An Age of Magic

Simply irresistible…are you?

Whether you are irresistible to the opposite sex or not may be a direct result of how sweet your sweat smells to the object of your desire. Research shows that clues to the genetic make-up of a woman could be held in her perspiration – or in her looks. According to Australian scientists, who studied the DNA of almost 150 university students, the secrets of attraction are hidden in immune system genes that we inherit from our parents.

Clues to this could be contained in a woman’s appearance or sweat – which signals to potential partners that children produced would have the greatest chance of fighting disease. The volunteers, including would-be doctors and engineers, also filled in detailed questionnaire about their love lives. The DNA was scrutinised for variation in genes known to influence the immune system. The more diverse these genes, the stronger a person’s defence against disease. The results of the genetic tests were then matched up with the survey answers. This showed that the women with the most varied major histocompatibility (MHC) genes, had the most sexual partners.

Previous studies have shown that the more different someone’s sweat is to yours, the more pleasant you find them – and their sweat. It is thought the phenomenon evolved to prevent us unintentionally mating with relatives – or others who are genetically similar to us.

Popularity: 60% [?]

Baby planet found!

Astronomers have discovered the youngest planet orbiting a solar-type star outside our solar system. The giant planet is 35 million years old and six times the mass of Jupiter, according to astronomers. Our planet is more than 100 times more ancient at 4.5billion years old. Named BD+20 1790b and situated 83 light years away from Earth, it is the youngest planet orbiting a star of a similar size to our Sun.

Only one young planet, aged 100 million years, was previously known but the newly-discovered planet is about three times younger. University of Hertfordshire astronomer Dr Maria-Cruz Galvez-Ortiz, who was among the international team which identified the planet, described it as ‘an exciting discovery’. Young stars are usually excluded from planet searches because they have intense magnetic fields that generate a range of phenomena known collectively as stellar activity, including flares and spots. This can make it difficult to disentangle the signals of planets and activity.

Popularity: 62% [?]

A show on TV I cannot bear to watch…

It is that show with the doctors called ‘Embarrassing Illnesses’ or thereabouts and it features people with absolutely no shame whatsoever presenting their revolting conditions in front of the camera. Why don’t these people simply go to their own doctor instead of parading their bottoms, fannys and boobs on television…?

You get all kinds of colon cleanse reviews as a doctor peers up the backside of a patient bent right over in front of the camera, women talk about their various discharges and infections…my god some people have some stomach-turning conditions. I am sure it is because of the way that they live!

Popularity: 27% [?]