WEIRD STUFF

Couples talk turning into pillow war

For some couples, the real bedtime battle isn't about who forgot to turn off the lights -- it's about scatter cushions.

A survey of 1,000 partners found that more than half (54 per cent) admitted to heated arguments over the number of decorative pillows piled onto their beds. For 12 per cent of respondents in the poll conducted by hotel chain Premier Inn, the cushion chaos has even postponed cuddling, simply because clearing them away feels like a chore.

Sarah Simpson, a sleep specialist with Premier Inn, cautioned that these seemingly small disputes can chip away at healthy sleep routines.

"Your bedroom should be your sanctuary, not a battleground over soft furnishings," she said. "If scatter cushions are creating conflict, they're actively sabotaging your sleep hygiene."

Health insurer Bupa warns that consistently missing out on proper rest can have serious consequences, linking long-term sleep deprivation to increased risks of diabetes, depression and even certain cancers. Adults aged 18 to 65 are advised to get between seven and nine hours of sleep nightly, while those over 65 typically need seven to eight hours.

------

Gen Z baffled by 'old-school' car features

It appears some members of Generation Z may struggle if handed the keys to an older vehicle.

Research commissioned by online car marketplace Cazoo revealed that 27 per cent of those born between 1997 and 2012 did not know how to secure a parked car using a traditional pull-up handbrake, instead of a modern electronic park button now common in newer models.

The knowledge gap did not end there. Forty per cent of young respondents could not identify a manual window crank, while only one-third recognised car ashtrays. Just 41 per cent were able to correctly identify a cigarette lighter in a vehicle.

Charlie Harvey, motoring expert at Cazoo, said rapid advancements in automotive design have quickly rendered once-familiar features obsolete.

"Car design has evolved massively in the last 20 years, and it's interesting to see how quickly knowledge of obsolete car features has faded," he noted. "Some features, such as the choke, are better left in the past, but there are other features that are sorely missed, such as physical tactile buttons and eye-catching, pop-up headlights.

"There's a sweet spot on the used car market for everyone, whether that's cutting-edge tech or classic retro design."

--------

Study finds biological link to longer-lasting pain in women

Scientists have uncovered new evidence suggesting that women may experience chronic pain for longer periods than men due to differences in immune system activity.

Researchers at Michigan State University found that monocytes -- a type of white blood cell that releases pain-switching molecules -- are more active in men because of higher testosterone levels. As a result, men may recover from pain more quickly.

The study, published in the journal Science Immunology, reported that female participants experienced prolonged pain and slower recovery, as their monocytes were less active.

Professor Geoffroy Laumet, one of the study's authors, said the findings underscore that pain disparities between men and women are rooted in biology.

"The difference in pain between men and women has a biological basis," he explained. "It's not in your head, and you're not soft. It's your immune system."

Researchers believe the discovery could pave the way for new, non-opioid treatments by targeting immune cells to amplify the body's natural pain-relief signals.