COULD dressing up become part of the pharmacy curriculum; researchers in the USA have found that students perform boring tasks more effectively if they are pretending to be Batman.
A study looked at the behaviour of 4-6 year olds who were given a repetitive job, with the option of playing on an iPad when they became bored.
The kids were told the task was extremely important - and the researchers found that when the participants thought of themselves as superheroes they were more likely to stick to it rather than be distracted by technology.
The scientists conducting the study, from the University of Minnesota, described the dress-up phenomenon as 'self-distancing'.
As you would expect, even the most enthusiastic workers still spent 2/3 of their time on the iPad.
Obesity is definitely an issue for a very fat squirrel in New Jersey, USA, which was spotted stealing chocolates left out as a holiday treat for delivery workers.
The miscreant was captured on a surveillance camera after a basket of treats on a home's doorstep was repeatedly raided.
The homeowner, Michele Boudreaux, said the rodent thief was definitely targeting the pricier items including a significant quantity of Ghirardelli chocolate.
She wrote on her blog "this squirrel is so obese - a jolly ol' chap - he must be prepping for a decade of winters".
The issue has now been solved, with Boudreaux saying she is putting the sweet items in a jar that requires opposable thumbs.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 12 Dec 17
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 12 Dec 17