Author: The SUN

GOOGLE has officially revealed its latest budget-friendly smartphone with a number of key upgrades.The Google Pixel 9a features a refined new look from previous generations, with the camera neatly embedded into the device rather than poking out.2New device starts from £499Credit: google29a is available in four coloursCredit: GoogleImprovements have been made to the dual rear camera system, with a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera to fit everyone in the shot and a 48-megapixel main camera.Macro Focus for professional looking shots of small details has also been introduced, which is the first time for Google’s budget A-series devices.As well as a boost to…

BEING a night owl in a world built for early birds isn’t easy.For one, late risers are often unfairly derided as lazy.1Owls are more prone than larks to worring, which is often linked to depression.And for years, experts have warned that late-nighters face a higher risk of depression than early risers.But until now, the reason behind this link has remained unclear.But a new study in PLOS One might offer fresh insight into why owls are more prone to depression than larks.University of Surrey researchers surveyed 546 students.They looked at sleep patterns, mindfulness, rumination, alcohol use, and mental health.The study revealed…

GOOGLE has come up with a clever crook-busting trick to expose scammers while you’re on the phone with them.The call-scanning feature monitors what the person is saying to you in real time – and warns you with a pop-up, sound, and physical “haptic” buzz.2Google can detect a scam while you’re having a live phone conversationCredit: GoogleScam phone calls are one of the most common ways that criminals target victims using tech.And that means that these dodgy calls often take similar forms, using the same old cons.Google says that this has now made it possible to detect when a crook is…

GYM-DODGERS, rejoice – ditching the dumbbells and diving into a bubble bath could help you shed pounds.A long soak can shift as many calories as conventional exercise, according to a new study.8A long soak burns the same number of calories as a 20-minute swim, research foundCredit: GettyBoffins found that those who took a dip in 40°C (104°F) bath water for an hour burned around 140 calories – the same as taking a 30-minute walk or enjoying a 20-minute swim.But it’s not just kicking back in the tub with a book that could help you get trim.That all-important calorie burn can…

GOOGLE has announced that one of its long-running features is retiring this year but not everyone is overjoyed about the replacement being lined-up.The move will affect Android phones, as well as tablets and Google speakers like Nest.1Google Assistant has been around for nine yearsCredit: AlamyGoogle is selling the major change as an “upgrade” powered by AI.The Google Assistant will no longer be available on “most” mobile devices by the end of the year, the firm has revealed.Google Assistant has been the company’s main voice-powered tool across millions of devices since 2016.It allows users to summon things like timers, ask trivia…

A NEW treatment for dementia could be on the horizon – and it’s inspired by herbs found in your kitchen cupboards.Carnosic acid, found in rosemary and sage, is already known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.1Microscope images comparing brain connections in untreated and diAcCA-treated mice. The treated brain (right) shows more green, meaning more brain connections.Credit: Scripps Research)It works by activating enzymes that make up the body’s natural defence system. Pure carnosic acid is too unstable to be used as a drug. It reacts with oxygen in the air, causing it to break down before it can be used.But now,…

FREEVIEW watchers can access 15 brand new channels on their TVs this week – but they’re hidden in a place viewers may not expect to find them.If you can access Freeview Play with an internet connection then you’ll find the channels on a popular app that’s just gone through a big change.2A channel devoted to MTV hit Catfish is among the listCredit: MTV2Channel 5 and My5 are now both known as 5Credit: Channel 5Channel 5 has just relaunched its main TV station and streaming service under one name, simply the numerical 5.And as part of it all, the broadcaster has…

YOU might not think much about the 206 bones that make up your skeleton. That is until yours start to ache, or you suffer from a break or fracture. 3Our bones weaken as we age, putting us at increased risk of fractures and breaksCredit: Getty“Your bones are one of the most important components to the human body,” Dr Naomi Newman-Beinart, a nutritionist and chartered psychologist specialising in health psychology, tells Sun Health. “They provide structure, protect organs, store calcium and they’re involved in the production of vital hormones and enzymes that support our body’s functions.”Your bones are at their thickest and strongest in…

YOU can turn your Amazon Fire Stick into an Xbox even if you don’t own the console.Amazon has revealed a clever trick that lets you play top games Xbox games on your TV – including Fortnite, Fallout 4, and Forza Horizon 5.3Even if you have a very old TV, the system will run just fine through your Fire StickCredit: AmazonIt works using Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is a membership that lets you play games over the cloud.Normally video games work using discs or filed saved to a console – with your gaming machine rendering the graphics in real-time.But cloud-gaming…

SCIENTISTS reveal herpes warning as the virus could lead to dementia through a common sex act.A team at the University of Chicago have discovered if the virus is spread to the nose inflammation could lead to more severe complications.3Herpes, if transmitted to the nose, can have damaging effectsCredit: Getty3A study has revealed the links between encephalitis and herpesCredit: Getty3Certain sex positions may increase your chances of contracting herpes nasallyCredit: GettyThe herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), the virus that causes cold sores, tend to break out around the mouth but more people are getting diagnosed with HSV-1 around their genitalia.With the…