Rams Players Put a Bizarre Food Item in Their Socks to Keep Warm

Below-freezing temperatures and blustery winds aren’t pleasant for anyone, but they were especially brutal for the Los Angeles rams, who are accustomed to warm and sunny weather. It’s no surprise then that some players turned to an unusual and spicy tactic to stay warm during Sunday’s frigid overtime playoff game against the Chicago Bears in the windy city. Players doused their socks with cayenne pepper, assuring that it really works. The unconventional method seemed to give the Rams the extra kick they needed, since they won the thriller on a 42-yard field goal by kicker Harrison Mevis. So what’s the science behind it? It turns out that cayenne does pack a beneficial punch, beyond just warning off the cold temperatures. The spicy pepper has been shown to improve circulation and blood flow throughout the body. That’s thanks to a compound called capsaicin, which is what gives the red pepper its signature spicy, moderately hot flavor. When consumed as a supplement, capsaicin boasts several health perks, including reducing inflammation, relieving pain, lowering blood sugar and more. When applied to the skin, blood vessels widen, allowing for an influx of warm blood and creating a warm sensation. However, there can be a burning feeling if too much topical capsaicin is used. It’s recommended that no more than ½ teaspoon of cayenne powder be mixed with an ounce of foot powder, then distribute the powder by scrunching the sock. Here’s a bonus: There’s also evidence that adding some spice to your diet can help rev up weight loss by boosting metabolism and helping you feel fuller sooner after a meal.

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Defendant on the Run After Attaching His Ankle Monitor to a Dog

Authorities in Albany, New York, are searching for a man who skipped a court appearance last week and disappeared after attaching his court-ordered GPS ankle monitor to a dog. Lamont Holmes had been due in front of Albany County Court Judge William T. Little last Tuesday for a hearing ahead of his January 27th sentencing on weapons charges. Meanwhile, a woman in the town of Nassau found a dog running free and took it to a local veterinarian to check for a microchip. After discovering the ankle monitor, the vet contacted the police. The Albany County Probation Department then notified Judge LIttle of the situation, while the District Attorney’s Office issued a bench warrant for Holmes. It’s not clear if Holmes owns the dog or if he will face new charges stemming from the monitor switch. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he’s eventually sentenced.

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Meet the World's Smartest Cow

A back scratching bovine has forced scientists to reassess the intelligence of cattle. Veronika, a brown Swiss cow from the Austrian village of Carinthia, shocked researchers with the first documented case of a cow working out how to scratch itself with a stick. The clever creature also recognizes family members' voices and hurries to meet them when called. Witgar Wiegele, an organic farmer and baker who has kept Veronika as a pet for more than 10 years, said she began playing with wooden sticks before she started to scratch herself. Dr. Alice Auersperg, a cognitive biologist at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, said the findings highlight how assumptions about livestock intelligence may reflect gaps in observation rather than genuine cognitive limits. "When I saw the footage, it was immediately clear that this was not accidental,” said Auersperg. She pointed out that the cow’s behavior was a meaningful example of tool use in a species that’s rarely considered from a cognitive perspective. In a series of controlled trials, a deck brush was placed on the ground in random orientations to see which end Veronika chose and which part of her body she targeted. Across repeated sessions, her choices were consistent and suited to the body regions she was scratching. "Veronika is not just using an object to scratch herself, she uses different parts of the same tool for different purposes and she applies different techniques depending on the function of the tool and the body region,” noted Auersperg. Researchers suggest that Veronika’s long lifespan and daily contact with humans may have created the conditions needed for exploratory behavior. Perhaps the real absurdity lies not in imagining a tool-using cow, but in assuming such a thing could never exist.

 

 

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How to Eat Carbs Without Gaining Weight

Carbs in bread, pasta and rice have long taken the blame for causing weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. However, popping white bread in the freezer could help reverse those risks. White bread, pasta and rice are filled with refined carbohydrates that have been ultra-processed to strip out vital nutrients like fiber. Refined carbs trigger spikes in blood sugar, which stresses the pancreas and causes it to overproduce insulin, eventually leading to diabetes. Freezing bread, however, triggers a process called retrogradation, which causes molecules in starches and carbs in bread to become harder to digest. Unlike refined carbs, this resistant starch is not broken down as glucose, so it doesn't raise blood sugar levels. Like fiber, it promotes fullness and leads to less eating throughout the day. The benefits are not exclusive to bread. Recent studies have shown that rice, pasta and potatoes also gain starch resistance when cooked and then cooled after. Experts recommend freezing bread for at least 12-24 hours to start the retrogradation process, though it can stay fresh for 3-6 months. However, they still recommend consuming refined carbs in moderation and opting for whole grains when possible.

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