Our Times: November 2005

Hugs For Health

Women's heart health may benefit more from hugs than do men's, a study suggests. It showed that hugs increased levels of oxytocin—a “bonding” hormone—and reduce blood pressure, which cuts the risk of heart disease. People in loving relationships were found to have higher levels of the hormone than others.

Ethical Water

A water company that puts its profits into clean water projects in developing countries has created an environmentally friendly bottle out of biodegradable plastic. Belu Spring Water Company is beginning to use its “bio bottle,” which is made of a corn starch–based plastic that decomposes in eight to 10 weeks.

Christian Occupation

Renovators working in an ancient Egyptian monastery have unearthed the oldest example of a building housing Christian monks. The cell, found under St Anthony's Monastery 155 km south-west of Cairo, a building that served as the living quarters for monks, dates from the fourth century.

Bear Fact

Holidays for teddy bears are being offered by a German travel agent. The teddies spend an action-packed week sightseeing, playing games, and enjoy a traditional teddy-bears' picnic followed by a visit to a Munich beer house. Teddy owners can also choose special activities to suit the nature of their faithful friend, including fishing, golf, painting, bungee jumping and paragliding. Loving owners receive pictures of teddy on his big day out.

Jet-Set Insurance

Tired of parking fines and speeding tickets? A Swedish company offers insurance against both, claiming to be the first of its kind. After registering and paying an annual fee of 850 crowns ($112) the insurance company, Bisso, will cover against three speeding tickets a year, as long as they are not more than 30 km/h above the limit. An extra fee buys cover against parking fines.

Subwoofer TV

In the next evolution of reality TV shows a British animal charity is looking for Britain's fattest pets, and then sends them to fat camp. At the end of the program the most improved pet wins its owner a holiday.

Plastic Steel

Australian scientists have developed a technique to use waste plastic in steel making, a process that could have implications for recycling scrap metal that accounts for 40 per cent of steel production. Carbon is used to add strength to steel: the higher the carbon content, the stronger but less ductile it is. Waste plastics contain high enough levels of carbon to be useful in steelmaking. Plastic is added during the melting stage, instead of coke, which is produced from coal.