Society Violent crime in Scotland is down 2.4% compared with last year. Incidents of common and serious assaults have fallen by 2.7% and 5.2% respectively. Source: Police Scotland.
22% of 14-year-old girls in the UK self-harmed in 2015. The group most affected, however, were girls and boys who were attracted to people of the same or both genders, with 46% admitting to intentionally hurting themselves. The main reasons given for self-harming were depression, bullying, pressure at school, emotional abuse, grieving and relationship problems with friends or family. Source: Childrenâs Society.
The number of admissions to hospital of girls aged 18 and under for self-harm increased from 7,327 in 1997 to 13,463 last year â an increase of 84% in 20 years. Source: NHS.
The top three areas in the UK with the most money left over each month, after essential bills are paid, are London (£585), north-east England (£536) and the East Midlands (£404). The bottom three areas, with the least amount of money left over, are Yorkshire and the Humber (£353), south-west England (£307), and Wales (£268). The Scottish figure was an average of £372. Source: Nationwide.
80% of inmates of Scottish prisons smoke, making them the most concentrated population of smokers in Scottish society. The national average of smokers is 20% of the population. Source: Scottish Prison Service.
Officials have revised the number of people who died following Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in September last year. The number of fatalities has been increased from 64 to 2,975 people. Source: BBC.
Young people in the UK are among the highest consumers of energy drinks in Europe, with a third of under-18s regularly consuming them. Source: Newcastle University.
Economy A clothing company which sells stab-proof hoodies and gloves has had a 22% increase in sales in London this year. Thereâs been a spike in violent crime in the capital, with over 100 fatalities linked to knife crime. Source: Bladerunner.
The UK was one of the top five FDI investors in over half of all OECD countries in 2016. It is also the largest destination of Spanish outward FDI, with 16% of Spainâs investments held in the UK in 2016. Source: Office for National Statistics.
Education One in 25 primary school children in England and Wales, aged seven to 11-years-old, have received a naked or semi-naked image from an adult on an app, site or game. For secondary school pupils aged from 11 to 16 years old, one in 20 had received such an image. 2% of children aged between seven and 16 years old have sent a nude or semi-nude image of themself to an adult. Source: NSPCC.
Science Many species of fireflies are ‘chemically protected,’ meaning that they taste disgusting to predators. Although their flashing rear ends are used to attract mates, research suggests that they may also be used to deter predators from eating them. Source: Boise State University.
A new quantum device has been invented which can jumble up two events â the paths taken by particles of light â so that both can be ‘trueâ simultaneously. The concepts of ‘beforeâ and ‘afterâ are effectively defied. Source: Oxford University/Hong Kong University.
Scientists have found a way to make magnesite (magnesium carbonate) in a few months. The mineral usually takes thousands of years to form naturally and can capture and store large amounts of carbon dioxide. It is hoped that the new discovery will one day help fight climate change. Source: Trent University.
There are only about 25,000 black and white rhinos left in the world, and more than 1,000 were killed by poachers in South Africa alone last year. Source: WWF.
Health A weight loss drug used in the US â lorcaserin â has been found to be safe and not put users at a greater risk of heart problems. In addition, patients using the drug were at a lower risk of becoming diabetic. It has not yet been approved for use in Europe. Source: New England Journal of Medicine.
Listening to yoga or meditation music before bed can reduce feelings of anxiety and be good for the heart. Source: European Society of Cardiology.
Sleeping for too long can be bad for our health. Researchers found that people who stay in bed for more than 10 hours have a 56% increased risk of death from stroke and a 49% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Source: Keele University.
Chronic exposure to air pollution could have a negative impact on maths and verbal skills, with men who have little education most vulnerable. More than 80% of the worldâs urban population breathe unsafe levels of air pollution. Source: Peking University/ Yale University.
Ketamine may be good at treating depression but it can become highly addictive. The drug is most effective when the opioid system in the brain, which controls pain, reward and addictive behaviour, is activated. Risk of dependence is therefore at an increased level. Source: Stanford University.
Snorers are more likely to develop gout. Obstructive sleep apnoea â where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting normal breathing â causes the body to create more uric acid, which can turn into the needle-like crystals that cause inflammation and swelling around the joints. Sleep apnoea affects around 1.5m Brits. Source: Keele University.
Recreation The top three UK day trip destinations this summer were Southend on Sea, Margate and Birmingham. Source: Trainline.
Oddities Before they can even speak or walk, toddlers care about what others think of them and often alter their behaviour to please us. Source: Emory University.
All pregnant women have the same chance of having identical twins â around 1 in 250. There is no evidence to suggest that identical twins run in families. Source: NHS.