Want to have the best day ever? Scientists say they know the exact formula – so I gave it a try
Has science really cracked the code for how to 'have a great day'? Our intrepid investigator decided to put it to the test to find out (spoiler alert: the schedule did include work, but also time for lounging in the sun eating ice cream and hanging out with family)
A few weeks ago, scientists in Canada made an exciting new discovery. They had unearthed a detailed formula for a 'Great Day'. Researchers at the University of British Columbia analysed data from the American Time Use Survey, which recorded the way thousands of people spent their time.
After trawling through hours of data, they calculated the ideal amount of time we should spend on different activities. The most surprising element is that it involves six hours of work.
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Belfast Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Want to have the best day ever? Scientists say they know the exact formula – so I gave it a try
Has science really cracked the code for how to 'have a great day'? Our intrepid investigator decided to put it to the test to find out (spoiler alert: the schedule did include work, but also time for lounging in the sun eating ice cream and hanging out with family) A few weeks ago, scientists in Canada made an exciting new discovery. They had unearthed a detailed formula for a 'Great Day'. Researchers at the University of British Columbia analysed data from the American Time Use Survey, which recorded the way thousands of people spent their time. After trawling through hours of data, they calculated the ideal amount of time we should spend on different activities. The most surprising element is that it involves six hours of work.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The popular wines most at risk from climate change - so, is your favourite variety in the firing line?
Whether it's a Pinot Noir from Burgundy or a Rosado from Rioja, Europe is home to some of the most popular wines in the world. But these delicious varieties could soon change forever - thanks to climate change. Experts have warned that wine grapes in France, Spain and Italy have seen the most significant increases in high temperatures during the growing season. And the result could mean wines become sweeter, more intense and even more alcoholic. The team, from the University of British Columbia, studied the phenology of wine grapes. This refers to how the different stages of growth and reproduction are affected by the environment over the course of a year. They used data from more than 500 grapevine varieties from around the world and looked at 10 different measures of climate. This included the lowest temperatures during dormancy and when buds emerge, heat extremes during the growing season, and temperature and rainfall during harvest. Analysis revealed that Europe has experienced the greatest shift since the 1970s, with the most significant increases in the number of hot days over 35°C (95°F) and the highest temperatures during the growing season. Some of the most popular wines currently grown in Europe include Pinot Noir and Sancerre from France, Rioja from Spain and Brunello di Montalcino in Italy. Pinot Blanc is a white wine grape that is also widely grown across Europe, particularly in France, Italy, Germany and Austria. Studies have shown that warmer temperatures are shifting the regions suitable for winegrowing toward the poles. Meanwhile traditional regions are yielding grapes that ripen faster and have higher sugar levels, which alters the taste of wine. This could make wine taste sweeter and have a higher alcohol content, as sugar is converted to alcohol during the fermentation process. The acidity of wine also declines in warmer climates, which means the wine could taste less fresh and have less 'zest'. Meanwhile pigments in wine called anthocyanins – which are responsible for the red and purple colours - break down under heat. Tannins, which are important for how wine feels in the mouth, may not develop enough if grapes are harvested early to curb rising sugar levels. Writing in the journal Plos Climate the researchers said: 'Metrics of heat extremes for regions in Western/Southern Europe and in Eastern Europe showed by far the largest increases and suggest a new world of European winegrowing that has few parallels to European winegrowing of 40-50 years before. 'Europe's northern latitudinal location positions it for more extreme warming overall as northern latitudes warm the most. 'Our analyses highlight that Europe has experienced the most severe shift in summer heat – with days above 35°C and maximum temperatures most years now far outside of what was experienced before significant warming. 'Impacts of this new, hotter climate include lower grape yields, heat damage to berries and vegetation, and an industry that is rapidly working to adapt.' Lead author Elizabeth Wolkovich said: 'I was very surprised by the level of warming across the globe, but especially in Europe, where our results show clearly just how much the growing season has warmed with human-caused climate change. 'As someone who has visited Europe for over 15 years, I have witnessed the increasing heat waves, but seeing the data -- and how much change growers are facing -- was sobering and even higher than I expected.' WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO TASTE WINE PROPERLY? When it comes to drinking wine, there a few things that can make all the difference. Australian wine-connoisseur Caitlyn Rees offers how to taste wines like an expert Step 1: See Before you even down that first sip, you first need to take a look at the wine in your glass. 'See refers to the appearance of the wine. This is where you can check the clarity, intensity and colour. 'If the wine is hazy it could be faulty but more likely unfiltered.' Step 2: Swirl You've probably seen wine drinkers swirl the wine in their glass before taking a sip. The reason is to allowed the wine to 'open up' and reveal the maximum amount of aroma, flavour and intensity. 'Swirling releases the aroma particles that make the next step, smell, more helpful.' Step 3: Smell Smelling wine serves two purposes. It helps you detect scents and flavours as well as providing a way to check for faults. Once you've taken in the full aroma of the wine, now it's time to sip. Unless the wine you are tasting has gone bad, the final step in the process of wine tasting is to swallow. The trick though isn't to gulp it down.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Study reveals average sleep duration of 20 countries - with France up top and Japan bottom
Whether you're a morning person or can barely drag yourself out of bed, wherever we are in the world, we all know how important a good night's sleep can be. Now, scientists have revealed the countries that got the most rest. According to a study of 50,000 people in 20 different countries, France claims the top spot as the most rested nation, with the average sleeping for seven hours and 52 minutes, while at the bottom's Japan with just six hours and 17 minutes. That means the average Japanese citizen got over an hour and a half less sleep than their French counterpart - a more than 40-hour difference over a month. However, while missing out on sleep could lead to a number of health problems, the researchers found that in countries where people got less sleep, they weren't any less healthy. University of British Columbia's Professor Steven Heine said: 'There is no one-size-fits-all amount of sleep that works for everyone.' Although doctors commonly recommended eight hours' every night, Professor Heine and his colleagues found that sleep duration varied significantly between countries. When asked how much sleep they had the previous night, citizens of European countries and Australia tended to be better rested. Following behind France, those in the Netherlands averaged seven hours and 45 minutes, closely followed by Belgium and New Zealand, where citizens reported sleeping for seven hours 41 minutes, and seven hours 40 minutes, respectively. On the other hand, residents of Asian countries slept for significantly shorter periods. In Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore, people reported sleeping for less than seven hours a night, on average. In the U.S., residents slept for just seven hours and two minutes per night, which put the nation below China and India. What came as a surprise was that countries where people slept less didn't appear to be any unhealthier. Even though some Asian countries sleep for two hours less than the recommended eight hours per day, there was no evidence of lower life expectancy or higher rates of heart disease and diabetes. Curiously, the researchers also discovered that countries with lower amounts of sleep also tended to have lower rates of obesity. Japanese culture stressed the importance of diligence and hard work, thereby it valued sleeping for shorter periods. This led to a phenomenon called 'inemuri' or 'sleeping while present', where workers dozed off at their desks or in public due to over-exhaustion. Such catnaps could be seen as a positive sign of hard work rather than laziness. Researchers argued that these cultural differences might lead to real medical differences in how much people from different countries should sleep, which could be something for medical professionals to take into account when creating public health advice on bed rest. Professor Heine concluded: 'Despite the common advice to get eight hours' sleep, our findings suggest that sleep recommendations need to be adjusted based on cultural norms.' The countries getting the most sleep
