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Lots of women try herbs like black cohosh for menopausal symptoms like hot flushes – but does it work?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sasha-taylor-1461085">Sasha Taylor</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-davis-10376">Susan Davis</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Menopause is the stage of life where the ovaries stop releasing eggs and menstrual periods cease. Most Australian women go through menopause between <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp20154">45 and 55</a> years of age, with the average age being 51 years, although some women may be younger. Hot flushes and night sweats are <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrendo.2017.180">typical symptoms</a> of menopause, with vaginal dryness, muscle and joint pains, mood changes and sleep disturbance also commonly reported. Up to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25706184/">75% of women</a> experience menopausal symptoms, with nearly 30% severely affected. These symptoms can negatively impact day-to-day life and wellbeing. The main therapies available include menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) and non-hormonal prescription therapy. Some women will elect to try complementary and alternative medicines, such as herbal medicines and nutritional supplements. Black cohosh is one of them. <h2>What causes hot flushes</h2> The cause of hormonal hot flushes (also called hot flashes) still isn’t completely understood, but the decline in oestrogen at menopause appears to play a role in a process that involves the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3833827/">area of the brain that regulates temperature</a> (the hypothalamus). Factors linked to a greater likelihood of hot flushes include <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19675142/">being overweight or having obesity</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25706184/">smoking</a>. MHT, previously known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), usually includes oestrogen and is the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26444994/">most effective treatment</a> for menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes. But women may choose complementary and alternative medicines instead – either because they shouldn’t take hormone therapy, for example because they have breast cancer, or because of personal preference. Close <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26224187/">to 40%</a> of Australian women report using complementary and alternative medicines for menopausal symptoms, and up to 20% using them specifically to treat hot flushes and sweats. <h2>A long history</h2> Complementary and alternative medicines have a long history of use in many cultures. Today, their potential benefits for menopausal symptoms are promoted by the companies that make and sell them. The <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6419242/">complementary and alternative medicines</a> women often try for menopausal symptoms include phytoestrogens, wild yam, dong quai, ginseng and black cohosh. Black cohosh (plant name Cimicifuga racemosa) was <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6599854/">traditionally</a> used by Native Americans to treat a variety of health concerns such as sore throat, kidney trouble, musculoskeletal pain and menstrual problems. It is now a popular herbal choice for hot flushes and night sweats, as well as vaginal dryness and mood changes. There are <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37252752/">many theories</a> for how the active ingredients in black cohosh might work in the body, such as acting like oestrogen, or affecting chemical pathways in the brain. But despite extensive research, the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6599854/">evidence to support these theories remains inconclusive</a>. It is also not clear whether black cohosh is effective for hot flushes. Results from individual studies are mixed, with <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17565936/">some</a> finding black cohosh improves hot flushes, while <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18257142/">others</a> have found it doesn’t. A 2012 <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6599854/">review</a> combined all the results from studies of menopausal women using black cohosh to that date and found overall there was no proof black cohosh reduces hot flushes more effectively than an inactive treatment (placebo). <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6599854/">This review</a> also revealed that many studies did not use rigorous research methods, so the findings are hard to interpret. A more recent <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33021111/">review</a> of clinical trials claimed black cohosh may ease menopausal symptoms, but the included studies were mostly small, less than six months long, and included women with mild symptoms. There is also no meaningful evidence black cohosh helps other symptoms of menopause, such as vaginal symptoms, sexual problems, or poor general wellbeing, or that it protects against bone loss. Evidence for how black cohosh is absorbed and metabolised by the body is also lacking, and it is not known what dose or formulation is best to use. More good quality studies are needed to decide whether black cohosh works for hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms. <h2>Is it safe to try?</h2> A <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33021111/">review of studies</a> suggests black cohosh is safe to use, although many of the studies have not reported possible adverse reactions in detail. Side effects such as gastrointestinal upset and rashes may occur. While there have been <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2008/188/7/liver-failure-associated-use-black-cohosh-menopausal-symptoms#0_i1091948">rare reports of liver damage</a>, there is <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21228727/">no clear evidence</a> black cohosh was the cause. Even so, in Australia, black cohosh manufacturers and suppliers are required to put a warning label for the potential of harm to the liver on their products. It is recommended black cohosh is not used by women with menopausal symptoms <a href="https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/breast-cancer/impacted-by-breast-cancer/physical-changes/menopause/treatments-menopausal-symptoms">after breast cancer</a>, as its safety after breast cancer is uncertain. All women should consult with their doctor before using black cohosh if they are taking other medications in case of possible drug interactions. Many women like to try herbal therapies for hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms. While black cohosh is generally considered safe and some women may find it helps them, at the moment there is not enough scientific evidence to show its effects are any better than placebo. Women experiencing troublesome menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes, should talk to their doctor about the best treatment options for them.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211272/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sasha-taylor-1461085">Sasha Taylor</a>, Research fellow, Chronic Disease & Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-davis-10376">Susan Davis</a>, Chair of Women's Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/lots-of-women-try-herbs-like-black-cohosh-for-menopausal-symptoms-like-hot-flushes-but-does-it-work-211272">original article</a>.

Body

The strange history of these 5 common superstitions

Where superstitions come from You probably engage in many of these superstitions as second nature, but have you ever thought about where they come from? Superstition: Black cats are bad omens The backstory: Despite centuries of royal treatment (Egyptians worshipped them; the Norse goddess Freya rode in a chariot pulled by them), cats took a big hit to their reputation in the 1200s, when Pope Gregory IX, waging a culture war on pagan symbols, damned cats as servants of Satan. As a result, cats – especially black ones – were killed across Europe. One unintended consequence, according to some historians: The cat-deprived continent may have allowed disease-carrying rodents to flourish and spread the bubonic plague of 1348. Rumours that the feline’s fangs and fur were venomous persisted, and by the witch-hunting days of the 1600s, many Puritans believed black cats to be “familiars” – supernatural demons that serve witches – and avoided them (to borrow an apt phrase) like the plague. Superstition: Never walk under a ladder The backstory: Depending on your background, a ladder leaning against a wall can represent an honest day’s work, a textbook geometry problem, or a symbol of the Holy Trinity that, if breached, will damn your soul. That last bit is what some ancient Christians believed – that any triangle represented the Trinity, and disrupting one could summon the Evil One. These days, our under-ladder phobia is a smidge more practical: Avoid it because you might get beaned by falling tools, debris, or an even less lucky human. Superstition: Break a mirror and see seven years of bad luck The backstory: Numerous ancient cultures agree: Your reflection doesn’t just reveal whether you’re having a bad hair day – it also holds a piece of your soul. To break a mirror, then, is to fracture your very essence, leaving you vulnerable to bad luck. So why should the sentence last seven years? Some writers cite the ancient Romans, who are said to have believed that the human body and soul fully regenerate every seven years. Any poor pleb who fractured his or her soul in the looking glass would therefore have to endure the bad karma until the soul renewed again. Superstition: A full moon brings out the crazies The backstory: Ever wonder where the word lunatic came from? Look no further than luna, the Latin word for the moon. Many Greeks knew that the moon and its goddess, Luna, held the tides in their thrall, and Aristotle considered the human brain – the “moistest” organ – particularly susceptible to Luna’s pull. Ancient physician Hippocrates agreed, writing, “One who is seized with terror, fright and madness during the night is being visited by the goddess of the moon.” Today, some emergency room workers still believe the full moon means trouble. Superstition: Say “God bless you” after a sneeze or risk something worse than a cold The backstory: You’ve probably heard the myth that a sneeze stops the heart (it doesn’t) or separates body from soul (science declines to comment there). But to explain the ritual of post-sneeze “blessing,” we can look to another pope. During the first recorded plague pandemic, in the sixth century, severe sneezing often portended sudden death. As a desperate precaution, Pope Gregory I supposedly asked followers to say “God bless you” every time someone sneezed. Today, it’s just polite. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/this-is-the-history-behind-these-5-common-superstitions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Caring

Princess Di's black sheep jumper sells for 14 times over asking price

Princess Diana's famous "black sheep" jumper has sold at auction for more than $1.1million. The iconic red and white (and one tiny bit of black, of course!) jumper fetched precisely $1,143,000 at Sotheby's in New York - making it the most expensive piece of clothing owned by the former Princess of Wales to sell at auction, as well as the most expensive jumper to ever be sold at auction. There were a total of 44 bids within the final 15 minutes of a two-week online bidding process for the famous item of clothing - during which the bidding leapt from $190,000 to $1,143,000, which ultimately pushed the sale to a staggering 14 times over the initial asking price of $80,000. The woollen jumper was worn by Lady Di to a polo match in Windsor in June 1981, just one month before she married the then-Prince Charles. Soon after Diana wore the garment, it was returned to Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne, founders of the label Warm & Wonderful because of a tear at the cuff. It was sent back to the designers along with a note from Buckingham Palace, requesting that the jumper be either repaired or replaced. A new jumper was knitted for Diana, with Osborne believing the original garment had been lost after the replacement was sent to the Princess of Wales, which she wore to another polo match in 1983. However, Osborne later discovered the jumper, which had been preserved underneath an old cotton bedspread, while searching her attic looking for an old pattern. She got in touch with Sotheby's auction house which gave the garment an auction estimate of around $80,000 - $120,000. Speaking to The Telegraph UK, Osborne said, "We didn't think we had any of the original sheep jumpers, because at the time, we were so desperate to complete orders that we never owned one ourselves, so I couldn't believe I'd found the original Diana sheep jumper." "It took a while to sink in. And we're so lucky it's not fallen to pieces." Sotheby's said of the now-iconic design, "The Black Sheep sweater is one of the most iconic pieces worn by Princess Diana to ever come to market." "The cultural impact of this moment from the 1980s is exemplified by the head of Rowing Blazers, Jack Carlson, who in 2020, requested to partner with the original designers and license the sheep design to be reproduced for his own fashion line." "Since stumbling upon the sweater ... we have been reliving the fond memories of Princess Diana appearing on the front pages of every newspaper in 1981, wearing our very own sweater. "While we are forever indebted to her for the impact this had on our business, our deepest appreciation lies in the knowledge that she shared a unique connection to the black sheep design. We are thrilled that this cherished sweater has now found a new home, carrying with it the enduring legacy of Princess Diana." Images: Getty

Beauty & Style

Breathtaking winners of the 2023 Black and White Photo Awards

The stunning finalists of the <a href="https://bwphotoawards.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2023 Black and White Photo Awards</a> have been revealed, with the talented photographers stripping all the colour out of their work. Having run for several years now, the annual contest was established to "nurture the spirit of monochrome photography". This year, thousands of images were submitted by record-breaking numbers of photographers from 92 countries around the world, with photos submitted under five categories: architecture, street, portrait, fauna and flora, and landscape. "The results have exceeded all our expectations," the judges said of the winners and finalists. Some of the winning photos include an icy sculpture in Antarctica, a full moon over the Canadian rocky mountains, a lightning storm in Italy, volcanic craters in Iceland, and a crowded train in Bangladesh. All image credits: 2023 Black and White Photo Awards

International Travel

Zoo's upright bear accused of being just a guy in a suit

A Chinese zoo has had to be completely trans-bear-ant about its popular sun bear, following allegations that it was actually a human in disguise. The Hangzhou Zoo in China gained international recognition after video footage of their sun bear standing on its hind legs and waving at visitors caused many to paws and look twice. Many were bear-side themselves with excitement as theories that it was a human in disguise continued to spread. The local Hangzhou Daily first reported on the attention that the four-year-old sun bear named Angela was receiving. “Because of the way they stand, some people online question whether they are ‘humans in disguise’,” they wrote. As Angela gained popularity, experts were summoned and had to confirm that the bear was in fact fur-real. Ashleigh Marshall, an expert from Chester Zoo, told BBC News that the animal “is definitely a real bear,” and affirmed to doubtful visitors that sun bears do often “look a lot like people in costumes”. The animal expert also pointed out that the folds on the sun bear’s back weren’t because the costume was loose, but its actual function is to protect the bear from predators and allow them to “turn around” and fight back if attacked. Various representatives of the zoo have had to come out and release statements addressing the controversy. A spokesperson has reportedly said that the state-run facility would never intentionally deceive people, in an audio clip circulating on popular Chinese social media platform WeChat. “Some people think I stand like a person,” read another social media post, written from the point of view of the bear. “It seems you don't understand me very well.” Another spokesperson for the zoo has also denied the allegations and said that a human in a fur bear suit “would not last more than a few minutes before collapsing” in the 40°C summer temperatures. Images: Twitter / WeChat

International Travel

"More than we can bear": Hunter Valley bus crash victims identified

The names of the 10 people who lost their lives in the Hunter Valley wedding bus tragedy have been made public, just two days after the devastating incident occurred. And while their heartbroken families have been informed by police officials that formal identifications could take anywhere from days up to weeks, The Daily Telegraph have reported that 10 people could not be accounted for in the wake of the crash. 36 people were on board the coach bound for Singleton, 35 wedding guests - and the bus driver - who had just spent the day celebrating the love and nuptials of local sporting enthusiasts Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell at Wandin Valley Estate. The group were onboard in foggy conditions at around 11:30 pm, before the bus rolled roughly 17 minutes into their evening journey, at a roundabout at Wine Country Drive. Emergency services raced to the scene, and while 25 people were pulled from the wreckage and rushed for treatment with injuries varying from the likes of critical head and neck trauma to broken bones, 10 people could not be saved. As reported by The Daily Telegraph, those 10 victims included locals and interstate visitors, all near and dear to the young bride and groom and the rest of their guests. From Singleton were husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, as well as Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen. Mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride were also from the area. Zachary Bray had travelled from Byron Bay for the big day, while Darcy Bulman had come from Sydney, and Angus Craig had made the trip from Queensland. And like the others, the 10th fatality - Kyah’s partner Kane Symons - remains unaccounted for. And as NSW Premier Chris Minns warned while speaking to the media the day after the crash, things may get harder in the weeks to come. “The state woke up this morning to hear devastating news in an area that we normally associate with so much happiness and joy. Whatever the final toll is in this accident, it will be more than we can bear,” he said. “The next few days and weeks may be worse than the initial shock, as it fully comes to realisation of what this community has gone through.” However, as NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said, “I see there’s some speculation about the identity of those 10 persons - we cannot confirm the identity of those 10 victims. “We’ll work through the disaster victim identification process over the next few days. Our investigators, our family liaison officers, are speaking to the families and victims. We are in contact. That process will continue throughout the investigation and the court process.” Waddell did note that the bus passengers were in their “20s to 60s”, and that they were “males and females, local and interstate, as you’d expect.” “It’s a traumatic event for all the family,” he added, “all the friends, from what was a wedding where people come from wide and far.” Images: 7News / Seven

News

Stars lead the Met Gala carpet in stunning black and white

Often dubbed the “Super Bowl of fashion”, the annual Met Gala has once again showcased the best that high fashion has to offer. The Met Gala serves as the annual fundraiser for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, and gives the whos-who of Hollywood the chance to experiment with their wildest fashion choices. This year, the annual affair celebrated the exhibition “<a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/karl-lagerfeld-a-line-of-beauty-will-be-the-metropolitan-museum-of-arts-spring-2023-costume-institute-exhibition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty</a>,” which honours the legacy of the late designer who died in February 2019. Lagerfeld helmed fashion houses such as Chanel, Fendi, and his own eponymous line, and raised funds for The Met’s Costume Institute while having an immeasurable impact on the fashion industry. As a result of this year’s theme, the stars largely turned out in various designs of black and white, which was a class colour combination that became Lagerfeld’s signature. Some looks on the star-studded carpet included Lagerfeld’s staples such as Chanel tweed, pearl embellishments, seemingly conflicting texture and endless, endless tulle. Celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Glenn Close, Hugh Jackman, Pedro Pascal, Naomi Campbell, Jessica Chastain, Salma Hayek, and many many more graced the carpet, posing up a storm and showing off their intricately designed looks. One of the more unusual looks on the carpet came from actor and musician Jared Leto, who ran with his own unique interpretation of the theme and arrived dressed as Karl Lagerfeld’s cat Choupette, which translates to “sweetie” in French. While many of the celebrities in attendance interpreted the theme in their own ways, there is no doubt that the Hollywood A-listers who were lucky enough to be invited know how to make an entrance. All image credits: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

Backlash after new docudrama casts Cleopatra as a black woman

When Netflix announced their docu-series on Queen Cleopatra VII, excitement was high among the cast and crew. As the series’ star, Adele James, put it “I don’t know if there are words powerful enough to express what I hope this will mean for young people all over the world who look like me (and who don’t!) who will now get to grow up seeing the greatest leader of all time (of the greatest ancient civilisation, no less!!) being portrayed by a black-mixed woman on one of the biggest streaming services in the world!!!!!” However, it wasn’t long before problems arose, with many voicing their opinion that Netflix was ‘blackwashing’ the show, and Egyptian experts weighing in to the mounting criticism. And now, those same people are taking steps towards making sure the show never gets the chance to hit screens in Egypt. The trailer alone, with over 2 million views on YouTube, does not allow comments in the wake of its backlash. The series, titled African Queens: Queen Cleopatra, marks 27-year-old biracial actress Adele James’ Netflix debut. It is also narrated and executive produced by Jade Pinkett Smith. And while Queen Cleopatra’s race has long been a subject of dispute, as Pinkett Smith confessed to Tudum, the decision to cast James was intended as “a nod to the centuries-long conversation about the ruler’s race. “During the time of her reign, Egypt’s population was multicultural and multiracial. Cleopatra’s race was unlikely to be documented, and the identities of her mother and paternal grandparents weren’t known. Some speculate she was a native Egyptian woman while others say she was Greek.” “I really wanted to represent Black women,” Pinkett Smith added. “We don’t often get to see or hear stories about Black queens, and that was really important for me.” The portrayal, however, has been dubbed “completely fake” by some experts. Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, who believes the late queen was Greek and definitively “not black”, has accused streaming giant Netflix of “trying to provoke confusion by spreading false and deceptive facts that the origin of the Egyptian civilization is black”. As he told the Al-Masry al-Youm newspaper, “Cleopatra was Greek, meaning that she was light-skinned, not black.” Mahmoud al-Semary, a lawyer who is of the same opinion, went so far as to file a complaint with Egypt’s public prosecutor, demanding that Netflix be blocked in Egypt for their attempts to “promote the Afrocentric thinking … which includes slogans and writings aimed at distorting and erasing the Egyptian identity.” And he wasn’t the only one to take action, with a petition circling online to “Cancel Netflix’s ‘Queen Cleopatra’”. And while a former petition calling for the same thing was removed by Change.org despite its 85,000 signatures, the second attempt has so far gathered over 4,000. Meanwhile, Egyptologist Sally-Ann Ashton - who acted as a consultant for Netflix during the series’ preparation phase - has noted that the belief Cleopatra should be depicted as entirely European is “strange”. “Cleopatra ruled in Egypt long before the Arab settlement in North Africa,” she explained. “If the maternal side of her family were indigenous women, they would’ve been African, and this should be reflected in contemporary representations of Cleopatra.” And as Adele James put it best - along with some all important advice - to the flood of criticism aimed at her, “if you don’t like the casting don’t watch the show. Or do & engage in (expert) opinion different to yours. Either way, I’M GASSED and will continue to be!” Images: Instagram

Olympian makes surprise announcement of new baby boy!

Tom Daley and husband Dustin Lance Black have announced the news of their second child's arrival. The pair shared the news with the Times before taking to Instagram to reveal their son’s unique name, giving fans quite a surprise as they had not publicly revealed what they were expecting. Daley posted a picture of his now family of four and a sweet picture of him holding the newborn, paired with the caption, “🧡 PHOENIX ROSE BLACK-DALEY 🧡” "Our family has grown in the last week, we welcomed Phoenix to the world on 28/03/23 and he's just perfect 🧡 Robbie is loving being a BIG BRO! 👨‍👨‍👦‍👦” Friends and fans were quick to celebrate the couple’s new addition to the family in the comment section. Fellow Olympic diver Matty Lee wrote, “Can’t wait to meet him! Love you all ❤️” "Oh my god tom 😍💖 congrats angel!!!!” wrote social media star Holly H. Black also took to Instagram, posting a photo of the four of them, writing "And then there were four. Our second son, Phoenix Rose Black-Daley, arrived at 3:34 pm on March 28, 2023. ❤️" His comment section was also filled with excited friends and celebs wishing them well. “Congrats fellas!!!!” NSYNC singer Lance Bass wrote. “MAZEL TOV!!! ❤️🙌” TV presenter Andy Cohen said. The couple, who were married in 2017, welcomed their first child, five-year-old Robert Ray via surrogate in 2018. Young Phoenix isn’t the only newborn with an unusual name in the news at the moment, with proud mum <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/my-whole-heart-paris-hilton-shares-new-photos-of-baby-boy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris Hilton announcing the birth of her first child</a>, a son with a name you won't forget. Image credit: Instagram

Family & Pets

Does black tea improve heart health?

Tea is full of flavonoids: a class of substances thought to have a range of health benefits. They also appear in fruits and vegetables like berries, oranges and apples – as well as red wine and dark chocolate. An international team of researchers, based in Western Australia, has found a link between flavonoids and better arterial health. The study, which looked at the diets of 881 women aged between 78 and 82, found that those who consumed a lot of flavonoids – which in this group, mainly came from black tea – were less likely to have an extensive build-up of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC). AAC is a process in the body’s biggest artery (the aorta), and it’s a predictor of a range of health conditions including heart attacks, strokes and late-life dementia. “This research is really exciting because it’s the first time we have seen in humans, that higher long-term dietary flavonoid intake appears to protect against vascular calcification,” says lead researcher Ben Parmenter, a researcher at Edith Cowan University’s Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute. “While several studies have shown a potential link in rodents, ours is the first human study, linking total dietary flavonoid consumption with a lower propensity of the abdominal aorta to calcify.” The researchers examined data from the Perth Longitudinal Study of Ageing Women, a long-term study done on older, white Western Australian women to investigate bone health and calcium intake. “Recruitment for this study took place in 1998—back when I was in primary school!” says Parmenter. “It was at this time that the medical examinations and participant questionnaires were collected.” The researchers compared the diets each woman reported to their AAC. Black tea was the biggest source of flavonoids in the study, accounting for 76% of total flavonoid intake. Those who drank between two and six cups daily had a 16-42% lower chance of having extensive AAC. “Out of the women who don’t drink black tea, higher total non-tea flavonoid intake also appears to protect against extensive calcification of the arteries,” says Parmenter. Participants who had higher flavonoid intake in total had a 36-39% lower chance of extensive AAC. But some specific flavonoid sources – red wine, fruit juice and chocolate – weren’t associated with better AAC. Parmenter says that, since this study was done on a fairly select demographic, it’s hard to tell if the results would be similar younger people, males, or other ethnicities. “Although we hypothesis that the benefits are likely to extend to these demographics – ultimately, further research is needed to investigate this.” Next, the researchers are interested in looking at the relationship between flavonoids and stroke. “We previously released findings showing that higher habitual dietary flavonoid consumption associates with lower long-term risk of stroke, but we have now gone further, to investigate specific mechanisms,” says Parmenter. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/flavonoids-black-tea/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Ellen Phiddian. Image: Shutterstock

Body

Caught in the act: supermassive black hole 8.5 billion light years away enjoys violent stellar snack

A supermassive black hole at the centre of a galaxy some 8.5 billion years way has ripped apart a nearby star, producing some of the most luminous jets ever seen. When stars and other objects stray too close to a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/how-big-is-a-black-hole-watch-how-it-eats/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">supermassive black hole</a> they are destroyed by the black hole’s immense gravity. These occurrences, known as <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/a-star-is-torn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tidal-disruption events (TDEs)</a>, result in a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/space/the-sleeping-giant-black-hole-that-awoke-to-destroy-a-star/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">circling disk of material</a> that is slowly pulled into the black hole and very occasionally, as in the case of supermassive black hole AT2022cmc, ejecting bright beams of material travelling close to the speed of light. Luminous jets are produced in an estimated 1% of cases and are known as a type of astronomical occurrence known as a transient, because they are short-lived. Bright flashes from the jets were spotted in data from the <a href="https://www.ztf.caltech.edu/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF)</a> in <a href="https://astronomerstelegram.org/?read=15232" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">February this year</a> using a special new technique which can comb through the equivalent of a million pages of information every night. Due to the rapid results produced by the novel data analysis method, a research team in the US was able to swiftly follow up on the transient event with multiwavelength observations of the system from different observatory facilities. The jets were visible across many wavelengths, from X-rays to radio, and follow-up observations enabled the European Southern Observatory’s <a href="https://www.eso.org/public/australia/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Very Large Telescope</a> to place AT2022cmc at a whopping distance of 8.5 billion light years away, while optical and infrared observation from NASA’s <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hubble telescope</a> were able to precisely pinpoint AT2022cmc’s location. “The last time scientists discovered one of these jets was well over a decade ago,” said Michael Coughlin, an assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and co-lead on the paper <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05465-8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published in Nature</a>. “From the data we have, we can estimate that relativistic jets are launched in only 1% of these destructive events, making AT2022cmc an extremely rare occurrence.” Exactly why this behaviour is so rare remains an enigma, however, the research team believe that AT2022cmc’s rapid spin powers the jets, adding to the current understanding of the physics of these behemoth dead stars at the centres of galaxies. This detection – and the method used to discover it – are valuable as a future models for astronomers as they scour the skies for more events. “Scientists can use AT2022cmc as a model for what to look for and find more disruptive events from distant black holes,” says lead author Igor Andreoni, from the Department of Astronomy at UMD and NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre. This includes using ground-based optical surveys, as opposed to gamma-ray observatories in space – how previous jets were primarily discovered. “Our new search technique helps us to quickly identify rare cosmic events in the ZTF survey data,” says Andreoni. “And since ZTF and upcoming larger surveys such as <a href="https://www.lsst.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vera Rubin’s Large Synoptic Survey Telescope</a> scan the sky so frequently, we can now expect to uncover a wealth of rare, or previously undiscovered cosmic events and study them in detail. More than ever, big data mining is an important tool to advance our knowledge of the universe”.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=226753&title=Caught+in+the+act%3A+supermassive+black+hole+8.5+billion+light+years+away+enjoys+violent+stellar+snack" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/supermassive-black-hole-stellar-snack/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on Cosmos Magazine and was written by Clare Kenyon. Image: Getty Images </div>

Technology

Black Friday: so many online returns end up in landfill – here’s what needs to happen to change that

<a href="https://www.salecycle.com/blog/featured/11-black-friday-and-cyber-monday-online-retail-stats/">Two of the busiest</a> online shopping days of the year are upon us. In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/65cd5dda-a5ea-411a-b0ef-08caee388b47">recession</a>, retailers will be desperately hoping that shoppers take advantage of discounts on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to bump up annual sales figures. While this would boost a sector that has <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-retail-sales-rise-by-06-october-2022-11-18/">yet to fully recover</a> from the COVID pandemic, there’s a major downside. The more that shoppers buy online, the bigger the problem with returned goods. Almost <a href="https://www.statista.com/topics/2333/e-commerce-in-the-united-kingdom/">60 million people</a> shop online in the UK – in other words the vast majority. But most shoppers buy more than they intend to keep. They order multiple sizes and colours to find the perfect item, safe in the knowledge that there’s a convenient and “free” return option to dispose of the rest. <h2>The returns nightmare</h2> This has become so standard that there’s even a name for it – “wardrobing”. Around <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinessdevelopmentcouncil/2020/06/12/how-your-return-policy-can-influence-new-sales-and-long-term-loyalty/?sh=4749b17a1c42">66% of </a> people in the UK consider the returns policy before buying online, and abandon orders when the policy isn’t obvious. <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/consumer/instagram-shoppers-buy-clothes-wear-once-ootd-picture-return-186572">One in ten shoppers</a>even admit to buying clothes solely for the purpose of taking a photo for social media. <a href="https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2019-08/royal-mail-delivery-matters-returns-2018.pdf">More than half</a> of all clothes purchased online are returned. Put another way, each British shopper returns an average of <a href="https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2019-08/royal-mail-delivery-matters-returns-2018.pdf">one item per month</a>. But if people have become used to treating their bedrooms and living rooms as the new in-store changing room, it’s not only clothes that cause an online returns problem. For example, <a href="https://www.royalmail.com/sites/royalmail.com/files/2019-08/royal-mail-delivery-matters-returns-2018.pdf">42% of electrical goods</a> ordered online get returned, mostly because they arrive damaged or faulty. Returned goods are much more <a href="https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/170890/">complex to process</a> than other stock because they tend to arrive as single items that need inspecting individually to see why they were returned. They need sorting and possibly repairing or cleaning before being returned to stock, which for many retailers is in a different location. The associated costs are significantly higher than shipping out new products. According to <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/06/26/business/retail-returns/index.html">one US expert</a>, every dollar in returned merchandise costs a retailer between 15 and 30 cents. Returns were estimated to be costing retailers <a href="https://www.clearreturns.com/portfolio-item/black-friday-costs-uk-retailers-180m-in-returned-goods/">about £20 billion a year</a> in 2016, roughly half that of shop-bought products. Since then, it will have <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/286384/internet-share-of-retail-sales-monthly-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/">increased considerably</a> – particularly during COVID as online sales went through the roof. Every time you move a product there are also environmental costs associated with the journey. According to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-021-01246-9">one recent study</a>, the carbon emissions from returning a product are about a third higher than shipping it out in the first place. <h2>What can be done</h2> It is tempting to think we need rules to curb all this over-buying and returning. But that would be very difficult to police and also potentially disastrous for online retailers. In any case, the sector is developing its own solutions: <a href="https://internetretailing.net/delivery/25-of-top500-brands-now-charging-consumers-for-returns/">a quarter</a> of leading UK brands now charge customers for returns, including fast-fashion players like <a href="https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2022/11/end-free-returns/">Zara and Boohoo</a>. They will not be doing this lightly: the Royal Mail <a href="https://www.royalmail.com/business/system/files/delivery-matters-uk-edition-2018.pdf">estimates 52%</a> of shoppers would be unlikely to use a particular online retailer if they had to pay for the returns. We both still see reports online claiming that substantial amounts of returned clothes end up in landfill, but this is not what we hear from our discussions with leading retailers. <a href="https://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/You-and-your-home/Waste-and-recycling/Furniture-andhousehold-items/Clothing">Over 95%</a> of returned clothing can be reprocessed and made available for resale as a new product – subject to cleaning and sewing repairs and retailers having access to ozone cleaning facilities to remove perfume/aftershave smells, which is actually a major one issue. Our understanding is that many retailers are approaching that sort of turnaround figure. ASOS reportedly <a href="https://www.asos.com/responsible-fashion/packaging-and-delivery/6-ways-our-returns-are-more-responsible/">resells over 97%</a> of its returns, for instance. <h2>Challenges with bulky goods</h2> Unfortunately it’s very different with bulkier goods like furniture or kitchen appliances. These often require additional packaging, two-person collection and much more besides. Take memory foam mattresses. A consumer returning one won’t be able to squeeze out all the air and put it back in the modest-sized delivery box. The return will therefore be the size of a mattress, and you can’t get that many on a truck. Mattresses have also been slept on so there are hygiene considerations. The cover needs to be washed or discarded, depending on its condition. The mattress has to be inspected for damage like scuff marks, then cleaned and sanitised before being reboxed to be sold as reconditioned. There are comparable challenges across the board with bulkier products. To give another example, electrical items are expensive to repair and by law need to be tested before they can be resold. Faced with such issues, retailers frequently take the easy way out. They let returns languish in distributors’ warehouses before eventually sending them to landfill. We have seen this first hand in <a href="https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/170890/">our research</a>, working with four major retail brands that use returns specialist Prolog. One beauty retailer insists their returned electrical products in beauty kits be destroyed to protect their brand, leading to many being sent to landfill. We were able to demonstrate that these items could be processed more sustainably by harvesting the unused components for new kits, retained by Prolog Fulfilment for supplying missing components to other customers, or salvaged for warranty replacements. These sorts of options are available with a bit of investigation. Sometimes value engineering is also possible, where engineers repair returned products and provide feedback to manufacturers about common reasons for returns. Carbon footprints can also be reduced. For instance, the delivery company could hold the returns rather than sending them back to the retailer’s distribution centre. It’s still commonplace for retailers to process returns in a different location from where they ship out new products, so companies need to look at this too. These failures are both unacceptable from a sustainability point of view but also a major missed selling opportunity. Many returns could be refurbished with little effort and sold as “A-” grade at a small discount. When products can’t be resold, other options include resizing, donating to charity or working with specialist recycling companies to dismantle and recycle the smaller components to prevent any material going to landfill. As everyone gears up for the Black Friday weekend and then Christmas, it’s time for these retailers to do better. Consumers also need to be aware of this issue and apply more pressure. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/black-friday-so-many-online-returns-end-up-in-landfill-heres-what-needs-to-happen-to-change-that-195310" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Beauty & Style

“Please look after these bears”: Camilla helps Paddington bears find their new homes

The thousands of Paddington bears left in tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II are finally finding their new homes, with Queen Consort Camilla describing it as a “pleasure” to be involved in the process. With the bears slated to be given to the children’s charity Barnados, Camilla delivered the fuzzy stuffed toys to the charity with a convoy of electric taxis through the London Taxi Driver’s Charity for Children. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Today, The Queen Consort delivered hundreds of Paddington bears and cuddly toys to children who are supported by <a href="https://twitter.com/barnardos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@barnardos</a>. Take a look at their journey to their loving new homes ⬇️<a href="https://t.co/hJE3uf39B0">https://t.co/hJE3uf39B0</a> — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1595840343664115716?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 24, 2022</a></blockquote> During her visit to Bow day nursery in east London, where they held a special teddy bear’s picnic, complete with marmalade sandwiches, Camilla gave bears to children at the nursery, who are among more than a thousand recipients of the bears and toys left outside the Queen’s residences. The royal also revealed that she “loves mess” and told the kids to look after their new friends. “It has been a pleasure to find a home for these bears - please look after them carefully,” she said. Camilla was also joined by members of the cast of the Paddington film, Hugh Bonneville and Madeleine Harris, as well as Karen Jenkel, whose father Michael Bond wrote the Paddington series of books for her. At the end of her visit to the Bow nursery, Camilla was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a thank-you note by carer Leighann Ives and three-year-old Serena Wicks. In the lead-up to the delivery of the bears, the royal family shared sweet updates on the toys, including their antics at the royal residences. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We’ve had a lovely stay at Clarence House and Buckingham Palace (doing our best to keep out of mischief…) Looking forward to arriving at our new homes next week! 🔗 <a href="https://t.co/ziDWQhFZtK">https://t.co/ziDWQhFZtK</a> <a href="https://t.co/PmZy5c8moh">pic.twitter.com/PmZy5c8moh</a> — The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1593575755715420164?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2022</a></blockquote> “We’ve had a lovely stay at Clarence House and Buckingham Palace (doing our best to keep out of mischief…),” the royal family wrote on social media, sharing a series of photos of a Paddington bear in different spots around the palace. “Looking forward to arriving at our new homes next week!” The decision to donate the bears to Barnados, which Camilla is a patron of, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/what-will-happen-to-the-thousands-of-paddington-bears-left-for-the-queen">was announced last month</a> with the release of a sweet photo of the Queen Consort surrounded by Paddington bears. The bears were collected from outside the gates of the royal residences by 200 volunteers, who loaded the toys into wagons drawn by grey Shire horses. So many of the bears, along with other toys, flowers, and marmalade sandwiches, were left by mourners that the Royal Park urged members of the public to stop. Image: Getty Images

Caring

Family forced to live in a tent after mould infestation makes house "unliveable"

A family of five have been forced to live in a tent in their backyard after their home was overrun with an infestation of black mould that was making their children sick. Andrew Walsh-Baldwin and his wife Angalina took the drastic measure to move into the backyard of their $480,000 property in Victoria after the toxic mould in their newly purchased home caused all three of their young kids to fall ill. Their home has been rendered "unliveable" by construction experts, who said their home has not allowed for proper drainage during the unprecedented amount of rain. Ms Walsh-Baldwin broke down in tears when talking to Nine News, as she said "it's been freezing" living in the tent. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A family of five is living in a tent, after heavy rain caused black mould to flourish in their home. Serious building defects in the newly purchased property are also contributing to the spread, which is making the kids sick. <a href="https://twitter.com/reid_butler9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@reid_butler9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9News?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9News</a> <a href="https://t.co/IR1AqLNpI3">pic.twitter.com/IR1AqLNpI3</a> — 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) <a href="https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1594595429681098759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2022</a></blockquote> "This was supposed to be our home," she said. Her husband Baldwin said, "The other week we got 190ml (of rain). I can't believe... we've got to this point." "The kids have been getting sick and missed a full term of kinder," he said. "You just feel inadequate now because, as a parent, we've failed." Dr Cameron Jones of Biological Health Services, who inspected the house, said it was among the worst cases of mould he'd ever seen. "When I've done moisture testing on the timbers, they're showing anywhere from 20 to 30 per cent plus," he said, before revealing the safe level is a maximum of 15 per cent. Building inspector Zeher Khalil, who is helping the family out free of charge, said what he found at the house is "unbelievable". "To pay $480,000 for this house, I mean I just feel like I've been ripped off," he said. The family is insured with Allianz, but their claims were rejected because the company said the defects were pre-existing, with Ms Walsh-Baldwin saying, "We've got rights too." Image credits: Nine News

Real Estate

Office worker sent home for “distracting” outfit

An office worker has claimed she was sent home from work for wearing a “distracting” dress. US woman Marie Dee wore a black figure-hugging dress with a high neckline to her office on a standard work day, but a human resources employee allegedly deemed her outfit inappropriate. The mother-of-two secretly filmed herself being confronted by the “HR girl” who dubbed her dress “way too revealing and distracting” for the office. “Guys it happened again, I’m getting sent home for my outfit,” Marie said in the viral TikTok video. “This is getting ridiculous.” The footage shows Marie walking over to the HR employee’s office to ask what was wrong with her outfit. “I’m sorry you still can’t wear that. It’s way too revealing and distracting,” the HR woman can be heard saying. Confused, Marie responded, “It’s distracting?” to which the HR staff member replied, “Very.” The video has been viewed more than 20 million times, with thousands of commenters jumping to Marie’s defence. “I’m an HR leader and I think your outfit is professional and polished,” one said. Another wrote, “You look very professional, I think the HR girl is a bit jealous that you are so beautiful.” One suggested, “I’m an HR manager and I would wear that myself!” Another added, “You look great and very professional... I don’t understand. There’s nothing wrong with that.” Another person said, “HR seems to be overstepping here. I don’t think anything is wrong here.” Image credits: TikTok

Beauty & Style

What will happen to the thousands of Paddington Bears left for the Queen

More than 1,000 Paddinton Bears left for Queen Elizabeth II since her passing will be donated to charity. The plush toys were left at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle following the late monarch’s passing on September 8. The Palace announced that the toys will be cleaned and donated to children's charity Barnardos. They released a photo of the Queen Consort Camilla surrounded by the teddies to mark the special occasion. Queen Elizabeth and Paddington Bear had a loveable friendship when he made a surprise appearance at the Platinum Jubilee. The adorable skit showed the Queen sitting down for tea with Paddington Bear who told the monarch that he hoped she was “having a lovely Jubilee”. The Queen then offered Paddington some tea as the pair discussed their shared love for marmalade sandwiches. Paddington Bear then offered Her Majesty an emergency marmalade sandwich, something he always keeps hidden away in his hat. In a funny turn of events, the Queen did not need the emergency marmalade sandwich as she had also come prepared with her own sandwich in her handbag. The skit, which took the Queen half a day to film, was described better than her Olympic opening show cameo with James Bond. Image: Twitter

Family & Pets

Fat Bear Winner: ‘747’ lays b-ruin to rivals despite fishy voting

After eating lots of tasty fish in preparation for the northern hemisphere’s winter, Brown bear 747 has been crowned the winner of the annual Fat Bear Week. The initiative, run by the US National Parks Service and multimedia organisation explore, gives the public a chance to vote for the biggest brown bear in Alaska’s Katmai National Park. Over one week, people cast their votes for eight nominated bears that have been gorging on river salmon in the lead up to their hibernation. After a summer of catching and eating fish – usually salmon – in the Brooks River, the bears reach peak size in early to mid-October. Shortly, they’ll go into a five-to-eight-month slumber, emerging after the coldest part of the Alaskan winter. The initiative shines a light on the behaviours and survival methods of the species which resides across northern hemisphere continents towards the Arctic Circle. Although brown bears are now extinct in much of central and southern Europe, some still persist in Romania and the Balkan states, and they remain across Russia, Alaska, Canada, the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau. It is also an important indicator species for other wildlife due to their wide habitat range, and play important ecological roles as seed dispersers, and lower-level species managers through predation. Get stuffed! Cheating claims in lead up to Fat Bear final Prior to the grand final between 747 and brown bear 901, a shocking case of voting fraud left organisers decidedly grizzly. A spam attack of votes during the semi-finals threatened to derail 747’s quest for a second Fat Bear crown. Fortunately, organisers were hot onto the bogus bruin ballots. <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p218507-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.62 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/nature/fat-bear-voting-winner/#wpcf7-f6-p218507-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/" aria-invalid="false" /> </form> </div> </div> “Like bears stuff their face with fish, your ballot box, too, has been stuffed,” Katmai organisers said on Monday. “It appears someone has decided to spam the Fat Bear Week poll, but fortunately it is easy for us to tell which votes are fraudulent. We have discarded the fake votes.” Publicly voted animal awareness competitions are notoriously prone to phony voting. The Guardian Australia Bird of the Year competition infamously saw a case of dodgy democracy in 2019 when a case of automated voting was detected by the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2019/nov/11/voter-detected-in-guardians-australian-bird-of-the-year-poll" target="_blank" rel="noopener">avian electoral commission.</a> Cosmos’ own Australian Mammal of the Year competition <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/amoty/too-much-love-for-the-mammals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was this year hit</a> by a bout of egregious electioneering when hundreds of spam votes were cast for some animals vying for the crown. Fortunately, as with Fat Bear Week, spotting and omitting a bad ballot is a straightforward task of, usually, spotting unusual voting patterns. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/10/fat-bear-2022-1.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="675" /> 2022 Fat Bear Week winner ‘747’ hunts for a tasty fish. Image: Courtesy L. Law via Katmai National Park. 747 does it again Brown bear 747 – aptly named after a jumbo jet – claimed victory with 68,105 votes to rival 901’s 56,875. It was 747’s second premiership, having previously claimed the title in 2020. ‘480 Otis’ holds the record of four titles – exactly half the number of Fat Bear Weeks held. “Though he may be blissfully unaware of his two titles, the gains are real,” say the Fat Bear Week organisers. “In the bear world, fat is fit and these chunky contenders have been working tirelessly to pack on the pounds necessary for survival.” A record 1.027 million votes were cast in the 2022 edition of the event.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=218507&title=Fat+Bear+Winner%3A+%26%238216%3B747%26%238217%3B+lays+b-ruin+to+rivals+despite+fishy+voting" width="1" height="1" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/nature/fat-bear-voting-winner/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by Cosmos. Image: Courtesy L. Law via Katmai National Park. </div>

Family & Pets

An ancient seed could prove wonders for your hair and skin

In a world of products saturated with new formulas and hero ingredients that promise wondrous benefits, it can feel overwhelming to find a product that works for you. A new contender is the oil of the humble Black Cumin seed, or Nigella sativa, which is the hero ingredient in Hab Shifa’s line of beauty products, including a body wash, moisturiser shampoo and conditioner. With its use dating back to the Ancient Egyptians and in some of the world’s oldest religious and medical texts, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2583426/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">clinical studies</a> of the Black Seed have since found it has various health benefits, thanks to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and even anti-diabetic properties. When it comes to our skin and hair, Black Seed oil has been praised for its ability to cleanse hair of impurities while nurturing the scalp. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiOcuLuNVYA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CiOcuLuNVYA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Hab Shifa Australia (@hab_shifa_black_seed)</a> </div> </blockquote> Hab Shifa takes advantage of these qualities and combines Black Seed oil with other anti-irritant ingredients, with the resulting combination helping restore skin elasticity and minimise the loss of moisture in the barriers of the skin. After trialling Hab Shifa’s products over the last few months, I can safely say the shampoo and conditioner make easy work of my hair, leaving it feeling lighter, softer, and clean even when it has been at its greasiest. The body wash and moisturiser have delivered similar results for my skin, with the scrub helping my skin feel exfoliated while the moisturiser has put an end to my usual bouts of dry skin. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch1t5DOLeXI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch1t5DOLeXI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Hab Shifa Australia (@hab_shifa_black_seed)</a> </div> </blockquote> I’m not the only one who has seen the benefits of using Hab Shifa’s Black Seed oil products either. After searching for a product to help with dryness and cracking - a problem made all the worse due to increased hand-washing during the COVID-19 pandemic - nurse Margie Ryan has since made the moisturiser her go-to product, even over pharmaceutical and heavy-duty products. She says the moisturiser absorbs well and that it doesn’t feel like oils are transferred, and recommends it for anyone who works in industries where their hands are frequently in water or where they are prone to dryness or cracking. The Hab Shifa Black Seed skin and hair care range consists of the <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/nourishment-tq/products/black-seed-nurturing-shampoo-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nurturing Shampoo</a> and <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/nourishment-tq/products/black-seed-nurturing-conditioner" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nurturing Conditioner</a>, the <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/nourishment-tq/products/black-seed-revitalizing-body-wash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Revitalizing Body Wash</a>, and the <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/nourishment-tq/products/black-seed-hydrating-moisturizing-lotion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hydrating Moisturizing Lotion</a>, which retail for $19.95 each or can be purchased as <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/collections/gift-packs/products/gift-of-beauty-gift-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a bundle</a> for $77.50 on Hab Shifa’s online store. To find their products in-store, head <a href="https://habshifa.com.au/pages/store-locator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a> to locate your closest one. Image: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

Peppa Pig has introduced a pair of lesbian polar bears, but Aussie kids’ TV has been leading the way in queer representation

Peppa Pig’s first same-sex couple, a pair of lesbian polar bears, were recently introduced after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/sep/08/peppa-pig-introduces-its-first-same-sex-couple" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a petition to include a same-sex family</a> received nearly 24,000 signatures. Children’s television has often been a place to push the boundaries of diverse representations onscreen. In particular, Australian children’s TV has been a global leader in screen diversity, including gender and queer representation. Emmy-winning Australian series <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10614090/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Day</a> (2020-22) tells the story of a transgender girl starting high school. Another Emmy-winner, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8747140/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hardball</a> (2019-21) includes gay dads for one of the lead characters. Even recent updates to The Wiggles’ line-up has placed a greater emphasis on gender diversity, including <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/the-wiggles-announces-four-new-band-members-with-focus-on-diversity-gender-equality/news-story/dbc914965a83332c857e7665b3639ba0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adding a non-binary unicorn</a>. <h2>Diverse representation</h2> Children’s TV is often less risk averse than programming aimed at adults. The ABC is <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1329878X16687400" target="_blank" rel="noopener">empowered</a> to take risks with representations of gender and sexuality in children’s programming because of its publicly funded role. But such progressive portrayals can sometimes chafe with outdated expectations of children’s television. In 2004, Play School <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07380560802314128" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faced controversy</a> for showing lesbian mothers. As social acceptance has progressed, Australian children’s TV has been able to achieve more queer representations. Talking to the Queering Australian Screens <a href="https://djomeara.com/phd-research/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research project</a>, television professionals often praised the genre for its openness to new ideas, representations and bringing in new talent. Tony Ayres, Creator of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowhere_Boys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nowhere Boys</a> (2013-18), observed those who commission children’s TV are “generally very open to diverse representation”. This representation happens behind the scenes, too, with Ayres describing how these shows often give new talent their first credit. David Hannam, who has written for several kids’ TV shows including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dance_Academy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dance Academy</a> (2010-13), said children’s television “has led the way”. Speaking of his time at the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Hannam noted the foundation had an “almost charter responsibility” to show diversity on screen, “with great caution and responsibility”. Julie Kalceff created First Day, which starred a young trans actor, Evie McDonald, as a trans girl starting high school. When she was developing the show, Kalceff shared that she was initially concerned about what would be allowed on children’s TV: There were no trans people on television. There were no TV shows with trans actors in the lead role. I thought there’s no way the ABC is going to do this. And there’s no way they’re going to do it with kids’ TV. But to their credit, the ABC was so supportive, and was so behind the project from the beginning. <h2>What audiences want</h2> It is not only TV producers who are eager to widen representation in children’s television. Audiences are also seeking out more inclusive content. Just like Peppa Pig in the UK, there have been calls in Australia for more diversity in animated hit Bluey, with the show adding its <a href="https://10play.com.au/theproject/articles/bluey-introduces-first-auslan-signing-character-in-a-new-special-episode/tpa220616bswgm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">first Auslan signing character</a> in June. One of our research projects, Australian Children’s Television Cultures’ <a href="https://www.swinburne.edu.au/news/2022/05/new-research-shows-the-way-families-watch-TV-is-changing/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2021 survey</a> found 90% of Australian parents believe diverse representation is an important element of children’s TV. As one father explained: <blockquote> Diversity on screen helps children learn about people with different upbringings from their own, expanding their empathy for and curiosity about other people. </blockquote> In contrast to the controversy Play School received nearly 20 years ago for its inclusion of same-sex parents, a mother praised the show for “doing a fantastic job” of depicting diversity in relationships. Not everyone believes Australian television is doing enough. One survey respondent praised the way shows like Bluey reflect Australian culture, but said he would “love to see more LGBT representation […] It would be nice as a kid to know you’re valid.” <h2>Uncertain futures</h2> The streaming era has changed how families and children watch TV. This raises concerns about the future of Australian children’s content. The recent <a href="https://theconversation.com/cheese-n-crackers-concerns-deepen-for-the-future-of-australian-childrens-television-147183" target="_blank" rel="noopener">removal of quotas</a> for Australian networks to air a minimum number of hours of children’s television, alongside the absence of quotas on streaming services, has led to <a href="https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/09/producers-slam-hypocritical-networks-as-australian-childrens-tv-plummets.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a reduction</a> in the production of local kids’ TV. From Play School to Bluey, children’s TV has reflected the richness of Australian cultural life. There is a risk that if Australian child audiences need to rely on international content, future generations will not see themselves on screen. With the loss of local voices, Australian kids’ TV may also lose its ability to push boundaries of diversity and inclusion. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/peppa-pig-has-introduced-a-pair-of-lesbian-polar-bears-but-aussie-kids-tv-has-been-leading-the-way-in-queer-representation-190648" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Peppa Pig

‘Thank you Ma’am, for everything’: Paddington Bear joins worldwide tributes

The adorable Paddington Bear himself has paid a touching tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, only a few months after they warmed hearts around the world with a hilarious collaboration during the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/our-favourite-highlights-of-the-close-of-the-platinum-jubilee-celebrations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Platinum Jubilee celebrations</a>. Much to the delight of millions of viewers, the Queen herself appeared in the sketch with the famed British bear that no one could have foreseen to kick-start the Party in The Palace concert. The much loved duo tapped out the beat of Queen’s We Will Rock You anthem together on china teacups using silver spoons as a unique way of getting the celebrations under way. The sketch, which the Queen spent half a day filming, was dubbed better than her Olympic opening show cameo with James Bond. Sitting opposite each other at a table, laid for afternoon tea, Paddington began by telling the Queen that he hoped she was “having a lovely Jubilee” before Her Majesty offered some tea. During a special moment shared by the two, the Queen revealed she shares Paddington's love of marmalade sandwiches and keeps an emergency stash in her trademark handbag. Britain's favourite bear took time to congratulate his new friend on her outstanding 70 years of service. Commenting on her record-breaking reign Paddington said: “Happy Jubilee Ma'am. And thank you. For everything” to which she replied, “That's very kind”. Upon The Queen’s passing, Paddington has paid his respects one last time, tweeting: “Thank you Ma’am, for everything”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Thank you Ma’am, for everything. — Paddington (@paddingtonbear) <a href="https://twitter.com/paddingtonbear/status/1567931094858702850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2022</a></blockquote> Image: Youtube

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Our Partners

News

Shop

Catalogues

Newspaper

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Compare

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Lots of women try herbs like black cohosh for menopausal symptoms like hot flushes – but does it work?

The strange history of these 5 common superstitions

Princess Di's black sheep jumper sells for 14 times over asking price

Breathtaking winners of the 2023 Black and White Photo Awards

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"More than we can bear": Hunter Valley bus crash victims identified

Stars lead the Met Gala carpet in stunning black and white

Backlash after new docudrama casts Cleopatra as a black woman

Olympian makes surprise announcement of new baby boy!

Does black tea improve heart health?

Caught in the act: supermassive black hole 8.5 billion light years away enjoys violent stellar snack

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“Please look after these bears”: Camilla helps Paddington bears find their new homes

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Office worker sent home for “distracting” outfit

What will happen to the thousands of Paddington Bears left for the Queen

Fat Bear Winner: ‘747’ lays b-ruin to rivals despite fishy voting

An ancient seed could prove wonders for your hair and skin

Peppa Pig has introduced a pair of lesbian polar bears, but Aussie kids’ TV has been leading the way in queer representation

‘Thank you Ma’am, for everything’: Paddington Bear joins worldwide tributes

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