Have you ever suddenly gone off a food you used to love? This is something people on social media have been talking about – specifically when it comes to chicken.

Users report suddenly becoming disgusted by chicken, sometimes even mid-bite – despite having been able to eat the food just fine previously. The phenomenon is commonly referred to online as the “chicken ick”.

My research is centred on how our sensory system (mainly smell and taste) affects our behaviour. When it comes to the “ick”, it’s all about how we deal with our disgust response.

There are a number of reasons why you might suddenly become “weird” about a food that you used to be fine with. If this has ever happened to you, the good news is there are ways to get over it.

The first reason relates to a change in the way the food is presented.

Maybe one time you noticed your chicken tasted, smelled or looked different than it did other times. This can lead to a mismatch in what’s expected, which can cause your feelings towards that food to suddenly change.

It might also be related to whether you prepared the chicken in a different way to normal. Adding a new ingredient which changes the smell or flavour profile of the dish can also trigger feelings of disgust.

Another possible reason has to do with what you were doing before you got the “ick.”

If you were scrolling on social media looking at unappetising meals before starting to cook your own meal, this can influence the way you subsequently feel about your own food.

Or, if you were preparing the dish near someone who expressed disgust (even if they only made a face), this can influence your own disgust response. The reason this occurs is explained by the human tendency to mimic others via mirror neurons (brain cells that are involved in empathy and imitation) and the related process of emotional contagion – the unconscious process of “catching” the emotion of others.

Some of us are also more sensitive to experiencing disgust than others.

Disgust is an emotion that protects us from things that could potentially harm us – such as foods that are spoiled or unsafe to eat.

Work has shown that people who rate themselves as being more sensitive to feelings of disgust also exhibit higher “ick” tendencies in a dating context (a sudden aversion to a romantic partner). This suggests that people with higher habitual levels of disgust might be more likely to experience the chicken “ick” phenomenon.

Another important factor is how hungry you are at the time.

If you aren’t very hungry, you might be more particular about unexpected food features – such as a different smell, texture or flavour.

On the other hand, when you’re really hungry, you understandably tend to be less sensitive to disgust and may be less likely to notice things that might otherwise have turned you away.

Interestingly, our research found a similar effect also happens when participants were given alcohol. The higher a participant’s blood alcohol level, the lower their sensitivity to disgust.

So, it could be that certain states of being make us more or less likely to experience the “chicken ick.”

Gender might also have an effect.

Research on disgust shows women have a higher sensitivity to disgust than men. It’s theorised that such gendered differences in disgust sensitivity developed as an evolutionary response to be choosier when selecting potential mates and protect offspring from disease.

Disgust is also heightened during pregnancy and appears to be related to immune function.

How to get over it

If you’re someone who has developed the chicken “ick” before, there are two key things you can try to get over this feeling:

Try preparing your chicken differently next time. Your disgust might be linked to the specific way the food was prepared. The next time chicken is on your menu, try cooking it differently (such as using a different recipe or seasoning) or use a different cut of meat (such as chicken breast instead of thighs or wings). This might help you to unlearn your disgust.

Have someone else cook for you. If the texture or smell of the chicken (particularly raw chicken) has put you off of it, try having a loved one prepare the meal for you or go out to eat. This might make it easier for you to eat the cooked dish. Or, buy pre-cooked options from the supermarket that only need to be reheated so you don’t have to handle the raw chicken.

Removing the cues that cause the “ick” in the first place should act as a reset so you can enjoy the food again.

If that still does not work, it could be that you’ve formed a negative association with the food which needs to be “unlearned.”

In this case, it could take a little more time to retrain yourself. Some suggestions for doing this involve pairing food with something positive (such as a favourite food or listening to your favourite music while eating your meal) or even by changing the colour of plateware. By repeating this a number of times, you’ll condition yourself to the pleasant response – and will hopefully be over your chicken “ick.”

Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor said her players “do not deserve that level of refereeing” after Arsenal’s Katie McCabe avoided a red card for pulling Alyssa Thompson’s hair during their Champions League quarter-final exit.

The Blues were chasing a late leveller after scoring a stoppage-time goal to make it 3-2 on aggregate when McCabe reached out and tugged Thompson’s hair.

The American winger was breaking forward, but McCabe escaped a yellow card and the video assistant referee (VAR) did not advise referee Frida Mia Klarlund to review the incident.

Bompastor was shown a yellow card for angrily protesting against the decision and then sent off for her continued outburst – although she refused to leave the touchline as Arsenal held on to reach the semi-finals.

The Frenchwoman arrived prepared with her mobile phone so she could show a replay of the incident as she gave a furious interview to BBC Two.

“For me, it is clearly a red card for the Arsenal player. She’s pulling Alyssa Thompson’s hair,” Bompastor said.

“If the VAR is not able to check that situation, I don’t know why we have the VAR.

“I’m the one getting a red card when I think the Arsenal player should be the one getting a red card.”

The horror discovery was made by police in the Mexican state of Guerrero, which has been plagued by organised violent crime caused by cartels fighting over drug-rich territory

Police recovered the dismembered remains of seven people on a major road in a horror discovery following local gang violence.

The bodies were found abandoned on Tuesday afternoon on the Tlalpa-Olinalá highway, in the Montaña region of the state of Guerrero, in Mexico, on the sides of the road approaching crossroads in Cualác.

According to local outlets, black plastic boxes and an aluminum pot were also abandoned alongside a host of other objects believed to have been used to transport the remains.

The remains and their containers were discovered by authorities following reports from residents that armed men had abandoned the bodies.

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Following the grim discovery, Infobae reports, security personnel and experts from the Attorney General’s Office of the State of Guerrero (FGE) rushed to the scene alongside the Ministerial Investigative Police, as well as experts. The remains were found in a part of Mexico that has been plagued by violent crime, with more than a dozen groups suspected to be operating in Guerrero.

In 2023, it was reported that 16 separate groups were identified by the Tlachinollan Mountain Human Rights Center, citing reports from several security corporations.

The state’s homicide rate was placed at 37.5 per 100,000 people the following year, with cartel wars, extortion and kidnapping blamed for the sky-high figure. Guerrero has also been used as a cartel battleground, with the groups operating in the area competing for control of drug production centres, including opium poppy cultivation.

The high level of crime has come hand-in-hand with a lack of investment in security and social programmes, and general political instability, making it difficult for authorities to tackle the issue.

All of these issues combined have made Guerrero one of the most violent states in the country, with residents left in near-constant fear of being caught in the crossfire.

The Montaña region, where the remains were discovered, is located on the border of Oaxaca and Puebla, and in the middle of a major gang conflict.

The Los Tlacos, Los Ardillos and Los Rojos gangs are believed to be fighting for the territory, which has a high concentration of marijuana and poppy crops.

According to the Tlachinollan Mountain Human Rights Centre, residents report being assaulted and extorted by criminal groups on the highways leading to other states, resulting in an exodus of people fearing they could be victimised. A report by the centre states that farm labour families have been most profoundly impacted.

The report states: “Farm laborer families are caught in a dilemma. In their communities, they are abandoned by municipal, state, and federal authorities.

“There are no job opportunities or productive projects to help them get ahead. Corn farming and migration are their only hopes for survival. The most devastating aspect is the recent violence they have suffered and the harassment by criminal groups.”

City of York Council data showed 195 out of more than 1,000 slots made available for traders in the four weeks since bookings went live were missed.

About nine tenths residents who booked one of the more than 12,000 10-minute slots available for them turned up for their appointments from Monday, March 2 to Sunday, March 29.

A spokesperson for Yorwaste, which runs the site on behalf of the council, said Towthorpe had not been any busier than usual since the new system was launched.

They added they had not experienced any unusual increases in traffic since the Click Before You Tip system launched at Hazel Court.

It follows the launch of the new booking system for Hazel Court on Monday, February 23 a week before time slots came into effect.

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It also comes as residents are encouraged to ensure they have booked a slot if they are planning on using the tip over the Easter bank holiday.

Households are currently limited to four 10-minute slots a week while businesses can book up to two 15-minute slots a day.

Cllr Jenny Kent, the council’s Labour environment spokesperson, said at the time the system was a sensible solution to tackle congestion and queues and improve air quality in the area.

A report ahead of the council’s executive’s approval of the new system in September stated residents had raised safety concerns over drivers attempting dangerous manoeuvres in the road.

Businesses based in and around Hazel Court have also claimed congestion caused by queues for the tip was making it harder for their customers to reach them.

But the council’s Liberal Democrat opposition raised concerns about the plans at the time, saying they followed a decision to close the site on Wednesdays and could cause more fly-tipping.

Rubbish removal business Waste Warriors told The Press the new system had resulted in them having to turn down jobs due to limits on trips to the tip.

Traffic blocking the road as drivers queue to turn into Hazel Court Recycling Centre (Image: Newsquest)

Feedback from Yorwaste suggested the day-to-day operations at the site remained stable since bookings launched.

Around 70 per cent of the more than 12,000 slots made available to residents have been booked, rising to 80 per cent in the last full week of March.

The council stated the system was being widely-used and well-adopted by residents and activity at the site was broadly in line with seasonal expectations.

But it added missed trader appointments were causing issues because they reduce availability and cannot be easily given to someone else at such short notice.

People are required to bring their booking confirmation with them to show to tip staff on arrival.

Slots can be booked online or over the phone up to two weeks in advance.

The Towthorpe site, in Moor Lane, remains available to use without having to book beforehand.

Arsenal lose the second leg of their quarter-final against Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge, but win 3-2 on aggregate to reach the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League and move a step closer to successfully defending their title.

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A court has overturned a ban on people living on the outer Chagos Islands.

In February, nine people, including four Chagossians, landed on Ile Du Coin, an uninhabited outer island which is 135 south of Diego Garcia.

They were ordered to leave, and four members of the group took legal action against the commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

It was argued that a 2004 law removing the right of Chagossians to enter and remain on the outer islands was unlawful.

In a ruling on Tuesday, the BIOT Supreme Court quashed the rule and the commissioner’s order for the Chagossians to leave.

The UK has agreed to hand sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, and lease back a joined UK-US military base on Diego Garcia for 99 years.

US President Donald Trump was critical of the deal in February, describing it as an “act of great stupidity” and a “big mistake”.

James Lewis KC, the chief justice of the BIOT, said on Tuesday: “Any rational reason for passing the provision has now disappeared, if there ever was one.”

The Chagossians had initially claimed they were seeking to visit Ile Du Coin temporarily to visit graves, and did not mention they planned to establish a “permanent camp”, the judge said.

He continued: “A claimed power to exclude a whole population must be justified by legal source, not administrative necessity.”

The judge also said that the deal signed between the UK and Mauritius “removes any claimed reliance on defence or security issues in repopulating the outer islands, as well as rendering funding issues otiose [serving no practical purpose]”.

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The commissioner is challenging the decision, according to the Foreign Office.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We do not agree with this judgment, and we understand the BIOT administration have appealed it.”

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have accused Sir Keir Starmer of treating Chagossians as “an inconvenience”.

Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel has called on the prime minister to abandon what she described as an “appalling” deal to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, which she said was a “complete betrayal”.

Ms Patel said: “Throughout the process, he has sought to sideline the Chagossian people, treating them as nothing but an inconvenience.

“Chagossians, many of whom have no desire to see the islands handed over to an ally of China, ended up taking matters into their own hands. And now this latest humiliation has further undermined the Government’s case.”

Tiger Woods formally turned down the Ryder Cup captaincy Wednesday as he steps away from golf activities, and a Florida judge approved his motion to leave the country to seek treatment.

The developments come one day after Woods entered a not guilty plea to suspicion of driving under the influence when his SUV clipped the back of a trailer and flipped on its side last week on a residential road near his home on Jupiter Island, Florida.

Woods posted a statement Tuesday night saying that he was stepping away indefinitely “to seek treatment and focus on my health.”

A motion filed Wednesday by his attorney, Douglas Duncan, asked a judge that Woods be allowed to travel outside the country to begin “comprehensive inpatient treatment.”

Duncan said the recommendation from Woods’ doctor was based on the golfer’s “complex clinical presentation and the urgent need for a level of care that cannot safely or effectively be done within the United States as his privacy has been repeatedly compromised.

“Ongoing medical scrutiny and public exposure create significant barriers to his care and would result in setbacks and an inability to fully engage in treatment.”

Martin County Court Judge Darren Steele approved the motion, which did not say where the inpatient treatment facility was located.

The Ryder Cup decision by the PGA of America was not a surprise during the last five, chaotic days involving Woods dating to his Friday arrest.

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In a statement, Mills said: “The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation.

“In response to this the Metropolitan Police has made a statement, which I confirm relates to me.

“An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018.

“As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.

“Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed 7 years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter.

“I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss.”

The breakfast show host was abruptly taken off air by the BBC last week, before his sacking over allegations related to his “personal conduct” was announced on Monday.

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The 53-year-old last hosted his show on Tuesday, March 24 and signed off with: “See you tomorrow.”

He was questioned by police under caution in July 2018.

Mills was not charged with a criminal offence, and the case was closed due to a lack of evidence.

The Metropolitan Police does not identify people who are subject to an investigation before any charges are brought.

What was the Met Police statement?

A spokesperson said: “In December 2016, the Met began an investigation following a referral from another police force.

“The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. These were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.

“As part of these inquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview was questioned by police under caution in July 2018.

“A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists created virtual replicas of patients’ diseased hearts so precise that blocking a dangerous irregular heartbeat in these digital “twins” showed doctors how to better treat the real thing.

One of the first clinical trials of these custom models suggests it might improve care for ventricular tachycardia, a notoriously difficult-to-treat arrhythmia that is a major cause of sudden cardiac arrest, blamed for about 300,000 U.S. deaths a year.

The study, by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, was a small first step. The Food and Drug Administration allowed the digital twin technology to guide treatment for just 10 patients, and much larger studies will be needed.

But the results reported Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine come as doctors increasingly are exploring how a technology long used in aerospace and other industries might be harnessed for better health, too.

Dr. Jeffrey Goldberger, a heart specialist at the University of Miami who wasn’t involved with the study, experimented with more rudimentary iterations 15 years ago and praised the new findings. “This is what we envisioned,” he said.

Doctors have long used 3D models, both physical and computer-generated ones, to simulate disease and practice techniques. But Hopkins biomedical engineer Natalia Trayanova said true digital twins predict how a real organ can react to different treatments. Her lab is pioneering colorful interactive models developed with an advanced MRI scan and other data from each patient.

“We treat the twin before we treat the patient,” Trayanova said. “Did it work? And if it did, are there new things that arise” that will require more or different care?

The heart’s electrical system powers our heartbeat. Ventricular tachycardia is a super-fast heartbeat triggered when an electrical wave short-circuits in the organ’s bottom chambers, the ventricles, and prevents them from pumping blood out to the body.

“You see this heart that is basically quivering,” Trayanova said.

Medication can help but the main treatment is ablation, when doctors thread catheters to the heart to burn misfiring tissue. But it’s a bit trial-and-error, as patients spend hours under anesthesia while doctors determine where to aim. Repeat ablations are common, and many patients have an implanted defibrillator as backup.

Enter Trayanova’s digital twins of patients’ ventricles. Colors swirl on a computer screen – blue, green, yellow and orange – showing how the heart’s electrical wave moves across the chamber’s healthy areas before getting stuck on damaged tissue. It’s trapped in a circular motion that she compares to the swirl of a hurricane.

“It allows me to recreate the functioning of the patient’s organ and then predict what is the best way to ablate,” she said.

The technology locates a dysfunctional region where the electrical wave repeatedly hits. Virtually ablating it will show if that solves the problem or if another arrhythmia forms that also will need zapping. “Then we poke it again,” she explained.

Trayanova’s team created customized ablation targets for each of the 10 study participants. Cardiologists transferred them to a mapping system they use as a guide and aimed just at those targets instead of hunting their own.

More than a year later, eight patients had no arrhythmias while two experienced only a single brief episode while they were healing — better than the treatment’s typical 60% success rate, said Dr. Jonathan Chrispin, a Hopkins cardiologist and the study’s lead author. All but two also stopped their anti-arrhythmia medicine.

More importantly, cardiologists may burn away less tissue by targeting “specifically the areas that we think are critically important,” Chrispin said. “We could potentially make these procedures shorter, safer, more effective.”

The Hopkins team hopes to study the digital twin approach in a larger study with other hospitals, and has begun a trial using it to treat a more common type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. Other researchers are studying digital twins for cancer care.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.