Latest news with #HiyahZaidi
Metro
15 hours ago
- General
- Metro
Archaeologists discover 250-year-old shipwreck on remote island
Hiyah Zaidi Published July 24, 2025 3:55pm Link is copied Comments A 250-year-old shipwreck was discovered on the island of Sanday, Orkney, after a school boy uncovered the ribs of the wooden ship poking through the dunes of a remote Scottish beach. This discovery resulted in a team of archaeologists, scientists, and local historians uncovering the vessel's long-lost history. And now, after dedicated research, an answer to its story has emerged (Picture: Wessex Archaeology/PA Wire) Researchers have revealed that the wreck is likely to be the Earl of Chatham, which is an 18th-century warship from the American War of Independence. After the war, the ship had a second life hunting whales in the Arctic, but met a stormy demise in the 'cradle of shipwrecks' in 1788 (Picture: AP) Ben Saunders (pictured), senior marine archaeologist at Wessex Archaeology, said: 'It is thanks to our dedicated team of community researchers and the evidence they have gathered means we have been able to identify the Sanday Wreck with a reasonable degree of confidence. Throughout this project, we have learned so much about the wreck, but also about the community in Sanday in the 1780s. Sanday was infamous for shipwrecks at the time, called 'the cradle of shipwrecks in Scotland', but the community was equally well-known for its hospitality, as it looked after sailors who fell afoul of the area's stormy seas' (Picture: Historic Environment Scotland/PA Wire) The wreck was first discovered in February 2024, after a storm swept away sand that was covering it. It sparked the interest of the island, which is home to around 500 people, and around 270 shipwrecks have been recorded around the 20-square-mile island since the 15th century. Looking at the age of the timber through wood rings revealed that the ship came from southern England in the middle of the 18th century, when record keeping started to begin thoroughly (Picture: Wessex Archaeology/PA Wire) Further research revealed that before it had a life as the Earl of Chatham, it was the HMS Hind, a 24-gun Royal Navy frigate which was built in Chichester in 1749. It had a massive military career, where it helped Britain control Canada from France during the sieges of Louisbourg and Quebec in the 1750s. In the 1770s, it served as a convoy escort during Britain's failed effort to hold onto its American colonies. But in 1784, it was sold off and renamed, becoming a whaling ship, hunting the huge mammals in the Arctic waters off Greenland (Picture: Orkney Islands Council/PA Wire) But in 1788, while the ship was heading out on a whaling trip, it was wrecked in bad weather off Sanday. Turning old Royal Navy ships into whaling ships was common, as their build allowed them to withstand the icy conditions of British whaling routes. The Earl of Chatham completed four seasons in the Arctic before meeting its end in the Bay of Lopness in March 1788. It carried 56 sailors on board at the time, but they all survived (Picture: Orkney Islands Council/PA Wire) Now, the timbers are being preserved in a freshwater tank at the Sanday Heritage Centre, where they will stay for around two years. Keeping the timbers in a tank helps prevent them from decaying, because as soon as they are removed from the sea they start to dry out and break down (Picture: Historic Environment Scotland/PA Wire)
Metro
5 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Just 7,000 steps a day could be enough to improve your health
Hiyah Zaidi Published July 24, 2025 11:30am Link is copied Comments Think 10,000 steps is too much? Try 7,000 steps a day instead, as new research has suggested that could be enough to boost your brainpower and help protect against a range of different diseases, such as heart disease, dementia, depression and cancer. The target of 10,000 steps a day is thought to have begun as a campaign promoting pedometers in Japan, however research has suggested it could do some good for your health, too. So, what is recommended by experts? (Picture: Getty) The NHS recommends a brisk 10-minute walk a day, which they say has a lot of health benefits. However, the World Health Organisation says we need at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week (2 hours 30 minutes) or 75 minutes (one hour 15 minutes) of vigorous intensity activity a week, which should at least be spread evenly over 4 to 5 days a week. So, 7,000 steps a day may be a realistic and manageable way of hitting those targets and getting the health benefits of walking. Plus, it's free (Picture: Getty) The researchers looked at data from more than 160,000 adults from 57 studies conducted between 2014 to 2025. This type of study is known as a meta-analysis, which analyses different studies to come to an overall conclusion about a topic. The studies were conducted in more than 10 countries, including Australia, UK, US and Japan. The aim was to look at the impact that different daily step counts have on the chance of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as the chance of developing diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, dementia and depression (Picture: Getty) The researchers found that walking 7,000 steps a day, compared to just 2,000 steps, reduced the risk of death by 47%, which was almost the same benefit as walking 10,000 steps per day. They also found that dementia risk dropped by 38% from walking 7,000 steps a day, and a further 7% from walking 10,000 steps. Risk of type 2 diabetes fell by 22% from walking 10,000 steps a day and reduced to 27% at 12,000 steps. Compared to walking 2,000 steps a day, 7,000 steps reduced the risk of cancer by 6% and depression by 22% (Picture: Getty) Lead author Professor Melody Ding said: 'Aiming for 7,000 steps is a realistic goal based on our findings, which assessed health outcomes in a range of areas that hadn't been looked at before. However, for those who cannot yet achieve 7,000 steps a day, even small increases in step counts, such as increasing from 2000 to 4000 steps a day, are associated with significant health gain. We know daily step count is linked to living longer, but we now also have evidence that walking at least 7,000 steps a day can significantly improve eight major health outcomes - including reducing risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia and depressive symptoms' (Picture: Getty) Now, the researchers are working with the Australian government to use the evidence from this study to inform future updates to physical activity guidelines. Professor Ding said: 'Our research helps to shift the focus from perfection to progress. Even small increases in daily movement can lead to meaningful health improvements.' Experts are calling for future studies to explore how step goals should vary based on age, health status and region, and to include diverse populations and longer-term data to strengthen the evidence (Picture: Getty) This obviously depends on how fast you walk. According to if you walk at an average speed of 3.2mph, or 5.1 km/h, which is around the average speed people walk, 7,000 steps should take around 1 hour and 4 minutes. Someone a little slower, at 2.5 mph will take around 1 hour and 21 minutes, and someone faster who walks at 4mph will take around 50 minutes (Picture: Getty) Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
21-07-2025
- Health
- Metro
Common drug may speed up ageing, study finds
Hiyah Zaidi Published July 17, 2025 10:27am Link is copied Comments Taking a common drug which acts on the nervous system could be leading to faster ageing in older adults, a new study says. Published in the journal JAMA Open Network, the researchers concluded that a high exposure to anticholinergic drugs - used in flu medicine, and to relieve motion sickness and histamine reactions - could lead to a faster decline in physical performance in older age (Picture: Getty) Anticholinergic drugs are also used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bladder illnesses and Parkinson's. They work by blocking the action of the nerve-to-nerve signalling molecule acetylcholine, which plays a key role in the functioning of the nervous system. They affect several major bodily functions. However, by discontinuing use, the sedative and cognitive adverse effects can be reversed (Picture: Getty) Anticholinergics are common. They are used to reduce cold and flu symptoms, (diphenhydramine/Benadryl), relieve motion sickness and histamine reactions (promethazine/Phenergan) and relax the bladder to limit needing the toilet all the time (oxybutynin/Ditropan). They're also used to relieve muscle stiffness in Parkinson's disease sufferers and even used as a common sleep aid (Picture: Getty) Anticholinergics can be used to dull an important neurotransmitter for thinking, muscle control and memory, known as acetylcholine. But past studies have revealed that by dulling it, a person can experience confusion, drowsiness, dizziness and weakness, and over time, these symptoms can turn into chronic issues with memory and movement. The latest study wanted to look at the effects of constant exposure to the drugs over a decade – while looking at intensity, duration and timing of past intake (Picture: Getty) The researchers looked at the changes in walking speed and grip strength in over 4,000 older adults over time and compared this with their exposure to anticholinergic medications based on data collected from February 1994 to March 2020. Their study focused on older people, so the average baseline for the men and women was 74.3 years, with follow-up assessments around eight years later (Picture: Getty) They found that while grip strength appeared unaffected, a higher exposure to anticholinergics was linked to a greater decline in walking speed, especially in people who had taken these drugs in what would be deemed clinically conventional, so more than 1,096 daily doses over 10 years. Frailty and changes in balance and gait are linked to multiple measures of poor health outcomes, including disability and mortality. However, they also found that those who met that 1,096 daily-dose threshold in the previous six years were found to have a much higher likelihood of weakened grip as well as slower walking pace (Picture: Getty) The researchers do not advise steering clear of anticholinergics completely, but ask people to be mindful of long-term use. They said: 'Anticholinergics are associated with numerous adverse outcomes in older adults; therefore, it is essential for clinicians to avoid their use when possible, prescribe the lowest effective dose, and periodically reevaluate patients to identify de-prescribing opportunities to minimize potential harms' (Picture: Getty) Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
11-07-2025
- Metro
10 tricks every Apple Watch owner should know
Hiyah Zaidi Published July 9, 2025 4:31pm Link is copied Comments Having a smart watch is a very useful way to track your health, and could be a solid addition to having an iPhone. It's also a great way to use a hands free feature to make payments, check messages and it even allows you to play music, all without needing to get your phone out – perfect in crowds or if you're in a rush. But, did you know there are a few other features the Apple Watch allows you to do? Below are 10 features which may come in handy (Picture: Getty) Although there are times where hearing your watch ping could be useful, you don't want it constantly going off. So enabling this one feature would help quieten things down – and all you have to do is cover the watch display with your hand for three seconds. To enable this, go into your iPhone, then go into My Watch > Gestures > and then toggle to Cover to Mute (Picture: Getty) Despite it being a watch, you don't have to have the time as your display. If you would prefer something else, you can change the display to show any app you'd like. You can do this by going onto settings in your phone, then selecting General > Return to Clock. If you scroll down, you should be able to see On Screen Raise Show Last. This will allow you to choose from While in Sessions, Within 2 Minutes of Last Use, Within 1 Hour of Last Use, and Always (Picture: Getty) Let's say, hypothetically, you want to keep track of your running time, but want to document it somewhere other than your phone. You can simply take a screenshot of your Apple Watch by simultaneously pressing both the side button and Digital Crown (the dial). Now you can share any drawings from your Digital Touch too (Picture: Getty) On most Apple Watches, you can't directly type. But the good news is, you can set up a few pre-composed responses via your iPhone, and these can be tapped on during conversations to auto-send. If this sounds like something you want to do, simply go to the Apple Watch app on your phone, then go to My Watch > Messages > Default Replies, where you can add or remove pre-composed responses (Picture: Getty) The convenience of having an Apple Watch is that you don't need to be constantly distracted by something lighting up beside you – such as your phone. But if have a phone call coming in, and you don't want to speak into your watch but can't find your phone, all you need to do is swipe up when you have an incoming call. Then you should see an option that says 'answer on iPhone' which will place the caller on hold until you can find your phone (Picture: Getty) If you have a friend or family member, and they also have an Apple Watch, why not try the walkie talkie app? You both will need to have an Apple Watch Series 1 or later with watchOS 5.3 or later, and FaceTime will need to be activated. Then simply, launch the app, select a contact, send them an invitation, and once they have accepted, just hold down the talk button and speak. Sounds (Picture: Getty) Even if you don't have a severe medical issue, this may be a handy feature to add. To add in an emergency contact, open the health app on your phone, tap on the profile picture, then go into Medical ID. From there, Edit > Emergency contacts > Add then save (Picture: Getty) If you need a little bit of light, you can use your watch as a flashlight. This is great if you're trying to leave a room, or find your phone in the dark. All you need to do is press the side button, tap on the flashlight icon, and swipe left or right to choose a mode – a steady white light, flashing white light, or steady red light. To adjust the brightness, turn the digital crown (Picture: Getty) It's really important to wash your hands. Properly. Despite the Covid Pandemic, many people do not practise good hygiene when washing their hands – which must be done for 20 seconds at least for effective cleanliness. So, Apple has a way of encouraging you to do that. Simply go onto the settings app on your watch, tap on handwashing, then handwashing timer, and when the Apple Watch detects that you've started washing your hands, it starts a 20-second timer. If you stop washing in less than 20 seconds, you're encouraged to finish the job. Please clean your Apple Watch regularly too (do not wash it, or any other electronic device, try wiping them down with antibacterial wipes or similar) (Picture: Getty) If you prefer your apps in a list, you can change how your watch looks. One way to do this is by pressing the Digital Crown to go to the Home Screen, scroll down to the bottom, and choose List View. To go back to the honeycomb grid layout, scroll down to the bottom of the list and choose Grid View. Alternatively, you can open the Settings app on your Apple Watch and tap App View to switch between grid and list views or open the companion app on your paired iPhone, select the My Watch tab, hit App View, and select List View or Grid View (Picture: Getty)
Metro
10-07-2025
- General
- Metro
3 of the most common break-up strategies – which have you done?
Hiyah Zaidi Published July 9, 2025 10:44am Link is copied Comments Ending a relationship is hard. Even if you've lost feelings for the person, or even still love them, there are a range of emotions that a breakup can stir, like regret, guilt and depression. However, how you end it is very important in processing it – and according to a study there are three ways a person ends a relationship (Picture: Getty) In a study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, researchers found there are 45 distinct ways that people use to end relationships. So, they broke these down to nine broad breakup techniques, and these down to three broader methods. The researchers conducted two studies. In the first one, 228 Greek-speaking adults (122 women and 105 men, with an average age of 30 for women and 31 for men) were asked to imagine themselves in an unhappy relationship and write down how they would end it – to which the researchers created 45 distinct ways someone would breakup with their partner (Picture: Getty) In the second study, the researchers asked 392 participants (185 women, 201 men, two identifying as 'other', and four choosing not to specify with an average age of 34 for women and 38 for men), how likely they were to use each of the 45 breakup methods. They also measured personality traits, with a focus on traits like agreeableness and a set of less well-regarded characteristics known as the Dark Triad: psychopathy, Machiavellianism, and narcissism (Picture: Getty) Dr Menelaos Apostolou, a professor of evolutionary psychology at the University of Nicosia told PsyPost: 'Most people will experience the end of an intimate relationship (usually several times), with either themselves or their partners initiating it. Because this phenomenon is relatively common and painful, I was motivated to ask how people actually do so, which the current research aimed to address.' So, what are the three ways people tend to break up with their partner? (Picture: Getty) The top technique sees the person breaking up explain why things are ending. The person often takes responsibility for ending things, and tells their partner why the breakup could benefit them both. This could be something simple, for example if you have lost feelings for your partner, you could say that you're not happy in the relationship anymore, and they deserve to be with someone who wants to be with them. The researchers found that those who had personality traits that were higher in agreeableness, a trait associated with kindness and consideration for others, were less likely to use a 'cold and distant' approach (Picture: Getty) The second most popular way of breaking up with your partner is to take a break – a temporary separation when you are too afraid to fully abandon the idea of your relationship. This allows you to process your feelings towards your partner but to enjoy the freedom of being single. However, this can often lead to one person feeling heartbroken or betrayed so be careful with this one (Picture: Getty) A lot of the time this is probably the worst way you can break up with a partner. In most cases it is cold and cowardly, as you just disappear from someone's life, like ghosting – but worse. The researchers said people who used this form tended to have higher levels of Machiavellianism, associated with manipulativeness. And participants with higher levels of psychopathy, a trait linked with impulsivity and a lack of empathy, were more prone to blame their partner for the breakup. But in general, personality characteristics had little bearing on which strategies people used (Picture: Getty)
