Instead, however, certain airport scanners had to be changed after it was revealed they could see a fair bit more than that when travellers walked through, having been dubbed 'virtual strip teases'. The scanners in question were Rapiscan scanners, which were brought in across the US in 2010 after a 2009 failed terrorist attack. 

In 2009, tensions were already high around airport scanners due to the 2001 attempted shoe bombing by Richard Reid, in which he tried to detonate a pair of shoes containing homemade explosives on American Airlines Flight 63. Eight years later, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was caught after trying to blow up a Detroit-bound flight using explosives he smuggled in his underwear. The shoes Richard Reid wore on American Airlines Flight 63 which contained explosives (FBI) This backfired, leading him to be set on fire due to a malfunction in the device, with Abdulmutallab being tackled to the ground by passengers and staff and extinguished. In response, the US decided to bring in even more high-tech scanners, picking the Rapiscan ones, which were a staggering $180,000 a pop. 

Security consultant Will Geddes previously told: “The biggest problem that obviously the TSA had was if it's body worn and you went through a traditional gate, it would just pick up anything metallic and there was no means of actually looking at the body intrinsically to find out if there was anything body worn.” The full body scanners are no longer in operation (X) Geddes said after Abdulmutallab’s attempted bombing that obviously, 'all the airports went into this action, a sort of tailspin with we've got to get this new security in place now.’ He added: “Typically in the States, for federal agencies, the TSA especially, they just buy the first thing that they could possibly get.” 

The first thing ended up being the Rapiscan scanners, which Geddes said were ‘very invasive’. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was sentenced to life (U.S. Marshals Service via Getty Images) They showed everything, being referred to as ‘virtual strip teases’ in which TSA officers were able to see people fully naked when they went through. This led to concerns being raised in 2012 around privacy after widespread complaints. 

Rapiscan were given a deadline in 2013 to update their software to remove this, and as they were unable to meet that deadline, the travel agency released the following statement: “TSA has strict requirements that all vendors must meet for security effectiveness and efficiency. Rapiscan machines were installed in US airports in 2010, but were withdrawn three years later (Michael Fein/Bloomberg via Getty Images) "Due to its inability to deploy non-imaging Automated Target Recognition (ATR) software by the Congressionally-mandated June 2013 deadline, TSA has terminated part of its contract with Rapiscan. "By June 2013 travellers will only see machines which have ATR that allow for faster throughput. 

"This means faster lanes for the traveller and enhanced security. As always, use of this technology is optional." Now, thankfully, if you walk through security scanners, they don’t just get a full view of you nude as they could for a few years.

Singer Ariana Grande has started quite a debate with an Instagram post aimed at supporters of President Donald Trump. Grande made a post on her story, questioning Trump’s policies and whether they have actually delivered any of the economic improvements his supporters had been expecting.

   The message questioned Trump voters about whether the President had managed to fulfill his promises regarding lower insurance premiums, reduced grocery prices, and a strong economy. The post also challenged whether the proposed economic gains were worth the impact the new policies had had on immigrants, transgender people, and free speech. 

“Has the widespread suffering of others paid off for you in the way he promised it would, or are you still waiting?” the post she had reshared to her story, originally written by LGBTQ+ activist Matt Bernstein, read. The popstar’s reposting quickly gained attention online. Ariana Grande is no stranger to controversy, having previously been outspoken about her activism and criticism of President Donald Trump’s policies, especially when they have to do with immigration and LGBTQ+ rights. 

In June 2025, she reposted a post from Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which called for Trump’s impeachment after the President made a decision to bomb Iran without approval from Congress. 

She posted a meme in the same month which asked, “which crimes get people deported, and which get people elected president,” This was in reference to the legal battles that have plagued Trump in the last few years. Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in 2024. He was also accused of sexual misconduct, including an instance of rape, by over 26 women. At Grande’s post, people began calling for her own deportation, even though she is an American citizen. 

Despite the backlash she knows she is bound to get, Ariana Grande still chooses to make such posts. She was vocal about her support for Kamala Harris. While hosting Saturday Night Live, she said, “The last time I hosted was in 2016, and we were right on the verge of electing our first female president. So I guess, second time’s a charm.” 

When President Donald Trump won the election, she took to social media to post the following message: “holding the hand of every person who is feeling the immeasurable heaviness of this outcome today.” Ariana Grande has long been one of the most popular celebrities on social media, with her Instagram following being over 370 million alone.

Truth is, however, that there is much more than that lying at the bottom of everything that happens in our life, since the real foundation of our existence is often built in the shadows, fueled by the sacrifices of people we’ve grown used to overlooking. 

This one is for my sister – the person who raised me and worked herself to the bone so I could chase my dreams. I guess we all know all too well that there comes a point in life when something shifts, yet we don’t really feel that while it’s happening. At least not consciously. For me, that moment came when my younger sister stopped being a teenager and became my caretaker, provider, and source of everything. 

She dropped out of college without telling anyone, took two jobs, and learned to stretch a single grocery list across an entire week. She mastered the art of a fake smile, telling me, “Everything will be okay,” and somehow making me believe her. My sister didn’t choose this path because she wanted to; she had no other options. At the time, I didn’t understand that. All I noticed was her hard work and her constant effort to keep us afloat. Meanwhile, I was entirely focused on my grades and climbing the ladder of success. 

Honestly, I was thriving and took everything thrown at me because of ambition and simple curiosity. Grad school, internships, and then a career that others would envy; that was my story. On the day of my graduation when everybody around was clapping their hands, I scanned the crowd, searching for her. I saw her sitting somewhere way behind in the last row, clapping quietly. She had the look of pride on her face like the whole celebration was hers, not mine.

Pexels After embracing her, I felt the surge of pride from achieving it all. But in an instant of absolute and sheer arrogance, I told her, “See, I’ve made it; I have climbed up the ladder. You chose the easier route and here you are, nobody.” She didn’t lash out at me. No, she just smiled at me and said, “I’m proud of you,” and then she walked away. For a moment, things seemed okay. 

After all, I had my own kingdom to build. So what if she could take care of hers? I just thought that was how it worked when you got older. A few months went by, and then I found myself visiting her in her town while attending a conference there. I wanted to see her, mainly because I needed reassurance that things were fine. 

However, once I got within a stone’s throw of the house, I knew something was wrong. It was open, lifeless, barren, and all the coziness and warmth of her home was stripped away from it. There was an eerie noise, which led me to the living room where she lay on the ground, pale, trembling, and barely breathing. She looked so weak and vulnerable that I realized she had let her spirit drain away over time. My mind raced as I fell to my knees, feeling completely helpless. 

Through gritted teeth, she smiled and said, “I didn’t want you to worry.” In the sterile, brightly-lit corridor of the hospital, my entire reality fell apart. It began with the truth being revealed in painstaking detail by a doctor who regarded me with a combination of pity and bewilderment. It involved a chronic autoimmune disorder she had been ignoring all along, a series of missed appointments, and medication she had not taken due to her inability to pay for it. 

She sacrificed her health so that I would not have to interrupt my studies because of medical bills. It was followed by the harsh financial truth that made me sick to my stomach. That inheritance that I assumed we had set aside from our parents’ savings? It did not exist. Our parents left us with very little in savings and an enormous amount of debt. All of those dollars she had given me for tuition, textbooks, and rent? They were the fruits of her labor, which she had endured in secret, working late hours and taking on extra jobs. In my academic bliss, I did not realize how I had deprived her of everything else she had. Pexels With these details in mind, my whole concept of love and family unraveled. I came to understand that in my pursuit of recognition, she had been eroding her own life. She had sold everything – the heirloom jewelry that once belonged to our mother, the massive oak furnishings passed down through generations, even the trinkets that were our cherished childhood memories – to ensure I could stand on my feet. 

She had compressed her own essence, well-being, and happiness into a tiny space to give me room to grow. Perspective hit me overwhelmingly. While I measured my life in degrees and achievements posted on LinkedIn, she had measured hers in patience, suffering, and sacrifice. I had been shaped by years of her hunger, fatigue, and pain. And after she finally got some sleep from her medications, I walked to the waiting area where I just lost it. 

It was not because I feared that something bad would happen to her – there was another kind of grief within me. My arrogance about all the things I had achieved made me walk around with pride and never once stop to look at the very ground I was standing on, which happened to be the woman carrying me on her shoulders. She slowly opened her eyes, and even though she was hooked up to all sorts of machines and IVs, she gave me her usual tired yet achingly sweet smile. 

And then it dawned on me – something no teacher, mentor, or CEO ever taught me in my life – that true greatness doesn’t need a megaphone or a platform to be heard; it doesn’t require media coverage at all. Greatness is found in simple and often mundane acts of service that make the world go round while other people try to get their fifteen minutes of fame. Pexels Her affection did not give me just an opportunity to advance my career – it offered me a master class on the meaning of kindness and bravery beyond the reach of any television camera. While I used to consider success to be the final destination, my understanding of this word changed dramatically in that hospital room. 

True success is the capacity to help others quietly and protect them without expecting anything in return except the happiness of those people. She did this for me for half of her lifetime, and I only started to realize the full scope of her generosity. This is not only a tribute to my sister; it is also a call for each of us to take a second glance at the individuals in our lives, particularly those who appear to be “fine” or “unassuming.” There is a tendency to believe that those who provide us with aid and support are invincible, that they are a part of the landscape. They are not. 

More often than not, the individuals whom we consider to be fortunate, or worse yet, those who lead “simple lives,” are shouldering burdens which would cripple us in less than an hour. It is a sobering reminder of the toxicity of pride and the limitations of our perceptions. My pride had clouded my judgment so much that I failed to see the individual who made my achievements possible. I mistakenly equated visibility with significance and noise with importance. 

It is perilous to place value on an individual based on their accomplishments without taking into account the sacrifices they make to attain such successes. Lastly, this is about the necessity of being grateful. We often take those who love us for granted, assuming they have an inexhaustible source of strength. We think they will always be there, unseen yet steadfast in the background. Yet they have limits. They can grow tired in body and spirit. That is why we must appreciate and value them before something forces us to realize it. Pexels Conclusion I eventually learned that the true measure of a person’s greatness isn’t in what the world sees, but in what they do when they think no one is watching. My sister’s life was never defined by a resume or a high-paying job; it was defined by the quiet, incredible sacrifices she made so I could have the luxury of choice. I also realized that recognition doesn’t need to be a public event. It doesn’t require a plaque. 

Sometimes, the most profound recognition comes in a quiet, private moment when you finally acknowledge someone’s struggle and choose to honor it with your presence and your help. By stepping into her world and truly seeing her—not as my “caretaker” but as a human being with her own dreams deferred—I finally understood the depth of her courage. Real success, it seems, doesn’t lie in standing on a podium, looking down upon an audience. 

Rather, it lies in standing by the side of another person, catching them just in time before they fall, and shaping the world around us through our strength. Today, I no longer measure my success by the degrees or diplomas I hold, because I realize I’ve found myself thanks to the loving support and resilience of my sister, who took upon herself the burden of holding up the sky so that I could fly. 

We have always regarded beets as a burden rather than a delicacy. However, it must be noted that we are now in the middle of one of the largest paradigm shifts in cultural science history. The beet has been taken off the kitchen shelves and brought into the spotlight of nutritional research to claim its status as one of the most studied functional foods available today. There are multiple reasons for this turn of events, none of which are due to marketing or plant-based diets alone. The truth is, beetroot is possibly one of the keys to improved circulation, athletics, and brain function. 

But if we want to explore the reasons for this sudden adoration of beets by both nutrition experts and top-level athletes, we have to peel back their tough skin covered with soil. Beets are like natural chemistry laboratories. While most vegetables have one feature that makes them stand out—such as vitamin C in oranges or potassium in bananas—beets contain a combination of micronutrients that work together to influence different physiological functions. 

One such micronutrient is folate, or vitamin B9, an essential component in DNA repair and the production of new red blood cells. Beets also contain an abundant supply of manganese, an element required for metabolic activity and healthy bones, and they are one of the few natural plant sources of betalains. 

Although betalains give beets their bright red color, inside the body these compounds act as powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Rather than remaining passive in the body, they act as active agents that help counter oxidative stress and neutralize free radicals linked to chronic disease.

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The chemistry of circulation 

However, while the vitamins that the beet provides might make a difference for our health, what makes it particularly transformative is the fact that it is an essential source of dietary nitrates. It is here where the real science behind the beet comes into play. What happens when we eat a beet? We trigger a natural process through which the nitrates in the beet are converted into nitrites by natural bacteria in our mouths and stomachs. 

These are then used by our bodies to create nitric oxide, which is an essential signaling agent for the human cardiovascular system. One thing that nitric oxide does is act as a vasodilator. In simpler terms, this means that it tells the muscles around our blood vessels to relax and open up. 

It is not just a concept, as some of the most prominent research published in scientific publications, such as those from the National Institutes of Health, have shown that one glass of beetroot juice may cause a decrease in systolic blood pressure in as little as an hour or two. With hypertension being a problem in our society, the beet is thus a natural and practical way to solve this health issue, as it works in perfect symbiosis with the workings of the human organism. Improved circulation affects more than just our hearts since any part of our body that depends on oxygen and nutrients would also benefit.

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Managing inflammation and recovery 

In addition to these physiological processes, the regular use of beets could be helpful for inflammation control. In today’s world, many people suffer from chronic inflammation owing to their dietary habits, lack of sleep, and other factors. Beets contain betalains, which play an important role not only in coloring foods but also in their potential anti-inflammatory properties. 

These substances may help regulate immune system activity, which can contribute to the alleviation of inflammation-related discomfort, such as arthritis pain, support recovery processes, and overall physical wellness. As opposed to pharmaceutical preparations used for inflammation management, which can have side effects such as stomach irritation or kidney issues in some cases, beet extracts are generally well tolerated and compatible with normal body functioning. 

They can be viewed as a supportive addition in the context of reducing oxidative stress, which contributes to cellular damage and the development of various diseases and disorders later on. Thus, beets allow the body to better manage inflammation associated with unhealthy lifestyles and habits. Pexels

Performance and physical endurance 

This cardiovascular widening will immediately take us to the very reason why the sports industry has become so crazy about beetroot supplements. Just enter any Olympic training camp or professional changing room and chances are that you will spot some beetroot juice or concentrated beetroot supplements there. 

The rationale behind it is straightforward: when you manage to widen the blood vessels in your body, then it means that more oxygen-filled blood will be able to reach your muscles. In this case, you make sure that your muscles will have enough oxygen to keep up performance levels for longer. 

This enables athletes to move farther, cycle faster, and recover more quickly due to the fact that their muscles are not being deprived of oxygen at the point in which they need it the most. This also isn’t something limited to only top-tier athletes. 

An individual who is older and climbing a staircase would experience similar effects from this process, as well as someone who hikes on weekends. Through boosting the efficiency at which the body uses oxygen, beets may support a more constant, reliable energy source rather than the burst one provided by sugar or caffeine. Pexels

Digestive harmony and liver support 

Although there is more focus on how beets affect the heart and muscles, their digestive health effects are also remarkable. As gut health gains recognition in today’s society as an integral part of total well-being, beets stand out as a unique means of preserving good internal conditions. 

Beets are rich in dietary fibers, which come in two forms – soluble and insoluble. While these fibers contribute to digestion, they are also used as prebiotics to nourish the beneficial microorganisms in the intestinal flora. Good health of the microbial population can bring about many benefits, including immune and psychological health. 

Additionally, there is some special nutrient content in beetroot that provides the liver with special support. First of all, it is important to mention that the liver is the central filtering organ and it processes substances throughout the day. In this context, it should be mentioned that beetroot contains betaine, which may support fat metabolism and help prevent excessive fat accumulation in the liver. 

Moreover, it is pectin, a type of fiber, that may help support the removal of certain waste products by binding them in the digestive tract. Thus, consuming beetroot can be seen as a natural addition to a balanced diet that supports the body’s normal detoxification processes. This way, the optimal functioning of the liver and intestines contributes to a better performance of the body’s waste management system, which can be reflected in skin health and energy levels.

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Cognitive clarity and brain health 

The effects of the beet are not limited to its influence on the body; they also reach the brain. Perhaps one of the scariest parts about aging is the gradual degradation of one’s cognitive abilities, which can be caused by a reduction in the amount of blood flow to the frontal lobe of the brain, where decisions, concentration, and memory are made. 

Being such an effective agent in promoting improved circulation, nitric oxide also helps the brain receive sufficient oxygen-rich blood. Modern brain scans indicate that seniors on a high-nitrate diet, in particular those who drink beetroot juice, exhibit enhanced cerebral blood flow to these crucial cognitive centers when performing demanding mental activities. 

In other words, the beet could be helpful in preserving brain sharpness and even preventing premature cognitive aging. It is a prime illustration of the power of a seemingly minor lifestyle decision that leads to a ripple effect of advantages for the most intricate organ in our body. Oxygenation is an essential factor in ensuring good concentration and clarity of thought. Pexels

Practical considerations 

Integrating beetroot into modern life will demand some common sense. Powerful as it may be, not everyone can take it in large amounts because of its high amount of oxalates, which means those who suffer from kidney stones should take special precaution. 

Moreover, there’s no need to be surprised if a pink color appears in the urine or stools because of “beeturia.” Consistency in consumption is what counts in order to achieve results. Rather than having an enormous portion once a week, opt for smaller amounts daily. 

Be it roasted beetroot for extra-sweet caramelization, raw shredded beets in a salad, or even blending the beet into a breakfast shake, the main objective is to support nitric oxide production over time. Over a couple of weeks, all these small steps may help turn this dietary habit into overall health improvement by supporting stamina and mental clarity. Pexels

Conclusion 

In the end, the story of the beet is one of rediscovery. In many ways, this plant represents the idea that some of the best tools for better health often lie before us, right under our feet. We do not have to rely solely on expensive or foreign supplements when a humble vegetable can provide a range of nutrients that support the body’s various functions. This is an excellent example of how the simplest steps can sometimes have the biggest impact. 

The Bridesmaids star rocked up to the Fashion Trust US Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday night (9 Apr), where she flaunted a fitted gown that showed off her newly-trimmed down physique. Her shimmering dress bore tones of brown, beige and green which swirled together in a unique pattern, and McCarthy paired the number with a taupe glitter bag, statement white hoop earrings and a super-chic up-do. 

Unfortunately for the film star, however, it didn't take long for internet trolls to compare her dainty red carpet appearance with looks she'd served in the years prior, many of whom accused the 55-year-old of using weight loss drugs. McCarthy wore a swirling brown and green gown (Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic) "Actress Melissa McCarthy looks like she’s been on Ozempic," one X user wrote, sharing footage of the Mike and Molly star filmed this week. Immediately, the tweet sparked mass backlash fromMcCarthy fans, who jumped to her defence. 

"The dissection of women’s bodies, positive or negative, needs to seriously stop," one pleaded. "Melissa McCarthy’s weight has always fluctuated, and she’s always been a baddie no matter what size.

I just care that she’s happy and healthy." Another added: "Let me add a community note with context for this bullshit ass post. She does not use Ozempic." A third pointed out that, even if McCarthy is receiving a helping hand to achieve her healthier physique, it's no one else's business. "You know what, good for her. She looks healthy," they wrote.

Critics accused McCarthy of having used Ozempic (Paul Conrad/Getty Images for Nordstrom) A fourth added: "People saying that Melissa McCarthy. So what if she is!? This is the correct way to get on Ozempic. You lose weight, and still look decent instead of looking like a walking bag of bones and thin skin." McCarthy was previously forced to address talk of her transformation when singer Barbra Streisand publicly questioned her about her figure. 

After the double Golden Globe-winner shared a photo of herself walking arm-in-arm with film director pal Adam Shankman at CTG's The Gala 2024, Streisand commented: "Give him my regards did you take Ozempic?" After being called out for her comment, the Star Is Born favourite released a statement, insisting she was trying to pay McCarthy 'a compliment'. 

"OMG - I went on Instagram to see the photos we'd posted of the beautiful flowers I'd received for my birthday. Below them was a photo of my friend Melissa McCarthy, who I sang with on my encore album," Streisand wrote. "She looked fantastic! I just wanted to pay her a compliment. I forgot the world is reading!" The actress responded by sharing an Instagram clip captioned '@barbrastreisand fan club members only!!!' from the premiere of her movie Unfrosted, in which she's seen reading a magazine centred around Streisand. 

The camera then panned out, with Melissa exclaiming: "The takeaway. Barbra Streisand knows I exist!" She continued, revealing the star 'reached out to me and she said I look good'. "I win the day," she added. Appearing on CBS News in the months that followed, McCarthy revealed of her weight loss: "I finally said to myself, ‘'Oh, for God’s sake, stop worrying about it', and it may be the best thing I’ve ever done." "I truly stopped worrying about my weight. I stopped over-analysing, over-thinking, over-doing anything."

Following their blind date at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in 2021, Abbey and David quickly became fan-favourites. According to The US Sun, however, Love on the Spectrum’s longest-running relationship has come to an end. 

“Sadly it’s true that David and Abbey broke up,” a source told the outlet. “They couldn’t come to an agreement on when to get married. She was ready years ago, he still needed time.” Another insider added: “They did break up, but he is doing very well.” Love on the Spectrum stars Abbey Romeo and David Isaacman have reportedly ended their relationship (Netflix) It comes after season four of the show - which dropped on Netflix on 1 April - saw Abbey, 27, and David, 31, travel to Florida together to celebrate the engagement of co-stars Madison Marilla and Tyler White. “I'm so happy for them,” she said. “Hopefully we're next.” “Yes, we can only be engaged whenever the time is right. Besides, I love you to infinity and beyond,” David replied. 

During an episode of We Need to Talk last month, Abbey revealed that 'he says things that make me feel good'. “He covers my ears when there's a certain noise I don't like, for sensory,” she explained. Opening up on their shared interests, such as Disney movies and food, Abbey added: “We're both carby people. “David and I like to go places, like the LA Zoo, Disneyland, Universal Studios, the Griffith Observatory.” Her mum, Christine Romeo, also said: “First of all, David has an incredible family.

Abbey and David are yet to comment on the reported breakup (Netflix) “The family and the sisters, just it's just a love fest. They're just generous, kind, nice people. And David has all of those qualities.” Christine said that it would be up to them to determine how their relationship moves going forward. “These are two people with autism,” she added. “So whatever their relationship looks like is going to be what they decide.”

“Neither one of us are ready to get married,” Abbey told producers in season four of Love on the Spectrum. “We already feel like we’re already married in our hearts.” “I don’t want to be a divorced lady like my mum, so that’s why I don’t want to rush it, take my time to get married,” she said. 

Which Love on the Spectrum couples are still together? 

The Emmy-award-winning show has had a number of success stories. At the time of writing, these couples are still in a relationship. 

James was an OG on the show (Netflix) James has been a firm fixture on Love on the Spectrum since it began in 2022. So viewers were thrilled to learn that he’d finally found love with Shelley. The pair met online in 2024, with Shelley reaching out after seeing James on the show. 

They made it official in the season three finale. “She and I are soulmates, kindred spirits, and, while we are not identical to each other, we are very similar to each other,” James told Tudum. “We each inspire the other to grow and develop, to be the best versions of ourselves.” The latest episodes see the couple going from strength to strength as they look at houses to move in together. 

Madison and Tyler The heartwarming moment is captured in season four (Netflix) Madison joined Love on the Spectrum in season three and was set up on a blind date with Tyler. The two immediately hit it off and the latest season shows Madison moving to Plant City, Florida, to be closer to him. 

It also documents a huge moment in their relationship, with Tyler getting down on one knee and popping the question. The engagement took place at the location of their first date on their first anniversary. Speaking to Tudum, Madison admitted: “We’re very happily in love. Being engaged has made us so excited to plan our future together.” 

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Pari found her ‘Princess Charming’ with Tina in season three of Love on the Spectrum. They are still together and regularly share updates with fans on social media. “[Tina] really is the Amtrak to my Commuter Rail,” Pari told Tudum last year. “She just gets me. 

We both share the same energy, quirkiness, and enthusiasm, and I just love that so much! We make each other laugh and giggle a lot. We really enjoy hanging out together.” While Pari and Tina are not part of the main cast in season four, they do make a cameo appearance. 

However, it was writing where the University of Cambridge alum was perhaps best known, as he put together the mini drama series My Left Nut. The Belfast-born man was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2023, which causes muscle weakness that gets progressively worse over a few months or years, ultimately shortening lifespan. 

The neurological condition has claimed the lives of both Professor Stephen Hawking and rugby league star Rob Burrow in recent years. Just two months before his death, Michael took to social media to inform friends, family and fans that he didn't have long left and that he wouldn't be going ahead with a tracheostomy, which would have helped him to breathe.

He'd fundraised over £110k for the operation. He wrote: "Health update: Basically me and @nomsheehan were in hospital for over a week there - speaking to doctors and getting tests done etc.

"Talking about risks and implications of getting the trache put in. What day to day life would be like after the operation." "In short I'm not going ahead with the tracheostomy," he continued. "I had confirmation from it would be around 6-12 months before I could get home due to lack of staffing resources. 

"Thanks so much to everyone who helped push this - from senior social workers, to politicians, to the chief executive of the hospital. Everyone has tried so hard, but there just isn't the staff." He also spoke honestly about not wanting to spend his final moments suffering in hospital, with his quality of life likely to have been seriously impacted by the tracheostomy procedure.

   

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Michael added: "Also, my neurologist gave us the news that I likely have about one year left (obviously he can't say for definite and we still have hope for the drug trial to buy some more time too). So I don't want to risk a significant amount of that time being in a hospital bed. 

"Thanks so much for all the donations to the GoFundMe, even though I didn't go ahead with the trachesotomy - it will still go towards providing me with specialist care as I enter the final stages of life.

I'm still overwhelmed by all your generosity. "Anyway - still lots to live for and lots planned - here's my wee godson Micheál visiting me in hospital." Michael first noticed symptoms in 2023 while performing at the Dublin Fringe Festival, telling the BBC: "I had to dance in the play, and I kept falling over.

"I kept blaming the shoes, being like, why have they [got] me dancing in these clumpy shoes? "But afterwards it didn't get better." The MND Association says 'foot drop' is an early sign of the disease, 'where one foot sometimes feels weak or drags'. Less than a year after his diagnosis, Michael could no longer stand. 

He continued to act even after his diagnosis, earning an award for his portrayal of Richard III in a wheelchair during a Belfast play in 2024. In January, Michael reported an improvement in his condition, and said a new clinical trial drug had helped him regain some feeling in his feet. He told the BBC: "It was such a relief that the drug is doing something. 

I'm probably still going to die pretty soon, but maybe I'll get an extra year or two." But following a short spell in the hospice, his wife Naomi confirmed that he had passed away on 7 April, 2026.

She wrote: "Last night, Mick sadly passed away in the Northern Ireland Hospice. He was admitted 10 days ago and was cared for by the incredible team there. He passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends. 

"Words can’t describe how broken-hearted we are. It’s been said more than once that Mick was an inspiration to everyone who was privileged enough to come into contact with him, not just in the past few years during his illness but in every day of his life. "He lived a life as full as any human can live. Joy, abundance of spirit, infectious laughter. A titan of a ginger haired man." 

Tributes have been flying in for the Northern Irishman since his death was confirmed, with SNL UK star George Fouracres describing him as 'one of the greatest human beings I ever shared my time with here on this planet'. 

The Motor Neurone Disease Association explains how early signs of the devastating disease include: 

A source told PEOPLE that she is expecting a child with her partner Chris Abbott. "It was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year," the source said, adding that 'they feel very blessed'. PEOPLE said Plaza's representative confirmed the good news with the outlet. 

Plaza, 41, and the Poor Things actor Abbott, 40, worked together on 2020 film Black Bear and on the Off-Broadway revival of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea in 2023. Film and TV fans will know Abbott from Girls, Catch-22, Wolf Man, Possessor and The Testament of Ann Lee. 

Back in 2023, Plaza told the New York Times of working with Abbott: "He cares but he also doesn’t care; it’s the best recipe for me for a scene partner. It’s fun and it’s also good and it’s also safe." Abbott said of Plaza in the same interview: "We’re both unafraid to be ugly and weird and strange." (Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Audible) Jeff Ward, who directed Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, said: "From Black Bear, it was clear that it was going to be electric. There was no ‘getting to know you’ section. "There’s just something about the way they match up." Abbott and Plaza have managed to keep their relationship more or less private.

Speculation about the two began when a source told Deuxmoi they had spotted them together at The Chatham Berry Farm, about two and a half hours from New York, with Abbott's sister Christina last summer. Plaza was said to have been 'rubbing his back, and they were sitting very close to each other at a picnic table'. 

Then in November, pictures emerged of Plaza and Abbott attending a New York Knicks game together, sitting in the front row alongside Ben Stiller. Their relationship blossomed amid a very difficult time for Plaza after her estranged husband, Baena, an American film director, died by suicide at the age of 47.

Plaza and Baena secretly got married in 2021 and worked on 2022 film Spin Me Round, written and directed by her husband. "I think that when you're with someone that is in your field, they understand what you're dealing with on a deeper level," she told PEOPLE in 2019. The pair separated in September 2024 due to reported marital difficulties. Aubrey Plaza is pregnant with her first child (TheStewartofNY/GC Images) Last year, Plaza opened up about grief during a podcast appearance with her former Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler. "Right in this very very present moment I feel happy to be with you," she said on A Good Hang with Amy Poehler. 

"I feel...overall I'm here, and I'm functioning, and I feel, you know, I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think, like, I'm OK, but you know, it's like a daily struggle." She went on to compare her grief with the horror movie The Gorge, which features a giant crevasse filled with monsters. Plaza's pregnancy comes 15 months after the death of her husband Jeff Baena (David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) "That feels like what my grief is like, or what grief could be like," Plaza added. "At all times there's like a giant ocean of, just, awfulness, that's like right there and I can see it, and sometimes I just want to like dive into it, and just like be in it, and then sometimes I just like look at it, and then sometimes I just like try to get away from it, but it's always there."

According to research, in the days or months leading up to a heart attack, people experience certain symptoms known as prodromal symptoms. A research published in The National Library of Medicine, states that the prodromal symptoms are often overlooked by patients and primary clinicians. 

Some of those symptoms “include chest pain, chest heaviness, chest burning, palpitations, fatigue, sleep disturbance, shortness of breath (SOB), dizziness, anxiety, sudden heat or cold, back pain, and vomiting.” 

1. Fatigue 

Being extremely tired, sleepy, exhausted or lacking energy to perform even the slightest of tasks can be a sign of fatigue. One of the reasons it may affect a person are the lowered levels of blood that go to the heart. This usually takes place when arteries get narrowed. Fatigue can easily happen if someone experiences heart issues. Ketut Subiyanto/ Pexels

2. Shortness of breath 

The shortness of breath happens when the lungs don’t get the appropriate levels 

of oxygen needed for a proper function of the body. If you or someone you know experiences shortness of breath it is for the best to consult a doctor because it may be a sign of a potential heart attack. As per WebMD, “shortness of breath and feeling tired can be signs of [heart failure.]” Heart failure refers to the heart’s inability to pump blood around the body properly. 

3. Weakness 

If you start experiencing weakness all of a sudden because of a an unknown reason your body might want to remind you to take things slowly and reconsider your lifestyle. 

4. Dizziness and Cold Sweats 

Both dizziness and cold sweats can be a result of poor circulation, something that must not be ignored. 

5. Flu or Cold-like Symptoms 

A great number of people who have experienced heart attack say that they developed flu-like symptoms mere days before the attack took place. 

6. Chest Pressure 

A common symptom of heart attack is the chest pressure one might experience. This pressure will constantly increase until the attack itself happens.

Towfiqu barbhuiya/ Pexels

7. Swollen Feet 

If you have congestive heart failure, one or both of your heart’s lower chambers lose their ability to pump blood effectively. As a result, blood can back up in your legs, ankles and feet, causing edema. If you are interested to learn more about heart attack and some of the symptoms which pre-follow this condition go to the video below in which Dr. Travis Stork speaks on the Symptoms of Heart Attack.

   In addition, check out another useful video about Heart Attack Cough (Self Aid) Demonstration.

 

The 60-year-old wife of Brooklyn 99 star Terry Crews has spoken out about her struggles for the first time in a lengthy chat with PEOPLE Magazine, including how doctors initially dismissed her symptoms as 'anxiety'. 

She also appeared on The TODAY Show on Monday (6 April) to further speak about her diagnosis publicly after undergoing a new treatment procedure. Rebecca, who has been married to Terry, 57, since 1989, was eventually diagnosed in 2015 after experiencing four years of unexplained symptoms.

Parkinson's Disease is a progressive neurological condition that causes problems in the brain and gets worse over time. It affects 10 million people worldwide, symptoms generally develop slowly over years, and there is currently no cure. Rebecca Crews has opened up on her health battle with Parkinson's Disease (Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images)

Rebecca detailed how the first warning signs she noticed were that her left toes would go numb whenever she rode her bike, her leg began dragging, and she started forgetting where she parked her car. Her personal trainer also noticed that her left arm seemed oddly stiff when she was working out, in comparison to her right one.