Neat News - Neat things do happen

In new research, scientists managed to understand how a protein is activated that is vital to the removal of damaged cells to prevent the development of Parkinson's disease. The discovery could result in a therapy to slow or even stop the progression of the disease.

related: #Parkinson's_disease

More and more farmers in Kenya go organic and do not use any pesticides. There are even discussions in Kenyan parliament to ban pesticides.

related: #Kenya #organic_farming

Trees may die because of fires, harsh weather, droughts, pests, or logging. However, as new research finds they could theoretically live forever, since there is no evidence of harmful genetic mutations.

related: #tree #longevity

Inhaled Cannabidiol (CBD) has proved effective in experiments with mice in that it is able to shrink the size of the highly aggressive brain tumour glioblastoma. It seems to work by reducing the support for the tumour.

related: #cbd #cannabidiol #glioblastoma

In the blood of some people vaccinated against influenza or infected by it, a new antibody has been discovered. The detection may lead to a new vaccine that can cover a broad variety of flu viruses.

related: #vaccination #flu

The Spanish government has declared the volcano eruption on the Canary island of La Palma after more than 85 days over.

related: #La_Palma #volcano

The James Webb space telescope has left Earth. It is to serve for the next ten years to explore space and is to be 100 time more powerful than its predecessor the Hubble telescope.

related: #space_telescope

It is estimated that currently 1.3 million people work in the wind sector worldwide. In order to expand wind power as needed for the shift to a carbon-free future five times as many are needed, creating many new jobs.

related: #wind_energy #new_jobs

Early findings from England suggest that for patients with the Omicron variant of Covid-19, the likelihood to need hospital care is between 50 and 70 percent reduced compared to previous variants of the Covid-19 virus.

related: #omicron #hospitalization

Many people such as students have these days a much higher level of screen time and use typically multiple devices. In order to minimize possible health risks, an ergonometric usage such as a good posture is important.

related: #smart_phone #ergonomics

In Northumberland, northern England, the fossil of a giant millipede has been found. It lived some 326 million years ago, was more than 2.5 metres long and had a weight of 50 kg.

related: #millipede

Women who show high self-compassion suffer less from cardiovascular problems, a new study with about 200 women between 45 and 67 finds. The effect is independent of other factors such as physical activity and smoking.

related: #self_compassion #cardiovascular

In Japan, a new way of saving water has been developed. The waste water from washing hands is used for flushing the toilet. This way the usage of fresh water can be halved at least.

related: #water_usage_reduction

Currently used bicycle tyres are usually burnt as part of the residual waste. Now a method has been developed to recycle them using a chemical transformation called pyrolysis.

related: #bicycle #tyre #recycling

A new lightweight textile has been developed that opens tiny vents when a person sweats in order to let the heat and the water out, but closes the vents to retain heat once the person is dry again.

related: #artificial_skin

In Western Australia the first true millipede has been found, a new species with more than 1000 legs. The previous record holder, found in California, had around 750 legs.

related: #millipede #1000_feet

Lights that keep tea warm or give some indirect light at the dark time of the year are typically surrounded by plastic or aluminium. It is estimated that in Europe alone around 12 billion such lights are used every year. Now a biodegradable alternative made from cellulose and a bio-polymer has been developed.

related: #tealight #biodegradable

Copper is known to be antibacterial. Now a new copper surface with a particularly porous structure has been developed that kills bacteria more than 100 times faster and more effectively than standard copper.

related: #copper #anti_bacterial

In a recent study it has been found that children understand the difference between sincere and insincere apologies and that teaching them to make sincere apologies will help them to get forgiveness. This way they can learn to limit conflicts.

related: #forgiveness #sincere_apology

Famous people such as Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and Alexander the Great are said to have used the technique to wake up immediately before falling asleep in order to get great insights and inspirations. Now a study finds that indeed there is a brief period of creativity and insight when we begin to drift into sleep.

related: #creativity #sleep

People with asthma seem less likely to develop a brain tumour. Now in experiments with mice it has been studied why. Asthma seems to activate T cells that then prevent the growth of brain tumours. The finding may result in a new approach to treating brain tumours.

related: #asthma #brain_tumour #T_cells

Clamping the umbilical cord of a very premature baby a minute after birth rather than after 10 seconds can reduce mortality by 30 percent. Health benefits can been seen even two years later, a two-year follow up study has found.

related: #premature #baby #umbilical_cord

Based on mRNA technology - which proved successful in two COVID-19 vaccines - an experimental HIV vaccine has been developed. It shows promise in experiments with mice and non-human primates. The vaccine is to be improved and further tested on animals before tests with humans can start.

related: #hiv #vaccination

More than a billion people suffer from high blood pressure. In a new study it has been found that eating yogurt daily is linked to lowering the blood pressure for hypertensive people. This is due to mineral and micronutrients

related: #yogurt #hypertension

Looking through insurance claims of more than 7 million individuals, in a study it was found that the usage of sildenafil, the drug in Viagra, was associated with a 69 percent reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease. Controlled studies are necessary to determine whether there is any causality.

related: #viagra #alzheimer

Actor Michael Sheen has pledged to continue using the money that he earns from acting for good causes such as the 2019 Homeless World Cup for which he sold his houses.

related: #charity #Michael_Sheen

In about 85 percent of pregnancies, women suffer from nausea and vomiting, in particular early in the pregnancies. Now it has been found that beneficial bacteria, called probiotics, as found in foods such as yogurt, kimchi, and kefir can reduce nausea hours by 16 percent and events of vomiting by 33 percent.

related: #probiotics #pregnancy

Working night shifts can have negative effects on the health. One of them is due to increased glucose levels during the nighttime. A new study finds that these may be avoided by not eating the daytime meals during the night shifts.

related: #night_shift

A time crystal is a phase of matter in which a structure repeats in time indefinitely without any energy input needed, just as a crystal repeats itself in space. Now such a time crystal has been created for the first time. It may form an important component in quantum computing.

related: #time_crystal

A two-photon fluorescence microscope has been developed that allows scientists to see individual neurons and their neighbours in the brain. This can be used to gain advanced understanding of the human brain.

related: #microscope

Artificial tissue has been developed that can be injected and provide a tough biomaterial forming a porous structure in which cells can regrow even in moving environments such as hearts, other muscles, and vocal cords, making healing much faster.

related: #healing