guideline_Final-2018.pdf">mother-baby unit</a>, which is usually linked to a hospital. This allows women to continue to care for their babies with the support of child and family health-care professionals. However, publicly funded units are only available in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. In New South Wales, two public mother-baby units <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/new-unit-provides-mother-and-baby-mental-health-support-to-western-sydney-20210909-p58q9v.html">are being built</a>. In NSW, the only existing one is a <a href="https://www.sjog.org.au/our-locations/st-john-of-god-burwood-hospital/our-services/mental-health-and-therapy/mother-and-baby-unit">private facility</a>, which many families cannot afford. <h2>Helping others</h2> The women we interviewed said they developed support networks with each other. One woman told us: <blockquote> You feel like, okay, that was such a hard experience, is there a way that we could make that a little less hard for the women who are going to go through it next time? </blockquote> Women wanted to tell their stories so others would better understand postnatal psychosis and could find it easier to get help. If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, contact the following organisations for more information or support: <a href="https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/postnatal-psychosis">Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia</a> (PANDA), 1300 726 306; <a href="https://www.cope.org.au/">Centre of Perinatal Excellence</a>; <a href="https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/pregnancy-and-new-parents/maternal-mental-health-and-wellbeing/bipolar-disorder">Beyondblue</a>, 1300 22 4636; Lifeline, 13 11 14. You can also contact your GP or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.<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/170278/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/diana-jefferies-183951">Diana Jefferies</a>, Senior lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a> 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/postnatal-psychosis-is-rare-but-symptoms-can-be-brushed-aside-as-normal-for-a-new-mum-170278">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

Explorer finds abandoned cottage with dirty dishes still in the sink

UK-based YouTuber and urban explorer Daniel Sims, who goes by BeardedReality on YouTube, discovered an abandoned house in Anglesey, Wales, that included such finds as dirty dishes waiting to be washed in the sink, a gramophone, cabinets with shelves of china, and a taxidermied pheasant. Sims, who is from West Yorkshire, regularly explores abandoned and forgotten buildings and structures, a hobby known as ‘urban exploration’, or Urbex for short. He found this particular home following a recommendation from a fellow explorer, and decided to investigate the site with his friend Charlotte. They found a home on a vast stretch of land, complete with two caravans in the yard. Searching the caravans first, the pair found dishes, both clean and unwashed, scattered across the kitchen counter and sink. Sims described the caravan as having been left to overgrow. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oE6dMPY5mhg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> In the main house, the finds were a lot more varied. The front door and some windows had been left open, and an eclectic collection of art, homewares and technology was soon discovered. This included a framed Kellogg’s cornflakes advertisement, old photographs, and artworks that Sims said have obviously been damaged over time due to their exposure to the elements. Other discoveries included a gramophone, speakers, old records, a computer scanner and an old keyboard, as well as cabinets with shelves full of china. A variety of different wallpapers can be seen peeling off the walls throughout the house. In one of the final rooms he looked through, Sims found a single taxidermied pheasant in a glass case. While Sims said the place looked ‘foreboding and kind of creepy’, he nonetheless found it a fascinating place to explore, explaining, “It’s crazy to see what is left behind in a property like this, as it is kind of like the people that used to own the place are still there or just left, but you can clearly see that a vast amount of time has gone by with these items left out. “It felt like we were seeing a part of history that not many people get to experience, such as old artefacts and old brands that have long gone and disappeared from the shelves.” Image: YouTube

Home & Garden

Wedding guests made to wash dishes in couple’s cost-saving efforts

A wedding guest has shared the story of the nightmare wedding she attended, including the moment she was asked to wash dishes at the bride and groom’s reception in the couple’s effort to cut costs. The American woman took to Reddit and said the bride - who she was related to - and groom had massively overspent on the wedding’s location and the bride’s dress and needed to make cutbacks on the rest of the wedding. “The bride, a relative of mine, and groom, have gone all out, renting a gorgeous and expensive venue for their wedding,” the guest wrote in the post. “Beautiful ceremony, lovely pictures, etc. The buffet line and tables have been set up on the screened porch of the building. “Food looks great, I serve up my plate and go sit down. My boyfriend at the time, now my husband, has gone to the restroom.” Since the venue only had a few restrooms for guests to use, the guest’s partner took a while to return and be able to serve himself a plate. “He then comes back with an empty plate. When I asked why, he says there’s no more food,” she explained. “I find the bride’s mum and whisper that she should probably ask the caterers to put out more food,” she continued. “She gets a peculiar expression on her face and says there is no more food. What was on the buffet line is all that they have. Period.” To save money on food, the couple decided to “self cater” the event, with a family friend who was a chef volunteering to make the food. Since the couple wanted the food to be opulent and include “good cuts of meat, artisan breads and cheeses”, they could only afford enough food for three quarters of their guests. But the wedding was to become even more bizarre after the meal. “Dinner is over, we are starting the reception thing, when the maid of honour starts coming around and asking some of us to come with her into the kitchen. We go,” the guest said. “There is no air conditioning so this kitchen is about a zillion degrees. She shows us stacks of plates and cups and then tells us we need to wash them. “Apparently part of self-catering is you rent the dishes and glassware, and if they aren’t returned clean at the end of the evening you lose your deposit.” Since part of their cost-saving measures included foregoing the hiring of staff to clean up, the guest and nine others spent most of the night “elbow deep in soap and water”. “We miss the first dance and the cutting of the cake, which turns out to be for the best because (wait for it) they hadn’t purchased enough cake for everyone either.” Other users shared their disbelief, commenting on the “outrageous” behaviour of the newlywed couple. “That is INSANE. Imagine inviting a bunch of folks then having the gall to tell them 1/4 of them will DELIBERATELY be left hungry. Including cake!” one said. Another wrote: “If anyone was to wash dishes, it should have been the bridal party, not the guests. Or the couple could have figured out how to hire someone, geez.”

Relationships

Nicole Kidman dishes on early days with Keith Urban: “I was a goner”

Hollywood heavyweight Nicole Kidman has been married to her hubby Keith Urban for almost 14 years and has opened up about just what exactly made her fall so hard for him. “He's pretty much the flip side of neurotic,” Kidman explained of her “mellow” musician husband who she met in 2005, while speaking to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/nicole-kidman-cover-story-interview-11586970315?tesla=y%3Fmod%3De2igmag&utm_campaign=later-linkinbio-wsjmag&utm_content=later-6768717&utm_medium=social&utm_source=instagram" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal.</a> The pair met accidentally while attending an industry event and Nicole says he rode her around on his Harley-Davidson to Woodstock, New York. The New Zealand born singer ended off the romantic night with a picnic in the woods - an experience Kidman could not deny as special. “I was a goner—I mean, c'mon.” <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/tv/B_iELb_JgMW/?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/tv/B_iELb_JgMW/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman)</a> on Apr 28, 2020 at 10:05am PDT </div> </blockquote> The couple now share two daughters together; Sunday Rose, 11, and Faith Margaret, nine, and she is determined to keep her family close knit. “I’ll pass on films,” the Australian beauty said, and went on to say she purposefully selects projects shooting on the East Coast when her kids are not in school so she can balance her work and family time. “We have a system worked out to keep the family together,” she explained. “When Keith's not touring, it's much easier. He'll be on tour next year, and then I just don’t work as much. Literally—it will become imbalanced, and we will change it. <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/B6cd_Y6JJEX/?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/B6cd_Y6JJEX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Nicole Kidman (@nicolekidman)</a> on Dec 23, 2019 at 10:17pm PST </div> </blockquote> “We don’t have the answers, but the one thing we do know is that we will not jeopardize us.” When asked about her preference for movie roles is what she likes to choose, she admitted: “My taste is really out there. There's no sense. I'm a complete random nonconformist. “People are like, ‘What are you doing?’ I'm like, ‘I don't know what I'm doing.’ “I'll very much go on the record saying I have no idea what I’m doing.”

Relationships

He’s growing up so fast! Duchess Kate dishes on Prince Louis turning into a “little boy from being a baby”

Prince Louis, at just 21-months-old, is proving he is not too far behind four-year-old Princess Charlotte and six-year-old Prince George, according to his mother. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travelled to Bradford for a day bursting with royal engagements and during one visit, Kate opened up about her youngest child. The couple joined in on a workshop for grandparents taking care of grandchildren and Jo Broadbent, who takes care of her six-year-old granddaughter, told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://people.com/royals/prince-louis-21-months-is-proud-of-this-recent-milestone-says-mom-kate-middleton/" target="_blank">People</a> that the Duchess was a proud mom. "I asked how her children were," Broadbent said. "She said Louis had started to tell her 'he's balancing,' and she said it was really nice to see him turning into a little boy from being a baby. She’s obviously very proud of her children." The royal toddler is definitely growing up fast as well, with pictures of Prince Louis walking were first captured and released to the world in May of 2019. Soon after the young prince joined his family on the Buckingham Palace balcony during Trooping the Colour for the very first time and had hearts swooning all over the world. Scroll through the gallery to see Prince Louis’ adorable cherub face throughout the years.

Family & Pets

Prince William and Duchess Kate’s date full of love: Body language expert dishes verdict on couple’s night out

After eight years and three children together, the royal couple looked just as loved up as they would have been on their first date night, a body language expert has revealed. Judi James says both Prince William and Duchess Kate, who are not a couple to publicly display acts of affection, exhibited “subtly flirt” behaviour that royal fans got to see at the beginning of their relationship. While their displays of love and appreciation may be a little more downplayed than the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, James told<a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html"> FEMAIL</a>, they still signal they have a solid foundation rooted in mutual affection. The body language expert noted a photograph showing Prince William’s hand on the small of his wife’s back appeared “gentlemanly.” “William and Kate aren’t known for their overt PDAs and they can keep their touch rituals to a minimum in public but this back-touch from William looks unusually tactile and affectionate,” she said. “His smile looks almost shy here and the splayed hand appears gentle and gentlemanly, although that raised thumb suggests intense happiness.” It was not the only snap that showed the royal’s looking starry eyed and in love that got James’ attention though. An image shared by Kensington Palace’s official Instagram page displayed the Duke and Duchess in their seats at the London Palladium during the show. “The couple’s mirroring is always tight, showing like-minded thinking and a subliminal desire to present as an double act based on two empathetic equals,” James said. “Here though they add some strong eye-engage signals, leaning their heads together at matching angles to do so. “The eye contact has produced facial expressions that suggest the classic "look of love", with a softening of the features plus a dimpled smile from Kate.’ Once more, a picture of the couple laughing in their box during the show signalled to the body language expert that they were both having fun. “Royal Variety performances can prompt some smiles from the royal box but here William and Kate are literally rocking with laughter,” Judi explained. “Again it is mutual though, with mirrored movements, suggesting a shared sense of fun.” However, what stood out to her was a snap of the couple leaving the event and heading back to their car after a long night in public. “When any smiling public displays have been an act it’s the moment a couple take their seats in the car that you’ll often see masks begin to slip,” Judi said. “But if anything Kate’s expression of delight appears to intensify here. Her excited, widened eye expression, her rounded cheeks and her symmetric smile all make her look like someone on a first date.” Scroll through the gallery above to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looking loved up on date night.

Relationships

A debate is brewing over the right and wrong way to handwash dishes

When it comes to cleaning the dishes, everyone has their own process. But, when discussing how people handwash their china, there were two standout categories. According to Bon Appetit magazine author Nikita Richardson there are those that wash the bottom of their dishes, and others that don’t. Her article titled “Please, I’m begging you, wash the bottom of your dishes” has sent Twitter into a meltdown over the weekend, as it sparked a debate between those who do and those who don’t. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who wash the bottom of their dishes and those who don't. <a href="https://t.co/CVmjEw6biG">https://t.co/CVmjEw6biG</a> — Bon Appétit (@bonappetit) <a href="https://twitter.com/bonappetit/status/1165253440093773831?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 August 2019</a></blockquote> A lot of users were surprised that this was even having to be reiterated, believing it to be common knowledge. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> <a href="https://t.co/YXHJ7ybvha">https://t.co/YXHJ7ybvha</a> <a href="https://t.co/R82AxPL6Ws">pic.twitter.com/R82AxPL6Ws</a> — Ayrryk (@ayrryk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ayrryk/status/1165261928526168067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 August 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> What kind of monster doesn’t wash the bottom of the freaking dishes? Does a surgeon only wash the palms of his hands?! Hell no!! — 🇺🇸Cpt. FunkaDunk🇯🇵 (@cptfunkadunk) <a href="https://twitter.com/cptfunkadunk/status/1165437061949796352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">25 August 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> You have to wash them they sit inside the other dishes, wtf. — Jill Valentine, Mother of Dagons (@milfgaardian) <a href="https://twitter.com/milfgaardian/status/1165253672760037376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 August 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> This is so gross, dishes get stacked and sit in the sink, the bottoms are frequently greasy and dirty!! I’m upset — Amanda Mull (@amandamull) <a href="https://twitter.com/amandamull/status/1165338377350275072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 August 2019</a></blockquote> Others admitted that the thought never crossed their mind. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> This has 100% never occurred to me. — Tammy Gordon (@tammy) <a href="https://twitter.com/tammy/status/1165255269535932416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 August 2019</a></blockquote> And on the other end, there were those who decided to share their stories of disgusting housemates and family members who weren’t up to par on the hygiene front. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en-gb"> My friend's ex-boyfriend would wash the dishes OK, but then he would put them away wet. Wet, stacked plates in the cabinet, festering. — Amy Rey (@Amy_Rey) <a href="https://twitter.com/Amy_Rey/status/1165504059442438145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">25 August 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> I was at my parents house one weekend for a family gathering, and saw a younger (but, adult) relative fill a glass with water, drink it, and PUT THE EMPTY BUT UNWASHED GLASS BACK IN THE CABINET. I think about that a lot. <a href="https://t.co/zC4SettPnq">https://t.co/zC4SettPnq</a> — BombayK (@BombayK2) <a href="https://twitter.com/BombayK2/status/1165259882070794240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 August 2019</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-lang="en-gb"> this is super gross but very unsurprising. i used to have a roommate who would “clean dishes” but leave dried cheese and sauce on the rims of the dishes and stack them with actual clean plates after that i just resigned myself to washing all the dishes <a href="https://t.co/0BKy1UjZTP">https://t.co/0BKy1UjZTP</a> — bowi3 (@shinbowi3) <a href="https://twitter.com/shinbowi3/status/1165376784919126016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 August 2019</a></blockquote> But thankfully, most sided with Richardson on this one, who pointed out: “Not washing the bottom of your dishes is the first step on a slippery slope toward half-assery.”

Retirement Life

IKEA product designer claims that her $1.49 design is the “world’s best”

Iina Vuorivirta “loves doing the dishes” and it was this passion that took the IKEA product designer to the ultimate level. She was given a brief from Ikea to make “the best dish brush in the whole world”, which is a dream come true for the designer. “It still makes me a little bit shaky,” Ms Vuorivirta said to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/why-this-149-ikea-product-is-the-worlds-best/news-story/b38a51076082b5d3b93d874da95cf3c9" target="_blank">news.com.au</a>. The brush that you can buy for a low $1.49 from the furniture giant might not look like much, but it took a full 18 months of design, testing and iteration to meet five requirements set by IKEA. These elements are: <ul> <li>Form</li> <li>Function</li> <li>Low price</li> <li>Quality</li> <li>Sustainability</li> </ul> Vuorivirta worked across the whole product range but said that her favourite products are “these kind of everyday life little heroes that you sort of take for granted, but when you have them right it’s a fluid part of your daily routine”. She spoke at IKEA's recent Democratic Design Days conference in Almhult and went into detail about the extensive testing the dish brush went through. “It was a long learning curve, together with a big amount of people to get this thing done,” she said. “We made it out of recycled plastics. I even designed air bubbles inside the handle to be able to maximise the material but not (compromise) when it comes to the ergonomics, how it feels to handle, how balanced it is, and how it of course looks.” <img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" class="post_image_group" src="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/37749882/big-Screen%20Shot%202019-08-12%20at%2010.18.20%20am.png" alt="" data-asset_id="37749882" data-url-thumb="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/37749882/thumb-Screen%20Shot%202019-08-12%20at%2010.18.20%20am.png" data-url-thumb-small="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/37749882/thumb_small-Screen%20Shot%202019-08-12%20at%2010.18.20%20am.png" data-url-thumb-big-scaled="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/37749882/thumb_big_scaled-Screen%20Shot%202019-08-12%20at%2010.18.20%20am.png" data-url-large="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/37749882/large-Screen%20Shot%202019-08-12%20at%2010.18.20%20am.png" data-url-big="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/37749882/big-Screen%20Shot%202019-08-12%20at%2010.18.20%20am.png" data-url-original="https://over60.monday.com/protected_static/657795/resources/37749882/Screen%20Shot%202019-08-12%20at%2010.18.20%20am.png" data-filename="Screen Shot 2019-08-12 at 10.18.20 am.png" data-is-gif="false" data-post-id="411604433"" /> Photo source: IKEA The brush went on sale in Australia in April and has since sold 20,000 units. Ms Vuorivirta said that a lot of thought went into the whole process. “With this one we didn’t only want to make the best dish brush in the whole world but also we were really being picky when it comes to the price tag,” she explained. “This will be the dish brush for the many people and the price tag also needs to be according to that. So it was a long journey. But it still makes me really happy.” IKEA is known for the obsessive and minute changes that are made across its entire range which is used to drive down costs. “You would be surprised if you knew how much time we spent on each single detail of a product,” said Henrik Heegaard, product design manager and co-create Ikea manager. “Cut down assembly by five seconds, cut down the time it takes from the start of the production line to the end, these things make the whole difference.” Heegaard also explained that the recent addition of sustainability to the design requirements of Ikea have meant that sometimes, the company may compromise on price. “Where we look at products where we supply high volumes, of course we are very, very keen on making sure that is planet-positive — how can we go from virgin plastics to recycled plastics, for instance — and today that is more expensive,” he said. “There we go in and say, you know what, here we take our responsibility and put recycled plastic in there since this is a need our customers have. Then there's also times where we need to have a very specific price point where we just need to try harder to add in sustainability."

Home & Garden

5 mistakes home cooks make whilst cooking traditional Italian dishes

Cooking pasta sounds like a task that should be easy, but creating an authentic Italian pasta dish is trickier than you think. From the exact formula that makes up Bolognese sauce to how the pasta should be cooked is up for debate by many home chefs. However, Giovanni Rana, who has been making pasta since the 1960s in Italy, has revealed the secrets to capturing the authentic taste of Italian cooking in your home. He’s shared a few tips to the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6872245/How-cook-traditional-Italian-dishes-home.html">Daily Mail:</a> 1. Follow the instructions on the pasta packaging “There are a lot of urban legends about al dente pasta but in Italy not everybody loves al dente pasta,” revealed Giovanni’s daughter-in-law Antonella. “In the North they love it a little softer, into the South they love their pasta almost raw. “I’d suggest always following the time printed on the packet. Fresh pasta is the quickest. We’re talking about just two minutes.” Antonella revealed her personal way to cook pasta. “I personally love to drain the pasta 15 seconds before the full cooking time. If it’s written two minutes, I drain at 1:50 and in the very last 10 seconds I use a mixing bowl to mix the sauce in. This way you don’t overcook your pasta.” 2. Don’t add too much sauce Although it might seem like a good idea to cover your pasta in sauce, too much sauce could be a bad thing. Using the wrong proportion of sauce to pasta can be a dead giveaway to an inexperienced chef preparing Italian food. “When you're speaking about fresh pasta tortellini, the filling has its own taste and power, as Italians we try not to cover it too much with the sauce. “Especially ricotta and spinach which is so delicate and so pure, that if you add a lot of sauce, you will see the pasta swimming in the sauce. It’s not a good sign,” Antonella explained. “In general, the most traditional way to eat fresh filled pasta is to be very respectful of the proportions. The queen is the pasta and the sauce is the tool.” 3. Never add ketchup! Using tomato ketchup instead of fresh tomatoes in sauce is another common mistake that is made by home chefs. According to Antonella, it’s just not the same. “Tomato ketchup for me, means burgers and casual food. “In the tomato sauce you can really play with more veggies, for example garlic, onion, carrot, celery or you can play with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper.” There is a way to make contemporary Italian sauce. “If you want to do something more, try to work on doing tomato sauce in the Italian way. Roughly chop onion, garlic, fresh ripe tomatoes and cook for a few minutes. “Then add fresh basil, this is the most contemporary Italian sauce.” 4. Loss of flavour by adding already grated cheese Although it might be easier to use already grated cheese, you’ve already lost half the flavour in parmigiana. “Always buy parmigiana reggiano in a whole piece where you can see the crust and the stamp. Never buy it already grated, as you’ve already lost half the flavour,” Antonella said. 5. Not using extra virgin olive oil According to Antonella, extra virgin olive oil is a must-have in authentic Italian dishes. “Extra virgin oil, it's a facilitator and platform that you can’t miss, never buy just olive oil as this means the olive fruits have been pressed two, three times and also their bones,' said Antonella. “When you buy extra virgin it means they’ve pressed the olives just once and they press the pulp – the colour, flavour, nutrients and everything is better. “If you like light flavour buy from the North of Italy, if you like medium body then you go for the centre such as Tuscany. If you like bold, spicy flavour, you buy from Sicily.”

Food & Wine

Garlic and chive mash

The ultimate accompaniment to any meal, these creamy and garlic-mashed potatoes will ensure your dinner guests are repeat customers. Ingredients: <ul> <li>1.2kg Ruby Lou potatoes, peeled, coarsely chopped</li> <li>2 garlic cloves, peeled</li> <li>80g butter, chopped</li> <li>1 cup pouring cream</li> <li>1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives</li> <li>Extra butter, to serve</li> </ul>

Food & Wine

Cruise ship workers dish the dirt about what goes on below deck

Even if you’re an experienced cruiser, odds are you’ve only seen one side of life on these ships as a passenger. But for the crew members on these vessels, life at sea is a very different prospect, and once the boat leaves port anything goes. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/7g5m1j/cruise_ship_employees_of_reddit_what_are_things/" target="_blank">Reddit</a> user willfulpool posed the question: “Cruise ship employees, what are things that happen aboard the ship that the guests don’t know about?” And the response was staggering: One user said: “You work with like, 20 other people in your department, all in this little prison of a job for six months at a time, except every few weeks two to three of the people might just be swapped out to other people.” Another useer revealed: “A family friend use to work for a cruise line and told me deaths are common, especially with the elderly. “Senior/nursing homes are expensive and for a much smaller price tag the elderly can be gone for a week or two at a time and have people constantly checking on them and they get all their meals.” Yet another added: “I did a behind-the-scenes tour of a cruise ship once and they showed us the morgue. “They also have two full ICUs on board since, even with helicopters, it can be days between someone falling ill and getting them to a proper hospital.” One more really spilled the beans, saying “You would be amazed at what people will flush down the toilet. Pool noodles, T-shirts, shoes... pretty much anything that people don't want to pack with them when they leave. “The ship also needs to fuel up (bunkering) and sometimes passengers are on board while that is going on. No open flames are allowed outside while bunkering is ongoing and this becomes a problem with passengers who need a smoke. “To get around this they smoke in their rooms, which sets off the smoke detectors. There is also a regulation that bunkering must immediately stop if a fire alarm goes off until the hazard of a fire has passed. So somebody from the crew has to go to your room and make sure it isn't on fire. Then they call down to the engine room to report it's a false alarm. Then we can start the pumps again. “On average, bunkering is usually interrupted three or four times due to this and it's annoying as hell.” Were you aware of the secret life at sea?

Cruising

Sautéed potatoes with lemon and rosemary

Rosemary, lemon, garlic and salt and pepper add plenty of flavour to this potato dish. And if that’s not enough, sautéing them will knock your socks off. Serves: 2 Ingredients: <ul> <li>2 tablespoons olive oil25g of butter</li> <li>200g new potatoes, halved lengthways</li> <li>2 sprigs fresh rosemary</li> <li>2 garlic cloves, peeled, crushed</li> <li>1 lemon, juice only</li> <li>Sea salt</li> <li>Freshly ground black pepper</li> </ul> Method: 1. Heat the oil and butter in a deep frying pan. Add the potatoes and fry for five to six minutes. 2. Add the rosemary and garlic to the pan and continue to fry, turning occasionally, over a medium to high heat for a further five minutes, or until cooked through. 3. Squeeze over the lemon juice and season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/05/potato-cakes/">Potato cakes</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/02/crispy-potato-roast/">Crispy potato roast</a> <a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2014/11/cheesy-potato-bake-recipe/">Cheesy potato bake</a>

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A debate is brewing over the right and wrong way to handwash dishes

IKEA product designer claims that her $1.49 design is the “world’s best”

5 mistakes home cooks make whilst cooking traditional Italian dishes

Garlic and chive mash

Cruise ship workers dish the dirt about what goes on below deck

Sautéed potatoes with lemon and rosemary