[News] Unhappy Birthday to You

[Herr Tubthumper]

Good morning Sir!

 

[hart's shirt]

From the one you left behind.

 

[MattBackHome]

Digging a bit more into this story, it's no suprise that it's the 'right wing' media (GB News, Telegraph and the Times (in a shock move the DM went with just 'candles' and the thumbnail image is a normal-sized candle)) who are peddling the whole 'birthday' thing, which has then subsequently been repeated by the OP.

It then doesn't take long to reach the point where (admittedly in jest, possibly?) posts like the above offer a fictional scenario that, once read by some thick twats, will be taken as gospel and repeated at length. I'm in no way trying to supress free speech, but you see how misinformation becomes mainstream, to the point where it causes big problems down the line.

What a time to be alive – believing what you want to believe (regardless of the truth) or what suits your agenda to back your 'side'. All over facking CANDLES!

Yes your instincts were correct, I was being entirely frivolous.

I will though (and hope you'll join me) defend to the last my inalienable right to post frivolous bollocks without having to take responsibility for utter numbskulls on NSC trying to make points about "my tax", "common sense" or worse, "USAID".

 

[Littlemo]

Burning birthday candles can impair brain function, a study suggests.

People are worse at focusing and spotting changes to someone’s emotions after sitting in an unventilated room with a candle burning.

The findings led the researchers to advise those celebrating a loved one’s birthday to keep windows open when blowing out a candle.

Scientists from the universities of Birmingham and Manchester put 26 people in a candlelit room for an hour and then gave them mental tasks to complete four hours later.

Do you have a link to the paper?

 

[Greg Bobkin]

As I alluded to in the post above yours, I am amazed that someone with more than three braincells is surprised at the findings. If there was an element of debate about whether breathing in air pollution is actually good for you then I could understand the reason for the research. I think those sneering have a point - birthday candles or not.

The whole point is that it has an effect – and the extent of that effect – on the brain. I'm not sure that was common knowledge or, at least, it's not something that had been proven until now, hence the research. Clearly smoke (or PM) causes damage to your lungs, but the fact that it impairs other parts of the body – is newsworthy, IMO.

But the biggest issue I have with this story is misinformation and how portrayed as fact or truth. As an aside, I just stumbled across a post on Facebook about Rosie Jones being the new face of Big Break. Now I don't know if the people who were frothing away in the comments – and who seemed DESPERATE to tell the world that 'shes [sic] not funny' – actually thought it was a genuine story (it's not for anyone who thought it might be), but there were HUNDREDS of derogatory comments purely because she is disabled female who they don't find funny.

It's not true, it's obvious it's not true, but they'll slag her off regardless. It's pathetic.

(Sorry, I've digressed. This post probably belongs in that 'it's worth saying, but not worth starting a new thread' thread!)

 

[Is it PotG?]

Do you have a link to the paper?

My pleasure

 

[Greg Bobkin]

My pleasure

That's not the paper!

 

[Is it PotG?]

That's not the paper!

Who mentioned a paper?

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Do you have a link to the paper?

The 'Note for editors' bit in the page linked to in post #16 has details on how to get hold of it.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Who mentioned a paper?

The poster who asked you for a link to it. @Littlemo LITERALLY said 'Do you have a link to the paper?'

 

[Is it PotG?]

The poster who asked you for a link to it. @Littlemo LITERALLY said 'Do you have a link to the paper?'

I don't, no.

 

[HisBetterBall]

Who the f*** waits an hour before blowing out their birthday candles?

Was the mental task to eat birthday cake and see if you can taste wax?

true! There only lit for a few minutes at most!

 

[Brovion]

The whole point is that it has an effect – and the extent of that effect – on the brain. I'm not sure that was common knowledge or, at least, it's not something that had been proven until now, hence the research. Clearly smoke (or PM) causes damage to your lungs, but the fact that it impairs other parts of the body – is newsworthy, IMO.

But the biggest issue I have with this story is misinformation and how portrayed as fact or truth. As an aside, I just stumbled across a post on Facebook about Rosie Jones being the new face of Big Break. Now I don't know if the people who were frothing away in the comments – and who seemed DESPERATE to tell the world that 'shes [sic] not funny' – actually thought it was a genuine story (it's not for anyone who thought it might be), but there were HUNDREDS of derogatory comments purely because she is disabled female who they don't find funny.

It's not true, it's obvious it's not true, but they'll slag her off regardless. It's pathetic.

(Sorry, I've digressed. This post probably belongs in that 'it's worth saying, but not worth starting a new thread' thread!)

Fair enough, but it IS common knowledge that smoke inhalation damages your brain. Carbon monoxide binds to the haemoglobin in the blood and prevents the blood from carrying oxygen and disposing of carbon dioxide. In extreme cases obviously the brain dies from lack of oxygen. I learnt that as a schoolboy in the 1970s in 3rd year Biology (which I didn't do for 'O' level as I was too thick). I don't think education has regressed so much that this knowledge has now been lost. Well at least I hope it hasn't but maybe I'm wrong.

 

[Littlemo]

The 'Note for editors' bit in the page linked to in post #16 has details on how to get hold of it.

Cheers, I have it now thanks

 

[Littlemo]

Here is the DOI for anyone who is interested. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56508-3

 

[Is it PotG?]

Here is the DOI for anyone who is interested. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56508-3

Now THAT is some pleasant, light night-time reading

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Fair enough, but it IS common knowledge that smoke inhalation damages your brain. Carbon monoxide binds to the haemoglobin in the blood and prevents the blood from carrying oxygen and disposing of carbon dioxide. In extreme cases obviously the brain dies from lack of oxygen. I learnt that as a schoolboy in the 1970s in 3rd year Biology (which I didn't do for 'O' level as I was too thick). I don't think education has regressed so much that this knowledge has now been lost. Well at least I hope it hasn't but maybe I'm wrong.

Maybe, but I didn't know. Maybe MY brain is damaged by particulate matter – it certainly feels like that at the moment!

Given that 'The study is the first to experimentally manipulate inhalation routes of PM air pollution, providing valuable insights into how different pathways affect cognitive functions' and that 'Researchers emphasise the need for further investigation into long-term impacts and potential protective measures.', I'd say that was a pretty worthwhile undertaking

 

[Bodian]

Are you suggesting @Is it PotG? has posted something he hasn’t read or doesn’t fully understand?

As per yesterday

View attachment 196301

I suspect @Is it PotG? had read/understood it - but decided to post misleading info anyway. It's more fun for them that way....

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Now THAT is some pleasant, light night-time reading

You won't like it – there's no mention of 'birthday' or 'cake'

 

[Is it PotG?]

You won't like it – there's no mention of 'birthday' or 'cake'

Let me know when you've read it and digested it.