TikTok abounds with techniques that will supposedly keep us looking young‚ which seems a tad odd considering the biggest proportion of its users are under 25. Regardless‚ it’s full of advice about 20-step skincare routines and “anti-aging” straws (yes‚ you read that right). And the latest trend? Face yoga.What is face yoga?The idea of face yoga has been kicking about for a while – like many anti-aging trends‚ it gets recycled every couple of years on whatever the most popular platform is. This time‚ it’s TikTok‚ where face yoga videos have totted up over 2 billion views. But what even is face yoga?“Face yoga is a description for exercises performed to tone and stretch facial muscles‚” Dr Amy B. Lewis‚ a dermatologist and certified yoga instructor‚ told Vogue. It usually involves rubbing‚ stretching‚ or pulling different areas of the face‚ often with the goal of targeting specific facial muscles.If you think that sounds a bit like like a massage‚ you’re not wrong. “Face yoga actually has more parallels with massage and acupuncture. It’s massaging your face more than doing yoga‚” explained human movement researcher Neha Gothe‚ speaking to Northeastern Global News.Does it actually work?The proponents of face yoga claim it’s brimming with anti-aging results‚ all the way from giving you a youthful glow and preventing wrinkles‚ to lifting and sculpting your face and neck. A 2018 study from a Northwestern University team of researchers set out to find out if any of those claims were true.The team recruited 27 participants aged between 40 to 65 years old to carry out facial exercises for 30 minutes each day for eight weeks. Once the eight weeks were up‚ participants then had to carry out the exercises every other day for a further 12 weeks.According to the study’s results‚ participants appeared nearly three years younger at the end of the 20 weeks. The facial exercises “seemed to improve mid-face and lower face fullness‚” the authors concluded.The key word there is “seemed”. Whilst interesting‚ the results can’t be generalized; there was no control group‚ the number of participants was only small and made up exclusively of middle-aged women‚ and 11 of them dropped out before the end of the study. There was also no follow-up to see if any of the participants stopped the regimen after the study finished and‚ if so‚ whether any benefits remained.In other words‚ there’s little robust scientific evidence to support the claims made on social media of drastic anti-aging effects. Not only that‚ but it does seem like a bit of a pain to poke about your face for 30 minutes each day for months – probably why those 11 people dropped out of the study.“Unless someone is highly motivated‚ it’s hard to sustain these facial exercises over a long period of time and achieve these results‚” Dr Shilpi Khetarpal‚ a dermatologist‚ told the Cleveland Clinic.That isn’t to say that face yoga is straight up useless though – it’s just not necessarily going to delete your fine lines as though they never existed. It’s basically a trendy name for a massage‚ which we know does have some benefits.Massaging can help to release muscle tension and stimulate blood flow to the area‚ which could explain the “glow” that some people see with face yoga. “Anytime you bring blood flow into an area‚ it gets your capillaries (blood vessels) moving‚ which can promote a relaxation of the muscles and get fluids moving‚” massage therapist Vickie Bodner explained to the Cleveland Clinic. “Sometimes‚ people get puffy under the eyes or in the sinus area. Practicing self-massage on the face may help you release unwanted fluids.”In summary: if it feels nice and helps you relax‚ face yoga could be for you. If you can’t be bothered with it but are worried you’ll turn into a bag of wrinkles otherwise‚ rest assured – you’re not missing out.All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text‚ images‚ and links may be edited‚ removed‚ or added to at a later date to keep information current.  The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice‚ diagnosis‚ or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions. 

Ever feel like you’re being watched? More specifically‚ ever think to yourself‚ “I probably should/shouldn’t do that‚” because someone might see you? Well‚ here comes science to throw a spanner in the works. When one group of researchers applied testosterone gel to some men‚ it made them much less sensitive to being observed‚ and consequently less likely to behave with others’ judgment in mind.How we’re likely to be perceived by those around us has a marked impact on our behavior‚ whether we consciously realize it or not. Actions we take that are likely to make others view us positively are called prosocial behaviors. Whether it’s donating blood or throwing a few dollars onto the collection plate at church‚ research suggests humans behave more prosocially when others can see us doing it.This idea of altering our actions in response to being watched also has a snappy name: the “audience effect”.A recent study set out to investigate whether testosterone could have an impact on this effect. It’s understood from previous research that higher testosterone levels are associated with behaviors that enhance social status. The study authors suggested that this could go one of two ways: either men with higher testosterone levels could be less concerned with the opinions of others‚ or they could be more sensitive to the audience effect as a means to enhance their reputation and social standing.To test out their theories‚ the team‚ led by Hana H. Kutlikova at the University of Vienna‚ recruited 192 healthy men aged between 18 and 40. In small groups‚ the men were instructed to apply a dose of gel containing 150 milligrams of testosterone‚ or an equivalent amount of placebo gel. They rubbed the gel onto their own upper arms and shoulders using disposable gloves‚ and then waited around for two hours for it to take effect.The men then had to perform a task‚ in which they were told they could earn rewards either for themselves or for a non-governmental organization (NGO) of their choice. Some of the men were randomly selected to perform the task on their own‚ while others were watched by two women who had been introduced to the men as “NGO representatives”.At various points throughout the experimental period‚ saliva samples were taken to measure the participants’ testosterone levels. After completing the task‚ they were asked about their perception of being watched.“The results show that testosterone diminishes the typical audience effect present in the placebo condition‚” the authors explain in their paper. “We show that exogenous testosterone fully eliminated strategic‚ i.e.‚ feigned‚ prosociality and thus decreased submission to audience expectations.”In other words‚ the increased testosterone made the men less bothered about being watched‚ and less likely to change their behaviors to match what their observers might think they “should” do. The authors point out some limitations to the study. They only included men due to sex differences in testosterone metabolism and a lack of data on how topical testosterone is processed in women‚ so more data is needed to know whether the results extend beyond males. In addition‚ it could be interesting to explore whether the audience effect changes depending on the gender or number of observers‚ since only female observers were used in this study.While these results come down on the side of testosterone reducing the impact of the audience effect‚ other studies in the literature have produced contrasting results. It goes to show just how complex the effects of hormone fluctuations can be – it looks like there’s much more left for scientists to discover.The study is published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.[H/T: ZME Science] 

If worst comes to worst and atomic warfare erupts‚ seaweed could become the unlikely savior of humanity.In a nuclear war‚ mushroom clouds and searing hot fireballs are just the start of the problems. Radiation will poison the land and vast plumes of soot will be blasted into the atmosphere‚ blocking sunlight from reaching Earth’s surface in what’s known as a "nuclear winter".This will result in a cooling of the planet‚ almost certainly leading to widespread crop failure and famine. However‚ some crops may be able to weather the storm better than others.In a new study‚ scientists argue that seaweed could rise to become a much-needed food source amid the fallout of nuclear war. Seaweed is relatively resilient and can grow in a wide range of environmental conditions. It's also incredibly nutritious. Along with containing basic carbs‚ proteins‚ and fats‚ it’s also loaded with nutrients like magnesium‚ zinc‚ vitamin B12‚ iodine‚ and polyunsaturated fatty acids.The research showed that seaweed could still be grown around the coast of the tropical oceans even after nuclear war. Within 9 to 14 months of the atomic bomb blasts‚ seaweed production could be scaled up to provide 45 percent of the global human demand‚ substituting 15 percent of human food‚ 10 percent of animal feed‚ and 50 percent of the global biofuel use.“Once the whole seaweed farm area is saturated with seaweed‚ all yield thereafter can be used to produce food‚ feed‚ and biofuel. This is based on a low-tech seaweed farm design. Such designs consist mainly of seedling lines to attach the seaweed‚ longlines to attach the seedling lines‚ buoyant to keep the longlines afloat‚ and anchors to fix the farm in place‚” the study authors write.      Of course‚ none of this should downplay the unbelievably horrific potential of nuclear war. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists estimates that a global all-out nuclear war between the US and Russia would cause at least 360 million immediate deaths. Even a localized exchange between two nuclear-armed countries‚ let’s say India and Pakistan‚ could result in the immediate deaths of 50 to 125 million people. This is before we even consider the impacts of radioactive fallout and a nuclear winter.Nuclear weapons have only been used once in warfare. On August 6‚ 1945‚ the US bomber Enola Gay cruised over the Japanese city of Hiroshima and dropped an atomic bomb. Just three days later‚ another nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Estimates vary‚ but between 110‚000 to 210‚000 people died in the initial blasts and the ensuing effects of ionizing radiation.Following the end of the Cold War in 1991‚ the threat of nuclear war briefly subsided. Today‚ however‚ we are seeing the deterioration of nuclear arms treaties and‚ once again‚ rising tensions between atomically armed nations.Consequently‚ the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists believes our species is the closest it has ever been to annihilation – and no amount of seaweed can save us from that.The new study is published in the journal Earth's Future.

When you think of loyal animal companions‚ the first animal you probably picture is a dog. But one cockatoo is showing just how loyal these birds can be. The tale of Marni‚ a vibrant cockatoo‚ and Rémi‚ an adorable baby boy‚ comes to life in a charming video‚ revealing the depth and wonder of interspecies... The post Cockatoo melts hearts with emotional first meeting with baby brother appeared first on Animal Channel.

The House Homeland Security Committee approved two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas early Wednesday morning‚ sending them to the House floor for a historic vote. "I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the right thing‚ put aside the politics‚ and agree that before we can fix Secretary Mayorkas' mess‚ Congress must finally hold this man accountable‚" Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (Tenn.) said in a statement. Although the Democrat-controlled Senate will likely spare Mayorkas from an ouster‚ an impeachment trial could nevertheless prove impactful ahead of the 2024 election. The articles The first article of impeachment accuses DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of a willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law. Mayorkas allegedly violated "his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies‚ foreign and domestic‚ to bear true faith and allegiance to the same‚ and to well and faithfully discharge the duties of his office‚" according to the article. The first article further claims that Mayorkas "willfully and systemically refused to comply with the immigration laws‚ failed to control the border to the detriment of national security‚ compromised public safety‚ and violated the rule of law and separation of powers in the Constitution‚ to the manifest injury of the people of the United States." The second article accuses Mayorkas of knowingly making false statements and obstructing lawful oversight of the DHS. In addition to falsely claiming that U.S. Border Patrol agents maliciously whipped illegal aliens and that apprehended illegal aliens were being quickly removed‚ Mayorkas is also accused of making false statements to Congress concerning the "scope and adequacy of the vetting of the thousands of Afghans who were airlifted to the United States." The impeachment proceedings came after a five-phase investigation and 10 subcommittee hearings examining Mayorka's role in the crisis at the southern border. "The facts are indisputable‚" said Chairman Green. "For three years‚ Secretary Mayorkas has willfully and systemically refused to comply with the laws enacted by Congress‚ and he has breached the public trust. His actions created this unprecedented crisis‚ turning every state into a border state." According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection‚ 988‚819 illegal aliens stole into the nation under Mayorkas' watch between October and December 2023. 2.47 million illegal aliens entered the U.S. in fiscal year 2023; 2.37 million in FY 2022; and 1.73 million in FY 2021. Over 60% of those crossing the border illegally in fiscal years 2021-2023 were single adults. Blaze News previously reported that a coalition of former FBI officials warned Congress last week that the border crisis was ushering in a "new and imminent danger" from "military-aged men from across the globe‚" which could result in a catastrophic attack on American soil. "As a result‚ thousands of Americans have lost their lives and our nation is experiencing a historic national security‚ public safety‚ and humanitarian catastrophe‚" continued Chairman Green. "Make no mistake‚ Secretary Mayorkas' lawlessness is exactly what the Framers of our Constitution designed impeachment to remedy." To the floor Mayorkas defended himself in a last-minute Tuesday letter to the House Homeland Security Committee‚ reported Axios. "I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted‚" wrote Mayorkas. "I will defer a discussion of the Constitutionality of your current effort to the many respected scholars and experts across the political spectrum who already have opined that it is contrary to law." Chairman Green said in response‚ "Secretary Mayorkas' 11th-hour response to the Committee is inadequate and unbecoming of a Cabinet secretary. ... A letter at 4:48am on the morning of our markup‚ repeating the same false claims and doubling down on his commitment to his continued lawless conduct‚ indicates the contempt with which he views Congress‚ the American people‚ and the Constitution he swore an oath to defend." The committee deliberated for over 10 hours Tuesday‚ then passed the articles of impeachment early Wednesday morning in an 18-15 party-line vote. — (@) "Today is a grave day. We have not approached this day or this process lightly. Secretary Mayorkas' actions have forced our hand‚" Chairman Greensaid in his opening statements‚ reported Axios. If the House floor vote is ultimately successful‚ Mayorkas would be the first Cabinet secretary impeached in nearly 150 years. President Ulysses Grant's secretary of war‚ William Belknap‚ resigned just ahead of his impeachment in 1876‚ reported ABC News. Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)‚ previously the chair of the Jan. 6 committee‚ claimed that the "impeachment scheme is a dangerous attempt to distort the Constitution and the secretary's record to cover up [Republicans'] inability and unwillingness to work with Democrats." Thompson added that "it's not in the best interests of this government‚" but rather an attempt to placate "some of the most extreme elements in the Republican Party." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tweeted after the vote‚ "Secretary Mayorkas has broken federal law and is the one to blame for all the horror‚ crime‚ death‚ murder‚ rape‚ and over 1.8 million known gotaways. But Democrats say this impeachment proceeding is over policy differences. Is this the immigration policy of the Democrats?" Arizona Rep. Eli Crane joined other Republicans in stressing that "willingly exposing Americans to unnecessary threats through an open border deserves immediate removal. Let's get it done." Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.)‚ who filed impeachment articles against Mayorkas over two years ago‚ suggested that today is Mayorkas' "day of reckoning." The New York Times indicated that the charges are likely to fail in the Democrat-controlled Senate‚ where a two-thirds majority would be necessary to both convict and oust Mayorkas; however‚ it's not all for naught. The liberal paper conceded that it would "force and election-year trial that would fuel what promises to be a charged political debate" over the border crisis overseen by the Biden administration. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A law was introduced in the '90s that was sold as a way to shore up the financial system. Now‚ Glenn Beck warns‚ it could destroy your financial investments. While the law claimed to help‚ in reality‚ it was a way to bail out big financial institutions by allowing them to use your investments as collateral in the event of a financial collapse. States changed Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code‚ a state law passed in all 50 states. This change meant that investment intermediaries like Merrill Lynch or Fidelity hold your actual stock on behalf of you. The change means that you‚ the purchaser‚ don’t actually own your investments. The stock broker or the intermediary does. Glenn says that it means‚ “hopefully‚ nothing.” “However‚ if you believe the banking system is weak. If you believe that you could see a major shift with a catastrophic black swan‚ it could mean you lose everything‚” he continues. “It takes the insane ‘you’ll own nothing’ promise to a whole new level.” The change also allows for stock brokers and other intermediaries holding your investment to use them as collateral in their own financial agreements. “The reason why this is so dangerous is if the intermediary goes bankrupt‚ the stock you think you own can be taken by another big financial institution who’s owed money by that bankrupt stock broker‚ and they’ll take your fund to cover it‚” Glenn explains. While the law could deliver a devastating blow to the average U.S. citizen‚ there are states fighting back. “The first state is now fighting back on this‚ and it’s South Dakota‚” Glenn says‚ but “more help is needed.” Want more from Glenn Beck?To enjoy more of Glenn’s masterful storytelling‚ thought-provoking analysis‚ and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Milford‚ Massachusetts – January 29‚ 2024 – New England Legends‚ the creators of the popular New England Legends podcast‚ are thrilled to announce the return of their much-anticipated Zombie Prom fundraiser on Saturday‚ February 17th‚ 2024 at 7pm. The ghoulishly delightful event will take place at the DoubleTree Hotel in Milford‚ Massachusetts‚ promising attendees an unforgettable night of dancing‚ games‚ raffle prizes‚ and a pizza party—all in the spirit of raising funds for a charitable cause. Hosted by Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger‚ the minds behind the New England Legends podcast‚ the Zombie Prom has become a cherished alternative celebration for those looking to escape the clichés of Valentine’s Day. Uniting undead enthusiasts and those with a taste for the macabre‚ this event offers a unique‚ entertaining and light-hearted experience for attendees to revel in the delight of the unconventional. Event Details: Date: Saturday‚ February 17th‚ 2024 Time: 7:00 PM Location: DoubleTree Hotel‚ Milford‚ Massachusetts A Night of Fun and Philanthropy: The Zombie Prom is not just about dancing with the dead; it’s also about giving back to the community. This year’s fundraising recipient is the Community Harvest Project‚ a non-profit farm based in Grafton‚ MA. The organization engages volunteers to grow fruits and vegetables for hunger relief‚ working towards the vision of creating connected communities that ensure access to healthy food for all. Dress Your Worst or Be a “Victim”: Attendees are encouraged to embrace the spirit of the night by dressing in their most dreadful attire or by coming as “victims” without costumes. The more creative and gruesome‚ the better!  Best costumes will be crowned King and Queen of the Undead! Entertainment Highlights: – Dance the night away to the beats of DJ Neto. – Engage in games and activities throughout the evening. – Stand a chance to win exciting raffle prizes. – Indulge in a delicious pizza party to satisfy your undead appetite. Ticket Information: Ticket information for Zombie Prom 2024 can be found in the event section of www.facebook.com/newenglandlegends.  They are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Purchase your tickets ahead of time by Venmoing Community Harvest Project at https://account.venmo.com/u/chpinc. BE SURE TO PUT “Zombie Prom 2024” in the comments. Join the New England Legends Facebook Group for more information and updates. For media inquiries‚ please contact: Ray Auger raywmrc@gmail.com 617-851-7542 About New England Legends: New England Legends is on a mission to chronicle every legend in New England one story at a time. We’re doing this through our award-winning weekly podcast which has garnered over 4 million downloads in 91 different countries‚ our award-winning‚ Emmy-nominated television series on PBS and Amazon Prime‚ and through our super-secret Facebook group. Come in and join the movement!  About Community Harvest Project: Community Harvest Project is a non-profit farm that harnesses the power of community volunteers to grow fresh fruits and vegetables for hunger relief‚ fostering connected communities with access to healthy food.

How is Poison Ivy in Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League? It's a question we pondered when we got to that point in the story‚ so we've done some digging and found out how Poison Ivy is back. More importantly‚ we've also figured out how she's presenting as a child. If you're waiting to jump into Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League‚ you might also want to check out the Suicide Squad system requirements to make sure your setup can handle it. We've also got the latest on whether you can play Suicide Squad offline in single-player mode. Continue reading Why is Poison Ivy a kid in Suicide Squad? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Kill the Justice League system requirements‚ Kill the Justice League release date‚ Best PC games

The GeForce RTX 4080 Super marks the final graphics card refresh we can expect from the Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series‚ at least for now‚ and it's arguably the most exciting of the bunch. While it offers the smallest performance bump‚ relative to the previous two releases‚ its new $999 MSRP is altogether more affordable and better priced than its predecessor‚ with potentially seismic knock-on effects for the high-end space. I've been testing the RTX 4080 Super over the past few days and was fortunate enough to receive both a Nvidia Founders Edition and an Asus TUF Gaming model. Both are reference class SKUs and perform largely the same based on my testing‚ but I've had my hands on the latter for longer‚ so it will be the focus of this review. Either card will serve you well‚ but if I were to pick out the best graphics card between them it would certainly be the stealthier‚ more mature design of the Founders Edition. Continue reading Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Super review – the new $999 champion MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review‚ Asus ROG Raikiri review‚ Best gaming motherboard