Melody Jacob

Whatever makes you feel good, has a positive effect on the world, and clears your mental space, do it. For me, sometimes that means getting outside, putting on something comfortable, and taking a walk without having a complicated plan. I have realised that looking after yourself does not always have to mean spending hours in a gym or following an intense workout routine. Sometimes, it can be as simple as walking, stretching, dancing around your room, taking the stairs or just finding ways to move your body that you genuinely enjoy. There is something about walking in a park that I particularly enjoy. Being surrounded by trees, greenery, and fresh air gives me a chance to slow down and clear my head. It is exercise, but it does not always feel like exercise, and I think that is what makes it easier to keep doing. The day these photos were taken, I went for a walk in the park wearing the 360 Performance Bodysuit from Humans Being . We had planned to spend more time taking photos, but,...

Do you know that just like places you go can calm your mind, photos you look at have the same effect? That exact feeling of visual peace is why I’ve been completely obsessed with this little book lately. It’s called Messing About on the River: Mindful Moments from The Wind in the Willows , and honestly, it is pure comfort in physical form. It takes all the coziest, most grounded moments from the classic story and pairs them with those timeless, nostalgic illustrations by E.H. Shepard. Flipping through the pages genuinely feels like taking a deep breath of fresh air on a slow morning. If you’re looking for the ultimate thoughtful gift for a book lover in your life—or just want a sweet, aesthetic piece for your coffee table that reminds you to slow down and romanticize nature—this is it. Why I love it: It’s heartfelt, beautiful to look at, and serves as a gentle nudge to pause. Who it’s for: Dreamers, nature-lovers, and anyone craving a little more coziness in their routine. Who on you...

Nigerian naturalist Rachel Ikemeh is the 2026 laureate of the Rolex Award for her work with communities in the Niger Delta to safeguard the region’s ecology and the critically endangered Niger Delta red colobus monkey. One of the 25 most endangered primates in the world, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the global authority on the health of the world’s species, is the red colobus (Piliocolobus epieni), a monkey the communities in the area call the epieni. It was first scientifically reported in 1993. At the time, it was estimated that there were roughly 10,000 epieni inhabiting its limited area in the Niger Delta. But by 2013, their numbers had dwindled to only hundreds, not thousands, of individuals, Ikemeh said in a research. In 2021, Ikemeh and colleagues helped create a community-protected area of 1,010 hectares (2,496 acres) for the epieni in Apoi, a town within the monkey’s habitat. The monkey population in the community-protected forest had dou...

When the northern hemisphere experiences longer and darker nights, there are plenty of cosmic wonders to look forward to for stargazers. Here are some celestial events lighting up the season, from beautiful star clusters to fast-moving meteor showers and glowing supermoons. 1. The Pleiades (The 7 Sisters) As autumn evenings become shorter, one of the sky’s most familiar star groups grows ever more conspicuous. The Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, are a group of young stars in the constellation Taurus, about 440 light-years away. They are normally visible to the naked eye as about 6 points, but using binoculars or a telescope will display many more. Look in the eastern sky and you will see them.

There is no doubt about it: hot coffee is better than cold. A new study has found that really hot coffee is associated with a three times increased chance of developing esophageal cancer. The findings were just published by University of Oxford experts in the International Journal of Cancer, the BBC said. It finds that it is consistent with a comparable study four years earlier; however, the sample size from this study is nearly twice as large. In a study of over 977,000 middle-aged people, researchers defined “very hot” drinks as those served at 65°C (149°F) or higher. They found that people who drank very hot coffee and tea were three times more likely to get esophageal cancer than those who drank warm liquids. And the risk was far higher if people drank 6 or more really hot drinks every day. So what is the real temperature of your coffee when you drink it? Brew with water at 205 degrees Fahrenheit, and your coffee will be 185 degrees Fahrenheit when you brew it but will dip down ...

Tech leaders Elon Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman are joining forces with Anthropic chief Dario Amodei to advocate for a slowdown in artificial intelligence development. Writing in a recent essay, Amodei highlighted that AI progress has surged dramatically since the summer, warning that autonomous AI bot swarms could potentially take over the internet within six to twelve months. To counter this, he has introduced a three-step plan to pace the technology. But this cautious approach is not what US President Donald Trump wants, who insists on the need to retain America’s advantage over China in the global contest for AI dominance. Ria Chatterjee reports on the argument and considers the real scale of the threat Which brings us to the last question: How worried should we be?

When osteoarthritis reaches a severe stage, patients often describe the sensation as "bone-on-bone." While not a formal medical term, it accurately reflects advanced osteoarthritis, where the protective cartilage has significantly deteriorated. Cartilage serves as the essential shock absorber at the ends of bones; when it wears thin, the resulting friction leads to the deep, aching pain and stiffness that characterize the condition. While osteoarthritis can affect nearly any joint, it is most prevalent in the knees, hips, spine, and hands. Because cartilage lacks a direct blood supply, it cannot naturally regrow once it is gone. However, reaching a "bone-on-bone" state does not mean surgery is the only path forward. Effective management focuses on reducing symptoms and preserving mobility through several non-surgical strategies. Reducing Joint Strain Relieving the mechanical pressure on a compromised joint is a primary goal in pain management. Assistive Technolo...

A 27-year-old artificial intelligence researcher who just left AI firm Anthropic has spoken out, saying that many engineers and scientists developing the technology are extremely fearful of its rapid development and the existential threat it could pose to humanity. Jacob Coxon went viral with his resignation article on the perils of unregulated AI, making headlines. He told the BBC in an interview that without a conscious slowing down of development there was a major danger of cataclysmic events soon enough. The Drive to Slow Down Coxon’s old boss, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, recently called for a slowdown in AI research to give society and authorities time to catch up with the threats. That view is shared by competing tech luminaries such Sam Altman of OpenAI and Elon Musk of xAI, who are calling for industry-wide regulation and independent monitoring.

Big news for healthcare access in England: Pharmacy First is expanding! Fed up with the constant battle to get a regular appointment with a GP? Salvation is at hand. From this autumn people in England will be able to walk straight into their local high street chemist and get on-the-spot treatment for 12 common conditions—without having to see a GP first. The scheme adds 5 new conditions to the 7 conditions that chemists could already handle. What medical conditions can pharmacists treat now? The 5 NEW conditions are Adult migraine, low frequency Allergic rhinitis / hay fever in children Ear infections in adults Mild to moderate acne in adults and adolescents Skin infections, mild and scabies The 7 existing conditions are Sore throat Sinus infections Ear Pain Bites by insects Impetigo. Shingles Simple UTIs (urinary tract infections)

This has been sitting on my mind for a while, and as uncomfortable as it is for me to write about it, I feel like I need to get it out. I have been going over the same thoughts again and again, trying to understand why I feel the way I do. The truth is, I haven’t come to any conclusion. I’m not accusing anyone of anything, and I’m not trying to create a problem where there isn’t one. I genuinely want to look at this with an open mind, which is why I’m bringing it here. Sometimes you can ask a question directly, but sometimes even asking the question can make it seem as though you have already made up your mind or are taking offence. So instead, I want to tell you exactly what happened and let you tell me whether I’m seeing something that isn’t there or whether you understand why I feel a little uncomfortable about the whole situation. It started with a property I was trying to fence back home. When you are not physically present for a project, you have no choice but to trust people. Yo...

What would you do if someone stole a huge amount of money from you, you knew exactly who did it, and the police couldn’t help you? Would you walk away and accept that the money is gone, or would you find a way to get it back yourself? What if getting your money back meant becoming just as clever, patient and calculated as the person who stole it? At what point does getting justice become revenge? These are the questions that came to mind while reading Jeffrey Archer’s Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less . The story begins with Harvey Metcalfe, a wealthy and extremely experienced con man who knows exactly how to make people trust him. He manages to convince four very different men that they are making a brilliant investment in an oil company. They put their money in, believing they have made a smart financial decision, only to discover that the whole thing was a carefully planned scam. The four men are left with nothing, but what makes this story interesting is that they don't simply...