Neat News - Neat things do happen

Old human cells were exposed to proteins used in stem cell technology. These proteins, called Yamanaka factors, are used to transform standard cells to pluripotent stem cells. They can also rejuvenate old human cells so that they look like young ones in a lab dish.

Loners, who do not follow collective behaviour, seem to play an important role for the survival of a society. Their behaviour can be viewed as a bet-hedging strategy ensuring that damage to the majority does not wipe out the entire population.

Taking hot tub baths regularly seems to be linked to a lower risk of dying from a heart attack or a stroke, a study shows. However, the study is to be taken with a pinch of salt, since it was conducted in Japan, where there is also a common cause of death associated with hot baths.

The Montreal Protocol to save the ozone layer by phasing out chemicals that destroy the layer has not only the effect of restoring much of the protective ozone layer but also to pause or possible even reverse changes in the atmospheric circulation in the Southern Hemisphere.

In the UK (as in other countries) people are very grateful for the work of health and care workers. Yesterday evening (2020-03-26) people across the UK stood on their doorsteps and applauded them as a big thank you for their hard work helping people affected by Covid-19.

In a new study it has been found that people who plan ahead, but still stay positive and live the moment, can deal best with stress.

With age often comes mental and physical decline and it is important to act on cognitive and physical abilities to stay fit. Neglecting one can lead to a vicious circle of decline. In a new study it has been found that the cognitive fitness is primary compared to the physical fitness.

Due to sex-specific traits and local environmental factors, female mammals live longer than males. For humans the difference makes around 8 percent, across species it is between 18 and 19 percent on average.

Singing has a wide range of health benefits for the physical and mental health of people such as: strengthening the immune system, improving the posture, helping with sleep, lowering stress levels, improving alertness, and when done with others, widening social contacts.

Yesterday was the International Day of Forests, the day on which the UN stresses the importance of forests in combating climate change and to contributing to the prosperity and well-being of current and future generations.

In times of lock-down because of the new corona virus, people help each other in different countries, for instance, security guards deliver goods to vulnerable people, and web pages have been built, which allow to coordinate help for people in need.

Some types of cancer grow without the person affected noticing anything until it is very late and the cancer is difficult to treat. Now a test is under development that can detect from microbial DNA in the blood different types of cancer. First experiments are encouraging.

Around 40 percent of the newly installed generating capacity in the USA come from solar power. That is a significant increase from the year before and the capacity is expected to double in the next five years.

City gardens have a great hidden potential. Using only one in ten of the city gardens can provide 15 percent of the local population with fruit and veg.

In 2019 the CO₂ emissions were 6.3 percent lower than in 2018 and 35.7 percent lower than in 1990. At the same time the percentage of renewable energies (mainly wind and solar) rose from 16.5 in 2018 to 17.1 in 2019.

In a study it has been found that it is important for older people to have goals after they retire to slow cognitive decline.

There seem to be health benefits for the heart to squat or kneel rather than sit when being inactive. The people of the Hadza seem to rest as much as Westerners but do not sit so much but squat or kneel more. It is speculated that this may be the cause for their better health.

People in Italy, a country in lock-down because of the Corona virus, are defiant and while they cannot meet they sing together from their windows and balconies. They use the motto `Andrà tutto bene' (`All will be good').

Many goods such as mobile phones are produced so that they cannot be repaired. Likewise many goods returned to online traders are destroyed. The European Commission is going to outlaw these types of behaviour in order to reduce waste.

From remains of fast growing mollusks that lived 70 million years ago, researchers found that a day was then about 30 minutes shorter than today, and a year had 372 days rather than about 365 days now. The change is due to the Moon moving away from the Earth (3 to 4 cm per year).

A second patient who received stem-cell therapy for treating his cancer stopped taking the anti-retroviral drugs 30 months ago and is still free of the HIV virus. Unfortunately, the aggressive treatment is not appropriate for most people with an HIV infection.

Vitamin D is important that the immune system can fight off infections of the respiratory tract. For people living in regions without a lot of sunlight vitamin D supplementation is advised.

The aptitude to learn a foreign language has been linked to the aptitude to learn a programming language. According to a study the affinity to languages is more important than the affinity to mathematics.

Although there is still a long way to go until women and men are equally represented there is a lot of progress. For instance, top jobs such as a number of prime ministers and the president of the European Commission are filled by women. Women also become increasingly role models such as Greta Thunberg who managed to put the climate crisis high on the international political agenda, or Carola Rackete who defied Italy's interior minister to rescue refugees at sea.

Some diets do not give enough food to neural pathways. In particular, glucose seems to decrease the stability of the brain's networks and lead to ageing of the brain. A low-carb diet seems to be able to reverse this ageing.

Brushing the teeth, flossing, and visiting the dentist on a regular base contributes to the general health, a study finds. The microbes found in the mouth are linked to the oral health and the health of the entire body.

The average area used by a single turbine has doubled in the last decade by making the blades 20 percent longer. This way a turbine can capture much more wind with the same height, almost halving the cost of its electricity production.

There are antiviral drugs, such as remdesivir, that have proved effective against viruses such as SARS. There is hope that it may be effective against the new Corona virus, COVID-19, as well. Results of corresponding tests are still to come out.

A certain form of fibre passes undigested through the upper part of the digestive system. These fibres are called prebiotics. Now it has been found out that they may help people to sleep better.

In experiments with rats it has been seen on the level of more than 168,000 cells that eating less reduces inflammation throughout the body and reduces age related changes in the cells.

From today, most public transport in Luxembourg is free. The government decided on the measure that makes rides on buses, trains, and trams free in order to reduce congestion and as a measure to reduce pollution. The cost of currently 41 million EUR is financed mainly by taxes.