Solitude is, simply enough, “the state or condition of being alone,” explains Thuy-vy Nguyen, a researcher at Durham University, U.K., who studies solitude. Time alone might be voluntary or involuntary; it might be pleasant or unpleasant. It all depends on the context. So, solitude is not necessarily bad, but is it beneficial? Nguyen is the principal investigator of Solitude Lab, where she and her team work to unravel these kinds of mysteries. They’ve found that solitude offers at least t ...read more
For adults of a certain age, dental implant advertisements appear ubiquitous. But the price — at potentially thousands of dollars per tooth — might, for many people be a case of financially biting off more than they can chew.What if, instead, they could regrow their pearly whites, perhaps at a fraction of the cost?Approaches that replace — rather than patch up — teeth with crowns or fillings may be closer than you think. Scientists have been exploring multiple methods in the past few dec ...read more
The commonly held belief that it takes 21 days to form a habit is a little off. Well, actually, it’s way off. According to new research from the University of South Australia, forming healthy habits can take two months to a year to form. But don’t be discouraged; understanding how habit forming works can help you maintain life-long wellness habits.“Adopting healthy habits is essential for long-term well-being, but forming these habits – and breaking unhealthy ones – can be challenging, ...read more
We can now track the spread of humanity by following a trail of blood…types.A group of researchers did just that, by analyzing genetic information from three groups of Early Man — most recently Neanderthal and Homo sapiens (earlier work also included Denisovans, an extinct subspecies that roamed Asia until about 30,000 years ago).Although their analysis, which appears in Scientific Reports, stretches back about 120,000 years ago, it also offers some implications for current medicine and heal ...read more
A genetic investigation has finally tracked down the source of the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine, closing a case that has been up in the air for years. Researchers nailed down the Andes Mountains in South America as the birthplace of Phtytophthora infestans, otherwise known as potato blight or late blight. The pathogen, taking the form of a fungus-like microorganism (oomycete/water mold), has devastated potato and tomato plants throughout history. A new study published in the jou ...read more
Author Vishay SinghPosted on Categories Discover Magazine