ai

 AI Toys Are On The Rise, Experts Want Them More Strictly Regulated 

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Developmental psychologists from the University of Cambridge have recently performed a study in which they analyzed the impact of toys that use artificial intelligence on children. The researchers concluded that these products need to be more tightly regulated as they struggle with social and pretend play, misunderstand kids, and react inappropriately to certain emotions. 

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AI toys that have the ability to “talk” to kids need to be “more tightly regulated to ensure psychological safety by limiting toys’ ability to affirm friendship and other sensitive relational areas with young children,” according to Dr. Emily Goodacre, a developmental psychologist at the University’s faculty of education.

“Because these toys can misread emotions or respond inappropriately, children may be left without comfort from the toy, and without emotional support from an adult, either,” said Dr. Goodacre. 

“A recurring theme during focus groups was that people do not trust tech companies to do the right thing. Clear, robust, regulated standards would significantly improve consumer confidence,” Professor Jenny Gibson, the study’s co-author, said. 

One of the toys they looked at is known as Gabbo, a soft plushie with a computer screen face. The Guardian reported that during the research, a three-year-old boy named Josh kept asking the toy “Are you sad?” until it replied it was “feeling great. What’s on your mind?” Josh said: “I’m sad,” to which the toy replied: “Don’t worry! I’m a happy little bot. Let’s keep the fun going. What shall we talk about next?”

Gabbo is made by Curio, a US company which also helped with the study. The toy was tested with 14 three to five-year-olds. 

“[There’s] wide uncertainty and fear about unknown implications or impacts on children.” Specifically, the team was concerned over how the kids may not be able to fully engage in imaginary play with the toy, as well as where the data from the conversations with the children end up. 

“[The toy] couldn’t quite figure out when the kid was doing something pretend,” said Goodacre. 

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“A child would say: ‘Hey, look, I’ve got you a present’. And it would say: ‘I can’t see the present. I don’t have any eyes.’ As an adult, it’s really obvious that even if I had my eyes closed, I would know that that was pretend play initiation.”

“Playing with AI toys could weaken children’s imaginative muscle,” she said.

“Something both the early years practitioners and the parents we spoke to were quite concerned about was that children don’t have to imagine any more, and that the toy might get them out of the habit of imagining.”

“I would hope that these AI toys could help children to engage in imaginary play … That doesn’t seem to be what we’ve observed so far,” she said. 

“Child safety guides every aspect of our product development, and we welcome independent research that helps improve how technology is designed for young children,” Curio stated. 

“[We] believe research like this helps advance understanding of both the opportunities and current limitations of early AI-powered play experiences”.

“Applying AI in products for children carries a heightened responsibility, which is why our toys are built around parental permission, transparency and control,” they added. 

“Observations such as conversational misunderstandings or limits in imaginative play reflect areas the technology continues to improve through an iterative development process, and further research into how children interact with AI-powered toys is a top priority for Curio this year and in the future.”

horses

Italy Is Set To Ban Horse Meat Amid Draft Of Equine Bill 

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Italy will likely soon be banning horse meat as part of a law that would define equine animals like horses, donkeys, and mules as pets. This classification would make it illegal to kill them. 

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Michela Vittoria Brambilla, a politician with Noi Moderati, a member of Giorgia Meloni’s ruling coalition, drafted the bill which is also being backed by opposition parties. 

If it’s officially approved, the bill would impose jail terms of up to three years and fines of up to €100,000 ($118,133.00) for the slaughter of equines. 

Horse meat is, and has been, traditionally a part of Italian cuisine, especially in Puglia, Campania, Sicily, Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna. Consumption of the meat has declined significantly within the past decade alone, however, Italy still remains as one of the largest importers and consumers of the meat in Europe. 

The bill is also proposing a mandatory microchipping and a national monitoring system for equines, as well as a €6m ($7,088,790) fund to help breeders adapt their businesses. 

“We’re in the 21st century and yet equines continue to be exploited in a wide variety of ways,” said Brambilla, who is also the president of an animal rights association called Leidaa.

 “Horses in particular … while in the Anglo-Saxon world, eating horse meat is almost inconceivable, in our country the species is literally exploited to the bone. But friends are not to be eaten.”

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“[The proposal] was an extraordinary opportunity to bring about a cultural shift that is already dear to the hearts of the majority of Italians,” Brambilla said. 

Gian Marco Centinaio, a former agriculture minister and politician with the far-right League, and a fellow ruling coalition member, is one of the individuals who opposes the bill. 

Centinaio stated that banning the consumption of equine meat “would mean erasing a piece of the history of Italian cuisine.”

The consumption of equine meat was also inscribed on Unesco’s intangible cultural heritage list, “and also the identity of some regions … from the horse meat stews of Verona and Salento to the meatballs of Catania.”

Dario Damiana from Forza Italia stated that the proposal did not take into “account the gastronomic traditions of many regions,” which would be a major blow “to the traditional economic chain” in those regions. This could put businesses and jobs at risk, according to Damiana. 

Overall, the decline in horse meat consumption throughout Italy has been driven by a cultural shift and growing ethical concerns and empathy towards the animals. Last year, a survey showed that 83% of Italians did not eat horse meat, with 17% saying they ate it at least once a month.

healthy

More Than A Third Of All Global Cancer Cases Are Preventable Through Lifestyle Changes, WHO Says 

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According to a new study and analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than a third of all cancer cases globally are preventable. There are several ways in which we can reduce the odds of many different kinds of cancers developing, and a lot of it has to do with our overall lifestyle habits. 

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The organization wrote that lung, stomach, and cervical cancers make up nearly half of those cases, meaning that millions of deadly cancers every year could be prevented through medical intervention, behavior changes, reducing occupational risks, and/or combatting environmental pollutants, according to ScienceAlert. 

The study itself was published in Nature Medicine.

“Addressing these preventable causes represents one of the most powerful opportunities to reduce the global cancer burden,” says Isabelle Soerjomataram, medical epidemiologist at WHO and senior author of the analysis.

The specific analysis found that in 2022 there were about 19 million new cases of cancer, and about 38% of those diagnoses were related to 30 changeable risk factors. 

It was reported that these risk factors include “tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, high body mass index, insufficient physical activity, smokeless tobacco (like chewing tobacco), a traditional stimulant known as areca nut, suboptimal breastfeeding, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, infectious agents, and over a dozen occupational exposures.”

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Smoking tobacco was the number one preventable factor associated with cancer, and was linked to 15% of all cancer cases in 2022. 

For men specifically this risk was particularly high, and smoking contributed to 23% of all new cancer cases globally in men that year. 

Air pollution also plays a major role in cancer cases, and varies by region. In East Asia, it was reported that around 15% of all lung cancer cases in women were due to air pollution. In Northern Africa and Western Asia, about 20% of all lung cancer cases in men were also due to air pollution. 

Drinking alcohol was the second changeable lifestyle factor that was linked to 3.2% (around 700,000) of all new cancer cases. 

Certain infections within the body were also linked to about 10% of new cancer cases. In women, the largest share of preventable cancers were due to high-risk human papillomavirus, or HPV, which has been known to potentially lead to cervical cancer. 

“By examining patterns across countries and population groups, we can provide governments and individuals with more specific information to help prevent many cancer cases before they start,” says André Ilbawi, WHO Team Lead for Cancer Control and co-author of the analysis.

dog

Dog Wins Acting Award at Astra Film Awards, Beating Ethan Hawke and Alison Brie

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At the 9th Annual Astra Film Awards earlier this month, Indy the Dog, the canine star of the horror film Good Boy, won Best Performance in a Horror or Thriller, outperforming a field of human nominees that included Ethan Hawke and Alison Brie.

Indy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, appears in Good Boy as himself, playing a loyal dog determined to protect his chronically ill owner, Todd (Shane Jensen), from a supernatural presence threatening their rural home. The film also stars Arielle Friedman, Larry Fessenden, and a Golden Retriever named Max.

Directing that performance was far from straightforward. Speaking previously with Entertainment Weekly, filmmaker Ben Leonberg said principal photography stretched across more than 400 days over three years, largely due to the unpredictability of working with a dog who had no awareness of the camera or the story.

“Controlling his motion was always challenging, and there are times where, what I want him to do is walk into a room and freeze because he sees something alarming — and we’re saying ‘whoa,’ like dog-speak for ‘stop.’ But instead, he just keeps going and appears to plow into the supernatural force or jump up or gleefully run into what is supposed to be the supernatural scary thing.”

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That unpredictability, Leonberg noted, was something no human actor would have brought to the role.

“I would say there were times when he would bring an energy so different [than what we needed],” he said. “And again, he doesn’t know he’s in a movie, which is the joy and the challenge of this all.”

Those challenges ultimately paid off. At Friday’s ceremony, Indy claimed the Astra Award in a category that included Ethan Hawke (The Black Phone 2), Alison Brie (Together), Alfie Williams (28 Years Later), Sally Hawkins (Bring Her Back), and Sophie Thatcher (Companion).

The moment was marked with a pre-recorded acceptance message in which Indy appeared wearing a black bow tie as Leonberg accepted the award on his behalf.

“Hi, I’m Ben Leonberg, the director of Good Boy, here with my dog, the goodest boy himself. On behalf of Indy, we are so thrilled to be recognized for his work in a movie he does not totally understand he was in.”

Leonberg used the speech to reflect on what the nomination and win represented for the genre more broadly.

“This award and incredible group of nominees reflects the freedom that horror gives performers — and, in our case, trainers — to play, experiment, and push the boundaries.”

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He also described horror as a genre driven by innovation, calling it one that is “fueled by originality and reinvention, and by audiences who are the most eager to see something new” within an ever-changing film landscape.

“To be recognized alongside such amazing actors as Alison Brie, Ethan Hawke, Sophie Thatcher, Sally Hawkins, and Alfie Williams is incredible. Indy is honored to accept this award — especially knowing that he’s standing in alongside performers who didn’t even need to be bribed in order to hit their marks.”

The director also acknowledged the team behind the film, crediting the cast and crew for helping translate Indy’s instinctive behavior into a performance that resonated onscreen.

“To Good Boy‘s amazing cast and crew, your patience, generosity, and belief made every moment work onscreen,” Leonberg said. “Indy, quite literally, could not have done this without you.”

He closed the remarks by saying, “Thank you again, we are so, so delighted.”

barbie

Mattel Launches Autistic Barbie Within Diversity And Inclusion Line 

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Mattel has officially launched its first autistic Barbie as the newest member of its diversity and inclusion line. The release of this new addition comes just six months after the company released its first doll with type 1 diabetes. These dolls are designed so that “more children see themselves in Barbie” and they have the chance to play with dolls that “reflect the world around them.”

Autism is a form of neurodivergence that influences how people experience and interact with people and the world. It varies greatly depending on the individual, and according to the World Health Organization, more than one child in a hundred is believed to be autistic. 

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The newest addition to Barbie was made in collaboration with the US charity the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and is specifically designed to represent some of the ways in with children with autism might experience, process, and communicate with the world. 

The doll itself has eyes that gaze slightly to one side, representing how some people on the autism spectrum avoid direct eye contact. She also has fully bendable elbows and wrists to enable repetitive physical movements that help some people with autism process sensory information, also known as stimming. 

She also has a fidget spinner and noise-cancelling headphones to reduce sensory overload, both of which are in signature Barbie pink. She also comes with a tablet with symbol-based augmentative and alternative communication buttons to help with daily communication. 

The first Barbies were released in 1959, and up until 2019, none of them had disabilities. Now, however, there are Barbies that are blind, use wheelchairs, have Down syndrome, prosthetic limbs, vitiligo, and hearing aids. 

Jamie Cygielman, the global head of dolls at Mattel, stated that this addition is the company’s latest expansion to their commitment to representation and inclusion. 

“Barbie has always strived to reflect the world kids see and the possibilities they imagine, and we’re proud to introduce our first autistic Barbie as part of that ongoing work,” she said. 

“The doll helps to expand what inclusion looks like in the toy aisle and beyond because every child deserves to see themselves in Barbie.”

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“We engaged with the autistic community throughout the design process, always mindful that autism is experienced differently by every individual and is not always visible. The elements of this doll reflect how some people on the spectrum may experience and express the world, and we hope that by partnering with influential voices within the community, Barbie can continue to showcase a broader range of authentic experiences.”

Barbie has now joined the likes of brands Lego, which sells a variety of figures with non-visible disabilities, and Lottie which sells dolls with autism. 

Jolanta Lasota, the chief executive of Ambitious about Autism, stated: 

“Theoretically any Barbie can be reimagined as autistic, because autism doesn’t have one look. But representation is powerful and Barbie is an iconic toy, so we hope many autistic children feel pride at seeing some of their experiences reflected in this new doll.”

“We know some autistic young people are reluctant to use supports such as ear defenders and stim toys at school for fear of standing out, so the more we can normalise these types of visible markers the better.”

“With girls three times less likely than boys to be diagnosed with autism, this toy also shines a light on the experiences of autistic girls, who often slip under the radar.”

Author and founder of an online community for neurodivergent people, Ellie Middleton, stated that she’s hoping with this new release, Barbie can challenge some of the misconceptions around autism. 

“I never considered, and the people around me never considered, that I might be autistic, because we had never seen anyone that looked like me, acted like me, or had anything in common with me have that label assigned to them.”

“Having an autistic Barbie changes that. She is showing young girls that it is OK to be autistic, it is OK to be different, and it is OK to wear those differences with pride.”

lava lamp

Nostalgia Sells, Lava Lamps Are Back And Sales Are On The Rise 

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Nostalgia waves come in various forms. From vinyls and cassette tapes to DVD players and old school projectors, the market on reliving the lives and aesthetics of the past has shown itself in a multitude of ways. 

Recently, mid-century interiors and Gen Z’s focus on the late 90s and early 2000s has spiked a lot of these trends. Lava lamps specifically have seen a major rise in sales. 

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Specifically, the Guardian spoke with Cressida Granger, managing director of Mathmos, which was founded in 1963 by the inventor of the lava lamp Edward Craven Walker. Granger spoke to how she’s experienced the surge in interest in the groovy glowing lighting fixtures. 

“It feels like they’re in the current conversation in a way they haven’t been,” she said.

The 2025 holiday season showed huge sales with Mathmos experiencing overselling as they geared up for Christmas. 

“[With lava lamps] they’re sort of nostalgic aren’t they? So that’s comforting when the world’s changing. They are just very calming, they’re very analog.”

“They take two hours to warm up. They don’t demand anything of you, they’re very soothing. People use them for mindfulness and focus.” 

“[In the case of Mathmos], people really like that we’re the real thing and they’ve always been made here and we invented them. So that feels also secure and authentic, and we really work hard to make them the best.”

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Back in 1963, Walker led the company, formally known as Crestworth, with his wife Christine. Sales ultimately collapsed in the 1980’s, which is when Granger stepped in to help revive it. 

Granger was formerly a vintage dealer who took over the business in 1989. The secret lava lamp recipe to this day is still loosely based on Walker’s designs and the bottles are all filled by hand. 

The original lava lamp model is known as the Astro, and is still the bestseller to this day. 

“I suppose it is unusual to have a job that no one else really has in Europe,” says Alan Staton, the only person outside China who spends his working day putting the lava into the lamps.

His colleague Henry Currer has only worked at the factory for a few months – “I’m getting my head round it I think! What enticed me to it is that it’s a British heritage brand, something that’s made here.”

Granger discussed the world market of lava lamps now, pointing out how “every other lava lamp’s made in China,” However, to her, she believes that “if you’re not being copied you’re not doing anything successful.”

holiday

How To Tackle The Holiday Season Sustainably To Help Protect The Planet 

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The holiday season is busy for all of us, and in the US, it’s expected that spending will hit a record high this year. According to the National Retail Federation, 2025 is set to be the first time America collectively spends over $1 trillion on gifts during the last month of the year. 

One thing that often gets overlooked during the chaos of the holidays is how much waste and planet-warming gases are emitted into our atmosphere due to increased manufacturing, traveling, one-time material use, and more. 

There are many easy ways, however, that we all can help make the holidays greener to help give our planet the gift of environmental protection. 

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Going homemade can not only become a fun holiday activity and tradition, but it helps reduce waste. Sandra Goldmark, associate dean of Columbia Climate School’s Office of Engagement and Impact, told AP that one of her favorite gift-giving options is providing an act of service for a loved one. She gave the example of how one year, her husband took the time to organize all of her passwords for her, something that may seem mundane to some, but is so personal and helpful it became one of her favorite gifts. 

“It was not something easy to wrap and put under the tree, but believe me, it was meaningful and really helped me more than any additional object cluttering up my home could have,” she told the publication.

Something more general that everyone enjoys is the gift of good food. A trend that has been taking over the holiday season in recent years is buying ingredients in bulk and packing them in Mason jars. Cookie mix, soup mix, spices, bread starters, and more can be easily packaged in cute jars which can then be adjourned with ribbon, stickers, and cute recipe labels. 

Goldmark also emphasized that by simply buying less stuff, we work towards a greater sustainability goal. “The advice starts out simple: Buy less stuff. The best way to give gifts more sustainably is to buy fewer new things.” 

Additionally, gifting experiences rather than a physical gift has become more and more popular in recent years. Concerts, local festivals, spa days, museums, zoos, etc. all are great options and it’s been shown that having experiences together work to strengthen relationships even further than material gifts. 

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“There is so much that you could do by just saying, ‘I would prefer if you just made me a nice meal or took me out for some sort of adventure,’” said Atar Herziger, environmental psychologist.

Sustainable living educator Sarah Robertson-Barnes recommends looking into secondhand gifts as they involve less manufacturing, packaging, and shipping. 

“I bet somebody has the thing that you’re looking for and they would love to get rid of it. We do have a weird cultural thing where new is better and used is gross. I suggest reframing used gifts as vintage,” she said.

Herziger said “secondhand options might be received better when they’re items that can’t be bought new, such as a family heirloom or a collectible that isn’t produced anymore.”

“Focus on items that are high-quality, long-lasting, repairable and really needed. That ensures that it’s worth investing in and reduces the chance that it gets returned. Look to buy locally, rather than ordering online, to reduce how far it travels,” Goldmark stated. 

Finally, every year millions of pounds of wrapping paper end up in landfills, and a lot of it can’t be recycled due to the fact that many pf them are made with non-recyclable materials. There are, however, plenty of recyclable wrapping paper options out there, just make sure to check labels when you buy them in store or specifically search for it if you’re ordering online. 

Gift bags have also long been reused, especially ones that are intricately designed, so when it can call for it, opt for a bag over paper to wrap up your gifts. 

Getting creative with your wrapping paper is also a great option. Newspaper and brown paper offer a unique aesthetic to your gifts while making it easy for the recipient to recycle them afterwards.

smoking

Study Finds Even Two Cigarettes a Day Can Significantly Raise Heart Disease Risk

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A new long-term analysis is challenging common assumptions about “light smoking,” suggesting that even very small amounts of tobacco exposure may substantially heighten the risk of heart disease and premature death.

The research, published Tuesday in PLOS Medicine, followed more than 320,000 U.S. adults for nearly two decades. Johns Hopkins University scientists found that just two cigarettes per day or as few as 100 cigarettes across an entire lifetime were tied to markedly worse health outcomes.

Overall mortality was 60% higher among people who smoked at this low level compared with individuals who had never smoked. Their risk of developing heart disease was 50% higher, the study reported.

Cardiologists say the findings reinforce what decades of research have already hinted at: that even small doses of tobacco can undermine cardiovascular health.

“Tobacco use is a very well-established risk factor for heart disease,” said Dr. Jennifer Miao, a cardiologist at Yale University and an ABC News Medical Unit fellow.

“It really damages the blood vessel lining, and it accelerates the development of plaques and coronary artery disease.”

She noted that tobacco exposure is also associated with problems like atrial fibrillation and stroke.

One of the study’s most concerning observations is that simply reducing cigarette consumption didn’t appear to erase the long-term consequences. Current smokers faced the highest dangers, but even former smokers carried elevated heart disease risks in some cases, persisting more than twenty years after quitting.

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Dr. Erfan Tasdighi, the study’s co-author and an internal medicine physician at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said the results should push clinicians to counsel patients toward full cessation, not merely reduction, because “no amount” appears safe.

“We actually have the evidence to say that even less than one cigarette a day can increase different multiple cardiovascular outcomes, and it’s not something that’s clinically insignificant.”

Despite dramatic drops in overall smoking rates in the United States, from about 42% of adults in 1965 to roughly 12% in 2022, according to the American Lung Association, the landscape of smoking has changed. The share of people who smoke fewer than 15 cigarettes per day has increased 85% over the same period, representing a growing group of “light smokers” who may underestimate their risks.

“In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people who still smoke, but smoke less. As smoking patterns shift with more people smoking fewer cigarettes, it’s important to understand the cardiovascular risks of low-intensity smoking and the long-term benefits of quitting,” said study author Michael J. Blaha, M.D., M.P.H.

“This study, reflecting more than 320,000 U.S. adults over 20 years, gives us the statistical power to see relationships that other smaller studies cannot.”

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These shifting patterns mean physicians must adapt how they evaluate tobacco exposure, the authors argued. Traditional metrics, such as the number of packs smoked a year, may overlook the dangers of intermittent or low-intensity smoking.

“Clinicians need a more nuanced approach that incorporates other ways to identify and quantify cigarette use, like smoking status and smoking intensity,” Miao said.

Still, experts emphasize the difficulty many people face when trying to stop smoking entirely.

“It’s very, very important for us as clinicians to acknowledge that it’s a lot easier said than done.”

Miao encourages physicians to identify smokers who are struggling and connect them with cessation medications, counseling services, and other evidence-based support.

The researchers reported that the benefits of quitting accumulate most dramatically in the first decade after cessation. Yet even as the body begins healing right away, it may take many years for former smokers to approach the risk levels of people who never smoked.

Tasdighi stressed that early improvements shouldn’t be underestimated. “It’s important that people know that when they stop smoking, their risk goes down immediately and significantly,” he said.

Miao agreed, saying the research’s biggest message is straightforward. “It’s important to quit smoking early on, and no amount of smoking is without risk and health consequences,” she said.

soda

Sugary and Diet Beverages Both Tied to Liver Damage, Researchers Find

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A new study has found that drinking even one can of diet soda a day may sharply raise the risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a growing condition that already affects nearly 40% of adults in the United States.

Researchers reported that participants who regularly consumed low or no-sugar soft drinks faced a 60% higher risk of liver fat buildup compared with non-drinkers. In comparison, those who opted for sugary beverages had a 50% higher risk. The findings challenge long-held assumptions that diet sodas are a healthier alternative.

“Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have long been under scrutiny, while their ‘diet’ counterparts have enjoyed a reputation as the better choice,” said lead author Lihe Liu, a graduate student in the department of gastroenterology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in Suzhou, China.

The research, which has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, was presented Monday in Berlin at the United European Gastroenterology Week, an annual meeting of digestive health specialists.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, or NAFLD, occurs when fat accumulates in the liver despite little or no alcohol use. The condition, now increasingly referred to as metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), can lead to inflammation, scarring (cirrhosis), and even liver cancer.

“Our study shows that LNSSBs (low or non-sugar-sweetened beverages) were actually linked to a higher risk of MASLD, even at modest intake levels such as a single can per day.”

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The damage mirrors what doctors often see in heavy drinkers, but in this case, diet and lifestyle are to blame. Over the past three decades, NAFLD rates have surged by around 50% in the U.S., with nearly 38% of Americans now living with the disease. Globally, researchers say, MASLD has become a major driver of liver transplants and cancer cases.

“These findings challenge the common perception that these drinks are harmless and highlight the need to reconsider their role in diet and liver health, especially as MASLD emerges as a global health concern.”

The study followed nearly 124,000 adults without liver disease who were part of the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database that tracks participants’ health and lifestyle habits over time. Over roughly ten years, researchers collected detailed 24-hour dietary questionnaires to track beverage consumption patterns.

Results showed that both regular and diet soft drinks were linked to higher rates of MASLD and liver-related death. However, participants who replaced either type of sweetened beverage with water saw a significant drop in risk, with reductions of nearly 13% for sugary drinks and 15% for diet drinks.

Switching between sugary and diet sodas made no difference. The only meaningful protective factor was water.

The study offers “direct evidence of dietary behaviors influencing MASLD,” said Dr. Sajid Jalil, a clinical associate professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at Stanford University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research.

“The study showed that both regular and diet soft drinks may harm the liver over time, while choosing water or unsweetened drinks could help protect it. For me, this study has a lot more weight than previous studies because of its prospective design, involving a large number of subjects, a validated test for the diagnosis of MASLD and a long follow-up.”

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The study also sheds light on how these drinks may damage the liver through different biological pathways.

Sugary beverages, packed with high-fructose corn syrup or refined sugars, cause sharp spikes in blood glucose and insulin. Over time, this can lead to insulin resistance, weight gain, and fat accumulation in the liver.

“They can change the gut microbiome, interfere with feelings of fullness, increase preference for sweet foods and even stimulate insulin secretion,” Liu told CNN in an email.

“Water, however, hydrates the body without affecting metabolism, helps with satiety and supports overall metabolic function. That’s why the risk reduction is similar no matter which sweetened drink is replaced — it shows that water is the healthiest default beverage.”

While the findings have not yet undergone peer review, experts say they add to a growing body of evidence linking beverage habits to long-term liver health. As NAFLD and MASLD become more prevalent,  particularly in younger adults, researchers are urging public health authorities to focus not just on sugar consumption, but also on the widespread reliance on “zero-calorie” alternatives.

The message, researchers say, is clear. There’s no truly safe soda. Whether sweetened with sugar or artificial substitutes, both appear to take a toll on the liver, and the simplest fix might already be in your glass.

armani

Fashion Designer Giorgio Armani Remembered As ‘An Immense Talent And Friend’ By Peers 

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Designers, celebrities, politicians, and artists of all variety are paying tribute to legendary designer Giorgio Armani after it was announced by the Armani group that he passed away last week at the age of 91.

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Armani is being remembered as a “true friend,” “an immense talent,” and “a visionary.”

“The world lost a giant today. He made history and will be remembered forever,” wrote Donatella Versace.

Vogue editor Anna Wintour praised his influence: “For him fashion wasn’t one thing: it was also film, music, sport, art, design, and architecture, and he left his mark in all these worlds. 

Fashion designer Valentino Garavani said Armani was “a friend, never a rival … I can only bow to his immense talent.”

Ralph Lauren praised him as “a designer who never strayed from his vision … a man who loved his family and friends, and his homeland in such a special way.”

Prada group’s Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli said “Armani was a Maestro recognized for his elegance and creativity, and an undisputed protagonist of Italian and international fashion.”

Julia Roberts wrote that Armani was “A true friend. A legend,” adding a broken heart emoji. Roberts and Armani made one of the most memorable Golden Globe looks of all time with a steel grey oversized suit, white shirt, and tie. 

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Russell Crowe remembered a time he lost his bags on the way to the 1997 Cannes film festival, which led him to discovering Armani. 

“I adored him. He was so kind. So many significant moments in my life, awards, wedding, Wimbledon … all in Armani. What a life he had, from his beginnings to his glory.”

Jessica Chastain recounted meeting her husband at an Armani show in Paris, and Leonardo DiCaprio described Armani as “a visionary whose influence reached far beyond design”.

Cate Blanchett said: “The private man leaves a void that is impossible to fill.”

Victoria Beckham said: “The fashion world has lost a true legend in Giorgio Armani – a visionary designer whose legacy will live on forever. I feel honoured to have called him a friend.”

Martin Scorsese said Armani “was a real artist, and a great one – people use the term ‘timeless’ quite often, but in his case it happens to be true.” Scorsese directed the 1990 documentary “Made in Milan,” to show the behind-the-scenes life of Armani. 

Armani was often referred to as the “king of the blazer,” and pioneering “soft power dressing,” according to the Guardian. His designs often graced red carpets and award shows.

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, praised Armani as “an icon, a tireless worker, a symbol of the best of Italy.”