Met bans officers from ‘Porn Idol’ contest

The Metropolitan Police has warned its officers they face disciplinary action if they participate in a gay nightclub’s “Porn Idol” contest in their spare time. The force has advised officers to not partake in the event at Heaven over concerns about “upholding standards” and potential “awkward” encounters when they return to the venue in uniform on shift. The Independent said the event, which is hosted by drag queens from the TV show RuPaul’s Drag Race, sees men and women strip for cash prizes at the venue.

Moon conditions may support human life

Researchers have found that parts of the Moon may provide stable temperatures for humans, reported CNN. The Moon has pits with shaded areas that steadily hover around 17C (63 degrees Fahrenheit) a temperate range that’s stable for humans, the team of experts found. “We could be able to establish a long-term presence on the Moon sooner than may have otherwise been possible,” said lead study author Tyler Horvath, a doctoral student in planetary science at University of California, Los Angeles.

Retrain your mind to ease back pain

Back pain sufferers can ease their discomfort by retraining how their back and brain communicate, a study suggests. A randomised controlled trial run by researchers at UNSW Sydney and Neuroscience Research Australia found that sensorimotor retraining alters how people think about their body in pain, how they process sensory information from their back and how they move their back during activities. More than 10m people in the UK report persistent back pain, and the condition is the leading cause of disability globally, noted The Times.