There’s A Reason Your Friends Have More Friends Than You

Posted on 24/05/2026 by Boris Clair

In 2012, Pew Research found that while the typical Facebook user had 245 Facebook friends, the average *friend* someone has on Facebook had 359.

That sounds completely illogical at first. But it’s explained by the “friendship paradox,” a term resulting from sociologist Professor Scott Feld’s 1991 paper.

The phenomenon has since been translated into mathematical theories.

But what exactly is this “friendship paradox”, and what does it actually mean for our social lives?

What is the friendship paradox?

In a Purdue University video, Prof Feld said he was “surprised” to find “that it’s always true in social networks that friends in general have more friends on average than people do”.

If that sounds a bit like a head-scratcher, well, it is (hence the “paradox” part).

“People assume that if there’s a pair of friends, one must have more friends and the other must have [fewer] friends, so you would expect that half the people would have fewer friends than their friends,” he continued.

But instead, he said, some people have loads of friends, and naturally, those people are likelier to be friends with lots of people who have fewer friends than them.

And the other people who have fewer friends are less likely to be our mates.

In other words, it’s not so much that most people hover around an average amount of friends, with some having slightly more than others. Instead, very extroverted people throw the balance off a lot (a bit like counting billionaires when calculating people’s net worth).

“Each of us seems to be thinking that our friends have more friends than we do, which they, in fact, do, because our friends are the people who are friends with everybody,” said Prof Feld.

Later analysis found that the mathematical premise of the “friendship paradox” seems to bear out in real life.

So… what does that mean?

Well, Professor Feld said, one takeaway could be to remember that comparing yourself to your mates isn’t really a great indicator of your true standing: we should try to remember that this sample is “biased”.

Secondly, on a broader level, it means some people could spread more of anything – from ideas to disease and misinformation – than the average person might, meaning more of us are influenced than influencing.

“So if you want to stop the spread of a pandemic,” Prof Feld continued, “you really would like to vaccinate people’s friends more than you’d want to vaccinate random people.”

The same goes for switching people onto a certain product. Basically, whatever spread you want to create, track, or predict, you’re better off looking at other people’s mates’ habits than their own.

A Doctor Explains What It Can Mean If You Get Dizzy Standing Up

Posted on 23/05/2026 by Boris Clair

Though you might think something as ordinary as feeling winded after taking the stairs is normal, Dr Katherine Pohlgeers previously told HuffPost that if your breathing “stay[s] elevated past three minutes or a prolonged period of time, that’s when it becomes more concerning”.

But what about feeling dizzy when you stand up?

We asked Dr Donald Grant, a GP and senior clinical advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, what it could mean and when to see a doctor.

It could be normal, or it may be orthostatic hypotension

“Feeling dizzy when you stand up can be normal, and it usually occurs due to blood pressure changes, which means the brain gets less blood flow for a brief moment,” Dr Grant explained.

“This is particularly common after standing or sitting for extended periods, but outside of that, several potential causes shouldn’t be ignored.”

One of the most “common” of these, he added, is “postural hypotension” (also known as orthostatic hypotension), or a sudden lowering of blood pressure that happens when you go from sitting to standing.

“Other common signs of this include blurred vision, general weakness, confusion and nausea,” he explained.

The NHS said it’s important to see a doctor if you get repeated signs of low blood pressure, like dizziness and fainting.

Any other causes?

“Dizziness may also be caused by dehydration, so it’s important to drink enough fluids each day, especially as we approach the warmer months,” Dr Grant continued.

“While it can vary depending on age, health conditions and the weather, people should generally aim to drink six to eight cups of fluid each day.”

Additionally, some medications and pre-existing health conditions, like anaemia, diabetes, and heart problems, can make you feel dizzy when you stand up too.

When should I see a doctor about this?

“If dizziness occurs regularly or suddenly worsens, seek urgent medical attention. A qualified health professional can provide more tailored advice on potential causes and treatment,” shared Dr Grant.

In general, the NHS suggests you should see a doctor if your dizziness or vertigo keeps coming back or lasts a long time, or if hearing or speaking becomes difficult.

You should also visit your doctor if you experience tinnitus (ringing in the ears); double or blurred vision; numbness or weakness in the face, arms or legs; changes in pulse; fainting; headaches or nausea, according to the health service.

Microplastics Could Be Making Global Warming Worse, Study Says

Posted on 19/05/2026 by Boris Clair

Microplastics, or tiny fragments of plastics that haven’t completely broken down, are basically everywhere.

They can be found in rubbish, dust, fabrics, cosmetics, cleaning products, rain, seafood, produce, table salt, and more, according to Harvard Magazine. They’re in our bodies, too: microplastics have been discovered in our blood, saliva, liver, kidneys, and even the placenta in pregnant individuals.

Some worry these might hurt our health, though not all experts agree. Either way, though, new research has suggested that sub-5mm pieces could be heating our planet further.

How can microplastics impact global warming?

The study, published in Nature Climate Change, suggested that, on average, microplastics have a warming effect on the environment.

Study author Professor Drew Shindell said we hadn’t known for sure whether microplastics cooled or heated the atmosphere overall. Paler-coloured fragments might scatter and reduce the heating power of the sun, while darker ones could hold onto heat.

So, the researchers used an electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) to see how plastic debris reacted to sunlight and radiation. They found that the size and colour of the plastic mattered, with yellow, black, red, and blue microplastics absorbing light more strongly than lighter colours.

And Shindell said that lighter hues darken into yellows over time, too.

“The key finding is really that the warming strongly outweighs the cooling,” the researcher told Science Direct.

“I think we have a lot of confidence in that because we did all of these measurements in the laboratory of how [microplastics and nanoplastics] interact with sunlight. What we don’t have so much confidence in and what’s still a big uncertainty is exactly how many of these are in the atmosphere.”

How much of a difference was there?

It seemed that the warming effect was about five times greater than the cooling effect in this study.

This impact would still pale in comparison to something like the burning of fossil fuels, Shindell added.

And the researchers said that one of the problems with this study is that we don’t know for sure how many microplastics and nonplastics there are in the Earth’s atmosphere.

But, he said, “it just adds another compelling reason why we should pay more attention to keeping plastic waste out of the environment”.

Six Personality Traits Psychologists Say Lead To A Longer Life

Posted on 18/05/2026 by Boris Clair

There isn’t an exact formula for a longer life yet, though researchers think they have some pretty good guesses.

Great genes, enough sleep, and a decent diet can go a long way if you want to reach 100, for instance.

But some factors are less strictly physical.

For instance, one paper found that people who had a positive view of ageing may be less likely to experience age-related decline.

And having a sense of purpose “appears to widely buffer against mortality risk across the adult years,” a 2015 paper found.

Yet another paper, this time looking at data from 22,000 participants, found that “Personality nuances were associated with mortality risk in four samples”.

Which personality traits might help you live longer?

1) Being active

This self-descriptor was most linked to a longer life in the 2025 paper (27% lower mortality risk).

Study author, psychologist Professor René Mõttus, told The Guardian: “The word ‘active’ was the most striking.

“Participants who described themselves this way were significantly less likely to die during the study period – with a 21% lower risk, even when age, gender and medical conditions were taken into account.”

2) Being lively

The trait, tied in this study to outgoingness, seemed te be another helpful self-description (12% lower risk) for those hoping to live long.

“The extraversion items active and lively were related to a lower mortality risk,” the paper reads.

Separate 2017 research linked higher levels of extraversion to a 14% reduction in mortality.

3) Being organised

The study also found that higher levels of conscientiousness, including describing yourself as organised, were linked to a longer life (14% lower mortality risk).

“Being ‘organised’ might help people stick to routines that improve health, but it may also reflect underlying psychological resilience or social habits that contribute to a longer life,” study author Professor Páraic O’Súilleabháin told The Guardian.

It’s not the only paper to link greater conscientiousness to a longer life, either.

4) Being responsible

Linked to a 12% lower risk of death in this paper, the term also falls in the “conscientiousness” bracket.

5) Being hardworking

Those who saw themselves as industrious had a 15% lower risk of mortality, as did those who self-described as “thorough”.

One 2016 paper found that those who worked even a year later than retirement age saw an up-to-11% lower risk of death in an 18-year follow-up period.

6) Being helpful

This personality trait, which fell into the broader category of “agreeableness”, has also been linked to a longer lifespan.

Another paper found that people who volunteered more often lived longer.

From Honey To Coffee: Five Recipes To Make From The Dandelions In Your Garden

Posted on 16/05/2026 by Boris Clair

Sometimes treated as a weed, dandelions can be key to a healthy backyard. Not only do they help to feed hungry bees, but their seeds can nourish birds – including rapidly-dwindling greenfinch populations – too.

So perhaps it’s not surprising we can benefit from eating the plant, too. Dandelions contain a range of vitamins, potassium, iron, antioxidants, and prebiotic fibre.

Some in-vitro research suggests it could reduce cell inflammation (chronic inflammation is linked to worse ageing), too.

Speaking to the Cleveland Clinic, registered dietitian Nancy Geib said their leaves are “probably the most nutritionally dense green you can eat – outstripping even kale or spinach”.

Which means we probably shouldn’t be asking if we should eat dandelions, but instead focus on how.

Just make absolutely sure the dandelions you’re eating haven’t been treated with weedkiller or other pesticides, and clean them thoroughly.

5 dandelion recipes

1) Fried dandelion heads

This Appalachian recipe is pretty simple; baste dandelion flowers in eggs before tossing them in seasoned flour and frying them.

Reviewers of its Allrecipes entry called the meal cheap, easy, and tasty.

2) Dandelion green salad

Younger, more tender leaves are sweeter and milder, and are probably best for beginners. These are delicious blanched and sautéd with garlic and herbs.

But older, more bitter leaves can bear seriously strong flavours, like intense salty and sweet notes (just make sure to blanch them before eating). Try them in a salad with feta, bacon, maple dressings, and other punchy accompaniments, or boil them in soups or stews.

Be careful to thoroughly wash dandelion greens, young or old, before eating them.

3) Dandelion pesto

Make it as you would a basil version: wash the leaves and blend them with pine nuts, oil, hard cheese, garlic, and salt.

Or, if you want a truly Italian finish, make it in a pestle and mortar.

4) Dandelion honey

Perfect for vegans and gastronomes alike, this recipe is essentially an infused syrup.

Boil the heads, after shaking them to remove any insects, with water and lemons. Let them sit to infuse for a couple of hours, strain the liquid, and then boil the flavoured water into a syrup with sugar (it thickens a lot as it cools).

5) Dandelion coffee

You read that right. The washed and dried roots of dandelions can be chopped small and roasted in an oven until dark brown and ground into a powder.

You can then turn that into a distinctly flavourful “coffee” by adding water.

Jet2 Says Power Banks Without A Key Sign Are ‘Forbidden’ On Board

Posted on 14/05/2026 by Boris Clair

Passengers hoping to bring their “smart bags”, which have chargers in them, might be disappointed: those “with non-removable batteries above 2.7Wh are not permitted onboard,” sites like Ryanair advise.

That’s because they contain lithium batteries, which power banks also have.

These can sometimes short-circuit and are generally not permitted in the hold as they can catch fire.

And on their site, Jet2 said that they ban “lithium-ion batteries, lithium metal batteries and power banks that don’t clearly state” an important rating.

Power banks need to show their watt/hour rating

Those that don’t include the “watt-hour rating or lithium metal content, or where the watt-hour rating cannot easily be otherwise ascertained, are forbidden”.

A watt-hour rating is usually shortened to Wh. Power banks should have a rating “not exceeding 160Wh, providing they are individually protected against short circuit”, Jet2 said.

What if my power bank doesn’t have a Wh rating?

This doesn’t need to be on the power bank explicitly, as you can work it out from the milliampere-hour (mAh), ampere-hour (Ah), and/or nominal voltage (V).

Once you find these, the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “You can arrive at the number of watt-hours your battery provides if you know the battery’s nominal voltage (V) and capacity in ampere-hours (Ah) using this calculation ― Ah x V = Wh.

“If only the milliampere hours (mAh) are marked on the battery, then divide that number by 1000 to get ampere-hours (Ah). For example, 4400 mAh / 1000 = 4.4 Ah.”

If none of these is available, though, your power bank might not pass muster.

Don’t bring more than two power banks with you, either

Those are only some of the rules the airline enforces.

Their rules include:

No more than two power banks per passenger,
Power banks should not exceed 160Wh,
Power banks can’t be charged whilst onboard the aircraft,
Power banks can’t be used on-flight,
Power banks have to be carried on-board in hand luggage and placed under your seat,
Power banks must not be used to charge or power any portable electronic devices during taxi, take off, and landing.

Jet2 is not the only airline to have some or all of these rules, so check with your airline before flying.

It Turns Out A Spoon Is The Key To Watering Plants Perfectly

Posted on 10/05/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before about how using a paintbrush on your tomato plants can help to ensure a fruitful bounty, as you can use the tool to self-pollinate them.

And now, gardener and author Simon Akeroyd has shared that when it comes time to water your soil – especially if it has seedlings or freshly-sown seeds – a spoon could be your secret weapon.

How can a spoon help me to water my plants better?

In an Instagram post, he said that watering soil can help new seeds germinate, but doing so over a large area can be tiring “if you only have a watering can with no attachment”.

Removable heads that attach to the nozzle of your watering can, like “rose” style sprinkler heads, can make the process faster and ensure the even distribution of water.

You can get similar results with various hose attachments, the gardener added.

But, Akeroyd continued, “my tip for a wider distribution of watering is to attach a spoon to the end of your nozzle”.

He does that using cable ties. Others have used tape.

That way, when you tip the can forward, water fans out from the bowl of the spoon rather than streaming in a straight line.

This is especially useful for “broadcast sowing”, Akeroyd continued, stating that “Seeds that you might broadcast sow include mustard, green manures, lawn seed, wildflowers, etc.”

Any other tips?

Yes. Akeroyd said in his clip that if you live in the UK, another way to water pre-seed soil is to simply wait for the rain to come.

Even if you’re using a watering can, this may still be sage advice.

Rainwater is significantly better for your plants than water from the tap, partly because its slightly acidic nature allows it and its nutrients to reach your plants’ roots sooner.

It is a little dirtier, but that’s no bad thing. The Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) said that a bit of grime in your water works “like a light application of fertiliser”.

And if your rainwater falls during a storm, even better. Lighting releases soil-friendly nitrates, and while most forms of nitrogen, which is crucial for soil and plant health, aren’t easily absorbed by greenery, nitrates found in rain are incredibly easy for your flowers to process.

Collect rainwater using a water butt or mulching to retain nature’s greatest gift to gardeners.

If You Want Stronger Legs But Have Sore Knees, A Surgeon Loves ‘Cyclist Squats’

Posted on 09/05/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before about how helpful Spanish squats and reverse lunges can be if you sometimes struggle doing exercise due to knee pain.

And according to orthopaedic surgeon Dr Chris Raynor, you can add “cycling squats” to that list.

In a YouTube short, the expert said he loves to use these kinds of exercises “for rehabilitation after knee injury or knee surgery, because I think that they are a safe way of activating the quadricep muscle and developing quadricep strength”.

Men’s Health, meanwhile, called them the “ultimate quad burn” which can increase your ankle mobility, reduce the strain on your lower back, and, of course, strengthen your legs.

What are cyclist squats?

Also known as “heel elevation squats”, cyclist squats involve – surprise – keeping your heels elevated as you perform the exercise.

This is sometimes done with a sloped squat ramp or “riser”.

You should keep your feet together as you perform the movement, which can be done with or without a kettlebell or dumbbell held in front of you to your chest.

Cyclist or heel elevated squats with a kettlebell are called “goblet cyclist squats”.

How do you complete a cyclist squat?

The steps include:

Stand on a squat ramp or “riser” with your feet together, torso straight, and arms either straight in front of you or holding a weight to your chest.
Lower yourself down, hinging at the hips and knees, as if you’re trying to tuck your bottom on top of your heels.
Rise back up, “pushing” the floor away with your feet.

What are the benefits of cyclist squats?

This type of squat “encourages more work from the quads, and less on the hips, low back and adductors” than a regular squat, Mirafit explained.

They added that for people with weaker knees, cycling squats can help you progressively overload the joint over time, protecting it from future harm.

The heel elevation can help you achieve a deeper squat, too. And if you’re holding a kettlebell while doing the exercise, you’ll work your postural muscles, which help both your upper and lower back.

Dr Raynor added that goblet cyclist squats may help to activate the vastus medialus obliqus (VMO), a teardrop-shaped muscle in our upper legs, as “one of the best ways to make sure that it is engaged is to activate the quad when it is in its most lengthened position”.

That happens during deeper squats, like this one. The VMO is a key muscle in stabilising our knees.

A 2025 paper found that “elevated heel heights… can enhance squat stability by reducing centre of pressure (COP) deviation and trunk lean, both of which are key factors for minimising injury risks in squatting exercise”.

Stop Binning Your Coffee Grounds: The ‘Rubbish’ Hack That Solves A Stinky Fridge Overnight

Posted on 09/05/2026 by Boris Clair

I’m still reeling from the stench I smelled in my fridge the other day. After an unpleasant inspection, I realised the issue wasn’t a rotting courgette or some turned milk; instead, the little drainage hole at the back of the fridge had gotten blocked, leading stagnant water to pool under our bottom drawer.

I probably don’t need to tell you that this was not a welcome aroma. Nor did it go away completely after I flushed and cleared the drain, no matter how many times I wiped and re-wiped the surfaces.

It took a tip from appliance company Whirlpool – using coffee grounds – to finally rid our kitchen of the stinky spectre.

Coffee grounds can absorb smells from your fridge

You’ve likely already heard that a bowl of baking powder can help to get rid of some odours.

But if you don’t have that, coffee grounds do just as good a job, said Whirlpool.

“Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which is great for neutralising odours. If you’re dealing with refrigerator odours, try placing a small bowl of coffee grounds in your fridge compartment,” their site reads.

“It will not only help absorb the odour but also leave behind a slight coffee smell.”

They do also reccomend vinegar for stronger smells, though we were dealing with a lingering, one-off scent remnant here rather than an ongoing smell issue.

And yes, old coffee grounds do the job brilliantly, as The Kitchn noted. Just make sure they’re dry; you can do that by placing them in a thin layer on a baking tray after use and waiting.

So far, it’s worked. A day after the Great Stink, our fridge is back to its normal aroma.

Anything else?

The Kitchn also recommended using their deodorising power on your hands.

“The next time your hands are stinky from cutting fish, onions, or garlic, wet them and then use the coffee grounds to scrub them,” they said.

One caveat, though: do this over a bin with its lid off rather than a sink, so the grounds don’t go down the drain.

‘Heel Walks’ Can Make Your Shins Stronger And Improve Your Balance

Posted on 03/05/2026 by Boris Clair

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about “Japanese walking,” “incline walking”, “6-6-6 walking”, and “retro walking”.

But if you want to strengthen your calves and shins, either for running or just for better mobility, some experts, like physical therapist Dr Jo, reccomend “heel walking”.

In the caption of a YouTube video, they shared: “Walking on heels is a great exercise for helping with lower leg injuries and muscle imbalances. It can also help with ankle pain and plantar fasciitis.”

What are heel walks?

Happily, it doesn’t involve walking in high heels.

They’re performed by lifting your toes and the balls of your feet up and walking on a flat surface on your heels. You can go forward or backwards with your feet hip-width apart, physical therapist group Therapeutic Associates Inc shared.

They should be short, small steps. “The aim is to point your toes as much as you can towards the ceiling so there is as much dorsiflexion in the ankle as possible,” said Runna.

You should keep your upper body tall with your eyes looking straight forward. Tuck your elbows in and let your arms follow your leg movements.

Keep your glutes and hips tucked in.

Theraputic Associates Inc added, “you may want to perform this exercise to fatigue as in, you can’t keep your toes up off the ground anymore and exhaust the shin muscles”.

What are the benefits of heel walks?

Runna explained that, “Heel walks are a very simple but effective warm-up exercise for the muscle that runs along the front of the shin bone (tibialis anterior).”

This is responsible for keeping your feet lifted and preventing a condition called “foot drop”. Calling it an “underappreciated muscle,” Mirafit added that a strong tibialis anterior contributes to healthy movements of the lower leg which are “all essential when it comes to everyday life and specifically when walking and hiking.”

It may help to prevent shin splints, increase your balance and mobility, and reduce your risk of overuse injuries because they make you better at absorbing shocks, they continued.

Heel walks also stretch your calf muscles and strengthen the flexors in your foot, Runna said.