Curly hair may have been absolutely critical to humans evolving millions of years ago, scientists have discovered. In fact, having curly hair could have been the key reason as to why humans developed, grew taller and came to have larger brains. It’s all to do with regulating body temperature, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State University. Given that hair can help to protect the head from the sun’s rays, it’s thought that thicker, curlier hair types could have been key to human life progressing in Equatorial Africa. Scientists recreated the kinds of conditions that early humans would have experienced, using wigs featuring different hair types on models. They found that curls were most effective in keeping the models cool in an environment measuring 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) and 60 per cent humidity. Tina Lasisi is the study's lead author. She spoke to Newsweek about the findings and said: "We hypothesized that tightly curled scalp hair would provide some benefits, but the extent of these benefits was uncertain. "Previous studies on mammalian coats have shown that hair can limit the amount of sunlight reaching the skin, but we were particularly surprised by the significant reduction in solar heat radiation impact provided by tightly coiled hair.” The reduction in heat caused by tight curls could have led to the development of larger brains. "Once humans developed large brains, they could employ other behavioral and social strategies to cope with heat, potentially diminishing the relative advantage of curly hair," she said. "This could have led to a diverse distribution of hair textures worldwide. Furthermore, since straight hair better retains heat, populations in colder environments may have experienced selective pressure for straight hair." She added: "Future research should aim to answer these questions by incorporating our data into mathematical models of human physiology or conducting experiments with human subjects who have different hair textures to examine the impact on their thermal regulation.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings

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Eurovision has finally arrived in the UK and you know what that means - it's time to grab the glitter, pour yourself a big drink and settle into one of the best nights of the year. It’s the first time the UK has hosted since way back in 1998 and this time it's holding the event on behalf of last year’s winners Ukraine. There are 26 songs ready to battle it out in the final on Saturday (May 13) and as ever there’s a selection of weird and wonderful efforts to enjoy. The competition has already said goodbye to plenty of entries in the two semi-finals. Thankfully, all of the truly bonkers stuff has made it through to the weekend. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter We’ve gone ahead and ranked the songs taking part in the final this year, from the insipid to the truly inspired. These are our picks, going from worst to best. Portugal – Mimicat, Ai Coracao Mimicat - Ai Coração | Portugal ?? | National Final Performance | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com As a rule, you don’t tend to get as many genuinely dreadful songs as you used to at Eurovision. This woeful effort is clearly the exception to that rule. The worst entry this year and possibly of the last few years, this. Albania - Albina & Familja Kelmendi, Duje Albina & Familja Kelmendi - Duje | Albania ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com We regret to inform you this traditional folk-inspired track is a real dud, and we’re not sure how it got through the second semi-final. Meh. Estonia - Alika, Bridges Alika - Bridges | Estonia ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com An exceptionally boring ballad, with the self-playing piano on stage as the only talking point. Alika has an impressive set of lungs on her, but you could hear this song 1,000 times and still not remember it. Cyprus - Andrew Lambrou, Break a Broken Heart Andrew Lambrou - Break A Broken Heart | Cyprus ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com A dreary old bag of nothing from Cyprus. Really nothing to write home about aside from Andrew Lambrou’s strange vest top and the pyrotechnics. We promise you things get better soon. Serbia – Luke Black, Samo Mi Se Spava Luke Black - Samo Mi Se Spava (LIVE) | Serbia ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Serbia has gone gothic this year for this cinematic but ultimately unsatisfying effort. If you like your synth-pop with a slightly creepy edge, this could be for you, but there’s no tune in sight here. Germany – Lord of the Lost, Blood & Glitter Lord of the Lost - Blood & Glitter (LIVE) | Germany ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Comfortably the worst heavy rock effort at this year’s contest. Not much to like about any of it, but you never know with the public vote. Spain – Blanca Paloma, EAEA Blanca Paloma - EAEA | Spain ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com A brooding, forgettable effort from Spain this year. Sounds like the songwriter couldn’t be bothered to finish off the chorus. Ukraine – TVORCHI, Heart of Steele TVORCHI - Heart Of Steel | Ukraine ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Couldn’t be more different to this last year’s winning song 'Stefanie' from Ukraine. This attempt at sultry RnB isn’t the strongest in this year’s competition, but it’s not the worst by any stretch. Croatia - Let 3, Mama ŠČ! Let 3 - Mama ŠČ! (LIVE) | Croatia ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Croatia has the most eye-catching look at this year’s event by far – if you like drag performers with Charlie Chaplin moustaches, you’re in for a treat. The song itself sounds like someone flicking through a load of different radio stations at once, but you know what, we don't hate it. France – La Zarra, Évidemment La Zarra - Évidemment (LIVE) | France ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Sounds a bit like Edith Piaf’s ill-advised disco-pop phase. Wants to be playful, but ends up being a bit meh. Switzerland – Remo Forrer, Watergun Remo Forrer - Watergun | Switzerland ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com “I don’t want to be a soldier”, Forrer sings in this pretty uninspired anti-war anthem. Given he’s representing famously neutral Switzerland, we don’t think he has to worry. Well performed, but not one to take seriously this year. Slovenia - Joker Out, Carpe Diem Joker Out - Carpe Diem | Slovenia ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com The verse in this guitar band effort might land a little flat, but the chorus is reasonably strong. It doesn’t feel particularly Eurovision, but these happy chappies might just do alright. Lithuania - Monica Linkyte, Stay Monika Linkytė - Stay | Lithuania ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com There are the bones of a good song in here, with parts bearing an odd similarity to something from the Lion King soundtrack, but it ends up going nowhere. Australia – Voyager, Promise Voyager - Promise | Australia ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Techno hair metal, anyone? This is a nicely put-together track, from a group that sounds like a heavier take on A-ha. This one could hoover up a good chunk of the rock vote. Armenia - Brunette, Future Lover Brunette - Future Lover | Armenia ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com This one goes from a fairly intimate ballad to something much bigger in scale, belted out by the diminutive Brunette – aka Ariana Grande-lookalike Elen Yeremyan. Pretty impressive. Israel – Noa Kirel, Unicorn Noa Kirel - Unicorn (LIVE) | Israel ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Bombastic pop, belted out by Kirel who looks like she was born to be on the Eurovision stage, with some of the most impressive staging we’ve seen in some time. Could perhaps be one to watch outside of the immediate favourites. Czechia – Vesna, My Sister’s Crown Vesna - My Sister's Crown | Czechia ?? | Official Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com An interesting entry, this one. It won’t win but it mixes traditional folk elements with pop and dance elements well, with a strong feminist angle in there too. Not bad at all. UK – Mae Muller, I Wrote A Song Mae Muller - I Wrote A Song www.youtube.com Fancy a sassy breakup bop? Mae Muller’s got you covered. It’s a comedown from Sam Ryder’s brilliant effort last year and an ever-so-slightly underwhelming track for a host nation it must be said, but will do well for the UK. Italy - Marco Mengoni, Due vite Marco Mengoni - Due Vite | Italy ?? | National Final Performance | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com A more than competent power pop effort from the Italians. The songwriting shows a touch of class, but it might just be missing a great central hook to keep people coming back to it. Moldova – Pasha Parfeni, Soarele şi Luna Pasha Parfeni - Soarele şi Luna (LIVE) | Moldova ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Get your flute out and get yourself on the dancefloor, it’s time for a right old knees up courtesy of this bop from Moldova’s Pasha Parfeni. We like. Poland – Blanka, Solo Blanka - Solo | Poland ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Sounding and looking a bit like Dua Lipa’s long-lost Polish cousin, Blanka delivers a fun little ditty which could do really well this year. Very good vibes, this one. Finland – Käärijä, Cha Cha Cha Käärijä - Cha Cha Cha (LIVE) | Finland ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Could this be Finland’s first win since Lordi in 2006 with 'Hard Rock Hallelujah?' It’s one of the clear favourites. We’re not as fully on board as others seem to be with this truly bonkers euro trance effort, but it’s a novelty that might just pay off. Norway – Alessandra, Queen Of Kings Alessandra - Queen of Kings (LIVE) | Norway ?? | First Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com This is a great big slice of thunderous scandi pop, which deserves to do well this year. Look out for Alessandra hitting some of the highest notes in the competition, too. Austria – Tea & Salena, Who the Hell is Edgar? Teya & Salena - Who The Hell Is Edgar? | Austria ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com If you’re going with a novelty effort at Eurovision these days, you better make it catchy as hell and well put together – that’s exactly what Austria have managed here, with a brilliant, bonkers track that might just do really well. Belgium – Belgium Gustaph, Because Of You Gustaph - Because Of You | Belgium ?? | Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com This is what Eurovision is all about. It’s a belting call to the dancefloor with serious oomph. Sounds like Will Young mixed with Jamiroquai and Culture Club, and we’re very much here for it. Sweden – Loreen, Tattoo Loreen - Tattoo | Sweden ?? | Official Music Video | Eurovision 2023 www.youtube.com Eurovision icon Loreen is back more than a decade after winning with 'Euphoria' in 2012, and the new track is right out of the same EDM playbook. This one nails the modern Eurovision formula – brooding verses that evolve into massive choruses, with hooks at every turn. It’s not quite the classic that Euphoria was, but this is another deeply impressive entry from a legend of the Eurovision game. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The outspoken US senator Kyrsten Sinema has, along with other American lawmakers, attempted to get in on the Barbenheimer meme craze, with mixed results. If you've spent any time on the internet in the past few months, you'll no doubt have noticed a lot of memes about the movies Barbie and Oppenheimer, which you might have heard are being released on the exact same day (July 21st). Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Inevitably, all memes end up jumping the shark and this has now happened with Barbenheimer with several politicians getting in on the trend including Sinema. The controversial figure, who was once a Democrat representing the state of Arizona before becoming an independent in December 2022. On Thursday on the eve of the release of Christopher Nolan and Greta Gerwig's respective films, she tweeted: "Get you a Senator who can do both. #Barbenheimer." This was accompanied by a colour picture of her wearing a bright pink dress and a black and white picture of herself, thus representing the aesthetics of the two movies. Unfortunately for the 47-year-old her attempt at the meme didn't go down too well thus reflecting Sinema's overall popularity in the United States. Sinema wasn't alone, as many other Senators attempted their own Barbenheimer memes including John Fetterman and Ben Cardin. Nice effort folks but we doubt it'll make Margot Robbie's favourite meme list. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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It's Halloween season and while some might believe they have a haunted house, a charity has warned it is more likely that the ghastly goings-on are actually to do with dangerous electrical faults. Experts are warning that typical experiences associated with haunted houses could present a much more scary reality, leaving your home exposed to a fire. Flickering lights and green slime oozing from the walls may sound like a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock movie but are far more likely to be explained by electrical faults linked to wiring, than any ghoulish ghost. “We’re all familiar with scenes in horror movies where the lights constantly flicker and trip,” explained Richard Harvey, electrical installation safety engineer at Electrical Safety First. “But the reality is far more scary than any ghost. Flickering lights or bulbs that keep blowing are likely caused by a loose connection in your wiring rather than the supernatural.” Green slime oozing from plug sockets is also a warning to look out for this spooky season. “A green goo-like substance oozing from your plug sockets is far more likely to be linked to deteriorating wiring than a mutant invasion,” Harvey added. “When green goo appears, it can adversely affect protective components within your socket and leave you exposed to risk of electric shock in the future. It is mostly seen in wiring predating 1960 and is a chemical reaction between the plastic and copper.” The consequences of faulty electrics can be far more frightening than a property plagued by the paranormal, leaving your home exposed to fire and those living in it at serious risk. “A far more effective way of tackling these ghostly signs isn’t to call the Ghostbusters,” Harvey noted. “A competent and registered electrician will be able to rid your home of any potentially dangerous electrical faults to ensure your property is safe.” Blood-curdling fines of up to £30,000 may be issued to private landlords in England who do not ensure their property is inspected once every five years under legislation introduced in 2021. Living in an unsafe home can be far more frightening than any horror film. Whilst most landlords provide good and safe accommodation for renters, rogue landlords face hefty fines if they actively neglect to comply with the laws. Electrical Safety First recommends using a competent and registered electrician to undertake an electrical safety inspection on your property. Landlords and households can find a registered electrician using the charity’s Find an Electrician tool. Households are also warned to be aware of a change of smell in the home. Whilst movies associate unusual smells including sulphur, with ghostly goings on, strong smells, similar to that of fish, could be burning plastic on plug sockets. Six signs your house is haunted by dodgy electrics Lights that continue to blow or flicker – If you’re constantly finding yourself in the dark, there is a possibility a loose connection is at fault rather than a ghost. An unpleasant smell similar to fish – Whilst unpleasant smells such as sulphur are often associated with hauntings, an unwelcome smell, similar to fish, can often be associated with the burning smell of sockets or plastic. Don’t overlook it, report it immediately to your landlord. Green goo oozing from the sockets – Unlikely a mutant invasion and more likely a chemical reaction linked to old wiring that can adversely affect protective components in your sockets. Yellow sockets – If your plug sockets are yellowing or discolouring in any way, this could be a sign of overheating and a possible risk of fire waiting to happen. Cracked or broken sockets and switches – Whilst this may seem like a small inconvenience, it is often indicative that the property has not been checked and further much bigger faults could be present. The electricity keeps tripping – If your electrics continue to trip the reality is far more concerning than the paranormal. Tripping electrics are an indicator that your circuits are overloaded or that the wiring in the property is deteriorating. How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.