Today's news

Boys learn better sitting next to girls
Boys perform better at secondary school if they are made to sit next to girls, research showed yesterday. Separating them from their male friends helped them avoid "laddish" anti-school culture and sitting them with girls gave them a good example of how to work, according to education watchdog Ofsted.
(Daily Mail, Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent)

Scientists discover why playground fights escalate
Studies at University College London show that, when two squabbling children claim the other hit them back harder, they are likely to be telling the truth, the journal Science reports. By conducting a series of "tit-for-tat" experiments on pairs of student volunteers, they discovered that everyone's brain is wired to underestimate the true amount of force they use on others, while accurately perceiving the amount of force they receive.
(Financial Times, Daily Telegraph)

People who practise rhythm method are called parents
Scientists at Saskatchewan University in Canada have after discovered that some women can ovulate up to three times a month. As any of these eggs can be fertilised, the rhythm method of contraception is pointless. Roger Pierson, who led the study, said he was "flabbergasted" by the results. "We all know people trying to use natural family planning, and we have a word for those people," he said. "We call them parents."
(Times)