Gair Rhydd

Are you good at keeping secrets?

On January 1 2005 a website was founded on Blogspot, as a social experiment. Every Sunday, it was to be updated with ten new secrets, ranging from people battling with depression and attempted suicide, to confessions of sexual thoughts about co-workers.

Today, the website has grown to receive huge amount of internet traffic; there are websites in tribute to the concept and an online community hosting over 80,000 registered users.

Diwedd cyfnod yng Ngogledd Iwerddon

Yr wythnos diwethaf, cyhoeddodd un o ffigurau mwyaf blaenllaw ym myd gwleidyddiaeth Gogledd Iwerddon, sef y Parchedig Ian Paisley, y byddai’n ymddeol fel Aelod Seneddol Gogledd Antrim yn yr etholiad cyffredinol nesaf ym mis Mai.

Ffigur blaenllaw ond hynod ddadleuol yw’r Parchedig Paisley. Sefydlodd Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Rydd Ulster yn 1951 a phlaid Unoliaethol y DUP yn 1971, a dywed nifer bod ei natur tanllyd o bregethu ffwndamentaliaeth Gristnogol yn y pulpud wedi dylanwadu’n helaeth ar ei wleidyddiaeth Unoliaethol. Cofia nifer amdano am ei areithiau yn condemnio Sinn Féin a’r IRA yn ystod y blynyddoedd gwaedlyd o gythrwfl rhwng yr Unoliaethwyr a’r Gweriniaethwyr, ac am ei syniadaeth gref o ymlyniad teyrngar i’r Deyrnas Unedig.

News in brief

Slimming fruit fly

A study from a team of Texas A&M University researchers has found the taste sensing cells of the fruit fly’s tongue contain an internal daily clock, which determines feeding behaviours — and these same taste sensitivities are very likely apply to humans.

Plug pulled on 'bad medicine'

Plug pulled on 'bad medicine'

A new House of Commons Science and Technology Committee (STC) report casts doubt on homeopathy, stating that there is no scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. The committee is now urging the government to abide by its principals and withdraw funding for homeopathic treatment.

Homeopathy is a type of alternative medicine that emerged in Germany in the 18th century. It is based on a concept called ‘the law of similars’ which states that introducing a small amount of disease-causing elements into the body will eventually heal the body from that disease. However, in order to prevent the medicine from complicating the illness, the amount introduced into the body is highly diluted.

Stuck stammering

Recent research suggests stammering could be caused by genetics. Priya Raj explains all...

Stammering, or stuttering, is a problem with the flow and timing of speech which can be interrupted by repetition of a syllable, prolongation of the sound or a complete block.

People are often embarrassed about stammering, but may be quite fluent if they sing, whisper or speak as part of a group.

Are voluntourists taking too many risks?

Volunteer holidays are the new graduate trend for 2010, but too many travellers are jetting off without making the necessary preparations

Almost every week I get sent loads of articles from different companies trying to sell their products or services; services that they feel are in the students’ best interests.

But I received one this week that may be very helpful, particularly following on from the gap year article that we featured last week.

Mind the gap, old man

Age gaps between partners are rather like the elephant in the room. Except the elephant is a bit of a toyboy. Features investigates...

A few months ago, tucked away on the BBC website, was a story of true love – in the midst of war and economic turmoil, a human interest story par excellence. The tale of how the most seemingly insurmountable of obstacles can be overcome by love.

The heart-warming realisation of an older man’s sensitive passion for a younger woman. The chronicle of two hearts intertwining despite the unlikeliest of circumstances. The sentimental narrative of how a 112-year-old man married a 17-year-old girl.

Pakistan: your views

The situation in Pakistan is often seen from a Western viewpoint. Features asked two Pakistani students for an alternative view.

The nation of Pakistan has been a warzone since 2009, with 87 suicide attacks and a soaring death toll of 3,021 across the country, from the most remote of districts to the major cities.

Pakistan’s stance with militants was seen as weak when it signed the Waziristan Accord in 2006 with tribal and militant leaders from the remote province of Waziristan – which borders Afghanistan – calling for a stop to encroachments and attacks from both parties.

Dathlu Doniau Caerdydd

Wedi’r paratoi diflino dros yr wythnosau diwethaf daeth yr amser unwaith eto i ddangos ein doniau yn y dref ger y lli, wrth i ni groesawu’r Eisteddfod Ryng-golegol am flwyddyn arall i galendr prysur y Gym Gym.

Gadawodd un criw tua Aberystwyth brynhawn dydd Gwener gan fod gala chwaraeon yn cael ei chynnal am y tro cyntaf ers blynyddoedd, gyda chystadleuaeth ar gyfer y timau pêl-rwyd, pêl-droed a rygbi. Bu rhaid cael tîm rygbi at ei gilydd funud olaf gan nad oes un i’w gael gan y Gym Gym ar hyn o bryd. Er mai trydydd gafodd y tîm, roedd yn gêm gyffrous gydag ymdrech dda gan bob un o’r hogia’ o ystyried mai dim ond dau ymarfer oeddent wedi’i gael gyda’i gilydd. Gobeithio y bydd hyn yn annog tîm i ddatblygu yng Nghaerdydd yn y dyfodol agos! Llwyddodd Caerdydd i ddod yn ail trwy’r gala gan osod safon uchel ar gyfer yr Eisteddfod ei hun. Bu gwobrwyo yn y Llew Du cyn cael ambell i beint haeddiannol i ddiweddu’r noson mewn steil!

News in brief

Carbon neutral aviation fuel

British Airways (BA) are helping to establish Europe’s first ‘green’ jet fuel plant in London, which will turn landfill waste into carbon neutral aviation fuel.