Grandmothers more connected to grandchildren than to own offspring
And other stories from the stranger side of life

Grandmothers may be more emotionally connected to their grandchildren than to their own sons and daughters. Anthropologists at Emory University in Georgia recruited 50 women with at least one biological grandchild aged between three and 12, and used functional magnetic resonance imaging to monitor their brains as they looked at photos of that child, the child’s parents, and images of an unrelated child and adult. “Grandmothers are geared toward feeling what their grandchildren are feeling when they interact with them,” said a researcher.
Asteroid set to be visible from Earth
An asteroid bigger than the London Eye is expected to crash into Earth’s orbit this weekend. The asteroid, named 2016 JG12, was first discovered in 2016, and is currently 5.98 million kilometres from earth. Experts say that if it continues on its current trajectory, and passes Earth, rather than landing on it, it can be seen at approximately 12.23am on Saturday 20 November.
Subscribe to 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.
Lottery present comes up trumps
A US woman who received a scratch-off lottery ticket as a gift from her son said he initially didn’t believe her when she told him it was a $100,000 winner. The Missouri woman told lottery officials her son bought her the scratch-off ticket as a gift, and that both were shocked when she revealed the prize. “He didn't believe me at first,” she said. “He’s pretty excited now.” She said she plans to buy him a new truck.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Critics' choice: Reimagined Mexican-American fare
Feature A shape-shifting dining experience, an evolving 50-year-old restaurant, and Jalisco-style recipes
-
Here We Are: Stephen Sondheim's 'utterly absorbing' final musical
The Week Recommends The musical theatre legend's last work is 'witty, wry and suddenly wise'
-
The Trial: 'sharp' legal drama with a 'clever' script
The Week Recommends Channel 5's one-off show imagines a near future where parents face trial for their children's crimes
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical