WEIRD STUFF

UK owners warned against Halloween pet dress-up

Pet owners who dress up their cats or dogs for Halloween could face prison -- experts have warned.

Animal welfare groups have warned that forcing an animal into a costume can cause stress, discomfort, and even physical harm.

In the United Kingdom, persons can be prosecuted under the Animal Welfare Act (2006), owners are legally required to protect their pet's health and well-being.

Causing "unnecessary suffering" could lead to fines, bans from owning animals, or even imprisonment.

With 17.2 million pet-owning households in the UK, the warning comes as more people try to include their furry companions in spooky celebrations.

However, veterinary experts say Halloween costumes -- often tight, noisy, or restrictive -- can frighten animals or hinder their movement, breathing, hearing or vision.

Registered veterinary nurse Helen Crofts, speaking to Cats Protection, said: "There may be some cats who tolerate wearing items of clothing, but this is quite rare.

"Dressing them up for your own amusement is not recommended. For most cats, having any sort of clothing or accessories placed on them will be a stressful and uncomfortable experience, even if it's for a short period of time."

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AI to revolutionise prostate cancer tests

Men checked for prostate cancer on the National Health Service (NHS) could soon receive a diagnosis the same day, thanks to a new artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of processing MRI scans in seconds.

The technology, called Pi, developed by Lucida Medical, will be trialled on 10,000 scans across 15 hospitals, including Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Manchester, and sites in the southwest and east of England.

The AI tool analyses scans instantly, flagging high-risk patients for immediate review by a radiologist and fast-tracking them for a biopsy if needed.

If successful, the programme will be rolled out nationally, with doctors hailing it as a "game changer" for speeding up diagnosis and treatment.

Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: "This rapid testing will help give the best chance of treatment being successful for patients and their families."

Currently, NHS standards state that three-quarters of patients with suspected cancer should receive a diagnosis or all-clear within 28 days -- but less than a third of those with urological cancers, such as prostate cancer, meet this target.

If rolled out successfully, men could undergo all tests, including scans and biopsies, in a single day.

Around 67,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK each year, and 12,000 die from the disease.

Early detection is vital as over 90 per cent of men diagnosed at an early stage survive at least a decade, compared with just 18.6 per cent when the cancer is caught late.

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Experts have warned that tying hair up into a bun - the once-iconic look made famous by David Beckham - could lead to baldness.

Top British hairdresser Rachel Valentine said that regularly pulling hair into tight buns or ponytails can cause traction alopecia - a form of hair loss triggered by repeated tension on the scalp.

She said: "Some of us are probably guilty of doing it every single day. I know that shoving your hair up in a messy bun is sometimes the quickest thing to do to get your hair out of your face, but it's so damaging in so many ways."

The "messy bun", a popular spin on Beckham's 2000s "man bun", has gone viral again online - but stylists are urging caution.

Valentine explained that the style causes "super-tight tension around the crown area," one of the most vulnerable spots for breakage and thinning.

Those who bleach their hair, like Beckham has done in the past, are at even greater risk because coloured hair is weaker and snaps more easily.

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Mona Lisa could make you healthier - study

Looking at famous paintings like the Mona Lisa can actually make you healthier, according to new research.

Scientists at King's College London found that viewing original works of art triggers the immune, hormone and nervous systems all at once - helping to reduce stress and boost well-being.

The effects were especially strong when participants saw original pieces by Van Gogh, Manet and Gauguin in person.

Tony Woods, who led the study, said: "The research clearly shows the stress-reducing properties of viewing original art and its ability to simultaneously excite, engage and arouse us.

"This is a unique finding and something we were genuinely surprised to see."

The study, co-funded by Art Fund and the Psychiatry Research Trust, tested 50 volunteers aged 18 to 40 who viewed either originals at The Courtauld Gallery or reproductions elsewhere.

Art Fund director Jenny Waldman added: "This study proves for the first time what we've long felt - art really is good for you."