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THE boffins at Oxford University have been studying the effects of PowerWash Simulator on the brain, and they’re more positive than you think.
A new genre of games gained traction in the early 2010s, known as simulators, where players perform virtual mundane tasks.
Farming Simulator, Euro Truck Simulator, and Microsoft Flight Simulator are some of the most popular and give you the opportunity to try out the jobs for yourself.
One of the more recent entries in the genre is PowerWash Simulator, where you play as a person who pressure washes increasingly complex and unimaginably dirty structures.
Gameplay is slow-paced as you painstakingly clean away every speck of dirt, and desperately search each area for hidden grime.
It’s a simple concept done well, and players have said that the repetitive gameplay is the perfect way to relax.
Now there is the data to back it up, as a study by Oxford University and Futurlab reveals that 72% of PowerWash Simulator players reported an improvement in their mood while playing.
The study was conducted using data from 8,695 players across 39 countries, including the UK, US and Canada.
Players self-reported their mood when they booted up the game and again after 15 minutes of playing, over 67k gaming sessions.
People consistently reported an uptick in mood, even after such a short time playing.
The study aims to look into the possibility of using video games as part of mental health therapy.
However, senior author and professor Andrew Przybylski of the Oxford Internet Institute says that these results shouldn’t be applied to all video games.
The study only applies to PowerWash Simulator and Przybylski says that people should exercise “caution in generalising our findings to other games.”
Previous studies on the effects of video games on mood have mostly been conducted in a controlled environment, so this study gives a better understanding of the effects in a normal setting.
The researchers want to extend the experiment across other games, and also check the effects of games on mood compared to other leisure activities and therapeutic interventions.
It’s just the first step into the everyday effects of video games on mental health, but it shows a strong positive correlation.
So next time you’re feeling down, try booting up PowerWash Simulator and spraying down that Helter Skelter.
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A GLAMOROUS police officer stole the show at a football match with fans in the stand left stunned.
Alexa Narvaez walked along the touchline at an America de Cali match in Colombia.
She caught the eye in the stands and on social media, where she shared a video of her strutting.
Alexa wrote a caption that read: “Walk and shine 
. Remember…
“Your mindset is everything, think positive, think happiness, think success
“If my shine hurts you so much, please don’t look because you will go blind.”
Fans were left in awe and many began complimenting Alexa on her looks.
One joked: “The fans look more at you than at the game.”
Another added: “Arrest me please I beg you.. 
”
A third wrote: “Beautiful.”
And another commented: “I’m sure most won’t even watch the game, but this beauty.”
Alexa went viral earlier this year as she celebrated a goal by the side of the pitch in her uniform.
The stunner often wows in football-inspired shoots, dazzling in a Colombian national team jersey.
A WOMAN who is 48 and has wrinkle free skin, without using Botox, has revealed her 30 second hack for giving herself a “natural facelift”.
As we get older, it may be tempting to think about getting Botox or fillers to keep ourselves looking youthful.
However, this can be incredibly expensive, and there are many cheap and natural alternatives you can use instead.
Olga has an incredibly smooth complexion, and insists that she only uses natural beauty methods.
Taking to TikTok, she revealed that once a week she gives herself a scalp massage, which she said lifts her face, and prevents her skin from drooping.
“No anti-ageing cream will ever do what this facial exercise can”, she said.
Demonstrating her method, she grabbed her hair and pulled it tight, as if she was putting it into a high ponytail.
“You will feel a pleasantly painful sensation”, she said.
She held the pony tail high above her head for 30 seconds, pulling it tight, so that her skin is pulled upwards.
Then she slowly moved her head to the left, to the right, up, and down.
Olga revealed that not only will this technique give you a natural facelift, it will also help with hooded eyes, drooping brows, headaches, neck tension, and crows feet.
Massaging your scalp relaxes stiff skull muscles, improves blood circulation, and lifts the facial lines.
Improved blood circulation also promotes cell regeneration and detoxification, which can make your skin look younger.
Olga’s (@naturalfacebible) video has likely left many people impressed, as it has racked up over 50,000 views on the video sharing platform.
TikTok users raced to the video’s comments section to share their thoughts.
There are a number of habits you can take up to care for your health and wellbeing as you age.
Age UK shared the following tips:
One person said: “I’ve doing this every morning!
“This has helped so much with my neck pain, thank you.”
Another person said: “I’ll really try that, thanks!”
A third person said: “Great tip!”
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JAMIE CARRAGHER’S latest comment about Cristiano Ronaldo had Gary Neville looking sheepish live on Stick to Football.
The former Liverpool defender was previously snubbed by the five-time Ballon d’Or winner after criticising his performances.
However, he could not resist poking fun at their previous interaction at the expense of his ex-Manchester United team-mate.
Carragher was speaking on Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet, alongside Neville, Jill Scott, Roy Keane and Ian Wright.
Discussing the best players from Premier League-winning teams, attention turned to United’s 2007/08 side.
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils won both the league title and the Champions League that season.
Both Wayne Rooney and Ronaldo were put forward from that squad, which was captained by Neville.
During the debate, Carragher said: “Friend of the show isn’t he, Wayne.”
Wright then replied: “They’re all friends of the show ‘Stick to United’ we’re doing.”
This prompted Carragher to quip: “I don’t think Ronaldo is. He’s pied two of us.”
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Neville was left looking sheepish as he peered down at the table in response to his co-hosts remark.
Ronaldo snubbed Carragher before Liverpool’s clash with United at Old Trafford in August 2022.
The Sky Sports pundit had been critical of the veteran forward since his return to the Red Devils the previous summer.
As a result, Ronaldo ignored Carragher’s attempt at a handshake before embracing Neville and Keane on the touchline.
Just two months later, though, Neville received the cold shoulder ahead of a match against West Ham live on Sky Sports.
He had ripped into his ex-team-mate’s strop during the previous match against Tottenham before they crossed paths prior to kick-off.
There was no embrace for Neville, however, despite Ronaldo speaking to fellow former United hero Louis Saha.
Carragher reacted to the snub by writing on social media: “Welcome to the blanked by Ronaldo club @GNev2.”
Meanwhile, Neville joked on air: “We’re off the Christmas card list.”
Ronaldo made 138 appearances alongside Neville for United, with the pair winning nine trophies including three league titles and the Champions League.
THE MANAGER of Harrods has accused Mohamed Al Fayed of “presiding over a culture of fear and secrecy”.
Michael Ward, who worked under Al Fayed from 2006 to 2010, has also said he is “deeply sorry for failing colleagues”.
It comes as the ex-Harrods chairman Al Fayed is facing allegations of sexual misconduct with claims being made by more than 100 former staff.
In a written statement released today, Mr Ward said: “As managing director of Harrods, I wanted to convey my personal horror at the revelations that have emerged over the past week.
“We have all seen the survivors bravely speak about the terrible abuse they suffered at the hands of Harrods former owner Mohamed Fayed. As we have already stated, we failed our colleagues and for that we are deeply sorry.
“As someone who has worked at Harrods since 2006, and therefore worked for Fayed until the change of ownership in 2010, I feel it is important to make it clear that I was not aware of his criminality and abuse.
“While it is true that rumours of his behaviour circulated in the public domain, no charges or allegations were ever put to me by the Police, the CPS, internal channels or others. Had they been, I would of course have acted immediately.
The statement continues: “Fayed, who owned Harrods from 1985 – 2010, operated this business as his own personal fiefdom.
“It is now clear that he presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct. The picture that is now emerging suggests that he did this wherever he operated.
“This was a shameful period in the business’ history, however the Harrods of today is unrecognisable to Harrods under his ownership.
“As detailed new information has come to light over the past 18 months, the business has established a settlement process, designed in consultation with independent external experts in personal injury litigation.
“We encourage former colleagues to contact us using this process so that we can provide the support, and recourse, they need.
Mr Ward said he will “in no way influence” an independent review into the allegations.
He added: “Alongside this there is an independent review led by a non-executive committee of the Board to further consider the issues arising from the allegations.
“I am not part of the committee conducting this review and will in no way influence its operation or recommendations.
“However, I have provided all the information I have to ensure my own conduct can be reviewed alongside that of my colleagues.
“I have also stepped back from my charity trustee positions while this review is taking place.”