Good morning and Happy Easter!!. For today, we bring you news from Reddit’s r/science feed via SciURLs.
A study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that individuals with a higher genetic risk of obesity need to engage in more physical activity to avoid becoming obese, compared to those with moderate or low genetic risk. The research, using data from the NIH’s All of Us Research Program, suggests that genetic background influences the amount of physical activity required to mitigate obesity. Participants with a higher polygenic risk score would need to walk more steps per day to achieve a comparable risk of obesity, with the gap widening as baseline BMI increases. Lead author Evan Brittain emphasizes that genetic risk doesn’t solely determine obesity risk and highlights the potential for personalized physical activity recommendations based on genetic data integrated into electronic health records. Future research aims to determine if individualized activity recommendations improve health outcomes and reduce obesity rates. The study underscores the importance of understanding genetic influences on obesity and the potential for tailored interventions to mitigate risk – Higher genetic risk of obesity means working out harder for same results (Vanderbilt University Medical Center/VUMC News ~ Genetics & Genomics)
A study published in Nature reveals that melting polar ice, driven by human-induced climate change, has slowed Earth’s rotation due to shifts in its mass distribution, affecting the planet’s angular velocity. As ice at the poles melts, the redistribution of mass towards the equator changes the Earth’s rotation dynamics. This phenomenon has delayed the potential addition of a negative leap second to global clocks, which could disrupt computer networks. As climate change intensifies, the impact of ice melt on Earth’s rotation is expected to increase – Melting polar ice is slowing the Earth’s rotation, with possible consequences for timekeeping (NBC News ~ CLIMATE IN CRISIS)
Implantable electronic devices like pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have transformed cardiac care, but are limited by their battery life, requiring surgical replacement every 5-15 years. Researchers at Tianjin University of Technology have developed a proof-of-concept battery system implanted in the body that reacts with oxygen to produce stable power. The battery, made of biocompatible materials like sodium-based alloy and nanoporous gold, showed promising results in lab rats, producing stable voltages and exhibiting no adverse effects on health. While the battery falls short of current device power requirements, it demonstrates potential for harnessing bodily fluids to power medical devices and explores possibilities for cancer therapy. Further research aims to improve efficiency and scalability for practical applications – Scientists Make an Implantable Battery That Runs on the Body’s Own Oxygen (Technology Networks Applied Sciences ~ News > Content Piece)
New research published in eLife suggests that depression, Alzheimer’s disease, and autism may share a common underlying factor: increased acidity in the brain. A team of 131 researchers from over 100 laboratories worldwide found that decreased pH levels, or increased acidity, are common across a range of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. This acidity appears to be linked to higher levels of lactate, a molecule produced during normal metabolism, which affects brain pH. While the exact causes of brain hyper-excitability leading to increased lactate production are still unclear, factors like environmental stressors and lifestyle choices may play a role. Although the study was conducted in animal models, it provides insights into potential treatment approaches for various brain disorders by identifying shared therapeutic targets related to brain energy metabolism. Further research aims to uncover strategies to control lactate levels and develop tailored treatments for specific patient subgroups – Neurodegenerative Disorders Linked to Higher Brain Acidity (Newsweek ~ Health)
Research conducted by Kira Birditt, a research professor at the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research, suggests that couples who share similar drinking habits tend to live longer. Published in The Gerontologist, the study examined data from the Health and Retirement Study and found that couples who both reported drinking alcohol in the last three months had longer lifespans compared to couples where only one partner drank or neither drank. This phenomenon, known as “the drinking partnership,” has been linked to better marital outcomes in previous research, possibly due to increased intimacy and compatibility in lifestyle choices. However, Birditt advises against interpreting the findings as a recommendation to drink more with one’s spouse. While the study highlights the potential impact of spousal influence on health behaviors, further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms and daily interpersonal processes involved in couples’ alcohol consumption and its effects on relationship quality and physical health – Couples with similar drinking habits may live longer (University of Michigan/Michigan News)
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