Neat News - Neat things do happen

A solar cell has been developed that under lab conditions has the highest efficiency achieved so far, namely 47.6 percent of the energy are transformed into electricity.

related: #solar #efficiency

Researcher have found an enzyme, PHL7, that can break down PET plastic (polyethylene terephthalat), a very common form of plastic. This discovery may help fight the general plastic pollution.

related: #PET #bio_degradable

There are data that support that four measures - other than outlawing weapons altogether - reduce the risk of mass shootings: 1. require permits to purchase, 2. ban individuals with a history of violent crime, 3. ban serious domestic violence offenders, and 4. ban alcohol abusers.

related: #gun_violence #weapon_control

Scientists found that a drug approved to treat HIV, called maraviroc, can be used to stop the memory decline in middle-aged mice. It seems to work by suppressing the CCR5 receptor.

related: #memory_loss #marviroc

Researchers managed to extract genetic information from two individuals killed in the volcano eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79, getting some information about the people. For instance, they found that some genes are related to those found on the island of Sardinia.

related: #DNA #Pompeii

A new study finds that reducing the daily TV consumption to less than an hour also reduces the cases of coronary heart disease by 11 percent.

related: #TV_time #heart_health

In a new study, it has been found that domesticated animals such as horses and pigs react to the way humans speak to them, distinguishing between positively and negatively charged sounds. When spoken to politely they become calmer and more relaxed.

related: #politeness #emotions #animals

Ibuprofen and aspirin are used to treat pain and inflammation, but they have positive effects as decreasing the risk of some cancer, of asthma, or of heart disease. Now there is some understanding why this is: A protein called NRF2 seems to trigger the effects.

related: #painkillers #NRF2

A Viking settlement in northern Germany has been found. The houses are dated to the ninth and tenth century. Furthermore, metal and ceramic artefacts such as two iron knives were found.

related: #viking

After his election win, the new Australian Prime Minister has announced that Australia will change course and become a renewable energy superpower.

related: #renewable #Australia

The reduction of diversity in the crop cultivated world wide is dangerous, since some pests could wipe out large amounts of the world wide harvest. In several countries seedbanks are used to keep corresponding diversity by storing seeds that can be used if they are needed.

related: #seedbank

So-called supercapacitors have been developed that capture carbon dioxide when charged and release it again when discharged. The low cost device may be used to capture CO₂ and to store electric energy.

related: #supercapacitor #CO2_capture

A new study finds that cranberries have positive health effects. They are antioxidants, have anti-inflammatory properties, reduce cholesterol, and improve memory. They may prove useful in the fight against dementia.

related: #cranberry #memory

In order to produce electricity from heat you need a temperature difference, typically a relatively cool solar panel and the heat from the sun. Now researchers managed in a proof of principle to reverse this to produce electricity at night when the heated ground is relatively warm and emits infrared radiation into cold space.

related: #solar_power #infrared #night

A new wireless dummy (pacifier) has been developed that can monitor the electrolyte levels of newborn babies in intensive care and make obsolete the need for invasive twice-daily blood draws.

related: #dummy #baby #intensive_care

In order to promote urban farming, porous concrete has been developed that allows plant growth on concrete roofs.

related: #concrete #plants

In a review looking at more than 150 studies on a wide range of learning activities it is established that variability of the input slows down the learning process, but also improves the generalizations achieved. For instance, when you want to learn the concept `dog' it is better to see a wide variety of dogs than only a single kind.

related: #learning #variability

A new approach for harvesting photovoltaic energy has been developed in which the solar modules are arranged like the petals of a flower and follow the position of the sun. This way the efficiency can be increased by up to 40 percent.

related: #solar #efficiency

The heart is incapable of generating new muscle cells, that is, after a heart attack lost tissue cannot be repaired. Now a new method using so-called progenitor cells could change this. Clinical studies are planned within two years.

related: #heart #cell_regeneration

Lying takes more cognitive energy than telling the truth. In a new study it has been shown that exposing liars can be done more easily when these people have to perform an additional task that takes away extra brain power.

related: #liar #exposed

For hearing certain hair cells in the inner and outer ear are necessary. If these are lost people become deaf. Now there is an understanding which genes are responsible for the hair cells. This may lead in the long run to regenerate such cells and reverse hearing loss in some cases.

related: #hearing_loss

A new study finds that many elderly people are misdiagnosed with mild cognitive decline since the corresponding tests rely on tasks related to good eyesight, which the corresponding group of people often do not have.

related: #cognition #eye_sight

In experiments with mice, it was found that a calorie restricted diet can extend the life span by 10 percent. Restricting the eating time to the active periods of the day extends the life span even by 35 percent.

related: #time_restricted_eating #diet

Studying prehistoric art some 15,000 years old, scientists concluded that the cave paintings were created by fires at night with flickering shapes and shadows.

related: #cave_art #fire

Storing surplus energy over a long time is a challenge in moving to renewable electricity and cannot be solved with traditional batteries, which decharge themselves over time. However, freezing a molten salt solution allows to store the energy for a long time and the decharging happens only when it is thawed again.

related: #battery #energy_storage

A study finds that sodium selenate may slow down cognitive decline that is related to certain forms of dementia, not uncommon in people under 60.

related: #dementia #sodium_selenate

Around 1750 the last wild bisons were lost in Germany. Following Poland's example, they were reintroduced to the Rothaargebirge in North Rhine-Westphalia ten years ago and seem to reestablish themselves very well. While the last wild bison in Europe was killed in 1927, there are about 7000 of them today.

related: #bison

In experiments, scientists found that transplanting faecal microbiota from young into old mice leads to a reversal of the signs of ageing in the gut, the eyes, and the brain (and vice versa).

related: #rejuvenation #faecal_transplant

When a tendon, connecting muscles and bones, is injured it typically takes a long time to heal and regenerate. This process can be significantly improved by using a silk protein composite as scaffold for the regeneration process.

related: #tendon

A new study finds that reducing the time sitting and instead doing some light physical activities have a positive health effect, reducing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.

related: #sitting #physical_activities #health

A portable desalination unit has been developed that weighs less than ten kilograms and can be powered by a portable solar panel.

related: #desalination