Pop science
THE LATEST DISCOVERIES, INVENTIONS & SCIENCE NEWS HELPING TO SHAPE THE WORLD OF TOMORROW.
Researchers find personality traits could put you at risk of cyberattacks IT’S ALL DOWN TO SELF-CONTROL, SAYS SCIENCE.
New research, which appeared in the journal Social Science Computer Review, claims that people who “show signs of low self-control” are more susceptible to malware attacks. The study dug into people’s reactions under different conditions, then questions participants about their computer behaviour, and found that individuals who are negligent, lack foresight, or are impatient tend to fall victim to cyberattacks. The author of the paper, Tomas Holt, professor of criminal justice at Michigan State University, says that hackers are aware that such people tend to spend a lot of time online looking for things they want (or think they want) and target exactly those sites. This understanding – of what people do online and what behavioural factors trigger it – can be critical in fighting cybercrime.
AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE COULD GET RID OF YOUR HUNGER PANGS THE BATTLE AGAINST WEIGHT GAIN CONTINUES.
It’s battery-free, measures less than 1cm across, can be easily implanted into the body, and can short-circuit cravings – this is a new device developed by engineers at the University of WisconsinMadison that, they say, can aid in weight loss. Lab tests have shown that rats implanted with the device shed 40% of their body weight, although they haven’t mentioned how long it takes to do so. The device works by sending gentle electric pulses from stomach muscles to the vagus nerve (which links the stomach to the brain). This fools the brain into thinking the stomach is full only after a few measly bites. The device can also be removed, meaning it’s a safer option to combat obesity than permanent life-altering surgeries like gastric bypass.
A chemical in soap and toothpaste meant to kill germs is only making them stronger SO… STOP BRUSHING AND WASHING?
Triclosan is a common antibacterial chemical found in soaps, mouthwashes, cosmetics, toothpaste, even clothing and credit cards. It’s there to kill germs. However, scientists are now saying that triclosan exposure could well be making bacteria tolerant to antibiotics. To be effective, triclosan needs to be added in large concentrations, and although some countries set down guidelines to reduce usage in certain products, companies kept adding it to others. Triclosan is also hard to break down, meaning it lingers in the environment longer. Scientists have found that triclosan has “increased tolerance to a wide breadth of antibiotics”, including those used to treat urinary tract infections (UTI). Both UTIs and triclosan are common and, in the US, 75% of adults have detectable levels of triclosan in their urine, meaning the chemical could hinder treatment of such diseases.
Takeaway containers are one of the leading causes of environmental degradation THE THROWAWAY CULTURE ISN’T HELPING.
According to a new study from the University of Manchester, the European Union alone uses 2,025 million takeaway containers per year. Extrapolate that for global numbers and it’s sure to be staggering, given how commonplace food delivery services and takeaway food is. The study claims that if a responsible way of disposing these containers can be found, it could help cut the same amount of greenhouse gases produced by 55,000 cars. The study also found that Styrofoam containers have the lowest carbon footprint – 50% less than aluminium ones and three times lower than plastic. Amongst the hazard that takeaway containers pose are climate change, depletion of natural resources and marine toxicity. Moral of the story? Cook more at home – it’s healthy for you and for the environment.
Green tea is definitely good for you, science has proved it IT’S NO OLD-WIVES TALE.
Researchers at Ohio State University fed mice a high-fat diet along with 2% green tea extract mixed in and found they were healthier than those not consuming any green tea. The study found that green tea can reduce obesity (mice gained 20% less weight than those not on a green tea diet) and also reduce the number of inflammatory markers in the body associated with poor health. Green tea seems to promote better health by improving the gut microbiome. The scientists found more beneficial microbes in the intestines of the mice, along with improved impermeability – meaning green tea is good for a condition known as ‘leaky gut’ in humans. The scientists admit that it’s too soon to extrapolate this data to people, but it’s no secret that drinking it is definitely beneficial.
DOCTORS CAN NOW QUANTIFY LEVELS OF PAIN NO MORE FAKING IT…
Every individual person has a different tolerance level to pain. So when a GP asks whether the pain is severe or not, the answer is never quite objective. To be able to measure pain levels would help doctors treat patients better but there was no way to quantify it… until now. Researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine have discovered biomarkers in human blood than can be used to make objective measurements of pain levels. These biomarkers can even predict who is prone to future bouts of pain, which can aid in early prevention, and can be used to match patients with the right medication. This research could be used to fight the opioid addiction crisis in many countries, especially given physicians have a possible tool to tell if the pain is psychosomatic or not.
IT’S POSSIBLE FOR COUCH POTATOES TO FIT SOME EXERCISE INTO THEIR LAZY ROUTINE IT’S JUST… INCIDENTAL.
You may have heard of ‘high-intensity interval training’ (HIIT), where short bursts of vigorous exercise is interspersed with periods of cooling-down exercises. This type of workout may sound strenuous, especially to people who aren’t too keen on fitness routines, but there’s something else that’s easy enough to do and can fit into any lifestyle. ‘High-intensity incidental activity’ is something most of us end up doing without even realising. This type of activity includes running the last 100m to jump into a train or bus, carrying bags of groceries a few flights of stairs, even vacuuming – anything that can make you sweat. According to a paper published in the
British Journal of Sports Medicine, if this type of incidental activity is a regular phenomenon in your life, then it will impart health benefits, even if it’s just 30-second bursts spread across the day.