Category: 4. Technology

A simple cheek-swab test can identify children with a potentially deadly heart condition, five years before they would normally be diagnosed, research has found.

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), which is typically genetic, is responsible for more than 10% of sudden cardiac deaths in children.

The condition is caused by abnormalities in the proteins between heart cells, which lead to problems in the structure and electrical activity of the heart. ACM can often develop and strike without warning.

But research shows abnormalities in the proteins can also be seen in the lining of the cheeks, which can reveal what is happening in the heart. Now doctors have developed a two-minute cheek swab to detect ACM up to half a decade before a child may otherwise be diagnosed.

They revealed details of the test at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Madrid, the world’s largest heart conference.

Experts at Great Ormond Street hospital and City St George’s, University of London trialled the test in 51 children between three months and 18 years old with a known genetic risk of ACM.

They were given cheek swabs every three to six months over a seven-year period. Of the group, 10 went on to develop ACM and eight of the 10 showed abnormalities that were picked up by cheek swabs before other tests.

The experts also studied another group of 21 children with no known genetic risk of ACM. Of these, five had abnormalities picked up by cheek swabs.

The research presented in Madrid also found that the swabs revealed changes in the youngsters up to five years before they were diagnosed.

Diagnosis of ACM was confirmed with scans and tests, with researchers suggesting a swab could be an extra step to aid early detection.

Joanna Jager, of City St George’s, University of London, said: “There is a real need for a quick and easy test, to flag suspected ACM, which can then be confirmed by hospital tests.”

In the UK, it is estimated that about one in 10,000 people in the UK have ACM. Symptoms can include heart palpitations, fainting, breathlessness, abnormal heart rhythms and swelling in the stomach, legs or ankles.

Researchers are now developing swab kits that can be used at home and the samples sent away for analysis.

Dr Angeliki Asimaki, a reader in cardiac morphology and sudden death at the school of health and medical sciences at City St George’s, University of London, said: “Our test provides a window into microscopic changes happening in the heart, and it is totally risk-free and non-invasive.

“This has the potential to provide accurate and timely diagnosis of ACM, which could ultimately save lives. Patients, particularly children, have told us they hugely prefer the speed and ease of a cheek swab to alternatives such as blood tests.

“We are currently developing test kits which would allow children to do cheek swabs at home and post them off to researchers for analysis.”

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, the clinical director of the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, said: “Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy has the potential to develop and strike without warning and sadly can risk sudden death in children, so it’s important that research helps us discover how to diagnose it early.

“This kind of simple, pain-free cheek swab test could identify children in the early stages of ACM who need extra care, or provide reassurance to at-risk children and their families with normal test results.”

MOLLIS, Switzerland – Switzerland crowned its king of wrestling Sunday at its triennial traditional folk sport festival, with the winner outlasting hundreds of competitors in the grappling discipline that bears a vague resemblance to Japanese sumo.

The Wrestling and Alpine Festival, billed the alpine country’s largest traditional sporting event, was held over the weekend at a temporary arena in Mollis, an area in the eastern Swiss canton of Glarus, with hundreds of thousands of spectators gathering for the event and related festivities.

The sport, called Schwingen, has two wrestlers grapple in a sawdust circle, gripping their opponent’s breeches with one hand at the back of the waistband and the other at the front. Like sumo wrestlers’ mawashi, the Swiss wrestlers’ short jute pants allow them to gain leverage over their opponent as they attempt to take the advantage.

The wrestlers’ aim is to throw the opponent on their back inside the ring to pin their shoulders. At the end of each fight, the combatants shake hands, and the winner brushes the sawdust off the loser’s back as a sign of respect.

The three-day festival culminated in the crowning of the King of Wrestling, touted as Switzerland’s highest wrestling honor, which went to Armon Orlik, 30, from among the roughly 280 competitors.

“This moment is very important for me, I worked my whole Schwingen career for that,” said the wrestler from the southeastern canton of Graubunden at the announcement of the winner.

The festival also featured stone throwing, where athletes lift and hurl a stone weighing 20-40 kilograms, or the famous Unspunnen Stone, which weighs 83.5 kg.

Many companies donated gifts to ensure every participant walked away with a prize. The local importer of Japanese carmaker Suzuki Motor Corp. presented a cow dubbed “Muzuki” to one winner.

The tradition dates back to 1805, when the first costume and wrestling festival was held in Unspunnen, near the picturesque town of Interlaken in central Switzerland.

From 1895, it became a “federal” competition, combining the sport with the purpose of preserving heritage and homeland identity. At intervals of one to three years, the title of “Swinger King” was won in different places. Since 1974, the competition has been held every three years.

More than 350,000 visitors visited the arena during the three days of the festival, organizers said, adding that the venue represented the world’s biggest temporary stadium by capacity, with 56,500 seats installed for the occasion.

What if surfaces could sense our emotions? What if a sofa or a curtain could interact with its surroundings? This isn’t science fiction—it’s the vision driving Ricoh, the Japanese company that has been pioneering printing solutions and digital services for over 85 years. Today, it looks to the future to innovate the way people, technology and spaces connect, creating intelligent environments where well-being is at the heart of everyday experience.

This vision takes shape in the “Soul and Soil” project, presented during Milan Design Week 2025 with an immersive, hyper-technological installation. Through a conductive printing technique and the use of artificial intelligence, fabrics and furnishings are transformed into sensitive surfaces capable of communicating with the environment and those who live in it. A simple gesture – such as sitting down – is enough to activate the interaction, generating and transmitting data in real time. This technology opens up new perspectives in interior design, home automation and the design of smart spaces.

Soul and Soil installation — System overview © Ricoh

Soul and Soil — Exhibition setup MDW25 © Ricoh

Sensor-embedded fabric © Ricoh

Soul and Soil — Space Atmosphere installation © Ricoh

Soul and Soil — Space Atmosphere installation © Ricoh

Soul and Soil installation — System overview © Ricoh

These materials, thanks to special conductive patterns printed directly onto the fabrics, become true smart sensors. They can detect both personal and environmental data through ultra-wideband wireless communication. The result is a sophisticated system that integrates advanced functionality without compromising aesthetics. At the heart of this innovation are two core technologies: conductive printing and indoor communication. Together, they enable a new generation of furniture and surfaces capable of adapting to context, responding to user needs, and gathering meaningful data to improve spatial quality.

“We believe that human relationships and mental well-being—although invisible—are essential to collaboration,” says Haruki Murata, the company’s Creative Director. “That’s why we strive to reveal the unseen by designing environments that nurture both mind and body, enhancing the creativity of those who inhabit them.” There are many possible applications for this technology.

For example, it can be used in health monitoring, in the management of complex environments such as airports and hospitals, and in the real estate sector, where smart surfaces redefine the relationship between people and architecture. Another area of research concerns the integration of materials and biological well-being. Ricoh is exploring the use of surfaces that support the growth of beneficial microorganisms, helping to create healthier spaces that support microbial diversity and promote human health, especially in work environments.

With nearly 90 years of experience and a presence in around 200 countries, Ricoh continues to invest in research and innovation, placing artificial intelligence at the service of people. The mission is clear: to transform the workplace into a smart, dynamic, and human-centered space where technology and design work together to improve everyday life.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A Bohemian dance.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

POLKA

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A lofted storage space.

Mashable Top Stories

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ATTIC

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A kitchen instrument.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

WHISK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Rolled tobacco.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CIGAR

Final Hurdle hint

To extend.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

REACH

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

With immediate effect, the new company with headquarters in São Paulo will be assuming local functions in marketing, sales, and technical service, and it will effectively be the direct point of contact for customers in Brazil and beyond. These measures represent a clear strategic focus: The economic dynamics of the region – especially in the paints and coatings, plastics applications, and cosmetics segments – are recognized as a key driver of growth and are being specifically fostered. Besides which, these moves lay the foundations for a more intensive development of the market, swifter response times, and even closer cooperation with customers and partners at the local level. 

“By establishing BYK do Brasil and putting Carlos Coelho in charge, we at BYK are underlining our ambitions in South America. There is a steady upwards trend in developments in the region, and they offer potential for further growth and an even more intensive proximity to customers. Carlos Coelho will thus be encountering excellent overall conditions for building on the successful work of recent years and generating fresh momentum,” says Dr. Stefan Mößmer, Managing Director Marketing & Commercial at BYK. Carlos Roberto C. Duarte Coelho, new Managing Director of BYK do Brasil, and Dr. Stefan Mößmer, Managing Director Marketing & Commercial at BYK.