Let’s look forward to another year of ground-breaking research; never mind Higgs Boson, when you can marvel at this one.
“Performing deliberate acts of kindness makes pre-teen children more popular with their peers, say scientists.” Well! Would you believe it? Funnily enough I don’t have public funding or charitable tax status but I’ve just witnessed, under strictly anecdotal conditions of course, a similar phenomenon when handing presents to grandchildren, and I’m not even a peer (or Peer if it comes to that).
“I was not completely surprised that students increased in happiness, because we have found the same effects in adults,” said the researcher.” Really? You mean, being nice to older people pays off too? Surely that will need further intensive research during a couple of fully funded doctorates?
For those cherished colleagues eager to look further into this amazing contribution to the sum of human knowledge, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20851434
Boadicea's Chariot 
Quiet ‘ere, innit? 😦
It is a pity that the scientists who told us how wonderful windmills were did not apply a bit more rigour to their research!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/9770837/Wind-farm-turbines-wear-sooner-than-expected-says-study.html
…and other budding Nobel laureates from Portsmouth have also been hard at work.
“Researchers have found that heels can ’emphasise femininity’ and change the way the entire body moves, including the pelvis, hips, legs, knees, feet and even the shoulders”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2254862/High-heels-really-DO-make-look-good-say-scientists-heres-why.html
I blame Tony Blair. Or perhaps Cherie.