You snooze, you lose? Swedish researchers said Wednesday that might not be the case, after their study even saw some benefits for...

What made last Sunday’s pulsating Singapore Grand Prix so captivating was a genuine battle at the front: a battle for first, from lights out to the chequered flag. But it was only made possible by a clanger of a weekend from runaway constructors leaders Red Bull, whose perfect win-streak in 2023 came to an abrupt end amid the tight twists and turns of the city-state. Yet briskly onto Japan, a more conventional racetrack, would the status quo be restored? It certainly seems so. Judging by initial signs from Friday practice at Suzuka – a driver-favourite on the calendar due to its heart-shredding high-speed corners – it would be a major shock if Max Verstappen did not claim his 11th win in 12 races come Sunday. The flying Dutchman, closing in on the home-straight in his irrepressible march to a hat-trick of world titles, was fastest in both free practice sessions. And by some distance too. Six-tenths of a second in FP1, narrowed down to three-tenths by FP2. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Lando Norris, in consistency unexpected from practice, were the next-best in both sessions. “It felt really good today,” said Verstappen, back to his customary satisfied self after the anomaly of Singapore. “From lap one, the car was really enjoyable to drive again. It seems we had a strong day on short runs and long runs. So far, we have a good start to the weekend. “It looks tight behind me between Ferrari and McLaren, they’re close. But we just focus on ourselves, try to optimise our performance and if we do that, then I’m confident we’ll fight for pole.” Last year’s frenetic Suzuka race in the rain, memorable for Pierre Gasly’s close shave with a repair vehicle, saw Verstappen crowned a two-time champion following a dramatic end with Leclerc handed an position-changing penalty. For so long, it seemed Suzuka would be the venue for his crowning glory again in 2023. But all Singapore did was delay the inevitable by a race: that moment is likely to come amid the sprint weekend in Qatar at the start of October. Norris, still chasing his first win after recording a ninth Formula 1 podium last week, struggled to hide his deflation at realising Christian Horner’s team were back in their usual flow. “I doubt it’s going to be pole [for us], Red Bull is normal Red Bull,” the Brit said. “The pace was there… but the car feels pretty all over the place. A handful. “I don’t think we’re far away. Challenging for pole is a big task and probably a bit too far – challenging Mercedes, Ferrari and Astons has to be our battle for tomorrow.” Mind you, Mercedes might count themselves fortunate to be included in that list, given their performance on Friday. Neither driver was in the top-10 in first practice, while Lewis Hamilton only managed a best-result of 14th in FP2. “It was a very challenging day for us out there,” said the seven-time world champion and five-time winner in Japan. “I had a lack of confidence in the car and that contributed to our struggles. It was difficult to find the right balance and we didn’t manage to get on top of it by the end of FP2. The tyres were overheating and that left us quite far off the top of the timing sheets. “We know we’ve got a lot of work to do tonight to pick up the performance. I do believe we can make improvements though. We have had similar Friday’s this season and come back stronger on Saturday. We will see tomorrow if we have done so again. We will be putting in the effort this evening to give us every chance of getting ourselves higher up the order.” Higher up the order is certainly obtainable. What is not, it seems, is a major weekend challenge to Verstappen. Last week was nothing but a blip. Stranger things have happened – and the last two pole positions have been claimed by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz – but even on race simulations on Friday, the Red Bull was about a second-a-lap quicker on average than anyone else. Following qualifying on Saturday – bright and early in the UK (7am BST) – the racing on Sunday looks once again likely to be behind the champion-in-waiting. Read More Lewis Hamilton says ‘something’s up’ at Red Bull – if Max Verstappen struggles in Japan ‘Buzzin corner’: Sebastian Vettel reunites with F1 grid for ‘bee hotels’ in Japan Lando Norris calls for ‘harsher penalties’ after Max Verstappen incident How to buy tickets for the 2024 British Grand Prix at Silverstone ‘Buzzin corner’: Sebastian Vettel reunites with F1 grid in Japan F1 Japanese Grand Prix LIVE: Practice updates and times at Suzuka

For Iris van Herpen, whose radical couture dresses have attracted top musicians like Bjork, Beyonce and Lady Gaga, fashion is a way to...

We've thought a lot about kids and phones because many of us are parents. Mobile

Sinister secrets abound in the trailer for new chiller series The Burning Girls, based on

Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The

Big chocolate companies are welcoming new European Union rules that protect forests, but which risk further hitting consumer

A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool may be able to look for early signs of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, speeding up diagnosis. The technology, which could help doctors assess the early signs of the condition more efficiently, has been developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield. Known as CognoSpeak, the system uses a virtual character displayed on a screen to engage a patient in a conversation. It asks questions to test memory, inspired by those used in outpatient consultations and conducts cognitive tests, such as picture descriptions and verbal fluency tests. This tool could help patients start treatments sooner, reduce waiting times and give people certainty earlier Dr Dan Blackburn, University of Sheffield After that, the tool uses AI and speech technology to analyse language and speech patterns to look for signs of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. Researchers behind the technology suggest it could play a key role in reducing the burden on dementia assessment services, once further testing in GP and memory clinics across the UK is complete. The National Audit of Memory Assessment Services in England and Wales, conducted between January and August 2021 by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and supported by Alzheimer’s Society, found that the average waiting time from referral to dementia diagnosis had increased to 17.7 weeks. This was up from 13 weeks in 2019, with waiting times across services nationwide ranging between zero and 104 weeks (two years), compared to three and 34 in 2019. There are currently around 900,000 people in the UK living with dementia, and this is projected to almost double by 2040, according to the Alzheimer’s Society. Dr Dan Blackburn, from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Neuroscience, said: “Waiting for a possible diagnosis of dementia can be a very anxious time for patients and their families. “This tool could help patients start treatments sooner, reduce waiting times and give people certainty earlier. “The CognoSpeak system could transform how dementia and other memory disorders are diagnosed by speeding up assessments. “This would also free up clinicians’ valuable time and mean that those who need specialist care get access to it as quickly as possible.” Also an Honorary Consultant Neurologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and researcher at NIHR Sheffield BRC, he added: “There is a real clinical need for this kind of technology. “There are long waiting lists for memory clinics across the UK, but there are also inequalities in accessing the memory clinics service. “The CognoSpeak tool can reduce these inequalities and help make the service more efficient.” The CognoSpeak system could transform how dementia and other memory disorders are diagnosed by speeding up assessments Dr Dan Blackburn Professor Heidi Christensen, from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Computer Science, added: “The way a person speaks can tell us a great deal about their cognitive health and emotional wellbeing, and give us a very early indication of any signs of cognitive decline that may not otherwise have been detected. “The system we’ve developed here at Sheffield uses speech technology to automatically extract these signs and the automation means we can provide a consistent, accurate and fast assessment for everyone. “CognoSpeak is advanced, high tech and based on world-leading research in this field. “We have the biggest collection of data for this type of assessment anywhere in the world, which we’re using to advance the technology and improve its accuracy.” The system is being designed in a way that means once it is fully rolled out, a GP could refer a person with memory complaints to use the technology. CognoSpeak would send the test results back to the GP and then they would decide whether to refer the patient to a memory clinic for further assessment. The programme can be accessed through a web browser – meaning patients are able to take the test in the comfort of their home, rather than having to wait for a hospital appointment to take a pen-and-paper-based assessment. Researchers say early trials have shown the technology is as accurate at predicting Alzheimer’s as the current written tests used to assess or screen for cognitive, memory or thinking impairments. According to the team, previous research has demonstrated accuracies of 90% for distinguishing people with Alzheimer’s from people that are cognitively healthy. Developed by Dr Blackburn and Prof Christensen, the system is still in the research phase, but a £1.4 million National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) grant will allow it to be trialled more widely. The researchers are recruiting 700 participants from memory clinics across the UK to help develop the system further. The tool has been developed in collaboration with Therapy Box – a company specialising in speech and language technology – and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Devices for Dignity MedTech Cooperative (D4D). Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Reading for pleasure in childhood boosts brain health in teenage years – study Stan Wawrinka on setbacks, preparing for Wimbledon and friendship with Roger Federer Hacks for saving money on school uniforms

If you're in the market for a new computer, buying a refurbished device is a

Have you ever been typing a text message on your iPhone, only for the built-in

Myleene Klass has celebrated “changing history” after the government announced plans to better support women who miscarry while pregnant. For the last four years, the former Hear’Say singer has been backing changes to the Women’s Health Strategy in Parliament. This included a call to ensure women will not have to suffer up to three miscarriages before receiving help – an issue sensitive to Klass due to her personal experience with miscarriage. On Saturday (22 July), the Department of Health and Social Care announced a package of new measures to "boost the health and wellbeing of women and girls", including a pilot scheme that will see medical intervention for women after every miscarriage. As the pledge was made, Klass, 45, shared a picture to Instagram of herself and Labour MP Olivia Blake stood outside the Houses of Parliament celebrating the win. In the photo, Klass is wearing a yellow power suit while Black wears a floral dress, with the two campaigners holding signs that read “we did it” and “miscarriage matters”. “WE DID IT!!!!” the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star captioned her lengthy post. “We have changed the law and therein, history! The world is officially a better place for women and their families because we never gave up. “I met @oliviablake_mp filming my Bafta nominated Miscarriage documentary. We were both battered and bruised from our MC experiences but from that moment we joined forces and I became a campaigner for change to Miscarriage law and women’s health care.” She continued: “Women’s health has always been a contentious, almost invisible issue. Miscarriage is the final taboo, dismissed as ‘one of those things’ or ‘it wasn’t meant to be’. I now know that not to be the case. Change has to come from the top, from Government. Who knew our wombs are owned by Westminster?!” Klass then explained what the new law meant and how baby loss charity Tommy’s would be helping going forward. This includes more support for those experiencing miscarriage, retraining medical staff to handle the issue and updated guidelines for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. “That’s the official line,” she continued, “The personal side of this is 4 miscarriages along, pouring the heartache and frustration into fierce campaigning HAS WORKED. We have changed the future for so many mothers to be and babies to come. “This will all take time, but it’s officially confirmed and will be actioned… I wanted my children to see their mother turn her pain into power and the babies I never got to hold, to know they chose a mother who would fight to have their voices somehow heard. I never dreamed those voices would resonate into the history books and their legacy would be the most powerful of all, real change.” The changes come after a published pregnancy loss review, which looked at improving NHS gynaecology and maternity care. Minister for women’s health Maria Caulfield said: “Our work continues to support women through the agony of pregnancy loss… We will keep working and investing so girls and women across the country can benefit from the world-class healthcare they deserve.” Earlier this month, Klass had spoken out defiantly in support of the proposed changes to the law, saying that the government did not “deserve power” if it failed to implement them. “A health secretary and a health department and a government that doesn’t look after the people, that is in a position and empowered to do so, doesn’t deserve to hold [onto] that power,” she said. Read More Tim Shaddock rescue: Ben Fogle offers to pay for Australian sailor and dog to be reunited after emotional separation Fans defend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid breakup rumours Father sparks outrage for calling son ‘spoiled’ after 23-year-old said he can’t throw wedding for under $7,000 Myleene Klass: Government does not deserve power if miscarriage policy unchanged Researchers warn after 25 types of toxic flame retardant found in human breast milk Amy Dowden announces absence from Strictly Come Dancing due to chemotherapy

Consuming large amounts of ultra-processed foods could be linked to depression, according to a new study published in the Journal JAMA. Ultra-processed foods are usually high in salt, sugar, hydrogenated fats and additives. This includes ice cream, sausages, crisps, biscuits and soda. The study looked at the eating habits and mental health of more than 31,000 female nurses as part of the Nurses’ Health Study II, a long-term research project on various aspects of women’s health. To better understand the links between depression and foods, researchers started the study before participants reported any symptoms of depression and then followed them over time. This allowed the team to make a connection between a person’s diet and their mental health. Results showed women who consumed over nine portions a day of ultra-processed foods had a 50 per cent higher risk of developing depression than those consuming four portions or less. Participants who consumed a high amount of foods and drinks that contained artificial sweeteners had a particularly negative outcome, the study found. "Participants with high UPF intake had greater BMI, higher smoking rates, and increased prevalence of comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia and were less likely to exercise regularly," the study said. “Experimental studies have shown that artificial sweeteners may trigger the transmission of particular signalling molecules in the brain that are important for mood,” the authors continued. Professor Andrew Chan, chief of the clinical and translational epidemiology unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and co-author of the research, said: “The strength of our study is that we were able to assess diet several years before the onset of depression,” according to The Guardian. “This minimises the likelihood that our findings are simply due to individuals with depression being more likely to choose ultra-processed foods.” In a 2022 study, researchers linked ultra-processed food and cognitive decline. CNN reported that the study found eating those foods may affect parts of the brain that control executive function — such as the ability to process information and make decisions. The research also found that men and women who ate the most ultraprocessed foods had a cognitive decline rate 28 per cent faster than those who did not eat those foods. They also had a 25 per cent faster decline rate of their executive functions than their peers who did not eat ultraprocessed foods. What are the symptoms of depression? According to the Cleveland Clinic, some of the symptoms of depression include: Feeling very sad, hopeless or worried. Not enjoying things that used to bring joy. Being easily irritated or frustrated. Eating too much or too little — which may result in weight gain or weight loss. Trouble sleeping (insomnia) or sleeping too much (hypersomnia). Having low energy or fatigue. Having a difficult time concentrating, making decisions or remembering things. Experiencing physical issues like headache, stomachache or sexual dysfunction. Having thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Read More Yoghurt could be the cure for bad garlic breath, study finds Study finds link between ultra-processed food and cognitive decline