Harvard Studied People For 75 Years & Found That Happiness Comes From One Thing...

What makes a good life? Many people around the world would say fame or money or "success." But it turns out, a good life consists of much more than that..

We all want to extend our happiness and longevity — so what keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life?

If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re mistaken. Happiness doesn’t just come from "leaning in" at work or pushing harder for achievements. It doesn’t come from hearing our names spoken about in an envious way or from seeing our face plastered on billboards.

As Dr. Waldinger says in the video, "We’re giving the impression that these are the things we have to go after if we want a good life." But that’s actually not true.

And he would know. As the director of 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. It’s known as the Harvard Study. And it’s the longest study of adult life that has ever been done.

They’ve studied people who grew up in tenements, others who went to the best schools, and some who developed schizophrenia. They’ve watched as some climbed to the top of the social ladder from the bottom while others who made that journey in reverse.

And they’ve been able to study and develop what the real picture of life looks like. It turns out that feeling connected to the people around you is the most important secret.

3 Lessons for relationships that improve your life

If you want to invest in your best life, here are 3 tips you should consider.

1. Social connections make us happier and healthier while loneliness kills

When you’re more socially connected to your family, your friends, your partner, and your community, you tend to be much happier and healthier. But the reverse is also true: the less connected you are and the more lonely you feel, the more vulnerable you are to an early death. And the unfortunate paradox in this day and age is that a lot of people are more connected before through technology, but less connected to real people in their lives.

2. It’s not just the number of your relationships but the quality of relationships that counts

Just because social connections make us happier doesn’t mean you should get more of them or keep them all. Unhealthy marriages, for example, were actually almost more toxic that divorcing or staying single. It’s the quality, not the quantity, that counts.

3. Good relationships protect both our bodies and our brains.

Secure, attached relationships — relationships where both partners feel they can count on each other in times of need — protect our mind and our body. That doesn’t mean that you have to find a relationship where there is never any bickering or conflicts. It means that your relationship can protect you as long as you feel you can truly turn to the person you’re in a partnership with when the going gets tough.

Take a look at the full talk to hear more about the study, as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life.

Your Biological Age vs Your Chronological Age

We all know our chronological age based on the years we’ve spent on this planet... But it turns out, our longevity has more to do with our biological age.

Ben Greenfield is chronologically 38 years old. But biologically? He has the body and health of a 20-year-old.

Ben reduced his biological age with simple biological ‘hacks’ which he honed and perfected over the years. It’s so simple in fact, that anyone can do it.

We all have the power to hack our biological age to become younger, healthier, and happier people.

So, if you’d like to learn these powerful hacks for enhanced health & longevity, then join Ben Greenfield, Renowned biohacker, In This FREE Masterclass, Where You Will Learn:

Harvard Studied People For 75 Years And Found That Happiness And Longevity Comes From One Thing...


Starbucks is testing a new latte you probably want to know about

Move over, Caramel Flan Latte. There's a new dessert-inspired beverage in town. Starbucks is testing out the Tiramisu Latte, Brand Eating reports.

The new flavor is a blend of espresso, mascarpone flavor and cocoa espresso powder. The Starbucks Blog describes it as: "another scrumptious dessert reinvented into a handcrafted drinkable delicacy."

We wonder how similar the latte tastes to Starbucks' Tiramisu Cake Pops. (And in the same breath we wonder, "Is this really necessary?")

Starbucks' attempt to combine two of my favorite things- tiramisu and coffee- was a complete fail 👎 — rewolf (@srbrynt) January 15, 2014

A tiramisu latte? #Starbucks, let's chill for a second and stop creating drinks with the same flavors. — Alissa (@thegramsreviews) January 20, 2014

Starbucks Tiramisu coffee is the bomb-diggity 👍 — Kyle Schloesser (@kyleeedo) January 14, 2014

And others are so moved they're unearthing phrases we haven't seen in a while:

Tiramisu's coffee flavor makes it an obvious choice for the newest dessert-disguised-in-steamed-milk. But it seems like Starbucks is introducing a new latte flavor every other day. Will this one stick?

The drink is currently available in stores in St. Louis and Jacksonville, FL.

Starbucks Is Testing A New Tiramisu Latte

Move over, Caramel Flan Latte . There's a new dessert-insp...

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How one woman responded to an unwanted penis photo

A woman who received an unsolicited picture of a penis from a man she didn't know responded by giving him a dose of his own medicine.

It's a familiar tale for many young women in the digital age. You sign up for internet dating hoping to find a suitable bachelor and, before you know it, you've received a picture of a penis.

In this case, Samantha Mawdsley had done nothing more than post a review of a restaurant in Manchester. Before long, she had a notification from a man - calling himself James - whom she had never met. He had sent her a picture of his genitalia.

In a blog post, she writes: "I've read about these mystical happenings but since I've been in a loving, pre-Tinder, three-year relationship, I never thought I'd witness the horror first hand. My initial thought was to ignore it, as we females are taught from such a young age. But... Nah! I decided to mess with him and call him out on all his ridiculous behaviours and double standards."

Samantha's response was to give him a dose of his own medicine.

She replied to him with a series of photos of penises. Then she uploaded screen grabs of the exchange to Facebook, embellishing the inappropriate area with colourful and mocking cartoon-like stickers.. One of these showed an image of a penis covered by a clenched like fist with the words "mine is bigger".

Unsurprisingly he didn't welcome the images and and one point messaged her, "I just want to puke! Please stop!"..

His final message requested that they keep the conversation between themselves, something which Samantha says encouraged her to call him out.

"I wanted guys to know that not every girl is going to be silent; you do run the risk of being exposed; that you can't do this."

The post has already been shared thousands of times on Facebook, despite only being uploaded on Sunday, and being removed intermittently since. The media analysis executive told BBC Trending that she is "overwhelmed" after being "inundated with messages".

"I feel like Beyoncé. I've had messages from all over the world, including Germany, Netherlands and even Aruba. People have been saying 'You're my inspiration' and 'You've won the internet'. I've also had guys also saying sorry on behalf of men. I'm so shocked.

"I've never received such a picture outside the context of internet dating, where that kind of thing goes with the territory. It's so prolific and this guy came out of nowhere."

Samantha is not the first to receive so-called "dick pics". This year alone has seen a number of women speak out about the issue. Model Emily Sears revealed she has been alerting girlfriends of the men who send her such images. Blogger and model Stina Sanders flagged up the problem by sharing a naked selfie sent to her by a troll.

It also revived an old memory from her teenage years. "I had an experience when I was 15 where a guy sat next to me in a library and started masturbating. Although I was quiet at the time, it made me want to point and scream."

What impact does Samantha hope her actions will have? "I really think guys are going to think twice. I'd rather that they learnt the lesson it's unacceptable but I'd be happy if it just peters out and doesn't happen any more. It's sexual harassment and shouldn't be allowed."

Image copyright Samantha Mawdsley Image caption Samantha with her long-term boyfriend Aneil

Another man has already sent Samantha an inappropriate image since her post gained traction. "I didn't even dignify that with an answer - I'm not playing that game." As for the man on the receiving end of the unexpected publicity, the 30-year-old says she "almost feels bad for him".

"Of all the guys that sent them, he's just the unluckiest one. I know there's a person behind all this, that he's the poster boy for them, but for the greater good and for people everywhere, something just has to change. He can be a martyr for the cause.

"If he tried to contact me, I would be scared but I don't feel like I've done anything wrong, I've just pointed and screamed."

A woman who received an unsolicited picture of a penis responded by giving the sender a dose of his own medicine.


Last week photos surfaced of two unidentified Western tourists being paraded around an Indonesian island in a "walk of shame" for alleged theft.

The images show a foreign man and woman walking alongside uniformed officers on the island of Gili Trawangan, with cardboard signs around their necks.

The signs read: "I am thieve [sic]. Don't do what I did....!!!"

The practice of parading those deemed to have committed crimes on the Gili Islands has gone on for many years although its exact origins are unclear.

After pictures of the incident appeared on social media, including an official Facebook page for the tiny islands, a number of questions have been asked about this unusual ritual.

The head of West Nusa Tenggara province tourism office, Lalu Muhamad Fauzal, told the BBC that the practice of parading those considered to have committed crimes on the islands came out of an agreement between locals and police on the mainland.

Most such walks happen on Gili Trawangan, the largest and most developed of the three Gili Islands, off the coast of Lombok, about 40km (25 miles) east of Bali.

Unlike Bali which attracts many tourists from around the world, the Gili Islands are much smaller and considered largely safe and peaceful. One circuit of the Trawangan is only about 7km (4.3 miles).

The police do not have a permanent presence on the tiny islands of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno or Gili Air. Instead, private security officers guard the islands, with support from mainland police when necessary. Most of the guards in the latest parade appear to be private, although at least one appears to be wearing a police uniform.

"Since there is no police enforcement on our little tropical paradise island, we have our own rules for thieves. If someone gets caught stealing, he or she has to parade around the island," Karina, from the island's Facebook page, told the BBC. "Later on the person will get banned from the island and is not allowed to return for a few years."

"It is to make people aware that they cannot visit a foreign country and take what they want without consequences," she added, echoing a widespread sentiment on the islands that the practice is both fair and effective.

"I never heard that someone was accused wrongly for a walk of shame".

Mr Fauzal agreed the parades could take credit for the island's low crime rate and their reputation for being far more peaceful than nearby Bali.

He added that most of those paraded are locals, although some are foreign tourists who were drunk or "forced to steal purses" as they had run out of money.

It is not clear whether there is any formal legal basis for the parades, but as the accused generally avoid more serious sanction, some observers have suggested that embarrassment and a ban from the islands is preferable to a court battle and the possibility of a fine or worse.

Oji Nuria Manggala, who witnessed the parade, told the BBC that the guards accompanying the foreigners said the pair had been caught on security camera stealing a bike, and could not deny it.

However, it has not been possible to identify the pair to confirm the allegations or whether they had any opportunity to mount a defence.

The island's seemingly unsophisticated form of justice has surprised some with its deliberate lack of concern for the privacy of the accused, and clear legal process.

While locals the BBC spoke to did not share any doubts about the parade, others have suggested that even the innocent might be tempted to opt for public humiliation rather than face formal charges under the Indonesian justice system, which is sometimes criticised for corruption and a lack of transparency.'

Indonesia justice: Foreign tourists in Gili island 'walk of shame'

Why alleged offenders are paraded around an Indonesian island on a 'walk of shame'.


Jon Stewart isn’t easily impressed.. But on Tuesday, a 16-year-old left this sardonic late-show host speechless.

A year after she was shot by the Taliban for speaking out about girls’ education rights, Malala Yousafzai sat down with Stewart to talk about her views on education and terrorism and how she plans to continue her fight to open up classrooms for girls all over the globe.

Stewart was quick to praise Yousafzai’s new book and express how privileged he felt to meet her. But it was the moment when she talked about how she would react to the terrorist who wanted to take her life that shook him most.

The Nobel Peace Prize nominee said that when she learned she was a target while living in Pakistan, she often thought about how she would react if she found herself face-to-face with a terrorist. At first, she thought she would fight back. But then she realized, she could not stoop to his level.

"If you hit a Talib, then there would be no difference between you and the Talib," she said. "You must not treat others with cruelty...You must fight others through peace and through dialogue and through education."

Once she decided she could not respond with violence, Yousafzai thought about what she would say to a terrorist.

"I would tell him how important education is and that I would even want education for your children as well. That’s what I want to tell you," she envisioned saying, "now do what you want."

After Stewart collected his thoughts, he made a pretty bold offer..

"I know your father is backstage and he’s very proud of you," Stewart said. "But would he be mad if I adopted you?"

We were kind of thinking the same thing.

We can't all adopt Malala, but we can support her fight for global education at the Malala Fund.

How Malala, Teen Activist Shot By Taliban, Made Jon Stewart's Jaw Drop (VIDEO)

Jon Stewart isn’t easily impressed. But on Tuesday, a 16-year-old left this sardonic late-show host speechless.

A year after she was shot by the Tali...

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Homework Could Have An Impact On Kids' Health. Should Schools Ban It?

Reformers in the Progressive Era (from the 1890s to 1920s) depicted homework as a "sin" that deprived children of their playtime. Many critics voice similar concerns today.

Yet there are many parents who feel that from early on, children need to do homework if they are to succeed in an increasingly competitive academic culture. School administrators and policy makers have also weighed in, proposing various policies on homework.

For the last 10 years, my colleagues and I have been investigating international patterns in homework using databases like the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). If we step back from the heated debates about homework and look at how homework is used around the world, we find the highest homework loads are associated with countries that have lower incomes and higher social inequality.

Does Homework Result In Academic Success?

Let’s first look at the global trends on homework.

Undoubtedly, homework is a global phenomenon; students from all 59 countries that participated in the 2007 Trends in Math and Science Study (TIMSS) reported getting homework. Worldwide, only less than 7% of fourth graders said they did no homework.

TIMSS is one of the few data sets that allow us to compare many nations on how much homework is given (and done). And the data show extreme variation.

For example, in some nations, like Algeria, Kuwait and Morocco, more than one in five fourth graders reported high levels of homework. In Japan, less than 3% of students indicated they did more than four hours of homework on a normal school night..

TIMSS data can also help to dispel some common stereotypes. For instance, in East Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan – countries that had the top rankings on TIMSS average math achievement – reported rates of heavy homework that were below the international mean.

In the Netherlands, nearly one out of five fourth graders reported doing no homework on an average school night, even though Dutch fourth graders put their country in the top 10 in terms of average math scores in 2007.

Going by TIMSS data, the US is neither "A Nation at Rest" as some have claimed, nor a nation straining under excessive homework load. Fourth and eighth grade US students fall in the middle of the 59 countries in the TIMSS data set, although only 12% of US fourth graders reported high math homework loads compared to an international average of 21%.

So, is homework related to high academic success?

At a national level, the answer is clearly no. Worldwide, homework is not associated with high national levels of academic achievement.

But, the TIMSS can’t be used to determine if homework is actually helping or hurting academic performance overall, it can help us see how much homework students are doing, and what conditions are associated with higher national levels of homework.

We have typically found that the highest homework loads are associated with countries that have lower incomes and higher levels of social inequality – not hallmarks that most countries would want to emulate.

TIMSS data also show us how even elementary school kids are being burdened with large amounts of homework.

Almost 10% of fourth graders worldwide (one in 10 children) reported spending multiple hours on homework each night. Globally, one in five fourth graders report 30 minutes or more of homework in math three to four times a week.

These reports of large homework loads should worry parents, teachers and policymakers alike.

Empirical studies have linked excessive homework to sleep disruption, indicating a negative relationship between the amount of homework, perceived stress and physical health.

Elementary school kids are dealing with large amounts of homework. Howard County Library System, CC BY-NC-ND

What constitutes excessive amounts of homework varies by age, and may also be affected by cultural or family expectations.. Young adolescents in middle school, or teenagers in high school, can study for longer duration than elementary school children.

But for elementary school students, even 30 minutes of homework a night, if combined with other sources of academic stress, can have a negative impact. Researchers in China have linked homework of two or more hours per night with sleep disruption.

Even though some cultures may normalize long periods of studying for elementary age children, there is no evidence to support that this level of homework has clear academic benefits. Also, when parents and children conflict over homework, and strong negative emotions are created, homework can actually have a negative association with academic achievement.

Administrators and policymakers have not been reluctant to wade into the debates on homework and to formulate policies. France’s president, Francois Hollande, even proposed that homework be banned because it may have inegaliatarian effects.

However, "zero-tolerance" homework policies for schools, or nations, are likely to create as many problems as they solve because of the wide variation of homework effects. Contrary to what Hollande said, research suggests that homework is not a likely source of social class differences in academic achievement.

Homework, in fact, is an important component of education for students in the middle and upper grades of schooling.

Policymakers and researchers should look more closely at the connection between poverty, inequality and higher levels of homework. Rather than seeing homework as a "solution," policymakers should question what facets of their educational system might impel students, teachers and parents to increase homework loads.

At the classroom level, in setting homework, teachers need to communicate with their peers and with parents to assure that the homework assigned overall for a grade is not burdensome, and that it is indeed having a positive effect.

Perhaps, teachers can opt for a more individualized approach to homework. If teachers are careful in selecting their assignments – weighing the student’s age, family situation and need for skill development – then homework can be tailored in ways that improve the chance of maximum positive impact for any given student.

I strongly suspect that when teachers face conditions such as pressure to meet arbitrary achievement goals, lack of planning time or little autonomy over curriculum, homework becomes an easy option to make up what could not be covered in class.

Whatever the reason, the fact is a significant percentage of elementary school children around the world are struggling with large homework loads. That alone could have long-term negative consequences for their academic success.

Gerald K LeTendre, Professor of Education , Pennsylvania State University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.


"American Idol" has officially announced Harry Connick Jr. and Jennifer Lopez as the new judges alongside Keith Urban.

Original judge Randy Jackson will return to "American Idol" Season 13 as a mentor. Ryan Seacrest returns as host.

"'American Idol' has always been about discovering the next singing superstar, and next season our judging panel will deliver a most impressive combination of talent, wisdom and personality to do just that: Jennifer Lopez, the triple-threat global superstar who loves 'Idol' and whom 'Idol' fans love; Harry Connick, Jr., a bona-fide musical genius and fantastic 'Idol' mentor whose honesty and expertise can help turn these hopefuls into stars; Keith Urban, a multi-Grammy-winning artist who was such a positive force on the show last season. We are also very excited to have our friend Randy Jackson now in a new role as mentor, and the captain of our team -- the heart and soul of 'Idol' -- Ryan Seacrest returning as host," Kevin Reilly, chairman of entertainment at Fox Broadcasting Company, said in a statement.

"I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of the 'American Idol XIII' family," he said in a statement. "Our new producers, judging panel and mentor are all fired up for this season. I've already witnessed some amazingly talented contestants from around the country during our early auditions, cementing my belief that a new superstar is well within our sights."

Lopez previously judged "American Idol" Seasons 10 and 11 before leaving the series. Her involvement was widely speculated and even confirmed by her boyfriend.

Connick Jr. previously served as a mentor to the "Idol" contestants.

"I have always been a huge fan of 'American Idol' and really enjoyed my time as a mentor on the show," Connick Jr. said in a statement. "And I am honored that they’ve asked me to be a judge this season. As an entertainer, I am truly excited to bring my perspective to 'American Idol,' and to help emerging performers find their way."

Jackson announced he was leaving "American Idol" after 12 years in May 2013. He's replacing Jimmy Iovine as mentor.

"Surprise, surprise! I am so happy to be back as part of this amazing show that started it all," Jackson said in a statement. "Season 1-3 is the place to be. The original talent show is back with a vengeance and ready to discover the best talent in America.."

Urban joined "American Idol" during Season 12 and sat alongside Jackson, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. He's the only returning judge from that season.

"I think this season of 'Idol' is gonna be a blast," Urban said in a statement. "New team, new energy and a whole new field of artists to be discovered and given a chance!"

"American Idol" Season 13 premieres January 2014 on Fox.

'American Idol' Judges Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. Confirmed; Randy Jackson Back For Season 13

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Former "SNL" star heads to "House of Lies"

The network announced on Thursday that Armisen and Balthazar Getty ("Brothers and Sisters") would each appear in one episode of the show's third season, which premieres Jan. 12.

Armisen will play Vincent, "a neurotic owner of a company that makes a meal-replacement product," while Getty's role is "a wealthy hedge fund owner." Eliza Coupe ("Happy Endings") will also guest star in Getty's episode.

Other actors like Jenny Slate, T.I. and Mekhi Phifer were already slated to appear in the Don Cheadle-fronted show. In 2013, Cheadle won a Golden Globe for his role as Marty Khan, a ruthless consultant, and he's nominated again this year.

Recently, news broke that Armisen would guest star in Andy Samberg's Fox comedy, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine." Looks like he already has a busy early 2014.

"House of Lies" Season 3 premieres on Jan. 12, 2014, 10 p.m. EST on Showtime.

Fred Armisen On 'House Of Lies:' Former 'SNL' Star To Guest Star On Showtime's Hit

Fred Armisen will guest star on "House Of Lies," Showtime's Golden Globe-nominated comedy about management consultants living large.

The network annou...

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A new country joined the euro zone on New Year's Day »

Lithuania joined the euro zone on Thursday, despite long-lasting fears about the currency union's economic health, and reignited worries about Greece exiting the group.

The Baltic nation, which has a population of just 3 million, got the green light to adopt the euro in July 2014, and officially joined the euro zone on January 1.

To qualify, Lithuania had to meet five economic "convergence criteria," including price and exchange rate stability and low levels of government debt and deficit. Its people will exchange their Lithuanian litas at a rate of 3.4528 to the euro.

Lithuania is following in the footsteps of other former Eastern bloc countries which joined the European Union (EU) in 2004 and went on to enter the euro zone. These include Estonia and Slovakia, and most lately, neighboring Latvia.

What? This country just joined the euro zone

Lithuania joined the euro zone on Thursday, despite concerns about the currency union's economy and reignited fears about a possible 'Grexit'.

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The power of simple life changes to prevent heart disease

Billions of dollars are spent every year on medications that reduce the risk of heart disease — the No. 1 killer in the United States.

But some people feel powerless to prevent it: Many of the risk factors seem baked into the cake at birth. Genetic factors can have a huge impact on people’s chances of dying of heart disease, and it has long been thought that those factors are almost always outside of one’s control.

Recent research contradicts this, though, and that should give us all renewed hope.

Since the 1930s, we’ve recognized that heart disease runs in families. For the last decade, we’ve been able to identify specific genes that are linked to coronary artery disease. In fact, these genes seem to have a cumulative effect. People who have more of them are at greater risk.

Familial factors are some of the strongest arguments for using drugs like statins widely. After all, there’s only so much you can do about your cholesterol through diet and exercise changes. Some people can see reductions in cholesterol only through pharmacological intervention.

Still, we tend to treat those at low risk with lifestyle changes, while those at high risk get more intensive therapy. A new study in The New England Journal of Medicine argues that thinking may be wrong.

Researchers gathered data from four large prospective cohort studies that followed thousands of people for years, looking at the relationships between various risk factors and heart disease. The first began enrolling patients in 1987 and the last in 2008. Even though specific genes of interest weren’t known when these studies began, data were available that allowed scientists to evaluate genetic risk decades later. Using about 50 different variations — single-nucleotide polymorphisms (otherwise known as SNPs) — researchers created a risk score.

They also looked at how lifestyle factors were associated with outcomes. These included not smoking cigarettes, not being obese (having a B.M.I. less than 30), performing physical activity at least once a week and having a healthful diet pattern.

That last criterion was defined as doing at least half of the following recommendations: eating more fruits, nuts, vegetables, whole grains, fish and dairy products and eating less refined grains, processed meats, unprocessed red meats, sugar-sweetened beverages, trans fats and sodium. Every one of the four lifestyle factors was associated with a decreased risk of coronary events.

Changing behavior makes a big difference in lowering the risk of heart disease, even for those people who are genetically predisposed to it.

That’s the first bit of good news. Doing any one of these things makes a difference.

But the effect is cumulative. The researchers divided people into three groups based on these factors. "Favorable" required at least three of the four factors, "intermediate" required two of them, and "unfavorable" required one or none. Across all studies, those with an unfavorable lifestyle had a risk that was 71 percent to 121 percent higher than those with a favorable lifestyle.

More impressive was the reduction in coronary events — heart attacks, bypass procedures and death from cardiovascular causes — at every level of risk. Those with a favorable lifestyle, compared with those with an unfavorable lifestyle, had a 45 percent reduction in coronary events among those at low genetic risk, a 47 percent reduction among those with intermediate genetic risk, and a 46 percent reduction among those at high genetic risk.

What does this mean in real-world numbers? Among those at high genetic risk in the oldest cohort study, 10.7 percent could expect to have a coronary event over a 10-year period if they had an unfavorable lifestyle. That number was reduced to 5.1 percent if they had a favorable lifestyle. Among those at low genetic risk, the 10-year event rate was 5.8 percent with an unfavorable lifestyle and 3.1 percent with a favorable lifestyle. In the other cohort studies, similar relative reductions were seen.

These differences aren’t small. The risk of a coronary event in 10 years was halved. The absolute reduction, more than 5 percentage points in the genetic group at high risk, means that lifestyle changes are as powerful as, if not more powerful than, many drugs we recommend and pay billions of dollars for all the time.

There are caveats, of course. All of the participants in these analyses were white, because there are few well-validated genetic studies in black populations. But the researchers also saw similar findings in the black population of the oldest cohort. These aren’t randomized controlled trials, and there could be other factors at play that we aren’t measuring. But the results were consistent over a number of studies, and the effect size is large.

There are important lessons to be learned. These results should encourage us that genetics do not determine everything about our health. Changes in lifestyle can overcome much of the risk our DNA imposes.

Lifestyle changes are hugely important not only for those at low risk, but for those at high risk. The relative reductions in events were similar at all levels of genetic risk.

Moreover, given how changes in lifestyle will also reduce your risk of other diseases like cancer (the No. 2 killer), it’s clear that a healthier lifestyle could have huge implications for many, many more people.

It’s important to acknowledge that these lifestyle recommendations are even less constrictive than those I’ve discussed in the past. You need only be a current nonsmoker; past smoking doesn’t exclude you. You can also be overweight, just not obese. And in contrast with most physical activity recommendations, it requires only once-a-week exercise, not the 30 minutes for five days that most professional organizations like the American Heart Association endorse.

The Power of Simple Life Changes to Prevent Heart Disease

Drugs like statins are helpful, but healthful habits can achieve much larger gains than many things we pay billions for.

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Was Meryl Streep approached to play Susan Boyle?

The 52-year-old singer, who rose to fame as a contestant on "Britain's Got Talent," recently spoke to Metro about the upcoming film. Boyle voiced her resistance to appearing in the movie, saying, "I wouldn’t like to be in the film myself." As to who is up for the role, Boyle revealed, "I’d like someone to play me. Probably Meryl Streep -- I understand she has been approached."

While Streep has yet to comment on the rumored casting, the celebrated actress has earned Oscar nominations and awards for her past portrayals of real people, such as Julia Child for 2009's "Julie & Julia" and her part as Margaret Thatcher in 2011's "The Iron Lady," which won Streep the award for Best Actress. HuffPost Entertainment contacted Streep's representatives for more information on Boyle's quote; this post will be updated if and when they respond.

Due out from Fox, the upcoming biopic was confirmed by Boyle earlier this year. Fox Searchlight acquired rights to Boyle's story, as well as the British musical "I Dreamed A Dream" which she inspired.

Meryl Streep To Play Susan Boyle In Upcoming Biopic?

Susan Boyle reportedly has a huge star lined up to play her in the biopic about her life.

The 52-year-old singer, who rose to fame as a contestant on ...

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A man in Florida told police he killed his wife because she was in poor health and they could no longer afford the medications necessary for her care, according to an arrest affidavit from the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office.

Police said William J. Hager, 86, told them on Monday that in the past his ill wife had told him she wanted to die, but she didn't specifically ask him to kill her.

The shooting took place at their home in Port St. Lucie, which is north of West Palm Beach. The husband said he shot 78-year-old Carolyn Hager in the head while she slept, according to the arrest affidavit. Hager then drank coffee and called his children before contacting authorities, officials said.

Officers were dispatched to their home about 1 p.m. Hager led them to a bedroom where his wife's body was covered in a blanket, the affidavit said.

"I want to apologize I didn't call earlier. I wanted to tell my kids what happened first," a deputy quoted Hager as saying.

Police: Man says he killed wife because of her health, drug costs

William J. Hager told police he killed his wife because she was in ill and they could no longer affordher medicine, St. Lucie County, Florida, officials say.

us, Police: Man killed wife because he couldn't afford medications - CNN.com


Why "Frankenstein" Author Mary Shelley's Life Was Darker than Her Fiction

Wikimedia Commons Mary Shelley came from a family of intellectuals: Her parents were Mary Wollstonecraft, one of history's first feminist writers, and William Godwin, a philosopher.

Wikimedia Commons Shelley's romances led her father to disown her. When she was just 16, Shelley met the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley — an admirer of her father's. Even though he was married and significantly older (age 22 at the time), the two fell in love and eventually ran away together in 1814. When they returned to England, Mary was pregnant and her father wanted nothing to do with her.

Percy Bysshe Shelley by Alfred Clint, 1819.

Wikimedia Commons Mary's father may have killed to save his daughter's reputation. In 1816, the pregnant body of Harriet Westbrook, Percy Shelley's first wife, was found in London's Serpentine river after an apparent suicide. Mary and Percy got married soon after, but

William Godwin by James Northcote, 1802. Mary's father may have killed to save his daughter's reputation. In 1816, the pregnant body of Harriet Westbrook, Percy Shelley's first wife, was found in London's Serpentine river after an apparent suicide. Mary and Percy got married soon after, but rumors persisted that Mary's father had Harriet killed, as she stood in the way of his own daughter marrying Percy and thus forging a "legitimate" relationship.

Wikimedia Commons A penchant for poets may have run in the family. Like Mary, Shelley's stepsister Claire Clairmont wanted a poet lover for herself, so she pursued Percy's friend, Lord Byron. It was in pursuit of him that she, Mary, and Percy traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to meet Byron, and where in 1816 Mary would begin writing Frankenstein .

Claire Clairmont by Amelia Curran, 1819.

Wikimedia Commons Lord Byron may have inspired Shelley to write her most famous work. As the legend goes, Byron, Mary, Percy, and Byron's personal physician, Dr. John William Polidori, stayed up late one night, discussing the occult and reading ghost stories. Byron challenged the group to write a horror story, which led Mary to produce the story that would become Frankenstein . She wasn't the only one whose story would go down in history: Polidori wrote "The Vampyre," widely considered the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula .

George Lord Byron by Richard Westall, 1813.

Wikimedia Commons Shelley, however, says that Frankenstein came to her as she slept. In the third edition of Frankenstein , Mary

An illustration from Frankenstein entitled "Frankenstein at work in his laboratory." Shelley, however, says thatFrankensteincame to her as she slept. In the third edition ofFrankenstein, Mary explains that a dream inspired the story. "I saw with shut eyes, but acute mental vision – I saw the pale student of unhallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together," the author writes. "I saw the hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of some powerful engine, show signs of life..."

Wikimedia Commons Mary may have taken further inspiration from Frankenstein Castle (above) in Darmstadt, Germany. The alchemist Johann Conrad Dippel lived there in the 17th and 18th centuries. Local legends Mary may have taken further inspiration from Frankenstein Castle (above) in Darmstadt, Germany. The alchemist Johann Conrad Dippel lived there in the 17th and 18th centuries. Local legends have it that he experimented on a human body he exhumed while living in the castle.

Wikimedia Commons When Mary started writing Frankenstein , she was just 19. By the time of the book's 1818 publishing, she was only 21.

An original, handwritten page from the draft of Frankenstein written in the summer of 1816.

Wikimedia Commons While Frankenstein was initially published anonymously, a preface by Percy Shelley led many to believe he had written the novel. It wasn't until after the story became popular on the stage — in 1823, five years after its initial release — that Mary published the book under her own name.

Wikimedia Commons The Frankenstein we know is not the one Shelley originally created. Indeed, the author revised her book many times, most notably in 1831. Written after the tragic deaths of two of her children and Percy, this version presents Doctor Frankenstein as less of a man of free will and more as a pawn of fate, which is how Mary saw herself in the wake of her tragedies.

Illustration from the revised edition of Frankenstein .

Wikimedia Commons Tragedy marked much of Shelley's life. Only one of her three children, Percy Florence Shelley, survived into adulthood. The others — like William, who died of malaria before his first birthday — perished before Mary even got a chance to know them.

Wikimedia Commons Though Frankenstein is Shelley's most famous work, she continued to write for the rest of her life: Her other works include more science fiction, like the apocalyptic novel The Last Man , about the only survivor of a global plague, and the historical novel Valperga . She also edited posthumous editions of her husband's poetry.

Mary Shelley: 16 Surprising Facts About The Author Of Frankenstein

While you may know her horror classic, Frankenstein, these 16 fascinating Mary Shelley facts will leave you surprised and astounded.


It may bring some comfort to those who go to bed, only to wake up in the middle of the night frustratedly unable to get back to sleep.

While today this is seen as insomnia, until the end of the 19th century people did it on purpose.

Well after the Industrial Revolution, many people in Britain still swore by the health benefits of a ‘first sleep’ and ‘second sleep’.

For centuries, according to a sleep historian, they would use the time when they woke up at night to do household chores, visit friends - or make love to their spouse.

Sleeping through the night is by comparison a ‘modern invention’, according to Professor Roger Ekirch of Virginia Polytechnic and State University.

Speaking yesterday at the Royal Society of Medicine, he said: ‘Middle of the night insomnia was a rare problem before the late 1800s. As early as in the 16th century it was utterly normal, unworthy of comment.’

Bedtime was historically around 10pm, after which, he added: ‘Most individuals awakened shortly past midnight to an hour or so of consciousness, in which they meditated, they conversed and made love - not necessarily in that order.

‘A 16th century physician said making love was better after the first sleep, when people have more enjoyment and do it better.’

People used the gap between their first and second sleep to wash clothes, have a conversation or even to steal the neighbour’s firewood, historical records show.

It was thought that lovemaking between the two sleep phases was responsible for large families, with labourers able to conceive several children because they waited until after their energy-giving first sleep to do it.

It was also thought to aid digestion, if people turned from lying on their right to their left when they woke up during the night.

References to two phases of sleep go back to Chaucer, with a character in The Squire’s Tale, in the Canterbury Tales, deciding to go back to bed after her ‘firste sleep’.

Unless kept awake by a cold house, bed bugs or worry, most people were unconcerned about getting up in the night. It was not seen as insomnia, and ‘sleeplessness’ referred only to failing to fall asleep in the first place.

But the practice of having a first and second sleep fell out of favour in the decades following the Industrial Revolution, when people increasingly worked long hours as machine manufacturing dominated British industry.

The sleep historian said the shift came at the end of the 19th century, as the end of the first sleep crept later to around 3am, before it was jettisoned altogether.

Suddenly sleeping in two phases was seen as inefficient and people were warned that indulging would lead to headaches and constipation.

It was even feared that it might, in young men and women, cause ‘lustful thoughts’.

Speaking at a Royal society event in London on the subject of sleep, Prof Ekirch said: ‘Sleep represented a necessary evil best confined to a single interval, thus allowing someone to steal the march on the day and on one’s fellow human beings who were still enjoying their second sleep.’

As a result, today, the history professor said, many people who wake at night think they are ‘abnormal’.

However research suggests this may be a normal sleeping pattern when people are away from artificial lights and the blue light from electronic devices.

Prof Erich said: ‘Rather than the product of an implacable disorder, their sleep, viewed from the high ground of history, may just be natural.’

Why waking up in the night is natural: People regularly use to have two periods of sleep and do tasks in between

Professor Roger Ekirch of Virginia Polytechnic and State University claims people used to have a first sleep and a second sleep and it was a normal practice until the late 1800s.


Driverless cars will launch in cities sooner than expected — but there's one glaring problem

A self-driving Ford. Screenshot via YouTube

It looks like we may start seeing fully or nearly fully autonomous cars on the road sooner than anyone thought.

The name of the game is to bring autonomous driving to urbanites who don't own cars — and don't want to. That's the unifying theme of much of the accelerated enthusiasm for self-driving technologies.

There is a small problem with this idea, however: Car-less city dwellers are already quite well served by good old-fashioned, human-driven taxis. And if walking outside and sticking your hand in the air to hail a cab doesn't work for you, there are the aforementioned Uber and Lyft, along with other ride-hailing startups. Legacy car services also remain the picture. Heck, you can still rent stretch limos with chauffeurs if you want to roll like a rock star.

The point is, urbanites have been relieved from the responsibility for driving since, well ... since before there were cars to drive. In London over a century ago, Sherlock Holmes could leap into a waiting carriage, driven not by him and powered by a horse.

Self-driving tech is actually more exciting for the customers who are already using rudimentary versions of it: people who own and drive their cars every day. Driving a car can be a lot of fun, but commuting in and around car-centric major metropolises, such as Los Angeles, is a chore.

Advanced autonomy would be a true game-changer for these folks, liberating them from hours of stop-and-go drudgery.

The engineering demands for full-autonomy on highways and major roads are also less onerous. Current self-driving technologies, such as Tesla's Autopilot, can handle traffic jams on freeways pretty capably, and cruising at speed is also relatively straightforward.

Negotiating the five boroughs of New York City, on the other hand, is exceedingly tricky.

And just to use New Yorkers as Example A for a moment: They don't lack for transportation options — you can get from point to point in the Big Apple by car, train, bus, boat, motorcycle, helicopter, and of course on foot. And that doesn't even exhaust all your choices (Skateboard? Scooter?).

Suburbanites, by contrast, are stuck mainly with cars. Pretty much everybody in suburbia has at least one.

This is a big market for self-driving tech. It has the added benefit of being more profitable than the city market, where vehicles tend to be smaller, less luxurious, and where so-called "fleet" sales — all those Toyota sedans doing duty as NYC taxis — rule the day.

And yet, most of what we hear about autonomous driving, on the major-disruption front, is concentrated on the urban discussion.

It's not hard to understand why. Major automakers don't want to miss out on a brave new way to do fleet sales, and they don't want to be edged out by all the new-mobility entrants. But they also don't want to stop selling millions of vehicles annually to the soccer moms and dads of the world.

And right now, the car makers are trying to figure out if they can push out full autonomy in a big way to their core customers, without having those customers choke on the inevitable high initial costs that early self-driving tech will impose.

Until the car companies sort this out, they'll be experimentally serving their worst markets, while potentially neglecting their best.

Why autonomous cars should roll out in suburbs first - Business Insid...


The hot new wine regions you need to know about

Used to mean: Bordeaux New hot spot: Corsica A rugged Mediterranean island about the size of Connecticut that’s French but closer to Italy, Corsica is home to a number of grapes, many rarely found elsewhere. Niellucciu and sciaccarellu, both reds, and vermentinu, a white, are the most prominent. Sea breezes keep the vineyards from getting too hot, so the wines are surprisingly elegant. Try: Domaine de Torraccia Porto Vecchio Rouge 2012 ($25) has an intensely smoky, red-fruit character. Comte Abbatucci Cuvée Collection Rouge Ministre Impérial 2013 ($98) is aromatic, with notes of anise, plum, rose petals, and campfire.

Used to mean: Mosel New hot spot: Pfalz Riesling grows everywhere in Germany, but with global warming, some of the southern regions are making more room for pinot noir. The Pfalz, stretching south from Mainz toward the French border, has a long, dry autumn because of the Vosges Mountains, which keep the rain at bay. Try: Friedrich Becker Pinot Noir 2012 ($22) shows the firm, meaty, ripe character a long autumn creates. Okonomierat Rebholz Trocken "S" 2010 ($40) is more about cherry and spice aromas; look for "Spätburgunder" (pinot noir in German) on the label.

Used to mean: Tuscany New hot spot: Mt. Etna Growing vines on Sicily’s active volcano—a March eruption injured at least 10 people—seems a bit foolhardy, but winemakers have decided it’s worth it for the complex red-fruit and earth-tinged wines. The local Nerello Mascalese grape struggles to grow in the tough volcanic soil, producing less but better fruit. Try: Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2015 ($22) has a freshness that’s atypical for wines arising from hot growing conditions—usually more sun means more ripeness and less acidity. The Passopisciaro winery produces six Nerellos highlighting different vineyards on the mountain. Contrada Chiappemacine ("Contrada C") ($60) is from the lowest elevation, where the richer soils result in a fuller-bodied wine.

Used to mean: Marlborough New hot spot: Hawke’s Bay Hawke’s Bay opens onto the South Pacific from the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The maritime climate keeps the syrah grown there from getting overripe and turning burly and alcoholic; instead, the wines are concentrated and firm, often with a meaty or spicy character that evokes the syrahs of France’s Northern Rhône. Try: Te Mata Bullnose Syrah 2014 ($45) is dense with blackberry, black pepper, and violet aromas. Those pepper and floral notes also appear in the Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2013 ($90), a bigger, riper wine.

Used to mean: Barossa New hot spot: Yarra Valley Next door in Australia, syrah goes by shiraz, a wine sometimes so jammy, soft, and ripe with glycerol (a fermentation byproduct) that it can seem sweet. A few parts of the continent, including Yarra Valley, are trying to fight that reputation by producing refined pinot noir, which thrives in a climate that’s only slightly warmer than its original home, Burgundy. Try: Mac Forbes 2015 Pinot Noir ($39), a juicy, fresh wine, hails from right outside Melbourne; southern and near the ocean, the area cools down enough at night to suit the grape. Timo Mayer Close Planted Pinot Noir 2013 ($100), showing another side of the valley, is silky with raspberry notes and a mélange of exotic spices.

Used to mean: Rioja New hot spot: Ribeira Sacra Mencía, a grape that makes dense, powerful wines in warmer areas, comes out graceful and light in cooler Ribeira Sacra, tucked in the corner of Spain north of Portugal. The steep, terraced vineyards—first carved out by ancient Romans—were abandoned when villagers moved to the city during Francisco Franco’s reign. Now, European Union investment and forward-thinking winemakers are bringing this area back to life. Try: Algueira Mencía 2015 ($18) is close to pinot noir in style, with a firm texture and aromas of white chocolate and raspberries. Guimaro Finca Pombeiras Mencía 2014 ($59) is more savory and intense, with white pepper and cinnamon notes.

Used to mean: Napa Valley New hot spot: Paso Robles, Calif. Tucked into the hills north of San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles has mostly been a source for bigger wineries based elsewhere looking for quality grapes at a good price. Today, enterprising boutique outfits are exploring these vineyards, including historic plantings of zinfandel and petite sirah, as well as more recent plantings of syrah and other Rhône varietals. Try: Fableist Petite Sirah 2015 ($20) shows this grape’s ability to be full-bodied, dark-fruited, and chocolaty but still lively. Onx Reckoning 2013 ($54) is a more complex, syrah-based blend; it has a sturdy blackberry core with hints of soy, pepper, and cedar.

Where to go for an out-of-the-way tipple

Chicago: The Publican Although it claims to be more of a beer hall, the Publican has a short wine list that largely bypasses traditional regions to shine a light on lesser-known parts of Europe.

Houston: Underbelly Chef Chris Shepherd’s list, which includes asides, diatribes, and comic strips, is full of sommeliers’ idiosyncratic favorites.

Los Angeles: Augustine Wine Bar In addition to a rotation of older wines, Augustine features several off-the-radar regions, including Paso Robles.

New York: The NoMad Hotel Wine Director Thomas Pastuszak gives special attention to Corsica, a region he’s visited repeatedly.

San Francisco: SPQR The list here covers all of central and southern Italy, but Sicily and Mt. Etna in particular take pride of place.

The Hot New Wine Regions in Your Favorite Countries

From Corsica to Paso Robles, this is the map for oenophiles.


2016 Is Likely To Be The World’s Hottest Year: Here’s Why

We’re not even halfway through the year but already you may have heard talk of 2016 being the hottest on record. But how can scientists be so sure we’re going to beat the previous record, set just last year?

Even before the end of 2015, the UK Met Office was forecasting with 95% confidence that 2016 would beat the record. Since then, that confidence has grown still further, as record after record has tumbled. April 2016 broke the record for the hottest April after we had experienced the hottest February and March on record already this year.

NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt recently estimated at least a 99% likelihood of 2016 being hotter than 2015.

The main reason why scientists are so sure that 2016 will be the hottest year is El Niño, which is associated with warmer sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The 2015-16 El Niño was among the strongest on record and has increased global average temperatures.

Even though the El Niño is now decaying, the second year of a major El Niño event is often associated with much warmer than normal conditions and is typically warmer than the first.

For instance, the 1997-98 El Niño was by some measures the strongest on record, and contributed to 1998 becoming the hottest year on record globally at the time.

Since the start of this year, we have seen global temperature records smashed time and time again. This means that much colder temperatures for the second half of the year would be needed for 2016 not to surpass the 2015 record.

Even a strong La Niña event (the cooler opposite of El Niño), which some analysts are forecasting, is unlikely to produce cold enough temperatures.

One thing that could prevent 2016 becoming a record-breaking hot year is a major volcanic eruption in the tropics. Volcanic eruptions at low latitudes can eject aerosols high into the atmosphere reducing the amount of energy from the sun reaching the Earth’s surface.

Previous eruptions such as Pinatubo in 1991 and Tambora in 1815 (which caused 1816 to be "the year without a summer") reduced temperatures across much of the globe.

However, it is the year after the eruption that often experiences the most severe cooling, so an eruption would have to be pretty soon and very strong to scupper 2016’s chances of being the hottest year on record.

The role of climate change is smaller because we’re comparing 2016 with last year (the previous record). Over such short periods of time, the contribution from global warming doesn’t change much.

However, scientists estimated that 2015 was about 1°C hotter than it would have been without human-caused climate change. As the human influence on the climate has not increased greatly since last year this 1°C estimate will also apply to 2016.

The highly likely record temperature of 2016 will join the previous 17 record-breaking hot years back to 1937 which were all made more likely due to human-caused climate change (the rising global temperatures were even noticed as far back as 1938).

So even if El Niño is driving the 2016 record, we can say that the temperatures of this year (and indeed the temperatures associated with all the records over the last few years) would be virtually impossible without climate change.

Climate change has been increasing the likelihood of global temperature records for many decades. The vertical red bars show the record-breaking hot years we can attribute to human-induced climate change. The shorter yellow bars show ranges of estimates for how much more likely a record hot year becomes each year. Andrew King, Author provided

We expect 2016 to beat the 2015 record for global average temperature as the decaying El Niño event pushes up surface temperatures.

This year, we’ve already seen devastating events associated with unusually warm temperatures, like the mass coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef, which has been largely attributed to human-induced climate change.

In future, we can expect to see more extreme heat events, like we’ve already seen in 2016, impacting society and ecosystems across the world.

And even though 2016 is likely to be the hottest year by some margin, we wouldn’t bet on this record lasting too long. While 2017 is very likely to be cooler due to a possible La Niña, with the strong warming trend the world’s experiencing it’s only a matter of time before we have another record-breaking hot year.

Only if we substantially reduce our greenhouse gas emissions now will we see the benefit of fewer record heat events in the future.

Andrew King, Climate Extremes Research Fellow, University of Melbourne and Ed Hawkins, Associate professor of climate science , University of Reading

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.


How Julie Andrews Feels About Emily Blunt Playing Mary Poppins By Conner Schwerdtfeger There exist few tasks in Hollywood more difficult than recasting an iconic role. This becomes even harder when the first person to take on a given role nailed it perfectly the first time around. It's been over 50 years since we last saw beloved British nanny, Mary Poppins, and the role will soon be handed from Julie Andrews to Emily Blunt -- who clearly has big shoes to fill. There's only one question: how does Andrews feel about bequeathing such an important role to a new generation? As it turns out, she's perfectly fine with it. Blunt explained: Rob said he was in the Hamptons, and he saw [Andrews], and he said, 'It's top secret, but Emily Blunt's playing Mary Poppins... And she went, 'Oh, wonderful!' I felt like I wanted to cry. It was lovely to get her stamp of approval. That took the edge off it, for sure. While speaking with EW, Emily Blunt revealed that Mary Poppins Returns' director, Rob Marshall, recently had a chance to talk to Julie Andrews about Blunt taking over the iconic role. Apparently -- like the rest of us -- Julie Andrews is a fan of Emily Blunt's body of work, and she's completely on board with the idea.. The reveal of Andrews' approval reportedly served as a huge relief to Blunt, who felt much more confident in the role knowing that the original Mary Poppins supported the casting decision. After all, even the most confident and accomplished actors can still feel the pressure in situations such as this. Recasting has become an incredibly common practice in Hollywood these days, as we live in an era defined by long-running franchises. Some characters, like Batman, get recast all of the time, and as such it has become something that we as members of the audience expect. However, certain other characters -- like Indiana Jones -- feel intrinsically linked to the performer that takes on the role. Up until recently, we very much felt that way about Julie Andrews and her portrayal of Mary Poppins, but it looks like Andrews herself has no problem with Emily Blunt filling her shoes. That being said, the act of recasting Andrews is further helped by the fact that Mary Poppins Returns will look more to the source material than the 1964 film for inspiration. The original incarnation of the character differs from Julie Andrews' version in that Mary Poppins herself is somewhat "meaner," and as such Emily Blunt cannot completely emulate Andrews' prim and proper nanny in the evolution of the role. As a result of this, Blunt will have quite a bit more creative freedom than she would if Rob Marshall and the team behind Mary Poppins Returns had decided to do a straight remake of the original.. It's a small detail, but it helps take this character in a new direction. We will just have to wait and see what Emily Blunt brings to the role of the iconic British Nanny. Mary Poppins Returns is currently slated to hit theaters on Christmas Day 2018. Stay tuned for more details! Blended From Around The Web Comments Facebook

Emily Blunt has revealed how Julie Andrews really feels about Blunt taking over the iconic role of Mary Poppins in the upcoming Mary Poppins Returns.

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This body-positive Instagram is going viral for all the right reasons

If you follow fitness star Anna Victoria on Instagram, you know she's an body positivity activist, regularly speaking out about the importance of loving every angle of yourself and not allowing the unrealistic expectations we often see on the Internet get you down. But after a 16-year-old fan told her that photos online have started to make her question her own relationship with her body, Anna Victoria is back with yet another powerful and inspirational message.

The chat encouraged her to post a makeup-free "casual, non-posing, non-done up photo" along with a caption that talks about the negative impact social media is having on body image--and of course, how she's taking on the challenge of putting an end to it.

"I'm not sharing this because I think I look bad, or because tummy rolls are bad, or because cellulite, messy hair or no makeup is bad. None of those things are bad or imperfect. They are NORMAL. - I'm sharing this because I just received an email from a 16 year old girl that said I am the only person she follows that actually made her feel good about herself," Anna Victoria wrote in her caption.

"That even though she's not particularly unhappy with her body, that seeing endless perfect photos started to make herself compare, poke and prod at her own body. The impact social media has on young girls and their self-esteem is an issue I feel very strongly about and if me posting one casual, non-posing, non-done up photo can help a young girl (or man, or anyone of any age!) feel better about themselves, then I'm happy to put myself out there."

She's touched on this topic before, sharing photos of what her own body looks like when she's bloated and snaps of not only the healthy foods she eats, but the treats she indulges in, too.

She continued in her post by asking fans to keep in mind those that might resonate with this issue before thoughtlessly going to town with negative, hurtful comments about how they don't "get it."

But perhaps one of the most important parts of her message was the reminder to ditch self-shame for good and to be proud of who you are as a human, regardless of how you feel about your outer appearance.

"So when we live in a society that profits from your insecurities, be a rebel and LOVE yourself. Love your body at every angle and don't ever be ashamed of being human, of struggling, or hey, even of loving the crap out of yourself!! We need more girls who are wildly confident and loving every bit of themselves and shouting it from the rooftops. Show young girls it's not only okay but necessary to be confident, strong young women, 'flaws' and all."

This Body-Positive Instagram Is Going Viral for All the Right Reasons


Musicians at Trump's inaugural ball just trolled Hillary Clinton voters in the meanest, cruelest way possible:

In the event supporters of Hillary Clinton haven't had a bad enough day, Donald Trump's camp just rammed the message home one last time, in the cruelest, most absurd way possible.

At one of the many inaugural balls on Friday night, The Piano Guys—yes: The Piano Guys—decided it would be the perfect time to troll the opposition. Because who doesn't love punching the poor person sobbing in the corner?

So, The Piano Guys made it their business to play the summer anthem of the Democratic National Convention and a de facto theme of the Hillary campaign, Rachel Platten's empowering "Fight Song." If the melody doesn't destroy your bleeding soul, the smug smiling face of cello player should do the trick.

To top it all off, Rachel Platten is pissed. Apparently she didn't agree to any such troll behavior.

While I respect the office of the President and the peaceful transfer of power, I want to make clear that at at no point did the Piano Guys

— Rachel Platten (@RachelPlatten) January 21, 2017

ask for permission, nor did I or anyone on my team know of, approve or endorse their decision to play Fight Song tonight.

The Piano Guys, meanwhile, reckon it is all a massive misunderstanding.

"Our performance tonight, which combined 'Fight Song' and 'Amazing Grace' had nothing to do with Hillary Clinton or politics," the group said in a statement emailed to Mashable. "We chose to perform our version of 'Fight Song/Amazing Grace' — it was not endorsed by Rachel Platten. We love Rachel and we love her song."

Trump's piano guy and cello player just trolled Hillary fans, bigly

music, fight-song, inauguration-2017, president-donald-trump, hillary-clinton, watercooler


Here's why Google's Chromebooks are so awesome

Google's Chromebooks just hit a huge milestone. For the first time, they outsold Macs in the US, a sign that a lot of people are looking for cheap, capable computers.. And soon, they're getting a huge update that'll let them run Android apps.. Here's why Chromebooks are so great, and why you'll probably want to buy one soon. View As: One Page Slides

They're cheap. You can get a really great Chromebook for around $200, or about one-fifth the cost of a 13-inch MacBook Air. Don't let the price fool you though. Just because Chromebooks are cheap doesn't mean they're bad. All the major computer brands like HP, Asus, and Samsung make excellent Chromebooks. However, Google's own Chromebook Pixel, which has a sharp touchscreen and beautiful design, costs over $1,000. It's nice, but you probably don't need to spend that much to get the full Chromebook experience.

They're versatile. Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find the right form factor to fit your needs. For example, some models, like the Asus Chromebook Flip (pictured here), have touchscreens and can fold over into a "tablet mode." You can also get Chromebooks with any screen size, ranging from 10-inchers to 15-inchers.

They're perfect if you use Google services. If you use Google's services for email, chatting, calendar, cloud storage, or anything else, the Chromebook is a great computer for you. The Chromebook's operating system is a modified version of the Chrome web browser, which means it uses Google apps for all the standard stuff you want to do. Just sign into your Google account once and you're good to go.

You don't need to worry about running out of space on your hard drive. At first, it might seem odd that most Chromebooks only have about 16 or 32 GB of storage. That's fine for a smartphone, but we tend to store a lot more data on our computers. But it's no problem with Chromebooks, where you store most of your files and documents in Google Drive, Google's cloud storage service. You can still save some of your files for offline use, but the idea is to keep everything in the cloud until you need it. For photos, you can use Google Photos, which gives you unlimited storage if you store your photos at reduced quality. (Don't worry, the quality is just fine for most people.)

Soon, they'll be able to run Android apps. In the fall, Chromebooks will get a software update that'll let them run Android apps downloaded from the Google Play store. Right now, Chromebooks only let you use services that can run in a web browser. Soon, you'll be able to run native apps in separate windows, sort of like you would on a "normal" PC. Native apps tend to run faster and work better than web apps. Plus you don't always need an internet connection to use them. This is going to be a huge update for Chromebooks.

Google's Chromebooks will soon be able to do everything regular laptops can do.


"Cheyenne Jackson and entrepreneur Jason Landau are pleased to happily confirm that they are engaged," a rep for the "Glee" actor told E! News.

Apparently, the couple is already thinking about the big day.

"They've already begun planning the wedding!" a source told Us Weekly.

Jackson, 38, and Landau went public with their romance in October. They regularly share photos of their adorable moments on Instagram.

The happy news of their engagement comes just months after the Broadway star ended his 13-year relationship with husband Monte Lapka, whom he married in 2011 and split from last summer, Us Weekly noted.

In July, the two announced they were divorcing in a joint statement to Entertainment Weekly. They called the breakup "an amicable parting and understandably, a private matter."

Along with planning a wedding, Jackson is set to perform "Music of the Mad Men Era" in April at Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall, according to Playbill. He will be joined by Jane Lynch and Rebecca Romijn. The show will feature songs from the '50s and '60s.

Cheyenne Jackson Is Engaged To Jason Landau

Cheyenne Jackson is engaged!

"Cheyenne Jackson and entrepreneur Jason Landau are pleased to happily

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This Baby Starts Crying. Watch What the Dog Does!

When you have a newborn baby in the house, you have to get used to a lot of new things. You need to adjust to waking up at crazy hours of the night, swimming in diapers, and wearing baby food about 90% of the time. And, of course, you have to prepare yourself for the crying. The loud, endless, piercing crying. You might think after a few months that you would be sick of the screaming, but you’re nowhere near as annoyed as this little dog is. He’s living in a house with a baby, and he is sick of the crying.

At least this dog has a plan. He’s figured out that when the baby starts to cry, there is a way to stop the screaming: howling.

It doesn’t sound very effective, stopping a baby from crying with a dog howling – but this pup knows what he’s doing! Every time the baby begins to cry, this cute little dog throws back his head and howls. Almost immediately, the baby stops crying!

We’re not sure if the baby is annoyed, confused, or amused by the dog. There is one particular part where it seems that he’s very irritated with the howling, like the puppy is stealing his moment. But then there are other moments where it seems clear that the baby loves the sound of the dog barking, and he’s distracted from whatever’s making him cry.


Ivy League university appoints its first female president

The Cornell Board of Trustees approved Garrett, currently a provost at the University of Southern California, to take over the position of president, replacing David Skorton, who is stepping down to lead the Smithsonian Institution.

Garrett will assume her role in charge of the Ithaca, New York university on July 1, 2015.

The USC administrator and law professor Garrett will take the helm of Cornell as it turns 150 and expands into New York City with a technology campus.

Garrett got her bachelor's degree at the University of Oklahoma and studied law at the University of Virginia, according to Bloomberg, and she also clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Garrett also taught law at the University of Chicago, where she was a deputy dean for academic affairs, and was a member of President George W. Bush's Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform in 2005.

Skorton was a popular president at Cornell, and one of the more publicly engaged higher ed leaders. He communicated with students on sensitive topics like sexual assault and mental health and suicide.

Cornell University Announces Elizabeth Garrett As First Female President

Elizabeth Garrett will become the first female president of Cornell University, the Ivy League institution announced Tuesday.

The Cornell Board of Tru...

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Why saying this four-letter word can transform your productivity

Perfectionists are often reminded that "done is better than perfect." But it turns out there’s another reason we should all try to create more "done" moments in our workdays.

Saying the word done can help you get more accomplished on your to-do list. "Telling ourselves that we’re done creates not only an emotional reaction but a physiological response as well," says Leslie Sherlin, a psychologist, neuroperformance specialist, and the cofounder of the brain-training company SenseLabs.

According to Sherlin, when we’re concentrated on a task, the brain’s electrical activity is heightened. But the moment we say we’re done with something, the electrical activity in our brain shifts from being activated and engaged into a more relaxed state. "That relaxed state looks very similar to meditators or individuals who practice mindfulness techniques," he says.

A neurochemical shift in the brain occurs simultaneously. Serotonin–known as the body’s "feel-good chemical"–is released, creating a sense of calmness and satisfaction. This new relaxed state then allows us to take on the next task and builds our confidence. The more often you complete a task, the more confidence you build to achieve the next item on your to-do list, allowing you to take on even more challenging tasks.

"What we want to do if we want to set ourselves up for increasing productivity is put minor or smaller challenges in front of us so we build up that ‘done’ moment," says Sherlin.

How to create more opportunities to say "done":

Productivity has a snowball effect. "As you start to take steps and you make a done moment, you’re increasing your confidence and your momentum towards moving forward," says Sherlin. While a task like "do taxes" may seem overwhelming, breaking it down into various stages that are easy to do–such as gather receipts and bank statements–not only makes the task more manageable but creates more opportunities for you to say "done."

Choose a task and set a timer for 10 minutes. Do as much as you can during that time without getting distracted. When the timer goes off, say "done" and then select the next task you need to perform, setting the timer once again.

Why Saying This Four-Letter Word Can Transform Your Productivity

A neurochemical shift happens in your brain when you say "done" at the end of even the smallest tasks.


Carbonated (Sparkling) Water: Good or Bad?

Carbonated water is a refreshing beverage and a good alternative to Carbonated water is a refreshing beverage and a good alternative to sugary soft drinks

However, concerns have been raised that it may be bad for your health.

This article takes a detailed look at the health effects of carbonated water.

Carbonated water is Carbonated water is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas under pressure.

This produces a bubbly drink that’s also known as sparkling water, club soda, soda water, seltzer water and fizzy water.

With the exception of seltzer water, they usually have With the exception of seltzer water, they usually have salt added to improve the taste.. Sometimes small amounts of other minerals are included.

Natural sparkling mineral waters, such as Perrier and San Pellegrino, are different.

These waters are captured naturally from a mineral spring, and tend to contain minerals and sulfur compounds. These waters are often carbonated as well..

Tonic water is a form of carbonated water that contains a bitter compound called Tonic water is a form of carbonated water that contains a bitter compound called quinine , along with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup

Bottom Line: Carbonated water is created by combining water with carbon dioxide under pressure. Sodium and other minerals are often added.

Carbon dioxide and water react chemically to produce carbonic acid, a weak acid that’s been shown to stimulate the same nerve receptors in your mouth as mustard.

This triggers a burning, prickly sensation that can be both irritating and enjoyable for many people ( This triggers a burning, prickly sensation that can be both irritating and enjoyable for many people ( 1 2 ).

The pH of carbonated water is 3–4, which means it’s slightly acidic.

However, drinking an acidic beverage like carbonated water does not make your body more acidic.

Your kidneys and lungs remove excess carbon dioxide. This keeps your blood at a Your kidneys and lungs remove excess carbon dioxide. This keeps your blood at a slightly alkaline pH of 7.35–7.45, regardless of what you eat or drink.

Bottom Line: Carbonated water is acidic, but your body maintains a stable, slightly alkaline pH no matter what you consume.

One of the biggest concerns about sparkling water is its effect on teeth, since the enamel is directly exposed to acid.

There is very little research on this topic, but one study found that sparkling mineral water damaged enamel only slightly more than still water. Furthermore, it was 100 times less damaging than a sugary soft drink ( There is very little research on this topic, but one study found that sparkling mineral water damaged enamel only slightly more than still water. Furthermore, it was 100 times less damaging than a sugary soft drink ( 3 ).

In one study, carbonated beverages showed strong potential to destroy enamel, but only if they contained sugar. In fact, a non-carbonated sweet beverage (Gatorade) was more harmful than a carbonated sugar-free drink (Diet Coke) ( In one study, carbonated beverages showed strong potential to destroy enamel, but only if they contained sugar. In fact, a non-carbonated sweet beverage (Gatorade) was more harmful than a carbonated sugar-free drink (Diet Coke) ( 4 ).

In another study, samples of tooth enamel were placed in various beverages for up to 24 hours. The sugar-sweetened carbonated and non-carbonated beverages resulted in significantly greater enamel loss than diet drinks ( In another study, samples of tooth enamel were placed in various beverages for up to 24 hours. The sugar-sweetened carbonated and non-carbonated beverages resulted in significantly greater enamel loss than diet drinks ( 5 ).

Another review of several studies found that the combination of sugar and carbonation may lead to severe dental decay ( Another review of several studies found that the combination of sugar and carbonation may lead to severe dental decay ( 6 ).

However, plain sparkling water appears to pose little risk to dental health. It’s only the sugary types that are harmful ( However, plain sparkling water appears to pose little risk to dental health. It’s only the sugary types that are harmful ( 7 ).

If you’re concerned about dental health, try drinking sparkling water with a meal or rinsing your mouth with plain water after drinking it.

Bottom Line: Sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages can erode tooth enamel, but plain carbonated water appears to be relatively harmless.

Carbonated water may benefit digestive health in several ways.

It might seem surprising, but studies suggest that sparkling water may actually improve swallowing ability in both young and older adults ( 9 , It might seem surprising, but studies suggest that sparkling water may actually improve swallowing ability in both young and older adults ( 8 10 ).

In one study, 16 healthy people were asked to repeatedly swallow different liquids. Carbonated water showed the strongest ability to stimulate the nerves responsible for swallowing function ( In one study, 16 healthy people were asked to repeatedly swallow different liquids. Carbonated water showed the strongest ability to stimulate the nerves responsible for swallowing function ( 9 ).

Another study showed that the combination of cold temperature and carbonation strengthened these beneficial effects ( Another study showed that the combination of cold temperature and carbonation strengthened these beneficial effects ( 10 ).

In a study of 72 people who felt a persistent need to clear their throats, drinking ice-cold carbonated water led to improvement in 63% of the subjects. Those who had the most frequent and severe symptoms experienced the greatest benefits ( In a study of 72 people who felt a persistent need to clear their throats, drinking ice-cold carbonated water led to improvement in 63% of the subjects.. Those who had the most frequent and severe symptoms experienced the greatest benefits ( 11 ).

Carbonated water may also help you feel full longer than plain water does.

Sparkling water may help food remain in the first part of the stomach for longer, which can trigger a sensation of fullness ( Sparkling water may help food remain in the first part of the stomach for longer, which can trigger a sensation of fullness ( 12 ).

In a controlled study of 19 healthy young women, fullness scores were higher after the participants drank 8 oz (250 ml) of soda water, compared to still water ( In a controlled study of 19 healthy young women, fullness scores were higher after the participants drank 8 oz (250 ml) of soda water, compared to still water ( 13 ).

However, larger studies are needed to confirm these results.

People who experience constipation may find that drinking sparkling water helps relieve their symptoms.

In a two-week study of 40 elderly people who had suffered strokes, average bowel movement frequency nearly doubled in the group that drank carbonated water, compared to the group that drank tap water.

What’s more, the participants reported a 58% decrease in symptoms ( What’s more, the participants reported a 58% decrease in symptoms ( 14 ).

There’s also evidence that sparkling water may improve other symptoms of indigestion, including stomach pain.

One controlled study looked at 21 people with chronic digestive issues. After 15 days, those who drank carbonated water had significant improvements in digestive symptoms, constipation and gallbladder emptying ( One controlled study looked at 21 people with chronic digestive issues. After 15 days, those who drank carbonated water had significant improvements in digestive symptoms, constipation and gallbladder emptying ( 15 ).

Bottom Line: Carbonated water has benefits for digestion. It may improve swallowing, increase feelings of fullness and reduce constipation.

Does Carbonated Water Affect Bone Health?

Many people believe that carbonated beverages are bad for bones because of their high acid content. However, research suggests the carbonation isn’t to blame.

A large observational study of more than 2,500 people found that cola was the only beverage associated with significantly lower bone mineral density. Carbonated water appeared to have no effect on bone health ( A large observational study of more than 2,500 people found that cola was the only beverage associated with significantly lower bone mineral density. Carbonated water appeared to have no effect on bone health ( 16 ).

Unlike carbonated water and clear soda, cola drinks contain a lot of phosphorus.

The researchers proposed that the cola drinkers may have been consuming too much phosphorus and not enough The researchers proposed that the cola drinkers may have been consuming too much phosphorus and not enough calcium . This is a potential risk factor for bone loss.

In another study, teen girls who consumed carbonated drinks were found to have lower bone mineral density. This was attributed to those beverages replacing milk in their diet, resulting in inadequate calcium intake ( In another study, teen girls who consumed carbonated drinks were found to have lower bone mineral density. This was attributed to those beverages replacing milk in their diet, resulting in inadequate calcium intake ( 17 ).

In a controlled study of 18 postmenopausal women, drinking 1 liter (34 ounces) of sodium-rich sparkling water for 8 weeks led to better calcium retention and no negative effects on bone health, compared to drinking plain mineral water ( In a controlled study of 18 postmenopausal women, drinking 1 liter (34 ounces) of sodium-rich sparkling water for 8 weeks led to better calcium retention and no negative effects on bone health, compared to drinking plain mineral water ( 18 ).

Animal research suggests carbonated water may even improve bone health.

Supplementing the diets of hens with carbonated water for six weeks led to increased leg bone strength, compared to tap water ( Supplementing the diets of hens with carbonated water for six weeks led to increased leg bone strength, compared to tap water ( 19 ).

Bottom Line: Drinking carbonated cola drinks may harm bone health, but plain sparkling water appears to have a neutral or positive effect.

There’s very limited research on how carbonated water affects heart health, but the existing evidence is positive.

In the same group of 18 postmenopausal women from the bone health study, the researchers measured indicators of heart health.

Those who drank sodium-rich carbonated water had a decrease in LDL (the "bad") cholesterol, Those who drank sodium-rich carbonated water had a decrease in LDL (the "bad") cholesterol, inflammatory markers and blood sugar

What’s more, they also had an increase in HDL (the "good") cholesterol ( What’s more, they also had an increase in HDL (the "good") cholesterol ( 20 ).

Additionally, the estimated risk of developing heart disease within 10 years was 35% lower for those drinking the carbonated water, compared to the control water.

However, since this was only one small study, a lot more research needs to be done before drawing conclusions.

Bottom Line: Carbonated water may have beneficial effects on cholesterol, inflammation and blood sugar. However, this needs to be studied a lot more.

So is Carbonated Water Actually Bad For You?

There is currently no evidence that carbonated or sparkling water is bad for you.

It is not really that harmful for dental health and seems to have no effect on bone health.

Interestingly, a carbonated drink may even enhance digestion by improving swallowing ability and reducing constipation.

It’s also a calorie-free beverage that causes a pleasurable bubbly sensation. Many people prefer it over still water.

There’s no reason to give up this beverage if you enjoy it. In fact, it may actually improve your overall health.

Carbonated (sparkling) water is water that has been infused with carbon dioxide gas. Is it bad for you, or good? This article looks at the evidence.


Taco Bell is taking on Chick-fil-A with an outrageous new menu item

"Taco Bell's Crispy Chicken Chips look like wedge-shaped chicken tenders," wrote Kalinowski. "Between this test item and the Naked Chicken Chalupa, which used fried chicken as a 'taco shell,' Taco Bell clearly wants to figure out innovative ways to use chicken to its advantage."

Photos of the test menu item have surfaced on Reddit, posted by user baaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Earlier in August, Brand Eating reported that Taco Bell's "Naked Chicken Chalupa" — a taco that uses fried chicken in the place of a tortilla — is launching across the US next year.

It's possible that the Crispy Chicken Chips will never be anything except a limited test at Taco Bell — the chain did not provide further information on the item to Business Insider. Still, testing two new fried chicken menu items at a chain known for its quirky takes on Mexican staples is, at first, a little confusing.

However, the decision makes perfect sense in light of the rise of fried chicken in the US in recent years.

Food and restaurant consultants Baum + Whitman kicked off the year by naming fried chicken one of the top trends to watch out for in 2016. In fact, the trend was already in full swing in 2015, with Shake Shack's launch of the Chick'n Shack sandwich and celebrity chef David Chang's new fried chicken concept Fuku.

Fried chicken also is also dominating the fast-food industry. KFC is in the midst of a brand revamp, putting its extra crispy and regional takes on fried chicken front and center. And, you can't talk about the rise of fried chicken without mentioning Chick-fil-A, the chain that has perhaps had the biggest impact on the rise of fried chicken — and Taco Bell's biggest rival as the chain enters the fried chicken business.

Chick-fil-A exploded from a regional chain to the No. 1 chicken chain in the US by sales in recent years. In 2015, system-wide sales topped $6 billion, and the company reported that same-store sales growth (sales at stores open more than a year) were in the double-digits. Customers flock to the chain thanks to its superior customer service and chicken that is seen as high-quality, instead of as a greasy nutritional disaster.

The expansion of chicken chains like Chick-fil-A and the rise of new chicken items on fast-food menus — such as Burger King's Chicken Fries and McDonald's Chicken Selects — has been spurred in part by low chicken prices. While beef prices have finally dropped in the first half of 2016, chicken prices have also stayed low, making new chicken menu items a wise move for chains like Taco Bell.

Essentially, fried chicken is trending and the cost of adding it to the menu is low enough to make it a good deal for fast-food chains. However, the question remains: can Taco Bell compete with chicken-centric chains like Chick-fil-A when it comes to fried chicken?

Early response to the Naked Chicken Chalupa has been positive.

"It was a little salty initially since you bite into the fried chicken first but balances out once you hit the filling," writes Brand Eating. "The chicken shell had a substantial crunch as well as a solid kick of spicy heat

much more so than any other current Taco Bell meat option."

Additionally, customers are increasingly accepting of fast-food chains debuting menu items outside of their traditional purview. Business Insider's fast-food reviewer deemed Burger King's Taco Bell-esque Whopperrito "flavorful and delicious," while McDonald's has been testing stereotype-smashing options such as kale salad.

Fast-food giants are looking outside of the box for inspiration. At Taco Bell, that may mean drawing from the success of chains like Chick-fil-A — and that's not necessarily a bad thing.

As Taco Bell experiments with two new fried chicken menu items, the Mexican fast-food chain will be facing off against an unexpected competitor — Chick-fil-A. On Monday, a note from Nomura analyst Mark Kalinowski highlighted Taco Bell's upcoming test of Crispy Chicken Chips. "Taco Bell's


We Just Learned A New Secret About The Great Pyramid Of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza is so seemingly well-built that explanations of how the ancient Egyptians constructed it over 4,500 years ago have been filled with controversy, confusion, and mysticism. And sometimes even aliens. However, according to a new study, the engineering behind it might not be as bang-on as we once thought.

The study by the Glen Dash Research Foundation and the Ancient Egypt Research Associates has discovered that the Great Pyramid doesn’t have a perfectly square base, with one particularly lopsided west-facing edge.

Engineer Glen Dash and Egyptologist Mark Lehner looked for the original edges to the 138-meter (455 feet) tall Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest of the three pyramids found in Giza, just across the River Nile from Egypt's capital, Cairo.

When it was first constructed, under the rule of Pharaoh Khufu, the pyramid was lined with a white limestone casing. Over the centuries, this outer casing was stripped for use in other building projects and left the pyramid how we see it now. Much of this outer edge is too damaged to be of any use, however, the researchers managed to pinpoint 84 points of the original boundary around the pyramid’s 920-meter (3,020 feet) periphery.

Using this data they plotted out the lengths of the pyramid's four sides. The east side measured between 230.295 to 230.373 meters (755.561 to 755.817 feet) in length. However, the west side was around 230.378 to 230.436 meters (755.833 and 756.024 feet). That means the west side could be more than 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) longer than the east.

So, not too bad considering it was built 4,500 years ago. As the researchers say in the study "The data show that the Egyptians possessed quite remarkable skills for their time... We can only speculate as to how the Egyptians could have laid out these lines with such precision using only the tools they had."

The Great Pyramid of Giza might be lopsided, according to new research looking at its original walls.


The 3 Things Never Allowed in a Disney Movie

Despite its reputation for being a homogenized entertainment empire, Disney has produced some disturbing content over the decades. There’s the repeated trauma endured by their younger, anthropomorphic characters when their parents are violently killed (see Bambi or The Lion King). And then there's the truly frightful, malevolent imagery (the demonic Chernabog in Fantasia, the incinerator scene in Toy Story 3). But according to Pete’s Dragon director David Lowery, there are three areas where the House of Mouse draws the line—each of which is contractually prohibited from being included in a Disney film.

"When you sign a contract with Disney, the things it says your film cannot have are beheadings, impalement, or smoking," Lowery told Ain't It Cool News. "Those are literally the three things you are not allowed to put into a Disney film ... They literally have those words in the contract as things you're not allowed to do."

Of course, those restrictions have evolved over time. Pinocchio (1940), for example, had scenes of the boy-puppet sucking on a cigar until he was red in the face

the villainess Ursula was impaled by the bowsprit of a ship in 1989’s The Little Mermaid. It’s also unclear whether these restrictions apply strictly to live-action, animation, or films that fall under any one of Disney’s many sub-studios like Marvel or Pixar.

It’s possible the guidelines are dependent on the rating of the film in question. In 2015, Variety reported that Disney had banned depictions of smoking from any film rated G, PG, or PG-13, unless it was "historically pertinent." Alice in Wonderland’s Red Queen, so fond of beheadings, was not immediately available for comment.

When you sign a contract with the studio, you agree to abide by three simple rules.