PUBLISHED Jan. 27, 2020

What you need to know about the coronavirus

The outbreak of a new coronavirus in China is continuing to spread.

The new virus, known as Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), is concerning precisely because it’s new. “We are in the very early stages and some of the details and facts we would like to know are not quite available,” says Robert Kim-Farley, MD, professor-in-residence at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.

Also of concern is the emergence of potential super-spreaders—people who seem to be more infectious and cause more infections than experts would predict.

Here’s what you should know about the coronavirus, and the role super-spreaders can play in outbreaks.

What is a coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause various respiratory illnesses, including the common cold. According to a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), coronavirus accounts for 10 per cent to 30 per cent of all adult upper respiratory infections.

This group of viruses is actually found more often in animals, including pigs, chickens, ducks and wild birds, according to the Government of Ontario. “What usually happens is that the virus will infect an animal then evolve and infect humans, so there’s potential for human-to-human spread,” says Miriam A. Smith, MD, chief of infectious disease at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Forest Hills in Queens, New York.

There are seven basic types of coronavirus that affect humans. Four usually cause mild illness. Three are more ominous and all jumped from animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States. One was severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which originated in China. The other was Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which appeared in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The third is the current outbreak.

Where did the current outbreak originate?

Epidemiologists have traced the current outbreak of illness to a busy seafood and poultry market in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in Central China. According to the JAMA article, Chinese officials announced the outbreak on Dec. 31, 2019.

No one knows which animal might have been responsible for the outbreak, but interest is currently on snakes, says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious diseases specialist with Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. There’s also some speculation about bats, which is intriguing, says Dr. Schaffner, because both MERS and SARS were ultimately linked to bats.

So far, the outbreak is still centred in Wuhan City, but has moved to other parts of China, and continues to spread throughout the world.

What are the symptoms?

Coronaviruses affect the respiratory system, so symptoms can be similar to the cold or flu. This can include cough, fever, sore throat, runny nose, headache and overall feeling of being unwell, reports the Government of Canada. But symptoms do vary with the current virus mainly showing up as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, says Dr. Messonier.

MERS caused respiratory symptoms (50 per cent to 89 per cent of patients needed help breathing through mechanical ventilation) but also gastrointestinal problems and kidney failure, according to the JAMA article. Like the current coronavirus, SARS patients had fever, cough, and shortness of breath, but some also had watery diarrhea. Up to a third of SARS patients needed mechanical ventilation. Some people with the Wuhan coronavirus have had pneumonia (in which the virus affects the lungs), says. Dr. Messonier.

How serious is the current virus?

Here’s a bit of good news: So far, the new coronavirus does not appear to be as virulent as SARS or MERS, says Dr. Schaffner. The fatality rate for MERS was 36 per cent, and it was 10 per cent for SARS, the JAMA authors stated. The fatality rate for the Wuhan coronavirus stands at about four per cent, says Dr. Messonier, although that will likely change. In general, the deaths have been in people with pneumonia—often the elderly or people who had an underlying medical condition.

“The virus obviously has the potential to kill people,” says Dr. Kim-Farley, who was on loan to the World Health Organization because of previous service as an employee of the CDC for 18 years.

How is the new coronavirus spread?

Scientists are still figuring this out.”The assumption is that the outbreak was initially based on exposure to a live animal market,” says Dr. Smith. “Now the virus appears to be spreading from human to human, but we don’t yet know how or how easily,” she says.

“It’s early days, but the assumption is that transmissibility is going to be somewhere between SARS and MERS,” says Wes Van Voorhis, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CERID) at the University of Washington. Although both of these coronaviruses had high mortality rates, SARS was easily transmittable while MERS did not spread as easily, says Dr. Schaffner.

In general, coronaviruses are spread from person to person through respiratory droplets—either through the air or if you touch a surface that has the virus on it, says Dr. Messonier. “Right now, we don’t know if this is how the Wuhan virus is spreading. We also don’t know if you have to be in close, face-to-face contact for it to spread, or if more casual contact is enough,” says Dr. Schaffner.

What is a “super-spreader”?

This term refers to a person (or animal) who can spread the virus more efficiently to other people. “Their cough and sneeze seem to be more effective,” says Dr. Kim-Farley.

The super-spreader label was first coined in 2005 by doctors investigating a SARS outbreak: They used it to describe certain people with the virus who infected an unexpectedly high number of others, forcing epidemiologists to redo their models of expected transmission. Researchers have also found super-spreaders in outbreaks of the MERS, Ebola, and Marburg viruses, among others.

Doctors may have identified a potential super-spreader in the current outbreak: A patient in Wuhan infected 15 healthcare workers in a hospital—which would certainly count as a super-spreader, says Dr. Schaffner. Still, super-spreaders are relatively rare in outbreaks, he adds.

“The assumption is that super-spreaders are a little different immunologically, especially that their innate immunity that helps control the virus,” says Dr. Van Voorhis, who is also director of the Biomedical Interventions Group, part of the Megacenter for Pandemic Diseases Preparedness and Global Health Security, which will be working on vaccines, treatments, and ways to diagnose the new virus. “Super-spreaders have higher virus levels, presumably shedding more virus.”

Bear in mind, though, that the supposed super-spreader in China was ill and in contact with healthcare workers before the virus had been recognized, says Dr. Kim-Farley. “The guard was down, so to speak,” he says.

Can doctors diagnose the virus?

Within two weeks of announcing the outbreak, scientists in China had identified the culprit as a coronavirus and posted the genetic sequence online. Thanks to that quick work, Ontario’s Ministry of Health can now investigate, complete lab tests and do case and contact management to prevent and control further spread of the infection.

Are there treatments or vaccines?

Right now there’s no specific treatment for the new coronavirus, although researchers are racing to develop one. In the meantime, patients are getting supportive care, such as making sure they’re getting enough oxygen and staying hydrated, says Dr. Kim-Farley,

To prevent the spread of the virus, hospitals are relying on isolation and quarantine. Isolation is when a patient with symptoms is put in a negative-pressure room in the hospital (the air pulls in when the door opens instead of out). Those who have been in contact with the virus and are at risk are kept in quarantine, likely staying at home and being monitored by a public health department.

Efforts are also underway to develop a vaccine, according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).

What are health experts doing?

The World Health Organization convened an emergency meeting on January 22 but decided it was too early to declare a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” though members will continue to meet and re-evaluate the situation.

As of January 27, Ontario’s Ministry of Health is meeting with hospitals, paramedics and local public health units near Pearson International Airport to provide further information on federal border screening measures.

What are hospitals doing?

Many, if not most or all hospitals in Canada, have already implemented emergency preparedness measures.

What can you do to protect yourself and those around you?

Based on the information we have now, you should take the same precautions you would take to avoid getting a cold, the flu, or any other infectious diseases year-round. The experts view the virus as a respiratory infection, so follow smart anti-infection practices that you would year-round: “Cover your cough and wash your hands regularly,” says Dr. Messonier.

If you do feel sick, avoid contact with other people and immediately call your doctor.

Watch out for these strange symptoms that can signal a serious disease.

zAfter learning how to pack your carry-on bag and avoiding the worst spot on the plane for your carry-on bag, you’ve finally settled into your seat. You’re about to watch a movie or read a book when the passenger in front of you reclines their seat. Suddenly, your already cramped economy seat has even less room than before and you can’t help but wonder: What’s the proper etiquette in reclining your seat on an airplane?

When to recline

Like figuring out who has control over the middle seat armrests, knowing the etiquette around reclining your seat is equally important. This isn’t too much of an issue in first class and business class where there’s ample room to recline, but what about for people who booked seats in economy? “Airline seats are designed to recline so it’s completely reasonable that passengers use that feature of their seat. However, how you recline makes all the difference,” says Lisa Orr, an etiquette and protocol consultant.

There are a few rules passengers should follow when making the decision whether or not to recline their seat. “First, if you plan to recline you should try to do so shortly after takeoff so that the passenger behind you isn’t surprised mid-flight,” explains Orr. “Second, regardless of your timing, you should look back before you recline to check for hot beverages or laptops. If there is anything that could be high risk you should turn around and let them know you’re putting your seat back so they can hold on to anything that might spill.”

Now that you know when to recline, knowing how long you’ll be in the air also plays a key part in whether or not you should recline your seat. “For red-eye or overseas flights, where it is presumed you will at least attempt to sleep, then reclining will be the norm,” says Jodi R.R. Smith, president of Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting. “For quick commuter trips of less than two hours, then the norm is to remain in the upright position.” (Find out the shortest commercial flight in the world!)

If your flight serves food, then there are a few rules to follow before, during, and after eating as well. “As people are always eating at different times during a flight this can be tricky to coordinate, but as a general rule it’s nearly impossible to eat a meal while you are reclined so you should have your seat at least partially upright during a meal,” says Orr. “When the meal is finished if you decide to recline again make sure to look first, notify the passenger behind you if necessary, and then move it back carefully.”

Always be polite

However, what if you feel like the person in front of you has reclined just a little too far? “Politeness is the key,” says Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert, author of Modern Etiquette for a Better Life, and founder of The Protocol School of Texas. “Requesting a favour from the person in front of you requires the proper tone of voice and a genuine request for help. Avoid acting frustrated or behaving aggressively. You can always ask a flight attendant for assistance as well.” (Just be aware there are certain things flight attendants aren’t allowed to do.)

There’s still a chance that the person could always say no and reject your request. Airplane seats are made to recline, after all. “If you feel you must ask because you have some issue that is going to make a reclined seat a huge problem for you during the flight, you could ask, but you should ask knowing that it is totally reasonable for them to decline and be prepared to very graciously accept their no,” says Orr. But, regardless of seat reclining, these are the airplane travel mistakes you should avoid.

Likewise, if you recline your seat and someone behind you speaks up, there’s probably a good reason for it. “It’s not worth getting into an argument on the flight,” says Gottsman. “Oblige the request in most circumstances. There is a reason that person is asking you to push up your seat and you should have looked backward, to check out the situation before leaning back anyways.”

In the end, we’re all passengers on a plane flying through the air to get to our destination. “Airplanes these days are tight, and a bit of consideration can go a long way in making everyone more comfortable,” says Smith. “Before I board a plan, with all of the annoyance and indignities, I remind myself that I will be in a chair, in the sky and how much faster it will be than other modes of transportation.  A bit of perspective can shift your attitude towards the positive.”

My Inspiration for JUMP Math

Nothing comes easily to me.

I’m a mathematician, but I didn’t show much aptitude for math until I was thirty. I had no idea, in high school, why I had to turn a fraction upside down when I wanted to divide by it, or why, when I wrote a square root sign over a negative number, the number suddenly became “imaginary” (especially when I could see the number was still there). At university I almost failed my first calculus course. Fortunately I was saved by the bell curve, which brought my original mark up to a C minus.

I’m also a playwright and, early in my career, I made the mistake of checking the papers to see what two of the local critics thought of my first major production. It seems unlikely that they consulted each other before writing their reviews, but one headline read “Hopelessly Muddled” and the other “Muddled Mess.”

I often wish I was more like my literary and scientific heroes, who seemingly could produce perfect poems or solve intractable problems in a blinding flash of inspiration. Now that I’m a professional mathematician and writer, I console myself with the thought that my ongoing struggles to educate myself produced an intense curiosity about how we achieve our potential.

In the final year of my doctoral program, I persuaded some of my friends to start a free, after-school tutoring program called JUMP Math (Junior Undiscovered Math Prodigies) in my apartment. The program’s methods, which can be used by people of any age, are easy to understand and apply, and they reinforce confidence in your abilities rather than assigning you to a particular skill level.

Twenty years later, 200,000 students and educators in North America use JUMP as their main math instruction resource, and the program is spreading into Europe and South America. And after teaching math and other subjects to thousands of students of all ages, and after reading a great deal of educational and psychological research, I am convinced that our society vastly underestimates the intellectual potential of children and adults.

We’re Born With Unlimited Potential

Over the past two decades, research in cognitive science has radically changed the way scientists think about the brain. Researchers have discovered that our brains are plastic and can learn and develop at any stage of life. As well, a growing body of evidence suggests that the vast majority of children are born with the potential to learn anything, particularly if they are taught by effective methods.

A variety of psychological studies—in which people have been trained to develop musical abilities that were once considered to be innate (like perfect pitch) or to significantly improve their performance on SAT tests (by becoming better at seeing analogies)—indicate that experts are made not born. As Philip E. Ross points out in “The Expert Mind,” a research survey published in Scientific American, these results have profound implications for education. According to Ross, “Instead of perpetually pondering the question, ‘Why can’t Johnny read?’ perhaps educators should ask, ‘Why should there be anything in the world that he can’t learn to do?’”

Many people believe that math is an inherently difficult subject—accessible only to people who are born with a “gift” with numbers or who display mathematical ability at an early age—but I’ve discovered that math is in fact the subject in which learners of all ages can most easily unlock their true intellectual potential. Indeed, if every child was taught according to their true potential from the first day of school, I would predict that by grade five, 99 per cent of students could learn, and love learning, math as much as the top one per cent do. And I believe that the significant majority of adults can attain an aptitude for math as well, if they are taught using the methods I’ve developed.

What We Can Learn From Standardized Tests

I remember reading newspaper articles about the remarkable intellectual potential of children and the surprising plasticity of older brains as long ago as the 1990s. Since then I’ve read many excellent books on this topic, including David Shenk’s The Genius in All of Us and Carol Dweck’s Mindset. I wrote about the issue in my own books, The Myth of Ability and The End of Ignorance.

It strikes me as odd, then, that although the research has long been widely publicized, its existence has done very little to change the way that people think about their own intellectual abilities or the way people are taught—at home, at school or in the workplace. Just as the ancient Greeks couldn’t conceive of a world in which every person is born free, it appears that, in spite of the evidence, we can’t conceive of a world in which virtually every person is born with the potential to learn and love learning any subject.

When people complain about problems in North American education, they often speak as if those problems would be solved if students in the United States and Canada were able to perform as well on international tests of reading and mathematics as students from countries that achieve the highest scores. Nations like Finland and Singapore are singled out in the media as having superior educational systems because their students do better on standardized tests of mathematical achievement—like the Programme for International Student Assessment test written by fifteen-year-old students in eighty countries every three years.

It’s worth looking at the results of these tests, but more for what they reveal about our beliefs about children and their potential than for what they prove about education. On the PISA test, a score at level 5 or 6 in mathematics is required to take courses at university; a score at level 3 or below suggests the test taker would have trouble holding a job that required much more than a basic knowledge of math. In 2015, only 6 per cent of American students and 15 per cent of Canadian students scored at level 5 or 6, compared with 12 per cent in Finland and 35 per cent in Singapore. However, in Finland almost 55 per cent of students scored at level 3 or below and in Singapore about 40 per cent of students scored at these levels.

While it would be a good idea for North American educators to find out how math is taught in those top-performing countries—as many people have suggested—we might also want to find out how countries that produce such strong students still manage to teach so little to almost half their populations.

Learning to Love Learning

Wide differences in mathematical achievement among students appear to be natural. In every school in every country, only a minority of students are expected to excel at or love learning mathematics. In the many schools I have visited, on several continents, I have always seen a significant number of students who are two or three grade levels behind by the end of elementary school. In my home province of Ontario, where children do rather well on international tests, fewer than 50 per cent of grade six students met grade-level standards on the 2018 provincial exams. And the same differences can be found in other subjects, particularly in the sciences.

However, in my work with children and adults, I have seen a great deal of evidence that mathematical ability is extremely fluid and that teachers can produce dramatic improvements with very simple interventions. One example from Toronto is a fifth grade class in which the teacher, Mary Jane Moreau, incorporated strategies from JUMP Math. This meant teaching concepts and skills in steps that were much smaller than the ones she normally followed, constantly asking questions and assigning exercises and activities to assess what her students knew, giving frequent practice and review, and most importantly, building excitement by giving students incrementally harder series of challenges where one idea builds on the next.

Before beginning the program, Moreau tested her students on a standardized test called the TOMA (Test of Mathematical Abilities). The average mark for the class was in the 54th percentile, with the lowest mark in the 9th percentile and the highest in the 75th. This range of marks would represent about a three-grade-level difference between the top and bottom of the class. (A fifth of this class were diagnosed with learning disabilities.)

After a year of JUMP, Moreau retested her students. The average score of her students rose to the 98th percentile with the lowest mark in the 95th percentile. This teacher was able to shift the bell curve in her class so dramatically because she made all of her students feel like they could accomplish roughly the same things. In her classroom, students worked to compete against the problem, not each other. They got caught up in the excitement of their peers, and this excitement helped them to engage more deeply, remember what they learned and persevere in the face of challenges. They were encouraged to learn and love learning for its own sake, not because they were afraid of failing or wanted to be ranked higher than other students.

Curiosity Is the Key

Inequitable learning environments are extraordinarily unfair but also they are inherently inefficient. They’re not good for any learners—including the ones at the top of the academic hierarchy—because they train learners to give up too easily or to exert themselves for the wrong reasons. They destroy our natural sense of curiosity and make our brains function in the most inefficient ways possible.

In “The Business Case for Curiosity,” psychologist Francesca Gino presents evidence that curiosity produces a wide range of benefits for organizations, leaders and employees. For example, in a state of curiosity, we are less susceptible to confirmation biases (looking for information that confirms our beliefs rather than evidence suggesting we are wrong) and to making generalizations about people based on their race or gender.

According to Gino, higher levels of curiosity among employees can lead to more innovation on the job and to reduced group conflict (curiosity encourages members of a group to put themselves in one another’s shoes and take an interest in one another’s ideas). As well, a culture of curiosity creates more open communication and better team performance, since curious groups share information more openly and listen more carefully.

Many people believe, based on their experience of learning math at school, that math is a rigid and sterile subject that stifles curiosity and leaves no room for creativity. But progress in mathematics has actually been driven by remarkable flights of imagination. Math can be an ideal tool for nurturing curiosity in learners of all ages.

Learn more about John Mighton’s book, All Things Being Equal.

Excerpted from All Things Being Equal by John Mighton. Copyright © 2020 John Mighton. Published by Alfred A. Knopf Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Canada Limited. Reproduced by arrangement with the Publisher. All rights reserved.

Can you guess the best-selling car of all time?

It’s easy enough to find out which car has been flying off the lots in a given year, but there’s one car in particular that has truly stood the test of time.

There are a handful of models in the running, starting with a couple of Volkswagens: the Beetle and the Golf (aka Rabbit). Beetles captured hearts as Herbie in the The Love Bug in 1968, which ended up being its top-selling year. They’ve dropped in popularity since, and Volkswagen is ending the car’s production, but with more than more than 22.7 million since its 1938 debut, Punch Buggies still hold strong as one of the all-time best-selling vehicles. (Don’t miss this nostalgic look at the Volkswagen Beetle’s iconic role in pop culture.)

The Volkswagen Golf, meanwhile, was the best-selling car in Europe for seven years straight, until losing out to the Ford Fiesta in March 2017. But the streak only snapped for a month before the Golf made its resurgence, spurring seven generations of the model and selling over 35 million units worldwide. (Find out what happens to all of the cars that never get sold.)

Then along comes the Ford F-Series, which has been America’s top-selling vehicle for 38 years straight (and the top truck for 43), giving it a strong spot in the global sales too. As of 2019, more than 38 million trucks were sold stateside in the model’s 71-year history. But if we’re looking at worldwide sales, another car takes the cake for most popular of all time—and it’s certainly not the least reliable car brand in the industry!

Toyota Corolla is the official best-seller in the auto world. It made its debut in 1966, and over half a century later, more than 49 million Corollas had been sold worldwide. It’s not the sexiest model ever, but the cars do have that middle-market appeal that makes them a solid choice for those of us who can’t afford a Ferrari. The 2020 Corolla’s base price is a reasonable $19,600—right on par with its main competitors—while still offering reliability, trusty safety features, and great mileage. Next, find out the most popular car the year you were born.

There’s a lot that goes into planning your next adventure, including selecting your destination, choosing an airline, and knowing which carry on luggage essentials to pack. Sometimes, you go to the airport because you have to go to a family event or on a business trip. Other times, you hop on a flight for a long-awaited vacation and hope it’s as painless as possible. Before you go, make sure you know the little etiquette rules for flying on an airplane.

A lifeline to communities

It might be a relief to know that the shortest commercial flight is a lot shorter than you may think. Tucked away in the Northern Isles of Scotland, Scottish regional airline Loganair operates the 2.7-kilometre flight between islands Westray and Papa Westray. While the flight is scheduled for 90 seconds, typically it runs closer to 60 seconds. The record time for the flight between the Orkney islands was 47 seconds. The flight has been around for a long time—since 1967. Even though the flight may be short, it’s essential to the people who live in Orkney.

“These are quite literally lifeline services for communities in the Outer North Isles,” says David Hartley, Communications Team Leader, Chief Executive’s Service, Orkney Islands Council. “The eight-seat aircraft that operate between Kirkwall and the isles carry teachers and school pupils, visiting health staff, tourists, and island residents traveling to and from Mainland Orkney for a range of appointments.” No matter the length of your next flight, here are a few facts about flying that will help you remain calm.

Along with being essential for locals, it’s popular with tourists and travellers alike. In 2016, the shortest commercial flight in the world celebrated its millionth flier, Anne Rendall, and Loganair gave her a bouquet of flowers to celebrate. At that time, Rendall had taken more than 10,000 trips on that Loganair flight. This may be the shortest commercial flight in the world, but prices still vary. It’s recommended to check Loganair.co.uk for the most up-to-date fares. Loganair not only flies within Scotland but has multiple international destinations, including Bergen in Norway and Dusseldorf in Germany. Need more inspiration to book your flight? Here are 10 unforgettable things to do in Scotland.

Other interesting flights

If you’re looking for the shortest commercial flight on this side of the pond, you’re in luck. With a flight time of 16 minutes, United, via SkyWest, allows passengers to fly from California’s capital San Francisco to Santa Rosa in Sonoma County. The Telegraph reports that the 100-kilometre route along wine country lasts about 45 minutes. No matter how long your flight, these are the things you shouldn’t wear on a flight, according to flight attendants.

For the thrillseekers on the opposite end of the travel spectrum, the longest non-stop airplane flight in the world is from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Sydney, Australia for a total of 19 hours and 16 minutes in the air. The October 2019 flight on Australian airline Qantas became the first non-stop flight to travel more than 16,000 kilometres (10,000 miles). Next, check out nine great reasons you should still visit Australia.

Ever since most commercial airlines started charging a fee for checked baggage on domestic flights, the overhead compartments on planes have gotten increasingly crowded. Whether you want to avoid the extra cost of checking luggage or to skip the hassle of collecting your bags from the carousel when you’ve arrived at your destination, you may opt to only travel with a carry-on and personal item. While great in theory, it’s not always as easy in practice. (These brilliant packing tips can help ensure everything fits!) The bins are crowded, people are trying to roll their overstuffed bags down a narrow aisle, and everyone’s trying to find their seats—it can get pretty chaotic. Fortunately, there are a few ways to make the whole process smoother, including avoiding the worst spot on the plane for a carry-on.

Always store your carry-on in a bin before your seat

When you board a plane, finding a stop for your carry-on can be tricky—especially if you are sitting towards the back of the plane. Though it can be tempting to walk down to your seat and then locate a place in the overhead compartment for your carry-on, if your flight is full, chances are you’ll end up storing it a few rows behind where you’re sitting—big mistake.

Why is this the worst place on the plane to stash your luggage? When the flight has landed and it’s time to deplane, in order to get your carry-on, you must either wait for everyone behind you to get their bags and get off the plane before going back to retrieve your own. The other option is even worse because you have to push past the passengers, swimming upstream to get your luggage behind you, all the while holding up the whole process. Instead of doing this, if you notice that the overhead bin is getting full, keep an eye out for open spots before you get to your seat, and pop it up there. Find out what to do if you leave something on a plane.

Gate-check your bag

Certain smaller planes were not designed with overhead bins that can fit regulation-size carry-on roller bags. In these cases, you’ll be asked to gate-check your bag, which involves handing it over to airline staff at the end of the jet bridge before you board, then picking it up in the same spot when you deplane. Even aircraft with full-size overhead compartments frequently run out of space, so if you’re boarding towards the end of the process, you may be asked to gate-check your bag.

If you’re on a normal-size plane yet don’t want to deal with bringing your bag on board, you can always offer to voluntarily gate-check your bag. Talk to the gate agent at the counter and they will be able to walk you through the process. Just be sure to ask whether your bag will be available planeside when you get off, or if you’ll have to pick it up at baggage claim. This can differ depending on the airline and aircraft involved, so it’s best to ask; it’s also an important question if you’re trying to avoid spending time at baggage claim. Here are more tips on how to get through the airport faster.

Find baggage that fits under the seat

If you don’t need as much on your trip, you may want to consider buying a smaller piece of luggage; namely, one that fits under the seat in front of you. This way, you’re guaranteed to have a spot for it every time and don’t have to worry about the overhead bins. Just make sure you’ve packed these carry-on luggage essentials.

Ask the flight staff for advice

If you’re not sure whether you want to deal with bringing your carry-on on board or not, ask the gate agent about how full the flight is going to be. If they say that you’ll have no problem finding a place to stow your luggage, then you can board with that peace of mind. If they caution you that it’s going to be fairly full, you can ask if gate-checking would be better. And if you do bring your carry-on with you but have trouble finding a spot for it in the overhead bin, flag down a flight attendant. They know all the tricks to fit as much up there as possible. Plus, if you spot some smaller items up there that you can fit under a seat, it’s easier to have the flight attendant ask the owners to move them, instead of having to make that possibly awkward request yourself. Just don’t ask them to put your bag up for you—that’s one of the things you should never say to a flight attendant.

Different types of puzzles stimulate different parts of the brain

“In a sense, the vast array of puzzles spans all the cognitive skills, from spatial thinking to language and reasoning,” says Marcel Danesi, professor of semiotics and anthropology at Victoria College, University of Toronto, and author of The Total Brain Workout: 450 Puzzles to Sharpen Your Mind, Improve Your Memory, and Keep Your Brain Fit. “Though specific types of puzzles can be used to stimulate particular areas of the brain.” He gives the examples of “puzzles that deal with the faculty of language—like riddles and acrostics—are likely to stimulate the language areas of the brain, while those that deal with some aspect of logical thinking, such as placing symbols in a particular way in a grid, are likely to stimulate logic-processing areas.”

Your brain thinks you’re hunting

“Puzzles play with words, numbers, shapes, and logic in a way that impels us to uncover the solutions that they hide,” Danesi says. “We are thus engaged in a mental hunt for something, much like a detective in mystery stories or a scientist looking for the reason behind some phenomenon,” he says. “Puzzles are small-scale versions of this ‘quest for understanding,’ even though there is nothing new at the end of the hunt when a solution is uncovered. It is the hunt itself that is likely to stimulate various areas of the brain that involve discovery and a sense of satisfaction at once.”

You may feel less stressed

Looking to unwind? Jigsaw puzzles, in particular, may help you relax and reduce stress, according to research published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. (If you can solve this puzzle, you could qualify to be a British spy.)

Harder puzzles change the patterns of brain activity

Most brain activity follows certain pathways through the brain—superhighways researchers call “low-dimensional manifold“; no matter what type of puzzle you’re doing, your activity will likely move along those highways. But when you’ve encountered a particularly sticky crossword clue or a sudoku you just can’t manage, it may activate some new parts of your brain to help you solve the problem. (These brain games are guaranteed to boost your brainpower.)

You’ll get a whole brain workout

Puzzles activate both the left and right hemispheres of the brain. “Imagination is activated alongside reasoning or reckoning,” Danesi says. “Memory also comes into play, especially in word-based and math-based puzzles. This entails a ‘whole-brain’ activation.”

You get a rush of pleasure when you solve the puzzle

That feel-good moment when you finally figure out that last clue or place the missing piece? That comes thanks to a rush of dopamine in your nucleus accumbens, the area of the brain responsible for rewards and reinforcement, according to a recent study.

Puzzles may play a role in staving off cognitive decline

Several studies have pointed to the benefits of using word and number puzzles to improve cognitive function and help prevent the loss of brainpower. Puzzles help you “use it”—so you don’t “lose it.”

Next, read on for the best riddles for kids.

Harry and Meghan’s royal titles

A massive bit of British royal family news is sending shockwaves through the community of monarchy devotees. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, whose extravagant wedding and first baby were two of the biggest news talking points of 2018 and 2019 respectively, are “stepping back” from their royal duties. We’ve got a full explanation of exactly what that means, but another question that royal fanatics have is: How will this affect their royal titles, if at all?

Currently, Harry and Meghan are officially the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, titles that have a sweet, meaningful significance. But could this decision cause them to lose those titles?

How did they get their titles in the first place?

It’s no secret that royal titles are complicated. Before marrying, Prince Harry was “HRH (His Royal Highness) Prince Henry of Wales,” matching the style of any male grandchildren of the reigning monarch. On the day of his wedding to Meghan Markle, he and his new wife became “HRH The Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton, and Baron Kilkeel” and “HRH The Duchess of Sussex,” respectively. Most people just refer to the pair as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They didn’t just get those automatically, though; the Queen had to bestow those titles on them.

They can renounce their titles

With their decision to step back from royal duties, you might think Harry and Meghan would also be giving up their royal titles—yet, as of press date, they’re not. Vanity Fair reported that “Harry and Meghan are not understood to want to relinquish their royal titles and will continue to be the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.” But, given the other aspects of royal life that they’re giving up—such as becoming financially independent and opting out of the “royal rota” press pool—this decision is proving unpopular. The chief executive of Republic, a group that opposes the monarchy, tweeted that the pair “would have had more sympathy, and our full support, if they had renounced their titles.” Norman Baker, a former member of Parliament’s Liberal Democrat party, has likewise criticized them for wanting to have “one foot in, one foot out.”

Could their titles be removed?

So they don’t appear to want to renounce their titles—but is that entirely their choice? If they don’t get rid of their royal titles, could someone else do it for them? After all, it stands to reason that, if the Queen made them the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, she could also take those titles away.

This possibility doesn’t seem very likely, though; royals being stripped of their titles is generally rare and usually viewed as reserved for only extreme, disgraceful circumstances. The only person who could do it would be the reigning monarch.

And there is definitely a precedent for royals stepping back without having their titles removed. The then-96-year-old Prince Philip renounced (or, more accurately, retired from) his royal duties in 2017, yet his titles remain. So do those of Prince Andrew, who stepped back from public duties in 2019 after a BBC interview dove into his association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In some cases, titles can be changed; for instance, after Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ divorce, Diana’s official title changed from “HRH The Princess of Wales” to “Diana, Princess of Wales.”

The situation is ongoing

Vanity Fair spoke to senior royal sources who say that “nothing has been ruled in or out” with respect to Harry and Meghan’s titles; discussions, of course, are ongoing. The source did, however, seem to hint that Harry and Meghan’s new financial ventures might jeopardize their titles: “It is hard to have an HRH title while working on a commercial basis if that’s what they plan to do.” That statement, though, seems to suggest that they themselves will renounce the titles, not that the Queen will remove them. Whatever happens concerning their titles, Harry and Meghan’s decision will definitely go down in history as one of the major royal family scandals that shocked the world.

Heartburn

Severe heartburn may cause you to panic, wondering, “Am I having a heart attack?!” If you have any doubt, call 911. If, however, you aren’t at risk for a heart attack, and you have reason to believe the pain you’re experiencing is from acid in your esophagus, try taking an antacid. This should soothe the burning pain of indigestion. (Here are more home remedies for heartburn.)

Shingles

Another possible cause of chest pain is shingles, says Kristine Arthur,  MD, an internist with MemorialCare Medical Group in Fountain Valley, California. Shingles, which are a resurgence of the chicken pox virus in the body, can cause severe pain that radiates around one side of the rib cage. Usually there is a significant rash, too. However, in some cases, it’s so small you may not see it. “You should suspect shingles if the pain follows the line of a rib and if there are any type of skin changes along the area that hurt,” says Dr. Arthur. “It is almost always only on one side.” (These are the shingles symptoms you could be ignoring.)

Pancreatitis

Typically, pancreatitis–inflammation of the pancreas, a long flat gland behind the stomach–causes abdominal pain, but the pain can radiate into the chest, causing you to think it’s heart-related. You’ll need a medical workup to determine the cause of the pain, as blood work and medical imaging can help your doctor make the proper diagnosis. (Learn to spot the silent signs of pancreatic cancer.)

Panic attack

Tightening of the chest, heart palpitations, sweaty palms, lightheadedness—these are all symptoms of a heart attack. They’re also symptoms of a panic attack. If you experience panic disorders, ask your doctor to evaluate your heart health, so that the next time a panic attack occurs, you’ll know what to do. If you have any doubt during such an attack, go to the ER. (This is the difference between a panic attack and an anxiety attack.)

Costochondritis

Another possible cause of chest pain: costochondritis, inflammation of the cartilage that connects ribs to your breastbone. “The pain can be very sharp and hurt if you take a deep breath,” says Dr. Arthur. “Although it can be present on both sides, it is usually worse on one side.”A good way to tell if your chest pain may be costochondritis: lift your arms above your head and see if the pain improves. During a heart attack, you will be in pain regardless of motion.

Sore muscles

Chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, can cause the kind of muscle-related chest pain that’s easy to mistake for a heart attack. Symptoms vary, but many people report intense, sharp, or stabbing pain in the chest and ribcage. When fibromyalgia causes inflammation of the cartilage that joins the upper ribs to the breastbone, it results in costochondritis.

Pneumonia

Lung issues, such as pneumonia, may also mimic heart attack symptoms. The fluid build up in your lungs’ air sacs “can cause chest pain and pressure, which causes people to think [they’re having a] heart attack,” says Nicole Weinberg, MD, a cardiologist at Pacific Heart Institute in Santa Monica, California. Dr. Weinberg recommends seeking medical attention from a cardiologist first and foremost; having a workup of the heart can be helpful in addressing lung issues, as well.

Stomach ulcers

Because pain can radiate from the stomach to the chest, the pain of stomach ulcers may manifest as chest pain. “Anything from the mouth down to the stomach can be the cause of chest pains,” Dr. Weinberg says. You’ll need to be evaluated by your physician to determine whether or not your chest pains are from ulcers, but if you have a history of stomach ulcers, this is a likely cause.

We’ve rounded up some of our all-time best natural remedies.

The health benefits of hugging

Forget an apple a day: Getting hugs regularly, on a daily basis, may be one of the best ways to help you stay healthy. And if you don’t have a hugger on hand, other types of skin touch or movement may also do the trick.

“The benefits of moving the skin—as in massage, hugging, cuddling, doing yoga, fast walking, brushing yourself in the shower—boost physical, mental and emotional health as evidenced by reduced pain, anxiety, and depression,” explains Tiffany Field, PhD, director of the Touch Research Institute in the department of pediatrics at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

The wellness boost from physical connections is so intricate, in fact, that it has been the basis of Field’s career and an ongoing source of personal interest. She conducts research, which is funded by National Institutes of Health, March of Dimes, and several companies, on the effects of alternative therapies like massage therapy on medical and psychological conditions. Fields and her Touch Research Institute team have conducted more than 100 studies on hugs, hand-holding, massage therapy, and yoga in both healthy people and those with medical and psychiatric conditions.

Here’s what they’ve discovered about how your body responds to getting a hug.

Your nervous system chills out

Essentially, that arms-around pressure (or even a hand caress) signals to your brain to stress less. “As the skin is moved, the stimulation of pressure receptors under the skin increases vagal activity,” Fields says. This activity of the vagus, a cranial nerve that has branches to several parts of the body, leads to a more relaxed nervous system. (Find out what happens to your brain when you’re stressed.)

You’ll assist your immunity

A nervous system that’s in a more zen state, including a lower heart rate and a more relaxed brain wave pattern, may help you lessen the impact of a cold. A 2014 study in Psychological Science found social support, in the form of hugging, led to less severe cold virus symptoms among those who initially felt stress due to interpersonal conflict. Hugging seemed to provide a buffer effect between the stress related to conflict and susceptibility to a respiratory infection. “Stress hormones, including cortisol, are decreased and thereby natural killer cells are increased,” Field says. “These kill bacteria, viruses, and even cancer cells.”

You may sleep better

You fall asleep in the same bed, but do you touch? A whopping 63 per cent of Americans, for instance, sleep on separate sides of the mattress, according to research by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF). That’s fine, especially if you need to breathing room to rest well. However, try to sneak in a small cuddle session before you fall asleep. Just 10 minutes of touching can help you sleep more soundly, the NSF says.

A little touch time during the day can improve your sleep and sensory experiences, too.

“Many people get massaged and practice yoga because of pain,” Field says. “We have found that practices that involve moving the skin lead to more deep and restorative sleep which leads to pain reduction because less substance P—a neurotransmitter involved in the feelings of pain—is produced.” (Discover the best sleeping positions for a good night’s rest.)

Happy hormones may course throughout the body

“The biochemical effects of touch include increased serotonin—the body’s natural antidepressant and anti-pain neurotransmitter—and increased oxytocin—the love hormone,” Field says.

There’s good news for couples too: Higher levels of oxytocin are associated with greater perceptions of a partner’s responsiveness and gratitude, as well as greater experienced love, according to a 2017 study published in the journal Psychological Science. Oxytocin, which is known to be important in bonding between mother and child, can play a role in adult human bonding, too.

Also, for people who have been in an argument, hugging may help soothe tension or at least the chances that it will affect your mood. In a 2018 study in more than 400 adults published in PLoS One, people were more likely to feel depressed or bad on days they experienced conflict (as you might expect). However, hugs seemed to help reduce the chances that a conflict would cause a negative impact on mood. That seemed to be true for both men and women and it didn’t seem to make a difference if a person was married, in a relationship, or single.

The hugger may get a mood boost as well

“The benefits for the person giving touch can be even greater than the person receiving it,” says Aline Zoldbrod, PhD, a licensed psychologist and sex therapist in Boston and the author of SexSmart: How Your Childhood Shaped Your Sexual Life and What to Do About It.

But only if you like each other.

“Our bodies, which are programmed to like touch, do not enjoy being touched by people we don’t like, or people we are scared of,” Zoldbrod adds.

It’s a way to express your love language

Physical touch is one of The Five Love Languages that author Gary Chapman says fosters connection. (The others are gifts, acts of service, quality time, and words of affirmation.) If this direct way to communicate that you care is one of yours—or your partner’s—top languages, it can keep you in sync even when you don’t feel like talking.

“Consistent, good experiences with loving touch helps you to make crucial links which you need. You need to be able to link love with touch, and touch with safety,” Zoldbrod says.

You’ll have a better sex life

It’s not just during sex that you’ll feel connected to your partner. As your heart and hormones are racing after sex, it’s still “prime time” for intimate bonding. In a 2014 study published in Archives of Sexual Behavior, longer cuddle times after sex were correlated to higher sexual—and relationship—satisfaction. This effect is true for both genders, but is especially strong for women. (Here are more reasons you should be having more sex.)

And the health benefits can extend for decades

More affection during childhood leads to a healthier, longer life, according to a 2013 study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Kids who said they had lower amounts of affection and love—say, fewer hugs and “I love you’s”—were more at-risk for heart disease in adulthood. So if you have a family, and it feels right for you, share a hug or hold hands with the ones you love.

So how much touch is enough?

The more the better… as long as you both enjoy the act of touching (and enjoy each other, per Zoldbrod’s previous advice), according to Field’s data. As couples’ touch rates increase, their happiness and healthiness appears to improve even more.

Next, check out these old-time home remedies that actually work!