A recent study published in Neurology reveals that disrupted sleep in one's 30s and 40s is linked to memory and cognitive difficulties later in life. The study involved 526 participants who wore a wrist activity monitor to track sleep duration and quality. Results showed that the quality, not the quantity, of sleep is crucial for cognitive health in middle age. Participants also completed memory and thinking tests. The study highlights the importance of understanding the connection between sleep and cognition as a risk factor for diseases like Alzheimer's.from Science News - Times of India https://ift.tt/FzYA7nI
Mani Bhaumik, an India-born American physicist-philanthropist, donates one million US dollars to establish the prestigious IEEE Jagadish Chandra Bose Medal in Wireless Communications. The medal and honorarium will be awarded to promising young scientists starting from 2025. The medal aims to recognize the work of Jagadish Chandra Bose, the Indian scientist whose invention of the detector for wireless telegraphy was overlooked for years. Benghal-born Mani Bhaumik, who lives in Los Angeles, holds numerous patents and is considerably wealthy.
Logged forests and climate change are driving birds in tropical mountains to higher elevations. Smaller bird species colonise logged forests better, while larger ones are increasing in primary forests. Logged forests have higher temperatures and lower humidity, pushing birds to higher elevations. Logging can lead to the loss of large-bodied species and decrease biodiversity. Safeguarding primary forests is crucial to mitigate the effects of climate change and allow species to shift their ranges upwards.
As winter intensifies, experts warn of a surge in viral infections, including swine flu, influenza, and COVID-19. Dr. Nikhil Modi, a pulmonologist, explains that the colder temperature, increased moisture, low wind speed, and pollution contribute to these infections. Hospitals are experiencing a rise in patients with symptoms such as cough, cold, fever, breathing problems, and pneumonia. To prevent infections, Dr. Modi recommends staying indoors, covering the body adequately, consuming nutritious food, maintaining cleanliness, and wearing masks.
The Great Wall of China, facing erosion and natural degradation, finds an unexpected protector in the form of biocrusts. These 'living skins' made up of plants and microorganisms cover 67% of the surveyed sections of the Great Wall, enhancing its mechanical stability and reducing its erodibility. Biocrust-covered sections have decreased porosity, water-holding capacity, erodibility, and salinity, while increasing compressive strength, penetration resistance, shear strength, and aggregate stability. With only 5.8% of the Great Wall well preserved, the role of biocrusts in protecting this heritage site is crucial. Biocrusts are made up of cyanobacteria, algae, moss, fungi, and lichen.
The Navajo Nation, America's largest Indigenous tribe, has raised concerns over the presence of human cremated remains on the lander vehicle, calling the mission a "desecration" of the Moon which holds a sacred place in their culture. On Jan 8, Pittsburgh-based lander is set to hitch a ride on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket making its maiden voyage under a Nasa commercial partnership. But the boxy robot's manifest also includes payloads from two companies -- Elysium Space and Celestis -- that will contain cremated remains and DNA to stay on the Moon, inside the lander, forever.
Researchers at IISER Bhopal have developed a new photocatalyst called UC-POP-Au, which absorbs the entire spectrum of light, making it a potent catalyst for chemical processes. This sustainable development has the potential to detoxify harmful substances like chemical warfare agents. The UC-POP-Au material integrates upconversion nanoparticles and gold nanoparticles with a UV-absorbing porous organic polymer. It has shown excellent performance in detoxifying mustard gas simulant under sunlight. The research team is now working on developing advanced materials to break down other toxic chemicals.