World’s ‘most boring’ people revealed
And other stories from the stranger side of life
Birdwatchers are perceived to be the most boring people, according to a new study called Boring People: Stereotype Characteristics, Interpersonal Attributions, and Social Reactions. Researchers found that the most tedious professions were accountancy, data analysis and insurance, while the most boring hobbies included going to church, watching TV and “animal observation”. The least boring professions “were acting, science, journalism and, by logical extension, science journalism”, noted The Times.
Turin Shroud is ‘tablecloth from Burton upon Trent’
The Turin Shroud – Christianity’s most prized relic – was actually a tablecloth made in Burton upon Trent, according to an anthropologist and historian. David Adkins said the face featured on the biblical relic is not that of Christ, but the face of the Fisher King, who, Arthurian legend has it, was the last guardian of the Holy Grail. Adkins’ theory is not the first to question the true origins of the cloth. Recent analysis has already “put the skids under the Christ links”, said Birmingham Live, revealing the item to be medieval in origin.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Suits deemed ‘non-essential’
The suit has been deemed non-essential by the Office for National Statistics. The Daily Telegraph said that increased home working and the relaxing of office dress codes mean suits have been removed from the “basket” of typical goods used to calculate the Consumer Prices Index. Last year, Marks & Spencer announced it would halve the number of outlets that sold suits, as in-store sales of formalwear had fallen by 72%, added the paper.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Nuclear near-misses
The Explainer From technical glitches to fateful split-second decisions, the world has come to the brink of nuclear war more times than you might think
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
What is cloud seeding and did it cause Dubai's severe rainfall?
The Explainer The future is flooded
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
American Airlines pilots are warning of a 'significant spike' in safety issues
In the Spotlight The pilot's union listed 'problematic trends' they say are affecting the airline's fleet
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Zoos offer cockroach naming and hippo poo candles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
NHS tells Scots to walk like penguins
Tall Tales Walk like penguins in the snow, says NHS
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Experts discover why dogs wag their tails
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Peruvian 'aliens' aren't really aliens
Tall Tales And other stories from stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman accidentally puts nan in washing machine
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Why Dutch people put pancakes on their heads today
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Fly found in man's colon
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Judi Dench accidentally video called co-star from bath
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published