Lifestyle

Electric Vehicles are Improving, but Charging and Battery Issues Persist in Consumer Reports’ 2023 Annual Auto Reliability Survey

Consumers are buying electric vehicles in growing numbers, but poor reliability remains an issue, according to the latest Annual Auto Reliability Survey data from Consumer Reports (CR), the nonprofit research, testing, and consumer advocacy organization. Electric pickups in particular are the least reliable category of vehicles. On average, new EVs have 79 percent more problems than ICE vehicles. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) fare even worse with an average of […]

12 January, 2024 40

Lifestyle

A New Consumer Reports Investigation Sheds Light on Dangers of Water Beads

A new investigation by Consumer Reports (CR) reveals the alarming danger posed by water beads, which are often marketed as toys or sensory aids for children. The beads are small, super-absorbent gel balls that, when placed in water, grow in size. CR found that, if ingested by children, water beads can grow to dangerous sizes in the body. CR conducted tests on several brands of water beads and documented how much they […]

12 January, 2024 20

Lifestyle

Four tips for a healthy news diet in 2024, from an expert in media psychology

DimaBerlin/Shutterstock By Sharon Coen, University of Salford The start of the new year brings inevitable pressure to start fresh, with new hobbies, exercise regimes and healthy diets. But there is one diet you may not have thought of improving this year: your media and news consumption. It’s not easy to stay informed these days. We have more access to information than ever, but not all of it is good quality. […]

11 January, 2024 32

Entertainment

Moving On Without Letting Go Widower’s new book shares keys to surviving the journey through grief

Everyone experiences grief differently. Some want to move on immediately; others let grief flow through them, following its natural course; still others get stuck — they can't or don't want to move on, because their grief is the last thread of connection they have with their loved one. To let go would make the loss feel even more final and devastating. The comforting message at the core of It All […]

11 January, 2024 20

Lifestyle

When to give your child their first mobile phone – and how to keep them safe

Andy Phippen, Bournemouth University I spend my career researching young people and the internet: what they do online, what they think about it and how their views differ to those of their parents. I often get questions from parents about their children’s internet use. One of the most common is when to get their child a mobile phone, as well as how to keep them safe when they have one. […]

11 January, 2024 29

Lifestyle

6 guiding principles for custom-tailoring a career and life of purpose

College grads, those between jobs and anyone looking to make a career shift will find an abundance of practical wisdom in the book, Success on Your Own Terms: 6 Promises to Fire Up Your Passion, Ignite Your Career and Create an Amazing Life. Written by Christian hip-hop media owner and CEO James Rosseau, Success on Your Own Terms shares Rosseau’s inspiring blend of personal setbacks and triumphs, smart strategies, and lessons learned on […]

11 January, 2024 25

Lifestyle

10 Tips for a healthier lifestyle: Small changes, big impact

By Dilia Mazula Introduction: In the hustle and bustle of daily life, maintaining a healthy lifestyle often takes a backseat. However, incorporating simple and sustainable habits can make a significant difference in your overall well-being. Here are 10 tips to help you stay healthy and live your best life. 1. Balanced Nutrition: Start your journey to a healthier lifestyle by embracing a balanced diet. Ensure your meals include a variety […]

10 January, 2024 22

Health / Medical

Does exercise really do nothing for longevity, as a Finnish twins study suggests?

BGStock72/Shutterstock George M. Savva, Quadram Institute Surveys on lifestyle and longevity consistently find that people who do more exercise live longer. So it is surprising to see a report from the Finnish Twins Cohort Study that there is little direct effect of “leisure time physical activity” on lifespan. What makes this study different from others – and is it right? Human behaviour and biology are complex and interact with wider […]

10 January, 2024 19

Health / Medical

Stressed out? Why mindfulness and meditation help us cope with the world

By Lucy Draper-Clarke, University of the Witwatersrand In a world fraught with anxiety, stress, and environmental and humanitarian disasters, people are looking for ways to cope. Many have turned to practices originating in ancient eastern philosophies for guidance. Among these is mindfulness, which is linked to meditation. Lucy Draper-Clarke, researcher and author of The Compassionate Activist, spoke to health & medicine editor Nadine Dreyer about looking inwards and cultivating compassion, […]

10 January, 2024 34