Diabetes: Night-shift workers who eat only during the day may lower risk of type 2 diabetes

People who work overnight are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, but the risk may be reduced by eating only between 7am and 7pm Health 3 December 2021 By Clare Wilson A night-shift worker using a metal cutter on a subway line in Ankara, Turkey Mustafa Kamaci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images People who work night shifts … Read more

Anti-ageing: Mice treated with a chemical from grape seed extract live 9 per cent longer and are more physically fit

A chemical derived from grape seeds selectively destroys worn-out cells in mice, allowing them to live 9 per cent longer than their untreated counterparts Health 6 December 2021 By Carissa Wong Grapes cut open to reveal their seeds Shutterstock / kholywood A chemical isolated from grape seed extract prolongs the lifespans of old mice by … Read more

Cataracts and dementia: People who undergo eye surgery have lower risk of brain condition

People who have cataracts can reduce their risk of developing dementia by about 30 per cent by undergoing surgery to restore their sight, although it’s not clear why Health 6 December 2021 By Clare Wilson Laser surgery for the treatment of cataracts IMANE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY Older people who have cataract surgery to improve their eyesight … Read more

Birds feathers: Migratory species may have paler plumage to help them keep cool

Overheating is a serious issue for birds flying long distances, and paler plumage that reflects more of the sun’s heat may be one of the ways they cope Life 6 December 2021 By Michael Le Page Migrating snow geese at a misty lake in Pennsylvania Delmas Lehman/Shutterstock A study of nearly all of the 10,000 … Read more

Omicron coronavirus variant may cause a global wave of covid-19 cases

It remains unclear whether the omicron coronavirus variant causes less severe disease, but even if this is true, hospitals could still be overwhelmed by the sheer number of cases Health 6 December 2021 By Michael Le Page A health worker at a covid-19 testing site in Cape Town, South Africa Dwayne Senior/Bloomberg via Getty Images … Read more

It’s So Easy – A Child Can Do It

Electronic access to online media is constantly changing. New technologies bring unique and unprecedented danger and risks to children. The Holy Bible states “Wisdom is for a protection the same as money is for a protection (Ecclesiastes 7:12) – “You can get anything by either wisdom or money, but being wise has many advantages.” Helping … Read more

Polar bears: Extreme lack of sea ice in Hudson Bay puts predators under pressure

Sea ice in Canada’s Hudson Bay has been unusually late to form, raising fears over the impact on polar bears that hunt for seals on the ice Environment 6 December 2021 By Adam Vaughan A lone polar bear along Hudson Bay Cindy Hopkins / Alamy An extreme lack of sea ice in Canada this winter … Read more

Plant science: The way that leaves flutter can reveal when plants need more water

Leaves vibrate at a different frequency depending on whether soy plants are under water stress Life 7 December 2021 By Bas den Hond Leaves on a soy plant Igor Stevanovic / Alamy When leaves flutter in the breeze, the frequency of their vibrations may indicate whether the plant is dehydrated. This finding could lead to … Read more

Cancer studies: Investigation fails to replicate results of most lab research

The reliability of early-stage cancer biology research is called into question by an investigation that concludes more than half of experimental results can’t be replicated by independent scientists Health 7 December 2021 By Helen Albert Lab-based cancer research isn’t always easy to replicate, according to a new investigation Anthony Kwan/Bloomberg via Getty Images An eight-year-long … Read more

Fossils in amber: Ancient insects preserve dinosaur-era swamp ecosystem

Rocks that formed in a swamp in what is now Spain 110 million years ago contain both dinosaur bones and amber rich in invertebrate fossils Life 7 December 2021 By Carissa Wong Part of a feather preserved in amber from the Santa Maria coal mine Sergio Alvarez-Parra An impressive trove of fossil-filled amber has come … Read more