23 h. ago The pioneering light boxes helping Orkney islanders avoid seasonal affective disorder

Wintering Well boxes to counter effects of low light on mental health are ‘super popular’, says island librarian“Boxes of light” are being used to help people who struggle with low winter mood while living in one of Scotland’s darkest communities as part of a wider research initiative to support the million-plus sufferers of seasonal affective disorder across Britain.Residents of the Orkney Islands have been able to borrow a Wintering Well Box from their library since the clocks went back in October, with the kits already proving “super popular” according to Sue House, an assistant librarian at Orkney Library – the oldest public library in Scotland and coincidentally an online sensation, thanks to its goofy social media presence. Continue reading...

Sport

2 d. ago Is your Christmas TACKY? Etiquette expert dishes on the rules of silly season

Christmas is the perfect time for hosting - from the food to the decorations and gifts. But according to an Australian etiquette expert, it's the small details that can reveal whether you're classy or tacky.

Science

3 d. ago Dentist names 'worst offenders' for your teeth this Christmas

A dentist has warned that there are certain foods and drinks that we should avoid during the festive season

Politics

3 d. ago 1.5 million people issued festive food warning over 4 'problem' items

Over one million people are affected, with experts urging people to avoid drinking and eating certain items during the festive season

Events

4 d. ago AA warns drivers common Christmas mistakes could ruin the holidays

The motoring experts have shared essential tips to help drivers avoid car crime this festive season

Events

4 d. ago First there was Quiet Quitting, now there is Quiet Christmas

More than half of adults will choose to avoid crowds and social occasions this holiday season.

Politics

5 d. ago How I wellnessed my way out of the winter blues with sleep, sunlight and good gut health

The latest Well Enough newsletter by Emilie Lavinia explores how sleep, sunlight and gut health helped her wellness her way out of SAD

Politics

5 d. ago The Guardian view on gene editing: breakthroughs need a new social contract | Editorial

Cutting-edge therapies exist, but the market cannot deliver them cheaply. Britain must build NHS capacity so that cures become collective goods, not expensive productsJust a small fraction of our 20,000 genes can cause disease when disrupted – yet that sliver accounts for thousands of rare disorders. The difficulty is: what can a doctor do to treat them? In a common condition such as type 2 diabetes, the underlying biology is similar for millions of patients. The doctor can prescribe metformin. But with a genetic disorder, the mutation might only affect a small number of people worldwide. In many cases, doctors won’t even know which mutation is responsible, let alone how to fix it.Novel gene-editing breakthroughs are making headlines. But therapies are expensive and complex to develop. The cost of bringing any new drug to patients is now around $2bn, in part because, as Brian David Smith notes in New Drugs, Fair Prices, the “success rate, from discovery to market, is ...

Politics

5 d. ago Most Brits avoid crowds and socialising over Christmas as top 10 excuses are revealed

FIRST there was Quiet Quitting, now there is Quiet Christmas, as more than half of adults will choose to avoid crowds and social occasions this holiday season. After the rise in popularity of 'Quiet Quitting' at work and the 'Quiet Breakup’ of leaving a relationship, research suggests people are gently disengaging from the season. Nearly...

Politics

8 d. ago When will my bin get collected? Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highlands and Islands Christmas bin collection dates

There are different bin collection guidelines for councils across Scotland - here are the dates and changes for Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, the Highlands and Islands, Orkney and Moray.

Politics

9 d. ago Amazon's best chocolate share box deals to help you stock up for Christmas season

The retail giant has slashed the prices on big bags, boxes, and tubs of festive favourites like Quality Street, Lindor, Ferrero Rocher, and more.

Economics

9 d. ago American Academy of Pediatrics loses government funding after criticizing RFK Jr

Cuts, which affect projects focused on issues including early identification of autism, made without prior notice to AAPThe US department of health and human services (HHS) has terminated several multi-million-dollar grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics following the association’s criticisms of health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s policies.The funding cuts, which affect projects focused on issues including fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and early identification of autism, were first reported by the Washington Post and made without prior notice to the AAP. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Average house price is £6,695 lower than in November, says Rightmove

Lower asking prices and falling mortgage rates could help create a bigger than usual Boxing Day bounce in property searches, Rightmove said.

Economics

2 w. ago Three ingredients to avoid this holiday season... and their healthy alternatives

Food Network star and founder of FlavCity Bobby Parrish has revealed the three ingredients you need to look out for this holiday season - and the healthier alternatives that you can replace them with.

Events

2 w. ago Best SAD lamps: A guide to the top tried and tested sunrise clocks

For some, seasonal affective disorder - or SAD as it's commonly known - can make it extremely difficult to function normally during the darker months.

Politics

2 w. ago How to protect your health during Christmas party season and avoid burnout

Balance is essential to maintaining your wellbeing during the festive season

Society

2 w. ago How to avoid burnout this Christmas party season and protect your health

Balance is essential to maintaining your wellbeing during the festive season

Society

2 w. ago Netflix buying Warner Bros is bad news for cinema and those of us who love it | Jesse Hassenger

The proposed acquisition would see yet more of Hollywood controlled by a tech company and one that doesn’t seem to care about the theatrical experienceDid Netflix just exacerbate a bunch of seasonal affective disorders in cinephiles? Timed to ruin holidays like a round of end-of-year layoffs, the streaming giant announced plans to buy Warner Bros, a movie and television studio with a full-century legacy. It’s possible that the acquisition won’t actually go through – and if it does, it won’t be for at least a year. But the news still looms over year-end awards and list-making, and it’s going to take more than a jingle-bell heist to steal back any holiday cheer for the entertainment industry, much less halt the march of corporate consolidation and monopolization. Even more depressing: the entity that seems most able to take action against this is another attempted consolidation. Paramount has launched a bid for a hostile takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, which would bring two big stu...

Events

3 w. ago The neurological condition that is often dismissed as clumsiness

Dyspraxia, also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), affects around 5 per cent of the population

Politics

3 w. ago Full list of retailer Christmas return dates to avoid unwanted gifts this festive season

A consumer expert has shared the last return dates for Christmas gifts to ease shopping stress this year.

Politics