Physicist Issues Stern Warning on ‘Catastrophic’ Effects of Science Funding Cuts in the UK

Posted on February 7, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Impact of UK Spending Cuts on CERN’s Large Hadron Collider

Traczyk, Piotr/CERN 2021-2024

CERN's Large Hadron Collider impacted by funding cuts — Impact of UK Spending Cuts on CERN’s Large Hadron Collider

Traczyk, Piotr/CERN 2021-2024

British scientists are raising alarms over the potential “catastrophic” effects of impending budget cuts on physics research. With public funding agencies facing an average 30% reduction, groups are preparing for possible cuts of up to 60%.

Many research teams may lose their funding entirely, leading to a decline in research jobs and a potential withdrawal from significant international projects, including CERN, the prestigious particle physics laboratory located near Geneva, Switzerland.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the public body responsible for funding science and business, has delineated a £38.6 billion budget over the next four years. Although UKRI claims this figure does not account for inflation, it suggests a marginal increase. However, physics researchers predict substantial cuts are imminent.

UKRI’s budgetary plans aim to bolster scientific research while benefiting the national economy. As CEO Ian Chapman asserted in a February 5 press briefing, the organization must prioritize commercialization and make hard choices for the greatest national impact.

UKRI allocates grants through nine councils, including the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) which specializes in particle physics, nuclear physics, and astronomy, covering financial commitments to CERN and the European Space Agency. STFC is anticipated to bear the majority of the cuts, with reports indicating a staggering £162 million reduction.

Grant recipients of STFC have been advised to brace for an overall funding reduction of 30%. Additionally, they have been asked to devise budget alternatives anticipating 20%, 40%, and 60% cuts. The Institute of Physics (IOP) deemed this news “a devastating blow” to British physics foundations.

IOP President-elect Paul Howarth warned that these cuts would undermine “our understanding of space and humanity’s progress.” He emphasized that cutting UK funding would diminish the nation’s experimental capacity, stifling innovation and economic growth. “We implore the Government to reconsider its funding strategies,” he stated.

Michelle Doherty, STFC’s executive chairman, acknowledged the organization’s overly ambitious goals. “We are stretching our resources too thinly and are facing tough years ahead,” she remarked. “Our current budget restricts us from achieving all our objectives.”

During her briefing, Doherty highlighted the end of international collaboration in particle physics due to financial constraints, a reality that partners abroad are also grappling with.

John Ellis, a professor at King’s College London, cautioned that job reductions would damage the UK’s standing among international research collaborators. “Such actions tarnish the UK’s reputation as a dependable partner,” he noted.

Projects like the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), instrumental in discovering the Higgs boson, are at risk. Funding was allocated for upgrades during the experimental shutdown. “We face uncertainty about future solutions,” Ellis lamented.

Another LHC initiative, LHCb, which examines the matter-antimatter disparity, may also see its budget eliminated, jeopardizing essential upgrades. Reports suggest the UKRI’s funding for the U.S.-led electron-ion collider in New York is also at risk. UKRI has not clarified the status of these projects when approached for comment by New Scientist.

Ellis warned that significant cuts to physics research could hamper the UK’s future by eliminating opportunities for postdocs and junior researchers. “This isn’t a minor setback; it risks stifling a generation of young scientists,” he argued.

Jim Al Khalili, a professor at the University of Surrey, echoed these concerns, pointing out the potential decline in skill and knowledge necessary for the country’s nuclear industry and wider research initiatives. “These proposed budget reductions would devastate our communities,” he asserted.

Alicia Grated of the Science and Engineering Campaign, representing UK research institutions, noted that miscommunication regarding the cuts has resulted in confusion and uncertainty. “Clarity is crucial, regardless of the reasons behind the decision to rescind STFC funding,” she emphasized. “Any decrease in support for STFC’s resources could threaten a fundamental segment of our research ecosystem.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Unpacking Statins: Understanding the Truth Behind Their Side Effects

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

Are Statins Really Causing Side Effects? Major Study Finds Clarity

Benjamin John/Alamy

Statins and Side Effects — Are Statins Really Causing Side Effects? Major Study Finds Clarity

Benjamin John/Alamy

Recent investigations reveal that the numerous side effects attributed to statin medications have been significantly overstated. This emerging evidence prompts calls for modifications on drug packaging to mitigate unwarranted concerns that deter patients from essential lifesaving treatments.

“Our findings indicate that the majority of issues listed as potential statin side effects are unlikely caused by the medication,” stated Christine Reese during a press event at Oxford University on February 3rd.

Statins, known for their cholesterol-lowering capabilities, are affordable medications that robustly reduce heart attack and stroke risks. However, fears about side effects, notably muscle pain, have long plagued their use. A 2022 study confirmed that muscle pain is rarely, if ever, induced by statin use.

“Regrettably, both patients and many healthcare providers are confused about statin side effects, contributing to hesitance in initiating or continuing their use,” commented Reese.

In this study, Reese and her team scrutinized common side effects listed on statin labels—like dizziness, fatigue, and memory loss. These narratives stem largely from case reports and observational studies rather than concrete data. The investigation did not delve into muscle pain, weakness, or diabetes risks as previously analyzed in other studies.

Researchers evaluated 19 randomized controlled trials involving 120,000 participants over an average follow-up of 4.5 years, comparing the effects of five widely prescribed statins against a placebo.

Out of 66 observed side effects, most did not correlate with statin usage, and similar occurrences were noted in placebo participants, suggesting a nocebo effect—where fear or expectation of side effects leads to actual experiences. “We have seen that the risk of some side effects like elevated protein levels in urine, swelling in extremities, and liver function changes is legitimate,” mentioned Jeffrey Berger from New York University Langone Health. “However, these do not pose significant harm, allowing us to assert confidently that the benefits of statins overshadow their risks,” Reese concluded.

Drug regulators advocate for updates to statin labels as suggested by Karol Watson at UCLA, indicating clearer differentiation of actual side effects versus those equally occurring in placebo users.

Updating these labels can be a lengthy endeavor. Remarkably, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency only recommended in January 2026 the inclusion of muscle weakness and pain as possible side effects on statin labels.

In the interim, clinicians can utilize this research to reassure current and prospective statin users. “It’s essential to educate patients to adjust their expectations rather than dismissing their concerns,” emphasized Berger.

Watson hopes the findings will definitively settle the debates surrounding statins. “Future studies should pivot from whether statins typically induce these symptoms—we already know they do not. Instead, research should focus on identifying individuals who are genuinely more prone to certain statin-related side effects,” she remarked.

Topics:

Medical Drugs /
Heart Disease

Source: www.newscientist.com

Uncovering the Surprising Effects of Yawning on Brain Fluid Levels

Posted on January 30, 2026 by Igor Mitreski

There’s more to yawning than meets the eye.

Vivek Prakash/AFP via Getty Images

Yawning judge in robe and wig — There’s more to yawning than meets the eye.

Vivek Prakash/AFP via Getty Images

Recent MRI studies reveal that yawning is not simply a sign of fatigue or boredom; it reorganizes fluid flow in the brain, indicating that yawning is unique for each individual.

Yawning is observed in most vertebrates, yet its precise purpose remains largely unclear. Theories suggest that yawning enhances oxygen intake, regulates body temperature, boosts fluid circulation in the brain, and modulates cortisol hormone levels.

“Crocodilians yawn, and even dinosaurs likely did too. This behavior has evolutionary significance, but why does it persist today?” queries Adam Martinac from Neuroscience Research Australia, a non-profit medical organization.

To understand yawning’s mechanisms and its impact on the body, Martinac and his team involved 22 healthy participants, evenly divided by gender, in their study.

Participants underwent MRI scans while performing four distinct breathing actions: regular breathing, yawning, voluntarily suppressing yawns, and deep breathing.

The data analysis revealed surprising findings. The initial hypothesis was that yawning and deep breathing would similarly facilitate the movement of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) out of the brain.

“However, yawning caused CSF to flow in the opposite direction compared to deep breathing,” states Martinac. “We were genuinely surprised by this outcome.”

Specifically, the study discovered a strong directional coupling between CSF and venous blood flow during yawning, both moving away from the brain toward the spine. This stands in contrast to deep breathing, where CSF and venous blood typically travel in opposing directions—CSF flows in while venous blood flows out.

The specific mechanisms governing CSF movement during yawning, including the volume expelled, remain unclear. Current estimates suggest a mere few milliliters of CSF are moved per yawn. Future research aims to quantify this further.

“It’s likely that neck, tongue, and throat muscles collaborate to facilitate this fluid movement,” he adds.

Another noteworthy finding is that yawning augmented carotid artery inflow by over one-third compared to deep breathing. This is presumably because yawning clears CSF and venous blood from the cranial cavity, allowing for increased arterial inflow.

Each participant exhibited a distinct “yawn signature,” showcasing variability even in tongue movements. “It seems that everyone has a unique pattern to their yawns,” says Martinac.

One intriguing area for future research is the physiological benefits arising from CSF movement during yawning.

Theories suggest that this could relate to thermoregulation, waste removal, or potentially other unexplored functions. “It is possible to live without yawning, but there are several subtle effects that likely assist in waste management, temperature control, and even the social dynamics of yawning,” he explains.

The contagious nature of yawning adds another layer of mystery and proved essential for this study, as video footage of yawns was shown to participants while they were inside the MRI scanner.

“In our lab meetings, I always have to speak last because my discussion of this research triggers yawning in everyone else,” Martinac shares.

Researchers like Andrew Gallup from Johns Hopkins University highlight the significant findings of the study, emphasizing its contributions to our understanding of yawning. He also noted that some of the findings have been understated, particularly those affirming yawning’s role in temperature regulation.

“The observed 34% increase in internal carotid artery flow during yawning is a critical finding that deserves more attention,” Gallup asserts.

He further noted that the study focused on contagious yawns versus spontaneous yawns, indicating that spontaneous yawns may induce even greater changes in CSF and blood flow.

“The video suggests contagious yawns are shorter than the average spontaneous yawn, which lasts about six seconds,” he notes.

Professor Yossi Rathner from the University of Melbourne agrees the team may have underestimated certain findings but opposes some claims concerning thermoregulation.

“Increased sleep pressure can elevate levels of a compound called adenosine that accumulates in the brain stem. Yawning seems to facilitate fluid movement in the brain stem, helping to flush out adenosine, temporarily alleviating sleep pressure and boosting alertness,” Rathner explains. “While this isn’t a direct conclusion from the study, the data strongly implies this relationship.”

Topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

Arctic Warming: Some Effects May Remain Irreversible Despite Reduced Carbon Dioxide Levels

Posted on December 12, 2025 by

Glacier meets sea at Dixon Fjord in Greenland

Jane Rix/Alamy

Birth near the Heisinger Glacier in Greenland — Glacier meets sea at Dixon Fjord in Greenland

Jane Rix/Alamy

Even if atmospheric carbon dioxide returns to pre-industrial levels and the global temperature decreases, the Arctic is projected to warm by approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius.

It is also expected that the region will receive about 0.1 millimeter of extra precipitation daily, regardless of the implementation of large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies.

“These findings emphasize the irreversible aspect of climate change in the Arctic, even with aggressive CDR efforts,” the researchers stated in their publication.

Current atmospheric CO2 levels are roughly 1.5 times greater than pre-industrial levels, resulting in a warming of 3°C or more. A study published in March revealed that even if extra carbon dioxide were removed, sea ice coverage would still average 1 million square kilometers less.

In a new investigation, researchers led by Xiaodong from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics in Beijing utilized 11 distinct climate models to assess the likelihood of continued Arctic warming. The findings also indicate that precipitation is likely to increase, according to Michael Meredith from the British Antarctic Survey, who was not part of the study.

The primary reason for this persistent warming is that oceans, which have absorbed 90% of the heat from global warming, will continue to warm the Arctic for centuries, even when atmospheric temperatures decrease. This situation will likely be amplified by feedback mechanisms, such as diminishing sea ice, which causes the open ocean to raise air temperatures.

“Even if the atmosphere continues to cool, the oceans will lag behind and counteract this trend,” Meredith remarked.

Many experts express skepticism about whether CDR methods, including tree planting and mechanical CO2 extraction, can significantly lower atmospheric CO2 levels due to the financial and energy challenges, a process that could take thousands of years.

Dong et al. examined a theoretical scenario where atmospheric CO2 levels quadrupled from pre-industrial amounts over 140 years, decreased for another 140 years, and then remained at pre-industrial levels for 60 additional years.

The study also reviewed two potential real-world climate scenarios: one in which humanity immediately reduces emissions, and another where emissions remain high but CDR efforts ramp up quickly starting in 2070. In these scenarios, similar to the theoretical model, the Arctic was found to be approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer with precipitation increasing by an additional 0.1 mm per day by 2100.

The models forecast a decrease in temperatures and precipitation in the waters just south of Greenland and Iceland, contrasting with other regions in the Far North. This suggests a decline in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which is responsible for transporting warm surface water from the tropics to this area. This current is already weakening as global ocean temperatures rise, a trend that might lead to colder winters in Europe over time.

Climate-related effects, such as thawing permafrost and melting of the Greenland ice sheet, are likely to persist but were not included in this study’s models.

“The Greenland ice sheet is expected to behave as observed, meaning it will continue to lose mass and contribute to sea level rise,” stated Mark Selles from the US National Snow and Ice Data Center.

While the study indicates that the Arctic will remain warm for centuries, it is anticipated that it will eventually cool over the course of many more centuries or even millennia.

topic:

climate change/
arctic

Source: www.newscientist.com

Study: Flavanol-Rich Foods Shield Men’s Vascular Health Against the Detrimental Effects of Prolonged Sitting

Posted on November 3, 2025 by

Prolonged sitting can lead to a temporary decline in blood vessel function and blood pressure. Implementing specific eating strategies while in a sitting position may either alleviate or exacerbate these effects on vascular health. Recent research indicates that dietary cocoa flavanols, consumed prior to two hours of uninterrupted sitting, effectively counteract the deterioration in vascular function seen in young, healthy men. The beneficial effects of flavanols were consistent across individuals with varying levels of cardiorespiratory fitness, suggesting that even those with high fitness do not escape the decline in vascular function or blood pressure associated with sitting.

Consuming flavanol-rich foods during sedentary periods can be an effective method, used alone or alongside other strategies (such as reducing sedentary time), to mitigate the adverse effects of inactivity on the vascular system. Image credit: Daniele et al., doi: 10.1113/JP289038.

Sedentary behavior has become exceedingly common in contemporary society.

Over the past two decades, it has been reported that the time spent sitting among young Americans has escalated from an average of 5.5 to 6.5 hours per day (an increase of 18.2%).

Sitting encompasses not only professional or commuting scenarios but also leisure activities like watching television or playing video games.

Previous studies indicate that a 1% decrease in vascular function (measured via brachial flow-mediated dilatation, which reflects arterial elasticity) correlates to a 13% rise in the risk for cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

Researchers, including Catarina Rendeiro and her team at the University of Birmingham, sought to determine if diet—as specifically influenced by flavanol-rich foods—could mitigate the vascular risks associated with extended sitting.

Flavanols are polyphenolic compounds naturally found in certain fruits, teas, nuts, and cocoa beans.

Research has shown they provide cardiovascular benefits, notably in protecting vascular health during mental stress.

“We spend significant amounts of time seated, whether at a desk, driving, traveling, or relaxing on the couch,” Dr. Rendeiro notes.

“Even while inactive, our bodies can experience stress.”

“Identifying methods to alleviate the impacts of prolonged sitting on vascular function might significantly lower cardiovascular disease risk.”

To investigate this, researchers assessed whether ingesting flavanols shortly before two hours of sitting could preserve blood vessel function in the arms and legs.

A total of forty healthy young men (20 with high fitness and 20 with low fitness) were given either a high-flavanol (695 mg total flavanols per beverage) or low-flavanol cocoa beverage (5.6 mg total flavanols per beverage) before undergoing a two-hour sitting test.

This study focused solely on men due to potential fluctuations of estrogen during women’s menstrual cycles, which might impact how flavanols affect vascular health while sitting. Future trials will address this aspect.

The research team conducted various vascular measurements pre- and post-sitting, including (i) superficial femoral and brachial artery FMD, (ii) arterial resting shear rate and blood flow, (iii) systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and (iv) leg muscle oxygenation.

For both groups that consumed low-flavanol cocoa before sitting, there was a decrease in FMD in arm and leg arteries.

This indicates that even high fitness levels do not shield individuals from the effects of seated inactivity.

Both groups also exhibited a significant rise in diastolic blood pressure, reduced shear rate and blood flow in both arteries, and lower muscle oxygenation.

However, participants who consumed the high-flavanol cocoa drink retained their FMD levels in both the arm and leg arteries, demonstrating the protective effects of flavanols across various fitness levels.

This is the first instance where flavanols have been recognized for their ability to prevent vascular dysfunction linked to prolonged sitting in healthy young men.

Professor Sam Lucas remarked: “Our findings reveal that even those with high fitness levels are not immune to the temporary vascular impairments caused by sitting and consuming only low-flavanol cocoa.”

“Remarkably, after consuming the high-flavanol beverage, both fit and unfit participants maintained their FMD levels, unaffected by two hours of sitting.”

This study also uniquely demonstrated that pre-existing cardiorespiratory fitness levels do not influence how flavanol intake affects vascular function.

This means everyone, irrespective of fitness levels, can reap the rewards of flavanol consumption.

“Integrating flavanol-rich foods into your diet is quite simple,” asserts Alessio Daniele, a PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham.

“Cacao products that retain flavanol levels are readily found in supermarkets and health stores.”

“If cocoa isn’t your preference, consider incorporating apples, plums, berries, nuts, or black and green teas, which are common in kitchens.”

“Our findings suggest that consuming flavanol-rich foods and beverages during sedentary periods is an effective strategy to mitigate the impacts of inactivity on vascular health,” Dr. Rendeiro indicates.

“Given the upward trend in sedentary lifestyles and the associated risks to vascular health, integrating flavanol-rich foods and beverages with short breaks for walking or standing can promote long-term well-being, regardless of physical fitness levels.”

The study was published in October 2025 in the Journal of Physiology.

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Alessio Daniele et al.. Dietary flavanols maintain endothelial function in the upper and lower extremities during sitting in healthy men with high or low physical fitness. Journal of Physiology published online October 29, 2025. doi: 10.1113/JP289038

Source: www.sci.news

The serum stimulates hair growth by imitating skin irritation effects.

Posted on October 22, 2025 by

Eczema-like stimulation promoted hair regrowth in shaved mice over 20 days (bottom row). Meanwhile, hair growth was notably less in shaved mice lacking this stimulation (top row).

Tai et al. 2025

Skin inflammation can encourage hair growth in mice by activating fat cells. The serum derived from this process may also benefit humans without causing discomfort.

While hair loss is often addressed with medications or steroid injections, more effective solutions are being researched, including stem cell therapies and drugs that reactivate dormant hair follicles.

Songjian Lin, among researchers at National Taiwan University, became intrigued by how adipose tissue influences hair growth during experiments with mice. “Unexpectedly, we found changes in the size of fat cells following skin inflammation. [Fat cells] shrink quickly before hair starts to grow back. We proposed that fat cells could release fatty acids via lipolysis to spur hair regeneration,” Lin explains.

To explore this further, they repeated the study and examined the relevant cells more closely. They initially applied an irritant to a shaved section of the mouse’s back to simulate eczema. By day ten, they noted that the mice’s hair follicles were actively growing, resulting in visible hair growth in those regions. This effect was absent in other shaved areas without eczema, as well as in control mice.

The research team observed that this phenomenon appears to occur because immune cells called macrophages migrate to the fat layer beneath the mouse’s skin, signaling fat cells to release fatty acids. These fatty acids are then utilized by hair follicle stem cells, promoting increased mitochondrial production, which supplies energy and fosters hair growth. This aligns with past studies indicating that plucking hair can trigger immune responses in nearby hair follicles, stimulating their growth.

Though eczema isn’t typically linked to hair growth in humans, other forms of skin inflammation may play a role, such as those associated with casts for broken bones, which are connected to excess hair growth.

Next, Lin and his team sought to determine whether fatty acids alone could induce hair growth without prior irritation. They formulated a serum containing various fatty acids dissolved in alcohol. This serum was applied to non-irritated shaved mice, and the results were compared to untreated areas and control mice. “We discovered that only monounsaturated fatty acids, like oleic acid and palmitoleic acid—prevalent in adipose tissue—successfully induced hair regrowth when applied topically,” Lin notes.

The researchers, who have since patented the serum, also observed encouraging outcomes when tested on human hair follicles in the lab and now intend to evaluate different dosages on human scalps.

Lin does not anticipate any serious side effects from the treatment. “Oleic acid and palmitoleic acid are naturally occurring fatty acids. They are present in high quantities in our fat tissue and various vegetable oils, making them safe for use,” he states. “I applied a solution of these fatty acids mixed with alcohol to my thighs for three weeks and noticed it stimulated hair growth.”

However, he cautions that the treatment hasn’t yet undergone testing on human skin, and animal models may differ significantly, especially concerning hair follicle biology. Christos Tziotsios from King’s College London also points out that similar serums are under development, including one utilizing plant extracts that promote hair growth in a matter of weeks.

Nonetheless, Tziotsios affirms that the latest findings enhance our comprehension of hair growth and loss. “We were aware of fat cells’ involvement in hair follicle formation, but this is the first instance we’ve witnessed them playing a role in hair regeneration,” he remarks. It could also clarify why certain individuals experience hair growth post-microneedling treatments, which involve rolling fine needles across the scalp to create micro-injuries that elicit an immune response.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Antidepressants Can Cause a Diverse Range of Physical Side Effects.

Posted on October 22, 2025 by

Different individuals may respond better to certain antidepressants based on their side effects.

Maria Vekulenko/Getty Images

The side effects of antidepressants can differ significantly, ranging from weight fluctuations to alterations in blood pressure. Medical professionals need to consider these factors when selecting the most appropriate medication among the numerous options available.

About 10% of individuals in Europe and the US utilize antidepressants to address symptoms including depression and anxiety. Withdrawal symptoms may not be as prevalent as assumed, yet some studies indicate physical side effects associated with these medications. The specific side effects linked to each drug, however, remain unclear.

Diving deeper into the research, Toby Pillinger and his team from King’s College London examined data from 151 randomized controlled trials and 17 reports from the US Food and Drug Administration. These studies encompassed 30 different antidepressants, assessing their efficacy and side effects relative to a placebo over roughly eight weeks for various mental health conditions.

“The strength of these studies lies in their placebo-controlled and randomized design, allowing us to confidently attribute the observed differences to the medications,” Pillinger states.

The analysis revealed that certain medications were linked to weight loss, while others caused weight gain. For instance, maprotiline was associated with an average weight gain of approximately 1.8 kg, whereas agomelatine was linked to an average weight loss of about 2.4 kg.

The research additionally indicated that fluvoxamine led to an average decrease in heart rate of 8 beats per minute (bpm), while nortriptyline raised it by 13 bpm. Notably, nortriptyline also lowered systolic blood pressure (the pressure during heart contractions) by 3 to 7 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), whereas doxepin elevated blood pressure by nearly 5 mmHg, which may have wider health implications. “For every 1 mmHg increase in blood pressure, the risk of stroke rises by 1%,” remarks Oliver Howes, also from King’s College London.

Other medications like paroxetine, duloxetine, desvenlafaxine, and venlafaxine have been linked to increased cholesterol levels. It remains uncertain if these side effects intensify, diminish, or stabilize after the initial eight-week period.

Although observational studies have raised concerns regarding the potential impact of antidepressants on electrolyte levels, particularly sodium—as it may influence heart rhythms—”our study indicates that sodium isn’t an issue at all,” Pillinger comments.

In the UK, over 92 million antidepressants were prescribed last year, with approximately 85% being either sertraline, mirtazapine, fluoxetine, amitriptyline, citalopram, or venlafaxine. Among these, four exhibited relatively favorable profiles for various evaluated factors; however, amitriptyline was noted for increasing body weight, heart rate, and blood pressure, while venlafaxine was found to elevate heart rate, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

“This information is immensely useful for both physicians and patients,” remarks Mahyar Etminan from Epilytics, an epidemiological consulting firm in Vancouver. “This data can be integrated into an application, enabling doctors to identify which medications to avoid for individuals with high cholesterol or cardiovascular issues. It provides physicians with greater flexibility in selecting the most suitable antidepressant for their patients.”

Pillinger mentions that his team is developing a digital tool that features a drop-down list of common side effects associated with antidepressants, assisting healthcare providers in determining which medications to avoid or whether reducing dosage could be advantageous. “The essential goal is to find the most appropriate drug for each individual and tailor prescriptions accordingly,” Pillinger explains.

However, John Ioannidis, a researcher at Stanford University, cautions that their findings could be skewed if only studies demonstrating side effects were included. Some research may not have reported any adverse effects, thus excluding pertinent data from the meta-analysis.

He also points out that patients typically remain on antidepressants for at least eight weeks, often for several years. “If such an impact exists over a more extended period, it necessitates different long-term studies to validate its relevance,” Ioannidis asserts.

Pillinger acknowledges the possibility of bias but believes they have compiled the majority of relevant data. He recognizes the need for long-term study analysis and is in the process of conducting it, mentioning that around 75% of trial participants have been white. Nonetheless, he believes the trends identified will likely become clearer over extended studies and may extend to other demographics.

Prior research has indicated that some antidepressants, such as venlafaxine, are associated with long-term blood pressure increases. He also notes that rapid weight gain might persist. “Once weight is gained, it becomes challenging to lose it again,” he states.

However, due to the effectiveness of antidepressants, those worried about side effects should not discontinue their medication, according to Howes. “This is a nuanced issue and an individual decision that considers your unique risk factors and benefits. If concerned, consulting with your physician is advisable.”

Topic:

Medical drugs /
Depression

Source: www.newscientist.com

Remarkable Images Reveal the Effects of Common Antibiotics on E. coli

Posted on September 29, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

The above image displays untreated E. coli bacteria, with the lower image showing the effects of polymyxin B after 90 minutes.

Carolina Borrelli, Edward Douglas et al./Nature Microbiology

High-resolution microscopy unveils how polymyxins, a class of antibiotics, penetrate bacterial defenses, offering insights for developing treatments against drug-resistant infections.

Polymyxins serve as a last-resort option for treating Gram-negative bacteria responsible for serious infections like pneumonia, meningitis, and typhoid fever. “The priority pathogens identified by the top three health agencies globally are predominantly Gram-negative bacteria, highlighting their complex cell envelopes,” states Andrew Edwards from Imperial College London.

These bacteria possess an outer layer of lipopolysaccharides that functions as armor. While it was known that polymyxins target this layer, the mechanisms of their action and the reasons for inconsistent effectiveness remained unclear.

In a pivotal study, Edwards and his team employed biochemical experiments combined with nuclear power microscopy, capturing details at the nanoscale. They discovered that polymyxin B, amongst other treatments, actively targets E. coli cells.

Shortly after treatment commenced, the bacteria rapidly began releasing lipopolysaccharides.

Researchers observed that the presence of antibiotics prompted bacteria to attempt to assimilate more lipopolysaccharide “bricks” into their protective walls. However, this effort resulted in gaps, allowing antibiotics to penetrate and destroy the bacteria.

“Antibiotics are likened to tools that aid in the removal of these ‘bricks’,” Edwards explains. “While the outer membrane doesn’t entirely collapse, gaps appear, providing an entryway for antibiotics to access the internal membrane.”

The findings also elucidate why antibiotics occasionally fail: they predominantly affect active, growing bacteria. When in a dormant state, polymyxin B becomes ineffective as these bacteria do not produce armor strong enough to withstand environmental pressures.

E. coli images exposed to polymyxin B illustrate changes to the outer membrane over time: untreated, 15 mins, 30 mins, 60 mins, and 90 mins.

Carolina Borrelli, Edward Douglas et al./Nature Microbiology

Interestingly, researchers found that introducing sugar to E. coli could awaken dormant cells, prompting armor production to resume within 15 minutes, leading to cell destruction. This phenomenon is thought to be applicable to other polymyxins, such as polymyxin E, used therapeutically.

Edwards proposes that targeting dormant bacteria with sugar might be feasible, though it poses the risk of hastening their growth. “We don’t want bacteria at infection sites rapidly proliferating due to this stimulation,” he cautions. Instead, he advocates for the potential to combine various drugs to bypass dormancy without reactivating the bacteria.

topic:

Source: www.newscientist.com

High Dosage of Wegovy: Impacts on Weight Loss and Side Effects

Posted on September 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Weekly Wegovy Injections Facilitate Weight Loss

James Manning/PA Images/Alamy

Testing reveals that a higher weekly dosage of Wegovy is linked to an increased risk of side effects.

Prior research indicates that individuals receiving the standard weekly doses of Wegovy, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide, can lose up to 15% of their body weight over a year when combined with a healthy diet and exercise regimen. This medication mimics the action of GLP-1, a hormone akin to glucagon, which aids in numerous ways such as delaying stomach emptying and signaling the brain to suppress appetite.

Produced by the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, Wegovy is approved for use among individuals with obesity or those who are overweight and possess at least one weight-related condition like type 2 diabetes. “However, some patients may not experience the desired level of weight loss or may seek more than the average 10-15% reduction,” says Lora Heisler, who was not part of the research team from the University of Aberdeen in the UK.

To explore the potential benefits of increased dosage, Shawn Wharton and colleagues, including scientists from the University of Toronto and Novo Nordisk, studied over 1,000 obese adults across 11 countries, including the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe.

Participants, all without diabetes, were randomly assigned to receive either a high dosage of 7.2 milligrams or the standard 2.4 milligrams of semaglutide, alongside a placebo injection mimicking Wegovy. Doses of semaglutide were gradually elevated over several weeks, and all participants were encouraged to maintain a caloric deficit of 500 calories per day and engage in physical activity for 150 minutes weekly.

After one year, those receiving the standard dosage lost an average of 16% of their body weight, while the high-dose group achieved about 19% weight loss. Conversely, the placebo group lost approximately 44% of their body weight.

One-third of participants in the standard dosage category experienced over 20% weight loss, compared to almost half in the high-dose group. Only 3% in the placebo group reached this threshold, indicating that higher dosages can significantly enhance weight loss outcomes, according to Heisler.

At the onset of the study, more than one-third of participants in each group had prediabetes, marked by elevated blood sugar levels without qualifying for type 2 diabetes. By the study’s conclusion, diabetes cases in the high-dose group decreased by 83%, while cases within the standard-dose group fell by 74%. “This is highly encouraging, as the main objective of weight loss is to enhance overall health,” Heisler remarks.

Nevertheless, there are noteworthy drawbacks. Bowel-related side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, were reported by 61% in the standard-dose group, while 71% in the high-dose category experienced similar issues. In comparison, 40% of those taking the placebo also faced these symptoms, which might not be directly related to the treatment, according to Heisler.

Moreover, over 20% of the high-dose group reported unpleasant skin sensations known as dysesthesia. As a result, four participants discontinued their treatment. By contrast, only 6% of the standard-dose recipients and just one in the placebo group reported this side effect, with no one ceasing treatment.

These findings indicate that the advantages of higher dosages may outweigh the associated risks for certain individuals, according to Heisler. “For those requiring substantial weight loss who don’t experience many side effects, the higher dose may facilitate their goals,” she states. However, it may not be appropriate for individuals achieving sufficient weight loss on standard doses or those enduring severe side effects. She emphasizes the need for additional trials to validate these results before clinical application.

In a separate trial, Wharton and his team suggest that higher dosages might yield greater weight loss and enhanced blood glucose levels in individuals with both obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the results were not statistically significant, indicating a need for further investigation, says Simon Cork from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK.

Topics:

obesity/
Weight loss drugs

Source: www.newscientist.com

The Most Intoxicated Animals and Its Effects on Them

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Finding tales of animals getting tipsy isn’t hard. A Swedish moose was discovered with its head trapped in a tree after indulging in fermented apples, creating a surprisingly enchanting sight.

In Botswana, elephants revel in the fruits of Marula. My pet mouse eagerly taps into my homebrew and laps up the spills. They all appeared intoxicated — or did they?

If you know where to look, nature offers a vast pub that serves up alcoholic delights in the form of fermented fruits, sap, and nectar. Unlike humans, different animals exhibit varying levels of tolerance.

Generally, humans who frequently consume fermented foods metabolize alcohol faster and are less impacted by it.

Consider the Malaysian pentailed shrews, which have adapted to thrive on the fermented nectar of Beltum Palm. Despite consuming amounts equivalent to 10-12 glasses of wine (relative to their size), they show no signs of addiction.

The same holds true for certain native bats in Central and South America. They often feast on fermented fruits and nectar, and can maintain flight even when their blood alcohol concentrations exceed three times the legal limit for humans.

However, cedar waxwings in North America have a different story. These birds savor a variety of berries but occasionally overindulge on the fermenting berries of Brazilian chili pepper trees. This rarely ends well.

A Swedish moose is found with its head trapped in a tree after consuming fermented apples – Photo credit: Getty

These birds struggle to fly straight, often crashing into windows and fences.

Tests conducted on deceased birds like these revealed that their livers can reach a blood alcohol concentration of up to 1,000 parts, which is deadly for humans.

So, for any waxwing out there, remember three crucial tips: never “drink” and fly, know your limits, and alcohol-free berries are always within reach!

This article answers the question posed by Joshua Newman from Peterborough: “Can animals get drunk?”

Feel free to email us your questions at Question@sciencefocus.com or message us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (don’t forget to include your name and location).

Explore our ultimate Fun Facts for more amazing science pages!

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Asteroid 2024 YR4: On a Collision Course with the Moon, Possible Effects on Earth

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Asteroid 2024 YR4 may create the largest lunar impact in the past 5,000 years

Mark Garlic/Science Photo Library/Getty Images

Originally believed to be on a collision path with Earth, asteroid 2024 YR4 still poses some level of threat to our planet. There remains a chance that such celestial bodies could impact the moon, potentially resulting in a catastrophic explosion that could flood Earth with debris capable of damaging satellites.

Astronomers have been monitoring this building-sized asteroid since its detection in December 2024. Initial forecasts heightened the risk of a collision with Earth in 2032, suggesting the impact could unleash enough energy to obliterate a city; fortunately, it now appears 2024 YR4 will likely miss us.

Nonetheless, the likelihood of a lunar impact is gradually increasing, currently estimated at 4.3% based on observations made before the asteroid moved out of our telescopes’ view until 2028. Paul Wiegelt from the University of Western Ontario and his team suggest that such a collision could inflict significant damage on Earth’s satellites.

“We were somewhat taken aback by the amount of debris that could potentially reach Earth,” Wiegert remarked. “In reality, Earth is a surprisingly small target from the moon’s vantage point. Thus, while impacts on Earth are infrequent, gravitational forces can draw in that material under certain conditions.”

Wiegert and his colleagues calculated that 2024 YR4 could create a crater over a kilometer wide on the moon, marking the largest lunar impact in at least the last 5,000 years, albeit still small compared to typical craters. By ejecting debris into space and simulating their trajectories tens of thousands of times, they concluded that this event could lead to collision rates for Earth’s satellites comparable to those observed over years or even days.

While these collisions may not entirely disable a satellite, they could cause significant anomalies due to electrical disruptions. Accurately modeling their potential damage proves challenging, Wiegert noted.

If luck is not on our side, the impact of fragmented materials could be particularly severe, according to Mark Burchell at the University of Kent in the UK. “If they impact a spacecraft’s coolant pipe or an exposed sensor, the loss of critical functions occurs suddenly,” he explained. “Once damaged, satellites cannot be repaired. Even minor issues can lead to serious problems.”

Wiegert emphasized that this scenario should provoke global space agencies to consider deflecting asteroids on a collision course with the moon, similar to efforts aimed at protecting Earth. A NASA Planetary Defense Coordination Agency representative stated that while it is crucial to identify Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) posing potential risks, it is “premature to speculate on possible response options” for a potential 2024 collision.

Depending on how events unfold, swift action could be necessary. When 2024 YR4 reappears in Earth’s telescopic view in 2028, we should be able to refine the precision of its orbital path, Wiegert commented. As chances for a lunar impact rise, it offers a four-year window for decision-making on any necessary actions.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Penguin Droppings Contribute to Antarctica’s Cooling Effects

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Adelie penguins on the sea ice off the Antarctic Peninsula

Ashley Cooper Photo/Alamy

Ammonia emitted from droppings in a bustling Antarctic penguin colony contributes to cloud formation.

“This highlights the profound relationship between ecosystems and atmospheric phenomena,” remarks Matthew Boyer from the University of Helsinki, Finland.

The connection lies in how ammonia influences atmospheric particle counts. Cloud formation requires water vapor to condense around significant particles, which are scarce in the frigid, pristine air of Antarctica.

Typically, available cloud formation particles arise from dust, vegetation, or air pollution, primarily sulfate clusters generated by natural emissions from nearby phytoplankton. It has been established that high ammonia levels can enhance the creation of these clusters by up to a thousand times. But where does this ammonia originate in Antarctica? The droppings of penguins appear to be a significant source.

To verify this, Boyer and his team analyzed the concentrations of ammonia, sulfuric acid, and larger particles in the air around Pygoscelis adeliae on the Antarctic Peninsula. “They have a strong odor,” Boyer comments. “They are quite messy birds.”

When the wind blew from the direction of the colony, the ammonia concentrations were significantly higher compared to air from other directions. This uptick in ammonia prompted the formation of sulfuric acid particles large enough to attract condensation, potentially resulting in cloud formation. This phenomenon persisted for several weeks even after the penguins vacated the colony.

Increased cloud cover, particularly at sea, reflects sunlight away from the Earth’s surface, producing a cooling effect. Boyer also notes that declines in penguin populations could lead to warming trends in Antarctica by diminishing cloud cover, particularly due to climate change-driven ocean ice loss. However, current measurements do not adequately estimate the magnitude of this effect.

Other studies indicate significant implications; for instance, Jeffrey Pierce from Colorado State University and his peers have found ammonia in puffin droppings in the Arctic, leading to increased cloud cover during summer, estimating that this cooling effect could offset about one-third of warming caused by carbon dioxide in the region. “I’m confident it has some effect,” states Pierce.

Topics:

Antarctica/
Animal behavior

Source: www.newscientist.com

Meta Sued in Ghana for Effects of Extreme Content on Moderators

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Meta is now facing a second lawsuit in Africa related to the psychological trauma endured by content moderators tasked with filtering out disturbing material on social media, including depictions of murder, extreme violence, and child sexual abuse.

A lawyer is preparing to take legal action against a contractor of Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, following discussions with moderators at a facility in Ghana that reportedly employs around 150 individuals.

Moderators at Magilal in Accra report suffering from depression, anxiety, insomnia, and substance abuse directly linked to their responsibilities of reviewing extreme content.

The troubling conditions faced by Ghanaian workers have come to light through a collaborative investigation by the Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

This issue arose after over 140 Facebook content moderators in Kenya were diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder due to their exposure to traumatic social media content.

The Kenyan workers were employed by Samasource, an outsourcing company that recruits personnel from across Africa for content moderation tasks for Meta. The Magilal facility, central to the allegations in Ghana, is owned by the French multinational Teleperformance.

One individual, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, disclosed that he attempted suicide due to his work. His contract has since expired, and he claims to have returned to his home country.

Facebook and similar large social media platforms often employ numerous content moderators in some of the world’s most impoverished regions, tasked with removing posts that violate community standards and aiding in training AI systems for the same purpose.

Content moderators are required to review distressing and often brutal images and videos to determine if they should be taken down from Meta’s platform. According to reports from Ghanaian workers, they have witnessed videos including extreme violence, such as people being skinned alive or women being decapitated.

Moderators have claimed that the mental health support provided by the company is inadequate, lacking professional oversight, and there are concerns that personal disclosures regarding the impact of their work are being circulated among management.

Teleperformance contested this claim, asserting that they employed a licensed mental health professional, duly registered with a local regulatory body, who possesses a master’s degree in psychology, counseling, or a related mental health field.

The legal action is initiated by the UK-based nonprofit Foxglove. This marks the second lawsuit filed by an African content moderator, following the lawsuit from Kenya’s Samasource workers in December.

Foxglove has stated they will “immediately investigate these alarming reports of worker mistreatment,” with the goal of employing “all available methods, including potential legal action,” to enhance working conditions.

They are collaborating with Agency Seven Seven, a Ghanaian firm, to prepare two potential cases. One could involve claims of unfair dismissal, including a group of moderators who allege psychological harm, along with an East African moderator whose contract ended following a suicide attempt.

Martha Dark, co-executive director at Foxglove, remarked:

“In Ghana, Meta seems to completely disregard the humanity of the crucial safety personnel that all interests rely on—content moderators.

Dark noted that the base wages for content moderators in Accra fall below the living wage, with pressures to work overtime. Moderators reportedly face pay deductions for not meeting performance targets, she indicated.

Contracts obtained by the Guardian show that starting wages are around 1,300 Ghanaian Cedis per month. This base pay is supplemented by a performance-related bonus system, with the highest earnings reaching approximately 4,900 Cedis (£243) per month, significantly less than what is needed for a decent living, according to living costs in Accra.

A spokesperson for Teleperformance stated that content moderators receive “a competitive salary and benefits,” including a monthly income approximately 10 times the national minimum wage for local moderators, and 16 times the minimum wage from other countries, along with project allowances and other benefits, all automatically provided and not contingent on performance.

Foxglove researcher Michaela Chen observed that some moderators are crammed into tight living spaces: “Five individuals were packed into a single room.” She mentioned the existence of a secretive culture of surveillance from managers that monitors workers even during breaks.

This surveillance extends to the work of Meta moderators. She stated: “Workers dedicate all day to the Meta platform, adhering to Meta’s standards and utilizing its systems, yet they are constantly reminded, ‘You’re not working for Meta,’ and are prohibited from disclosing anything to anyone.”

Teleperformance asserted that the moderators are housed in one of Accra’s most luxurious and well-known residential and commercial zones.

The spokesperson described the accommodation as “secure and offering high levels of safety,” complete with recreational facilities such as air conditioning, a gym, and a pool.

Agency Seven Seven partner Carla Olympio believes personal injury claims could succeed in Ghanaian courts, stating they would set a legal precedent that acknowledges employee protections extend to psychological and physical harm.

“[There exists] a gap in our laws as they do not adequately address advancements in technology and virtual work,” she expressed.

Rosa Curling, co-director at Foxglove, has called upon the court to “mandate immediate reforms in the work environment for content moderators,” ensuring proper protective measures and mental health care.

A Teleperformance spokesperson stated: “We are committed to addressing content moderation in Ghana. We fully disclose the type of content moderators may encounter throughout the hiring process, employee contracts, training sessions, and resilience assessments, while actively maintaining a supportive atmosphere for our content moderators.”

Meta commented that the companies it partners with are “contractually obligated to ensure that employees engaged in content reviews on Facebook and Instagram receive adequate support that meets or exceeds industry standards.”

The tech giant further stated it “places great importance on the support provided to content reviewers,” detailing expectations for counseling, training, and other resources when engaging with outsourced companies.

All content moderators indicated they had signed a non-disclosure agreement due to the sensitivity of user information they handle for their safety; however, they are permitted to discuss their experiences with medical professionals and counselors.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Potential harmful effects of banning teenagers’ smartphone use for academic purposes

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

According to a major academic mission by the UK government to review the impact of smartphones on teenagers, a blanket ban is considered “unrealistic and potentially harmful.” Amy Oben, a former member of Cambridge University, leads the research on children and smartphone use commissioned by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), along with other academics from various UK universities.

Despite resistance from the Minister to impose new legal restrictions on social media and smartphones for children, beyond existing online safety laws that protect against harmful content, some lawmakers are advocating for further restrictions such as limiting access to social media for individuals under 16, a complete ban on smartphones in schools, or regulating social media algorithms that expose young teens to addictive content.

A recent paper by four co-authors of the British Journal of Medicine (BMJ) argued that bans and restrictions are ineffective, although they acknowledged the importance of providing children and teens with phone-free spaces.

The paper highlighted the challenges of protecting youth from potential harms of technology while also recognizing the benefits of information access and social support provided by smartphones and social media.

Researchers emphasized the need for a nuanced approach, acknowledging that there is no one-size-fits-all solution and that banning devices could hinder children’s rights to access beneficial technologies that support their development.

The Science and Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, appointed Orben to lead further research on the impact of smartphones on child health and welfare. Orben emphasized the complexity of understanding the digital impact on youth and the importance of generating quality evidence for informed decision-making.

Ministers face pressure to address the use of smartphones by teenagers, especially concerning harmful online content. Discussions about restrictions on social media algorithms for teens and bans on smartphones in schools are ongoing.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson is reviewing guidelines on smartphone bans in schools to assess their effectiveness, while Prime Minister Kiel Starmer is engaging in discussions with stakeholders to address potential harm associated with smartphone and social media use.

DSIT has been approached for comment on this matter.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Revealed Long-Term Effects of Pregnancy on Different Body Parts

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Pregnancy has many effects on the body

Anna Still/Getty Image

SEI 245216256 — Pregnancy has many effects on the body

Anna Still/Getty Image

As anyone who goes through it knows, pregnancy transforms the body a lot. And now we have the most detailed picture of how it affects the blood, organs and immune system each week. This not only helps to provide post-pregnancy treatment, but also helps to identify the risk of developing certain conditions during pregnancy.

“We’ve got an unprecedented view of how much it takes a mother’s body to change weekly, to make up for the incredible load and how long it takes to recover after delivery,” he says. Uriaron At the Wiseman Institute of Science, Rehobot, Israel.

Despite its importance, pregnancy has not been studied, Aron says. For example, previous studies have tracked how about 20 blood markers change, including salt and iron levels. Up to about 6 weeks for dozens of pregnant women After delivery, samples collected during standard healthcare will be used. “These experiments are usually performed in a small number of patients and sample only once at the late pregnancy or at each time point,” Aron says.

To gain a more comprehensive view, Aron and his colleagues analyzed previously collected blood samples from over 160,000 women in Israel, ages 25 to 31. Together, these samples provided weekly, weekly physical snapshots from 20 weeks of conception to 18 months after birth, with each woman providing several points of data. This approach gives useful insight into how the body generally changes during pregnancy at the population level, but says that following the same woman over time will provide a better picture of the individual trajectory. Christofree Imperial College London.

The researchers mapped changes in 76 blood markers, including levels of protein, fat and salt that show the functioning of the liver, kidneys, blood, muscle, bone and immune system. They found that each of these markers differed significantly from preconcept levels during pregnancy to gradually return to preconceived levels or reverse overshooting before returning to preconceived baseline.

In particular, scientists found that 36 markers, including those associated with blood clotting, bounced off within a month of delivery, but 31 markers took more than 10 weeks to recover. For example, some changes to the liver and immune system took about 5 months to return to prepregnancy levels, and some kidney markers took about six months. Some bone and muscle markers took even longer. It is unclear what exactly this means for women’s health, but it should be investigated in future work, Aron says.

Additionally, several other markers did not return to baseline levels for more than one year after birth. “The slightly archaic view that by six or eight weeks after pregnancy, everyone is completely back to normal is clearly wrong,” says Leeds.

For example, iron levels remained much lower after giving birth. “Women are very likely to have anemia [have low iron levels] I think it will take 6-12 months for the iron shop to return to normal after giving birth due to bleeding, and as the developing fetus removes many iron stores from the body.

Meanwhile, levels of proteins called CRP remained high. “CRP is affected by many different processes. Inflammation is certainly one of them, but things like hormonal changes can also affect this,” says Lees. In another analysis, the team examined differences in markers between women with prelammosis. This saw people who are pregnant and not with hypertension, where high blood pressure can cause headaches, vision problems and pain under the ribs. This revealed that women who developed pre-lamp syndrome before conception had increased levels of blood cell fragments called platelets and proteins called ALT.

“For decades, the idea was that if the placenta wasn’t properly planted and not properly planted, the blood supply would be destroyed and the mother would release the hormones and substances that would help her blood pressure,” says Leeds. “However, some studies suggest that those who developed it have different cardiovascular functions before pregnancy. These findings add weight to this theory.”

If further studies have shown that these conceptual markers actually indicate the risk of pre-lammosis, they could be used to identify potentially high-risk women. “Then you can target ways to improve your health before pregnancy (through exercise and lifestyle advice) and reduce your risk,” says Leeds.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Possible Origins of Life on Earth: Peculiar Microscopic Lightning Effects

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Exploring the origins of life is a profound scientific question. While evolution explains how life changes over time, the initial creation of the first biological structures remains a mystery.

In order for life to appear, the Earth required specific molecules containing carbon and nitrogen. However, these essential compounds were absent for millions of years after the planet’s formation. Recent research suggests a potential source for these crucial molecules.

This study proposes that microlites, small bursts of electricity generated when a water droplet breaks, played a key role in the formation of these compounds. These energy bursts are a common occurrence in nature, from ocean waves crashing against the shore to waterfalls spraying mist.

Research indicates that these intense energy releases may have triggered a chemical reaction that produced the fundamental components necessary for life to begin.

Professor Richard Zare, a co-author of the research published in Advances in Science, explains the importance of carbon-nitrogen bonds in creating amino acids and nucleic acids, the building blocks of proteins and DNA.

While previous theories, like the Miller-Urey hypothesis, suggested that lightning strikes into the ocean could have jump-started the chemistry of life, criticisms have been raised about the feasibility of this scenario. New research proposes that the building blocks of life may have been formed over time through numerous small electrical discharges worldwide.

The discovery of microlites producing organic molecules from simple components has broader implications beyond the origins of life. This research suggests that these small electrical discharges could play a significant role in various natural chemical processes.

Dr. Zare emphasizes the importance of studying the chemistry of small water droplets, highlighting the potential for groundbreaking discoveries in this area. This study demonstrates how seemingly insignificant everyday processes may hold the key to profound mysteries, such as the origins of life.

About our experts

Richard Zare is a distinguished chemist and professor at Stanford University, with numerous publications in prestigious journals and multiple awards for his research and educational contributions.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Carrarant cuts methane emissions by 70%, lowering planet-warming effects

Posted on February 3, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

Rice fields are the main sources of methane discharge

Thirawatana Phaisalratana/Istock Phot O/Getty Images

A new type of rice created by a simple cross could reduce the discharge of methane crops, which are strong greenhouse gases, in almost three -quarters.

Cultivation of rice is about 12 % of the artificial release of methane. Methane is a gas with a global warming effect 25 times stronger than that of carbon dioxide.

The emissions come from the soil microorganisms of the flooded paddy fields cultivated by rice. These organisms decompose chemicals known as roots that are released by plants, not only produce nutrients that can be used by plants, but also make methane in the process.

For more information about factors that affect methane production from the roots of rice, Anna Schnella Swedish University of Agriculture Science and her colleagues cultivated two US lines in the laboratory. It is a Japanese variety called Nippon Bear with average methane emissions, and a genetic modification with a small methane emission called SUSIBA2.

SUSIBA2 has reduced the number of roots that are known to be the more important driver of methane emission than Nippon Bear. However, when both strains are treated with oxantel, which is a chemical substance that inhibits the decomposition of hemalate by bacteria, the Susiba2 shares still decrease the methane. This means that there must be another factor that causes different varieties.

SUSIBA2 crops have been found to secrete high -level ethanol.

Later, the team rely on traditional breeding techniques to generate new US stocks by passing high -yielded elite varieties, along with Heidin varieties, a stock that produces low fumalate and high ethanol.

In the two -year outdoor exam in China, the new strain has generated more than 8 tons of crops per hectar, but compared to the world average of more than 4 tons, a methane is 70 % less than the breeded elite varieties. It was issued. 。

Johannes Le Curtr At New Southwales, Sydney, Australia, this study is an example of a well -performed research on the culprit behind the greenhouse gas emissions of crops.

“The core point of this study is to not use hardcore genetic engineering, editing technology, and transgenic approaches,” Le Coutre says. “They use traditional mating to create a new rice line that lowers methane synthesis.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The detrimental effects of banning frightening concepts may outweigh the sense of security it provides

Posted on November 28, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Yuichiro Chino/Getty Images

In 1818, Mary Shelley invented a technology that has been used for both good and bad in the centuries since. It's called science fiction.

Although you might not think that literary genres count as technology, science fiction has long been a tool for predicting and critiquing science. Shelley’s Frankenstein Considered by many to be the first serious science fiction novel, it was so powerful that South Africa banned it in 1955. This story set the formula with a story that still serves today as a warning against unintended consequences.

As far as we know, the exact science that the eponymous Victor Frankenstein used to create is impossible. But today researchers can restore dead human brains to something resembling life. Experiments are underway to restart cell activity (but importantly not consciousness) after death to test its effectiveness in treating conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (see “Fundamental treatments that bring people back from the brink of death”).

It reminds me of many science fiction stories that feature similar scenarios and I can’t help but imagine what will happen next. The same is true for the study reported in “1000 people’s AI simulation accurately reproduces their behavior.” In this study, researchers used the technology behind ChatGPT to recreate the thoughts and actions of specific individuals with surprising success.

The team behind this work blurs the lines between fact, fiction, and what it means to be human.

In both cases, the teams behind this research are blurring the lines between fact, fiction, and what it means to be human, and their research is being conducted under strong ethical oversight. We are deeply aware that there are ethical concerns in the details. It was announced early on. But now that the technology is proven, there is nothing to stop more violent groups from attempting the same thing without oversight, potentially causing significant damage.

Does that mean the research should be banned for fear of it falling into the wrong hands, as Shelley’s book was? Far from it. Concerns about technology are best addressed through appropriate evidence-based regulation and swift punishment of violators. When regulators go too far, they miss out on not only the technology but also the opportunity to criticize and debate it.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The harmful effects of certain kitchen utensils on health

Posted on November 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Some kitchen appliances have become popular in our kitchens due to their cost-effectiveness, durability, and easy cleaning. However, recent studies indicate that certain food staples like black plastic utensils, plastic cutting boards, and nonstick pots may release harmful substances into our food. This is not the kind of seasoning we want in our healthy, nutritious meals.

So, what are the risks associated with these kitchen tools, and what are the safer alternatives available?

Issues with Plastic Utensils

Many of us may have a set of black plastic spatulas, spoons, and ladles tucked away in our kitchen drawers. New research reveals that these items can potentially leach toxic flame retardants like decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) into our food.

These chemicals were originally used in electronics to reduce fire risks but are now present in black plastic kitchen utensils made from recycled electronic waste.

Another study found that 85 percent of black plastic household items examined, including fast food trays, children’s toys, and kitchen utensils, contained toxic flame retardants, with the highest levels found in kitchen utensils.

DecaBDE is particularly harmful, linked to cancer, hormonal disorders, thyroid issues, developmental problems in children, neurobehavioral effects, and toxicity in the reproductive and immune systems. Due to these concerns, it was banned in the UK in 2018 and in the US in 2021.

Researchers estimate that people may be exposed to an average of 34.7 ppm of deca-BDE daily through recycled black plastic kitchen utensils, posing a significant health risk as the chemicals can accumulate in the body over time.

Instead of using black plastic utensils, consider switching to safer alternatives like stainless steel or food-grade silicone options.

Cutting Board and Microplastics

Plastic cutting boards, although seemingly harmless, can release microplastics into our food. These small particles, known as microplastics, can be ingested unintentionally and pose health risks.

Recent research suggests that cutting boards made of polypropylene and polyethylene can release up to 1,114 microplastic particles with just one cut, leading to potential health issues related to microplastic ingestion.

Replacing plastic cutting boards with bamboo or wood alternatives can help reduce these health risks, as these materials are naturally resistant to bacteria and environmentally friendly.

The Truth about Nonstick Cookware

Nonstick pans are favored by many home cooks for their convenience, but the chemicals used in these coatings, such as PFAS, raise health concerns. While modern nonstick pans are considered safe, there are uncertainties about their long-term impacts, especially when exposed to high temperatures or damage.

Be cautious with nonstick pans to prevent overheating, which can release toxic fumes and particles. Scratches or damage to the coating can also release harmful substances into food.

Consider using alternative cookware options like stainless steel or cast iron to avoid potential health risks associated with nonstick pans.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The use of natural fibers in wet wipes can have damaging effects on soil and wildlife

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Fibers from wet wipes can get mixed into fertilizer if flushed down the toilet.

Linda Kennedy/Alamy

The natural fibers increasingly used in wet wipes can actually have a more negative impact on the environment than the synthetic fibers they are designed to replace.

Viscose and lyocell, made from wood cellulose, are often used in wet wipes and clothing as an alternative to fibers such as polyester, which are primarily byproducts of fossil fuels.

“These are in high street stores, so you can get them in the ethically conscious consumer sections of fast fashion stores,” he says. winnie courten jones At Bangor University, UK.

However, there is uncertainty as to whether they are truly better than alternative materials. “There's been a bit of a knee-jerk reaction to move away from traditional fossil fuel-based plastics and replace them with alternatives, and there hasn't been much testing of those other materials,” Corton says. Jones says.

To learn more, she and her colleagues tested the effects of viscose, lyocell, and polyester on the soil and some of the animals that live there. Wet wipes often end up in sewage treatment plants along with microfibers that fall off clothes in washing machines. These are accidentally spread into the soil through sludge from these plants, which is used as fertilizer.

The research team is a type of earthworm (Eisenia fetida) changes the concentration of viscose, lyocell, and polyester in the soil. Approximately 30 percent of people exposed to high concentrations of polyester died after 72 hours. In contrast, almost 60 percent of those exposed to lyocell and 80 percent of those exposed to viscose died.

When researchers tested it at lower concentrations that are more commonly encountered in the real world, they found that worms exposed to viscose or lyocell reproduced less than worms exposed to polyester. Ta. It is unclear why this occurs, but fibrous material, regardless of its composition, can be toxic to earthworms.

“Bio-based fibers are [be] “It's not fossil fuel-based, so it's great when it's produced, but we don&#39t have a clear vision of whether it's great when it&#39s broken down.” caroline goshott lindsay at the University of Glasgow, UK. “They still have a place because we still need to replace the fossil fuel industry. But it's important to know that the message is not that if they go into the environment it will be better.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Victorian Era’s Affinity for Smoking: Uncovering its Effects on Bone Health

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Recent archaeological findings indicate that smoking not only stains teeth but also has a literal impact on bones. Additionally, new research suggests that the prevalence of smoking among women in Georgian and Victorian England may have been underestimated compared to men.

In a study conducted by Dr. Sarah Inskip, it was discovered that many women in historical records showed traces of tobacco use, contradicting common beliefs about smoking habits. This finding highlights the importance of considering smoking as a significant health risk for both men and women.

The survey results published in a scientific journal suggest that advancements in analyzing bones for historical information can also aid in modern criminal investigations. By identifying smoking patterns and other lifestyle aspects from bone samples, researchers can create biological profiles to assist in identifying individuals in forensic cases.

Researchers have identified specific molecular markers in bones that indicate smoking habits. By analyzing skeletal remains from different time periods, they found evidence of tobacco use in a significant portion of individuals, including those dating back to the 12th century.

These findings provide valuable insights into the historical prevalence of smoking and its impact on individuals’ health. The research team’s work opens up new possibilities for understanding past health issues and potentially improving modern health outcomes.

About our experts

Dr. Sarah Inskip, a researcher at the University of Leicester and a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, has published her research in prestigious journals such as nature communications, archaeology and anthropology, and American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Seven frog species recently identified produce vocalizations that resemble the sound effects from Star Trek

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Boophis pikei, a new species of frog from Madagascar

Miguel Vances (CC-BY-SA 4.0)

Deep in the forests of Madagascar, researchers have discovered seven new species of frogs and named them after characters. star trek.

“The frog sounds are very reminiscent of the series' iconic futuristic sound effects,” he says. Mark D. Schertz At the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

Bufis mallogesensis A small brownish frog found in the damp forests of Madagascar. The animal was first described in 1994, but over time, researchers began to wonder if this puppy-eyed amphibian was actually more than one species. I did.

To find out, Schatz and his colleagues collected as much data as possible from a variety of individuals. B. mallogesensis Collected over 30 years. They recorded and analyzed the frogs' calls, compared their physical characteristics, and sequenced their DNA.

Their results showed that what was previously thought to be one species of frog is actually eight different species. Physically, they look almost identical, Schertz says. “The main difference is in the sounds they make. Their piercing, high-pitched whistle calls differ in pitch and timing of the whistle.” DNA sequencing also shows genetic differences, making them different It was confirmed that it is a species.

Male frogs attract females with bird-like calls, but because these newly named species live near rivers, they have evolved high-pitched whistles to make their calls stand out from the noise of flowing water. Mr. Schertz thinks so. However, much about the lives of these frogs remains a mystery.

one of the species is named Boufis Khaki, In honor of James T. Kirk. Other members are named after Jean-Luc Picard, Benjamin Sisco, Kathryn Janeway, Jonathan Archer, Michael Burnham, and Christopher Pike.

“We wanted to honor captains who lead teams on missions of exploration and discovery,” says Schatz. “This may also serve as a reminder of how much discovery still remains on Earth before we set our sights on the stars.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Suppressing Appetite to Lose Weight: The Effects of Weight Loss Drugs on Eating and Exercising Desires

Posted on October 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Weight loss drugs may reduce people's desire to exercise

Me 3645 Studio/Getty Images

Semaglutide, found in medicines such as Ozempic and Wigovy, reduces the amount of movement in mice. This finding suggests that these weight loss drugs may reduce people's motivation to exercise.

Semaglutide helps treat type 2 diabetes and obesity by mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which regulates blood sugar and suppresses appetite. GLP-1 also suppresses activity in brain areas involved in reward processing and craving. This may explain why people taking semaglutide-based drugs no longer find eating as rewarding or pleasurable as they did before taking the drug. This is also probably why some studies show that semaglutide may also be helpful in treating substance use disorders.

ralph dileone Researchers at Yale University wanted to know whether semaglutide also affects other rewarding behaviors, such as exercise, which is known to improve mood and memory. So they gave seven mice semaglutide and an equal number a placebo and measured how far the mice ran on an exercise wheel each day.

On average, patients treated with semaglutide ran about half the distance as those given a placebo. This suggests that motivation for exercise may be low.

To further test this, the researchers administered semaglutide to another group of 15 mice and a placebo for 5 days to another group of similarly sized mice, and investigated their willingness to exercise on a wheel. did. But this time, the exercise wheel locked up periodically while the animal was running on it. To release the lock, the mouse had to press a lever with its nose. Each time the wheel locked, it became progressively more difficult to unlock, requiring the mouse to press the lever many more times. “Eventually they quit,” says DiLeone, who presented these findings at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Chicago on October 7. “We call that their breakpoint. It's a proxy for how willing they are to access the wheel.”

The maximum number of lever presses in the semaglutide-treated mice was, on average, 25% lower than in the control animals. The researchers repeated the experiment in obese mice and found similar results.

Taken together, these findings suggest that semaglutide-based drugs, such as Ozempic and Wigovy, may reduce motivation to exercise, similar to reducing food and drug cravings. Masu. But DiLeone says there's still no evidence that this applies to humans. This could be because most of the data on Wegovy and Ozempic comes from people participating in weight-loss programs that include exercise, he says.

Still, these findings highlight that these drugs can interfere not only with negative behaviors but also with positive ones. ”[This] Data suggests there are still motivated behaviors that can be changed [with semaglutide] I haven't heard it yet.'' Karolina Skibicka at Penn State University.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Effects of Vacuum Cleaner Usage on Penis Health

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Hold on

Reader Simon Leech responded cheerfully to Feedback magazine’s call for papers that “the title tells you all you need to know” by saying, “Well, that’s what you wanted!”

“That” is, British Medical Journal In 1980 “Penis injury caused by vacuum cleaner”.

“The title says it all you need to know,” says Leach, “but the report also answers every question you could possibly imagine. The final sentence sums it up: ‘The present patient may have thought his penis would not hit the fan, but the freshness of the experience drove him to disastrous results.'” Leach adds: “As junior doctors, we BMJ I think you should try harder, we are all reading this!”

Feedback argues that, whether professional or personal, we should love our vacuum cleaners wisely, but not too much. If you know of another research paper with a title as satisfying as this, please send it to Telltale titles, c/o Feedback.

How to Remove a Cyst

Shiheng Zhao and Pierre Haas grab the reader’s attention with the title of their study. “The mechanism of puncturing the cyst”Once that’s done, they change to a less civilised tone.

Chao and Haas, from two of the three Max Planck Institutes in Dresden, Germany, demonstrate a way of running a discussion that minimizes the unpleasant parts and maximizes the technical parts.

“Similar to poking fruit samples in the supermarket to assess their edibility, indenting biological samples reveals mechanical properties that are intrinsically related to their biological function,” they write.

After that, “Pushing force and debt And the displacement e “Deformation characteristics of the indenter” and “Calculation of the elastic deformation gradient”

If you have an interesting skin condition but your friends hate you for telling them about it, try using Zhao and Haas’s elegant phraseology: A cyst, they point out, is simply “a spherical monolayer of polarized cells surrounding a fluid-filled lumen.”

Meat burger

Hundreds of Hamburgers in the city of Hamburg, Germany, answered a survey about three different types of sausages. They were selected Hamburgers, all of whom belonged to a certain age group.

The senders of the survey, Stephan GH Meyerding and Magdalena Cooper from the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, limited the questions to types of sausage: “meat, plant-based or in vitro salami.”

Of the three types of salami, meat-based is the most traditional, but plant-based versions have also grown in popularity over the past few decades, with test-tube salami made using stem cells being the newest, and still making its way from the lab to the dinner table.

What is the researcher’s goal? “Explaining food choices of German Generations Y and Z through core dimensions of meat-eating habits scale.”.

Judging from their data, the conclusion seems clear: “A majority of German Gen Y and Gen Z members prefer vegan meat to real meat, and cultured meat is more popular than beef and pork.”

The verdict seems less convincing than if new studies had been conducted a few years later: “Cultured meat is still unknown and not yet available on the German market,” the researchers say.

Eat the liver

New evidence supports the age-old complaint that children don’t want to listen to adults. “Kids don’t want to eat what they should be eating…” According to the title of Villa Reka Nickel’s study on child nutrition.

Nickel is based at the Institute of Ethnology in Budapest and has been researching the history of “Public Meals for Hungarian Children”.

During that time, the country’s eating habits and food preparation practices changed dramatically, due to “the obligation to provide public meals and general work obligations”, the study said.

Nickel illustrates their problem with hate using photos, one of which is captioned, “Fried breaded luncheon meat and creamed split peas are one of the school lunch ‘staples,’ but they were never the most popular school lunch.”

There are certain meals that many children are reluctant to eat, and Nikel has investigated this harassment in detail: “In our research, fried liver was one such meal. In Eger, they dealt with this problem by serving only rice if the child did not want liver. In Özd, children were not given this option. When I asked about the possibility of serving children as much food as they wanted, the food service manager in Özd drew my attention to an important fact: ‘It’s illegal. Parents pay for it.'”

Statistics and Baboons

“Can non-human primates perform linear regression on graphs?” ask Lorenzo Ciccione and his colleagues in their study “Baboons as statisticians.” Their tentative answer is that, to some extent, they can, but the extent to which they can “depends on the individual.”

Marc Abrahams is the founder of the Ig Nobel Prize ceremony and co-founder of the journal Annals of Improbable Research. He previously worked on unusual uses of computers. His website is Impossible.

Do you have a story for feedback?

You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week’s and past Feedback can be found on our website.

Source: www.newscientist.com

Video games found to have positive effects on health, scientists reveal

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

If you like video games, playing them might not be something you need to worry about.

Asia Vision/Getty Images

Despite being an oft-maligned pastime, playing video games actually seems to make people happier, a finding that comes from a unique study taking advantage of the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think that if you enjoy a hobby, it has a positive effect on your health.” Hiroyuki Egami At Nihon University in Japan.

In 2019, The World Health Organization has added “gaming disorder” It violates the International Classification of Diseases. However, studies on the effects of playing video games have produced mixed results when it comes to mental health outcomes, with many studies unable to prove causation. Studies that aim to prove causation are usually conducted in controlled laboratory environments, which “are far removed from the experience of actually playing video games,” the researchers say. Peter Etchells The researchers are from Bath Spa University in the UK but were not involved in the latest study.

But between 2020 and 2022, Egami and his colleagues had a rare opportunity to investigate the causal effects of video games on people's happiness in the real world. At the time, game consoles were in short supply, so lotteries were held in parts of Japan where people could enter to receive either a PlayStation 5 or a Nintendo Switch console.

The researchers surveyed 8,192 people aged between 10 and 69 who had entered such lotteries. Respondents answered questions about their gambling habits and levels of psychological distress, an indicator of mental health.

Egami and his colleagues found that people who won the lottery had slightly higher mental health scores than those who didn't, but that their scores plateaued once they exceeded about three hours of total play time per day.

The team also used machine learning models to analyze the data and found that the effects varied by console type and owner demographics. For example, younger people who own a Nintendo Switch saw greater benefits compared to older people. The team also found that people without children saw greater benefits from owning a PlayStation 5 than those with children.

“This highlights the need to be nuanced and specific about what we measure and how we measure it if we want to understand how video games affect us,” Etchells said, though he said participants self-reported the amount of time they played, which may not be accurate.

Etchells and Egami also note that the data was collected during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have influenced people's video game habits and health. Further research using this methodology could reveal whether the trends hold in other contexts.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The worsening effects of food supply on the climate

Posted on August 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Raising cattle produces huge amounts of greenhouse gases

Alan Hopps/Getty Images

As the world's population grows, the only way to reduce agriculture's huge greenhouse gas emissions is to make food production more efficient. Unfortunately, efficiency gains have stagnated since 2010, and as food demand continues to grow, agricultural emissions and deforestation are likely to skyrocket.

Lin Ma Ma and his colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shijiazhuang came to their conclusion after analysing existing data to estimate greenhouse gas emissions per unit of protein produced between 1961 and 2019. They chose protein instead of calories because it's a better indicator of food quality, Ma says.

Between 1961 and around 2010, emissions per unit of protein fell by two-thirds, the team says. But since then, there has been no further improvement and there are even signs of an increase. Agriculture is responsible for about a third of all greenhouse gas emissions, and food demand is projected to increase by up to 50% by 2050. If agriculture's climate efficiency does not improve further, emissions from agriculture will also increase by 50%, the researchers warn.

Moreover, without improvements in agricultural efficiency, the only way to increase production is to clear more land for farming, which will lead to further deforestation and biodiversity loss, they say.

“That's very bad news. We need to drastically reduce emissions, not increase them.” Richard Waite He is a researcher at the World Resources Institute in Washington, D.C., but was not involved in the study.

“The continued and accelerating expansion of agricultural land since the turn of the century is of great concern as there is no path forward to limit warming to 1.5°C. [of global warming] “It's important to end deforestation as quickly as possible,” he says.

There are many reasons why climate emissions per unit of protein produced are no longer decreasing, Dan Leto For one thing, people around the world are eating more meat, which produces far more greenhouse gas emissions than plant-based foods, said Breakthrough Institute researcher David Schneider, who was not on the team.

The fact that large amounts of agricultural crops are now being converted to fuel rather than food could also be a factor, he says. “The rise in crop-based biofuels likely explains some of the slowdown in decarbonization we find in the paper,” as biofuel crops grown for energy are chosen for their calorie content rather than their protein content, reducing the efficiency that Ma's team measures.

Another potential factor is the increase in extreme weather events that are affecting crop yields and food prices around the world, which the study did not take into account, Ma said. “But we suspect the impact of extreme weather on crop yields was relatively small before 2019.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Scientists investigate the effects of a broken heart

Posted on August 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The Science of Love

“Losing or ending a romantic relationship is one of the most painful losses an adult can experience,” begins the BAS (A Study Full of Acronyms) study by German and Iranian researchers. Journal of Psychiatry Research.

This is science at its most overtly romantic: electromagnetically stimulating the brains of volunteers who have suddenly experienced heartbreak. It's also science with the most acronyms: tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation), DLPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex), VLPFC (ventrolateral prefrontal cortex), LTS (love trauma syndrome).

For those who have suffered through heartbreak, here's a passage worth hearing out loud as a midnight rooftop monologue: “Thirty-six participants with love trauma syndrome were randomly assigned to three tDCS conditions (left DLPFC, right VLPFC, or sham stimulation). LTS symptoms, treatment-related outcome variables (depression, anxiety, emotion regulation, positive and negative affect), and cognitive functioning were assessed pre-intervention, immediately after intervention, and one month after the intervention.”

The evaluation showed that brain zapping “ameliorated symptoms of LTS,” according to the researchers, but they cautioned that, in terms of science in general, “there are significant gaps in the research on 'love trauma syndrome,' what exactly the symptoms are and what the diagnostic criteria are.”

Eliminates odors

Kevin Lee sees some causation in the actions of perhaps London's (and the world's) first celebrity pathologist.

He writes: “I'm a retired forensic scientist and, as you can imagine, I've been asked countless times how I deal with smells. Apart from the old-fashioned solution of smiling innocently and asking, 'Ouch, what's that?', I still have a keen sense of smell and can detect a range of odours, even when the smell of decay is very faint. I've trained myself to have a fairly neutral approach to these smells, so that although I still notice them well, after one good sniff, they're no longer an issue.”

“Recent articles [Feedback, 15 June] Sir Bernard Spilsbury, a very famous forensic scientist in the early 20th century, said that his sense of smell was extremely defective. If it was, it is more likely that this was because he was a heavy smoker, smoking around 50 cigarettes a day. It is also possible that he used the same techniques that I later used.”

A slice of life

This note from UK reader Gerald Legg depicts body parts that are living (elbow), dead (hair), nominal (leg) and sliced: “Your recent article, 'Parting the Hair' (July 20th) made me think of my time at Manchester University, where my PhD research involved a lot of microtome work using an old but still-functioning Cambridge rocking microtome. [a specialist cutting device].

“I was taught how to sharpen the blade using a glass plate and cerium dioxide. Before each use, the blade is sharpened and then tested under 40x magnification to make sure it is free of scratches. The test is to cut a hair. A sharp blade can cut a hair three times, lifting the little curled section that is still attached to the body of the hair and then cutting the hair straight through.

“There was a sharp knife in the lab, and I put my elbow against the knife and heard it cutting all the way to the bone, but I didn’t feel anything.

“I was rushed to the nearby Manchester Hospital, where I was quickly healed with just a few stitches and was able to return to the lab and continue serial sectioning with the same blade.”

Anonymous

When students make tangible contributions to science, some teachers find ways to publicly recognize who, what, and where they did it, especially when students make extraordinary sacrifices.

“Research into the antibacterial effect of earwax E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus It was isolated from skin and stool samples of an undergraduate student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.” “.

In the academic world, credits are limited: individual students are not identified by name.

Simple Happiness

“Simple, simple, simple” is an old rule of thumb, especially among scientists. In honor of this maxim, Feedback has created a document collection called “Simple, Simple, Simple.”

The first item in this assemblage is report It was published in the February 6, 1997 issue under the heading “The Uniquely Simple Personality of Politicians” NatureThe study suggests that a politician's personality can be summed up in just two or three numbers – in stark contrast to the five numbers psychologists claim are needed to judge the average person.

The study's authors were awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Psychology in 2003.

If you have the simple pleasure of finding another good example, send it to us (with details of the citation) at Simple pleasures, Feedback.

Do you have a story for feedback?

You can submit articles for Feedback by emailing feedback@newscientist.com. Please include your home address. This week's and past Feedback can be found on our website.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

New study reveals that Oats have similar effects to Ozempic

Posted on July 26, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Interested in trying a water, oats, and lime juice smoothie? You may have come across the internet buzz about this mixture, likened to the effects of the weight-loss drug Ozempic. Dubbed “Oat Zempic” by some influencers, this concoction is gaining popularity.

Recent research published in the Nutrition Journal suggests that there is a similarity between a type of fiber found in oats and the biochemical pathway of Ozempic.

Ozempic, a medication widely used for type 2 diabetes treatment, has gained attention for its weight loss benefits, as well as its potential to reduce heart disease risk, prevent cognitive decline, and aid in smoking cessation.

Derived from semaglutide, Ozempic falls into the category of GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic a digestive hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite.

While oats have known benefits in promoting satiety and aiding in weight loss as part of a balanced diet, they do not match the potency of Ozempic in terms of GLP-1 agonist effects.

Nutrition experts caution against replacing meals with trendy drinks like Oat Zempic, emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded diet for long-term health and weight management.

Ultimately, incorporating high-fiber foods like oats into your diet can be beneficial, but there is no substitute for a healthy, balanced eating plan. Remember, sustainable weight loss requires a holistic approach.

About our experts

Emily Leeming: A Registered Dietitian and Research Fellow, Emily brings a wealth of knowledge on nutrition, gut health, and dietetics. Her background in science and culinary arts gives her a unique perspective on food and health.

To learn more about Emily and her work, check out her book The Genius Gut: The Life-Changing Science of Diet for Your Second Brain.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Curious about the effects of AI on government and politics? Bots hold the key

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

circlehat Intention How will AI affect jobs? After “Will AI destroy humanity?”, this is the most important question about technology and it remains one that is extremely difficult to pin down, even as the frontier moves from science fiction to reality.

At one extreme there is the somewhat optimistic assertion that new technologies will simply create new jobs. At the other extreme there are fears that companies will replace their entire workforce with AI tools. The debate is often about the speed of the transition rather than the end state. A cataclysmic change that is completed in a few years is devastating to those caught in the middle, whereas a cataclysmic change that takes 20 years may be survivable.

Even the parallels with the past are not as clear-cut as we would like: the internal combustion engine eventually put an end to horse labor, but the steam engine, on the other hand, had a much bigger impact. increase Number of draft animals employed in the UK. Why? The arrival of the railways increased freight traffic in the country, but deliveries could not be completed from warehouse to doorstep. Horses were needed to do the things that steam engines could not do.

Until it isn’t.

Steam power and the internal combustion engine are examples of general-purpose technologies, breakthrough technologies that revolutionize the entire structure of society. There are not many such technologies, even if you count from writing, or even before that, from fire itself. It is pure coincidence that the initial letters of the term “Generative Pretrained Transformer” are the same, which is why GPT looks like GPT.

That’s not a job, idiot

Humans are not horses, and AI tools are not humans.

Humans are not horses ^{[citation needed]}It seems hard to believe that AI technology will be able to do everything humans can do. Becoming HumanThis is an inconveniently circular argument, but an important one: horses still race, because if you replace horses with cars, it’s no longer a horse race. ^{[citation needed]}people will still provide the services they want for one reason or another, and as culture warps around the rise of AI, some of those services will teeth You might be surprised. For example, AI in healthcare is underrated because for many people, the “human touch” is bad The problem is the doctor who worries they are judging your drinking, or the therapist who lies to you because they want you to like them.

As a result, many people like to think in terms of “tasks” rather than jobs: take a job, define it in terms of the tasks it contains, and ask whether an AI can do them. In doing so, we can identify some jobs that are at risk of being completely cannibalized, some jobs that are perfectly safe, and a large intermediate group of jobs that will be “impacted” by AI.

It’s worth pointing out an obvious fact: this approach results in a higher number of jobs that are mechanically “influenced” and a lower number of jobs that are “destroyed.” (Even the jobs most influenced by AI are likely to have some tasks that the AI finds difficult.) That may be why the technique was pioneered by OpenAI, who in a 2023 paper wrote: The researchers in the lab:“80% of workers are in occupations where at least 10% of the work requires a law degree, and 19% of workers are in occupations where more than half of the work requires a law degree.”

The report claimed between 15 and 86 professions were “completely at risk”, including mathematicians, legal secretaries and journalists.

I’m still here. But a year on, the idea is trending again, thanks to a paper from the Tony Blair Institute (TBI). The giant think tank, powerful and influential even before Labour’s landslide victory two weeks ago, is now seen as one of the architects of Starmerite thought. And it believes the public sector is ripe for disruption through AI. According to the TBI paper: The potential impact of AI on the public sector workforce (pdf):

More than 40% of the tasks performed by public sector workers could potentially be partially automated through a combination of AI-based software, such as machine learning models and large-scale language models, and AI-enabled hardware, ranging from AI-enabled sensors to advanced robotics.

Governments will need to invest in AI technology, upgrade data systems, train employees to use the new tools and cover the redundancy costs of early retirement – costs that are estimated to amount to £4 billion under ambitious implementation plans.That averages $1 billion a year for the term of this Congress.

Over the past few weeks TechScape has been keeping a close eye on the new Government’s approach to AI. Tomorrow, the King’s Speech is expected to announce the AI Bill, and we will hear more. The TBI paper makes one takeaway worth watching: Will investment in transformation approach £4 billion a year? There is a lot that can be done for free, but much more could be done with more money. The institute estimates that spending would return more than nine times, but a £20 billion bill would be hard to get through Parliament without question.

AI Geek

Prime Minister Tony Blair spoke at the Tony Blair Institute’s Britain’s Future conference on 9 July. Photo: Yui Mok/PA

The report drew renewed attention over the weekend as critics took issue with its methodology. From 404 Media:

The problem with this prediction is that POLITICO, Technology

Breaking down work into tasks is already done by a huge database created by the US Department of Labor. But with 20,000 such tasks, describing which ones should be exposed to AI is a daunting task. In a similar paper from OpenAI, “the authors personally labeled a large sample of tasks and DWAs, and hired experienced human annotators who reviewed the output of GPT-3, GPT-3.5, and GPT-4 as part of OpenAI’s tuning efforts,” but they also had the then-new GPT-4 perform the same tasks and found a 60-80 percent match between robots and humans.

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Source: www.theguardian.com

The Effects of Lymphatic “Weight Loss Massage” on Your Body

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

In the beauty industry, treatments to combat bloating and cellulite are in high demand. Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian, and Sean “Diddy” Combs are now turning to lymphatic drainage massage for help with these issues.

This type of massage targets the lymphatic system, which sets it apart from other massage therapies like Swedish, sports, deep tissue, and aromatherapy. Each type of massage offers different benefits, so choosing the right one depends on the results you want to achieve.

Understanding the Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is a crucial part of the body’s immune system, consisting of organs like the spleen, tonsils, bone marrow, and thymus. It works alongside the circulatory system by filtering out waste products and abnormal cells through lymph nodes. The lymph fluid helps maintain fluid balance, absorb fat, and defend against infections.

Who Benefits from Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

People with conditions like lymphedema, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, deep vein thrombosis, and cancer-related lymphatic buildup can benefit from lymphatic drainage massage. Athletes also find it useful for recovery and prevention, along with proper hydration, diet, exercise, and sleep.

Do You Need Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

Signs of a malfunctioning lymphatic system include swelling in knees, ankles, and hands, as well as swollen lymph nodes when sick. After cancer treatment, lymphatic drainage massage can help prevent infections and support healing.

Can Lymphatic Drainage Help with Weight Loss?

Lymphatic drainage massage can aid in weight loss by improving circulation, reducing swelling, and eliminating toxins. While it may improve the appearance of cellulite, it cannot completely remove it. Weight loss post-massage is often due to losing excess fluids.

What to Expect from Lymphatic Drainage Massage

There are two types of lymphatic drainage massage: manual and simple, both overseen by qualified practitioners. The techniques involve gentle pressure to clear and absorb toxins, without causing pain or skin irritation.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Experts Explain the Harmful Effects of Nicotine Pouches

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

It has been common knowledge for many years that smoking is highly detrimental to health. Quitting smoking or avoiding starting in the first place are among the most effective measures individuals can take to safeguard their well-being.

Nations worldwide are implementing comprehensive strategies to eradicate smoking from the realm of normal and socially acceptable behaviors, shedding light on the reality that smoking is a lethal addiction.

The reduction in smoking rates is attributed to initiatives such as increased tobacco taxes, graphic warnings on packaging, workplace smoking bans, and the cessation of alluring tobacco advertising campaigns.

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Recent data from the UK Office for National Statistics indicates that 12.9% of adults in the UK are current smokers. This marks a substantial decline compared to the 30% prevalence in the early 1990s. The success in tobacco control efforts is evident in this statistic.

Nevertheless, nicotine addiction continues to thrive as a lucrative industry. Rather than fading away quietly, the tobacco sector has introduced a new array of products appealing primarily to the youth demographic: flavored disposable e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices, and their latest novelty item—nicotine pouches.

Read more:

Nicotine pouches are typically packaged in small, pocket-sized containers resembling tea bags. They consist of a blend of vegetable fiber, sugar, flavorings, and, of course, nicotine.

Nicotine can either be synthesized in a laboratory or extracted from the tobacco plant. These pouches come in various flavors ranging from fruity to sweet and in different nicotine strengths, some containing more nicotine than regular cigarettes.

The user places the small pouch between their lips and gums, allowing the nicotine to be absorbed. Once the nicotine is fully absorbed, the pouch is discarded and replaced. These pouches are discreet, emit a pleasant aroma, and unlike chewing tobacco, do not require spitting post-use.

Although nicotine pouches are relatively new, they bear similarities to Scandinavian “snus,” the key distinction being the absence of tobacco in pouches. This regulatory loophole allows pouches to dodge tobacco product rules and regulations that apply to cigarettes.

Unlike cigarettes, pouches can legally be sold to individuals under 18 in the UK due to this lack of regulation. Other countries, such as the US, have taken steps to ban or restrict pouch sales to adults only.

What do we know about the health risks of pouches?

While nicotine pouches are gaining popularity globally, limited data exists to assess their health risks as they are relatively new in the market. Nonetheless, the World Health Organization advocates for a cautious approach emphasizing the importance of prioritizing health outcomes while permitting the sale and promotion of nicotine pouches, especially concerning the health of young individuals.

Usage of pouches exposes individuals to toxic nicotine, increasing the risk of nicotine addiction and potentially leading to the use of other products like e-cigarettes or cigarettes.

Aside from the addictive nature of nicotine, its consumption in pouch form can impact adolescent brain development and overall health, including cognitive functions. High doses of nicotine may induce symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea, and abdominal cramps, particularly in individuals inexperienced with nicotine exposure.

It might be tempting to compare the health effects of nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products to deem one product “safer” than another. However, 85% of the UK population never smoke; hence, young non-smokers would not derive health benefits from initiating pouch use.

Moreover, there’s no current evidence supporting the efficacy of pouches in smoking or vaping cessation. Rather than aiding cessation efforts, individuals who smoke or vape may resort to pouches when restricted from smoking or vaping easily, potentially increasing nicotine intake.

A handful of multinational corporations dominate the global tobacco industry, with British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International being the two largest manufacturers and sellers of nicotine pouches. Resembling vintage cigarette advertisements, pouch promotions employ motorsport, celebrity endorsements, and various lifestyle marketing techniques.

Tobacco industry practices have been alarmingly proficient in harmful marketing strategies. The widespread availability of addictive nicotine products and the absence of stringent regulations on pouch advertising and sales pose a genuine risk of escalating pouch use and nicotine addiction among the youth.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

International Monetary Fund (IMF) calls for consideration of balancing the effects of AI with profit and environmental taxes

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) suggests that governments dealing with economic challenges brought about by artificial intelligence (AI) should look into implementing fiscal policies such as taxes on excessive profits or environmental taxes to offset the carbon emissions linked to AI.

The IMF highlights generative AI, which enables computer systems like ChatGPT to create human-like text, voice, and images from basic prompts, as a technology advancing rapidly and spreading at a swift pace compared to past innovations like the steam engine.

To address the impact on jobs due to AI, the IMF proposes policies like a carbon tax considering the environmental effects of operating AI servers. The IMF emphasizes the importance of taxing carbon emissions from AI servers to incorporate environmental costs into the technology’s price.

The IMF report released on Monday highlights the significance of taxing carbon emissions associated with AI servers due to their high energy consumption and the potential to impact data centers’ electricity use. Data centers, servers, and networks currently contribute up to 1.5% of global emissions, according to a recent report.

In addition, the report cautions that introducing AI could reduce wages, widen inequality, and empower tech giants to strengthen their market dominance and financial gains. It recommends higher taxes on capital income, including corporate taxes and personal income on dividends, interest, and capital gains, to address these challenges.

Furthermore, the report stresses the need for governments to prepare for the impact of AI on various job sectors, both white-collar and blue-collar, and suggests measures like extending unemployment insurance, targeted Social Security payments, and tailored education and training to equip workers with necessary skills.

To overhaul the tax system and introduce new taxes reflecting real-time market values, the IMF recommends leveraging AI’s analytical capabilities. While cautioning against universal basic income due to its high cost, the IMF suggests considering it if AI disrupts jobs significantly in the future.

Ella Dabra Norris, deputy director of the IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department and co-author of the report, encourages countries to explore the design and implementation of systems like UBI if AI disruption intensifies.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Effects of Death on the Human Body

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Studying corpses can provide valuable insights. Observing the decomposition process can enhance our knowledge of the nuances involved, aid in locating and identifying the deceased more accurately, and help determine the time of death.

Following death, the body undergoes a breakdown into simpler organic matter through biological and chemical processes. The duration of this process varies from weeks to years depending on several factors.

Chemical reactions in decomposition accelerate with rising temperatures. Conversely, bodies can remain relatively “fresh” for longer in cold conditions or during winter. Certain factors, like burial or placing the body in a coffin, can slow down decomposition. Insecticides near bodies may not deter insects but can delay their arrival, thus slowing decomposition indefinitely.

A study from Australia’s first ‘body farm’ revealed surprising movement in corpses during decay. Limbs, including arms, were seen to change positions even in advanced decomposition stages. Researchers suggest this movement is linked to the decomposition process as the body mummifies and ligaments dry out.

Stage 1: Rigor begins

The “fresh” phase lasts from days to a week. Pallor after death, where the body turns blue due to poor circulation, is the first visible change. Rigor mortis sets in approximately 2 to 6 hours after death, stiffening the body, then dissipates around 36 hours later.

If left unattended, insects arrive shortly after death, typically within 10 minutes.

Stage 2: Bloating

When gut bacteria multiply due to lack of control, they produce gas that causes bloating. In warm climates, bloating can occur within 2-3 days.

Stage 3: Skin falls off

Internal pressure causes fluid to push between skin layers, leading to skin sloughing off.

Stage 4: Marbling

Absence of oxygen leads hemoglobin to bind with sulfur, resulting in arteries and veins filled with a greenish-black substance – known as “marbling.”

Stage 5: Evacuation of liquefied organs

Increased pressure forces fluids and liquefied organs out of available openings, potentially causing eyeballs to protrude and even body explosions.

Stage 6: Insects multiply.

Chemicals released by the body attract flies, which lay eggs in and around openings, leading to maggot infestation feeding on flesh and organs.

Stage 7: Scavenger arrives

Other insects, beetles, birds, and carrion eaters are attracted to the body for consumption.

Stage 8: Skeletonization

Finally, bones undergo ossification with the complete loss of soft tissue. Bone bleaching and flaking typically begin about 9 months after exposure, with further separation over months and years due to environmental factors.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Effects of Nuclear Fallout on Life: A Closer Look

Posted on April 27, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

When it comes to apocalypse scenarios, nuclear destruction stands out as both fascinating to viewers and alarmingly realistic. From the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima, humanity has witnessed the devastating consequences of our current nuclear power usage.

But what impact does radiation actually have on the environment where it is released? Recent reports of thriving life at Chernobyl present a different perspective on the post-apocalyptic wasteland depicted in many fallout series.

“We live in an increasingly radioactive world,” says biologist Professor Timothy Mousseau, who has studied ecosystems in nuclear disaster sites for 25 years, as reported by BBC Science Focus.

“So, what we learn from places like Chernobyl, Fukushima, and atomic bomb test sites will ultimately have implications for humanity,” Mousseau adds.

The effects of radiation are usually dire

One thing that movies get right is that you definitely don’t want to be involved in a nuclear disaster if you can avoid it.

Mousseau explains that when radioactive events like Chernobyl happen, ionizing radiation is released into the environment, potentially damaging or altering DNA in exposed organisms. These genetic changes can lead to mutations, with some causing no harm, others resulting in severe issues like cancer or juvenile cataracts.

“Between these extremes, there are many mutations with small or partial effects, such as asymmetric individuals or odd growths,” Mousseau elaborates.

The effects of radiation are not limited to animals. Plants also feel the brunt of nuclear disaster impacts, with radioactive materials often being absorbed by the soil. The International Atomic Energy Agency notes that leaves around Chernobyl changed shape post-explosion, and the once green pine forest turned red, eventually being cleared due to the risk of radioactive clouds in case of a fire.

Though the original trees of the Red Forest have been cut down, the area remains highly radioactive. – Image credit: Getty

In conclusion, living in highly radioactive areas is not ideal, as Mousseau points out.

Superpowers are (probably) unlikely

While radiation-induced mutations can have negative impacts, some may also be advantageous. Mousseau mentions that scientists have found certain crops benefiting from mutations, resulting in increased yields and pest resistance. Even coffee trees resistant to fungal diseases have been developed using nuclear mutation breeding methods.

Naturally occurring beneficial mutations can also arise, as seen in Chernobyl’s tree frogs, which developed darker skin to protect against radiation-induced oxidative stress.

Despite the energy released in the Chernobyl disaster, tree frogs adapted with darker skin. – Image credits: German Orizaola and Pablo Burraco

However, Mousseau emphasizes that beneficial mutations are rare, and the chances of gaining any form of superpowers from radiation exposure are slim.

About our experts:

Timothy Mousseau, a professor at the University of South Carolina, has extensive research experience in genetic adaptations to environmental stresses, including radiation effects on organisms in nuclear disaster zones. His work has shed light on the implications for these environments on various species and their evolutionary responses. Mousseau has authored numerous scientific papers related to Chernobyl and Fukushima research.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

US government considers taxing Bitcoin to mitigate environmental effects

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Bitcoin mining is linked to rising electricity prices

Thomas Wren/Alamy Stock Photo

The US government has proposed taxing crypto miners to reduce the industry's heavy environmental impact, but experts say the measure could simply shift the problem elsewhere. It warns that there is.

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are kept secure through a process called mining, which involves intensive calculations and large amounts of power consumption. According to the latest data from the University of Cambridge, Bitcoin is 0.69% of all electricity used worldwide.

In America, the government Estimate Up to 2.3 percent of the nation's electricity use in 2023 will come from just 137 mining operations, and electricity rates in Texas are increasing by 5 percent. Directly linked to increased demand Caused by miners.President Joe Biden's 2025 budget proposal Cryptocurrency mining “has the potential to harm the environment, increase energy prices for those who share power grids with digital asset miners, as well as have environmental justice implications.”

The budget therefore proposes a 30% tax on miners' total energy costs, which would apply to both electricity from the grid and electricity generated by miners themselves. It will be phased in, with 10 percent starting in 2025, 20 percent in 2026, and finally 30 percent in 2027. A similar tax was proposed by Biden last year but did not pass. Although passed by the House and Senate and signed into law, this second attempt now faces hurdles.

The move, which comes as Bitcoin has soared to an all-time high of more than £56,000 in recent weeks, has drawn heavy criticism from the crypto industry.Dennis Porter of Satoshi Action Fund tweeted It claimed this was a “backdoor ban” on mining and promised: “We will vigorously oppose this attempt at targeted discrimination without hesitation!”

new scientist Several large Bitcoin mining companies have been approached for comment on the proposed tax. Block Mining, Frontier Mining, and HIVE Digital Technologies did not respond, while TeraWulf declined to comment.

But taxing the industry could have unintended consequences. alex de vries At VU Amsterdam in the Netherlands. China's ban on bitcoin mining in 2021 has prompted companies to move operations to countries such as Kazakhstan, where more than 90% of the country's electricity supply comes from fossil fuels such as coal.

“Perhaps it doesn’t actually solve anything, because mining operations are highly mobile and can be based anywhere, moving from country to country in search of better regulatory environments or cheaper power.” They won’t, says De Vries. “Climate change is a global problem, and moving emissions from one country to another, or worsening power supplies, is actually making the global problem worse.”

“Ideally, we would like to address this issue at a global level,” says de Vries. “You want to reduce the emissions of these miners.” De Vries has long advocated for Bitcoin to follow the lead of the cryptocurrency Ethereum, which has changed the way it operates. changed, abolished mining, and reduced power consumption by 99.99%. But most Bitcoin developers weren’t interested in the change, he said.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Here’s why daylight saving time can harm your health and how to mitigate its effects

Posted on March 9, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

It feels unfair. I will be sacrificing an hour of sleep tonight.

With Daylight Saving Time (DST) starting in the United States in the summer, the clocks are set to move forward by an hour tonight at 2 a.m. local time. This means the new local daylight saving time will be 3:00 AM.

Scientists are expressing concerns that apart from causing sleepiness, the transition to daylight saving time could have adverse effects on our health. According to Dr. Beth Murrow, a neurology professor and director of Vanderbilt’s sleep division, the clock change leads to a slight increase in strokes, heart attacks, car accidents, and sleep deprivation.

The impact of “springing forward” is not limited to the elderly but also affects young people. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine revealed that teenagers lost an average of 2 hours and 42 minutes of sleep on weeknights after the time change in a 2015 study.

Dr. Murrow emphasizes the importance of morning light for setting our body clocks, improving mood, and aiding sleep. She suggests that the shift in light from morning to evening due to changing clocks for almost eight months could have health effects.

Despite the challenges posed by losing an hour of sleep, there are practical tips to counteract the effects:

1. Adjust your bedtime earlier for a few days before the clock change.

Experts recommend gradually going to bed 15 to 20 minutes earlier each night in the week leading up to daylight saving time.

American Academy of Sleep Medicine mentions that around 30 to 35 percent of adults experience temporary insomnia symptoms due to sudden changes in sleep schedules, such as the clock change.

Adapting slowly to the new time can help ease the transition and provide some extra rest,” says Dr. Murrow.

2. Get exposure to bright light in the morning

Daylight Saving Time aims to extend daylight in the evening, but this may disrupt your natural sleep-wake cycle. Exposing yourself to natural light in the morning can help set your body clock, making it easier to sleep at night.

3. Avoid long naps and late-day caffeine, opt for exercise instead

Avoiding long naps and caffeine late in the day can help regulate your sleep. Instead, engage in physical activity which can promote better sleep at night.

Exercise should be done at least 90 minutes before bedtime to avoid disruptions in sleep caused by increased endorphins and core body temperature.

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4. Limit screen time before bed

Exposure to blue light from screens like cell phones can interfere with melatonin production, affecting sleep. Try to avoid using electronic devices before bedtime to promote better sleep.

Watching content with blue light before bed, like news, can hinder relaxation and sleep after the clock change.

Consider abolishing Daylight Saving Time

Many experts suggest abandoning Daylight Saving Time due to its negative impacts on health. Living on Standard Time year-round could have health benefits compared to Daylight Saving Time’s schedule changes.

Dr. Murrow and Professor Alice Gregory advocate for a permanent Standard Time to align better with our natural circadian rhythms and improve overall well-being.

About our experts:

Dr. Beth Murrow is a neurology and sleep medicine professor, director of Vanderbilt’s Sleep Division, and advocate for sleep research related to medical conditions and genetics.

Alice Gregory, a psychology professor at Goldsmiths University, has contributed to various areas of sleep research and promotes public engagement with science through her work and publications.

Read more:

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Why Does Pressing the Button in Palworld Make You Feel Cold? Understanding the Game’s Effects on Emotions

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

TThe biggest story in the gaming world so far this year is Palworld, the Pokémon-with-guns early access game that broke and broke concurrent player records on PC.It's showing some signs that it's unsustainable, as these player numbers show dropout In recent weeks, developers have revealed: eye-watering cost Although it requires keeping servers online for so many people (about $600,000 a year), it still has the potential to be the biggest game of 2024 in terms of pure revenue.

There's something a little off-putting about Palworld that makes other developers and critics wrinkle their noses. Unlike Minecraft's blocky animals, it's not just unpleasant to point a gun at a creature that's designed to look cute.The character design became a hot topic because it was too similar to Pokemon. suspicion of plagiarism, the 3D models of some of the game's creatures are incredibly closely matched to those from recent Pokemon games. (The Pokémon Company is currently investigating, but Pocketpair CEO Takuro Mizobe said: palworld said The studio says it has “cleared legal review” and that it has “absolutely no intention to infringe on any other company's intellectual property.” ) Lead developers are also actively outspoken about the use of AI tools, which is a very unpopular opinion among all users. Everyone except a few executives is working on the 2024 game.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, from 2022. Photo provided by: Pokemon Co., Ltd.

This game borrows ideas from several other games without incorporating many of its own ideas. When you play Palworld, what comes to mind is not Pokemon, but Ark: Survival Evolved. This is his 9 year old survival game where you tame dinosaurs in addition to the usual collecting, building and crafting. Once you capture a creature, it will either be forced into indentured servitude within your base, or it will come to fight alongside you in the wilderness.

It's nothing we haven't seen in some other survival games, but Palworld makes it completely smooth and takes a lot of the hectic work out between you and the next great upgrade. Like fellow smash hit Genshin, this game employs familiar gaming tropes and is so easy and engaging that it's hard to put down.

It helps that other players aren't trying to ruin your fun like Ark and Rust do. In another survival game, there's always someone trying to smash you with rocks and take your stuff. There is currently no player vs player competition in Palworld (planned for a later version). Instead, you collaborate with other players on the server. The game's attitude towards creatures is cruel, they exist to be killed, enslaved, or eaten. However, the attitude towards players is very welcoming. There's a reason it's popular.

Despite this, I don't like Palworld. It's soulless, and anecdotally it seems like there are a lot of kids in the 19 million player base, even though this is not a game made with kids in mind. It's violent and immoral, especially when compared to the Pokemon games from which its creature design is clearly inspired. In Pokémon, a children's classic that has evolved over 25 years, your creatures aren't just pets, they're companions. You fight them for sport, sure, which Peta won't approve of, but they don't get hurt, they don't have weapons, and of course you don't either. eat they.

Massacre on a farm…Palworld. Photo: pocket pair

Palworld is more like what panicked parents and reactionary preachers of the late 1990s had in mind. Pokemon was like when Time magazine featured fear-mongering headlines. Be careful of pokemoniacs And Christian groups claimed that Pikachu was literally a manifestation of the devil. “Monsters make disturbing playmates. No matter how toylike and frivolous they may seem, they are unnatural and ultimately deal with unresolved fears,” Time magazine wrote in 1999. Stated. Consider the dubious fascination with the creature called Pokémon… The 4- to 12-year-old set may exhibit the most troubling enthusiasm about Pokémon. ” It's funny to read that line now, but I remember when video games were always talked about in mainstream media in this tone, as a symptom of serious mental illness among kids in the '90s.

Anyway, I'm not here to create a moral panic about Palworld. It's ironic, but it's also mostly harmless and undeniably compelling. I wouldn't let her 7 year old play, but anyone over 12 would have had a much worse experience with her YouTube. There's probably nothing new under the sun, and most of the upcoming breakout games will be repackaged ideas he's seen ten times before. But we keep hoping that the next unexpected hit we'll play this year will leave us with a smile instead of a nasty taste in our mouths.

what to play

Dream Daddy: Daddy dating simulator. Photo: Game Gramps

Since it's Valentine's Day, I have to recommend a game about love that many games don't tackle with confidence. dream daddy is a dating game where you play a single father looking for love with one of seven other eligible single fathers in a new neighborhood. Many thought it was an over-the-top joke until it was released in 2017, but it remains one of the most sincere and unexpectedly touching dating games of all time. Teenage daughters often muster up the courage to talk to the father of your choice. It also often leads to mildly surreal mini-games, where you try to wow your date with competitive pride in your child's achievements, for example. The game turns out to be about the love between parents and children, and the budding romance between you and the sexy singles in your neighborhood. They all have their own problems and are stories that are handled with humor and compassion.

Available on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PC, smartphone,
Estimated play time: 2-10 hours depending on how many dads you want to date

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what to read

Star Wars x Fortnite, anyone? Disney invested $1.5 billion in Fortnite maker Epic. Photo: PictureLux/Hollywood Archive/Alamy

We're still waiting for Microsoft to outline its vision for the future of Xbox. It will take place tomorrow evening UK time. via podcast Featuring Xbox executives Sarah Bond, Phil Spencer, and Matt Booty. This is according to a recent study from 2K Games, which suggests that the PS5 is outperforming the Xbox Series X two to one.
I loved Gene Park's feature on the Yakuza series in the Washington Post. “Japan's crime game series captures hearts with its gentle and heroic masculinity.”. Even if you don't have time to play for dozens of hours, you'll get to the heart of what makes these games so appealing.
British maker of Jagex, the developer of Runescape; Acquired for £900m By two private equity firms.
Disney is Invested $1.5 billion (!) in Epic Games As part of a deal to create a “new permanent universe” [that] It provides numerous opportunities for consumers to play, watch, shop and engage with content, characters and stories from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, Avatar and more. ” That sounds like it could mean some more Star Wars skins will be added to Fortnite.

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The Potential Harmful Effects of Spiral Scratches on Contact Lenses

Posted on February 8, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Contact lenses with a spiral design

Laurent Galinier

Lenses featuring a trippy spiral design could be an alternative to traditional multifocal lenses. It seems to produce clearer images than standard multifocal lenses, even in dimly lit areas.

The lens was created by the inventor Laurent Galinier.when bertrand simon He met Galinier through a scientific collaboration at the Institute of Optics Graduate School in France, and he immediately wanted to test lenses in the lab.

They are round lenses like traditional contact lenses, but the surface is carefully turned into a spiral using a lathe. This spiral shape changes the path that light rays take through the lens. That is, the lens does not have a single focal point, but several focal points, some closer to the lens and some farther from it.

It's unclear exactly how the spiral shape does this, but Simon said it appears to twist the light rays and create vortexes of light (like small tornadoes of light) that somehow influence each other. ing.

In the lab, Simon and his colleagues analyzed laser light passed through a spiral lens and simulated the process on a computer. In direct comparison with traditional multifocal lenses, the spiral lenses provided more clarity and detail when more light passed through them, and performed better in dim light conditions.

Therefore, spiral lenses may be suitable under various lighting conditions. For example, it could be useful for people who use multifocal lenses while driving at night, Simon said. He tried the spiral contact lenses himself and said that while the hard material was uncomfortable in contact with his eyes, it saved him the hassle of removing his glasses to look at his cell phone. With the spiral lens, I could see the screen clearly.

james wolfthorn According to researchers at Aston University in the UK, many people experience problems focusing on nearby objects, even if their distance vision is corrected. Innovations like spiral lenses are promising, but only clinical trials can prove how much of a difference new technology will actually make for people, he says.

Simon says it's possible to create a more compact camera by replacing part of the lens with a spiral lens version, but the team will first investigate the science behind spiral light. We would like to do further testing.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Are You Suffering from Text Neck? The Physical Effects of Phone Usage on Our Bodies | Life and Style

Posted on January 24, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

E
Earlier this year, a patient came to physical therapist Teresa Marco complaining of neck pain. Marco, who is based in New York City, began the interview as usual, asking a series of questions about lifestyle, habits, and attitude. Soon, a person believed to be the culprit appeared. It was a woman’s cell phone.

Marco, who declined to give her name for privacy reasons, said the woman typically used her phone or tablet with her head down on her lap. “She’s going to be very, very bent over, so it’s going to put a lot of strain on her neck,” Marco said.

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Marco says he often talks to his patients about how to use their phones. “I don’t think people end up coming to physical therapy because they realize they have a problem with their cell phone,” Marco says. But as she solves problems, it often becomes a focus.

While the negative effects on mental health associated with smartphone use are often discussed, the physical effects can also be significant.serious consequences like
Selfie-related injuries and deathscan occur, but chronic problems are much more common, especially in the upper body.
This year is research
Using hospital data, they estimated that between 2011 and 2019, hand and wrist injuries caused by cell phone use nearly doubled, reaching about 7,300 cases per year.

“Like [phone] Carolyn Somerich, director of the Human Factors/Ergonomics/Safety Engineering Laboratory at The Ohio State University, said: These sentiments are not new, but according to a Gallup poll,
Number of people who reported using a smartphone
“Too much” increased from 39% in 2015 to 58% in 2022. He was 84% most likely to feel this way.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The devastating effects of the Ashley Madison dating site hack | Podcast

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

I
If you listened to Stephen Fry's recent podcast, you may have been confused. The recording of MS Singh's The Missing Lines was cut off after just 2 minutes and 48 seconds and his next 9 chapters were left silent. However, this was not a mistake. It was a trick to raise awareness of the people who go missing every 90 seconds.

This isn't the first time a podcast has been used as a stunt. Joe Lycett recently announced Turdcast. This is a podcast where celebrities talk about their poop, including Gary Lineker and his amazing 1990 World Cup pitching poop. However, this footage was never made public. Lycett used this as an opportunity to highlight the government's response to the sewage leak crisis.

“For you, it probably means something like frustration,” Frye said of his “Broken” podcast. Sure, it might be a slightly annoying realization that makes you feel a little silly after hooking up on a walk, but it's definitely an effective way to get your message across.

The five podcasts are absolutely This week's picks include a fascinating series about Eunice Carter, the first black woman to serve as a prosecutor in the United States. Keep reading to find out the best podcasts that ended right away.

Holly Richardson
TV Deputy Editor-in-Chief

This week's picks

Oona Chaplin, host of Hollywood Exiles. Photo: Antonio Olmos

godmother
Wide range of weekly episodes available

Nicole Perkins' new podcast is set in 1936 New York, where gangster Lucky Luciano is on trial, but there's a much more interesting story behind it: that of lawyer Eunice Carter. It's about time Carter, who has been described as “the spark that started the fire” as America's first black female prosecutor, gets props. Perkins portrays an outspoken lawyer who brought Luciano to court, but was sidelined and kept out of the spotlight by the rules of the day.

Hannah Verdier

Understanding public housing
Tortoise Media, episodes every Wednesday

In this exasperating mini-series that brings the housing crisis to a close, one housing association reveals that when low-income people apply for affordable housing, they can be forced to wait eight to 10 years on a waiting list along with 800 others. It says that there is a sex. Jeevan Basagar speaks to people who rely on public housing and those who work in the system, showing them exactly how bad the situation is. Holly Richardson

hollywood exile
BBC Sounds, weekly episodes

Oona Chaplin from Game of Thrones hosts this podcast and talks about how her grandfather Charlie was forced out of Hollywood during the anti-communist movement. From her life in a workhouse in Lambeth to owning a Hollywood studio, Chaplin achieved her American dream until she was investigated by the FBI. HV

ghost in the machine
Wide range of weekly episodes available

There has been an uproar after 19-year-old Belgian cyclist Femke van den Driesche was found to have a motor installed on her bike. But was she a scammer, or was she a victim? Kris Marshall Bell tells this very strange story with passion, chronicling death threats, unbelievable allegations about doped pigeons, and anger from his competitors. HV

Revealed: The Ashley Madison Hack
Widely available, all episodes released on Wednesdays
When no-strings-attached dating site Ashley Madison was hacked, scammers were horrified as their personal information and desires were exposed. The series tells elaborate hacking stories with subtlety and a touch of romance, while explaining the connections users have made and the fear they've felt in the face of moral judgment. HV

There's a podcast for that

Phoebe Robinson (left) and Jessica Williams in 2019. Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO

this week, Hannah Verdier Choose the 5 best podcasts it ended too soonfrom Starry Cain's weird and wonderful investigations to Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams' comedy masterpieces.

mystery show
Starry Cain's offbeat investigation was the perfect antidote to the true crime reign of 2015 in the podcast world. Cain's storytelling is impeccable, but her podcast ended after her six sweet episodes due to what Gimlet mysteriously described as “business reasons.” During that season, a big question was asked: “How tall is Jake Gyllenhaal?” More complicated questions, like why Britney Spears was photographed holding an obscure self-help book by Andrea Siegel. There is also a search for a treasured belt buckle, a missing video store, and a lunch box.

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butterfly effect
Jon Ronson's quick jump into the free porn industry lasted only one season

Source: www.theguardian.com

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