What the scientists are saying…
A balance test for longer life
Balancing on one leg may seem an inane exercise, but a major new study has suggested that the ability to do so, for more than ten seconds, is an overlooked marker of health, and should be integrated into routine health screenings for older people. For the study, 1,702 Brazilians aged 51 to 75 were asked to do a balance test, and then they had their health monitored for a decade. Once the researchers had accounted for age, sex and underlying health conditions, they found that the participants who had not been able to balance on one leg for ten seconds were 84% more likely to die of any cause over the ten-year period than the others. Nearly one in six of the poor balancers died, compared with one in 22 of the rest; they also had higher rates of heart disease and high blood pressure. The study did not look into why poor balance might be associated with poor health outcomes, but it is not the first to find the association: previous research has shown a link between poor balance and elevated risk of dementia and stroke.
Bee-eaters are a worrying sign
The arrival in Norfolk of a group of brightly coloured European bee-eaters has delighted bird watchers, but conservationists have warned that it is a “worrying sign” of climate change. The starling-sized birds, which have red backs, blue bellies and yellow throats, are usually found in southern Europe and northern Africa. But several have now been observed making nesting burrows in a sand quarry near the Norfolk village of Trimingham. Although the birds did not breed in the UK between 1956 and 2001, this is the sixth known nesting attempt in Britain this century. “While an incredible sight, we mustn’t forget that the arrival of these birds to our shores is due to changes to our climate and subsequent pressures on wildlife both here and across the globe,” said Mark Thomas of the RSPB. “Pushed northwards by climate change, these exotic birds will probably become established summer visitors in the future.”
New “light” therapy for cancer
An international team of scientists has developed an innovative “light-activated” therapy for treating aggressive brain cancer. The “photoimmunotherapy” works by forcing microscopic cancer cells to glow in the dark, making it possible for surgeons to see and remove more of them. Similar “guided” techniques are already in use, but as well as the fluorescent dye, the new therapy includes a cancer-targeting compound to boost the body’s immune response. In a trial in mice with brain cancer, it dramatically improved the visibility of cancer cells during surgery, then triggered a response which wiped out residual cells; this should make the cancer less likely to recur.
Coffee makes you spend more
Shoppers who drink a cup of coffee before hitting the aisles are more likely to make impulse purchases, a study has found. Researchers from the University of South Florida set up espresso machines outside stores in France and Spain, and offered more than 300 shoppers a free drink. About half had a coffee containing 100mg of caffeine, while the rest had decaf coffee or water. Those who had a hit of caffeine spent about 50% more money and bought nearly 30% more items than those who had drunk decaf coffee or water. “Caffeine, as a powerful stimulant, releases dopamine in the brain, which excites the mind and the body,” said lead author Prof Dipayan Biswas. “This leads to a higher energetic state, which in turn enhances impulsivity and decreases self-control.”
The price of an ideal life
Most people in Britain don’t think they’d need to be richer than Croesus to live their dream life, a study has indicated. Most of us reckon £8m would do it. For the research, 7,860 people from 33 countries were asked to picture their “absolutely ideal life”, and to specify the amount they thought they’d have to win to afford it. In the UK, 62% thought £8m or less would be adequate, and five times as many chose £800,000 (27%) than opted for £800m million (14%). Only 14% grabbed the largest sum (£100bn), more than in China (8%) but fewer than in the US (32%) and Indonesia, which came top with 39%. The findings, said the team, challenge the idea that humans have “unlimited wants”.