Features - The Malaysian Insider

Get up and move to improve health, say researchers

Another study adds to the growing body of evidence that too much sedentary time is bad for your health, with new US researchers finding that those who move more benefit from a reduced mortality...

Mark Zuckerberg says can change a nappy in 20 seconds

Facebook founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg, whose first child was born in November, on Thursday boasted that he could change a nappy in 20 seconds. "I am competitive guy, I time myself to get...

Muscular men perceived to be better leaders, says study

How do you judge someone's leadership potential? By their policies, public speaking skills or good looks? According to US researchers, a muscular physique could be one of the most important...

Chinese scientists make sperm from mouse stem cells

Using embryonic stem cells from mice, Chinese scientists reported yesterday they have created functioning sperm, which was injected into female mice eggs and resulted in normal, fertile...

Acidic oceans stifling coral growth

Scientists unveiled the first smoking-gun evidence on Wednesday that growing ocean acidity caused by global warming is already stifling growth of vital coral reefs. The decline of shallow water...

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can affect future generations, says study

A US study has found that drinking even small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy can increase the risk of alcohol dependency in the next three generations. Researchers at Binghamton University...

‘Happy face’ for children can make parents feel worse, says research

Although parents may believe they are doing the right thing by hiding negative emotions from their children, new research suggests suppressing negative emotions in front of children and putting...

‘Vaginal seeding’ for C-section babies not safe, expert says

The increasingly popular practice of swabbing newborns delivered by caesarean section with fluid from the mother's vagina may not be safe, doctors and researchers have cautioned. Known as...

Uber makes first two-wheeler foray with Bangkok motorbikes

Uber offered its first motorbike taxi service yesterday, launching a pilot scheme in Bangkok which could spread across Asia as it takes on chief regional rival Grab. Motorbikes have long been a...

Pro nano-brick artist builds path to success, brick by brick

At 40 years old, Christopher Tan is living the ultimate dream of every young child who has ever played with Lego bricks. The ex-software architect is Malaysia’s first, and one of the world’s...

Staying hydrated reduces pain perception, study finds

Running out of the house without having breakfast can mean going hours without drinking anything. Now, researchers at New Zealand's Massey University have found another reason to grab more than a...

Barrier Reef at greater risk than thought, says study

Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR), the world's largest coral bank, is at greater risk than previously thought of dissolving as climate change renders the oceans more acidic, researchers said...

Children need to be active, say researchers

A study by the University of Cambridge has found that children are not active enough in the autumn and winter months, and spend too much time sitting indoors compared to other times of the...

Stringing together the rare tradition of Teochew puppetry

Standing at just over one feet tall, a cast of puppets with intricate costumes and delicate faces move around a small stage with a combination of grace and dramatic flair, performing a Chinese...

Experiencing financial stress may lead to physical pain

According to a new study money worries can cause more than just psychological stress, with those who are stressed about their financial future also experiencing more physical pain than those who...

Exposure to air pollution could increase the risk of obesity

A new study by Duke's University, USA, has found that breathing in highly polluted air for just a few weeks can not only increase the risk of cardio-respiratory and metabolic dysfunctions but...

From Kipling to Jinnah, Mumbai’s crumbling colonial homes

Hidden behind a blanket of trees at the back of a university in Mumbai lies the dilapidated, but once grand, former home of writer Rudyard Kipling. Fallen branches, discarded chairs and even...

Tracing roots of batik as modern art

If you think that batik is contained in the realm of traditional textile art, think again. The medium has been used by contemporary Malaysian artists to create paintings that reflect our search...

Binge drinking increases high blood pressure in young adults

The dangers of binge drinking are already well-known, however a new Canadian study has found for the first time that binge drinking can also increase blood pressure in young 20-something adults,...

Vitamin D supplements beneficial for breastfed children, says study

A Canadian study recommends giving Vitamin D supplements to children who are still breastfeeding after their first birthday in order to prevent health problems such as rickets. The study,...