Drinking a Strong Coffee 30 Minutes Before Exercising Increases Fat-Burning
Scientists from the University of Granada also found that, if the exercise is performed in the afternoon, the effects of the caffeine are more marked…
Physiology
Astronauts on Missions to Mars Could Suffer Impaired Cognitive Performance, Misread Vital Emotional Cues
A study simulating the effects of weightlessness also finds that impaired cognitive performance cannot be counteracted by short periods of artificial gravity. Living for nearly…
An Unusual Creature Is Coming Out of Winter’s Slumber – Here’s Why Scientists Are Excited
Duke Lemur Center recreates the seasonal swings of native habitat, helping to unlock the secrets of hibernation. If you binged on high-calorie snacks and then…
From Vitamin C to Spinach: Researching Ways to Protect Astronaut Cardiovascular Health From Space Radiation
Review explores ways that space radiation can damage cardiovascular health, and discusses how we can protect astronauts, from vitamin C to spinach. Space: the final…
The Narwhal’s Impressive Unicorn-Like Tusk Reveals Its Past Living Conditions
Every year, a new growth layer is added to the narwhal’s spiraled tusk. The individual layers act as an archive of data that reveals what…
New Discovery Explains Blood Pressure-Lowering Properties of Green and Black Tea
Study results may lead to new antihypertensive medications. A new study from the University of California, Irvine shows that compounds in both green and black…
Scientists Surprised by Sea Slugs That Sever Their Own Heads and Regrow Brand-New Bodies
You’ve heard of animals that can lose and then regenerate a tail or limb. But scientists reporting in the journal Current Biology today (March 8, 2021)…
Whale Sharks Extraordinary Ability to Quickly Recover From Serious Injuries
A new study has for the first time explored the extraordinary rate at which the world’s largest fish, the endangered whale shark, can recover from…
Worms Reveal How Melatonin Works in the Brain to Promote Sleep
Research in C. elegans shows how melatonin activates the BK channel in the brain. Melatonin is used as a dietary supplement to promote sleep and…
Antiarrhythmic Protection: Alligator Hearts Keep Beating No Matter What
Mammals and cold-blooded alligators share a common four-chamber heart structure – unique among reptiles – but that’s where the similarities end. Unlike humans and other…
20% of People Have a Genetic Mutation That Provides Superior Resilience to Cold
Almost one in five people lack the protein α-aktinin-3 in their muscle fiber. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now show that more of the…
New Research Shows the Moon Influences Our Sleep
For centuries, humans have blamed the moon for our moods, accidents, and even natural disasters. But new research indicates that our planet’s celestial companion impacts…
Scientific Research Uncovers Benefits of Reading Outdoors
Contrast is a sensory property that makes stimuli stand out. Writers, designers, and musicians all use contrast to emphasize striking differences in text, visual displays…
Engineers Create Tiny Threads That Sense How and When You Move in Real-Time
Engineers created thread sensors that can be attached to skin to measure movement in real-time, with potential implications for tracking health and performance. Engineers at…
Not Obese After All: Captive Asian Elephants Are Actually Less Fat Than the Average Human
When Daniella Chusy, currently at Indiana University, USA, learned that many captive elephants were thought to be overweight and that their low birth rates suggested…
Intoxicating Chemicals in Catnip Don’t Just Give Cats Joy – They Help Repel Mosquitoes
Catnip and silver vine have been known as cat attractant plants. Cat lovers use dry leaves of these plants and toys stuffed with the leaves…
Researchers Discover How the Brain Paralyzes You While You Sleep
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan have discovered a group of neurons in the mouse brainstem that suppress unwanted movement during rapid eye…
Incredible 3D Video Microscopy Shows Human White Blood Cells Use Molecular Paddles to Swim
Human white blood cells, known as leukocytes, swim using a newly described mechanism called molecular paddling, researchers report in the Biophysical Journal. This microswimming mechanism…
