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How sleep loss can lead to weight gain – and worse

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>You stayed up too late scrolling through your phone, answering emails or watching just one more episode. The next morning, you feel groggy and irritable. That sugary pastry or greasy breakfast sandwich suddenly looks more appealing than your usual yogurt and berries. By the afternoon, chips or candy from the break room call your name. This isn’t just about willpower. Your brain, short on rest, is nudging you toward quick, high-calorie fixes.</p> <p>There is a reason why this cycle repeats itself so predictably. Research shows that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-022-00747-7">insufficient sleep disrupts hunger signals</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101514">weakens self-control</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.metabol.2018.02.010">impairs glucose metabolism</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23539">increases your risk of weight gain</a>. These changes <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0250-18.2018">can occur rapidly</a>, even after a single night of poor sleep, and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14926">can become more harmful over time</a> if left unaddressed.</p> <p>I am a <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sTqquL0AAAAJ&amp;hl=en">neurologist specializing in sleep science</a> and its impact on health.</p> <p>Sleep deprivation affects millions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data-research/facts-stats/adults-sleep-facts-and-stats.html">regularly get less than seven hours of sleep</a> per night. Nearly three-quarters of adolescents <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/data-research/facts-stats/high-school-students-sleep-facts-and-stats.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com">fall short of the recommended 8-10 hours sleep</a> during the school week.</p> <p>While anyone can suffer from sleep loss, essential workers and first responders, including nurses, firefighters and emergency personnel, are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i5210">especially vulnerable</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13154505">due to night shifts and rotating schedules</a>. These patterns disrupt the body’s internal clock and are linked to increased cravings, poor eating habits and elevated risks for obesity and metabolic disease. Fortunately, even a few nights of consistent, high-quality sleep can help rebalance key systems and start to reverse some of these effects.</p> <h2>How sleep deficits disrupt hunger hormones</h2> <p>Your body regulates hunger through a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra2402679">hormonal feedback loop</a> <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2025.171367">involving two key hormones</a>.</p> <p>Ghrelin, produced primarily in the stomach, signals that you are hungry, while leptin, which is produced in the fat cells, tells your brain that you are full. Even one night of restricted sleep <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23616">increases the release of ghrelin and decreases leptin</a>, which leads to greater hunger and reduced satisfaction after eating. This shift is driven by changes in how the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23616">body regulates hunger</a> and stress. Your brain becomes less responsive to fullness signals, while at the same time <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13051">ramping up stress hormones</a> that can increase cravings and appetite.</p> <p>These changes are not subtle. In controlled lab studies, healthy adults reported <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00662.x">increased hunger and stronger cravings</a> for calorie-dense foods after sleeping only four to five hours. The effect worsens with ongoing sleep deficits, which can lead to a <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13051">chronically elevated appetite</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r6pItuOoGxc?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption><span class="caption">Sleep is as important as diet and exercise in maintaining a healthy weight.</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Why the brain shifts into reward mode</h2> <p>Sleep loss changes how your brain evaluates food.</p> <p>Imaging studies show that <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms3259">after just one night of sleep deprivation</a>, the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making and impulse control, <a href="https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.111.027383">has reduced activity</a>. At the same time, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0250-18.2018">reward-related areas such as the amygdala</a> and the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain that drives motivation and reward-seeking, become <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsx125">more reactive to tempting food cues</a>.</p> <p>In simple terms, your brain becomes more tempted by junk food and less capable of resisting it. Participants in sleep deprivation studies not only rated high-calorie foods as more desirable but were also <a href="https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.111.027383">more likely to choose them</a>, regardless of how hungry they actually felt.</p> <h2>Your metabolism slows, leading to increased fat storage</h2> <p>Sleep is also critical for blood sugar control.</p> <p>When you’re well rested, your body efficiently uses insulin to move sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells for energy. But even one night of partial sleep can <a href="https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2009-2430">reduce insulin sensitivity by up to 25%</a>, leaving more sugar circulating in your blood.</p> <p>If your body can’t process sugar effectively, it’s more likely to convert it into fat. This contributes to weight gain, especially around the abdomen. Over time, poor sleep is associated with <a href="https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000444">higher risk for Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome</a>, a <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/metabolic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351916">group of health issues</a> such as high blood pressure, belly fat and high blood sugar that raise the risk for heart disease and diabetes.</p> <p>On top of this, sleep loss raises cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2013-4254">Elevated cortisol encourages fat storage</a>, especially in the abdominal region, and can further disrupt appetite regulation.</p> <h2>Sleep is your metabolic reset button</h2> <p>In a culture that glorifies hustle and late nights, sleep is often treated as optional. But your body doesn’t see it that way. Sleep is not downtime. It is active, essential repair. It is when your brain recalibrates hunger and reward signals, your hormones reset and your metabolism stabilises.</p> <p>Just one or two nights of quality sleep can begin to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00301.2013">undo the damage from prior sleep loss</a> and restore your body’s natural balance.</p> <p>So the next time you find yourself reaching for junk food after a short night, recognize that your biology is not failing you. It is reacting to stress and fatigue. The most effective way to restore balance isn’t a crash diet or caffeine. It’s sleep.</p> <p>Sleep is not a luxury. It is your most powerful tool for appetite control, energy regulation and long-term health.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/255726/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joanna-fong-isariyawongse-1470879">Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse</a>, Associate Professor of Neurology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-pittsburgh-854">University of Pittsburgh</a></em></p> <p><em>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/sleep-loss-rewires-the-brain-for-cravings-and-weight-gain-a-neurologist-explains-the-science-behind-the-cycle-255726">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / Ron Lach</em></p> </div>

Body

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Karl's Origin bet sees NRL star run nude across Bondi Beach

<p>Nothing kicks off the weekend quite like your morning coffee, a cheeky croissant, and a surprise unblurred penis on national television. That’s exactly what <em>Today</em> show fans copped around 6am this morning when Channel 9’s breakfast crew decided, apparently, that broadcast standards were merely a suggestion.</p> <p>Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo were front and centre for the chaos, as sports reporter Danika Mason crossed live from Bondi Beach. Mason was joined by retired NRL star Aaron Woods – who, thanks to a State of Origin bet gone sideways, had only his dignity to keep him warm (spoiler: it didn’t).</p> <p>Woods had promised to streak if NSW lost Game 2. Queensland, being Queensland, delivered the goods in Perth on Wednesday night, so Woods kept his word, stripped down, and bolted starkers into the surf. The <em>Today </em>team howled with laughter as he made his break for the briny deep – so far, so PG.</p> <p>But then Woods did what no one expected. In what can only be described as a truly bold move, he turned to face the camera. Editors had roughly zero seconds to react. Viewers had roughly zero seconds to look away. And the <em>Today</em> show had roughly zero seconds before the complaints line started ringing off the hook.</p> <p>“No! Don’t show it!” shrieked Abo, as newsreader Jayne Azzopardi presumably contemplated her next career move. Meanwhile, Woods grinned like a man who knew exactly what he'd done.</p> <p>Danika Mason, ever the professional, summed up the moment with the sort of innuendo that will no doubt earn her a spot at next year’s Logies: “The smallest sporting event I’ve seen.”</p> <p>The man of the hour eventually reappeared on screen – mercifully clothed – declaring, “I’m feeling good, it was good fun. It was a long run, it was like ‘when is this water going to get closer?’” A sentiment shared by viewers who were wondering when their corneas might recover.</p> <p>It turns out Woods' bare-all sprint wasn’t just eyebrow-raising, but technically illegal. NSW Premier Chris Minns had warned him beforehand, but Woods seemed blissfully unaware that public nudity is frowned upon – even at Bondi. “But at the beach!” he protested, in what’s sure to become the rallying cry of accidental exhibitionists everywhere.</p> <p>Minns, showing off his dry wit, suggested Woods try his luck at one of Sydney’s many legal nude beaches next time. “It’s been illegal forever,” he deadpanned on radio. Woods could now be staring down a fine, though fans are hoping common sense (and perhaps a sense of humour) prevails.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Woods’ mate Beau Ryan said the footy star was “genuinely shocked” by the revelation. “You can’t be nude in public,” Ryan told him. Woods: “But at the beach!” Ryan: “Still public, mate.”</p> <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLGNU0tToP9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLGNU0tToP9/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by thetodayshow (@thetodayshow)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>To add another layer to the inter-state banter, Minns himself has a State of Origin bet with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli – the loser must star in the other state’s advertising campaign. So at least if Woods ends up in court, he can rest easy knowing that somewhere out there, a Premier might soon be forced to smile awkwardly in a “beautiful one day, perfect the next” ad.</p> <p>In the meantime, <em>Today</em> producers are probably googling “delay button for live TV” and breakfast viewers are recovering from seeing a little more than they bargained for with their Weet-Bix.</p> <p><em>Images: Today show</em></p>

TV

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Jaws at 50: how two musical notes terrified an entire generation

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Our experience of the world often involves hearing our environment before seeing it. Whether it’s the sound of something moving through nearby water, or the rustling of vegetation, our fear of the unseen is rooted in our survival instincts as a species.</p> <p>Cinematic sound and music taps into these somewhat unsettling instincts – and this is exactly what director Steven Spielberg and composer John Williams achieved in the iconic 1975 thriller <em>Jaws</em>. The sound design and musical score work in tandem to confront the audience with a mysterious killer animal.</p> <p>In what is arguably the film’s most iconic scene, featuring beach swimmers’ legs flailing underwater, the shark remains largely unseen – yet the sound perfectly conveys the threat at large.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rW23RsUTb2Y?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Creating tension in a soundtrack</h2> <p>Film composers aim to create soundscapes that will profoundly move and influence their audience. And they express these intentions through the use of musical elements such as rhythm, harmony, tempo, form, dynamics, melody and texture.</p> <p>In <em>Jaws</em>, the initial encounter with the shark opens innocently with the sound of an offshore buoy and its clanging bell. The scene is established both musically and atmospherically to evoke a sense of isolation for the two characters enjoying a late-night swim on an empty beach.</p> <p>But once we hear the the low strings, followed by the central two-note motif played on a tuba, we know something sinister is afoot.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yrEvK-tv5OI?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>This compositional technique of alternating between two notes at an increasing speed has long been employed by composers, including by Antonín Dvořák in his 1893 work <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOofzffyDSA&amp;pp=ygUcdGhlIG5ldyB3b3JsZCBzeW1waG9ueSBuby4gOQ==">New World Symphony</a>.</p> <p>John Williams <a href="https://limelight-arts.com.au/features/the-music-of-jaws-an-interview-with-john-williams/">reportedly used</a> six basses, eight cellos, four trombones and a tuba to create the blend of low frequencies that would go on to define his entire Jaws score.</p> <p>The bass instruments emphasise the lower end of the musical frequency spectrum, evoking a dark timbre that conveys depth, power and intensity. String players can use various <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_technique">bowing techniques</a>, such as staccato and marcato, to deliver dark and even menacing tones, especially in the lower registers.</p> <p>Meanwhile, there is a marked absence of tonality in the repeating E–F notes, played with increasing speed on the tuba. Coupled with the intensifying dynamics in the instrumental blend, this accelerating two-note motif signals the looming danger before we even see it – tapping into our instinctive fear of the unknown.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BQKLJ2MuHvY?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>The use of the two-note motif and lower-end orchestration characterises a composition style that aims to unsettle and disorientate the audience. Another example of this style can be heard in Bernard Herrmann’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kvzZ6nkZ6Q">car crash scene audio</a> in <em>North by Northwest</em> (1959).</p> <p>Similarly, in Sergei Prokofiev’s <em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&amp;v=Y4U7wNZu-CU%22%22">Scythian Suite</a></em>, the opening of the second movement (Dance of the Pagan Gods) uses an alternating D#–E motif.</p> <p>The elasticity of Williams’ motif allows the two notes to be played on different instruments throughout the soundtrack, exploring various timbral possibilities to induce a kaleidoscope of fear, panic and dread.</p> <h2>The psychology behind our response</h2> <p>What is it that makes the Jaws soundtrack so psychologically confronting, even without the visuals? Music scholars have various theories. <a href="https://boldentrance.com/the-power-of-jaws-is-in-john-williams-two-note-musical-score/">Some suggest</a> the two notes imitate the sound of human respiration, while others have proposed the theme evokes the heartbeat of a shark.</p> <p>Williams explained his approach <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-john-williams-20120108-story.html">in an interview</a> with the Los Angeles Times:</p> <blockquote> <p>I fiddled around with the idea of creating something that was very … brainless […] Meaning something could be very repetitious, very visceral, and grab you in your gut, not in your brain. […] It could be something you could play very softly, which would indicate that the shark is far away when all you see is water. Brainless music that gets louder and gets closer to you, something is gonna swallow you up.</p> </blockquote> <p>Williams plays with the audience’s emotions throughout the film’s score, culminating in the scene Man Against Beast – a celebration of thematic development and heightened orchestration.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xrjUIz7fy6c?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>The film’s iconic soundtrack has created a legacy that extends beyond the visual. And this suggests the score isn’t just a soundtrack – but a character in its own right.</p> <p>By using music to reveal what is hidden, Williams creates an intense emotional experience rife with anticipation and tension. The score’s two-note motif showcases his genius – and serves as a sonic shorthand that has kept a generation behind the breakers of every beach.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/258068/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/alison-cole-1443114">Alison Cole</a>, Composer and Lecturer in Screen Composition, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>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/jaws-at-50-how-two-musical-notes-terrified-an-entire-generation-258068">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: </em></p> </div>

Movies

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"Mona Lisa moan": Mass tourism causes shutdown of The Louvre

<p>The Louvre Museum, global icon of art and culture, stood eerily silent on Monday as striking staff forced its sudden closure, leaving thousands of bewildered tourists stranded beneath its iconic glass pyramid.</p> <p>In a dramatic scene rarely witnessed at the world’s most-visited museum, the very people entrusted with preserving and presenting humanity’s greatest artistic treasures – from the Mona Lisa to the Venus de Milo – walked off the job in protest at what they describe as dangerous overcrowding, chronic understaffing, and decaying infrastructure.</p> <p>“It’s the Mona Lisa moan out here,” quipped Kevin Ward, 62, a visitor from Milwaukee, as he waited in an unmoving queue. “Thousands of people waiting, no communication, no explanation. I guess even she needs a day off.”</p> <p>The walkout came without warning during a routine internal meeting, as gallery attendants, security staff and ticket agents jointly refused to take their posts. While the Louvre has closed its doors in the past – during wars, the pandemic, or in isolated strikes — rarely has it done so so abruptly, leaving crowds with tickets in hand and nowhere to go.</p> <p>Monday’s strike follows a wave of anti-tourism protests across southern Europe just a day earlier, where thousands in cities like Venice, Lisbon and Barcelona rallied against what they say is the destructive impact of mass tourism.</p> <p>Inside the Louvre, workers say they’ve reached a breaking point. “We can’t wait six years for help,” said gallery attendant Sarah Sefian, referring to President Emmanuel Macron’s decade-long “Louvre New Renaissance” rescue plan announced earlier this year. “Our teams are under pressure now. It’s not just about the art – it’s about the people protecting it.”</p> <p>The Mona Lisa lies at the heart of the storm. Around 20,000 visitors daily cram into the Salle des États to glimpse da Vinci’s masterpiece – a scene more akin to a rock concert than a contemplative art experience. “You don’t see a painting,” lamented Ji-Hyun Park, 28, visiting from Seoul. “You see phones. You see elbows. You feel heat. And then, you’re pushed out.”</p> <p>Macron’s ambitious plan promises a dedicated Mona Lisa room, a new Seine-side entrance, and a modernised visitor experience by 2031. Yet staff argue that these promises mask a deeper crisis, with state funding for the Louvre’s operations shrinking by more than 20% over the past decade even as visitor numbers have soared.</p> <p>“We take it very badly that Monsieur Le President makes his speeches here,” said Sefian. “Scratch the surface and the financial support gets worse every year.”</p> <p>Louvre president Laurence des Cars, in a leaked memo, described parts of the building as “no longer watertight” and warned of dangerous temperature fluctuations that could threaten priceless artworks. She characterised the visitor experience as “a physical ordeal,” citing limited bathrooms, poor signage and few rest areas, exacerbated by the pyramid’s greenhouse effect in summer heat.</p> <p>By late Monday, workers said they might briefly reopen a limited “masterpiece route” – offering access to the Mona Lisa and other highlights – but the full museum is expected to remain closed until at least Wednesday.</p> <p>As the Louvre teeters between record-breaking crowds and crumbling infrastructure, staff and visitors alike are left grappling with an unsettling reality: France’s most cherished cultural treasure is struggling to cope with the very popularity that makes it world-famous.</p> <p>Images: Instagram / Pexels / Mahmut</p>

Travel Trouble

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“We are righting the wrongs”: Excavation begins to unearth nearly 800 lost children

<p><em><strong>WARNING: Distressing content</strong></em></p> <p>A tranquil, walled patch of grass in a quiet Irish housing estate is about to expose one of Ireland’s darkest secrets. The site, in the town of Tuam, 220km west of Dublin, is the final resting place for significant quantities of human remains – the victims of a brutal chapter in the nation’s history known as the “mother and baby” home scandal.</p> <p>From 1925 to 1961, Tuam’s mother and baby home, run by the Bon Secours nuns, housed women who became pregnant outside of marriage – and their children, many of whom died in disturbing numbers. The institution was demolished in 1972, but the land lay largely untouched. That will change next month, as excavation teams begin the delicate task of recovering the bodies buried in what is believed to be a disused septic tank.</p> <p>“There are so many babies, children just discarded here,” said Catherine Corless, the local historian whose painstaking research uncovered the mass grave and sparked national reckoning. In 2014, Corless, now 71, produced evidence showing that 796 children, from newborns to age nine, died at the Tuam home. “There are no burial records for the children, no cemetery, no statue, no cross – absolutely nothing,” she said.</p> <p>Despite early investigations and the identification of human remains in underground chambers in 2016 and 2017, it took until 2022 for Ireland’s parliament to pass legislation allowing excavation of the Tuam site. For Corless, it has been a long and painful campaign. “It’s been a fierce battle – when I started this, nobody wanted to listen. At last, we are righting the wrongs,” she said. “I was just begging: take the babies out of this sewage system and give them the decent Christian burial that they were denied.”</p> <p>The mother and baby homes were institutions where unmarried pregnant women were sent, isolated from society and often separated from their babies through forced adoption. A state inquiry revealed that between 1922 and 1998, around 56,000 women and 57,000 children passed through 18 such homes across Ireland. More than 9,000 children died.</p> <p>Anna Corrigan, 70, is among those seeking answers. She only learned in her 50s that her late mother had given birth in Tuam to two boys – John and William – whose fates remain unclear. “They prevaricate, they obfuscate, they make it difficult for people to get to the truth,” Corrigan said. “There are dirty little secrets in Ireland that have to be kept hidden.”</p> <p>For Corrigan and others, the coming excavation is a bittersweet step forward. A specialist team, appointed last year, will search for remains, conduct DNA testing and arrange dignified reburials. “I never thought I’d see the day that we’d get over so many hurdles – push them to finally excavate what I call the ‘pit,’ not a grave,” Corrigan said. “I’m glad it’s starting, but if we can even find and identify a certain amount, it’s not going to give us all closure.”</p> <p>As excavation crews prepare to break the ground that has kept these stories hidden for so long, Ireland faces a fresh confrontation with a painful past – and the opportunity, at last, to honour lives lost in silence.</p> <p><em>Images: Aeon.com</em></p>

Caring

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Weight loss drug approved to treat sleep apnoea

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Last week, Australia’s <a href="https://www.ebs.tga.gov.au/ebs/picmi/picmirepository.nsf/pdf?OpenAgent&amp;id=CP-2023-PI-02114-1&amp;d=20250603172310101">Therapeutic Goods Administration</a> (TGA) approved <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/healthcare-and-fitness/tga-approves-weight-loss-drug-to-treat-sleep-disorder-20250604-p5m4vq">the weight-loss drug Mounjaro</a> to treat sleep apnoea, a condition in which breathing stops and starts repeatedly during sleep.</p> <p>The TGA has indicated Mounjaro can be used to treat moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea in adults with obesity (a body-mass index of 30 or above).</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-medication-obstructive-sleep-apnea">United States Food and Drug Administration</a> approved the same drug for sleep apnoea last year.</p> <p>So how could this drug, most commonly used for weight management and conditions such as type 2 diabetes, help people with sleep apnoea?</p> <h2>What is sleep apnoea?</h2> <p>Obstructive sleep apnoea is a common sleep disorder affecting almost <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(19)30198-5/abstract#:%7E:text=To%20our%20knowledge%2C%20this%20is,and%20to%20maximise%20cost%2Deffectiveness.">1 billion people</a> worldwide. It’s characterised by repeated closures of the airway during sleep (called “<a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/obstructive-sleep-apnoea">apnoeas</a>”). These can be partial or complete closures, meaning breathing can become shallow or stop completely.</p> <p>As well as causing fragmented sleep, repeated collapse of the airway disrupts oxygen flow to the body. This strains the heart and contributes to an increased risk of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1875213620300413">cardiovascular and metabolic complications</a> <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11172971/">such as</a> diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke.</p> <p>One of the key risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea is obesity. About <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9130173/">80% of people</a> with the condition live with obesity. In fact, obesity and sleep apnoea share a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0939475325001681">bidirectional relationship</a>, with obesity increasing the risk of developing sleep apnoea, and vice versa.</p> <p>Obesity increases the risk of sleep apnoea by adding fat around the neck, which narrows the airway and impacts breathing during sleep.</p> <p>In turn, sleep apnoea can contribute to weight gain by disrupting hormones that regulate hunger (ghrelin) and fullness signals (leptin). Fatigue also contributes, making it harder to maintain a healthy weight and easier to gain weight over time, creating <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5836788/">a vicious cycle</a> where each condition worsens the other.</p> <p>Weight loss is a key part of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9059581/">treating sleep apnoea</a>. It helps reduce the severity of symptoms and also lowers the risk of heart disease and other health problems which may arise as a result of <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7874414/">sleep apnoea</a>. However, achieving and sustaining weight loss through lifestyle changes is often challenging.</p> <p>A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is generally the <a href="https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2024/june/management-of-obstructive-sleep-apnoea-in-primary">first-line therapy</a> for managing moderate to severe sleep apnoea. It delivers a steady stream of pressurised air through a mask to keep the airway open during sleep, which stabilises breathing and improves sleep quality.</p> <p>Despite being an effective treatment, many people find the CPAP machine uncomfortable, unattractive or hard to use regularly. This can mean people don’t always <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30684472/">stick to it</a>.</p> <p>Given the significant human and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34015136/">economic costs of sleep apnoea</a> it’s pertinent to keep exploring new prevention and management strategies.</p> <h2>What is Mounjaro, and how could it help people with sleep apnoea?</h2> <p>Mounjaro is the brand name of a drug called tirzepatide. Elsewhere, it goes by other brand names, such as Zepbound.</p> <p>Tirzepatide works by <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2116506119">mimicking two hormone receptors</a> in the gut, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP).</p> <p>These <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212877818309001">two hormones</a> play a key role in regulating our appetite, food intake and blood sugar levels. GLP-1 and GIP are released naturally in the body when we eat, but by mimicking their effects, tirzepatide allows people to feel fuller with smaller meals.</p> <p>If a person is eating less overall, this can lead to weight loss.</p> <p>In <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2404881">a study of 469 people</a> with obesity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea, one year of tirzepatide treatment was associated with up to a 60% reduction in sleep apnoea severity. This is compared to a 3% reduction in people receiving a placebo.</p> <p>In addition, evidence shows tirzepatide is associated with improvements in <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11598664/pdf/nihms-2005020.pdf">several key health indicators</a>, including reduced systemic inflammation, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11972082/">enhanced insulin sensitivity</a> and lower blood pressure. Changes <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10157777/">such as these</a> may improve respiratory function and help protect against cardiovascular and metabolic complications, which are common outcomes of untreated sleep apnoea.</p> <h2>Are there any side effects?</h2> <p>While Mounjaro could be helpful for people with sleep apnoea, gastrointestinal <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10088547/pdf/jomes-32-1-25.pdf">side effects</a> are relatively common with this medication. These can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation and loss of appetite. These side effects typically go away as the person gets used to the medication.</p> <p>Some patients have also reported <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2790392">gallbladder problems</a>.</p> <p>Despite these concerns, there is an <a href="https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/343603/20250405-83416-dhs9d8.pdf">interest in Mounjaro as sleep apnoea treatment</a> as it provides the first pharmaceutical option for a condition that has traditionally relied on mechanical treatments such as CPAP machines.</p> <p>That said, it’s important to note Mounjaro is indicated for use in patients with obesity, and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9130173/">not all patients</a> with sleep apnoea are overweight or obese.</p> <p>In some <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(25)00153-1/fulltext?rss=yes">people of a healthy weight</a>, narrow skeletal structure or upper airway anatomy, such as larger soft palates (which can reduce airway space and make it more prone to collapse during sleep), could contribute to obstructive sleep apnoea.</p> <p>For those patients, non-pharmacological treatment options such as mandibular advancement devices (oral appliances that move the lower jaw forward and keep the airway open) and upper airway surgery may be needed to effectively manage the condition.</p> <p>Mounjaro is given as a weekly injection. In Australia, Mounjaro is not currently subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and is available only by private prescription, with prices beginning at around <a href="https://cosmeticclinic.net.au/mounjaro-australia-cost/#:%7E:text=On%20average%2C%20the%20cost%20of%20Mounjaro%20in%20Australia,the%20frequency%20of%20use%20and%20the%20required%20dosage.">A$395 per month</a>. The significant out-of-pocket cost will limit access to Mounjaro for many patients.</p> <p>Mounjaro’s approval for the treatment of sleep apnoea may offer new hope for many people. But considering the diversity in patient presentations and limited data from large population studies, it’s too early to say whether this will transform sleep apnoea care in Australia.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/258195/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/yaqoot-fatima-2407464">Yaqoot Fatima</a>, Professor of Sleep Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/nisreen-aouira-2407465">Nisreen Aouira</a>, Research Program Manager, Thompson Institute, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a></em></p> <p><em>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/the-weight-loss-drug-mounjaro-has-been-approved-to-treat-sleep-apnoea-how-does-it-work-258195">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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Ash Barty welcomes baby girl in sweet family news

<p>Retired tennis champion Ash Barty has delighted fans with the joyful announcement of the birth of her second child, a baby girl named Jordan.</p> <p>The 29-year-old sporting icon shared the happy news on Instagram on Monday, posting a touching black-and-white photo of the newborn alongside a heartfelt caption: “Welcome to the world, Jordan. You are loved unconditionally and we are so grateful to have you in our arms, gorgeous girl.”</p> <p>The update was met with a flood of warm wishes from fellow athletes and fans alike. Former tennis star Sam Stosur wrote, “Congrats Ash and Garry. How exciting to welcome Jordan into your family. She’s a lucky girl.” Swimmer-turned-commentator Gian Rooney and Ash’s close friend Casey Dellacqua also sent their congratulations, with Dellacqua adding, “Here she is. Hi gorgeous Jordan. Can’t wait to cuddle you soon. Good job Mum and Dad xx.”</p> <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DK8dBirBLqX/?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/DK8dBirBLqX/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Ash Barty (@ashbarty)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Little Jordan joins big brother Hayden, who turns two next month. In a heartwarming Christmas Day post last year, Barty and Kissick had recruited their toddler to help announce the pregnancy, sharing a photo of him in a T-shirt that read, “I am going to be a big brother”.</p> <p>Barty, who stunned the world by retiring from professional tennis in 2022 after winning three grand slams – including the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon – has embraced life beyond the court. Since stepping away, she’s published children’s books, released her memoir <em>My Dream Time</em>, launched a foundation, and mentored rising tennis talent Olivia Gadecki.</p> <p>Ash and Garry, who <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/relationships/adorable-honeymoon-photos-of-ash-barty-and-husband-garry-kissick" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tied the knot</a> in a private ceremony in Queensland in 2022, now look forward to life as a family of four, with their latest bundle of joy already bringing smiles to loved ones near and far.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Royal family shares sweet Father’s Day moment with Prince William

<p>Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have delighted royal fans by sharing a heartwarming Father’s Day tribute to their “Papa”, Prince William.</p> <p>The post, shared on the official social media pages of the Prince and Princess of Wales, features two joyful photos captioned “before and after” – showing the children first hugging their father, and then in a playful heap on top of him.</p> <p>“Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L,” the message read.</p> <p>The candid images were captured earlier this year in Norfolk by photographer Josh Shinner, who also took Prince Louis’s birthday portraits. One photo shows Prince William, dressed casually in a green jumper and jeans, with his arms around George, 11, and Charlotte, 10, as Louis, seven, beams in front. The second picture captures a fun moment with the family bundled together, lying on grass dotted with daffodils.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Happy Father’s Day, Papa (before and after!) We love you! G, C & L 💖 </p> <p>📸 Josh Shinner <a href="https://t.co/elSVlgcyWQ">pic.twitter.com/elSVlgcyWQ</a></p> <p>— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1934159671868223532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>The post comes just a day after the family marked Trooping the Colour, celebrating King Charles’s official birthday, with another rare posed photo.</p> <p>Royal Father’s Day tributes are a cherished tradition. Last year, Prince William shared a nostalgic snap of himself playing football with King Charles in 1984, while this year Buckingham Palace posted touching images of Prince Philip with a young King Charles, and the Queen with her father on her wedding day.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">To all Dads everywhere, we wish you a happy Father’s Day today. <a href="https://t.co/pqIK97NqlW">pic.twitter.com/pqIK97NqlW</a></p> <p>— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1934159021633675308?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>The message from Buckingham Palace echoed the warm sentiment: “To all Dads everywhere, we wish you a happy Father’s Day today.”</p> <p><em>Images: X (Formerly Twitter)</em></p>

Family & Pets

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New book seeks to understand what old age is for

<div class="theconversation-article-body">The “memoir boom” of the past few decades has brought an extraordinary expansion in the kinds of work written in the first person. Some offer new approaches, focusing on aspects or phases of the author’s life or feelings.</p> <p>Alongside these, a kind of hybrid form has developed in which authors, while not seeking to produce a memoir, include extensive discussion of their personal experience and reflections to illustrate different themes and issues.</p> <p>Bloomer, by Carol Lefevre, is a hybrid work of this latter kind. The author tells us quite a lot about herself and her current life, especially her experience of ageing. She deals at some length with her grief at losing her mother and with her own health issues. She makes clear her resentment of the growing invisibility that is such a common experience for older women, and her irritation at being patronised and discounted because of her age when engaging in journalism.</p> <p>Nonetheless Bloomer is not and does not present itself as a memoir. It is, as we are told very clearly at the start, a book about women and ageing in a society in which ageism is widespread – and directed particularly at women. It is seeking also to offer pathways that allow the possibility of flourishing in old age, written by a woman who is using herself as an example.</p> <p>The negative ways that ageing, especially women’s ageing, is seen and dealt with in contemporary Australian society and culture is evident from the start. She finds the prospect of “ageing in a time and place that does not value old people” “daunting”. Having devoted much of her life to activism of various kinds, she has decided to take on ageism.</p> <p>The book itself is a form of activism, concerned not only to critique and raise awareness about the many different forms of ageism that abound, but:</p> <blockquote> <p>to question the ageist narrative of decline and decrepitude, of ageing as a road that only runs downhill.</p> </blockquote> <p>Women today, Lefevre points out, enter old age with laptops and mobile phones and a range of new possibilities. It is within this framework that the concept of blooming is so important.</p> <h2>Tending to one’s garden</h2> <p>For Lefevre, the great consolation and antidote to ageing is gardening. She writes movingly of her immense pleasure in tending a small, walled garden which enables her to watch her flowers, herbs and trees bloom and flourish. Her enthusiasm for gardening is one of the most engaging aspects of the book.</p> <p>She includes several sections from her own gardening journals interspersed between chapters. Some of these depict the changing seasons, providing the structure for the book. There are also discussions of the ideas and practices of other gardeners and of the writing about gardens of several authors including Vita Sackville-West, Sylvia Townsend-Warner and an author who seems generally to be one of Lefevre’s favourites: <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Colette">Colette</a>.</p> <p>In the clearest illustration of how this book is intended to offer a pathway that others should follow, Lefevre points out how beneficial gardening is. Research has shown, we are told, getting one’s hands in the soil, “boosts serotonin levels and that serotonin, a natural antidepressant, strengthens the immune system”. No other group of people is so in need of garden therapy she insists “as those of us contemplating the more than half-empty glass”.</p> <p>As she contemplates the whole question of ageing and seeks to come to terms with her experiences, Lefevre turns not only to gardening, but to literature. Although insistent there are no novels with older women as heroines or central figures, she cites several novelists, memoirists, and writers of short stories who address ageing in their work, sometimes in insightful ways.</p> <p>Gardening writers are important here too. Lefevre deals with her own pain at her changing sense of time and losing a sense of herself at a younger age, for example, not only by gardening, but by reading Sackville-West, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Virginia Woolf. The slight she receives as an older woman seeking to photograph two young men for a magazine (involving a throw-away line about “old grannies”) leads her to the <a href="https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-grey-haired-and-radiant-reimagining-ageing-for-women-182336">reflections on ageing</a> and to a discussion of others who have written well about ageing: May Sarton and Doris Lessing.</p> <p>Alongside her own experiences, Lefevre deals with some of the serious issues and problems confronting older women. While she has a home and a garden, many other women face a crisis in terms of shelter and finding a place to live. Bemoaning the end of multi-generational families in which the elderly lives at home, she discusses the alarming incidence of homelessness among ageing single women. Residential care is sometimes available, but not without problems.</p> <p>One that concerns her particularly is that of unexpected intimacy, which is sometimes an affront to adult children and to nursing home administrators not accustomed to thinking about love in relation to ageing bodies. Loneliness too is dealt with here and so inevitably, is death and the question of voluntary assisted dying.</p> <p>The book provides useful information and reflections on many issues that face older women in a very accessible way. But it is not always an easy or engaging read. The hybrid form is clearly an issue here as the linking of personal experience and general discussion is sometimes a little awkward.</p> <h2>Still blooming</h2> <p>While being told about the author’s life, we are always held at arm’s length from her. One yearns sometimes for the kind of intimacy that allows the reader to share the author’s feelings, as we find in some memoirs of ageing, Diana Athill’s <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5960563-somewhere-towards-the-end">Somewhere Towards the End</a>, for example.</p> <p>There is also something slightly problematic about Lefevre’s central concern. In seeking to understand and overcome ageism, she wants not only to write sympathetically about women and ageing, but “to understand what old age is for”.</p> <p>I must confess to finding it hard to understand precisely what this statement means. Stages of life, in general, do not seem to be “for” anything. They are a necessary part of life and move one on to the next stage. In the case of old age, it is hard to see this could be anything other than moving one on to very old age – and inevitably death.</p> <figure class="align-left zoomable"><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <p>This concern to find a meaning and purpose for old age is linked to the sense of activism against ageism, something the author claims not only for herself, but enjoins other bloomers to undertake too. Having been shaped in the social and protest movements of the sixties, she wants us all to “do something about changing the ageing narrative” by talking about age and “rescuing the word ‘old’ from its position of insult”.</p> <p>There is no question about the extent and nature of ageism in Australia – especially in relation to women. Nor is there any doubt many older people, especially women, suffer from homelessness and isolation.</p> <p>At the same time, there is little recognition of the many facilities and social organisations available to older people or advocating for them, including the University of the Third Age or National Seniors Australia, or of the many ways “seniors” organise themselves – in walking, travel, theatre, film and book groups.</p> <p>The slightly embattled sense one has of the author and her enjoining of others to become active with her in protesting against the negative narratives of ageing seems to belie the many ways other older women are continuing to bloom.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/253130/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/barbara-caine-205093">Barbara Caine</a>, Professor Emerita of History, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>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/a-new-book-seeks-to-understand-what-old-age-is-for-but-is-this-the-right-question-253130">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Carol Lefevre / Affirm Press</em></p> </div>

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Is it better to shower in the morning or at night?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>It’s a question that’s long been the cause of debate: is it better to shower in the morning or at night?</p> <p>Morning shower enthusiasts will say this is the obvious winner, as it helps you wake up and start the day fresh. Night shower loyalists, on the other hand, will argue it’s better to “wash the day away” and relax before bed.</p> <p>But what does the research actually say? As a microbiologist, I can tell you there actually is a clear answer to this question.</p> <p>First off, it’s important to stress that showering is an integral part of any good hygiene routine — regardless of when you prefer to have one.</p> <p>Showering helps us remove dirt and oil from <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2015.2586">our skin</a>, which can help prevent skin rashes and infections.</p> <p>Showering also removes sweat, which can quell body odour.</p> <p>Although many of us think that body odour is caused by sweat, it’s actually produced by bacteria that live on the surface of our skin. Fresh sweat is, in fact, odourless. But skin-dwelling bacteria – specifically <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/staphylococcus-aureus/about/index.html">staphylococci</a> – use sweat as a direct nutrient source. When they break down the sweat, it releases a sulphur-containing compound called <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-68860-z">thioalcohols</a> which is behind that pungent BO stench many of us are familiar with.</p> <h2>Day or night?</h2> <p>During the day, your body and hair inevitably collect pollutants and allergens (such as dust and pollen) alongside their usual accumulation of sweat and sebaceous oil. While some of these particles will be <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/all.16378">retained by your clothes</a>, others will inevitably be transferred to your <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16364170/">sheets and pillow cases</a>.</p> <p>The sweat and oil from you skin will also support the growth of the bacteria that comprise your <a href="https://academic.oup.com/femsle/article-abstract/362/16/fnv111/558026?redirectedFrom=fulltext">skin microbiome</a>. These bacteria may then also be transferred from your body <a href="https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=40029">onto your sheets</a>.</p> <p>Showering at night may remove some of the allergens, sweat and oil picked up during the day so less ends up on your bedsheets.</p> <p>However, even if you’ve freshly showered before bed, you will still <a href="https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/221338/straight-dope-do-you-really-sweat-one-liter-each-night/">sweat during the night</a> – whatever the temperature is. Your skin microbes will then eat the nutrients in that sweat. This means that by the morning, you’ll have both deposited microbes onto your bed sheets and you’ll probably also wake up with some BO.</p> <p>What particularly negates the cleaning benefits of a night shower is if your bedding is not regularly laundered. The odour causing microbes present in your bed sheets may be transferred while you sleep onto your clean body.</p> <p>Showering at night also does not stop your <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.18.1.16">skin cells</a> being shed. This means they can potentially become the food source of house dust mites, whose waste can be allergenic. If you don’t regularly wash your sheets, this could lead to a build-up of dead skin cell deposits which will feed more dust mites. The droppings from these dust mites can <a href="https://aafa.org/allergies/types-of-allergies/insect-allergy/dust-mite-allergy/">trigger allergies</a> and <a href="https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/living-with/indoor-air-pollution/home#dust-mites">exacerbate asthma</a>.</p> <p>Morning showers, on the other hand, can help remove dead skin cells as well as any sweat or bacteria you’ve picked up from your bed sheets during the night. This is especially important to do if your sheets weren’t freshly washed when you went to bed.</p> <p>A morning shower suggests your body will be cleaner of night-acquired <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7690701/">skin microbes</a> when putting on fresh clothes. You’ll also start the day with less sweat for odour-producing bacteria to feed on – which will probably help you smell fresher for longer during the day compared to someone who showered at night. As a microbiologist, I am a day shower advocate.</p> <p>Of course, everyone has their own shower preference. Whatever time you choose, remember that the effectiveness of your shower is influenced by many aspects of your personal hygiene regime – such as how frequently you <a href="https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=40029">wash your bed sheets</a>.</p> <p>So regardless of whether your prefer a morning or evening shower, it’s important to clean your bed linen regularly. You should launder your sheets and pillow cases at least weekly to remove all the sweat, bacteria, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.18.1.16">dead skin cells</a> and sebaceous oils that have built up on your sheets.</p> <p>Washing will also remove any <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/all.16378">fungal spores</a> that might be growing on the bed linen – alongside the nutrient sources these odour producing microbes use to grow.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/256242/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/primrose-freestone-315921">Primrose Freestone</a>, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-leicester-1053">University of Leicester</a></em></p> <p><em>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/is-it-better-to-shower-in-the-morning-or-at-night-heres-what-a-microbiologist-says-256242">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / </em><em>Caique the Creator</em></p> <p> </p> </div>

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"Call me Brax": Footy star reveals newborn's name

<p>Former AFLW star Abbey Holmes and husband Keegan Brooksby have shared the joyful news of the arrival of their first child – a beautiful baby boy named Braxton John Brooksby.</p> <p>In a heartwarming Instagram post filled with adorable newborn photos, the couple introduced their son to the world with the caption: “Hi Everybody!! My name is Braxton John Brooksby but my friends can call me Brax.”</p> <p>Holmes, 33, shared a few sweet details about Braxton’s birth, revealing that he arrived via caesarean section at 5:49pm on June 6, weighing 3.585 kilograms.</p> <p>“Mummy labored all day on Friday, only for me to be born via c section… My head was faaaar too large so we had to change our plans late in the piece!” the post joked, before adding, “I’m suuuuuuuuuper cute & Mum and Dad are obsessed with me! @kjbrooksby.”</p> <p>The announcement was quickly met with an outpouring of love from friends and fans alike. Olympian Steph Rice wrote, “Awwww my gosh, congratulations you two❤️🥰,” while fellow <em>Survivor</em> contestant Sharn Coombs commented, “Welcome to the world beautiful Braxton! Can’t wait to meet you.”</p> <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKwDrdUyuWA/?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/DKwDrdUyuWA/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Abbey Holmes (@abbeycholmes)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The journey to parenthood has been a memorable one for the couple, who discovered they were expecting shortly after Holmes completed the New York Marathon last November. They spent the festive season sharing the exciting news with loved ones, and made it public with a gorgeous photoshoot on New Year’s Day.</p> <p>“This year is certainly set to be our biggest & best yet, with the ultimate little teammate joining us in June!!” they wrote at the time.</p> <p>The arrival of baby Brax caps off a huge year for Holmes and Brooksby, who tied the knot just last year. Now, they’re celebrating a new and even more exciting chapter – parenthood.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Today show reporter shares happy news

<p>Congratulations are pouring in for Today reporter Izabella Staskowski, who has announced she is expecting her first child with fiancé Drew Jones.</p> <p>The couple shared the heartwarming news on Instagram, posting a glowing photo of themselves standing on a Queensland beach at sunrise. In the picture, Jones lovingly cradles Staskowski’s baby bump while the two beam with excitement.</p> <p>“We can’t wait to meet you,” the caption read – a simple but joyful message that has already sparked an outpouring of love and excitement from friends, family and fans alike.</p> <p>"Congratulations! How beautiful," wrote Channel Nine Traffic Reporter Marina Ivanovic, while Channel 7 reporter Tyra Stowers added, "I can't wait either. So gorg, love you both."</p> <p>Channel Nine’s Zac Bailey also joined in with the well wishes, commenting: "Congrats guys! So stoked for you both."</p> <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKq5EmRzx2F/?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/DKq5EmRzx2F/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Iza Staskowski (@izastaskowski)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>This latest chapter in the couple’s love story comes just six months after their dreamy engagement. In December last year, Jones popped the question by the water at sunset, accompanied by their beloved dogs, Dennis and Raymond.</p> <p>"06.12.24 🤍," they captioned a carousel of pictures capturing the romantic moment. One photo shows Staskowski hugging her now-fiancé with a sparkling oval-cut solitaire diamond ring on her finger. Another shows Jones on one knee as the couple gazes into each other’s eyes.</p> <p>Their love story has been unfolding publicly and joyfully. Just months before their engagement, the couple celebrated another major milestone – buying their first home together. “We bought Dennis & Raymond a home,” they joked in an Instagram post from July, featuring happy snaps of the pair holding up their new keys. Sitting on the floor of their new living room with pizza boxes and champagne, the couple looked ready to take on the next stage of life.</p> <p>Now, with a baby on the way, that next stage has truly arrived – and it seems the growing family couldn’t be happier.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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"A very difficult, haunted life": Tributes flow for one of the world's most revered artists

<p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys and the troubled genius behind some of the most beloved music in rock history, has died aged 82.</span></p> <p>His family announced the news in a statement published on Wilson’s website early Thursday (Australian time), saying they were “at a loss for words” and that they “realise that we are sharing our grief with the world.” No cause of death was disclosed.</p> <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKxHMogupsf/?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/DKxHMogupsf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Brian Wilson (@brianwilsonlive)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Wilson had been living under a conservatorship since early 2024, following the death of his wife Melinda. Diagnosed with dementia and no longer able to care for himself, the man who once conjured up sounds as warm and perfect as a California summer spent his final months in silence and seclusion.</p> <p>Born in June 1942, Wilson was the visionary architect of the Beach Boys’ signature sound – angelic harmonies, symphonic arrangements and an aching sense of longing beneath the surface of sun-drenched lyrics. From Surfin’ USA and California Girls to the transcendent God Only Knows and Good Vibrations, his work helped define an era – and inspired generations of artists.</p> <p>Wilson formed the band in 1961 with his brothers Dennis and Carl, cousin Mike Love and school friend Al Jardine. Together, they captured the youthful exuberance of California with 36 Top 40 hits. Yet the joy in the music stood in stark contrast to the pain in Wilson’s life.</p> <p>Abused by his father and haunted by mental illness, Wilson suffered his first breakdown in 1966 and soon retreated from live performances. He famously poured his creative energy into the landmark Pet Sounds, a record that initially puzzled US audiences but would go on to become one of the most revered albums of all time.</p> <p>“It was a symphonic reflection on the loss of innocence,” Wilson said later – a summation of the emotional depth and fragility that marked much of his life’s work.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Heard the sad news about Brian today and thought about all the years I’ve been listening to him and admiring his genius. Rest in peace dear Brian.</p> <p>— Bob Dylan (@bobdylan) <a href="https://twitter.com/bobdylan/status/1932915106733584527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>Yet even as Wilson shaped the sound of modern music, his inner world was crumbling. He battled schizoaffective disorder, heard voices, fell into drug addiction, and became a recluse – at one point, lying in bed for weeks at a time, rarely bathing, growing obese and isolating himself from even those closest to him.</p> <p>His struggle for stability led him into the care of controversial therapist Eugene Landy, whose extreme methods – including locking the refrigerator and controlling all aspects of Wilson’s life – would later be deemed exploitative. Landy was eventually removed from Wilson’s life following a court case brought by his family.</p> <p>Despite brief comebacks, Wilson’s later career never reached the heights of his early brilliance. He appeared frail and tentative in performances, a shadow of the radiant spirit who once made the world dance.</p> <p>He last toured in 2022.</p> <p>Wilson was portrayed in the 2014 biopic <em>Love & Mercy</em>, a poignant film that brought renewed appreciation for the depth of his suffering and the greatness of his art.</p> <p>In a 2007 interview, Wilson offered a quiet summation of his legacy: “I’ve lived a very, very difficult, haunted life.”</p> <p>And yet, through all the darkness, he gave the world songs that shimmered with light.</p> <p>Brian Wilson is survived by his daughters Carnie and Wendy – who found pop success in the 1990s with Wilson Phillips – and five children he shared with Melinda, whom he met when she sold him a car.</p> <p>The music he made continues to echo across generations. His voice may be gone, but his vibrations – good, bad and transcendent – will never fade.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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ABC rumoured to be axing Q+A amid fresh round of cuts

<p>Long-running ABC current affairs program <em>Q+A</em> is reportedly facing the axe after 17 years on Australian television, with multiple media outlets citing unnamed sources within the national broadcaster.</p> <p>The influential panel show, which launched in 2008 with Tony Jones as host, is said to have been dropped ahead of its scheduled return in August. The decision places <em>Q+A</em> among a growing list of legacy programs facing the chopping block, coming just days after Channel Ten confirmed it was ending <em>The Project</em> following a 16-year run.</p> <p><em>Q+A</em> went into its scheduled hiatus in mid-May, and it remains unclear whether it will return at all in 2025. ABC’s new managing director, Hugh Marks, is expected to reveal sweeping changes at the public broadcaster this week, including potential staff redundancies and confirmation of the show’s fate.</p> <p>The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) warned ABC staff on Tuesday that job cuts were imminent, with employees reportedly being called into meetings to discuss a major restructure. Marks, who replaced David Anderson in March, has previously signalled a focus on streamlining the broadcaster’s operations, suggesting the ABC may need to “do fewer things better” in the future.</p> <p>In addition to cuts, the ABC is expected to announce new content initiatives, including a dedicated documentary unit championed by ABC chair Kim Williams.</p> <p>Created by executive producer Peter McEvoy, <em>Q+A</em> debuted in May 2008 and quickly became a flagship program for the ABC. Its format, inspired by the BBC’s <em>Question Time</em>, brought politicians, experts and members of the public together to debate national issues in real time.</p> <p>Following Jones’ departure in 2019, the show struggled to maintain its ratings. Hamish Macdonald took over as host in 2020, before stepping down amid mixed reviews. Stan Grant’s brief tenure in 2022 ended after he became the target of racist abuse unrelated to the show. The current host, Patricia Karvelas, has led the program since early 2023.</p> <p>While viewership has modestly improved under Karvelas, the show’s ratings remain among the lowest in the ABC’s current affairs stable. A 2023 “Garma Special” episode drew just 84,000 metro viewers – <em>Q+A</em>’s lowest figures on record.</p> <p>The ABC has not officially confirmed the program’s cancellation. However, the coming days are expected to bring clarity as the national broadcaster embarks on a major overhaul under new leadership.</p> <p><em>Image: ABC</em></p>

TV

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Unexpected side-effects of Ozempic and Wegovy

<div class="theconversation-article-body">Ozempic and Wegovy have been hailed as wonder drugs when it comes to weight loss. But as the drug has become more widely used, a number of unintended side-effects have become apparent – with the weight loss drug affecting the appearance of everything from <a href="https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/ozempic-butt-rcna164286">your butt</a> to <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-14621617/hollywood-feet-ozempic.html">your feet</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/a-2148-6321">“Ozempic face”</a> is another commonly reported consequences of using these popular weight loss drugs. This is a sunken or hollowed out appearance the face can take on in people taking weight loss drugs. It can also increase signs of ageing – including lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.</p> <p>This happens because semaglutide (the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10092593/">active ingredient</a> in both Ozempic and Wegovy) isn’t localised to act just on the fat we want to lose. Instead, it targets all of our body’s fat – including in the face.</p> <p>But it isn’t just the appearance of your face that semaglutide affects. These drugs may also affect the mouth and teeth, too. And these side-effects could potentially lead to lasting damage.</p> <h2>Dry mouth</h2> <p>Semaglutide effects the salivary glands in the mouth. It does this by reducing saliva production (<a href="https://bmcoralhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12903-023-03192-8">hyposalivation</a>), which can in turn <a href="https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/why-ozempic-cause-dry-mouth-taste-changes-3575056/">lead to dry mouth</a> (<a href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/dry-mouth">xerostomia</a>). This means there isn’t enough saliva to keep the mouth wet.</p> <p>It isn’t exactly clear why semaglutide has this effect on the salivary glands. But in animal studies of the drug, it appears the drug <a href="https://www.jbtr.or.kr/archive/view_article?pid=jbtr-24-4-139">makes saliva stickier</a>. This means there’s less fluid to moisten the mouth, causing it to dry out.</p> <p>GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs (such as semaglutide) can also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16809911/">reduce water intake</a> by affecting <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3233845/">areas in the brain</a> responsible for thirst. Low fluid intake further <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3233845/">reduces saliva production</a>, and may even cause the saliva to become <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10754586">thick and frothy</a> and the tongue to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38206684/">become sticky</a>.</p> <h2>Bad breath</h2> <p>One other commonly reported unwanted effect by semaglutide users is <a href="https://www.perioimplantadvisory.com/clinical-tips/article/14298799/how-ozempic-has-the-potential-to-cause-halitosis">bad breath</a> (halitosis).</p> <p>When there’s less saliva flowing through the mouth, this <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10439028/">encourages bacteria</a> that contribute to bad breath and the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10439028/">formation of cavities</a> to thrive. These bacterial species include <em><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6615571/">Streptococcus mutans</a></em> and some strains of <em><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4547204/">Lactobacillus</a></em>.</p> <p>Another species that has been shown to thrive in conditions where saliva is reduced is <em><a href="https://academic.oup.com/femsle/article-abstract/333/1/1/586464?redirectedFrom=fulltext">Porphyromonas gingivalis</a></em>. This bacteria is a significant contributor to the production of volatile sulphur compounds, which <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2871590/">cause the foul odours</a> characteristic of halitosis.</p> <p>Another factor that might explain why semaglutide causes bad breath is because less saliva being produced means the tongue isn’t cleaned. This is the same reason why your “morning breath” is so bad, because we naturally produce less saliva at night. This allows bacteria to grow and produce odours. <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10754586/">Case report images</a> show some people taking semaglutide have a “furry”-like or coated appearance to their tongue. This indicates a build up of bacteria that contribute to bad breath.</p> <h2>Tooth damage</h2> <p>One of the <a href="https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/209637s020s021lbl.pdf">major side-effects</a> of Ozempic is <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183">vomiting</a>. Semaglutide slows how quickly the stomach empties, delaying digestion which can lead to bloating, nausea and vomiting.</p> <p><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10573129/">Repeated vomiting</a> can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12139263/">damage the teeth</a>. This is because stomach acid, composed primarily of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279304/">hydrochloric acid</a>, erodes the enamel of the teeth. Where vomiting occurs over a prolonged period of months and years the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4125596">more damage will occur</a>. The <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4125596/">back surface of the teeth</a> (palatal surface) closest to the tongue are more likely to see damage – and this damage may not be obvious to the sufferer.</p> <p>Vomiting also <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555956/">reduces the amount of fluid</a> in the body. When combined with reduced saliva production, this puts the teeth at even greater risk of damage. This is because saliva helps <a href="https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(82)80286-2/pdf">neutralise the acid</a> that causes dental damage.</p> <p>Saliva also contributes to the dental pellicle – a thin, protective layer that the saliva forms on the surface of the teeth. It’s thickest on the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00220345990780120901">tongue-facing surface</a> of the bottom row of teeth. In people who produce less saliva, the dental pellicle <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2023.1260442/full">contains fewer mucins</a> – a type of mucus which helps saliva <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/10454411900010040201">stick to the teeth</a>.</p> <h2>Reducing the risk of damage</h2> <p>If you’re taking semaglutide, there are many things you can do to keep your mouth healthy.</p> <p>Drinking water regularly during the day can help to keep the oral surfaces from drying out. This helps maintain your natural <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34642755/">oral microbiome</a>, which can reduce the risk of an overgrowth of the bacteria that cause bad breath and tooth damage.</p> <p>Drinking plenty of water also enables the body to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5052503/">produce the saliva needed</a> to prevent dry mouth, ideally the recommended daily amount of six to eight glasses. Chewing sugar-free gum is also a sensible option as it helps to encourage saliva production. Swallowing this saliva keeps the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542251/">valuable fluid within the body</a>. Gums <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20594055/">containing eucalyptus</a> may help to prevent halitosis, too.</p> <p>There’s some evidence that probiotics may help to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36600415/">alleviate bad breath</a>, at least in the short term. Using a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8173312/">probiotic supplements</a> or consuming probiotic-rich foods (such as yoghurt or kefir) may be a good idea.</p> <p>Practising good <a href="https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/oral-hygiene">basic oral hygiene</a>, tooth brushing, reducing acidic foods and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25227396/">sugary drinks</a> and using <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10690548/">a mouthwash</a> all help to protect your teeth as well.</p> <p>Women are <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7567832/">twice as likely</a> to have side-effects when taking GLP-1 receptor agonists – including <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8950819/">gastrointestinal symptoms</a> such as vomiting. This may be due to the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which can <a href="https://time.com/7020911/women-gut-health-ibs-ibd">alter the gut’s sensitivity</a>. To avoid vomiting, try eating smaller meals since the stomach stays fuller for longer while taking semaglutide.</p> <p>If you are sick, don’t immediately brush your teeth as this will spread the stomach’s acid over the surface of the teeth and increase the risk of damage. Instead, rinse your mouth out with water or mouthwash to reduce the strength of the acid and wait at least 30 minutes before brushing.</p> <p>It isn’t clear how long these side effects last, they’ll likely disappear when the medication is stopped, but any damage to the teeth is permanent. Gastrointestinal side-effects can last a few weeks but <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9821052/">usually resolve on their own</a> unless a higher dose is taken.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/257859/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-taylor-283950">Adam Taylor</a>, Professor of Anatomy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/lancaster-university-1176">Lancaster University</a></em></p> <p><em>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/dry-mouth-bad-breath-and-tooth-damage-the-effects-ozempic-and-wegovy-can-have-on-your-mouth-257859">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / Mart Production</em></p> </div>

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"Love every minute of it’: heartbroken sister’s plea at vigil for Pheobe Bishop

<p>The Bundaberg community grieved together on Monday evening as they mourned the loss of 17-year-old Pheobe Bishop,  a bright young life believed to have been tragically cut short.</p> <p>Hundreds gathered in Buss Park for a solemn vigil, the second in as many days, to honour the teenager whose suspected remains were found in dense scrubland near Gin Gin late last week – more than three weeks after she vanished.</p> <p>At the vigil, Pheobe’s older sister Kaylea delivered a tearful message that left many in the crowd wiping their eyes.</p> <p>“I want to tell everybody, as much as your siblings p*** you off and grind your gears – because God, they know how to do that – don’t take them for granted,” she said. “Love every minute of it.”</p> <p>Choking back tears, she added: “I would pay a million dollars to have her walk through the door and punch me on the arm. Don’t take it for granted. Just cherish it. Love the good and the bad. Worship it all. Capture the memories.”</p> <p>The vigil brought together community leaders, friends, family and strangers united by shared sorrow. Music chosen by Pheobe’s family played in the background as people placed candles, flowers and handwritten messages into glass jars.</p> <p>Mayor Helen Blackburn spoke on behalf of the city, reminding those gathered that the vigil was not just about mourning a young life lost, but celebrating how Pheobe had lived.</p> <p>“Her passing has left a silence we all feel deeply,” she said. “But in the midst of this sorrow, something beautiful has happened – we’ve come together, paused our busy lives, set aside our differences and stood side by side.”</p> <p>Pheobe’s mother, Kylie Johnson, spoke about the transformative role programs like the Y School and MAD Camp played in her daughter’s life. Both programs aim to support vulnerable teens by creating safe spaces and offering holistic, trauma-informed support. “She found purpose in those places,” Johnson said. “She would be proud that she got to travel the world without even leaving Australia. She’d be blown away by that support.”</p> <p>The memorial marked three-and-a-half weeks since Pheobe disappeared on her way to Bundaberg Airport, where she had been preparing to fly to Western Australia to visit her boyfriend on May 15. She never checked in for her flight, and a  police search followed.</p> <p>On Friday afternoon, police discovered human remains believed to be hers in thick bushland within the Good Night Scrub National Park, about 50km west of Bundaberg. Formal identification has not yet been confirmed, and police say a complex forensic process is underway to determine the cause of death.</p> <p>Her phone and luggage remain missing.</p> <p>Two of Pheobe’s housemates, James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/housemates-charged-with-murder-of-missing-teen-pheobe-bishop" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have been charged with murder</a> and two counts of interfering with a corpse. Investigations are ongoing.</p> <p>As the community waits for answers, the vigils have become a quiet act of collective remembrance, and a reminder, as Kaylea said, to never take the ones we love for granted.</p> <p><em>Images: 7 News / Facebook</em></p>

Family & Pets

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The surprising power of photography in ageing well

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Older adults are often faced with lifestyle changes that can disrupt their sense of place and purpose. It may be the loss of a partner, downsizing their home, or moving to residential aged care. And these changes can come with loss of identity, uncertainty, disconnect and isolation.</p> <p>But what if I told you a simple camera could help alleviate some of these pains? I’ve been working with older adults for the past decade, using photography as a way of connecting with place, and the results have been transformational.</p> <h2>The value of creative ageing</h2> <p><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1288760/full">Research has shown</a> arts engagement can significantly enhance the mental wellbeing and overall health of older adults.</p> <p>Australia has responded by developing <a href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/engage-nsw-arts-and-culture/resource-hub/creative-ageing">Creative Ageing Frameworks</a> and the <a href="https://www.arts.qld.gov.au/images/documents/artsqld/Research/National-Arts-and-Health-Framework-May-2014.pdf">National Arts Health Framework</a>, which position creative activity as valuable components of productive and healthy ageing.</p> <p>But while creative ageing programs are expanding, there are still many barriers to participation, including cost, accessibility, participants’ self-doubt, and a lack of skilled facilitators.</p> <p>This highlights a need for more inclusive approaches that use familiar tools – and that’s where photography comes in. Photography is a multi-sensory embodied practice. It allows us to be mindful, slow down, and look for beauty in everyday life. It can also prompt us to see the world differently.</p> <p>Recent research by my colleagues and I documents how taking photographs can increase older adults’ <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/ajag.70040">connection to place, creativity and overall wellbeing</a>.</p> <p>Specifically, we explored the impact of photography as not so much a structured “art activity”, but as a practice of connecting to place and other people through group photo walks.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/866929737" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>Over the past 18 months we’ve been working with several groups of older adults who live in aged care and community settings. We found that framing the world through a lens can powerfully transform a photographer’s relationship to the environment, and their sense of agency within it.</p> <p>This practice of intentional “seeing” creates opportunities for discovery in even the most familiar surroundings.</p> <p>As one aged care resident, Kathleen, put it:</p> <blockquote> <p>It’s given me a new sense of enjoyment and purpose and changed how I look at both life and seeing places in here that I’ve never seen before.</p> </blockquote> <h2>Easy, meaningful and social</h2> <p>So what makes photography particularly suited to older adults? Our research highlights some key factors.</p> <p><strong>It’s accessible and familiar</strong></p> <p>Photography has become one of the most democratic of creative pursuits. Most people carry a camera via their phone or tablet and know how to operate it. Older adults <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-digital-divide-small-social-programs-can-help-get-seniors-online-99082">are no exception</a>.</p> <p>This familiarity removes common barriers, such as the need to learn a new skill, and instead builds on existing knowledge. This makes photography an ideal creative expression; it requires no special training or equipment, and there is little room for doubt one’s capability.</p> <p><strong>It’s meaningful</strong></p> <p>Unlike many other creative activities offered to pass time, photography constitutes a meaningful activity for older adults. According to <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32022414/">research</a>, “meaningful” activities for older adults are those that are enjoyable, engaging, suited to individual skills, related to personal goals, and <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1472586X.2021.1963828">connected to identity</a>.</p> <p>Photography can be exploratory, fun, and deeply personal. The outcomes can be <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ajag.70040">shared with others</a>, discussed, displayed and privately revisited, allowing connection to one’s self and the surrounding world.</p> <p><strong>Seeing the familiar differently</strong></p> <p>Photography honours a photographer’s life experience and perspectives. Each photograph becomes both a creative expression, and validation, of their unique viewpoint – and allows them to see the world through new eyes.</p> <p>During group <a href="https://www.collaborativephotography.com/projects/photowalks">photo walk</a> sessions held for my research, participants expressed delight in sharing the same experience of visiting a familiar place, while capturing their own distinct vision of it.</p> <p>When we returned to discuss the sessions, the group formed collective narratives, with each person adding their own unique contribution. Photography offers social and community connection while celebrating individual creativity and perspective.</p> <p>The different versions of Russell Anderson’s “iDIDIT!” sculpture on a walk on the Sunshine Coast.</p> <p><strong>Being outside in the world</strong></p> <p>While photography can be done anywhere, most people will head outside when exploring with a camera. This was particularly important for people living in aged care, who often didn’t venture out into the gardens.</p> <p>One participant, Margaret, was relearning how to walk after a stroke, and enjoyed our creative walks together.</p> <figure class="align-right zoomable"></figure> <p>She grew more confident with each walk, her purpose being to see parts of the residential aged care facility that she’d never accessed and photographed before. Going outside with a camera allowed her to connect to her new home.</p> <h2>Putting it into practice</h2> <p>The beautiful thing about photography is that anyone can do it, and there is no right or wrong. You can simply start by slowing down and looking for interesting shadows, textures, or details.</p> <p>For those working with older adults, photography is an adaptable, low-cost activity that works across various settings and abilities. You can do it indoors, from a wheelchair, sitting on a wheelie walker, or while getting some exercise.</p> <p>Photo walks, in particular, are a great way for photographers to share experiences and connect. <!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/257344/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/tricia-king-1025874">Tricia King</a>, Senior Lecturer in Photography, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-the-sunshine-coast-1068">University of the Sunshine Coast</a></em></p> <p><em>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/the-surprising-power-of-photography-in-ageing-well-257344">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / Kampus Production</em></p> </div>

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"Ignorant": Steve Price hits out after The Project's axing

<p>Veteran broadcaster Steve Price has hit out at critics celebrating the axing of <em>The Project</em>, following Channel 10’s confirmation the long-running panel show will end later this month.</p> <p>The network officially announced on Monday morning that <em>The Project</em> will wrap up on Friday, June 27, after 16 years on Australian television. The show’s current hosts, including Sarah Harris and Waleed Aly, later addressed the decision in an emotionally charged segment on Monday night.</p> <p>But it was longtime contributor Steve Price who offered the strongest response, using his <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/steve-price-those-dancing-on-grave-of-woke-the-project-expose-their-own-ignorance/news-story/501e7571691910f519c6664883a7c036" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest Herald Sun column</a> to condemn those who have mocked the show’s demise.</p> <p>“Those ignorant people doing the ‘glad they got sacked’ dance over the cancellation called the show woke and leftie – hello, I am the exact opposite of that description – and have been there from almost the start,” Price wrote.</p> <p>“Show me that sort of political balance on any ABC TV show – you can’t,” he added, defending the program’s diversity of viewpoints and insisting<em> The Project</em> was “the best resourced media show I have ever worked on”.</p> <p>Price also expressed dismay over Channel 10’s decision to base the upcoming replacement show in Sydney, lamenting the impact on <em>The Project</em>’s Melbourne-based crew.</p> <p>“Behind the scenes was a gifted, hardworking crew of young producers, comedy writers, editors, journalists, camera operators, make-up artists and wardrobe assistants,” he wrote. “Most if not all these talented crew are now out of work as the replacement show moves to Sydney.”</p> <p>“Melbourne and Australia has lost something unique this week – a live TV show with passion, courage, humour and a heart. It’s sad.”</p> <p>During Monday night’s broadcast, co-host Sarah Harris also fought back tears as she paid tribute to the production team that made the nightly show possible.</p> <p>“I am so grateful that I got to sit on this desk and play TV with all of you,” Harris said. “But it is the people who make a show, and <em>The Project</em> isn’t just the people on this desk. It is the cast and crew behind the scenes… They’re the real stars.”</p> <p>She went on to praise the unsung workers who kept the show running night after night: “The producers, editors and cameramen and women, the floor crew, the people in the control room, the director and the hair and make-up team – all of them who work their guts out every night, six nights a week to get us on air.”</p> <p><em>The Project</em> launched in 2009 with a fresh take on news and current affairs and became a staple of the primetime lineup. It featured a rotating panel of journalists, comedians and commentators, with a mix of hard-hitting interviews and light entertainment.</p> <p>While its ratings have fluctuated in recent years, the show retained a loyal audience and played host to high-profile guests, including world leaders, Hollywood stars and prominent Australians.</p> <p>Its cancellation marks the end of an era for Channel 10, and a major shift in Australia’s TV landscape as the network retools its primetime strategy in a fiercely competitive market increasingly dominated by streaming platforms.</p> <p><em>Image: Network 10</em></p>

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‘Not available in your region’: what is a VPN and how can I use one safely?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>“This video is not available in your location”. It’s a message familiar to many people trying to watch global content online. But beneath this frustration lies a deeper question – how do we navigate digital borders safely and ethically?</p> <p>As our digital lives expand, so too does our desire for access. Maybe you want to see the latest streaming shows before they arrive in your country. Maybe you’re a sports fan wanting to watch live broadcasts of international events. Or perhaps you need to log into your company’s secure intranet while at home or overseas.</p> <p>Enter the virtual private network (VPN) – a technology that’s become as essential as antivirus software for many. With many commercial and free VPN providers on the market, interest in these services <a href="https://www.comparitech.com/vpn/vpn-statistics/">has grown in recent years</a>.</p> <h2>How does a VPN work?</h2> <p>A <a href="https://computingaustralia.com.au/5-minute-helpdesk-what-is-a-vpn-and-why-should-i-use-one/">VPN</a> is like a secure tunnel between your device and the internet. When you use a VPN, your <a href="https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/online-tools-and-features/encryption">internal traffic is scrambled into unreadable data</a> and routed through a remote server, which also masks your real IP address.</p> <p>Think of it like this: instead of sending a postcard with your return address, you send it in an envelope to a trusted friend overseas who mails it on your behalf. To anyone looking at the envelope, it looks like the message came from your friend and not you.</p> <p>This technique shields your identity, protects your data from snoopers, and tricks websites into thinking you are browsing from another location.</p> <p>While often marketed as <a href="https://www.le-vpn.com/australia-cyber-privacy-vpn/">tools for online privacy</a>, VPNs have grown popular for another reason: access.</p> <p>Many people use VPNs to access geo-blocked content, secure their internet activity, work remotely – <a href="https://www.cyber.gov.au/protect-yourself/staying-secure-online/security-tips-remote-working">especially when handling sensitive data</a> – and protect against online tracking and targeted advertising.</p> <h2>VPNs are legal, if a bit grey</h2> <p>VPN services are offered by dozens of providers globally. Companies such as NordVPN, ProtonVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark offer paid subscriptions with strong security guarantees. Free VPNs also exist but come with caveats (more on this in a moment).</p> <p>In <a href="https://us.norton.com/blog/privacy/are-vpns-legal">most countries</a>, including <a href="https://www.cyber.gov.au/protect-yourself/staying-secure-online/connecting-to-public-wi-fi">Australia</a>, using a VPN is completely legal.</p> <p>However, what makes it murky is what one might use it <em>for</em>. While using a VPN is legal, engaging in illegal activities while using one remains prohibited.</p> <p>Streaming services like Netflix or Disney+ license content by region. Using a VPN to access a foreign catalogue may violate their terms of service and potentially be grounds for account suspension.</p> <p>Australian law does not criminalise accessing geo-blocked content via VPN, but the copyright act does prohibit circumventing “technological protection measures” in certain cases.</p> <p>The grey area lies in enforcement. Technically, copyright law does ban getting around certain protections. However, the <a href="https://www.copyright.org.au/browse/book/ACC-Geoblocking%2C-VPNs-%26-Copyright-INFO127">latest advice does not mention</a> any cases where regular users have been taken to court for this kind of behaviour.</p> <p>So far, enforcement has mostly targeted websites and platforms that host or enable large-scale copyright infringement; not everyday viewers who want to watch a show a bit early.</p> <h2>Beware of ‘free’ VPNs</h2> <p>Not all VPNs are created equal. While premium services invest in strong encryption and privacy protections, free VPNs often make money by collecting user data – <a href="https://www.choice.com.au/electronics-and-technology/internet/connecting-to-the-internet/buying-guides/vpn-services">the very thing you may be trying to avoid</a>.</p> <p>Risks of unsafe VPNs include data leaks, injection of ads or trackers into your browsing, and malware and spyware, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-25/viruses-spyware-found-in-alarming-number-of-android-vpn-apps/8210796">especially in free mobile apps</a> that claim to provide a VPN service.</p> <p>Using a poorly designed or dishonest VPN is like hiring a bodyguard who sells your location. It might give the impression of safety, but you may actually be more vulnerable than before.</p> <h2>Okay, so how do I choose a VPN?</h2> <p>With so many VPNs available, both free and paid, it can be hard to know which one to trust. If you are considering a VPN, here are five things to look for.</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.expressvpn.com/what-is-vpn/policy-towards-logs">No-log policy</a>.</strong> A trustworthy VPN should have a strict no-log policy, meaning it does not store any records of your internet activity, connection time or IP address. This ensures even if the VPN provider is hacked, subpoenaed or pressured by a government, they have nothing to hand over.</p> <p><strong>Strong encryption standards.</strong> Encryption is what makes your data unreadable to anyone snooping on your connection, such as hackers on public WiFi or your internet provider. A somewhat technical thing to look out for is <a href="https://www.kiteworks.com/risk-compliance-glossary/aes-256-encryption/">AES 256-bit encryption</a> – it’s extremely secure and is used by banks and governments.</p> <p><strong>Independent audits.</strong> Reliable VPN services <a href="https://vpncentral.com/nordvpn-reaffirms-no-log-claims-with-fifth-deloitte-audit/">voluntarily undergo third-party audits</a> to verify their privacy claims and the security of their infrastructure.</p> <p><strong>Kill switch.</strong> A kill switch is a critical safety feature that automatically blocks internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. This prevents your real IP address and data from being exposed, even momentarily.</p> <p><strong>Jurisdiction.</strong> VPNs are subject to the laws of the country they are based in. The countries in the <a href="https://cyberinsider.com/5-eyes-9-eyes-14-eyes/">Five Eyes intelligence alliance</a> (Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand) may legally compel providers to hand over user data. If a VPN service has a strict no-log policy and does not collect information about what you do online, then even under legal pressure, there is nothing to hand over. So, you are safe.</p> <p>In an era of growing surveillance, cybercrime and corporate data collection, VPNs are essential tools for reclaiming your online privacy and data.</p> <p>But like any tool, the effectiveness (and ethics) of VPNs depend on how you use them. Next time you fire up your VPN, ask yourself – am I just dodging a digital border, or actively protecting my online freedom?<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/256559/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/meena-jha-542776">Meena Jha</a>, Head Technology and Pedagogy Cluster CML-NET, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/cquniversity-australia-2140">CQUniversity Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>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/not-available-in-your-region-what-is-a-vpn-and-how-can-i-use-one-safely-256559">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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Iconic singer reveals sad diagnosis

<p>Morten Harket, the iconic voice behind A-ha’s global smash "Take on Me", has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease – a progressive condition that may bring an end to his singing career.</p> <p>The 65-year-old Norwegian singer shared the news in a moving interview published on the band’s official website, explaining that although treatment has eased some of the condition’s physical toll, it has also affected his voice – the very heart of his artistry.</p> <p>“I don’t feel like singing, and for me that’s a sign,” Harket said candidly. “As things stand now, that’s out of the question.”</p> <p>For the past year, Harket has undergone deep brain stimulation, a complex treatment involving two surgeries to implant electrodes on both sides of his brain. The procedure delivers electrical impulses that help control tremors and muscle stiffness, but in Harket’s case, has also dulled his soaring vocal range.</p> <p>Despite the gravity of the diagnosis, Harket said he feels at peace with it. He credits his 94-year-old father for encouraging him to “use whatever works” in coping with the challenges of the degenerative disorder.</p> <p>“There’s so much to weigh up,” he said. “It’s a difficult balancing act between taking the medication and managing its side effects.”</p> <p>A-ha last toured in 2020 and played what may be their final show together in 2022 at the Hollywood Bowl. Harket said he has continued to work on new music but is unsure whether the songs will ever be finished.</p> <p>Still, in classic form, he offered fans words of hope rather than despair.</p> <p>“Don’t worry about me,” he said. “Spend your energy addressing real problems… and know that I am being taken care of.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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