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Boy or girl? Mothers can control outcome Mothers can adjust the sex of their unborn children in response to the environment where they live, according to new research. The study, published in the latest Proceedings of the Royal Society B, finds that mothers exert far more control than fathers do over whether or not the couple has a son or daughter. The goal is to improve the child’s survival. “It seems likely that when there are large and predictable costs associated with producing and/or rearing either sons or daughters in a given environment, females should bias offspring sex ratios to produce the sex that will perform best in the given environment,” co-author Sarah Pryke told Discovery News. “Altering offspring sex ratios in response to the quality of the local environment is likely to be highly advantageous to any species, as it should allow mothers to best match the phenotype of their offspring to the prevailing condition, and thus maxim...

Spending time with loved ones with dementia is important even after they fail to recognize the faces of friends and family, a dementia charity says. A survey found that 42% of the public think there is no point in keeping up contact at this stage. But the Alzheimer's Society said family visits stimulated feelings of happiness, comfort and security. Even as the condition progresses, it said people with dementia can still hold an " emotional memory ". This means they continue to feel happy long after a visit or experience that they may have forgotten. The charity is calling on people to visit friends and relatives with dementia regularly and help them take part in activities they enjoy. In a separate survey by the charity of 300 people affected by dementia, more than half said they were no longer taking part in any, or hardly any, social activities . And 64% said they felt isolated following their diagnosis. 'Bleak and lonely' Jeremy Hughes, chi...

BY RUTH HARRISON Coud your kid be a child genius? Getty EVERY parent thinks their child is a genius but there’s a way to be sure from an early age – and it involves a RAISIN . Scientists have found that by placing the fruit under a cup and telling a toddler not to touch it, they can tell how clever the youngster will turn out to be. While most two-year-olds make an immediate grab, those who resist for one whole minute will score an average 19 per cent higher on tests by the time they are eight, the University of Warwick found. Here, RUTH HARRISON reveals other tell-tale signs of a high IQ from birth up to the age of ten. Newborn EXTRA HEAVY Chubby baby ... you might have a genius on your ha...

1. Join them in their world. When Doris Leddy’s mother said she was an Air Force fighter pilot and was going to receive the Medal of Honor, Doris went along with it. Doris had learned from a few Alzheimer’s caregiver seminars not to question her mother’s imagination, which made it easier for her “to just listen and accept it,” she said. Instead of arguing, Doris and her family took her mom out for a special dinner and presented her with a Medal of Honor and certificate. “Mom was so surprised and so happy that she got up and kissed every single person in that restaurant,” Doris wrote. Now that her mom’s Alzheimer’s has progressed, Doris is grateful for that happy memory. 2. Join a support group. Without the friends Samantha Ducloux Waltz made through support groups, she’s sure her journey with her husband and his Alzheimer’s would be much more difficult. “As my husband Ray’s confusion and anxiety increased, the road sometimes got so bumpy I felt I couldn’t navigate it ...

A new breast lift procedure claims to give longer lasting support for women – acting like a bra inside the body. It’s the novel Orbix Breast Supporting System, informally named the “internal bra.”  Developed by British surgeon Dr. Jian Farhadi, the procedure involves inserting a silicon sheet between a patient’s skin and breast tissue, which serves as the bra’s “cup.”  The sheet is then held up by silk threads that are screwed into the rib cage with small titanium anchors. The final shape of the implants resembles the silhouette of the average pushup bra, holding up the breasts’ tissue underneath the skin. Farhadi said the procedure is meant to provide a more permanent breast lift solution for patients whose breasts have begun to sag as a result of age, weight loss/gain or prolonged periods of breastfeeding.  He noted that many current breast lift surgeries – which raise the breasts by removing excess skin and tightening the surrounding tissue – do...

It may be better for your health to sleep in a separate bed than your partner—but a new study finds that the happiest couples are those who sleep close together. Very close together, as in less than an inch apart. A survey of 1,000 people found that those who kept such close parameters had an 86% chance of reporting they were satisfied in their relationship, compared to 66% for those who slept 30 inches apart or more, the Telegraph reports. Another predictor of relationship happiness: touch. While 94% of couples who made physical contact throughout the night reported a happy relationship, just 68% of couples who kept their distance did the same. The survey also looked into how, exactly, the couples slept together: 42% back-to-back, 31% facing the same direction, and 4% face-to-face. The happiest positions? Well, according to the Independent , 91% of people who reported sleeping with their backs touching also reported a happy relationship, as did 91% of people who rep...

Many young kids are picky eaters, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t getting the nutrients they need to grow. Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor of FoxNews.com, recently received this e-mail from a concerned mom: Q: My 5-year-old son is a picky eater, and I’m worried he isn’t getting enough vitamins. Should he be taking a multivitamin? A: Many common ‘kid-friendly’ foods, like breakfast cereal, milk and orange juice, are fortified with important nutrients, such as vitamin D and calcium, Alvarez said. And since children don’t need large amounts of vitamins and minerals, your child may already be getting a sufficient amount. But it’s still a good idea to talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have concerns. A multivitamin might be appropriate for your child if he or she: *Has an eating disorder *Has been diagnosed with failure to thrive *Doesn’t eat regular or well-balanced meals *Doesn’t get enough vitamin D through diet or sun exposure *Has certai...

Many of us struggle with body image issues, most of which start at a very early age. Approximately 30 percent of girls between the ages of 10 and 14 are on a diet at any given time, according to The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. And, body image disturbances can begin as early as the preschool years, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Children subconsciously mimic what they see and hear from the adults around them, so parents and other adult role models play an important role in promoting a positive body image. The most important first step in fostering a positive body image in children is to lead by example. Children quickly pick up on any anxiety you have about your body, and through mimicking the adults in their lives they may internalize negative feelings about their own bodies. Instead of criticizing the fat on your legs, focus instead on expressing how lucky you are to have strong legs to carry you around all day. Don’t talk abou...

The new Microsoft Surface, the company's answer to the iPad? (Microsoft Corp.) A fold-out keyboard clevelry integrated into the Surface's case -- combined with a "kickstand" in the back of the tablet -- turns this tablet into a full laptop. (Microsoft Corp.) A "kickstand" built into the tablet props it at an ideal angle for typing or desktop work. (Microsoft Corp.) An Intel-powered version of the Surface will measure 13.5mm in thickness; a version powered by chips from rival maker ARM will be just 9.3mm thin. (Microsoft Corp.) The Surface will come in a range of colorful hues, Microsoft said. (Microsoft Corp.) Next Slide Previous Slide One of the most highly anticipate...

Brewmeister Brewery has produced the world's strongest beer with a 65 percent ABV. (Brewmeister) A Scottish brewery claims to have produced the world's strongest beer,  Brewmeister's Armageddon, with an alcohol by volume (ABV) of a whopping 65 percent. The dizzying mix made by the Brewmeister Brewery is brewed with ingredients that include crystal malt, wheat, flaked oats and 100 percent Scottish spring water . The beer then undergoes a process called freeze fermenting, which is done by drastically lowering the temperature and repeatedly removing the first part to freeze, leaving behind only the richest alcohol content. To help put this into perspective, beers consumed in the U.S. average between 4 to 10 percent ABV, depending on the brand. When asked about its potency, Brewmeister's co-founder, Lewis Shand, told STV that the beer, which has a "viscous quality to it," delive...