THE death of the sickie could be upon us if researchers from the University of Pittsburgh have a say.
A computer is being developed that rates how much pain someone is in by detecting small changes to their facial expressions.
Such a system could help doctors determine how to treat patients and may save the prescription of painkillers.
The researchers hope the system could one day be available as an app that doctors have on their smartphones.
Study author Dr Jeffrey Cohn from the University of Pittsburgh said, "These metrics might be useful in determining real pain from faked pain."
Babies who sleep in separate rooms from their parents have earlier bedtimes, take less time to nod off and get more shut eye, new research reveals.
They are also less likely to require feeding at night, a study in Philadelphia found.
Parents of such babies find bedtime less difficult and report sleeping better themselves, the research adds.
Lead author Dr Jodi Mindell from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said, "One main reason is that they are more likely to self-soothe to sleep."
The researchers studied questionnaires completed by the US parents of 6,236 infants aged between six and 12 months.
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