Neat News 4408 (added 2018-11-30)

Electric Stimulation of Brain for Mood Improvement

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Researchers found that a particular region in the brain, the so-called lateral orbitofrontal cortex, if electrically stimulated improves the mood of depressed patients.

Neat News 4407 (added 2018-11-29)

New Pathway to a Drug against Brain Cancer

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In a study scientists compared cells of longer and shorter survivors of the glioblastoma brain cancer. They found a particular protein in the patients that survived longer. This opens a pathway to a new drug that may help to slow down the growth of the cancer cells.

Neat News 4406 (added 2018-11-28)

EU Aims to Carbon Neutral by 2050

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The European Union wants to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. By 2030 emissions should be cut by 40 percent. To a large degree this is to be achieved by extending the production of renewable energy in form of solar and wind energy. The steps are taken in order to limit global warming to at most 1.5 degrees Celsius and improve the air quality.

Neat News 4405 (added 2018-11-27)

New HIV Vaccination Strategy

A new approach to vaccinate against HIV is studied which is built on a particular protein. In animal tests it showed a powerful immune reaction.

Neat News 4404 (added 2018-11-26)

Brain-Computer Interface

In clinical trial, paralyzed patients were able to control tablet devices directly using their brains. This way it was possible for them to communicate and use the tablets just by thinking. The interface works via a small sensor placed in the motor cortex in the brain.

Neat News 4403 (added 2018-11-25)

No-Smoking and Lower Blood Pressure

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In a study it has been found that non-smokers benefit from the smoking ban in restaurants in that they have a lower systolic blood pressure. This is a consequence of avoiding passive smoking.

Neat News 4402 (added 2018-11-24)

No Moving Parts in Plane

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Engineers built an aircraft that does not have any moving parts and in consequence is silent. It works using a so-called ionic wind which is created by ionizing the air by a high voltage. The resulting airflow is strong enough to propel the aircraft.

Neat News 4401 (added 2018-11-23)

In Chile Renewable Energy is Booming

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Chile is very strong in the production of renewable energy. It is top in the Americas and second only to China is the production of renewable energy. It has now been studied how Chile achieved this by social movements and environmental organizations.

Neat News 4400 (added 2018-11-22)

Sugar Supplement against Cancer

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In experiments with mice, mannose, a sugar found in fruits such as cranberries, has proved useful in the treatment against cancer since it slows the growth of the cancer. It can be used as a supplement to chemotherapy. More research is needed to see whether there are negative side effects.

Neat News 4399 (added 2018-11-21)

Fish with Heart Repair

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A Mexican fish, the so-called tetra fish, is able to heal its heart, a relative of it cannot do this. Studying the differences in the genome of the fish species, scientists have found a gene that seems to play a role in the ability of the tetra fish to heal its heart. There is some hope that one day this insight will lead to a new therapy for human heart conditions.

Neat News 4398 (added 2018-11-20)

Hydrogel for Wound Healing

A new gel has been developed for wound healing. It has large pores so that neighbouring cells can move into the wound and support its healing. It can also slowly release drugs to aid wound healing. It should be particularly useful for patients who have a condition that hampers the natural healing process.

Neat News 4397 (added 2018-11-19)

Personality of Killer Whales

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Killer whales can be playful, show affection. In general they can show personality in a similar way as it is known in humans and chimpanzees.

Neat News 4396 (added 2018-11-18)

Definition of Kilogram Independen from Reference Object

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Scientists have come up with a new definition of the kilogram that is independent of the platinum-iridium reference object kept in a vault in Paris. It is now defined via a force of an electric current on an object and can be reproduced very precisely everywhere. Now all six SI (International System of Units) base units are defined using universal physical constants.

Neat News 4395 (added 2018-11-17)

Activity for the Heart

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Physical activity is good for the heart. In a study it has been found that static activities such as strength training are better than dynamic activities such as cycling. Even better is a combination of both.

Neat News 4394 (added 2018-11-16)

Alkaloids against Pancreas Cancer

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Cancer of the pancreas is very difficult to treat. There is new hope from some alkaloids found in a Congolese liana. The alkaloid has a starving effect on the cancer cells.

Neat News 4393 (added 2018-11-15)

Early Cancer Detection by Blood Test

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In order to detect cancer early from blood samples, scientists have used a machine learning approach to differentiate between different characteristics for different types of cancer.

Neat News 4392 (added 2018-11-14)

Conservation Success

Conservation efforts show success so that the number of mountain gorillas has risen from 600 to 1000. As a consequence they are reclassified from critically endangered to endangered. Also the number fin whales has risen and they are reclassified from endangered to vulnerable.

Neat News 4391 (added 2018-11-13)

Why is there more Matter than Antimatter?

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There is a new explanation model postulating four new particles that may explain why our Universe is made up of matter and there is not much antimatter to be found, although they are very similar and there should be equal amounts.

Neat News 4390 (added 2018-11-12)

Pain Relief by Brain Stimulation

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Researchers managed to reduce chronic back pain in patients by electrically stimulating certain parts of the brain.

Neat News 4389 (added 2018-11-11)

From Carbon Dioxide to Carbon Monoxide

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Carbon monoxide can be produced from carbon dioxide and - albeit poisonous - be used in different ways, for instance as a fuel by burning it again. This has been known for long, however, a new method may make this scale and make it cost effective. The method works by attracting carbon dioxide molecules electrostatically.

Neat News 4388 (added 2018-11-10)

Graphene for Superconductivity?

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A two-layer structure of graphene has properties that may allow to refine it so that it shows superconductivity.

Neat News 4387 (added 2018-11-09)

Birth Rates Falling

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Overpopulation is a contributing factor to many environmental problems. However, in most regions of the world the human reproduction rate is falling and the number of humans can be expected to fall. Globally for instance, in 1950 women had on average 4.7 children in their lifetime, in 2017 that were only 2.4 children per woman.

Neat News 4386 (added 2018-11-08)

Calorie Consumption Varies during Day

The calories that humans burn while at rest varies during the day. They spend 10 percent more calories in the morning than in the late afternoon or early evening.

Neat News 4385 (added 2018-11-07)

Borneo Old Painting

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A painting found on Borneo has been dated to be at least 40,000 years old. It is assumed to be the oldest animal paining in human history.

Neat News 4384 (added 2018-11-06)

Fruit, Veg, and Fish for a Healthy Heart

Fish and a vegetarian diet are good against hypertension and related heart problems. A study with rats showed that higher levels of so-called TMAOs, which are linked to such a diet, help rats to prevent heart problems.

Neat News 4383 (added 2018-11-05)

Cell Transplant to Restore Sight

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In experiments it has been shown that with the transplantation of fetal retina cells it is possible to restore the sight of blind rats.

Neat News 4382 (added 2018-11-04)

Diet for the Heart

The Tsimane, an indigenous people in the Bolivian Amazon, have on average a very good heart condition, no problems with hypertension, obesity, or cholesterol levels. In a study it has been investigated whether their diet is particularly healthy. The diet is high in carbohydrate and protein and low in fat.

Neat News 4381 (added 2018-11-03)

New Antibody against Flu

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Scientists have developed from llama blood a new antibody against influenza. The antibody has proved effective against a wide range of flu virusses in tests with mice. It may offer an effective weapon against a range of flu types.

Neat News 4380 (added 2018-11-02)

Vegan Diet against Diabetes

Diabetes is responsible for around 15 percent of all deaths. A vegan diet or a diet with a low intake of animal products reduces the risks of diabetes type 2 and can contribute to the reduction of blood glucose levels.

Neat News 4379 (added 2018-11-01)

New Antibiotic against Tuberculosis

Scientist found a way to use dirt to make a new antibiotic to for treating strains of tuberculosis which are resistant against standard antibiotics.