Features - The Malaysian Insider

Traders strike gold in champagne caps

You may pop open a bottle of champagne to celebrate something good, and perhaps you will keep the painted metal cap which secured the cork as a wee souvenir of that moment. But for a small but...

Tiny village becomes Indonesian anti-smoking champion

Nestled amid mountains in remote central Indonesia, Bone-Bone looks like any other rural hamlet in the archipelago, with a modest collection of houses, shops and mosques and people quietly going...

Retirement good for health, says study

The University of Sydney has published this week results of a study that concludes retirement really is good for your health. University researchers followed a large sample of 25,000 Australian...

Prehistoric kitchen tools boosted human evolution, says study

Developing tools with which to slice and mash their food meant our ancestors needed to chew much less, leaving more time for honing language and other skills instead, evolutionary scientists said...

Exercise can cut risk of Alzheimer’s says two new studies

Two new studies published on Friday in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease have shown the beneficial effects of exercise in the prevention of Alzheimer's disease. Both studies were conducted by...

How to keep your brain young

Canadian researchers have found that not only can staying on at school help to keep your brain young, but taking the stairs daily also helps to improve brain health. In the study, carried out...

Tai chi, Qigong could be beneficial for cardiovascular conditions, says study

A new Chinese study has found that the country's traditional mind-body exercises, which focus on posture, breathing, and meditation, may help to improve the health of individuals who have...

Settle children’s sleep patterns by age five for better school performance

A landmark new study has found that getting children's sleep patterns sorted out before age five helps them perform better at school. The Australian study, carried out by Dr Kate Williams from...

Lego sticks to bricks, despite apps, games and flicks

In a low-rise factory on the outskirts of Billund, a small town in western Denmark, robots stand holding trays at the ready as pistons spit out hundreds of pieces of Lego every few seconds. The...

Frog with yellow eyebrows discovered in Colombia

A new species of terrestrial frog with yellow eyebrows has been found in Colombia's East Andes, researchers announced on Tuesday. The Pristimantis macrummendozai was discovered in the Iguaque...

Support your partner if you want them to stop smoking, says new study

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen, UK, have found that in order for one's partner to successfully stop smoking, it is best to stop nagging and start supporting them, according to a recent...

A break from beauty products can reduce chemical exposure in teenage girls

A new US study has shown that switching to more natural cosmetics for just a few days is enough to significantly lower the levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in teenage girls. A team of...

Lack of vitamin D during pregnancy could up risk of MS in children, says study

A vitamin D deficiency while pregnant could increase the chance of children developing multiple sclerosis (MS) in later life, says a new study published this week in the journal Jama...

New list reveals world’s most ethical companies

Consumers who want to support ethical brands, and job-seekers looking to work for companies with a solid track record for keeping employees happy may want to consult the newly released 2016...

Which sports burn the most calories?

Get moving and feel the burn with these calorie-busting activities to enjoy as part of a healthy lifestyle or a weight-loss programme. The top five calorie-killers include cross-country skiing,...

Restoring life to corals of Langkawi’s Andaman Resort

As you take an idyllic stroll on the secluded beach of The Andaman Resort in Langkawi, you'll notice rough, sharp rocks that wash up with the waves. These rocks are actually the remnants of a...

Asia’s tuk-tuks providing a wheel boost to Africa

Omnipresent on the chaotic streets of Mumbai, Jakarta and Bangkok, Asia's three-wheeled "tuk-tuk" has now come to Africa – and with a two-fold bonus: providing much-needed jobs and slashing...

Australia becomes China’s land of milk and honey

Asian consumers determined to improve their lifestyle are boosting the fortunes of Australian producers of premium baby milk formula, vitamins and honey, as the region's burgeoning middle class...

Just detoxed? Here’s 6 ways to feel the benefit for longer

After a full-on detox, it can be tempting to hang up your sports gear and tuck straight into some fatty foods. But adopting a few good habits can help maintain the positive effects of a detox...

Colouring craze poses headache for crayon makers

Colouring books for grown-ups may be the new lifestyle craze, promising ways to combat stress, unleash our creative spirit and generally take time out from our increasingly tech-frazzled,...