Drying fruit is energy-intensive, but “ionic wind” could change that
Dried fruit is delicious and can serve as a great alternative to candy. The only problem is that producing it is quite energy-intensive. In order to dry fruit, commercial food producers typically utilize a “non-thermal drying” process. This involves fans blowing unheated air across the fruit Read More...
Haven’t tried meditation? Here are 7 reasons to reconsider
If you looked for ways to calm stress or anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic, somebody surely recommended the practice of meditation. And if it wasn’t a friend or family member, it was probably one of us writers at the Optimist Daily. Should you have taken the advice, we hope meditation has Read More...
English nature reserve expects a record-breaking year for seal pup births
Back in 1988, the Blakeney Nature Reserve in Norfolk, England, recorded the first birth of a grey seal pup. Since then, the reserve has become England’s largest seal colony, with a total of 3,399 pups born there just last year. When compared to the grand total of 25 pups born there in 2001, you Read More...
New 500,000-cell map of the human heart is the most detailed ever created
In order to develop more effective treatments for cardiovascular disease, an international group of scientists has made the most detailed map of the human heart ever created. The map, which took four years to make, shows how a healthy heart looks and functions at the cellular level, with over Read More...
How men can support their female colleagues remotely
Just because a lot of jobs are now being performed from home doesn’t mean that the gender biases often found in the office space have suddenly disappeared. If anything, remote work has exacerbated previous gender inequities at home. As reported by the Harvard Business Review, mothers are more Read More...
This hydrogel helps the skin heal without leaving behind scars
When you have an open wound, your body forms scar tissue as fast as possible to minimize the chance of infection while simultaneously reducing pain. This allows the wound to heal faster, but it can also leave a permanent scar on the body. On that note, scientists at Duke University have developed Read More...
Report: To improve education in developing countries, invest in teachers
When it comes to education interventions in developing countries, we have an enormous wealth of research studying the effects of these interventions. The only problem is there hasn’t been a proper comparison of these programs that might show which interventions work best. In a new report from Read More...
3 ways that exercise changes the very structure of the brain
You probably know that exercise boosts brain function, but did you know that exercise can literally change the structure of our brains? Although these structural changes may not be visible to us, they can help us protect and preserve brain health and function throughout our lives. Below, you’ll Read More...
Young man became the 1st person with Down syndrome to finish Ironman triathlon
Sports history was made in 2020 when Special Olympics athlete Chris Nikic became the first person with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman triathlon. If you’re not familiar with the Ironman triathlon, it’s one of the most grueling athletic competitions in the world. Athletes are expected to Read More...
This diagnostic tool uses DNA sequencing to identify any infection
When doctors have to diagnose a virus or infection within a patient, usually they have to order all kinds of diagnostic tests. That’s because each one is only designed to hunt for just one specific virus, bacteria, or other pathogens in one specific type of sample, such as blood or urine. To Read More...