Month: April 2020
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Baby Strollers/Pushchairs Expose Babies to High Level of Toxic Air Pollution
Pushing babies in strollers (pushchairs) can expose them to alarming levels of air pollution. This finding was made by researchers at the University of Surrey in the UK and published in the journal Environment International. Babies Inhaling Air Pollutants The researchers looked at how much air pollutants babies can inhale while being pushed in strollers…
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Importance of Matching Biological Clock With Day-Night Cycle
Scientists have discovered more evidence that it’s importance to keep our biological clocks in sync with our environment. Our circadian rhythms are the internal 24-hour biological clock in our bodies. This internal clock regulates many biological processes such as our metabolism. Numerous studies have shown that when our circadian rhythms become out of sync with…
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Team Disagreement Can Help Soldiers Identify Objects Better
Disagreement within a team of soldiers help that team identify objects better, says a study. The researchers wanted to examine how a team of soldiers works together to identify objects like combat vehicles without the assistance of technology. The soldiers only had their training and each other to rely on to identify combat vehicles. Factors…
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Scientists Turn Off Allergic Itching by Blocking Common Skin Protein
Scientists have found that blocking a skin protein called periostin can reduce allergic itch. Periostin is a protein commonly found in the skin. It is associated with activating itch-associated neurons in the skin. When researchers from North Carolina State University blocked the periostin receptors on these neurons, the itch response in mice with eczema was…
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Surgical and Cotton Masks Ineffective Against SARS COV-2 Coronavirus, Says Study
Surgical and cotton masks were ineffective in preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This conclusion was from a study conducted at two hospitals in Seoul, South Korea. The research report was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. How Effective are Masks Against SARS-CoV-2? N95 and surgical masks have been…
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Large Thighs Linked to Less Risk of Heart Disease
Overweight people with large thighs may be less susceptible to heart disease — especially if you’re Chinese. Researchers found this link in a study of over 9,000 Chinese men and women. The results were published in the journal Endocrine Connections. The Danger of High Blood Pressure High blood pressure is a notorious health problem that…
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New Trial Drug Significantly Blocks COVID-19 Infections in Human ‘Organoids’
A new trial drug dramatically blocks the COVID-19 coronavirus load by 1,000 to 5,000 times in human organoids. The drug is called hrsACE2 (human recombinant soluble angiotensin-converting enzyme 2). Organoids are three dimensional replicas of cells in culture. The finding was made by researchers at the University of British Columbia and is published in the…
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Gardening Can Help Improve a Person’s Body Image
A study has found gardening can promote positive body image, including appreciation of one’s own body and one’s bodily imperfections. The study was published in the journal Ecopsychology by researchers at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the U.K. Higher Positive Body Image The study involved 84 gardeners in north London. The gardeners were assigned 12…
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City Dogs More Fearful Than Country Dogs, According to Study
Dogs living in urban environments have more social fearfulness than their cousins in rural areas. These finding was made by researchers at the University of Helsinki and published in the journal Scientific Reports. Excessive Fearfulness a Behavioral Problem Fear helps animals survive in threatening circumstances but when it is excessive, it becomes a behavioral disorder.…
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Feeding Babies Solid Food Too Early May Introduce Future Health Risks
Feeding infants solid food before three months may increase future health risks such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Researchers found early solid food in babies causes changes in the gut bacteria and bacterial byproducts, called short-chain fatty acids. These changes may portend future health risks, especially the chance of being overweight. The findings were by…