17 DEC 2024 Could coffee help to counteract some of the effects of alcohol on the brain, and potentially limit the risk of addiction? That’s what’s suggested by a new study of how caffeine interacts with the production of the feel-good chemical dopamine. Previous work has established that caffeine interferes …
Read More »NEW DRUG FOR ASTHMA AND COPD IS THE FIRST FOUND IN 50 YEARS
14 DEC 2024 Every 30 seconds, someone in the world will experience a flare-up of their asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms. For decades, the standard treatment for these potentially life-threatening episodes has remained unchanged – treatment with steroids, such as prednisolone. Unfortunately, these drugs don’t work for …
Read More »HAUNTED HOUSES HAVE A SURPRISING EFFECT ON THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
13 DEC 2024 Visiting a haunted house could have a chilling effect on the immune system. According to new research, a jumpscare might be a jump start for the human body’s defenses, similar to a cold plunge. In the study, 22 participants with low levels of inflammatory markers in their …
Read More »THERE’S A SURPRISINGLY EASY WAY TO REMOVE MICROPLASTICS FROM DRINKING WATER
06 DEC 2024 Tiny fragments of microplastics are making their way deep inside our bodies in concerning quantities, significantly through our food and drink. Scientists have recently found a simple and effective means of removing them from water. A team from Guangzhou Medical University and Jinan University in China ran …
Read More »YOUR VISION CAN PREDICT DEMENTIA 12 YEARS BEFORE DIAGNOSIS, STUDY REVEALS
05 DEC 2024 The eyes can reveal a lot about the health of our brain. Indeed, problems with the eyes can be one of the earliest signs of cognitive decline. Our latest study shows that a loss of visual sensitivity can predict dementia 12 years before it is diagnosed. Our …
Read More »SCIENTISTS DISCOVER A SPEECH TRAIT THAT FORESHADOWS COGNITIVE DECLINE
04 DEC 2024 Can you pass me the whatchamacallit? It’s right over there next to the thingamajig. Many of us will experience “lethologica”, or difficulty finding words, in everyday life. And it usually becomes more prominent with age. Frequent difficulty finding the right word can signal changes in the brain …
Read More »BULKER REPORTS EXPLOSION IN CARGO HOLDS OFF NORTH CAROLINA COAST
02 DEC 2024 The UK-flagged bulker Anglo Marie Louise (114,727 dwt) has returned to an anchorage off Virginia after reports that the bulker suffered an explosion on November 27. There are no indications of injuries to the crew and the vessel remained seaworthy, although according to the report it has …
Read More »FORGOTTEN BULKER CREW STAGE SIT-IN AFTER YEAR OF DETENTION IN INDIA
29 NOV 2024 After a year in detention, while charges of drug smuggling were being investigated, the 21 crewmembers of the bulker Debi (37,000 dwt) have staged a protest to call attention to their plight. They are demanding action by the Indian authorities to resolve their situation. The vessel which …
Read More »TYPE 2 DIABETES LINKED TO ACCELERATED BRAIN SHRINKAGE, STUDY REVEALS
26 NOV 2024 A gradual loss of brain tissue is a natural part of aging, but one of the longest-running brain scan studies has now revealed some people’s neural connections deteriorate faster than others once they hit middle age. According to a decades-long trial that began in 1995, those who …
Read More »WHAT IS ADENOMYOSIS? THE LITTLE-KNOWN CONDITION AFFECTS UP TO 1 IN 5 WOMEN
25 NOV 2024 BBC presenter Naga Munchetty revealed last year that she suffers from adenomyosis, a chronic condition that affects the uterus. She spoke of how her pain can leave her unable to move and how a recent flare-up was so intense her husband had to call an ambulance. Yet …
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