We all at some point of our life thought if we had a delete button to erase the bad memories, haven't we? Now, this dream may come true. When I first came across this news, the first thing that came to my mind was the animated film The Boss Baby, where babies are sent from a baby corporate to ensure that people choose babies over pets. The baby is smart, witty, and works as a spy and once the job is done, the baby goes back to the baby corporate. When the baby is gone, the staff from the company comes with a magic wand and erases everyone's memories with the baby. It is like the baby never existed for the parents or the family in the first place. Now, scientists have discovered a way to potentially erase memories, though it is to weaken the hold of traumatic memories by reactivating positive ones.

A new study published in PNAS, titled Aversive memories can be weakened during human sleep via the reactivation of positive interfering memories suggests that erasing memory may become a real possibility. If so, this might be a breakthrough that could have wide-reaching impact for treating mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety and depression.

Replacing The Bad With The Good

The basis of the research is a simple but powerful idea: when you recall a negative memory, can you weaken it by immediately linking it with something positive? This theory was put to the test by an international team of scientists who worked with 37 participants in a controlled lab setting.

Participants were first asked to associate random, made-up words with disturbing or aversive images. These images came from recognized databases and included visuals such as injuries and dangerous animals. This created a mental link between the neutral words and negative feelings.

Sleep Intervention

Once the participants have formed these unpleasant association, the next step is to sleep. This is the non-rapid eye movement or the NREM sleep. This is a crucial phase for memory consolidation. However, before this step, the researchers have attempted to "reprogram" half of the negative associations by linking the same nonsense words with pleasant images. It could be the peaceful landscapes or smiling faces.

When in the second night, the nonsense words were replayed to the participants as audio while they were in NERM sleep, their brain activity too was monitored. The monitoring happened using the electroencephalography (EEG). Interestingly, when positive images had been paired with the words earlier, the EEG showed a spike in theta-band activity. This is a brainwave that associates with emotional memory processing.

What Were The Results?

When the participants were asked to recall their memories the next day — and even several days later — a noticeable shift had taken place. Those nonsense words that had been "interfered with" by positive associations no longer triggered the same strong negative memories. In fact, participants were more likely to spontaneously recall the positive images instead. They also showed a more positive emotional bias when evaluating those memories.

In the researchers’ words, the study demonstrated that “a noninvasive sleep intervention can thus modify aversive recollection and affective responses.”

While the findings are promising, the researchers also noted that this was a controlled laboratory experiment. The emotional impact of viewing upsetting images in a lab is not the same as experiencing real-life trauma. True traumatic memories, especially those tied to lived experiences, may be much more resistant to this kind of memory editing.

That said, this approach builds on earlier findings that the brain naturally replays memories during sleep to reinforce them. If this process can be gently influenced — perhaps even without the sleeper knowing — it could someday become part of therapy for those struggling with difficult memories.

While the research still is in its early stage, it does add to the idea that our brains are not static storage banks. “Our findings open broad avenues for seeking to weaken aversive or traumatic memories,” the researchers said.

Condiments often get a bad rap in the world of healthy eating, but experts suggest it's time to reconsider that stance. While many people feel their meals are incomplete without the familiar kick of ketchup, mayo, mustard, soy sauce, ranch, or hot sauce, not all of these additions are detrimental to health. In fact, some might even enhance the nutritional profile of your meals.

"I would way rather folks add a condiment that really brightens their day and makes their food enjoyable than for them to swear off that food entirely," registered dietitian Abbey Sharp told USA Today. "If ranch is the only way that you’re going to eat vegetables, by all means, you should be adding ranch."

While many assume that condiments only add empty calories or sodium, some health professionals believe that the right choices can contribute positively to your diet. The trick lies in selecting those with fewer additives and better nutritional value.

Choosing the lowest-calorie condiment may seem wise, but calories aren't the only factor to consider. Some condiments, though low in calories, are packed with artificial additives, sodium, and sugar—ingredients that can elevate the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. On the other hand, healthier condiments often contain little added sugar and are rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats.

Abbey Sharp warns against blindly choosing products labeled "fat-free" or "low-fat," as these can be loaded with sugar and salt to compensate for lost flavor. Instead, she recommends looking for items with shorter, simpler ingredient lists.

Homemade condiments are generally less processed and lower in calories, but plenty of store-bought options can also be healthy if you check the labels carefully. Experts have highlighted several condiments that offer both flavor and nutrition:

Pesto — Made with olive oil, Parmesan, basil, and pine nuts, pesto is not only flavorful but also a good source of zinc, supporting immunity and metabolism.

Mustard — While mustard is low in calories (about six per 10 grams), it often contains turmeric, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, it can be high in sodium, so moderation is key.

Guacamole — Rich in fiber, potassium, and healthy fats from avocados, guacamole can enhance satiety and overall nutrition. Sharp calls it her favorite condiment.

Balsamic Vinegar — Made from grapes, balsamic vinegar is packed with antioxidants that may protect cells and reduce heart disease risk.

Soy Sauce — Due to its high sodium content, consider making a homemade version using low-sodium vegetable broth, vinegar, brown sugar, and spices.

Tomato-Based Sauces — Tomatoes offer potassium, lycopene, and other nutrients. Homemade ketchup or salsa can reduce added sugar intake and avoid high-fructose corn syrup.

Hummus — A blend of chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and olive oil, hummus provides protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Hot Sauce — Often containing just peppers, salt, and vinegar, hot sauce can support gut health and digestion—though sodium remains a concern.

Tahini — Ground sesame seeds provide plant-based protein and selenium, which supports brain and immune health. Just two tablespoons supply 10% of an adult’s daily protein needs.

A knee replacement surgery, also known as knee arthroplasty, involves replacing damaged knee joint surfaces with metal and plastic parts to relieve pain and improve function, especially for those with severe arthritis or injury. However, there is not much information on what to do after the surgery is performed. Dr Ayesha Abdeen, chief of hip and knee replacement surgery at Boston Medical Center, recently took to social media to break down exactly what to expect—from managing pain in the first few days to getting back on your feet and returning to the activities you love.

Here's Exactly What You Can Expect?

Total knee replacement (TKR) Surgery is usually done using spinal anesthesia along with a nerve block to help reduce pain after surgery. Right after the procedure, you will likely still feel pain relief from the nerve blocks for about eight to 12 hours.

Once the spinal anesthesia wears off, which is usually within the first hour or so in the recovery room, you will be encouraged to start walking. Early movement helps speed up recovery and lowers the risk of serious blood clots that can form in your leg (deep vein thrombosis) and travel to your lungs (pulmonary embolism). You will also be given a medication to help prevent blood clots, such as aspirin or a stronger blood thinner (anticoagulant), depending on the type of clots you have.

Pain during the first few days after TKR can be strong, especially in the front and back of the knee. Pain in the back of the knee may be due to bone spurs caused by arthritis that are removed during the surgery. To help manage this, specific nerve blocks are used right before surgery. After surgery, a “multi-modal” approach to pain relief is used.

This means you’ll get a combination of medications like acetaminophen, anti-inflammatory drugs and low-dose opioids. These medications often begin before surgery and continue afterward. Opioids use is usually stopped after one to two weeks to reduce the risk of dizziness, breathing problems, constipation, nausea and other issues.

How Soon Can You Go Home?

Patients arrive at the hospital the day of surgery and can often go home the same day or the day after. Physical therapy starts the same day as surgery and continues for six to 12 weeks. You can begin walking as soon as the anesthesia wears off. You’ll be allowed to put full weight on your leg, but most surgeons recommend using an assistive device such as crutches or a walker for the first few days or weeks to help with balance and prevent falls.

What Exercises Can Help Speed Recovery?

Strengthening your quadriceps and hamstrings. Stretching these muscles improves flexibility at the knee in flexion (bending) and extension (straightening). This is key to avoiding scar tissue and stiffness. Balance and proprioception exercises (which help your body sense where your joints are) to prevent falls. Gait training to help improve the way you walk.

When Can I Return To Normal Activities?

Depending on your activity level before surgery, you can resume walking right away. For those having a desk job, you may return in two to four weeks. For more active jobs that involve standing or walking, it may take four to six weeks. Jobs involving heavy labor may take six to 12 weeks. You should not drive until you have stopped taking opioid medications and are cleared by your surgeon.

You can start returning to sports gradually, based on your physical therapy and the type of sport. In general, most people return to sports within six to 12 weeks. Low-impact activities like walking, cycling, swimming and golf are recommended. It’s best to avoid high-impact activities like running or jumping to protect the new joint.

When Should I See A Doctor?

Pain is expected during the first few days and usually gets better after a few weeks. Ice and pain medications can help manage this. If you develop increasing calf and/or thigh pain and swelling, you should contact your doctor, as this could signal a blood clot. If you notice fluid, pus or bleeding at the incision, call your surgical team.

How Long Does A Knee Replacement Last?

A knee replacement usually lasts 15 to 20 years, but sometimes it can fail earlier. Reasons for failure include joint infection (which can happen soon after surgery or years later from infection spreading through the bloodstream), wear and loosening of the components, bone fracture around the implant, instability or severe stiffness

Exercise is often hailed as a natural remedy for many chronic conditions—but for people living with migraine, it can be a double-edged sword. A recent survey published in the Journal of Headache and Pain found that 38% of participants reported physical activity as a trigger for migraine attacks. More than half of those said their symptoms began during exercise, while others noted that attacks started, on average, over two hours after the workout ended.

Migraine is a complex neurological disorder that affects approximately 4.9 million Australians. It is far more than just a bad headache. It is a condition that is indicated by moderate to severe headaches accompanied by symptoms like nausea, visual disturbances, and intense sensitivity to light and sound. Interestingly, while some people with migraine find exercise to be a trigger, others are encouraged to see it as part of their treatment plan. Studies suggest that regular aerobic exercise may help reduce the frequency of attacks, lessen their intensity, and improve overall quality of life.

Accredited exercise physiologist Cordes, who herself lives with chronic migraine, says she couldn’t tolerate even light exercise during the first year after her diagnosis. Speaking to ABC News, she said that it just felt like a bit of a nightmare. Today, she works with a large number of clients navigating the same challenges. Even if you feel like exercise is triggering your migraine attacks, it might not be the whole story. She explained that it could be that you’re working out in the heat, which can be a trigger, or perhaps you’re dehydrated or haven’t eaten enough, which causes blood sugar to drop. All of these factors can contribute.

For some, the impact of migraine has meant stepping away from once-beloved sports. There are many people who confirmed that severe headaches, which is a form of migraine, meant that they had to give up activities like swimming, netball, and basketball.

Personalised Plans Can Help

With so many variables at play, experts stress the importance of personalized treatment plans. For those with migraine, exercise should be approached carefully—starting slow, staying hydrated, avoiding extreme temperatures, and paying attention to the body's signals. What works for one person might not work for another, but with the right support and adjustments, many can find a way back to movement without fear of pain.