Features - The Malaysian Insider

Parents’ affection, touch vital for long-term development

Research from the University of Notre Dame, USA, has found that parents' affection and support in childhood can have lasting effects on development well into adulthood. University of Notre Dame...

Drug firm announces advance in quest for HIV cure

A Norwegian drug firm yesterday announced an advance in its quest for an HIV cure with a drug combination which seeks to force the virus out of its hiding place and kill it. A trial with 17...

Material purchases can bring happiness, new study finds

If you are in a panic about last-minute holiday gifts, it might be worth bearing in mind that material things actually can bring happiness according to a new study by Canadian researchers. In...

5 tips to get you through festive mealtimes

During the year-end festivities, we often think about having to recover from an overly heavy meal, with too much fatty food and alcohol. But it is wholly possible to prepare for these occasions...

‘Fat but fit’ is not good for health, says new study

A new Swedish study has dismissed the idea that 'fat but fit' is okay, finding instead that obese men with a high aerobic fitness level were still at a higher risk of death than those of a normal...

High fat/low carb diet could help treat schizophrenia

A team of Australian researchers have found that a high fat/low carb ketogenic diet, as favored by body-builders, may be effective in treating schizophrenia. The ketogenic diet, which is high...

65 years of MILO and Malaysia

The heat is sweltering, and the sun, high at mid-morning. The air is festive as students erupt into cheers now and then at an annual school sports day event. In a corner, pupils form a long...

Korean beauty trends to dominate in 2016

K-beauty was one of the biggest trends of 2015, with beauty lovers the world over embracing the cult sheet masks and CC creams to emerge from Asia's most innovative cosmetics fairground. Korean...

Chinese wineries seek inspiration in foreign cups

In a country renowned for forgery, winemaker Jose Hernandez worries China's burgeoning viniculture industry will suffer from blatant copying of Bordeaux's output. China has the world's...

Back to basics with ancient foods and algae

As we continue to shun modern-day artificial ingredients and GMOs in search of more natural products, 2016 will see nutrition go even more back to basics with a variety of ancient fruits, grains,...

Our brain reveals whether we have the Christmas spirit

A Danish research team has located the Christmas spirit in our brain. The areas of the brain associated with spirituality and sharing emotions are activated in those who follow Christmas...

Binge drinking more dangerous than originally thought, says study

A study by the University of Missouri School of Medicine suggests that chronic alcohol use combined with repeated binge drinking is even more harmful for the liver than previously...

France clamps down on ultra-thin models, says medical cert required

French lawmakers on Thursday adopted a bill forcing ultra-thin models to furnish a doctor's certificate confirming they are healthy and magazines that Photoshop their silhouette to tag the images...

Bad English teeth a myth, ‘Austin Powers’ study says

A long-standing stereotype that English people have terrible teeth was busted yesterday as a light-hearted study revealed that American citizens do not have better oral health than English...

Art meets conservation in nature-themed exhibition

One look at CK Teh's “Starry Starry Night in the Tropics” and you won't be mistaken for seeing elements of Vincent van Gogh in the star-filled sky and dreamy, abstract look. Yet, the flowy...

Study shows men with moustaches outnumber women in top US medical jobs

Men sporting moustaches are more likely than women to head medical departments in 50 leading US medical schools, highlighting a need to redress the balance of sexes, researchers said on...

Having children after 24 improves long-term health, says study

According to a US study published in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, having a first child after the age of 24 increases the chances of being in better health at 40. From 1979 to...

Active, passive smoking linked to infertility, says study

A US study has found that both active and passive smoking is linked to infertility problems and early menopause in women. Although previous studies have already found a link between infertility...

Pomegranates are good for neurons, study suggests

Eating pomegranates regularly could provide protection from neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, according to an American study published in the journal ACS Chemical...

Zombie apocalypse study makes top scientific journal

Are you afflicted by a shambling gait, a tendency to moan and the desire to bite and eat flesh? Watch out, you could be becoming a zombie, according to the respected British Medical Journal...