A few years ago, magazines, newspapers, and books were the main allies when going to the bathroom, but recently, the cell phone has become an indispensable companion for many people. And this has its consequences: research published in the scientific journal PLOS One warns that using a cell phone while on the toilet may be associated with a higher risk of developing hemorrhoids. The key to the study, conducted by a team of researchers from Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, is that users who take their cell phone to the bathroom end up spending more time there than those who don't, and that this may contribute to suffering from this gastrointestinal condition.

I have a smart toilet at home. And if it isn't, at least it's very clever. When I step into the bathroom, the lid opens automatically, and LED lights softly illuminate the room. The seat heats up, and extractors inside the bowl filter out any unpleasant odors. When I'm finished, high-pressure water jets rinse me from the front and back. Finally, a hairdryer leaves me as good as new. When I get up, the tank drains, the lid lowers automatically, and the lights turn off. It's wonderful!