Marc Abrahams

Victorian-era customs surrounding weddings often included throwing shoes at newlyweds, a practice documented by Aberdeen researcher James Crombie in his 1895 treatise on matrimonial shoe‑throwing. Crombie compared the tradition to global customs such as throwing rice and highlighted regional variations from Transylvania to Sulawesi. Shoes also served symbolic roles in marriage rituals in places like Germany and Finland, and even appeared in forms of divorce among Bedouin groups. Modern associations with political protest, such as Muntazer al-Zaidi’s 2008 shoe‑throwing at George W Bush, contrast with the earlier belief that such acts bestowed luck or symbolic meaning.

Researchers analysing online fetish discussions and psychiatric literature reveal a wide range of sexual interests, with body parts and clothing items among the most common. Psychiatric efforts to refine diagnostic criteria for fetish-related conditions continue alongside newer studies exploring lesser-known interests such as dacryphilia. The work highlights the breadth of human erotic expression and the ongoing attempts by scholars to document and understand it.

A US study found that volunteers performing simulated violent acts saw heightened heart rate and blood pressure compared with those watching or performing nonviolent tasks, suggesting people can experience significant physiological arousal from pretend harmful actions even when knowing no real harm occurs.

Researchers observed door‑holding behavior and found people are more likely to hold a door when followers are close because doing so reduces total physical effort. The study proposes that small acts of etiquette reflect internal simulations of social cooperation. A related earlier study showed people overwhelmingly choose an already open door when exiting a building.

Research by linguists highlights how the word “so” functions as a conversational tool, helping restart stalled dialogue, launch targeted questions, or redirect topics. Studies by Galina Bolden show its use in initiating conversations and managing conversational focus, while Alison Johnson’s work reveals how police interviewers use “so” to shape and control narrative sequences with both child witnesses and adult suspects.

Research on three Australian beaches confirms beachgoers prefer no rain, warm temperatures, light winds and low waves, based on data from meteorological sources and automated crowd counts. The study, conducted by University of New South Wales researchers, highlights the specificity of tourism-related environmental preferences and notes that wider conclusions would require broader studies. Academic interest in beach behavior extends to studies of social and legal conflicts, including analyses of nude bathing debates.

Academic analyses of Pippa Middleton’s celebrity status and the cultural fixation on her appearance are explored through Freudian and Marxist frameworks. Gavin Wilkinson’s research argues that Middleton’s image functions within class and identity dynamics tied to English whiteness and social aspiration. His work builds on Janet McCabe’s earlier study, comparing psychological disavowal with social alienation to explain the fetishisation of her public persona.

A study by Michael Q Cosio documented serious injuries and deaths caused by individuals rocking soda vending machines on American military bases in Germany and Korea, often in attempts to obtain free drinks. Fifteen young men were injured in the initial research, with three deaths, and a later update expanded the total to 64 injuries and 15 deaths. Cases included severe trauma such as skull fractures, crushed limbs and fatal compressions. Subsequent research noted one female victim as incidents broadened over time.

Historical accounts of meticulous bird‑feather counting describe the laborious methods used by early researchers, including detailed tallies of feather numbers across various species. Alexander Wetmore compiled and supervised much of this work in the 1930s, relying on assistants to pluck and count feathers under controlled procedures. Additional researchers contributed individual counts for species such as sparrows, cowbirds and swans, illustrating both the dedication involved and the often limited scientific payoff from the effort.

Studies over the past century examining whether chewing gum improves concentration, memory or productivity show mixed and often contradictory results, with many findings limited by small sample sizes or methodological issues. Research sponsored by gum manufacturers has reported slight performance benefits, while other academic studies have found negligible or opposing effects. Historical experiments from the 1930s also concluded that gum chewing had little practical impact on cognitive or work performance.

Researchers propose voluntary biomedical modifications, including reducing human size, to lower resource consumption and mitigate climate change. Suggestions include inducing aversion to meat, enhancing cognition to influence reproduction choices, and increasing altruism through neurological changes. The authors argue that history shows unconventional ideas can become accepted over time.

A humorous comparison contrasts Janet McCabe’s three‑page academic analysis of Pippa Middleton’s public image with the brevity of Watson and Crick’s seminal DNA paper, highlighting how modern academic and media cultures fixate on celebrity. The piece describes the aims of the journal Celebrity Studies and cites McCabe’s arguments about the cultural meaning attached to Middleton’s appearance, suggesting parallels between media fascination and scientific inquiry.

Mathematicians explored how bipolar II mood cycles could be represented with oscillatory equations, aiming to provide psychiatrists with additional insight into mood‑swing patterns and treatment effects. Their model uses a Liénard oscillator to simulate periodic mood variations and potential therapeutic adjustments. Earlier research compared cyclic sneezing patterns to rapid‑cycling bipolar disorder, illustrating long‑standing interest in using mathematical tools to interpret rhythmic physiological and psychological phenomena.

Two early 20th‑century inventors proposed mechanical seating systems allowing theatre patrons to enter and exit without disturbing others. Louis J Duprey patented a vertical lift system using hydraulic cylinders and trap doors, while Elmore Hagadorn later introduced a horizontal, chain‑driven mechanism that moved entire seats through passageways between rows. Despite detailed designs and claimed advantages, neither system was adopted by theatres.

Research involving arachnophobic students showed that individuals with higher fear levels consistently overestimated the size of tarantulas during repeated exposure tasks. Using established spider‑phobia questionnaires, the study demonstrated a strong correlation between fear intensity and exaggerated size perception, reinforcing earlier findings in phobia research.

A US patent application details a design for replica cauliflower ears molded from athletes’ damaged ears, aimed at enthusiasts seeking the look without injury. California-based company Dedicated Few is already selling similar products while awaiting potential patent approval. The article highlights medical considerations surrounding real cauliflower ears, including treatment methods, and notes related research on ear restoration for athletes.

Research teams in the UK, US and Australia examined how university students complain about courses, finding willingness to complain tempered by language barriers, fear of grade repercussions and expectations of institutional response. Studies showed differing attitudes across cultural groups and revealed that students often complain only when the process requires minimal effort or when they expect constructive action. The researchers highlighted the need for more comprehensive investigation into student complaint behaviour.

Researchers sought to create a precise vocabulary for describing cheddar cheese, comparing multiple flavour lexicons developed in Ireland, the US and New Zealand. Studies using tasting panels produced structured sets of descriptive terms such as cowy, catty, brothy and processed flavour, revealing both shared concepts and regional differences. Findings indicate that consistent international communication about cheese flavour is achievable but challenging due to subtle linguistic distinctions.

Researchers from Italian universities examined the mummified remains of Ferdinand II of Aragon and identified both head lice and pubic lice, marking the first recorded discovery of such parasites on a king. Chemical analysis showed mercury applied to his hair, likely as a treatment for lice rather than syphilis, based on the concentrations detected. Additional studies supported the conclusion that the mercury use was topical. Ferdinand’s final months included becoming king of Naples, marrying his aunt, and dying shortly afterward from malaria.

Studies from Australia show that beards and other facial hair offer only limited protection from ultraviolet radiation. Researchers tested mannequin heads fitted with various hair configurations using UV dosimeters and found that while facial hair provides some shielding, it is insufficient for extended sun exposure. Related experiments on scalp hair showed similarly limited protection, with shorter hair offering slightly better coverage due to less parting.

French sociologist Loïc Wacquant immersed himself in Chicago’s Woodlawn boxing gym, training and competing as a novice fighter while conducting ethnographic research that informed his book Body Soul. His work explores the culture, labor and social dynamics of boxing, including themes of desire, domination and exploitation. He continues to publish sociological analyses of prizefighting and plans a second book expanding on these themes.

Marc Abrahams humorously reviews Raymond W. Dull’s Mathematics for Engineers, emphasizing its unusually restrained style, comprehensive coverage, historical longevity and unexpectedly artistic treatment of mathematical shapes. The review presents the book’s apparent dullness as its strength, suggesting that its distraction-free explanations can help readers understand mathematics and the world more clearly.