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Qantas connects two destinations for the first time in 50 years

Qantas has announced a new international route that will see Aussies connected to a popular holiday destination for the first time in 50 years. Two return flights will operate each week between Sydney and Papua New Guinea's Port Moresby, adding to the service already running to the island nation from Brisbane. “These flights will meet the growing demand from the business community for travel between Australia and Papua New Guinea,” Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas International and Freight, said. “Our new Sydney service will save customers at least three hours in travel time on return trip by avoiding a stopover in Brisbane.” The route is the latest international service to be added to Qantas’ network out of Sydney, with the airline suggesting it will support both business and trade between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Trailing behind island nations such as Fiji and Indonesia, Papua New Guinea's tourism industry is steadily growing in popularity largely due to containing the world’s third largest rainforest, crystal clear waters, and 45,000km of coral reefs. As the number of annual travellers to PNG increases, so does accommodation options, with Marriott International announcing earlier this year that they would be expanding their accommodation into Papua New Guinea, marketing those wishing to have an “extended stay”. “We are thrilled to establish our inaugural foothold in Papua New Guinea with this milestone opening”, said Sean Hunt, area vice-president of Australia, New Zealand and Pacific for Marriott International, in a statement. “This is also a debut for the Marriott Executive Apartments brand in the region, allowing us to diversify our offering to cater to ambitious and adventurous travellers who seek a premium, trusted extended-stay experience.” While the new tourism initiatives have been put in place to help boost the economy of PNG, Papua New Guinea currently has travel advisory warnings in place, with SmartTraveller urging visitors to “exercise a high degree of caution in Papua New Guinea overall due to high levels of serious crime, with “higher levels” applying in some areas. Image credits: Shutterstock

International Travel

Police officer sought in connection to disappearance of two men

A NSW police officer is sought in connection to the suspicious disappearance of two men, who haven't been heard from since Monday. Former Studio 10 host Jesse Baird and his boyfriend Luke Davies were last seen four days ago, with police launching an investigation into their disappearance. A number of their personal items, including a watch, clothes, credit cards and keys were found by a worker in Club Cronulla, with blood stains present on the items. Police have also searched two homes during their investigation - one in Balmain and one in Paddington - with officers "immediately" establishing a crime scene at the Paddington home after finding blood spatters. According to officers, a “significant” amount of blood consistent with a fatality and signs of a struggle were discovered inside Mr Baird’s Paddington home on Thursday afternoon. More personal items belonging to the couple were recovered from a skip bin 20 kilometres from the home in question. Police have called for Constable Beau Lamarre to come forward as part of their investigation, who is the ex-boyfriend of one of the men. Friends of Baird have revealed he previously expressed concerns he was being stalked by another man. Police confirmed on Thursday they wanted to speak to Constable Lamarre in relation to the case and were desperately trying to reach him. "Following inquiries, detectives are looking at a line of inquiry that a third person may be able to assist with the investigation," NSW Police said, in a statement. "Police are currently trying to locate him." Police have not said that the officer was involved in the disappearance, only that they would like to speak to him, as no arrest warrant has been issued. Image credits: Instagram

Legal

"I want answers": Simon Dorante-Day's cunning plan to prove royal connections

The Queensland man claiming to be the son of King Charles and Queen Camilla has shared his new plan to prove once and for all that he has royal family connections. Simon Dorante-Day has long claimed through his 30 years of research, he discovered that he is the illegitimate son of the monarch, and has attempted to prove his theory through various means. Now, his new plan to get his hands on royal DNA to unequivocally prove his family heritage involves another member of the royal family. Speaking with <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/aussie-man-claiming-to-be-charles-son-drops-new-prince-harry-dna-bombshell-c-13488374" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>, the 57-year-old said he and his wife have been told by a “trusted source” that Prince Harry could be amenable to helping them gather proof. “We got advice from a really good, really trusted source that we should approach Harry and make a connection there and ask for DNA,” Elvianna said. Simon added, “I was really taken aback when he said that. But it’s definitely something I’m going to do. I’ve long been a supporter of Harry and Meghan, I think it’s disgraceful the way they’ve been treated by the royal family." “The way they are treated on social media too, it’s just one big ‘Punch-Meghan-and-Harry-a-thon’, seriously. It’s really starting to annoy me." He said he is planning to "make contact with him and explore this as an opportunity," pointing out that the royal family's treatment of Harry could make him more willing to help. "At the end of the day, I feel like he just might be as keen as I am to expose what Charles and Camilla and the powers that be have done to me. The injustice." “It’s worth me pointing out that Charles and Camilla, Buckingham Palace, the entire royal family - not one of them has ever said my claims are not true. They’ve never denied what I believe, told me I’m wrong." Simon said “the wheels are in motion” in terms of making contact with Prince Harry, and that he’s hopeful of a positive outcome. “I want answers,” he said. “And I feel Prince Harry is the man to help me find them.” “And I think their silence speaks volumes.” Simon said “the wheels are in motion” in terms of making contact with Prince Harry, and that he’s hopeful of a positive outcome. “I want answers,” he said. “And I feel Prince Harry is the man to help me find them.” Image credits: Facebook / Getty Images

Family & Pets

Embracing friendships in adulthood: A guide to making meaningful connections

Navigating the landscape of friendship in adulthood might initially appear daunting, but the profound impact that it can have on our mental well-being is huge. Not only do friendships foster a sense of camaraderie, but they nurture feelings of belonging and acceptance. Important at every life stage, it’s not uncommon to encounter challenges in building new friendships as we age and embark on differing paths. However, Jacqui Manning, Resident Psychologist at Connected Women, a female-driven organisation dedicated to cultivating friendships for women over 50, is here to impart her invaluable tips and tricks, paving the way for a friend-finding journey that unfolds with ease and fulfilment. “Forming new friendships in adulthood may take a little more time and effort, but it doesn’t have to be scary,” Jacqui explains. “Approaching the prospect of making a friend with genuine curiosity and a shared interest can transform the experience into an exciting journey rather than a daunting task. Focus on common ground, be open-minded, and embrace the adventure of getting to know someone new. By emphasising shared interests and creating a comfortable, judgment-free space, the process of making a friend becomes a welcoming exploration rather than an intimidating challenge." Stay Open It can be a slippery slope once we let our thoughts spiral into the possibility of rejection. Instead of worrying, why not consider all the opportunities to grow a connection? Jacqui explains, “As we age, the energy we have to make friends can dwindle, making it natural to withdraw into the comfort of our own shell. However, the need for connection is as strong as ever. This serves as an important reminder to be open. Deeper connections won’t have the chance to form if we keep one another at arm’s length so engage in conversations about hobbies and discuss any goals or anxieties openly, as it is through this openness that a profound connection is likely to be forged. Find Your Community Finding a group of new friends could be as simple as enjoying your favourite pastime. Like attracts like, and finding a like-minded group who share similar interests could be the key to unlocking more meaningful relationships. “Whether it’s joining a book club, cooking class, yoga, or bonding over a game of cards, whatever your passion may be, start by kicking off a conversation with someone who participates in a shared activity. While exploring a new hobby is fantastic, consider turning your attention closer to home and connecting with those who already share your interests,” Jacqui adds. Take Note Long-lasting friendships can fill gaps in our life we never knew existed. As Jacqui explains, “Take note of how supported you currently feel and if there are any areas that may need a little nudge. Reflection will invariably help to narrow down the type of friendship you may be seeking and allow you to better understand your own needs. Through self-reflection, you gain invaluable insights that not only pinpoint the specific type of friendship you might be yearning for but also enhance your understanding of your own emotional requirements. This conscious exploration becomes a compass, guiding you toward the relationships that can truly fulfil and enrich your life.” The journey of making friendships in adulthood is not without its challenges, but the rewards are immeasurable. As Jacqui reminds us, being open to new connections, actively engaging in shared interests, and conducting self-reflection are key elements in fostering meaningful relationships. “The path to forming long-lasting bonds involves stepping out of our comfort zones, whether by joining a new group, pursuing shared activities, or simply initiating conversations. Remember, the richness of these connections lies not just in the joy of shared experiences but also in the support and understanding they provide,” Jacqui concludes, Friendships in adulthood are well worth investing in, providing fulfilment, support, and the delight of shared moments. So, embrace the adventure, take note of your needs, and savour the delight of building connections that truly enrich your life. Ready to try your hand at building new friendships? Visit <a href="https://www.connectedwomen.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener">connectedwomen.net </a> About Connected Women Jacqui Manning is the Resident Psychologist at Connected Women, bringing with her over two decades of experience. Founded in 2022, Connected Women facilitates friendships for women over 50 through a range of online and in-person events. With the rising epidemic of loneliness impacting Australians now more than ever, Connected Women aims to provide a community in which women can feel free to be themselves, connect with like-minded women and build life-long friendships. Launched in Perth, Western Australia, Connected Women now also operates in New South Wales and Victoria, with plans to grow its network to Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia in the coming year. With a small monthly membership fee, women can join Connected Women events, share, and connect over areas of interest, and connect with women in their local areas to arrange meet-ups. Whether members prefer big events with lots of action and adventure, or quiet meetups around the local neighbourhood, Connected Women is committed to providing a safe and inclusive space for women to find their feet and build new friendships in a space that feels most comfortable to them. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

The transformative power of effective communication

Effective communication can be hard and it’s not something that can come easily to us. Yet it's an important tool to invest in as it can have a profound impact on relationship healing, self-discovery and navigating life’s challenges. While the significance of good communication resonates at any stage in life, its value becomes even more pronounced as we age, emerging as an increasingly invaluable tool for fostering understanding, connection, and resilience in both our romantic, and platonic relationships. Jacqui Manning is a Resident Psychologist at Connected Women, an organisation that facilitates friendships for women over 50 through a range of online and in-person events. Here, Jacqui shares how effective communication can elevate and enrich your life across various scenarios and shares her top tips on how to become a more effective communicator. “It’s crucial for us at any stage in life to pause, reflect and make an investment in refining our communication skills, as it’s important to recognise the pivotal role it plays in personal growth and meaningful connections,” explains Jacqui. “While we navigate the complexities of life, effective communication becomes crucial for elevating every interaction, good or bad. Now is the opportune moment to seize the power that effective communication can have and implement it into a multitude of scenarios and day-to-day interactions.” Fixing Broken Friendships Let's talk about something many of us have experienced – the breakdown of a friendship. It’s a universal encounter that resonates with many. Whether you take divergent paths, differ in your evolving priorities or due to unforeseen conflicts, the unravelling of a friendship can be a poignant and challenging chapter in women’s lives. Yet, it is precisely within these moments of fracture that the potential for growth, resilience and renewal emerges. “Effective communication serves as the mender of the fractures within a broken relationship. When nurtured with openness, honesty and empathy, communication allows individuals to express their feelings, share perspectives and understand each other’s needs,” explains Jacqui. “This positive communication fosters a sense of mutual respect, enabling individuals to rebuild trust and create a foundation for a healthier, more resilient friendship. It’s the key to unlocking understanding, finding common ground, and revitalising the emotional bonds that may have been strained. In essence, the power of effective communication lies in its ability to reconcile differences and pave the way for a renewed and strengthened connection.” Navigating Life's Challenges Effective communication isn't just a solution for broken friendships; it's also a compass for when life gets tough. According to Jacqui, when facing obstacles, the act of vocalising your concerns or feelings to a friend or partner can be a transformative experience. “Verbalising your thoughts and feelings not only clarifies your own understanding but also allows those close to you to provide valuable perspective and insights. Sharing your problems takes the weight off your shoulders and offers a sense of relief.” Jacqui continues “In the act of confiding, you not only release the emotional burden but also open the door to shared solutions and a mutual journey towards growth and resilience. It transforms a solitary struggle into a collaborative effort, strengthening the bonds that tie individuals together. Effective communication therefore becomes a powerful tool for not only navigating life’s trails but also for fostering resilience, deepening connections, and finding solace.” Embracing Your True Self In the middle stage of life, many women grapple with questions about who they really are and what they want. Jacqui suggests that effective communication can serve as a powerful tool for self-discovery and acceptance, paving the way to embracing one’s true self. She explains, “When we articulate our thoughts, feelings and aspirations, whether through self-reflection or sharing with others, it brings our authentic identity to the forefront. “In conversations where we openly communicate our values and beliefs, we not only strengthen our understanding of who we are but also create spaces for acceptance and validation. In this process, we find liberation and empowerment and connectedness, as our true self is celebrated and allowed to flourish,” she said. So, how can you become a more effective communicator? Jacqui recommends the following five tips: Empower with Language: Be mindful of your words, choosing language that uplifts and encourages rather than criticises or blames. Language is a powerful tool; use it to empower those around you. Clear Expression: Clearly articulate your feelings and emotions, avoiding assumptions and accusations. Use “I” statements to express your perspective without placing blame, fostering open communication. Empathy: Try to understand how others feel by putting yourself in their shoes and allowing space for others to express themselves fully, resisting the urge to rush to conclusions or judgment or tell a story to explain. Vulnerability: Embrace vulnerability as a source of strength. Don’t be afraid to share your authentic self, including fears, concerns, and challenges, to build trust and strengthen connections with others. Solution Focussed Dialogue: Approach conversations with a focus on finding solutions rather than dwelling on problems. This forward-thinking mindset contributes to a more positive and constructive discourse. Effective communication isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. It's a journey of self-discovery and connection. It has the potential to mend bonds, guide you through life's challenges, and empower you to be your true self. We need to remember to take a step back, re-evaluate our communication and identify areas for improvement. For more information visit <a href="https://www.connectedwomen.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener">connectedwomen.net </a> About Connected Women Jacqui Manning is the resident psychologist at Connected Women, bringing with her over two decades of experience. Founded in 2022, Connected Women facilitates friendships for women over 50 through a range of online and in-person events. With the rising epidemic of loneliness impacting Australians now more than ever - Connected Women aims to provide a community in which women can feel free to be themselves, connect with like-minded women and build life-long friendships. Launched in Perth, Western Australia, Connected Women now also operates in NSW and Victoria, with plans to grow its network to QLD, ACT and SA in the coming year. With a small monthly membership fee, women can join Connected Women events, share and connect over areas of interest, and connect with women in their local areas to arrange meet ups. Whether members prefer big events with lots of action and adventure, or quiet meet ups and walks around the local neighbourhood, Connected Women is committed to providing a safe and inclusive space for women to find their feet and build new friendships in a space that feels most comfortable to them. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

Does running water really trigger the urge to pee? Experts explain the brain-bladder connection

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-overs-1458017">James Overs</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-homewood-1458022">David Homewood</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/melbourne-health-950">Melbourne Health</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-elizabeth-oconnell-ao-1458226">Helen Elizabeth O'Connell AO</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/simon-robert-knowles-706104">Simon Robert Knowles</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a> We all know that feeling when nature calls – but what’s far less understood is the psychology behind it. Why, for example, do we get the urge to pee just before getting into the shower, or when we’re swimming? What brings on those “nervous wees” right before a date? Research suggests our brain and bladder are in constant communication with each other via a neural network called the <a href="https://www.einj.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.5213/inj.2346036.018">brain-bladder axis</a>. This complex web of circuitry is comprised of sensory neural activity, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. These neural connections allow information to be sent <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12123119">back and forth</a> between the brain and bladder. The brain-bladder axis not only facilitates the act of peeing, but is also responsible for telling us we need to go in the first place. <h2>How do we know when we need to go?</h2> As the bladder fills with urine and expands, this activates special receptors detecting stretch in the nerve-rich lining of the bladder wall. This information is then relayed to the “periaqueductal gray” – a part of the brain in the brainstem which <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2401">constantly monitors</a> the bladder’s filling status. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.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/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=454&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=454&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=454&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=570&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=570&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/547931/original/file-20230913-19-2kgkhk.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=570&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption>The periaqueductal gray is a section of gray matter located in the midbrain section of the brainstem. <a class="source" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstem#/media/File:1311_Brain_Stem.jpg">Wikimedia/OpenStax</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></figcaption></figure> Once the bladder reaches a certain threshold (roughly 250-300ml of urine), another part of the brain called the “pontine micturition centre” is activated and signals that the bladder needs to be emptied. We, in turn, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16254993/">register this</a> as that all-too-familiar feeling of fullness and pressure down below. Beyond this, however, a range of situations can trigger or exacerbate our need to pee, by increasing the production of urine and/or stimulating reflexes in the bladder. <h2>Peeing in the shower</h2> If you’ve ever felt the need to pee while in the shower (no judgement here) it may be due to the sight and sound of running water. In a 2015 study, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0126798">researchers demonstrated</a> that males with urinary difficulties found it easier to initiate peeing when listening to the sound of running water being played on a smartphone. Symptoms of overactive bladder, including urgency (a sudden need to pee), have also been <a href="https://www.alliedacademies.org/articles/environmental-cues-to-urgency-and-incontinence-episodes-in-chinesepatients-with-overactive-urinary-bladder-syndrome.html">linked to</a> a range of environmental cues involving running water, including washing your hands and taking a shower. This is likely due to both physiology and psychology. Firstly, the sound of running water may have a relaxing physiological effect, increasing activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. This would relax the bladder muscles and prepare the bladder for emptying. At the same time, the sound of running water may also have a conditioned psychological effect. Due to the countless times in our lives where this sound has coincided with the actual act of peeing, it may trigger an instinctive reaction in us to urinate. This would happen in the same way <a href="https://www.simplypsychology.org/pavlov.html">Pavlov’s dog learnt</a>, through repeated pairing, to salivate when a bell was rung. <h2>Cheeky wee in the sea</h2> But it’s not just the sight or sound of running water that makes us want to pee. Immersion in cold water has been shown to cause a “cold shock response”, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19945970">which activates</a> the sympathetic nervous system. This so-called “fight or flight” response drives up our blood pressure which, in turn, causes our kidneys to filter out more fluid from the bloodstream to stabilise our blood pressure, in a process called “<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF00864230">immersion diuresis</a>”. When this happens, our bladder fills up faster than normal, triggering the urge to pee. Interestingly, immersion in very warm water (such as a relaxing bath) may also increase urine production. In this case, however, it’s due to activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s004210050065">One study</a> demonstrated an increase in water temperature from 40℃ to 50℃ reduced the time it took for participants to start urinating. Similar to the effect of hearing running water, the authors of the study suggest being in warm water is calming for the body and activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This activation can result in the relaxation of the bladder and possibly the pelvic floor muscles, bringing on the urge to pee. <h2>The nervous wee</h2> We know stress and anxiety can cause bouts of nausea and butterflies in the tummy, but what about the bladder? Why do we feel a sudden and frequent urge to urinate at times of heightened stress, such as before a date or job interview? When a person becomes stressed or anxious, the body goes into fight-or-flight mode through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. This triggers a cascade of physiological changes designed to prepare the body to face a perceived threat. As part of this response, the muscles surrounding the bladder may contract, leading to a more urgent and frequent need to pee. Also, as is the case during immersion diuresis, the increase in blood pressure associated with the stress response may <a href="https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI102496">stimulate</a> the kidneys to produce more urine. <h2>Some final thoughts</h2> We all pee (most of us several times a day). Yet <a href="https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.1150">research has shown</a> about 75% of adults know little about how this process actually works – and even less about the brain-bladdder axis and its role in urination. <a href="https://www.continence.org.au/about-us/our-work/key-statistics-incontinence#:%7E:text=Urinary%20incontinence%20affects%20up%20to,38%25%20of%20Australian%20women1.">Most Australians</a> will experience urinary difficulties at some point in their lives, so if you ever have concerns about your urinary health, it’s extremely important to consult a healthcare professional. And should you ever find yourself unable to pee, perhaps the sight or sound of running water, a relaxing bath or a nice swim will help with getting that stream to flow.<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/210808/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/james-overs-1458017">James Overs</a>, Research Assistant, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-homewood-1458022">David Homewood</a>, Urology Research Registrar, Western Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/melbourne-health-950">Melbourne Health</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-elizabeth-oconnell-ao-1458226">Helen Elizabeth O'Connell AO</a>, Professor, University of Melbourne, Department of Surgery. President Urological Society Australia and New Zealand, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/simon-robert-knowles-706104">Simon Robert Knowles</a>, Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/swinburne-university-of-technology-767">Swinburne University of Technology</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/does-running-water-really-trigger-the-urge-to-pee-experts-explain-the-brain-bladder-connection-210808">original article</a>.

Mind

Connection, camaraderie and belonging: why the Matildas could be making you a sports fan for the very first time

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-tillott-1462234">Sarah Tillott</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/diarmuid-hurley-1462235">Diarmuid Hurley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a> With over seven million Australians hooked onto the world cup viewing, many who have never really been interested in sports have recently found themselves screaming at the TV, cheering in pubs and hugging complete strangers. Have you found yourself in this new legion of sports fans, and wondering how you got here? It is likely down to many factors. There is of course the incredible talent on display, the <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/world-cup-2023-matildas-captain-sam-kerr-gives-prized-gameworn-top-to-young-fan/b9e35f75-6d11-4148-af3a-ac3cd0c95c0c">kindness</a> players are showing on and off the field, and women and girls relating to players <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-15/matildas-world-cup-sam-kerr-mary-fowler-inspire-diverse-fans/102713288">who look like them</a>. But it is also to do with the visibility and exposure of the game; the influence of our families and friends; the ways we are hardwired for connection; and the addictive nature of neurotransmitters. Like many Australians, we will be sure to not miss tonight’s game when Australia plays England in the semifinal – but first, here’s a look at all of these new emotions you may be experiencing. <h2>The social contagion</h2> With Australia as a host nation – and the incredible success of the Matildas – there has never been more visibility and focus on women’s football in Australia. Positive emotions and behaviours are contagious. Psychologists refer to “<a href="https://positivepsychology.com/emotional-contagion/">emotional contagion</a>” or “social contagion”, which describes how emotions, attitudes and behaviours spread through groups and crowds. In general, people just want to feel good! We enhance that feeling by forming positive social connections with other humans, sharing in a common experience, having a common goal and putting aside our differences. Being on the same side means we have something to share and celebrate in and, more importantly, someone to do it with. You’re likely feeling like you are part of something greater, and that has us all reaching for more by getting together to watch the next game. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This. Is. Football. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/matildas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#matildas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tilitsdone?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tilitsdone</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWWC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWWC</a> <a href="https://t.co/guLoCdIGpv">pic.twitter.com/guLoCdIGpv</a> — Mikey Mkoka-Nicholson (@Mikey_Nicholson) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mikey_Nicholson/status/1690322529024720896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2023</a></blockquote> Another reason you might find yourself getting behind the world cup is everyone loves a good story – and this competition has them in spades. This world cup has had its share of ups and downs: superstar Sam Kerr’s injury; the crushing low of defeat to Nigeria; the high of the must-win-game against Canada; the electric edge-of-your-seat drama of the penalty shootout against France. We all share in these highs and lows. Sports can help <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11110513">create positive social cohesion</a> by bringing people together. There is something very comforting about winning or losing as a group - whatever the result, we aren’t doing it alone! Sports <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/how-sport-can-break-down_b_7927724">breaks down barriers</a>, forms <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci11110513">pro-social bonds</a> and <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/02/north-and-south-korea-have-shown-us-the-unifying-power-of-sport/">helps people unite</a> through a common goal. We get lost and escape into a world of togetherness, which feels great! The ability to laugh, cry or hold hands with people (both strangers and friends) in nervous moments is felt deep in our body. It is undeniable, palpable and reinforces our connectivity. These heightened emotions fast track our sense of belonging to a group. Meanwhile, there is something very primitive going on deep in the brain that may explain this phenomenon. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Goosebumps. From all corners of the country 🫶🇦🇺<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Matildas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Matildas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWWC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWWC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TilitsDone?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TilitsDone</a> <a href="https://t.co/ERIusC7HEZ">pic.twitter.com/ERIusC7HEZ</a> — CommBank Matildas (@TheMatildas) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMatildas/status/1690657319527600128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2023</a></blockquote> Our brains <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-we-are-wired-to-connect/">are wired</a> to work in groups or tribes. Historically, working together towards a common goal improved our ability to survive. In a contemporary setting, when we belong to groups we unite through the notion of achieving a common vision. The “self” blends with the social. We evaluate our environment and look for links of commonality to achieve social harmony. This comes back to the notion of feeling good. When you are sharing a sporting event – watching together or talking about it after – you are sharing a safe space you can relate, engage and belong to. <h2>Shared experiences</h2> The reality of what sports can do to unite and change the way we connect is palpable through this world cup. We are all sharing a common experience which enables us to talk to complete strangers at the bus stop, on the train and when we are ordering our coffees at the local café. This shared experience enables us the confidence to strike up new conversations: sharing our pride, our fears and our emotions. We fast track our connections with people through sharing our vulnerabilities. Connections that could generally take years to form are happening in seconds. The moments to form those connections are more frequent as the success of our team continues. Matilda’s defender Claire Hunt <a href="https://www.matildas.com.au/video/230810huntpresser">spoke</a> of the collective belief the team has in their abilities. This collective belief has spread out from the team and their diehard supporters to become a source of national pride. <h2>We belong</h2> Sports creates a connection to something greater than yourself, an ability to ride the highs and lows of a team as you journey with them for the entire match! Notice the feeling of your heart beating through your chest (and that feedback coming through your smart watch as the high pulse rate alert is screaming at you!); feeling like you want to vomit and cry from the anticipation; the <a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/oct05/mirror">tensing of your muscles</a> during every attempt at goal. Through Australia’s collective love, support and excitement behind the Matildas, we are in the process of forming our identity and becoming part of a family. We relate to people, we connect to people, we belong. These feelings have powerful effects on our wellbeing. Belonging <a href="https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203148211-19/role-emotion-engagement-coping-development-motivational-resilience-ellen-skinner-jennifer-pitzer-heather-brule">enhances self-esteem</a>, improves <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213499186">psychological and behavioural functioning</a>, and improves <a href="https://psychology.org.au/for-members/publications/inpsych/2019/june/making-sense-of-belonging">the quality and meaning</a> of our lives. As our energy starts to rise, we begin to release <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/happy-hormone">positive endorphins</a> such as serotonin, dopamine and adrenaline. Dopamine <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/dopamine-the-pathway-to-pleasure">enhances</a> our feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation. Adrenaline <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/adrenaline-junkie">makes you feel alive</a>. These neurotransmitters increase our sense of wellbeing. They are addictive and we are left feeling that we want more. Even as a newly minted fan, you are now part of the Matilda’s family and they’re counting on the Aussie social contagion to push through those cramping muscles, tired bodies and sweaty palms. You are about to be a part of history and those neurotransmitters won’t want to miss it for the world!<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/211526/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-tillott-1462234">Sarah Tillott</a>, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/diarmuid-hurley-1462235">Diarmuid Hurley</a>, Lecturer, Faculty of Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/southern-cross-university-1160">Southern Cross 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/connection-camaraderie-and-belonging-why-the-matildas-could-be-making-you-a-sports-fan-for-the-very-first-time-211526">original article</a>.

Caring

Gratitude amplified: Unlocking the key to happiness and deep connections

In today's fast-paced world, filled with negative news, challenging experiences, and personal losses, finding joy and gratitude can often be a difficult task. As we naturally tend to focus on the negative aspects of life, it becomes essential to pause and cultivate gratitude, which can have a profound impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. What is gratitude? Gratitude involves showing appreciation for the things in life that are important to you, and taking a moment to notice and acknowledge these moments have proven benefits of lifting mood and helping you feel more positive throughout the day. Have you ever stopped to notice that there is something to be grateful for every day if we just take stock? It could be a person who kindly let you merge into traffic, a refreshing breeze on a scorching day, a beautiful rainbow after a heavy downpour, or a thoughtful call or text from a friend. Gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. We also know that Gratitude begets gratitude, meaning that any kind act is likely to bring kindness back, in spades! Practice Gratitude – Write down 3 things per day <a href="https://theresilienceproject.com.au/">The Resilience Project</a> changed my life by introducing a simple practice: at the end of each day, we take five minutes to write down three things we are grateful for that happened that day. It could be as simple as a walk in the sun, a phone call from a friend, a stroll with your dog, or even a comforting cup of tea. Engaging in this exercise helps you articulate your gratitude and realise the abundance of things to be grateful for in our everyday lives. I personally experienced the transformative power of gratitude during the two years of COVID lockdown in Victoria while working full-time and home schooling my two boys, aged 8 and 10. Our family embraced this practice each night, which not only changed our outlook on life but also sparked positive conversations during dinner. Surprisingly, it was often the simplest things we were all grateful for, like homemade meals or cherished moments of togetherness. I distinctly remember preparing a hot meal and passing it over our neighbour's fence when their family was unwell with COVID. To our surprise, a few weeks later, they reciprocated with a homecooked meal. In those challenging times, a sense of community became such a source of positivity, and we were immensely grateful for the love that went into that dinner. So why not take the time to stop and smell the roses and practice gratitude? Who knows, over time, you may start to notice your stress levels decreasing, your relationships improving, and be blessed with a strengthened sense of community. Melissa Cutajar is <a href="https://www.connectedwomen.net/">Connected Women</a>’s Member Experience and Partnerships Manager. With a deep interest in health and wellness, Melissa is a source of positivity and creativity to the Connected Women team. <a href="http://connectedwomen.net/">Connected Women</a> provides a community for women over 50 to connect with each other and build meaningful friendships. With a rapidly growing communities in Perth, Sydney, Wollongong, and Melbourne, Connected Women provides a safe and welcoming space for women to come together and share experiences. To learn more about the organisation and how you can get involved, visit connectedwomen.net. Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

Why does my back get so sore when I’m sick? The connection between immunity and pain

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-pate-1399299">Joshua Pate</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-hutchinson-105409">Mark Hutchinson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> Have you ever wondered why your back aches when you’re down with the flu or a cold? Or COVID? This discomfort, common during many illnesses, is not just a random symptom. It’s a result of complex interactions between your immune system and your brain called the “<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3314453/">neuroimmune synapse</a>”. A fascinating and yet-to-be-understood consequence of this conversation between the immune and brain systems during sickness is that it is particularly noticeable in the <a href="https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/145/3/1098/6370954">lower back</a>. This is thought to be one of the body’s most sensitive regions to neuroimmune threats. <h2>Immunology basics</h2> Our immune system is a double-edged sword. Yes, it fights off infections for us – but it also makes us acutely aware of the job it is doing. When our body detects an infection, our immune system releases molecules including signalling proteins called <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/227831648_The_functions_of_cytokines_and_their_uses_in_toxicology">cytokines</a>. These proteins coordinate our immune system to fight off the infection and talk to our brain and spinal cord to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2740752/#:%7E:text=Production%20of%20proinflammatory%20cytokines%20induces,to%20depression%20in%20vulnerable%20individuals.">change our behaviour</a> and physiology. This can result in symptoms like fatigue, loss of appetite, fever and increased sensitivity to pain. Classically, we think of this as a beneficial behavioural change to help us conserve energy to fight off the infection. It’s why we often feel the need to rest and withdraw from our usual activities when we’re sick – and also why we are grumpier than usual. <h2>Invisibly small changes</h2> Part of this self-protective response is a change in how we perceive threats, including sensory stimuli. When we are sick, touch can become painful and muscles can ache. Many changes in behaviour and sensory systems are <a href="https://doi.org/10.1159/000521476">believed</a> to have origins at the nanoscale. When molecular changes occur in part of the brain linked to cognition or mood, we think and feel differently. If these neuroimmune synapse changes happen in the sensory processing regions of the brain and spinal cord, we feel more pain. Such sensory changes, known as <a href="https://www.iasp-pain.org/resources/fact-sheets/allodynia-and-hyperalgesia-in-neuropathic-pain/#:%7E:text=Allodynia%20is%20pain%20due%20to,stimulus%20that%20normally%20provokes%20pain.">allodynia and hyperalgesia</a>, can lead to heightened pain sensitivity, even in areas not directly affected by the infection – <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889159114001731?via%3Dihub">such as the lower back</a>. <h2>Immune memories</h2> This immune response happens with a range of bacterial infections and viruses like COVID or the flu. In fact, the sick feeling we sometimes get after a vaccination is the good work our immune system is doing to contribute to <a href="https://theconversation.com/you-cant-get-influenza-from-a-flu-shot-heres-how-it-works-118916">a protective immune memory</a>. Some of that immune-cellular conversation also alerts our brains that we are sick, or makes us think we are. After some viral infections, the sick feeling persists longer than the virus. We are seeing a long-term response to COVID in some people, termed <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-does-covid-become-long-covid-and-whats-happening-in-the-body-when-symptoms-persist-heres-what-weve-learnt-so-far-188976">long COVID</a>. Women, who generally have a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nri.2016.90">stronger immune response</a> than men, may be more likely to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7937378/">experience pain symptoms</a>. Their heightened immune response (while beneficial in resisting infections) also predisposes women to a higher risk of inflammatory conditions like <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7980266/">autoimmune diseases</a>. <h2>When to worry and what to do</h2> If the pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other concerning symptoms, seek medical attention. Mild to moderate pain is a common symptom during illness and we often notice this in the lower back. The good news is it usually subsides as the infection clears and the sickness resolves. While treating the underlying infection is crucial, there are also ways to dial down sickness-induced neuroimmune pain. Maintaining a diverse microbiome (the collection of microorganisms living in and on your body) by <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31704402/">eating well and getting outside</a> can help. Getting quality sleep, staying hydrated and minimising inflammation <a href="https://karger.com/bbe/article/97/3-4/197/821576/Sickness-and-the-Social-Brain-How-the-Immune">helps too</a>. Amazingly, there is <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34404209/">research</a> suggesting your grandmother’s traditional chicken broth recipe decreases the immune signals at the neuroimmune synapse. Scientists are also <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24799686/">showing</a> mindfulness meditation, cold water therapy and controlled breathing can drive profound cellular and molecular changes to help activate bodily systems like the autonomic nervous system and alter the immune response. These practices might not only help manage pain but also add an anti-inflammatory component to the immune response, reducing the severity and duration of sickness. Heat treatment (with a pack or hot water bottle) might <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8401625/">provide some relief</a> due to increased circulation. Over-the-counter pain relief maybe also be helpful but seek advice if you are taking other medications. <h2>All in the mind?</h2> Is this all mind over matter? A little of yes and a lot of no. The little of yes comes from <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26194270/">research</a> supporting the idea that if you expect your breathing, meditation and cold bath therapy to work, it may well make a difference at the cellular and molecular level. But by understanding the mechanisms of back pain during illness and by using some simple strategies, there is hope to manage this pain effectively. Always remember to seek medical help if your symptoms are severe or persist longer than expected. Your health and comfort are paramount.<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/207222/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-pate-1399299">Joshua Pate</a>, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-hutchinson-105409">Mark Hutchinson</a>, Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</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/why-does-my-back-get-so-sore-when-im-sick-the-connection-between-immunity-and-pain-207222">original article</a>.

Caring

Matthew McConaughey's surprising connection to Woody Harrelson

Matthew McConaughey has shared a revelation about his relationship with his friend and Hollywood co-star Woody Harrelson. The acting duo, who notably shared the screen on the debut season of acclaimed crime drama True Detective in 2014, have been friends long before they ever acted on screen together. Now it has been revealed their bromance could have even greater ties, as the actors could be blood related. McConaughey, 53, and Harrelson, 61, are set to reunite on screen for an upcoming Apple TV+ comedy series, titled Brother From Another Mother, which triggered the conversation about their relationship. Appearing on the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-off-camera-with-kelly-ripa/id1676166337" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa</a> podcast, McConaughey shared that the pair could actually share the same father. “You know, where I start and where he ends, and where he starts and I end, has always been like a murky line,” McConaughey began. He continued, “In Greece a few years ago, we’re sitting around talking about how close we are and our families,” McConaughey said. “And my mum [Mary Kathlene McCabe] is there, and she says, ‘Woody, I knew your dad’ … Everyone was aware of the ellipses that my mum left after ‘knew.’ It was a loaded ‘knew’." “We went on to unpack what this ‘knew’ meant and did some math and found out that [Harrelson’s] dad [Charles Harrelson] was on furlough at the same time that my mum and dad [James Donald McConaughey] were in their second divorce. Then there’s possible receipts and places out in West Texas where there might have been a gathering, or a meeting, or a ‘knew’ moment.” McConaughey said he and Harrelson are "on the precipice" of getting DNA testing done to uncover the truth, but McConaughey shared he has reservations because he’s spent “53 years believing” his dad James was his biological father. Both their fathers have passed away, with James dying of a heart attack in 1992, and Charles, a notorious US hit man and organised crime figure, also dying of a heart attack in his jail cell in 2007. Image credits: Getty Images

Family & Pets

What’s the connection between cosmetic procedures and mental health?

Although we cannot be sure of the exact numbers of Australians undergoing cosmetic procedures, as there is no requirement for health professionals to report their statistics, there is a consensus demand is on the rise. In 2015, the <a href="https://cpca.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/31-05-2016_AUSTRALIAS_SPEND_ON_COSMETIC_TREATMENTS_TOPS_1_BILLION.pdf">Cosmetic Physicians College of Australasia</a> found Australians were spending more than $1 billion a year on non-invasive cosmetic procedures like Botox and fillers. This is more than 40% higher, per capita, than in the United States. In the US, where procedure <a href="https://cdn.theaestheticsociety.org/media/statistics/2021-TheAestheticSocietyStatistics.pdf">statistics are reported</a>, there was a 42% increase in the number of filler procedures and a 40% increase in Botox procedures performed in the last year alone. Rates of mental health issues in this group may be higher than the general population, but seemingly not enough is being done to ensure the psychological safety of people requesting cosmetic procedures. <h2>Body dysmorphic disorder</h2> Body image concerns are generally the main motivator for seeking cosmetic procedures of all kinds. These concerns are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144518305552">usually focused on the body part</a> where the cosmetic intervention is sought, such as the nose for a rhinoplasty. Severe body image concerns are a key feature of several mental health conditions. The most prevalent in people seeking cosmetic procedures is body dysmorphic disorder. In the general community, around 1-3% of people will experience body dysmorphic disorder, but in populations seeking cosmetic surgery, this <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35715310/">rises to 16-23%</a>. <a href="https://bdd.iocdf.org/professionals/diagnosis/">Body dysmorphic disorder</a> involves a preoccupation or obsession with one or more perceived flaws in physical appearance which are not visible or seem minor to other people. In response to the distress regarding the flaw, the person with body dysmorphic disorder will perform repetitive behaviours (such as excessively checking body parts in the mirror) and mental acts (such as comparing their appearance with other people). These concerns can have a significant negative impact on the person’s daily life, with some people too distressed to leave their home or even eat dinner with family members out of fear of being seen by others. With the distress associated with body dysmorphic disorder seemingly stemming from physical appearance issues, it makes sense someone with body dysmorphic disorder is far more likely to turn up at a cosmetic clinic for treatment than a mental health clinic. The problem is, cosmetic intervention usually makes the person with body dysmorphic disorder feel the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00266-017-0819-x">same or worse</a> after the procedure. They may become even more preoccupied with the perceived flaw and seek further cosmetic procedures. Patients with body dysmorphic disorder are also <a href="https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/22/6/531/204131">more likely</a> to take legal action against their treating cosmetic practitioner after believing they have not received the result they wanted. For these reasons, body dysmorphic disorder is generally considered by health professionals to be a “red flag” or contraindication (a reason not to undergo a medical procedure) for cosmetic procedures. However, this is not entirely clear-cut. <a href="https://academic.oup.com/asj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/asj/sjac243/6678852?searchresult=1">Some studies</a> have shown people with body dysmorphic disorder can improve their symptoms after cosmetic intervention, but the obsession may just move to another body part and the body dysmorphic disorder diagnosis remain. <h2>What about other mental health conditions?</h2> Body dysmorphic disorder is by far the most well-studied disorder in this area, but is not the only mental health condition that may be associated with poorer outcomes from cosmetic procedures. According to a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8034989/">recent systematic review</a>, the rates of depression (5-26%), anxiety (11-22%) and personality disorders (0-53%) in people seeking cosmetic surgery may be higher than the general population (which are estimated to be 10%, 16% and 12% respectively). However, these rates should be interpreted with some caution as they depend greatly on how the mental health diagnosis was made – clinician-led interview (higher rates) versus mental health questionnaire (lower rates). Some interview approaches can suggest higher rates of mental health issues as they may be quite unstructured and thus have questionable validity compared with highly structured questionnaires. Besides body dysmorphic disorder, the research investigating other mental health conditions is limited. This may just be due to the fact body image focus is at the core of body dysmorphic disorder, which makes it a logical focus for cosmetic surgery research compared with other types of psychiatric disorders. <h2>So what should happen?</h2> Ideally, all cosmetic surgeons and practitioners should receive sufficient training to enable them to conduct a brief routine assessment of all prospective patients. Those with signs indicating they are unlikely to derive psychological benefit from the procedure should undergo a further assessment by a mental health professional before undergoing the procedure. This could include an in-depth clinical interview about motivations for the procedure, and completing a range of standard mental health questionnaires. If a person was found to have a mental health issue in the assessment process, it does not necessarily mean the mental health professional would recommend against pursuing the procedure. They may suggest a course of psychological therapy to address the issue of concern and then undergo the cosmetic procedure. At the moment, assessments are only recommended rather than mandated for cosmetic surgery (and not at all for injectables like Botox and fillers). The <a href="https://plasticsurgery.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2.5-AHPRA-MBA-Guidelines-for-Registered-Medical-Practitioners-Who-Perform-Cosmetic-Medical-and-Surgical-Procedures-2016.pdf">guidelines</a> say evaluation should be undertaken if there are signs the patient has “significant underlying psychological problems”. This means we are relying on the cosmetic medical practitioner being capable of detecting such issues when they may have received only basic psychological training at medical school, and when their business may possibly benefit from not attending to such diagnoses. An August 2022 <a href="https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Cosmetic-surgery-review.aspx">independent review</a> by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the Medical Board of Australia recommended the guidelines around mental health assessment should be “strengthened” and emphasised the importance of medical practitioners receiving more training in the detection of psychiatric disorders. Ultimately, as cosmetic practitioners are treating patients who are seeking treatment for psychological rather than medical reasons, they must have the wellbeing of the patient front-of-mind, both out of professional integrity and to protect themselves from legal action. Mandatory evaluation of all patients seeking any kind of cosmetic procedure would likely improve patient satisfaction overall. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-connection-between-cosmetic-procedures-and-mental-health-190841" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Beauty & Style

Long COVID: How lost connections between nerve cells in the brain may explain cognitive symptoms

For a portion of people who get COVID, symptoms continue for <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/prevalenceofongoingsymptomsfollowingcoronaviruscovid19infectionintheuk/6october2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener">months or even years</a> after the initial infection. This is commonly referred to as “long COVID”. Some people with long COVID complain of “<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-and-what-isnt-brain-fog-190537" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brain fog</a>”, which includes a wide variety of cognitive symptoms affecting memory, concentration, sleep and speech. There’s also growing concern about findings that people who have had COVID are at <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(22)00260-7/fulltext" target="_blank" rel="noopener">increased risk</a> of developing brain disorders, such as dementia. Scientists are working to understand how exactly a COVID infection affects the human brain. But this is difficult to study, because we can’t experiment on living people’s brains. One way around this is to create <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-021-00279-y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">organoids</a>, which are miniature organs grown from stem cells. In a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01786-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recent study</a>, we created brain organoids a little bigger than a pinhead and infected them with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In these organoids, we found that an excessive number of synapses (the connections between brain cells) were eliminated – more than you would expect to see in a normal brain. Synapses are important because they allow neurons to communicate with each other. Still, the elimination of a certain amount of inactive synapses is part of normal brain function. The brain essentially gets rid of old connections when they’re no longer needed, and makes way for new connections, allowing for more efficient functioning. One of the crucial functions of the brain’s immune cells, or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5768411/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">microglia</a>, is to prune these inactive synapses. The exaggerated elimination of synapses we saw in the COVID-infected models could explain why some people have cognitive symptoms as part of long COVID. Parallels with neurodegenerative disorders Interestingly, this pruning process is believed to go awry in several disorders affecting the brain. In particular, excessive elimination of synapses has recently been linked to <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-018-0334-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">neurodevelopmental disorders</a> such as <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-018-0334-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">schizophrenia</a>, as well as <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fncel.2019.00063/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">neurodegenerative disorders</a> such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. By sequencing the RNA of single cells, we could study how different cell types in the organoid responded to the virus. We found that the pattern of genes turned on and off by the microglia in our COVID-infected organoids mimicked changes seen in neurodegenerative disorders. This may go some way in explaining the link between COVID and the risk of developing certain neurological disorders. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/491380/original/file-20221024-17-9wi5pg.png?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/491380/original/file-20221024-17-9wi5pg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/491380/original/file-20221024-17-9wi5pg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/491380/original/file-20221024-17-9wi5pg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/491380/original/file-20221024-17-9wi5pg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/491380/original/file-20221024-17-9wi5pg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/491380/original/file-20221024-17-9wi5pg.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=425&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>A brain organoid used in our study. You can see the microglial cells in red. Sellgren lab, Author provided</figcaption></figure> A possible target for treatment One limitation of our research is that our organoid models closely resemble the foetal or early brain, rather than the adult brain. So we can’t say for sure whether the changes we noted in our study will necessarily be reflected in the adult brain. However, some <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33248159/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">post-mortem</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35255491/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">imaging studies</a> report neuronal death and reduction in grey matter thickness in COVID patients, which hints at similar instances of synapse loss caused by an infection in adults. If this proves to be a fruitful line of enquiry, we believe our findings could point to a mechanism contributing to persisting cognitive symptoms after COVID and other viral infections that affect the brain. SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus and similar <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27337340/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">processes</a> have been seen in mice infected with other RNA viruses that can also cause residual cognitive symptoms, such as the <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31235930/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">West Nile virus</a>. From here we want to study how different drugs could inhibit the changes we saw in the infected models, hopefully paving the way towards effective treatments. In <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6410571/">other research</a>, we’ve observed that an antibiotic called minocycline can reduce the degree to which microglia prune synapses in a dish. So we want to see if this drug can help in our brain organoid models following SARS-CoV-2 infection.<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/192702/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Writen by Samudyata and Carl Sellgren. Republished with permission from <a href="https://theconversation.com/long-covid-how-lost-connections-between-nerve-cells-in-the-brain-may-explain-cognitive-symptoms-192702" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Getty Images

Mind

House with royal connection hits the market

If you’re in the market for a new home with a royal connection, a recently-listed pub-turned-house could be a perfect match, thanks to its prime location on Sandringham Estate. The Georgian home, formerly a pub called the New Inn, is one of several privately-owned residences within the border of the royal family’s estate, located just across the road from St Mary the Virgin Church, which the Queen traditionally visits for Christmas mass when she is staying at the estate. Now called the Inn House, the property on Abbey Road has been listed for £700,000 ($AU 1.19 million) with the <a href="https://www.brown-co.com/properties/15756061/sales#from-grid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brown & Co agency</a>. According to the listing, New Inn presents a unique opportunity to own a home on the estate, with the majority of houses owned by the Royal Estate. Built in 1820, the two-storey home has retained much of its pub charm since its conversion, with additions from the current owner including a garage. The ground floor boasts a reception hallway with a pitched open ceiling and exposed roof trusses and a sitting room with a wood burning stove, as well as a study, the kitchen and dining room, and a utility and boot room that opens out to the garden through a stable door. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms and a bathroom, with the master bedroom including an ensuite and views over the other cottages and pasture on the estate. Images: Brown & Co agency

Real Estate

10 activities to help you connect with your loved one with dementia

Dementia affects relationships Every year, there are more than 10 million new dementia cases, according to Alzheimer’s Disease International. This means many of us navigate this condition with spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings and more. If you love someone who has dementia, you know the disease is often accompanied by symptoms that go beyond memory loss. For the patient, dementia can trigger paranoia, speech difficulties and, at times, even a lack of empathy. These symptoms usually only make the caregiver’s experience more complicated and emotional. Fortunately, finding moments to connect with a loved one who has dementia, and enriching their life with things you can do together, is possible. In fact, welcoming them into a few of your regular tasks may not only help the two of you enjoy some one-on-one time, but as you might discover with a few of the ideas listed below, it could also help to remind you that there can be joy in the most basic routines. Read on for wisdom and ideas from geriatrics clinician Dr Jeffrey Landsman and longtime family caregiver Breeda Miller. Many activities for dementia patients and their caregivers are relatively easy to plan. Pull out old photo albums For some dementia patients, looking through old photos can unlock memories from childhood and early adulthood. “Though someone may not remember you – they may have no short-term memory – long-term memory can persist,” Dr Landsman says. “Somebody with pretty advanced dementia may still have some of the old memories available.” Digging out old albums or boxes of photos might take a little time, but it’s likely to be very rewarding. Your loved one with dementia might be able to talk about old times in a way that they haven’t for months (possibly years). Organise a cabinet or shelf together This simple activity can check an item off your to-do list while also reconnecting with an older family member. Miller recalls that her mother, who had Alzheimer’s, loved “the tactile exercise of smoothing and folding paper” while unpacking and organising a box of fragile china dishes. Not only can this be good for a dementia patient’s spirit but, according to a 2018 review of studies that suggested sensory activities might also improve dementia symptoms, published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging, it might actually “help improve dementia-specific issues”. Listen to music together Music can help dementia patients with symptoms of long-term depression and cognitive function, according to recent research published in Frontiers in Medicine. Dr Landman echoes this finding. He explains that playing music from your loved one’s younger years may help them perk up emotionally and even physically. He’s seen some dementia patients begin to sing or dance along to old favourites. Watch old movies Like music, old movies can spark long-lost memories. Dr Landman says some dementia patients have memories linked to old films – perhaps they remember the plot or even a childhood friend who attended the theatre with them. Watching classics alongside your loved one with dementia could help you relax together, and potentially lead to an engaging chat after the film. Fold laundry together Like organising a cabinet, folding laundry can be a ho-hum chore that suddenly turns more meaningful when you include your loved one who is losing his or her memory. “When my mother and mother-in-law would get ‘antsy,’ I would have several simple tasks ready that they could ‘help’ me with,” says Miller. One of these activities was folding laundry. Miller says simple, useful activities can help people with dementia stop fixating on negative emotions, focusing on doing a task that makes them feel purposeful, and connect with the people around them. So rather than folding and putting away laundry before a visit with your grandparent or parent who’s been diagnosed with dementia, think about saving the task to enjoy together. When conversation lapses, connect by doing something together is still possible. Clean together The National Institute on Aging (NIA) suggests sweeping or vacuuming with a friend or family member with Alzheimer’s disease. When it came to doing things around the house, Miller says her mother-in-law loved washing dishes and wiping down benchtops. Meanwhile, Miller would assist (and provide some safe oversight) by supplying the soap and water. “She was in her element, and I was thrilled to have help,” Miller recalls. These simple activities for dementia patients can help them feel useful while offering an opportunity to connect with loved ones. Go for a walk Walking is linked to better health, boosted mood and even longer life. Walking can be so beneficial that the experts at NIA also recommend walking as a good activity for dementia patients. (It goes without saying, someone with dementia should always be accompanied on a stroll.) For a loved one who struggles to remember your shared history, regular walks offer a chance for sharing observations about the weather, the sunlight, the flowers you see, and more. Or, even if you walk together in silence, a little fresh air and activity to get the blood flowing will almost certainly do you both good. Play a card game Some older adults with dementia can still remember playing classic card games such as Euchre, Rummy and Go Fish. This entertaining activity is a great way for family members of all ages to share some laughs and also experience some cognitive stimulation with their loved ones. Dr Landsman suggests that if the person with dementia says something incorrect – whether it’s a family member’s name or a rule in a card game – it’s best to let them be, as correcting inconsequential errors can create unnecessary tension and take the spotlight off the fun. Bake family recipes While cooking and baking are useful as activities to promote healthy eating in dementia patients, Miller notes this is also a beautiful way to put everything else aside and connect on an emotional level, when it really matters most. Her mother, for instance, loved baking apple pies. But one time when they baked together, Miller says she initially felt exhausted and overwhelmed for having to add another item to her to-do list. As it turned out, the process of baking together would become a monumental memory. “It wasn’t about the pie,” she says. “It was about making the pie. I am so grateful that I made the time to make that pie with her.” Miller says her mother passed away just three weeks later. That pie would be the last one they baked together. Work on a puzzle together Working on a puzzle can help engage dementia or Alzheimer’s patients’ minds, according to NIA. Whether visual puzzles or crossword puzzles, any cognitively challenging activity can help improve thinking skills over the long-term, according to research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. Of course, this is not meant to be a means to ‘fix’ your loved one’s memory loss. Completing a puzzle will not cure dementia. But it can support your loved one’s functioning and make them feel accomplished in the hours you spend in partnership on the task. Written by Leandra Beabout. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/mental-health/10-activities-to-help-you-connect-with-your-loved-one-with-dementia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images

Caring

Aussie family uncover their royal connection

A family from the New South Wales Central Coast has discovered something unusual about their past which they claim could make them billionaires and even hold titles in a royal court. The Sharpe family live in Terrigal but have traced their lineage all the way back to a family estate in central London, thanks to a map found among some paperwork. Michael Sharpe also discovered another surprise fact while working on his family tree: he’s a direct descendant of the Earl of Oxford. “Elizabeth Sharpe is my seven or eight times great-grandmother and her father being the Earl of Oxford… it’s quite a story,” Michael Sharpe told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/nsw-family-discover-royal-connection-through-earl-of-oxford-descendant/b270faf5-b48a-41d9-b24b-c2c35a326a5d" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. Robert Harley, the Earl of Oxford, was Lord High Treasurer in the court of Queen Anne in the 1700s who owned the estate in Shooter’s Hill until his death. The estate and title, which included a 100-room mansion called Hazelwood House, were then passed to his son, George Harley. “There were 375 acres on the estate, which is now part of London,” Michael explained. “Eighty-seven million pounds was the value of the estate in 1931.” George’s sister Elizabeth, who is Michael’s grandmother many times over, had settled in the Richmond district in Sydney’s west when their father passed. But, by the time word reached her of Robert’s death, she was also in a bad way and urged her son William to return to London to claim the estate, according to letters found. “Unfortunately he died not long after her and it never happened,” Michael said. After that, the family were unaware of the estate until the Richmond Windsor Gazette obtained Elizabeth’s and her father’s will, publishing her obituary and a call-out for family members to claim the estate. “In the article, she is urging her children before her death to leave no stone unturned, to claim the property, including a large sum of money in the Bank of England,” Michael said. Then the search effort began during the 1930s, until the onset of World War II forced it to cease, with Michael and his late father picking up the search again. “It probably happens all the time when people don’t look into it further,” Michael’s wife Elizabeth said. Now, the family are hoping to prove their right to the kingly sum. “DNA - we can prove we are all related and it is just sitting there all these years,” Michael’s daughter Jordi said. “We have to get lawyers and more information on how to go ahead and contact the Bank of England.” Image: A Current Affair

Family & Pets

How Studio Ghibli films can help us rediscover the childlike wonder of our connection with nature

Films with powerful environmentally centred narratives can <a href="https://time.com/5889324/movies-climate-change/">transform our thinking</a> and connect us with nature in ways that scientific papers cannot. For example, <a href="https://ghiblicollection.com/">Studio Ghibli</a>, a renowned Japanese film studio co-founded by animator <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/23/t-magazine/hayao-miyazaki-studio-ghibli.html">Hayao Miyazaki</a>, creates complex visual stories about human-nature relationships that transcend barriers of culture or age. A key message of Miyazaki’s work is that we must respect nature – or face our own destruction. Miyazaki’s films offer viewers moments of escape into fantastical worlds that nonetheless echo problems of modernity, demonstrating that it’s possible to portray complex environmental issues through animation in a way that retains mainstream appeal. As a conservation scientist and Studio Ghibli enthusiast, I’ve <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/10/2/35">analysed</a> the environmental themes in three of its most well-known films: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), My Neighbour Totoro (1988) and Princess Mononoke (1997). <h2>Nausicaä</h2> Nausicaä, released with a special recommendation from the <a href="https://www.wwf.org.uk/">World Wildlife Fund</a> for Nature, tells the story of an apocalyptic event that wreaks havoc on global ecosystems. Surviving humans must coexist alongside the <a href="https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/Toxic_Jungle">Toxic Jungle</a>, a dangerous landscape filled with poisonous fungal spores. Most humans fear the Toxic Jungle and seek to destroy it. But what they don’t understand is that it’s cleansing the environment for their benefit. Miyazaki designed the film to mirror our society, where <a href="https://cusp.ac.uk/themes/s1/blog-np-goals-for-good/">prioritising</a> short-term materialistic growth over long-term environmental sustainability is predicted to lead to collapse. The film reminds us that being at war with nature ultimately ends in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/humanity-and-nature-are-not-separate-we-must-see-them-as-one-to-fix-the-climate-crisis-122110">demise</a>. To create a sustainable future, we must <a href="https://www.apu.ac.jp/rcaps/uploads/fckeditor/publications/journal/RJAPS33_6_Akimoto2.pdf">work with nature</a> rather than against it. <h2>My Neighbour Totoro</h2> In <a href="https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/My_Neighbor_Totoro">My Neighbour Totoro</a>, a pair of young sisters move to a house in the countryside with their father as their mother recovers from illness. The girls explore their new house and the surrounding forest, forming a friendship with a large forest spirit named Totoro. During <a href="https://theconversation.com/did-the-covid-lockdowns-work-heres-what-we-know-two-years-on-176623">UK lockdowns</a>, local green spaces became a <a href="https://theconversation.com/parks-and-green-spaces-helped-us-get-through-lockdown-but-not-everyone-has-equal-access-157308">haven</a> supporting my mental health and reminding me of my intrinsic connection to nature and to other humans. As I saw children spending more time playing on the grass or climbing trees, I realised the importance of <a href="https://activeforlife.com/unstructured-nature-play">unstructured playtime</a> in nature. Indeed, a growing body of <a href="http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30003638">research</a> suggests that children’s interactions with the natural world are invaluable for their wellbeing. In Miyazaki’s film, the young sisters become friends with Totoro, explore their surroundings, and discover their affinity for their environment. Totoro is depicted as a warm and nurturing mother figure, representing and encouraging the <a href="https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing">healing effects</a> of communing with nature: which have been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/mar/14/wild-ideas-how-nature-cures-are-shaping-our-literary-landscape">well-documented</a> in research and culture. <h2>Princess Mononoke</h2> Princess Mononoke is set in <a href="https://www.japan-experience.com/plan-your-trip/to-know/japanese-movies/japan-from-princess-mononoke-1997">14th-century Japan</a>, a world where the constant battle between humans and <a href="https://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/kami">forest kami</a> (spirits) leads to casualties on both sides. In <a href="https://theconversation.com/japans-shinto-religion-is-going-global-and-attracting-online-followers-174924">Shinto</a>, a traditional Japanese religion, these kami are part of nature – but they’re not soft-natured entities. When humans refuse to respect their environment, they can seek revenge. The film’s most powerful kami is the Forest Spirit (<a href="https://ashleykress.tripod.com/princessmononoke/id10.html">Shishigami</a>), who is neither good nor evil but represents the pure power of nature. During the day, Shishigami appears as a deer. At night, it transforms into the eerie Night Walker. This transformation represents the duality of nature as a bringer of life and death, echoing how the natural world has the ability to both <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/nov/02/beware-gaia-theory-climate-crisis-earth">support and destroy</a> humankind. Similarly, the antagonist of the film, Lady Eboshi, isn’t in fact a clear-cut villain. Although she wants to cut down the forest to feed iron mines, she’s also the kind, generous leader of Iron Town, providing a haven for social outcasts and espousing gender equality. Yet despite her wish to build a better society, her actions – however well-intentioned – will destroy the forest and the homes of the kami. This situation is a microcosm of ongoing <a href="https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-a-justice-issue-these-6-charts-show-why-170072">environmental justice</a> issues across the world, where poor and marginalised groups, including <a href="https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2020/01/World-Social-Report-2020-FullReport.pdf">Indigenous people and women</a>, suffer for the actions of the wealthy. In particular, although wealthy countries contribute the most to climate change, it’s poorer countries that must carry the greatest <a href="https://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-climate-change-global-warming-part-2-story.html">climate-related burdens</a>. As viewers of Princess Mononoke, we’re being encouraged to move beyond dichotomies of “us versus them”, thinking which allows groups with more power to distance themselves from those without: or even to <a href="https://unevenearth.org/2020/05/planet-of-the-dehumanized/">dehumanise</a> them altogether. Miyazaki’s work is a lesson in seeking intrinsic commonalities – what connects us rather than what divides – and using these to imagine fairer, more equal societies that live in harmony with nature. This article originally appeared on<a href="https://theconversation.com/how-studio-ghibli-films-can-help-us-rediscover-the-childlike-wonder-of-our-connection-with-nature-176612" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> The Conversation. </a> Image: Getty

The Chase star’s royal connection

Anne Hegerty, also known as The Governess on The Chase has been shocked to find out she is related to the Queen. Appearing on DNA Journey, the quiz master was surprised to find out what her grandmother had always told her was in fact true - the Queen is her 19th cousin. The 63-year-old said she never believed her grandmother when she told her because she “was the most tremendous liar”. The relation comes from her mother’s side where they are related to the Hayes family one of whom married Robert the Bruce’s daughter Princess Elizabeth in 1370. This then resulted with the Queen being Anne’s 19th cousin. Anne confessed that while growing up, her mother disapproved of knowing the ancestry line. “She’d say, ‘it doesn’t prove a thing, dear’,” Anne told <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/18165272/queen-cousin-anne-hegarty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a>. “As a child I was always curious about this stuff and my mother was always very repressive. “I think it was because on my mother’s mother’s side there’s quite a bit of posh, and my mum thought I’d grow up to be a terrible snob. “But I’ve already grown up to be a terrible snob, so really there’s nothing to hide.” Image: Instagram

Family & Pets

Feel connected to nature? It might be in your genes

<div><div class="copy">Have you ever wondered why some people turn to wild places for solace, while others shudder at the thought of the untamed? Why some people’s idea of a great weekend away involves pitching a tent in a muddy field full of creepy crawlies, while others think camping is a lesser form of torture?According to a <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3001500" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new study</a> published in PLOS Biology, the answer may be at least partially written into our genes.In a collaboration with researchers from the National University of Singapore, the University of Queensland’s Professor Richard Fuller compared data from more than 1,000 sets of identical twins to find out how genetics may influence our relationship with nature.“We compared twins who had been raised together with twins raised apart, in an attempt to demonstrate genetic heritability of two traits: how strongly they feel connected to nature, and the amount of time a person spends in nature,” Fuller says.Their approach to the question, using identical twins, allowed them to tease apart the strength of genetic versus environmental influences.Fuller says the team were “truly surprised” by their results, finding that nature-loving behaviours were heritable between 34 and 48% of the time.“This means there may be innate genetic differences among people’s psychological connection with natural environments and how they experience them,” says Fuller.“Our results help to explain why some people have a stronger desire than others to be in nature.”A genetic component to the relationship between humans and the biosphere has long been speculated, often under the moniker of the “<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.700709/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biophilia hypothesis</a>”, but this is the first time it has been convincingly demonstrated.The current research builds genetic insight into our knowledge of nature-lust, which has previously been understood primarily through the lens of geographical circumstances. The new results suggest that while some of us may be genetically predisposed to connect with our wild side more than others, our circumstances still have a heady influence.“Our results reinforced previous findings that a person’s environment is the predominant driver behind their enjoyment of nature,” Professor Fuller said.“But the new information on the role of genetics in shaping our relationship with nature is a significant discovery.”Lead author Dr Chia-chen Chang from the National University of Singapore believes the insight from this study may help to better inform efforts to bring people closer to nature, an issue that is becoming increasingly important as the impact of growing urbanisation on mental health becomes clearer.“We know that more and more people today are living in urban environments, and this is usually associated with more mental health issues,” she says.“This includes lower levels of subjective wellbeing, a higher risk of psychiatric disorders, or increased depression and anxiety.”Chang says the process of connecting urban dwellers with the natural environment can prove challenging in our highly developed city-scapes, but that the benefits make the effort worthwhile.“Spending a little time at home in the garden can be a great way to experience some nature, but this can’t always be achieved, especially for those in urban areas,” she says.“Increasing accessibility to nature for urban residents through projects such as communal gardens will be hugely beneficial and will play an important part in improving people’s wellbeing overall.”The results also add to a growing body of research that relies on insights from the study of twins, with the current study involving participants from <a href="https://twinsuk.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TwinsUK</a>: the United Kingdom’s largest adult twin registry and most clinically detailed twin study in the world.TwinsUK, which has more than 14,000 registered twin participants, has been instrumental in progressing understanding of how genetic variation relates to human health and disease, with data underpinning 76 individual studies and over 800 publications to date.Image credits: Getty Images <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="height: 1px!important;width: 1px!important;border: 0!important" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=181148&title=Feel+connected+to+nature%3F+It+might+be+in+your+genes" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> </div><div id="contributors">This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/genetic-basis-for-biophilia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Jamie Priest. </div></div>

Mind

Feel connected to nature? It might be in your genes

Have you ever wondered why some people turn to wild places for solace, while others shudder at the thought of the untamed? Why some people’s idea of a great weekend away involves pitching a tent in a muddy field full of creepy crawlies, while others think camping is a lesser form of torture?<div class="copy">According to a <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3001500" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">new study</a> published in PLOS Biology, the answer may be at least partially written into our genes.In a collaboration with researchers from the National University of Singapore, the University of Queensland’s Professor Richard Fuller compared data from more than 1,000 sets of identical twins to find out how genetics may influence our relationship with nature.“We compared twins who had been raised together with twins raised apart, in an attempt to demonstrate genetic heritability of two traits: how strongly they feel connected to nature, and the amount of time a person spends in nature,” Fuller says.Their approach to the question, using identical twins, allowed them to tease apart the strength of genetic versus environmental influences.Fuller says the team were “truly surprised” by their results, finding that nature-loving behaviours were heritable between 34 and 48% of the time.“This means there may be innate genetic differences among people’s psychological connection with natural environments and how they experience them,” says Fuller.“Our results help to explain why some people have a stronger desire than others to be in nature.”A genetic component to the relationship between humans and the biosphere has long been speculated, often under the moniker of the “<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.700709/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">biophilia hypothesis</a>”, but this is the first time it has been convincingly demonstrated.The current research builds genetic insight into our knowledge of nature-lust, which has previously been understood primarily through the lens of geographical circumstances. The new results suggest that while some of us may be genetically predisposed to connect with our wild side more than others, our circumstances still have a heady influence.<div class="newsletter-box"><div id="wpcf7-f6-p181148-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"></div></div>“Our results reinforced previous findings that a person’s environment is the predominant driver behind their enjoyment of nature,” Professor Fuller said.“But the new information on the role of genetics in shaping our relationship with nature is a significant discovery.”Lead author Dr Chia-chen Chang from the National University of Singapore believes the insight from this study may help to better inform efforts to bring people closer to nature, an issue that is becoming increasingly important as the impact of growing urbanisation on mental health becomes clearer.“We know that more and more people today are living in urban environments, and this is usually associated with more mental health issues,” she says.“This includes lower levels of subjective wellbeing, a higher risk of psychiatric disorders, or increased depression and anxiety.”Chang says the process of connecting urban dwellers with the natural environment can prove challenging in our highly developed city-scapes, but that the benefits make the effort worthwhile.“Spending a little time at home in the garden can be a great way to experience some nature, but this can’t always be achieved, especially for those in urban areas,” she says.“Increasing accessibility to nature for urban residents through projects such as communal gardens will be hugely beneficial and will play an important part in improving people’s wellbeing overall.”The results also add to a growing body of research that relies on insights from the study of twins, with the current study involving participants from <a href="https://twinsuk.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TwinsUK</a>: the United Kingdom’s largest adult twin registry and most clinically detailed twin study in the world.TwinsUK, which has more than 14,000 registered twin participants, has been instrumental in progressing understanding of how genetic variation relates to human health and disease, with data underpinning 76 individual studies and over 800 publications to date. <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="height: 1px!important;width: 1px!important;border: 0!important" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=181148&title=Feel+connected+to+nature%3F+It+might+be+in+your+genes" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /> </div><div id="contributors"><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/genetic-basis-for-biophilia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/jamie-priest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jamie Priest</a>. Jamie Priest is a science journalist at Cosmos. She has a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of Adelaide.Image: Getty Images</div>

Body

"We're so connected": Barty's heartfelt tribute to tennis legend

Following her second-round victory against Lucia Bronzetti on Wednesday, tennis superstar Ash Barty paid tribute to a fellow tennis icon and personal mentor of hers, Evonne Goolagong Cawley. After her smashing success, Barty spoke to retired tennis star Casey Dellacqua on the court, with Dellacqua asking Barty about her relationship with Goolagong Cawley, who was unable to attend the Open this year. Barty has previously spoken about how she idolises Goolagong Cawley - a fellow Aboriginal woman - and even paid tribute to her following her huge win at Wimbledon last year. Following her win, which came 41 years after Goolagong Cawley’s, she said, “I hope I made Evonne proud”. Barty was the first Australian woman to win a Wimbledon singles title since Goolagong Cawley’s win in 1980. On the court on Wednesday, Barty said of Goolagong Cawley, "She's an incredible human being. I'm extremely lucky to be able to call her a friend, I know she's only ever a phone call away. "The universe has worked in a way that we're so connected. We've got some special anniversaries that we share together, obviously we're connected through our heritage. She's an incredible woman and she's been able to guide so many of the indigenous youth coming up in the last however many years, but also her work off the court. "I'm privileged to know her. I love her to death." Goolagong Cawley, who was born in Griffith and grew up in Barellan, won the French Open singles and the Australian Open doubles when she was just 19, the latter alongside Margaret Court. She went on to win the women’s singles at Wimbledon in 1971 a year later, and in 1980 became the first mother to win Wimbledon in 66 years. She won 14 Grand Slam titles in all, and was named Australian of the Year in 1971. She now leads the Goolagong National Development Camp for Indigenous children, which encourages Indigenous Australian youth to stay in school. Image: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

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Feel connected to nature? It might be in your genes

Feel connected to nature? It might be in your genes

"We're so connected": Barty's heartfelt tribute to tennis legend

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