Moreover, the glass means LCDs are heavy and easily broken, as anyone who has dropped a laptop knows to his cost.

ECONOMIST: Electronic screens as thin as paper are coming soon

The hopeful news Dr Bearman's work brings is that it should be easier to stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases through a teenage-type graph than an adult one, since the spindly chains of connection between individuals can more easily be broken.

ECONOMIST: What maths tells us about us

Unfortunately for snow enthusiasts, the model found that the fragile needle-like ice crystals connecting the two layers can be broken easily and separated by the weight of new snow or a skier.

MSN: How a deadly avalanche can be triggered

Typically, the inspector will uncover many items that you can easily fix yourself, like a broken window latch or a clogged bathroom drain.

WSJ: Are Sellers' Appraisals and Inspections Overkill?--WSJ House Talk

Townsend's book had the benefit not only of being jargon-free, but also of being easily digestible it ran to around 250 pages and was broken up into small sections, none of which was longer than three pages.

ECONOMIST: Guru