Coastal and oceanic environments have natural defenders against climate change. These defenders are mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. They are known for their ability to capture and store carbon. This process is called blue carbon. These ecosystems are not just about carbon though. They are also crucial for biodiversity. They help to reduce the amount of carbo...
Cold weather and low oxygen levels can really mess with how our lungs work during tough workouts. Let's break down what happens when runners push themselves in these harsh conditions. First off, it's important to know that cold air can make it harder to breathe. When the temperature drops below -15°C, it can trigger something called exercise-induced bronchoconstrict...
Oxygen shortage, whether from high altitudes or health issues, can shrink muscles. This is because the body struggles to build and repair muscle tissue when oxygen is scarce. Traditional methods to fight this muscle loss, such as moving to lower altitudes, exercising, or taking supplements, often fall short for those with severe oxygen deprivation. Scientists have...
Hypoxia, or low oxygen levels, is a big deal in biology. It affects many processes in the body. Recently, researchers found that lnc-HZ06, a long non-coding RNA, plays a role in how cells handle low oxygen. This is especially important in trophoblast cells, which are crucial for a healthy pregnancy. These cells can become hypoxic due to environmental factors, like ex...
Oxygen plays a huge role in how our bodies work. It's in the air we breathe and the blood that flows through our veins. But what if changing how much oxygen we get could make us healthier? This idea is not as far-fetched as it seems. Scientists have been looking into how changing oxygen levels can affect our bodies. They've found that switching between high and low o...
High altitude environments can be tough on the body. One major challenge is maintaining proper iron levels. When mice are exposed to low oxygen conditions, similar to high altitudes, their bodies struggle to manage iron. This is because a protein called hepcidin goes down. When hepcidin levels drop, iron levels in the blood can get out of whack. This can lead to prob...
Breast cancer cells, especially the aggressive triple-negative type, can change when they don't get enough oxygen. This is called hypoxia, and it's a big deal in the world of cancer research. Scientists have found that when these cells are starved of oxygen for a short time, a protein called Annexin A6 (AnxA6) goes down. But if the oxygen deprivation lasts longer tha...
Ever thought of oxygen as a double-edged sword? Recent research shows that living in low oxygen, or hypoxia, might actually be good for us in some situations. Scientists have found that chronic hypoxia could help with diseases like mitochondrial problems, autoimmunity, heart attacks, and even aging. But don't hold your breath just yet. Low oxygen can also be dangerou...
Imagine two groups of people climbing a high mountain. One group is from the lowlands, and the other is from the highlands of Tibet. Both groups are going to the same height of 4, 300 meters. Scientists wanted to see how their bodies adjust to the thin air. Lowlanders, or people from the lowlands, started breathing faster to get more oxygen. This made their blood a ...
Have you ever wondered how our bodies handle physical activity in high-altitude conditions? It's a bit like trying to run a race while holding your breath. You might know that breathing becomes harder, and your heart rate goes up. This is due to a condition called hypobaric hypoxia (HH), which is when there's less oxygen in the air you breathe. Scientists have found...