Walking in nature prevents depression, but why?
We all know that you can feel refreshed after a nice walk through the forest. But why? Is it the clean air, the natural beauty of nature or the healthy exercise? A group of researchers from Stanford University came up with an additional idea. They thought the nature effect might have something to Read More...
New, smart, biocompatible insulin patch could replace needles for diabetics
Diabetes is a serious problem for more and more people. For them, insulin injection can be a painful process of keeping their blood sugar levels under control. A new, "smart" insulin patch may solve this. This patch, a thin square covered with more than 100 tiny needles packed with insulin and Read More...
Harvesting rain could result in significant saving for many poor people
Of course, it's possible to find technological fixes to ensure there's enough water in barren places in countries such as India. But what about using what's already there? That's the idea behind collecting precipitation in rain barrels. This form of "rain harvesting" could result in significant Read More...
Oslo is making the city better for bees
So you thought the bees were dying out? Not so fast. There are ways to save them. Oslo, capital of Norway, has built a "bee highway." This bee-friendly route through the city offers flowery, green rest stops along the way. Here, bees can take a break and fill up on nectar. This network of "pollen Read More...
Guinea pigs in the classroom help autistic children cope with stress
The classroom can be a stressful place for children with autism spectrum disorders. Researchers found that a little furry animal can relief some of that stress. Recent studies show that when these kids are playing with guinea pigs at school, they are more eager to attend, display more interactive Read More...
3 strategies to become more empathetic (besides visiting the Empathy Museum)
This September, philosopher and empathy expert Roman Krznaric will open the Empathy Museum, the world's first museum dedicated to helping visitors develop the skill of empathy. Is there anything we can do to boost our empathy levels? Visiting the museum, of course, and this will be possible for Read More...
To counter patriarchy, proud parents in India share photos of daughters
We all know what India's highly patriarchal society leads to. As female are regarded as inferior, they sometimes get killed in the womb, fewer girls attend school, and women are being raped. In an attempt to change that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on all Indians to post selfies with their Read More...
Adding an egg to your salad makes you absorb nutrients better
Adding an egg to your salad may make it easier to absorb the nutrients better. A small study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concludes that the carotenoids that give veggies such as carrots and tomatoes their color make the nutrients in raw vegetables stick better. They're also Read More...
Germany launches new partnership to support Africa's digital potential
Africa is one of the world’s fastest growing markets for information and communication technologies. There is huge potential for economic development here, and this is why it's good news that the German government decided to place its bets on digitalization for its development aid policy with Read More...
How to fight sleeping sickness in Africa? Lure the tsetse fly!
Sleeping sickness is a much-neglected tropical disease, caused by a bite from a tsetse fly which transmits a certain parasite. It occurs in most of sub-Sahara Africa. Recently, British scientists discovered that the tsetse fly is attracted to blue. To reduce the tsetse fly population, blue Read More...