Neat News - Neat things do happen

A new study examining data from half a million people between 38 and 73 found that seven hours of sleep per day seems to hit the sweet spot. Sleeping an hour more or less than that seems to lead to a measurable reduction of the cognitive performance.

related: #seven_hours #sleep

In new research, a method has been developed with the potential to reduce the reliance on rare metals such as cobalt and nickel in the production of lithium-ion batteries by using rocksalt.

related: #rare_elements #battery

One consequence of type 2 diabetes can be that the illness destroys blood vessels and hinders the organism to regrow them. However, a 45-minute session of moderate intensity exercise can counter this problem and support the organism in regrowing blood vessels, a new study finds.

related: #diabetes #blood_vessel #regeneration

In a lab dish, scientists managed to regrow and repair liver cells by using cellular reprogramming molecules without increasing the risk of cancer.

related: #regeneration #liver

Spending time outdoor in nature does not only benefit health directly, but seems also to have the indirect effect that people being outside have a more healthy diet with higher fruit and vegetable consumption, a new study finds.

related: #nature #health

In a study with more than 250 sportspeople it was found that those who are very critical about themselves tend also to burn out more easily. It is concluded that people should be less self-critical and celebrate their successes.

related: #imperfection #stress

People who see the beauty in the everyday seem to feel that they lead a more meaningful life, some new studies with thousands of participants suggest. The feeling that life is meaningful is related to firstly the feeling that one's life is coherent, secondly that there are satisfying long-term goals, and thirdly that the life matters in the grand scheme of things.

related: #beauty #meaning_of_life

New research finds that showing modesty and not displaying status symbols of wealth signal to other people on a team the willingness to cooperate.

related: #teamwork #cooperation

When we eat, not only the material but also its structure is important. Scientists have studied this with a normalized form of chocolate and found that some S-shaped forms with many twists and cracks break in an interesting form and give test people most pleasure.

related: #chocolate

A new study finds that brisk walking over a lifetime could lead on average to a biological age (measured by telomere length) reduced by 16 years compared to the actual age and lead to a 20 year greater life expectancy.

related: #brisk_walking #life_expectancy

In Nigeria, electric 12-seater buses are built as a first. They are made from scratch and have a reach of 200 km per full charge. The project contributes to the efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions.

related: #electric_bus

Noninvasive sound therapy with microsecond long pulses has been tested on liver cancer in rats. In 80 percent of the animals, destroying 50 to 75 percent of the tumour volume resulted in the immune system of the rats clearing the rest and preventing the recurrence of the tumours.

related: #sound_therapy #cancer

In Columbia there is the danger that biodiversity declines steeply to provide areas for agriculture. A model has been developed to determine how limited financial resources are best targeted to counteract this loss in biodiversity, also considering the potential opportunity cost of conversation, empowering local communities including indigenous communities.

related: #biodiversity

A plant assumed to be extinct for 40 years, Gasteranthus extinctus, has been rediscovered in a forest in Ecuador.

related: #extinct #rediscovered

Transistors are essential components of computers. Now using a new type of transistor based on graphene and chromium oxide rather than silicon five percent of the energy needed by the transistor may be saved.

related: #transistor #energy_efficiency

A new study finds that physical exercise may protect the brain volume of older people by reducing insulin and BMI levels, thereby reducing the risk of dementia.

related: #exercise #brain

Although different mammals have different average lifespans, they also show a different amount of mutations per year (mice 800 per year, dogs 249, lions 160, giraffes 99, and humans 47). One invariant seems to be that they all have about 3200 mutations across their lifetime. The insight may offer another puzzle piece in understanding ageing.

related: #mutation #ageing

There is now a better understanding how Gram-negative bacteria build their outer membrane from the two main, non-protein components, lipids and sugars, to protect themselves from antibiotics. If this process could be disrupted this would make the bacteria vulnerable against antibiotics.

related: #antibiotics #drug_resistance

A study found that the bird biodiversity in the Amazon is to a large degree due to the dynamic changes of rivers in small areas, creating ecological niches.

related: #biodiversity #Amazon

A new sound device for deeper sleep has been developed. It works by playing precisely timed sounds through earphones. While this was possible before under lab conditions, the new device is wearable.

related: #deep_sleep #sound

The European Union wants to produce in an initiative, called "Destination Earth", a digital replica of the Earth so that politicians and others can more directly see how their decisions affect climate change, rising temperatures, and in consequence the future of our planet.

related: #climate_change #digital_Earth

For long it has been known that zinc is important to the immune system. After experiments with mice it is now also understood why: Zinc is important for the regeneration of the thymus, an organ that produces T-cells and is needed for the development of the T-cells as well.

related: #t_cell #zinc

Meaningful, challenging leisure activities are important for people to reduce loneliness and increase positive feelings, well-being, and health, a new study involving students finds.

related: #leisure_activity #health

Scientists think that they found the fossil of a leg of a dinosaur that was killed on the day when a big asteroid struck Earth some 66 million years ago, ending the lives of all dinosaurs.

related: #dinosaur #fossil #asteroid

A new study finds that physically fit primary school students concentrate better and are more likely to proceed to secondary grammar schools than others.

related: #fitness

A membrane made of a new polymer has been developed that allows to more efficiently remove carbon dioxide from emissions of power plants. This allows to more effectively capture carbon dioxide to reduce emissions of the greenhouse gas.

related: #membrane #carbon_dioxide

A new study finds that exercising not only helps against depression reducing symptoms for at least 75 minutes after the workout, but that it also improves the effects of therapy.

related: #exercising #depression

New research found that spiders use their webs to improve their hearing so that they are warned of the arrival of potential prey or predators.

related: #spider_web #hearing

Germany is investing four billion euros in landscape renaturation, trees for cities, and the protection of federal lands in a concerted effort in strengthening biodiversity and supporting the 2045 climate neutrality.

related: #climate #renaturation #biodiversity

In experiments with mice, a new nasal spay has proved highly effective in preventing and treating Covid-19 caused by the Delta variant. It is assumed to be effective against all currently known Covid-19 variants. It works by blocking cells from the virus.

related: #nasal_spray #Covid19