Neat News - Neat things do happen

Adolescents who are physically active perform better at secondary school, a new study finds. They are also less likely to suffer from school burnout.

related: #physical_activity #learning #well_being

A new study suggest that daily vigorous activities of 4.5 minutes can reduce the risk of some cancers by up to a third.

related: #cancer #physical_activity

In France alone, every year 700,000 tonnes of clothes are thrown away. In a measure to reduce this, the French government will introduce a subsidy of 6 to 25 euros to have clothes repaired.

related: #repair #clothes

Some people want to get rid of the moss in their garden or lawn, but new research shows that mosses are vitally important for the protection against erosion and absorbing carbon dioxide. In an ecosystem, they give important benefits to the soil and other plants.

related: #moss #ecosystem

Metformin, a drug known for a century and used to treat type 2 diabetes, has shown in recent findings to reduce muscle atrophy and muscular fibrosis. It could help in particular the elderly in recovering from injury.

related: #metformin #muscle

Chronic inflammation is responsible for many age related problems in later years. Now, researchers seem to have found a key mechanism in this. Calcium uptake by some cells, so-called macrophages, might slow down the process and give us a longer life.

related: #ageing #inflammation #calcium

A study with 10 million babies in the USA between 2016 and 2018 found that breastfed babies are a third less likely to die during their first year of life (during days 7-364).

related: #breastfeeding #mortality

A new study finds that volunteering helps elderly persons against cognitive decline and dementia. The average age in the study was 74. Those who volunteered several times per week did best on tests of executive function.

related: #volunteering #cognitive_decline

In a new study with more than 15,000 Americans and half a million Europeans, it has been found that sufficient levels of omega-3 fatty acids, as found in nuts, seeds, and fish oil, are associated with a better lung function.

related: #lung #health #omega3

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. Now a catalyst with only a few palladium atoms can remove 90 percent of methane from the exhaust of natural gas engines at a low temperature.

related: #methane #catalyst #greenhouse_gas

Highly concentrated caffeine such as in an espresso prevents in in vitro experiments the aggregation of tau proteins that are involved in the onset of Alzheimer's disease, new research shows.

related: #caffeine #Alzheimer

New research finds that breast milk contains for each mother a stable set of antibodies across pregnancies. The fact helps to explain why some babies are protected against some diseases, such as necrotizing enterocolitis, and others not.

related: #breast_milk #antibodies

In a seven year study with more than 100,000 French people, it has been found that the risk of diabetes does not only depend on what is eaten, but also on when it is eaten. Having breakfast after 9 o'clock increases the risk of diabetes type 2 by 59 percent compared to those who have breakfast before 8 o'clock.

related: #diabetes #timing

A new study with more than 1700 patients finds that the drug donanemab slows down the cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's disease by about a third. While it is not a cure, it can give patients many quality years of life.

related: #Alzheimer #drug #donanemab

When cell therapy is used against Parkinson's disease most transplanted cells are killed by an immune response of the body. Now with a co-transplantation of T-cells the survival of the transplanted dopamine neurons can be much improved, giving hope for a better chance of a successful cell therapy.

related: #Parkinson #cell_therapy

Sometimes a lot of money is spent on structural changes in a city to later find that the changes do not lead to the intended improvements. Now in a project, a game engine was used to create 3d scenarios for people to immerse and evaluate before a lot of money is spent.

related: #urban_planning #virtual_reality

A study in the USA found that there are significant positive benefits for the individual health but also for the cost to the health system when persons with hypertension regularly measure their blood pressure at home, since potential problems can be caught early on, before they create serious health issues.

related: #blood_pressure #health #measuring

New research finds that people who are better at understanding other persons' intentions and who can take their perspective are also more successful in cooperation.

related: #cooperation #mindreading

Before a planned major surgery, a short programme of high intensity interval training can substantially help with the recovery and reduce the risk of post-operative complications by 56 percent, new research shows.

related: #surgery #fitness #interval_training

The European Parliament has passed the Nature Restoration Act in order to restore biodiversity in different areas such as forests, rivers, and peatlands. By 2030, 30 percent of the corresponding areas should be restored and 70 percent by 2050.

related: #nature #EU #restoration

Pollution by plastic is a major environmental issue. Now a new form of biodegradable plastic has been developed that degrades on a similar timescale as banana skins. The plastic is made of pressed spirulina powder (from blue-green algae).

related: #biodegradable #plastic

In a new study it has been shown that for information about climate change being impactful it is important that it provides recipients with information what can be done about the problems and how possible solutions may be approached.

related: #communication #climate_change

The USA have "irreversibly destroyed" their arsenal of chemical weapons, making the world officially free of chemical weapons. The head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons called the destruction of all declared chemical weapons stockpiles an important milestone according the corresponding convention that came into effect in 1997 and is supported by 193 countries.

related: #chemical_weapon

New research finds that a diet with two to three daily servings of fruits; two to three of vegetables; one of nuts; and two of dairy; complemented by two to three weekly servings of fish; and four of legumes leads to greater cardiovascular health.

related: #heart #diet

An early diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) can lead to improved patient outcomes. Now new research shows that the diagnosis can be improved by measuring the thickness of the retina in the eye.

related: #ms #retina

Malaria is spread by the females of some mosquitoes. Now scientists managed to genetically change them so that from their eggs only males develop, which do not spread the disease but pass on the genetic change, reducing thereby the number of dangerous mosquitoes.

related: #malaria #suppression

In a new study with almost 1500 adults above the age of 60, it has been found that in general physical activity is linked to a better quality of life. Physical activity - such as brisk walking, gardening, cycling, and dancing - of at least 150 minutes a week is linked to a reduced risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer as well as a better mental well being.

related: #activity #quality_of_life #well_being

Bhutan is the first country that is carbon dioxide negative, that is, its forests absorb more carbon dioxide than the country produces.

related: #Bhutan #carbon

The number of grey seals in the German tideland, the so-called Wadden Sea, and in Helgoland has increased by 13 percent in the last five years.

related: #grey_seal

The Tres Hombres is a freighter that transports cocoa beans, coffee, tea, wine, and rum between the Caribbean and Europe. It is the only trans-Atlantic motor-free sailing freighter and an ambassador for cleaner sea transport.

related: #tres_hombres #clean_sea

Using a supercomputer, a more than 30 year problem has been solved, namely the ninth so-called Dedekind number has been found. It has 42 digits. Dedekind numbers are used to count the number of monotone boolean functions.

related: #numbers