Author: healthadmin

Fossils dating back 240 million years have finally been officially identified after being hidden inside a retaining wall for decades. Researchers from UNSW Sydney and the Australian Museum have named and described this ancient amphibian, drawing new attention to a rare discovery that began in the 1990s. This specimen was first discovered by a retired poultry farmer who was sourcing stone from a nearby quarry to build a retaining wall for his garden. Some of the stones contained fossils and were later donated to the Australian Museum in Sydney. Rare fossil preserves skeleton and skin Paleontologist Lachlan Hart, who works…

A widely used diabetes and obesity drug has shown strong cardioprotective effects in high-risk patients, providing new momentum for its role in reducing cardiovascular mortality. Study: Long-term cardiovascular safety and efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in high-risk cardiovascular populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Image credit: Studio Romantic / Shutterstock.com In a recent study published in Cardiodiabetology – Endocrinology Report, Researchers evaluated the long-term cardiovascular safety and efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) in high-risk populations. Increasing cardiovascular load and expanding role of GLP-1 therapy Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for more than 17.9 million deaths each year…

A five-year randomized trial shows that providing children with free, engaging books on a regular basis significantly improves reading comprehension, highlighting a simple, low-cost strategy to improve literacy in poor schools. Study: Cumulative access to print books improves literacy skills: Evidence from a 5-year randomized trial in high-poverty schools. Image credit: People Images / Shutterstock.com New research published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences They report that cumulative access to reading materials significantly improves literacy rates in low-income areas. Why access to books is important School performance has historically and consistently been related to the availability of reading…

Creating new molecules is one of the most difficult tasks in chemistry. Whether the goal is a life-saving drug or a cutting-edge material, each compound must be constructed through a carefully planned series of reactions. Planning these steps requires deep expertise and strategic thinking, so chemists often spend years mastering the processes. The big hurdle is retrosynthesis. In this approach, chemists start with the molecule they ultimately want and work backwards to find simpler starting materials and possible reaction pathways. This involves many decisions, such as choosing the appropriate building blocks, deciding when to form the ring, and deciding whether…

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trees prevent nearly half of the heating caused by pavements and buildings in the world’s cities, but they don’t provide enough cooling in hot, poor cities that are needed most as the world warms, a new study finds.Across cities around the world, trees can reduce temperatures by an average of 0.27 degrees Fahrenheit (0.15 degrees Celsius) by providing shade and releasing water vapor, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. nature communications.Without these trees, the world’s cities would be an average of 0.56 degrees Fahrenheit (0.31 degrees Celsius) warmer. Urban heat island phenomenondark roofs…

Gibraltar, a British overseas territory, has no sewage treatment facility, and because there has never been one, raw sewage from around 40,000 people and businesses is pumped directly into the sea.For decades, untreated sewage has flowed into the Mediterranean Sea from Europa Point at the southern tip of the peninsula, where the Gibraltar government says there is a “high level of natural dispersion”.The area is supposed to be protected for wildlife, but there is often “wet wipes and plastic pollution entangled throughout the algae and rocks,” said Louis Stagnett of local environmental charity The Nautilus Project.Contamination of untreated sewage can…

A new trade deal with the EU could lead to restrictions on the use of the controversial herbicide glyphosate on food crops in the UK.This full-spectrum herbicide, which kills almost any plant it touches, is often applied just before harvest to dry wheat, oats, and other grain and legume crops to make them easier to handle.The practice will be banned in Europe from 2023 due to concerns about the chemical’s impact on human health. Now, a wide-ranging new trade deal with the EU could force the UK to follow suit.Officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)…

SANTA CLARA, Cuba (AP) — Yuderaymis Valero Muñoz spent up to three hours in the hot sun waving money to drivers on the side of the highway as he hitchhiked from Cienfuegos. Cuba She goes to Santa Clara, where she buys supplies to resell and support her husband and two children.The 43-mile (70-kilometer) trip was impossible on her husband’s bicycle, which was once the family’s only means of transportation, and they then relied on a rechargeable tricycle that didn’t have the battery capacity for the round trip.And in early April, a local business owner opened what is believed to be…

Improving fruit quality while maintaining normal plant growth has long been a difficult goal in agriculture. New research suggests this balance may be easier to achieve than previously thought. Scientists have discovered that increasing the activity of conserved “housekeeping” genes can increase both the nutritional value and sensory appeal of fruit. By increasing the expression of genes associated with tRNA, the researchers increased levels of anthocyanins and terpenoids, compounds that contribute to color, aroma, and antioxidant properties. These improvements occurred without measurable changes in plant development, fruit size, or sugar content. The results demonstrate an unexpected role for genes normally…

A total of 221 schools across the early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school levels are certified as Colorado Asthma Friendly Schools. This new assessment will highlight each school’s commitment to comprehensive asthma management and student health throughout the 2025-2026 school year and connect each school to a growing regional network through the Colorado Comprehensive School-Centered Asthma Program (AsthmaCOMP), supported by Children’s Hospital Colorado. Asthma is one of the leading causes of chronic disease-related school absenteeism, affecting thousands of Colorado youth and their families each year. Research also shows that asthma disproportionately affects Blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, and Alaska…