WEIRD STUFF

Brits form real friendships with Alexa and Siri

Artificial intelligence (AI) gadgets such as Alexa, Siri and ChatGPT are being treated as genuine friends by a growing number of Brits.

A study by electronics retailer Currys revealed that one in five people believe they have struck up a real friendship with their virtual assistant.

Nearly half (49 per cent) admitted turning to AI for advice on personal issues rather than confiding in family or friends.

Some are even relying on artificial intelligence for matters of the heart, with 62 per cent confessing to using it to write a love note or poetry for a partner.

Graham Collingwood, 26, of Tonbridge, Kent, said - as quoted by the Daily Star newspaper - that he chats to Alexa daily: "I kind of treat Alexa as a friend.

"I always say hello to her and please and thank you - and I say goodnight to her when I go to bed."

The findings highlight how deeply embedded smart technology has become in everyday life, blurring the lines between digital assistants and human companions.

While some see the trend as harmless, experts warn that increasing dependence on AI for emotional support may affect real-world relationships.

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Babies could BE born without biological mothers

Scientists have developed a method to create human eggs from skin cells, raising hopes for new fertility treatments.

Researchers have successfully demonstrated a process that turns skin cells into egg-like cells with the correct number of chromosomes, according to a new study.

The breakthrough, called mitomeiosis, mimics natural cell division, allowing the eggs to be fertilised and develop into early embryos.

Experts say the discovery could help women who have lost their eggs due to illness or age, as well as potentially allowing two men to have a child together.

Professor Richard Anderson, deputy director of the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh, said, "The ability to generate new eggs would be a major advance.

"This study shows that genetic material from skin cells can be used to generate an egg-like cell with the right number of chromosomes to be fertilised and develop into an early embryo."

In laboratory tests, 82 functional eggs were produced, of which around 9 per cent developed to the blastocyst stage of embryo growth. But researchers cautioned that most did not progress beyond fertilisation and many showed abnormalities.

Professor Ying Cheong, of the University of Southampton, called the work an "exciting proof of concept", adding, "while this is still very early laboratory work, in the future it could transform how we understand infertility and miscarriage."

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Healthier eating could slash deaths

A diet rich in fruit, vegetables and whole grains and low in meat and dairy could prevent 15 million deaths every year.

Researchers claim that the so-called planetary health diet, set out in a new report from the 2025 Eat-Lancet Commission, is linked to a 27 per cent reduced risk of premature death and lower rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions.

The diet emphasises whole grains, fruit, vegetables, nuts and legumes, while limiting red meat, processed foods and added sugars.

It allows modest portions of fish, poultry, dairy and eggs. Researchers said such a shift would not only extend life but also ease pressure on the planet by cutting greenhouse gas emissions, water use and demand for land.

Dr Helen Croker, assistant director of research and policy at the World Cancer Research Fund, said, "The planetary health diet set out in this report is associated with improved health outcomes, and research that we have funded also supports such a diet for people after a cancer diagnosis."

Commission co-chair Johan Rockstrom added that transforming food systems was essential: "How we produce and consume food affects the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil that grows our crops, and the health and dignity of workers and communities."