Huge Swedish study researches autism
A study out of Sweden's Karolinska Institute links autism with mothers with a hormonal imbalance. The huge study — following all children born in Sweden from 1984 to 2007 — is the first to link an imbalance called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects up to one in six women, to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. They identified about 24,000 ASD cases. "We found that a maternal diagnosis of PCOS increased the risk of ASD in the offspring by 59 percent," said Kyriaki Kosidou, lead researcher at Karolinska's Department of Public Health Sciences, after the findings were published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. The causes are not entirely clear, but evidence suggests early exposure to certain sex hormones (such as from mothers with PCOS) — can play a role in the development of autism in children. "The risk was further increased among mothers with both PCOS and obesity," Kosidou said. American boss for Swedish tech symposium The new CEO of Symposium Stockholm is US-based journalist and digital strategist Natalia Brzezinski. Six months after it first launched in Stockholm, Brzezinski was announced as the new boss. Mixing the tech and startup scene with the fashion and media industries, Symposium Stockholm is a two-day conference of tech gurus, music stars and entrepreneurs getting together to share ideas. “I believe that business happens in-between. So this is an attempt to bring together different sectors to formulate a long-term sustainable model,” said Brzezinski. The Swedish festival gained a lot of international attention and she has high hopes to turn the event into a staple in the global calendar, like, she hopes, “a kind of Nobel award week for young creatives and innovators.” Brzezinski, who lived in Sweden with her husband Mark Brzezinski, who served as U.S. ambassador in Stockholm from 2011 to 2015, is now based in Washington DC and hopes to promote Sweden and Stockholm to the world.

America asks Sweden for help
President Barack Obama and U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter have requested help from Sweden in the fight against terrorism. Carter's letter to Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist asks for increased support and solidarity from Sweden. Hultqvist cannot comment specifically, but he makes it clear Sweden stands united to fight IS (ISIS). Everything is expected to be on the table in discussing how deeply Sweden can get involved. Mikael Oscarsson, member of the Defense Committee says, "It's basically the same request we have received from France. They have asked for help in accordance with the declaration of solidarity in the Treaty of Lisbon, and we should help."

Swedes are warned against bundling up
Winter hasn’t hit hard yet, but Swedes are already being warned about bundling up their children too much: Do not put them into their carseats with thick and bulky winter clothing, says the General German Automobile Club (ADAC). The ADAC has tested the collision impact on children and how it differs if they are wearing heavy clothing. This is because the belt is not held firmly against the body, redistributing the weight in an unintended way; when a car jolts quickly in the case of a sudden stop or accident, the belt jolts, too, potentially cutting deeply into the abdomen and damaging the bowel, liver and spleen. In cold climates, children are particularly susceptible to this, but so is anyone who rides wearing heavy layers. The solution? Crank up the heat in the car, maybe even invest in a heater that starts working before you buckle in your baby. And if your little one is still in an infant carrier, use a warm cocoon carseat cover.