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After 180 years, new clues are revealing just how general anaesthesia works in the brain

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-d-hines-767066">Adam D Hines</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4773932/pdf/BLT.15.159293.pdf/">Over 350 million surgeries</a> are performed globally each year. For most of us, it’s likely at some point in our lives we’ll have to undergo a procedure that needs general anaesthesia. Even though it is one of the safest medical practices, we still don’t have a complete, thorough understanding of precisely how anaesthetic drugs work in the brain. In fact, it has largely remained a mystery since general anaesthesia was introduced into medicine over <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.3109/08941939.2015.1061826">180 years ago</a>. Our study published <a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0588-23.2024">in The Journal of Neuroscience today</a> provides new clues on the intricacies of the process. General anaesthetic drugs seem to only affect specific parts of the brain responsible for keeping us alert and awake. <h2>Brain cells striking a balance</h2> In a study using fruit flies, we found a potential way that allows anaesthetic drugs to interact with specific types of neurons (brain cells), and it’s all to do with proteins. Your brain has around <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cne.21974">86 billion neurons</a> and not all of them are the same – it’s these differences that allow general anaesthesia to be effective. To be clear, we’re not completely in the dark on <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0165614719300951">how anaesthetic drugs affect us</a>. We know why general anaesthetics are able to make us lose consciousness so quickly, thanks to a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/367607a0">landmark discovery made in 1994</a>. But to better understand the fine details, we first have to look to the minute differences between the cells in our brains. Broadly speaking, there are <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6591655/">two main categories of neurons in the brain</a>. The first are what we call “excitatory” neurons, generally responsible for keeping us alert and awake. The second are “inhibitory” neurons – their job is to regulate and control the excitatory ones. In our day-to-day lives, excitatory and inhibitory neurons are constantly working and balancing one another. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/npp2017294">When we fall asleep</a>, there are inhibitory neurons in the brain that “silence” the excitatory ones keeping us awake. This happens <a href="https://askdruniverse.wsu.edu/2018/01/07/why-do-we-get-tired/">gradually over time</a>, which is why you may feel progressively more tired through the day. General anaesthetics speed up this process by directly silencing these excitatory neurons without any action from the inhibitory ones. This is why your anaesthetist will tell you that they’ll “put you to sleep” for the procedure: <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2372">it’s essentially the same process</a>. <h2>A special kind of sleep</h2> While we know why anaesthetics put us to sleep, the question then becomes: “why do we stay asleep during surgery?”. If you went to bed tonight, fell asleep and somebody tried to do surgery on you, you’d wake up with quite a shock. To date, there is no strong consensus in the field as to why general anaesthesia causes people to remain unconscious during surgery. Over the last couple of decades, researchers have proposed several potential explanations, but they all seem to point to one root cause. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7709148/#:%7E:text=At%20presynaptic%20part%2C%20voltage%2Dgated,anesthetics%20to%20inhibiting%20neurotransmitter%20release.">Neurons stop talking to each other</a> when exposed to general anaesthetics. While the idea of “cells talking to each other” may sound a little strange, it’s a <a href="https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain-basics/brain/brain-physiology/action-potentials-and-synapses">fundamental concept in neuroscience</a>. Without this communication, our brains wouldn’t be able to function at all. And it allows the brain to know what’s happening throughout the body. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/593888/original/file-20240514-16-5fletd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/593888/original/file-20240514-16-5fletd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/593888/original/file-20240514-16-5fletd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593888/original/file-20240514-16-5fletd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593888/original/file-20240514-16-5fletd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593888/original/file-20240514-16-5fletd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593888/original/file-20240514-16-5fletd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/593888/original/file-20240514-16-5fletd.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Two branching structures in orange, green, blue and yellow colours on a black background." /></a><figcaption>Colourised neurons in the brain of a fly. Adam Hines</figcaption></figure> <h2>What did we discover?</h2> Our new study shows that general anaesthetics appear to stop excitatory neurons from communicating, but not inhibitory ones. <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/40/21/4103">This concept isn’t new</a>, but we found some compelling evidence as to why only excitatory neurons are affected. For neurons to communicate, proteins have to get involved. One of the jobs these proteins have is to get neurons to release molecules called <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22513-neurotransmitters">neurotransmitters</a>. These chemical messengers are what gets signals across from one neuron to another: dopamine, adrenaline and serotonin are all neurotransmitters, for example. We found that general anaesthetics impair the ability of these proteins to release neurotransmitters, but only in excitatory neurons. To test this, we used <a href="https://www.eneuro.org/content/8/3/ENEURO.0057-21.2021">Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies</a> and <a href="https://imb.uq.edu.au/research/facilities/microscopy/training-manuals/microscopy-online-resources/image-capture/super-resolution-microscopy">super resolution microscopy</a> to directly see what effects a general anaesthetic was having on these proteins at a molecular scale. Part of what makes excitatory and inhibitory neurons different from each other is that they <a href="https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/physrev.00007.2012">express different types of the same protein</a>. This is kind of like having two cars of the same make and model, but one is green and has a sports package, while the other is just standard and red. They both do the same thing, but one’s just a little bit different. Neurotransmitter release is a complex process involving lots of different proteins. If one piece of the puzzle isn’t exactly right, then general anaesthetics won’t be able to do their job. As a next research step, we will need to figure out which piece of the puzzle is different, to understand why general anaesthetics only stop excitatory communication. Ultimately, our results hint that the drugs used in general anaesthetics cause massive global inhibition in the brain. By silencing excitability in two ways, these drugs put us to sleep and keep it that way.<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/229713/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/adam-d-hines-767066">Adam D Hines</a>, Research fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> Image credits: Shutterstock 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/after-180-years-new-clues-are-revealing-just-how-general-anaesthesia-works-in-the-brain-229713">original article</a>. </div>

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Line-up clues revealed for 2024 I'm A Celeb cast

With just a few weeks to go before a group of celebrities are dropped in the jungle, Network Ten have dropped a series of clues alluding to this year's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! lineup. Premiering in late March and hosted by veteran Julia Morris and newcomer Robert Irwin, the 10th season of the show will see celebrities thrown into the South African jungle and go head-to-head in daring challenges. At the end of the weeks long challenge, the winner will take home $100,000 in prize money for the charity of their choice. With the full line-up of celebs still unknown, Network Ten have dropped a few hints about some of this year's contestants, with online sleuths dedicated to deciphering the clues. So far, it's been revealed that a "controversial TV star" will be heading into the jungle, alongside a Gold medallist who is “diverting from Paris” to take part in the competition. Another celeb joining is an "international comedian loved by the royals", with many online believing this clue is alluding to UK comic Michael McIntyre. Fans believe a former contestant of The Bachelor or MAFS could be joining the line-up, with one celeb teased as a “bad boy” who “breaks hearts”. Also joining the 2024 line-up is an AFL legend with a premiership win under their belt, and a stage performer who is “ditching his famous family” to head into the jungle. Lastly, a celebrity cook is joining the cast, with diehard fans already ruling out Miguel Maestre, Colin Fassnidge and Poh Ling Yeow who have competed on the show in previous years. The 2024 season of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! will premiere on Ten on March 27th. Image credits: Ten

How Samantha Murphy's digital data could be a crucial clue

Last Friday, Victoria Police revisited the Mount Clear area after extracting information from her mobile phone data, as they continue to investigate the Ballarat mum's disappearance. Now, Former Australia Federal Police officer and professor of cybersecurity, Nigel Phair believes an "anomaly" or "change in the behaviour" of Murphy's data pattern may have prompted authorities to return to the area. Detectives have previously said that Murphy departed her residence and ran approximately 7km through Woowookarung Regional Park with data tracking her last location as Mount Clear. Phair who formerly headed investigations at the Australian High Tech Crime Centre (AHTCC), said that data from her iPhone and Apple Watch is particularly important as both devices constantly log her GPS coordinates, heart rate, altitude and can even detect falls among other biometric information. "From the second that she walked out of her door, when out on the street, they would be able to see where she was moving and how she was moving," Phair told told Liz Hayes on Channel 9's series Under Investigation. Additionally, her iPhone can be precisely located using triangulation from nearby cell phone towers. Phair said that this type of data is extremely reliable and accurate, and he believes that the disturbance in this data the 7km mark, where it stopped tracking the information, reveals some form of sophistication. "That means someone's done something active against those two devices and you have to know what you are doing to think I'm going to completely take these out," he said. "It's not just turning them off, it's destroying them and then getting rid of that piece of evidence." He added that tampering with these devices are particularly hard, because even if they may attempt to change SIM cards, mobile phones that are still on can still be traced. "A device has two signifiers. It has a phone number, which you can change, call that the software signifier," he said. "Then it has a hardware identifier, which is the IMEI number." He said that police would be notified if the IMEI number was still operational. "Regardless if you swap SIMs or don't use a SIM at all and just use it as a Wi-Fi-only device in a Wi-Fi area, it will always broadcast that IME number onto the network," he said. Phair said that it is "highly likely" that police have the data on potential predators and are tracking them, as they can see whether someone else was using a device in the Mount Clear area the day Murphy disappeared. Former Victorian detective Damian Marrett told Hayes the he believes Murphy's disappearance is the result of foul play, as changes in her digital data could suggest it was a "targeted attack". He also added that if anyone else had access to her Find My iPhone app or any of her other data, they could easily track her using this information. "Somebody who intimately knew the tracks that she takes or had access to be able to track her runs," he said. "So she could have been tracked without those people having to physically surveil her." Images: Under Investigation/ Facebook

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Your unique smell can provide clues about how healthy you are

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/aoife-morrin-1478132">Aoife Morrin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/dublin-city-university-1528">Dublin City University</a> Hundreds of chemicals stream from our bodies into the air every second. These chemicals release into the air easily as they have high vapour pressures, meaning they boil and turn into gases at room temperature. They give clues about who we are, and how healthy we are. Since ancient Greek times, we’ve known that we smell differently when we are unwell. While we rely on blood analysis today, ancient Greek physicians used smell to diagnose maladies. If they took a whiff of your breath and described it as fetor hepaticus (meaning bad liver), it meant you could be headed for liver failure. If a person’s whiff was sweet or fruity, physicians thought this meant that sugars in the digestive system were not being broken down, and that person had probably diabetes. Science has since shown the ancient Greeks were right – liver failure and <a href="https://tisserandinstitute.org/human-volatilome/">diabetes</a> and many <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00216-023-04986-z">other diseases</a> including infectious diseases give your breath a distinctive smell. In 1971, <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1962/pauling/facts/">Nobel Laureate chemist Linus Pauling</a> <a href="https://edu.rsc.org/feature/breath-analysis/2020106.article#:%7E:text=The%20'modern%20era'%20of%20breath,in%20an%20average%20breath%20sample.">counted 250 different</a> gaseous chemicals in breath. These gaseous chemicals are called volatile organic compounds or VOCs. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RzozmYPfCmM?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Since Pauling’s discovery, other scientists have <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40291-023-00640-7">discovered hundreds more VOCs</a> in our breath. We have learned that many of these VOCs have distinctive odours, but some have no odour that our noses can perceive. Scientists believe that whether a VOC <a href="https://tisserandinstitute.org/human-volatilome/">has an odour</a> that our noses can detect or not, they can reveal information about how healthy someone is. A Scottish man’s Parkinson’s disease onset was <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47627179">identified by his wife</a>, retired nurse Joy Milner, after she was convinced the way he smelled had changed, years before he was diagnosed in 2005. This discovery has <a href="https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/smell-of-skin-could-lead-to-early-diagnosis-for-parkinsons/">led to research programmes</a> involving Joy Milner to identify <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-supersmeller-can-detect-the-scent-of-parkinsons-leading-to-an-experimental-test-for-the-illness/">the precise smell</a> of this disease. Dogs can <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-01629-8">sniff out more diseases</a> than humans because of their more <a href="https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/the-science-of-sniffs-disease-smelling-dogs%20-%20I%20think%20the%20previous%20nature%20link%20has%20more%20credibility%20for%20here%20also">sophisticated olfactory talents</a>. But technological techniques, like <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mass-spectrometry">analytical tool mass spectrometry</a>, picks up even more subtle changes in VOC profiles that are being linked to <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(20)30100-6/fulltext">gut</a>, <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S0165993618305168">skin</a> and <a href="https://err.ersjournals.com/content/28/152/190011">respiratory</a> diseases as well as neurological diseases like Parkinson’s. Researchers believe that one day some diseases will be diagnosed simply by breathing into a device. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xjo2M-XMYfs?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Where do VOCs come from?</h2> Breath is not the only source of VOCs in the body. They are also emitted from skin, urine and faeces. VOCs from skin are the result of millions of skin glands removing metabolic waste from the body, as well as waste generated by bacteria and other microbes that live on our skin. Sweating produces extra nutrients for these bacteria to metabolise which can result in particularly odorous VOCs. Odour from sweat only makes up a fraction of the scents from VOCs though. <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrmicro.2017.157">Our skin</a> and also our gut microbiomes are made up from a delicate balance of these microbes. Scientists think <a href="https://journals.lww.com/co-gastroenterology/abstract/2015/01000/the_gut_microbiome_in_health_and_in_disease.12.aspx">they influence our health</a>, but we don’t yet understand a lot about how this relationship works. Unlike the gut, the skin is relatively easy to study – you can collect skin samples from living humans without having to go deep into the body. <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S1471492221002087">Scientists think</a> skin VOCs can offer insights into how the microbiome’s bacteria and the human body work together to maintain our health and protect us from disease. In my team’s laboratory, <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1752-7163/abf20a">we are investigating</a> whether the skin VOC signature can reveal different attributes of the person it belongs to. These signals in skin VOC signatures are probably how dogs distinguish between people by smell. We are at a relatively early stage in this research area but we have shown that you can tell males from females based on how acidic the VOCs from skin are. We use mass spectrometry to see this as the average human nose is not sophisticated enough to detect these VOCs. We can also predict a person’s age with reasonable accuracy to within a few years from their skin VOC profile. This is not surprising considering that oxidative stress in our bodies increases as we age. <a href="https://www.metabolismjournal.com/article/S0026-0495(00)80077-3/pdf">Oxidative stress</a> happens when your antioxidant levels are low and causes irreversible damage to our cells and organs. <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jasms.3c00315">Our recent research</a> found by-products of this oxidative damage in skin VOC profiles. Not only are these VOCs responsible for personal scent – they are used by plants, insects and animals as a communication channel. Plants are in a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-10975-x">constant VOC dialogue</a> with other organisms including pollinators, herbivores, other plants and their natural enemies such as harmful bacteria and insects. VOCs used for this back and forth dialogue are known as pheromones. <h2>What has science shown about love pheromones?</h2> In the animal kingdom, there is good evidence VOCs can act as aphrodisiacs. Mice for example have microbes which contribute to a particularly <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982212012687">smelly compound called trimethylamine</a>, which allows mice to verify the species of a potential mate. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0093691X21003083">Pigs</a> and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/4381097a">elephants</a> have sex pheromones too. It is possible that humans also produce VOCs for attracting the perfect mate. Scientists have yet to fully decode skin – or other VOCs that are released from our bodies. But evidence for human love pheromones so far is <a href="https://www.science.org/content/article/do-human-pheromones-actually-exist">controversial at best</a>. <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3835-colour-vision-ended-human-pheromone-use/">One theory suggests</a> that they were lost about 23 million years ago when primates developed full colour vision and started relying on their enhanced vision to choose a mate. However, we believe that whether human pheromones exist or not, skin VOCs can reveal who and how we are, in terms of things like ageing, nutrition and fitness, fertility and even stress levels. This signature probably contains markers we can use to monitor our health and diagnose disease.<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/215311/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/aoife-morrin-1478132">Aoife Morrin</a>, Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/dublin-city-university-1528">Dublin City University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/your-unique-smell-can-provide-clues-about-how-healthy-you-are-215311">original article</a>.

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Why understanding how spiders spin silk may hold clues for treating Alzheimer’s disease

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-landreh-1328287">Michael Landreh</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/karolinska-institutet-1250">Karolinska Institutet</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anna-rising-1440132">Anna Rising</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/karolinska-institutet-1250">Karolinska Institutet</a> Really, we should envy spiders. Imagine being able to make silk like they do, flinging it around to get from place to place, always having a <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmacrolett.8b00678">strong-as-steel safety line</a> or spinning a comfy hammock whenever they need a rest. The fascinating properties of spider silk make it no wonder that scientists have been trying to unravel its secrets for decades. If we could understand and recreate the spinning process, we could produce artificial spider silk for a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0141813021021292">range of medical applications</a>. For example, artificial silk can help <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120692">regenerate the nerves that connect our brain and limbs</a>, and can shuttle <a href="https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01138">drug molecules directly into the cells where they are needed</a>. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zNtSAQHNONo?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Spider silk is made of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/spidroins">proteins called spidroins</a>, which the spider stores in a silk gland in its abdomen. There are several types of spidroin for spinning different sorts of silk. Spiders <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7673682/">store them as a liquid</a> that resembles oil droplets. But one of the questions that has eluded scientists so far is how spiders turn these liquid droplets into silk. We decided to investigate why the spidroins form droplets, to get us closer to replicating a spider’s spinning process. <h2>Weaving a web</h2> The trick that spiders use to speed up their spinning process can be used to spin better artificial silk, or even develop new spinning processes. In 2017, we learned to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15504">make synthetic silk fibres</a> by emulating the silk gland, but we did not know how things work inside the spider. Now we know that forming droplets first <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37084706/">speeds up the conversion to these fibres</a>. An important clue to how the droplets and fibres are related came from an unexpected area of our research – on <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23013511/">Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases</a>. Proteins that are involved in these diseases, called <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/alpha-synuclein#:%7E:text=%CE%B1%2DSynuclein%20is%20a%20highly,linked%20to%20familial%20Parkinson%20disease.">alpha-synuclein</a> and <a href="https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-dementia-tau-ts.pdf">tau</a>, can assemble into tiny, oil-like droplets in human cells. Tau is a protein that helps stabilise the internal skeleton of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. This internal skeleton has a tube-like shape through which nutrients and other essential substances travel to reach different parts of the neuron. In Alzheimer’s disease, an abnormal form of tau builds up and clings to the normal tau proteins, creating “tau tangles”. Alpha-synuclein is found in large quantities in <a href="https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-dopamine">dopamine-producing nerve cells</a>. Abnormal forms of this protein are linked to Parkinson’s disease. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528217/original/file-20230525-25-p40y48.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528217/original/file-20230525-25-p40y48.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/528217/original/file-20230525-25-p40y48.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528217/original/file-20230525-25-p40y48.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528217/original/file-20230525-25-p40y48.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528217/original/file-20230525-25-p40y48.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528217/original/file-20230525-25-p40y48.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/528217/original/file-20230525-25-p40y48.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Beautiful spider web with water drops close-up" /></a><figcaption>The trick spiders use to speed up their spinning process can be used to spin better artificial silk. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/beautiful-spider-web-water-drops-close-155560781">Aastels/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> Oil droplets of either one of these proteins form in humans when they become entangled, like boiled spaghetti on a plate. At first, the proteins are flexible and elastic, much like spidroin oil droplets. But if the proteins remain entangled, they get stuck together which alters their shape, changing them into rigid fibres. These can be toxic to human cells – for example, in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s. However, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33148640/">spidroins can form droplets</a> too. This left us wondering if the same mechanism that causes neurodegeneration in humans could help the spider to convert liquid spidroins into rigid silk fibres. To find out, we used a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nchembio.2269">synthetic spidroin called NT2RepCT</a>, which can be produced by bacteria. Under the microscope, we could see that this synthetic spidroin formed liquid droplets when it was dissolved in phosphate buffer, a type of salt found in the spider’s silk gland. This allowed us to replicate spider silk spinning conditions in the lab. <h2>Silky science</h2> Next, we studied how the spidroin proteins act when they form droplets. To answer this question, we turned to an analysis technique <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/mass-spectrometry">called mass spectrometry</a>, to measure how the weight of the proteins changed when they formed droplets. To our surprise, we saw that the spidroin proteins, which normally form pairs, instead split into single molecules. We needed to do more work to find out how these protein droplets help spiders spin silk. Previous research has shown spidroins have different parts, called domains, with separate functions. The end part of the spidroin, called c-terminal domain, makes it form pairs. The c-terminal also starts <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.1001921">fibre formation when it comes into contact with acid</a>. So, we made a spidroin which contained only the c-terminal domain and tested its ability to form fibres. When we used phosphate buffer to entangle the proteins into droplets, they turned into rigid fibre instantly. When we added acid without first making droplets, fibre formation took much longer. This makes sense since the spidroin molecules must find each other when forming a fibre. Entangling the spidroins like spaghetti helps them rapidly assemble into silk. This finding tells us how the spider can instantly convert its spidroins into a solid thread. It also uncovered how nature uses the same mechanism that can make brain proteins toxic to create some of its most amazing structures. The surprising parallel between spider silk spinning and fibres toxic to humans could one day lead to new clues about how to fight neurodegenerative disorders. Scientists may use spider silk research, including what we have learned about the spider silk domains, to keep human proteins from sticking together – to stop them from becoming toxic. If spiders can learn how to keep their sticky proteins in check, perhaps so can we.<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/205857/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/michael-landreh-1328287">Michael Landreh</a>, Researcher, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/karolinska-institutet-1250">Karolinska Institutet</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anna-rising-1440132">Anna Rising</a>, Researcher in Veterinary medicine biochemistry, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/karolinska-institutet-1250">Karolinska Institutet</a> 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/why-understanding-how-spiders-spin-silk-may-hold-clues-for-treating-alzheimers-disease-205857">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Body

5 strange clues your body gives you about your health

Ever wondered how your health will measure up as you age? Science has found a few quirky “tells” that can give an indication of the kinds of health concerns you may be facing. Read on to find out more. A short index finger can mean arthritis is possible Women whose index fingers are shorter than their ring fingers may be more prone to arthritis in the knees due to typically lower levels of estrogen. Prevent it occurring by keeping knees in tip-top shape with plenty of strengthening and stretching exercises. Generous calves and thighs? Keep an eye on your liver Stockier legs can sometimes mean a liver more susceptible to disease. This is due to higher levels of liver enzymes. Keep your liver healthy by following a nutritious diet and limiting alcohol intake. Losing your sense of smell? Your brain may need some support According to research published in 2008, older adults who couldn’t identify distinct smells like banana and cinnamon, were 5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Help prevent this from occurring by taking fish oil supplements/omega-3 fatty acids. The short arm linked to Alzheimer’s A recent neurological study found that women with short arm spans were one and a half times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those with longer reaches. Prevent it from occurring by taking up a hobby! Research has found adults who engage regularly in leisure activities are far less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Earlobe creases and heat disease Got creased up earlobes? It may be wise to keep an eye on your heart. Studies show that linear wrinkles in one or both lobes may predict future cardiovascular issues. Keep your heart happy and healthy and prevent issues by ensuring you follow a healthy diet, stick to a healthy BMI, engage in regular exercise and minimise stress. Image credits: Getty Images

Body

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me out of Here cast teased

Network Ten have teased the star-studded cast for the upcoming season of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me out of Here, with eagle-eyed fans trying to decipher the clues. The ninth season of Ten’s reality series will premiere in April, with a host of celebrities heading into the South African jungle to face a range of challenges. The promo video shared a range of clues for eager viewers to decipher to unveil the cast. How many can you decode? A UK TV Star that’s ‘shore’ to bring the drama to the jungle Fans have figured out that this cast member will be an alumni of British reality show Geordie Shore. Stars Vicky Pattinson and Charlotte Crosby already competed in previous seasons. A radio host who loves to kiss and tell will have plenty of beans to spill Erin Molan is the first guess for this clue, after her on-air career of spilling a fair few details about her dating life on radio. Other guesses could be Tommy Little, or high profile hosts from KIIS FM such as Kyle or Jackie O. A sporting legend who is the queen of the court Fans online are adamant that this clue is not related to Margaret Court, given her recent spate of controversies. While some are certain the clue is pointing to former tennis champ Jelena Dokic, others have pointed out that ‘court’ could mean tennis, basketball or perhaps even another sport. Adding to those, the less detailed clues given in the TV teaser include a Brownlow Medal-winning “famous footballer”, a “comedian”, a “TV host”, a “boxing lightweight” and a “famous chef”. In the teaser clip, hosts Julia Morris and Chris Brown perform a high-energy musical number, set on a plane headed to South Africa where the show is set. Last season, veteran TV and radio host Dylan Lewis was crowned King of the Jungle, with singer Brooke McClymont named as runner-up and former AFL coach and player Nathan Buckley landing in third place. Image credits: Network Ten

Coins covered in coded clues will test your spy skills

A new, limited edition 50-cent coin covered in coded messages is more than just a mental puzzle for coin collectors - its creators hope it can help identify some of Australia’s next foreign intelligence recruits. The commemorative coin was released on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), the country’s foreign intelligence cybersecurity agency. Though they won’t be available for circulation, 50,00 of the unique coins will be available to purchase from the Royal Australian Mint. Each coin features four levels of coded messages that become more difficult to solve - though clues can be found on either side of the coin. <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRoyalAustralianMint%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0NUz7VxNyNToHFmQzbPFTNi2rYo4Vvngztz8nmQssosevJzo2ExGpxdp5fumXeXcol&show_text=false&width=500" width="500" height="498" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> ASD Director General Rachel Noble said the coin celebrated the work of the members of the agency and the evolution of code-breaking over the past seven-and-a-half decades. "Back in World War II, our people, military and civilian, and mostly women … used pencil and paper to decode Japanese military codes, and then re-encode them to send them out to the allies to let them know where Japanese war fighters were," she said. "We have used that part of our history in different layers, which represent the progress of encryption and technology through our 75 years." The puzzling currency also serves another purpose, with Ms Noble adding that those who can crack the codes could be "pretty well-placed" to work at the ASD. "We thought this was a really fun way to engage people in code-breaking with the hope that, if they make it through all four levels of coding on the coin, maybe they'll apply for a job at the Australian Signals Directorate," she said. Royal Mint chief executive Leugh Gordon said the coin was created with the help of cryptography experts, but that even with their help it still proved a challenge to get the codes onto the coin. "While the 50-cent piece is Australia's biggest coin, it still doesn't have a lot of surface area," he said. "Ensuring people could see the code to decrypt it was one of the challenges our people were able to solve with ASD, to create a unique and special product." It's not the first time secretive workplaces have used unusual recruiting drives, with the Australian Secret Intelligence Service releasing an online test targeting Australia's next generation of spies in 2017, while ASIO (Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) took to Instagram last year to show the secrecy surrounding the lives of modern spies. Ms Noble said those who crack the code won't get their hands on any top secret information, but instead will find "some wonderful, uplifting messages". "Like the early code breakers in ASD, you can get through some of the layers with but a pencil and paper but, right towards the end, you may need a computer to solve the last level," she said. Image: Royal Australian Mint

Money & Banking

Vital clue emerges in search for missing nine-year-old

Five days into their search for missing nine-year-old Charlise Mutten, police have received a vital clue from witnesses. Police and volunteers have continued to search bushland in the NSW Blue Mountains for signs of the girl, while droves of detectives searched for clues around the Mount Wilson estate where she was last seen. <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/news_article?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGZWJpenByZC5wb2xpY2UubnN3Lmdvdi5hdSUyRm1lZGlhJTJGOTk1OTYuaHRtbCZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">Officers</a> from local police, Police Rescue, the Dog Unit and PolAir are also involved in the search efforts, with assistance from the State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service (RFS), and NSW Ambulance. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> A large scale coordinated search operation continues in the Blue Mountains. Charlise was last seen wearing a pink top w/ a round neck collar, black skirt & pink Nike thongs. Anyone with info regarding the whereabouts of Charlise should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. <a href="https://t.co/JHtK9Nsgsb">https://t.co/JHtK9Nsgsb</a> — NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/nswpolice/status/1482132460527886343?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2022</a></blockquote> On Monday, neighbours provided <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/blue-mountains-missing-girl-charlise-mutten-police-new-south-wales/cbeb653e-c0da-44f4-ac10-80421b64c2fc" target="_blank">new information</a> about events prior to the reporting of Charlise’s disappearance on Friday, telling police they saw a car driving through the gates of the property at 4.30am. Charlise’s mother Kallista told police her daughter had disappeared on Thursday, but didn’t make a report until Friday morning. Her fiance Justin Stein then spent several hours speaking to police at Penrith on Friday afternoon, with his car being towed while he was at the station. Over the weekend, police seized a white boat from the Mount Wilson property where Charlise was last spotted, before divers searched the Hawkesbury River at Windsor on Sunday. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846882/mutten.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fc3a0795d42b4d32bb85138db1553c25" /> Divers searched the Hawkesbury River for signs of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten, who has been missing since Thursday, January 13. Image: 9News Monday’s search saw crews of volunteers trek across hundreds of kilometres, with NSW Rural Fire Service commander Peter Bennet saying one crew walked 10 kilometres across rough terrain. “It’s very rough terrain out here with canyons,” he said. Officers from the Homicide Squad are also heavily involved, though their investigations have been made difficult by conflicting accounts. <img style="width: 419.46308724832215px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846881/fjc1b-qacachmk4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b998ff4eb1954831b0b62406200e7c72" /> Charlise is described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 130 and 140cm tall, and has brown hair and brown eyes. Image: NSW Police (Twitter) Acting Superintendent John Nelson said police were working closely with Charlise’s family, including her mother. “For any parent, it’s a very distressing scenario,” he said. “She is quite distressed and we are providing her with support.” Charlise was last seen wearing a pink top with a round neck collar, a black knee-length skirt, and pink Nike thongs. Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Image: NSW Police (Twitter)

News

7 clues anyone can use to spot a liar

Is their face giving it away? You may think a smile can easily disguise your true feelings, but the expressions that flash across a liar’s face will give away what they are really thinking – whether they know it or not. Experts advise paying close attention to hard-to-hide micro-expressions; these clues are often so difficult to detect that even trained experts have trouble discerning them. But you may be able to spot a liar by the red colour on their cheeks since anxiety can cause people to blush. Other ways to tell if someone is lying? Flared nostrils, lip nibbling, deep breathing and rapid blinking, which hint that the brain is working overtime. Does the body language follow the story? It’s more important to examine a person’s entire demeanour, as there’s no one feature that’s apt to give away how to spot a liar. Honesty is characterised by features that are in sync with one another – so besides posture, note the fit between face, body, voice and speech. Like an animal avoiding detection, a liar may pull his arms and legs inward or keep his movements to a minimum – anything to appear smaller. Liars often shove their hands behind their back because those fidgety digits might give them away. How is ther person smiling? How to tell if someone is lying could come down to something as simple as a smile. A bright grin can sometimes mask a person’s true feelings. Pay close attention to how a person smiles as well as other facial movements. You may be able to detect the emotions he or she is trying to hide – such as fear, anger and disgust. A true smile will incorporate both a person’s lips and eyes. How is the person speaking? Although a change in voice can be the tip-off in how to spot a liar, experts say that to be sure, you should also pay attention to a person’s speech rate and breathing pattern – if it either speeds up or slows down, chances are you’re not hearing the whole truth. What is the person saying? Here’s how to tell if someone is lying; listen to their choice of words. Liars tend to avoid exclusionary words like “but,” “nor,” “except,” and “whereas,” because they have trouble with complex thought processes. Also, they are less likely to use the words “I,” “me,” and “mine.” In their attempts to distance themselves psychologically from their tall tales, liars will tend to communicate using fewer personal pronouns. Is your subject behaving uncharacteristically? Experts believe changes in a person’s baseline – how they generally conduct themselves – are worthy of your attention for how to spot a liar. You should weigh the rate of speech, the tone of voice, posture and hand gestures against what you know, along with the context of the situation. When your husband says “I loved the tie you bought me” while he’s wearing a tight smile that doesn’t reach his eyes, expect to see him in a turtleneck. Is the question simple or embarrassing? It’s normal for someone to look away when asked a difficult question. But when someone avoids your gaze when asked a simple question, you should be suspicious. This article first appeared in <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/relationships/7-clues-anyone-can-use-to-spot-a-liar" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Mind

New clue found in William Tyrrell search

Despite heavy rain dampening the search efforts for William Tyrrell, NSW police have extracted a new clue from the woodland area. Officers photographed and bagged a black piece of fabric on Sunday, which was located in the same area where two pieces of red strong were unearthed just days prior. The new piece of evidence has been sent away for testing. On Friday, an 8x8cm piece of faded blue fabric was also photographed, bagged and sent off for forensic testing after being found near a creek in the town of Kendall. Due to wild weather hindering the investigation, the search efforts are now expected to continue well into December. The area that police were searching was hit with 34mm of rain, with more flash flooding predicted to hit through the week. <div class="block-content"> <div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">"The conditions here have made life very difficult," <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/william-tyrrell-new-clue-found-in-nsw-woodland-search/b410ac45-6d7d-482b-accf-38874eda3c7f" target="_blank">9News</a> reporter Kelly Fedor told Today from the search site."</div> <div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"></div> <div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa">"Yesterday police focused on clearing ground. They started digging at a new location just to the right of the main search area, testing soil depths there because the sifting and the shovelling is just so hard in this wet weather."</div> </div> Several experts have been brought in to help in the search, including an archaeologist, forensic anthropologist and hydrologist Professor Jon Olley, who found murdered Queensland schoolboy Daniel Morcombe’s remains in 2011. Police are continuing to investigate the theory that William fell from a balcony at the home where he was last seen in 2014. William's foster mother is being treated as a person of interest in the case, but has not been arrested or charged. William was just three years old when he disappeared from his now-deceased foster grandmother's front yard seven years ago. Image credits: Nine News / NSW Police - PR Image

News

Huge new clue in search for missing campers

New clues have emerged in the case of missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay in relation to a specific vehicle police believe could crack the case. Mr Hill, 74, and Ms Clay, 73, disappeared while camping in Wonnangatta Valley, Victoria, in March 2020. Last week, police <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/police-make-major-breakthrough-in-search-for-missing-victorian-campers" target="_blank">released information</a> about a vehicle spotted near the campsite around the time of the pair’s disappearance that could be vital in their investigations. According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/missing-person/missing-wonnangatta-camper-case-new-key-clue-as-more-car-details-revealed-by-police-c-4559804" target="_blank">7NEWS</a>, more details are now known about the vehicle. <img style="width: 500px; height: 276.1538461538462px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845615/253bc47108aad4b750bfeac0c51e60b0b6e2433a.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2f0be3d1abd14e6e93b2946ddb1846a2" /> Image: 7NEWS The car is a blue ‘GU’ model Nissan Patrol wagon, and the five-door car is a Series 1 which would have been built between 1997 and 2001. But the biggest clue to help narrow down the search is that the car has an awning on one side with the name “KINGS” on it, as well as a PVC water pipe attached to the driver’s side. <img style="width: 500px; height: 264.61538461538464px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845616/66fe1f8fcaa9780c71f2702115d7046a189583a5.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/68f49608ac474ba9bf6d541d035ec9c1" /> Image: 7NEWS Police have said they want to speak to the driver or anyone who may have seen the vehicle at the time. “We can’t eliminate this vehicle. The person driving this vehicle is a person of interest,” Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said last week. Police also released images of charred items that were found inside the campers’ burnt-out tent, with authorities believing it unlikely that they would have put the items there. “The only reason we can assume that Russell didn’t camp in the best spot, was potentially there was somebody already there,” Detective Stamper said. “There’s been some sort of argument and maybe it’s escalated from there. “It’s a theory, but it’s probably the best theory we’ve got at the moment.” Image: Victoria Police

News

The cryptic clue hidden in Gabby Petito’s last text messages

As police have gained access to a hard drive found in a van belonging to 22-year-old Gabby Petito, more details have emerged about the last messages sent to her mother from Gabby’s phone. A Florida court granted investigators permission to access the hard drive, which was recovered during a search on September 14. The search warrant filing also included details of the last text message sent from Gabby’s phone to her mother, which read, “Can you help Stan, I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls.” Gabby’s mother, Nicole Schmidt, said that “Stan” was meant to refer to Gabby’s grandfather, but because he rarely goes by that name, she found the text “odd”, and it made her concerned that something was wrong with her daughter. Gabby’s phone was turned off later that day, on August 27th, and that message was the last contact any of her loved ones had with Gabby, except for a text sent from Gabby’s phone on August 30th that said, “No cell service in Yosemite”, that Schmidt does not believe was sent by Gabby herself. The search warrant was granted based upon new information that suggested Gabby was “unable to care for herself due to her increased anxiety”, including footage of police stopping Gabby and her fiance, Brian Laundrie, on a Utah highway after they received a <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/frightening-911-call-about-gabby-petito-revealed">911 call about the couple</a>. A body believed to be Gabby’s was found near a campsite in Wyoming on Sunday, and the police are treating Laundrie as a person of interest in the case. Laundrie returned to his family home in Florida on September 1 without Gabby, but disappeared 3 days ago, telling his family he was planning on hiking in a nearby reserve. The FBI has searched his family home, and agents were photographed removing evidence from the suburban home on Monday. Gabby and Laundrie left New York state in mid-June for a vacation in Utah, visiting a number of national parks along the way. They documented parts of their trip in a YouTube video titled, ‘VAN LIFE | Beginning Our Van Life Journey’. Gabby’s Instagram shows her in beautiful locales across Colorado and Utah. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2PStpXFEfIs" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Gabby’s Instagram posts have sparked much discussion online, primarily on the topic of her hair. Gabby’s last post, made a week ago and captioned, ‘Happy Halloween’, seems at odds with the rest of her content, depicting her in national parks compared to the relatively urban environment in front of some street art. People also pointed out that her hair looks freshly dyed in the Halloween post, whereas you can see her darker roots starting to show in the photos taken in the national parks. This discrepancy has led people to suggest that Gabby herself didn’t make her last Instagram post, a suggestion which corresponds with her mother’s own. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTA__ISJZYY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CTA__ISJZYY/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Gabby (@gabspetito)</a> </div> </blockquote>

News

Bindi's newest major clue that the baby is already here

Rumours are rife that Bindi Irwin has already given birth. Fans have been speculating that the pregnant 22-year-old and her husband Chandler Powell may have secretly become parents without announcing it to the world. Whispers began after some unusual social media activity from the wildlife warrior. Photos of Bindi's growing baby bump have featured on her Instagram page throughout her pregnancy - until six days ago. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMp_-Z8BpuE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMp_-Z8BpuE/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a> </div> </blockquote> Fans now believe that she has already delivered her baby. On Sunday, rather than sharing a new image, Bindi posted a black and white throwback photo that had previously appeared on her husband's Instagram account. The image shows the couple cradling Bindi's baby bump, with the caption: "My world". On Monday, Bindi didn't post a photo of her bump at all, instead choosing to post an image of a possum wrapped in a blanket. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMsbcyNheem/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CMsbcyNheem/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a> </div> </blockquote> Speaking of the speculation, The Morning Show entertainment editor Peter Ford said: “In recent weeks, she’s been putting up pictures of her baby bump, but for this latest one she’s hasn’t put up a baby bump, she’s actually put up a possum in a blanket picture.” “That’s what they’re basing it off.” It could be that Bindi and Chandler are keeping their first child’s arrival under wraps so they can enjoy their first days of parenthood in private. But they may also have inked a magazine or television deal for the big announcement.

News

Terri Irwin gives big clue on Bindi’s baby name

Terri Irwin has given fans a major “clue” on Bindi’s baby name. As the world waits in anticipation for more details about the wildlife conservationist’s first child with husband Chandler Powell, Terri has given a big clue. In a new interview with The Morning Show, the grandmother to-be revealed that Bindi and Chandler are likely to name their first child after someone in the family. “I do have a bit of a scoop, which is that they are looking at family tree names,” Terri said. She said that Bindi and her husband were looking at “some of the names within my side of the family and Chandler’s side of the family to get ideas”. “You know how people go to baby names online - they’re looking at the family tree. “So there’s a clue for all of us.” <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKhUpvmhDc6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CKhUpvmhDc6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Bindi Irwin (@bindisueirwin)</a> </div> </blockquote> The 56-year-old also revealed what she would like Bindi’s baby to call her. “In Europe they often call grandmothers bunny, so I’m going to be ‘grandma bunny.’ “I thought that was really cute. Bindi’s brother, Robert Irwin, said his big sister and her husband were yet to settle on a name for their impending bundle of joy. “I think they’ve got ideas, but they really want to see the little one, that’s what Bindi and Chandler are saying,” he explained. “They want to see this beautiful little girl, hold her and then come up with a name.”

Family & Pets

Coronavirus reinfection cases: what we know so far – and the vital missing clues

To date, there have been six published cases of COVID-19 reinfection, with various other unverified accounts from around the world. Although this is a comparably small fraction of the millions of people known to have been infected, should we be concerned? To unpick this puzzle, we must first consider what we mean by immunity. How immunity works When we are infected with any pathogen, our immune system quickly responds to try to contain the threat and minimise any damage. Our first line of defence is from immune cells, known as innate cells. These cells are not usually enough to eliminate a threat, which is where having a more flexible “adaptive” immune response comes into play – our lymphocytes. Lymphocytes come in two main varieties: B lymphocytes, which make antibodies, and T lymphocytes, which include cells that directly kill the germy invaders. As antibodies are readily measured in blood, they are often used to indicate a good adaptive immune response. However, over time, antibodies levels in our blood wane, but this doesn’t necessarily mean protection is lost. We retain some lymphocytes that know how to deal with the threat – our memory cells. Memory cells are remarkably long-lived, patrolling our body, ready to spring into action when needed. Vaccines work by creating memory cells without the risk of a potentially fatal infection. In an ideal world, it would be relatively easy to create immunity, but it’s not always that straightforward. Although our immune system has evolved to deal with a huge variety of pathogens, these germs have also evolved to hide from the immune system. This arms race means that some pathogens such as malaria or HIV are very tricky to deal with. Infections that have spilled over from animals - zoonotic diseases - are also challenging for our immune system because they can be completely novel. The virus that causes COVID-19 is such a zoonotic disease, originating in bats. COVID-19 is caused by a betacoronavirus. Several betacoronaviruses are already common in the human population – most familiar as a cause of the common cold. Immunity to these cold-causing viruses isn’t that robust but immunity to the more serious conditions, Mers and Sars, is more durable. Data to date on COVID-19 shows that antibodies can be detected three months after infection, although, as with Sars and Mers, antibodies gradually decrease over time. Of course, antibody levels are not the only indication of immunity and don’t tell us about T lymphocytes or our memory cells. The virus causing COVID-19 is structurally similar to Sars, so perhaps we can be more optimistic about a more durable protective response – time will tell. So how worried then should we be about reports of reinfection with COVID-19? How worried should we be? The handful of case reports on reinfection with COVID-19 don’t necessarily mean that immunity is not occurring. Issues with testing could account for some reports because “virus” can be detected after infection and recovery. The tests look for viral RNA (the virus’s genetic material), and viral RNA that cannot cause infection can be shed from the body even after the person has recovered. Conversely, false-negative results happen when the sample used in testing contains insufficient viral material to be detected – for example, because the virus is at a very low level in the body. Such apparent negative results may account for cases in which the interval between the first and second infection is short. It is hugely important, therefore, to use additional measures, such as viral sequencing and immune indicators. Reinfection, even in immunity, can happen, but usually this would be mild or asymptomatic because the immune response protects against the worst effects. Consistent with this is that most verified cases of reinfection reported either no or mild symptoms. However, one of the latest verified cases of reinfection – which happened just 48 days after the initial infection – actually had a more severe response to reinfection. What might account for the worse symptoms the second time round? One possibility is the patient did not mount a robust adaptive immune response first time round and that their initial infection was largely contained by the innate immune response (the first line of defence). One way to monitor this would be to assess the antibody response as the type of antibody detected can tell us something about the timing of infection. But unfortunately, antibody results were not analysed in the recent patient’s first infection. Another explanation is that different viral strains caused the infections with a subsequent impact on immunity. Genetic sequencing did show differences in viral strains, but it isn’t known if this equated to altered immune recognition. Many viruses share structural features, enabling immune responses to one virus to protect against a similar virus. This has been suggested to account for the lack of symptoms in young children who frequently get colds caused by betacoronaviruses. However, a recent study, yet to be peer-reviewed, found that protection against cold-causing coronaviruses did not protect against COVID-19. In fact, antibodies recognising similar viruses can be dangerous – accounting for the rare phenomenon of antibody-dependent enhancement of disease (ADE). ADE occurs when antibodies enhance viral infection of cells with potentially life-threatening consequences. It should be emphasised, though, that antibodies are only one indicator of immunity and we have no data on either T lymphocytes or memory cells in these cases. What these cases emphasise is a need to standardised approaches in order to capture the critical information for robust evaluation of the threat of reinfection. We are still learning about the immune response to COVID-19, and every piece of new data is helping us unpick the puzzle of this challenging virus. Our immune system is a powerful ally in the fight against infection, and only by unlocking it can we ultimately hope to defeat COVID-19. Written by Sheena Cruickshank. This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-reinfection-cases-what-we-know-so-far-and-the-vital-missing-clues-147960">The Conversation</a>.

International Travel

The key clue that gave away The Cactus

Six masked celebs took the stage on Monday night on The Masked Singer, disguised as Kitten, Bushranger, Puppet, Cactus, Queen and Frillneck. And it was finally Cactus who was forced to unmask. Musical theatre star Lucy Durack was unveiled, and it was guesser extraordinaire Dannii Minogue who locked in the correct call. They key clue for Dannii all came down to the strangely familiar way Cactus stood on stage. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837613/daily.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8a3e8a313a594491b298236803f64270" /> “What struck me from the first performance was the turned-out feet. I found a picture of Lucy Durack, who was standing exactly the way that I’ve seen you standing,” Dannii said after Durack’s performance of Total Eclipse Of The Heart. Last week, X-Factor winner Isaiah Firebrace revealed himself as the Wizard. Sophie Monk also pulled off her Dragonfly mask to shocked judges. The two big reveals follow closely behind international sports star Mark Philippoussis, cricketing legend Michael Bevan, iconic singer Christine Anu and five-time ARIA winner Katie Noonan.

Music

All the clues so far for The Masked Singer 2020

As the 12 new celebrities take to the stage in the latest season of The Masked Singer in their hilariously disturbing costumes, Channel 10 has slowly been giving excited fans clues about each of the celebs under the masks. All we know for now is that 2020’s contestants include Hollywood actors, a big name from an Emmy award-winning series, ARIA winners, a triple Olympian, Logie winners, a recording artist with 22 platinum and 11 gold records, and World Cup winners. There are rumours that Eurovision star Dami Im, comedian Tommy Little and Neighbours actress Madeleine West are a few of the celebrities believed to be appearing this season. With all the clues that have been released, we have managed to collate them all together in anticipation of the new season beginning on Tuesday. Frillneck says: "I’ve always been a stand-up guy, who hangs with birds of a feather." Fans believe the masked singer may be a stand-up comedian and guesses include Ed Kavalee, Tommy Little, Sam Pang and Beau Ryan. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837267/masked-singer-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b74df874a74f4b84ab607a135388a734" /> Echidna says: "I only know one way to go... pedal to the metal from start to finish." Echidna's video clue has confused many as it depicts the animal five records that have been arranged to look like the Olympic rings. He's also seen rocking a cradle with a... cat in it. In another scene shared to Instagram, Echidna is shown taking part in some sort of running race. Viewers have guessed this contestant may be a TV presenter and racing enthusiast Grant Denyer and former Olympic sprinter turned race car driver John Steffensen. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837268/masked-singer-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9ea0d5b450f3489c99f971663a190f5d" /> Dragonfly says: "I may be classically trained, but I’m famous for some other moves." Fans think that this contestant may just be Kate Miller-Heidke who was trained as a classical singer or Australia’s Got Talent judge Lucy Durack. Other guesses are Dami Im and The Wiggles’ Emma Watkins. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837263/masked-singer-9.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/6d291d7367f84694a437d2ef980c91fc" /> Cactus says: "When they hear my voice, they’ll be yelling 'You grow girl'," which doesn't give away too much. In another Instagram post, Cactus says: "Don't let my looks fool you. I'm dangerous, but I would rather keep that private." Names like Sia, Ruby Rose and Lucy Durack have been thrown into the mix so far. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837261/masked-singer-11.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/057c9d6f14094a5ea357b130755170d9" /> Wizard says: "My childhood neighbours hated my singing voice, but who’s having the last laugh now!" Fans think this contestant may be be a previous or current Neighbours star. Jason Donovan, who played Scott Robinson on the show. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837262/masked-singer-10.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f2cc7c6ed72f47678f93e60078e524f3" /> Queen says: "My sporting pedigree can’t be denied... and that doesn’t just take the cake." Guesses are former MasterChef contestant Justine Schofield who used to date sports presenter Matt Doran or jockey Michelle Payne. Hammerhead says: "I’ve never started a fight... but I always nail them in the end!" Viewers think Hammerhead may be TV and radio presenter Tom Williams, retired Australian rules footballer Barry Hall or horticulturist and TV presenter Jamie Durie. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837266/masked-singer-3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/04c893ed8fd940a3917f68bde69903c3" /> Bushranger says: "I'm not afraid to take the gloves off... and get my hands a little dirty." Guesses based off of the “glove off” comment surround boxer or gardener. Guesses include Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis or professional boxer Danny Green. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837264/masked-singer-8.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/bf968d8f40384d448589b0ddc7d5912c" /> Goldfish says: "I’m not just gold, I’m quite precious... and a lot tougher than I look." The "gold" in goldfish's clue seems to point to an Olympian or some sort of athlete. Olympic swimmer Stephanie Rice, professional boxer Lauryn Eagle or one of the players from the Australian Diamonds netball team are some of the guesses being made. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837271/masked-singer-3-gold-fish.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/98517d969dd74e20bcbbd101afdabac5" /> Puppet says: "I’ve had my brush with royalty... and a long time in a court of law." Viewers are convinced Anh Do may be hiding under puppet's incredibly disturbing costume. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837270/masked-singer-4.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/52dd94c6520043fa9f6dfa120c8255eb" /> Sloth says: "I have quite the way with words, even when they’re not mine." Sloth's clue doesn't give us a lot of information, so guesses are limited. However, many believe this contestant could be an actor or TV presenter. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837275/masked-singer-13.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/5b5f4ec56d6c4bd3ac0b53b4a2d68015" /> The Masked Singer airs on Monday, August 10 at 7.30pm on Channel 10.

Music

The clue in Archie’s name that gave away the Sussex’s plans to leave

The news of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announcing their departure from the British Royal Family has left many shocked at the decision. However, for royal fans that have kept a close eye on the couple, the decision wasn’t a surprise and it all comes down to the naming of their eight-month-old son Archie. Before Archie was born, there were whispers about what his name would be, and it was expected that the newborn would receive a royal title. As per royal tradition, Archie could have assumed the title Earl of Dumbarton, but the new parents decided to opt out of the title. Instead, Harry and Meghan decided to name him Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, also known as Master Archie. Speaking to <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1228263/baby-archie-news-meghan-markle-news-prince-harry-sussex-royal-instagram" target="_blank">The Express</a>, Majesty magazine managing editor Joe Little said that the name choice for Archie could have signalled the first sign that the couple were planning to break rank. "The fact Archie isn't Earl of Dumbarton or styled HRH makes me wonder whether this wasn't already part of a wider masterplan," he told the publication. Others are saying that the couple’s request for privacy surrounding the birth of Archie when Duchess Kate had a photoshoot on the steps of the hospital after the birth of her children signalled that something was wrong. <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BiEdt8tgxso/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <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> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BiEdt8tgxso/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son Louis Arthur Charles. The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge.</a> <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 post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/kensingtonroyal/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Kensington Palace</a> (@kensingtonroyal) on Apr 27, 2018 at 3:00am PDT </div> </blockquote> The speculation comes after the Queen issued a statement after ironing out some of the details of the Duke and Duchess of Sussexes departure from the royal family. “My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan’s desire to create a new life as a young family,” the statement reads. “Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working Members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family. “It has therefore been agreed that there will be a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK. “These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days.” Some royal commentators noted that the Queen not referencing to the couple as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex by their titles means that they might be stripped of their titles in the future. However, Prince Harry’s biographer Penny Junor was impressed by the statement from the Queen. “It’s quite optimistic. It’s the best that could be hoped for,” she explained. “At least she’s telling us they will be part of her family. She couldn’t have done anything else. There was a gun to her head.”

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Can you name these ‘80s movies with just 3 clues?

The 1980s were one of the best decades for film, with some iconic movies coming out during that time. And with hit flicks such as Back to the Future and Ghostbusters defining the era, there were plenty of other movies that only true movie buffs would know about. Take the <a href="https://www.playbuzz.com/publisherclearinghouse/can-you-name-these-80s-movies-with-just-3-clues">Playbuzz</a> quiz below to test your knowledge on ‘80s movies! <div class="playbuzz" data-id="95de3245-75ab-44a5-b673-536c8aaaf140" data-show-share="false" data-show-info="false" data-comments="false"></div>

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