Neat News - Neat things do happen

A new dishwasher is under development that uses superheated steam. It shows promise since it is faster, more energy efficient, and kills most bacteria.

related: #dishwasher #steam

A new study finds that water fluoridation is not only an effective measure to prevent tooth decay, it has compared to other methods also a low environmental footprint.

related: #fluoridation

A new study finds evidence that plants around school playgrounds improve the micro-climate and protect the children from air pollution.

related: #plant #school #air_pollution

Bees have astonishing ways of controlling temperature that can keep their hive cool, but can also cook enemies such as hornets alive.

related: #bee #temperature

For some cancers which are resistant to traditional treatments a promising combination treatment has been developed, consisting of immunotherapy (where the immune system is stimulated to attack the cancer) and oncological virotherapy (where a virus is used to attack the cancer).

related: #cancer #immunotherapy #virotherapy

The blades of wind turbines typically need to be replaced after 20 years. With wind turbines becoming very popular it is important to recycle the blades. To this end new blades are designed to be recyclable.

related: #wind_turbine #recycling

The large blue butterfly was extinct in the UK in 1979. In 1983 it was reintroduced with caterpillars from Sweden. As a consequence of conservation efforts it has now its best summer in 150 years with some 750,000 eggs and 20,000 butterflies.

related: #butterfly #conservation

A new study shows that in the USA not only there is general approval of the government's measures to fight climate change, but there is actually much more concern and readiness to support action against climate change than the general perception suggests.

related: #USA #climate_change #action

A new inexpensive catalyst, called KGF-9, has been developed which is based on lead and sulphur. CO₂ can be reduced with it under sunlight to useful chemicals such as CO (which can be burned again) and formic acid.

related: #catalyst #carbon #climate

Scientists have electrically stimulated gently the brains of volunteers for 20 minutes for 4 days and found that this lead to a boost of both their short-term and their long-term memories. The effect lasted for at least one month.

related: #brain #stimulation #memory

Today the Prime Minister of Singapore has announced that the 19th century prohibition of gay sex will be abolished.

related: #gay #Singapore

Some 12000 different synthetic chemicals are called "forever chemicals" since they are almost indestructible. Now a new low temperature method using dimethyl sulfoxide and sodium hydroxide has been developed to cut off part of the molecules to make them more reactive and destructible.

related: #forever_chemicals

For a long time, doctors and nurses have used tricks to make children more comfortable with vaccinations, by distraction on the one hand, and by positive memory reframing, for example, deep breathing. Now a study finds that these techniques are effective and help to reduce distress.

related: #needle_fear #distraction #positive_memory_reframing

Scientists have found a vulnerability of all major CARS-CoV-2 virus variants by analyzing the virus' spike protein so that an antibody fragment can be attached to it, potentially neutralizing the virus. This may result in a new approach to treating Covid-19.

related: #Covid_19 #anti_body

The USA has decided to spend 375 billion dollars to fight climate change. As a result the green house gas emissions are expected to be reduced by 44 percent by 2030. At the same time a minimum of 15 percent in tax is taken from corporations.

related: #climate_change #USA

In a new meta-analysis a possible link between taking vitamin D supplements and a reduction of the symptoms in adults with depression has been found. More research is needed.

related: #vitamin_D #depression

Scientists studied why we feel exhausted after thinking hard and found that there is some physiological cause: The synapses of the brain's prefrontal cortex have a higher level of glutamate, which is eliminated again during sleep.

related: #thinking #glutamate

Leisure activities reduce the dementia risk, a new study finds. Mental activities such as reading/writing, playing games or musical instruments, or using a computer by 23 percent; physical activities such as walking, swimming, yoga, or dancing by 17 percent; and social activities such as joining a social club, volunteering, or visiting friends by 7 percent.

related: #dementia #activity

Using a mobile phone app, tinnitus sufferers were exposed to white noise. About two thirds of the patients reported an improvement of their tinnitus. It is assumed that the sound leads to a rewiring of the brain so that the sound of the tinnitus is reclassified as irrelevant.

related: #tinnitus #white_noise

In tests with 20 people, most of whom had lost their sight because of a disease of the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, sight was restored by implanting a bioengineered cornea. This method may offer for many patients an alternative to the transplantation of a donated human cornea.

related: #cornea #sight

Studying tiny zircon crystals from Western Australia, scientists find evidence that the continents were formed some three and a half billion years ago by the impact of a gigantic meteorite.

related: #continent #meteorite

When babies feel uncomfortable they cry, whether it is a mild discomfort or strong pain. In a new study it has been found that adults can learn to distinguish from the crying the type of the discomfort.

related: #baby #crying

There was the question where the horses on the island of Assateague, off Maryland and Virginia, come from. The theory that they descend from horses coming to land after a shipwreck of a Spanish galleon is now supported by a gene analysis comparing their genes to a 16th century tooth.

related: #Assateague #horse

Inflammation helps healing. However, it can lead to problems such as type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and autoimmune diseases, when it is chronic. A new study finds a connection between low levels of vitamin D and high levels of inflammation.

related: #vitamin_D #inflammation

Music can relieve acute pain. A new study finds that people who have the impression that they can control the music they hear have a greater benefit in pain relief than others.

related: #music #pain_relief

In Wuppertal, Germany, there is a sanctuary for hedgehogs, which looks after sick and injured hedgehogs. It provides shelter for 400 to 500 hedgehogs every year until they have recovered.

related: #hedgehog

A new study finds that Alzheimer's disease may be triggered - at least in some cases - by two common viruses. The varicella zoster virus, the virus responsible for chickenpox and shingles, triggers a dormant herpes simplex virus, which then leads to an accumulation of Alzheimer's linked proteins.

related: #Alzheimer #chickenpox #herpes

A so-called monoclonal antibody injection proved highly protective and safe for 6 to 12 months in a clinical study. In the study volunteers were bitten by mosquitoes carrying the malaria parasite. 15 of 17 were fully protected, whereas all participants in a control group became infected.

related: #malaria #monoclonal_antibody

Uruguay is a role model in the usage of renewable energies. 97 percent of its electricity is produced by renewables (wind, sun, water). The country has become an exporter of energy this way.

related: #Uruguay #renewable_energy

Sepsis can kill patients after an operation within hours. Using machine learning algorithms, doctors have managed to reduce the mortality rate by 18 percent by detecting the complication on average two hours earlier.

related: #sepsis #mortality_reduction

A new study finds that replacing meat in the food is good for environment and health. The approach is more successful than advocating vegan food, since people are more likely to do it. As an example, plant-based burgers lead to 98 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than beef burgers.

related: #vegetarian