Tibetan monks who meditate improve their physical health thanks to “good” gut bacteria, according to researchers from China. The team studied Buddhist monks and compared their microbiomes, the ecosystem of bacteria found in the gut, with those of other local residents who ate the same food but did not meditate. The monks had far higher levels of bacteria “associated with a reduced risk of anxiety, depression and cardiovascular disease”, noted The Times.
Chess queens ‘reflect women’s greed’
Queens used to move much less during games of chess because they reflected women’s weak status in society, said The Telegraph. The permitted moves for each piece were related to their behaviour in life, according to a book written by John of Wales, a 12th-century Franciscan theologian. The sloping moves of the queen were such because “women are so greedy that they will take nothing except by rapine [violent seizure] and injustice”, he wrote.
Man buys lucky lottery ticket in Luck
The winning ticket for a $15m lottery prize was sold in the aptly named town of Luck, Wisconsin, reported Fox News. A man named Mark Cunningham claimed the jackpot prize and said “dreams really do come true”. He had bought the winning Megabucks lottery ticket at Wayne’s Food Plus, in Luck, a town of around 1,100 residents. The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 6,991,908, said the Wisconsin Lottery.
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.
For more odd news stories, sign up to the weekly Tall Tales newsletter.
-
Pope Leo wants to change the Vatican’s murky financesThe Explainer Leo has been working to change some decisions made by his predecessor
-
October books: an academic analysis of Taylor Swift and the solution to your digital addictionThe Week Recommends This month's new releases include ‘Taylor’s Version’ by Stephanie Burt, ‘Enshittification’ by Cory Doctorow and ‘Minor Black Figures’ by Brandon Taylor
-
Auto loans: Trouble in the subprime economyFeature The downfall of Tricolor Holdings may reflect the growing financial strain low-income Americans are facing
-
Nepal chooses toddler as its new ‘living goddess’Under the Radar Girls between two and four are typically chosen to live inside the temple as the Kumari – until puberty strikes
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
What has the Dalai Lama achieved?The Explainer Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader has just turned 90, and he has been clarifying his reincarnation plans
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
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
