-
Fastest Swimming Robot Created Inspired by Manta Ray
Inspired by the biomechanics of the manta ray, researchers at North Carolina State University have developed an energy-efficient soft robot that can swim more than four times faster than previous swimming soft robots. The robots are called “butterfly bots,” because their swimming motion resembles the way a person’s arms move when they are swimming the…
-
Best Time to Exercise for Heart Health is the Morning
Morning physical activity is associated with the lowest risk of heart disease and stroke, according to a study in more than 85,000 individuals published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, a journal of the ESC. The findings were consistent regardless of the total amount of daily activity. “It is well established that exercise…
-
Beavers Can Really Help Improve Water Quality
The dams that beavers build may help protect water quality and the local ecosystem according to a recent study. That is the conclusion of a new study by Stanford University scientists and colleagues, publishing Nov. 8 in Nature Communications. The research reveals that when it comes to water quality in mountain watersheds, beaver dams can have a far…
-
Can Beer Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease?
Beer may protect against Alzheimer’s Disease. The chemical compounds extracted from hops inhibit the clumping of amyloid beta proteins, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease, often marked by memory loss and personality changes in older adults. Part of the difficulty in treating the disease is the time lag…
-
Changing Words About Food Freshness Can Help Reduce Food Waste
Researchers at Cornell University found that changing wording on perishable food items may help reduce food waste. A survey of consumers found that certain wording – “best by,” as opposed to “best if used by,” for example – had the potential to reduce food waste, but that results varied depending on the type of food…
-
Fluoride Not Needed With Low-Carbohydrate Diets to Prevent Tooth Decay, Says Study
According to a recent article, low-carbohydrate diets can help prevent tooth decay, making fluoride unnecessary. Prominent organizations including the World Health Organization and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have dismissed low-carbohydrate diets that prevent tooth decay in favor of recommending high-carbohydrate diets which rely on fluoride and food fortification to mitigate dental damage and nutritional…
-
Autism Changes the Brain Much More Than Previously Thought
Changes in the brains of people with autism are more sweeping than previously known. The changes are found throughout the cerebral cortex rather than just particular areas thought to affect social behavior and language, according to a new UCLA-led study that significantly refines scientists’ understanding of how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) progresses at the molecular…
-
Sleep Quality Can Impact Women’s Career Ambitions
Women who got quality sleep felt better about their career ambitions, according to researchers at Washington State University. Meanwhile, men’s aspirations were not impacted by sleep quality. The researchers discovered this finding in a two-week-long survey study of 135 workers in the U.S. Each day the participants first noted how well they had slept and…
-
Two-Minute Bursts of Vigorous Activity May Increase Longevity
Two minute bursts of vigorous activity totalling 15 minutes a week are associated with a reduced risk of death, according to research published today in European Heart Journal, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). “The results indicate that accumulating vigorous activity in short bouts across the week can help us live longer,”…
-
Fatty Acids on Your Skin Can Make You a Mosquito Magnet
Fatty acids emanating from your skin can make you a magnet to mosquitos, according to researchers. In the three-year study, eight participants were asked to wear nylon stockings over their forearms for six hours a day. They repeated this process on multiple days. Over the next few years, the researchers tested the nylons against each…