WellBeing

Experts say they have discovered what they believe is the cause of male pattern baldness. It is not simply a lack of hair, but rather a problem with the new hair that is made. A manufacturing defect means the hair produced is so small it appears invisible to the naked eye, giving the classic bald spot or receding hairline. The US team told the Journal of Clinical Investigation the fault lies with the stem cells that make new hair. It may be possible to 'cure' male baldness by restoring the normal function of these cells, the experts hope. - Jason

The idea of people needing "beauty sleep" has acquired some scientific backing, according to a Swedish study. People deprived of sleep for long periods appear less attractive and more unhealthy than those who are well rested, say researchers - Jason

"I like to think of myself as a progressive woman, and a feminist to boot. I’m 31, single, and happy this way (with no prospects in sight). Eventually, however, I’d like to pair up with someone. So, there’s a nagging thought in the back of my mind that if I hit 40 and am still single, all of the men my age will take one look at that deep smile line around the left corner of my mouth, deem me a hag, and then go scout out some 25-year-olds. This internal double-standard really unnerves me. But my biggest fear, greater than being called a hag, or being told I look 38, is the fear that I’ll cave and start sticking needles into those smile lines so that they’ll vanish. Honestly, if Botox didn’t make women’s faces look creepy and semi-human, I would probably be at the doctor’s office right now, shelling out the cash that I currently spend on pricey sunscreen and anti-aging serums. But, Botox screws up your face, on the outside and on the inside. It can paralyze the muscles of treated areas,... more... - Anna Haro from Bookmarklet

"I’ve found a surprising solution. An anti-fear-of-aging serum, and it came when I wasn’t looking. Unexpectedly, older women have begun telling me their stories. Friends, mentors, random ladies walking their dogs, they all want to tell me of their triumph over all this aging-hysteria nonsense (and isn’t it just that?) They tell me how they’ve embraced aging, maturity, wrinkles, thinning... more... - Anna Haro

"This column, “Aging Fearlessly in Los Angeles,” will share stories from women who have aged gracefully – on the inside and on the outside – in this beauty-obsessed town. Primarily, the series will focus on the aesthetic elements of growing older, from changes in skin, to differences in hair (in both color and thickness), to weight and metabolic changes. Through their honesty, and my... more... - Anna Haro

"In a bad mood? Don't worry - according to research, it's good for you. An Australian psychology expert who has been studying emotions has found being grumpy makes us think more clearly. In contrast to those annoying happy types, miserable people are better at decision-making and less gullible, his experiments showed. While cheerfulness fosters creativity, gloominess breeds attentiveness and careful thinking, Professor Joe Forgas told Australian Science Magazine" - Kol Tregaskes from Bookmarklet

Well, that's good to hear. - John (bird whisperer)

I think with crystal clarity. - m9m, Crone of FriendFeed

"Perhaps the most heavily studied of “alternative medicine” modalities is acupuncture. Although it’s hard to be sure as to the reason, I tend to speculate that part of the appeal to trying to do research in this area is because acupuncture is among the most popular of actual “alt-med” modalities, as opposed to science-based medical modalities co-opted by believers in alt-med and rebranded as “alternative” (diet and exercise, for instance, to which is all too often added the consumption of huge quantities of unproven nutritional supplments) or activities that make people feel better, whether they’re healthy or ill (massage, for instance). In contrast, acupuncture involves actually sticking needles into the skin. Never mind that the rationale for acupuncture, namely “redirecting” the flow of the “life energy” known as qi when it is blocked by sticking needles in “meridians” like some electrodes in some imaginary qi battery, is pure bunkum, as we’ve pointed out here at SBM time and time... more... - Kol Tregaskes from Bookmarklet

"Low-fat is good, butter is bad; buy free-range, not battery; tofu's terrific, lard's a killer... Messages about what we should and shouldn't eat bombard us on a daily basis. So what are we to believe? And what about the cost to the planet? Rose Prince unravels the myths and explains what we need to know to choose our food with confidence - and a clear conscience" - Kol Tregaskes from Bookmarklet

"What made Larry Brown's addiction acceptable was that it was, at least on the surface, good for him." - Kol Tregaskes from Bookmarklet

"Ever suffered from Wii elbow, roleplay related RSI or PC pain? The makers of ‘Super Street Fighter IV’ want to help (and flog their game, one imagines). They’ve put together a warm-up guide to healthy gaming, so listen up, out-of-shape players. Try sitting on a gym ball instead of the sofa to boost those core muscles; stretch hands and fingers before picking up that joypad; take an eye break every 20 minutes for 20 seconds and try not to clench your teeth during stressful sessions." - Kol Tregaskes from Bookmarklet

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I just love to be barefoot... this is great... thx - Sepi ~ سپی

"American children aren't the only couch potatoes with nearly one third of children globally spending three hours a day or more watching TV or on computers, according to study of over 70,000 teens in 34 nations." - Kol Tregaskes from Bookmarklet

"Would you be happier if you spent more time discussing the state of the world and the meaning of life — and less time talking about the weather? It may sound counterintuitive, but people who spend more of their day having deep discussions and less time engaging in small talk seem to be happier, said Matthias Mehl, a psychologist at the University of Arizona who published a study on the subject. “We found this so interesting, because it could have gone the other way — it could have been, ‘Don’t worry, be happy’ — as long as you surf on the shallow level of life you’re happy, and if you go into the existential depths you’ll be unhappy,” Dr. Mehl said." - Anna Haro from Bookmarklet

"But, he proposed, substantive conversation seemed to hold the key to happiness for two main reasons: both because human beings are driven to find and create meaning in their lives, and because we are social animals who want and need to connect with other people. “By engaging in meaningful conversations, we manage to impose meaning on an otherwise pretty chaotic world,” Dr. Mehl said.... more... - Anna Haro

"Next, Dr. Mehl wants to see if people can actually make themselves happier by having more substantive conversations. “It’s not that easy, like taking a pill once a day,” Dr. Mehl said. “But this has always intrigued me. Can we make people happier by asking them, for the next five days, to have one extra substantive conversation every day?” - Anna Haro

"Married people are twice as likely to become obese than their single counterparts, scientists claim." - Kol Tregaskes from Bookmarklet

LOL, Curtiss. - Kol Tregaskes

"Sleep deprivation, it turns out, is colorblind." - Kol Tregaskes from Bookmarklet