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Books vs. Audiobooks: Is Reading Always More Beneficial for the Brain Than Listening?

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Engaging with information can alter how your brain processes and reacts to it

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As a passionate reader and writer, I often find myself disheartened. Recent reports indicate a decline in reading for enjoyment among younger generations. When a friend asked if her use of audiobooks provided the same cognitive benefits as traditional reading for her daughter, my initial thought was, “Enjoyment matters more than the format.” However, exploring the science revealed that the medium indeed influences our cognitive process in important and distinct ways.

The Advantages of Reading

Reading unquestionably benefits us. Aside from the knowledge it imparts and the opportunities it opens up, numerous studies link childhood literacy with both physical and mental well-being – and even extended lifespans.

It is believed that reading exercises three crucial cognitive functions. Firstly, it promotes “Deep Reading,” allowing us to connect different sections of text, reflect on their relevance to our lives, and engage with the material critically.

Secondly, reading fosters empathy and bolsters our emotional intelligence—traits that are essential for coping with stress and navigating real-life difficulties. Thirdly, there exists a correlation between reading and cognitive development. The “Theory of Mind” refers to our ability to recognize that others may hold different thoughts and beliefs than we do.

However, discerning the impact of reading from other influences can be challenging. Moreover, readers may enjoy advantages like having leisure time, financial resources, or even genetic traits which can affect overall health, cognition, or longevity.

Nevertheless, a study involving over 3,500 participants attempted to account for these factors, revealing that individuals who read for approximately 30 minutes each day were 20% less likely to pass away in the subsequent 12 years. This benefit was more pronounced among book readers compared to those who primarily read newspapers and magazines.

Digital Media: E-readers and Audiobooks

Comparing print reading to digital formats complicates the research landscape. Some studies suggest that screen reading promotes a more superficial understanding compared to reading printed material.

There are also subtle differences. In a series of experiments conducted by Anne Mangen from Stavanger University, Norway, and Frank Hakemalder from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, it was found that frequent readers of short texts on screens tended to seek meaning less diligently than their paper-reading counterparts. Additionally, increased exposure to screen reading correlated with diminished persistence in tackling longer literary works.

Concerning audiobooks, while the evidence remains limited, I find some solace in the findings. Research indicates that comprehension levels are very similar whether one is reading or listening. However, some nuances exist—meta-analyses of 46 studies discovered that reading provides a slight advantage for interpreting the emotions of characters, among other interpretative skills. Thus, drawing inferences from the text is somewhat more effective when reading.

Diverse Cognitive Approaches

Interestingly, listening rather than reading seems to engage different cognitive aspects. For instance, research shows that individuals tended to think more intuitively when responding to verbal questions compared to written ones.

Listening to an audiobook provides the experience of hearing another person’s voice with its unique intonations, rhythms, and emotions, which can greatly influence interpretation. Janet Gaipel from the University of Exeter notes that contrastingly, reading relies on our inner voice, allowing for a more individualized and self-paced experience. These distinctions may significantly affect how information is perceived and utilized.

Nonetheless, “listening to audiobooks is not somehow detrimental,” Geipel argues. “The real issue lies in how you allocate your attention. Listening can be just as effective as reading if you are fully focused, but multitasking while listening can compromise depth compared to immersive reading without distractions.”

Finding What Works for You

Listening alongside reading introduces yet another layer. A meta-analysis conducted by Virginia Clinton Lisell at the University of North Dakota found that while combining listening with reading might yield slight improvements in understanding, this is likely only true for those who struggle with decoding text, such as individuals with low literacy or those learning to read in a non-native language. For skilled readers, however, this dual engagement may lead to diminished comprehension due to “cognitive load theory,” where presenting information in two formats can create redundancy and overwhelm cognitive resources.

Ultimately, various factors—dyslexia, visual impairments, lengthy commutes, or personal preference—can drive the choice for audiobooks rather than print. As for whether you derive equivalent benefits, “there’s no straightforward answer,” Geipel acknowledges.

If options are available, I suggest reserving an engaging podcast or a thought-provoking book for moments of focus, rather than while preparing dinner. However, if someone is immersed in a story purely for enjoyment, as in the case of my friend’s daughter, choosing an audiobook appears to be a far better alternative than missing out altogether.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Quantum Computers Exhibit Unexpected Randomness—And That’s Beneficial!

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Quantum object shuffling is more complex than classic shuffling

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Quantum computers are capable of generating randomness far more efficiently than previously anticipated. This remarkable discovery reveals the ongoing complexities at the intersection of quantum physics and computation.

Randomness is essential for numerous computational tasks. For instance, weather simulations require multiple iterations with randomly chosen slightly varied initial conditions. In the realm of quantum computing, researchers have demonstrated quantum advantage by arranging qubits randomly to yield outcomes that classical machines struggle to achieve.

Creating these random configurations effectively entails shuffling qubits and connecting them repeatedly, akin to shuffling a deck of cards. Initially, it was believed that adding more qubits to the system would extend the time required for shuffling, analogous to how larger decks of cards are harder to shuffle. With increased shuffling potentially compromising the delicate quantum states of qubits, the prospect of significant applications relying on randomness was thought to be limited to smaller quantum systems.

Recently, Thomas Schuster from the California Institute of Technology and his team found that generating these random sequences requires fewer shuffles than previously believed.

To illustrate this, Schuster and his colleagues conceptualized dividing the qubit ensemble into smaller segments, thereby mathematically demonstrating that each segment could independently produce a random sequence. They further established that these smaller qubit segments could be “joined” to create a well-shuffled version of the original collection of qubits in a manner that defies expectations.

“It’s quite astonishing because it indicates that classical random number generators don’t exhibit anything comparable,” states Schuster. For instance, in the case of card shuffling within a block, the top cards tend to remain near the top. This is not applicable in quantum systems, where quantum shuffles generate a random superposition of all possible arrangements.

“This is a significantly more intricate phenomenon compared to classical shuffling. The order of the top card is not preserved, as can be observed through classical methods where measuring the top card’s position post-shuffle yields a random output each time, devoid of any insights into the shuffling process itself. It’s genuinely a new and fundamentally quantum phenomenon.”

“We anticipated that this sort of random quantum behavior would be exceptionally challenging to achieve. Yet, the authors demonstrated that it can be realized with remarkable efficiency,” remarks Peter Craze from the Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems in Germany. “This discovery was quite unexpected.”

“Random quantum circuits hold numerous applications as elements of quantum algorithms and for showcasing what is termed quantum advantage,” notes Ashley Montanaro from the University of Bristol, UK. “The authors have already identified various applications in quantum information and hope that additional applications will emerge.” While researchers can facilitate experiments demonstrating a type of quantum advantage they have previously conducted, Montanaro cautions that this does not imply we are closer to reaping the practical benefits of such advantages.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Shrinkage of Neutrinos is Beneficial for Physics

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On Thursday, researchers released the most accurate measurements of neutrinos, reducing the maximum possible mass of ghostly speckles of matter permeating our universe.

result, Published Science journals do not define the exact mass of neutrinos, but do not define just the upper limit. However, this discovery helps physicists get closer to understanding what is wrong with the so-called standard model. One way physicists know that it is not accurate at all is that they suggest that neutrinos have no mass at all.

In Grander Scales, learning more about neutrinos can help cosmologists fill in hazy pictures of the universe. This includes how galaxies gather and what will affect the expansion of the universe since the Big Bang.

“The new research is a great opportunity to learn more about the world,” said John Wilkerson, Chapel Hill, a physicist at the University of North Carolina and author of the new study. “And that’s what neutrinos may play a key role.”

Physicists know a few things about neutrinos. They are prolific across the universe and are actually created whenever atomic nuclei snap together or fall apart. However, they are notoriously difficult to detect because they do not carry charges.

There are three types of neutrinos, which physicists describe as flavors. And, strangely enough, they change from one flavor to another when they travel to space and time, a discovery recognized by the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2015. The underlying mechanism that allowed these transformations meant that neutrinos had to have some mass.

But that’s the case. Neutrinos are dauntingly light, and physicists don’t know why.

Revealing the exact values of neutrino masses, Alexei Lokhov, a scientist at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany, said that new physics could lead to “some kind of portal.” “At the moment, this is the biggest limitation in the world,” he said of the team’s measurements.

Dr. Rokhov and his colleagues conducted an experiment using Karlsrue tritium neutrinos or catrine to narrow down the neutrino mass. One end of the 230-foot-long device is a heavy version of hydrogen, a source of tritium and with two neutrons in its nucleus. Tritium is unstable and collapses into helium. A neutron is converted into a proton, and in the process the electrons are ejected. It also spits out antinutrinos, the antimatter twins of neutrinos. The two require the same mass.

The original tritium mass is divided into helium, electrons, and antioxidant spoilage products. Neutrinos and anti-anti-utrinos cannot be directly detected, but the sensor on the other side of the experiment recorded 36 million electrons over 259 days and was washed away by attenuated tritium. By measuring the energy of electron movement, they were able to indirectly infer the maximum possible mass for antinutorino.

They found that the value was less than 0.45 electron volts, one million times lighter than electrons, in the unit of mass used by particle physicists.

The upper limit of mass was measured only for one flavour of neutrinos. But Dr. Wilkerson said that nailing one chunk would allow you to calculate the rest.

Latest measurements reduce the potential mass of neutrinos Previous limit Set in 2022 by Katrin Collaboration under 0.8 Electronvolts. It’s also almost twice as accurate.

University of Washington physicist Elise Nowitzky praised the Catlin team for their careful efforts, although not involved in the job.

“It’s really the power of tours,” she said of her experiments and discoveries. “I’m totally confident in their outcome.”

The Catlin team is working on further boundaries of neutrino masses from 1,000 days of data and is expected to be collected by the end of the year. This allows physicists to measure even more electrons, leading to more accurate measurements.

Other experiments also contribute to a better understanding of neutrino mass. Project 8 Seattle and deep underground neutrino experiments spread across two physical facilities in the Midwest.

Astronomers studying the structure of the universe, thought to be influenced by the vast collection of universes, have a vast collection of neutrinos that are flooded into the universe, and have their own measurements of the maximum mass of particles. However, according to Dr. Wilkerson, the boundaries that astronomers stare at the void do not match what particle physicists calculate in their lab when scrutinizing the subatomic world.

“There’s something really funny going on,” he said. “And the possible solution to that would be physics beyond the standard model.”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Are fermented foods like kimchi and kombucha truly beneficial for gut health?

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Korean traditional fermented appetizer kimchi cabbage salad and sticks in ceramic bowl on gray spotted background. Lay flat, space. Shutterstock ID 1343369669;Purchase order: -;Work: -;Client: -;Other: -

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Humans have been fermenting foods and drinks for at least 13,000 years and touting their health benefits for almost as long. However, even though we have a long history with these foods, we are only just beginning to determine whether these foods are actually beneficial to our health.

But unlike our ancestors, we now know how fermentation works. Microorganisms such as certain yeasts and bacteria break down the sugars in grains, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products in ways that prevent them from spoiling and create their unique flavors. But what does this mean for our health?

This article is part of a series on nutrition that delves into today’s hottest trends. Click here for details.

Many studies have shown that fermented foods, especially dairy versions, Reduced risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity. for example, 2023 survey A study of more than 46,000 adults living in the United States found that eating fermented foods was associated with lower blood pressure, body mass index, and waist circumference.

However, much of the research lumps all types of fermented foods together, and given the health effects of these products, it is likely that people who consume fermented foods are also more likely to take care of their health in other ways. I understand. Both of these factors make it difficult to determine what is actually driving the observed benefits.

benefits of yogurt

However, the most likely case is yogurt. Many large-scale studies have linked its consumption to: Improving immunityimprove bone density and longevity, and reduce the risk of: cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. However, determining cause and effect from these observations…

Source: www.newscientist.com

A recent review suggests that using weighted blankets can be beneficial for enhancing sleep quality

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Weighted blankets can help improve sleep in adults with insomnia and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, but results are mixed in children, one researcher says. new review paper Published in American Occupational Therapy Journal.

dawson others. We suggest that occupational therapists should consider offering or recommending weighted blankets as a sleep intervention option for all age groups, taking into account individual preferences. Image credit: Martin de Arriba.

“Sleep is a basic human need, and not getting enough sleep can increase or worsen the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and mental health problems, as well as It can cause health problems.” Dr Suzanne Dawson, researcher at Flinders University.

“In occupational therapy, weighted blankets are becoming common among many age groups as an assistive technology, but there are no current clinical guidelines for their use.”

In a review study, Dr. Dawson and fellow authors considered 18 existing studies that investigated the overnight use of weighted blankets.

They found significant evidence supporting the use of weighted blankets to improve sleep in adults.

“Weighted blankets appear to offer a specific, non-drug intervention to improve sleep quality,” says Dr. Dawson.

“Adults who used the blanket reported improved sleep, reduced use of sleeping pills, and even improved mood and pain management.”

Despite strong evidence for use in adults, research on the use of weighted blankets in children is mixed, and there are limits to their ability to improve sleep in children with conditions such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorders.

“However, some parents report positive results with the use of weighted blankets, and some studies have shown that children’s daily functioning improves after using weighted blankets.”

“Parents often reported that when using blankets, their children seemed more relaxed, less anxious, and more focused in their daily lives. This has been shown to improve children’s overall health can have long-term effects,” Dr. Dawson said.

The authors note that for children and adults with cognitive impairments, the blankets used should be easy to remove on their own.

Although the findings indicate that overnight use of weighted blankets is recommended for adults and can be continued for children, the next step is to develop clear clinical guidelines for blanket use.

“This scoping study was conducted to inform change in practice and its findings were used to change state-wide protocols for the use of weighted blankets across South Australia’s public mental health services. I’m very happy about that,” Dr. Dawson said.

“Blankets come in many different types, including those with beads and chains, and those of varying weights, but there are still no standardized recommendations including type, weight, frequency of use, and duration. .”

“More rigorous research is needed to find out how best to use them, but the practical use of weighted blankets requires further research.”

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Suzanne Dawson others. 2024. Weighted Blankets as a Sleep Intervention: A Scope Review. American Occupational Therapy Journal 78 (5): 7805205​​160;doi: 10.5014/ajot.2024.050676

Source: www.sci.news

New study indicates that increased UV exposure may be beneficial for health in sun-deprived nations

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A recent study indicates that individuals in the UK Biobank who utilized solariums and resided in regions with high annual average residential shortwave radiation were at a decreased risk of death from various causes, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. Solarium users also exhibited a lower risk of non-cardiovascular/cancer mortality.

Higher exposure to UV light was associated with lower all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease mortality, and cancer mortality.

“In the UK and other nations with substantial European descendant populations, the emphasis of public health messaging has been on the dangers of ultraviolet (UV) exposure,” stated Professor Chris Dibben from the University of Edinburgh and his team.

“This is particularly concerning considering the established connection between UV radiation and melanoma development.”

“New findings suggest that the benefits of UV exposure might outweigh the risks, especially in low sunlight settings.”

“Among a group of Swedish women, those with higher sun exposure had a longer life span compared to those who avoided the sun.”

“The reduction in mortality rates is mainly linked to decreased cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular/non-cancer mortality.”

“In a study of Swedish women with moderate sun exposure habits, fair-skinned women had an 8% lower overall mortality rate compared to non-fair-skinned women.”

The study utilized genetic and health data from UK Biobank to examine UV exposure in 395,000 individuals in the UK.

Participants were limited to individuals of European descent with fair skin due to the impact of skin pigment on the body’s response to UV radiation.

Researchers utilized two criteria to identify individuals with higher UV exposure levels.

They assessed participants’ geographical locations to determine their average yearly solar energy exposure and whether they utilized sunbeds.

Living in regions with elevated UV levels, like Cornwall, was correlated with a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer (19% and 12% respectively) compared to regions with lower UV levels, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Use of sunbeds was connected to a 23% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease death and a 14% lower risk of cancer-related death compared to non-users.

Given that sunbed users might also engage in more sunbathing, this result could reflect broader sun-seeking behaviors.

Individuals with higher estimated UV exposure showed a slightly greater risk of melanoma diagnosis but not an increased risk of mortality from melanoma.

“Our study contributes to the mounting evidence indicating that relatively high UV exposure in low-light environments could be advantageous for health,” Prof Dibben remarked.

“While increased UV radiation exposure may elevate skin cancer risk, this risk seems to be outweighed by the considerable reduction in cancer and cardiovascular-related disease mortality.”

“Dermatologists have traditionally only considered sunlight’s potential harm to the skin based on experiences of white individuals in sunny nations like Australia,” noted Professor Richard Weller from the University of Edinburgh.

“It is essential to safeguard your skin during periods of very high UV index, but this study indicates that the balance of benefits and risks from sun exposure in the UK may differ significantly from sunnier locales.”

Reference: Survey results Published in the journal Health and location.

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Andrew C. Stevenson others2024. Higher UV exposure is associated with reduced mortality: analysis of data from the UK Biobank cohort study. Health and location 89: 103328; doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103328

Source: www.sci.news

The common misconception that moderate alcohol consumption is beneficial for your health

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Drinking alcohol is bad for you, but it is often a social activity.

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Rigorous research suggests that drinking even small amounts of alcohol can shorten your lifespan, and that only people with serious health problems would benefit from moderate drinking. That's the conclusion of a review of 107 studies that looked at how drinking alcohol at specific ages affects the risk of dying from all causes.

“People need to be skeptical of the claims that the industry has been peddling for years.” Tim Stockwell “They clearly have a strong interest in promoting their products as not cancer-causing but as life-prolonging,” said researchers from the University of Victoria in Canada.

Stockwell says people should be told that while the risks of moderate drinking are small, it's not beneficial. “It may not be as dangerous as a lot of other things, but it's important that consumers are aware,” he says. “I also think it's important that manufacturers inform consumers of the risks through warning labels.”

The best way to assess the effects of alcohol would be to randomly select people who drink and who don&#39t drink as children, and then monitor their health and drinking for the rest of their lives. Because such studies are not possible, researchers instead have to ask people about their drinking habits and follow them over a much shorter period of time.

By the 2000s, a number of studies of this kind had been done, suggesting that the relationship between alcohol consumption and risk of death at a given age follows a J-shaped curve: drinking a little alcohol slightly reduces your risk of dying from any cause compared with a non-drinker, but as you drink more alcohol, your risk increases sharply.

Stockwell says he was convinced the science was well-established at the time, but he and other researchers have since Such studies have serious flaws.

The main problem is that they often don&#39t compare people who have never drunk alcohol to people who have. Many studies instead compare people who no longer drink to people who still drink. People who stop drinking, especially later in life, often have health problems, so moderate drinkers seem healthy in comparison, Stockwell says.

Although some studies claim to compare current drinkers with “never drinkers,” the definition of the latter group often actually includes occasional drinkers, Stockwell says. For example, one study defined people who had up to 11 drinks a year as lifetime abstainers.

“In our opinion, the majority of research has not addressed this potential source of bias,” Stockwell says, “To be clear, people have tried to address this, but we don&#39t think they&#39ve done so adequately.”

In fact, his team found that of 107 studies they reviewed, only six adequately addressed these sources of bias, and none of those six found any risk reduction with moderate drinking.

” [high-quality] “The research suggests a linear relationship,” Stockwell says, “the more you drink, the higher your risk of heart disease. Our study looks at total mortality, and it&#39s clear that heart disease is the main issue.”

The review says that it is very clear that lower quality studies are more likely to suggest a beneficial effect. Duane Mellor At the British Dietetic Association.

But he points out that this doesn&#39t take into account the social aspects of moderate drinking. “While it&#39s healthier to socialize without drinking alcohol, the benefits of spending time with other people are likely to outweigh the risks of consuming one or two units of alcohol,” he says. “Perhaps the challenge is to limit alcohol intake in this way.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Claude 3.5 advocates for the extensive use of AI in the near future as beneficial

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TThe state of the art in AI just got a little bit further along: On Friday, Anthropic, an AI lab founded by a team of disgruntled OpenAI staffers, released the latest version of its Claude LLM. From Bloomberg:

The company announced on Thursday that a new model of the technology behind its popular chatbot, “Claude,” is twice as fast as its most powerful predecessor. In its evaluation, Anthropik said the model outperformed leading competitors such as OpenAI in several key intelligence capabilities, including coding and text-based reasoning.

Anthropik just released the previous version of Claude, 3.0, in March. This latest model is called 3.5, and it’s currently only available on the company’s mid-range model, “Sonnet.” The company says a faster, cheaper, less powerful “Haiku” version is coming soon, as well as a slower, more expensive, but most powerful “Opus.”

But even before Opus arrived, Anthropic claimed to have the best AI on the market. In a series of head-to-head comparisons posted on the company’s blog, 3.5 Sonnet outperformed OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-4o, in tasks like math quizzes, text comprehension, and undergraduate-level knowledge. It wasn’t a clean sweep, with GPT maintaining the lead in several benchmarks, but it was enough to justify the company’s claim that it’s on the cutting edge of what’s possible.

From a more qualitative perspective, AI seems to be a step forward. Anthropic states:

They have a significantly improved ability to understand nuance, humor, and complex instructions, and they excel at writing high-quality content in a natural, relatable tone.

They’re grading their own homework, and their explanation matches the changes I’ve noticed: No matter where the technical benchmarks are, I find talking to the latest version of Claude more enjoyable than any AI system I’ve used before.

But the company isn’t just selling power updates. Instead, in a way favored by smaller competitors around the world, Anthropic is focusing as much on cost as it is on features. The company claims that Claude 3.5 is not only smarter than its predecessor, but also cheaper.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Introducing smartphones gradually is more beneficial for children than banning them completely

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“Let’s take cell phones out of schools.” “Social media is harmful to teens.”

Such messages are being broadcast around the world and appear to have reached a peak in recent days. In the UK, concerns about the harms of social media and screen time have led to Smartphone Free Children Campaign A government crackdown on smartphone use in schools has also begun, and ministers are considering banning the sale of smartphones to anyone under 16. Meanwhile, in the United States, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy this week called for social media platforms to require cigarette-style warning labels.

More than 40% of American children own a smartphone by age 10, and the concern is Excessive screen use can lead to health problemsThese include obesity, sleep disorders, depression and anxiety.

Certainly, some studies have documented this link, but as we explain in our feature, The Truth About How Social Media and Screen Time Affect Young People, the evidence that screen time causes widespread harm to children is not as strong or clear as some claim.

While we figure out the details, we must protect our children, especially those who are most vulnerable to the harmful influences of smartphones and social media. But depriving them entirely would be the wrong move.

The smarter approach is to give children access, even from an early age, in a controlled and measured way.

Imagine what a smartphone utopia might look like: It would be done in stages: instead of giving kids access to the entire internet at first, we’d allow them access to walled gardens, like kid-friendly TV channels.

In such a world, we would allow limited messaging with strict moderation that loosens with age, the system would allow parents access that diminishes over time, and all of this would be combined with ongoing digital literacy classes.

Smartphones, social media, and screens will continue to be a part of our children’s lives, no matter how many warning labels they carry, and now is the time to think seriously about how we give our kids the tools they need to navigate the realities of growing up online.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Beneficial microorganisms in plant roots enhance the flavor of tea

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Microbes appear to influence how well tea plants absorb nutrients

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Tweaking the microbial community at the base of the tea plant could make your favorite tea taste even better.

Just as the bacteria that live in our guts influence our health, the microbes that live in and around plant roots play a role in how plants absorb nutrients from the soil. Masu. But little is known about their effects on tea flavor and nutritional content, he says. Yang Zhenbiao At the University of California, Riverside.

To learn more, Yang and his colleagues collected and analyzed tea plants (Camellia sinensis) is grown in Fujian Province, China. Researchers found that certain soil microorganisms are involved in increased nitrogen uptake, which increases the production of a chemical called theanine in plant roots, resulting in increased production of a chemical called theanine, especially in the leaves of a variety called Roguey. It turns out that the level has increased.

Theanine adds a rich flavor to beer, and the amount of theanine contained is considered an important indicator of the quality of tea. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can counteract the stimulant effects of caffeine, Yang says.

In the next step of the study, the researchers extracted the 21 most beneficial microorganisms for theanine from the soil and generated a custom microbial community. Its composition was very similar to that found naturally around Logi.

When this mixture was applied to the roots of other types of tea plants, theanine levels were increased even in the roots of tea plants grown in nitrogen-poor soils. “Not only does it have great health benefits, but it also improves the sweetness and flavor of the tea,” says Yang.

The research team hopes that the customized microbial community could be used in the future to perfect the quality of tea and improve the nutritional value of other plants such as rice.

“Improving nitrogen absorption efficiency can also reduce dependence on fertilizers, which could also have a major impact on the future of agriculture,” says Yang.

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Source: www.newscientist.com