‘World’s dirtiest man’ dies after taking a bath
And other stories from the stranger side of life

A man who did not bathe for more than half a century has died at the age of 94 “shortly after taking a bath”, reported The Telegraph. Amou Haji, who was nicknamed the “world’s dirtiest man”, died on Sunday in the village of Dejgah in the southern province of Fars. For decades, he avoided washing over fears of getting sick. He finally succumbed to pressure and washed a few months ago and became ill shortly afterwards and died on Sunday.
Actors forget their own name when working
Actors’ brains respond less strongly to hearing their own name when they are playing a role, experts have found. So “attuned” is our brain to our own self that typically when we hear our own name — even across a crowded room — it “locks on to the sound”, said The Times. However, when researchers studied actors rehearsing A Midsummer Night’s Dream, they found they still hear their name, but their brain no longer responds as if it is quite so special.
Airline launches ‘middle seat lottery’
An airline has launched the Middle Seat Lottery to encourage more people to choose the middle seat on flights. Just 0.6% of more than 7,500 voters polled prefer the middle seat, according to a recent social media poll by Virgin Australia. Now, the airline has launched a raffle worth about $230,000 for those who sit in the middle seat during a flight. Velocity Frequent Flyer members aged 18 years or older who are seated in a middle seat can use the airline's app to enrol in the lottery.
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.
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
-
How to figure out when your tax refund will arrive
The explainer How long do you have to wait between submitting your return and receiving the money?
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
'It also means the start of a virtuous ecological cycle'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Canada beats US in charged 4 Nations hockey final
Speed Read 'You can't take our country — and you can't take our game,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted after the game
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
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
By The Week Staff Published
-
Why Assad fell so fast
The Explainer The newly liberated Syria is in an incredibly precarious position, but it's too soon to succumb to defeatist gloom
By The Week UK Published
-
Romania's election rerun
The Explainer Shock result of presidential election has been annulled following allegations of Russian interference
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Russia's shadow war in Europe
Talking Point Steering clear of open conflict, Moscow is slowly ratcheting up the pressure on Nato rivals to see what it can get away with.
By The Week UK Published
-
Cutting cables: the war being waged under the sea
In the Spotlight Two undersea cables were cut in the Baltic sea, sparking concern for the global network
By The Week UK Published
-
The nuclear threat: is Vladimir Putin bluffing?
Talking Point Kremlin's newest ballistic missile has some worried for Nato nations
By The Week UK Published
-
Russia vows retaliation for Ukrainian missile strikes
Speed Read Ukraine's forces have been using U.S.-supplied, long-range ATCMS missiles to hit Russia
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published