Author: healthadmin
How pigeons are able to find their way home while traveling hundreds of miles has puzzled scientists for decades. A new study suggests the answer may lie in an unexpected place: the liver. According to a study published in sciencepigeons use specialized immune cells in their livers to detect the Earth’s magnetic field, which may provide an internal navigation system. Researchers discovered that these cells, called macrophages, accumulate iron while breaking down old red blood cells. Iron may give cells a unique magnetic property, allowing them to respond to the planet’s magnetic field. Once the cells were removed, the pigeons…
A recent analysis of survey data suggests that playing video games does not correspond to an increase in exclusionary or prejudiced beliefs among players. In a paper published in a magazine Psychology of popular mediaScientists report that video game players tend to hold more inclusive cultural values than the general American public. These findings provide evidence that hostile online environments may be driven by specific community dynamics rather than broader attitudes among gamers. The culture surrounding video games is frequently criticized for the way women and minority groups are represented. Over the past decade, a series of controversies have drawn…
Today, more than 1 billion people around the world live with obesity, a condition that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. However, losing weight and keeping it off can be very difficult. The body does not simply respond to a decrease in calories. Signals from the gut, hormones, metabolism, and brain can all influence hunger, cravings, and weight regain. One approach that is gaining increasing interest is intermittent energy restriction (IER). This is a form of diet that involves a period of reduced caloric intake followed by a more typical diet. A study published…
Fish oil may play an amazing role in the fight against insulin resistance, especially the often-overlooked type 2 diabetes. Brazilian study published in nutrients They found that omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish oil reduced glucose intolerance and weakened insulin resistance in non-obese rats with a metabolic condition similar to diabetes. The study was funded by FAPESP and focused on the Goto-Kakizaki rat, an established animal model used to study non-obese type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by high blood sugar, which occurs when insulin, the hormone that helps move glucose from the blood to cells, does not…
Taking pills containing cannabis compounds can change the sleep patterns of people with mild to moderate insomnia, primarily by reducing the amount of time spent in certain sleep phases associated with dreams. A single dose of a combination of tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol reduced total sleep time in a small number of adults, but left them mostly alert the next day. These findings were published in the Journal of Sleep Research. Insomnia disorder is a widespread condition that affects a large portion of the adult population. Continued difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep over several months, resulting in daytime sleepiness and fatigue.…
The timing was rich in symbolism. Two large chimneys at one of Australia’s biggest power stations are being demolished as an intense heatwave sweeps across Europe and Asia, sending oil markets around the world soaring and into disarray. Meanwhile, Australia’s energy minister held a press conference to praise benchmark electricity prices that had fallen by up to 10% in some parts of the country.Quietly, and with surprisingly little fanfare from the rest of the world, Australia is pioneering a revolution in home renewable energy and battery usage, proving what is possible with the right policies. The country is already one…
A person’s beliefs about race can influence whether they vote on Election Day, but how this dynamic plays out depends largely on a person’s religious and cultural background. A recent study published in the Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics found that holding conservative racial attitudes was associated with higher turnout among white, Asian American, and Latino evangelicals, while the very same attitudes were associated with lower turnout among black evangelicals. These results suggest that the overlapping social communities to which people belong can completely change the way individual biases motivate political behavior. Nathan K. Chan, a political scientist at…
You are reading the web version of ASCO in 30 Seconds, STAT’s guide to the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. Sign up for the email version here. Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s sold-out STAT@ASCO event. The bao bun was amazing. IYKYK. Don’t forget to register for ASCO’s virtual recap on Wednesday. STAT+ exclusive story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Subscribe to STAT+ for this article and daily biotech coverage and analysis. Already have an account? Log in Individual plan Group plan See all plans To read the…
Recent psychological research has shown that celebrity obsession is strongly linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety, but the relationship to childhood trauma is unexpectedly complex. The researchers found that while traumatic childhood events may indirectly increase the likelihood of unhealthy celebrity admiration by increasing overall psychological distress, similar childhood experiences may lead to direct emotional withdrawal from celebrity culture. The study was published in the journal Psychological Reports. This study aims to better understand the psychological motivations for people to idolize celebrities. Psychologists commonly view celebrity admiration through a framework called the absorption-dependence model. According to this framework, an…
Artificial intelligence systems are increasingly being asked to make recommendations with morally significant consequences, raising questions about how humans decide to trust these artificial advisors. New research published in Computers in human behavior This suggests that people trust AI not only on the basis of whether it behaves friendly or logical, but rather on how well the AI’s communication style fits the seriousness of the situation and the ethical choices it makes. Researchers Lianxiang Zhang and Mei Ying Zhao wanted to understand how humans perceive the morality of artificial conversational agents. “AI chatbots are increasingly used not only in casual…