WEIRD STUFF

Teacher claims perfect memory

A woman claims to have a "superpower" memory because she "can't forget anything".

Yasmin Omar, a teacher based in London, knows the birthdays of all the students she has taught, can recall the weather and exactly what she did on a particular day over a decade ago, and claims to have helped police solve crimes.

And Yasmin -- who has been aware of her remarkable memory from a young age -- suspects she has hyperthymesia, an uncommon condition where people can remember a big amount of their life in extraordinary detail -- though she is still waiting for confirmation.

She is quoted by MyLondon as saying: "I can't forget anything. Every day, I wake up and look at the date on my phone, and automatically, I will just think about what I was doing on the same day five years ago, or 10 years ago.

"Or I'll think, 'It's so and so's birthday, from Year 7.' There was a time in childhood when it made me feel like a weirdo, but now I see it as a superpower.

"I've been able to help the police before with solving crimes. People always say I should be in MI5 or a detective."

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Weight-loss surgery linked to surge in divorce rate

Fat jab and gastric band users are almost twice as likely to divorce their partners.

Of the 12,531 married patients interviewed 14.4 per cent separated within six years after they were fitted with a gastric band -- an adjustable device in the upper stomach that restricts food intake, compared to 8.2 per cent in the wider population.

And it is believed that weight-loss jabs will also cause a spike in divorce rates.

Professor Per-Arne Svensson, of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, said: "Very similar mechanisms could occur with Ozempic [and similar jabs] as with surgery, with regards to changes in relationships.

"People who embark on the weight-loss journey usually have a lot of other life changes as well. That means that they are probably becoming more social, trying to live a healthier life.

"If the partner is not really on the train there, if they don't follow this person along in this change, that might be something that causes tension."

He added: "It could also be that you have a person who is stuck in a bad relationship, but doesn't have the self-confidence to break it off because they feel, 'Who would like to date them, if not their current spouse.'"

A recent study by the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Obesity found the results.

David Sarwer, director of the Center for Obesity Research in Philadelphia, said: "It's not that losing a large amount of weight is ending healthy marriages.

"It's probably more that for the person losing weight and feeling better about themselves, it may be empowering them to leave an unhealthy relationship."

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Tradesmen embrace AI tools

Builders are packing artificial intelligence (AI) into their toolboxes.

New research showed that one in five use the technology more than five times a day, with almost a third of builders using AI to measure up and work out the costs of materials.

In total, 35 per cent said they would struggle to perform their job without the digital tools.

Meanwhile, 91 per cent of engineers rely on AI daily, and 76 per cent of tradespeople have incorporated the technology into their business to assist in an area of their firm, such as record keeping, generating invoices and filing tax returns (43 per cent).

Lisa Ewens, of accounting software firm Sage, which conducted the study, said: "Technology is transforming how tradespeople operate behind the scenes, and our research shows that many sole traders are embracing new digital tools.

"For many, these tools are becoming as much an essential for keeping businesses running as a spirit level or a chisel -- with sole traders relying on them to communicate with their customers, generate quotes, issue invoices, and make payments.

"AI tools such as Sage Payments Agent can add another layer of speed and efficiency -- removing the burden of chasing invoices, automating reminders and follow-ups so sole traders can get paid faster and more efficiently."

Stuart Bogazzi, the owner of Oak Sure Construction in Croydon, South London, added: "AI has made my life much easier -- I'd say I use it on four days out of five.

"Digital tools are really helpful for working out calculations. I'll enter the measurements of a space, and it will tell me how much concrete I need, and where I can buy it cheapest. It has helped me find suppliers I would never have found otherwise.

"I also use Sage digital tools for 90 per cent of my accountancy. I keep track of all of my bookkeeping and taxes in their Sole Trader mobile app, and then I use the Payments Agent tool to generate invoices and chase late payments.

"The software has saved me money as well as time. I used to spend around three hours a week doing admin, and now that's down to about 20 minutes - and I can spend the rest of the time with my family.

"Technology is moving so fast, and I know a lot of people are worried about how AI will impact their jobs in the future, but for sole traders like me, digital tools can also be used to make your business far more profitable and efficient."