Endurance athletes might have a secret weapon against mental exhaustion. Mental fatigue is a real thing. It is a temporary dip in brain power after a long, tough mental task. It can mess with your ability to do physical tasks and even make you less eager to put in mental effort. But here is the thing. Regular exercise, especially the kind that gets your heart pu...
Water lettuce, also known as Pistia stratiotes, is a hardy plant that can help clean up polluted water. This plant is often found in places where water is dirty due to mining waste. Understanding how water lettuce handles different pollutants is key to using it for cleaning up water. The plant was tested with iron, manganese, and arsenic, both alone and in c...
Fish can be very sensitive to changes in their environment. Two types of fish, Colossoma macropomum and Piaractus brachypomus, were put through a temperature test. This was to see how their bodies reacted to a sudden drop in temperature, followed by a return to normal. The fish were kept in water that was suddenly cooled from 28. 7°C to 18. 6°C. This was done for...
Coral reefs are in trouble. The oceans are getting warmer, and this is causing mass bleaching events. These events are bad news for corals, and scientists are looking for new ways to help them survive until the world can tackle ocean warming. One interesting idea is using molecular hydrogen. This stuff has some pretty cool properties. It's an antioxidant, it fights i...
Green spaces in cities are often praised for their positive effects on health. People living in urban areas are increasingly looking for ways to connect with nature. In urban settings, green spaces are commonly known to provide health benefits. These benefits have been documented for a long time. Such benefits range from improved mental health to early prevention o...
Lygus lineolaris, a troublemaker pest found all over North America, has a nose for trouble. This bug uses its sense of smell to find its favorite places to eat. Scientists wanted to figure out what smells attract this pest, specifically to crops. The scientists were curious about the smells given off by alfalfa and strawberry plants. They used special tools ...
Ever wondered how fish cope with sudden temperature drops? Scientists took a close look at pacu fish, exploring how they handle intermittent cold exposure. These fish were first acclimated to a cozy 28°C. Then, they were split into two groups – one stayed at 28°C, while the other experienced two quick dips to 16°C, each lasting 24 hours with a 5-day break in between....
Exploring the frozen continent of Antarctica isn't just about the thrill—it's also a test of human endurance. But what really happens to our bodies and minds during these extreme treks? Surprisingly, we don't have much research on this. These expeditions demand a lot from explorers, pushing their physical limits in ways we haven't fully understood yet. Imagine spend...
Tabata training, first designed for athletes, has gained global popularity. It's a type of intense workout that combines short bursts of high-intensity exercise with quick rest periods. The original idea was to push the body to its limits using cycling exercises, aiming to improve oxygen uptake and overall fitness. Over the years, Tabata training has been adapted for...
Physical activity is no secret weapon for health and performance. But recently, scientists are digging deeper. They're not just looking at the sweat or the pumped muscles, but at the tiny changes happening inside our bodies during exercise. Enter Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, a fancy tool with big promises. It can peek at the molecular level, reveal...