Neat News - Neat things do happen

So-called forever chemicals are used in many ways, for instance, in order to make clothes waterproof. However, they have a harmful health effect and are hard to get rid off. Now a way has been developed to absorb them with a carbon based filter and to break them up using a catalyst before they can harm us.

related: #forever_chemical #filter #catalyst

Pancreatic cancer is hard to treat even by immunotherapy since the cancer cells look to the immune system like ordinary cells. Now a new approach has been developed in which nano-particles deliver particular T cells directly to attack the cancer cells. In a small experiment with mice eight of nine had an improvement and in two cases the cancer was gone completely.

related: #cancer #pancreas #nano

14 golf courses in Sussex, UK, have coordinated measures to foster biodiversity on their ground, for instance, by encouraging wildflowers through a cut-and-collect system in which grass cuttings are collected instead of left on the ground and thereby giving wildflowers a better opportunity. This then in turn attracts butterflies and other insects.

related: #golf #biodiversity

Daily 10 minute sessions of mindfulness practice can improve wellbeing and help reduce depression and anxiety, new research finds.

related: #mindfulness #wellbeing

In a study with Covid-19 related problems it has been found that placebos ease stress even when the patients know that they are getting a placebo.

related: #placebo

Methane and methanol can both serve as fuels, however, methanol is easier to transport since it is liquid. Now an easy transformation using a catalyst has been found that can make a transformation from methane to methanol at a temperature of only 75 Celsius.

related: #methane #methanol #catalyst

A new study finds that gamification to encourage people to walk more (even if it is only 15 minutes) leads to a significant increase in physical activity levels (95 percent of participants achieve guideline levels). 14 percent report improvements in fitness, 8 percent in general health, 8 percent in sleep quality, and 7 percent in a better mood.

related: #gamification #walking

Too much coffee is not good, and it is not good for everyone, but consumed in moderation for most people the positive effects dominate: coffee is rich in antioxidants, contains small amounts of B vitamins, minerals such as magnesium, and boosts energy levels and awareness. (A detailed list with references to the corresponding scientific evidence can be found from the article in science alert.)

related: #coffee #health_benefits

Researcher have developed a solvent that floats on water, but when shaken picks up some 98 percent of the microplastic particles. After a while it floats again on the surface with the microplastic particles and can then be removed together with them.

related: #microplastic

40 percent of the energy used is for buildings, of these 20 percent go into cooling. While up to now a lot of thought has gone into improving roofs for cooling, only little went into vertical walls. New research finds now that by replacing flat walls by zigzag walls with a reflective coating, the temperature of the wall can be lowered by three degrees Celsius without the need for any extra energy, since the wall reflects back the heat into space.

related: #wall #climate #house #cooling #zigzag

Vinegar has some positive health effects, such as being anti-inflammatory. Now a study with a small number of participants finds that taking twice daily a dose of two tablespoons of vinegar might reduce depressive symptoms. A bigger study is needed to confirm the findings.

related: #vinegar #depression

A new analysis found that a six-tonne stone from the Stonehenge prehistoric monument in southern England is originated from the far north of Scotland more than 750km away.

related: #Stonehenge

Solar panels have been developed that are transparent and use only the invisible spectrum of light. That is, they can in principle replace traditional windows and at the same time generate electricity. An efficiency of about 10 percent looks achievable.

related: #solar #transparent #window

There is an old conundrum in physics why there is a lot of matter in the universe, but no significant amounts of antimatter. Now there seems to be a possible approach to shed more light on the question. New measuring techniques are more precise than ever before and may establish an asymmetry between protons and antiprotons, for instance.

related: #antimatter #measuring

Scientists have produced a two component material, based on a peptide that binds to transforming growth factor beta-1 and on hyaluronic acid to repair damaged cartilage in joints. The new material shows a lot of promise in experiments with sheep, whose joints have a similar mechanical loading as those of humans.

related: #joints #cartilage #repair #beta1 #hyaluronic_acid

In new research it is argued that stone carvings in the ancient Göbekli Tepe in Türkiye might be the oldest known calendar and some 10,000 years old. Further research and confirmation is necessary.

related: #calendar #Turkiye #ancient

Is drinking alone sad? New research with fruit flies seems to confirm this, namely drinking alcohol alone may be a sign of depression whereas drinking with friends can make you feel friendly and upbeat. The difference of the effect of the alcohol seems to be related to different levels of dopamine in the two different settings.

related: #alcohol #dopamine

Tap water often contains microplastics. Now a simple method to reduce it before drinking has been described which works particularly well for hard, that is, water with a lot of calcium carbonate. When boiling the tap water, 80 percent of the microplastics is trapped in the limescale (in soft water around a quarter).

related: #plastic #water #boiling

New research with mice found that a particular hormone, progesterone, increases the sensitivity to touch and pain. Levels of this hormone are also heightened in women when menstruating. This insight might offer a treatment for women with migraines during menstruation, deactivating corresponding progesterone receptors.

related: #migraine #menstruation #progesterone

Eye tracking technology has been applied to improve the math teaching of children. This way it is, for instance, possible to determine when children overlook an important aspect of an exercise and find a way to present the task in a way that is more easily understood.

related: #eye_tracking #learning #math

In a new approach scientists managed to develop a promising therapy to destroy tumour cells of the head and the neck by using the so-called fusobacterium.

related: #fusobacterium #cancer #therapy

A new study finds that individually and on the level of society it would be possible and useful to reduce risks developing Alzheimer's disease by 40 percent by addressing 14 risk factors such as tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, obesity, air pollution, and head injury (for instance by increasing prices for tobacco and alcohol, policies for salt and sugar reduction, low emission zones, and compulsory helmet use for cyclists).

related: #Alzheimer #lifestyle