‘Meditation, yoga, and tai chi can reverse damaging effects of stress’
Mind-body interventions such as meditation, yoga*, and tai chi can reverse the molecular reactions in our DNA that cause ill-health and depression, according to a study by scientists at the universities of Coventry and Radboud. When a person is exposed to a stressful event, their sympathetic Read More...
The world’s first energy-harvesting smart street has opened in London
Pavegen, a company that produces tiles that generate electricity from footsteps, has transformed a path in London’s West End into the world’s first energy-harvesting smart street. The company installed a 107-square-foot array in Bird Street to harness and convert footsteps into electricity, Read More...
NASA mimics gecko feet to create device that will adhere to almost anything
Drawing inspiration from the sticky feet of geckos, NASA scientists have invented a device that can grip almost anything. The “gecko gripper” uses minuscule silicon wedges to latch onto a wide range of slippery surfaces, like solar panels and plastics. The grippers can work with heavy objects, Read More...
Making money and saving the environment in the repair economy
The next time you break your bike or you rip your jeans, don’t get a replacement. Instead, you should get it repaired. Producing anything new requires raw materials and energy, which places added strain on the environment. By extending the lifespan of your possessions by getting them fixed, you Read More...
International cleanup of decades-old nuclear waste begins in Russian Arctic
When the Soviet Union collapsed a vast store of spent nuclear fuel was abandoned in the Russian Arctic—an environmental disaster waiting to happen. Now, decades later, an international clean-up has finally begun. Nuclear specialists will begin removing nuclear fuel from the site soon and new Read More...
Do’s and don’t of sun exposure: How to protect your skin
Summer time is synonymous with spending long days basking in the sun. While soaking up sun rays can boost your mood and your body’s vitamin D levels, frequent overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) can do permanent damage to your skin. Before you start working on that tan, here are the do’s Read More...
Study: Ritalin use in childhood could cause long-lasting alterations in brain
Scientists in the Netherlands have found evidence that stimulants used in the treatment of ADHD have different effects when acting on the developing or the mature brain. The study, published in the journal NeuroImage: Clinical, was the first to investigate the effects of childhood methylphenidate Read More...
Germany produced record 35 percent of power from renewables in first half
Germany raised the proportion of its power produced by renewable energy to 35 percent in the first half of 2017 from 33 percent the previous year, according to the BEE renewable energy association. Germany is aiming to phase out its nuclear power plants by 2022. Its renewable energy has been rising Read More...
Can you buy anything real with Bitcoin? On the streets, it proves a hard sell
My journey into the dark economy starts much as expected: in front of a computer screen, late at night. It ends somewhere quite unexpected, in a humdrum setting a world away from the stereotype of modernity, equality and sticking it to the man promised by digital currencies such as Bitcoin: it ends Read More...
How the electric car became the future of transportation
Traditional automakers including General Motors, Volkswagen, Daimler AG, and others are all investing heavily in electric vehicles. And Tesla, of course, has built an entire business on battery-powered cars. But electric automobiles are nothing new. They actually have a rich history in Read More...