Neuroscientists are examining whether political allegiances are hard-wired into people after finding evidence that the brains of conservatives are a different shape to those of left-wingers.
Scans of 90 students’ brains at University College London (UCL) uncovered a “strong correlation” between the thickness of two particular areas of grey matter and an individual’s views.
Self-proclaimed right-wingers had a more pronounced amygdala – a primitive part of the brain associated with emotion – while their political opponents from the opposite end of the spectrum had thicker anterior cingulates.
Pick up a penguin
Scientists have come up with an innovative scheme to weigh up the survival chances of threatened penguins.
Specially designed measuring scales have been built to allow experts to gain vital information about the feeding habits of the Adelie penguin. Three sets of scales have been disguised and strategically placed on the routes popular with the birds at a colony in the Antarctic.
Scientists working at the Dumont d’Urville base on Pointe Geologie archipelago in the Antarctic can then monitor the data to gain detailed information about the colony.
Big screen bungle
Police in California said thieves who stole a large television from a Sacramento home were thwarted when it would not fit in their getaway car.
Investigators said the burglars entered the home through a back window, removed the TV and tried to load it into their Lexus.
When it proved too big, they left it on the curb and drove away, but a neighbour witnessed the crime and called the police.
Worth the wait
Couples who avoid sex before marriage end up having happier, more stable relationships – and a better time in bed, according to psychologists.
US Researchers questioned more than 2,000 married individuals about their relationships, and asked them when they started having sex.
Analysis of the results showed there were rewards for not getting physical too fast. Compared with those having sex early, couples who waited until they were married rated the stability of their relationships 22 per cent higher.
Frazzled over fries
Police say a dispute over the freshness of french fries got heated at a McDonald’s in northern Ohio.
Officers were called after a customer complained his serving wasn’t fresh and refused to leave until he got different fries.
He told police an employee struck him with a mop but a witness said the worker acted only as though he was going to hit the man and said the customer called the employee a derogatory name.
‘Teen mom’ charged
Teen Mom star Amber Portwood has been charged with domestic battery and child neglect after an episode of the MTV reality show in which she was filmed slapping, choking and kicking the 24-year-old father of her daughter.
Indiana police said Ms Portwood, 20, was arrested on Monday after dozens of viewers called the state’s child abuse hotline to report Ms Portwood’s outbursts.
Detective Mitch Carroll said the child neglect charges stem from Portwood’s then-one-year-old daughter being present during two filmed instances of domestic violence. (PA)
Many millionaires
A record-breaking number of millionaires were created by the National Lottery this year.
A total of 158 people joined the exclusive millionaires’ club over the past 12 months, an increase of 26 on 2009.
The lottery paid out £775 million in jackpot prizes alone this year, up £285 million on 2009 and the highest amount ever paid out in one year.
Patches for free
Free nicotine patches are to be offered on the NHS as part of a major drive to help smokers quit their habit in the New Year.
Coupons giving smokers a week’s free trial of the patches will be added to “Quit Kits” for the first time, the Department of Health announced.
The kits, which also contain items such as calming audio downloads and “health and wealth” wheels showing the benefits of giving up, will be available at participating pharmacies across the country.
New debt measures
A range of new measures to protect consumers borrowing money through credit and store cards will come into force at the end of this year.
The changes, which were agreed between the Government and the industry, aim to give people more control over their borrowing, while those who are at risk of getting into financial difficulties will be offered greater protection.
One of the key changes is that repayments made by cardholders will be used to reduce their most expensive debt first, ending the current practice under which borrowing that is accruing low interest or no interest at all is usually repaid before debt on which interest is being charged at higher rates.
Football improves fitness
An innovative health programme is harnessing the power of football to encourage young men to pay closer attention to their fitness.
Premier League Health (PLH) has been adopted by 16 football clubs in an attempt to reach out to over-18s.
The £1.6 million of funding from The Football Foundation allows the clubs with PLH status to implement programmes designed to raise men’s awareness and help them adopt healthier lifestyles.