WEIRD STUFF

A new study has found that using foul language helped to improve the grip of people who were trying to twist the tight lid off a jam jar.

Participants who bellowed swear words such as "f***" and "s***" had superior handgrip strength compared to those who did not.

An experiment carried out by experts from Keele University in the UK and The University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands involved 52 men and women who repeated either an expletive or neutral word aloud for 10 seconds before competing various tests, including a grip-strength task and numerous questionnaires.

The data showed that those who swore were stronger by 1.4kg than those who hadn't cursed.

A spokesman said: "We have shown that repeating a swear word leads to increased performance on a grip-strength task."

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Sleep on your left, doctors urge

People should sleep on their left side for the sake of their health.

A new study of 2,000 adults has revealed that the most common sleep position was on the right side but experts at Benenden Health advise snoozing the opposite way.

Dr Cheryl Lythgoe, a society matron for the healthcare provider, said that sleeping on the left side is good for those who snore or suffer from sleep apnoea.

It is particularly beneficial for those suffering from heartburn or gastric issues as the elevation can help gravity to move food through the digestive process.

However, the expert strongly warns against sleeping on your stomach as this can be bad for the spine, joints and nerves and could lead to neck and back pain.

Dr Lythgoe said: "Sleeping positions that place undue stress on the spine, such as lying on your stomach or curling up in a tight foetal position, can exacerbate physical discomfort.

"These positions often lead to misalignment of the spine and increased pressure on the neck and lower back, potentially resulting in chronic pain and disrupted sleep patterns."

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Scientists create leather from dinosaur DNA

Lab-Grown Leather, a company based in Newcastle, England has joined forces with The Organoid Company to grow hides using DNA from the extinct dinosaur species.

A full-length collagen will be generated from the dinosaur that will be used to grow new skin.

It was previously thought that dinosaur DNA would be impossible to find as the fragile strands were unlikely to have survived for millions of years, but Lab-Grown Leather are now hoping to have their accessories on the shelves by the end of the year.

Professor Che Connon, from the startup, said: "We're unlocking the potential to engineer leather from prehistoric species, starting with the formidable T-Rex.

"This venture showcases the power of cell-based technology to create materials that are both innovative and ethically sound."