WEIRD STUFF: ‘Hero’ rats undergo rescue training

An egg a day keeps the doctor away

Eating an egg every day could be the key to stopping heart attacks and strokes.

The food has been found to send 'good cholesterol' surging and get rid of the 'bad' type, known as low-density lipoprotein.

According to experts, people who eat fewer eggs suffered from worse cholesterol overall.

Professor Canqing Hu from Peking University in China explained that the results showed "how eating a moderate amount of eggs can help protect against heart disease".

The findings were based on an analysis of 4,778 people in China; and more than 3,000 of them suffered from cardiovascular disease.

Blood samples revealed that those who consumed a moderate amount of eggs had greater levels of APOA1 (apolipoprotein) A1 -- a building block of good cholesterol.

Eggs had been seen as dangerous because the yolks are high in cholesterol, but the British Heart Foundation has since said that eating them should no longer be considered as a health risk.

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'Hero' rats undergo rescue training

Rats are being trained to save people trapped during earthquakes.

A group of 'hero' rodents are being instructed to enter quake zones with location trackers in order to find survivors. The rats are equipped with small backpacks as well as microphones, so victims can communicate with rescue workers.

Dr Donna Kean has been leading the project. The animals are set to be sent to Turkey in order to be used in the field, as the country is prone to earthquakes.

The Glasgow-based scientist said: "Rats would be able to get into small spaces to get to victims buried in rubble. We have not been in a real situation yet, we have got a mock debris site.

"When we get the new backpacks, we will be able to hear from where we are based and where the rat is, inside the debris. We have the potential to speak to victims through the rat.

"They can live off anything. They are very good at surviving in different environments, which just shows how suitable they are for search-and-rescue work."

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Groovy music boosts brain performance

Scientists have discovered that listening to tunes from artistes such as ABBA and the Bee Gees can enhance a person's "executive function".

Executive function is a set of mental skills that enables humans to plan, focus attention, remember and multitask, but the results were only demonstrated on those who are familiar with groove music.

Lead author Professor Hideaki Soya from the University of Tsukuba in Japan said: "The results were surprising.

"We found that groove rhythm enhanced executive function and activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex only in participants who reported that the music elicited a strong groove sensation and the sensation of being clear-headed."

The research suggests that music only enhances the brain power of those who have an advanced psychological response to the music.

Professor Soya said: "Our findings indicate that individual differences in psychological responses to groove music modulate the corresponding effects on executive function."