A multi‑site research team found people consistently underestimate how enjoyable conversations about seemingly dull topics can be. Published April 13, 2026 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the study led by Elizabeth Trinh (University of Michigan) with collaborators at Cornell and INSEAD ran nine experiments with about 1,800 participants across the U.S., France and Singapore. Participants rated topics (eg, the stock market, vegan diets, Pokémon) as boring or interesting, predicted how enjoyable a conversation would be, then took part in brief live or online conversations. Across experiments, live participation produced higher enjoyment than predicted; passive exposure (reading or watching) did not. The authors conclude that people misjudge the “dynamic” interactive elements—listening, questions, reciprocity—that drive enjoyment, and that avoiding small talk may deprive people of mood‑boosting social connection.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, the 78-year-old composer behind Phantom of the Opera, Cats and other hit musicals, has told The Times he is a “recovering alcoholic.” In an interview published Apr. 18, 2026, Lord Lloyd-Webber said he sought help about 16 months ago after a period he described as a “downhill spiral” that left his family “in a desperate state.” He initially checked into a clinic, which he said didn’t work, and later began attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings – now taking part daily whether at his homes in London, Hampshire or New York. Lloyd-Webber said he had briefly stopped drinking in 2015–16 but relapsed, often drinking in secret, and that attending AA was life-changing. He credited family support, wears bracelets bearing his late son Nicholas’s name and a link from his other children, and said sobriety has not diminished his creative output; he is working on two new musicals and has recent productions on Broadway. Lloyd-Webber is also selling the remainder of his wine collection via Christie’s, with auctions scheduled Apr. 22–May 6.

A jar of HiPP baby food sold at SPAR supermarkets in Austria tested positive for rat poison, prompting a precautionary recall announced on April 18-19, 2026. Austrian police in Burgenland said a 190g jar of carrot-and-potato puree for infants was reported by a customer in the Eisenstadt area and laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of a toxic rodenticide. HiPP and SPAR removed affected stock from about 1,000–1,500 SPAR stores in Austria; similar jars seized in the Czech Republic and Slovakia also showed traces of a toxic substance. HiPP said the incident appears to be an external criminal interference affecting the SPAR Austria distribution channel and warned consumption could be life-threatening. Authorities advised customers not to eat the product, to return jars for a full refund, to wash hands after contact and to seek medical help if ingestion is suspected. Investigations are ongoing in Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. No confirmed illnesses have been reported so far.

Dancing With the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba was rushed to hospital after a mid‑flight medical emergency while flying from Los Angeles to New York on April 16, 2026, she said in an Instagram post. Inaba, 58, described suddenly feeling very ill — breaking out into a cold sweat, becoming dizzy and experiencing numbness in her arms — symptoms that prompted a call for medical help aboard the plane. Doctors on board and flight crew assisted; paramedics met the aircraft and took her to an emergency room. During the ambulance ride her blood pressure briefly dropped, she said, but she was later stabilized, discharged and returned to her hotel. Inaba, who has publicly discussed multiple autoimmune conditions including lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, said the episode did not appear tied to her Sjögren’s diagnosis. She thanked the medical personnel, flight staff and fellow passengers who helped, and apologized for cancelling scheduled interviews and appearances while she rests and recovers.

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC reported early-stage clinical trial results showing donor-derived regulatory dendritic cells can prime recipients’ immune systems to accept living-donor liver grafts without lifelong immunosuppression. The Phase I/IIa study, published in Nature Communications on April 17–18, 2026, enrolled 13 living-liver transplant recipients who received an infusion of dendritic regulatory cells derived from donor monocytes one week before surgery. One year after transplant, eight patients were eligible for stepwise withdrawal of anti-rejection drugs; four achieved complete withdrawal and three have remained off immunosuppression for more than three years. Investigators describe the approach as feasible and preliminarily safe, with a 37.5% withdrawal success among those eligible versus roughly 13–16% historically. Authors and commentators caution the trial was small and not randomized, and they call for larger controlled studies to confirm efficacy, optimize timing and regimens, and evaluate use with deceased donors or alternative immunosuppressant protocols.

Western Bulldogs forward Sam Darcy will miss the remainder of the 2026 AFL season after scans confirmed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the club said following an injury sustained during the second quarter of Friday night’s match against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium. The 22-year-old underwent scans on Saturday and the club’s head of sports medicine, Chris Bell, said Darcy will begin a rehabilitation program in the coming months. The injury was one of several blows for the Bulldogs on a chaotic night: Tom Liberatore suffered a concussion and will be managed under AFL protocols, James O’Donnell has a hamstring injury, while Rory Lobb was cleared of any serious damage and will be assessed for availability. The loss compounds other absences for the Bulldogs — including Tim English and Connor Budarick — as Geelong ran out 75-point winners, with Jeremy Cameron kicking 10 goals. Darcy’s injury echoes a family history: his father Luke tore an ACL against the same opponents at the same venue in 2005. The club said it will outline a return-to-play plan as rehabilitation progresses.