Getting enough sleep is essential to your physical and mental health. Sleep deprivation is linked to certain health issues, including heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. In the course of history, people have used opium, valerian, cannabis, and alcohol as natural sleep aids. In modern times, doctors may prescribe sleep aids. However, some people prefer supplements to address insomnia — and magnesium is a popular choice.Insomnia Is Pretty Common and Magnesium ...read more
Some dinosaurs are positively massive. But like most reptiles, these giants don’t start their lives at those titanic sizes — even relatively speaking.Many species, though perhaps not all, likely came from eggs laid outside their mothers' bodies. But paleontologists have yet to discover the eggs of many dinosaurs. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these highly delicate embryo cradles probably didn’t last more than a few months, let alone the huge epochs of geological time scales.But regardless, some ...read more
Almost half of American adults have high blood pressure. However, out of almost 120 million Americans with it, only one in four has the condition under control. While many people take prescription medication to treat their high blood pressure, others prefer to use natural methods. These methods include reducing stress and adopting healthier lifestyles. Another option is supplements. Fish oil, potassium, ginger, and garlic are touted for their blood pressure-lowering benefits. Magnesium is anothe ...read more
Orangutans have a lot to say. And the way they do so may be more complicated and sophisticated than previously appreciated, according to new study in PeerJ Life & Environment.Orangutans, the great apes of Southeast Asia, have a reputation for complex vocal communication. But understanding the nuances of their repertoire has proved challenging for researchers. Wendy Erb, a primatologist with the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and her team s ...read more
Native to the Sonoran Desert of the American southwest and Mexico, the Gila monster (Heloderma suspectum) might look and sound threatening. But to many, it’s known for its status as the largest lizard — and the only venomous lizard —native to the United States. The Gila monster, distinguished by its black-and-pink patterned scales, spends the majority of its life beating the Arizona heat underground. Because of this, though, its habits have long been a mystery to scientists. Growing up ...read more