Author: healthadmin

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a semiconductor device that uses laser light to direct the movement of electrons without the need for an applied electric field or power source. The device was designed primarily to investigate fundamental physics and demonstrate behavior that had never been observed before. But this discovery could ultimately support technologies that combine optics and electronics, including advanced sensing, imaging, and telecommunications. It could also lead to better ways to send signals between devices and encode more information within them. “This electrical device that we produced at the Lurie Nano Fabrication Facility has the…

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft completed a highly successful flyby of Mars, giving the mission a carefully planned gravitational boost while also producing valuable scientific data. Researchers are currently studying these observations in preparation for the spacecraft’s arrival at the asteroid Psyche in 2029. On May 15, the spacecraft passed Mars, using Mars’ gravity to increase its speed and slightly adjust its orbit. This maneuver placed Psyche in the orbit needed to reach metal-rich targets in the main asteroid belt. The encounter also provided mission scientists with a rare opportunity to test the spacecraft’s instruments around a well-studied planet. Mars ultimately served…

A new Finnish study suggests that spending time in a sauna may temporarily move more white blood cells into your bloodstream. These immune cells help the body detect and respond to pathogens and diseases. Researchers found that a 30-minute sauna session increased the number of all types of circulating white blood cells. Participants took a cold shower in the middle of the session to temporarily cool down. Levels of neutrophils and lymphocytes, two important parts of the immune system, returned to normal levels within about 30 minutes after completing the sauna. “This may indicate that sauna bathing mobilizes additional white…

Once known as the “poor man’s saffron,” pot marigolds are receiving new attention as pigments, fibers and bioactive compounds that could expand their role in food. Calendula as a source of bioactive compounds in functional foods: a review. Image credit: 1777177 / Shutterstock In a recent review published in a magazine applied scienceThe authors summarized the current evidence on the phytochemical composition, biological activity, agronomic factors, nutritional value, and functional food applications of Calendula officinalis L. (pot marigold), highlighting its potential as a functional food ingredient. background Many edible flowers contain hundreds of natural compounds that may support both nutrition…

Exercise may provide some relief for people with hip osteoarthritis, but the improvements in pain and physical function may be unnoticeable for many patients in their daily lives, according to a new Cochrane review. The researchers cautioned that stronger evidence is still needed before drawing firm conclusions. Osteoarthritis of the hip affects millions of people worldwide and is a leading cause of long-term pain and disability. Exercise is generally recommended as one of the first treatments to reduce symptoms and maintain mobility. The effect of exercise may be small Researchers from the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne…

“It rained continuously for 10 days and 10 nights. I’ve never seen rain like this before,” said Anar Gul, a construction worker who lives in the remote Durbaba district of eastern Afghanistan.His village houses are built of stone and mud, making them extremely vulnerable to heavy rains. After days of continuous rain, Gul’s kitchen collapsed and his neighbor Syed Afsar Sadat saw a large part of his home completely destroyed. “These rains are getting heavier and earlier each year,” Sadat said. “They are destroying roads and washing away crops. They are directly impacting us.”Anar Gul, who lives in a remote…

From endothelial function to blood pressure, this review maps where bioactive compounds in blueberries and grapes hold promise and where clinical evidence is still lacking. Study: Polyphenols and cardiovascular health: Emerging associations with blueberries, grapes, and red-fleshed table grapes. Image credit: Den Debono / Shutterstock Recent reviews published in magazines nutrients investigated the evidence regarding the effects of blueberries, grapes, and their bioactive compounds on cardiovascular risk markers. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases and a leading cause of death in Europe. The paper reports that more than 60 million years of life are potentially…

A cross-species review tracks how iodine affects immune defense and why the line between benefit and harm remains difficult to define. Article: Iodine and its effects on the immune system of humans and domestic mammals: A narrative review In a recent narrative review published in the journal nutrientsResearchers from the University of Guelph and Canada’s Immunoseutica have mapped the direct and indirect immunomodulatory mechanisms of iodine in humans and domestic mammals. Although this review suggests that iodine status follows a narrow U-shaped relationship and that an appropriate intake range supports leukocyte metabolism, tissue antioxidant capacity, and thyroid hormone-mediated immune responses,…

A plant-based diet is good for you. They promote gut, immune, metabolic, and cardiovascular health by cultivating a diverse community of gut bacteria. It has long been known that some of these benefits come from the fiber in plant-based foods that is processed by our commensal gut bacteria and the often brightly colored “phytochemicals” that plants produce to protect themselves from environmental threats. However, much remains unknown about how the bugs in our stomachs process the components of vegetables to produce these health benefits. A pair of studies led by Ludwig Princeton University’s Jenna Absalim and director Joshua Rabinowitz, one…

Our brain requires more energy than other organs. However, even when energy supplies are scarce, information processing can be performed flexibly using what is available. How the brain resourcefully allocates this limited energy across internal states remains an important question in neuroscience. Sleep is an effective way to answer this question. Although sleep involves rest, the brain is still active. This is especially true during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a stage closely associated with dreams and memory processing. REM sleep is sometimes called “paradoxical sleep” because the body is mostly still while the brain exhibits wake-like activity. Researchers at…