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Early modern Britain was terrified of women trying to swallow pins
UK

Early modern Britain was terrified of women trying to swallow pins

Illustration of the devil pricking a woman with a pin and another of a girl vomiting pins from a history of witches. Wellcome Collection This article includes mention of suicide and self-harm If someone swallows a pin today, it’s likely to be interpreted as an unfortunate accident or perhaps, as depicted in the 2019 film […]
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How to help children and the family dog stay safe when they play together
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How to help children and the family dog stay safe when they play together

alexei_tm/Shutterstock It’s no wonder owning a family dog is popular in the UK – research shows that our wellbeing can increase with dog ownership, and there’s even evidence that children’s development can benefit if they share their home with a dog. Unfortunately though, hospital admissions for dog bites are more likely to be children than […]
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Struggling seabirds thrown a lifeline by new commercial fishing ban in the North Sea  – but it may not be enough
UK

Struggling seabirds thrown a lifeline by new commercial fishing ban in the North Sea – but it may not be enough

Puffins and many other seabirds rely on sandeels as a food source. Arnoud Quanjer/Shutterstock With their bright, orange feet and colourful beaks full of glistening fish, puffins are really charismatic seabirds. But puffin populations are in decline, largely due to their struggle to catch enough of these shiny fish: sandeels. Sandeels have been industrially fished […]
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Forget flowers, the greatest gift for 18th century romantics was the heart of a deceased lover
UK

Forget flowers, the greatest gift for 18th century romantics was the heart of a deceased lover

Sigismunda Mourning Over the Heart of Guiscardo by William Hogarth (1759). Tate, CC BY-SA Every Valentine’s Day, we’re inundated with hearts. We purchase cards with hearts and heart-shaped balloons. We wear clothing with hearts and adorn ourselves with heart-shaped jewellery. We ingest heart-shaped foods and candies and send heart emojis in texts. While we may […]
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