Britain’s favourite swear word revealed
And other stories from the stranger side of life
The F-word has overtaken “bloody” as the UK’s favourite swear word, according to a new study. An expert said the F-word is popular because it is “semantically vague”. However, researchers found that in the past two decades, the use of both words has declined, with the use of “bloody” estimated to have plummeted by 80%. The use of the word “shit”, however, nearly doubled.
Surgery ‘turning people into aliens’
A top plastic surgeon has criticised his industry for promoting a “twisted standard of beauty” that encourages people to adopt an “alienised” look. Steven Harris, who practises at the Harris Clinic in North London, said that the industry was becoming a breeding ground for mental health illnesses thanks to the rise of extreme cosmetic alterations such as pumped up lips, protruding cheekbones and abnormally arched eyebrows.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A hot dog takes 36 minutes off your life
Every hot dog a person eats shortens their life by 36 minutes, according to new research. Experts at the University of Michigan said that the 61 grams of processed meat in the results in 27 minutes of healthy life lost. “Then, when considering the other risk factors, like the sodium and trans fatty acids inside the hot dog - counterbalanced by the benefit of its polyunsaturated fat and fibres - we arrived at the final value of 36 minutes of healthy life lost per hot dog,” they said.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The best dark romance books to gingerly embrace right nowThe Week Recommends Steamy romances with a dark twist are gaining popularity with readers
-
The ocean is getting more acidic — and harming sharks’ teethUnder the Radar ‘There is a corrosion effect on sharks’ teeth,’ a study’s author said
-
6 exquisite homes for skiersFeature Featuring a Scandinavian-style retreat in Southern California and a Utah abode with a designated ski room
-
Panama and Canada are negotiating over a crucial copper mineIn the Spotlight Panama is set to make a final decision on the mine this summer
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned