WEIRD STUFF

Universe to end "much sooner than expected"

Dutch space scientists say the end of the universe is coming sooner than once believed - but luckily, not in our lifetime.

Experts at Radboud University in the Netherlands have crunched the numbers on the fate of white dwarf stars and were shocked by what they found.

Black hole specialist and lead researcher Heino Falcke said: "The final end of the universe is coming much sooner than expected, but fortunately, it still takes a very long time."

According to their study, humanity has 10 to the power of 78 years left - that's a one followed by 78 zeroes.

The team's calculations are based on Hawking radiation, a theory proposed by legendary British physicist Stephen Hawking.

Co-author Walter van Suijlekom added: "By exploring extreme scenarios like this, we hope to deepen our understanding of the theory -- and maybe one day, unlock the secrets of Hawking radiation."

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Trapped cat survived by drinking beer

A cat survived for over three weeks trapped under floorboards by drinking beer.

Dishevelled feline Leia was rescued from her ordeal earlier this month and a half-drunk can of French lager was found nearby.

The 11-year-old moggy had vanished on April 11 - leading to owner Ben Smith, 83, and his family spending PS1,000 on a pet detective in an attempt to trace her.

However, it turned out that exotic shorthair Leia was under the flooring when neighbours in Deal, Kent, heard the animal crying and it is suspected that she crawled into the space while builders were working before getting trapped when it was sealed again.

Smith's daughter Kelly Cooper said: "A half-drunk tin of beer was found and we wondered if she'd had sips from that.

"She could have also eaten small mammals, like mice, or insects, and quite possibly drank condensation from piping.

"We will never know how she survived all that time. But she had lost a third of her weight when she was rescued."

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Working over 52 hours a week may shrink your brain

New research has found that people who spend over 52 hours per week working are affected in areas of the brain connected to problem-solving and memory.

The experts looked at the impact of overwork on specific regions in health workers who regularly clocked up more than 52 hours on a weekly basis.

The analysis included 110 workers, 32 of whom worked excessive hours but were significantly younger and more highly educated than those working standard hours.

The data was collected using MRI scans to examine brain structure and revealed that "overworked individuals exhibited significant changes in brain regions associated with executive function and emotional regulation".

The researchers from Yonsei University in South Korea said: "The results underscore the importance of addressing overwork as an occupational health concern and highlight the need for workplace policies that mitigate excessive working hours."