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Once a harmless drifter in the Sargasso Sea, an algae known as sargassum is now flooding tropical beaches, from Brazil to the Caribbean, with stinky, toxic piles. As it rots, it releases gases like ammonia and methane, turning paradise into a health hazard. It’s bad for tourism, fishing, and marine life, and worse, most of it ends up dumped in landfills. No reuse. No recycling. Just rot. Can we turn this tide into something useful? For some time now many smart minds have been [...]

When parents sit too much, their kids tend to follow suit. But if parents keep active, children don’t mirror the same sedentary habits, a new study has shown. It highlights the power of parents as role models for healthier lifestyles. The health risks associated with an inactive or sedentary lifestyle are pretty well known: obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. But what if parents are inactive? Are their children likely to follow suit? A [...]

The first human-tested weight-loss drug that burns calories through creatine-based heat generation, without reducing appetite, has successfully completed its Phase I trial. Scientists from the Institut Pasteur de Montevideo (IP Montevideo) and the University of the Republic (Udelar) have built on their promising preclinical mouse study to demonstrate that SANA, a small molecule drug that harnesses an unexplored fat-burning pathway, is not only safe for human use but effective. SANA is a [...]

According to a new study, combining exercise with omega-3 supplements reduced inflammation and, thereby, the severity of a chronic tooth root infection. It suggests a relatively simple means of controlling these infections, which can result in bone and tooth loss. Apical periodontitis (AP) occurs when bacteria reach the tip, or apex, of a tooth root and cause inflammation of the surrounding tissues. It can be caused by tooth decay, trauma, or following dental procedures. If left untreated, [...]

In a new study, researchers identified a molecule produced by a particular type of brain cell that reversed the cognitive decline seen in both healthy aging and dementia. It provides a deeper understanding of the aging process and a potential target for future treatments. Aging causes a decline in cognition, as does dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (although the former is a natural process, the latter is pathological). For years, scientists have been investigating ways of [...]

If you've ever eaten a pomegranate, you'll know that a great deal of the fruit is composed of its thick skin – which simply gets thrown away. Soon, however, that skin could be used in an edible coating which will help keep strawberries from spoiling. Although all fruits are prone to spoilage, strawberries have a particularly short shelf life. This is partially due to the fact that they're very moist and quite acidic, both of which make them ideal habitats for fungi. [...]

Researchers have found a way to take waste concrete from demolition sites and turn it into fresh new concrete that has a strength not seen before from such a product. The breakthrough could lead to significant emissions reductions in the building sector. Concrete has been called "the most destructive material on Earth" by The Guardian thanks to the huge negative impact it has on our planet. To make concrete, minerals need to be crushed and cooked in a kiln heated to temperatures [...]

Crop fertilizers are a major source of pollution, as the chemicals make their way out of the soil and into the natural environment. Scientists are now working on a possible solution to that problem, by developing a sustained-release fertilizer that takes the form of tiny glass beads. Conventional fertilizers are typically applied to the soil as either a liquid, powder, or granules. Whichever the case, the substance usually doesn't have a chance to release all of its nutrients before [...]

A new study from MIT has revealed the exact mechanism by which fasting causes intestinal stem cells to regenerate, which is one of the practice's benefits. However, the study also showed a downside that needs to be considered when breaking a fast. Fasting, either for several days a week or several hours a day, is a popular approach used by thousands of people to help control their weight, rest their guts, and potentially deliver other health benefits. A study earlier this year, for [...]